Walking in the Rain

Day 63

Yuck. I’d rather walk in snow than rain, but walk I must, so walk I did. Only to return and discover nary a single entry in my Weird Coconutty Things contest…which leads me to believe I am asking too much of you guys.

So — here’s the new contest. If you can’t name ‘em, count ‘em.  How many weird pod things do you see in this picture?

Send in the number, and a little anecdote. FREE SIGNED BOOK (see yesterday’s post) to the person who gets the number right, and tells a funny little story about walking in the rain, or walking, or finding out the pod people really are the ghosts from the Lost Tiki Bar of Essex.

 

Yep, I’m Giving Away a Signed FREE Book

Day 62

I’m pretty sure the weird coconut-shelly things Pam and I found on the forest floor yesterday are indigenous to New Jersey. But what the heck are they? And how can I be sure they’re not…

• Evidence of a pod invasion from outer space?
• Archeological artifacts from the Lost Tiki Bar of Essex?
• Lenape Indian cannonballs?
• Scat droppings of a large carnivorous coniferous creature?

I’d like to hear your thoughts: what the hell are these things  and where did they come from? What are they good for? And is it okay if I use one for a cup to hold my pencils…or to brush my teeth?

Contest Rules As Follows:

1. Identify this object
2. Tell me where it comes from
3. Propose a creative way to use it
4. Or write a little story about it
5. And make me laugh

Post your replies in the “Comments” box below. This is a FULLY TRANSPARENT and COMPLETELY NON-DEMOCRATIC contest. In other words, I pick the winner myself. And I send you a signed copy of The Miracles of Prato.  Or, if you insist, I can send you a copy of Pam’s book, How Not to Act Old. (Hers is funnier, but mine costs more!) 

A winner will be announced by Friday. So put on your thinking cap. And don’t let the pod people keep you from revealing what you know…or what you can imagine!

 

A Thoreau Walk in the Woods

Day 60

Henry David Thoreau (yes, he of Walden Pond) is among the many writers, philosophers, and painters who found solace and creative inspiration walking in the woods.

In his treatise, Walking, delivered to an audience in 1851, Thoreau urged others to follow his footsteps, while lamenting that only the most ennobled few knew how to properly pursue what he thought of as the lost art of venturing forth from home on a natural expedition that might last for days.

Two or three hours’ walking will carry me to as strange a country as I expect ever to see, he said.

My friend Pam and I went out into the forest today.  Here’s the strange country we found:

When we walk, we naturally go to the fields and woods; Thoreau said. what would become of us, if we walked only in a garden or mall?

Here’s a possibility: 

Finally, Thoreau urged his fellow saunterers to go boldly on each walk in the spirit of undying adventure. Pam and I did:

 

Thank-Full, and Thankful

Day 57

Thanksgiving is a day away, but I’m already psyched for that post-turkey waddle walk with  my daughter and my sister on Thursday (yes, guys, you’re on notice. We can walk before pie or after pie, but we’re going!).

Why am I psyched?

First of all, Melissa’s been away since August, and this is her first trip home.  Second of all, Donna’s coming down from Rhode Island with my nephews and we’re going to walk the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route , or as much of it as Bryce & Max can stand. Thirdly, my husband and son are cooking the turkey and trimmings.

(What am I cooking, you ask? I’ll have you know I am in charge of baked goods, and at this very moment my sideboard is sagging with apple pie, pecan pie, chocolate cake, pumpkin walnut bread, and corn bread. There is a blueberry cobbler on the way.)

I semi-diet most of the time — can I get a witness?! do I hear an AMEN?! – but I am not dieting on Thanksgiving. It’s my intention to be full, and to be thankful.  Thank-full.

 I once heard a very wise person say  it’s not what you eat between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s what you eat between Christmas and Thanksgiving.

So put that in your pipe and smoke it. Or should I say put that in your bird and stuff it? Oh — maybe we should just say have your cake, and eat it too.

And then go for a looonngg walk, of course!