Random Musings and Nicknacks

The Goal
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I am not a runner. My family knows this, my friends know this. So, in mid-August when I walked into my friend’s office and told him I was going to do a half marathon, he asked if I was nuts, then asked when it was. “End of September, 5 weeks from now,” told him. He repeated “are you nuts? Most people take at least 9 weeks to prepare for something like this, what’s the longest you’ve run before?”

This was something Ling and I had decided to do together, she is a runner, and quite fast. For me with this kind of goal, and the potential for injury, it was obvious that unlike any other running I had ever done before, this time I had to set out on a plan to train and prepare for it. I started with four goals: First, no DNF (“did not finish”), second, no DFL (“dead ____ last”). Third, complete in under 2 hours, fourth, if possible complete in 1:50 (that would put me in line with the time I expected from Ling).
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A trend that has been bothering me lately is that one of my most trusted news institutions – The Globe and Mail – has moved into the trend of presenting partisan opinion as fact.

I first noticed it when Ignatieff was confirmed as the Liberal leader, and read an article about how the process they used had destroyed the public trust and left Ignatieff unfit to lead. The article was so negative that I took the time to read the Author’s bio, and discovered it was written by a Conservative strategist – not exactly an unbiased opinion. [1]
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Here are some of the statistics from our trip home from Edmonton:

Distance travelled: 1,302 km
Acerage speed home: 96.1 kph
Total time: 14 hours 25 minutes
Time spent moving: 13 hours 34 minutes
Time for pit stops: 50 minutes
Resources used: 1/2 iPod battery, 2 tanks of gas

Other Statistics:

Total deer seen on the round trip: 4 living, 2 dead
Additional wildlife: 2 coyotes paying their “respect” to the deer, 1 grazing elk
Time it took to see downtown Edmonton: 45 minutes
Roller coasters Ling rode: 3
Roller coasters Tim rode: 0

Punky received a card with a love note in it again yesterday. This lucky dog keeps getting cards from Cuteydog who remains as a mystery character. Here is the love note Punky received:

Dear Punkydog

You never write, you never call,
I never hear from you at all,
I hope you will not tell me, Punk,
That you think our love has shrunk
When will I see you?
When will we meet?
so that I can tell you that you are so sweet.

love
Cuteydog

3 hearts
XOXOXO
hee hee hee