The Daily News

1  I'm glad I don't stick to things. I never do New Year's reso-lutions, for example, because I know I'll eventually get

bored with them and stop.

2  I used to give things up for Lent. That made me crazy. I eventually gave up Lent for Lent. 

3  I then gave up being Catholic for Lent.

4  I decided instead to keep doing things as they come to me. Right now I'm tuning in to better health.

5  I've always done pretty well eating organic veggies and cooking healthy foods. I always played around in the kitchen, often making sure the veggies played a role in the meals. 

6  One thing I've never done well is exercise. I used to get my exercise from sports and from vending at various arenas around the Bay Area. 

7  I've always hated running. Always. Walking and hiking yes, I enjoy a good walk or hike. Doing them on a steady basis? Not so good. Running? Not a runner. I have to haul my big ol' legs around. Walking and hiking? I love walking and hiking. Here's a little story:

8  It occurred to me the other day that I could do all my walking inside the house while watching football games. I could sit during the game, and walk all around the house during any pause in the action. 

9  We get so accustomed to sitting through each half, with one maybe a bathroom break between sitting. We get up for snacks or beverages, but in general, we sit and watch the game. 

10 I have a health app on my iPhone, and it measures steps and miles, among other things.

11 I usually keep my phone out of my pocket and plugged in, but I decided to keep it on me and experiment with walking during the football games. At the end of the night, I had walked 5.7 miles that I ordinarily wouldn't have. 

12  I must have looked like a kook to the neighbors. The windows were open in the front room. I then experimented with creativity, as is my wont. I've two guitar stands out there, so I could walk, strum a chord on one, circle a small table, strum a chord on the other one, and return to the living room for the next play.

13  I goofed on doing that, strumming a series of chords I know might work in a song, and then writing a song that way.

14  I'll bet I looked like a Norwegian cuckoo clock to the neighbors. Maybe I should dress up in a red soldier coat white pants and boots and have recorded loop of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen playing quietly in my front weeds. 

15  Scatterbrain Moment Number One: My mind just wandered. Just this minute. I didn't know how to punctuate God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Are they happy gentlemen? If so, it should be God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen. Or are they to rest merrily? If so, it would punctuate God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. 

16  I jumped back on my untrusty laptop and had a look. 

17  Yup.

18  Age old argument. Who knew?

19  I'd better get off my ass and walk around the house. Be right back. 

20  Moving On: Part One: So I walked all around the house during commercials from some Hallmark Christmas movie. I realized I could move the process to anything on television. 

Duh. 

21  I kept practicing watching, and getting up and walking around the house. I cleaned things up, cooked, but kept my feet moving beyond normal. 

22  Early into this movie called Christmas Magic, a loud buzz followed by a severe storm warning blasted from the teevee, with tornado and flash flood warnings in every inch of Northern California. It startled me so intensely that I trembled and shook. 

23  I take those things seriously, having once departed from Paradise, California one New Years when they gave evacuation warnings. It was a gorgeous morning, sunshine and blue skies. 

24  I was pushy about leaving, and even made people mad.

25  When I got home to San Jose, I watched the news. I don't remember the areas that flooded now, but I do remember vividly film of houses with cows on their roofs, and flood waters almost eight feet high. 

26  Last night, that warning buzzed really loud. I panicked. I was in the midst of cooking, walking around the house, and enjoying a pretty sweet movie. But I got a bit frantic, even worried about my heart rate. I trembled, dropped silverware, but eventually opened the front door and took the garbage out to the street. 

27  I felt a few cold breezes, and noticed a completely calm and silent neighborhood. It felt darker out there than usual, but otherwise, not too much movement. 

28   For whatever reason, that calmed me. Caitlin sent the tornado warning link to everyone, so thanks K.T. for that. 

29   Good work. I didn't think to do that.

31  Moving On, Part Two: When I finally settled down last night, Howard Hawk's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes came on.

32  It was such a nice change from all the stress and nervousness. 

33  Sometimes things happen like that.

34   I Googled the film, hoping I could share with you.

35  The history of this film is impossible to throw your way.

36   I won't even try to run with the big boys. Trying to write this and watch the film was nearly impossible.

37   There was a great line about the showgirls not able to drown if they sank on the Titanic.

38  I can't possibly keep up.

39  I'm ready to push a button on Le Luge, my chair, and slide swiftly down some Disney ride. 

40  No one challenges Hawks.

41  Too much making me nervous. 

42  The Following Afternoon, Part One: I'm still a bit jumpy, but as I've said again and again, don't get old.

43  So I'm cutting this short. Sorry, but my laptop has gone wonky on me. I don't know that I could fight all of that and emerge with anything close to sanity. 

44  Gottago.

45  See you again.

46  Have a GREAT day.

47  Peace.

~H~

fin.