Our fall/winter training group is working out really well! Last weekend wasn't really organized - I just posted an FB status the night before, saying where and when. Four of us went to Hilton Falls, had a great run, beautiful weather and then hit up a local hobby farm for breakfast afterwards. They just happened to have corn mazes, slides, hay bail playground and a country store.
The benefits of a training group can't be overstated. My running this week has improved - I'm more motivated and my workouts are focused on getting better instead of just maintenance. I'm not the only one. I've received emails from everyone saying how good it felt to get together and break out of our routines.
.

This week, I'm doing it right. I sent an email out to 15 or so people with a proposed outline for the winter, indicating they should let me know if they want off the list. Only one person asked to be removed because their kids have too many weekend activities, they'll never be free (at least for this winter). I'm curious to see who shows up this weekend!

ps Rachel, let me know when you're home so I can keep you in the loop!

There's nothing like a great playlist or podcast to make a tedious drive (flight, waiting room visit, etc.) go by quickly. A couple of years ago, the soundtrack for my loner-drive to Florida was the Russell Brand radio show. I burned through those so many times I can practically recite them. This week, the guys at work suggested alternatives so I've added This American Life and The Adam Carolla Show to my iPhone. I can't say how good the ACS is because I can't stop listening to This American Life. Think TED Talk meets George Strombolopoulos or 60 Minutes (when it was good). The drive home is suddenly way more interesting and way less stressful.

Pete, Matt and I started back with our early morning workouts at PTC. It felt a little strange because I'm still on the water -  was out as recently as last night. Usually there's a bigger stretch of no paddling between the end of summer and start of winter training.
We decided that October was the November of 2011. It was mostly horrible, cold weather. I had actually started to put my boat away - no, that's not true. I was thinking about how I'm going to store boats and boards for the winter. The boards are still in my living room but I've got a tarp and sawhorses in the garage. That's something isn't it?
Anyway, just as well I hadn't packed everything away because I had a great paddle on the lake last night before meeting Katy and Eve at Katy's condo. We grabbed a couple bottles of wine and headed to Dr. Generosity for dinner.

So I got a flu shot for the first time. I was at the doctor's for a call back on some tests and she mentioned I could get one while I was there. I've always resisted but in the past 4 years I've caught really bad viruses that knocked me flat for weeks and then lingered on for months. The most recent was 6 weeks ago and that was the final straw for me. Still, I asked her opinion and she said that since it has a reported 56% effectiveness it offered better odds than not getting one. The clincher was when she said she gave all her children the shots. She did ask me an odd question - was I allergic to eggs. Apparently the vaccine contains egg protein so that's a concern (but not for me). Done. I'll let you know how it goes.

My sister called last night but because my phone was buried somewhere in my purse, I didn't know until this morning. I'd been waiting for a call from her because my Dad has experienced some unexplained bruises and scrapes at the nursing home so she was going to talk to the director of care. Laurel suspects the night psw is not careful when moving him around and is demanding they replace them. I pointed out that complaining about a staff member, having them disciplined and reassigned is similar to sending food back at a restaurant. You're just inviting the chef to spit in your soup (or worse). Don't put your parents in nursing homes if you can help it. It's horrible.

Anyway, she left a message but it was basically her saying "Hi it's me, (laughing) I'm at a friend's birthday party" and then just loud music. I figured she had stuck the phone in her pocket, thinking she'd disconnected. I texted her to find out what's up - she texted back that she left the line open intentionally so I could hear Sting who was performing for her friend at the party. I was just like "oh. durr, that's awesome." Like I didn't know how great her life is already. Her husband purchased a 2012 Aston Martin Virage while he was in Europe earlier this year and had it shipped to Toronto. Currently the only one in Canada. I'll just go back to my shitty government job now.

Hey, 7 billion people on earth today. The U.N. recognized a number of "symbolic" 7 billionth babies born around the world. As I noted on fb, according to a world population calculator on the BBC website, my birth order puts me at number 2,978,458,194.