Crying...

I have been battling this infection for years. We have been trying to pinpoint when it started, but I was unsure. While the Levequin has its miserable side effects, my head is unlike any recent history I can recall. So clear!

Today, I was making several homemade burritos. I have a vacuum (food saver) and make several and freeze them. Use whole foods made from real beans, tomatoes, rice, green chili, organic cheese, avocado, shredded zucchini, and onion rolled in a spinach tortilla. For the first time in years, I CRIED CUTTING AN ONION. Wow, that is a switch. I can not recall the last time an onion made me cry. Same type, nothing different. The infection must finally get its bottom kicked, and my senses improving?  There is hope...

Another seven days of medicine. I leave for Kalamazoo for tennis on Thursday and will return on Sunday. It should be fun. I'm looking forward to getting clearance to work out again by mid-August. Is it just in time for it to be cooler?

That is about all. I will go cut another onion... What a welcomed feeling!!!

Carry on!

I hate that!

I know the economy is tough, and I hate to complain about street maintenance, but this year, I have found the roads are rough to bike on compared to last. I have been experimenting with various commuting ways, especially at night, as the main roads I ride most frequently are just plain worn out. I have never broke a spoke twice in 6 weeks and only found out because my bike tire was a little out of balance, otherwise I would not have known. This is not from hitting a pothole, jumping a curb, or anything like that; it is just from ordinary riding.

This has really been a deterrent, as the rides are less enjoyable. I have completed several 20-plus mile rides in the past few weeks and will do more in the future. I just do not enjoy them as much as I would like. It is like trail running: keep your head down and take action to miss the holes and other imperfections on the road.

Besides the roads in the area I ride, a coworker who drives from Minneapolis (uptown area) recently was told that her shocks and struts have worn out in less than 50,000 miles. They said this is more common with the poor condition of the roads. I guess we'll pay it one way or the other.

Enough complaining, but it really ticked me off yesterday! I plan on some good rides and a few runs this week. I leave for Kalamazoo next week, then I get back and head to Colorado. It will be August 27 before I finally have a weekend at home, able to rest and relax, but then I really would like to have a few 6-mile runs by then.

Hope all is well and everyone enjoyed the great weekend! Carry on...

Update...

Last night, I did a 34-mile bike ride with stops throughout the ride, including a concert at Lake Harriet. This was after a few 3-mile runs over the past week. I am feeling good. Staying away from the scale, as I have enough reasons to feel bad, will eliminate that opportunity. Just working out regular will take care of the weight, I know it. When I work out, I automatically eat healthier. Although I went to the doctor today, the infection is still present. It is not as bad as before surgery, but he stated there are medications he may consider that will not allow me to run or work much for a few weeks. That would suck, but if that ends this multiple-year downgrade, I would embrace it fully!

I must say that stress has been a problem. Just like many in this economy, there is stress, which impacts everyone. One thing that can be stressful is relationships, especially when I think I am dating someone but am not sure. Talk about needing clarification.

Amazing how stress-free one can be, all be lonely when no relationships exist. But then I see some friends who are not in a relationship, who are so stress-free and others who are just burring into a hole. I see the same with married couples. I will never understand it and may never want to understand.

You know, I am not talking only about male/female relationships exclusively, but those with others like a sister, co-workers, sons, ex-wives, friends, etc. They all are wonderful to have and add benefit to one's life. There are times, however, when you just want to be alone.

My son recently blew his top about me just being here, grandpa calling, his girlfriend calling, and his friends calling. He just yelled, "I just want to be alone and have time by myself." It was a great example of what I mean by the impact of a relationship: We love them, we hate them.

My next few weeks are busy. This weekend, there is a junior event that has National Points. Then, depending on the weather, my son and I may head to the Superior Trail next weekend. The following weekend, I will be in Kalamazoo, MI, and the weekend after that, Colorado. The summer will go fast.

I will be up at the Superior 100 as a volunteer if needed. Either way, I will take a few hundred photos if I go. I will know in a few weeks if I get the time off from tennis to go up there. It would be so enjoyable!

I will go for a walk in the woods. It is very hot, but a few miles with the camera is nice.

Until next time, carry on...

Grave visits?

Since there is little running going on in my life (I am finding a slow recovery from Grandma's), I have been letting my mind wander. Although it is not uncommon for my mind to be all over the place, could it be ADD?

My son is back from Alaska. It was funny. He did not shave the whole time, and shaving 8 days of growth was an experience—a first for him. I could only smile. He did have a great time. I am so proud of him and the comfort he has in travel and life. Now, if I can only get his car out of the garage.

Now, what was this post about... It could be many things... my weight is now over 270... But I still did several runs of 3-4 miles each at 12 minutes miles... So, it's alright! I really need to get this under control!!! Stress is a big reason. But I was writing about something else... Oh yeah, grave visiting.

I was watching Forrest Gump Sunday, and near the show's end, I was really struck by something. He was standing at Jenny's grave and talking to her like she was there. He left a letter from little Forrest for her to read. Made me think.

I always get a strange aura when I visit Fort Snelling or other graveyards. I read the markers, and so many thoughts ran through my head—some wonderful, some sad, some strange. So I was thinking, I have never, as long as I recall, visited a grave site of someone I know. I was really struck by this.

I started to think of Dana and how she was taken from this earth early. Then again, was she. I often think of the words from the Pastor when my 3-year-old nephew died. His words were Gods plan for Aaron's life was three years or Dana 36 years, they lived those years fully. That Pastor emphasized that life being short is all due to the expectations we place on life.

Do I buy into this? I do not know. It is all confusing...

Watching Forrest Gump speak to Jenny makes me think about how life can change at any time. It makes me want to take a trip to Portland to visit the grave of a dear friend just to talk. I miss her and need to speak to her. It is strange to have this feeling, but Kayak.com has some reasonable prices. Now I need to coordinate the tennis and work, and I may be happy, and the hole in my chest will be less of a hole.

Isn't it strange how the littlest thing can trigger emotions? But without emotions, where does that leave us? Well, for me, fat is emotional eating. Well, I am feeling positive about the steps I am taking, and that gives me hope.

Hope all is well in this hot July as you train for many races. I will not race this year but look forward to Superior 100. I am trying to get out of a tennis assignment to volunteer!

Until then, or another post, carry on, my friends...