Mettle

Quality. It's that intangible element some people seem to effortlessly pocess. You can't always even tell when you see it. Sometimes it seems to take a few days, weeks, even years to truly see what some people are made of. When you do, it can be an amazing, scary, even beautiful moment. What a gift it is to realize you have someone close to you that is made of the good stuff.

Positive Waves

It always starts here, a new step in a different direction. The possibilities are endless. Just a little Monday optimism for you. Honestly, could it hurt?

Waxing On...

It's been a tough weekend with work. To be honest though, I am feeling grateful as it comes to a close. The work was difficult in its time required, but it is completed for now and has left me feeling humble and as I said grateful. I hope and pray to never lose sight of the brilliant life I get to walk through each day; especially when those days are hard.

Exhaustion apparently has me waxing poetic.

About Town

All is going well. We are in the process of getting around town more. It is so good to grab the dogs and take off, even if it is just for errands. Tiff and I are enjoying getting downtown as often as we are able. It helps to feel more a part of our world.

Sorry for the delay, but photo upload is denied via mobile blogging. Here's one from the vaults, May 2009 in Houston, Texa. Oh Potbellies, when will you come to Colorado?

2012 Truly Begins

 Hello Colfax! As a native of the Denver area, the idea of running on Colfax for a few hours still seems laughable. However, I gotta say I am actually pretty excited about this one. Especially the fact that the course does not get super boring after 13.1 (ahem Rock n Roll Dener).

The course looks fantastic and I am only a little afraid of a May run now having Minneapolis' June heat 2 years behind me. Very excited to run Colfax and support the local underdog 26.2, especially after all the work they have been doing to make it more exciting.

See you all there May 20th!

Working', Working'

Holy moly, as one of my friends used to say. When it rains, it pours with work now. I enjoyed the final days off for the next few weeks. I am grateful for the work for sure, but still getting up to speed. Feels good to be slammed again.

Sad Monkeys

According to a good friend, scientists determined that yesterday was the most depressing day of the year. First, I wonder why I did not consider science for a career longer. Second, it struck me as odd that so many people have such trouble with winter. That seemed to be a bulk of the depressing rational. Perhaps I'm just wired wrong but winter is just winter. I get to do all the same things, just with more clothes on and less by bites. Sure I get to run like an old man when it's really icy out but that's not too rough to cope with. I just don't get it. What depresses me is dealing with so many crabby people, honestly.

Be nice. The Mosquitos will be back soon enough.

It wasn't perhaps the height of excitement, nor the riveting adventure that gets immortalized in print for all time. Hell, it wouldn't even make for a very good water cooler story. None the less, over the weekend Tiff and I grabbed the dogs and went for a ride around town. It was just simple, good fun. We even managed to grab a bite to eat at a dog friendly place on Friday night, ironically called Steve's Snappin' Dogs.

It was just great to have everyone together. I appreciate so much my little family and love that such a simple pleasure is possible from just being together and riding around.

Run into the Wind

With a belly full of Flax Cinnamon Waffles, I set out on a nice 5 mile run this morning. The skies were cloudy but the wind was whipping. That brought the temperature down a lot. As per usual, there was no traffic on the sidewalks today, but it felt good to get out there. The chill in the air was invigorating and definite motivation. It doesn't compare to what Lake Michigan could dish out, but it was impressive.

Take a Hike

We hit the hills today to hike with some of our friends. It was just flat out fun to get up into the mountains. Today we had a few long walks a good run and then a nice two mile hike up the muddy, snowy mountains. I always apreciate going that much further.

Happy Picture Friday

Pushed

Heading to work for another evening of fun. I am looking forward to it. I filled my half day with running and the gym. Oddly I feel more inclined for the hard work today because of it. The body is a strange thing.

Work and Play

It's been busy at work lately, which is great. Once again though I find myself in a position where 12 hour days are possible and routine at times like this. I am trying hard to balance the work and down time as best I can. Today was some chores and some recoup stuff like the bike and gym. It's essential to get the latter in when all seems so hectic.

Cyber Gartitude

I go in to work much later today and am savoring some of the quiet time here to get my new computer set up. My wife has been key in helping me get a better machine to do what I need to do for work now. I owe a lot of gratitude to her. I am not accustomed to being able to get what I need till that need is almost stifling. This has been so unexpected that it still does not seem real. I finally have the capability to work with the sort of graphics I do and not have my computer acting like my first car on a hill. I truly am humbled and grateful to have had the chance to get and work on such a machine. Thanks, from the bottom of my heart to everyone that helped in making this happen!

Work to Do

On our way to work this fine Monday morning after a single day off, feeling good. There is more work ahead than I can easily keep track of, but I feel grateful for the work. My aim is to stay rooted on the present and avoid the stress fits I see those around me suffering . No matter the mountain of things to be done, I can only do what I can do (which I would say is no small offer). Ergo, I feel at ease rushing up the highway to my job. I know soon enough, I'll be out running again with the breeze on my face.

Daydreamers

Tiff and I spent some time in our backyard this morning enjoying the warmer temerature. The dogs were running about and we were starting to imagine what we could do in our backyard without having to do all the big things like last summer. It felt nice to daydream a little with her. While fantasies are enjoyable by design, there is something especially satisfying to do so with someone.

Happy Picture Saturday

Gotta Run

I am on a brief interlude between monster long shifts. I slept as long as was possible and still managed to have a precious hour and a half to play with before getting back to work. It felt like a no brainer to know I was going to get a run in, albeit another warm up one on the tred-mill; my broken toe is still tender. It feels good to know what's important sometimes.

The Full Day

Just got in from a 16.5 hr day. That's all I have to really say as the brain is nush. I know it's not much of a post, but to be honest, I am pretty proud of the fact I did a day like that and am still in here plugging a few weak lines out. You may feel differently though...

Photoshopped

It has been a big full day of design. To be honest, anytime I am in Photoshop too long, the whole world starts looking different. I'll see a color and want to "dropper" it to my "pallet." It is all in all very odd, like an Adobe induced acid trip. I like the work I did today though and that is always gratifying to say.

Tired

I can't put my finger on it, but lately I've just been tired. I can't seem to catch up on rest. Sleep a full night or hardly at all, I turn out equally beat by the next night. My recent week without caffeine showed little difference starting or finishing it. Just tired lately. I am glad to be running again, but hell if I can get up early enough to do it in the morning right now.

Ever just feel like that?

Full Moon Run 1

Tonight I was excited for the dark. I had it all planned out that I was going to run under the full moon. Granted, I suspect the actual full moon was last night, I was ready none the less. It was beautiful. With some of the fresh snow still on the ground, the world glowed.

Fan Freedom

Today I watched and cheered as my unlikely home team, the Denver Broncos won their first playoff game. I have been love/hate with them most of the year and less thrilled with them ever since the Cutler/McDaniels drama. None the less it was nice to watch and cheer and not really care about what happened prior to today's game. I think that's what is fun about enjoying watching any sports team; there is a degree of release from the daily world around you. You can just watch and hope and yell and smile and occasionally feel pretty depressed. But at the end of all that, it's a game. For my part, I truly loved just checking out for the duration today.

Snow Day

Today was a day of cleaning up. It felt good to be home and get the holidays tucked away again, to clean up. Tiff and I had a few great meals and celebrated by heading out to a great restaurant downtown. By the by, great food makes settling for ok seem pretty silly let alone paying for it. As the snow falls, it just felt like a good day.

Happy Picture Friday

Listening

I've had the privilege of getting to listen to some good friends and loved ones as of late. They have had a lot to say and I have mostly just needed to be there to listen. Not a big fan of being on the phone it has been nice to be able to just be there. It has been ringing in my ears to "want less, do more." Of myself I am a very limited subject. However, when I get a chance to listen it feels very liberating.

Seriously.

Winter

Winter

2000 - 2012

We'll miss you buddy.

Decaf

No caffeine and all is well. I am told this will become very satisfying soon. We'll see.

New Tricks

Not one generally to make the resolutions, I am interested in trying some new routines. Today, Tiff was good enough to walk me through a few yoga paces. I tried a new workout today that was far less obvious than running and weight lifting. We are commencing a cleanse here shortly.

I am mostly interested in the challenge that will present itself by trying it. Among the restrictions include no caffeine; a thought wholly unimaginable not long ago. We are aiming for pretty good on this. What I am getting at here is it will be good to try something new. That, after all, does make sense for a new year doesn't it?

Happy New Year

Some habits are pretty tough to break....

Still writing.

... happy 2012!