Stupid Football

This was an absolutely lousy weekend for football in my world.  First, Florida benefitted from some SEC Refs knowing it can't let the middling schools in the conference win twice in a row and got some beneficial calls en route to an inexplicable win over SC (not that I'm a gamecocks fan, but it drives me batty that Florida gets as much positive press as it does).  Then, the Huskies faded against the Ducks, and Michigan found themselves behind three scores early against the Nittany Lions and weren't able to recover.  Fortunately, Michigan State was on a bye week, so they didn't lose. 
Today, Detroit found a way to lose to Minnesota, which is awful for a Lions fan, but great for my novel idea (I'll hopefully actually write it at some point).  Houston found a way to lose at Indianapolis again, despite likely being the best team in the AFC south, they are looking up at the Colts, and finally, Seattle gave up two touchdowns off turnovers in an ugly loss to the Ravens. 

At least the Astros made it back to the World Series.  If it can't be the Tigers, may as well be Houston. 

Stupid Watergate

I just can't believe this country has this administration.  I particularly can't believe how wedded to their choice so many Americans are that they choose to dig in to their choice rather than see the absolute train wreck of corruption, self dealing and ignorance that comes from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. 

We are supposed to be better than this. 

And When I Die

I just hope that my last thought is one of peace, contentment, and love. 

Got propane

So, I fired up the Weber and grilled hamburgers tonight. 

I grew up in the PNW for the most part, so growing up, we thought barbecue was a verb that meant "to cook outside."  It wasn't until I moved to Texas in the AF that I learned the truth - barbeque is a noun.  It's something you have.  Slow cooked, over low heat, usually with some smoke to add extra flavor.  In Texas, brisket is king, but I've had some outstanding turkey breast, ribs, ham, you name it. 

At any rate, I've moved back up north, and I've had to explain to several folks the difference between  northern barbecue and "real" barbecue.  There are a couple good places up here, from what I've heard, yet I sadly have not hit any of them yet. 

Perhaps I need to start talking wine again.

It's Been One Week

Since unplugging from Facebook.  I don't miss it.  There are things I miss, but I find that I'm not vacation-jealous, and I'm not nearly as annoyed as I've been recently (I'm still rather annoyed, but that's my default setting). 

I also miss being able to keep up with my friends - FB was really our method of planning anything, and it's basically been radio silence since then. 

And, as you've no doubt (as if anybody reads this), I've been much more active on blogger.  Maybe the only real live person still on blogger...

In Case You're Curious

Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil - great flick. 

Dirty Politics

As I noted, I left Facebook recently.  Probably not for the long run, but I needed a break.  One of the issues I had is that people who I like, who I respect generally, demonstrate such closed-minded behavior (I am probably just as culpable), that I found myself getting upset with people who I generally like. 

One thing that I can't understand is how people can still support the current president.  I think it's obvious he's in it for himself more than anybody else, and I also think it's pretty clear that he has no respect for the Constitution, the Country, or the opposition party, which is something I don't think any rational person could argue was true of any of his predecessors, at least during my lifetime.  Yet, I still have several "both parties" friends, several "drain the swamp" friends, and several who still believe that this guy is somehow a savior to the country.  I Just Don't Get It.

I also think it's very likely that there's an entire political party that has been compromised by a foreign government, given their reluctance to speak out against the current administration, and in spite of evidence from our intelligence services (full disclosure, I did work at one of our intelligence services during my active duty years) that the Russians did, in fact, interfere in the 2016 election to try to help the current CinC attain office, it's not a stretch to think that there are multiple members of the party who have been compromised.  It's possible there are Democrats who have been compromised, as well, but not to the extent the current Republican party appears to be. 

I'm not doing links today, because frankly, I just wanted to do a stream of consciousness type post, but do just a modicum of research, and any objective source will demonstrate that what I'm saying holds water.  Not like Joe Pesci's defense in My Cousin Vinny (great movie, btw).

Fascinating

I have watched the documentary on Ted Bundy on Netflix a couple times.  I don't know what I find so fascinating about his story - he truly was a monster.  But I listen to the tapes that were made while interviewing him in prison, and all I can hear is him talking about himself, how good he was, how stupid everyone else was. Yet, he was the one who was caught, and frankly, it was his own arrogance that probably got him convicted.  Based on the documentary, it appears as though a stronger defense team (i.e. without his involvement) would have been able to get him acquitted on the first trial.  The second trial was a tougher one, but I digress.

It strikes me that we had in Bundy a charismatic guy, who was able to use his charisma and his good looks to evade serious suspicion for as long as he did.  Even after he was arrested and put on trial for the conviction that ultimately earned him his death sentence, he had fangirls going to trial to see him, and people continued to believe his innocence all the way up to when he started confessing.  It's a fascinating character study.

Comparatively, we now have an Oval Office occupant who enjoys unbelievable support among his base, who will ignore all transgressions committed by him, and who take any criticism as some form of liberal agenda - a sentiment shared by the occupant himself.  I'm astounded at the level of projection he displays ("you're the puppet," "his kids are corrupt," "where are the e-mails," etc.).  Additionally, the current president cannot avoid an opportunity to make almost anything about him.  A journalist dies, and she was never nice to him.  North Korea continues testing missiles and he should have gotten the Nobel Prize.  He accepts someone else's Purple Heart, and I guarantee he couldn't give you the name of the man who gave up the medal that was earned.

One was a murderer.  The other is on the take.  Both demonstrated sociopathic narcissistic behavior, and both had/have huge followings.  It's astounding.

Hunting season

I just finished my elk hunt for the year.  I didn't have any opportunities, but I did see a couple cows (elk) yesterday.  I am not much of a hunter - I have been out several times, but except for one time hunting on a ranch in Uvalde a few years back, I have been unable to bring home any game.  I did get a duck last year, which was nice, but the family apparently still isn't a fan of wild duck. 

But, this year, I did feel more like a hunter than I have in previous years.  In Texas, hunting is generally different than up in the PNW.  Down there, you find a ranch, pay a lease, sit in the blind and point your rifle toward the deer feeder and pick the one you want when they come to eat. Up here, however, hunting elk, there really aren't ranches to sit in blinds at.  I find myself looking for areas up in the mountains where the elk are likely to be roaming.  Elk don't typically stick in any particular area, instead, they roam about a larger area.  I have found a very promising area, and have found that I am able to find signs of elk (tracks, droppings, possible scent marking locations), and can determine where I should take up a spot to watch elk to pass. 

It paid off yesterday.  In the morning hunt, I found a location to sit up where I was reasonably covered but had an expansive view.  After an hour or two, I looked up, and about 35 yards away, I saw what looked like a rock that I didn't remember seeing before.  After a few minutes, I looked back, and the rock was gone. The same thing happened in the evening, only I didn't look away - I watched the elk move off up the hill some, so I decided to follow it.  I was about 50 yards away, but the only broadside shot I could line up, it turned out it was a cow in a bull only area.  I followed it for about 200 yards or so until it went up around a ridge into a tree line, and I didn't want to risk not being able to find my way back. 

I was the only one to track elk in an area where we would have been able to shoot this year, and it was nice (though I'm fairly sure she saw me following her, so I have work to do), but I would like an actual opportunity at some point, as well.  Next year I will follow the wooded trails a little more and see what I can run into (assuming it's not a bear).

Hunting Season

I'm not a great hunter.  I'm not even a good hunter.  I have been out elk hunting for the past 4 years and have seen exactly 1.5 elk (one cow and the back half of a second elk that I couldn't identify).

I don't mind getting out in the wilderness, but I do wish I was a little better at finding what I was looking for.

It's been a very long year, and somehow I hoped that getting out in nature would help me out, but frankly, I'm just finding myself wondering where I want to be and whether I really want what I think I want?

I'm just not happy.  And that's nobody's fault but mine. 

Off the Facebooks

I'd been flirting with the idea for some time, but I do see the social connectivity benefit (it's a means by which I can talk with several friends at near real time), but I've been having troubles - I find myself getting upset at other people's posts, I find myself envious of other peoples' activities, successes, adventures, etc., and frankly I spend way too much time on it (which I no doubt will remedy by spending way too much time on here). 

But, the linchpin for me leaving was Mark Zuckerberg's udpating Facebook's official policy to not remove false or misleading political ads.

What this means is that Donald Trump (currently under an impeachment inquiry for those not paying attention) can spend (g)od knows how much money on false advertising on Facebook, spreading misinformation to all those who facebook reaches (hundreds of millions), and Facebook will do nothing about it. 

This isn't about truth.  It's not about access and connectivity.  It's not about anything other than crass profiteering and helps support Senator Warren's contention that the big companies need to be broken up. 

Fortunately, 1) few people paid attention to me on Facebook, so I won't be missed, and 2) nobody reads this blog, so I won't be noticed.  It'll be nice to be back in the land of the unseen and unheard.

Trying to manufacture some inspiration

This is a safe-ish place to do so, since nobody actually reads me anymore (I don't blame you - I don't write on here with any regularity, and when I do, there's not much inspiring coming from it).

If y'all have any ideas, let me know.

Gotta Vent

It's been a long, long year. 

I can't believe I'm in a place where I legitimately fear that one political party is more concerned about maintaining power than it is in legitimate governance, despite the fact that I've seen constant evidence of the same. 

We had umpteen investigations against Hillary up to and during the election, which were very clearly conducted for partisan political purposes.  We now have an investigation into collusion with Russians and individuals involved in the current sitting president's campaign, which has resulted in guilty pleas and clear evidence of actual collusion, and the response from the selfsame party is to question the legitimacy of the investigation. 

It seems apparent that we have a political leader attempting to create a cult of personality, and a party that is setting the stage for purges of those charged with keeping things legitimate. 

And I don't know what to get anybody for Christmas.  Other than a Honeybaked Ham for dinner.

It's Not the End of the World

It's been a while, so sorry for the absence. 

First things first - the new president has issued a slew of executive orders this week.  The irony is that the same party who excoriated the previous president for his use of executive orders (done so in the wake of historic obstructionism by his opposing party congressional members) to facilitate the actual governance of the country has done very little besides applaud the actions of the new CINC.  To be fair, I have heard at least one Senator state that bringing back torture is not going to happen, but that's about all I've heard/seen so far.

Here's the thing about executive orders.  They don't mean much.  Generally speaking, the hierarchy goes something like this: The Constitution is what controls.  The end.  If it's in the Constitution, that is what counts.  Then, the Amendments to the Constitution, which actually supersede what's written in the Constitution itself, and by act of ratification become a part of the Constitution.  After that we have statutes and treaties.  Statutes and treaties generally apply on an even level of authority with the "last in time" rule - the last statute executed or treaty ratified on an issue is the controlling statute or treaty (see Constitution Art. VI).

You'll notice that at no point yet have I mentioned executive orders.  That's because executive orders have no general effect of law.  Congress passes laws.  The Senate advises and consents on treaties.  In other words, in order for those to be effective, they must touch both the executive and legislative branches.

Executive orders are a different animal.  They are signed by the executive and control the areas that fall under his purview.  There are two areas that I want to touch on regarding the president's authority with respect to executive orders.

The first is the implementation of the laws when necessary.  The prime example of this would be immigration and deportation.  Congress passes a budget each year allocating funding for immigration control.  Congress dictates how much gets spent on immigration control, but it's up the the executive branch to determine where to focus.  So, if there are (for example) 500,000 individuals awaiting deportation hearings, but there is only enough funding allocation to handle 250,000 cases, Congress does not get to decide which individuals get deported.  That's up to the executive branch (i. e. the president).  The president can choose, for example, to direct ICE to focus on deporting violent offenders over someone who is working a full time job who happened to be brought here by his or her parents 20 years ago and had no control over his or her situation.  Coincidentally, that was what the Republican party was ignoring while criticizing Obama as being "soft" on immigration during his administration.

The second area where the executive orders apply are areas where the laws of the land haven't touched.  In Constitutional Law, we had this described to us as the place where congress has not "occupied the field."  In other words, Congress could act and give direction, but for whatever reason, Congress hasn't (the clearest example would have been the War Powers act, where Congress attempted to rein in the President's warmaking authority).

To my knowledge, none of the executive orders that the new president has issued have actually touched on anything that hasn't already been addressed either by the Constitution, statutes or treaties (e.g. NAFTA, Geneva Conventions, etc.).  Any edicts that he throws out via executive order is worth exactly as much as the paper on which it is written and the ink with which it was signed.

I believe the new president is unclear on what his actual job entails, and I think that bodes ill for the next four years, but that's why we have blogs - so we can complain about it and keep a journal of just what's going on.

Out of Shape

I've gained about 15 pounds since we moved back up to the Seattle area.  This is despite my having run more than I did the year before we left.  I am not eating as well, I know that, and I've been awful about any weight training, so my muscular fitness is taking a hit. 

I ran on Saturday, did a cardio workout video (les mills combat studio), and today I ran again.  This marks the first time in months that I have worked out three straight days.  I can definitely tell I'm out of sorts. 

One more run before the end of the year - need to get it done.

Friday

I did not run today.  I did not run yesterday.  It's been just over a month since I ran the Portland Marathon.  I did run on Thursday, and I am happy to say that I got a 10K in.  My time is slower than I like, but I did pretty well. 

I need to find a way to keep a better log of my running.  I think that helps me keep motivated.  I need to do at least one more marathon.  I'm displeased with my time. 

New York City Marathon

It's been some time since I started running, but I surprisingly have found myself now watching distance runners... I don't know why this interests me, but here I am for the second time this year, watching people run a marathon.

My Portland time was about 5:35.  These elites will finish in less than half the time I did Portland.  That astounds me. 

I will run at least one more marathon, but I'm picky and don't want one with too many hills. 

I've already voted

But I can say with all sincerity that nothing that has happened since I cast my ballot has changed my opinion.  We have an odious, contemptible asshat running against an untrustworthy opportunist.  Given the choice, I'd take the one who actually knows a bit about running a campaign, something about achieving compromise, and something about politics. 

What a year of running

Okay, so I spent last year running.  I really started training for distance running about 2 years ago now - approximately October in 2014, but didn't get into the real commitment phase until the Run Through the Woods in Thanksgiving that year, which led to my running the Galveston Half Marathon, being my first half marathon, and the start of my love/hate relationship with distance running. 

Last year I completed 5 half marathons, which means I paid money 5 times for the right to run 13.1 miles each time, for a total of 65.5 miles and 5 medals. 

This year, my goal was to finish 5 races as well, and I've gotten most of the way to my goal.  I have run as many miles as last year, but in fewer races.  I completed the Rain Run in Redmond in January, which was as advertised.  I then ran the Tacoma City Half Marathon in May, which, due to an error at the start had me run about 13.4 miles instead of 13.1.  In July, I completed my second consecutive Rock and Roll Seattle half marathon, which was a great run and about 30 minutes faster than the previous year. 

To put a cap to the progress so far this year, last month I completed the Portland Marathon - a full marathon!  26.7 miles of pure unadulterated running (and walking, because my training was for garbage, what with mom dying, my plantar fasciitis, and my muscle strain on my calf).  Notice I said 26.7 miles - the Portland Marathon this year had an error that affected the route for several marathon runners.  This means that I've actually run almost a full mile farther than I did last year, and I did so in one fewer race!  Rock it!

I still endeavor to get one more run in before the end of the year, but I'm not sure which one.  I'm looking at the Donner and Blitzen 21k again, but after last year's hypothermia experience, I'm not as keen on that.  Still, I know the route, and I should be better situated than last time...

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody

At this time last year, I was doing GE's Run Through the Woods in the Woodlands, finishing my first ever timed/medal-receiving run. 

Since then I've completed four half-marathons and have a fifth in 3 weeks. 

It's been a busy year. 

Hope all is well with everybody out there.