The End of Summer

Total miles run since entry to NYC marathon/this year: 108.37/430.07
Total miles swam since entry to marathon: 1.38
Total miles biked since entry to marathon: 27.12
Exercise calories burned since entry/this year: 16,318/77,340
Weight: 198.5
Beers in last 24 hours: 0
Total raised towards goal: $4,750

I took that picture on the right back in April when they help an event in Tempe called the Red Bull Flugtag. It's where people make their own human-powered flying machines and try to jump them off a ramp over Town Lake to see how far they can fly. These guys didn't get very far.

It's nice to know that summer is finally winding down. You can see it in the way the light has changed – it's not as harsh, and it's getting darker earlier. The heat is slowly losing its grip on the desert. Soon, we will be able to breathe outside again midday, without having to run for shade, or some air-conditioned building.

I've really made a recommitment to my training ... I realize now that this will probably be the last marathon that I do for quite some time. The running is take a toll on my knees, and my head – I don't know how some people race again and again and again – it's mentally challenging.

On the political front, the people of Arizona continue to interest me. As many of you may know, Arizona is largely a red state, but it is a red state that very much believes in individual freedoms. About a year ago, pornographic actress Jenna Jameson purchased several strip clubs in the well-to-do city of Scottsdale. The city responded by passing a law that banned lap dances – assuming, likely, that their older, family-orientated, conservative voter base would approve. Well, Jameson and the owners of other strip clubs challenged the city's vote (something you can do in Arizona by gathering a certain number of petition signatures, thus forcing the city council's vote to either be approved and rejected by city voters in a citywide election). Wouldn't you know, city voters (on primary day nonetheless) told the city council to go stick it – and allowed lap dances to continue in the city's boundaries. Don't think many people saw that coming ...

There weren't many other surprises in the elections here ... the only surprise to me is that I'm still up. I need to get some sleep now.

Talk to you soon. – Ed