Credit where

Credit is due:

The following photo is of part of a group of young men who came to our agency last week. They were sponsored by BP and were taking part in the United Way Day of Caring. They are part of the local high school junior varsity football team.

Oh, I should tell you what the two in the back are doing. Such inventiveness. They found a kids' sled and filled it with leaves and schmutz and tossed it over the fence into the woods. They were ingenious - they held onto the rope and then hauled the sled back up and over to their side of the fence afterwards in order to refill it.

Now, their coach does not want me to send their photo to the local paper. He wants to build character in the young men and says that getting publicity is not why they do such things each year. So, I had to agree not to send it to the paper.

But you know, these were some of the most polite 14 and 15 year old kids I have met in a long while. They said "Yes, Ma'am" and "No, Ma'am" and smiled quite a bit even as they worked.

I took a group photo of all of them (for their sponsor) and made them all smile when I said "repeat after me . . . . I have a girlfriend." Big grins from all of them on that.

Nice kids. Hope you have some of the same type in your area. I'm sure that you do.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In other news . . .

the "easy" way to get your 10,000 steps in. Yeah, easy, that's right.

Ran into acquaintances at breakfast Saturday morning. They shared that a local group was starting a walking program utilizing a church's gym from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Erm, yeah, you read that right - 7 a.m.

So, bright and early this morning - at the crack of blackest morning - I jumped out of bed and threw on my exercise togs. Okay, "jump" is a relative term. But, I was up and ready before the radio station played the second song. I'd laid out my things the night before - including a change of clothes for work and shower supplies and towels. My bag was packed and I was ready to go . . . .

Across town a little ways - and I was the first one there. Before I could get the car in park, however, my friends pulled up, also, and opened the doors.

We walked the perimeter of the gym and on an upstairs loop as well, so even got in some "stairs" activity. Well, they did. I went up and stayed up there until I was ready to come down for a cool down period.

Walked for almost an hour - 4 ten minute laps (reversing direction every ten minutes) upstairs, then down the steps and cool down laps for about 15 minutes. Did some stretches and then went in to the shower area. Very nicely done - two showers, with curtains even! Lockers available if wanted. Large mirror for fixing of hair and makeup if wanted.

And, when I left I had walked over 7000 steps - before 9 a.m.!!! Looks like I am finishing the day with nearly 12,000 steps. Woot! And, oh my oh my . . . . the endorphin rush after I was done!!!! Oh, yeah, baby. I'm going back Thursday, Lord willing.

Did get a tad stiff at work, though. Had to remind myself to get up and move around. If I sat in my chair (working on the computer, of course) for too long, when I did stand up I had to teeter for a moment or two to get everything loosened up again. May be a bit sore tomorrow. But, I'll be back for more on Thursday.

So, that is my exciting news from Alaska. Hope that your day was a great one - and that your Wednesday will be a fine one, too.
>..<

Posted by Purplemoose at October 12, 2004 09:30 PM