Super Sunny Saturday

Time during the week to write is scarce these days, so I love when Saturday rolls around, and I get some time for myself, to rest, to write, and now to exercise.

BIG NEWS: Despite being a breast cancer survivor, I have never participated in one of those "Race for the Cure" walks. I always "mean to," but I never actually do. So this year is my year to follow through on those half-hearted promises. I'll be walking a 5K race on Mother's Day, May 10, 2009. 5K = 3.1 miles. Easy. I love walking. I haven't walked extensively since a year and a half ago before my radiation treatments. Kicked my butt, gained too much weight. But now is the time for action, and I will be walking. The 3-Day in October is terribly appealing, but I figure I'll start with a small one, build my endurance, and then hit the big walk in 2010. Till then, today's beautiful weather prompted my first steps back on the road to health.

I drove over to the track at Upper Darby HS, the school where I did my student teaching, and which I remember fondly from gymnastics meets in 9 & 10th grades. Stretched a bit, put in the earbuds, and I began walking - 12 laps for three miles. I can do this, I said. The soundtrack from my iPod kept a hop in my step. I felt so young again, walking in circles but actually feeling like I was going somewhere.

After my morning breakfast meeting with my principal, I needed to walk out my excitement anyhow. A new position is on tap for me next year; I knew it was coming, but I was anxious to get the official WORD. So now it's official. All the details still need to be ironed out, but in essence, I'll have my ideal schedule. SUCCESS!

My day ended on a most positive gastronomic note. In the mail I received a sample of Chocolate Drizzle Mini Rice Cakes from Quaker Oats. DIVINE! The liquor store is carrying Pacific Rim wines again (PA limits the wine it imports from CA), and my homemade lasagna is delicious two days later. YUM!