Twilight Zone Moments

I don't usually imbibe throughout the week unless I am at a special function, or if a friend comes over, or if there is a football game on, or . . . No really, I try to reserve my adult beverage drinking for the weekends.

Part of the rationale is for weight management and health; the other part is to make it a treat and not something I do all the time.

That said, as I was coming up the driveway last night at the end of Bear's walk, I had a taste for some Jack Daniels. I walked through the door and announced I was going to have a drink. Barbara just looked at me like she usually does when I make pronouncements.

I fixed my little drink and sat down to watch the FOX Report with Shepard Smith and then it happened - the Twilight Zone moment.

He said: "73 years ago today, Congress ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. Prohibition was ended."

How about that; I don't normally drink during the week, but I just wanted one and it happened to be the very day prohibition ceased 73 years back. I have been living in Louisiana so long, I just have a sixth sense for when it is time to party.

So that's my Twilight Zone moment. Have you had any lately?

Until the next time
John Strain

Mascots

The other day, Barbara and I took John and his girlfriend Mandy out for dinner. During the course of the conversation, we discussed the mascots of the schools we attended.

John said he had always been a cat. From the Little Lions of Covington Elementary to the CJ Schoen Middle School "?'s" I forgot what they were, but it was a cat. He was a Panther at William Pitcher Junior High, a Lion at Covington High, a Lion at Southeastern Louisiana University, and finally a Tiger at LSU.

Not to be out done, I decided to have a little fun. I went to the Kansas School for the Blind from K-5th grade. I told them that we were the Kansas School for the Blind Guide Dogs. Then I did a cheer: We're the guide dogs ruf ruf ruf
We're the guide dogs and we're tough.

Of course the Kansas School for the Blind didn't have a mascot that I could remember. I had an image of a black lab straining at his leader being held back by a muscle bound blind guy.

It was funny, but maybe you had to be there.

In junior high, I went to Trailridge and we were the Blazers. The mascot was some guy who looked like a hiker. A local high school in this area are the Skippers – an image guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. “Oh know, it's the SKIPPERS, run for your lives.” They always make me think of YMCA.

Minnesota has the Golden Gophers. I am not sure, but are gophers a vicious animal? They live under ground and are prey for other animals. How about Ducks, are they tough? What's a Tar Heel? What's a Hoosier or a Sooner?

Some of these mascots are regional and historic. I kind of know what a Sooner, Tar Heel, and a Hoosier are, but if you didn't watch a lot of sports or look it up, you wouldn't know.

Mascots have taken on star status. They are in ESPN commercials and their costumes are elaborate. They are giant walking stuffed animals. I wonder if they escaped from Disney Land and settled around the country at various institutions for work.

At the beginning of the football preseason, one of the New Orleans Saints was injured when a erratic driving mascot ran into him with his 4-wheeler. I guess it is hard to see where you are going in those suits, but maybe he did it on purpose.

I like mascots. They are tradition, but that does not stop the PC police from trying to ruin everything. When the NCAA tried to strong-arm schools into changing their Indian mascots, it demonstrated how higher learning is really run by morons.

Maybe now they have decided to concern themselves with things that really matter, like how many trans fats are in their cafeterias.

So here's to the mascots. Whether you are tough, cute, or funny, you are a part of the game and the tradition.

Until the next time
John Strain

Baton Rouge Beach Marathon 2006

Today was cool and breezy. Race start was 33 degrees, but that is a lot better than the folks had it in Memphis running the St. Jude Marathon. With the bright sun and the blue December sky, this year's Baton Rouge Beach Marathon was a scenic treat.

Part of the run goes around the lakes in Baton Rouge. The course is a 13-mile double loop. On the first lap, I had the sun to my right and the lake to my left. The water was reflecting the trees on the opposite shore and it was breathtaking.

I really like this course and this year was my third time to run this marathon.

Barbara and I stayed at the Comfort Inn about a mile from the race start / finish. Good rates too, only $58.

Here I am with the Grinch. I ran into him at the hotel and we had a couple of drinks and talked for a while. He's a great guy once you get past the attitude and green complexion.

I didn't feel as strong as I did last week, but I did better than last week. I ran the course in 3:35:16. That was good enough to make me 19th overall and 3rd in my age group.

Here I am coming in for a landing.

Hey, do you want to know how to make yourself feel good. Go to a marathon and stand at the finish line. Look at the faces on the runners as they cross. Listen to their families cheer for them. Witness a tear of genuine joy. It will make you cry - good cry.

Now it is time for my favorite part. Tonight we celebrate and tomorrow, I sleep in. No running for two days, then it is back to training for the Mississippi Marathon January 13, 2007.

Each race is just another mile marker. You never know what might be around that next bend.

Until the next time
John Strain

Marathon Eve

Good morning from frosty Covington. I know, I know, 31 degrees is a nice morning in August for many of you, but it is getting on the nippy side down here. The trouble with the south and cold is that you never get acclimated to the cold. One day may be in the 20's and the next may be in the 60's.

Tomorrow morning is supposed to bottom out at 34 degrees. That is a bit chilly standing around waiting for the gun to go off, but once the race starts, it is perfect weather. Things wil warm up quickly and by the end of the race, it should be near 60. In other words; tomorrow's forecast is nearly perfect for running.

We'll see how I do with two marathons on consecutive Saturdays. I am planning three marathons on consecutive Saturdays in February.

So check in this weekend for my race report. This will be a fun weekend, what with running, celebrating, and NFL football.

I hope you have a nice weekend in your corner of the world.

Until the next time
John Strain

It

"Do you really think you can do anything with me? I don't think you have the guts or maybe it's brains you lack." It was mocking me. I was angry sure, but maybe deep down I knew it was right. After all what have I done lately?

The insults and ridicule continued, but it faded into a blur of confusion. By now, my own thoughts had taken over and were telling me things much worse. Maybe it was right. Maybe I have lost it. Maybe it's over for me.

I am not a quitter and certainly don't want anything telling me when it is over, but for some reason I haven't been able to perform, answer the bell, you pick the metaphor.

I can blame it on too much to do, or any number of things, but it is what it is; a lack of production. Without results all of the criticisms and degradations are true.

Sometimes I wake up at night wondering how to correct the problem. How can I get it off of my back and make it an ally once again? I give it thought at work and during my runs and when I am walking Bear dog. Nothing comes to mind that seems worthy.

"Hey are you listening to me?" I was out of the fog and hearing him again and his insults. "You're useless. You make me sick." I started to say something, but stopped. This only brought on another barrage of defamation. "What? What were you going to say? Yeah, I thought so. You've got nothing to say. You are empty. You're washed up. Accept it. Put yourself out of your misery."

I turned to walk away, but something inside me told me to stop. “Don't let him talk to you like that,” the voice said, “None of it is true. You are not a quitter or any of those names he is calling you. Stand up for yourself." So I did.

"SHUT UPPPP!" I yelled; and he did. "I brought you here and when you are used up I will throw you away like ordinary trash. I am the master of you and I won't put up with anymore of your insults."

I felt better letting out those words. It did stop talking. I picked it up and wrote down these words. I thought it only fitting to take the pen that insulted and mocked me and write something to prove I can overcome writer's block.

I think it's time to take my medication now. It helps with the voices.

Until the next time
John Strain