Oh January! You’re Almost Over!

Look at the time!  The year has only JUST started and the first month is nearly over!    And I have only posted five postings so far this year.   I was hoping that I would be more diligent with my postings, but I guess if nothing happens for a week, then I have very little to say….Looking back over this week,  I guess we DID go to Minnesota to check out an apartment….in the event we wanted to move there.    IT was rather uneventful….The apartment was, to put it nicely, a DUMP that was way too expensive.  It has forced us to reevaluate the “moving out of Iowa” idea for another year. 

In the mean time,   we have a run to prepare for and ACT to work for.   No!   The scoring gigs are not up…they have asked us to join them for a short project in the warehouse organizing tests and shipping out exams.     I’m actually a little fuzzy on the details, but we know several of our previous scoring colleagues have been doing it on and off between projects and say it is quite fun and easy.   Perhaps even better than the scoring as you do not have to qualify and read and evaluate endless essays.

As for the Run!     Cheryl has entered the groundhog run in Kansas City, MO.  I guess it takes place underground…..all 10 kilometers!   I hope I will be allowed to join them down there.  I guess it is a huge mine/ underground storage facility that literally has miles of area to run around in.  Hopefully I will not forget the camera this time and have some cool pictures to post later.   We shall see.   Hope everyone is enjoying the week so far.   It is raining here in Iowa at the moment and much of the snow has been slowly melting away.   I’m not sure what is better to run/bike in….the rain or the snow.   I’m guessing that the rain at least will not cause you to slip or bog down your bike.  But it will definitely get you wet and cold at this time of year…..that might not be a very comforting alternative 

An Evening With Founders. A Michigan Beer.

We found this here in Iowa!  Of all the places.   Any state that can not offer J. D. Dundee’s Honey Brown should probably be thought of as “lacking” in beer selections. But Somehow,  this beer, that we could not find in the very location of its creation, is offered here in a store next to our favorite bagel place.   There were 4 other selections, but we chose one that had the ‘hops” we desire. 

  The color was robust.  Very dark and warm.  The smell was sweet with a hint of malt.

The Taste:   Not bad at all.   And really not what was expected.   Darker beers usually have a   chocolate or caramel flavor.  This one had the right combination of hops to offset the “candy” flavor…but not too much to overwhelm it with citrus notes. 

We enjoyed it with Chocolate covered strawberries.   A nice combination.   There are some beers you should eat with fried foods,  others with cheese and crackers or Brie cheese.   This one went well with the sweets from the chocolate and fruit.   It IS a little pricy,  ( most “good” beers are)   but it is a nice experience and fun to try.   I can’t wait to try the other selections. 

When a Deer Hits the Subaru, What happens?

  Apparently, not much!   Notice the title does not say that the Subaru hits the Deer…..Nope!  In this case, the deer hit the Subaru and about the only thing that happened was the passenger mirror gets knocked loose and needs to be snapped back into place.   I have heard that animals Love Subaru’s.   Perhaps the deer identified my car and just wanted to touch it…HEAD ON!   Not the smartest move, but with my skilled hands at the wheel, I was able to minimize the “love” any deer bestows upon any car. 

Now you may be wondering about all of the details.    This happened new years day.   Funny that I would just get to blogging about it now.   I guess without any damage to remind me of the event, I have almost forgotten about it. 

On our way back from the Polar dash,   we were almost home when I made the ill fated decision to take the back way home.   I figured that the way would have less traffic and ultimately be shorter and more direct.   I also voiced my concerns that I knew that there were numerous deer crossings there.   The deer crossings are unavoidable either way you do, but on the back roads, you would not have as many on coming cars blinding you, and you would be going slower speeds. 

Everything was good,  less than 7 miles from home and a deer pops out!    Cheryl sees it at the same time as I do and I slow down while she alerts me to it’s presents.   I have been in this situation before….Slow down,  honk the horn.   Hopefully that will scare it back into the woods where it should remain.   This tactic has worked many many times before.  

But this case…is different.   As if trying to dare me….the deer walks out and stops…..almost defiantly! In my lane.    Luckily, I’m going slow enough now that I can react, but not slow enough to completely stop unless I SLAM on the brakes.   I have been in this situation a time or two before as well.   Time to swerve….It’s late.   There are No oncoming cars.   I can see clearly.   While still braking…..I swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid a collision. 

The deer waits for me to pull up along side him…then LEAPS INTO ME!    “THUD!”    “OUCH!”   @%#^$&@*@!!!!!!

I’m usually critical whenever I see a deer dead along the road.   People drive way to fast on these back farm roads here in Iowa.   They also have these HUGE trucks that make them feel safe.   And I have taken it as a badge of honor that I have never hit an animal such as a deer as I’m a careful and defensive driver. 

However….If the Deer has it in for me….Or is suicidal…well…There is not much I can do about that. 

Luckily,   we pulled into the gas station here in town to survey the damage.   Not even a crinkle where the impact happened.   The only thing was that he knocked the passenger mirror loose.   An easy fix!

So…..  Iowa Deer = Stupid!      Driving back roads in the dark = Bad!   Driving back roads in Iowa in the dark will increase your meeting with said Iowa deer…..which = BAD!  

Even more Origami!

Frogs and More Butters!  Enjoy!

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Some Origami Butterflies

Can you tell that Stockings are over?   I have been enjoying the non-stressful days simply relaxing and playing my new strategy games on my computer.   I have even taken a small break from the blogging.   However, I have a few people waiting for some origami.   So tonight ( or for the last few days) I have been working on butterflies in various colors.  I still have the frogs and some other things to fold up,  but I did not want too many days passing by without me posting something on the blog.  Enjoy!

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Happy New Year! From Minnesota’s Polar Dash…

So this year, we decided to make some changes.   There are many things, but one thing we are sure of is that Cheryl wants to embrace the “Runner Inside!”  Sounds like it is time to run a race!

After careful research,  She found one that starts on NEW YEARS DAY!    The Catch..is it is in Minnesota.  Cold, dark, Viking  Infested….Minnesota.   Did I mention it is cold?   With a serious wind-chill!  

However,  The weather man said that it would be a “balmy” 23 degrees with hints of sunshine.  We decided to take a chance, risk life and Subaru to travel tot he far distant icy plains of the Twin Cities to take a first crack at this race.   And, while we are there, why not enjoy the same places we found pleasant the last time we were there. 

So we booked a room at the same hotel we visited on the last episode of “ICE TRUCKERS”  ( see the march blog post 2014) Luckily, the roads were dry and the weather pleasant…but still cold.   With Wind…..

  We enjoyed some food at the Grizzly Grill;  

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoyed some Michigan beer that we failed to find on our Michigan Trip;  

 

 

 

 

And Registered for the race. Cheryl received her packet, along with her official Polar Dash Fleece and Hat.

 

  She simply HAD to do a fashion show with the items in our room.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Race day ( Today! )       We got up early and made our way to the start point.   Other races were finishing, but the Polar Dash started at high noon. 

 

 

 

 

 

While waiting, we checked out the various states that were represented in the race.  Pretty cool that Alaska and Hawaii were both present….As well as Yours Truly…the Iowa Duo!

 

 

 

So the race began.   Some took it seriously,  others…not so much.  I guess the main thing about this race is not so much the distance or the course, but the weather!   Lucky for us, the temps held out and even warmed a bit.   A considerable improvement over last year…from what I gather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cheryl managed to put in her best time ever for a 5K race.  

 

 

 

 

  She was in the top of her age group placing 24 out of 406 females. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

82 out of 1478 women over all.    

A 20 year old female was the over all 1st place running it in just over 19 minutes.   Impressive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for me,  I snapped pictures of dogs and oddities that events like this bring out in people.   I liked the penguin suits most people wore.   Some even worn Victoria Secret jammies and tiger stripes

Over all, It was a good time!   Even though I did not run, I felt quite happy to be the hidden eye behind the camera.  I am almost as excited as Cheryl to try this again in a different location.   And who knows?  Maybe a bike event might pop up that I can participate in and Cheryl can play camera man for me.  ( camera woman, perhaps?) We shall see.   Happy NEW YEAR EVERYONE!   Lets hope 2015 is a great year!