Pete Nickeas

I think that this is the last nice weekend we’re going to have this year.

They’re calling for snow in the “lower” elevations of this county (I think that’s us) sometime next week and while it’s supposed to be gorgeous tomorrow afternoon and Sunday afternoon, it’s still getting into the low-30s overnight.

I’m still really excited for Thanksgiving since my two little brothers are flying in from North Carolina, where they’re stationed (2nd Marine Division). Mike just had laser surgery on his eye, so he’s chilling for the next couple weeks I guess. It will be nice to see some familiar places.

I finished “Great Expectations” today, which was mildly disappointing (ironic?) and I began “Team of Rivals,” which, 25 pages in, is amazing. That book will probably take in the 40-50 hour range to read, and as it cools off I’ll have more and more time.

I forced myself to run today, and I didn’t want to really. But, as there’s only a handful of good weather days left, I thought it prudent to take advantage of the weather. I’m going to run tomorrow morning and probably Sunday morning and then I’ll have to start doing different stuff once winter gets here. I haven’t ran in the winter before.

Our finances are kinda tight right now. This concerns me. I want to go out and buy a few candles, maybe some type of something to make this place feel more like home but we’re strapped for cash right now. I think a second job is in the very near future, because our combined incomes just aren’t cutting it.

Stay tuned.

I’ve covered parts of the North Platte River for work - a free bridge, long-range planning, and free money.

Today was actually the first time Erin & I really tried to take in the scenery. We ran from point A to point B on this map but along the river instead of along the road. About two miles, and we kept a 10 minute / mile pace despite the last quarter mile (by my estimation) being uphill, which is good.

Getting up that hill was great, because the view above the river just keeps getting better and better. We walked the two miles back and detoured to a hill to the north of the river (we were running a path halfway between the hilltop and the shore) and got a great view of Casper. I wish I had a camera, because it was really something else.

We’re going to hike this weekend and there will definitely be pictures. When we went up the mountain yesterday, there wasn’t a ton of good views but we didn’t venture around the trails much. More just scoping the place out.

In other news …

This giant zucchini will be turned into two types of cookies and three types of bread over the next day or two, and half of it is going to Jake, since he hooked it up with lots of vegetables.

We cooked a lot this weekend too, and I was surprised how well grilling went Saturday night. Grilled chicken, barbecue chicken, burgers, plus Erin made crab Rangoon type pastries and there was beverages to be had.

So, we’ve got leftovers for most of the week and Erin’s making bread.

And, I bent the shoe horn I have. Who knew those things could bend?

I can’t reiterate how much “Cristo Redentor” is an important piece of music.

It’s a sad, down-trodden type song but such a wonderful expression of feelings. I feel ignorant about music when I listen to the song because of how much depth there is to it.

And maybe some music snob may disagree but damnit this song is smooth.

When I feel bummy, this song doesn’t actually make me feel better but I do feel as if I’ve got some emotion out of me through the song. It’s the same way with the Tupac songs where you can tell he’s drunk and high just letting the emotion out.

Sometimes, it’s better without words.

Runner blog, days 1 & 2:
I had a shitty day Tuesday so I didn’t run. But the last couple have been good. HELL YEA

I worked a bunch today, but I expected that. City council meets on Tuesdays.

BUT I backed the truck into a councilman’s moped, which I didn’t see because my tailgate’s height is higher than the height of said moped.

The councilman was fine, but the cop thought it warranted a $110 ticket.

And I didn’t run … I came home to run between lunch and the council meeting but tried to nap instead, and instead of running after work, I ate dinner and I’m going to crash.

DAMNIT

There was a slow, dull realization yesterday that it could very well be ten years before Erin and I can purchase a home.

Reporters don’t make a lot. Of anything. Money included. Plus, Erin and I owe a lot of people a lot of money. Student loans are going to be around forever and we do have a wee bit of credit card debt, plus a wedding on the horizon.

Anyway, it hit me yesterday that the apartment we’re in is where we’re going to be for awhile, and there’s no chance that we’re going to own our own home anytime soon. At least not with our current jobs.

So, we’re going to make this place feel like home. We never really, really did that in Springfield. It felt like home because we bought bookshelves and cleaned the place and made it not look like a dorm room.
But yesterday, we spent 200 bucks at Menards on a drill, hammer, a couple levels, and some shelves.

I put them together this morning, since the drill battery had to charge for like 9 hours. The two brackets are drilled into studs (which were a bitch to find since apparently they aren’t every 16 or 18 inches, which I thought they would be) and the shelves themselves are movable.

They’re quite nice, super sturdy, and solve our space-problem since the kitchen is a cleaner and more organized place now.

Plus, it’s a good party set up. Little stereo, alcohol and nice glasses all within reaching distance of two chairs, plus coffee and tea above. That’s the food processor and related attachments on the bottom shelf.

And that’s just the beginning … we’re going to be hanging photos and probably a few more shelves throughout the apartment. If we’re going to be in this building for awhile it makes sense for us to install high-quality, removable shelving that can be carted with us to wherever we end up.

Oh! Almost forgot the runner blog.

Runner Blog days 12 and 13:
Yesterday, Erin and I ran about 2 miles and then walked 1.4. We ran this trail by us, and it’s 1.7 miles from our house to the trail and then to the end of the trail, so we ran to the end and part of the way back. It’s definitely the farthest we’ve ran together but it was largely on flat ground, which I’m sure made it easier.

Anyway, there’s a 5k run in Casper in November (Turkey Trot?) that we’re going to do. 3.4 is more than 5K I think so if we keep running until we can do the 5k and then just try to be faster … I mean, we can get that done before November. So that’s the new goal. We’re just going to keep running until we can’t run and just turn around and walk home.

Today was day 13, and I ran alone. Erin wasn’t feeling up to it, so I did the hills and made sure to push myself for the last 3/10ths of a mile after keeping a pretty steady pace to that point. We’re getting a stop watch soon so we’ll actually be able to start timing ourselves.

Also, it wasn’t more than 60 degrees outside when I was running … and it further proved to me that running when it’s not 90 degrees is easier.

Runner Blog:
Day 9 was good. Got home late from work and ran without Erin because she wasn’t feeling really well and realized how much of a difference it makes running when it’s cool.

I really enjoy running when it’s hot out because the sun feels good and all that but it’s a lot easier running at night. The air is cooler, obviously, but it isn’t so dry.

Day 10 wasn’t an “off-day” but I didn’t get home until really late, so running was just so I could tell myself I didn’t skip a day. I was burnt from work and it wasn’t really a good run. Actually, we probably walked close to a quarter of the route.

Day 11, I realized that even on off-days we’re still running longer routes without having to stop.

I think later today we’re going to run as far as we can and when we get tired of running, turn around and walk home. We’ll see how long we can keep it up for.

And I always know when he leaves a voicemail there’s going to be at least 16 bars of some shit he just wrote.

I can’t think of a time he left me a voicemail without rapping. And I can’t think of a time he left me a voicemail that had a refined verse.

But it’s always good shit because it’s always fresh. And sometimes it’s random-ass voicemail raps, like, rapping about what he actually meant to call me about. Then other times he calls me with an unpolished verse and it’s great because you just get 16 bars acapella. Good shit all around, for real.

It’s actually inspiring to hear someone who’s still raps like they’re hungry. And it’s not like he needs to do it, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t gotten rich off of hip-hop.

Anyway, I’m supposed to call you back Cojack. My bad for not doing so. I’ll give you a call tomorrow probably.

Runner Blog Day 8:
We ran the hills today instead of the distance, which was good. That was Erin’s call.

We ran it all the way through again, like yesterday, which is good.

My Aunt (dad’s brother’s wife) commented on the last post. Apparently she’s running a half marathon. I’m not even close to that point yet!

In time though. In time.

And I’m kinda tired.

I was actually worried when I got to work this morning about what I was going to do for stories this week. Of course, that lasted about fifteen minutes.

Here is a summary of what’s been going on at work. And I’ve got a couple good stories for tomorrow, so HELL YEA!

Runner Blog Day 7:
Erin and I agreed after a brief conversation that we should alternate days on the routes we run. Today, we ran the route that’s shorter but it’s got a lot of hills and you can feel it in your muscles more. Tomorrow will be the longer route that’s more of an endurance test than anything.

We usually run our route then walk a lap around our apartment complex - I would estimate that lap to be about 1/5th of a mile. Maybe 1/4. Anyway, we’re going to run far, and when we feel like we’re getting too far, divert ourselves back towards the apartment complex then run till fatigue. Then we’ll walk a little bit, run til fatigue again, and then walk home. That way, we’ll still get a “cool-down” at the end.

At some point when our legs are stronger and we don’t have to worry about our ability to run, and it’s just a cardio challenge, we’ll start running for time and time only. We’re still at a point though where we’re figuring out our physical capabilities and seeing where we stand.

I did feel great today though. Only 1.2 miles but we ran it through and without too much of a work out. I was a little sore during the run but it’s only because I’m out of shape.

I didn’t do laundry. I didn’t clean too much, but I did a little. I did catch up on sleep, I worked for an hour and a half, and I helped Erin a little with dinner. Plus, a full blog post. We also went grocery/utensil shopping (combined 65 bucks - cooling racks, pizza pan, zester, pour bottles for oils and such, plus food!), and I cooked green chile. Not too shabby! I’m hoping for some Xbox time tonight, too, then perhaps some reading before bed.

Runner Blog Day 5:
I didn’t run with Erin and but I did run farther than the day before, so that’s good. I’ve got to learn to pace myself. I was wiped after a mile.

I figure, I’ve got to get used to running alone because Erin’s not with me on this whole “run for 30 days thing and see where it goes,” which I’m cool with. I’m trying to get to the point where I can be mindless when I run until I feel burnt out and at that point, just try to zone out pain and keep running.

But, Day 6, I had a breakthrough!

Runner Blog Day 6:
We ran a different route today - I say “we” because Erin came with after skipping a couple days because she hasn’t been feeling particularly well.

This is the route we ran today.

And, at the pace we were going, I think I could’ve probably ran for an hour. This route isn’t nearly as hilly as our other route but the hills are long and gradual - there’s more of a “burn” running the other route because it’s more stress on the muscles but this longer route was a bit easier to go the distance. Maybe we’ll alternate routes day by day. I dunno.

Either way, it was nice. Plus, it wasn’t too hot out. Good running weather.

We need a couch damnit but we don’t have enough money to pop for one. Not yet anyway. Maybe after we both get our next paychecks.

On that note, we’re starting to get settled and it feels nice. Where we’re at feels like home. The inside of our apartment, I meant. Wyoming still does not feel like home but we’re starting to learn streets, neighborhoods, shortcuts, etc.

The job is going well and I’ll be starting on a project in the next couple weeks, so I’m excited about that.

The work blog is coming along nicely, too. I’m looking forward to being able to market it - in the next week or so I’ll be making a concentrated effort to get the readership up.

Runner Blog Day 5:
Ran alone yesterday. Erin felt sick. It sucked. Usually I’m the one telling her to run more and at times I forget I’m running, which is exactly what I need. Running alone was different but I suppose I better get used to it. Erin does not share my enthusiasm for running and said she’s not going to do the 30-days thing. Which sucks, but, oh well.

I got just as far as Day 4 but quicker. I made the mistake of running about an hour and a half after lunch, though. My bad. I feel like I could’ve ran the whole way if I didn’t run so soon after lunch. I’ve noticed that about 3.5 or 4 hours is optimal for me - long after lunch but not quite hungry yet for dinner. So I’m running tonight after going to the movies with Erin.