Cool It

AC.  How did we live before it :-)

Mine is out today and the maintenance guy is on his way.  In the meantime I’ve been asked to turn off the AC so it doesn’t freeze up.  It was 102 outside and 86.9 in here at the time.  In the hour since it’s gone up about two degrees both in and out.  It’s not intolerable, but I don’t have a breeze.  If I open the door, I’ll get the air moving, but I don’t want to let 104 in!  Maybe I’ll go for a hike.  I did this morning and it was great!  I’d likely have the trail all to myself.

Summer in Tucson.  I don’t mind the heat so much.  I say that a lot.  It’s being tested :-)

Watch Your Step

I’ve been hiking the Pusch Peak Trail for about two years now.  It’s my favorite.  It’s challenging and it’s beautiful.  It can get quite steep and there are places with a lot of loose rock.  Perfect combination for slipping and landing on your rear.  Especially on the way down.

Every time before I hike I pray.  I ask God to keep me from accident and injury, and to use the exercise to burn fat and build muscle.  It’s a good prayer and I know God has been honoring that request.  He is so good, you know :-)

When I’m back on my way down the trail is when choosing my footing well is key.  It’s easy to fall.  I spend a lot of time on the way down asking God to help me choose my steps wisely and to help me to not fall.  I have noticed a curious thing, and I believe God is using the illustration to show me something.

When it’s really steep and the danger is high.  If I slip and I know it’s a place on the trail I could really be badly hurt if I fall.  During those times, I have a laser focus.  I’m talking to God and carefully considering and choosing every step.  It’s in these places of the trail I have yet to fall.  No.  It’s when the trail levels out a little.  When I’m paying less (or no) attention that the next thing I know I’m on my rear!

It’s an illustration of our walk with God!  When the going is dangerous.  Life threatening maybe.  We tend to watch our step, lest we fall.  The higher the danger, the more careful we become.  If we have a close relationship with God, these are times that we pray over every decision.  Sometimes even crying out for direction and guidance.

When do we fall?  (Besides when we blatantly choose to disobey)  It’s when we aren’t paying as close attention.  Life has leveled out.  We can go it alone in our own strength. Sometimes, the next thing we know we are on our backside.

On the trail I’ve learned.  When I think the going is easier to pay a little more attention.  Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security.  I’m still learning that in my walk with God.  I believe I am getting better, but that’s exactly when to beware.

1 Corinthians 10
¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

As Christians, even if we fall, we have a God who will save us.  Don’t get me wrong. Depending on the slip there can be severe consequences.  God will not be mocked, we will reap what we sow.  But God doesn’t treat us as we deserve.  He knows we are but dust.  His mercy is great and He is looooong suffering.  He is slow to anger.  If you find yourself falling headlong, you have a God who will help.

Psalm 37
²³ The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
²⁴ he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
²⁵ I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.

Even if your mistake causes your death, God ultimately has you.  You end up in His presence.  Your family will be sad though, so watch your step!

Proverbs 4
²⁶Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.

Honor God and follow Him as close as you can.  Jesus told His disciples just before He was captured in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This was His last heart to heart with His disciples, so it must have been important!  (Of course, EVERYTHING Jesus said was important)  If you want to know God better?  Obey Him.

John 14
²¹He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

All of this is fading away.  A new creation is coming!  In light of eternity, what really matters?  Our relationship with God!  Knowing Him and making Him known.  He paid a high price because He couldn’t bear to be separated from us.  He also paved the way so we can come to the Throne of God with our requests.  We can get to know Him even before we see Him face to face someday!!!

Watch your step and you’ll have happy trails (and yes, a few trials too, just like everyone else :-)

Squirrely

I’m really enjoying the hiking!  I can feel it in my legs.  My clothes are starting to fit better (I still have a long ways to go though).  The neatest thing about hiking as a way of exercising is the wildlife!  Even the rattlesnakes!!!  The scenery is really cool too :-)

Today, I’m a half mile into the hike, just before it starts getting steep.  All of a sudden about 10 feet in front of me this squirrel darts onto the trail.  He’s running toward me, sees me, and veers to my right and past me.  He didn’t miss a step and was movin’!  Then I notice another squirrel is chasing him!  He sees me, puts on the breaks and retreats in front of me to my left!  These were not those little ground squirrels (I guess around here they are all ground squirrels!  You know what I mean).  They were pretty large and moving fast!  I don’t know if it was a little “muskrat love” or a some sort of fight?  I just kept walking.  I figured they would work it out :-)

Busy Busyness

My goodness.  16 hours today! I’m too old for this :-)  Apparently not.  I went in at Midnight:30 and filled in for the news for four of our stations.  We had some cool content this morning including 2 updates from Colonel Bacon stationed in Iraq and another snippet from my interview with Joel Rosenberg.  That was neat getting to talk to him!

So, then I had to fill in in the afternoon and in between there was paperwork and a ton of weather forecasts for all of our stations in the network.  Honestly, I was getting a bit overwhelmed late in the morning.  A little cranky.  Then I tried something revolutionary.  I prayed!

I asked God for strength and a good attitude.  At one point I felt my patience slipping and I just felt God saying, “I’m with you.”  That was all it took.  I had peace all day!  Not only that, but I had FUN today even though I was severely over worked ;-)

I have more work tomorrow, but I am considering climbing Pusch Peak to the top.  The main thing that is stopping me is groceries.  I don’t have any!  I’m going to bed as soon as I post this.  I’m beat!  So, maybe I’ll do a shorter hike or ride my bike and get some errands ran.  I don’t like running errands on a Saturday.  That’s when all of you are too!  Knock it off!

Tea para Me

The English are on to something.  It’s the second day in a row that I’ve been enjoying a spot of tea!  I like the Earl Grey (cause I like to taste my tea!) but it’s also Green Tea (anti-oxidants baby!).  Earl Grey Green Tea. I found it at Safeway.  For all of their high prices they have a couple of things I like.  Good produce and good tea assortment.

Which reminds me.  My Dad worked at Safeway in California.  The story I remember is that he was the youngest assistant manager in the state at 19!  Way to go Dad!  I also remember hearing that he would bring home the slightly expired milk.  Good savings!  Of course, it stunted my growth :-)

So, back to the tea.  It’s nice to sip some tea and ramble about whatever for a few minutes with friends or on your blog.  I like mine with a spoonful of honey.  I’m heading out to a dentist appointment and then to the store.  I’m out of the 100% pure unfiltered unheated honey that I get from Sprouts.  I just recently learned that most store honey is heated so that it is in that semi-liquid state.  That apparently kills a lot of the good micro-organisms in the honey that are good for you!  The good stuff has bits of pollen (and bits of bees) and is much better for you.

There. I got off subject again.  Tea.  Yes, the English have it figured out.  Take a break in the afternoon.  Relax for a bit.  Get a shot of some caffeine and you’re ready for the rest of the day!  For me that’s go to the Dentist and get my new bridge installed.  Hit a couple of grocery stores for some supplies.  Then either hike up Pusch Peak like yesterday, or do the bike ride up to the Pima Canyon Trailhead.  I have a long ways to go to lose this weight, but if I keep eating right and exercising, it’s just a matter of time.

Man, this tea is good :-)

Liking the Hiking

Three of the four last days I’ve been hiking 1,000 feet up Pusch Peak.  Great exercise!  My legs are getting stronger and I think my pants are fitting better.  I gotta stay consistent.  There are no short cuts to losing weight and getting in shape.

One great advantage I have is that this hike, while challenging, is very fun!  The views are great.  The terrain is cool.  The wildlife is abundant.  For example.  Today I was walking along and a rabbit hiding in a a bush ten feet in front of me scampered off.  Later while climbing the mountain, a small bush just four feet to my left rustled and I turned in time to see the tail of a snake slithering away.  It wasn’t a rattler, which is always good!

Also today (and yesterday) were the wildflowers.  They are busting out everywhere! Check it out on my site for larger versions of the shots below.

I had the most disconcerting thought hiking yesterday.  I was a little more than half way up my climb and was resting.  I could here this buzzing sound.  Hundreds? of bees swarming hundreds of flowers on the mountainside.  VERY cool!  Unfortunately, I’ve watched too many specials on Africanized Bees.  I know that if I cause one to accidentally sting me that I could be toast.  “Killer Bees” can chase their victims up to a quarter of a mile while on the attack!  They fly up to 13 mph or something.  At a sprint I could probably out run them even while my hamstrings would be tearing apart.  After all, it would be life or death!  But, on a steep hiking trail?  There would be no escape.

I hike alone and generally like it that way.  I have my cell phone with and I have even received calls on the trail, so in most urgencies, I would be fine.  Even hiking with a friend, could either one of us escape a vicious attack of “Killer Bees” intent on saving their honey from hikers marauders, much less save each other?

I’m gonna push these paranoid thoughts out of my mind and continue to enjoy my hikes.  I always pray for God’s protection before I hit the trail!  Besides.  I LOVE BEES!  I even wanted to be a bee keeper when I was younger.  Who knows.  Maybe someday!

Gravity of the Situation

I just heard on the news, today, January 21st, is the most depressing day of the year. Apparently this British researcher says the reason is that three weeks from the new year is when most people break their New Year’s Resolution. The weather is gloomy and cold. The credit cards with the Christmas spending are due. Etc.

I haven’t started my New Years Resolution(s) yet! So I’m good there. the weather is sunny and cool. I’d prefer snow, but the weather is fine. My credit card is maxed, so that’s not good. Bottom line is, I feel pretty good! If today is as depressing as it gets this year, that will be just awesome :-)

Now. Starting my New Year’s Resolution. I have to stop eating whatever whenever. I need to start fighting gravity to defy gravity. Let me explain.

My favorite exercise is to hike 1,000 feet up Pusch Peak which is located across the street from the apartments here. To mix things up I like to ride my bike up a mile and a half hill on West McGee to the Pima Canyon Trailhead. Both workouts are intense and FUN! I was hiking and/or biking 5 days a week at the end of the Summer. My legs were getting stronger and my gut was getting smaller. So why not just jump right back into it?

Part of the problem has been the sunset time in the Winter. Not enough time to hike or bike after work. That is slowly changing. The major reason for the lack of activity? I’m LAZY! A couch plopper. My clothes aren’t fitting so well and I’m not feeling as well as I should. Time for the excuses to go. If I fight gravity now I can defy it as I grow older!!!

« Previous Page