February 9, 2017 HAZY SHADE OF WINTER

SNOW DAY. It's one of the best things about being a teacher--every so often we get an extra day off. IT'S A TRUE GIFT at a time of year when everyone is sick or has been sick and needs a break.  It's really coming down out there too.  Between the wind and the snow, I can barely see my back yard. Thankfully, I squeezed in a run yesterday so I can just relax and enjoy the day. The weather has truly gone mad though. Yesterday, I ran in capris and a short sleeve shirt--it was at least 55 degrees and today we are in the midst of a blizzard complete with growls of  thunder and 25 mph winds??  It's bizarre, but I'll take it. As much as I appreciate the beauty of newly fallen snow, I am really not a huge fan of snow. It really is only pretty for a short time. Between the plows and human traffic, it turns into a sloppy mess that can be treacherous for the runner who prefers to run outside. That's where YAKTRAX come in though--no we are NOT super heroes we wear YAKTRAX.  They really give the added traction necessary to run during those difficult times. So, if you don't have a pair and you really want to run or walk outside--GET SOME. Lev Beniov and Kolya the main characters of David Benioff's great novel City of Thieves would have really benefitted from a pair as the trekked through the besieged city of Leningrad during World War II searching for a dozen eggs. Before I go any further, let me tell you a little about Benioff.

 He is a novelist, screenwriter, director and co-creator of the ever popular HBO series Game of Thrones. He has also written screenplays for several well-known movies  and I would not be surprised to see this book on the big screen too. Anyways, seventeen year old Lev Beniov is the narrator of this unforgettable story. Lev has been arrested and thrown in jail for pilfering the corpse of a German paratrooper--the punishment is execution. His cell mate is Kolya, a handsome, Russian deserter--the punishment for his crime is also execution. They have one alternative--A powerful soviet colonel has agreed to spare them if they can find a dozen eggs for his daughter's wedding cake. The two embark on a journey behind enemy lines to the Russian countryside--a lawless place suffering from deprivation, death and starvation--to secure a dozen eggs and their lives.  This is a story about courage and friendship during a harrowing time in history. Will the twosome find twelve eggs for the colonel, or meet death who lurks in every shadow another way?  Read this terrifying, yet darkly humorous coming of age story to find out what ultimately happens to this unlikely pair.  I really loved this book and you will too.  It's about 250 pages or  a 5 mile run that you will never forget and find impossible to put down.

February 7, 2017 SOUTHERN CROSS

The dreaded flu taught me an important lesson. BE THANKFUL FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. I can't begin to describe the SIMPLE PLEASURE I felt at being well enough to go for a run again. YIPPIE!!! IT HAD BEEN OVER A WEEK and I was really itching to get back on the road. There is nothing quite like pounding the pavement on FRESH legs on a sunny day in February.  It doesn't get much better than that. This may sound strange--but I felt lost without it.  My life-- to a large degree-- really revolves around running. When I get that run in, all is right with the world. So being sick messes me up on every level--my routine fall by the wayside and everything else falls apart. I need to run-- it helps me focus and keep everything in perspective. It also helps me stay positive in a world filled with negativity AND gives me the energy I need to face it. IT IS MY COMPASS.  Every so often, I need to be reminded that I shouldn't take it for granted. It is really a gift and I'm lucky to have it. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a compass to help guide their life-- this is especially evident in Oscar Wilde's classic of 1891 The Picture of Dorian Gray.  

Set in Victorian Era England, Dorian is a well-cultured, handsome man who takes up residence with his aunt in London. He is introduced to English society including Lord Henry Wotton and a well-known artist named Basil Hallward. Upon meeting Dorian, Basil is captured by his good looks and asks Dorian to sit for a portrait. The painting is wonderful because it truly captures the essence of Dorian AND his strapping good looks.  Dorian falls in love with the image and decides to "make a deal with the devil." Dorian wishes that the painted image of himself would age and that he himself would remain forever young and beautiful. Sounds simple enough right-- Be careful what you wish for. This novel reminds me of a twist on Faust--If you make a deal with the devil??  Eighteen years go by and everyone ages except Dorian. His vanity grows insatiable, as does his cruelty and selfish behavior. His moral sensibilities are such that they offend British society and he is shunned by his so called friends. Maybe staying young and beautiful forever isn't all it's cracked up to be. Find out what ultimately happens to Dorian, Basil and Lord Henry when you read this fine example of Gothic literature. It's about 250 pages--or a 5 mile run--with a timeless moral we should all heed. Happy reading.

February 4, 2017 CAT SCRATCH FEVER

 Exhausted, Lethargic, Feverish = NO Running, Reading, Writing. Pretty sure I've had a touch of the flu--chills, headache that feels like a helmet around the head,  achy from head to toe too. WHY ME? I don't get sick often-- I'm too stubborn and impatient-- but when I do-- it tends to linger--MY OWN FAULT. First,  I try the DENIAL thing--nah, it's just a cold--and then I try--THE SUPER WOMAN THING--I  keep running and working--followed by the -- I CAN BEAT THIS THING--UNTL-- I hit THE brick wall. Needless to say, I haven't been able to do a thing since Wednesday except sleep, couch surf and wonder--WHEN WILL I BE ABLE TO RUN AGAIN, READ AGAIN, WRITE MY BLOG AGAIN?? Yes, I am an IMPATIENT PATIENT.  Still not feeling great--but hey-- I can at least look at a computer screen without getting dizzy--albeit --for only short periods of time--don't worry--Super Woman's gonna get this blog done.  Gotta get up--get movin' too-- I have this 1000 mile challenge thing and my waistline isn't shrinking with my butt  ATTACHED to the couch--I LITERALLY HAVE NO TIME OR PATIENCE FOR THIS SICK THING. I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE-- I'm just CRAZY enough to try to go for a run tomorrow too-- even though a more reasonable and PATIENT person would wait a few more days. I'm sure I'll pay for trying.....BUT THAT'S JUST WHO I AM. One thing is for certain, I would make a horrible detective. I am unreasonable and impatient, the complete opposite of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache from Louise Penny's award winning detective series.
Penny's mysteries are great reads for several reasons. First off, she is a great writer and her stories are filled with unique, interesting characters who appear in every story---13 novels to date. She also writes a great mystery--I've read two so far and have not figured out "who done it" until the last page. She also has several interesting subplots going on to keep the reader off balance--each story is a mystery within a mystery. Fun reading. Winter is tough for me, but I figure I'll get through it quite easily binge reading these hard to put down stories. I recommend reading the first in the series called Still Life even though they can be read in any order--I actually read the newest novel first because it was recommended in my bookclub.  Still Life is set in a quaintly township called Three Pines near Montreal as Chief Inspector Gamache works for the Surete du Quebec. An elderly woman named Jane Neal has been found dead in an apparent "accident" in the woods on Thanksgiving morning. Gamache and his team of investigators head out to the town where the reader is treated to meeting a host of quirky characters--lifers in a town that can't even be located on a map. Was it a tragic hunting accident or could one of the townspeople really be a murderer?  Don't worry, Gamache and his team will solve this mystery. Gamache might even fall in love with this strange town and it's inhabitants by the end too. Penny's novel is about 300 pages--easy to read but hard to put down--about a 4-5 mile run--that will leave you wanting to read the next one. Guaranteed.

January 29, 2017 DON'T BLINK

Many of my running friends are lucky. They are lifers. They get to run by the houses and neighborhoods that they grew up in!  Isn't that cool.  So, on many a run, I have been treated to a grand tour of the old neighborhood. It's really great fun as I've learned all kinds of historical information and long forgotten gossip. Reminiscing is in many ways comforting --a time to reflect on where you came from--literally--and it can also be hysterically funny.  I love hearing the stories of yesteryear--whether sledding down the middle of the road or playing badminton in the giant  yard--that is actually the size of a postage stamp--these are the simple things that shape our lives. They are the things we miss the most when we think back to the good old days.  As kids we just live, we don't understand how much we are shaped by our neighborhood and we certainly  can't understand how much we will miss it when we grow up.  SO, it's great to run by, stop for a few minutes- check on the old homestead and share an old memory. By the way, NOT sure we really like the color you painted the front door. Ha! Don't blink, it really does go by so much faster than you think. Believe it or not, Ray Bradbury wrote a wonderful book reflecting back on his childhood in 1957 called Dandelion Wine. I know what you're  thinking--Ray Bradbury--master of science fiction, fantasy, dystopia--how could that be?? Well it is. 

Dandelion Wine is my all time favorite Bradbury book. It's a collection of short stories--semi autobiographical--of twelve  year old Douglas Spaulding's life while growing up in the fictional town of Green Town, Illinois, in 1928. The stories are loosely weaved together as Douglas spends time with neighbors, friends and family and recounts he many treasured adventures with them.  I LOVED this book, especially, the story of the Time Machine-- who is actually a colonel who witnessed the battle of Sumner during the Civil War, the hysterically funny story of the Green Machine and the heart wrenching story of The Swan. The writing is absolutely top notch--almost poetic. And the  descriptive writing is perfect of the town and all it's inhabitants.  His neighbors, family, and friends are richly portrayed--I really wanted to go to Green Town to meet them all. It is evident that Bradbury loved his childhood and his  reflections on the simple joys of yesterday will stay with you forever. This classic novel is only about 280 pages --or a 5 mile run--that will leave you feeling nostalgic too. 

January 25, 2017 GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT

Decided to go to the gym last night ONLY because we were in the middle of a nor'easter.  I did contemplate running during a lull in the rain but decided against it as several limbs and trees had fallen and--WITH MY LUCK. Anyways,  I really had to talk myself into this gym thing because I HATE running on the treadmill. So after making myself drive to the gym, I parked my car and ran through the wind and pelting rain to the door. Can you believe it was locked!!  Because of the high winds, the side doors were deemed unsafe and  all members were asked to go to the main entrance. OKAY-- REALLY ANNOYED. So, I ran back to my car--soaked and completely windblown-- and drove around to the front and THEN couldn't find a place to park--that was WEIRD.  After parking a half a mile away and fighting my way through the storm--AGAIN--I walked into the gym and had to do a double take. It was PACKED with people--like sardines.   January--the New Year--oh yeah--New Year's Resolutions. I practically had to fight some newbie for a treadmill because THERE WAS NO WAY IN HELL I WAS  GONNA WAIT--remember I had to talk myself into going in the first place.  I just wanted to get this thing DONE.  As I sweat through my run though, I thought about all the newbies at the gym. Getting in shape is a great resolution and I wish you all great success. ADVICE-- Take it one day at a time and set realistic goals -- so that you can succeed. Don't forget to find a buddy and have fun too. It really is a lifestyle change that you will never regret. By the way, why is it SOOO hot at the gym.................For some strange reason--a combination of  the heat at the gym and the hordes of people there-- reminded me of a tragic but important book I read several years back called The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy by Stewart O'Nan.
On a blistering hot day, seeking refuge from the heat and a distraction from the war, 9000 people attend Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus in Hartford,  Connecticut. It was July 6, 1944. As the audience stared at the high wire act, a small fire began on the side wall of the tent. Within minutes, the entire tent was engulfed in flames. In the panic--167 people died and 487 people were injured. While researching this terrible tragedy,  O'Nan interviewed dozens of witnesses, reviewed old newspaper articles, police records and court documents in order to write this moving and sad account of an event that could have been prevented. Although it is still not known for sure how the fire started, it spread quickly because the tent had just been waterproofed with 6000 gallons of white gasoline and 18,000 pounds of paraffin. Sounds crazy but it's true, and it was a common method for waterproofing tents at that time. A recipe for disaster. Several people have never been identified, one in particular, Little Miss 1565-- a young girl who died in the fire. I think I read an article in the paper a while back where Little Miss 1565 may have finally been identified but when this book was published it was unknown. Intermixed in this book are not only great pictures from the time period but several snippets from survivors telling of great feats of bravery and heroism.  This is a compelling read of about 350 pages-- or a 4 mile run--that will stay with you forever.

January 23, 2016 THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME

The weather was incredible this weekend. Mild and great for running--less bulky without all those extra layers. I was in heaven--pared down to only the essential--it was wonderful.  I decided to give up on my running app this weekend because I really didn't like running with my iPhone strapped to my arm. It was bulky and uncomfortable--really annoying when I started shedding layers too. It was a huge pain in the butt-- like performing a delicate surgery every time I tried to take off my jacket. I can't imagine wearing it in the summer either. It will definitely be too hot to keep that strapped on my arm--and forget the really weird tan lines. So I'm back to manually logging my miles and listening to my old iPod. I thought it was a classic but I've been informed that it is a second generation NANO with one GB--a real dinosaur--but it feels like home to me. Speaking of dinosaurs, the main characters of Anne Tyler's latest novel A Spool of Blue Thread are definitely feeling their age.

First of all, Anne Tyler is an excellent writer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. This is her twentieth novel and it is a beautifully written saga of three generations of the Whitshank family. Abbey and her husband Red have always lived in the family home that was originally built by Red's father Junior in 1920. It actually serves as the anchor for the entire family--with generations of family gathering on the spacious porch.  Abbey and Red are parents to four grown children and several grandchildren. They have two daughter and two sons. Denny is the "prodigal" son while Stem, the "adopted" son, is steady and reliable. This is the story of family secrets, jealousies, disappointment and resentment. It is also the story of parent/child relationships, forgiveness and understanding. Tyler's writing is flawless--the characters seem alive--the house seems alive--and their relationships, however complicated, are real. They could be any family as all families can be difficult to navigate--and the Whitshanks are no exception.  After tragedy strikes though, the family has to make decisions about the house they love, and how best to take care of aging parents. Read this story to find out what happens to Abbey, Red and their family--it's about 350 pages--or a 5 mile run--that you will thoroughly enjoy. You will actually feel as though you know the Whitshanks and miss them when you finish the book. 

January 21, 2016 THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY

I hate my birthday. What kind of weirdo hates their birthday??  I'm pretty sure I've hated it for a long time for various reasons. Family problems for one. It was  hard to feel happy about my birthday when it wasn't even acknowledged by important family members. Hello, did you forget??  Was I really so unimportant?? That really put a damper on the day so it was better to ignore it as much as possible. Today, I still try to ignore it as much as possible for other reasons. I really don't like getting older--looking older--feeling older--the WHOLE SHEBANG-- and my birthday is just ONE more reminder that I REALLY AM getting older. How can that be??  CAN'T I JUST LIVE IN  DENIAL--that really is my modus operandi.  THAT'S HOW I SURVIVE. If I ignore it--it won't happen right?? I get the older wiser thing, but  I'd rather be dumber and younger--VANITY and all that nonsense. My poor family has even learned to keep it on the down low--no cake or celebration--for me. I did have a great run though--the weather was  beautiful--48 degrees and sunny--and that was birthday present enough for me. I am a pretty low maintenance person in many respects--very different in every way from Amy Chua the author of the best selling book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. 

First of all, I wish I were a little more like Amy Chua but that's never going to happen. Chua is a professor of law at Yale University who has written several books. She wrote Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother in 2011 in an effort to share her "authoritarian parenting style" to show why Asian children are so successful. Chua, herself, is a tiger mother of two very successful daughters. She and her husband raised their daughters to respect authority, in a strict household where the "pursuit of excellence" was expected. Chua demanded that her children excel because that was what they were supposed to do. Long practice sessions with respected teachers in music were the norm. Constant drill work and study sessions were necessary because mediocre grades were unacceptable. Chua believed that "western parents" were too indulgent and permissive and she would have none of that "tainting" her daughters. This book was highly entertaining--at times very funny--but also shocking. Read it yourself to find out why. Like I said before--I wish I had a quarter of Chua's personality as I am one of those "western parents" who can be too indulgent and permissive at times. Anyways, it's a pretty easy read of about 250 pages or a 3 mile run that might have you rethinking your parenting or maybe not?