The phenomenon of a “Runner’s High” is well-known and something that I’ve wondered about for a long time. In fact, every time I go running I think about it, usually around the 30-minute mark when I start struggling a bit. I’m not sure, but I am pretty certain I haven’t ever experienced a runner’s high. There have been times when…
Build: Heavyset
While running the other day, I was thinking about how relaxed my pace was and that I’m actually a pretty slow runner. My pace is just under 11-minutes per mile (for a five-miler). I’d like to blame my body type, if I may, which can be described as short and stocky. As I was thinking this, the phrase “heavyset” entered…
Running Update
For the last month, I have been making some good progress with my running. My knee is probably about 90% and I don’t worry about it too much. My cardio is pretty good in that I don’t get winded unless I run uphill, my legs feel pretty strong, and I am pushing the distance of my runs up little by…
Scandal – Departure
I really like the latest single, Departure, from Scandal. And Mami is still the coolest guitarist.
Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
Topaz – The B-52′s
My second favorite song by one of my favorite bands and the first one I ever saw live. New cities by the sea Skyscrapers are winking Some hills are never seen The universe expanding We’re gazing out to sea Blue dolphins are singing Minds swim in ecstasy Clear planet, ever free Topaz Our hearts are traveling faster, Faster than the…
Sometimes a pipe is just a pipe.
– Sigmund Freud
Gardening to Reduce Stress
Many people like to spend time gardening to reduce stress. I also like to garden and get my hands dirty, but oftentimes the pleasant activity of backyard gardening is mixed with the unpleasant activity of yard work. Actually, most of the yard work is fun (trimming trees and shrubs, weeding the garden beds) but the actual clean up portion is…
An Ounce of Home
An Ounce of Home – You’re embarking on a yearlong round-the-world adventure, and can take only one small object with you to remind you of home. What do you bring along for the trip? This is an easy question for me to answer – I would take along my ugly doll that my wife made for me. In fact, it’s already…
New On Cloud Running Shoes
I got a new pair of running shoes last week: On “Cloud” running shoes. They are very light and would be classified as a minimalist shoe, but they do have some decent padding. I’ve always run in a standard-type running shoe – shoes with a medium amount of padding, but in the past several years there has been so much variety…
Be a skeptic, not a cynic.
Terminal Time
Terminal Time – You’re at the airport, your flight is delayed for six more hours, and none of your electronic devices is working. How do you pass the time? Ugh, all my batteries are dead! So… I reach into my backpack and pull out my sketchbook/notepad and either sketch what catches my interest, or work on a blog post, a story, or ideas…
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
– Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption
Pizza Margherita and Peperoncino Pasta
Tonight’s dinner was homemade Pizza Margherita and Peperoncino Pasta, made by my wife. As I’ve mentioned many times, she is an amazing cook and we eat like kings at home. The other night we went out to a local Italian restaurant which was rated pretty highly on Yelp, but the food was just too salty for our tastes. I think…
Longing for Gravity
Longing for Gravity – You are on a mission to Mars. Because of the length of of the journey, you will never be able to return to Earth. What about our blue planet will you miss the most? One of my favorite types of photography is landscape photography, especially landscapes that feature beautiful or interesting clouds. Although I am sure I…
森恵「接吻 -kiss- (ORIGINAL LOVE)」
Megumi Mori’s cover of 接吻 -kiss- by Original Love is so good! I hope you agree. It’s a great pop song. After watching/listening to this, I decided to try to learn it on guitar, which is kind of a problem since I don’t know how to play guitar! But why should that stop me? With that in mind, I picked…
First Day at the Pool
Today was the first day at the pool for us this year. It was just Koa and I who decided to go — Mariko was out at the Farmer’s Market and Bay stayed home to read — so Koa didn’t have anyone to play with in the pool. I swam for a bit, and played with him, but I’m sure it’s a…
Snapshot Stories
Snapshot Stories – Open the first photo album you can find – real or virtual, your call – and stop at the first picture of yourself you see there. Tell us the story of that photo. For this Daily Prompt I opened up my Flickr stream (which hasn’t seen a whole lot of activity these days, and found this photo I took of…
Homemade 2DS Pouch
I’ve been searching for a cool case for my 2DS that is different from what you can normally find in the store. The official cases from Nintendo are too big and just overkill for what I really need — a small 2DS bag or homemade 2DS pouch so the 2DS doesn’t get scratched while it is in the backpack. I…