Channel the Yoda

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Who Gives the Stink Eye to Runners?

I'm running to Dunn Bros from our house to check on my collage exhibition. It's 1.5 miles away. More importantly, it's hot.

I'm really not feeling this running thing. But gosh darn it, I'm going to make it there and back! I sound much more adamant than you should believe. Why? Because I asked Dan to come looking for me if I wasn't back in an hour.

Puffing and heaving with no fluid motion in sight I make it to Dunn Bros. Finally air conditioning! The smell of coffee beans in the air. I peruse my art. Make some notes. Looks good. 

What else is there left to do? I can only fiddle around for so long. Fine. Gripe to self. Start running back.

I take off! The wind not touching my hair and sunshine beating down on my back. I'm one street crossing away from the path that leads me home. Sweet home. I look both ways. Clear as a whistle. I start wobbly running across the street when I feel an unexpected breeze. A truck has whipped around the corner and suddenly I'm almost body planted in his grill. Does the guy with wrap around sunglasses, polo shirt and red beard even see me?

Not until I screamed in fear! He looked in surprise. Then made a disgusted face and peeled off.

I mean, it's hard enough running, as I've expressed, but if I continually have to worry not just about getting squashed by inconsiderate drivers, but about receiving the stink eye because they didn't see me, I'm going to get a dang complex here.

Point of the story, it's difficult enough to run, but when you make a face at me, it hurts my feelings.

Start seeing runners and save my fragile ego. Or something like that.

And dude with the tude, you suck.

Friday, July 12, 2013

A Garden Metaphor Perhaps

Im starting to think a garden is, of course life, but more so all different ideas of what a life can and will be.

Like my garden, in its current existence, contains cut off milk cartons, plants leaning heavily to one side, strangling themselves because I planted too close, the roots are busted, vines growing on the lawn chair, peed on by our dog and for some reason covered in sap. Heck, Dan just sneezed right on the beans twice.

But they are growing like a child being fed non steroid food- a steady and healthy pace with no sudden allergies to wheat.

Gardens take all different shapes just as life and goodness can grow anywhere. Including the patio of a town home in Oakdale, Minnesota. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

MY KAYAK WENT BACKWARDS

I had rocks in my shoes.

I hit several trees.

Waded butt deep twice.

Floated backwards while paddling in forward motion.

Saw a baby otter swim across the river to his very vocal mother who thought us loons for swooning over them and getting stuck on trees.

Hit canyon walls.

Stuck on sand bars and rocks.

I said words I shouldn't have.

Accidentally sprayed sunscreen in my eye.

Kayaking is fun.

***We rented through River Guide Kayaks. They are a fledgling company with lots of heart and a soda in hand for us when we finished. They also were half the price of the other company in town and carried our kayaks to the river for us.

 
Kayak spelled backwards is kayak. I need to stop writing the word kayak.
 
KAYAK!