Archive for the ‘Fun’ Category

Music + Friends + Running = Fun

Posted 23 Jul 2007 — by nick
Category Creation, Fun, Movies, music, Running

It’s been a bit since I last posted. Odd how compelled I feel to apologize and explain how life has been busy – only that would seem to imply I have points of non-busyness. It’s been quite the norm as of late though, packed days, long hours at work, early morning running – all along the list of people to catch-up with and things on the backburner boiling over. I just returned from Wilderness LT and I feel like I need another vacation. This weekend served as a bit of a break. I can’t remember the last time I got to work on a Monday and thought “that was a really fun weekend!”


On Friday Chris, Marla and I went to Mike and Molly’s to see Elsinore play – tangent: These guys are awesome, great song writing, great vocals, original style and feel. You should buy their CD Nothing for Design on iTunes and Ryan Groff Solo CD People In The Midwest from Parasol.

On Saturday I got up extra early and joined the Buffalo – the trail running group of Second Wind Running Club. Marla has been inviting me out to run with them for over a year now, figured I’d finally take her up on the offer. We did a 10 mile loop around Lake Clinton. It was a beautiful morning, the temperature cool, the shade nice, and the trail clean. That evening there was a going away party for a friend who is moving back to Taiwan and then I caught up with some friends at Cowboy Monkey for a bit.

Early Sunday morning Darren, Marla and I joined the Second Wind fall marathoners for a long training run. Feeling a little beaten up by the trails the previous day I only did 11 miles instead of the planned 16. The remainder of the day was relaxing, some dinner and watched The Last King of Scotland. I fell asleep last night with a smile on my face – good music, good friends, good running.

More xkcd Comics

Posted 13 Jun 2007 — by nick
Category Blogs, Fun

I’ve been writing a lot lately to prepare for my talk at i-life summer church tonight. Eventually I’ll post here on the talk and maybe even get a link to the audio. For right now I thought this was fun:


Complements of xkcd.com

Ready… Set… Start Marathon Training

Posted 04 Jun 2007 — by nick
Category Fun, Running, Spirituality

I’ve been signed up for the Chicago Marathon for awhile now. I was lucky this year and got in before registration filled up. Race day is October 7th, which, if I can still count to 18, means I need to start training this week. My training thus far has involved eating a lot of cookies, playing Nintendo Wii and watching movies – a very rigorous schedule. These coming weeks are guaranteed to be painful, tiring and tons of fun. Let me know if you want to join me for a run at any point or for any portion of a run.

Running has been a great release for me in recent years – a way for me to clear my head and get alone and think. As the road stretches out before me and the miles pile up behind I find myself drifting in and out of conversation with God. At times it seems easier to pray when I’m running than at any other point of the day. I welcome the spiritual renewal that has traditionally come with training.

Here are some pics chris took last year when I ran Chicago.

Marathon History:
2005 Indianapolis Marathon 3:52:19
2006 Chicago Marathon 3:44:00
2007 Chicago Marathon 3:3-:– (Hopefully)

A Guilty Pleasure

Posted 29 May 2007 — by nick
Category Fun, Television

So there is this show that a lot of early teens watched. It’s so clever and witty with world class writing and not cheese at all. In fact one might even say it’s gonna be a defining classic of this generation. It’s so real and accessible, so much like real life it’s scary.

I started watching it this weekend. Starting for the beginning, the pilot episode.

Wondering what it is?


OK, so all that stuff I said about it isn’t true. But it’s still addicting like any teen soap opera should be. Plus watching Seth feels like watching my life. I’m coming to grips with the fact that not all that I consume in the way of entertainment needs to be deep, thoughtful, or even intelligent – and The OC fits there.

Fortune Cookie

Posted 21 May 2007 — by nick
Category Fun


A couple Fridays ago some friends and I went to a Chinese Buffet for dinner. It was fun despite the fact that I couldn’t eat most of the food there – boo on non-vegetarian friendly restaurants. I thought I’d share my fortune with you it’s super deep and insightful:

“You are the mast of everything situation”

Yay, Illinois!

Posted 18 May 2007 — by nick
Category Fun, News, Podcasts

Welp apparently Illinois is the most average of all the states. Average in racial makeup, slightly above average in income and urban-ness. But alas the good old Illinois… just average. The least average is West Virginia.

NPR: Story of the Day

Music, Music, Music

Posted 15 May 2007 — by nick
Category Fun, music, Poetry

When I have nothing better to post about I decide to post on albums that are getting lots of playtime. The time is such.

Eyes Open by Snow Patrol
I continue to find it surprising that I’m listening to this first album so much – surprising because I might label it more mainstream-pop-music-ish than anything else I typically listen too. Maybe it’s the melancholy that has been visiting me for quite sometime now. Maybe it’s the brit-pop-rock. Maybe it’s the foot tapping bass beat. Or just the way it sounds blasting in my VW. I have enjoyed the composition of this album – one song flowing into the next, telling the over dramatic story of love desired and love lost. With lines that shock my heart into worship, lines like “I need your grace, to remind me, to find my own”

Favorite Tracks: Chasing Cars, Open Your Eyes

The Ringing Bell by Derek Webb
Derek continues to stir up controversy and break the Christian Music mold with politically provocative songs like “A Savior On Capitol Hill”. “Come on D.C. if it be thy will, because we’ve never had a savior on capitol hill” The electric/rock feel of the CD is reminiscent of Mockingbird, with subtle breaks where he reverts to an almost early Caedmon’s guitar and vocals feel lamenting about love, grace and God. The album runs a thoughtful, lyricful packed 30 minutes, leaving me wishing for more. Well worth the money. If you have the graphic novel and would be willing to loan it out… I’d love you.

Favorite Tracks: I Don’t Want to Fight, This Too Shall Be Made Right
Bonus: check out www.noisetrade.com and www.squarepegalliance.com both Derek related projects.

Oh yeah and if you’re a Wilco fan, Go buy their new album right now. I’m holding off on reviewing it until I’ve listened through it a couple times.

Small Talk… It’s so awkward

Posted 28 Apr 2007 — by nick
Category Blogs, Fun, Technology


+10 nerd points to wondra for posting xkcd comics on his blog, causing me to waste over an hour chuckling at nerdtastic jokes.

Global Internet NOC Page

Posted 20 Apr 2007 — by nick
Category Blogs, Fun, Technology

Incase you notice your internets are down or slow you can check the Global Internet Status Page complete with a blog:

Skittles Commercial

Posted 12 Apr 2007 — by nick
Category Fun, Technology, Videos

I saw this commercial tonight and it caught me off guard – pretty sure I laughed through the entire next commercial slot.

enjoy!