July 29, 2017 CRAZY ON YOU

Step right up and get your tickets to the "CRAZIEST" show on earth--THE TRUMP CIRCUS.  As the ringmaster of this fine show, I'd like you to take a look at the spectacle in ring 5.  Trump ridiculing, humiliating and BULLYING his Chief of Staff  Priebus  into resigning.  OMG--Pay close attention people. Trump's actually  TWEETING-- the NEW YES man--John F. Kelly. If that's not enough then focus your attention to ring number 4--A wrestling match between Trump & Sessions. Trump's got the sleeper hold on Sessions--it's only a matter of time now. How dare he recuse himself from the Russian Shenanigans and appoint a special counsel to investigate!  Let's see how long Sessions can hold on..... In the meantime folks--Meet the New Communications Director in ring number 3--Anthony Scaramucci-- A MIRROR IMAGE OF TRUMP.  Just goes to show MONEY & CLASS are TWO completely different things. Hold your OOHHS and AAHHS until you see what we have on the screen above ring 2. Actual Tweets from our Dictator Trump--raging and whining about the Skinny Repeal--IT'S NOT HIS FAULT.  Now--what about the tweet banning the transgenders from the military. PEOPLE-- Don't fall for that old trick--TRUMP'S just trying to draw attention away from THE RUSSIAN MEDDLING THING. HUMMMM.  Last but certainly not least in ring 1--THE sexist comments to Brigitte Macron on the state of her body. HELLO--THINK WHAT YOU WANT BUT DON'T SAY IT OUT LOUD. AND what about the Boy Scouts??

 40,000 at the National Jamboree. First rule of public speaking--KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE. Oh yeah--any law enforcement people in the crowd tonight please be advised--POLICE BRUTALITY IS THE NEW NORM-- as Trump says, Let's not "Be too nice"to suspects who may be MS-13 gang members. IF WE ONLY HAD A WALL??   The list goes on and on--CRAZY--four years is a LONG TIME.  Seriously  though, I really think everyone is a little crazy in their own way--some more than others-- and this is certainly evident in Gail Honeyman's debut novel Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.  Eleanor is an odd duck. She is intelligent, but also childlike. She is  a thirty year old woman who works in the accounts payable department of a small company who has no friends.  She thrives on order and routine and speaks in an almost robotic manner that puts people off. Her life is very sad-- she merely exists--she doesn't know how to live because she's never been taught. After being traumatized as a child, she grew up "in care"--in foster families where she was never shown love. Eleanor seems to be on the Autism spectrum--but in her case I'm not sure if it's really NURTURE INSTEAD OF NATURE. Thankfully, all of this changes after she meets the new IT man in her office named Raymond. While leaving work one day, they save an elderly man named Sammy. He is so thankful that Raymond and Eleanor become honorary members of his family. This is when  Eleanor experiences many firsts--parties--family--unconditional love--friends. All of these feelings are wonderful, but they stir up old feelings and memories from her past that she has to face in order to truly live her life.  Believe it or not, this is a hilarious story--you will laugh out loud at times--but it is also a very touching story. I loved the book and could not put it down. This heartwarming  novel is about 300 pages-- an easy read-- maybe a 3 mile run. And you'll be rooting for Eleanor the whole way. Enjoy!

July 27, 017 IT'S MY LIFE

When is enough--enough?? This is a question my comrades and I often wrestle with on our long treks. I say--when I can't SEE--HEAR--WALK--PLEASE-- PUSH ME OVER THE BRIDGE. I know this is a morose topic but seriously..........When is enough--enough?? It's supposed to be about quality of life right? I get that quality of life can differ from person to person but I firmly believe a person should have the right to CALL IT A DAY. We live in a world where people live longer because of medical advancements which is great but when is it TOO LONG?? My grandfather NEVER sat still a day in his life until old age type 2 diabetes robbed him--first of his sight--then of his ability to walk. He begged me to help him end his life-- I really wanted to--he had NO quality of life--but I couldn't. In the end--he lost his DIGNITY--and DIED almost penniless after paying all of the medical expenses that  kept him alive?? HELP me understand this???  Our world makes NO sense. When a beloved pet gets old--can no longer see or walk--we are compassionate enough to put the pet down. As much as we love the pet--it's just time right?? Not sure why we can't be more compassionate with our human loved ones?? Don't worry though, after careful consideration and many discussions-- my comrades and I have made a pact. We're not going to let any of that other nonsense stand in the way-- AND WE'LL DECIDE WHEN! I guess I should just be glad that I didn't live in Depression era New York City like many of the unfortunate characters in Jami Attenberg's wonderful historical fiction novel of 2015 Saint Mazie. 

Interestingly enough, Attenberg's  book is loosely  based on a real woman who lived in New York City named Mazie Phillips Gordon. She was the subject of an article in the New Yorker written by Joseph Mitchell in 1940 because she spent the Depression helping poor men who lived on the street and begged for food and drink. Attenberg took the facts of her life-- then created a series of fictional interviews of old neighbors and friends--added a dash of diary entries--both real and fake--and WOOLAA-- a  recreation of Saint Mazie's life. Mazie leads an unconventional lifestyle for a woman at that time period. She is a real character--a tough talking--"loose" woman--with a heart of gold. After her mobster brother-in-law Louis dies, she inherits the Venice Theatre where she sits and sells tickets and watches from her booth--first the Jazz Age--Prohibition--and finally the lives of many of the people she knows and cares about during the Depression. The horrors of the Depression change her life forever as she spends her time and money helping the downtrodden live with a little dignity. Her acts of kindness eventually lead to the nickname Saint Mazie. This book is at time very funny, but it is also a heartfelt story that makes you feel like you have gone back in time--that's how good the writing is. Take some time to read this cleverly written book of 330 pages--only a 3 mile run--whose characters  will stay with you forever.

July 24, 2017 WHO LET THE DOGS OUT

Live in the moment. It sounds like such a simple thing--but it's actually hard to do. For some reason I always feel compelled to think ahead--tomorrow--next week--next month--next year.  I wish I could train my brain to appreciate the here and now instead of AGONIZING  over what could be.  Did you know that people actually SPEND between 5-6 years over the course of their lives worrying--ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. ALL WASTED ENERGY. Intellectually--I know this--but I HAVE TO constantly remind myself to let it go and--LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Just think about all the things we miss if  our minds are ELSEWHERE. The aroma of lavender and honeysuckle that has got to be inhaled deeply to appreciate--OR-- listening to the pitter patter of the rain as it rhythmically taps on the roof. We might even miss the lightening quick buzz of a hummingbird  at the bird feeder--NOW THAT WOULD REALLY BE A SHAME--all because we are too busy stressing about OTHER things. So next time worry and anxiety start to get the best of you--STOP--take a deep breath--and tell yourself to LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Either that or get a dog--they always make everything better. Dogs do have a funny way of calming, relaxing and taking care of their people which I learned about first hand when I read A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron.

If you are a dog lover--this is the book for you. Told from a dog's point of view, this is the story of one dog's many incarnations. When this wonderful dog is born the first time, he is is born into a feral family and is eventually euthanized, however, in his second life--he is reborn as a golden retriever and eventually finds his way into a  family with a boy named Ethan. Ethan names him Bailey and together they go on many adventures and grow up and in Bailey's case--grow old--together as Bailey is put down at the end of his long life. Next, the dog is a german shepherd named Elle who works as a rescue dog with a police department. In his final incarnation, he's as a black lab named Buddy. One of the interesting things about the book is that the dog remembers every life he has lived and the lessons he has learned over the course of his lives--most important-- the love between a boy and his dog. As Buddy, the dog learns his true purpose.  Find out Buddy's true purpose when you read this wonderful, heartwarming, funny, tear-jerker that reminds me that dogs love their owners just as much as owners love their dogs. It's only about 330 pages--or a 4 mile run. It's an easy read that will have you reminiscing about your dogs of yesterday and appreciating the ones you have today.

July 22, 2017 BABY I LOVE YOUR WAY

Whether it's a puppy, kitten, duckling or newborn baby girl --there's nothing quite like a baby. They are such a precious gift. I've actually figured out why babies are SO important in families. Unbeknownst to them, they actually help us cope with the ups and downs of life. They help everything make sense--especially when we are grieving. My first son came along at a difficult time. He was born about 6 months after my father-in-law died. His birth revived the family and although we were sad, the joy he and his cousins gave us--soothed our souls and brought us great joy. Two short years later, my daughter was born helping to bridge the loss of my grandfather--the love of my life--and idol for many years. Much later--our beloved dog Jennie died. We were all devastated by her loss--she was about 15 years old--had a great life BUT we missed her terribly.  I hated coming home after work --it was TOO quiet in the house without her. There was  NO one to greet me at the door--genuinely happy to see me. I'M REALLY NOT THAT EASY TO LIVE WITH BUT JENNIE DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND.  I lasted about two weeks--before I started looking for another four-legged friend.  Ended up adopting two rescue dogs--Farrah and Maggie. Wonderful companions who immediately became part of the family. Babies, human or otherwise, bring great joy--many times

 when we need it most. I just finished reading a book where the main character developed amnesia and forgot ten year of her life including her three children. Interesting right? Anyways, I've never read Liane Moriarty before but I have to say I really enjoyed her novel of 2009 What Alice Forgot.

Alice Love is a 39 year old mother of three in the midst of a messy divorce from her husband Nick.  One day while  at a spinning class at her local gym, Alice falls off the bike, hits her head and develops amnesia. She wakes up and thinks she is a 29 year old newlywed. She has NO recollection of the last 10 years. She can't understand why her husband Nick won't visit her in the hospital or why her sister Elisabeth hardly speaks to her. And who is this Gina person everyone is whispering about??  Alice doesn't even really recognize herself either. She has become everything she despises. She is now extremely thin, obsessed with exercise--with a personal trainer to boot. She wears loads of make-up, expensive clothes and is the head of the PTA at school. She is also totally flabbergasted by motherhood and has no clue how to take care of her three children. It's a nightmare--or is it? Alice decides to put the pieces of her life back together in order to figure out how things went so terribly wrong in her marriage. Was her case of amnesia  really a blessing in disguise? Find out when you read this page-turner for yourself. I could honestly hardly put it down. It is an easy read--450 pages or only a 4 mile run--seriously. It begs the question--if you could forget 10 years of your life would you??

July 19,2017 THE PRETENDER

It's been REALLY hot and humid lately. Running has been SLOW and air quality alerts have been all over the news. Gotta get out there early--before the sun pokes her weary head through the clouds--THAT'S FOR SURE. Seriously drenched from head to toe with sweat after every run--Kind of like sitting in a sauna for an hour. Hopefully I'll sweat off a couple of unwanted pounds--or NOT.  I'm pretty kooky about my weight--have been for years. I'm actually afraid to weigh myself these days--I've been eating AS MUCH AS I've been running--It's a vicious cycle. Wish I weren't so critical of myself--it's like I see myself through a coke bottle. My youngest turned ten the other day so we were looking at old photos. I remember looking at those pictures right after they were taken--analyzing every body part--ARMS--THIGHS--BELLY--and thinking YUK!!  So crazy. I look at  those SAME pictures NOW--and shake my head. WHAT WAS I THINKING??   I'd give anything to look like that now. NEVER SATISFIED. My goal is to be MORE forgiving and LESS judgmental about my body--need to stop overanalyzing and be thankful that I am healthy and able-bodied. Everything else is just icing on the cake. If  Colman Silk, the main character of Philip Roth's novel The Human Stain, only accepted himself--maybe his life would have turned out differently.

First of all,  a little about Philip Roth. He's a great American writer and winner of several awards during his long career including a National Book Award, Pulitzer and a Man Booker Prize for  lifetime achievement in fiction. The Human Stain is set in 1998 in New England and told from the perspective of Nathan Zuckerman, a writer researching Silk's life for a biography.  Coleman Silk is a Classics professor at the end of his career at Athena College. He has had a distinguished career and is well-received by both faculty and students--until two students accuse him of being a racist. Silk is eventually forced to retire in a wake of shame--without even defending himself. His wife dies shortly thereafter and Silk falls off the deep end and decides to stick it to everyone. He has an affair with a 34 year old illiterate janitor who works at Athena--with a whole set of problems including a violent ex-husband out for revenge. His children are disgusted by his behavior and won't speak to him and his former colleagues don't know what to think. In the midst of all this chaos, Zuckerman learns some damaging information while researching for his biography on Silk.  Coleman Silk has been keeping a secret for 50 years--from his wife, children and friends. A secret that will change everything. Find out Silk's secret when you read this tale about race, shame, violence and political correctness--all set against the Clinton impeachment scandal of 1998. Hope you get all the irony that's packed into these 380 pages. It's a bit dense--maybe a 6 mile run--but the writing is brilliant and Roth is definitely worth the read.

July 17, 2017 A CHANGE WOULD DO YOU GOOD

If someone told me 25 years ago that I would become a runner--I probably would have laughed in their face. I always "thought" that I hated running--it was TOO MUCH WORK--I'd get too SWEATY--it was too much EFFORT.   It's funny how attitudes and thinking evolves. As we grow and mature--it's our DUTY to re-evaluate and change our lives in positive ways or we'll get STUCK--sometimes repeating learned patterns that are self-destructive. Yesterday while out on a long run with a few comrades, we started talking about change. We all agreed that change is GOOD and NECESSARY but it's actually really HARD. It's REALLY a state of mind and a willingness to be dedicated to that change until it becomes a habit. Whether you're working on self-reflecting and making behavioral changes or trying to change your diet because of long held values--IT IS NOT EASY. Change is a HUGE commitment--it takes time-energy-focus and PERSISTENCE. You have to really want it and THAT'S THE HARDEST PART. So if you're thinking about making a change--DO IT NOW. It's never too late. CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE--CHANGE YOUR MIND--CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

If Vince Camden, the main character of Jess Walter's winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award,  Citizen Vince, took my advice, he would have changed his life after entering the witness protection program. Vince is a former mobster, relocated to Spokane, Washington, after testifying against the mob. In his new life, he's a donut maker and petty thief. He hangs around a seedy bar, where he plays poker, deals in dope and has a hooker for a girl friend. He hasn't changed much. He is also involved in a credit card scam that leads him into a world of trouble as his old friends show up in Spokane for revenge. Vince decides he must go back to New York--clean up some loose ends--if he wants to live. This is a humorous crime drama with a drop of politics as the story is set one week before the Presidential election in 1980.  Vince actually gets caught up in the politics of the time as this is the first time he is able to vote and he's taking it seriously. He's got one week to get back to New York-- survive the police and mobsters who are out to get him--so that he can become an upstanding citizen. Find out what happens to Vince when you read this page turner for yourself. It's about 290 pages of fun--like an episode of The Sopranos. It's a slow 4 mile run that will make you a huge Jess Walter fan.

July 13, 2017 TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT

Being a MOTHER is ONE TOUGH JOB. You're DAMNED if you DO and you're DAMNED if you DON'T. The list of rules is mind-boggling--and it seems to change on a dime. These are some of the lessons  I've learned--THE HARD WAY over the years.
1) DON'T ASK QUESTIONS--GOD FORBID (eye rolling & head shaking) STUPID QUESTIONS--which are all based on some TOP secret criteria.
2) DO NOT MAKE DIRECT EYE CONTACT--this may cause a mild to severe irritation depending on MOOD of the subject being LOOKED AT.
3) NEVER EVER MAKE SUGGESTIONS--Even when asked--because it will SOMEHOW become YOUR FAULT.
4) JUST SAY YES--it will save you a lot of aggravation in the long run. The CAR--MONEY--CREDIT CARDS--SURE-No problem--Is there anything else I can give you (make sure you are smiling when you say this)

5) REMEMBER THAT YOUR WORLD ALWAYS REVOLVES AROUND EVERYONE ELSE. Cancel ALL plans--AT THE DROP OF A HAT--for any ridiculous-even petty demand. I've been told this is an UNWRITTEN motherhood rule BUT I think it's REALLY just part of a diabolical plan to SLOWLY suck the life out of all MOTHERS.
6) BECOME A WORLD RENOWNED CHEF--Always prepare RESTAURANT QUALITY meals for Vegans, Vegetarians, Meatatarians, Pescetarians, and the  Lactose-free diner. This will save you  from excessive whining and complaining everyday between the hours of  4-8. THE PRIME WHINING HOURS.
WARNING:  THESE RULES--OR GUIDELINES-- ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY. GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED.
All this blabbering about mothers made me think of a wonderful novel I read a few years back called One True Thing by Anna Quindlen. Talk about perfect mothers, Kate, is the quintessential mother--she is a stay-at-home mom who cooks, cleans, sews, needlepoints--she's one of THOSE mothers--a real caretaker. As the novel unwinds, Ellen in is jail for the mercy killing of her mother--mulling over the previous months. After receiving a phone call from her father, Ellen, a 23 year old  writer living in NYC, returns home to care for her mother who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ellen feels obligated to return home as she has always looked up to her father and sought his praise. On the other hand, she has never understood her mother and has only tolerated her--even looking down on her chosen profession.  All of this changes once Ellen comes home. As an adult, she sees things differently. She gets to know her mother on a different level, now as  her caretaker.  Ellen comes to realize that her mother is the cement that has kept her family together. She comes to resent her father, a man she only saw through rose colored glasses. This is a wonderful, well-written novel that is also thought provoking. It begs us to question how we treat the terminally ill. Find out what happens to Ellen when she faces the grand jury for her crime. Will she remain in jail? Find out what ultimately happens to her family when you read this book of about 290 pages. This is a real pager turner--so it's only a 3 mile run that you will never forget.