Nope, in case you were wondering, I am not simply resting on my laurels, nor slacking off on the walking regimen since reaching 1,000 miles.  That’s mainly because the weather is once again conducive for walking without fear of taking a tumble on the slick sidewalks or roads.  Unbelievably, it was 41 degrees when I set out this morning.

I walked yesterday, and today as well, adding another 7 ½ miles to my total.  No more goals this year … the rest is, as they say, just gravy.

The landscape around the neighborhood, and/or the Memorial Park parking lot, is nothing special, and certainly not picture perfect, so I didn’t tote along my camera.

Gone is most of that pristine snow that blanketed our state after a trio of snowfalls last week.  Admittedly, that snow might have once looked like the pretty image conjured up in Christmas carols, or pictured on the front of holiday cards, but now it is reduced to a sloppy, brown-tinged mess.

But, I am happy to be down to the dregs of the snow – good riddance to it.  As you know, I’m no fan of snow and ice anyway – a white Christmas does nothing for me.  So, tell me “bah humbug” or give me the moniker of “The Grinch” if you want, but, I’d be happy if the lawns stayed as green as Mr. Grinch all Winter.

I had to chuckle when a friend posted a meme on her Facebook page that read “if you’re praying for a blizzard, please go to Dairy Queen.”  Ha, ha … I echo those sentiments, but, unfortunately our nearby DQ closed in mid-October.

I finally took the car for a spin this morning, that is … further than just the end of the driveway.  My long-time followers and friends know that I am such a Winter Weenie because I despise driving in snow and ice.  In case you were wondering, this is the main reason why, when faced with snow and ice in the neighborhood, and at Council Point Park, I had to come up with an alternative way to get those miles walked, rather than just getting into the car and heading to the mall or to Meijer.

But, even though I am a white-knuckle driver in the wintry weather, I still prefer walking over driving all year around.  Since beginning this walking regimen in 2011, I started doing  a lot of errands on foot, until some minor electrical problems with my car happened and the mechanic said to drive it more.  I am happy to report I’ve driven 779 miles so far this year – this is more than double my usual amount!  Even the owner at the gas station where I fill up, put his hands in the air and exclaimed “you’re back again!”  I got the same reaction when it was time for my yearly oil change and the guys remarked that I was a real gadabout this year.  I take all the jesting in fun because they know me and my driving habits, and it is 100% true.

Actually, the roads were clear the past few days, but, since I work from home, there is no reason to crud up the car with salt and slushy grime unnecessarily, just to put it back into the garage, so I waited until the snow was totally gone from the street.  My boss scoffs at how I baby my car, saying “my vehicle is a box on wheels, a means to get from Point A to Point B – I do not understand your infatuation with keeping your car in showroom condition.”

Tomorrow I will trek down to Council Point Park, on foot, camera in hand, and pockets brimming with peanuts – hopefully the perimeter path is without snow or ice, so that trip will make my day and probably the furry critters’ day as well.