Random Year in Review

Since Facebook seems to have everyones "Year in Review" happening these days, I thought I'd put my own spin on my life in 2014.  There's something for everyone in here. Or not, whatever, you're already here, so read through it.


Seattle, it's gloomy

Mt. Rainier, a spectacular sight.  When you can actually see it.

In January of 2014 I was still living in Seattle.  It was interesting living in a city where it is gloomy, drizzly and seemingly dark, all the time.  However, when the sun was out, even a little, it truly is a beautiful city with lots to do and see, especially outdoors, and it may rival anywhere else in the USA.  However, the sun rarely comes out.  I look back on my time there, albeit short, as relatively good.  It may not be a favorite place for me personally to live, but I tried to enjoy it as best I could.  I joined the Green Lake Running Group, met some great people, did a lot of volunteer work at a fantastic organization-Treehouse, saw a ton of beautiful scenery, like Rainier, and had the chance to do some hikes, boat rides and miscelleaneous other things(Rodeo).  But recently one of my best friends, John, came to visit me in Scottsdale and as we were out one night, he told me how happy he was for me that I was back in Scottsdale and how miserable I  seemed in Seattle when he came to visit.  That struck me as odd because I didn't think I was miserable there, but he knows me as well as anyone and maybe subconciously I didn't want to think that or believe it as I was trying to make the best of it in Seattle.  So maybe I was miserable there and didn't realize it or maybe, and probably more likely, I'm just a lot happier in Scottsdale and in Arizona in general.  Nevertheless I choose to look at my time in the Pacific NW as a positive and only retain the good memories, I mean it's not like I lived in Portland for God's sake. 


Earning the Bird

In 2014, I Left No Doubt!

In late February I flew back to Phoenix to run the Phoenix Marathon once again.  This time for StuDemption!  It was a great race for me personally, but far more important than that, I had a great week in Arizona; saw my family, spent time with great friends and experienced just about everything that I love about Arizona.  Without knowing, I suppose, this was obviously a precursor of what lay ahead for me regarding my return to the Valley of the Sun.  Phoenix Marathon 2015, you are now in my sights!  2015=BQ

"If you're not scared shitless by your goals, they're probably too easy."

One of my favorite memories of that trip, climbing the camel with my brother Jeff!

Ahhh, Arizona

Gregg and I kayaking the Salt River.

Upon my return to Arizona in late May, one of the first things I did was reconnect with my good friend Gregg and he and I kayaked the Salt River.  It was a beautiful day in Arizona, probably moreso to me coming from the doom and gloom of the Pacific NW, and we did a 10+ mile kayak run.  Incredible scenery, wild horses and bright, warm sun; all made for a great day and a very welcome return.  Thanks again Gregg!



Call of the Wild

Lots more wildlife here than in Seattle, that's for sure.

Running in Seattle I had to get used to almost always being cold.  Since I run early in the morning, 5-6 a.m., that is usually the coldest part of the day and in a city that rarely gets much above 50, except in the summer, that made for a lot of cold mornings and I had to bundle up to run.  It got old.  Back in Arizona, I was so pleased to be able to just run in shorts and a t-shirt again, but now that I live in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, I encounter a lot more wildlife and "activity" if you will.  I have come across a rattlesnake once, plenty of coyotes, javelinas, scorpions and I've see a few bobcats too.  Thankfully, I have yet to have any issue whatsover.  Being alert and cautious is always key, just as it is running on the road with cars.  But here's hoping to not have any issue, ever, other than falling into a cactus a few times....

Falling into a cactus is......not fun.

I definitely enjoyed the warmer weather upon arrival, but after a few weeks the real summer heat hit and it certainly had an impact, as it's tough to run when it's 110 degrees.  Although not for my friend Dan.  It apparently can never be hot enough for him.  Upon returning he invited me to join a running group that meets every Tuesday night at a brewpub in Tempe. The run is only a little over 3 miles, but for whatever the reasons, we always treat it as a race and run all out.  Sadly, for me, Dan always wins.  There is always a theme for the night too and he usually wins that as well, I'm not much of a costume guy.  But it's much more fun running with a friend and I still vow to take him down, not just in a marathon.  Look out Dan, I'll adjust to the heat at some point.  Maybe.

Ugly shirt night. Dan may have won this one, but I had to be a close second with this hideous Seahawk green shirt.

 

 New Countries Update!

People of Moldova.  Is this really my demographic???????

I have tried to keep up with my blog, although not writing nearly as much as I hope, but I try very hard to make sure that anything I post is interesting and not just self-serving.  I enjoy writing the blog, but I always have tried to make it more than just pictures me, look at what I did, kind of a thing, but a story that may actually have some points of interest to anyone that reads it.  That being said, the blog continues to amaze me as, again, there is no marketing whatsoever, just a post on my Facebook to my few friends and yet it finds its way all over the world with people continually coming back to it, which is the astonishing part to me.

This summer one country imparticular made massive hits to the blog; Moldova.  Besides them, 4 additional countries found their way to Cactus Chip; Ireland, Poland, Thailand, and Columbia.  That now makes 29 countries outside the USA that for whatever the reasons find something on here interesting.  Seeing how I've never been to any of them, I continue to be amazed.  Please continue to send me your exports.

Football in the Midwest

Welcome to Jack Pine Stadium.  Can someone please mow the field!!!

In July I had the chance to go back to Michigan for a week.  I tried to cram as much in as I could, visiting family and friends and making the trek to CMU and up to our family property in Northern Michigan.  I am lucky that my Grandpa Ralph bought this land 70+ years ago and thus I had the chance to spend a lot of my childhood summers up north at the cabin.  Sometime 20+ years ago I got the idea that I should make a field goal post and create my own football field.  We had tons of acreage, so space was not an issue and the land was covered in Jack Pines, which are notoriously straight and durable.  So one weekend my good friend Trent and I went up north and like true lumberjacks, we picked out the three trees we thought would work best, and proceeded to use an axe to chop them down.  After they fell, we used the axe to chop off all the branches and cleaned them up.  My brother Jeff helped carry "Trent's Log" over with the other two(his choice of log weighed ridiculously more than the others) and using a tape measure and our eyesight, we dug the holes for the posts, placed them in and nailed the crossbar up.  For years and years we kicked field goals and had  fun with it, eventually builidng another one about 10 years ago, with the help of many this time.  The Field Goal post still stands today and when I was up there, of course I kicked a few.  Good memories and still good times.  And yes, maybe I am a bit football obsessed.

Trent and I reliving the glory days.

Fishing wtih Bacon

A random lake in Michigan.  This would be considered an ocean in AZ.

During my trip to Michigan I was able to spend some time with my good friend Jon Laing, aka Bacon. Bacon and I met in 3rd grade when he changed schools and we've been friends ever since.  He suggested we take out his bass boat and go fishing for the day and I was game.  The weather, as you can see in the pictures, wasn't ideal.  At least not for an Arizonan and I did complain that I was cold by the end of the day.  Sorry Jon.  But we both had good luck catching some bass and releasing them back into the lake.  Michigan is absolutely full of lakes and streams and water in every direction.  Certainly the opposite of Arizona, especially Phoenix where we have Tempe Town Lake, which is disgusting and that's about it in the Valley.  I guess I need to make a trip to Lake Havasu at some point, but it will never match the beauty of Michigan in that regard.  But thank you Bacon for a great day and here's to another 30+ years of friendship!  But maybe next time you come out my way, we may not have water, but we also don't have snow.

Not to be outdone, I caught my fish first, so Bacon had to show me up.

A Birthday Celebration Like No Other

Happy Birthday Doug! Can I borrow your phone for a minute...

My great friend Doug Hatfield had a big birthday this summer, no need to mention the number.  So he decided to throw the party of all parties at his Mountain Home in Northern Arizona.  Let me state, anytime you are with Doug and Kristin, a party invariably ensues, so to throw a rager, well that really means something.  Doug is the kind of guy that had a bigger deck built on his home so he could have a band out there and still have a ton of room.  It's pretty awesome.  Northern Arizona in August is absolutely gorgeous and since we were at 6,000 feet elevation, it's much cooler than the summer heat in the Valley.  Made for a perfect setting.  Doug hired a personal favorite musician for the night, Kristy Dee and her band.  He's had her perform up there many times before.  Since it was his birthday I thought the perfect gift for Doug would be for me to sing a Guns and Roses(one of his favorite bands) song with the band.  I can't sing, nor have I ever performed, but I LOVE GNR and thought it would be fun.  I had hoped to practice with the band over the summer, but it never happened, so I figured it wasn't to be because I certainly needed practice.  But at some point that night, Kristy says to me, "So are you ready to sing?".  I was a bit stunned, but quickly decided this is for Doug and since everyone has been drinking for hours, I certainly don't need to be very good.

I was quite nervous and since this was a suprise to Doug I sneaked back behind the band and had Kristy call me out.  I sang Knockin' on Heavens Door and thankfully since I've seen GNR many times and heard and sang along to that song a million times, I knew it well and after the first stanza I calmed down a bit.  Kristy was awesome standing right next to me playing the guitar and singing backup.  Doug was going crazy and the crowd was seemingly into it.  Again, keep in mind it's late and lots of alcohol had thankfully been consumed to impair judgment.  At one point in the middle of the song there is a break point and Kristy held out her hand and said to me, "You got them right in the palm of your hand, bring it home".  I have to say, it felt really cool and I have zero illusion that I was any good, but just remember the time and circumstance and that Doug loves GNR and this was clearly for him.  It was a blast and I'd happily do it again sometime.  Maybe.  Somewhere there is recorded footage of this on Doug's phone, I cringe at the thought of actually ever seeing it, but it was a party and a great one at that, no reason to have anything but a great time.  Which is exactly what we did.  Happy Birthday my friend!




Stop calling me Shirley...

 I really did fly this thing.

I had a very cool chance to fly over the Valley and to Sedona with my new friend Jeff H.  I met Jeff through work, he mentioned that he had a plane and he randomly called me one Saturday morning and asked if I'd like to go flying with him.  I jumped at the chance.  Arizona is such a beautiful state and to see it from the air is even more incredible.  Plus I love flying in small planes.  My Grandpa Fred used to own a Cessna when I was a little kid.  I didn't get to enjoy it much then, but I've always enjoyed flying in small planes to islands and such.  I met Jeff at the Scottsdale airport and we took off towards Sedona.  The scenery was fantastic and it was a great day to be in the sky.  Jeff's been flying for years and he is rated and capable of being hired to fly bigger planes, but it's just a hobby for him.  As we approached Sedona, the airport was on top of a Mesa, with cliffs at each end of the runway.  No problem for Jeff to land.  We got out and had lunch and then got ready to head back.  As we were on the runway cleared for takeoff Jeff says to me, "All right, you're flying us home".  I was stunned, he had never mentioned me taking the controls and I've never done anything even close. Not mention the end of the runway was a cliff, so no room for error.  I hesitated, but he assured me I could do it, told me what to do, what gauges to watch and track and that to know he had the controls in front of him and could take over if needed.  I hadn't been that nervous in a long time.  So we speeded down the runway, I pulled the steering wheel back and up we went.  Once we were in the air, it wasn't that difficult to keep control, thankfully it wasn't windy nor were there any inclement conditions.   However, I definitely was not enjoying the scenery on the way back as I was glued to the gauges and making sure we were on track at all points.  When we got close to the Scottsdale airport, Jeff took over and landed us.  But it was a lot of fun and I would easily do it again if given the chance.  For now I get to add Pilot to my resume, if only for a day.  Thanks Jeff!

No, I did not take this while I was flying the plane.  Arizona beauty.

Visiting Notre Dame

On the field, ready for game time!

I also had the chance to go to the University of Notre Dame to a football game and live a lifelong dream in doing so all thanks to my good friend Mike.  I blogged about that adventure, but would be remiss if I didn't mention it again here.  The season my not have ultimately turned out as expected for the Irish, but the memories from my weekend in South Bend far exceeded my hopes.  I look forward to going back again.

 

Thanks again Mike! Go Irish!

Arizona Christmas

With Doug and Kristin at  an outdoor Mass at Christmas?  Yes, in Arizona anything is possible!

One of the obvious perks of living in Arizona is the weather.  I certainly hear from many that it's way too hot in the summer, how do you stand it, blah, blah, blah.... But what we don't have is snow nor extreme cold.  Instead we get virtually every day sunshine and warm temperatures.  All of that allows for the chance to do so much more outdoors including attending Christmas Mass at St. Patrick's for an outdoor service.  I was so intrigued by this concept and joined Doug and Kristin for Mass Christmas Eve outside the Sanctuary.  It was such a cool and different experience and certainly St. Patrick's has had an influence on my life and definitely my time in Arizona previously and now, again.  It just about summed up the year for me as we celebrated that night with a beautiful service and then a fantastic dinner.   I definitely feel blessed.

The Price of Freedom

More fun times ahead when you return Gregg!  Thank you!

On a more somber note, on Monday, December 29 my friend Gregg was shipped off to the Middle East for another stint with the Air National Guard.  When something like this happens to someone you know personally, it really hits home.  Gregg has given up his life for the next year in order to go and fight for our freedoms here.  I'm not sure I could do what he's doing, but as he said to me right before he left, "That's what we do and I'm ready".  I know he is and I thank him and every other soldier that is putting themself in harms way for all of us here.  I'll be ready for your return to Arizona Gregg! Stay safe my friend and God Bless!

 Bring on 2015!

High above Phoenix, representing the C!

Overall 2014 was a quite a year.  I am elated to be back in Arizona and at at the same time I embrace all the things that led me to this point.  I am so very fortunate to have such great family and friends and I hope that 2015 only brings more great fun and opportunities.  Forever Fired Up!