The weather called for it: 40, barely a whisper of wind and a mood in need of tensional release. So I went for, what would become, one of the best runs of my life; I just took off, sporting shorts, a thermal, Hot Water Music and adventure to lead the way. First, I ran by Fenway as the drunken revelers spilled out onto the streets, as extra litter from the days Pat's parade. Turned right, along Mass. Ave, into the multitudes as dinner called and their credit cards gave their last breath. Through the Berkeley School of Music students, trying to avoid the occasional, not acoustic guiter, and bass. And then the cuts and turns became a blur: right and left, left and right.

Suddenly i was in a part of Boston I have yet to see. I think it was the Back Bay. No matter, this is a place I would love to live: vibe coffee shops, little Italian and Sushi restaurants, tiny snow blanked parks flanked by old churches and beautiful brownstones (with the kind of stoops with doors in them - I love that!!) and cool indie markets. Sweat. What sweat? Breathing heavy. Who needs air? Well, actually the copious amounts of that allowed me to enjoy the rest. It was just exquisite. Truly another part of Boston that made me realize how much I love it here.

As I approached a half-an-hour, I decided to head back. I ran back through Newberry St. (think old town Pasadena, but larger), juking and jiving, i know someone's knee popped out of joint. And then across Mass Ave. towards Kenmore square (that is where i live). All along the way, weaving in and out of people, stomping through as many puddles as I could; I just felt alive; like a 16 year old driving alone for the first time. I was in the zone and I think my mind (if not body) could of handled another 30 minutes.

So as I headed down the home stretch, my routine is to run out the last half a mile as fast as i can: an almost dead sprint (which for me, is not much). It felt great. One last cut through this family out for a nice evening walk. Two ladies on the left, pushing a stroller, with a little dog and its tongue waving in front. And an older lady to the right. I assess the situation and choose the middle. The fence on the left and the huge bank of snow on the right, actually, made the call. So, imitating a sprint, I cut right through them and I am home free.

SWACKKK, and SSSLLLLIIIIPPPP, BAMMM!!!, face plant! IT WAS AWESOME!!!! THE LADY ON THE RIGHT HAD A "BLACK" LEASH!! A BLACK leash!!!! At night!! Like a teether ball, this little Shitzu wrapped around me like three times. This little, four pound dog, just thrown through the air, then slams into my legs. Not to mention the fact that the old lady never let go of the leash. Oh my god. She, obviously, got pulled with me but her resistance rocketed the damn dog back towards here. SO, like a teether-ball with a hundred and something pounds of tension, the little damn dog rocketed back towards the owner. HAHA. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen. Even as the dog went back to the owner and i fell to the ground, I tried my best to stop from laughing as the family was in shock. Their poor little Shitzu got hurt. Oh man, I need to have someone follow me and videotape me. This stuff always happens to me.