December 31, 2016 BLUE AIN'T YOUR COLOR

Over the last 24 hours, I've signed up for the 1000 mile challenge and the Mystic half marathon. The 1000 mile challenge seems doable--I have a year to run/walk/exercise 1000 miles. The half marathon is more of a challenge because that will require long runs during the school year and they can be really hard to fit in. It's good for me to have goals for 2017 AND it's also a great way to stay motivated through the LLOONNGG winter.  I usually get through January without a problem--it's supposed to be cold. February isn't too bad as it's a short month and we have a break from school. Now March and April are a different story. March is the longest month ever and it's REALLY cold. My brain keeps telling me it's getting warmer but it doesn't happen. It gets to be a drag. Then fickle April comes around--AND--just when I think I've made it through another winter, I'm fooled again. That's why I have to stay focused and have goals for myself through the dense jungle known as winter--I could get lost--take a wrong turn--if I'm not careful. Hope you're setting some realistic goals this New Year's Eve and have a Happy 2017.

Nick Hornby wrote a great book a few years back that always pops into my head on New Year's Eve called A Long Way Down. I must confess that I am a big fan of Hornby--and went through a phase where I read all of his books. Many of them have even made it to the big screen-- High Fidelity, About a Boy and Fever Pitch to name a few. I'm a fan of British writers and find his writing to be both witty and intelligent.  A Long Way Down is a dark comedy about four strangers who find themselves together on the roof of Toppers' House contemplating suicide. Martin is a disgraced TV talk show host, JJ is a failed musician, Jess is a teenage girl with boyfriend problems, and Maureen is a lonely mother with a disabled child. After meeting on the roof and realizing their plan is ruined, the four strangers take turns telling their story to the group. Hornby does an excellent job here--Four very distinct characters told in first person. After getting to know each other, they resolve to wait 90 days. They also decide to help each other overcome their problems. Find out what ultimately happens to these quirky characters by reading this dark--but laugh out loud comedy. It's an easy read of 350 pages--about a 4 mile run--that will definitely make you feel better about your life.

December 29, 2016 YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

Habits. We all have them--some are great--and others--WELL--I'll leave it at that. They are something that just become part of our lives over time. Nothing makes me happier than going out for a run at 8:30 a.m.--it's become a habit over the years. I feel most ready to start the day when I get that morning run in--EVEN during vacation. It's crazy--I could sleep in a bit longer--run at 10:00--but I don't because it's my norm--I also had plans this morning to meet up with some old friends and was determined to squeeze a run in first. While running, I thought about my old friends and realized that they are like habits--good ones--people I've been lucky to  have in my life for almost 40 years. I learned at a young age that in order for me to survive and be successful, I needed to surround myself with whom I wanted to be--and this wasn't necessarily going to be found at home. Thankfully, I chose well or did they choose me?? Who knows but it's all good.  We don't get together often, but when we do, it's like time stands still. It's never awkward--we never run out of things to jabber on about. These are the people who have known me through good times and bad. They know where I've been and watched me grow and change over the years. Hopefully for the better. They are the people who have never judged me or competed with me. They just cheered me on and always wanted the best for me as much as I did them. I guess that's why the friendship has endured. We grow, change and continue to laugh A LOT. Thanks for the memories.

When I was in middle school, one of my best friends though was a book. That might sound strange but it's true. I never would have survived without Judy Blume's classic Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I must have taken this-- Times 100 best fiction books--out of the library at least 10 times in middle school. I felt such a deep connection to Margaret, the main character of the story. Middle school is a tough time for girls and Blume's character spoke to me. She is worried about puberty, buying bras and sanitary napkins--sounds so old fashioned. Margaret is also insecure because her parents haven't introduced  her to organized religion.  Margaret copes with the unknown and her insecurities by informally  praying to God on a regular basis on a variety of topics.  She also forms a secret club with a group of girls where they discuss exercises to increase their busts, kissing boys and other highly important topics. Seriously though, this is an excellent book for any middle school girl. They will appreciate and be able to relate to Margaret and she just might be able to get them through some tough years. It's about 150 pages or an easy 3 mile run that has stuck with me forever, like an old friend. It will do the same for you. Enjoy.

December 26, 2016 AULD LANG SYNE

The holidays are exhausting. Cooking, cleaning, wrapping, smiling, making conversation, making eye contact,  cooking, cleaning, wrapping........oh, I already said that.......and fitting in a few runs. No wonder I'm so tired. As much as I love the holiday, I am relieved that it's December 26th.  Ran about five miles on Christmas morning--No small feat after making TOO much  merry on Christmas Eve. Ran again this morning--OKAY--did a lot of walking this morning--THE AFTER EFFECTS OF TWO DAYS OF CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS. Seriously though, this smiling, making conversation and eye contact thing can really take a lot out of a person, especially, someone like me.  As much as I love being with family and friends, I really am kind of a loner. I enjoy  the peace and solitude of every day life--maybe it's because I am surrounded by constant noise and 100 or more different kids everyday at work.  Who knows? Anyways, looking forward to 2017 as my comrades and I plan to log 1000 miles--our New Year's resolution. Anyone care to join us on our adventure--let me know--the more the merrier. HO HO HO. By the way, I'm really not one to make New Year's resolutions, but at least my resolution seems more attainable than the main character of Helen Fielding's hilarious novel of 1996 Bridget Jones Diary. 
Poor Bridget is a thirty-something year old single woman working and living in London. She's facing another Christmas, alone, bombarded with the same old questions. So, Bridget decides to make some changes with the new year. Number one--lose weight. Number two-- cut down on cigarettes and alcohol. She also aims to be a better person, learn something new and improve her PATHETIC love life. Written in the form of a personal diary, the reader is treated to a year in the life of Bridget Jones. Bridget's life, family and friends are laugh-out-loud funny, especially, her mum. Throughout the year Bridget fights her weight, vices and tries to find her place in middle-class British society. She also get caught up in a love triangle of sorts between her playboy, double crossing boss and "The snooty lawyer" Mark Darcy--whom her parents want her to marry. Find out what ultimately happens to Bridget--does she lose weight--cut down on her vices--find her dream man--when you read this comedic story. This is the first installment of a three books series, that won the British Book Award in 1998 and has sold over 2 million copies. If you enjoy this book, than you will certainly love the others. At only 280 pages--or a 4 miler--you will have this finished in no time. Enjoy--and think long and hard before you make that New Year's resolution.

December 23, 2016 RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL

Saw the shirtless runner again yesterday--it was cold--about 34 and breezy, but he didn't seem to be fazed in the least bit. Shorts-socks-sneakers-NO Shirt OR Cape this time. His chest was really red--I'm thinking it's a mixture of wind burn and the cold. Some might find this odd, but we are all odd in our own way, and I actually pride myself on being different. Anyways,  I read about him in a book that a friend wrote 10 years ago.  I remember reading that he had had a tough childhood and continues to  deal with addiction and other mental health issues. He's just another runner trying to outrun his demons--I've seen him running or walking around the area for at least 25 years trying to EXORISE them--it's a life long battle. Life can be hard for many people, especially, during the holiday season. If you are blessed with health and surrounded by family this holiday season,  don't take it for granted. It is a gift, be thankful and remember many people aren't so lucky. This reminds me of a  book that I finished a few weeks ago, where the main character wasn't so lucky in life either called The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson.

Paula Vauss is a 35 year old successful divorce attorney living in Atlanta. For all appearances, she has the perfect life. People would never believe that she came from a broken home. She spent the first ten years of her life roaming the country with her mother, Kai, and her every changing boyfriends. After her mom went to jail, Paula spent several years in foster care before returning to her mom to finish out high school. She hasn't seen her mother in about fifteen years. No family, no connections. It's a sad, lonely world for Paula. Her personal life is a mess as she can't seem to let go of the demons that haunt her past. After receiving an odd letter from her mother, Paula decides it's time to find her.  She hires her ex-boyfriend private eye, Birdwine, to look into the case and learns a lot more than she bargained for. She actually has a brother and a sister who desperately need her help. Find out what happens to Paula as she tries to heal the past so that she can forge a new beginning. This is a great story of about 300 pages or a 4 mile run that will definitely make you feel thankful for all you have.

December 21, 2016 MEMORIES

The  best part of Christmas vacation is that I have the luxury to run when I want to--which is especially important in the winter--when it's 20 degrees with a north wind of 5-7 mph at 8:00 a.m.  So yesterday, I decided to do a few errands and run later when it was supposed to be a balmy 31 degrees. I put on my running gear--so I couldn't change my mind--and jumped in the car for those last minute presents. While checking out at a local store, I had a moment. Not sure what else to call it. Behind me in line, I noticed a woman of about 28 with her elderly grandfather. They were chatting and laughing--enjoying each other's company--and all of a  sudden I was back. Schlepping around with my grandfather--we called him Ump--delivering eggs, fleaing--his lingo for going to flea markets or just following him around the farm. We spent a lot of time together AND he was my hero when I was a kid because he  always had time for me. He was also loud, demanding and extremely funny if he didn't embarrass you to death first. He was the type to make the waitress teach you how to fold a napkin properly even if you didn't want to learn. He was DEFINITELY one of a kind. I really wanted to talk to the woman and her grandfather--to tell them both how lucky they are to have each other--but I couldn't without tearing up. So I watched them and smiled.  I'm glad that I changed up my running schedule yesterday because it helped me remember my grandfather--who died 18 years ago.  I still miss him but I have wonderful memories of him that will last a lifetime--when it comes to grandfathers, I hit the jackpot and he is surely smiling down on me from heaven.

 I like to think of heaven much like Mitch Albom's thoughtful novel of  about ten years ago The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Wouldn't it be great if there were five levels of heaven, and on dying we were able to meet  five people whose lives we touched in some way, but perhaps never knew while we were alive. This is what happens to the main character of the novel named Eddie. Eddie has been a maintenance man for Ruby Pier Amusement Park forever. One day while trying to save a little girl from a ride that has malfunctioned, Eddie is killed and finds himself in heaven with the blue man, the first of the five people he needs to learn from before entering heaven. In addition to meeting the blue man, Eddie is reunited with the captain of his platoon during World War II, the former owner of Ruby Pier, his late wife and a young girl named Tala. Throughout his journey to heaven, Eddie finds out how he impacted their lives--both good and bad--but most important--he learns many valuable lessons about sacrifice-forgiveness-love-purpose-and how interconnected we all really are. I can't tell you enough how wonderful this story is-- I absolutely loved the ending too but you will have to read it yourself to find out why. It is only about 195 pages or a 3 mile run that will have you thinking about heaven in a whole new way. Enjoy.

December 19, 2016 COLD AS ICE

Woke up Saturday to 3-4 inches of snow. Called my comrade and we decided we would be better off at the gym--the roads weren't plowed and we would probably fall and break our necks. Get to the gym and it's really coming down hard--so we think we have made the right decision??? Get out of my car, and start trudging our way through the snow. Next thing I know, I'm up in the air- HORIZONTAL--I've slide tackled my comrade and we are both lying on the ground covered in snow. So much for going the safe route huh??  SOOO EMBARRASSING but even more than that--I gave myself a little whiplash when I hit my head. Fear not-- we got up, brushed ourselves off--laughed until we almost cried--and went into the gym- you see RAIN, SLEET, SNOW OR EVEN A SLIP ON THE ICE WON'T  KEEP US DOWN. Sure, I've had a headache for three days and I can barely move my neck, but it's all for a good cause right? We shall persevere. If Santa and the mailman can do it, so can we.

All this talk about snow and ice made me think of a true gem of a story by Pulitzer Prize winning author Edith Wharton called Ethan Frome.  One fall, while working in Starkfield, Massachusetts, an engineer tells the story of a man named Ethan Frome-- he has heard from villagers described as, "the ruin of a man." The engineer becomes curious about Frome whom he sees limping around the town and makes it his business to know him. He eventually hires Frome as his driver and is forced to spend a night at his house because of a serious snowstorm--end of prologue.  Wharton then takes us back 24 years--so we can learn all about Frome who was once, "the most striking figure in Starkfield." We learn that soon after Ethan's mother dies, he marries Zeena because he can't stand feeling lonely. They end up in a sad, loveless marriage as  Zeena  turns out to be a hypochondriac who needs constant attention. Zeena's cousin Mattie, who has no place to go, is eventually hired to stay with the Fromes to help take care of Zeena, cook and clean. Over time, Ethan and Mattie fall in love and Zeena, suspicious of the relationship, decides to send Mattie away. You will have to read the book to find out what happens next. All I will say is that the epilogue is quite a shock and you will not be disappointed. It's only 195 pages or about a 4 mile run that is beautifully written and unforgettable.

December 16, 2016 NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT

I saw a few die hards or crazies out running in sub zero temperatures yesterday. One was in shorts and the other shirtless with some type of cape on. Maybe he was a superhero. Who knows??  Anyways, after seeing the guy in shorts, I thought to myself--HHMM maybe I should brave the extreme elements too.  I'm sort of crazy like that-- luckily-- my slightly saner side won out and talked me into going to the gym. The extreme cold and wind are a killer on the skin and vanity always wins--as I figure I need all the help I can get keeping my skin in GLOWING condition. Many people don't have the luxury to worry about their skin though--and I saw that first hand while working at the soup kitchen last night. At least a hundred men, women and children braved the cold because they were in need of a decent meal. Many showed the effects of the cold and wind--red faced, disheveled and wind blown. Others lacked gloves, hats, scarves or even a decent coat to keep out the cold. We provided a nice, warm meal and I'm hoping they all found a warm place to rest their weary bodies for the night.

I know that my problems are really insignificant--merely jokes in the face of the harshness of the world and I am thankful for that, however, the three main characters in Marie-Helene Bertino's debut novel 2 A.M. At The Cat's Pajama are pretty down and out. It's Christmas Eve and 9 year old Madeleine has had a hard day. Everyone at school hates her and she's been sent home again with lice. Her grief stricken father is almost paralyzed with sadness at the recent death of her mom, and aspiring jazz singer Madeleine has never felt more alone. Meanwhile, her new fifth grade teacher, Sarina Greene, is also having a rough holiday season.  Recently divorced, Sarina has moved back to Philadelphia where she has reluctantly agreed to meet up with some old school friends including an old flame for dinner.  Across town, Lorca, the owner of the famous Jazz club, The Cat's Pajama, is up against a wall. If he can't raise 30,000 dollars by Christmas he will have to close his beloved bar forever.  Find out what happens to these three lost souls--each  searching for something different--music-love-hope when you read 2 A.M. At The Cat's Pajama.  The writing is good and the characters in this book are wonderfully written. You will root for all of them to find what they are searching for in this easy to read page turner of about 290 pages. It's about a 3 mile run-cold but not icy-that will warm your heart this holiday season.

December 14, 2016 TAKE IT EASY

Feeling pretty stressed out this week mostly because I haven't been able to run--compound that with getting ready for Christmas, a list of presents I still need to buy,  midterm exams to administer and correct AND  grades are due--BREATHE. I really need a run but it's not going to happen until tomorrow. This is day three. It's bad.  It's really hard for me to go more than two days without a run because I start to feel anxious and my mind works overtime. Then I get sad--because many people are coping with all kinds of tragedies this holiday season and I can't help them.  Remember when your kids were little and they really thought a bandaid or kiss fixed every problem or boo boo?? How I long for those days again--but the reality is-- we have such little control-- life is complicated and most problems can't be fixed with a bandaid--we have to learn to live and cope with them. And that's the hard part. These days when people ask me what I want for Christmas--it's simple-- I just want everyone healthy and happy. What more is there in life?? So tomorrow when I finally get my run in--I will put everything back in perspective. I can't help those facing tragedy this holiday season, but I can try to be the best version of myself and be thankful for all that I have.

I think Antoine De Saint-Exupery's little book A Guide for Grown-ups Essential Wisdom from his collection of books really captures the meaning of life and puts everything in perspective. Saint-Exupery was a pilot, a patriot, and  an award winning writer of several books including The Little Prince, Wind, Sand and Stars and The Wisdom of the Sands. He had an interesting life including crashing a plane and wandering around the Sahara Desert in 1935, as a patriot during WWII leaving occupied France to seek aid from America and finally in 1944  disappearing over the Mediterranean on a reconnaissance mission--to name a few. What interested him most was the human condition which is a theme that appears in all of his novels. He wrote about friendship, duty, happiness, love,  responsibility, and fortitude. A Guide for Grown-ups is a collection of quotations from Saint-Exupery's body of work that are not only beautiful but inspirational. One that  always sticks with me is, "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." How true. Anyways, I read this book every once in a while and it makes me smile. It's a great gift for a college graduate because Saint-Exupery captures the essence of what is really important in life. This book is only about 60 pages--a 2 mile leisurely run--that will stick with you forever. Enjoy!

December 11, 2016 ALL BY MYSELF

It's hard to psych yourself up to run ALONE in the COLD--it was 22 degrees when I went out this morning.  I know my comrade has a life outside of running--something about an anniversary blah blah blah---BUT GOING AWAY ON THE FIRST EXTREMELY COLD WEEKEND, PLEASE!! Don't worry--I forged ahead--have to keep  our reputation in check-- and it really wasn't that bad even though it gets hard to breath when it's really cold. We have had such great weather for so long that it is a shocking change to the system but  hey--it's already the middle of December and this is the first time I had to wear my winter running garb. Can't complain--just need my comrade to come back because there is no way I can run through the winter without her--it's a lonely world out there.

It's also a lonely world for Hig, the main character and narrator of Peter Heller's book The Dog Stars.
Set in the distant future, Hig is a pilot from Denver, Colorado, who somehow survives a virus that has wiped out 99% of the population. His wife and everyone he cares about is dead except his dog, Jasper.  He lives in an abandoned airfield with one other person, a gun toting maniac named Bangley. It's the Apocalypse--survival of the fittest. The trio spend most of their time searching for supplies, food and  protecting the perimeter of the airfield from undesirables. One day Hig hears a transmission pleading for help on his Cessna radio--outside the point of no return. It's a woman's voice. Hig starts to feel hopeful for a future. Maybe a different future, but a future at that--if he has the courage to follow the voice. Find out what happens to Hig, Jasper and Bangley in this frighteningly realistic look at a future that could happen.  It's a thought provoking book too--would you want to be a survivor? What happens to people that survive this type of tragedy? Not sure what I'd want to do. Anyway, it's a pretty easy read at about 320 pages or a 5 mile run--that will stick with you long after you finish the last page.

December 9, 2016 CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS

It really is pitch black out at 5:00 p.m. Only know this fact because I went out for my first night run and it felt like midnight. It was very quiet--only a few cars on the road, some college kids scurrying to the cafeteria and the REAL DIEHARDS. The only saving grace for me was the street lights. Luckily, we are blessed with many street lights so I felt relatively safe out there. It's hard to run at night though--afraid to get hit by a car because vision is limited.   I also like to listen to music when I'm alone  so that's two senses compromised--can't hear or see well--it's dark AND I can't wear my glasses-- so I feel like I'm at the mercy of cars, coyotes, sidewalk cracks and the boogie man. Even though I know the Boogie isn't real, shadows lurk at night and set the mind in motion--coyotes are also known to walk down the middle of the street  so I'm hoping that I actually scare them away--and sidewalk cracks are the bane of my existence, hence, why I run in the road even at night. Not too smart I know, but it's either fall and break my neck or risk getting hit by a car. Anyways, while I was running and contemplating how dark it was out, I thought about the blind-- because without the street lights I literally would have been blind. It must be hard to go blind, especially, if you have had the sense of sight your entire life. This is the premise of Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago's  novel  Blindness.

In this timeless story, an epidemic has hit an unknown city in an unknown country. The epidemic is called "white blindness."  In an attempt to quarantine the sick,  authorities take the first 8 victims to an empty mental hospital. These 8 people become the main characters in the story. They do not have names other than-the doctor, his wife, the boy etc. as they represent everyman.  After spending a considerable amount of time together, they forge an unlikely  family unit. The hospital is eventually overwhelmed with victims of white blindness and chaos ensues. Rationed food is stolen, women are raped, filth and dead bodies take over the hallways--it is truly survival of the fittest. The 8 original people are lucky though--one of them is not really blind but couldn't bare to leave her spouse. This is the only person in the hospital of hundreds  not affected by white blindness.  Find out what happens next as an inept government tries to keep order in the face of disaster when you read this great--actually frightening story. Saramago makes us think about the nature of disaster, the human condition and begs the question--How would you handle a disaster??? This is a beautifully written book of about 350 pages or about a 6 miles run that you will never forget.   By the way, I am in the middle of the sequel--Seeing--and it is equally disturbing.

December 6, 2016 ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG

I had this kid in one of my classes who was a great runner. We talked about running and even joked about going for a run together sometime. That sometime never came though as I learned today that he died in a tragic accident. Death. It's  especially difficult when it's a kid. No proms, driver's license, the thrill of turning 21--things we all take for granted. Everyday we tell ourselves not to take things for granted but they are simply words we say or hear whose gravity can't be felt without a barometer. Life really is fragile though  and unfortunately it sometimes takes a tragedy like this to remind us. I've had many discussions with my students over the years where I have asked them why we need pain--either physical, emotional or mental. We always come to the same conclusion-- we  can't truly appreciate love, emotional well-being or even physical pain if we have never experienced its counterpart. Unfortunately, it's our barometer and today was a painful reminder of that lesson. When I think of this particular student though, I think of  his smile, wit and ability to think outside of the box. We read a great book together in seventh grade that he absolutely loved as much as I did because he got it on every level, so I'd like to review it today in remembrance of him.
 It's the classic The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster with great illustrations by Jules Feiffer. This is a great book for middle school students and adults because it is cleverly written. It's filled with complex humor including wordplay, puns, and idioms that are taken literally. Poor Milo, the main character, is bored with everything-school, friends, toys--you name it. One day he goes to his room and there waiting for him is a car and a magic tollbooth.  So, Milo gets in--quite bored with the situation--starts the car and travels through the tollbooth and finds himself in the Kingdom of Wisdom---where he is charged with  a quest to save Rhyme and Reason, two princesses in exile at the Castle in the Air.  It's a great adventure story as Milo travels through the doldrums, the island of conclusions, the mountains of ignorance, the foothills of confusion and several other towns where he meets an array of hilarious, strange characters who make the journey even more fun. This classic novel has sold over 3 million copies and can be read on so many levels. I read it as a kid and then as an adult and  loved it even more.  Jester not only tells a great story but teaches many lessons that are extremely important including the importance of education and questioning authority to name a few. Join Milo on his adventure--it's only about 250  fun filled pages or a 3 mile run you will never forget. RIP, friend.

December 4, 2016 IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

 Today on my run I saw-- a cowboy snowman , a snowflake ferris wheel, a few angels, assorted figurines from the island of unwanted toys including the abominable snowman, a plethora of toy soldiers, giant noel candles, several reindeer and many Christmas inflatables deflated on the ground. Oh yeah, I didn't see a santa but I saw a pair of lions--I'm not sure they had anything to do with Christmas but you never know. Anyways,  can't wait to drive around at night to get the full effect! Some people have SOOO  much stuff that it's even difficult to  see their houses. I guess those are the REAL Christmas aficionados--Bless you-- the kids love it.  There are a few houses I look forward to seeing every year and I am happy to report that they were busy setting up this morning to add to the Christmas cheer. I just love admiring everyone's unique collection of outdoor Christmas decorations. It gets crazier every year--Last year I even saw an inflatable outhouse for Santa! I do have to wonder though--where do they keep all of their Christmas paraphernalia  when it is not on display--HHUUMM--maybe they rent out a storage facility?? This all reminds me of a great book I read a few years back about a couple who decided not to participate in the whole Christmas rigamarole called Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.

In this hilarious story, Luther and Nora Krank--long standing Christmas aficionados in a neighborhood that even holds an annual decorating contest--decide to take the year off of Christmas. No cards, No tree, No presents--especially unwanted ones--No annual Christmas party--No hickory honey ham. A FULL BOYCOTT OF ANYTHING CHRISTMAS. Their daughter Blair is abroad working for the Peace Corps, so they decide to spend their money on a cruise instead. This plan sounds simple enough except that their home will be the only one in their tight knit neighborhood not decorated with a Frosty on the roof-- and their neighbors will not stand for it. There will be no BAH HUMBUG in their neighborhood. The pressure mounts as their neighbors rally against them in an effort to force them to celebrate Christmas. Just when the Kranks think they have escaped Christmas,  they get a last minute call from their daughter--she has decided to come home  to spend Christmas with her family. YIKES. Find out how the neighborhood rallies at the sixteenth hour to help  Blair come home to a traditional Christmas with friends and family. I really enjoyed reading this novel and laughed out loud several times. It's only about 250 pages or a 3 mile run that will put a smile on your face and help you through the rigamarole we call Christmas.

December 1, 2016 DID YOU EVER HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND

Major decisions.  Run at 5:00 p.m.-- it's pitch black--or go to the gym. Next--factor in the rain. So-- I keep waiting.......rain gets worse. Run in the dark while it's raining or go to the gym??? Of course I wait until the last minute to decide--check the weather channel--one more time-- now there's a 90% chance of rain--I give up--go to the gym. Crazy--but that's how much I hate going to the gym.  I went--and it really wasn't that bad--I guess--but running outside seems so much easier to me. The gym can be a traumatic experience for me--Not sure why--let me reflect. HHUUMM--It's really hot at the gym--almost desert-like--have to wear shorts--did I shave my legs???  Running into people--I don't care what I look like when I run outside but being in a public place is different--remember my vanity. Making conversation with the people I run into at the gym-- when I just want to get to that damn machine and get it done. When I am out for a run, I can just wave and smile and it's all good.
Staying on  the machine for 45-55 minutes--it's really hard.   When I go for a run I know my route--I can't stop and get off before it's over. Thank you for tuning in for another episode of  the trials and tribulations of running after the time change. Believe me though-- I am fully aware most people have real decisions to make in life and I feel blessed that this is currently my biggest problem.
This is not true for most people, especially, a retired major living in a small village in England in Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. Major Ernest Pettigrew lives a simple life in Edgecombe St. Mary. He is a man who values what any proper Englishman should--honor, duty, decorum, and a good cup of tea. After his brother suddenly dies, Pettigrew inherits a family heirloom--that everyone else wants. He also forms a friendship with the shopkeeper in town named Mrs. Jasmine Ali. They have both lost their spouses and enjoy getting together to share a nicely brewed cup of tea and discuss literature. Simple enough or so it would seem. Their friendship starts to blossom into something more which is unacceptable to English society and culture because she is from Pakistan--a foreigner. While this romance is budding, the story also revolves around Pettigrew's son Roger and his American girlfriend as they arrive on the scene eager to stop the shinanigans AND get a hold of the family heirloom because he needs the money.  Will Major Pettigrew overlook Mrs. Ali's heritage? Will he ignore social norms and  upset the whole village? Will his son abscond with the heirloom? Read this great debut novel that is quirky, funny but in many ways a reflection of our society even today, to find out more.  It's about 350 pages or a 5 mile run--that is beautifully written and hard to put down. Enjoy.

November 28, 2016 RUNNING ON EMPTY

The GREAT thing about Thanksgiving is that I have 4 days to run--the BAD thing about Thanksgiving is that I have 4 days--IN A ROW--to run. Don't get me wrong, ideally I love running four days in a row--BUT-- realistically its really hard on my body. I'm just not in the best shape right now because I really cut my mileage back when I go back to school. So, by day four, I was hurting in places I didn't know existed. I really should have taken the day off but I didn't --because it's back to the grind again--and  I'll be stressing out about fitting my runs in--chasing my tail! Looking forward to tomorrow and a day of rest because my body is screaming for it--knees, ankles, back, muscles--begging for a break. This makes me think about REAL runners--I  have a healthy respect for the shape they are in. I recently read John L. Parker Jr.'s novel Once a Runner where the main character  Quinton Cassidy tries to break a 4 minute mile. Talk about torture.

The great thing about this book is that Parker, himself, was the Southeastern Conference mile champion three times and the United States Track and Field Federation national steeplechase champion. Although this is fiction, Parker knows what it takes to be a champion and captures it perfectly for the reader. Set in 1978 at a fictional college in Florida, Cassidy's one dream is to run the mile in 4 minutes. He misses his goal by 1 second and then all hell breaks loose--his girlfriend breaks up with him--Vietnam War--suspension from college. Cassidy is devastated but he's still determined to meet his goal. With the help of Olympic medalist Bruce Denton, Cassidy moves to a small cabin and prepares for the race of his life against the reigning mile champion. This is a great book for competitive runners, recreational runners or anyone who likes competitive sports. It is a fun, easy read of about 260 pages or a 4 mile recovery run after a tough race that you will really enjoy.  I just ordered the sequel called Again To Carthage because I am dying to know what happens to Cassidy in the future. Can't wait to read it. Enjoy!

November 25, 2016 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

The Black Friday run can be iffy......between the food-drink-dessert...... a bit precarious. Over the years though, I have conditioned myself to just do it. Out the door by 8:30 even if I feel like there is a brick in my head or in my stomach. No matter what, I always feel better after the run--REMEMBER--the word "better" is all relative-- depending on your perspective and how long you were making merry the day before. Speaking of making merry, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for many reasons.  I get to enjoy the day and don't have to worry about the turkey-stuffing-gravy. It's my only holiday off.   For that I am SOOO thankful.  I can get up and run 6 miles--so I don't feel guilty about the pies--and then my family plays in an annual neighborhood soccer game. It's great fun seeing everyone--watching the kids grow--and just having a few laughs with old friends.  The rest of the day is spent with family-enjoying each other's company, reminiscing and being thankful for each other. Perfect. It's a great mixture of family and friends.

Friendships are important to me--I actually still have friends from grammar school--high school--and beyond and couldn't imagine  life without them. So, when I found out  Meg Wolitzer's newest book  The Interestings  was about friendship, I had to read it. Set in the 1970's around Nixon's resignation, six teenagers meet at Spirit in the Woods, an arts summer camp. Jules Jacobson, the main character in the story, introduces the reader to the cast of characters-- all talented individuals--actresses, artists, musicians and writers who ultimately shape her life. Through a variety of seamless narrations, the reader journey's through the characters' lives. Each character has dreams--teenage dreams that change shape with maturity. While some blossom into successes, others are crushed and  left  feeling like failures.  It's also a story  about jealousy, regret and how people measure success over the years.  Through it all, the friendships evolve-change-take on new meaning and impact their lives in a variety of ways.  It's a wonderful story about accepting the good and bad, staying true to yourself and rejoicing in the success of others. This book has had a lasting impact on me and it will do the same for you. It's about 500 pages --or a 7 mile run--worth every page. Enjoy!

November 24, 2016 "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"

It's that time of year to reflect and be thankful--so--in that spirit--I thought that I would write a blog about being thankful--in NO particular order. Health.  I am thankful to be healthy enough in mind, body and spirit to exercise on a regular basis--without this outlet--I might not have the rest. Family. I am thankful that I have a great family--not sure how that happened--must have done something right by accident. Friends. I am thankful to have a few good friends--who feel like family. Weather. I am thankful for all types of weather--especially--the sun. There is nothing that brightens my day more than being able to spend time in the sun. Books. I am grateful to all of the authors out there who have inspired me and helped me become a better--teacher--writer--thinker--mother. Intelligence. I am grateful that I was smart enough to change my life--let go of the old-- and forge a new path. Food. Thankfully, I learned to cook at a young age--and it keeps my kids coming back again and again. Drink. Lastly, I am thankful for water, coffee and vodka--for helping me stay hydrated, awake and relaxed when I need to be. Enough said.

The main character Nariman Vakeel, a seventy-nine year old suffering from Parkinson's disease, is also thankful for his daughter in Rohinton Mistry's bestselling book of 2002 Family Matters. Set in Bombay, Nariman, a Parsi,  lives with his  two middle-aged step-children, Coomy and Jal in a  spacious apartment in the city of Mumbai.  Coomy is a selfish, manipulative woman who resents having to take care of her step-father in his old age as she never accepted him as a father.  After an accident, Nariman is bedridden and Coomy and Jal devise a plan to get rid of him. They want his home, but are not willing to make any sacrifices as they believe his real daughter, Roxana, should take care of him. They  bring Nariman to live with Roxana and her family in a TINY apartment on the other side of town.  Although Roxana wants to take care of her beloved father, they already live in cramped conditions and are financially drained. Family does matter as seen in Roxana's devotion to her father and family but the situation eventually causes resentment from her husband Yezad and children. In order to  make ends meet, Yezad ultimately decides to steal money from his employer which turns their lives upside down.  Find out what happens next when you read this beautifully written novel of about 400 pages--or a 6 mile run--that stresses the importance of family and giving back. Spend a few minutes today thinking about what you're grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving.

November 20, 2016 MAN IN THE MIRROR

One of my favorite things to do is buy new running clothes when the season changes. It's a great way to stay motivated. So I ordered some new pants and they've been sitting on my bureau--just waiting for the right temperature--which happened to be this morning. Yippee!! I put the pants on and immediately felt better--New Clothes--New Attitude--Right? Seems simple enough to me. The real test though was when I started running. Within 5 minutes, I was annoyed. They were too big and they kept falling down. It was my own fault though--Not sure why I ordered a large--I think I see someone bigger than I really am in the mirror. So, the whole run--6 miles--I had to stop and pull my pants up.  Good thing it wasn't a race or it would have killed my time. Lesson One--Never wear anything new when running a race--stick with the tried and true. Lesson Two--BODY IMAGE. Women in general have a distorted view of their bodies--from years of media hype--and it's hard to escape. I have personally been a victim of it my whole life. I need to learn to appreciate my body--every lump of it--accept my age (probably won't happen)--and embrace who I am right now. IT'S ALL GOOD--THAT'S WHAT I KEEP TELLING MYSELF ANYWAYS.
Bernadette Fox the main character of Where'd You Go, Bernadette written by Maria Semple has the opposite problem.  She accepts herself just fine, it's everyone else that has a problem with her. Bernadette lives in Seattle with her 15 year old daughter Bee, and her Microsoft computer geek husband Elgin. Bernadette is a world famous architect who has abandoned her career. She is now a mother and serious agoraphobic who  loves her family but hates her life. She hates Seattle--and all the mothers whom she refers to as "gnats" at her daughter's private school. It's all too much for her. As Bernadette teeters on the brink of insanity, her well-meaning husband sets up an intervention during which Bernadette disappears. This laugh out loud story is narrated by Bee and told in a series of letters, emails, transcripts and other written documents as Bee searches for her mother and discovers much more than she bargained for. I really enjoyed this book--it's an easy, fun read-- filled with quirky characters that are hysterical. It's about 350 pages--or a 4 mile run--that ends too fast. Enjoy!

November 16, 2016 WE ARE FAMILY

The time change. UUGGHH!!!!  When am I going to fit my run in??  Who's going to watch my little one so I can run??  Is he old enough to stay home alone for an hour? I wonder if I can stick him in the dog crate for an hour?? I promise I'll leave water and a snack--HHMMM. These are the  questions that run through my mind--almost daily. It's getting easier though. My oldest graduated from college in May and is living in the area. He is also considerate enough to juggle his work schedule when he can so that I can go for a run--THANK YOU, THANK YOU. He's used to my kookiness and thinks nothing of getting a text from me to find out if he will be able to swing by for a bit so his crazy mother can run. He's not a runner so he doesn't really understand my quirky habits, but he goes with it.  Don't worry though,  I take care of him in the FOOD department to return the favor. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD TO HIM.  My daughter even helps out when she is home from college-- she'll watch the little guy --join me for a run--or even run a few races with me over the summer. She's the real athlete in the family so she understands. My husband also helps out--running early in the morning so that I can fit my weekend runs in--the long ones and the REALLY LONG ones. I guess it's REALLY a  family affair and I consider myself lucky that I have a family that supports me and helps me reach my goals. June Elbus the 14 year old main character of Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt isn't quite so lucky with her family though.

June lives in Westchester with her parents and sister Greta. Her parents are overwhelmed with work and June has a strained relationship with her sister. Her only saving grace is her Uncle Finn. June and Finn are extremely close which drives her family crazy because he is gay. This is the 80's when the AIDS epidemic hit New York City hard. Finn is ill, but June doesn't know what's wrong with her ultra talented artist uncle. Finn asks June and Greta to come sit for a portrait that he entitles Tell the Wolves I'm Home.  Soon after the portrait is  completed,  Finn passes away. June is devastated but has no one to share her grief with until she meet Finn's boyfriend Toby at the funeral. June and Toby ultimately become close even though her mother forbids her to see him. Junes family eventually falls apart-- her parents  are wrapped up with their own problems and her sister starts abusing alcohol. Read this beautiful story to find out how Toby and the portrait painted by Finn ultimately bring this family back together.  This story sticks with me because I had an Uncle who died of AIDS in the early 90's. Even then, it was a big secret--the stigma attached to it--tore families apart. It must have been sad to feel so alone in the world. Looking back, I wish I could've helped. Anyways, give this book a try. Its about 380 pages or a 5 mile easy run that will help you empathize with an epidemic that continues to take lives. 

November 14, 2016 SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT

I've been thinking a lot about how reading and running have saved me over the years. Whenever life got tough for me as a kid--VERY dysfunctional family--I could always lose myself in a good book. My grandmother taught me that. I think life was hard for her; hence, the reason her nose was always in a book--EVEN while she was making dinner. It was her escape from reality. We all need to escape from the ghosts that haunt us at times--AND-- life is just easier for some than others. I think it's  luck of the draw-- some of us are born into great, supportive families--AND-- others aren't. It's that simple. I hate the saying--LIFE ISN'T FAIR--but boy is it ever true.  I am thankful, though, that I had E.B. White, Shel Silverstein, Judy Blume, Beverly Clearly, Danielle Steele and Colleen McCullough--I'm sure there are many others--to get me through my younger days. The same goes for running. It has  helped me get through some really difficult times too. It's like therapy. It's helped me face death, disappointment and demons. The miles go by--I unwind--decompress--and  feel ready to face the day--without it, I'm not sure what would happen to me.  I could have gone either way in life--it's a slippery slope--but I believe that reading, running AND a little luck have all helped me stay the course.

Life hasn't been very fair either to Dominick Birdsey, the narrator of my favorite Wally Lamb novel, I Know This Much is True.  This is the story of twins, Dominick and Thomas Birdsey, who reside in a fictional town in Connecticut known as Three Rivers (Norwich). Dominick is supposed to be the brother that has his life together because Thomas suffers from severe mental illness and has been in and out of the state hospital several times. Dominick; however, feels a mixture of responsibility, guilt and resentment toward his schizophrenic brother. These emotions have shaped Dominick's life as revealed in a series of flashbacks of their life together. The brothers endured  a difficult childhood which included a horrible stepfather, an ineffective mother, domestic abuse and Dominick also feeling responsible for his crazy brother. His childhood has really affected his life and Dominick's present life is a mess. He's forty years old -- self- destructive, divorced from the love of his life and confused, but under all of his baggage is a decent person. Dominick finally enters therapy which sheds light on the person he has become. This is a wonderful story of Dominick's family going back three generations that provides insight and finally redemption as Dominick learns to make peace with his demons and begins to really live his life. I absolutely loved this book and will read it again someday. It is a bit of a commitment--or a winter book-- when you want to hunker down and sink your teeth into a good book. It's 900 pages --or a 10 mile run--but it will be an inspiring journey that will make you forget the cold--I promise.

November 11, 2016 NEW ATTITUDE

Coffee is a VERY important part of my morning routine. It's one of the first things I go for when I get up-- without it-- I'm a ZOMBIE. This morning I had to FORGO the coffee though--WHAT  A TERRIBLE WAY TO START  MY DAY.  Anyways, running without that cup of joe hurt--literally and figuratively.  I was in a fog the whole time--I couldn't get into my groove or find the zone. Every step hurt--DID I SAY--the whole time.  This was even worse than the hangover run last weekend--SERIOUSLY. When we were done, I told my comrade that the only good thing I had to say about the run was that it was OVER. As we walked home and I schlepped though the leaves I thought --it was awful, but any day I get to run is a good day.  Hey--it's November--running in shorts--and a balmy 52 degrees--who cares if the run is BAD, TORTURE, OR PURE HELL-- RIGHT?? There's always tomorrow and the promise of a new run--it's all about the ATTITUDE.

Our frame of mind pretty much shapes our lives and this is certainly evident in Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's book The Nest. This is the story of the Plumb family, a seriously dysfunctional family living in New York City. Four siblings, Leo, Melody, Jack and Beatrice have spent their adult lives waiting for the youngest to turn 40. On her birthday, the four siblings will finally collect their inheritance- what they refer to as the nest. Leo is the oldest brother, reckless and unlikable, who has put the nest in jeopardy in a drunk driving accident involving a 19 year old girl. Melody is a wife and mother living in an ultra expensive neighborhood with  two college tuitions looming over her head. The other brother, Jack is an antiques dealer who owes everyone money, while the youngest Beatrice is a promising author who never finishes what she starts. They have all made a mess of their lives and need the nest to solve their financial problems. This is a story about bad choices, ambition and how money can destroy people. Will they get their inheritance and solve their woes--read this debut novel and find out for yourself.  I really enjoyed this book and can certainly see it  being made into a movie in the future. It's about 350 pages or a 5 mile easy run that you will really enjoy. Remember attitude is everything.

November 9, 2016 I LOVE TRASH

Litter. When I'm out running, I see it everywhere. Bottles, cans, empty food containers--I even see used needles strewn on the ground. SCARY.  If I were walking, I would bring a garbage bag and pick it up, but I really need to fit my run in so I don't have time to stop--AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO??   What I can't understand is why people litter in the first place. It should be one of the first things a parent teaches a child. So what's the deal?? Is it lack of respect, ignorance, apathy or the ALL ABOUT ME ATTITUDE SO PREVALENT TODAY?? We only have one EARTH and if we don't take care of it who will??  Pick up after yourself--HELLO--we have these things called GARBAGE CANS--use them.Speaking of garbage, how about that Presidential election. WOW. I guess it wasn't rigged, huh?

 The events of the last 24 hours remind me of this great book I read last year by Philip Roth called The Plot Against America--because that is literally how I feel. Philip Roth is a wonderful writer of numerous books over his long career.  He has won several awards including a Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the Pen/Faulkner award just to name a few. He is definitely worth the effort. Anyways,  The Plot Against America is a dystopian novel  set in 1940 in the United States. In Roth's version of American history though, Charles Lindbergh--known Nazi sympathizer and Fascist--defeats Franklin Roosevelt in the Presidential election.   American Jews including Roth's own family--this part is sort of autobiographical-- live in fear as Lindbergh blames "Jews" for getting America involved in  World War II. Roth's family as well as his other Jewish neighbors  live in fear--paranoia--suspicion about what will happen to them as the Lindbergh administration  institutes anti-semitic policies.  Many move to Canada, some are relocated by the government, while others live in denial until it's too late. This is an important novel to read--a real eye opener that begs the question-- Are we one election away from a dictatorship or fascism?? Find out what ultimately happens in Roth's version of American history when you read this novel. It's about 350 pages or a 6 mile run that will have you seeing our world in a frightening way.

November 7, 2016 SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

Wish I had run the Tarzan Brown 5.5 mile road race yesterday. Not sure why I didn't -- a combination of commitment phobia and a 1:30 start time-- were the reasons I used to justify my laziness. It was a great day to run--nice and cool-- beautiful scenery too. I hate when I talk myself out of things or when I can't make a decision.  It's frustrating to be WISHY-WASHY. I miss many things because of my inability to just say YES. A few friends ran the race and we were chatting about it today and I felt  left out ALL because of my INDECISIVENESS. They were talking splits and clock times and I felt that competitive spirit brewing--and then-- REGRET. I have no one to blame but myself--so I'll take responsibility--try to change--and move on. UGH!  Anyways, I actually just finished a book written by Orhan Pamuk called The Museum of Innocence that is filled with regret.

I picked this novel up a few months ago because the author had won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 2006 for another book entitled Snow, so I figured it must be good. There were many things I loved about this beautifully written book--although  I believe it was 200 pages too long. The story is set in Istanbul around 1975 and the main character, Kemal, is about to be engaged to a young woman named Sibel. Both are from wealthy families and seem to be a good match--until Kemal meets a beautiful retail worker named Fusun. He becomes obsessed with her-- initially believing he can have his cake and eat it too. His engagement is eventually called off which ruins his fiancee's reputation,  and Fusun runs away and marries someone else. Kemal  becomes obsessed with finding Fusun and then spends eight years trying to win her back. During this time, he starts a collection of her possessions in order to feel connected to her because he is not able to be with her or let her go.  This is a story of regret, longing, Turkish societal norms, social class and more. In many ways this novel reminded me of a "Turkish" Great Gatsby--which I loved.  If you enjoy a love story and want to find out what ultimately happens to Kemal and Fusun than read this book. It is a bit of a commitment though--about 500 pages --or an 8 mile run--that any romantic will find hard to put down.

November 6, 2016 BAD DAY

All runs are NOT created equal. Saturday's run was AWFUL--today's not so bad. It doesn't  help that I was making "merry"  a little too much Friday night. When will I ever learn???  Probably NEVER, but it's all good. I generally have my best runs first thing in the morning. The runs later in the day are more challenging--sometimes I don't eat enough and feel light headed when I run--other days I drink too much--coffee/water REALLY--and feel like I am running on a full bladder--which leads to several problems--use your imagination. Some days my legs and body feel light as a feather while on others I feel as if I weigh 400 pounds and every step is TORTURE. I wish I could figure out the magic formula to make all runs equal, but maybe not. I think it's important  to experience difficult runs so that I  CAN really appreciate the beauty of the IDEAL run--when my body feels like a machine and all the pistons are functioning at an optimum level-- it  seems so easy on those days. THE RUNNER'S HIGH.  It's perfection. It's what keeps me going.  This whole idea of good days and bad days is relative, especially, for the main character in Anna McParthlin's wonderful book, The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes. 
Mia "Rabbit" Hayes has a great life. She has a wonderful family, great friends and a beautiful daughter. She has

a lot to live for, but the reality we are faced with from page one is that Rabbit is dying and she is okay with it. Set in Ireland, this is a sad but also very funny story of a quirky family facing tragedy and their different ways of handling it. Told from multiple viewpoints, we come to know and love Rabbit's whole family--her strong very Irish mother, Molly, her sad helpless father Jack, her sister, brother, daughter and hysterical best friend. The story is about Rabbit's current life but also flashes back to her younger life-- growing up as the youngest in her family to her one and only true love, Johnny Hayes. This part of the book is fun and eases the tension in her current life. This is a story about strength as Rabbit gives her family the strength to let her go. It is also about finding the courage to laugh and find joy even in tragedy. I absolutely loved this book and will never forget it.  Take a hop into this amazing novel--it's an easy read of about 335 pages--only a 4 mile run--worth every second. Happy Reading.

November 4, 2016 RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

In the last week,  I have run in shorts, capris, pants, sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve, light jacket, heavy jacket, hat and gloves. One day I'm in shorts, the next  hat and gloves. It has been crazy. Yesterday, I felt like I was in Oz as the wind whipped up and down the streets and the leaves whirled round and round.  It was WILD--It was CHAOS. I guess it is to be expected this time of year when mother nature can't make up her mind--cold--hot--windy--foggy--It actually snowed at some point last week. All this disorder brings to mind the idea of dystopia--a world turned upside down. I'm a HUGE fan of the dystopian novel--especially, in the political climate we are  currently navigating and what better book to reflect politics and dystopia than Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.

I read Nineteen Eighty-four for the first time when I was a freshman in high school--I loved it then--and I loved it even more when I reread it a few years back. The main character, Winston Smith, lives in Airstrip One, a province of Oceania under a Totalitarian state. This is a world where people who are free thinkers are tortured. Everyone is monitored by telescreens, microphones and secret spies.  Smith works for the Ministry of Truth and is responsible for propaganda and history revision that supports the party-- BIG BROTHER. Smith secretly hates the party because  he knows the REAL past. He dreams of overthrowing the government and records his thought in a journal. Find out what happens to Smith when he is arrested by the "thought police" and tortured to "cure" his insanity. This classic has been named to the Modern Library's 100 best novels of all time and is a must read. It's about 335 pages--or a 6 mile run--that you need to read because-- BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.

November 3, 2016 DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD

Last weekend while I was out running, I came across a dead cat pushed to the side of the road. Someone's pet. I could barely look at it--the sight of a dead animal AND blood is very upsetting to me. I've been thinking about that cat and wondering if its owners are looking for it. It is hard to lose a pet, especially, that way. It reminded me of our cat, Pongo. He was the BEST cat ever--weighing in at about 20 pounds--he had personality PLUS and  was a beloved member of our family--even the dogs accepted him over time.  One night, out of the blue, he didn't come home. Next thing we knew, a pack of coyotes was living in the woods behind our house, and we had to accept the fact that our beautiful, robust, white and black SUPER friendly cat was most likely killed. Sadly, Pongo didn't have a chance against wild animals. Anyways, we have fond memories of that giant ball of fur, and over the years he has become sort of a legend around our dinner table.

 This brings to mind a book from 2003 whose premise is a dead dog and the mystery that surrounds it in Mark Haddon's International bestseller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This story, set in England, is told through the eyes of Christopher Boone, a fifteen year old autistic boy. Christopher lives in a world he doesn't understand. He can relate to animals well, but has no understanding of  human emotion.  He loves math, knows every prime number and country, but hates to be touched and freaks out whenever he sees the color yellow. One night, he discovers that his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, has been killed. Shortly thereafter,  the neighbor  discovers Christopher in his yard with the dead dog and has him arrested as a suspect in the dog's death. Upon his release, Christopher decides ( against his father's wishes)  that he is going to find out who murdered Wellington. This story is not really about the dog, it is about living with autism. Haddon is masterful at showing the reader how difficult it is for an autistic person to navigate in a world that is totally foreign--where one is overwhelmed by sensation, is literal minded and socially detached. Everyone should be required to read this book--it is an easy read at about 224 pages-- a 4 mile run--that will have a huge impact on you and perhaps change the way you think of autism.

October 30, 2016 WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF

The weekend goes by way too fast--WITH SO MUCH TO DO IN ONLY TWO DAYS. I am all for the four day or NO day work week and wish I could figure out a way to make THAT happen. The hours fly--run--carve pumpkins--domestic crap--Halloween party--it is an endless list of TO DO.  I know that we are turning back the clocks this week and are "technically gaining an hour" but I feel more like we are losing an hour because it gets dark WAY TOO EARLY. I could use that extra hour of daylight to fit in my run. I know that time is relative though. I often think of my grandparents as they got older--their days seemed interminable--waiting for the hours to go by to get to the early bird special as there was  only so much line dancing, shuffleboard and  bingo they could stand.   I wish there were a way to even it out so that people my age didn't feel so rushed while others didn't have to wish the hours away. It's not fair to any of us. Michael Cunningham wrote this great book--it actually it won the Pulitzer in 1999--that makes me think of time called The Hours. 
 I have to confess that I am a huge fan of Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group and actually spent a year reading all about this group of writers, artists and intellectuals. I was quite fascinated with their lifestyle and wanted to understand why Woolf, who appeared to have everything going for her, stuffed rocks in the pockets of her jacket and marched into the water and drowned. It is quite disturbing. Anyways, The Hours was the working title of Woolf's book of 1923 that she later changed to  Mrs. Dalloway. Cunningham is obviously paying homage to her in several ways as one of the main characters in both books is named Clarissa--but  affectionally called Mrs. Dalloway by her friend Richard in Cunningham's novel. Another similarity to Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, is that the story focuses on one day in the life of the three main characters. In addition to Clarissa, who is planning a party for her poet friend Richard,  there is Laura Brown, a housewife, who is planning a party for her husband while reading Woolf's book in 1949.  The third character in Cunningham's novel is Virginia Woolf, who struggles to write Mrs. Dalloway in 1923 while  wrestling with mental illness. Though these three people seem unconnected, there is a common thread by the end of the novel. The is a wonderful, easy to read novel that also won the PEN/Faulkner award for fiction and became an Oscar winning movie in 2002. It's only 225 pages--or a 5 mile run--that I highly recommend. Enjoy!

October 27, 2016 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

Finally ordered my new $120 dollar running sneakers! Yippie! Got home from work today and they were waiting by the door.  That is always a great thrill to me--comparable to-- I guess getting a new pair of boots for others. Unfortunately though, the weather's NOT cooperating so I won't be running today--it's snowing, sleeting, raining--one of those days I really loathe. I'm sure it will only get worse as fall turns into winter as it gets even more difficult to fit in running around not only my schedule but also Mother Nature. I hope she is kind this winter or I will have to start dragging myself to the gym, Yikes! Anyways, all this talk about water--snow, sleet, rain--reminds me of a great book I read last year by Wally Lamb called We are Water.

For the record, I am a huge fan of Norwich resident Wally Lamb. I have gone to one of his book readings, seen him twice at the movie premiere of his book Wishin and a Hopin, and read all of his books. I am seriously a huge NERD.  He does have a new book coming out in November, but I hear it's coming out as an app first, so I will have wait for the book version. I don't seem to be of the kindle world. Anyways,  We are Water is a wonderful story set in Three Rivers, Connecticut--basically--the Norwich area. Lamb blends fact and fiction in this story as the 1963 flood and death of several people is true, however,  Annie Oh and the family portrayed in this story is fiction. Annie Oh is a  woman in her 50's, mother of three children and divorced from her husband several years. She is an artist who falls in love with another woman. Their plan to wed meets mixed reaction and opens scars that go back 45 years--as some wounds never completely heal.  Annie is a hard character to empathize with until we learn about the trauma that shaped her life-- I guess that is true of most people. Anyways, this story is told in different perspectives which only makes it more interesting as far as I'm concerned.  Lamb is a wonderful writer whose specialty is character development-- AND I am a sucker for a writer who creates characters that come alive.  That's why I enjoy his books so much. It is a bit of a commitment--about 550 pages or an 8 mile run--but well worth the trek. Enjoy!

October 25, 2016 WELCOME TO THE MACHINE

I love Halloween.  It's really fun to run around town checking out the decorations people display in their yards. Some people are GUNG-HO even carrying on decorating traditions long after their children grow up and move away. Those are the folks I like best--they have orange lights, ghosts, pumpkins, witches, werewolves, spider webs-- all kinds of  SCARY things arranged just so kids will have more fun trick-or-treating. HALLOWEEN IS SOO MUCH FUN it makes me wish I were a kid again. Since Halloween reminds me of spooky, scary stories--ALSO A HUGE FAVORITE OF MINE--I thought I would write about a great classic from Ray Bradbury called The Illustrated Man.

Bradbury, who passed away in 2012,  was the winner of several awards including a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for his contributions to science fiction and fantasy. He was  truly a Renaissance man--with a career that spanned seventy years--can you tell I pretty much idolize him??  He wrote short stories, novels, television and movie screenplays and even starred in his own television show The Ray Bradbury Theater back in the 1980's. I can't say enough about his novels Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles and Dandelion Wine--just to name a few off the top of my head, but The Illustrated Man is different. It's a collection of 18 short stories tied together by a man homeless man covered in tattoos--a former carnival worker--in the freak show--known as "the illustrated man". The stories examine human nature and Bradbury's life long fear--technology. The issue of technology is addressed in the story "The Veldt" and it's one of my favorite in the book. It will scare the pants off of you, but the reality is that  Bradbury was right on target even back in 1951.  After you read it, think about how much you are controlled by technology and make a change. Anyways, this is a great book to read this time of year--it's less than 300 pages--of startling tales from the master. Happy Halloween.

October 23, 2016 RETURN TO SENDER

The weather has been playing tricks on me lately. Went out for a run in shorts yesterday and by lunchtime I was wearing a wool sweater. This morning the sun looked warm but the wind was fierce--didn't know what to wear out running. I hate when my ears and fingers get cold so I covered both, dressed in a few layers and headed out. It was warm on some streets and CHILLY on others --as a brisk west wind whipped up and down the avenues. It's the time of year when I never know what to wear. All I know for sure is I would rather have a WEST wind than a NORTH wind AND REALLY HATE THE NORTHEAST wind blowing off the river. Like I said, the weather this time of year is a real mystery to me. This reminds me of this great book I read a few years back where the author, Dan Chaon, played "tricks" on the reader in his mystery thriller Await Your Reply. 

Choan constructs this novel as a sort of puzzle but the reader has NO idea how the pieces fit together until the bitter end--that's how well crafted it is. Choan introduces us to three different storylines that appear to have nothing in common. Ryan is a student facing an identity crisis as he finds out he's adopted. Miles Cheshire has a schizophrenic twin brother that he has spent his adult life looking for and Lucy Lattimore, fresh out of high school, runs away with her high school history teacher. Seems simple enough, right?? Think again.  Each story in and of itself is mysterious as several of the characters are immoral, violent or just shady individuals while others appear quite naive until it's too late. This is more than just a thriller, it is a masterpiece of a mystery. The three stories converge about 2/3 through the book, and I guarantee you will NOT be able to put it down. Just when you think you have it all figured out--Think again--because you will not--until you turn the last page. Seriously. It's about 350 pages --about a 5 mile run--that you will never forget. Pick up a copy now. Why wait?

October 20, 2016 THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN

 Political signs and running--HHMM?? Just another interesting way to learn about people--one small sign can tell you a thousand things, RIGHT???  It's interesting, because I never really think about my neighbors political affiliations until I see them splattered all over their lawns. It's a good tool to use though when thinking about hosting a party as--POLITICAL SIGNS-- automatically help to cut the list in half--what a relief--why waste time, right?  SERIOUSLY, though,  I ALWAYS  stay away from politics--IT IS A STICKY--topic, ESPECIALLY, when you don't necessarily share the same views. I  really want to like those few people I call friends, so I never ask--AND PLEASE DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO TELL. My husband has always told me to NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE,  so I will be especially  mindful of that with the presidential election around the corner. HHMMM. This talk about politics makes me think of the book A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess for several reasons. 

First of all, not sure if anyone is happier than I am that the mud slinging "debates" are finally over--they are just another example of the demise of our moral code. WHAT HAPPENED TO

 R E S P E C T?? When two people vying to be the President of the United States act like The Kardashians or some other reality television show our country is in big trouble--HENCE--A Clockwork Orange. Burgess's book, set in the "future" is about a dystopian society filled with disturbing violence. The whole world has gone crazy--as the main character Alex and his "droogs" wreak havoc in London  including beating, raping and murdering random people. THESE ARE REALLY BAD, VIOLENT young adults who have grown up with violence and see it as a way of life. This society has regressed to the point that they have their own language called--NADSAT--a russified English that you will become accustomed to as you read. After a  day of violence and drugs, Alex is arrested and sent to prison for 14 years. He is then given the opportunity to be reprogrammed to be good. Read the book to find out what ultimately happens to Alex. This is an interesting read because it begs many questions--are some people inherently bad--can they be made good? What will happen if we let violence take over the world?? Anyways, this is a classic of about 215 pgs--a mere 5 mile run--that will leave you thinking and wondering where we are going as a society.

October 18, 2016 HERE COMES THE SUN

photo by Melissa Root

Fall is a glorious time to run. It is picture perfect-- there's no haze to ruin the view.  I can see clear across the Sound to Groton-- And if I had better vision--I could probably see in the windows as people enjoy their morning coffee--okay, maybe not--but you get the gist. The colors  of autumn are alive--blues, reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows. They seem like painted landscapes-- they are THAT  beautiful. Another DAZZLING feature this time of year is the clouds-- they float--whites, greys-- 3D giants against the blue in the sky making me wish I could hop on one for a relaxing ride.  Sunrise and sunset are never more beautiful than this time of year either. I usually catch the sunsets during the week--And there is nothing more exquisite--  than the sunrises which I am blessed with on the weekends. The sun seems to fuse the colors of fall together in a way that makes them blend perfectly. I absolutely love fall running, the cleaner air, and especially, the palette that is the landscape of my neighborhood. It make me feel alive and grateful.
All this talk about colors, palettes and landscapes reminds me of a great book I  recently read called The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro.
First of all, I am a sucker for books about art because I was an art history major in college. I feel at home wandering around an art museum--I am like a kid in a candy shop. So, when a friend told me about this book, I couldn't wait to read it. The main character is Claire Roth, she is a struggling artist was sells reproductions to make a living--she is actually a certified repro painter.  Claire is faced with the opportunity (not sure that is the right word)  of a lifetime--forge a Degas painting--the one stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston 25 years earlier--in exchange for a one-woman show in a famous gallery. Although Claire has reservations, the pay off is too good to turn down. This is an intriguing, thrilling story. What's really fun is that many parts of the book are factual as the Gardner Museum actually had several paintings stolen in a major art heist, including a Degas, that have never been recovered. This is a real page turner--hard to put down as you try to figure out the mystery surrounding the Degas painting. I didn't figure it out until the very end--thankfully! This is an easy 350 page book--no longer than a 4 mile run--I promise.

October 16, 2016 ME AND YOU AND A DOG NAMED BOO

Have you ever noticed that people who have been married for a LONG time start to dress alike and actually start to look alike?? I have seen many older married couples walking together while I'm out running and it's really true--BUT--there is something else I have noticed while pounding the pavement.  Many people ACTUALLY resemble their dogs. Don't get me wrong--I mean this in the kindest way possible. I see many people walking with their pooches and they really share many characteristics--hair color--facial expression--gait--I'M SERIOUS. So--you can imagine my quandary--I can't possibly look like a dog UNLESS that dog is extremely attractive. I know there are billions of rescue dogs out there, but I can only adopt one that complements me, right??  There will be NO Neapolitan Mastiff, Mexican hairless or Pug for me.  ONLY ATTRACTIVE  DOGS--GET THE CONNECTION--PRETTY DOG--PRETTY OWNER--as I need all the help I can get at this point.  So after rescuing two highly attractive dogs, I decided to make doubly sure people saw the resemble by thinking up great names--FARRAH FAWCETT & MAGGIE MAY. I really thought that I had it all figured out until I met a guy at the beach--his dog was black, short hair, stocky, long nose--ditto--owner--I told you! And he was too young to get the connection. He had never even heard of Farrah Fawcett!!  So much for that. HA! Anyways, I really love dogs and have owned several. I currently have two rescue dogs, they are both sweet additions to our family--we would be incomplete without them. When I think about dogs and family, I immediately think of this great book I read a few years ago called The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.

This beautiful story is set in Wisconsin where young Edgar, along with his parents, Gar and Trudy, breed dogs after inheriting the farm and dogs from Gar's family. Edgar, a mute who only signs, has a special connection to the dogs, especially, the family dog Almondine. They understand each other on an entirely different level. Edgar grows up taking care of dogs and is eventually given his own litter to care for and train. Edgar's future seems set until Gar's long lost brother Clyde shows up looking for work. Gar reluctantly takes his brother back to work on the farm but shortly thereafter, tragedy strikes  changing all of their lives forever. This is a wonderful story about companionship, loyalty and the bond between a boy and his dog as Edgar and Almondine are forced run away under suspicious circumstances. While living in the wild, Edgar grows into a man with a decision to make-- Stay away forever or face the past and reclaim the farm that is rightfully his.  This is a great story-- about 600 pages long-- an 8 mile run-- beautifully written and  well worth the read.