As many of you know I had my birthday a couple of weeks ago, but this last week was birthday: the sequel! I got to see a friend I haven’t seen since before my birthday. They gave me a gift card for the movies, the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, the biggest container of Ovaltine that's made, and one of the best presents of all, spending time with someone really awesome!  We went to the movies and saw Lucy, which was different than I was expecting and still has me questioning what I watched.

     I recently listened to Escape, you know, the pina colada song. I never realized that I hadn't truly listened to the song lyrics before. Go ahead, take a quick break and indulge yourself, give it a listen. Now if you paid attention, like I finally did, you realize there is an incredible message to this song. The guy is tired of his girlfriend, feeling that their relationship is worn out. One night while he’s lying next to her in bed he’s reading the personal ads in the newspaper (remember this is a song from the 70’s), when he sees one that catches his attention. If you listened to the song, you know what the ad says. Feeling that he has to meet this person, he replies, stating he wants to meet her the next day at a bar. After he arrives, in walks his dream girl who just happens to be…HIS GIRLFRIEND!!! The two had more in common than they knew but neither one realized it because they were so caught up in themselves that they didn't see what was right in front of them. Something I think a lot of us do, even if we don’t admit it. So before you go looking for something you think you don’t have, take a look around you first. You never know what you may discover.  And, fun fact, it was the last U.S. number one song of the 70s.

     I am slowly making progress with my fiendish credit card debt. I have come to think of it as a boss in a game. Every dollar I pay off is a hit point, and for every thousand hit points I gain a level. I have just achieved level 2! Only 14 more levels and I will slay the juggernaut! Obviously I have a long way to go before this quest is finished, and I will have to be patient and vigilant, but I will fight the beast until my last!

     Summer is coming to an end, though here in northern California things are still hot. I've been taking advantage of the weather as much as possible. I got another rafting trip in, celebrating the end of the season. We found a paddle, lost a paddle, someone fell out, we had higher than normal water and hit Hospital Bar right down the middle!

                                                       Whitewater Twister anyone?

     I got some new running shoes, Hoka One One, still trying them out, though initial impressions are pretty good. Very light and cushy. I should have them broken in by the time I do the Run For Courage on the 27th. If you’re not familiar with this run, I recommend checking it out. It’s organized by a great non-profit that works to put an end to human trafficking. I’m also working on my mountain bike skills, pushing myself so I can ride trails more technical than I am used to.

     Until next time my insightful readers,