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.

WHERE'S THE LAWNMOWER ??

In Wednesday's newspaper (November 24, 2010 ... Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) there was a small article detailing how the United Stated Department of Agriculture has declared all 75 counties in Arkansas as ... "natural disaster areas". Due to the hot, dry weather conditions the state experienced this year, farmers are now entitled to apply for emergency loans at a low interest rate.

While certainly not a farmer, I have seen & experienced the effects of the dry conditions this year on my own property. I have had several trees suffer severe stress from the heat & lack of rain, so much so that the trees leaves were being "dropped" back in August.

Unfortunately, my largest Japanese Maple tree -- in the ground almost 10 years -- withered & died within the space of several days, despite my efforts to save it with water & reverse it's declining condition.

The only GOOD which was the result of the weather, was the grass slowing it's growth & not requiring me to cut the grass as often as I might normally. I guess I could also sight the reduction in buying gasoline for the lawnmower as a "benefit" of the hot, dry weather.

One "cosmetic" effect of the weather this year was the poor Fall coloring in many of the trees which did retain their leaves. Most of the very large Oak Trees close to my house have produced large quantities of acorns this year, but have looked lousy when it came to any leaf/tree coloration. Well ... "brown" IS a color I guess.

Without Cedar Trees & other evergreens, along with the large groves of Bamboo, the yard is devoid currently of any "color". The carpet of fallen leaves does little -- or nothing -- to make the property appealing to the eyes.

Too little, too late for the farmers, we have finally started to get needed rain. In fact, yesterday -- Thanksgiving -- we had rain ... all day long.

Not only have the creeks, ditches & other non-permanent bodies of H2O filled up -- like "Lake Hilda" in my front yard -- but accompanying the rain was a very fast moving cold front. It was 73 degrees yesterday at noon. An hour later ... 51 degrees.

It kept getting colder as the day wore on, till finally it was in the low 30's for temperatures in the night.

Cold AND damp. Winter weather is here.

What few trees in my yard which did have some colorful leaves, took a beating in the wind & rain yesterday. Above is a Parrotia Persica (common name - ??), which had some nice yellow color starting to show a few weeks ago. The neighboring trees were a combination of either still retaining their leaves, or already having dropped them.

As of this A.M., the tree still retained it's color in the lower part of the tree, but in the upper half, the wind & rain has stripped the branches of leaves & color.

NOTE: This tree has been in the ground since 1999, when I bought it via mail-order from the White Flower Farm in Litchfield, Connecticut. I have another one of the same species on the other side of the house. Both have good shape, interesting bark & -- normally -- provide me with nice Fall coloring.

The tree in the above photo is a Japanese Maple - "Bloodgood". The unique thing about this picture is that the color shown in the photo is the actual color on the tree as it was in my back yard just a few days ago. It really had a bright, pink-red color to it.

Well ... it DID have a beautiful color to it.

Yesterday's weather conditions took their toll on this tree's leaves. In fact, yesterday I sat on my couch, looking out the window -- with Precious in my lap, naturally -- watching the tree shed it's leaves as the wind & rain hit it. Sort of sad.

We HAD hot, dry weather this Summer & early Fall. Now, as Winter is just a few weeks away, the rain & cold temperatures have returned, as they do each year.

And ... the lawnmower is in the storage building for another few months.

MEOWATHON -- 2010

As usual, I was up early this morning -- think 4 A.M. -- & after attending to my roommates & making the bed, I began my morning as I usually do ... sitting at the computer getting caught up on the news & visiting my favorite -- & informative -- web sites.

I always check the weather -- current & forecast -- to gauge what the next few days will offer. Today there was a RED ALERT for Dense Fog !! Among the warnings listed were the words "Dangerous Driving". I had to laugh. Where were those warnings yesterday ??

Yesterday was the Meowathon 5K run in Memphis. I have been planning on this years race ... well ... since the Meowathon in November 2009. It's an annual event in my life.

I left here about 5:30 A.M. All three cats were in the house, which I felt was safer than one or all of them being outside, on their own for the day. [They have stayed out previously for the day. It's just not "the norm" & something I am not comfortable with.]

I doubt any fog "warnings" yesterday would have prepared me for what I faced in driving on Interstate 40 to Memphis. It was a complete "white out" for almost the entire 130 miles. Other than one or two previous occasions -- in upstate New York -- I have never ever driven in fog as heavy & thick as yesterday.

Despite the fog, I made it to Overton Park in Memphis prior to 8 A.M., more than enough time to get ready for the race at 9 A.M.

This year is the seventh consecutive year for the Meowathon. It's my fourth straight year to partake.

The gazebo in the park is the race headquarters for registration, getting the race T-shirts & "gift bags" from sponsors, as well as the central location for the items in the silent action, the raffle drawings & presentation of race medals for the winners after the race.

The first three winners in the various age groups of runners -- I'm currently in the 60-64 group -- win a medal. I will keep trying, but I don't think it is in the cards for me to ever be fast enough to win a medal. Maybe when I hit 80 years old.

For the silent auction, my Mother (Hilda) in Florida, made this Puss 'n' Boots knitted doll & donated it for the Meowathon.

The winning "bid" was $30. This money -- as with all the funds collected through the race, auctions, etc., -- was for the benefit of The House of Mews.

As for the actual race, I did the 3.2 miles in 30 minutes & 24 seconds. Good enough to place #111th , but not enough to beat another bunch of "old guys" for a medal.

After the race, I did three of my favorite things:
1] I went to Davis-Kidd Booksellers & had an enjoyable time visiting one of my favorite bookstores.

2] I had a wonderful lunch at Mosa Asian Bistro ...

3] with my good friends Marty & Mertle. (Sound like a Vaudeville act.) So good to see them & have quality time visiting with them. I even allowed Mertle to gush over the grand baby photos she brought along to show me. (Actually, she probably has them with her ... always !!)

The drive home in the afternoon was almost as dangerous as in the morning. It was not the fog this time -- that had long ago cleared off -- but all the 18-wheelers & other odd drivers. Interstate driving -- especially I-40 -- is not one of my favorite things to do at this point in my life.

And ... to show how the cats were GLAD to see me -- NOT -- as I opened the door to the house, all three ran past me & out in the yard, as if to point out how relieved they were to again be outside.

I had just busted my hump running for 3+ miles for their kind & this was the thanks/welcome home I got.

Rotten, THUGS !!!!!

MEET ME IN MEMPHIS

Today's the day. It's here ... finally.

[Well ... of course I still have to drive the 130 miles to Memphis. In fog, no less. YUCK !!]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

When I was MUCH younger -- think 8-10 years old -- growing up in Rochester, New York, a group of us kids would go to the Monroe Theater on Saturday afternoons. Times were "safer" then & going to the movies without an adult -- & lots of other activities -- was never given a concern.

Every Saturday, the Monroe Theater would have a afternoon special of 20 cartoons & a feature film. It cost 25 cents to get in & a HUGE bag of popcorn was only 10 cents. For another two cents, you could get a Tootsie Roll Pop. Nothing like several hundred kids all hyped up on cartoons, sugar & salt.

I think my favorite cartoon characters were Bugs Bunny, along with Tom & Jerry. It was always a big moment when the next cartoon appeared on the movie screen. It was our duty to all scream out in unison.

There were always one or two Mickey Mouse cartoons every Saturday. Mickey's face would fill the theater screen & get one of the biggest reactions from the kids. Adults, if there had been any, might have reacted the same way.

Mickey Mouse turns 82 years old today. The first cartoon he was featured in was called "Steamboat Willie". Walt Disney was the voice of Mickey in the movie. What a start.

To celebrate Mickey's birthday, Nibblets brought a mouse up on the front porch this morning. I guess Miss Nibs was feeling in a festive mood & shared the moment with Precious & Wobs, who were stuck behind the storm door & could only watch from in the house.

Being the sweet kitty that she is, Nibblets "played" with Mickey's relative & provided it with "games" ... like Tag, & Hide & Seek.

Then, Miss Nibs ate it.

iPHONE & TOMATOES

FOLLOW-UP TO YESTERDAY'S POST --

Once I charged up the iPhone I found yesterday morning, I spent some time with it, trying to see if I could determine the owner by any information in the phone. I was encouraged right off, due to the opening screen picture being of a peach orchard in Spring bloom. And I knew where that orchard was located.

I finally found a phone number/name in the directory which looked promising & called it. Small world ... it was my neighbor just down the road. The phone belonged to her daughter -- Karen -- who I know, since in the Summer I ride my bike to buy tomatoes & other produce at the farm her & her husband own ... where they have the peach orchard.

Last night at 6 P.M. I went to the neighbors house to return the iPhone to Karen who was visiting there. Due to all the personal items in the phone -- think new-born grand-baby pictures -- Karen was VERY HAPPY to get her lost iPhone returned to her.

I have a feeling I am going to have some delicious tomatoes next year.

NO BODY ... JUST AN iPHONE

Being a person of habits, each day I HAVE to do some form of exercise. It doesn't matter what it is -- lifting weights & doing sit-ups, jogging or just going walking (or ... all three) -- I do ... SOMETHING.

A lot of it has to do with my own past medical history. I'm trying to keep all my body parts -- especially the internal ones -- functioning & providing their necessary performance. As the saying goes ... "Use it, or lose it".

As I have written previously, I am going to Memphis Saturday to run in the annual Meowathon 5K. This run is in sponsorship of The House of Mews. It's always a well managed race & a fun event, for a very good cause.

Thus I am not only exercising for my health, but I am "training" (for lack of a better description) to run at a steady pace -- on a course with several hills (just to make it more challenging) -- for about 30 minutes in Memphis Saturday.

I have been doing "spirited work-outs" at the Hays Center in North Little Rock as part of my preparation. I was there this past Friday, Saturday & yesterday. My "plan" is to have one more hard workout tomorrow & then ease off till the Saturday race.

Well, this morning was a time when "planning" met up with "habits".

It started raining in the night. A GOOD, steady rain. The kind of rain that puts water in the creek & finally provides the needed moisture this area of Arkansas has been lacking for quite awhile.

The rain also came with colder temperatures & a stiff wind. Several million more tree leaves have been blown to the ground as a result of the weather conditions. Areas in the yard where I had previously raked/removed leaves, where again covered with them this morning.

The blowing rain & cold did not appeal to the cats this A.M. Nibblets went outside several times -- mostly just on the front porch -- but quickly made the decision to turn around & come back inside.

More of the leaf covered yard is shown above. Note Nibblets in the bottom, left corner, sitting in a brick planter. She's under the roof over-hang, but didn't stay outside very long. She soon joined the other two Girls, who both remained inside this A.M.

Now, normally on a rainy day, I will go to the Hays Center. But with my "planning", I was there yesterday. Today is a "recovery day". Plus -- again, in "the plan" -- I'll be at the Hays Center tomorrow. I'll do my hard workout then.

So, this morning, as is my "habit", I did my exercising ... locally ... in the rain. Make that "wind driven rain". I got soaked, naturally.

I did wear a good layer of clothes, as well as have on gloves. I was nice & warm, if not dry. I did a steady, sustained "power walk" with my head down, trying to avoid the rain pellets in my face.

Naturally, it stopped raining just as I got home.

When out on the roads exercising -- even in a steady rain, -- I keep my eyes alert, not only for traffic, but for anything ... ah ... different. This time of year, with deer hunting season having started Saturday, I'm sure to find deer "parts". It seems to be a custom with Arkansas hunters to discard unusable "parts" of the deer on the side of the road, or in the local creek. Very classy.

What I have not seen -- but am always alert & looking to find -- is a HUMAN body. My neighbor found one a few years ago. Some of this rural area is good for "disposal" of remains, not just of the deer variety.

What I did find today was an iPhone. Head down, rain in my face & there was the phone on the side of the road. Bingo.

I have the iPhone hooked up to the charger I use for my iPod. Maybe I can determine who the phone's owner is, or, if there is a body in the weeds that it belongs to.