Something Different

I’m going to try something different for my blog today. I tend to use this forum to bitch and moan about stuff, but I am trying to take a different approach to life and my outlook. In that vein, I will only write about the good things that happened:

End of Post

SNOW

I was a tastin my first cup of go juce this mornin and took me a gander out the ole see throo glass thingy aside me. Thars a white crap all over the floor of the earth and them thar new fangled atoe-mobeels as well. It appears some momma's bottle o butt powder spilt then made like rabbits and all-a-sudden we gots up in to about 3 of them big numbers on my daddy's measurin tape. Billy-Bob wood be tellin his lady friends that thar is 6 inches (but theys all knowin that aint rite). I be hopin that fokes here in this ole town knows how to be drivin in the slick so's I can be gettin to wheres I wanna be. Best bee werein my boots tday so my under soks stays dry. Y'all take care now.

Not Much...

I don't have much to say yet today......I slept in this morning, and got a few "happy birthday" phone calls, now I am getting ready to just get out.....this apartment is too small to sit around in for long without going full on bat shit crazy, so I am out. I need to avoid the downtown area as they are preparing for the parade this evening. I will walk to the parade later and stand in the cold and watch with a smile on my face, and enjoy the fireworks show after. I will claim the parade and fireworks as a celebration of my birthday, since no one else is here to celebrate with me, then why not the whole city?!?! It's just a short 15-20 minute walk to the end of the parade route and the fireworks area, so I really have no reason to not go.  :-)

Fry Dei

Today dear readers I plan to take you on a journey, please try to keep up as the random thoughts bouncing through my head go splat when they escape through my fingers and hit the screen. Dad, I apologize now for the lack of transitions in what is to come…..this will not resemble those rules of writing taught in High School English. I am going free form here…………Buckle your seat belts folks and enjoy the ride.

This magical mystery tour begins with a glimpse into my psyche; or not……..maybe that will come later.

I am a very patient man, but there are times when said patience runs out, and then I am in the boat I sit in today. DO NOT make me ask my questions a THIRD time! Or is it the fourth?!?! The level of scatology these tests will be is directly related to you knowing the answers and communicating them to me. Soon the bovine excrement of the male persuasion that is your excuse will make contact with the rotating turbine thereby ensuring we have scattered scat splattered flat on the wall.

When Little Red Riding Hood saw the Big Bad Wolf, was it the same Wolf that the Bacon Trio played house with?

Instead of “The Man” demanding we all carry a tracking device, we now pay extra to ensure it also lets him read our email, know what songs we like, and see what we told our “friends on Facebook” we had for dinner.

If one plus one is two. And if two plus two is four. What is four plus four? ............... eight, Geez!

If you’re halfway through a book and go see the movie, does it ruin the ending for the book or the beginning for the movie?

Tomorrow is November 16. That is 39 days before Christmas. Go ahead, check my math, I’ll wait. Ok? Good. So WHY Santa is coming tomorrow in the parade here in Winnipeg? NOT YET!!!! At least wait until December please. Gaaaaah!!

To quote Bill the Cat…..”ACK!”

That-is-All

Some Random Questions

In a similar vein to a previous post, some may be repeats, but who cares, let's do this again....

1. Why is it called Common Sense when it is anything but common?
2. How does Wonder Woman actually find her invisible plane?
3. If time is money, why do we spend so much time sleeping and how much is it costing us?
4. Why do we start so many insults with the phrase "with all due respect" or end them with "no disrespect intended" when it is obvious there is no respect thought due and all disrespect is intended?
5. Why do people keep talking after saying something is a mute point? (the word is MOOT, learn it and use it correctly).
6. It goes without saying, that ........
7. Why does the sun seem brighter when it rises than when it sets?
8. How many different ways can you think of to say someone "threw up?" I'm up to at least 18 but am still trying to figure out why it is "threw up" when we aren't throwing anything.
9. Why don't they put more seats in the women's bathrooms since they all need to sit and usually bring their own line with them?
10. Describe the color orange.....go ahead, I'll wait......

That's it for now, short post, keep scratching your dome and feel free to add more to the comments section below for other folks to enjoy.

Yet Another Wednesday

The one thing I have found of myself here in Canada is that I do not seek out the news as much as I should. With that in mind, I have absolutely no knowledge of what is happening in the world this week. It feels weird to realize this. I like to stay informed, at least a little deeper than the surface for most things, but in this new world I have made for myself I find I am ambivalent. I am not happy with this turn of events nor the attitude I have thrown over my shoulders and carry these days.

I have a birthday coming up, not one of those major milestones, just another birthday. I don't get a fussed up about birthdays anymore, especially my own, and I miss that. Time for this ole cowpoke to find a new smile, a new attitude, and  to remember to enjoy each and every day the good Lord has given me.

*****WARNING*****

Consider yourself warned fair reader, I am in a feisty, bitchy, nasty mood this afternoon and I plan on venting it here.

Most of us have a work product we expel on at least a semi-regular basis, and some of us have said expulsions reviewed by peers, managers, and other hangers-on who feel the need to justify their existence. Let's start with the FACT that I have been engineering tests and writing test procedures for satellites for more than a decade and a half. Next let's proceed to the FACT that I have managed and mentored others in the fine art of engineering a test (yes, it is an art). Finally, let's proceed to my current situation where I am 1. In another country (Canada), 2. Have not worked with this company for more than a month and a half, 3. Cannot get time nor answers I NEED to produce complete test procedures, and 4. I am working at a MUCH less complex stage of satellite test and build. Throw in ITAR restrictions (anything in my head that is not common knowledge is governed by ITAR) and we get to my current gripe.

In the last few weeks I have learned the company and program, including the associations with the Canadian Space Agency and the Prime Contractor MDA, I have found multiple mistakes in test plans that directly conflict with the requirements, and I have learned the black box that I have been put in charge of Qualifying for flight. I was able to crap out two of the needed four procedures for these tests, with some "help" from another US citizen who does not know test at all, while troubleshooting a vibration table that word of mouth said would not work for us (yes it will, and I have proven so). These documents sat on one desk for 3 days, then I moved them to another, and finally after almost 2 weeks, I got comments back for them both. BUT, the comments were NOT from a required reviewer, and the comments we NOT of the value added variety. The manager of Engineering decided to take a peek, and bled all over the pages with crap like "page 1 should be after the contents pages," "you forgot a period here, and a comma there," "I don't like the way this flows, it feels awkward," and other silliness (yes I had to self edit there).

In over 80 pages of document (20 plus of each being boilerplate that should be the same for all procedures) there were TWO comments that had any technical merit AT ALL. So Stu, being the diplomat that he is, sucked it up spent ALL day today F-ing around in MS Word to get the formatting, cross-references, table of contents, etc. "fixed." Meanwhile I could have been bugging the owners of some of the many answers to many many many questions I have asked and not gotten answered. Today I was literally an overpaid secretary. Yes, I said that word! In this case it is NOT an Administrative Assistant. In the past (before we decided as a world that we don't need to pay someone for this) we would have someone on a lesser pay-grade, with great skills in areas I should not need to worry about, take care of the formatting, cross-references, etc. while I work on the technical aspects (the whole reason I am in this frigid country).

Follow-on contracts with this company will be graded on the flatulence that these procedures may be if I don't actually get some real feedback and THAT, my dear readers, is UNACCEPTABLE..........

DO NOT EVER comment on my test procedures with tripe that implies I do not know what I am doing as this manager has done! Especially when I have gone to great pains to use YOUR format, from YOUR company's released procedures. To quote a green friend....."you won't like me when I am angry." and remember that in a procedure, I may not actually use a full sentence, because I don't need to, so why in the hell would I put a period at the end?!?!?!?!

DEEP BREATH......BEER.......or is that VODKA I hear calling my name?
******END of GRIPE****

Let's Try this Again

I'm going to try getting back into the whole writing thing, and this forum is a great way for me to write at least something, and get my juices flowing. So, with that in mind, let's give this another go. To all two of my subscribers, thanks for playing, and to the other few who actually read my prose, thank-you as well.

Today is my first day back on my second trip to Canada. First the weather, because, let's face it. we all want to talk about the weather, especially when it is such a drastic difference from other-where. I woke up (rather late I might add) to a balmy 461 deg. R (1 F to you who don't speak absolute temperatures). The wind chill sends it down to nose numbingly cold (who really needs a number when it's that cold). The sun is shining brightly and there are just a few clouds sprinkled around the sky.

Enough weather, now back to the show. The interesting fact of Canada for the day, it is ILLEGAL for me to work today in Canada. That's right, you read that correctly, it's not  just a holiday, it's a crime for most people to work on Canada's Remembrance Day (much like the US Memorial Day). The government of Manitoba has put out a very short list of those persons (by job description) who are allowed to work this day, all others MUST take the day off, and the hope is that they/we will spend time remembering and honoring the fallen. I plan to bundle up and take a nice long walk soon as my form of remembering and honoring those that have paid this ultimate sacrifice so that we in the US and in Canada, and other countries as well, can live with the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted. I am lucky enough to not actually know many who have given their lives in this manner, but I honor each and every one of those whose names I don't even know with my thoughts and actions today. God Bless each and every one of you.

What am I Counting

Ah gentle readers, we'll see if any of you are still reading my blog. You may have noticed my tweets to Facebook my counting up this week starting Monday. I've gotten the curious "what?" to the "that many pushups, huh?" comments. Perfect! Those were just the tease.

Here's the whole story, that I've really only shared with a few people.

A week ago Friday I went to get some blood work done. This is normal as I've had cholesterol issues and we want to watch some organ functions due to the medications I take on a regular basis. No biggie, right? Well, I did my fasting, and headed in, waited the requisite time and then the technician needled me and took a single vial of blood. Still no biggie, normal procedure, etc.

Friday afternoon I got a call from my doctor's head nurse with some news. I was told at that time that my liver tested as functioning abnormally and I need to stop all alcohol intake and acetaminophen intake as well. At this point I panicked, while still talking to the nurse. As many of you know I take Vicodin as prescribed, three times a day, and Vicodin has oodles of  acetaminophen as part of the dose. My panic, the pain that the Vicodin helps hold back, and just as importantly, the withdrawals from said drug by stopping taking it. I voiced my concern to the nurse and she took some notes and went off to talk to my Dr. some more.

A few panic and anxiety filled hours later the nurse called me back with new directions from the Dr. which follow: 1. Stop drinking any and all alcohol, period. 2. It is okay to continue to take the Vicodin as prescribed (whew!). 3. Come back in for another test in 3 months. Okay, all doable, I don't really drink much anyway, and the others are a no brainer.

Then the nurse tells me that weight gain can also add to the liver function abnormality. Oh Crap! I have gained some weight as of late, about 20 lb, eating poorly and not exercising at all. So with this information I determined I need to take care of me and make some major lifestyle changes. The biggest of these is to lose the weight and exercise more.

So, back to the counting. On Monday I began my journey with a major change in my diet and working out. My workout plan is hardcore. Many may know of it, but if not, Google it, it's readily available information. I have started Crossfit. I have been counting the number of days to the Crossfit box (gym) I have decided to join (I am still in the first free week portion). I am learning the moves, and working out HARD. It is a very intense and focused workout, done as a group, with a coach, and a prescribed workout of the day (WOD).

To help ensure my success I am taking the next session of pool off, to not be around all the drinking that can ensue, as well as to ensure that on Friday's I actually get out of bed at 4:15 so I can make the 5:00 am workout, get home and shower and still be to work by 7 at the latest. The good news is that I am only losing 45 minutes of sleep each morning. But WOW, this is really hardcore, and I am sore, and exhausted this week from it all.

By the way, I LOVE Crossfit, it is exactly what I want and need in a workout to get me motivated, and to get me into the best shape of my life, lose the weight and then some, and hopefully help get my liver functioning correctly again. Long story for some short posts, but there you have it. Right now I choose me, and remaking me and my body into a vessel that can and will support a nice long and happy life.

Crud!

Sleep and the need for it has won.....P90X has failed to motivate me to keep getting up so freeking early to workout, and afternoons are not conducive, so, alas, I am "between workouts."

A learning experience, for sure. Something to try again, for sure. Anytime real so, no way. Life is just to crazy busy, and sleep continues to elude me at night. These are my excuses and I'm sticking with them for now.

It's Friday!

Well it appears I can finally actually walk without limping too much. So with the day "off" of work today, but work to be done from home, I will see if I can squeeze in a good workout and refind my groove. But, work needs to come first, so we'll see how well the motivation hangs with me today and what I can actually get done. Hope you all are having a great week!

It's Been a Couple of Days

Well, it's been a couple of days since my last post. Workouts have been going pretty well, until I messed up my foot this weekend. So far, no workouts this week. I am going to try to do at least the abs workout after work today, we'll see if I can get there.

So I weakened my foot/ankle mowing the lawn on Saturday morning in all the topsy turvy soil that makes up my yard. Then Saturday evening, stepping out of my truck, I stepped on nothing other than the garage floor, but somehow twisted it pretty good. Then, to top it off, that night in bed I was picking at a patch of dead skin on the ball of my other foot (yeah, I know, don't pick!) when I thought to myself that I could yank on it quick like a band aid and it would pull right off at the edge of the dead skin. Ohhhhh, was I wrong! I now have a half inch long, 1/16 inch wide hole in my skin, to the muscle, on the ball of my foot that hurts like the dickens to walk on.

Enough whining, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Nope!

Couldn't get there this morning. I am sensing a trend of morning workout M-T, afternoons W-F, and whenever I get there on Sat. I am hopeful I can leave work early enough today to get a great workout in before pool league.

Shoulders and Arms Baaaaby!

Just finished the shoulder and arms workout! It goes; sh-bi-tri, sh-bi-tri, 30 second break, sh-bi-tri, sh-bi-tri, 30 second break, sh-bi-tri, sh-bi-tri, 30 second break, sh-bi-tri, sh-bi-tri, 30 second break, then the BONUS round. I'm not quite ready for the bonus round yet. 45 minutes of that above and I'm wasted. My arms are still shaking and I need to cook myself some dinner. (in case you didn't figure out the code above, sh=shoulders, bi-biceps, tri=triceps).

Motivation waned through the day, but I found it on the way home and did it! Yay me!!! Let's see if I can get up at 4:00 tomorrow and do the Kempo aerobic fight style workout since I have pool tomorrow night.

Deeeeeeep Breath.........

Wed is Hump Day

After nearly falling asleep most of the day yesterday at work, I got to bed around 10 last night and was asleep by 10:30 or so. At 3:45 I decided that another hour of sleep was definitely warranted, so I reset the alarm to 5. I'm going to try to be motivated to hit the shoulders and arms workout after work today!

OUCH!

Alarm at 0400 hrs. Waking body check said that my foot pain was not in a good place. Started to roll over, but pushed through it instead and got up, prepped and started the Plyometric (jump training) workout. Foot pain subsided during the warmups so I was good to go. After the first two groups of exercises, my body decided it had had enough as a little nausea and knee pain hit. So, rather than push a bad position, I pulled out and regrouped so I could fight another day. Still a pretty good workout, about a half hour's worth, rather than the full hour, but no complaints and no excuses. It is what it is. I did my best for the morning, now I move on. Happy Tuesday everyone!

4/17/12

Monday Monday.......sing it with me......

Today I was actually awake and waiting for my 4:00 am alarm, ready to hit it. Wow what a difference that makes. It helps that I rested well this weekend, a few naps, 9 holes of golf, some chores and errands, not much else. Nice a quiet.

I have "cooled down" shaved and showered and enjoyed a recovery protein shake already this morning, but alas, I am still hyped up, muscles twitching, and a light sheen of sweat is still moistening my brow. I'm going to attack this week, at work, at home, in my workouts, in life!

Sat.

Had a great day yesterday! I shot a 44 on the nine holes we played, and would have done a lot better if it wasn't for the finishing two double bogeys. Did some yoga and extra stretching later in the afternoon and boy did that help.

Getting ready to hit it today. I've had my coffee and some relaxing reading time, now I can focus and hit the workout. I hope everyone has a great weekend and takes the opportunity to do at least one fun and frivolous thing.

Fry Day

No, not eat fried food day, fry in the sun day! Still hitting the workouts! Still feeling great! going to do a yoga workout this afternoon, since it will help stretch me out some after my 9 holes of golf planned for this sunny morning. I think layers are the key today, since it is currently under 50 degrees F, but forecasted to 70 degrees. 10:39 am tee time, 9 holes only so my playing partner can still make it to a funeral at 2.

Everyone have a fantastic day, I plan to!

4/10/12

Let it be known, tonight is the night, Danny's first gig as a "Rock Star" when he becomes famous later, we can all look back at this post and say, hey, I remember when ....... :-)

Plyometric jump training this morning, kicked it hard, motivation is back, I am doing better than my first week one in quantity and quality, woohoo. It's going to be a large challenge to get in the workout tomorrow after a very late night with Danny at his concert.

Do Overs!!!

So it begins again. I am starting over with P90X from day 1 as of this morning. Refocused and ready to go. I had found myself finding excuses not to workout or just going through the motions, but after a few days of not working out I found myself craving it. So, here I am again, starting over from day 1 of P90X. Today was chest and back, I hit it hard and it feels great. Each morning I need to just take those few minutes to wake up and focus myself before I start, remind myself why I do it, and then rock and roll.

Thursday Equals P90-Why

Exhaustion and motivation have pushed me over the edge this week. My hope is to regroup watching the Master's this weekend and restart on Monday, with new hopes and goals and a new outlook on progress. I tried after work today to do it, but during the first 5 minutes of warmups I found my mind not where it needs to be to do this right.

I have not failed, no worries there. Even if I choose a different path starting Monday, I have won a measure of respect for myself and for what it really takes to get this aging, aching, roundish body back into a body that will last me for a longer lifetime.

Motivation

So Monday exhaustion took the reigns from motivation. I could not even stay awake at work, had to nap after work, then alas, couldn't sleep once I was in bed for the night. So, 4:00 came and went this morning, as well. Crap! I watched the workout yesterday afternoon to know what new one I was getting into, and I knew at 4 that I did not have the gumption to actually bring the intensity I needed for this one, I am hopeful to bring it this afternoon. John & Tim, NOW I understand "Superman - Banana" OMG!!!! It's gonna be a "fun" core workout.

Week 4

I'm fighting the motivational lows right now. Planning my workout for this afternoon between work and getting Josh to scouts. This is a "change it up" week, with Yoga, Core and Kempo type exercises before starting a whole new flow next week. I know I've got it in my to do this and do it right, not just go through the motions, I just need to take some time today and refind that spark and get er done......

Not P90X

Just a quick post not about P90X. Time for something refreshing.

I am asking all my followers to send me positive and calming thoughts for the morning on Thursday. I "get" to go take my every so often, never regular, polygraph exam that is associated with having the jobs I have had and currently enjoy. As some of you well know, these are NOT a pleasant experience, the examiners job is to make you feel guilty about EVERYTHING and try to find something wrong with you. If you come out smiling, they have not done their job well. So, in that vein, my weekend starts as soon as I am done with this fun and excitement of the morning. I'm thinking a nice hard workout in the morning, followed by a gallon of coffee should spike my blood pressure enough to add some fun to the stress and anxiety of the day. Then, I'm thinking maybe a second workout afterward may be in order to center myself before pool league in the evening. Don't expect a post tomorrow unless I find a need to bitch a bit and get it out of my system.

3/28

Needed the extra hour of sleep this morning as I tossed and turned most of the night away, so arms and shoulders after work today!

Tue

Oops, just realized I didn't post yesterday......

This morning was quite the adventure. I had to dig pretty deep to make it through my third round of Plyometric jump training. Not only was it a tough workout, it felt like I was smoking a pine tree the whole time. I had windows open most of the day yesterday and the hurricane force winds blew in an ash full of smoke from the multiple thousand acre fire across town. It was hard enough to sleep without coughing, imagine sucking wind from a hellacious workout into bunt tinder laden lungs. ooooof!

Nuf said, I made it, achieved enough oxygen intake to survive and thrive. Week three, still going strong.

Sunday is Fun Day!!!

Workout is planned for later today. But first, I'm taking the boys to see the Hunger Games movie. Josh and I have both read the book and are looking forward to seeing it. Danny could take or leave it, but will come with us anyway. Saturday's workout was changed up by me, so that I could spend that time outside, in the sunshine and 70+ degree weather. It was AWESOME!

Finding that after almost 2 weeks I need to search deep within myself for that spark to keep it going. It's there, I just have to dig a little deeper to find it. Wish me luck past this small hump in the road as I keep it moving forward.

Saturday

For those three of you following this, I apologize for missing Friday's post. Here's what happened. I got home from pool very late, so I decided to workout after work and sleep an extra hour. No problem so far. While at work, still early, I was very nauseous and had plenty of hours in, so I left Ill and came home. I then slept from 8:45 to 2:45. Man did that feel good. After that long nap I was pretty much spent, so I decided Friday would be my day off for the week instead of Sunday. So here I am at Saturday, having slept in until 8, now drinking my first cup of caffeine working out my plan for the day. Taxes are number one on the list, a workout is not far behind.

I slept with the window open for the first time in a while, that felt good. Getting ready to attack my day and leave behind a wake of chaos.

Thursday

I apologize for no afternoon post yesterday, it was a rough one without the endorphins of the day to get me through. But, I found my excuse to ensure I got my workout in after work and was successful! This morning was yet another one, today; yoga. I did my best, but some pain in my feet stopped me earlier than the rest of my body wanted, so I promptly switched videos, got on the floor and did the abdominal exercise.

Weighed myself before my shower, I am down a total of 6 pounds in less than two weeks! Still loving it, pushing through a minor plateau, and making it happen.

March 21

Have a meeting with my program VP this morning at 6:00, so workout deferred until afger work today. Here's to keeping the motivation and hitting it later today.

March 20

Sipping my berry banana protein shake reminds me of the vacation trip when Linda and I took the boys to Mexico for a week of fun in the sun. I'm gonna need to do something like that again as a reward to myself before too much time flies by. Second run at Plyometrics this morning......Oh yeah, feeling the burn. I can already tell that things are changing, I am getting fitter, etc. My lungs are working better and my muscles are recovering faster between exercises.

Tomorrow may be a struggle. I need to be at work for a 6:00 am meeting. If I wait until the afternoon, then I will find excuses to not workout. If I workout in the morning, I will need to get up and hit it even earlier. Stay tuned for the decision in the continued saga of Stu and P90X.

Day 8 (Week 2 Day 1)

WOOHOO! Another week starting out! I hit it HARD this morning. Chest and back workout, same one as last Monday, but I was able to do more, last longer, and bring more intensity to the game. One week in and progress is being made. You want more evidence? I am down 4 pounds in this week! Go me!

That's a Week!!

It's 5:29 am on a Saturday morning. Sane people are still in be sleeping or some just getting home from a very late night out. But me, oh no, I am crazy good today! Alarm went off at 4, and I was so tempted to roll over for another hour. I was awake for an hour or so in the middle of the night so I wouldn't have blamed myself too much. Instead, I took a few deep breaths, rolled on out of bed and did the P90X KempoX workout. Lots of shadow boxing, kicks and punches, a great cardio workout with some shoulder and leg hammering in the midst. SWEET!

Now I'm drinking a protein shake listening to the coffee maker go through it's final throws of water through filter. What a great way to start a great day! John and I have a tee time at 8:42 this morning for 18 holes of golf in spring weather, mid 70's today. With this workout first, I should be primed and ready to whack that ball for the first of 2012. Then tonight, another party bus ride to Loveland to cheer on some friends while they dance and perform in a vaudevillian burlesque night of fun! Good thing tomorrow's workout is optional/stretching, I should be able to sleep in and still do well with that one.

I am feeling great, loving the motivation and endorphin rush, looking forward to progress in many life aspects.

Five!

Just late yesterday my legs finally stopped hurting so much from the Tuesday workout, then today I hit them hard again for legs and back! Woohoo! I may not keep up with them and I may not do all the reps they do. YET! But, that's the way it starts, and I can already feel a difference. Kempo X tomorrow, a cross between kick boxing, taibo and what have you, it should be another good one. Regrets on kicking in to this, NOT A ONE!!!!

Day 4 Still Rocking!

Four days in, four workouts completed. Yesterday was an adventure it stiffness. The lactic acids had built up in my legs and hip area from the Plyometric day so I was quite the gimp, especially if I sat too long. Then add in stairs up or down, wow! What a great pain, knowing that it's all because I actually worked out hard and my muscles are rebuilding themselves for the next time. I had forgotten how much I love and hate it. The hardest part is actually the first 5 seconds of the alarm clock. After that, I get my head in the right place and go, then the rest of the day I get to feel self righteous and great about myself, and there ain't nothin' wrong wit' dat!

Day 3

I am coming to realize rapidly that I need a whole lot less sleep when I a working out like this. Yes, it is hard to get my backside out of bed at 4 am, but then I get the endorphins coursing through my body and I'm set for another great day. I head to bed roughly the same times as before, but alas, don't really sleep until later. Maybe this is my key to getting more done......

I absolutely LOVE starting my days this way!!!! Heart pumping, sweat pouring, muscles screaming. It all puts my head in a good place for the day, and has me starting each day doing something for me. I'm an addict, who had forgotten the endorphin rush but has rediscovered it.

Day 2

This morning was plyometrics. I'm pretty sure the name is derived from "metrics" meaning a measuring system and "plyo" meaning to ply the fibers of one's muscles from each other. Combined they refer to a torturous journey that takes pride in how far apart they can pry these muscle fibers from one another. That was one hellaciously fun and crazy workout. When Tony said, "...we're halfway through..." I almost fainted. I was reaching for the pause button to just say enough for one day, when they started the next exercise. I said to myself, "Self! Suck it up! Yes it hurts, but in a good way! Just do this!" So I did and made it through the hour.

Let me just say that it is a wonderful thing that shaving is not a precision task. Between my shaking legs from today's workout and very sore shoulders from yesterday's, I'm glad I don't use a straight razor, or I'd be short one juggler.

Woohoo! Day 2 is in the books! I'm getting into this love/hate relationship and feeling great!

WOW!!!!

Okay, first off let me say, I should have actually called yesterday's posts Day 0, but I'm aonly an engineer, numbers don't really mean that much :-P

Day 1: Alarm went off at 4:00 am Mountain Daylight Time. Voided the bladder, put on some working out clothes and was into the warmup by 4:10. WOW! What a workout! As imagined, I couldn't keep up with the pros in the video, but no worries, I did my best and then some. After the hour, I saw there was another 18 minutes of abdominal workout. Ooof! I was spent. So, to ensure I gave the abs their due attention, I saved them until after work. I just finished that horrific fun a few minutes ago. OMG! I've got a long way to go, but I've taken the first step........

Based on what I'm feeling now, I expect to be nearly crippled in my upper body tomorrow, thankfully (or not) I will hit it early again then and work out some of those kinks. Day one is in the books, I ate well and hit it hard. Time to take Josh to his Boy Scout meeting soon. Early to bed and out like a light tonight :-)

Day -1 Continued

Finished the pretest, fully expecting to not be up to the levels they suggest to start the program. Surprise, surprise, I scored lower on a couple of items than suggested, the same on a couple more and exceeded their minimums in the other categories, which in my estimation puts me square in the heart of the starting goal. First off, woohoo! Second, wow, I thought I was (am) in pretty crappy shape, 45+ pounds over weight, etc. but I am "in shape" enough to start. Really worried about the rest of America's health now.

I'm pretty sure I have a large bruise on the inside of my chest where my heart was trying to beat it's way out, and my arms feel a little jello like, but I am ready to do this!!!!

P90X Day (-1)

I am starting the P90X extreme workout program tomorrow (3/12/12) for the full 90 days. My diet plan will not be the one outlined in the P90X plan, but a modified version of the "Flat Belly" diet I had some success with before. My goal here is to blog about each week at a minimum, I am hopeful to blog each day. So, send me positive thoughts, and focus as I work to try to better my physical, and along with it my mental, etc. Since the only way I can ensure I will actually perform said workout each day, it will happen early in the morning. My alarm is set for 0400 hrs.......

I will take the "pretest" for a baseline before I eat lunch today! I am excited and scared, but most importantly I am doing this for me, and no one else.......YAY me!

14

Fourteen years ago

It started out as a fairly normal day. Linda and I dropped by our local Kaiser Permanente office so I could get a flu shot and she decided to get a quick pregnancy checkup while we were there. The word from her checkup, “Go home, pack up your stuff and head to the hospital, you’re in the early stages of labor and are going to have a baby today.”

So we promptly forgot a bunch of the advice we “learned” at the multiple birthing classes we had attended, headed home, grabbed some stuff and then right to the hospital we went. We had learned that we should eat a good meal before we go because the hospital won’t feed the mom, and the dad, well, you’re on your own. We didn’t even grab a snack. Linda got on the phone with her mom who was living in the Bay Area at the time and had an open ticket waiting to be used. Then we called a few others, my parents, our friend John and others. We got John and Sandy hooked up and “Uncle John” was a kind soul and picked her up at the airport and brought her to the hospital to share the experience with us. Meanwhile, Linda and I were walking, and walking, and walking. The 8 or 10 medical students each verified she wasn’t progressing very quickly, but I tell you what; it felt good to finally have something to do when Linda had had enough of the student prodding. I was gentle but firm, really I was J.

We decided to walk outside since her water hadn’t broken and we were bored of the hallways, so we wandered until we saw a drug deal going down and god only knows what else, the neighborhood was not the greatest, at which time we decided that the halls of Saint Anthony’s were just fine and headed back in.

Fast forward many hours and frustrations. Linda finally got her epidural (natural? my ass! medications were invented for a reason, I could have used some of those myself). We played music, we napped, we fed Linda ice chips (we really should have eaten something) and finally, after what felt like 60 hours since the Kaiser office, we finally got to push. I say we, but if you look up the word “useless” in the dictionary, it shows a picture of a father during childbirth. I’m pretty sure I had a hangnail that hurt like the dickens, but damn if I was going to say anything out loud. The whole “breathe” and “hoo hoo hoo haa” crap, just something to keep the father occupied and to feel like he is participating. But, oh the rush of emotions, to be standing there, light headed from breathing for her, fingers crushed from the vise-like grip of death, looking into the eyes of the devil herself, trying to get her to “focus honey, you can do it” and hearing the voice from within belching “shut the #%$& up and get that out of my face! If you think you’re ever going to touch me again buster…” All this after her lower body was completely dead from a slightly misplaced epidural.

Later, tears of joy ran down my face as I held my son for the first time. I told him at that time, with all the sincerity I could muster, “Daniel, your future is yet to be written and you can be anything you want to be in life, as long as I get to be your caddy.” Alas, golf is not Daniel’s forte, but guess what, I still get to be his caddy. I get to walk with him through the golf course of life as he grows into a man, as he succeeds and fails and we talk about what shot to take next, should he play the old reliable and lay up or is he in a place to take a chance and go for the green in 2. As his caddy, I get to make suggestions, I get to encourage and provide advice, but I don’t get to make the decision and I don’t get to take the shot for him. Succeed or fail, it’s his shot to take and my role to help where I can and get him ready for the next shot. I love you Daniel. Here’s to taking chances, playing it safe, and living life to its fullest. Happy Birthday!

Dad.

New Terrorist Tactics?

Colorado has been hit with a new terrorist tactic. They seem to be feeding the deer something different than normal and sending them out to the highways to explode on impact. One car at a time, they are taking us out. Time to extend hunting season? See the story HERE.

Small Pair

Playing Texas Hold-em with friends, holding a small pair will keep you in the game, at least through the flop. Then, depending on the betting and reactions from there, you may choose to continue, fold or raise big. I’ve been holding a pair of 4’s for about 6 months and have chosen to continue through the flop and am raising big on the turn. My good friend J Cas has been running with suited connectors for about a year now and chose throughout the year to continue and to raise big. I have never known him to fold, under any circumstances. This weekend he upgrades to a small pair (4’s), I expect to see him stay the course and raise big whenever appropriate, or when he wants to drive out the competition. We’ve been friends since before either of us held a blackjack and there is rarely a time when we don’t enjoy each other’s company. Life has added new pressures, commitments, etc. so we don’t get to spend nearly as much time together lately as we have in the past, but we’ve gone through this type of phase before and have always found a way back together again. It’s been a GREAT ride with you my friend and brother and we’re not even half way there yet. Have a happy birthday, and whatever you do, keep playing the cards, a pair of 4’s is not as so bad a hand at all. Oh yeah, that other small pair, I’m sure Ginger will lend them back to you for your birthday.

John's Redemption

A while back, I don't know how long ago but he still gets grief from me, my good friend John made one of his more memorable verbal blunders. The term he used was "hand glove" go ahead and laugh, I have a bunch of times. What other appendage do you wear a glove on John? Those balloons are not really called one finger gloves by anyone I know. Well, today I have found redemption for my friend and find the need to apologize for all of my laughter and jest. Alas, I have run across a new product (click HERE for their website). Yep, you guessed it, someone has made a foot glove, I kid you not. So here's to you John and your forward thinking. Next time, break out the patent application dude and make bank on it.

Say it isn't so

During a short break at work today I came across THIS article. I'm not sure I buy the theory that Warp Speed would kill, especially if it is based on Star Trek. After all, if I remember correctly (I could be wrong), the theory of the warp drive is such that the drive creates a warp bubble that surrounds the ship, thereby protecting the crew from harm as well as having to deal with Einstein's pesky theory of "gravitational time dilation" which has been proven by tests, as have many of his "general relativity" theories (and other theories as well).

Yeah, I know, the links are just to Wikipedia pages, but they should give the general reader some reference without going into the math, quantum mechanics, space time, or deal with Schrodinger and his cat. Thank goodness we don't need Heisenberg for this one.

Tattoo

If you're gon'na get a tattoo, there are a few things you should check before ink touches skin. Are the needles clean and sanitary? Look at some of the artist's work to verify quality. But, most importantly, make sure the artist can spell, even if you can't. See what I mean HERE. (warning, hilarity to follow).

Happy New Year

The end of 2009.....a year of changes, excitement, injury, love, etc.

Let's all look back with great memories and forward to another beautiful year.

Happy New Year everyone!

One Arm Wonder

Tumbling, rolling, landing, sliding, stopping. Pain and disorientation. Help on the way. Foot restraints pried off. Goggles gently removed. Pain to levels previously unknown, or at least forgotten.

The time: about 12:05pm on 12/23/09. The location: Copper Mountain Ski Area. The participant: Me.

I caught an edge funny on my snowboard as I tried to make a turn near the bottom of the run. My left arm got caught (extended) between me and the ground as I tumbled. Once in the clinic, confirmation that I had messed it up. My left elbow was dislocated (not even close to where it should have been) and I had rediscovered what a pain level of 10 really is.

Thanks to my great friend John for driving Linda to get us (Daniel and I were taking a day together) through the very nasty weather and icy roads. Five and a half hours after the initial pain we were finally on the road back home. Today it is very stiff, but an x-ray confirmed nothing is broken. "Just" some torn ligaments and a whole bunch of swelling.

So, this year for Christmas, Santa in our house is a one arm wonder and I can't type to well either. Percoset, do your thing!

Imagry

Kudos to Dean Koontz's ability to paint a picture with words. I was reading his novel "Breathless" earlier today and ran across this passage that almost had me on the floor. So here goes (once again, credit to Dean Koontz, and his copyright).

"...After a silence, he heard the thinnest of whistles -- and his heart clenched for a moment, until he realized that the sound was his own flatulence ... Henry listened to his oscillating butt whistle as it diminished to a final peep ,... The unfortunate consequences of his rectal recital prevented Henry from remaining in the closet."

I've been to a piano recital, but never a rectal recital. Do they serve punch at these, who do they get to perform, how much practicing is needed before the performance?

Sometimes...

Sometimes I have nothing to say, so unlike many others, I don't say anything. I learn a lot by just listening, things like who likes to talk just to make sure everyone knows they are there, who really has a valuable point of view, who has trouble understanding the most basic concepts of what was just said by someone else. There's more as well, but I want to focus on the last one today. Part of my job is to attend reviews and meetings and provide technical opinions, assistance, etc. In many of these meetings, someone who does the same job I do (he hired me to the new job) is there as well, let's call him Gordy for ease of reference. The meeting is moving forward, the speaker leading the meeting is mid-stride in his presentation and has been VERY clear in the interactions of X and Y, or the use of the widget, and Gordy stops him and says something like, "I don't understand. Does X go before Y or does R somehow play into it?" At least half the time I want to answer the question for the speaker so he can move on. Does Gordy really not understand, or does he want to justify his being in the meeting by speaking up every few minutes? My attack on these meetings goes more like this. Listen and absorb and understand what is being presented. Jot down a couple of items that I need clarified or that just don't make sense. Don't get me wrong, I will speak up and even argue the point, if it is warranted, but 9.75 times out of 9.8 that is not required. So, my question to myself as this continues to play out, is "Does this just mean I have a better grasp on understanding than many others (Gordy is a Technical Fellow by the way, a big deal at LM), or am I the one not getting it? I keep getting asked to by program people to come review widget XYZ's test plan or help them decide on whether or not X really does go before Y, or to give them a professional opinion and guidance (and permission) to help them out. I try not to feel superior, because I know that there is a whole bunch that Gordy knows that I don't, but sometimes it is REALLY difficult.

And so we end a post on why Stu is such a smarty pants, and maybe why he is often so quiet.

Inflammatory

An "unbiased" report, yeah right.! I found this article inflammatory at best. See what you think.

3 Arrested At Lockheed-Martin in Sunnyvale

Bay Area Indymedia

06 October 09

At 1:30pm Fr. Louis Vitale & a newlywed couple from Albuquerque were arrested for trespassing when the three were not able to finish distributing their fliers on the sidewalk allegedly belonging to Lockheed- Martin.

The three peace activists had been distributing fliers to drivers, holding a “Just Married: Love Disarms” banner, and singing prayers at LM for 30 minutes.

The just-married couple are Marcus Page and Chelsea Collonge, who have been working for peace and nuclear abolition through dialog and prayer-actions since 2007, primarily at nuclear weapons sites in New Mexico and Nevada. Yesterday's peace demonstration included fliers for LM workers, picket signs, and songs from the Raging Grannies.

The first week of October is International Keep Space For Peace Week. LM has helped produce and launch communication technology that the U.S. Air Force uses to kill people through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or “drones”) in the Middle-East.

Leading up to the October 5th prayer-action at Sunnyvale, two of the Trinity Nuclear Abolitionists had been holding vigils at other locations in California during the prior two weeks. These activities helped prepare Chelsea Collonge and Marcus Page for their wedding vows. They were married on Saint Francis' Day (October 4th) in Berkeley. Yesterday's peace vigil and prayer-action at LM included a dozen other participants. During negotiations with LM security personnel, Chelsea said, “My grandfathers worked here for 30 years, that's why I care about the current employees here. I wish to speak with them about the weapons work they do here.”

Aware of the large number of corporate and military offenders breaking international laws throughout California, newlyweds Chelsea & Marcus have joined local people in peace vigils as listed at tna.lovarchy.org.

The three TNA activists were cited and released by 3:00. Their arraignment is scheduled for November 16th.

Let's take each RED point in order:

1. They "were not able to finish..." Duh, usually an arrest interrupts shat is happening in an attempt to stop it. My guess is that they were disturbing the traffic flow which is not real good to begin with at that gate (I've been there). And, as to the alleged ownership of the sidewalk, it is either LM or Navy property, their are probably happy LM decided to deal with it.

2. Yeah, some LM assets are used to "kill people" but that killing is done in the battlefield. The greater use of said assets is that they SAVE the lives of those who serve. But, alas, one cannot put a number on how many lives were saved by one technology or another, so it's not news.
3. Just because you grandfather (or any other relative) worked for LM for any number of years does not make one an expert. And, the LM employees you want to "talk" to already know what they make, and are proud of it.

4. And finally, what happened to allegedly? The sidewalk is allegedly owned, but by god there are a large number of companies and governmetn agencies flaunting international laws. Nice peice of news to end the article with, or is that opinon? It is so hard to tell these days.

To finish it off ----- RANT, RANT, RANT, RANT ----- I am really not at all happy with this "news" agency.

Top 10

Top 10 from Letterman recently (Credit to CBS). Enjoy.


Top 10 signs the Head of NASA is NUTS:

10.Before each liftoff, he licks the launch pad

9.Commutes to work in the Lunar Rover

8.Freaked out when he heard GM was closing Saturn

7.Takes his coffee with two sugars and a splash of rocket fuel

6.Wants to rename headquarters "Cape Kardashian"

5.Hasn't removed his space helmet since 1996

4.Wants to rename Venus "Derek"

3.Announced he wants to fake another moon landing by 2015

2.Put all his money on the Mets to win the World Series

1.It wouldn't be a company picnic if he didn't drop his pants and fire a rocket

http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/top_ten/top_ten_popup.php?origin=Late+Show+Top+Ten&year=2009&month=10&day=07&elm=0&cat=content_top_ten

Ahhhhh, California

So, I've never been one to complain about Colorado drivers, but, this week in California (Silicon Valley) has brought back the memories of driving in CA. Ohhhhh, what a feeling, driving 75 mph with about a car length at most in front and behind you, with no real worries that someone will muck up the flow. Even in the boat of a rental car I had (Ford Flex, kind of like an SUV, but low slung to the ground).

Now I am at the San Jose airport waiting for my flight to board, and what did I see? Something from the past. Something I haven't seen at an airport in many many years. San Jose airport has an outdoor observation deck. You can head outside and watch the planes come and go. Alas, the one downside, it is also the smokers balcony.....no fresh air.

And finally, I have noticed on my recent, and more frequent trips here how diverse a population this area contains, and how non-diverse Colorado suburbia really is. Granted, there are some accent issues to deal with as non-native speakers communicate with you. But, I'm sure if I went to their home country I would not be able to even consider speaking the language, yet alone speak it like a native.

Time to shut down the machine and get ready to board. I do love free wifi in the airport, great idea guys.

Stall #1

This morning, here at work, I had to take a moment to recycle some of my morning's coffee. I wandered down the hall to the men's room to take care of business. As I approached the door I could hear the echoing sound of a fairly loud conversation taking place inside said room. My initial thought is that someone was chatting with a coworker whilst standing at the urinal. I went in and did not see anyone at the urinals, but the conversation continued. Okay, I thought, it must be some guys conversing through the stall walls, a little odd, but not unheard of. Alas, when I looked at the stall doors, only one door was closed... You guessed it, the guy was on his cell phone while on the crapper. From the conversation it sounded like work and like he was talking to his boss. I did my business, made sure the urinal right outside his stall flushed, then washed my hands and made sure the loud towel dispenser did it's deed as well (should have used the blowers but didn't think fast enough). I don't get it; did he make the call? Or, did he answer the call? Or, better yet, was he on the call when he went in? I wonder if he'll finish the call before getting up, the toilets have auto-flush, so I'm sure the other party would figure it all out by then if still in conversation. One would think the echo chamber would be enough to make him wonder. The stall dweller had better make sure he's not making his own sound effects. It almost makes me wish I needed to make some myself in the stall next door. Dude, let them leave a message then call them back!

What??????

What is the world coming to...

I just saw this (click here) article and had to share.

Even the mice aren't safe anymore.

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Mom, I love you!

Today is Mom's birthday, yet another milestone. I won't reveal the age here, it's just not like me to do so.

Have a wonderful day. Hugs and kisses from me and my family to you.

What a Way to Go

If it's your time, you may as well go out in a glaze of glory. Story HERE.

PETA Strikes Again

It seems that PETA ('People Eating Tasty Animals' if you ask some that I know) is having a conniption fit over the President killing a fly during an interview. See the Reuters version of the story HERE.

They call this presidential swatting of a fly an execution. Shall I have them over for a steak dinner to watch me execute some more? Do they remember where flies usually spend their time in the pasture? Should we go ahead and fill their offices with some more if it, since a lot of it seams to be spewing from their mouths? OMG!

I guess it's yet one more reason to remind us how uncommon, common sense really is.