Trail tech trials

Posted Oct 25, 2006 by Mike DeWitt

Updated Oct 25, 2006 at 03:46 PM

Well hello everyone!! It’s great to have the opportunity to communicate with you. Thanks for all of your best wishes. Alltel, the network with which i stay in touch with the outside world doesn’t exactly blanket the northern panhandle (alpine Florida, also known as LA - Lower Alabama)
I made it to the northern trailhead about 1600 on Monday. it was quite the drive from my old Tom Griggs -, Sgt. Maj. USMC, Ret. - incredible log home near Live Oak to the trailhead. While at his home over the weekend I met a friend of his, Cal mercer, a survivor of the landing on Iwo Jima. he was medivaced after being machine gunned in both legs. At 82 he is more robust then men half his age. Combined with Tom - one of only 13 Marines to make a combat parachute jump (Vietnam) I was in the presence of true Marine Corps greatness - just the motivational tonic I needed before setting out on my trip.

it was cold the first night, but i stayed worm. it was delightful to awaken alone in the woods, miles from everywhere. the oatmeal was delicious and the coffee superb. Stuff tastes better out here.

the pack didn’t lighten miraculously as I’d dreamed the night before. It and I began our walk as soon as the condensation on the tent dried in the rising sun. It tested me, I admit it. But each day gets easier. that’s what you remember before you go. I arrived at my first stop, hurricane lake campground in the Blackwater River State Forest with every hope of finally being able to connect. NO DICE. So I figured I’d write my blog and send when I got further down the trail… EGAD! My brand spanking new laptop - purchased especially for this trek, failed to function as advertised. The screen didn’t not turn on.. I was crestfallen. it seemed my project would end before it began.

And then along came Mr. Jimmy Freeman, campground host and lifelong resident of Okaloosa County. he offered me the use of his phone - Cingular manages a signal there- which enabled me to get word to my wife - I heard she penned a few words in my absence.

I slept fitfully, not knowing what I could do about my technological meltdown. I awakened this morning to reconsider my situation in a new light while three deer grazed 15 feet from my tent door. Then along came Jimmy holding the keys to his Ford Explorer. He actually gave me his keys so that I could drive 50 miles to Destin Florida’s Best Buy. A perfect stranger. You always hear that they quit making men like that. If that’s true, we are sunk. If ever the Jimmy Freemans are gone, the rest of us are toast.

And so it will be if the Gary Harras’s are gone too. Gary took one look at the good looking corpse of my computer and sent me to the laptop area to pick out a new one. This guy redefined customer service and technohelp. Those Geek Squad dudes… they rock. And that’s why I’m able to write to you right this minute. Gary hooked me up to their network so that i could answer my mail dash out this blog to you.

The help of these two trail great Angel’s plus Claudia’s, Tom’s and all my co-workers at tbo.com have made this all possible. Guess I better quit blabbing and start walking, eh?

PS The first night I listened to a gubernatorial political debate on the radio as I lay in my bag. I fell asleep somewhere in between yada, yada, yada and Blah, blah, blah. Did i miss anything? Cheers!

 

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Beautiful Things

Posted Oct 25, 2006 by Stacey Shick

Updated Oct 25, 2006 at 01:24 PM

—The perfectly clear Florida blue sky as I did my 6 mile run today.
—The half-dozen or so monarch butterflies that accompanied me along my route.
—The pool fountain at the house at Bayshore and South Boulevard, which always makes me want to stop a half-mile early, knock on the door and ask if I can go for a swim.
—The construction crews tearing up the uneven sections of sidewalk along the Bayshore seawall. It’s ugly now, but I can’t wait until the path is smooth again and I don’t have to watch my feet for fear of tripping.
—The time on my stopwatch—1 hour, 20 minutes—when I completed my 6 mile run. Not a bad time all for me. Especially considering the headwind and the time I spend slogging through grass because of the construction.

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Music With Lunch

Posted Oct 25, 2006 by Marty Strasen

Updated Oct 25, 2006 at 11:42 AM

Today’s lunches both look great, I think.

Janine’s might not have photographed well, but her turkey sandwiches on potato rolls look delicious in real life.

It almost makes up for her Googling of annoying ‘80s band The Jets this morning, and playing a clip from their hideous song, You Got It All. My apologies for providing the link.

The reason she stumbled onto that noise was not my photogenic and mouth-watering lunch of baked chicken, potatoes and corn.

Rather, it was the fact I mentioned Jet’s new CD, Shine On. Not The Jets. Jet. You’ve probably heard parts of ‘‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’’ on a car commercial. The rest of the CD rocks, too.

Like our lunches.

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Halloween Fundraiser

Posted Oct 25, 2006 by Gayle Guyardo

Updated Oct 25, 2006 at 11:19 AM

This years “13th Ugly Men” annual Halloween Party is Friday Oct. 27th, 2006 - check it out at http://www.13uglymen.com
Find out how you can raise money for The Sydney’s School of Autism.

 

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Perfect Running Weather And Tunes

Posted Oct 25, 2006 by Stacey Shick

Updated Oct 25, 2006 at 03:15 AM

Tuesday was the first day since I started training that I truly enjoyed running outside.

Because the weather has cooled, I didn’t have to get up early. It wasn’t too hot to run at noon. It was a little bit windy, which my pink cheeks will attest to, but it was brilliantly sunny. And not hot at all.

My favorite part about running at noon might be that the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk can be pretty deserted. That allows me to sing along with my iPod without drawing strange looks. And I had added new songs to my playlist Monday night, so I had plenty to sing along with.

I like a variety of songs in my playlist. Mostly upbeat, of course, with a lot of “guilty pleasure” type songs that I might not want to admit I’m listening to. I can be a bit of a pop addict. And I’m far from the edge of what’s hip and trendy. Monday I found an old “Now” CD with the top hits of 1999. Highly entertaining.

Here’s a list of the songs I added Monday. It’s a mix of songs off that CD and iTunes recommendations. Any suggestions for good running songs out there?

What I’ve Got, Sublime
You Get What You Give, New Radicals
Everybody’s Changing, Keane
Hard Knock Life, Jay-Z
Feel Good Inc., Gorillaz
Praise You, Fatboy Slim
Ain’t No Other Man, Christina Aguilera
Never There, Cake
... Baby One More Time, Britney Spears
Where It’s At, Beck

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