I hope your day was good too!

Not only did I mow the lawn and give the grass a drink before 10am, but I went to the in-laws to help break down some boxes and get all the pods empty so they can be picked up. They must have purchased about 100 of the nice thick moving blankets and since they don't have use for them now, I will get about 20 of them. Perfect for laying on the tent floor, on the seats for the dogs, covering windows, and of course moving (but I'm planning to die in this house). What a good score.


I went to Costco and played bumper carts with everyone while they were trying to get free samples. They have the best prices on Blue and Green Machine drink. I made it out under $150 so I consider that a victory in itself.

The I decided to punish myself on another grueling trail run. Not only is this one hard as hell going up, it's twice as bad going down since you often have to find the trail at the top. It's washed out, rock covered and some spots you have to use all 4's to get down. The first 2.5 miles are an elevation gain of 1400 feet, then that's followed by 2 miles of loose dirt, rocks and boulders adding another 800 feet. Then you plummet down 2200 feet in the last 2.5 miles with huge ledges and scree slopes. I took 6 minutes off my best time.

Yes, there is a trail there and a city in the distance.

I also decided to wear something longer than my little track shorts so the branches would cut me up a little less. I don't understand why people were staring, it's not really a dress.

Hiking kilt made out of high quality wick-away material

It was getting dark and I rolled my left ankle so hard that my ankle bone hit the dirt. Lucky for me I sprained it really bad the same time I broke my right ankle, foot and leg on a 30 foot rock climbing fall. Now I get to roll either ankle all the way over and just giggle about it instead of having to get search and rescue. I'm not sure that makes up for the break but I'm still rock climbing and running so I guess it was just a lesson learned. 2 hours later it's still fine so I wont even ice it.

Always remember, each day.

I am treating today the same as any other day in my life. I always remember 9-11-2001, just the same as I remember the first gulf war, the space shuttle explosion, the attempted assassination attempt on Reagan, the uni-bomber, my friend getting medevaced and trying to help him lead a normal life again, my father passing away, my first marathon, etc.
I refuse to live my life being scared that something could happen, since each day shows everyone just how many things do happen. Always remember the things that shaped the family, the country, yourself. If you simply 'don't forget' sometimes we tend to easily forget to remember the things that impacted and changed us the most.

Great day of different

I went to a fundraiser for the leukemia and lymphoma society today. A nice BBQ with some various activities to help rise funds like a bake sale, pie throwing contest, etc. The Colorado College hockey team and girls soccer team showed up and suddenly it was pie city. It was exciting to watch about 30 different people all trying to smash a plate of whipped cream in each others faces and just generally having a great time without a care in the world at that moment.
I had a great time, it's nice to just kick back and nothing for a while.
I was on zero energy so I ate 2 big mac's (I know, but calories are sometimes just that) and came home and got some projects done. Got the new shelf installed in the food storage area and moved some things around that really don't need to be on shelves and can be stacked, etc. Just sort of made some room and wrote down some things I would like to put in stock.

Went for a run I didn't want to go on and had the best total time for the mileage I've ever done. I wasn't fueled properly at all and was a little dehydrated but I pushed past and just really killed it. I had to dodge 3 different vehicles on a portion of the run that were driving too fast into the sun from a shady area. If I didn't literally jump off the side of the dirt road all 3 of them would have hit me. Only one even realized it and said sorry, I guess ignorance is really bliss.
I pride myself on paying attention and when running it's twice as important. Not only do you have to pay attention to your breathing, foot placement, terrain, etc. but in my area you have to listen for bikes, cars, dogs, deer, bear, people and more. You also have to stop and tell people several times a week that there isn't any shooting in city limits and they are shooting in a park with a minimum fine of $400 and I don't appreciate them shooting over my head anyhow.

Have to go pick up some groceries but it's been a great Saturday with the promise of an even better Sunday.

Contagion review (no spoilers)

A movie like this can be really scary if you think too much during and after but perhaps it will cause some people to think just enough. No spoilers and if you have seen the previews then you will have seen anything I might mention.

I liked that the movie didn't really have 1 main character the entire time, there was some focus on just about everyone and without flashbacks or 10 different viewpoints. This prevented me from getting too focused on 1 person and let me really enjoy the movie. I know it's a movie and I just go to be entertained so I don't expect much more than that.

I don't think really got it right when you have a massive epidemic as far as food looting, riots and panic in a SHTF scenario. Everyone seemed way too calm and I think in reality (from what I have seen overseas when basic services shutdown and there isn't any food) it would be a disaster. Perhaps they didn't want to frighten people too much and were focusing on the actual epidemic so I will cut them some slack for that since that could be a long movie in itself.. I really liked the movie and am going to see it again on Sunday with some other friends. I would highly recommend watching it.

Here are some things I thought about after the movie:
1. I don't have enough food (was just a thought, I have a lot but after the movie
2. The government is here to help once they help themselves
3. If this were a real event it would cause complete anarchy in a matter of about 10 days
4. Having a shotgun next to your glass front door while you are elsewhere is ridiculous
5. My phobia for airports, buses and handrails is into overdrive. Watching a sick person in the movie touch a railing after he coughed on his hand gave me the shivers. I've seen that happen plenty of times.
6. The "defection" rate of the military and law enforcement would be huge

Go see it, eat some over salted popcorn (I mean wow) and sneak your snacks in like usual.

Movie night: Contagion

A lot of junk at the movies lately, but I've been waiting for this one for a few months. I try not to watch the previews once I decide I want to see a new film, and I don't read reviews. Nothing like ruining a movie when you are watching TV and a new trailer pops up that gives away more of the movie.

NBC attacks (nuke, bio, chem) are hard to prep for since it's not like a power outage or financial system collapse. You have to have the right suits, masks, gear, etc. and have a lot of it PLUS all the normal preps. You could of course just seal your house in plastic and die in your newly created bubble.

Movie night is fun and I am looking forward to getting out of the house for a few hours and not running up in the hills. I also got a $25k issue fixed at work that really wasn't my fault but somehow got dumped on me. I actually got worried that it was my fault for a little while but I keep emails for a long time. My spirits were a little down until I figured out it wasn't my fault and got the problem handled.

My Pikes Peak run got cancelled for Sunday, it's going to be warmer that I am comfortable with for a long, fun run. I'll do something around the house and get some things knocked off my to-do list instead. I will probably head to Costco and get some more rice and beans and use up the rest of my mylar bags so I can put in a new order. I think I'll make some chili and can a few quarts.

New and old neighbors

Someone I work with who happens to be a LMI said he finally is living on this side of town. I asked where exactly and we pulled up a map. He now lives about 1/4 mile away, kind of nice having someone else around the neighborhood that doesn't have blinders on. He has always been a nice guy and has the skills, training and background so we agree'd to have some BBQ's. From what I know of his family they are all mormon's I'm just not sure how involved he is with it. He is going to head up to the self reliance expo next week in Denver and hopefully give me a scouting report.

One of my good friends who lives a few houses up and house/dog sits for me had a little BBQ tonight. She had One Second After on the table and was telling me what a good book it was and that she ordered Patriots. The bad thing is she spent money on something I have laying around. The good is that she also got a book on family preparedness for dummies so there is now someone else with eyes opening. She always loves to stay here since I have cable TV and a seemingly endless supply of pop tarts. I love having them stay here so I don't worry about anything while I'm across the globe doing whatever.

The in-laws got the furniture in today, to be unloaded tomorrow so they are really excited to be able to get some rest in a few days. Whirlwind selling, buying and moving from California back to Colorado Springs after being gone 7 years is hard. Mother in-law borrowed One Second After from the neighbor and didn't flinch when I told her we will go to Costco once she is done reading it. The in-laws were both depression era kids and while they are not stockpiled on anything currently they always have plenty of stuff around. I'm really happy that they will get more things, I just don't have the room for another family worth of food and water (and all the other things).

I'm very lucky to have people like this in close proximity and it just all sort of came together. I honestly never thought I would be doing anything that people would want to learn from or even care about so it's kind of nice. Even if it's something simple like helping each other with our gardens, it's still helping build our little community for the times we will have to rely on each other only.

2 years of culinary arts

...pays off until you forget one damn ingredient like eggs. There went my plan to make some apple wheat bread. I actually have about 2 dozen eggs, however the expiration date is facing away from me so I didn't realize they were pretty old. I obviously don't use many eggs but now that it's cooler I get to crank up the oven all the time and still live with myself when it's time for bed. That means a lot of quick breads for the freezer and who can resist a good quick bread?

Since the house is way old (1880's) it stays nice and cool all summer long, until you leave the door open or turn on the oven. Reverse in the winter, it's nice and toasty until you have to let the dogs in and out a lot, then it takes forever to get back up to temperature. Hot water base-board heat and a gas fireplace for backup (not for looks, one that can drive you out) but I just don't want to install any kind of A/C since it's a huge power waste. I've managed to drop my utility bill $250 last year and should do about the same for this one, hopefully more next year as long as the rain barrels refill once in a while.

I don't like forced air systems and if the power goes out I still have 2 forms of heat and if the gas goes out I have backup propane systems that will suffice just fine. I think I was smart to rely on gas instead of electricity, but I wish I had opted for wood instead of the gas fireplace but at the time it seemed like the right decision and I don't regret it.

I skipped half of 1st grade and my last 2 years in high school I went to college for half the day and took culinary arts and hotel restaurant management. When I enlisted I didn't want to be a cook, anyone can cook if they try, I wanted to be a chef but didn't see it on the choices I could pick from. Since my Dad had to sign my age waiver he told me to pick something that was useful. Where was the damn chef option.

How hard could being a chef really be?

oh ya, I ran out of eggs and I obviously had apples.