Week ending Sunday April 19th.

Sunday April, 19th 2009.

Its a nicer morning than expected still today is a good day to take a break from strenuous physical pursuits and relax a bit. Than and after a eleven and a quarter miles of running hills on Saturday the 18th my knees and ankles can use the rest. Although yesterday was a very pleasant day weather wise, it was also a tough day to run. The temperature was 47 degrees (F) with 63% humidity when I started just after the seventh hour and climbed to 57 degrees (F) while dropping to 36% humidity as I finished. While I wasn't drenched in sweat there was the start of an nice sized salt stain on the camel back reservoir I carry when i run longer distances.

The temperature was decieving as the lower humidity made it feel fairly comfortable but the saving grave was the cloud cover with the satrt of the run.

As for the week in review,
Monday; Tried to get out for a morning run but having to adjust the knee braces three times with in the first half mile frustrated me and I just let it go at that. Later Monday I had gone to my brother's place and we basicly wasted the day, Some days just turn out that way. Monday evening I had gone to Cold Spring where I attended the wake for Mr, Jim Guinan and said my good-by to the old fellow. His was the small store and bar in Garrison, NY I often retreated to for a few pints of beer, comradery with the other patrons and fine Irish music during the rising of the moon sessions.

Tuesday; i had wanted to run on the Putnam County Rail Trail that morning, but where I wanted to start from was closed by construction work so I opted for a different location to run. Along the roads where I used to run when I lived in Brewster. Starting near the dam for the Middle Branch Reservoir. I ran up along it's western bank on Maple road; turned left upon Hughson Rd and onto Stoneleigh Ave in Carmel. Going Southward on Stoneleigh I am running along another branch of the Croton Reservoir system till I arrive at Drewville Rd where I turn left once more and return to where i parked my van. The overal distance was four and three quarter miles.

Wednesday; No running today, instead it was off to Cold Spring for Jim's funeral followed by a get together of his family and friends in Garrison NY.

Now as for Irish funerals they are an affair which may have no equal. Granted the guest of honor can't acknowledge that you are there nor can he or she indicate approval or disapproval but he or she is the reason for the assembling of diverse folks.

So the funeral mass was to start promptly at ten in the morning. Well most of the church is seated and its also packed for standing room. The Cold Spring Fire department Pipband lead the hears to the church and Pipers, Joeseph Brady Sr. and Jr are flanking the church doors and pipe Jim into the church. During services, Piper Joseph Brady Jr. and the church organist play the hymms selected for the day and all is very nicely done. Just before Jim is escorted back to the hearse the Cold Spring Pipeband assembles ahead of the hearse (while Joeseph brady Sr. & Jr travel to the gravesite) in order to lead it off to the cemetary.

At the cemetary, The Cold Spring Band is arrained in a line up on the hill behind the grave site while Both Mr. Bradys are just below them and directly behind the internment site. The ceremonies again are very nicely done and all the pipers performed gloriously. Ah if Jim could of witnessed the performance surely he would of had an appropriate comment, possibly; Nicely done lads now enjoy a pint.

At the Garrison golf club where the crowd retired to after the services there was much addo and a big to do. still I took the time to speak to Margaret, Jim and Cathrine and thank them for sharing their father with me I also took my time and renewed many and acquaintance to follow up upon through the coming months. As for Jim's extended family he has quite the wide breath of the nation covered from the Northeast to the Florida Gulf Coast to the Pacific Ocean. While he may of lived in mostly in Garrison since the year I was born he touch wasn't just in New York State and America but in Ireland and England as well. God bless you extended family Jim.

Thursday; Just a mundane day of running, timber cutting and laundry in the afternoon. Followed by a trip to LaGuardia airport in NYC to pick up my mother so she can attend a school reunion in NYC.

First my imprssions about the aviation diaster site on Long Island named after a short fat worthless freaking idiot. A terrorist strike destroying that supposed bastion of aviation entry into NYC would be an improvement over the blighted abortion it has become. Complete demolition of all existing terminals, parking structures, roadways and any remaining infrastructure would be a major innovation in the regards of air travel into and out of NYC. For a metropolic such as NYC to not have a direct rail connection from midtown manhattan to one of its major air terminals is foolishness. As ther are no direct rail links to either airport in the confines of NYC is as sign of total ineptitude and arrogance. NYC should never be the site of another major event untill the disaters of its air terminals are retified. In other words NASCAR, the Olympics or let alone another World's Fair should never be considered untill the inbred cretins of the Megalopolis fixes infrastructure into a cohesive functional operation.

But that aside I'll spend no monies in NYC unless there are no other options.

So Thursday night I start deliver my mother safely to my younger brother's home and just after midnight on Friday morning, I go back to my current temporary abode.

Friday;start the day with a four & a quarter mile run around Putnam Lake, followed by driving my mother around to chance to visit with some old friends still residing in the neighborhood, Followed by a pleasant late lunch in the restaurant where my parent's 45th wedding aniversary was held while I was away on military duty. I finally got to eat there, after I had done the leg work to get things in place for it all those years ago.

Friday evening diner at my younger brother's home with his mob.

Saturday; Alrighty then the day broke relatively warm and clear. I had decided that since Sunday was going to be questionable weather wise it make my long run for the week that morning. Witnin the first two miles i climbeb 340 feet of elevation and that set the tone for the remainder of the run as described in the opening paragraph.

At a little before noon I drove my mother up to Dutchess county to my other brother's place for a visit and my Older brother comes in from Pike County PA to visit as well. So for the first time since in five years my mother got to see all four of her sons in the same day. maybe not the same location but as busy as some demands of modern life are thats pretty good too.

Which finally brings me to the close of the week and this morning Sunday April 19th.
This morning I'm taking a rest, no running and will run my mother to the train station so she can head into NYC for her school reunion.

Ah back from NYC and meeting some new folks, Nice train ride down to manhattan and back. now if Metro North would designe seating to accomodate people over 6 foot tall comfortably.

Cheers