Purple For Fall

Slightly ghoulish, also goes harvest.

First Days of Fall

Crossing the Raritan. 

(Double click on image to view it larger).

Ryan Hall Wins The Philadelphia Distance Run!

And I finished 55 minutes later,* taking more than a minute off of my Spring Half time. It was a beautiful day, as it has been the three previous years I've run it, and my running tribe of a half dozen people all had great races (even the ones who swear they didn't). Next time though, I will remember that the course is almost entirely shady and I need to bring my sleeves.


One other note: what is it with racers who wear shirts with pompous and/or obnoxious sayings on the back? It's race pollution, if you ask me. It just makes me want to pass them... Maybe I shouldn't condemn them, if it's good for me. 


* Well, not in real time. We started in waves (a great idea) so I actually finished more than an hour later. They let the fast people go first, and put the walkers in the back, etc.

If You Ever Get To Nantucket...

Be sure to do the following things:

1. Rent a cruiser with a wicker basket.

2. Explore the bike paths.

2. Ride to Sconset. When in Sconset, be sure to pick up supplies at the market, like cookies as big as your head, water, fudge, and cigars, if you're into that. Enjoy these items at the beach, or store them in said wicker basket for later.

2. Go down strange streets that lead to nowhere.

3. Get some ice cream in a hand-rolled waffle cone at the Juice Bar.

4. Watch the Pats score two touchdowns to come from behind and win their home opener.

These are my personal recommendations on exploring a far away isle in New England. Enjoy the wildlife and the silence. And the ice cream.  And the football dynasty. Make plans to come back again.

On The Topic Of Heydays

Those who know me well can attest to my use of the term "heyday." I find it an apt description of many kinds of happiness and/or periods of time in which the universe conspires in your favor. In a recent text message exchange, my friend on the West Coast and I were contrasting our heydays -- his entailed seeing Phish on their reunion tour, mine meant having friends over for grilled food and pie on the deck. He wrote, "All paths, whatever they be, lead to Hey." Well said.

My love of "Hey" springs from my second favorite children's book of all time, Marie Louise's Heyday. It's an odd little out of print book, but I still love it to this day.

I found an excellent summary on the web to fill you in on why you should care about this overburdened mongoose and her quest to eat a banana.

On this Labor Day weekend, I wish for you a Day of Hey.