Living Refuge

Heather and I spent some time in Santa Cruz this weekend to run in the annual Wharf-to-Wharf 10k Run. This was our first time racing in an event like this. I was a bit shocked to see 15,000 other participants running as well! This made it quite difficult to keep my own pace throughout the race.

Running weather was ideal - temps in the 60's, cloudy and cool. The Wharf-to-Wharf course takes runners from the beach boardwalk in Santa Cruz south to Capitola. This race is definetely a fun race and not to be taken too seriously. Take, for example, the 52 bands (yes 52) that are scattered throughout the course. Just as you leave the sound of one band, you hear another coming quickly as you run.

All in all, we found the race to be quite fun and wish we had taken some pics. My race time was about 54:40 - decent for a first-timer. Hopefully I'll be able to improve my time as I continue to run. By the way, the winning time was 27:48 by an Ethiopian.

H.T. to Around Carson

According to a recent post on Tahoe.com, these are the top ten waterfalls to check out in the Reno/Tahoe area:

1. Webber Falls, Truckee
2. Heath Falls, Soda Springs
3. Shirley Canyon, Squaw Valley
4. Eagle Falls, Desolation Wilderness
5. Fontanillis, Desolation Wilderness
6. Cascade Falls, Desolation Wilderness
7. Glen Alpine Falls, Fallen Leaf Lake
8. Upper Truckee Falls, Meyers
9. Horsetail Falls, Twin Bridges
10. Hot Springs Creek Falls, Markleeville

1 Have visited and it is spectacular in late spring - highly recommend
2-3 Have not been to
4 Visited numerous times - great view of Tahoe
5 Not yet visited
6 Have visited - another great waterfall
7 Have visited a while ago
8-10 Not yet visited

Heather and I helped out at Alex's Lemonade Stand this past weekend in Reno. The idea behind this lemonade stand is to support the cause of a little girl named Alex who was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. Her idea, to start a lemonade stand to raise money for cancer research, has spread across the country since her passing at the age of 10.

Our church sponsored Reno's lemonade stand at the Butchor Boy on So. Virginia. This was our second year of involvement and we plan on working again at next year's festivities.

For a recap of the event, check out this post: http://cdreno.org/2008/06/10/recap-alexs-lemonade-stand-2008/

My favorite Reno donut shop, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, has closed its Reno doors permanently today. It's a sad day for all donut lovers here in the Truckee Meadows. Apparently, the company had to close the store due to 'high fuel costs'.

Employees found out the news the hard way as they arrived for work this morning with a notice of closure on the door. I will savor the memory of my last Original Glazed that I ate last Saturday at the Great Reno Cleanup. Goodbye old friend...

I found this op/ed on the RGJ website today and couldn't help but link to it. Basically, we've had a lot of earthquakes in the NW and live and work a bit differently than most other people in Reno. Here's a few I could relate with:

• The USGS Web site is your home page, and you check the UNR Seismology site as frequently as you check your e-mail.


• You can adeptly convert UTC to Pacific Daylight Time.


• Earthquake insurance brochures and estimates are in your “To File” stack.


• Wall hangings = floor leanings.

From RGJ.com: You might be a Northwest Reno resident if …

H.T. to The Ugly Evangelical

A journalist from the University of Nevada's school newspaper recently published an article about his experience going to a brothel and only wanting to cuddle and talk. No sex. No nudity. Nothing vulgar.

This article was an amazing read as it gave insight to the astonishment of the prostitute that he didn't want to have sex. In the end, we realize that this woman is exceptionally unloved and had a glimmer of human contact amidst her otherwise sad days.

Nevada Sagebrush:
I paid $100 to cuddle with a prostitute

Christians are known for their crazy government antics and this is no different. Apparently there is a bill going around in Congress that would mark the first weekend in May as "Ten-Commandment's Weekend". This bill is sponsored by the Ten Commandments Commission. I read over parts of the bill and find it odd and too idealistic about our "Christian" country:

That the Senate--

(1) recognizes the first weekend of May 2008 as `Ten Commandments Weekend';

(2) celebrates the Ten Commandments as a significant aspect of the national life of the United States; and

(3) encourages citizens of the United States to reflect on the integral role that the Ten Commandments have played in the life of the Nation.

Why the need? Not sure. But let's try to remember the great Godliness of our country, shall we? America & Christians have endorsed slavery, failed to give humans certain unalienable rights, and deemed themselves correct in every instance. Plus, let's spend more money and time fighting abortion than giving aid to orphans that were not aborted. What is true religion after all?