committed or insane?

Between the day my Dad passed away, October 17, and the wedding reception here, November 12, I only ran three times.  Those weeks were so busy with travel and planning that there really wasn't an opportunity to run.  I have only 15 more day to train before the 5K.  I'm not sure I'll be ready.  I've been doing really good.  I think I'm running the distance, I still need to drive it.  I feel I've really lost stamina because I haven't made it happen regularly. 

Today as I'm getting ready to run, two shirts and a hoodie, ear warmers, gloves... Karlee called me committed.  The temperature outside was 35.  There have been other days, when it was in the 40s, I blew it off and didn't run.  I'm not sure I'm committed, perhaps more insane.  I do know that when you're insane you become committed.  So obviously they go hand in hand. ;)

I now understand the high from running.  I bought me a new pair of jeans the other day and I had to buy a size smaller! Running might be my new addition. :)

Hoover Dam

On our way to Vegas we decided to stop and look at a dam.  I was more impressed than the kids and I've seen it before.  All of them wanted to be done with the drive.  We were close. 

 This is the new bridge that was built since 9/11. 

 I really miss mountains.

Day 2 ~ Beijing ~ Underground Palace

After The Great Wall we visited the Underground Palace.  It's an underground tomb of one of the Ming Emperors.  But first we walked the "Sacred Way of the Animals" which guards the tomb.

 We had to drive from the "Walk" to the tomb.  Which I thought was strange.  On the way I got a couple of interesting pictures.  The one above is of the trees that are painted.  They are painted to keep insects off.  It must work because they are painted everywhere.

Then below, if you look at the tree behind the man there are brown bags hanging on the tree.  It actually is wrapped around an apple.  As the apple grows a Chinese symbol is pressed into the apple skin.  The symbol stands for prosperity, good fortune, long life... We realized many symbols on souvenirs mean one of those.  :)

 Only Cypress trees can grow inside the tomb.

 The trees with a green plaque means the tree is over 300 years old.

A red plaque is over 500 years old.

 The Chinese people must not understand what luxuriant means.  ;)

 The tomb is under this hill.

 The rear chamber is the main chamber of the underground palace.  Inside the chamber, there was a coffin bed, on which the coffins of the Emperor and Empresses where placed.  The coffin of the Emperor was in the middle and those of the Empresses where on both sides.  Jade materials were found between the coffins.  The burial articles for the Emperor and Empress were kept in 26 cases made of nanmu (a kind of hard wood) on the sides of each coffin.  When the underground palace was opened, part of the coffins and burial articles had become decayed.   The coffins and cases containing the burial articles on display at present  are the copies of the original ones.

These little shoes are what Chinese women used to wear.  In fact, our guide told us her grandmother used to wrap her feet so they could remain small.  Lisa said her feet looked like chicken feet.

Day 2 - Beijing ~ The Great Wall of China

Finally!! Another post about China.  I only have a few more days of China to blog about.  It has been a real challenge to finish. 

This is a very poor image.  The original looks worse.  I scanned it in trying to improve it.  Not so much.  This picture was taken before we climbed up the Great Wall.

I was surprised at how steep the climb was.  The steps were all different heights so you really couldn't get a rhythm down. 

The Great Wall is definitely my favorite part of China.  It's so magnificent.  It's hard to imagine that this was built during the 5th century BC and weaves throughout China for 3,700 miles.  I learned that over 300,000 people labored more than 30 years to accomplish this task. 

The view of these mountains are amazing!

In the picture above, Brenda and Dave are enjoying ice cream to cool off.  Jake, Josh, and myself were all ahead of them without money.  My bottled water was in Dave's pack!  Rather unfair, but we continued to the top without them.

The stairs to the tower was very narrow, and these are in good condition compared to most. 

Yea!!!  We did it! 
I have a funny story.  Just before this picture I came out of the tower and noticed these young Chinese girls having their picture taken with these two cute American boys.  So I thought I would too.  They took my picture with them. ;)  These two have had their picture taken a lot.  But that's not the funny part.  The night before I thought, "Why don't I get asked to get my picture taken.  I'm American too."  I know, pathetic.  Anyway, at the last tower I had this younger than me, shirtless, Chinese man ask to have a picture taken with me.  I smiled and said yes.  Inside I was thinking GROSS!!  :/ 

The climb down was soo much faster.  Brian decided not to walk to the top.  When I made it down I found him relaxing in the shade with a cold drink.  Lucky for me he shared.

All of it was breathtaking. :)