I guess I run now

that began with a lovely reminder from RubyJean to appreciate the moment.

Then I did my run down by the Portage. 4 miles, a distance I think I really like now. Did the 5K listening first to week 4 (until just after the last 5 minute run) and then switching it over to week 3 for the final mile. 3 miles in 47 mins, 4th mile I decided to slow down & enjoy the journey. Beautiful day, sunny, quiet, and a nice cool breeze off the water. And the trail was surprisingly empty for a Saturday. Ended up finishing the 4 miles in about 64 mins.

Came home & started cleaning out the front porch…no small job as all winter long it tends to become the resting place for all things that don’t already have a home or that are pretty winter-specific necessities. That includes about 4 large boxes hubby picked up at the in-laws over the winter break, snow shoes, rock salt, boots, wiper fluid, the wood trim from our living and dining rooms (we re-did the drywall last winter & haven’t had a chance to strip & stain the woodwork), all the lawn & deck furniture, pots with long-dead flowers, summer stuff like coolers and beach chair, and misc junk.

Took me the better part of the afternoon to get the place cleared out, furniture wiped down, floors swept, and rugs shook out, but I’m sitting on a freshly cleaned front porch as I write this & it’s perfect! I also managed to get the entry hall cleaned up (another no-man’s land for misc junk) and planted my herbs & geraniums. 3 basil bunches (we live on basil in the summer), 2 parsley, chives, sage, and rosemary. The thyme I planted in the rock wall last year survived the winter (hearty soul), and I’m just waiting to see what survived in the front garden…looks like most of the perennials made it anyway.

Did I mention the beer yet? On my trip to the nursery, I stopped to pick up a six pack…was looking for a nice porter, but got tempted away by an Avery E.S.B. I opened one up to keep me company while I planted my herb pots & I’m still working on it…getting up to a nice warm temp now, so the flavors are coming through nicely. We’re planning to go over to a friend’s house for drinks tonight, so I’ll show up with a 5-pack and one of my 22oz home brews to make an even 6.

I wanted to post pictures from our hike last night, but the camera isn’t cooperating. It was lovely & about halfway up, I was reminded of the old me. We go up to Hungarian Falls a few times each summer & usually I find something to complain about: the trail is strait up with no switchbacks & it’s not an easy trail for short legs…so usually I complain, huff & puff, etc. Anyway, about halfway up I realized how many times I’ve probably ruined this hike for my husband with all my complaining. He is a very patient man, obviously, to keep taking me along with him. Although…little secret here, I’m pretty sure I heard him breathing heavy at a point when I was just starting to hit my stride.

Food today was okay:
Breakfast: kashi, blueberries, & 1/2 banana
Lunch: 1/2 roll with seafood salad & lettuce, 10 pretzels
snack: um…beer & 8 pretzels topped with seafood salad
Dinner: I imagine it’ll be salad & leftover chicken noodle casserole
snack: I’m going with another beer.