"Taking Chance"

We're not "early adopters" of new technology, etc., here in the Den. We usually wait until something is out of beta or the kinks have been worked out before we get it/use it. This explains why we finally have signed up for a Netflix account. And now that we've done it, I wonder why we waited so long.

It's allowed me to feed my need for documentaries as well as seeing movies I'd meant to see for awhile. One of those was a film that was made by and aired on HBO last year. It was called "Taking Chance" and it is a stunner.

It is the true story of a Marine colonel who escorts the body of a young Marine killed in Iraq back to his home in Wyoming. It honors those that have given their lives for our country with a dignity that Hollywood has rarely touched. It is a moving story, regardless of your feelings about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is well worth seeing. Please rent it and watch it. Take a look at the trailer:

PS - to Kevin Bacon, this role makes up for the travesty that was "Footloose." Well done, sir. Well done.

10th Timed Race - First 10K

I do not want this blog to become all about my running. I don't want to be that guy that all he can talk about is his PR's, splits, tempo runs, which I am delighted to say I have no idea what that means, oygenation, losing toenails, or unpleasant chafing. All things that come with running. And growing more addicted to it. But a couple of things have happened in the last couple of days that I must mention.

First, today I ran my tenth (10th) timed race since I started this little running thing. It was, ironically, my first 10K. I signed up for it totally spur of the moment Thursday afternoon as I was plowing through the awesome pile of tax documents at my mom's house. A good run seemed an appropriate way to relieve that stress. My good friend's twin boys were working the support of the race for their Eagle project - so how could I not run it?

Perfect temperature for running - 61 degrees. Clearly not in Chicagoland. My mom bundled up (yes, people in AZ bundle up for 61 degrees - ridiculous) and came to the race. She read Sarah Palin's book, "Going Rogue" the whole time, for which she should be ashamed of herself. But I digress. Saw some people I knew, including the OB who delivered CAL and the Boy. I did not go introduce myself. I could never hear a word the man said when the stunningly patient SML was his patient, so no point. Anyway, this was a chip-timed race. Chips went around the ankle a la an electronic tracking thing. Like Martha Stewart got to wear after her time in the clink. Anyway, the first kilometer was fine. And then the ascent began. Three kilometers uphill. Uphill. In Chicagoland, uphill is a ramp at a parking garage. My quads did not appreciate it. Anyway, once that trudge was over, it was literally all downhill from there. Until the chafing kicked in around the seventh kilometer. Not good. Not bloody nipple chafing, which would have been awesome since I was wearing a white shirt. No, this was a much more uncomfortable chafing and since this is a PG blog, I'm not posting pictures. But, no matter, I ran through it, and finished, officially per the chip, with a time of 1:02:34. Made for a pace of 10:05 per mile. A little slower than what I've been doing in the much cooler temps of Chicagoland. I was happy with it, as it was my first official 10K.

The other running-related thing...thanks to finally hooking up with Netflix, I got my first DVD as I was leaving for PHX. It's a documentary called Spirit of the Marathon and it's awesome. It's about six runners training for the 2005 Chicago Marathon. It was compelling, exciting, and cool. It's worth seeing. did it inspire me to run 26.2 miles? That would be no. Look, I need to get the 13.1 done in May and we'll see where this adventure takes me.

Dear Mr. 5C

Dear Mr. 5C,
I wanted to congratulate you on your impressive fit-throwing skills on last night's flight. While not particularly volcanic or emotive, your complaining and pouting would put the most obnoxious two-year old to shame. And what set you off was ridiculous. Seriously.

Sir, as you let all those within earshot know in the First Class cabin, you used two of your mileage certificates to upgrade (which on a flight of less than two hours on a 757, Economy Plus is a better bet) and you were somehow expecting filet mignon and Baked Alaska? Sir, when was the last time you were on a US airline? And may I also point out, to expect a full meal on a flight operating several hours after the dinner hour is, well, just silly. Silly also describes your demands of the Purser (who by the way was one of the best Pursers I've flown with in a very long time) for her to provide you a written letter that it was awful to offer nothing to eat on the flight. FYI, sir, it's not like she was holding the good stuff back. That galley had a whole lot of nothing in it, other than the "premium" version of the Fiesta Snacks that you were offered. Good luck in your quest to get your upgrade certificates back and sure, demand your money back. Dare to dream, sir, dare to dream.

Signed,
A Fellow Flyer

PS - Here's an image of the "snack" that set it all off:

20

On February 15, 1990, around noon, a young couple, expecting their first child, entered the birthing factory that is the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, not knowing what lay ahead. Why didn't they know what lay ahead? Have you ever attended a Lamaze class? Or seen those gritty 1970's Swedish home birthing films? Both are amazing deterrents to ever having children, but I digress...back to the story.

Several hours later, after much pushing, a "decell" in labor that led to the use of the word "stat" and the room filling with emergency personnel, and a break to watch a little "LA Law," in the early hours of February 16th, 1990, a daughter was born to that young couple. That young couple was absolutely amazed by this little girl. The father would quickly march out and buy the latest They Might Be Giants album, (yes, I said album, even though it was a cassette) "Flood" to welcome her home. From the moment they brought her home, this girl would bring them great joy.

Twenty years later, that young couple is not so young anymore and that little girl is now a young woman and today we celebrate her birthday. My first-born child, my little girl, is twenty years old today! I can hardly believe that the stunningly patient SML and I have a child that is no longer a teen-ager. We don't! Our Lady of BYU is twenty. She's in her second year at BYU, on track in her major, and having an amazing time.

As hard as it is to see her growing up, it's good to see her growing up. And she is. I'm proud of her. Happy birthday, Princess. Love you, Dad
Me, Our Lady of BYU, and her gaggle of friends