Listening

Song of the day - J-Live featuring Kola Rock ~ Listening

In my opinion Kola steals this song with her floetry. Happy Friday.



Peace...

Don't Worry About Me

Song of the day - Sachal Vasandani ~ Don't Worry About Me

A voice as smooth as buttah, a capella. Beauty!



Peace...

Duel With a So(u)l

Song of the day - A Forest Mighty Black ~ Duel With a So(u)l

This is from this German group's first album Mellowdramatic and you can hear the influence of Brazil in their acid jazz.



Peace...

Love Me Tender

My grandmother passed away yesterday.  She had been sick for quite some time with a combination of ailments, but even still you are never quite 100% ready to get the call.  So, here are some fun memories that I will hold close to my heart of my grandmother, Elizabeth Jean:

• Friday night sleepovers at their house when I was just a wee one eating popcorn on a blanket on the floor watching "Wheel of Fortune."  Then, waking up in the middle of the night and getting sick because I ate too much popcorn.
• She was an AMAZING pie maker, but one time I recall her grabbing grapes out of the freezer thinking they were blueberries for a pie.  I thought she was going to smack my grandpa when he asked if blueberries had seeds until she realized what she had done.
• As most women did, she'd get her hair done once per week, but we'd always look at her like she was a bionic woman and couldn't figure how her hair stayed that way. 
• She was quite an accomplished skeet shooter and had a number of trophies.
• Words that will always just remind me of her: davenport, afghan, pawpaw.

I was lucky enough to have both grandmothers present at Shamus and I's wedding.

• She was one of many who swooned for Mr. Presley.  So, today Elvis is singing for you my Grandma Lisa.

Song of the day - Elvis ~ Love Me Tender



Peace...

Drown

Song of the day - Son Volt ~ Drown

This was their "popular" tune, but they have so many. A goodie for Monday.



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Come Home

Song of the day - Back Door Slam ~ Come Home

Fella can play a good guitar.



Peace...

Foolish Fool

Song of the day - Sublime ~ Foolish Fool

Such a shame, Bradley, a good little band.




Peace...

Enjoy The Sun

Song of the day - Theophilus London ~ Enjoy the Sun

Please do and have a lovely Tuesday!




Peace...

Grin & Bear It

Yesterday, it was the annual Crested Butte Mountain Runners' Grin and Bear It Run.  Here's the description from their website:
This course involves a good hill climb on the course from Crested Butte to Green Lake under Mt Axtell and back. Distance is 9 miles with 1600' vertical on single track trails and dirt roads.


Their "good hill climb" is no joke.  The first time Funderson took me on this trail I remember rounding the corner from the single track to old jeep road and just laughing out loud at the steepness of the hill.  Nothing like a good kick in the pants!!!  This is one of many fun trail runs that we get to partake in as part of the group.  Great vibes out on the trail and lots of smiles on a sunny day.  The actual Green Lake is the turn around point at the top of the trail and has been annihilated by a massive (or multiple) avalanches.  Sorry no photos, didn't want to carry it, next time I promise.  Trees just buckled over like toothpicks and a large island in the middle of the lake with snow/ice/trees/debris.  Absolutely beautiful day and ended with a little cookout and a cool beverage:

Rebekah and I post run...can't believe she'd stand next to me I smelled so dreadful.

Song of the day - Empire of the Sun ~ Walking on a Dream

"We are always running for the thrill of it, thrill of it.  Always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it..."  Swwwweeeet runnin' tune.

Peace...

Pass Fail

Last weekend (I'm wicked behind, I know), Shamus and I traversed up Cement Creek and I had planned about a 16 mile loop, but Mother Nature hadn't really been cooperating and seemed to not want to that day either.  I ran the road up nearly to the end and split off on a single track called the Crystal Peak Trail.  It climbs up, up and up to:

They look so close you could touch them, but they are a ways off.

This is where the trail splits to the right and goes up to Mount Tilton:

Someday,  I will do this trail up yonder.

 Crystal Peak to the left:

Trail = wicked steep

or left and down a bit is Star Pass:

The cornice that denied my passage, double rat farts.

As you can see,  it was in no short supply.

The weather was turning foul just at that moment (great time to be at the top of a 12,277 ft. peak).  So, I high-tailed it back down the way I came and ran the road, which was just as lovely and the sun even popped out towards the end.


Song of the day - The Why Store ~ Lack of Water

Although there wasn't a lack of it last weekend, still a great tune.  Some of you midwesterners may recognize this, group is from Indy and I have had a pint or two with this fellow at The Slippery Noodle.  Unique voice...

Peace...

Just A Friend

Song of the day - Biz Markie ~ Just A Friend

Something of substance shall come this weekend, my friends, but for now a little old school for ya...



Peace...

A-Punk

Song of the day - Vampire Weekend ~ A-Punk

Hey, hey, hey...have a good Monday!



Peace...

ROCK & ROLL STEW

Song of the day - Traffic ~ Rock and Roll Stew

A little batch of stew for Shamus' birthday among a sea of 364 un-birthdays.



Peace...

Message From The Law

Song of the day - Sic Alps ~ Message From the Law

A lively tune for a Tuesday on a Wednesday.



Peace...

My Mind Is Ramblin'

Here are some firsts and goings-on around the Pants household:

• First ever run with Shamus, he's bloody fast...brat.  I look forward to many more.
• Received "Relentless Forward Progress," by Bryon Powell in the mail and am excited to start reading.  Also, received my first issue of Ultrarunning magazine in the mail, which was a gift from Funderson.  As an aside, there is an great article about ultra runners in the UK, which I feel lucky to have found a wicked group of fell runner bloggers to hear first hand accounts of these amazing races they are doing (running through bogs, up mountains, all while orienteering?!?!) and what they are up to day to day.  Here are just a few you should give them a read:
• Run Forest Run  
• Ultra Running Collie
• Tea & Cake
• Adventures of a Fell Monkey
• Laid Back Fell Runner
• 4 Winds
• First mosquito bite of the summer followed by 2-37...it's just silly my arms looks like a I have chicken pox.  I saw them all hovering one of the water crossings on my run today, but didn't even realize until I got home that they kept a chunk of me.  
• I went into the local hardware/gas station and asked about a car wash and they said that they were half price because only half of the scrubbers were working...I'm a bargain shopper, but really.
• I'm able to ride my bike, 1960's Schwinn townie with grandma seat and basket, into work again, which is AWESOME. 
• First pink elephant flower of the season, one of my favorites:

• I've started my new job and LOVE it!  I don't think I realized just how bored I was with the other until now, but am so appreciative.  I am having an adjustment period as my schedule has changed a bit, but will get into the groove.
• Friday was my first day in three years to have insurance followed closely by yesterday which was my first paid holiday three years.  I appreciate it that much more as it's been a while.
• First digger of the year on Saturday trying to cross a log to get to Long Lake followed by number two yesterday coming down the Upper Upper trail...Ouch!
• First EVER swim in Long Lake, which was perfect, refreshing and all around lovely time with Funderson and LF.
• I've been running and in hog heaven with the trails.  Enjoying those that are already open and pining away for those that are still snowed in.
• Shamus hiked Whetstone a mountain right across the way from our house...

Natty climbing the ridge to the peaks

Song of the day - The Black Keys ~ My Mind Is Ramblin'

Peace...