Running Stats

I am way ahead of my goal for total miles running for the year. I set a goal of 420 miles. As of today, I am at 418.2 miles. The total amount of miles I ran in 2017 was 331.8 miles. I’ve run 86.4 miles more already this year. I’ve got 4 months to go. Looks like I’m going to be adjusting my goal for 2019.

Called Back

I was out. I had my laptop packed, I was on the road, and I was just about to head up the North Shore when she called me back! She was too sore after working and decided to make tomorrow her house cleaning day. So, I’m going to make a road trip of it tomorrow. Right now I’m just sitting on my recliner contemplating a good nap.

Okay, Run’s Done

I’m just sitting on my deck enjoying the sunshine, watching the birds and my cats interact (it’s hilarious), and letting my body cool down. Soon enough I’ll get out of Dodge.

Get Out Of Dodge!

I was given my marching orders in no uncertain terms. Tina is going to come home from work and clean house. That means I must not be around and under foot. So, I am going to go for a run soon, shower, and then get out of Dodge for the day. Not sure where I am going to go, but since Tina hates me being around when she cleans, I am going to have to figure something out.

Job Change

Actually, just going to have my mantoux read. Otherwise I’m just waiting for my two weeks to go by. Not that I have anything against my current employer. The truth be told I’d recommend anyone work for them. However, my census was just too low. I was feeling guilty about having hardly any work and getting paid for it. Plus, I was finding it hard to believe they’d keep me on when I had no business coming in. So, I starting looking for another job. It was just luck that I was offered better pay.

Captain Obvious Here

There are quite a few people claiming that the conviction of Manafort and the plea agreement of Cohen will not change anything. I guess cynicism is to be expected. With the history of Watergate, the Savings & Loan scandal, the Iran/contra affair, and a myriad of other scandals, it’s easy to believe that nothing has changed. And for the most part the political and economic system in our country remains relatively tilted towards White Male Privilege.

However, the belief that nothing has changed flies in the face of civil rights advancements. Granted, it’s not perfect. As economic inequality continues to flourish, as the current push back against recent gains by and for the LGBT community rages, and race relationships with Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, and other dark skin people continues to be strained, it is clear there is still need for more work.

Change is always tumultuous, if I may don my Captain Obvious hat. But tumultuous doesn’t mean failure – it means success. If there wasn’t strife, stress, and conflict, there wouldn’t be any change occurring at all.

Trump’s political and legal problems is an example that the Institutional White Male Privilege block is losing its grip on leadership in this country.

Grounded?

Did they take his phone away from him?

If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

That’s pretty tame for him.

Miss

Did I miss it? Did I miss the twitter melt down? Has it happened?

Just asking for a friend.

Who has popcorn.

And is reclining on a Lazy Boy.

Opportunities.

I was offered a job with a residential program. It is only a 20 minute drive away, so that’s good. And the hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, which is even better. They offered me more money as well as paying for ALL of my health insurance. Yeah, that is a hefty pay increase. The deductible is higher, but not enough to offset the gain I am getting in my monthly check.

I have been working at my current job for just over a year. July 31st was my anniversary. I will be giving them notice today. It’ll be just a bit shy of 2 weeks, but I want to end my employment at my current job before the end of the month.

Life is giving me opportunities.

On a somewhat related note; life is giving Kang and Smokey an opportunity at catching a chipmunk – again. The dumb ass rodent hopped its way into a bush in the middle of the back yard where both cats were exploring. Kang saw it first. However, the chipmunk was alerted in time and ran off into the bushes on the other side of the fence.

Kang The Mighty Hunter

Mighty Hunter Kang!

He caught a chipmunk! I kid you not. He was still as a rock just a few inches from the pole holding our bird feeders. This chipmunk was completely unaware of him, despite Kang being a big, fat tick of a cat. Tina and I watched in amazement as Kang patiently watched the chipmunk eat the droppings from the feeders. And then suddenly he sprang and low and behold! he had a chipmunk in his mouth.

Now, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed. Granted, the chipmunk was an idiot for not seeing this big, fat black and white cat sitting in the open. But the patience and stillness that Kang displayed was amazing.

However, I am not a monster. Kang had the thing in his mouth, and was carrying it to us as his trophy. I quickly got up and had him drop the poor rodent. It had been playing dead while in Kang’s mouth. Once I got him to drop it, the chipmunk started hopping around in place, obviously in pain. Eventually it recovered, scurried off under the deck, and we could hear it chattering angrily as it ran off to its burrow in the brush south of our house.

Still, damn! Kang, the Mighty Hunter! He’s out in the lawn right now hoping for another chipmunk to make the mistake of ignoring him.

Update: He almost caught another one!