PATHETIC

Though I huffle
And I puffle,
I could have more fun
If I could really run.
But I can only shuffle.

Can one still be athletic
When one's running is pathetic?
To me it's very plain
That, should I make a lot of gain,
I could still be right pathetic.

HOOP HOLE HIKE

Way up in County Botetourt
Where the James slenders down a lot,
The outlook was far from bleak
As we set out up Stony Creek
On a summer day not too hot.

Steep at times was that ascent,
But we were not hell bent.
Creek crossings, they were rife,
And we observed plant life
As slowly up we went.

Laura's pace suits me to a tee.
Slower uphill she is than T.
Not going hell for leather,
We oft took a breather
But didn't sit down for tea.

From the creek we veered away,
Found Pine Mountain Trail right away.
The six in our parade
Were always in the shade
On a lovely day.

For a long way 'twas mostly level.
Then left, uphill, steep the bevel.
And more uphill quite a bunch
Till we stopped for lunch
Just a bit disheveled.

This seemed to be the summit.
Frisky still? Far from it.
I sat there stiff.
There was no cliff
Where one might plummet.

We could scarcely see out.
Blueberries were all about,
But they were all green.
Some service berries were seen,
And laurel blossoms were still out.

From there, of course, we went down,
Though sometimes up to go down.
It was ten till five
When we began our long drive
Back to town.

Forgive that about this I may brag:
For the last mile, where a hiker could sag,
Since important we consider,
Robert and I, the removal of litter,
A huge tattered tarpaulin we dragged.

TRAINING

Let me be refraining
That it all depends on training.
If you would shine on race day,
In training you'll have to pay.
This hardly needs explaining.

In the race you'll be straining
While fatigue on you is gaining
And, though you start pell-mell,
You won't do so well
If you've been lax in training.

It all depends on training
And you shouldn't be complaining
When you fail to do your best
If you always take a rest
On days when it is raining.

Conversely, I'm maintaining,
You'll be beyond restraining
And running at least as good
As you think you should
After the best of training.

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses -- behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." Muhammad Ali

B&W'S NEW REACTOR

On modular they've placed their bet
And that nuc will thrive one day yet.
Stored underground is all spent fuel.
Reactor uses air to cool.
(This one isn't wet.)

MOVIE IN RIYADH

There was a movie show in Riyadh.

It was for children and for dads.

Women weren't allowed to go.

It was the only movie show

In thirty years they've had.

BEN BERNANKE

I must say I'm thanky
That we have Ben Bernanke.
The problem he understands
And the actions it demands,
Which tend to make us cranky.

Ben Bernanke, Chairman 0f the Federal Reserve, was interviewed on "60 Minutes" Sunday evening. He is an expert on the Great Depression. I am convinced he is the right man for his job and well understands in a timely manner what's happening. The astronomical bailouts are a bitter pill, but I'm convinced Dr. Bernanke knows what is required to correct our economic crisis. I think we are fortunate to have him in his position at this time.

I understand Bernanke's house-burning-next-door analogy. We might like to just let a giant company like AIG fail for it's foolishness, but to save ourselves we have to put out the fire next door.

T. ROOSEVELT LECTURE

Saturday at the White Hart
A lecture was delivered with heart.
And we were the lucky receivers
Of the info that Robert Weaver
Came there to impart.

Weaver is a librarian at LU,
And I'm here to tell you
He is very good
At making understood
T.R., born in a top crust millieu.

This much recall I can:
T. Roosevelt was an exceptional man.
His character had appeal.
For everyone he wanted a square deal,
And assuring it was his plan.