Modern Technology

Thirty years ago, when I was a young adult just beginning my grown up life - if someone had told me that someday I'd be shopping in a store and just before checking out,  I'd pull a small device, which fits in the palm of my hand, out of my pocket and call up Pizza Hut and order a pizza and then 17 minutes later pull up to a drive through window, roll my window down, pay for the pizza, have the pizza handed to me through the window and then head off to home - I'd have called them crazy!!  I could not have even imagined doing such a thing.

I'm not sure why that scenario got me to thinking about how things have changed in my lifetime.  On the drive home I got to thinking about how different things are from when I was growing up.  Then, in my nerdiness, I started thinking about how things will change in the future.  I wonder if, in the future, after calling and ordering a pizza as we drive up to the restaurant our phone will somehow announce our arrival, perhaps similar to how some people "check in" when they enter a place and it goes to Twitter or Facebook or whatever.  Who knows??

I have to say, no matter what somebody would suggest to me today that we will be able to do in the future, I'd probably believe them, whereas, way back in 1982 there's no way I'd have believed such things as tiny wireless telephones would be possible. 

Runner Nerd
ponderer of great things!!

Muddy Shoes

Muddy shoes after a night cross country race

Muddy shoes are the result of a successful run!!  Last night was a run which produced many muddy shoes!  It was a night cross country race which I have run before.  Usually, this race is run in knee-deep snow (well, almost knee-deep!).  This year there was no snow and the temperature was mid 30s! 
It is an 8 miler run as 4 loops of 2 miles each.  Most of the loop is on part of the high school's cross country course; it even includes a short jaunt into the woods!  Soooooo, most of each loop was also very MUDDY!!!!  In fact, each time around the loop it was muddier than the time before! 
I ran as part of a 2 person relay so I only had to run 2 loops, or 4 miles.   I haven't run more than 5 miles since the Thanksgiving 10K and most of my runs have been 3 or 4 miles so it would have been tough to run 8 miles but I was going to do it.  One of my fellow Tuesday night running group members decided yesterday afternoon that he would like to be on a relay team since he took advantage of the unseasonable temperatures and absence of snow to go for a 50 mile bike ride!!  I was really really happy to get the text asking if I'd relay!!! 
After the race there is food in the school cafeteria.  The floor of the cafeteria was completely mud covered from everyone walking around in their muddy shoes!! 
My relay partner and I placed 2nd in the over 90 years age group!!!  (ages added together)  Everyone from our Tuesday night running group who participated went home with a medal, just like we did last year! 
I thought that I would be wearing my new miracle shirt at this race but it still wasn't cold enough for the miracle shirt.  I have yet to wear it!!  What I said in my blog post the day I bought it may come true!! (Now that I have this miracle shirt we will have a mild winter in which it will not get cold enough to wear it!)

Runner Nerd
hoping for a mild winter

I miss my friend

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
(Those times to mourn really suck.)

I miss my friend; the one my heart and soul confided in

So many things remind me of you.
When the sun is shining bright I think of you and smile
When I see the full moon I think of you (and say hi!)
When it's unseasonably warm in the fall or winter I think of you and smile
When I see the billboard with the lobster claws I think of you and giggle (yep, it's still there!)
Occasionally I feel a hand on my shoulder for a moment and I wish it could stay there.
I think of you and I smile, I laugh, I cry, I remember
I will never forget you
I am so very glad that I had you for my bestest friend throughout those years.
You believed in me when no one else did.
I miss you...I miss you more
(\o/)
 /_\

Time to get life back to normal

The big day has come and gone.  Another Christmas is in the books.  Next Christmas I will no longer be the world's oldest college student!!  I'll be all graduated! 
I got my daughter an ipad and she loves it!  She has been playing with it and downloading games.  There is even a game for the cat to play!  We went to the apple store today to get a case to protect it.  She will be using it when she gets back to college.  She is getting a stylus that she can use to take notes on the ipad.  Now I want one!!  Maybe after I graduate. 
I have to go back to school and resume my role as the world's oldest college student in 12 days.  Right now I'm loving not having anything to do.  I really needed this break.  I know it can't last forever.  I have 2 books to get ordered. Because I'm a college student, I get free song downloads from Amazon every time I order textbooks!!  This will be the last time I have to order textbooks.  The rest of the program will not require any more new books!!  
I also need to get my running log book caught up.  I've never let it get this far behind.  I think I last recorded a run back in September.  I have all my runs on my Garmin and I have uploaded them all to Garmin connect and put notes on there.  I have no idea of what my mileage is going to add up to for the year.  I'm sure I won't reach 1000 miles this year.  I think I've ran over 1000 miles for the last 4 years. 

I'm falling asleep.  Last night I stayed up half the night watching you tube videos of old REO Speedwagon concerts and songs.  I can do that while I'm on break from school!!!!  I ended up downloading some songs I have always loved and used to listen to on records and cassette tapes!!   The REO dudes were so young in those videos and the wild hair was soooooo funny!! 
Ok, before I fall asleep...
Runner Nerd
college student on break who stays up all night watching music videos!! 

Silent Night Holy Night

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Oh Holy Night

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

For unto us

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.