Red Dirt Harriers

Last night I was lucky enough to see the Romeros in concert up in the city. While I doubt that this was a particularly memorable show for them, I really enjoyed the show. The performance was booked by OCCC and due to the nature of the show, the moved it to First Presbyterian Church in Heritage Hills, which is a nice place but it was a little tough to see all of the players antics without stadium seating. In any case they played a variety of songs and styles from several different time periods. Celin, Celino, Lito, and Pepe Romero are clearly very pleasant musicians who enjoy playing before all types of audiences. I was a little surprised that OU didn't book them but evidently there was a conflict at Catlett and the quartet are playing so many shows that they have a very limited flexibility. I have always been particularly fond of the piece Granada (this is Segovia and the video is not Granada, it's La Malaguena), and it was nice to see the two elder Romeros' duet rendition...

So in lieu of any running during the month of September, I've been getting in some biking and I think I'm actually alot stronger right now as I've been basically doing daily rides back and forth over the vicious southeast Norman hills to the house the I'm watching. Well yesterday I was screwing around on this quiet road and naturally I managed to bite it on some loose gravel or an acorn. I was going so slow that I didn't get any excellent road rash or exposed butt-cheek for the ride home, I just nailed my hip strait on which made for a very painful ride home, I had to get out of the saddle every time I needed to apply any force as the seated position was excrutiating. I feel geriatric sometimes. All this biking made me contemplate yet again why running doesn't maintain the same atmosphere. I've always played with the idea of hosting a race and I would definitely make it mandatory that we have ladies (and gents) at the finish to help celebrate the winners, no...

The transcript documented this couple , that go collectively by the moniker Bumfuzzle. It sounds like a spectacular way to see the country. I think I would have to grow some padding on my ass first, because the '58 VW panelvan can't have much in the way of suspension to contend with the myriad of potholes one must encounter. I am surprised they haven't gone the biodiesel route on this one but it still seems like there getting by very well without having to pay rent and waking up to the sunrise in a different latitude daily. Also, in the Oklahoman this morning, there was notice of the City of Norman making an effort to increase biking feasibility around town. They mentioned such bizarre notions as "pilot testing bike lanes" and "painting dual bike/auto marks on the road." All of this is in hopes that the city can gain a Bike Friendly title, with which I'm very surprised they are even concerned. I can say that they're a long way off right now and t...

So as I sit watching the Friday Night Fights, aka the Presidential debates, I wisely cracked some beers. Namely, I indulged in my last Chem Lab Porter, which is a meal of a beer. My one criticism is that with all the high tech gear those nerds have over there, they still can't produce a decent head on a beer. No, I'm not as hard core as Jordan with a full day's fast, I opted for a couple apricot chaussons but if I were, this beer provides all essential nutrients and minerals and therefore I opine that it is the ideal dieting beer. I do hope that other folks are watching this thing. I cannot stand the down talking from Mccain as if he's more experienced in every avenue of the game. Don't tell me that because you've gone to Afghanistan or served in Vietnam that you deserve to be such a didactic presence. All you are capable of is your own agenda, which I think is far to much about isolationism. I don't have any problem with US leaders meeting with rebel groups...

So for a while now I have had a quest of producing a podcast and I can proudly say that I am closer to realizing that dream as I officially clogged my harddrvie with all manner of editing software and sound clips which should allow me to begin attempting to paste a few minutes of the most pithy and intelligent music, info, and sound bytes that you ever heard. I also noticed, proudly, that marathons are listed as #27 on the list of stuff that white people like and so I am certainly doing my part to convey my stereotypical being. As a side note, I'm amused at the disbelief and concern from people outside the "runner" subgroup that a person would actually dedicate consistent and lengthy time towards training for an event. As if it's hard to belief that you would spend alot of time on something that you were excited about and at the very least was good for you, made you more appealing, got you out in public, allowed you to see your city/town/country. I was talking to thi...

Still not running so I've been on to other pursuits, namely a state record largemouth bass. Now maybe there are other states where the bass get a little bigger (California- where they feed their bass fat lazy rainbow trout) but I maintain that if I catch anything over 5 pounds from my kayak, it's going to feel pretty massive because and it makes for an exciting battle. I headed to Mountain Lake on Thursday and caught quite a few fish, the largest of which was actually a catfish that hit a tube jig. I had fun touring around in the yak and can't help but wonder when I will make an epic overnight trip in one. My two destinations of choice would have to be The Boundary Waters/ Quetico and Baja, California. Highlight of the week: watching the sunset on the OKC skyline from the rooftop patio at my buddy Ben's b-day party. A couple of enterprising baker divas produced a solid fondant representation on the cake. Food is good and when it when it comes in bright non-naturally oc...

A quick running update: as I'm now approaching 2 weeks on the DL, I'm still feeling alot of soreness in the heal and arch. My analysis of the issue is a partial rupture of the fascia, this being the reason for the lengthy and severe inflamation. At this point I'm optimistic that I'm making small strides through a hell of a lot of stretching to make sure the scar tissue heals in the ideal lengthened pattern. According to Dr. Brian Fullem, a respected poiatrist to elite runners , actually tearing the plantar is not that much of a detriment other than the initial recovery time as long as it is rehabbed correctly, it almost acts like the surgical correction process in the it should let up some of the tension on the tissue. My main concern is that I will keep inflaming it at the insertian to the calcaneus and not get out of the cycle of injury. Vamos a ver. In other news, I follow Peter Travers, the Rolling Stone movie columnist , and along with the excellent September issue...