Carol

Carol Burt

I got to have breakfast last Sunday with a long time and very special friend, Carol Burt. I know Carol from my years as a Rez Rat (that is one who spent way to much time at the Boulder Reservoir) in the late 80's and early 90's. Carol lived and worked at the Boulder Reservoir for over 30 years, living in the end of a boat house and sleeping in the van in the picture above. I could never name all of Carol's duties at the reservoir or separate those that were part of her job and the many, many things she just did. She worked all the time and she worked hard, taking care of all the boats kept at the reservoir, managing people assigned to the reservoir for community service, painting, cleaning up after people and on and on. Carol retired from her job at the reservoir last year and she will be 85 years old next September. I never saw her do a job that she didn't do with dignity and grace.

Talking to Carol is like talking to the earth....she is wise, humble, perceptive, gentle,and self-effacing. I've never known anyone to work so hard, be so kind, ask for so little and give so much as Carol Burt.

And she can still out-water ski most anyone!

I Need to Wear These Shoes More Often

I need to wear these shoes more often. I'm posting this picture to remind myself of that. I have been really bad about getting any kind of physical exercise lately. That was brought home to me a while back when I was on my feet most of the day for some reason, and at the end of the day I could really feel it. Thus my resolution, once again, to get into the habit of doing some kind of work out at least most days.

For me, it is a hard habit to get into, and a very easy one to get out of. That is due partly to laziness, and mostly to the fact that I just don't enjoy it. Many, many years ago (so long ago that it involved Joanna going to child care at the gym) I got somewhat addicted to going to an aerobics class. I never wanted to miss the class and felt that high that a good work out can bring about.

Other than that long ago phenomenon, I have never gotten into any exercise plan that I didn't have to force myself to do, every time. It's not that I don't have time, although it is particularly hard for me to do at the end of a work day, and I have never been one to get up extra early for a work out. It's that I would almost always rather be doing something else......reading a book, computer Mah Jong(that's a blog for another day, I seriously need a 12 step program), reading other people's blogs, or, well, just about anything else.

And it is not that I don't have opportunity. I live a few blocks from the Louisville Rec Center, there are several fitness centers within walking distance of my house, I have a treadmill and an exercise bike in the basement, and a small step machine right here next to my desk. All I need now is the will to stick to my resolution.

Okay, today was not a stellar start. I was going to start slowly, with a good walk. About half way through the time I had allotted it started raining, not a downpour, but more than a sprinkle, so I kept going. And then came the downpour. I took the short way back home, planning to finish up on the treadmill. By the time I got home I was really wet and cold and a hot bath and a few games of Mah Jong seemed like a much better idea than half an hour on the treadmill.

Tomorrow is another day. I probably won't report my successes (or failures), but wish me luck.