This week I have set a PR in a few areas. I know that this is not as big as a WR or an OR but big to me none the less.

1. This is the 18th post for October. This makes it my most posted month. I am really getting into the blogging thing and enjoying it. Someone should’ve thought of this a few years ago.

2. I ran a 5k in 26:50 last Saturday. This is 40 seconds faster than my previous PR for a 5k and on a very difficult and hilly course. I think a sub 26 minute 5k is possible very soon. I also ran the first mile in 7:47 which is over a minute faster than I have ran any mile in a 5k. All around a good day even though I had to walk some of the final hill.

Today is one of those hard days to deal with. I have had very few occasions where someone’s death has been close enough that is has truly affected me. The last time this happened was when my friend, Josh Dingler, died serving his country in Iraq (another reason we should not run from Iraq like Obama thinks we should). I remember trying to drive home after I got the call and having to pull off to the side of the road.

Yesterday, Brandon Craig passed 2+ years after an auto accident that should have killed him back then. Brandon was not a close friend and I barely even knew him. But, he was my sister-in-laws brother so that makes it personal. Steph is one of my running buddies as is her sister Stacey. I will be thinking and praying for you guys.

I go to a “mobile church”. This is not a denomination like Baptist, Methodist, or PCA. Instead it means that we unload our church stuff from a truck each Sunday morning and pack it back in the truck at the end of the day. Kenny is our truck. Kenny decided to call in sick this past Sunday. I knew it was bad when I pulled up at 7:00 and they were unloading stuff from car trunks and any other vehicle that could be used. Despite Kenny church went smoothly and we were able to complete setup and be ready on-time for the 9:30 service.

I have to say though that I get the priviledge to work with some awesome people over at Freedom Church. Even with Kenny not showing up for the first time since the church started, everyone pulled together and got the job done. Even better… I did not hear a single complaint all day even though tear down took about an hour longer than normal. Great job everyone!!

It’s been a whirlwind couple of days to say the least. Last Friday I left for a visit to the in-laws in Indiana and at 9:30 last night I returned from Las Vegas. Both trips went well and much was accomplished. Sunday after church I leave for Pensacola where I will spend a week helping my parents with their daycare center. That give me 2 days to catch up before being gone again.

For those keeping up… the meeting I did not have in Las Vegas went well. That’s all I have (and can) say about that!!

The hotel had a nice fitness center so I got to run while out there. I did 4.2 miles on Monday in 35 minutes and 4.6 miles on Tuesday in 40 minutes. I also hit 25:34 for the first 3.1 miles (5k) on Monday.

So, I am in Las Vegas meeting with people that I cannot name concerning a project that I can’t talk about. In fact, forget I am in Vegas at all since I can’t talk about it.

This is my fourth trip to Vegas this year and the town never gets any less… let’s say… “interesting”. It is midnight here as I type this and I have just returned to my hotel. For this trip I am not staying at my usual hotel because this one was closer to the people that I wasn’t here to meet with. Anyway, I came in a different door than I usually do and got a little turned around trying to pick my way through the casino to the hotel rooms. As I rounded the corner I must’ve looked a little lost because off to my left I heard, “Where ya headed honey?” I turned my head and nearly screamed in fright at the “lady of the night” standing by a slot machine. She was at least 6 feet tall, 95 pounds, and probably older than my mom. I was so startled that the only clever comment I could muster was, “This way” and walked off. I guess I can mark #9,999,999 off my bucket list now — be solicited in a surprise attack by a random hooker!!

P.S. That was not really on my bucket list in case there was any doubt.