The “witch hunt” dominates the television networks while I write this morning.  I did get up and ask myself if I honestly wanted to be at work, and I continue to not miss anything about it.  I think that’s a healthy sign that retirement was the right choice.  For dinner tonight, I prepared a brisket in “Liquid Smoke,” barbecue sauce, and a dry rub to slowly cook for 8 hours, while James Comey continues to try to cook Donald Trump.  One thing you’ll never get in this blog are political opinions, you’ll find those on Facebook.  I hope the brisket turns out as tender as last week’s Osso Buco.   The crock pot takes some of the stress out of cooking for me.  I like the fact that I can get the preparation done early in the day, so I’m not thinking about having to do it later.  I’m not comfortable in the kitchen yet, but this dish was probably a bit too easy.  I’ll step out of the box again for the next recipe.

With my wife’s business travel, I get a break from the kitchen next week.  The more I cook; the more appreciative I am for what she is able to do in the kitchen, in addition to her full-time position .  I’m looking forward to the Django Festival All-stars in concert that I will see with a friend, and a preview party for the Mecum Automobile Auction.  My wife also reminded me of upcoming performances by Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran.  We’ll be headed back to Indiana for a week at the end of this month, and then I plan to go to the MLB All-Star game in Miami.  In the meantime, I’m perfectly content with just being at home.

I would love the opportunity to run the Hood To Coast event in August, but I’m going to have to pick up the fitness pace a bit – catch the bug! It’s on my bucket list, but the teams I’ve been on the last few years have fallen apart.  I’m hoping to be a last-minute injury replacement, but need to be ready should that chance come along.  I just go through the motions on my daily run and my times continue to get worse, so I need to find that competitive edge:

The Bug

You might say,
I’m gonna do it.
Lose some weight,
Run faster, get fit.
.
Muster motivation,
Grasp at a goal.
Strive for stimulation,
Search your soul.
.
Might write it down,
Make a resolution.
Go through the motions,
Look for the solution.
.
You try to improve,
But the urge isn’t there.
It’s somewhere inside you,
You wonder where?
.
Then it hits you,
Like a drug.
Out of nowhere,
You’ve caught The Bug.
.
You get excited,
Start to care.
It’s a feeling,
You want to share.
.
Then grows stronger,
Momentum flows.
Fills you up,
From head to toes.
.
Yes, there’s a fever,
And chills sometimes.
Pulse quickens,
Temperature climbs.

.

Appetite surges,
Things taste better.
You’re in the lead,
The pace setter.

It’s contagious,
An adrenaline shot.
People around you,
Want what you’ve got.

So they hang around,
Hoping they’ll catch it.
But it’s inside each of us,
We just have to find it.

Catch The Bug,
It’s in your heart.
Find what you love,
It’s time to start.

Copyright 2012 johnstonwrites.com