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USS Philadelphia CL-41 (WWII)
“Good Luck Getting into Heaven”
Sunday, December 28, 2014 23 comments
At first I only heard the first two words. I had been running and I thought that the man I encountered during my cool down was encouraging me to keep going. “Excuse me,” I asked and he repeated all 5 words. You see, I was wearing a ... Read more

There is a "Stealth Sparker" in my house!
Friday, December 26, 2014 20 comments
My last 3 blogs were about the trip DH & I took to Europe to visit the Christmas Markets accessible from a cruise on the Danube. I wrote about the sites, the food/drink, what I wore and that I only gained 1.5 pounds. What I didn't mentio... Read more

How a spark friend influenced my travel wardrobe and helped me pack light.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014 24 comments
I regularly turn to SP for healthy eating and exercise information. A few weeks ago this “non-fashionista” got some advice of a different kind. Sparker Phebess wrote a travel blog specifically geared to fashion. I wanted to run ev... Read more

Sparking my way across Europe before Christmas – the ultimate test of motivation
Tuesday, December 23, 2014 24 comments
Yesterday I posted a summary of the sites we visited during our 11 days on the Danube. There was an additional 2+ days of travel to deal with also. Flying during the holidays is a test of patience in itself. Many articles and blogs addr... Read more

Christmas Markets on the Danube – The short version
Monday, December 22, 2014 22 comments
This is the 3rd year in a row that DH decided we should cruise a European river before Christmas. We began in Prague which isn’t ON the Danube but a great place to start. The market between the Cathedral and the Astronomical Clock draws... Read more

A race, a funeral, a parade and a concert – not a regular Saturday
Saturday, December 06, 2014 25 comments
Sometimes everything just comes together at once. This morning was our town’s annual Christmas Classic 5K. I run it every year along with about 70 members of our church. DH even participates. He’s part of our walking contingent. His ... Read more

Glad I fell on my face and not on my knees. Weird, huh!
Sunday, November 30, 2014 30 comments
Friday’s run was the perfect storm. It started as a routine practice run. My only goal was to run up that last hill on the 5k course that always defeats me. Usually I check my watch and decide there won’t be much difference if I take a 1 min... Read more

Wearing a small size doesn’t make you “anorexic”

Friday, November 28, 2014 21 comments
Fat shaming is wrong and the stories about the devastating effects are constantly posted here on Spark. The inspirational stories about challenges faced, incremental progress and final success provide motivation to millions. However i... Read more

Now here’s something you don’t see every day – A HOUSE in the road!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 14 comments
It was right at the end of my driveway. That prompted a change of running route. I watched with neighbors for a while then ran in the opposite direction. I returned in ... Read more

Over 2 years ago I posted a blog asking “Who are these people who always get 100% in Spark Trivia?”
Monday, November 24, 2014 16 comments
I was lucky to see a “passing” grade. On the scoreboard you would have to scroll 50 to 80 pages to find my name. I persisted for quite a long time. I know I could have googled the information before answering a question, but it was a pe... Read more

Gee, Eileen got FAT! - Remembering a Thanksgiving Day comment.
Friday, November 21, 2014 18 comments
It was a family dinner sometime back in the 1980s and that observation was loudly expressed by my aunt. I’m pondering that memory today for several reasons. Thanksgiving week marks 5 years of maintenance for me. A Spark email th... Read more

My “brush” with an SUV
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 18 comments
What’s going on? For the 2nd time in a week a driver almost ran me down. Last time while on her cell phone, the woman didn’t even notice me. This time the driver saw me and either couldn’t judge distance or just didn’t care. Here’s the l... Read more

Sometimes you just gotta eat the cheesecake - Choices for 4 days on the road
Monday, November 17, 2014 21 comments
This was a combination trip for us. We drove to the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina to: Check on my 94 year old MIL in her assisted living facility At MIL’s request, visit the old family vacation/retirement cabin a few h... Read more

Unintended consequences of technology
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 23 comments
My daughter got her first mobile phone in 1994. It was called a “car phone” back then and it was huge. Her new husband bought it for her since she had to drive 1 hour to work along country roads which were very deserted in the early morning. ... Read more

My very long, extremely productive, spark filled day
Sunday, November 09, 2014 20 comments
It actually began Friday afternoon when I read an email from my favorite running store about a sudden “flash sale.” I planned to visit them at some point anyway and this seemed like a personal invitation. DH decided to come with me and com... Read more

I must be the only person who does not own or want to wear jeans
Friday, November 07, 2014 22 comments
It’s not because I’m old. I haven’t owned a pair since 1975. That’s when the 60s officially ended for me. At that point I was a mother of 3. So many articles and blogs talk about getting back into those “skinny” jeans. I don’t covet any... Read more

4 Billion Spark Points? I’m watching a milestone achievement right now in real time.
Tuesday, November 04, 2014 152 comments
I’m referring to the counter on the Spark Points page. It’s like watching my car’s odometer as it approaches 200,000 miles. I like seeing my own spark points add up. I like observing how many cumulative points my teams are earning.... Read more

Remember the movie “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers?”
Friday, October 31, 2014 16 comments
This is one scary vegetable to appear on Halloween. It triggered a memory of the “pod people” from the 1950s version of the movie that freaked me out as a kid. DH ... Read more

Is this a Halloween decoration? No, just me cleaning out closets.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 28 comments
It’s getting colder and my hands are the first part of my body to freeze. I always need to have gloves with me when running or walking or just running errands. Abo... Read more

I’m the mother of a 5k Masters Champ. 1st place trophy for me too (65-69)
Saturday, October 25, 2014 30 comments
Here we are after the “I am Woman 5k” in Lynchburg, VA this morning. What a wonderful atmosphere! 600 women of all ages, shapes and sizes, running and walking for a go... Read more

Do restaurants take advantage of “healthy eaters?”
Friday, October 24, 2014 26 comments
Because of a sudden unexpected trip, my last 6 meals were on the road. This included take-out food since no one was cooking given the circumstances of our visit. The further south you go, the fewer healthy choices I found. This is t... Read more

Run cut short by smoke and grass
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 18 comments
Those are 2 separate things in case a quick misreading led you to think I was smoking grass. Come to think of it, isn’t “grass” an antiquated term now? I’m showing my age. Anyway, I went out for a run specifically seeking a hilly route. T... Read more

Exactly 57 years ago in 1957 – a weird anniversary to remember
Monday, October 20, 2014 22 comments
When I noticed the date this morning, I had an odd feeling that it was significant. October 20th? What was special about that? Then I remembered. It was a Sunday morning and I was spending the weekend with my parents in a small town in P... Read more

Multi-level vs. 1 floor living
Sunday, October 19, 2014 23 comments
When we were looking for a retirement home, realtors directed us mostly to ranch style houses for “one floor living.” Conventional wisdom advises that as we get older, climbing stairs will be difficult or impossible. That made sense exce... Read more

My new Spark fashion accessory – unintended consequences
Friday, October 17, 2014 28 comments
Since Sunday I’ve been testing and posting about my new Spark Activity Tracker. Yesterday we were going out to a dinner held by one of DH’s organizations. We were ready to go when DH asked “Aren’t you going to wear that new button thing?”... Read more

5+ years on SP and NOW I get an activity tracker?
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 30 comments
I’ve kept a fitness log for decades, way before online resources were available. Back in the dark ages before the Internet, I kept my results on a spreadsheet and before that in a paper diary. I love data and I can approximate my walking a... Read more

The T-Shirt read “The football team will perform before and after the band”
Saturday, October 11, 2014 19 comments
As my status says today, I spent hours last night sitting in a cold drizzling rain on hard bleachers to attend a high school football game. We have 3 grandchildren in the school’s extremely successful marching band program (2 trumpets and 1 tro... Read more

AMTRAK, SparkPeople and Me
Friday, October 10, 2014 21 comments
Although we’ve ridden trains in Europe and spent much of our youth on the NYC subway system, a journey on AMTRAK was a new experience for DH and me. However, our plan to visit #1 grandson at college in Rhode Island required a day’s travel f... Read more

“ Time hurries on and the leaves that are green turn to brown”
Wednesday, October 08, 2014 25 comments
I have a soundtrack in my head. On this crisp October morning it’s playing Simon and Garfunkel who created much of the soundtrack of my youth. It pops up in times of nostalgia. My status yesterday said that I had a nice visit with #1 Gran... Read more

Compromise on eyewear
Thursday, October 02, 2014 19 comments
Usually I don’t run wearing my glasses. They bounce around and with progressive lenses, that can get pretty weird. After my experience last month I decided I need to have them along so I can tell the difference between a stick and a copperhea... Read more

Imitating and learning from spark friends
Monday, September 29, 2014 22 comments
I’ve learned a lot in my 5+ years here from the general articles, from the resources and discussions on team pages and from individual blogs and status posts. Many of these have sparked changes in my life. Others don’t fit the way I live a... Read more

More on the “Great Race” – the Hill and I
Sunday, September 28, 2014 23 comments
The Virginia 10 Miler is a wonderful event attracting a lot of community support and thousands of local participants as well as elite national and international runners. Unfortunately for me Lynchburg is known as the “Hill City.” I’ve writ... Read more

Meeting a Spark Friend at a great race
Saturday, September 27, 2014 20 comments
Today was my first real life encounter with a Spark Friend. Teri-rific and I ran the 4 mile option of the Virginia 10 Miler in Lynchburg. Nice that you don’t have to do the whole 10 miles to get a finisher’s medal. ... Read more

The Junk Food King and I
Thursday, September 25, 2014 31 comments
Like other sparkers I often write about my efforts to encourage DH to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Looking through my blogs I noticed that I never included his picture. So here we are. ... Read more

How many people have an actual photo of their aha moment?
Saturday, September 20, 2014 245 comments
That's the moment in time when we realize that we have to make some changes, even if we're not sure at that moment what they should be. Here I am on Dec 6, 2008 holding the mug which was the award for first place in my age group in our town... Read more

Do you remember juice glasses?
Friday, September 19, 2014 22 comments
My status yesterday said that I was weighing and measuring my food to check on “portion creep.” Portion creep, along with sizing creep, was primarily responsible for my weight gain. For anyone who isn’t aware of my pet peeve with the... Read more

I cut up my mother’s pajamas this morning
Wednesday, September 17, 2014 23 comments
Like several sparkers lately, I have to deal with my mother’s possessions. Unlike some others, this is a slow process for me. Partly it’s because my mother saved everything and there isn’t any particular organization to the stuff she save... Read more

“ You have nice legs” said the nursing home resident.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 20 comments
Several times a month my status reads “Brooklyn_Born is singing at a nursing home this morning.” A Spark Friend blogged today that she was beginning to volunteer at an old folks home. So I thought I would share this story. A few membe... Read more

Focus on what you CAN do, not what you CAN’T – great blog from a Sparker living this advice
Sunday, September 14, 2014 20 comments
I’d like to direct your attention to a great blog by LindaKay228 whose experience and motivation put this common slogan into action. “Why I Do What I Do” www.sparkpeople.com/mypa
ge_public_journal_individu
al.asp?blog_id=5779... Read more

Why, other than weight gain, would I go back to tracking my food?
Saturday, September 13, 2014 30 comments
I must admit that I don’t track my food anymore UNLESS there is an upward trend in my weight. Weighing myself every day is especially important for me personally since avoiding the scale is how I gained the weight in the first place. Now I... Read more

Age Quod Agis – not exactly Carpe Diem – but complementary advice
Tuesday, September 09, 2014 19 comments
What most people don’t know about me is that I studied Latin for 5 years. I’ve got big medals to prove it. I would have been a Classics major in college if I thought I could make a living at it, but I’m very practical too. As a math/comp... Read more

Sparkpeople advertising – not a complaint
Friday, September 05, 2014 24 comments
Recently I decided that I have gained so much from Sparkpeople that I would like to give something back. I would buy a T-Shirt. Unfortunately, my decision coincided with the redesign of the website and I could no longer find the link to th... Read more

It’s not a plateau, it’s “mini-maintenance”
Thursday, September 04, 2014 66 comments
I know that plateaus are depressing to many people. There are plenty of blogs and articles written about the negative effect they have on our motivation. Since plateaus never bothered me very much, I thought I would share my perspective.... Read more

Run cut short by a SNAKE - EEK!
Tuesday, September 02, 2014 23 comments
It takes something really unusual for me to blog in the middle of the day. A copperhead will do it. It very hot and humid here in VA so my plan was to get up early, drive to a city with a shaded trail and run there. On the outskirts... Read more

Weight is increasing and I’m happy about it
Sunday, August 31, 2014 26 comments
No, the weight isn’t on my body. It’s right here. I have a complete set of dumbbells ranging from 1 to 12 pounds. I keep them in the living room directly in the li... Read more

I BLOG therefore I AM…NOT eating the ice cream (apologies to Descartes for the paraphrase)
Sunday, August 24, 2014 18 comments
I never blog in the middle of the day. That’s an early morning thing for me. This is a special case. Today is supposed to be a rest day. I’m working on a big project. I want to finish updating my website to include the recent concer... Read more

Sugar alcohol and me – got to read those labels carefully.
Friday, August 22, 2014 21 comments
My status today says that I’m sorting through photos. That’s true and needs to be done, but the decision wasn’t totally my choice. Like many people, some food “agrees with me” and some doesn’t. In my case I’ve learned to totally avoid fis... Read more

Oops! That wasn’t deodorant.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 23 comments
We travel a LOT and regularly by plane. So I’ve become expert at packing efficiently even for 3-4 week trips. I have a light-weight carry-on with the essentials I would need if the airline lost my checked suitcase. I even include some co... Read more

Look where I am – virtually, that is.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014 17 comments
I’m running/walking across the USA thanks to a Spark Team – The Virtual Walk/Run Challenge https://sparkpeo.hs.llnw
d.net/e1/myspark/groups_in
dividual.asp... Read more

Training with real people
Sunday, August 17, 2014 17 comments
I love SparkPeople and especially the friends I’ve met here. DH calls them my “imaginary” friends. Regardless of their title, these online friends have helped me immensely. I follow their journey and they follow mine. The special inter... Read more

Expanding my horizons with a Spark Recipe – Moroccan Chicken & Lentils
Thursday, August 14, 2014 15 comments
I’m an impatient cook. I want it to be healthy and taste good, but I don’t want to take a lot of time doing it and I don’t want to baby-sit it. It should cook by itself without any more help from me. I also prefer a reasonable length of i... Read more

A coincidence but a nice “Field of Dreams” kind of memory
Tuesday, August 12, 2014 14 comments
This is the baseball team of my Dad’s WWII ship (USS Philadelphia). Dad taught me to be a fan. We watched NY baseball on TV or in person way back from when the D... Read more

You know what’s wrong with you? You’re BOTTOM HEAVY!
Sunday, August 10, 2014 104 comments
Those are the exact words I was told yesterday at the gym. I had just finished a 3 mile run on the treadmill, sandwiched between a warm-up and cool-down walk totaling another 1.8 miles. The source of this “helpful” observation was an old... Read more

My 50th HS Reunion and 30 hours in NYC
Wednesday, August 06, 2014 19 comments
That’s me in the 3rd row in red. It was a memorable evening reconnecting with old friends, making new ones (we were a class of over 700) and listening to the soundtrack of... Read more

Ireland-part 2 - Our finale
Thursday, July 31, 2014 6 comments
Here’s the finale of our 50 minute concert. This was our 3rd of 4 performances in Ireland. This venue was a small church in Monaghan which is in the Republic of Ireland, but very close to the border of Northern Ireland. “Amazing Grace” ... Read more

Singing and Running in Ireland
Thursday, July 31, 2014 12 comments
That’s why I’ve disappeared from SP for 10 days. My choral group, the Jefferson Choral Society, performed 4 concerts in Ireland. Here we are at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. ... Read more

Oh Fiddle Dee Dee! It’s Scarlett and Me!
Saturday, July 19, 2014 21 comments
Scarlett O’Hara and I have something in common. No, it’s not her 20” waist. It’s a vegetable. Remember the scene in “Gone with the Wind” when Scarlett shook her fist at the heavens and swore that she would never be hungry again? She wa... Read more

How Professor Dumbledore got me off the couch
Thursday, July 17, 2014 19 comments
Yesterday was supposed to be a strength training day, but by late afternoon I was laying on the couch resting on my laurels. I was proud of myself. I had bashed my knee on a piece of furniture the night before and skipped running. Howeve... Read more

I’ve Got to Stop Sleeping Around
Wednesday, July 16, 2014 16 comments
I can fall asleep anywhere – on the couch, in a recliner, on any padded flat surface, even on a plane if I have something or someone to lean against. Last night I was in a spare bedroom watching a movie that DH wasn’t interested in. I wok... Read more

Be Careful Out There
Tuesday, July 15, 2014 23 comments
My Spark email this morning contained a link to an article about Inspirational Workout Songs. I agree that music has the power to motivate us. I would even choose my fitness classes partly on the type of music the instructor used. However... Read more

Going the extra mile for the team
Sunday, July 13, 2014 69 comments
My current status says that last week I recorded my 1st 40 mile week EVER. This is significant because: I’ve been running for nearly 30 years and have never done that before. I usually cut back in the summer (It’s HOT here in the Sout... Read more

“ Too Soon Old and Too Late Smart” – An Amish Proverb, I think
Friday, July 11, 2014 20 comments
At least I used to hear it a lot when visiting my parents near Lancaster, PA. I thought about this during my run this morning. I had just posted a response to Indy-Girl’s featured blog warning about the “crabs” trying to pull us back down ... Read more

Standing my ground with a big stick
Wednesday, July 09, 2014 21 comments
Recently there have been several articles about proper etiquette for walkers, runners and bikers when sharing the trail. I’ve added my opinion about confronting a solid wall of walkers either in front of me or coming toward me. Lately thou... Read more

Sale or Scale – which do I fear?
Monday, July 07, 2014 21 comments
There’s only one letter difference in those 2 words, but a world of difference in my life. I fear a particular kind of sale. The one my supermarket regularly runs on ice cream. I usually cope by avoiding that aisle completely, but the Jul... Read more

Part of a ”Brave New World” I never knew existed (80 years after Huxley)
Monday, June 30, 2014 18 comments
As I try to eat as naturally as possible and live a healthy lifestyle, I keep discovering new things. I remember Dolly the cloned sheep, but I didn’t know that the USA had approved the sale of meat and products from cloned animals. "Th... Read more

A coincidence or can SP read my mind?
Sunday, June 29, 2014 17 comments
I’ve been looking for a new fitness activity. Running, walking, canoeing, kayaking have always had a place in my life, but I needed something else. The only fitness class that I liked at the gym has been cancelled. There weren’t enough ... Read more




Time to join the 21st Century?
Friday, June 27, 2014 20 comments
Here’s the family in Heathrow airport waiting for our flight home. Note DH on the end with his old-school reading material (aka a book). Neither DH nor I are technophob... Read more

Thank you Mr. Selfridge and other SP themes of London
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 19 comments
Only those who watch Masterpiece Theater on PBS will understand this reference. Selfridge’s Dept Store in London was founded in 1909 by an American who changed retail industry in the UK. Since I’ve watched all episodes of his amazing story, I ... Read more

Is it easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle in Europe?
Friday, June 20, 2014 18 comments
I’ve just returned from 17 days in Europe(Slovakia, Vienna, London) and read TinaJane’s terrific blog about cultural differences. www.sparkpeople.com/mypa
ge_public_journal_individu
al.asp?blog_id=5721395 Although I ... Read more

Reflections of 17 days in Europe
Thursday, June 19, 2014 16 comments
In country #1 I remember family – present and past Those I travelled with: DH, DD (Hayburner1969), her DH, & 3 kids. The family I first discovered in 2008 in Slovak... Read more

Memorial Day lyrics for the whole world
Sunday, May 25, 2014 16 comments
Last night my choral society sang at the National D-Day Memorial. The program included a swing era dance band, a children’s chorus, and recognition of the veterans in attendance. There was a special remembrance of those who gave their liv... Read more

Thinking about THOSE people
Saturday, May 24, 2014 16 comments
I read a wonderful blog by Steph-Knee this morning about obligation vs. desire /www.sparkpeople.com/myp
age_public_journal_individ
ual.asp?blog_id=5701198 Her story is inspirational and she writes really well. Ho... Read more

Running with “difficult” feet – compensating for genetics
Sunday, May 18, 2014 16 comments
I’m a combination of both of my parents. Sports minded and competitive like my Dad. Prone to worry and anxiety like my Mom. In one area I got the worst of both. I’ve got Dad’s flat feet with severe over-pronation and Mom’s “floppy... Read more

Heat + Humidity + Hills = Hell
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 17 comments
It’s my own fault. Since November I’ve avoided hills with the rationalization that I was training for a flat half marathon. I convinced myself that it was more important to focus on distance and endurance. I don’t need much convincing to avoi... Read more

The Changing of the Guard – figuratively that is
Monday, May 12, 2014 16 comments
That’s usually my seat in the front of the canoe. This summer our 12 year old granddaughter can match Grandpa, stroke for stroke. She’s been paddling her own kayak sinc... Read more

Cary Grant and Me and my Shoes
Sunday, May 11, 2014 22 comments
On a whim I followed a link to one of those online quizzes. It was to determine “which classic leading man should I marry.” Cary must have been a winner by a hair since my movie preference (To Sir with Love), my interest in Musicals, and o... Read more

No, I am NOT a MORON!
Saturday, May 10, 2014 21 comments
I wasn’t called this directly, but I recognized myself in a rant on another forum this morning. It was posted by a virtual friend who was complaining about those ”morons” who turn on their AC in May when they should just “open the windows and l... Read more

Monsanto Strikes Back – (Star Wars pun intended)
Thursday, May 08, 2014 7 comments
Perhaps the reaction to increased information about pesticides, additives and GMOs is having an effect? Maybe the money poured into the defeat of labeling initiatives and referenda isn’t enough? www.huffingtonpost.com/d
r-rob... Read more

3 Generations - 3 Awards
Sunday, May 04, 2014 26 comments
This is my favorite kind of race – with family 1st place (60 and up) ME! 1st place (12 & under) – My granddaughter Overall 3rd place female – My daughter, spark... Read more

Do the website designers even USE SP?
Thursday, May 01, 2014 17 comments
Without the team blog stream, I can no longer easily scan the topics that sparkers have written about? The team blog link was a valuable resource that has now been eliminated. This is a terrible change, unless the purpose was to LIMIT my t... Read more

Extreme levels of Roundup detected in food.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 10 comments
This is getting to be too much. www.rodalenews.com/round
up-food It’s especially distressing to me that when the maximum “safe” level is exceeded, the solution is simply to change the definition of “safe” level. Th... Read more

How did I break my streak?
Monday, April 28, 2014 19 comments
I’ve logged in every day for well over a month. I have the sparkpoints to show for it every single day. I know it’s not a big deal. Although I really like to see those virtual trophies for fitness minutes, I’m not a streak leader or anythi... Read more

City Girl Goes Country - 2014 Edition – Oops
Sunday, April 27, 2014 24 comments
Last year my multi-part blog (CGGC) described the effort of a city girl to adapt to country living and take advantage of all it had to offer, in particular the ability to grow our own food. We learned a lot and even grew herbs indoors all w... Read more

Water Adventures
Wednesday, April 23, 2014 15 comments
I live on lake so technically I can swim whenever I want at least from May through September. But I don’t. I don’t like to share my water with fish and they were there first, so I stay away. Even if I could coexist with fish, there are ... Read more

While my heart and mind are fixed on Boston this morning,
Monday, April 21, 2014 13 comments
I’m also remembering those days when only men were allowed to participate in this iconic event. /www.bostonmagazine.com/
news/blog/2014/04/17/throw
back-thursday-women-first-
ran-marathon/ The image of a race offi... Read more

Does this mean I’m a perfect 10?
Saturday, April 19, 2014 20 comments
All the other race numbers this morning were 100-300. What did I do to deserve this? I know that elite runners are given special low numbers. That sure is NOT me.... Read more

An unexpected use for a “body shaper”
Sunday, April 13, 2014 28 comments
And the careless behavior that caused me to need it. Some years ago in a moment of vanity I bought a “body shaper.” My mother (and Betty White) would have called it a girdle. It was advertised as taking inches off your waist and hips and ... Read more

What Spring Means to Me
Wednesday, April 09, 2014 22 comments
I’m glad winter is over. I love to be outside in nature. Unfortunately, nature doesn’t love me as much as I love it. Still I want go outside every chance I get. I ... Read more

What does my new profile picture tell you?
Saturday, April 05, 2014 27 comments
8 years since my last half marathon and I’m still smiling. Mile 12 and I want to finish happy. I carry my own water (and cough drops, darn allergies) 25 yea... Read more

I must choose WISELY because I have been choosing POORLY.
Tuesday, April 01, 2014 19 comments
I was halfway through the box of wheat thins when I realized that something was wrong. I wasn’t unhappy or upset. This wasn’t emotional eating. I just really liked the... Read more

G-R-A-D-U-A-L spells “ME”
Friday, March 28, 2014 25 comments
I admire those who go “cold turkey” – no sugar, no caffeine, no TV etc. I just was never very good at all or nothing. Still, I want to improve myself in all areas. Check out this teaspoon. ... Read more

“ 10 ways to keep your diet GMO free”
Thursday, March 27, 2014 13 comments
This article speaks for itself, although I was surprised by number 10. www.cnn.com/2014/03/25/h
ealth/upwave-gmo-free-diet
/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13 As a personal choice, I’ve always avoided artificial sweeteners, b... Read more

I think the planet has a virus
Tuesday, March 25, 2014 19 comments
When I’m “coming down with something” my body’s thermostat is all mixed up,. I’m hot. I’m cold. Hot…cold until finally I’m really sick. After weeks of alternating running outside in winter wear or shorts and T shirt, my body is confused.... Read more

“ Have you tried to lose weight and had no success?"
Thursday, March 20, 2014 15 comments
" Maybe it’s not YOU. Maybe it’s your diet” - Huh? I’m confused by this ad for a popular diet plan. It’s not YOU? Who else decides what you will be eating? I understand the importance of “diet” (the noun) and exercise too. That’... Read more

Is GMO Salmon coming to a supermarket near you?
Wednesday, March 19, 2014 14 comments
Kroger and Safeway say they will not carry it even if it is approved by the FDA Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Target say they will not carry the genetically modified fish either. Walmart and Costco have not yet announced a decision (as ... Read more

A second opinion and a solution from an unexpected source
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 25 comments
I couldn’t believe I didn’t realize it myself, but sometimes a fresh pair of eyes is what we need. One reason my last 3 weeks of training were such a bust was the nasty blister on my arch that developed suddenly. The worn covering on my cu... Read more

I really wanted this beach towel, so I ran 13.1 miles!
Monday, March 17, 2014 32 comments
It took 2:25:50 but at nearly 67 years old, I’m grateful to still be “in the race” If you’ve read my March 5th blog, “Do you believe in Jinxes,” you know I wasn’t su... Read more

I’m grateful for antibiotics as my status states, but what else happened?
Monday, March 10, 2014 18 comments
It was quite a coincidence to read the following article in the NY Times on day 7 of my penicillin regimen. The Fat Drug www.nytimes.com/2014/03/
09/opinion/sunday/the-fat-
drug.html?_r=0 I knew that antibiotics we... Read more

Do you believe in jinxes?

Wednesday, March 05, 2014 21 comments
I don’t think I’m a superstitious person, but a few hours after I posted my blog on Sunday about tripling my fitness minutes goal, I started to feel “funny.” DH & I went for a nice 2 mile stroll while the weather was still nice. Another sn... Read more

I just tripled my yearly fitness minutes goal.
Sunday, March 02, 2014 15 comments
No, I haven’t just decided to become an “Iron Woman” but sometimes it helps to step back and look at your own spark page. Somehow long ago I entered 4550 as my YEARLY goal for fitness minutes. Anyone familiar with my situation knows that... Read more

Just call me Mrs. Patmore, at least this morning.
Friday, February 28, 2014 16 comments
Those who do not watch Downton Abbey won’t understand my reference. The series is set in England in the early 20th century. Mrs. Patmore is the cook for the aristocratic Crawley family in their 400 room “abbey.” Everyone must adapt to t... Read more

When I find a sale, sometimes I go overboard
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 24 comments
I eat this cereal every day, carefully measured as to a serving. I mix it into my yogurt. I didn’t intend to buy this much, but $3.00 per box was $1.50 to $2.00 less than... Read more

Puzzlement about a run – SOLVED!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 18 comments
Yesterday, I was ready to get back to a normal routine. I had sufficiently broken in my newly refurbished orthotics over 3 days with a lot of walking and a very short test run as well as wearing them around the house. The day didn’t begin ... Read more

Watching your daughter follow in your footsteps
Monday, February 24, 2014 14 comments
My DD#1 is a Sparker. She’s exactly where I was 25 years ago, weighing the same as she did in late pregnancy. I’m very happy that she is not waiting 25 years (like I did) to do something about the situation. She and I both found that the... Read more

An unfortunate ad placement on a race registration page
Sunday, February 23, 2014 19 comments
I always try to patronize race sponsors, but I wonder who solicited this local business? I cropped out the name of the funeral home. I appreciate local businesses w... Read more

Who do you think wears these? The Incredible Hulk?
Saturday, February 22, 2014 17 comments
No, just me and I’m more like that easily irritated gal in “The Princess and the Pea” These are my newly refurbished orthotics. I call them “industrial strength.” I h... Read more

Stop! Right where you are!
Thursday, February 20, 2014 18 comments
That’s something you might hear from a police officer who suspects you of wrongdoing. But I’m thinking of it in a different context. It’s the advice I just gave my daughter who blogged that she now weighs what she did when 7 months pregnan... Read more

I’m a “semi-lucky” person, regularly winning stuff that I don’t need.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 25 comments
When there’s a contest or a drawing or any kind of prize at stake, I sometimes win. I’m VERY happy whenever that happens, excited actually. However, in my case, it’s rarely anything I will ever use. For example: Here are door prizes I h... Read more

Mommy, what’s a husband?
Monday, February 17, 2014 20 comments
I know there was some annoyance in my voice when I responded to my daughter. Yes, she was only 4, but she was really smart and very sensible, so much so that we used to call her our “wise” child. So I asked her, “Think Karen! Who do you... Read more

Why don’t I bake?
Sunday, February 16, 2014 14 comments
Because I’m like the “Little Red Hen.” If I made it, I’m going to eat it. We were snowed in by the latest storm and lost our Internet connection (Satellite) for over 24... Read more

Streak almost broken by the weather
Saturday, February 15, 2014 13 comments
When I posted my status as having a “cut back” week, I thought it would be my choice. Mother Nature had other ideas. No running, no gym workout, not even Internet access to sign into Spark for over 24 hours. Along with the many others are... Read more

Love at 50% Off - revisited
Friday, February 14, 2014 20 comments
“ Don’t Forget Your Sweetie on Valentine’s Day” I couldn’t miss the sign in the store window yet I hoped that DH does forget. He understands my position – almost. I know I’m in the minority in this and I’ve been thinking about how and wh... Read more

Technology - changing my life and now reading my mind?
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 18 comments
Yesterday at my physical therapy session (frozen shoulder) we were discussing the Olympics and one of the therapists pulled up the live feed on his phone. Another found a video of the final spin of that 15 year old Russian figure skater so we c... Read more

Something old, something new and something extra
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 21 comments
Every 6 months or 500 miles I buy new running shoes. I don’t get rid of the old ones immediately. I use them for other activities. Eventually they end up as a donation to the rescue mission. The last 3 pair were all the same color. This... Read more

Sugar, sugar everywhere.
Sunday, February 09, 2014 13 comments
I posted this photo a few years ago. Some of you know that I’m married to the junk food king. It will be 48 years in June. Our table doesn’t look like that anymore. ... Read more

Where to run 10 miles? That’s the question.
Saturday, February 08, 2014 16 comments
It’s 32* at 7 am. That’s good. Any day above freezing is a good day lately. It’s overcast and there’s a 40 % chance of rain. That’s bad. I don’t mind a drizzle, but if the clouds open up, I want to go home. So here are my choices. ... Read more

10 days of hummus
Friday, February 07, 2014 21 comments
Last week I wrote about Mastering “new technology” (my food processor) www.sparkpeople.com/mypa
ge_public_journal_individu
al.asp?blog_id=5609884 which produced this ... Read more

Baking potatoes 5 lb bag – 2/$4
Wednesday, February 05, 2014 19 comments
That poster in my supermarket window caught my eye. It was one of many, but it was the only heavily advertised special that wasn’t some kind of processed food. Entering the store, before even walking through the main doors, there are bins ... Read more

Amazing! I really wanted that virtual trophy
Saturday, February 01, 2014 24 comments
Yesterday, we were having a heat wave, at least compared to the temperature in recent weeks. It was 43* and DH suggested we go for a walk. Great idea! Although it was my scheduled rest day, with only some gentle yoga and taichi required... Read more

All treadmills are not created equal
Friday, January 31, 2014 17 comments
But sometimes even false achievement can push you in the right direction. On Wednesday I wrote about my terrific workout on an unfamiliar treadmill, running comfortably at a higher setting (6.1 vs 5.8 on MY treadmill) all the while covertly... Read more

Mastering "new technology”
Thursday, January 30, 2014 19 comments
To those in my age group that phrase usually means something computer related. As a technology coordinator in a school district and webmaster of the high school website, I remember the resistance from some of my peers. I, on the other hand... Read more

A false sense of achievement?
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 23 comments
I won’t know until tomorrow. At my little gym there’s one treadmill that I consider MINE. In fact the regulars also call it MINE. That’s because it’s on the end, far from the wall mounted TVs and right in front of a fan. Fortunately, thi... Read more

So who is my new friend?
Monday, January 27, 2014 18 comments
And can we go 100+ miles together? Sure we can. Because we’re not alone. There’s more than ... Read more

Speed intervals - “wind sprints” – and me
Sunday, January 26, 2014 17 comments
Whenever I think about these terms along with my senior citizen age, I get a mental image of a Seinfeld episode where George (faking a disability for advantage) is escaping from a group of angry old people – all of them, including George, riding... Read more

Am I really a “success” story?
Thursday, January 23, 2014 32 comments
I recently received an email inviting me to fill out a form to be considered a SP “success.” I replied that they couldn’t really mean me. Compared to the success stories I’ve read, hearing about me might elicit the response “big deal!” ... Read more

What do Peyton Manning and Jeremy Abbott have in common?
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 17 comments
While Manning is well known to more people, makes a lot more money and is a Sunday fixture on TV from Sept – Jan, Abbott and others like him come into our national consciousness only every 4 years. Manning is on his way to the Super Bowl a... Read more

All Spark Points are not created equal and I don’t mind
Sunday, January 19, 2014 19 comments
It took me nearly 3 years to get to 1000 spark points. That’s because I was a spark hermit. I conscientiously used the nutrition tracker because eating huge quantities of food caused my weight problem. I always loved exercise so I ignored the... Read more

The Jolly Green Giant and Me – the final chapter
Saturday, January 18, 2014 26 comments
Thank you to SP tech support for their prompt response to my questions about my “hijacked” nutrition tracker (details in yesterday’s blog). It seems that the Green Giant ad is in such close proximity to the drop down menu (bfast,lunch,din... Read more

Are the SP powers trying to read my mind or maybe just mad at me?
Friday, January 17, 2014 20 comments
Yesterday I did blog a complaint about one particular pop-up ad. Today I logged in to discover that I already had earned one point in my nutrition tracker. HUH? I haven’t eaten or recorded anything yet. I’ve heard that some people eat ... Read more

The most annoying pop-up ad EVER!
Thursday, January 16, 2014 22 comments
If I could make my title flash and stay in front of your eyes not matter how you try to close it, that’s what I’m facing with “WINDOWS ERRORS, for immediate clean, press OK” Since I’ve never seen this ad anywhere else except on SP, I’m assu... Read more

New respect for residents of cold climates, especially runners
Monday, January 13, 2014 16 comments
It’s been unseasonably cold here in southern Virginia. Last week we dipped below zero for the first time in my recent memory. Ice storms, and a strong wind produced wind chills of -20. I do own some “cold weather” running gear, but “col... Read more

Even “the Beaver” didn’t want to eat his brussel sprouts.
Monday, January 06, 2014 20 comments
I like to watch the “classic” TV shows and “Leave it to Beaver” certainly qualifies. VA is entering the same deep freeze covering a lot of the country and I’m only going outside if absolutely necessary. Lots of computer and TV time today along... Read more

Putting things in perspective
Saturday, January 04, 2014 20 comments
I made a long “to do” list on New Year’s Eve. Not resolutions, just things I needed/wanted to accomplish during this first week of 2014. As I look at my list on this 4th day of the new year, I’m disappointed at how many things are still on... Read more

GMO Free Cherrios?
Friday, January 03, 2014 12 comments
General Mills says that some Cheerios made without genetically modified ingredients will start appearing on shelves soon. www.nbcnews.com/business
/original-cheerios-go-gmo-
free-2D11844100 This is in response to ... Read more

What has captured the attention of 3 teenage grandchildren?
Wednesday, January 01, 2014 23 comments
They’re fascinated by my new “Roomba” – the little robot vacuum cleaner. They named it “Dustin” – Clever, no? It’s even intelligent enough not to fall down the stairs. ... Read more