OK, so I was thinking (which is how I always get myself into trouble) that I’m going to take a new weekly approach to my blogs. I’m always grasping for ideas, and I think this will help. Mondays will be a weekend recap, because that’s always going to involve a race trip and my accompanying antics. I’ll let you know about Tuesdays tomorrow. I guess that means I’d better write a weekend recap. But it’ll be easy. It was certainly a memorable weekend.
First real quick, I ran the Austin Marathon yesterday. I’m fairly pleased, but you know me โ I’m never satisified.
I Deliver!
On Twitter, folks do something called “Follow Friday,” where they suggest somebody new for you to follow and they tell you why. Well, San Antonio resident Lisa Hernandez suggested me, because I’m running 60 marathons this year, because I love ice cream (15 days in row now, by the way) and because I was bringing her In-N-Out. She threw in a little ๐, as if I’d respond. Oh wait, I did.
I had never met Lisa, and I had never talked about bringing her In-N-Out. So, when I confirmed with her that she was going to be in Austin, she was pretty surprised when I asked her for her order. On Friday night on my way home from work, I picked up a cheeseburger with mustard and pickles, then went home, wrapped it in foil and put it in Jack’s insulated lunch pail. I carried it with me, heated it up at my hotel and met her with it at the expo. Not only did she get the cheeseburger, it was delivered in Jack’s lunch pail!
Check out that SWEET sweatshirt I’m wearing!
While she was eating her cheeseburger (and loving it), a woman came up to her and asked her where she got the In-N-Out. Was there a new In-N-Out in town? Nope, Lisa had it personally flown in. She’s big-time like that. And I’m just a guy who hand-delivers cheeseburgers to people across the country.
Anyways, there’s a cool Operation Jack ending to this story. On Friday, I asked Lisa if she’d try a 10×10 for Operation Jack. I told her that I’d bring her the cheeseburger regardless, because I said I would and I’d keep my word. But if she was willing to try, I’d be even more grateful than she was for the food. And โฆ she said yes!
So, let that be a lesson to you, everybody else. Do a 10×10, ask me to bring you a cheeseburger, and you might get lucky!
I Knew This Was Going In The Blog The Minute It Happened
It’s tough to fall asleep sometimes when I’m on the road, because it’s pretty early for my body time. Saturday night, I needed to get to sleep early, because I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. Texas time, which was 2:30 a.m. according to my body. I’m getting used to this, but that doesn’t make it very enjoyable.
I sat in bed trying to fall asleep at about 9:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. back home) and I think I was finally out at about 9:50. Five minutes later, my grandma called. She’s 85 and my grandpa is 86, so I always have a little bit of a worry when the phone rings.
She called to remind me to wish my dad a happy birthday yesterday. She must not have read my blog on Friday, but good to hear her voice! She then wanted to know if this Sunday (February 21) when we met for lunch if we would be meeting first at her house or at the restaurant. No good answer on that one yet, either, but I’ll let her know when I can.
So she asked me what the kids were doing. Well, I didn’t know, because I was asleep in Texas and they were back home, probably getting ready for bed.
Sam: “I don’t know Grandma, I’m in Texas.”
Grandma Bea: “What?”
S: “I’m in Texas.”
G: “I couldn’t hear you. What did you say?”
S: “I’M IN TEXAS.” (I’m sure the people in the room next to me were thrilled to know that)
G: “You’re eating custard?”
S: “No Grandma, I’m not eating custard. I’m in Texas.”
G: “It sounded like you said you’re eating custard. I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
S: “I’m โฆ in โฆ Texas.”
G: “It still sounds like you’re saying you’re eating custard.”
I paused. It was like trying to convey something to somebody who doesn’t speak the language.
G: “Are you OK? You’re not talking. Is everything OK?”
S: “Everything is OK. I’m โฆ not โฆ home.”
G: “Oh! You’re not home! You’re off somewhere running a race! Where are you?”
S: “I’m in Texas.”
G: “Oh! You’re in Texas! That’s wonderful! Let me get your grandpa so he can say hi.”
S: “Uh, OK.”
G: “Milt! (pause) โฆ I think he just walked over to the bathroom. I bet he’ll be in there for two hours. I’ll let you go. Good night, I love you!”
S: “I love you too, Grandma.”
That. Was. Amazing.
Worst $25 Picture Ever
I was in Austin, so I figured I’d go find the football stadium at the University of Texas and take a picture. I found it, and circled and circled for about 15 minutes trying to find the right spot to park. It was Saturday afternoon, about 5:30 p.m. Nothing doing on campus, that’s for sure.
There were a bunch of cars parked in spots about 50 yards away and the sign I saw said that you needed one type of permit at one time of the day from Monday through Friday and another type of permit a little later in the day from Monday through Friday. Well, it was Saturday, so I parked. I walked over, took a lousy picture because I couldn’t get anywhere to get a good view and I was back to the car in less than 5 minutes. And sure enough, there was a parking ticket for $25. How funny โฆ I thought it was Saturday! That worked out to about $375/hour to park there. I wasn’t very happy, because the sign said Monday – Friday, but realistically, what am I going to do to fight this?
Well, yesterday, the last mile of the race ran right by where I parked. There were no cars there this time because they blocked off the road. And beneath the signs about the permits, there was a sign that said “UT Permit Required All Other Times”. Great, I guess I was in the wrong. I still think it’s a joke that they have three different signs to tell you the parking policy, and they were a good 25 spots or so from where I parked. And I also think it’s a joke that they have nothing better to do there than nab me within five minutes of the time I parked. Really? That slow?
Would you pay $25 for this picture? Yeah, well, I did.
I Made It Home In Time For Dinner!
Sure, I woke up and ran a marathon in Austin, and had a late lunch in Austin, but I was still home in time to take my beautiful wife out for a Valentine’s dinner! She’s gonna hate this picture, because she looks a whole lot better than she does in this, but it’s all we have. I wanted to take a picture at the restaurant, but it was Outback, and she thought we’d look like idiots. Yeah, um, I wore an In-N-Out hat at a marathon expo in Texas. I’m not really concerned with looking like an idiot.
On the way out the door to dinner last night. What is she doing with him?
That’s All For Today
I’ll be back tomorrow with my Tuesday blog approach. On a weekly basis, it’s going to be either an issue I have a strong opinion about, or it’s going to be an anecdote about something from my past. I already know what it’s going to be this time โ something I feel pretty strongly about.
Have a great Monday! See you tomorrow!
Ben Delaney says
Something tells me you are going to be flying with an INO order to every out of town race for the rest of the year. I am just waiting for the time a flight attendant asks if you brought enough for the entire plane.
The simple fact that I know your grandparents makes that phone call even more hysterical.
Also, let Tiff it is a great pic of the both of you. Glad you completed another race and made it home safe.
Cyndi Kolonick says
What good fun! You WILL be carrying burgers to every race now, you know this yes? (ahem…Cleveland for sure!)
LOVE the sweatshirt!
So good you still got to get in a date with your wife! ๐
You just rock, keep up the great work!
Cyndi
Erin Ruff says
Better get on payroll with In-n-Out, I think you will be bringing burgers all over the country this year. Now I know who to call for my fix.
Great job on the race. Keep up the good work!
Beautiful pic of Tiff, as usual.:)
Tiffany Felsenfeld says
Great blog, Sam. But, yeah, I don’t like the picture of myself. You’re mean! :p
Katie Abdolhosseini says
That phone call was priceless – you are a lucky man to have your grandparents around still ๐ Great job on the race and that is an awesome pic of you and Tiffany!
Happy Monday!
Ally Phillips says
I LOVE the In-N-Out fly in–that’s pretty awesome. Well, even if you got a stupid ticket for parking in front of the UT stadium, I hope you at least got some good Austin food or something to make up for it (Austin is my favorite city in Texas in case you couldn’t tell!).
Glad you were able to enjoy a nice Valentine’s dinner with your wife ๐
beverly benton says
Sam, you are on fire today! I didn’t think anything could be funnier than your “Lucy and Ricky” exchange with Tiff last weekend at the pasta dinner . . . until I read about the phone call with your grandma. Priceless!
Tiff, you always look so pretty in your pictures! Trust me, one day you’ll wake up, 20 years older, and you’ll think “why can’t my pictures look as good as they used to?” (Voice of experience here. *wink*) You’re way too hard on yourself!
Sam, sorry about that parking ticket. Sounds like those UT parking cops were lying in wait. Gives a whole new meaning to the UT fight song “The Eyes of Texas are upon you.” At least it was ONLY $25 — a bargain by California standards. Greedy b*$tard$!
Melissa G says
Your grandma sounds adorable. haha
D. Scott Fritchen says
I don’t run 26 miles but I write 10,000 words a week. I’m what you call a marathon writer. IN-N-OUT! Gimme, gimme, gimme. Just playin’. Great blog, Sam. Always a highlight of my day. And, of course, congrats on another race!