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.

Vicarious

Today's my wife's birthday! When we fist met, she regarded her birthday with such excitement and festivities, it seemed natural that it fell in the midst of the fall big holidays. Her gusto is a little less than it was then, but what I love is that she still holds an almost child-like excitement towards her birthday. Even if she doesn't talk about it or ask for anything, I know she's excited for the day and I love her the more for it. It is a beautiful thing knowing and loving the things our loved ones love!

Credit Where Credit is Due

I am a lucky guy. While that picture may make this statement seem a bit tongue in cheek, I assure you I meant it much more seriously. The picture was taken while we lived in Hollywood. Till would occasionally drag me out of the house on these horrible runs. I truly did not like them, especially how she would kinda sprint the last couple blocks leaving me in her dust panting and frustrated. "What a stupid exercise!"

Then I tried to quit smoking for the first time. Running was the only time I wasn't going nuts. Ergo, I ran… A LOT. I started to actually enjoy it. I had no idea what I was doing really. I ran in crappy tennis shoes with cotton shorts, no shirt (or sunscreen), and no water through the middle of the day in LA in the summertime. As though all that wasn't foolish enough, I later found out I should have been checking to see if the air was even safe enough to be outside most of that time. Ah, Los Angeles… city of dreams.

After a while, I began running races and marathons. I still run A LOT, but to train now. My wonderful Tiffany has encouraged me and supported me now through 6 marathons and on the verge of 7 & 8. It requires many hours out logging miles, hours of soreness, ice baths, and the truly worst part of all: me talking about it all the time! She does all this and more. She even manages to be interested periodically when I talk about a hill repeat workout or why a PB GU gel was amazing when chased with a grape NUUN. I know what I do is odd, at least among my immediate circle, but she makes me feel supported and encouraged.

THAT, is why I know I am a lucky guy!

I love you Tiff!

Date Night

Tiff and I have developed a great date night on Monday's. We hit Kind Yoga for a 5:30 class and get a bit to eat from City 'o' City. We usually bide the food prep time with a trip to Pandora's box, one of the coolest little boutiques in Denver. It's a routine that sort of naturally developed, but it has become truly a highlight of the week for us. The combination of the yoga and good food always seems to set us both on our feet and gives the new week a great push in the right direction. The fact that we just started doing it without intent also makes it that much more special.

Now the details of this routine may not be of any true interest beyond the two of us, but why I post it is that I love my wife. I am truly excited still about our life together. The fact that we can still find a "thing" after 9 years together, the last 3 in marriage is pretty friggin' cool. With so much news about us on the doom and gloom, I just though, "hell, why not a bit of a feel good?"

It's all good

True Valentine

I am not one to get all that jazzed over Valentine's Day anymore. It has three parts really that keep me from being too enthusiastic about our mid-February ritual. The first is that it just seems fake. If Charlie Brown once bemoaned the commercialism of Christmas, the V-day is it's unbridled sequel. The second is that I generally seem employed in places that keep me from making any traditional plans, a fact my wife has long since given in to. The last though is probably the best one though. I am madly in love with my wife. I tell regularly so in fact. I buy her flowers when she is blue, not because the calendar tells me to. With her, I feel the spirit of Valentines, if there is such, all the time. It seems as odd as proposing Drink Coffee Day or Walk Day.I must confess though, the recent Pancake Day was pretty awesome. With my wife, I am inspired to all the tenants of Valentine's Day but without the needless urge to go buy it. I love her and waited a long time to find her. Of course I will let her know she's my love and I am damn grateful she's in my life. 

I will now step off my heart shaped soapbox.