Swamping Good Fun!

October 28, 2012

Happy Halloweeny time to all you 'weeners out there!  It is a spooky, yet festive time of year and I hope that you are enjoying it.

I have temporarily relocated myself down to the southeast where I may or may not be engaged in an unassigned mission to survey the swamplands in order to incorporate some swampy elements into this year's exciting Beer and Bagel Run.  The t-shirt design 

https://www.facebook.com/RUN2PEAK

kind of reminded me of the Miami Dolphins, so I immediately became obsessed with adding a Miami-related element to the already element-heavy B&B.  As you may know, the good ol' B&B Run is scheduled to take place one week from today!  Yes, it is coming right up.  I saw this critter while I was engaged in some stair-running to prepare for the B&B hills.

This sighting gave me an idea.  So I jumped on my Swamp Rover

advrider.com

and drove down to the lovely Caw Caw County Park, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina.

As a possible addition to the stream crossings that have become an essential part of many organized trail runs, I found some wildlife that I am considering renting and including in the B&B.

Granted, I am somewhat certain that gators do not like the fall climate in Nebraska.  However, I've been working on a rabbit skin gator coat that I think will not only be quite fetching, but will keep our visitor happy and active.

Maybe a few minor modifications to one of these?  Here's where you can get one!

Here are some of the gator rental options I've been looking into.
http://rhondasreptiles.com/
http://pinellasbeaches.patch.com/listings/alligator-attraction

I've also enjoyed the Halloweeny scene in downtown Charleston.  Many costumed, yet genteel, "revelers" were out and about.  A few shared a shot ski of Grand Marnier with me.  Quite invigorating.  I also ate some blue crab, which was very good.  It was kinda hard to get to the meat, especially to this midwestern corn-eater.  Hmmm.  Maybe a giant blue crab (possibly robotic) might be a good B&B element, too!  And of course The Swamp Thing!  Pretty scary, eh kids!

Hawkish on running!

October 20, 2012

It was a crisp, clear morning.  Low-lying fog added a pleasant sense of hidden possibilities.

At the Hitchcock Nature Center, participants were readying themselves for the 8th Annual Hawk Watch 5K run/walk.  I would estimate 60 intrepid individuals were encased in various numbers of layers of clothing.

Luckily I had been training two days before, (and I had run this very route a little over a year ago) so I more or less rocked the run!  (Note:  No, that is not a deliberate mis-typing of the word "walked."  I actually felt pretty good out there!?)  I'm probably going to get a cool personalized license plate to brag about how I'm pretty good at occasional trail-running.  I'm thinking OC TRLRN.  Is that too many letters?  Might have to remove that space.  Maybe PGATR for pretty good at trail-running?

The t-shirt is long-sleeved, which is nice.

Also the sparsely attended event offered plenty of space for running at your own damned pace.  I only had one near collision, and I blame her for wearing those headphones, dammit!  Although I am feeling pretty keen on myself for completing the run successfully, I am also feeling slightly achy and perhaps more cantankerous than usual.

After the event I climbed the tower

where I encountered a raptor counter.  I did not ask him his name, as we were busily engaged in raptor-related rhapsodizing.  I will call him Hawk.  He was a pleasant conversationalist.  He informed me that 18 species of raptors pass through the area.  Kestrel populations may be declining.  There are something like 120 raptor counting stations from Texas to Saskatchewan.  Just in case you've followed the lead of another bird and had your head in the sand for the past 12 years, Hitchcock was also the first officially designated IBA (Important Bird Area) in IA.  The Swainson's Hawk and the broadwinged hawk also have impressively long migration patterns.  Down to Argentina for Swainson's and about the same for the broadwing.  Swinson's generally range west of Hitchcock NC, whereas the broadwings prefer the area east of it.  Billy made an interesting statement:  "All raptors are diurnal."  Wha?  Do you mean owls are not raptors?  I took an ornithology class back in the '90s, and I pretty much thought owls were considered raptors too.  Let me look into that.  Yes.  I have confirmed that owls are considered raptors by most birders.  Maybe Hawk is just a little biased since he can't see the night raptors, let alone count them!

 After my talk with Hawk, I began to amble back over towards the finish area to see if they were handing out prizes.  Although most of the medals I have received in my moderately active sporting endeavors have been for participating, I have won a few medals for actual speed.  Most recently, in 2009 I received an age group award for the 5K Cinco de Mayo Run.

I think I was 3rd, and there weren't more than 6 or so of us in the age group, but it is still a win in my books!  There weren't many participants at this event, either, so I figured my chances were fair to middlin'.  When I got there, however, the award bags had been handed out to the first place finisher in each age group along with some overall awards.  Ouch.  As you may have noticed, I am fiercely competitive if I win something, but if I don't then I'm not.  Well, it was a beautiful day to be out in a beautiful place and I had a hoot!  Thanks Hawk and Ranger Billy and all those involved in putting this event together!  Let's give a hoot!

So what are you up to this weekend?  I noticed Omaha Bikes' calendar shows a tweed ride scheduled tomorrow from 2-4 starting at Jones Brothers cupcakes out in Aksarben Village.  If I had tweed and an old timey bicycle I would consider attending.  As it is I've got a nice corduroy jacket and an Old Bastard of a bicycle and I like it, dammit!  Get rollin' you young whippersnappers!  You old grumps too, dammit!

Ready for Hawk Watching?

October 19, 2012

Diligent training.  It is something people talk about a lot this time of year.  Can you eat all of that pumpkin pie?  Well, what has your training consisted of?  Are you ready for that scenic bobsledding trip down Manaslu?  I don't know.  Have you been training?  Why does your favorite team suck?  That's right, they suck!  Well, it may have to do with their training.

These were the thoughts going through my mind as I set out on a moderately windy evening to prepare for tomorrow's Hawk Watch Run at Hitchcock Nature Center.  I was training.  Here's a video clip with inspirational music provided by Electric Needle Room.  Spoiler alert, the video and/or soundtrack will probably skip around, much like my prancing feet out on this focused training run!

Another aspect of the fierce beauty of moderate competition is the art of preparation.  H, anyone can get out there and wing it like Earnest Borgnine doing stand-up.  It takes preparation to be prepared!  Armed with this thought I went out to inspect an area that was similar to the actual race course in that they are both outdoors and geographically similar. I found.that there were many small to large tree (and zombie) limbs lying around.

Yep.  Good thing I was practicing my pull-ups.  That will probably help me pull myself over some fallen limbs, and/or pull myself up off my ass after I slip in the leafy mud.

Here is another edge that I have over other competitors in this event.

Hedge apples from Osage Orange tree!  Suck on that, suckers!

That's right.  Awareness of potential natural missiles is the third corner of the triangle of competitive advantages that I am about to smack people upsides da head wid!  Booyah!

Although my preparations... H, they might smack of moderate activity to some, are not easy, they are way easier than preparing for any of the distances that were available for the currently sold out 1st annual G.O.A.T.z Trail Run.  The website offers 5, 10.5, 21 mile, and 50 kilometre (approximately 30 miles!) distances for those that are either in great shape or trying to atone for a lifetime of sloth, lechery, or some other sin, real or imagined.

It's the weekend and I am getting pretty psyched about it.  It was a hard week at the soft, noise-dampening tapestry installation firm I am currently interning with.  Time to get out and feel the eyes of the hawks!  Now it's you that're being watched, hawks!  How does that feel, eh?  My fine feathered friends!  Heh heh heh....  Haawww!  Aaahhh!

Speaking of hawks.  Let's get together and watch my favorite movies of all times, Hawk the Slayer, on Saturday afternoon.  You bring the movie and drinks and I'll provide the tv and couch.  I am getting prepared for some serious recovery/laziness following this foray into the savage world of the raptor!

Do you dare to join me?!  Caaawwww!  Kaaaaaaawww!

Thundering Pub Crawl

October 14, 2012

I had a late night out participating in some bicycle-related hi-jinks last night.  I was made aware of an enjoyable event called the Pub Crawl that included costumes, bicycles, bars and fund-raising for T.H.O.R.  On the way there, my friend Rich and I noticed a crowd of lively looking creatures moving about in somber throngs.

We arrived at the Crescent Moon and had some tasty bar food.  There I ate a tasty meal, had a beer and met up with a buddy of mine who informed me that former Circle Jerk Keith Morris will be performing in his band OFF! at the Waiting Room on October 30.  Then we tried to catch up with some costumed bicyclists at Sullivan's, but they had already moved out by the time we finished locking up our non-valuable, classic bicycles.  We inadvertently skipped the Old Dundee Bar and Grill stop and pedaled on over to the Homy Inn.  On the way to the Homy, we enjoyed a low-traffic cycling experience along 40th Street, north to Hamilton and across Saddle Creek to our destination.  It seemed like the entire route consisted of bicycle lanes, sharrows and a few signs that stated "bicyclists may use entire lane."  Pretty cool!  Although we never really used the entire lane it was nice to know that we had the option.  We enjoyed a couple drinks at the Homy and eventually were joined by a good-sized group of mostly costumed bicyclers.  Eventually an assertive man began corralling us towards the door, bellowing things like "Move out!" and "Let's go!"  There was a moderately heavy rainfall taking place.  Some irresistibly barricaded, former roads (now sloppy mud) to ride through.  Our final destination was Benson’s The Sydney.  A $5 cover for the Filter Kings preceded the giving away of many prizes, including a New Belgium bicycle and various bicycley items.  Prizes for costumes were awarded.  A couple dressed up as Lance Armstrong with a blood transfusing bag hanging from a hook attached to a shoulder strap and his syringe and blood-toting nurse won the couples prize.  A guy dressed as Fred from “30 Rock” won the best men’s costume award.  I didn’t realize he was in a costume.  I thought he just kinda looked like that guy from “30 Rock.”  As usual your subtlety and nuances are lost on me, people!  That zombie had a golf ball stuck in his forehead!  Hahahahaahahahahaha!  Now that’s in-your-face fun!  (In more ways than one!  Get it!  Hahahahahahaha!).  Now that’s a hole-in-one for humour folks!  Oh.  I am lucky to be so easily amused.  Filter Kings sounded great.  It had been a while since I’ve enjoyed their steadily chugging power rockabilly.  I think that some guy that looks kinda like Josh Dunwoody (former Filter Kings guitarist and singer) is now in the band!  Good show old chaps!  Good show!

Many bicyclers danced and carried on for quite some time in a manner that was quite festive.

The rain had stopped and we had a refreshing ride back to the Crescent Moon.  Thanks to T.H.O.R. and Kent McNeil for getting this fun event together!  Ken said the event has been occurring for 15 years, although this is the first time they’ve used it as a fund-raising opportunity.  I’m pretty sure everyone had a blast.  Let's do it again sometime, by Odin's beard!

Amalgamation of fall funraisin'!

October 8, 2012

Ahoy thar midshipman!  Grab yerself a landlubber and wet yer whistle at a funraisin' event!  Er ya might live to regret it!  That's the pitch from the vessel o' fun that's a sailin' hereabouts from time ta time.

1. Taco Ride Thursday - it's a lovely time of year for a spin on the beatific Wabash Trace Nature Trail!  How's Thursday night for you?
2. Phantom of the Opera film with musical accompaniment at Film Streams on Friday, October 12.  7:00 p.m.  See you there!  I'll be watching..... from the wings!   Mwaa-ha-ha-ha!
3. Costumed Pub Crawl/Cruise starts at Crescent Moon, ends(?) in the Benson Area on October 13, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.  Come and out and see how many capes get caught in spokes!  Music too!  Proceeds to benefit T.H.O.R.
4. Hawk Watch Run on 9:00 a.m.October 20.  This area is bound to be extra exciting with plenty of leaves to crunch and slide around on while navigating some regionally steep terrain.  Tally ho!  And 'ware the raptors!  Yaaragh!
5. Something else.

Yes, regardless of your predilection, there is doubtlessly an excuse to get out and enjoy the generally enjoyable fall ambiance to the fullest extents of the law or other philosophical and/or physical limts one might encounter upon this corporeal plane of existence.

As the keenly observant amongst us may have ascertained, the National Footballers League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, et al., (NFLXGel) has undertaken some popular sporting events as of late.  Honor is the only currency at stake as these fighting monks eschew the frufru trappings of civilization the rest of us find so addictively comforting.  In their quest for upliftment, these role models wear protective gear and have agreed to provide some gear for your children at a nominal cost.  Here are some bicycle helmets.   Yes, they look cheap.  But the NFLXGel is a not-for-profit organization, and you might view this special offer as a kind of gateway helmet into the dorktastically safe er, world of protective gear of whichever variety you care to consider.  

Please disregard my unusual brevity as it is assuredly not bound to last.

Yours truly,
BS

Fallin' for the season

October 3, 2012

It seems that fall has fallen yet again.

The cucumbers have been harvested, along with the apples,

which may have been turned into apple fritters

or candy apples.  Autumnal seasonal beers abound.

American footballing is in full swing.

Yes, it is a heady time of year indeed!  So heady that I am going to have to retire for the nonce.  Enjoy!

October 5, 2012

A few days have passed since the apple fritters were fresh.  Now there is only one remaining.  Much like the leaves on my fickle, sickly Fireside Apple Tree.  What have you been up to?  Cider brewing, eh?  Sounds good.  I'll be over at 9 to sample it and fall into your garden like a graceless, previously inebriated leaf.

My regular bicycle commuting activities have seemed rather bland lately.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  Pretty bland.  Good.  Not particularly interesting, but good.  That all changed this a.m. as I was on my way to my usual gig at the denture refurbishing clinic.  I came to an intersection

Well-lit version.

while enjoying the smooth sailing afforded me by our fairy city's fair multi-use paths.  Lo and behold, a car pulled up upon the street and blocked my path!?  Egads!  What to do?!  A fairly common conundrum to us bicyclists who choose to peruse the multiple possibilities of the multi-use path.  I went with my usual option - slowing down and altering my route to the rear of the vehicle under the assumption that the motorist's eyes were not focused on me.  After returning to the relative safety of my beloved multi-use path the motorist began honking repeatedly.  I rang my bell cheerfully in reply.  Then I heard her yell, "Hey bro!  Watch out!  I almost hit you!  Fuck!"

Hmmm.  That was one of the nicest, almost confrontational encounters I've ever had with a motorist!   It also left me with several things to ponder.  She almost hit me?  How?  Was she backing up as I was traversing on the backside of her vehicle's ample backside?   I have nervously witnessed vehicles backing up after tardily discovering they were blocking my brightly,

Arrows pointing to lights/lightbeam.  Tail and horns added at the psychically received request of my motoring correspondent from the a.m.

and blinkily, lit way.  It is nice, but probably more dangerous than just staying put. I don't mind waiting or swerving a tad.

If nothing else, it was a good reminder that the road is a dangerous place for critters smaller than the rightful, 4-wheeled travelers of the suburban arterials, as is evinced by this fresh, critterly corpse I beheld shortly after receiving my moderately enthusiastic morning honking.

I also believe that motorists are not generally as likely to see us bicyclers (or pedestrians of the bi- to quad-pedal varieties) in the cooler months.  What with more darkness and fewer bicyclists, the odds are not in our flavour.  You know what is in my flavour?  Free booze!  Yes, I made it to my local grocer's liquor department where I received a free shot of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey.  Mmmm.  Not bad.  What's that other sample option?

Next thing I knew, I was back home and I noticed that the Old Bastard had an ass pocket that was full, not only of whisky

 (or a girly variant therof), but a baby football and a couple o' CDs.

Imma call that a win, buoys and grills.  Cheers!

Happy weekend, shmoozers!