Whine and Cheese

We had a softball double-header on Tuesday night. The heat was pretty miserable, but we did have a great time.

I got to the park early and snagged my team the dugout in the shade. We played both games on the same field, so we could just stay cool. We were going to be short players and one of the ladies asked a couple of her friends to come sub in. One of them was Crystl Bustos, a two-time OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST in softball! I didn't realize who she was until the dugout chatter later. She's the first Olympic athlete I've ever met. While it may seem like we brought in a ringer, it didn't save us from losing the second game. She's a great lady though and I think she may play with us more this season.

So even with my banged up knees and drained from the heat, I got up yesterday morning to run the annual July 4th 5K in my town. I ran with my friend Dan, but we had a late start walking to the park, so we had to "jog" the last 1/2 mile to the park. With the jog, the heat, and the softball the night before, I didn't do as well as last year. I had to stop for a couple of 1/2 minute breaks during the run. I didn't like stopping.

I don't have my official time yet, but it's easily a 1/2 minute more per mile than last year. I'll do better next time. And I got passed by the dad pushing the stroller AGAIN! I swear it's battery powered and is dragging him along.

On Saturday morning, I ran my first official 5K run. I thought after all my running outdoors I was fully prepared, but the hills actually took a lot of wind out of my sails by the third mile. I found my official time online yesterday, 27:36 minutes, running an 8:55 minute mile. I'll take it.

This was Pride weekend in Cincinnati. I went to the 701 Bar on Saturday afternoon for the Bear Party. Before going, I decided to play around with a packet of iron-on transfers to make a Grizzly tee-shirt to wear. It turned out pretty well I thought for my first try. After a while, the crowd started picking up, running into Brian (cincycub), Derek (_decibel_), and Chris (kybigstew) for a few beers.

The Cincinnati Pride Parade took place on downtown with a festival on Fountain Square. Some local community values-douchebags reported days before that we gays, lesbians and supporters would be roaming naked and having rampant sex in public there, but I was disappointed that no debauchery abounded while I was there.

The parade was a lot of fun. I took dozens of photos. You can get to the set my clicking my photo here. I played with the iron-on transfers again after Brian made comment that my Pride Kilted Bear would look good on a shirt. It got some good comments. I got my annual free HIV screen test (negative) and stopped by the Wire & Twine booth to get a shirt and visit with chrisglass, one of the hardest working guys on the Square.

There was lots of eye candy running about as well as a few more bizarre sights. It was great to run into so many friends in the crowds, getting many hugs, many smooches, and one surprising nipple nibble by a handsome furry muscle bear. It was a big success.

Today, I'm just relaxing...