Drenched

We left the house at 8:15 AM this morning. That is REALLY late to go out for a run in June. Hey, it's Florida! Even though it was a mere 80 degrees, the sun and humidity were intense. At first our pace suffered a little. We're a long way from the gains we were making on our minutes per mile before the surgery and brain events of last year. Somehow, though, once we were totally soaked in our own yuck, it didn't seem to matter anymore. Coming off the trail and back into the neighborhood we ran some intervals, but our per mile time shaved a minute off what we did yesterday, when it was earlier and milder. There's something to earning your sweat, imagining the ill feelings and the toxins departing through the cotton t-shirt and running shorts. What was even better was finishing with a splash. Hosing down by a couple of laps across the backyard pool is a great incentive to pick up the pace on the way home.

Okay, It's not that cold in Florida

A mid-February visit to 15 degree Chicago has cured me of my why-is-it-so-darned-cold-I-thought-this-was-Florida blues. Granted, moving to Florida I had visions of winter beach swimming and year-round flip-flops. We've had more than our share of cold this winter, maybe not record-breaking lows, but endless weeks of chill. Worse yet, I don't recall a year with so many overcast days. It's been looking like the gloomy Northeast. Bring back the heat and humidity.

145/365 High Falutin'

I hate to sound like an uppity Yankee, but this is the festive fare that was for sale at the Memorial Day festivities in Green Cove Springs, scarily, a mere 15 miles from my home. I thought the sign said it all, but on closer examination I find I am curious about the delicacies on the counter available for sampling. We took a ride down this evening to view the fireworks. The show was nice, but the people were pretty colorful too.

128/365 A Day at the Office

Due dates and deadlines coming soon, today is a work day. Slogging away in my "cubicle" I work on projects for the publisher and the consulting company. Surrounded by palms, birdsong, and blue skies, I must admit that my productivity is sometimes diminished as I resist the urge to pinch myself. Every hour or so I take a couple of short laps across the pool, or go inside to stand by the piano and scare the neighbors with my vocalizations. The mind wanders, twitters, facebooks, or lolcatz, but that's okay. I'm my own boss.

116/365 April 26th!!!!

The kid from New York sometimes has to stop and pinch herself. It's April 26th. School isn't over. Smith's Point and Jones Beach aren't even thinking about opening. But today I went for a run under a canopy of live oak and palm trees, then spent the 81 degree afternoon floating and lounging. The greatest times of my childhood were squished into two short months in every year of my youth. Now, as a grown-up kid, it's summertime mostly all the time.

59/365 At Least We Have Nice Weather

Ran a 5 mile race today. Not my best time, but the leg felt great throughout the race, and I enjoy the riverfront course with its historic waterfront homes and phenomenal river views. The weather was amazing so after our race we showered, changed, grabbed lunch and headed for the beach. We enjoyed a leisurely 3 mile stroll, amused by the fearless kids in the cold water, the patient pelicans, and the gluttony of the gulls. A delightful afternoon. Florida, you enchantress, how you make me forget my worries!