The Heat, The Cold, The Water In Iowa.

Adventures in Muscatine,  Time Past. 

Greetings!   Another fine day to be alive and have the ability to tell everyone about it!   Or basically another opportunity to enjoy the hobby of blogging.

Once upon a time... A Happy Runner. 

But what has happened since we last met?   Why,  Running!   Running with Cheryl, specifically.   (Actually, Biking while Cheryl runs...  I don't run anymore.)  And what Crazy Adventures have the dynamic Duo been up to lately?  (We put the Crazy in Crazy Adventures!)

But why can't she run now? 

Well,  not much.   Ever since our new found freedom. (Or, unemployment, as some might call it.)  Cheryl has not really managed to run very much.   Both of us are stumped at what the cause for such a tragic outcome could be.
   Cheryl blames society, her parents, the world,  and Cake.  ( or lack there of....)

Mother Nature is Trying to Kill US! 

I , being more pragmatic, blame Mother Nature. You see,  I studied environmental science and biology in college, so I know a thing or two about how the environment is constantly trying to kill us.   It is mankind's destiny and purpose to fight back against the never ending onslaught of nature's sinister plans.  But perhaps I'm reading a little too much into it.

Angry weather raining on Our running. 

The obvious reason for the lack luster running is the weather ( still a part of Nature, though!)  and how it has conspired to foil us at every turn.

Cheryl is melting. 

Running in the Heat. 

For instance!   The heat.  Cheryl ran in the heat and nearly melted!   When the heat and humidity gang up on a runner,  the eventually cave.  Usually by running slower and/or limiting the distance of the training run.   Good thing there was not a run scheduled for this weekend.

Running in the Cold..  ish. 

Then there is the cold.   Or Cool,  at this time of year.  Normally when the temps dip to a comfortable low for running, it is accompanied by rain.   Lots and Lots of rain.    We ran in the rain, and got cold and semi-wet.   Not the best experience for a cyclist like myself.  Good thing there was not a run scheduled for this weekend.

They fly up your nose.

Swams of Gnats.

Before moving on, I should also mention the bugs.  Gnats!  With a capital "G"!   The moist weather has triggered the swarms to fly in your face and up your nose.   And they wait until you are hot and covered in sweat to stick to you.   I personally like feeling them buzz around in my helmet ventilation holes.   Where I can't swat them away and they somehow fail to find an exit out of there. So yea,  Cheryl gets covered with salt and pepper bugs while I have gnats flying around inside my helmet,  beating my head and flying in my eyes. Good times!

At least it was cool/damp/cold.

Running in the Rain. 

And lastly,   The wet.   We started today off by heading to Muscatine.  It has been a while and we were excited to check it out.  Possibly get a cool 10 miles in along the Mississippi.  When we arrived,   we  learned the trail was completely under water!

Starting at the "Goose Park"
(Actually, it's called "Weed Park" )

Today!  Muscatine is Flooded. 

Muscatine has been at "Flood Stage"  for the last 90 days!  We have never seen the entire park where the fountain is located, under water.   We decided to travel to a  park (Weed Park, specifically, ) and start running from there.   At least that section was dry.

Wonder why it is called "Goose Park?"
(I know, I know...  It's 'Weed' Park) 

Thistle Puff Ball! 

Cheryl herds the Geese. 

MORE flooding! 

Cheryl  ran through some of the geese while I played with some of the flowers.   However,  we eventually discovered that a huge section of that trail was also under water!   We were forced to double back and re-run a section to get just under 7 miles.  Again!  Mother Nature was to blame.

All Done!  All Better... 

Time for Tee's

One of the cool things about traveling to Muscatine is the opportunity to Check out Tee's.   Nothing says happiness better than a Banana Split at 10:30 in the morning.  (plus they made the best cheeseburger!)

Snails and a bunch of Daphnia.
(water fleas) 

Blood worms, Minnows, 

One last note,  The "puddle" that blocked our path near the train tracks was teaming with Life!  Blood worms,  snails, small fish and water fleas were swimming and swirling around.   If I still had an aquarium, I might have had fun dipping small nets into the soup.  But thankfully,  I no longer waste my money on such things.   I had to appreciate the micro-world in its natural habitat.   It is bound to end soon enough.

Daphnia up close!  So Cute!

Daphnia up REALLY close!
So scary! 

So that is all!   Wasn't that exciting?   Sometimes you have to find the little things to make life livable.  And, of course, it helps to blog about it.  Thanks for stopping in.

Being Able To Blog Again!

The End Of the Pearson Project. Yeah!   Freedom. 

Today was our last day of the Pearson Project and we are now free to live our lives and freely blog about nothing as usual. Yeah for me!  ( and maybe Cheryl...)

Our project ended around Noon, so we were able to log in a half-day of Freedom.   ( I mean.... Work.  If you want to look at the Half-Full side of the glass.) We were able to do some errands and buy an "after the Project"  Sundae for Cheryl.   She loves to celebrate just about anything...  with a Sundae.

Of course,  you can't pay the bills with smiles and all that new found freedom,  so we will be back to work on another project that starts in he middle of next week.   So,  it is a temporary leave from the joys of scoring papers.

Keywash Trail Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. 

As for me,  We barely got home and Cheryl suggested we take a long bike ride out on the Kewash Trail.   We have not been there in a while, and they have been making improvements to the trail since we last seen it.  Basically the have removed the gates and places a gazebo by the Keyota Parking lot. 

The NEW Keywash Trail Gazebo. 

Unfortunately,  there was no camera with us... so no pictures.   Making this blog posting rather dull and boring.   I feel that pictures make my posts more happy and fun!  Also, I know many people do not like reading my clever annotations to each day/event.   And a picture is worth a thousand words... or so they say.   ( I know I don't like reading more than 1000 words at a time.


So that is all for now.   Tomorrow will be cooler and Cheryl has running plans.   ( She always does...)   And I will have a new found reservoir of time to commit to my blog again!  I'm so excited!   Because sometimes I miss the blog.   Thanks for stopping in.

My Secret Disdain Of Hope.

And this Hope is Painful.... 

Hope.  I dislike the word "Hope."    Specifically,  the Noun version.    At least the Verb form of Hope has some benign action attached to it.   Similar to wishing good will upon a fellow human being:  " I hope you feel better."   It is very similar to saying: "Have a nice day." or "Good Morning!"   Even if it is not a particularly good morning to be outside on a walk.   ( i.e.  raining...)

Perhaps it is because it is over-used, or maybe I'm attaching more of a bleak meaning to it than it really deserves.   But "Hope" has been used a lot lately in the papers around here.   And not the Verb version.   "I hope it doesn't rain anymore."  "I hope the flood waters recede."   All perfectly acceptable uses of the word.   But the Papers... and the News stories.   "People of Iowa Cling to Hope! " 

Uggggh!   

How pathetic!   I want to believe the People of Iowa are stronger than that.   Heck!  The Rebellious and tenacious nature of AMERICA!   Hope?.. BA!    Hope (the Noun) never gets you anything.  You can't buy Hope to fix your ailments or leaking roof.  You can't scoop Hope onto a plate and eat it.    Dare I say,  Hope ( the Noun) is for helpless Losers!  (Ok,  perhaps loser is a little harsh...)   But why does this little pet peeve irritate me so?    (Just like flip flops.)

We were watching a documentary of the Dust Bowl, back during the early 1930's and everyone ... EVERYONE!   Clung to Hope ( the Noun).   I guess I can understand the form of helplessness one might feel. ( because we have been there...  Just read the 2009-2010 blog posts) but ultimately you have to move to the action version of Hope...the Verb.   Do something and "Hope" it works...

So stop waiting for Hope

While the two versions of the same word might mean little to anyone else,  the subtle differences are obvious to me.   And even though Hope can not be purchased to make things better....  it can be sold. 

The Best at shoveling  Hope...  And semi-universal Healthcare. 

President Obama is one such famous salesmen.   Sure, other politicians have sold the same line,  but Obama had it down to a science!   He even wrote a book about the Audacity of Hope!   A title I still do not understand. Taking a bold risk to do nothing?  Or is it rude to wish for something to change while doing nothing to change it?  Way to stay vague!   

Maybe that is a good thing!  

But after Obama,   Hope ( the Noun) seems to be all the rage these days.   Clinging to Hope;   Wishing for Hope;  We just need more Hope!    Why? How about a little Hope for your Sandwich....  Or better yet!     How about do something!  And them Hope (the Verb) for the best.   And if things do not work out,   re-work the plan to fix it!

I never thought of myself as a Grammar Nazi.  Goodness knows this blog proves I am no such thing.   But whenever I read a "pray for Hope" quote on the headlines or Newspapers,   I hear fingernails on a chalkboard.  It's over-used and over-rated... And Over-due for a redefinition.  Perhaps I can Hope (the Verb) for  journalists  to eventually find the Noun version unfashionable, and find something else to overuse and abuse.   Today's press writers certainly lack snap and originality in their Prose...

Cheryl's Birthday festivities. 

But mostly I'm writing this because nothing really has happened this week.   We scored at Pearson,  Cheryl had a Birthday, and we are currently relaxing at home.  The weather is hot and there is not much to do outside...  run a little I guess.  Mostly, the weekends have been our "Battery Recharge" time.  and that is pretty boring to blog about.

Even Cheryl's Birthday seems to be a dud this year.   I'm sure we will eventually do something fun, not tied to the Birthday though.   We have been doing lots of runs and other fun things, so when the birthday comes along,  it seems like just something we normally do.

Know the Difference!

Other than that,  I Hope (the Verb)everyone is having a Fine afternoon and a great Weekend.   I Hope (the Verb) you enjoyed the little Rant about a seemingly insignificant word, and we shall never use Hope ( the Noun) to cure our diseases, mow our lawns, or clean our  Oceans.  There is no big bucket of Hope  to dip into to cuddle up with at night, or wrap ourselves up in on a cold winter's day.  Instead,  you should Hope for a Teddy Bear or a Blanket for your Birthday.  Or buy one for yourself, and throw Hope out the Window.

A Race Free Weekend!

Cheryl's lite run this weekend. 

 Ah!  What to do on a weekend where there is no travel or racing involved....   (Not to be confused with a weekend where the racing is Free!  i.e. No race fee...)  Cheryl has literally been running us ragged for the last month!   Get it?  Running....   Because she runs races.... All the time!    But finally, as Summer arrives with its Heat and Humidity and endless sunburning sunshine,  Cheryl has wisely or accidentally chosen to take a break.  Yeah for me!  I mean... Us!

Rain brings flowers. 

I'm kidding.  I love to travel in the Subaru.   Driving Subie is about as close to riding on an angels wings as you can get here on Earth.  ( So one Subaru driver put it,  And I liked the analogy.) And Cheryl's legs are slowly getting beat up to the point of where she is having niggles. ( Runner term for "annoying pain in your feet and legs that are not noticeable under normal work loads.") She could use the rest and I could use the time at home to better myself, fold origami, play with cats, and save the world!

And Mushrooms. 

I search while she runs. 

Saving the world might take a little longer,  but I can fold Origami immediately!   And pet the cat(s)!   With last week being rather rainy,  we were forced to stay inside and not run after or before work.   Cheryl has been a little nervous about taking that much time off from running, but I'm sure it will ultimately do her some good.

Small corals in our front yard. 

They poof spores when you ouch
them. 

The rain has also brought out a number or mushrooms.   Most of the ones I have been finding are rather small and frail.  I'm sure there Spring Mushrooms are the kind that bloom in the morning and die by mid-afternoon.  Still, they are fun to find and admire.   It may be a few more months before the edible Boletes and Chanterelles arrive.  But I will keep a close eye out for them.

Mini puffballs!  Also in he stump
out front. 

Small while Jelly mushrooms.
Not Woodear, I'm thinking. 

Some mini puffballs and jelly mushrooms have found their way to our front yard stump.  I have seeded  Oyster Mushrooms and Lion's Mane in this stump all winter and spring.  I'm hoping they find fertile ground to fruit in the fall. 

Some purple corals,  Very small. 

White spider network.  Notice the
brown bruising where I touched it. 

There is also this web-like mushroom spider webbing all across the sides.   If I'm lucky  it is the mycylium of one of the desirable mushrooms.  I see that it bruises brown ( similar to Lion's Mane)  and if the Lion's Mane gets established,  I would be thrilled!

Could this possibly be Lion's Mane
Mycylium? 

Blewits in the Garden... Hopefully
in the late summer/fall.

As for the Garden.   Well,  The Tomatoes are not looking the best.  The Landlord told me she has just put out her plants with the cool temps and wet weather.   I can see why.  The seedlings we planted earlier are all gone ( at least I can't find them anymore)   and the only plants I DO have are the ones the neighbor gave to me a few weeks ago. ( apparently,  his green thumb produced too many seedlings and he had to give many of them away.)  I also planted a bunch of different Mushroom Species in the garden and it is possible that I still may get some to grow there.   Blewits are good to eat and they love disturbed Earth patches.  We shall see how the Iowa Summer behaves this year.

Shackleton's ill fated tale of survival.  Everyone loves a
good Survival story. 

And then there is the Origami.   For some unknown reason,  the Shackleton story of the Endurance has captured our imagination.  If you are unfamiliar with the story,  he is an explorer who goes to Antarctica to cross the continent.

Or Movie...

 However, he gets frozen in the ice and the icebergs crush his ship.  After 10 months ( and some change) he has to row back to civilization with his crew in three little life boats.  An amazing story of survival!  ( or you can watch the movie on the History Channel like I did)  And yes!  They did eat the dogs...

Surrounded by Killer Whales,
penguins, and...peace doves?  

And that is the inspiration for the Origami.   Ships, Penguins, orcas, and icebergs have been on the agenda for folding.   Also, a lady wanted a dove.... The peace dove is so common in the origami world,  I folded up several versions.  Hopefully she will like one of them.

Orca drying on the door. 

 And that is all for now.   The Pearson Project continues and is actually refreshingly pleasant to do.  I actually look forward to scoring each day.   It is supposed to last another two weeks, but as things pick up, It is possible that it may end sooner.    I will miss it when it is finished, but I have many other things that require my attention and are not centered around a job.  But we will make hay while the sun shines.    Thanks for stopping in.