Cache of the Day - Running in a 5k

I like to run two or three times a week, and occasionally one of those days that I run will in an actual competitive event. I had a chance recently to run in the Bloomingfoods 5k Breakaway, a beautiful run through downtown Bloomington, through the Sample Gates at Indiana University, and then through the campus.

When I run in these events, I typically have three goals:

1. to finish the race without stopping to walk

2. to not be last

3. to not be beaten by any walkers

I am happy to say that I was able to accomplish all of these in this race. It felt GOOD!!!!

Cache of the Day - A Cowboy Concert

The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra played the first concert of the year at the College Mall and, to appeal to our future concertgoers (aka "little kids") we created a concert that was casual and fun....and cowboy! Check out our web site for a VIDEO and STORY on this concert.

All of the music was western, or western-related, such as "The Magnificent Seven", Aaron Copland's "Rodeo" selections, and a really fun-to-play "Pops Hoedown".

My favorite selection, however, was written by Gerry Amato, a talented musician and composer/arranger who has been at Indiana University and has arranged and played with us at the BSO. Gerry composed a "Cowboy Sing-along" (the audience LOVED it!), and I got to play a Sousa-like piccolo solo on the "Yellow Rose of Texas". It was SO fun to play! Gerry says he wrote it for me, and I am going with that! I will need to get his autograph on my picc part, with a special dedication from Gerry. Gerry's in Colorado now, but I know everyone in the BSO would like to see Gerry again. Hopefully it will be soon!

Most importantly, the crowd LOVED the concert and we expect they are now SO HOOKED on the BSO that we will see them again soon!

Yee-haw!!!!

Cache of the Day - Wine Tasting

I just can't think of anything that is as fun, romantic, relaxing, and self-indulging as spending a day on the wine trail.

Indiana has several of them, and Stacy and I spent a good part of the weekend visiting the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail. The only wineries we didn't hit were in French Lick, Bedford, and Bristow, but we'll catch those in a few weeks.

Tasting the wines, discussing their various characteristics and personalities is so educational, and comparing tastes with another is enlightening as well.

Stacy and I both prefer the drys, and stick to those primarily, but occasionally we'll try a "weird one", like the Black Currant at Butler Winery. The wine was so tart and sweet at the same time, that drinking even one glass was tough!

I wish every weekend could be as beautiful as this last weekend was. I'd be spending all my time exploring new wines on new trails!