Dan White

I’ve decided to run this thing after all — but I will definitely walk part of it, or waddle, crawl or stagger if that is what I need to do. From everything I hear, the route is quite scenic and flat along the American River, and part of the course actually goes downhill. (yippee!!) I’m resting up and carb-loading today. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

The big event is only two days away. The other day I was driving toward work and started playing with the odometer. And I realized, “Wow. 26.2 miles is a really, really, really long way to run.” There is still a small chance that I might turtle. More later. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

On Saturday I will run the Run the River Marathon up in Folsom (and will run non-stop to Sacramento if I can, following the American River all the way.) The other day, my father asked me, “Why on earth are you running a third marathon?” “Because I blogged about it,” I explained. “Oh,” he said, and that was the end of that. If you happen to be running this thing, and if you have a nice, slow pace, then look for me in the line-up. I’ll be wearing a blue hat with a Nike swoosh. This coming Monday, I will be going on the radio in the Atlanta area. I will be speaking with Ann Lombardi of “Travel Talk Escapes” at 3 p.m. eastern standard time. The radio station is 1120 AM. Other upcoming events: Sonoma County, CA Dec. 5private event (Rotarians) San Francisco Public LibraryWednesday, December 10, 2008Event Time:…

During my whirlwind trip to Seattle, I explored neighborhoods I’d never seen before and met all kinds of interesting people. But I packed so much into three days that I missed out on a few things. One of them is the mysterious lost art of “Squid Jigging.” “Squid jigging” means catching live squid using a baited line while standing out on a pier on Puget Sound (or elsewhere) in the middle of the night. Chances are that you’ve never heard of this unusual sport, but as you will see, it even has its own hair-raising theme song, complete with a line about “poor Uncle Billy” getting spattered with “squid-juice.” I found out about squid jigging while visiting the friendly people at the Hostel Seattle in Ballard — which must be one of the few lodging places in the world where squid-jigging is an optional activity for guests. Hostel owner Lee…

I hope to see at least some of you at the Run The River Marathon and Ultramarathon along the American River next weekend. I’m mentioning this in my blog only because I want to be held accountable if I chicken out and don’t do this. The last time I ran one of these road races, I had no clear goal in mind, except to beat Puffy’s time in the New York Marathon. These days, I would be happy just to beat Simon Pegg’s time in Run Fatboy Run. When I hit the wall at the mid-point, I will think of Bob Holtel, who completed the Pacific Crest Trail by running the equivalent of a marathon on it almost every freaking day. That should put this thing in perspective. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

I keep trying to wean myself from blogging about weird goings on in and around Golden Gate Park — but I found it hard to resist this one. I was walking through the Haight on Halloween and saw some guy asking people to smoke his thumb. Indeed, when I looked closely, I could see a plume of smoke rising up from beneath his thumb. One person actually stopped and smoked it, and then the guy started smoking his own thumb. Apparently he’d wedged a tiny, still-burning roach in there somewhere. Eventually it burned down and singed the inside of his finger. “Ow,” he said, and then the demonstration was over. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Read about my latest adventure in the New York Times Escapes section. I had a big time up in Seattle earlier this fall. I especially loved the neighborhoods of Ballard and Fremont. Ballard has a maritime theme, and Fremont looks like a psychedelic fever dream. (although I am not saying that from direct experience.)Click here for a Ballard/Fremont mini slide show. By the way, I mentioned a seven-ton statue of Mr. Vladimir Lenin that was erected some years back right in the middle of Fremont. While in Seattle, I heard that the statue is on sale for approximately $250 K. Try to imagine how this might look in your front lawn. It’s a lot more original than pink flamingos.This is not the first time I’ve seen a controversial piece of public art or signage go up for sale. A few years back, while at the Santa Cruz Sentinel, I wrote…

Here is a partial list of the latest events. I will fill in the blanks when more dates are confirmed. I will be reading and signing along with Kate Evans, author of the brand-new fiction book, For The May Queen, on Wednesday, November 12 at San Jose State University. Kate and I will read from 12 to 12:40 p.m.. We will be there in support of SJSU’s Poets and Writers’ Coalition. The event will be part of SJSU’s Career Day. There will also be a great selection of work by other SJSU-affiliated writers and faculty members. other upcoming events: San Francisco Public LibraryMission BranchSan Francisco, CaReading and signingDecember 10 (NEW DATE!) 630 to 730 p.m Sonoma County, CA Dec. 5private event (Rotarians) Also, I will lead a nature walk/writing class in the Santa Cruz area in early spring. So far, two of the slots have already been taken. Give me…

It could happen. The following nature photos are eerily similar to the ones I saw in a slideshow that influenced me to leave my stable employment in New England and hike the trail from Mexico to Canada. In fact, those very similar photographs led me to quit my job during a previous national recession/depression-by-any-other-name. Yes — it could happen to you too. And don’t worry. After walking the trail, I did find other meaningful work. Eventually. Joshua trees in the Antelope Valley. Desert scene in the early morning. Frolicking in suncups under Forester Pass. Peaceful, alluring meadow under Mount Whatever. Cascades in northern Oregon. Cascades, adrift in clouds and fog. Pasayten Wilderness assorted fungus http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Monarch the Grizzly Bear: dead and in person at the Academy of Sciences The crowd was already a quarter mile long at 8:45 a.m. It was a total mob scene; after all, this was the first “free Wednesday” at a museum that normally costs almost two and a half sawbucks to get in. The people in the line were getting restive at about 9:15. Someone in front of me was trying to stay calm by practicing Tai Chi. People in back of me were glowering because they resented me for having a better place in line, while people in front of me were looking at me as if they feared I would try to steal their spot. A nervous-looking woman kept making calls from her cell phone: “Get here fast! Meet me at the Goethe-Schilling statue!” But the actual museum — when we finally got in — was astonishing. We…