Thursday, December 30, 2010

YEAH!

I've been away from the writing desk for a long time now.
Life has been busy.
I haven't been "adventure" running.
I have been non-adventure running. That means that I've been running 3 miles every morning in the basement - while watching movies with the subtitles turned on. This morning, I started "Patton." Eli checked it out from the library. He also checked out "From Here to Eternity." I ran to that last week. I'm not going to let Eli watch it. It's more about an affair than about the war.

Oh, yes. The reason for this post...
Yesterday, this blog received the 13,800th hit. I know that some places get that many in a day. However, I'm really grateful for those who stop by to read. And those who stop by to see if anything new has been posted in the past, well, month or two.

And I actually did do some adventure running last week. I ventured out on the river right here in town. The river is wide here and tends to freeze well. We'd had two weeks of sub-15 temps. I figured it would be safe. I failed to figure in the effects of snow on the ice.

I got out onto the river - right in the middle, and started to sink into 6 inches of slush with every step. There was no evidence of open water or moving ice. But the snow has insulated the top of the ice and everything was still warm. Needless to say, I furtively ran back to the safety of land and finished my run on the roads.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Cold, Hair and Discipline

I'm running again. It isn't much, but it's running.

We've moved Sadie upstairs into Grace's room. No furniture moved, no freshly painted walls or designer motif from Pottery Barn for the one year old. It simply means that Sadie no longer sleeps in the basement. Her downstairs crib sits empty; her crib in Grace's room gets more action.

We moved her upstairs so I could be more disciplined. As a father of seven, trying to make a decent living, I've decided that part of the solution needs to involve waking earlier. And running when I wake. Actually, the running is necessary else I would never wake earlier.

This running....it's downstairs on the treadmill. While watching tv or a movie. With subtitles turned on so that the noise doesn't wake the sleeping. Yes, for the past two mornings, it's been me, my shorts, water bottle, shoes and "Runaway Bride." I've decided to let my hair grow and look like Richard Gere.






Tomorrow, I'll start "Europa, Europa." I'll soon be sporting a short cropped Hilter Jungend hair style.





One advantage to running right now: I'm showering twice a day and my hair is soft.

I'm also tracking the temperatures. Looking for the first stretch of cold that will justify stepping out onto the St. Croix River. Last year, I just waited until the snowmobile tracks appeared. This year, I'd like to be out first. Don't worry, I enjoy living, and my new long hair, far too much to be foolish.


Friday, December 3, 2010

Being Tailed

We went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. We had a late start, so my patience was already pretty thin.
I was looking for some specific pieces as we strolled around on the third floor.
We found a few.
We were followed the entire time. By museum staff.
We were not just followed. I could feel their breath on my neck.
It made the Institute not so fun.