Dreary Downpour Run With Donuts. A lesson in Mobile Dining.

The words disappear with the dampness

Eager to run in the rain.

I had a wonderful poem I wanted to construct for this blog posting.... But alas! Upon finding warmth and dry clothes, my turbulent brain has calmed to a mirror  on a lake.

It was much worse than this...

Cheryl has been looking forward to running in the rain ever since the dark clouds moved in three days ago.   We have, up until today, missed each opportunity to "dampen our spirits";   with only a light mist or sporadic drizzle  to contend with.  But the weather promised that the rain would be there for us all day today.

More like THIS!

Lucky us!  I should have been a little more wary about the possibility.   I took the minimum steps: choosing my water resistant coat and an extra layer of clothing  for support.  Looking back I should have had an entire wardrobe change in my water proof duffel bag.

And THIS!

As you can probably guess,  the rain got us with an unrelenting downpour.  The curtains fell and the rivers ran... down the very sidewalk  we were sharing.   We made it through without much trouble.  However, we got to enjoy the feeling of damp clothes for the next several hours.   There really is nothing like extending the misery sitting in an air-conditioned store with wet socks, shoes, shirts and shorts. 

We dashed into the Noodle Store  to eat some lunch,  getting drenched once again in the process.   The noodles were not as good today as they had been last week.  (New/different cook, I guess)  Add in that sitting in soaked clothes did not make it any more enjoyable.

Why is eating in your car so bad?

The French claim that, "Americans Eat in their Car..."   I'm assuming this is meant as an insult, (as opposed to a correct observation.)  as it is common knowledge the French find Americans slovenly. (So we are,  Neh!  Shrug) But!  Like Most Americans,  I misinterpret this as a complement.  Because today,  Eating inside the warm and toasty Subaru would have been preferable.

How I see US eating mobily.

 Maybe Americans eat inside their car because they drive really great cars!  (As opposed to eating on the go,  eating all the time, and too lazy to leave their cars. Or the possibility that our life is so hectic that we do not have time to eat with family or friends)   Nope!   I think it is because America has a love affair with their automobiles. (Especially cars designed by Japanese...)

Off to Dunkin' Donuts...  IN the rain

The rain never let up and we got soaked a second time after changing into some dry clothes.  So to warm ourselves up,  we grabbed a Dunkin' Donut for the road. Looks like they are trying to brighten up the donuts with the autumn colors again.  And... Yes!   We ate them in the Car.

Fall Festive colors?  Where is the Art?

Cheryl thinks out her new plan.

So now we are safe and warm and dry at home.   Cheryl got a little more than she bargained for this misery run.  We may have to take little time off to reflect on the lesson learned.  She DID manage to finish 5 miles of hills today...  so that is a plus.  And she tends to get grumpy if she has to miss a day of running.   I'm sure we will figure something out.

Try not to spill the soup... 

So hope everyone is warm and dry on this rainy day.  It has definitely dumped more rain on us today than over the past week.  It's a good day to sit back, hunker down and enjoy some coffee and chicken soup.   At home.... Hopefully not in your car.  (Soup can be a little messy!)

Rain, Clouds, Stockings and Runs.

Clouds?  Rain?   The mean NOTHING!

The last couple of days have been rather dreary.  Rain and clouds darken the skies and the cold temps of fall have finally arrived.   Undaunted, Cheryl continues to insist that we run.   Even in the rain!

 No biggy for her, but I have to dress up for the occasion.   Riding a bike does not generate the same amount of heat as running.

Cheryl the Conquerer!  (Or Terrible...)

   And with the cold, slow pace, and lack of pain pushing her;   She plans to make up for it all by running longer.  Today she increased the millage to 4 miles. She probably plans on getting up to 7 miles by the end of the week.  We shall see.

Cheryl sewing up the custom orders

In the mean time,  Stockings are slowly trickling in.  Last year, apparently,  I did not blog about the steady stream of 3-4 stockings at this time.    So this year, I want to make a bit more of an effort to catalog things. 

The Motley Crew of Fur-bearers.

The Finished Stocking representations.

We started the day with "no sales" but that quickly changed by mid afternoon.   During this time of year, that is how it is.   Start off thinking you have an easy day and BOOM!  5 sales with three on the back burner for tomorrow.  Cheryl had an especially fun time making the cats.

Armadillo.

Bulldog

Standing Crane.  First time go! 

Bulldog reads the blog. 

As for me,  now and then I get called in for my button sewing skills.   Otherwise I keep my self occupied by playing with the cat, digging in the mud, and folding origami with my latest paper creations

 Korean Paper.  Similar to cloth. 

I finally figured out how to make that Korean paper (Hanji) work. ( Hint:  LOTS of methyl cellulose. Without it, it folds like a fragile cloth.)   The stuff I'm currently using we purchased from Amazon.   Apparently, it is the "industrial strength" kind.  I'm still trying to figure out how to portion it up so it does not solidify in my container.

Sounds dangerous.  But not really. 

There are so many uses for this stuff.  Mostly for Slime, blood, and other gooey special effects for movies and Halloween .   Also it can be used as wallpaper paste, paper binder, book glue, and food emulsifier. (Makes gravy thicker) I doubt it will ever explode...  about as flammable as flour and an open flame.  It took me a while to figure that out, because each producer markets it as ONE of the intended purposes.  Causing much confusion.  In the end, it is all the same stuff...  as long as you don't eat the "non-food quality" stuff.  ( not that I would want to anyway.)

Hope everyone else is staying dry and warm on this chilly October day.    In the mean time,  Enjoy some Rod Stewart.   (Small note:  Remember when Rod Stewart was "too sexy and raw for the youth of America?   Funny how time mellows us all.)  Thanks for stopping in and enjoy.
 

One Hail Of A Good Time In Iowa.

Torrent Hail Storm!

In the middle of the day

For the third time this year....  there has been hail.   This time it just sprung up in the middle of the day (Today) and left small piles of pea-sized hail all around the yard.

Enough to make a snow cone.

  Now,  I know most people would ask, "What's the Big Deal?"   And I can see that unless the hail is baseball sized or larger, it simply does not make it onto the Weather Channel feed.   (Not that I EVER want to see that sized hail here in Iowa)

10 minutes later, sun is shining....

But  for someone growing up in Michigan,  Hail is kind of like seeing snow for the first time.   You hear about it.  Read about it.   Even watch videos about it...but I have never seen it in the flesh.   Until now.

Check out the neighbor's Pile of Ice...

40 minutes later!   Still here!

Moving to Iowa has brought several other "Firsts",  But seeing Hail fall with such ferocity is quite awesome.   Seeing Ice fall from the sky in the middle of summer is simply miraculous!   Like something biblical....like frogs or something.

Cool summer day

Muscatine. 

But like someone who does see snow for the first time,  I do not hope to happen onto a Blizzard.   Seeing small bouts of ice slightly larger than a peanut is enough for me.

Kewash Trail under gloomy skies.

The weather has been pleasant lately.   With cooler temps making for better running.   The clouds also help keep the sun in check for most of the time.  It is unfortunate that Cheryl and I are still suffering from this blasted cold.   Nothing dangerous...just annoying.   A cough and runny nose that irritates more than incapacitates.  ( blowing you nose and coughing randomly is just so bothersome.)

Ready for her reward after 10 miles.

Sundae Pictures

Cheryl continues to work on her shop and I have written a little over 1000 words on the novel ( over 6000 words currently!)  I admit that the writing is a trickle.   I have also been working on some origami cats.   I'm not sure where I will go with them, but I wanted to at least work on perfecting the model.

More Swag

Congrats!  You are Awesome!

So that is all for today.  Hail!   Cold temps, Running, Writing, Designing, and Fighting colds.   Who knew Summer in Iowa could be so exciting?

4th place awesome...to be exact.

I almost forgot Cheryl's latest trophy.    She placed 4th in the master division at the Madtown Half Marathon.   Check out her latest medal.  

Freakishly sexy legs

Still a work in Progress.

Cheryl's eventual goal.   (Dean Karnazes's legs)

And her Sexy legs.    She hopes to have them eventually look like other famous runners.  We shall see.

Week In Review

Raining at Pearson.

It has been a challenging week this week.   I have been working at Pearson; so that has demanded most of my time.   There really is not much to say about that really.   It's a job and pays.   And luckily it was fairly easy.   The end.

Work in an Office!  Duh!

We did not get any pizza or cupcakes this time.  Not even a handshake and a "Job Well Done!"   Just a "thanks for coming" and hope to see you next time.

One thing I DID pick up was a lovely cold.  Thanks for reminding me why I do not like crowds.  I imagine all those people in a small cramped room would tend to circulate any bug that might be going around.   Mostly it is a seriously stuffed up nose and a bit of a cough.   I'm hoping it will sort itself out before long and not digress into full blown Pneumonia.  Struggling to breathe through my nose is bad enough.

Running in the evening.

Nice Legs!

Cheryl runs!

In the mean time,  Cheryl and I have been running/biking whenever we can fit it in.  Mornings here... evenings there.   The weather has been most uncooperative as of late.   Basically it has been blisteringly hot and sunny.   And if it cool down and rain...  It does it at night.

Marble sized hail

Pretty flower

Speaking of rain.   We had a bit of Marble sized hail this last Wednesday.   It happened around 12:00.   I ran outside at picked up one of the ice drops before it melted away.   You can always seem to tell when there is hail because it sounds like gravel being thrown at the window.   This is the second time this year hail has manifested on our doorsteps.   Hopefully this is not an omen of Biblical proportions!

Cheryl makes a wish

Other than that,   not much else.    This cold really ticks me off because I can't seem to enjoy ANYTHING while under its influence.  (Influenza!   Get it!) Sniffing and blowing and coughing really makes bike riding so much more fun.

Playing in the water

Vultures wait for Cheryl to drop

And sleeping!    Oh Joy!   Waking up with a sore throat and clogged nose is so refreshing.   Cheryl really appreciates my midnight walks and gurgles as well.   Just go away already!

New Shirt Design

Cheryl's Burst of Speed.   We call her "The Flash!"

At least I'm done with Pearson so I can focus and getting better.   Cheryl continues to plug along with her Pearson at home project.  It is scheduled to finish tomorrow.  That leaves only ETS unless something else magically appears.  Cheryl has plans on working on her designs.   She created a shirt and several other things over the last several days.   We shall see how things work out,  but having the time to work on things...little by little,  is a big step.

Hope everyone else out there is healthy and enjoying the week better.   Nice weather would be ... nice.  For a change.   And having no ailments has got to be better than having  one.   Thanks for checking in.