Four Cool Runners

... and one skinny dork.

Notice anything odd about the "freaky" guy, top row left?

One these things doesn't belong!

(UPDATE: There is something different on me. Can you spot it?

Hint: I need someone to help me dress)

ANSWER:

Blueberry said...
Your shirt is on backwards. -

BINGO!

I didn't intend to wear this shirt, but since it was a very nice "high tech" runner's tank, special stay dry material, I decided to change at the last minute. It came in the run "package".

Usually they give you a cotton tee shirt for a souvenir, and you can't run in hot weather in a cotton shirt, it gets wet with sweat and never dries.

Later, when they were selling extras, one of the girls in our group said she wanted one for a friend, but not like the one I had on. I said they were all the same, then someone else said, yeah ,yours is different....... because you're wearing it backwards. I laughed and said that after all it was a retro run, so wearing it backwards was appropriate. "Retro" the adjective means from a past era, but "retro-" the prefix, means backwards.

So, no problem, I was being retro.

This picture taken on Saturday after the Retro Run 5K in Birmingham. These runs are not so much about running, as they are about having a big party and a reason to consume beer.

Football Unites Iraq

Football (known as Soccer in the U.S.) is the greatest sport on earth, and just might be the way to unite a divided country. The nation's football team managed something Iraqi politics or U.S. leaders has so far been unable to accomplish: A united Iraq.

The Iraqi football team which includes Sunni and Shia Muslims, as well as Kurds, beat the Saudi Arabian team 1-0.

I find this ironic not only because it shows a united front from within the country, as opposed to the U.S. pouring billions of dollars into the country, is the way to overcome hardships of the civil war between the people in Iraq, but also because they beat the Saudis, which is the main destabilizing influence in Iraq. No, it is not Iran or Syria, and the U.S. knows it. The Saudis are just one of the many people controlling our weak executive administration.

Wouldn't it be great, that after years of failure by our weak phony leaders, the country now become peaceful to show support of their football team?

Of course, our phony executive leaders would take credit for it, but we already know they are failures no matter what they say.

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Thoughts About Nothing

Welcome to Alabama

Being a transplant in Alabama, I look around me at the people here and praise Darwin that I was not raised here. It is a culture shock. Here are some of the things that leave me wondering if there is some freak of nature at work here:

1. It's Cold. People from Alabama start dressing in their winter clothes when the temp drops below 70 degrees, at 60 the hat and gloves come out, at 50 they actually "warm-up" their cars when they go somewhere, at 40 the news starts talking about emergency shelters for those without heat, below freezing and it's the top news story. Spot a snowflake, and the impending blizzard is all the buzz at the office. The forecast of even a snow flurry causes every single person to take off work and visit the grocery store, whether they need something or not. Snow on the ground, even just a dusting, is an automatic snow day, then they get in their trucks and try to do doughnuts. The hazard here is not the possibility of slick roads, it is all the people trying to see how fast they can drive their four-wheel drives in the snow.

2. Driving on Sunday. There are more police out on a Sunday morning than during weekday rush hour. They are very busy directing after-church traffic than any other time of the week. And its good they are out there then, because being out on the street after-church on Sunday is very dangerous. I have seen more accidents at that time than any other time. There are people out on the roads that only drive to church on Sunday, they don't know where they are going, don't remember how to drive, or realize there are other people out on the road. They stop in the middle of the road for no reason, drive too slow, drift betweens lane, make u-turns over the medians, drive the wrong way or on the wrong side of the road, make left turns from the right lanes (and vice-versa).

3. Trucks. Men, driving real slow, in a great big trucks is a popular way to pass the time. If the truck is going the legal speed or faster, then it is most likely being driven by a women. Most of the people driving trucks and over sized SUV's in Alabama are women, and they can't park the thing, or even back out of a parking space without taking out a fender or two, but at least they can drive the trucks better then the men here. They say they love "sitting up high", makes them feel safer and superior, at least while they are at the wheel of their bloated vanity vehicles.

4. Trying to Walk. I think Alabamians are taught that once they start driving, they are not allowed to walk. Once they start driving, they will drive everywhere, even across the street, or to the other side of a shopping center to go to another store. New businesses are built with no way for pedestrians to access the business, you have to drive. I have dozens of stores and restaurants in walking distance of my home, but no way to walk to them because of the way the roads were built. If you try to walk to these businesses, you will be putting your life at danger and drivers will honk and rage at you for doing such a stupid act.When these Alabamians do have to walk, they walk at such a slow pace that it takes a whole day for them to do a circuit at the small local mall here. It isn't so much of a walk, as a waddle. They take 4 "waddles" to one of my steps. They are very comical to watch, but irritating when you have to walk behind them.

5. Meat. They have restaurants here that only serve meat. There are people here that think that meat is the only food group, everything is meat or a meat dish. Pork is in everything.

6. College. Believe it or not, there is an actually a rivalry between Auburn and Alabama. Not just football, but an "academic" rivalry, also. I'm not kidding. Really.

7. Wisdom and Health. They both are despised here, if you have one or both, don't let anyone know, you will be never be accepted here. Everyone needs to at least pretend ignorance or live an unhealthy lifestyle before anyone will talk to you.

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Friday Authentic Friends Blogging

Nancy, I hope you have a ball on your birthday.

Everyone else, please go visit Nancy and wish her a great day.

Thanks for your friendship, Nancy

Imaginary Friends

What are you doing here?

Do like Nancy, go for a bike ride. Get off the computer and start enjoying the summer and quit complaining about how bad others make your life.


You have the power to have a good life or not. Start Living!

ARE YOU STILL HERE? Well, if you're going to be on the internet, do something useful, expand your mind and read Badtux's post about human imagination.

/* Please excuse the lack of blogging lately. OverDosing on endorphins keeps the voices quiet */

Happy Tail Ale

**********************************************************
Michael Vick - The universe needs to recycle the material that has formed his life.

Fred is one pissed-off cat.
**********************************************************

The blogging will be a little light for a while. Life has been getting busy. It's summertime people, get off the computer and go explore the world. Life doesn't exist on the internet.

....Knick-Knack Paddy Whack
Give the Dog a Beer ....

(...and the old man, too)

Click on Picture to go to Website.

Vomit

Neocons on a Cruise: What Conservatives Say When They Think We Aren't Listening

- The Iraq war has been an amazing success.
- Global warming is just a myth.
- Guantanamo Bay just like a holiday camp.
- The Muslims are breeding. Soon, they'll have the whole of Europe.
- God Bless the Ku Klux Klan.
- March the anti-war people off to the gas chamber for treason, then things'll change.
- We're doing an excellent job killing "them".

These are the people running ruining our country.

Love For Sale

I think I need to find a new line of work.

From Notes from THE RESISTANCE:

I have discovered a way to live life in a state of perpetual orgasmic ecstasy, unbothered by the cruel vagaries of life. It's perfectly legal, no drugs involved, no crazy meditation regimen, no change in diet or beliefs or lifestyle. It's healthy, no side effects, no hangover, just pure bliss round the clock, 24/7. Problem is, I can't articulate the secret method in words. There's no verbal way to demonstrate how I've achieved this state…………...

……. now for a limited time eligible women can receive my wisdom through special tantric exercises with me as their personal guru. After only ten, twenty sessions of intense hands-on nude full-contact sensual massage therapy ………….

Stephen Huneck - Dog Blessed

Stephen Huneck, a Vermont Artist, author, and Dog Lover has built a special place to honor Dog.

Not long after his near-death experience with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a wild idea popped into his mind, one that kept nagging at him. The result was Dog Mountain.

"I wanted to build a chapel, one that celebrated the spiritual bond we have with our dogs, and that would be open to dogs and people. People of any faith or belief system."


Links:

Dog Mountain Chapel
Photo Gallery

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THIS is the American way!

This is a great lady. (Streaming Video)

The universe has blessed us with her presence.

Website

A Tag to End All Tags

A while back, supergirlest from "my thinking spot" tagged me with an eight random facts tag. I'm supposed post eight random facts about myself, but I already use this blog for that, so I have had a block on what to include in this post.

Angry Ballerina and Mary posted their "tag" posts this past week, which reminded me that I had this tag to fulfill.


These facts have probably already appeared in the blog at some time or another.

1. I drive a gray 2001 Honda Accord. It is the best car I have ever owned. I bought it new and I've become emotionally attached to it, this car has been with been with me through some rough times in my life. I'm going to cry when I have to part with it.

2. I'm not a Liberal. Many people think because of my views that I'm Liberal or Democrat. Not even close. Personally, I have always leaned to the conservative side, but I have many viewpoints and opinions that most people would consider liberal. I'm a middle-of-the-roader who likes to consider both sides of an issues before possibly taking a side.

Don't confuse conservatism with the nationalists that are now in executive power. In my opinion, they are NOT conservatives, they are NOT patriots, they are traitors. (High-Five! I snuck a political statement into my introspection.)

I believe the best way to live is someone in middle ground of these two influences. I like tradition and routine, but I believe that progress is as necessary to life as evolution. I like to have my personal liberties, but believe that some sort of government authority is required to limit the power, influence, and greed of those who take advantage of others.

I consider myself Progressive Libertarian. I do not choose this way of thinking, it chooses me.

3. I rarely go out to eat. I have a busy lifestyle, spend much time at work, and pursuing my non-work activities (running, races, hiking, blogging), but I will not surrender to the temptation of quick, easy, unhealthy, assembly-line meals. Read Fast-Food Nation, and Dr. Weil (many books) and see the movie Supersize Me and you will understand why I feel like I do. When I do go out and eat, I've found a few superb local restaurants that suit my picky seasoned tastes.

4. My social life:

In the 80's it was getting drunk on the weekend, playing pool, darts, and pinochle, sometimes all at the same time.

In the 90's I was a soccer mom, both kids played soccer and I was involved in their soccer teams. I loved that.

In the 00's my life has been an emotional roller coaster ride. In the last two years, I've quit dating (dating, over 40, is depressing) and I now base my whole social life on running events. My life is stabilizing again, I hate where I live, but I love my job.

5. I'm a morning person. After a good night's sleep, I feel great and ready to start my day and get things done. I'm at my best then. If I have any tasks I need to do, I start them first thing in the morning and get them done. By the afternoon, when most people are just starting their tasks or starting to work, I'm beat, and need to start unwinding and relaxing. Do not give me something to do late in the day, it will not get done, or if I try to complete the task, I will likely mess it up (not on purpose).

When I can, I siesta. Then I don't get those late-day doldrums I hate and make me miserable and depressed.

6. I love playing Scrabble (while drinking Guinness). My vocabulary isn't that great; please don't rush me when it's my turn; I probably won't win; but I still like playing. I haven't been able to play very much since I've been single, I miss it.

7. Same as supergirlest's #7. The sun drains my energy. I have the best running results when it's cloudy or raining.

"I'm only happy when it rains" - Garbage

8. My favorite color has always been green. Even when I was a child, I loved all different shades and tints of green.

I will not tag anyone. If you want, go ahead and post random facts about yourself, we love reading them.

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Stay Tuned

A new post in the works!

Damn work keeps getting in the way,
and I have to get my workout in everyday,
and surf the blogs,
and read the news,
and get the local gossip from the usual suspects in the neighborhood,
and fix my lunch and dinner,
and there's the mandatory relaxation time before bed.

Somehow I will fit a blog post into that busy schedule.

This is it.

PB&J

Do something positive today to help save the planet, go make yourself a Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich.

From What Do I Know: "The Peanut Butter and Jelly Campaign asks "Who knew it was so easy to change the world?" One peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a time."

OR, you can make one of my favorite post-run meals:

Toasted Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich

- Toast two slices of WHOLE wheat Bread (if it just says wheat, it isn't WHOLE wheat)
- Spread a thick layer of Peanut Butter on the hot toast, so it melts and becomes runny.
- Place banana slices on the Peanut Butter. (There's no wrong way)
- Assemble sandwich.
- Eat.


The melted peanut butter will drip, so it's a good idea to have a Dog around to cleanup the PB drips from your shirt, pants, hands, floor, and furniture. You could eat it over a plate or a napkin, but that wouldn't be as much fun for Dog or you.

- Thanks, What do I know for the PB&J link.

Friday Fun with Dog

I have been a little overwhelmed lately with work and other mind-numbing distractions. Since my Friday posts have become popular with at least one reader, I will happily comply with their desires.

Next week, I will return to random thoughts and voices in my head.

For now, I redirect your attention to WikiFido:
What We Can Learn from Our Dogs

Some "puppies" never outgrow your lap.