Today starts a big weekend here in town. Duathlon today and half marathon tomorrow. With all my muscle issues of late, I am not sure how I will do. I hope I can finish both events.

But in the grand scheme of it, it is just about being there and taking part. I have a lot of friends involved in the events this weekend and it will be great to see them, cheer them on and share the experience. It does not matter who finishes first.

I hope to see a lot of smiles and laughter today and tomorrow. People enjoying life and completing a challenge. What could be better than that. 3 weeks ago

I checked out NPR right before lunch today. There were three articles right on top of one another. I wondered if they were put in that order on purpose.

1 – 50 Million People In Path Of Potentially Historic Blizzard
Now have been through many blizzards here in upstate New York. I don’t know if i would call any of them “historic”. I don’t remember the specifics of any of them. I just know we got a lot of snow. This must be really bad if it will be historic? I hope we all survive…

2 – Close Shave: Asteroid To Buzz Earth Next Week
Now this is the first I have heard about this happening. They say it will miss Earth. I hope so. But if it hits, now that would really be historic!! But then, who would be left around to document such an historic event?

And then there was this:
Outside The Big City, A Harrowing Sexual Assault In Rural India
A somewhat common occurrence. To be forgot in history. But never to the victims.

Snowstorms and near-misses don’t seem quite that harrowing, or historic, any more. 3 months ago

I hope everyone has a safe and joyous evening and day tomorrow.

There is a lot of crazy things going on in this world. Our community was rocked by a fire and shooting early today. I’m trying not to pay attention, but it was close and it is all over the news. It is hard to ignore.

So it becomes all the more important to tell those close to you that you love them. To give them a big hug. To be calm and enjoy your time together.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and Merry Christmas.

Peace. 4 months ago

I have said in a couple entries that I am reading “The China Study” and I am somewhat following a plant based diet. The book makes a good case for eating this way, but as always, I am skeptical and do a search on the critics of the book. I am rewarded with an array of articles and people who say the book is wrong and the study is flawed. I am not sure of the credentials of these critics. Most seem to just be bloggers. There was one who had an MD after his name and another who was a med student. I am not sure they know more than the author who has over 30 years of study and research on this topic.

I guess my point is, we still don’t really know the affects of meat and dairy on our health. After all the study and smart people who look at this stuff, there is still so much mis-information and unknowns on the subject of meat and dairy on chronic disease.

So, I am my own experiment now. I can read more and try to make some good choices. I still believe the vegetarian life style is the healthiest. Vegan may be better. It will be a long experiment. I’m not sure what I can prove though as I am only an N = 1. 7 months ago

I honestly think that after all of these years, I have finally gotten my job in perspective. It is important,but it isn’t me and is not the most important thing in my life. I hope that this can continue. 11 months ago

I know several people that have retired recently or are in the process of retiring within the next 2 months.

The ones that already have retired look great and constantly talk about all of the things that they always wanted to do, but couldn’t while they were working. Some of those things include traveling, fishing, participating in sports, working out more often, reading, volunteering and playing musical instruments.

The ones that are retiring soon are prioritizing what they are going to do first. While I understand that setting goals for this time of their life is important, I begin to wonder why so many people wait so long to do these activities that make them so happy.

Money isn’t a reason because most people have less money when the retire or at least are concerned enough about their financial future that they don’t waste it.

I asked a few people and they said that time was the issue.

Time? Really?

Many of these people work 7.5 hours a day and time prevents them from fishing, golfing, volunteering and working out? I think time is the best excuse, but not the reason.

I wont be retiring for at least 17 years, but I plan to keep things in perspective by doing as many of my retirement activities as possible…. Now.

Why wait? 12 months ago

Things happen; good and sad.

On the good side, Lisa, who 20 years ago was in a wheelchair suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro one week ago. The photo is her on the summit. She had a tough battle and fought the disease for 9 years, 4 of those years in that wheelchair. It was a tough battle back then. Not much was known about the disease. But she never gave up and finally realized this dream of hers. We are all so proud of her.

On the sad side, A friend from a long time back died yesterday of brain cancer. Karen was diagnosed only a short time ago and she went fast. She was a fantastic person, so unassuming in life, yet would do anything for you. She ran in a lot of the local races. I caught up to her in one a while back. She was having a tough time that day. It was near the end and we ran together to the finish line, pushing each other to just get there. We crossed the line just about together. She was one of those good people we need here on this planet. She will be dearly missed.

I don’t really have a big point here. Maybe that life is precious. It throws a lot at us. A lot of times it is not fair. All we can do is our best and try to never give up. 14 months ago