Marching Around Sikes Lake On Final Day Of March

On this final day of the third month of 2025, it was back to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for a pleasantly temperatured walk around the lake.

Which would make that the Bluish Lagoon of Sikes Lake you see above, looking west from the west end of the lake.

Today the outer world is not scheduled to get too warm, only heating into the low 70s, as measured via the Fahrenheit temperature measuring method. 

A couple days ago the outer world turned HOT enough to cause me to switch my interior space's climate control from HEAT to COOL for the first time this year.

I have the A/C set to COOL to 80 degrees, which feels plenty COOL. The A/C has not turned itself on since that one HOT day, a couple days ago, due to the temporary return of natural air conditioning.

Ironically, well, maybe it is not ironic, more weird than ironic, maybe, but 80 degrees is also the temperature I set the climate control to when I want my interior space warmed up.

It will be a few months in the future, most likely, before I feel the need to warm up my interior space...

Final 2025 March Saturday At Sikes Lake

I have not much been in the mood to commune with nature the past couple days. Mostly due to being distracted by distractions during the time frame I usually do my nature communing.

But, on this final Saturday of the third month of 2025 I made my way to Sikes Lake to join the throngs enjoying the current heat wave, with the temperature today getting into the 90s, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

After the sun sets today a strong thunderstorm is on the weather menu.

I forgot to make mention of the foliage photo documented today at Sikes Lake. That is a Prickly Pear patch of cactus, getting near to being in bloom mode.

Subject change.

Years ago, on January 21, 2017, I drove to Sikes Lake, which, that day, was the launch location of the biggest protest march I have ever marched in.

I blogged about this in Wichita Falls January 21 Women's March.

Today, on Facebook, I read a post from Robert Reich, the former Secretary of Labor, advising those who want to take action, doing something in protest of the current state of America, to enter "April 5 demonstration near me" into whatever search engine you use.

So, I Googled "April 5 demonstration near me" and did not come up with any info about a demonstration in Wichita Falls, or near Wichita Falls. There were multiple websites about the April 5 demonstration, but nothing telling me where one near me might be.

Well, we have a week til the date of these world-wide demonstrations. I suspect something will come up, locally, before next Saturday...

Dodging Lightning Bolts & Big Raindrops To Get Wind Chilled At Lucy Park

It was to Lucy Park I ventured this final Wednesday of the third month of 2025, to commune with nature, after dodging lightning bolts and big raindrops, on the drive north.

As you can see, via the photo documentation of the Lucy Park suspension bridge over the Wichita River, the sky no longer looked menacing by the time I got parked at the park.

This morning, when the sun arrived, the temperature was 81 degrees as measured by the Fahrenheit method. By the time I got to Lucy Park, a half hour before noon, the temperature had dropped to 70, again as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

That drop in temperature came with a strong chilling breeze.

Spring is noticeably springing green copiously, grass no longer brown, the leaf population rapidly growing.

I have yet to switch my interior space climate control from heat mode to cool mode. I almost switched yesterday when the outer world reached over 90 degrees for the first time this year, at my North Texas location.

But, the ceiling fans brought a sufficient chill, so no switch, yet to cool mode...

Sunday Not Swimming In Windy Sikes Lake With Snakes

On this next to last Sunday of the third month of 2025, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured, joining the throngs enjoying trying to walk in a strong breeze blowing in from the Northeast.

So far, Sunday's wind does not seem to be generating dust clouds, leaving a mostly blue sky covered only by a little wispy clouding.

I know I have made note of it before, but today I was freshly struck by the seeming absurdity of signage forbidding swimming in Sikes Lake, along with advising that university approval is needed for any Sikes Lake boating, canoeing or kayaking.

I have been walking around Sikes Lake for years now and have never seen anything but birds and litter floating on the lake. Does this mean university approval is never granted, or that no one has any desire to float a boat on Sikes Lake?

I suspect the lack of boating is due to no one thinking it to be something anyone would want to do. What with the lake being shallow, and there being no boat launch locations. That and Lake Wichita is only a couple miles distant and has multiple boat launching locations.

 As for swimming. I can't imagine anyone would think that to be a good idea. Shallow Sikes Lake looks murky on a good day, and downright muddy after rain drains into the lake.

I have not gone swimming in a Texas lake since early this century, when I took a dip in Lake Grapevine, after mountain biking the Horseshoe Trail. That lake dip ended my Texas lake swimming due to an incident with what I thought was a water moccasin. All I saw was the head and that set me swimming fast to shore, where I looked out on the water to see I had been chased by a turtle, not a snake.

At that point in time a couple elderly gents were fishing from the dock I had jumped into the lake from. I told them I thought I was being chased by a snake, not a turtle. One of the elderly gents then told me that earlier that day they saw two water moccasins slither out from under the dock.

And thus, that ended me ever again swimming in a Texas lake...

Lucy Park Spring Sprung Green Vernal Equinox Nature Communing

The Big Blow which began hurricaning last week, with one short break being like the eye of a hurricane, finally quit blowing today, the day known as Thursday, the third such day of the third month of 2025.

So, after seeing my drug dealer to pick up some prescribed pharmaceuticals, I ventured on to nearby Lucy Park for some wind-free, dust-free, smoke-free, semi-warm nature communing.

Since my last Lucy Park visit, a week ago, give or take a day, the dominant color is no longer brown.

Green is taking over. On the ground, and in the trees, with some trees beginning to sprout leaves.

Seeing all this green had me wondering when Spring gets sprung, this year.

So, back at my computer I Googled "when does Spring begin in Wichita Falls Texas" and got the following information...

Spring officially begins near Wichita Falls, TX on March 20th, 2025 with the vernal equinox, marking the start of the season. 

Time: Spring begins at 4:01 a.m. Central Time (CT). 

So, that was one nice Spring walk around the increasingly green Lucy Park backwoods jungle today...

Arizona Escape From Texas On Smooth Roads

Few things are more relaxing than my Favorite Sister Jackie chauffeuring me on the beautiful, smooth streets of Chandler, Arizona, and the other towns in the Phoenix metro zone.

Above Jackie is driving us north on Chandler Boulevard, which looks like an actual boulevard, unlike the Texas boulevard, as in Taft Boulevard, that being the pseudo boulevard, my abode is addressed on.

Every time I return from being in either Texas or Washington, getting picked up at the airport, either DFW International, or the local to me now, Wichita Falls Regional Airport, I take over driving duty and instantly think something is wrong with the vehicle, as in, thinking the suspension is broken, or tires partly flat.

And then I remember, I am back driving on a Texas road, where one learns to dodge potholes, and a variety of other detriments to a smooth driving surface, like all the manhole covers that make for big bumps, on the section of Taft Boulevard, north of MSU (Midwestern State University).

Here in Wichita Falls, every time I have left the airport and arrived at the entry ramp to the freeway, unlit, in the dark, it is always a bit disturbing, how beat up that entry ramp is, thinking such to be appalling, what with it being visitor's first experience with getting on a Texas freeway.

I have more than once verbally wondered what a Texan thinks when they get out of Texas to a state like Arizona, with most roads being not like bumpy Texas roads...

Another HOT Wichita Falls Red Flag Warning Day In Texas

If today's third Tuesday of the third month of 2025 temperature, as measured by the Fahrenheit method, reaches its currently predicted high, today will be the HOTTEST day so far this year.

Which likely means today will be the first time in 2025 that I will activate my interior space's air-conditioning mechanism. 

It has already been HOT enough that I have utilized my motorized means of motion's air-conditioning mechanism.

That and my interior space has already become HOT enough this year to the point where I have activated my computer room's ceiling fan for a brief period of spinning.

I was hoping that this year, by the time of year when it gets way too HOT, that I would have reduced my insulative layer of adipose tissue to a degree which rendered me feeling cooler. 

That and being able to fit into a pair of Levi corduroy jeans which have vexed me for way too long.

Along with today's HEAT, we are also under a RED FLAG WARNING, which is a warning which warns that strong winds may spawn wildfires and dust storms.

Wildfires and dust storms have wreaked a lot of havoc in Texas and Oklahoma in recent days...

Sunday Dust-Free Cloud-Free Sikes Lake Walkaround

Yesterday, the day known as Saturday, also known as the Ides of March, also known as the third Saturday of the 2025 version of March, some rain precipitated.

That precipitation seems to have wiped the sky clear of Friday's excessive dust, rendering Sunday's outer world, at my location, once again with a cloud-free blue sky, as you can see via the photo documentation from today's walk around Sikes Lake.

The outer world dropped a lot of degrees during the Dust Storm, with the cool continuing today, with the outer world chilled to barely 50 degrees, as measured via the Fahrenheit method.

Tomorrow, the day known as St. Patrick's Day, heat is scheduled to return, as in a high in the 80s, or higher...

Is A 2025 Dust Bowl Blowing Into Wichita Falls?

All day long, this March 14 day before the Ides of March, wind has blown, non-stop, at times with hurricane strength blows.

Around 5 this afternoon of the second Friday of the third month of 2025, tired of being housebound, I ventured out into the wind to check the mailbox, and then, if not being too vexed by the gusting wind and the dusty air, continuing on to Walmart.

In the photo documentation we are heading east on Southwest Parkway. As you can see, the outer world looks foggy.

But that is not fog. It is dust. Dirty dust blowing in from who knows where, carrying who knows what. What I do know, is the short time I was out in it was enough time to manage to irritate my eyes, causing excessive blinking.

On the way to Walmart the wind was pushing me from behind. On the way from Walmart I was heading into the wind, which at times made for some unsettling vehicle movements.

I thought, at first, I was having a vehicle malfunction, til I realized the unsettling vehicle movements were being caused by those hurricane strength gusts blowing over 70 miles per hour.

We have another day of this scheduled for tomorrow's Ides of March. 

Is this how the infamous Dust Bowl of the 1920s began?

Pre Ides Of March Wichita Falls Windy Dust Storm

That which you see above is the view from one of my kitchen windows, looking south, with nary a cloud in the sky. The reason the cloud-less sky is not blue is because predicted strong winds have blown clouds of dust skyward.

You can see the windy Ides of March forecast below.

Wind gusts of 71 mph? Isn't that bordering on hurricane strength? With the super strong wind, along with way too much dust, methinks I shall not be doing my regular daily outdoor nature communing today. 

Unless I do my nature communing at Walmart, which seems unlikely at this particular point in time.

Suddenly, as I look out my computer room window, the dusty sky has taken on a light reddish color.

I battened down all my hatches, this morning, upon learning of the incoming big blow. But, so far the big blow is coming from the south, and so my patio furniture is in no danger of getting zapped.

I just realized, today is March 14. Isn't the Ides of March, March 15? This morning, I saw someone on Facebook opine something along the line of hoping a modern-day Brutus gets inspired to create a modern-day Ides of March.

Googling, I see I was right, tomorrow is the Ides of March...

The "Ides of March" refers to March 15th, a date infamous for the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, a moment immortalized by Shakespeare's play, "Julius Caesar," and the phrase "Beware the Ides of March".

The Ides of March (tomorrow) in Wichita Falls is also predicted to be windy and dusty...

With COVID Over Is It Time To Build A Sandcastle With Theo?

I almost lost something valuable, to me, today, returning books to the library.

I almost forgot to retrieve that which I use as a bookmark, before sliding the book into the "RETURN" slot.

My bookmark is getting a bit threadbare. It has been in use since early on in the time of COVID.

I do not remember the reason, Birthday, Christmas, Halloween, or what, but an envelope arrived in my mailbox. And in that envelope, among whatever else was in that envelope, there was a note from my Favorite Nephew Theo, also known as my Favorite Theo Nephew.

The note said...

When COVID 19

is over I want

you to come

over to build

a sand castle

Theo

Just a sec, I shall go find a photo which shows why Theo was thinking of sandcastle building with his Favorite Uncle.

In August of 2017 I spent several days at Birch Bay with Theo, his big brother, David, twin sister Ruby, parental units, Michele and Kristen, and Theo, David and Ruby's other favorite uncle, my little brother, Jake.

On one of those days at Birch Bay, when the tide was low, exposing a lot of sand, Theo, Ruby and I had a mighty fine time building a sandcastle. 

In the photo documentation above, Theo has not yet given up in the battle to stop the incoming tide from breeching the castle's walls.

The next morning, I discovered the elevator, accessed near the door to the rooms we were staying in, went up a few flights, to a rooftop deck, with a view. I elevatored back to get Theo to take him to the view from the rooftop deck.

From whence the remains of our sandcastle could be seen, in the center of the sandbar, to the left of Theo.

Now, just looking at this photo of Theo, you can tell this is one fun kid. 

Hard to believe it has been 8 years since I have been in Washington. Since COVID I have only been out of Texas once. And that was just to go across the border to Oklahoma.

Time flies by way too fast.

Just yesterday something caused me to calculate how old my Jason nephew is. The last time Jason and Spencer Jack went to Disneyland, Jason told me he now gets why I said it wore me out the last time I did Disneyland.

Well.

Yesterday I figured out Jason is now five years older than I was the last time I did Disneyland, Christmas Day of 1995. I stayed til Disneyland closed that Christmas Day. It was fun, but exhausting, even with a mid-day break back at the motel...

Remembering Rolling Mom In Arizona With Green Chile Relleno Quiche For Lunch

Ever since I have been again receiving Microsoft OneDrive Memories of this Day, via email, it has been Memories from way back in March of 2019.

Among today's Memories is the one you see above. My niece, Ruby, leading a parade down Buena Vista Drive, the road in Chandler, Arizona on which Ruby's Aunt Jackie resides. 

Ruby was leading us to a park. Neither Aunt Jackie nor Mama Kristen is in the photo, which would seem to indicate one of them was the photographer.

In the photo I am wheeling mom, brother Jake is in blue on the left, with Jake's (and my) nephew Christopher with a leashed dog, then redhead nephew David between the dog and me. Right behind me is the mom of two of the kids in the photo, friends of Ruby's who had moved from Tacoma to Maricopa, Arizona. Next to the Maricopa mom is my niece-in-law, Christopher's first wife, Carissa (that may be spelled Carrisa), with nephew Theo holding a basketball in front of my littlest sister, Mama Michele.

That was one fun day, that day in March, way back in 2019. So much has happened since then.

Now, let's go from the past to today, the second Tuesday of the third month of 2025, and check out what's for lunch.

A few days ago, Florence Jean Halbert's mom posted, on Facebook, a photo of something which looked tasty.

I then commented "Recipe Please."

Soon thereafter, Florence's dad Facebook messaged me the recipe.

I altered the recipe a bit. Instead of roasted green chiles I air-fried three poblano peppers. Instead of a cup of heavy cream I used a cup of non-fat yogurt. Instead of a pie crust I stuck a 12 inch whole wheat tortilla in a cast iron skillet, instead of a pie plate.

The result was tasty, though the plated result may not look all that tasty, what with that big glob of salsa covered refried beans and spinach plopped haphazardly on the plate.

I'll make this again, maybe doubling the number of poblanos the next time...

Microsoft OneDrive McDonalds Memories Of Horse Riding Pool Mesa Parks With David, Theo, Ruby & Mom

Til a couple days ago, when a Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day arrived in my email, I had not realized I'd not been receiving the OneDrive Memory emails for quite some time.

When I saw these current memories, I thought these can't be from this day, as in a day in March.

And then I remembered, these memories did happen in March. In 2019.

That March was the most recent time I have seen my Tacoma nephews and niece, David, Theo and Ruby. Or their parental units, Michele and Kristen.

That March was also the last time all my siblings, but one, and all the nephews and nieces, but two, plus my mom, were all together at the same location. As in, we were all in Arizona.

After a short search I found I made a blog post of David, Theo and Ruby on a horse riding expedition into the desert at a Dude Ranch in west Chandler, Arizona, with additional photos, in addition to the one above.

That was one super fun day.

After the horse riding, we went to a nearby McDonalds, where Uncle Jack had arranged a special tour for David, Theo and Ruby. Along with an all you can eat McDonalds lunch for all of us.

That would be my mom, with three of her grandkids, and their Happy Meals. After this we headed north, to the town of Mesa, to have fun in the two best city parks I have ever experienced.

The OneDrive Memories included photos of the Mesa parks. I shall see if I can find the blog post I made of that day and those parks.

Found the Mesa Parks blog post...

David, Theo & Ruby In Mesa's Riverview & Pioneer Park

The photos in that blog post give one a good idea why I thought these to be great city parks.

And then, this morning's OneDrive Memories from this day were memories from a day following the day of the horse riding, McDonalds and Mesa city parks.

There were multiple pool pics, including this one of me hoisting Nephew David.

This was in Aunt Jackie's backyard pool. Prior to the party Jackie thought the water would be too cool to pool. I thought otherwise. The kids all agreed.

I must have made a blog post of this, and the parade to a nearby park which followed.

 Be right back.

Yes, found the pool party and park blog post. Forgot it includes an amusing video of Theo driving grandma's van...

Cool Arizona Pool With Theo Driving Ruby On Handlebars

That concludes our look at Microsoft OneDrive Memories, for today...

Chilly Sunny Sunday Wichita Falls Walk Around Sikes Lake

The sky has begun to clear over North Texas, as evidenced by the view you see here of the Blue Lagoon of Sikes Lake, looking westward.

Yesterday's day long deluge of rain was the first such has happened at my Wichita Falls location for quite some time.

Along with some thunderstorming.

I do not know if last night's predicted snowflakes materialized. There was zero evidence of such when the sun began its daily illumination duty, an hour late, due to that annoying switch to Daylight Savings Time.

Hiking around Sikes Lake was cold, real cold, on this second Sunday of the third month of 2025. This required insulated sweatpants, hooded sweatshirt, and gloves. I thought we were done with this type chill for a few months.

On the plus side of the weather, we are forecast to get into the 80s in a couple days. 

Today I thought the Sikes Lake waterfall would be falling a lot of water due to the copious amount of rain which deluged the last 24 hours.

But, such was not the case.

There was a litle water falling over the dam, making for the only waterfall in Wichita Falls, due to, I learned this morning, the fact that the official Wichita Falls waterfall is currently turned off. 

The official Wichita Falls waterfall is an artificial waterfall which gets its water to fall by sucking it from the Wichita River. A river which currently is running too low to make it easy for the artificial waterfall to suck up enough water to fall. That and the low river level has caused debris to clog up the water intake.

I have opined previously that it might behoove Wichita Falls to send some sort of task force to Chandler, Arizona to make note of that town's multiple artificial waterfall water features, finding out how such was funded, then replicate it by installing multiple artificial waterfalls all around Wichita Falls.

I have no clue how the current one and only Wichita Falls artificial waterfall came to be, only that it happened in the 1980s.

Slava Ukraine Via Watercolor From Washington

That which you see here is the work of a Pacific Northwest artistic creative sort, whom I have known for decades, showing support for Ukraine, via a water color, painted, and then installed in a window, for all passersby to see.

All across America, and the world, similar shows of support for Ukraine are showing up.

"Slava Ukraine" is a Ukrainian phrase that means "Glory to Ukraine". It is a national salute and battle cry that symbolizes Ukrainian sovereignty and resistance to aggression. 

A day or two ago on my Washington blog I made mention of Seattle's example of support for Ukraine.

I wish I had the talent, of some sort, to show support for Ukraine...

March Roars In Like A Thunderstorming Snowy Lion One Week Late In Wichita Falls

It was only a couple days ago I looked at the long-range forecast for my North Texas location and was pleased to see nothing but warm days ahead, well into Spring.

Yesterday, day 7 of the third month of 2025, the outer world was heated well into the 80s.

Last night, around three in the morning, a thunderstorm boomed into town, downpouring copious amounts of precipitation.

And now, today's forecast for tonight.

SNOW!

With the temperature predicted to be a low of 37 degrees, as measured via the Fahrenheit method, I don't understand how precipitation can be falling in the form of snow. Unless that wind chill factor making those 37 degrees really feel like 26 degrees, as indicated via the forecast, can somehow freeze the falling rain into snowflakes.

What I do know, for certain, is I will not be engaging in any outer world nature communing today, unless one counts going to Walmart as nature communing, which I often do, what with such being a bit of an anthropological expedition observing multiple examples of human extremes, such as excessive tattooings, piercings and odd clothing choices, such as Walmarting in one pajamas...

Chilly Windy Wichita Falls Return To Lucy Park Reminder Of Columbus Day Storm & Great Depression

Today, for the first time this third month of 2025, day 5, also known as Wednesday, it was back to Lucy Park I ventured for some semi-chilly, windy nature communing.

As you can see, via the view looking at the Lucy Park suspension bridge over the Wichita River, there is nary a cloud clouding the clear blue sky.

Yesterday was one of the windiest days I have ever experienced.

My memory may have to go back many decades, to remember stronger wind, to what is known as the Columbus Day Storm, a storm which pummeled the Pacific Northwest with hurricane strength wind. Hurricane strength of the Category 5 level of strong.

My mom let my little brother and me go outside and play in the Columbus Day storm. I remember pushing our bikes west on Washington Avenue, several blocks, to Anacortes Avenue.

And then getting on our bikes, letting the wind push us back home. That did not go well. By the time we reached our block, we were being pushed so fast, braking did not slow us. We both ended our windy ride by crashing into Maiben Park.

Yesterday's Wichita Falls wind blew all day long. I drove to Walmart around five in the afternoon. It was not easy walking into the store, dodging projectiles, holding onto my hat.

Apparently, the wind was worse in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex zone, with a dust storm coloring the sky red.

A dust storm, a cratering stock market, idiotic tariffs. Almost like history repeating itself replicating 1929/1930, when the Great Depression was getting increasingly depressing, with the Dust Bowl destroying farming, the Smoot-Hartley Tariff Act disrupting international commerce, the Stock Market crashing, with a Republican president, thought to be a successful businessman, who turning out to be inept at being President.

Big difference, though, way back then Herbert Hoover was not a stooge for Joesph Stalin...

Stormy Windy Rain Result With Wichita Falls Sikes Lake Waterfall

Last night a storm arrived, around 3 in the morning, dropping copious amounts of water, along with some of that water in the frozen form of hail. 

The D/FW Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex zone got hit with hurricane level wind gusts last night, knocking out power to many.

Such was not the case at my location about 130 miles northwest of D/FW.

By morning my abode was almost surrounded by a moat, but I was able to successfully make my way to my motorized means of motion, to drive to Sikes Lake for some nature communing, which is an activity I have not indulged in for a couple days, due to distractions distracting me from such.

The forecast for today forecast winds gusting near 50 mph. As I walked around Sikes Lake the persistent gusting made walking a bit unstable at times. And felt to be in excess of 50 mph.

As you can see, via the photo documentation, the wind was making some whitecapping waves on the lake. 

The overnight rain rendered Sikes Lake a muddy brown, instead of its usual blue hue. The threatening sky may have exacerbated that brown muddy lake color scheme.

It has been a while since I've seen a waterfall falling water in Wichita Falls. A month ago, when I walked to the main manmade Wichita Falls waterfall it was in dry falls mode.

Other than that main manmade Wichita Falls waterfall, the other manmade Wichita Falls waterfall which falls water somewhat regularly, when precipitation is at a normal level, is the waterfall falling over the Sikes Lake dam.

Today, as I got closer, the roar of falling water indicated to me that the Sikes Lake dam's spillway was in waterfall mode, as you can see, but not hear, via the photo documentation.

Due to the wind and low humidity, we are under what is known as a Red Flag warning, indicating wildfire conditions. What with that rain, last night, I don't see how it can be that humidity is low, or that conditions are still dry enough to easily start a fire.

Currently, looking out my computer room window, the outer world looks stormy, gray and menacing, a local visual metaphor for America's current status in the world...

Lamb-Like First Day Of March Hiking With Wichita Bluff Nature Area Roadrunner

On this first day of the third month of 2025, it was to the Wichita Bluff Nature Area I ventured to join the throngs enjoying March not roaring in like a lion, but instead bellowing in like a windy lamb, under a blue sky, with the temperature feeling balmy, in the 70s, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

I suspect the reason there were so many nature lovers out loving nature is the fact that last weekend, and the weekend before that, the outer world was rather cold, at times feeling as if the temperature was below zero.

It was not just humans (and their dogs) I saw enjoying the enjoyable weather conditions.

I had barely entered the Wichita Bluff Nature Area zone when I saw a bird I have seen a time or two, whilst hiking the bluffs.

A roadrunner.

My previous encounters with roadrunners have had the bird acting like I was a coyote, taking off at high speed to get away from me, thus rendering photo documentation impossible.

But, today's roadrunner seemed fearless, and almost vain, the way it was so cooperative posing for photos, of which I took around a dozen, choosing the one you see above as the best.

What with Spring-like pleasant weather having arrived, methinks I shall amp up my outdoor activity level, attempting to get in good enough shape to enjoy being more adventurous...