Running to stand still

Old medicine bottle backlit
by a candle.

Running is cathartic and energizing, therapeutic and calming. I always feel better after a run, whatever ails me, even a sore leg. But as I wrote previously, if the pain is simply masked by all those yummy endorphins, you could be doing yourself a disservice to ignore the underlying symptom just because it's lessened by natural body chemistry.

So it is that I did not run this morning. The leg feels better but I think I've only prolonged the problem by hitting the streets too soon when it first began to improve a couple weeks ago. Maybe it's time to see the doc about it. I don't know. Whatever, I need to do something more than nothing. Maybe a liniment rub or some Icy Hot...

Sailor Jerry handle bottles
have tattoo girls on both
sides of the label.

In the meantime, let me share my latest artistic expressions -- alas, not made from any of my street finds; still working on that. I am fascinated by low-light photography and some of the cool images I've discovered.

Green flamingo swizzle stick in a green Rolling Rock glass backlit by Facebook.

Every picture tells a story

And so I have a bonus post of photos from yesterday's haul. And yes, every picture does tell a story. Thank you, Rod Stewart.

First we have an interesting new can. Ol' Glory declares itself "America's Energy Drink." The can features a rendering of Ol' Glory herself, the U.S. flag. Among the slogans on the can: "Energize Your Future in the Army National Guard." The can also bears the Pledge of Allegiance and a pledge of its own: "Ol' Glory is proud to donate a portion of its sales to support Operation Homefront. To learn more, visit www.olglory.com." Particularly amusing, though, is the obligatory warning: Not recommended for children, pregnant women or persons sensitive to caffeine. These Statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Now that's a new one.

Besides the patriotic theme, the company's focus is to provide an energy drink at a more affordable price. One of the links on its Web page, The Stack Up, provides a comparison of Ol' Glory to other popular energy drinks (Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar) in the categories of cost, calories, caffeine, vitamin B12, guarana, taurine and ginseng. At 99 cents it is less than half the cost of its nearest competitor. Check it out ... if you dare. Personally, I wasn't impressed with my single indulgence in a Red Bull. If ya wanna get juiced, pop a couple of No Doz with your Mountain Dew.

A minor note here: As I was photographing the Ol' Glory can with a flattened Coors can that happened to be squashed perfectly so as to display the label, I was soundly chastised for interloping on territory claimed by some punk squirrel -- not the first time I've been admonished by one of these rambunctious rodents perched high above in the maple tree that lords over my patio. OK, I'm easily 20 feet below the bastard. Why is he so upset at my intrusion? If intrusion it can be called. All deference to nature and its domain, but mankind has overtaken this land and these little varmints should accept it.

OK, tirade done. Next up, hmmm. How to approach this delicately. I alluded to it in my earlier post. Mentioned in the "Treasure" list is a pair of "granny panties" (anybody seen "Zack and Miri Make a Porno"?) frozen to the asphalt over on Cherry Street. I almost picked them up. Seriously. I have no idea why, but dignity, what little I possess, prevented me ... for now. The bumper sticker on the pickup in the background, its tags conveniently obscured by snow, reads, "Defend Your Right To Bear Union Cards." Click on the photo and you should be able to read it. Maybe not.

Then there was the Certificate of Authenticity for a $100 Benjamin Franklin Banknote from the American Mint. Google search turned up an eBay listing for one of the coins, valued at about $25. What a joke. Some chump "collector's" piece. I wonder how many real deal coin collectors have one in their collection?

Finally, the two soft goods I picked up (for some reason I like finding this stuff in decent condition) were a green washcloth (now freshly washed and usable) and a black or perhaps dark blue ski mask. Alas, as is obvious from the photo, it is a kid's size. Doesn't quite fit my manly mug. Oh well, it makes for a humorous photo.

Let's hope next week proves as profitable. (As always, click on images for a larger version.)

Roger, Challenger...

You know the rest of that quote. And I use it with deepest respect and honor to those astronauts. I was a student at Western Illinois University when Challenger exploded. I heard about it just before my history class. As I walked into Higgins Hall to meet a friend for lunch, I paused in the main lounge to watch the reports of that tragedy. I remember thinking of that historic clip of Walter Cronkite delivering the news of Kennedy's assassination, removing his glasses and pausing to look at the clock as he reported the time of death. It was like that moment of near faltering when Dan Rather actually did falter and referred to President Nixon, then corrected himself to say President Reagan. 

For my generation it was our first "where were you" moment. Later we had O.J. (more a pop culture event than a tragedy, except for the Brown and Goldman families). Then came Oklahoma City and Columbine. Sept. 11 overshadowed them all. And yet, Challenger is the most vivid in my mind. Maybe it's that image of the exploding shuttle. Maybe it's the timing of it: college years, off on my own. Hard to say.

Remember them. Remember the Columbia Seven. Remember Grissom, Chaffee and White. They were pioneers, brave and bold and adventurous and visionary.

Segue: Speaking of visionary pioneers, how about Art Clokey, creator of Gumby. Huh? Well, today's run brought me into possession of a Gumby DVD. It's cracked and splotched but it plays, sort of. Made it through "Gumbasia" and a second Gumby adventure before it locked up. I'll keep trying.

Today's Stats

Temp: 28 degrees F

Distance: 6.1 miles

Weekly Total: 14.4 miles

Treasure: 26 cans; 1 black ski mask; 1 green washcloth; 1 plastic yard light holder (cracked, incomplete); 1 6-inch round head bolt; 1 Gumby DVD, "Gumbasia: Vol. 20"; 1 pair granny panties (frozen to the pavement, left behind -- or was in the right behind that was frozen to the street?); 1 Certificate of Authenticity, Banknotes of the USA, No. 07944, from the American Mint, for a $100 Banjamin Franklin c. 2001 (wish the banknote were with it!).

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions

Rain King - Counting Crows

A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel

Superman - Five for Fighting

Kick Drum Heart - The Avett Brothers

Hard on You - Rob Thomas

Rosanna - Toto

Message in a Bottle (live) - John Mayer

Sleep 'Til the War is Over - Rob Thomas

One of These Things First - Nick Drake

Eight Days a Week - The Beatles

Tom Sawyer - Rush

Missundaztood - Pink

Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd

You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette

Somebody' Baby - Jackson Browne

I hurt myself today

"... To see if I'd still feel."

I know, eewww! Try to focus on the pretty pearly-whites.

OK, not literally. Just one of today's songs that struck a chord. In a bit of a time crunch just now, so you'll have to wait for deets on this morning's run later. I will give ya the stats and the shuffle list, just for kicks. 'Cause everybody needs some kicks.

Wow, it's kinda late and I'm not sure what to say. Today's, er, yesterday's run was in part another errand run. A few blocks to the video store to return "Death Proof" and "Room 33," a couple horror/suspense flicks. Very good, both of them, though totally different. Tarantino's homage to '70s exploitation in his Grindhouse special "Death Proof" is incredibly well done, giving the authentic feel of its ancestors. As for "Room 33," well, I love the use of old asylums -- great setting for a horror film. Old school psychiatric care is scary stuff in itself. At least what I've seen of it through such films, which I am sure bear some semblance of truth.

It was on the way to the library from the video store to return another video that I came across a plastic restaurant-style fried-food basket; you know, the kind they line with paper and fill with fries or chicken strips or cheese sticks or breaded mushrooms. It was in perfect condition, though I'd have preferred red to black. But scavengers can't be choosers. It's washed and lined with a napkin for a few generic Oreos -- well, there were a few, but only one remains.

OK, aside: I'm watching "The Hurt Locker" and I don't understand why the IED busters bother disarming explosives. Why not just get at a safe distance and blow 'em?

The big piece of metal appears to be some
sort of heat shield or auto part. Thought it
might be aluminum and would, in effect,
boost my can total. Alas, it is steel.

Anyway, quick stop at the library to drop off the UK version of "The Office" (wife watched, not me) and then proceeded to wend my way home on a still sore leg. It's getting better, though. Trouble with winter running -- besides the snotty mustache -- is the choppy gait you resort to in an effort to dodge ice and to negotiate sidewalk tundra. And in my case, the frequent difficulty in finding goodies. I still manage a few worthwhile items here and there, but it's harder when everything is covered with snow and slush and ice. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

So, in the home stretch, south on Kellogg past Cottage Hospital to Seminary and east to Seminary and north past the hospital I was seeing loads of these blue mystery sticks. The looked like blue fireplace matches or something, but often in small clusters rather than individuals. It puzzled my puzzler, then it dawned on me: busted bristles from the whirling tractor-mounted brush used by the grounds crew to sweep snow from the sidewalks around the hospital.

Today's Stats

Temp: 25 degrees F

Distance: 5.3 miles

Weekly Total: 8.3 miles

Treasure: 1 plastic fried-food basket; 1 right-hand glove (cloth work-type); 17 cans; loads of blue mystery sticks (explained above).

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

When Ye Go Away - The Waterboys

Last Beautiful Girl - Matchbox Twenty

Dear Prudence - The Beatles

Hurt - Johnny Cash

Dunford's Fancy - The Waterboys

In the Flesh - Pink Floyd

Strange Boat - The Waterboys

Wrapped Around Your Finger - The Police

Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine

She Loves You - The Beatles

Hold On Loosely - .38 Special

Piano Man - Billy Joel

Something's Missing (live) - John Mayer

You're Gonna Lose That Girl - The Beatles

Cradlesong - Rob Thomas

Have A Cigar (Bill and Monica's Theme) - Pink Floyd

Sometimes I'm tired, sometimes I'm shot

"Sometimes I don't know how much more I've got. ... Darlin', I don't know why I go to extremes."

Buck and Bulldog

Billy didn't know and neither do I. Not sure if tonight's run was a good idea or not. Maybe. Right leg is still sore (hip, butt, knee). But I needed the high. Despite the pain (and it wasn't terrible) it really felt good to run. Before Friday I had skipped nearly a week and I just didn't feel right. Honestly, I wasn't sure I was going to do it today. Made a trip to Moline to visit a friend who works at the Rock Island Argus/Moline Dispatch. As luck would have it he had the day off, too, so we met at the paper downtown, where he introduced me to his girlfriend and his editor and a couple of other people. One of the front office staff thought we looked pretty cute (read silly, I think) in our ear-flap hats, and suggested we take a picture. So I did.

Click on photo to enlarge; the sticker
in lower right warns that taking more
papers than you paid for could land
you in the pokey for a year.

Then it was off to lunch. Running through a laundry list of options: Mexican, Chinese, cafe-style, etc., we ended up at TGI Fridays. Never been there before and I wasn't impressed. The food was decent enough and I liked the fun decor but it wasn't anything to write home about, which is why I'm writing from home to you about it. I think I prefer Applebee's or Chili's when it comes to such places. Whatevs. Chicken strips were hot and tasty, fries were nondescript, Cherry Coke was Cherry Coke (no Mountain Dew). Steve paid (thanks, buddy).

At the casino

After lunch (thanks again, Bulldog), I said I wanted to do a little gambling. We made our way to Jumer's inland hotel and casino. Now, I haven't been to a casino in years. Fact is, I've been only once before (won $60 that time). Frankly I find the experience a little overwhelming and confusing. I'm sure it's totally uncool and grandpa-like to play the slots instead of blackjack or poker or roulette, but I don't want to have to interact with anyone, especially when I'm ignorant of casino protocols and such. So I stick to the silly slots, which actually confuse me to no end. I mean, I get the basic ones, though it bugs me that the classic handle is kind of an afterthought; they lull you into pushing the buttons, which takes some of the fun out of it. But so many of the machines, which all have cute or sexy or playful names that seemingly have no connection to gambling, have multiple win lines and multi-credit bets and I was lost. So I just fed bills in and pushed buttons. Now I'm $20 poorer, but I had a little fun and I coulda won big!

So the night run was really almost an afterthought. Maybe I should have skipped it and spared the leg, but I didn't want anybody calling me Rob Quitler. For the record, I think anybody questioning Jay Cutler's toughness and heart is a bozo and should try getting drilled into the turf 50 times over the course of five months and see how tough you feel. And I'm not even a Bears fan.

Today's Stats

Temp: 21 degrees F

Distance: 3 miles

Treasure: Six cans (plus one novelty basketball from before run while running errands - found in the Big Lots parking lot).

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin

I Go to Extremes - Billy Joel

Shameless - Billy Joel

Black & White People - Matchbox Twenty

Fragile - Sting

Excitable Boy - Warren Zevon

You Shook Me - Led Zeppelin

Reno - Bruce Springsteen

Fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!

Sometimes we do things to appease others when we know we want to do it our way. Take today, for example. My wife texts from work that if I intend to run I should wait and go to the Y on a day pass because the wind chill was below zero and "running would be a dangerous idea."

Now, to be sure there is love and concern for my well-being behind that advice. But I think I would have survived. I acquiesced, however, and went to the Y tonight. It's been ages since I've been there; I don't even have a membership anymore, but I used daughter No. 2's pass (shame on me). The up side is that I took daughter No. 3 along and we got to run together again -- also for the first time in ages. But I gotta tell ya, running laps on an elevated wooden track is B O R I N G. Plus it involved freakin' math. Hello, I'm a writer. When I run outdoors I no longer count blocks and try to do the math (I did initially) but instead I rely on mapmyrun.com to tell me how far my legs carried me. And it's not like they make it easy with an even number of laps to equal a mile. No, it's 19 laps per mile. WTF?! 

I contemplated -- briefly -- counting my miles 19 laps at a time and starting over after each one. Then I realized that not only would I have to keep track of which lap I was on but also which mile. I don't have enough digits for that. So I just counted the laps and figured the tally in my meager melon. Let's see, 19 and 19 is 38, times 2 is ... um ... 76! Got it! Four miles! Give or take. A couple of times I forgot what lap I was on -- 24 or 25 ... 33 or 34? Sometimes I gave myself the benefit of the doubt and went with the higher number, other times I dropped a lap, so I'm guessing it balanced out.

Anyway, the point is, the track is boring. While waiting for the swim team to end its practice so we could splash around in the pool a little before heading to the Silver Streaks basketball game, we hit the wellness center, daughter No. 3 boarding an elliptical and I trying to keep upright on a treadmill. As I tried to end my pitiful experiment I rolled off the end of the damned thing, yanking my iPod out of the nook in which it was nestled on the machine. I thudded onto the floor (standing but embarrassed) and the Nano bounced on the treadmill and eventually rolled off at my feet. I nervously encouraged my daughter to dismount more gracefully and we left. As we did, I looked down the line of machines to see a woman a little older than I giving me the evil eye of disapproval. Sorry, lady. 

After a brief dip in the pool and a noisy sit in the steam room for me, we left for the basketball game. Thus ended my indoor run. My leg is still sore but it felt good to move. But I can't wait to get back on the street. Besides, there aren't any cans or stocking caps or anything else cool to scavenge at the Y. Well, come to think of it, there was an issue of Newsweek in the men's locker room that looked kind of interesting. ...

Today's Stats

Temp: 7 degrees F (outside)

Distance: 4 miles

Weekly Total: 8.3

Treasure: Nada.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen

Don't Let Me Down - The Beatles

Natural - Rob Thomas

Sullivan Street - Counting Crows

Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin) - Bruce Springsteen

Distance - Ryan Patrick McCullough

Wolves - Garth Brooks

Carmelita - Warren Zevon

Every Breath You Take - The Police

Time and Time Again - Counting Crows

Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles

Proudest Monkey - Dave Matthews Band

Reunion - Collective Soul

"I'm not alone"

"I wish I was / 'cause then I'd know / I was down because ..."

What a day. Not much on the streets but snow -- very pretty snow, but just snow -- and camera troubles make for a frustrating run. I guess you get what you pay for. I paid $35 for a faux Flip video camera and it's a little finicky. The on/off button has a 3-second delay (you have to hold it at least that long for the camera to power on or shut off. And sometimes it just won't power on. Maybe the batteries are low. Maybe it's just cheap. Glad I didn't pay the $90 list price. Not to settle for thwarting me with power problems, the darned U-Video camera decided to not save any of the stills I captured today. Not to fear, I returned with my good digital camera and retook the images I wanted.

What do you do when the street ends? Well,
some folks make tracks off-road!

That is until I dropped the thing in the snow! Yeah, I stopped to photograph a sign I had shot with the U-Video and when I removed my glove for a better contact with the shutter button, the lanyard slipped off my wrist and the Nikon went into the soft snow. I quickly retrieved it and did my best to wipe off the wet stuff. I kept it powered on during the ride home so as to minimize moisture infiltration. Gave it a good wipe-down and lens-cleaning when I got inside and left it lens open on the register for a couple of air cycles to ensure it got dry. I think it's gonna be OK.

Anyway, the leg/butt/hip felt pretty good today. It's not perfect, but I can run. That feels good. I gained weight and felt crummy in the week without exercise. It dawned on me this morning, though, that I could have kept doing sit-ups even while I wasn't in the running regimen. D'Oh!

Energy drain?

So there it is. Other than trouble, a rather uneventful run. It was beautiful, though. Snow was falling; big, white, soft, pretty flakes. Like a moving picture postcard a la Harry Potter. I shot some video of the sun sparkling on the fallen snow, which I'll try to post later. The only other thing that caught my eye was the variety of street signs I ran past. (I almost wrote "ran into," in the colloquial sense, but I didn't want anyone to think I actually ran into a sign.) OK, so that reminds me of a story from my trip to Sweden in 2004. On a drive around town with my first host, Bobby Hommerberg, we were winding through a park and came upon a runner steadying himself against a lamp post as he stretched his hamstrings. Bobby felt compelled to defend his countryman by explanation: "He's exercising. I don't want you to think all Swedes go around f***ing lamp posts." What a riot.

Interesting juxtaposition.

Today's Stats

Temp: 16 degrees F

Distance: 4.3 miles

Treasure: 3 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

Fire on the Mountain - Rob Thomas

... More trouble. iPod went silent. When I checked, it had completed shuffling through all 409 songs in memory, so I hit shuffle again to start over. Trouble is, that then deleted the play history. Thus all I know is the first and last song today. C'est la vie.

Something's Missing - John Mayer