Sleep Less

I’ve never been more wide awake at 4am in my entire life. Actually, this all started at 2... it’s just taken me this long to figure out what to do about it. It has something to do with the midweek revelry, but I’m not entirely sure what. All I know is that I haven’t been the same since.

But there is work to be done so therein lies an excuse to be up and about. What sucks is that we have a trip to Hocking Hills scheduled for this weekend and while I’ll do my best, I'm not sure how much fun I'll be... at least tonight. I’m lucky this was an easy week with no long run scheduled or the sleeplessness would really be a pain in the ass. Not only that, it's coming down pretty good outside right now. Looks like I’ll try and get my 7 in on the treadmill.

Randoms

Spent the weekend running around. Visited my grandma Saturday. Spent the night in Piqua Saturday night. Then it was off to Cincinnati Sunday for a birthday party. Lauren turned one and so my brother and Leslie hosted a get-together for the Tylers. We had a good time, but I was thoroughly exhausted by the time we climbed into bed.

And wouldn't you know it... I bought a car Monday... well, leased it. A Jetta S. I'll have to snap some pics later today or tomorrow. So ends the bike drama. Why I waited for winter to end is beyond me. I could've made it another 10 months. I'll still use the bike for the commute, but now I at least have the option when nature's wrath comes calling.

My brother came up last night for some CCR... that's Cross Canadian Ragweed. Hard to describe their schtick. It's hard rock or country or both. They put on a great show and we probably ended up having too good of a time. I'd never seen beers that big. It made for a difficult morning concerning motor skills. I actually did get 5.5 miles in on the treadmill. I thought if there would ever be a chance I'd bite it on that thing, today would've been that day... but alas, I remained upright for all 43:10 of it.

100

It took me a year. That's a post every 3.65 days. This could only mean that I'm boring as hell... but mostly, it means that I've slowly run out of things to shoot with my click-click-camera. I wouldn't mind shooting more stuff, but if it's not some lame Ohio landscape, then it's a birthday party of people that you can only shoot so many times. It's just hard to have with you all the time... as much as I would like that. I feel bad for Erica. She's been a very patient and understanding subject throughout the past year. A goal that naturally grew out of this... ehh... thing, was to get comfortable using the D40 I had gotten for Christmas in 2007. I feel like I've succeeded in that... if ever so slightly. So here's to another year of guessing about how to work this thing.

As for the life that's been lived in between and throughout these photos... I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to experience it all... even the punches to my face.

In Memoriam

This one goes out to Oscar. He was a beyond-good dog and will be missed immensely. I can't imagine how I'd feel if he were mine and I was the one that had to put him down. Not an enviable position.

But it is noted that Phil took him out one last time today to have a sniff around the park. I can't say whether it was at 11 a.m. though. It's sad to think he won't be back.

Griiiiiggs...

Sounds like a cop in one of those movies that Maxim would vote into the top five of a list of must-watch dude flicks. And yes, they'd call them flicks. Ahh... but alas, the reason for the post... another long run!

This week's pick was a no-brainer. It had to be a run to Griggs Reservoir... aka: the Scioto all dammed up. It's just about the only route I have that takes you out west and back east... and for the past two nights and two days, the west wind has been no friend of mine. I hate the wind. Hate it bad. It's an invisible hill... sometimes very large and always beyond annoying. The hate dates back to my glory days in the driveway shooting hoops. Nothing was worse than having your shot blocked ever so subtly by Mother Nature.

So that capped off a fairly heavy mileage week for me and I could feel it last night and wasn't sure if I had a long run in me. But I got out the door and am glad it's over. All in all, 12.13 miles today @ 7:46/mi. And now I have an "easy" week to look forward to as well as some new shoes. I've logged over 600 miles on the most recent edition of the Supernovas. Not good for the joints, but it's just hard to find the time. The pictures take you along the river. The top left shot was making sure the camera was operable in the cold... and the bottom left is the hill coming back from the river on Nottingham.

On the Banks of the Olentangy

If only Keith Jackson were here to introduce this post, it might be perfect. You're in for a little treat today as I remembered to take my itty-bitty digi along with me on the LSR (Long, Slow Run) this morning.

I tend to go back and forth with myself throughout the week as to which route my long run should take. After two years in Columbus, I've built up an extensive system of said routes that could service anything from a one-mile jog to a 22-mile excursion. Some are in my head and some are mapped and saved on the internet. Many factors contribute to the path that is chosen but it's often not until I step into my runners that I've made up my mind. All week I'd been leaning towards a run to Griggs Reservoir but as I stepped out into the cold morning air, I knew I had to hit the upper Olentangy bike path. Weather and uncertain footing have kept me off it for several weeks and I was itching to get back to that river.

It's roughly 2.5 miles to the entrance of the path and after that, I can run as far north as I'd like before turning around. Today's schedule called for 11 miles so I turned around at the entrance to Whetstone Park just south of Henderson Road... which as far as I could tell on the map was about 5.5 miles (ended up being 5.75). I documented some items of interest along the way... the Horseshoe as the sun was coming up, a bridge crossing over the Olentangy and an open field in a place where it's hard to believe there would be one.

A great run and a great way to follow up #30. On top of my parents coming over to take me out to lunch with 25 lbs of peanut butter cookies, Erica took me out to dinner, bought me my first Sudoku book, a back cushion for the car and a lovely card. I also got a huuuuge cookie bouquet from my siblings and niece along with countless cards from friends and family. Turning 30 wasn't so bad after all. Although, I wouldn't suggest having BBQ for lunch, a Schlow burger for dinner, at least a dozen cookies in between and then waking up the next morning and running 11+ miles.

Funky Llama

I haven't gotten out lately, so this is going to have to do. And I would consider this a good find regardless. I've never laid claim to a refined palate... the likes of which can pick up the subtle hints of apples, berries, dirt and other assorted earthy tones in a glass of wine. I like whatever I like for whatever reason. I prefer what I would call the "bite"of a cabernet to the sweetness of a shiraz... but there aren't too many instances where I've not enjoyed the glass I was drinking. Perfection can be left for the experts to figure out.

Anyways, I recently went into the grocery store to grab a bottle of Yellow Tail and was dismayed to see the price. Ahh, the effects of supply and demand. Well, my principles got the best of me and I refused to pay $12 for a bottle of wine that cost me $6 three or four years ago. So I set out in search of a cheap bottle. After some ho-hum results, I found the Funky Llama. It's good. That's really the whole point of this post... I think Funky Llama is pretty good. And I also think that the shiraz is better than the cabernet. Cheers.

Super Sunday

I can't say I get into the NFL that much. Sorry. Doesn't make me gay and it doesn't mean that I'd rather watch Gone With the Wind... although one year, Erica and I opted to watch Brokeback Mountain down at the Esquire on Superbowl Sunday. Yikes. It's just too overdone... too much of everything. Too shiny, too flashy, too pretty. So we watched the game, yes, but as for the 16 weeks of the regular season and the however many weeks of the playoffs, I couldn't tell you who won or lost. It's just not anything I've ever gotten into. That's why Sunday was pretty quiet around here... following the '09 trend.

We did sneak out and watch Revolutionary Road Saturday. Fantastic movie. Made me depressed for two days. Maybe it's because I picture Leo as my best friend in a lot of daydreams and being that close to someone... everything hurts... even if it's fake.

I started my 12-week training schedule for the Indy Mini. I like having a regimen. I, however, am growing tired of running indoors and need to get out. Unfortunately, there is hell and more hell covering our streets and it's not going anywhere fast. My feet don't work on it, my bike certainly doesn't work on it and I couldn't tell you what a car does on it, but it's worn out its welcome. Oh well, here's to February. The month of milestones... and black history.