Earning Some Life

my brother @jeddis and me after 5 miles - 0:38:57

I aim to run 10 miles each week. I spread those miles out over 6 days of various workouts, and commit to different intensity and distance for each running session. I am always looking to keep the workout or run fresh somehow, though I'll be the first to admit getting stuck in a rut sometimes.

For example, today I ran just over 5 miles with my brother, Jed. We got the opportunity to run outside for once (the weather has been unpredictible in MN this year). It was the first time we ran the trails around Edina, and it brought a lot of life to my attention.

I felt my lungs expand, and my hamstrings strained up the hills. I felt nimble going across cracks, potholes, and ice on the paved trail. I felt the beating in my chest more acutely when I looked up at the setting sun. I felt alive.

Feeling alive, immediate, strong, at peace, complete with the world around you is an immense accomplishment when you think about it. All too often we look for something or someone to hand us that feeling. We want to feel calm, collected, centered, and content at almost all times.

My question to you is:

Why do we never suppose we have to earn life?

The Highway Home Oblivion

I live in Minneapolis, MN but I hail from The Northwoods i.e. north-central Wisconsin. Between where I make my living and where I grew up is a roadway that pipes me back home for holidays and reprieves from the noisy, stressful metro. The 210 mile, four hour trip (minus Kwick Trip stops) is the journey for me, and no matter the circumstances of the present, it's always a venture into the past.

I drive through the town where my sister attended college. I drive through the town where I attended college. I drive through the town where for many years I thought I would attend college. I drive past my high school make-out spot. I drive past a field we used to play paintball on. I drive past countless rivers, lakes, and streams that I've canoed, fished, or trapped. In short, I drive past a lot of memories.

A journey like this serves to remind not only what I'm working for but why. For me this drive is a journey. The highway is limbo. It is a space between the weight of my past and the unknown in my future. It is simple solitude, and it affords me freedom from the burden of focus. 

I get to forget everything as I remember it all. It is an oblivion.

As much as the trip passes over me like waves, like it is happening to me, it is also an act. Driving a '95 Buick LeSabre with blown out shocks and struts takes some amount of attention, but that's not what I'm referring to. What I'm talking about is affirming the activity of the trip; driving is an experience similar to a performance.

I like to hit shuffle and crank the stereo. I like to roll the windows down and hang my arm around the driver's side door. I like to push the speed limit signs as far as they'll bend without breaking (or as far as that big, burgundy relic of a car will permit before it starts shaking [approx. 60mph]). I like to feel that I am still alive, still growing, still remembering where I come from for those four hours.

The point is to embrace the present, acknowledge the past, and hope for the future. Although there are others, the highway home is one of my favorite spaces that allows me to do this.

What about you? What space allows you to actively create harmony in your life? What is oblivion for you?

Something to Celebrate - Single and Good With It

This is the first Valentines day I've spent alone since probably high school. I'm ok with it. I have experienced true, compassionate, dynamic love and I am better off, a fuller person for it. I do not condem or despise this day or anyone who celebrates it with their significant other (I suppose those who do hate it have yet to come to terms with themselves). Instead, lets embrace it.

Be happy tonight, all you couples. Don't get caught up in the rituals provided though. Just find that one peaceful, silent, unearthly moment in each other's eyes, and never ever forget it. Because no matter your destiny, you'll find it impossible to regret a speechless pledge of the soul; an act of love.

^ I put together this Spotify playlist for those who can relate.

A Frugal Day Out

So you're trying to cut back on spending. Trying to save some money. Maybe you start by cutting the fat in the amusement portion of your budget - that was my approach.

It works, too. But what happens when you've been a good boy or girl for awhile? You've done everything from turning down drinks with friends to skipping that movie you really wanted to see, to avoiding impulse buys. In short, it seems you've made yourself rather boring, and maybe that's catching up with you.


This past weekend I needed a break. 

I used to relish the movie theater. I loved the experience of going and seeing a film I'd been waiting to see on the big screen. I would happily pay full price for the film, and often go so far as to splurge on pop-corn and a slushy while I was at it. I wanted to do that, I wanted to go have a guilt free fun day. So I did, but first I prepared.

At first, I wanted to go see a 3D movie at the AMC a few blocks from my house. I realized the only way I'd feel comfortable paying for it would be if I went to the 9:45am showing priced at $9. Then I realized, hey I can do better than that.


I looked up movie theaters in my area, and was reminded of a budget theater I have been to before. Perfect, I thought to myself. Upon this realization, my memory was also jarred that there was a pub across the street from there that always has a $5 for $10 Groupon available. Pretty soon, I had a whole adventure planned.

I purchased the Groupon, picked up a friend, and drove to the 12:30 pm showing of War Horse (I'm a sucker for Spielberg) which I paid a wopping $2.50 for.

Afterwards, we wandered around the downtown to check out the shops. We also stopped in at a nifty tavern that had a whole crap load of craft brews on tap. Score! I paid $4 for a tantalizing pint of locally brewed IPA - a delicious treat.

Then we hit up the pub I had the Groupon for, grabbed an appetizer, dinner, and drinks. My bill amounted to $12 post Groupon, so $17 total (not to shabby for a big meal with drinks and an app).

Following the meal, we headed back to the theater to catch the 7:00 pm showing of Moneyball (which was a lot better than I had expected). This cost an additional $3


Another movie?! Yes! I love the cinema, remember. Plus this was a splurge day so get off my back!

Let's recap:
12:30 - 9:30pm (9 hours) priced at $26.50 = $3/hour

Not too bad huh? And I could do this cheaper too (the meal was plenty, we didn't really need the appetizer).

Sometimes we need to take a day and kick back and relax some of our responsibilities, splurge a little. All it takes is a little bit of planning and resourcefulness before hand. After you've got your idea, just stick to that and allow things to happen from there. Most importantly, have fun with it!

Your turn. What's a relaxing afternoon/evening that fits into your budget?

A Good Guilt Trip

I slapped my phone this morning. Open palm, 80% force, grunt upon contact slapped it. The stupid thing was only doing what I told it to though, waking me up at 3 a.m.

Earlier in the week I volunteered to drop off my ma and step-dad at MSP Airport for a 5:30 a.m. flight to Cancun, Mexico for a much deserved vacation. Sure, they could have taken a cab but that wouldn't have been very fulfilling, not for me.

Think of all the early mornings your parents put in to raise you. All the sick days and birth days and the sporting events they bent over backwards to make it to. Go further. What about all the meals and laundry over the years. How about the financial burden and emotional, social, personal stress you put them through. Or what about when you failed, bad, and needed a safe place to lay low for awhile and collect yourself - did they ever say "no"?

When you have the opportunity to return the favor, don't pass the buck. Each of us has so few truly humane connections in our lives. Don't let them slip by or stagnate.

The Free Money Habit

This morning I checked my bank accounts and I came across a transaction I have never seen before, interest earned! That's right, my savings account earned $1.15 for the month of January. I can not remember the last time a bank paid me money. In fact this may be the first time I've welcomed any cash exchange directly with the bank (it's usually a fee).

Is one dollar and some change going to radically accelerate my monetary goal for the year? Absolutely. The importance of this isn't so much physical as it is psychological. Small results like this are welcome proof of changes I've made in order to reach bigger, broader objectives i.e. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Results like this help feed the habit. The habit of saving money, and in this case, earning and saving are happening in parallel. Win Win.

What small financial wins have you had lately?