Left Behind, or: You Can't Take It With You (unless you're a pharaoh)

Sunrise on Walsh Avenue.

No, this isn't a story of the Rapture or death or ancient kings and their hordes of treasure. If that's what you were looking for, I apologize. But I was struck today by the things I leave behind. Particularly the noteworthy items that merited picking-up.

I claim no altruism in effect here. But sometimes I see worthy treasure that I figure is better left where it lies. Take, for example, the boys warm-up pants draped over the back of the bus bench on North Seminary Street this morning. First off, being boys size large, they wouldn't fit me anyway (not that the 36D bra did either), so it seemed pointless to pick them up. But I surely could have washed them and laid them on the free exchange table in the lobby of my apartment building. But more importantly, I am inclined to leave things I think people might truly want. 

I mean, perhaps they fell out of a kid's bag while he was waiting for the school bus yesterday. Or maybe he tired of wearing them and stripped 'em off, not considering the consequences on his return home. So maybe he'll be back for them. Maybe he forgot them and will snatch 'em back up when he spots them later today or whenever. Imagine his relief.

Conversely, I was sorely temped by the agricultural scene that adorned a painting lying in someone's garbage rather near the aforementioned clothing. It was being discarded, so I had no reluctance based on moral codes. Ultimately, as cool as I thought it might be, I decided I would never display it and it would simply add to the clutter I'll have to purge later. Might as well avoid that.

So the hunt continues. There's always something else lying around out there worth salvaging for some reason. Today it was a pink nurse's smock. There it lay on the corner of Fremont Street and Morton Avenue. In that location, I figured it was either an intentional discard or so randomly lost that it would not be found -- except by me.

Today's Stats
Temp: 50 degrees F
Distance: 5 miles
Weekly Total: 10 miles
Treasure: 1 pink nurse's smock; 4 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Happenings Ten Years Time Ago - The Yardbirds
Dirty Life & Times - Warren Zevon
I Once Loved a Lad - Margaret Davis
Venus - Bananarama
Say You Loved Me - Fleetwood Mac
Innnocence Maintained - Jewel
Baby Come On Home - Led Zeppelin
Ruby and Carlos - James McMurtry
The Camera Eye - Rush
Weather Report (live) - Ronnie Lane
Lawyers, Guns and Money - The Wallflowers
Dream On - Glee Cast (feat. Neil Patrick Harris)
Pictures of Lily - The Who

Good, clean run

I really need to focus on some self-discipline. No, not that kind, ya bunch of gutter-minds! But when I run late and then have to rush around the rest of the morning and get to work and don’t get home ‘til late, I don’t get anything written until much later. Does anybody want to read about yesterday’s happenings at this point? We shall see.

I took a pretty mundane southern/eastern route that looped north on the return and back south to finally get home. I was struck at how little trash I saw yesterday. That, of course, meant I didn’t find much on the road, even cans. The 10 I picked up came in the last half or third of the run. But I’ll take that if it means cleaner streets. My hopes are not high.

One thing, however, continues to bolster my spirits: bicycles. Notably I was happy to see a bike locked to the simply rack outside Q’s Café. You see, I’ve noticed there aren’t many bike racks downtown. And apparently the couple that have been installed do not see much use. I have some theories on that.

So, those of us who bike downtown are left with few options if we wish to park our bikes near whatever establishment we happen to be patronizing. Caught in a downpour after visiting friends in Seminary Street Pub last night, I ended up parking my bike inside Budde’s Pizza and Good Spirits to keep it out of the rain. Alas, when I left it was still inside, so I am bikeless until they open for lunch.

But that’s not the point of bike racks, really. I parked inside because of the rain. But during dry conditions I end up cabling my ride to one of the huge lamp posts along Main Street (there’s one not far from the entrance to Budde’s. Those lamp posts are quite large in diameter, though, and it’s an exercise in determination to stretch a cable lock around one to secure a bike. And then there isn’t enough length to pass through the quick-release wheels to ensure some young entrepreneur doesn’t swipe the accessible parts.

Would people use the racks? Would their existence encourage cycling? I like to think that would be the case. The presence of bike racks would say to people, “We welcome you to shop and visit downtown Galesburg on two wheels.” Why don’t people use the bike racks we have? Maybe there’s a disconnect or a mixed message because bicycles are prohibited on downtown sidewalks. So maybe the message would be better received if it were in the form of a bike rack in place of a car parking space on the street. Just a thought.  

Today's Stats

Temp: 59 degrees F

Distance: 5 miles

Treasure: 1 kitchen faucet ring; 1 CD (content to be determined); 10 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

Stop What You're Doing - Long John Hunter

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Money is the Name of the Game - Koko Taylor

Other Possibilities - Rachel Portman (Chocolat soundtrack)

A Day in the Life - The Beatles

Owner of a LonelyHeart - Yes

In the Dark - Billy Squier

Nefertiti - Miles Davis

The Scientist - Coldplay

Oklahoma (live) - The Call

Inspiration on two wheels

Today was a mental exercise as much as a physical one. I opted for a predetermined playlist because I needed the certainty of inspiration; no day for leaving my mood to chance.

As it turns out, great music of my choosing aside, I found inspiration in the course of my run. Again I chose my direction rather at random, letting my feet lead me. They headed south, then west. I found myself on South Street, passing the Knox County Courthouse and Knox College. It was Knox that inspired. Or rather it was Knox that fueled my hope and confidence in humanity.

For it was on the Knox campus on South Street, in front of Williston Hall, that I was greeted with a bike rack full of bicycles. It was a sight to behold. I've often been disappointed to see the abundance of empty slots in bike racks at Churchill Junior High and Galesburg High School. I won't get into the overprotectiveness of parents and the laziness of kids. Different issues for another day.

Simply let it be known that I ascribe to the idea that more bikers means safer biking for all. And to see lots of bikes on a college campus gives me hope that perhaps they'll carry on with cycling for enjoyment and transportation as they move out into the world. It's economical, ecological, socially engaging, emotionally fulfilling and physically liberating. So go ride a bike and free your soul.

Today's Stats
Temp: 49 degrees F
Distance: 5.1 miles
Weekly Total: 15 miles
Treasure: 1 bicycle chain.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Broken - Lifehouse
Catch My Disease - Ben Lee
Distance - Ryan Patrick
Heartbreak Warfare - John Mayer
I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie
I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab for Cutie
Just Like a Pill - Pink
Smooth - Santana (feat. Rob Thomas)
Time and Time Again - Counting Crows
We Will Not Be Lovers - The Waterboys

Tales From the Drunken Serpent

Contrary to popular theory, not everybody likes surprises. Sure, there are those folks who enjoy the thrill of sudden discovery ... I have sort of become one of them. But I used to sneak a peek at my Christmas gifts and relished the foretaste of what was yet to come. 

The drunken serpent pokes his head out of the can for a look around.

 The long flat box was obviously a rifle (my first .22). The large, flat, rectangular package clearly contained the requested model train set. But when I couldn't immediately identify the contents of the cube wrapped in festive paper from my distant grandparents, I decided to partake in a little skullduggery. A deft hand with the scissors and clever re-taping allowed me to explore its contents before Dec. 25. Inside was a full kit of Boy Scout gear: canteen, flashlight (the cool L-shaped kind for signaling), mess kit. Too cool.

Eventually, though, I outgrew that and now have to fight off my sister's efforts to trade information before the holidays (my parents are terrible about surprises and keeping secrets; they enjoy too much telling us kids what they're getting the other or what they've found for the grandkids). 

But some surprises are just not enjoyable in any circumstance. As a tourist in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, back in 1988, I fell for a trick in a shop full of western art. A little envelope marked “Rattlesnake Eggs” begged to be opened. The resulting buzz from a paperclip attached to a wound rubber band, achieved the desired effect as I jumped and dropped it on the counter, “surprised” by the snake-like buzz.

In a similar vein I was caught off guard when near the end of Wednesday’s run I picked up two cans near the railroad tracks along Pearl Street and discovered one was not empty. The weight of the can was the tip-off. Peeking through the mouth of the can before I set it down to crush it under foot, I noticed something odd and not immediately identifiable. Eewww, I thought, somebody’s stuffed something gross in there.

What I was looking at was the belly of a garter snake. I assumed it was dead. So I tried to shake it loose to empty the can in preparation for crushing to add to my collection for cash. When my efforts did not dislodge the tiny serpent, I realized it was alive! I dropped the can. The snake poked his head out of the mouth. As I knelt to snap a photo with my phone, s/he ducked back inside. We played this game for a few rounds before I finally was able to catch a pic of the snake head poking out from the can. Too bad for him the whole fiasco cost him a dinner – the cricket that had been in there with him was not yet dead and managed to spring to freedom.

The Fabulous T-Bird! Ha, just kidding. I found the golf tee
about 100 yards away and the dead bird was so perfectly
preserved it just begged for the combination.

I left the can behind, snake ensconced in his lair to lure another unsuspecting insect to its doom. Maybe I’ll return today and see if he’s still skulking there. Anyway, it was not an immediately enjoyable surprise, but in hindsight it was pretty cool.

Today's Stats

Temp: 69 degrees F

Distance: 6.4 miles

Weekly Total: 9.9 miles

Treasure: 1 curtain tie; 1 tall golf tee (white); 1 garter snake (live, hiding in a can!); 14 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

Broken - Lifehouse

A curtain tie-back. No real use to me, but I imagined its
repurposing: cut up to make flouncy cuffs for a jacket,
shirt or jeans. Totally girly, but I think I'll hold onto it
until Daughter No. 3 starts her home ec class.

Don't Panic - Coldplay

I Don't Wanna - The Call

Life Uncommon - Jewel

Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel

The Red Strokes - Garth Brooks

Turpentine - JJ Grey & Mofro

Lonesome Day - Bruce Springsteen

The Ballad of Billly the Kid - Billy Joel

Warrior (live) - Matisyahu

Careless Whisper - Wham!

One Room Country Shack - Buddy Guy

Heartbreak Warfare - John Mayer

The Crazy Cries of Love - Joni Mitchell

Catch My Disease - Ben Lee

Who the F*ck Are You?

The street is a good place to think. Well, so long as you pay attention to your surroundings and don't get run over. Success so far.

Gotta love anybody who can poke fun at
his/her own mistakes.

Today I was struck a little by the comments elicited by my Facebook status post yesterday of an inspirational quote from Lance Armstrong. Now, the interesting thing about writing that I am finally coming to grips with is that people make assumptions about who you are or what you believe based on your written word. OK, so it's not exactly news to me, but comments on a recent Editors' Roundtable response assumed me to be a stereotypical liberal. Or at least the common perception of that. I found it humorous and a little insulting that idiot anonymous commenters like to think they know me or any of us by our response to one question.

Anyway, I'll set the record strait on Lance Armstrong and how I feel about him. Shrug. That's right, I don't really care. Though I am an avid bicyclist, owning several and using two wheels as my primary mode of transportation, I've never followed competitive cycling. I have a peripheral knowledge of Lance Armstrong because he was in the news for his dominance of the Tour de France, his fight with cancer, his comeback, subsequent doping allegations, his relationship with Sheryl Crow. ... But I rarely read more than the headlines. It's just not my bag, baby. And celebrity adoration and idolization is even less so.

But as I read the Morning Minutes column on page A2 of The Register-Mail yesterday, I really liked the quote of the day, by Lance Armstrong: "Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." A friendly jibe from my close buddy Kent alluded to Armstrong's steroid (ab)use. I made a point about celebrated musicians who died of drug overdoses and how we typically just lament the loss and don't criticize their drug use. I also questioned whether Armstrong's steroid use was ever proven. Another friend chimed in that it was, and that there were plenty of other reasons to dislike Lance Armstrong, but he agreed that the quote was a good one.

So far I have never found a live animal. Wouldn't that be cool, though?

And I guess that's the point. You don't have to like someone to acknowledge wisdom or a clever quote or a good bit of acting or touching music. There is good and bad in all of us. And while the teacher (often parent) who says, "Do as I say, not as I do," isn't the best teacher, it doesn't mean he or she doesn't know his subject matter. But I will grant you it is better to lead (teach) by example.

That said, here is what I came up with as I tried to spawn my own pithy but inspirational quote. It is born of a drunken conversation with a couple of new friends Saturday night outside my favorite bar.

"Teachers, know that how well you are liked by present students is far less important than how much you are appreciated by former students."

Today's Stats
Temp: 63 degrees F
Distance: 3.5 miles
Treasure: 1 Wiffle ball; 16 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Ruby and Carlos - James McMurtry
Mr. Pitiful - The Commitments
Wide Boy - Nik Kershaw
Misterioso - Wynton Marsalis Septet
Like No Other Night - .38 Special
Reconsider Me (cover) - Steve Earle & Reckless Kelly
Best of Times - Styx
No One Like You - David Crowder Band
Lucky Girl - Joni Mitchell
Nightingale - Norah Jones
Tom Sawyer - Rush
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Why don't we make believe...

OK, so the lyric is stolen from Toto, but this has nothing to do with pretending to be in love. Rather, we're going to pretend it is still Monday. You see, I got rather busy yesterday and just never got around to writing. So play along with me and we'll try to have a little fun.

I ran with direction and intention yesterday. In my travels of the previous day I spotted a couple of objects I wanted but wasn't in a position to collect at the time, so I set my route to see if they remained for the taking. They did. One I snatched up, the other I let go. Here's the story.

Biking along Carl Sandburg Drive in the neighborhood of Lowe's Home Improvement on Sunday I noticed a large article of clothing in the grass, not far from where I found the pile of black socks last winter. It turned out to be a Dickies hoodie. Despite the broken zipper and a few pink blemishes (like you get from bleach), the brown, insulated hoodie is in decent condition. If I decide I have no need of it, I'll leave it on the exchange table in the lobby downstairs. That's quality goods, folks -- Genuine Dickies!

On the same trip I noticed a pair of Earth sandals in the street at Broad and Losey (kinda like these). Looked like they might have been in decent condition, too, but I thought better (or worse) of it and decided to give the potentially smelly sandals a pass. A hoodie (or other cloth apparel) will wash up neat and clean, but footwear... meh. Too bad, 'cause they looked kinda nice, though they were women's so I couldn't wear 'em. Or I should say I wouldn't wear 'em.

Other recent finds of note include a pair of odd pliers. They're small and chromed, like some sort of mani-pedi tool, but the jaws are odd: flat with no grippy grooves but an indentation on each face, like on pliers for opening those spring clamps, except they lack the accompanying grove to the edge. Mechanical-types will understand my description I hope. Ha-ha, I just typoed that as "methcanical." New word! Must have been thinking of the likely owner of the hoodie. So, "methcanical" ... "one skilled in the technical aspects of meth production; not the cooker, but the equipment guy." Got that, everyone? I have dibs on that word!

Back to treasure hunting. I also happened upon a discarded T-shirt in the parking lot between Music Makers and the bank on Main Street. It's black with a green design that reads "Tell your girlfriend 2 stop textn me." Instead of the word "girlfriend," it has the universal icon for female, like you see on bathroom doors. Hilarious. OK, maybe not hilarious, but pretty funny to find it lying in a parking lot. I have my theories on why it was there. Tell me yours.

Today's Stats
Temp: 61 degrees F
Distance: 5.5 miles
Treasure: 1 Dickie's insulated hoodie (brown, broken zipper); 1 softball-size Wiffle ball; 1 pencil; 18 cans. Bonus (found in travels previous 2 days): 1 black T-shirt (Tell your girlfriend 2 stop textn me); 1 pair pliers (some special use sort); 1 13mm socket, 1/4-inch drive.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)
Take Me to the River - The Commitments
Time For Me to Fly - REO Speedwagon
KT177_3 - Hilarious WAV file ("You are ugly and stupid and you smell bad. Everyone thinks so.")
Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
Lawyers, Guns and Money - Warren Zevon
Five O'Clock 500 - Alabama
I Hope You Dance - LeeAnn Womack
Shine (Re-Mix) - Newsboys
Warehouse - Dave Matthews Band
Sometimes You Can't Make It On your Own - U2
The Camera Eye - Rush
Spell No. 23 (For Causing That the Deceased Be Remembered) - Alberto Acosta

Better late than never

So, does anybody have a problem with capital punishment for litterbugs? Just putting that out there before I get into it tonight.

I had every intention of rejoining the Go Outside and Play group for the Lake Storey Run this morning, but I somehow ignored my alarm. Thought perhaps it was incorrectly set for 5:15 p.m., but no, I just slept through it or something. I have no memory of it. And it’s not like I was up particularly late last night. Go figure.

 Finally I got my hiney out of bed and got motivated enough to head out on my own. About 9:30 I cycled out to the lake and hit the trail. I got off to a fun start when I noticed a tanker truck by the shelter to empty the porta-john. All I could think of was Randy Quaid in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”: “Shitter was full!” Stopped to snap a couple pix with my phone and on my third (close-up of the back of the tank, which reads “Political Dreams”) the guy inside stepped out, still yacking on his cellphone. Probably thought I was gonna tamper with something.

Then I was on my way. Not wise to upset a man with a tanker full of sewage.

The first 2.5 miles was uneventful. The path hosted only a couple of others bent on exercise and it is quite clean – no litter there usually. That’s so nice. But at the far end of the trail, South Lake Storey Road across from Carl Sandburg College at the southwest corner of the lake, I decided to do something a little different. Rather than reverse course and head back the way I had come, I continued east along South Lake Storey Road. 

This flatcoon can attest to the dangers of
South Lake Storey Road. Or he could if he
weren't flattened like a pancake.

Now, that road is narrow and curvy, with little shoulder to allow for a buffer between runner and automobiles. But there’s not a lot of traffic, except for the occasional spurt of students headed to the college for class time, so usually drivers can give you a berth. The up side, sort of, is that it’s shorter to follow the road around to the east boat launch where the walking/running/biking path begins – by about a mile.

But the dangers of the tight quarters along South Lake Storey Road aren’t the worst of it. I was appalled at the amount of garbage discarded on the roadside. Worse is that I found gobs of it within 20 feet of an empty garbage barrel. That’s just lazy and asinine. Now, maybe passing motorists were playing trashketball – indicating perhaps somewhat good intentions – but even if that were the case, which I doubt, they didn’t care enough to follow up with an assist to get the garbage into the basket. Chumps.

I started to pass by this wretched sight, but caught myself up short. It was too much trash, too easy to clean up such a small area, so I did it. Yeah, my hands got yucky. So what? I made sure to keep my fingers away from my face afterward. Gloves would be in order, but I forget. I picked up probably half a dozen handfuls of trash and dropped it in the barrel. I even ventured into the underbrush to gather as much as I could. The office chair I left where it lay. Had the seat not been shredded I probably would have pushed it back for salvage.

Office of the great outdoors.

As it was I picked up quite a bit of goodies. See the list below. And, please, don’t litter. If it happens accidentally, stop and pick it up. Thanks!

Today's Stats

Temp: 55 degrees F

Distance: 4 miles

Weekly Total: 6.5 miles (I didn't blog Monday's run)

Treasure: 1 woman's top (brown); 1 bath towel (white); 1 dish towel (colorful pattern); 1 shop cloth (pink); 1 pen (Carl Sandburg College Fitness Center, broken button); 35 cans.

iPod Playlist (shuffle)

Bike to lake:

Lawyers, Guns and Money (cover) - The Wallflowers

California - James Taylor and Joni Mitchell

Turn That Heartbeat Over Again - Steely Dan

Night Flight - Led Zeppelin

Run:

Levelland (live) - James McMurtry (The song that turned me onto Jimmy Mac - the greatest!)

Wild, Wild West - The Escape Club

The Spirit of Radio - Rush

Stop What You're Doing - Long John Hunter

Very Special Love - Alabama

Rock of Ages - Def Leppard

Desperados Under the Eaves (live) - Warren Zevon

Searching for a Heart (cover) - Don Henley

Woodstock - Joni Mitchell

Right Here Now - James McMurtry

Everything is Coming Down - Bo Ramsey

Station Call - Wynton Marsalis

Monkey Wash, Donkey Rinse (cover) - David Lindley and

Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

Bike home:

So What - Miles Davis

Oye Como Va - Santana

Other Possibilities - Rachel Portman (Chocolat soundtrack)

Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp

Take Me to the River - The Commitments