Clarity After the Storm: Coffee, Trails, and Companionship

This morning was the turning point in a saga of stress that had lingered like a persistent fog over my workdays. Solving the intricate puzzle of a development pipeline issue not only cleared the haze but also set a triumphant tone for the day. With a sense of accomplishment, I met with my friend Ty and his father for our weekly coffee engagement—a ritual that has become a beacon of warmth and connection in my routine.

Our meetings over coffee have turned into a cherished tradition, a space where time seems to pause, allowing us to revel in the simple joy of conversation and the quiet hum of life around us. Being invited into this fold by Ty and his father has added a layer of interpersonal richness to my life, for which I am deeply grateful.

With spirits buoyed by caffeine and company, I proposed a trail run to Ty. The opportunity to lace up and hit the paths of Emmenegger with my loyal companion Goat was met with enthusiasm. Our run was mapped out as a 'yin yang' course—a trail loop we've come to know well, yet each run feels like a new experience. The harmony of movement, the rustle of leaves underfoot, and the camaraderie of good friends made for a run that felt more like a celebration of the moment than exercise.

Adding to the day's refreshment, Goat found joy in the slightly fuller stream, a natural feature that has become his favorite cooling-off spot. The mild weather, a serendipitous warmth in the midst of a season known for its chill, granted us an interlude from the typical briskness of late autumn.

Today also marked the trial of my new trail running companions—my Altra Lone Peaks All Weather Mid Tops. I've come to rely on the comfort and stability of the Lone Peaks for my trail adventures, but the Mid Tops were an untested variable. To my delight, they enveloped my feet with familiar comfort, unnoticed and unobtrusive, as I navigated the terrain. The true test will come with the winter's cold, but the initial miles have cast a promising light on these new arrivals to my running gear.

As the trails wound down, so did our conversation turn to a mutual exchange of life's recent complexities. Ty and I found solace in sharing our frustrations, each serving as the other's confidant against the backdrop of nature's own therapy. The catharsis of conversation, matched with the endorphin release of a good run, was as potent a remedy as any therapist's couch.

As I prepare for my upcoming therapy session, I carry with me the day's lessons—the power of problem-solving, the strength found in friendship, and the restorative embrace of the natural world. Until the next time we meet, the trails, whether of earth or thought, await.

Tsunami Warning for Lincoln Nebraska

Tsunami Dawkins Augustine was born at 13:05 on September 26, 2011 at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, NE. He weighed 8 lbs 5 ounces and measured 20 inches. Mother and baby are doing great!

Kid on a Leash

Has anyone seen these kid leash products around? Sometimes I see them at the zoo, farmers market, or other crowded areas. If a company can make a product that will make a parent feel a little bit safer, there will always be people out there to buy it. When I see one, it reminds me of that scene in Rise of the Planet of the Apes when a leashed Caesar sees a dog on a leash and turns to Will and signs, "Am I a pet?" The idea of the product is that it will keep the child safe and nearby. It is designed to subside the fear that a child will run off or get abducted. I think that if someone is out to abduct a child during the few seconds when a parent is looking away, a leash is a very small deterrent, and likely, not effective. All the abductor would need is a nice pair of scissors or simply their fingers. The latch cannot be that hard to work. If anything, having a leash might give a parent a false sense of security causing them to pay less attention to the child. In that case it

The Poky Little Puppy

Sometimes Jupiter likes to read the classic Golden Book tale, The Poky Little Puppy before bed or nap time. This is another of many children's stories where the intended moral of the story seems to have been surpassed by a message that, I think, conveys the nearly the opposite message. The Poky Little Puppy is a story about five little puppies who dig a hole under the fence to go out for a walk in the wide, wide world. The fifth, poky, puppy is always behind the others. Eventually the poky little puppy smells the dessert that is prepared for the puppies each night. The four other puppies smell it too and hurry home while the poky puppy takes his time. The four puppies then eat their dinner and are scolded by their mother for digging a hole under the fence with the punishment being that they do not get dessert. Then along comes the poky puppy after everyone is asleep. He is met with no dinner but left over dessert, since the four puppies were not able to eat it. This scenario takes

Kirk blAug

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