Thing 23.....appreciating the finish...briefly...

Meeting of the Racers...by John Mottern, c1989.


So one of the best things about starting a project, race (even animal racers), or to-do list, is *to finish*.

Until there is another project, race, or to-do list (which is pretty much instantaneous, but work with me here.....)

The 23 Things, for me, is officially complete. I'm not sure if anyone will continue to follow my blog (oh yes, that will remain at the same URL. I am hooked on this blogging phenom) tho' there will likely be a modified title coming soon....

I've learned 143% more than I thought I would, and am very glad that I started this, kept with it, and finished it as well. Is there a free t-shirt? Because any runner will tell you....it's all about the free t-shirt at the end of a race, esp if it's a high quality wicking shirt ;) and believe me, this 23 Things, learning/brain wise, definitely was at least a 5K race. That happened to take 2 months to complete, and every Thing worked towards my goal of continual life long learning....

okay Top Chef is ending. Must see who gets to pack up their knives tonight....and, just to tie it all together, I love that it's the BACON that won it for the challenger. love thy bacon! until the next post, peace ~jd

Thing 21 ~ another day, another new account....

View my page on 23 Things on a Stick

Well, I joined Ning, one of the 3 choices given in Thing 21. The finish line is so close, but yet so far at this moment....I'm hoping this badge attaches correctly. HTML still makes me a little nervous as I'm really not sure what I'm doing...it's a lot of trial and error....and asking techie friends for help ;)

It might be shameless to admit, but I really will unlikely use Ning much after this 23 Things is completed. And come on folks, you (those 23 Things folks) just got me mildly addicted to Facebook ~ I really really don't need to be online any more than I already am....

As for social networking sites outside of MySpace and Facebook, I am part of just a few others. Greytalk.com is, as it sounds, a networking site for all folks into greyhounds. I don't use it as often as I used to, but it's handy for medical reference, fun photos, and there are some *seriously* devoted owners on it. I have a different screen name on that site as I thought that was the thing to do 3 or 4 years ago when I signed up....you didn't use your 'real' name, you made one up...

The other site I use regularly, and unsurprisingly, is a beginner's discussion group on RunnersWorld.com. Any questions/training/topics running related are here, and the folks who post are super knowledgeable and my type of running people...of varying ages, paces, levels, etc. some are even local, which is kinda cool. I'm known by yet another alias on this board of discussions..

The end is near. I feel like the closing credits are about to scroll and I swear there's some kind of denouement score cueing up as a soundtrack...actually if I had a soundtrack to pick for this entire 23 Things process, it would SO be this..... which I do in fact have on my iPod and was a fantabulously done documentary...peace...~jd

'um, mom, this is *my* couch....you must share....'

dogs have been called 'man's best friend' for years and years and years.

as most of my friends know, we have two greyhounds.
common myths about them:
* Myth: they need running every day. Reality : i have never seen such a lazy dog breed in my life. think 75 lb cats. for real. in fact our cat Ellie *is* way more active than either of the dogs. and ironically fatter ;) go figure...
* M: they are mean or extrememly shy due to how they are treated at the tracks. R: Not true. again, *amazingly* loyal and they are so very happy to be 'retired'. who doesn't look forward to retirement?? they are not really allowed the opportunities at the tracks to bond with humans, they are just there for sport. hence the big time loyalty they grow into once they are adopted into a home....
*M: They're too skinny and underfed. R: They're naturally built for speed and they *are* fed high protein racing diets at the track that keeps them very slim... our dogs are fed Eukanuba food, along with Quinn's affinity for paper...whether it be newspaper, magazines, paper bags, $20 bills or firestarters. no, those last two are *not* made up. sadly.

that's a few things....now, attached is a news report about a cowboy's dog named Skidboot....god bless Texas ~ (um, trivia of the day, I was born in Houston). This clip proves what so many of us with dogs know. (and those with cats, you are not discounted one bit. you are wholly included as well. The cats got one of the first clips on the blog ;)....animals and humans have a bond like no other. unconditional love they call it. no matter what kind of day or life you have going on, your pet's love for you is the same every day. they don't care if you didn't pick up your clothes. they don't care if you had either a bonus day or horrendous day at work. they want to be fed. they want to be loved. they purr and snuggle with their thanks and affection.....and they reciprocate with absolutely no hesitation. what on earth could be better than that kind of love? which is one reason that I chose to have a tattoo of my grey Cora on my ankle....peace to you all, and scritches to all of your pets...~jd