October 27 Run/Walk: Annual Halloween in Regent Square viewing, starting at Roye's house, 1017 Milton St.

Let's meet at my house (1017 Milton St. in Regent Square) and head out to see the many wild Halloween decorations that grace our neighborhood.  Virginia knows where the best ones are.

Last Sunday, we finally got the timing right to see the sun rise over the Highland Park reservoir, which was at its late October spookiest.  This was followed by a scrumptious brunch at Joanne's, and our accustomed scintillating conversations which should have been recorded but instead have vanished, ghost-like. The one salvaged recommendation was the Annual Ohiopyle Buckwheat and Pancake Supper, which somehow, magically, made you "almost forget that politics existed." Sigh.

October 20th Walk/Run: Meet at Tazza D'Oro, 1125 N. Highland, for a Highland Park run.

We'll see how the trees have been transformed in Highland Park, and listen to the autumn crows, meeting at old favorite Tazza D'Oro, 1125 N. Highland. 

Last week had us reveling in the fall extravaganza of Frick Park, around which runners made a full circuit (see below) and took in some early spookiness in the neighborhood.  Discussion under the tent at Biddle's was rich, and endorsements tended towards the health-inducing, particularly the gin:

• Read:  The invisible life of Addie Larue, Tell me everything
• Eat:  LOTS of protein, the gram equivalent of twice your weight in kilos (something like that).  Also:  Yogurt at the East End Food Coop, both Bulgarian and La Fermiere (the cutest).  Or make your own.
• Watch: You are what you eat, a twin experiment
• Save:  a pig, via Pig Squealers Rescue. They need you. 
• Clean: with SalSuds Biodegradable Cleaner
• The Saturday East Liberty Farmers' Market - open all year! 
• Hoopla from Carnegie Library is terrific.
• Gunpowder Irish Gin
• Not sure about what you put on your face, or elsewhere?  Look to EWG.
• No question, hair product works.

October 13th Run/Walk: Meet at Biddle's Escape (401 Biddle Ave. in Wilkinsburg)

We'll meet on Sunday morning at Biddle's (at Biddle and Trenton in Wilkinsburg) and get a head start on this neighborhood's famed Halloween decor on the way to Frick Park, starting to turn gold right now.  

Reporting on last 2 weeks, one in Edgewood and the other Downtown:  both had great weather, sights, comradeship, photos and endorsements:

• Pros and Cons of the JCC locker rooms: fancy or regular.  Fancy is a bit pricey, but you get extras (sauna, free classes) and regular has more nakedness (which could make you feel somewhat better, comparatively.)  Concerning the classes, Group Power is not for the accident-prone.
• Watch Nobody Wants This on Netflix
• Delightful visits from Galit, and my friend Leslie
• Updates on births and weddings, resulting in statements: "my 2 ex-husbands have never entered my house" and "every marriage is an intermarriage." 
• Discovery that the renowned Tom Paxton was staying at Gretchen's house that weekend!
• Biking trips - next group one will be the Hudson Valley Tour in May.  Recommended:  Vermont Biking Tours (I think this is it.)
• En route to or from said trip, do not put your wallet on the top of the car.
• Visit Bryce Canyon, much prettier and less crowded than Grand.  Also, get your Senior Pass to National Parks. This is more useful a Real ID, instead of which you can generally use a Passport Card.
• Don't forget to request your free Covid test (OMG why do we still need it.)  
• May we all be written into the Book of Life, wherever you think it might be.  And may Kamala and company be written into all the Ballots too.

October 6 Run/Walk: Meet at the new La Prima, 1100 Smallman St. for a downtown excursion

We'll check out Oktoberfest dahntahn and start off at the newer La Prima, at Smallman St. at 11th, across from the Convention Center.  

Lots to say but no time, except for this:

Excellent volunteer opportunity - Mission of Mercy, a free, two-day dental, vision and hearing clinic that serves patients in need, happening Nov. 1-2.  Endorsed yearly by RG!  See more and sign up here.  

Next week:  double the fun!