Walking and Storytelling

 On today's walk I saw a tree whose leave were turning every color I knew.

At 9am I attended a Toastmasters meeting in Pittsburg, which had a presentation on recruiting that gave me a lot of good ideas.

I updated 4freeCLE.

I stopped by Storyweavers to apologize for not being able to attend but to remind them of upcoming contests and encourage them to attend SPEAKOUT's Tuesday presentation on the subject.

At 7 I attended the Time Bank's monthly meeting, which was a talent show. I waited to the end, and told Mrs. Zardelli's Ghost Zucchini. The audience was more interactive than I'm used to; this was very interesting because I'm used to just plowing through. I had to learn to adjust. At the end, some seemed to commiserate with me on her passing, not realizing I guess that this was a work of fiction. It's just as well I didn't tell Arthur's story.

Wednesday Self Walk

 Wednesday is the day for me to manage my own running, as Julie and Hannah now have a class. I set out with my pack to drop a little food at the 16th Ave pantry, resolved to run/walk at least 16 cycles each including 40 running steps. It's not a lot but that's the level I'm at right now.
Sadly my cellphone was almost out of charge (I hadn't plugged it in overnight). My immediate response was to turn back, for how was I to go for so long without listening to Ted Talks or something?

However I resolved to at least deliver the food. When I did that I just kept moving. Every cycle I accepted that it might be the last and then I'd turn back, but I actually accomplished the whole thing, denying it all the way. So much of exercise is psychological!

When I got home I did a short madfit of upper body exercise (...I really need to get more weights...), some Christine Khuri and then a little yoga. Then I say in the recliner, brushed the cats and watch 1 episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show. It's way out of style but interesting to see how they do things.

I wrote some GOTV letter, finishing up my batch - ready for the next! I listened to an Attorney Protective CLE. I visited the Diverse Downtowners Toastmaster meeting - sparseley attended but we discussed and commiserated over that. I did the Zoom support for the WPTL EC meeting, which went quite well; the new BOG liaison seems very enthusiastic and all of us had some good and productive planning. I listened in to the Wednesday Sierra club letter writing party more for company than information, and then attended Stage Time University which was very productive. 

Getting By

 Imp says, "Sleep With One Eye Open"

Monday I packed a box of books for Pegasus and went to their website to schedule a dropoff. The next available appointment is January 3. Oh well, I guess I have time to pack a 2nd box!

I danced Zumba mostly for the minimal social contact but I'm sure it's also good for me. I already had my morning walk, half-an-hour of YouTube workout, and lunch walk, but at my age keeping fit is important!

 Today I ordered a bunch of stamps for GOTV. Reportedly interesting stamps have a better chance of getting the letter noticed so it's worth paying the handling fee.

I sent a message to the Y about converting my dues during the time their buildings are closed to a donation so I can take it off my taxes. We'll see.

I've been getting mortgage refi inquiries, so I put my numbers together and responded to one. We'll see.

Toastmasters 832 tonight.

Gaming weekend

 Friday I had zoom gaming with Sandy and Ed, Saturday Julie, Hanna, Melinda and I played Kingdomino and Lost Cities, Sunday I played Codenames with Ed and two people who were new to me. This can be a golden era for online gaming now that the election stress is behind (although I'm doing some GOTV letters to GA through Sierra club).

I am walking every day (Saturday was a walk/run featuring running 16 blocks of not less than 40 paces - separated by walking blocks). I've been walking weekdays with Julie and Hannah for months, and perhaps that plus the reduced stress of being on leave is giving me consistently decent - although far from perfect - BP readings so long as I put the cuff over a part of my forearm near my elbow, where there's a pulse, and not over my bicep there really isn't.

Saturday I made it to HPIC to check out their new public fridge and take a photo.

Highland Park Improvement Club
Free Fridge+Pantry

Sunday I harvested my sunchokes. I would if it would be better to leave them in the ground so they regrow next year? I have plenty of nutrition available right now.

Shadow has learned to call me to sit in my recline her and brush her til she relaxes or naps. This is ok the first 3 or 4 times a day but more than that and it's cutting into my time. There's only so much TV I can watch, although I did start catching up on old movies, such as "Meatballs" on Saturday and "She's All That" on Sunday. It's culture, I guess.