Is this a sign? I was volunteering at the library today, where I list high-value donated books on Amazon. I'm in the room where they also have the shelves for our quarterly used book sale. Today, I thought I was alone in the room when I heard a loud "crash" like someone dropped a stack of books, so I assumed that someone was busy shelving the recent donations. And as I walked over past a row of shelves, I saw some motion on the other side of the shelf, again figured it was someone there, but it was again followed by the sound of books falling. When I went around the corner there was nobody there and in the group of books that had fallen (been pushed?) off the shelf, this one was laying there facing up right at me:

The reason this is really weird is that just this week we finalized our arrangements for our fly-and-drive trip to Alaska next summer! Woo-oo-oo.

So I had no choice but to bring the book home so I can read through some of it and get thoroughly prepped. Other than that, nothing else normal or paranormal to report today.  

...BTY//.........Pickles told me to ask her Dad before we got Married

he said ''I wish you wouldn't''

I said ''you realize I'm just asking you to be Polite''

Ryan Spitz ran 330 miles in 5 days on trails from Arcata, CA, in Humboldt County to Shasta County.  He started 15 min from where I live in Eureka.  A large group of local runners met up with him at the start to get him going.  I've only watched about 10 min of this, but am looking forward to watching the whole thing.  In this day and age of ultra running taking a whole new turn (200+ milers), this could put our little area on the map.  California Untamed.

Thanks, Tet.

RCG--ouch. Glad the deer and car are okay.

I'm with Jay about not understanding the whole dork/nerd definition. Not sure what that says about my nerd/dorkiness.

KSA--congrats to your daughter. A ring in a casket, eh? Seems kind of mixed messages there.

Dave--I remember reading about that Waffle House index. Pretty funny.

Holly--I bet you'll be glad to be moving again. Good for you.
HopesMom--deer flipping you off is a new one! How do they do that with hooves?

BTY--hope the news stays good on the health front.

Doug--that's funny. And Erika even knew the author! I'd say omens abound.

Grits is one of those things that can vary so widely that you can't have them just once or twice to have an informed opinion. That's my opinion. Usually I'm disappointed but there have been a few times when they were really good.

It's officially the beginning of winter around here. Not because of the weather exactly but because I spent the day mowing and mulching leaves, finishing the firewood prep, and cleaning up and winterizing the riding mower. Once the mower's up, I consider it winter. Finished just in time as cold rain started.

And I'd love to know more about your plans! Are you coming up to Fairbanks? When Starr did a few years ago, they rented a motor home in Anchorage and drove all over, including up here so we got to hang out a bit.

 

Erika, you should know that I could hardly plan a DIY trip to Alaska and not include a couple days in Fairbanks!  I'll send you an email shortly and tell you more about it. And Claus being a family friend of yours makes this whole incident even spookier... 

Hello everybody!

If you have to be a nerd to be a part of this group, then I want to be a nerd.

I went 4 miles with Ryan and his dog.  Blaze does a whole lot better with Ryan than with me.

Okay--gotta go.  See ya!

Jay - nobody to wake up as the bulk of the crunchies were in the park along the bike/pedestrian path. Do you ever see neighbors peerin' out the w when you go by morning-in-and-morning-out. Any ever come out and say, "what in the world are you doing, Jay?," . . . I mean, "have a great day jay!"  Do you ever go back and got back to sleep?  When/why/how did your j-o'clocks start? My guess: probably too busy with meetings, etc. when everyone else is awake, etc .

Wildchild - thanks for the update.

I'm with Joe on R2R2R interest.

What's your next ordeal, . . I mean ultra fun run.

If you have to be a nerd to be a part of this group, then I want to be a nerd.

Nice try, Mike but you'll have to try a lot harder than that to be a real nerd like those of us who have spent our lifetimes accumulating the necessary qualifications.

Doug - excellent!

If any of your Alaska legs include a cruise through the Inside Passage that usually gives 12-16 hours days in the ports along the way, the co-author's son was a best work partner and x-c skiing friend before I moved down to Seattle as well as, with his DW, runners who, if you have a couple of hours, or, since it won't be dark, even one hour is okay, I'm sure would be happy to get youb up into the alpines on one of the half-dozen convenient local trails I still know by heart.

So, my friend Aneta is RDing a 24/12/8 hour endurance run on 4/8/20.  Dare I sign up?  I would be interested in the 12-hour option.  Just hoping I can be recovered and ramped up and uninjured by then.

 

The good news - my PCP gave me the go ahead to start some gentle walk-running - nothing too strenuous, but it is a start.

yes,  yes, yes!

gentle walk-running is preferred, if not, perfect for time trail race events.

It's almost what I do too except gentle walk-walk-walk-running-walk-walk-walk

Ask Wildchild.

My next 12-hour is April too.

I can hardly wait.

Pickles didn't like me eating eggs every day 

Please thank her for us.

Took advantage of the seventh straight day of sunshine in November to follow-up a morning crossing of the second-longest floating bridge in world to go out-of-my-way to ride to the other side of town to cross the longest floating bridge in the world on the way back.  Can hardly wait to do it again tomorrow.

j-o'clock view on foot vs. six hours later on bike

....