Comments on Comments (August 11th Edition)

As I am attempting to be more predictable, I am striving to always have a comments post on Monday.  This week's version is shorter, as a few of my regular commenters either were away or had less to say.  This may be my fault, though, as I was away for a bit from posting, which I apologize for.  Below are responses to those that did offer comments!  Thank you as always!  I appreciate comments greatly!!!! 

AC

"I go around in circles without actually running.

Hah!  I understand that.  But, for me the "circles" are in my mind most of the time.  As part of my anti-rumination goals,  I am really striving to live much more in the "moment" than I have typically done.  It is surprising to me how much work it is for me to try to break this thought pattern.  

"Running loops is not frootal. Now I must explain myself.  A very long time ago on a b&w tv, there was an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show in which a love struck boy called his love for Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) frootal, seemingly mixing up and combining futile and fruitless. These 5+ decades later, Sue and I often jokingly say frootal for futile. It is very appropriate to me in this case because of the Froot Loops in your picture.

I have always loved the "Dick Van Dyke" show, and now when I watch it, I find that I see/understand things in the show differently.  Even though it is indeed a comedy, there is a very present undertone of philosophy as well that I am liking!  It may seem especially odd, as his character was typically not central and primarily comedic, but I have grown especially in awe of the character played by Morey Amsterdam.  He is a gem.  His comedic timing is spot on, but his acting is much more nuanced than I recognized back when I was a kid.  It is also interesting to me that he physically reminds me of a shorter version of my Dad.  

"Spontaneity can be good, and I think it was in this case. It sounds like your kids are younger than I had thought.

Of our kids, the two youngest went with us.  My wife and I started rather late in our having our kids.  Our youngest was born when I was well into my 40s.  The other kid who came with us is deep into graduate school at the moment.  A late start is not that uncommon in professors, so at the U I am relatively typical in that regard.  For me, it was a purposeful decision to not even try/consider marriage until after I finished graduate school and landed a job, so I would know where I would end up being.... and if it was not near my own biological relatives, I would hope to be in the location where my future wife would have her biological family.  Very fortunately for my wife and I, it ended up being we were geographically reasonably close to all sides of the family.  

"I am surprised by your response to Margaret that the running came so long after the weight loss. Speaking of weight loss, you followed your ‘fat’ protocol quite rigorously.

Since it has been ~20 years since I have lost the ~135 pounds, fewer people in day-to-day even know I went through that change.  But, many of those folks who know of the weight loss have also assumed my running was a way to lose weight.  But, it was never actually a part of that process.  Running became a "goal" for me, because of a long-seated feeling of not being an "athletic" sort from when I was a kid.  When I inadvertently (~10 years after losing weight) began running, I surprised the heck out of myself.  One event actually sticks in my mind as a "spur" that actually got me to THINKING that perhaps I could run.....  as I had mentioned in the previous post, I have always walked.  Well, perhaps a few months before I began to dapple in running.... I was walking very, very early one morning before work, and I was wearing one of my outdoor jackets because it was a cold, late October morning (before daybreak).  When I was at the furthest part away from home on this walk, I put my hands into my pocket, and realized I had MY WIFE'S KEYS in my pocket!!!!!  And.... she had to leave VERY EARLY herself for a work related travel that was to require an 90 minute drive, so she was needing to leave very early herself, before I would normally return from my walk.  I had my own keys as well, so there was no backup.  And, I did not (at that time) carry a phone with me.... instead I had a small MP3 player to hear music (and also my pipe back then as well).  Well, when I realized what trouble I had caused (and what trouble I would be in if I didn't try to fix this as well), I stuffed my pipe into my pocket and began to try to jog home as quickly as I could to be able to get my wife her keys.  And, seriously, at that point I had not jogged/ran since I had been forced to do so way back in 9th grade gym.  Being lighter, I suppose, definitely helped, but I was damn surprised that I COULD actually do a semblance of a jog on my way back!!!!    That event is one of several that reawakened that "impossible dream" from when I was a kid of being able to be somewhat "athletic" by running.  

Margaret

"Track running is indeed tedious; when I used to do so at the YMCA, it made me dizzy sometimes. That's wonderful about the Cigar Group; you've found an excellent group of friends!

There are three areas where I can potentially run on an indoor track.  The one I use most is not far from my home.  It also is the one to open earliest in the morning, but it has the disadvantage of having no windows.  The U track opens a bit later (which is a disadvantage when trying to run before going to teach), but it has beautiful windows all around which help with not being as tired of the "loops".  And the third is at the Y, but it is the farthest out from me, and while nice, it is more of a drive than I want most days.  The friends I have at the Retiree's Cigar Group are very meaningful and helpful for me.  I look forward to an unstructured time away from the U and my other structured activities.  

"I can't stand treadmills either. I used to run outside and now I walk. Summer walking isn't my favorite; I much prefer fall and spring. But our weather is usually OK--with the right gear. Hope you'll make it to the Cigar Group this afternoon! Sounds like you need the relaxation.

As long as there is no ice, I like running outdoors.... as long as I can do so without a lot of sun.  Strong sunlight tires me out, and I burn easily, and try hard to avoid that.  

"What a fun family time! I've ordered fudge from that place and it was delicious. I imagine it's even better fresh. I think it's good to be away before the true insanity of back to school begins.

All of the fudge was amazing (especially like you say, because it was freshly made that day).... but the BLUEBERRY was truly amazing and special to me, as I have NEVER had such a beautiful, pure, and accurate rendition of true BLUEBERRY flavor before in a candy or even a blueberry pie.  It was truly special.