From Elizabeth Gilbert's book, "Eat, Pray, Love":

"So I stood up and did a handstand on my Guru's roof, to celebrate the notion of liberation. I felt the dusty tiles under my hands. I felt my own strength and balance. I felt the easy night breeze on the palms of my bare feet. This kind of thing-a spontaneous handstand-isn't something a disembodied cool blue soul can do, but a human being can do it. We have hands; we can stand on them if we want to. That's our privilege. That's the joy of a mortal body. And that's why God needs us. Because God loves to feel things through our hands."

-chapter 60, pg.188

I got a new phone today. It's an update to
my old one. I'm back on the grid.

Hi all. My phone died so if anyone has tried to call me after 10 or so yesterday morning that is why it is going to voicemail. I didn't do anything special for my birthday other than hitting some tackle shops and then buying some beer.

I ran the Seattle Marathon yesterday. I had a great race. I finished 167th overall. I was able to run with a few friends until the hills separated us. I fell short by one minute to qualify for Boston. Because of the rules and my age next year I qualified for 2009 though, when I'll be in the next age bracket. I'd like to get my 3:20 none the less. I was just very pleased that I didn't fall apart at the 18 mile mark. I don't think that I need to say that hitting the wall is no fun. Being able to keep my steam while traveling under I90 was a win in its own right. Greg pulled away from me on Galer and didn't look back. That was about the 20 mile mark. I last saw him whizzing through Interlaken. My splits were nearly even, coming within about a minute of each other. My first half was 1:40 and change and my second half was 1:41 and something. As I just wrote, the hills start a little before the 20 mark. I think that feat is my other win in this race. My third is that I'll be able to go to Boston, circumstances permitting, in '09.

So I took today off and caught a bunch of chum. I kept this one because it didn't look like a dinosaur. It still had sea lice on it. I've got to go home and cut it up now. Y'all have a good week.

The wind kept us out of work today, so of course I went to the river. I've worked on jigging for coho and I kept this one today. They react well to the green plastic tubes I use. This is probably the last of them I'll keep. She had some great eggs but her meat is washed out. She measured at 28 inches. Chum salmon are next. It should be fun.

I heard this on the way home from work today. Well, actually I was on my way to get the emissions tested in my car. It passed. After that I had enough time to swing through Fall City for a little fishing. The Raging River has made a very nice pool as it enters the Snoqualmie, if anyone is interested. I and another guy had no luck there. About the commentary I heard today - go listen to it. Halloween sets the story up - he is a storyteller by trade - but the larger story he tries to get his hands around is life. I highly recommend a listening. Clicky clicky "All Things Considered, October 31, 2007 · Storyteller Kevin Kling tells us of ghosts, but not the scary kind. After a motorcycle accident almost took his life six years ago, Kling recalls, his coma kept him in what he thinks of as two worlds."

I also enjoyed his poem about fishing from last year.

Cool, it worked. I can again post directly from my phone. It looks like my life is all fish. Well I don't get here that often and I didn't think that y'all would want to read about what I should be doing. I still haven't figured out the Portland Marathon logistics yet. If worse comes to worst then I'll drive down at three in the morning on Sunday the 7th. I did my final long run yesterday of about 9 miles on Cougar Mountain with the Saturday morning Eastside Runners group. My leg is ok I think and I won't be doing much for the rest of the week anyways. I feel optimistic about putting in a good performance next week. I want a 3:20 or better. I'd say wish me luck with the run but what I really need is good fortune in finding a ride down and accomodations for Saturday night. It looks as though I'll be missing this year's Salmon Days in Issaquah. Too bad. I'll also be missing the run. I've wanted to run Portland since I started contemplating doing marathons. Here is the Salmon Days print for this year:

0802070829.jpg

0802070829.jpg
Originally uploaded by nthaniel

This is a test post from my phone. Joe with a fighter on the Green.

I think the days of motorcycle fish are coming to a close.

Bob and I were supposed to have climbed up to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier tomorrow but it looks like the weather has nixed that plan. Of course I'll be fishing instead. If the water is rising too much I'll try the Green. I want to return to the Skykomish tomorrow. Somewhere in here or there my room could use a good cleaning too.

Abby ran her first race this morning in Montague. Congratulations! Hopefully you'll be as hooked as I am. Try a 5k next. My leg is still complaining but I was able to put in 15 this morning. Some river hiking tomorrow will do me good. Abby, you should pick up fishing next. You already eat better than I do. You did very well this morning. It is better to run than volunteer, isn't it?

I'm registered for the Portland Marathon for October 7th.

A photographer taking shots at Snoqualmie Falls was nice enough to forward some pictures to me. No bites but I enjoyed the spectacular surroundings. I spent yesterday on the Green but no fish. Seeing this photo I more fully understand how this hobby is both a journey and a destination. Y'all have a great one. Happy fishing and tight lines!

Time for some grocery shopping now. Y'all take care.

I've been wasting so much time on the river as of late that I should at least take some pictures to share here. And in that spirit I found this as my horoscope today:

Pieces of your life that you have actively tried to avoid for some time may come up to the surface, causing you a bit of trouble today, dear Sagittarius. That which is not organized or structured is getting more and more chaotic, just to teach you a lesson. Take care of things now. Put things in order and become more aware of the ticking of the clock. There is a need for you to take care of business!

Not the picture spirit but the moving-on spirit. This isn't just for today though. This has been an issue since November or December. Wish me success. The alternative is unacceptable.

I'm giving the Skykomish another try tomorrow and then it'll be business, my own business, really. The Green River claimed many of my hours for the last few days. I had absolutely no luck there today. Joe will fly back to Massachusetts on Tuesday I think and then I can let the steelhead swim out of my brain. It'll be like a catch and release - making the fish gods smile. You have to keep the fish gods happy, you really do.

My blog archive drop down box has disappeared and I don't have time right now to figure out what happened. I think it happened when I changed over to the new blogger. Oh bother.

I have some entry info for running and cycling but not the time to do it with care. So this is what you get. I'm doing some fishing tomorrow and I'm helping Ram with his yard next week. I'll be house sitting this next week too. Y'all have a great one.

Hey, they don't give away the free one as you get through the door.

I finally got some stuff done today. After a fruitless morning on the Green I returned to Kirkland and got some bills paid, cleaned up my room a bit and then went out off to the Monday Footzone run in Redmond. I had to get that all started so that I can get going on the rest, namely looking for another job and getting certified as a nursing assistant. I also want to get out of where I am living. For some reason it has been hard for me to get going on these things. It has been very hard. I know what direction I want to go though. I need the vision thing before I can go down that path. I hope y'all are having an easier go of it than I am.

This is how I spent this last Monday. It was 35 inches long and 17 inches around. Nice fish.

It is hard for me to post here because I have to leave the house to access the net. This is my Sunday morning out to read the paper and check my email. Yesterday morning we ran on Cougar Mountain and then I drove up to the Skykomish to stalk the elusive steelhead. I figured I needed to get some other things done today. I've found I can easily slip out of my present neighborhood and into the nice environs of Woodinville down near the vineyards and Redhook Brewery. I guess I've found myself a new Tully's. When I get more news I'll post here. I'd like to wish you all a most excellent week.