Last night, I posted my 1,500th comic. I've drawn over 1,500 comics. I need help.

Holy crap, Stanley! You're about to explode!

At least Harriet is wearing a less dangerous bra.

The characters are named Stanley and Harriet Parker. I had to visit the King Features website to find that bit of information because nobody ever mentions names.

According to my Red Cross Blood Donor card my last blood pressure reading was 104/62, so in doing the math that equals 52/31, so actually I'm a zombie.


Mortimer Creech is a great name. I want to meet someone named Mortimer Creech. Mortimer Creech , it's fun to say. I like the way it feels. Mortimer Creech, Mortimer Creech, Mortimer Creech, Mortimer Creech, Mortimer Creech, Mortimer Creech...

Yes, we can make a difference without interacting with the sick, deformed Asian children.

This comic does demonstrates why I don't like to draw multi-panel comics. As a non-professional cartoonist I have the tendency to worry about little details like where everyone is sitting and try to maintain some continuity from panel to panel or at least make clear something happened off panel that would cause a change in seating arrangement. Apparently, a professional cartoonist does not have worry about such details.

If something happened between the panels of this comic that caused Mary to go from an aisle seat to a window seat then it is the responsibility of the artist to indicate that. An onomatopoeia would be useful. I propose FLURMPH to represent the sound of the space inside an aircraft folding and unfolding thus causing the passenger seating to switch sides. A side effect of the FLURMPH is that everyone loses interest or that they are resigned to the fact that Mary and Jeff are not going to shut the hell up despite the withering stares.

I've reached the age where I'm complimented with the phrase, "You don't look that old." I live in a college town so the age of "You don't look that old" tends to be a bit younger than in other cities.

WTF? Somebody explain this comic. Reading the Old Testament gives one permission to hate? I'm killing brain cells trying to understand this strip. Did Hart just insult a major religion with this strip?


She taking the bait. Don't rush setting the hook, Dr. Cory

Today is my birthday. I'm 38 years old.

This one is funny because I'm a UU and a Hummer in the church parking lot would have to have bumper stickers explaining all this. I like Bizarro.
















If only it were true Lio. The comics in my local paper is a half page.





Lame shriek of fear.






Ha! Mary Worth! The tables have turned. How do you like being a captive audience? By the end of this flight Dr. Cory will be on another plane to Hanoi and you will have bought the ticket. Today Mary Worth discovers forgiveness and redemption. By the end of this trip Mary Worth may become a full fledged human being.

One day I'll get the hang of the laying out picture and text in a blog entry.

I thought the character on the right had grown chest hair.

What is the character on the left eating?

These characters have names but I don't feel like going over to King Features and finding out.










There are women using my quota of words. Stop it. Those are my words!

Just because it is recommended to test your exercise intensity level by talking does not mean you should.

I can experience a long flight from Vietnam without booking a flight. All I need is a screaming baby and someone kicking the back of my seat to complete the experience. Thank you Moy and Giella!

Mary, is that a pang of guilt in the second panel?

I worked "big poopy butt man" sans punctuation into a conversation with my husband. He told me he loved me and then got off the phone.

Whoa! The comics page is loosening up. In another 100 years, if newspapers are still around we might see words like shit and ass. Now, I want to figure out how to work "...big poopy butt man!" into a conversation. That would tax my intellectual resources. The challenging part will be the ellipses. I don't think Victor Borge covered the pronunciation of that bit of punctuation unless it's three period sounds in succession.






Old joke but still funny. It would work better if panels four and five were switched (I'm not counting the title panel). Just my opinion.






Oh, Mary Worth, so old but yet so far behind in human development. Most people understand at a much earlier age that humans are fundamentally the same. Yes, even though the children of Peace Village are deformed and Asian they laugh, play, hope and dream just like the non-deformed, non-Asian children of the United States. This understanding is one of the components of empathy. Empathy is a fundamental component of humanity. Non-evil humanity.

Robotically quoting philosophers does not disguise the evil in your black heart, Mary Worth. You can talk but can you empathize?

This week's spam subject line poem:

the will bring forth, the rule over the foot. Declare it were
For composite on sheet
was referent go nova
Is he fenugreek
Or carnal go cathedral
in canada at puffball
valley of the Jews, language, which is the captains and more than mine
Even his footy coach, John Vizard, got a guernsey.
Which causation in federate
greatest, of fifty shekels, of a sycomore trees
Or to premonition
Is my marshall
I wesleyan a barnard
Is estuary the cataclysmic
do is deliver
Be do rusty
Be muscle
the north, two mites, kingdoms of families of
Be martingale so hanover
To whom ceased from the skin is therefore was before
An consume

This week I walked 22 miles/ 49,806 steps.

What good is an obsession if you keep it to yourself?

This week I ran 13.93 miles, burned 1631.7 calories and weigh 171 pounds.

Tuesday: 3.14 miles in 35:00
Wednesday: 1.05 miles in 15:00
Thursday: 3.20 miles in 35:00
Saturday: 6.09 miles in 1:07:30

A week later! How dare you deprive me of the spectacle of Mary Worth sucking the life out of Dr. Jeff! In the artist's defense, given the limited space in today's comic strips it is impossible to fully capture the slow crushing of a soul.

So, Mary, when are you going to mention that you and your Charterstone cronies killed a man via intervention? Will Dr. Jeff have the strength and will to run away when he learns that none of you possess a soul?

Comics disturbing and amusing.

The tree and little man is not the disturbing part, it is the glasses. Who bathes while wearing their glasses?










Funny gag with obscure reference. I like those, especially when I understand the reference.

I'm not attempting to become the next Comics Curmudgeon. He's brilliant, witty and has time to read all the funnies. His wit has added to my enjoyment of the funnies. Thanks to him and rec.arts.comic.strips I read Mary Worth every weekday. I have Mary Worth on my Chron.com comic page. Mary @#$%*! Worth!

Josh's site is the reason I still suffer through For Better or For Worse. He also saves me from suffering through the other "realistic strips" and just gives me the amusing highlights.

All I'm doing here is just sharing the comics that I read today that disturb me.

I like Randy Glasbergen. I admire his ability to come up a with solid gags every day, year in, year out. His art style is suited for the single panel and the microscopic scale that it is printed in the newspaper. Uses the limits of the medium quite well. I have bought one of his books.

Better Half is a nice safe comic strip until Glasbergen does something weird with the art. For example, drawing his characters face forward or this case, fusing the characters. I know, it's supposed to be a visual metaphor but it literally scared the shit out of me. I'm using the word 'literally' correctly. I read this comic on Chron. com and then a very strong urge to go the bathroom hit me. It was one of those where you doubt if you can make it to the bathroom on time. This may have been the result of the large amounts of Valentine's candy that I had consumed. I blame Glasbergen because it's funnier. I did make it to the bathroom on time.

I'll address the strange triangle shaped growth under the wife's arm in a different post.

I read Mary Worth to remind myself of the banality of evil.

Dr. Jeff is trying to wrest that railing from the hospital bed and beat Mary Worth off with it. Wait, that did not come out quite right. Dr. Jeff, only a wooden stake through the heart can kill Mary Worth. Maybe.

I'm afraid of the world outside the four panels of One Big Happy. According to Ruthie, it does not seem very happy. Maybe it's related to the hearing problem. Ruthie is not receiving all the information so she fills in the blanks with her own imaginings. I did that as a kid but unlike Ruthie, I had parents and other adults in my life who didn't simply shrug it off but recommended and got help for me. But if all of what Ruthie is saying is true then what doctor would want to open a practice in such a train wreck of a town?

Today's funnies

Hagar the Horrible is confusing. Why is Helga in Viking dress while her neighbor is in more modern dress?

Somebody please get Ruthie's hearing checked. The child needs help. Sure the misheard words are charming coming from a child but not so charming from an adolescent or adult. Allowing this to continue will affect Ruthie's future. An ear, throat and nose specialist (an otolaryngologist according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otolaryngology. I looked it up to show you that I'm not lazy.) and a speech therapist helped me become the semi-successful adult I am today. Doctors can help Ruthie but only if her parents take her to one.

I'm not sure what medical specialty deals with those who read too much into the comics. Will I need to get a referral from my general practioner?

Hello to everyone who found aperfectworld.org through the Portal of Evil forums. I'm glad you liked the Sears Catalog. All of you caused a spike in traffic on days with low traffic.

This just in...

My brother-in-law had a book just published through Amazon.com

You can find it here: http://snipurl.com/19wo0

Description:
This is a story of a group of girls who attend a college of magic in the mountains of Colorado. They have nothing in common but have to become friends to survive the deadly feud between members of a evil family that has their unyielding grip on the world. The girls experience the light and dark sides of sorcery, fighting dark assassins, evil witches, a mighty dragon, and are helped by the friendly school janitor who is biggest mystery of all!

I haven't read the book. I've been asked to help promote it. I'm not an Amazon.com affiliate so I receive no financial benefits from any sales, only benefits of better family relationships.

Please check it out and write a review.

That's an hour glass on the girl's forehead.

Here is John's website: http://www.artoflawmack.com/

This week I did not exercise as much as usual. I had a meeting and a party to attend.

I ran 8.84 miles, burned 1,094.5 calories and weigh 170.2 pounds.

Tuesday: 2.17 miles in 25:00
Thursday: 1.29 miles in 25:00
Saturday: 5 miles in 51:50

The Kyle Field Ramp Romp is Feb. 24th. It is a 5K race where the course covers part of the Texas A&M campus and the ramps of Kyle Field. The ramps on both sides of the field. I'm thinking about doing this race just for the challenge of going up and down the ramps. It could be fun.

If I don't write new posts the Robin and accent thing will never make it off the main page.

I drew two cartoons this week. Busy with other things. I can take a short break because I'm 3 weeks ahead.

Right now, I'm waiting for a video to compile and save. Then I have to recompile another video because Windows Movie Maker ate 24 minutes in the middle of the video. Sort of like Nixon's gap.

Lately, I've been hearing that one of the keys to material success is to get up early in the morning. The Mad Money guy claims that the body can be trained to function on 4 hours of sleep a night. The Mad Money guy is rich but he screams a lot on television. I'll take the extra 3-4 hours and pay the price with less wealth and not screaming, on television or elsewhere.

My problem with early risers is that they won't shut up about it. They act as if it is some special virtue and that no one can achieve success unless they are out of bed at 2 hours before the butt crack of dawn. It just take discipline and training, something that, I as a late sleeper does not possess.

I've tried. My dreams are often interrupted in these attempts at early rising. I hit the snooze button on the alarm to finish the dream. I find it difficult to get out of bed after an interrupted dream. I always dream in color and I can read words. I'm told that both of these things are impossible.

I don't stay in bed until noon. I wake up on my own between 7:00 and 8:00 am. I have to be at work at 8:00 am. I have jumped out of bed to make it to 7:00 am training runs but the prospect of a nap later that morning motivated me. Most days I subvert my own natural sleep cycle.

My point is that being an early riser does not make you a better person. No, seriously, shut the fuck up right now. I don't need training, I have plenty of discipline. Stop. Please tattoo the following into your brain:

YOU ARE NOT A SUPERIOR BEING JUST BECAUSE YOU WAKE UP EARLY!

Annoying, yes; superior, no.

Somebody had to tend the fires overnight. While your early rising ass is stuggling to stay awake at 3:00 pm, I'm revved up and getting things done. No Robert Goulet gremlin in my office.

So I won't learn a new language, gain great wealth nor become a leader of extraordinary magnitude with the extra two hours that I give up for sleep. At least I'll be well rested and less annoying.

Sweet technicolor dreams.

This week I ran 8.73 miles, burned 1088.3 calories and weigh 169.3 pounds. So far this year I have ran 78.34 miles.

Tuesday: 2.17 miles in 25:00
Thursday: 2.17 miles in 25:00
Saturday: 4 miles in 41:56 (4.39 miles in 46:56 with cool down included)

This year I have walked 100.1 miles/ 229,925 steps.

You are 96% REAL Texan!!

High five, you're a complete Texan. People from other states should tremble in your presence because they're simply not worthy. Let them bow before you and convey their undying adoration to you while they announce their true desire to be Texan.

How Texan Are You?

A nice Ducks Unlimited t-shirt worn by a student. But something is missing from the design.

The small lettering at the bottom of the design says, "Leaders in Wetlands Conservation"

Two elements missing from the Ducks Unlimited t-shirt.

Local idiot.

Bryan man nabbed in false report case

By MATTHEW WATKINS
Eagle Staff Writer

A Bryan man has been arrested after he reportedly made false police and insurance reports claiming that $25,000 worth of electronics and jewelry had been stolen from his apartment.

Jorge Martinez, 30, faces charges of making a false police report to an officer conducting a criminal investigation.

According to police reports, Martinez listed several large televisions, jewelry, a computer, 340 DVDs, 80 X-box video games, DVD players, a VCR and several other items as stolen.

The report was filed to Bryan police last March and investigators said that they were suspicious from the start. He was taken into custody Saturday.

"I was very alarmed at the exorbitant amount of monetary items listed as stolen in the report," said Detective Jon Agnew, who specializes property and juvenile crime, in a signed affidavit. "I had not investigated any other burglary of a habitation in this high of a price range."

Two days after Martinez filed his original report, police said he called them again, explaining he found more items missing such as a surround sound system and $2,800 worth of sports jerseys. When he arrived at the police station the following day to pick up the police report, he added a 46-inch television worth $2,200 to the list, reports said.

Agnew said that the large amount of money reported stolen from the residence, which is located in an area with mostly low-income housing, was a red flag that the report was fake.

The quantity of valuables taken was another red flag, he said.

"With the amount of items that the defendant stated was stolen, the alleged suspect would have to have a moving truck and several people to help him," Agnew wrote in the affidavit. He added that he interviewed Martinez's neighbors and that no one recalled seeing any suspicious activity.

Agnew reported that he asked Martinez to show receipts for the items, and Martinez told him that he forgot to report that a briefcase that had all of his receipts in it also had been stolen.

According to the reports, Martinez also filed a claim with his renter's insurance. An investigator from the insurance company who shared his findings with police reported that he visited Martinez's house and one of his teenage sons told the investigator that he was unaware of a burglary.

After Agnew requested receipts he began to have trouble contacting Martinez, he said. A warrant was signed for his arrest but he was not located until a traffic stop ten months after the report was originally made.

He was released Saturday on $2,000 bail for the Class A misdemeanor.

• Matthew Watkins' e-mail address is matthew.watkins@theeagle.com.

Police catch teen after his pants fall

Wire Report

COVINGTON, La. - Police said they caught a 16-year-old robbery suspect who previously eluded them after his baggy pants fell down, causing him to stumble as officers chased him.

"We literally caught him with his pants down," Lt. Jack West said.

The teenager, who was not identified because he is a juvenile, is suspected of robbing a man at gunpoint and stealing another man's car after beating him with a brick, West said. The suspect had run away from police several times in recent weeks, he said.

Copied from theeagle.com

This week I ran 8.21 miles, burned 973.4 calories and weigh 168.5 pounds.

Tuesday: 2.13 miles in 25:00
Thursday: 2.17 miles in 25:00
Saturday: 3 miles in 32:02

I'm doing more weight training. I want to build some muscle.

I've got a cockatiel screaming in my ear and a growling stomach. I need to take care of both problems.

Your results:
You are Robin

Robin 68% Superman 65% Spider-Man 65% Hulk 60% Supergirl 48% The Flash 40% Wonder Woman 38% Green Lantern 35% Catwoman 35% Batman 35% Iron Man 25%

Young and acrobatic. You don't mind stepping aside to give someone else glory.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
The Inland North
Boston
North Central
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I grew up in the suburbs of Dallas and Houston. Never visited any of the states mentioned in the description. I do have more of an accent when I'm tired. Who thinks bag rhymes with vague?

This is the cartoon I posted for Tuesday, January 23, 2007. It is about 99.5 - "The Fox" - the classic rock station for Bryan - College Station, Texas, USA.

It took me a long time to find a logo worthy of copying and pasting into this cartoon.

Motley Crue does not belong on the play list of a classic rock station. 80's hair metal does not belong on the play list either.

When it comes to metal - my generation got the shaft. We are pretty much used to that.

Some things do not get better with age. Hair metal got worse because I matured. I cannot even enjoy the nostalgia aspect because like the music, that time of my life pretty much sucked. It sucked 80% of the time.

How to improve 99.5 - "The Fox":

• No Motley Crue or Hair Metal.
  
• Get a local morning show or even better just play the damn music and leave the comedy to Comedy Central.
• Instead of saying that The Grateful Dead are coming up, just say whether it will be "Truckin'" or "Touch of Gray". That applies to any one or two hit band.
• No John Cougar Mellencamp or any of his incarnations.
• More Jethro Tull and Yes (songs from albums besides 90125) and ZZ Top (pre - Eliminator)

The general theme - tone down the 1980's. It was not all bad but it was not rock's best decade.

I registered for the Armadillo Dash.

Went back to the gym today. Forgot how crowded it is in January.

Basic gym etiquette:

1. Rack your weights
2. Rack your weights in the correct location
3. Don't hog the weights. Keep them racked until you are actually using them. You can do the quick weight switch at home but not at the gym. Other people want to use the weights.
4. Watch where you are standing when socializing. It ruins my form when I have to avoid shoving a 12.5 pound dumbbell up your ass.
5. Don't lift weights in groups larger than 3. Nobody thinks you're gay if it is just two of you lifting weights. I appreciate the offer to work in but do you really want to remove 500 pounds of weight just to accommodate me?
6. If you are gone for more than 5 minutes don't be surprised to find some plates removed and someone else using the equipment.
7. Don't position your body in such a way that it blocks both water fountains. Scoot your ass over.
8. Wipe. This advice works outside the gym as well.
9. Loud grunting and screaming. This is a co-ed gym. Some of the female members have given birth. None of them screamed and grunted as loudly.
10. One works up quite a sweat but nobody should not smell you before they see you and it should not linger more than 2 minutes after you have left.
11. Rack your weights.
    

The sun! The sun! It came out today! The sun appeared after a week. Tomorrow it will be cloudy again.

This week I ran 26.2 miles, burned 2,270 calories and weigh 170 pounds. I ran all 26.2 miles on Sunday in 5:30:58. This week I walked 26,926 steps/ 11.9 miles. I was rather sedentary this past week with recovery and being stuck in the house because of the weather.

It looks like it will be a busy semester for me. It will make work more enjoyable.

Tomorrow I start training for my half marathon.

Walked 2,168 steps/ .95 miles.

Texas A&M came to their senses and gave non-essential personnel the day off today. Tomorrow, normal operating hours resume along with classes. This assumes that the weather behaves as predicted.

I have a bit of cabin fever and I do want to get the chaos of the first day of classes out of the way.

Waking up early will be hard to do.

I'm not sleepy at all but will go to bed and read until I become tired.

Texas A&M offices will open at noon. The students will go to classes at the same time. That is the current status. It could change. At least I can sleep in.

I walked 2,878 steps/ 1.27 miles.

My church canceled the showing of "An Inconvenient Truth" because of the freezing conditions. Irony on a silver platter. Yes, I do believe that humans are changing the climate but I still find humor in the cancellation of a movie about global warming because of freezing conditions. My generation thrives on irony.

The movie will be rescheduled for February.

I'll see what tomorrow brings. Maybe officials will change their mind again.

It is okay to change a position based on new data.

Texas A&M is closed tomorrow because of icy conditions. There is ice on the trees.

I'm still a little sore from the race but I can move like a normal person instead of like "The Old Man" that Tim Conway used to play on the Carol Burnett Show.

The 2007 Chevron Houston Marathon was my best race so far. Made a personal record and according to my graphic results ran my fastest pace between miles 13 and 18. Ran the first 10K a bit slow but picked up the pace after that. I felt good most of the way. Had a scary moment with one of my knees while running down an underpass toward mile 24 but it passed. Pushed a bit harder starting at mile 25 and then picked it up a bit more when a spectator told me that I was 3 minutes from the finish. I did not do the .2 sprint. Too tired.

I was great seeing a large crowd cheering me on as I ran toward the finish. Houston puts on a great race and the spectators are there until the end cheering on every last runner. If you have a chance to run the half or full marathon in Houston, do it. Some people waiting for a car at the hotel cheered for me when I got out of my car wearing my medal. The Houston marathon has been voted as the marathon with the friendliest spectators by Runner's World. That is important when you are not very speedy. I'm grateful to all the people who cheered me on and to my husband for his support.

At the Expo on Saturday, I bought a new sports bra at the Under Armor booth. I've used other Under Armor products before and they have performed very well. I was looking at the bras and I noticed the tags on one rack said "D Support". D Support? A company is acknowledging the existence of women with tits who like to participate in high impact sports? Wow.

I tried one on and it fit very well in the dressing room. Did a bit of jogging in place and it seemed to work well so I bought it. I talked to the sales girl a bit. Thanked her for selling this bra. She mentioned that it was the best selling item at the Expo. It seems that Under Armor discovered a demand for high impact sports bras for women with substantial breasts and decided to make a product.

I ran the marathon wearing this bra and it performed great. I put on my usual layer of Body Glide on my skin. I did not feel the bra, I did not hear flesh slap together, did not feel my tits bouncing all over and when I took off the bra when I got back to my hotel, the only marks on my skin were the usual marks from just wearing clothes that go away after an hour. Not a single burn or blister. My regular bras couldn't do that even with lots of Body Glide. This Under Armor bra worked great during some extreme high impact conditions - 5 and a half hours of running on pavement. Now that this product is available it will save some wear and tear on my other bras.

I did not have any serious injuries - just an odd blister on my middle right toe.

My next race is the First Annual Armadillo Dash - a half marathon in College Station on March 4. I'm going to try to run a bit faster than my marathon pace and finish this in 2 and an half hours or less.

Right now, Loki is producing enough gas to power a city block.

Just got back from the Chevron Houston Marathon. Here are the unofficial results:
Start 7:05:02 CST
10K: 1:20:37
Half: 2:46:26
30K: 3:45:01
Finish: 5:30:58
Chip Time: 5:30:58
Clock: 5:36:46
Pace:12:37

The U.S. Half Marathon record was smashed by Ryan Hall - 59:43 - This guy ran 13.1 miles in fifty-nine minutes and forty-three seconds. Wow! He trains at high altitude and then comes to a race that is a few feet above sea level.

I'm going to lay down now.

Walked 10,906 steps/ 4.82 miles.

Ran 11.47 miles, burned 1,319.9 calories.

Monday: 3.87 miles in 45:00
Wednesday: 3.05 miles in 35:00
Friday: 4.10 miles in 45:00

Off to the big race.

Walked 6,839 steps/ 3.04 miles.

Please let the thunderstorm stall until after the race.

I once took Zoloft for a mild case of OCD. Actually, it was not quite OCD. My symptoms did not fit 100% neatly into any category, Obsessive-compulsive disorder was the closest. Not fitting into something neatly sums up my whole life.

Anyway, I wasn't into therapy so the doctor prescribed pills. 2001 was the last time I took any Zoloft. The results of that last dose were a bit weird.

I still have a prescription bottle with half a pill in it in one of my desk drawers at work. The date on the bottle is 1/18/1999. I have changed offices twice and desks three times and I still keep that 1/2 Zoloft pill.

I doubt it would have any effect if I took the pill.

Running has alleviated 99% of the symptoms that led me to seek professional help.

I still obsess over a few things but it is not life disrupting. My original symptoms were not life disrupting just very disturbing and annoying to me.

Goofy stuff that I obsess about:

• The bone count on Loki's Dogster Page The bones are up for a limited time, I'm trying to keep it over 70 but it may be a losing battle unless others pitch in.
• Counting. A momentary glance at this blog would make that abundantly clear. A pedometer might not be the best present for someone with obsessive tendencies. I keep my running miles separate from my walking steps/ miles. I keep two spreadsheets to keep records of all this. I have altered my life slightly in order to elevate the number of steps I take. I received two pedometers for Christmas. Fortunately, I haven't reached the point of wearing both at the same time. Maybe I keep that 1/2 Zoloft in case I reach that point.
• Poisoning fish with discarded anti-depressants
• Worst case scenarios about peak-oil
• The exact location of Linda Lavin

That last one is a joke but I do think about her from time to time and hopefully she gains a small amount of comfort knowing that some stranger is thinking about her ocassionally.

Walked 9,120 steps/ 4.03 miles. A new record for me.

Got home early and let the dogs play in the backyard. They ran and tired themselves out very quickly.

I wish Blogger would stop completing my words when I add labels to my posts. On the plus side, I am forced to expand my vocabulary.

Walked 7,310 steps/ 3.23 miles.

Received my entry confirmation card for the Chevron Houston Marathon. Thunderstorms are being predicted for Saturday and Sunday. I hope the weather improves on Sunday. This race has never been canceled in its 35 year history.

If the local classic rock station is going to play the chatter of a bunch of unfunny hacks during the morning drive, they could at least use local unfunny hacks rather than outsourcing it to North Carolina. If the station continues to outsource at least outsource to India. At least I can enjoy listening to the lilt of the Indian sub-continental accent.

My Death Forecast

It is estimated that you will die at the age of 95 Years Old.

Find your own death forecast: http://www.deathforecast.com/

Disclaimer:
Note: This is an estimate using scientific data obtained from dozens of health studies. But, keep in mind it is based on averages, and you may live many years longer than what is predicted or you may get hit by a bus and die tomorrow. Also, at some point in the future you might change your lifestyle to be more or less healthy, which would make a big difference in your estimated lifespan.

Walked 8,204 steps/ 3.62 miles.

Looks like I can make it through a full work week.

Walter went to the doctor and was given some strong medicine and antibiotics. I hope I don't catch what he has. I do not need to be sick before the race.

I cooked some fish for dinner. Lemon herb catfish. It turned out well.

It is way past my bedtime.

Walked 3,668 steps/ 1.62 miles. Yesterday, walked 4,783 steps/ 2.11 miles.

Isaac attempted to be a lap dog. He slept with his head and front legs in my lap. He had trouble sleeping while sitting up. He sheds a lot. Still, he is a sweet dog. He would make someone a great pet.

Time to watch Adult Swim.

Yesterday walked 4,914 steps/ 2.17 miles.

This week ran 23.73 miles, burned 2,907.3 calories and weigh 167.7 pounds.

Monday: 6.33 miles in 65:00
Wednesday: 3.37 miles in 35:00
Thursday: 6.00 miles in 65:00
Saturday: 8.03 miles in 1:33:00

Next week is the big race. The Chevron Houston Marathon. You can sign up for Athlete Alerts to receive e-mails or text messages on my progress. My last name is Causey, first name Linda. I'm entered in the Marathon.

No updates next Saturday and Sunday.

Two of the joys of producing a somewhat funny but not brilliant web comic is the lack of death threats and not pissing off a lot of people when real life intrudes upon updates.

I've been asked to kill myself but I've not irritated anyone to the point of them mustering the time and energy to do the job themselves or put down the money to hire someone to kill me. Just a command and a hope that I would obey that command.

A small part of my life is based on a similar hope. I send my commands telepathically. So far it has not worked. The woman using the treadmill next me never shut up, the woman with several noisy children did not kill them, and no one fully paid attention the words coming out of their mouths. No one thought for an entire minute.

As for real life intruding upon updates. Hey, Ces! When will there be new Medium Large? I know that paying work and other things take precedence over a free web comic but what about my needs? I need to be reminded that there are people who draw better and are funnier and that I will never achieve that level of wit. Also, I could use the laugh.

Part of me knows that I can do better but another part of me wonders if this is my best. It is the second part that bothers me. I have a reached some limit? I should focus on the first part and take action.

Some think I should turn it over to Jesus. At least in Jesus I would be content in my bit above averageness. At least that is the theory. After all, God has a plan and place for everyone and maybe his plan needs a somewhat mediocre web comic and a person to do a dead-end, although well-compensated, job to fully function.

Actually, the theory is that Jesus will magically make you a better person without any effort on your part. At least, that is how I've observed some self-proclaimed Christians act. They don't try.

This whole line of thinking is why I don't fully believe in an anthropomorphic, personal god. I hold on to the belief in an anthropomorphic, personal god for comedic purposes. It is too rich a mine to completely walk away from.

Walked 6,789 steps/ 2.94 miles.

Right now the dogs are demanding attention. It is hard to type when a dog is using his nose to move your hands from the keyboard. Having two dogs makes typing one handed impossible. I have resorted to using my elbows to pet the dogs.

The second day of waking early was harder than the first. I was dozing by 7:30 am. I found I do better with more protein for breakfast.

At least it was just a 3 day work week.

Walked 8,151 steps/ 3.34 miles.

I finally finished reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Next, the Tao De Ching.

The first day at work went smoothly. The phone did not ring.

I'm going to bed. I cannot stay up much longer.

Walked 4,620 steps/ 1.78 miles.

I tried the Body Flow class instead of my usual workout. I liked the class but it is scheduled at a bad time for me. I was able to attend this class because of the day off.

I'm off to bed and will see how long it takes me to readjust to waking up so @#$%! early.

I'm almost finished with the Tibetan Book of the Dead!

Walked 6,228 steps/ 2.36 miles

Tomorrow, I go back to work. I enjoyed the opportunity to draw extra cartoons and do a bit of extra housework. I enjoyed sleeping in and doing things at my pace. I think I can go back to work and be productive.

I've been receiving quite of few of these so I decided to bring back goofy spam subject lines/ Zen koans.

But that was in my money, was a day, and the children which
us, the twilight, Even When he was fulfilled and put off the boards
If we had no light is that have erred, in chariots, and should not there
Salah. And broth of the and took arose, was, is

Walked 4,764 steps/ 1.80 miles.

I've started a new update schedule. New content will be added to the website 7 days a week.
Sunday: Cartoon
Monday: Cartoon
Tuesday: Cartoon
Wednesday: Cartoon
Thursday: Cartoon
Friday: New recipe from the 1971 Betty Crocker Recipe Library.
Saturday: New clip art

Of course, there is always the blog which will be updated at somewhat frequent and irregular intervals.

Yesterday, I walked 1,334 steps/ .50 miles.

Texas A&M will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 2 for the day of mourning for President Ford. I will pause for a bit to think about President Ford and his family and be grateful for the extension of my holiday.

I was born during the Nixon administration but Gerald Ford was the first U.S. president that I was aware of.

I walked 5,839 steps/ 2.21 miles yesterday.

This week I ran 30.82 miles, burned 3,670.2 calories and weigh 168.2 pounds.

In 2006 I ran a total of 1,047.29 miles and burned 123,533.3 calories.

Tuesday: 6.23 miles in 65:00
Wednesday: 4.32 miles in 45:00
Thursday: 6.20 miles in 65:00
Saturday (in the rain): 14.07 miles in 2:49:00

Not a bad way to end 2006.

Walter got well. Went to work.

It was good luck that Walter was sick, yesterday. A tornado ripped the roof off the pawn shop where he works. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Walter would have been there or even worse in his car when the tornado struck. Please pray that people get their cars repaired quickly and that the damage to the shop is repaired in a timely manner.

I walked 5,041 steps/ 1.91 miles yesterday.

Pickles is back with her foster mom. Isaac and Loki received their Christmas ham bones and are working on them.

Walter is sick. He is resting. He thinks its because of taking too much pain medication on an empty stomach. I made him some breakfast and he took some migraine medicine on a full stomach and he is sleeping. Hopefully, food and rest will do the trick. If not, I'm dragging his butt to the doctor.

The in-laws are coming Sunday afternoon. The house should be mostly clean by then. The rest will just have to be behind closed doors.

Today, I will start scanning all the cartoons that I have drawn this week. By my calculations a cartoon drawn in 2007 will appear on the website in February.

Here is a weird thought on the ex-presidents: Ray Charles and Ronald Reagan died less than a week from each other and Gerald Ford and James Brown died on the same day. Is the life of a soul singer linked to the life of an ex-president? Who will George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton take with them when they die? Would it be in Aretha Franklin's interests to monitor the health of our former U.S. Presidents?

I walked 6,747 steps/ 2.56 miles yesterday.

Walter has the day off so I'm looking forward to spending some time with him. The house is looking better. I will spend some more time cleaning it today. Drew two cartoons yesterday for a total of six so far this week. I need to start scanning. I'm still working on some clip art. I hope to finish that tonight.

Next year I will be adding content to the website 7 days a week. The cartoons will still be 5 days a week but on Fridays I will be adding different humor content; currently the Betty Crocker Recipe Library; and Saturdays adding new clip art.

The dogs are outside enjoying the weather. Pickles will be going back to her foster mom today. Isaac is filling out. I think the large breed dog food is helping. Loki is as sweet as ever. When Pickles leaves I will give Isaac and Loki their other bones that I bought them for Christmas.

I had a pleasant visit with the family. I'm enjoying my days off. It is a great opportunity to clean the house, get ahead on some cartoons and just go at my own pace.

Things are a bit chaotic as far as the dogs are concerned but I think it will calm down.

I received a talking pedometer as a gift. Yesterday, I walked 9,670 steps/ 3.53 miles. This does not count the 6 mile run I ran yesterday.

Loki's Diary was diary of the day at Dogster. He received a lot of new pup pals and a few rosettes.

I'm going to work on the house some more.

This week I ran 27.65 miles, burned 3,222.5 calories and weigh 169.3 pounds.

Monday: 4.15 miles in 45:00
Wednesday: 3.20 miles in 35:00
Thursday: 4.28 miles in 45:00
Saturday: 16.02 miles in 3:15:00

I have run over 1,000 miles in 2006. 1,016.47 to be exact. There is still one more week in 2006.

My father-in-law is coming over. I need to cook something.

Tomorrow it is scurry, scurry, scurry.

Can this week move any slower? It probably could but I don't want to find out. The students are gone, most of the faculty is gone and I wonder what the heck I'm doing here.

I have been scanning surveys and binging on sweets. I could clean my desk but I would rather do that when I get back next year. At least there is a nice week off.

I think Isaac is a cat in a giant dog suit. He behaves like a cat most of the time. I am fostering a 100 pound cat. He only behaves as a dog when it comes to going on the leash and feeding time. I'm going to increase Isaac's food the rest of this week and next week. He is looking real thin. If he doesn't gain any weight then I will have the vet check him out.

Pickles will be staying with us over the holidays. My father-in-law will be watching all the dogs Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

I'm really looking forward to the days off between Christmas and New Year's Day. That will probably go quickly.

I've been working on this cartoon gag off and on for months. I've talked to Walter about and from time to time revisit it to make it work. I've been unsuccessful so far. So I turn to the public for help.

The gag is based on the cliche, "Would it kill you to..." For example, a wife says to her husband, "Would it kill you to rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher?" A different way of nagging over somewhat trivial but annoying habits: failing to put the toilet paper on the dispenser, squeezing the toothpaste tube from the middle, pressing the clear button on the microwave after removing something prematurely, etc.

Anyhow, the gag: a woman is at a funeral, she says to a woman sitting next to her, "I asked him if it would kill him to put his dirty socks in the hamper? It did."

A variation on the gag: A doctor says to a woman, "Your husband was killed by putting his dirty socks in the hamper." The woman says, "My God, I had no idea that would really happen."

Another variation: A couple in a doctor's office. The doctor says, "Yes, it would kill him to put his dirty socks in the hamper."

Yet another variation: No dialogue. A woman standing in a doorway, look of shock on her face. Her husband lying dead on the floor, next to the hamper, one hand stuck on the top of the hamper. In his hand a pair of dirty socks. This one is only funny in the context of the previous variations. This one could change into a CSI gag.

Any suggestions? There is some comedy there but I'm having trouble getting to it.

You, the reader also got a glimpse into the gag writing process. My process anyway.

For the record, Walter always places his dirty socks in the hamper.

This past week I ran 33.83 miles, burned 3895.1 calories and weigh 172.5 pounds.

Monday: 4.40 miles in 45:00
Tuesday: 3.52 miles in 35:00
Wednesday: 4.51 miles in 45:00
Saturday: 21.40 miles in 4:43:00 - It was a beautiful day for everything but long distance running. The high temp was 78 degrees.

My Christmas wishes:

• A home for Isaac (check him out at http://www.woodstocktexas.org)
  
• Shorter board meetings (I have a certain amount of control over this. I did not exercise it last night)
  
• A nice long vacation this summer
• A job that does not require getting up so early in the morning (Early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. - Ben Franklin. @#$%! you! Ben Franklin!)
• A more positive outlook
• Good health, peace and freedom for everyone

I've been listening to "Drive Time Essays 2", a CD featuring various readings from "Interconnections", a publication for lay leaders in Unitarian Universalist churches. I made several copies which is encouraged and permissible by the UUA.

"Interconnections" calls itself a "relentlessly useful publication". The absurdity of Dilbert intersects with the absurdity of liberal religion. Conservative religion is absurd, also. I'm a UU. I'm allowed to say that religion is absurd. I'm even allowed to hold a position of responsibility within an UU church community. My problem is not with religion per se but with inappropriate adverb usage regardless of the theological leanings of said religion.

Most of the readings and Interconnections itself is quite useful in a non-relentless way. Some of the readings do nothing more than point out the inadequacies in my church. It is a great church but damn listening to some of the things that other churches are doing puts a great deal of doubt on that. My church has enough self-esteem issues.

I have listened to 15 of the 18 tracks on this CD. The solution to every problem highlighted in the CD involves various combinations of committees, meetings, potlucks, paid staff, chalice lighting, and social justice projects. Maybe, I'm becoming too cynical for this faith. Maybe, it's my Gen-X soul that is incapable of viewing anything non-ironically. [Insert snide anti-baby boomer tirade here]. Maybe, it's my introversion (Oh, God! more meetings! Hummus and fried chicken, mmmm.) that prevents me from looking at this more positively. Maybe the managerial bullshit at work has become too much to bear and it pisses me off when something that smells similar invades my religious life. Maybe I have read too much Dilbert.

In fairness to the UUA, our congregation can use some of the information and I made several copies of the CD to give out to leaders in the hopes that something on the CD will inspire them or help them. If I really thought the whole thing was useless I would not have made the copies. My view of the CD is colored by my somewhat negative attitude at the moment. I did find one reading especially useful and it has reignited my interest in a project. I want to revisit this project and reading once my term as Board President is over.

More information about licorice can be found at uua.org/leaders.

Dear other drivers in Bryan/ College Station:

I am fully aware that the speed limit on Highway 6 is 70 miles per hour. I apologize for failing to drive at 70 mph or faster this morning on my way to work.

My dear fellow travellers, I have a slight mental defect that affects my driving. I tend to adjust my speed according to the road and weather conditions rather than simply obeying the signs that the highway department has kindly posted.

I know that several of you cannot understand why I would lower my speed when it is foggy and the roads are wet. I like to be in control of my vehicle. I find that control is easier to maintain at lower speeds when driving in foggy and wet conditions. I try my best to maintain control of my vehicle for my safety and the safety of others.

Yes, despite my some of my writings and cartoons indicating otherwise, I do care about people. Fortunately, for you Mr. Nissan driver who tail gated me from University Drive until I exited the highway at Southwest Parkway I possess a good amount of empathy. One perfectly timed tap of my brakes could have spilled that hot coffee all over your nice clothes, nice gray leather interior, windshield and your bare flesh. I could have ruined your day but I chose not to exercise that power. You continued on your merry way oblivious of the power I had over you.

Theologians, philosophers and psychologists will debate what prevented me from hitting those brakes.

This week I ran 30.61 miles, burned 3609.6 calories and weigh 169.8 pounds.

So far this year I have ran 954.99 miles and burned 112745.5 calories. It looks like I will make my goal of running 1,000 miles in one year. Just need to run a little over 15 miles per week for the next three weeks.

Tuesday: 6.10 miles - 65:00
Wednesday: 4.37 miles - 45:00
Thursday: 5.97 miles - 65:00
Saturday: 14.17 miles - 2:50:00

I've been forced to use the Ctrl + Mouse Scroll Wheel to increase the size of the words on my e-mails and websites. I'm getting old or I need to change my contact lenses.

Tomorrow I make merry with my co-workers. Usually, the whole thing is not too painful but it serves as a reminder as to why I am paid to be with these people. No really, they are nice people but I'm not into the whole socializing thing. At least socializing that is not on my terms.

I know, how self-centered to expect that all social activities occur on my terms. Hey, put a nice face on and soldier through it. Sometimes, I even enjoy it.

It's an INFP (or on some Meyers-Briggs tests - ISTJ) thing. The only thing definitive thing from these MBTI (Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator) I've taken is the I. Everything else tends to be about even. One test I scored 100% in the I. The I stands for "I @#$%! hate people". No, it stands for Introvert. My opposite/ arch enemy is E - Extrovert. In the United States the E outnumber the I - 65% to 35%.

I'm told the world needs people of my type. I wonder if I really need the world. Somebody has to deal with these people. Better them than me.

Last week, before the toy drive I ran 18.09 miles, burned 2179.3 calories and weigh 167.8 pounds.

Monday: 5.78 miles in 65:00
Tuesday: 5.81 miles in 65:00
Wednesday: 6.15 miles in 65:00

I've taken day off from work to rest and run errands. I was summoned for jury duty but was excused.

It is finished. At least the order filling part of Radio MASH (http://www.brazosradio.com/mash/). Donations are still coming in. The cash will be used next year, the batteries will be stored for next year and toy donations will go to other groups servicing needy children in the Brazos Valley.

This was one of the best drives that I have worked. This was my 16th Radio MASH. The volunteers were great - Brazos Valley Bombers Bombshells, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Bryan High FFA, Bryan High Air Force JROTC, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, the ladies from Longhorn Tavern, single volunteers, and other groups that I do not remember. The Bryan-College Station community was quite generous as usual.

Special thanks to the Texas Army National Guard for setting up the tents, testing toys, loading and unloading.

The weather was great. No rain, except on Thursday. It was cold but everyone dressed in layers.

The official count: 3,330 children. All those children will have toys for Christmas thanks to everyone's generosity. Also everyone's hard work and generosity allowed us to finish at a decent hour. Some years have been all nighters or late nighters. Thank you everyone.

There are pictures posted from this years MASH (isn't digital photography great?) at http://www.brazosradio.com/mash/mash2006/ There is even a link to this blog.

In case you are wondering, I'm part of the USS Intangible. We coordinate the back tent operations, shop for toys, call organizations and repair to the best of our ability gently used toys. We are also a Star Trek fan club. The club has been involved with Radio MASH for 16 years.

I just finished the first day of volunteering at Radio MASH Radio MASH is a 100 hour toy drive benefiting the children of Bryan/ College Station and the surrounding area. We have 3,278 children that need toys. So far 628 children have toy orders filled. All 3,278 children will get a toy. The drive accepts new and gently used toys, cash, checks and donations online via PayPal. The PayPal link is at http://www.brazosradio.com/mash/

Information about the toy drive can also be found there as well as pictures.

It was a cold one today. It did not freeze but it still was freakin' cold. Loki and Isaac stayed inside most of the day. Very little destruction was wrought despite two big dogs being left unattended in the house. One fridge magnet and one videotape was destroyed.

Isaac made it to his temp foster's house. He will have lots of other dogs to play with. Loki will spend part of the day with me at Radio MASH - day two.

THIS IS CETI ALPHA SIX!

I've had the urge to say that all day. Not just say it but to say it like Ricardo Monteblan. No reason. I cannot think of a scenario where quoting that bit of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan would make sense.

I could have called my husband and just shouted that but he is at work and his superiors expect him to work during work hours. My superiors are a bit more flexible about that. One of the reasons I don't just quit to find something more fulfilling.

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!

SuddenLink, my ISP, is down. Or at least my home is not getting any service. So no new cartoon. I'll update tonight if the problem is solved.

Tomorrow Radio MASH starts and the temperatures are predicted to go from 70 degrees to 29 degrees in less than 24 hours. A cold front is coming. The roads may ice because of rain. Texans do not do snow or ice well. Texans know this and stay off the road if possible. The transplanted midwesterners make fun of Texans for our inability to drive in icy conditions. The roads become littered with the vehicles of transplanted midwesterners who claim they can drive in icy conditions. It provides entertaining footage for the Texans at home watching TV. That and watching a midwesterner break a sweat after getting a bit of medium salsa on the tongue. OH MY GOD, WHAT'S IN THIS STUFF! A TOMATO?

Thank you transplanted midwesterners for the entertainment and providing a market for mild salsa.

Texans provide entertainment for people from India whenever we taste a bit of their spicy food. I know what it is like to fart fire.

I like eBay. One of the greatest things ever invented. eBay is responsible for a substational portion of family income. eBay is also responsible for a minor annoyance.

Walter and I go to garage sales to find bargains, interesting things and to make fun of people's stuff. Some of the stuff does end up on eBay.

Lately, this conversation has occurred often:

Me: Will you take $X for this?
Seller: No, I can get more than that on eBay!
Me (thinking): Well, then fucking put it on eBay!

If I wanted to pay eBay prices then I would have gone on eBay. It would have saved me the bother of talking to you. Granted, I'm probably going to turn around and sell it on eBay but if you want eBay prices then put it on eBay yourself. Of course, eBay is a gamble whereas I have the cash right now and will haul off the item. No dealing with feedback, shipping, packing and checks clearing. Cash in exchange for item going away. But no, you just have to have eBay value. Well, then get off your lazy ass and fucking put it on eBay yourself. You don't know how? For a percentage of the final sale I'll put it on eBay for you. What? You want all the money? I guess you're screwed. Not only are you not getting my money but you won't get the eBay money because you are too lazy and/or stupid to post a damn auction. The burden of being you must be unbearable.

I visited register.com and found thenfuckingputitonebay.com is available. I think I will purchase the domain, build a site that links to eBay and print business cards with "Well, then fucking put it on eBay" and the url on them.

Would it be overkill to label this post eBay?

This week I ran 33.14 miles, burned 3,849.9 calories and weigh 168.5 pounds.

Monday: 6.02 miles in 65:00
Tuesday: 4.17 miles in 45:00
Wednesday: 5.95 miles in 65:00
Saturday: 17 miles in 3:33:00

Odd running schedule but it was the Thanksgiving holiday. I got some needed rest. Meditation on Sunday was especially helpful. It helped put my mind to rest. Time with Walter was also helpful. It finished what the meditation started.

Next week will be another odd running schedule because of the Radio MASH toy drive. Volunteering at that event is equivalent to a 20 mile run. I'm looking forward to it.

I will post cartoons only three days this week.

I was a bit lazy last night. I did not update. Watched the Comedians of Comedy movie and then went to bed. I also ran after work.

Today, is a half day. I'll update when I get home. I will run some more.

Pickles will be visiting this weekend. 3 dogs.

Eat, sleep draw, run, web - that is my life.

My job does not suck so much.

Everybody get a little closer to each other!

This week I ran 25.85 miles, burned 3043.3 calories and weigh 167.8 pounds.

Monday : 5.79 miles in 65:00
Friday: 6.06 miles in 65:00
Saturday: 14 miles in 2:52:00

If I can keep up the pace I ran on Saturday throughout the entire marathon I should finish in less than 5:30:00.

I lifted weights on Tuesday. I spent Wednesday at home babysitting the dogs but did take them to the park - probably walked 3.5 miles. Thursday celebrated Walter's birthday.

My legs are a bit sore from running the 14 mile run after slacking off because of the cold. Then Saturday night, I danced. It was a party celebrating my church's 50th anniversary. You can read about it here: http://www.theeagle.com/stories/111806/faith_20061118020.php I was even quoted. It was a great party and the Sunday service was nice. I had a bit of trouble with the welcoming but everything happened mostly as planned and no one was scarred for life.

Lately, I've had the urge to do a few push ups. This urge never hits at an appropriate time and place but at the office or at home. I just continue what I'm doing until the urge passes. I don't know what triggers this urge.

Yesterday, Walter celebrated his birthday. We went to Chili's and I ate too much. I gave him the first season of Robot Chicken on DVD. The set also came with a ViewMaster viewer and 5 reels. Walter collects ViewMasters.

Isaac slept all night outside his kennel. We all got a better night's sleep because of it.

The repairmen put the fence back up and cleaned up the backyard. They will come back in a month or two to level things out once the ground settles. 8 feet of our sewer pipe was replaced. The clay pipe had collapsed. Everyone with the city was nice and very efficient. Great work guys!

I took Loki and Isaac to Lick Creek Park and let them run off leash for a short while. They scared me when they ran out of sight but both of them came back to me. I put them back on leash when they came back and praised them for coming back.

The FTP problem resolved itself. I posted the update that was for Monday night.

I will continue the process of moving my site to a new server. Unfortunately, my host wants the last four digits of the credit card they have on file. I don't remember which card they have on file.

I'm at home babysitting the dogs and the house. The city is repairing the sewer line. Yesterday, they repaired it enough for us to shower and use the toilet. Today, the repair crew is in my backyard with a backhoe. They tore down part of the fence to get the backhoe in there.

Rather than just letting the dogs out, I have to walk them on leashes for them to do their business. Isaac and Loki walk well together on two different leashes.

The repair crew is doing a great job and I appreciate their response and efficiency. The city crew called the gas and phone companies so that the gas and phone lines can be marked. The gas company came out yesterday and the phone company came early this morning.

I'm not sure if the city puts the fence back up or not.

I tried to update my website last night but I cannot get my host to accept my new files. I'm not sure if the problem is with Ipower or FTP Commander.

I've sent a request to Ipower to have my account moved to one of their other servers with an up to date control panel. This will require uploading my entire website. This could take hours or days depending on how much this new thing allows me to upload at one time.

I like to use the control panel as a back up in case FTP fails. Maybe I can FTP everything to the new server. That would be nice and a bit faster since my website is rather large.

Our sewer backed up and Walter is trying to clear it up. Isaac is still jumping the fence. I hate to keep him in the kennel for 12 hours a day.

Life just keeps getting better.

I did not run much last week. I've been fighting a cold. I think I will be over this by Monday. I feel pretty good. All I have now is an hourly coughing fit. That does not affect my running too much.

I rode a bike on Monday for 5.51 miles and then Wednesday walked and ran with Loki for 2.48 miles. I weigh 169 pounds.

I rested Friday. That did a lot of good. I also skipped running today.

I should be back into it next week. I got a couple of good long runs ahead of me. I know I can finish this marathon.

This is Isaac at my office. He could not resist the sedative qualities of the sunbeam. Today, he is at the vet getting neutered.

Loki will get some extra attention when I come home. He was quite upset about Isaac riding in the car while he had to stay at home.

If you want to adopt Isaac or any of his other cat or dog buddies check out http://www.woodstocktexas.org

Rick Perry will remain the best coifed governor in the United States despite about 60% of the voters in Texas voting for someone else. The joy of a 4 way race. Chet Edwards, my congressman, retained his seat. The people of South Dakota voted against the abortion ban in their state.

Walter called to tell me about the Rumsfeld resignation. Nobody at Texas A&M saw that coming. Dr. Gates will be hard to replace. It does not affect my day to day job but I did like the direction Dr. Gates was taking the university and most of the initiatives are well underway and funded. The rest of the team will be staying on.

Change, the most exciting and frightening word in the English language.

This week I ran 15.91 miles, burned 2013.2 calories and weigh 168 pounds.

Monday: 5.83 miles in 65:00
Wednesday: 4.14 miles in 45:00
Friday: 5.94 miles in 65:00

So far this year: 839.31 miles, 99,514 calories

I skipped the Saturday training run because I caught the cold that Walter had all last week. Unlike his, mine skipped the sinus and went to the chest. So far, Zicam and Echinacea along with orange juice has helped. I bought some Nyquil day and night cough relief. The night formula has 10% alcohol. Good stuff. It is a bit difficult to type right now.

I hope to be well enough to handle the 18 mile training run next Saturday. I will be taking it easy on the other practice runs until this passes.

I love Nyquil.