Chuck-It Elbow and Broth and Other Things

On the non-dog news front, the mid-winter doldrums around here are to die for. Despite the occasional afternoon of something called "sun," the drip and the damp is relentless.  It is like living under a leaky shower head. It is impossible to do anything (like fix something in the car) except try to keep dry.  Everyone around these parts looks like a sallow-faced, sunken-eye member of the Adams family.  

Nevertheless, on the occasion of an afternoon of sun, i decided to go back to the gym.  On the geronto-flex front the operative word is: not.  In late January, i succumbed to chuck-it elbow  whether from doing too much lifting after too much chucking or too much chucking after too much lifting, i do not know.  But in all events it was too much of something.  I swore i would not let this happen again but it did.  Basically, my right arm has been fairly useless.

That, together with the relentless damp, a worn-down feeling of asthmatic congestion and a threatening full bore cold was not conducive to gyming.  So aside from walking the pooch, i have stayed close to home and broth. 

However today it was bright and although it will not last, i took advantage of the illusion to go back to the gym.  Although my arm is better, i calculate that i should still do nothing with it until the end of the month, at least.  But my lungs need aereation and so it was time to get back on the elliptical boredom machine.  All in all, it was not so bad.  Endurance was off, but speed was about average and there was no end-stage gasping -- in fact no gasping at all.  

After it was over i took Nicki for his romp.  He ran into his pals Nicco, Tank, Thor, and a new appearance whose name i can't recall.   The four of them ran, puddled and wrastled forever. Score?  Chowprovider 24 min.  FuzzyButts: 1 hr. 40 min.   

While the dogs were doing their thing, i talked to Nicco's owner, Sam, a rock-climber and teacher for autistic kids.  He told me about a book called Born to Run, in which the author claims that Homo Erectus was supposed to cursum on toesus. (Actually, it should be toesii...)  What kills our knees and back, he claims, is running heel to toe.  Sam suggested i buy one of those foot gloves or "five toes" i think they are called and try running on my toes.  MAYBE....... i am skeptical.

Sam also gave me some pointers on walkable trails on Mt. Baker.  MAYBE... that too.

Incidentally, on the matter of broth.  TJ's has a good low sodium "all-organic" chicken broth.  Add bits and pieces of anything you like (mushrooms, broccoli spears, orange peppers, tomato slices, avocado, boiled eggs, bits of chicken or cod ... whatever...) and you have a very filling very low calories dinner that takes away hunger on those days when all you want to do is schlepp around and eat. 

P.S. from Nicki - :< :<, :< :< :<!  (transl.  water snapping with archie sounds woof!)