This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

John 3:16 MSG

Training Journal – 12/25/12:

• Current plan: Big Sur Marathon Training Plan – W1/D2
• Today’s session: 3 mile easy run @ 8:37-9:37 pace
• Comments: I did a nice, peaceful 8.1 @ 8:02

Today’s post offers a glimpse into the mind of Dennis…

At lunch today, a woman in the salad bar queue next to me leaned toward me and quietly said, “There’s a spider in the spinach.”  We chatted about it, laughed, and agreed that, in some countries, that wouldn’t necessarily be seen as a problem.  I work at a pretty diverse place but, culinarily, it’s pretty conventional…no intentional placing of bugs in the food.

On my way back to my office, I started cracking up…the wheels were turning.  That line sounded like something one might hear in a Pink Panther, Austin Powers, or James Bond movie.  Oooo, maybe a line that would activate a spy or even invoke some action that was embedded in the mind of an unsuspecting, sleeper agent.  yeah, the wheels were turning…

[boom camera lowers and pans to salad bar]

• MAN [to WOMAN who is behind him in salad bar queue]: Hello, isn’t this a wonderful salad bar?
• WOMAN [with straight face, no emotion]: Zere es a spider en ze spinach.
• MAN[pauses, puzzled look on face]: Excuse me?
• WOMAN [with straight face, no emotion]: Zeeeere es a spider en ze spinach.
• MAN [pauses, puzzled look on face]: Pardon?
• WOMAN [frustrated, but still with straight face, no emotion]: Zeeeere es a spiiiiderrrr en ze spiiiinaaaach.
• MAN [nods, raises an eyebrow, and, with “knowing” expression, points at man in corner with accordion]: I hear he is the musician and the monkey is a businessman.
• WOMAN [puzzled look]: Excuse me?

I know, active imagination…

BTW, I didn’t have any spinach, so it was all good.

Training Journal – 12/20/12:

• Current plan: Bay Trail Marathon Training Plan – Recovery Week 1
• Today’s session: 4 mile easy run @ 8:37-9:37 pace
• Comments: I did 4.79 @ 8:11

My wife and mother-in-law have a new game they play with our pup. Their voices are similar and, with the pup sitting in front of them, one of them talks and the other moves her mouth. Our pup tilts her head, looks back and forth between the two of them, trying to figure out who is talking!

She wags her tail, so it’s all good!

Training Journal – 12/16/12:

• Current plan: Bay Trail Marathon Training Plan – Recovery Week 1
  
• Today’s session: Rest
  
• Comments: Rrrrrrrest…and installed fenders on my road bike!
  

Weekly mileage: 12/10-16/12:

• Running: 37.12
• Bicycling: 0.0
• Total: 37.12

Today was my Father-in-Law’s memorial service. My sweet wife shared a poem she wrote over the past few days. This was one of the verses:

The morning Jesus called you home
We were filled with such despair
But we know you’re with Jesus now
So perfect in His care

Amen. A tough day, but we press on…

Training Journal – 12/12/12:

• Current plan: Bay Trail Marathon Training Plan – Week 3 of Taper (3 days to go!)
• Today’s session: Pre-race rest day
• Comments: Nothing

Me, the other day, at the drugstore, waiting to pick up a prescription, wondering if I should buy a few of these useful, hard-to-live-without, why-didn’t-I-think-of-that items now or later.

Only thing is, I miss the “BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!” deals…

Training Journal – 12/8/12:

• Current plan: Bay Trail Marathon Training Plan – Week 2 of Taper
  
• Today’s session: Rest
  
• Comments: nada
  

• Current plan: Bay Trail Marathon Training Plan – Week 2 of Taper
  
• Today’s session: Rest
  
• Comments: nada