Wildfires & Running

Unfortunately, I had not been paying attention as carefully as I should have regarding the new Canadian Wildfires.  Apparently, yesterday was a bad air quality day in my area, although it was not particularly hazy appearing.  This morning, the haze was far more pronounced and I checked and found that today is also a very poor day atmospherically.  So, I did not run outside in the early morning as was my plan.  I am hoping/planning to run on the indoor track at the U in the early afternoon.  Even though it is not FUN to run on the indoor track (and I do this already during the Winter), it should be a better choice for today.  The "THEORY" is that the air conditioning and other aspects of filtration that occur as part of the overall HVAC system will make the INDOOR air less problematic than the outside air.  I am not sure I actually believe this, but I am going to accept it as HOPEFULLY true so that I should run indoors today.

I made an Indian inspired dish in our crockpot this morning.  It is somewhat akin to Chana masala and is chickpea based, but I also add fruit and tomato (technically also a fruit) purees into the mix to add moisture, flavor, and a bit of texture instead of oil.  With the curry spice blend I use, it should be very tasty.  My wife and I will have it over rice and topped with a small scattering of peanuts and raisins for dinner.  I will also have some sort of vegetable (perhaps oven roasted Brussels sprouts) and my typical gigantic salad that is bigger than my head..... made in my daily use, deep dish, 8X8 cake pan filled to the brim.

I am aiming to head to the Cigar Shoppe late this Wednesday afternoon.  Hopefully a friend or two may be there.  Only a few more weeks and I can go back to the official Retiree's Cigar Group on THURSDAYS so I can see everyone!  I have a book I am reading that I will bring with me in case none of my friends are about today.  I am also considering packing a pipe and pouch with me and my possibly indulge in that instead if I am alone and reading.  I am not sure IF I will take a pipe and pouch, though, as I feel pretty confident I can be more measured with a cigar and not have to worry.  I do think/worry that if I were to indulge in the much more delightful, much more longed for pipe instead.... I still am not sure I would maintain my resolve of this once a week event.  A cigar is just a cigar, but a pipe is so much more.... so I am not sure I want to risk being on the precipice of a slippery slope like that.... well, not that I wouldn't WANT TO.... but I am not sure I would want to struggle to maintain the goal of this weekly indulgence after tasting a pipe again. 

The book is "Hidden Valley Road" and it is an interesting biographical work about a family that had numerous children that developed schizophrenia.  The book goes through their family history and how progressively various children developed symptoms.  Researchers have been able to isolate potential genes in the family that appear to be influencing the development of schizophrenia.  Although horribly tragic for the family, their willingness to allow genetic testing has dramatically helped in the research struggle to identify factors related to the development of this horrific neurological disorder.  

There is a one day, mini Jazz Festival today in the nearby downtown.  If it is not too excessively rainy (rain is projected) my wife and I plan to go mosey about hearing music.  

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