THE WICKED MESSENGER

I've been running for a few years now, maybe 5 or 6 years. I can't remember for sure. Maybe closer to 7 years. I know I ramped it up at the start when I stopped walking for exercise and started the "Couch to 5K" program with my wife. That led to me running more and more until I could go 3 miles per run. I don't like to stop and walk when I run, that's always been my way. I pushed myself for the first few years until I got to the 3 mile mark and then I was satisfied I had a respectable distance. I have tried to go faster but never really tried to mark much progress with that. Late last year I got inspired by my step daughter (who ran a half marathon) to see if I could go farther so I clocked in an hour run and went 6 miles. I tracked that using the Nike+ phone ap. This last xmas my wife gave me this year at a glance poster so I decided I'd make an entry for every time I ran. I put in the mileage and then added "O" for outside runs and

Well it's been a while since I blogged or looked at this blog but I recently did a blog comment on Yeoman's Watch blog and to get it posted I had to list some personal data (email, name, etc.) and one category was "website". So I listed this blog and then came here and then decided to write a post. So a while back we had a chili cookoff at work. I often avoid work related shit, especially the company parties at xmas. This one I figured I would participate though, because I make good chili and have for years. At least I like it. I make it for my own tastes. It's based on a recipe from the Washington Post food section now long lost that I've mutated over the years. That recipe had the unlikely name of "Texas Democrat Chili" and I think it was featured back when Clinton was first elected. That I'm not sure about. Anyway google it and tell me what you find in a comment below. So the recipe is summarized a little farther down. I had decid