JayKnight Life: Running, Reviews, Photos

         I was cautiously excited to return to Florida this past weekend for the Florida Classic. The only big instate HBCU Football Rivalry. The game draws Rattlers and Wildcats from across the country - and Florida back home for one weekend.  I say I was cautiously optimistic because there has been a lot of negativity in the headlines concerning FAMU - my Alma Mater.       FAMU's marching 100 was suspended after the death of one of its members in the middle of a hazing scandal. Plus the Football team has suffered through a tough season with a brand new -all though well qualified --coaching staff.

               Here's a couple of shots from my recent photoshoot with BossBehavior clothing.

     The last time we went to the state fair we felt like we didn't get to experience the whole thing... and that's because we didn't. Last year, we went on a couple of rides, shared a huge turkey leg and went home. This time around we tried to allow more time to experience the fair -- roughly four hours. It still wasn't enough time. But we did get to experience more than just the rides and food this time.     There were beautiful gardens....

 I told you that I love fall foliage... here's some more.

     I guess I'm kind of a leaf peeper. I grew a great appreciation for the Autumn colors while I was Living in Florida. You don't really get a changing of the seasons there. Connecticut on the other hand gets an amazing array of colors every year. I'm pretty sure their leaf peeping season is done by now.. but here in North Carolina its just beginning to pop. I'll get out in the next couple of days and get some more of these beautiful colors.

    My little buddy is definitely a big boy now. Ethan Just turned 7. Here are some pictures from his Birthday. We had the kids make funny faces if they wanted to.. then we printed those pictures for them to make some fun picture frames. I think it was a fun memorable surprise for him.

So, I'm finally back to taking pictures again. It's funny.. because I didn't even tap the shutter button on my camera for one month. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, .... but because I was spending less time processing photos on my slow computer.. I didn't have more time with my family. Anyway this weekend I went to a car show. A Porsche Show at the NC Museum of Art. It was pretty awesome talking with some of the owners... dragging my son around.. and oh yes.. Daisey came out with me too. Here are some of my shots! enjoy.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I finished my first 5K race in 7 years. Earlier this year I set out to get back in shape after years of self-body neglect. At the time, I blamed it on lack of time, a busy lifestyle, church, work schedule, home demands and more. Now there's no room for excuses. I'm well on to running at least three times a week.Since running the "Run to RNCC 5K" I've upped my running distance from a mile each time to two miles. I really should have documented my journey more this summer. Here are some of the things that I discovered about myself.     Number one, I was slow. I could barely run a mile in less than 10 minutes... and that was wen I was only running one mile. Now I'm down to running a mile in the eight minute range. Sometimes my first mile is in the seven minute range. If I run with my dog -Daisey- It's a little slower as you can imagine (because of bathroom breaks and other dogs.)            The second thing that I discovered

          What if I told you that I didn't have to do anything to find or track these deer. That all I had to do was get out of my car and walk 100 feet into a park to find them eating, laying down, walking around... and that they didn't run away. I spent about an hour in this park watching these deer as they watched me.  First I came upon the buck and doe.  Both were laying down and allowed me to creep closer and closer into their space. Of course I was using a telephoto lens 70-300... so I wasn't that close, but this is about as close as I've ever been to a deer without a pane of glass between us. Then, when I felt I had overstayed my welcome, I backed away and continued down the trail.. only to look to my left and see a mother and her three fawn. They stuck close to mom... followed her across the trail and into a more covered area of the park. I felt really special to have run across these animals today.

     So, I used to be a track star. Well, not really a star. I was really good at the Hurdles and kinda OK at the 400 meter sprint.... and that was more than 15 years ago. In High School. Man, that last statement makes me feel really old. I was 18 and at the height of my physical fitness. I thought that I'd only get stronger. I was wrong. It's been 15 years since I've run on a regular basis. I've watched my biceps get smaller, my legs get weaker and my knees make funny noises. The final straw was a trip to the doctor a few months ago... and hearing the words "pre-diabetes" cast at me.      But God did not give us the spirit of fear.

       After work this Monday, instead of going straight home to my family or to the store to run an errand, ... I decided to see for myself what this thing was about-- this Moral Monday  protest that has been going on at the State Legislature for 11 week.

      I don't think that anyone can deny that watching baseball at home on TV is pretty boring.. that is unless you have your own hot dog stand, funnel cake maker, ice cream machine and mascot. This week I proved that watching baseball in the stands with your family is fun.With family visiting for the week... we headed off to the Durham Bulls game Monday night against the Columbus Clippers.

     So, Ethan has a little friend to play with for the week-- Isaiah. My brother-in-law and his family are visiting this week. These two are already having a blast.

It's great being able to take pictures of my little buddy in the choir.      

      It was a boys only weekend. My wife was away in Chicago to see her friends, so EJ and I hit the road. I figured since it's summer time it'd be the perfect opportunity to hit the beach... and it was. We got to Wrightsville beach 2-o'clock-ish. I drove around for about 15-20 minutes just to get a feel for the place and see where the best place was to park.  

    I do my best to keep my family safe and happy. Ethan was over the moon excited when my sister showed up at the front door this past weekend unexpected. Karen and I knew.. .but it was a little secret that we kept from him... just for this reaction! After the surprise there was no bringing him down. He was on level 100 all weekend. But, that was part of the fun. It's always great to have family around.

Remember when I said that I had forgotten to post some pictures,.. Well here are some more pictures that I haven't posted. there's actally nothing special about these. Just some water and strange clouds.

 So, every once and a while, I forget to upload/process/ post pictures that i've taken. It's a combination of being too busy and forgetting. Whatever... no excuses. Ethan's been out of school for a couple of weeks now. So here we go. This is the party that his school threw for the first and second graders on the last week of school. They danced, played games, ate food, played more games.