August 29, 2021 BACK ON MY FEET AGAIN

 Had a great run this morning--despite the broken toe. Yup. That's what I get for walking around barefoot.  I smashed my baby toe into the side of the couch last weekend. It has turned several colors--dark purple, blue, pink, yellow and now an ominous shade of grey. Couldn't put a shoe on for a few days but it's much better now. Not much you can do for a broken toe. Yoga and running have been a bit of a challenge BUT I'm getting it done. The toe doesn't hurt while I run--BUT after I run OUCH--a little ice really helps calm it down. Gotta be careful with the Chatturanga too. Never realized---exactly what the FOUR corners of the foot really meant until now. We take our feet for granted UNTIL WE CAN'T--never really paying attention to them UNTIL something happens. It's really a shame. If it weren't for our feet --we wouldn't be able to DO SO MANY THINGS. Think about it........ Did you know most people walk over 100,000 miles in their lifetime--and they aren't doing it on their hands. So I'm trying to be kinder to my feet because they have to last a lifetime. Zoe Walker, the main character in Clare Mackintosh's thriller, I See You, depends on her feet too--to keep her safe as she runs from a stalker in the London Underground. One day while on her commute home, Zoe sees her own face in a classified ad. The website is FindTheOne.com and it's an ad she didn't post. Each day, a different woman appears in the ad and Zoe finds out that the women in the ads are later victims of violent crimes. She goes to the police and a policewoman named Kelly takes her case. This psychological thriller is told in alternating points of view between Kelly and Zoe as Kelly and her partner Nick try to solve the case and keep Zoe and the other women in the ads alive. Find out who is behind the classified ads and the crimes when you read this suspense filled, creepy mystery for yourself. It's about 450 pages or a 4.5 mile run that might have you rethinking your routine. Enjoy. 

August 21, 2021 UP ON A ROOF

I've had SHINGLES twice so my doctor was really on me to get the shot. I don't mind shots BUT I do mind side effects. I was assured that I would only have a little pain in the arm for a few days. WRONG. I LITERALLY felt like I was hit by a bus that was out to sea in the middle of a storm. The nausea was overwhelming AND  EVERY bone in my body ACHED. I couldn't even bend my fingers because my knuckles were SO sore.  It was like I had the FLU TIMES TWO for 24 hours. And as mysteriously as it came--it went. BUT--I still have to have the SECOND SHOT and that's FREAKING ME OUT. Who willingly gets a shot that they know is going to make them wish they were dead for 24 hours. HUM? Not me BUT..........This is a quandary. So I'll tackle this problem like I handle others--I'll ignore it til the bitter end. Forget about it--or try to BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. The only good thing I can report about my bout with the Shingles vaccine is that I sat still long enough to get through a pretty good book called We Are The Brennans by Tracey Lange. The Brennans are a large, close-knit, Irish Catholic family living in New York. The main character in the story is the only girl in the family, 29 year old Sunday who has been living in LA for five years. After a DUI accident and a string of bad luck, Sunday decides to return home to face her family and ex-fiancee, Kale. Kale is now married and a father who just happens to be Denny Brennan's business partner. After returning home, Sunday is determined to forget the past and rebuild her life but that is easier said than done; especially, after a man from the past reappears and tries to destroy the Brennan family. Find out how this complicated family is almost torn apart by secrets and Irish guilt when you read this interesting, easy to read family drama for yourself. It's only 290 pages or a 3 mile run that got me through a few tough days. Enjoy. 

August 9, 2021 TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD

 

Actually---it was four out of five. Not Bad. Got together with most of my siblings last week. Haven't seen a few of them in at least 10 years--HELL--haven't  lived with them since I was fourteen. My youngest brother doesn't even remember living with me. Crazy. Nothing like a health scare to get family together.  It was really great visiting with my siblings AND IT WAS LONG OVERDUE. We come from different states AND are as different as night and day BUT there is a bond we share that can't be denied. We laughed talking about the old days--cried because it had been too long--vowed to get together in the next two years. One of the highlights of the trip was running with my youngest brother.  I never in a million years thought we'd ever get to run together. We've texted  about the possibility many times  but the reality was amazing. Running in a new city is an incredible experience made even better because it was with him. I absolutely love the sights and sounds of a new city and running enabled us to explore the nooks and crannies often missed in the car.  We were even able to  run between Cincinnati and Kentucky several times thanks to some really cool bridges. If you have siblings that you haven't seen  in a LONG while--make the effort to get together--it's really worth it. Another thing worth your effort is the final book in The Art of Hearing Heartbeats trilogy by Jan-Philipp Sendker called The Heart Remembers. The last installment of this lovely series is set in Kalaw, a small town in Burma. Ko Bo is a twelve year old boy who lives with his Uncle U Ba. Ko Bo hasn't seen his mother, Julia Win, in seven years as she has a mysterious illness. He only sees his father, Thar Thar, once a year for a week because his mother can not be left alone. Ko Bo yearns to learn more about this parents and begs his uncle to tell him why his mother stays away but U Ba is reluctant to tell him. After finding and reading letters about his parents' love story, Ko Bo is convinced that he can heal his mother and reunite his family so he runs away to Yangon to try to find his parents This beautiful, tragic story is a must read for anyone who has read the first two books. The writing is incredible and the characters are unforgettable. This book is about 400 pages or a 4.5 mile run that you'll always remember.  If you haven't read the trilogy--I recommend starting with the first book and reading them in order. Enjoy.