Apparition

I saw one today. Let me explain.

I feel at times like I live in a parallel universe. My weekends in Louisville gives me my fitness fix. I can literally choose from a menu of activities and friends to do them with: running, biking, hiking, swimming, anything..and I have the support and companionship of a fellow athlete. This is important to me as I bear down on my Chicago marathon training and as I get ready for my Yosemite vacation. (more about that in future posts). Although Louisville is not a training-mecca like San Diego, Portland, Boulder, or other places that I jones for, it suffices for me quite well. Appalachia on the other hand puts me in a deep exercise-funk. The average BMI here I'm sure exceeds 35.

I did my run today and picked up a female friend at the campground at mile 1 of a planned 8 miles. . She was smiling, invigorating, and could run laps around me. She was wonderful to have as a companion. I offered her water, but she was reluctant, but still stayed at my heels and smiled the whole way. At mile 5 I pulled a calf muscle...pity me. But was able to shlog my way back with her to the campground to her companions. I was saddened to hear from the ranger that she's a stray. She followed me as I hobbled back up the half-mile hill back to my car. I was sorry to leave her. The picture shows her in my rear-view mirror.

But, I digressed. On my way home from morning rounds later, with my leg aching, and feeling even more down than ever, I ran across a group of bikers on KY 23. They were serious..I can always tell by their pace-line and looks on their faces. Their bikes were primo. At the end of the group was a stunning brunette, long hair flowing from her helmet, deeply tanned, and fit, cut, muscular arms & legs. She was smiling as she rode. Where did they come from? How can I hook up with them ? or her?

Sublime Weekend

Deb is in town. Hiking. Dinner. Theatre. Cooking. Cleaning. Planning. One other verb that can't be published here. 

Tale of the rat

This week I'm in Boca. A city certainly God's punishment for gentile males. The native language is northeastern Jewish with a generous amount of whiney inflection. What can the men here see in their counter-species? Granted, plastic surgery owns its roots here, and the amount of silicone per capita does grab ones attention (especially as the long days turn to lonely nights), I couldn't imagine the act. The line in the song "it's just you and your hand tonight" comes generously to mind. 

Conspicuous consumption of the 1980's is alive and well here. It seems that the mode of transportation is a Mercedes driven by a Jamaican female. I even saw a young man with a cast on his leg pushed through the mall by what certainly was the assigned black chauffeur. What did he need at the mall so bad that he had to make an appearance  in person with his entourage? A new pair of Oakleys? 

I'm in class from 8 to 5 every day. I spend as little time as possible in the room. I've turned into one of the bar lizards. A couple of glasses of wine, the newspaper, and I can easily waste 2 hours. Even longer if I can enter a conversation with a fellow loner. The temptation is ever-present, and I know that I'm fair game if my occupation gets out, but I have strict rules, and have not crossed the line yet. 

The weather is damned hot. I ran at 530 this morning, and it was as un-fun a run as I've ever had. The pool is right out my back door, but I can't even get a margarita here. 

Pity me.   

Kentuckians are myopic

My lovely state has come under some  scrutiny with the recent democratic primary. Unfortunately racial bigotry is still alive & well with my rural neighbors. To blame it on old-fashioned independence trivializes the real fact, that indeed many Kentuckians are indeed racist. Poor educational attainment is but one part of the calculus, but it is a malignancy that pulls down those who would like to believe that the State's quality of life could rival that of Virginia, Minnesota, or even Oregon. Blame doesn't solely rest on the mediocre politicians, but is shared by parents, grandparents, the village, and even the under-achieving children themselves. I'd like to think that the fisherman pictured here is a staunch libertarian, but more likely he simply couldn't read the sign.

Lake Day

They say the best thing is to have a friend with a boat....I disagree, it's even better to have a child with a boat.