Miscellaneous Posts
These are the miscellaneous non-theological and non-backpacking posts that I write. They tend to be pretty irregular and covering a range of topics.
Running
Posts about running, including a few of the races I have been in.
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The Seattle Rock & Roll Half Marathon – 2013 June 22, 2013
Back in early April my cardiologist gave me the OK to start running again, so long as I took his little magic pills to keep…Continue reading »
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Seattle Marathon 2012 November 26, 2012
Yesterday was my 5th running of the Seattle Half-Marathon, along with a single full marathon. I had originally planned to run this as a full…Continue reading »
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2012 Seattle Rock & Roll Half Marathon June 24, 2012
The sun rose this morning over drippy skies and low 50's; but by race time the rain had quit, although still overcast. It was really…Continue reading »
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2012 Portland Rock & Roll Half Marathon May 21, 2012
Today was the inaugural running of the Portland Rock & Roll Half Marathon. It seemed like a good event to start off the 2012 season so I…Continue reading »
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The Cure for Cramps April 19, 2012
I started having cramps in my calves when running a few months ago. Initially they would be more common when I was running hard, but…Continue reading »
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Five Finger Running March 28, 2012
I have been running for about 5 years now, going through a couple pair of shoes a year. But a little over a year ago…Continue reading »
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Seattle Half Marathon 2011 November 28, 2011
But finally the final stretch came into sight followed soon by the finish line. I managed to cross in 1 hour 59 minutes and 35…Continue reading »
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How to Train for a Marathon November 19, 2011
I am preparing to run a half marathon next weekend, my ninth in the past 4 years along with 2 full marathons. I guess that…Continue reading »
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Profound Thoughts of a Long Distance Runner October 9, 2011
Running gives a person lots of time to think since it is pretty challenging to watch TV or read a book while dodging cars in…Continue reading »
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Rock & Roll Seattle June 27, 2011
Yesterday was the 2011 version of the Seattle Rock & Roll Marathon / Half-Marathon. This was my third running of this event and Sue's first…Continue reading »
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On Cars and Runners January 9, 2011
I am a runner, and am soft and squishy. And I share the road with cars and trucks, and they are hard, fast and scary.…Continue reading »
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Seattle Marathon 2010 December 6, 2010
A week ago I ran in the 2010 edition of the Seattle Marathon, after running the half marathon the previous 3 years. I had tried…Continue reading »
Health
These posts document some of the health issues I have had in recent years.
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Adventures of the Heart March 3, 2016
I turned 63 last week and celebrated by going in for a catheter ablation the next day. This has become a fairly common procedure where…Continue reading »
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Heart Update January 25, 2016
I have been living with Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib) for the past three years now. It seemed to be nothing more than a nuisance until late…Continue reading »
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Final Word on My Heart – For Now April 6, 2013
In the last three months I have seen my doctor, a cardiologist and a physiologist; been wired up to a heart event monitor for two…Continue reading »
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Cholesterol Control March 4, 2013
I went in a couple of weeks ago for my annual physical. I did this primarily to have my PSA level checked, making sure that…Continue reading »
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Heart Update: Atrial Fibrillation February 6, 2013
Yet another trip to the cardiologist indicates potential Atrial Fibrillation. Treatments include drugs or a Catheter Ablation, burning out the faulty tissueContinue reading »
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Atrial Fibrillation January 19, 2013
Over the past 20 years, or so, I have had periodic episodes where my heart decides to start periodically skipping beats. I made it in…Continue reading »
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Aging Gracefully – Not Gonna Do It! October 25, 2012
Not too sure just when it happened, but I think I have finally started to get old. And I don't like it very much. Granted,…Continue reading »
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Prostate Cancer – One Year Later February 20, 2012
This past week I passed my one year anniversary as a cancer survivor. It was last Valentine's Day that I had a Radical Prostatectomy, having…Continue reading »
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And Life Goes On March 15, 2011
Well it's been four weeks now since surgery; and not a four weeks I would hope to repeat. I have never spent so much time…Continue reading »
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Surgery: A Big Adventure February 20, 2011
I must admit that surgery was quite an adventure, but one that I do not look forward to ever having to experience again. I have…Continue reading »
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Surgery Pre-Op February 9, 2011
Surgery is now six days away and today was the day scheduled to get all of the pre-op stuff done. Spent time with my surgeon…Continue reading »
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It’s Surgery January 5, 2011
The biopsies I had earlier, plus my PSA reading, indicate that the cancer is in an early stage and should be contained within the prostate.…Continue reading »
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Prostate Cancer December 17, 2010
Cancer. Such a simple word; but with such ominous overtones. One day all is well in my little world, then the bi-annual physical, a high…Continue reading »
Home
These posts are about my house, gardens, or something else related in some way to where I call home.
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A Weed by Any Other Name May 3, 2012
What makes something a weed? Interestingly enough there is no botanical definition for a weed. Instead, it is a term that is generally used to…Continue reading »
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The Joys of Being a Slumlord April 26, 2012
When we bought our house 24 years ago it came with an attached Mother-in-law apartment. We have kept this apartment rented out with only brief…Continue reading »
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Raccoons & Squirrels & Deer, Oh My! March 21, 2012
I live in a residential part of town but have a fairly large backyard. It has not been uncommon over the years to see deer…Continue reading »
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Building a Shed November 7, 2011
This was the year we finally decided to put up a shed big enough to hold all of the garden and lawn tools needed to…Continue reading »
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Cranky Old Neighbors and Fences October 31, 2011
Like many other people I have neighbors, defined as people whose property is adjacent to my own. Since my lot includes the middle of the…Continue reading »
Social Issues
I don't normally comment on social issues, but occasionally I feel the need to get up on my soapbox and spout off for a bit.
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Show Mercy and Compassion – Zechariah 7:9-12 November 18, 2020
Ancient Israel was repeatedly condemned by God, through the prophets for their social injustice. Maybe we should take a hint.Continue reading »
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Do Black Lives Matter?: One Christian’s Response July 3, 2020
Do black lives matter? Yes they do. As to all other lives. As a Christian, and a citizen, how can I be an advocate for…Continue reading »
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Building a Wall – Putting Up A Keep Out Sign. January 17, 2020
What is the solution to illegal entry in the the US from Mexico? Is it to build bigger and better walls? Or is there a…Continue reading »
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Tolerance: Seemingly No Longer a Virtue March 16, 2017
Everywhere I look I hear people screaming for tolerance. But it seems like for the most part they are wanting people to accept them and…Continue reading »
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Thoughts on the 2016 Election November 12, 2016
Finally, one of the most troubling presidential elections I can remember is over, although the conflict seems far from resolved. I cannot recall so much…Continue reading »
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The Science of Abortion October 1, 2015
Abortion has been a hot topic through most of the 40+ years of my adult life, and probably before. While I do have an opinion…Continue reading »
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What Tribe Do You Belong To? August 26, 2014
I have a Facebook friend who made the following post recently, and I felt compelled to respond to him, not because I took exception to…Continue reading »
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The Intolerance of Tolerance December 19, 2013
Tolerance: the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. Tolerate: allow the…Continue reading »
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Homosexuality and the Bible April 8, 2013
I am a follower of Jesus, a Christian. I try to follow the teaching of Jesus and the apostles as recorded in the New Testament.…Continue reading »
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Gun Control January 28, 2013
Con control! It is amazing to me the amount of passion that these two little words seems to generate. I must confess, being a non…Continue reading »
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Thoughts on the Sandy Hook School Shooting December 15, 2012
On Friday, Dec 14th, a gunman walked into the Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown Connecticut and opened fire, killing 20 children and 6 adults before…Continue reading »
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Spreading the Wealth November 8, 2012
I was watching one of the campaign workers on the winning side of the recent election gush about what would be accomplished in the coming…Continue reading »
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The US Constitution and the President October 18, 2012
In case you have not noticed, it is time to elect a new President for the US. It is hard to imagine that this is…Continue reading »
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Why Do Politicians Lie? October 8, 2012
Is there anyone who really believes everything their favorite candidate for national office says during their election campaign? Granted, there are some politicians who are honest…Continue reading »
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Muppets, Chicken and Tolerance July 25, 2012
Chick-Fil-A is a fast food restaurant specializing in chicken. They have no stores where I live, but I have been into a couple while on…Continue reading »
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The Aurora Shooting: Why Did God Allow It? July 23, 2012
You no doubt have heard of the shooting in an Aurora Colorado theater this past Friday morning. It has been the topic of endless news releases and…Continue reading »
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The Declaration of Independence July 4, 2012
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary…Continue reading »
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So Let Me Get This Straight June 15, 2012
"If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 yrs. hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. Two Americans…Continue reading »
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Homosexuals: Lock Them Up and Throw Away the Key? May 24, 2012
I read an article yesterday that I found to be very disturbing. Seems like Charles Worley, pastor of the Providence Road Baptist Church near Maiden…Continue reading »
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How Much Government Is Enough? April 11, 2012
Why do we need government, and what role should it play in our lives? Your answer to that will likely determine how you feel about…Continue reading »
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How Much for Gas? March 14, 2012
I would like to offer up an alternative suggestion; one going in the opposite direction. Let the government add an excise to the price of…Continue reading »
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Pooh Bear for President March 8, 2012
I would like to suggest an alternative candidate for our upcoming elections. I know it is kind of late in the cycle to draft a…Continue reading »
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Who Does God Love? February 14, 2012
In my opinion, and at the risk of being judgmental myself, WBC is nothing but a small group of people, mostly one extended family, that…Continue reading »
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In God We Trust! January 24, 2012
In God we trust. It is the American motto and is inscribed on every bill and every coin in my pocket. So it must be…Continue reading »
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Occupy Wall Street November 16, 2011
If you're like me you probably have not given a whole lot of thought to this whole Occupy movement. I have known from the beginning…Continue reading »
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But What If I Don’t Like the President? November 11, 2011
Some of our Presidents I have liked and thought they did a reasonable job (meaning I agreed with their positions). And others were considerably less…Continue reading »