Tomorrow is the race.
I am excited and nervous.
The weather today wasn't as cold today as I thought it would be, but the wind! Wow!
I went out to the lake to have a look at the setup. There were whitecaps everywhere and the surf was beating against the piers.
It was rough.
Hopefully tomorrow the wind will die down and so will the waves. It will be 36˚... I'm just going to crash through it as fast as I can, jump on my bike with minimal clothing, and then, by the time I get to the run, it should be warm enough to open it up.
It's gonna be good.
Today, Tristan and I had a fun father and son day. We went to the Game Stop s he could trade in some old video games and spend his allowance, we picked up my racing packet at the bike shop, and just drove around here and there in the Jeep. We had lunch at Texadelphia, which turned out to be a great little sports bar and grill. Good food!
I felt better getting out there with the youngun since we didn't do that camp out last night. By the time I got home from work, neither one of us really wanted to go, so we went to the movie store and got The Mosquito Coast. We watched and then went to bed by 11. We're little party animals, I tell ya.
Ok... tired now, gotta finish getting this race stuff together and get to bed.
Wish me luck!
KoP
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
A Campout And A Cold Front
Tristan and I may go on a little camp out tonight with a group from our church. It's for Dads and sons, so there won't be any icky girls there.
A cold front is also supposed to blow in tonight so I'm wondering how it's going to turn out. Maybe it won't rain too much. I'm pretty sure Tristan doesn't want to go, but I'm going to make him go anyways because I'm just mean like that, also because he needs to give the video games a break for at least one weekend this year.
Ahhh, the great outdoors, chili simmering over a gas cooker, older dads playing cards under gas lanterns, raccoons digging around in the trash bins, and mosquitoes.
What's not to love?
Nah, it's going to be a lot of fun. I'll bring my guitar too, just in case it isn't.
So yeah, that cold front is really going to mess up this perfect racing weather, low 67˚, high 82˚ today falling down to a low 37˚, high 63˚ on Sunday.
Since the race starts early Sunday morning, I can look forward to the low and not much else. At least it's supposed to be very sunny. Maybe that'll warm things up a little quicker.
What are you guys doing this weekend?
KoP
A cold front is also supposed to blow in tonight so I'm wondering how it's going to turn out. Maybe it won't rain too much. I'm pretty sure Tristan doesn't want to go, but I'm going to make him go anyways because I'm just mean like that, also because he needs to give the video games a break for at least one weekend this year.
Ahhh, the great outdoors, chili simmering over a gas cooker, older dads playing cards under gas lanterns, raccoons digging around in the trash bins, and mosquitoes.
What's not to love?
Nah, it's going to be a lot of fun. I'll bring my guitar too, just in case it isn't.
So yeah, that cold front is really going to mess up this perfect racing weather, low 67˚, high 82˚ today falling down to a low 37˚, high 63˚ on Sunday.
Since the race starts early Sunday morning, I can look forward to the low and not much else. At least it's supposed to be very sunny. Maybe that'll warm things up a little quicker.
What are you guys doing this weekend?
KoP
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Hard Times Acomin'
Starting next month, it looks like I'm going to get to drive my Jeep a lot more.
The Company, in anticipation of the Union strike we will probably be engaged in sometime around April, has temporarily taken away the "Home Dispatch" privilege(?) that I've been enjoying for the past 5 years.
Oh well. All good things come to an end eventually, I guess.
Did I mention I'll get to drive my Jeep a lot more?
I'm sort of ready to turn in my keys right now.
KoP
The Company, in anticipation of the Union strike we will probably be engaged in sometime around April, has temporarily taken away the "Home Dispatch" privilege(?) that I've been enjoying for the past 5 years.
Oh well. All good things come to an end eventually, I guess.
Did I mention I'll get to drive my Jeep a lot more?
I'm sort of ready to turn in my keys right now.
KoP
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Back In The Land Of The Living
I feel MUCH better this morning.
Yesterday was not so good. I actually started feeling sick the day before, but yesterday it hit me full force.
I guess it was just a 24 hour stomach virus kind of thing because I couldn't keep anything down.
I didn't want to workout this morning on a completely empty stomach, but I did wake up with a spring in my step, ready for work.
I wonder if I'm bringing all these little ailments on myself because I'm worried about them screwing up my race Sunday? haha, That would be mind over matter in a most uncool way. Luckily, this is my take it easy week.
Speaking of, it's supposed to be chilly that day at 42˚. Gonna make for an invigorating swim in the lake.
KoP
Yesterday was not so good. I actually started feeling sick the day before, but yesterday it hit me full force.
I guess it was just a 24 hour stomach virus kind of thing because I couldn't keep anything down.
I didn't want to workout this morning on a completely empty stomach, but I did wake up with a spring in my step, ready for work.
I wonder if I'm bringing all these little ailments on myself because I'm worried about them screwing up my race Sunday? haha, That would be mind over matter in a most uncool way. Luckily, this is my take it easy week.
Speaking of, it's supposed to be chilly that day at 42˚. Gonna make for an invigorating swim in the lake.
KoP
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wetsuits, 80s Movies, And Roadtrips
It was 40˚ this morning.
I went to the gym with my wetsuit and did a little swimming in it to get that "wetsuit" feel back.
I hate that feeling...
At first the wetsuit is kind of itchy as it pulls the little hairs all over your body. Then, when you jump in the water, you get the sensation that you are wearing floaties, sort of bobbing around until the suit gets waterlogged. This feeling goes away pretty quickly as the cold water begins to seep through the fibers of the suit. Finally, you stop bobbing and can get started on yet another early morning workout.
Alone.
With no one else around to help motivate you.
Ironically, I think 'm doing better this year alone that I did last year with training buddies. Hmmm
Anyway, I managed to get a decent workout with it. The suit is kind of a cheap one. While it does still offer some level of buoyancy, it also holds a lot of water in the arms and legs, several pounds I would guess. I feel it most in the arms so with each stroke, I get a little more tired than what I normally would.
But like I said, I still managed to get through a decent workout and have realized that this will be my last race with this suit. By fall, I will get one of the faster, slicker seal suits.
For the rest of the week, I'm going to be concentrating on swimming with it and doing some minor tweaking on my stroke for open-water.
Last night, Tristan and I watched the movie Crossroads with Ralph Machio. It's the one about a kid who is a musical prodigy at Julliard, but loves Blues music. He finds this old man that is some sort of "Blues Legend" in a Nursing home sort of prison for older inmates. He promptly busts him out and they make their way back to the old man's home in Mississippi where he wants to somehow win back his soul that was sold to the devil, Legba.
"But he don' go by dat name no mo'. He go by Scratch! Er'body kno' dat!"
Good stuff... after I edited out the F-bombs, P-bombs, and a few S-bombs sprinkled throughout. Can't have Tristan learning any new words just yet.
Yeah right. I just don't want him using them.
Lot o' fun.
Amy and I went for a ride in the Jeep yesterday afternoon and she came up with a grand idea as we talked about our vacation this year.
We will go on an adventure!
We were already planning on flying to Colorado for a backpacking trip at Indian Peaks, but now, we're going to drive it.
A Roadtrip!
We'll plan it all out of course, but we'll also take our mountain bikes, back packs, AND the Jeep! It will be SO much fun. I think I will have to hurry and get that soft top though so we can ride around wild and free when we want to. We may even take a few days longer than we originally planned since the driving will obviously take longer. It'll be RICH!
That's all for now, have a great afternoon!
KoP
I went to the gym with my wetsuit and did a little swimming in it to get that "wetsuit" feel back.
I hate that feeling...
At first the wetsuit is kind of itchy as it pulls the little hairs all over your body. Then, when you jump in the water, you get the sensation that you are wearing floaties, sort of bobbing around until the suit gets waterlogged. This feeling goes away pretty quickly as the cold water begins to seep through the fibers of the suit. Finally, you stop bobbing and can get started on yet another early morning workout.
Alone.
With no one else around to help motivate you.
Ironically, I think 'm doing better this year alone that I did last year with training buddies. Hmmm
Anyway, I managed to get a decent workout with it. The suit is kind of a cheap one. While it does still offer some level of buoyancy, it also holds a lot of water in the arms and legs, several pounds I would guess. I feel it most in the arms so with each stroke, I get a little more tired than what I normally would.
But like I said, I still managed to get through a decent workout and have realized that this will be my last race with this suit. By fall, I will get one of the faster, slicker seal suits.
For the rest of the week, I'm going to be concentrating on swimming with it and doing some minor tweaking on my stroke for open-water.
Last night, Tristan and I watched the movie Crossroads with Ralph Machio. It's the one about a kid who is a musical prodigy at Julliard, but loves Blues music. He finds this old man that is some sort of "Blues Legend" in a Nursing home sort of prison for older inmates. He promptly busts him out and they make their way back to the old man's home in Mississippi where he wants to somehow win back his soul that was sold to the devil, Legba.
"But he don' go by dat name no mo'. He go by Scratch! Er'body kno' dat!"
Good stuff... after I edited out the F-bombs, P-bombs, and a few S-bombs sprinkled throughout. Can't have Tristan learning any new words just yet.
Yeah right. I just don't want him using them.
Lot o' fun.
Amy and I went for a ride in the Jeep yesterday afternoon and she came up with a grand idea as we talked about our vacation this year.
We will go on an adventure!
We were already planning on flying to Colorado for a backpacking trip at Indian Peaks, but now, we're going to drive it.
A Roadtrip!
We'll plan it all out of course, but we'll also take our mountain bikes, back packs, AND the Jeep! It will be SO much fun. I think I will have to hurry and get that soft top though so we can ride around wild and free when we want to. We may even take a few days longer than we originally planned since the driving will obviously take longer. It'll be RICH!
That's all for now, have a great afternoon!
KoP
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What We're Doing
I'm on my phone right now so I can't reply to, or make comments. That's the one thing I don't like about this site.
Anyway, I'll just answer your questions here. We are still debating on where to go, but we will definitely be going on the week of July 4th.
Some possible locations are:
Colorado (anywhere)
Washington, Mt. Rainier
Utah, Salt Lake City I think.
Wyoming, Yellowstone
At first, I was being a little particular of the place we are planning to go, but then remembered that Amy and I are going on our own backpacking trip in June.
We'll be going to Indian Peaks, Co, where I went with the guys a couple of Summers ago.
On that trip I'll get all the rocky peaks, cliffs, and moderate temps.
The guys trip can be where ever they want to go. I'll just be neutral and enjoy it.
Both trips will be a little shorter than usual, 3 nights 4 days instead of 4 nights 5 days. Everyone is always ready to go on that last night. It looks like we're going to have more people than ever on this one too, 6 to 9 guys. The trail limits might change this, but we'll just see how it all pans out.
Anyway, should be a lot of fun.
7 days until my first race of the year. I'm Pumped!
KoP
Anyway, I'll just answer your questions here. We are still debating on where to go, but we will definitely be going on the week of July 4th.
Some possible locations are:
Colorado (anywhere)
Washington, Mt. Rainier
Utah, Salt Lake City I think.
Wyoming, Yellowstone
At first, I was being a little particular of the place we are planning to go, but then remembered that Amy and I are going on our own backpacking trip in June.
We'll be going to Indian Peaks, Co, where I went with the guys a couple of Summers ago.
On that trip I'll get all the rocky peaks, cliffs, and moderate temps.
The guys trip can be where ever they want to go. I'll just be neutral and enjoy it.
Both trips will be a little shorter than usual, 3 nights 4 days instead of 4 nights 5 days. Everyone is always ready to go on that last night. It looks like we're going to have more people than ever on this one too, 6 to 9 guys. The trail limits might change this, but we'll just see how it all pans out.
Anyway, should be a lot of fun.
7 days until my first race of the year. I'm Pumped!
KoP
Saturday, February 21, 2009
At A Friend's
I'm at some friend's right now checking out some sweet backpacking trips.
I'm borrowing his internet to do my entry for the day.
Ok, back to the planning committee.
Have a good night.
KoP
I'm borrowing his internet to do my entry for the day.
Ok, back to the planning committee.
Have a good night.
KoP
Friday, February 20, 2009
Coraline, Don't Do It!
We just got back from the movies.
Don't waste your time,
On the movie Coraline.
Because you'll never get that hour and twenty minutes back.
It wasn't what I expected.
I'm so sleepy... I can barelyr tpe anymorrrvk
l;?c .fg
KoP
Don't waste your time,
On the movie Coraline.
Because you'll never get that hour and twenty minutes back.
It wasn't what I expected.
I'm so sleepy... I can barelyr tpe anymorrrvk
l;?c .fg
KoP
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ear Ache
I think I'm getting an ear infection.
ARRRRGHHHH!
This hurts.
This is not good timing.
I need to go to the doc.
This is going to mess up my race.
Crap.
KoP
ARRRRGHHHH!
This hurts.
This is not good timing.
I need to go to the doc.
This is going to mess up my race.
Crap.
KoP
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Ride Along
Today, my supervisor finally caught up with me to do that "ride along".
Needless to say, I wasn't very happy about it.
As Maurita predicted, his presence affected the atmosphere and the attitude of the customers I was servicing. He would just say things to them that I wouldn't say, and would even interrupt when I was talking to them.
It was on the second job he accompanied me on that I started taking matters into my own hands.
The job was at the airport for Saudi Arabian Air And Transport. They were having issues with being able to fax to New York and the Embassy downtown. I knew right away that this was going to be pretty tricky. I'll spare you the technical details.
I made sure to be as thorough as possible with my analyzing of the problem. I took a very long time going over every tiny thing. Hehe, after two hours, he'd had enough, and was telling me I didn't need to change out a certain piece of equipment.
He was getting mad. Perfect.
I told him, "Fine, you know that this thing isn't fixed yet, the customer will not be happy, but look, I'll do whatever you tell me to do."
He shut up.
I finished what I was doing, and whatdoyaknow?? It worked!
We went back into the customer's office and he was so happy that I had been "so thorough", he gave each of us a bottle of wine and a magazine written in Arabic.
He was happy.
I was thrilled inside because I KNOW how to make a customer happy. Now will you please leave me alone.
It worked out in the end because so much time had gone by that he had to leave... but not before he had me look over and sign my appraisal for 2008: "Exceeded Expectations" in every category.
I'm sure I looked a little smug.
I don't have time to tell you how he's been getting on my nerves lately, but today made it a little better.
KoP
Needless to say, I wasn't very happy about it.
As Maurita predicted, his presence affected the atmosphere and the attitude of the customers I was servicing. He would just say things to them that I wouldn't say, and would even interrupt when I was talking to them.
It was on the second job he accompanied me on that I started taking matters into my own hands.
The job was at the airport for Saudi Arabian Air And Transport. They were having issues with being able to fax to New York and the Embassy downtown. I knew right away that this was going to be pretty tricky. I'll spare you the technical details.
I made sure to be as thorough as possible with my analyzing of the problem. I took a very long time going over every tiny thing. Hehe, after two hours, he'd had enough, and was telling me I didn't need to change out a certain piece of equipment.
He was getting mad. Perfect.
I told him, "Fine, you know that this thing isn't fixed yet, the customer will not be happy, but look, I'll do whatever you tell me to do."
He shut up.
I finished what I was doing, and whatdoyaknow?? It worked!
We went back into the customer's office and he was so happy that I had been "so thorough", he gave each of us a bottle of wine and a magazine written in Arabic.
He was happy.
I was thrilled inside because I KNOW how to make a customer happy. Now will you please leave me alone.
It worked out in the end because so much time had gone by that he had to leave... but not before he had me look over and sign my appraisal for 2008: "Exceeded Expectations" in every category.
I'm sure I looked a little smug.
I don't have time to tell you how he's been getting on my nerves lately, but today made it a little better.
KoP
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Birthday Boy
Tristan's 12th birthday.
A little late on the photo, but better than never.
He asked for a birthday doughnut that morning and got it. haha.
The cake and party came later.
KoP
A little late on the photo, but better than never.
He asked for a birthday doughnut that morning and got it. haha.
The cake and party came later.
KoP
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Results
Whew.
Ok, I did my mock Sprint Triathlon this morning:
500yd swim
10.8 mile bike
3 mile run
Total time: 1:16:18
THAT is not too shabby, my friends!
I'm pretty excited about it, because I know I can improve it over the next couple of weeks before the race.
As with anything we do repetitively, I learned a few things I can change that will shave off at least another 2 minutes in transition times alone.
Here are some things I can change:
~ A zip-up shirt rather than that frustrating slick, pull-over biker shirt. It kept rolling up when I pulled it over my head, and was hard to pull down since I was still all wet. I guess that's why a lot of the Elites swim with their tri-shirt on.
-45 seconds
~ Have bike shoes already clipped into pedals and get a running start on the bike. This rather than hopping around on one foot trying to get each of my shoes on, then walking the bike carefully out of transition. (You can't ride inside the transition area, you MUST be on your feet). I don't wear socks while on the bike so this will be easier than it sounds.
-35 seconds
~ Get out of shoes while still clipped in, and jump off bike at a run when coming back into transition. These last two tricks will need some practice, but they really do save time.
-25 seconds
~ Having a real transition area with bike rack and all of my gear set up properly.
-40 seconds
~ No more stretching in transition area.
-35 seconds
My coach was there for the swim and timed me. I think he said 8:15 time on the swim which is pretty good. He was giving me pointers as I frantically tried to dry off and get my shirt on so I could move on to the bike. Breathing at the end of the stretch will be the key to coming out of the water fresh.
My average bike speed was not as fast as I had hoped for, maybe 18 mph, but at this point I really don't think I can improve too much because my heart rate is just up there by the time I come out of the water. It seems like I fought the wind the entire time too... but then, those may be the same conditions on race day. One thing for sure though, I won't have to stop for red lights and traffic which was a little heavier than I thought it would be at 5:20am.
I can probably improve my time on the run a bit too, just because I haven't ran on concrete since August! I need to lengthen my stride once I've warmed up from transitioning from the bike. If I manage to get two more of these Sprints in this week, it'll help.
The only real time comparison I have is from the Sprint we did last year. The race was a little different though:
300yd swim
13 mile bike
5k run (3.3 miles)
Total time: 1:34:02
That time put me in 180th place out of around 400 racers.
My current time, if it were applied to this race, would put me in 44th place. Even if I add a few minutes for the 3 extra miles on the bike that would put me in 63rd place, still a respectable finish, but all of the distance may actually be compensated by the extra 200 yds on the swim.
Anyway, I can crunch numbers all day, but the general fact is there:
I'm MUCH faster than I was last year, and hope to get faster still.
Have a happy Monday!
KoP
Ok, I did my mock Sprint Triathlon this morning:
500yd swim
10.8 mile bike
3 mile run
Total time: 1:16:18
THAT is not too shabby, my friends!
I'm pretty excited about it, because I know I can improve it over the next couple of weeks before the race.
As with anything we do repetitively, I learned a few things I can change that will shave off at least another 2 minutes in transition times alone.
Here are some things I can change:
~ A zip-up shirt rather than that frustrating slick, pull-over biker shirt. It kept rolling up when I pulled it over my head, and was hard to pull down since I was still all wet. I guess that's why a lot of the Elites swim with their tri-shirt on.
-45 seconds
~ Have bike shoes already clipped into pedals and get a running start on the bike. This rather than hopping around on one foot trying to get each of my shoes on, then walking the bike carefully out of transition. (You can't ride inside the transition area, you MUST be on your feet). I don't wear socks while on the bike so this will be easier than it sounds.
-35 seconds
~ Get out of shoes while still clipped in, and jump off bike at a run when coming back into transition. These last two tricks will need some practice, but they really do save time.
-25 seconds
~ Having a real transition area with bike rack and all of my gear set up properly.
-40 seconds
~ No more stretching in transition area.
-35 seconds
My coach was there for the swim and timed me. I think he said 8:15 time on the swim which is pretty good. He was giving me pointers as I frantically tried to dry off and get my shirt on so I could move on to the bike. Breathing at the end of the stretch will be the key to coming out of the water fresh.
My average bike speed was not as fast as I had hoped for, maybe 18 mph, but at this point I really don't think I can improve too much because my heart rate is just up there by the time I come out of the water. It seems like I fought the wind the entire time too... but then, those may be the same conditions on race day. One thing for sure though, I won't have to stop for red lights and traffic which was a little heavier than I thought it would be at 5:20am.
I can probably improve my time on the run a bit too, just because I haven't ran on concrete since August! I need to lengthen my stride once I've warmed up from transitioning from the bike. If I manage to get two more of these Sprints in this week, it'll help.
The only real time comparison I have is from the Sprint we did last year. The race was a little different though:
300yd swim
13 mile bike
5k run (3.3 miles)
Total time: 1:34:02
That time put me in 180th place out of around 400 racers.
My current time, if it were applied to this race, would put me in 44th place. Even if I add a few minutes for the 3 extra miles on the bike that would put me in 63rd place, still a respectable finish, but all of the distance may actually be compensated by the extra 200 yds on the swim.
Anyway, I can crunch numbers all day, but the general fact is there:
I'm MUCH faster than I was last year, and hope to get faster still.
Have a happy Monday!
KoP
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday In Pajamas
The weather has been a little nasty this weekend. Mostly just the rain and the muggy, not quite cold, not quite warm temperatures... clammy.. ugh.
I think this really might be a lounge around in pajamas watching movies all day kinda day.
Does anyone oppose?
Excellent.
The pajamas have it.
Tomorrow, I'll let you know how my mock sprint went. Of course I will... Isn't it funny how I'm telling you about what I'm going to tell you about tomorrow, today?
I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel, I tell ya.
Have an e a s y Sunday, everyone.
KoP
I think this really might be a lounge around in pajamas watching movies all day kinda day.
Does anyone oppose?
Excellent.
The pajamas have it.
Tomorrow, I'll let you know how my mock sprint went. Of course I will... Isn't it funny how I'm telling you about what I'm going to tell you about tomorrow, today?
I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel, I tell ya.
Have an e a s y Sunday, everyone.
KoP
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Taxes And Triathlons
The Taxman was good to us.
He's an Asian man, small of stature, but big in personality.
We've used him for the past three years and he's never failed to help us get back more that we expected.
Me being a contract musician helps as well as the courier work that Amy did. v
He also helped us get more help where the insurance company fell short with damage compensation for the hurricane. That was unexpected.
Later this year Amy will have a more "normal" job with W2s and all that. We really need to get the Photography business off the ground too...
Today we were supposed to go on a 40 mile bike, but, as usual, it really didn't pan out that way.
It turned out to be only myself and one other guy and he just isn't on the same page with me. We ended up riding for about an hour, then drove to a park where a Triathlon Club was holding a dualathon. Then we went to another park and rode for another half hour or so.
Not exactly a high intensity workout. It's ok though.
We still had fun.
I'm looking forward to next week. A mock sprint triathlon Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I'm hoping to get progressively faster and stronger, not progressively torn down. We'll see...
Have a great Saturday weekend.
KoP
He's an Asian man, small of stature, but big in personality.
We've used him for the past three years and he's never failed to help us get back more that we expected.
Me being a contract musician helps as well as the courier work that Amy did. v
He also helped us get more help where the insurance company fell short with damage compensation for the hurricane. That was unexpected.
Later this year Amy will have a more "normal" job with W2s and all that. We really need to get the Photography business off the ground too...
Today we were supposed to go on a 40 mile bike, but, as usual, it really didn't pan out that way.
It turned out to be only myself and one other guy and he just isn't on the same page with me. We ended up riding for about an hour, then drove to a park where a Triathlon Club was holding a dualathon. Then we went to another park and rode for another half hour or so.
Not exactly a high intensity workout. It's ok though.
We still had fun.
I'm looking forward to next week. A mock sprint triathlon Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I'm hoping to get progressively faster and stronger, not progressively torn down. We'll see...
Have a great Saturday weekend.
KoP
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Tax Man Cometh
Amy and I are going to see the Tax man today.
I'm gonna get as much as I can outta that suckah. Since I'm a "contract" musician, I'm going to itemize everything I can and enhance the refund that I should already be getting from my "regular" job.
This guy is good about "reminding", and helping me identify the little things that I might otherwise overlook. The process usually takes about an hour, but it's so worth it.
I'll be glad to get this loose end out of the way early. We're planning on using the refund for a trip to Disney World which is really already booked and paid for... paying ourselves back I guess. The rest will go into savings.
Speaking of Disney World, we'll be leaving the day after my Athens triathlon, March 15th. Amy and Tristan went with my mother-in-law last year at Spring Break and can't say enough good things about it so I'm expecting that it'll be a blast. I think were booked there for five days so we should have plenty of time to do everything... twice.
I was SO drained after my workout this morning. It was only an hour on the elliptical, but I couldn't do anything else after that. Zapped.
I think I didn't eat enough last night or something... maybe by the end of the week all this training starts taking an accumulated toll.
That's why I'm going on a 40 mile bike tomorrow morning with the guys. haha.
It shouldn't be too bad though since there are more of us this time, 4 or 5, I'm sure we'll be going slower than when I'm by myself.
Hopefully it doesn't rain. I think scattered showers are on the menu...
Anyway, hope everyone has a lovely weekend, and then comes back to tell me all about it Monday.
KoP
I'm gonna get as much as I can outta that suckah. Since I'm a "contract" musician, I'm going to itemize everything I can and enhance the refund that I should already be getting from my "regular" job.
This guy is good about "reminding", and helping me identify the little things that I might otherwise overlook. The process usually takes about an hour, but it's so worth it.
I'll be glad to get this loose end out of the way early. We're planning on using the refund for a trip to Disney World which is really already booked and paid for... paying ourselves back I guess. The rest will go into savings.
Speaking of Disney World, we'll be leaving the day after my Athens triathlon, March 15th. Amy and Tristan went with my mother-in-law last year at Spring Break and can't say enough good things about it so I'm expecting that it'll be a blast. I think were booked there for five days so we should have plenty of time to do everything... twice.
I was SO drained after my workout this morning. It was only an hour on the elliptical, but I couldn't do anything else after that. Zapped.
I think I didn't eat enough last night or something... maybe by the end of the week all this training starts taking an accumulated toll.
That's why I'm going on a 40 mile bike tomorrow morning with the guys. haha.
It shouldn't be too bad though since there are more of us this time, 4 or 5, I'm sure we'll be going slower than when I'm by myself.
Hopefully it doesn't rain. I think scattered showers are on the menu...
Anyway, hope everyone has a lovely weekend, and then comes back to tell me all about it Monday.
KoP
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Post
I'm at rehearsal right now so I can't say much. I hate when I wait until the end of the day to write and then don't have time. Oh well...
This morning I swam. I almost felt guilty because I missed my workout from yesterday. I should have ran, but I slightly pulled a hamstring. No biggy, it'll be all good by the weekeend. Tomorrow is back to the eliptical with a lesson learned on stretching before I run 6 miles. Stupid.
Ok. Gotta run.
KoP
This morning I swam. I almost felt guilty because I missed my workout from yesterday. I should have ran, but I slightly pulled a hamstring. No biggy, it'll be all good by the weekeend. Tomorrow is back to the eliptical with a lesson learned on stretching before I run 6 miles. Stupid.
Ok. Gotta run.
KoP
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Phrotos
Quick entry today.
Here are some photos from our ride the other day at the railroad trestle.
All the ones that Amy took of us going down and around the trestle were over exposed to the point of complete whiteout. I had been playing with her camera the night before and had it in Manual. Anyway, this is the only one I could get to look even halfway cool. It's different, but I like it. No action shots, unfortunately.
Me and T taking a picture of Amy.
Amy taking a picture of me and T. That's the far side of the trestle in the background.
We need to find some better places this weekend. CYA!
KoP
Here are some photos from our ride the other day at the railroad trestle.
All the ones that Amy took of us going down and around the trestle were over exposed to the point of complete whiteout. I had been playing with her camera the night before and had it in Manual. Anyway, this is the only one I could get to look even halfway cool. It's different, but I like it. No action shots, unfortunately.
Me and T taking a picture of Amy.
Amy taking a picture of me and T. That's the far side of the trestle in the background.
We need to find some better places this weekend. CYA!
KoP
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Done Deal
I just got back from the DMV to have the title on the Jeep transferred to my name.
It cost a little more than I thought it would. They actually charged me for the value of the Jeep, rather than what I actually paid for it.
Pissed me right off.
The government taxes my income, then they tax me again when I buy something USED. Someone else has already paid the taxes on this product when it was new. Why should I have to pay taxes on it AGAIN when it's from a private owner?
I know it's the "norm", that that's the way things are done and all, but I don't have to like it.
Anyway, the deal is done for good now, and all is well.
Gotta roll.
KoP
It cost a little more than I thought it would. They actually charged me for the value of the Jeep, rather than what I actually paid for it.
Pissed me right off.
The government taxes my income, then they tax me again when I buy something USED. Someone else has already paid the taxes on this product when it was new. Why should I have to pay taxes on it AGAIN when it's from a private owner?
I know it's the "norm", that that's the way things are done and all, but I don't have to like it.
Anyway, the deal is done for good now, and all is well.
Gotta roll.
KoP
Monday, February 9, 2009
Good Times, Training, And Rodents
Yesterday, we went out in the Jeep again.
We found a little place to go off road and took advantage of it. Amy got a few photos so I'll post them later. We followed a path along a canal that eventually ran underneath a railroad trestle. The path there was a bit precarious with a 20 foot drop off to the water below.
That made it all the more fun. It was a little too much fun for Amy so she got out while Tristan and I negotiated the obstacle and climbed up a steep hill to the other side. Good stuff!
This morning, my workout went along as planned, that is, this week is run-centric. I did 6 miles on the treadmill in 1 hour 5 minutes. Not bad, but not nearly as fast as I want to be. It's all good though. I know that by the end of the week my lower back, which is really the only thing that was aching, will be stronger, and I'll be able to pick up the pace.
That being said, my plan for the rest of the week is to continue to focus on runs, but throw some biking and swimming in there in the evenings as well.
Next week will probably be the most important, if not telling week.
I plan on doing at least three mock sprint triathlons:
500 yd swim, 10.3 mile bike, and a 3 mile run.
I need to see how I handle it, and try to expose some ways I can improve time before the final week in which I will rest.
The actual race is March 1st, now less than three weeks away.
Man, this year is going by fast...
And finally, here are some photos I took the other day while at work. I was near a reservoir and saw some movement down in the bottom of the dried up, glorified ditch.
They looked like beavers at first, but then I realized that we don't have beavers around here. Then I figured out what they really were:
Nutria Rats!
These are rodents, but they really aren't as nasty as actual rats. Wikipedia it.
They are supposedly very common in the South, but I had never seen one until now. I'm glad I had my camera handy.
Enjoy!
Here's the whole family:
Here they are fleeing from me and my camera:
And here is the one that came back. He wasn't as flighty as the rest, although all of them would come out of their hidey hole everytime i walked away:
KoP
We found a little place to go off road and took advantage of it. Amy got a few photos so I'll post them later. We followed a path along a canal that eventually ran underneath a railroad trestle. The path there was a bit precarious with a 20 foot drop off to the water below.
That made it all the more fun. It was a little too much fun for Amy so she got out while Tristan and I negotiated the obstacle and climbed up a steep hill to the other side. Good stuff!
This morning, my workout went along as planned, that is, this week is run-centric. I did 6 miles on the treadmill in 1 hour 5 minutes. Not bad, but not nearly as fast as I want to be. It's all good though. I know that by the end of the week my lower back, which is really the only thing that was aching, will be stronger, and I'll be able to pick up the pace.
That being said, my plan for the rest of the week is to continue to focus on runs, but throw some biking and swimming in there in the evenings as well.
Next week will probably be the most important, if not telling week.
I plan on doing at least three mock sprint triathlons:
500 yd swim, 10.3 mile bike, and a 3 mile run.
I need to see how I handle it, and try to expose some ways I can improve time before the final week in which I will rest.
The actual race is March 1st, now less than three weeks away.
Man, this year is going by fast...
And finally, here are some photos I took the other day while at work. I was near a reservoir and saw some movement down in the bottom of the dried up, glorified ditch.
They looked like beavers at first, but then I realized that we don't have beavers around here. Then I figured out what they really were:
Nutria Rats!
These are rodents, but they really aren't as nasty as actual rats. Wikipedia it.
They are supposedly very common in the South, but I had never seen one until now. I'm glad I had my camera handy.
Enjoy!
Here's the whole family:
Here they are fleeing from me and my camera:
And here is the one that came back. He wasn't as flighty as the rest, although all of them would come out of their hidey hole everytime i walked away:
KoP
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Gonna Do It Again ***EDIT***
I'm sitting in church again about half way through the church day. I'm not sitting IN the service though. I'm in the musician's room chillin' with my laptop.
Gonna go back out in the Jeep again today, so I can't wait to be done.
It's going to be another beautiful day here in Houston. I can hardly believe it.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
***EDIT***
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I'm pretty sure I got bit by a spider a couple of nights ago. Yesterday morning when I got up to do my bike, I was stretching and massaging my legs a bit when I came across a sore spot on my knee. I raised my biker pants (spandex, yeah I'm sure they would look funny to you) and there it was on the side of my knee, a black blister looking thing about one centimeter across. I knew what it was immediately, but I didn't bother with it until I got back home. By that time, the black blister had spread to about 4 or 5 inches across and my knee was swollen to the size of a small pumpkin.
KIDDING! haha. Got you there didn't I?
When I got back from the bike, it hadn't spread at all so I took care of it... I won't fill you in on the gory details because they were, well, gory. It looked pretty gross, but I think it's going to be fine since the necrosis(look it up) hasn't spread any more.
I think I'm going to be able to keep my leg. whew. I just had to mention it for posterity. Carry on.
KoP
Gonna go back out in the Jeep again today, so I can't wait to be done.
It's going to be another beautiful day here in Houston. I can hardly believe it.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
***EDIT***
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I'm pretty sure I got bit by a spider a couple of nights ago. Yesterday morning when I got up to do my bike, I was stretching and massaging my legs a bit when I came across a sore spot on my knee. I raised my biker pants (spandex, yeah I'm sure they would look funny to you) and there it was on the side of my knee, a black blister looking thing about one centimeter across. I knew what it was immediately, but I didn't bother with it until I got back home. By that time, the black blister had spread to about 4 or 5 inches across and my knee was swollen to the size of a small pumpkin.
KIDDING! haha. Got you there didn't I?
When I got back from the bike, it hadn't spread at all so I took care of it... I won't fill you in on the gory details because they were, well, gory. It looked pretty gross, but I think it's going to be fine since the necrosis(look it up) hasn't spread any more.
I think I'm going to be able to keep my leg. whew. I just had to mention it for posterity. Carry on.
KoP
Saturday, February 7, 2009
It's a beautiful Day
What a beautiful Saturday. I had forgotten what it's like to really get out there and enjoy that little bit of time off when I can get it.
The last three Saturdays, I've gotten up early, which is highly unusual, and gone out for a 20 mile bike.
Since I've been back in training, 7:30am is like sleeping late.
I get back home around 10:00am and have a nice little breakfast of eggs and thinly sliced chicken or turkey, a pancake, coffee, and a protein shake. the difference from saturday morning breakfast and breakfast on any other morning is that I get to:
R E L A X . . .
It's excellent.
After breakfast I spent a little time with the Jeep. I figured out how to get the hardtop and the doors off and away we went. Everyone piled in and we drove all over the place with U2 and Def Leopard blairing through the stereo. The sun was shining down and the temp today was almost 80 so it was just perfect!
I so needed a day like today. I hope everyone else was able to enjoy their Saturday and I love you all.
HAHAHA! You know, fresh air is like a drug. I will be riding with the top off as much as possible in the future.
Cya tomorrow.
KoP
The last three Saturdays, I've gotten up early, which is highly unusual, and gone out for a 20 mile bike.
Since I've been back in training, 7:30am is like sleeping late.
I get back home around 10:00am and have a nice little breakfast of eggs and thinly sliced chicken or turkey, a pancake, coffee, and a protein shake. the difference from saturday morning breakfast and breakfast on any other morning is that I get to:
R E L A X . . .
It's excellent.
After breakfast I spent a little time with the Jeep. I figured out how to get the hardtop and the doors off and away we went. Everyone piled in and we drove all over the place with U2 and Def Leopard blairing through the stereo. The sun was shining down and the temp today was almost 80 so it was just perfect!
I so needed a day like today. I hope everyone else was able to enjoy their Saturday and I love you all.
HAHAHA! You know, fresh air is like a drug. I will be riding with the top off as much as possible in the future.
Cya tomorrow.
KoP
Friday, February 6, 2009
25(More Or Less) Things About Me
I posted this silliness on FaceBook so I thought I'd just copy it over here as my daily writing thing.
I've been tagged a few times so I'll play along.
25 things. This should be easy if I can remember how to count to 25...
1. I like music.
2. Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
3. That last one really wasn't supposed to sound serious.
54. Tomorrow is the day after the first day of the rest of my life.
5. I've been pretty impatient lately... like writing this list is sort of a pain and I don't want to do it.
12. I write everyday, whether in a blog, or in a note like this one. I always write something.
10. The writing is not always serious... in fact it is rarely serious.
4. I should probably try to be more serious, but it seems kind of boring.
6. But why do I need to be more serious?
7. To accomplish things and leave a legacy after I'm dead?
8. I don't think people will care if I leave a legacy or whatever as long as I leave the world a better place when I leave it. HAHAHAHA!
22. I think being happy is an important thing to consider in life. You can choose to be happy.
23. I take a shower the EXACT same way every time... but sometimes it takes longer than other times... maybe sometimes I'm just slower than usual.
24. I go to the gym at 5am almost every morning.
9. I like to swim, bike, and run.
11. When i was a kid, I used to go fishing almost everyday. Now, I don't even remember the last time I went fishing.
12. I'm 37 years old.
13. My mom has red hair like me, but mine is a lot darker now.
14. I LOVE my Jeep.
15. I brush my teeth once a week... whether I need it or not.
56. I am 6'-2", 185lbs of pure human being.
28. When I'm at work, I eat Subway 98.745% of the time. I do this because it is healthy.
29. I used to not think that I was a health food nut, but it turns out I might be. I peal the fat off of bacon if I'm forced to eat bacon.
30. I like the saying "When is the last time you did something for the first time?"
31. Not that I live by that creed or anything, but it would be a good way to do it.
32. I have very strange tastes in music. I will listen to classical, movie scores, trip rock, industrial, funk, and sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly crazy, I'll listen to an old country song or two.
37. I served in the USAF.
45. Man, what number are we on? Are you still with me? Of course not.
174. I would like to compete in a full Ironman in 2010.
230. I have several pet peeves, but since one of my pet peeves is TELLING about my pet peeves, I'm not gonna.
Well, it's been fun talking about myself here. I hope this helped you get to know me better. Maybe we can do it again sometime.
KoP
I've been tagged a few times so I'll play along.
25 things. This should be easy if I can remember how to count to 25...
1. I like music.
2. Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
3. That last one really wasn't supposed to sound serious.
54. Tomorrow is the day after the first day of the rest of my life.
5. I've been pretty impatient lately... like writing this list is sort of a pain and I don't want to do it.
12. I write everyday, whether in a blog, or in a note like this one. I always write something.
10. The writing is not always serious... in fact it is rarely serious.
4. I should probably try to be more serious, but it seems kind of boring.
6. But why do I need to be more serious?
7. To accomplish things and leave a legacy after I'm dead?
8. I don't think people will care if I leave a legacy or whatever as long as I leave the world a better place when I leave it. HAHAHAHA!
22. I think being happy is an important thing to consider in life. You can choose to be happy.
23. I take a shower the EXACT same way every time... but sometimes it takes longer than other times... maybe sometimes I'm just slower than usual.
24. I go to the gym at 5am almost every morning.
9. I like to swim, bike, and run.
11. When i was a kid, I used to go fishing almost everyday. Now, I don't even remember the last time I went fishing.
12. I'm 37 years old.
13. My mom has red hair like me, but mine is a lot darker now.
14. I LOVE my Jeep.
15. I brush my teeth once a week... whether I need it or not.
56. I am 6'-2", 185lbs of pure human being.
28. When I'm at work, I eat Subway 98.745% of the time. I do this because it is healthy.
29. I used to not think that I was a health food nut, but it turns out I might be. I peal the fat off of bacon if I'm forced to eat bacon.
30. I like the saying "When is the last time you did something for the first time?"
31. Not that I live by that creed or anything, but it would be a good way to do it.
32. I have very strange tastes in music. I will listen to classical, movie scores, trip rock, industrial, funk, and sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly crazy, I'll listen to an old country song or two.
37. I served in the USAF.
45. Man, what number are we on? Are you still with me? Of course not.
174. I would like to compete in a full Ironman in 2010.
230. I have several pet peeves, but since one of my pet peeves is TELLING about my pet peeves, I'm not gonna.
Well, it's been fun talking about myself here. I hope this helped you get to know me better. Maybe we can do it again sometime.
KoP
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Got Me A Jeep Wrangler!!
Last night at 11:35pm, I finally became the proud owner of a 2003 Jeep Wrangler!
This took a lot longer than I thought, but it's all good now. Man I LOVE it! It rides great, it's clean, and looks sharp. I can't wait to get the fam in there with the top off and cruise around Lake Houston Sunday. I predict lots of fun times to come in this baby.
Here are some pics I took for you this morning, yes you, my patient readers. You've endured so much with me and, well, it's just the least I can do.
KoP
This took a lot longer than I thought, but it's all good now. Man I LOVE it! It rides great, it's clean, and looks sharp. I can't wait to get the fam in there with the top off and cruise around Lake Houston Sunday. I predict lots of fun times to come in this baby.
Here are some pics I took for you this morning, yes you, my patient readers. You've endured so much with me and, well, it's just the least I can do.
KoP
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
So Close, But So Far...
Ok. I am waiting for a phone call from the guy selling me the Jeep. His plane will be landing in about 11 minutes.
He was supposed to have landed at 5:30 or so, but there was an accident in Aspen where he was flying in from. A plane skidded across the runway and needed assistance or something, and that held up or canceled flights. I know this because, when he told me, I called the Aspen airport to see if it was true.
It was.
It's just been a long road, full of road blocks, to getting this deal done, and I don't want to be getting jerked around.
Anyway, I should be leaving here in a few minutes to pick it up downtown... uptown, whatever. I'm tired and this is going to screw up my sleep and workout in the morning.
But you know what?
IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT!!! I want that JEEP!!
Keep your fingers crossed. I'll post pics tomorrow night or Friday if all goes well.
KoP
He was supposed to have landed at 5:30 or so, but there was an accident in Aspen where he was flying in from. A plane skidded across the runway and needed assistance or something, and that held up or canceled flights. I know this because, when he told me, I called the Aspen airport to see if it was true.
It was.
It's just been a long road, full of road blocks, to getting this deal done, and I don't want to be getting jerked around.
Anyway, I should be leaving here in a few minutes to pick it up downtown... uptown, whatever. I'm tired and this is going to screw up my sleep and workout in the morning.
But you know what?
IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT!!! I want that JEEP!!
Keep your fingers crossed. I'll post pics tomorrow night or Friday if all goes well.
KoP
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Poodle Paradise... Or Hell If You're A Poodle
Today, I had a job at a home that was obviously doubling as a poodle breeding ground. Literally. The customer bred them.
I have never seen so many poodles in one place at one time. Crates and kennels were stacked on top of each other in the garage. There were even stacks of yapping poodles in her office... where I was trying to work with her yelling over the din of poodle banter.
Utter madness.
There were poodles running around loose in the house too. I don't know why these poodles where so special. Maybe they were just on break from kennel duty.
In the back yard there were yet more poodles... and "landmines"(turds) EVERYWHERE.
I don't much care for this kind of breeder that just uses the animal for profit. There must have been well over 60 or 70 of them total. The house smelled of filth and dog urine.
And the best part of all? The business name:
OODLES OF POODLES
Someone please shoot me... or the owner.
I'm glad this day is over now.
KoP
I have never seen so many poodles in one place at one time. Crates and kennels were stacked on top of each other in the garage. There were even stacks of yapping poodles in her office... where I was trying to work with her yelling over the din of poodle banter.
Utter madness.
There were poodles running around loose in the house too. I don't know why these poodles where so special. Maybe they were just on break from kennel duty.
In the back yard there were yet more poodles... and "landmines"(turds) EVERYWHERE.
I don't much care for this kind of breeder that just uses the animal for profit. There must have been well over 60 or 70 of them total. The house smelled of filth and dog urine.
And the best part of all? The business name:
OODLES OF POODLES
Someone please shoot me... or the owner.
I'm glad this day is over now.
KoP
Monday, February 2, 2009
Hell Of A Hail Storm
Yesterday, Amy and I cleaned out the garage, sort of getting it ready for the Jeep on Wed. We realized that the Jeep just isn't going to fit in there. I'm still slightly using one side of it for a storage area and makeshift gym. We still got a lot of things cleared out and organized the rest.
I had the boxes and bags slated to be thrown away sitting just outside the garage. I had planned on leaving them there overnight then moving them to the curb in the morning for trash pickup, but then it started to rain.
I decided to move everything back into the garage so it wouldn't get waterlogged, and it's a good thing I did too because the rain came hard. Then a few minutes into it, it started to hail. It was smacking the company truck and my car pretty hard so I ran out and pulled the car back into the garage.
Who cares about the company vehicle.
Then the hail started coming down REALLY hard. I don't think I've ever seen it that heavy. It was smacking down hard on everything, hitting the concrete and bouncing back into the air again. It gathered along the edges of the driveway, and there were piles of it around the bottom of the gutters.
After the rain let up, I went into the yard and gathered up hand fulls of the icy stuff. It was pea to marble-sized, and it was everywhere.
Got some pics:
My swim this morning went really well. I've already gotten faster and stronger over the past month. I'm finishing much better and it's all coming back. I practiced lane changing flip-turns this morning which will shave several seconds off my time with the Athens Tri, which is a pool swim.
My training partners have changed gyms so it looks like I'm definitely on my own now. That's ok though, I really think I'm going to go into this and mop the floor with their asses. Mu Mu Muhahahhaahahaaa!!
KoP
I had the boxes and bags slated to be thrown away sitting just outside the garage. I had planned on leaving them there overnight then moving them to the curb in the morning for trash pickup, but then it started to rain.
I decided to move everything back into the garage so it wouldn't get waterlogged, and it's a good thing I did too because the rain came hard. Then a few minutes into it, it started to hail. It was smacking the company truck and my car pretty hard so I ran out and pulled the car back into the garage.
Who cares about the company vehicle.
Then the hail started coming down REALLY hard. I don't think I've ever seen it that heavy. It was smacking down hard on everything, hitting the concrete and bouncing back into the air again. It gathered along the edges of the driveway, and there were piles of it around the bottom of the gutters.
After the rain let up, I went into the yard and gathered up hand fulls of the icy stuff. It was pea to marble-sized, and it was everywhere.
Got some pics:
My swim this morning went really well. I've already gotten faster and stronger over the past month. I'm finishing much better and it's all coming back. I practiced lane changing flip-turns this morning which will shave several seconds off my time with the Athens Tri, which is a pool swim.
My training partners have changed gyms so it looks like I'm definitely on my own now. That's ok though, I really think I'm going to go into this and mop the floor with their asses. Mu Mu Muhahahhaahahaaa!!
KoP
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Bowl Sunday
The Superbowl is going on today right?
Isn't that an event where some really big guys in tights run around a lined field throwing an oddly shaped brown ball about. Sometimes someone will catch the ball and all of the other guys will chase him this way and that until he surrenders or is thrown to the ground and dog-piled. Points are scored by the person who has the most original touchdown dance moves at the end of the field.
A field goal, which occurs when the ball is kicked through a large tuning fork, can also score a team points, but dancing is usually kept to a minimum during these times.
Prizes are also awarded to the most brilliantly painted beer bellies in the stands. I'm going to go get my paint and beer.
Have a great Super Bowl Sunday.
The half-time show should rock with The Boss.
KoP
Isn't that an event where some really big guys in tights run around a lined field throwing an oddly shaped brown ball about. Sometimes someone will catch the ball and all of the other guys will chase him this way and that until he surrenders or is thrown to the ground and dog-piled. Points are scored by the person who has the most original touchdown dance moves at the end of the field.
A field goal, which occurs when the ball is kicked through a large tuning fork, can also score a team points, but dancing is usually kept to a minimum during these times.
Prizes are also awarded to the most brilliantly painted beer bellies in the stands. I'm going to go get my paint and beer.
Have a great Super Bowl Sunday.
The half-time show should rock with The Boss.
KoP
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