Summer Solstice

So today's the first day of summer, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. As if we could really forget it. Anyone with a TV has heard the local news babbling for the past week that today would be the summer solstice. According to the local news (here on the west coast of Florida), the event took place at 6:51 AM, EDT. I slept through it, or, at least, tried to. Not that the earth shook, or anything loud happened to announce the occurrence...But I'd gone back to bed to try to catch a couple of extra minutes of sleep.

My son, M., had to work today. His schedule is such that he has a one-day-weekend every other week; the up side is that the other weekend is a five-day-weekend. He works Wednesday through Saturday, has Sunday off, then works Monday through Thursday, while another guy at work works the opposite of M. So, this weekend, while M. has a one-day-weekend, the other guy has a five-day-weekend.

M. has to get up at 5:00 AM to get ready, so I frequently set my alarm as back-up, just in case he conveniently sleeps through his, then I'll go back to bed until 6-ish. This is mainly to run interception at the front door, so that Karma, our resident Houdini, masquerading as a black cat, doesn't try escaping. I think he does this just to keep us on our toes; he'll go for a few weeks without incident, then, when our guard is down, Zooooom! Out the door! This morning, after M. left, I went back to and tried to sleep until 7:00. Never quite happened, what with Karma and Drexie wanting breakfast...

Good thing M.'s not into celebrating the Summer Solstice. Also, I guess to do it up right, we really should live near Stonehenge. But we don't. However, The Old Farmer's Almanac has suggestions for celebrating the solstice, some of which are do-able. Because of local laws, lighting a bonfire is out. And I seriously doubt that I'll be fishing or camping. But cooking outside is a possibility; so is planting a tree (we have plenty of them in our yard, most of which my sons and daughter and I planted), letting the light in (Florida is the sunshine state, after all!), reading a book, listening to songbirds, or watching the night sky.

Anyway, once I was up, I had my first couple of cups of coffee (does that count as celebrating the solstice? Probably not.), then got ready to go out for a walk. I'd wanted to walk and/or run for an hour, but got a late-ish start. I figure that with the heat and humidity, half-an-hour was not bad. I'll probably go back out this afternoon for another walk.

In the meantime, I guess I'd better get started on another Saturday. One of the neighbors is already out mowing the lawn. I kid him that he's obsessed with his yard, and he gladly admits that he is, although he's eased up a little on it over the last year or two. But when the worst you can say about a neighbor is that his lawn is perfect, I guess one can't complain. (We'll leave politics out; the neighbor and I generally do.)

Whether you tend to celebrate the solstices and equinoxes or simply are aware of when they happen, I hope you have a decent day. And if nothing else, maybe read a book while in a park, listening to the nearby birds. If nothing else, it'll at least break up your day a little.

Take a Hike...

There was a time when I would manage to get out for a walk or run most mornings. Even when I was in an off mood - or maybe especially if I was in one - I'd lace up my running shoes and head out. It almost always improved my mood.

Unfortunately, as much as I'd sworn I'd get back to walking or running on a daily basis, things (read: life) happens. Jobs come up - definitely a good thing, especially when it comes to paying bills. Weather gets a little dicey. Early morning appointments come up. What was it John Lennon said? Something about, "Life is what happens when we're busy making other plans"?

Yesterday was one of my work days. It's only three hours a day, three days a week, along with an extra hour over the weekend. A few extra hours would help, but I'm sure not knocking it. But then there were a few errands that needed running. J. wanted to come along, but he needed a shower, first. Later, there were problems with M. getting picked up from work and I spent an hour or so attached to the computer and phone, trying to get him picked up. And then...and then...and then...Sound familiar? Yeah, we all have days when we feel like we haven't really gotten anything constructive done, but you blink and think, Geez, where'd the day go?

During the hour or so I was trying to get M.'s ride worked out, several people walked by. Not just aimlessly wandering, but walking for exercise, getting the heart rate up, getting fresh out, out there walking, and it clicked. While I prefer exercising in the morning, I could conceivably get out in the late afternoon. Please keep your Well, duh! comments to yourself; my snarky inner voice is way ahead of you.

After M. finally got home, I grabbed my Converse high tops - not my usual running shoes, but that's fine - and put them on.

"You're going out?" J. asked. "Now?"

"Yup," I replied.

He mulled this over a minute or so before asking, "You were planning on spaghetti tonight, right? I'll put the water on at seven."

I thanked him and headed out.

There's one route I use when time is limited. It's a mile out, a mile back, mostly cross-country. Takes all of maybe a minute or so to get out of the neighborhood and into the back entrance of a local park. Once there, there are any number of directions to go. Heading south along a dirt path, there was a stand of cypress trees to the right. They're in a retention area. Most of the time, the ground is dry, but during Florida's rainy season, the trees are suddenly in a small pond. This time of year, their leaves brown up before falling.





On the left is a drainage ditch, with a stable on the other side of the ditch. For a while, there was one lone horse in this particular stable, though the owners have now rented out all the stalls. It's always interesting to see the activity around the place. Late afternoons and weekends seem to be the busiest times.



After crossing a three-lane street (yes, three lane - one heading west, one east, and the center as a turn lane for either direction), the path shifts a little. The ditch is now on the right, separating the dirt path from the back side of a small community of townhouses, which then ends and another property with stable and horses begins.



On the left are woods, a pond, and a house set far-off-the-beaten-path. Originally built in the early part of the twentieth century, it was moved to its current site maybe 15 years ago, give or take.

This part of the path is great for contemplation: there's very little noise one would associate with heavily populated areas, lots of wind-in-the-tree-type-rustling, birds, an occasional whinny from the nearby horses. Occasionally, I'll even hear the raucous cry from the nearby peacocks that roam the area.

As I walked along, my mind wandered. I even got the chance to try out the camera feature of my new cellphone that my daughter, M.H., had picked up, posting a couple of photos on Facebook.

I finally made it to the far end of the path, where it hit a two-lane road. Turning right or left would have taken me along areas where a few large houses with acres and acres and stables are, while straight ahead would have taken me to a small horse park, replete with wetlands and a boardwalk through the woods. Instead, I turned to head back.

About this time, my cellphone rang. It was J., letting me know that he'd just put the water on for the spaghetti.

"Any idea how long 'til you're home?" I told him where I was and that it'd probably be another fifteen minutes before I'd be there. "I can see a car's headlights in the distance," he told me. "They look like they're from that moved-in house." They were. Someone was just leaving the property.

"I'm about to pass that house," I told him.

We chatted a few minutes before he wandered back inside to deal with fixing dinner.

When I hit the neighborhood again, I saw one of our neighbors. She was walking a small dog that I'd never seen before. Turns out she and her husband had just adopted Gus a month or two ago.

"I've never had a small dog before," she told me. "But when I saw this guy at the pet rescue place, it was love at first site." We talked as we headed north toward our respective homes, with Gus occasionally coming up to me so I could scratch his head. We parted company at our driveways.

By this time, the spaghetti and garlic bread were ready. For some strange reason, I didn't mind washing the dishes afterwards. Somehow, having someone else fix dinner while I'm out walking seemed to help.

I'd try that again this evening, but two nights in a row might be pushing it. But evening walks are definitely something I'll consider when mornings get too hectic.

New Year's Resolutions, or How Do You Make God Laugh?

It's New Year's day - the time when many people make resolutions. I'm one of those people who do that. Over the year, I've learned to make my resolutions a little more realistic. Don't always make it all the way through the year, but I do try.

So, what are my New Year's resolutions this year? Hit the gym at least twice a week. Walk (working up to running) at least three days a week. Start eating healthy. Working a budget. Kickstarting my production company, rather than letting it simply limp along (wow, sounds like working up a business plan, contacting the SBA, etc). And a few other things that really need to be worked on that, if I don't sit down and decide that's it, it's now or never, because this stuff's not happening by itself!, it'll never get done.

Two of the things I had resolved included exercising/walking/running and taking more photography. Even set up a brain dump (or, rather, photography dump) blog for the photography so that I could then decide what I want to put my website. (I also posted on another photography blog I'd come up with maybe a year ago but never posted to until this morning. That one will probably be deleted, since the name is too similar to a site that I love going to. But take a look at it and let me know which background you like before I delete it: the beach background or the plain background. Yes, you, the reader...leave a comment, please!) I'd planned to start the walking and photography today.

When I got up this morning, I discovered that the plumbing was acting up - a lot. On the plus side, the bathtub holds a lot of water. The down side is...you guessed it...stuff was backing up into the tub. The washer was backing up into the tub. The kitchen sink was backing up into the tub. Stuff was backing up into the tub. (That's as far as we're going with that!) So, of course, I called the landlord. On New Year's Day. At 8:00 a.m. Still haven't heard back, and it's almost 10:30. I'm sure they'll be pleased (sarcasm, here). Of course, I could have called them when I had an inkling that things might be amuck...but I doubt they would've liked hearing from me at 11:45 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

The walk can wait until later today. The photography? I've posted one of my older photos. The rest of my resolutions are still doable. Things happen...What was it John Lennon said? "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." How true.

Happy New Year! Be safe.

Out For A Walk After A Rainy Night

It rained last night. Not one of those hard rains that wake you up with the noise of it pounding on the roof, but more of a gentle rain that helps wash away all sorts of stuff and in the aftermath leaves the air smelling better, intensifying the earthy outdoor smells. When I got up this morning, it was still early enough that the sun hadn't had a chance to dry the grass or roads completely or to turn the day into a sauna, the way it does when it rains early on a summer's afternoon. Somehow, it made it easier to get changed and head out for a walk. The fact that a good part of my favorite walking/running route is cross-country helps a lot here.

I headed south, figuring I'd start through the eastern edge of a nearby park. It's only a block away, if that, and has horse trails, riding rings for horse shows, picnic areas, a playground, the works. Usually, I only skirt the edge of it when walking or running, using a dirt path.

There was a cool breeze and a definite earthy smell. From somewhere nearby came the sounds of one peacocks. There are several flocks of them in there area, and it's quite common to hear them screeching. The first few times I heard peacocks' cries, I was positive there was a hurt cat nearby. Actually, it sounded like possibly a hurt wild cat - not a feral house cat, mind you, but something like a bobcat in pain. It was eerie sounding. It wasn't until much later that I learned it was a peacock.

A runner was heading north as I headed for the park. We nodded at each other, the way runners or walkers do.

"Those peacocks sure are loud," she said as she passed.

"Yeah, they are," I answered, heading into the park.

Peacock near the entrance to the park

Heading south through the park, I was amazed at the changes along this route. The first area used to be nothing but a large field bordered on two side with woods, scrub brush, and palmettos, more palmettos and a drainage ditch on the east side, and a border of trees as a buffer between a cul-de-sac of houses on the fourth. Now the scrub and palmettos are gone from near the ditch, most of the trees between field and houses are gone, as on the south side of the field. There are fenced riding rings where frequent horse shows take place; these have cropped up over the past few years.



Farther along, across the ditch, there's a stable. It's been there since for years, and there are always horses there, most of them boarded by different horse owners. At one point, the number of horses dwindled down to one old lone horse, Smokey, owned by the property owner. At one point, I used to occasionally bring Smokey carrots. She has since died, though by that time, they'd started boarding other horses there again.

Smokey

At this point, I cross the street. It's a secondary avenue, frequently busy enough to warrant a crosswalk for horses and runners, replete with a flashing yellow light that runners and riders can trigger so that traffic gives them the right of way (theoretically). This crosswalk and light are relatively new additions.

As I head cross country, there are a few newer houses that face the avenue, as well as a house that was moved in from its original property. These are on the east side of the dirt road. The newer house - one bordering the trail, but facing the road - has a batch of banana trees at the edge of their property. My family and I once lived in a place that had banana trees; in the four-plus years we lived there, we never once had bananas from the tree, so I find it amazing to see so many banana bunches growing from the trees along this new property line.

Banana trees

Next comes the moved in house. It sits on a lake that was once surrounded by woods and scrub brush. I remember being somewhat upset at the loss of some of the woods around the lake; fortunately, when the 100-year-old house was set down near the lake, the property owner kept most of the woods intact.

Just west of the dirt road is a drainage ditch (actually, a continuation of the same ditch bordering the park); beyond that, a subdivision hugs the road I've just crossed. Where that ends, another property with stable for boarding horses begins. This property is for sale; I can't help but think that if I had the money, it wouldn't be for sale for long. It's a comfortable-looking place. Several times, I've had conversations with the owners, calling back and forth across the ditch. Yeah, I think, as I get ready to turn back to head home, if only I had the money...



By the time I arrive home, I'm ready for a shower, glad I've gone out walking.

Walking/Running/Getting Out of the House

I went out for a walk this morning. I used to run and hope to get back into running.

Unfortunately, I haven't been out walking or hitting the gym the way I used to and the way I know I should. I'd started walking a little before friend hubby and I got married, when we were simply seeing each other. Back then, I walked maybe all of half-a-mile, then got ready for work.

Sometime after P. and I got married, I started running. Actually, I think it started off as walking Osha, our Cocker Spaniel. She loved going for walks. For her, it was a big deal. But then, I got to the point where I'd walk her several days, then go out for a run on the other days. Got to where I was really getting good at it, and enjoying it. Even started a running blog about how my runs (or walks) had gone.

After several deaths in the family, I slowed down on the running. Every time I'd start back, it seemed to take longer and longer to really get back into it. Then, on Halloween, 2010, I fell off a ladder at roof level and ended up in a local emergency room. It was a good two months before I could go out for any kind of a walk.

There are three holidays when I absolutely love going for a long walk. On Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, I'll bake up pies and pumpkin bread first thing in the morning. Then, after getting the turkey in the oven, I'll throw on my shoes and walk through the nearby park. It usually takes about an hour, maybe a little more if I really take my time and enjoy the scenery. But by Thanksgiving after the ladder incident, there was no way I was up to going through the park. Heck, I barely had the energy to get the pies done and the turkey into the oven. Thank goodness I was up to walking on Christmas that year.

Since then, my walking or running has been sporatic, at best. But this morning, I figured it was now or never. It would have been too easy to come up with any number of excuses not to go out. Instead, I got changed as though I was actually going to go out for a walk. Then, I got out the door and actually went for a walk.

I'd forgotten how much I actually enjoy getting out the door for a morning walk or run. First off, I tend to notice things that have changed since I've started different routes, or even since the last time I've walked a certain route.

It tends to go something along like this: Oh, wow, that house is up for sale again. They just bought that house last year; I wonder why they're selling now? Wow, they bulldozed more of the woods. On the plus side, they planted a bunch of trees over there. I can't believe how much that colt over there has grown since last year! And on it goes.

Then there's the whole thinking aspect of it. Since I don't bring along a radio, iPod, or any other gadget to listen to music, I really have very little to distract me. Sure, I bring along my cell phone, since I tend to go cross country a lot on my walks. I've found myself face down on a dirt path more than once after tripping over a tree root or having a stone roll under my foot. Heck, I've been known to trip over bumps in the sidewalk! (Check out that Grace post again.) But as far as bringing along anything that would distract me from my surroundings, forget it. So, while I'm noticing the scenery, my mind is also mulling over stuff, wondering if I'll hear back on a job, if something I've written will sell, how best to edit a section of film, if...

...maybe I'll head out again tomorrow morning. (I think I will...)

Walk/Run

I've been goofing off lately from my morning walk/run.

There was a time when I wouldn't think of not going for a morning run. It tends to help me focus, zone-out, get-it-together...you get the idea. Those of you who run or race-walk - or even just plain walk - know exactly what I'm talking about: it's that me time that we frequently forget about in the crazy, fast-paced world we live in. It helps enough that when Paul was still here, if I didn't go out for a run and was just a tad bit, um, cranky, he'd tell me, "Oh, for crying out loud, go, already!" The man was as subtle as "a box of rocks" (his words).

I'd managed to keep up the running for years...then, slowly, missed days at a time. It was one thing when I'd have an early class and have to catch the bus to get there on time.

Injuries also made it difficult. Two years ago, after falling off a ladder at roof level and landing on a cement driveway on Halloween, I was unable to go for a walk - much less a run - for months. I had gone for an hour-long walk every holiday for close to ten years; once the turkey was in the oven, off I'd head to a nearby park. I wasn't even able to do that on Thanksgiving that year. Christmas was a little iffy; the route that normally took an hour took an hour and a half then.

After that, the running slowed to walking with an occasional run...and even that got side-tracked with an occasional sprained ankle, hurt knee, what-have-you.

However, I did manage to slowly start back. Yesterday morning, I found out why I loved running (or walking). Here was the spot where I frequently caught a smell that reminded me of my grandparents' apartment; there was the barn that reminded me of where I grew up in Connecticut, as well as pleasant memories of riding lessons in New York. The wild peacock I saw (there are loads of 'em around here) brought back other memories. Between all those and the endorphins from exercise, I know I'll be getting back into running...or at least walking.