Training Log Archive: Charlie

Taking a break from rate filings, and nursing my back, which doesn't much like sitting through rate filings, I spent a pleasant 20 minutes or so in the hot tub. Cool, lovely morning and perfect for the birds, who were flitting about in the trees nearby. A pair of binoculars would have been really useful, but even with the naked eye, which seems to have hit another point of inflection in its path to decreasing acuity, I spotted several nice ones, and glimpses of others that looked most promising.

Most prominent was a handsome male american redstart, but also the more usual bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, phoebes, what looked like a black and white warbler, certainly others.

Also a gray squirrel, practicing the division of labor in these parts. Gray squirrels have the run of the middle field and the area around the house. Black squirrels carry out their activities by the barn, side field, down into the woods that side of the driveway. It's been like that for the last 10 years or so. Don't usually see them together.

No bears seen this morning, but the day is still young. They are really out and about these days. I saw two young ones with ear tags crossing the road just down the street when I was coming home on Thursday, and several of the neighbors' trash cans had been violated Thursday morning - presumably belonging to the kinds of folks who put their trash out the night before. Not something I am inclined to try.

Started this full of enthusiasm, perfect weather, good legs, but around 9 miles in my back started to act up, and so I turned back, struggled to get back with the whole left side in discomfort. I've been having various kinds of left side problems since the flight to Milan and the drive from there to MdC. It was better for a while, but I seem to have set it off again yesterday lifting weights.