Short Term Memory

I am always a little forgetful, but lately it seems to be getting worse. I usually just come up with a system for the things I commonly do. I try to make it simple and logical so I am most apt to do it the same way every time. It's the things that fall outside of my normal routine that I forget. Lately I have been forgetting the names of people that I deal with on a day to day basis, and have had a hard time coming up with words I commonly use.

Then it started to happen. I locked my keys in my truck on Saturday. Sunday I set my smart phone down, walked away from it, and had no idea where it had gone. Monday I couldn't remember my locker combination at work. I've had that lock for 16 years.

I was discussing it with one of the girls that works in the customer counter. She has epilepsy that started after a car accident when she was 16. Because of it she has a very poor short term memory (she is a good person to borrow money from). When I went out to my truck this is what I found.................

In case you can't read it it says "Rik ...just in case you forgot this is your truck".

The Impression that I Get

You may have noticed the new song. I've been looking for something new for you to listen to, but nothing seemed quite right. Last week while I was running it was very hot. I was uncomfortable, and I was thinking about one of my friends who was going through a very tough time. I often work on things in my head when I am running. It gives me something besides the discomfort to think about. It is one mechanism I use to insulate myself and help me continue to run when it is not easy. I was trying to think of ways I could help. Nothing I came up with seemed like the right thing. Soon my thoughts moved on to what would you do if it would remedy the situation for your friend. Things like "would you hit your thumb with a hammer?", "would you let someone who doesn't like you hit your thumb with a hammer?", "would you run in this heat until you passed out?". I decided that I would, and also that none of these things would be helpful. I'm not sure, but I think I was just letting myself off the hook. Ultimately I tried to put myself in his shoes, and did what I would want someone to do for me. Just know I would hit my thumb with a hammer if it would help you out during a rough time.

Puppy Chow

This is a picture of a couple of my favorite climbs on Mt. Lemmon. Puppy Chow runs up the arete on the left hand side, and Chihuahua Power is more or less up the middle. There is a reason they are considered Tucson Classics.

Water Weight

Ok, I'm not trying to show off my ugly feet or the extra 15 lbs I routinely carry around. I was just curious how much water weight I loose when I run in 100 degree temperatures. I weighed myself with a full water bottle because that is how much water I normally drink on a short run.

I lost 6.5 lbs in 5.63 miles. The water bottle in this picture is empty because I drank it on my run. If only the weight loss was permanent.

Rock

Sunday I celebrated the one year anniversary of my career ending road biking crash. That rock is what did it. I should have put something else in the frame for scale, but the crushed rock in the picture is about 1/2" to 3/4" in diameter. I keep the rock to remind me why I quit cycling on the road. I figure if I ever get the itch again I will just have Amy beat me over the head with the rock until any desire to ride a bike on the road subsides. Think of the money it will save.

Fun Can Be Had........

.......... Anywhere! Saturday I started the demo for our bathroom remodel. I had to go to the dump since the city complains when I overload the garbage can. I removed the old window that you see standing up in the background. It had been walled over when I built the addition on the house. I figured I would let Philip have some unadulterated fun. How often can a kid destroy something, and have no ramifications? We were also dumping some concrete I had busted out of the backyard so he chose a few chunks to put the window out of it's misery. I figured he could get a couple of shots and break each pane separately. He took his first shot. It was a little high and right. It hit the corner of the frame and took out both panes. Short and sweet. Isn't that the way all good times are? They don't last nearly as long as the boring stuff.

Good News

We have some good news here at Broken, Beat & Scarred. First off congratulations to Mike Stevens on the birth of his man cub Charlie. That is a good boy name don't you think? Good job buddy, I am happy for you. The other good news this week comes from my friend Steve. Steve did a really good episode on the Dirtbag Diaries a few months ago. Fitz Cahal (the creator of the DBD) had such a good response to the episode that he started a new website for outdoor minded parents. He recruited Steve to be his partner and they created http://www.theoutdoorparent.com/?p=52. Steve has a featured article on the home page. Nice work Steve.