LA Congress-bound

I'm shirking my training this weekend in favor of music. Liturgical music, to be exact. I'm off to the LA Congress with some fellow choir members, and about 35,000 other lay Catholics from throughout CA. I'll come back with fun photos and a new song or two.

Twenty five percent and counting

I've completed the first 25 percent of my Hike For Discovery fundraising goal. I'm so excited! Thanks to all who have donated thus far. If you'd like to see my daily totals, or if you haven't had the chance to donate yet, check out my website.

Anybody want to post a link to my fundraising website on their blog? I'd love to try a little bloggers fundraising experiment. How much do you think we could raise solely through donors who read about this on a blog? Anybody in?

Training Hike # 1: China Camp State Park, San Rafael

I met my ride in the parking lot of a Walgreens before 8 am. The weather wasn't the greatest - windy and raining and cold. But I had rain gear and was determined that today was going to be fun. We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and drove about half an hour north to China Camp State Park, a former Chinese fishing village that's now a mountain biker mecca with lots of great hiking trails.

After some instructions from our leader, we left the parking lot and hit the trail. The rain let up at times, but continued pretty steadily for most of our hike. Thankfully, this storm did not produce the winds that result in rain that falls sideways, so despite the wet we weren't too uncomfortable.

The trail starts out pretty simply, before making a small ascent to a point where you can look out over the park and the water. On a sunny day, this would have been beautiful, but today, the water and the sky were the same shade of gray.



It's good to note here that I wasn't too excited to use my camera in the storm - I didn't want to risk damaging it by getting it wet. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity for this next shot: a rainbow in the midst of the storm.



The whole team - probably over 60 people - hiked together on this trail. We're told that won't happen much, but since it was our first hike we all stayed pretty close together. After stopping to take some pictures, I was at the back of the pack.



Many of the trees in this park are dying, victims of sudden oak death, a mold similar to the one that caused the Irish Potato Famine. The mold could be transferable in the soil on my boots, so I need to remember to rinse them off so I don't contaminate trails that are currently plague-free.

Along the way we saw two fawns, a gaggle of wild turkey, and tons of earthworms, presumable pushed out from their underground homes by the storm and its runoff. The two brooks we hiked over were gushing down the hill, and we squished through lots of mud.



I was covered in mud to about mid-calf, but my rain pants and boots kept my legs and feet dry and warm. And really, as long as my feet aren't wet, I love hiking in the rain. This was a great first hike. I can't wait for the next one!

Anticipation

In just about 12 hours, I'll be on the train for my first training hike. In the rain. During a hurricane-force storm. I am so excited!

In training - weeks one and two

Here it is: My first Hike for Discovery training post! My task for the first two weeks was pretty simple - to do some sort of walking or cross training for about half an hour most days, except for Monday rest days. The whole team is following the same training plan, and it's posted in the center of my fridge, where I stare at it often.

The half hour limit presented a problem, as my regular workouts usually run an hour, and include about 25 minutes in the pool, time on the treadmill or elliptical, and weights and core work. So, I ended up doing most of my full workouts, but then additional walking on the days I don't go to the gym. Last week wasn't too exciting, but this week had some bright spots.

Tuesday was cardio day. I ended up walking most of the way to choir rehearsal with a co-worker who was on her way home. We walked hard enough to be a little winded, but still with enough air to talk.

Wednesday was incline day, so I walked the California mile - a notoriously steep strip of California street from Downtown to Pacific Heights (closer to two miles, but who's counting?). It was a fantastic walk, and it took me through some of the city's nicest neighborhoods.

Thursday was endurance day. I swam 16 laps (just shy of a half mile) then ran on the elliptical for 10 minutes (or about a mile) then I lifted weights, did some sit-ups, and went home.

Today was flat and easy day, which for me pretty much means no extra walking outside of what I normally do in a day. And then I met a friend for pizza.

Tomorrow is an easy walk day, so I'll probably run my errands on foot and then go for a swim, with the weights and core work.

Sunday is my first real hike. I can't wait for my training to start reaping some hiking benefits! It doesn't matter that the weather will be horrible, that we're forecasting hurricane force winds and tons of rain. It'll be a great hike!

My triumphant return to the computer age!!

This is my first post on my new computer. I've spent most of the evening installing software and learning that I have a web cam. While there will be no exciting photos of me cooking dinner or anything, I am quite happy with this feature, as well as all the new Apple software I can try out.

And, as consolation for my ridiculous wait, I'll get a 15% discount on my next purchase at the Technology Store. I'm in the market for a new printer.....

Status

The scaffolding came down on Tuesday. After all that, I'm pretty sure the only work done was to clean the outside of my kitchen window. I now have a crystal-clear, unobstructed view of my neighbor's kitchen window.

My laptop isn't in yet, but Apple has assured the campus bookstore that it'll be in today or Tuesday. I'm almost to the point of believing them. Or cancelling my order.

My iPod died yesterday. It was working one minute, and the next it was frozen at the beginning seconds of a song, with the backlight on. After about four hours, the screen went blank, and I got the Apple frowning face each time I tried to turn it back on. The good news is that it works when plugged in, so maybe there's hope of getting all my music onto my new computer before buying a new battery - the installation of which wipes out the iPod hard drive. Did anyone else know this?

The temp employee at a nearby desk is breathing very loudly. Actually, it sounds like she's snoring. Why can I hear her with my headphones on?

This week has been the worst allergy week ever. Is anybody else sniffling and uncomfortable?

The rites of spring

The sun is shining, the cherry blossoms are blooming, and pitchers and catchers have reported for duty. This is by far the best day of the year.

Please pray for Cleary

From this morning's Chronicle. I've known this guy for years - he's a good guy and an excellent cop, and a wonderful story teller with a great sense of humor. Please pray for his speedy recovery.

S.F. officer in coma after fall
Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, February 7, 2008

A San Francisco police inspector apparently had an accident on his way to work on Monday and was critically injured, police said Wednesday.

Inspector Kevin Cleary, 42, a 17-year-veteran and medal of valor winner, was in a coma and in intensive care at San Francisco General Hospital after the incident, which was reported to Taraval Station officers at 8:54 a.m. Monday.

Cleary's supervisor, Lt. Jim Spillane, said a neighbor saw Cleary bleeding and wandering outside his home and summoned police.

By the time aid arrived, Cleary had gone inside the house and officers found the entry gate locked. Several minutes later, officers got a key and entered the home, finding Cleary in bed.

"He fell on the stairs; it looks like he ended up falling on his head," Spillane said. "There's blood on the landing where he would have fallen and some on the wall where he tried to pull himself up."

The neighbor told police that she helped Cleary back inside his home but decided to call 911, even though Cleary asked her not to.

"He was telling them that he had to get to work," Spillane said. "I don't think he was aware what happened. His injury was so severe, he wasn't processing things correctly."

Spillane added: "It looks purely as though he fell - he has had some problems with his knee and back, his leg may have given out from under him."

This article appeared on page B - 8 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Happy Super Fat Tuesday!

Upon exiting my polling place this morning, I truly expected somebody to run by handing me a beer and tossing beads at my feet. Why didn't this happen?

Please remember to vote and party responsibly today. And please vote first. And if you're giving up anything interesting for Lent, tell us about it.

My burglary now has an investigator!

I spent some time on the phone with the San Francisco Police Department this morning, and I now have my very own burglary investigator. The detective is going to talk to my landlord and make sure he's not trying to track down the "suspects," and hopefully get him to remove the scaffolding. He ran a search on my stuff, and nobody has attempted to pawn it yet, which is unusual. I don't think I'll ever get anything back, but it's nice to know that nobody has paid to buy it - at least not legally. I think it's time to post partial serial numbers on Craigslist and see if anybody returns my stuff.

The seized loot more resembled a San Francisco dollar store than Costco

I took my little field trip to Oakland on Saturday, and ended up spending about two hours at police headquarters, before being briefly escorted to the old city jail. Not for holding, but to review evidence. Unfortunately, none of the stolen goods recovered from last week's big bust were mine, but I got to tour the jail and hang out with some interesting people, so all-in-all it wasn't such a bad time.

The police really over-represented their cache of stolen merchandise. They had two computers, two cameras, a few ipods and phones, six bicycles and a scooter, some costume jewelry, and lots of tools and construction equipment. The tools made most of the people in my line very happy, as many of them had been robbed from their places of business, and they lost most of their equipment.

Interestingly, as I was planning to make this journey, my landlord also saw the article in the paper, and called me to let me know I should make this trip. He thought I might have some success, and then proceeded to outline how HE HAS A SUSPECT IN MY BURGLARY, THE GUYS IN THE WORK CREW WHO HE THINKS ALSO BROKE INTO HIS CAR AND STOLE PAINTING TOOLS AND THINGS.

I've been saying all along that I think my apartment was cased; that the only way to know about one of the stolen items, the one that was taken from where it was stored UNDER MY BED, was to have been in my apartment before. So the mystery deepens, but at least now there are other people who will be hounding the cops along with me. Unless the landlord decides to go after these guys alone. But he doesn't strike me as the Rambo type.

But the scaffolding? The scaffolding that provided entry to my bathroom a month ago? It's still up. Anybody want to join me in scaffolding removal this weekend? It'll be fun!

Field Trip

Stolen goods ready to be returned to their owners by police
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, February 1, 2008

Oakland police showed off a roomful of fenced loot Thursday that was found in a West Oakland home and invited anyone who might have had construction tools, computers and stereos stolen to come take a look at the items Saturday.

Some $500,000 worth of items were found Jan. 24 at a home on the 2100 block of Myrtle Street, police said at a news conference while surrounded by stacks of stolen property, which included drills, tool boxes, air compressors, saws, bikes, a scooter and a deluxe armchair.

Police also recovered a 2006 Holiday Bowl ring that belonged to a Cal football player, said police Sgt. Mike Gantt, holding up the ring. The player, whom police declined to identify, was grateful it had been found, authorities said.

Acting on a tip, police infiltrated a group they believe had been operating for as long as 10 years, investigators said. They watched the home and arrested two suspects, Juan Solano, 34, and his brother-in-law Masedonio Reyes, 27.

Prosecutors have charged each man with one count of possession of stolen property. Solano is being held without bail because he is suspected of being in the country illegally. Reyes, who police said was arrested in 2006 for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants, posted $50,000 bail, jail records show.

The stolen items were found inside the home and in a truck and van parked in the driveway, police said.

"You should have seen this house," Gantt said. "It looked like a Costco. It was like an open-air market for stolen goods."

As he was watching the house, Gantt said, he and Sgt. Nishant Joshi saw two men walk up carrying bags of items and then leave empty-handed.

Many of the stolen items were resold at a flea market in East Oakland or were taken to Mexico, Gantt said.

Police invited anyone who believes their items were among those recovered to visit Oakland police headquarters Saturday, even if they don't have serial numbers or did not file police reports.

Officer Roland Holmgren, department spokesman, credited good old-fashioned police work for the recovery of the items. "Hopefully, we can bring a little joy back" to theft victims, he said, adding that the arrests will "definitely put a dent in this type of business in that area."

How to claim items
Anyone who believes their stolen items may have been recovered can go to Oakland police headquarters at 455 Seventh St. between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday to view the items and be interviewed by investigators. Those with police reports or serial numbers should bring them to the Police Department.