I Don’t Look Good in Earth Tones, Either…

God said, “Chill”…

This past Saturday was going to be a family day. August 23rd is the anniversary of losing Jake and we try to do something family-oriented and fun. Jake would approve.

This year’s plan was fishing and swimming at Cascade Lake, a local, man-made lake in our county not too far from Westminster.

Linc invited a friend and as Jenny and I were still setting up our spot (putting down blankets, etc), Linc’s friend made his first, and only, cast. He caught a good-sized bass that was well hooked onto the lure, a dual three-pronged thing, like in the picture. I was able to get the back hooks out and was working on the final front hook when the fish wriggled, sending one of the back hooks nicely into, and through, my right index finger. (I’ll pause here for cringes, etc)

Long story short – Unable to extract hook results in visit to ER where the doc had to make an incision inorder to extract the hook. Yes, it was that deep. The rest of my weekend was spent pointing toward the ceiling and feeling quite useless and foolish. Jenny says we will always remember this year’s outing.

Besides changing our family-day plans, it also forced me to take a break from my training for the Philly marathon. No running, no push-ups, no nothing. I discovered that anything that got my heart pumping greater than rest speed caused an almost visible (to me at least) throbbing in my finger and not a little bit of pain.

God decided I needed a break, I guess.

How was your weekend?

(picture – www.fishinreport.com)

Bad Day at the Beach…

No flaws in this logic…

But It’s Not a Threat…

Our Program Manager actually sent an email today that, not in so many words but in essence, said this.

I have never been a fan of leadership by email or the use of flaming emails sent to the whole group in an effort to address a couple individuals.

My favorite line is, “This is not meant as a threat, however;…” Not meant as a threat, however; take the implication that it is.

Running Freak…

Raise your hand if you have heard this…

I have, many times. So have many of my running friends.

What makes YOU a running freak?

Inspiration…

Inspiration is fickle. This came to mind the other day as I sat looking at a blank piece of paper. I was so excited when I came up with a new series of face drawings. That excitment so dissapated after that first one and no other good ideas came to mind. After two days of frustration I did draw this…

Actually, I at first said it was a tease but changed my mind to fickle. Then I put my tablet aside and did not worry about it for a few days. That seemed to help as a new “Running Freak” will be out tomorrow.

How do you overcome fickle inspiration?

New Face Series…

Found some time and here is the first in a series that I mentioned the other day. This topic started a year or two ago. Jenny is always calling me a freak when it comes to running because I enjoy it so much and will do it in any weather or place. One day we started an email chain with my running buddies called, “You might be a running freak if…”

Here is the first.

I used to get a black toe after every marathon and usually once while training. I consider it a badge of honor, a souvenir. I even congratulate people when they experience their first. “Congratulations, my son, for now you are a runner!”

I changed my shoes and I don’t get my black toenail anymore.

I almost miss it…

Are you a running freak? Do you know one?

Do you have any good ones? Any you’d like to see here?

The Jake…

I’ve talked before about my oldest son, Jake, and how we lost him in 2001 to leukemia. Jenny and I honor him, personally, by doing certain things on his birthday, July 4, and his Angel Day, August 23. 

Jake in San Antonio, Feb 2001

Around this time every year, as his Angel Day approaches, it gets a little harder to push back at the melancholy. Instead of moping and getting all depressed, I would like to turn it into something positive, celebrate Jake’s life and to let people know the awesomeness that is Jake.

One thing that has bounced around in my head the last couple of years is having a 5k or 10k in his honor and use it as a fundraiser for a cancer charity. I would call it “Jake’s 5k/10k” with the tag line, “Run The Jake.”

I know nothing about what is involved in hosting a race but I really like the idea. It is one of those, “Someday…” ideas that I would like to make a reality.

Someday…

Blast From the Past 9…

Last one of the bunch. New stuff will be following soon. I was jolted with a bit of inspiration this morning. Now, just need time to draw them.

Blast From the Past 8…

Can you guess I grew during the ’80s?