Crowded Isolation

Is there place that isn't so lonely?

People are so busy trying to do things to fill up their time, they are missing out getting to know other people.

The more I try to do the activities everyone else is doing, the more I try to fit in, socialize, and do the things people say are "fun, the more isolated I feel. I see them having this so-called fun, and it makes me sad. Literally.

I see this too much, that unless you are doing what they want you to do, what they like to do, what they consider worthwhile, then you are not worth their time. You must conform. They avoid people who think, act, or live differently from them.

Why live, if you're just going to be the same as everyone else?

It is time to run away, again.

"I gotta roll, can't stand still,
Got a flame in my heart, can't get my fill,
Eyes that shine burning red,
Dreams of you all thru my head."

- Black Dog, Led Zeppelin

Vengeance Is Mine

I can't support any of the presidential candidate frontrunners.

Even the Democrats are abandoning long held ideals in favor of popularity and votes.


Clinton, Obama and Edwards all support capital punishment.

It's Time

Worried about the economy? Why?

The U.S. is consuming the world's resources at a rate that is unsustainable. With less the 5% of the world's population, we consume 80% of the world's resources. If this were to continue, the U.S. will destroy the world within the next few centuries.

Economic growth is a deadly disease upon the Earth, and capitalism is it's most incurable affliction. We cannot have perpetual economic growth, and necessary climate and ecology practices. Economic growth is incompatible with a healthy earth.

The forces of Mordor (U.S.) will destroy the last few places of peace and healthy earth-friendly living in this world, until it is used every last resource within it's endless reach, and destroyed peace and nature, for the endless gluttony it demands.

Perhaps this can be prevented. Economic collapse destroyed the Roman Empire, and the Nazis dream of global domination. I'm hopeful economic collapse will shrink the USA's addictions to consumerism, material wealth, and global destruction of nature's resources.

The last eight years have seen unprecedented U.S. government spending and ever increasing use of dwindling military forces and contracted mercenaries to gain influence in the regions where we pilfer our "needed" resources. These actions have not only caused much shame to our country, but bitterness from groups whose ideals differ the majority of the U.S.'s.

We need to not only to stop our reckless economic growth, and cut it back to a more reasonable level. We need to stop our insatiable appetite for the worlds resources and learn to live in harmony with the other culture's needs and ideals, and in harmony with the earth that sustains our lives. We need to live within the space of the environment we inhabit, quit stealing resources from other places when we have plenty of our own to sustain us comfortably.

I'm not afraid of economic collapse, I think we need it, before the earth becomes a wasteland, and before our consumption becomes the cause of our extinction.

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Miserable Comfort

I train for four months to run the race we ran yesterday.

I had a goal. To beat last years time. That didn't happen, but I was so glad to just finish, and surprised that it only took one minute longer than last year. It was the most miserable conditions I've EVER run.

I ran a trail run (Top of Tantalus) in Hawaii once, in heavy rain and ankle deep puddles and mud with slippery tree roots. That was bad, but at least it was warm, and the scenery was breathtaking.

I'm a person who loves the cold (not bitter cold), and love rain, and I love to run in inclement weather, but every person has their limits. The wind usually doesn't bother me, I can dress for that.

Yesterday was miserable. How miserable was it?

It was cold, windy, with heavy rain mixed with snow (the first time I've seen snow since moving here seven years ago). We had to run in those conditions for almost two hours. Continuous heavy rain and wind. We were soaked, numb feet and hands, and muscles that were becoming stiff from the cold.

It was a little comfort to see 200 fellow runners experiencing the same misery, and some of them weren't dress as well as I, for these conditions. We will be remembering this race as the worst conditions many of us will ever suffer.

As I was changing after the run, and putting my wet clothes into a bag to take home, I swear they must have weighed five to ten pounds. The upscale fitness club which sponsored the run, had very nice showers, with those foot wide shower heads. That was the best hot shower ever. My hands and feet were still cold later that night when I soaked in and hot tub and finally got the rest of the chill out of my body.

When I got home, everyone was excited because it actually snow and accumulated about one inch. It is such a rare event here, but yesterday I could care less. I just spend the rest of the day trying to get the chill out of my body. I slept well last night.

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Overwhelmed

For the next few weeks, and possibly permanently, look for new posts here on Sundays.

I'll be running in a half marathon Saturday, then going to play in the snow in the Smoky Mountains, weather permitting. A winter storm is developing and could be hitting us on Saturday. The weather man has even said the "S" word about Friday night/Saturday morning, I doubt it will happen (I'm an optimist), but a cold rain or freezing precipitation could make things interesting, since I don't have cold weather rain gear for running.

Work, training, and a hectic schedule have me a bit overwhelmed for a little while. Please keep the place tidy.

A Purpose and a Plan

One of my future vacation plans is go on a Hut-to-Hut hiking trip in Austria.

In Austria, most villages are not only connected by roads, but also by hiking trails, and it is possible to tour most of the country via these trails . There are even government sponsored hostels to provide budget travelers lodging and meals at a very reasonable cost. They even brew a special beer for the hikers. There is one tour that combines beer tasting and hiking. That's what I call motivation, hike to the next town to sample some local brews. (Mass produced Kool-Aid beers are shunned in these parts of the world).

Anyway, I was over at Hill's Country, I found out there is a special town in Austria I need to visit while I'm there. Fucking, Austria.

Here are the directions from Tarsdorf to Fucking. Pay close attention to last step in the directions.

I want to go to Fucking Austria.

I want to go to the Fucking town, and stay at the Fucking hotel. Then I want to go out and eat at a Fucking restaurant, go meet some of the Fucking people (would they be called Fuckers?) and see all the Fucking sights. Maybe I can get a meet a woman while I'm there , and finally have a Fucking girlfriend, You know, someone who can help me find my special purpose.

When we're done we'll hit the Fucking road to get the Bleep out of Fucking. Then again, maybe we'll stay there and have a great Fucking life.

Excuse me while I go dream of Fucking......

(Wow, writing that was strangely satisfying.)



Please don't steal the Fucking sign, or someone might miss Fucking, and that wouldn't be good.

P.S.:
Although it may seems like I'm taking advantage of the name this town, no expletives have been used in writing this post! So you guys watch your fucking language.

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When is Lunch? - Lunch Is Served

Continued from:
When Is Lunch?
When Is Lunch? - The Next Meal
When Is Lunch? - Let's Go Out
When Is Lunch? - You Make It
When Is Lunch? - I'm Not Hungry

He started making plans to give away his assets, end his journey and make his misery go away.

He made a harder decision. He decided to keep going.

Life is an adventure, and around every bend in the road are new possibilities. It might be exciting, it might be scary, or just a long straight boring stretch of highway. Good things will happen, bad things will happen, people will try to run you off the road or block your way, it's all part of the adventure. He didn't want to miss the good times because of being afraid of hitting a few potholes.

The End

I wish there was a more exciting ending with ambulances, cheating lovers, back-stabbing friends, blood and gore, and life-altering situations. It is all there, I left out those details, because your imagination can create better stories than I can tell, let it run wild.

The posting will be a little light for the next few weeks, work and my training schedule are a little bit overwhelming at the moment.

Only seventeen days left until niCkDay.

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Really?

I swiped this picture from Badtux. The latest in Republican head wear. This truly demonstrates that they are not ashamed to show us what they use their brains for. (<-- oops, I'm dangling)



I see Iowans have selected Huckabee for their choice to lead the dick heads nomination.

At first, I think it is a good thing, because there is no way the people of the U.S. would vote for such a phony and fraud, then I backtrack and say "OH SHIT", that's the exact same thing I said about our current fraud of a President.

FRACK.