Man you wouldn't believe
The most amazing things
That can come from
Some terrible lies
- fun.

I just had a great run in my hood, 3.5 miles. It is crisp and cool outside and downright lovely. It rained and thundered all night and the streets were wet. I thought of my beautiful boy and how he's almost as tall as me now and how he might never have come to be had I known the lies being told back then. I got home and doused the neighbor dogs with water so I can sit outside and enjoy my yard. They were indignant and shocked and are now barking at me from inside the garage. Bastards. I have an ambien-filled hotdog waiting for you, my pretties. I had a run in with the neighbor this week over their noise and she seems to feel the ongoing dog harassment is acceptable as long as it doesn't occur before 7am. So I ordered this fancy device that supposedly will shoot them with high frequency screams akin to a fire truck every time they bark. But I think I enjoy the water torture more.

Shat

Daddy can you hear
The devil's drawing near
- Miranda Lambert

First great news, I ran in a long sleeved shirt this morning, woot! I woke up and it was raining lightly and the thermostat read 68 degrees, so I pulled out my fav long sleeved running shirt. No, I didn't need it, but it was so nice to have the option. I did 3.5 in the hood cause I thought the mountain might be too slick. I always run by these piles of crap on the sidewalk filled with nuts and berries (not that i examine it too closely but it's obvious) and I'm simultaneously pissed at this dog owner who can't be bothered to pick up its shit off the sidewalk and sorry for the dog who has to eat such crappy food. But then I saw some of this same crap on the mountain the other day and it occurred to me that this must be javelina shit. Kinda cool and not just a little creepy that so many javelina roam my hood at night.

I'm slipping again

Up to old tricks
Off my wagon
- Alannis Morisette

This is how I feel raising a 16 year old daughter. You make mistakes and they are never forgiven. I guess maybe that's women in general, haha. Yesterday I ran the mountain, about halfway up and halfway down. It was a tough 4.5 so today I did my 3.5 mile route today sans fat dog. I did take her for a half mile walk after, during which she pooped 4x and peed at least 5. This is why she doesn't get to go on the main run anymore.

Army of one

Slip back out of whack, at your best
It's a nightmare
So I'm joining the Army
-The Strokes

Yesterday, I ran on the treadmill and rode the stationary bike.  Today, I did the elliptical.  There was an option for the "Navy Fitness Test".  This test asked me to select my level - and of course I picked eleven.  But not like a Spinal Tap eleven, since it was out of 25, instead of 10.  Then I went for 12 minutes without any instruction or feedback.  At the end, it was just done.  No results, no nothing.  I'm assuming they normally release the results, but for some reason mine were classified.  Probably meant my score was outside the range they could score.  I'm sure I'll be getting a visit from a recruiter soon, but it won't work.  I'm sure I will fail their hearing test, because for about a month I thought the above lyric was "I'm joining the Amish".  Now, if the Amish army comes calling ...

Fall?

In a crooked little town, they were lost and never found
Fallen leaves, fallen leaves, fallen leaves... on the ground
-Billy Talent
Sunday run.  Finally feels like fall, after sweating out Friday's run in 85 degrees, today's run was in the 60's.  I ran about 4.5 and felt amazing in the last 1/2 mile.  I didn't feel amazing at any time prior to that, but it was nice to finish on a high note. 

On my run today, I was thinking about the new Texas license plates.  They are black and white with minimal decoration.  It makes me think of a major college football program where the head coach recently was fired due to his role in the cover up of a scandal, then died, then had his statue removed.  I don't want to name names, but I don't see why the state of Texas would want to align itself with this particular university.  But then I read the explanation - they say that black and white looks good with any color vehicle.  This also bothers me (not as much as the first part).  I'm guessing that all of the Texas A&M alumni who drive maroon cars (90 percent of all maroon cars are sold in Texas - I can't back that up, but it seems true) complained about their license plate clashing with their car. 

I think I just reopened my consulting business.  Texas - pick something different.  Let me know where to send the bill.

School Run

But for a moment
I'd like to forget
That my heart is
Sinking like a sunset
-Tom Cochrane

This afternoon I set off from my house and ran.  I had only a vague plan, which was to end up at my son's school to pick him up and the end of my run.  I ran a pretty good ways away from the school, which meant I had to run a good ways back.  Total was about 5.  And about a 1/2 mile walk home. 

It's time to add Sinking Like A Sunset by Tom Cochrane to the playlist.  It's funny how he is handled differently by radio on either side of the border.  In the US, they only play Life Is A Highway and occassionaly Lunatic Fringe.  In Canada, they never play Life Is A Highway, but you hear a Tom Cochrane song roughly every hour.  I like him a lot, but even if you don't, you have to admit that he is way better than Rush.  Or Glass Tiger.  Here's the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulDj5HZKAw&feature=related

Who do you think you are

Runnin round leavin scars
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
Don't come back for me
Don't come back at all
- Christina Perri, Jar of Hearts

I blogged this morning from this vantage point on the mountain. Running has ban so good for my soul this week.

Memento

It reeks of politics
Signatures stained with tears
Who can remember, we've got to remember
-Midnight Oil

Did I really forget toothpaste and contact saline?  And did I really come up with the plan of running to the drugstore instead of just going to the gift shop?  Yes and yes.  And when the map showed three different Walgreens on one corner, not too far from my hotel, it seemed perfect.  Except for two things.  First - I am boycotting Walgreens for one year.  So no Walgreens for me (now read it again in your Soup Nazi voice).  Which is lucky because none of the three existed.  Or else they were hidden inside of the hospital that took up the whole block.  Either way, it wasn't happening.  So I ran farther and crossed under the highway to go to the CVS.  But it was gone too.  Turns out that I got turned around on my run and this was a different highway.  So I went to the gas station and bought toothpaste.  And a gatorade.  But not cucumber flavored.

All that nonsense for a run just over 3. 

Rewriting History

I just can't recover
how many years its been
its day one in my mind
its the first step each time
the heart is hard to find

all the fucked up things you say
couldn't possibly be
any less help to me
- Jimmy Eat World, Heart is Hard to Find

I had a lovely time on the mountain this morning and did four miles.  It was low 80's and sunny, so a little warm, but nice out.  I ran some up and some down.  I was in much better shape when I was doing the mountain regularly, so I'm happy the cooler weather is on its way. 

You could cut ties with all the lies

that you've been living in.
- Third Eye Blind, Jumper

Well, I didn't go on Friday.  I had to take my car into the shop yet again and didn't want to delay any further my road trip to Tucson.  As it turns out, I should have delayed, probably for the rest of my life.  But I digress.  Last night bf and I went to the gym and did the nerd workout, which entails running laps around the track with strength exercises every three laps.  I ran to the gym, which was about 1.5 miles and not too bad mi-80's temperatures.  Then I did a mile on the track.  My muscles were a little tight this morning cause I haven't done the nerd workout in awhile, but I went out and did 3 outside, and then walked another half with fat dog.  I haven't been taking her on my run because she has to stop every quarter mile to pee on something or poop, and I just can't take it.  I can't get into a rhythm.  But she is fat dog for a reason, so I've been walking her when I get home to get her some exercise.  Then I gave her and greasy cat both a bath, then I showered myself.  It's been a busy day.