Western States Smoked Out

Due to wildfires burning all over northern California, the Western States 100 has been cancelled. All 2008 entrants are automatically enrolled next year, including Jimmy Freeman. As mentioned, Jimmy's been chasing the goal of completing this super-tough hundred-mile course for several years and it must be a stinging disappointment. (I know how I'd have felt if they'd cancelled Eugene the day before.)

Still, Jimmy is an optimist. After cursing and kicking things for a time, he'll find a silver lining.

This Old Hill House

I'm rereading Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. Having just mentioned Norm Abrams, I thought of writing a story in which the Yankee carpenter arrives to rehang the doors in a sprawling, evil mansion. Themes would include isolation, madness and proper use of safety goggles. Maybe next month.

Freak DVD Interviews On Hold

Skip it. The DVD interviews have been cancelled. Will they be rescheduled? Or is this a cost-cutting measure? More shall be revealed.

Freakish Questions on Freakazoid

DVD director Troy of Trailer Park Productions emailed questions he'll use as spring boards during my upcoming interview. Fans will learn such second-season secrets as why a Saturday morning cartoon show would hire Norm Abrams to voice himself.

(Hint: I think I'll lateral this one to Paul Rugg.)

Kiss My Chitin

K says these bugs are beetles. Whatever they are, they're horny as drunken sailors in Singapore. Certainly they mate in positions almost as interesting. We'll soon be hearing the pitter patter of six little feet to the 10th power.

Commitment

Ha, well, the dye is cast. I've signed up for the November Pasadena Half-Marathon and the December California International Marathon. The half will be a restful 13.1 as I taper for the CIM and Boston qualification.

I will finish the CIM in 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Back to bug writing.

Scientific Method

As mentioned before we overcame our aversion and photographed the odd bug. It does make a bee-like hum and, according to one of MDW's brainy friends, is attracted to fresh paint. Our condo is awash in fresh paint, hence the attraction. After careful, meticulous study we dropped a dictionary on it.

Heat Casualties at the Rose Bowl

So cried a pedestrian today at the Rose Bowl. And sure enough, an older man had collapsed in the 90 degree heat, laying crumpled on the asphalt. I believe he may have been participating in a Senior Olympic Events and faded from the heat.

In addition to the Senior Olympics, a Run Like A Girl five-mile race crowded onto the trails above the Rose Bowl. TNT Coach Karla observed another heat casualty as a running girl dropped at the finish line.

As to the non-collapsing runners, Ernesto nursed a sore hamstring and only ran two, while I put in six to make up for skipping yesterday due to high temperatures. In any case, the last few days haven't been good for strenuous outdoor activity.

As to the old guy, a squad car zoomed up and almost flattened a departing cyclist, whose attention was focused on the injured man. The rider had to dump her bike at the last second to avoid becoming a grill stain. A fire truck and an ambulance arrived, lights flashing. Loading the old guy on a back board, paramedics took him to the hospital.

A very eventful morning.

Reflections on an Ugly Eight Miles

This really stinks. My carefully considered thoughts after an eight-mile run yesterday. Temperatures were in the 90s well into late afternoon. I slowed way down, walked when necessary, and finished without heat exhaustion.

Insect Update

In addition to writing about insects, I've discovered an odd species clinging to the walls outside our condo. Over an inch long, these black and white critters have exceptionally long antennae, make no audible sound, and fly.

We'll execute a close-in zoom and post a photo as soon as we overcome the "Ewwww, big bug" factor.

Bose Ears

Our new condo offers a rich audio bouquet. On a street with other condos and apartments, there are trash trucks crashing into dumpsters, leaf blowers, horns honking, sirens whooping, kids yelling, Armenian parents yelling back.

Then came Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones.

Ahhhh.