The park where I *run. (By run, I mean jog.)

About a week and a half ago, I decided that it is once again time to get started taking better care of myself. I liked the simplicity and gradual nature of the “Couch to 5K” plan, and so it seemed worthy of a second shot. While it seemed before like night running might be the best approach, the inconsistencies in my nightly schedules seemed like enough of a potential deterrent that this time I’ve opted for a morning routine. Every day except Saturdays, I get up and ride my bicycle (yes, I finally got my bike fixed up and in good working condition!) to the park a mile from my apartment, where I either run or walk for 20+ minutes. While the couch to 5k plan only calls for 3 runs a week, to keep myself in the habit I’ve been going on the off days just to walk. It seems to help. I’ve gone to the park 10 of the last 12 days, and I’m a subscriber to the “object in motions stays in motion” philosophy. I’ll be sure to check back in and let you know how things are going.

Another new development is that I’ve started teaching an online composition class. I’m really excited! I’m still not certain how I feel about the proliferation of for-profit educational institutions and how that could be contributing to the growing student loan debt menace. At the very least, I may be able to help some students improve their writing skills as I gain some valuable teaching experience that could be useful down the road.

(I’ll write a post with words again soon, I promise.)

As of today, the first phone number I ever knew/had is being shut off. That phone number was active in Paxton, Illinois, for the better part of three decades—and yes, we did have a rotary phone there when I was a kid. Back then, we only had to dial five digits for an in-town call. When the lifeguards at the Paxton Pool or the secretary at Clara Pete asked for our number to call for our ride home, we’d just say, “2-2798.”

Dial that number now, and all I hear is silence.

I should write more.

Be seeing you along the road

I got a call this week from one of the schools where I applied to teach a composition course online, and I’ve done two phone interviews with them already. My impression is that the interviews went fairly well, so I may end up getting a chance to teach an online course starting in the next month or two. Very cool.

Aside from that, I’m still getting used to not having Mom around. The attached picture is a poem that was among her work things we got from her office. It’s a nice thought.

Murmuration from Islands & Rivers on Vimeo.

Cool video. Even cooler phenomenon.

I spent this past weekend in Eastern Pennsylvania, and at the end of this week I’ll head out to Illinois for a few days. Gotta keep movin.

However, I eat way more frequently than I blog, and so I decided to just do a little gallery here on my own site for y’all to enjoy. Enjoy!