Swim’min

So it is March already. You know what that means!!!! Madness in a few weeks.

I started swimming again in an excercise-type manner and now I know why I waited so long in starting up again after almost 15 years of not swimming in any sort of exercise way. I got 1,050 yards in in about 30 minutes last Tuesday. My arms felt like two 30 pound weights were attached to them. I didn't sprint (or even think about it). My whole goal was to get 1,000 in (or 40 laps) and I hoped to do it in 30 minutes, which I did. This is going to take some time to build back some stamina and get back into some sort of swimming shape. Last Thursday was easier and even this Tuesday was a little easier as I got 1,200 (48 laps) done in 30 minutes.

Usually there are at least 2 other people there, none of which I know, so the fact that the pool isn't crowded makes it easier to feel relaxed about the situation. I know it is stupid to worry about what other people think of your tired and flailing freestyle, but for some reason it makes me a little self conscience, but I am slowing getting over that aspect realizing that no one is even paying attention to me. I know I am not paying attention to anyone else, I am too damn tired to be looking around the pool. I am just trying to breathe.

Oscar shoud wear Phone Fingers

Phone Fingers
My friend Tim keyed me into one of the most bizzare products ever for your iPhone. If you EVER see someone wearing these while using their phone, you have my permission to take a shovel and smack them up-side the head. I am not sure if I am more disturbed by the product or by the photo gallery on their web site. Good news is . . . no more messy fingerprints at the crime site.

Oscars Smoscars
So the Oscars were on last night. Yea hardly even watched them (neither did anyone else). When you haven't seen any of the films and never will (I am talking to you Atonement and There Will Be Blood) and haven't even seen the movies of the people nominated for Best Actor and Actress, you don't have a lot to watch for. So I watched (10 minutes) for John Stewart and even he couldn't do anything to make me interested, so I moved on to . . .

Dexter
Oooooh. Now this is a show that I could watch. It lives on Showtime and has set up duplicate residency on CBS (kinda like Rich Fraudriguez). For those of you who are pay-cableless, you might want to give it a try, although I will warn you . . . it is pretty graphic. It is about a CSI-type lab guy that investigates serial murders in Miami, but the twist is is that Dexter is a serial killer himself. For example, last night there was a guy who killed a kid when he was drunk driving and for some reason he was released on some technicality and Dexter did some research on him and found that he had done this numerous times before, so he took justice in his own hands and murdered him. So as you can see it isn't like he kills people just to do it, he justifies it to himself that he is 'helping' society by getting rid of the people no one will miss that have done bad things. I will keep watching, as long as I can remember it is on Sundays at 10, which reminds me I need do the DVR now.

Sleeping, Tipping and the College Perspective

Tipping
Adam over at his blog is trying to set some sort of record for comments at the end of his blog and instead of giving in and feeding the ego I thought I would just write my comments here and he can come over here to my blog to read them (although you need to look at his blog as it contains a cute video of my nephew Drew).

Tipping at curbside pick-up? Do you or don't you. First if I have to walk in (a la Bob Evans and pick up my food. Definitely no tipping. They didn't do anything except put my food in a bag. No tip for that. If the person has to come out to my car and they are fast about it, I will tip but usually just a 10%, I mean all they did was walk it to the car. The person getting the tip here should be the dude who cooked it. To save that awkward moment when a server is trying to rob you of more money for a tip I pay with the debit card, almost always. Just to save myself from having to get those $4 in change back only to leave $3 smackers.


Good Description of College
Tony Kornheiser in referring to the students and faculty protesting the Presidential situation at William and Mary.

“Gotta love that. That is what college outta be. That is what they outta do. Totally out-of-touch adults and self-indulgent children.”

This is a great quote and anyone working on a college campus knows that he hit this EXACTLY on the head.


Owen Catching On
Remember when, just a few blog posts ago I talked about Owen and waking up in the middle of the night. Well no one can ever accuse him of being dumb. After I answered his calls of "Mommy!" for a couple of days, only to follow them up with unsympathetic views at 3:00 a.m., apparently the boy needed to clarify who he is really calling. So now when yelling for "Mommy" at 3:00 a.m. he calls out for "Real Mommy." which is his way of saying "not you daddy and your attitude at 3 a.m." Which is fine for me, cause when Renea finally snaps (oh and she will snap) that little guy will suddenly be calling for his "Daddy!"

Clinton Visit and More

Presidential Visit
Former President Bill Clinton was on campus last night, campaigning for his wife. There are some cool things I have had the opportunity to do in this job and getting to see a former president close up is one of them. Agree or disagree with his politics, under his leadership the country was as good as it ever was and compared to the latest regime it makes it those 8 years even greater than it was. This was my vantage point for the shoot.

Winter Weekend
This weekend we had Winter Weekend, which is basically a homecoming in February for people who played winter sports. We had an alumni basketball game that usually ends up being a good time. Seeing old friends and even people you don't really know, but have that 'basketball' connection with as we are part of a smaller faternity of former players.

I have been working out for the past few months, but NOTHING gets you prepared to run up and down the floor in an actual game. I got tired in a hurry, hit a few 3's was short on a few more, but our team ended up winning.

What was especially fun for me was having Owen there to watch. He really hasn't seen his old man in any 'action' (at least that he remembers) so it was nice to have him there.

Taste the Smoke?
FOX used this promo to advertise for the 50th Daytona 500. The promo is well done, the special FX are awesome, but Taste the Smoke as the tag line? Really? That is what you want to go with? Who came up with that line? Taste the smoke . . . and while you are at it how about Licking the Ashtray. Ewww. There has got to be better taglines that that. Come on FOX you paid all that money for NASCAR rights and all you can come up with is "Taste the Smoke?" BLECK

Snow Day

So when did we get to be such big babies about snow? Seems like every time there is just a few inches of snow school gets called off. Now it isn't that I am not about being safe. I want kids to be just as safe as the next person, but come on. I remember it was a treat when we had a snow day, and now it seems like every other day there is a 2 hour delay or school is called off. I seriously doubt that the weather has gotten worse in the past 20 years (remember global warming) so it has to be that the people in charge are babies and "don't want the kids to suffer in the cold and snow." Man-up and make these kids go to school. Unless the roads are impassable then send the rug rats to school and quit teaching them that when the weather is bad you get a day off, cause once you hit the real world there are no 2 hour delays cause it is 10º outside.

Fans
I know WVU fans are getting a bad rap nowadays, but I don't mind. Lump us into that catagory with Philly fans. I don't mind, and as bad as WVU fans look a petition by Patriots fans to have the Super Bowl played over actually makes us look good.

Blah Blah Blah

You call that a hot wing
So I tried the KFC "hot wings" yea there is a problem with these and it is kinda big problem . . . they aren't hot. I am not talking about them being 'mild' or 'medium' or that the hotness of them is just at a low level for me (since I love hot stuff). I mean there is no hint at all that these contain any type of spice. They are PA-THE-TIC. Basically they are the 'wing' version of the KFC extra crispy. DO NOT BUY THESE. Awful. Now I know that in the fast food world that 'hot' has a different meaning than at a sit down restaurant where they can say things like 'death wings' and make you sign a waiver, but come on people. At least make me feel like you made an attempt to make them hot. Geez after eating these I don't even feel like they tried. Chicken LOSERS.

Tiddy Bear
This is real. Seriously. This is a real product. Don't you want to make driving fun again?


LOST
So if you watch LOST keep reading. If you don't, why don't you? Don't give me that crap that you missed too much to catch up. They play recap shows all the time, plus all the seasons are out on DVD. Nuff excuses watch this show. ok. moving on.

Things are really getting good for this show. One of the things that makes the show good is that we now know when it is ending. They have an end game in mind. There are 46 episodes left and for some reason, now more than ever the show has a ending in mind and you know that every show is pushing you towards that ending. I think sometimes with TV shows they walk around aimlessly (with filler shows, we had a few of those with LOST over the years) while having success and never drive you to an ending. Especially when they don't know when/if the show will end. It is sad that LOST only has 46 episodes left, but it also allows the viewer to expect and know when the ending will come. Much like a book or movie rather than a show like Friday Night Lights or Hanna Montana (that is for you Adam).

I have been a bloggin fool lately, thanks for coming back and reading after much time off and inconsistent posts. As the fiber commercials say, I will try to be more regular in my posts.

Super Bowl Ads kinda sucked huh?

Trent, Adam and I were discussing the super bowl ads last night on the podcast (Episode 124), and we were in agreement that for the most part the ads were average or below average at best. I gave them a B-, C+ and both Trent and Adam believed they were worse than that. (I guess that is why my students must like my grading.) Anyway there is a funny article here that discusses the 10 Lamest Super Bowl ads.

I actually think the best ad surrounding the Super Bowl was the Perfectville ad that ran the next day with the ’72 Dolphins:

But of course in my opinion this is a rip off of one of the best campaigns ever, the Nike Welcome to Bracketville Ads, "Stay as long as you can." (I looked everywhere for a video of these ads and couldn't find one of them) I am always amazed at March Madness time they don't continue to break those ads out. One of the best ad campaigns over the past 10 years.

Sleeping Problems

I guess when you have a child there are always problems with sleep. Most of the time it involves you not getting any as a parent because you are up with your child, typically feeding them or sitting with them if they are awake. As the child gets to be a teenager you are not sleeping for other reasons. BUT, as a child between the ages of, um let's say 4-16 you should be able to get a few nights of good sleep without being bothered. Not with my son Owen. For some reason in the middle of the night, and the ability to get out of bed. He will shout out, "Mommy!" Thank god it isn't Daddy. The reasons he will call out for his mother are many. Here are just a few:

1. "I am hot." Usually I follow up this one with "Then take your covers off." But that doesn't always satisfy him and usually results in us yelling back and forth through the wall. "I can't take my covers off." "Yes you can." "No. I can't." "OWEN, YES YOU CAN."

2. "I have to pee." This is a little more understandable. He has to go. He recognizes that he has to go, and he is only scared to go to the bathroom by himself. Ok fine. I would rather get out of bed for 60 seconds while he goes then be changing sheets at 3 a.m.

3. "Can you make blue blanket cold?" Yes this is odd to me too, and not something I do for him, this is his mother's thing and even she has finally stopped doing this. Now I know what the next question is. What does he mean by this. Well in our odd little child's mind it is the equivelent of flipping your pillow over, although this entails taking blue blanket and shaking it in the air to get it "cool." Now I know the science and research behind it is a little sketchy but apparently it works. He now shakes his blanket in bed and bangs the bed against our wall which makes his mother turn into some strange sleepless monster. Oooooh the wrath she wields at 3 a.m.

4. "Can you put my pillow on my head?" Yes another strange request. The kid likes to sleep under his pillow and for some reason feels that he needs to wake us up to do it.

These are all I can think of now as I struggle to keep my eyes open due to making blue blanket cold.

HA HA

I can't stand the Patriots and as predicted by me on the podcast (episode 123), the 18-0 Pats lost to the Giants. I am not sure what exactly it is I despise about them, maybe their arrogant coach (who left the field with :02 left on the clock), their glamor-boy QB, the dirtiest player in the NFL safety Rodney Harrison, or their now obnoxious (once loveable) fan base. The Boston area fans have become some of the most arrogant and dislikable fan bases of all time. I want to look at them as a group and then pull Nelson from the Simpsons and give them a collective "HA HA. You're 18-1."

Worst way to wake up

I woke up this morning in maybe the worst way possible . . . ok so maybe not the worst way (fire, burglary, tornado, hurricane are a few worse ways) but for anyone who has had a cramp in their calf, they know what I am talking about. Dead asleep at 6:40 a.m. and all of a sudden it feels as if I have been shot in calf. I couldn't stretch it out, I couldn't reach my toes to try and pull it out of the softball-like knot. I couldn't even bring myself to feel the knot in my calf. Renea thought I was having a heart-attack.

"Are you ok? What's wrong?"

"AAARRRGGGGG"

"What is it?"

"CRAMPPPPP!!"

I could bearly get the words out. Lying there for what seemed like forever, in actuality it was closer to 60 seconds my leg and muscle finally relented and I got out of bed and was able to stretch it out.

Now the biggest fear when getting the cramp is that it will return and soon. So all morning I have been on edge thinking that that the next move I make will bring me down. And of course when relaying the story the answer is bananas. "Eat bananas that will make it go away." Little too late for that advice.

YEEEEEOOOOOWWWW!

Ok, this morning I needed a kick. Specifically a caffeine kick, so I decided to go to Speedway and pick up a coffee. I saw as I was walking through the door a Shockwave Energy Coffee (with more caffeine) so I thought, "Let's try it." So I poured myself a cup and was on my merry way.

I am not a huge coffee drinker, but on occasion I will have a cup and lately, when it is cold, I find myself drinking it more and more. Usually caffeine doesn't bother me. I could drink a Mountain Dew right before bed and be ok. But man, this Shockwave stuff was STRONG. Within the first 5-10 sips it started to hit me, and what it made me do is drink it faster and that might have been the problem. I downed a 20oz cup of coffee in less than an hour and I was flying. It is 2:30 p.m. and I am still buzzing. So take care in drinking some of this. Rarely does something claim that it will do something and actually back it up.

Also as a little tip that was forwarded to me by my buddy Frank. Stephen A. "Cheese Doodle" Smith has a "online blog" (as opposed to an offline blog). Now I am not suggesting that you read the blog. I wouldn't do that to you, BUT skip straight to the comments. Most of them are very funny, some are written by some ignorant fools, but most are in jest. Enjoy!

XBOX back!

Ok, because of my paa-thetic blog postings as of late I didn't write about my XBOX dying. Partly because I was heart broken and partly because I am lazy (yea I said it).

Any-who, a couple of days before the new year my XBOX got what is known in gamer circles as "THE RED RING OF DEATH" (I am contractually obligated to say it like that) which basically makes your XBOX an Atari circa 1980. Luckily XBOX extended the warranty (out to 3 years from its purchase date) on all 360s this summer so mine was covered. The process to get it fix was relatively easy. But the time the XBOX was gone and how long it took the get just the box for me to mail it back in took forever. I called them to report the RED RING on the Sunday before New Years. I didn't get the box to ship it back in until Jan 9th. I then took it directly to the UPS store to drop it off and I tracked it (or stalked it, whatever you want to call it) until it arrived in Texas. I called last week to check on it, they said, or rather the automated voice said, that it had been repaired and I would see it in 3-5 working days. The gave me no stalking number so I could follow it so I had to just wait.

Well yesterday it came back. FINALLY! And I am not real sure who was more excited. Me, cause well it is my XBOX. Renea, because I am not coming to bed the same time she goes and therefor not pestering the hell out of her until I fall asleep, or Owen who seemed to be the most excited about it because he now gets to play his motorcycle game.

I have to say I was a little surprised about how excited Owen was. I mean he liked playing the games and all, but he certainly isn't addicted to it like me, or so I thought. He couldn't wait for me to get it all plugged back in and to put his game on (and it isn't even a full version of a game, just a demo).

Overall I didn't have to pay for anything, and plus Microsoft gave me a free month of XBOX live to make up for the month I missed.

So now all is right. I can now take the frustrations of the day out on the University of Michigan in NCAA football, the Patriots and Tom Brady in Madden and all of those little kids online in Halo 3.

(I do have to point out this though, when my iPod broke a few years ago, I mailed it back in a box Apple overnighted and 2 days later I had a new iPod, Apple still rocks in my mind).

Water Flavor Packs

I am not a big water drinker, but I have tried over the past few days to add more water to my day and drink more of it. One thing I started buying about a year ago was the little packs of flavor to add to your water. Some of them are pretty good and some, not so much, but I have found what may be my favorite flavor . . . Grape. Kroger's brand grape to be specific. It doesn't make the water purple, but more of a cloudy color and it really adds a nice flavor to the water. It doesn't make it seem like watered down grape juice. I have had it the last 2 days in the water I take to work out. It is pretty good. I highly recommend it if you have an aversion to water "straight-up" like I do.

Little Perk

I enjoy listening to music at work. Sometimes it gets boring listening to the songs in my iTunes and also the songs on Pandora (see below) but I have Sirius radio now and I have been listening to it for the past few weeks. It is nice (when it works) and it gives me a ton of variety. My 2 favorite stations for music: Radio Magaritaville and Coffee House Café. Both are good "working" music stations. Helps me relax. What I would prefer is using headphones so I could crank it up, but then I wouldn't be able to answer my phone and people who come into my office with no appointment (actually that wouldn't be so bad about the latter.)

Follow Up

Ok, the total of Jack Johnson songs played during a 8 hour weekday . . . 5. Today in the first 30 minute . . . 2. Ok, I am done here.

Pandora

At work, I like listening to music. I like it to fill the background as I try to be creative (with the key word being 'try'). I found this site called Pandora where you type in an artist and then they build a 'station' for you with supposedly 'like' artists and also play that artist that the station is based on sprinkled into the playlist (I know it sounds very confusing, but it really isn't). Anyway I made a Jack Johnson playlist, but the thing is, there is no Jack Johnson. Now I know this is a very petty complain, I am getting music for free and they are providing me a free service, but come on just give me one Jack Johnson song. For example, this morning I have had it on since I got here 8:15 a.m. and I have heard one Jack Johnson song in the past 4 hours. I have heard over 5 Dave Matthews songs. At least play one an hour. Is that too much to ask! Ok, now it just seems like I am whining over exactly how much free stuff I get. Ok, I will relax, but I am going to keep it open all day and will let you know the final talley on the Jack Johnson songs.


(God, I re-read this and I sound like such a baby, and what is with the single quotes, oh well no one is reading anyway.)

Soccer Saturday

So we signed Owen up for soccer. It is the “pee wee” variety where they practice a little, play a little, warm-up a little and get drinks often.

I find it hard at times to understand the thoughts of a 4 year-old and how they can get bored so easily. If there wasn’t something going on, Owen was headed in another direction. I swear he has the attention span of a hummingbird.

They (meaning the instructors) asked all the kids what their favorite part of soccer was. Owen says having his mommy, me-mah, and daddy watch him . . . he is such a glory hog. Once he finds out that by scoring a goal will not only make his family happy, but the families of everyone else on his team, there will be no stopping him. I can see it now, Terrell Owens type celebrations . . . soaking in the adulation.

We will see how soccer goes, we have shin guards (even thought his shins are only about 6 inches big) and a new soccer ball. At least he seemed more interested in group play this time as compared to basketball last winter. He actually kicked the ball a few times, which is good progress. Now if only he can make it through a practice without 12 water breaks.

Very Late and Kinda Feelin' It

I spent the last few moments reading Trent's blog (at this point in the evening and with the rum and coke I am not going to attempt to link you there, just check on the right side of the blog) and then read Adam's blog and realized he had a link to mine . . . May 29 . . . my last entry . . . geez, talk about taking the summer off . . . . HA is there even anyone still checking this?? Then Renea just came in to ask me what I am doing and I answer "I don't know, blogging??" Seems like a funny answer at the time. Who knows what prompted me to write this late about absolutely nothing, maybe jealousy that Adam had almost 10,000 visits to his site, or that Trent is on top of things so much to add videos every week, or maybe it is just the rum and coke, who knows. I guess I just felt like the first time in a long time like writing something . . . even something meaningless. Ok, sleepy time now. For all you loyal readers (lke there are any, and I have a feeling even my own mother has dropped out of this list) I will attempt to write more often. Maybe. That's my goal. Who knows . . . Good night!

The Detroit "D"

First I must admit that I am a bit of a sports uniform/logo junkie. Not that I collect them or anything, but I am just interested in the intricacies and details of uniforms. Well the other night when I was channel surfing and the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians were playing it brought to mind one of the biggest uniform discrepancies in all of sports, the Detroit “D” issue. As you can see from the photo, the “D” on the jersey and on the hat for the Tigers is completely different. After doing some research, the answer to this issue can be found here and here and basically what they are saying is that MLB has standard logos for print and web but no standardization for the product used on the field and that this isn’t just an issue for the Tigers, but a few other clubs as well (Yankees and Cardinals).

Now this may bore you or it might interest you, but I thought I would share with you some of the crazy stuff that goes through my head when I watch a ball game. Some things that I notice completely distract me from the game (like when Oregon broke out these for their bowl game.) It is a curse.

Cheryl, Freddy, Avril and Trent!?!?!

I watched more Dancing with the Stars than American Idol. Actually I watched the first few weeks of AI and then stopped when they got to Hollywood. I caught Dancing with the Stars in the best way possible . . . on DVR, so I watched only the dancing, and not all of the extras (which made a normal 90 minute show about 7). All I have to say after this season of DwS is that Cheryl Burke, 2-time champ, is HOT! >>>>>>>
(Yea Renea knows about my infatuation with Cheryl) and that if Apollo isn’t dating his partner (Julianne), then he needs slapped up-side the head.

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Watching the Pirates game today, twice I saw Freddy Sanchez hit sac flies to score runs from third, only to have the runner on third hit home plate then walk right into the dugout without even acknowledging Freddy. I mean I know you feel like you did most of the work to get to third in the first place, but this guy just gave himself up to score you, the least you can do is wait for him and give him high-five or a fist bump or even a slap on the ass before you walk to the dugout. He’s just coming back from first, sixty feet away. Just give the guy a little love will yea . . . geez and they wonder why in a Post-Gazette poll 65% of the fans said the Pirates have already given up on the season.

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Also a second thought to the “showin love” to a teammate, I think the fist bump may be on its way out. I am seeing a trend in celebratory hand gestures and I think we are heading back to the high-five. When the fad trickles down to golfers fist bumping caddies the fad is over.

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If you get a chance read Trent’s blog about the lyrics to a Carrie Underwood song. I am not sure what is more funny, his interpretation or Kelly, my sister-in-law, in the comments calling him Grandpa Simpson.

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Another thing to admit to: I like Avril Lavigne’s new album and I like her new song . . . There I said it, so if you see me in the car singing “Hey, Hey, you, you, I don’t like your girlfriend,” you will know why.