Thank You 2013!

"Dig deep, do things" - Scott Jurek

Proud

It has been a big year and I am so grateful for all that has happened. Gratitude here is not a new thing, but I am also quite proud looking at this last year. I pushed myself harder than I ever have and claimed a new PR on my marathon by over 12 minutes, not to mention picking up two more finisher medals. I started a new and challenging job and am excited that there is not enough time in the day now. Chris Rock said that's the difference between a job and a career. I am proud of my home and family and truly feel gratitude there. It's been a big year and I am quick to see the grace but I am also glad to take a modicum of satisfaction in seeing several jobs well done.

Gratitude

One of the cool thing about the holidays is how the everyday can look just a bit different. I am not talking about the fact that most of us have moved a tree into our living room and transformed the outside of our homes into amateur vegas decor. I am talking about how we have the chance to savor our environment a bit.

Disconnect

With continued tech in all areas of my life and for the most part a welcome addition, it has been a relief to be more unplugged this season. There was a radio ad last year that joked about what a wonderful day it was to be outside staring at a phone. I have tried to put mine away a bit more. While traveling this year, I have forgone the computer coming with to enjoy being more unplugged. It helps. 

Cup of Ritual

Cup of coffee. It's one of my favorite things. It's not just the flavor and quality of the drink but the sentiment that accompany's the beverage. I have bonded for life with friends when asked to get a cup of coffee at just the right time. The habit of meeting someone for a cup of coffee is such a pleasure. I love the everything about it. During this time of family and friends and traveling, it truly is one of my favorite things to just sit down with someone among the hustle and bustle and just enjoy the time together.

Boxing Day in Ohio

There's a degree of calm that is a welcome relief after a big day. We traveled on Christmas and now have the wonderful opportunity to celebrate with the Ohio family.

It's a great treat to be here!

Merry Christmas!

From me to you, have a Merry Little Christmas!

Gratitude for Family

It's been a good year! I am thrilled to have a chance to enjoy the holidays with my family and loved ones this year. Within the course of the next 48hrs, I will have the chance to see quite a bit of my family. It is a blessing and one I try not to take for granted for a moment. So many folks are unable to have these moments, I try and continue to remember that while celebrating.

Algorithm Fail

I am impressed and slightly unsettled by the sophistication of online advertising. A first I thought the fact that some of my favorite sites had ads on Facebook or wherever was kinda cool, but then it started getting more precise. If I looked at a particular Bears hat, it started appearing every time I logged on to Facebook. While this was amusing, it started to frustrate me a little during this holiday season as I have been doing my Christmas shopping and just surfing for said Bears hat on my own for fun. Yet every time I hopped on Facebook, what I wanted personally kept popping up there as if teasing me to get it.

Then I figure out how to beat the system. I went on the websites that kept teasing me and pulled up a bunch of items I had no interest in. Voila! No more temptation. No thank you Facebook ad, I do not need that KC Chiefs t-shirt!

Christmas Visit

The gifts are purchased and being wrapped. Our bags are coming out today for travel. Even the fridge is showing signs of the impending quiet time ahead. Our Christmas extravaganza with family's in both Colorado and Ohio is our second most unconventional travel this time of year. There was the time we rented a car to leave at the airport and had brought a reclscued dog with us from Chicago to leave with our family in Ohio, but that was a tough itinerary to beat.

In any case, it's a treat to get to see everyone this year. That is really the coolest gift.

Hi

Conan Visits The American Girl Store

Holiday Time

I am new to the regular hours type of job. Generally I have been working in industries that amp up this time of year. The prospect of finally getting to enjoy the season with my family is so beyond wonderful, I am having difficulty grasping it fully.

None the less, I am getting a bit giddy for the upcoming holiday time and our trip to Ohio. I love visiting out there and Tiff's family is always so wonderful to be with.

Cold Run

I have said it before and I'll likely say it again but running on snow is fun! With the right layers, the cold is a whole lot of fun, especially if I have the chance to hit the snow right after it has fallen. I know I live in Colorado and it seems like everyone here is beating the door down to get on the slopes this time of year, but hitting the parks and trails here in town on bike and running shoes. The winter chill doesn't bug me as there are easy ways to stay warm. It's also fun to not have a lot of people to deal with.

How'd that happen?

The great Richard Prior uttered a few words after being diagnosed with MS that have always come back to me when I get slowed down. He said, "God can make you take five." I was knocked out after a questionable meal yesterday that left me staying home today. It truly takes some questionable culinary maneuvers to turn vegetarian food into a knock out meal. Honestly, it is impressive. 

Perspective Adjustment

It's been a day of wait thus far. Without delving into personal details, Tiff and I have had an adventure today that drives home several reasons for gratitude. Our day 's task was far from being a horrible endeavor, but it was a tougher one. It made me aware of how fortunate we are and that while the constant attitude of gratitude I strive for would keep the shock of a days reminder from being too tough, apparently I underestimated how much you can be grateful for. Tiff and I are very fortunate both in health and to have the friends and family we do. We are actively trying to improve our quality of life and doing what we can to to help others.

It's far from perfect, but it's a damn good life.

Days like this strengthen those feelings. It makes me all too aware how many people do close are struggling. It also reminds me how many more seem to not realize how good they do have it. While annoying to acknowledge, when I'm stuck in traffic it also means I have a ride. That sort of perspective keeps me sane. Life is too much of a gift to squander it over minuscule crap.

I certainly don't want days like this too often but they are helpful in remembering all that. 

The Band

I got to see an old friend last night and the subject of our old improv group came up. We truly had a great run up in Ft. Collins years back and have since seen SOOOO much bas improv. We were trained to hold a particular standard that most of us have not taken in anywhere else. We had some fun talking about old times and as more of us make CO home again, the joke of putting the band back together kept coming up. Sure it may happen, but not in time for First Night Ft. Collins.

Locked Out

I'm not sure whether or not my routine lack if security is a good thing or not. I have a soft top jeep and usually ride my bike downtown. More often than not, my things are out in the open. I just had a light swiped from my bike that reminded me how put in the open. While my regular lack of being complete locked down is disconcerting, I wonder if there becomes an endless cycle when you start start locking up. In a way it reminds me to keep perspective. I am not foolish and take precautions, but in the end I must accept a degree of powerlessness. It keeps me humble. 

Hit Hard Again

I am still trying to absorb that my hometown has once again become the headline news for a high school tragedy. I heart goes out to those affected by todays events. I truly wish there were some signs this will no longer continue but the difficulty of an unexplainable tragic event is a solution might require some sort of explanation. Seriously, how can we get this to stop?

That perhaps though is a question for a later date. For tonight, I pray the people affected may find some comfort and not be alone.

Simple Love

xo

Winter Love

It truly is the most magical time of the year…

I do adore this time of the year. The world transforms into such beauty. Scarves and coats come out and hot cocoa sounds better than it ever has in your life. The twinkle of Christmas lights and street lights so early in the evening invites us to cozy up and enjoy where we are at. It's truly wonderful.

Of course, if you are like me, a fresh coat of snow means an amazing blanket to run upon and collect ice in your beard. That's me though. I like my cocoa after sweating a little first.

Good Review

This year I have been focused on 3 areas of "good" and am pretty happy with the results for the most part. On the eating "good" front, I am surprised to say I have almost converted entirely to a vegan diet. For a considerable time I said I leaned vegetarian. Now I would say it's a 90/10 vegan to vegetarian diet. I gave it a hell of a test too with over 1200 miles logged thus far. I truly feel great!

The good music part has been a exploration of more jazz and indie work. I am still not able to identify different pieces that easily as I am mostly just listening to the radio and audible is my worst learning style. None the less, a high tempo rift makes me smile every time. I am also loving the mesh of modern stuff I have stumbled upon. Finding "Girl Talk" was a wonderful find and will forever remind me of the Denver Cruiser Night I heard it first.

The good sleep is still a work in progress. Sleep and I have not gotten along well my entire life. I have most consistently wished it was not necessary at all or that I could just have a button and make it happen. In effort to get more "good" sleep, I have tried to go to bed earlier and more regularly get up at the same time. While training, I was up at 5:30 a lost every morning to get some miles before work in. I still don't sleep too well, but I keep trying. Put the body in the right place and hope it works.

It has been fun to focus on these 3 areas all year. I do appreciate the difference when given a choice. It is also nice to know that I have been monkey free for three and a half weeks. 2013 has been pretty all right!

Decembrathonist

December is a weird time for a marathoner. I am still savoring an amazing season with 3 marathons that began with a PR of 12min faster than ever before. none the less, I am starting to get the restless urge to know where the next big race will be. I am targeting a couple or three smaller races through next May, but I am excited to know when I will get that 26.2mi run in again. I know it's getting bad when last nigh I considered reaching out to an ultra running friend about suggesting a beginner ultra (those are races that usually begin at twice a marathon distance).

The races I am flirting most with next year are Portland, Chicago, and a couple others. I'd love to find a fun Spring marathon that would not require heavy costs in travel. I don't have much interest in doing Colfax again, but will be excited to help my friend training for it. Look out icy Sloan's Lake laps!

Cold This!

It's been super cold everywhere lately. I have heard nothing but how cold it is outside and often how crazy I am personally for riding my bike still. My friends in Chicago never got tire of laughing at my shorts throughout the winter. Well, as it is so cold thinking of much else has been impossible, I present a couple dudes in skirts. 

Enjoy the laugh!

Christmas in Capitol Hill

Last year my wife and I had just moved into our new home the day before Thanksgiving. Our Christmas decorations just remained in the living room for the season. In fact we didn't know what our place looked like without a tree in the room for several weeks after moving in. We both felt a bit rushed on the season, but made the best of it.

As a couple kids that still just love a magic of the season, we were both pretty excited for Christmas this year! So far it has not disappointed. In fact , not since we left Chicago have we had the chance to enjoy with a home court advantage the magic of a city decked for the holidays. It's a different type of special.  Having become more familiar with our neighborhood this year it has been delightful to watch it  with lights and tinsel.

Our tree is up in our window and our wreath is hung on the door. I even set out a bowl of candy came Hershey kisses today. It's fun to enjoy and believe in the wonder. 

Yeah, Winter!

I do love the cold. Even when it dips down to the single digits. It's interesting to see how people react though. There are far less people out and about and  the roads are far slower (which is a degree of a relief from the folks that rage from red light to red light). The people you encounter seen to be a bit warmer and there is the mutual, "wow it is cold out!" that seems to be a universal way of saying we are so in the same boat.

For the most part I have no troubles with the frigid. I layer more when I jump on the bike and ride a little more in the lane (legally I am to ride as far over as is safe). I have yet to be out so long that I don't have enough great layers to get through.

Biking in the Snow

Winter's First Party

Our first real snow storm hit today and it's a heck of a storm. The temperature dropped 60 degrees in the last 36hrs and snow has been steadily falling. Due to the quick freeze and the extremely low temp's, the city has shut down for the most part. It's a good day to stay in if you can and take comfort inside.

If you are out and about in the Denver area and see someone in need, please use the following number:

"With this storm, many of the homeless don't have shelter. The city is launching a huge effort to make sure that everyone has a warm, safe place to go. 

If you see someone in need, call (720) 913-2000 and they will send someone over to assist that person."

We can make a difference today just by looking out for each other.

Guest Blogger Today on Dwell

I had the privilege of making a guest blog appearance on Dwell today. Ergo, I am double dipping the entry here on Stupie, heh.

http://www.dwell-denver.com/blog/denver-neighborhood-hot-spots-must-know-about-coffee-houses.html

No Photoshopping

This picture has not been doctored in anyway. It is exactly as the camera caught it the night Tiff and I went to Maggie Malone's in LA to see the bar the kick started Flogging Molly's notoriety. There is just something I love about this shot and all it's "imperfections." It reminds me exactly of the feeling that night, which was a pretty good night.

I dig being reminded perfection is overrated.

Bike Reminicing

It seems now a miracle my friend in Chicago just kept the bike I left there when I moved to LA with Tiff. He stashed it in his basement and damn near forgot about it. A year and a half later, back in the Windy City, I was shocked when I called and he still had it. It has been 5 years now that I have been back on this bike and now in 2 different cities, doing the urban commuting, snow or shine. It needs some work, but it continues to perform. I've missed every door opened in front of me and only hit a couple cars, but never badly. When I pulled up this picture of the first winter getting it back, I had no idea how much I was going to love riding it. It's like the adage says:

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach the man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to ride a bike and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring." - Desmond Tutu