Snow day craziness.

     Over a foot of snow at my house, and still snowing.  A lot of my trees have broken branches.  I wish we could have had this moisture back in March when we needed it.
      Needless to say, I skipped the Climate Change march downtown today.

Scary times. The UN warns that the US will soon be in violation of international human rights laws.

http://progresstribune.com/3129/ls-555-un-stepped-issue-severe-warning-gop-plans-strip-americans-freedoms-exposed/

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. Samuel Beckett

Republican lawmakers want to keep popular Obamacare provisions for themselves and their staff -- but not everyone else.

Republicans exempt their own insurance from their latest health care proposal

https://www.vox.com/2017/4/25/15429982/gop-exemption-ahca-amendment

More Republican hypocrisy!  We need to pass a law stating that whatever laws those bozos in congress pass, absolutely must apply to them, as well.

Amerithon virtual walk/run across America update

     I got my Confluence sticker today upon reaching Kingston, Tennessee, which sits at the confluence of the Clinch, Emory, and Tennessee rivers. (1117.1 miles walked, 1807.7 miles run).  I'm injured and barely covering any ground at all these days, though.  600 miles to go.

Runs with Scissors

     I tried the Runs with Scissors Ultra today....there was a half marathon, marathon, and 50K ultra.  I had signed up for the Ultra.  It was not my day, as I am a wimp and the weather was abominable.  After 3 1/2 hours of sleet, rain, snow and ankle-deep mud, I called it a day after finishing the half.  I was soaked, freezing, and had squishy shoes filled with mud and grit.  It was no longer fun, even though the weather started to clear at that point. Discretion being the better part of valor, right? I called it.
     I almost didn't even start, getting very lost in the dark and rain at 4:30 in the morning due to I76 construction and detours. I was late, cold, and it was sleeting.  But I remembered Do Not Finish always trumps Do Not Start.  And I did finish....just not the distance I was hoping for.
     I did get a nice medal, beer glass, and cap. After a 2 hour soak in a very hot tub, I am finally starting to warm up, too.  Maybe next year....There's always next year. It was a well organized and supported race, which I recommend. You just cannot count on Colorado weather.

      He Runs With Scissors

                  When I was a little kid, I colored outside the lines.
                  My teacher didn't like it, she didn't think that it was fine.
                  She knew I'd come to no good, she said that I was bad.
                  So when they met the first time she told my mom and dad,

                  “He runs with scissors, he eats paste and chalk,
                  And when I try to teach the class, all he does is talk, talk, talk,
                  He plays with his food, but doesn't play well with others,
                  And if you're not careful he might grow up to be a long distance runner.”

                  As I grew it just got worse, I picked fights almost weekly,
                  I drove too fast and drank too much, I didn't live my life meekly.
                  I stayed out late, I ran around, and made trouble with my brother.
                  It's no big shock, there was a talk between my teacher, dad, and mother,

                  “He runs with scissors, he eats paste and chalk,
                  And when I try to teach the class, all he does is talk and talk,
                  He plays with his food, but doesn't play well with others,
                  And if you're not careful he might grow up to be a long distance runner.”

                  I run with scissors, I write bad checks,
                  And when I do things I don't consider what might just happen next,
                  I love a food fight and skinny dipping in summer,
                  And teacher was right, I grew up to be a long distance runner.

March for Science, nationwide, Saturday 4-22-17

                                                                         Women's Day of Service


     A must watch video!
     Science in America - Neil deGrasse Tyson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MqTOEospfo&sns=fb

Yikes! Another reminder not to drink soda....ever.

     Drinking too much soda (sugared or artificially sweetened) may be linked to alzheimers and dementia according to a Boston University School of Medicine study.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/20/stroke-and-dementia-risk-linked-to-low-sugar-drinks-study-finds?CMP=fb_us

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-20/drinking-too-much-soda-may-be-linked-to-alzheimer-s

CNN, "Go Vegan" to save the planet

https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/cnn-headline-says-go-vegan-to-save-the-planet

Ha, ha, ha. I love it.

PS, runners live longer, too.

http://sportsgeezer.com/2017/runners-live-three-years-longer/

      Available from the National Park Service:
https://www.teehumans.com/1-resist

     It is beyond sad that our national parks are under attack by our current government.

Never Forget

     Today is the 18th Anniversary of the Columbine shooting.  The NRA has gotten more and more powerful, and shootings are an almost everyday occurrence.

RWI (Running While Intoxicated)

     I just love the intoxicating scent of blooming wild plum thickets.  You can smell them long before they come into view.  They remind me of my farm childhood when roadsides were lined with wild plums, wild roses, chokecherries, elderberries, and sunflowers.

Mama Fox

     If you look closely, you will see Mama Fox silhouetted against the white garage door.  She is intently watching Charleigh-dog and I, as her 4 kits are frolicking just across the street under someone's front deck.  They were in shadows so I couldn't get a good picture.  They live under an overhang on someone's home in their back yard, and have no fear of people. They are a bit more wary of dogs.

Good luck at the Boston marathon today, Kuldeep!!!

   

Amerithon Virtual Walk/Run across America

     Thanks to yesterday's march in downtown Denver, I made it virtually to Burgess Falls outside of Murfreesboro, TN.  Only 689 miles left to reach the east coast!

This is what Democracy looks like!

                                                                     Tax March

Tax March

     Thousands of people marched in Denver Saturday requesting 45 release his taxes.  What is he hiding? Why does he feel the need to break a 40 year American tradition of transparency and honesty? Here is a picture of some of the crowd forming before the march, listening to some great speakers including 2 congressmen and 4 Colorado congresspeople. The Colorado Congresspersons have introduced a bill requiring release of tax returns before anyone can be listed on the Colorado ballot.  Yay!  Hope it passes.

     One of the speakers I liked best was 18 year old high school student Tay Anderson who is running for the Denver School Board.  He was terrific and has a wonderful future in politics ahead of him.  I mention this so you can remember his name.  We will be hearing from him again.
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/04/03/manual-high-student-running-denver-public-schools-board/

     The best costume was worn by a woman dressed as a giant bedbug carrying a sign, "Welcome to the Trump Hotels." Sorry I didn't snap her picture.

     Below is a popular sign.

    There were maybe 10,000 people marching through the streets of downtown Denver.

Those tunnels in Afghanistan that the US bombed were built by the CIA!

http://thefreethoughtproject.com/wikileaks-calls-cia-return-cia-targets-wikileaks/



     Today is the nationwide March for Donald Trump's taxes.  I am going with friends.  There are so very many serious things to worry about and to resist right now. What is he hiding? And why is everything that comes out of his mouth a lie?

     Next week is the March for Science.  Unfortunately, I have other plans.  That is an important one!  What kind of idiots deny the existence of science?  I read an interesting thought today.....do the flat-earth believers also think that the rest of the planets are flat as well?

      The following weekend is the People's Climate March.  I will be able to go to that one....also an extremely important one. Our lives depend on dealing with this problem.

WW III

     I'm trying to avoid the news as much as possible, but often the headlines jump out at me.  On this Good Friday, we are on the brink of WW III, thanks to the posturing of the egomaniacal 45.  He financially profits from war thanks to his investments, and he cares not at all that he may kill us all. So Happy Easter weekend!
https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-warns-against-force-north-korea-prepares-celebration-012720320--business.html

“Long Distance training can be a positive & constructive form of selfishness. After all, once you're at the starting line, you're there by yourself. No one can run a single step for you. No one can jump in & help you. No one but you can make the decisions about what to do to keep going. It's all up to you.” 
― John Bingham

     There are reasons to enter races, even knowing that I will be in the slow corrals.  There is no one else to depend on to finish for me.  I have to do the work....every step of it. There is no one to say, "you're old(ish) so you don't have to finish."  Yes, I do! No excuses.

(trying to motivate myself to get out the door today...fear of failure works for me)

Tragedy

     There is a wonderful Middle Eastern restaurant in Littleton called the Damascus Grill, which I love.  There are a chain of 3 of them, and since 1990  have been owned by a Syrian family.
      This past week, the owner was on the phone with relatives in Syria when the latest bombing and gassing attack occurred.  He  lost TEN family members in that attack alone!
http://denver.eater.com/2017/4/10/15243686/damascus-grill-syrian-community-support

     This must stop.  Syrian refugees must be allowed to enter our country for humanitarian reasons.  Surely, we must have some humanity left despite 45.

Yesterday's Race

     I ran into a Facebook friend at the race start yesterday....she is young and speedy! Me, not so much.  I finished the 13.1 in 2 hours 56 min., so acceptable to me for the first race of the season.  There was a sharp headwind most of the way, but it kept the day from getting too warm.  I was pretty sore afterwards but am okay today.

     I received a great race shirt, medal, and beer glass. I always love the free Breckenridge Brewery craft beer at the finish.

"I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day."----Abraham Lincoln.

     My first race of the year is this morning, which is why I am up at 4 AM downing coffee.  I am so very not ready, but will consider it a training run and just hope to finish in the allotted time. I will try to do my very best today, like honest Abe.  Platte River Half marathon coming up.
     PS, I am never up this early.  It is gorgeous out.  The sky is clear, the stars are amazing, and I got to see the near-full moon set over the foothills to the west.

Amerithon virtual walk/run across the country update

4-6-17 I reached Nashville!  Only 776 miles to go.

Hypertension is not natural

     Here is a great short blog on hypertension, with additional links at the bottom.
     I cannot even deal with politics at this point in time.  The GOP are too depressing, too unconstitutional, for words. History will not look on them kindly. So it is time to concentrate on your health....no one else will.
https://nutritionfacts.org/2017/04/06/high-blood-pressure-normal-but-not-natural/?utm_source=NutritionFacts.org&utm_campaign=e791e28174-RSS_BLOG_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_40f9e497d1-e791e28174-23307913&mc_cid=e791e28174&mc_eid=d4788bd909

UN warns that our right to peaceful protest is under grave danger from 45 and gop

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/02/americans-right-to-protest-is-in-grave-danger-under-trump-united-nations-warns/?tid=sm_fb&utm_term=.8bddd06e5a5e

Stop killing our kids....

     Here is a good article analyzing Michael Moore's prediction that "Historians in the near future (because that may be the only future we have) will mark today, March 28, 2017, as the day the extinction of human life on earth began."  All thanks to 45.
http://samuel-warde.com/2017/04/michael-moore-extinction-human-life-earth-begins-thanks-trump/


     And here is a great article about the American companies that are refusing 45's environmental rollbacks.  Thankfully, there are still a few sane people in the country trying to save us.
http://theweek.com/speedreads/689276/major-american-companies-say-thanks-but-no-thanks-trumps-environmental-regulation-rollbacks


     Joan Baez singing, "Nasty Man."  She's still got it.
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJoanBaez/videos/10155131646864417/

New research

     A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that plant protein is better than meat protein for building muscle.

https://www.riseofthevegan.com/blog/plant-protein-best-for-building-muscle

Hidden Figures

     I just saw the movie, "Hidden Figures," yesterday.  It was marvelous.  I highly recommend it.

"I can't carry your burden and you can't carry mine. But I can sit in the road and rest with you a while. We can share stories and snacks and cheer each other on. That always makes the journey better."----Nanea Hoffman

Too good a meme to wait for Mother's Day!

April Fool's Day run and walk group.