Hit it

I wish to say more but in a mobile upload i feel a tad restricted. What I can say is that the new job is already humming along. I am 2000 miles from where i was last night. More to come.

Left Foot Blue...

It was difficult to say good bye to my team and my store last night. I was flattered to hear how much they felt I had offered. It is always nice to take on a new opportunity without feeling as though there was no choice.

At well before dawn the alarm went off and my new job has begun. I am checked in and preparing to board my flight soon to join my new team in Miami. It has been a whirlwind, but I am all too grateful to have the chance to have had the experience I did and the one before me.

The Twister game of life continues.

Last Day

I am about to get geared up to head into my retail job for the last time. It's odd to say good bye but I am grateful for all that has been given me there and the opportunity to start a new job in a more creative field. None the less, change is unnerving. I truly just want to go in and work and clock out. While I enjoy a certain bit of production in my life, departures are not where I like to make much of a deal. Stay tuned for more soon friends.

Parker St.

If you have not had the chance to catch any Parker St., do yourself a favor and take in an episode. My friend has put together an impressive line up. It has never failed to make me feel better after each episode.

Seriously... check these out.

I got the impulse to call my wayward wordsmith friend in New York having read via Twitter he was once again in New York. To be honest, my desire to talk to him went through the litany of response options. Reply Tweet? Text? Facebook message? Email? No to all, I just want to talk to him. Then it occurred  to me I was reading all this on a device that was actually first and foremost a phone. I could call! Do I dare? What if he's doing something? What time is it in New York? It suddenly struck me how easy phone calls had become and how we now seem to do everything but talk.

My friend and I had a great chat. Here's to actually dialing friends.

Benched

It is odd to not be out there pounding out miles right now. This is the tougher part of training, where the weekly output is continuing to rise. My bum ankle is feeling much better, but I am adhering to the advice and not running on it for 2 weeks to be cautious. If all goes well, I will be able to complete my long runs before an oddly timed taper. Above all, I am trying to keep my head positive.

Painting Zen

This may or may not last as the new color we have in our kitchen. There seems to be some debate on the effectiveness vs the effort to repaint right away. I am getting fairly adept at some very clean painting and appreciate the zen sort of place I get to go when working. I also appreciate that to me a job has to be completely cleaned up by the end of the day to be done. Every last brush has to be put away before I let myself sit down. For better or worse, that's me.

Bad Apple

As the old saying goes, one bad apple can ruin a batch. That always sounds a little harsh to me yet it appears to hold true often enough. I am in the process of some shifts in my life and as I move away from a troublesome bit of business, I am getting a clearer view how one particular personality has truly ruined an otherwise decent batch of folks. I mean them no ill will, ergo Mr Cryptic here, but damn... it sort of amazes me. There are some folks that seem to enjoy the full time job of justifying their job. To me that seems a Jestson dog walking service.

None the less, hindsight is giving some clarity and I am grateful for the experience. Even the people that drive us batty have a purpose. They serve me as cautionary tales.

Happy Picture Tuesday

Rest

It would seem all the signs in the universe were pointing towards slowing down some. Fatigue, never-ending soreness, various running issues, and now a certified sprain. I am listening and taking a rest. What's odd is that when I was running everyday 2 and 4 miles with past their prime shoes, there was no issue. I just want to get out there and enjoy it. Thusly, I am following advice and sitting down for a couple weeks. I am still unsure how I will modify my training to get my distance in before the Denver Rock n Roll in October, but I am not too worried.

At least it's not a stress fracture.

Sprianed

The verdict on the busted foot was inconclusive. That was unpleasant to deal with till I wrecked the same foot at work resulting in a sprain. I am sidelined for two weeks from training and oddly ok with it. I am sure when the time is up I will be jumping to get some miles on, but for now it's chill time.

Where My Insomnia Took Me Last Night With Cody's Friend the Internet

and on Facebook...

Zombie Time

by Troy Coleman on Friday, August 19, 2011 at 2:27am

Zombie time. Go to your profile. Look to your left. First 7 friends are your zombie apocalypse team.

The side kick: Hannah Beth Johnson

Heavy wepons: Joe Foust

Survivor: Dana Wall

The one that looses it: Chris Walsh

The brains: Sabrina Kramnich

The first to die: Karen Solas

For the record Karen, with that team, you'd be dying of old age.

Hurt or Injuredn

I am at about the halfway point of training for the Denver Marathon with my long runs hitting 16 miles. I have been experiencing a new ache in my foot that is proving persistent. It's also dampening the fun a lot. My long runs have been humbling enfurance fests. It's not running, it's fast hobbling. I probably need medical opinion here but am afraid of a bleak diagnosis. I know the later does not change the condition if I stay uninformed. I just want to run again.

Good People

I am pretty frequently thinking about the great people I know. From my wandering performer finishing his world tour to my brilliant writer I get to call my wife. It astounds me when I start thinking about all their talents and that I get to call them friends. That seems a true reward in this life. Those are the elements you can not put prices on or guarantee. They make my world stronger and a lot more fun to be in.

Painter

"...if you want to be a perfect painter, get some paints and brushes and become perfect with them..."

-Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Trust

I am excited about taking some new directions soon. Life keeps evolving and changing, but the great people I get to call friends and family encourage me to step out into the unknown. I have a strong faith and am sure wherever that foot falls, it was supposed to be there. To me faith is that trust and comfort to be ok with it.

Paused

I was all set to launch out the door a few minutes ago for my long run this week, a 16 miler. I use my ipod to track my distance as well as enjoy ambiance music. The dead battery icon has delayed my departure. It is perhaps a nice reminder to pause today.

Crossroads

I have a few things on my mind this weekend. Mostly it is gratitude for what I have and the fantastic options still before me. Thank you all for the support and I will keep you posted.

Colorado Anew

Tiffany's parents are arriving tonight to see us and our new house. It will be exciting to show them what we affectionately call home now. They have not been to Colorado much and it will be great to show them around. The best part about visiting friends and family is getting to show off the best you know of around you. The next few days should be fun and it will be wonderful to see them.

Happy Recall Wisconsin

I am hoping to hear good news from the dairy state soon on the unprecedented recall elections being held. After striking a blow to unions and teacher everywhere, I am seriously hoping the embarrassment of this spring can be mended to a degree. Vote well Wisconsin lest the hard working teacher and people around the country develop a strange "dairy allergy."

Above all, get rid of this guy............................ ->

Visiting

Last weekend was a whirlwind of close friends flying in to see Scotty and Mereth tie the knot. It was fantastic having everyone in town and getting to see them often over the last few days. Now, Tiff and I are getting ready for her folks first trip out to Denver together. I am very excited to see them. It struck me though how when you are traveling you life goes on hold and the same seems true for those visited. It's not as though one doesn't continue to do all the things they need to, but the focus has shifted. It's like a leaving the room and still hearing the program. To me the visting friends and family are truly the exciting part and where my attention goes. None the less during this brief down time I feel like I just got home as well. Odd.

So That's Breathing

I decided to test my potentially injured feet with a 4 mile run this morning. My aim was to go slow and take it easy. That goal is always easy for the first couple miles, but I inevitably speed up. Today I had some extra help from my failing ipod and nike+ system. Generally it lets me know how far I have been going, but my regular routes now are pretty established. It most often just keeps me aware of my pace. Not today though. It seems after my 14 mi last Fri, I should have docked it for today was fatal crash after fatal crash. Not low battery, just reboot death cycles.

This, however gave me more chance to focus on the breathing and try to time my strides better. I have read it should be 4 steps to breath ratio and got to try it. Not bad, but it would shift back to a quicker ratio when I stopped paying attention. Guess it worked out the way it was supposed to without the music to distract or speed me up.

Friends, Love, and Kilts

Such a great weekend with so many wonderful friends. I am unable to put into words how great Scott and Mereth's wedding was right now. Just glad to have been there. From the Monopoly flowers to the bobble head toppers, it was a weekend I will never forget. 

Short Hiatus

Sorry about the disappearance, but the marriage of two close friends has necessitated some time away. After all, real life is what this blog was designed to reflect. Ergo it seems natural to miss writing a couple days due to life. See you again tomorrow friends.

Bad Math

Got a chance to take in the Casa Bonita last night for my good friend Mereth's birthday. Several of us enjoyed all the Bonita glory. What I know now for a fact is that Casa Bonita plus predawn 6 mile training run equals and rough hour.

Rain

It just feels good to have it rain again! I don't know why, but to me a rainy day after several sunny ones is like a welcome sigh of relief. It stirs excitement and creativity. Hell, I'd even be glad to lace up and put on some miles in a drizzle over a sunny afternoon. Perhaps I'm odd that way, but everything feels better to me when it rains.

Head Trips

It's one of those days where my mind keeps wandering to all the great places I have had the chance to go. I am dizzy with the mental field trips I have been taking all morning, especially back to my old neighborhood in Chicago. It's fun to to wander in my head but am constantly trying to remind myself to look down to where my feet are. It's also a pretty damn good place.