Yesterday I ran the River City Rat Race - my first competitive race since high school. Abbey and I ran the first four miles together - miles started at the Fort Wayne Performing Arts Center, up the historic homes of Columbia Avenue (Rocky cheered us on) around the Rose Gardens, along the greenway and past the fort. After 4 miles Abbey's legs started to tighten and I was feeling good so we split up. I ran the last 2. through downtown, along Columbia Street, and Headwaters and Lawton Parks. We ran at about 10:00 minute miles and I finished at 1:01.00 and Abbey came in at 1:05. It was a little chilly but was great running weather and while we certainly weren't competitive, we didn't come in last either. The miracle isn't that we finished but that we had the courage to start.
Check out the website http://www.rcratrace.org/
October 30, 2005
October 12, 2005
Greetings from Idaho
I met a woman this summer at Craters of the Moon National Park. The people camping next to me were having a bickering session, so I decided to climb on the lava in the campground for a while. Before I knew it I was in the next camp, and stumbled upon a camper reading about Swahili. I introduced myself and we ended up talking for about 5 hours until it was so cold we had to retreat to our sleeping bags.
We kept in touch during my trip then didn't. Yesterday, I got a call and she said she was visiting a friend in Fort Wayne. Of all places! So Abbey, Stephen, and I met her and her friend at Hank's for a drink. I brought pictures. My friends got a glimpse of my trip and I started to appreciate that this trip will stay with me for quite some time. Dana and I were both nervous that we wouldn't recognize each other. At the time, I was taking showers in sinks if I could find them and we both looked exactly how two travelers that have been away from home for weeks are expected to look. Regardless, we found each other and shared our stories again. This time away from extinct volcanos.
We kept in touch during my trip then didn't. Yesterday, I got a call and she said she was visiting a friend in Fort Wayne. Of all places! So Abbey, Stephen, and I met her and her friend at Hank's for a drink. I brought pictures. My friends got a glimpse of my trip and I started to appreciate that this trip will stay with me for quite some time. Dana and I were both nervous that we wouldn't recognize each other. At the time, I was taking showers in sinks if I could find them and we both looked exactly how two travelers that have been away from home for weeks are expected to look. Regardless, we found each other and shared our stories again. This time away from extinct volcanos.
October 1, 2005
The Search for Kahn
Yesterday my 4th period class actually let me feel like I was teaching something instead of babysitting. Maybe I've finally broken through. Sure, they were still my worst period of the day and I'm actively trying to get the best student to transfer into my honors class but maybe we've turned a corner here.
After school I played Ultimate Frisbee with the kids. My team won all three games and even though I sill can't bend my thumb, I played really well - perhaps I even taught some of the big egos some humilty, but not be example.
Stephen, Amanda, Abbey, Simon and I went to see "My Architect" at the Cinema Center because I saw that it was going to be free in the paper. We went we get there we walk into a party - free everything. Chicken, wraps, fruit dessert, turkey rolls, and get this - free beer! The movie is about the world famous architect Louis Kahn's son trying to discover his father through his architecture. It was interesting to see people break down into tears discussing Louis Kahn and his art. Interesting because these people had such an attachment to Kahn and his vision - a connection notably lacking in Louis Kahn's dommestic life. His masterpiece can be found here http://intro2arch.arch.hku.hk/arch/Kahn/kahn1.htm It took 23 years to build and all materials were moved there by hand. Absolutely amazing for a country that lives with so much want. Kahn wasn't a successful man in either his professional or personal life. He had 3 children all by different mothers and all but one of his projects lost money for the firm. He died a half million dollars in debt in a train station bathroom of a heart attack.
After the movie, we walked over to the Fort Wayne Ballet's "Bad Girls of Ballet" night. In an ironic twist of fate, the perfoming arts building which I always thought of as fairly ugly was designed by the very man we had just watched a movie about. The building now seemed spiritual and majestic. Louis Kahn also charmed me with his work.
As the last piece was being perfomed, my allergy medicine came out and kicked my ass. I could barely keep my eyes open and a headache started to gnaw at my brain. I don't really remember riding home with everyone or getting into bed, but I slept for 10 hours last night and woke up refreshed
After school I played Ultimate Frisbee with the kids. My team won all three games and even though I sill can't bend my thumb, I played really well - perhaps I even taught some of the big egos some humilty, but not be example.
Stephen, Amanda, Abbey, Simon and I went to see "My Architect" at the Cinema Center because I saw that it was going to be free in the paper. We went we get there we walk into a party - free everything. Chicken, wraps, fruit dessert, turkey rolls, and get this - free beer! The movie is about the world famous architect Louis Kahn's son trying to discover his father through his architecture. It was interesting to see people break down into tears discussing Louis Kahn and his art. Interesting because these people had such an attachment to Kahn and his vision - a connection notably lacking in Louis Kahn's dommestic life. His masterpiece can be found here http://intro2arch.arch.hku.hk/arch/Kahn/kahn1.htm It took 23 years to build and all materials were moved there by hand. Absolutely amazing for a country that lives with so much want. Kahn wasn't a successful man in either his professional or personal life. He had 3 children all by different mothers and all but one of his projects lost money for the firm. He died a half million dollars in debt in a train station bathroom of a heart attack.
After the movie, we walked over to the Fort Wayne Ballet's "Bad Girls of Ballet" night. In an ironic twist of fate, the perfoming arts building which I always thought of as fairly ugly was designed by the very man we had just watched a movie about. The building now seemed spiritual and majestic. Louis Kahn also charmed me with his work.
As the last piece was being perfomed, my allergy medicine came out and kicked my ass. I could barely keep my eyes open and a headache started to gnaw at my brain. I don't really remember riding home with everyone or getting into bed, but I slept for 10 hours last night and woke up refreshed
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