Escape from Westerly, a Vacation happened this week!

Monday (20) I caught a note from one of the EBAC Tour de Testosterone guys to me, Ro, and Charlotte (or Char-Ro-Be) as he calls us, wondering if the Ruby Gurlz would like to ride on Monday.  I was game.  The weather would be perfect for a ride.  Tom ended up wanting to go early but Charlotte couldn't meet till 5 so the Ruby Gurlz rode.  The weather ended up being more and more perfect as the ride progressed!  We even saw 4 deer on the Haley Farm bike path.  it was just what the doctor ordered!

"They've lost it."  Jax

Tuesday (1.5) Dave was out riding and so Jax helped me mow the lawn, then we played a bit, mostly him barking at me and running around, but what ever.  After that foolishness I took him on a walk to run some errands.  It might be his age or the camping but he is so much better around people and other dogs, he is not an angel by any stretch of the imagination, well maybe if you think Buddy Cianci or Kwame Kilpatrick were or are innocent.  He has improved greatly and just when I think we may be turning a corner he reminds me he is still crazy.

Wednesday (5.5) Ro and I opted to walk and not do the hill loop.  I think she wanted to run.  I can't run and talk at the same time and yes I'm still very insecure about my running.  We aren't strolling but we aren't running, and really our pace is only a minute slower than my typical walk/run pace.  Whatever. 

Carriage Road gate house

We left for Acadia after I got home from work!  The first destination: Cracker Barrel in Portsmouth ME.  We were spending the night in the Cracker Barrel parking lot.  I know it sounds a bit odd, but this is part of what we will need to experience on longer trips.  Dave doesn't like to drive for more than 6 or 8 hours towing the trailer.  I can't blame him and since he doesn't trust me to drive, it is all on him.

Jordan Pond

We pulled in to the CB parking lot about 10 p.m. made up Jax's bed, shifted some stuff around to half of Jax's bed so we could get into our bed.  We keep the solar panels and the chairs on the "big bed" while traveling.  Jax seems a bit miffed he had to share his bed.  The dinette makes up into a twin sized bed, there was room to spare.   As the CB is off the highway there was a bit (ok a lot) of road noise, plus we were in a parking lot.  I got a bit paranoid someone would rob us, but then figured Jax would sound the alarms and he looks pretty ferocious when he's spazzing out barking.  

Eagle Lake

Thursday (3)  We weren't robbed although none of us slept all that great.  Another RV arrived during the night, they were up walking their dog this was of great interest to Jax.  Dave went to CB to order some breakfast, I mean we used their parking lot shouldn't we buy food there? 

Jordan Stream Bridge

And we were off to Acadia!  Check-in time at Blackwoods Campground was noon and we were there at the crack of noon.  This was odd for both of us.  We weren't sure exactly what to do.  I took a walk around our side of the campground with Jax, help him get his bearings, and then we figured we'd take a walk down to the ocean, so we did that. OMG it was so beautiful, the teeniest tiniest bit of the shoreline we saw.  I certainly didn't remember this from the last time we were here in 2000, for Kris and Brooke's wedding.   After all that it was still early so we took a drive around the Park Loop Road to get our bearings.  

A bit of fall!

We did the tourist thing of driving up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.  Jax can add this to his list of summits, right?  We can't.  I think the drive around the Park Loop Road was far more spectacular.  Everything was spectacular but the drive was more so... if that can be a thing.  Basically, the Park Loop Road gave me some clue about Mount Desert Island (MDI) as well as Arcadia, they aren't exactly one in the same Arcadia is in MDI.  I knew we'd be there for a while so this was the first time I purchased a tour book specifically for the place.  After scouring Amazon I came up with a lot of recommendations for "Acadia:  The Complete Guide" by James Kaiser.  I was dubious when I ordered it because usually these things are filled with shopping, hotel, and restaurant recommendations, NOT at all what we consider important.  Food is just a thing we have to do, we had our own accommodations, and the thought of crawling through tourist town shops, when we live in one, isn't appealing either.   This book was worth every penny I paid for it, there was maybe a page on shops and restaurants, the rest was on the island and the park and all the fun outdoorsy things to do as well as a little history, just enough to explain the geology, geography, and history, not enough to put a person to sleep.  We both read it cover to cover on Thursday.

Friday (25 + 3)  Dave kept telling me I needed to bring my gravel grinder (Dolly) that the carriage roads would be what I wanted to ride.  I was mostly convinced.  I'm still not happy with her shifting and breaks and seriously need a new chainring or cassette, I need lower gearing.  From the tour book, I picked a few carriage roads I wanted to try out, and I read about the spectacular bridges, (yeah I too am getting sick of spectacular - I'm sounding like my FIL) and knew I'd see something even better than the drive on the Park Loop Road.    I could ride down ME 3 to the Park Loop Road and then pick up the Carriage Roads at signpost #17.  

Waterfall Bridge

Being my directionally challenged self, with no map I somehow managed to stumble upon a signpost and map that had, guess what, MAPS!  Yeah.  I decided I'd do the loop around Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake and then back to Sign Post 17 and sneak up the Park Loop Road going the wrong way and get back on ME 3 so I didn't have to deal with a gigungus hill on a curve (the curve had me more worried than the hill) on ME 3 heading back towards camp.   Seems like a fine plan, no?

Amphitheater Bridge

Well, I managed to get all turned around in the only area where bikes are prohibited and did a big loop.  Then I was stopped reading the map and happened upon a chatty rider, from Ohio. We midwesterners will talk to just about anyone.  Unfortunately, I've lost that gift after nearly 20 years in New England and come across as unfriendly.  I am putting a conscious effort into being more affable and approachable or at least chatty.  It is easier during high tourist season because the locals think I'm some stupid tourist and humor me.  It's the blonde/red hair and blue eyes, clearly, I am not from around here.  Anyhoodles, Mr. Ohio clued me into where I went wrong, he said, keep going to the right and keep the lake on your right but you can't really see the lake, and it is about a 10-minute climb (GAH!  So Midwestern!!).  He was dead on with his directions and time estimate.  

He finally sacked out in the canoe

When I got up to the tip of Eagle Lake my eyeballs were floating and I needed a restroom, TMI, but work with me here, I found two restrooms and the line was the boys' track team ab0ut 20 of them.  I hoped these were Men and Women rooms, nope unisex.  OMG for teenage boys in wee tiny running short they took F-O-R-E-V-E-R in the bathroom. Finally, I got my chance and was oh so happy to continue on my journey on the east side of Eagle Lake.  They were headding back from their warm up run as I was heading out on my return trip to Sign Post #17.  That side was a bit dull, very flat.  Beautiful, no doubt about it, just not as exciting as the other side.  

zzzzzz

I hit Sign Post #17 and out on the Park Loop Road, the wrong way.  I ducked into the grass on the side until someone stopped, a park ranger, indicating I was clearly breaking the rules and had to turn around.  I had maybe 1/4 of a mile to go.  But no.  I had to go with traffic, back up the hill I had been so joyfully coasting down.  Damn it!  When I screw up it's never on something easy, that is for damn sure.  I ground my way back up that hill to the entrance/exit at Seal Harbor and then up that nasty stretch of ME 3, the hill on the curve was as I expected a bit dicey.  But I made it and with tales to tell!

Cliff Views from the Ocean Trail

Dave went out that afternoon and had the benefit of my experience AND a map.  He did a different section of Carriage Roads.  In the morning he took Jax to Beech Mountain and they hiked up that.  Jax was a bit pooped but still up for some exploring around the camp, so we did that.  

I can't get enough of this view

Saturday (20 + 3)  I went on a shorter adventure on the Carriage Roads.  I did the loop he did.  This time I left from the access path from camp to the Park Loop Road, then to signpost #17 and rode the same roads up to Sign Post #10 and took a switchback route along Sargent Mountain.  The Carriage Roads were designed for horses to easily navigate so the uphill/down hill grade on the road is no more than 5% at the most and mostly a 2% - 3% grade, 5% where it needs to be that steep and only for a short time.  They are ideal for biking and running and walking and horses!  Rockefeller knew what he was doing!

Beautiful

There were a few people zooming down as I was grinding up, how could they just zip down while I was stopping and looking, in awe, at the sights.  Rockefeller designed these roads purposefully to blend in with the mountains as well as frame the views.  I haven't even touched on the bridges!  Holy cow, these aren't some slapped together ways to cross a stream, they blend in with the geography and frame some spectacular natural sight (such as a waterfall or a view).  

Happy to be on the return trip.

I studied the map a bit more and figured out I could hike my bike to ME 3 from the Day Mountain Trail.  It totally worked too!!

Dave took Jax to Arcadia Mountain, they summited, and this was NOT a climb for dogs, Dave had to hoist Jax up and down some of the boulders.  Jax was somewhat wiped out but ready for something else. 

He doesn't see many horses.

We went canoeing in the afternoon.  You can rent a canoe and a dog life vest so we did that.  Of course, the vest didn't fit Jax, boxers have deep chests.  We do have three life vests from when we would take Giz, Diesel, and Sage canoeing, all both times we took them.   Yeah, three boxers in a canoe is a sight.  They were better one at a time around Watchaug Pond and not all three in the canoe down the Pawcatuck River.   Jax was a little bit unsure of this but he was a bit wiped out from his hike so he settled in about 40 minutes into our paddle around Echo Lake.   I think he will do better in our canoe, there is more of a place for him to lay down in the middle.  Perhaps we will finally get some use out of it after all these years?  It was nice activity for all of us to do.  When you have a dog this is kind of how it works.  He would not do well if we left him alone in the camper.  

We aren't good at selfies

Sunday (8) Dave was off to Camden and I planned to hike out to Otter Cove and then to Thunder Hole with Jax, this would be about 3 miles.  I got a little turned around and didn't bring a map so we hiked Quarry Path till it met with a hard top road and I was lost.  No kidding, me lost in the woods, ha ha.  We hiked back and then went down to Otter Cove and found Ocean Drive Trail and hiked that to Thunder Hole.  It was as advertised not so great, timing is everything, while we were there the desired 2 hours before high tide, the seas were calm so no excitement.  Jax was decidedly unimpressed with the entire 4 miles we hiked.  I liked it.  We got back to camp and took a couple hour nap because we could!

Beautiful stairs!

On the way past the Ranger Station, I noticed there were books for sale so I took a quick peek.  There was one "Mr. Rockefeller's Road" by Ann Rockefeller Roberts (2nd edition)  I am really taken by these roads and wanted to learn more.  It was worth every penny I spent.  My mother is a book buyer and collector, I love books and reading, I don't need to have them, they can go back to the library and I am good with that.  So for me to buy a book to then have is kind of a big deal to me.  Did I really want to have this or not?  Well if it wasn't something I liked I could donate it to the local library book sale or leave it at the book exchange at work (it will be staying with me, if you want to borrow it, let me know).  

I wanted to explore more Carriage Roads but I was also kind of ready to not be on the bike.  I took Jax for a hike up Day Mountain (the trailhead I found on Saturday) on the Carriage Roads, walking up, with Jax sulking because he was now bored, was slow but really gave me the opportunity to see the views and the design of the roads especially after devouring 3/4 of the book I bought.   We hiked down the Day Mountain trail, single track, much steeper and far more exciting.  He sprung back to life seeing the single track coupled with downhill, two of his favorite things next to treats and his chair.  

On the way home!

All in this was a vacation not a getaway for the weekend, it actually felt like a vacation.  Dave will say our last vacation was "The Stupid Cruise"  in 2014. Ha! A week on a boat with his family a vacation...  ok...  I'd say our last vacation together was, hmmm before we were married?  We've had separate vacations, not many together.

A map so you can follow the numbers, maybe.

Knitting:

Baby sweater progresses!

Books:

"Acadia: The Complete Guide: Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island"
by: James Kaiser

Excellent resource!

"Best Easy Day Hikes Acadia National Park"
by: Dolores Kong

Great resource, should have purchased a book with more hikes, but I wasn't sure.

"Mr. Rockefeller's Roads: The Story Behind Acadia's Carriage Roads"
by: Ann Rockefeller Roberts

Fantastic book!  Interesting and great pictures.  

Sincerely,
Beth, can't wait to go back!

Steeple Chase Bike Tour and a week lacking in pictures (dug some from the archives)

Monday (4) A little more of the walk/run business.  I have some crazy nerve pain in my hamstring.  It goes away with movement and gets worse when I lay down.  Lovely.  I walked for a mile and everything felt fine so I started the interval timer.  The weather was cooler, and cooler is relative.  Thinking I can up the run segment to 3:30.  It's not easy but it's not a struggle.  Took half an hour and the hammie was back to being ouchy.  Thinking Padre is correct, something with the Piriformis.

Little dog in a big field.
Not trespassing, Jonny.

Tuesday (0)  Jax woke up not feeling himself, this was evident by him growling when touched.  He doesn't dance around this communication thing!  Jax tested positive for Anaplasmosis, the other tests come back shortly.  He didn't have any ticks on him, so it may be a re-occurrence or it may be the Lyme vaccine.  He perked up a little after his first dose of Doxy, definitely was interested in trying to clean the dishes in the dishwasher, completely uninterested in his ball.  Damn ticks or relapse. Oh and he weighed in at 85 pounds, clearly my fault, according to Dave.  He needs to lose 5.  Not only does he have to have icky medicine for a month I have to feed him 1/2 cup less food. 

From Saturday's ride.
They also had a stuffed Kangaroo on a Kabota.

I had no motivation to do anything so I didn't.   I thought about going for a ride, but made no progress.  Foam rolled my ouchy spots.

Wednesday (5.1) Jax was sort of goofy in the morning, so he's on the mend. 

Gus!

I am not a scientist, however I know changing two variables in an experiment is not a good idea to know what makes a difference.  I did it any way and upped the run period to 3:30 and then decided I wanted to run along the shore at Avery Point.  All in all I felt fine, a little sluggish but we can chalk that up to me being a combination of a lazy and intimidated runner.   My ouchy hammie/bum didn't hurt while moving.  I rolled out the parts that make me grimace and didn't hobble more than a step or two the rest of the day.  Progress!  At least I didn't have a back slide!

Jax!

Amy of the Pointy Elbows finally got me to scream Uncle!  She went in way too deep in my shoulder.  She did say I was pretty inflamed, so that makes sense why I was so tender.  She was as shocked as I was in agony. 

Gus and Jax

Thursday (1) Jax is 95%, he snuggled up to me this morning so he's still feeling a little off.  Usually he sits on me and demands I scratch his back.   We took Jax to the Flying Field as he was starting to get a little stir crazy and needed something to do.  Bob was there with his Labradoodle Barron and the two of them are about the same age and enjoy playing with each other.  Barron was happy to not be ordered around by Bob's daughter's dog, would that make him his nephew?  HA HA...

They ran and wrestled and then I took Jax on a hike down to the pond to soak him.  He was looking for his buddy Barron but it was time for Bob to go home.

That was a fun walk.

Friday (5) More walking than running, it was humid and oppressive I'm glad to have managed to get out and do what I did.  I was told I should be reducing my walking segments to 30 seconds.  Huh.  I don't know the methodology behind the walk run method but the logic is about only giving your body a small break to begin running again and a minute is too long if I want to run races.  I'm certainly not planning to participate in any races, I want to enjoy running when I can.  I honestly can't imagine enjoying running in a race right now.

Mount Washington Auto Road Race
Almost done.

For the first time in a long long time I didn't feel like I had to have a Friday Afternoon Nap.  That was odd.  I laid down on the couch and was decidedly not exhausted.  Weird.  Am I finally getting a balance back between activity and rest?  Am I sleeping better at night?  Granted we've been camping a lot and I have been taking Friday's off, so maybe this is just a fluke, but I went to work Friday morning thinking about that Friday Afternoon Nap.  Weird.

Gus!

Saturday (50)  It was supposed to rain the morning of the Connecticut Steeple Chase Bike Tour.   Jess convinced me to sign up for the 50 mile route, something manageable for me (in her opinion) and still a stretch for her (in her opinion).  I've got 14 years and Lupus on her and she has Scoliosis on me, we are pretty evenly matched with challenges.   She got fitted for a new bike earlier in the year and that has made the world of difference in her ability to ride longer distances and attacking hills.

See the Steeples?

The ride was beautiful and very well supported.  The first rest stop was 25 miles in, at a church, I remembered it being at a church for some odd reason.  I did think that we had 4 stops on a 50 mile ride which is excessive, but the map at the rest stop didn't show the stops I thought I saw.  Ok no biggie, stops every 25 miles is standard and the clouds were staying and covering up the sun which zaps so much of my energy.

Jax thought that was pretty cool, beeping and then people treats came out.
He wondered if there would be beeping and dog treats next.

We jibber jabbered with a few people commenting how it was nice the rain was holding off.  One of the SAG Wagon drivers joined in on the conversation mentioning the next rest stop was 8 miles away.  We were baffled.  He said it was at another church.  And that there was a short climb and some excellent views on the next part of our tour.  OK.  He confirmed there were 2 other optional rest stops if we needed them.   Apparently I did read the map correctly.

It was at this point Jess said "I finally figured out why this is called Steeple Chase, we ride from church to church."  Holy crap, wait can I say that? how clever!  The ride benefits ministries providing much needed aid to the local community.

Gizmo!! 

The dichotomy of the economy of Connecticut is interesting.  While it is the richest state, the average is brought up by Fairfield County (SE corner of the state), the richest and most populated counties in the state while being brought down by Windham County (NE corner of the state where the ride was held), the least populated and poorest counties in the state, with the average per capita income being lower than the per capita income of the US.  Windham is also one of the prettiest counties in CT, so they do have that going for them, Fairfield county is an extension of the concrete heat sink of Manhattan, doubtful a bike ride there would be filled with rolling roads opening views of farms and ponds and allowing you to fill your lungs with clean fresh air.

Snowshoeing with Bill and Dace

I was happy to be part of the ride and to raise much needed funds for that community.  From a purely personal aspect it was the confidence booster I needed after the Mount Washington Century.

The rain held off until after we returned, got massages, and food, as we drove away the skies opened up.

Dave made dinner plans with some friends, I rolled with the unexpected plans.  I enjoy hanging out with Bill and Dace, it's rare to find another childless couple with so many similar interests.

Gus, Gizmo, Jax

Sunday (2) I bailed on Mikey's invitation for a bike ride, instead watched a movie on Sunday morning.   Knowing lazing around all day wasn't a good strategy, I took Jax for a walk around town (it felt like it was getting cooler and drier) then finished up the small amount of edging along the road.  The dew point dropped into the 60s and the temperatures into the 70's, to celebrate being able to be outside and not have our knees sweat while sitting we went to the Flying Field for a short walk and to let Jax run off the last bit of his energy.

The pond (and a duck) in Westerly's Wilcox Park. 
What a fantastically beautiful day Sunday turned into.

Books:

"Settle for More"
by Megyn Kelly

Status:  Finished

Very good, it is an autobiography so clearly she is the hero of the book, but she admits where she has faults and how difficult it was to deal with the attacks and bullying from candidate Trump as well as others in the media.


"Girl Waits with Gun"
by Amy Stewart

Status:  Started

Historical fiction from real life events in 1914, sisters not willing to back down after attacks from a bully who wronged them.

Knitting:

I finished the socks!!!  Just in time to maybe need them in a month or so.  I started them in April.. Krikies that was a long time on one project.

Started another baby sweater.  Give my shoulder a bit of a break from the tiny needles.  Not sure if that will help or not, but I have missed knitting them.  Unfortunately I only have brown baby sweater yarn left, but I do have some small balls of pink I'll knit in here and there to give the sweater some color.

Sincerely,
Beth, feeling accomplished and looking forward to more adventures.

Little Dog in the Big Woods and a lot less complaining from me

Monday (3.5) Gak this weather is not my thing.  3 min run 1 min walk for most of the 3.5 miles.  I am feeling better as this process progresses.  Soaking my head and neck at the outdoor shower at Easter Point Beach is a welcome addition to the routine, I need to remember to take off my sunglasses as there is nothing dry to dry them off on!  Whoops.  I will be thankful for all this insulating hair in the winter, right now, it is a big heat sink.

The 16 year old French Nephew came for a visit.  Dave took him to Thunder Mountain bike park for the day and managed to not damage him too terribly much, a bit of a sun burn, a sore bum, and a few not very noticeable scratches. He was happy to have us tell tales on his older brother and Dave and he commiserated on being middle children.  We did our best to try and embarrass him at dinner, we weren't really successful.  Uncle and Aunt fail.

Tuesday (4.5) Walked with Ro, we were both soaked in sweat at the end.  I think that was supposed to be the worst of it and the weather gets better, wonder if it will be noticeably better? 

The Socks!

Met up with Dave's parents for some pizza, then went over to Buttonwood Farm to watch the cows eat sunflowers (I could do that for hours - I'll go by myself to do that) and then had some ice cream.  We handed off French Nephew to his grandparents and eventually they would relay him back to his father after the three of them had some adventures.   He goes back to France in three weeks.  

Wednesday (0) I mowed the lawn, or at least that's what I think I did, or maybe I did that on Thursday.  Huh...  Well when ever Neighbor Jeff mowed the lawn was the same day I did.   Clearly an unremarkable day.

Thursday (3.8) back at the walk/run intervals.  When the clouds were over the sun it was actually kind of nice!  That is the benefit of the steamy days the days which are probably still steamy seem less steamy.  The pleurisy kicked it up a notch breathing was uncomfortable.  I don't know if I'm making it worse or better with my walk/run routine, at the end I do feel better so I'll go with that.

Friday (24 + 2) Back to Ascutney State Park for the weekend.  The weather was all over the map.  I got in a quick road ride after we set up camp.  Well it wasn't all that quick and it wasn't all road.  I let Garmin decide a route for me. I plugged in the start point and the miles and the direction I wanted to go and it gave me a map.  I did specify road cycling...   I think when I saw "Hell Hollow Road" on the map I should have done a little investigating.  We have a Hell Hollow Road out here and it is a nice cruise down into the hallow and then a climb out of it.  I was kind of expecting that as that was about the high point in my mostly flat ride.



Dave gave me a hard time about going to Vermont to then ride my bike in New Hampshire, was I trying to make up the 30 miles I missed two weeks ago?  Ouch, thanks pal, I was nearly recovered physically.

Blow Me Down Mill

All in all the gravel roads making up 6 or so miles of my ride weren't too horrible, but at 110 psi in 25 mm tires going at any sort of speed and hitting a rock turned just the right way was a recipe for a spectacular blow out and probably a crash.

At Gap Road (you can see where I looped back to finish the way I started) I decided to cut my gravel ride short and find the closest hard top road.  The down hill would have been a spectacularly good time on much wider and softer tires.  Fortunately some of the super steep down was paved and curvy and I enjoyed myself.  I received a QOM on an uphill segment.  Yeah, I was the only woman to ride the segment.  Guess showing up has it's advantages?


Saturday (6) Dave went off to ride leaving Jax and I to hike and nap.  We had a long walk after breakfast and he had a nap and then we took a hike up to a look out.  Jax was not at all thrilled about the up hill but he's learning there is a subsequent down hill so he sucks it up for as long as he can till he stops and looks at me in disgust and we turn around.

Little Dog in the Big Woods

There was a rain alert and the radar looked like we might actually get some rain.  I tidied up camp putting things away just in case we had to scramble into the camper for safety.  Mostly I laid in the hammock and read and Jax stood look out.

On guard!

Later in the afternoon we went on a hike in Windsor Town Forest.  That's where Ragnar was last weekend and the 2,000 runners did some nice damage to trails running in the rain, as a result quite a few were closed.  Dave biked there most of the morning and he and Jax hiked there on Friday afternoon when I was biking.  It's good the trails were closed hopefully they can heal and be reopened to feet and tires. For profit event causing destruction. I can still see the damage to the Yellow Dot trail in Burlingame from The King of Burlingame bike race (no longer in existence).  The VT Mountain Bike organization responsible for building and maintaining the trails in the Windsor Town Forest have done a great job.  The trails are well made, marked, and maintained, however nothing is going to be unscathed from the abuse of that many runners running during and after torrential rains.  Or bikers biking (in my Burlingame example).

Patiently waiting for S'More time

The real rain held off till the middle of Jax's last walk of the evening, we were both a little wet and were ordered to dry off.  The storms lasted until 10 the next morning.  Happily going to sleep in our camper remembering tent camping in the rain and accidentally touching the side and the leak starting, then the sleeping bag wicking up the rain seeping into the tent or from the puddle that almost always formed in the corner.  Good times. 

Sunday (1) Packing up was pretty much done before we went to bed so the morning was slow and we waited for the rain to slow down before hooking up and taking off.   We were met with sun when we got home so that was nice and afforded us the opportunity for a good cleaning of Spud.  He was looking a little worse for wear from the last two trips.

How is this even comfortable?
He's in the back of the truck with his head up on the arm rest.

Jax went into his camping coma with in an hour of us getting home so we didn't have to keep an eye out for where he was as he has now learned to open the front storm door and let himself out.

Reading:

"The Broken Road"
by: Richard Paul Evans
Status:  Finished

Very good, read the books in order though.

"Everything we Keep"
by:  Kerry Lonsdale
Status:  Finished

About half way through it dawned on me I read this a few years ago but couldn't remember the end.  Once I finished it I remembered why it was so very unremarkable.  Been there done that story about foul play and a mysterious death.  Oh well. 

"Settle for More"
by: Megyn Kelly
Status:  Started

I really don't like discussing or listening to discussions on politics, PSTD from my childhood, someone is right and the other person is an idiot.   A friend, who also avoids the subject, read this, on her recommendation I picked it up.  I'm pulling out of this an autobiography not a political book. Megyn didn't start life on third base like her friend Susan Stamberg, if she had I would have chucked this book like I chucked "Lean In".  She's a few years younger than me which seemed to surprise me. I guess I thought she was older, being a TV personality and all, but no, she's not.   She's my youngest brother's age.  Once I realized that it was an aha because she was experiencing many of the same things I did, in a similar period of time, in the work place and trying to figure out how to fit in and make something of herself as the old boys club was starting to fade away and men were now having to deal with women their daughter's age in the workplace.

I wonder if she ever had to look some man in the face and say "How would you react if your daughter came home from work and told you some guy at work said that to her?"   Boom!

Sincerely,
Beth, happy to have short bursts of running to look forward to a few times a week.