Turkey in the rough

Apparently, once I make a commitment to something, I will do it. Even if it takes me 10 months.

Okay, fine, that is totally untrue. The piles of unfinished drawings, stories, dance choreography, and notes on project ideas and dance choreography that are stacked in boxes upon boxes in my mom's basement would suggest otherwise. Unless of course its acceptable to take 12 years to choreograph a 7th grade talent show routine to "Mo Money, Mo Problems"... because in that case, Holly and I are pretty much on track.

Similarly, and sadly, all my "summer bucket lists" (aka lists of the most random and ridiculous things that my friend Tarah and I would try to complete in our 3 month summer break from elementary school... including "eat a whole tomato" - because we both despised tomatoes at the time, and "build and fly a kite;" neither of which were checked off at summer's end) were also left half-completed.

So there you have it - although I wish I always completed things, even if it was years later, this does not seem to be the case. However, this weekend, the previously stated and generally untrue statement, was true one time (small victories should be celebrated).

After stating plans to explore Philadelphia's running options, particularly Forbidden Drive, I finally went! Forbidden Drive is a old road that is now closed off to cars and runs along the Wissahickon creek.

My succinct analysis: Very pretty. A little muddy. Very natury and birdy. Overall: pretty freakin' cool.

I say birdy because I ran into a pretty cool bird right before I turned at the halfway point through the 8 mile loop. He decided to chill on some nearby tree branch, and later a rock, so I decided to take pictures of him. I'm not sure what kind of bird he is... wild turkey? Anyway, we kinda bonded and then he mocked me for doing the 8.5 mile loop Saturday after Saturday and not coming out sooner. And then I mocked myself for imagining conversations with random birds.

All in all, a very natury and awesome day. And as a city for potential long term settlement, Philly just earned a couple more points. Making the completely arbitrary running total something to the effect of this:

Michigan: 5 (-10 points for run-interfering snow/ice)

Colorado/Oregon/Washington/anywhere with big mountains: 15

Philly: 15 (*recent increases*: +2 for cool people, +2 for cool running trails, and +11 for good beer... duh)