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.