I have successfully set up everything for my Vegas trip in February. Cancellations are expensive and annoying. But I'll call it my 55th birthday present to myself and consider locking my credit card up somewhere for a while.

Because of where you live, Lisah, the near miss with body reminded me of the story about bodies in Leakin Park "Don't report every one you find or we'll be here all day."(Totally sure that's just a legend.)

I don't normally draw attention to these people, but did you see that WBC plans to picket Kim Davis? [link] Good use of "ouroboros" in the article.

It's probably too much to hope for that being the subject of public denouncement by bigoted zealots might give her some perspective on her own behavior. But hey, at least they won't be picketing a funeral and adding to some undeserving family's grief that day.

Why I hate running but love cheering runners: the moments when you make a connection with a runner, whether it is a mouthed thanks, fist pumps, grin, head bob or just eye contact. Or they slap the tambourine! Especially since we're at mile 22/9. It's a hard place. One lady even gave Anna a kindness " button" ( bensbuttons.org It's apparently a project, nationwide.) Which she gave to me for providing the noisemakers.

Just before I left there was a woman really struggling, doing the full. She shook her head when I yelled out encouragement. So I told her to flip me off it it would help. She did, double fisted, hit the tambourine and smiled weakly. Awesome.

And my favorite banana, who I thought cancelled running the half, did after all and I got to give her a high five. With a can of pennies squashed in my hand.

There was this one lady whose shirt read "Running for Freddie Gray." I totally got a catch in my throat and choked out my yeaaah and hustled to hold out the tambourine for her. Got a big smile. I wouldn't be surprised if she got some negative shit in places ( I actually expected more BLM tags and references, but no.)

And all the teams running pushing folks who can't run in running chairs. They have flags with their names, so always yell out the name. We actually scared one kid awake, oops. And another craned his neck around until he couldn't anymore, eyes big and animated.

This year, the BATC DIDN'T SHOW, so there was no music at our corner. No ' GoodMorning Baltimore' on endless repeat. Anna and I resolved that if this is perm, we're gonna do something about it. I volunteered to talk to the Y.

So, yep, another marathon for me. My hands didn't go too numb...

Because I'm a pushy bitch, asked the BATC what happened, that they were missed, not actually expecting a reply. Totally got one, they plan to be there next year. I told them I'd help. Cause I'm crazy.

BATC?

Baltimore Area Triathalon Club. They manned that corners for 14 years and biffed it this.

Ah!

Since other studies have shown that there's a pretty strong genetic component to it, too, then the fungus can't be the only thing causing it. Maybe some relation of "If you have this gene, then you're susceptible to this fungus" or some combination like that.

That is exactly what the paper suggests. They say that genetic correlation is absolutely compatible with fungus being the main cause, because the genetic component may consist of being more vulnerable to the fungus. The paper goes through other alternative suggested causes and says the same thing about them. Now the paper may be completely wrong. Just because it is peer reviewed does not make the conclusion correct. But the authors are making the strongest possible claim in the paper: that of all the factors correlated with Alzheimer's fungal infection is the best candidate for core cause. It is not claiming anything approaching certainty - neither the data nor analysis are complete enough. But it does seem to be claiming that given current data and analysis, fungi as predominant cause is the best explanation that fits the know facts to date. [link]

Heat might have to go on this week; Pumpkin did NOT want to get up this morning. I was downstairs an hour and realized she hadn't come down. Sure enough, still in her spot on my bed. And now on my lap, but I need to go do my grocery shopping.