Earth Day Half Marathon

Last Saturday, I went up to St. Cloud and ran a half marathon.

They had photographers stationed at various points along the half and 20 mile routes. When I read about that in the pre-race info and saw what they wanted for a single digital photograph, I went, "Pfft, whatever, I'm not paying $$$s for that; I'll arm Pete with the point & shoot instead." Now, don't get me wrong. Pete did a nice job with the point & shoot and got several good shots, including the one I'm currently using for my profile over at Facebook. But post-race, they sent out the obligatory "Photos are now available!" email, and of course I went into their site to check it out, and...Oh. I really, really, really liked this one. I look all serious and runnerly and toned and fit and strong...



So, I bought it. Because I am a sucker.

My next event (another half marathon! because not only am I a sucker; I am c.r.a.z.y., crazy!) is May 24th, and I swear, this time, I will not buy any pictures, no, no, no. No matter how made-of-awesome I look. No.

Fire!

We had some excitement here last night.

A large brush fire kept crews from multiple Dakota County agencies occupied for nearly three hours Monday evening by the river bottoms near Interstate 494 and Minnesota 13 in Eagan. Emergency services received initial calls at 4:15 p.m., according to 911 dispatchers at the Dakota Communications Center. Crews put the blaze out by 7 p.m. No cause was immediately reported.

Here's how it looked from our living room window. As always, click on the picture to see the large size.



At the worst of it, the fires were spread out in a line that was almost parallel to I-494 there in the background. It was impressive, especially when the wind gusted and sent the flames roaring up. But did I get any pictures at that point? Nooo, because I was too busy picking my jaw up off the floor -- and wondering uneasily if maybe I should get a few Important things ready to grab and go -- to even remember that I had a camera. (Perhaps I should cross "photojournalism" off my list of potential careers.)



It was almost out by this point.



Shortly after this shot, it was all over.



Things still smell a bit smoky this morning and I'm sure that the critters that live down there are none too pleased about this, but the affected area is a relatively tiny portion of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and no one was hurt. Whatever the cause*, it could have been a lot worse. That storm they predicted has started in earnest, otherwise I'd be tromping down there this morning to check it out up close. Perhaps tomorrow.


*My money's on some idiot out for a hike who chucked a cigarette butt into the brush.

More fun with flowers in the early morning light

They're all done blooming now (and looking sad and pathetic), but it was fun while it lasted. And my own flowers should be starting to come up soon...I hope...

BSG series finale

Mostly, I liked it. I didn't love it, and there was too much deus ex machina for my taste, but overall, it was okay.

Starbuck's ending, though? Without going into spoiler-y details, that was a major fail for me. All this angst and who am I, what am I...for that? Grrr. Argh. Grrr.

If you watch BSG and disagree, tell me why I'm wrong in the comments. Convince me. Make me LOVE this character's ending. I double dog dare you.

***WARNING: COMMENTS CONTAIN SPOILERS***

Hungry for color

The snow's almost all gone (for the moment; here's hoping that we don't get another winter blast), but everything's brown and dreary.

Fortunately, while I wait for the real thing, I can have a little bit of spring inside.



That'll do.