Ah, your science dollars…hard at work:

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE49R18320081028

Econ and Current Events

Economics are a roller coaster of transformation: 

While the DJIA fell over 5,000 points in a narrow window of time, gas also hit what appears to be a modern-day rock bottom.  The Fed has released another interest rate cut, so the Dow spiked 900 points, investor confidence reports are positive, and oil rose $6 a barrell.  All this in spite of a massive earthquake that left Pakistan rittled…..God rumbling in the Middle East?  Read the book of Daniel, long about chapter 12-13. 

Housing markets are lowest they have been in five years consecutive over lein periods, it’s an election year, and everyone is beginning to look out for number one…..thinking first of themselves and their families, taking care of business on the home front.  Wonder what happens in finance when the crunch really spreads.  And it’s going like wildfire, or has already gone. 

The economy seems to run anywhere from a 15 to 20 year cycle.  I think we are already in something we’ve been in the menuche of for over five years.  And it has nothing to do with 9/11, everything with time, politics, finance, management and the general apathetic state of a Nation that has suddenly found some whimsical passions again, kind of the reverse theory of Aristotle’s pathos and apathos.  I think we can reasonably expect two more years of enduring chaos until there is a political shift once again.  I think it will be a left shift next week but a right shift in two years.  It is IMPORTANT to vote, and I cannot emphasize that again.  It is IMPORTANT to remain educated, informed, healthy, aware of constitutional breeches, alert to global schematae and frugal with resources, not as a green effort, but moreso as a common sense practice to preserve and conserve the very nature of what goodness does actually remain here.  I am so desperately hungry to read a good book, and picked up Ptolemy.  THAT oughta be good for studying econ.  Actually, rather what strikes me would be an Ayn Rand….Fountain Head, but the times we’re in feel more apt for Atlas Shrugged.  If you’ve never read those, at least pick up Cliff Notes or something.  It is well worth your time to have a semblance of an idea what those works refer to.  They are more objectivist philosophical works than anything, and pale in comparisson to greater works.  Yes, there are better reads than Rand’s. 

Well, so in current events, I’m curious to know if anyone else is tracking the way Missouri is swinging politics?  I find it fascinating to have actually sat across a table from Claire McCaskill at one point, to have worked with Sarah Steelman and Kenny Hulshof, to have indulged in a dose of local politics and then to suddenly have withdrawn, relocated and I immediately registered and dove head-first into politics.  I sure wish Bill Graves were still governor, which would have made a better front for Sam Brownback or perhaps have gained him a little headway in the prelim voting.  Sigh.  There’s always 2012….can you feature Brownback just diligently working, trucking over ‘Billary’s’ smear campaigns?  Also an interesting thought. 

Another thought:  we are heading into winter, and a season of chaos.  Last night at the Trail Nerds run, we came up with a marketing scheme for “Screwed Shoes” which have number 6 Hex Head 3/8″ screws in the bottom for traction.  i’m anxious to turn a couple pair into rugged terrain shoes and hit the road in the first blizzard of winter.  Strangely, though, I hope we can avoid a blizzard, but I have not too soon forgotten what the I-70 corridor holds in store.  It can get brutal and I figure on snow-shoeing it to work a couple times at least!  But I kind of am getting the Leadville 100 bug, so winter would be a great time to acclimate to training at cooler temps and drastically fierce conditions. Just short of freezing my face off, but will have to carry a thermos instead of a fuel belt and crackers instead of gels, and goggles instead of glasses, coats instead of sport tops, long underwear in place of shorts, and perhaps the scars will heal faster if the exposed tissue simply freezes over.  Ugh.  I like where this is headed!  www.psychowyco.com

Well, then there are the things that will keep me tied up and in the city.  Catching all the football action and since I’m close to KU, I might begin to get into basketball.  I’ve lost any hope of singing the national anthem at arrowhead this fall, so maybe next year.  But now that Aaron and Kelly have a new baby on the way (yay!), I have to break out the quilting stuff again and am going to learn a little more on the guitar.  Keeping busy nonetheless.  And who knows?  I might even crack down on the MCAT studies.  I’m thinking more and more that it’s the right direction.  But still remaining fervent about questioning God’s will therein……that’s a big leap and I’d be doing it solo.  Always on the fly.

 

Time to dig a little deeper (and get a garmin!)

 

C

I remember this….first race in KC! Where’d summer go?

What Would Have Been

Chris and I would have been married today if April had not blown in the direction it had.  I am kind of a disgraceful fool and this has been my big beef with today, my oompf moment.  It really hit hard on the way home tonight.  Chris and I still keep in touch, I will always respect and regard him  and know that he deserves better….WAY better.  But, in a last-ditch effort to NEVER burn a bridge with anyone or begrudge for any reason, we remain friends.  Let me state for the record, though, that if a good man comes along and can bear me, bring me down to earth, be a good friend and such a stallwart focal point, I’m not going to let that slip out of my hands. 

Well, really the most urgent matter is this:  PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRIS’ GRANDMOTHER.  She is 91 years old and in dire need of God’s grace, whatever the outcome.  When he sent me the message and specifically asked for prayer I just nearly crumbled.  I so badly wanted to be there to offer a hug, a shoulder, an ear, and this hurts so much because it feels like the afterthought of mutiny but it also feels like that is still a part of my life and I can’t let someone hurt so much. 

I don’t think at the time we ended it I took into account the gravity of the aftermath that would be this.  There are days that make me wonder if I was sent specifically for Chris, you know, like window shopping until you find the grade-A exact match and then you make the swanky purchase never more to be envious or to bear greed or malice for those who have when you have not.  Okay, not the same.  I’m trying to rationally sift through emotions.  God an I have need for a REALLY long talk today.  My demons are big, Chris’ sorrow is bigger.  His family’s loss is greatest and I know exactly what that feels like.  Background, though; we dated for almost a year and a half and decided it would be nice to settle down last Christmas….so the question, then I got cold feet and we fell apart, and he didn’t take much stock in my interests, but no one has ever been there for me as much, and no one has ever asked for so much input, given of themselves so willingly to be a part of something requiring more than just selfish intent and pursuits.  I know there are more out there like Chris, and if there is, if I’m so lucky, there’s no way I won’t stretch outside my comfort zone for that sort of peace and unity.  But, definitely gotta be equally yoked. 

On the whole, this whole day has similarly had that aura about it.  I don’t know what it is about this past 24 hours, but I have since seen some evil and have kept as much distance as possible.  Never gladder for the safe haven of friendship in the church fellowship group.  I am very aware of the spititual warfare taking place, and it’s heated, hotter than the Fires of Kuwait in 1992.  Hotter than the solar flares in 2001.  I know it is real, but I also know that God is very real and very present and please, please do keep in prayer Myrtle, Chris, my weakness and here are some other people to keep in mind:

Heather and Chris (the Heather that I asked you to pray for earlier)

Adam-my pal that just qualified for Boston, I pray for him daily.

Nick-needs a good dose of faith and very smart, but humility is a great thing, we both need it!

The Oasis group

Stacie and Marcos—their poor feet

James, Amy, Daniel @ work, Jon, just because they are good people

Joe Cable-old friend from work, needs grace in his desire for dating a certain someone

Becky and Sharon-two angels I used to work with….babies running out their ears and times are tight

Joe and Dorothy-my self-decided Godparents, because they are truly a gift.

My family–they asked if they could come here for Thanksgiving weekend….WaHOO!

Shawnna and her new baby due in February

Adriane and her new house

Aaron and Kelly–first addition to make my grandparents great-grandparents and the baby will be cute because Kelly is just lovely inside and out, glad she’s part of the family!

My Grandma Adel-after prayer and a bad stint in the hospital, she’s 85, back to driving and living on her own like normal….did I ever tell you I believe in Angels?

Of course, my grandma and grandpa Myers-I was never more grateful for the time we had together, a treasure!

Okay, that’s closing for tonight.  Thanks for your good thoughts, thanks for reading and DO please keep Myrtle in prayer…….

 

….for where two or more are in agreement!

A Weekend To Remember—Reclamation/Proclamation/Acclimation!

Well, for one thing, winter is setting in.  For two things, this was a weekend encased in gold and lined with silver!

Friday I suppose started it all with a bang.  Okay, so I really don’t do anything special on Fridays, no reason to, but wait…..maybe let’s rewind to last Monday.

I told you about Heather.  She got a job!  It was definitely an answer to prayer.  Then, I forgot to tell you about James, another fantastic new character in life, a good friend I shall say.  We had plenty to talk about and I’m really excited to begin learning more from him, since he’s well-read and I really enjoy talking to well-read people.  I don’t scoff at bookworms, I embrace them.  There is a wealth of knowledge to be unearthed!  And I didn’t mention getting locked out of my car…..buffooning blonde moment of my week But that’s not un-ordinary.  I didn’t mention the funny likenesses that my boss and I share.  I haven’t yet told you about WaterFire, about picking Nick up from the airport, about Adam ALSO qualifying for Boston!  And the best of all, I will attribute this as yet ANOTHER answer to prayer, but I seem to be upgrading from Renegade Daughter to Oh, Maybe We Can Hang Out Together Daughter.  Yes, best news of the day.  My parents want to spend the weekend before thanksgiving here.  It must have been the 6 or 7 pages I wrote to them about my zeal for life, what motivates and inspires me and the divinely, intricately, meticulously hand-picked miracles that have come into my life.  I am beaming radiantly because I will make it the most spectacular weekend they have had together in 28 years of being married.  I really want it to be a treat, because i don’t think they get the chance to enjoy one another, really enjoy one another….and it more than makes up for not having a mom-daughter day at the Trans-Siberian Orchestra!

So, there were also thoughts running through my head today, then I’ll cover the wonderful lesson from Oasis today and it’s off to bed…..NO MORE Midnights after tonight!!! 

Thoughts:  research I want to do and how to get into med school

experiments to try for physical peak performance, healing and reclamation, new training plans,

Recovering Springfield, Living like Daniel, why i’m here—God, it’s too much a miracle to think anything other than divine reason….

Woot, Zazzle and oodles of fun plus the fee-fi-fo-fum tee shirt I saw~!

Need to cal Adam Cole, Alicia, Molly, Mom, Aaron, get a gift for Javano’s new baby……yow! 

And EEEEYOW!  I’m so happy for Adam……I think we’re great friends, glad for it, but that guy is a star!

 

Okay, today in Oasis, we were studying the book of Daniel and I thought aloud how the Hubris of Nebuchadnezzar led to the fallout of massive overturn and corruption in government in the Holy Land at that point in history.  Kept retracing all afternoon the roles of Belteshazzar and how he ws eventually slain but unrecognized because of his haughtiness; then Not humbling yourself—-boy can that bring about destruction!  to all things be the Glory of God!  Babylon invaded Jerusalem and decimated the temple…..sort of like wars and rumors of war do today.  In Daniel 4:24-32….”This judgement will continue to fall upon you til you acknowledge God as most high and sovereign.”  Hmmm, interesting connotations with the impending elections and how I feel about the state of our elected officials and the dire need for directional reconstitution!  We simply cannot keep living in Hubris, because we are going to be crushed…….it has happened historially and is happening again.  We, as humans, are only stupid, merely sheep, solely dependent on God.   It made me think about our dependence on interdependence.  (for the record, I LOVE the input of ALL the readership, sum total) on this…..you guys make my day!

Okay, but Daniel, a guy much like Job, after God’s own heart.  My Dad goes nuts about studying Daniel and I can totally relate.  Daniel was good and patient but while filled with humility, lacked the will and courage to effectively utilize his strong witness for Christ….what a contrast between he and Belteshazzar……two men in one….just removed from time and set apart by contextual meaning. 

So, do you know why we exist?  I have a whole pallet of reasons!

Mid River Advenures!!!! I’m Looking forward to this!

Cc: “cherie kail” <cheriekail@yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 9:31 PM

Guys,

 

Here’s our chance to check out the trails near the Kansas/Missouri border in a few weeks.  Cherie Kail, who will be joining us at the Castlewood 8HR race, lives in the Kansas City area and will be our guide for what I’ve heard are three awesome parks:  Shawnee Mission, Wyandotte County Lake, and Blue Springs.

 

Who’s in?  We’re looking at Saturday, November 15th and/or Sunday, November 16th.  Yes, I’m interested in staying overnight as a possibility, because there are so many great trails to ride and run.  I plan to drive my van, which can hold me plus two others (bikes on top).

 

SEND ME A NOTE THIS WEEK saying your interest level:  two days or one.  Let’s make this a good training weekend in preparation for the December race! 

 

Thanks,

Bill S.

REPLY:

All AR-ers:

 

I am more than happy to provide snacks, r and r, a place to put up cold feet.  I do have just an apartment, but if you need to save on lodging, I can roll out sleeping bags and give up some furniture   I have been running with the KC Trail Nerds (just had Rock Creek 50/25/5 this past weekend) at Lake Perry.  We typically do Tuesday night runs at Shawnee Mission Park, better known for its single-track experience.  We also have Thursday night runs (headlamp) at Wyandotte County Lake Park on 435 and close to Leavenworth.  The 15th there is a 10k in the morning if anyone is interested, but we can also head out to Shawnee Mission that day to ride/run.  And WyCo provides plenty of muddy fare if the weather is nasty and you feel extra spirited!  I have a fun little event that afternoon/evening not sure the time??? called Girls On the Run…..a cool idea to check out and take back to your kids on neighborhood.  Also, the Saints are playing the chiefs (boo) Sunday the 16th and I can easily get cheap tickets (last game was 10 yd line, front row sec 150 for $35) and Sunday would be a great day for an early morning ride/run at Blue Springs or WyCo!  Your choice.  There are marked trails and I will try to get maps out by the end of the week, but I can also get John Dewy from Bike Source to give me some maps and perhaps join us as a trail guide at Landau/Blue Springs

 

Hope all is well with you all and have a marvelous week ahead!!!

 

 

Righteous Mud Babe, C
 

From Bob….On The Trail

Wowza!  Bob, I gotta say….you’re my hero for doing the 50k!  We had a 50k.25k.5k at Lake Perry this week and I won the 5k easily, wishing I had joined Laurie and Sarah for the 50, but..sigh.  You are, again the hero of the day:)  Adam….qualified for Boston!  He ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 3:09 a minute under…..we’re carpooling to KCI in April

Friday night we have some big Halloween fun here in KC at church and downtown, and I’m going as either Wonder Woman or a Leprechaun, can’t decide…..maybe both!  Oh!  Remind me to tell you about WaterFire this past weekend!  It was AMAZING!  And I have officially made a great new bff of a girl named Heather……just keep her in prayers, in a big way.  She’s an angel—and we dove into Cold Stone Creamery this afternoon!

Also, Nick is doing Leadville next August…..i’m getting the 100 mile fever-yikes!  But looking ever forward to Boston!!!  My parents are coming here for Thanksgiving, big change of plans might have something to do with a nice loooong letter i wrote them about the wonderful things here and such divine and amazing intricacies of life of late……and it’s something I have carried from Springfield….the whole concept of God’s will and wow, is it ever empowering!  We had a great discussion this morning about that in Sunday School (Oasis) and my group that broke off got into the importance of being ernest and the upcoming elections, which are critically pivotal in this nation’s future and prophetic outset. 

I can go on and on for hours, but I realize you’re wiped out after the run.  I’m going to have to devote my life to writing long epic segments of a book these late winter nights.  By the way, winter felt prevalent today!  The temps dropped thirty degrees and I do expect a freeze by morning.  I’m working some long days these next few weeks, but got away this afternoon for ice cream with Heather, to pick Nick up at the airport and take him to Lawrence, and four miles on the treadmill while watching KC lose AGAIN!  Argh!

Okay, the deal with this weekend:  after Friday night, I’m volunteering at the American Royal rodeo barn til noon Nov. 1, just sounded interesting and I want to meet some new and fascinating people.  I must also expand the vocab as far as words to express excitement and joy…..

I’m bringing Alicia with me to Springfield…..she has friends and family to see and it makes sense to carpool.  So, I’d LOVE to get together for dinner Saturday night:  maybe see if Kristy, Brent, Sean and Cheri, Richard and Debbie, Libby, Jessie, etc….anyone want to join!  i’m going to check on the old campaigns and get my sticky fingers in Springfield politics one more time before Tuesday!!!  And Sunday morning I want to run the half marathon, will register tonight, then go to church, come back for the awards ceremony and David Myers has a vocal concert that afternoon, and Alicia and I will leave afterward, around 6 or so. 

It’s another exciting weekend in the life……oh, and I slept for five hours!!!! Saturday after the trail run and Cabela’s gun show…..did absolutely nothing productive and it was everything I thought it could be, just flat relaxing! 

 

Please do have a splendid (ha!  or intrepid) Monday and I will for certain be in touch!

 

Maybe we could con Brent into a hot tub soak for our poor feet…..I know he has one

 

 

God Bless!

 

(Righteous Mud Babe—per Trail Nerds!) Cherie

Marines

Men In Uniform!!!

Ha! I had to throw that in

Adam:  the update:  I just checked the Marine Corp Marathon site to find that Adam had a 22 minute 5K, 44 minute 10K, and is 1 hour, 32 minutesat the half.  His estimated time to finish is 3:05!!!  3:05!  I have much work to do to be half as good as he!

Well, that means we can gather up Allison and then there are at least three of us who will be enjoying Boston in April!!!  A goal.  I love goals.   I’ve started to save, little by little, but feel it necessary to do at least one more full marathon by my (birthday????) Houston Chevron   Well, registration is full, so there will be a flat one and I will run it in 3:25 or better.  Goals on paper always come to pass.  And let me state for the record, I am very proud of Adam.  He even went in with IT Band issues, so this guy is well on the way to the hall of fame.  But, like myself, he’s tough as nails.  What a guy!

 

Wahoo!!!! For Adam’s 26.2!!!

http://live.activeresult.com/index.dude?id=35#RESULTS

KC Mara Photos

there Must have been twenty of Bib # 1263, but this is most definitely my favorite and the only way i could inter-net copy them here was to snag the WHOLE page!  So, now someone is gonna know how much Christmas Costs!!!!

Order Status | Contact Us | Find Your Photo | Shopping Cart | Help

Home > Kansas City Marathon 2008 > #1263 Photos > View Photo   Kansas City Marathon 2008 10.18.08 – Kansas City, MO    41850-2204-031    ASI-PROOF Our prints have far superior resolution and image quality than what appears on screen. Learn More   Prints Frames & Plaques Packages Gifts Digital Share Click on any item for details 1 5X7 $12.00 012345678910 1 20X30 Poster $65.00 012345678910 8 Wallets $12.99 012345678910 1 8X10 $17.99 012345678910 1 12X18 $24.99 012345678910 1 8X12 $18.99 012345678910 1 16X20 Poster $54.99 012345678910 1 6X9 $12.99 012345678910 1 8X10 Magazine Cover $25.99 012345678910 20×30 Custom Poster $80.00 012345678910 10×24 Panoramic Multi-Action $69.99 012345678910 8X10 Finisher’s Certificate $29.99 012345678910 My First Marathon 8×10 $12.00 012345678910 My First Half-Marathon 8×10 $12.00 012345678910 Click on any item for details Photo Mat $25.99 012345678910 5X7 in Dark Walnut Frame $49.99 012345678910 5X7 in Black Dakota Frame $49.99 012345678910 8X12 in Black Dakota Frame $59.99 012345678910 Commemorative Plaque $64.99 012345678910 Click on any item for details 2 5X7, 2 4X6 $29.99 012345678910 2 5X7, 8 Wallets $24.99 012345678910 2 4X6 $15.00 012345678910 2 5X7 $19.99 012345678910 Click on any item for details Wheaties Box $39.99 012345678910 10 Season’s Greetings Holiday Cards $24.99 012345678910 10 Merry Christmas Holiday Cards $24.99 012345678910 10 Happy Holidays Holiday Cards $24.99 012345678910 10 Happy Chanukah Holiday Cards $24.99 012345678910 15 Oz. Picture Mug $29.99 012345678910 Mouse Pad $19.99 012345678910 Photo Magnet $12.99 012345678910 Photo Button $9.99 012345678910 Photo Key Chain $14.95 012345678910 Click on any item for details High Resolution Digital Image $27.95 012345678910 Photo CD $59.99 012345678910 Send this photo to a friend Friend’s Email (separate addresses with commas) Your Email Message   <!—->

Home | User Terms | Help | Find Your Photo | Contact Us | Privacy

October Surprise

Okay, surprise.  I’m not a bad gal to pal around with.  I like to hunt, fish, talk politics, know my sports decently well, can cook, love to eat, could pick you up and toss you around a little, but mind games are not always the ilk. 

Okay, so Sarah Palin, John McCain, Obama, Biden…did you happen to catch Anderson Cooper 360?!  They had a piece on there where all the four of them were dancing, it was totally edited but I about fell on the floor laughing at McCain doing break-dancing.  Man’s got moves.  Sarah did a few ghetto moves of her own and Obama, well, for a guy who lived in Chicago…he really Can NOT dance! 

And I suppose there are many surprises left in the next week, but we will soon find out.  My biggest was filling up with eight gallons for less than twenty bucks today!

YAY for the Iran-contra revisited…..er, that was bad.

Um, I really don’t want to tread too far in any foreign waters and again, I find it’s late.  My brownies are done and I’m wanting one before turning in.  I, uh, have a race in the morning.  They scold mara runners for not recovering.  I’ve been at running since Monday.

ended up a 5k this week,

half marathon next week

half marathon the 8th

fun times in excess and super hard work in between

Adventure Race practice and GOTR the 15-16 and  Saints vs. chiefs…..uh, no thanks, i’m finished!

November 21-13 i’m checking out and eating til I go dumb!

november 27th Gobbler Grind marathon and Paul and Lindseys for feast #4!

December 5-6 Adventure Race in St. Louis

December 14????? Whiterock marathon

After that a breather and plenty of trail runs til new years’ then a 50k!!!  for fun

And a birthday Marathon…sweet 24!!!! January 27th.  Maybe a running date?  Oh!  That would be a treat! 

February Psycho Wyco 50k!

from then, I train solely for Boston and I mean hard-out til April 1, then taper smart and run a 3:15 at Boston!  26.2

After that, a week off and TRI SEASON!!!!  Maybe a new bike????

Ohh!  October Surprises…while other people have kids and reality, I’m still dreaming and coming up with one a month……but remember….

WE MAKE PLANS FOR GOD’S AMUSEMENT!