DUCKS & SPEEDOS

Six days a week I try to do exercise which will get my heart pumping, along with using some of the muscles I still have -- not many -- in some vain attempt to keep from getting fat (again) as well as try to hold back the ravages of getting old. It's a losing proposition, but I keep doing it.

At home, I do stretching exercises, lift weights & do sit-ups. I then hit the road & traverse a course of 2.5 miles; jogging &/or briskly walking, or a combination of both.

Once or twice a week, I usually go to the Hays Center for my exercise. There I have a 60 minute work-out each time; 30 minutes/3 miles on the treadmill & 30 minutes/2 miles walking the track.

Sunday's are my day of rest. No weights, sit-ups or running & certainly no Hays Center. Wearing my stop watch & keeping up a set pace is prohibited. I walk my local 2.5 mile course, enjoying what is (usually) a relaxing, early Sunday morning.

Yesterday I was joined on my early morning walk by two things: A GORGEOUS sunrise, filled with BEAUTIFUL color shades of red, orange & finally, maroon. There was also the sound of so many LOUD gunshots, it sounded like a war already starting between North & South Korea.

It's hunting season in Arkansas & no doubt, the shots I heard where not tanks -- although they sounded like them -- but the sound of duck hunters enjoying themselves. I assume it's not as much fun for the ducks.

My good buddy, Kenny, sent me a photo of a recent duck hunt he was on. I think he indicated they shot/killed 50 or 60 ducks. Kenny is the fella in front, where I hope he stepped in a three foot hole in the water, just after the photo was taken.

Now for all you Northerners ... these are NOT "Red-Necks", although Arkansas sure has it's share of them. These are "Good-Old-Boys". At least Kenny is. [I'm really not sure of the others in the photo.]

Kenny has always told me that there are two major things necessary for "successful" duck hunting; cold weather & plenty of water. Since Thanksgiving day, we have had plenty of both.

Weather conditions good for duck hunting don't really lend themselves to being favorable for outdoor exercises. I had another reality check in that regard this A.M.

Today' weather forecast was for rain. 100% ... all day.

I checked the computer radar before I went for my jog this morning. Lot's of green showing, indicating rain to the West. It looked like the rain was far enough away that I could get in a 30 minute run before the rain arrived here.

NOT !!!

I made it down to the main road -- too far to turn around -- before I got caught in a MAJOR down pour. I'd call it a "frog-strangler". To the "Good-Old-Boy's" it would probably be a "Duck-Drowner".

I had to keep running. It was the only way to keep from getting hypothermia.

I actually had a good work out. My clothes absorbed so much rain, I was most likely caring an extra few pounds of water soaked clothing during the majority of my exercising, adding to the resistance for my jog. [Good thing I know the route. It was raining too hard to see anything with rain covered classes in the downpour.]

As I got closer to home, I realized when I had left, only two cats were inside the house. Nibblets had gone outside earlier, before the rain. She was NOT waiting on the steps or on a window sill when I returned. I knew then a hard-target search was necessary

So ... I had to strip all my wet clothes off me on the porch. I got the umbrella, slipped on my shoes & went outside to look for my cat ... in only my underpants.

NOTE: No photos available of the trek through the yard, in 50 degree temperatures, carrying an umbrella, looking as if I was wearing only "Speedos". (YOU do the "brain picture". It's not pretty, I'm sure.)

I found "Miss Nibs" in the storage building, much drier than me. We both scurried back across the yard -- again, that "brain picture" -- to the house ... Nibblets to get fed & me to have a needed, warm shower.

Tomorrow ... I'll excerise again. Hopefully ... I'll be much drier.