Friday night, I was in Central Park shooting this race, when I passed by the croquet garden near Sheep’s Meadow. There was this dude out there playing all by himself. Just practicing his shot, I guess. Anyway, I stopped and talked to him for a while (after sneaking a few shots of him). It turns out that the Parks Dept. gives out permits to play croquet on the lawn there. Apparently there is also a New York City Croquet club. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked to learn about that. Monday nights, the club hosts the garden for public entry. From what the guy said, they give lessons and everything.

Oh yeah, I got a new lense this week. It is a 30mm f/1.4. I used it pretty much all evening. I love it.  One more shot of the croquet garden:

I borrowed this book from my friend at church on Sunday. It turns out that he had just barely received it back from another one of our friends who had just finished reading it. I guess none of that is really relevant, hahahaha. Anyway, I just started it on the train yesterday morning. Today, I’m only in chapter four and I’m totally hooked already. It isn’t particularly well written or anything, but it is super inspiring. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have any plans to run an ultra marathon, any time soon. But, the way that the author writes about the way he relates to running, is very motivating. It makes me want to quit my job and just pull a Forest Gump, or something. If you are into running, I think that it is safe to say you would probably dig this book.

On a completely unrelated note, today is Tuesday. Normally I would have posted a JKE question today. Last night as I sat down to write one, I wasn’t really feeling, any of the questions that are currently sitting in the inbox right now. I didn’t feel like posting any recycled material either. So, actually I’m taking down the JKE blog. I mean, maybe I will start doing JKE again at some point in the future. But for a once a week post, I feel like it doesn’t really merit it’s own separate url and page design. Plus Reagan is always making fun of me for having too many blogs. So, it will be one less thing to catch heat about.

When I first woke up today and saw the weather, I sort of panicked for a sec. All of these things were going through my head: ” I’m going skating, I’m going running, I’m going biking, I’m going to the park.” When I checked my phone, I had an email from the guys who run the Broadway Bomb, about a skateboard race in Central Park. I also had a note from my friend Jared about going golfing in the Bronx. It was a very tough decision. Ultimately, I decided that I should hold off on longboard racing until I have had a chance to get out and push around. I haven’t skated since last summer. Plus my friends Jared and Debi are super cool. I wish that Reagan could have come with us. But, being the popular girl that she is, her day was booked long before she got up and looked at her phone this morning.

I was a bit curious about what it was going to be like at the driving range. I mean, when I think of the Bronx, the first thing that naturally comes to mind is golfing (after gang shootouts, of course). It was actually a pretty nice course. Although, we didn’t actually end up playing the course this morning. Jared and I just hit some balls on the driving range, while Debi read magazines and took pictures of us (because we that good). But I think that we are going to try to make it back up there to play the course, now that we have seen what it is like, and that it is so easy to get to. The best part is that, right when we were getting toward the end of our session, the cart went out to gather the balls. This is fun on any driving range, because it is moving target practice. None of us were expecting what happened next. The driver parks off to the side, and gets out wearing a ball glove, smoking a cigarette and taunting all of the people hitting. Hahahahaha. It was the craziest thing ever. So there he was, running all over the range, like an outfielder on crack. I guess that is how they do it, at the muni-course in the Bronx. There is a shot of the guy below.

As if the driving range wasn’t enough fun for one day, we headed back down to the UWS for burgers, then spent the afternoon in Fort Tryon Park Hitting some Croquet. It was pretty packed, but we managed to find a spot of lawn large enough to set up. The lawn hadn’t been mowed for a while, so it was a little bit extra challenging. Thanks again, Jared and Debi for letting me be the third wheel.

On may 19th is the American Heart Association/NYRR Wall Street 5k. Come run it with us! Here is the NYRR Race Page. If you don’t feel like running it, but would still like to participate, there is also a walking section. If you will be working late that night, but would still like to donate to the AHA, here is the link for my team’s donation page.

[Photo via University of Utah Athletic Department]

Yes, March madness is afoot. My team (Univ. of Utah) doesn’t play until tomorrow night. So I guess that I don’t really have a good excuse to take off work. I’m pretty excited about it though. U of U had a pretty good season, winning the MWC. I wish that I would have been able to follow the action more closely this year. They are going into the tournament as a No. 5 seed and the first game is against Arizona. I haven’t done a bracket this year. I guess I’m in denial that March is already here. People who are way busier than I am (with stuff like solving financial crises, commanding, chiefing, etc..), have still found the time to fill out a bracket. You can check out President Obama’s bracket here.

Utah, arch rival, No. 8 seeded BYU started their first round this afternoon against Texas A&M. I wasn’t able to watch the actual game, but I followed the web cast. I know it is bad for the conference and everything. But for some reason, I just love to see the Cougars choke. Barack likes Utah and BYU in the first round, but that’s as far as they get, on his bracket. Unfortunately for El Presidente, BYU has already taken a dive. Way to go Cougs. Now you have let down our country, too. Hahahaha. Let’s hope that Obama is better at his political and economic predictions than he is at predicting college basketball tournaments.

[after philly half marathon 2008]

Tomorrow, Reagan and I will be running an 8k in central park. It is our first race of 2009, and only our 2nd or third that we are ever running together (weird, I know). I’m pretty excited about it. Some of our friends are going to be running it with us. Races in the park are always so pretty, even in the ugly seasons. Depspite my eagerness to get this season of races underway, I’m am a little bit nervous for tomorrow. I can tell that Reagan is too. Last night I was talking to her on the phone and she asked, “Jake, what if I come in last, on Saturday.” Well, I can already say that Reagan won’t come in last, tomorrow. But I definitely am on the same page when it comes to the sentiments that she was expressing. We didn’t really run much at all, over the winter. So far, this year,  even the days that it has been warmer, our workouts have been less than stellar. In one episode, we became separated after going less than 1 mile out, and both ended up going home mad. Hahahaha. Either way, I’m glad to be getting out and getting back after it, tomorrow.

[photo by motogp.com]

I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t totally freaking excited for this year’s round of MotoGP action. The season hasn’t even started yet, and there has already been drama. Pedrosa, who took a nasty tumble during pre-season testing, underwent surgery last week, but is still shooting to open the season next month in Qatar.

American, and former world champion, Nicky Hayden, will be back in the mix, after leaving Honda/Repsol. He claims to be feeling confident on his new Ducati. Stoner, also former world champion, and Hayden’s new teammate, has been putting up some impressive numbers during testing. Stoner will be coming into 2009 with a chip on his shoulder, after blowing a huge lead in last year’s world championship, letting Rossi run away with it.

Speaking of drama and chips on shoulders, Sete Gibernau is back in action this year. It would be an understatement to say that there is some bad blood between Gibernau and the Yamaha Fiat team, principally Valentino Rossi. It stems from an incident that occured at the same track hosting the 2009 opener.

Finally, the Losail circuit in Qatar is the only race currently in the GP lineup, which is held at night, under the lights. 2009 will be the second season for the night race.

I am also excited for this season, because Reagan and I are tentatively planning on travelling to see the Indianapolis race this year, in August. That is only if I can’t talk her into going to Laguna for the July 4th weekend.

Who knows, in a month we may even have a new sofa. Either way, I will be taking reservations for those who would like to join me in watching the season opener on April 12, which also happens to be Easter. Hahahah.

So much for hoping. I have barely had time to breathe today. I’m not going to complain though. In this market, having work to do, is never a bad thing. We (the state of NY) got a new Senator today, replacing the Hil. I don’t really know much about her. I figure that she can’t be worse than Clinton was, or Schumer is.  In more exciting news, Reagan had an awesome visit with Piper today. I’m pretty glad about that, because it seems like the last few times that we have been able to see her, she hasn’t been too happy. Also, Reagan and I are going to go snowboarding tomorrow, for the first time ever (the going together part). I’m pretty excited about that. I think that she is trying to be excited about it also. She has been saying lately that I don’t take her on dates enough. So hopefully this will count for something. In much less exciting news (to everyone but me), we are ordering pizza for dinner. Hooray for that. I have been eating pretty healthy all week (not that pizza isn’t super healthy too, with all of the tomato sauce and dairy, hahahah), and I am ready to pig out a little bit.

Man, oh man. I’m pretty happy.

Piper has already had a great new year. Yesterday, the Hopsons came with us to visit Piper. Apparently Piper was in the mood to show off. Reagan positioned her in a sitting up position and she was able to hold herself up for almost a minute. Check Reagan’s blob for the video. She was in great spirits again today. She was sitting up, propping herself up with her arms (like in the picture). Our visit with Piper was cut shorter than we wanted it to be, when Piper’s feeding tube became disconnected and spilled all over Reagan’s jeans.

In other great news, I came out to another ticket on the car today. Yippee. This time it is because the inspection expired on Dec. 31. I will probably get a $65 ticket every day between now and Monday, when I take it in to be serviced an inspected. NYC parking cops, serving and protecting.

Also, tonight Utah takes on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Cross your fingers for that one.