I'm Getting Excited

Four weeks from Monday at Noon, I will be in a scene like this. This photo is the start of the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1996. I do not usually get excited about trips until a day or two before. This trip though has me feeling like I kid when presents are under the Christmas tree, and Christmas is still days away. I anticipate my excitement to be laced with some paranoia. The thoughts begin a week or so out. I will worry about getting sick, twisting an ankle, and oversleeping the day of the race. I do not have any pressure on me in this race to perform. I am told the Boston Marathon is to be enjoyed. It is not a good race to set a personal best. I am to run at a comfortable pace, interact with the crowd and other runners, and drink it all in.

It is going to be something. Technology is up to speed in this race as well. Runners have a little chip / transmitter on their shoe. At various places on the course, we run across a mat and our time is recorded for that split. People can go to a website and check in on their favorite runner. In your case, that would be me. You can see when I get to the 5K, 10K 13.1 mile, and finish. For those who don't want to log on can have the info sent to their cell phone. Another tech thing is the DVD company who has cameras posted along the course. They make a documentary DVD of the marathon and pull footage of runners ( identified by their bib number) who order the $50 DVD. The result is a professional looking DVD that has about 5 minutes of yourself running the course and finishing - provided you finish.

OLN (Outdoor Life Network) is going to televise 3 hours of the marathon live. I will set the old Tivo for that.

I am closing in on a dream and I am happy, grateful, and in need of a pinch to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

Until the next time
John Strain

The Art of Stephen Huneck

One day this week, we received a sympathy card on behalf of Hobo. I really liked it and investigated the artist a bit. He lives in Vermont and does a lot of animal art. His main website is here.

We received some other cards as well. Mary Lou has a sort of card ministry. She makes her own cards and sends them out to people for all occasions. Thanks again Mary Lou.

The vet, Dr. Maher, also sent us a card with a nice heartfelt note. These cards provided comfort and they were very much appreciated. We put together a basket from World Market with lots of snack goodies and I wrote a letter to Dr. Maher and his staff. On our way to work this morning, we dropped it by the vet's office. We wanted to say thank you to Hobo's doctor for all the good care he provided over the years.

Back to Stephen Huneck. Take some time and browse his site. He overcame what doctors were saying was a terminal illness. Stephen credits his wife's love and unwillingness to give up for pulling him through. One of the neat things Mr. Huneck has done is to build a Dog Chapel atop Dog Mountain on some of his land in Vermont.

Looking at Stephen Huneck's art and reading about the Dog Chapel also brought a measure of comfort this week. We sure miss our pup, especially when coming home at the end of the day. The house seems very empty.

TGIF - Have a nice weekend everyone.

Until the next time
John Strain

Other Uses for Cell Phones

Women have already discovered alternate uses for the vibrate feature on cell phones, but those little communication devices are even more versatile than that.

Today for example, I was talking to my son when he got a call waiting beep. Naturally, he puts his old man on hold to take the more important call. I was passing through the lobby of the hospital where I work at the time. Headed to the units, I passed people while holding the phone to my ear. One individual started to talk to me, but noticed I was holding a cell phone to my head and stopped in mid-sentence. Just then, a light bulb appeared over my head like you see in cartoons. I discovered an alternate use: Pretend to be talking on the phone to keep people away.

I always have my cell phone attached to my belt. We had our carpets cleaned the other day and I still have the furniture bunched up in the kitchen. When I go to bed and shut off the lights, I can ordinarily walk through the darkness without running into anything, but with the new furniture configuration, I am in strange territory. I just flipped my phone open and its light was more than enough to help me steer clear of any would be toe stubbing obstacles. Alternate use number two: Use the cell phone as a flashlight.

It is amazing how indispensable cell phones are now. How did we function without being able to phone home from the video store, fast food restaurant, and grocery store? I guess we needed to communicate beforehand and make contingency plans. No need for any of that now.

Watch people. Look at how many are walking along with a phone stuck to the side of their head. Folks are walking along next to each other, but talking to someone somewhere else. Anxiety is a consequence of being in the present, but worrying about something in the future. Anxiety happens because one concerns themselves with something they cannot do anything about. We do that with our cell phones. The people around us are ignored while we talk to unseen people in our little device. Alternate use number three: In a crowd talk to someone somewhere else in an attempt to kill serendipity.

Maybe you can think of other uses for cell phones. They really are versatile contraptions.

Until the next time
John Strain

Saddle Up

Barbara and I were sitting in front of the TV minding our own business and polishing off some Popeye's fried chicken when my cell phone rang. My son was calling from the recreation center at LSU. I could tell immediately by the sound of his voice something was wrong and it was going to negatively impact me. After 20 years, I have developed a certain type of radar for such things.

John explained how he was playing racquetball. Then he went swimming. Then he remembered he left his keys, cell phone, and ID in a cubby at the racquetball court. When he went back, his stuff was gone. Attempts to call the cell phone were unsuccessful. No one had turned in the goods and he was stuck. His wallet was in his truck and no keys to get into his apartment.

At 8:30 PM, Barbara and I mounted up to drive to Baton Rouge to bring him the spare truck key. Naturally, it was cold and raining. Thankfully, he called us 30 minutes into the trip to say someone turned in his stuff and everything was fine. Luckily, we were at a Hammond exit, so Barb pulled in and we stopped at a Pilot Travel Center to get a cup of joe, before driving back home.

I found the coffee counter, made my selection, and then wandered a bit looking for a treat. I quickly found a small piece of packaged pound cake. While Barbara continued looking for her snack, I could not help but notice the selection of goods at this place.

Hanging from the ceiling was a row of at least 25 large stuffed dolls. One could choose from a black baby or a white baby model. They hung directly over a row of goods that went as follows from left to right: 2 liter Pepsi display, STP fuel injector cleaner, power steering fluid, assorted auto goods, Advil, Kodak film, and Breathe Right strips. I could imagine asking a sales person, "Do you have any large stuffed baby dolls?" The reply would be something like this, "Sure, Darlin, look over the top of that fuel injector cleaner. We have black and white babies." Then to mess with them, you could say, "What, no Mexicans?"

After that little observation, I turned around and noticed cans of dog food. How insensitive, don't they know my dog just died? Anyway, next to the dog food were little cups of Cheerios and Rice Krispies. I wonder who stocks their shelves? One display in the middle of the store was a stack of brief cases for $14.95, so you know they were good ones. Who walks into a truck stop and goes, "Oh yeah, I need to buy a brief case?"

The place was clean and the staff was friendly. I am just messing with them. If you are ever in Hammond, Louisiana and you need a good brief case or a baby doll for the kid whose birthday you forgot, go to the Pilot Travel Center, they will hook you up.

Until the next time
John Strain

St. Patrick's Day Parade

More St. Patrick's Day Parade Photos

Sunday was a beautiful spring like day in south Louisiana. Barbara and I went with friends to the annual St Patrick's Day Parade in Metairie. This parade is pretty laid back, but it is unique, in that the coveted throws are cabbages, potatos, carrots, and onions. They throw everything but the corned beef.

Check out the photos by following the above link. It was great weather, good food, and good times with friends.

Let me wish you a happy St. Patrick's Day two days early.

Until the next time
John Strain