CLASSIC

Yeah, you saw that correctly.  This hear (get it) is an original Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon album straight from the 70s.

I was at Big Ron's the other day to celebrate Christmas and boy howdy, he was in the giving mood.  Not only did he give me some awesome presents, I mentioned that I'd like to borrow his turn table and BAM, it was in my hands.  Thinking I might as well press my luck and ask to borrow an album or two, because let's face it, with no records a turn table is just a rotating coaster.  What do ya know? BAM, my hands were full of classics. Floyd, The Doors, Beatles (for a moment, I thought better and put those back, no reason to be greedy or rude), and Joe Walsh.  I was as giddy as a fat man at an all you can eat buffet.  The whole trip home I planned what order I would play the vinyl and imagined how good they'd sound.  Once the needle made contact and the music started to play, I felt like I was in the middle of the revolution...so much so when I realized I wasn't wearing bell bottoms I was surprised.  Although this wasn't a Christmas present it was most definitely given with the same joy, warmth, and enthusiasm one would give a Christmas present. 

Thanks dad.

NOT FAST ENOUGH

recalled. But not before I got my mitts on one. I bet forbidden coke tastes the best

DONE

Well I can't say I'm suprised, deep down I knew this day was going to come.  They even told me when it was happening so I could prepare myself...yet I couldn't quite believe it.  I wanted to think the announcement to close up shop was some sort of twisted joke, that at the last minute the announcement would be rebuked and more fun could be had.   

That is exactly what DID NOT happen.  The boys over at Shootpaul.com really did it.  They really closed.  When I was watching the final moments, it was as if I was watching a movie where the hero was dying a heroic death after saving the princess or the world or (insert any other cliche' here).  I can't speak for everyone, but I was truly saddened. 

Again, all I can say is thanks for the memories.  Thanks for not paying attention to conventional wisdom or "common sense" and agreeing to be pelted by paint balls for hours on end. I enjoyed every minute of it.

May your bruises heal quickly so you can start working on your next awesomely weird ideas.

OLD

By the lack of recent postings, you may have assumed something was awry.  I’m sure you’re all more than sick of hearing about my thesis.  Hell; I’m tired of complaining about it.  Lucky for you I’m not going to even mention it, or the fact that it is so, so very close to being finished.  Nope…nary a word about it in this post.

Chalk this recent lack of postings up to “I forgot”.  You know, they say the memory is the first thing to go, annnnd I did turn 30 this weekend.  So, put 2 and 2 together and what do you get?  Well, you get 4 obviously.  And math isn’t going to fix the fact that I haven’t posted for over a week now will it?  Nope. Sure won’t. 

Since I’m 30 and all, I guess I must be getting wiser.  This means my posts will become super smart and witty from now on…so be ready.  Better go ahead and get yourself a gently worn dictionary...just a hint.  Remember, buy local. 

In all seriousness, thanks to everyone who made my birthday awesome.

MATH

Formula for awesome.

Sunny day + crisp weather + coffee in my favorite cup = awesome

Double check my work if you'd like...but math doesn't lie. 

All of these things point to a productive morning and afternoon.

Carry on.

SAD BUT TRUE

I know, I'm just as bummed as you.  But it's true. 

ShootPaul.com is closing up shop.  Yup, the paintball gun is about to shoot its last. 

Head over and have some fun while you can...that "F" key aint going to do anything for you anywhere else.

Thanks for the memories fellas. 

Good luck.

WHY HELLO THERE

I'm sure all (both) of my regular readers are probably thinking to themselves, "What's this guy's deal?  He never posts any more...Did he accidently cut off his thumbs while carving up the ol' turkey?"  Well good readers, I'm happy to report I'm still the proud owner of my thumbs.  In fact, I just typed "thumbs" with only my thumbs just to prove a point. 

Ok, so here is the deal.  I'm sure you're all aware I've been working on a lil' project. Well guess what, it just got real.  I'm so close to the end that I can almost see that beautifully bound thesis sitting on top of my closed computer...but I'm not there yet.  So, until the end, you'll just get random updates.  Sorry, it's just got to be that way.  It's not you, it's me.

Ok, here is a quick run-down of what I've been doing.

• Went back home for T-day
• Saw a lot of good friends while at home for said holiday
• Took a picture of my dog to the bar where his name came from...soon it will be on the wall. (This has been a goal of mine since I've been about 6).
• Went to a great friend's wedding.  Congrats again you crazy kid you.

So, that's about it.  Hope everyone had a great and safe Thanksgiving.

GO PACK GO

Whoa, what a weekend.  This past Saturday through Monday I spent about 18 hours in a car (truck rather) and covered more than 1,000 miles.  It might have been one of the best weekends of my life.  Below is a small little recap of the events that transpired.

1- Green Bay is more magical than Santa's workshop
2- I have never seen so much green and gold
3- If you're going to tail-gate remember these few rules:
    A- Be ready to share.  This applies to beer, food, bottle openers, footballs, grills, wifes, (no, not really
         wifes, that would be weird) and yard games.   Basically, if you have it, you need to be ready to share it.
    B- Dress for the cold.  This was a classic function over form environment.  No one likes whiners.
    C- Get there early.  We got to the tailgating lot at 8 a.m. for a noon game.  By 9, the lot was full.
4- The majority of people we talked to had a noticeable accent
5- Stop lights are referred to as "Stop and Go lights"
6- Everybody was into the game.  There was not an empty seat and almost no one was too busy texting to enjoy the game

To top off the weekend, we stopped at a Monical's pizza on the way home.  And yes, it was just as good as I remember it being.

GO PACK GO.

BUSY BEE

Ok dear readers of mine, I'm sure you've noticed the lack of postings and are are probably really bummed out.  I mean, you've been expected to dive right into work without the benefit of first reading my posts...assuming you read them before work that is. 

Anyway, I've been really hammering away at this pesky lil' thesis.  By my estimation, I've only got about 20 more pages to craft before I can say I'm done with the writing portion.  Anyway, that explains the lack of writings...

One very important thing that I failed to be mentioned via this electric platform was my cousin, Lil' Man, was selected first team all conference.  Very impressive by any standard. Keep up the good work.

HISTORY

That just happened.  Mind blowing.

ABOUT HALF

So, by my estimate, I'm about half done with this little paper I've been working on.  If all goes according to plan, it will be 96% done in 8 days.  You heard it here first.

CONSIDER IT DONE

REALLY???

You know what would be cool?  Being able to work in a library and not hear someone give a minute by minute recap on the Jersey Shore episode they just watched.  This isn't because I hate the show (which, I do with all my being) but because I want to work in a quiet environment.  Is this too much to ask?  I think not. 

Here is another idea, when I tell you to be quiet or move, how about you don't act all shocked and look at me like I've just asked for your first born.  The way I see it, if I've glared at you AND cleared my throat, it should be no surprise that I'm going to say something pretty quickly. 

Also, if you're wearing headphones and I can hear your music 10 feet away, you're doing something wrong.

I would love for there to be a "graduate student" only section.  Do they even have these?  Surely some schools have to, I'm just not lucky enough go to one of these schools. 

Anyone else need me to teach you how to behave in a library, just ask.  Until then, shut up.

SWITCH-A-ROO

Well dear Internet users who also happen to read this blog, I must inform you of a major change.  As you're aware, I've been working on a big ol' project.  Well, this this project has caused me to carry around a lot of stuff.  So much so that my trusty satchel just won't cut it anymore.  So, I've switched to Blue Bag for the time being.

So, if you happen to see me around with this bag-o-fun strapped to my back don't get all jealous.  I'm not going on a camping trip or some other adventure, I'm simply going to the library. 

Enjoy your day.

WEATHER

Each year around this time I notice the same thing without fail.  Even though the morning temperatures are in the 40s and the afternoon temps are no where near "hot" there are always a handful of people wearing shorts, short sleeves, and flip-flops.  This year is no different.

Maybe it's because I've been spending a lot of time at the library lately and I welcome a quick break to think about life's finer things but I've spent a great deal of time thinking about this.  Call it being "thesis minded" (or brain washed) but, all of a sudden, everything I say or think I feel needs to have some research behind it or have a clarifying statement attached to it.  I'm sure this is very annoying to all those who have had to interact with me lately (my poor wife must get the brunt of it since I talk to her the most <---more clarifying statements) and hopefully this new habit doesn't stick around when I'm done with said thesis.  OK, enough chit-chat. Here is the scientific way I've researched this "summer attire in different seasons".

I've always ran hot...if I had a gauge on my forehead like cars have on their dashboard, my needle would undoubtedly be dangerously close to the red.  People would constantly be asking me if I was about to overheat.  Now, taking this into consideration, I thought about all of the other people who have temperatures close to mine.  Of all the people I know, which is a lot, I could only think of 2 other people who are constantly warm.

Then, I asked myself, would Mr. X or Mr. Y (names changed to protect the subjects) be wearing shorts and flip-flops?  Then I would ask myself, "Would I be wearing shorts and flip-flops?"  I then would look down at my outfit and realize, "No.  I am not wearing shorts and flip-flops" therefore Mr. X and Mr. Y are most likely not wearing them either. 

Once the outfit was determined of the control subjects, I asked myself "what is the likelihood these strangers have a higher, or at the very least, the same internal thermostat setting as the subjects?"  The conclusion was it is highly unlikely for these strangers to run hotter than myself or Mr. X and Y based on the pure number of people I know and the number of people who have the same temperature as I.   Therefore, I have concluded these people wear shorts for a reason other than to attempt to regulate their body temperature...most likely because they want the opportunity to say, "It's not cold out here at all."  Really, then why are you shivering and hugging yourself?  Put some long pants on already, it's almost November.

Until next time...

SUNDAY FUNDAY

RANDOM

I wish my dog knew how to open the back door...but I'm sure glad my cats don't have it figured out.

GOOD LUCK

To my cousin, Little Man. 

THESIS UPDATE

Well, this isn't as much fun as I was hoping.  Shocking? No.  True? Yes. 

So here is what has been happening at my second home.

·   It seems people like to talk in the library.

·   There are definitely computers which let me type faster than others.  Sounds weird, huh?  But I swear some keyboards have keys that are harder to push than others or my strength ebbs and flows at an odd rate.

·   I print a lot.  I mean a whole lot.

·   I read even more.

·   The time it takes me to get upset at other patrons is directly correlated with how my writing is going.  Good writing = lots of patience.  Bad writing = I'm going to say something to the offender

·   I've decided I would rather have a quiet environment than make new friends (see above item)

     

·  You can, infact, drink too much coffee.

Additional news you don't care about

I've quit keeping track of the money spent on treats.  The number was already staggering considering I've only been at this party for a little over a week.

Enjoy the outside for me.

IS IT ME?

I can honestly say that if I saw nolan Ryan at the store I would never recognize him...talk about aging terribly. But he has more money than I could ever dream of...so there's that.

GOOD-BYE POLAR BEARS

Climate study confirms what skeptics scoffed at: global warming is real

OFF TO THE RACES

I started working on my thesis this week.  I'm sure you're all like, "Thesis-schemthis.  What does this have to do with me?"  Well dear reader this has a lot to do with you.  Remember when I used to help you put of doing actual constructive things for like 3 or 4 minutes by writing interesting (or not) stories?  Well guess what?  I'm spending almost all of my free time, a bare minimum of 35 hours a week at a library.  You know how many interesting things happen at libraries?  Not many.  You know what else?  Saturdays are going to be one of my biggest days of the week to work on this here project...meaning my weekends, where I get quite a bit of material for this blog, have been reduced by 50%.  This means the posts you read from now until this badboy is done are going to be...well, let's just say they might not be as interesting as they once were. 

Good news, I have decided that I'm going to keep a tally of all the money I spend on coffee, soda, snacks, and whatever other little pick-me ups I need to get through this.  You lucky devil you, at the end of it all you get to join me in gasping at the amount of money spent...all in the name of education.

Another positive note, assuming history is a guide, I seem to have some pretty random and crazy thoughts when my mind kicks into overdrive...you'll get to hear (or read as it may be) those too.

See...thesis writing is fun.

FIRST OF LAST

Yesterday was the first class of my last class of my Master’s program.  One thing struck me as odd, the class is held in a classroom—a Spanish classroom to be exact—in the local high school.  Talk about coming full circle.  I wish some of my high school teachers could see me now, sitting at a little desk getting ready to embark on a hellofa journey...one which will produce a new degree upon completion.   

The prof tried to reassure the class that the thesis was no different from any other paper we’ve written…it is just longer and single-handidly decides if I get this degree or not.  No pressure.  Almost like a coach icing his own player and telling him, “We’re down by 1, make both free throws and we win the championship.  Miss 'em both and we’re done. Now get out there and have fun.”  

If you need me I'll be holed up in the library for the next 9 weeks.

HIDDEN TREASURE

You know that feeling you get when you discover something that's pretty awesome but others have already figured it out?  You're kinda in a state of surprised shock...you're really pumped that you found this new great thing, but you can't boast or brag too much because everyone else already knew about it.  It's almost like you're the last one picked to be on a kickball team.  Happy to be playing, bummed you were the last resort.

That is the same feeling I felt 3, yeah, you read correct, 3 times within the past week.  Yup.  Two bars and one restaurant in my neighborhood…all within five minutes.  I even walked home from one Friday night, just to see what it would be like.  I seriously feel like I've been living under a rock for more than the past year.  Regardless, I've got three new places to go an none of them is more than 5 minutes from my front door.  Who's late to the party? This guy.  But whatever, next time you stop by we'll hit one (or all three if you're lucky) of these hidden gems up.

NEW

Shop n save got new carts...is it bad I noticed?

LOCAL FLAVOR

The weather is changing...I'm sure you're well aware of how the season work and I'm somewhat sure you don't read this here electric idea catcher to read obvious statements.  Speaking of which, why are you here???  

What I’m not so sure you know is fall is the best time to hole up in a coffee shop.  I’m not talking about mega-huge national coffee houses; I’m talking the local variety.  (Don’t get me wrong, I’ve spent more hours than I could ever count at national coffee chains and I’ve loved almost every minute of it.)  

Sure, you may have to pay a little bit more per cup, you may not have the convenience of a parking lot, you may have to wait a little bit longer for the coffee to be made since you don’t have 14 high-school kids swarming behind the counter but does any of that matter?  Apparently not.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m as busy as the next guy or gal but if I’m going to take a walk on the wild side and be all crazy by paying for something I could easily make at home in the time it takes to drive to the coffee shop then I want to enjoy the experience.    

Don't get all excited and drink your local coffee too fast...you'll burn your tongue.

HUNGRY HIPPO

Maybe it's because I'm on this "diet" kick, maybe it's because I really liked the game Hungry Hippos as a kid, maybe it's because I'm weird and over think things.  Whatever the reason the other day while watching BluDog eat all I could think was how much he resembled a Hungry Hippo.  

When he eats he doesn't just keep his head in the food bowl  and he most definitely doesn't slowly lower his head to the bowl when he wants to take a bite.  He forcefully thrusts his head down into the bowl just as a child forcibly pushes the lever to make the hippo open his mouth and jerk to the center of the board. 

This made me start to wonder if most people move their mouth toward their food or let the hand do all the work and push the food entirely into the mouth.  Turns out, the majority of people, yours truly included, eat like hungry hippos.  I bet the next time you're at a restaurant you'll have, if only for a split second, the image of a bunch of brightly colored hippos sitting around tables.  Yup, betcha do.

FATTY MCFATERSON

This weekend I went to a graduation party.  Putting the finishing touches on my rockin' wardrobe, I pulled out a shirt out of the closet and tossed it on.  During the whole buttoning process I had a shocking discovery.  I had gotten fat.  At first I thought it was my imagination, but once I sat down and saw the buttons straining to hold the pieces of fabric together I knew it was for real.  What did I do?  The only thing I did, I ate more at that graduation party than I thought humanly possible.  If my buttons were going to be all jerk-like and mock me, well then I was going to put them through hell. 

I can't say I'm surprised my body has betrayed me...the past week has been nothing but over-indulging and unhealthy food.  But enough is enough.  I'm going on a diet.  I think I have caught it in time to stop this runaway train.  After all, who says a runaway train can't come back? 

SUNDAY FUNDAY

Hopefully you've done something fun with your Sunday.  Me, I went on a 20-mile charity bike ride to start the day on the right foot.  What is the only acceptable thing to do after burning a bunch of calories?  Replenish them of course.  So I had lunch with some old buddies at a local micro-brewery.  When I got home I thought to myself, "Self, you've worked pretty hard today, why don't you take a quick little nap in the hammock." and that is exactly what I did.  What is the best way to spend an afternoon after an awesome morning?  Well you silly reader, there is only one possible answer...watching the Cardinals play in the post-season of course.  What's next?  Out to dinner with our neighbors as a "thank you" for watching their dogs and finishing the night by watching the Pack on TV.  It is like today was a trifectia of awesomeness, only more awesome.

I'M OUT

OK world wide web friends I must make a confession.

I have decided to not run in the upcoming marathon.  I'm sure you're like, "Whoa, what happened big guy?"  I'll tell you.  I have been really busy lately, so busy that my entire life has been in a constant state of "frantic".  Let me tell ya, this is no way to live.  So, I made the decision to start eliminating things which take up a lot of time so I can have more time to focus on the things that need to get done.

The job search takes a lot of time, and is about to get kicked up a notch with the impending December graduation.  I can't just magically get a job without putting in the time, so that can't get cut.  I can't quit school cause that would make the job search even more difficult.  So the marathon got cut.

Don't worry, there will be another race and my sanity is more important than the run.  Plus, since I've already run a full I don't need to prove to myself that I'm capable.

Happy running.

IS IT JUST ME?

 When I look at the logo on the left I automatically think of the logo on the right. Good for Girl Scouts, bad for Pepsi.

MORE "NOT TO DOs"

Here is a list of things not to do when you're trying to finish a paper.

1- Spend countless hours on Facebook looking at stranger's profiles
2- Day dream of what you would do with all of your lotto winnings
3- Look at the winning lotto numbers for the past 15 Powerball drawings to try and determine a pattern so #2 can become a reality
4- Write a blog post
5- Use your mouse to draw boxes on your desktop
6- Search for an awesome picture to post as your desktop wall-paper
7- Spend even more time on Facebook
8- Open a new word document and type any and all words that happen to pop in your head
9- Check the weather on-line
10- Sit and stare aimlessly out the window

HOW NOT TO DO IT

We built a fence over this past weekend.  Below is how not to do it.

1- Don't even think about calling the utility company to located any pesky buried cables or wires.  After all, they're relatively small therefore your odds of hitting one or all of them is relatively small too.

2- Some would look in a book or use the google-machine to figure out how, exactly, to build a fence.  I would call these people "followers" and "uncreative".  Sometimes you've got to blaze a new path by yourself.

3- Make sure you get into an argument with the person you're going to be working with for the next 7 hours.  The argument should be about nothing related to manual labor or building a fence but should definitely carry over into the project.  Snide and smart ass comments help this fire burning the length of the project.

4- The right tool for the job??? Nope. Unnecessary.  You need a screw put into a post...no reason to make the long walk back to the basement.  A hammer will work just fine, they're for hitting things you know.

5- Level schmevel.  Use your eyes and your good judgement.

6- The old saying "Measure twice, cut once" sucks.  Use that power saw as much as possible.

7- Digging holes is much easier when drinking a beer.  If your helper isn't digging then have them hold your beer.  Better yet, have the helper dig the hole while you drink.

8- Start and stop as much as possible.  No reason to get into a rhythm when you have all weekend to work on this project.

9- Save your back by carrying as little as possible on every trip.  This also adds to the length of the project.

10- Don't put your tools away.  Rain washes them...who wants dirty tools anyway?

WHOA

I just looked at the ol' internet diary and noticed that I hadn't written anything on here for quite a while.  Sorry google-machine pals, I'm sure you've all been devastated.  What can I say, I've been super-duper busy and the blog here has suffered.  So spend the next few minutes reading about my super-duper interesting life via the next post or two.

IS LOWER BETTER?

As the topic of expectations was being chatted about around the ol' water cooler the other day I heard some interesting schools of thought...

On one side you've got the notion that having high expectations is best.  Some would argue that greatness can only occur by having such lofty expectations.  What about the flip side?  What about the frustration and anger and disappointment you might feel when these almost unattainable expectations aren't met?  Is it worth it?

The other side of the coin houses low expectations.  If you have lowered your expectations you reduce the frustration/anger/disappointment factor because you don't expect much anyway.  There isn't really all that much to get upset about.  Almost like any positive is just icing on the cake.

Part of me wants to lower my expectations...but I just can't seem to do it.  I'm too much the optimist...expecting the best out of myself and others.  Sure, I get frustrated and stressed on a regular basis but I just can't seem to keep the expectations at a lowered yet reasonable level.

So, I've decided for the month of October I'm going to lower my expectations, of both myself and others.  It is kinda odd to make a goal of like this...it's almost like saying, "I'm going to see if I can NOT clean my house for a month".  Seems easy enough but time will tell. 

FIRSTS

This weekend was chalk full of firsts.  I’m sure you can’t wait to hear what they are and are bummed that I haven’t told you yet.   Well, you just keep readin’ this here post and you’ll have your answers soon enough.

·         First day of fall

·         I saw a wedding dj put on an Elvis wig and take off his pants (see pictures in the post below)

·         First time of the season I saw a leaf that was another color other than green

·         I saw my breath for the first time Saturday morning

·         First fire pit (a direct result of the bullet directly above this one)

·         J and I took BluDog to the boathouse patio in Forest park

·         We got the grand tour of our neighbors (almost) completely remodeled house.  Very nice by the way

There you have it, a weekend of firsts. 

I'VE SEEN IT ALL

Just when yours truly thought he had seen a lot the bar was raised. At a wedding and the sh donned a bad Elvis wig and procedeed to give a random 60something woman he plucked from the audiene a lap dance. He stripped down to his boxers.

Pictures to follow. 

PS-im happy to report the wedding was not for my friends or family.

CHANGES

By now we're all aware of the new changes made by our pals over at Facebook.  According to this article some more mind blowing changes are about to happen.  I guess I should comment that I have yet to make the Facebook stop this morning, which might seem odd since I'm blogging about it...I guess that means you may be lucky enough to read a follow-up post. 

All these changes make me think, do we really know what we want.  It seems that after every upgrade/change people grumble about it until they have gone through the learning curve.  Once that happens, everyone wonders how they survived before the new format was rolled out. 

This reminds me of a quote by Henry Ford, "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said a faster horse".  Is it true we can not decide what we really want if we don't know the possibilities?  You let that thought bounce around your noggin on this foggy Friday.

WE ARE NOW THOSE PEOPLE

His name is jack...get it.

BEST RANDOM QUOTE

The best random comment of the day made by a co-worker.  Thank you for the chuckle MF.
Try to beat this one, I dare you.

"Eww...that smells like my dad's hands"

LOOKS

Today at work someone mentioned they looked like they were born in Poland. A co-worker corrected this person and said she thought she looked like she was born in Ireland. 

Then the conversation turned to me...one said it looks like I was born in Antarctica (with a hat and gloves on) then quickly added that I could have been born in Texas.  I understand the Texas comment because I am wearing a pearl snapped shirt but Antarctica...really?

TRUE??

Keep in mind I have check the factuality of this chart.  Assuming all is true I think this is very impressive.  Live and let live.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/static/imagebuzz/terminal01/2011/9/20/17/progress-president-obama-has-made-for-the-lgbt-co-16852-1316554012-4.jpg?s=mobile
http://www.buzzfeed.com/static/imagebuzz/terminal01/2011/9/20/17/progress-president-obama-has-made-for-the-lgbt-co-16852-1316554012-4.jpg?s=mobile

PURE AWESOMENESS

For one reason or another I took about 2 weeks off from running.  Well, not exactly for one reason or another...I was basically lazy and then scared.  It was a slippery slope, I took a few days off and thought the first time I ran would be tough, so I just kept pushing it off and the more I put it off the more I dreaded that first run.  So that is how you take two weeks off in the middle of a training program.  Not a wise move when you have a marathon in about 6 weeks.

I got back on the horse last night.  I'm happy to report I had a great run...as close to cheetah like as I can get.  True, it was only a 5-miler, but I can't remember the last time 5 floated by so effortlessly.  It was almost as if I had little motors in my legs.  Maybe it was not hellish weather.  Maybe it was my legs were super fresh.  Whatever the reason I can only hope today's run is as perfect. 

BASICALLY FREE

This is sad that I'm happy about this.

CUP O'JOE

I think coffee may be my new comfort food.

THIS AND THAT

If you’re like most people your work day starts off the same way.  Sitting in front of your computer groggy and blurry eyed and reassuring yourself you can get through the day…after all, you have your coffee, and that’s a great thing.  You’re probably postponing that TPS report for another four minutes while you finish your pre-work internet surfing.  I mean, it would be rude to have all those sports teams play games all weekend long and then not care enough to check the scores—or have people take the time to write words and then post them for all to see and not read them.  Well you’re in luck Mr. or Ms. Internet surfer, I’ve got a decently long post which can push back that pesky report for another 30 seconds.

Friday felt like a true fall day.  Did the whole work things, blah blah blah.  In the evening we made the trip to an outlying suburb and watched my cousin play football.  His team won = awesome! Sitting in the rain = not awesome.  The fact he hurt his foot = super not awesome.

Saturday we hit the house with a 1-2 punch.  The entire house was cleaned.  Things were dusted and vacuumed, things were washed and scrubbed and things were organized and put away in proper places.  The whole house smelled clean and fresh—the smell of a job well done.  We were able to bask in the cleanliness for about an hour before the dog forgot the kitchen floor is not the same as grass outside.  I guess he got confused because both are green—too bad they’re not one in the same. 

Sunday was a mixture of happy and frustrated.  Happy the Packers won.  Frustrated at the initial bar selection.  Happy the dog didn’t pee in the house.  Frustrated he reverted to nipping ankles.  Happy to have groceries for the week.  Frustrated to be in Wal-Mart at 7:30 p.m.  So that was that. 

Overall an excellent weekend.  Oh, I’ve decided that it was a bit silly for me to think September would be the Month of Me (not is a selfish way but in a “get all my ducks in a row” kinda way).  So I’ve changed it up a bit…this is going to be the Week of Me.  Hopefully the smaller timeline will make it more doable.   

NEW THOUGHTS

Just the other day I was reading an article about lifting weights and gaining muscle strength and size.  This article (I read it the ol' fashioned way, in an actual magazine...when I find it online I'll post it) seems to be saying that a standard weight lifting strategy may not be as good as everyone once thought. 

If you read the article, then you would know the tactic I'm talking about is trying to squeeze out 3 sets of 10.  If the right weights are used, this seems like a good workout.  Apparently people focus too much on the reps and sacrifice adding weight in order to achieve the 10 count.

Well, for some reason, this article struck a cord with me and I have changed my lifting strategy.  (Note: I was not doing the ol' 3x10 anyway, but it made me think of what I was doing).  Since Monday I've started doing 4 or 5 exercises for one muscle group.  As the article recommends, I am focusing on finding the weight I can do 3-5 times as fast as possible with good form.  Let me tell you this, I'm sore.  Really, really, it hurts to watch TV sore.  I love it.  Another added bonus, I've also noticed my heart-rate has dramatically increased practically the whole time that I'm lifting. 

I'm going to give it a shot for the next 7 weeks.  I'll report back every once and a while.  When the first shirt has it's sleeves ripped because of my bigger and better arms, you'll be the first to know.

AMAZING

Today's weather that is.  If you weren't outside doing something, anything, to take advantage of this fine weather, well then, you sir, are an idiot.  You're probably like, oh yeah smart guy, what did you do that was so un-idiot...You sit right there and I'll tell ya a tale of this un-idiot and how his day was spent. 

I was so excited to start my day and take advantage of this weather that I decided my pup couldn't wait until the normal wake up time of 5 o'clock to get his first taste of the weather...yup, thought 3 in the morning was a much better time.  Let me tell ya, I was right. Slight breeze, crisp air, quiet as a church.  I didn't want to get all of my outside time at once, so after a few minutes I thought it best for us both to go back to bed for a few hours...just to let Mr. Sun catch up to us.

After work BluDog and I spent about 72 minutes (a rough estimate) outside.  We had a nice lil game of fetch (or as close as you can get to fetch with a 14 week old puppy), practiced our manners and tricks, and just chilled out by sitting in the sun.  I've waited an eternity to be able to be able to feel the sun without sweating my...my, well, without sweating a lot. 

Next on the agenda was to grill.  In all fairness, BluDog isn't much of a griller..I think it's the fact he lacks opposable thumbs.  Whatever.  He tried his best, and really that's all you ask for. 

And that brings us to the present.  Maybe I'll go for a run in a little bit, maybe I'll sit on the porch.  Maybe I'll have a small firepit...just so I can say I had one on a week night. 

Hope your outside time was as good as mine.
 

RANDOM

For about  4 or 5 days after a hair cut my hair does its own thing regardless of how I try to style it.  Don't get me wrong, I love my haircuts and have been going to the same hair-cutter (yup, official term) for almost 3 years.  I just think its funny my hair has a mind of its own.

I'm not saying I look freakish or have crazy hair, and I'm not saying my hair is the best.  It is your basic guys short hair style...so there isn't really much to do to "style" it...definitely no Jersey Shore blowout or 30 minutes of prep time.  I basically slap some wax on it and out the door I go...hair done and hands washed and dried in about 17 seconds.

So back to the hair who thinks for itself...well, I guess I should first start by saying I have a minor widow's peak.  You'd never know it was minor though if you saw me a few days after a new cut.  The hair at the bow (that's a boat term) of the peak is too short to stand straight up while the hair at the base (I have no idea of what you call this portion of my hair)of the peak is long enough to stand up with the wax.  What does this give me?  A hair style that would make Eddie Munster jealous.

I have no doubt this look could be alleviated if I took more than the stated 17 seconds to "style" my hair...after I'm done getting it cut, for the first few hours anyway, my hair looks like it should be in GQ.

WATCH THIS

This is a spot a local news station did on my cousin's football team.
Keep up the good work lil' man.


Click Here to watch video.

HAPPY MONDAY

Turns out, when the powers that be are deciding the odds on a specific horse, they have a pretty good idea of what they're talking about.  So my plan of betting on the 20-1 long-shot pony, upsetting the system, and then basking in my winnings for the rest of the night didn't play out like I'd thought it would.  Thinking my first lost was a fluke, I used the same logic for about 6 more races.  The first time was not a fluke.

Other weekend events consisted of hanging out with long lost buddies, visiting a hospital, reaffirming all-you-can-eat-buffets are not the wisest choice, watching football, and fighting a continuous battle with BluDog about getting on the couch.

DON'T PEE IN THE POOL

Or you might end up in the hospital. Get well soon buddy.

GET READY

on the road...good things are about to happen.

PLAYING NICE

The weather has finally decided to not suck. 

Take advantage of the mid-70 degree weather this upcoming week is promising.

Summer, you were a good time and the catalyst for many great memories but your 100 degree attitude was getting a little old. 

See you next year good friend.

ALL IN THE WORDING

http://www.kmov.com/news/mobile/Disasters-in-US-An-extreme-and-exhausting-year-129196398.html
Some people get upset with the words "global warming" and deny it to the bitter end...but say we are going through a "climate change" that is resulting in warmer weather globally and the same people who argue global warming will quickly agree.  Believe what you want, I really don't care, but this article is interesting.

WHO

Between the funny talkers who is wiser...Mr. Miyagi or Yoda?

YES PLEASE

Complete a 13 mile run before 8:30...now my 3 day weekend can begin. Time to kick back and relax.

PERFECT

TODAY'S INSPIRATION

A co-worker had these words of wisdom for me today...

"You can't be a winner everyday...but you can be a loser everyday."

So remember this quote when you're just going through the motions today.

THANK YOU...

...311 for an amazing run last night.  You really know how to make a guy feel good.

A STEP BACK

This weekend made me feel like I was in high school again...in a really, really good way.  From the outside looking in I could see how it might look like I was being selfish.  I did exactly what I wanted for the entire weekend and it was great. 

Friday watched my little cousin's football game (they won and he played great), Saturday went for a long run and napped before going out on the town.  Sunday played golf with an old buddy then ate dinner at the 'laws.  Even got in a little cleaning which made me really happy. 

It's weird how life has a way of giving you a break right when you need it...

Happy Monday.

LONG. HOT. SLOW.

just ran 14 miles. The title pretty Mich sums it up...but I'm pumped I finished.

GOT CHANGE

Today I was waiting for classes to start and I thought I would treat myself to an ice cold beverage of the diet variety.  Sadly, this thirst quenching  treat never reached my lips.  Not because I dropped it, or something silly like I all of a sudden decided a water would be healthier.  Nope, I simply didn't have the change in my bag like I thought I did.  Strike 1.

No biggie I said to myself, I've got a buck in my wallet and I'll just use that.  No dollar bill, but a 10.  Don't get me wrong, I love finding 9 extra dollars, but talk about winning to lose.  Strike 2.
 
For a split second I thought, "Sweet!  I'll ask someone if they can break my ten and I'll be able to get my drink and maybe even toss in a candy bar for my trouble. WINNING"  Bam, I snapped to my senses, who under the age of 45 would have 10 bucks in their pocket, especially the correct amount to be able to break my 10?  Toss that fact on top of the fact that I'm on a college campus.  Strike 3.

I didn't even ask anyone.  I ended up slowly and begrudgingly walking to the water fountain, a beaten man. 

REALLY?!?!?

The end of some runs are greeted with happiness, some with exhaustion, and others with a great sense of accomplishment.  Yesterday, the end of my run was marked in an odd way...A bee stung me.  


I'm sure you're thinking, "Well yeah, that sucks, but is it really that strange?  You run outside after all."  You've got a point, if I got stung on the shoulder, on the leg, back, arm, or any other easily accessible place it wouldn't be that weird.  I probably wouldn't even write about it (yes I would, who am I kidding?)  You know where I got stung, on my foot...right below my ankle to be exact.

Take a minute to look at your shoe-clad foot.  I mean, look at the amount of space between the side of your foot and your shoe...no, seriously, take 4 seconds to look at that small space.  Now factor in the fact I was running, so it was a moving target non-the-less.  Somehow a bee manged to get himself into my moving shoe and give me a present of a stinger in my foot.  Stupid bee didn't even ask if I liked stingers, he just assumed.  We all know what assuming does.  So that I was, on the path at forest park, running along on minute and the next ripping my shoe and sock off hopping around one foot.  Great way to end a run.

THE STREAK LIVES

Lucky for me, I like traditions.  Like, always ending up in the river via a tipped canoe or having it rain every single time I go camping.  Some glass-is-half-empty kinda people would say these things are negative.  Me, well, I'm a glass-is-half-full kinda guy...I call those two events "strong traditions".  Everyone knows traditions are the ingredients which give seemingly pointless activities meaning.  Let me tell you, this camping/float had plenty of meaning.

The weekend couldn't have been better.  The float and camping were amazing, the river wasn't too crowded, the weather not too hot, the camp ground not too muddy.  I've said it before, and I'm gonna say it again, floating might be my favorite summer time activity.

Hopefully everyone out there had a nice weekend too.  Only 4.5 (work time calculated only, assuming you work a 40 hour, M-F kinda week) more days until we get to do it again...the weekend that is, not the floating.

PADDLE ON

Have a good weekend. 
I'll be on the river if you need me.

BRUNCH

I hate it...messes up my food cycle for the entire day.
I also am not a fan of crowds.

HALF WAY

Well google-machine friends, it's Wednesday.  So, if you work a "normal" work week, you're almost half way to the weekend.

Lame week = Lack of postings. 

I'm sure you're thinking that not much of what I write about is "blog worthy", well sir, you are correct.  What can I say, I don't live an exciting life.

More later.

FUN-FILLED

How many of you can say you visited 3 different cities in the past three days?  Well, this guy can.  Friday we left the Lou to pay a visit to my sis and her finance up in the Windy City.  Had a blast.  I had forgotten how much I liked the city.  It has a totally different vibe and energy than STL. 

Saturday headed south to another friends house in Bloomington-Normal...home of the Red Birds.  Again, a lovely time was had.  We got there at the perfect time of year, the weather was nice and the college bars (see cheap beer) weren't packed with obnoxious college kids yet.  It was really the making for a perfect storm. 

Sunday was the much anticipated engagement party...complete with a tent.  It was a nice opp for both families to get together and mingle in a low stress and chilled out environment.  The combination of great company, amazing food and cooperative weather made for an excellent party. 

Now back to the grind.  Happy Monday all.

 

FOR PAM

HOLA

ADIOS...FOR NOW

CLICK CLICK GOOD GOOD

Last night was Bludog's first night at puppy kindergarten and the lil' guy did great.  This particular class uses clickers in addition to food to show praise.  The clickers are cool, and the dogs seem to respond positively to them.

At first he was really timid and just wanted to hang out by JP and eat treats (told you he was smart).  But soon enough he was mingling with the other puppies and having a grand ol' time. 

I think this class benefited me more than the dog.  It might be possible that I'm expecting too much out of this 9-week old dog.  Is it too much to ask that he never have an accident inside, gets me the morning paper, and has dinner cooked, or at least started, by the time I get home??? Yeah, I didn't think so either. 

The instructors said he was doing really good, and that he was a very well behaved puppy.  That made me happy.

RUN

Last night I went on a group run with a local running store yesterday.   The run was great and everyone I met was super friendly.  I'm definitely going to go back next week.

Here is where I ran.

RANDOM SLIGHT ANNOYANCES

Typically I'm a glass is half full kinda guy, but there are some things that slightly annoy me.  I'm sure you're all like, "Whoa, look at this guy...who does he think he is?  Everyone has stuff that annoys them."  Well good sir or madam, you're correct...but just so happens that I'm the one writing the blog and you're the one reading it, so...

In the words of Peter Griffith, here are a few things that "Grind my gears"

• When you're walking on a public sidewalk in a park, there is no need for you and your three other friends to walk shoulder to shoulder.  If this terrible mistake is made, how about you at least attempt to get out of the way when someone is running towards you.  There is no reason to make a single runner get off of the path so you and your fat friends can continue walking 4-across.
• People who suck using the self checkout in the grocery store.  This suck group can be broken down into a few categories. 
•  Category 1:  The person who tries to check out a full cart of stuff.  Don't they see there are only three bags in the "loading area"?  You know if you take any bags off the area before you pay an alarm goes off, causing a confused look, some incoherent mumblings, and the employee to come to the aid of the distressed shopper.  All of which prolong my checking out.
• The people who struggle to scan every item.  Really?  Have we never watched someone scan groceries before?  The machine can't read the label no matter how quickly or slowly you pass it in front of the laser.  Use the bar code...its the black and white things with lines and numbers.

 Well good readers, this is all for now in the annoyance department.

Try not to suck today.

NOM NOM NOM

Food makes everybody friends...at least for a minute.

GREAT-WAY

You know the best way to start a Wednesday?  No, well, you just keep on readin' this and you'll find out.  OK, to start any Wednesday off great, you need:

• Temps in the 70s
• One of your favorite shirts clean
• QT coffee
• O.A.R. caressing your ear drums on your drive to work

There you have it folks, the peferct start to your Wednesday.  If you're already off to a bad start because you didn't have the above this morning...don't worry.  There is always next week.

WEEKEND FUN

• 2 wedding receptions
• 1 all day birthday bash
• 1 family birthday party
• 1 clean house
• 1 new bar visited
• 1 birthday cake baked

That is a down and dirty look at my weekend.  How was yours?

POOPY

Guess who doesn’t like having to clean a poopy dog crate at 2:30 in the morning? 

Me. 

Luckily, I had the help of the dog and two kittens.  Since they lack opposable thumbs, they weren’t as much help as you might think.  But what they lacked in doing actual work, they more than made up for by meowing, whining, and collectively trying to eat the dirty paper towel...basically just being supportive. 

Thanks guys, couldn’t have gotten the job done without you.

OPERATION CRATE

Tonight's goal:  Make the best and most inviting dog crate this side of of the Mississippi. 

If my mission is a success, maybe Bludog will love it so much he wants to sleep instead of whine during the night.  This will benefit both man and beast.

That is all for now, carry on.

BUILDING STUFF

A while back I mentioned that we had been busy building things at the house.  These "things" consisted of installing a cat door (this isn't "technically" building, but it did require power tools), a table, and a cat mega-tower-o-fun.  The pictures of the cat door and table will be posted a little bit later.

Feast your peepers on this hunk of fun.  Chunk is on the ledge and Jack is on the ground.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I forgot my music-listening device today, so I only had the sound of my feet hitting the pavement and my thoughts to keep me occupied.  Even though most of my morning runs happen at the same time in the same neighborhood, I noticed a few “new” things this morning.

1.  There is a church on my route that has service at 6 a.m.  In the past, I've seen a person or two walk up to the front of the church before...I'd always assumed they were going to the church to pray before work.  But today I happened to be running past when services got out.  A sea of people flooded out of the church.  While watching the people scatter, noticed, and questioned, a few things. 

• No one in the bunch was under 76. 
• Old people move slowly. 
• Many within this demographic drive very similar vehicles.
• Did people go to church on weekday mornings back “in the olden days”? 
• What are these old timers going to do with the rest of their days?

 2.  There were three houses in a row that were losing their leaves...seriously, if you just looked out the window you would think that it was 68 degrees and fall.  Maybe the trees were like, "We'll make a deal with you Mr. Heatnhumidity, we'll give you our leaves and you give us a break from this heat."  Too bad the trees don't know that Mr. Heatnhumidity is a jerk.  Now they've lost their leaves for nothing.

So, there you have it.  These were some of the random thoughts bouncing around my noggin as my feet pounded the pavement.  Now the question is, run tomorrow without the music or with it?  Research says people can exercise longer when listening to music...but I kinda enjoyed the peace and quiet.  I’ll keep you posted.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

Well, from the looks of the extra food dishes on my floor and the kittens new found skittishness, I'd say we adopted a puppy.  Internet friends, meet Bluedog. 

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be hearing plenty about him and his quest to befriend the kittens.  

OLD

As you know I was at a wedding in my home town this past weekend.  When I was chatting with an old buddy, it dawned on us that we sounded like our dads...basically, like old men.  So DM took it upon himself to make a list of things that make him feel old.  Some of these I can relate to, some of them not so much.  Take a gander and see how many of these you can check off your list.

Thank you my good man for your list.

o     You can’t think in the morning until you have had your coffee.

o     It sounds like popcorn popping when you stand up.

o     You can sleep from 9 PM to 6 AM and still feel tired when you wake up.

o     You have to stretch before golfing.

o     You think going to bed at 10 PM is staying up late.

o     Getting up at 5:30 AM is not that early.

o     The worst part of a hangover is being tired.

o     Mowing the lawn is the most exercise you get in a week.

o     You can nap at any time.

o     You are good at golf.

o     You no longer speed in construction zones, not even 1 MPH over the speed limit.

o     You drink more coffee in a day than anything else.

o     You purchased gas when it was below $1 per gallon.

o     You have children.

o     You use phrases like, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” and “Where’s the beef!”

o     You can eat dinner at 4:45 and not thinks it’s too early.

o     If you wait until 7 to eat dinner you are starving.

o     You work out with two different medicine balls.  The first is 20 lbs, the other 30 lbs.  They are your children.

o     You can remember when Facebook, IPhones, and IPods didn’t exist.

o     You didn’t get your first cell phone until college.

o     You can’t figure out why your sore, then you remember you jumped on a trampoline.

LOTTO

So on an impulse I bought 3 Powerball tickets...I didn't win. 
I guess that means I won't be too busy traveling and doing rich-people stuff to continue adding to this masterpiece of a blog...Lucky you.

STALE LEGS

I'm not sure what the deal is, but I have had zero energy to run lately. 

I could blame it on the heat or the fact that I was traveling this past weekend, but I'm not going to.  I'm going to own up to the fact that I have just had no desire, and no strong drive to overcome the lack of desire.  I'm not to the freak out stage yet, I know that it will only take a good run or two to snap me out of this funk.    Hopefully publicly exposing my laziness helps me get back into shape.

In non-running news, I've been a busy bee around the house these past few days.  I'll be posting pictures in the very near future, so just relax.   

I WAS RIGHT

Well, once again I was right...L-town was a blast.  Maybe it's because I don't live there any more, or because I don't go home very often, or the fact that it's a small town and things seem simpler.  Whatever the reason, when I go home it is always like a mini-vacation.  This trip was no exception and I left feeling recharged and ready for the upcoming week.  I'm sure you're all like, what was so great about this trip?  Well, you just sit right there and read this list.  I dare you to say you wouldn't have had fun too.

• A trip to the Blue Dog, with the required hamburger horseshoe.  This has been my meal of choice there since at least 8th grade, only difference is now I order a beer rather than a cherry coke.
• Mel-O-Cream doughnuts on Saturday morning
• Swimming at the local pool.  This is where I spent the majority of my time during the summers as a pudgy youngster...sometimes swimming in the pool and sometimes sitting under the life-guard station, "thinking about what I did wrong"
• Celebrating a buddy's wedding.  CONGRATS again Beau and Missy.
• Catching up with lots of friends
• Seeing my folks
• Eating Wendy's

See, told you I had a good weekend. 

Thanks to all who helped make my weekend great.

JUST A TEST

Don't mind lil' ol' me.

CARD

This is them...If I were to order cards for myself.
Think of all the fish bowls I could put this bad boy in. If I was lucky, I could eat free lunches for weeks.

WEEKEND FUN

Some good ol' fashioned fun is about to be had...A buddy is getting married and I'll be seeing a bunch of old pals over the weekend.

Hope all you cool kids out there stay cool in this heat.  I might recommend taking advantages of your local resources...you know the Mississippi is practically in your backyard.  Just sayin'.

HOT HOT HOT

To some, this might sound like complaining, which it's not.  I'm simply letting all of my internet friends know that it is going to be hot for the next couple days. 

My only question is, how am I supposed to run in this heat.  It is almost like if I don't run at 5 in the morning, then I'm not going to run.  (I'd like to point out the heat index at 5 a.m. is in the high 80s/low 90s.) Most days this isn't a problem...today it could potentially be a problem since I didn't wake up on time.  Maybe I should run in the heat to punish myself and help myself remember to wake up in the morning. 

Stay cool out there.

LEGS A'MOVIN'

Went for a 5-miler this morning...'twas a great run. Nice and sunny and not too hot.  A great way to start the day.  Hopefully tomorrow's will be just as good...but if it goes better that would be great too.

BOTTOMS UP

Until very recently, this past Saturday to be exact, I used to live by the motto, "Don't let tomorrow's responsibilities slow down today's party".  This was not some clever saying I said to look tough, many life events, some very important (my engagement, my wedding, too many of my buddies' weddings to count, the start of family vacations, etc.)  occurred with a headache pushed into hiding thanks to nothing but a few Excedrin and pure grit, a grit only a young man can have...Well internet friends, I'M OLD.  This was a horrific discovery.  I've known this day was coming, and have caught glimpses of Old Man Time every once and a while, but until recently, have done a decent job of escaping his grip.  Before I'd see a hangover as a necessary evil, making it easy to deal with, now I only see it as evil. 

I'm changing up my tactic.  Sure, I'll still party hard for special occasions, and most likely a few times for no occasion at all...but any change takes time.  I thought that I was going to fear this, but in all honesty, I don't mind too much.  Two Saturdays ago I was up at 5 a.m., had the yard mowed, went on a 7-mile run, cleaned the dishes, and did some random yard work, all by 11 a.m.  I'm to the point where I'd rather do that than sleep till 9 and lay around for a few hours.  Getting old is weird.

CHANGE

So last night an old friend stopped by to hand deliver a wedding present.  She is an artist and the present was a painting she made, specifically for our wedding.  (A picture of the picture will be posted soon).  She recently had a daughter, and she brought the baby for us to meet.  It's so weird, I know everyone grows up and becomes an "adult", hell, I just got married.  It's just crazy to think...

On running news, I ran the other day and it felt good.  I've got a 7-miler tomorrow, I am going to switch my run times and run in the evening rather than the morning because we're having a garage/yard sale.  So if you're looking for some super awesome stuff, come on over.  Call if you need directions.