Big FAT loser

blogosphering

2011-07-18T06:44:00.002-05:00

I've been sporadically working out and not writing about it. I think the facebook has taken away from the blog. I went 3.23 miles today, according to mapmyrun. Even the VGFatdog was tired when we got home!

still trying

2011-06-22T15:09:00.004-05:00

Had a tough day today....pollen counts must have been a gazillion. Walked 1.6 miles and then ran on the track, in a failed effort to do what was aptly called the "marquis de sade". ran 400. walked 400. ran 200, walked 200. Was then supposed to go 100 and then 50, and then back to 400, but instead opted to walk home because i couldn't breathe, and #1 son was suffering even more. mini-me complained of sore knees, and where he was pointing looked like it could be growing pains....

Had a great workout on monday. did plyometrics and sprints at the soccer fields. Kicked my donkey, to be certain.

back at it

2011-06-15T06:17:00.002-05:00

took some time off from doing just about everything....no workouts no blogging, but we're back..back in a new york groove!( tip of the Mavs cap to Ace Frehley!)

Went 2.13 miles on Monday with #1 son and mini-me. Then came home after work last night and lifted.

This morning, with storms looming eminently to the west, we went for a 15 minute power walk and then did a set of wind sprints in the yard. The boys seem to be getting into it, but they could be just humoring the old man. Time will tell.

all for one...

2011-06-01T06:26:00.002-05:00

My running partners decided that discretion was indeed the better part of valor and left me to my own devices this morning. Even the VGFatdog decided she had better things to do..such as take my still warm spot in the cozy bed.

I trudged on, however, and went 2.59 miles. I decided to be the anti Horace Greeley and went east, through my childhood stomping grounds in old town. The mighty Embarras seems to be settling back down nicely after last weeks' rains and I was hoping to see an Egret looking for a morning snack. All in all a nice morning in the village.

surprise surprise surprise...

2011-05-24T12:37:00.002-05:00

(Tip of the Vancouver Canucks hat to Gomer, eh.)

Yesterday i was joined for my monday morning run by both sons. What a great way to start the week. Of course today i was met by abject indifference at work out time.

As i always say...baby steps.

wake up call

2011-05-19T06:38:00.002-05:00

Got a pleasant surprise this morning when mini-me woke me up for a run. We went about two miles...increased my running splits by 30 seconds and didn't die. All in all a great start to our day.

He's got an ambitious summer program in mind. I hope we can stay on it.

thirsty thursday

2011-05-12T06:57:00.000-05:00

You never know what sort of adventures await in VGFatboy land. Today, for example, we had the adventure of the dog who thought she should wet every blade of grass...followed immediately by fatty runs out of his shorts...on the FRONT STREET BRIDGE! I think only three cars came by at that exact moment. Anyway...we went 2.01 miles. After all the missteps we probably walked as much as we ran, but we were moving forward.

The mighty Sting fell to a good pitching Philo squad in their season opener. Too many little mental errors on D spelled the difference.

sweaty, finally

2011-05-10T20:48:00.002-05:00

Went out at 5:30 today and the humidity had already kicked it up a notch. Cookie accompanied VGfatdog and I on our trot this morning...little bastard outsprinted me to the finish...wish i could say i let him win, but i was trying like hell and couldn't quite catch him. MMR says we went 2 miles. we walked quite a bit in the middle, but it was still good.

Work is interesting, to say the least. never a dull moment in college of nursing land.

great nite for a stroll

2011-05-04T19:01:00.002-05:00

Took mrs fatboy, #1 son VGfatdog and noodles for a nice 40 minute walk...mmr says we went 1.92 miles. Enjoyed the company.

Going to Chi -town tomorrow for commencement. Should be a great day! So proud of the young nurses.

Guess who's back?

2011-05-02T06:44:00.002-05:00

Back again. Hookie's back. Tell a friend! (tip of the memphis grizzlies cap to eminem)

I've taken a two week hiatus from just about everything due to work and worry and some nagging injuries that i didn't want to become debilitating.

I went 2.23 miles today with the VGFatdog. Ran the 60/60 splits and felt pretty darned good. Will clean up the garage tonight with an eye on lifting in the morning. The weight bench is surrounded by the detritus of my life.

inspiration

2011-04-18T09:29:00.002-05:00

comes from many places. I usually find it in my bestie's marathon efforts. Sometimes it comes from by buddy the Rogue..as he too struggles to get back into regular exercise mode. This week, I found it in a group of ladies who don't even know that I monitor their efforts, via facebook. They've gone from zero to twelve milers over the course of the last several months and if they can do it, so can I. Here's to you Amy & company...keep up the good work and I'll try to follow in your wake. mmr says I went 2.25 miles today in 36 minutes.

back and bloggin...

2011-04-13T18:51:00.005-05:00

I've been working out a couple times a week, but haven't felt compelled to write about it. Went two miles with the missus and dogs tonight. felt awesome.

I've started lifting again...(I am epic win!) a friend was kind enough to let us have his olympic weight set and bench. (tip of the everlast hat to mad mike!) The boys are starting a lifting program too. I am trying to ease them into it so that they don't burn out too soon, yet still feel the burn, baby.

Work is crazy busy...just finishing our admission decisions for Fall, now have to orient them while continuing the recruiting thang and the current student advising thang....

fits and starts

2011-03-22T13:29:00.003-05:00

The hammy is still a bit skitchy, so I'm sticking to walking for a while. went 2.18 miles this morning.

mini-me is showing all the signs of becoming a first class P.I.T.A. he's allowed his grades to fall a LONG way below acceptable. i guess i should have been monitoring more closely, but he's always been firmly entrenched on the honor roll, so i didn't do my diligence. He also decided to quit track, which didn't set well with me either. However, he will now have more time (LOTS) to focus on school. Xbox, laptop visits from friends and cell phone are soon to be surrendered.

I hate having to be the enforcer, but he really needs to learn about perseverance and to get better study habits.

On a funner note...found this reference to the NCAA tournament. Fitting, for the Big FAT Loser!

Bon Appetite!

Bluuuuuueeeee

2011-03-16T06:36:00.003-05:00

(tip of the morehead st. hat to Leann Rhymes and the american idol chick who emulated her)

Once again, General Malaise has staged a bloodless coup on the casa del hookers...heh. A funk has descended recently, and I'm not talking Parliment/Funkadelic, earth wind & fire, or even pre-sell out commodores. I don't know if it's the last vestiges of winter, the time change or what, but I've been discombobulated all week.

The kids are about done with school...which is unfortunate because they've still got two months to go. More and more, I'm thinking year round school with three 6 week breaks might be a better option than the traditional schedule.

I did manage to shake the doldrums and walk 2.54 miles this morning. Onward and upward...supposed to be trending warmer.

ticking away

2011-03-03T05:36:00.003-06:00

the moments that make up a dull day...(tip of the Illini cap to Pink Floyd)

Do you ever wonder, truly wonder, how good or bad your fitness level really is? I mean, I've been running semi-regularly since New Years, so I have to be improving, right? Yesterday provided me with answers to both questions and the truth hurts...and so do my hamstrings.

I found myself a little behind the 8 ball time wise yesterday so I decided to condense things. Walked for 5 minutes, and then ran a series of 100 yard dashes. Full out...as hard as I could push. I finished 4...and thought my time on earth was through. I ended the workout with a 10 minute cool down walk at semi fast pace. Today my hammies feel like piano wires and the quads are barking.

Mike Davis and the other Illini seniors might finally be beginning to understand the urgency with which you have to play to succeed at a high level. I hope they finish their careers on a bright note.

You don't know how it feels....

2011-03-01T21:11:00.003-06:00

to be me! (Tip of the Chicago Bulls cap to Tom "thank god for Dylan or I'd be the ugliest man in Rock" Petty!)

Outside forces conspire to derail my fitness goals....gotta stay strong. did nothing yesterday. did the bw2 indoor workout this morning...with a guest appearance from mini-me, who set his own alarm in order to join me for 5:30 a.m. "jock"ularity.

If it's above 25 tomorrow I'm goin'. The mythical 3 mile milepost is in sight.

sunday fun day!

2011-02-27T11:19:00.001-06:00

took a nice 2 mile walk to dollar store and back with the dogs and kids....fun times. We explored the old roundhouse too.

cat's in the cradle...

2011-02-26T15:32:00.002-06:00

My boy is just like me...and it scares the hell out of me. He's whip smart...not a great athlete, but loves sports and listens to his coaches and understands the game he's playing, be it football, hoops or baseball. He can also be lazy with a capital L...and doesn't work hard at school or sports unless my size 9 is strategically placed. I am determined that he not go on the 15 year college plan like i was on...and it's causing some duress in FATboy land.

I did make him go on my run today...we went 2.93 miles...just shy of the 3 mile goal, and he finished strong, outsprinting me the last two blocks.

wacky wednesday

2011-02-23T20:15:00.002-06:00

This is my confession...( tip of the New Jersey Nets cap to Ursher) I wimped. Pussed. caved. could only complete half of the bodyweight 200 on tuesday....cut all the reps in half. but that was enough to get the pulse racing and the sweat flowing...

I went 2.74 (or 2.79 depending on which mapping software you chose to believe!) miles this morning...inching closer to the mythical 3 mile benchmark. took a tour of McCoy subdivision and Mrs. Coombes was the only other fool on the streets at 6:30 am....

I thought the Illini repped decently last night. OSU will beat just about anybody when they're shooting that well. We HAVE to beat the frickin' squawkeyes this weekend.

Tomorrow brings another shot at the BW200. we shall see.

Blue Monday...

2011-02-21T06:27:00.004-06:00

How does it feel...to run 2.6 miles in the rain. (Tip of the T Bayne NASCAR cap to New Order)

It feels pretty good, actually. the run/walk splits are glacially inching together. I still walk more than i run, but not by nearly as much as before. I can do this. and so can you.

Mama is doing the wii fit, even as i type this. We're making changes, although I ate criminally too much of Mama Romy's dip at the Daytona party yesterday. Speaking of Trevor Bayne..he looks young enough to be my son. Oh wait, I have a daughter that's his age? She has my permission to marry. :-)

here i go again, on my own....

2011-02-16T06:48:00.002-06:00

(tip of the old cap to David Coverdale) Went 2.06 miles according to mapmyrun.com. #1 son got up when i was doing my postrun stretches and joined in.

Slowly but surely he's warming up to this exercise with the old man thing.

workout partners

2011-02-15T12:01:00.003-06:00

wussed out this morning, so i did the bw 200 on my own. I'll coerce them into giving me some excercise tonight....maybe an abridged version of the 200.

I am not getting my wind back as quickly as i would like, but that's probably because OMW has been wreaking havoc with my running for 6 weeks....the bastard.

whoa, nellie!

2011-02-14T06:36:00.002-06:00

went for a slipping and sliding 2.17 miles this morning. About lost it 3 times....incorporated some different types of stretches into my post run cool down. my hips and hammies are SO tight.

Happy valentine's day to all.

shave my legs...

2011-02-03T07:15:00.001-06:00

and call me Nancy, but there was no way I was running in this weather.

I did shovel snow and push two vehicles out of my driveway along with taking the littles sledding. all in all, a decent cardio workout.

The big one...

2011-01-31T12:44:00.002-06:00

You want the big one? I've got the big one! (Tip of the BYU Cougars cap to The Hollywood Knights) It looks like the storm of the century's blowing in, so i wanted to make sure that i got one run in, at least, this week. MMR says I went 2.15 miles....next quest is to stretch it to 3. The jogging splits are glacially becoming more palatable.

This just in...I'm thinking about changing both my boys' names to Jimmer. What that kid is doing is phenomenal...a living, breathing, shooting testament to my son that relatively small, slow white boys can become tremendous basketball players through hard work, hustle and heart.

The Arcola mountain proved too tall once again as the Devils fell to their nemesis. I hated to see the season end. Finished 15-5, with 3 of the losses coming at the hands of the Riders. We'll get them next year.

back at it....

2011-01-26T07:18:00.003-06:00

I am always amazed at how easy it is to get out of the habit of doing something. I missed a Friday run, and then a Monday run....and before I knew it a whole week of workouts had gone untended.

It's tough, but I got up off the mat and went 1.41 miles Monday after work, and followed it up this morning by reaching the (in my mind) near mythical 2 mile distance, 2.18 to be exact.

I am very proud of the 7th grade boys hoops team. Missing several players due to illness, including their leading scorer, they fell behind 24-12 at the half to a very strong Heritage team, only to storm back and win in Double Overtime by a 46-43 count. They have one more mountain to climb...an Arcola quintet whom they've never beaten in 8 attempts covering 3 seasons. They've gotten close twice this year, and the game is in Arcola, but I am confident that they can do this.

brrrrrrrrrr!!!

2011-01-12T07:47:00.002-06:00

Old man winter sent a cold westerly wind into God's country today so I limited my run to the inner streets. I ended up only doing 1.5 miles, but i did lengthen the running portion of the splits a little bit. All in all not bad for a strangely still motivated fat guy.

Brat burgers don't have school today...apparently the wind is wreaking havoc with the country roads. Illini laid a tremendous egg last night...don't know what it is about the nitty kitties, but we sure can't beat them.

Tuesday bluesday

2011-01-11T22:34:00.002-06:00

I went 1.96 miles yesterday...then did the bodyweight 200 this morning. I think even my hair follicles are in pain right now!

Still pimping my route, trying to get t0 the mythical 2 mile distance. Then 3. Then 4. Then 5. then fuhgetaboudit.

Stupid Illini continue to toy with my emotions. I should know better than to become attached to this particular squad...they're like the little red haired girl...suck you in and then leave you hanging.

weekly wrap

2011-01-07T22:37:00.001-06:00

Went 1.72 miles this morning, after beers and illini game.

Had my semi-annual check up this afternoon. fun. or not.

mythical creatures...

2011-01-05T17:31:00.003-06:00

Include Unicorns, pixies,..... female VGHS grads in the 80's who kept their virginity.....and motivated VGfatboys. Until now. For some reason, and I'm almost afraid to talk about it for fear that it will disappear into the ether, I am actually looking forward to my thrice weekly torture sessions. Maybe my internal clock is ticking. Maybe I'm tired of being gi-normous. Dkdc at this juncture. Just hope it stays with me.

No Al K Haul since Sunday, no fast food, no nothing except for the occasional reeses minature from my colleagues' desktop source.

I went 1.97 miles today.... I'll add a couple blocks on Friday to try to get to 2 miles. Baby steps, Francis. Baby steps.

Blue Monday

2011-01-03T22:18:00.002-06:00

How does it feel? To treat me like you do? (Salute to the boys from New Order)...MMR said that I went 1.7 miles today. Wind was in my face for the first half....pushing me home for the last part. About half way , I felt a tweak in either my medius or aponeurosis....that's right, I had a pain in my butt! Not the big gluteus maximus, but just above it. I walked it in and it's ok, just a bit sore when I sit too long. which was all day at work.

I've been reading that people who have sendentary jobs tend to have REALLY stiff hip flexors, so I've been stretching them post run, along with some hamstring and calf stretches. All of which make for some interesting moments when I stand up after sitting for a couple of hours.

freaky friday...

2010-12-31T09:36:00.003-06:00

Yes, sports fans, I did get going this morning. Mapmyrun says I went 1.8 miles...came home and had a two egg omelet with fat free ham, pepper jack & fresh spinach.

I'm ready for the orgy of excess to which I will surely succumb tonight. The boss isn't feeling NYE right now, so who knows how the evening will play out. I did complete w1d3 of my 4th attempt at c25k, and for that i am satisfied...for now.

tuesday morning, coming down

2010-12-30T17:10:00.004-06:00

I got some unsettling news monday night and had a couple vodka drinks, and then a couple lager drinks....and so Tuesday morning workout didn't happen.

Came home at noon on wednesday and went for a run. 1.6 miles per mapmyrun. Any caloric benefit was totally negated by the fantastic homemade pizza that the missus whipped up while watching the illini football and basketball games....all washed down by the top deck of a dirty thirty.

A nice lady at the bank commented that she had seen me out running. I explained that I usually try to keep it to the back streets, but Main and Front streets were about the only two in town that hadn't been ice packed. I assume I look like a walrus on land as I'm waddling along, so I try to do it as privately as I can.

Tonite there's a party at the Griffsters...then tomorrow NYE and Saturday is our annual fish fry and football fiesta. I better add a couple blocks to the run tomorrow.

Christmas, inc.

2010-12-27T21:23:00.003-06:00

Christmas has come and gone, catching me in it's vapor trail like maverick and goose, in a flat spin from which i'm not sure how to break free, so.......

I went for a run this morning. mapmyrun.com says it was only 1.14 miles, but my body says it was much more than that. Trying to keep ones' balance on icy side roads taxes the quads and core like no one's business and I'm a sore fatty right now.

The children received enough loot to foment a revolution in liechtenstein, but they're pretty well grounded and they appreciated their gifts without seeming entitled so I guess we're doing something right.

Tomorrow I plan on doing some body weight stuff, with a special focus on core and upper body. Results to follow.

catching up

2010-12-08T15:52:00.002-06:00

So...it's been almost 5 months since I blogged. Wow.

The new job is terrific. It's got issues and I've had my doubts, but I'm starting to find my niche.
this is the most driven, focused amazing group of students i've had the privilege of serving. they seem so young, but they're dialed in like lasers.

more to follow...

great weekend

2010-07-06T14:12:00.002-05:00

Some times the little things matter the most, as the old axiom goes. This weekend was proof positive of that fact.

We didn't do anything fancy or expensive...just hung with the kids in various venues...and it was a blast. Took them fishing on Saturday and again yesterday. Golfed with #1 son on Sunday, then went to the VG fireworks...they're not extravagant, but they don't cost our financially strapped city 50k either...and there's something to be said for knowing just about everyone you see at the celebration.

Went 1.64 miles today, according to map my run. Then pulled weeds in the garden for 10 minutes...all in all a good workout.

The princess won her game last night..so we're off to Homer on Wednesday after Cookie's all star game in Tuscola tonight. It's all coming to a close, and hopefully we'll have at least two weeks without organized sports before football fires up on the 26th.

the princess

2010-06-24T10:10:00.003-05:00

My running partner petered out on me about a third of the way through our run this morning. We ended up walking for a while and then I finished with her on my shoulders. As we walked and talked and she picked leaves from trees, I was struck with the realization that the days of piggy back rides are racing to an end. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it's inevitable, and that realization more than made up for the interupted workout. Besides, sprinting a couple blocks with a nine year old on your shoulders counts for something, right?

Came home and did a 20 minute plyometric workout with mini me. He's gearing up for football, and I can always use the workout. We did pogo jumps, box jumps, prisoner squats, glute/ham raises and weighted crunches.

The part time gig at Parkland is most excellent. I love seeing the look on adults' faces when they realize that they can actually do it and that we're there to help them.

summer musings...

2010-06-22T08:40:00.005-05:00

So...it's been two months since normalcy took its leave. Being home with the kids all day, every day has exposed fissures that should probably have remained glossed over. With each bong letter, my mood darkens. There's nothing more pathetic than an unjolly fat guy, and I am as unjolly as I've ever been.

It's a tough stretch for #1 son. He's never been the extroverted type, but now his few friends seem to be moving on to other more earthly pursuits while he remains in xbox mode. Mini me is about his only buddy, these days, but his loneliness appears to be manifesting itself in constant bullying and berating.

Had my annual fizzy cal last week...Dr. B sort of reminds me of The Deer Hunter ("Di di MAO!") when discussing my state of health. Not good, but it did serve to get me back out on the pavement for a trot or two...

Went about 1-1/2 miles walking and jogging with the princess, VGFATdog and noodles this morning. Felt really good.....think it's time to lengthen my splits and go a little longer.

the next phase

2010-03-17T12:45:00.002-05:00

Well...week one day three of the unemployment lifestyle is upon me.

Some opportunities turned out to be not what I hoped, but it's too glorious outside to be sad. Completed my 2nd week 2nd day couch to 5k run this morning with VGFATdog. She loves her time outdoors.

Will continue to peruse the usual job lists...hoping something comes my way.

life

2010-03-05T09:44:00.002-06:00

#1 son continues to recover from tonsil removal. I wish I could somehow take on his suffering for him. He'll be fine soon, but not NEARLY soon enough.

Did a killer diller chest and shoulders workout this morning. supersetted db flys and pushups, and for a little extra fun I put my feet on a swiss ball while doing the pushups. My chest is shred city!

Did shrugs, and the shoulder super sets, and threw in a couple sets of toe raises.

I'm sure to me a MONSTA come beach and pool season. :-) heh heh heh.

on kids, life, etc

2010-02-25T13:25:00.004-06:00

So #1 son is set to have minor surgery next week, and he's pretty worried about it. He told me on the way home from the pre-op physical that he fully expects not to wake up, and that it will be our fault. His point of view is consistently the "worst case scenario" type, so I'm not totally surprised, but it still hurts to hear.

Mini-me appears to be at the same cross roads as always....the choice between excellence and just getting by. I'm beginning to wonder if I really have any influence on the path he chooses.

The princess is growing quickly, and she recently gave me the "I hate school" line for the first

time.

Two weeks from Friday is my last day here at Big Chief U, not certain what the future holds. Anger and cynicism are my constant companions as I try to deal with this short-sighted, stupid decision made by people who should have known better.

got to admit...

2010-02-03T10:37:00.002-06:00

It's getting better. (tip of the Saints Cap to the fab four) I supersetted three sets of squats/toe raises, three sets of benches/butterflies and three sets of cable rows/military presses last night, and I'm not TOTALLY incapacitated this morning.

#1 son isn't getting as fit as he should be at this point in his HRD program, so I've decided that xbox time will be correlated with doing some form of exercise. Give me a half hour of pushups, situps, basic kicks, etc and I'll give you some time on the game. We'll see how this goes. he's not liking it, but i'm his dad, not his buddy.

so...

2010-01-29T14:50:00.002-06:00

does helping a friend move a treadmill count as a workout? :-)

I did that yesterday...but then i went to the gym and did a killer core/legs/chest workout for about 45 minutes. I am a big fan of the bench press/push ups superset. it shreds your chest in no time. followed it up with some lat pull down/seated rows super sets for the shoulders, then did high to low wood choppers and supersetted them with flys. finished with 3 sets of squats, going as low as I could in my squat and then situps/planks/weighted crunches to finish torching the abs. I am basically sore from the base of my neck to my heels....but it's a good sore.

buddy you're a boy make a noise...

2010-01-22T14:10:00.003-06:00

Haven't done much vis a vie' exercise since Tuesday, but I have to report that we beat Unity in OT last night. Cookie made the go ahead basket with less than 30 seconds to play...his first basket of the year...and the team played exceptionally hard. So proud that they were able to come back after losing in OT the night before.

fits and starts on the road to fitness

2010-01-21T13:43:00.002-06:00

Went to HRD with #1 son Tuesday. There's a pretty nice free weights set up in the back of the school, with a smith machine and a couple hundred pounds of iron, so I decided to get some lifting in while he worked out. I supersetted three sets of db bench presses with push ups doing reps to fail. Then I did 3 sets of dumbell military press, 5 sets of wood choppers, 3 sets of dead lifts, and three sets each of dumbell curls and tricep extensions. Topped it all off with 10 minutes of core work ( planks, crunches holding a 25 lb plate, and leg lifts). All in all a good workout, and I was pretty sore yesterday. Need to get out and run if Mother Nature relents....

The 6th grade played their best game of the year last night, but still fell to Tuscola in Overtime.

uncertain seas ahead

2010-01-15T15:31:00.002-06:00

So two months from today, I'm scheduled to become a statistic. I am thinking about making some radical changes....time will tell if they come to fruition.

Fitness-wise, I've nothing to report. I've ocasionally wii'ed, but mostly I'm sitting around, eatin', drinkin', carrying on.

back at it...

2009-11-04T15:21:00.003-06:00

Mother nature has relented, and I've taken advantage of the dry weather to get out and go.

Monday, I did the bw200 with mini-me and the number one son and topped it off with a 20 minute walk with the dogs.

Yesterday I did push ups, situps, bridges, step ups and prisoner squats with the princess and then went 3.5 miles at a leisurely pace after packing them off to school.

Tonight I'm going to try to squeeze in a quick workout before parent/teacher conference.

I'm on a mission, inspired by Friday's Toga party. Subconsciously I've known it for a long time, but the point was hammered home on Friday that all of my friends are in tremendously better shape than I am. My mission is to be as studly as they are by Toga II next October.

Monday

2009-10-07T14:09:00.004-05:00

Went for a nice 40 minute walk with the boss and number one son on Monday. Took VGFATdog and the chiwienie along. Those doggies do love their walks. I incorporated the bw 200 into the walk, doing prisoner squats, jumps, pushups, setups and stepups as part of the circuit. Felt pretty good while doing it, and a little soreness yesterday morning let me know I'd worked things that hadn't been worked in a while. Planning on doing the same tonight.

Yesterdays' run was washed out by the storm that passed through VG at the optimally wrong time. Am planning on going 3 miles tomorrow, good lord willing and the creek don't rise.

Big time interview coming up Thursday night/Friday. I'm cautiously optimistic...I'm really strong in some of the desired areas..not so much in others.

You can put it on the board.......

2009-10-05T13:01:00.004-05:00

YESSSSS! (tip of the Bears cap to the nerdgardener and to #1 son, the only white sox fans I know)

I finished the WW5K in 44:08 after setting a goal of 45 minutes. Not record time, but who cares? it was a great, cool run filled with people i've known for years, and I'm looking forward to next years' version. Oh, and I beat the 4 year old boy, running with his Daddy. Yay Me!

Tonight it's a nice walk with the boss and doggies, interspersed with the bodyweight 200 workout, then tomorrow another 3 miles.

another 3.1

2009-10-01T14:11:00.001-05:00

I went back out and did a solo circuit around the WW5K course this morning before the monsoons hit. Shins started hurting like hell...the first time since I began running again.

update

2009-09-29T17:33:00.002-05:00

Hard to believe that JFL is ending Saturday. It's been a good year. All of the boys have made improvements. Cookie scored the first of what I hope are many touchdowns, and has been pretty solid as a linebacker. Soccer season is in full throe as well. The princess is becoming quite the little athlete. She's got good wheels, and she uses them on the soccer field and ball diamond.

I am officially registered for the Camargo Woolly Worm 5k, with all proceeds going to friends of music. I went out and walked/ran the course today. Great morning. good company and a good walk, interspersed with intense suffering as I ran splits.

1/2 mile corner

2009-09-17T12:36:00.003-05:00

one half mile. roughly 800 meters. World record time for the distance is one minute and forty one seconds, give or take. It's also the distance from the west edge of my village to the first country road. It looks enticingly close at sun rise, with wisps of mist floating over the fields...the first rays of light coming up behind you. It's also now my personal marker. I've been running out and back for the past week or so. A nice quiet stretch of concrete. I've been incorporating my own mini fartleks into the end of the run, picking out landmarks and increasing speed at each one, finishing with the fatman's sprint for the last 50 yards or so....it's good and I'm masochistically starting to look forward to my runs sans doggies. They get their walks at night, but this run belongs to me alone.

back after it...

2009-09-08T21:41:00.002-05:00

Went for a nice 30 minute walk with the knucklehead dogs this morning. They drank so much salt water from our pool last night that they both had the trotskys today...made for lots of starts and stops. Going to dust off the weights tomorrow and bang out a set.

Lance Armstrong....

2009-08-27T11:13:00.003-05:00

....I'm not. I did go for a twenty minute ride on the mountain bikes with #1 son last night. Followed it up with a half hour run/walk with the dogs this morning. Still tweaking the diet...by the time meetings were done last night we ended up having dinner at 10 pm. Grilled chicken breast, cukes and a baked potatoe. I just have to figure out how to eat earlier.

mundania..

2009-08-25T23:50:00.002-05:00

Tip of the Cardinals cap to Piers Anthony..

Went for a rather pedestrian ( heh) walk slash jog with the doggies after work. Got my wind up, dripped some sweat for a bit, but enjoyed yesterday's festivities immensely more. Tomorrow the kids come with.

new era

2009-08-25T11:16:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, the #1 son, the princess, two mangy mutts and myself embarked on a new adventure in trying to get back into shape. We walked for two blocks, did some mountain climbers, walked two blocks, did some jumping jacks, etc. At the park, we did some modified pull ups on the monkey bars, did some speed climbs up the slide, took turns running and jumping over the painted storm tiles that serve as kids' tunnels and generally had a blast. We wrapped it up by "racing" the dogs the final block back to our house and then we did some ab work. A 30 minute moderate to medium workout, cleverly disguised as play. (and as #1 likes to point out, it's really offensive that the street department labels those poor children.) It was a blast and I highly recommend it if you're workout is in a rut. Tonight, it'll be back to a boring mile or two walk/run combination.

time flys when you're being a bfl

2009-08-13T18:31:00.002-05:00

So..it's been a month since my last post. means it's been a month since my last run. Damn. I went about a mile and a half today...baby stepsses, my precioussss. I had no wind, my legs and feet were killing me. in other words situation normal.

emphasis on the loser

2009-07-14T15:23:00.002-05:00

I failed to complete my run today...I just felt like doogie after the first half mile. Things started swimmingly. I cut 15 seconds off my 1/4 mile pace, and felt fine. My half mile stretch went ok, but I couldn't complete my second 1/4.

Back after it on Thursday....

Global warming

2009-07-09T12:49:00.002-05:00

I completed my w4d2 Couch to 5k workout this morning, and it feels good, though my legs feel like they weigh about 2 fitty apiece right now.

the first 1/4 and 1/2 were pretty smooth, by VGFAT standards, the second 1/4 was a little tough, and by the end of the second 1/2 I swear I contributed to global warming by sucking a hole in the OZONE layer. Panting, wheezing, coughing and gagging were the orders of the day for about the first 100 meters of my recovery lap. By the second 100, I had actually gotten my breathing under control, and by the time I did my post run stretches I was breathing normally.

Kudos to the VGFAT dog for pacing me the entire way. She runs in front of me, investigating. If she ranges too far ahead she doubles back to check on me. Very nice.

The princess is SUPPOSED to have a tournament game tonight, but it's been rained out twice and I'm not confident in the weather holding off tonight either. It's been rumored that they might have to play a double header tonight to get the tourney back on track.

Mini me's all star team is gearing up for their first tournament game Sunday night at 8, which seemed like an odd start date and time. Not sure why we're not playing earlier, since it's a Sunday.

epic

2009-07-07T21:16:00.002-05:00

Fail? I don't think so!

I didn't complete w5d1 today, but I feel great. I mean couch royalty great! I ran a 1/4, walked an 1/8, ran a 1/2, walked a 1/4, ran a 1/4 and walked a 1/4. A balky calf muscle ended my day before I could finish it out, but overall it felt good. Really good.

Tomorrow, I hope to lift a bit and do some abs work, then Thursday, I'll try again to complete the full run. Oddly, my calf didn't start hurting me until Sunday when I started some pre-run stretching.

Today was one of those crazy logistical days one has when they have multiple kids doing multiple things. #1 son had martial arts in Urbana.... at 5. Mini me had baseball practice in Camargo....at 5. The princess had to be in Sidney at 7 for her first tournament game....and I had to work until 6. Wild times for mama and the crew, and after all the driving and dropping, rains came in and postponed her game.

W3D3

2009-07-06T05:26:00.003-05:00

The princess and I trekked to the high school yesterday for day three of week 2, part II. After some sage advice from RTL about timing my splits and running at an even tempo, I was able to finish the run much more comfortably.

This week, I'm going to try to move up to the week 4 workout. It's pretty daunting with its two half mile sections, but we'll just roll the dice.

w3d2 part II

2009-07-02T08:26:00.002-05:00

I am not a runner. Never have been, never will be. I plow through my workouts the same way I plow through a case of beer or a plate of ribs...just stick my chin out and go. I've got all the agility of a mack truck and probably as much quickness. That's why I can take a smidgeon of satisfaction from workouts like today. As good as I felt during Tuesday's run, (with good being a decidedly relative term) I felt the opposite today. Couldn't get my wind, quads screaming, calves on fire, minor hangover, the entire litany, which in the past would have led to failure. For some reason, today was different. I don't know if I've crossed some sort of threshold or if it was the presence of my beautiful little princess cheering me on to the finish, but I sucked it up and completed the circuit, and it felt good.

Maybe I can do this thing. Maybe I can run a 5k. Maybe I can actually start to regain some semblance of fitness and set a better example for my kids. I hope so. I KNOW I'm going to keep trying.

Week two of the week three training...

2009-06-30T14:22:00.002-05:00

I stuck with the week three training schedule and it felt better. Not great, but better..probably because the princess joined me for parts of the run and all of the walking segments. She's a natural athlete and I can't wait to monitor her progress if she chooses to stay with sports as she grows up.

Cookie had his first all-stars practice Sunday. He hit the ball really well, one of the top 4 or 5 out there....I was happy for him. The tournament starts the 12th, and i hope we win at least one game. We open with Paris and then play a Champaign team, win or lose. Tough sledding, but we've got some skilled players.

The princess has her final game on Thursday, and then I think they have some sort of tournament, also.

The firstborn has had a setback and won't be coming home this weekend after all...overcoming unfavorable circumstances is crucial to her development, so I hope she doesn't let this defeat her.

Net loss for the two weeks since this endeavor started is 4 pounds...Probably would have been more, but I devoured some pizza this weekend...washed down with plenty of barley and hops...
I'm willing to give up a lot, but some things are inviolate!

I hope that everyone has a fun, safe fourth of July, filled with family and friends.

Day 2

2009-06-25T08:17:00.002-05:00

Hot, steamy, sweaty....and I'm not talking about Mrs. BFL, though I could be!

Did the full week three C25K routine this morning. run 200, walk 200, run 400, walk 400...rinse, lather, repeat.

I got a new pair of running shoes with better arch supports and they seemed to help a bit.

Today is #1 son's 13th birthday. He's growing up too quickly, dammit. We'll be swimming, grilling, drinking, chilling, so if you're in the neighborhood, come on by.

Couch to 5 K

2009-06-23T07:37:00.002-05:00

Mixed results from day 1...hereafter known as the HOTTEST, MUGGIEST DAY EVER!

I jumped in to the C25K at week three, thinking that should just about get me to the Ag days run on schedule, and it was a bit too much. It called for two sets, and I was only able to complete one. brisk warmup walk from the house to the track, do two sets of 200's and 2 sets of 400's. Twice. The 86% humidity was pretty oppressive and I decided not to push it on my first day. I am encouraged that I was able to huff and puff my way around for a couple laps...but I surely didn't set any land speed records...Oh, and big props to Katie Dog, who, as always, ran with me...she probably ran twice as far as I did because she would range ahead and then double back to check on me. Nice Doggie....

melon collie

2009-06-17T23:04:00.003-05:00

No...Katie didn't eat a cantaloupe. Once again, a funk has descended upon me and I'm not sure why. I think it's because the boss has been working herself to exhaustion doing projects after working her regular job and driving the kids to myriad activities. I wish there was some way that I could make it so she didn't have to work so damned hard.

I did the 20 minute workout from MH yesterday, and frankly I don't think I'm in good enough shape to try it again. This workout is all about standing on one leg and doing the exercises, and my left leg balked. I was ok on my right leg, but my form started breaking down almost immediately when I balanced on my left. It's a good solid workout....two sets of alternating arm db bench presses, single leg, single arm rows, the infamous bulgarian split squats, standing single leg lifts and split curl to presses with one leg elevated. All of this is designed to put pressure on the core muscles of your lower back and abs, and it did. I was pretty sore this morning. I don't however, think it worked the chest, back and arms as much as I expected, probably as a result of my aforementioned form meltdown.

We're told that Cookie made the baseball All-Star team, and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm a little ambivalent. I know that he REALLY wanted to make the team, so I'm grateful for that, but had he not made it, we would have had almost a month between sports. Now it's going to be a week or two, at the max, before football starts. Then soccer, basketball, and soon it's March and baseball again. Damn.

Mad props to my homies who are sticking to their running programs. Nerdgardener, Tom, Ally, and Astro are all kicking Ass and taking names while I remain...the big FAT loser.

weekly wrapup...

2009-06-12T13:17:00.003-05:00

Grades for the week...

Diet=B

Exercise=B-

beer consumption=B

Net= Solid B, lost two pounds since Sunday. All I have to do is do that for the next 44 weeks and I'll attain my target weight. :-)

Addictions

2009-06-05T08:33:00.002-05:00

It's time for me to bare my soul about something that probably shouldn't see the light of day, but we all know that sunlight is the best disinfectant.

That's right friends. I'm talking about my addiction to gas station hot dogs. Those tawny, spinning tubes of delight, two for 2 dollars, while one is $1.39. Even a VG grad can compute the savings by taking the double. Hell, some places will even throw in a ginormous soda for next to nothing.

Sure, they're packed with enough nitrates and sodium to embalm the 5th fleet, but that's what makes them so tasty. Ooooh...my knees get weak and my hands get twitchy when you add flecks of cheese and jalapeno bits.

Geesh, temptation is EVERYWHERE! No wonder I remain the big, FAT loser.

of weather, bias, and other sundry topics

2009-05-05T14:27:00.005-05:00

It appears that Spring has finally Sprung! Yee Haw. Because of rain, mini me's baseball team had games on three consecutive days....losing 8-6, 9-8, and 11-10. I'm not sure it wasn't better last year when we got our a$$es kicked, regularly.

So, as I've said before, I don't usually delve into the political arena in this little corner of blog heaven, BUT.....

The media treats this president differently than the one before him. A case in point came Sunday...when "President and Mrs Obama took advantage of the nice weather by frequenting an upscale French bistro. They later strolled the White House grounds."

I can only imagine the headlines had this been GW. ...

" The President, proving once again how out of touch he is with his constituency, fiddled while Rome was burning by going out to an exclusive DC restaurant Saturday night. Afterward, seemingly oblivious to skyrocketing unemployment and the myriad protesters at the gates, Bush and his wife took a carefree walk around the White House." Apparently I'm not the only one noticing...

Got a wild hair this morning and lifted for the first time in a while....supersetted squats with sets of side and chop kicks, then super setted alternate arm db presses on the swiss ball with swiss ball push ups and supermans. Finished with the crazy shoulder/back work out from this month's MH. I am one sore fat guy...

I think I'm gonna hurl.....

2009-04-23T13:24:00.003-05:00

Cookie made his pitching debut last night...struck out five and only walked 3 while giving up 2 runs in a game his team won 9-7. I've said it before, but I am a zillion times more nervous watching my childrens' endeavors than I ever was when I was playing. The combination of wanting so badly for your child to have success and your absolute inability to influence the outcome is painful. His coach awarded him the game ball afterward and he beamed with pride. I think it might have made it into bed with him last night!

I've reverted to slug-like inactivity. I just can't find the motivation, and we're chasing our asses with kids activities. I'm determined that next week will be different, but I don't know how to make it happen.

Tommie's first communion was terrific. Always a good excuse to get together and drink some beer! it's the Catholic way!

groundhog day

2009-04-16T15:34:00.002-05:00

Cookie had his first baseball game last night, and the results were painfully similiar to last years...a 12-2 loss to a team that's not that much better than us. We have to find a catcher who can catch and pitchers who can pitch or it will be more of the same.

Walked 3.75 miles this morning. I'm not as sore as Tuesday...hurray.

X yur thighs...

2009-04-14T14:37:00.000-05:00

Did a lifting circuit last night...first time in months and the shoulders, arms and quads are reminding me of the gap.

Walked 3 miles this morning....went by the Hoffman Estates and then the Greifenkamp Grotto...like a little kid on a bike, hoping in vain that one of them might come out and play with me, but alas.

long time, no post.

2009-04-13T12:23:00.001-05:00

I've become addicted to facebook. It's like crack for the 40 yr old set.

anyway Jules and I put a new floor in TA's room over the weekend. I think it looks great! The boss is getting really good at the laminate flooring thing.

Haven't been real diligent re: exercise. I've made a promise to myself to get back on the horse this week!

Homer is my homeboy...

2009-03-29T10:01:00.000-05:00

Odyssey

/ˈɒdəsi/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [od-uh-see]
–noun, plural -seys for 2.
1.

an epic poem attributed to Homer, describing Odysseus's adventures in his ten-year attempt to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
2.
a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.

So, the family has returned from our great southwestern trek...scarred yet unbending. 5116 miles of automobile family fun. It was an amazing adventure, but not one I'm willing to replay. Too much time in close spaces reveals things that maybe should be left hidden. Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri. 14 days. Seven states...some of them twice.

I'm more convinced than ever that warmer climes are in my future. Arizona in March is just about ideal, to my way of thinking, and I'm willing to trade the three months of unbearably hot summer for the three months of unbearably cold winter here in Illinois.

odds, ends, random thoughts

2009-03-21T10:06:00.000-05:00

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." (tip of the Texas Rangers Cap to George Bernard Shaw)

So, as I made the long drive across Texas, I was struck by the recurrence of man's folly. The failed campground in the middle of the oil fields, 60 miles from anywhere. The ramshackle trailers, unoccupied for years. The gas station without a roof, with nothing inside except the ghosts of failed dreams and rodents. Upon arriving here in Phoenix, the evidence of the real estate crisis leaps out on virtually every corner. I began to wonder what the thought process was...why did it seem like a great idea at the time? Where are the people who put their lifes' blood into these enterprises that seem so foolhardy in retrospect? Of course there's no way of ever knowing how they came out,but I have to give them their props for trying....

We've been busy doing nothing since we arrived. Wedding is today..then tomorrow its off to points west.

It's over...it's all over

2009-03-09T19:31:00.000-05:00

Farewell to thee! but not farewell To all my fondest thoughts of thee:Within my heart they still shall dwell;And they shall cheer and comfort me (tip of the Tarheels cap to Charlotte Bronte)

Basketball season has ended, and I'm ambivalent. I won't miss the long road trips, the too many games or the loss of free time, but I will miss hanging out with the ten young men who comprised the team and with the other coaches, who realized that these are ten year olds, and the most important thing is to have fun. I don't suppose I've ever seen, nor shall I see again, another coach laughing so hard he was crying while losing a game by 15 points!

Ten ten year olds, who each made me laugh out loud at some point in the season; who frustrated me to no end at others. I enjoyed the ride, and I owe each of them and their parents a profound debt of gratitude.

Time change has me all fouled up. I was up at 4:15 this morning, so I lifted for 20 minutes. Then tonight I took cookie to the outdoor court so I could run suicides while he practiced shooting. He and I then played two games of pig...with the loser running sprints. I prevailed! Of course I ran with him...his misery loves company, and my fat needs the work.

Four and a wakeup before we set out on the BFA (big family adventure)

3.5

2009-02-27T14:03:00.000-06:00

I went 3.5 miles in 48 minutes yesterday. A seven minute improvement, which could have been better, but my calves were getting tight so I walked the last ten minutes. I've added 30 seconds to my run/walk splits, as the C25k program dictates. I'm thinking a sub 40 minute 5k is now possible.

Fish fry tonight, so I took a half day.

round up....

2009-02-24T16:23:00.000-06:00

I try not to criticize my fellow volunteers in youth sports. I know the countless, thankless hours that generally go into these things. However, I find that I have to vent about the schedule at the end of our hoops season, one that was set up by someone who doesn't have a horse in the race, so to speak. This Thursday, we open play in our own tournament at 5 pm. We then travel to Chrisman to play in a second tournament on Saturday, return home for two games on Sunday to conclude the tournament we're hosting, then back to Chrisman on Tuesday and Saturday to wrap up the year. 6 games in 10 days...FOR 10 YEAR OLDS! These kids need to be learning fundamentals...not playing an NBA schedule. To make matters worse, we're playing teams in Chrisman that we've already played twice this year, so it's not like we're getting varied competition or anything. By the time it wraps up, we'll have played 24 games. That's more than the Jr High, freshmen, or JV played. Too much. Way too much.

Here at work, we've started tracking our running distance in a light hearted contest leading up to the Illinois 5k. One of my talented colleagues created a track complete with little "avatars", and we're racing to be the first to complete 100 training miles. I went 1.8 miles this morning.

lifting...

2009-02-19T14:25:00.000-06:00

Found an excellent 15-20 minute dumbell workout in Men's Health . It works EVERYTHING, with an emphasis on the core.

The All-in-One Abs Workout
Istvan Javorek's dumbbell complexes build the entire body while pegging metabolism in the red zone. He designed them to help create Olympic champions in Romania, but you'll enjoy the effects: more muscle, less fat, and a six-pack core.

The Drill
Three times a week, do either complex. For Complex No. 1, do 6 reps of each exercise and move to the next without stopping. For No. 2, do 3 reps of each exercise and move to the next without stopping, building up to 3 total circuits. As you advance, increase the number of circuits.

The Program1. Upright Row2. High Pull Snatch3. Squat Push Press4. Bent-Over Row5. High Pull Snatch

The Technique
Upright Row: Stand with your knees slightly bent and hold a pair of dumbbells at arms' length in front of your thighs, thumbs facing each other and palms facing your thighs. This stance turns your elbows slightly outward and your shoulders slightly inward. Look ahead with your chest up, back straight, and abs tight. Bring the weights up to neck level, keeping the pair aligned. Your elbows should be flared out to ear level. At the top, rise up on your toes. Return to the starting position.

High Pull Snatch: Stand with dumbbells as if you're about to perform an upright row, but lean forward to lower the weights to knee level, keeping your head and neck aligned. This is the starting position. Now raise the weights as you did with the upright row, but don't pause at the top; instead, flip your wrists back to bring the weights overhead, extending your arms fully while rising up on your toes. Return to the starting position. Keep the weights as close to your body as possible throughout the lift.

Squat Push Press: Stand upright and hold dumbbells at your shoulders, palms facing forward. Maintaining this position and looking straight ahead, bend your hips and knees to lower into a full squat, thighs at least parallel to the floor. As you rise from the squat, begin pressing the weights overhead, rising up on your toes at the top, at which point your arms should be fully extended overhead. Return to the starting position.

Bent-Over Row: Stand holding dumbbells at arm's length in front of you, palms facing back. Bend your knees slightly, and bend at the waist so that your back is flat and angled 45 degrees to the floor. Once your body weight is centered on your heels, you're in the starting position. Without altering this position -- no swinging your trunk -- bend your elbows to bring the weights quickly and explosively into your armpits. Return to the starting position at a slower pace.

Treadmilll

2009-02-18T05:40:00.001-06:00

Not much to report..I allowed our kids' schedule to knock my exercise program off track until this morning. I did 15 minutes on the treadmill, and I haven't weighed since Sunday.

Mini me served as alterboy for the first time on Sunday, without incident!

#1 son received his first rank promotion in scouts, and will soon test for blue belt in HRD, and the princess continues to excel in school. Her cursive is better than mine...not much of a surprise.....

Finally Friday....

2009-02-13T13:18:00.000-06:00

Decided to use today as a rest day. I was set to lift, but found my shoulders were still a bit sore from Wednesday's session. I'll try to go 1.5 tomorrow before basketball. I did 1.75 yesterday, but it didn't feel comfortable.

Speaking of hoops..hats off to the Illini for winning a game they probably shouldn't have. Those 5 Vodka Tonics speak to the difficulty of watching us play from behind against Northwestern, of all teams.

Cookie travels to Unity tomorrow, to Arcola on Sunday, and then we host Tuscola on Monday. What the hell? games on 3 consecutive days for 10 year olds? Great scheduling...not.

he's also alterboy for the first time Sunday morning and then has baseball camp before high tailing it to Arcola for an afternoon contest. La vida loca? More like La Vida estupida.

a night without activities....

2009-02-11T20:04:00.000-06:00

Is a blessing in these parts. The kids have church for an hour, and that's all. No hoops, scouts, brownies, martial arts, band, just family night at home. Ahhh.

#1 son and I did the men's health core workout in combination with the Runner's world ab routine from a couple months ago. the mid section is smoldering right now. He's so stubborn that it wouldn't surprise me to see him stick with it and become rock solid as he progresses through his belt ranks in HRD. He'll be testing for Blue belt in the next few weeks....4 away from Black belt.

The 5th grade team fell behind by ten at half time, mounted a furious rally and came up short vs Christman last night. We've lost 8 games, and only two have been non competitive. We've outscored and outplayed our opponents in the second half of 6 of the losses. We've trailed at half time of all three of our victories also. I can't get a handle on how to get them to come out strong. We've had plenty of open shots...just can't get them to fall. Probably a product of this being our first year of basketball. It seems like every single team we play has one player who is much more advanced than the rest of the guys on the floor. We just don't have that stud. We do have a bunch of guys who are genuinely happy for their teammates success...a real team.

I feel remarkably good for having doubled my usual mileage yesterday. I'm thinking I can do the 5k in 38-45 minutes.

Where the sidewalk ends...

2009-02-10T14:49:00.000-06:00

There is a place where the sidewalk endsAnd before the street begins,And there the grass grows soft and white,And there the sun burns crimson bright,And there the moon-bird rests from his flightTo cool in the peppermint wind. ( tip of the Boilermaker Stomping Illini hat to Shel Silverstein)

3.5 miles...in about 50 minutes. Way too slow, but make it, I did. and I'm not ready to keel over. My house around Henson Park and back....

Monday Fun day

2009-02-09T07:47:00.000-06:00

Got off my fat donkey and went about 1.75 miles this morning. I must be getting old, because every joint in my body is screaming in protest. I've only got nine weeks to go before the Illinois 5k. I've got to ramp up the training if I don't want to embarrass myself.

Plus, I've only got 30 days before I'll be sporting the Speedo in Arizona...

Tuesday blues day

2009-02-03T14:23:00.000-06:00

The wintry west extends his blast, And hail and rain does blaw;

Or the stormy north sends driving forth

The blinding sleet and snaw:

While, tumbling brown, the burn comes down,

And roars frae bank to brae;And bird and beast in covert rest,

And pass the heartless day. (tip of the PSU Nittany Lions Cap to Robert Burns)

Another day, another painfully cold blast of air from the north. Sucked the good mood right out of me. I'm ready for baseball, golf, fishing (that doesn't include cutting holes in the surface of the lake), barbeques, babes, motorcycles, boats, scantily clad college girls, hikes through the woods, camping, and babes . (I LIKE babes, to paraphrase blazing saddles)

I went to the school and ran for 1/2 hour before basketball last night. i didn't wear my running shoes, stupidly, and my arches were killing me. I'll do a half hour with the weights tonight, and try to have a good week.

5 weeks until Phx, Baybee!

time is relative...

2009-02-02T07:06:00.000-06:00

e·ter·ni·ty

(ĭ-tûr'nĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key n. pl. e·ter·ni·ties
Time without beginning or end; infinite time.
The state or quality of being eternal.
The timeless state following death.
The afterlife; immortality.
A very long or seemingly endless time: waited in the dentist's office for an eternity.
//-->[Middle English eternite, from Old French, from Latin aeternitās, from aeternus, eternal; see eternal

An eternity is how long it takes a basketball, shot from the hands of your anxious 10 year old, to travel toward the basket and through the net for the first points he's ever scored in a game.
An eternity is how long it takes your nervous 12 year old to carry a vessel of holy water to a waiting priest without spilling it when he's altar boy for the first time.
At least that's how it seemed to a proud daddy, watching helplessly from the sidelines as his sons began to spread their wings and grow into the kind of men you hope they'll be.

The boys won their second straight game on Saturday...beating Bement 20-15. They're starting to come together as a team, celebrating everyone's contributions, not concerned about their own statistics, and I couldn't be prouder of them.

Not too much to report in BFL news. I lost another 2 pounds, somehow. I'm going running tonight before practice, then lifting tomorrow and such.

three tomatoes

2009-01-30T12:55:00.000-06:00

mommy, daddy, and baby tomato, are walking down the street...baby tomato lags too far behind and the daddy tomato smashes him and says ketchup! (5 points to the first who can identify the source of this fine piece of trivia; bonus if you can describe the context)

Anyway, I'm going to try to catch up on goings on over the past week. We had three games...lost to two teams that we can beat...and won last night...turning in a defensive gem by holding Tolono to 2 points in the entire second half. Cookie had his worst game. He was really tentative, afraid to make a mistake, which naturally led to LOTS of them. As is his nature, he didn't let it keep him down...joining in the celebration after the game.

On the BFL front, I lifted Tuesday and I'll lift tonight. The only aerobic activity this week was a half hour of basketball with the team. Little bastards almost KILLED me.

#1 son will serve as alter boy for the first time, on Sunday. I am so proud of him. Public display is against his nature, but he's agreed to do this.

Another Busy weekend ahead. Hoops tomorrow. birthday party tomorrow night, hitting camp Sunday A.M. and then on to the grazing grounds for Superbowl festivities.

I really, really wanted to call my dad last night and talk to him about the victory. To try and see why I couldn't enjoy it more. to see why I was thinking more about what we did wrong than what we did right. Guess I'll have to figure it out on my own.

obsession

2009-01-22T06:30:00.000-06:00

My fantasy has turned to madness All my goodness has turned to badness My need to possess you has consumed my soul My life is trembling, I have no control (tip of the Phoenix Cardinals hat to Animotion)

So I'm thinking I might be a little too wrapped up in this whole weight loss thing....

Twice now, I've had a dream where June Lockhart is a bounty hunter. Weird enough, but there's
a catch. She only hunts fatties! In the latest iteration, she unfurled down a banner like some cirque du soleil bit player, smiled beatifically at me as though I were Timmy, freshly raised from the well, and aimed a harpoon at me. Thankfully I woke up before she speared me. That would have been weird. :-)

The cold and snow has curtailed my running. I just can't make myself go out to the garage and jump on the treadmill. I am still doing the men's health dumbbell workout three times a week, and I've managed to lose 8 pounds, but I can't wait until warmer weather so I can hit the streets.

snow crab

2009-01-14T13:37:00.000-06:00

Weather in Vegas=Sunny with temps in the mid 60s

Weather in PHX= Sunny, with temps in the mid 70's

Weather in Orlando=Sunny, with temps in the mid 60's

Weather in Illinois=Ball shrinkingly cold, with freakin snow and wind and bullshit, and go ahead and try to go for a run you crazy bastard...and forget about seeing the sun for a month or so.
I'm supposed to be of hardy midwestern stock, able to put up with this with a smile on my face, but every year it gets more painful. I'm serious about being able to complete my first 5k. I'm serious about dropping the tonnage that I've accumulated over the past 15 years. And this weather is a serious impedement and it's pissing me off.

Seasonal affective disorder? Try seasonal affective frigging psychosis. No wonder the russkies/poles invented vodka, and the scandanavians perfected it, and I'm soaking up LOTS of it.

I did hit the weights with #1 son for a half hour last night. I introduced him to the unmitigated joy of the superset...hammering sets of db bench presses with push ups. He was impressed, certainly.

VG wins! VG wins!

2009-01-13T12:44:00.000-06:00

Vg traveled to arthur Saturday and defeated the amish menace, 21-15. Cookie played some tough D, but didn't dent the scorers column.

I went 1.33 miles on Friday, doubling the run/walk splits, then followed by going a couple blocks further on monday..up to around 1.5 miles. Had some major pain in my left arch. I'm not sure why it manifested itself on my fourth run rather than on one of the first 3, but I'm too old not to worry about it.

Friday!

2009-01-09T15:37:00.000-06:00

Another day, another mile or so. Katie dog enjoys our time running, although I think she's a little bored with the pace. So, I exercised for 5 straight days. Net loss-5 lbs. Net gain-mucho pain. I'm sore in places I forgot I had.

I'll do a light workout with the weights tomorrow before cookie's game, then rest the weary bones on Sunday before hitting it again next week. Looking like some treadmill time next week if the temps dip as low as stated.

Unity nipped the VG 5th graders 21-20 on a late basket last night. So close. Progress is coming, but we need a LOT of practice. We'll practice from 6-8 tonight, then travel to Arthur tomorrow to battle those crazy Amish.

another day...

2009-01-08T12:47:00.001-06:00

#1 son and I did a MH 20 minute weight workout today...then he ran through his ssang jyel bong forms while I did an additional set of lifts. I really busted the shoulders today. It hurt to wash my hair afterward, but it feels good.

The road not salted

2009-01-07T06:36:00.000-06:00

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.--(tip of the OSU cap to Robert Frost)

So I just returned from slip sliding my way around the 1 1/2 mile circuit. Funny, but it's easier to remain upright while running than walking. I'm certain there's a scientific reason for it, but it still seems strange to me.

I too tend to take the road less traveled...which is really weird considering my pathological need to be liked. In a way, I think Obama's ability to bridge this dichotomy is what won him the presidency, and I'm ok with that. I'll leave further political musings to those more qualified, like the nerd gardener.

So, day two of the new me went ok...did have a couple Vodka Tonics after work...I'm not a mormon....

Epiphany

2009-01-06T18:53:00.000-06:00

1.
a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.
2.
an appearance or manifestation, esp. of a deity.
3.
a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
4.
a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight

So I went to two visitation services for two nice ladies on Sunday, and I realized that they both had died from complications of diabetes, and diabetes is hereditary, and my dad was diabetic, and I'm pushing the three century mark on the scale, and Holy Freaking Blubber, Batman! It's time to get a little serious about this weightloss/exercise thing. Seriously.

#1 son and I completed a 20 minute lifting circuit, followed by 10 minutes cardio this morning. It hurts SO GOOD, Johnny Cougar!

On hope....

2009-01-05T07:34:00.000-06:00

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;Man never Is, but always To be blest:The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,Rests and expatiates in a life to come. (tip of the Baltimore Ravens Cap to Alexander Pope)

So, with that thought in mind I ventured out into the frosty morning air and completed a 1-1/2 mile circuit at 5:30 this morning. Baby steps, to be sure, but steps that must be taken.

If I were a professional gambler, the kids would be subsisting on mac and cheese and hot dogs after the first week of the NFL playoffs. No way did I see Philly winning at Minny or the Dolts losing to San Diego. I thought Miami had a chance, also. The Cards and the ageless QB that I like, unlike the Jets' franchise killer, were my only clear cut winner. At least I have no emotional investment in this, thanks to the Hamsters of the Midway's brilliant chokefest in Houston last week.

In local sports news, my brilliant basketball coaching career is off and running....VG 5th graders falling to 0-2 in a very lopsided loss to Heritage. I know they're only 10 and I shouldn't care so much, but I feel like I'm failing these kids when they don't have success in games after putting so much effort into practice. So yes, I was up most of the night Saturday, fretting. Trying to come up with a way to make the kids see that the only way to overcome our general lack of speed and athleticism is to out work our opponent. I think that's a lesson that we can all take to heart.

a better day

2008-12-18T08:25:00.000-06:00

CATHARSIS-the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.

So after yesterday's whine fest, I woke this morning feeling a little better about things.

Because the "shrinkage meter" was registering at normal levels after 3 days at defcon 5, I took the dog for a twenty minute walk/jog and then came home and did some stuff in the living room...a few pushups, situps, etc.

Maybe Old Red was right...."get busy livin', or get busy dyin'." We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Lifes' vicissitudes

2008-12-17T07:16:00.000-06:00

"in singing garments Comes royally, at call -

Comes limber-hipped Indiff'renceFree stepping, straight and tall -

Comes singing and lamenting,The sweetest pipe of all."---Robert Louis Stevenson

RLS was writing about how his love had wained from passion into indifference, but I can relate his words to my feelings about getting into shape, work, life, everything.

I'm feeling blah about just about everything in my world right now. The blatant commercialism of the season, that I buy into hook, line and sinker. My job, which alternates between incredible goodness, and soul searing boredom. Even the family, usually my anchor, holds no special warmth right now. When I look at #1 son, I find that my pal, the bright, sensitive, empathetic creature whose company I once loved to keep, is gone. Replaced by a beast known as teenager, whose self-centeredness swallows everything around it, like a black hole, with hormones.

My quest for fitness seems like a lost dream. I can't find the gumption to fight the single digit temps and go out and do anything. My diet is a train wreck, derailed by crazy schedule, depression and a love of all things food.

I'm also miffed at the realization that my old office will soon be closing for the holidays, while the new gig shifts into panicked crunch mode. It's the first time I've missed the old place.

So now the question becomes how to shake this pall that hangs over me. I hope that Friday's festivities will snap me out of it. Adult conversation and competition at the euchre table, along with eats, drinks, and the like. (so my diet may continue to suffer, but hopefully my spirit will renew)

If not, I suppose I could fire up a fattie and party like 1999. Nah. I'd just get the munchies and blow my diet on doritos instead of Christmas cookies.

The Lion Sleeps tonight...

2008-12-10T05:22:00.001-06:00

[tip of the Illini basketball hat to the Tokens]

The Lion sleeps now. His roar extinguished by smoke and flames at the age of 65.

I've been thinking about what I would say about him for a few weeks, now, and I still don't know. He was a good man. Flawed, but unlike so many, willing to freely admit those flaws. Many who knew him in his later years mistook his certainty for arrogance rather than for what it really was. If he knew something, he knew it. Period. If he didn't know it, he learned it.

His body gave out on him, largely due to his habit of ignoring warning signs until they became five alarm conflagrations, but his mind was still keen. His lack of success in long term relationships with the ladies was legendary. So much so that our in joke was that I would ask him for advice, then do just the opposite and find success.

He loved his grandkids, but he wasn't close to them. By the time they came along, his patience, never abundant, had worn away completely and he could only handle their company in measured doses.

The Cardinals and Illini were his passion, and he passed that love on to me. He read insatiably until his last days, and I see that trait in #1 son and I smile. They were just beginning to find common ground when the end came.

He was vain enough to not go out in public wearing his O2, which I found disappointing because he wouldn't attend his grand kids athletic events. We tussled about this ceaselessly. I even have a six pack that I bought at his request in my fridge, because he wouldn't come over and drink it with me, as much as I atttempted to entice him.

So many more things to say. Before his health failed, he was the life of the party, the one everyone knew and liked. I would have liked to have been around when he ruled CU. It must have been one hell of a ride. He had a fantastic sense of humor. He and I found humor in places that no one else could. It was a great bond to have.

If heaven has a softball team, I imagine he's playing 3rd base and driving the opponent crazy with his opposite field base hits. Then it's on to the "Lockerroom", for coldies and conversation. I hope they let me play some day.

It's not just me!

2008-10-02T14:56:00.000-05:00

that thinks Bret fahvruh is the anti christ. Here's a rant from the message board on my fantasy fb league....

"Coo coo, kachoo. I am the egg man. Wait…maybe that was Paul or was it John. Well he is dead. WTF. I had to check to see who else Deron had for a QB, because if he played him on the matchup, he’d be the smartest mo-fo I’d know. But no. That wasn’t the case. His beloved Pay-a-ton Whanning had a bye. So he had to play is dead backup QB, and what happens? He sets a career record and ties a franchise record held by master cosksman Joe Namath. Now anytime someone mentions Broadway Joe I’ll have to hear about Brett Faravarav. And you know it’ll happen: Al Michaels: “Joe Namath scored 6 TDs against a team in his third season.” Madden: “Urr yaa, but Brett Farve scored 6TD’s in his fourth game as a Jet, with an entire team of Mini-Ditkas on defense, pushing against the tide of Katrina, and Napoleons’ eastern front. Brett Farve! Brett Farve!” Al Michaels: “I think it was Arizona, John.” Madden: “Fuck you, Al. Yer sucha bitch.” NBC was concerned at the conclusion of the game, because Madden jerked his turducken so long he went into a coma. Lucky Al Michaels was able to get the soaked and stained jockstrap Brett wore in the 92 Super Bowl, which hangs over the headboard in Madden’s bus, to resuscitate Madden before SNF. Whew. That was a close one. CLEAR!! The NFL needs to put in a new rule that if you belong to AARP you can’t play. He’s going to get hit one of these times and disintegrate into powder like those mummies do in that one movie. Shit what’s it called? Oh ya. The Mummy. So as if having the one thing in football I believe is the most unholy of unholy have a sold-my-sole-to-the-devil-day, I lost to Darren. And I’m not going to say, “No offense”, because I truly mean offense. Next time play Trent Green. He’s almost as old."

I'm hip.

brothers

2008-09-30T13:17:00.000-05:00

Though you are in your shining days,
Voices among the crowd
And new friends busy with your praise,
Be not unkind or proud,
But think about old friends the most:
Time's bitter flood will rise,
Your beauty perish and be lost
For all eyes but these eyes.-----Yeats

There's a guy who lives in VG who was my stepbrother for 20+ years. Great guy, really. Loves his wife and loves his kids and loves their kids, but I don't really know him. We live two miles apart and see each other twice a year, and we're not bitter about it. There's no latent animosity. We're just at vastly different places in our lives and neither of us have the time or desire to mend what really isn't broken.

then there are those four rowdies whom I consider to be my true brothers....

I know that we've had our disagreements...about women, and 40th birthdays (sorry bro', sincerely) and gun control, (it doesn't work, TSE!), and Michigan football tix (I can't believe the whiff took a stand on the issue, Mikey!) but I know that when I truly need you guys, you'll be there for me, and vice versa. I appreciate all that you do for me, and I wanted to say it publicly. I still find it hard to believe that it all started with a summer job at Hardee's. (no offense, Melbs) Here's to the next 44 years, fellas!