hello out there......

sorry to be gone so long, i truly am...but

life sometimes gets in the way of blogging.

i spent last week camping, and unlike my recent visit to PA i had no internet hookup at the campsite.

To recap:

a wonderful week with family and friends in northern michigan on the 6th most beautiful lake in the world, per National Geographic magazine.

camped with lots of runners so we ran. in the rain, on trails, on pavement, we ran

give me a day to get back into blogger mode, i'd like to provide a bit more info and thoughts after spending a week around a campfire.

thanks for reading

....and it'll be nice to run in familiar territory again. i love being home.

mike

i really think the hardest thing in sports is to hit a round ball with a round bat, but...

the combined physics is awe inspiring to me. the balls movements in the relatively short distance and time span. the speed of the ball varying from low 70's to high 90 mph. the speed, strength, and accuracely of the batter to maintain any control over the hit ball...

but to me....

Baseball is a little dull, but...

i don't like to watch it on TV, but take me out to the ball game and i'm in heaven. y'know why?

it's our national pastime.

i heard an interesting comment from a sports reporter a few years ago, this is a paraphrase of how i remember it.

If Baseball is our pastime, Football is our passion. Not sure who i heard it from, it's stuck in my vault of useless knowledge taking up space normally used to remeber a birthday or anniversary.

Sorry to seem like taking a long way to get to my point, but i seem to have raised an eyebrow or two with some comments i made to another running blog or two, with my thoughts regarding running and blogging and stuff. To those of you maybe reading this, assuming you've kept reading, who know me well,...this would not be too much of a surprise. it most likely results in a shrug and perhaps surprise it took me this long.

I am sorry if my comment that i find statistics a little boring offended anyone. Truly i am. i have so much gray matter consumed with trivia, statistics and pop culture nonsense you would think completely the opposite.

please, please understand my reasoning and the total fear i have of statistics.

Remember my OCD post? if not real quick...i'm a bit obsessive, and it can occasionally totally distract, ie consume, me. i'm trying to run, see eventually running comes into play, too, among other things, help me find a balance in my life.

While losing weight, i have found myself weighing myself up to three times a day. Blogging and reading Blogs is right now taking me from time spent with the kids. i've started to wear a little Wendy's Kids digital watch while running. It's from "over the hedge", it's the raccoon character. it's velcro and fits on my wrists. It is an exercise in retraint to only glance at the watch when i hit mile markers. Then i spend the entire time 'till a marker stressing over calculating pace.

If i let them, stats and splits will destroy my holistic feeling of running as one gestaltic experience and break things down into micromanaging my workout.

So i apologize that my fear may have leapt out my fingertips and into the keyboard.

thanks again for reading

Nothing witty or new today just some new training to report

ran for 55 minutes yesterday after chasing the stupid white ball around for a couple miles.

distance 6.65 miles
time 55 and some change

pace 8:16-20

Had to retire a pair of running shoes. i like my new shoes but felt some pain in my knee for the first time this morning. not good pain either, it was the oops something feels wrong pain.

any thoughts? it's the first time my bionic knee has felt any pain after running. It could be due to my increased pace but i'm not sure. Should i try to slow down or see what happens friday when i have a 4 miler scheduled followed by a 7 miler on Saturday.

The ACL really only applies to lateral movement, and sudden stops and starts. Any thoughts?

Back to Basics.....

Now that the first week of running as real training is over i decided to start the 2nd week with some interval training. I liked it, and had never done it before.

i ran 12 440's at a 1:30-1-50 pace with rest between to equal 3:00 per lap. my reward for running fast, more rest and vice versa. The high school track is 'bout 1/2 mile from the home so figure my 4 miles well spent. (love the rubberized track)

That was Monday, Tuesday i was actually sore. Wow, i haven't been sore in a while. It was a good kind of sore, not achy, but like i had pushed my physical limits. O.K. i'm a masochist.

Bible Stuff....

Finished Job, had to read lots of it twice to follow the gist. It ask tough questions to believers and non-believers. It may be the earliest account of a "lifes-not-fair" story. Deal with life as it comes, learn to deal with loss.

It's still very relative to today's world. Isn't it easier to worship if your life is filled with joy? a truer test of faith may be how it is maintained through adversity?

Anyway, i'm in the Psalms now and still going strong.

Political stuff....

thanks to all who read my last post which allowed me to indulge in my tongue-n-cheek views.

i met a candidate for the U.S. Senate this last weekend. He seemed to be a nice guy but we were at political opposites. i offered to wear a campaign sticker if he was willing to support gay marriage. We laughed for a moment, shook hands and sincerely wished each other well, but agreed to disagree.

Shout Out to....

the mom2moms who have stumbled upon my blog through the Fun Guv'nor,

Mike Barr for the encouragement as i continue to train, and the entire Barr family,

Running Rabbit and Running Girl for making me feel like part of larger community as we train for Chicago from all over the midwest, and finally

Mac, Mark, Scott, Tess, Gknee and my bride, Lisa aka Fun Guv'nor for always being there. No matter what stupid things i do. You're the best and i love you all.

thanks again for indulging me

This post has no running stuff in it.....

An interesting thought occurred as i was watching the Cherry Royale Parade after the race on Saturday....

Jenny...the hottest governor, in the U.S. was walking the route. Yes, it's an election year, but many government types walk this parade. One year Gerald Ford did it.

And of course she was met with more than a few boos and applause. It was heated from both sides. Fun Guv'nor even made a snide comment loud enough for a booer to hear about the immaturity of booers of our elected officials. i'm not a Bush fan but i would at least not boo him at a public appearance.

Personally, i applaud the mess she has had to try to deal with. Y'know she cut some programs, she had to start creating some sense of fiscal responsibility. Fastest shrinking population = less tax dollars to use, no free lunch, duh...

Anyway, my point. So after visiting Gettysburg i left struck with the feeling that as a nation we are not all that far removed from the Civil War. TV loves to do "news" articles about the extreme differences between the BLUEs and REDs.

We are so torn, and i have caused to reflect on the words spoken by my favorite president, ironically a republican. Also the first president to lose the popular vote and be elected. Also, believed by many to have been a homosexual, but waaaay of the point unless in context to right wingers being homophobic.

Anyway, Honest Abe asked questions about us, the people. Can a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal endure?
and Can a nation so divided be saved?

i'd like to add one more question...

Considering the passion by which people consider themselves RED or BLUE are we that far removed from our Civil War forefathers?

The buddhist in me says our nation was doomed to fail from the beginning. i will not go quietly into the night though...

i'm going to be nicer to republicans, or at least try.

it's a start. but if those bastard red staters keep taking and not giving back, i'll stop!!! ;)

15K ends or starts a great first week of training.

i'll get to the stats but first a few things i wanted to point out in the picture. This is the last turn off the parade route to the finish. The road is brick here. It's an original brick road in the city, somewhat repaired over the years. Who decided to end a 9 mile plus race on uneven bricks?

Also see the woman 3 people back from me? i was behind her when we turned the last corner. Somehow i was able to hammer down a sprint and pass three people in the last .25 mile. i'm really not the most competitive person but when i see a finish line the juices start flowin' and the race becomes all about me and the clock.

i had a few goals yesterday. Finish strong, under 1:20, don't break stride going up the hill. Man what a hill!!!

This was the largest event i had been to yet. People from all over the U.S. were here.Of course most from Michigan. There was a 5k, a 5k walk and a 15k. i saw bib numbers over 2500. i was 452. My friend Mike Barr estimated about 800 runners at our start. The 5k folks started about 15 minutes before us. Then it was our turn.

From the start of the gun, it took us 25 seconds to walk to the mats and take off. It was a big race.

The course was awesome. 4 miles out the penninsula, across, and four miles back the other side, into downtown and 3/4 s of the parade route before turning on the brick road to the finish. Plenty of water and gatorade along the course and with the Michigan July heat and humidity much needed. Lot's of people with their hoses out to spray cool water on a runner. Great cheering sections as well the entire race. It was the most positive racing experience i have had yet.

THE HILL. It had an EMT on top just in case. The hill was serious. It ended a few people runs. It caused a lot of people to walk up it. It had three seperate rises, two water stations and an EMT. No shade. i beat the hill. Thanks to advice i have read regarding hills through the running blogs, i kept my stride, albeit a little shorter, and beat the hill. The run down another exercise in restraint, but a real good time to recover.

This race is a definite must run, if you can

Anyway the stats:

time 1:18:52 yay!! i beat 1:20
pace 8:31
overall 271 out of 539 finishers. no stats on the DNF's, but they were there
age group 30 out of 42, no hardware here

Why i run.....

i gotta throw this out for the world of blogshere to see....had enough....good, don't look anymore

This is about one year ago. My weight was probably in the 240-250 range. Funny thing is at the time i didn't feel terrible about my appearance.

i guess i felt numerous chins were an important sign of success. Maybe i was thinking that large man boobs hid the gut?

i must face the fact.... I WAS HUGE!!!!

How the heck did my wife look at me a say, "gotta get me some of that"?

Wait....she didn't.

Anyway i'm taking a moment to thank all my good friends who encouraged me to get back into a shape that's not ROUND.

i shouldn't be doing this, but here's a totally unflattering picture of me today... beware don't look if you frighten easily...










O.K. i'm not thin yet. But i'm getting a lot closer.


Wish me luck this weekend at the 15k. i'll be back on Sunday to update if anyone is interested.

thanks again for reading, and dealing with my insecurities.

Happy 50th Post!!!

Well this is a milestone. 50 posts.

So it's Thursday morning and my first week of training is almost done. i didn't keep track of time to accurately, but the distances are fairly good. i have one more run scheduled, the big 15k saturday.

This is how my first week (8 days) looks:

Sat 8
Sun 6.22 (10K)
Mon 4.25
Tues 7.00
Wed Walk 2 miles while chasing a little white ball
Thur 4.25
Fri Rest
Sat 9.33 (15K)

So that's about 40 miles running and a little walking thrown in.

i admit it's a little too intense, and overdoing the first week training schedule, but i'm punishing myself for the extra weight i put on while vacationing.

i should be back under 200 lbs again by Saturdays race if i eat right for the next two days, and rested enough to run well.

thanks for reading

OK, finally a vacation picture.

There may be more soon but first two things i need to address.

1. The name of the blog is "Mike has a Thought", so it's real unfiltered. i try to just think, write and publish. There may be spelling errors and diction issues. Music buffs out there.... i know who you are...consider it like improv. There are no real wrong or right notes, just poor choices. So yeah, i make some poor choices. Spell checking sucks a lot cause it always wants to capitalize "I". Occasionally, i have gone back to fix stuff, but i figure anyone reading gets the point. Yes, i realize "governor" was spelled wrong, i really was to lazy to fix it. Additionally, Lisa may be referred to as Fun Guv'nor, and
2. Tag, here goes...top of my head stuff.

4 jobs i have had:

1. cherry orchard worker
2. plastic injection molding machine operator, the only job i ever just walked out on
3. night auditor at a hotel
4. bartender

4 places i have lived:

1. Traverse City
2. Mt Pleasant
3. Madison Hts
4. Clinton Twp

4 Movies i can watch over and over:

1. Godfather; parts 1 & 2, not 3
2. Casablanca
3. Caddyshack
4. The Outlaw Josey Wales

4 favorite TV shows:

1. Rescue Me
2. The Office
3. My name is Earl
4. Desperate Housewifes...it's true i'm hooked

4 places i've vacationed

1. Ocho Rios
2. Disneyworld
3. Tawas State Park, camping
4. Mackinac Island

4 websites i visit daily

1. work stuff mostly
2. running blog stuff
3. my yahoo for fantasy sport stuff
4. whatever you call those random pages of jokes people email to me stuff

4 favoite foods

1. blueberries, i just ate a pint while typing
2. pizza
3. burgers
4. gyros

4 places i'd rather be; page up to vacation places

4 favorite bands

1. BRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUCE
2. BNL
3. REM
4. Green Day

i don't really want to tag anybody, nor do have anyone to tag as every blog i read seems to be tagged at this point so i will improvise a little with a last tidbit

4 greatest live shows i have seen

1. KISS destroys Tiger Stadium, opened with Sponge and the last appearance of Alice in Chains in concert. The original band back in make-up. What a treat!!!
2. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, another reunion tour, in 1998 the band had not performed together in 10 years. There was no new album to promote, just the hits. The concert focused on Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River albums. 3 hrs no intermission, no opening act.
3. The Concert for Change. OK, not to be redundant, but Lineup: Bruce, REM, John Fogerty. i had seen Bruce and REM before, but this concert was unique the way the artists played each others tunes and made guest appearances in each others set. For the finale, the Dixie Chicks came over to sing back-up vocals. There must have been 20 musicians onstage. In Cobo no less, could it have been any smaller of a venue?
4. New Years Eve 1999, the venue sucked, The Silverdome, but the lineup: Kid Rock, Ted Nugent and Metallica. Joe C was still alive, and all over the stage for Kid's set. Nugent came out riding his buffalo, Metallica was awesome. As with the Concert for change, plenty of guest appearances, and low egos. The Finale, Detroit Rock City, done quite unrehearsed, by all 3 acts. i didn't even like Kid Rock's music to that show. He made a believer of me.

Thanks for reading

So anyway i was going to post some vacation pictures today. That was the plan at least.

Then, i thought about answering Lisa's tag. It going to take a little time. Not much, but i have more important things to post today.....





HARDWARE






Wait.... want a bigger picture?

Or are you perhaps distracted by the handsome devil? Who really needs a haircut!!


Is that ...silver???

why, yes...it is

I was loser number one behind the winner for my age bracket.

STATS:

10k
00:52:48

Pace: 8:30

Oh Yeah, there were more than 2 people in my age group, there were 6 actually.

Of the 45 runners in today's 10K race i finished a absolute mean, median and mode overall number of 23

Wait number 23, Gatorade's gonna call with an endorsement deal.

like mike, i wanna be like mike, like mike ......

Truthully, thanks to anyone who has perused upon this blog and offered support as i totally stressed the idea of running a race after not running at all for a week while on vacation. holy run-on sentance Batman

Did i mention Hardware?

Thanks again for reading

We're back!!!!

Thank Gawd, i need a vacation from my vacation.

A fun filled week of a whole lotta doing nothing is three weeks away. The camping trip.

So today is was nice to run in familiar territory again. I ran far and hard, not the smartest thing with a 10K tomorrow, but oh well. During my week of not running and eating real bad, i gained about 10 lbs. This is a lesson well learned and i need to trim about ten lbs off before the 15K next week.

I should be fine for tomorrows run. 6-7 miles is my usual routine, and that's how i'm viewing it. Just with a few other runner's.

Nice thing is tomorrow is the first official training day.

So i too can begin to blog about training. it's been hell the last two weeks reading all my running blogger buddies in blogsphere starting to train as i second guess the program i was given.

Anyway today's run was 1 hr 12 minutes
distance 8 miles

so figure 9 minute miles. i'll take that. That'll put me at 56 minutes for tomorrows run, and still under two hrs for a 1/2 marathon.

My Bible reading took the same hiatus as my diet and exercise program. i'll get back to that soon as well.

Pictures from the trip are coming soon.

thanks again for reading

i cannot believe this.....

The robotic dairy farm is booked!!!!

We can't get in. O.K. all is not lost. We are heading home tomorrow anyway. The one day lost for our trip was the journey to DeeCee. No big deal. Truthfully, it would have been very rushed and not complete. Something we can look forward to in the future.

Assuming everything goes well, i should be back home tomorrow at this time.

Tonite after H-D, we played around the pool for a while. i also was able to go for a nice run around a York city park near the hotel. I ran a few laps around the park, about a 45 minute run in all. No idea on the distance, nor do i really care as.....

Pennsylvania is real hilly...

Bastards, i swear every step i took was uphill, and i was running in circles. How does that happen?

So tomorrow we go home. Saturday i bartend, and Sunday i get up real early for my first of two races next week.

No PR's here, just looking to finish. i know i sounded so enthusiastic about the run in Traverse, but this week of typical vacation bad food shot me outta the water.

Sorry 'bout not being able to report on the dairy farm.

But i gotta say.... this place is real proud of being the factory tour capital.

DYK.... not one H-D employee has ever lost his/her job on the line by being replaced by a robot? Robotics are used, but the employee is re/cross-trained to be able to maintain his/her employment. They are very proud of never down-sizing at the factory level. And it's unionized.

Hmmmmm..... quality product, name recognition, caring about employees.... remind anyone of Ford Motor Co a few decades ago. Both companies were born in 1903. I wonder if Ford has ever downsized at the factory level?

Sorry 'bout the midday entry here...

But the H-D Tour was fantastic.

It hasn't rained in a while so we are looking forward to a slow paced afternoon.

We're going to the Robotic Dairy Farm

I swear the first thing out of everyone's mouth when we ask what to do, is this damn dairy farm.

It's like a friggin' train wreck, i've got to see.

Fun Govenor is calling to book a reservation as a type this

gotta go... the rest of a post to continue later tonite.

It did not rain today!!!!

O.K., i promise to throw some pictures of the trip up next week when we get back.

It didn't rain today. The sun was out and although we were expecting scattered T-storms, it never happened.

Great day to spend at Hersheypark. There was flooding all around us, but the roads from York to Hershey were fine. The weather must have scared off some folks cause the park was fairly easy to navigate. None of the rides had any real lines to them.

O.K. now i admit to being a coaster junkee. The thrill of adrenaline, the weightless feeling, the falls and the speed really get me going. Here's the downer. I tended to evaluate all the rides in comparision to Cedar Point.

There are about 9 roller coasters here. i rode on 8 and they all a pretty good rides. Each unique and none boring, but after riding Milenium and Top Thrill Dragster, nothing compares to the rush.

i got to talking to some other coaster enthusiasts while in line and most were familiar with the rides of the east coast, but none had really been to Kings Island or Cedar Point. Although they had heard of the rides and meant to get to them. Most loved Hershey and thought it was the best place near the east coast to ride coasters.

Tomorrow, i visit Mecca. The largest Harley-Davidson plant. It's only two miles from the hotel.

Since we gave up on the DeeCee we are playfully contemplating the Robotic Dairy Farm. If just for the sheer mockery value. Not quite the same stature of the nations capital but close enough.

Anyway, it's real late and i've been going since 7:00 am, so i'll go into more detail later. Just wanted to create a quick update.

btw... does running to the next ride count as training? It's a real hilly park, does this count in my TUT?

thanks again for reading.

Guess what.... it rained again today.

whoda thunk???

i am so ready for the sun to shine.

Today was an incredible day spent looking at battle fields. We took a great tour of the Gettysburg visitor center.

O.K. for the record, people from Jersey are wusses compared to the Detroit area people. So we're in the visitor center parking lot waiting for a space. It was packed. So we see a van loading up and head over near the spot to wait patiently for it to open up.

So some yahoo from NJ must spot the taillights flash and scrambles over to cut us off from the spot. Now it wasn't raining, and the skies were farily clear. The van in the parking lot backs out, and the idiot cuts us off and pulls into the spot.

Now, you all know i'm not a violent man. i'm a dove not a hawk, but....

i got outta of the van and started towards the suv that stole our spot. Lisa's wiggin' out like a new battlefield will be established today. And i through in my best, "don't mess with me face" that i can muster. The kind that causes ManKenzie to start crying before i've even opened my mouth.

The moron rolls down his window and is like "Yes?"

"dude, did you see us waiting for this spot?"

"Ahh, no" LIAR, YOU HAD TO TURN TO GET AROUND US TO GRAB THE SPOT.

"well, look, we were waiting for this spot. Do you mind moving?"

"uhhh....." think moron think. Please don't call my bluff, if you say yes, i'm done.

"No,.... i'll move"

"thanks"....whew, don't let him see me shaking. Storm back to the car and wave your arms wildly so he can see i meant business as he sees me in the rearview mirror as he backs out. Thank gawd he didn't want to create a scene with his young kids in the car.

It really was the last spot in the parking lot.

I soooo, should play more poker!!!

Gettysbrew.... was closed due to new owners and a remodel....Those bastards!!!!!!

We go back to Bube's soon.

Anyway, loved the battlefields, blah,blah, blah.... turning point for the war.... blah,blah, blah...lots of causulties... blah,blah, blah... Lincoln speech...4 score and blah,blah, blah....

Tomorrow back to Hershey Park for rain filled fun in an amusement park.

thanks for reading, love the coments

total distance: 0:00:00
total time: 0:00:00

Guess what, i have a 10k this sunday and a 15k next saturday. Ouch!!!

rain, rain go away

no more griping bout the weather in Michigan. The grass is only greener due to the rain.

Yesterday's Factory tour of Bube's was nice. i love beer!!

Today hit a tour trap on the way into Hershey www.indianechocaverns.com

It was a cool little stop on the way into Hershey, we figured it was raining so why not. it's underground. Ooops, it was raining on us from the water seeping 100+ feet through the ground to the caverns. Oh yeah it rained on us, but the cavern was cool, literally and figuratively.

Today at Hershey we did the factory tour. Sorta, it's not really the factory but a mock-up version. The kids did it three times. We saw a cute 3-D movie about chocolate. And then watched the Hershey Park patrons scramble out of the park for a hour when the shies opened up on us again.

i am sooooo tired of chocolate. never thought i would say it, but it's true, no mas.

After 7:30 we entered the park for a preview. Hershey park allows a preview for tix holders after 7:30 till the park closes at 10:00. We did a few rides. It's nice. It was a preview so we didn't have time to see everything and the weather prevented all the coasters from being open. I rode three. One was a nice inverted coaster similar to the raptor at cedar point. It was only similar in riding style the ride had a few unique qualities.

Tomorrow will be more rain. So we will try our full day at the park on Wednesday.

Tomorrow will be Gettysburg. Since the entire town is a national park there will be plenty to do and most will be a driving tour or indoors. Screw the rain. It appears there is a brewery in Gettsburg, go figure, so i know where the tour ends tomorrow.

Due to the bad rain on the east coast we will most likely scrap the trip to DC. Philly is still 4 hrs away, so i won't be running up the library stairs, ala rocky balboa, on this trip. c'est le vie.

There's a treadmill in the hotel. i keep looking at it. Does this count as training? i mean at least i'm thinking of running.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's update, a la the michael clark griswold vacation.

Since DC might be scrapped we can make time for the robotic cow milking tour. Actually the tour and milking is robotic. The cows are real cows.

Fun Govenor is not happy with my last paragraph. Love the biz center in the hotel but she keeps watching me type. Hey, if we are both in the biz center, who's watching the kids.

thanks for reading...

we made it to York.

O.K. after 9-10 hours, including stops to pee and eat, we made to the hotel in your, unpacked, and took a well deserved shower. We arrived by 6:30

Not a lot to do on a Sunday around the York area, and it's been raining nonstop since we passed Pittsburgh.

By 7:30 we had found a local brew pub and after a beer and a sandwich are back at the hotel, as i type this.

Get this the name of the place is Bube's, pronounced boobies. i gotta get this phoenetic t-shirt...

It's the oldest brewery in the U.S. in it's original location. A speakeasy in prohibition, of course.

How's that for Americana???

btw...have a mentioned that marathon training starts next week. i knew i had a reason for a 16 week train in lieu of a 18 weeker.

Thanks again for reading.

Happy Birthday to Mark, or Maach as they say in New Hampshire

Here's your chance to shout out a Phu@ Y&^ to me. Consider it a long distance birthday gift, you haven't had a good reason to in a while and i'd like to provide one.

Funny how 44 doesn't seem as old as it used too.

This would normally be were i type something corny like how much it means that you signed on to be Jimmy's god-father.

But i won't... cause i too, love you for the kisses. Smoochie-smoochie

no wait that's Animal....

Hey... another reason to say Phu@ Y&^

Small wonder Lisa calls me "her gay husband"

Happy Birthday, have a good weekend.

thank god somebody got the "Vacation" reference.

Thanks to Drew, who the hell is Drew?, i now know two things about Liberal, KS.

1. The second largest ball of twine really is not in Liberal; and
2. Anyone who has ever lived in Liberal, is constantly reminded of the movie, by yahoo's like me, who see it and remember they know someone from Liberal.

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday. Since she doesn't live with me, and i if can't reach her by phone today,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALLISON

Anyway, she's 12 today.

O.K. so i have my training schedule posted on the fridge and the dates of each run and alternate dates in case of inclimate weather. My training begins the week we return from York. I have a run scheduled at the Pickerel Festival 10k, the Cherry Festival 15k, Mint Festival, 10k, and the run around Mackinac, or is it Mackinaw, Island 8 miles either spelling it's pronounced aw

That should be enough race experience.

Any thoughts regarding race experience from you seasoned, blog stalking, rather not make your opinions known, addicted to running, and, like myself, using what could be productive time in the office in this inane, yet hopelessly addicting and truly wonderful, manner.

Since i've turned off comment moderation, please feel free.

On the spiritual front, i've started to read Job. So i am still plugging away at the Bible. It would be nice to finish about the time of the marathon.

So i've handled physical and spiritual. i still need help on the financial well-being. Anyone need a loan? really just kidding, well not totally.

thanks again for reading

Anybody care to see cows being milked?

hey there, i best slow down before my vacation gets outta hand next week. The whole famn damily is heading to York PA, for a fun filled week of; Hershey, Gettysburg, Washington DC (which apparently has a new well marked running path, just follow the sidewalk poop stains around the various points of interest in DC) and York PA, which is the factory tour capital of the US.

Can this truly be better than the second largest ball of twine, which urban legend claims is housed in Liberal KS? I think not.

Anyway, i am looking forward to our fun family vacation. It'll be a little history, a little Americana, and little thrill, ie Hershey theme park, and, yippee, Harley-Davidson has a factory in York. They build the engines to my bike there, it could be a cool thing to see. After all York is the factory tour capital of the US.

"What else do the folks of York make?" you may be asking yourself. Well, let me tell you, they have a brewery there. Yippee, a Beer Garden, and a restaurant. Y'know what else the Brewery has? A factory tour, because....after all York is the factory tour capital of the US.

Let us pray for samples... just a brief moment of silence.

Now, i first must give credit to my lovely bride, Lisa, for finding this one. That's right, Lisa, affectionately referred to as Fun Govenor around the house, found a Dairy Farm tour. Ooooooh, the thrill is giving me goosenipples, pun waaaaay intended, as i type this. Not only is this a fun filled tour of a Dairy Farm, it's a robotic dairy farm.

The job is so dull that humans will not even attach the breast pump, udder thingy to the cows anymore, so let's make a factory tour out of it, because...after all York is the factory tour capital of the US.

And even worse, now that i have obviously been stalking other running blogs, through A Running Destination, all i can think about as i type is a recent post to the Running Rabbit Chronicles and nipples. So go to the links and find them. Read Not Born to Run for the DC pathway. I laughed so hard i was crying.

Ran 7ish miles this morning took about an hour.

thanks again for reading my, not so much running information, running blog