Published by JPLand on 30 Apr 2009
Apparently, you can genetically inherit smarts. My sister got them from my grandfather and has used them wisely. She pointed me to one of the coolest things to hit the internet since Zuper John first took flight. Apparently, you can change your language settings on Facebook to “Pirate”. Ahoy!
Published by JPLand on 24 Apr 2009
Are you ready? Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. Here’s my history with the Run4Missions 5k.
_JPG.jpg "Hes like the Wind")
2006
My first “official” 5K in several years. Actually, I think it was my first 5K in a decade. That includes official, unofficial, amateur, and imaginary. I jogged a little leading up to the race. The night before, I loaded up on carbs by eating a Chili’s with my family and the Fenimore clan. My official time was 25:43. I finished first in my age group. I won a trophy. But the most important detail is that I rocked the headband.
_jpg.jpg "Running through your mind")
2007
I decided that it was time to get some work done. I ran at least three or four times leading up to this race. I was rewarded by dropping over a minute from my time and finished at 24:22. The downside is that someone brought in some ringers and I didn’t finish in the top three in my age group. You’ll note from the photos that I also shifted from a headband to a hat. I did this because I didn’t want my opponents to see my eyes. It’s kind of like playing poker. If they could see my eyes, then they’d know which direction I was running. This was a strategy to always keep them guessing.
2008
Um….well….um….you see. There was this cake that was sitting all alone. And my wife made me eat it. Seriously, I would have set a course record in ‘08 because I trained for at least 2 days leading up to the event, but I was forced to eat this cake. And then I had to watch a show. And not just any show, but one where people act like animals. It was crazy! I can only hope that the race did not fall apart without me.
2009
The race will be on May 3 at 8:00 AM. Rain or Shine. I warn you…I have my game face on. Well, I guess it’s really my “run” face. You know, it’s the one where I look pained and out of breath. Yeah, that one. I trained for most of February and a couple of days into March. I was busy in April, though. At least my body will be rested for the event. But either way, I’m going all out and I’m bringing home a trophy! Think I’m lying? Think I’ll puke my guts up before I cross the finish line? Well you’re probably right on both accounts, but either way, I’ll be running.
Want in on the action? No problem, there’s still plenty of time to sign-up. But what if you live too far away and can’t make it for the race? No problem there, either. You can sign-up for just the T-shirt. That way everyone thinks that you ran, but you never have to exert the effort. Heck, if you throw in an extra $5, I’ll photoshop some pictures to make it look like you were there. There’s only one question remaining…Are you brave enough to rock the headband?
Published by JPLand on 23 Apr 2009
I am currently in week 8 of the 13 week P90X series. I haven’t done everything I’m supposed to. Heck, I haven’t even done most of what the program calls for. I have neglected the cardiovascular portions of the program, as well as the yoga and the stretching stuff. I have been pretty faithful to the strength training portions, though. I could give you a scientific reason for why, but it all comes down to the fact that it’s tough to do the plyometrics video without either (1) waking my family up from all of the jumping or (2) looking like a complete idiot at the gym because of all of the jumping. (I prefer to look like an idiot at the gym for other reasons.)
At any rate, the first day that I did the program, there were pull-ups involved. Lots and lots of pull-ups. Well, there is supposed to be a lot of pull-ups. I did 2. I ended up having to use the weight machine in place of the pull-ups so that I could do the same exercise, but with lighter weight.
This week is a “recovery week” in the program, so I’ve used it to get speeding tickets and have a floor installed in the kitchen. But, I did go by the gym today for a light workout. I decided to grab the pull-up bar and see if I could squeak out 3 or 4. I managed to get a set of 9. I followed that later in the workout with a set of 8. How’s that for improvement?!
Of course, I’m still nowhere near the guys on the workout video. They’re cranking out 2 sets of 4 different pull-up styles with 20+ in each set. (I’ll do the math for you. For one workout, that’s roughly a bazillion pull-ups.) There’s only one way that I’ll ever get that many pull-ups at once:
Published by JPLand on 21 Apr 2009
I should know better. Actually, I do know better…but I’m a slow learner.
Work took me on a five and a half hour drive yesterday. I had to get some work done at my desk first, but finally left the office around 1:00. I arrived at my destination with a colleague in time to eat some supper and then crash at the hotel. We met with some customers, took notes and pictures, and managed to get done 30 minutes before noon. Since we weren’t sure how long we’d have to meet, the hotel room was booked for two nights. We rushed over to the hotel to check out before they charged us for the extra night. I signed the receipt with 2 minutes to spare. So, we got on the road for another five and a half hour drive home.
We were about 30 minutes from the office this evening when we hit the interstate. I had been behind a Honda Accord for at least 2 minutes, and I didn’t have that kind of time. As I entered the interstate, I moved around the Accord and started my final descent. Not more than 1/4 of a mile I got clocked doing 76 mph in a 60 mph construction zone. Ouch. (The good news is that if he would have been another 1/4 mile down the road, that number might have been higher.)
I grew up with a law enforcement officer in my family. I’ve heard lots of excuses and attempts to get out of a ticket. When the officer approached my door, I decided that I wouldn’t try to wiggle out of it. I’d woo him with honesty. After the precursory introductions, the officer said “Corporal Somebodyelse clocked you doing 76 in a 60.“ I responded “That sounds about right.“ He went back to his car and my colleague and I discussed the various methods of getting out of a ticket. We both concluded that honesty was the best policy. The city of Cordele begs to differ. Honesty just helps them write the ticket a little faster because they don’t have to explain it to you.
As we re-entered the flow of traffic, my colleague said “Well, I guess you’ll have to back it on down the rest of the way.“ I responded “Just because you get tagged-out sliding into second, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to steal a base again.“ It’s a valuable life lesson. How valuable? $250. I’m hoping that since I shared the lesson for free, you might help me with the donation that I’ll be making to the city of Cordele.
Published by JPLand on 15 Apr 2009
My grandfather (on my dad’s side) has been retired for as far back as I can remember. But he’s always been busy. I spent numerous summer days running around in his basement, avoiding the pieces of machinery that he used to make wooden projects or to repair miscellaneous items that he’d found along the road. Not figuratively, literally. Stuff right off the side of the road. If it looked neat, he’d grab it. He passed this trait on to my father.
Sometime in the mid-to-late 80’s, he purchased a good number of acres where he and my grandmother built a nice house and settled down. Since that time, he’s been “building” a workshop to house all of his wood-working and yard equipment. 20 years to build a workshop? Yep, he’s managed to stretch it out longer than you or I could. This means that every once in a while, he’ll mosey outside and against his wife’s instructions, he’ll lift something that’s too heavy, put it in a place that’s too high, and then secure it using a piece of equipment that’s too powerful. If he gets injured, he just waits a little longer before he tries to put the next piece in place. If he is fortunate enough to avoid injury, he pressed on with his work until he finds that accident he’s been looking for. He is as stubborn as an ox. But he’s very happy.
A couple of months ago, my wife and I took our girls to see my grandparents. The girls played with some of the same toys that I played with when I was their age. While we were there, my grandfather proudly mentioned that his shop was nearly complete. We slowly walked outside to the building that he has made block by block. He smiled as he opened the door to his little piece of heaven. Nuts, bolts, wood, machines, and miscellaneous parts filled every inch of available space. But what made me smile bigger than anything else was his ability to think outside the box. Outside the ice box, that is…
Yes, those are doors from an old refrigerator. He’s bolted them to the wall to be his shelves. I guess we know where I get my engineering skills.
Published by JPLand on 14 Apr 2009
I saw this sticker on my way home this past week.
Can’t read it? Let me zoom-in for you.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Other times, it’s just ignorance.
