I am on night 2 of my 3 day “midwest tour”. I have been doing some training for “the company” so I met with our Madison staff yesterday. I spent the night with Mom and Dad in Pecatonica. That was nice, since it hasn’t been just the 3 of us in 26 years (smile).

This morning I drove to our Waterloo station and saw an area of the midwest I had never seen before. Highway 20 between Rockford and Dubuque is some beautiful country. The area around Galena has some beautiful hills and scenic overlooks. Once I hit the Mississippi, it really changed.

Contrary to popular belief, Iowa has some beautiful country. Just not on Highway 20 between Illinois and I-35. I saw a lot of corn.

I am staying in Des Moines tonight, and head for home after my meeting tomorrow.

Whoops. I can’t find my login information for this blog. It looks like I will not be able to post anything today. Hopefully I will find it by tomorrow

CB

Be careful what you say about people you don’t think are watching.

I did a random web-search on my company name. As the chief web guy at work, I have taken that on as my unofficial responsibility. I like to see where else our brand is being mentioned on the web. Usually it is just fine.

Most of the time I find it on a church website with links to other local minstries. That’s cool. We like that.

Last night, however, I found it mentioned a few times on someone’s blog. There was nothing too bad really. But as I read on, I realized this was one of my co-workers. I have only met this guy once. He tends to work late nights on the weekend. But there were comments about how boring the overnight is, how the music is putting him to sleep, how the morning guy plays his music too loud, and things like that.

What makes it funny is that he is probably blogging with the same intentions I am. Just as a place for family and friends to catch up on what is going on in his life. I am sure he didn’t plan on having a coworker “stumble” on the site.

I think it will be a while before I say anything. I think I will have a little fun with it.

But that is why, from here on out, you will always here me refer to my place of employment as “the company”.

CB

I decided to try running. Not a lot at first, but enought for me to have something to work off of. I am putting in about 3/4 of a mile running and 1/4 walking it off, each night.

I would love to be able to work up to a 5k by next summer, but who knows what the winter will look like.

My neighbor said running, to him, is like breathing. To me it is the opposite. Running, for me, does everything it can to keep me from breathing.

When I lift weights, I try to add a little each time to make me stronger. Running, if it works as it should, will do the opposite. I should be taking a little weight off each time.

Ask me, in a few months, if I am still doing it.

It has been a busy few weeks with preparation for the Twin Cities festival. Now that I have more time, I am hoping to pick up these musings again!.

July was busy, but I am hoping to relax a bit more in August. I only have 2 out of town trips to make. Other than that, I should actually get to see my family again!

Nice!