Monday, August 27, 2012

Running in Wichita Falls

So I traveled to Wichita Falls TX to hang out with my brother while he rides in the Hotter n Hell bike race. I'm not a bike rider so I initially registered for the half marathon on Sunday.  After reconsidering the steep drops and climbs on the bicycle course we were going to be running on I decided to not run it and focus on getting back to Little Rock in time to pick up Frisco.

So I did however manage to get in two really decent runs in Wichita Falls while I was there.  The first day, Friday morning I went out and found a really quaint subdivision behind the hotel.  I ran down the main frontage road to 82 until I met with a road that took me back into the neighborhoods.  The homes were newish, about late 90's all brick with enough variation in the architecture to not make them look cookie cutter.  There were sculptured bushes and manicured lawns, the streets were wide and flat which made for good running.  I worked myself into the south eastern corner of the neighborhood and I noticed one house had a two foot white cross made out of wood stuck in the ground in the mulch.  I was like "hmmm, that's strange..." .  I continued running and saw another white cross in another lawn.  My though was..." Well at least they are not on fire"...I continued to run and noticed that EVERY house on this street had white crosses stuck in the ground in front of the homes.

Now I don't know about you, but when I see this I think of 1) The KKK - cross burning, segregation, white hooded figures terrorizing their neighbors who happen to be a different color or religion from them.  and 2) Nazi Germany.  Christian/white dominance and discrimination.    When I saw streets lined with white crosses a streak of fear ran through me as if they were trying to intimidate.  It felt freak'n scary!  I felt like I was being told that only Christians live here and every body else better get the hell out or at least pretend to be Christian by sticking a cross outside your home, cause if you ain't got a cross in front of your home folks are gonna talk.

Discrimination comes in many forms.  While these folks with the crosses never probably out-right though of their crosses as coming across as hateful or discriminatory,  to a Hindu or Muslim family perhaps looking to purchase a home in that area, it is a clear and loud statement.  Christians Live Here...be warned...

I am not of any faith and I felt threatened, imagine how somebody feels who is of a different faith, one that is not of the cross bearers...

Perhaps they did know it was scary to outsiders, maybe there was a reason for the crosses and they wanted to make a subtle....ha...not so subtle statement.

From my limited knowledge of history, the Nazi movement began very subtly also.

What do you think?  I certainly did not run that way again  I got the heck out and did not go back.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Ugh! Earbud Hell!!!

Ok, The Yur buds failed me this morning. 

One issue right now is that the R and L have worn off them and It's hard to tell which goes in which ear.  And ever since the left yur bud blue thingie fell off, I cant get it back on properly to stay in my ear.  So this morning I went out for my normal two rivers run and it started to rain on me.  The left yurbud, not having a good seal immediately separated from my ear and began to loosen.  By the time I was three miles in, it was falling completely out of my ear.  I got so annoyed by it I finally had to take it out and tuck it into my shirt and go single eared. 

I was so angry, I mean for what I payed for them they should perform better.  So I'm on the hunt for something new...


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Back to Earbuds...Repost

Update!  Re posted this because you may not see it if I update on the old post...

Still using the Yurbuds.  It appears that if the blue cover comes off and you have to put it back on, you have to pay attention to the rotation of the blue thing on the bud.  If the blue thing is not lined up properly, the stem of the earbud will not be positioned correctly on the outside of your ear and that little thing at the base of your ear can push the earbud out.  So ...if your having this problem experiment with the rotation of the blue thing on the bud....it helped me....

Where were the deer?

Ok, so I went out on my usual early morning run at Two Rivers Park this morning and there was not a deer to be found.  WTF?  Don't they know that their job at 6am is to provide ambiance for my morning run?  I feel so let down by the wildlife community today....

Oh well.  One white tailed bunny did show up for the party and bounced around on the west loop.

I felt good this morning, my 6 miles went really easily, although I did not experience the 7:40 phenomenon.
 I ran into Karen Hayes!  She was banged up from a fall she took on a recent 50 mile training run.  It happened at mile 44 of her run so she was almost finished.  Otherwise she said the run went great.  I knew it would.... :)

I have no new music to report.  I'll look at more on Friday.


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Well, nothing to worry about

This mornings run turned out to be better than expected.   The twinges in my knee did not come back.  I started with some friends and we ran 2.25 miles then did quarters for 2.25 miles.  Then we ran until we hit 6 miles.  I felt great, enjoyed the run and had no issues.

Things are looking good for fall races... still not talking much about it though.  Don't want to jinx myself....

Monday, August 13, 2012

A bit of worry...

So in an earlier post I noted I was recovering from a knee injury.  Well during my last long run I got some touches of the pain back.  I'm a little worried.  At the end of the run I was not in any pain but it occurred, just slightly, during the run.  It may not have been the same pain.  I figure there are a few reasons for this:

1. My camelback is too heavy and causing my posture to be bad while its full
2.  My shoes were old ( I just got a new pair).
3.  I cut back on my anti-inflammatory meds...they were giving my stomach issues....
4.  I'm hyper sensitive to ANY pain in my knee right now be it related to the injury or not.
5.  My knee knows I registered for the Do Wacka Do and its protesting

I'm taking today off, taking my full regimen of meds and going for an easy run in the morning.   I kinda wish I were running alone in the morning because of this, I don't want to let on that anything is wrong with my knee and I don't want to try to run too fast or too anything,.....

I just don't want to feel any more pain...

New products to try!

I have to tell you about a new product I tried on my long run this past weekend.  It is a G series product called Gatorade 01 Prime Cinnamon Raisin Flax

Here is the link to the product:Raisin yum

They were small, yummy and perfectly digestible.  I was not dealing with extreme heat when I used these, but they seemed to work well and digest easily.  The only problem was packaging.  After you open it, you are left with a tiny plastic tray you must either carry with you or locate a trash can for.  I don't like that. Seems like they could do better on a product indented to be used on trails and hikes.  Oh well.  A win on flavor and digestibility though.  Give them a try.


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Really excited today...The Magic curve and the 7:40 mile phenomenon!

So a week or so ago I was running with my friend, our usual run from ADEQ on Tuesday mornings.    I was feeling pretty good and we were rounding the parking lot to top off our mileage, just talking about normal things.  I felt like we were moving pretty good and looked at my Garmin and the pace said 7:42.  I did a double take, looked at the device again and sure enough...we were doing a sub 8 minute pace as we finished off our run.  I told my friend this and he said, "yeah, it does feel kinda fast" .  I was surprised that after 11 weeks of hardly no running, a few weeks of very conservative running, I slipped into a sub 8 so easily.   I figured mostly because I was running with my friend and we have a tendency to push each other when we run and try to hurry and get done before time to head home.  So I just wrote it off as a fluke.

Earlier this week, I was running my normal Two Rivers run and experienced the same thing.  I was coming back toward my car, rounding a corner, looked at my Garmin and saw 7:40 again.  Wait, I'm alone....why am I running a 7:40?  Maybe I saw that wrong, because I definitely did not feel like I was pushing very hard.  I completed my run, want to my usual park bench and stretched before driving home.

So I went out again this morning to perhaps mimic the same conditions that produced the 7:40 phenomenon, I was going to pay attention to my pace during the whole run this time.  The run started out very conservatively.  About 9:40 going out, It was humid and dark, very dark.  I seem to naturally slow down in the darkness.  I made a right turn on the other side of the bridge, circled around the end of the island.  While I made my way into the first dark section of forest I could see deer crossing the path.  I slowed to keep away from them.  As I ran past, one decided I was not enough of a threat to move and she just stood on the trail while I ran around her.  After the loop, or the "Needles eye", I made my way to the open section before the second forest area, still pulling around a 9:40.  I ran all the way into the park, turned left looped around the West side walk way and then back.  I was reading low 9 minute pace.  I guess gradually getting warmed up plus the rising sun helped me run faster.  I could see better so that helped.  So I still had not seen anything under 8 minutes. I was beginning to think I had been imagining the whole thing.

So I continued back out of the park, passing other walkers and runners who had gradually began to make their way into the area.  Through the swamp, the hay field, the swamp again, then to the pine forest.  This is where the magic seems to happen.....While coming back I saw my pace dip into the low 8's a couple times.  I was thinking..."hmmmm  This may happen..."  After exiting the pine forest, there is a small hill you run down to make the curve around the end of the island.  This is where the pace drops, like magic, I looked down and saw the 7:40!  It was there, it was real!  And it did not feel difficult at all!  I looked down again, 7:31!!!  I just kept going down...then I hit the hill at the foot of the bridge and I slowed.  The hill is the where the magic ends.    I'm going to now call that part of Two Rivers park, The Magic Curve!  Let it be written, let it be done!  :)

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Headphones, earbuds, yurbuds

Here is where I will review headphones, and earbuds because it seems I'm going to be having problems in this department.

My first pair was, of course the little white ones that came with my iPhone.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  Those stylish little wires that snake around your neck and into your pocket attached to your iPod.  I don't know how long people wore those things until somebody finally said "this shit hurts"...To make them stay in your ears you have to wedge them in as deep as possible to the chagrin of every ear nose and throat doctor ever who tells you never to put anything smaller than your elbow inside your ear.    Remember the kid in grade school who got the bean stuck in his ear?  That guy..yeah, don't be him.

So even with those little white things crammed into your ears, when you get really sweaty, they fall out.  How can something be wedged into your ear so tight it hurts pop out when it gets sweaty?  It's not fair.


So some friends recommended the Yurbud.  These little blue boogers will set you back about 30 bucks, but if they work and are comfortable, its worth it right?  My friend who works at the running store carefully measured my ear and helped me select the right size.  They come in sizes ya know.   Cool, right?

So I popped these into my iPod and performed the little twist maneuver to get them set securely in my ear and started off on a very hot afternoon.  Well, they were great!  They sounded good, they felt good, they stayed in.  I used them for several more runs until at the end of one particularly hot sweaty run I went to pull them out of my ears, and the right one came out ok, but the left one, when I pulled on it, the speaker part came out, but the rubberized contoured speaker cover that sets in your ear stayed!  I was that kid with the bean stuck in his ear!  I stopped and panicked a little and finally pulled the thing out.  I worked to get the rubber cover back over the speaker and thought I was successful at repairing it, but on my next run the speaker fell out again and the rubber stayed.  Again I fixed it and again it fell out.  Now the whole thing keeps falling out of my ear.  Just the left ear, the right ear works great.

So again I'm in search of a new pair of earbuds.  I'm reluctant to go back to the running shoe store because I'm embarrassed at what a mess I made of the yurbuds...  Oh well.  We'll see what happens next.  I hope to try skullcandy or another brand next.  I'll let you know.


Update!

Still using the Yurbuds.  It appears that if the blue cover comes off and you have to put it back on, you have to pay attention to the rotation of the blue thing on the bud.  If the blue thing is not lined up properly, the stem of the earbud will not be positioned correctly on the outside of your ear and that little thing at the base of your ear can push the earbud out.  So ...if your having this problem experiment with the rotation of the blue thing on the bud....it helped me....

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I'm down for the Do Wacka Do!

So I have decided I'm going to sign up for the Do Wacka Do in Erick Oklahoma!  It's a 50k and will be my one and only long training run before the Pumpkin Holler in October.  They have a 50 mile run as well, but I just don't think I need to risk that.

 Either I'm going to do the 100k or not.  I have already paid for it, so decisions have been made.  I plan to go slow and stay hydrated and fed and hopefully I'll pull off the 62 mile race before the cutoff.    The only thing I have to do is finish.

So training run in OK .  I'm going to try to get in another 20 +  miler on trails this weekend.  I plan on picking up an extra bladder for my Camelback this weekend so I can switch it out mid run. For the 50K I plan on packing two and switch them out so I get a fresh supply of Endurolyte without having to remix it.

I'm going to pack a ice chest with after drinks as well, a blanket and some folding chairs.  I'm beginning to do everything like I plan to do for the races.  I also plan to pack Fig Newtons, Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwiches, and maybe some Cheezits.  I like Cheezits....

Monday, August 6, 2012

Entire running playlist as of right now....Don't Judge...

Marathon
126 songs, 9.5 hours, 1.13 GB
Name Time Album Artist
Tu Sabes 9:59 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Eduardo D'Alirio
Not Again 7:08 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Hard Ton
Cat & Mouse 5:13 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Hit Me 6:59 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Romina Cohn
Zen (feat. Inja & Skuff) 3:54 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Love Wish 9:13 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Phil Kieran
The Clock 5:11 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Overestimation 7:20 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Herman Schwartz
Children (feat. Chiddy) [NOW What's Next... 3:14 NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 40 V.V. Brown & Chiddy
Glad You Came (Bonus Track) 3:18 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 The Wanted
Cat & Mouse (Version 2) 7:11 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Chocopop Jazz 8:22 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Christian Prommer
Hold the Dub 4:15 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Der Strom der Zeit (DJ Hell Extended Club... 4:05 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Gilla
Giant Pickle 4:27 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Understand This Groove 6:20 Gigolo Music LTD 13 SoundFactory
Fix That Speaker 4:53 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Listen Up (feat. Broken English) 3:28 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Rocking Chair 5:58 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Baila En La Disco 3:04 Las Más Picudas del Tribal DJ Zant & Maycot
Drive By 3:11 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Train
Bunch of Keys 10:27 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Cumbia Sabrosa 3:09 Las Más Picudas del Tribal DJ Morphius
Stockport Carnival 5:30 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Disturbia 3:59 Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded Rihanna
Re-Bokk Robot (Hannah Holland Remix) 6:19 Gigolo Music LTD 13 POSH! The Prince
This Way (feat. Pete Simpson) 5:32 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Costeño Digital 2:24 Las Más Picudas del Tribal DJ Morphius
Feet 8:16 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Rampa & Re.You
Not Over You 3:35 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 Gavin DeGraw
Kalimba 5:51 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
It's All Part of a Bigger Plan 1:47 Florida Diplo
Diplo Rhythm (feat. Vybz Cartel, Pantera ... 4:53 Decent Work for Decent Pay Diplo
Give Me All Your Luvin' (feat. Nicki Minaj &... 3:21 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Madonna
Love You Like a Love Song 3:06 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 Selena Gomez & the Scene
Give Up To Get 6:45 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Kings Cross 6:15 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Snuff Crew
Boys Boys Boys 3:21 The Fame Lady GaGa
Baby (feat. Vybz Kartel) 3:27 Decent Work for Decent Pay Diplo
Sorry for Party Rocking 3:23 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 LMFAO
Blackout 3:28 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 Breathe Carolina
Hold On (feat. Andreya Triana) 5:04 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
A Riot of Chrome 6:15 Gigolo Music LTD 13 BDI
Indian Thick Jawns (feat. P.E.A.C.E.) 3:56 Florida Diplo
Percao (feat. Pantera Os Danadinhos) 3:16 Decent Work for Decent Pay Diplo
We Run the Night (feat. Pitbull) 3:47 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Havana Brown
International Love 3:45 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 Pitbull & Chris Brown
Get On Down 5:54 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
El Ritmo De La Costa 2:40 Las Más Picudas del Tribal DJ Morphius
The Whistlerz (Diplo Remix) 4:17 Decent Work for Decent Pay Claude Vonstroke
Turn Up the Music 3:44 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Chris Brown
Bang the Floor (feat. Danny Breaks) 3:43 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Ghetto Fab (Original Mix) 7:53 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Danny Daze
Diplo Rhythm (feat. Vybz Cartel, Pantera ... 4:53 Florida Diplo
The Fame 3:42 The Fame Lady GaGa
Veni Vidi Vici (Diplo Remix) 3:42 Decent Work for Decent Pay Black Lips
Feel So Close 3:22 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Calvin Harris
In the Dark 3:45 NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 40 Dev
Nice Up the Function (feat. Roots Manuva) 3:56 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
When a Man Sings On a Track 8:36 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Douglas Greed
The Golden Age 3:50 Fruit The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Session Two 4:34 Free the Robots - EP Free the Robots
Money Power Respect (feat. P.E.A.C.E) 3:52 Florida Diplo
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Marathon
Name Time Album Artist
Beautiful, Dirty, Rich 2:52 The Fame Lady GaGa
Set It Off (feat Lazerdisk Party Sex) 4:00 Express Yourself - EP Diplo
Way More Brazil 3:20 Decent Work for Decent Pay Diplo
Turn Me On (feat. Nicki Minaj) 3:20 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 David Guetta
Mr. Saxobeat 3:12 NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 40 Alexandra Stan
Stereo Hearts (feat. Adam Levine) 3:30 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 Gym Class Heroes
Whiplash 6:01 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Shut Up and Drive 3:32 Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded Rihanna
Right and Tight (Original Mix) 6:10 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Hrdvsion
Lonely Traveler 4:20 Free the Robots - EP Free the Robots
Way More 5:56 Florida Diplo
Butters Theme (feat. Billy the Gent & Long... 4:27 Express Yourself - EP Diplo
Heater (Diplo Extended Edit) 4:30 Decent Work for Decent Pay Samim
Firework 3:48 Teenage Dream Katy Perry
What Makes You Beautiful 3:17 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 One Direction
You Make Me Feel... (feat. Sabi) 3:32 NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 40 Cobra Starship & Sabi
Domino 3:49 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 Jessie J
Hairy Bumpercress 6:31 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Lucky (Hot Stuff Long Mix) 5:23 Lucky - EP Lucky Twice
Mueve Tu Caderita 3:13 Las Más Picudas del Tribal DJ Morphius
Yoga Fire 2:56 Free the Robots - EP Free the Robots
Poker Face 3:57 The Fame Lady GaGa
Express Yourself (Instrumental) [feat. Nick... 4:38 Express Yourself (feat. Nicky da B) - EP Diplo
Move Around (feat. Elephant Man & GTA) 3:14 Express Yourself - EP Diplo
Solta O Frango 2:16 Decent Work for Decent Pay Bonde Do Rol?
California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg) 3:55 Teenage Dream Katy Perry
Brokenhearted 3:46 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Karmin
Without You (feat. Usher) 3:27 NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 40 David Guetta & Usher
Donkey Ride 5:14 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix) 4:29 Me and You - Single Nero
Don't Stop the Music 4:27 Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded Rihanna
En Memoria a Santiago 7:17 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Adriano Patane
Jazzhole 3:45 Free the Robots - EP Free the Robots
No Problem (feat. Flinch & My Name Is Kay) 3:39 Express Yourself - EP Diplo
200 2:25 Decent Work for Decent Pay Diplo
Welcome to the Funk (Original Mix) 7:21 Welcome to the Funk - Single Kid Culture
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) 3:51 Teenage Dream Katy Perry
Good Feeling 4:06 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Flo Rida
I Wanna Go 3:29 NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 40 Britney Spears
Music Takes Me Up (feat. Alice Russell) 5:28 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Me and You (Steve Angello Remix) 6:25 Me and You - Single Nero
Lucky (Extended Mix) 5:25 Lucky - EP Lucky Twice
Diary 3:59 Free the Robots - EP Free the Robots
Big Lost 4:39 Florida Diplo
LoveGame 3:36 The Fame Lady GaGa
No Problem (feat. Flinch & My Name Is Kay) 3:39 Express Yourself (feat. Nicky da B) - EP Diplo
Barely Standing (feat. Datsik & Sabi) 4:43 Express Yourself - EP Diplo
Put That Pussy On Me (Diplo Tonite Remix) 3:42 Decent Work for Decent Pay Spank Rock
Daftjunk (Original Mix) 6:41 Welcome to the Funk - Single Kid Culture & Thomas Robson
Teenage Dream 3:48 Teenage Dream Katy Perry
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) 3:39 Now That's What I Call Music, Vol. 42 Kelly Clarkson
Moves Like Jagger (feat. Christina Aguilera) 3:21 NOW That's What I Call Music, Vol. 40 Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera
Sexy and I Know It 3:18 NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 41 LMFAO
Test the Sound 1:41 Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait Mr. Scruff
Me and You 4:08 Me and You - Single Nero
Ai Se Eu Te Pego 2:45 Las Más Picudas del Tribal El Pelon Del Mikrophone
Transformation (DJ Hell Remix) 8:17 Gigolo Music LTD 13 Tim Deluxe
Listen to the Future 3:22 Free the Robots - EP Free the Robots
Florida 1:37 Florida Diplo
Just Dance 4:02 The Fame Lady GaGa & Colby O'Donis
Express Yourself (feat. Nicky da B) 4:38 Express Yourself (feat. Nicky da B) - EP Diplo
Newsflash (feat. Sandra Melody) 3:03 Decent Work for Decent Pay Diplo
Back In Time (From "Men In Black III") 3:26 Back In Time (From "Men In Black III") - Si... Pitbull
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More running tunes! Great Training!

This morning I started my run from Two Rivers Bridge again.  I love running from there, you have a mostly flat course, you can do 4 miles, 5 miles or 7 miles in the park before you come back over the bridge and its full of wonderful life, deer, armadillo, frogs, snakes and possum.  At 5:45 its getting daylight (getting later and later each morning).  Daybreak in the park is so glorious because when you come back east the sun is coming up over Maumelle across the river and this morning it was a wonderfully large orange ball with ridges of purple and blue coming from.  Just above the sun stretches the 4.30 bridge joining little rock and North Little Rock with the constant noise of cars beginning the weekday rush hour.  Oblivious to me.  I feel sorry for them because they are not where I am.  Oh well, maybe they get their opportunity later in the day.

Anyway Today's music brought to you by:

 NERO

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promises_%28Nero_song%29

Mr Scruff

Gigolo Music LTD 13

Mr.Scruff Ninja Tuna With Bonus Bait

and

Las Mas Picudas del Tribal


Enjoy!