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International Online Shopping Expected to Almost Triple in Next 5 Years
Consumers are increasingly looking to buy goods across international borders, both to save money and to gain access to a greater variety of items. Full story
Consumers are increasingly looking to buy goods across international borders, both to save money and to gain access to a greater variety of items. Full story
A new study suggests that online shoppers will spend more money and shop more frequently depending on where they first found your business. Full story
Apple heads to Russia with love, opening its online store for the first time. The iPhone maker still has plenty of work cut out for it, though. Full story
A quick guide to selling goods on the internet, from promoting your site and products to handling payments and returns. Full story
A bill which would end tax-free online shopping moves on to the House of Representatives, where it is likely to be met with resistance from anti-tax Republicans. Full story
Joe Feldman, Telsey Advisory Group analyst, discusses the impact of a tax on brick & mortar stores versus online retailers.
MSNBC's JJ Ramberg talks about the impact of the new law up for consideration in the Senate, and why some small businesses are welcoming the new law, while others are complaining of a red tape nightmare.
MSNBC'S Richard Lui breaks down the forces mobilized for and against the new Senate bill, that would require all Internet retailers to collect sales tax.
CNBC's Eamon Javers takes a look at what an internet sales tax could mean for online retailers.
Warby Parker continues its quest to transform the $22 billion U.S. optical industry, reports CNBC's Carl Quintanilla.
A box from Amazon.com is pictured on the porch of a house in Golden, Colorado July 23, 2008. Online retailer Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday its quarterly profit doubled on a 41 percent rise in revenue, sending its shares up more than 6 percent. REUTERS/Rick Wilking
The Wal-Mart logo is pictured on cash registers at a new store in Chicago, January 24, 2012. Brick-and-mortar merchants such as Wal-Mart will be pulling out all the stops to compete with online retailers such as Amazon.com this holiday season.


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TPWD Print-Friendly Page: http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/print.phtml?req=20040927aMedia Contact: TPWD News, firstname.lastname@example.com, 512-389-8030 [SL]
TPWD Website: http://tpwd.texas.gov
TPWD News Release — Sept. 27, 2004
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has documented quail population trends since 1978 and long-term patterns reflect a history of "boom and bust" cycles for Texas quail. Veteran biologists and quail aficionados point to 1982 as "The Year of the Quail" in Texas, but now they are saying 2004 may be the new benchmark.
"Everyone should have a great year hunting quail this time around. This will be a year to remember," said Mike Berger, wildlife division director at TPWD.
"No other place in the country will have the birds South Texas will have this year," stated Robert Perez, TPWD quail program leader. "Past research has shown that in certain years, well-managed properties can support more than one quail per acre and this is one of those years. Reports from field staff indicate that flushed coveys are flushing other coveys when they try to land. This is indicative of high population levels."
Perez points to textbook-perfect conditions for quail reproduction for the second straight year throughout South Texas and above-average conditions across the Rolling Plains and in the Trans Pecos.
The two factors that are most important for good quail production, according to Perez, are habitat and weather. Weather can account for between 65-90 percent of annual variation in quail populations. Weather is responsible for a big chunk in the change from year to year in bobwhite numbers, but habitat accounts for the rest.
"You have to have habitat and we have habitat," said Perez. "The last strongholds for bobwhite quail in the world are South Texas, the Rolling Plains and western Oklahoma and the reason is habitat. What we're seeing this year are quail spilling over into habitat that's marginal at best, while those properties that manage for quail have phenomenal numbers of birds."
Ideal quail production occurs in years that remain wet and cool during the spring and early summer months because it extends the window of opportunity for reproduction, according to Perez. He noted hens typically would make as many nesting attempts as conditions allow until they pull off a successful clutch. This year, conditions remained good from April through September and some hens that were successful early in the year will conceivably produce a second clutch with a new mate.
Hunters who have never had the opportunity to swing on a flushing covey of bobwhites or who've allowed their scattergun to collect dust are urged to don a bird vest and take to the fields this season. "With quail, there's no guarantee of carryover of birds from one year to the next," explained Perez. "We've been blessed with two straight years of good conditions, but if we get a cold, dry winter with as many birds as there are on the ground this year, there won't be enough food to sustain them all. When you have conditions like this, you ought to take advantage of them."
For those who don't have access to private land or are on a budget, there are ample opportunities to take part in the upcoming quail season on public land. Wildlife biologists at the Chaparral and James Daughtrey Wildlife Management Areas in South Texas point to banner bobwhite quail production, while the Gene Howe and Matador WMAs in the Panhandle should also offer excellent public hunting opportunities. Access to hunting at these WMAs and others is available with the purchase of a $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit, which can be bought wherever hunting licenses are sold, online at (http://tpwd.texas.gov/licenses/online_sales/) or by calling toll free (800) 895-4248. There is a $5 convenience fee for online and phone purchases.
In addition to ideal bobwhite quail hunting conditions this year, hunters should not overlook opportunities to pursue scaled quail, also known as blue quail, which occur in the arid desert regions of the Trans Pecos. Scaled quail surveys this year were the highest in 12 years and biologists on the Elephant Mountain and Black Gap WMAs are noting excellent numbers of birds. "If you've ever hoped to hunt blue quail in West Texas, this is the year to get it done," said Perez.
While overall population trends have increased, survey results don't always equate with hunting success in specific locations. Perez recommends drawing from past success in the field to determine likely quail haunts this year. "I'd suggest going back to the same areas that held birds last year, because that's where you're likely to find them this year," said Perez. "But what's been surprising this year is some landowners who haven't seen quail in a long time are suddenly seeing them on their property so you can't rule out anything."
The statewide quail season runs from Oct. 30-Feb. 27. The daily bag limit is 15, 45 in possession. Legal shooting hours for all non-migratory game birds are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The bag limit is the maximum number that may be killed during the legal shooting hours in one day.
"Annual quail population changes can be dramatic and our surveys indicate you may have to wait several years for another great year," he added. "We came off a terrible drought three years ago and are now seeing two consecutive banner years in South Texas. It is extremely rare to have those kinds of conditions repeat. I'm excited about what we have right now."
For more information on quail hunting in Texas, visit the Web (http://tpwd.texas.gov/hunt/) or call (512) 389-4505.

subset: commoncrawl


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Increase the impact of your donation with our Matching Gift Challenge - your donation will be matched 5 to 1!
The Wilderness Society strongly opposes H.R.
The U.S.
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management released reports summarizing 20 years of monitoring data in Pacific Northwest forests and presented the results at a meeting in Vancouver, Wash., yesterday.
The draft House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill released today is a clear improvement from previous years, but it still misses the mark on several key conservation, climate, and public lands needs and is laden with numerous policy provisions or "riders" that have no plac
A coalition of six conservation groups today moved to defend the Bureau of Land Management's new hydraulic fracturing rules against legal challenges by the oil and gas industry and the States of Wyoming, North Dakota and Colorado. The conservation groups, represented by Earthjustice,
Three new solar energy projects approved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) outside of Las Vegas, Nevada will not only generate up to 440 megawatts of solar energy when built
More than 50 million acres of Bureau of Land Management Land could include more conservation measures to help sage-grouse, based on plans announced by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The plan released for Idaho is meant to pair the protection of sage-grouse habi
The future of more than 50 million acres of Bureau of Land Management Land could include more conservation measures based on plans announced by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today. When adopted and implemented, the federal plans for managing the conservation of Greater Sage-Grouse could
Citing some of "the most beautiful and iconic landscapes on earth" in Teton County's backyard, the board of commissioners Tuesday morning unanimously passed a resolution that "opposes any and all efforts by the State of Wyoming to obtain the wholesale transfer of federal
In spite of Royal Dutch Shell's disastrous performance during the 2012 Arctic Ocean drilling season, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today conditionally approved the company's 2015 exploration plan, which provides even fewer safeguards for the Chukchi Sea and its sensit


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Cycling UK Tourist Competition Volunteers Needed
Throughout the recent history of Cycling UK, it has been the custom for member groups to hold cycling competitions as one part of the many activities enjoyed by such groups. Providing member groups with the opportunity to enter their events into a massive national event structure and ride competitively against other member groups.
During its existence, the competition has been run by a small handful of volunteer coordinators. It is a highly prestigious role to take on and, like many voluntary jobs, suits someone who is able to beaver away in the background and produce the results on time and with great accuracy.
The essential tasks are twofold: (1) the compilation of events entered by member groups into the competition; (2) the recording, analysis and presentation of results.
The competition is made up of six different categories of cycle rides (a – f). Categories a -d are differentiated by ride length; category e is an assortment of events such as treasure hunts, map reading, hill climbing, free-wheeling etc; and category f are off-road rides. The events in the competition take place between March 1st and October 31st.
In the past the competition has been fiercely fought over, with members travelling the length and breadth of the country to enter events which might enable them to score that elusive extra point to make them the winner overall. Results really are that close!


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Chickpeas, garbanzos, ceci — by whatever name you choose, I love them.
Last week, as I was lying face down on a mat focusing on my breath and the sorry state of my pedicure, I misheard my yoga teacher ask that we take a moment to look into our inner beans.
And so I found myself asking this eternal question, one that can only be answered after a sweaty yoga class and a few minutes of peaceful contemplation – what is my inner bean?
I emerged from that brief meditation certain that my inner bean was a cannellini; earthy, velvety soft and creamy at the core. A bowl of warm cannellini beans drizzled with delicious green olive oil, strewn with tiny slivers of chopped fresh rosemary and some Parmigiano grated over is one of the most comforting foods I can think of.
However, I came to the conclusion that if I am truly a cannellini being at the core, then the outer being must be all chickpea. I eat them almost every day!
I'd gotten into the habit of using canned chickpeas after many frustrated hours trying to cook dried ones that more often than not were old and stale. But now that diet trends veer toward the Gluten Free Vegan Cave Dweller, chickpeas are a very popular protein choice for many people, which translates into faster turnover and fresher dried beans.
I fell for a method of cooking garbanzos I found in Suzanne Goin's AOC Cookbook , which is genius because the cooking water becomes a fabulous light broth – or brodo – that is so tasty I keep the chickpeas in it and build a soup meal along with some smoky, slightly spicy chorizo and dark greens.
I find the combination of sharp cheeses with chile peppers hard to resist. Coach Farms was kind to send me a sample of their Grating Stick, an aged goat cheese that my Microplane turned into savory dust on my chickpeas – yum. But lacking that, a good sharp and salty sheep's milk Pecorino or even feta would be perfect substitutes.
chile chickpea brodo, chorizo and greens
- 1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
- 3 whole garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 shallot or small onion, finely chopped
- 2 dried chile de arbol, crumbled (or 1 or 2 teaspoons crushed red chile pepper)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Kosher salt
- 8 ounces short tubular pasta, such as ditallini or tubetti
- 4 ounces cooked chorizo, cut into cubes
- 1 roasted red bell pepper, peeled, seeded and sliced
- A few handfuls of washed mixed leafy greens (spinach, kale, arugula, etc.) stems trimmed; torn into bite-sized pieces
- Aged sharp cheese, such as Pecorino or Provolone or dry goat
- Drain the soaked chickpeas and put into a 3 or 4 quart heavy saucepan along with the garlic, shallot, chiles, bay leaf and paprika. Pour over enough water to cover by 3 inches and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and loosely cover. Cook an hour or so, then add 2 teaspoons salt. Continue cooking until chickpeas are tender - 30 minutes or more depending on the age of the chickpeas. Remove the bay leaf.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente.
- Just before serving, warm the chickpeas and broth over low heat. Stir the pasta, chorizo, roasted red pepper and greens into the pot and taste for seasoning, adding a little more salt if needed.
- Serve in bowls and grate cheese over the top.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 4 - 6
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.


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Get Involved | Events
Get Involved and Make a Difference
Faculty, Staff, and Student Sustainability
- Work with your department, administrative unit, or residential hall to help recycling efforts, energy reduction, and other sustainability initiatives.
- Download and post our racer and office sustainability checklists
- Support future expansion of sustainability initiatives on campus
Earth Week 2014 Events (1970 MSU Earth Day pictured above)
- April 17: Speaker Kim Trevathan 6:30 pm in Jones Hall, Chemistry Building
- April 21: Sustainable T-Shirt Booth 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Carr Health Lawn
- April 23: Intersectionality Panel 7:00 pm in Blackburn 228
- April 24: Movie Night (details to come)
Make a Difference Day
- Check the City of Murray website as well as this website for upcoming dates for Make a Difference Day. Below is a
list of recyclable items taken at the events (list of accepted items will vary each
- Eyeglasses
- Plastic containers
- Inkjet printer cartridges
- Glass
- Newspaper (bundled)
- Magazines
- Cardboard
- Books (remove and dispose hardcover)
- Other paper
- Cell phones
- Clothes
- Aluminum Cans
- Tin Cans
- Used Motor Oil
- Shoes


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For Immediate Release
Jordan Libowitz, email@example.com.
CREW Calls for Investigation of Secret EPA Email Accounts
WASHINGTON - Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General (IG) Arthur A. Elkins, Jr. to investigate whether EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and other EPA employees established alias email accounts and are using private email accounts to conduct official business. Recent news reports have detailed how Administrator Jackson has used alias email accounts to conduct official business in order to shield the contents of her messages and to avoid having her emails subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and other public records requests. Additionally, some EPA employees reportedly have set up private email accounts to conduct official business. Such conduct violates the Federal Records Act (FRA). There are allegations that at least some of these practices were first developed when Carol Browner served as administrator during the Clinton administration.
Read CREW's letter to Inspector General Elkins (pdf)
"Administrator Jackson's practice of using fictitious email accounts to conduct official EPA business, shielding the contents from public view, conflicts directly with her responsibility to follow federal records law," said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. "The fact that others may have engaged in such conduct before her tenure is no justification. 'Everybody does it' is an excuse for kindergarteners, not cabinet officials."
The FRA requires agencies to make and preserve records of agency decisions, policies, and essential transactions, and to take steps to safeguard against the loss of agency records. If EPA employees, including Administrator Jackson, use alias accounts or private email addresses to send official email and the agency neither tracks nor stores these messages, the agency would be in clear violation of the FRA.
"Complying with the Federal Records Act is not optional," continued Ms. Sloan. "The EPA's illegal and devious practices undermine the ability of Congress, outside watchdog groups, and citizens alike to request and receive full information from the agency. The IG should investigate immediately to ensure messages are being properly saved and learn what, exactly, it is that Administrator Jackson and other EPA employees are trying to hide from the American public."
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.


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RadiantPEX tubing from Watts Radiant is an excellent piping choice for both new and existing hydronic systems. RadiantPEX is incredibly lightweight, making storage and transport a simple task. The low weight also contributes to an incredibly simple installation, further aided by a protective coating to prevent damage on the jobsite. RadiantPEX is manufactured in a Silane Cross-linking process, a superior manufacturing method for PEX tubing that gives the tube both higher burst strength and superior anti-oxidant protection. Combined with an included oxygen barrier, RadiantPEX is an excellent radiant tubing solution that will give you a long, efficient service life with minimal required maintenance.
Product Features
Silane Cross-Linking Construction
RadiantPEX+ is manufactured using a superior manufacturing technology called Silane Cross-Linking. This manufacturing process gives the PEX tubing much higher burst strength and provides superior anti-oxidant protection.
Easy to Install
RadiantPEX+ tubing is highly flexible, allowing your contractor to bend the tubing as he sees fit to install it. This results in reduced installation times, which passes along reduced installation costs directly to you.
EVOH Oxygen Barrier
The EVOH oxygen barrier used with Watts Radiant RadiantPEX tubing is virtually impervious to oxygen. This resilient, effective barrier will give you a long, maintenance free service life.
Highly Corrosion Resistant
RadiantPEX tubing has unparalleled corrosion resistance, improving durability and further minimizing needed maintenance on the tubing throughout service life.
Multiple Fitting Options
Watts Radiant offers three distinct options for connecting RadiantPEX+ tubing to a hydronic system: cinch clamps, crimp rings, and compression fittings. Each has its own distinct advantages. Cinch clamps allows for easier connections in tight, hard to reach areas, crimp rings form the most permanent, long lasting seal, and compression fittings require nothing more than a simple crescent wrench to install.


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ROSS: Portable Tanks and Mixers
December 6, 2012
This company has expanded its offerings of portable tanks and mixers to now include:
- Batch high-shear mixers on mobile lifts
- Inline high-shear mixers on mobile carts
- Powder injection systems
- Laboratory multi-shaft mixers and planetary mixers on mobile benches
- Ribbon blenders, multi-shaft mixers and planetary mixers on wheels
- Static mixer skid systems
- ASME-code process vessels
- Custom sanitary tanks (autoclavable designs available)
- Specialty reactors
For additional information, visit www.mixers.com.
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to Adhesives & Sealants Industry Magazine.


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In Jake Locker's backyard, you'll find a chicken coop built by the Tennessee Titans quarterback.
The coop is home to 15 fowl, and they produce about 70 eggs per week.
Whether the Titans will end up with yolk on their faces remains to be seen.
Three years ago, Tennessee spent the draft's No. 8 pick on Locker, who is an impressive young man and athlete, but as a quarterback for the University of Washington, looked like he'd be a heck of a safety.
Chargers at Titans, 9/22/13
- Chargers miss plays they needed most
- Canepa's Chargers report card: Titanic loss
- Philip Rivers: 'No excuse' for penalty
- Calkins: Not using Philip Rivers cost Chargers win
- Acee: Chargers finished before the finish
- Locker caused big problems for Chargers
- Quick analysis: Chargers didn't finish
- Quarter by quarter, Chargers-Titans
- Chargers schedule, game-by-game snapshots
With a 5-8 career record, a 79.1 passer rating, and 16 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, Locker isn't yet bringing home the bacon to go with those eggs.
Then again, he's not Blaine Gabbert. And considering that he's part of quarterback class whose motto is " What's Up is Down and What's Down is Up," Locker is, if nothing else, fitting in.
Look at the class's top six, in the order drafted: Cam Newton, Locker, Gabbert, Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick.
First reaction: Maybe NFL general managers aren't so smart after all.
The last guy chosen is off to the best start to his career, a reminder that when shopping for QBs, take the one who went to Nevada-Reno and received no other scholarship offers.
The top four, taken with Nos. 1, 8, 10 and 12, or a lifetime before Kaepernick went 36th to the 49ers, are a combined 35-65 as starters.
The fifth QB, Andy Dalton, who went to the Bengals 35th, joins Kaepernick as the only one sporting a career winning record. The class leader in games started, Dalton is 20-14.
Newton fancies himself Superman, exalting over an imaginary S on his chest.
He is run-pass marvel -- 1,500 rushing yards, 61 percent completion rate -- but in games decided by seven points or fewer since he and coach Ron Rivera aligned, the Panthers are an un-super 2-14.
Kaepernick is the best at showing off, and not because he kisses the biceps of his powerful throwing arm.
He went to the Super Bowl last year in only his 10th start.
His classmates would rather he'd knock it off. Save when he plays the mighty Seahawks, he's making them look puny. Newton is 13-21, Gabbert of the Jaguars is 5-20 and Ponder is 12-16 with nearly as many picks (29) as TDs (33).
Place and time matter. When Alex Smith joined the 49ers as a No. 1 pick, the franchise was a mess. Welcoming Kaepernick, meantime, was a head coach and ex-NFL quarterback in Jim Harbaugh. In addition, San Francisco's blocking and defense were top-drawer.
I wonder what the late Bill Walsh would've made of Locker, who in college reminded me of another Pac-12 quarterback in John Lynch, a Walsh protege. Good size and speed, strong arms and rugged styles -- Lynch and Locker also shared a baseball pedigree that got each drafted by a big league team.
But after starting out at Stanford as a quarterback, Lynch moved to safety. And without Walsh's vision for him, it may not have worked out. "He said, 'I know you have an opportunity to play professional baseball, but I've watched your snaps, and I think you can be a Pro Bowl football player,' " Lynch said, via stanfordaily.com
Lynch made nine Pro Bowls as a safety.
Locker, for sure, has done well for himself playing quarterback. The 25-year-old could buy enough chickens and coops to supply eggs to all of Nashville.
But being accurate in the NFL is tougher than in college, and Jake's career completion rate at Washington was only 53.9 percent. When he ran away from college linemen and linebackers, which was often, the 6-foot-3, 231-pounder sometimes chose to slam into other defenders. Did so the final time he wore Huskies purple, against Nebraska.
Watching Locker now, unsurprised by his career completion rate of 55.6 percent, I still think he'd have made a fine safety.


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The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels and Indian Allies
- When:
- Location:
- Langsdale Library
- Room:
- Auditorium
- http://www.ubalt.edu/about-ub/news-events/index.cfm?news_id=1663
- Description:
The University of Baltimore proudly hosts the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 Lecture Series.
These engaging public discussions explores the causes and effects of the War of 1812. From little-known facts about the war to the ways it impacted Americans of all kinds—including those who had families living on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the border—the series will shed light on a period of history worth revisiting for its politics, economics, color and message of reconciliation.
All events are free and open to the public.
"The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels and Indian Allies"
Alan Taylor, professor of history at the University of California, Davis, where he specializes in early American history and Canadian history, will expound on the effect of the War of 1812 on common people and on families whose members lived on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. His latest book, which has the same title as his lecture, was published in 2010 and received rave reviews.
- Contact Name:
- Tom Carney
- Contact Email:
- firstname.lastname@example.com
If you need accommodations to participate in this event, please contact the person listed above at least 10 days prior to the event.


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It has happened where a sports announcer might mention a cetain pitcher hasn't given up a home run in a long time, or maybe a quarter back hasn't thrown an interception for a long time, and shortly thereafter, what hasn't been done is done. That is known as jinxing. So someone in the media mentioned about two weeks ago how this was the lowest tornado occuring season in 60 years, and boom, last week, big tornadoes near Fort Worth Texas, and yesterday, major tornadoes in Oklahoma, with great possibilities of further tornadoes today....
Who jinxed it Mondailies
So what does this have to do with running?....If landrunner has to run from one, with his slow speed nowadays, great opportunity to greatly increase speed percentage. Notice he is now "Cat", and those critters can run pretty fast also. Never did post Die Fledermaus overture on youtube upon reaching mouse status, but now cat, reminds landrunner of this old alley cat tune....
So yesterday was landrunner sandwich, with two major tornadoes systems, one in Edmond and striking points east, and the southern one in Norman and striking points east from there, and landrunner safely in Midwest city. Well, guess Oklahoma got it's tornado alley back along with the earthquake alley, and landrunner an alley cat...well...let others judge.
As a result, running on back burner this past weekend, so maybe get out early today for four before the heavens fireup again.
Dr.Bart, landrunner didn't sleep well last night as well, so in good company with you and the 'nadoes as well.
Lap'd, just finished off Saturday's coffee, so new pot due upon getting up later this morning.
Burg, welcome to the forum. Quite an eclectic set of folks on here.
Marco, read how Anchorage, Alaska broke its snow falling average with snow up to this point in May....heck, Alaska is way up north and cold, don't they have snow all year round anyways?
Itza, enjoy the tapped 15 today.
Mark, landrunner actually read your last paragraph first, and he doesn't even know how to remove square joints, or if there is such a square joint in automobiles, let alone ball joints.
EG, guess it is pretty muggy in Florida all year round? Was in Orlando last July.
Burgler, you not much younger than landrunner. He was conceived about 60 years ago. Great job with relay.
Monster be gone, Maureen.
Good flight home, S-pig, and hopefully you avoid those 'nadoes.
Good day!
Landrunner - thanks again for the early start. It is indeed a strange paradox that the USA, which has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources is also the place where the worst weather, or the greatest number of weather-related disasters, occurs each year. You have the good fortune or misfortune to live in an area that seems to have more than its fair share of weather crises.
So for the QOTD: What precautions do you take when heading out for a run when weather problems are anticipated or what conditions would delay or stop you from starting a run?
Today, with no anticipated weather issues where I am, it will be the track tonight for 400m intervals.
Have a good day everyone.
p.s. I too am a Cat. Does that make me a cat burglar?
Morning all!
The only weather conditions that stop me from running are lightning storms and hurricanes.
Landrunner - it's muggy here? No, it's actually pretty nice from November thru April.
Good morning Land, Burglar, EGeary and all to follow. I have a short recovery on tap.
Land - I've learned way too much about cars out of necessity. :-)
Burglar - Hope the track session is good.
EGeary - Good morning
FOR to QOTD: Lightening and ice stop me. Most other conditions only change how I approach or change how much I put on. Snow often slows me down and makes tempo runs more difficult, but I still get out there and do what I can. OK EGeary, I suppose a hurricane would stop me too. Come to think of it, super high winds by themselves may stop me. They haven't yet, but I've not faced 40 MPH winds yet so I don't know.
Good Morning,
Landrunner: thank you for the start, glad to hear you have a nice brew to enjoy today. I hope you never need to outrun a tornado. Our weather is in a holding pattern now, with gray skies and rain lingering.
Today and this week actually, is very busy with kids schedules and my work. Need to get as much done this week because next week I am taking some time off to recover. Have made myself a list. Little dd goes to orthodonist today and then I work. Will run just a couple miles later. This weekend however, we made great strides with the yard. The garden is planted and so are most of my flowers.
Good Morning to all.
RUN DONE: An easy fish. Felt sluggish at first, but just embraced slow, and the feeling went away. The 69 degrees felt fine with the early mist and "no sun" darkness.
Resumed stretching this morning. I've let it somewhat slip over the course of several months, but decided to stretch before posting... of course, I should have done that all along. It was just procrastination because I don't like stretching. But it's the right thing so it must be done before posting. If I run out of time, such is life.
Lap'd, Land and all other coffee lovers - Enjoying my Sumatra coffee... I like Starbucks Sumatra but this Sam's Choice from Walmart is almost as good, and is a great bargain at about 45 cents/oz. I'm curious what kind of coffee do you like?
I've even tried the Civit Coffee (Sumatra) that some would call poo coffee :-) because it was a gift. It was excellent, yet the difference was certainly not worth the price. Even those who said "ew... I'd never taste that!"... did have some too.
Lap'd - The yard work that you and some others here do amazes me. I so appreciate seeing what my wife does on the yard, yet if I were alone, it'd never get done... it's just not worth the time. I'd mow, but that's it. OK... whack weeds, but no more. :-) But I sure love how it looks when someone really good at that does their magic.
ShreveRunner - Wow, what a trip. I want to see a Trip report when you're done. :-) Really. I do. Awesome.
G'morning gang!
A tornado would surely give incentive to run faster! No twisters here, but lots of rain and noisy thunder.
Ran 10 with DH yesterday. When getting dressed to run, had nice surprise in finding $5 in my shorts pocket (looked like it got washed a few times). Normally thunderstorms and strong winds are likely to stop my run plans. DH thought weather was clearing up but still rumbles of thunder around. We planned our route (a loop) where second half went nearby businesses and places we could get out of bad weather if it made a turn for the worse. I left the $5 in my pocket just in case bad weather coincided with urge for coffee break. It started pouring again by mile 1 with just occasional thunder/lightening so we kept going. The rain reconstituted the paper money and it looks good as new again.
Busy day ahead. Sina and I are going to Hilton Head (SC) in an attempt to re-decorate my folks house there (they are gone for the summer and have agreed to this). I'm sure we will find some kind of trouble in their highly covenanced neighborhood. DH complains that he is not allowed to run without a shirt on. The rules don't mention pants and he keeps threatening to challenge it--Im glad we are leaving him at home.
Shreve - have a great trip! 40 days without a computer is not necessarily a bad thing.
Burglar - please do not steal my cat! You aren't Chinese, are you??
Land - glad you are safe! If I lived in Kansas or Oklahoma, no way in heck would I live in a mobile home!!! Thanks goodness for early warnings that allowed the people to get to safety this time.
Morning, peeps. SRD for me after not much sleep (third night in hotel bed, I guess). Heading for the airport in an hour or so to return to the Casa. My taxi service is the same person that I paced in OKC, and who took the pix of Land and I. Hopefully I will avoid the tornadoes, which came close enough to the Casa yesterday from a glimpse I got of a weather map on TV at the (enormous) health club where my class took place.
This club was unbelievable. I think it was bigger than a Walmart Supercenter, with two levels to boot. About the only thing they didn't have was an indoor track. Indoor and outdoor pools, two full sized basketball courts, yoga, pilates, studios for Zumba classes or whatever, big spinning room, enough weight machines and free weights to make Joe Weider jealous, dozens of treadmills and ellipticals and stairsteppers, a cafe, even a desk where you could purchase Garmins and Polars. And one tiny meeting room. Saturday morning when I got there at 7:50, the parking lot was packed.
For those interested in weekend stalking from Bayshore, use http://tctrackclub.us1.list-ma...7bb&e=1c4a2d4366 in your phone or tablet or whatever. Bib # is 1629, or my name will work for those who know it. Race time is 7:15 Eastern.
Good morning everyone. I am still yawning, I have yet to have my coffee. DH and I went to the park where the 50 will take place. I ran 22 mi and he rode his mountain bike, since it is a mtn bik trail. I was very pleased with how runnable the terrain is (at least the section I was on), although I am not sure how runnable anything is after 26+ mi. My legs were tired from the miles on Friday and Saturday, and my HR was nowhere near being high, so I am hoping race day will be manageable. I was hoping to do the full first loop, which is 26 mi, but we were pressed for time so I had to settle for an out and back. Good think I did not go 26 mi, since I ran out of fluids with 3 mi to go. That really has to stop happening, or I have to learn to drink less/smarter.
Land - I am a huge believer in jinx/superstition. People at work utter the word "quiet" or "slow" and I hush them. Glad you were safe from the tornadoes.
Boston - enjoy the intervals.
EGeary - yeah, I probably wouldn't run in a hurricane.
Lap'd - glad you got your garden planted. I have not yet because DH forgot to get dolomite. I am not 100% sure we need it, but feel like I should follow the planter instructions. If I am remembering correctly, this is not the year you have ducklings, since you had them last year?
Shreve - safe travels.
MR - I used to be a dark roast fan, mostly because that is what DH drank, but now I am really enjoying light roasts. We've been working on a bag of Allegro Mexico Zaragoza. I have never had the civet coffee and read that civets are kept in cages under inhumane conditions in order to produce that coffee. That is not meant to make you feel bad, I just don't think a lot of people know how that coffee is obtained. I was shocked when I learned about it, since I though they originally obtained poop coffee from poo they found, and that is why it was so expensive, because it was hard to gather/obtain. Anyway, it seemed very sad to me, and I agree, probably not worth the price. Plus, it's just gross (albeit somewhat hilarious) to say "I drink poo coffee".
Edit: Good morning DrBart and Spider. DrBart, congrats on the 10k, nice improvisation and a successful race! Your DH is funny. Spider, safe travels back to the casa.
QOTD - I am not terribly picky with weather. I found this winter hard, but because we had a lot of days where there was snow or ice on the ground. However, unless I am at a hotel with a treadmill, I do not have the option to run inside. I am fine with thunder storms, evening lightning is fine, although I do not purposely head out in those conditions. If it happens to start while I am running, I don't stop and wait it out. As MarkRice mentioned, ice is bad and it has high potential for injury, so I will have to run on salted roads, or not run at all if it is too icy. Most runs I go on are free of traffic, thanks to trails and the multi-use towpath, which really comes in handy if visibility is poor (blowing snow, fog).
Well, on that note, have a great day.
Couldn't get my butt out of bed early enough this morning. Had issues with DD2. I swear having kids is like being pecked to death by a duck. Anywho, going to get some speed work in this afternoon.
MarkRice- I've been bad about stretching too lately. I put my foam roller in the middle of my bathroom so I would remember. I do feel better when I usd it.
Lap'd- I stick to marigolds & zinnias. I find it harder to kill them. My Mom can grow anything but I think the must have missed out on that gene.
Burglar - heading to the track too. I do not like the track.
Landrunner- I enjoy a good thunderstorm on occasion but dislike wind. My home is near 100 years old and makes a lot of noise when the wind gets to blowing. Glad you stayed safe.
EGeary- Yum- Skyljne.
Happy Monday to everyone.
Welcome, runningtheburg! Death by duck sounds very uncomfortable and tortuous. I stand by my decision not to have children.
Spider - sounds like my gym (Lifetime Fitness). There is even rock-climbing walls, squash courts, free daycare, a hair salon, and a café. The indoor and outdoor pools each have waterslides. Locker room and pools have free towel service. Most all of the classes and clubs are included in membership and is very reasonable ($59/mo) for all you get (can also use clubs in other cities when traveling). There are 5 of them in reasonable distance to my home and I hope they keep building more of them.
Spider - sounds like my gym (Lifetime Fitness). There is even rock-climbing walls, squash courts, free daycare, a hair salon, and a café. The indoor and outdoor pools each have waterslides. Locker room and pools have free towel service. Most all of the classes and clubs are included in membership and is very reasonable ($59/mo) for all you get (can also use clubs in other cities when traveling). There are 5 of them in reasonable distance to my home and I hope they keep building more of them.
DrBart -- that's exactly what it is. Lifetime Fitness. I left out the rockclimbing wall. And the waterslides. Didn't see squash courts or a hair salon, but they wouldn't surprise me. I did see the daycare area. And the free towels, which I got to use yesterday after my morning fish. As guests of the club for the class, we got free run of the place for the weekend, anything we wanted to use. I probably would have used an indoor track rather than run in 90-degree heat Saturday night, but since there wasn't one...
gm, i have a local coffee roaster i am loyal too. the blends i seem to prefer have chocolate and/or currant nodes in them. french roast is one example. my current blend is called "milwaukee blend" so i'm pretty sure nobody else on here has had it.
drB - i love finding surprises like that. for a few years, i would plant $20 in my winter jacket. nowadays though, the surprises are due to forgetfullness as opposed to intentional planting.
lap'd - got some yard work done as well. bought a few veggie/herbs plants yesterday that i'll get in the ground tonight. have some mulching to do around the current plants as well. hope you can get some resting in this week.
mark - glad you could get a run in. please do not mention stretching anymore as it makes me feel bad for not doing mine.
shreve - sounds like quite an adventure! travel safe.
boston - great result this weekend!
land - be safe. scary.
16 yesterday went really well yesterday but for some reason i was just toast the rest of the day. the run took all my energy. it was the warmest it's been for a LR since last fall so i'll chalk it up to that. pfitz 18/70 officially starts for me today but i've already kinda been doing most of the schedule the past few weeks. already i'm moving runs around due to this weeks schedule. i think it will be abnormal if i actually do a run on it's actual day within the schedule.
time to work.
good morning and welcom burg. last night i was thinking the same thing about my kids. all weekend long they were as close to angels as they could be but last night something crawled up their tushes and uggghhh...
CVB - i agree, all the ice this past winter/spring sent me to the TM way more than i care to. well, once is more than i care to, but you get it.
spider & drB - that club sounds great!
G'morning gang!
A tornado would surely give incentive to run faster! No twisters here, but lots of rain and noisy thunder.
Ran 10 with DH yesterday. When getting dressed to run, had nice surprise in finding $5 in my shorts pocket (looked like it got washed a few times). Normally thunderstorms and strong winds are likely to stop my run plans. DH thought weather was clearing up but still rumbles of thunder around. We planned our route (a loop) where second half went nearby businesses and places we could get out of bad weather if it made a turn for the worse. I left the $5 in my pocket just in case bad weather coincided with urge for coffee break. It started pouring again by mile 1 with just occasional thunder/lightening so we kept going. The rain reconstituted the paper money and it looks good as new again.
Land - glad you are safe! If I lived in Kansas or Oklahoma, no way in heck would I live in a mobile home!!! Thanks goodness for early warnings that allowed the people to get to safety this time.
Yes Dr.Bart, the precision weather reporting and warnings around here are amazing. At one point, they said there was a tornado going down 2nd Street in Edmond. Now that has the church that a couple of first cousins once removed from landrunner got married, as well as a couple of funerals for their grandparents as well in recent years. Thankfully, that area was basically spared, but others not so.
Landrunner will run in anything, but DW will not let me run when it is thunder and lightning outside. Heavy blizzards with sandblasting headwinds with several inches of snow on the ground, like Christmas eve of 2009.....that's ok.
Good morning all. Don't post much, but want pass on yesterday's race results. Ran the Pocono Marathon. Ran 3:31:50 versus 3:33:32 at Boston 5-weeks ago. So, BQ-8:10 now.
This race has historically been a fast course, but was changed this year to accommodate new road work. This added significant hills to the 2nd half of the race.
Hit the half mark in 1:40:37 and followed with 1:51:13. Good enough for 3rd in the 55-59 group.
Though still feel I have a low 3:20 in me, happy with the effort given the tough course. Another try will have to wait until the fall...
Mornin' Folks
Well, I didn't win the Powerball jackpot, so back to work today. Actually, I didn't even match one number.
On the running front, I'll try to get a short run in after work--I also need to cut the grass that I ignored this past weekend. Coffee? I admit to being a bit of a coffee snob; life's too short for bad coffee or lousy beer. Speaking of beer, JOLVm: you mentioned New Glarus a couple of days ago and that sounded very familiar, then I remembered I had some of their beers when I was in La Crosse last summer--good stuff!
Runn262: congrats on the marathon--nice improvement! We're in the same AG.
Land: I've been 2 blocks away from tornadoes twice in my life, both in Michigan of all places (once as a kid, the other when in college in Kalamazoo). Pretty scary stuff.
Spider: I'm from Michigan originally and the Traverse City area has always been one of my favorite parts of the state--hope you have some time to enjoy it after your BQ. Some decent wineries up there if you're into wine.
QOTD: lightning and icy conditions make me stay inside. We also get some good wind storms around here. In March, trying to catch up on my training for Boston, I had a 17 mile run planned and the wind was blowing at a steady 25-30 mph, with higher gusts. After 7 miles of running into that, I was toast. Turned around and took a short cut home, struggling to even get 11.5. I won't try a long run in the wind again.
Morning, it's Monday once again.
Tired again today. May has been a marathon of social engagements. I still have memorial weekend coming up. Good thing this is not a heavy training period.
I will go for an easy 6 today. I am in mini-taper mode for my June 2 marathon. I haven't trained for this one, it's been pretty chill so I'm going to continue in my chill mode. It's kind of nice not to have the pressure of training and trying to get a certain time in a marathon. It reminds me that I like the rigor of running, and that I should forget about times more often.
QOTD - I am a weather wimp, so many things would stop me. I guess they don't really stop me, I just head to the gym and TM if it is raining, or windy. That's all we get here, no sub zero temps, snow, ice, or even muggy really.
Land - I have yet to figure out what those titles mean. I think they are random events, one day you are a tortoise, the next day a guinea pig, then on to wharf rat.
Egeary - but what about April - November then?
Mark - have fun on your recovery. I like getting in just enough miles to feel a mood boost on those. Also doesn't all coffee kind of taste like poo coffee anyway?
Lap'd - it's that time of year for so many kid things, I've been getting hit with things too. It's not bad when I can plan, but my kids tend to say "oh ya, I forgot about....." and then I have to add something into the schedule suddenly. Then I get cranky.
Shreve - Hope you enjoy your solo adventure. That sounds so lovely right about now, escaping. I was driving home along the 5 yesterday and thought "What if I just kept driving?" straight into Mexico, just keep on heading south. Spontaneous road trip with $80 in my pocket
DrBart - Paper money endures several washings/dryings, ATM cards do not. I just had to replace mine after I left it in my running shorts pocket. One session in the dryer bent it horribly, so it is non-swipeable now.
Spider - sorry for your delay, I really hate traveling. Love being places, hate getting to and from though.
CVB - Were you able to keep up with DH on his bike? That would be a good pacer, keep you moving. Glad the course looks doable.
Burg - kids grow so fast though, I never thought I'd be one of those people saying that. Two of mine left for college, two are still at home. It's getting quieter and quieter around my house. It really does happen eventually.
JOLVm- runs are so funny, sometimes I'm toast after a shorter run, sometimes I could just keep going. My trail run must have been too short, I had way too much energy yesterday after. I can't make rhyme or reason on why that happens though.
Runn262 - My upcoming marathon was my PR marathon last year, it was a great fast course. They changed the course unfortunately, now we have a 250 drop for one mile in the beginning, then we have a 250 foot 1 mile climb at mile 21. I truly doubt I will PR this time. Why do they change fast courses to something so hard????
Morning! (barely)
Cut the 15 off at 10 this morning due to having electronics with me and the skies opened up. I'll finish it up after work this afternoon. Right now we're drinking some Kenyan coffee we got at the expo in Boston, not to bad.
Land: Hope the luck continues re dodging the twisters.
Cat Burgular: 400s are my favorite!
EG: Nov -Apr soounds about right. A large part of the summer population here are transplanted from FL.
Mark: I too need to do more stretching.
Lapd: I'll be glad when the rain stops here so I can finish some yardwork.
Shreeve: No computer for 40 days? Not sure how I would handle that.
DrBart: Love finding the random cash in pockets! doesnt happen much theese days. Havent carried cash for years.
CVB: I avoid ice like the plauge.That moves a lot of my miles inside living here.
Burg: I slept in a bit this am too.
SPig: safe travels home!
JOLVm: Milwaukie blend sounds great.
Runn262: Congrats on a great race!
ATTQOTD: As I said, ice is my main nemisis, I've hit the deck more than once and have no desire to do that anymore.
Have a great Monday all!
Maureen - Apr thru Novemeber in Florida is probably very similar to what it is like going to hell - only more humid than hell.
I thank god that she invented swimming pools.
I recall being in San Diego one year in mid August. Everyone was complaining how hot it was that day. I found it relatively pleasant - no humidity!
Belated welcome to Burg!
Re: Coffee of the Day (COTD) - tea is the beverage of choice here (usually Assam), but I usually manage 1 or 2 cappuccinos made with Lavazza espresso most days.
ATTQOTD - lightning storms are rarely an issue here. I might delay a pre-dawn run when it is also very wet and like some of you, I'll avoid roads when icy but always have trail options in snow and ice. Weather rarely holds me up.
Shreve - sounds like a great adventure - would like to hear more about it at some point
Spider - I checked out Bayshore and it looks like a great race. Look forward to seeing how you do.
CVB - your upcoming 50 sounds daunting!
Runn262 - great result at the Poconos.
Off to track shortly. On my return, a late supper with DW. Think we'll watch a film I recorded, 'Thelma and Louise go to Hilton Head'. Plot spoiler coming up here - apparently just before the cliff scene, two tires blow out and they live happily ever after!
Have a great trip, Dr B & Sina!!
Egeary - I envision hell as a place with snow drifts, wind, and ice. I'll take stoopid heat and humidity over a blizzard any day!!!
Time to pick up Sina and head for the coast.
DrBart - I should carry a few dollars for that purpose. I don't carry any to be sure a robber would get none... yet I've never been robbed. :-) So much for that argument. The "need a drink" urge has happened several times. Time for a change there. Hilton Head... nice place.
Spider - That link is different from the last one... maybe I confused Bayshore with another. Thanks for the info.
CVB - I appreciate knowing things like that (Civits kept in cages in poor conditions)... The coffee was a gift so I had little choice but sure was ignorant about it. That would be yet another reason to not buy it. Cost already stopped any such purchase as those cups were likely about $10-15 each... They were not THAT good. You're right, I did not know. The "hilarious" part was why my friend bought it for me. He also bought a bag of elephant poo for my wife (NOT to eat though :-))
Burg - Yeah, the stretching works. I can skip once in a while, but not like I have been... Responsibility sucks, but it is better. :-)... hahahaha... by a duck. Yes, it is.
JOLVm - I'll have to try our local coffee roaster... crazy enough, in this tiny town, we do have one... and decades ago he was a sub-3 marathoner. Thanks for reminding me of this. We will speak no more of post running activities. :-) My 9 on Sunday took more out of me than expected... heat was likely the issue.
Runn262 - Congratulations on your big BQ. Hope to hear your results on future races.
NoCo - Tough conditions. Wish the wind helped as much behind as it hurts in front, but nope.
Maureen - hahaha... It's interesting that the blacker I made my coffee (now I only drink straight black) the more picky I became with my coffee... I'm guessing it's just less "covered" by other tastes.
Itza - I've had Kenyan before and liked it.
Burglar - I've not had Lavazza to my knowledge. I found it interesting that in Argentina, I could not find regular coffee (except instant... that was everywhere). The better places had ONLY cafe con leche... or what I would call a non-sugar espresso with milk. I loved it, but if it wasn't around, instant was all we had. Wasn't happy about that.
Mark - during my lunch run, which was my first 80d run since last fall, i came to the conclusion that heat and lack of good fueling/hydrating was the cause. i sometimes get lazy when the "LR" is "only" 16m. i forget that without some base level of preparation, 16m can still feel rough. in this case, it wasn't bad at the time, just afterwards and into today i have felt run down. lesson learned.
Today has turned out to be a fabulous craptastic day. Seriously. I omitted to turn the key off in my car completely, and therefore, needed to call dh in from work to jumpstart my car. Great, he was busy with a broken garage door at our company we run. Then I nearly ran out of gas, but managed to coast down my street and siphoned gas from the mower into my car. Now I have a headache. Swim team this evening and yes Maureen, middle dd needs snacks for school tomorrow and I have not even had a run yet. I am going to get in a run if it is the last thing I do today.
Carry on.
A hectic but awesome Queen Victoria weekend in Toronto. Have not checked dailies for a while because focus is an upcoming DD grade eight graduation and prom. Running goes okay, the weekend saw mileage of 17 at just above mp, 17 at recovery and today 13 at somewhere between mp and walking pace in temps exceeding 25C. I see we have several new posters in my favorite age group being male 55 to 59. Spider I want to say good luck this weekend but you must know I am real ticked about the Gooners beating Tottenham for fourth place. Anyway Spider you know what we say on the Spurs side of North London. The Emirates, a trophy free zone. Spider Are you coming to Toronto for Scotia Waterfront? JBC on going healing vibes and did that really happen between the Bruins and the Maple Leafs? JOLVm, my regards to Lady V.
Land I am watching the news as I post, horrific scenes from OKC. I hope and pray everyone close to you is safe. Please log in and update that you are okay if you can.
Take care everyone.
Lap'd - Run to the store (literally) and get the snacks. You will just have to explain why they are all crumbled when you give them to DD
I had to run to drop off my rent check the other day, and tomorrow I will have to drop off the car for tires, then run home from the tire store. It's rough being a busy supermom/woman
Mill, I was thinking of you during that once and a lifetime comeback - particularly when they panned to the stunned crowd in Toronto. I genuinely felt bad for them (as a Red Sox fan I became used to those kind of stunning losses).
Sorry to be a lame poster again. Very busy right now but will try to come back later tonight
(Got my MRI report and it generated some questions).
Hope RW friends are ok given tornadoes.
RunningtheBurg,,, Welcome. I lurked for years myself out here. I've received a lot of good advice, support and general comradery here.
Hello peeps. Finally got home from San Antonio, five hours later than scheduled -- and just in time for a tornado warning at the Casa. I tried to call Land to see if he is safe; apparently calls to OKC are not going through right now. I saw the video from the OKC area while I was in the airport in Dallas. Tornado sirens went off for a while here; warning is now cancelled but could be re-issued if another storm develops into a twister. I'm closely monitoring weather reports and will take cover if needed. It hasn't rained a drop yet at the Casa. DS is more concerned about the safety of Insane Cat than of his dear dad. I've assured him that the three-legged one will also go into the bathtub. And tornado warning was just reissued just to our west. Grr...
Despite being somewhat distracted by sirens and warnings, I've passed my RRCA certification test tonight. So now I'm certified to dispense running advice that is actually wanted.
Hello peeps. Finally got home from San Antonio, five hours later than scheduled -- and just in time for a tornado warning at the Casa. I tried to call Land to see if he is safe; apparently calls to OKC are not going through right now. I saw the video from the OKC area while I was in the airport in Dallas. Tornado sirens went off for a while here; warning is now cancelled but could be re-issued if another storm develops into a twister. I'm closely monitoring weather reports and will take cover if needed. It hasn't rained a drop yet at the Casa. DS is more concerned about the safety of Insane Cat than of his dear dad. I've assured him that the three-legged one will also go into the bathtub. And tornado warning was just reissued just to our west. Grr...
Let's see, landrunner got sucked up by the big tornado and got deposited in a land called Oz in Kansas where Dr. Oz. was doing his show behind some curtain.....
Nah, landrunner is fine, but landrunner's land line wasn't working until about 2118 or so, just a little while ago...everything else was...computer, internet, email, cell phone....tried calling land line with cell phone and got fast busy signal....so the 'nadoes had an effect on the phones....anyway, will write whole account later.....
Landrunner, I am relieved to know you are okay. I was very worried. Lap'd


text:
On May 22, the class of 2014 will graduate from Charleston Catholic High School. Going with them will be Debra K. Sullivan, who will retire at the school year's end after 28 years as principal.
She led the school through a major expansion when the math and science wing was added in 1994. Then, six years later, the church purchased and renovated the Players Club tennis building, adding basketball, volleyball, and training facilities.
Enrollment doubled as the school has more than 400 students in grades 6 through 12. They come from an eight-county area and many are non-Catholics as only 55 to 60 percent of the student body is Catholic.
"We aren't here to convert anyone," she told the Daily Mail's Samuel Speciale.
"We're here to help each person be the best faith-filled person they can be so they can recognize their own beliefs and share them with others."
The staff at Charleston Catholic High also prepares its students academically. Its college-going rate typically is 100 percent. That's a record that can only be equaled, never broken.
Hats off to a great educator. May Principal Sullivan enjoy a well-earned retirement.


text:
You know that spring is here when we start getting updates on the progress of plowing Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park!
Being a Montana native, I still am amazed how they are able to maintain this highway so that we all can look in awe at the beautiful country we live/travel in!
The question asked all the time is "when do you think Going to the Sun is going to be open"? That is the million dollar question, because it is always so much fun to be one of the first to go over the highway after a long winter slumber, but the answer is not so easy. All I can say is "they are working as fast as they can, but Mother nature always has her own plan".
For those seeking the answer to this million dollar question, the best thing to do is to "like" Glacier National Park on Facebook and watch the progress, it will make the trip so much more impressive when you know how hard it is to clear and repair it every Spring.


text:
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Mono Me Necklace
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Hanging from a knotted necklace is a waved ring textured with delicate fingerprints.
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Length: 22in / 56cm
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text:
Harry Potter Cupcakes
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out my other Harry Potter treats: More Harry Potter Cupcakes, Butterbeer, and Golden Snitch Cake Pops.
A big group of friends decided to go see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in IMAX. Hubby and I are both big HP fans (ok, maybe it's really just me and I drag him along to this stuff… He's not the one with the HP theme ringtone… although he did read all 7 books too… In fact we had to buy two #7s because neither of us wanted to wait for the book…) and we already saw the movie when it first came out. But it wasn't released in IMAX until the end of July. I don't know if it's marketing genius or what, but I guess their ploy worked on us because if it had come out in IMAX at the beginning, we probably would have only gone to see it once… But I digress… Since we had such a large group, we decided to get there early to get seats together. And since we'd be standing/sitting around for a while, I thought I'd bring some cupcakes.
I wanted to decorate them with Harry Potter objects and decided to make some chocolates to put on top of the cupcakes. The process itself is quite simple. First, I made a stencil on my computer and printed it out. I taped some wax paper over the printout so the paper wouldn't move. Then I melted some chocolate and yellow Wilton candy melts in a disposable piping bag. I snipped off the end and began piping.
As you can see I don't have a perfectly steady hand, but I think they look good. For the snitch wings, I piped the chocolate, then put some sprinkles on the waxed paper, then piped the yellow.
For the H and P, first I downloaded the Harry Potter font from DaFont.com. The first time I printed my stencil I forgot to make a mirror image of the letters. Since I wanted the smooth side to be showing on top of the cupcakes, I needed to have that mirror image. Once I got that all straightened out, I would pipe a small amount of chocolate onto the thicker parts of the letter. I then used a toothpick to do the detail work. It was a bit time consuming to say the least!
When I went to take the H & P letters off the waxed paper, they were too fragile to stay together. So in a last second decision, I used the yellow candy melts to make a big ole circle around the HP. I think they looked great, but wished I would have thought of that first because I would have made my H a little closer to the P. I used my round cookie cutters (see Dad, they're really useful!) to make the circle of yellow chocolate over the HP.
I decided to just make chocolate and white cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I love filling cupcakes, so I filled them with some homemade strawberry jam that Hubby's mom's boyfriend gave us recently (it's AMAZING!). Since I hate making recipes more than once, I decided to try a new chocolate and a new white cupcake recipe. I decided to go with Martha's one bowl chocolate cupcake recipe and the Billy's vanilla cupcake recipe from my Top 10 list. The chocolate cupcakes were great and I love the idea of only dirtying one bowl!
I found the vanilla cupcakes to be a bit fussy. The batter tastes amazing, but I used my ice cream scoop as usual, and they were too full and spilled over and made the weird flat cookie look on top of the cupcakes. I think I'm still on the hunt for a great fool-proof vanilla cupcake recipe.
I'm not going to copy the recipes here, they're out on the Internet hundreds of times. Here are links to Martha Stewart's One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes and Billy's Vanilla cupcakes (another Martha Stewart recipe). I frosted the cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Don't forget to enter in my 2nd blogiversary giveaway by midnight on August 13th!
14 Responses to "Harry Potter Cupcakes"
OMG, I am in love with these cupcakes! They're so awesome! I love HP, and I made owl cupcakes when the movie came out. I might need to give these a try before going to see the IMAX 3D movie.
How cute are those?! And i was wondering how you got the lettering so perfect – thanks for the step-by-step. Lol – I just dragged DH to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry – I'm sure he'll be happy when the final movie comes out and he doesn't have to hear about it anymore!
Great job, how lucky are your friends?
I'm so jealous! My two sisters are going to the exhibit this weekend. I thought about flying to Chicago to join them. Luckily I found out the exhibit is coming here in October. Whew!
These look fabulous! You did such a great job on them!
WOW JEN!! Those are fantastic!! Better than professional! Seriously, what talent you have to make those! 🙂
Aw thanks Katie – you're making me blush.
I hate when cupcakes do that to me too. Instead of baking up they bake out! 🙁
Love your Harry Potter cupcake toppers! Very cute and creative!
Hi Jen! A friend of mine forwarded me your page for HP Cupcakes and I just wanted to drop in and say that I think they're awesome and I want to run home now and try to create some fun hp themed cakes! I had done some in the past–cauldron cakes if you will, by buying mini cauldrons and cutting the bottom off so the tops sat just on the cakes and then used a bit of green frosting on the inside. You should join up with the HP-MA crew! We've been organizing some meet-ups for Boston Fans!
Sounds awesome Manda.
Oh my goodness, what adorable little cupcakes!
So so cute! And yeah, those "HPs" must have taken FOREVER. I have a fabulous vanilla cupcake recipe that never fails me here: http://annies-eats.com/2008/07/18/vanilla-cupcakes/. Also, I recently made Dorie's perfect party cake into cupcakes and had great results with that as well.
I love your HP cupcakes! I too am a huge Harry Potter fan but I have to admit, I don't think I'd be patient enough to make cupcakes and toppings as cute as yours!
These are so awesome!! I wish I would have seen them and did some of these with the HP cake I did!!


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BLOG 2.0 Wrestlemania 29 Predictions
by, 02-15-2013 at 01:47 AM (7571 Views)
Hello to all those bloggers out there my name is AussieFan and this is my first blog. These are my predictions and card on what i think will happen at Wrestlemania 29 everyone's giving there opinion so ill give mine. So sit back relax and enjoy the read.
1- Singles match
Chris Jericho Vs Dolph Ziggler
Now what better way to set of Wrestlemania than with a match that could still the show. Now i know a lot of people may not agree on this one but hold your horses. There are a few people out there that think Jericho wins the chamber and Ziggler cashes in on Del Rio setting up this match but for the WHC. In my opinion that's to predictable. Now people are probably like what about the briefcase well that comes later on.
Winner Dolph Ziggler
2- Singles match
Kane Vs Daniel Bryan
After the Elimination chamber the next night on raw these two will have a fallout and loose the titles to Sin Cara & Rey mysterio. setting up a match that's been along time coming they had a good run in the tag team division but its time to concentrate on there singles career. I'm gonna go with Kane winning his 2nd consecutive mania but Bryan will get his revenge at Extreme rules
Winner Kane
3- Intercontinental Championship Match
Wade Barrett Vs Bo Dallas
I'm not to sure whether there going to have this at Elimination chamber so why not do on the grandest stage of them all Wrestlemania 29. it would be the debut mania for young Dallas and what better way to stamp your authority then for Bo Dallas to beat Wade Barrett.
Winner & New Intercontinental Champion Bo Dallas
4- United States Championship Match (Street Fight)
Antonio Cesaro Vs The Miz
This would be a brutal match with everything being used except the announce tables. expect The Miz to win after a good back & forth brawl with the Swiss superman.
Winner & New United states Champion The Miz
5- 4 Man Tag Team Match for The Tag Team Championships
Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs The Usos Vs PTP Vs 3MB-(McIntyre & Slater)
This wont be a long match but it will be quick and high flying with mysterio & Sin Cara coming out victors to remain Champions.
Winners & Still Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara
6- World Heavyweight Championship
Alberto Del Rio Vs Jack Swagger
a lot of you that may read this wont like the fact that jack swagger is in this match but i think that he will win in the chamber and i like the sound of this match up. there both pretty good technical wrestlers that can put on a good match. Now with Del Rio winning in the end Ziggler will come out and cash in on a vulnerable Del Rio and become the New World Heavyweight champion.
Winner & New World Heavyweight Champion By Cash In Dolph Ziggler
7- Tag Team Match
Randy Ortan & Sheamus Vs The Shield (Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns)
this will be a good back and forth tag team match. with Seth Rollins sitting out cause Ambrose didnt think he could stand Ortan & Sheamus. the shield will pick up the win after ortan turns on Sheamus RKOing him just for Ambrose to crawl over and pin him.
Winners The Shield Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns
8- Giant Triple Threat Match
Ryback Vs Mark Henry Vs Big Show
This is a match of giant proportions with all three men dominating the roster leading into wrestlemania they will brawl it out with ryback getting his wrestlemania moment when shellshocking the Big Show.
Winner Ryback
9- Singles Match
Brock Lesnar vs Triple HHH
this will only be a singles match but these two beast will fight it out till there last breath with Brock coming out victor once again staying relevant and leaving a message to the rest backstage.
Winner Brock Lesnar
10- WWE Championship Match
John Cena Vs The Rock 2
they will go at it once again only this time for the WWE Championship were after the worst year of his life in 2012 John Cena will come out as the new WWE Champion.
Winner & New WWE Champion John Cena
11- Respect Match
Undertaker Vs CM Punk
after a grueling 30 min Match were there's been everything from elbow drops from the top rope through the announce table to knocking out the ref Undertaker will come out Winner Making it 21-0 they will shake hands after as undertaker walks to the back.
thanks for reading i know there's 11 matches but i tryed to fit majority of the top stars into matches hope you enjoyed. don't kill me in the comments


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After having read, heard and seen all but positive things about this guy, I'm starting to wonder: what are his weaknesses?
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After having read, heard and seen all but positive things about this guy, I'm starting to wonder: what are his weaknesses?
I'll go ahead and be the negative nancy since it seems everyone else is sipping the koolaid.
Im not that impressed with this pick, another wing player, just what we need. I understand that there wasn't many other options and Bird was just drafting the best player available and I think he probably accomplished that. But I fail to see this improving the team too much, we are already fully stocked at the wing positions. At best I see him as another trade piece or allowing Rush to be a trade piece. What are his weaknesses? Looks like defense is his weakness, just like the rest of the team...
That's where they differ and why Paul will be a great pick. Granger is a very hard worker and that will help Paul to really understand what it takes to be good in the league. I also hope it will help in get in great shape and not hit the wall.
First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.
I just love the Paul George pick. Someone posted earlier that he hopes to have Granger and Paul on the court and go with a smaller lineup.
JOB sucks and is already thinking about putting Granger at the 4. Good lord!
Granger at the 3, and I think Paul has the quickness and athleticism to be a 2. That's a crazy big lineup! A 6'9" SG! Are you kidding me!?
Just need an athletic PF and a PG.
First time in a long time, I've been happy with the team that was constructed, and now they struggle. I blame the coach.
Yeah I've heard no doubts that George can play the 2... we just need a coach that will play George at 2 and Granger at 3...
"George's athleticism is bananas!" - Marc J. Spears
I was reading back over the Chad Ford mock drafts and variations. Tons of teams were interested in George, some trying to move up to get him. Words like superstar used, but also bust. Comparisons to Rudy Gay, Joe Johnson. I just hope he works, he has the physical gifts and skills, it seems, I just hope his mind is strong.
Roy being on the team can be invaluable, imho, in that he can take these young guys under his wing now. Show them the dedication it takes to get better.
Hopefully that will rub off, because we have some picks this year that will be more about what they have upstairs (mental toughness to prepare) than limits to their potential.
If Larry can turn any of the expirings into, at least, a glue type point guard without taking on a big cumbersome salary, I'll consider this a really nice off season.
Last edited by Speed; 06-25-2010 at 10:42 AM.
"George's athleticism is bananas!" - Marc J. Spears
Except he isn't just another wing player. What have we been clamoring for (other than a PG and PF, which there wasn't one at 10 to pick over George)? A legit Robin to our Batman in Granger (whether Granger is a Batman for a championship team is up to debate, but on this team he is our Batman). George can become that Robin (maybe Batman?). Who on the team now, or who could we have drafted at 10 can we say that about? Rush is a nice player, but would be better off the bench. Dunleavy, who knows if he will be healthy again and we know he is not Robin. We really don't have a guy that can be the legit number two next to Granger. Paul George can be just that.
Damn! I didn't even know he could dunk like that....


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I ran that first marathon in Indy and then took some time off to heal. I had an IT issue and some bursitis in my hip – maybe or maybe not related. Had a kidney stone. FINALLY ran again after almost two months off, and if I may quote my bloop for 12/12/09, "…IT WAS FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!"
Sometime in between I'd decided to run the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville the next spring. Logan was going to run with me and we were going to see about getting Connor in from Utah to join us. Neither of those happened. Connor ran Salt Lake (BQ'd in 3:08) and Logan got busy with being married and having a new job and didn't run much.
Remember how I ended Episode V? "The next race will be next year. It will be run with proper training. Patient training. Smart training. Better training. More focused. More intense. Longer. Faster. So I will be, too (faster, not longer)."
I used DumbCoach to prepare a master training plan. I tweaked it, added some extra mileage, and guaranteed myself a sub-4 marathon.
Late in December I passed 500 miles for the year. I was so proud.
In January I ran a 6 miler in 12o and 25 mph wind, looking like this. I may have conceived the Baconator Awards that day.
Strained a calf muscle in February. Bought one of the inaugural Team Pikermi shirts.
I used the word, "Bloop," for the first time on March 25, 2010. Stick that in your Trivial Pursuit game this weekend.
The calf bothered me more or less all through training. But, I made it, and my 20-miler that cycle was better than the previous one by 18-1/2 minutes. I was going to make a big splash in Louisville, I was sure of it.
Then the race happened. I learned several things that day. One is not to predict a monster PR in a marathon because, really, you just never know.
Lesson #1. I knew about some of these things before today, I suppose. But knowing about something isn't the same as knowing something. If you know about it, you've read something or heard it or maybe discussed it with someone. To really know something, you have to live it.
Sunday, 4/18. Woke up with a little sniffle in one nostril. It's spring, and sometimes I get a little hay fever. My nose will run and my eyes will itch for a couple of days. I keep some prescription Flonase around the house just in case. Took a few snorts that night before I went to bed.
Monday, 4/19. A little more sniffly than Sunday, and my head was even stuffed up some. Another snort of Flonase and a Zyrtec for extra power. I will NOT let these mild spring allergies ruin my race. But I was starting to think that maybe this was a cold, and not allergies. Took sudaphed during the day. By the evening, after my easy 2 miles, I was feeling kind of tired, too, and more sinus problems, so I took a tablespoon of Nyquil.
Tuesday, 4/20. The Nyquil helped me sleep, but Tuesday I was in a fog all day. I normally feel like that after sleeping with Nyquil, but not usually all day. I should have known something was wrong. More sudaphed. Forgot to take Zyrtec that morning, so I popped one that night before I went to bed.
Wednesday, 4/21. Tossed and turned all night. Was up for a solid hour at 2 AM. Decided to read and work on a speech I've been thinking about lately. I won't be doing it for several months still, but it's important, so I work on it from time to time already - not in the middle of the night, however. It seemed a good idea to switch my tempo run from Thursday to Wednesday, giving me another easy day between me and Saturday. Was tired, but I beat my target pace handily. More Zrytec before bed.
Lesson #2. Zrytec will keep me awake all night. If I must take it, I must take it in the morning.
Thursday, 4/22. After another night of not sleeping, the nagging worry about Saturday kept pushing itself forward. I held my doubts inside, hoping that my previous months of training would have been enough to get me through, if I could only get over this cold. 2 easy miles that didn't feel so easy. No Zyrtec tonight. Talked to my son, who was spending the week in Washington, DC. They were coming back and expected to be in Louisville for the race, but couldn't promise what time of the morning they'd make it. Not sure why that disappointed me so much, but it did. I put together a large map of the course, large enough so they could navigate easily around the city and follow the route, with mile splits marked out and the times I expected to pass each one.
Friday, 4/23. I woke up clear-headed, but tired. We planned to leave around lunchtime for the drive to Louisville. I thought I would save the 1/2 day of vacation and work in the morning. Even though another hour or two of sleep would have been nice, I was committed to the plan and had things to wrap up at work before I could leave for the weekend. It was 12:30 when we actually hit the road going south. It's 6-1/2 hours driving, and the traffic was pretty good. At 7, we rolled into town and made our way to the expo. I'm not a big expo guy, but I don't mind walking through and looking around a bit. This makes short work of the expo, and gives me time for other things. Like touring the course and showing DW how to get around to see me during the race. One of the things I really like about KDFM is the route is so spectator-friendly. There are literally about a dozen places that someone can reach to cheer their own runner. We drove to the start, then north past Churchill Downs and back towards the city. By now it was getting close to 8 pm, and we still had dinner to get to. When I was here three years ago with Connor, we ate at an Olive Garden over the river in Clarksville. Since our hotel was on that side, I thought we should go again. It was an hour wait for dinner, and while the food was excellent, this made it 10:30 before we finally got to the hotel. Bed was after 11. I didn't expect to sleep very soon or very well, and I was right.
Lesson #3. Take the whole day before the race off, unless it's local. Driving for hours makes you more tired than you realize.
Lesson #4. Eat dinner early, hang out doing nothing at the hotel. I need the rest, anyway (apparently).
Saturday, 4/24, Race day. Up at 5, wishing I could sleep another 2-3 hours.
But I know they don't schedule these things for my benefit. The hotel usually doesn't set out breakfast until 6, but they did today for the runners. For future reference, it was the Marriott Town Place Suites in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Checked the weather one last time - 63*, light rain, 93% humidity. Ouch. Getting to the start was easy enough, as I-65 took us within a couple of miles of the start. We found a place to park that would let DW walk from the start to about mile 4, then back to drive up to Churchill Downs. The last and maybe most important pre-race activity is the pit stop. They had as many set up as they could at a local elementary school, but they needed twice as many. We waited in line for 30 minutes and it looked like we were still 20 minutes from the johns, but there were only about 10 minutes before race time. Around to the back of the big line of portos I go, there another guy back there finishing up. I find a spot and ... then another guy comes around the corner (obviously to do his own business) - with his girlfriend! Anyway, I finish up (no way I could stop) and make my way to the start. I ducked into the B corral and waited for the gun.
It was another five minutes before we began walking. This was a much bigger race than Indy was, and it took a good 5-6 minutes to get to the gate.
Now for the race.
Mile 1 - Lots of people, crowded close together, moving slow. It was a jog really. 10:55.
Mile 2 - Into Iroqouis Park, up and down a couple of hills. Still crowded. I was disappointed at how many people who were obviously walkers were that far up in the crowd. Seems rude. Not that I was going fast myself, but it is hard to change speeds and weave going around them. 9:35
Mile 3 - While I was still behind schedule, I'd decided I ought to be able to catch up when things got more spread out as long as I was feeling good. A few easy miles at the beginning would only be good for later. I did miss the mile marker though, so no split.
Mile 4 - Another couple of hills, but I was careful to take it easy. 18:32 for the two miles, so I felt like I was back on pace. We also exited the park and headed north.
Mile 5 - Saw DW right where I expected. What I didn't expect was to be feeling tired already. She yelled and told me that Logan had made it, and was up ahead in the next mile. 9:something.
Mile 6 - Saw my son and DIL. Waved and yelled.
Mile 7 - Just kept going, passed some and got passed by others. Since it was combined with the Pikermi, I had no idea who was passing who, but I felt better thinking that everyone going faster than me wasn't going 26.
Mile 8 - Into Churchill Downs and through a tunnel, coming out inside the park (is that what you call it?). Instead of music playing on loudspeakers, they had reruns of some horse races. Different, and kind of cool. There were some horses getting worked out at one of the practice tracks. Still raining, btw. Then back into another tunnel and out of the park. All three of my posse were now together and cheered. They said I was looking good, but I know they didn't really know.
Mile 9 - I was already in "suck it up and run" mode. Not where I wanted to be at 9, but remembered that I did 20 a few weeks ago and was still doing 9 mm at the end, even though I was exhausted.
Mile 10 - I walked. Yes. After 4 months of training, before I'd run 10 miles I walked. It was about 50 yards or so I think, but it was walking and I knew it wouldn't be the last time that day.
Mile 11 - How could I fall apart so quickly? My training had gone well, even after I'd hurt my calf. I'd been able to get back up to healthy mileage totals, and my long runs had all gone well (minus one). But there was obviously nothing in the tank and I still had 15 miles to go. I looked to the sides at every corner, hoping to see my family, to let them know this just wasn't going to work. I'd resigned myself to not finishing. But I knew they'd be almost as disappointed as I was. I thought about how much money I'd spent - entry fee, gas, hotel, dinner, time off, ... I couldn't quit, but I wanted to so badly.
Do I look ready to quit? Felt like it. (
Mile 12 - Finishes up a gradual hill, and there they were, just after the water tables. I grabbed a bottle, jogged over to them, stopped and threw it to the ground. "I'm done," I announced. "I just can't do this today." Those were met with protests and encouragement, as you might expect. Yes, I could do it. It was OK if I walked, but I couldn't quit. One more mile and we could talk again. At least I'd get a Pikermi. Finally, I agreed, and jogged off.
Mile 13 - It seemed like there was a hill in every mile now, and every mile got longer than the last. The sun came out, but the humidity stayed. I went past the marker, then up another hill.
Mile 14 - But my heart and mind weren't in it. I went beyond where I was sure it was a Pikermi and stopped again at the top of that hill. It was near a small park. There was an ambulance (that felt ironic) and some guy laying on the grass at the side of the road with a paramedic looking at him. I walked past and asked a spectator to borrow his phone. I couldn't even get the buttons to work, so he dialed for me. DW couldn't tell me where they were, at least not so I could understand her. I told her where I was, believing they could just whip on over and pick me up. She told me to keep going along the route and they'd find me somewhere. That seemed totally unreasonable to me. Instead, it seemed so much more logical for me to wander off the course and try to find them in a city none of us knew very well (or at all). I went south, up a hill (another hill?) and went into an animal hospital to borrow a phone. "Where are you?" I still couldn't figure out where they were, although I must have thought I did, because I told them to drive up a certain street and I'd meet them. I hung up and started walking again, down a long hill, opposite the course direction. I walked about a mile before turning and finding the course again. A couple fo cars honked at me, so I took of my bib, because they were obviously mistaking me for one of the runners. Another borrowed cell phone, another failed attempt at understanding where they were. Then I saw a guy running backwards on the course and recognized the stride, even if I couldn't make out his face. It was my son, shirtless, wearing the extra pair of shorts I'd brought with us, looking for me. We walked up the hill (same hill I'd run up who knows how long before) to where the girls were waiting with the cars in the same spot where I'd borrowed the first cell phone. I opened the van door, sat down and took off my shoes, removed my anti-blister tape, all the while listening to the three of them telling me that I couldn't quit - I had to finish, even if I walked the rest of the way. I was adamant, though. Logan offered to finish with me. I refused. They told me about another friend who had called to see how things were going. When she heard what was happening, she made them promise not to let me quit, no matter what. After awhile, even I could tell they were never going to stop. So I got a dry pairs of socks, pinned on my bib, and said, "OK."
Mile 15 - We jogged and walked into Cherokee Park, up and down some more hills (I swear they weren't on the elevation chart). At this point I had no idea where I was in the race. I'd turned off my watch sometime during the time I was wandering the streets of Louisville off the course. I started it again to see how slow I was going. I missed the 15 mile split, regardless, but figured it was about 10 minutes.
Mile 16 - We passed the 6 hour pace group. One guy in blue with monstrous calves, jogging alongside a pretty large woman, who should have been wearing more clothing, in my opinion. Some body parts just shouldn't be exposed to public view when they get to be a certain size.
Mile 17 - Up another hill. Beautiful park, though.
Mile 18 - Skirts the edge of the park through some really cool old neighborhoods with tree lined streets and big old houses. Neighborhoods I'll never afford to live in.
Mile 19 - Finally out of the neighborhoods and onto flats again and what felt like progress toward the end. Heading towards downtown.
Mile 20 - We reach Main Street and see more crowds the closer we get to the 2nd Street Bridge. I'm starting to get cramps in my calves. I fight them off by slowing down, walking when I have to, then starting again. Most of the miles are about 10:30 minutes, including the walking, so when I'm going, I guess I'm doing OK. If only I could run the whole way. I'd love to be done.
Mile 21 - Half of this mile we are going next to the finishers in the opposite direction, who have crossed the bridge and back and are closing in on the finish. They look pretty excited and I don't wonder. The crowd is cheering, mostly for them. I have no idea either what time of day it is or what the time is on the course. I'm just running as far as I can, then walking until I can run again. Mile 21 ends and we start the bridge.
Mile 22 - I will sign any legal document placed before me that the Louisville to Jeffersonville 2nd Street Bridge is the longest bridge of any kind in the entire world. Officially, it's about 1 mile from end to end, at least the 22 mile marker is at the other end from the 21 mile marker. It starts uphill on the Kentucky side, and the downhill seems very gradual. I suppose the view was spectacular, but I don't remember looking.
Mile 23 - On the ground on the Indiana side of the bridge, we stopped for a brief moment to have a medic look at my left foot, because I was sure there was a 3 inch blister on the ball of my big toe. She said it was tiny and put some vaseline on it. Ran past our hotel. We kept going.
Mile 24 - We've been through the riverside neighborhood, past the flood barrier and are almost back to the bridge. Had to stop once to stretch out my thigh which was trying to cramp in competition with my calves.
Mile 25 - The marker is halfway across the bridge again. Going south, this bridge is easily three times longer then the northbound side, and it's uphill until the last 100 yards.
Mile 26 - Then you curl under the bridge, over, and uphill (again!) to Main Street, this time with 4 blocks to the final turn and down hill to the finish. DW and DIL were there, waving and cheering. I gave them my best Bangle Pump coming down the hill. We had passed the last small group of runners in front of us before the turn, so it was a long empty stretch down that hill to the line. The clock read 5:54:something when I went under it.
I'll never know my time, since I was off the course and off the clock for two miles and some unknown amount of time (maybe 45-60 minutes?). I do know that I'd never have made it without Logan, out of shape as he was, walking and jogging along with me for 13-1/2 miles. I also know I wouldn't have started again without him, DW and DIL hounding me mercilessly to continue. I would have quit without my friend, Cindy, 400 miles away in Livonia, telling my wife about her sister almost giving up at Boston a few years ago until her husband did what Logan did for me, and ran in with her to the end. I wouldn't have finished without Logan next to me the whole way, distracting me with stories of the Civil War from their week in Washington, DC.
That blister on the bottom of my foot is about 1/4" long and 1/2", smaller than it felt but much larger than that medic led me to believe. I suppose that doesn't matter. There's a 1/2" diameter blood blister on my second right toe, and a 1/2" regular one on the 3rd toe. No injuries. Just the usual, you've-run-26.2 (plus a couple)-miles, kind of aches and pains. Yesterday I hurt more than I remember hurting last fall, but maybe that's normal, too. I took today off work as a mental health day. It's taken me all day to get this down.
Now, rest, and plans for next time. I'm a runner, after all.
3 years later, I'm still learning things from that race.
Next week: Episode VII: A marathon in Dixie.


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Notebook computers and naan. Surge protectors and slices of artisan pizza. Flash drives and fries (with truffle oil or maybe mustard aioli).
On Friday, you can combine high-tech shopping with start-of-the-art snacking as Fry's Electronics hosts its first Foodie Truck Friday.
Four gourmet food trucks from around the Bay Area will be stationed at the Sunnyvale Fry's, 1007 E. Arques Ave., from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The featured trucks are:
A bonus for early shoppers: The first 250 customers of the day who make a $10 or more purchase at Fry's will get lunch items valued up to $10. (Heads up: The store opens at 8 a.m.)
Will Foodie Truck Fridays continue at other Fry's locations? Fry's officials are taking a wait-and-see position. Stay tuned for updates.
Send South Bay and Peninsula dining tips to Linda Zavoral at email@example.com.