"Rust" Mon Rovia

A chill tune for early morning risers. Mon Rovia is new to me, but I like everything that I hear.

I PRed my run Sunday. To be fair, it was flat and fast, so everyone probably did too. I signed myself up for 3 more races in November and December. Every time race day comes around and I get to the starting line, I feel like I did on a big exam day when everyone around me is talking about how they didn't study for it (which is a lie) and aren't ready. Then I get passed by a power walker on the 2.5 mile marker and think what the hell?!

Remember-- it's YOUR race. We're not in this to win.

I took a long drive out to Bridgeton to take in a few covered bridges and what I found was a shit ton of people eating fair food and buying cheap crap from hundreds of vendors. My gps stopped working before I got to NEET Bridge (which wasn't all that neat) and somehow managed to get to Rockville (which I won't go back to...) before heading home. I was hoping to see more color in the leaves but I think we are two week's out before peak foliage ( I sound like I know what I'm talking about here!). I guess you can see if I'm right.

It was nice to get away and just have the sound of silence and my own thoughts on the road. Still, unless you are into a County Fair atmosphere, huge crowds of people draging around wagons full of cheap crap and fried food that will clog your arteries, I would suggest going in the off season.

How are you doing?

"Fake Plastic Trees" Radiohead

Petrichor. my favorite smell.

The rains came and with the mixing of fallen leaves it smells divine.

Well, IU pulled it off in a nail biter that made for an uncomfortable few hours.

Today I have a 5k up in Martinsville, which looks to be a flat and fast course. Not sure why I get so nervous for these things. I'm not trying to compete-- I am just doing it for the practice.

Here's what I'd rather be doing:

Uptown Downtown

Twilight

Happy Sunday to you.

"When You're Gone" The Cranberries

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It's been awhile.

I've been busy working the polls-- and what a fantastic experience it has been. The time seems to fly by, even if you are saying the exact same thing over and over for hours on end. I enjoy the different exchanges with each person-- some are so excited to put their ballot in the box, some their hands shake so much they are barely able write their own names, most are so grateful that we are there volunteering our time to allow them to vote early, others are just "doing their part" and want to get out of the polling place as fast as they can.

I got to work with a guy who was a working musician and he decided to go back to school for three years, graduated and is now trying to figure out what is next. He was looking for something new--a change. A Fresh start. Obviously I could relate.

And he is only 53.

It was refreshing to hear someone else is out there who has a new beginning and took the leap to start over.

Yesterday was pretty interesting. So, I have this thing where I see someone usually out of the corner of my eye and think it is someone I know. And, like clockwork, that person will show up not long after.

It happened with CONNFESSION P.H.D. I saw 2 men that looked like him--old, tall and thin with silver hair. I knew he would be at the polls because I waited on his wife. Luckily he went to a different station, but then I took care of his son, a first time voter. My Republican partner and I decided to celebrate his first experience voting, so we all clapped. It was actually very sweet.

I don't know if she knows me or whether there was awkwardness after, but I hope they appreciated that I tried to make their son's first time voting memorable.

Besides PHD, lots of people I knew came through to vote early. My Soma coffee shop pals exercised their right to vote, a former student who actually showed up at the hospital when I was giving birth, several former parents of students I taught, and even my girl came down to vote.

She is training for a marathon and just completed a 20 mile run before stopping by to vote.

Pretty proud of my girl!

Hoping to do some hiking next week to take in the fall foliage. CONFESSION B-STUDENT used to call Spring sexy-- but I think fall is too.

Hope you are well. <