Changes in plans

Before I hurt myself, I had asked for three days off to do a 12 hour run in Oakland. This was to be symbolic of my return to health. However, this had to be put off, obviously. Instead, I have been reading short stories, walking the dogs with Scott (2 miles, very gingerly), and cooking. I made the most wonderful Southwestern yellow split pea soup, with lots of chili pepper, cumin, rotel, corn, green peppers, and Mexican oregano. It was delicious with some crusty sourdough bread. This morning, I made Scott's and my favorite pumpkin muffins; we sat around for hours and drank coffee and talked about his upcoming Badwater. We're very excited, because Jesse Doggett, who crewed the year that Ben and Evan came out, is going to crew again. He is an engineer, very organized and calm, who has done a crossing, and will be wonderful. Things seem to be shaping up for a nice, friendly, no-frills (and no drama) race...which will be perfect.

I have fallen in love with short stories. I guess I was always a member of the "if it is longer, it must be better" camp, but no more. Yesterday, my favorite was "A Jury of Her Peers", about the life of farm women before the right to vote. I also liked "A Garden Party", about class distinctions. I'm sure that anyone who took literature in college has read a bunch of these, but I missed out. The wonderful thing about the internet is that you can spend 50 dollars for a year of access to commentary, full e-texts, and essentially buy a college education in literature. COOL!

My ribs still hurt, but I expect them to for the next 2-3 more weeks. I hope to gradually ramp up my miles so that I can be in some sort of shape to pace Scott for part of his race. It's a completely different experience to be walking alongside him, generally in the cool-ish dark, being quiet and focused, rather than driving, waiting, preparing bottles, and keeping a log. I like both aspects, but a mix is perfect.

Happy Birthday to sweet Ellen. I enjoyed the DVD of her dances. Scott says that he can tell that she is a little athlete.