Scenes a Frog Would Love

As of March 9, 2008 at 6:30 PM
Steps: 1,719,224
Miles: 727.18

Well, you might wonder why I'm all excited by these pictures I took today.


While walking downwind because it was *windy* and *cold* I saw this on the side of the Schuylkill River Bike Path.

As cold as I was, it wasn't freezing and the sun was warm in my face. Down in the puddle, in the old railroad cut where it is protected from the cold wind but exposed to the sun, was a sure sign that Spring is on the way. Duckweed in full sprout. I don't think ducks even like the stuff and I'm not sure frogs do, but I was in full admiration of it today, because it is green!


And hey, just a few inches down puddle, honest-to-gosh, green grass sprouting.

Thats gotta get you singin' huh?

A matchbox of our own
A fence of real chain link
A grill out on the patio
Disposal in the sink
A washer and a dryer and
an ironing machine
In a tract house that we share
Somewhere that's green

He rakes and trims the grass
He loves to mow and weed
I cook like Betty Crocker
And I look like Donna Reed
There's plastic on the furniture
To keep it neat and clean
In the Pine-Sol scented air,
Somewhere that's green

Between our frozen dinner
And our bed-time: nine-fifteen
We snuggle watching Lucy
On our big, enormous
Twelve-inch screen

I'm his December Bride
He's father, he knows best
Our kids watch Howdy Doody
As the sun sets in the west
A picture out of Better Homes
and Gardens Magazine
Far from Skid Row
I dream we'll go
somewhere that's... green!

Trading Boots for Swim Fins

As of March 8, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Steps: 1,694,108
Miles: 716.86

I didn't walk much yesterday (Friday) due in part to the weather and due in part to not feeling so great. But not wanting to get too far behind in my walking goal for the month, I pushed myself out the door today - and it was tad soggy out.


The Schuylkill River (Swim) Trail

The bike path is higher up on the side of the hill than the old walking path along the river. I thought I'd take the "low road" to see what state the river was in.


The river was high and running muddy, Hershey chocolate-ty muddy.

I got about a mile down the trail when the skies opened up and the rains returned in a vengeance. I pulled up my raincoat hood, climbed up the mud bank to the bike path, walked back to my car and went home.

Several hours later, and after a hot bath, I walked around the block for while (I lost count after the 8th time) to get to seven miles for the day.

Mile 720 - St. George, SC

St. George, South Carolina boasts of being the home of the one and only... (insert drum roll please)

World Grits Festival

In the mid 1980s, town leaders wanted to create a yearly festival for the city. After a search of possible festivals, local grocery store (Piggly Wiggly Supermarket) owner John Walters discovered from the Quaker grits people that the upper part of Dorchester County (of which Saint George is located) consumes more grits per capita than any other place in the world. The Worlds Grits Festival was then created and has been held each year since.

During the festival, which takes place in mid April, close to 30,000 people flock to the tiny town for food, music, and games. One event includes people rolling in grits.


I would think doing this is probably good for some skin conditions.


Hey, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried...

I'll spare you any more pictures and I'm going to virtually walk a little (er, make that a lot) faster.

Source

And if you HAVE to know:

What are grits?

Grits are made from the milling of corn kernels. The first step in the process is to clean the kernels; then, the grains are steamed for a short time to loosen the tough outer hull. The grain kernel is split, which removes the hull and germ, leaving the broken endosperm. Heavy steel rollers break up the endosperm into granules, which are separated by a screening process. The large-size granules are the grits; the smaller ones become cornmeal and corn flour.

Source

And just what does he know?

As of March 7, 2008 at 8:00 AM
Steps: 1,672,073
Miles: 707.84

Today, while walking on the Schuylkill River Bike Path, I noticed that the Schuylkill River was muddy and pretty high - and I also noticed that the view hadn't changed much in twenty or thirty minutes or more. So I stopped and pondered and scratched my head for a bit before it dawned on me why. So I then took a picture, of course.


"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?

...The Shadow knows!"

I have to stop looking at my feet, I guess. Anyway, its a self portrait, of sorts.