Dog Life

I am getting a chance to catch up on some odds and ends around the house this morning. I can't tell you how good it feels to just take care of a few things around here. The dogs have been following me all over. They have this uncanny ability to lift the spirits just by being around. It is fantastic to just get a nice recharge.

The Good

In keeping with my pledge to defend the obvious more, I've decided today to herald good things. Today's list are just some good things that never seem to get mentioned in press or acceptance speeches. Things like sleep, cookies, fresh air, comfy shoes, delicious homade pizza, puppies, coffee, rain clouds, trees, gafaws, cinnamon rolls, bikes, beautiful buildings, and perfect music.

Good Friend

Happy Birthday Scott!!

Tired but Dedicated

It is tough to uphold my own claim to "defend the obvious" when I get so tired the obvious becomes elusive. I hope my few, dedicated readers have not grown weary of my more simplistic posts as of late, but I am hoping to regain some ground on the rest front this week and prepare to do battle with those that would conceal such important truths as "be nice to the people that prepare your food, they deserve it."

Stay tuned, and I'll try hard to get back into the battle soon.

For now, all I can say is if all work and no play made Jack a dull boy, then lack of sleep turned him into an axe wielding psycho.

Long Hours

We're on our biggest job of the year, converting an airplane hangar into a classy, high end ballroom. As we speak, the event is launching into full swing. I appreciate the opportunity to really put the endurance to the meddle. On the tail end of another 16hr day I'm grateful for the work and the back to do it.

Happy Picture Friday

Capaign Request #1

The politicians are talking more and more. I know in an election year the ads are coming like a flood soon. So much slamming, accusing, and just general playground name calling. As I just certain all the candidates read Stupie regularly, I am going to just throw this out: play nice! None of us need more slamming or problem finger pointing. Tell us why you should have the job and then shut the hell up. We watch sports to see our teams win not elections. Every party has men and women that are not viable officials; don't elect based only on their "team." Please, candidates, tell us why you should have the job and leave it at that.

Sincerely,
A Voter

A Little DJ and a Little Jazz

It's been a week of long days. None the less on the way home I enjoyed some good food, good company, and great music; Jazz Odyssey is truly an inspired program. I was just an over all happy feeling.

Hope you had a great moment like that too.

Sharing the road

I just wanted to give a shout out to all the drivers out there that share the road. I have noticed on my many shoulder runs there are two different types. The driver that will yield a little to avoid driving right past you when they can and the drivers that actually hug the far line to demonstrate their ownership of the road. Sheer physics alone dictates car wins every time. I have no interest in demanding their right of way. It is such a decent courtesy though when they have the opportunity to not drive so close to you, it felt worth mentioning. Whether on foot or bike, it is so appreciated when a motorist shows that little effort when you are doing all you can to show you will not enter their lanes.

This all apples though to the runners that are not inconsiderate and insist on running in actual lanes of traffic mind you. Those types are renegotiating on dangerous terms. I have encountered few spots, even out in my rural area, where a runner can not give a yard or two to oncoming vehicles.

Sharing the road can be a beautiful thing. It's also the law.

Running on Ice

It was icy and windy this morning. I debated for several minutes as to whether I should just head to the basement and knock out my 3 mile run on the treadmill. Then I decided to bundle up and face the cold. It was fun and not so bad with my many layers on. It also felt good to take the less traveled road of hitting the harsh conditions outside. Every now and then you just have to say, "what the hell."

Drunken Litter

I was out on my long run today in the rural landscape surrounding my new neighborhood. It was a 9 mile jaunt and thus I covered some roads I usually don't run on very much (or anyone else for that matter save a few cyclists). What I noticed was an unbelievable amount of litter the entire way. That boggles my mind that it is still ok to some people to just toss a bag or can from the car? Then I noticed a further concerning trend. Every minute I would see a beer bottle or three. For a while I notched it up as more depressing litter until it hit me, these bottles are coming from cars on the road. While I want to believe they are all from idiot passengers, the odds seemed poor for that to be entirely true. I suppose if you are dumb enough to drink and drive, littering isn't really much of a concern either. I will be sure to not run that route on my next full moon run though.

The Man

It was a pretty decent day out there today. I struggled with a reoccurring issue today though. I found myself getting redirected in my work unexpectedly by a coworker. Now, this coworker had no authority to do so, nor any better ideas. He just liked to get into the middle of my project (and a few others). That's his prerogative. What frustrated me was not just letting it go. It stewed in my head for hours. It just bug me when someone appoints themselves boss.  Their prerogative is just that. What remains my challenge is not letting in my head. Today I proved I have room still to grow.

Happy Picture Friday

Morning Miles

I am definitely into my training again for the Colfax Marathon this May. I woke up early and with one eye open went down stairs to hop on the treadmill this morning. For the time being, I am enjoying relatively shorter runs twice a week and only needed to bust pup 3 miles this morning. Relatively speaking, that isn't too far. More accurately it isn't that long in time. That is what really starts to weigh in is the time required each week to get all the runs in on my training program. What is great is how positive I feel each morning I can get the miles in early. My day always starts out so much better. 

Adult Musing

Feels a little like being an adult to have gone to the dentist today for a recent toothache. I am not sure why that still is the case so often with doing things you are just supposed to do. At what point dies it just be come natural?

Solo Run

It was great to get out for a run this morning. The cold is still a bit of a shock every morning, but it helps keep motivated. I know I am not in a heavy runner area, but it still feels like accomplishment to get out there. Even when you're the only guy running.

Small Things

It was a day of little accomplishments. Strangely, joust getting some of the minor tasks knocked out feels pretty damn good. So often those seem to be the things that weigh me down. Just taking on one little thing at a time, everything seems to feel more manageable, at least in the sense there feels less looming. So for Monday, I say hooray to the having the laundry put away and the recycling taken out!

Mountains

Tiff and I are about to venture into the mountains for an adventure with some friends. It is wonderful to have such a fantastic playground just in our backyard. Today's agenda is tubing, something neither of us have ever tried. I love that excitement just before you go off and try something brand new. It keeps life interesting. The last thing I want is to stop finding new things to try.

Long Run

I am about to head out for an afternoon long run. On my training schedule, today is a 7 mile jaunt. Comparably not too far as the weeks ahead. None the less there is a thrill in knowing I will be out there for over an hour (thereabouts). You get to settle into a run like that and really just enjoy what is around you. Today that something will be a lot of snow from the last couple weeks. Should be pretty alright. I appreciate how marathon training necessitates these enjoyable runs once a week.

Happy Picture Friday

Should an Apology have been made?

It's a weird situation to find myself on the receiving end of some questionable service lately. Having dined the trademark green apron for many years, I feel sympathetic to my local baristas most days. The other night I was corrected on a policy in such a way it left me feeling steamed. While I realize I was wrong, the way it was handled was rough. I don't think I was out of lone but at the same time how could it have gone better? For my part I am trying to just be a really good customer to rejuvenate the good kaa again.

The Mondays

Monday. My first day back was today, ergo my Monday was today. It seems like it takes longer to get to work that first day back. Iwhat is it about knowing you are as far from your next free day off that is so depressing? Why is it everyone seems just that much more on the defense. Could it be that last point? For whatever the reasons, I am glad to be slowly making my way home now.

For whatever it's worth dear readers, I hope "Tuesday" means playing nicer.

Tasks

The funny thing about working so damn much is the little things you just can't seem to get to. This being my first day off in a while, I am trying to get a few of them knocked off the list. It's a little daunting to be honest. Little things like laundry and haircut are on there, but so are larger items like visiting the bank and getting replacement running shoes. All the while, there is a part of me that just wants to kick back and enjoy not working. So far I've crossed quite a few things off the list and my wife has already texted me her approval on the haircut (and semi-shave). If nothing else, that is a reward I am glad for.

Snow Day

It's been a couple weeks since I got to enjoy a day off. While I am exceedingly happy to have the work, I am very much looking forward to having a day off. It is also particularly pleasing that there are a few snow flakes in the air. After all we did work through last Friday's blizzard. Little pleasures, you know?

Super Bowl

Enjoy the game!

Autopilot

Sometimes it seems easier to just let go. At least that is the philosophy I have been taught, repeatedly. What I know about letting go is I get to drive as much of the footwork as I can, but do not get to manage the results. To some this mindset seems all to natural. For me, my instinct is quite the opposite. None the less, the more I trust and rely on a power beyond myself, the easier time I have.

Perhaps I just needed to say that to remind myself.

Happy Picture Friday

Juggling

Work has been in high gear for a couple weeks now. Today, I was in the center of a lot of design work that kicked my butt. I love designing and feel pretty good at it. I am, however, relatively new to the production side of things. Despite knowing better, it has been tough to remember I am learning each time. When there are set backs like today, where I have to scramble to get things fixed I am not so good at easing up on myself for not foreseeing that which I have not encountered yet. While simple enough to say, it seems truly hard to do. I am hoping the learning curve eases some in the future with every stubbed toe. Today was, to put it mildly, a learning experience.

Carpool

I am glad I get to carpool these days. It's not the same as my beloved bike comute, but given my trip to work these days is over 60 miles, that just isn't an option. I enjoy the company too. It helps to not disengage entirely sometimes when work has been tough. As counterintuitive as that sounds, it's prevented the burying of stress.

Plus, from time to time I can blog on the way in. :)