Happy first day of fall. Happy birthday KHood. Happy sun setting before we start Biggest Loser. Happy 2nd loss to the White Sox. Happy 10 days before the marathon. Happy 2 days left of work. and happy I wore jeans to work on a nonfriday day to me.
If you think I've been peeing my pants over the Twins these past few days, you know me all too well. I gave Lindsay about a 10 minute rundown of what would, could, should, and can happen if this, this, this, and this happens. She replied that the Twins were "like sweeping them on Friday, it was really good." Cute.
Today marked a momumental day in the SLP chapter of my life. Many of you in the area may know that there is a shortage of gas stations in the highway 7/cedar lake road area. There is one about halfway to highway 100, but you can only stop there if you are going west. Problem: I'm always going east. Well, at least I am always going east when I need gas.
There are 2 others within 1/2 a mile of my apartment that are both out of business. I have pulled a bone dry Regal running on Premium fumes into each of them as they look deceivingly open. Don't fall for it.
Luckily, I go running everyday on the Cedar Lake Trail and luckily some garage sale like flags have been catching my eye for the past 3 months or so as I 'SPEED' by on foot. It wasn't until just last week that I realized it was an old crappy gas station. Like the kind that just has pumps, no actual store. It's called something like H.C. McCoys Petroleum, written in cursive paint. It has a little shack off to the side up against the railroad tracks that has a cashier at it about 30% of the time and 2 pop machines next to it and...well, that's it. It feels like the kind of gas station that an unsolved mystery would happen at since it's kind of tucked away by the railroad tracks and it seems to attract a lot of truckers.
Anyway, bottom line, I found it. and it's close. and the gas fills up super fast. Slow pumps have always been a pet peeve for me and my impatient self.
On a seperate and not really but kind of a little related note, yesterday when I was running, I was thinking of creating a computer game similar to Oregon Trail but calling it Cedar Lake Trail. The object is you have to make it from St. Louis Park all the way to Minnehaha Falls without dying. I'm pretty sure no one has ever made it on foot but I intend to try before snowfall.
Things encountered may/may not include: Indian men running in khaki pants, loafers, and polos, homeless people under the bridges, crosswalks that do not give pedestrians the right of way (they do exist), burning plastic smells, hipsters boy couples that fall off their bikes in front of you (lol), 30 year old men playing football and throwing the ball at your head (this happens), and coffee smells that give you a burst of energy right before you pass Wooddale. Also, I think I would equate the hidden drinking fountain right before you get to Uptown to the same level of excitement as when you kill a bison while hunting. But you need to be super cautious when you hear the swarm of bees coming at you which actually turns out to be a pack of road bikers that make you jump off the bikepath. Also watch out for the speed skating rollerblading couples who do it in sync. They aren't dangerous, but just kind of painful to see.
Mark my words: I WILL NEVER SKATE IN SYNC.
i love your 'cedar lake trail' game idea. i want to make one for my running path too. it will be similar to steering the covered wagon/ferry down the river rapids while trying to avoid rocks or running aground except it would be your character trying to run down hollywood or sunset blvd while dodging clusters of unsuspecting tourists with the heads down because theyre all staring at the stars on the walk of fame. the next phase would take place on the dirt trails of runyon canyon where you have to dodge roughly a hundred dogs & their oblivious owners ranging from little rat looking dogs in tutus to drooling pitbulls.
ReplyDeleteim always disappointed when i check your blog and there isnt a new entry. i expect 5 entries per weeks christa!