#I have 7:30 to 9am free on monday

[queerhawkeyes]

I was too busy this week and now am super irritated and overstimulated. just want to be alone in a sensory deprivation tank. unfortunately I have to do work but I am so close to being the worst version of myself and cannot do an educational records review in this state.

[watery-melon-baller]

uh 19, 26, 27(i think this one would be funny), 44 and 50 if you don't mind?

ty for the ask!!

19. imagine we’re at a sleepover, would you paint my nails?

absolutely. i would paint ur fingernails and do a mediocre job bc im not great at it but id try to do a fun color combo cause i cant do cool designs and one single color is boring. something sparkly for sure

26. a scenario that you’ve replayed multiple times?

ohhh. hmmmm. a billion scenarios. i love picking random scenss from myau and replaying that billions of times and then moving onto another one. current one on the brain is for my toh reverse au specifically the adult luz vs belos confrontation in the s1 finale where shes basically like fuck you straight to hell i know youre full of shit and also a HUGE fucking liar whos lying about the day of unity and hes like what the fuck you know too many of my secrets. get petrified (at sundown)

27. about how many hours of sleep did you get?

you ask me this. during finals week. im gonna give yu a rundown of how much ive slept actually this whole week acutallly

lets see. sunday night went to bed aroun 3-4am, woke up at 6:30am monday (2 hours)

monday night/tuesday morning went to bed around 5am? woke up at 11am (4 hours)

tuesday night took a 12am to 2pm nap. felt weirs and couldnt sleep until 6am then woke up at 10am weds morning. was sick and unwell and went back to bed at 12pm and then woke up at 5pm. (10 hours)

wedsnay night i pulled an all nighter! i went to bed thursday morning at 9am and woke up around 3pm :( i was tring to wke up around 12 but slept in. (6 hours)

then thursday i pulled. another all nighter. went to bed this friday morning around 8am and woke up at 10:30. i did my two finals and then took a nap from 7-8:30 so thats. uh 3 hours for today.

in total: 25 hours of sleep this week. uhhh i think ur supposed to get like. at least 40 hours a week. lmao. im so healthy

44. you get a free pass to kill anyone, who is it?

ooooh tempting. so many people i want to kill (i think if i had the death note i would do infinetly better then light hes such a pussy weak bitch) but i think id go for elon. or jk rowling. might have to sit down and reserahc whos actually doing the Most harm but for now elons dying first

50. can i tag you in random stuff?

yes you CAN i love being taghed in random shit.

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

                   Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 37                                                                                                  Week of Sept 9,  2024                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing EDITOR:  Healthy people seek healthy thoughts and habits.  As we age there is a normal decline in health because when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit our DNA was changed forever.  Knowledge helps me work harder to have quality of life over quantity. I am appalled when I read of the health problems and risks with food additives such as FD&C Yellow and Red artificial food coloring.  These are cancer causing agents yet our foods and drinks are full of these unnecessarily. We are insane if we continue to ignore  what we are eating and what we are allowing our children to eat and drink.  Knowledge and action will help protect us when our government will not. Read labels!   Lynne R Martin                                                                         

TOWN of SALEM: 5 Park Avenue  Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM. Closed 12-1 for lunch.  * Visit the Downtown Market every Sat, 8am-12pm.  There will be a community cookout in partnership with the Oconee Sheriff’s office and the Town at the Salem Community Center Sept 17th at 4PM.  FREE Hamburger or hot dog plates will begin at 4PM.  A new neighborhood watch which is part of  Mission Oconee, sponsored by a Isaiah  40:31 foundation will be discussed.  

Jottings from Miz Jeannie  by Jeannie Barnwell    Stretching AND Chair Zumba at ENAC Ladies!  Join the fun this Thursday, September 12 at 9:30 AM for gentle but invigorating exercise. Last week, nine ladies attended a practice session under the leadership of Ms. Joanie Shockly.  Joanie explained that we would be moving at our individual pace, and we would not be competing. I mentioned to you last week that rather than driving to classes in Easley, that I intended to just stay at home to do my own stretching.  Well, that didn't work out very well for me.  I curled up on the porch and tucked into a  bag of chips and a  good book.  Mercy me!  The days went by and I just never did get around to my exercises.  On the contrary when I joined the group, there was a spirit of camaraderie. As I glanced around the room, many of the women were smiling  for the whole hour.  We look forward to attending weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays  Classes are $2.50 each. Enter the ENAC and the exercise class is directly past the Auditorium,  This experience is the opposite of a high school gym class! No one will yell at you if you confuse your left foot from your right!  After class, I told Joanie I felt so energized from the breathing exercises and the gentle stretching. It's up to YOU to take advantage of amazing classes, concerts, and get-togethers planned JUST FOR YOU at the Eagles Nest ART Center!  I hope to see you in class! Love Ya!  Miz Jeannie

ACE HARDWARE RETURNS and IS OPEN for business!  A nice reader suggested this news is  so great I should run it again for everyone.  The Ace Hardware that formerly operated at the Keowee Towne Market Complex on North Highway 11 has reopened in its original building.  Hours are Monday –Saturday 7AM-7PM and Sunday 9AM-7PM.

ASHTON RECALLS by Ashton Hester      SALEM FACULTY NAMED FOR 1954-55 TERM - (The following story was in the August 4, 1954 Keowee Courier). . .The 1954-55 school term will open at Salem Monday, August 16, with classes beginning at 9 a.m., the Courier learned this week from Superintendent Beecher Morton. . .Superintendent Morton listed the faculty for the elementary grades as including Mrs. Alice C. Elrod of Walhalla, Mrs. Eloise Griffith of Salem, Mrs. Edith Evatt of Central, Mrs. Estelle Nicholson of Salem, Mrs. Della P. Burnside of Salem, Mrs. Hannah Light of Walhalla, and Mrs. Nellie Evans of Central. . .The high school faculty roster is composed of Mrs. C.G. Dalton of Salem, Mrs. Nelle Rochester of Salem, Mrs. Mary K. Whitten of Walhalla, Mrs. Dorothea Thode of Walhalla, Dee C. Poe of Salem, and Raymond Spoon of Salem. . .Advisory trustees are Clyde Talley, M.P. Childress, C.L. Lusk, Oscar Wigington, and Fred Holden.                                                                                                                                 JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11                                           Wed–Sat 9am-9pm and Sunday 12pm-7pm.    Events this week: Wed:  FOOD TRUCK: BLUE RIDGE GRILL  4PM  Wings and more!    Thursday: Food Truck:  BLUE RIDGE GRILL 4PM   Music:  OLD TIME JAM  6:30PM   Fri: Music: Square Roots ( Blues Duo) 6:30PM   Food:   Mac Attack   Sat– Food: WHEELIE GOOD FOOD   Music:  FALL DOWN TREES ( Americana)  6:30PM   Sun: 12pm-7pm Food: WOK LOBSTER    Music at  4PM.

FRIENDS OF JOCASSSEE  FALL EVENT– Sept 14th 9AM-NOON  VIP DAY   Volunteer, Improve, and Protect.  This is the clean and sweep of areas.  We welcome divers, boaters, kayakers and more to help!  Come be a part of protecting and preserving this beautiful lake we all love and enjoy.   See friendsof jocassee.org for more information.              

EAGLES NEST ART CENTER 4 EAGLE LANE, SALEM SC     

2024 UPCOMING EVENTS       Treasure Store open every Saturday 9AM-12PM!  Drop off donations too!

Eagles Nest Senior Exercise Program:  Join up with friends to exercise at the Eagles Nest Art Center!  Classes begin Thursday, Sept 12 at 9:30AM and will be held  each Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9:30AM with Stretching and walking geared for 55 plus.  Cost $2.50  each class you attend.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       September 21, 7PM  Oconee Mountain Opry– Hometown variety show of local and regional talent including Jenifer Gregory-from Upstate SC a-singer/songwriter and pop rock, Chris Wayne from NC -Rockabilly, and the Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs from Winston-Salem singing a variety of American you will absolutely enjoy!   Call up your friends and come along!   Tickets $10 at the door or Ticketleap on the eaglesnestartcenter.org website.   

TATER HOUSE– The little building on the corner of Tamassee Salem campus ( -.  The equipment was there and the citizens did all the preparation and process which resulted in rows of canned vegetables for the winters ahead.  Usually it took a full day or sometimes two for each family.  I remember going there vividly with my mom and other ladies as they visited and worked hard at the same time.  The men did all the harvesting and loading the vegetables into vehicles from the home front.  Franklin D. Roosevelt designed the funds to aid our community during our time of crucial need.  by Brenda DuBose, 2015    * Editor’s note:  Brenda DuBose is the daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Crawford Nicholson,  ( Mrs. Estelle Nicholson mentioned on pg 1, Ashton Recalls) and the Tater House is part of the Eagles Nest Art Center.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   CHURCH NEWS

Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA),  580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691. Worship at 10:30 a.m.  Come Visit Us! September  Schedule: 1,8,&15 Mel Davis                                                                                                                                Boones Creek Baptist Church, 264 Boones Creek Road, Salem invites you to join us for regular worship service on Sunday morning with Sunday School at 10am and followed by worship at 11am.                                                                                                                               Salem Seventh-Day Adventist Church, located 240 W Main St , Salem,  cordially invites you to join us every Saturday at 9:30am

Salem Methodist Church, 520 Church Street, Down town Salem.  Salem Methodist is an independent church.       Sunday Breakfast at 9AM with Sunday School at 9:15AM and Worship Service at 10:30AM.   Holy Communion the first Sunday each month.  All welcomed!   Tune in to our live service on Facebook or view it later on our website.                              

NEW PRAYER GROUP: Salem Methodist Church. Will meet every second and fourth Thursday at 7PM each month.                                                                                  

HELP MAKE JUMPROPES from old T-Shirts– Come learn and participate in making jump ropes for the Samaritan’s Shoe Box Ministry Sept 14th at 10AM.  

THINK FOR YOUR HEALTH—  Be Positive!  Think good thoughts about yourself!  Think about healthy foods instead of unhealthy sweet and fatty foods.  Make conscious decisions about the choices you make.  Refuse to buy anymore foods with artificial colors, artificial flavors, and GMOs.   Start a habit of choosing fresh fruits and vegetables.   LRM                                                                                    Entertained by an Angel ! - A lady at my church shared this story:  Recently there was a huge rain storm when I arrived at the Dollar General in Salem.  I noticed a lady sitting in her car and I wondered if she were waiting to go in or waiting on someone.  After I checked out it was still storming and she got out of her car to hold an umbrella for me to get to my car.  I kept insisting I was fine.  She said “ I am here to save your life.”  With my resistance on her getting wet to help me, and with her insistence to help me, many moments passed. I finally allowed her to help me to my car.  Then as I was driving home…...a huge tree fell in front of me…..that would have landed right on my car!                                                                                                      HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT CAROL ANN!

Have a blessed week! LRM

[mitchelle2005]

On Monday ,it's our 2nd day of intramurals ,what i did was early morning wakeup to prepared a breakfast and around 7 am I'll go in Spj International technology institute To attend a parade.I'm so excited to participate in numerous sports activities throughout the day,At around 9 am the games such as volleyball ,tug of war,Chinese garter and the basketball was started, and i was part of the basketball women and we won ,At the night the Mr.and Mrs.intramurals started and there's a lot of Parents to watching the events in the Tinambac Complex and after the events I'll go home and sleep.

Tuesday,November 7 the last day of our intramurals , i woke up early with a pain in my body, But i need to go in spj international technology institute ,Around 10 am our game started and I'm so nervous but i need to play because we are 6 players only and we won again so we will play for the championship started and while playing we felt i was tired ,but its okay because we were winning again and we are the women's basketball champion. And after the awarding the intramurals were over so we went home

Wednesday, November 8 Back to the normal ,so i woke up in the morning around 8 am because my body is so tired and our first sub is 8:30 in the morning

Thursday,November 9 i need to wash my clothes because on the next day i didn't have a clothes that i will use to go in our school ,I didn't realize that the time is already 9am but our first subject is 10 am so i rushed to take a bath and take a lunch, And around 10:30 actually I'm in school but 30 minutes late

Friday,I woke up in 7 am and take a breakfast and to start to do the houseworks and after that i went to Lola's home to visit her and have a bonding because it's my free time

So that's all happened in this week, Thank u po

[hotchley]

lmao all this talk of school.... I'd like to jump in with my own schedule: my school starts, officially, with morning assembly at 7:45am. first classes start at 8am (except mondays where it'll be morning assembly at 8:45am, first classes at 9am) and most days last till about 3:30/4:30pm 😭 (the earliest day i get off is probably Wednesdays where we end at like, 2:45pm? but then we have kind of "compulsory" extracurricular activities (otherwise known as CCAs) that run from 3pm - 6pm every Wednesday.....)

most lessons range from between 45mins - 1 hour, except science practical lab sessions or classes for this special subject called Project Work, which are usually 1.5hours long. there are hardly any breaks in between (we have one 15mins "recess" and a 45mins lunch period, and if you're lucky, you'll have classes that you don't take in your schedule because most classes are made up of a mix of people who take different subject combinations, and so during those periods you essentially can do whatever you want to)

for instance, my timetable for today is:

8-9am free period because i don't take the subject

9-9:45am biology

9:45-10am small random break, thank goodness

10am - 11am physical education (pe)

11-11:15am recess

11:15am-12:45pm chemistry practical lab session

12:45-1pm temperature taking because covid

1-1:45pm lunch

1:45-2:45pm biology

2:45pm end of day

so yeah.

oh and since exams are starting (tomorrow, in fact 😭 and it'll last for roughly 2.5 weeks), CCA has been cancelled temporarily so, 🥴

yeah school life is just hectic over here man.... i haven't even begun to talk about school assignments and projects.....

- 🌙

I don't...

I don't even know what to say.

READING that made me feel tired

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO DO CCA???

Every extra-curricular I've done in school has been FULLY optional, and the only person to blame for the time it took away from other things is me.

Please, I'm not sure I could handle hearing about the assignments and projects (/j)

I hope you're doing okay though!

[kitteawampus]

50 questions tag

I was tagged by @bitoftaewithsugaandkookie  💜💜 quarantine got me doing tags y’all

1. What colours is your hairbrush?

Black/blue

2. What food would you never eat?

i hate brussel sprouts

3. Are you usually hot or cold?

both because I have thyroid disease so I get super cold and then hot flases love that for me ✌

4. What did you do 45 minutes ago?

scambie eggs with tomatoes and avocado and fried onions and fruit

5. Favourite chocolate?

Milk or dark chocolate

6. Have you ever been at a professional sports event?

Yes, I’ve been to multiple hockey games and baseball games (Go Flyers and Phillies)

7. What was the last thing you said out loud?

I yelled “I’m the kirby chef” at my boyfriend like 5 minutes ago

8. Favourite ice cream flavour?

a vanilla and chocolate twist is my go to but I’ll eat any ice cream and Ben and Jerry’s dairy free ice cream slaps hard

9. What was the last thing you drank?

I’m drinking tea and water currently

10. What kind of wallet do you have?

A marble cardholder that is on my phone

11. What was the last thing you ate?

Apples and pb

12. Did you buy clothes last weekend?

nope

13. What was the last sports event you saw?

I’ve been down a youtube rabbit hole of synchronized swimming 😆

14. Favourite snacks?

chips, pretzels, cookies 

15. Who was the last one you texted to?

my bestie Shannon

16. Do you like camping?

YES

17. Do you eat vitamins?

no but I really should

18. When was the last time you travelled?

July 2019

19. Do you like sunbathing?

Yeah I tend to burn a bit but if I’m careful I can tan really well

20. Asian or Italian food?

Asian always

21. Do you drink soda?

not really

22. What colour socks are you wearing now?

they’re christmas decorated ones 

23. When was the last time you were speeding?

everytime I drive really

24. What are you afraid of?

Spiders and stupid people

25. What can you see if you turn left?

windows 

26. What kind of housework you like the least?

folding laundry I’ll let that shit sit in the dryer for days 

27. What is the first thing you think of when you hear someone talking in a language you don't know?

I wish I could speak it 

28. Do you sleep on your back or side?

side

29. You crave fast food, where do you go?

sushi or chinese food

30. What is your lucky number?

17

31. Who was the last person you talked to?

my boyfriend 

32. Do you eat meat?

yes mainly chicken

33. What was the last song you listened?

Navillera- GFriend

34. Last book?

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

35. What is your favourite day of the week?

sunday or monday cause they’re the days i’m off work 😬

36. Do you know the alphabet song backwards?

yes

37. Favourite coffee/tea?

either black cold brew or a caramel latte

38. Favourite shoes?

My pumas or my timbs

39. When do you usually go to sleep?

recently 1am or so but if I have to work then 8 pm

40. When do you usually wake up?

330 am if I’m working but quarantine got me fucked so 830-9am

41. Sunrise or sunset?

i appreciate both 

42. Do you like your bed soft or hard?

SOFT

43. Describe the plate you are eating from

don’t have one now but it was white with light pink details

44. Your favourite type of alcohol

white wine, and IPAs

45. Do you like board games?

Yeah but haven’t played any recently

46. If you had a car, what kind would it be?

I don’t really have a preference if it works and I can afford it that’s all that matters

47. Do you know how to change car tires?

yes my dad taught me and my siblings in case of emergencies

48. Dream country

South Korea 

49. If you could choose from any jobs in the world, what would you like to do?

A job where I can travel and try different cuisines or just visit different bakeries around the world. 

50. What would you like to try to do? And what is stopping you?

travel and just get lost. Corona and the lack of money I have make that not achievable currently.  I wish I studied abroad when I had the chance in college

I’m tagging @namuswife @parkjimni @clickclacktothemangmang

[ultraskillpills-blog1]

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[study-by-stars]

My Crazy Schedule

Here's a little peek into what my daily life is like.

Monday

10am - wake up, this is a sleep in day! I'll get up earlier if I have important stuff to do though.

11:10am-11:50 - chapel

12pm - grab lunch to go and drive to the preschool I work at.

12:45pm-6pm - work at preschool

6:30pm-7pm - dinner and chill in cafe

7pm-9pm - Masterworks Chorale rehearsal

9:45-10:30 - hall devotions and room checks

10:30pm-1am - homework, or personal time.

1am - go to bed

Tuesday

7:30am - wake up

8:00am-11:30am - Research job in library.

12pm - get lunch to go and drive to preschool.

12:45pm-6pm - work at preschool.

6:30pm-9pm - babysit, eat dinner, then do homework when the girl goes to bed at 8pm.

9:30pm-1am - homework or free time.

1am - bedtime

Wednesday

7:30am - wake up

8am-11am - work in library

11:10am-11:50am - chapel

12pm-12:45pm - lunch

1pm-4pm - class

4:45pm-5pm - dinner

5pm-1am - homework, watch lecture for online class, free time. (Unless I have to babysit, which is 6-8)

1am - sleep

Thursday

7:30am - wake up

8am-11:30am - work in library

12pm - get lunch to go and drive to preschool.

12:45pm-6pm - work at preschool

7pm-1am - eat dinner, do homework, free time

1am - go to bed

Friday

10am - wake up (this is my only other sleep in day)

11:10am-11:50am - chapel

12pm - get lunch to go and drive to preschool

12:45pm-6pm - work at preschool

7pm-1am - eat dinner, homework, free time.

1am - go to bed

Saturday

9:30am - wake up

10am-12pm - set construction for fall play

12pm-12:30pm - lunch

12:30pm-5pm - set construction for fall play

5pm-5:45pm - dinner

5:45pm-1am - homework, freetime

1am - sleep

Sunday

8am - wake up

9am-10:30am - church

11am-12:30pm - free time

12:30pm-1:15pm - lunch

1:15pm-1am - free time, eat dinner whenever. No homework unless really behind.

1am - sleep

[jvc-yearofservice]

9/30/19 - 10/7/19

           Aaaaand I'm back, baby! (better late than never, I suppose) We started the week by celebrating Rosh Hashanah which was super fun. Our Jewish housemate spoke Hebrew as she blessed our meal, and we all dipped apples in honey in order to start out the new Jewish year on a sweet note. We ate brisket, mashed potatoes, matzo ball soup, noodle casserole, challah bread, pomegranates, and we toasted with apple cider and champagne. Traditionally, you can also dip your bread into water or run water over your hands in the sink to symbolize a cleansing of the person as the new year begins.

           Someone in my house had a birthday on Friday, and since I was away for my cousin's wedding, I baked them a cake and painted a watercolor horse for her on Wednesday. I told her that I could bake her a cake from scratch since I am the descendent of German bakers, but she specifically insisted on having Confetti Cake Mix from a box. While I was getting the cake mix from a Rite Aid, someone stole my bike from the bike rack outside (even though it was locked), so I had to walk at least an hour on foot to get home which was a bummer. When I realized that it was stolen and had not just disappeared into thin air, I became upset and started asking people if they saw my bike. Some scary-ass looking bikers were really upset for me and offered to look for it, which I thought was sweet of them. I went back into the Rite Aid and asked if I could see their footage from the video camera outside, and they simply answered, "No. Sorry about your bike, though." I wasn't in trouble with anyone even though the bike belonged to the house/the Jesuits, but I'm just mad that someone got the jump on me, so I might still put up signs that say something like, "Hi, I know you stole my bike. This is not a warning to bring it back. No, I am telling you instead that I know who you are and will find you. I know where you went, and I am coming to get my bike back. When I find you, you will wish you had never even looked at my bike in the first place. Good luck." This doesn't really seem in the spirit of the JVC, though, so I might pass on that idea. If anyone is in the Sacramento area and sees a cute little teal-colored bike, it's mine!

            Anyways, here are a couple of random things that need to be noted. Firstly, I have decided to return to St. Louis for Thanksgiving, and I will be there from November 27 until December 1st, so if you want to hang out, text me and we can make plans! Secondly, I keep calling the organization for whom I work by the wrong name which everyone thinks is hilarious. I keep saying "Fishes and Loaves" instead of "Loaves and Fishes". Thirdly, I am now able to make coffee in a pot all by myself (so watch out world).

           Work has been too strange and funny to believe. On Monday, a woman waiting in line for the free lunch, at the organization Friendship Park, attempted to come into the playground area while the kids were at recess. She made eye-contact with a couple kids and tried to beckon them over to her and pointed to a bag, shaking it like she had something for them. While I was walking over to the fence to confront her, she snaked a hand around to the inside of the fence and started to try to unlock it from the outside. I grabbed the lock and held it closed and told her very icily, "We're not interested. No thank you," until she gave up. She tried arguing with me, saying she wanted to give the children treats and that we were mistreating them, but I just kept telling her we were not interested, so she left but not before calling me a "bitch". All I can say is that she is lucky that she was on the other side of the fence from me. I also led PE classes for the volunteer who went home over the weekend, which was exhausting because I had to do all my work responsibilities and hers too so I was running around all day without a break.

           One of the girls who I drive to and from school is an absolute hoot. One morning, she told me in all seriousness that I need to brush my hair more. Another favorite thing of hers to do is to roll down the window of our car and try to talk to people in other cars. Today, she called out to some little boys at a red light, "Hello! Do you want to be my friend?" One day, she said, "I have a secret to tell you," and I replied, "Do you know what a secret means?" (a joke she didn't get/appreciate, haha) Unfortunately, despite her super sunny demeanor, her living situation is a tragedy. One morning, I went to pick her up, and I saw her and her mom sitting outside on the sidewalk with all their stuff around them. The mom said that she had just been kicked out from their friend's apartment and had nowhere to go. On the way to school, the little girl told me about how she was worried about where she would stay tonight. Also today, I found out that a family of seven kids was taken into CPS custody and nobody knows where they could be.

           Last Friday, I was having my one-on-one with my supervisor, and a homeless man asked for some adult diapers because he had IBS and was wearing the same thing all week. We eventually walked with him to another building and got some, and he was very grateful. It felt good to be able to actually do something because sometimes I feel like I die a little bit any time I have to turn someone away or tell someone 'no' when people ask for money.

           Thursday through Sunday, I was at my cousin Caitlin's wedding, which was amazing. I basically traveled all of Thursday and got in at night. On Friday, we rehearsed walking in and standing in line for the wedding. Afterwards, we went to lunch together outside, and I made the very unwise decision to wear a romper in Michigan in October. That night, we had the rehearsal dinner at a brewery. On Saturday, I met up with the rest of the bridal party in the hotel lobby at 9am and went to the salon to get our hair and makeup done. We drank mimosas and coffee as we got ready for the wedding. We all got dressed together in Caitlin's hotel room and ended up walking a couple blocks to the venue which was really fun because people kept cheering us on and commenting on Caitlin's wedding dress. The ceremony was so sweet, and I loved the part where Caitlin and Kyle washed each other's feet as an act of service to each other as a married couple. Afterwards, we took group pictures and went to the reception in a building nearby. I'm so happy for them, and I'm still so grateful for being included as a bridesmaid.

Sincerely,

MK

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

                  Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 30                                                                                                  Week of August 7, 2023                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR:  Likely no one can dispute the need for Keowee Elementary to have a new facility.   That is not the case for our beautiful Tamassee-Salem Elementary If you have an interest in trying to keep our Tamassee-Salem Elementary School from closing you need to do something:  write letters to the school board, fill out the (absurd) survey online, or call up other parents and grandparents and join us at the next Oconee County School Board meeting on Monday, August 14th at 6:30pm at the Seneca High School.   (This is not the normal location or time due to summer graduation taking place at the Seneca High School.)   You may call the administrative office at 864-886-4400 to be a speaker.  You can just show up with a polite sign with a message to save the school.  Now is not the time to be silent.  LMartin

Town of SALEM:  Election: The Town of Salem will be holding election for Mayor and 2 Council seats.     held Nov 7, 2023 at the Salem Town Hall.  Candidate filing is from Friday Aug 11, noon  through noon Monday Aug 25th. Candidates must reside within the Salem town limits…..We will begin collecting Toys for Tots on Sept 9th, 5pm at the last summer Car/Truck/Motorcycle & Jeep show.  Fire Dept will be selling burgers and more for their local Christmas fundraising.  There will be first and second places for car show exhibits and for the group and/or club who brings the most toys. We are asking all local churches and businesses to participate to fill up our boxes.  We helped 94 children have Christmas last year within the Tamassee-Salem area.  944-2819.                                                                 ***Visit the Downtown Market every Sat 8am-12pm.                                                                                                                         *The children’s area at the Town park is closed for now for renovations.  The picnic shelter can still be rented. County National Awareness Day: Friday, August 11  9am-1pm Across from Salem Fire Department:  free smoke detectors, information on emergency situations and more.  

Jottings from Jeannie: Our Bible study encourages us to BALANCE diligence in our work with rest and prayer.  A widow  shared that living alone, she MUST be diligent.  Her day is busy caring for her house, yard, and pets.  Then she must buy groceries, pay bills, and finally before she goes to bed, she must be sure that the doors are locked and the security system is set. FINALLY, she may rest.  Her reward for a day of diligence is a night of deep rest. Rather than fretting over neglected duties, Kathy is thankful for her blessings and remembers the sick and the lonely in her prayers.  Her life is balanced.  She is at peace... You Princesses of Picket Post!  You Kings of Keowee!  Let's follow Kathy's example.  Use your time to complete  housework rather than wasting time watching junk TV. -- Then Your Heavenly Father will hear your prayers and grant you  sound sleep and energy for the new day!  Miz Jeannie Loves You!!!                                                                                                                            

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP 13412 N Hwy 11 Open  Wed–Sat-Sat 8am-9pm. Sun: 12pm-7pm.  Events this week:  Thurs:  Kiss My Asada Food Truck 5pm.  Old Time Jam at 6:30pm Fri–  Food: RAD DAD’s BBQ  at 5pm  Music: Greysin Slade at 6:30pm.  Sat–Food: Iron Pig 12pm—Music: Freddie Vanderford & Brandon Turner  6:30pm.  Conservation Libation Release Collaboration with Golden Grove Brewery at 5pm.  Sun: 12pm-7pm Food Truck: Lobster Dogs starts at 12noon.  Music Fayssoux McLean & Brandon Turner  at 1:30pm and  Brenda Turner  at 4pm    More information call  864-873-0048          

THE PENDING COFFEE:   We were sitting in a small coffee shop and two customers arrived.  “ Five coffees please, two for us and three pending.”    They paid for five and only get two.     I asked, “ What is pending coffee?” and was told to wait and see. Two more customers arrived and paid for their two coffees.   After a while  three more customers came in and ordered seven coffees.  Three for now and four pending.    While I was there what appeared to be a homeless man entered the shop.  He approached the counter and with a soft quite voice he asked,  “ Do you have any pending coffee?”      This type of charity began in Naples, Italy.       People who are able pay ahead for coffee or meals for those who cannot.  story is shared by OSP reader J.C.

Here is the CONCLUSION of Pauline Kelley Cannon's story:                                DAR SCHOOL STUDENT FROM 1942-46 RECALLS:  (Nineteenth and Final Installment of Pauline Kelley Cannon's Memoir). . . A LOOK BACK. . .I still have the footlocker in my attic if the rust hasn't eaten it up. I also kept my boat, but after Ernest and I got married it got left behind somewhere as we were moving from one place to another. . .There are many new buildings that have been built at Tamassee since I went to school there. They include the new dining hall, the auditorium, the gymnasium, the North Carolina Gibson Chapel, the Michigan Building, the California Building, and the New York Cottage. The infirmary is now a daycare facility. They also have a new water plant and have built a new building on Highway 11 for the rummage sales. I'm sure there are some more that I have forgotten. . .Some buildings that were there while I was there are gone. The Indiana Cottage and the Scout Hut were torn down, and the Ohio Hobart Hall burned down in 1988. . .Each time I go back to Tamassee to visit, I feel as if I have left a part of me there, and I am homesick for at least a week before I get over it. I have so many memories of friends and teachers that I learned to love while I was there. . .I thank God for Tamassee. It is truly the place of the sunlight of God!!. . .END OF STORY (Footnote written by Ashton Hester: As I said at the outset of this story, sadly, Mrs. Cannon died a few years ago, but not before being able to tell her story!)

EAGLES NEST ART CENTER , 501c3, 4 Eagle Lane, Salem                            DHEC kitchen available & rentals

TALENT SHOWCASE:  August 12th.  7pm-9pm.  Come to be entertained! Tickets $5 at the door.  Call 864-280-1258 or email eaglesnestartcenter@gmail.com.  Doors open at 6pm for general admission.  Treasure store will be open.

SONGS of the COWBOY Trail- Aug. 19th, 7pm– Jef Wilson sings the songs of Gene Autry, Bob Wills, Cowboy Copas and others.  Show only  $10 or Cowboy Dinner & Show $20. Tickets available on the eaglesnestartcenter.org website on Ticketleap or at the Town or Salem. Or, call 864-280-1258

                                             CHURCH NEWS                                              Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 580 Bethel Church Rd, Walhalla, 29691 Worship at 10:30 am. Sermon: Sunday, August 6. Message by Mel Davis  "Who Do We Trust?", Scripture reading: Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16.   The remainder of August: Aug. 13, by George Harper, Aug. 20, by George Harper; August 27, by Mel Davis. Come as you are. All are welcome.                                                                                                                                                                                     Salem Methodist Church:  Community Women’s Bible Study each Monday morning, 10am in the Fellowship Hall. Worship Service each Sunday at 10:30am.  Sunday School at 9:30am.  Sunday Breakfast at 9:00am

Quote this week by inspirational speaker, Sharon Jaynes, and author of When You don't Like your Story.   “It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish.”   I found her on 96.7 at 8am Focus on the Family ministry broadcast.  Tune in each weekday to uplifting encouragement and inspiration for life, and  keeping families and marriages together.  She spoke of real life disappointments and how God uses these to prepare us for what is next. I love to tune in daily!  LRM                                                                                                                                   ****Please send news, stories, and church events to theoldsalempost@gmail.com to share in your local paper!                                                         

Happy Birthday Sister Sherry!  L

[tamboradventure]

13 Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to See and Do in Paris

Posted: 6/24/2019 | June 24th, 2019

Paris is filled with famous attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Versailles, the catacombs, the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomphe, Sacre-Coeur. The list goes on. There are so many amazing sites here that you could spend days (heck, even weeks) just seeing the main, most well-known ones.

But there’s more to Paris than the sites that attract thousands upon thousands of visitors each day. While I was living Paris the past few months, I made it my mission to see some of the more unusual, lesser-known (but equally awesome) attractions (that didn’t coming with the aggravating crowds that make so many of Paris’ attractions unbearable).

And, while some of the things on the list below might not be “super secret” attractions or activities, they do fall into the category of “over looked attractions” so I included them.

Here are some of the best off-the-beaten-path things to see and do in Paris:

1. Le Manoir de Paris

This is where macabre museum meets haunted house. Numerous rooms highlight some of the more unsettling aspects of Paris’s long and often dark past, such as the Phantom of the Opera, vampires, or the crocodiles in the sewers. Using real actors as well as animatronics, the city’s gruesome and unsettling history is brought to life in an interesting way. In addition to their museum, they also have escape rooms as well as different levels of intensity depending on how scared you get!

18 Rue de Paradis, +33 6 70 89 35 87, lemanoirdeparis.com. Open Fridays 6pm-9:30pm and weekends 3pm-6:30pm. Admission is 29 EUR for adults and 20 EUR for children 10-15.

2. Musée Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf is perhaps the most famous French singer from the 1930s to the 1960s, and know around the world for her song La vie en rose and Non, je ne regrette rien (which appeared in the movie Inception). She lived in a little apartment in the Ménilmontant district at the start of her career, which has been turned into tiny museum dedicated to her. You get a glimpse at her life through her gold and platinum records, photographs, clothing, letters from fans, posters, recordings, and sheet music.

5 Rue Crespin du Gast, +33 1 43 55 52 72. Open Monday-Wednesday 1pm-6pm and Thursdays 10am-12pm. Admission is free, but you’ll need to make an appointment. You’ll also want to either speak decent French or go with someone who does.

3. Musée Curie

Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize (and the only woman to win it twice) for her research into radioactivity (a word that she invented). She was the first female professor at the University of Paris as well as the first woman to be entombed in the Panthéon on her own merits. Located in the 5th arrondissement, this museum, in her old laboratory, highlights her radiological research. It’s insightful and eye-opening for anyone unfamiliar with her historic discoveries.

1 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, +33 1 56 24 55 33, musee.curie.fr. Open Wednesday-Saturday 1pm-5pm. Admission is free.

4. Archives Nationales

Opened in 1867, the National Archives houses thousands of historical documents dating back to 625 CE. One of six national archives in the country, the museum sheds light on France’s turbulent past, providing nuanced historical details and context through permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Built by the order of Napoleon I, the building itself (known as the Hôtel de Soubise) is absolutely stunning. It is in the late Baroque style, embracing long columns and lots of statues and sculptures. It features immaculate grounds and gardens as well. They always hold a lot of good exhibitions too.

59 Rue Guynemer, +33 1 75 47 20 02, archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/en. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Admission is 8 EUR per person.

5. The Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy

Opened in 1898, this museum is home to over 1,000 animal skeletons from around the world, including complete skeletons of elephants, large cats, and even dinosaurs. It’s as interesting as it is unsettling: all the animals are facing the same way, making it look like you’re in the midst of some undead stampede!

2 Rue Buffon, +33 1 40 79 56 01, http://bit.ly/2B0lruZ. Open daily 10am-6pm (closed Tuesdays). Admission is free.

6. The Vampire Museum

Paris has a long history with the esoteric, one that is brought to life in this fascinating (if not macabre) museum founded by an eccentric scholar to showcase his knowledge of the undead and esoteric. Here you’ll find vampire-killing kits, rare texts on demonology, and mysterious ancient relics. It’s a busy, eclectic, creepy museum that’s a feast for the eyes and one worthy of a visit if you’re at all interested in more obscure (and fanciful) tales. It’s a fun little, kitsch museum.

14 Rue Jules David, +33 1 43 62 80 76, artclips.free.fr/musee_des_vampires/MuseeVampires1.html. You’ll need to make an appointment in advance by phone. (Don’t worry if the voicemail greeting is in French — the curator speakers perfect English).

7. Petite Ceinture

In use from 1862 through 1964, the railway circling Paris was abandoned when the city expanded beyond its limits. It’s mostly hidden behind buildings and covered in wild plants and grass now, though some sections are now officially open to the public. You’ll find all sorts of flowers and street art along the tracks.

While some sections are illegal to visit, near Parc Georges Brassens you’ll find a section of the tracks known as the ‘Passage de la Petite Ceinture’ that is both free and legal to visit. It’s located in the 15e arrondissement.

8. The Salvador Dalí Sundial

This surrealist sundial was created by world-renowned artist Salvador Dalí. Located on Rue Saint-Jacques, it’s is a mix of a human face and a scallop shell (the symbol of the Camino to Santiago, since the street is named after the saint). While the sundial doesn’t actually work, it’s nevertheless an easy way to see a piece of artwork by one of the most famous artists in the world.

27 Rue Saint-Jacques. Open 24/7 with no admission.

9. Montmartre Cemetery

While the Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest and most popular in Paris, for a more secluded stroll, check out the Montmartre Cemetery. Plenty of people visit the top of Montmartre for Sacré-Coeur and the view, but few take the time to wander this cemetery sitting at the foot of the district. It opened in 1825 and is home to many cobwebbed mausoleums, as well as a handful of stray cats. You won’t see many people here, so you can explore in peace.

20 Avenue Rachel, +33 1 53 42 36 30, paris.fr/equipements/cimetiere-de-montmartre-5061. Open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturdays 8:30am-6pm, and Sundays 9am-6pm.

10. The Museum of Counterfeiting

Opened in 1972, this museum is home to counterfeit items that have been collected by France’s customs agents and police (as well as donated items from brands and consumers alike). There are over 500 items in the museum, ranging from counterfeit art and luxury goods to more mundane items, like cleaning supplies. While some knockoffs are impressive in their duplicity, it’s also funny to see just how bad some counterfeiters were!

16 Rue de la Faisanderie, +33 1 56 26 14 03, musee-contrefacon.com. Open Monday-Saturday 2pm-5:30pm. Admission is 6 EUR per person for adults and 5 EUR for students and seniors.

11. Promenade Planteé (Coulée verte René-Dumont)

This tree-lined walkway is a greenbelt that extends almost 5km along the old Vincennes railway line. The railway line ceased functioning in 1969, with the park being inaugurated a few decades afterward. Until New York built their High Line, it was the only elevated park in the entire world. (And, honestly, this is way nicer the the NYC High Line). You’ll find lots of trees, flowers, ponds, and places to sit along this long path that stretches from Bastile to the edge of Paris. It’s al ong really easy and beautiful walk. You won’t find many people here. Even on a nice day, it’s rather empty. It quickly became one of my favorite things to do in Paris and I can’t recommend coming here enough!

1 Coulée verte René-Dumont (12th arrondissement). Open daily from 8am-9:30pm. Admission is free.

12. Canal Saint-Martin

Stretching 4.5km, the Canal Saint-Martin is a man-made waterway commissioned by Napoleon. Construction finished in 1825, connecting the Canal de l’Ourcq to the Seine via both above ground locks and underground tunnels. While not any secret spot (on a nice day, you’ll find the canal lined with people), it’s mostly a spot for locals who want to have a picnic and relax. So, say no to the Siene, and come have your outdoor picnic along the canal. It’s more relaxing and there will be fewer people!

The canal starts at Place de Stalingrad and ends at Quai de la Râpée. Canal cruises last 2.5 hours and cost around 16 EUR per person.

13. Museé de Montmartre

Founded in 1960, this museum is located throughout two building that date back to the 17th century. Over the years, the buildings were home to many famous writers and painters. The gardens of the museum were actually renovated to look more like the gardens in Renoir’s paintings (there is also a vineyard nearby that dates back to the Middle Ages but it makes horrible wine). The museum’s permanent collection includes a wide variety of paintings, posters, and drawings.

12 Rue Cortot, +33 1 49 25 89 39, museedemontmartre.fr/en/le-musee. Open daily from 10am-6pm (7pm in the summer). Admission is 12 EUR for adults, which includes an audio guide. Discounts are available for students, children, and persons with disabilities.

***

While the main sights in Paris are always worth checking out, but if you want to be more than a tourist and develop a greater appreciation for the City of Light’s unique and complex history, visit these unconventional and unusual attractions in Paris.

Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. Some of my favorite places to stay in Paris are:

St. Christopher’s Canal – Comfy spot on the canal. During the summer months, the terrace is hopping!

3 Ducks Hostel – This hostel has one of the cheapest bars in the city, and it’s just a 10-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower.

Les Piaules – Fantastic chimney lounge, a cool bar, and a rooftop space. It’s a great place to meet people!

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Paris? Check out my in-depth destination guide to Paris with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credit: 4 – Adrian Grycuk, 5, 8 – Guilhem Vellut, 6 – Jim Linwood, 9 – Joanna Penn, 10 – Son of Groucho, 12 – PPun, 13 – advencap, 15 – Museé de Montmartre

The post 13 Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to See and Do in Paris appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[flamestoflight]

oh my goodness these past few days....

I’ve honestly been feeling so so good, and I think 50% of the credit goes to the warmer weather, and 50% of the credit goes to what I’ve done with it, and how I’ve let my mood soar.

Every day the past week I’ve been driving with my windows and sunroof down, feeling the sun on my face as much as I can. Doing that feels so free and lovely. I also studied with my friend on her porch with her dog in the 65 degree sunny weather, which put me in a great mood. Plus I’ve been keeping my bedroom window open

I’ve taken both of my final written exams and my final practical, and I feel like I did really well on the exam - already found out that I got a perfect score on my practical

I ordered a new skincare product online because for some reason my skin has been freaking out on me, and I’ve been struggling a lot with self-image and stuff because of it. I’m feeling really hopeful for this, I’m really just hoping to be able to feel better about myself

But in all other regards, I feel pretty good! I’ve been going to the gym, going to PT, getting back into running on the Alter-G in PT, and just got permission from the clinic director to come in on the weekends and evenings to use the Alter-G and the other PT equipment so I can build up more running volume at reduced bodyweight :) I’m so thankful to be at a school that has top of the line equipment and gives me free access to use it. They also sent me home with a stim unit (which we usually loan out to patients for a week at a time, but I’m able to keep mine indefinitely) and my PT told me I could use the higher quality clinic electrodes instead of the shittier ones that they sell lol, and he’s been giving me rolls of tape so I can tape my foot myself when I’m home.

I also this morning just nailed in my spring semester in terms of classes/clinic/PT for myself/gym time. Here’s how it looks:

M/W/F: I’ll be waking up around 6am, getting to the gym, coming home to shower/eat, then heading to the clinic to treat from 9:30 to 12:15, followed by classes from 1-5. I’ll use those 45 minute breaks to change/eat and hopefully finish most of my patient notes (except Friday, when we have rounds starting at 12:15). I’ll stay after on one of those days and use the Alter-G (probably Monday)

T/Th: I have PT from 7:30-9am, and then class from 9-12. After that I’ll go straight to the gym to get my own workout in, make it home around 1:30 probably, and then have the afternoons to plan for my patients the next day.

And then Saturdays I’ll head into the clinic to use the Alter-G and do my other PT treatment stuff, and maybe Sunday will be a day off from exercise, maybe it’ll be a day for stretching and yoga, or maybe it’ll be a day where I wanna go to the gym and mess around with some stuff. Who knows, but I’m keeping it open.

I am really vibing with this schedule, with how I feel about it, and with my mindset going into this last semester of classes!! I’ve been checking my clinic schedule and have some really interesting diagnoses already on my caseload (stroke, spinal cord injury, progressive supranuclear palsy, cerebellar ataxia, and s/p radical mastectomy w/ breast reconstruction, to name some).

I’m off to shower, eat, and then head over to the boy’s for the rest of the day (with whom things are going very well - we’ve been seeing each other most days of the week and I’m a fan of it). I honestly feel like I’m glowing: I’m feeling so happy to be living my life right now and so excited for what’s to come. And Jackson is going through this phase where he runs over and curls up in my lap the second I sit down on my bed to use my laptop, and just purrs and eventually falls asleep in my lap. And Nelson has started moving to my bed in the middle of the night, so I wake up with him laying across my legs most mornings. It just makes my heart melt. Things are good right now :)

[graemeruns]

Manchester marathon, and the journey to a PB

I think, by now, most people I know expect that I am going to run the London marathon each year, so a fair few that I talked to were surprised when I told them that I was actually going to run the Manchester marathon first, and then London three weeks later. To be fair, their surprise was not unjustified, as I entered Manchester as a late decision; I was already three weeks into my London marathon 18 week training plan when I had this major concern that the following four months of hard work could all end in disaster if the weather turned out as hot as it was last year at the end of April. With Manchester being at the beginning of April, it also fell nicely at the beginning of the school Easter break, so it didn't take long to decide to enter it and have a week away near Manchester at the same time with the family. My wife, Yasmin, set about the task of finding us somewhere to stay, and all I now needed to do was compress by 18 week plan into 15, and we had a target set.

I had decided to be even more aggressive with my training this year, base it on the 55-70 miles/week plan from Pzitzinger and Douglas' book "Advanced Marathoning", but with all rest days being recovery runs, and tweaking it using my own experience of how I like to train. Since Abingdon marathon in October last year, I had kept my mileage ticking over at around 40 miles/week, so was hoping that this base fitness would help me as I moved into my new marathon training plan. Two weeks before the plan started I increased my mileage to 47, then the following week 50, so that 60 miles in week 1 would not seem too much of a step upwards.

Loosely, my training plan went something like this:

Monday - 3-4 mile recovery run (8:45 - 9:00/mile pace). I really needed these runs to be as-slow-as-you-can go recovery otherwise they would be counter-productive. Tuesday - intervals or tempo (6:20/mile) - around 10 miles in total with warm up and cool down. These were sometimes moved to Wednesday if I was still feeling tired from the weekend, in which case they would be an easy 9- 10 miler (7:40 - 7:55/mile pace). Wednesday - medium long run, 15 - 17 miles, usually as a double run because just finding the time to run it in one go was too difficult. Sometimes these would be a workout and a recovery run later in the day if I had moved the workout from Tuesday. Thursday - easy run - around 10 miles. This is about 7:40 - 7:55/mile pace. Friday - 3-4 mile recovery (8:45 - 9:00 pace) Saturday - parkrun, of course, as fast as possible! I think I ran to and from nearly all of them to some get extra mileage in (usually 9 - 11 miles total). Sunday - Long run - 16 - 23 miles (7:40 - 8:15/mile pace). In all honestly, I didn't run as many 20+ mile runs as I'd have liked, as two of the Sundays were used for tune-up races. But I did do seven runs over 17 miles (the longest being 26 miles which was a bit too far!). My legs were also usually tired from the previous days' parkrun too, so running on tired legs was something I got used to, and I think is crucial for the latter parts of the marathon.

Lets look at the tune-up races:

Wokingham half marathon. This fell 9 weeks into in my calendar on 24th February. I wanted to have a go at my current half marathon PB (1:23:44) in this race, so I dropped the workout that week, cut back the mileage a little and rested the day before. The day was perfect, being cool and bright with only a little breeze. After a bit of a congested start, I was able to get into my rhythm and run consistently around 6:20/mile, which would get me a time under 1:23. My 5k splits were good: 19:42, 19:42, 19:48, 19:54, but slipping just a few seconds in the last 10k meant I crossed the line just short of my goal in 1:23:09. But I'd given it everything, so was content with the result. You can see my run on Strava here.

The Big Half. This race fell just 2 weeks after Wokingham. The previous Sunday my long run had accidentally ended up as 26 miles, and this meant I took a couple of days early in the week to recover, and what with running a steady parkrun on the Saturday as well, meant I was not that fresh for the race. The weather was cold, wet at the start, and very, very windy. Overall, it was a bit of a disaster really, as I queued so long for the loo I started too far back, which required a lot of weaving through slower runners, and while this probably didn't cost a huge chunk of time, the speeding up and slowing down was using an unnecessary amount of energy. I ended up running a negative split because of this, in 1:26:05, which was a bit disappointing, but deep down I knew I wasn't flat out and that this was closer to marathon pace than half marathon pace, so took that away as a positive. It had also given my potential marathon shoes a good outing, so the decision what to wear for the marathon had been made too. You can see my run on Strava here.

My training plan also includes some marathon paced runs. Always run on a Sunday on tired legs, these can be tough but honest workouts. Striders had arranged for a group of us to met at Kenley aerodrome for exactly this sort of training, so the 13.1 miles I ran there at marathon pace two weeks before Manchester was my final big effort. It ended up around 1:27:30, approximately 6:40/mile pace, and I felt fairly comfortable during the run. This was a good confidence boost for me, and gave me an indication of what to aim for on the day. A big thanks to my Striders mate Martin for being my running pal for that effort.

Fast-forward two weeks and I'm at the start line. We had booked accommodation in the lovely village of Old Glossop at the base of the Peak District. Travelling to the race start had been fairly easy - a 25 minute drive to Didsbury East where I parked and boarded the tram to Trafford Bar, the nearest tram stop to the start. The whole journey was just over an hour, and quite stress-free. I didn't hang about though: this year they were expecting around 20,000 people to run in the various races, and it was quite crowded, so I quickly dropped my bag off and made my way to the start line, which being the 'A' start, was also the furthest away; even so, I was in the pen with 15 minutes to go. The weather conditions were near perfect (8 degrees, overcast with a little breeze) and I was raring to go.

When I race marathons I like to plan my pacing based on 5 mile intervals. It's easy to remember just 4 split times, and an overall average time per kilometer (at this point I should apologise for mixing miles and kilometers, but I do tend to think in both when running). My intended splits were:

5 miles in 33 minutes and 10 miles 1:06 (average 4.06/km), 15 miles in 1:39:30 (average pace now falls slightly to 4:07/km due to natural slowing), 20 miles 2:13:00 (average pace now falls to 4:08/km) Which leaves just a 6.2 mile (or 10k) sprint to the finish, which I'd hope to cover in around 42 minutes, and will mean I have run a 2:55 marathon. That was the goal, though I really thought 2:56 - 2:57 was more likely.

At 9am on the dot we were off, and being so near the front I was across the line almost immediately. There's the usual overtaking, and being overtaken, that goes on in the first few kilometers as runners find their pace. I went through the first kilometer in 4 minutes dead. "Hmm, that's a bit fast", I thought, "but it's probably just because it's the first kilometer". I went through the second kilometer in 4:03: "Hmm, that's still a bit fast". The third kilometer took 4.01, then 4.03, then 3:56, passing 5k in a little over 20 minutes. I was in a real dilemma - the pace seemed far too fast, but I just didn't seem to be able to reel it in. It didn't actually feel that fast, and my heart rate was averaging around 142bpm, which is pretty low for me.

Kilometer 6: 3:59, kilometer 7: 4:04, kilometer 8: 4:00 - I went through 5 miles in a little over 32 minutes, much faster than intended. But I couldn't slow down - somehow I was being pulled along by the runners around me. So it was at that point I did something I've never done before: I threw away my pacing plan and decided to stick it out at this faster pace and see if I could hang on at the end. I'll either crash and burn, or run a very fast time.

The Manchester marathon route is pretty flat, although there are some long gentle inclines where you unexpectedly lose time, and the first time that happened (at kilometer 17 when I ran a 4:10) I immediately worried that this was where the slowing up starts, but then I ran 3:58 in the next kilometer, so equilibrium was maintained.

I passed half way in 1:25:55, much faster than intended (and quicker than the Big Half!). The simple maths said that I just had to run a 1:30 second half (4:14/km) to achieve my 2:55 goal. But I know marathons - they aren't that easy to predict.

Between 25 - 30k I was still running well, averaging about 4:09/km pace, and 20 miles came up in 2:11:40; I was over a minute up on my time. The 20 mile (32.2km) sign is my friend: it says “you’ve now completed the 20 mile 'warm-up', and it's just 10k to the finish, which you will run as fast as you possibly can”. But in the latter stages of a marathon it is never as simple as that: I was tired, and I had a lot of pain in my right foot*, which was worse on the inside camber of the road, so I tried to run in the middle of the road. This did help ease the pain a little, but in the grand scheme of things it was not a big issue, and it wouldn’t prevent me from getting to the finish line, which I’d like to see soon, please. (* It turned out to be an enormous blood blister on my 3rd toe).

Yasmin and Chloe had made the clever decision not to get up at 6:30am and travel to Manchester with me, but instead got the train into Manchester later and were going to be just past the 25 mile sign. It's amazing how much of a boost seeing someone familiar is, and just looking forward to that point in the route gives you something to focus on. After waving frantically at them and trying to smile, with 1 mile to go I just got my head down and headed for the finish - which is quite torturous because you can see the finish line from 500m away. It looked a long way!

With 200m to go I realised that I was closer to sub 2:54 than anything around 2:55, so found a sprint from somewhere but it wasn't quite enough. I crossed the line in 2:54:02, a 4 minute 25 sec PB. I had surpassed my expectations, and, to be honest, was a little shocked to have run quite that fast! You can see my run on Strava here.

A week later, and recovery has been slow. My racing flats did the job, but I attempted a run the Saturday after the marathon and my calves were still very tight and sore, so I will be giving them some more rest. I've enjoyed the break from running though, as it does take over my life in a big way when marathons are looming. For the 13 weeks proper training I did for the Manchester marathon (not including the 2 taper weeks), I averaged 63 miles/week, and there were 3 weeks in there where the mileage was reduced due to upcoming races and a niggle. But attaining a PB at half marathon and marathon at the age of 51, I am not complaining at all. I love running, and there were few runs or workouts I didn't enjoy. It was worth every moment I spent doing it, and you know what, I think I can go faster!

[webcomixwastaken]

Everything that happened after work today was totally downhill. Left work late (I’m supposed to be off at 6:30. This class lasted until 6:45, and nobody came to pick Katelyn up until after 7 and of course I’m not going anywhere until she’s safely on her way home) so I got home real late and it’s a rainy weekend so food didn’t come until 9 and didn’t taste very good (too tired to cook even a shitty meal.) There were a bunch of laundry fuckups that meant I waited until midnight to have clean underwear. There are still dirty dishes in the sink. I’ll wash them after I shower and wait for my hair to dry.

I’m so exhausted and I really just don’t want to do anything tomorrow but I have work including a brand new 9am class of the littlest kids who I will confess are my least favourite group to teach because their levels are always so wildly different especially if they are ESL which most kids in Hong Kong are. And also they’re going to be brand new kids so it’s truly going to be a hand holdy, teeth-pulling kind of class.

And that’s just the FIRST class. Then I have the space cadet boys from 10-11:30, Felix who is petrified of speaking from 11:30-12:30, apparently I’m meeting a new preteen whose father is very alarmed because she writes gore in her spare time and I’m to lead her back to the straight and narrow path (geez, she’s 12, she’ll grow out of it) before Sunny, my aptly named one easy private student on Saturdays, right before I finish with Benedict, who is always heralded by his high-pitched whiny screamfests with his sister before he comes through my door. I barely have any brains left when I finish teaching Benedict.

So behind on the bear book, filled with stress because it’s going to take a LOT to get it ready within a week. Barely started on Vish’s goddamn 120k novel (he’ll be lucky if I’ve even finished it by the time we meet to discuss it, let alone have any kind of written comment.) Yeah, I’m slightly resentful that he didn’t make his FEBRUARY deadline so we moved his March meeting to April, Because the whole point of doing full manuscripts every other month was to give the next author breathing space; thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks man.

I think I’m going to quit my DnD group once this campaign is done because god, it just takes up so much time. I regret telling them that I’m free on April 7 because now I want it back to work on bear book. My weekends are never restful, because on Sundays I socialise and on Mondays I run errands and try to exercise. Saturday is the busiest work day (especially with that new 9am class.) But imagining a day where I do nothing... the guilt’s already there.

I don’t remember what it feels like to sleep for more than 6 hours. The last time I did that, I had to be sick before my body allowed it. My health is just so fucked up now. My back muscles are a mess. I don’t have a lot of time (or skills, honestly -- because I don’t have time to work on them too) to cook healthy so I’ve gotten fatter since I moved out. 

I’m not going to talk about my social life. I'm actually pretty happy and have a good time with my friends, but there are milestones I feel like I should have hit by this age that I haven’t done yet and I’m trying not to let it get to me because they don’t fucking define me, but on some bad days like these, it does.

I’ve thought, for MANY years, that a great superpower would be to stop time. And only for simple things like, take a nap (though once again, I am incapable of taking naps unless I’m sick) or wash the dishes or clean the house or eat dinner .Literally. I am definitely peak millennial because my life is constantly running on empty but if I stop I’m not comfortable and feel like I’m not taking advantage of something. I’m just really tired, man.

[bike42]

Costa Rica Retreat

Our days fell into easy routine. Up before 6am to get ready for the day. Some days Sandra would go out for a run up and down the steep driveway to the retreat center. I opted for more quiet - reading and reflection (having just practiced the art of doing nothing during our recent Hawaiian vacation, I find I’m pretty good at it)!

At 7 am each day, we gather in the studio for 60 minutes of meditation: 20 minutes guided by Andrea, 20 minutes walking in silence, and 20 minutes seated in silence. While sitting still for 20 minutes is still a challenge for me, I really enjoy the walking portion - it feels “monk like” to me.

8am is breakfast in silence, followed by more quiet time for reading or journal writing.

9am, back in the studio for a class (setting intentions, reflections, Ayurveda practices, etc), followed by yoga - wrapping up just before lunch at noon.

Then we’re on our own until dinner at 6pm, which is usually followed by another talk or short meditation. Then time in the library visiting and drinking tea. Back to the room before 9:30pm is the plan, as they turn lights off between 9:30 and 10pm.

Sunday, we went with the Iowans to town, they wanted to shop and we wanted to walk the beach.

Monday, we hung out at the pool for a bit, then each had a massage - wonderful setting, and Tatiana had perfect hands and technique that really relaxed me.

On Tuesday, most everyone went to town, so we had the pool nearly to ourselves. We floated, chatted some, napped and read. So easy to be in the chill mode.

Wednesday morning, we were up extra early. We’d made a plan to do Sixty Sun Salutations in honor of Sandra’s upcoming birthday (similar to riding 60 miles on our bikes for mine). It took an hour, and felt like an accomplishment. However, we didn’t have time to “shavasana” afterwards, and it made me extra restless during meditation. After breakfast, the day was flipped as most of us had opted into paddling in the mangroves, and that was best done while the tide was in. That was a great adventure. San and I did SUP (Stand Up Paddle) and it was a great way to really see into the forest. We paddled for probably 30 minutes, then stopped at a point where the river gets closer to the ocean and we climbed over the dunes for a swim in the sea. The waves were perfect and I really enjoyed diving into them (it’d been a long time since I’d done that)! After our swim, our guide took his machete and sliced off the tops of coconuts - a perfect refreshing drink! The river is brackish water, and flows along the coast all the way to Liberia, buffering the coast and providing refuge to birds, fish and crocodiles (which we saw none of thankfully).

We arrived back at the retreat center just before lunch, and had some free time afterwards. We gathered for our talk at 3p, with yoga afterwards. Much different after such as active day. Most had trouble focusing, especially after a monkey family gathered in nearby trees!

It was a quiet dinner, and we gathered in the library where Andrea felt people’s pulses and read their doshas (a little Ayurveda Woo Woo). Had all I could do to stay awake until 9pm!

Thursday it was great to be back in our “monk morning” routine, really starting to settle into the meditation and calm my restless, always planning mind. We opted to just hang out at Akhi after lunch. We lounged around the pool, and then did a 3 mile road walk with Kathy and Susan. It was a great workout, walking up and down the hills in Chaco sandals! When we got back to the retreat center, we rinsed off in the outside shower and jumped into the refreshing pool. We all fell asleep, and then had a 30 minute scramble to shower and dress to catch the 3:50pm shuttle to dinner. On Thursday, the kitchen staff have the day off, so we had a salad for lunch and went out to LaLuna on the beach for dinner. It was a magical tranquil spot, but very busy which didn’t make for a relaxing dinner (orders screwed up), but the setting and the perfect sunset more than made up for it. Andrea knew to get out of there at a decent hour we had to get in and place out orders to beat the rush. Nice evening, odd to be in a touristy situation after all these days of quiet bliss!

Friday was a regular routine day, with some underlying sadness as it was the last day. Andrea had arranged for a man to come a do COVID testing, and we did that after breakfast. I’d brought my own Abbott BiNox antigen kits and did our testing for me and Sandra. A ripple of shock and some panic went through the place when Ellie tested positive! They sequestered her and her mom (Stephanie) and cousin (Ashley), and made arrangements for them to go to the COVID hotel in Liberia, which is nearer to medical services if needed. Shockingly, the hotel was the Airport Hilton, where the 7 of them had spent the night last week when they arrived a day early (and also met a woman who was quarantining there!). Apparently, she (they?) will have to stay there 8 days, although we’re unsure about the rules as they’ve been changing.

It took a bit for the group to settle back into our talk time and then yoga, and several opted out. After lunch, we lounged around the pool again, and Sandra and I walked down and up the hill three times - squeezing out some great together time as the week went so fast.

Our smaller group of ten had a last dinner, all in the dining room, then went up to the studio for a closing circle - sharing what we’d learned this week, and what we’ll carry with us as we go back to our lives. It was a special time, with a really neat group of ladies.

I most enjoyed the time with Sandra, and feel that I’ve grown in my meditation and yoga practices quiet a bit.

Nearly every day, we were graced with the presence of Holler monkeys. Sometimes they’d be in the trees above our pool, other times right in front or back of our casita. They feast on leaves, which apparently ferment in their bellies, then they curl around a branch and nap for a few hours. They always brought me joy to see them climbing, swinging and jumping from branch to branch so easily. And the sound of them in the distance was both eerie and delightful - it would start like the sound of a big gust of wind, then grow into a sort of growl/roar. They’re aptly named, as it’s like a howling wind.

I’m struck by the juxtaposition of being out of my comfort zone in such a zen-like setting. I knew Costa Rica has snakes, spiders and all things crawly that freak me out (I shook a Costa Rican scorpion off my pants before I put them on this morning), but contrasted with the warmth, the green plants oozing clean oxygen, the beautiful flowers and the sounds of nature - I found it to be just the right mixture of exhilaration and relaxation.

I’m not thrilled about going back to the cold, but I miss Jeff and home, and feel a part of me is missing, traveling without him. So it’s home I go, and I’ll carry this warmth and newfound zen with me.

[bertena]

This Week’s Events at A New You Self Care

We have a lot going on this week at A New You Self Care. Remember that all events are on Zoom and all events are Central Time. Unless noted please register for the following classes by texting at 859-437-0082 or email me at anewyouselfcare@gmail.comor message me on Facebook.

Monday, December 14 at 9:30am - we are tuning in to the Total Solar Eclipse Activation at Life Force Academy. If you would like to attend, please register to the event and then join us at the A New You Zoom Room. Here is the link for the meditation https://activate.jaidevsingh.com/opt-in-jds-solar-eclipse-lfa-webcast-12-20 and it’s my Personal Zoom Room for us to talk. If you need that then please let me know.

Monday at 5pm is Level 1 Yoga for $5. This is a great class that can be modified for anyone. Great stretch and breathing poses.

Monday at 6pm is Chair Yoga for $5. This class is great for anyone who prefers to use a chair for yoga or is at work and needs a break. I modify for inflexibility, injuries, and chronic pain.

Monday at 7pm is Yoga Nidra for $5. It’s called yogic sleep and is great to help you relax and let go of stress of the day. Great for those that have insomnia

Tuesday at 10am is Morning Meditation for $5. Bring a journal and let’s get our day started.

Tuesday at 6pm is Scrying with Crystals and a Crystal Ball for $10-. Bring your crystals, pendulums or crystal ball and we will practice the art of scrying. Let’s see what worlds we can enter and what messages we can discover.

Wednesday at 10am is Morning Meditation for $5. Bring a journal and let’s get our day started.

Wednesday at 5pm is Chair Yoga for $5. This class is great for anyone who prefers to use a chair for yoga or is at work and needs a break. I modify for inflexibility, injuries, and chronic pain.

Wednesday at 6pm is Restorative Yoga for $5. This class is a great way to undo those knots and pained muscles from the week and lower your cortisol levels and help you lose weight.

Wednesday at 7pm is An Angel Guided Meditation for FREE sponsored by Cosmic Connections. I will guide you to a place to meet your guardian angels. Please register here - https://YourCosmicConnections.as.me/AngelMeditation

Thursday at 10am is Morning Meditation for $5.Bring a journal and let’s get our day started.

Thursday at 6pm for $5. Meet with us and set your goals for 2021 including health, academic, spiritual, and more and find like minded people who are there to help you meet your goals and support you along the way.

Wednesday December 30 at 7:30pm Manifesting an Awesome 2021- $5 - https://www.facebook.com/events/754654555096353

Tuesday January 5 at 6pm Heart Chakra Workshop - $5 https://www.facebook.com/events/673736310227154/

Wednesday January 6 at 7pm Introduction to Pendulum Workshop - $10 Register here https://YourCosmicConnections.as.me/PendulumClass

Hybrid Zoom/Online classes

January 23- 9am Usui Reiki 1 Certification for $150. Become certified in self-healing and learn how to help heal others.

January 30 – 9 am Usui Reiki 1 Certification for Yoga Teachers for $250. Learn to incorporate reiki into your yogic practice. Good for yoga students and teachers.

Online Correspondence Classes

Reiki Grand Master- $50 - https://www.facebook.com/events/825981461567423

Shadow Work Workshop- $50 - https://www.facebook.com/events/385573772707775

Spirit Guide Activation Attunement - $20 - https://www.facebook.com/events/753392458588590