I like to Run

But not in the rain.  This past weekend, I ran my first race of the year.  The Rock the Parkway 5K. I've never run a full marathon yet, but the goal is just that this year. I must say that I kind of impressed myself with my time. 3.1 miles in a little under 28 minutes. It was cold and wet and my focus was to just finish, then go back home and crawl into bed.  I'm not sure how most runners race, but I start out slow and really push it from the second half until the end. However, this race started mostly uphill, and when I add hills to my treadmill sessions, I generally add them in the second half of the run. I like to ease myself into it, but I guess being that I am determined to run Hospital Hill this year (fingers crossed for health and working joints and ligaments) I should probably scatter my hill practices. When I run outside, my courses are varied in inclines, so I guess my treadmill session should be also. But I use the hamster wheel to increase endurance and speed. Ah, whatever, I think I'm doing good. It's not like I'm trying to win anything. I guess I just want to run like I was able to in High School. And to think that I absolutely despised running.  It was such an awful endeavor to think about then.

I really want to run faster than what I did and the Trolley Run is April 28th.  My Dad asked what our goals were this year, and well, this is definitely one that I want to accomplish. And maybe a full marathon in the fall. If I do try for one, I will have to run it in another city. Definitely... maybe Chicago, nah, been there. The Marine Corp Marathon in DC, I LOVE DC. Maybe I can meet the President. That'd be cool!

Quote of the Day

"The universe only makes sense if you can share it with someone." ~Paulo Coehlo

My favorite author never seizes to amaze me. I must meet him, we think a like I believe.

A blog for the Adam-izer

So, today I went to work on bike. The forecasters lied about the warm weather we were going to have. I had to wear my grandpa's ENORMOUS gloves. Then I went to work, made LOTS of signs, updated our Twitter and Hy-Vee webpage, um. What else, OH, the FROZEN department looks  a-MAAAA-zing! Or at least, it's on its way to being a-MAAAA-zing!  I did price changes... oh and I printed a picture of some very cool vintage bike posters. I figured it's about time to put some artwork on my walls.  Here's one of them:

Beauty ain't it?

So, now I'm home and working on some more vintage posters, making them mine. 

Next on the agenda is I'm going to my friend's Mark & Sarah's tonight to see them

and deliver diapers.  And then go to bed early as I'm running at little thing called a

RACE! Only a 5K, but hey, it's something.... right?

Alright Adam-izer, there is your Blog about nothing. It was actually hard to write about nothing.  

Enjoy! 

You Spin Me Right Round Baby

Right round, like a record baby, right round, round, round....

I am a thinker and often times I get lost in my thoughts and drown out the rest of the world and think that my thoughts are what is most important. I recently read a quote by Henry David Thoreau that resonated with me,

"The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when someone asked me what I thought, and then attended to my answer."

Not many people ask me about my thoughts and often I feel they are ignored or fall on deaf ears, but I've come to the realization that my beliefs, and "theories" about life are for me and one day I will find others that will want to share them with me.  My blog has attracted like minded thinkers on occasion, but as of late, not so much.

My only New Year's Resolution this year was to continuing making connections with people, and I have pretty much failed in that regard until the other day.  On Thursday I was running a million errands, but I took the time to just absorb the things I was seeing and the energy of those around me.

Twice that day I passed houses where the owners were finally taking down their Christmas decorations. It was quite the relief to know that I had not been the only one reluctant or should I say, procrastinating.  More than likely, it was probably the hard winter that we have all had to live through this year.  The weather is an energy and I do believe that it can affect our motivation and our moods. For the past couple of months I have wanted to do very little.  I have hibernated within my apartment.  Facing the world has been a little difficult after my most recent antics. But seeing people outside has shown me that many of us suffer and we can be tested by heart ache and hardships.  And we can all come out of it, we can remember that life is an adventure. We pick up the pieces if things have been broken, and we continue on, stronger than ever.

We are all connected to each other and seeing even the most simple activities of the people we encounter has reminded me of that.  No connection is ever broken in its entirety. Connections can be strained and worn, but ultimately they heal and sometimes they can strengthen.  The memory of the goodness of people is what remains and that is the connection that ever really matters.  It is happiness and love that prevail. Anger, frustration, hate are temporary emotions that lack any real depth to compete against the enduring strength of positive energy.

That positive energy is in all of us, and it makes our Universe Spin Right round, round, round!

Peace friends.

Fear & Wisdom

I went back to church today after about a month of wanting to wallow in my sadness.  I figured it was time to raise my head high and overcome the embarrassment I have been feeling after reaching out to my pastor for help and guidance. I put a lot of people through some crazy "stuff" and it has been difficult to just go back out into the world and have to confront the reality of what has happened in my life. But church was my first major hurdle and I did it. Kept my head up and really listened to the message.  I really think that every scripture read and sermon preached has been chosen for me.  I absorb it all and I relate to it completely.


During the season of Lent, our church has been focusing on the minor characters in the Bible.  I think this is perfect because most of us play minor roles in the playing out of the world, but when we are in touch with the Lord or whatever Energy or source we may be connected to, we are ultimately a part of everything. 


Today's message was about having courage and if you have passed by my blog in the past few days, you will have noticed that on Friday I read a quote and put it as my blog post. "To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom." Bertrand Russell  It is our ability to be courageous that allows us to conquer our fears.


During the times of the Exodus, Pharaoh asked the two midwives of the Israelites to kill all male babies born.  The midwives, who honored the Lord, did not do it. They defied the ruler of Egypt and allowed all the boys to be live.  This was before Moses had ever received God's Commandments, but these women knew that killing those children would not be right in the eyes of the Lord.  Patrick is a military man and he relates most things to power.  In our country, we are very resistant to power, we rally, we assemble to have our voices heard.  These two midwives resisted in a different way, they told a little fib and said that the Israelite women were quick to birth and children were usually born before they even got there.  True, the Commandments also say not to lie, but this is what Patrick called situational ethics.  It is the courage to resist that which is contrary to the gospel.  What Pharaoh had asked of these women was an unethical request and the women were faithful in the Lord to do what was right. To allow all children, regardless of their sex, to be born.


The second story we read was from the times of King David.  Nathan, David's loyal servant confronts him and accuses David of forcing a poor man to sacrifice his only sheep so that visitors to the King could be fed.  (go here for the whole story, very easy version to read)  


I think this story can relate to everyone because we all at some point have to confront somebody who has done wrong. Nathan's confrontation was probably the hardest one to be carried out. Confront a King, the most powerful man in Israel, about something he did wrong? Oh la la as the French say! Thankfully most of us don't have to confront such a source of Power, but we do have confrontations in our daily lives.  When I think of power in my life, I think of those who wield control or those who like to think they have control. So many times, we can be intimidated by those who are forceful over us and we can talk ourselves out of being right and doing the right thing. We justify why somebody has done wrong. We lose our courage and just let it slide. We are all guilty of not standing up for what is right. We haven't always followed through with what we SHOULD do. And why? Because when we acknowledge that somebody has power or CONTROL over us, we back down. We fear what that power can mean, and what it can do. It can destroy our lives, leave us with nothing, leaving us to pick up the pieces and begin anew, a process which can be daunting, almost terrifying. 


Who knows what was going through Nathan's head when he realized he HAD to confront David. David could have had him killed if he wanted, but Nathan didn't back down from doing what he knew was right. 


And what happens when we talk ourselves out of doing the right thing? Chaos, drama. Boy do I know a thing or two about drama! I'm not even going to bring it up, but let us just say that I talked myself out of doing the right thing. I found myself in an "ethical situation," and instead of having courage to resist that which is contrary to the gospel, and talking myself out of doing what was right, I just went with what was going. It felt so good to be accepted for who I am, but in the end, I found myself in a mess of chaos and a feeling of hopelessness.  


Luckily though, I believe in Jesus and during the season of Lent, we remember the courage he had to face his temptations.  He persevered in the face of what would have seemed a lost cause.  Life is difficult sometimes, but knowing that Jesus accepts us for who we are without expectations, I know that I too can persevere and be courageous when dealing with my fears.  Not being accepted by my peers is a fear of mine, a long-standing one, but during this season of Lent I have been able to slowly let go.  It is a difficult endeavor, but one that I know I can do. God has not given up on me, so therefore I cannot give up on me either. Through Him and through his Son I will persevere and overcome my fears. I will be courageous, and through it I will gain wisdom and strength.  I am afraid sometimes to pick up the pieces, begin anew, but I know I will always have the Lord on my side.


"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom." Bertrand Russell

Ode to the OneEyed Z

A year ago today, I met up with the One Eyed Zeke
He was beyond awesome, and a big bicycle geek.


The week before, he told me he liked my socks
We were wearing the same ones, I said that rocks.


I found him on myspace, I made him my friend
He wrote me an e-mail said I was sexy, THE END!


That isn't the end because we met the next weekend
He was friendly and cool, I wanted to see him again.


We met at O'Dowds on the Plaza on Sunday
He kissed me goodnight, it was great, what a day!


We dated two months, he was patient and kind
He took things slow and for that I was fine (no rhyme, but it's cool right?)


He held me one night when I cried out my confusion
The words he used comforted the delusion.


He started working on triathlons, told me he was no good at dating.
I told him I like him enough to be patient, that it would be worth waiting.


The summer grew long, our roads divided
Our friendship wore thin, our lives were one-sided.


My patience didn't last and led me to end it.
He took it with grace, but I then second-guessed it.


Our friendship was strained, but we found each other again.
He has been too special to me, to let it all end.


The comfort I feel with him has picked up the pace.
But sometimes his antics make me want to punch him in the face! :o)


We can wear on each other's nerves, but does it really matter?
When ice cream is around, it allows us to grow... fatter?


When he drinks too much beer, 
I care for his safety and worry with (some) fear.


He is a great person, being with him is fun
... like a day in the sun!


We have grown back together and he has become a best friend.
I will love him forever, forever til the end. 


I love you Zeke. You mean the world to me and I'm so glad to have you in my life. Had I not met you a year ago, my life would not be as exciting as it is now. You are super special to me!  xoxo forever!