Apple Cup

How To Keep Your Head Above Water

"I might be a little water-logged at the moment, but I’m ready to float for a while so that I can catch my breath and see where the ripples of my soul decide to take me. Then, and only then, will I swim in the direction of my dreams."

This is a really great post from Goodlife Zen on "How to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Starts to Pull You Under"

Heartbreaking

So true: 1 is tragic, 4 is a crisis.  Things need to change before another gay youth takes their life due to ignorance of society.  RIP.

Want.

Zoo Hill

Holy crap, Zoo Hill.

On Saturday, we rode about 40 miles, starting at Redhook Brewery, down around Lake Sammamish, up Zoo Hill and back. 

As Bicycle Climbs describes, Zoo Hill is: "arguably the toughest climb in the Seattle area. Ascending 1200 feet over 2.5 miles, it has an average grade of about 10%, with common gradients in 15% and some sections approaching 20%. This is not a climb to be approached lightly."  One user described the climb as "the puke-inducing lactate-producing gasp-fest that I avoid unless taunted."

The fun part about going up a giant hill, is that you get to go back down.  I PR'ed my fastest time yet coming down the other side at 43.4mph.  Lets just say adrenaline was pumping hard at the bottom.  The beer and food following the ride at Redhook were much appreciated (and necessary).

This. Is. Amazing.

Councilman Phil Davison of Minerva, Ohio campaign speech for Stark County treasurer.  via The Huffington Post

Amazon Kindle

I ordered the latest generation Amazon Kindle in the middle of August and it is finally shipping this week.  I love to read so I have always been interested in the Kindle (since I buy all of my books on Amazon).  

However, I was afraid that I would miss reading an actual book. My bookshelves are full of books that I have enjoyed and love re-reading, so I asked a few of my friends who have the older generation of the Kindle. With good reviews and encouragement that I will not miss reading an actual book and that I will love the Kindle, I ordered one.

I am super excited for it to come!

(super cute apple-green cover)

Lake Swims

In the last couple of weeks I have participated in two different lake swims.

The Swim for Life was 2.5 miles from Medina to Madison Park benefitting the Puget Sound Blood Association.  The water was warm but there was a nasty current in the lake.  While some may have not appreciated the white caps the entire way, I felt like I was swimming in a roller coaster type ocean.  The chances that you inhaled a wave of water while breathing were high, but I like how it trained me to adjust my stroke and really learn how to move as one with the water.  Surprisingly, my course was pretty good and I was able to finish in under 90 minutes.

The Park to Park swim was 1.4 miles from Matthews Beach to O.O. Denny Park benefitting the Children's Hospital.  The water was actually warmer than the temperature outside (welcome to summer in Seattle).  There were a few rollers through the middle of the swim, and I definitely went off course (thanks to the kayaker that pointed me back) but overall the swim went well.  Having very little to spot on (besides an assortment of trees), this swim was tough because you had to constantly find the specific location on the beach where you were heading.  I finished this swim in about 35-40 minutes.

After the Park to Park, we jumped on our bikes and did the Lake Washington loop.  As I haven't biked since the STP (Seattle to Portland), we did the North loop and ended up at about 40 miles.

I'm back!

I have decided to start blogging again, it has been just about a year since my last post.

New thoughts, articles, inspirations and random blurbs to come.