I have no idea how to title this post!

Yesterday I purchased a new Gymboss. It's been a while since I've owned one. Now it not only has an interval timer but a stopwatch and a clock. Nifty.

Last night I set it up in anticipation of using it today. (Spoiler alert: I was successful in setting it up).

The challenge was deciding what intervals to use. I want to do one mile run; one minute walk for the OCNJ Half. It's a strategy that's worked for me in the past. However, running the streets of Media I have no mile markers. I have a good sense of a mile in my neighborhood but that's not good enough right now.

In my best running days I could manage under an 11 minute mile. My best running days are way behind me at the moment. If I keep smiling and keep moving long enough they might also be ahead of me. However, getting too far ahead of oneself is not a good way to train. 12 minute miles was my 'normal' back then. So I decided on 13 and 1 for today. This means that on a good training day I will go farther then a mile before taking a break. (Spoiler Alert: My sense of how long a mile is around Media tells me that today was a good training day. :) That's ok with me. It's better to run longer and slower for training. I also set the 1 minute interval for the first interval. It makes sense to me to start out walking. And on race day with all the people and the tendency to start out too fast in the crowd it will be good to start with a walk interval. And yes I just realized I'm talking like someone committed to doing the race. At the very least I'm committed to giving it my best shot. Registration opens February 1st.

My second walk came about a quarter of the way up Edgmont Avenue. This reminded me that a walk interval could come in the middle of the either side of the Longport Bridge on race day. Stopping the running motion and starting up again there will not be fun. Note to self: Practice walk breaks at the beginning and middle of hills.

I left the house around 7:15ish - as soon as it was light enough to see and be seen. There were quite a few other runners out. Including a pair in elf costumes. I had the company of the trolley along State Street as well as shop owners getting ready for the last Saturday shopping day before Christmas.

In other *news* this week, my pen ran out of ink. I used it from beginning to end without losing it or having it borrowed and not returned. It's the little things that keep life interesting.

Keep smiling Keep Moving
-Paula

I just wanted to be able to tell you I did it.

Today I ran 2 miles with a little help from friends and Wawa.

It's cold out today. 41 when I started with wind chills in the 30's. Either I really want to do this or I just wanted to be able to tell you all that I did it and that requires actually doing it.

I put my running clothes on straight out of bed to encourage an early outing. I waited for the sun to come up but I did not wait too much past that as the forecast is for the wind to get stronger and the chill to get chillier as the day wears on.

Last night I plotted my course. Since I'm not wearing any timing devices I also have to know my distances in advance if I'm not on a marked trail. I'm not a fan of out and back. The route I picked ended up being a partial out and back but finished at Wawa where I could pick up a coffee and walk back to the house. And 3/4 of the run was in one direction. Or so I thought. As I began to run, I started to review the distance in my head. It's 1 mile from my front steps to Wawa. All I needed was a half mile past the Wawa .... and then I realized I must have gotten half a mile stuck in my head and goofed. I had only planned a quarter mile past Wawa. If I turned around then I would only have 1.5 miles not 2. Now what?

• I could just do the 1.5. it IS more than 1 after all. But it was not the plan and failing on the plan is devastating to folks like me. (You know who you are, you recognize the symptoms). 
• I could guess how far another quarter mile is if I pay close attention to the feel of the first quarter mile. But if I don't guess right, I'm either still going to be short or unnecessarily disappointed the 2 miles felt awful if I go too far. (If you are still reading stop rolling your eyes at that. You are still reading after all and unless this if your first visit to my blog you should be expecting this). 
• I could do the quarter mile section out and back TWICE. "I am not a fan of out and back" (she said earlier). 

But out and back twice was the best solution. Oh and by the way I'm practically to the Wawa (and 1 mile in) by the time I have this figured out. (Over-thinking for the win!) Now to think myself through 2 times out and back. (Really, you can stop reading now. Continue at your own risk)

The first 1/4 mile is a slow very gradual downhill. Most people, especially those in a car, would not notice it. I can do this. And when I come around the second time it will be the final time. At the street sign poll for the turn around street I tried to touch the poll (because it's the rule at turn-arounds) but there is a waist high hedge in the way and I couldn't reach it. I air high-fived it instead.

The second 1/4 mile is a slow and not so gradual uphill. Yeah I know it's the same path I just ran but trust me it's bigger on the upside. Especially when you think about the fact that your brain cramp the night before is causing you to have to do it twice. And you haven't done any serious running in 5  years. I started wishing the traffic light where I would have to cross over to the other side of the street would be RED. At this point my brain jumped to something happening at work. My brain does that a lot. Left turn without signalling. I won't bore you with the details of the problem. Suffice it to say I solved it. 👍 But the traffic light was green WITH a walk sign. 😏

Ok. "Down" again on the other side. Relax and let gravity to it's thing. Hmmm before I knew it I was at the street sign pole that I could not reach. I air high-fived it again because consistency is critical. And now it's off to the final quarter mile. I'm feeling better than I thought I would at this point but still physically aware that this is the end of the longest run I've done in a very long time. Time to remind myself that the final quarter mile of the OCNJ Half will be flat as a pancake. You can do this. Then I saw the Rita's Water Ice sign which means I'm done "climbing" and could coast into the finish.

If you are still with me, thank you. I kinda wonder WHY...but thank you because "I just wanted to be able to tell you all that I did it."

Keep Smiling and Keep Moving
-Paula

For Pete - Between Opportunities

One day - years ago -  at a family gathering my sister's husband, Pete, who had just retired, told the youngsters that he was "between opportunities". There was something in the way he said it that made them giggle (which was his intention) and to this day it is what they think of when his name is mentioned.

On Tuesday, Pete died. Today was his funeral. I'm fairly certain that for Pete, this week was a time between opportunities. Today friends and family gathered to help my sister see him off to whatever comes next. After the mass, we gathered at the Flemington Diner. Pete loved diner food and this was one of his go-to places. Having been informed that a burger and fries was his favorite meal when he ate there, most of us ordered that.

I just returned from a run. Today's mile was dedicated to Pete. You see my plan is to run my full distance on the weekend and half of that distance twice during the week. Friday is usually a day off. But I missed my run yesterday because I worked late. Tomorrow it is going to rain buckets and then some. So today I ran "between (regular) opportunities".

Keep smiling keep moving
- Paula

Just a mile

Today I ran just a mile. It wasn't pretty. It was not fast. It was just a mile.

IF I'm going to make it to the Ocean City Half Marathon (9/29/2019) I have to start now. One mile at a time. And IF I make it to the OCNJ Half, I do not expect it to be pretty and I do not expect it to be fast. I will only expect to finish.

I've promised myself that there will be no timing devices until race day. I will train for this one by feel. 

My current goal is to get to a comfortable 3 miles by February 1st when registration typically opens for this race.

Good news for today. I did it. :) It was not UN-comfortable but I have some work to do to make it comfortable. And then I need to add at least two more miles to the total by February 1st.

I had to work this morning so I chose to run on the Chester Valley Trail immediately after. I did not want to give myself the chance to ponder things on the ride home. The CVT is less than a 5 minute from where I work.

It was chilly today. I will need ear warmers if this keeps up. But it was just a mile so I was ok. My right hip flexor barked at me a little bit. A gentle reminder that I will need to stretch daily and get up close and personal with my foam roller again.

So there it is. My goal in print. And it should be understood that this idea is still a big IF. But I have decided that I have to try.

Keep Smiling Keep Moving,
-Paula

Boston

After a day at sea, our first port on the cruise is Boston.

Now named after Boston, England where many of the original settling families came from, an early name of the area was Trimountaine, or 3 mountains. The area at the time resembled a large hill with three peaks. Two of the peaks were destroyed in the project to fill the back bay. The remaining hill is today's Beacon Hill neighborhood.

If you are a Big Bang Theory fan (or maybe just because you are smart) you know that Fig Newtons were named after a Boston suburb.

Happy Hours have been illegal in Boston since 1984. Two years after Cheers went on the air. Don't show your displeasure at that by spitting on the sidewalk, because that is illegal too. It is also against the law to keep a mule on the second story UNLESS there is more than one exit available.

Many have heard about the Great Boston Fire of 1872. Actually, I'm not one of the many but I have since learned that this "Great" Fire occurred one year after the Great Fire of Chicago in ...wait for it... 1871. But what intrigues me more than the fire is the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. How often do you think of the word Molasses and Flood in the same sentence let along the same title. An aging storage tank, newly filled with molasses, burst sending a 15 foot wall of molasses down the street at 35 miles per hour. 35!! The owners of the tank, when sued for allowing the tank to decay to that point, claimed that 'the tank had been intentionally blown up by “evilly disposed persons.”'

I am left wondering about the possible (?) overuse of the word great to describe natural and man-made disasters.

Keep smiling and keep moving
-Paula

Baltimore

When I was younger (which leaves lots of room for interpretation) I put my love of looking things up to drive my family crazy with tidbits about our vacation. I only remember doing it once but it must have left an impression (or perhaps irreversible damage) because it has been brought up more than once over the years.

Well, later this summer, my husband, sister and brother in law are going on a cruise. Baltimore to New England and Canada and back. So here I go again. "When I was younger" I didn't have the Internet to use for research or to write a blog. This could be fun. (evil laugh).

Keep in mind that the point of this game is to find truly useless trivia. Trivia that won't even win you a final Jeopardy question but might make you laugh if you let it. Also remember that whether or not a statement rises (or sinks) to the level of trivia depends on who is observing it. My game, my trivia. :)

Our start and end point is Baltimore. Did you know ...

• That Baltimore has more public public statues and monuments than any other city in the U.S
• That it is home to some of the earliest places on the National Register of Historic Distircts
• Baltimore is an Anglicization of an Irish Name "Baile an ti Mohr" which means Town of Big Houses. 
• Baltimore is home to the first umbrella factory. It was opened by a German immigrant named Francis L. Beehler in 1828. Although Beehler was first, it is the Gans brother who came later that developed the slogan "Born in Baltimore, Raised Everywhere". By 1922, Baltimore was producing 2 million umbrellas per year. 
• On a related note, according to Maryland Weather, "Average annual precipitation: 40.76 inches. Peaks in July and August when thunderstorms average once every five days. Since 1871, Baltimore's recorded precipitation has averaged 41.94 inches a year, with the highest amount falling in 2003, when 62.66 inches fell."
• Baltimore was the site of the first successful manned balloon launch. I'm guessing it was not raining that day. 
• BWI Marhsall Airport is the first and only US Airport to have a dedicated trail for hiking and biking. (and yes I am wondering how or if that can be worked into our vacation) 
• Baltimore is named after Lord Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore.

And there you have it. 7 things about Baltimore. I probably should have made it 9 since it's a 9 day cruise but I got sidetracked by Cecil Calvert. I couldn't help wondering who the 1st Lord Baltimore was and why he didn't get a city named after him.

Well it turns out that the 1st Lord Baltimore was, George, Cecil's dad. George was apparently a nice guy and both King James I and Charles I liked him. BUT in 1625 George announced he had become Catholic and that disqualified him from holding office or working in Parliament. But being well liked helps obviously because King James I made him the First Baron of Baltimore - a town on the Southern coast of Ireland - anyway. Now that he had money and land, George wanted to explore the New World. He asked for and received a grant to the "Colony of Avalon" in Newfoundland. But it was too cold for the English Settlers so George asked for a grant for land further south near the Chesapeake bay. Unfortunately, George died before the paperwork could be finished so his son Cecil took the plan and ran with it. (Most of this came from "Exploring Maryland's Roots")

Ok. You've been warned. Next stop Boston. You can skip my blog for a few weeks or read at the risk of learning something you'll never need again!

Keep smiling and keep moving
-Paula

Horse-Shoe Trail Charlestown Elementary School to French Creek Elementary School

This section covers the second part of Map 1 and the first part of Map 2. We did them in reverse order on Sat June 2 and Sun June 3. Two days that could not have been more different. The total mileage for the weekend was 17 - equal to the total mileage expected on our longest day hike June 23rd. We hope these back to back days are good preparation for that.

Saturday, June 2nd had been forecasted to be rainy. Heavy downpours and thunderstorms were predicted all week for Saturday. On Friday night, Cecily Tynan reported that the storms would likely hold off until after 5 p.m. They did. However, the humidity that would precipitate into the deluges to come was present all day. Add in the sun and it was one very soupy day. We were lucky to be in the woods for a good portion of the day but that only slightly diminished the effect of the conditions.

I chose to schedule the piece from Chantilly Lane to French Creek first - on Saturday - because it was longer (10-ish miles) and the elevation was higher. There is a section here that our trail running friends call Stegosaurus. Click here to remind yourself what this dinosaur looked like. No sooner do you get down the hill then you are going steeply up again. Many of the ups deceive the climber as it looks like you are done but nope around the bend it keeps up a little bit more. We kept each other occupied by remembering that our trail running friends RUN this portion in both directions in the same run. It was a challenge and we both felt pretty proud finishing it on this soupy, hot day.

I have finally managed (I hope) to get the straps on my back pack appropriately set. I had no shoulder or back issues after this hike. YAY! :) I was also pleased that I hydrated enough as well. We hiked for 5ish miles before stopping to refuel on a stone wall at a farm called Seventeen Acre Wood Farm. I had stopped at Wawa on the way to meet Sara and picked up a Sausage, Egg and Cheese Sizzli. I took it out of it's cardboard container and placed it in a sandwich Tupperware container in my back pack. At 'lunchtime' it was only warm but it still tasted as good and the combo of food in  it the spot and held me over nicely to the end of our hike. With that in mind I'll have to create my own hiking sandwiches in the future.

On day 1 of this hike, the only humans we encountered were on bikes. We had to make way for a gaggle of geese crossing the road as we shuttled from end spot to start spot in the early AM. And we hiked right next to a bevy of bovines.

One of them looked like she was going to follow us along the fence-line. The path here was overgrown and extremely swampy. We both were literally sucked into the mud several times. 

Day 2- Sunday - Charlestown Elementary School to Chantilly Lane.

Today we met at yesterday's starting point and drove back to Charlestown Elementary school. Part of the section is one we did with two others - Mike and Naomi - about 5 years ago. We were pleased to see that the HST conservancy folks have moved a lot of this portion off road now. About 3 of the 7 miles were on road but spread out enough that it wasn't annoying. I enjoy an urban hike but not in my hiking shoes. 

This section is - relative to yesterday - flat. The rains came last night and with them brought a front that lowered the temps abut 25 degrees. There was a noticeable breeze the entire time and significantly less humidity. What a difference all that makes on the experience. 

The deer that were likely hiding yesterday were everywhere today. No photos because they are too quick for me but we crossed paths with them many times throughout the day. We also saw a LOT of horses at Rainbows End Farm. I couldn't resist informing Sara that we were following the yellow blazed trail at the end of the rainbow. 

Next up - 15 miles along the Appalachian Trail. The elevation will be more than yesterday but not as much as our longest day hike coming up. 

Keep smiling and keep moving. 

-Paula 

In Search of Toleration

Today's hike was done for the specific purpose to find the Toleration Statue on the Wissahickon Creek. According to this article

"The statue was erected in 1883 and was carved by sculptor Herman Kim. It was bought by landowner John Welsh, a former Commissioner of the Fairmount Park. It was said that the Walsh purchased the statue at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. Welsh donated his land to the park prior to his death in 1886."

I had tried twice before (and failed) to find the statue. Today I was determined.

Sara and I set off a little after 8 a.m. along the Orange Trail on the east side of the Wissahickon Creek. It was a good day for a hike. Not too cold or too hot. After the last two days of 90 degrees and very high pollen counts we were grateful for the change.

According to the Friends of the Wissahickon the Orange Trail is "5.64 Miles | Average width 3 feet; Max obstacle height 24 inches | Average Grade: 11% Single track, natural surface (dirt and rock) trail that runs along the east side of the park. Terrain is varied, and sections of the trail are rugged"

Trail Obstacle 5-8-18; A little more than 24 inches high

The Orange Trail doesn't climb as much as the Yellow Trail on the other side of the creek but the trees, roots, rocks and stream crossings make it a great adventure.

The Fingerspan bridge comes just before the Toleration Statue. So I was excited when we found it. The Fingerspan bridge is a site-specific sculpture. And according to this article about it "The interior is half-tunnel, half- terrifying catwalk" In my opinion that is not an exaggeration. Sara can vouch that I did in fact cross it. She event took this photo to prove it.

We continued on toward Toleration. My trail running friends have told me that I likely have hiked right past Toleration and didn't realize it. Turns out they were right. Had we not looked up at just the right time we would have done it again. And there he was hidden high on a rock in the trees.

Toleration is built on a ledge known as Mom Rinker's Rock. According to this article (same one as linked above) Mom Rinker was either a spy or a witch. The spy legend says that she sat on the rock knitting and dropped balls of yarn containing the location of British Troops during the Revolutionary War. Also, according to the article there is a plaque near the rock that tells some of the story. We never saw the plaque which explains why we wondered where Mom RinKer's rock was while we were sitting on it!! 😁 We took a snack break here and then continued on.

We found a path down to Forbidden Drive just short of the end of the Orange Trail and headed back that way. Sara commented that the return trip was not quite as interesting. She's right but I'm really glad we didn't do it the other way.

On this hike we saw lots of chipmunks, lots of geese, some hawks, a turkey vulture, an oriole, three horses with riders and lots of people with dogs and/or children in tow. Oh and a bride and groom.

Next week we'll be on the Delaware Canal towpath between Washington Crossing and New Hope.

Keep smiling and keep moving
-Paula

Fog Horns on the Delaware River

Watching the bald eagle in the tree across the marsh

Today, Sara, Maritza, Kathleen and I walked Heinz Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is promoted as "America's First Urban Refuge established in 1972 for the purpose of preserving, restoring, and developing the natural area known as Tinicum Marsh and promoting environmental education." It's an interesting place smooshed (a very technical word) on land between the Delaware County towns of Folcroft and Norwood and the Philadelphia Airport. It is bordered on one side by I-95 and another side by Route 420. Despite the air and road traffic hum in the background it houses all sorts of nature.

After a cool rainy day yesterday, warmer air came in causing thick fog as the sun rose this morning. Most of it burned off the marsh before our hike began. The fog must have lingered on the Delaware River though as the sound of a fog horn could be heard at regular intervals during the first hour of our tour. I loved the sound. It made me think of new adventures shrouded in mystery. Well until my companions started musing about sailors returning from sea sounding the horn to tell their wives to get dinner ready. Something that none of us would have tolerated. :)

On this hike we saw swans, turtles, egrets, an eagle. deer, more small birds than I could count, dogs and lots and lots of people. Including an older gentleman riding a bike wearing a helmet with a mohawk and singing loudly to the world.

It was a great keep smiling keep moving day.

-Paula

It's the Little Things ....

That seemed to be the theme today. We mentioned it several times as we chatted and hiked our way from Valley Forge to Charlestown Elementary School along the Valley Creek Trail and Horse-Shoe Trails.

Sara, Tootsie and I met at the elementary school at 8 am and carpooled in Sara's car back to the Wilson Road parking area off Yellow Springs Road near the covered bridge. We usually start from Knox but the Wilson Road area has restrooms and one of us - :) :) - had a need. Michael messaged Friday evening to say he couldn't make it at 8 but would start from the Elementary School later in the morning and meet us then go back with us.

Unfortunately Sara has been recovering from big time respiratory distress so she was unable to go the whole way this time. I'm glad we had the opportunity to hike together this morning. Sara, I know you'll be out for the distance soon. Feel better, kid. Perki insisted that I take this photo for you.

Tootsie and I wondered how old "Kate" - the creator of this spot - is now. I'm sure she's in college or beyond. When we met up with Michael later he too was glad to hear that the Tin Man was still alive and well. We talked about how we all have so many photos of him that should anything happen we could easily recreate him. And I'm betting we will if it comes to that.

At the top of Mt Miser y (the Tin Man's home) the Horse-Shoe trail meanders through treed areas and developed areas. It seems that every time we go out there more and more houses have popped up. The first time did this section was in December 2012. With Mike K. (not to be confused with today's Michael) and Maryanne. It was for all of us that day in 2012 our first time on a blazed trail. It wasn't until we were finished that we understood how to read the blazes and interpret the direction we should travel. We got lost several times. Not far lost but enough that we had to pull out the map. A map that was already 6 years old by that time so with re-routes it was not entirely accurate.

Note for those that might be hiking with us later this year, I now have the 2018 maps and guidebook. :)

As Tootsie and I came out of the Diamond Rock Preserve and onto street again, I remember that we were getting close to a turn that Mike K, Maryanne and I missed in 2012. Unfortunately, my memory had us making the same turn mistake that we had made in 2012. We didn't get far off track though as we immediately noticed that we weren't able to see any yellow blazes up ahead.

We stopped, turned around and right at the moment Michael popped out of the woods from the direction we should have gone. We were far enough away that I wasn't sure it was him and later he said he wasn't sure it was us either but he waved and we waited and all was good. Tootsie and I would have found our way back on our own but talk about timing, right? Michael turned around then and walked back with us to the elementary school.

It was a gorgeously sunny day. The temperature was a bit chilly at the start but by the time we finished I was quite warm. In fact, had we further to go I would have been uncomfortable in long sleeves.

Keep Smiling Keep Moving
-Paula

Can I Bring My Support Peacock on the Airplane?

Ok so now that I have your attention....

There is a difference between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The peacock, whose name is Dexter according to news articles, along with his owner were denied boarding a flight in January 2018. Whether or not the request to bring Dexter and the subsequent denial were appropriate is a question for the ADA and ACAA. For the purposes of this post, let's consider whether a housing provider would be required to allow Dexter to live with his owner. The answer isn't simple. There are many moving parts.

The Fair Housing Act requires housing providers to make "reasonable accommodations" and "reasonable modifications" for persons with disabilities to enable those persons to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the premises.

The Act defines a person with a disability to include individuals with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. It also includes individuals who are regarded as having such an impairment and individuals with a record of such an impairment. If you want to get into the details such as defining substantially, or major life activity see HUD's Memorandum on Reasonable Accommodations, question #3.

Seven Days

50 years ago today, April 4th, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. 7 days later, April 11th, Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 is commonly referred to as the Fair Housing Act (FHA). 

It is an unfortunate fact of our history that the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. brought about passage of the Fair Housing Act. The video  provides a captivating overview of that one week in April 1968. It was created 5 years ago for the 45th anniversary. I challenge you to watch it and not notice the similarities between then and now. 

Without the Fair Housing portion, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 might have passed much sooner. At the time of its consideration, public sentiment was roughly 150-1 against the inclusion of Fair Housing legislation. The chairman of the House Rules Committee would not allow it to be voted on. Many believe the bill was passed only as an attempt to quell the rioting that followed the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Approximately, one hour after Martin Luther King, Jr. was buried the law was finally voted out of committee.

The video begins with a voice over "Few in our time believed that Fair Housing would, in our time, become the unchallenged law of this land". However, as many know, it has not gone unchallenged. To this day, many resist allowing everyone to make their own choice of where to live. Enforcement of the act was marginal in the first 20 years after its passage. Some say HUD did not make full use of the enforcement provisions provided and others say the Act did not give HUD enough to work with. Finally, in 1988, the Fair Housing Act Amendments provided for testing and enforcement with stiffer penalties. 1988 also brought about the addition of Families with Children and Persons with Disabilities to the 'protected classes'. 

Coming soon: Accommodations for persons with disabilities; what is a disability; how testing works; the effect of criminal background checks on discrimination. 

Follow up to my first post on this subject: Earlier this week, I was in a meeting a local Fair Housing event. The organizing group wanted the Realtor Association to provide them with a speaker for their panel. The group specifically asked that the speaker be "from a protected class". (Insert work appropriate eye roll here). I had to speak up and remind everyone that we are all members of a protected class and what they should be looking for is a diverse panel. One that represents as many different 'classes' as possible. My co-worker, the liaison to the group, offered to go back and ask if they could tell us how we could contribute to the diversity of the panel. 

To be clear, I agree that there is such a thing as white privilege and that many of us, me included, have it easier because of the color of our skin and other protections. However, as a society, we have to move away from the us vs them mentality. There are a lot of imbalances and we need to work hard to correct them. Acknowledging our privilege is a start. But rather than stepping out of the way we should be using our voices to lead the way. 

Keep smiling keep moving

-Paula 

What Does Equal Opportunity in Housing Mean?

*Race * Color * Religion * Sex * Disability * Familial Status * National Origin

These are the 7 'protected' classes under the Federal Fair Housing Act. In broad terms, according to the act, it is illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental, and financing of housing, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability.

Think about that for a minute.

And now think of all the people you know that fit into at least one of those categories. Go ahead, I'll wait while you think about it.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Everyone, everywhere fits into at least one of those categories. 

In fact, most of us can identify with more than one. When we talk about fair housing or equal opportunity in housing it should be as simple as

"Every person should have the right to choose where they want to live and live there." 

The only limiting factor can be affordability. Every person everywhere should be able to say "If I can make the rent or mortgage payments, I can live there."

Period. End of Story.

Unfortunately, it isn't that simple, nor is it the end. The Fair Housing Act became necessary because individuals and institutions - both private and public - weren't allowing everyone to make their own housing choices. We've come a long way since then but not far enough.

In my 35+ years in various roles in the real estate industry, I've discovered that I have a passion for equal opportunity in housing. I've studied it, lived it and tried to share what I know with others. In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, I'm dedicating some of my blog posts this month to messaging about equal opportunity in housing.

The Fair Housing Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on April 11, 1968. It's not a coincidence that 2018 is also the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (April 4, 1968). More on that in another post.

Some housing providers argue that the Fair Housing law is unfair to them. That the law makes them do things they don't want to do or shouldn't have to do. This is why I much prefer the term "equal opportunity in housing". It isn't about being fair it's about making sure that every person has the opportunity to live where they want to live regardless of who they are, what they believe or where they come from.

Keep Smiling Keep Moving
-Paula

Forbidden Drive

Today, 4 of us and Freya walked along Forbidden Drive and the Wissahickon Creek. The sunshine was a welcome reprieve from the rain and gloom that fell yesterday.

Today's walk/hike was about time. The plan was 1.5 hours out and back for a total of 3. I over estimated our willingness to get started right away so my alarm had us turning around after 1 hour and 35 minutes. Our total time on our feet ended up being 3 hours and 20 minutes. Do the math and you see that it took us 10 minutes longer in the return distance. Considering the natural tendency to slow down as the miles grow, and a much needed restroom break at Valley Green on the way back, we did well.

Our pace on the hills of the Horse-Shoe Trail will be slower and we will tire faster as a result. We were also bolstered by the I think we are on a good path to do well and have fun on our June 23rd adventure. 

On today's hike, I learned more about Sara's summer time trip to Alaska; that Martiza's daughter works for NASA (how cool is that!); how Martiza and her husband met (if you know her, ask her sometime it's a cute story) and that Freya has two speeds (Giddyup and saunter and not much in between).

Keep smiling and keep moving.
-Paula

Misery and Joy in the SNOW .....

The snow in this photo is newly fallen.
on the 4th day of SPRING!!!  

..... on March 25th!! With 4 Nor'easters in Pennsylvania - all in the month of March - snow was to be expected on the trail today. What was not expected was hiking in a steady more than a flurry of snowfall. I felt stuck in a roller coaster of emotions from "Wow! This is so pretty.? to "Um, this is nuts. It's SPRING. Enough already." I would have been caught in more of the former if it hadn't been for the wind in places.

This was hike #2 in preparation of our long hike on June 23rd. Our hike lasted just under 2 hours and covered approximately 4.5 miles. We started going up and over Mount Joy from the Knox HQ Parking lot. Then crossed over route 252 to return via Mount Misery. The story of Mount Misery and Mount Joy names is allegedly (emphasis on allegedly)

"William Penn went with some associates to negotiate with the Indians near the Susquehanna. Returning they took a short cut, got lost, and had to spend a miserable night lost on a mountain. The next morning they went off the mountain and up another mountain where they recognized where they were. The first mountain was thereby named Mount Misery and the second one Mount Joy." For the source of this quote and some history of Valley Forge Mountain, click here. 

Today's group included Sara, Mike and his dog Freya, Julius, Kathy, and Maritza. Kathy and Maritza.

Next week we will go out and back on Forbidden Drive for a total of 3 hours. 

Keep smiling and keep moving
-Paula

 

Long Hike Training Week 1

My friends and I have set our sights on a (roughly) 18 mile hike for June 23rd. Ok, I set our sights on it and they are just crazy  fun loving enough to go along with the idea.

June 23rd is the longest weekend day of the year. So, I suggested we celebrate with an all day hike on a portion of the Horse-Shoe Trail that has been designated a National Recreation Trail (NRT). It's a section I've hiked before (parts of it more than once) It's beautiful. It's also hilly and rocky. The Appalachian Trail thru hikers don't refer to PA as Rocksylvania for nothing.

I've determined we should prepare for a 12 hour day on our feet. I go back and forth on this quite a bit. We could plow through much faster than that. But that's kinda the point, I don't want to plow through. I want to explore and enjoy the beauty of the trail; take photos; stop for an extended refueling break about halfway and through it all not feel like we have to race the sun to finish, The rocks, the hills and the tendency for June to throw us a heat wave all support the 12 hour guesstimate. Better to be prepared for longer and go shorter than the other way around, right? And if nothing else, we will have fun getting back in moving and smiling shape.