Despite the diagnosis of post tibial tendonitis--more an irritant than an actual ailment--I decided to continue a modified training regimine which culminated in an 8K race early this morning. Five miles is a pretty standard run for me . . . when I'm not injured. The nagging ankle limited any kind of distance running--5 miles--to twice a week. The rest of the week I trained on the treadmill or exercise bike. Coupled with ice massage and some light resistance exercises, the pain subsided considerably. Still, I'm not anywhere near the running shape I was in at the end of July and I had some doubts about how the race would go.
Early in the month, I set a goal of hitting the 40 minute mark for the race. I figured an eight minute per mile pace was quite reasonable, even with an injury. I tried running five miles in 40 minutes on the treadmill earlier this week and failed. Spirit crushed, I resigned myself to simply running my best and letting my time fall where it might. Go, me! Bleh.*
The 5 AM wake up? Brutal. I rolled out of bed, pulled on my running clothes, ate a half cup of honey nut scooters (Malt-O-Meal honey nut cheerios) and raisins, drank 8 oz of water, and a couple cups of coffee. Once Dr. OneDink and I arrived at the race location and picked up our goodie bag and strapped on our electronic timing chips, I warmed up with a moderate 10 minute run. The ankle twinged now and again, but felt decent. Was it 100 percent? Not even close; I may not ever be at 100 percent in that ankle (my hip and knee are never quite pain free--the pains come and go ::shrug::). The race started, Dr. OneDink and parted company, and I dropped into a brisk, yet comfortable, pace. At about the 1st mile, many of the runners started to fall back. Before long, I realized I had run my way toward the front of the racing pack. Was I with the elite runners? Ha! Was I with the advanced runners? I'd like to think so. The course itself was flat, flat, flat and the surface of the race posed the only real problem: concrete and pavement. Talk about unforgiving.
At about the halfway mark the cold morning air started hammering away at my asthma. Yes, a couple hits of the inhaler are part of my daily running routine and this morning was no exception. Typically, breathing isn't a problem. I'm sure it was both the cold air and the fact that I was running beyond my training that lead to the difficulties. Refusing to slow down, I sucked it up and ran through the mild wheezing. It was painful but not unmanageable.
At the four mile mark (only one mile to go), I tried to kick it up a notch and had no juice left in the tank. All I could do was maintain my pace. I didn't slow down, but had nothing left for that little extra push. So I continued apace, watching three runners I would normally beat pass me in the last half mile. As I turned the final corner and started toward the finish line, I glanced at the time clock and surprised myself with a 37:20 finish (7:04 mile pace). Exhausted, I looked around for my anticipated cheering section. STK and TLO were nowhere to be found. I celebrated my better-than-expected race in solitude. Which was okay, really. I enjoyed a good cool down, a banana, and half a chocolate chip bagel--the free chow is one of the great things about races--before my fan club arrived. This is the second time STK misjudged the time to be back at a race finish line (I even suggested she should be back at the course after 35 minutes, just to be safe). We've decided that our tradition will be for she and TLO to be at the start of the race and always miss the finish. I seem to do better than expected when they're not waiting.
The final results: I finished 29th overall, 26th among men, and 4th in my age group. Not bad for a rapidly approaching middle age guy running on a bad ankle, I think. I'm paying for it tonight--the ankle hurts more than it has in weeks and I'm limping noticeably. And it's worth every twinge of pain. There's another race coming up on October 21--I wonder if I can eek another few weeks out of the ankle?
*I'm not the most competitive person in world . . . when it comes to others. Competitive with myself much? That's another story altogether.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
Feastin' on Wasabi
Friday's Feast, September 29, 2006
Appetizer--What is your favorite herb or spice?
Wasabi! I love it when the fumes waft up my nose and make my eyes water.
Soup--Name a song you like but haven't heard in a long time.
Abracadabra. Steve Miller Band. Terrible song, but I just loved it during middle school. Why the heck did I think of that? No clue.
Salad--If you were to take just one minute to write down as many things as you can think of that you need (not want) to do, approximately how many things would there be?
A half dozen or so. We're going on an overnight excursion--I'm running a race tomorrow AM with Dr. OneDink--and I have several things I need to get done when I get home from school.
Get dog stuffs ready for kennel.
Finish packing TLO miscellany.
Double check my race gear (where are my knit gloves, damnit!?)
Pack car.
Take dogs to kennel.
Drive to destination city.
Enjoy times with friends and family.
Main Course--Tell something interesting about one of your family members (nothing scandalous, please, just something unique).
My sister is a speech pathologist.
Dessert--What's the latest you've ever stayed awake?
Well, I once stayed awake for almost two days. I think I finally went to sleep almost 48 hours at 8 AM. Is that late or early?
Appetizer--What is your favorite herb or spice?
Wasabi! I love it when the fumes waft up my nose and make my eyes water.
Soup--Name a song you like but haven't heard in a long time.
Abracadabra. Steve Miller Band. Terrible song, but I just loved it during middle school. Why the heck did I think of that? No clue.
Salad--If you were to take just one minute to write down as many things as you can think of that you need (not want) to do, approximately how many things would there be?
A half dozen or so. We're going on an overnight excursion--I'm running a race tomorrow AM with Dr. OneDink--and I have several things I need to get done when I get home from school.
Get dog stuffs ready for kennel.
Finish packing TLO miscellany.
Double check my race gear (where are my knit gloves, damnit!?)
Pack car.
Take dogs to kennel.
Drive to destination city.
Enjoy times with friends and family.
Main Course--Tell something interesting about one of your family members (nothing scandalous, please, just something unique).
My sister is a speech pathologist.
Dessert--What's the latest you've ever stayed awake?
Well, I once stayed awake for almost two days. I think I finally went to sleep almost 48 hours at 8 AM. Is that late or early?
Weekly Reader
WTF Department: The Mancation. From the article:
An "Urban Dictionary" definition for mancation describes it as men engaging in masculine activities such as sports, camping, gambling, chasing women and drinking, without the presence of wives, mistresses or girlfriends. Vince Vaughn helped popularize the term in this summer's romantic comedy "The Break-Up."
I can't even begin to explain how disturbing I find the idea of "chasing women" as some kind of sport or game.
American Buddhism on the Rise. Still, a healthy American Buddhism with its own characteristics is emerging. It is less doctrinal and ritualistic than in the East and more meditation oriented, less hierarchical and more democratic and egalitarian. It is more lay-oriented than monastic, and more socially and ecologically engaged.
STK and I would consider ourselves part of the rising number of American Buddhists. Oddly enough, we have a beautiful monastery 15 minutes from SMC.
Superhero Worship Glamour isn’t beauty or luxury; those are only specific manifestations for specific audiences. Glamour is an imaginative process that creates a specific, emotional response: a sharp mixture of projection, longing, admiration, and aspiration. It evokes an audience’s hopes and dreams and makes them seem attainable, all the while maintaining enough distance to sustain the fantasy. The elements that create glamour are not specific styles—bias-cut gowns or lacquered furniture—but more general qualities: grace, mystery, transcendence.
Good stuff for comic book fans.
An "Urban Dictionary" definition for mancation describes it as men engaging in masculine activities such as sports, camping, gambling, chasing women and drinking, without the presence of wives, mistresses or girlfriends. Vince Vaughn helped popularize the term in this summer's romantic comedy "The Break-Up."
I can't even begin to explain how disturbing I find the idea of "chasing women" as some kind of sport or game.
American Buddhism on the Rise. Still, a healthy American Buddhism with its own characteristics is emerging. It is less doctrinal and ritualistic than in the East and more meditation oriented, less hierarchical and more democratic and egalitarian. It is more lay-oriented than monastic, and more socially and ecologically engaged.
STK and I would consider ourselves part of the rising number of American Buddhists. Oddly enough, we have a beautiful monastery 15 minutes from SMC.
Superhero Worship Glamour isn’t beauty or luxury; those are only specific manifestations for specific audiences. Glamour is an imaginative process that creates a specific, emotional response: a sharp mixture of projection, longing, admiration, and aspiration. It evokes an audience’s hopes and dreams and makes them seem attainable, all the while maintaining enough distance to sustain the fantasy. The elements that create glamour are not specific styles—bias-cut gowns or lacquered furniture—but more general qualities: grace, mystery, transcendence.
Good stuff for comic book fans.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Fruitless Words
Just like a blossom,
bright colored
but scentless:
a well-spoken word
is fruitless
when not carried out.
-Dhammapada, 4, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
bright colored
but scentless:
a well-spoken word
is fruitless
when not carried out.
-Dhammapada, 4, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Friday, September 22, 2006
The Feast!
Friday, September 22, 2006, Feast One Hundred & Twelve
Appetizer--Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?
Somewhere around four hours, I think. Typically, I'd be closer to between seven and ten hours but this damn tendonitis will. not. quit. So, I've been taking a day off about every three days.
Soup--If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?
Being Geek Cool.
Salad--Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.
Battlestar Galactica. Oddly enough, I'm watching Battlestar Galactica some 29 years later. You should be watching Battlestar Galactica, too.
Main Course--If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?
I think I'd put the $50 toward The Writings of Samuel Adams, vol. I-IV. A complete set, if you can find it, goes for around $150.
Dessert--Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?
Dark, darker, darkest. 75 percent of my wardrobe is black.
Appetizer--Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?
Somewhere around four hours, I think. Typically, I'd be closer to between seven and ten hours but this damn tendonitis will. not. quit. So, I've been taking a day off about every three days.
Soup--If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?
Being Geek Cool.
Salad--Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.
Battlestar Galactica. Oddly enough, I'm watching Battlestar Galactica some 29 years later. You should be watching Battlestar Galactica, too.
Main Course--If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?
I think I'd put the $50 toward The Writings of Samuel Adams, vol. I-IV. A complete set, if you can find it, goes for around $150.
Dessert--Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?
Dark, darker, darkest. 75 percent of my wardrobe is black.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Good News . . .
And it's not about my car insurance. We found out a couple days back that one of my colleagues will remain on sabbatical/leave for the 2007-08 school year. While that isn't good news in and of itself--I rather like this particular colleague--it means that T will be able to retain her visiting professor gig for a second year. That's contingent on whether or not she gets a tenure track offer from another school. If that happens--she's on the job market, as she should be--she'd have to accept and we'd be looking for another visiting scholar.
Provided she doesn't do something silly like show porn in class, which she threatened to do today, the job is hers. You should have seen one of the members of our department shoot out of his office when T mentioned the word "porn." Too funny. In her defense, she was talking about how elements of porn have entered television, movies, advertising, and the like. Her phrasing about what she inteneded to teach in class, however, was purposefully vague and ambiguous. Having known her for years, I read through the ambiguity--I'm privy to the secret T code! Others are not so lucky and haven't quite figured her out (and I hope they never do).
Provided she doesn't do something silly like show porn in class, which she threatened to do today, the job is hers. You should have seen one of the members of our department shoot out of his office when T mentioned the word "porn." Too funny. In her defense, she was talking about how elements of porn have entered television, movies, advertising, and the like. Her phrasing about what she inteneded to teach in class, however, was purposefully vague and ambiguous. Having known her for years, I read through the ambiguity--I'm privy to the secret T code! Others are not so lucky and haven't quite figured her out (and I hope they never do).
Monday, September 18, 2006
What's New?
Not a whole lot, actually. I'm always hesitant to write one of these "here's what's happening" posts as I don't find my own life particularly exciting. That said, I know a handful of my readers check in to see what's going on in my life. And that's largely a result of my own inability to compose personal email. What's up with that?
Autumn arrived early in Small Midwest Town: the leaves are in full change mode, the temperature has dropped into the 50s/60s (40s at night), and rain falls regularly. What happened to the beautiful 80 degree weather of a couple weeks back? I could have enjoyed that for a while longer. Alas, it looks to be an early Fall and Winter. Thankfully, I got the weed/feed on the lawn during a two day stretch without precipitation. My father would be so proud.
School zooms along for both myself and STK. I'm teaching nothing but rhetoric related courses this semester. Teaching rhetoric makes me a happy boy. I'm trying to get some research done and have no less then four research ideas bouncing around my head simultaneously. As I can't seem to focus on one project, I spend all my time thinking/reading and getting nothing written. STK still loves her new teaching position despite the commute.
TLO continues to change, grow, and evolve. If you're ever thinking of having a kid, you can forget about all those instruction manual type books you find at Barnes and Noble. The truth of the matter is that raising a kid is more or less about winging it than anything else. One week our kid is sleeping through the night, the next week he's waking up and playing from 2-3 AM. One week he loves cantaloupe, the next he's spitting it out. One week he loves daycare and blows me off when I tell him "goodbye", the next week he's going into a tear-gushing, meltdown when I drop him off. Oh, and if you just can't wait until the little person starts to walk, you might want to reconsider. How much do you enjoy chasing a child around your living quarters? Get some new runnings shoes because that's about all you're going to be doing for a while. Did I mention TLO is obsessed with Elmo? And that I can sing the words to Elmo's World? And that I've created a version that I sing to TLO? The joys of parenthood. Or is that the insanity of parenthood? I get them mixed up these days.
STK and I celebrated our third anniversary back on the 6th. Thanks to some dear friends, we enjoyed a wonderful night out on the town. Night out on the town in SMT consists of dinner at our one bistro and a trip to the locally owned ice cream joint. STK and I did much reflecting on how much our lives have changed in the last year. We went through a pretty challenging patch with the move, the Albatross, and uncomfortably tight finances and survived. This year is the year our graduate degrees payoff and we start to enjoy a more comfortable way of life.
Looking ahead, I've decided I am going to run an 8K race at the end of month. I did five miles twice last week with only a bit of pain--it's totally manageable provided I don't run hard two days in a row. Cross training and rest days have become the name of the game. While I'm nowhere near the running shape I was at the tail end of July, I'm still in decent shape.
STK and I are also looking forward to a couple nights in The Big City. We've asked T & J to watch TLO for a couple nights and they've agreed. So, we're heading out for a couple nights of Gothy goodness. The last few weeks, we've missed the Goth scene something terrible. We miss the people, the music, the clubs. As STK put it, "I miss being around people like us." That's definitely one of the shortcomings of living in a small, isolated community. The closest "scene" is three hours away. A couple nights out on the goth town will provide some much need contact with alternafolk.
And that's the news from around here. Exciting, eh?
Autumn arrived early in Small Midwest Town: the leaves are in full change mode, the temperature has dropped into the 50s/60s (40s at night), and rain falls regularly. What happened to the beautiful 80 degree weather of a couple weeks back? I could have enjoyed that for a while longer. Alas, it looks to be an early Fall and Winter. Thankfully, I got the weed/feed on the lawn during a two day stretch without precipitation. My father would be so proud.
School zooms along for both myself and STK. I'm teaching nothing but rhetoric related courses this semester. Teaching rhetoric makes me a happy boy. I'm trying to get some research done and have no less then four research ideas bouncing around my head simultaneously. As I can't seem to focus on one project, I spend all my time thinking/reading and getting nothing written. STK still loves her new teaching position despite the commute.
TLO continues to change, grow, and evolve. If you're ever thinking of having a kid, you can forget about all those instruction manual type books you find at Barnes and Noble. The truth of the matter is that raising a kid is more or less about winging it than anything else. One week our kid is sleeping through the night, the next week he's waking up and playing from 2-3 AM. One week he loves cantaloupe, the next he's spitting it out. One week he loves daycare and blows me off when I tell him "goodbye", the next week he's going into a tear-gushing, meltdown when I drop him off. Oh, and if you just can't wait until the little person starts to walk, you might want to reconsider. How much do you enjoy chasing a child around your living quarters? Get some new runnings shoes because that's about all you're going to be doing for a while. Did I mention TLO is obsessed with Elmo? And that I can sing the words to Elmo's World? And that I've created a version that I sing to TLO? The joys of parenthood. Or is that the insanity of parenthood? I get them mixed up these days.
STK and I celebrated our third anniversary back on the 6th. Thanks to some dear friends, we enjoyed a wonderful night out on the town. Night out on the town in SMT consists of dinner at our one bistro and a trip to the locally owned ice cream joint. STK and I did much reflecting on how much our lives have changed in the last year. We went through a pretty challenging patch with the move, the Albatross, and uncomfortably tight finances and survived. This year is the year our graduate degrees payoff and we start to enjoy a more comfortable way of life.
Looking ahead, I've decided I am going to run an 8K race at the end of month. I did five miles twice last week with only a bit of pain--it's totally manageable provided I don't run hard two days in a row. Cross training and rest days have become the name of the game. While I'm nowhere near the running shape I was at the tail end of July, I'm still in decent shape.
STK and I are also looking forward to a couple nights in The Big City. We've asked T & J to watch TLO for a couple nights and they've agreed. So, we're heading out for a couple nights of Gothy goodness. The last few weeks, we've missed the Goth scene something terrible. We miss the people, the music, the clubs. As STK put it, "I miss being around people like us." That's definitely one of the shortcomings of living in a small, isolated community. The closest "scene" is three hours away. A couple nights out on the goth town will provide some much need contact with alternafolk.
And that's the news from around here. Exciting, eh?
Thursday, September 14, 2006
The Frellin' Feast Returns!
Friday's Feast, One Hundred & Eleven
Appetizer--What was the very last song you listened to?
Kathy's Song--Apoptygma Berzerk. No, wait! I watched the video for No Doubt's "New" with one of my classes this afternoon.
Soup--What is one company/store/corporation you would recommend that people stay away from?
Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart!
Salad--On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy having your picture made?
6
Main Course--Besides a bookmark, what is something you've used to keep your place in a book?
A receipt.
Dessert--Name a food that you like that most people don't
Black licorice.
Appetizer--What was the very last song you listened to?
Kathy's Song--Apoptygma Berzerk. No, wait! I watched the video for No Doubt's "New" with one of my classes this afternoon.
Soup--What is one company/store/corporation you would recommend that people stay away from?
Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart!
Salad--On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy having your picture made?
6
Main Course--Besides a bookmark, what is something you've used to keep your place in a book?
A receipt.
Dessert--Name a food that you like that most people don't
Black licorice.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Collective
In this world, in order to enable society to develop, all its members have to assume responsibilites and make their contribution. If we do not make collective contributions then there will be no development.
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, speaking to the Tibetan National Assembly in Dharamsala, May 1989
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, speaking to the Tibetan National Assembly in Dharamsala, May 1989
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Weekly Reader
Saving Pluto? This is the best explanation I've seen regarding the demotion of Pluto. Power to the Plutonians!
Macho, Macho Man. I met Robert Jensen a few years back while he was on a book tour promoting Citizens of the Empire. A fantastic book, by the way. Besides being an ardent critic of the current administration, Jensen also writes a great deal about issues of gender and race. This recent pieces offers a terrific summary of the dominant discourse regarding U.S. American masculinity:
That dominant conception of masculinity in U.S. culture is easily summarized: Men are assumed to be naturally competitive and aggressive, and being a real man is therefore marked by the struggle for control, conquest and domination. A man looks at the world, sees what he wants and takes it. Men who don't measure up are wimps, sissies, fags, girls. The worst insult one man can hurl at another -- whether it's boys on the playground or CEOs in the boardroom -- is the accusation that a man is like a woman. Although the culture acknowledges that men can in some situations have traits traditionally associated with women (caring, compassion, tenderness), in the end it is men's strength-expressed-as-toughness that defines us and must trump any female-like softness. Those aspects of masculinity must prevail for a man to be a "real man."
Struggle for Civilization? Poppycock. Isn't anyone else getting tired of this administration's propensity for the melodramatic? Seriously, now the Bush folks are trying to put Osama Bin Laden, Inc. in the same company as Nazis and Communists. Rhetorically, this is a pretty darn good move. Conjure those past demons in the minds of U.S. citizens and you'll see support for the "War on Terror" rise. Honestly, though, aren't most Americans too smart to fall for the faulty analogies? Please, let them be smart enough. And don't get me started on whether or not it's possible to declare war on an ideology, which is exactly what a war on terror is really all about. I'll see if I can't conjure enough fortitude to address this whole thing at length in the near future. No promises, though. Reading any speech by this President and his cohort gives me a stomach ache.
Faeries! Would you believe I discovered a small faery ring in our front lawn? It wasn't nearly as large as the one pictured in this article--I'd guess it was about a foot in diameter--but it was a very odd sight indeed. Why would mushrooms grow in a circle, eh?
Mmmm. Delicious Virgin Mary. Great discussion in class today regarding these supposed appearances of the Virgin Mary, Christ, etc. in everything from a grilled cheese sandwich to chocolate drippings. The question I posed: "Is it possible these kinds of occurances are, in fact, examples of God speaking? If so, how do we approach such phenomena as communication scholars and still be taken seriously?" I think the Virgin Mary on a piece of french toast fits somewhere into my musings on the unexplainable. Even if these forms are nothing more than melted chocolate being interpreted by overactive imaginations, they still mean something. The fact that so many people want to see evidence of something miraculous has to mean something, right?
Macho, Macho Man. I met Robert Jensen a few years back while he was on a book tour promoting Citizens of the Empire. A fantastic book, by the way. Besides being an ardent critic of the current administration, Jensen also writes a great deal about issues of gender and race. This recent pieces offers a terrific summary of the dominant discourse regarding U.S. American masculinity:
That dominant conception of masculinity in U.S. culture is easily summarized: Men are assumed to be naturally competitive and aggressive, and being a real man is therefore marked by the struggle for control, conquest and domination. A man looks at the world, sees what he wants and takes it. Men who don't measure up are wimps, sissies, fags, girls. The worst insult one man can hurl at another -- whether it's boys on the playground or CEOs in the boardroom -- is the accusation that a man is like a woman. Although the culture acknowledges that men can in some situations have traits traditionally associated with women (caring, compassion, tenderness), in the end it is men's strength-expressed-as-toughness that defines us and must trump any female-like softness. Those aspects of masculinity must prevail for a man to be a "real man."
Struggle for Civilization? Poppycock. Isn't anyone else getting tired of this administration's propensity for the melodramatic? Seriously, now the Bush folks are trying to put Osama Bin Laden, Inc. in the same company as Nazis and Communists. Rhetorically, this is a pretty darn good move. Conjure those past demons in the minds of U.S. citizens and you'll see support for the "War on Terror" rise. Honestly, though, aren't most Americans too smart to fall for the faulty analogies? Please, let them be smart enough. And don't get me started on whether or not it's possible to declare war on an ideology, which is exactly what a war on terror is really all about. I'll see if I can't conjure enough fortitude to address this whole thing at length in the near future. No promises, though. Reading any speech by this President and his cohort gives me a stomach ache.
Faeries! Would you believe I discovered a small faery ring in our front lawn? It wasn't nearly as large as the one pictured in this article--I'd guess it was about a foot in diameter--but it was a very odd sight indeed. Why would mushrooms grow in a circle, eh?
Mmmm. Delicious Virgin Mary. Great discussion in class today regarding these supposed appearances of the Virgin Mary, Christ, etc. in everything from a grilled cheese sandwich to chocolate drippings. The question I posed: "Is it possible these kinds of occurances are, in fact, examples of God speaking? If so, how do we approach such phenomena as communication scholars and still be taken seriously?" I think the Virgin Mary on a piece of french toast fits somewhere into my musings on the unexplainable. Even if these forms are nothing more than melted chocolate being interpreted by overactive imaginations, they still mean something. The fact that so many people want to see evidence of something miraculous has to mean something, right?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Diagnosis Confirmed!
I finally broke down and visited the sports medicine clinic regarding the continuing to ache ankle. The physical therapist agreed with my most excellent lay opinion: I have post tibial tendonitis. More valuable than the diagnosis itself is the most excellent list of treatments/remedies passed on by helpful PT: ice massage, ankle strengthening exercises, and more rest. He also informed me that the clinic does videotape gait analysis for a ridiculously low $20. I'm so in! I also got honest with my friendly neighborhood PT and asked, "What happens if I keep running on it? I have a race I'd like to run at the end of the month. Am I in danger of any severe damage?" His answer: "You're in danger of prolonging the tendonitis and possibly aggravating it even further. Anything serious? No. Painful? Probably."
So, the question of the hour is whether I continue to run while the weather is beautiful and convalesce for a month when the weather is crappy or convalesce now and run, indoors, through the crappy months. Other than a constant background pain, the tendonitis doesn't really affect my quality of life. It's more irritating than it is debilitating. If the weather wasn't so incredibly beautiful right now--80 degrees, leaves beginning to change, the smell of an early fall in the air--I'd hang up the shoes for another couple weeks.
I'm leaning toward running now and paying later, of course.
So, the question of the hour is whether I continue to run while the weather is beautiful and convalesce for a month when the weather is crappy or convalesce now and run, indoors, through the crappy months. Other than a constant background pain, the tendonitis doesn't really affect my quality of life. It's more irritating than it is debilitating. If the weather wasn't so incredibly beautiful right now--80 degrees, leaves beginning to change, the smell of an early fall in the air--I'd hang up the shoes for another couple weeks.
I'm leaning toward running now and paying later, of course.
Monday, September 04, 2006
The Unexplainable
As a result of the long weekend, STK and I invited friends over for a farewell dinner. Our friends and their daughter--one month behind TLO in age--are moving to the UK in a few weeks and we wanted to let them know they'd be missed. My school, SMC, made a tragic mistake in not offering the male half of the couple a tenure track position and another school offered him a position. This guy is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant and he would have helped keep our smallish school on the academic map.
Throughout the evening we talked the normal talk: kids, the move, and school. Toward the end of the evening, and I'm not sure how it happened, the conversation turned to an unusual topic: bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and ghosts. Since my childhood I've waited for that one news story to change my world: Bigfoot Captured! The Loch Ness Monster Lives! Conclusive Evidence of Ghosts! Alas, I'm left with the Weekly World News and narry a real news story in sight. I should also add that while I fantasize about these unexplained phenomena, the skeptic in me knows that all my hoping is for naught. I desperately want these things to be true, but I know they're not. I explained my obsession with all things paranormal and we all shared a good laugh. Then, one of the dinner party shared a real-life ghost story. This wasn't an "I thought I saw something out of the corner of my story" but an on-going experience that lasted years. Another member of his family also experienced the same phenomenon for years. Respecting this person as both a friend and academic, I can't help but believe his story. He absolutely believes ghosts exist. And my hope in the unexplained is rekindled.
Talking about the In Search of . . . type stuff also turned my thinking toward a research project lurking in the back of my mind for years. Even if these unexplained phenomena aren't real, the cultural obsession with them is definitely real. How many special investigation programs do we see every year concerning new evidence of the existence of UFOs? Ghosts? Bigfoot and other cryptids? Heck, even the respected science program NOVA once investigated the likelihood of the Loch Ness Monster.
Could it be these programs, books, websites, etc. that focus on the unexplained serve an important function for our culture? If so, what purpose or function do they serve? The idea percolating in my head revolves around the notion that our culture has lost touch with mystery, the magickal, and the wonderous. We need an answer for everything and perhaps these programs resist that compulsion. Although I don't know much about the original movement, it strikes me that I'm characterizing this fascination with the mysterious and the unknown as a kind of postmodern romanticism. With the proliferation of the scientific method, the superiority of logic and reason, and pervasive skepticism regarding anything out of the ordinary, perhaps these programs provide a means by which we attempt to recapture a sense of imagination. It's worth considering, eh?
Throughout the evening we talked the normal talk: kids, the move, and school. Toward the end of the evening, and I'm not sure how it happened, the conversation turned to an unusual topic: bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and ghosts. Since my childhood I've waited for that one news story to change my world: Bigfoot Captured! The Loch Ness Monster Lives! Conclusive Evidence of Ghosts! Alas, I'm left with the Weekly World News and narry a real news story in sight. I should also add that while I fantasize about these unexplained phenomena, the skeptic in me knows that all my hoping is for naught. I desperately want these things to be true, but I know they're not. I explained my obsession with all things paranormal and we all shared a good laugh. Then, one of the dinner party shared a real-life ghost story. This wasn't an "I thought I saw something out of the corner of my story" but an on-going experience that lasted years. Another member of his family also experienced the same phenomenon for years. Respecting this person as both a friend and academic, I can't help but believe his story. He absolutely believes ghosts exist. And my hope in the unexplained is rekindled.
Talking about the In Search of . . . type stuff also turned my thinking toward a research project lurking in the back of my mind for years. Even if these unexplained phenomena aren't real, the cultural obsession with them is definitely real. How many special investigation programs do we see every year concerning new evidence of the existence of UFOs? Ghosts? Bigfoot and other cryptids? Heck, even the respected science program NOVA once investigated the likelihood of the Loch Ness Monster.
Could it be these programs, books, websites, etc. that focus on the unexplained serve an important function for our culture? If so, what purpose or function do they serve? The idea percolating in my head revolves around the notion that our culture has lost touch with mystery, the magickal, and the wonderous. We need an answer for everything and perhaps these programs resist that compulsion. Although I don't know much about the original movement, it strikes me that I'm characterizing this fascination with the mysterious and the unknown as a kind of postmodern romanticism. With the proliferation of the scientific method, the superiority of logic and reason, and pervasive skepticism regarding anything out of the ordinary, perhaps these programs provide a means by which we attempt to recapture a sense of imagination. It's worth considering, eh?
Friday, September 01, 2006
These Are the Days of Our Lives
Meetings, meetings, meetings. Last week was all about meetings. 18 hours of meetings, in fact. And I loved every minute of them. Really. No, seriously. I loved them. Yeah, right. Why do we wait until the week before school to offer all these seminars and what not? That's one of the great mysteries of higher education, I suppose. Nevertheless, I survived the meeting onslaught and started teaching on Wednesday. It should be a fun semester--I love the content area of all the classes I'm teaching. Here's to the students being just as thrilled.
STK started teaching a couple weeks back and reports her new position is a "piece of cake" compared to her old position in Colorado. She said she almost feels "guilty for getting paid for this. It's so easy. Instead of spending half my time dealing with discipline problems, I actually get to teach." What a concept. The price she pays for the "easy" teaching assignment (have no doubt there will be difficult moments) is a 5:30 AM wake up call. Check that. The price we all pay for her job is a 5:30 AM wake up call. Technically, TLO and I could sleep until 7 AM or later, but once someone is active, he usually follows suit shortly. So, I've been getting up between 6:15 and 6:30 every. damn. day. Have I ever expressed how much I despise mornings? Everyone on the planet should sleep from 3-9 AM. That would make me a happy boy.
In light of teaching going into full swing, TLO now spends a few hours a day in daycare. He absolutely loves it! We have a social child on our hands, folks. The daycare staff report that he's there easiest, and favorite, child. I bet they say that to all the parents.
Running has come to a full stop. The ankle injury I mentioned a few weeks back--I'm certain it's posttibial tendonitis--refused to get any better on drastically reduced miles (I dropped my runs to three miles). During my last attempt at running, I sprained the same ankle with the tendonitis. w00t! I haven't strapped on the running shoes in almost two weeks and I think I'm almost ready to hop back on the local trails. Sunday looks like the day to resume running. If all goes well, I'm hoping to run a 10K at the end of September. I'll probably have to push the training schedule a little to get back into good shape in time for the race, but the outdoor running will soon be over in this part of the world. Would you believe the trees are starting to change?
STK started teaching a couple weeks back and reports her new position is a "piece of cake" compared to her old position in Colorado. She said she almost feels "guilty for getting paid for this. It's so easy. Instead of spending half my time dealing with discipline problems, I actually get to teach." What a concept. The price she pays for the "easy" teaching assignment (have no doubt there will be difficult moments) is a 5:30 AM wake up call. Check that. The price we all pay for her job is a 5:30 AM wake up call. Technically, TLO and I could sleep until 7 AM or later, but once someone is active, he usually follows suit shortly. So, I've been getting up between 6:15 and 6:30 every. damn. day. Have I ever expressed how much I despise mornings? Everyone on the planet should sleep from 3-9 AM. That would make me a happy boy.
In light of teaching going into full swing, TLO now spends a few hours a day in daycare. He absolutely loves it! We have a social child on our hands, folks. The daycare staff report that he's there easiest, and favorite, child. I bet they say that to all the parents.
Running has come to a full stop. The ankle injury I mentioned a few weeks back--I'm certain it's posttibial tendonitis--refused to get any better on drastically reduced miles (I dropped my runs to three miles). During my last attempt at running, I sprained the same ankle with the tendonitis. w00t! I haven't strapped on the running shoes in almost two weeks and I think I'm almost ready to hop back on the local trails. Sunday looks like the day to resume running. If all goes well, I'm hoping to run a 10K at the end of September. I'll probably have to push the training schedule a little to get back into good shape in time for the race, but the outdoor running will soon be over in this part of the world. Would you believe the trees are starting to change?
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
"Freeing oneself from words is liberation"
I've been thinking more about the "Freeing oneself from words is liberation" aspect of the quote in my previous post and I've changed my position. If I'm interpretating the phrase correctly, I absolutely agree with the statement. Words and their related meaning are largely abritrary. In fact, the words we use and the meanings attributed to those words are wholely abritrary. There's nothing about the symbols I'm using to write this post that suggests inherent meaning. Instead, we've developed a set of symbols that we use to communicate with one another. Go to another part of the world and you'll find another set of symbols associated with objects/ideas/etc. Basic semiotic theory at its finest.
What I think the quote in question suggests is the impermanent and illusory nature of words. Our interactions with words, both written and spoken, are fleeting. We have a conversation with a friend and minutes later we can only recall a fraction of what we said. Our interaction drifts away into nothingness. We might remember a spoken word, a glance received, or an intense emotion, but we rarely remember the entirety of an exchange. Derrida would refer to this is a "trace", I think. I bet most of us don't remember the vast majority of our interactions. In that sense, words drift away into the ether. Words are impermanent. Trying to reflect and recapture the exact content of those interactions, I think, is a largely futile maneuver. Freeing oneself from attempts to remember/recall in such a way is form of liberation. Being in the moment of the conversation is important; looking back on that conversation probably doesn't serve much of a purpose. In fact, looking backward pulls us out of the present moment. Staying in the present moment, free from the ghosts of words past, is liberation.
Words are also illusory. The words I hear and speak throughout my everyday interactions create a particular "reality" within my own mind. Created/filtered by my own mind, I come to a subjective understanding of every part of my life and environment. Despite the fact that we use the same words, we each develop unique perspectives, perspective which profoundly influence the way we live our respective lives. In that sense, words are largely illusory; we author the fictions we live. Realizing the fluid, subjective, and ephemeral nature of words is liberation.
Of course, the fact I'm using words to try and communicate my ideas means I'm engaged in the practice of casting my own illusion. I can live with that, though. I like the view from in here.
What I think the quote in question suggests is the impermanent and illusory nature of words. Our interactions with words, both written and spoken, are fleeting. We have a conversation with a friend and minutes later we can only recall a fraction of what we said. Our interaction drifts away into nothingness. We might remember a spoken word, a glance received, or an intense emotion, but we rarely remember the entirety of an exchange. Derrida would refer to this is a "trace", I think. I bet most of us don't remember the vast majority of our interactions. In that sense, words drift away into the ether. Words are impermanent. Trying to reflect and recapture the exact content of those interactions, I think, is a largely futile maneuver. Freeing oneself from attempts to remember/recall in such a way is form of liberation. Being in the moment of the conversation is important; looking back on that conversation probably doesn't serve much of a purpose. In fact, looking backward pulls us out of the present moment. Staying in the present moment, free from the ghosts of words past, is liberation.
Words are also illusory. The words I hear and speak throughout my everyday interactions create a particular "reality" within my own mind. Created/filtered by my own mind, I come to a subjective understanding of every part of my life and environment. Despite the fact that we use the same words, we each develop unique perspectives, perspective which profoundly influence the way we live our respective lives. In that sense, words are largely illusory; we author the fictions we live. Realizing the fluid, subjective, and ephemeral nature of words is liberation.
Of course, the fact I'm using words to try and communicate my ideas means I'm engaged in the practice of casting my own illusion. I can live with that, though. I like the view from in here.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Not Thinking
Not thinking about anything is zen. Once you know this, walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is zen. To know that the mind is empty is to see the Buddha...Using the mind to look for reality is delusion. Not using the mind to look for reality is awareness. Freeing oneself from words is liberation.
-Bodhidharma
I'm not sure I agree with the "Freeing oneself from words is liberation" part of this quote. Certain words, maybe? I'll have to give it some more thought.
We're off this morning to listen to one of my colleagues speak on the subject, "What is Enlightenment." By noon, I should have all of life's answers!
-Bodhidharma
I'm not sure I agree with the "Freeing oneself from words is liberation" part of this quote. Certain words, maybe? I'll have to give it some more thought.
We're off this morning to listen to one of my colleagues speak on the subject, "What is Enlightenment." By noon, I should have all of life's answers!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
"You sure look like Miss B"
STK received a sad email tonight. One of her favorite students, and mine, was recently killed in a car accident. Josh was a unique child, a dwarf, who suffered from several neurological disorders and learning disabilities. Despite the hurdles he faced, Josh was one of the most likeable children I've ever met. His most endearing quality had to be his unintentional humor; STK came home at least once a week with a wonderful Josh story. Here are a couple of my favorites.
--
After we got married, STK announced to her class that she had changed her last name from B to STK. A half hour after the announcement, Josh looked STK in the eyes and said, "Miss STK, you sure look like Miss B."
--
One day, Josh made fart noises on his arm for eight hours straight. He drove everyone in the school absolutely crazy.
--
Not knowing Josh needed continuous supervision, the PE teacher let him go to the bathroom by himself. The paraprofessional raced to the bathroom and found Josh, stark naked, standing on the seat of the toilet peeing into the bowl.
--
Josh snuck away from his teacher virtually every day just to run into STK's room and say, "What's that smell Mrs STK?" STK always had some kind of air scent thingy to make her room smell less like stinky, unbathed elementary schoolers.
--
Josh once showed STK his new underwear--yes, he dropped trou. Here's how it went.
Josh: Guess what, Mrs. STK?
STK: What?
Josh: I got new underwear.
STK: Really?
Josh: You wanna see 'em?
STK: No, that's allright.
Josh: [pulls down pants anyway & reveals Spider-man underwear] Do you wear underwear?
STK: Yes.
Josh: Can I see 'em?
STK: No.
Josh: [hears his teacher hollering for him down the hall and he bolts out of the art room]
--
If Josh's class had art at the end of the day, STK had to keep the blinds closed. If he saw the school buses sitting out front, he would stare out the window and ask, "Is it time to go? Is it time to go? Is it time to go?"
--
Yes, Josh, it's time to go. You will be missed, my friend.
--
After we got married, STK announced to her class that she had changed her last name from B to STK. A half hour after the announcement, Josh looked STK in the eyes and said, "Miss STK, you sure look like Miss B."
--
One day, Josh made fart noises on his arm for eight hours straight. He drove everyone in the school absolutely crazy.
--
Not knowing Josh needed continuous supervision, the PE teacher let him go to the bathroom by himself. The paraprofessional raced to the bathroom and found Josh, stark naked, standing on the seat of the toilet peeing into the bowl.
--
Josh snuck away from his teacher virtually every day just to run into STK's room and say, "What's that smell Mrs STK?" STK always had some kind of air scent thingy to make her room smell less like stinky, unbathed elementary schoolers.
--
Josh once showed STK his new underwear--yes, he dropped trou. Here's how it went.
Josh: Guess what, Mrs. STK?
STK: What?
Josh: I got new underwear.
STK: Really?
Josh: You wanna see 'em?
STK: No, that's allright.
Josh: [pulls down pants anyway & reveals Spider-man underwear] Do you wear underwear?
STK: Yes.
Josh: Can I see 'em?
STK: No.
Josh: [hears his teacher hollering for him down the hall and he bolts out of the art room]
--
If Josh's class had art at the end of the day, STK had to keep the blinds closed. If he saw the school buses sitting out front, he would stare out the window and ask, "Is it time to go? Is it time to go? Is it time to go?"
--
Yes, Josh, it's time to go. You will be missed, my friend.
Keep on Feasting
Friday's Feast, August 18, 2006
Appetizer--What color is your car?
One car is black, the other is green.
Soup--If you could wake up tomorrow with full training in another occupation and a job in that field, what would it be?
A librarian. I'd love working around all those books.
Salad--How many times in your life have you had the flu (or something similar)?
Hmmmm . . . what constitutes the flu? Are we talking a 24 hour stomach flu (dozen?) thing or the hangs on for days achy flu (once)?
Main Course--What is something that has happened to you this week that you didn't expect?
Battled a cold.
Dessert--How old were you when you had your first kiss?
12? 13? Would you believe I don't remember exactly when I had my first kiss? Pretty memorable occasion, eh?
Appetizer--What color is your car?
One car is black, the other is green.
Soup--If you could wake up tomorrow with full training in another occupation and a job in that field, what would it be?
A librarian. I'd love working around all those books.
Salad--How many times in your life have you had the flu (or something similar)?
Hmmmm . . . what constitutes the flu? Are we talking a 24 hour stomach flu (dozen?) thing or the hangs on for days achy flu (once)?
Main Course--What is something that has happened to you this week that you didn't expect?
Battled a cold.
Dessert--How old were you when you had your first kiss?
12? 13? Would you believe I don't remember exactly when I had my first kiss? Pretty memorable occasion, eh?
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Pandering to the Fans
I received a University update from my BA & MA alma mater earlier today. You know, the type of newsletter that goes into major grants secured, professors honored, alumni activities, and, of course, the sports program update. The lead piece in the sports update section read like this:
Head football coach Sonny Lubick told an assembled group of media members he likes what he has seen from his team in preseason workouts. "In these early practices, you can get an idea what type of football team we have," said Lubick. "I like what I see. There is a nice chemistry."
Just once, I'd love to see a coach say something like: "In these early practices, you can get an idea what type of football team we have. Holy shit did I screw up somewhere along the line. These guys suck. Big time. We have absolutely no chemistry and I'm worried we won't win a single game. ::takes hat off and rubs head:: Fuck! Truth be told, I think my job might be on the line by the end of the season."
Now that would be newsworthy.
Head football coach Sonny Lubick told an assembled group of media members he likes what he has seen from his team in preseason workouts. "In these early practices, you can get an idea what type of football team we have," said Lubick. "I like what I see. There is a nice chemistry."
Just once, I'd love to see a coach say something like: "In these early practices, you can get an idea what type of football team we have. Holy shit did I screw up somewhere along the line. These guys suck. Big time. We have absolutely no chemistry and I'm worried we won't win a single game. ::takes hat off and rubs head:: Fuck! Truth be told, I think my job might be on the line by the end of the season."
Now that would be newsworthy.
PC Feedback
My home computer is desperately out-of-date. I'm still running an AMD 2500 Barton Core, 60 MB HD, 64 MB video card, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, the old machine still does word processing just fine, but it's getting slower, and slower, and slower, as the months go by. So, I'm in the market for a new PC before the present system crashes and burns. I'm not looking for anything top-of-the-line (I can't justify spending that kind of money), but I am looking for something that will last a couple years. I considered building a rig myself, but with Ready to Ship PCs being so affordable I'm not sure it's worth the hassle/headache. I stumbled across the following computer early this morning while browsing the HP/Compaq site (I get an academic discount for being a higher educator):
Persario SR1950NX
The basic components of the system are reasonable and the two glaring flaws--integrated video card and lackluster power supply--can both be easily upgraded over the course of a few months. Better yet: I can get the system for $100 less than the Newegg price.
Thoughts? I know some people aren't fond of HP/Compaq as a company. I've owned a couple Compaqs over the years and haven't had a lick of trouble ::knocks on wood::
Persario SR1950NX
The basic components of the system are reasonable and the two glaring flaws--integrated video card and lackluster power supply--can both be easily upgraded over the course of a few months. Better yet: I can get the system for $100 less than the Newegg price.
Thoughts? I know some people aren't fond of HP/Compaq as a company. I've owned a couple Compaqs over the years and haven't had a lick of trouble ::knocks on wood::
Monday, August 14, 2006
Saddam Meets Star Trek
One of the things Green Knight learned on the Internet(s):
Saddam Hussein not only had WMDs; he also had a Star Trek transporter. He beamed his WMDs out of Iraq to Syria without anybody noticing. Since then the WMDs have been beamed from Syria to Iran (right through Iraq, which lies in between Syria and Iran) without anybody noticing.
I want a transporter, dammit! I promise not to move any WMDs. I just want to beam back and forth between Denver to get Kaladi coffee and cranberry bagels.
Saddam Hussein not only had WMDs; he also had a Star Trek transporter. He beamed his WMDs out of Iraq to Syria without anybody noticing. Since then the WMDs have been beamed from Syria to Iran (right through Iraq, which lies in between Syria and Iran) without anybody noticing.
I want a transporter, dammit! I promise not to move any WMDs. I just want to beam back and forth between Denver to get Kaladi coffee and cranberry bagels.
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