Calling It Quits

It's time to put these puppies to bed. I could probably go down the list of each running shoe I've had. I'll put these to memory as well. The duct tape is falling off the back and the inside padding has more or less disappeared.

Retirement isn't pretty for these guys either. They usually end up pulling river duty or some other unwanted task.

They were good shoes, but they wore out too quick. I usually buy shoes after the Indy Mini each year, but these shoes will never tread heavy over that famous yard of brick. It's like the running back that gets tackled on the one-yard line, only to have the quarterback sneak it in on the following play. But they'll at least see me through one last race. The Cincinnati Mini Heart Marathon is this Sunday. I'm hoping it's their finest hour.

Hocking

Saturday was spent in Hocking Hills. The weather was hardly agreeable but we got out there nonetheless and tooled around some of the more popular trails. Old Man's Cave, the Rock House. Spent the night at one of the hundreds of cabins/cottages they have around the park. Honestly, they're farkin' everywhere. But this one really was pretty nice, I must admit.

We woke up this morning. Easter. I think we were the only folks at breakfast that hadn't been to church. Or showered for that matter.  It made me feel out of place. Not enough, however, to make me go to church. The rest of the day was spent at my aunt and uncle's in Dublin. I used to be better at going to church... when it was more mandatory. Free will just might be the devil in me.

Oh well, it was a great weekend in all.

Art Schooled

I went and saw Jesse James Garrett this evening at the Columbus College of Art & Design. The Columbus Society of Communicating Arts has a speaker about once a month in CCAD's auditorium. I have less than no idea about who most of the speakers are until after the fact, so that's why I try to make it to each one... so I can later say, "Hey, I went and saw (insert famous artist here) speak last night."

I'm glad I go. With the exception of one lone presenter (and I won't mention names), everyone has been incredibly intelligent and uber talented. Tonight wasn't any different. Even though Mr. James isn't necessarily a graphic designer, a lot of his presentation could be applied in work, life and even pleasure. It came down to problem solving. I even ran into someone I know from Piqua. The printer he works for did the show posters, so I talked with him for a bit.

Best one to date has been Tony Spaeth... or Michael Wilson. It's a tie.

Seeing Things Clearly

This past Saturday, Boltron and my sister made the trip north to Columbus for some good times. I'm not sure if they found what they came for, but we went out nonetheless and woke up with splitting headaches Sunday morning. 

I remember that every once and a while in school, I'd wake up on a Sunday morning after a particularly heavy weekend of drinking and not be able to focus my eyes. This would last most of the day. Very strange at the time and I'm happy to note that although my camera suffers from the same ailment, I've avoided such episodes for several years.

I wish I knew exactly what my camera was going to produce from one shot to the next... but instead, I get Erica's faked baked face on the left. I know it's the incandescent bulb that's on across the room, but Boltron's skin tone is very natural. Different setting, but I mess with them so much and I don't take notes so I change a setting and forget what the last one did. Erica thinks I could join a camera club. As good as that might look on paper, my stereotypes concerning "clubs" are near and dear to me.

Bus'n A Move

I'm fortunate enough to be able to use public transportation for my daily commute. I live in Grandview, work downtown. This is my stop. Less than a block from the apartment.

And I'm not going to go on about how ridiculous it is to see something as big as a car carrying one person... which is the case for most of the commuters I see in the morning? One per car. Or how the car is polarizing communities and creating isolated islands of people. Nope, I won't talk about any of that. I was considering talking about America's obesity problem and how everyone wants to blame it on video games and corn... but not on our ever-growing dependence on the automobile. Nah, none of that. 

Take Cover: The Aftermath

Look, it's buried. I made a promise to myself that this will be the last I talk about the winter weather episode that will go down in the books as the Blizzard of 2008, but was never really a blizzard. It's just that there's really nothing else to talk about. It was warm today so it was a shloppy mess. Hidden lakes laid in wait under melting snow... waiting for you to step up to your ankles in freezing water.

I got home and ran five. On Erica's advice, I took off towards Upper Arlington. They must pay poor people to get their streets extra clean, because there's a big difference between their streets and our streets. But then again, I don't think it's any secret who gets the special treatment around town... and it's not those who rent. You could almost see it in the faces of those driving by... "I pay to have these streets accessible to ME and my SUV, not for you to run!" Well then I owe you a taco, because it sure beat the hell out of running in a foot of slush.

I actually hope this is the last we see of old man winter. Until next year you rascally rascal. You snuck a late one in on us this year. Let's keep it in-bounds in the future.

Take Cover: Day 2

Everyone's gone! It was worse than even I could've imagined. I came across this grisly scene as I took most of the day to assess the damage. A parking lot full of empty cars. It's a sure sign that all is lost. 

I got my 4 miler in early. The lack of traffic made it a great run, but I was nearly engulfed by the fleet of plows I came across on Northwest Boulevard. To see them on the big open freeways is one thing... to see them three-deep on a city street is a sight. They really do make every BucklRus with a plow on their F-150 look foolish. After a shower, I decided to set off into the white abyss. In total, I walked nearly 7 miles. The snow was very deep at times and I saved the headwind for the final leg. What was most ridiculous were the amount of cars on the road that you knew had no business being there. Honestly, unless it was Chipotle or family-owned, it wasn't open... and here some twenty-something is flying down 5th with a foot of snow still hanging on to the back of the car. Where's the fire? But there were a lot of people out walking around. It was fun, no doubt, but 60 degrees is already in the 5-day forecast. 

In total, they say over 20 inches of snow fell in this 2-day storm. I still say the storm in December of 2004 was worse. It all fell in the span of 24 hours. My car was completely buried.

Take Cover: Day 1

It began with a single flake at 9am. Now there's 4 or 5 inches on the ground and it's all anyone can talk about around here. To be honest, I'd rather have this than ice. I might be a little more upset if I didn't have an easy week on the running front. By the time it gets annoying and cold, I should be finishing up. They say there'll be another 8 to 10 inches by the time Saturday winds down. I'll update this with any further developments so that I, too, may perpetuate the fear of a winter weather catastrophe. 

I will admit, the wind made it extra nasty this afternoon. That same wind may make that short run tomorrow morning more than what I bargained for.

But mostly, I would hope we all make it through this trying time.

In The Way

So this is usually the scene I wake up to. Erica is hard at work preparing for the day. And it is hard work... at least from my perspective. For starters, I get 15 minutes plus, of extra sleep. It's usually spent in this tug-of-war of wanting to fall back asleep, but knowing that if I did, I would certainly oversleep and piss someone off. Regardless, it's 15 bonus minutes in a warm bed. I've also never had to run around like her. Running around is hard work. It often means you've got a lot on your mind too. Again, hard work. But the hair is where the real work comes in. 10 minutes of blow drying, a 30 second intermission, 5 more to finish up and finally, a frenzied bout with the flat iron.

This doesn't include clothing, breakfast, coffee... etc, etc. So it never fails that I always seem to be in the way, no matter how low I lay. Such was the case this morning. You just don't want to be on the tracks when that train is coming through.

My Name is Johnnie

There are men out there that aim to deceive. They set out to gain from your misfortune. I can tell you, friend, Johnnie is not one of them. Johnnie's only wish is that you eat and drink well in his company. His patrons feel the same and wish you only the best.

I've never met a Johnnie I didn't like. My friend did me the favor of introducing me to Johnnie's Tavern Wednesday evening. It lies less than a mile west of Riverside Drive on Trabue Road. Truly a diamond in the rough. It was just one of those places that made you feel at home. Low ceilings, warm faces. The menu was displayed on a single dry-erase board. No need, the reason we were there was proudly displayed on their sign out front... "Home of the Super Burgers". We sat over a meal and beers and listened to jukebox music. We witnessed a drunk man cuss another man out for not keeping up with the jukebox music... noting that he's never been to a "f***ing bar that wouldn't play the jukebox," and after being told it was time for his cab, apologizing to those near to him for being disruptive. 

Upon leaving, I wanted to document the night. They thought I was from the paper. I wish you could make out the woman in door with her face pressed up against the glass. Subsequently, I got into a ten-minute conversation with another patron about a pizza place somewhere up near Marysville, but then again, maybe not near Marysville. After consulting another couple, he decided it wasn't that important, and anyways, his second cigarette had sufficiently been smoked. After a handshake, he let me know that Monday nights were when they really tied one on at Johnnie's. Such invitations shouldn't be passed up.

The other Johnnie I know deserves a separate post as they are equal in their love of good times.

'Merica

Politics are the news of the day... or yesterday, rather. Ohio's primaries were Tuesday. Erica and I tried to vote early at the BOE Monday night. It was more than ridiculous. People everywhere. Everyone was there by choice, so it had an energetic feel to it. Almost like a "Hey, we're in this together!" feeling. But then we left because we were hungry, so I guess we weren't in it. Sorry.

But we did go the following morning. Woke up at 5:30 so we could be there by 6:30. We got in and got out. I guess if you want to see the change, you have to vote. I just don't see how there are only two major political parties in such a diverse country. I certainly wouldn't mind going off on a tirade about how the entire system is corrupt and big money is behind it... siphoning resources away from the those who need them most... but I don't have the time to be pissed right now.

And it's not that I'm pissed at this country as much as I'm pissed that I do nothing. I don't volunteer at shelters. I spend my money entertaining myself and friends. I'm not the change that I want to see. So yeah, I am a little pissed, but once again, I don't have the time for it right now. How convenient.

But it is good to see everyone getting out and voting. Rising up. Caring... even if their opinion is not mine, it's great to see.

Day Trippin'

I spent Monday in Cincinnati. Surprisingly, it was a good trip. Not that I have this perpetually pessimistic perception of Cincinnati, but there could've been a lot that went wrong... the trip being work-related and all. A rush job was at the printer. It was so rushed that I was in Cincinnati so that I could drive it north as soon as it was off press. But there was a certain calm surrounding it. I attribute that feeling to the small victory we accomplished in getting the job to the printer in the first place. Because of that, the rest of the day just fell into place. Woke up early, perused Eden Park, stopped in at Shadeau for a slice of marble pound and coffee, organized files, had lunch with Brad at thee Skyline and ended the day with a nice looking product delivered from the printer and a short stint of throwing the football in the middle of Main Street. Then it was up and off on northbound 71.

This trip was different, however. It's hard to explain without using clichés like, "I saw Cincinnati like an old friend." So I won't, but I will go as far as saying it was good to drive the streets again. I haven't really felt that way about Cincinnati since first heading down for school... and that's been a while.