January Bingo

     I didn't get too far with January bingo, but it was fun trying.

“The world needs more Bad-Ass-ittude.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist

     Amazon, Bershire Hathaway, and J.P. Morgan are launching a not-for-profit healthcare company!  This is so awesome.  I hope it works wonderfully and is just the start of  big changes.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/30/581804474/amazon-berkshire-hathaway-and-jpmorgan-chase-launch-new-healthcare-company


     American healthcare is at the absolute bottom compared to all  high-income nations, and we are the only developed nation without universal healthcare.

http://factmyth.com/factoids/the-us-is-the-only-very-highly-developed-country-without-universal-healthcare/

"Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority."----William Jennings Bryan

     I found this gem of a quote in a cookbook, believe it or not, along with some good recipes.  ("Unprocessed," by Chef AJ). It was also autobiographical, which was even more interesting than the recipes.

     I've been reading cookbooks lately...and doing a lot of cooking.  It is that time of year.

     My favorite cookbook, though, is the "How Not to Die Cookbook" by Michael Greger.  It is a follow-up to the science and research based NY Times best seller, "How Not to Die,"  by the same author.  I've gotten all kinds of good ideas here, not that I follow recipes much.  I see what foods I have on hand or are on sale and basically go from there adding whatever sounds great to me at the moment.  This method of not using recipes and throwing in whatever is handy makes it hard to duplicate whenever something turns out particularly well, though.

     The "Run Fast, Eat Slow" cookbook by NYC marathon winner Shalane Flanagan was interesting but not helpful for me.  It isn't vegan and uses oils and fats.  This probably works for Shalane who I'm sure runs well over 100 miles per week.  It is more for gourmet foodie athletes.

     I'm always on the look-out for new healthy recipe ideas.  I love to try new things.

Truth!

     I may have shared this before, but it is well worth seeing again. 

and this YouTube clip from a JFK speech in Berlin about the wall

One of my favorite songs and painters. Enjoy.

We're all just walking each other home. Ram Dass

Here is another inspired walking/running related quote that I love.

“We knew not where we were going. We only knew that we must run, run to the end of the world, run to the end of our days.” ― Ayn Rand

      I just found this great motivational running/walking quote.  Does it inspire you as it does me, to keep moving?  I've been feeling old and discouraged lately just because I run slower than I used to despite training, and thinking that maybe marathons are not in my future for long, but then I read something like this that keeps me going.....running to the end of my days.

“I believe in aging. And aging in a badass way.” – Sarah Lesko, runner and family doctor

     She sounds like a great doc!  Wish she was mine.

Remember

Running for Joy

     A friend named Joy, who also used to volunteer at Freedom Service Dogs, died last week.  I ran a race yesterday and had determined in advance to run the miles in Joy's honor.  Look at the bracelet that turned up in my race packet!  The universe truly works in mysterious ways.

     The race was hard.  It sucks getting old and slow.  But look at the alternative.  I get to run.  I choose to run. I am blessed to run. I run for Joy.  I am training for life. All of these mantras helped me finish. 
     I intended to be bad-ass and run a mile outside today, but the snow is already 6 inches deep.  I can't tell where sidewalks end and curbs start.  So a mile running around in my basement it will have to be. (I'm not driving anywhere in this weather to run on a treadmill at a gym, either). 

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding one's self in the ranks of the insane. Marcus Aurelius

     A tweet from Rep. John Lewis on 1-20-18:

There is no sound more powerful than the marching feet of determined people.

Bingo

     I'm still working on the January Bingo card (seeJan. 2nd).   Instead of  putting cheery notes in the pockets of jeans in a department store,though, I will be adding sticky notes inside of library books that I return.  Here are a couple.

     Plus I let someone go ahead of me in line at the grocery story this morning.....so 2 more bingo squares done.

A comforting thought for the day and the weekend

     Do you remember the January Bingo game I posted about on Jan. 2nd??  Here is the picture I drew for my fridge and I'm posting it, so another bingo square done.
     This is my dog.  She's neither demented or depressed, it is just my lack of art skills.  She does have the black kohl'd eyes, and posed very nicely for me.
     It was a fun exercise in creativity.

Look up.

     Anyone who knows me knows that I greatly dislike heights.  They make me light-headed, nauseated, and feeling like the bottom has dropped out of my world. But on April 29, if I train hard enough, I will be here! I'll be running smack in the middle of that bridge, looking up and out, (and never down).

     According to their website, there is a 2100 foot overall elevation gain, and a strict time limit.  I must train hard and not get injured on this journey, if I don't want to get carted off of the course.  It is a bucket list event and I will need to be consistent, and try to stay motivated.  I have a longgggg way to go to be ready for this. But look at that beauty.  It will be worth it to even try.
   

“Even castles in the sky can do with a fresh coat of paint.” – Haruki Murakami, author and runner

     Are your New Year's Resolutions wavering?  This quote should help.

     The weather is truly getting in the way, though.  Temp 2 degrees, wind chills below zero, half an inch of ice hiding beneath a couple of inches of snow. I didn't go out yesterday, so really ought to today. My dog has cabin-fever, too. It's the ice that gets me.

     Note to self:  snow on top of ice provides great traction!  It wasn't bad out after all, and the sun is warming things nicely. 

PS, the world is a cold sheet of ice out today.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss my treadmill.  And it is too treacherous to drive anywhere.

"No person has the right to rain on your dreams." MLK

     Today we celebrate the life of a great man. We need his wisdom more than ever with a white nationalist as president.  I am sharing some of my favorite MLK quotes on this national holiday. 

“Never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"The time is always right to do what is right."

     This is a metaphor, I realize, but I always run in circles and I don't get far.  Today I will take a different route....will that count?  But don't we have to run in some kind of circle to return home again? It is all about expanding horizons, I guess.

     FYI, I saw the movie "Downsizing" yesterday.  I thought it was well done, and worth the watch, speaking of expanding horizons.

     Cold morning!!!! But the sun was shining.  A lot of people were out sick.  This running/walking group is always such a great way to start the weekend, with bagels and coffee afterwards.
     I hope your weekend is off to a good start, too.

Just keep swimming...

Let your weird light shine bright so the other weirdos know where to find you!

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” – David Bowie

     Happy 71st Birthday David Bowie.

Still making new year's resolutions.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
                                        Lao Tzu


     I need to run long today.  I am procrastinating....listening to the sound track to "Pirate Radio" and drinking coffee instead, and trying to get motivated.  Some days you just want to stay in. Some days you just don't want to adult.

     Remember the "Living life with gusto! Changing the world one bingo card at a time!!" that I mentioned on 1-2-18?  My friend Annaliza Dach and I fulfilled the funky hat bingo square today.  

Wake up. Kick ass. Repeat.

     Week one of the new year is nearing the end.  How are you doing?  I'm out there trying every day.....nothing great guns, but just continuing on.
     I did go through closets and donate 4 boxes of "stuff" today, which always feels good....both to simplify and to donate.  I have a problem with keeping too much stuff for much too long.
     Have a wonderful weekend and wake up, kick ass, repeat. And Breathe!

When a raindrop joins the ocean, is it lost, or is it found?

     I watched the very interesting and well-done movie, "Victoria and Abdul,"  which is based on true events.
    It reminded me of how much I like the poetry of Rumi. Here is one of his quotes, which was used in the movie.

“Listen, O drop, give yourself up without regret,
and in exchange gain the Ocean.
Listen, O drop, bestow upon yourself this honor,
and in the arms of the Sea be secure.
Who indeed should be so fortunate?
An Ocean wooing a drop!
In God's name, in God's name, sell and buy at once!
Give a drop, and take this Sea full of pearls.”

― Jalaluddin Mevlana Rumi

Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi was a 13th century Persian poet, an Islamic dervish and a Sufi mystic. He is regarded as one of the greatest spiritual masters and poetical intellects. Born in 1207 AD, he belonged to a family of learned theologians.

     Minor excitement today....I saw a spent shell casing in the parking lot of the park where I run daily.  I took a picture and left it. It was concerning, though.
     When I got home I notified the park district who told me to notify the police.  I am now awaiting a call back from a deputy.
     It is concerning because of all the shootings here lately, of which you may have heard, and because it's a park....my park!

     I did get a call back and forwarded the picture. Someone is going there now.  This is sad.

Happy Birthday to J.R.R. Tolken

All the years are golden years, Dad!

     Mom, please play for Dad!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE

     Here is a fun, year-long activity created by my epic friend Collette, who lives her life with gusto more than anyone else I know.  I don't think she'd mind my sharing. This is something everyone can do!

"We are a bunch of awesome people who want to love ourselves and others passionately by doing activities on a Bingo card for the year 2018!!"   

     That quote is from the Facebook page she created. You can join her group at the link below.

Living Life With Gusto! Changing The World One Bingo Card At A Time!!

This is the bingo page to work on for the month of January.  You can try for Bingo or even try to complete all of them during this month.  A new card comes out in February.

      So far I am working on looking in the mirror and saying "You are awesome" everyday this month.  It is harder than you might think.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Albert Camus

A Facebook group in which I take part, shared running quotes and memes.  I am passing some of my favorites along to you to start the new year. Happy 2018.

The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race.

"Every run is a work of art, a drawing on each day's canvas. Some runs are shouts and some runs are whispers. Some runs are eulogies and others celebrations. When you're angry, a run can be a sharp slap in the face. When happy, a run is your song."
-Dagny Scott Barrios

I've got miles to go before I sleep.

Someday I'm not going to be able to do this.  Today is not that day.

So what if it's raining.  You're not made of sugar.