Happy birthday Lulu!

It's hard to believe I've had my little Lu for a year now and that she is 3 years old.  Everyone is surprised when they find out how old she is because she just emanates puppy on our walks in the street.

We celebrated her birthday (as well as the birthday of my aunt, grandmother, and mom) in Asheville last weekend with family, lots of love, and even more food.  Here's to many more great years together!

Red light, green light

Not your typical schoolyard game.  It's my new game for running in the city.  I'll explain it but first let me start with the basic rules of running.  In case you didn't know, I'm a pretty serious runner (please note I did not say talented runner).  I have 3 rules that I abide by:
1. No music.  It distracts you from the whole running process.  I use running as my quiet time to work out the problems/joys/questions/stresses of my day.
2. Don't stop.  Just an overlap from my days on the track team.
3. Never turn on your heel to go home.  I always make a loop in some way because I'm afraid that stopping and turning in the opposite direction seems like a wimpy move for a jogger who couldn't keep going.  I always leave my house without knowing which direction I will go that day and make up the route as I go.

Being in the city with the nation's worst traffic has presented new obstacles, especially when I have Lulu ready to run in front of a car because she doesn't understand traffic signals yet (we're working on "Don't walk" and "Walk sign").  So I have devised a way to keep with my rules and not be trapped by the ever-present red light.

START
-Leave the house with Lulu in tow.  She picks left or right out of the gate.
-Whenever there is a red light, you have to change directions to follow the green light.
-Every good American knows that yellow lights are for speeding up, not slowing down.  Therefore, walk sign timers ticking with 10 seconds or less require a sprint pace to make the yellow light.
-Crosswalks/stop signs on side streets are the ample opportunity to cross sides of the street.
-Try not to get lost.
FINISH

Every day is different and I feel that I get to know a place much better on foot.  I feel pretty comfortable in my Dupont neighborhood.  As the fall comes and endurance kicks in, I'm looking forward to exploring the other neighborhoods in the area.