Some sad news and some happy news out of my Rec & Ed Aikido club. First, the sad news. After over ten years teaching the Rec & Ed club, our instructor is leaving Ann Arbor to teach elementary school in Vermont. I was fortunate to spend seven of those years as his student, and I …
Improving by “Halves”: Lessons Learned from Dexter-Ann Arbor 2013
ASK ME TO DESCRIBE MY OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN ONE WORD, and I would answer, "Improvement". New and/or better stuff is fascinating to me, and helping improve things is what I do for a living. Improving myself is certainly part of that. Something didn't go well? Sure, I get bummed out. But next time will …
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“Half” Measures
As a competitive runner, there are two main factors I consider when planning a race: speed and endurance. Which one takes precedence depends on the distance. When I run a 5K race (3.1 miles), I don't worry if I will finish, only how fast. I set a target pace for the first mile, then go all …
Black Star Farms, Part 2: Sirius Winemaking
"I believe in a loving God," Don said, "because he gave us a way to turn unremarkable grape juice into something alcoholic." I don't drink wine - never developed a taste for it - but I enjoy learning about how it's made. And Black Star Farms takes its winemaking seriously. Or perhaps I should say, …
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RUN COFFEE WRITE 