Grand Island Marathon July 25

Its coming...cant wait. Recently I have been running in my moon boots to increase the difficulty level. I feel that doing this will strengthen my legs making me faster for race day. Eventually I'll purchase a normal pair of shoes, but for now its heavy duty moon boot training. The trails I have been running on are similar to what I imagine the moon's surface to be like anyway. What if someday we can run to the moon? I am sure that would be some kind of engineering feat, building an intergalatic highway that people can run on but hey it could happen.
Otis the Motivator:
Running with Otis is nice because he is still intrigued by the magical liquid flowing in the creek bed. He splashes around with every opportunity like a little kid that just learned how to run. Anyway its fun to watch. Too bad he wont be able to run with me during the race.

Rothbury 2009

4th Overall at Navarino

The legs held up and allowed me to do pretty well a few weeks back at Navarino, WI. The 15k proved to be a challenging course due to the loose sand makeup of the trails. On top of that it was unseasonally warm, in the 70's, that Saturday. All in all though a well organized race. A lot of fun that went toward good environmental causes. Check out Great Lakes Endurance for more info on the work they do, its all good!

FULL RESULTS

15k THIS WEEKEND!!

Navarino 15K Trail Run Upcoming this weekend!! Little aprehensive about it. I would say there is about a 50/50 chance of sustaining injury do to lack of preparation. Still it is for a good cause and on a beautiful course. I gotta do it!! The race is part of a environmentally focused race series. Go to Great Lakes Endurance and check it out.

There is a marathon in this same series late July up in the UP. That race will do me in, if I continue my sluggish training methods. It has been a slow spring but I hope the race this weekend knocks the cobwebs out so I get my act together. The weather hasn't been all that helpful either up here in Green Bay so I cant blame myself completely. I do a lot of blaming myself. Time to blame someTHING else for my shortcomings. So its the weather's fault. Tomorrow maybe it will be the unusually high amount of coal particulates in the air. I've got plenty of things to blame. No more of this nobody's fault but my own crap. Still a good song though.

Milk, Sulphate and Alby Starvation

This is the first book I have read of Martin Millar's. Originally published in 1987 in Britain, it was just published this past year in the U.S. In Milk, Sulphate and Alby Starvation, the main character Alby Starvation is dogged by a perpetual sickness that he is convinced modern medicine should be able to solve. Unfortunately for Alby, his doctors "hate him" and think that he just needs to "relax". On top of his illness, Alby is faced with a Milk Marketing Board that wants his blood.

The only respite Alby gets is when he is producing new beats on his drum machine or getting high on speed, even then there is always the possibility of some thugs breaking through the ceiling of his flat in Brixton. Alby is truly downtrodden. Did I mention he is also surrounded by cronies he is highly suspicious of?

Considering its contemporary topics and the fact it was written in the 1980's, that the larger themes still relate very closely to the human condition today is remarkable. Most notably, individual paranoia. Whether it is drug induced or not, it is clear that along with the increase in global terrorism has come an increased sense that someone is always out there trying to get us at every turn. Afterall the terror level can change at any moment and without warning. Like Alby Starvation, many of us are made to live in a fearful state awaiting imminent disaster.

In his own unique style Millar (for a sample just read a few of his recent posts on his blog) takes his time hopping all over the place giving only bits and pieces of what the characters are feeling and thinking. Just when you start digging how things are unfolding for one character Millar quickly shifts gears to focus on another character that you had not even been thinking about. While this sort of thing can be somewhat irritating at times, it keeps you turning the page. So in the end this book is something to check out if you are looking for a quick entertaining read.

Delta Spirit

Standard verse/chorus songs that at times are pop. While the songs are well constructed, they do not stray far from the blueprint that has been laid by so many others. Even the lyrics leave something to be desired in the way of originality. Still worth a listen though.





Ode to Sunshine

You Dont Like America? Get Out!

We saw America in its purest form last night. It rode up on the back and shoulders of a short and stout bald man. As he lay his elbow against the bar and reached for his matches he put a ciggarrette to his mouth. With the other hand he slammed the bar and whistled to the tender to fetch him a cold one. The poor bartender did not realize his error when he gave more attention to the pretty ladies dancing all around him. This man was America! Now America demanded attention. The leather American flag and USA insignia on both arms commanded others to be humbled. So when the tender finally did pay America the attention it deserves, it was made clear to all the others in the bar that America did not wait. America never waits. America only had to make a little noise to get a beer.

John Lee Hooker - The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990

"I wish those days was here again. I really enjoyed just sitting down with my guitar, playing soft, slow blues, quiet, not loud, talking to the people, and they were just right around me in the coffeehouses...I know those days are gone, but I still weep and wish they was here again. I wasn't making the money I am now, but it wasn't the money. It was the scene and the people, and what I love to do." - From John Lee Hooker, The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990, realeased on Rhino Records.

The 2 Disc Ultimate Collection

Fruit Bats

thanks to Pete in Portland for the heads up on these guys. Their most recent tour schedule includes a stop in Chicago near the end of March.

For full tour info:

http://www.myspace.com/thefruitbats

Animal Collective - Brother Sport

From what I have gathered Animal Collective is considered indie music. Still I think a more accurate description that one reviewer gave them, is 'urban tribal music'. At times it seems Animal Collective are producing a wash of electronic noise, but even at those moments it stays true to the steady tribal beat that is characteristic of so many of their songs. Especially those tracks off the latest Merriweather Post Pavilion album.

Upcoming Events

USA POND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 13-15 Eagle River, WI

'Sons of the Recession' to skate in Gold division.

A thread of optimism has crept into the 'Sons of the Recession' dressing room. Having a very productive practice over the past weekend on rough ice, and high winds it seems the only thing standing in the Sons' way are their own two feet. It is unlikely however that those feet will get in the way if last Saturday's practice was any indicator. I was there and saw it first hand. The grace, power, and conviction with which every stride, pass and shot came was phenomenal. In one instance it was clear, that while skating backward on defense, an SOR star forward's, skate would hit one of the many large cracks in the ice, somehow though he engaged in some sort of levitational maneuver that allowed him to soar over the crack and remain undeterred in his defensive pursuit. I dont know what they are puttin in the water up there but I like it. S.O.R. are sure to make a splash at the USA Pond Hockey Championships Feb. 13-15.

Saturday May 9th at 8 am. Better get on the training!! Hoping to camp with the pop-up and enjoy the rich greenery that Eagle River has to offer.

More info: http://www.eagleriver.org/journeys.asp

Natural Yogurt Band - Space Echo

From the Natural Yogurt Band's 2008 'Away With Melancholy

For more info on the Natural Yogurt Band go to jazzzin.blogspot.com.

Bon Iver

Super Dog Bowl XLIII

The stadium seating allowed for the best vantage point. Not even NBC's 'CEE It zoom super powerfully slow slow motion camera' could have given a clearer picture of what unfolded. These dogs, natural casing of course, snapped crackled and popped all the down into the belly. There they sat quiet and content until certain processes moved them along.

So as I watched Kurt Warner accept the NFL's greatest human on the planet award, I smiled and buried my face in yet another chili cheese dripping, mustard, ketchup and relish soaked Super Dog. All this to forget the hilarious coincidence. Just to think, good ol' Kurt gave his time, precious and sacred as that is, to something other than football or his wife and that now, on the day that they typically present the award, he is actually playing! Thus, I was most confident Kurt Warner's story was a super story. I appreciate Warner most of all for his tremendously toothy grin, and evenly colored hair, and of course his super story. But that super story just had to be tarnished. When twinkle toes came down with that catch in the corner of the endzone Kurt sprouted, not one, not two, but at least three gray hairs. So it would end up that Warner's seemingly airtight super story would go the rout of a simple super dog, devoured, and never to be heard from again. Sorry Kurt, you were so close.