Here is another boring post about running. I met a few people in Redmond after work today for a run on the almost completed Eastlake Sammamish Trail (I'm not sure if that will be the name). We went out for about an hour and a half, east along the trail toward Issaquah. The county is doing a really nice job on the project. A few of the runners had head lamps, but even then there weren't many obstacles to worry about. The grading was even and the trail sits up far from the water. and that is a good thing, because of all the rain we have received this past month. I can see why the homeowners on the lake wanted to keep their piece of paradise to their selves. It is very nice down there on the water. Looking at the nice cars and homes and multiple garages, I surmised that within those walls were full fridges and cupboards. Maybe I'm reading this wrong since I don't know any of these people, but if they can afford a home like that then I expect that their food choices are wide open.

Physically the running is catching up to my legs. I'll take tomorrow off from exercise and I'll get some laundry done. Wednesday will be the track workout and I'd like to get back into a pool on Friday. The Saturday run is at Bothell Landing and then the maniacs run on Sunday. Maybe this week I can ramp up the miles. I've got to do some better listening too. You know, that still, small voice. Peace.

I did 14 miles with the marathon maniacs this morning. Eric was nice enough to stash sports drinks part way through the run. We went from the Mercer lid, across the floating bridge, out to Seward park and back. Here at home I was able to pick up the apartment a bit and cook for the week. I'm glad we ran when we did because it really started to come down this afternoon and evening. I still have a lot to do on the homefront but at least I put a dent in it today. I don't have much else to say other than I got a little bit of inspiration and and a reminder of an expanded potential from doing the simple thing as watching (listening really to) Tom Petty's DVD about his Last DJ tour, recorded at The Olympic. Maybe it has something to do with creativity.

I spent the good portion of this evening looking at pictures from exploding dog. If you haven't already seen his work, you really should take a gander. This has been the last month or so.

So, what have I been doing lately? I'm presently not worrying about school/no school. I hope that my gut is right on this one. In the end that is what I have to go on.

Saturday I went to Benaroya Hall, almost at the last minute, and watched Bob Newhart do a standup comedy act. He did a few of his signature talking on the phone routines and he insulted the Germans, the Irish and the Japanese, if I remember right. What I found amusing on top of his jokes, was that I got the distinct impression he was up there firstly making himself laugh. We were of a secondary importance. He let us in on what he finds amusing. You can tell this because right before he started telling his jokes, he would start to laugh to himself. I think going was worth the money.

Work is going well. I'm doing my properties every other week, so that leaves more time to get something done on every visit. This means I only have about from two to five stops a day. Not bad.

I'm running again. The IT-band is still sort of there, but it isn't bad enough to stop me. I'm also stretching it. I think the next race will be either the Mercer Island Half Marathon or the St. Patrick's Day Dash down on the waterfront (literally on the viaduct). I hope to be in marathon shape for The Capital City Marathon in May.

I can feel things going on behind the scenes. As usual there is nothing solid. But there is hope. Only if I need to know. This may make sense at some time.

I have more pictures to post. They are already at Flickr. As I linked to before, here is a slideshow. Y'all have a great rest of the week. Go Seahawks!

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Originally uploaded by nthaniel.

Give 'em hell Ed. Ed Schultz on Air America. Listen to this piece. It has some common sense that the left needs to hear, unless they enjoy losing all the time.

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Originally uploaded by nthaniel.

Good morning.

We saw a little of the Seahawks game at the Skagit River Brewery after the Nookachamps Winter Runs yesterday. I wasn't aware that the Patriots were also playing yesterday. I watched them lose on a field graph on my computer screen. I guess I'll be rooting for the 'Hawks now.

I ran a little better yesterday than I had on the second of January. I brought my 10k time down to 44:30 or so; still a bit slow. It barely rained on us. The trip back to the Eastside area park and rides was a wet drive. Almost unbelievably the sun is now out. Right outside my window I have a lot of evergreen type trees, so from here it looks almost warm out there. My screen says it is 40 degrees though. It isn't spring yet.

Many of us went up in a rental van. It made for an easy trip, for me anyways. Two of our runners brought their half marathon times down to 2:08 personal records. Many others were not so successful. All in all a good time was had by all. I even got to meet the woman who told me two years ago to join Eastside Runners. She lives on Bainbridge and hasn't been running because of a car accident and injury and a car break-in. So, she really does exist! I never saw her after that initial meeting and I thought to wonder if she was real. She is. Thanks Holly.

I have posts about more animals from home, how I surprised the family, how I won't be taking a course this quarter, and maybe some metaphysical stuff that seems to be just out of reach right now. I just won't be writing them down now. I got my tent back. I found out it seems much bigger when it is set up in my living room. I'm also in the process of paring down some of my bills. Always a work in progress. There are more pictures at my flickr account. Here is a slideshow.

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Originally uploaded by nthaniel.

Mmmm.

Well, I haven't made it back to the Cape today. I'll get there tomorrow morning with a rental car. And then off to Seattle. Carol says I timed it well because the next storm is Thursday/Friday.

click on this or the picture for a bigger version

I ran the Sawmill River Run this morning and my leg isn't bothering me. I didn't do nearly as well as I would have liked. It would have been nice to break 45 minutes. I'm glad that maybe I can start running again. The conditions were very good. It was hazy and cold, at about 33 degrees. I went out fast with a 6:27 and two miles later had to reassess what I could finish with. Needless to say I slowed up considerably. So what I have learned is that I don't control my pace well and because of this the only way I can finish well is to get in the best shape I can, because then I can take the pace.

I was able to hang out with Abby and Collin today. We went for a walk, watchched the Pats lose and saw Christmas win in the movie, The Polar Express. Cool movie. In front of the stove was Ling. You can see here that he enjoys to sprawl out upsidedown (kinda odd):








Another amusing thing about these cats is their need to keep photos in their cat dishes. Scott and Chrissie sent the Christmas card on the left out this year. Abby says that one of them likes the tape. So here we have Kasha, Harley and Xena down there with Ty and Ling's bowls. You can see the old photos they keep nearby. I have never heard of this with any other cats.



I think that is my neice Katie at the upper right.