My first 5k

Over the winter I started jogging a little bit at the gym during lunch hour. This progressed slowly but surely to the point I could actually run a mile without stopping (something I never did before). Taking this to the next level I signed up for the Glass City 5k at UT. Starting on Saturday the 21st there was a fitness expo in Savage Hall. This one vendor was showcasing these really wild looking elliptical bicycles. Many running shops of course with clothing shoes, some food vendors too.

The Sunday morning race started early, it was brisk morning with nice blue skies. I kept a slow steady pace through the scenic route of Old Orchard an the University of Toledo campus. I finished the race without walking in about 29 minutes. I had some generous people believing in me for this and raised nearly $300 for the Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism. I think the kind donations really kept me moving, they were a great motivator.

At the end of the race I walked around inside the UT Glass Bowl for a little while and cheered for others finishing the race. They had snacks and drinks, and were even serving Gino's pizza and beer in the parking lot. I only had to wait about a 30 minutes for the first half marathon runner Evan Gaynor to finish. Wow, that was an inspiration!

Weekend update

Friday night: making pizzas and family movie night @ home


Saturday: Toledo Sister Cities International festival @ Erie Street Market, some yard work / house work, then church charity auction (lots of fun)

http://toledosistercities.synthasite.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo,_Ohio#Sister_cities


Sunday: Golf @ Ottawa Park and lots of family time.

http://www.ottawaparkgc.com/



What a great weekend!

NWNUG meeting

Went to the NWNUG / .Net Usergroup of Northwest Ohio last night for a nice overview of the Windows 8 "Metro Style" platform by Jennifer Marsman. Microsoft is having a go at distribution channel like Apple App store.

Caught up with some acquaintances whom I haven't seen in ages. It was nice. The temperature was about 70F after coming out of the building at 9pm...incredible weather.

Weekend update...

The weather has been amazing, scary warm...made for scary storms last week! Friday night we visited happy hour at Del Sol. This is the restaurant bar at the Grand Plaza (formerly Crowne Plaza, formerly Wyndham, formerly Radisson?) The food here is the best I've ever had at a hotel and we are totally hooked. It makes for a really nice Saturday family day out actually; a visit to Imagination Station with the kids and then head next door to Del Sol / Aqua Bar with a Restaurant.com coupon. I digress...

Friday night after 1 of everything on the appetizer menu and a couple of "Smutty Nose" at Del Sol with some friends, we went to Its Friday at the TMA. There were a couple of nice dance numbers in the great hall (Ardan and then Toledo Ballet). We walked the galleries for a while and then called it a night (a very good night).

Saturday was a combination of kids activities, some outside time at the park and back yard, and then the evil weekend homework. Sunday was church, then an afternoon shuffling from one kid activity to the next. Where does the time go!?

Attention adventurers of any ilk...

Hey Toledo, check it out. BASHCon this weekend:

http://ut-bash.com/bashcon/

Its not just for geeks, its for pirates and ninjas too. Besides, its hip to be square?

Anyways, go, have fun, and make new friends.

Calling all artists

Please support this art store downtown...it is beautifully done and is the kind of business that nurtures the creative types in our city. It really raises the bar for us.

http://www.artsupplydepo.com/

Does anyone remember when Richard Florida came to speak at the Peristyle? I think St Claire street's revival is what he helped us envision.

Life is good

Tool concert last night, dodgeball tonight. I'm living it up in Toledo! (and making new friends in the process).

For a good time check out TSSC:

http://www.toledosportandsocialclub.com/

Snowball fight down by Imagination Station

Even the great statues we have downtown can get into the action. Who says Toledo is no fun?

Some highlights of 2011...

One of the main reasons behind this blog was to keep a journal of public facing thoughts and a surface look of what I've been up to. 2011 has been another great year for me. Here are some highlights...

• Helped with my son's YMCA basketball team, also helped him with Pinewood derby car
• Discovered TS4arts.org
• Conquered Advance Wars on Nintendo DS
• Visited National Museum of USAF in Dayton
• Saw the Toasters & Polka Floyd @ Frankies
• Traveled to Turkey with the kids (what?! yeah, I know...)
• Saw Brian Van Der Aark @ Finn's
• Went to Orlando for a conference and spent time with friends
• Saw Sting in concert with some friends
• Went golfing many times
• Was amazed by the girls in http://www.GlassCitySynchro.org/
• Visited Ft Wayne for step sister's wedding
• Visited Erie PA for 3 day family reunion
• Visited Pokagon on annual family gathering
• Visited Lexington KY for work (check this out: http://www.thecastlepost.com/)
• Summer road trip (Cedar Point, Pittsburg, Hershey, Lancaster, Philly, Easton)
• Coordinated community yard sale
• Harvested much from our garden (at least what the deer left for us)
• Tailgate parties @ UT
• Went back to Philly for work but stayed on for friends and family (what a great city!)
• Followed the Sing-off and Survivor (not a big TV person but these two keep me coming back)
• Hosted thanksgiving dinner for family
• Failed miserably in two fantasy football leagues (but had fun in the process)
• Delivered donations to Cherry Street Mission (look 'ma, I'm on TV!)
• Hosted an all night winter party of games and good food for friends
• Finished Christmas shopping with more that 1 day to spare!

Looking at this list recharges me and reminds me that I'm a lucky person. I'm thankful for friends, family, and the world that God gives.

What, I still have a blog?

Ok, this is getting ridiculous. No posts in 2010? First one for 2011? Yeesh, I feel like its a lost year now! Maybe I should have joined F a c e b o o k? Am I the last holdout?!

We're coming down to the end of the year and I have some heavy things on my mind. For some reason it was getting difficult to feel that warm holiday peaceful bliss because every time I try to go there, I start thinking of all the suffering going on. For example: in my family (step-mom, cousin); my town (homelessness, spike in violent crime); my country (people dehumanizing others based on political leanings); our continent (record number of families being separated and deported from US, unprecedented violence in Mexico); our world (unrest and violence in all of the typical hot spots).

We recently held our annual solstice party and many friends came over. I crashed at about 4am, while some made it through the night, playing games / talking / eating / watching movies / etc. I woke up realizing that connecting to people recharges me and I'm ready to balance my view of things again. Looking at myself in the mirror I realize I was once very social justice and service oriented. I think my mantra for 2012 will be "make the world better". My directions will include helping my immediate family to flourish, contributing through my church, watching out for my corner of Toledo, reducing our pollution footprint, raising awareness of social justice issues, and anything else I can think of along the way. That reminds me, I've got a great idea that would help people in our community and beautify the city at the same time. Now its a matter of finding people who can help me with it. I hope to post more on this idea before 2012 is over!

Goodbye Dr Bob

Whenever I've spent time with Robert Brundage over the past 10 years or so, I came away feeling a little bit inspired. The man had so much knowledge and wisdom. So many stories to share or good ideas to promote. I never found myself disagreeing with him when it came to ways to improve the community. Issues like balanced conservation of natural areas along side urban areas or green forms of transportation. I agreed with him on ideas for urban beautification such as burying power lines instead of turning out street side trees into giant strange looking topiaries. He had such a great knowledge of trees. I was always impressed by this man who was once so versed in technology and living an urban east coast lifestyle who came back to Toledo and made it a better place. He chose a path that was in some ways simple but also very complex and busy. He lived with such a small footprint on the planet, but a great impact on people. I'll always remember him.

And the beat goes on...

Well, I've really fallen off the wagon with my poor blog. Its not that my life has suddenly become mundane after being sucked back into Toledo's gravitational field. Honestly, life has been very action packed and fun over the past, 8 MONTHS, egad has it really been that long?

I think 1 person per week has asked me if I'm on facebook, and the answer is still NO. I've been tempted but I think I can still happily accomplish all my social networking with email, telephone, and a more ancient method I've re-employed over the past year, pen and paper (oooooh).

So what have I actually been up to? I travelled to Philadelphia, Detroit, Pokagon, Cincinnatti, I took a grad level accounting course, watched Lost, started a victory garden, diy flooring, filled up a 55 gallon aquarium (thanks again Jeff), outfitted the living room, started up a little league team, attended PTO and TPS parent congress meetings, neighborhood association meetings, golfed on Sundays, practiced guitar, saw a movie or two, kept up a yoga practice, taxied the kids all over the place, and remained pretty much busy like that.

I have to say I'm thrilled with the development happening along the Dorr / Secor college town corridor. We now have great amenities within walking distance (e.g. coffee shop, ice cream, sit down pizza parlor). I've heard there was an idea to add a big roundabout at the intersection of Dorr and Secor and that sounds excellent to me. The intersections are so inefficient and generally unsafe around here. Just last week I saw a poor young lady (presumably a UT student) was hit by a car while crossing the street. I hope to get involved in the neighborhood / UT planning meetings.

Thats all I know for now... hey friends and family, drop me a line and lets get together this summer.

Weekend log

Had a blast at badders on Thursday and back to the traditional curry with a few pints at the Glass House afterward. I'll so miss both of those and all my new friends when I move back home. Friday night went with Paul, Dave, Dave, and Carl to the Oktober Fest in Warrington(the other Paul and Dave couldn't unfortunately make it but maybe simpler that way). It was beer heaven with over 70 real ales, porters, stouts, IPAs, ciders, etc on tap. I can't honestly remember how many I tried but I know my original 9 half pint tokens were well gone (and by half pints it was usually 3/4 pint to be fair) and the lads kept going to buy more :-). Without dinner I'm surprised I managed that but I guess some of those beers were like a meal in and of themselves.

I had planned to go down and check out Cardiff yesterday but recovering from a thick head took most of the morning and then pretty unmotivated to go anywhere with the blah weather and cozy house. Maybe next weekend? I used the time instead to catch up on some mail, finish moving preparations, watch some shows, make some cookies, etc. Also wrote some letters and am shipping off some gifts for some of my friends who have had babies recently.

I'm not a big fan of TV but every so often my friends recommend something and I get hooked. Most recent case of this is Dexter. I've slashed my way through the first two seasons and am getting bang up to date. Quality show that...last one I enjoyed this much was Lost. Its funny how much time can be wasted on Youtube as well :-). I highly recommend searching for the Human Skateboard stop animations, truly hilarious.

As for movies, I don't see too many of those either but randomly watched The Wind That Shakes the Barley a couple weeks before my trip to Dublin which helped put a bit of perspective on things when I went to the Kilmainham Gaol. I give the movie an 8*, thought it was nice.

Dublin

Spent an excellent weekend in the fine capitol of the Republic of Ireland. Arrived on Friday night and got soaked through from the rain in wandering Parnell street looking for the hostel. Didn't hit it off well with anyone the first night, but that was ok because I was shattered anyhow.

Saturday I set off early and spent about 5 hours in the National Gallery, who's collection really amazed me. This photo is part of the National Gallery...it goes on and on inside eventually merging into a newer galler with some really imposing modern architectural lines. Get to this area and see the Irish artists exibition near the cafe.



Things I liked:

Harry Jones Thaddeus - Market Day
Roderic O'Conor - Farm at Lezaven, Bretonne
Daniel Maclise - Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife
Signac - Lady on the Terrace
Beatrice Lady Glenavy - The Intruder
William Orpen - The Holy Well
John Laverly - The Artists Studio
William John Leech - Convent Garden, Brittany
Pietra Della Vecchia - Timoclea Brought Before Alexander
Also they have a magnificent Caravaggio there called The Taking of Christ that seems like it was recently re-discovered and is on loan through a private collection.

Later I wandered through temple bar...lots of street performers, shops on Grafton street, passed loads of cafes and pubs. Made my way to the James street for a tour of Guinness. This is very touristy but probably for the best considering how many people come to see this place. They've done some nice things with the old parts of the factory and displaying artifacts like all the old bottles or the 9000 year lease for the land. The vantage point from the gravity bar at the top is not to be missed.


Made my way back to the hostel to rest and see where people were going for the night. Struck up a conversation with a couple of guys from Newcastle who invited me to join them. We went to many pubs, my favorites being the Porterhouse (the red porter is top notch there) and Oliver St John Gogarty's with some great live music blasting through the place. From what I recall each had about 3-4 levels of lounges and bars...and some great beers, ales, porters, etc on tap. We also went to O'Sheas and The Brazen head, probably a couple others (gets hazy). We eventually ended up at "the Church" which really seemed creepy similar to Alma de Cuba in Liverpool. But I guess if it takes a nightclub to save a building and get young people back into church then I'm all for it.

These two pubs in Temple Bar are not to be missed:

Oliver St John Gogarty

The Porterhouse



I woke up on Sunday morning, thankfully safe back in my hostel bed with the vast majority of my cash being the the only thing missing (can blame no one but myself there). I stocked up on the great breakfast they include with the accommodation (the Bunkhouse), and set off to see a few more things before flying back to UK. Wandered around Trinity College, National Museum of Archeology, Kilmainham Gaol (very moving), Modern Art gallery, Chester Beatty library, walk around Dublin Castle, and one last stroll through temple bar. There was this terrific puppeteer with his ornery little marionette playing tricks on people, dancing, looking up women's skirts, so funny. Temple Bar is one of those districts you could go back every weekend for 6 months and check out the different shops and pubs, taking in the street performances, sounds trite but ahhh it was so cool!

A couple photos of the jail where many Irish revolutionaries were held and executed early 20th century:




A part of Dublin Castle, taken from nearby Chester Beatty Libary



The restored gate near the jail where you can find the modern art gallery:

weekend log

Well I'm back in UK, going on week 3 now. Spent my first coherent weekend alone and managed not to go insane (last weekend was in recovery from the prior two weeks of training, partying, and orienteering). Roughly a month left in UK until I rendevouz with Megan and the kids again state side.

Friday watched Get Smart (featuring Steve Carell)... found it very good and laughed out loud but it had me feeling nostaligic. I'll soon be seeking out the 1960's series again to get a fix of the real Maxwell Smart.

Saturday I wandered around the annual Vintage Rally and Steam Organ festival at Victoria Park in Widnes. These pipe organs on display are some absolutely amazing pieces of nostalgia that have been painstakingly restored. They really rock too, you can almost feel the wind in your face standing in front of these things.







Other things to see included a model boat regala on the pond, shire horses, antique cars, antique motorcycles, all sorts of old engines working on display doing various tasks like water pumping, midway games, big band, probably more.




Later I also washed both cars inside and out, and some other chores. After that, I sat down to Youtube and watched the first debate. I'm impressed with both candidates, I really am. I think Obama is the better debater of the two and comes across very sincere and respectable. But having said that I can't pick an overall winner of the debate. Both men have excellent character and I feel this election is certainly not a "lesser of two evils" scenario, not in my book. I support McCain because of his direction of getting our books in order and curbing govt spending. He's also a great deal maker and a centrist. We've needed someone like him for a long time, as I generally believe minimal federal govt is better. I don't buy the "more of the past 8 years" argument. Everyone knows he's not a Bush administration insider.

Today I did laundry, went for a run (abt 2 miles this time huffing and puffing), flogged some stuff on eBay (including Megan's old Peugeot) and watched the movie Babel (giving it 9*, very heavy stuff). Amazing how fast the weekend went by when I had no plans at all going into it, totally unlike me!

In Support of COSI Toledo

I've already said my piece about COSI Toledo. Even though its services are now greatly reduced, I still feel the same about supporting it wholeheartedly. I understand it is going back on the ballot for Lucas County.

Here is a link to my stance from two years ago:

In Support of COSI Toledo

Also here is a persuasive argument by Dan Johnson a while back in the Free Press

COSI levy will preserve important asset


In the mean time I have visited many more natural science and history museums across Europe with my family...most recently NEMO in Amsterdam. They created a terrific public terraced space on the roof which incorporates oversized board games, sandy play areas, a long waterfall and paddling pools for kids to play in. At the top there is a bar / cafe. Amsterdam is now on my favorite city list right along with Paris and Copenhagen. All the greatest "living" cities I've seen that attract creative industry, talent, and investment have excellent museums, parks, architecture, education, public transportation, and pedestrianized areas.

A night out...

We visited the art museum Glass Pavilion for the first time tonight. I was mildly skeptical of it while being built, but it really turned out nice. Its worth a visit if you've never been.

Afterwards we visited Murphy's and I have to say I was let down. The cover was too high, drinks too high, and the place was not as lively as the past times we've visited.

Back in T-Town

Well, as many of my friends and family know we're in the process of moving back to our old home in Toledo. We're finding many changes but then again some things never change. One thing I have to get off my chest is we've been indulging quite a bit in the dining scene, easy to do in this town especially when you're busy with moving stuff. We can't seem to get enough of Johny's Lunch on Sylvania and Talmage...it is a great family restaurant and I highly recommend it. Oh how that buffalo dog keeps me coming back. Last night it was Shorty's on Monroe...excellent beer selection and some of the best BBQ / coleslaw around.

I've been walking around downtown each day on my lunch break with my colleague Al. He's got the scoop on quite a few of the projects going on, always curious whats being done with this building or that. As far as changes go I have to say I'll miss the old Bijou, a simple art deco theater. I'm sad to hear about the presumed fate of the United Way building...as it is an architectural landmark that is able and worthy of standing the test of time.




I have less forgiveness for tearing down interesting buildings after seeing thousands of well preserved buildings in towns all over UK and Europe. The vast majority of those structures probably make no business sense in restoring, but after time I think people really appreciate seeing an era reflected in architecture.

I haven't blogged about it yet but before we left England we took one last road trip to the continent. I'll try to write about it and post pics but the path was basically Brighton, Canterbury, theme parks near Paris, Ghent, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, ferry to Hull and then back home.

Center for Alternative Technology - Wales

Today we took a long drive down into North Wales, past lake Bala and nearby Machynlleth to visit CAT. This has been on our list of todos for a while and we were just waiting for a nice day (not too many of those this summer unfortunately!).

This is a wonderful facility that started life as a mine many years ago, evolved into somewhat of a hippie commune, then into an educational project, and now it has grown into something larger which also doubles as a public tourist destination for learning about alternative energies and sustainable living.

Here are some pictures from a very enjoyable day and one we won't forget...

Visitors center at the bottom of the hill(this is where you pay)


Gravity / water powered tram to take you to the top


Disused wind turbine with cutaway so you can peek inside at the mechanicals


Dining hall, picnic area, student apartments (larger set being built in the background). Not pictured is an adventure playground behind me that the kids had a lot of fun with.


Composting area shows many different designs for home composting as well as a example of what a community could invest in (like they have) to use a hot composter which is housed in this building.


A tunnel made from reused wine bottles, these guys know how to party


Straw bale construction theatre, very comfortable inside due to the ventilation and thermal mass of the walls.


Also at the site are ponds / gardens showcasing different types of farming, irigation, and fertilizing. There are many interactive hands on exhibits that teach about wind, solar, geothermal, and even fuel cell technologies. Building techniques are covered including a neat display of a basic green roof growing 3 different types of cover. At the end of it all there is an excellent book store and gadget shop. This place is really worth the visit for anyone (especially families) who are into green living, energy independance, and sustainability. Judging from the building plans and diagrams the place will look a lot different in about 5 years time.

Cotebrook Shire horses

South of us about 15 miles, near the Blakemere shopping area and Delemare Forest is a terrific horse farm by the name of Cotebrook. It makes a great family day out, highly recommended. These horses are beautiful, gentle, and enormous. The owner was friendly and enthusiastically telling about the pedigree of these champion horses. There are some other farm animals and various birds around the place which were fun to see.