Saved, but by whom?!?!

You ever have one of those surpirses that make you wonder? Wonder why its been done? Who done it? Well this evening when I rolled upon the homestead, via Ruby the Redline of course, the yard had been taken care of. I mean really taken care of. Kate and I spent a better part of Sunday morning raking the back yard and formed 4 HUGE piles. Lola was getting lost in the smallest piles and Benny in the bigger ones. I was struggling to see Kater if she was behind one of them....shes not so tall, ha!! Well, some kind folk took care of the front yard, the back yard, the flower beds and proceeded to give me the nicest yard on the block, now only if the house itself would transform for me tomorrow. It was a nice surprise to know that I don't have to worry about dealing with the yard anymore this year.

Its Always Something....

....today's adventure started out with my morning commute via Menagerie with a brisky air temp of a balmy 27 degrees. Watching the weather prior to departing, it said a chance of rain this afternoon. The thought of grabbing the cross bike today was an option. An option that was probably better than taking Menagerie the road bike. So the morning goes on at the office as usual. Nothing exciting or out of the norm. I decide against the turkey and cheese sandwhich and apple for lunch and go with some co-workers to the food court at the EP mall. I start with chicken and brocolli with an egg roll. I wash that down with a medium Oero blizzard. Still hungry. Off to McDonalds for more food. A double quarter pounder, should have gotten the meal, but got just the sandwhich...damn tape worm. Back to the office and what appears to a pending rain storm.

As the day apporaches quieting time, its getting darker and clearly raining at this point. Not so bad, its a short 5 mile ride home. Its one of those rides thats almost not worth getting all of the spandex and riding gear on. But I am dork and dawn it anyway. Lots of wise cracks from the not so in shape co-workers and off I go. The weather isn't so bad, a little rain and what feels like sleet in the face, stings a touch...but I have no choice but to carry on. As I apply the brakes for my first big turn, the back tire fish tales and I am heading street side and in a hurry!!! I am some how able to keep the rubber on the road and am now taking a different way home. This way is a less traveled and newly paved road, so it actually worked out better. I keep on my way, now getting very wet, my shoe covers are no longer keeping my feet warm, or dry for that matter. About 2 or 3 miles from the house my back tire is getting really spongey, kind of like when you know your getting a flat. Sure enough, FLAT!! So off the bike and time to run it home. I keep my shoes clipped to the bike and start to hoof it homeward. Socks are completely soaked, feet are freezing and feel like cinder blocks. I make it home, almost biff it on the tile in the entry way, grab a beer and let the 8 of you that read this know about my day. Hope everyone else had just as much fun today!!

The bike I should have taken

Oh Crap!!! Hang on!!! Sonofa.....

Well, big red isn't nearly as tough as I thought it to be. If you "bump" a Chrysler Aspen on 494 while taking your brother and sister in-law to the airport, it will wrinkle, dent, lose pieces, etc. I've always tried to convince myself that I am a really good driver, had this been true, I would have missed this guys bumper and not cracked up the truck....PISS!!!
Yes, it does seem to always be an adventure with me. I got the truck off of 494 and beat on the bumper to try and successfully get my riders to the plane on time. Hell, I even went to Walgreens for a hammer and Jiffy Lube for a pry bar to try and bend the bumper away from the front tire so it wouldn't pop. Alas, no luck. A cab was called for the travelers as well as a co-worker for me so I could attend work. No injuries other than bruised pride, so that's a plus. I will be a biking everywhere until I get big red back though, no worries, much like my running, I just need a reason to get back on the bike.
The worst part of the whole deal, I spilt my coffee on myself and needed to stop home to change!!!

What the?!?!?

Another long day at work. Another night I come home and want to kick my feet up and hold the couch down as some tv show lulls my into a daze. Another night I am not looking forward to cooking, cleaning, doing laundry; you know all of the standard life and household crap that one has to deal with.

So tonight, other than just having the thought of running, I actually put my gear on and out the door I went. What a great night for a run. Cool, a slight breeze, colorful trees and just me and my thoughts.

The first thought: as I am running past a small road construction project (I should stop and wish a fellow buddy happy birthday, his house was on my route tonight)...than what exactly are they doing to the road? The boulevard looks the same as it did earlier this summer...dug up with pipes resting near holes and cables/wires shooting out of the ground. Clearly something is happening to the area, I wonder what it is.

Second thought: why am I running? What am I running from? What am I training for? Why can't I go home and hold the couch down? I am running to relax, I know it sounds odd. I am running to prep myself for the coming Goofy Challenge, this weekend's Monster Half and the 2010 Mpls Marathon.

3rd thought: When will I turn around and head home? I wondered around the local park and paved trail system and even did a section of cross country running....my favorite by the way.

4th thought (by far the best of the run): when did the church behind my house put a concrete buck statue in the parking lot. Wait? What the?!?!? I stop running and watch an 8 point buck stand perfectly still in the parking lot. I must have watched this deer for 10 minutes, thankfully I was almost home. As the cars zoomed by and went along with their busy lives answering cell phones and text message or the mother yelling at the kids...I stood and watched this gentle looking animal. He didn't seem scared, worried or even concerned with the cars passing by us. As I walked around in the grass getting closer, he simply watched me. I told a fellow walker about what I had been watching, he grumbled some comment on how this animal is impeding his space; that guy was an ass. I ran the rest of the way home and entered through the back door thinking I might see the deer one last time. I walked to the back of the property to the church parking lot; sure enough there he stood on the hill looking back at me. It was a great way to end the run!!

5th thought: during my training this year, I have probably seen more deer than my dad will all year hunting them, ha!!

Michael and I stopping for a photo opt along the run course of IMOO '09

Hell's Kitchen or Iron Chef??

EnJ, I am making tator tot hotdish again!!! I have bought all of the "correct" ingredients, I learned my lesson last year, ha!! At any rate, Casa de Veggie smells great. As long as this turns out better than the chili debacle from a week ago or so. Anyone ever burn chili? Ever second guess how hot a gas stove will get when you return to the office during lunch to let your supper simmer? Anyone ever get a little pissy because you no longer own a crock pot, and kick yourself for walking by them at Target and thinking "humm...I should get one, BUT when would I ever use it" Needless to say, I think I will be getting a crock pot for Christmas, I have recently lost my microwave as well....hint hint. The microwave disappearance of 2009 has actually been a GREAT for me. It has caused me to cook meals and not just warm up left overs all the time. I regress back to the "Great Chili Cook-off" As my elder brother would do, I laid out all of the "stuff" to make sure I didn't get half way through and need to run to the store, remember I am doing this during my lunch hour, AND its interrupting my nap time. I get everything going and it smells good. I know walking into the house after work to the smell of chili on a what was a cold wet crumby day out, was going to be exactly what I needed. Alas, I walked into a stench, much like foot...but with a burnt odor, as I entered the house. Now, for those that have never burnt any tomato based soups, sauces, etc I would recommend against it. Not only did I damn near ruin a stock pot, I had to toss my supper in the garbage. Thankfully I had frozen pizza and beer to fall back on. Now I like to cook. Its relaxing, calming, peaceful and I love all of the smells that I can generate from a pinch of this and a dash of that. But I am suddenly second guessing my ability to cook. Perhaps it was all of the Ironman training this past summer that got me out of my groove to cook.,,,,Qdoba called the other day and wondered if I was still breathing. I hadn't been in for a few weeks to get my usual 2 chicken burritos and chips/cheese order. I was apparently the result of their economic downturn.
I have yet to remake chili...I have eaten 3/4's of a pot of Kater's...which is fantastic. Perhaps I am gun shy and not sure if I can cook. Perhaps I should return to Qdoba? Maybe go to Lets Dish and do the frozen meals? Maybe I'll just start eating McDonald's and muster up that great McMusk smell you get from eating it. Now these are random thoughts, maybe I'll go through with them, more than likely not. Why you ask? Because I am neither Hells Kitchen nor the Iron Chef, but I can cook, and I love to do it!!!

Done and Inked

I will work on getting more info to the masses that follow this blog.....but for the time being, as you can see, I have successfully finished IMOO 2009 and had a BLAST!!!

Recap

Sorry for the long delay with regards to the last few days. I know I had great intentions of updating on a daily basis and that didn't happen. My sincere apologies for the 4 or 5 people that were eagerly waiting on the edge of their seats for updates.

I already told you about Thursday night when Kate arrived and how we started running non-stop. I filled you in about the house guest and hopefully roughly what we had planned for the weekend

Saturday morning, we were awaken by the famous Blackberry alarm at 4:15 as we prep for the Liberty Half. We arrive to the race course and the weather is looking perfect for a great day. Now for those that race, everyone has encountered the "Bucket Guy" For those that don't, this is the "racer" that shows up to transition with everything he owns, everything his neighbor owns and a bucket just in case he is isn't sure if he has a enough shit in transition. And everyone dread this "racer" racking next to them.....guess who the lucky winner was today. Not only does this moron rack next to me and take up about 6 spots, he sits down and starts reading a book with his fake iPod in. He is racing the Olympic race, which I wasn't aware of ahead of time, so upon my return from the bike...I find my run shoes covered by his bucket, towels (yes towels) and whatever else his neighbor leant him. So, in typically Marcus fashion, I politely get my run stuff, keep my comments to myself and head out on the run. Even dealing with this guy's crap, I still managed the 2nd fastest T2 of the day!! I ended up with a PR by about 12 minutes and am super happy with my race.

Saturday night was a hoot. Kate and I sat in the back yard sipping beers and enjoying a great evening. The crazy old lady next door even summonsed me for a beer. That's a whole different Oprah episode for another time.

Sunday morning wake was the same as Saturday as we were headed out to Manitou to volunteer. We were not 100% sure what to expect, other than help with the swim. This was the first year the race was under the supervision of SCS, and I must say these 3 guys did a great job. It was another picture perfect day and F-A-S-T as D Palmer was able to prove. We left the race site about about 11:45, totally spent, in need of food and a nap. We got both. Sunday night was followed by a few more beers at Old Chicago and an early night.

Monday, back to work, well for me anyway....Kate held the home office down again, Rome of the North some might call it....okay so maybe no one calls it that. But she has a pretty sweet set-up to work from. Her favorite part is the unlimited number of times she is able to watch 40 Year Old Virgin and Step Brothers!! Monday night we got a couples massage from Scott at Quantum Massage Works. This was the first couples massage I have ever gotten. It was a blast. For fear of missing out on conversation, I was in the room for Kates and vice versa when it was mine turn. I think Scott was a little uneasy at first, but it was a blast and we laughed and chatted for the whole time. What a great way to get your body worked on. Following the massages we meet S Nelson for beer and to hear all about her race 70.3 race in KS.

Tuesday, work during the day and than a race to Hudson to meet the parents for supper. My mom was super excited to meet us and try Chipotle for the first time. This might seem silly for those that have eaten at this establishment in the past, but she never has and was looking for something different. Given the look on her face when she walked in, it was different and not what she was expecting at all. Like my dad, "long freakin' way to eat at a McDonalds" We had a great time and were happy they were able to meet us.

Wednesday, FINALLY DATE NIGHT for us. This entire week was suppose to be one long date night and as you can see by the stuff we had going on, not a whole lot alone time. We ended up at Champps for live music and found a new artist that we both really enjoyed, Shane Martin. Marginal food, cold beer, good music and Kate....really what else can I ask for.

Thursday was the end of our time together......not really, but under the same roof for a while, okay only 1 night. We had coffee and brekkie together and both headed to work. Kate had a short 3ish hour commute first though.

All and all we had a BLAST together and are already trying to figure out when we can do it again