Cooking with Blobby

As I said in a previous post, we are picking new recipes so I have something new to prepare for dinner. 

This is the second new dish of 2025. And it is one that will definitely stay in rotation due to its ease and taste. 

We have been growing Thai basil, and honestly, it doesn't fit into non-Thai dishes. So I tried some Thai-lite cooking. 

It actually might not be 'lite' as maybe this is why everything you get at a restaurant comes out quickly. Maybe this is just the way it is. 

Prep is not bad - and cooking takes even less time. It's all about prep and timing for it to come together. Luckily, I thought it through before starting. 

Ingredients 

3 to 4 tablespoons oil  (I forgot it in the above picture) 

3 Thai bird chilies or holland chilies (de-seeded if desired and thinly sliced) 

3 shallots (thinly sliced) 

5 cloves garlic (sliced) 

1 pound ground chicken 

2 teaspoons sugar (or honey) 

2 tablespoons soy sauce 

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon fish sauce 

1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth (or water) . (I used vegetable broth because it's all we had)

1 bunch holy or Thai basil leaves 

Slice, Dice, Chop your shallots, peppers and garlic. Make the sauce (sugar, soy/oyster/fish sauce). Make your rice - or at least start it - before you ever put oil into your pan / wok.  Once that wok is hot, honestly, things comes together in about 5-6 minutes.  .....and you gots ta be ready. 

Instructions 

In a wok over high heat, add the oil, chilies, shallots and garlic, and fry for 1-2 minutes. 

Add the ground chicken and stir-fry for 2 minutes, breaking up the chicken into small bits. 

Add the sugar, soy sauce, and fish sauce. Stir-fry for another minute and deglaze the pan with the broth. Because your pan is over high heat, the liquid should cook off very quickly. 

Add the basil, and stir-fry until wilted. 

Serve over rice.

This did not come out as expected, so I have some takeaways. But it DID come out great. 

1. I used Thai / Finger peppers which are supposed to be hotter than jalapeños. Since they were to be so much hotter, I used two instead of three and deseeded and deribbed them both. Mistake. There was zero heat in the dish. Next time, I'd use three and maybe only deseed/rib one of the three chilis, hopefully to control the heat. 

2. A 'bunch' of Thai basil is not a measurement. You can see what I pulled to use. I'd triple it next time. Easily. 

3. Don't let the liquid completely evaporate, no matter what the recipe said. It makes a good sauce, albeit thin. It could have used something to sink into the rice a bit. 

The only true problem was, for two hearty appetites, this served two. Decent sized portions, but not enough to have true leftovers, so we finished off what was in the pan too. 

It's good and fast enough to tweak to your level of heat, but it is super simple. Getting the skin off the garlic and shallots was the majority of the work. 

Enjoy. 

Slave to Love

Decent picture week - all things considered. 

I even have a few unused ones for later, in case this upcoming week doesn't have a lot of pet pic opportunities. 

It's been pretty cold. Low teens but feeling like single digits. Shep's walks are truncated due to this. 

Simon doing cat things. 

Roxy. Or Roxie. 

She is a standard poodle where I get my car serviced. Like most standard poodles (that I've met anways), she was just a love sponge. She was attached to me when I dropped off and picked up. She got lots and lots of scratches and pets. 

Weirdo. 

Cuddles. 

I took a nap and Shep not only jumped up, but cuddled with me. I. Was. In. Heaven. 

Song by: Roxy Music

In Flames

I honestly don't even know what to say about Los Angeles and their devastating fires. 

The pictures of the fire are so powerful. 

The pictures of the aftermath is just horrific. 

Honestly, it's so apocalyptic no just with hundreds of abandoned cars on Sunset Blvd, but now earth movers plowing through them to make passage for emergency vehicles. 

Seeing pictures of what used to be Malibu or any of the Pacific Palisades is just unfathomable.  16,000 acres per day - so far; gone. 

In the midst of this, home insurance agencies are cancelling plans as the fire rages. I mean, WTF. 

I suppose in this environment, like I've said before, it's gloves off, no one gives a shit because there are no repercussions. 

As with all natural disasters, BLOTUS just had to politicize it. He doesn't have an once of compassion or empathy in his body. I can't say his mind, because, well.........     Still, what a dick. 

And wasn't it he who said he could stop the west's drought with the big faucet in Canada.  (He did - September 13, 2024.). 

I TRIPLE dog dare any reporter to bring that up to him. 

I know very few people anymore in Los Angeles. Five, I think. Three have been accounted for, the other two have been quiet, but I suspect updating people are the least of their worries. 

I know the Santa Ana winds are partially to blame for the intensity of this fire, but fuck, it's not even Southern California's fire season. How can climate change not have some role in this? But we are about to embark on another administration who isn't going to pay heed to that - and actually contribute more to it, so we are fucked. 

Stop praying for these people. Prayers won't help. And it's too late for 9000 homes and businesses already. If you believe in g-d, this is old testament shit, not Jebus will save you. I've yet to see "him" save anyone. 

Song by: Afghan Whigs

Facts

What should be a shock to none, but truth be told was still a little surprised. is that Mark Fucking Zuckerberg is going the way of X and it's fuckard owner - Elon Musk. 

While the image here is LGBTQ+ specific, as it is from GLAAD, the elimination of 'fact-checking' goes far and wide that aren't just queer issues. 

....BTW, Meta has updated it's "hateful conduct' policy to now allow users to say Gay and Trans people have "mental illness". 

This goes beyond the reluctance to check actual facts. It provides users to actually hate. Maybe they need to rename their policy, unless it's just a roadmap for how to hate. Then it's spot on. 

For the record, Meta gave $0 to Biden's inaugural committee. It did give $1,000,000 for BLOTUS'. 

That is not a coincidence. 

Let's be honest. Twitter / X and FB have never been really good, let alone consistent, at checking any fucking fact. But now it's fucking fair game.

For the record, Google, Apple and Amazon have each given $1M to BLOTUS as well. 

It's either they are so fucking afraid of this guy, or it's "fuck it - we can freely hate now and know one can or will hold us accountable". 

At this point, I'm going with the latter. 

Google's mantra: "Don't Be Evil" is fucking hilarious at this point. I have to believe they laugh at this on a daily basis. Just change it already. I'm sure they can use "Fuck You!". 

Maybe this will be the kick in the pants I need to just eliminate FB and IG. It's harder getting rid of Google, isn't it?  Social media is bad for my mental health, so Mark just may get me to help me help myself. 

In the meantime, say whatever the fuck you want about whomever the fuck you want and post it on those platforms. It doesn't sound like they can or will do a thing about it.  Unless your Musk. When he gets butt-hurt, he banishes you from his site. 

What a fucking bunch of snowflakes. 

Song by: H.E.R.

Distraction

.......and this is why it will be difficult for me to continue this blog after the 20th. 

Avoiding all news is impossible. 

Besides seeing the "headlines" of Vonshitshispantz claiming he'll change the name of the Gulf of Mexico, there were other such bullshit things he wouldn't discount, which I won't even start here. 

2016-2020 was not that long ago. And people / critics just have not learned a fucking thing. 

No doubt he would change this if he could - and who knows at this point, as everything is fair game - BUT for fuck's sake people:  it is a distraction for something else. 

Maybe it's so no one will talk about Jimmy Carter's funeral. g-d for-fucking-bid that someone isn't talking about BLOTUS. 

Actually, he probably made the statements because no one IS talking about BLOTUS. They're talking about Musk and only Musk. 

Still - he's up to something. He's always up to something, but probably not the Gulf of Mexico. 

......and see how easily I got sucked into this. Again I cannot continue down this road. 

Song by: Jimmy Eat World

Ad of the Month

With my "fluctuating" weight, belts have become a problem for me. Almost none of them work anymore, unless I want to Louis Braille it and use an awl to make new holes. 

Yes, I know - boo hoo on losing weight, I get it - but I had / have a lot of belts. I get rid of none of them in case my weight goes back up, which I'm assuming it will. 

I think I have the problem fixed with two new belts - one black, one brown - that have no holes whatsoever. It's just a slide and clasp kind of thing. 

They're tricky to open quickly - should you NEED to open quickly. And I'm guessing near impossible for someone else to open, ummm.....should they need to. Or want to, to be more specific.  So, that is the slight downside.

Still if these work out, I can ditch all my other belts and just use these two regardless of how much I gain or lose. 

There is another belt out there. I really don't know much about the Groove Belt, but the ad, to me, hit with a bit of nostalgia.  And humour.

My Music Monday

Whoo-hoo. Newish music. New MMM image. 

I put the "ish" on there because Fontaines D.C. have had a least their current album out for half a year or so. 

I know zilch about them, so I don't know if this their debut or not, but their song "Starburster" has been playing for a while now.  ....but I'm not going with that song. It's ok, but......just ok. 

I settled on "In the Modern World".  I'm really liking the song. It has a total late 80's vibe. 

And I can't say this more clearly:  the song.   NOT the adjoining video. 

I get my conveyance of music here is via video, and it's easy to get caught up in said video. I don't necessarily think this video enhances the music, quite the opposite. 

I read the YouTube comments and apparently the guy in the video is some actor.....blah blah blah. Never heard of him, but that's not unusual. Actually, 90% of the comments reference the actor and not the music. 

The words 'tae kwon do' appear too. I thought it was just rough sex in a car. I still think I'm right. 

But if you're interested in the music, I suggest, hitting play and listening and not watching. Except in the official video there are starts and stops with dialogue in between. Art? maybe but it 100% takes away from the song. 

Of course, now that I wrote that, I'm sure you'll be watching. But I added an audio only 'video' after the official one. 

Baking with Blobby

If I cooked and baked more, I could just turn this into a food blog. I just don't have that much inclination. And baking is something I rarely do, though there seems to be an uptick of it in the last two years. 

We usually have a number of bananas we put in the fridge that have over ripened.

Every now and again, I pull them out to make banana bread, but as you've seen here in previous recipe(s), I'm not a huge fan, but I'm learning to appreciate it all.

But I saw a recipe for Chocolate Banana Muffins and went "hmmmm....."

I mean, I can get behind that, and worse case, it only makes 12. I can alway give them away should no one in the house not like them.  

Truth be told, prep times is super simple, like 5 minutes (even though it looks like a lot of ingredients) and takes little time start to finish.

Ingredients 

Yield: 12 muffins 

1½ cups/192 grams all-purpose flour 

½ cup/47 grams Dutch-processed cocoa powder 

¾ teaspoon baking powder 

½ teaspoon baking soda 

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 

¾ teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) 

½ packed cup/110 grams dark brown sugar 

½ cup/100 grams granulated sugar   (full disclosure: It's not pictured in the blog image - ooops)

2 large eggs 

½ cup grapeseed or vegetable oil 

3 very ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1½ cups) 

¼ cup sour cream 

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 

⅓ cup/58 grams semisweet chocolate chips 

Preparation 

Step 1 Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners  (NOTE: before putting batter in oven DECREASE the temp to 350 !!!)

Step 2 In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. 

Step 3 In a large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, oil, bananas, sour cream and vanilla extract. 

Step 4 Then add the dry ingredients and chocolate chips and, using a flexible spatula, fold them into the wet ingredients by gently scooping some of the mixture from the bottom and folding it over the dry ingredients on top. Rotate the bowl and repeat until no streaks are visible. Do not overmix. 

Step 5 Divide the batter evenly among the liners. Adjust the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. (Make sure you’ve got moist crumbs instead of melted chocolate on the toothpick.) 

Let muffins cool slightly in the pan then transfer to a rack to cool completely. 

Step 6 Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to one month. To reheat, wrap frozen muffins in foil and bake at 350 degrees until warm, about 10 minutes.

710 liked them a lot. Thought they were very moist (the next day). My sister-in-law tried one too, which is kind of huge praise, even if she might not like it - though she did. Her adjective was "rich". 

I didn't have one until day 3. They were still moist - and I swear most of the sweetness came from the ripened banana more than the sugars and chocolate. The cinnamon flavour crept in there ever so slightly. 

I liked them enough to use - eventually - or other frozen bananas into these instead of bread. At least for a while. 

Benjamin

A week of firsts - the first pet post of the new year. 

Holiday walk at the beach. He wanted to go in the water, but ugh, wet sand on a dog in December. 

Always checking his back. 

Benjamin meets Shep. 

Shep was not amused. He was very vocal about Benjamin's presence. Poor Benjamin. 

Tuna water. 

Helping with the gifts. 

710 and I love giving gifts, but we seemingly are self conscious about receiving. So much so that we almost always do gift exchange days after the actual holiday. Shep was more than ready to assist. 

I think he just loves knowing where everyone is, yet at a safe distance. 

Daycare pick-up / flying ears, as he rushes the exit. 

I received a Shep car air-freshener for the holidays. 

A dog air freshener for a car that smells like dog. 

Song by: Tori Amos

Indecisions

I really didn't want to write about running, but it was this or a no post post. 

Even I figured it was too early in the year to have a skip day. So instead, you get a shitty selfie.

New Year's Day, I joined the Old Man Running Group for a first run of 2025. 

I did this last year (well, for 2024) as well, but then I was brand spanking new to that group. This time, I thought I'd know everyone as I have dozens of run with them under my belt.

I did not. 

A lot of folks showed up. People I've never laid eyes on, who clearly only showed up for the food afterwards. I mean, I don't really care, as long as they're paying their dues. 

I'd say I knew about 40% of the folks, the rest were strangers, and most of them didn't run. Maybe they walked. Maybe just stopped to say hi, before heading to the venue that had the food and drink. 

I'm not being a dick about it, but................     After my run, I got to the place only 30 minutes after that portion started and most of the bagels were gone. All of the pastries were gone and not a seat to be had. I should also mention, since I only ran 5 miles, I was one of the first people back from the run. 

I got one bagel and some OJ. They had coffee, but no tea. So, juice was my option. 

But, I ran 5 miles. That's the story, I suppose. And that is how I looked after said run. 

Since being cleared to run, I've run four times, none longer than the five miler.....which I've done thrice. It all felt fine, but I'm really trying not to push it. I ran with a guy who took it another mile, but I turned around. 

And since I clearly feel I can't afford $20, I signed up for half / marathon training again. Prices went up two sawbucks after Jan 1. So, feeling the pressure, at 20:57 on the 31st, I plunked down my money on-line and registered. 

A required registration field includes for which races I'd be training. As I said in my 2024 wrap-up, I have no clue - so I just threw down Glass City (which is Toledo). The half and full training are with the same group, just go different distances on our twice a week runs. I'll have to decide as we go along how far I run and with which group. 

I have a little time to decide. Training doesn't start until month's end, but at least I have schedule in place regardless of which race (if any) I select. My only certainty is I'm not running the Cleveland Full. 

Song by: the Smashing Pumpkins

Cooking with Blobby

I'm not starting out with this just because two of my most popular posts were cooking ones. It just happens I tried something new on NYE to make for 710.  

In theory, it sounded good - duh!, why else would I make it? - and it was ok. I feel I'm missing an element that could elevate the dish. 

710 had to point out to me - again, duh - that I don't normally cook with red meat. That is not untrue. And even when I do, it's ground beef. 

Either way, I'm not used to it, or the intracacies that might come along with that. 

Anyway, I tried making Garlic Butter Steak with Parmesan Cream Sauce. None of this is probably for vegans.  

Ingredients

1 lb (450g) sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized pieces 

Salt and pepper to taste 

2 tbsp (28g) butter 

5 cloves garlic, minced 

1/2 cup (120ml) beef broth 

1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream 

1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese 

Fresh parsley for garnish

Pasta (optional)

All pretty simple. I found it best to mince, cube, pour and grate before ever turning on a burner. Things go pretty quick once cooking begins. 

Instructions

• Season the Steak: Season the steak bites with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook the Steak: In a skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the steak bites and cook them until browned, about 3-4 minutes. Remove the steak from the skillet and set it aside.

• Prepare the Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.

• Make the Sauce: Pour in the beef broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits. 

• Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer until the sauce thickens.

This may have been the problem. The sauce didn't really thicken. That and I probably didn't season the meat enough with salt. 

Return the steak bites to the skillet, coating them in the creamy sauce

Cook the noodles (should you want to serve this dish over pasta or crusty bread), as the package directs. For a change of pace, I used egg noodles instead of more traditional pasta. 

• Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
• 
  

It was all ok. But you know, I strive for better than 'ok'. I thought the meat was a little tough - 710 disagred. I actually salted my food, which I almost never do outside of the cooking process. That helped a bit. 

I still think it was either missing a punch of flavour or the sauce wasn't as thick as I expected / wanted. Or both. 

Our (read: my) is for us to each pick out 5 new recipes we want this upcoming year and for me to try them out - and possibly add to our general rotation. We will see how that goes. 

As we are allegedly moving into a polar vortex mode for the next week or two, I'm guessing hearty soups and such will be on the menu. 

Is This the Beginning of the End?

It seems each time I write one of these things I exclaim my glee for the prior year being over. I suppose in retrospect one of the years had to be better, right? I just swear each year is progressively worse. 

Of course, it could just be me who is more intolerant. Or more fragile.

I get that. I own that. 

2024 was not my year. Physically. Mentally. Psychologically. Politically. Possibly Emotionally. The last one is a lot more stable than the others listed. 

The first three were the focus of my 2024. Those remain for 2025, though I'm not sure how I am going to pull that off. Pharmaceuticals will not doubt continue to take an active role in what are hopefully valiant attempts. 

Politically, we're just fucked. End of story. 

I never have any resolutions. 2025 is no different. 

I have no true goals. To stay sane would be nice. To run a marathon would be great. The last one seems more achievable. 

Physically, I don't think I'm ready for a Spring marathon. Maybe a half. Maybe I'm wrong. 

A full one in the Fall seems more likely. I will apply for the NYC Marathon lottery next month, but I know chances are slim. Still, there are other runs in the Autumn I could take on.

I ran "only" 982 miles in 2024. That was way off my 1,400 target. Yes, I only ran 5 times in the last 15 weeks, so that had something to do with falling short. I'll wait to see how my recovery goes before silently identifying a 2025 mile goal. 

2024 was the year of Eclipses and Northern Lights. I'd only see one of these things. It seems I was one of the 52 people in the Northern Hemisphere not to see the aurora borealis last May.  {sigh}

All that said - let's do the numbers for 2024. 

Number of posts: 367. Leap year, don'cha know, and I blogged twice the day after the election. 

Number of unique page views: 4.45 million.  MILLION!  Last year it was 382,548. Maybe AI is done reading me, blog levels have dropped in the last eight weeks. Higher than previous months, but a lot less than earlier this year.  

Month with most page views: July 2024 with 997,668 !!!

Number of comments: 1,060, which is almost flat of last year. .

Top 5 posts of 2024: In past years it's been almost all pet related. Not this last year. Not even one animal related post. 

• Shoot
• 39
• Cooking with Blobby
• Love Comes Down
• Cooking with Blobby

Two Cooking with Blobby posts in the Top 5. Clearly, you all want me to have my own cooking show on Food TV. I almost guarantee it will be better than Valerie VanHalen's show. Just write the network bosses and tell them you demand this. 

I can't and won't focus on the previous election here. It was traumatic at the very least and on so many levels. 

Which leads me to this blog. 

After the election, I said I wasn't sure I could continue Blobby's Blog after January 20th. I'm still not sure I can. Or will. 

I suppose my quest would be; can I do this blog without writing about politics?  Or do bury my head further in the sand and just post stupid stuff?  Or do I do my pets, music and 'of the month' posts and that's it - which would leave a part time blog. Not daily. 

Honestly, I do not know. 

But since we are toe dipping into politics - since November 5h, have you seen or heard the name JD Vance? I haven't.  Granted, I don't read or watch the news, but I can't avoid all headlines - and he no longer makes them. I'm not sad - it is just super curious......yet it's not. 

Ok, I was off topic. Sorry. 

Anyway - as of today, I'll continue the blog, but it might be a day by day decision starting in three weeks.

I'd like to say "HAPPY 2025", but I fear I can't do that without being Pinocchio. I mean, I wish it for you all, I'm having a tough time thinking it will be. For anyone. 

Song by: Merle Haggard

a Year in Pictures

It's the post that everyone seems to like. Or they're being courteous. It is most likely more a recap for me than you, but it can be both. 

If you've been reading for a while, I try not to use photos I already published in the blog and give you some new images. Now and then, some from FB or IG end up here, but usually not too many. 

Since October was our only travel of the year, it has the most activity. 

January 2024 - the Old Man's Running Group, at the bakery after a Saturday run. 

January 2024 - the year starts out with a bang - weatherwise. 

January 2024 - stunning sunrise. 

January 2024 - wind surfing / skiing at Lake Erie.

January 2024 - Singing in the Rain

I'm still slightly amazed there is a market for this backpack. 

January 2024 - downtown CLE at night with fog. 

You can barely see the Key Tower behind the Terminal Tower. 

February 2024 - Spring Marathon Training Kick-Off

I'm in there somewhere near the tent on the left. 

February 2024 - Planets. 

On Sundays, I run 5.25 miles. This is past signs for the solar system (planets only) which are spaced apart proportionally, of course.  

I tell people I run to Neptune and back. It sounds farther and more impressive than 5.25 miles. 

March 2024 - Sunrise in Rearview Mirror

 

March 2024 - .....because I'm 12. 

March 2024 - I feel that 'Don't Rape' should come first.  And it's a little sad (read: a lot) that a bumper sticker has to remind people NOT to do that. 

March 2024 - same, America. Same. 

March 2024 - Tuesday Training Run. 

My new running bud - Matt. 

March 2024 - first race of the year. Half of a Half Marathon. 

And yes, this pic was taken 5 days after the one above. Welcome to Spring in the 216. 

April 2024 - Get it?   Get it???

April 2024 - Acupuncture. 

On-going chiropractic medicine for my knee and IT bands. 

April 2024 - Solar Eclipse 5k

PR for me; and I took first place in my age group. 

April 2024 - Totality

....not my pic, but from a friend who is a gifted photographer. 

April 2024 - Totality. 

From a shitty photographer: me. 

Still, possibly the coolest thing I've ever seen.

April 2024 - Hermes 10-miler. 

I shaved over eight minutes off last year's race. 

May 2024 - it looks way cooler in mashed potato form.

May 2024 - Cleveland Marathon weekend - 10k. 

I worked the water station. It's good to not always be the runner. 

May 2024 - Cleveland Marathon weekend - 10k. 

Caught this guy running both ways. He ran the entire 6.2 juggling. 

May 2024 - Cleveland Marathon weekend - Marathon Day 

The training team (some of them) ready to head to the starting line for the full or the half. 

May 2024 - Cleveland Marathon.  

This might have been the hardest thing I've ever done.  ....and I've sat through Pitch Perfect 3 !!!

I'm approaching the finish line here - a mix of pain and relief.  Still, look at those calves!

May 2024 - pic-a-nic. 

One of many, as we do them most weekends with Shep. I'm a sucker for a photo-op. 

June 2024 - Global Running Day. 

An untimed 5k.

June 2024 - Ran the inside of the ball field. 

Running Group (not training group) friend, Diane, ran with me. Well, she beat me. 

June 2024 - Sweating blood it was so hot. 

....well that, and a razor blade mishap. 

June 2024 - I mean, who doesn't??

Still cracks me up there was a business model for this sticker - and they manufacture it and sell it. 

June 2024 - Cool Down. 

Shep soaking in Rocky River with his 2nd favourite dad. 

July 2024 - Niagara Falls

.....slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch....

July 2024 - yup, still in Niagara. 

July 2024 - My Bay Days run. Post run, that is. 

July 2024 - Silver.

I came in 2nd place (in my age group) for charity 5k. It wasn't a great performance, but hey....

July 2024 - "Funny" Blobby. 

I went to Columbus and stopped at Walgreens to mock MAGA folks and allegedly shot presidential candidates. 

July 2024 - I was, and I was. 

July 2024 -  To the moon. 

July 2024 - Running with Morty. 

Besides just getting to hang with him, I FINALLY got to run with my running inspiration, my virtual coach and my bestie. He had to be semi-injured for me to keep up with him. 

July 2024 - Studio 35. 

Mr. Pickles. He is real! I'm guessing they cut his scenes in the Hours. 

July 2024 - the Guardian Mile team. 

Save for Bruce (to the left of me), I'm the oldest person on our team. Bruce beat me by two minutes!

August 2024 -Hofbräuhaus 5k, 10k and Half. 

I did the 10k. I PR'd. ....and yes, I had a beer. I had 6 months without a drink under my belt when I gingerly stepped off the wagon for four drinks in July.  ...then one beer at this race.  

August 2024 - St. Theodosius Cathedral - or better known as the church in the Deer Hunter - sustained some major damage due to a fire.  

August 2024 - NOT self-harm.

I look down to see my arm all bloody, but not hurting. Zero idea how I gashed myself. 

August 2024 - mi:nu:ti:ae

My May app of the month. This was the random shot I took when the app prompted me.

August 2024 - Angst. 

Well that's what I call it. But Blobby inserted himself into public art. And why not? 

September 2024 - this poor guy. 

710 and I were watching the airshow and this guy, avec pic-a-nic basket keeps checking this phone, calling, giving directions to where he is, standing up and looking - repeat repeat repeat. 

No one ever showed. At first it was a little humourous, and then a lot of sad. 

September 2024 - still trying to figure out how this got past the BMV. 

September 2024 - maybe it was the year of self-harm. 

Much like my August pic, I have zero idea how I did this. Blood everywhere. 

September 2024 - would find me non-weight bearing for a month. Bother. 

I'd miss a half marathon and a marathon relay in September. And walking. 

October 2024 - Joe was not wrong. 

October 2024 - Basilcello. 

It was very interesting for sure. Courtesy of George.

October 2024 - Kinzua Bridge State Park in PA. 

An F1 tornado took out half the bridge. They've left it there as is, the pieces parts as well. Interesting hike. 

October 2024 - Most Difficult indeed.

710 didn't think the hike was as treacherous as he thinks I am. Still at Kinzua. 

October 2024 - Little Island in NYC.

Great space. Horribly overcrowded. 

October 2024 - Pier 57. 

The rooftop is a full 2 acres, free and relatively unknown. And right next to Little Island. We were two of about 36 people there to watch the sunset. In a way, I'd love to have these two have this image. Maybe they'll come upon it some day. 

October 2024 - NYC. Man about town. 

Just need a top hat and monocle. 

October 2024 - Public Art on the High Line. 

He looks oddly familiar. 

October 2024 - High Line. 

The last portion of the High Line opened and it has a 20 ft pigeon sculpture. It's probably NY's state bird. (I kid!)

October 2024 - High Line art. 

Again, wish I had shared this with the guy who was in the shot. 

October 2024 - the Shed.

Yes, I laughed at the artwork. 

October 2024 - Williamsburg. 

I'm not saying with which of these I agree or disagree.

October 2024 - Highly effective ad. IMO. 

October 2024 - Killjoy. 

October 2024 - New Jersey in one image. 

The heat was so intense, it radiated through our closed car windows two lanes away.

November 2024 - Gym self portrait

November 2024 - the Fall Classic. My first race since August. Only 2nd run since August. 

November 2024 - Turkey Trot. It was fair at best. 

November 2024 - I take it back about what I said in September. 

November 2024 - my eldest niece got engaged. I was the third person she told. 

Can you believe I came after the parents of the couple?  RUDE!

December 2024 - Dry Needling. 

It didn't hurt. Or it didn't hurt me. Others have had other experiences. 

I'm also not sure it helped me, but I'll give anything a try.

December 2024 - Lunch with Friends. 

The middle two are visiting from Australia. Everyone figures travel for the next four years will be difficult if not impossible. 

December 2024 - Bone scan time!

December 2024 - Picasso exhibit. 

It was amazing. 

December 2024 - Holiday Lights. 

I was driving to a Xmas Eve race and saw this tree from a distance at Western Reserve Academy. I actually pulled over to take a pic. I've never seen every branch and twig of a single tree so adorned. 

December 2024 - Frosty Five Miler. 

Weird race. I felt like I was doing horribly. My watch told me otherwise. Obviously, I'm still recovering, but as allowed to run - and while I didn't feel it, the time was pretty good. 

Elle - for the record, I saw six people of colour at this race. Which is six more than there were last. 

December 2024 - great band name. 

December 2024 - Christy Lane at Edgewater Park. 

That is it. It might be my longest Year End in Pics than ever before. And I trimmed out a bunch. 

Welcome to the end of 2024 !   You made it.  We made it.