I’m feeling a bit burnt out, both with running and writing. What was once a strict daily discipline has now become a tiresome chore. I’ve consequently cut back on my mileage and my postings as I struggle with maintaining these important retirement routines. Yet here I am at 5,311 consecutive days of running and 2,362 posts. I remember in Austin when I first started the streak while working, I was doing a daily 2-mile course that often extended to the treadmill. I had increased to 5k or 3.1 miles after retirement with more time on my hands, but now the Florida heat is taking its toll.  I’ve added Chair yoga for flexibility and swimming some laps to the daily regimen of push-ups, sit-ups, and stretching. I definitely want to get to the 15-year mark before considering other changes, including surgery that could put an end to the streak. I’m fearful that I wouldn’t start another streak after this one ends and might end up retiring from running. 

With all the traveling we’ve been doing this year our goal of seeing all the area sights has taken a back seat. Tourist Thursday was back on track yesterday afternoon with a journey to Arcadia. We visited a true tourist trap in buying tickets to Solomon’s Castle, just recently under 7-feet of water. As the brochure states, “the home, galleries, and workshop of internationally renowned artist Howard Solomon are open to the public. Decorated with more than  80 interpretive stained-glass windows and countless metal sculptures, the castle is a day-long delight.” The whimsical tour delivered by a neighbor lady scripted in the artist’s words complete with puns is worth the price of admission. Everything is made from recycled materials including the exterior panels of the castle constructed with aluminum newspaper printing plates. Next up: The world’s largest ball of twine -just kidding.

We’ve seen the amazing Ringling Brothers miniature circus (See Post #1779) also crafted by a local artisan, but this is even more mind-blowing, especially knowing that he started carving at age 4 and never stopped. He built the castle, boat in the moat, lighthouse, and restaurants on the property. Then, we stopped downtown at several antique stores and finished the day with Tally’s golf cart ride around the neighborhood and into our shared garden. 

The Friday follow-up to this adventure has already proven to be another retirement whirlwind of activity. I ran while my wife went to tap classes and then proceeded to reset some sunken pavers around our pool. I had tried unsuccessfully the other day, scraping up my fingers badly. However, a borrowed rubber mallet proved to be the solution. I was covered with sand and sweat so the pool laps afterwards felt especially refreshing. The doorbell than rang with the crew that installed our dining room cabinet countertop and again with the A/C repairman. We also took the opportunity to book a Punta Gorda sunset cruise out of Fisherman’s Village (Tourist Thursday on a Friday) with a buy-one-get-one coupon and made arrangements for a flight to Oakland for Christmas with my wife’s daughter. Next Thursday we will be in our former home of Portland, Oregon (as tourists) with her other daughter and at a wedding on the coast.