Stumpy—Thanks for starting.  Very odd ferry story, yesterday.  What does Dave think about that?

LaT—hey, are you putting product placements in your daily posts?  I think there’s a rule about that.

Ever notice how lyndenrunner comes in, posts his miles and slips out quietly?  Then you look at his log and there are good, consistent miles over months and months.  I like that.

Tet and Tammy are playing footsie with their avatars?

MS—I laughed at your description of rollers and told Tribee about it.  She has one of those that clamps onto the rear wheel so you don’t fall over—whatever they’re called.  She didn’t trust herself on open rollers; a wise decision on her part.

Dave—you’re not plugging for Valentine’s day already with that avatar are you? Let us get through Christmas first!

Mari—weightlifting now?  Cool.

I know enough not to say anything about hot flashes—except to note that after nearly  30 years together I’m finally not the one who’s always hot.

The credit card thing is just an inconvenience but it’s the third time in less than two years.  The Visa folks have no advice for better protection; we asked.

Out for an EZ 7 on a rather gray morning.

Hello everybody!  I'll try to fit in a post during lunch.

Last night our 1/2" of "wintery mix" added 30 minutes to my drive home...and made the roads I run on pretty slick.  Since this was an interval workout of 6 x 1 miles at 6:30, I chose to do it on the treadmill...not good.  After the 3rd one I adjusted it to 6:40...and those were barely manageable.  I have a rest day today then, tomorrow, is my last 10 mile tempo run...and we're supposed to get another 6 to 8 inches of this stuff.  I'll just have to do the best I can.

Okay I'd better get back at it.

Just call me the TM diva . Not that I mind running in the cold, but when the wind brings the temp to single digits I know better than to expose my asthma to it.  7 miles on the TM with 6x800m @ 7:41 pace. Mighty happy with the pace since it is a little faster than two weeks ago.

The Seahawks game was very exciting last night.

Enkie, welcome to the crowd, dear sistahhh! I am told that I am still in the neonatal unit of menopause, but I can tell you it is no fun already and it supposed get worse !

Mustang Sally, nice collection of bikes on FB!

Stumpy, great to hear that you found your ring.

Stay warm my friends.

Can someone help me get Econo to the Ave of the Giant!!!!

Mike E I am surprised that the TM intervals turned out that way.  For me intervals seem easier on a TM than a track.  I am chalk it up to not having to push to keep going with the machine setting the pace.

Once upon a time the daily had a discussion about what people think about during a run.  Some said they had pretty deep thoughts.  Me?  At best it was "Oh look a squirrel!"  Well I am here to announce that today I had my deepest though ever during my 14 mile run today.  (Longest run I will have until the marathon on 12/14.  I am being good about checking the race day weather forecast.  I am not looking at it more than once a day hour second okay, okay no more often than my browser can refresh.  Happy now!  )  Here is my deep thought from today's run:  Remember the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" where the lead grows younger over time?  In one scene while he is in what looks like his 30's you see him out running for exercise.  Why bother?  With us, having been born young exercise can potentially lengthen our lives and make us healthier between now and keeling over.  But for Benjamin Button?  He was born in his dead body.  His date of birth (when he leaves this earth forever) is a foregone conclusion.  There would seem to be nothing he can do to extend his life or shorten it other than via violence.  Heck, the guy can smoke, eat like a horse and drink his tail off all without impacting his life expectancy at all.  So what is he doing out on a run?    Yes, that was the deepest thought I have ever had during a run.  Sad but true.

Twocat, that's too funny. I do think about stuff while running, and sometimes can work out things that are bothering me, but mostly it's a nice chance to leave all that behind and clear my head. That's why I like running after work, something about running away from the building that makes me smile.

5.2 hot sweaty miles in 80° (feels like 84° ) temps. Working on what to do for lunch, then might go hang by the beach for awhile. Or go do something else. Decisions, decisions....

Stumpy:  So glad you found your ring.  That has to be a load off your mind.

RE: the ferry theft, we have all been laughing and joking about it.  The victory clipper terminal is about 4 blocks from my condo.  Had I not been working nights and sleeping at the time of the theft I could have seen all the action from the deck of my Condo.  (actually, I rode my bike home from work that morning.  I rode by the clipper terminal about the time he would have been getting under way).

I have no first-hand knowledge of the Clipper 4 but I know it is the largest and fastest boat in their fleet.  It used to have gas turbines for main engines.  It has always had water jet Propulsors.   Many years ago, Washington state ferries had a couple of similar boats.  They were my toys.  I was in charge of the care and feeding of them until the voters took them away from me.  We were the fastest commercial vessel on Puget Sound (about 45 miles per hour).  Clipper 4 would never race us but we could track it on radar when she got underway.  In her gas turbine days, She could accelerate faster than us, but our top speed was faster and we would quickly overtake her.

The article you linked says she has a top speed of 30 knots,  if so she slowed down a lot when they refitted her with Diesels.  Just the same,  the article also says the cops watercraft are faster.  I doubt it.  The article calls it a “huge ship”  again,  nope.  She carries maybe 350 passengers.  The boat I worked on last week carries 220 cars and 2500 passengers.

The latest local news articles says the person arrested had 16 warrants, they think he was trying to go to Canada.

As for repercussions,  Just as the FAA is in charge of air transport.  The US Coast Guard is in charge of vessels and marine terminals.  They used to be a division of the Treasury department.  After 911 they were moved to Homeland Security.  Everyone with a terminal on the waterfront has safety and security plans submitted to and approved by the Coast Guard.  I of course can’t say anything about what Washington State Ferries addresses, but I think the consultant was Maxwell Smart.  The Coast Guard takes security violations VERY seriously.

With no access to Clippers security plan this is just speculation. But I will speculate away.  I think this is pretty obvious but The bad guy should have never had unescorted access to their terminal.  Once he got over the gate he should not have been able to gain access to the boat.  Once he gained access to the boat he should never have been able to start the engines. (the fact that he started the engines is what surprises me and my co-workers the most)  I suspect Clipper Navigation will be under the USCG’s microscope for a while.  Maybe it will take a little pressure off us .

I’m starting my week off today.  I did a little better about getting in at least short runs most days during my last work week.  Thursday I am going to my mothers house in California for a few days (we will do the holidays between the holidays this year)  This will be the first time I fly with my folding bicycle.  We will see how this goes.

divechief that last part of the story where you go through the thief should not have been able to . . . and able to . . . and able to . . . is funny in an F-Troop sort of way!  You can just imagine each person in some long chain deciding he can take a shortcut.  After all nobody ever steals a ship!  Even if they tried there are all these other safeguards . . . Yep, lots and lots of other safeguards!