NaPoWriMo--DAY EIGHT

NapoWriPo PROMPT: Peruse the work of one or more of these twitter bots, and use a line or two, or a phrase or even a word that stands out to you, as the seed for your own poem.

Crazy Man Dies*

I met a traveler dressed in camo green. 

His two vast legs had pockets down each side. 

His rifle was a cold killing machine. 

His sneering face had greenish paint applied. 

I asked him why he wore the combat gear.
“I’m hunting fuzzy wabbits in the wood,
Or maybe just a porcupine or deer..
But right now a loo would do me good.” 

I said, “You think out here you’ll find a loo?
Ask any bear around and he will say;
‘Right on the ground is where you leave your poo.
It greens the grass as soon as it decays.' " 

He wrinkled up his lip just like a king.
“If I did that may lightning strike me dead.”
A cloud let loose and struck him with a zing.
Nothing beside remains but melted lead.

*Ozymandias--(see what I did there?)

DOGGY DAY AFTERNOON

Warmer days have melted our snow down to lower levels, but there is still plenty of the white stuff up north.  That’s where we went Saturday to watch the not-so-serious part of the Annual American Dog Derby.

 We arrived after the big dogs and their sleds had been down the 40-plus mile track and back.  Now it was time for some kid fun.

 The Junior Race was followed by the Skjoring Potluck Race...

...in which one to two dogs assist a cross country skier along a four mile track.

 This team left with the most speed and control in my opinion. 

 While the racers were out we did a little people and dog watching.  Almost everybody brought their dogs for the day.

 Almost everybody.

 There were dogs of all sizes and breeds.

 Here comes back the fast team…still with plenty of hustle but those tongues are hanging out.

 The return of another one of the Junior Mushers to plenty of applause and high fives.

After the sled races the crowd moved to Main Street for the next set of events.

 First were the Kid Snowshoe Races.  The racers were grouped by age and strapped into snowshoes and set off.

 There was some very serious competition.

Next came the Mutt Race wherein dogs with no training were harnessed to a dog sled and encouraged to pull their friend down the track.

 

 Some dogs did okay with a little encouragement.

 Others were having none of it.

 Then there were the dogs who were just happy to be there and expecting a treat at any moment.

 Just for fun here is some action from the snowshoe races.

The last ones on snowshoes were the Mormon Missionaries.

 First the Sisters.

 Then the Elders. They had been assisting all day with the events and deserved a moment to show off.

 It was a great day to get out of the house and enjoy the sun and the end of a long winter.

 Kids and dogs.  What’s not to like?

SEVENTY POINT THREE MILES THE HARD WAY

Every now and then some of our children and one of their spouses get together with a bunch of like-minded weirdos to swim, bike and run in circles for hours.  I know!  I promise I didn’t drop them on their heads, and we tried to teach them a little common sense, but there you go.

This time Bobert challenged his wife, Greasy Lightning and his brother, Beavis to compete in a half ironman event in Utah.  This means swimming for 1.2 miles, biking for 56 and then, and THEN, running for 13.1 miles.

 They’ve been training since January and August 22 was the big day.

DH and I went along to act as cheering section and photographers.   To make our job extra difficult, they all dressed in black with red caps.

Not just our kids, NO---EVERYBODY in the swimming part of race dressed in black with red caps.  This makes Find Waldo seem like a piece of cake.  By the way, all three of them are in this photo.  I found them.  Trust me.

 Here’s a hint.  The one in the water with his hands raised is Beavis.

 They took off swimming by age group and gender, stirring the swampy water of Utah Lake into a froth.

 At the middle of the swim the water became a bog and then a shallow quagmire.  A lot of the racers gave up swimming and waded.  Everyone agreed this was the most gross triathlon swim in their experience.

 The racing committee should have read the sign.

Still our champions completed the ordeal…

 …and hurried off to their bikes.

With a goofy face for the camera pause.

 Smile, Beavis.

  

Can you say, “Eeew. That water was revolting,” with a grin?

 In a matter of a few seconds they transitioned to bike gear.

And were ready to ride.  Bobert was long gone before either DH or I could make it to the bicycle area.

 Beavis left right behind him, but was the first one to come back from the 56 mile ride

.

 Then Greasy Lightning shot by to change into her running shoes.

 When Beavis ran by I yelled, “Where’s Bobert?”  The answer.  “He had three flat tires.”

 Greasy Lightning hurried by, but still no Bobert on a bike.

 Finally he rode by on his way to the transition area.

 In spite of the misfortunes with his bike, he still ran by with thumbs up.  “I’m just gonna finish.”

 The run was two six and a half mile laps in what was becoming a very hot afternoon.  Even with two thirds of the grueling race under his belt, Bobert pushed through to make up lost time.

But he couldn’t catch up with Beavis who did the whole 70.3 mile distance in just a little over five hours.

 Bobert came in not long after.

 Greasy Lightning was slowed down by an injury to her right shoulder she got in a bike wreck earlier in the month.

 Still, she finished in just over six hours.  Bobert was waiting for her at the finish line with open arms.

 We’re SO proud of their accomplishments.  But we still think they’re weird.

TROTTING TURKIES 2014

Once again some of the family wackies participated in the Race to Feed the Hungry Fun Run on Thanksgiving Day.

They paid their money and pinned on their

numbers for the 10k, 5k and one mile run, walk, or get there however, challenge.

 Some of them wondered what they’d been talked into.

 They all seemed excited to have an excuse to act weird in public.

 CindyLooWho got singled out by a local news station for an interview that ended up on television later that day.

 The group participated in the costume competition and gave credit to CindyLooWho for their crocheted turkey hats.

 Winners of the completion won a pie.  We got a LOT of pies.  This may be the first Thanksgiving EVER that we got sick of pie.

A short video of the big warmup.

Finally the three thousand entries lined up and took off.

Off like a herd of turkeys.

 DH and I waited at the finish to cheer them in.  It wasn’t long before we recognized a redhead wearing a turkey hat coming in from the 5k run.

 His sister was not far behind.

 Another brother.  They were easy to spot in the crowd in those hats with the long yellow turkey legs.

 Beavis went by in a blur, finishing the 10k run.

 We got a kick out of watching all kinds of groups with strollers, wheel chairs, and even dogs go by.

 Here comes CindyLooWhoo finishing the 10k.  Yay!!

 A couple of sisters trying to outdo each other in the final sprint.

 Dad and Mom and the youngest Sim.

Last but not least the shortest turkey and his dad.

 We’ve burned off a bunch of calories. Bring on the feast!