Lunch and LBS

Ok I had a lunch meeting with our Firm's accountant regarding our taxes. Yes it is that time of year again. So after my lunch meeting at Aqua Grill, I stopped by my LBS, Clint's Bicycle Shoppe. After Flatman's wife purchased him a new bike, I thot maybe I'd find some one to buy me a new bike. So here's is the bike I looked at:



Trek Madone SSLx. A Boron frame weights 14 lbs and comes in my size! What do you think?

So I bought a pair of wool gloves to go under my bike gloves to keep my fingers nice and toastie. The bike was $12,500, a little more than I want to spend on a bike.

Tennis Ball Run Again

Today was the Thursday Tennis Ball run along my regular route. Half way home Eileen jumped in to run with me. It's nice to have a younger pretty woman who can run faster than me join in the tennis ball games. She runs in the 7's so it pushes me, which is what I need at this point.

For those interested, the dead rat is gone from the road but the dead snake is still there.

Wednesday Random Thots

Today was a ride day, while it was warmer than yesterday I still wore my arm warmers. Yesterday I told you about the people I usually see. Today I thought I would tell you about the sights that I see. As I left my house it was light enough I didn't need a headlamp or my rear blinky but still a little foggy or maybe it is mist. I noticed that the re-cycling truck that picks up glass, plastic and newspapers had dropped some glass on the road. You have to be careful of these since my tires are more slicks with no tread and I ride with 100 lbs of air in my tires. These little shards of glass will cause a major flat.

As I left my circle I noticed the road here was wet. Not from rain because it is now dry season and we get little or no rain until June when it rains every afternoon at 4 pm. No it was wet from the irrigation. With my slick tires I have to be careful taking the next corner to fast.... anything over 20 mph.

As we turn onto Southern Hills Drive Tony stands in the saddle to sprint, he is trying to sprint more to get in shape for the straight-a-way where he wants to get to 35 mph. This sprinting causes me to speed up, the only problem is Southern Hills Drive has speed bumps which jars everything my speedometer and cadence stop working and the road ends in a cul-de-sac where we turn around. I have a tri bike, Quintana Roo, which doesn't handle as well as Tony's Trek Madone roadbike. So at the turn-around I fall behind yet again. Since I'm trying to train for triathlons I remain in the saddle most of the time and just try to spin faster to catch up. Some times it works.

A golf cart pulls out in front of us as we head back and this is a signal for Tony and I to go faster to try to catch the cart and pass it. I change gears to 5 down and off we go and yes we catch and pass it nicely saying "Good Morning" to a startled golf cart driver. We are doing 23 mph the cart is doing about 19 mph.

As we head up Tony's street we watch for Coffee Drinker and Collie. I am convinced that since I haven't seen them in a month they are planning a sneak attack. At the end of Tony's street, another cul-de-sac, we turn around and it is catch-up time to me. We come down his street to he back gate blow thru the stop sign and head up to the Fitness Center.

At the Fitness Center is a large parking lot where we cruise around the perimeter get a drink and start back the way we came but making a right to go to the famous straight-a-way. I usually pull from the Fitness Center around Island Circle then jump the sidewalk up a slight incline to the straight-a-way. I get a sip of drink get into aero position again and I try to pull Tony as fast as I can. Here on the straight-a-way we usually have to announce the "BIKES COMING" to move the Groupies (6 ladies walking in the road side-by-side). At about half way we are doing 28, Tony goes around me, I try to get on his wheel but usually since he is 8 years younger than me (I'm the better looking one) he drops me.

As we make the lefthand turn and head to the Boat Yard we jump onto the trail/bike path that passes the "Pottie House" then on to the road again heading back toward my house. Here we saw a LARGE DEAD RAT. No the little ones like we saw last winter. And not the Palmetto Rats that I killed in my attic last year. No, a real RAT.

When we make the turn to my street, we spot a dead snake. He's nicely coiled but dead. Tony and I do my street as fast as possible then back to Southern Hills to start our second loop hoping to find another golf cart to pass along the way. Those two loops make 20 miles. Sometimes I go to Tony's house and back another 5 miles to cool off.

Tagged

OK Susan passed on this meme to me. I'm not sure why but here goes:

Four jobs you've had in your life:
telephone tech, electrician, minister, adminstrator
Four movies you could watch over and over:
Gettysburg, Christmas Vacation, Master and Commander, Star Wars or Star Trek
Four places you've lived: New Jersey, Texas, Florida no place else...
Four TV shows you love to watch:
Imus in the Morning, CNBC During the day in my office, News (MSNBC ,Fox or CNN), Two and a Half Men
Four places you've been on vacation:
Rome, Italy; London, England; Paris, France; the Caribbean
Four websites you visit daily:
Gooogle, Slowtwitch, Gmail, Vanguard, Janus
Four of your favorite foods:
anything Italian i.e. pasta, pesto; anything seafood i.e. grouper, shrimp, clams; anything cocolate i.e. cookies, cake, ice cream, pies etc; anything Wine i.e. champagne, chardonay, merlot, Pinor Noir
Four places you'd rather be:
Barefoot Beach near my home; on a sailboat in the Chesapeake; Rome, Italy visiting my grandson; NJ visiting my other 2 grandsons
Four albums you can't live without:
Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles; Andrea Bocelli; Louis Armstrong; Sarah Brightman
Four vehicles I've owned:
VW Bug, Jeep Cherokee, Fiero, Buick Regal Grand Sport

OK so I'll tag the great Goofy Challenge winner Nancy, the great Prarie Dawg Leader, Bolder and Cliff of Canada fame.

Terrific Tuesday

My training seems to be routine doing the same thing over and over again. Sunday is the long ride, Monday is a recovery ride and weights, Tuesday is run and swim, Wednesday is ride and swim Thursday fartlek run and weights, Friday is ride and swim, Saturday is my long run and long swim. Same week in and week out.

Since my schedule is pretty much the same, I don't always know what to post. Take this morning for example. It was a nice morning, almost perfect morning to run. It was cool but not to cold, about 56 no breeze. The sun was just coming up and as I started my run, it was reflecting off the golf course lake causing me to squint. I saw the usually walkers and a few new people because it is season now and the snowbirds are here.

AS I leave my block and turn left on the main street I see the usual people. I name the "usual" people that I see. No I don't "know" them but I do say good morning to them. There is the Smiley Guy, he is always smiling. At the corner is Pajama Girl, she walks two dogs wearing a sweatshirt and pajama bottoms, she looks like she just got done with a shower since her hair is wet. Then I see the Skinny Lady and Skinny Ladies Husband. She is so skinny if she turns sideways and sticks out her tongue she would be a zipper. Next up is Fast Walker, she walks really fast. As I round the curve at the first mile mark is Cigar Guy, always smoking a cigar picking up stuff in his yard or sweeping his driveway. I then head up Tony's street to the now famous Coffee Drinker and Collie, whom I haven't seen in a while but you know about them probably planning a secret attack on Tony and me.

As I continue on my run at the 2 mile mark I enter the woods. It's a trail that follows the Estero River and is very popular with canoeist and kayakers. I have only seen one person on the trail in all the years that I have been using it. But I have seen some great wildlife. Birds of course, and rabbits. One morning I startled a panther. This year I rounded the corner at the end of the trail as it crosses a bridge over a little creek when I startled a mother Otter and three babies playing. I don't know who was more excited me or the otters!

After leaving the woods I come to the Fitness Center and Pool for our community. It is along the river, next to the dock masters office for our boat lunch and dock. There is also the River Club next to the Fitness Center and Pool. I usually stop inside the Fitness center to get a drink of water and on Tuesdays get weighted. As I leave the Fitness Center I run now on the road that leads back to the community thru some preserve areas that the State of Florida will not allow to be developed. That is what attracted me to this community the natural areas and large open spaces, unlike some community builders who use up every available space.

As I go along the preserve area there is a small trail that leads to a grave site that was used by the Koreseans. The Koreseans were a cult in the late 1800's lead by Cyrus Tweed. In the cemetery are the graves of several of this cult that died. One is a Confederate soldier and another is a Union soldier from the Spanish American War. I think of them and how no one visits their grave. This past Memorial Day I got a small American Flag and a small Confederate Flag to place on their graves to remember their sacrifice for America.

Usually along in here I will see Two Dog Walker, he walks two small dogs. I then round a corner and go up a small incline to an abandoned road that goes under a high tension line. The road follows the fence border of our community that separates us from a very ritzy community with multi-million dollar homes on the right and three holes of the golf course on the left, including two lakes. This road is our famous straight-a-way.

On the straight-a-way I see Bottle Guy, he's riding a bike with a bottle holder on his handle bar with a large large bottle of water. I also see Dog Rider, he's riding a bike with his dog on a leash. Also I see Dog with No Leash, a lady walking her dog with no leash even though it is a major rule to have your dog on a leash. Then I see several people that I haven't named yet. A group (6) of ladies all walking together, Groupies. I guy in a yellow shirt, the same yellow shirt every day. Sometimes the workers from the golf course or our community are on the road with gas powered golf carts.

The road makes a 90* turn to the left then ends at the back of our boat storage yard.
It is here that you have to get on the sidewalk that paralls the boat yard and the golf course. There is a "Pottie House" half way along the sidewalk where I can get another drink of water, or in case of runners emergencies, well you know.

Then it is back to the community roads and on the homeward stretch of my 7 miles. I see Smiley Guy again, Fast Walker, and then Poodle Lady, yup two poodles. Sometimes Bob-on-a-moutain-bike, a guy from my circle will pass by on his mountain bike, or Icelandic Man, my neighbor from Iceland. Eileen is usually around in here on the days she runs. She does 9 miles at about a 8 min. pace. She wears a great bikini tops and running short shorts, but she is married.

The course then makes a right turn and short stretch then another right turn and I'm on my street. I hear the bell in my head indicating 1 mile to go! I see Frank the Priest going to work, Annie sweeping her driveway, and the Norwegian Lady taking the kids to school. Sometimes my neighbor across the street is getting his newspaper when I finish.

So today was like so many days running. Uneventful unless you count the people.

Freezing Friday

Freezing....well not quite that cold but to me it felt cold. Last night I was awakened by howling winds blowing from the north. That usually means a cold front is pushing its way here from up north bringing with it cooler weather. As you may know it has been a beautiful week here in Southwest Florida with daytime highs around 78* with bright sunshine and night time lows about 70*. So the howling winds meant change was in the air.

When I got ready for my ride this morning I expected a bitter cold morning but to my surprise the wind had subsided and the temp was 56*. So it was cold going into the wind but not so cold going down wind. Tony had to drop our after the first loop so I rode the last 12 miles alone. But hey it was a good ride, I even pasted Tony on the straight-a-way at 29 mph...but he did jump on my wheel so I didn't drop him...next time. I got my 25 miles in.

I have started going back to the weight room at the fitness center. Wednesday night a I did 2 miles on the dreadmill and then an upper body workout. I was a little sore for my run yesterday but I guess my little Christmas rest help because I felt real strong on my 7 mile jaunt.

Tonight is the famous cocktails at the club night with some friends and tomorrow I'm going to attempt a long run of 15 miles. Sunday Tony and I are doing the Cocnut Point Ride to see the eagles nest and perhaps get a look at the babies. (What is a baby eagle called a hatchling?)

Here's a pic of the beach from yesterday....I didn't swim at the beach because I didn't have a wetsuit. The water temp is 65*. I just had lunch watching the water rather than staying in the office and eating at my desk.

Bolder , the girl walking the water line has a nice bikini, just for you! this is 4 blocks from my office.

Time for Reflection

It was this time last year that I began experiencing severe headaches and was still recovering from my various treatments and surgeries for cancer. I had discovered a new "growth" on my back on the same site as my first surgery and went to see my oncologist. She ask me it I had any symptoms and of course I mentioned my headaches, dizzy spells, blurry vision and ringing in my ears...so this started a series of chest and head mri then a brain mra then re-tests then a pet scan and finally the report from the onoclogist. It went something like this: You have something in your brain. I think it is a tumor. I'm sending you to a brain surgeon and he is reserving an operating room for Tuesday. Always good news to hear. The brain surgeon met me on a Saturday morning in his office. His words were I canceled the operating room after looking at your brain study because it we remove it you would spend the rest of your life smiling a lot ...like the Kennedy girl. People don't function well with a quarter of their brain removed.

Well since that stressful month I've had two growths removed from my back, multiple brain tests and more tests. I still have the headaches, dizzy spells, blurry vision and this ringing in my ears...some days worse than others. I thank God that my surgeon was not out to just do surgery and after seeing 3 "second" opinions I've been told that Dr. Lusk has probably saved my ability to think and function normally. He and other surgeons have told me that no ethical brain surgeon would attempt my surgery unless I have a bleed or other complication and then, according to Dr. Lusk, there is no one qualified in Florida to do the surgery.

Now one year later, life is less stressful. I've been given the ok to do races, hey they didn't even want me to train for a while! So what have I learned? What has God taught me thru this all?

1. YA GOTTA BELIEVE!
When I lived in Philly a few years ago that was the rally cry for the Philadelphia Phillies started by I think Tug McGraw. Well I've found that no matter what YA GOTTA BELIEVE! Like a tri or a marathon even when the pain becomes unbearable YA GOTTA BELIEVE you are going to beat this thing.

While I was a hospital chaplain I worked with many dying patients and saw the five stages of death that Elizabeth Kubler Ross talked about in her book On Death and Dying; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I want to get to that acceptance stage...YA GOTTA BELIEVE while this was happening I'm going to do what ever I have to do to survive....win...finish the course.

2. Have Fun in Life
Lance Armstrong while undergoing chemo for his cancer and brain surgery said about his blood count:

"Those numbers became the highlight of each day; they were my motivation....I would concentrate on that number, as if I could make the counts by mentally willing it."

Lance made it a game. Life is to short to not laugh, love and play along the way. So yes sometimes my humor is a little "sick" but if I can't laugh at what is going on I'd go nuts. I like to have fun and even make fun of myself. So kickoff your shoes, have a beer or two and laugh!

3. Help others along the way
I had learned this a while back but I have gotten away from it. During my time as a pastor, I took on five people at a time, not members of my church, who were dying. I would help them thru the death process. To this day I still keep in touch with families who have lost a loved one.

I decided to do that with cancer/brain tumor, to encourage others facing the same thing I was facing. Thru notes, conversations, phone calls etc I've tried to help several people I know that are facing what I faced.

It you haven't read it I suggest you do, Laurence Gonzales book Deep Survival. Gonzales suggests Survivors are always doing what they do for someone else, even if that someone is thousands of miles away. I decided to do that with cancer/brain tumor patients.

4. Quitting is Quitters

Growing up I had great parents. They taught me so much about life. My mother would say to me: There is no such thing as I can't. This was from a woman who at the age of seven her father died during the Great Depression leaving a wife and five children, three of whom would not live to see age 13 due to a crippling childhood disease.

My hometown of Burlington NJ is the birth place of Captain James Lawrence who in the mist of a great naval battle, his ship almost destroyed and sinking said "Don't give up the ship!"

A race or cancer or a brain tumor I've decided to never, never, never give up! Quitting is for quitters!

5. Contentment
We live in a culture that is never content. More is the cry. More money, more toys, bigger house, faster car.... I'm learning contentment. Do I need a new bike? No just lose a few pounds and I'll go faster. My car a 1991 that is worth less than my bike. Do I need a new car? No, it would be nice but why? Could I make more money? Yes I could move back t New York City work from 7:30 to 6:30 have an hour commute each way and make big bucks. However, I'm content working for a small firm from 9:30 to 5:00, I can train in the morning, swim at lunch, and be home in time to work out in the fitness center plus there is the beach to do open water swimming.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians said:

I'm not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. (Phil 4:11)

I've learned to be content no matter what happens to me.

He's Back!!!!!

OK quick update...

flew to Newark NJ on Dec. 23
saw some family and friends for Christmas Eve, ate & drank to much
went to church for midnight Christmas Eve
has an awesome Christmas Day, ate to much
ran on Monday 7 miles, went to dinner (see pic below)
rode a mountain bike 20 miles on Tuesday _ cold< ugh
went to the City Wednesday
ran 10 miles Thursday
flew home Friday -- good to be back to warm weather!
Sat rode 25 miles ran 8 miles
Sun rode 60 miles with Tony
Mon rode 30 miles (counts on next weaks report), took down my Christmas decorations, ugh!

Weakly Totals
Run 25 miles
Bike 105 miles
Swim NADA

Thanks everyone for the notes and emails...

Here's a pic of my grandson. We went out to dinner on Dec. 26.

It is really cold here. I can't wait to get back to Fl.

P C Christmas?

On krisalis blog she wrote about the Human Resources PC correct greetings. Here it is:

• Please accept without obligation, express or implied, these best wishes for an environmentally safe, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, and gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday as practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice (but with respect for the religious or secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or for their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all) and further for a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated onset of the generally accepted calendar year (including, but not limited to, the Christian calendar, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures).

• The preceding wishes are extended without regard to the race, creed, age, physical ability, religious faith or lack thereof, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee(s).

Perhaps the above is a sign of the time. I guess I don't understand all the fight about Christmas and saying Merry Christmas. Why are people offended? If you are a Christian you are celebrating Jesus' birth, it's a historical fact he was born, lived and died according to a Roman historian Flavius Josephus. If your not a Christian, then why would celebrating a baby's birth be so offensive to you? I've been wished Happy Chanukkah or Happy Ramadan and even Happy Qwuanza . But why are people upset about a little baby in a manager? Perhaps the better questions is who is this Jesus?

You must admit Jesus changed the course of the then know world and continues to divide peoples. He is the dividing point. Who is he? C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity answer that question by saying we have three choices. #1. Jesus was a liar. Would a liar do the things Jesus did? Say the things that He said like the Sermon on the Mount? #2. Jesus was a lunatic. Only a mad man would claim to be God (remember the Jews wanted to stone him and in the end He was crucified for blasphemy, claiming to be God). But would a lunatic heal the sick, raise the dead, and bring sight to the blind? 3. Jesus is Lord. Here is the dividing point! If he is not a liar or a lunatic then He must be Lord. That's the divide. While a baby in a manager puts no demands on our life, the teachings, the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus does put demands upon us. He calls for our worship and commitment. He calls for our ALL.

So when I see people get upset when I say Merry Christmas or I here of the forced pc as above I remind myself it's because of Jesus.... His Birth, His Life, His Teachings, His Death and His Resurrection. When some one gets upset about the saying Merry Christmas I just remind myself they are not willing to bow before the manger like the lowly shepherds and say Hossanna. He is Lord.

I'll be taking a blog break. I'm leaving warm sunny Florida to go to New Jersey to celebrate Christmas with my family. I will be running and riding a mountain bike to keep up my training. I want to wish all of my blog family and friends:

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I pray that you and your family will know the joy and peace of worshiping the new born King.

Tagged and a brief word from our sponsor

Linda over at Loping LouBob tagged me. It's a challenge tag, I have to describe my upcoming 2006 training season in one word. Single-minded (that's one word just because it has a hyphen doesn't make it two words). I still have a single goal of Kona.... To get me there I have some steps along the way. In January is the Tour de Cape a century ride the local tri club here turns into a race. Also in January the Naples Half Marathon a great race thru a very wealth neighborhood. February brings the Chill Willy Duathlon and March is the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim across Tampa Bay or the Redhills Triathlon. April is another busy month with the Escape Ft. DeSoto Triathlon and St. Anthony's. May is an "A" race the Florida 1/2 Ironman at Disney. June is the Madeira Beach Triathlon. July, August, September is the Publix Family Fitness Triathlon series also in August is the Top Gun Triathlon. October is the Steamtown Marathon where I hope to qualify for the Boston Marathon since Steamtown is all down hill and the fastest marathon around. November is the "A" race the Florida Ironman. The closes out of the year with the Safety Harbor Duathlon in December and January 1st the St. Pete Mad Dog Triathlon. Along the way, rather than buy a new bike I want to lose weight, 25-30 lbs.

Eagles and it's not a fluke!

Sunday's ride with Tony was awesome! Several weeks ago during our ride thru Raptor Bay and Coconut Plantaion (Hyatt's golf course and time share developement) we discovered a HUGE nest. It is in a large tall pine tree and is as big as the top of a VW bug roof. Since we went to the airport last week we didn't get to see the nest. However this week when we passed the nest there were two bald eagles sitting in it! Awesome! We watched as one eagle got out of the nest and sat on a branch looking down the golf course from his lofty pearch. I guess he was looking for breakfast! I went back later with my camera but the nest is just to far to get a good shot without a telephoto lens. I'm hoping when the eggs hatch I'll get to see the babies.

Today's ride proved that the 31.5 mph record breaking ride was not a fluke, we did 30.5 miles down the straight-a-way. Can 35 mph be in the near future?

I DID IT! WAHOOOO!

Boys and girls you know how hard I have been trying, it has been ever elusive. But today was the day! I felt good, my bike was running smooth, Tony and I were riding side-by-side and not drafting so it happened! Just like that I looked down and saw

31.5

I broke the 30 mph barrier. But the really good news was that I was able to maintain that speed for more then just a few seconds!

Beers all around!

Tagged

I was tagged by Donald to reveal five random facts about myself. This is the 21st century version of those old chain letters, right? I'm fearful that something horrible will happen to me if I don't comply.

so here are 5 ahhh random facts about me.


1. I'm a factory defect and there was a recall on me but my parents failed to take me back to the dealership to get fixed.... I was born with one kidney. I'm missing my left kidney but my right kidney is twice as large as a normal persons kidney.

2. My grandparents grew up on the Leni-Lenape Indian reservation in New Jersey (Shamong Township) and were first cousins when they married hence the factory defect in #1.

3. My parents were very disappointed when I didn't go to the Naval Academy like my cousins but it was the Vietnam war and I was a factory defect (see #1) which kept me out of the Academy and the war.

4. To further my parents disappointment, I went to a Bible College and Seminary and was an ordained minister serving as a missionary for 20 years. They never attended any of my graduations, ordination or commissioning as a missionary.

5. My wife, in 1995, of 25 years ran off with her boyfriend. I was divorced on Valentines day of the 25th year of our marriage. After the Judge pronounced us divorced my then ex-wife asked me if I would perform the wedding ceremony for her and her boyfriend since they couldn't find a minister to do the wedding. I told them NO!

6. I moved to Florida after taking care of both of my parents until their deaths (Yup I'm an orphan), Mom with Alzhiemers (see #2 above) and Dad with COPD. I then decided to move to Florida.

7. After moving to Florida I met some one and proposed then I was diagnosed with melanoma (fast growing cancer). My fiance broke of the engagement due to the cancer and then I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in my left frontal lobes. The cancer has been removed (4 surgeries) and I'm cancer free but the tumor is in-operable because of it's location...So I get headaches, dizzy spells, ringing in the ears, blurry vision etc. The docs don't want me to live alone, but if they take it out it would be like a frontal lobotomy.

8. I had a racing sailboat that I loved and still love to this day. So days when I get depressed, I miss her more than my ex-wife or fiance. I think about buying a new boat to sail alone around the world like Joshua Slocum. But I want to see my grandchildren and do Ironman Kona.

9. I love trainning more that races, especially riding my bike. My times open water swimming are some of the best time here in Florida because of the water and the beaches.

10. I can't think of a 10!


Depressing huh? Aren't you glad you asked?

The Virus Continues!

I woke up a half hour before the alarm went off. Even though I fell asleep on the sofa watching Martha Stewart's Apprentice (what's with her robot daughter? can she speak more then one word sentences?) I did not feel rested. So, this morning was slightly warmer than yesterday morning so I decided on my running shorts with a long sleeve t-shirt, but what I did not count on was my stomach again. UGH...two trips to the bathroom before I left the house for my run. Today's schedule is the now infamous tennis ball fartlek run but I place emphasis on the FART part of the run. Then my stomach pain started. I wondered if I was going to keep my fresh Florida OJ down (Raymond James sent us a case of fresh Florida oranges which I used for juice, everyone got a tray of oranges). I had planned on going thru the woods for 7 miles but at the 2 mile mark I knew I better start heading towards the house. It's interesting how distress can cause you to pick up the pace. I got home, 4.5 miles total, (32'43") just in the nick of time!

I went to the pool at lunch time. My stomach still feels odd. I did 2x100, 100 kick and 100 easy as my warm up then I worked on my balance drills (yes Cliff I do balance drills too) then I did 15x100 and a cool down of 2x100. Then I had to make a quick pit stop! UGH will this virus ever go away?

When I got back to the office I ate my turkey wrap and again I feel yucky. Tonight I plan on stopping at our community fitness center to do a light wait workout (you have to wait your turn for the machine or for the weights).

Thanks for all the well wishes....I'm doing the same job just getting a new title and a little more money and larger bonuses... what I really want is more time to train.

The Stomach Virus

OK it started yesterday afternoon.... just before lunch...

I was to have lunch with the Portfolio Manager and a Sales Trader from Philadelphia. It started just about then, it was that upset stomach feeling then I think I need to go AGAIN. Lunch was OK but I couldn't enjoy eating next door at Pier 41 watching the boats go by and the two masted sailboat pull away from the slip because I was worried could I get back to the office in time?

I had to look at some office space since we are probably going to have to move our offices and then I went home. But the thought hit me again, CAN I MAKE IT HOME IN TIME?....

So my evening that I had planned on going to the gym to do some weight training will have to wait. I lazed on the sofa, had some of Oldman's turkey soup and went to bed.

This morning it was again really cold. Yea I know you people in the frozen waste lands have it real cold. Like below freezing, 43* seems freezing to me. I don't have winter riding gear so it was tights, heavy soxes, a long sleeve cotton tee and a bike jersey but I was able to get my 25 miles in. Of course I was alone and was frozen when I got home but I got it done.

Today I'm taking it easy food wise. Yogurt, soup, and decaf tea. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and it will be warmer...Well as I type this it's 74* at 4:30 pm. Sorry LouBob can't send you any warm weather....

O BY THE WAY.....

It was announced yesterday I have been promoted to Vice President of the Firm. (Hail Columbia plays in the background). That and 4 bucks will get you coffee at 4bucks,

Cold Snap

I decorated the pony palm tree in the front of my house with red bows. What do you think of my art work?

Today it was cold, the morning temp when I left for my morning run was 51* but it's going to be 74* today. I wore my long sleeve tee and shorts but I wished I had tights. I did the usual thru the woods run. I didn't see to many people out walking or riding bikes. I guess it was just to cold for them.

Like yesterday I will not be able to swim, so this makes two misses in a row. ugh!

Not a good Monday

Last week I hired a new employee...today I had to let him go! He just could not get things right. He had all the qualifications. He had good previous job experience but he was just awful. How did he get this far?

To top it off, I didn't get to swim today.... and it's a little to cold to go to the pool tonight (65*). Hey it's an open air pool. UGH I hate bad Mondays!

I think I'm going to go home fix a fire in the ourdoor fireplace, roast some hotdogs and drink some beer.

Weakend Report

This weakend I...

sent my italian grandson Christmas presents via fedex international.
went to the club friday nite for cocktails, didn't get any feathers caught in my teeth, saw some friends, drank some guinness, had a blackened grouper salad
got up early saturday ran my 17 mile loop to the college and back.
went Christmas shopping for my grandsons.
cook chicken marsala and rissoto mileanse for diner with J.
J and I went christmas carroling with neighbors
drank some very nice chardonnay.
drank some very very very nice tequila.
drank some good single malt scotch.
got up early sunday, temp 62*, rode with tony 65 miles with an aver pace of 19.7, can't break 20 mph ave. rode to the new airport up the departing flights ramp (a HILL) did we get strange looks from the departing passengers!
lazed around the pool for lunch, had some eggs, was suppose to swim but ran out of time
went to the living Christmas tree at church in the afternoon
made myself some turkey soup
fell asleep at 8:30

weakly totals

run - 24 miles
bike - 135 miles
swim - 2,000 yards

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "WOW what a ride!" S. Hunter Thompson