OMG!

Stumbled across this and thought it was way too funny.

Marathon Training Weeks 3 and 4

I spent most of week 3 in Vegas. Didn't run a lick there. Only 10 miles for the week. Last week was better. Twenty-three miles for the week. Went for a nine miler yesterday and it was very comfortable. Could have (should have) gone farther.

Serious Snowman Envy

While riding into work on the STA 124 Express, I set my Sudoku aside for a moment to look at the sunrise. Then I caught sight of this. I just had to stop by and get a photo. I'm surprised this hasn't been in the news. Then again, maybe not. After all, I doubt that any of the so-called reporters from our local stations would care to be "Live! Reporting on the scene at the giant penis!"

Oh, The Sees You Can See

My apologies to the late Theodor Geisel. I went for a walk during lunch and took my camera along. Every time I look at the Washington Mutual building I think I see an anti-aircraft gun emplacement. It makes me feel my money is well protected there.



This bit of braggadocio always strikes me as funny. Now if this was stuck on someone's butt, A.K. would have something to thump his or her chest about.

Another Check in the Plus Column for a Christian Nation

A woman who referees basketball is not permitted to do so at a Catholic school in Topeka, Kansas. This group is similar in beliefs as the Immaculate Conception parish over in Post Falls. They have their own ice rink and have hockey teams of all ages, but girls are not allowed to play. I remember playing in rec league against them and they would be incensed if a woman was playing against them. And if really pissed them off if she was good. As parents watching our kids play we dreaded playing against IC. The dads were foul mouthed, abrasive, and abusive. But the one thing that was most obvious was that the women knew their place.

...Stays in Vegas

You can't help but gamble a little when you go to Vegas. I saw some people dropping some serious bucks. I'm amazed that people have that kind of money that they're willing to throw away. Of course, for some it's an investment. The psychology involved in gambling is very interesting. Even though I knew for a fact the odds were against me, I still had that feeling that I could hit it big any moment now. Fortunately, I set a limit. Once my $40 is gone, I'm done. Obviously, I didn't gamble much or for very long.

What Happens in Vegas...

Kathy and I went to Las Vegas for a long weekend with some friends.


Of course, I had to notice the bicycles used by security...


...as well as the Las Vegas police. Not that stopping a violator on the strip is that difficult in crawling traffic.



But it was cool to see the flashing blue lights on the bikes.

Waking Up In A Parallel Universe

So guess what woman, who used to chastise me every time I spoke poorly of Bush, attended the caucuses last Saturday and became a delegate for Barack Obama? Who are you and what have you done with my wife?

Fear Mongering

So I get this email from the Republican National Committee two days ago:

"Today the RNC released a new web video, titled "Protect America Alert." The video highlights Congressional Democrats' failure to permanently update America's 30-year-old terrorist surveillance law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). In 2007, Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Harry Reid all voted against providing our nation's intelligence community with the vital tools it needs to track and fight potential terrorists.

"Protect America Alert" can be viewed by clicking here.

Typical fear mongering about how we're all gonna die because the Democrats won't give Bush the changes he wants in the FISA legislation. Since I had the opportunity to leave a comment, I did. It's pending approval. I noticed that all eight (Wow, eight!) comments that were posted were highly favorable of the video. I'm betting the party of no credibility will pass on approving my post.

Update: 02/22/2008: There were 6 comments when I posted mine. Now there are 12 and mine is not among them. All approved posted comments are favorable. Hmmmmm.

Marathon Training: Weeks 1 and 2

A wimpy two weeks for me. Only 10 miles last week and 22 this week. That treadmill is murder. As much as I enjoy the snow I'm ready for clearer roads so I can run outside. On the plus side I've been able to watch some of my favorite movies during hamster time. Any guesses as to where this comes from? "Suspicion Breeds Confidence" A movie for our times, eh?

Family Photo

I love doing stuff like this. We used iPods for lighting. Someday I'll learn what I'm doing.

No More Snow Days

Josh and Steph stayed home all last week. They are tired of shoveling the driveway. Can you imagine?

Free Reading Material

Sometimes I'll grab a publication sitting in a rack and check it out just to see what people are writing about. (Funny story about that below.) Today I grabbed a copy of the Inland Northwest Christian News. The first article, Celebrate the Value of Every Human Life, was entirely about abortion. Yeah, I know, what was I supposed to expect, right? But with a title like that I would also expect something about the genocide in Darfur, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or any of the other senseless killing going on in the world. They sure are selective when they talk about every human life. Funny thing though about this focus on abortion, the beginning of human life, stem cell research, and the religious leaders who claim to speak for God. Something like 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage and most of them so early the woman is unaware of it. If life begins at conception who is responsible for those lost babies? Food for thought...um, but only for the open minded.

Here's the story: Back in '94 I came home on emergency leave because my Dad had a heart attack. While killing some time downtown I grabbed a free newspaper from a rack, folded it and stuffed it in my back pocket. Later, while perusing guitars in the Sound Hole, I turned around and there was a guy down the aisle with a big smile on his face. Then he winked at me. I gave him a "What the hell?" look and ignored him. All the way back to my parent's house I was wondering why he did that. Then I pulled the newspaper out of my pocket and found what I believed to be the answer. It was a copy of The Stonewall News - Serving the Gay Community Since... It seems I gave him the wrong impression. My wife thought it was funny when I told her about it and then said, "I'm just giving you a fair warning. If you ever mess up and I have to leave you, there's this guy..."