Michael: We're Not Stimulated

 Fantasies of you

Are extraordinary.

The flesh is a web.

Friday, April 17, 2020



We were not fortunate enough to receive a stimulus check on Wednesday. I thought we would because we’ve been doing direct transactions with the IRS for a few years. But, the catch is, those weren’t direct deposits. We’ve owed taxes so we’ve had money transferred to the IRS. Apparently that’s not good enough to work the other way around with the stimulus so we’ve got to wait for checks.



To be on the safe side I decided to check what mailing address we have on file as we’ve moved several times over the past few years. The address on file hits the mark as far as the city goes, but for some lazy reason on my part it’s not even close as far as any other aspect of our address.



So to google and the IRS website I go. It seems the only way to correct this error is to file our 2019 taxes and hope they go through before the checks go out. We’ll do that today.



The irony of this is, because of the vanity of President, we may actually be able to file in time and receive our stimulus checks faster than if he hadn’t decided to hold those checks up until he could get his signature on them.



That petty move to attach his signature and the hold up it causes for so many in need will just serve as a reminder as one of the many reasons he needs to be voted out of office. But in our case, it may work to expedite our getting the stimulus check.

Michael: The Catch

The Catch

The catch

Is a jab in the brush

That almost

Always fails.



But not this time.



This time

Time is life

Clamped

In the jaws

Of the hunter.

The hunter

That never fails forever.

Michael: PSA

 The dark blue rhythms

Of winds, gray clouds and mist move

Within the shadows.


 Friday, April 10, 2020


Though some may feel we’re getting over the hump of this pandemic, I’m a bit more cynical and can see an ever progressing series of celebrity PSAs as we spiral deeper into this crises.



They started with the smiling and gentle admonitions to stay indoors; “Remember, we’re all in this together.”



But I can see it coming to the point where certain celebrities will be screaming at us; “Damned you M.Fers! By the time you think about robbing my house, I’ll have shot a hole in your head. Keep the F away from me. keep more than your sorry assed social distance away from me! If I even see you flinch in my direction you’ll pray you had the virus. Ventilator; F that. I’ll ventilator your G.D. chest wide open!”

Michael: Ten Minutes After the Candle's Out

Ten Minutes After the Candle’s Out



The dark lines

Of

fingertips

Reach out

to touch

The dream

Of you -

Lines

That curve

And sway

Then fade

Into the mist

Of

Tired eyes.

Michael: Let's Not Get Back to Normal

 A simple crossing

Can be an adventurous

And worthwhile journey.

 Tuesday, April 7, 2020



Almost continuously there’s been talk about when we’ll get back to normal.

But what if normal’s not what where our aspirations should lead us?



In at least three areas I can think of, and I’m sure many people smarter than I can think of more, we need to strive for much different than the old normal.



Immediately, and on the top of the list is health care. Covid has laid bare the necessity of universal coverage while simultaneously exposing many of the absurdities of our present Alice in Wonderland approach. So now if I come down with the virus I’ll be tested for free and maybe treated for free as well, but in the future, whether it’s Covid, or cancer, or something else, then we go back to the old ways of those who are blessed financially are also blessed with healthcare?



It’s as if when we’re all stuck in the life boat and depend on each other so we all don’t get sick, it’s vital that I take an interest and contribute to your health. But when land’s in sight, the hell with the sick; shove them overboard and wish them luck.



Also, and once again in very recent history, the lie of the invisible hand of the free market has been exposed for the fallacy it’s always been. Bam! A significant financial downturn occurs and big businesses, like George Costanza leaving a smoking house, shoves the poor and other small folks out of the way to seek the safety of a Government bailout. But that isn’t the biggest lie. That would be that even long before this naked exposure of favoritism, government and businesses have always worked hand in hand in stacking the deck in favor of those holding the most cards in our supposedly free market economy. That needs to change. How exactly, I couldn’t say, but surely there’s a more humane and equitable way to distribute resources, priorities and influence.



And though this may not rank as a global dilemma, it keeps hitting me every time I hear Trump mention Obama that many of his statements are a knee jerk reaction to his racism and how he flinches at the thought that an African American was ever a president. And sadly that many people in this country either are either willing to look the other way or promote this line of thinking. And that this has led both directly and indirectly to decisions that have cost thousands their lives needs to be talked about openly and discussed how we restructure our institutions to remedy this.  

Michael: Nathan's

 Lone wolf images

Are both nightmares and wishes

Coming after me. 

 Sunday, April 5, 2020



Competitions are bizarre primordial throwbacks, and I’m not saying that as one of those supposedly noncompetitive snobs. I compete. I enjoy it. I miss it, particularly now as one by one my races are being cancelled or postponed.



So when I glance through the news changes such as the Olympics and Wimbledon catch my eye. It surprises me, but doesn’t throw me off like it would’ve when I was a kid following my favorite teams and players. Although I’m still a fairly active competitor, I’m not the fan I use to be. Perhaps that’s narcissistic. I’d rather think of it as evolutionary.



But this morning’s glance really gave me a good belly roll as to how ridiculous competition can be when I saw that Nathan’s hot dog competition is possibly being cancelled. I suppose in the realm of “competition” it’s format isn’t really any more bizarre or humorous than most. And reading about superstar’s trades, contracts, and other insignificant changes while the world spirals into hell is just about as other worldy.



But I suppose we’ll know for sure that we’ve returned to normalcy when I glance through the news and see that Nathan’s is back on.  

Michael: The Razor

A reptilian

Performance of dominance;

Counting their push ups.

 Wednesday, March 31, 2020



Today we were able to sneak out and run in Point Magu State Park using a top secret entry. No one was out on the trail though a helicopter conspicuously hung around for while.



But since the copter didn’t bull horn me, strafe me, or try to tear gas me, maybe I was just being paranoid as to it’s seemingly long proximity to my meanderings.



Not only was it great to have some trail all to myself, it was topped off by my being able to test drive my first new piece of trail gear of the year; the Montane Evo Razor 15.



This is by far the most comfortable by volume pack I’ve ever worn. I qualify by volume because I once ran in a Nathan Vapor Air 4 liter pack with just two small flasks and that was great.  But there are probably a lot of small packs that carried nearly empty would feel comfortable.



The Razor, on the other hand, is a monster in comparison with a volume of 15 liters. But it’s so comfortable, in a pinch, I could see getting away with it even in short races. I won’t, but if I could only have one pack for all that I do, this would be the pack.



What sets it apart is volume + comfort + well thought out design features. At 15 liters and with the two rear pockets, large side stash pockets,  large chest pockets, and shock cord, I’m sure I can happily use this for three day summer fastpack excursions.



And what makes it so comfortable predominantly is the lower large Velcro strap that sits across the lower ribs. This strap is so much wider and more secure than I’ve seen on other packs. It’s snug yet breathes.



On long training runs it could hold a two liter bladder along with a liter up front split between two flasks. That’s a good 4 hours in anything but midday summer heat.



There’s only two downsides and they’re both minor annoyances, but if Montane upgrades this pack they’d be pretty smart to make these adjustments.



One is the lack of a waterproof/resistant phone pouch upfront. They could easily make this modification with the zippered pouch that’s already there to hold one of the flasks. I’ve improvised a waterproof backing my storing my small travel wallet in a zip-lock against my chest then putting the phone in. An easy compromise, but when so many companies have a dedicated phone pocket, a little waterproofing in the Razor should’ve been a no brainer.



Secondly, like many packs designed as with a universal bladder pouch, the lack of a specific volume bladder design leads to room for a little movement of the bladder. This is minimized by the pull cord being tightened, but for such a great pack I think it would be wiser to create a slimmer pouch specifically designed for a two liter bladder. The trade off might deter a few who like using other sizes but it would make this pack as close to perfection as a wide use pack.



I haven’t used this alone with just the flask up front, or fully loaded on a three day trip yet. But as soon as I know it’ll be reasonably certain that I’ll be able to come back into some semblance of civilization after being out there for a few days, I’ll give it a go.