Dispatches from the middle

‘Cause what she sure as shit didn’t do is write any blog posts. A brief summary then of what she DID do over the last couple of months…

1. I received Nutella in the mail. In the mail! Hot. Damn.

2. I fell in love with trail running. It’s always been a pleasant alternative to pavement and sidewalks, but as I’ve focused primarily on road races, that’s also been where I train. At the Blackfoot Ultra this year though, something clicked. Blackfoot is one of my favorite races to begin with, but there was something particularly special about it this year. It just felt so GOOD! And a little 5 Peaks magic shortly thereafter confirmed my suspicions.

3. I recently started running with the Hash House Harriers as well – a fantastic group of drinkers with a serious running problem. We swarm through the city, over hill and dale, through all manner of shiggy in pursuit of beer, food, naughty songs, and more beer. And damn good company.

4. My future as a mercenary is looking dim. There’s far too much to remember. Far too much vital equipment you just can’t drop, and far to many shiny distractions.

5. Burning Man. It sounds cliché to say it was a life-changing experience, but it was. In fact, it warrants its own post. Or two. Or a few. But for now, the vast expanses.

How little we need and how much we have to give.

6. San Fransisco didn’t suck either.

7. Nor did Paris. An impromptu 3-day (work) trip turned out to be nifty indeed. There wasn’t much time for running, but I managed to get a token jaunt in. And to realize how completely and utterly shitty my French has become. Merde, indeed.

8. My love affair with Chinese food continues to intensify. It is a profound and lasting passion. And this evening’s second dinner.

9. I try very hard never to regret anything. Thankfully, I’ve never done anything that makes regret unavoidable. But I have been doing some thinking of late – inspired by my newly discovered love of coffee – regarding all the things I’ve not tried and perhaps should. Perhaps would very much like to! It’s one thing not to try something because it doesn’t appeal to you. That’s fine enough. It’s another thing entirely to deny yourself experience out of fear.

10. I would like to create a scholarship for students who – because of work, family, illness, indecision, an elite sporting career, or simply a stronger than usual tendency towards procrastination – take longer than 5 years to complete their doctoral degrees. This award shall go to students entering their 5th (na, preferably 6th) year of doctoral studies who have deviated from the traditional academic path. The grander the deviation, the better. Given how much emphasis is put on completion time, I find this a terribly saucy idea and, of course, enjoy it all the more for said sauciness.

11. Chocolate continues to melt in my pocket, no matter how vigorously I petition the gods to change their policy on pocket-meltation.