Training for a Triathlon

I am signed up for the Grand Man Triathlon. I have started to train specifically for this and I guess this blog is as good a place as any to track my efforts. I started my journey last February after a co-worker (thanks Blaine) asked my to run in the Miles for Maggie. This was a fund raising 5K for a friend. I signed both Annette and myself up; since misery loves company. I weighed 240 lbs when I started. I have lost just over 50 lbs and want to get down to 170 before the Grand Man on June 4, 2011.

On Sunday, Jan 1st, I did quarter mile "sprints" (sprints for me, light jogging for real runners) for 2 1/2 miles. Then I rode a stationary bike for 10 miles. I can tell you that I have a long way to go. I could barely walk off the bike. But I guess, I have to start somewhere.

On January 3rd, I ran a 5K on the treadmill and then yesterday I did disc #1 of P90X (Chest and Back). Today, I can barely lift the suitcase. I know, I need some cheese to go with this whine.

More to come.... wish me luck.

The Travels in 2011 have started....

One great thing about being Catholic is daily Mass. It is very interesting to go to Mass in different areas of the country. The similarities and the differences are equally fascinating. Today for example, most of the ladies at Mass had covers on their head. I have never seen that and can't wait to figure that one out. The other cool thing this morning was that if intended to celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist; then you have to place a wafer in the plate. Otherwise, they would have run out.... STRANGE I SAY.

Today for example, I am in Ames, IA. Home of the Iowa State Cyclones. I drove by the Sigma Chi House and took a couple of pictures. I had a brother from this chapter in my small group at one of the BLTW. Pretty neat to see.

I do not have time to go to Strawberry, IA which is the home of the World's Largest Strawberry. Maybe next time.

War Eagle

Annette, Christopher and I went to the Auburn Homecoming game today. What a great time. Toomer's Corner after the game looked like Barrow, Alaska with all the TP. It was a lot of fun watching the end of the Alabama game at the hotel in the lobby with a bunch of Auburn fans. We had dinner at the Cock of the Walk (the best shrimp around) and now watching Arkansas beat South Carolina.

In the morning we hope to get breakfast at Taylor's Bakery (a friend of Christopher's uncle owns it) and then Mass at St. Michael's where Fr. Bill is the pastor. He is such a great guy. I wish we had him back at St. Dominic.

Barrow, Alaska

I left Mobile on Tuesday, November 2nd to go to Barrow, Alaska. It took about 30 hours to get there and it will take the same on the way home Friday. Barrow is a cool (maybe COLD) place. The folks are very nice but I don't think that I have met anyone "from" here. On our flight coming up, Ted Danson was with us. He is filming a story about whales in Anchorage and came up to meet with natives here that are in the story. Since there is only 3 restraunts (and we ate at 2 of them) we had lunch and dinner with him. He was very nice but was also private.

I decided not to join the Polar Bear Club, which requires you to go into the Artic Ocean, since is was about -20 or so with the wind chill.

The top is a reminder when getting there that this is an unforgiving area of the country. Will Rogers died here in a plane crash. The second is me standing by the Artic ocean. By the next moring, 50 yards of ocean was covered in ice. They said by December you can drive cars on the ice. The third is the Top of the World Hotel, which is basically a trailer on sticks.... not the best in town and for $170 per night you can expect a little more.

I am so glad to be home now!!!!!

St Dominic Midget Football 2010

Here is a Youtube video of this season's highlights from Christopher's football team. The did great this year and had a lot of fun.

The World's Largest Porch Swing

Annette gave me a cool list of unique sites around the country. With all the travel that I do now to remote and interesting areas of the country, I thought this would be a good way to see parts of the country that I probably would otherwise miss. While in Hebron, NE this week, I had a chance to mark one off the list. I spoke with a local store owner and he actually was proud of the swing and said that during festival, art shows, and the like that people actually do sit in the swing. I will admit; it is BIG! So 1 down and 49 to go. I will keep you posted.

We all should try to identify those opportunity in our own community to meet new people and connect with old friends. Maybe we all need a giant porch swing.

Townhalls - Rep. Bright (AL-2nd)

Townhalls - Rep. Bright (AL-2nd)

If anyone knows someone from this area, here is your chance to ask him your questions. Rep Bright is a Democrat from AL2 (southeast Alabama). The event is August 12th in Troy. Only 6 Democraps in the country are having a town hall meeting. Only 1 in Alabama.