Running with the Jetsons

Nasty day today.  It's sunny outside but deceptively so since we're under a wind advisory.  Sustained winds of 30-40 mph.  And, the local National Weather Service station has reported a wind gust of 57 mph.  So, based on that and the weather forecast for the weekend (cool, wet, and windy), I decided to cross train today and do my long run tomorrow.  Even so, my 4-mile (brisk would be an understatement) walk was an adventure.  I believe that the worst thing about running in Hog Heaven in late winter/early spring is the wind.  It seems that it's seldom less than 10-15 mph and as likely as not 15+ mph.   Instead of complaining, I guess I should file this under, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger."   The Weather Service promises relatively light (10 mph) winds, sunshine, and mild temps for tomorrow.  Carpe diem. 

Someone who read my post about iPods (http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/02/steve-jobs-runners-bff.html.) asked how long I had been running.  Here is my admittedly whimsical answer:  Back then,

There was no such thing as personal computers.  Only universities, big businesses, and the government had computers.  They took up entire rooms--wall to wall, floor to ceiling--and you got them to work by feeding them punch cards. 

Nintendo was monopoly or checkers.  Played on a board.  With clunky plastic game pieces.  And, they were only brought out if it was raining or dark outside.  Otherwise, we were outside running, jumping, climbing trees, playing ball. 

Nobody carried around a telephone except in science fiction.  They were installed, perhaps on a kitchen counter, and stayed there.  If you had an extra-long cord connecting the handset to the base, you could talk in the dining room. 

Television was NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS.  Three 30-minute nightly newscasts.  No 24/7 sports networks.  Married couples slept in separate beds.  Honest.  George Carlin didn't curse, but Johnny Carson smoked. 

Johnny Carson?  Johnny Carson was bigger than Letterman, Leno, Kimmel, and Conan combined.  Carson was King of Late Night.  None of these guys are even princes. 

Paul Newman was Brad Pitt.  Only cooler.  When he wasn't acting, he drove race cars and sold salad dressing.

All four Beatles were alive.  

Only sailors had tattoos.

Natalie Wood was Rooney Mara.  Only prettier.

Once the king, Elvis was a parody, not yet a legend.  

Reality was what you lived, not what you saw on television. 

If someone mentioned Honda, they were likely talking about motorcycles, not cars.

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide was the national champion in football.  Well, some things don't change.

This could go on and on but you get the idea.  If you're still reading and would like a serious look at my start as a runner, check out this: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,167148,00.html