OPDHBC

I'm confident America has gone absolutely bonkers, I'm tired, and I'm leaving for Rwanda on Monday. So, what better distraction than to talk about the dentist!

Even though I am at the new, competent, dentist, I still hate going. I don't exactly have a great history of dental care and concern, as evidenced here, here and here. But whatever, because I am occasionally compliant, I do in fact go for 6 month cleanings and check-ups. However, because dentistry will forever remain low on my priority list, I always schedule a visit for before work, because there is no way I am using work time for that crap. Also, I still, despite the cavities and the root canal, never floss until approximately one week before the visit, because frankly, I'm not convinced that not flossing caused any of those problems. Certainly, no dentist is going to convince me that not flossing has caused more damage than the stress-grinding that I do nearly every night on my teeth with such force that I've literally bitten through one mouth-guard. I'm the freaking Mike Tyson of sleep-biting, I kid you not.

HailNo Chases the Eclipse

The setup

Like so many other Americans, our alarm went off at 3:30 this morning. Well, Eric's did. I was already awake, because the adrenaline from yesterday had me up most of the night, so I was making coffee and putting together road food by then.

By 4am, we were on the road, destination, Wyoming, in the path of totality for today's eclipse. We honestly debated if my going was a good thing, I mean, I did complete do a bit of a workout in the last 24 hours. But, I was feeling ok, so into the car I went, and then slept most of the way to Wyoming. Car sleeping is almost as good as camper sleeping!

Race Report: Pike's Peak Marathon

"I climbed a mountain, and I turned around..."

- Fleetwood Mac

I started training in February, and today was the day: the Pike's Peak Marathon.

This last week, Eric has played coach for me: checking to make sure I didn't run too much, got enough sleep, and wasn't disturbed... so from Wednesday on, he insisted on sleeping in the guest bedroom, where he didn't get much actual sleep. Saturday, we saw our friend Amy and my old co-worker Dave off on the Ascent, (which they both rocked!) and then Eric was on to ensuring that I didn't do too much, and was well-rested for race day. I owe him - including for nearly a week of missed sleep. Trust me, I know from missed sleep.

Charlottesville, 2017

This post was supposed to be a funny post about the dumb stuff that I'm up to as I train for PPM. But then Charlottesville happened... white supremacists marched, neo-Nazis bought torches at Home Depot and walked down the street with them, people saluted... and there was  counter-protest, then violence, then a white nationalist mowed down counter-protesters with his car in what I can only describe as an ISIS-inspired attack, killing one and hurting a bunch.

It is 2017.

And we have Nazis running around, and white nationalists in khaki pants and button-down shirts pretending respectability while spewing hate and vitriol. And killing people with their cars.

And I can't come up with a funny thing to say about my training, maybe tomorrow.

Megan Motel

Remember when we were kids and could sleep anywhere? I mean, it really didn't matter, when we were tired, we slept. When I was in college, I got tired and laid on the floor of our dorm, my legs in a pile of shoes, and fell asleep.

Yea, I wish I was still like that.

Hondon't, Subar-DO!

For the last eight years, I have been driving a 2007 Honda Civic. It's been fine. To be honest, I don't put too much thought in the vehicle that gets me from point A to point B... which is probably why I drive a Honda.

But since we moved to the mountains, the Civic has been a bit of a challenge. And by challenge, I mean it annoys the crap out of Eric that I have to take a running start with the car to get it up our driveway, and I routinely leave divots in the gravel and spit rocks at the surrounding scenery. This results in hummocks the size of large badgers in the drive. But I got up it daily.

However, driving a 2-door Honda Civic also means that our pull-the-popup-camper options (and most other road trips) are limited to HailNo. We've taken the Civic a couple of places but it just doesn't really cut it.

So, it was time for something else.

Ski Season Round Up

Winter Park at the very top

This blog is a bit in coming - it's been sitting in draft status for a while, but better late than never!

Did I tell you I got new skis last summer? After the debacle that was the end of last ski season, I purchased skis, bindings, and boots at Sports Authorities going-out-of business sale, and got a ridiculously good deal on all the gear I needed not to look like an idiot this season. And, bonus, the skis were K-2s, albeit not the same K-2's I demoed (but good enough!), along with Salomon bindings and boots.