Hummer tour of Sedona

My parents are visiting this weekend and we went up to Sedona. On a whim we took the Hummar tour. Fun! Adventure! Near-tipping death-defying Hummer tricks! They also have a program wherein you can rent and drive a Hummer on such trails. I'll have to try that sometime when the parents aren't around.

CIGNA Health Assessment

Health fair at work today. I signed on for the cholesterol test. I scored a total cholesterol of 180 mg/dL and a blood glucose of 95 mg/dL. Blood pressure of 112/72.

Chandler Public Library doesn't mess around

"These items are very overdue. If not returned, account may be submitted to our collection agency."

44 ounces of Pepsi

Okay, so maybe the 44 ounce Pepsi from Circle K was a bad idea.

Such Men are Dangerous

I read Lawrence Block's Such Men are Dangerous this week. Picked it up at Booked For Murder, a really cool mystery bookstore in Madison. Thrilling.

Forever

I read Jeffrey Deaver's Forever last night, the pair to Keller's Adjustment in a Transgressions paperback I picked up for the flight out here to Milwaukee. I think I've latched onto a new author; I'll have to see what else Jeffrey Deaver has written.

I wonder, though, whether reading mysteries is actually good for me, or if it's just another pseudo-drug distraction in the way of applying myself to the real world. Maybe I'll ease off on the reading for a while.

The Great Train Robbery

I saw The Great Train Robbery this evening with my parents. Played it on the Mac mini with those delicious Harman Kardon speakers. A really great movie.

On Courage

What is courage? Courage is often thought to be the flashy, daring, risky, momentary choice. And making such choices well under pressure is some kind of courage.

But there is another kind of courage, a quiet, continual kind, the one that affects the small choices and actions that add up to a life, a personality, a character. Courage is in the unkind word that is not spoken, the honesty where a lie would do, the extra initiative for a small act of good that makes a small difference. Courage is in getting up in the morning and going to work to support a present or future family, or to support others through the work. Courage is in facing decisions and making them well, not just in split seconds, but when you have all the time in the world. Courage is in considering the consequences of a choice before making it. Courage is in taking the time and effort to learn something, knowing that it will make one more capable of good in the future. Courage is in doing whatever it is that you do, well. Courage is in finishing the task today rather than putting it off tomorrow. Courage is what you do when no one is looking and it doesn't seem to matter very much, but it matters a little, and it adds up.

I would have such courage.

Breakfast

I had breakfast this morning with Colleen. I'm glad I did.

Run by Lake Mendota

I took a brisk run by Lake Mendota this morning, along the path between the school of medicine buildings and the Union. Absolutely beautiful.

Keller's Adjustment

I read a relatively new Lawrence Block story last night, Keller's Adjustment, about Block's hitman character Keller adjusting to a post-September-11th world.

2 miles slow jog

2 miles slow jog around my childhood neighborhood.

A Hales Corners Saturday

Farmer's market, art fair at Trimborne Farm, Boerner Botanical Gardens (to which I conveniently get free admission by virtue of Desert Botanical Garden membership).

Salt River Tubing

Salt River tubing was awesome today. Beautiful weather, remarkable scenery, lots of excitedly partying college/grad student aged people about, and two, count 'em two, herdlets of horses right in the river as we tubed by.

Illusionist

I absolutely loved seeing The Illusionist this evening. What a beautiful and compelling story.

New York Times at Gold Bar

I spent the early afternoon reading the New York Times (conveniently sold there) at Gold Bar after a sub-of-the-day lunch at the nearby Subway's. Subway was a major food source when I lived in New Haven.

Treating people with dignity

Today's homily was the basic message I go to church to hear: treat people with dignity.

5.5 miles of running bliss

Five and one half miles this morning on the Mesquite High School track. This run felt the best of runs since I've been here in Arizona -- I think it had a lot to do with getting some solid meals in yesterday.

Don't Make Me Think at Gold Bar

I spent the late afternoon and early evening devouring Steven Krug's Don't Make Me Think at Gold Bar. What an awesome book!

I also devoured a slice of pumpkin pie, which was heavenly.

Heart Attack Grill lunch

I met up with a couple friends from work for lunch at Heart Attack Grill today. Kind of fun and worth trying once.

Hiked South Mountain

This morning I met up with Lyndon and some of his church buddies for a short three mile hike at South Mountain.