Postcard from the Frozen Tundra
Interestingly, -6 degrees Fahrenheit is a real number. It doesn't feel significantly worse than 10 degrees Fahrenheit, but you do feel your inevitable death coming on quicker - a lot quicker. This is a temperature that nature saw fit to serve us in the Hudson Valley last night. I imagined forest deer freezing solid so suddenly they shattered out there in the cold. It did, however, provide for one merciful death. The cats had mortally wounded but not killed a mouse on Saturday, and when I got up it was lying on the kitchen floor, dying miserably (and for how long I don't know). I gave it a bit of time to go in peace, but it kept on. So we took it outside into the cold so that it would go quicker. Honestly, sometimes cats are so gruesome. I don't mind cleaning up dead mouse or mouse bits, but leaving the darn thing alive but crippled is just unpleasant.
Put your toys away when you are done.
Inspired by several of you folks out there in LJ land, I have begun running again after a 16 year gap. I've been doing the "big boy" stuff of lifting for a while now, and have built up some general cardio endurance in the process (I go from exercise to exercise with only brief breaks, so I build up a good sweat and pulse rate). Well, I took the old right knee and right hip out for a test run early last week, and they held up fine. So I ran each day last week and didn't encounter any difficulties. I won't tell you what pathetically small distance I ran, but will shamefacedly admit to only one mile in 11 minutes. I could have pushed myself harder, but am taking it slow. Still, it's a start. I plan to be running outdoors for increasing distances through the spring and summer, and let's see where I get to. Once upon a time an evening run of seven miles was as simple as a walk around the block - I don't know if I can get there again, but I would like to.
Hubby is a bit concerned by all this. When I told him of my running, he said "Wow, you are really getting into this fitness thing. It kind of freaks me out."
Er, OK. But the point of that was that he himself is not getting into it. The man is stressed beyond belief by work, and if he makes it to the gym twice a week we have scored big. He always feels better after working out, but this doesn't inspire him for the next day. I worry about him, but we'll see what can be done once he changes jobs.
Besides, I only got serious again at age 43. It's not like I am Jack LaLanne or anything. His death yesterday reminded me of seeing him on television when I was young. For some reason, despite muscles and tight clothing, and despite my young self trying to find him compelling, I never did. He just left a big zero for me in the sexy category. I've never figured out why that was (I mean, yes, he wasn't my type even when young, but still). I certainly found many less handsome men on TV ... interesting ... back in the day.
Looking out the window from my office today is deceptively beautiful. Bright, clear sunshine, the harbor and river shimmering, puffy white clouds emerging from buildings as they vent heat. A great Manhattan winter's day. It is hard to believe, just by looking at it, that it is DEATH DEATH DEATH out there. I had "Frozen Beard Syndrome" the entire walk to work this morning, as my breath was freezing in my beard and being generally painful as the ice pulled on the hairs. I shudder at going out to go to the gym. Office clothes are not meant for winter.
Hope you all survive Monday.
Put your toys away when you are done.
Inspired by several of you folks out there in LJ land, I have begun running again after a 16 year gap. I've been doing the "big boy" stuff of lifting for a while now, and have built up some general cardio endurance in the process (I go from exercise to exercise with only brief breaks, so I build up a good sweat and pulse rate). Well, I took the old right knee and right hip out for a test run early last week, and they held up fine. So I ran each day last week and didn't encounter any difficulties. I won't tell you what pathetically small distance I ran, but will shamefacedly admit to only one mile in 11 minutes. I could have pushed myself harder, but am taking it slow. Still, it's a start. I plan to be running outdoors for increasing distances through the spring and summer, and let's see where I get to. Once upon a time an evening run of seven miles was as simple as a walk around the block - I don't know if I can get there again, but I would like to.
Hubby is a bit concerned by all this. When I told him of my running, he said "Wow, you are really getting into this fitness thing. It kind of freaks me out."
Er, OK. But the point of that was that he himself is not getting into it. The man is stressed beyond belief by work, and if he makes it to the gym twice a week we have scored big. He always feels better after working out, but this doesn't inspire him for the next day. I worry about him, but we'll see what can be done once he changes jobs.
Besides, I only got serious again at age 43. It's not like I am Jack LaLanne or anything. His death yesterday reminded me of seeing him on television when I was young. For some reason, despite muscles and tight clothing, and despite my young self trying to find him compelling, I never did. He just left a big zero for me in the sexy category. I've never figured out why that was (I mean, yes, he wasn't my type even when young, but still). I certainly found many less handsome men on TV ... interesting ... back in the day.
Looking out the window from my office today is deceptively beautiful. Bright, clear sunshine, the harbor and river shimmering, puffy white clouds emerging from buildings as they vent heat. A great Manhattan winter's day. It is hard to believe, just by looking at it, that it is DEATH DEATH DEATH out there. I had "Frozen Beard Syndrome" the entire walk to work this morning, as my breath was freezing in my beard and being generally painful as the ice pulled on the hairs. I shudder at going out to go to the gym. Office clothes are not meant for winter.
Hope you all survive Monday.