“For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning." (Little Gidding)” ― T.S. Eliot

 Here's to all the people who will be spending New Year's Eve at home in their pj's with their pets!

(ex. update end of year. walk 3.3 miles today, ytd walk 965.8 miles.  pm tm run 5.5 miles, ytd run 1514.2 miles.  total running and walking 2480 miles.  So I didn't run 2021 miles, but hit my secondary goal of 1500, and counting walking and running I exceeded 2021 by 459 miles.  Not too shabby. I'll take it)

 

 

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

     Denver finally got some snow!  Of course, single digit temps and below zero wind chills came too, but that's okay.

The journey of two thousand twenty two miles starts with a single step. Today.

“I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years”

― Henry Moore

(January 1 ex. update,  zero walking, much too cold.   pm tm 6.3 miles, ytd run 6.3 miles.  On my way to 2022)

 (ex. update, dog walk 1.6 miles, very windy and cold.  pm jog 1.6 miles.   ytd walk 962.5 miles, ytd run 1508.7 miles.  Another streak saver day. )

It doesn't take much to make us flip back into monkeys again. Terry Pratchett

 (daily ex. update, walk dog 3 miles, chilly, ytd walk 960.9 miles,  jog 1.5 streak saver miles, ytd run 1507.1 miles)

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

 (daily ex. update, dog walk 0.7 miles, ytd walk 957.9 miles. pm jog 3.3 miles, ytd run 1505.6 miles)

oh, well. There's always next year.

 

(ex. update, walk dog 4 miles, ytd walk 957.2 miles. afternoon tm run 8 miles, ytd run 1502.3 miles.  Only 4 days left)

Be happy. People hate that,. Be so happy that you annoy the heck out of everyone.

 (daily ex., dog walk 3.2 miles, ytd walk 953.2 miles. pm jog 3.3 miles, ytd run 1494.3 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, walk dog 2.1 miles, ytd walk 950 miles, pm streak saver jog 1 mile, ytd run 1491 miles)

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” ― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

 Merry Christmas!

(daily ex update, walk 1.1 mile, ytd walk 947.9 miles, pm run  1.5 miles, ytd miles run 1490)

This powerful remake of Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” was made by artist Volker Maunz. It truly does speak a million words…

Occupy Democrats 

(daily ex.update, dog walk 3.1 miles, ytd walk 946.8 miles. pm jog 3.2 miles, ytd run 1488.5)

 

 (daily ex. update, dog walk 3.1 miles, ytd walk 943.7 miles. pm tm 4.5 miles, ytd run 1485.3 miles) 

 

          And Denver has issued high fire danger warnings for today. The first day of winter here will be warm, gusty, with 10% humidity.

(daily ex. update, walk 1.5 miles, ytd walk 940.6 miles.  pm tm run 3.6 miles, ytd run 1480.8 miles)

Inspiration for today: NONE

 (daily ex. update, walk 2.5 miles, ytd walk 939.1 miles, run 1 mile streak saver, ytd run 1477.2 miles)I

I'm still doing the 12 days of Fitness (see 12-14 blog). Today was day 8 and it is starting to kick my butt.

“Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.” ― P. J. O'Rourke

(daily ex. update, walk 3 miles, ytd walk 936.6 miles.  pm tm 10.1 miles, ytd run 1476.2 miles)

 (daily ex. update, walk 4.5 miles, ytd walk 933.6 miles.  pm jog 1.5 miles, ytd run 1466.1 miles)

 

(update daily ex., walk 4.5 miles, ytd walk 929.1 miles, afternoon tm 5.5 miles, ytd run 1464.6 miles)

 (daily ex.update, dog walk 3.2 miles, ytd walk 924.6 miles.  pm jog 3.1 miles, ytd run 1459.1 miles)

“All great achievements require time.” — Maya Angelou

 (gale force winds today!  daily ex update: walk 1 mile with dog, ytd walk 921.4 miles.  pm tm 3.5 mile run, ytd run 1456 miles)

12 days of fitness

     I received this fitness idea from runner Martinus Evans and started yesterday. Modifications are fine.

Day 1, 1 jumping jack

Day 2, 2 burpees plus 1 jumping jack

Day 3, 3 pushups plus 2 burpees 1 jumping jack

Day 4,  4 lunges plus 3 pushups, 2 burpees, 1 jumping jack

Day 5, 5 mountain climbers, 4 lunges 3 pushups, 2 burpees, 1 jumping jack

Day 6, 6 air squats, ............etc

Day 7, 7 high knees, ...........etc

Day 8, 8 spiderman planks........etc

Day 9, 9 crunches.......etc

Day 10, 10 supermans......etc

Day 11, 11 glute bridges....etc

Day 12, 12 ab bicycles.........etc.

     Already on day 2, I realize how hard this will be.  Burpees are not my friend. 

     I thought I might get a jumpstart on getting healthier next year by running the Resolution Run 5k on New Year's eve afternoon, but of course it is cancelled again this year due to covid19.  

(daily ex. update, walk 4 miles, ytd walk 920.4 miles.  pm tm run 4.5 miles, ytd run 1452.5 miles)

“It is precisely that requirement of shared worship that has been the principal source of suffering for individual man and the human race since the beginning of history. In their efforts to impose universal worship, men have unsheathed their swords and killed one another. They have invented gods and challenged each other: ‘Discard your gods and worship mine or I will destroy both your gods and you!’” – Fyodor Dostoevsky

 Interesting!

(daily ex. update, walk 3 miles, ytd walk 916.4 miles.  pm tm run 3.5 miles, ytd run 1448 miles)

We think caged birds sing when indeed they cry.

 (daily ex update, walk 4 miles, ytd walk 913.4 miles.  pm tm run 5 miles, ytd run 1444.5 miles)

Dogs are family.

 

(daily ex update, walk 3.5 miles, ytd walk 909.4 miles.  pm tm run 5.6 miles, ytd run 1439.5 miles)

The ''allegory of the long spoons''

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4lI8e33U2A

 

(we Finally got snow!  Only 1 inch but it is something.  Walk dog 0.7 miles, it was slippery out.  ytd walk 903.9 miles,  afternoon tm run 3.5 miles, ytd run 1433.9 miles)

(plus walked 2 miles on tm pm, ytd walk 905.9 miles)

They learn from what they see.

 (daily ex. update, walk 3.1 miles, ytd walk 902.2 miles.  2 runs=7.2 miles, ytd run 1430.4 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, walk 3 miles, ytd walk 900.1 miles.  pm tm 5 miles, ytd run 1423.2 miles. it was hard today)

“Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)” ― Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

 (daily ex. update, walk 3.1 miles, ytd walk 897.1 miles, pm jog 3.1 miles, ytd run 1418.2 miles)

“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” -- Kurt Vonnegut

 (daily ex. update, dog walk 2.9 miles, ytd walk 894 miles, pm tm 3.2 miles, ytd run 1415.1 miles)

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.” ee cummings

 (daily ex. update, walk 1.6 miles, ytd walk 891.1 miles.  2 tm runs = 8.3 miles, ytd run 1411.9 miles.)

The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running.

 

Still searching for my lost mojo.....

(daily ex. , walk 4.3 miles, ytd walk 889.5 miles, pm jog 2 miles, ytd run 1403.6 miles)

Mama sloth and her babies

 (ex update, dog walk 2 miles, ytd walk 885.2 miles.  pm tm run 4.7 miles, ytd run 1401.6 miles.  Trying to get back into exercising again)

 (daily ex.,  jog 3.1 miles, ytd run 1396.9 miles)

“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” ― Dr. Seuss

 (daily ex. update, dog walk 1.1 miles, ytd walk 883.2 miles.  run 1.5 miles, ytd run 1393.8 miles)

 

( ex. update, walk ytd 882.1 miles, run 1392.3 miles)

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” ― George Eliot

      I hope you had a wonderful holiday.  I did.  I'm back home again and will try to get back to eating healthy and exercising.  I will pick up Charleigh-dog, my exercise partner and motivator, later this morning.

(ex update from the past 4 days, walked 5 miles, ytd walk 879.9 miles.  Jogged 6.5 miles, ytd run 1389.4 miles.  at least I maintained my streak but did little else)

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday

 

(daily ex. update, dog walk 1 mile, ytd walk 874.9 miles.  early a.m. tm 3.7 miles, ytd run 1382.9 miles)

Painting is called “Critical Race Theory” by artist Jonathan Harris.

 

(daily ex. update, walk 2.7 miles, ytd walk 873.9 miles,  pm tm run 3.5 miles, ytd run 1379.2 miles)

      We have had no measurable snow in Denver for 215 days.  That is a new record. And fires are more probable than snowflakes.  New normal???

 (ex update, a.m. dog walk 3.1 miles, ytd walk 871.2 miles.   afternoon tm run 3.1 miles, ytd run 1375.7 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, a.m. dog walk 5 miles, ytd walk 868.1 miles, pm tm run 5.3 miles, ytd run 1372.6 miles)

Children see magic because they look for it.” — Christopher Moore

 (daily ex. update, walk 3 miles, ytd walk 863.1 miles,  run 1.1 slow miles to save streak, ytd run 1367.3 miles)

“If people would only talk about what they understood, Earth would be a very quiet place.” — Albert Einstein

 

(daily ex. update, dog walk 2.7 miles, ytd walk 860.1 miles,  pm tm run 4.8 miles, ytd run 1366.2 miles)

 (daily ex. update, 2 walks=4.1 miles, ytd walk 857.4 miles.  afternoon tm run 4.2 miles, ytd run 1361.4 miles.  Full moon tonight)

 Barely the day started and… it’s already six in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday and it’s already Friday.
… and the month is already over.
… and the year is almost over.
… and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.
… and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it’s too late to go back…

So… Let’s try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time…
Let’s keep looking for activities that we like…
Let’s put some color in our grey…
Let’s smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let’s try to eliminate the afters…
I’m doing it after…
I’ll say after…
I’ll think about it after…
We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.
Because what we don’t understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold…
afterwards, priorities change…
Afterwards, the charm is broken…
afterwards, health passes…
Afterwards, the kids grow up…
Afterwards parents get old…
Afterwards, promises are forgotten…
afterwards, the day becomes the night…
afterwards life ends…
And then it’s often too late….
So… Let’s leave nothing for later…
Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
best friends,
the best family…
The day is today… The moment is now…

We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.
So let’s see if you have time to read this message and then share it.

Or maybe you’ll leave it for… ′′ later “…

And you’ll never share it….

– Caitriona Loughrey

“Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like.” -- Lemony Snicket

 

(daily ex update, chilly dog walk a.m. 2 miles, ytd walk 853.3 miles.  pm tm run 4.8 miles, ytd run 1357.2 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, a.m. dog walk 4.5 miles, ytd walk 851.3 miles.  pm tm run 3.7 miles, ytd run 1352.4 miles)

 Quote of the week:

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in."

(Hub [Robert Duvall] in the movie Secondhand Lions)

(daily ex. update, walk 4.2 miles on a beautiful morning, ytd walk 846.8 miles. pm tm run 4.1 miles, ytd run 1348.7 miles)

Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it each day and at last we cannot break it. – Horace Mann

 (daily ex. update, morning dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 842.6 miles, pm tm run 6.6 miles, ytd run 1344.6 miles)

 “So be sure when you step,

Step with care and great tact.

And remember that life's

A Great Balancing Act.

And will you succeed? Yes!

You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed).

Kid, you'll move mountains.”

Dr. Seuss - Oh, The Places You'll Go!

(daily ex. update, dog walk 3.7 miles, ytd walk 839.6, pm run 1 mile streak saver, ytd run 1338 miles)

“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” -- Søren Kierkegaard

 (daily ex. update, a.m. dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 835.9 miles.  pm tm run 4.1 miles, ytd run 1337 miles)

SARS-CoV2 in American Deer......this is really concerning

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/11/10/1054224204/how-sars-cov-2-in-american-deer-could-alter-the-course-of-the-global-pandemic?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_campaign=npr&fbclid=IwAR0DwNu5W7qYbJIDfkcnyS5XjySUiM22JlaLutS6X_lE2PrU_8BbvEldW9g

I often have multiple deer hanging out in my yard. Who knew that could become a scary thing.

(daily ex. update, a.m. dog walk 3.2 miles, ytd walk 832.9 miles.  pm tm run 3.1 miles, ytd run 1332.9 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, dog walk 1.5 miles on a very windy day, ytd walk 829.7 miles.  pm jog 2.7 miles, ytd run 1329.8 miles)

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself.” ― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

( daily ex update, am dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 828.2 miles.  pm tm run 3.5 miles, ytd run 1327.1 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 825.2 miles.  pm jog 3.2 miles, ytd run 1323.6 miles.  another beautiful day)

This is so my dog today, she got me up at 4:45 for her breakfast.

 

(daily ex. update, morning dog walk 1.5 miles, ytd walk 822.2 miles.  pm tm 7.5 miles, ytd run 1320.4 miles)

Smile.

 

(daily ex. update, walk 4.3 miles, ytd walk 820.7 miles, early am tm streak saver run, 1.7 miles, ytd run  1312.9 miles.  Gorgeous day.)

When...dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang Souchong

“Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There's magic in that. It's in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift. Your sister may be able to see the future, but you yourself can shape it, boy. Do not forget that... there are many kinds of magic, after all.”

Erin Morgenstern - The Night Circus.

(daily ex. update 11-5-21, am dog walk 3.5 miles, ytd walk 816.4 miles. afternoon tm run 3.5 miles, ytd run 1311.2 miles. a beautiful autumn day)

Something all runners know from experience

  (daily ex. update, dog walk 3.5 miles, ytd walk 812.9 miles. pm tm run 3.3 miles, ytd run 1307.7 miles)

Autumn.....the year's last loveliest smile. William Cullen Bryant

 (daily ex. update, dog walk 2.5 miles, ytd walk 809.4 miles.  pm streak saver run 1.7 miles, ytd run 1304.4 miles)

“Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise.” ― Margaret Atwood, Cat's Eye

 (ex. update, dog walk 1.7 chilly miles, ytd walk 806.9 miles.  pm tm run 4.5 miles, ytd run 1302.7 miles)

Please go vegan.. You will never regret it.

 

(daily ex. update, dog walk 1 mile, chilly day, ytd walk 805.2 miles.  pm tm run 3.1 miles, ytd run 1298.2 miles.)

“It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.” Roald Dahl - The Witches.

 

Happy Halloween!

(daily ex., walk 2.6 miles, ytd walk 804.2 miles, slow run 1 mile to save streak, ytd run 1295.1 miles)

Who knows why we were taught to fear the witches and not those who burned them alive

 "It was not witches who burned.

It was women.

Women who were seen as

Too beautiful

Too outspoken

Had too much water in the well (yes, seriously)

Who had a birthmark

Women who were too skilled with herbal medicine

Too loud

Too quite

Too much red in her hair

Women who had a strong nature connection

Women who danced

Women who sung

or anything else, really.

ANY WOMAN WAS AT RISK BURNING IN THE SIXTEEN HUNDREDS

Sisters testified and turned on each other when their babies were held under ice.

Children were tortured to confess their experiences with “witches” by being fake executed in ovens.

Women were held under water and if they float, they were guilty and executed.

If they sunk and drowned they were innocent.

Women were thrown off cliffs.

Women were put in deep holes in the ground.

The start of this madness was years of famine, war between religions and lots of fear. The churches said that witches, demons and the devil did exist and women were nothing but trouble. As we see even today, there is often a scape goat created, and the chaos escalated in Sweden when the Bible became law and everything that did not line up with what the church said became lethal. The Bible fanaticism killed thousands of women.

Everything connected to a women became feared, especially her sexuality.

It became labelled as dark and dangerous and was the core of the witch trials through out the world.

Why do I write this?

Because I think the usage of words are important, especially when we are doing the work to pull these murky, repressed and forgotten about stories to the surface. Because knowing our history is important when we are building the new world. When we are doing the healing work of our lineages and as women. To give the women who were slaughtered a voice, to give them redress and a chance of peace.

It was not witches who burned.

It was women."

Author: Fia Forsström

 

(daily ex. update, morning walk 3.5 miles, ytd walk 801.6 miles,  early a.m. tm run 1.5 miles, ytd run 1294.1 miles)

Good advice from Sally McRae, ultrarunner

 Strengthen your arms.

Carry each other.

Strengthen your mind.

Be kind to one another.

Strengthen your legs.

Go the extra mile.

Choose strength my friend.

Choose strength

Yellowrunner

(daily ex. update, a.m. dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 798.1 miles.  pm run 3.4 miles, ytd run 1292.6 miles)

“when the world tells you to shrink, expand.” ― Elaine Welteroth, More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are

 (daily ex. update, morning dog walk 3.5 miles, ytd walk 795.1 miles. pm run 3.1 miles, ytd run 1289.2 miles)

My favorite color is....October

                            The view from my front door

(daily ex. update, walk dog 3.2 miles in a.m., ytd walk 791.6 miles.  pm tm run 3.8 miles, ytd run 1286.1 miles)

 

          My views on my walk with my dog this morning....one of the last beautiful days of autumn.

(ex. update, walk dog 3.5 miles in a.m., ytd walk 788.4 miles.  pm tm run 5.1 miles, ytd run 1282.3 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, a.m. dog walk 3.2 miles, ytd walk 784.9 miles,  pm jog 1.6 streak saver miles, ytd run 1277.2 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, morning dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 781.7 miles.  pm tm run 6.7 miles, ytd run 1275.6 miles)

 (daily ex. update, walk 7 miles, ytd walk 778.7 miles, run 1.1 miles on tm, streak saver mile, ytd run 1268.9 miles)

It feels like this these days....LOL

 (daily ex. update, morning dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 771.7 miles,  pm tm run 5 miles, ytd run 1267.8 miles)

“My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to find peace with exactly who and what I am. To take pride in my thoughts, my appearance, my talents, my flaws and to stop this incessant worrying that I can’t be loved as I am.” ― Anaïs Nin

  (ex. update, walk 0.7 miles, ytd walk 768.7, pm run 1.3 miles to save streak, ytd run 1262.8 miles)

“In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.” W. H. Auden

(ex update, walk 4 miles, ytd walk 768 miles.  afternoon tm run 3.2 miles, ytd run 1261.5 miles. In the evening I joined a bundt cake mile, eat a mini bundt cake, run/walk a lap around the track, eat another mini bundt cake, run/walk another lap, repeat times 4.  I'm really full)

....or when I read a good pun

 

(daily ex. update, dog walk 1.5 miles, ytd walk 764 miles.  pm run 1.4 miles, ytd run 1258.3 miles.  ytd run and walk total 2022.3 miles, so I accomplished my run/walk 2021 miles in 2021)

 

(daily ex. update, dog walk 3 miles, ytd walk 762.5 miles.  pm tm run 3.1 miles, ytd run 1256.9 miles)

 

(ex. update, walk my dog 2 miles, walk ytd  759.8 miles,  pm tm run 4 miles ytd run 1253.8 miles)

 

(daily ex. update, walk 2.5 miles, ytd walk 757.8 miles.  run 14.2 miles, ytd run 1249.8 miles)

 

(morning jog 1.5 miles and walk 1 mile,  ytd walk 755.3 miles.  ytd run 1235.6 miles)

 

(daily ex, update, walk 2 miles, ytd walk 754.3 miles.  morning jog with dog 3.5 miles, ytd run 1234.1 miles)

 

 

(daily ex update, morning run with dog 1.5 miles plus walk 1 miles,  ytd run 752.3 miles, ytd run 1230.6 miles)

“Rummaging in our souls, we often dig up something that ought to have lain there unnoticed.” Leo Tolstoy- Anna Karenina, 1873.

 

     Autumn is here.  It was a gray, damp, chilly day and I had no choice but to turn on the furnace.

(ex. update, walk 1.3 miles, ytd walk 751.3 miles.  morning run 2.2 miles with my dog, ytd run 1229.1 miles)

“Perhaps, after all, America never has been discovered. I myself would say that it had merely been detected.” — Oscar Wilde

      What a great quote for Indigenous Peoples' Day!

(I felt the need for a resting day, am walk dog 0.5 miles, ytd walk 750 miles, pm tm 3.1 miles, ytd run 1226.9 miles)

 

(daily ex, am dog walk 2 miles ytd walk 749.5 miles,  pm tm run 2.5 miles, ytd run 1223.8 miles)

Imagine all the people, living life in peace

 Happy Birthday John Lennon

(daily ex., walk 2.6 miles, ytd walk 747.5 miles, tm run pm 1.5 streak saver miles, ytd run 1221.3 miles)

A great quote......

 

(daily ex, dog walk 1.2 miles, ytd walk 744.9 miles. tm run 26.2 miles, virtual Boston, it took me 5 hrs, 30min, 27 sec., ytd run 1219.8 miles)