Five things friday

Squeezing this in after my long run and before I jump in the shower and head to a 5/6th grade basketball game...

1. I believe this was my first double-digit run of the year (11.5 miles). It's actually kind of nice out, like 30°F and sunny, so I wore a thin undershirt, short-sleeve t, windbreaker, and ear band. I did wear long pants, and opted for the trail shoes since there was still snow and ice on about half the roads/trails (at least at the start). I also carried my water pack - thinking it might not get as cold since it will get body heat on my back. It wasn't a terrible run, but I was ready to be done. I don't really like running in the trail shoes - especially this long - because they don't have as much cushion and only have like half the drop of my road shoes. So my legs were plenty tired. I'll take it though.
2. How are you feeling about the Tiktok ban? On the one hand, I could care less because I've never used it and have no desire to in the future. On the other hand, though, I'm a bit torn. I get the national security concerns since it's a Chinese company. However, it's not like I trust our government anymore than I do theirs! I mean, does congress want it banned because they can't control it either (like is possible with X and Meta since those guys basically run the government)? I don't know... but I can totally see djt sympathizing with China the way he does with Russia (as long as he can make money on the deal).
3. This morning I was grumbling about all the ads on my phone (while playing games and on social media). It finally occurred to me that maybe the ads aren't the problem; spending so much time on my phone is! And, erroneously thinking even remotely that FB is actually "social media." Ha!
4. I did finish Eugene Peterson's 'Where Your Treasure Is: Psalms That Summon You from Self to Community.' I'm glad I read, but it is an older book. My version is from 1993, but it was originally published under a different title in like 1985 (that's 40 freaking years ago!). Briefly, ch. 3 on "Unself-Centered" (Ps 110) is really good and preachable, ch. 8 on "Unself-Righteous" (Ps 14) has some nice framing of atheism (and what the worst kind is), ch. 10 "Unself-Sufficient" (Ps 114) is quite insightful in regard to nature, other religions, and on p. 154 the difference between sacrament and idol. Hopefully someday I will get around to going into a bit more detail.
5. "The Christian does not live in awe *of* nature; we learn to live in awe *with* nature." This thought came to me as I was reading chapter 10 of Peterson's book. Again, I'd like to flush that out a little more...

Okay, well, I stink, so I need to get showered before I offend even myself. The grandsons have a basketball tournament this weekend, so we will be taking in a few games. At least it's here in town. If you see the sun, give it a nod and a waive!

Afib trigger

I had another AFib episode last night, and think I figured out one of my triggers.

I went to pick Jane up at work around 5pm and took along a can of La Croix. It was super cold, and as soon as I took a drink I could feel the sort of "flutter" in my chest. I also then had that exhausted feeling too. While sitting in the parking lot I checked my pulse and, sure enough, I was out of rhythm.

When I got home I used the Kardia Mobile and it read "Possible Atrial Fibrillation." I texted it to my EP doctor, thinking it was just a "doctor phone" and that I wouldn't hear anything back right away, but I did! He texted right back!! He said I could take an extra Diltiazem if I wanted, and to note how long it lasted. (I did not take an extra dilt)

We had a men's group meeting at church and I went ahead and went to that. When I got home I was back in rhythm. 

So it was somewhere between 2-3 hours long.

I then got to thinking: one other time I went into AFib after drinking something really cold. Sure enough, it's apparently a common trigger. Cold beverages, ice cream, milk shakes, snow cones, and the like. Which made me realize: I can remember drinking cold milkshakes and feeling that sensation in my chest long before I was diagnosed with AFib. I wonder if I've had it longer than I was aware? Or maybe it just never messed with my heart rate when it would do it before. I don't know, but I'm glad I now know at least one trigger to stay away from!!

Five things friday (mac & music)

I'm sitting here waiting for the snow to fall, while also procrastinating going for a run today. I suppose it's as good a time as any for the weekly five things...

1. Last night we had the pleasure of taking in a Mac McAnally show down the street at The Clyde Theatre. Oh my. I was not expecting that! Two things I wasn't expecting: 1) We didn't have tickets and I wasn't even aware he was in town... until a couple hours before the show and my daughter texted saying a mutual friend of ours had extra tickets; 2) I wasn't all that familiar with Mac, though, of course, I knew about Jimmy Buffett and such. Still, I was not expecting this show to be SO DAMN GOOD!!! Wow. He is such an unassuming guy, who laughs at his own jokes (mostly at his own expense), and not only was I amazed by his guitar chops and overall sound, but the stories he wove into the evening created such a positive emotional vibe. It was a random out-of-the blue special night. It makes me smile just thinking about it still. If you ever get the chance, take it!
   
2. I must admit, though, after initially committing to go, I wished I hadn't (at first). I was soooo tired (plus Jane had to work late). I don't know what my deal was yesterday. It was one of those days where I had zero energy. I suppose I had run three days in a row, and recently started lifting again, so my body was a bit worn... But it felt more like an AFib-tired situation. Although, I guess I did help set up the concert hall for a sold out show tomorrow night and we used every chair in the place (400+). That took a couple hours. Speaking of which, it should be a good show. But I'm a little bent because I was asked to work concessions instead of behind the bar, and this will likely be one of the biggest bar tipping nights we have. Grrr. And, of course, the bartenders taking my spot never volunteer to help set up or tear down. Grrr again. But... I suppose that's the nature of volunteer work. It is still something I enjoy, so I'm trying to focus on that.
3. On a related note: the concert venue where we have volunteered for the past 8+ years finally has a sign out front again! They changed the name and began a remodel in 2020 - you know, just as everything was shutting down due to covid - and it's taken this long to rebuild finances and be able to start work on it again. For most of that time the front of the building still had the old name on it, until probably the last nine months when it has had NO name on the building and most people thought it was condemned! There were several shows and events where I literally had to stand out front and waive people in who were wondering where to go. Anyway, the outside of the building finally almost resembles the pic on the website now.
4. And, on an unrelated note... I was not aware the second Friday in January is known as "Quitters Day." Apparently most people (and I have no idea what percentage "most" is) have already given up on their New Year's resolutions by now. I didn't really make any resolutions, but I am happy to report I'm still doing my daily bible readings to have it read in a year, and so far still following the new workout regimen. Yay. Though, yeah, I am still not too excited about my 9-mile run today. I suppose I need to drag my butt out the door at some point...
5. "Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you. Amen." - St. Thomas Aquinas

And, there ya have it. Another Friday is upon us. Did your week go as planned, or were you, perhaps, also surprised by something wonderfully unexpected?? If not, there's still time! I'd like my mind to be more alert for such. Let's keep an eye out, okay? 👍

To write or not to write (and so much more)

Do you write? Do you like to read writing?

Some days I answer "yes" to both, and some it's neither. There's a certain back-and-forth; a rolling with the punches, if you will (either figuratively or literally sometimes).

Here is some of what's been whirling in my brain:

WRITING IS A SUPERPOWER

James Clear sends out a weekly email. Last week he included this piece, and it was so motivating! I want to remember it:

"Writing is the superpower of humankind. It is our truest form of magic.

Writing allows you to conjure up something of value where nothing previously existed. It costs little for you to write down the lessons of your life and yet those few minutes spent writing can be life-altering for the right reader. As I once saw it put: "there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words."

Furthermore, writing is the foundation of nearly every technology and innovation because we have to record what we know before we can build upon it. And these innovations are passed down from generation to generation, allowing our children to inherit a richer intellectual fortune than what we were born into. The world is richer because we write and nobody is made poorer in the process."

This is especially true in the new world of AI... and it makes me want to write even the lamest, silliest, most mundane of thoughts or happenings (which is what most of my posts are). It's the grand "what if?" What if it helped one person? What if it made one person think, get out of bed, smile, or perhaps even change the trajectory of a life? Wouldn't that be not only worth it, but true magic...to be able to have a positive impact on another human being!?! Yes, by all means, that motivates me to write!

WRITING IS STRESSFUL

Karen Swallow Prior writes in her Substack entry 'My Writing Life: What I Write' about a couple realities that most writers face - regardless of how good or bad they may be. I feel it. She shares this:

“What do you do?”

I was at a small Christmas gathering last week, talking with someone I’d just met when the question that always comes up in these conversations did.

“I’m a writer,” I said.

My interlocuter’s eyes widened, and so did her friend’s.

“What’s that like?” she asked excitedly.

“Well,” I said, pausing for a few beats. “It’s stressful.”

I could tell that was not the answer she and her friend were expecting. They both responded by saying they thought of being a writer as romantic and exciting and cool.

My husband, seated next to me, hastened to chime in, “I can confirm. It is stressful.”

I’ve been thinking ever since about why I answered that way—and why I would give the same answer again.

Some years ago—while teaching was still my full-time calling, but I was beginning to write and publish a lot more—my friend Nick asked me if I wanted to write full-time. I said no. Nick asked why not, and I gave two reasons. First, I loved teaching and couldn’t imagine not being in the classroom. (That’s something I no longer have to imagine, and it’s still hard to process.) The second answer was that I feared having to spend that much time in my head.

So, here I am. I spend a lot of time in my head. And it’s stressful.1

Why is writing so stressful?

Well, I think writing is always stressful, to some degree, for writers who are serious about the craft. No matter how good (or poor) you are at it, you can always be better. And you are never really done writing anything. Instead of perfection, you have deadlines.

Every writer has a different part of the process that causes the most stress. For me it’s generally the first 80% or even 90% of the process. The part I love most is the last part: searching for the best word, moving the parts of sentences, refining, polishing, exacting.2 Until I get to that point, I am generally despairing that I have the ability to do the project at all. I berate myself for agreeing to do it in the first place. What was I thinking? How did I get myself into this mess again??? Until I’m at those final steps of revision (which I love so much), it feels like I will never get there. I can’t see the end at all. I would completely despair if I hadn’t gone through the process so many times that I know I will get there regardless of how I feel. I have learned to trust the process. But still, in the process, what I feel is stress.

So the first thing that’s stressful about being a writer is, in short, writing.

But the more I think about the stress, the more I realize that the second source is even greater—and that’s the economics of it. Yep, the money...

 Yes (or is it "no"?), even for me who has no deadline, writing is stressful. If you've read here any length of time you know how often I have removed posts, or edited. Have I offended someone? Did I stretch the truth too far? Was that just totally stupid or what? And the list could go on... It's a stepping into the unknown each and every time I open the writing page.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WRITING

Within days of reading the previous two articles came this gem from Josh Spector: "40 One-Sentence Blogging Tips." I've read it before, and need to re-read it more often. Here are just a few of the tips he shares (that have meaning for me)...

1. Writing a blog creates value for you even if no one reads it.

6. The ability to reach the world with a blog is an opportunity generations of people would have killed to have.

18. Publishing a blog post is a generous act.

22. The post you publish tomorrow may change your life, but there’s only one way to find out.

You could literally replace the words "write, publish, post" with just about anything you do and the list would be helpful (imho). I really do hope my writing has meaning to someone else, but even if it doesn't, it usually gives meaning to my life - it helps me process, learn, release steam, or otherwise jostle things 'round in my head to make me feel better (eventually anyway).

---

And there you have it. This is a little of what goes on in my head. I imagine it may go on in your head - whether about writing, or some other way you add your unique spice to the world.

How 'bout we do that? Let's spice it up! Each in our own way. What's yours???

Weekly workout plan(?)

Here I am on a random Tuesday... trying to figure out a weekly workout schedule...

Far be it from me to know what is best, most healthy, or otherwise make a recommendation for anyone else, but I need something for myself. I have no interest in being a top-level athlete, but I'd like to stay as healthy as I can without making myself crazy. Last night we were leaving the grandkids' school and followed some folks our age down a flight of stairs. It took them f o r e v e r! I/we don't want to be like that. At least not yet. We have a new grandbaby, and I still want to be able to get down on the floor and play with him when he's able!

Fortunately I have also finally matured to the point where I don't HAVE TO adhere to a strict regimen or all is lost. Missing a day here and there, or not doing things exactly as they're written is okay (whew, it's taken me awhile to get here). And, the fact is, running is my habit of choice for cardio. There are other just as legitimate options, but running is mine. So I'm basically always at some point in training for something (which includes periods of rest and recovery). For instance, I just took a couple weeks off from any kind of running or exercise during the holidays. But I am now back into an 18-week marathon training plan gearing up for the end of April.

And, as an older adult, I am aware of the necessity of weight work to combat the deterioration of muscle and in limiting fat development. It's a thing, and it has nothing to do with being "muscular." It's all about quality of life. As long as I'm living... why not?

So, here is the current plan I am working my way into (which will likely change from time to time, but, dangit, it's time I put something down in black and white!):

• Monday: Egym with Jane early morning; first run of the week (using 4-day running schedule) - right now it's 3 miles, either slow or make this the one day of speed work.
• Tuesday: The longer "midweek" tempo run (currently 5 miles, going up to 9 or 10 later on); 75 kettlebell swings.
• Wednesday: short run (right now it's 3 miles, either slow or speed work depending on what I did Monday).
• Thursday: Egym with Jane early morning, then rest the remainder of the day.
• Friday: Long run (this week will be 9 miles, then I'll mostly be doing double digits up to 20 miles until the end of April).
• Saturday: Run with Jane however far she wants to go; 75 kettlebell swings.
• Sunday: Rest (big time)

* For marathon training I have always used Hal Higdon's plans. Usually some variation of either the Novice 1 or Novice 2 format. They're free, time-tested, and haven't let me down yet.

* Egym is unique to the gym I used to work at (and a handful of others around the country). It's not a great weight workout for "weight lifter" types, but is a pretty solid generalized workout that covers arms, legs, shoulders/lats, and core. It is a great system for older adults who wouldn't otherwise be doing any weight work.

* The kettlebell swings are something I've just started. I got the idea/motivation from Tim Ferris and this letter he wrote to a friend who "wanted to get in shape." I've yet to use a 50 pound kettlebell (or even 35 pounds), but it kicked my butt nonetheless! In the above link he has a video for the correct way to do swings, as well as a cheap way to make a kettlebell alternative (which I have done because no way am I spending that kind of money and the alt works just fine).

And there ya have it. Speaking of which, it's time for my 5-mile run.

**Btw, I intend to do all my running outdoors. The past few have been in my trail shoes because of snow/ice on the ground. I think today I will put screws in my Brooks Glycerin 20s so I can wear some actual running shoes. 

Here we go!

Five things friday (new year)

We made it! All the way to 2025. Big whoop, huh? Is it really all that great to merely survive? For some, it probably was a major accomplishment to get here. Congratulations! Really. That doesn't mean things can't get better though, amiright?!? As my friend Jason Ringenberg once said, "The point is dying if we don't live when we're alive!" So, here we go...

1. I've never really been into making resolutions, but starting the calendar over does seem a good time to start some new habits or recommit to some old ones. I have decided to read the bible through again this year. I have done it many times, did it for quite awhile every year, but it's been... awhile. I actually think m'Lady has begun to do the same! We are using this original The One Year Bible NLT (though we have the paperback version from 1996). There's a newer/cheaper paperback edition now, as well as an app. This isn't my favorite translation, though it's far from my least, but I prefer using a paper book instead of digital. So far, so good!
   
2. One thing I've discovered just in the first few days of reading the bible from the start is how alive it really is. I mean, I've read it a number of times, but already I've noticed things I either completely forgot, or I simply never noticed. In particular, I really want to look into Genesis chapters 5 & 6 right now. That's some funky sh... stuff.
3. Speaking of books, I did finish The Narrow Path by Rich Villodas. I have to say, I was a little disappointed. To be fair, I don't think it's because it's a bad book. Mostly I think my expectations were a little too high. I did a lot of reading on spiritual practices this year, and this just happened to be the last one (for now). So it's probably a really good book (it got a lot of great reviews!) and it was just not a good time for me to read it. It is very readable and I like his writing style and the format of the book. I've just started Eugene Peterson's 1993 book Where Your Treasure Is. As he writes in the preface: "I have written a book for Christians who want to do something about what is wrong with America and want to plunge into the center, not tinker at the edge. I have chosen eleven psalms that shaped the politics of Israel and can shape the politics of America, and I have taken them seriously in the way that they were intended to be taken seriously, as prayers that shape national life." I'm looking forward to this, and hope my expectations aren't too high again. ;)
4. As to how I am feeling at the start of 2025: I actually feel pretty good. I'm much calmer and at ease with where I am mentally, physically, and spiritually (maybe even occupationally). I feel rested, relaxed, and like my present pace of life really suits me. I feel very "grandfatherly," and I mean that in the absolute best sense of the word. It's nice. I hope it stays...
   
5. "Lord, help me now to unclutter my life, to organize myself in the direction of simplicity. Lord, teach me to listen to my heart; teach me to welcome change, instead of fearing it. Lord, I give you these stirrings inside me. I give you my discontent. I give you my restlessness. I give you my doubt. I give you my despair. I give you all the longings I hold inside. Help me to listen to these signs of change, of growth; help me to listen seriously and follow where they lead through the breathtaking empty space of an open door." (from Common Prayer, p. 552, "Major Life Transition")

Alrighty, then... let's get this party started. And, for those of you who remember the old '80s TV show Hill Street Blues... "Let's be careful out there." But also, let's not be afraid to live a little and enjoy. Somebody needs you! All of you.

Five things friday (holiday)

I did it! I actually found a minute to sit down and write one post this week. You're welcome.

1. It really hasn't been bad at all having a house full. It all started Monday when I mad a quick trip back to Buda to pick up my mom and bring her back to our house on Christmas Eve (Tuesday). The traffic was not bad at all - other than on the way there a semi had tipped over when it was making the turn from route 49 to the 80/90 toll road. The trip back almost always seems to be the fastest, and this year was no different. My mom and I don't stop, and it took 4 hours 5 minutes.
2. Christmas Eve night the three of us went to the church service at the church/school where our grand kids go to school. All three of them participated, and this was Anna's last year there. It is a little too archaic for us, but it's a beautiful old building and we appreciate what it has to offer the little ones as far as school.
3. On Christmas Day we went out to the Feipels for some of Carrie's scrumptious breakfast and to see what the kids got from "Santa." Then around noon Jane and I drove to a gas station in Gas City and picked up Isaac, Ricci & Wynn from Ricci's mom who met us there. We then all gathered at our house and had our family "Christmas" that night.
4. The 11 of us have mostly just been lounging around the house, eating, watching movies, and taking turns holding little Wynn (who has been so well-behaved at 2 1/2 months old). Thursday evening we did all take in the lights at the Parkview Field Christmas display. It was unseasonably warm all week, and there were several breaks between raindrops.
5. "Christmas itself is by grace. It could never have survived our own blindness and depredations otherwise. It could never have happened otherwise... The Word become flesh. Ultimate Mystery born with a skull you could crush one-handed. Incarnation. It is not tame. It is not touching. It is not beautiful. It is uninhabitable terror. It is unthinkable darkness riven with unbearable light. Agonized laboring led to it, vast upheavals of intergalactic space/time split apart, a wrenching and tearing of the very sinews of reality itself. You can only cover your eyes and shudder before it, before this: "God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God . . . who for us and for our salvation," as the Nicene Creed puts it, "came down from heaven."" (from Frederick Buechner's 'Whistling in the Dark')

 And there you have it... It's Christmastime in America. As for our corner, things begin their return to "normal" tomorrow. It has been good, but too short as always...

Five things friday (sorrowful hoping)

My heart was breaking as I went to bed last night.

Sorry, I'm not quite sure what to write after that. I'm okay, and I know she'll be okay too, but when I see people suffer - particularly those I love - it consumes me for a bit. 

What's even worse is when, during their suffering, I am a complete and total idiot. I feel shame for momentarily forgetting that a middle school girls basketball game is not the end of the world. And I love my granddaughter (and the boys) a whole stinkin' lot and will continue loving them with all my heart regardless of anything they ever do...

So, today's 'five things' is going to be different. These are some songs I've been listening to this morning. I hope you're okay with that. Feel free to click the links and give a listen too.

1. Lord Remind Me, by Jon & Valerie Guerra is a good reminder for this time of year, and always. After seeing them perform at our church I have found Jon's music in particular to be so meaningful.
2. Every time I hear Johnny Cash singing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face it takes me to special places. I used to play it at church and try to imagine what it's like after people die - the first time they see God face to face; and I will always remember the first time ever I saw little Anna's face... (the original from Roberta Flack needs a link too... So good).
3. John Moreland's You Don't Care For Me Enough To Cry is a great reminder that I do care enough to cry... About some things anyway...
4. There are so many songs I could include from Andy Squyres, and I don't know what it is about this one... I don't know... but I like What Nobody Should Know.
5. I've watched this clip of Nick CAVE and the Bad Seeds doing their song Joy and, again, I can't exactly put my finger on how it makes me feel, but it does...

Well, since we've gone in a different direction today anyway... here's a couple more I just couldn't leave off...

• Give Me Jesus was always one of my favorite songs to sing in church. I always thought Jane played this exceptionally well. It still brings me to tears. I think the first time we heard it was at a marriage retreat umpteen years ago, which was also the first time we'd seen/heard Fernando Ortega, and his original is still so meaningful.
• Lastly, I am late to the Jon Batiste party, but this old rendition of him doing What A Wonderful Life (including the video) is . . . simply beautiful. If you don't watch/listen to any of the others, give this one a spin. I think you'll be glad you did.

If you don't hear from me again before Christmas (I don't know now if you will or not - could be a busy week)... I hope you have a joyous, deep, and heartfelt time this holiday season. Thanks for reading here. Really. You have no idea how much it means to me. And, as a favor, maybe tell someone you love them this week.

Peace, my friends (out and in).

Kardia mobile

I got one of those Kardia Mobile devices last Friday (12.13.24) and took my first home EKG. It said I had a "Normal Sinus Rhythm". Yay!

My Electrophysiologist suggested I get one, and if I have any odd readings I am to text him the results.

It's actually pretty slick, and super easy to set up and operate. I got the basic unit for $69 (Holiday special), and it's no bigger than a pack of gum. Once I downloaded the Kardia App on my phone and created an account I had an EKG in 30 seconds. To send it to my doctor I merely save it as a pdf from the app and send him the link in a text. Easy as pie!

There are different types of devices you can get, as well as subscription plans that do all sorts of things. My doctor said the basic model with no subscription was sufficient for me. 

So, there ya go... Next time I see that commercial asking if I know my heart health, I can say, "Yes. As a matter of fact, I do!" 

Brand spanking new fridge

We finally bit the bullet and bought a new refrigerator. We bought it last Monday (12/9) and it was delivered yesterday (12/16).

Our old refrigerator puked out in 2021 and it's off-and-on made a nasty noise ever since having it repaired. I've basically been waiting on it to die ever since. A couple weeks ago it was sounding really bad, so we decided we may as well just get one now while we can. And... wouldn't you know... as soon as we ordered the new one the old fridge has worked and sounded fine! So we will keep it in the garage as a second in case we need it someday.

We went to Stucky's Furniture and Appliances and pretty much just picked out the only one in white with the freezer on the bottom, which just happened to be the same size as the old one. Apparently there aren't a lot in white anymore - everything is going stainless - but we're kind of old fashioned like that (I guess). I didn't really care if we got a top or bottom freezer, but Jane prefers it like this.

So, we got a white Whirlpool 22.1 Cubic Feet Refrigerator-Freezer with automatic defrost and ice maker (model #WRB322DMBW05). It is supposedly on sale for $1,499 ($500 off), and there was a $99 delivery/setup fee.

The two guys who delivered it felt they needed to take the doors and hinges off both units to get them in and out of the door to the garage. I'm not sure how necessary it was, but I was glad to not have to help.

And, as you would naturally guess, both the old and new fridge are purring away in their new homes.

Trail half marathon

Who wouldn't want to get up early Saturday morning, drive an hour from home in the pitch dark, and run around in the woods just as the sun is coming up? Oh, and it's 20°F!

Well, I realize not everyone. And probably not everyone should. But there were plenty of us who did, and lived to tell about it!

I ran the Ignite Trail Series Marathon/Half Marathon Saturday at Chain O' Lakes State Park in Northern Indiana. It was damp and frigid, dark until 10 minutes before the start, and I still had no idea what conditions I would be running in or where I really even was.

But it was a blast!

I finally received the Athlete's Guide the day before the race, and there were a few people I knew who were also running the half (including our pastor, and Jane's boss). It ended up being a well-marked beautiful course through hills and trees along lakes and wildlife, and I had no trouble reminding myself to smile and take it in throughout.

 

We left home just after 6:30am and headed north. I always forget how dark it gets in the country, especially on unfamiliar roads. There were more trump signs than stop signs on the hour trip, and finally we entered the park grounds and followed neon markings until we came to a parking lot beside a big white tent. There was the familiar sight of porta-potties lined up. The race place.

I got registered, pinned on my bib, and we sat in the car and tried to keep warm until it was time to go. Finally 8 o'clock arrived!

Perhaps the biggest hill is right at the start. I'd been told to walk up the hills and run down them. At first I was like, "Yeah, whatever." Before I was halfway up this first one I discovered the soundness of the advice. Woof!

After that, though, I was soon rolling along and through some of the most breathtaking scenery this state has to offer. These were some late night thoughts I posted (and then removed) from Facebook:

Man, I loved that half marathon trail run today. Temperature is just a matter of clothes. I loved running downhills like a child, and walking up hills full of wonder and awe at the beauty of our surroundings. At my age I care way less about my time than enjoying the surroundings. And it was grand. Slower seems to always be better. Remembering to smile…. I can’t remind myself of that enough.

Anyway, I finished in like 2 hours 25 minutes. Apparently I got third in my age group (who knew?!?). I know I did a couple miles at an over 12-minute pace, but I also got moving at a pretty good clip coming down hills under an 8-minute pace a few times. I also think the results page showed there were 80-some half marathoners and 60-some marathoners (who did two loops of the same course). And... while there were only two aid stations along the route (plus the start/finish line), wow did they have some nice food! Cheeseburgers, pulled pork, toasted cheese and peanut butter with bacon sandwiches, cheese cake, chips, soup, and who knows what all else! This Ignite Trail Series group seems to have quite the dedicated volunteers.

So, after all the anxiety beforehand, it was a pretty fun time and I hope to do this race again. I was -as always- glad to have the lovely Lady Jane waiting for me at the finish line to snap this pic. Once I found the guy who had the medals and downed a pulled pork sandwich, we headed back home where I showered, napped, and then we worked a concert that night. A good day!

Five things friday

Well, hey there! How's it going today? Every week I intend to post more often and... guess what? I don't. I don't know if it's the cold weather, my most recent Afib "episode," lack of sleep, anxiety (and the resulting tiredness from all that), or what, but I've been having trouble dragging my butt off the couch and walking all the way across the room to the computer. Anyway, here's five things on my mind:

1. One reason for my current unsettledness is the Half Marathon Trail Run I'm doing tomorrow. I'm not at all worried about running the 13.1 miles, but it's in a state park I'm not familiar with and not only is there a threat of rain, snow and cold, but there has been a serious lack of information about the event! I finally saw a random Facebook post and realized I was not sent the email with the 'Athlete's Guide' that includes everything I need to know. Fortunately someone posted it, and that helps, but I'm still a little nervous about getting lost in the middle of a forest and freezing to death (even more so than whether I have the proper footwear, nutrition, clothing, etc.). So if this is my last post on here...
2. Going in a little different direction... Something I've been pondering lately is the prospect of a series of posts I may call "Offerings" (or some such thing). Things I wish I'd told my kids, or that I'd like to tell them (and/or my grandkids). Just some general life experience stuff like keeping your tires properly inflated and such. The thing that has really been burning in my brain lately is this: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23). It's so easy to become cynical. Believe me, I know (and I know you know!).  I've been trying to work on it, because I really think it's important. Especially nowadays. 
3. The folks at Gravity Commons shared some interesting links this week, including these Post-Election Commitments that I like. There's also this bit from Stephen Waldron, who recently met with a variety of researchers, organizational leaders, and activists who are concerned about how democracy is relating to religion in the US today. Two main concerns they note are the serious problem we have with social disconnection, and the divide in our society in the educational attainment gap (points 4 & 5). It's a disturbing read and not all that long if you care to take a gander.
4. As for books I am reading... I have started 'The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls,' from Rich Villodas. I'm not too far into it yet, but I intended to write the other day on his differentiation between peacekeeping and peacemaking. Maybe one day next week...
5. "There is too much bad news to justify complacency. There is too much good news to justify despair." (Scientist Donella Meadows on being proactive, yet positive)

If there were to be a bonus thing today, it would be my agreement with Sir Elton John that legalization of marijuana is not a good idea. But, you know, bad ideas seem to be popular nowadays. So, keep the faith, my friends!

EP doctor visit

Is it a good thing or bad thing that your heart doctor writes down his cell number and gives it to you?

I don't know, but it happened today at my scheduled 6-month check-up with my electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm issues). 

Normally I've seen an intern on these visits. This was my first with the actual guy who did my cardioversion and ablation. Dr. Rodriguez is a super nice guy, who seems quite normal and jokes around and everything. The first thing he asked when he came in the room was, "So how was the marathon?" Ha! He must take good notes.

Anyway, I reported that, according to my "Afib Journal," I've had another 'episode' about every 1-2 months since the ablation. The most recent was actually this past weekend - which lasted for 17 hours. Previous episodes had only lasted from one hour to overnight. I've come out of all of them on my own (Including this last one, which happened during a contemplation/meditation exercise at church on Sunday - it was kind of cool!). 

So, after chatting a bit, he recommended I either wear a monitor or get a Kardia Mobile device, and let him see actual heart readings when I think I'm having an Afib episode. He said it may or may not be actual Afib, and he won't know until he's seen what's happening himself. So I ordered the basic Kardia Mobile for $69, and he said I could just text him my readings with my name and DOB the next time my heart rate gets weird.

Otherwise he said when I'm having one of these, as long as I'm not short of breath or having some other issue, I can usually just wait it out. He said as long as I've shown I can convert on my own eventually there's really no reason for a cardioversion or ER visit.

Unless he notices something in any scans I send him (assuming I have anymore episodes), he scheduled me for another 6-month follow-up.

It's nice to feel better leaving a doctors office than when I arrive. :)

(My weight was 160; BP 142/88 -though I've been running 120/mid-70s at home lately)

FIve things friday

Here we are again, my friend. Friday has awakened us, and may it be to something wonderful today.

1. It seems there is always something to do, doesn't it? I keep a notepad (or scraps of paper scattered around) of things I need to do. Some things keep reminding me I've yet to do them, and there are always more added to the list. Yesterday I did get the windows covered with plastic on the inside (the ones I intended to do). And there will be parties this month! Yet, all that said, my mind seems headed in another direction...
2. This week I happened onto a free pdf copy of Philip D. Kennesen's 28-page 'Practicing Ecclesial Patience: Patient Practice Makes Perfect', thanks to Chris Smith and the good people at the Ekklesia Project. You can download it as well by clicking on the title above. It's from a talk on the idea of "slow church," and he outlines Three Practices or Dimensions of Presence: Abiding, Devotion, and Attention. This was a really good read. One of those where I got done and simply sat there for awhile... feeling full and good and whole. Such a needed message for this time of year. In fact, if I'm ever asked to speak at church again, I might just use this as the basis.
3. I also ran across this post on 'The Enclosure of the Human Psyche,' on further dangers of Big Tech and the serious threat it is posing to humankind. What's at stake? Our ability to think. How do we fight back? Learning to embrace silence. The author quotes both Illich and Matthew Crawford respectively: "...silence is necessary for the emergence of persons;" and "...just as clean air makes it possible to breathe, silence makes it possible to think." The article is on the edge of my limits of understanding, but I think I got the gist, and it made me feel not so crazy.
4. Speaking of my hatred for the current strain of American Capitalism (Is djt Reagan on steroids? I don't dislike him from a mere political standpoint, but for the sake of humanity!)... There's this piece 'The Great Grocery Squeeze,' and how a federal policy change in the 1980's created the modern food desert. You want to know why big box stores have taken over and mom and pop places can no longer make it? Because we stopped enforcing the Robinson-Patman Act. It is apparently against the law to sell to big companies at lower prices than smaller ones, but it's not enforced. Thus, we no longer live in the "land of opportunity" (for all). This connects with #3 above. Don't look for it to get better under the new administration.
5. "In a world that demands increased productivity at every turn, few things seem less productive than abiding with these same scriptures, these same stories, week after week, year after year, especially when it's nearly impossible to tell if they are having any effect at all." - Philip D. Kennesen (this is, of course, talking about the Christian gospel message, and the importance of being part of a church community - taken from the pdf in #2).

Just to be clear, I'm really not as freaked out about the world and the results of the last election as you may think. In fact, it seems to be giving me some direction. Not that I think everything will "work out." Oh, sure, in the end... It's the getting there that bothers me. It's what life will be like for my grandkids (and yours) that keeps me going. So, I'll keep reading, keep meditating, keep thinking... and I'll try to keep you informed. You know, because I gotta tell somebody. ;) 

Have a nice weekend!

The ruthless elimination of hurry (book)

I finished John Mark Comer's The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World the other day. It was a good read, though maybe a tad bit of a stretch on the title tag-line. Still, this is the stuff my life has been about for awhile now. There is a lot of good information, and not just a few quotables. Here is some of what I underlined and want to remember from the book...

(4) "Why am I in such a rush to become somebody I don't even like?  It hits me like a freight train: in America you can be a success as a pastor and a failure as an apprentice to Jesus; you can gain a church and lose your soul.  I don't want this to be my life..."

(6) "What if I changed my life?"

(23) In his book 'Three Mile an Hour God,' the late Japanese theologian Kosuke Koyama put this language around it: "God walks 'slowly' because he is love. If he is not love he would have gone much faster. Love has a speed. It is an inner speed. It is a spiritual speed. It is a different kind of speed from the technological speed to which we are accustomed. It is 'slow' yet it is lord over all other speeds since it is the speed of love."

(31) "...before Edison (invented the light bulb in 1879) the average person slept eleven hours a night."

(35) This whole section "When the history books are written, they will point to '07 as an inflection point on par with 1440.  And, 1440, of course, was the year Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, which set the stage for the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment, which together transformed Europe and the world.  And 2007? Drumroll . . . The year Steve Jobs released the iPhone into the wild.  Note: it was also a few months after Facebook opened up to anybody with an email address, the year a microblogging app called Twitter became its own platform, year one of the cloud, along with the App Store, the year Intel switched from silicon to metal chips to keep Moore's law on a roll, and a list of other technological breakthroughs - all right around 2007, the official start date of the digital age."

(37) "...slot machines make more money than the film industry and baseball combined, even though they take only a quarter at a time. Because the slot machine is addictive..."

(39) "Reminder: Your phone doesn't actually work for you. You pay for it, yes. But it works for a multibillion-dollar corporation in California, not for you. You're the customer; you're the product. It's your attention that's for sale, along with your peace of mind. . . . "Never get high on your own supply." . . . "continuous partial attention" is our new normal (Microsoft researcher Linda Stone).

(46) Great story about some African jungle tribesmen who refused to leave too soon because "They are waiting 'for their souls to catch up with their bodies.'" (see whole section)

(47) "...hurry is a form of violence on the soul."

(48-51) Ten Symptoms of Hurry Sickness

(69) Peter Scazzero's line: "We find God's will for our lives in our limitations."

(70) "'No' is a complete sentence." (Anne Lamott)

(71) "...the average guy spends ten thousand hours playing video games by age twenty-one."

(76) "A yoke was a common idiom in the first century for a rabbi's way of reading the Torah. But it was also more: it was his set of teachings on how to be human. His way to shoulder the (at times crippling) weight of life - marriage, divorce, prayer, money, sex, conflict resolution, government - all of it."

(77) What the New Testament writers call 'salvation.' Keep in mind, the Greek word that we translate 'salvation' is soteria; it's the same word we translate 'healing.' When you're reading the New Testament and you read that somebody was 'healed' by Jesus and then you read somebody else was 'saved' by Jesus, you're reading the same Greek word. Salvation IS healing."

(82) "If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus."

(94) Stephen Covey (of 7 Habits fame) said that we achieve inner peace when our schedule is aligned with our values."

(125) **** "The wilderness (for Jesus, in Matt. 3) isn't the place of weakness; it's the place of strength." **** (and below...)

(126) **** "Notice, Jesus came out of the wilderness with all sorts of clarity about his identity and calling. He was grounded. Centered. In touch with God and himself. From that place of emotional equilibrium and spiritual succor, he knew precisely what to say yes to and, just as importantly, what to say no to."

(132) John Climacus - "The friend of silence draws near to God."

(135) Henri Nouwen - "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life..."

(140-141) "...mindfulness is simply silence and solitude for a secular society. It's the same thing, just missing the best part - Jesus. (see paragraph following this) . . . (from Andrew Sullivan) "If the churches came to understand that the greatest threat to faith today is not hedonism but distraction, perhaps they might begin to appeal anew to a frazzled digital generation."

(170) Ronald Rolheiser - "True restfulness, though, is a form of awareness, a way of being in life. It is living ordinary life with a sense of ease, gratitude, appreciation, peace and prayer. We are restful when ordinary life is enough."

(184ff) *** "Advertising as we now know it started not on Madison Avenue but in another city: Berlin. With another group of power brokers: the Nazis. They took the ideas of an Austrian psychotherapist named Freud... and used them to manipulate the masses." . . . "After the war, it was actually Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays, who first used Freud's ideas in America. An intelligence officer during the war, he found himself in need of a job. His theory was that if the Nazis could manipulate people in wartime, then surely business owners and politicians could manipulate people in peacetime. He called his new idea 'public relations' and became the so-called 'Father of American advertising.'" [rest of section is needed here - and why I find Capitalism today so deviously evil...]

(186) "Things we categorize as 'needs' - a car, a telephone, a daily multivitamin, electricity, running water - didn't even exist until recently, and yet many people were quite happy without them."

(191) Instead of spending money to get time, we opted for the reverse: we spend time to get money."

(196) "a 'healthy' eye... had a double meaning: It meant that (1) you were focused and living with a high degree of intentionality in life, and (2) you were generous to the poor. When you looked at the world, you saw those in need and did your best to help out."

(200) Joshua Becker - minimalism writer

(204-213) His twelve (suggested) principles to eliminate hurry...

(214) "Remember: the question we should be constantly asking as followers of Jesus isn't actually, What Would Jesus Do? A more helpful question is, 'What Would Jesus Do If He Were Me?' If he had my gender, my career, my income, my relationship status? If he was born the same year as me? Lived in the same city as me? What would that look like?"

(223-244) 20 ideas on how to slow down...

(252) Edward Friedman - "non-anxious presence"

(253) Manifesto: "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life." (1 Thess. 4:11)

(254) "To live a quiet life in a world of noise is a flight, a war of attrition, a calm rebellion against the status quo."

(255) "You're not just fighting for a good life but for a good soul."