Blog Topics

I'm debating about trying to expand the topics I discuss on the blog. I tend to want to tell you guys about things I do. Places I go and new interesting things I do. However, I don't do enough things that fall into that category according to me. I like telling stories and being wordy. To do that I need to have big, full, rich experiences.

I'm thinking I will tell you more about stuff I like and think you should check out. Thoughts?

What's in my Pockets

Thirteen days ago my pal, @ridiculousnikki, posted what's in her purse. She asked her readers to tell her what was in their bag. Being that I don't carry a bag unless I am traveling and it is a suitcase I asked her if she would like to know What's in my Pockets. Turns out she did want to know, so here it goes.

I have different items in my pockets depending on what I'm doing and where I'm going. I'm sticking to the most common 3 occasions. These 3 cover about 98%* of my pocket life and I don't feel getting more complicated or answering any questions that the other 2%* might entail.

First up we have my casual daily wear jean pockets.

Wallet: I use a minimalist wallet. I carry 3 cards, license, sometimes some cash, maybe my gym ID, SAMs membership, odd receipt and such.

Phone: iPhone 4 that "doesn't have an antenna issue" but for some reason needs a case to work. I'm still irritated about that, Apple.

Lip balm: ChapStick Moisturizer or Medicated. I like the medicated better but I find it difficult to find.

Change: 4 quarters and a Presidential Dollar Coin. I like having a bit of change in my pockets. It helps prevent a $10 parking ticket on occasion. The quarter thing started in middle school. Mom always sent Bro and I to school with a quarter so we could call home if we needed to. That was back when cell phones were in a huge bag and pay phones were still in the schools and they cost 25 cents to place a call. The PDC I carry because almost everything costs over a dollar and the coin is easier to carry than a wadded up dollar bill or 4 additional quarters. I wish we'd just stop printing dollar bills altogether. Coins are so much more economical.

Car key: My car is a push to start ignition. IT IS AWESOME.

Mint: Life Saver mint. I like these but don't buy them. I pick one up at the accountant and at dance class. Sometimes I have one in my pocket sometimes I don't. I can't stand the red and white mints, they are too sweet.

Morgan Silver Dollar: This is a 7 tail-feather 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar minted in San Francisco. It was given to me by a roommate that worked at a bank. I started carrying it because of a story BF told me about his grandfather carrying one everyday. By the end it was a worn smooth piece of silver**. Thought it was neat so I started carrying this one. It's starting to wear a hole through my pocket and people think the imprint is something else. I need to learn how to patch my pocket.

Work pockets. I'm going to skip the repeats.

Work keys: 3 PO box keys, work door key, and one I don't know what it is for.

Knife: Ka Bar MULE pocket knife. It is really really sharp.

Suit pockets for church.

Handkerchief: Irish linen, every guy should carry one when he wears a suit. Just because.

There you have it. That is what is in my pockets.

*All stats are within the statistical error of my own made up perception.

**That's the way I remember the story. Some details might be wrong.

photos by me and illustration uncredited from the world wide web

Groundhog 2012

A couple Sundays ago was my almost annual running of the TLC's Groundhog 10k. It is almost annual because Stephen and I missed it for his wedding reception last year. I think that is an excused absence.

The race is held underground in the Hunt Midwest Subtropolis. It was a giant limestone mine that has been turned into the largest underground business complex (according to the owners). It has a post office and a bunch of businesses built in this thing. And roads. Yes, roads underground that are big enough for semis! You can watch a little promo video on that link up there and see a truck in this thing to give you an idea of the size. I bet you're thinking something like, 'wow semis under ground. that is big.' Well it gets bigger, areas have TRAIN TRACKS. BIG.

In a place that big why not have a race at the end of January. They hold a 5k and a 10k. The 5k is one lap of the place and the 10k is 2 laps. In terms of racing it is a great place. 60-65 degrees, virtually completely flat, no wind. It really makes for an amazing experience. My only two faults for it are a couple tight turns that we have to take and a sewage smell in one area that lasts for about 25 meters.

Stephen and I arrive an hour or so before the start so we can pick up our packets, pin our numbers, and warm up. I also had some quality time checking out a lady that I was too chicken to talk to until after the race. I think she was too young anyway.

Our plan was to not blow out the first few miles and pick up the pace to the end. When we started my legs didn't really get moving and Stephen was out in front of me quickly. I got up to speed and kept the distance between us constant for a few miles. Other runners around me were stomping, panting, gasping, falling back, and just generally losing it. I have noticed in a certain range of paces you have the people that have been running for awhile yet haven't figured out how to start at a sustainable pace. I used to do this and eventually they'll learn.

Around mile 4 I started to notice I wasn't in good shape. Mile 5 I slowed pathetically but was able to start to pick it back up right at the end. Stephen finished ahead of me in 117th place with a time of 45:11.8. And I ended up finishing 149th in 46:50.1. In our age group we were 21st and 25th. A total of 1172 people ran the 10k against us.

Now for a few pictures. These below are interesting just because you can see one complete stride in the series. I like seeing how I run. How I think I run vs how it looks. How much I swing my arms. How my feet land. I can see why my soles wear out the way they do. I still need to get my elbows in and swing my arms only forward and back. I have too much cross body motion.

And now for the ladies, you can drool over a picture of Stephen and his awesome legs. Just be careful to not drool directly into your keyboard. And he is TAKEN, so don't ask. Also, his W will kill you then I will.

photos copied from Action Sports Images, LLC

Merry Christmas!

Nothing like taking the Christmas photo on Christmas Eve! Let's just call this early for next year.

(untitled)

After 10 hours of stuff too gruesome for me to describe to some of my readers, I feel like a functioning human being again. I'm going to go out on a limb and say waterboarding wouldn't be as difficult.

(Last Letter from Dad)

6/1/01

Rob,

Not much to report from home. Went to St. Louis yesterday for checkup for next transplant. My shoulder is getting much better now. Not nearly as sore and immobile as before. Next go back to Dr. on June 12. Of course, your mother was required to shop while we were there. We went down the night before and stayed with Anne and Tom. Susie is having a baby shower tomorrow and your mother is going to it with Gow. Big deal I suspect, but I am staying home.

Beilsmith found that a crank case ventilator was clogged on Woody. He thinks this may have been the cause of Woody's suddenly using of oil. If you think you can get along with Woody for another year, we might want to consider keeping him and seeing if the oil problem is no longer a problem. It is unusual for a car to start using oil so quickly so Beilsmith my have found the problem. I hope so.

Jim Beilsmith wants to buy your mother's van, but when a replacement came in at Murphy's Jim didn't have the money. He is trying to sell some of the cars in his stable. Don't think he can be counted on for several months. We may just wait and buy one of the 2002 models instead.

The burn of the warm season grass caused the golden rod to jump out of the ground and take over from the warm season grass (wsg). I will ask Richard to mow the golden rod and maybe the wsg could get a start. We have had cool wet weather and that has favored the weeds and caused the wsg to grow slowly.

Jim McNeal has graveled the road to the cabin. I asked him to wait until it was dry, but he got in a hurry and got stuck turning around and had to dump a load in the field. I suspect he will clean it up. I have left a call for him to see what his plans are before he finishes.

I was able to get some tung oil for the cabin floor. I will now make some samples and see if we can get a look we like.

Eric planted the switch grass in between the parking area and the electric transformer. None has germinated yet, but it has had plenty of rain. The cool weather has probably slowed everything down. Our highs have been in the 60's and the lows in the upper 40's and 50's. This has made the grass grow and has kept our yard boy, Quinn, busy.

Read is coming home this Sunday to pick up Mary and Tim's washer and dryer, which he bought. He is going out with Annie tonight and tomorrow he is working on a job application for a researcher needed in the vet school. He will probably not come home to get the washer and dryer until Sunday. His article for the Blues may be published on the web site this week. I guess he will take the washer & dryer back in the pickup. Merrill leaves soon for band camp. He will be on a bus playing in various locations and traveling.

Everyone is asking how things are going with you. Mrs. Viorel said Steve was amazed that you are doing something so exciting and adventurous. I hope things are going as well as you had hoped. I would have loved doing something like you are doing. You are just like my grandfather (Gow's dad) who went to Cheyenne at the age of 18 to become a cowboy. He got a job on the train as a fireman to get there, then got a job as a cowboy and bought a saddle. However, when the winter came and the cold winds, he came back to Frankford and became a midwestern farmer.

Jim Nemes hasn't started on the cabin floor yet, I have the screws for the floor. I expect him to start any day now. We will put screws in the boards to hold them to the floor. Jim knew of some special finish screws for the purpose. I ordered 2000 screws from a place in VA.

Gumm's broken collarbone is not healing fast. Therefore, he has not been back to do any more painting. He thinks it will be at least another 2 weeks before he can do anything. The bone is not healing as fast as hoped. A gap can still be seen on the X-ray.

Be sure to check the air in the tires when you drive it. Don't want you to have any tire problems. Hope the Explorer is meeting your needs. Don't forget the things you put under the seat.

I would be interested to hear who some of the other workers are at the camp. What schools do they go to, where are they from, how did they find out about the job, etc. Also, what you have done at guide school. I have been watching the weather on the weather channel. Looks like you have been having warm weather.

Your mother sent more underwear and the Phillips 66 gas card today.

Be sure to get someone to take close up pictures of you in your activities when you have time. Don't need a lot of long distance scenery photos. This is an opportunity you will be glad to have photos to remember by.

Have a great adventure.

(signed) Dad

Burn Baby Burn, Wait Just Kidding

During Thanksgiving, Bro and I tried to burn my mom's woods. It went well for awhile.

We started our back fire and decided we were comfortable with the wind.

Things going well cutting in small back fires to speed up the process.

Hey, Bro are we sure we want to keep this up considering we are dealing with 40+ MPH gusts and we'll have two enormous brush piles? Shut it down.

At least we didn't burn the house down.

That is what a controlled burn is supposed to look like. Next time we light our fields on fire it'll be on the blog. You guys are welcome to come watch or help.