2008 Exercise Wrap Up

In 2008 I biked, rowed, walked, ran and canoed 1059.64 miles and burned 91785.7 calories. According to BIM Active I walked 509.8 miles. Most of these miles were not counted in the 1059.64 miles.

Monday: walked with Loki 1.89 miles in 34:38
Tuesday: ran 3.17 miles in 31:27
Wednesday: biked 10.49 miles in 45:00

Working on week 5 of the 100 push ups program. I repeated weeks 3 and 4.
Dec. 24 - Exhaustion Test - 40 push ups
Dec. 29 - 35 max, 145 total
Dec. 31 - 40 max, 160 total

For 2009, I want to do 2,009 miles of activity. I will include the miles from walking during the work week (about 2 miles a day) and take Loki for more walks.

About time

About time that I wrote a post. I'm enjoying extended time off. Visited family. Gave and received.

-----------------------------------------------------

A joy since my last entry:
My aunt and uncle moved back into their house, the damage from Hurricane Ike finally repaired.

Sorrows:
Too many deaths. Always too many deaths.

-----------------------------------------------------

I did manage something that I thought too overwhelming - cleaning out the bedroom closet. I let go of a lot of things. Discovered that a substantial portion of my wardrobe was acquired through either blood or sweat (race t-shirts and blood donation t-shirts). I did place two race shirts in a place for later use - they had holes that should have placed them in the toss pile but they are marathon t-shirts. There is a company that will make a quilt out of your race t-shirts. I'm saving those two for a day that I have enough old shirts to make a decent sized quilt. I violated a major rule in organizing by keeping those two shirts but maybe one of those organizing book authors might amend that rule after running a marathon.

--------------------------------------------------------

Today, I discovered that I can wear a size 6 jean. While Walter returned something to electronics, I took some time to shop for some jeans. I needed some help in finding something that was not boot cut. I don't like boot cut.

I was told that the brand I tried on ran large but I never expected a 6 to be the size that would fit. I bought two pairs. So now all the pants I own range from sizes 6 to 14. There is something seriously wrong with women's apparel sizing.

I am more than my pants size (especially since that number varies) but damn, saying I wear a size 6 feels good.

Engrish - Radio MASH style

Big stuffed pugs along with a little pug. The United Way received the pugs and a different organization received the big hound dog to the right.
Happy Lovely train

Super Convivial World

It will give you infinite pleasure!!

con·viv·i·al - adj. 1. Fond of feasting, drinking, and good company; sociable. 2. Merry; festive: a convivial atmosphere at the reunion.

Not only did an underprivileged child receive a happy lovely train but the parents increase their vocabulary if they bother to look up convivial

We received 4 of these. We tape batteries to each toy that needs them. Rayovac and Everyready can live in harmony, why can't we?

the eden of the movement

The opposite panel said, "the aquatic animals of the movement"

special for you of children design.

The poetry of Engrish:

Happy Lovely train

Super Convivial World

It will give you infinite pleasure!!

the eden of the movement

special for you of children design.

Package v. Reality: the backlog

A backlog of package vs. reality. The backlog exists because the memory card in my cell phone that stores photos is a bit of a pain to remove from my phone. I will receive a new phone this month. Hopefully one with a more accessible card.

I actually ate these things for lunch. Not too much deviation between package and reality with this lot.

Amy's Bowls Santa Fe Enchilada - package:

Reality after microwaving:
Amy's is named for the daughter of the founders. They wanted good, easy to make organic food. I hope they do not feed their daughter the amount of sodium in their meals. Not as much as non-organic foods but still the numbers seem a bit high.

I'm slowly coming to realization that the only way to cut back my sodium intake is to prepare all my food myself. I found the time for exercise and tracking my calories so I should be able to find some time to prepare meals. The only sign I show so far of excess sodium consumption is slightly swollen ankles.

Lean Cuisine Traditional Roasted Vegetable Pizza - the package:

The reality:

Amy's Bowls Pesto Tortellini - the package:

The reality:

I take in 2,500 - 5,000 mg of sodium a day. The recommended max is 2,300 mg. My doctor noted the ankles and asked about my sodium intake.

An American Gothic in the Snow

American Gothic sculpted in snow.

Yesterday, snow fell in Bryan - College Station. This brought out lots of cameras, snowball fights, short snowmen and a sense of wonder and play. It was magical. It looked like a snow globe outside my office window.

Most of the snow has melted today. Just remnants of larger snowmen remain. Some students managed to get enough snow together to build a few human-sized snow persons.

This weekend the temperatures will reach 70 degrees F. Several seasons in the space of a week. I love Texas.


Rarely anyone says a single thing worth $2,000 but maybe 2,000 people will say something worth $1.00.

I'm Alive!

I finally emerge from the time warp that is Radio MASH. 4,887 children in the Brazos Valley will receive at least one gift for Christmas this year. Again, the Brazos Valley came through generously.

I spent most of Monday resting and my rhythms got thrown out of whack from all the sleeping and anxiety about Loki. I finally went to bed at 1:00 am, got up at 6:00 am to go to work.

I'm taking a week off from the gym and running to rest. I will walk and stretch. I probably the the equivalent amount of pounding pavement over 4 days of the toy drive as a single marathon plus lifting, twisting and bending. My lower back is a bit stiff.

Lessons from Radio MASH, ideas for improvement and random thoughts (I'm putting this on the blog so that a record will exist):

1. The separate tents for incoming toys/ repair and order filling were a godsend. Thank you, National Guard. Please do that again next year.
2. No child wants a stuffed animal for Christmas. I know some animals were quite nice and expensive but we had a list with some requests and stuffed animal did not appear. Specific characters that have plush versions were requested but no generic stuffed animals.
3. Signs under each box on the age group tables. Things get misfiled on the edges. Candyland is a game for 5 - 7 year olds. 8 - 10 year olds don't play Candyland unless they have a younger sibling.
4. A poster with examples of the types of things each age group likes over each table. This will take some advanced planning, glue, scissors and pictures. I started the project by printing pictures but did not get any further this year.
5. As many sets of dominoes that went out this year, I expect several dominoes champions to emerge from the Brazos Valley in a few years.
6. Found out what a Barkyardigan is. Have to remember that not all the volunteers are up to date on the interests of children and teens. Add logos to the posters in number 4.
7. I don't want to give another Uno Card Game ever again. There is a budget, otherwise I would never pick up an Uno Card Game ever.
8. A separate area for taping batteries on to new toys. We have a great toy doctor who would rather concentrate on the various interpretations of gently used electronic toys. Any volunteer can tape batteries on to boxes.
9. Knot tying demonstration for volunteers.
10. Pallets and tarps for boxes of loose toys. A more organized filing system for loose toys.
11. A check list of things that need to be done in case some volunteers show up or there is a lull.
12. A sign saying where bikes, trikes and big backyard toys go.
13. Good idea from this year: tubs for toys ready-to-go.
14. How did we end up with so many 8 - 10 year old girls?
15. Underprivileged kids: wait and you will receive that fad toy from four years ago! That and a stuffed animal. The first used Nintendo Wii should show up at Radio MASH 2011.
16. There is a very special place in the afterlife for the toy designer that made toys without off switches.
17. I'm sure it is a fine toy but I doubt that little toy train will give you infinite pleasure. The Engrish on the Chinese toys was entertaining and had a poetic quality to it. the eden of the movement. the aquatic animals of the movement.

What happened just now?

Lynn fainted.

I find Karen Moy's ham-handed attempt to paint Frank Griffin as an uncaring ogre quite humorous. Frank is a dick but at least he does not hide it behind a facade of niceness, unlike certain old biddies with a penchant for hideous tops.

I thought this was a practice session. I guess I missed something during Thanksgiving.

Competitive standing - a sport I could get into. Competitive standing would have been more exciting to watch than the football games on Thanksgiving day. ESPN Sports Center had a poll about whether other NFL teams should host Thanksgiving day games. I don't watch NFL often so it would be nice to see an interesting game but on the other hand, a lot people in Texas would have to interact with their families if the Cowboys did not play. That could be quite a threat in a state where at least one family member has ready access to firearms.

The Jonas Brothers played during the halftime show of the Dallas - Seattle game. I did not know that prepubescent girls were a target market of interest to the NFL. Talk about a huge demographic shift of an audience during a single program. I went outside during halftime.

I will be working at Radio MASH this weekend, so I will update myself on the interests of prepubescent girls. Gag.

I can't do this anymore

The lamest cry for help ever. Perfectly appropriate for Mary Worth.

Choose carefully the people with whom you share dialogue balloons.

--------------------------------------

Gratitude, Part I

Mom, Dad, thank you for not making us go to church. Thank you for not forcing a religion upon us.

Thank you for allowing us to choose our own spiritual paths. Thank you for supporting my journey even though I went down some roads that concerned you.

There are those who would criticize you for not making us go to church but you did the right thing. Some of the nastiest, dishonest, cowardly people I've met have been nice, church-going people. Some of the most ethical, most compassionate, most courageous people I've met never set foot in a church.

Not making us go to church may have protected us from the nasty people with the nice facades. Allowed us to develop the wisdom to see through the facades. It certainly kept us from becoming one of those people.

Yes, I have my moments of nastiness and I allow those moments to come out too often, but there is goodness and integrity at my core. I believe all three of us have that core of goodness and integrity. That did not occur in a vacuum. Despite your faults, you are genuinely good people and you passed that on to us.

You did the right thing regarding religious upbringing.

For that I am grateful.

What I've Done in My Life

What have you done in your life? -- A meme I found on another blog. What I've done is in bold.

To play, copy the following list. Bold the things you've done. Post on your own blog...

Started my own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than I can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland/world
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sung a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched lightning at sea
Taught myself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown my own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitchhiked
Taken a sick day when not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a marathon
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught myself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo's David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had my portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Gotten flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi concentration camp
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guard in London
Broken a bone
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had my picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Had chickenpox
Saved someone's life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee
Ridden an elephant

31 out of 100 activities.

Exercise Log: November 24 - 29

This week I ran, biked and rowed 35.5 miles, burned 2760.9 calories and weigh 143.7 pounds.

Monday: .72 miles on elliptical trainer, 10:00; rowed 1.3 miles in 10:00; biked 3.25 miles in 15:00; ran 1.42 miles in 15:00
Tuesday: ran 3.54 miles in 35:00
Wednesday: 1.11 miles on elliptical trainer, 15:00; rowed 1.8 miles in 15:00; biked 4.04 miles in 20:00; ran 1.77 miles in 20:00
Friday: rowed 2.51 miles in 20:00; biked 5.42 miles in 25:00; ran 2.30 miles in 25:00
Saturday: ran 6.32 miles in 1:05:00

Push Ups:
Monday - 111 total, 23 max (21 regular, 2 modified)
Wednesday - 140 total, 36 max (19 regular, 17 modified)
Friday - 131 total, 26 max (20 regular, 6 modified)

I intend to repeat weeks 3 and 4 in the 100 push ups program since I had so much trouble with meeting the minimum numbers.

Caption Contest Winner

The caption contest has closed. I received responses from two people. Two people excited about the possibility of possessing some dust covered stuff from my house.

The captions:

These two from Patrick Murfin:
"Don't worry. They can't tell she forgot to give you pants."
"Your 15 minutes are over, Joe, just unclog the damn toilet."

One from Robin Edgar:
"And just who are you to complain about my mullet?" ;-)

The winner is Patrick's second caption.

Patrick will receive credit and a link when this comic is uploaded (Sunday evening - November 30) and if he is willing to send a mailing address to toonrage@gmail.com some random item of uncertain value and use from my house.

Since, I'm feeling generous Robin can also send a mailing address to receive a random item from my house. I will make sure to declare it properly on the customs forms.

This caption contest inspired a new creative project: Stuff all over the world. The title is from George Carlin's "A Place to Keep Your Stuff" I may not be able to travel the world but I can have stuff spread all over the world. If you want some of my stuff send a mailing address to toonrage@gmail.com. I will send you something and in return I want a picture of my stuff in your possession or with a landmark in the background. The stuff will weigh less than 1 pound and non-religious in nature. I will do my best the respect the cultural sensibilities of other countries.

You will confide in the Mary Worth

No thoughts? The closest I've come is, "Hey, I'm not thinking! Damn."

Resistance is futile. You will confide in the Mary Worth, especially now that she has an object you desire. You will not get the photo back until you confide. Confide, Lynn, confide!!!

Maybe Lynn is made of sterner stuff. She skates away knowing that she has several copies of the photo and print up more any time.

I hate having my mind messed with by Family Circus. What the hell is happening here? What's the gag?

The drool brings you back to the breath.

Zombie comic tries to make a point

The flag is labeled white in case the coloring gnomes at King Features screw things up.

Grin and Bear It grasps for relevance. Senility illustrated.

--------------------------------------------------------

Cartooning does bring out the demented aspects of my personality. Today, I spent a great deal of time making sure that a drawing of a poo-flinging machine could work plausibly. I had no problem with a monkey wearing glasses, speaking and presenting a drawing. The details that I fixate upon sometimes worry me.

-------------------------------------------------------

Christmas came early: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=Ann+Coulter&btnG=Search+News

Ann Coulter, the leggy reactionary broke her jaw and the mouth that roared has been wired shut.

Who's going to blow Sean Hannity for the next few weeks?

The perfect UU holiday hymn

If it does them I'm the most ethical eater ever even if I refuse to eat tofu.

From Medium Large, a brilliant comic from the writer of Sally Forth:

I think we have the perfect all-inclusive holiday hymn that some UUs have been on a quest to find. The fact that it comes from a non-UU source increases its perfection.

Exercise Log: November 17 - 22

This week I walked, ran and biked 31.33 miles, burned 2264.4 calories and weigh 145.1 pounds.

Monday - walked Loki 2.04 miles in 34:28
Tuesday - ran 3.86 miles in 38:44
Wednesday - biked 9.11 miles in 38:56
Thursday - ran 3.39 miles in 35:00
Friday - biked 6.58 miles in 30:23
Saturday - ran 6.35 miles in 65:00

Push ups:
Monday - Max 21, 81 total
Wednesday - Max 21, 96 total
Friday - Max 23 - 115 total

Grandmothers Behaving Badly

Maybe Pig needs to attend a faith development class at his local UU church. Butterboy would melt quickly in the sun but he would make the world smell and taste better.

Grand Avenue and Flight Deck feature grandmothers behaving badly.

Health care dilemma

Who can resist the siren call of the internets. I make web pages and I cannot resist. The great blessing of the Internet: it looks like work.

Its call is really powerful because I'm in a different office filling in for a co-worker. Fortunately, I memorized all my favorite URLs and passwords. I can access others via links to ones that I know.

The situation with the co-worker has caused me to reconsider my health care plan. That and other incidents. Getting a diagnosis is bit of a Herculean task. My problem is relatively minor and irritating, a rash that appears on my arms and legs from time to time, but my co-worker's is quite serious and it took a long time to get the diagnosis.

Health care plan enrollment occurs in July and we get the literature in May. This will give us time to look at how we actually use medical services and see if there is an option that would better suit our needs.

I hope the election of Barack Obama will put to rest McCain's proposal to tax health benefits as income. With my health benefits added to income I end up in a higher tax bracket.

Considering the large amount that me and my employer pay for health insurance for me and Walter (about $10,000 per year combined) I think I deserve more than 15 minutes of my doctor's time and a test to see what the hell this rash really is. After paying $50, twice, plus time for stronger hydro cortisone cream, I wonder what the hell all that money that comes out of my paycheck and my employer pays, pays for?

I wonder if my family doctor just kind of lazy or overworked. A few years ago, I did receive some testing for something by a substitute doctor, it turned out to be nothing serious but now there is a good baseline for my heart in my medical records. My regular doctor said he would not have preformed the tests based on my description of my symptoms. This really concerned me after reading about how heart attacks behave differently in women and that younger women in particular have trouble convincing doctors to run the tests or consider a heart attack.

I guess I should be grateful for what I have but screw that attitude - crap is crap regardless of what others don't have.

The Funnies

Someone drew a comic about our last fishing trip. Except we did not drink all that beer.

Loki gets mostly dry dog food and table scraps. He made children happy on our walk last night until an adult got scared and shooed the children away. Look, lady, if he was going to maul your children he would have done it before you shooed them away.

No, Royboy, it is not the universe, just Pluto, still irritated about the demotion.

Exercise Log: Nov. 10 - 15

This week I ran, biked, rowed and walked 12.46 miles, burned 1068.5 calories and weigh 145.1 pounds.

Monday: bike - 3.56 miles in 16:21
Tuesday: ran - 3.43 miles in 36:21
Wednesday: rowed - 1.28 miles in 10:00
Thursday: ran - 3.44 miles in 35:50
Friday: walked Loki .75 miles in 14:43

Push ups:
Monday - max 16
Wednesday - max 18
Friday - max 22

Sunday exertion test: 26 push ups
This means I do column 3 for weeks 3 and 4 in the 100 push ups program.

I need to do at least 13.58 miles of activity per week in the next six weeks in order to meet my yearly goal of 1,000 miles.

Caption Contest

A cartoon drawn using CorelDraw. Now I need some dialogue or a caption.

My self-esteem has been a bit high lately so I need to be brought down a notch. Therefore, I am holding a caption contest. No one will respond and I will be reminded how few people actually read this blog.

The "winning" caption will receive credit when this cartoon is uploaded to aperfectworld.org and if they are willing to send a mailing address, a random item from my house. Seriously, I will pack an item from my home into a box or envelope and mail it to the winner. I will ship to addresses outside the United States. The item will weigh less than a pound and be of uncertain use and value. I can guarantee that it will have some dust on it, which I will leave on as a bonus.

I put quotation marks around winning because no one will respond.

Yes, this is blatant comment whoring.

The contest closes whenever this entry no longer appears on the first page or if I think of something funny for the above cartoon.

Realistic drawing

I sometimes entertain fantasies about drawing realistically. I'm sure my skills would improve with practice. A book recently hit the shelves that has two of my drawings in it: http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2008/adamsrattlesnake.htm. One of the drawings is quite realistic and the other combines realistic with cartoony.

I find I can draw more freely in a cartoon style. I get too caught up in getting it right and end up feeling frustrated. I do envy those who can draw realistically.

I can draw a reasonable facsimile of something that I am looking at, although the perspective can get a little weird.

I've been experimenting with a simpler cartoon style. Those cartoons should go up in a couple of weeks.

In comics, great writing can overcome bad art. Look at XCKD or Wellington Grey - both stick figure comics.

Radio MASH

Radio MASH has updated parts of its website: http://www.brazosradio.com/mash/
Toy or Cash/Check donations can be made in person at the MASH compound at Post Oak Mall December 4th through December 8th, 2008. You can also donate money online at the Radio MASH website.

Check out some photos that Walter took from past Radio MASH: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22287142@N02/sets/72157603749330149/

You can see me get bigger as the pictures go back in time.

I'm not sure how the economy will affect things this year. A kid has not gone without during the years I've been involved.

Vent

If I had an appointment time available on the day and time you asked me about I would have mentioned it.

If one more student puts a questioning inflection at the end of a declarative statement, I will respond, "Are you certain?"

If an advisor tells you that you need to do something calling me will not change that. You still need to do the thing the advisor told you to do.

If I have a time slot available I will mention it. I have no reason to withhold time slots.

Enunciate.

Ladies, turn down the high pitches. It hurts my ears.

Pay attention.

It's wrong!

A free Mary Worth icon for your use. Right click and save it, then post it anytime you need to make a point. Use Mary's icy blue shadow visage to make your point.

[sarcasm] Ooh! I can crop an image! I'm so cool! [/sarcasm]

Exercise Log: November 3 - 8

This week I ran, rowed, biked and walked 16.25 miles, burned 1463.8 calories and weigh 144.3 pounds.

Monday: rowed 1.27 miles in 10:00
Tuesday: ran 3.17 miles in 29:45
Wednesday: biked 3.35 miles in 15:00
Thursday: ran 4.14 miles in 40:25
Friday: walked 1.22 miles in 21:27
Saturday: Impact Animal Foundation 5K in 28:30

100 push ups program - maximum number of push ups completed without stopping:
Monday - 10
Wednesday - 15
Friday - 18

Terrorist Fist Bump

I saw this photo on Francesco Explains It All and it made me smile.

I promised I would not let emotions take over...

To paraphrase the great John Wayne:
I voted for him, he will be my president and I hope he does a good job.

White people love their apologies. I apologize for the Texas A&M chapter of the Young Conservatives and Ashley Todd.

How could I not include this cartoon in today's blog? Change the hair color to blonde and it would be a decent cartoon likeness.

I managed to not watch television this morning and did not turn on the radio in the car. The silence in the car was good. I think I will continue that practice on the drive to work.

I read blogs and the online edition of the B/CS Eagle. Seriously, Eagle dump the reader comments. Stop giving the ugly a forum. This crap would not see print in the dead tree version of the bird, so why lower your standards for online edition? At least hire a moderator.

Hooray for South Dakota! Hooray for Michigan! Hey, Utah! WTF You doing in California's business? California, fund a proposition in Utah banning the wearing of underwear. If Utah (UTAH!!? DEFINING MARRIAGE!) can dictate to California who should get married then California should get to dictate something to Utah. Or at least have some its citizens be less than equal. Fair is fair.

Blame me

Blame me, I voted.

Walter and I voted this morning. The line was a bit long; it was very short if your last name began with Gu - Z. This was for voter verification, once to the machine things went very quickly.

I joked with Walter that I still love him even though marrying him put me in the first part of the alphabet and into this long line.

I found the number of people having to think a while about where their last name fell in alphabetical order a bit disturbing. Maybe it was the early hour (7:30 am).

I would think Texas of all states would not have trouble with dual last names.

For some reason my maiden name ended up on the roll even though it was not like that for the primary. I just had to fill out a form and circle the error.

I was tempted to use my cell phone to take a picture of the screen before I cast my ballot but cell phones are not allowed. Both parties in Brazos County are pushing for machines with a paper trail.

A pundit on MSNBC actually said something interesting: Texas, because of its Hispanic population, has the potential to become a swing state in future national elections and that would be a nightmare for the Republican Party. 34 electoral votes in play. Take that Ohio and Pennsylvania! I'm not sure if I want this pundit's prediction to come to pass. Living in a solid color state has spared me most of the campaign ad ugliness.

Waiting for the Apocalypse

Tomorrow, I vote. For November 5th, I've declared a personal news black out. I will want to know who won but I have no desire to listen to or read post-election analysis.

I will laugh if the apocalypse fails to show up. Hopefully, people will remember the day that the apocalypse failed to show up and no longer take those who predicted its coming seriously.

Exercise Log: October 26 - November 1

This week I walked or ran 20.15 miles, burned 2364.8 calories and weigh 144.9 pounds.

Sunday: CROP Walk
Monday: Walked Loki 2.67 miles in 46:49
Tuesday: Ran 3.42 miles in 33:59
Wednesday: .39 mile on the elliptical machine
Thursday: Ran 3.43 miles in 33:33
Saturday: Ran 6.33 miles in 1:05:00

Next week I start my 100 push up program.

1,500th post

Tom Wilson probably found this hilarious. I have committed the same sin, inflicting a cartoon on the public that only I found funny. What is speaking, the toaster or the toast?


In honor of my 1,500th post - a funny Marmaduke.

Walter and I had the same sort of thing happen at our wedding reception. Some guy danced with everyone but he was not part of my family, Walter's family nor one of our friends. Just some guy.

From The Onion: Goofy Guy Named Gary Enlivens Otherwise Intolerable Wedding Reception

Our wedding reception was quite fun.

Marmaduke is a big hit at this party.

Initial Test

I did 15 push ups using proper form for my initial test. I get to use column 3 in the first week of the 100 push ups program.

New challenge

Walter came across this website:
one hundred push ups

He was working on it for a while but I think other things have come along. I decided that I will try it myself. I will do my initial test tonight. Maybe I can convince him to resume the challenge.

If anyone wants to join me, visit the website above to read about the program. Impress your friends and family at holiday gatherings with your feats of strength.

Crop Walk

Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Brazos Valley participated in CROP Walk today. See if you can find the minister in this photo.

Compare this photo with the list from Stuff White People Like and see how many you can check off.

Numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 27, 34, 35, 39, 42, 47, 49, 50, 53, 55, 76, 77, 83, 84, 88, 99, 108, and 109 apply to me. Not all of it is based on the photo, of course.

A very exhausted Loki after the walk. That is water on the pavement. The tongue is 3 inches wide at this point. He can fit the whole thing in his mouth occasionally.
A Saint Bernard named Suki. She and Loki played a little but mostly sprawled out on the concrete together.The church raised over $1,700. I managed to raise $70 of that. I did not pursue sponsors as vigorously as I did last year. Walter participated for the first time in many years. I need to get a t-shirt and a hat made that has Walter's picture on it for events like this. That way he can be in the group photo even though he is taking the picture.

More pictures from the Bryan/College Station CROP Walk can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22287142@N02/sets/72157608394510096/

Exercise Log: October 19 - 24

This week I ran and biked 34.21 miles, burned 2807.5 calories and weigh 147.3 pounds.

Sunday: Harbor Half Marathon - 13.1 miles in 2:24:57
Tuesday: bike 4.48 miles in 20:00; ran 1.84 miles in 20:00
Wednesday: ran 3.42 miles in 35:00
Thursday: bike 7.73 miles in 35:00
Friday: ran 3.40 miles in 33:58

I will attempt to run a sub 30:00 5k at the Impact Animal Foundation 5K on Nov. 8. More details about the race: http://www.woodstocktexas.org/index.php?funrun2008

I have maintained the required pace (for 5 miles) during a tempo run while training for the Harbor Half and on the treadmill. I am confident that I can do this in a race now that I have a feel for the pace I need to run.

Race Photos

Photos are out of order.

Hooray! Beer! I was surprised to learn that parts of Texas still have blue laws. In Corpus Christi, when serving beer before noon it must be served with food. In the information packet runners were informed that they must have a pizza in their possession before approaching the beer table and to bring an ID if age is an issue. Alas, that is no longer an issue for me.

Finished!

Racing down the home stretch.

I don't know why my left wrist behaves that way while running.

Racing toward the finish line.

Over halfway there. Beer, here I come!

Catch me if you can!

Maybe they can.

Approaching the halfway point and pleasantly surprised to find Walter taking photos. He snuck around some traffic cones to get here. There goes that left wrist again.

I'm getting the hang of this running thing.

Walter has posted all the photos that he took at the race on his Flickr account. Now he can post the other pictures he took.