This is the day after my first 5K since having open heart surgery 6 months ago. Last year involved quite a few medical issues for me. It started with cat scratch fever, a bumble bee sting in my ear while I was on my motorcycle, and a broken leg. I remember sitting in the hospital, several times last year, wondering if this was it for me--to be continually plagued by these unfortunate occurrences. Or, was it just a long stretch of bad luck?
Back when I was in the Navy stationed at the sub base, we used to run daily. We really didn't do kilometers, we did miles. I biked 10 miles to work, ran for lunch, biked home and swam several times a week at a beautiful pond in Connecticut--alligator free. Beach Pond. If you are ever near there, make it a point to go there. I still do not know how many miles a 5K is. After yesterday, I will admit it is farther than I thought!
I have been walking for lunch at work pretty much daily in preparation for this event. Thank goodness I did, or else It would have taken me forever to complete it. I registered, showed up and joined about 160 people in the race. People of all types, from kids, to those in their late 70s. One gentleman was walking with aluminum crutches or poles to help him. That was inspirational. I talked a while with a young lady friend who had finished the New York City Marathon. I knew she would do well. One lady who has diabetes was out walking. She said she saw me walking for lunch and decided to do it for herself. Of course there were the pros out there as well. Those who live for this, those who immediately upon completion, jump on their bikes and pedal for miles afterwards. I just wanted to finish, that was my goal.
As the race started, the fast runners took off. I lagged behind walking as to not get in their way. It surprised me how fast everyone took off, Even those of us who were walking. I walked as fast as I could to keep up. The president of the college jogged past me for a while then fell behind, which I think was to encourage those in the back. I followed a group who had a fast steady pace. My iPod nano talked me through each kilometer, "You have completed one kilometer," the sweet female voice loudly proclaimed. The route was a beautiful one with roads closed for us, but I only looked forward, never looked back once. I wasn't in it to win, I just wanted to finish. Several people did pass me by including ladies pushing baby carriages. That's when I started jogging. Finally, I saw the finish line, but the route was taking us away from it! In my mind I thought, oh no, but it was just a few hundred yards farther, then the route continued back headed to the line. I ran across the line. I did it. I finished.
Doctors, hospitals, nurses, medications, wheelchairs, crutches, hopping on one leg trying to take a shower or to drive, all of that is behind me now. I'm turning the page and headed into a new chapter. As I sit here reflecting, I am fortunate to have finished and to be able to walk or run. Many cannot. The human spirit is incredibly strong. Stay strong. If you can run, do it. Never stop. It's time to finish my coffee and get out there and enjoy the day. Today I am riding, destination unknown.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Ozark Tent Review
Most people enjoy camping on weekends and for sometimes a week or so, but in my case, this is my never-ending camping trip. My wife got the house and I got the Ozark Trail 9' x 8' tent. I am quite pleased with the quality of plasticky material of which this tent is made. Sleeping on the ground is not all that it is cracked up to be, but callouses are finally begining to develop for me--at last!
It is not really good for indoor cooking as the heat rising will eventually melt the upper portion of the plastic material and will begin to slowly drip down and burn your skin. At first I thought it was mosquitos, but then seeing the blue/green plastic stuck all about my hair and arms convinced me I should cook outside. Lesson learned!
It's fairly water resistant except in the case of a tropical storm. Covering the whole thing with a tarp seems to work well. All in all, this tent is well made and the tropical storm I went through only caused minimal damage to the flaps. It did however, wash the tent down river but fortunately got hung up in a otter's dam. It did float quite nicely if that is a quality that you require.
I'm having a hard time finding a new girlfriend to move in with me even though I sweep the tent out daily and have enough food to last for at least three days if she doesn't eat that much. I've even gone so far as to spread soft pine needles for my Juliet to lie on, but to no avail. The tent itself was very pretty when I first bought it, a glimmering shade of blue and green, but now it has become slightly moldy with mildew and stains dripping down from living in it in the woods for 343 consecutive days. It is very roomy and the beer can collection I have been accumulating is adding up and fits nicely off to the side--waiting on the price of aluminum to go up, surely it will go up soon, right?.
I'm still loving my Thirty two dollar Ozark tent. If you are ever near the Kissimmee River, off of Chuluota Road, head towards the cow pasture at the end of the dirt road and just hop the barbed wire fence. Walk along the river bank until you see my can collection--Busch beer, Campbell's Pork and Beans, and various Vienna sausage and sardine cans--then head east towards my Publix shopping carts which are converted to BBQ grills. Stop in and say howdy, especially if you are a girl! The only girls I see are usually in canoes floating by and seem to be paddling like the dickens when I wave to them from my woodsy condo.
It is not really good for indoor cooking as the heat rising will eventually melt the upper portion of the plastic material and will begin to slowly drip down and burn your skin. At first I thought it was mosquitos, but then seeing the blue/green plastic stuck all about my hair and arms convinced me I should cook outside. Lesson learned!
It's fairly water resistant except in the case of a tropical storm. Covering the whole thing with a tarp seems to work well. All in all, this tent is well made and the tropical storm I went through only caused minimal damage to the flaps. It did however, wash the tent down river but fortunately got hung up in a otter's dam. It did float quite nicely if that is a quality that you require.
I'm having a hard time finding a new girlfriend to move in with me even though I sweep the tent out daily and have enough food to last for at least three days if she doesn't eat that much. I've even gone so far as to spread soft pine needles for my Juliet to lie on, but to no avail. The tent itself was very pretty when I first bought it, a glimmering shade of blue and green, but now it has become slightly moldy with mildew and stains dripping down from living in it in the woods for 343 consecutive days. It is very roomy and the beer can collection I have been accumulating is adding up and fits nicely off to the side--waiting on the price of aluminum to go up, surely it will go up soon, right?.
I'm still loving my Thirty two dollar Ozark tent. If you are ever near the Kissimmee River, off of Chuluota Road, head towards the cow pasture at the end of the dirt road and just hop the barbed wire fence. Walk along the river bank until you see my can collection--Busch beer, Campbell's Pork and Beans, and various Vienna sausage and sardine cans--then head east towards my Publix shopping carts which are converted to BBQ grills. Stop in and say howdy, especially if you are a girl! The only girls I see are usually in canoes floating by and seem to be paddling like the dickens when I wave to them from my woodsy condo.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
XLV
Superbowl XLV, an all day event. I remember being in Miami for the first one. The Packers won. Can't think of the other team of course with today's technology I could look it up within seconds and pretend I knew it all along. It used to the AFL v NFL which now has merged into one league seperated by conferences.
I heard this morning that the weather at Cowboy Stadium has warmed somewhat but still is icey cold. Strange that here in Florida it was mid 80s yesterday with today much cooler, finally.
I'm looking forward to the halftime show featuring Black Eyed Peas. They've been around for a long time, but I just now started actually listening to them. I love their messages, whether clean or explicit. I hope they say the word shit on national TV. There has to be something for the carnival that is modern media to talk about and gasp over. There must always be controversy. It's like a fix that the public must have. When one topic gets old, the public salivates in anticipation of the next. Will Fergie's tit plop out? Will they dry hump each other on stage and destroy the innocence of millions of children who have never been exposed to such heathenistic behavior? Let's just have some "clean all-american fun." This is our tradition, one that is all ours. No one else in the world loves American Football like we do. Screw soccer, or shall we say Futball. Why the hell did the good Lord give us arms if we can't use 'em to throw the ball? Answer us that, rest of the world.
Talking about the game has become an art form. Thirty second commercial spots are selling for sinful amounts of money. Every year our huge corporations try to out do each other with zany spoofs and win the love of the public. Remember the Mean Joe Greene Jersey commercial? It remains one the most loved of all time. Awww, Mr Greene was nice to a kid. Just don't be an offensive player or especially don't be a quarterback, he will punish you. The niceness was gone. It's all fantasy land.
Every industry opts in to sell their product. Snacks, food, beer; what are you making for your Super Bowl bash party? Parties went from chips and beer, to outrageous indulgence with gourmet items on the menu and full blown productions. Gigantic glorified teaparties. OK, now everyone put on your team hat and yell at the fucking TV. It wouldn't be right without the yelling. We need a good controversial call from the officials to vent our anger. Instant replay will show what a moron he was.
Haven't seen any Harley commercials yet--football players arriving on their motorcycles and galavanting around on bikes, wearing vests with team patches although I'm sure many ride. Actually Ben Rothslesnihdknhihdhgilesburger crashed on his Hayabusa while not wearing his helmet. It layed him up for awhile. Quarterbacks, along with many celebs, are immune from criticism, just like politicians depending on which side of the aisle you are on. We forgive easily if they can prevail for our team. I mean, give them a break right?
Now that my sardonic, narcissistic self has spewed enough sarcasm to last through the entire pre-game hoopla, "Let's get ready for some football!!!"
My Menu: Fried Catfish with Shrimp along with some chips thrown in for old time sakes.
By the time the games starts, the menu will include breakfast, lunch and dinner and possible involve Monday as well. Good day to call in sick. After effects Monday. Enjoy the game. It's good to be an American, and I hope those serving in dangerous places are able to see it too. It is what makes us who we are.
I heard this morning that the weather at Cowboy Stadium has warmed somewhat but still is icey cold. Strange that here in Florida it was mid 80s yesterday with today much cooler, finally.
I'm looking forward to the halftime show featuring Black Eyed Peas. They've been around for a long time, but I just now started actually listening to them. I love their messages, whether clean or explicit. I hope they say the word shit on national TV. There has to be something for the carnival that is modern media to talk about and gasp over. There must always be controversy. It's like a fix that the public must have. When one topic gets old, the public salivates in anticipation of the next. Will Fergie's tit plop out? Will they dry hump each other on stage and destroy the innocence of millions of children who have never been exposed to such heathenistic behavior? Let's just have some "clean all-american fun." This is our tradition, one that is all ours. No one else in the world loves American Football like we do. Screw soccer, or shall we say Futball. Why the hell did the good Lord give us arms if we can't use 'em to throw the ball? Answer us that, rest of the world.
Talking about the game has become an art form. Thirty second commercial spots are selling for sinful amounts of money. Every year our huge corporations try to out do each other with zany spoofs and win the love of the public. Remember the Mean Joe Greene Jersey commercial? It remains one the most loved of all time. Awww, Mr Greene was nice to a kid. Just don't be an offensive player or especially don't be a quarterback, he will punish you. The niceness was gone. It's all fantasy land.
Every industry opts in to sell their product. Snacks, food, beer; what are you making for your Super Bowl bash party? Parties went from chips and beer, to outrageous indulgence with gourmet items on the menu and full blown productions. Gigantic glorified teaparties. OK, now everyone put on your team hat and yell at the fucking TV. It wouldn't be right without the yelling. We need a good controversial call from the officials to vent our anger. Instant replay will show what a moron he was.
Haven't seen any Harley commercials yet--football players arriving on their motorcycles and galavanting around on bikes, wearing vests with team patches although I'm sure many ride. Actually Ben Rothslesnihdknhihdhgilesburger crashed on his Hayabusa while not wearing his helmet. It layed him up for awhile. Quarterbacks, along with many celebs, are immune from criticism, just like politicians depending on which side of the aisle you are on. We forgive easily if they can prevail for our team. I mean, give them a break right?
Now that my sardonic, narcissistic self has spewed enough sarcasm to last through the entire pre-game hoopla, "Let's get ready for some football!!!"
My Menu: Fried Catfish with Shrimp along with some chips thrown in for old time sakes.
By the time the games starts, the menu will include breakfast, lunch and dinner and possible involve Monday as well. Good day to call in sick. After effects Monday. Enjoy the game. It's good to be an American, and I hope those serving in dangerous places are able to see it too. It is what makes us who we are.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
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