Didn't we do this last year?

Another year has come to an end (by our current reckoning at any rate) and we once again come to that time when we evaluate the year that has passed and plan for the one yet to come; or maybe not.  While the tradition of the New Year's resolution is still strong in today's world, I wonder how many of us have in truth dispensed with the task of drawing up task or goal, usually one which is just beyond the reach of reality, and have set about to attempt to reach, and yet perennially fall short of the mark.  Personally, I have stopped making New Year's resolutions.  Not that it happened consciously, but rather looking back on the past few years I've noticed the new year come and go with no real plan put in place to increase, decrease, alter, or discontinue a said action or behaviour.  Perhaps it is because of past experience with failure to reach a New Year's goal, coupled with the awareness that the goal was slightly ludicrous to begin with, and yet an equally ludicrous goal would be dreamed up for the following year.

Don't misunderstand, I think goals are important; when they're formed rationally, that is.  However, I would rather have a year that was based on small goals developed (and altered if need be) throughout, instead of staring off with a bang and slowly, or on some cases, quickly fading into a shadow of disappointment.  Around this time many people turn towards fitness goals, and I am no exception.  I have found, though, that the road to fitness has been a long one with many detours, breakdowns, successes, surprises, and complete failures.  As a result, I no longer look to the new year with the mantra, "This year I will get fit."  Rather, I see the new year as an opportunity to renew an ongoing commitment to better fitness and health.  A subtle difference, perhaps, but one that I think needs to be acknowledged.  It's one thing to say, "Starting on January 1st, I will get into shape."  It's another to say, "I understand this to be a process; a process that has taken many years up to this point, and if I'm honest with myself, will require the rest of my life to maintain.  As this is the start of a new year, I will take the time to appreciate what I've accomplished so far, acknowledge where I have fallen short, and focus myself  for the days to come."

Of course, this does not have to be limited to fitness.  I have many other "projects" on my list, as I'm sure you do as well.  Being a better husband and father, fixing up the house, improving relationships with family members, becoming a more understanding person, et cetera, et cetera.  Again, these are all works in progress and to pick the 1st of January as a starting point would, to some degree, disregard all the work done in the past.  People sometimes think of New Year's as starting off with a clean sheet; I do not.  We are not clean sheets, nor can we, I believe, ever make ourselves so.  Our past will always be with us; it's what makes us who we are.  The future is a funny place.  It's the one destination that will never ultimately be reached, and it's the one trip where our baggage is guaranteed not to be lost.

In the end, I guess I don't see the new year as a rebirth or reinvention of self, rather it's a continuation of the person I am already and prelude to person I am yet to be.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to get ready for my next run.  Yes, it's called the "Resolution Run" and yes it takes place on on January 1st., but really I'm just in it for the swag... really...

Confessions of a reluctant runner. Part 2, Musically inclined

So, I've been running for a while now, and for some reason I've never included music to my outings.  Alright, the reason is I've been too cheap to pick up an iPod for myself.  Anyway, up to this point the only thing I've been listening to is the sound of my own breathing.  For the most part I was fine with this arrangement.  Listening to my breathing had forced me to concentrate on my pacing and my effort.
A couple of weeks ago I started taking an old iPod on my runs.  I couldn't believe the difference!  The music made me feel more energized, made the run feel less tedious, and made the whole experience just better.  I was worried about the distraction that it would cause, but it turns out the distraction was a pleasant one.  I was surprised how much the music affected me.  There's only been one small glitch.  The iPod I use freezes in the cold temperature.  So while I'm enjoying the music, it only lasts part way through my run.  Even so, I seem to be able to continue on the same pace, using the memory of the music to push me along.
As a result, I now want to have music on all my runs.  In fact, I'm quite excited to see what may happen with my longer distances.  It would be interesting to see if the addition of music will help me through the inevitable mental and physical roadblocks that pop up during a long distance run.  I'll also have to spend some time constructing the perfect playlists for my runs.  However, before that can happen, I need to find an iPod, and possible accessory, that will allow me to run in the cold without it freezing up on me.  Obviously, Apple needs to invest a little more in Canadian content when it comes to R&D.
Now, to construct the perfect running playlist...

'Tis the season!

Well, it's that time again.  Christmas!  A bright shining light to many, a source of major stress and general ill humour for me.  For quite a few years now, I have had a love-hate relationship with this time of year.  Oh, I guess I enjoy the lights and trees and whatnot, but they always seemed to get overshadowed by certain stresses that slowly, over the course of the month of December, pile up.  One of the big things, especially since we've had children, was that Christmas morning was always at someone else's house.  Even before the kids, it never seemed as though my wife and I had any opportunity to create traditions of our own.  Instead, it was a mad dash between families and households to participate in other people's Christmases.
This year, however, I feel a sense of renewal this as with our new (and more accommodating) abode, my wife, my children, and I will be hosting Christmas at our house.  Once again, I feel excited for Christmas morning!  I'm looking forward to our kids waking up and opening presents from Santa without dreading the part when we have to abandon the newly opened joy to get dressed and loaded into the minivan for to make the rounds.
Please don't misunderstand me.  I love my family.  It's great to get together with them and all.  As someone who doesn't believe in gods, virgin births, or that Caesar Augustus would be so inept as to supposedly create a census that required Joseph to return to his place of birth, Bethlehem, to be enumerated there instead of the common, and much more logical practice of having individuals counted where they presently reside (but then, that's only one version of the story), I have instead focused upon Christmas as a time to get together with family and to enjoy the company of loved ones.  That is why, with the splitting of time and the feelings of guilt for spending more time at one house or another, I have longed for a Christmas without the rush.  I can see how this comes off as selfish, and I suppose in a way it is.  I fret about getting the "right gift" for others, I despise asking for gifts from others, but what I do wish for is a Christmas of joy and leisurely pace.  There, that's it.
Now I am not naive to the distinct, nay, certain possibility that our house will be completely mental on December 25th.  I am prepared, if only by way of delusion, for such a scene, for I am looking forward to the point in the day when things start to wind down and instead of looking painfully at the prospect of gathering the little ones and making our way back, I, for once in a long time, will take refuge in the fact that I am already home; and I will have been glad that I was able to open my door and my home to my family.
In the end, Christmas is important to me, and even though we may not be able to do Christmas at out house every year, I am glad for the opportunity to do it this year, and we'll go from there.
As a final note, here is one of my favourite Christmas songs.  I still like that standard hymns, but this one brings a tear to my eye.  It reminds me of why this time is important to me and why, in the end, I guess I do love Christmas.  Happy Christmas!

On ground water, coat hangers, and a possible solution to Ireland's financial woes.

I was made aware of this from an episode of The Righteous Indignation podcast (ep. 74).  If you visit the Citizens Information website for the Government of Ireland, you can find lots of helpful information on a variety of topics, including drilling for a well if you are in a rural area not connected to a municipal water scheme.  This is the information given for establishing a private water supply:

Private water supplies (groundwater)

If you are not part of a water supply scheme (capital or group), you will have to consider boring your own well and drawing out groundwater to supply your needs. People have used water diviners to find out if there is groundwater beneath their land. However, even if a water diviner can tell you where to dig, he or she will not be able to tell you how deep you will have to drill or how much water you are likely to get. You can get this information from the Geological Survey of Ireland and it is usually free of charge.

You should check out the reputation of the well driller and make sure you get a written contract that specifies the terms and conditions of the drilling agreement before drilling begins. To determine how much water you will need, you should allow 230 litres (50 gallons) of water a day for each person in your household. The requirement for your livestock varies from about 140 litres (30 gallons) a day for a dairy cow to about 20 litres (4 gallons) a day for 100 chickens. You must be sure that your well will be able to provide your daily water needs without going dry. For more advice, you should contact your local authority.

When your well is drilled, you should seal it against pollution and make sure it is disinfected. After a few days, you should send a sample of disinfected water from your well to the local Health Service Executive (HSE) for testing. It will then let you know whether your well water is up to drinking standards. If you find out that your water supply has been polluted by negligence, you should contact your local authority. It can prosecute those responsible under theLocal Government (Water Pollution Act), 1977.

If you're wondering, no, you have not misread anything.  The official site for the Government of Ireland is saying the hiring of a diviner is a valid option when locating water on your property.  It's so very odd!  There is a lot of very useful information here about well dimensions, protection against pollution etc.  In fact, right after they mention divining, they say how you should contact the Geological Survey of Ireland, free of charge, to confirm the findings.  Why wouldn't you just go ahead and do that in the first place?  It's also interesting how they warn property owners to check out the reputation of the well driller.  Strange that such a warning was not extended to the silly man with the coat hangers ambling about your property muttering something about energies.  If the Irish government considers divining as a valid enterprise, it's a wonder why they haven't responded to the current financial troubles by organizing state sponsored hunting parties to locate, capture, and then shake down leprechauns for their gold.

Confessions of a reluctant runner

For those of you who may not know, I run.  I try to get at least two runs in during the week over the lunch hour and I've participated in several running events including Run for the Cure, Gorilla Run, and several half and full marathons.  That being said, I still maintain that I am not a runner, rather I am someone who runs.  There is a difference.  Before I had participated in my first half marathon I told myself that I would not consider call myself a runner until I had participated in a major distance event.  It's been four years, five half and four full marathons since that time, and still I cannot call myself a runner.  There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, I don't believe a actually enjoy running.  I like the feeling that come after the run is done, be it 42km or just 5km.  The feeling afterward is, I'll admit, quite rewarding.  But when I'm on the road slogging it out, it's a real pain in the arse.  Seriously.  You've heard of the runner's high, know that thing that other runners talk about, where at some point during their run the endorphins kick in and they can push beyond the pain.  Yeah, not quite sure if I've ever had the pleasure.  From my own personal experience when I'm doing a distance run, if I start hurting it's with me to the bitter end.  Quite simply, when I head out for a run, regardless of the distance, it's always a chore.

Secondly, I don't really fit into the whole running culture.  I'm not up on the latest gear or training points.  I don't have any running partners or belong to a club.  I don't travel outside of the city to attend running events.  I've never learned how to properly pace myself, eat properly, or train effectively for, I'm sorry to say, the simple fact that I can't be bothered.  I really don't want to put that much effort into the whole enterprise.  When I show up to an event, I hang out by myself and watch as others arrive in two's or more, or if not, I see individuals reconnecting with one another from this club or that.

So, why do I do it?  It's not all that enjoyable.  I don't seem to put in a fraction of the effort that I probably should for maximum results.  I can't be bothered to connect with anyone else in the community.  Why do  run?  Well, for one it's cheap.  All you need is a decent pair of shoes and the rest is decoration.  Also, it's a very portable activity.  I can pack my gear and bring it to work with little effort.  I must admit that while the activity itself can be dull and taxing, I do enjoy the time alone.  I get a lot of thinking done on the trails.  However, when I honestly think of why I run, it is for the simple reason that I can.  A simple statement, yes, but one with some history.

There was a time when running was one of the last things I would consider doing.  Aside from forced runs in Phys. Ed., I wouldn't think of running for my own purposes.  There was a time back in high school when I tried to take up running.  I'm not sure what prompted this decision, but I do remember that I would often head out to work off steam after watching our local hockey club lose.  It was better than punching holes in the wall, I guess.  Anyway, by this point in my life I was starting to really pack on the pounds.  This seemed to have an effect on my ability to go any amount of distance without being out of breath and suffering from shin splints.  I had tried this running thing off and on for a couple of months, but in the end it resulted in disappointment.  It wasn't until years later that, on a whim, I purchased a pair of shoes and tried again.  It was winter and we were in the middle of a deep freeze when I set out for my run; not the optimum conditions to inspire.  To my surprise though, I did alright.  I was winded for sure, but my shins did not hurt the way they did before.  My confidence was bolstered and I wanted to try again.  And again.

So, when I say that I run because it's something I can do, it also means that I run because it's something which I didn't think I would be able to do.  That being said, I remain, not a runner, but simply someone who runs.

Another kick at the craicmonkey!

I'm back.  Again.  Am I more committed.  No.  Is this another pointless attempt.  Most likely.  Since last I posted, I have become quite immersed in the virtual reality that is facebook.  This means a couple of things.  First, I have greatly increased my ability to post ideas across the Interwebs and am more prolific than ever before.  Second, given my increased usage of facebook to communicate my thoughts, I am probably setting myself up for failure by trying to sustain a blog at the same time.  Therefore, I will once again proceed with low expectations and see what happens.  Craicmonkey's Delight.  Limping towards mediocrity since 2005.