Boston

It's been 7+ hours since the bombings at the Boston Marathon, so everyone knows what happened. Between this and the New York Marathon being cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy major marathons in the US have had a rough go it seems, but it's a reminder of how lucky I am to be able to run and take part in these events. To spend time not worrying about the bad things. When I was in New York people had lost their homes, power was still out to part of the city, tempers flared as people waited hours to get gas.  Thousands were there to run the marathon, and when it was announced the race was cancelled, completely understandable too, runners were disappointed, but bonded together to help in anyway they could.  Groups popped up to run in central park and donate clothing, food, whatever else could be spared. Now after the attack in Boston people are stepping up again. The Red Cross is turning people away to donate blood because of the influx of donations. There are people opening their homes for runners and families needing a place to stay. Heck, watching video of the explosion you see volunteers running towards the danger along with first responders helping in anyway they can. This is not something unique to runners, just to good people. There is still good out there and it's amazing to see in this tragedy. Too often we forget about that until something big like this happens. In November, the NYC marathon is going to take place, and I expect it to be bigger and better than it's ever been and the third Monday of April next year, on Patriots day, there will be another 27,000 runners in Hopkinton toeing the line to run the Boston Marathon. As of now, I want to be there. I thought it'd be a while until I ran Boston again, but now it feels like it's more than just running a marathon. It's going to mean something not just to me, but to all those cities from Hopkinton to Boston, to all the spectators who go out to cheer, all the volunteers who again give up their time to help a bunch of privileged runners, in their fancy shoes, their wicking shirts and short shorts do something silly like run 26.2 miles, but also to me, to be part of that group that says screw you! You won't stop us.

Beer number two

Once again, after weeks of waiting, my second batch of beer is complete! This time I  used a Black IPA kit from Norther Brewery. This one didn't require me to sit around with a bunch of grains feeling like I'm making oatmeal since it comes with an extract, that's basically the sugar needed for that good old yeast to chew up and spit out alcohol. Anyways, finally bottled and waited for it to carbonate it and it's actually pretty good. Just look at it! It's actually carbonated. There are little bubbles. You can see them, right there. Plus there isn't a bunch of stuff floating around in it like my last batch. Overall, it's a success. I'll probably keep brewing even if logically it makes no sense. Cost about $10 to get the kit and 3 hours of my time and I get 10 bottles out of it. Not the most cost effect way to get beer. I can go to the liquor store, grab a 12 pack of something professionally made and pay $12 bucks or so, but there is less fun in that. The logical thing would be to get a bigger kit and I can brew 5 gallons at a time, but I'll hold off on that.