Did you know pheasant is more expensive than lobster?  Rather than dining out at a fancy Manhattan restaurant, come to rural Iowa and eat pheasant!

• Six hunting licenses ($90 x 6 = $540)
• Three nights lodging at Tjaden’s Motel ($40 x 3 nights x 3 rooms = $360)
• Gasoline for cars ($150)
• Dinner a local cafes for six ($20 x 6 hunters x 3 nights = $360)

Total cost = $1,410

• Total pheasant kill = 12 birds
• Price per pheasant = $117.50 per bird

Thus, pheasant is truly a delicacy.  Lobster is cheap by comparison!

If you’re still with me … (I’ll resume serious blogging tomorrow!)

• Enjoy this Nerdcast of Pheasant Hunting in Iowa (4 minutes long)
• Four photos from the hunt; that’s me with the Chip, the dog!

Later today I head south to invade Iowa with five buddies … Pheasants beware! What will be particularily sweet about this long weekend is … as of yesterday I have taken care of my major financial responsiblities in life. In addition, the weather forecast is for crisp, cool, sunny days. Thus what could be more perfect than celebrating life with some old friends!  Let me explain:

1. Yesterday my youngest son received his second college acceptance letter … with another super scholarship offer! This grant combined with the fact that in 1984, Molly and I started setting aside money in an educational trust fund for our children, Erik’s college education is already paid for! Three kids … three private college educations paid for.  Yippee!
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2. In addition, when this same young couple got married, our parents and realtor tried to encourage us to purchase a larger, more expensive house. After all, we could "afford it". Instead, we opted for a more modest home and neighborhood.  We’ve never regretted the decision, and 23 years later we own our home, not the bank!

I hear the corn is down … thus … watch out pheasants … here I come!
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4:00:53 !

Now some of you may wonder … gee … you could have broken 4 hours. Nope! Even though I only needed to run each mile only 2 seconds faster, that was quite impossible. Other facts that non-marathoners may find surprising:

1. One is not hungry after a marathon … or even later that day. One is THIRSTY!
2. It is very hard to sleep the night after a marathon. Your body hurts.

However, the day after a marathon. Hunger appears in a big way. Sleep is easy!
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I'm leaving for the Republic of Cheeseheads in one hour. Given the new State Department requirements, this morning I asked my wife if we needed our passports. She wasn't sure. Anyhow, wish me luck in the Whistlestop Marathon in Ashland, Wisconsin … on the shores of Lake Superior.  Unlike the weather for the Chicago and Twin Cities Marathons held last weekend, our forecast is perfect. Wish me luck; 26.2 miles is still a long way to run!
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My wife just told me I should explain the weather differences. The two marathons run last weekend were in very hot and muggy/humid conditions (high temps in the mid 80's). The Whistlestop is expect to have partly sunny conditions … 40 degrees at the start … 55 degrees at the finish … and only 4 mph winds.
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