In the name of health

Around May I decided, enough is enough… Tired of the 20 extra pounds I was carrying around and the lack of energy I had.  My solution was to take up running.  Nothing crazy mind you, just a way to try and get into better shape.  I needed a motivator so I got a friend to agree to do a 2 mile run with me.  First run was the Hall of Fame 2 mile race.

I don’t believe I have ever actually run a 1/2 mile let alone 2 miles.  So, for me this was quite a distance.  I started my training on the ellipto that was sitting in the basement.  First time, 3 minutes- thought I might die!  Slowly, but surely I was able to up my time.  I soon found out that there is a bit of difference between an ellipto and hard pavement.  The Hall of Fame run went well and I was actually able to get my 2 nephews into the run.  We won’t discuss how they did…

This time was to be a 4 mile run on Halloween.  Would not have been a big deal if I would have kept running and training.  However, I got sick, my son got sick, my wife got sick, and life in general, so… short version I hadn’t run in at least a month.

On the Monday before the run my sister calls and asks if I was still running because her son, one of the nephews from the 2 miler, was planning to run.  Well, since I had asked him to run, I couldn’t back out…could I?  So, I ran that Monday night- 3 miles- my legs were sore till Friday (run is Saturday).

I wake up early Saturday morning.  Cold, raining, and WINDY!  Would we still run?  Phone never rang with a nephew wanting out, so off I go.  It actually stopped raining by run time, but was still cold.  Off we go.

In the first 1/4 mile- I thought I was done… breathing hard, legs hurt a little.  Kept going- now feeling pretty good.  At the 2 mile mark- I swore it should have been the 3 mile mark… man, that will mentally send you back.

Coming around the last turn (1/4 mile to go) there was a man down, 2 people around him, and an ambulance… My sister tells me after the race, he broke his ankle and she could hear the snap!  I honestly did not think I would finish- running- at least.

I did finish.  4 miles 35 minutes, a little better than front half of the group… Very happy.  Now I need that next carrot in front of me to keep me going.  I got a long way to go.

Hermione and Mega Man

H is big into Harry Potter thus the Hermione costume.  E is into the video games- mostly throw backs, ie, Lego Star Wars, Mario, and lately Mega Man.

Both costumes homemade.  One a little easier than the other.  Thank goodness for good friends.  One, who took the time to help me create the “blaster” for Mega Man and a couple others who helped with the “shoulder pads”, helmet, and boots.

These types of projects are fun…  Using what little creative talents I may, or may not have.  Getting input, advice, ideas, and help from others is the key for me.  I have no idea how the costume would have looked, if I would have done it alone.  Thank you…

Rink life

 

Lesson with competition choreographer

 

Puck control...break away-

Since I found out that I was going to be a father, I have wanted for my kids to find something in life that they are passionate about.  Something for them- something they love to do.  Well, it turns out, that at least for now, this involves ice.

At 3, after a visit to family in St. Louis- a family that has 3 boys who all play hockey plus their dad- my son decided he wanted to play hockey.  3 turned out to be a little early, but- in the process his sister decided to try figure skating.

It’s now 3 years later and I was at the rink 3 nights and 1 morning this week.  We are now into hockey on Saturday mornings,  H is into figure skating so much that we just joined club, Jr. club, have a private coach, and are getting ready for her 3rd competition.  This may sound like complaining, but that’s only because you can’t see the huge smile on my face as I write this.

2- 10 year olds and a puck…

Can’t lie… Thought of being deaf in left ear right now doesn’t sound too bad. If you have not attended a sporting event with 2 10 year old high pitched squeelers- don’t, leave your earplugs at home.
Do love the enthusiasm. Would just like it to not feel as though I am losing a pint of blood through my left canal.

Friends…

I have always known that I was blessed with good friends-

I have always said that I don’t have a long list of people I consider good friends, but the ones I do- I know I can count on.

I hope that I am that kind of friend to those I consider friends-

To me, good friends are family-

I am not one who shows a lot of emotion, but am very emotional-

I don’t always, or maybe ever know the right thing to say in a situation-

Hopefully, just taking time to hang, talk, and be there is enough…

I also hope that those that I consider close friends, consider me the same and know that I am only a phone call, email, or text away…

Close, but not enough

Carolina Crown- up close and personal

This was my first year at DCI finals since I marched Limited Edition some (ah-hem) few years ago.  I had my usual corps  I wanted to see- Devs and Cavies. This also included- um… Bluecoats- I have never been a fan, (they aren’t all saying BLUE- some are actually saying BOO!) but over the past few years they have really matured.  When I was into drum corps, in high school and college- the Bluecoats, to me, were a glorified high school band.  Not any more!

I also really wanted to see Carolina Crown.  They have been coming up steadily over the years.  I had seen everybody else- except for BD.  When  I saw Crown in the lot- they were playing.  Lots of notes.  Nothing fancy, and nothing all that difficult, but it was fast and it just kept coming.

I had also seen them the night before at prelims and definitely wanted to catch them in the lot.  Very impressive.

One small thing… Devs were yet to be seen.  I knew they had been winning all year and had won all week at finals.  They had (of course) also been winning drums, but at prelims they were only .20 ahead of Carolina.

Having seen Carolina, I told my friend that we needed to catch BD to see the competition- as usual they did not disappoint.  BD was ready and up to the challenge.

Side note: as we stood there taking in the notes being thrown down (and it’s BD so it wasn’t the same as as Crown).  If your a drummer or someone who knows the difference between clean and hard as shit and clean- then you would be like me and all you could do was laugh when BD played.

Back to my point- as we are standing there, we hear behind us, “excuse us, excuse me”.  I turn to look and who is speaking?  Techs from Crown!!  Drum corps is somewhat like the military in that, if you know anything, you know not to break rank.  You don’t walk in between corps members. (period)  Now here is Crown walking infront of BD on their way to the stadium (to have their asses handed to them).

Mind you, this would not be a big deal, had it not been for the fact that they (Crown) HAD to go out of their way to do this.  The Cavies who had warmed up mere yards away were not seen when they headed for Lucas Oil Stadium.  BUT the Crown, who I can only think were riding high, being within 2 tenths of the BD, were a little tipsy with attitude.  In this situation when I say “the Crown” I mean their douchebag staff.  Seriously… mind games with BD?

Good Lucks were exchanged as they passed by.  The BD gents had to be laughing on the inside, because THEY were professional on the outside.

I can only imagine what members of Crown were thinking “I know our staff is good and we are right on the cusp of winning DCI, but why the F!  Did we just clearly go 100 yards out of our way?  Seriously, are we trying to intimidate or knock BD off their game?”

Also, while all of this was going down- Scott Johnson and his mullet were lookin’ good and taking it all in stride.

So what is the moral of this tale?  Have some pride, show some class, and don’t fuck with BD!

First concert in 10 years.

Yes. I am getting old.

What a way to get back into the concert mode!

As we drove to Pittsburgh my wife an I discussed past concerts, many warped tours, lallapaloozas, etc. and this concert about to be experienced. Would we be the oldest people there? We thought not, since we listened to these bands in college, but…

As we pulled into the parking lot there were tons of people tailgating, smoking, drinking- A plethora of tattoos.

Every age was represented. Except with the 70+ crowd. We saw teens, 20, 30 somethings, Goths, Punks, Metal Heads, Jocks, Preps, Business Men, and a couple that we assume were grandparents with their grand kids- this assumption made by the whitish, blonde, gray hair- jewlery, clothes and the way they sat- unmoving throughout the entire concert. They didn’t look scared, but definitely out of their “comfort” zone.

It rained. But not until last band. Not too hard, but still. And, I wouldn’t have changed anything… other than the pavilion roof ending 3 rows in front of us.

We have vowed to make this the summer we get back on track with concerts.

One piece of advice. When you park your car and start walking to the venue- look around- See if here is a giant light poll with a number or letter on it…

Opening act- Street Sweeper Social Club- they’re not a band- their a social club: definitely worth checking out- (Rage’s guitar player Tom Morello!), NIN, and Jane’s Addiction! what a show…

PENGUINS WIN!!!!!!

Who would have thunk it?

Not this lifelong Penguins fan! Want them to win?  Absofuckinglutely!  Think they would pull it off, not so much.

I mean, it was game 7, IN, “Hockeytown”…    But they did.

What a time to be a Pittsburgh Fan-

Super Bowl- check, Stanley Cup- check (with the added bonus of beating the almighty, Yankees of hockey, i.e.-Red Wings!).

Hossa. Still think you made the right decision?  Normally don’t like to kick a guy when he’s down, but…

Don’t like the Kid?  Think he whines and complains too much? Suck it!

Ever ask yourself how you might handle being named Captain of a professional sports team, being compared to the likes of Mario and the Great One, and asked to bring the franchise back to life?  All at 18!  Give that some thought and then suck it some more- you would collapse like a straw house when the Big Bad Wolf comes to town.

Nice for people to bitch and moan about someone in a position they could never even fathom themselves in…

Final thought… If the Bucs hit .500 it WILL be the greatest feat in city history.  And Pittsburgh may quite possibly burn down.

People I admire- (u smell that?… it’s sarcasm)

People who obtain one small piece of misinformation and decide that that will be their mantra for a cause.

Why fact check?

Why ask someone else?

Why go to the source?

That would be too much to ask…
Who has an extra 5-10 min. to check their facts?  Obviously, not you- you are entirely too busy
So much easier to go by rumors and hot collared thinking.

Thank you to those who don’t mind spreading and twisting rumors.
Make sure to write to the editor and call everyone you know with your ignorant ramblings!

Keep up the good work…for the cause~

or… take up needle point, gardening, work for PETA…

What the funk?