Ragin Games 2013

It was the second individual competition of the year for me, but my first in my home town! If my nerves weren't teeming on middle C then I was as calm as a bomb.

I awoke with vigor and determination, it was the moment I walked through the doors of the prescribed venue that my hubris of recent accomplishments was met with the humility of everyone else's, I was alone in a world of what was soon to be pain.

Registration was simple and the National Anthem, sang by our very own Cupid (Bryson Bernard), a competitor in my division, was chilling; again half nerves half patriotism.

The first workout approached around 0930, Power Clean Ladder. Explained, you start at a desired weight and Power Clean incremental weights until you fail or complete the ladder. I selected the 175, 185, 195, 205 ladder. My previous personal record, hereto known as PR, was 185 some months prior. I knew I can lift the first 2 weights, the rest would be a bonus.

My judge was Ronis Correa, a local crossfitter, the strong silent type, emphasis on strong. He would only say 2 words to me before the lift, "Let's Go!" In almost a whisper, the silence that followed was comforting - encouraging. My first attempt was 175, I was so nervous, I held my breath for so long, I almost passed out after I lifted it, "well done" was a mere whisper I moved on to my PR (185). "Breathe, breathe, breathe" is all I could muster mentally, then I blinked and I had rested 185#'s on my shoulders. 195# and 205# came with ease (despite the look on my face from the photo above).

The competition moved on, bars were set, met and surpassed. All in all, it was a good day. Except for the bar jump over burpees! See below! They sucked and were not enjoyed by anyone.

Conversation

There is a back story to this conversation that without it would be lost in translation. I was sitting with Eden watching telly. In a moment of spontaneity, Eden asked me a question, the question was very innocent and had no inflection points. In that moment, I replied as though I were speaking to an adult. Eden's poise in the question was very mature, the question even more so, ergo, my response was penned on the same scale. Here it goes.

Eden: Daddy, is Santa real, or a fiction character for stories?

I didn't realize the gravitas of this query, so my response was as mundane as I thought the question was.

Me: No, Santa isn't real Eden. He's a fictional character used in stories, much like the Bubble Guppies and Dora. He's a fun character though, he makes people smile.

It was at this point I realized what was actually happening... actually

Eden: So who buys the gifts?

Couldn't back out now...

Me: Well, your family buys all the gifts, we wrap them and put them under the tree. You do enjoy it right?

Eden: I do enjoy it, but it all seems like trickery Daddy. I don't think I should tell the other kids about this. They think Santa is real. This will be our secret, ok?

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't on the verge of tears when she said this. I didn't have a response, so I congratulated her on her decision and agreed, it was indeed our little secret. I think she was more concerned with her sisters position on the matter.

Weighing In

Keep an open mind about this argument. I am neither arguing for or against the concept of Gay Marriage, merely posting an argument that many may not have taken in to consideration.

Consider the current position of State Governing bodies. The idea is separation of church and state. Originally this was meant that no State could declare to be any 1 dominant or main religion! Fair enough, Missouri was requested to change their state motto as it was from the Bible and violated the addendum of this requested separation.

We advance this argument with the removal of prayer in schools as it too violates said law. Alright, so the States are claiming exoneration from any religious affiliation. Given that notion, the idea of a Man and Woman being the idea and forefront of "traditional" marriage is taken from biblical text. The phrase, "go forth and multiply", as instructed by God in Genesis, is obviously biblical text. But no where in the constitution of the United States of America does it talk about marriage. Marriage was an understood truth to exist as a union between man and woman. The premise being our founding fathers were Christians and adhered to a Christian belief system.

The State, however, has separated themselves from that and within that should it not also be separated the biblically attributed union of man and woman marriage? If there is a true separation of Church and State, then the State thereby releases any claims on Christian ideology.

Consider this scenario, You are married to your husband or wife for 50+ years and your life long partner, the one person whom you have loved and adored for all these years falls very sick, you, as a legal partner are allowed by the bedside of that person in what could be there final hours! A gay couple, not legally recognized by the State, does not have this option, they are left in a waiting room to wonder, to be lead to believe no other information and only to be told, I am sorry, you are not family and are not permitted to the details of that persons current state or livelihood.

I am not arguing "for" Gay Marriage, but I am in full support of a Legal Unions and State recognition of Gay Couples. I argue this because the term "marriage" doesn't really mean to heterosexual couples what it use to mean anyway. The divorce rate of married couples has been on the rise since the early 2000. I find it funny, people will post Facebook meme's that will say something along the lines of, "If this person makes you laugh and you can accept their mistakes they are your soul mate." How absurd a suggestion. I accept the mistakes of Joe Biden and he makes me laugh hysterically, I'm sorry, is Joe Biden my soul mate? I understand what the post is attempting to portray. My relationship with my wife is not perfect, it isn't always as fairy tale of happiness and some morning when we wake up we are in the mood to be head over heals in love with each other. We do however, wake up every morning with a kiss, every night we go to sleep with our bodies close together (we have 2 kids so...) and we love each other unconditionally, even when we don't want to. My faults are her strengths and her faults mine.

Since no one reads my blog, I have no issues posting this! If you do read my blog then... This is not the blog you're looking for! (waiving Jedi hand)

Retired & Hired

Donald Pliner Embossed Jimmy

So here we are, in that inevitable time of the year. Summer is upon us in the most horrid of fashions, although today it was quite nice out. In a series of unfortunate circumstances, or so they seemed at the time, I was forced to retire some of my more coveted articles of my wardrobe. Most notable are my Moreschi Deer Skin Monk Straps! You may remember them from a shoe shine video a month or so ago. (I am assuming I have blog readers). In that retirement also came 2 dress slacks navy and brown, 2 Chelsea Boots Brown & Stone/Navy and one of the more indelible pieces, Donald Pliner Jimmy's.


So the quest began to find suitable replacements for the continuation of a stylistic wardrobe that offered style & fashion in both form and functionality. The slacks were easy, I am huge fan of Jos A Bank dress slacks, so as soon as a sale hit I was on it. Recent purchase, Navy Executive Dress Slacks MSRP $225, sale price $44.99. The shoes have been a bit more difficult. Thus far I have not successfully found a Bordeaux Oxford or Monk Strap that fits Style and Budget, even if I remove budget, style is still elusive.

Other nominees however, to push forward with the journey are quite brilliant in their representation. In the Oxford Category we have the following:

Mezlan Endicott

Gravati Full Brogue Wing Tips

Allen Edmonds Strands Full Brogue Cap Toe

There is never a time when expanding your shoe collection is a bad idea. In fact, multiple pair of the same shoes can be highly recommended. If the company represents more style than fashion it's not so much imperative to double up, but in a fashion forward company of less stylistic quality but maintaining desirable proportions of aesthetics it may be in your best interest to purchase more than one. I am, to this day, regretting not purchasing more than 1 pair of Donald Pliner Radley-61's. I have owned these shoes for 10 years and although they still look great, there will come a day...

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my amazing wife, wonderful mother & best friend!

Pic's O' The Day

Jeremy Zenon in a dashing pair of Donald Pliner's

Me in a startling summer Saddle Shoe by Ralph Lauren

Two great summer looks, two completely different styles.

Es OC K Es

Maven Men's Wear

On a recent Twitter @mention by my good friend @Pele1410 I was pleasantly introduced to the company mention on the left of this page. Maven Men's Wear is one of the newest haberdashery's to grace the Greater Lafayette area. I had the fortunate pleasure to meet the owner Christina Barbier and we were inclined to share fanciful stories for our shared love of the industry. To whit the weather became almost insufferable and held me in her store for far longer than anticipated; be that as it may, it proved most worthy of the time spent.

Office Photo

On a more frequent account of stores I attend, I dropped in to my beloved F Camalo Men's Clothier for a gander at a pair of Gravati Shoes I have been eyeing, and with my 29th birthday approaching I thought it'd be a novel idea to pick my pleasure in birthday shoes. On my way out I spied these little diddies of brilliance. A deep grey Marcoliani dress sock with hot pink polka dots. I was smitten by the design and furthermore, intrigued by the option to take them home. It wasn't long before they adorned an outfit accordingly.

Remember, never be afraid to wear brilliance. Anyone can wear a great suit, but never shy away from the accouterments's that separate you from the masses. Often times, it's found in a sock.

What's Poplin Seersucker?

The Poplin

Seersucker

 There's no doubt about it, summer is here. We have crested what is to be the final days of cool fronts & cool mornings for quite some time, that is however if you excuse the hail storm that came through last Monday!

Though the weather may be as it chooses, we are still called by either social obligation or painstaking desire to attend the same solemnities as they come about. And despite the heat people still think it a grand idea to get married in the beauty of the season's sun. So shall it be, some good people came up with a great solution to stay cool in the summer, and for the more formal occasions, still look great.

The Poplin Suit is nothing new to our culture. Poplin was first recorded in Avignon, France around the late 1400's. It derived its name from the word "papeline" given by the papal residence of Avignon itself. Poplin found its original use in men's daily garments, shorts and sports shirts mainly. But in the realm of fashionable innovation it was utilized later for more formal needs. If I am not mistaken, one of the original Poplin Suit manufacturer's in America was Brook's Brothers.

An interesting history forgoes the existence of Seersucker in the mainstay of the traditional gentlemen's summer wardrobe! Until the 1920's Seersucker was worn by poor southerners to beat the heat. In an attempt at reverse snobbery, a group of college graduates wore it to a graduation. Now it is the staple to a true summer wardrobe. The weave of the suit is what makes it seersucker, there is some speculation to the name, that it derives from a Hindi & Urdu translation of a Persian word meaning "milk and sugar". It goes on to discuss the relationship between smoothness and textured feel much like that of milk and sugar. Be that as it may, if a wedding calls, or any other carousal beckons in the heat of the southern Spring & Summer, go light but stay classy.

New Arrivals

Cole Haan Colton Nubuck Suede

The wardrobe is expanding, the style is curving with a slight rise in the form of fashion. Be that as it may, there is no perennial dictum mandating any facet of shoe ware that would consider these purchases trivial. Despite them coming at great opportunities both in time and in price, I have found myself smitten by their establishment of residence in my closet.

One of the first anomalies to note is the brand of shoe. I thought for certain I had finished with the line of Cole Haan. When I first started my trek to style Cole Haan was there to greet me. I spent the lot of my money acquiring what I thought was the height of shoedom. I was later introduced to many other lines, more prestigious lines, that left me desiring a more hand-crafted shoe. I left the Cole Haan line in search of accolade of Italian fashion moguls. My quest led me to Gravati, Donald Pliner, Romano Martegani, Canali, Toschi, Martin Dingman and many others. As life comes full circle...

Cole Haan Paul Chukka Boot

                                                         It was not an intentional purchase to return to Cole Haan, it was a matter of a sleepless night searching for great shoes. I had not owned a pair of Chukka Boots and thought the new craze of jean wear would intrigue, and a what is intrigue without action to satiate.

Tan/Cream SeerSucker Pattern

As for the Colton Suede Cream beauties, that was a, last minute I need to go to sleep but these shoes are tugging at me, purchase. What's a wardrobe without cream suede shoes for the next Yachting party you are invited too?! A nice Taupe/Brown or Brown/Cream SeerSucker Suit with a donning pair of suede shoes to match, brilliant says I.



A few websites I have recently found quite useful:
www.BerenShoes.com
www.Pelleline.com

But remember, if you can, support your local retailer's like:
F Camalo
Moseley & Hollard
Steve's Clothier
Partner's
Gentry



                                                                             

This Is My Monday

I was stopped behind a vehicle on Burleigh Lane across the street from my office, the water lifted my truck and put me in the nearest ditch. I joined 2 other people in the joy of flooded vehicles. 

Attitude Toward Death, The Teaching of Tecumseh

Live your life that the fear of death
can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views
and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life,
beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long
and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day
when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting
or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks,
the fault lies in yourself.
Touch not the poisonous firewater that makes wise ones turn to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die, be not like those
whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray
for a little more time to live their lives over again
in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.

The Teaching of Tecumseh

It Was Cold That Day

    

I woke up on Thursday morning knowing full well the course of my day. I truffled painfully out of bed and mossy'd along to the closet down the hall. When the door opened I felt the full extent of the outdoor freeze. It was cold, and for some reason that excited me. I rummaged through my tops, matched a few with sweaters and settled on slacks and shoes, but then when I turned to head to the restroom to shave and do my morning personal hygiene, I saw this coat! It had to be worn. I immediately scrapped my present habiliments and went for a cashmere sweater and built the outfit around a brown Wool trench coat, and a cashmere sweater. It was a great day for heavy coating, I wore a small bop cap but it was removed after several hours of travel.

The coat is a 100% Heavy Wool w/ Silk Lining Luciana Barbera
The Shirt is a Jos. A Bank Button Down w/ Company embroidery
The Cashmere sweater is courtesy of Pronto Uomo
Slacks, 96% Wool 4% Cashmere Jos. A Bank
Shoes, Monk Strap Bourdeaux Moreschi Deer Skin
Socks were a navy/sky knee high Marcoliani  

Back To Basics

Christmas always brings about something special... my favorite outfit of the year! This one really was special, not that it's the best outfit ever but the clothing that I was able to acquire to make it all possible. The acrimonious shirt beneath the scarf is a lambskin over shirt. The company is VLuxe by Lucky Nahum, he was a designer from New York. I have owned some of his clothing before, a few pieces still around, but in 2008 he went out of business as he was a few years ahead of his time. This shirt was designed to be worn as a shirt over a shirt but not to be referenced as a jacket. The scarf is a 100% cashmere blend by Jos. A Bank, the earth tone adds a brilliancy of dimensional colors. The slacks are a very traditional seer sucker pattern blue and white and the million dollar hit were I finally acquired my very first pair of Moreschi shoes, these are a deer skin monk strap in bourdeaux!

On another note, I have gained a new blog to document my running as I have lost the direction of this website some time ago. You can find my running documentaries at Claimyourjourney.com/Blogs and just look for me! That's if you're interested. I want to bring this blog back to the basics of its inception, Fashion!

Trail Running Psychology

It's only been a few months since I began this new phenomenon of my punitive existence, but it has proved more fecund than I initially anticipated. I think all of us who commit to activity such as running, start with a very simple and acrimonious agenda, but as we become more and more inundated with the Bucephalus of that endeavor, the truth (even unbeknownst to us) becomes clear!

For me trail running was something to do because it was new and hip, so to speak. I thought it would be fun and ultimately take me out of my comfort zone, well it did just that and much much more.

We as people scurry quite fixedly about our day, constantly conversing about whats to come, tomorrow, the next day, next week, next year even. We query the time, not to know what is now, but rather to gauge what we can do in the allotted time of day that is left. We treat time as though it were the facet of all that is true and righteous, thusly, we are a slave to the future as the present does not concern us less tragedy befall that moment. What we don't realize is that the very future that we pine to arrive only so we can forget it, will eventually be the present and just like that (Vroom) it's gone again!

Trail running doesn't allow the future to exist without recognition of the present, if you attempt to circumvent the present, the future will know and you will be punished. In my trail running I have learned a few things, "eventually I will get to my final destination so the time doesn't matter. I do not care where I have to go, my only concern is where I am now. The next step will allow for the steps to follow, without that step, I AM standing still, keep moving! How will feel in 5 miles? Doesn't matter, how do I feel now matters!"

I hadn't realized until recently, my psychology on the trail was carrying over in to my psychology off the trail, and it was working. I was treating my days like a trail run, my week like chain of trail runs. Whether in the office or on the trail or even at home, you have good hours and you have bad hours. The good hours, those are easy, no worries there, but the bad hours are the test to what you can accomplish. If I am running Chicot I know I have 22 miles ahead of me, no turn or decision will change that once I go. In those 22 miles there are good hours and there are absolute shit hours. In the 8+ hours I work in a day, the same rules apply. So as cliche as it sounds, it is literally one step at a time.

I didn't think I was coming to this conclusion. It was not a gradual epiphany, I woke up and I realized it all at once. Trail running has been a major benefit, and quite frankly I am lost without it as of late, I am hoping to regain my trails slowly starting next week I will run 10 with Geaux Run at Chicot. I am a bit scared as I do not feel 100% yet despite no pain being present anymore. We shall see what happens. Just keep running!

Unparalyzed Paralympian

UTRECHT, The Netherlands - Paralympic silver medalist Monique van der Vorst has miraculously become an able-bodied Olympic hopeful after a crash reversed her paralysis.

Paralyzed from the hip down since she was 13, the 27-year-old handcyclist, who has just signed with the Rabobank women's professional cycling team to compete as a top-class able-bodied athlete, was hit by a bicycle last year while training in her wheelchair for the 2012 London Paralympics.

While recovering from the trauma, van der Vorst's feet started to tingle and miraculously she began to move them again. From that point on she spent months in the hospital and in the rehabilitation centre trying to regain the use of her legs.

When she was 13, van der Vorst — good at tennis and hockey — suffered nerve damage during a routine ankle operation and was paralyzed from the hip down, according to the U.K. Telegraph.

She also sustained a spinal cord injury in 2008, when she was struck by a car while hand cycling through Amsterdam, the Telegraph added.

She told Reuters that when she took her first steps again in July 2010, she felt just like a child learning to walk.

"I wanted to jump in the air for joy," van der Vorst said this week, and recalled how great and surprising it was to look at herself standing in front of a mirror.

Doctors have no explanation for her amazing recovery. Some believe the trauma of her last accident may have jolted her body back into activity.

But the realities of her new-found joy also put an immediate end to a successful athletic career.

"Although walking is the best thing you could do in life, I immediately missed the sport, the people and the challenges," van der Vorst said.

Rehabilitation and physiotherapy with an athletic focus strengthened her and as soon as she sat on a bike she again wanted to give it a try.

"The spirit is in my body," she said.

Despite a near-crash the first time she cautiously climbed aboard a racing bicycle for able-bodied athletes, van der Vorst got back on her bike and carried on to complete a painful and slow 30 km training route and has not looked back since.

Although she is not on the same cycling level as the other women on the Rabobank cycling team, her willpower is enormous and the team isconfident van der Vorst will quickly catch up.

When you consider van der Vorst won two silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, was elected Dutch disabled athlete of the year in 2009, was the first handcycle athlete to win the 2009 Ironman world championship in Hawaii, her goal of riding in the 2016 Rio Olympics does not appear unrealistic.

Cajun Coyote 2011

It started as a relatively normal Saturday in Chicot State Park, I was there for a run although I was not to be the one running. It was the Cajun Coyote trail race and I was working the first aid station with Edie Riedel of Geaux Run. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but what ensued was to be mind altering and potentially life changing. As I write this I am given to believe that I will not find my creative dialect of adjectives to adequately describe what I felt for this event, but I will try nonetheless.

The race was set to take place offering 3 different distances, a 20 mile loop, a 100k (60 mile) loop, and the rugged 100 miler. I had previously agreed to aid Edie for the duration of the race, and as I am true to my word I was there with clothing, sleeping bag and pillow.

I arrived in Chicot at approximately 4:30 in the morning on Saturday with equipment in tow. I was able to sleep for about an hour once I arrive, and at 6:30 a.m. the race was off, at least for the 100 milers. I still had no idea what was in store for me. I will take this opportunity to congratulate my twitter friend @LSUBeerRunner Brenton Day on the 20 mile victory and my good friend and trail running colleague Nathan Shull for a graceful victory in 100k (his first time running 100k mind you).

There were 30 100 milers and at 7:06 the first 100 miler came to our aid station (we were mile 4, first aid station in the clock wise direction). Everyone stood in awe as Tetsuro Ogata aka Buford (all trail runners have weird trail names, mine is Vuijsters (pronounced Vies-Stirs), I will explain that later) approached only 46 minutes after the race start. (The first 4 miles of Chicot are the hilliest and typically our saturday group takes a little over 1 hour to overcome, he did it 46 minutes). Of course the comments start, "there is no way he can hold that pace for 100 miles..." Shortly thereafter (7 minutes) Mossie Smith aka Lion-O approaches. Now both Buford & Lion-O had smiles on their faces, no grimace of pain and when I say the most polite people I have ever met, I mean it. These guys were top notch polite, despite Buford's broken English.

Hours went by that created oblivion to our time concepts. We conversed with every runner who came through and the service we provided to them was second to none. It was an honor to serve the men and women that approached us, and my heart was graced by their efforts.

Morning turned to noon and noon turned to night and the party and festivities of the faithful remnant runners began to depart from the Geaux Run aid station leaving only the company of our thoughts and short stories. It was me, Edie, Phil & Nick, and our bonding though not intentional was inevitable.

It was the wee hours of the night that brought to me the state of mind that would eventually alter my mood. After awaking from a few hours nap, around 5:30 a.m. I awoke to find only 1 runner had come through since 3:30 that morning. It was then that I realized what I had signed up for. I was here to witness greatness, I was fated to witness the act of human heroics. The moon shined effervescently through the trees above and coyotes sang brilliant hymns as the stars danced to the harmony of the elements surrounding.

As the sun rose once more a car approached, it was Lion-O. I was a bit startled.. Perplexed by his arrival I approached him cautiously, as though approaching a lion, uncaged and untamed. He was walking (a surprise) and of course, smiling. He had come by to thank us, as he had thanked us every time we'd seen him on the course. I couldn't believe it, I began to choke up. Here was an individual who had suffered 100 miles for 18+ hours (18:49) and here he was thanking us for our service. Was he serious? I was floored, in every word escaping my lips I fought to hold back tears, had one dropped fallen, I would have come undone.

The station was torn down and Edie and I headed back to the Start/Finish line, upon our entrance we saw a runner from Boston approaching the final 100 meters, he looked over at Edie and smiled as she encouraged him along. Here it came again, damn tears. I walked in to the pavillion and saw true heroes, I saw people that story books are written about.  I now realize that I witnessed what are truly unsung and untold heroes. These men and women will drive home (after running 100 miles) and people will never know the greatness that they accomplished.

In every passing visit from these runners I learned a little more and more about them. I saw people in their lowest and highest moment, and in that I learned the greatness of humanity lies in the highs and the lows of life. When I saw them at their lowest my respect grew and grew, and despite their desolate battered and beaten bodies, I glowing faces and radiant spirits. Although I may never be a 100 miler, I will forever respect and admire those that are, and given the very opportunity to support them in any way I shall.

To Edie Riedel, thank you so much for the opportunity to serve these men and women! It is an experience I will never forget.


P.S. - Tetsuro Ogata finished first and Mossie Smith finished second.

C&R Quality Cleaners

It started as an unfortunate event, but ended in honesty and incredible customer service, two things I cannot dis-count.

Two weeks ago I went to gather a few items from the cleaners as they had called and said my habiliments were ready. The garments included a pair of Zanella black and white hounds tooth pants, and 3 button down oxford dress shirts. I have been a customer of this cleaners for approximately 8 years now and have never had any reason to check my clothing upon departure, so I exchanged pleasantries with the ladies behind the counter and headed off home. A week went by and it came time for me to wear the hounds tooth slacks, much to my surprise, they were ruined. I opened my suit bag, removed the pants from the cleaners packaging and froze.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing, my slacks, my go to favorite get me out of a clothing pinch when I need you slacks... not to mention they were probably the most expensive pair I had in my closet. I began to notice the actual hounds tooth pattern was not the same as it had been when I first dropped them off, so I compared the pants to the suit they accompanied, nope, no match. I then noticed the pockets were frayed, the belt loops were undone, the seem along the top of the pants had separated and the lining behind the zipper had been torn completely. I called my wife over and asked her to inspect, she saw all the same problems as I and we agreed, these weren't my pants. Turns out they were!

I called C&R Quality cleaners the next day and spoke briefly to Mrs. Anita. I explained my dilemma and she merely requested I bring them by. I was there the next day!

C&R stated they would inspect the pants, speak with the owner and call me. My qualms were upon me. What was to be the retribution? How do I qualify an appropriate reprisal? If a friend damaged a suit or pants to a suit and the pants were no longer available, do I require him to replace with an appropriate pair of equal value? I plagued myself with these thoughts for a couple of days, then it came to me.

There is a level of responsibility we all take when entrusting our belonging with others. In that, there is a sort of psychology we adopt in knowing our products will be taken care of. If a friends lets me borrow a book and I lose it I would be certain to replace it. If I entrust a pair of $300 pants to a friend and he damages on accident, what then? There are a few ways to look at it, pick your own, but in my present situation with the cleaners, I merely accepted the loss and requested I be treated to an allotted amount services at no cost. I would be lying if I say the cleaners weren't pleasantly surprised with my offer. They called offering a replacement, I declined stating personal responsibility.

The next day I received a phone call from the owner Miles Frank. His words were very apologetic and thankful for my position on the matter. He doubled my service request based on my attitude toward the situation. He was very kind and certainly did not owe me a phone call for any reason. My dealings were with is employees and they had handled the situation with care, I was disappointed in my lose, but very pleased in the resulting customer service.

Life goes on, and lessons are learned. There is a time and a place for the eye for an eye retribution approach, then there are times for understanding and forgiveness.

How Proud...

So I was able to put my jealousy aside for this one.

This past weekend (Saturday) my wife and my mom ran the Geaux Run Cajun Cup 10k in down town Lafayette. This is probably the most fun race anyone can ever do. I ran it for the first time in 2009 and it's been a goal to run it again. 2010 I was in San Antonio for a Half Marathon with long time friend and training partner Jeremy Zenon, and this year unfortunately I was on DL with a stress fracture in my shin.

Registered to run were me, Ashley, mom & dad. Dad is injured too. Well my wife felt under trained and my mom felt old, but I put my persuasive skills to the test and got them to run it. And like all things wonderful they had a blast. Their target goals were 1:15, final times: 1:11 for Ashley & 1:13 for my Mom. AWESOME!!!!!

I was/am very proud of them both. They were enthralled to report they ran nonstop for the entire length of the race. Excited and elated, they are planning the next 10k or better, with better times.

Susan Enan, House Concert in Lafayette

Susan Enan does house concerts! Yes house concerts. Last year when Susan began working as the scorer on the Television Show "Bones" she and her friends came up with this great idea that they would post online that they were interested in going to people's homes to do in house concerts, just a chair and a guitar, no microphone, no amps, and a very limited audience. Well the idea took off and before she knew it, she had traveled half the world and performed in 80 countries... in one year!

Last night she did a concert at 413 Marilyn Dr in Lafayette, that address belongs to my boss' and I was invited to attend. I cannot put in to words the magnificence of this woman and grandeur voice she possesses. This video I posted does nothing for the range and brilliancy that Susan Enan so effortlessly vocalizes. 

Born in South England, near Cambridge (although in her diction your can hear a hint of Glasgow, when I chatted her up at the break I asked about that and her Grandmother is from Glasgow). she moved to New York 7 years ago and gearing up for a move to Nashville, TN next February. 

It was an honor to sit and watch her perform, the second photo was taken with her permission but no flash as so not to disturb her, she feels all of her songs very deeply and may not even have noticed if the flash were on. In between each song she would talk and we would ask questions and engage with her on very funny and very personal levels. She is a wonderful individual. 

My boss, Scott, emailed Susan about 10 months ago after hearing her song on "Bones", she responded shortly, as she was in the Artic Circle doing a show, and they scheduled a date. She travels completely alone, just a guitar. She sang 12 songs in the night, the night lasted 3.5 hours, and it wasn't long enough. During the break Susan wouldn't disappear in the back, she hung out and laughed with everyone.

After the show was over, Susan, Scott and myself went to Blue Moon Saloon and watch a new Cajun Music band perform. She was wonderfully impressed and even went so far as to tweet a pic of the band.

A wonderful evening, I wish Susan all the best in her career!

As the Shoe Turns

As a runner, I have found to have quite simple taste, no matter what it is, I am always satisfied with the best. I can't take full credit for that quote, it's a quote from Oscar Wilde slightly tweaked. At any rate it's true, I believe in the best, shopping at the best stores, and buying the best products. Best products don't necessarily have to be "name brand" products. Lines like Sugoi, Louis Garneau aren't indicative of "name brand" products, but they are two of my favorite lines, the other is Zoot, a favorite clothing line of mine, not too huge a fan of their shoes although they are posted here. 

My running career has been short lived up to this point. In '09 I ran the Cajun Cup 10k (on a whim, no prior "training", just woke up and said, "I ain't got no plans" so I ran it) After that I didn't run again until the following November in '10 where I ran the San Antonio Half Marathon with a great close friend of mine, so it is safe to say that November 2010 is the origination of my running lifestyle, so I am still very new. However since November 2010 I have run 2 HM's, (5) 5k's, (3) 10k's and miles mile miles, Chicot State Park has been a favorite of mine thanks to brilliance of Edie Reidel, Smitty Smith, Donald Cleveland and Brad Delcambre for being crazy enough to introduce the vexed populi to ultra trail marathons!

So over the past year I have had the option of 3 pair of shoes, I have posted them here and ran in one for the very first time today, so.. I thought I would waste some time this morning and post about them.

Nike Dual Fusion

The Nike Dual Fusions were purchased last Christmas for me by my wife, I hate all things Nike so I only wore them to do P90x, Insanity or take out the trash. I didn't wear Nike when I played soccer, I wasn't going to wear them now, although this morning I wore them for a 7 mile run and if you promise not tell anyone, I really enjoyed them. But my ego says I enjoyed the weather, the shoes just happened to be on my feet. I did however enjoy the toe box, it's wide and roomy, no swelling issues toes never went numb. The shoe is relatively responsive with a positive spring in the step.

Zoot Ultra Tempo 

The Zoot, not a running shoe in my opinion. In fact this shoe is not made for standing, it is made for sitting down and drinking. I don't understand how people run in this thing, it is better suited for short sprints on a track, I don't know how this is a triathlon shoe unless the run portion of the tri is .5 miles.

 Brooks Trance 9

Ah the Brooks Trance 9's. The favorite in the running selection I posses. This is a responsive, high stability, incredibly cushioned shoe. What I have received from the Brooks is more comfort and perfect stride than anything else. Be that as it may, it is a beautiful shoe as well. The quick laces call for adjusting some time mid run due to swelling of the foot, I typically notice that when a couple of toes go numb. The toe box is roomy, though not squared, the lugs are perfectly fitted to the sole of the shoe increase response time and add comfort.