bloserg

Hierarchy in Gnatdom

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:19:13 +0100

Getting older sucks.

You can keep the wisdom.

So every journey starts out with the first step, This journey started a few days ago with the first step being uneventful, other than me asking myself "Why?"

"Do I really want to get back into this thing?'

A long, long time ago on a trail (not) so far away.... My first run of the year was always a 10 miler. No matter what the pace. No matter what the pain. 10 miles or bust. Never was that much of a problem.

That was in the 80's and early 90's. Since then I've learned to reevaluate my situation, talent and goals:

2009 goals:

1) Get my shoes on

2) Get to the trail.

3) Take that first step

4) Be happy with whatever many steps that follow.

These might not sound like lofty goals to strive for but they work for me.

So the other day I get my shoes on, get to the trail and take that first step. Here are some notes on the steps that followed:

Beautiful day. Mild 72F, Sunny and a slight breeze. In my many trips to these trails I've always noticed the popularity, in descending order, on their citizens patronage: #1 Walking, #2 Cycling and #3 Running. Recently though there have been a lot more runners than I can ever remember. This might just be a blip on the radar. It use to be that you'd see a spike in runners in March, April and May; I'd always assumed that this was due to them preparing for a late spring race. June, July and early August begot a smattering of the two legged freaks. Late August, September and October they came out of hibernation and stomped the limestone dry, again in likelihood of pending event.

Off track, back to the run.

The pace didn't matter to me, just that I was there. I'm sure that the only ones that my pace was any concern at all were the pesky little gnats that swarmed the trail today. They were EVERYWHERE. They seemed to hover in the shaded areas and then dispurse somewhat in the sunlight. It's pretty bad when you can't out run a gnat.

I saw them in the distance as I'm sure they saw me. Not until this day did I think their was a hierarchy in gnatdom. These buggers have brains, don't let those stupid scientist who write books upon books on the subject fool you- These buggers do have brains. They knew not to approach the many cyclist- for they were going way too fast- might get a nose bleed. The walkers, much too slow-might die from sun radiation. Me, on the other hand was going juusst right- fast enough to taxi them to wherever they wanted to go and slow enough that I could be used as a sundial to measure the time it would take to get there.

To evade futile. I would have to close my eyes, hold my breath and run the gauntlet.

Even though I picked up my pace, my plan was abandoned once I reached what I'd guess was the middle of the the great expanse.. The distance was too great to compensate for the sin of air.

How much protein is in a gnat?

And why were they laughing?

To any of the onlookers on the trail I must have looked like Pigsty from PEANUTS.

In days past they could have easily picked me up and flown me away. Pooh might have mistaken me for his little black rain cloud.

Not today though, they would need another battalion. Captain Friction strikes again! Tomorrow is another day. We'll meet then my little pesky nemeiseseses. Maybe in late summer "I'll be your Huckleber...I mean little black rain cloud"

I'm back

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:00:31 +0100

2 months and no mass quantities of web site work. Now that was a true experiment in e-willpower. Every now and again I'll pick something that I feel consumes too much of my time and place it on hold while redirecting the time I would have used, elsewhere.

Elsewhere this time was invested in 3 areas:

1) trying to help my son Joseph make sure that he WILL graduate from high school with his senior class.

2) Keeping in touch with Chris, Laura and Aidan (in Japan), they'll be home for good by (aprx) July 25th (?)

3) The birth of our first granddaughter (second grandchild) Alayna.

I also made time to have a few beers on St. Patricks day.

I'll start posting updates soon-this week. The losersquad has a 5 person relay team for tomorrows Toledo (Glass city) marathon. I'll post our results tomorrow night. Runners will be John Kiggins, Jim Bado, Bill Koszegi, Joseph Kiggins-the elder and Joseph Kiggns-da yuowte (slight copyright infingement to the producers of "My Cousin Vinnie".

So in as few words as I can get away with:"I'm back" -yoborobrojo

Captain Friction

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:49:56 +0100

There I was at the top of one of the slopes of Peak-n-Peak, New York. I'm sure it wasn't the highest point on the range, but by far it was the highest starting point I'd ever tried.

Only 10 months earlier I was on the bunny slope at Brandy wine ski resort (Ohio). I had no business being on that hill.

The view was amazing. An expanse I'd never witnessed before. I had started out earlier in the day with minor grades. As my confidence built with each succession of not killing myself on the way down towards the lodge, the thought of going even higher started to take hold. Five times down this thing and I'm still breathing without any broken bones, yeppers it's time to advance.

Up the lift, again the view was probably the the most panoramic that I'd seen since the Grand Canyon (1977). Going up was slow enough that you could see a few of the other skiers swooshing their way down underneath us. A few fell, but most didn't. Graceful. Almost all made it look way too easy. If something looks too good to be true, it usually is.

Hop off the lift, down the slight slope, position the skies for an abrupt halt and then came my first mistake. I turned around and looked down, but there wasn't a down. This was the first hill I'd ever been on that I couldn't see the end, where I was suppose to stop. What the hell am I doing up here. I didn't care for the view at this point on. From up here beauty could mean death. I thought Alfred Hitchcock had something to do with the creation of such a double sided blade.

Once again gravity would come back to haunt me in this life. Where was Captain Friction when you needed him?

Captain Friction, for those of you not in the know, was my alter-ego, my invisible friend, my own personal super hero, while growing up in Streetsboro, Ohio in the 1970"s. He didn't monopolize the headlines or garner enough attention to inspire comic books, movies, action toys or lunchboxes, but in many of the situations I found myself in as a child, he was as real to me as Superman.

7 years old. 1969. My brother Dennis (6 year old) and I were visiting my Sister Naomi and Brother-in-law Bill (at the time not a Sr.) at their home in Peninsula, Ohio. I think it was during fall and there was yet to be a snow that hung around for any great amount of time. We had coats on, probably due to the fact that we were kids and owing nothing to the outside climate.

One day we were free to roam around and as we were a tad too young to go for one of our (not too far in the future 30 mile) hikes, we settled for a hill that one of us had spotted. "Let's climb up it" Dennis said. I know this idea came from him since I was always the little perfect angel and such a dastardly thought couldn't possible have been hatched in my noggin. "OK" I said, always the follower, "Your plan, your fault if one of us dies" was my reasoning. In reality since I was older, it was ALWAYS my fault.

After the long trek up to the summit, we turn around and I remember we could see the entire village. "OK, we made it, let's climb down now". But Dennis had another thought. "Wanna race?"

This would be the time in the movie where you know the killer is in the house but the kid doesn't hear you screaming at the the screen "Don't go in there-the killers in there-you stupid kid"

"OK!"

"First one down to the bottom still breathing and without broken bones, wins"

"OK"

"On your mark, get set, one alligator, two alligator, and my mom says you are not it, two, three...GO"

Gravity took over from there. We ran a few feet and then our feet couldn't compensate for our speed.

"Captain Friction, where are you?" "Help!"

Tumble, tumble, tumble.

"Once again Captain Friction must have been busy elsewhere.

Tree, tree, tumble, tree, thorns, etc....CRASH!

I can't remember who won but I know we both lost. Tons of tear, pain, dirt everywhere.

"It was Dennis' idea"

"But your older"

"Damb" my first cuss word.

We would live to see another day, but this was when I planted the seed of doubt on the existence of Captain Friction.

Looking as far down as I could, I saw two different paths I could take. One in which ALL of the other skiers were maneuvering, being the wide slope. My bother-in-law Bob chose this path- which proved to be the right one. I on the other hand chose plan B, the skinny trail lined with trees and running along side the more used option. My train of thought here was that I'd reach a far greater speed on the wide open slope compared to a slightly less graded one.

"OK, I can do this"

"On your mark, get set, one alig..."

"This ain't too bad, actually it's kind of fun" Swish past a tree, duck under a branch. Yep this was for me. With my confidence building again I started to let gravity reel me in to its slippery seduction. Faster , faster, wohoo, this is fantastic.

Trees don't move. I think I missed that class in physics.

Everything was going great until I ducked to avert a branch and stood back up to see a tree facing me. You can find me routinely looking at trees. They're everywhere and are beautiful. Normally though I'm not looking at them while only an inch or so away and going 30 mph on a direct collision course.

"Damb" , not my second cuss word.

I hate trees. I felt like every bone in my body tore through the skin, leaving a pile of blubber at the trunk and a scattering of bones a few yards beyond. There I lay. I though I was dead. The pain made me know I was alive. Initially I couldn't move, then I lifted my head and looked at the tree I had met. Not a scratch. Humans bounce.

I was in too much pain to cry and after taking inventory of the situation all I could muster was a series of painful laughs. My skies had been ripped from my boots and were laying at the base of the tree, crisscrossed. For some reason it had reminded me of those old Bugs Bunny cartoons we use to watch. With each laugh my body died and at the same time, healed. No medical attention was needed even though I did walk down the rest of the mountain.

This was the last time I've ever skied, although I know I'll do it again one day, it just won't be today.

Captain Friction, where were you?

Months go by and I'm out at dinner with family prior to the first snowfall of the season and one of my brother-in-laws ask why I don't ski anymore and why I do so much running.

I reply, "I've never hit a tree running"

Me 2 we

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:50:48 +0100

10K run, 25k bike, 10k run- back in the day this was called a biathlon.

The year was 1991 (?).

Bedford, Ohio.

My brother Dennis was there and I'm pretty sure it was the only race we've been at together that he wasn't a participant. So I had the pressure of doing a good job for my little bro. I'd always been a avid runner (now a jogger) but I had never trained on a bike, at ANY distance. The only prep I did for this race was at the most a 8 mile jaunt. Hell I didn't even own a bike, I had to borrow one from my brother-in-law Ray.

I was pretty confident that I'd do OK in the first 10k leg and that I'd at least finish the 25k bike without killing myself but I had no idea what effect both would take from me during the last 10k. Would my legs give out?

I remember it being in the fall and that it was extremely cold for that time of the season. Add to this, the wind and rain and Aaarrgghhh! I also recall that after the race I wished I would have listened to the race director a little better. Never having ran a race before with a transition area, I thought that after you completed the first 10k, you had to wait for the other runners to finish before taking off on your bike. I learned from this mistake rather fast. OK, so it wasn't rather fast, It might have been 2 minutes of wasted time, more on this later...

Dennis wished me good luck and went to the finish line to wait for me to clump through. I hadn't anything to base a prediction time on so Dennis was going to be on his own for some time.

The field was quite large and as normal I stayed towards the rear as the horn sounded. There were a LOT of hills and I remember clocking the first mile at 6:10 and was feeling really good. I think I finished the first 10k in between 38 and 39 minutes (out of reach today-maybe) but back in the day it was a tad slow for me.

When I entered the transition area not too many runners where in front of me and not having listened to the race director I hadn't a clue what I was to do. So I sat a minute or so and then took my time getting my helmet on and mounted my borrowed bike. I think it was Dennis that found me and said "I think you're suppose to start your bike race now!" It seemed like that was what all the others that had caught up were doing so I figured the youngin' knew what he was talking about.

So off I went.

Through the Bedford Metroparks. Pedal, pedal, pedal. I enjoy riding a bike, you get to see so much more of your surroundings and you can bring a ton of stuff with you. But me, I love running.

So as the story goes, I'm going at a pretty good click and I'm thinking Dennis won't have to wait too much longer. I'll be done with this bike thing and breeze the second 10k, no problem. Heck I'm even passing bikers as I'm sure some of them passed me. I'm feeling REALLY good. I didn't take in to consideration that it was going to be this easy. 1,2,3 miles whiz by, heck miles 4-9 I can't even recall. Then came MILE TEN.

Note to anyone in the least bit interested in riding a bike: If the chain breaks- you ain't goin' nowhere! So somewhere between miles 10 and 11, SNAP! Damn, not now! All the options started to run through my head. 1) Repair the chain and continue- nope didn't have a repair kit and even if I did, I wouldn't have known how to do it. 2) Ditch the bike and just run the last 5 1/2 miles and then run the 10k- nope- not my bike- not an option. 3) Push another biker off and take their ride- nope. 4) Quit- not on your life, so I opted for 5) Pick up the bike and run with it the last 5 1/2 miles and then clump the second 10k.

This did wonders for my time. I guess Dennis was going to have to wait after all.

Memory fails me on what my final time was, I have it on a results page somewhere, but believe it or not there were a lot of runners that came in behind me.

This was a time in my life when running was all about me and what I could do. I missed out spending time with my wife and kids due to my poor scheduling of my runs. I was very selfish. I was addicted. It was so bad that I'll share something that I've kept inside, since it happened.

My brother Brian who (in 1987 ) was dying from AIDS was visiting in Ohio and was about to leave for Florida and the family was having a get together to say goodbye. I'm sure everyone made it. I didn't , I had to get my run in, I had to log those miles.

There would be time to see Brian. He'll be OK, He'll beat this thing. Running first, family second. Warped.

The next time I saw Brian was on November 1st 1987 in Gainesville, Florida. He lay in a hospital bed surrounded by family. He died November 2nd. That was the saddest time of my life but at the same time it was one of the happiest. My family was gathered around and even though one of us had passed and there was a lot of tears, we chose to celebrate our brother Brian's life, with laughter.

It took a few years to get out of the "Me" aspect of running but with the help of John Kiggins, Dennis Kiggins, Bill Koszegi jr, Chip Warren, James Bado and Brian Kiggins, I'm now part of a larger running community of "We".

The road will be there tomorrow, so when you have the choice, be there for your family.

If you ever see me run and think to yourself, man is he slow, Just know that it took many , many miles to get this slow and I'm just fine with that. - yoborobrojo

Oh 2 B a rabbit, this poky bloke dreams

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:23:21 +0100

It's a good thing that James was ahead of me while driving separate cars to the Fremont indoor 10k race. He knew (basically) where we were headed and I (more than basically) had no idea where we were. It had warmed up a bit from the previous day but the roads still had some drifts that I was uncomfortable driving at 125 mph, Jim at the other end of the spectrum had no problem maneuvering his slug bug in this condition. I'm the guy on the freeway that you yell "you drive like you've never seen snow before". Yep, I'm that guy. But just like in many races that we've run together, Jim sees me falling behind and is nice enough to let me catch up, without making me feel like I'm catching up.

We make it to the complex in time to check in at the registration table, introduce ourselves to a few people and check out the facility. We (or I ) didn't have to worry about making it there on time thought, one runner who was a little lost in locating the track had called the race director (Marc) and asked if the start of the 10:15 run could be postponed until he got there. "Not a problem", one huge advantage of such a small field (20 entrants).

The complex looks like a great place for people of all ages and abilities to gather for an seemingly endless array of activities. Running, walking, basketball, ice skating, hockey, etc... Any community would be lucky to have such a place.

Marc asks all the runners to meet upstairs (where the track is located) so he could introduce us to our "lap counters" and go over some basic information. After the briefing Marc does a very informal (just the way I like it) "GO". No gun, no "on your mark", no bells and whistles, just "GO".

I was inclined to be a smart ass and start the race in the wrong direction, but I gave in (as I often do ) to maturity. I run in the same direction as the other cattle, only at a much slower pace. I think the first runner passed me somewhere between "G" and "O". 62 laps yowza.

Jim and I do the obligatory "Go Losers" yell as the race begins, smacking our fists together, all if just to prove that WE ARE MEN and being men, we do men things. Aaaarrgghh!

The first song playing over the speakers was "Where the streets have no name" by U2. I found this quite appropriate since we WERE running on a "street with no name". The song selection from start to finish was GREAT. Beatles, U2, Foo Fighters, AC / DC, to name a few. My only suggestions for next year would be to again start the race with the same song BUT the 2nd song has to be "Gonna fly now" (Theme from Rocky) by Bill Conti. This would be my ONLY criticism of the entire event.

All the runners that will end up in the top 5 pass me as I'm about 3/4 around my 1st lap. My strategy of conserving my energy until the last 35 laps, so I can burst ahead and end up winning, looks like a failed endeavour. I'll "SPILL THE GUTS" (notice the reference Jim?, get it? do you?) on a little known fact about one hazard of the race that only the POKY BLOKES know to be true. Every time you'd run a few feet and then touch the side of the railing- you'd receive a little static shock. All you rabbits wouldn't know this, but now that you know, what will you do with this knowledge? 62 laps x every few feet, that's like being shocked 496 times.

Jim passes me and gives me a "way to go loser". I think I replied "Hey" I can't recall, being tired already. A couple of good things that were noticed about the run: 62 laps indoors (that 10 water stations per mile) , what other race can make that statement. You can't get lost. No wind resistance. You don't have to remember where you parked.

I was feeling really good at about mile 4, especially when I noticed that the field of runners had thinned out. I thought for sure that the rabbits had exhausted their ability of keeping such a break neck speed and that I had a chance of pulling off the miracle of the century by winning this thing. The reality hit me when I noticed that the rabbits weren't exhausted, they had merely finished. Oh to be a rabbit this poky bloke dreams.

As with every pass by, Jim gives me encouragement. I honestly have no idea how such a tall dude can run as fast as he does. Very inspirational. He finishes in 45:09, cools down and then runs a few laps with me. Without Jim, I highly doubt if I'd have any invested interest in running these races. He gets me off my butt.

I finish at 1:09:56. Not great, not even good, but I was there. With friends, other runners, great volunteers. I feel guilty taking such wonderful memories.

We talk to Marc about next years indoor 10k clump and assure him that we and other losers will be there. He told us this was the best event that they've ever held and planned on adding more than just the 2 races that today's event slatted. Superbowl Sunday has a new meaning to this loser. Next year we're bringing the LOSERSQUAD. All this and it was my birthday to boot. 47 and I still feel like a rabbit even if I run like a poky bloke.

Thanks everyone!

Did you mean:Ohio Freemason 10" spacer?

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:24:20 +0100

When James approached us with a INDOOR 10k race, who didn't actually think he was kidding at first. Sure an indoor 10k race, yeah riiiggght! James, if you need the attention just ask us to meet you at your local track and we'd be more than happy to crump with you a tad.

So then I thought, well maybe he's not joking around and I went ahead and searched for the event on the Internet. A funny thing happened. My computer didn't explode. I thought for sure that after I hit search for " Freemont Ohio indoor 10k race", my screen would fry, or at the very least reply with a "did you mean : Ohio Freemason 10" spacer?"

Not one of these things happened. The only thing that the search engine corrected me on was the spelling of Fremont. Only 1 "E", who kneew? Not mee.

So there was the site ( http://fremontrunners.wordpress.com/ ) , right in front of my eyes. No smoke and mirrors. Someone was really going to organize this thing. How many runners would do this?

It sounded so bizarre, so wacky, so unconventional that I replied to James " Count me in"

My trip to the Bado abode was pretty uneventful. Passed though Homerville for the 1st time in my life- in and out of that village in about 15 seconds. Tons of snow drifts, farm land and roads without bends in them. 3 hours drive time- give or take a few minutes. Would have been there faster but I'm a Grandfather and I drive like one -this tidbit of info will resurface later in this BLOserG.

Cold, I would've dressed warmer. Oh well.

The mystery that I held close was answered upon being greeted at the door of their house. A FEMALE opened the door
and introduced herself as Will. "Oh, you're Will!" Lucy you gots some esplainin' to do. I'll look into an explanation later, but for now I tell Will, my name is Nancy. She doesn't buy it and so I give in with a " I'm Joseph"

Will brings me downstairs where James is (where else?) on the treadmill. I'm thinking wee can out Freemont, even Fremont and maybe do the indoor 10k one better by having a 10k treadmill race- HHMMMM (I got Mark G thinking now!) I can see it now " The 2009 Fremont Indoor, on treadmill, on Superbowl Sunday 10k" Need bigger shirts.

Get unpacked and Jim then gives me the once over 5 nickle tour of the house. I was introduced to Mandy (dog), Angel (cat), Emily's fish, turtle and hamster- sorry Emily, I'm old and can't for the life of me remember their names. I saw Emily's & Mats room as well as Jim's office. Jim showed me the original concept unit for "Planet Quest", and an original comic strip in which he authored while at Kent State. Jack of all trades he is.

The tour of Findlay was fantastic. It is highly recommended that if you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods that you look up "Jim & Emily's site seeing tour guided afficianadoes extraordinarios" They are by far top of the line. They are also free.

Too much for me to remember but from what I can recall and will never forget. Dietsch Bros. Chocolates & Ice Cream.MMMmmm. http://www.dietschbrothers.com/ , I think this might be the ONLY chocolate, ice cream store IN THE WORLD whose name starts with DIETS. Was Fatsosch taken? Delicious and A MUST!!! when you come to Findlay.

Stately Raven Bookstore, their moniker says it all- even if a tad understated. "The most unique bookstore in northwest Ohio". If this is only the most unique bookstore in northwest Ohio, I better get out more. This was a fantastic place. I wish we had such a store near us when the kids were young. Now with my second Grandchild on the way, I have a place that we can call our own, when they become of age. http://statelyravenbookstore.com/ Another MUST SEE. I bought our grand daughters first book here. "Mary Poppins". I think we'll take a long weekend in 4 years and I'll read it to her there.

Many more sites and likewise with animal names, I can't recall it all. Yoga studio, Little Caesars, The fire hydrant (hint, hint Emily) Huge, beautiful houses. I should have shown up earlier to have been able to see everything in the Sun. Gives Nancy & myself a great reason to return soon.

Tomorow OR Wednesday I'll BLOserG about : Introduction to martinis, Ultimate fighting and The Fremont indoor 10k.

Until then..keep one foot in front of the other.

Top 10 Reasons To Run The Fremont Indoor 10K:

10. Think of it as one big left hand turn.
9. Run 10K on a treadmill and you really don’t get anywhere. Run 10K on the track and at least you ran in a circle 62 times!
8. The Food. Subs, chips, candy…. all the stuff that is ok to eat without guilt because you just ran a 10K!
7. Somebody else is going to count your laps and will tell you when to stop. All you have to do is RUN!
6. February 1st. It’s going to be cold, snowing and nasty outside, but perfect weather for a run inside!
5. A guaranteed “Indoor 10K PR” for all entrants. Once finished, you can lay claim to an outdoor 10K PR and brag about your indoor one as well!
4. 62 laps really isn’t that many if you think about it.
3. You can run a 10K in Northwest Ohio on February 1st AND wear shorts without being considered crazy!
2. The Music. The adrenaline pumping sounds from the “Official Race Soundtrack” will keep you amused and moving (there will be NO Poison or Winger songs!)
1. The Shirt. It’s all about the shirt. Everyone will want one, but only a few can earn one!

Yellow Wyoming on April 20th 1970

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:30:25 +0100

January 21st 2009.

Mom would've been 83 today.

When we were young summer wasn't defined by barricading oneself in a bedroom surrounded by every gizmo known to man. Cell phones, PSP, playstaion, XBOX, ipods. Back then the only thing that was instant were Polaroid pictures, today everything is. To Generation Text the Sun is something viewed best from a window or on a digital device.

I think the only time we stayed inside was to play paper football. So many summer days were filled with Dennis & I saying bye to our mother and heading off to one of our sisters houses. This wasn't done by car or bike, nope we did it the old fashioned way, we walked. This would have taken most of the day and was approximately 14-20 miles in distance depending on our destination. We'd usually spend the night there and then be driven back on Sunday. I think our mother was trying to get rid of us.

I'm sure this had some impact towards distance running. "Hey, we could get there faster if we ran", never actually did though, was all too happy to scamper at a walkers pace. I can't remember how often we did this but I think it was quite a lot. We walked everywhere.

There are times that Nancy & myself are driving somewhere and I'll say " I remember Dennis & I walking here" and she'll say "This is like 20 miles from Streetsboro" and I'll say "yep". This was life in Streetsboro.

Mom was at my first marathon in 1986 and since I finished that one in 4:00:11, she was forced to come to my second one in 87 to see if I could break the 4 hour wall. I did, 3:36:??

Thanks for being there Mom.

Thanks for your sky

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:42:02 +0100

Atlanta, Georgia December 1972.

I was about to turn 11 and my brother Dennis 10.

We were on holiday vacation with our parents visiting with our sister Jackie's family. As with most things that are tucked away in this head I can't remember things in great detail. Only bits and peaces, here and there, often times needing a jolt to stir something that had long since been abandoned. So as in previous BLOserGs ( as I'm sure with future ones also ) I post a out clause here stating that this isn't the way things happened but only as I remember them.

I recall a visit with David (Jackie's husband), Scott & Craig (their sons), my brother Dennis and our parents to Stone mountain Georgia. I remember Scott & Craig's portable record player. Listening to Donny Osmond "Go away little girl" over and over and ov....and sad to say that at the time he was cool and I didn't mind listening to it over and over and ov... THIS MESSAGE WILL SELF DESTRUCT IN 10 SECONDS and I will never admit to this fact EVER AGAIN. This was before I discovered The Beatles ( 6 years after they broke up) by playing disc 2 of The Beatles (white album) that my sister Naomi had left behind when she was married. Then there was the day we went to a :"drive-thru car wash", you actually stayed inside the car and drove through the wash. Now that was hi-end 1970's technology. Two former Presidents passed away within a week(?) of each other, was it Truman & Johnson?

I can't connect the dots in large portions of my life, I've never been able to. But the one instance that sticks out more than any other during this trip was when Dennis & I were behind Jackie & Davids ( was it a backyard?, parking area?) apartment (?). I don't know what we were doing but I know it was after the sun had set and for some reason we looked up at the sky. It is a little known fact that Dennis & I discovered Orion's Belt that night. Three stars almost perfectly aligned, we were sure that no one in the history of mankind had ever noticed this spectacle. I'm sure that the curiosity of star gazing came from our many summer nights of camping out in backyards in Streetsboro, Ohio. Also we all wanted to be astronauts.

One thing that might have made this "discovery" indented somewhere inside, perhaps we had seen Orion's belt in Ohio and thought it so neat that we could see it all the way in Georgia. I might quickly dispense with this theory since I don't think we were amazed at seeing the sun and moon in both states also. In the end there isn't a fall/winter that goes by that I don't think about the night Dennis and I were the greatest astronomers ever. Galileo eat your heart out. Jackie & David, thanks for your sky.

The Lady

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:59:23 +0100

A continuation of folks who have in some way, shape or form inspired me to never let the running bug fade completely from this loser.

This is not a final list but just an addition to my "My Brother Brian" BLOserG.

"The lady" who helped me to not give up running up a hill during a Cleveland shamrock run. March 1994?

I entered the race with my brother John and somewhere in the mass of runners we split up and lost track of each other.

So there I was surrounded by runners that I had never met before but who, for the most part, all kept at the same pace as I was. I remember running up a huge hill and as my mind was telling my body that it'd be O.K. to walk the remainder of the grade, a lady who was about to pass me did something that caught me off guard. She must have seen that I was about to stop running and begin to walk. This lady SLOWED down to my pace and coached me up the crest of the hill. She just kept saying things like "Come on you can do it", "You're almost done" I didn't ask her name and all I could muster was a sincere "Thanks". And I meant it.

When I go running (or more lately, jogging), I'm usually by myself and have very limited verbal contact with other runners. Until "The lady" did this for me, I was completely ignorant of any type of runners etiquette.For me running wasn't about other people, it was about me, about what I could do, time for myself. In a nutshell I was a VERY self centered runner. I was never rude to anyone, others just didn't registrar to me.

The lady changed all that. Ever since and in every race AND in most aspects of my life I try my best to encourage others to never give up and that goals are achievable if they put the effort in. This manifests its form in many ways. Sometimes something as simple as a "Great job" to a fellow running, or striking up a conversation with someone that might be struggling and helping each other along. I am NOT very good at talking to people that I don't know and it takes a lot for me to strip my comfort zone to do so. Reference this weakness to Jim Bados blog "Genuine fake". So the next time you're running a race with me and you hear me yell "way to go", "hey this hill ain't nuttin'"or "Thanks" to the volunteers or the cops doing traffic control and you're thinking "My God does he ever shut up?" , don't blame me, blame the LADY.

Is it just me?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:25:41 +0100

Just a quick one here.

Somewhat in line with my "WEATHER CONVERSATION THEORY".

Is it just me or does this happen to anyone else? After a certain change in the calendar on a scale of either Monthly (June {05} turns into July {06}) OR in my case more commonly Yearly (2008 turns into 2009), I find myself writing the old month OR year for one or two days into the new month OR year.

Two examples are:1) on January 02,2009 I'm still writing 2008 -usually I don't screw up the month-just the year. 2) When let's say June (05) gives way to July (06), I'll still be writing 05 (for June) even though it might be July 2nd or 3rd. I catch myself but not before actually writing the incorrect date down first and then having to correct it. I hope this happens to others or I probably sound a tad bit ztupid.

Any way I've notice myself doing this most of my life and put it down as just being part of the human race.

Then something odd occurred to me yesterday, I realised that these errors only happen when I WRITE them down (pen to paper) and NEVER when I type them. Am I paying more attention to what I'm doing when I'm typing? Is it because I write more fluent than I type? Does this happen to anyone else? Have you even noticed? Let me know and I'll post the results. Man I hope I'm not the only one!