Lace 'em up again

I'm getting to be a regular at Rock Creek. It's a terrific and quiet State Park.  Perfect for an early evening run.  If I start by 5:30 p.m., I can be home by 7:30. 

"After the fire, the fire still burns" (P. Townsend),. If that's the case and this serves as a nice cool down from a day of meetings.

It's also a nice way to break up the drive from DSM to IC.

And so it goes.....

Supper

Stir fry chicken, onions, carrots, and broccoli over a bed of carefully seasoned rice.  Enjoy cooking for others... sigh.

And so it goes...

Home sweet home

Maggie's home after four weeks of adventure.  Ten days home, then a week at ontology camp for siblings.

Thursday DSM.

Next weekend is a crap shoot. Friday and most of Saturday I'm solo. Plan to run and install drywall. Based on my near death experience today, I'll need an angel on my shoulder to survive without injury. I've made it this far. .. so believe I'm blessed.

No word from Crazy, but word from Smelopevet is good. Conrats!  Family time is good too. Wish I was there for thy he rock throw and Lutfisk eating contest. I'd be in good company.

Sigh. ... and so it goes.

Rather be running

About 95% of the garage unpacked and put away.  Had to build a large storage shelfing unit in the basement to do it.

Then loaded the first sheets of drywall into the basement. I'll begin hanging this afternoon once I build a deadmans post.

Crazy Pete is well on his way in the 24hr. Tri, while the Smelvelopet crowd have crossed the finish line (congrats and thanks for the updates!).

I'd rather be there than here, but can't control that.  So a drywallin' I go.

And so it goes...

36 years+

Such a great time catching up with some Central Jr. High compadres. Craig E. (third from the left) and I went to preschool (Serendipity) together. Ginger H. (first on right) I've known since second grade... my sister away from my sisters.

The smattering of others are people I bump into around town, exept for John D. Whom I've not seen in 35 years... in from NYC!

Linda M. And Kelly B. joined us later.  Loyal friendships have no boundaries and no time limits. Sigh... never ever forgotten.

And so it goes...

Great Run

Maybe a hair shy of three miles. Beautiful State Park and get this... no hills!!  Just inclines. No aches, no injury, no sweat.  Substance, but no style.  No worries. 

Who needs style anyway?... ok, ok, ok!  I confess, I do.  I need plenty of style. Do they have coaches for that?

No matter. .. it's all good.  Run slow. .. run long. .. run for F*U*N.  And so it goes. ..

Rock Creek.

Yesterday's swim loosened up a few stiff muscles. The move is finally shaking off my bones.

So today I think I'll try a little run. With meetings in DSM, I might not lace em up 'til 7:00. Hopefully trails won't be crowded, and mosquitoes will be asleep.   Sigh. .. it's worth a shot.   And so it goes...

Golph doh!

So Big Dawg had his first golf lesson.  He will shake his baseball swing with time and practice.  He was very frustrated with putting;  welcome to golf.

Got in a short swim today. Not enough to feel accomplished, but better than nothing. 

Chalupa found the Streptacocus Virus in Pittsburgh. Go figure.  Probably the same kind we have in Iowa. Thank goodness for Saint Randy Hausler. Last year it was Beaner.

Word from Peanut. .. all good.

Beaner isn't speaking to me these days.  I'm an oaf and insensitive dad.  Not exactly the words she used. ..but you get the point. 

And that's how is, and so it goes.

The Law Enforcers

Pretending to be royalty, our cats gaze down at their minions from the comfort of their balcony.  That makes me the royal paparazzi.

Got 1O solid hours of sleep last night.  Exhaustion and stress overwhelmed me. I am long overdue to get caught up in sleep, exercise and diet. Slow progress towards work-life balance.

Electrician approved the framing of Chalupa's room.  So it will be wired next week.  She's currently in Pittsburgh.

Peanut is still at camp for two more weeks.  Everyone else is slowly unpacking and lulled into some lazy daze of Summer.

Crazy Pete is one again carrying the mantle of Team Fun, while I remain in absentia. Last week he was trotting 13 miles up a peak in Colorado, this weekend he'll do 24 hours of Tri-Athlon.  Stooopit stuph! Gabba gabba.

DSM in Thursday, then gathering of Central Jr. High friends (for more than 35 years!) for lunch on Friday. .. should be fun. 

Last but not least. .. Chance, our Parakeet, has survived one year!  Portia, is still with us. See?  There is hope. . Just believe and be patient. 

And so it goes. ..

Prisoner

JoAnn is teaching Big Dawg how to play prisoner's solitaire. Hence the picture.

This after a morning on the course with Mr. Tebeau, and the afternoon in the shop.

Tomorrow is in the office with our new coordinator. We're keeping her busy with 40+ Iowa City EMBA students starting in August and 11 (so far) students in Des Moines starting I'm January.

I noticed it's a full moon tonight. .. might be a good for a late night run?  There are always possibilities.

At least that's what I believe.  And so it goes. .. 

Travel

You know with all the travel of my loved ones as of late, I got to wondering why our instincts are so strong to know they arrived safe. Both to the destination and back.

No bizarre flight delays, no roadblocks or dragnets, no "events"?

Secondary to that, did they have a good time and what we're the highlights? Teenaged daughters are mutants.  Sigh...  I guess I'll always wonder.

And so it goes. ..

Jazz in IC

The final push to finish the move is over.  We are back to one mortgage and a lout of unpacking.

Meanwhile. .. Peanut remains in northern MN, for her second of the week's as a counselor in training.  Beaner continues to grab some work at Monica's (local restaurant).

Chalupa arrived home from camp this morning at 12:30, is now in a bus. ..Pittsburgh bound.  This is the annual Pittsburgh Project with St. Andrews church.

Big dog speed by my office yesterday, and I took him out to lunch.  On the way we saw this Jazz Band playing outside of a local jeweler.  Ahhh, is City in the summer... nothing like it. .. not even Vegas!

This week, unpack and organize from the move.  And so it goes. ..

History books

When I rented the U-haul for our first major assent on our move, I remember the guy telling me that cross-town moves are way worse that x-country moves. He was right. 

Just about three weeks later, we finally completed the move. So now, under a half moon, and a cardinal singing in the background, I'm sitting by the side of the pool and am glad the move is done. 

But I can't help feeling a bit sad for all that was lost while in that house. The list includes birds (to many to count), fish, dogs, a cat, and a bit of my sanity.

Somehow I know we're good.  We move on and forward. The adventure continues. .. and oh the vistas we'll see. It would help to win the Lottery to expedite things. Just sayin'.

1309 Goldenrod.... is in the books.  And so it goes...

Brand new

It never goes as smoothly as you want, but progress is being made.  Framing will be complete this week. Maybe electrical this week. Then insolation and... dugn dugn dugn daah... dry wall, mud and tape (ugh).

Monthly Column

I am a regular contributor The Cedar Rapids Gazette's Business 380. Here is a link to this month's submission.

http://thegazette.com/2013/07/14/leading-the-way-12-tips-for-managing-smart/

Don't look now!

When our cat helps us break up Trainers fir Woofables... everybody wins!

Lost and...

... not found yet.  Moving has taken its toll on my car keys and debit card.  Both are MIA. They're probably in a box somewhere, or accidentally tossed. Off the six keys, I was able to get three replaced. Auto security chips make replacing those keys difficult and expensive.  I took a pass on two of those, and they didn't have a key for my bike lock.

I did score a Hawkeye key though. .. and so it goes.

First project done!

With the new location comes a boat-load of new projects.  First and foremost, a kennel so we can get Buddha out of jail. Done!  Buddha comes home tomorrow

Shelving units in the basement for storage. 50% done.

Building s bedroom for Maggie. Pulled the permit and should have the frame work up by the end of the weekend. Next week. .. electrical,  the following week. .. dry wall.  The final week. .. paint and carpet.

After that, I'll expand the garden plot,  and excavate the back yard for a fire pit. Then this fall. .. trees and shrubs. 

New Digs

Well we're just about completely moved in.  Several boxes left to unpack, but that can be done in the next few days.  We are now, officially Coralvillians ... almost sounds biblical, huh?

For those following the At-Large Dog saga with Pipsqueak and Buddha.  [escaped one time too many and "terrorized" some vocal neighbors in our old location - arrested, and went to "trial" in an administrative hearing].  Buddha will return home on Saturday!  That's the good news. 

Unfortunately, despite all of our best efforts and last minute appeals, we were not granted a stay or any alternative proposed solutions.  She got the "final solution".  Pipsqueak was euthanized as a "vicious and dangerous" dog.

It's been a long strange trip indeed. Who knows what this next chapter will bring (don't answer that!).  And so it goes....