Recently I agreed to house-sit for some friends on the outskirts of town. Just far enough from my humble abode, the familiar sounds of the neighborhood and every day suburbia to provide a serene escape. Somewhere between me watering the vegetable garden and the night sky losing its baseball field competion I found the advantages to abandoning the structured, incorporated, by-lawed, perfectly gridded, sod-clad tuffs of earth we've ritually claimed as our own little piece of the planet for generation after generation. Imagining that all of our fences are just as good as picketed and our neighbors would certainly bring over a bundt cake if wereally needed cheering up. I think Christopher Robin would have loved it out there. It certainly seemed like a 100-acre wood.

I managed to capture a few images while out on the land. I was supposed to be working on a challenge from a popular photography site. Everyone was to try to capture something unique and exceptional at a 1000 shtutter speed. While I managed to catch some pretty cool images I shot them at 1600 instead of 1000 so I didn't feel qualified to submit them for judging. The shots I got really did do a good job of capturing the feeling of an enchanted forest that I'd been feeling for the week.





"Poetry and Hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is to go where they can find you." - Winnie the Pooh

C is for Cookie

Why is it that my photos of food end up looking better than my photos of people?  

Oh well ... I guess beauty's in the eye of the beholder ;)

Like The Wind

It's no surprise that I think of my life as a busines, relationships as limited liability corporations, old friends as former allies in dissolved conglomerates. My life in general does the same thing. A family meeting agenda is more expected that a rousing game of spades. Special family projects come with donation commitments and deadlines. Chain emails more often debate the health benefits of the next family dinner menu as opposed to being a platform for everyone's attempt at stand-up. All that said, it's no suprise to me that my family has a monthly newsletter. I made my first offering this month and thought I would share it with you. I've really taken to running and thought my family would appreciate hearing a bit about it ...

Like the Wind

In years past I often gazed upon a sneaker-clad sidewalk warrior enviously. Runners. They always seemed to be so free yet conquering a formidable opponent with every hit of the pavement. Wind in their hair, arms and legs stretching forward as if to pull the future to them instead of racing to meet it. They look so free. So extremely free. As they leave their sweat and cares in the porous concrete behind, they simultaneously shatter the milestones they've left on many mornings before.

I'm not quite sure what moon I was under when I realized it was time to get out there and experience one of the things I've long wanted to do but 2010 was the Year Of The Sneaker. My job was sponsoring a team to run in the Governor's Cup in Columbia, South Carolina. Some chose to walk, others to run the the 8K, still others the half marathon. One wild hair and a couple suggestions later ended in a yes for me joined the team as an 8K runner. As I signed my life away I wondered what exactly was possessing me to commit to something I'd never tried before in my life. I mean, I've run to a sale, I've run to a meal, I've run to many a thing but I hadn't run to a finish line since middle school field days and those were such a distant memory I really couldn't tell you how well I faired back them. I'm assuming those green ribbons I have in a shoe box meant I did something more than just step onto the grassy knoll and watch others cross the finish line in the three-legged race.

I must admit, I showed a lot of heart training for that first race. I bought the right shoes, bought the right clothes. I even bought an on-line trainer that I did not use once. Not once. Notwithstanding the wasted cyberspace purchase, I trained throughout the week for two months, took advantage of the encouragement and pushing of my friends and began to experience a great deal of relief when I could feel myself getting stronger and faster – being able to run a mile, then two, then five – without revisiting and bidding farewell to my last meal. When the crisp cold day of that first race arrived I was armed with gloves, earmuffs, Gatorade gel, a new Adidas jacket and a first day of school nervous energy that would propel me to accomplishing something I'd wanted to for a long time. I also had some surprise supporters that rounded my happiness and satisfaction with the day off quite nicely.

I did good in that first race, finishing in a little under an hour. I've run several since then; running about an 11 minute mile in each. Each time I walk to the starting line that nervous first day of school energy still wells up within me and with each stride after that signal to start, I move closer to my goal of being faster, stronger, healthier and happier than I was the year, day and moment before. Some think I must be a little left of center to be running in “all these runs”. Others think it's time for me to take on more challenging ones. I've always managed to be Malcolm in the Middle so I'm okay with the reviews. As long as I'm striving to be better than I was in the moments gone by, I'm alright with me.

I know you likely know this but I'll say it anyway: If you've been wanting to give something a try – whether it's scaling a mountain or writing a poem – take that first step. See the mountain up close. Buy the pencil and paper. Set goals and you'll surprise yourself with what you can accomplish.
- toj May 2011

Robert Mills House

While she may not be as well known or seen as refined as her sister, Columbia, South Carolina is worth the effort you take to get to know her. Her beauty, artistic nature and eclectic culinary offerings make her just as worthy a companion as any other. She doesn't brag or always tell you about her next adventure so you may have to do a little investigating of your own.

Now that we're after the frost but before the fire, maybe Historic Columbia Foundation's Friday Happy Hour Tours would be just the right spring outing for you and this fair town.

timid beauty