Levy Trail Loop

I walked the Levy Trail Loop at dusk today in 34:24. The Loop part of the Levy Trail Loop also goes by the Ghetto Cat from back in '09. It has always seemed odd to me that I never saw that cat again. I would probably have brought him or her home if it hadn't been for Pam, Sam, and Jo.

Levy Trail 5K/War Memorial Golf Course

I walked the Levy Trail 5K this morning in 47:42 and went through three miles in 46:11. It is an overcast, windless morning. It's currently 55°F. The National Weather Service predicts a high today of  58. Except that it's a bit humid, this is a nearly perfect day for golf.
John, Ed, and I played War Memorial Golf Course this morning and afternoon. Ed scored 88, John 93, and I scored 110 with nines of 59 and 51. I used 44 putts. It was by two strokes my highest lifetime score at War Memorial. I had zero pars and three bogies and otherwise nothing but doubles or over. Nothing worked. Crazy as this may sound, heck, I had fun anyway.
By the way, I'm in the market for a pet. I shopped today at the Sherwood Pet Shelter, but there were only five cats there. Only two seemed at all interested but neither quite enough. There were no Chucks. I believe this could take a while. Maybe, as Kayce suggested, one will find me, like Pam, Jo, and Ruth. I am paying particular attention to Levy strays, in case there's a Ghetto Cat out there.*

*this run set the foundation for the Ghetto Cat Loop

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

33rd Street Loop

I jogged and walked the 33rd Street Loop through a 56-degree mist in 58:18, with splits of 12:09, 12:01, 11:32, 11:20, and 11:17. I stopped in the fourth mile to pet a black cat about Jo's size, close to the Dixie Pig. He or she was eager for attention and ran with me for 10 or 15 yards as I left; surely a loved cat.*
*and, in retrospect, I believe unique to my experience. I'm fairly certain I have never petted a cat on a run. I think this is the only cat I have encountered under similar circumstances who did not run from me, but rather stayed on with interest and curiosity, apparently as a matter of course.

Pams Path

I walked Pam's Path at lunchtime today in 1:02:45. The jeans and sweatshirt I wore were too much. It's nearly hot out there.

I PLAN TO STAB...
...the next person who says, "...for a minute," or the equivalent, when they mean for much longer than a minute. It sounded kind of clever four years ago but now makes men, women, and children who say it sound like active members of the Tri-Delt sorority

Levy Trail Loop/War Memorial Golf Course

I walked the Levy Trail Loop this morning in 33:58.
John, Ed, and I played War Memorial Golf Course late this morning through mid-afternoon. Ed scored 87, I scored 90, and John 94. I had nines of 44 and 46 and used 33 putts.

OVERHEARD
"Hi, Jo."
— Pete to a pretty dog barking at him from a backyard near 33rd St.

Levy Trail North/Hash

I walked and jogged Levy Trail North at lunchtime today in 27:53.
I was out for nearly an hour this afternoon on a Hash run from East End Park in Little Rock. We went almost exactly two miles.

Calvary Cemetery Loop

HOT SPRINGS—The Calvary Cemetery Loop goes over to, through, and back from the bigger-than-two-motherfuckers cemetery that's about three-quarters of a mile as a bird flies from Oaklawn Park. I walked it at lunchtime today in 53:08 before I wrote two stories in the Oaklawn pressbox.
I wondered at least a dozen times today and tonight where Jo would be when I got home. Whereas I worried about this at first, I now believe it is a product of eighteen years of habit, established in 2001 with Pam, rather than the extent to which I admired Jo. I can imagine it will occur until I get another pet, which I think I might consider once the Oaklawn season ends in early May. That's still a bit up in the air. Nothing has saddened me as much as Jo's death. I still react to the point of embarrassment every time someone mentions it, and I am not sure I'm willing to repeat this experience.*
*no shit, not more than two minutes after I completed the above and walked to the kitchen to check some tamales, as I walked back to my chair in the den, I looked toward the door with a thought that concerned Jo's well-being. I can't wait to report that this habit has ceased

TOMBSTONE OF THE DAY
Of your Charity
Pray for the Soul of

Dick (Richard) Melody

Born Manchester, England
Died Hot Springs
Nov. 26, 1928
Aged 77 years

I'm guessing he either didn't know the exact date of his birth beyond the year, which I assume was 1851, or he forgot to give it to any of his associates in Hot Springs. Also, I'm not sure of the style at the time, but by the contemporary standard, his parents named him Dick but he went by Richard. I assume the opposite was true but am willing to bet I won't ever know that one for sure

Senior Center

I walked two miles at the Senior Center at lunchtime today in 33:17. It's raining again.

Two Rivers Park

Four other Geezers and I walked approximately seven miles through Two Rivers Park this morning in 2:02:39.

Pams & Jos Path

I walked Pams & Jos Path at lunchtime today in 59:27. with splits of 15:24, 15:12, 14:43, and 14:08.
When your fucking pet dies, you start getting text messages left and goddamn right. I must've had ten conversations the last two days that lasted a total of five hours. I figure I could've saved at least, at fucking least, four hours if they would just invent a device that people could use to talk through. I wonder if anyone's working on one of those.

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Does anyone, anyone at all outside of Hollywood, give a good flying fuck about the Academy Awards anymore?

Levy Trail 5K

The paper says it's supposed to rain four feet today. The National Weather Service has for the first time ever issued a flash-flood guarantee. Anyway, I tried to beat it this morning but got in the final mile of the Levy Trail 5K got hit with 36°F, wind-blown water.
Readers, not to beat a dead cat, but when I opened my door after the Levy Trail 5K, I immediately looked down for Jo, right where she has been every day that I have walked or jogged for the last eleven and a half years. I'm not sure how long this instinctual behavior will persist. I'll try to remember to mention it when it stops.

Ghetto Cat Loop/Oaklawn Park

HOT SPRINGS—Monday morning, before I drove to Oaklawn Park, I walked the Ghetto Cat Loop in 32:04. I wrote two long stories and lost $6 on two bets. I am currently behind $5.40 for the season.
Roughly a dozen times Monday, I forgot that Jo was dead. I wondered where she was when I awoke at 7 a.m. I remembered a second or so later, but twenty minutes later, I went so far as to walk to my front door and open it to see if she wanted in. Much later, a little more than an hour ago, I wondered why I didn't hear her as I unlocked my front door. What's crazy is, less than a minute before that, I worried that she wasn't anywhere in sight as I pulled into my driveway. No kidding, I shook my head at my silliness, and then repeated it on my front porch. The deal is, I guess, Jo should still be here. She should've lived at least three or four more years. Of course. I wish there was a way she could've known how much I would miss her. On the other hand, fuck, I never imagined.

Jo: May 26, 2007-Feb. 17, 2019. Levy Trail North/Orange Street Loop

Jo died in apparent comfort at about 2:15 this afternoon. I am pleased to note I took two fried drumsticks out of skillet at 1:48 that smelled good enough to draw her attention from what I theretofore believed was a coma. Jo could barely move, but she turned her head toward me and looked up over an arm of my maroon recliner toward me and the fried chicken. I walked over and placed one of the drumsticks on the chair, close to her mouth, and she managed to taste it in the final minutes of her life. What a cat. Jo was clearly my all-time pet.
I alternated four-minute walks with one-minute jogs to complete Levy Trail North this morning in 29:52. I have to go three more miles today to reach my goal of twenty for the week.
I walked the Orange Street Loop tonight in 46:53, with splits of 15:39, 15:35, and 15:38. I missed Jo not walking down the driveway to meet me or not meowing from inside the door when I stuck in the key.

Waffle House Loop/Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS—I walked the Waffle House Loop this morning in 1:25:59. It's a new loop that goes a little over five miles and includes the barn area at the track, plus a walk around the big cemetery northwest of the track. It also includes breakfast at the Waffle House.
I was encouraged to see Jo asleep in my recliner when I got up this morning. I'm not sure she could've reached it yesterday. She drank a good bit of milk before I left. I was able to get an ever-so-slight purr out of her.
I lost $2 at Oaklawn today on one bet today. I am up $0.60 after five trips.
Jo is asleep on my lap at about 11 p.m. and seems as comfortable as cats get. This daughter of Patches and Rug is beautiful.

Levy Trail South

I walked Levy Trail South late Friday afternoon in 32:07.
It looks as if Jo the cat's days are numbered. She has hardly eaten for the last three days. Today she has no more than nibbled away some gravy from a can of cat food. She stopped drinking, except for a bit of milk this morning and just now at a bit past midnight. Jo's veterinarian saw her Monday and told me yesterday that her blood work looks fine. He recommended I wait it out rather than invest a significant sum for a chance of survival that is likely out of anyone's hands. She has begun to look and behave as Pam did the last two days of her life.
Rats.
Hope persists but rats, nonetheless.

Levy Trail South

It's amazing how much easier it is to walk Levy Trail South in 32:35 with a blood glucose level of 99 mg/dL—as I did this evening—than to walk it in 36:19 with a level of approximately 20.

War Memorial Golf Course/Levy Trail South

Ed and I played War Memorial Golf course this morning and early afternoon. Ed scored 79 and I scored 94, with nines of 47 and 47. It was a terrible round, but putting saved me. I used 32 putts and didn't have a single three-putt for the first time since the summer of 1969.
Late this afternoon, I staggered along Levy Trail South in 36:19, so much so in fact that I was worried someone might think I was drunk. I was pleased no saw me between the trail and my house, an extraordinary bit of luck at 5:15 p.m.

Levy Trail North

I walked Levy Trail North this afternoon in 33:18.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Never mind Barrack (Barry) Obama's success, when Beto O'Rourke's parents and Lady Gaga's agent came up with those names, did they in any way believe they would assist their child's and client's credibility? Furthermore, have either O'Rourke or Gaga considered taking the John Cougar Mellencamp route?

Levy Trail Loop

I walked the Levy Trail Loop through ever-so-light to heavier-than-two-motherfuckers rain this afternoon in 31:53.

Levy Trail 5K

There is no way I would've left the house tonight if it weren't for my 2-miles-a-day/20-miles-a-week streak. I walked the Levy Trail 5K late this evening through light, cold rain in 49:46.
Earlier today, at Walmart, I found a penny, my first since my 60th birthday. I first began saving found-pennies on Feb. 4, 2009, my fiftieth birthday. So in ten years and ten days, I have 259.

Levy Trail South/Oaklawn Loop/Oaklawn Park

HOT SPRINGS—I walked the ever-changing Oaklawn Loop at lunchtime today in 1:05:57.
Yesterday afternoon, I walked Levy Trail South in 33:08.
On two bets today at Oaklawn Park, I netted $6.60. After three trips, I'm up $2.60.

Levy Loop

I walked the good ol' fashioned Levy Loop early this afternoon in 32:52. It's turned colder than two motherfuckers here.

Levy Trail 5K

I walked the Levy Trail 5K this morning in 50:10. I went through three miles in 48:36. At close to noon, it's an overcast and very balmy 71°F in Levy.

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Why can't Beto O'Rourke be Bill, Bob, Larry, John, or even fucking Todd or Cory O'Rourke for Christ's sake?

OVERHEARD
"Tornado weather."
—overweight man on the Levy Trail near 38th Street, after Pete said, "Hard to believe it's this warm out"

Levy Trail Loop

I walked Levy Trail South late Tuesday afternoon in 33:12.

Lakewood Lake No. 3/Hindman Park Golf Course

Ron Gimblet and I walked around Lakewood Lake No. 3 this morning for 1:06:33. All the other Geezers on hand walked elsewhere.
Ed Pennington and I played Hindman Park Golf Course this afternoon. Ed scored 97, and I scored 98, with nines of 49 and 49. I used 36 putts and birdied No. 16 with a driver, an 8-iron, and a 10-foot putt.

OVERHEARD
"That was the most boringest fuckingest game I ever watched."
—dude at Edwards Cost Savers

Levy Trail 5K/Hash

I alternated four-minute walks with one-minute jogs through Miles 1 and 3 and jogged the second mile non-stop to complete the Levy Trail 5K this morning in 40:33, with splits of 13:50, 11:36, and 13:40. I went through three miles in 39:06.
Late this afternoon, I was out on the Hash Superbowl run from Z-Man's house for 38:40.
By the way, my rather liquid target is the Full Moon 50K in late July. I can't enter the Ouachita Trail 50 this year since it's scheduled for the day of the Arkansas Derby. We'll see.

EMAIL OF THE DAY
Hi Ed and John,

As I told John this afternoon, Hindman Golf Course is in spectacular shape. Ed, John told me he is more likely to find time if we can delay our start. How does 1 p.m. at Hindman sound? 

The fairways and greens are in great shape. There's a little water on Nos. 2 and 7, but just a little. Otherwise, the course is borderline perfect. Good lies everywhere. No stobs. Few leaves. College girls running around half-naked.

Pete

Ed's response: Sign me up!

Pam's Path

I walked Pam's Path late this morning in 57:38, with splits of 15:05, 14:34, 14:18, and 13:41. It's hard to explain.
I'm off to Oaklawn to cover the Martha Washington Stakes, a points race for the Kentucky Oaks (sort of the female equivalent of the Kentucky Derby. It's for three-year-old fillies rather than colts). But, like the U.S. Women's Open, most people, including racing fans, don't give a fuck.
My goal is to write a lead worthy of posting here.

FUCK, WHO KNOWS?

HOT SPRINGS — Certainties are a rare quality in horse racing and virtually unheard of for racehorses who have just turned three years old.

Consequently, as jockey David Cohen maneuvered Power Gal, by Empire Maker, into position for an attempted pass of a three-horse wall in the final turn of the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, he didn’t know exactly what to expect.

But experience with Power Gal in morning workouts did leave Cohen confident enough to say he wasn’t surprised as she passed, in order, Sheza Handfull, Taylor’s Spirit, and Marathon Queen as they neared the wire to win her first stakes start and earn 10 Road-to-the-Kentucky-Oaks points in the first of three significant Oaks preps at Oaklawn.

Levy Trail 5K

I walked the Levy Trail 5K at lunchtime today in 47:29, with splits of 15:30, 15:20, and 15:12. Now it's time for a round of golf. I ain't expecting much.
I played OK. John, Ed, and I played War Memorial Golf Course this afternoon. Ed scored 84. I scored 88, and John 96. I had nines of 43 and 45 and used 33 putts.