Crying again

I’ve battled this infection for years, trying to pinpoint its onset. While Levaquin has side effects, my clarity is unlike anything I've experienced in recent memory.

Today, I made homemade burritos. I use a vacuum (Food Saver) to freeze them. I use whole foods like beans, tomatoes, rice, green chili, organic cheese, avocado, shredded zucchini, and onion in spinach tortillas. For the first time in years, I found myself crying while cutting an onion. It’s a switch. I can’t recall the last time an onion made me cry. The infection must be improving.

I’m taking another seven days of medicine. I leave for Kalamazoo for tennis on Thursday and return on Sunday. It should be fun.

I hope to get clearance to work out again by mid-August. Is it just in time for it to be colder?

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

Carry on my friends!

I hate it!

The economy is tough, and I hate to complain about street maintenance, but this year, the roads are rougher to bike on than they were last year. I’ve experimented with different commuting ways, especially at night, since the main roads I ride on are worn out. I’ve never broken a spoke twice in 6 weeks, but only discovered it because my tire was slightly out of balance. This is from ordinary riding, not hitting potholes or curbs.

The rides are less enjoyable, and I’ve completed several 20-plus-mile rides in the past few weeks. I don’t enjoy them as much as I’d like. It’s like trail running: keep your head down and avoid the holes and imperfections on the road.

A coworker who drives from Minneapolis recently had her shocks and struts worn out in under 50,000 miles due to poor road conditions. We’ll pay the price either way.

Enough complaining, but it really ticked me off yesterday! I plan on some good rides and runs this week. I leave for Kalamazoo next week and then head to Colorado. I’ll have a weekend at home on August 27, but I’d like to have a few 6-mile runs then.

I hope all is well and that everyone enjoyed the great weekend!

Carry on my friends!

Grave visits!

Since my running has decreased, I’m slowly recovering from Grandma’s. I’ve been thinking a lot. It’s not unusual for my mind to wander, but could it be ADD? My son returned from Alaska. He didn’t shave the whole time, and shaving 8 days of growth was an experience. I smiled. He had a great time. I’m proud of his comfort in travel and life. Now, I need to get his car out of the garage.

What was this post about? It could be many things, but my weight is now over 270 pounds. I still ran 3-4 mile runs at 12 minutes per mile. So, it’s okay! I need to get this under control. Stress is a big reason. But I was writing about something else, and oh yeah, visiting graves.

I was watching Forrest Gump on Sunday when I noticed something striking. Near the end, Forrest stood at Jenny’s grave, talking to her as if she were there. He left a letter from Little Forrest for her to read. This made me think.

Visiting Fort Snelling or other graveyards always gives me a strange aura. I read the markers, and my thoughts range from wonderful to sad to strange. I’ve never visited a grave site of someone I know.

I thought of Dana and how she was taken early. Was she? I often think of the Pastor’s words when my 3-year-old nephew died. He said God’s plan for Aaron’s life was three years, and Dana’s was 36 years, and they lived those years fully. The Pastor emphasized that life’s brevity is due to our expectations.

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

Watching Forrest Gump speak to Jenny makes me reflect on life’s unpredictability. I yearn to visit my friend’s grave in Portland to pay my respects. It’s strange, but Kayak.com offers reasonable prices. I must coordinate tennis and work, hoping to alleviate my emotional pain.

The smallest things can trigger emotions. Without them, what are we? For me, emotional eating is fat. I feel positive about my steps, which gives me hope.

I hope you’re well in this hot July as you train for races. I won’t race this year, but I look forward to the Superior 100. I’m trying to volunteer instead of officiating tennis.

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

Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.

SteveQ

I visit some grave sites and others I don't. 29 years since my fiancee died and I've never been to hers, but I stop by my parents' when I'm in the area.  btw, my dad grew up at Ft. Snelling, when it was still a military base!  Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 10:07:42 AM CDT

Beth

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. His love for her despite all of her ups and downs is inspiring.  Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 10:08:31 PM CDT

RIP Annie!

Annie!

Friday was a difficult day for my girlfriend, Shelley. One of her Golden Retrievers, Annie, developed a large tumor pressing on her organs. This followed the loss of their aged cat, Palay, just weeks earlier.

I met Annie in 2004, when Shelley had two dogs and a cat. After her divorce, Shelley kept Annie and bought a male Golden Retriever, Jackson. Despite my initial resistance due to past dog-related issues, Annie and Jackson became close companions.

Annie’s gentle demeanor and Jackson’s aggression made them unique. I learned to enjoy their company and walks. Now, it will be a walk of one, which will be challenging.

The vet provided excellent pain management during Annie’s euthanasia. My son was surprised to see me crying, knowing my approach to dogs. I explained that Annie was special and often seemed to understand when Shelley was away or after my surgeries. She approached me like a loving mother, offering comfort and support.

While it’s heartbreaking to see her go, it’s the right decision. Like anyone, I’d have cried with sorrow, seeing a dear part of my life disappear.

R.I.P. Annie, may you and Palay have a great time together in heaven! You were special to many!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.

brothergrub

Eerie... We just had to put our dearly loved Golden down last week. That photo on your post looked EXACTLY like her. We were lucky to have Martha Kate for 16 1/2 years - and she was in pretty good shape until the very end. The hardest part for me wasn't letting go of her (I knew she was winding down), but watching how hard it was on my wife and my two daughters. Amazing how invested we can become in our pets. ... Sorry about your dog...  Monday, June 28, 2010 at 6:31:31 AM CDT

Beth

My sympathies to you on your loss. I think losing pets is especially hard because we feel so much responsibility for them and they give us unconditional love.  Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 10:30:11 PM CDT

I heard this and thought, this is like me!

Today was quite eventful.

I commenced washing my car, but upon walking to the garage, I discovered mail on the table. Initially, I intended to clean the car, but I decided to sort through the mail first. I placed the car keys on the desk and discarded the junk mail after organizing the bills, noting that the trash can was full. Subsequently, I put the bills on the desk and took out the trash. However, since I would be near the mailbox, I decided to pay the bills immediately.

Upon searching for the checkbook, I found it, but it only had one check left. I realized that the extra checks were in the file cabinet. Next to the file cabinet, I noticed the Coke I had been drinking.

I needed to retrieve the checks, but I decided to place the Coke in the refrigerator to cool it down. As I headed towards the kitchen, I noticed that my flowers required watering. I set the Coke on the counter and, to my surprise, there were my glasses. I had been searching for them throughout the morning, so I promptly put them away.

I filled the container with water and proceeded to water the flowers. However, I discovered that someone had left the TV remote in the kitchen. Since we will likely forget to check the kitchen when we want to watch TV tonight, I moved the remote to the living room. Unfortunately, I inadvertently spilled water on my way into the living room.

I set the controls in the laundry room and retrieved towels to clean up the spill. Upon reaching the laundry room, I noticed a pile of laundry and decided to start the laundry cycle. However, I realized that I had used all the laundry detergent and needed to go to the store. Now, I am faced with the question of where the car keys are.

Is this a disease or normal?

Carry on my friends!

wildknits

Have you ever read "if you give a mouse a cookie" or its sequel "if you give a moose a muffin" ?  While children's books they describe just such events in an equally charming manner ;->. Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 10:08:07 PM CDT

Beth

You've just described my average day. I'm so glad I'm not alone! Friday, June 25, 2010 at 10:40:23 PM CDT

Run Grandma's again? And Finish?

In 1985, I set a goal to run the Grandma’s Marathon and Twin Cities Marathon consecutively for 25 years. In my 13th year at the Twin Cities Marathon, my entry was lost by the postal service and returned to me several weeks after the race. Consequently, I was not entered and, to be honest, the cold weather and lack of understanding from the TCM staff deeply upset me. Even today, I consistently recommend that individuals consider participating in a more welcoming race. Nevertheless, last year, I completed 25 Grandma’s Marathons. (For reference, please visit the post.) I had no intention of participating in that race again.

With my knee surgery last July, bike accident last July, work stress, and another surgery in mid-May 2010, I never thought I’d run Grandma’s, and I definitely didn’t want to. But I’m a dad first, and I’d go to the ends of the earth for my son. He tried to run the race and asked me to join him. I resisted like crazy. He kept encouraging me to think about it. So, to sum it up, I signed up.

Before I started the report, seeing Wayne Nelson a few times on the course really lifted my spirits. It kept me going strong. After catching up with Lisa at Lake Street, I felt a surge of confidence. Thanks a bunch, you two! As I had promised, I started my 26th consecutive Grandma’s Marathon. Since last July, I’ve logged fewer than 20 running miles. I’ve covered over 1,200 miles on the bike and a lot of walking, but so little running. I had been telling myself all week that there was no way I could finish…

My son decided to join me for the first mile. It was a slow start, with a 12-minute mile and a heart rate of 130 beats per minute. But I was feeling good about how I was doing. Then, my son went off on his own and finished in 4:30. On the other hand, a good goal would be to finish the first 5 miles in 12:30 or less, the next 5 miles in 13 minutes or less, and then keep the same pace until the end. That went pretty well; for the first 16 miles, I started to feel blisters and cramps. I had been taking S-Caps and knew it was related to fatigue. So, I decided to walk. Walk fast!!!

To my surprise, I managed to complete 15-minute miles walking, but only muster over 14 minutes of mile running. This initial success was short-lived, as I gradually dropped 10-15 seconds with each mile. By mile 22, I had reached the 16-minute mile mark, but a finish was within reach. Despite my desire to jog, I recognized the superior effectiveness of walking. Consequently, I persisted in walking, completing each mile.

My son returned and met me at mile 24, which provided me with a significant boost of confidence. He remained with me until Lake Street, where I experienced a second wind. The final two miles were completed in the 13-14 range, and I successfully finished the 26th mile. Crossing the finish line, I was overcome with emotion. I shed tears because I had never envisioned surpassing the halfway mark. I was grateful for my son’s encouragement to undertake the seemingly insurmountable task. The accomplishment brought a profound sense of fulfillment.

The experience closely resembles my feelings after completing 77 miles of the ST 100 in 2007. My physical condition remains unchanged. I still bear a baseball-sized blister on my right foot and a smaller one on my left. However, if this is the price I must pay this evening, I am content. I have made my son proud less than five weeks after undergoing surgery that rendered me temporarily unemployed. Achieving a seemingly impossible goal provides an unparalleled sense of accomplishment.

Where does this take me? I don't know, as I will have to see what the next two days are like, but I have a big smile on my face tonight, even though my foot is pretty painful.

Carry on, my friends! Carry on!

Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.

Mike W.

Congratulations, Wayne told me you were doing it on Thursday, glad to hear you kept moving and got it down. Enjoy this one. It was special.  Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 10:55:06 PM CDT

JojaJogger

Congratulations on #26!  Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 3:41:43 AM CDT

wildknits

You looked good at Lake and Superior St! Fun to be there with Wayne cheering you on.   Guess this means you have to go for #30 Grandma's now, hmm?  Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 7:19:55 AM CDT

Kel

Incredible accomplishment, Londell! Hope to see you back out on the trails very soon!  Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 10:10:11 AM CDT

SteveQ

Way to go, tough guy!  Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 12:26:55 PM CDT

Steve

Londell, there's only one word to describe your result - AWESOME!! I couldn't be happier for you. Congratulations on finding the strength within yourself to push through the pain and discomfort, and for believing in yourself. Well done!  Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 12:37:36 PM CDT

Diane

Wow, way to go! You've impressed me!  Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 5:08:13 PM CDT

Wayne

Well done, Londell! Very cool that your son got you to the start and you got yourself to the finish for 26! It was fun seeing you out there and I was impressed you were always in a good mood.  Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:26:07 PM CDT

Beth

Wow!! I am so happy for you! You are one determined guy and it's wonderful that you had your son encourage you and share it with you. Geez, that is an impressive blister, too! Congratulations!!  Monday, June 21, 2010 at 9:27:04 PM CDT

Don

You did it! That's quite a story.  Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 7:39:10 AM CDT

Bed time in excess

As an individual who dislikes sitting still, I find myself spending most of my days lying down since my successful surgery. However, if I rise within approximately 20 minutes, I experience a rapid loss of consciousness and am compelled to lie down once again. My medical professional has informed me that I am expected to remain incapacitated for the remainder of May, potentially for an extended period.

Fortunately, my vision remains unaffected, and my mental clarity has significantly improved, surpassing what I had experienced in a considerable amount of time. This is a great reason to celebrate. While this improvement does not come without the occasional headache, which is unlike any I have previously encountered, hydrocodone has proven to be an effective pain reliever.

Feeling quite fatigued, I will conclude this post.

Until later, Carry on...

Comments from my original blog - I merged the blogs.

SteveQ

Good to hear the surgery went well. Now... baby steps. Get well, but don't rush it (and remember who's saying that!). Friday, May 21, 2010 at 10:17:59 AM CDT

Diane

Glad to hear you're on the mend!  Friday, May 21, 2010 at 10:40:28 AM CDT

Wayne

Good news, Londell - seems like better days are ahead... yay!  Friday, May 21, 2010 at 12:10:05 PM CDT

Kel

Glad to hear that the surgery went well - hope to see you sooner rather than later out on the trails!  Friday, May 21, 2010 at 4:33:05 PM CDT

brothergrub

Things are on the UP - Great news!  Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 7:51:07 AM CDT

Mike W.

Great news, now just take it one day at a time and for once listen to Steve.  Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:45:23 PM CDT

JojaJogger

Glad to hear the surgery went well. Now do as Steve says, not as Steve does and take your time.  Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 6:01:34 AM CDT

Beth

I'm so glad the surgery went well and your vision improved. Rest, rest, rest and you will be out on the trails feeling good when the time is right.  Monday, May 24, 2010 at 10:58:44 AM CDT