What Did You Say?

Eat More ...

2011-11-29T18:22:00.002-05:00

What do you think of when you hear the words "eat more"?

Since I am a native Georgian and one of Chick-fil-A's very loyal and very frequent customers, I do think of "chicken". A marketing genius - and probably under compensated - came up with the phrase "Eat mor chikin" to be offered up by cows. It was clearly an instant hit and the campaign has endured for years.

Never mind that these look like dairy cows

But what about "Eat More Kale"? Does that ring a bell? Probably not. I would wager that you do not associate that phrase with the restaurant chain Chick-fil-A and rightfully so. I'm pretty darn sure kale is not on the menu.

As it turns out and you may have heard or read recently there's a fellow in Vermont that has been selling t-shirts with the phrase "Eat More Kale" on them for years.

One day long ago he got a letter from Chick-fil-A's lawyers asking him to stop using the phrase and he had his lawyer send a response basically saying, no.

The lawyers apparently moved on to bigger issues until Bo Muller-Moore recently applied for a trademark for his "Eat More Kale" phrase. Now Chick-fil-A has turned up the legal heat again saying that the phrase violates their "Eat mor chikin" trademark.

I desperately want to be on Chick-fil-A's side in this dispute. After all, I love their food, service, business model and overall life-lived-good philosophy. But I can't.

There's no way a reasonable person will mistake an "Eat More Kale" t-shirt with Chick-fil-A, the restaurant and their "Eat mor chikin" phrase. Now if the guy had made his t-shirt to say "Eat mor Kale" or "Eet more Kale" or "Eat More Kail" then I would agree the similarities in concept are too similar as the second phrase creator is taking a cue from the first creator by incorporating a misspelling. And for good measure, there's not a cow in sight with the company or the t-shirt promoting "Eat More Kale" although Vermont has its fair share of cows.

And it seems that Chick-fil-A is claiming the words "Eat More" as their own exclusively. That is a stretch. Sure "Eat More Chicken" misspelled or not belongs to Chick-fil-A. But "Eat More ______" fill in the blank with anything else edible? I don't think so.

Let's say I trademark the phrase "Buy American Cars". Do you think I have the right to prohibit anyone else selling an American product from using "Buy American ______"?

Curious, I Googled "Eat More" and discovered that "Eat More Kale" ranks 5th. Chick-fil-A, when not mentioned in this current dispute shows up around 20th. When I Google "Eat Mor", Chick-fil-A comes up No. 1. That is because "Eat Mor" indisputedly belongs to Chick-fil-A. "Eat More" does not in my opinion.

Did you know that there is a candy bar made by Hershey named "Eat-More".

Eat More Eat-More just doesn't work so well...

Call me a rebel or a softie for the underdog, but I hope this guy can withstand the "cow poop" coming from Chick-fil-A and win this battle.

Pennies and Kreuzers

2011-10-13T21:34:00.002-04:00

As I was meandering along Park Place adjacent to Woodruff Park on my way in to work today, I spied a penny in the gutter.

Woodruff Park

Usually I would just keep on walking, but instinctively I felt this one was unique somehow. In mid-gait, I bent to pluck it from the ground. At closer inspection, it turned out it was not a penny at all but some kind of other copper coin. I pocketed the curiosity and made my way in to the office. Once I got settled in, I took a closer look.

It reads - Leopold Grosherzog Von Baden. The flip side reads 1 Kreuzer and a date that is too worn to distinguish.

With a little help from Google, I was able to determine that this is a German coin that dates to the mid-1800s. Of course my first thought is it must have some value, but alas I quickly found others offered for sale on E-bay and essentially no bidders. So I guess I'll continue to have to work for a living.

My uneducated guess is that since it is a 1 Kreuzer it might have been somewhat similar to today's penny in that it was a low denomination coin. If you showed me a 160 year old penny, I would tell you you still have a penny and not much more. Same goes for this old copper piece.

I then got to thinking about how the U.S. penny does little for us these days, When I was young, I remember you could get a piece of bubble gum for a penny, and no sales tax.

Today, I do not know of any item you can truly buy for a penny. As far as I am concerned they are not even worth the calories to pick one up should you drop or find one on the ground. For that matter, when I vacuum my kids' rooms I am just as much inclined to vacuum them up as make the effort to get them out of the way. If they collect on the dryer, they are just as likely to get thrown in the trash as they are placed somewhere else on the remote chance they could be used in a transaction.

I don't think I am alone in this penny foolish thinking.

So, my next thought is why don't we discontinue the production and eventual use of the penny? What do we have to lose? How much are we spending producing pennies that we perceive to have no value unless in massive aggregate?

From 2000 to 2010, the U.S. Mint produced 80,704,145,500 pennies. That is almost eighty-one billion pennies valued at 807 million dollars! Assuming the U.S. has about 300 million people that is 269 pennies per person worth $2.69 of course. I don't know about you, but I have not used nor have I received 269 pennies while spending my hard earned money from 2000 to 2010. This doesn't even take into consideration the trillions of pennies in circulation that date before the 2000 production year. And did you know it costs the U.S. mint more than 1 cent to make a penny? It has since 2005.

Only the U.S. Government can find a way to lose money by making it.

In fact, why would they do this? Really, there is only one thing I can think of that you can do with a penny and that is pay sales tax. Any transaction you make that does not end up an even multiple of five cents is due to the sales tax. Retailers don't want pennies, it's more of a burden than help actually. If we eliminated pennies, retailers would have no problem setting their prices on the nickle. But then the taxing entity would not be able to get their penny. So, without getting too far into it, I think the penny only exists today for the purpose of collecting sales taxes.

Now I really don't like pennies; where's the vacuum cleaner.

Birds on a Wire or People on a Bus

2011-10-04T20:00:00.000-04:00

There's a lot of talk about public transit in my neck of the woods these days. Some entity wants to spend billions of dollars collected from a proposed sales tax over the next ten years. I have not studied the issue but my gut tells me it is mostly pipe dreams by those that like to think of themselves as transportation visionaries - at the taxpayer's expense of course. I'll be dead by the time most of it is built, but I'll be paying the tax for the next ten years. The politicians will likely extend the tax after the ten years are up blaming cost overruns I am sure. It won't be the first time they've broken a promise with a transportation tax.

Like most Atlantans, I have driven the 20 or so miles from Marietta to work each day by myself for years and not once had a given a thought to public transportation - we do love our cars. But with the new job, I work as close to downtown Atlanta as one could get without being in the capital itself. One of the things about the new job is that free parking is not provided. On top of that, the assigned parking deck is a nice walk from my building.So I began to seriously consider the Xpress 101 bus service that runs from Marietta's South Loop to Downtown. It drops me off a short block from my building.

Being the bean-counter that I am, I made the cost comparison between driving my car / paying the parking fee each month and the Xpress service. At today's gas prices, the Xpress service is about $500 cheaper per year. And that does not take into account the possible savings from wear and tear on the car. That factor is hard to calculate since my car has been trouble free since I got it eight years ago. So, I began to ride the bus. It didn't hurt there was an Clean Air Campaign incentive program designed to pay me (or you for that matter) $100 if I would ride the bus for a couple of months. I've been at it for three and a half months now and what do I think? Frankly, it is excellent. It is a clean, comfortable coach style bus, always on time, and since it is express there are few stops and it gets me to Atlanta in about 30 minutes.

Not exact, but very similar

I don't have a smart-phone or crackberry to entertain myself on the ride, so I use the time to think (deep thoughts of course) and sometimes people watch. What's to watch you ask?

Well, there is a lot of social psychology to witness while commuting by public transit.

Phase one - You are sharing the bus and the limited space with strangers. Just like most animals, we have a need to protect our personal space. It is no coincidence that these birds are evenly spaced. In fact, if a newcomer were to land in their midst, you would witness a quick and orderly adjustment of position so that each bird maintains the proper spacing from each other. As Forrest Gump would say, "It's human nature".

People do the same thing on a bus. Seats are taken to ensure personal space is protected. The first 33 riders pretty much have "two seats each" of space with the aisle between. One doesn't dare enter another's personal space when there are empty rows. Eventually, the 34th person has to sit next to someone else. The bus has limited space whereas the birds' wire does not.

Phase two - There are some that need to maintain their personal space and do not want to sit next to someone else. They choose one of two options to subtly convey their message. There are the packers. They cover the next seat with their computer case, purse, coat, etc. anything to show the next rider looking for a seat "You aren't welcome here" Then there are the guarders - those that sit on the aisle seat vs. the window seat in the row of two. This person is saying, "You want to sit next to me? You are going to have to climb over me". These are both effective measures, and will work until the bus is near maximum capacity. The most extreme will combine packing with guarding. Don't even think about making eye contact with either of these types.

Phase three - Riders #34 and up have to sit somewhere and there are those of us that are willing to halve their personal space given the circumstances. So, this person will walk the aisle - very slowly. This is important as he / she has to scope out all empty seats not protected by methods above and make a decision fast as to who they want to "cuddle up with" for the next half hour. They can't look like they are choosing based upon appearances but they are. "It's human nature".

It is most uncomfortable to get all the way to the back of the bus having not found a satisfactory ride-mate and have to turn about and head back to the front for a second pass virtually saying to all those you turned away from they didn't pass inspection. And you are saying to your eventual seatmate, "Upon second glance, you are not as undesirable as I thought you were when I passed you up the first time."

As the bus fills, all of us requiring our personal space may end up with half of the desired amount. But we do so without protest. Most of the time, not a word is said between the two. Occasionally there is an initial greeting, but not much after that. Those with smartphones and crackberrys will have theirs out in no time. Facebook (you didn't expect a link did you?), Angry Birds, Scrabble seem to top the list. Work e-mail? Not so much. A rare person will have a newspaper or book to bide the time. However, every once in while, you get a talker. These folks have no or very little sense of personal space and will tell you their life story as long as you nod in agreement every once in a while.

Phase Four - Most of the time, riders are sitting next to someone else. As the bus empties at the few stops in downtown, people feel the need to "reclaim" their personal space and will abandon their seatmate to claim an empty row thus restoring the personal space not only for themselves but the person they just left.Sometimes they will only occupy this new seat for a mere minute or two, but they cannot resist the urge.

Even on those days when psychology is not on my mind, it is still a great way to get to work. I think more people should put aside their preconceived notions about public transit and try it.

P.S. Little people tend to get seatmates more frequently than the more "fluffy"...There is no such thing as personal space on a UGA bus going from North Campus to South Campus...And don't get me started on what I see in the passing cars. That is another psychology post altogether.

You can't spell MARTA without ART

2011-06-02T19:41:00.003-04:00

While on a downtown Atlanta adventure today, I came upon some MARTA station art that invoked another image in my mind....

Those of you that are Rubik's cubists might recognize this concrete art as amusingly similar the core of a Rubik's Cube.

There are two types of us that have seen this core before:

Cubists interested in speedy solutions would take his/her cube apart to lubricate the interior of the cube to make it easier to turn.
Or you may have fallen into the other category that became so frustrated at the puzzle you took it apart to return it to its original or solved state.

I pretty much fell into the first category (nerd-dom) even to the point of entering what must have been the first U.S. annual Rubik's cube solving competition at Six Flags over Georgia in the early 1980s. I remember I could solve the cube in about a minute and a half. The winner of the Atlanta competition solved the cube in less than a minute although I do not recall how fast he was.

In this competition, the cube was set about 6 moves away from solved. It appeared to be a mess, but the geniuses - me not included - could solve the cube by reversing the 6 moves. The not so genius like myself had to solve from scratch, solving one layer at a time. To solve using the three layer solution always takes longer than the newer methods.

In the beginning, cubists were fairly rare and I remember a female classmate of mine having me make a special trip to her father's work (he owned the place) to show him I could solve the thing...kind of like a traveling freak show.

I still have a cube since it made a toy store comeback not too long ago. Unfortunately, it takes me a bit longer now to work out the solution. And just like everything else these days, they don't make them like they used to. The new ones are not made as well as the old ones.

Here's an apparent world record video. Don't even bother trying this at home.

Inseparable Images and Music

2011-04-21T22:01:00.018-04:00

As I was running errands today, I was tuned to WABE 90.1 FM via the old fashioned device called the car radio. "Adagio for Strings" came on and immediately images from the movie Platoon flashed before me as if they were on the roadway just ahead - well almost. I could almost hear Charlie Sheen in one of his more cogent monologues over the note of the car exhaust.

Platoon - 1986

"Adagio for Strings" was composed by Samuel Barber in 1936. It has been performed many times even in historic moments such as the radio announcement of the death of F.D.R. But for me it will forever be associated with the movie Platoon and I am sure if I ever got to visit Vietnam and Cambodia I would expect the tune to drift through the air as naturally as the wind making rippling waves in the rice fields.

What song or score, not written specifically for that movie or show, do you find inseparable?

From: JenniferfromLaJolla

Reservoir Dogs and "Stuck in the Middle with You" - Stealers Wheel

Oreo Cool Mint Cremes vs. Kroger Kid-O's Rich Mint Cremes

2011-04-15T22:13:00.010-04:00

Tonight, I enjoyed a lovely and delicious dinner date with the wife tonight at Muss & Turner's in Smyrna (two thumbs up) she asked me what would I do with my free time tonight since I had the house to myself (dogs and cats excluded) while she was enjoying some time with her UGA AXO girls in Atlanta.

I responded that I would probably take the time to write up an important blog post. So, here it is a tete-a-tete of the greatest magnitude in importance...

Oreo Cool Mint Creme vs. Kroger Kid-Os Rich Mint Creme

click photo to enlarge and make more tempting

I'm no stranger to store brands but they do have to be able to hold their own against the brand name before they earn my hard earned dollar. As a result of years of experience, I have been able to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to off-brand impostors. There are a few items that I just cannot bring myself to buy the imitation with toilet paper being one of those items where there is no substitute.

When the wife sends me to the store for one item - this time dog food - I usually reward myself with a little indulgence to make the trip more worthwhile. Yesterday, it was a package of the relatively new Oreo Cool Mint Creme cookies. If you like the original, you will LOVE these. In fact, try these and you may never crave or buy Girl Scout Thin Mints again. As luck would have it the Oreos were marked down a bit ($3.19 for 15.25 oz.). I then spied the Kroger brand ($2.29 for 17 oz.) just below and I decided that this comparison needed to be done for the benefit of not only myself but for the ~~thousands~~, ~~hundreds~~, ~~tens~~, few but very important readers here that love their Oreos.

First the stats - I know this is kind of unnecessary for a cookie which we know is not the best thing to eat but this is how I shop: Serving size 2 cookies (yeah, right).

I scanned all the ingredients but its been a while since college chemistry so I'll assume they are both full of chemicals and maybe a natural ingredient or two.

I prepared my experiment environment and supplemented the sofa end table with a tall glass of milk. One of the things I learned at UGA in statistics and psychology is that a scientific test must have a good sample size. Thank goodness, both packages were unopened and there would be a decent sample size yet not quite enough to be statistically valid but I was not going to let this interfere with testing.

The first two samples were, the Oreo first to establish a standard or baseline and big swig of milk to clear the palate and then the Kroger Kid-O.

The Oreo Cool Mint Creme filling is a bit creamier (soft in texture) than the Original Oreo filling and in this case it was also a bit creamier than the Kid-O filling. Other than that, there was no noticable difference between the two cookies. I then ate the remaining cookies (not telling just how many but an adequate number) in random order and I could not tell any difference between the two. They were both fantastic.

So, next time you just have to have some Cool Mint Creme Oreos think about trying Kid-Os Rich Mint Creme. They have my full approval.

Time to repeat the test...

I am a LIVESTRONG Leader

2011-04-13T20:44:00.007-04:00

You probably know that I have been raising awareness and funds for LIVESTRONG for over a year now. It all started with a cycling blogger nicknamed "Fatty" and his incredibly moving story of his late wife's battle with breast cancer and his journey with her as her primary caregiver. He shared their journey for more than a year in his blog with tremendous clarity and insight.

I then joined his legion of Fatties across the country rode my bike for 24 hours on the MHS track and participated in the 2010 LIVESTRONG Challenge where I rode my bike for 100 miles in hilly (and rainy) Philly as a member of Team Fatty Philly. Many of you made a contribution to my effort for which I am truly grateful and humbled to represent so many loved ones that have been impacted by cancer.

But raising money isn't what it is all about.

It is about what LIVESTRONG can offer to those that need support. LIVESTRONG exists to fight to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. As I learned more about LIVESTRONG and how they operate, I learned that they are a very lean organization and they depend upon normal people doing extraordinary things where they live.

"Through the LIVESTRONG Leader program, we engage individuals across the globe who are passionate about and committed to making cancer a priority in their own community. LIVESTRONG Leaders are vital to the success of LIVESTRONG by helping raise awareness, recruit and engage others in the LIVESTRONG movement, fund raise and advocate to their elected officials at the local, national and global level."

Last year, I was surprised that there were no Leaders in Georgia (at least that is what the LIVESTRONG site indicated when I used their search application). I was disappointed. I thought to myself, "Self, you should step up and ask to become a leader in Georgia; surely I can do better than no one at all." So, I applied and LIVESTRONG accepted. The great news is that Georgia has five new leaders for 2011! Most of us are in or near Atlanta and one is in Savannah. There are about 250 leaders across the globe for 2011.

I have a lot to learn and there are so many opportunities to bring LIVESTRONG to Marietta, Cobb, Atlanta, Georgia. You can help, if you know where there are opportunities to serve those affected by cancer let me know. Also, if you want to join me in becoming an advocate for LIVESTRONG and truly founding a new organization Marietta / Cobb for LIVESTRONG from the ground up for our area click the link to go to the FB group page or send me a message. Does your teen need a community service project for school? There are LIVESTRONG programs designed especially for young adults and I will need help too! No amount of help is too little and the rewards are always greater than the input.

We inspire and empower people affected by cancer. We believe that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything.

Hail South Dakota!

2011-02-08T21:19:00.021-05:00

While I was playing around in Google Analytics for this humble random topic blog, I pulled a U.S. map indicating where I have received visits since I started this thing.

Of course, most of my visits come from Georgia and this is primarily due to the fact that I cross post my blog links into Facebook. After Georgia, I have several readers it appears in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida. I have gotten a visit from every state except - South Dakota.

California, Texas and New York I can understand I suppose, they are big states - probably just a numbers game there. Pennsylvania I am sure shows up due to my visit to the 2010 LIVESTRONG Challenge in Philly and resulting blog posts about the event.

My most popular (most hits that is - popular is probably stretching it) posts so far have been about:

1. The Miata - a lot of men struggle with wanting the car, but not being secure enough to be seen in one
2. The Masters - the world's greatest golf tournament and the legend of Bobby Jones
3. The Cyclo-Teacher - apparently still popular with home-schooling parents
4. Glover Park Snow - a local phenomenon highlighting how idiot proof cameras are these days
5. Why Cyclists Shave Their Legs - a wide-spread phenomenon that lacks rational justification

It is probably safe to say that statistically South Dakota lacks men driving Miatas, golfers, bare legged cyclists, people fascinated with snow, and home schoolers.

This graphic brought back memories of a summer adventure of mine during my college days - 1984 to be exact. One of my college roommates G.D. spent the summer of his freshman year in Washington state selling student handbooks door-to-door. He came back to UGA with a significant amount of money he had saved through the endeavor and I was duly impressed. So, I signed up for the following summer with the company named Southwestern based in Nashville, TN.

It is a pretty reputable company considering the primary sales strategy was door-to-door sales. They had the kids go to Nashville for a week and there was something that resembled training and motivating. I signed up pretty early in the school year so I had plenty of time to practice the lengthy sales pitch. By the time we got to Nashville, I had it down pretty well and most kids were trying to memorize the thing. At that point, I was very confident I could pull this stunt off.

As luck would have it, the news was we - the UGA contingency - were headed to North and South Dakota. That's a pretty long haul for a college kid that had never lived anywhere but Marietta, Georgia.

I loaded up my 1977 Toyota Corona and drove to South Dakota. Once in South Dakota, my roommate and I had to find a place to live. After a day or so we landed a basement apartment in a small house in Huron, South Dakota. I think the agreed upon rent was $30 per month. Finding a place in a tiny town where you don't know anyone is not so easy. After exhausting the logical approaches, we ended up at the town baptist church and talked to the pastor hoping he knew someone with cheap space. Desperate at this point, I invoked the name of Marietta's great Rev. Nelson Price and that seemed to break the ice. After a good long staring match and a good sizing up from the pastor, he got us in touch with the resident of the house.

1413 3rd St. Huron, South Dakota

The first day of selling, I was on the road and had to travel about 30 miles to the county / territory I was assigned. I crossed the county line, found the first house, went in and nailed it. First sale 8:30 a.m. This was going to be easy money I thought to myself. It got harder from there and soon. It turns out that my territory straddled the James river. The James river and the surrounding area had been getting a lot of rain and flooding was a real problem. I discovered that a lot of farmers did not have crops due to the flooding. It was declared a federal disaster area while I was up there. Many farm homes I pulled up to were abandoned.

It is real flat, roads are in 1 mile grids, no street signs. Being directionally challenged, driving anywhere near high noon was most difficult to keep my bearings

and all I can see off the road is mud, water, and sunken tractors.

They were not in the mood to talk to a college kid about student handbooks. In two weeks, I maybe had two or three more sales. This was not good and I was not making enough money to justify living there.

The roads were not asphalt or concrete. They looked like a dirt road with gravel embedded into the surface. Very rough. One day I was driving along and it was getting ready to rain, the sky was strangely dark from what I can remember. The road started getting really rough and I slowed down to prevent from jostling myself right out of the car. But the shaking didn't stop so I nearly stopped the car. The shaking didn't stop and now it is making a horrible noise. I stopped. Turns out the shaking was from something people might call a tornado and it must have been darn close because the back end of my car came off the ground. Immediately, I visualized my car landing in the flooded fields next to the road and sinking in the un-Georgia like mud.

After a hint of a twist, the car settled back onto all four wheels and I was very glad I was still on the roadway. After I pulled myself together, I pulled into the next house presumably to demo the books. The homeowner then informed me about the twister. He didn't buy anything from me but they did feed me dinner.

There were some nice and interesting people in S.D and I did have quite an adventure the two weeks I was there. I met the "tick-picker" family, a father and son combo that had a dog that must have had 200 ticks on him. They picked the ticks off this poor dog one by one as I showed them the handbooks and extolled the virtues of studying hard and getting a good education. He wasn't impressed; he said he was doing just fine and he "didn't have no study books when I went to school". Then there was the Atlanta Braves fan in the tiny village of Woonsocket - proudly proclaimed to be the hometown of Eleanor McGovern.

Woonsocket Post Office

He had satellite I suppose and never missed a game of America's Team. We talked a lot about baseball and his life's mission was to watch a Braves game in what would be Fulton County stadium. Then there was the guy with the no trespassing sign that I ignored. He had a broken back and was bedridden. He was glad to hear me knocking on his door and he invited me in so he would have someone to talk to. Good thing he couldn't get to the shotgun down the hall. But nice people or no, I couldn't seem to get them to part with their money.

I was supposed to be there 10-11 weeks but that wasn't happening. I packed up the car and headed home. I was so ready to be home I drove from Huron to Marietta non-stop. I think it was about 20 hours.

Marietta had never been more beautiful and treasured to me than it was that day.

While I was in S.D., I wrote a letter to my then girlfriend, now wife Jennifer proclaiming my love for her and how lucky we were to live where we did and how we should be mindful of all of our blessings we so often take for granted.

"...Jennifer, go thank your parents right now for giving you such a great home to live in. I never realized how lucky I am until I saw this part of the country..."

She has that letter to this day. I had magnificent handwriting back then I must add. I didn't make any money those three weeks, but I learned a lifelong lesson - be grateful for what you have. It was worth it.

A Pondering Recycling Update

2011-01-31T15:25:00.004-05:00

Some of you, well let's say a few of you, read my prior post about the predicament I felt I was in regarding the City of Marietta and their recycling program.

I am excited to say that I actually paid attention to the power bill and the accompanying contents I received in the mail. In it was new recycling sticker - fancy new logo and all. Essentially the message was that I did not have to use the totally inadequate 20 gallon recycling bin any longer, and now I can use any container I choose within reason.

The old way - 20 gal recycling / 32 gal trash

The new way - 32 gal recycling / 13 gal trash

We have a fairly large pantry, both of these containers fit nicely. I have no excuse to not recycle now.
We've had this set up for about a week and it is amazing how little of our household trash has to go the dump. (saying to myself, "I told you so!") And since recycling pickup is once a week, I now have a container with the capacity to hold a week's worth of recyclables.

My daughter will be so proud of me.

Glover Park in Pristine Snow

2011-01-15T20:49:00.064-05:00

Last Sunday night just as the snow rolled into Marietta, I grabbed my little Canon PowerShot camera and walked up to the Marietta Square and snapped a few photos and then shared them on Facebook. I can't tell you how many requests I have gotten for copies of this particular photo. I've racked my brain trying to figure out a reasonable way to fulfill those requests. This post is the best I can come up with for now. Ideally, I would like to get some to a Marietta Square retailer and let them sell them, but I don't know how to make that happen.

January 28 edit: You can now see and buy prints at the Marietta Museum of History. Every dollar of your purchase there will go to supporting the museum.

I've used PayPal for a long time without incident and I am pretty confident that these little buttons should do the trick. Hopefully the ordering process won't be too confusing. I'm charging a little bit more than the true cost of the print, but the good news is that all profits after I cover the cost of the prints and mailing costs will be donated in your name to LIVESTRONG through my LIVESTRONG Challenge participant page.

You get a beautiful and limited release print and help fight cancer too!

Click photo to enlarge

Glover Park - Sepia

Select print size (5 x 7 or 8 x 10) with the toggle arrows, then click the "Add to Cart" button. Your shopping cart will open in another tab. You can change the quantity of each size in the shopping cart tab.

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Glover Park - Black and White

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Glover Park Gazebo - Sepia

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Glover Park Gazebo - Black and White

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Hemingway's - Sepia

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Hemingway's - Color

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Hemingway's - Black and White

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Glover Park Train - Color

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Glover Park Train -Sepia

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Glover Park Train -Black and White

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West Park Sq - North Park Sq - Sepia

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West Park Sq - North Park Sq -Color

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West Park Sq - North Park Sq -Black and White

Once you have selected your photos, go to your shopping cart tab, check for accuracy, adjust the quantities desired and follow the PayPal checkout process.

All profits after cost of printing and mailing will be donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation in your name through my LIVESTRONG Challenge participant account.

I have already made a few prints and they look very good. However, it's impossible to accurately represent the final product here online. I will be happy to refund your total purchase price if you receive the prints and you are not happy with them for any reason. Just mail them back and I will arrange a refund with PayPal.

Click here to see the full set of photos from my visit to the square. If there are specific requests I may add other photos to this post for purchase.

In 2010, with your help, I raised $8,375 toward my goal of $10,000 for LIVESTRONG to support those fighting cancer. It's a new year, and a new goal to help fight an old enemy. Join the fight!

The Long Term Effects of Excellence in Music Education in Schools

2010-11-05T18:09:00.038-04:00

With a long blog post title like that you might think I am about to embark on a long drawn out dissertation on the merits of music education in schools. I am not. You can Google the topic and find numerous articles and such from scholars and respected writers in music and education. The consensus is that music in schools is a good thing. Very few, if any, rational people with a smidgen of intelligence are willing to argue otherwise.

The problem is that when faced with a strained budget, school boards and systems consider these departments low hanging fruit when cutting costs. That is too bad. These decision makers are too short-sighted to realize the long term effect of their decision.

When managing cash flow, there are three fundamental areas where an entity - schools or businesses - can direct their cash:

Operations,
Investments,
Financing.

I think school boards and superintendents make the all too often mistake of perceiving a music program as an Operational expense. After all, cash is needed on an annual basis to fund the program. But, I tend to view a music program as a long-term investment. Spend money now with a strategy of preserving and growing that investment into something of greater value in the future.

I was lucky, the school system I grew up in had a strong music program that started with tone flutes in the third grade and moved to symphonic band and orchestral instruments in the fourth grade. From what I can remember, we went to band a few days a week for an hour or so. Music teachers moved from elementary school to elementary school providing instruction for these classes.

It seemed most everyone was in the band. Classes were fairly competitive and in my case, we all sat in an oblong "C" shape. The instructor would move from student to student. When it was your turn the goal was to successfully play as many of the exercises in the book without a mistake.

Take an inside peek at a current edition - click this line.

If you did well, your exercise was marked with a "P" for Pass. If you made a significant mistake - missed a note or beat - your turn ended and the instructor moved to the next student. If you had completed more exercises than the person next to you on your right, you got to "move up" the line. Therefore, the person farthest along in the book was "1st Chair", a prized place to be let me tell you. I remember I spent many hours practicing at home to ensure I could maintain my seat or take the next seat up. I never made it to the top but I was darn close and sitting among some excellent musicians. You can speculate about the psychological impact of this type of instruction, but I can tell you it worked. There was a concert or two maybe, but clearly the focus in elementary was on individual instruction and building a foundation.

Once in middle school - 6th grade - each student was placed in one of three bands depending upon current playing ability. Playing real sheet music commenced and we learned how to play in tune and in concert with others.

I remember as a new sixth grader, sitting among seventh and eight graders and literally getting goosebumps at the sound quality and volume of the large group.

Teachers today might commiserate over having 30 students in a class. Our fearless directors had 50-80 students to manage all holding devices that could make a lot of noise! They managed well. Discipline and respect was paramount. I saved my "acting up" for other classrooms. Sometimes musical passages would be prefaced with a mini lesson about the composer and the meaning of the piece. Those scowling old men with the powdered wigs became human.

Mozart

Christmas and Spring concerts were well attended and were the highlight of the year. I also remember our band attending an annual county wide music festival for middle schools at the Cobb Civic Center. All of the county school bands and our city of Marietta band would play. We always had to go last and for good reason. The county schools did not start band until the 6th grade; no one wanted to follow our performance. The contrast in playing ability was astounding. No fault of the county students themselves, it's just they were two years behind. When it came to our turn, the facility was packed with not only the expected proud Marietta parents, but admiring county school band directors, parents and students as well.

In high school , our band continued to be ranked among the best in the Southeast. Whether it was marching band or symphonic band, Marietta had a highly respected program. The band room wall was lined with festival plaques noting a "Superior" performance and nothing less was expected. I'm guessing there were 15-20 successive years of "Superior" plaques. The MHS high school band's traditional performance of "Sleigh Ride" at the Christmas concert would have made Leroy Anderson, John Williams and all of the Boston Pops proud. Some of my fondest memories of high school were marching in the band, blowing spectators right out the stands it seemed.

Not only were we excellent musicians, but had unequalled marching skills - outstanding student designed shows (yes, plural as in more than one per year), crisp turns and high steps that make current bands look like walking zombies.

There was strong support in the community for the band. It was clear the community felt the program was an investment and not an expense. Marietta's Blue Devil pride extended to the music program.

Somewhere along the way, the band program was cut. Not enough decision makers saw long term benefits. I am sure it helped the cash flow that year. Maybe even for a year or two. But, it didn't take long for the program to collapse. As far as I am concerned, it has never recovered. Unfortunately, the few dollars saved have had a very negative and long-term effect. Some may say it is a different time and place now; our city band will never be the same. Hogwash. The talent is there, but you have to invest in it, grow it, and support it for the long-term.

A few days ago, I found my LP version of the Marietta Junior High School Symphonic Band - 1975 led by revered band director John Mote. It contains performances by 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that are outstanding. So prized is this recording that the mention of my find on Facebook resulted in a fellow band mate forwarding to me the mp3 files of the same album. A band parent of the day wanted to buy it. This is a small city school system band, not an all-state performance.

Take the time to sample what long term investing in the arts at the elementary and middle school level - specifically band - sounds like.

The complete album contents are available on YouTube - Click this line.

Great music in middle schools is not dead! I'm glad to report that in communities where excellence in music education is considered an investment, musical excellence still exists. I found the site for the Folly Quarter Middle School band. This link will take you to a page full of music performance samples. I am thrilled to feature them here as a current day example of excellence in music education. They even have their own pod cast! When I e-mailed the school to ask permission to provide their link, Band Director Andrew Spang was gracious enough to not only give permission but answered a few questions I had posed at length. You could tell he was very proud of his program and rightfully so. Like the old Marietta program, students start in elementary school. If you are a school administrator, board member, band parent, you would be served well by spending time at their site. Evidence of strong support for music excellence is on every web page. Something tells me they suffer through federal and state mandated initiatives too and yet they still find a way to make the music program a success.

School systems across the country would do well to emulate this system's programs, dedication, investments, and obvious successes.

I participated in many extracurricular programs during my school days - lettered in four sports even. Now that I am older, there is nothing I value more than my experiences in the music and arts. I wish I had done more. If I were on a school board and had to make hard choices about investing in a music program long-term I would find a way. It's just too darn important.

Here's a link to a fascinating KPBS radio show (transcript and audio) on the subject with Maureen Cavanaugh in San Diego: The State of Music Education in Schools

Marco Rubio Wins U.S. Senate Seat, Disrespects the Flag

2010-11-02T21:51:00.011-04:00

Earlier I ranted about how the Obama staff uses the U.S. flag as a prop, clearly ignoring the U.S. flag code.

Just to show I am an equal opportunity complainer, here's my most recent observation of a growing trend among politicians and more specifically, their staff.

Marco Rubio uses the flag as a prop for his victory speech. The flag should always be allowed to hang freely; it should not be draped or folded in this manner.

Maybe this doesn't seem that big of a deal to you considering all that is going on in the world. As far as I am concerned, the flag is a living symbol of this great country. A little respect has been earned by all those who fought for this country and flag. I would appreciate it if politicians would show the flag the respect it deserves.

Vespucci's - Best Pizza Pie in Atlanta

2010-09-05T17:43:00.018-04:00

Recently, I made a return to my work headquarters on Peachtree St. As far as working from home vs. working in the office goes - there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

But I can say without a doubt. The greatest part about my working on Peachtree St. is my once a week (at least) lunch time stroll down Peachtree St. to my favorite lunch spot - Vespucci's.

It's about a 5 minute walk from the office so that leaves plenty of time to eat and then sit back and relax, enjoy the beautiful weather, and people watch.

Best. Pie. Ever.

When I eat at the Marietta Pizza Company which I enjoy, I can get by with just one slice of pizza. At Vespucci's, one is not enough. Two may be more than I should have; but two is what I have to have.

Had to get a substitute for the artichoke and tomato this day

I'm a creature of habit and when it comes to Vespucci's I have honed in on two favorites from their wide selection of lunch time pies and assorted Italian offerings which include calzones, stromboli, lasagna and of course spaghetti. Almost always I get a slice of Spinach and Tomato and a slice of Artichoke and Tomato. Both are on white sauce and or white cheese. I don't know for sure technically but it is yummy to say the least. Their red sauce pizzas are great too but I have a hard time departing from my regular choices.

As a matter of fact, the man that must be the shop owner, I see Mama hanging out in the back, doesn't even ask for my order. He just knows. If he has my two pies out that day, he takes a look at me coming through the door and grabs my two slices and has them heading for the oven before I even get to the counter to order and pay. Add a Barq's root beer (they have a good beer selection, but it is lunch time) and I am set.

I find my seat outside and one of the cooks delivers my pizza to my table not even bothering to call my order number like he does for everyone else. Some of these guys have been working there for at least five to ten years. The owners must treat their cooks well to gain such loyalty. Just the other day, I noticed an obviously homeless - and soon after obviously mentally ill in some way - man take a seat at one of the prized outside tables.

Peachtree and 17th - got there a little early that day

One of the cooks quickly came out to have a discussion with the man who looked like a cross between Rupert from Survivor and Tom Hanks in Cast Away and I assumed he was to be told to leave asap since he was killing the ambiance and also - let's just say - unfreshening the air. The poor soul stood up and excused himself to the sidewalk but did not leave. He began to entertain those that could hear him - that would not be me - with a song of some type and odd gesturing. The cook came out again but this time with a to go bag for the man. Clearly the shop was giving the man a meal. The cook presented the man the food trying to draw as little attention to the exchange as possible and the homeless man offered his hand to the cook for a shake - which I was glad to see the cook politely declined - and the man went on his way.

So now, I like Vespucci's even more than I used to if that is possible. Good food by good people.

If you are ever near Peachtree and 17th just north of the Woodruff Arts Center and High Museum of Art don't miss out on great pie.

Daily specials - click to enlarge

My 2010 LIVESTRONG Challenge PHilly Ride Experience Part 2

2010-08-26T21:08:00.034-04:00

The eight months of anticipation and work had finally led to this day, the 100 mile PHilly Challenge course for LIVESTRONG. With hundreds of names "in honor of" and "in memory of" on behalf of hundreds more printed and folded in my pocket, this ride was more than a bike ride. The butterflies in my stomach could sense it too.

Many Fatties including myself had been discussing weather updates on the hour it seemed. Last time I checked estimates were that rain would arrive late morning. With a ride start time of 7:30 a.m. that meant the 100 milers would be out on the course when the rain came.

Most of the Fatties staying at the hotel gathered to make the ride over to the event start about 4 miles away.

photo by Carl Frost

As we gathered raindrops dotted the parking lot. After finding Philly Jen's helmet (maybe she should have slept in it), we headed out. On the way I tried to reach into my back pocket and promptly pulled my bib number right off my jersey. I had to pull over and retrieve it and got left behind for the most part by my fellow Fatties.

As we arrived at the event site start / finish - me now only a few yards behind the Team - I could hear the event speaker over the loud speakers announcing the arrival of Team Fatty. We rode into the finish line chute to take our places in line for the start. With thousands of people there and spectators three deep at the chute it was an incredibly special feeling to be part of Team Fatty and all that it represents to the cycling community and LIVESTRONG. I think that rolling arrival and introduction was worth the trip.

Now there were thousands of cyclists corralled into chutes like cattle and we waited for Lance to arrive.

photo by Carl Frost

Eventually Lance appeared - his arrival announced with less fanfare than Team Fatty it seemed. All the dignitaries said a few words and Radio Shack gave Lance a check for $1.2 million for LIVESTRONG.

A nice touch was the singing of the national anthem before the ride kicked-off. You know, the national anthem is not an easy song to sing. Sing it a cappella and you are really asking for trouble. I was much too close to the speaker system. With my ear ringing, Lance led out the 100 and 70 mile group.

photo by K Kavanagh

With hundreds of riders between Lance and me there was a significant amount of time for everyone to decompress and be able to not only mount the bike but clip in. I am sure by the time I pulled out of the chute Lance was 3/4 to 1 mile out.

It would have been incredible to pedal within a few yards of the man, but I was also wise enough to know that not only were there 5,000 other people that had the same idea that any attempt to try to catch the leaders would be foolish. I focused on trying to ride amongst and with other Fatties. Unfortunately, there were so many bikes they were not easy to locate and although I felt like I was riding an extremely easy pace at the onset, few Fatties appeared. After giving up on hooking up with a group of Fatties I picked up the pace a little and eventually, I did come across Jenni L and her incredibly awesome Sweetpea. I'm sorry we could not get both our bikes to go the same speed at that point so I could say hello.

Jenni and the Sweatpea; photo by K Kavanagh

The first twenty miles or so were nice rolling hills and I had to be careful not to let the excitement of the event cause me to ride out too fast. I had seen "the beast" yesterday and I knew I had 50 miles before I was going to meet up again. There were stops set up about every 10 miles. I rolled through stop one and two.

About this time I came up on the Green Lane Reservoir.

The road just along the water was beautiful and I slowed to take the view in. It was one of those Gump moments were you appreciate the simple things in life. I can't remember exactly when but eventually the rain showed up. I continued on and soon I was at the 70 or 100 mile turn off which was at mile 30 or so. I found it amusing that the 70 mile turn was halfway up an extended climb - how tempting it must have been to those trying to decide between 70 or 100. No problem for me, I wasn't turning, no way. About two-thirds of the group I was climbing with went to the left for the 70 mile route.

I heard after the ride that many riders behind me got diverted to the 70 mile course because of the weather conditions. That could have been a blessing considering the rain yet to come. Not long after this climb, I noticed my rear derailleur was having trouble moving to the big ring in the back (the gear that makes it easier to go uphill). I fiddled with the cable a bit. Whatever I did to the cable did not help because eventually it would not go to the big ring at all. I just lost my easiest gear; and I used it a lot yesterday when I was fresh. Climbing the steepest sections in my next gear down was not going to be fun.

Well guess what, I told myself, having cancer isn't fun either - man up.

I arrived at the third stop and I decided to pull over and get more water and gel packs. I glanced to my left and across the street was a guy that looked like an angel sitting not on a rock, but the back of a

SRAM support vehicle loaded with biking gear and tools. I wandered over and told him although I was man enough to do without I sure would appreciate it if he could look at my rear derailleur. He put my bike on his stand, fiddled for a few seconds and began to take the cable out. Looked like more than an adjustment was needed.

And the angel said, "See how this cable is frayed? You were very close to having a very bad day".

Of course what he meant was once the cable broke which appeared to be imminent, the rear derailleur would drop to the smallest and hardest gear in the back meaning my 20 speed was going to be a two speed and a very bad two speed at that. He drew a new cable from a bundle of many and in a few minutes he had the rear derailleur shifting heavenly. I always carry a few dollars of emergency / store money in my saddle bag and I asked if I could give him a small token of appreciation for his time. He said sure and I gave him the best $10 I have spent in my entire life.

OK, not really the angel that fixed my bike but...

Feeling I had just received a new lease on life and invigorated by my good fortune, I headed out to conquer the rest of the course. Did I mention yet it was hilly? Or that it was raining so hard that it felt like hail and at times it was so windy I was sure I would be blown off the road? Despite the foul weather, I was amazed at the spectators along the route. Many held signs, many more rung cowbells. I yelled back,

"More cowbell, I need more cowbell!" and they would double their effort.

You can only get so wet and that was not as much of a problem as stinging rain on the face on the descents. Speaking of descents, I believe that no matter how tempting it may be to bomb down them, descending any road you are not familiar with should be done very carefully. You cannot exercise enough caution when it is wet also. Apparently, some riders did not share my philosophy and hurled themselves into guardrails on some sharp turns in the descents. Several required emergency services.

As I neared the Landis store climb I was definitely feeling the difference between being fresh yesterday and 50 miles into a ride today. But I had a feeling I would make it up. But the key difference was how wet the road was and in the steepest sections if I stood to climb out of the saddle my rear wheel would slip with what seemed like every other pedal stroke. Luckily, I did not panic and focused on keeping the bike upright and laid off the pedals until I could get seated to get weight back onto the rear tire to continue. Now I was climbing seated which isn't so bad but knowing I could not stand to take a break made it a bit more tough mentally.

People ahead started dismounting, lots of them. That's not very encouraging I thought to myself. But I'll be damned if I am going to drive 13 hours to walk my bike. Ain't gonna happen. I thought of Peggy and Chip - both cancer fighters right now. I visualized them standing on the side of the road. I got power, a burst of energy, something because after that I hi-tailed it up that hill.

With the Landis store stop behind me,

feeling good!

I wanted to pick up the pace if I could and make good time back to the finish. I quickly realized that although I had conquered the two toughest climbs, there were plenty more hills ahead. Along the way, I was on a reasonable descent and saw a police motorcycle with lights flashing pulled over just behind a pair of bikers. Did someone get a ticket for speeding on their bike? No, it was a nice cop who stopped to help none other than Philly Jen and Fatty Doug change her flat. I stopped to make sure all was well. She was in good hands as Fatty Doug had already changed his own flat at mile eight. I took the opportunity to ride a bit with Philly Jen. We soon reached another power stop and my roommate Ryan S was there. Philly Jen and Ryan decided to extend their stay and I headed out.

Philly Jen and Ryan S from Hawaii

The balance of the ride was spent riding along and admiring the Team Fatty tandem. All I can say is they were exceptional cyclists and motored up the hills and rollers with ease.

Tandem Mike and Jacqueline; photo by K Kavanagh

Back to the finish line in 6 hours and 40 minutes (my toughest century to date), spectators thinned drastically from the downpours clapped as I entered the chute for the finale. What a great feeling. Despite the rain and hills, I had the ride of my life.

Thank you everyone for your support, thank you Fatty for the inspiration. Thank you wife Jennifer and family for helping me go on this journey. Thank you Team Fatty for extending a warm welcome and making the trip great. Worth every mile.

Team Fatty Philly 2010 Team Time Trial Award Movie from Fat Cyclist on Vimeo.

Allez

Other Fatty PHilly Ride Reports:
Shevdog.com
Ride a Bike

a Fatty survivor - chapeau

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My 2010 LIVESTRONG Challenge PHilly Ride Experience Part 1

2010-08-24T21:22:00.009-04:00

Wow! Where do I start?

First, and the reason for the mission, the people. Here's a link to my honor and memorial wall. Many of you that followed my 24 hour ride have already seen it. But, if you are like me, there's only good that can come from a repeat viewing.

Second, another thanks to Fatty for inspiring me to look beyond myself to make a difference in some one's life. There's no doubt I am a better person because of the experience. Some people want autographs of famous people - even I snapped a photo of Lance at the dinner -

but I really wanted to just shake Elden's hand and look him in the eye and say thanks for sharing and inspiring.

The 1,740 mile adventure...

I set out 5:00 a.m. Friday to make the 13 hour drive. Being a veteran of many eight hour drives to Wright State to visit the kid I was fairly well prepared. Of course, despite the previous night's preparation I was convinced I had left something important at home once I got an hour from home. Luck was on my side, ~~nothing left at home which was meant for the journey.~~ Darn! I forgot to get my Team Fatty T-shirt out of the dryer.

Now you may wonder... What kind of person chooses to drive 1,600 miles to ride a bike for 100 miles? That would be me, too cheap to fly the bike and surrender the precious bike to "handlers" at the airport. Rent a bike? Not for me. Me and my bike are like peas and carrots...What kind of person chooses to make the trip in a Miata over a roomy SUV? That would be me, and I am proud to report that not only did my balding forehead get some awesome sun but I dare say that the Miata's driver's seat is more comfortable than my wife's SUV driver seat. Bonus.

The drive up was uneventful and yes, I'll say it again - I Am an Excellent Singer.

I arrived in the allotted time and checked in to the room and then headed over to the LIVESTRONG village to check in and get my stuff. The registration tent was booming B-52s over the speakers and all was right with the world.

I knew I was in for the ride of my life. I had worn my 6 gap shirt ( I did the 3 gap ) which clearly signaled to the volunteers greeting and pointing participants to the proper table that I was a cyclist as opposed to a runner. Fred (not sure that was his name but I'll go with it) quickly points out "the 100 mile ride has over 4,600 feet of climbing". Little did he know I drove 800 miles to get to the route. I wasn't stopping for anybody or anything until I was finished... could have had 9,200 feet and I would have died on one of those hills if necessary. I told everyone in the past eight months of my fund-raising I was going to ride 100 miles and 100 miles was going to be done one way or another.

Back to the hotel and to meet my roommate Ryan S. Ryan made my trip look like an afternoon walk in the park because he flew in from Hawaii to participate in the event. Yes, Fatty has a way of making people do the extraordinary for the fight against cancer. Super nice guy he is and glad to have met him.

I must be tired as I am sure I was Friday night. After introductions, meeting with a few other Fatties including the famous Philly Jen for dinner, I went to bed.

Saturday morning sunrise poured through the window and I was up and planning my day. The roommate ran the 10k and my having done my Sprint Triathlon I have no problems saying running for fitness or cause is not likely part of my future. I wanted to see these hills everyone blogged about. So, I mapped out a 40 mile course, printed up a cue sheet and drove out to Bally, PA (at least that is what MapQuest named it).

getting ready for the preview ride...

I purposely took it very easy to make sure I had the energy to face any hill I might encounter. Weather was perfect, and I made many stops taking pictures of the old farm houses. I knew if my wife had been able to come she would have enjoyed seeing them and I could not go back home and rave about them without pictures.

one example of too many to count...

I am one of those that is directionally challenged and I was a little proud of my ability to map a course 800 miles from home and follow it. Most of it was part of the official 100 mile Challenge route which was well marked, but the final section of the 40 mile route I designed was a way back to my starting point and car as opposed to following the Challenge signs. Fear set in as I passed a road that was gravel. Oh no, didn't consider that, hope I didn't choose a gravel road...Then there was the road closed, bridge washed out sign dead ahead. Cyclo-cross came to mind though I have never done it. I may have mapped my demise - 800 miles from home. Fortunately, I had planned a turn at that intersection and missed the washout.

My conclusion from the Saturday preview? This is a very hilly course. I think my 40 mile route covered two of the more severe sections including the Landis Store climb. I made it OK. The question would be could I make the Landis Store climb tomorrow after riding (climbing) 50+ miles to get to it?

Because I was so leisurely in my day's effort, I got back to the hotel too late to meet up with the team for food and cake. I had the wrong time in my head. Fat Cyclists love their cake... I did get a piece of cake before it was packed up and it was excellent.

massive chocolate cake, incredibly good; photo by Ryan Suenaga

Off to the dinner and presentation. What can I say but job well done. The only improvement would have been if Bass Ale had been a sponsor instead of Michelob Ultra. But as one Fatty said, "it is free beer". The presentations were excellent and I particularly was moved by the presentation made for Team M Power and a fellow named Marc Mandeville. His team raised over $137,000 as did Team Fatty ($138,000) . It was a photo finish all for a great cause. Overall, LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly raised over $3,000,000 dollars for families fighting cancer.

Bean counter's side note here: The LAF is an extremely efficient and lean organization which means more dollars go directly to help cancer fighters and less dollars are spent on overhead. That is a good thing.

Full of good food and mediocre beer,

I headed off to bed for tomorrow was going to be the ride of my life.

Part II - Click Here

LIVESTRONG Challenge Philly 2009 revisited

2010-08-05T10:22:00.011-04:00

With only a few weeks to go before I journey to Philadelphia for my first LIVESTRONG Challenge 2010 version I am really starting to get excited about the event and all the wonderful people I'll meet that share the same belief,

We believe that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything.

I've said many times already that the Fat Cyclist is 100% responsible for my participation. Reading his blog last year lit a fire under me and that's no small accomplishment since my capability to burn would have been akin to a forgotten, rain-exposed, soggy pile of Georgia pine logs.

Someone hit this blog yesterday by searching for "LIVESTRONG rides Philly blog". Curious, I Googled those words to see what was out there. Of course, I found not only Fatty's recaps of the 2009 event, but a compilation of many participant's blog posts. Make the time to experience these posts, it will be worth it.

Fatty's Recap Part 1
Fatty's Recap Part 2
2009 Event Participant Recaps

Many of the posts are amazing; collectively they speak volumes about the fight and the meaning of the event. You will be able to appreciate more why I anticipate this trip to be far more than a 100 mile bicycle ride.

P.S. I had read, but have again been reminded that the Philly Challenge 100 mile course is very hilly. Here's the 100 mile route.

I may need to get off the Silver Comet and into North Georgia for some gap rides...

You may notice that this post lacks focus on the fund-raising. That is intentional. This is about the people.

24 Hours for LIVESTRONG ride report

2010-07-04T23:11:00.019-04:00

Some of you know of my 24 hour bike ride to raise awareness and funds for LIVESTRONG. A few of you have asked when / if I was going to post here about the experience. I have had a few weeks now to digest the whole thing so here is a reflection on the event from conception to recovery.

I decided to get involved with LIVESTRONG after following and reading the worldwide famous Fat Cyclist blog. The man - Elden Nelson - has inspired people across the country and globe to get involved to fight cancer through LIVESTRONG. When I signed up for the Philadelphia edition of the LIVESTRONG Challenge , I had no idea how committed I would become during the process of following the site, reading cancer fighting stories, and raising funds to help families fighting cancer. I decided that not only did I want to participate but I wanted to be an exceptional participant. After several months of riding with some very strong NW Atlanta bikers, I have concluded that I will not be an exceptional cyclist during the Philly event. However, that did not preclude me from trying to be an exceptional advocate for the cause.

Great idea, and very noble I thought to myself. But, there's one problem. I'm not involved nor have I been in groups and organizations that do this kind of thing called fund raising - some with seemingly effortless precision. Not only that but being a corporate finance / accountant / bean-counter type means that I don't necessarily have a large network to tap into.

Once I signed up and logged into the part of the LIVESTRONG site that advises you how to get started in fund-raising I read that I should make sure I used my e-mail list as a good place to start. One problem, I don't have an e-mail list. The prospects of pulling this off seemed to be fading quickly. I decided I needed a BHAG, a Big, Hairy, Audacious, Goal. Something that might get people's attention despite the fact that my prior advocacy life's portrait could be painted on the head of a straight pin.

Bikers often ride centuries or 100 mile bike rides. It takes about 5-6 hours. Nothing too audacious about that, but what about a 24 hour ride I thought to myself? Create a spectacle very much like a NASCAR event where the event itself is relatively boring, there are a lot of left turns, and the only thing keeping the spectators' interest is the prospect of a crash. If NASCAR can get 100,000 spectators at a time, surely I cold get a few curious onlookers and maybe they might direct a few dollars to LIVESTRONG while they were at it.

Execution
Being a loyal Marietta boy and as some might say True Blue Devil, I wanted to have this event in Marietta and naturally I thought of the almost sacred Marietta High School track.

After firing off a few e-mails to the Marietta City Schools, I was directed to the Athletic Director and he was gracious enough to let me proceed with the idea. I did fail to get the permission of a very special person...

Track secured and rider willing. There was one thing I kind of overlooked in the vision part of this plan. If I was to ride my bike for 24 hours, then I would not be able to meet, greet, and direct the visitors that showed up, much less gather contributions and place balloons around the track and such. In other words, be responsible for the event I created.

Fortunately, my family, parents, in-laws, siblings, nieces, nephews and friends came to the rescue and volunteered their time to help pull this thing off. And when you talk about doing something special, this was really the most special of all the things that were done those two days.

I just rode a bike, everyone else involved made it the success it turned out to be.

Ride Summary
Event day came smack dab in the middle of an unusual June heat wave for Georgia. Temperatures were reaching mid-90s daily with no relief in sight. The only saving grace to this was that there was no race, I could ride a slow as necessary. I just had no idea what that would mean until I got out there.

My sister decided it would be a good idea to request of everyone that they pray for rain and by golly we got a good thunderstorm right at start time of 3:00 p.m. Saturday. After the storm passed, the temperature was 10-15 degrees cooler. Off I went, actually being a little bit nervous of the lightning in the area for the first twenty minutes or so.

I-pod in ear, family support track-side, I pedaled, and pedaled, and pedaled. Balloons representing contributions "In Honor of" and "In Memory of" loved ones made a constant parade down to the track and each one motivated me to keep going.

Visitors gathered into the wee hours of the morning. I felt great all of the first day and into early the next morning with nothing unusual to report. Sunday however was a different story as the sun rose and burned off the morning fog and cloud cover. It started to get hot, real hot. At about 10:00 a.m., with 5 hours to go, I was on a very hot track with no shade and a commitment to be on the track until 3:00 p.m.

275 miles later and over $6,000 raised toward a goal of $10,000, it was over. It is humbling really. I feel blessed to have the support of so many on behalf of the LIVESTRONG organization and what they do to help families fighting cancer to live their lives on their own terms.

Click here for the Honor and Memorial Wall slide show

Click here for the 24 hour ride photos

I've have had a lot of people ask me questions about the ride and I'll recall a few of the more common ones here for you:

Q. What did you do right after?
A. At the finish, I was hustled away from the event site like I had the plague. I grabbed a shower where I washed about 5 pounds of salt off my body, and quickly fell asleep on the sofa, not being clear minded enough to get in the bed like an intelligent person. I slept until about midnight, had a snack and went back to bed.

Q. How long did it take you to recover? Were you sore?
A. I had to work Monday so I was up and back to business. Luckily, I work from home. Amazingly, I was not sore. My right triceps hurt more than any other muscle. I rode my bike the following Tuesday and Thursday with no ill effects.

Q. Didn't that hurt your butt?
A. Relatively, yes. But not more than a century ride. I credit some well made, tight fighting Pearl Izumi shorts for a happy rear end post ride.

Q. Did you use chamois butter? (to prevent chafing)
A. I had it ready just in case, but no. When I returned the unopened tube to the bike shop, the salesman asked me if there was any particular reason why I was returning it. I responded that if I did not need chamois butter for a 24 hour ride, then I was likely to never need it.

Q. Wasn't it boring circling a track for 24 hours? That must have driven you crazy.
A. I guess I'm too simple minded to be driven crazy by the experience. It didn't even occur to me to be bored. The I-pod helped too.

Q. How did you eat and go to the bathroom?
A. Bikers use gel packs that are laden with carbs, electrolytes, and sometimes caffeine. I used these and Clif bars. No "normal" food. Bathroom breaks started about 16 hours in, nothing special to report there. I drank about 24 oz of G2 Gatorade (low sugar) per hour, almost all of that was converted into sweat.

Q. How much weight did you lose?
A. Post-ride weight was the same as pre-ride weight. Oddly, about three days later, I was five pounds lighter.

Q. Would you do it again?
A. For a good cause - definitely yes; for grins and giggles - no.

In 2010, with your help, I raised $8,375 toward my goal of $10,000 for LIVESTRONG to support those fighting cancer. It's a new year, and a new goal to help fight an old enemy. Join the fight!

Click Here to Donate

Still curious? Fire away. I'll post an answer.

Win a Kuat 3-bike Beta rack!

2010-06-28T17:41:00.016-04:00

As I raved about my new Kuat bike rack to my new friends at Kuat, they found out about my 24 Hours for LIVESTRONG ride and my LIVESTRONG Challenge - Philly and wanted to help out with the fund raising.

They sent me this beautiful 3-bike Beta rack with 2" hitch mount (you can get an adapter if you already have a 1.25" hitch) to raffle off. Make a contribution to enter the raffle and together we will all help LIVESTRONG pick a fight with cancer.

Here's the deal: For every $5 you donate to my LIVESTRONG effort, I will give you one entry in a random drawing to be held July 15th. I would like to say that millions of readers across the U.S.A. follow my blog, but it's just not so. Because of this, your chances to win are very good.

click photos to enlarge

Contribute now to support LIVESTRONG and all they do to fight cancer and you may be able to experience some Kuat Rack Love for yourself!

Thank you Kuat for helping me pick a fight with cancer. It's nice to have you in my corner.

The winner of the drawing is: Charlie Coles of Marietta, Georgia. Congratulations.

Click Here to Donate

I Swam, I Biked, I Ran - My First Triathlon

2010-06-05T17:14:00.027-04:00

It's not a bad accomplishment for me considering I couldn't have jogged my wrap-around porch April 2009.

The event was the Lake Lanier Islands - My First Triathlon series. And before you get too impressed you need to know that it was a Sprint Triathlon which is the shortest version. But, it was more than enough for me today. One quarter mile swim, followed by a 12 mile bike ride, followed by a 3.1 mile run. For all you metric holdouts - 400m, 20km, 5km. The event I signed up for was for first and second timers only, which leveled the playing field quite a bit compared to an open event with varying levels of experience.

I don't know my results yet despite the fact I was wearing my Iron Man Timex Watch which I will explain later. But here's a recap for your reading pleasure. It is a long post , but hey its a triathlon recap, not a musing on the power of a cookie jar.

As you are probably aware, I ride my bike a lot. You may know that I never really learned to swim, and I run - well let's just say - not so great. I signed up for this event late fall 2009. I had plenty of time to train and get prepared. I just never got around to that part like I should have.

I trained so little I can quickly itemize the effort due to a bit of logging in Excel. I ran 10 times from October through May. I never completed a full 3.1 mile run, always using some combination of running and walking. I swam once. You don't expect me to put my life at risk repeatedly do you? I did complete the 1/4 mile distance that day although I stopped at the ends of the pool whenever I felt like it. Anyone with half a brain can predict how my event went.

Pre-race jitters kicked in just after my bad idea of having coffee last night around 10:00 p.m. As a result of the caffeine and anticipation of getting up at 4:45 a.m. to make the drive to Lanier, I didn't sleep a wink. Who needs sleep anyway? I got my gear and headed out and made the trip in good time.

I was early but so were many others. I did manage to get what I thought was a good rack spot in the transition area as I wanted to be near the bike start so I would not have very far to run in my biking shoes. If you have never run in biking shoes let me just say you don't want to. The soles are made out of carbon and are slicker than the ex-president named Bill.

I set up my gear like I planned...actually I didn't plan, so I faked it. I wasn't conceding any mental edge to my 65 year old female rack neighbor. I got it out and plopped the stuff down in a pile. This was an interesting spectacle. I looked around as hundreds of beginners all had what they thought was the proper layout for a good transition. Some had 5 gallon buckets, I presume to sit on and useful to carry the gear. Some had shallow pails of water, maybe to rinse beach sand off the feet before putting on biking gear? I just wanted to be breathing and in an upright position, gear layout was not a priority for me. The only thing I know anything about is bikes, so I spent most of my time scoping out the bikes while the OCD re-arranged their items repeatedly. I swear one young lady had to be into feng-shui considering her interesting arrangement.

The Swim
Eventually the clothed masses became less clothed. The sun came out and I removed my shirt - still not sure which had the greater brightening effect - and we all headed off to the swim starting area. Down a hill, across a long walkway...a long walkway. Then we came to the water and added 1/4 mile to that. There must have been a two hundred fifty yard path from water to transition, all uphill. Fear and what in the hell did I get myself into became the prevailing thoughts.

The race was started in batches starting with the young and vigorous, my group somewhere in the later groups. I think the wheel chair division was next after me. Like an indy driver, I revved my engine, dog paddling is very effective in this regard, and off I went. I decided to start in the outside of the group and in the back. I did not want to get assaulted, kicked, groped or whatnot in the swim. I chose the side stroke and since I was keeping up with some that were struggling with their freestyle I decided to stick with it. It was good because I did not have my face in the water, I could see the shoreline ensuring I did not swim in the wrong direction, I could breath when I wanted to. I only inhaled water twice which I was proud of.
I was just far enough off shore I could not touch bottom as planned, but I felt good anyway and focused on my stroke and survival. After a while I could see the buoy marking the end where I could change direction and move to the beach.

Sand and rock underfoot never felt better. But who replaced my legs with rubber bands? I wobbled out of the water and hit the split button on the watch. I think I heard some cheering - for me I am quite sure. I even managed to shuffle up the hill while many fellow athletes walked.

I made it to transition and medics were not needed. The only transition tip I picked up while I was scoping bikes earlier was "put your socks on first". Done. I was wearing my fancy swim shorts which are very thin, so I decided to use a pair of biking shorts over them to pad the rear for my bike portion. I pulled those on, added shoes, shirt, helmet. I quaffed a bit of Gatorade and off to ride the bike. Forgot to pull my goggles off, so they hung around my neck. No big deal really, and if we had to ride through a swarm of mosquitoes or such I was ready.

The Bike
The legs were still pretending to be rubber bands but this effect subsided amazingly quickly. As part of training you are supposed to experience this beforehand by swimming and then immediately biking - a "brick" workout. I did a "domino" once, I swam and rode my bike in the same day a few hours apart. Although I did not ride an amazingly fast pace, I passed a ton of people. I yelled "on your left" so many times, I feared I might be sitting next to Nancy Pelosi at the next state dinner. I was getting my revenge on some of those folks that slid through the water like Flipper. Of course, it was clear some were not bikers and since the bike is the most expensive item in a triathlete's gear, it made sense there were a myriad of bike choices used from mountain bikes to old Schwinns. Several even had to walk a relatively small hill.

The ride was over much too soon; nothing left but the torture of the run. Back to transition I overlooked the fact I had my biking shorts on and did not take them off like I thought I would. I didn't notice until well into the run so it really didn't matter. I was comfortable. I'm proud to say that I did leave my helmet in the transition area. Remember the split button on my watch? I used it right when I got out of the water... had not touched it since. Shoot, well that's why they have the fancy timing badges right? I'll get my money's worth out of those folks.

The Run
I really enjoyed the bike ride and reserving energy for a run that I knew I was going to hate was not in the cards. So, I was beat as I started to run. It was not long before I stopped and enjoyed my first walk. I needed it, my heart rate and breathing was much higher than it should have been.

Turns out, I walked a lot, far more than I ran I am sure. I was in good company. I was surprised how many of the participants could not maintain a run. There was a lot of walking going on.

What can I say about the run portion. It sucked, I sucked.

But I finished, and I am pretty sure not dead last, and most importantly, not dead.

Here's a photo of my race medal.

I think it is for Most Outstanding Athlete. The cheers as I finished were deafening so I didn't quite catch what the race announcer said about me. This apparently is a highly treasured award as I noticed there were several if not hundreds of counterfeit medals the other participants had been suckered into taking as they finished. But rest assured, mine is the real deal.

I got a nice shirt too, but I am wearing it, so no photo.

Race results and data here
I am ranked 414th with a finish time of 1:38:52

Other Triathlon Related Posts:
Avoiding Drowning
Swim, Bike Run Update
The Koozie Suit
Beginning to Run
My Magic Shoes
A Triathlon Quest

Obama's White House Staff and Clown Ties

2010-06-02T22:42:00.026-04:00

What's with the White House staff pressing the U.S. flags to make them look like clown ties?

This photo is from 2008, but whoever decided to do this during the campaign must be in the current Obama staff in some capacity. To this day, in any situation where this person has control over flags, they are configured in this manner. It is most obvious in Obama's press conferences.

For over 200 years, we have displayed the flag "as it hangs". Yes, I have been told that there has been some manipulation in the past, but the current treatment is over the top if you ask me.

Without discussing politics, this flag treatment gives me the impression of insincerity. Or maybe, it represents an obsessive attempt on someone's part to have control over something that need not be controlled.

What if this clown friendly, flag starching, control freak was involved in past iconic flag related images?

First man on the moon?

Washington Crossing the Delaware?

Or Francis Scott Key starting out his poem with:

Oh say can you see, the clown tie in the sky?

Update: Apparently, Obama haters / critics are up in arms over a recent press conference where there were no flags at all! I guess they ran out of starch.

On a serious note and something to consider:

United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag

§8d. Respect for flag

... It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free...

Update #2: I sent a respectful message to the White House via their web site. I wonder if I will get a human reply that will say anything other than a canned response?

Two weeks have passed...No response, not even an automated reply.

Update #3:
First week of August. Looks like the clown tie has been put on a diet of sorts, but it is clear when you compare these two images that the staff - when it has the chance - is rigging the flag with some type of backboard.

The Disabled American Veterans know how to display a flag on a stand.

Even Obama approves

I am an equal opportunity complainer:
Marco Rubio staff follows the trend:

Pondering Recycling

2010-05-25T14:08:00.008-04:00

This photo represents what the city of Marietta will pick up (after I pay them of course) from my house in a week. The recycle bin is the little one on the left. The four cans are 33 gallons each. I have to take the recycle bin to the street which means it never makes it. The city will walk my 150 ft. driveway to get the trash cans.

So, with the containers and pickup service provided, I can recycle about 20 gallons, but I can send 132 gallons of trash to the dump every week. Based upon what I send to the dump, I could recycle about 90% of it. I think the city needs to reverse its thinking. They should only allow me to send 20 gallons a week to the dump and the rest should be recycled.

Thoughts?

October 8th Update:
The City of Kennesaw recycling program agrees with me! Check out this local story about the switch!

Avoiding Drowning - A Swim, Bike, Run Update

2010-05-20T16:45:00.018-04:00

I did it. I got in a pool and swam.

I've had a fancy pair of swimming shorts and goggles for months waiting to be put to use. Today was the day.
I figured there was no better time since my first ever and quite possibly last sprint triathlon is a mere 16 days away.

So, I ventured over to the Cobb Aquatics Center near my house. After the official sign in and mug shot for my pass, I told them that I had never really learned to swim and a drowning attempt was fairly probable. Luckily, the young man and young lady said they were up to the task for my rescue and they even perked up a little at the prospect of something out of the ordinary taking place.

My timing was very good, the place was nearly empty and after scanning the few bodies around the pool I decided that at least I was not going to be the white whale of the day. Importantly, the water was just right temperature wise. I had been warned that this pool could be uncomfortably cold. After sticking my toe in, I knew the all in plunge strategy would be most effective to avoid the shock. In I went without a whimper.

The pool was set up for 25 meter lengths and was 5 feet deep so I was able to stand at the edge and ponder the swim to the other end for a few seconds. I figured the last time I swam any length in a pool was about 1979. In my youth I could hurl myself off a diving board and do flips and whatnot, but that required little swimming skills for survival. Of course I played Fox and Hounds too, but that game really consists of a good running start, an aerodynamic dive and twisting entry, and just a few underwater kicks to make it to the other side.

I thought for a second about my Brumby pool ( now a parking area) swimming lessons. I was probably in or near the first grade. I was so bad, the instructors made me wear a T-shirt so as I sank they could reach under the water and pull me back to the surface.

Maybe the financial incentive was what I was missing

I know what the freestyle swimming stroke looks like but I decided not to try that on the first 25 meters. I decided that the breast stroke would be the method most closely resembling dog paddling so I decided to try that instead. Off I went, nice and slow enjoying the fact that at least I did not have my face in the water and I could breathe while moving to the other side. It did not take long for the heart rate to really get going. But I knew that it would stabilize as long as I didn't try to swim too hard. Before I knew it, I had completed 16 lengths. 16 x 25 = 400 meters, the distance I must swim in the triathlon.

It took me 14 minutes and change to dog-paddle / breast stroke the distance. So, I got out and rested for a few minutes and then got back in to see if I could try anything that resembled a freestyle stroke. I did about 4 lengths but I really did not enjoy it. Now my face was in the water and that made breathing a hazard. After that, I tried what I would call a side-stroke. It felt much better and a bit faster than my breast stroke. I liked it because I could still see where I was going and could breathe whenever I felt like it.

People have told me that a triathlon open water swim creates a sense of panic for first timers. I would like to avoid that and am willing to trade speed for relative calm. So, unless something remarkable happens with my swimming skills by June 5th, I'll just do whatever it takes to get the swim over with using whatever means necessary, breast stroke, side stroke and maybe something that resembles free style for the last 10 meters.

Trying to swim all the way to transition 1?

I have to say that my first swim was far more pleasant and enjoyable than my first run.

The Real Secret to Why Cyclists Shave Their Legs

2010-04-23T11:54:00.032-04:00

Why do cyclist's shave their legs? And why does every cyclist that blogs try to answer this question?

Since Al Gore invented the internet [sic], this question is surely one of the most often asked, searched, Googled phrases in existence. Go ahead, try it. You will be amazed at all the posts asking this specific question and attempting to explain in a manner that a reasonable person (non-cyclist) would accept.

To save you some time, I'm going to list the most common explanations out there.

Improved aerodynamics
Helps when treating road rash from crashes
Pros get massages regularly and the massage is better when there is no leg hair - less friction.
Peer pressure to be part of the club
It gives the more serious cyclist a psychological edge over a hairy rider; separates "the men from the boys" aka mind games
Vanity - you and everyone else that cares to look can see the muscle definition easier.
It's traditional

There may be a few other theories out there that I may have forgotten already. I tend to like the last one best as the blogger explains - it really needs no further explanation.

I might as well add my two cents to the conversation. After arriving home from the 100 mile ride last Saturday I quickly headed to the shower. Sparing you all the details, I'll skip to the part where I proceeded to wash the chain grease mark off my right calf...

not my leg

A good lean of the bike to the right can cause the front chain ring and chain to rub the right calf leaving a dirty grease mark...

As I rubbed the calf with soap and wash cloth I decided to grab the razor and start shaving the legs. After a few seconds of that, there was a sense of - "Well you've done it now, there's no turning back." So, I took the time to finish the job and exited the shower with two neatly shaven legs. And I didn't think they looked too bad either.

Now mind you, I've been told I have nice legs in the past. In high school there was an annual contest where the boys dressed up as women and paraded around in the gym for a talent / beauty contest. It was called the Miss International contest and was held during International Language week or something like that.

I was Miss Italy and I donned a borrowed dress, hose, heels, bra and a few grapefruits. Yes, the girl I got the items from was "gifted" let's say. Anyway, I got more than a few compliments on my legs, one teacher even added that I walked better in heels than most women. The movie Rocky had been a recent hit at the time so my talent was drinking a half dozen raw eggs.

I had mostly forgotten about this until recently I was reclined in a dental chair getting my teeth cleaned and one of the dental assistants in the office stopped by and reminded me that she went to high school with me. She noted that the legs were holding up pretty well, and proceeded to tell of the high school cross-dressing event much to my dental hygienist's surprise. And since my mouth was full of dental tools, I was not really in a position to alter the course of conversation.

Can you spot Tommy's legs? The practically famous person's legs?

Yesterday, I headed out for a very normal and often traveled 43 mile ride on the Silver Comet Trail. I decided to try out my newly shaven legs to see if I was going to be so much more incredibly fast because of my sleek new contours. The first half of the ride, I was riding by myself and was my perfectly normal self. Nothing special. No noticeable change, as if I were really expecting something to happen.

However, on the ride back, I closed in on a cyclist within a mile or so. First I looked at the bike, a classic Italian frame I think. Then I noticed his thick thighs, and well defined calves - shaven. I thought to myself this guy is serious. While not all serious bikers shave their legs, non-serious bikers almost always do not shave their legs. I said my greetings as I passed and figured I would carry on solo. He was quickly on my wheel and asked how far I was headed.

"Another 20 miles or so", I responded and he said "How about let's ride back together then?" Never before on the trail had anyone made such a suggestion to me before.

He had checked me out too. New carbon fiber Trek he thought to himself - could be a poser or weekend warrior. Plain shorts and jersey - no team kit, no event jersey - no clues there. Shaved legs...hmm. This guy must be decent after all he's taken the time to shave his legs...

So off we went. It was not long before I noticed we were moving down the trail at a very good pace, much faster than I could manage on my own. I had planned an easy ride and what he was doing was going to be a big uptick in effort. I thought I would fade after a few miles and surely so when the grade turned up a bit.

But no. Something happened and I had more energy and speed than ever before. Before long we were hauling tail trading the lead and sharing equal pulls with precision. We got back to my starting point in record time for me. As a matter of fact, the fastest 20 miles I've ridden on the Comet and I wasn't even breathing that hard.

You know there's only one reasonable explanation and that was my neatly shaven legs. And since I had neatly shaven legs on the way out and no gain in result I must conclude that

there is a mysterious force in cycling that when two or more cyclists with shaven legs ride together a force field is created and all are improved in the presence of the other.

Being a Star Wars fan of the '70s, I hoped for a second that I had tapped into the force that all Jedi warriors possess, but I cannot prove this as no one knows whether Yoda has hairy legs or not.

Yoda cleverly conceals the secret of the force...

Now I know how pros can ride for 120 miles at 30+ miles per hour. Imagine this Jedi-like force multiplied by a peloton of 50-100 pairs of hairless legs! This also explains perfectly how difficult the breakaway is in racing as the peloton, with benefit of the force, almost always gobbles up and spits out the back anyone willing to risk losing the force by riding alone out in front. Most will say it's the drafting effect, but I know better now.

I sure was proud of myself for taking the leap and shaving my legs and now I had discovered the untold secret that all clean shaven cyclists knew about but were keeping to themselves - kind of like a fraternal secret handshake. Eventually, the wife noticed my new, smooth legs. Her first reaction was, "Eeewwwww! Men are not supposed to have smooth legs", she recoiled in horror.

So, I now submit to you why any serious cyclist would give up using the force and stop shaving his legs....

The wife hates it.

Lookout stubble, here I come.

The Masters Tournament - Golfers' Heaven on Earth

2010-04-08T14:26:00.036-04:00

click photo to enlarge

As the first round of the 2011 Masters gets underway, I thought I would share a little about what the tournament means to me and recall my only visit to God's golf course on earth.

First, I get my love of the game from my father and brothers. Many don't realize that Dad was a tremendous golfer in his day - well, maybe not his putting - and not much time passes these days between times he says he would love to be able to play again. When he was young, he caddied at a Dalton, Georgia country club. I am sure he snuck in a few rounds between loops. The brothers are very good in their own right, and I often say that if you want to place a good bet on a golfer, brother Nelson is always an excellent choice. He plays as well under pressure - and for dough - than anyone I've ever seen. It was always a great day when the four of us played a round of golf together and I recall winning a few scramble events as team Foster, Foster, Foster, and Foster. Thanks Dad.

Intentional or not, I was indoctrinated into two great Georgia sporting pastimes early on in life. One is watching the Georgia Bulldogs on football Saturdays and the other is the spring spectacle called The Masters Tournament.

So, what is it that makes the Masters so special? For me, it's the history and the story of the ever growing legend of Bobby Jones,

a gentleman amateur who dominated the game and decided to have an invitational golf tournament for some close friends. The story has been told a million times and need not be rehashed here. But what remains is the Tournament (properly pronounced toon-a-mint) and what I believe is the most dignified, gentlemanly, respected and revered sporting event in the world. The patrons (spectators) are considered the most knowledgeable and gracious in sport and are always ready to applaud an excellent shot and to never revel in a player's mistake.

Then you have the grounds. Tucked away on a busy strip that rivals the most congested section of Highway 41 here in Marietta, is an unassuming gate. But behind the gate is "The National" as it is called by the locals. An entrance drive named Magnolia Lane leads to the clubhouse that moves the heart in the same way as a bride walking down the aisle to marriage.

Magnolia Lane entrance

Yes, for a golfer, it really is like that. Built on the grounds of a nursery, a masterful course is laid out with attention to every detail. Evidence of the land's nursery past is all around, the quiet beauty in perfect harmony with the roars of the crowds. The shoreline at Pebble Beach is truly beautiful, but the grounds at Augusta National have you looking over your shoulder hoping to catch God taking a practice swing. I am convinced God holds the course record with an 18.

Most of all of that has been said before - a million times over by now.

But one rainy Friday a few years ago, while banging away in my cubicle at work, a Senior level executive stopped by and asked if I had any interest in going to the Masters the next day. Uh, duh! So the next day I am at the Ritz in Atlanta well before sunrise to meet the provider of the sacred "badge" and the trip to Augusta. I buy a $5 cup of coffee thinking to myself people must be nuts to pay that for a cup of joe (clearly not aware of the concept of Starbucks). My "co-worker" calls to say he does not feel well, which leaves me with a businessman who wants my company's business and me with no authority to buy his products. That of course was absolutely no reason for me to decline the opportunity, and I gladly made the trip with my new friend. See how easy I am? All you need to be my friend is provide a Masters badge and day trip to Augusta.

I remember the arrival to Augusta, the lines of cars signaling that we were close. In my mind I was expecting something like the approach to the "Land of Oz" a shining spectacle on a hill that could be seen for miles. But it was more like a simple off-ramp, a right turn onto a sloppily constructed four-lane and then - the gate.

But, of course, my host's company had leased a house nearby so that was our morning destination. It seems that every house within walking distance of the course is rented during Masters week. Our house was a simple ranch which had been expanded off the back to provide a very large area for entertaining in the backyard. A large tent had been set up for the night's dinner and special guest.

I checked in and this lovely lady took my name and place of work, made me promise on my life that I would return the badge at the end of the day

the badge lady

and sent me off to the backyard where they had a guy with a computer that analyzes golf swings. Everyone got their swing analyzed except for me as I had hand surgery to repair a golf injury (thanks Dr. Colquitt it's perfect now) only a few days before.

Off to the course. I had brought along some golf shoes and decided to wear them. Others in my group, donned their nice tennis and running shoes, knowing me just well enough by this time to tease me by asking if I was playing. I grinned and said nothing as I had both golf shoes on and being the hard-headed guy I am was committed to keeping them on.

Our approach was through either a back gate or side gate. The gate was carefully arranged so that each patron could be screened individually for electronic devices which are strictly prohibited on tournament days.
Being the accountant that I am, I had left my phone in the car with no ill effect. The salesmen I was with were already suffering from withdrawal and the polite signage reminding them that no devices were allowed only made them tremble more at the thought of a day disconnected from the world. As far as I was concerned, the world I wanted to be connected to was inside the gate, not outside.

My first impression was of the property itself as the course was still out of site. You know how neat and clean Disney grounds and properties are? The National - cleaner, neater, more beautiful. Not a pine needle out of place. We approached the scoreboard. For most, a simple yet elegant wall of neatly painted lumber with names. For the golfer, a listing of the "near gods" that were to appear on the course that day.

A pro golfer on any other course is - a pro golfer. In Augusta, they are elevated to another place. They take on an aura that only the Masters can provide them. A little information booth nearby provides a free "patron's guidebook". In it text from Bobby Jones detailing proper patron etiquette and notes about the best places to view the tournament and some history and facts about this year's players. Classic.

The patrons stand in quiet reverence, most everyone realizing what a glorious place and event they are in the presence of. Next was a detour to the "gift shop". Hundreds of people scurrying about, spending money as fast as they could get their hands on the merchandise. My companions spent a thousand dollars at least on gear to be delivered back to the "more unfortunate" back home. Since my good fortune was last minute, my shopping list was much smaller.

Finally, off to the course. The first thing I noticed was how wide-open the grounds are. An incredible amount of space between the front and back nines. People scurrying about, trying to find their way to what they believe is a great place to stake out their ground for the day with a chair. It seems that there is an unwritten rule - place your chair in a spot and it is yours for the day. Once the chair is placed, you can leave it to watch the event in other locals and when you return hours later, your chair is untouched, the space still reserved and awaiting your return. Not being greedy, we placed our chairs in the right rough at the 13th fairway. And then off to the No 9; a hole that really does not stand out, except for this day.

Now I can say that the prior day's round had been postponed due to rain. So, the first hours were actually the finish of round two with round three to start immediately after. I was there for Jack's last hole. Unfortunately, Jack had started on the back which left his finishing hole for round two at the ninth. This was when I knew that my hosts were not real golfers - merely impostors. As Jack made his final putt to cheers much too small for the moment, I got that big lump in my throat and did my best to not cry like a baby. The others seemingly unaware of what had just taken place.

Jack's final hole No. 9 April 9, 2005

With history witnessed so early on, it was time to relax and enjoy the show. I wanted to walk a good bit of the course so I headed out, the impostors now following me instead of me following them. Back to the rain delay.
As you can see on TV, the grass at Augusta is extremely special - a beautiful emerald green not to been seen anywhere else on earth so perfect. Nevertheless, the patrons must cross some of the fairways in carefully controlled areas. Unfortunately, the masses trodding over the soft wet earth quickly turned the beautiful grass into a muddy mess. But, if your nose was clear you quickly realized that this mud was special. It has a unique aroma all its own. Yes, that's manure you smell ladies and gentlemen. Not only is the manure used in the fairways, but apparently much of it is spread in the walking areas just off the course where the patrons must walk.

It was soft and deep in some areas. I looked at my waterproof leather golf shoes with glee as the impostors walked gingerly to avoid having their mesh tennis and running shoes stick in the wet manure / mud. The image of the tournament is carefully controlled and I am convinced we do not have "Aromavision" technology in televisions solely due to the immense control the Augusta National members hold over the world as we know it. Nor will you hear the announcers or golfers talk of the aroma after a rain.

I observed beautiful young ladies dressed in lovely sun dresses and carefully matched sandals tested as they tromped through the mush. Their spouses / dates silently watched to see if they dared complain about their condition. Lightly colored sandals were transformed into ankle-high warm brown bucks. Pedicures and toenail polish a lost cause.

The crowds make it difficult to see the golfers as you roam. It's best to get in a good spot and wait. So, as round three started I headed over to the No. 6 par three and got on the ropes at the teebox and waited for groups to appear. Eventually, Tiger made the teebox. The caddy rested his bag on my toe ( I kind of stuck it out there). As Tiger awaited his turn, I perused Tiger's bag and clubs. They shined like the best platinum, gold, silver combined. Except there was a small dot about the size of a dime on the center of each iron face where the finish was worn off. An incredible sight for a golfer to behold and realizing that almost every shot he hits is within this tiny sweet-spot. Another treat for the day.

I had to make my way to one of the food tents, strategically placed on the grounds as to not be too obvious. Of course I had my Pimento Cheese sandwich. A true delight and true to legend, fairly priced.

So much to see, and so little time. The sun never moved across the sky faster than it did that day. At the end of the day, we were at hole #11 and Phil had made his tee shot. The horn blew, the round called for darkness. I and the impostors headed back to the clubhouse. A very pretty, petite blonde and her friend walked with us, even enough to engage in a little small talk. Turned out to be Phil's wife Amy.

As she approached one of the sacred areas that most patrons are not allowed, we bid farewell. Apparently she had a better badge than we did.

One of the traditions at the Masters was that the winners got an invitation to appear every year. This meant that golfers long past their competitive years got to play the first two rounds before the cut. That year, Billy Casper carded an unofficial second round 106. Precious few are sure as he never turned in the scorecard. I got to meet Mr. Casper that night at dinner.

1970 Masters Champion - Billy Casper

He was a very gracious event host and speaker. I got to take a wag at his scorecard. He signed the Titleist hat I wore that day. I asked him to sign nice and big across the bill and he did so with a chuckle.

So, there you have it. A day I will likely not forget for a very long time, possibly never. I know you may be thinking there are plenty of chances to return to the Masters, and I am sure I would never turn down the opportunity to go again but I can say I would never want to go to the point where the event loses its magic. I'd like to think it never does.

I Am an Excellent Singer

2010-03-28T13:11:00.041-04:00

For those of you that know me, I am sure this comes as a complete surprise but I have to admit it, I'm a good singer. No - I am crazy good. Looking back, I suspect I've been great for quite some time but it did not occur to me how exceptional I was until I recently drove 3,000 miles on I-75 through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio in the past two weeks.

Half of that distance was compiled driving alone and with the 6-CD changer loaded up with my usual and rather eclectic mix of music. I shy away from nothing except rap, which if you think about it probably doesn't qualify as music since it's usually a stolen melody with too much bass and laced with profanity to remind you why it is called rap.

This driving alone time was when I had my musical awakening of my brilliance. On a 500 mile trip, there are more than a few songs that I sing along to. And when I sing along, I am outstanding to say the least. I don't hold anything back - why should I? After all, I am a crazy good singer*. I am sure by now you might be interested in what I sing...wait no more.

First - the mother of all car sing along songs...the one with no equal.. it stands alone maybe forever.

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody I am so good that I sing all parts in the harmony. I know its hard to do but remember I am great. I switch about the parts at will.

John Denver - Country Roads A drive though this part of the country would not be complete without a little John Denver. As a matter of fact my wife usually insists - always in the middle of Kentucky. Yes, I am fully aware the song refers to West Virgina but that is a minor detail after four hours of driving.

Jackson Browne - The Load Out / Stay My falsetto is dead on (at 7:05 in the video). I told you I was crazy good.

R.E.M. - It's the End of the World as We Know It. No tongue twister is safe when I sing in the car. One of the greatest things about R.E.M. is that you don't have to get the lyrics right.. So, again I excel above most singers.

R.E.M. - The One I Love Yes, two from R.E.M. but fully justified.

Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma I am a very sophisticated person...and I can sing in Italian, even Latin. This is such a beautiful song, I usually choose to sing at slower speeds so as to avoid the interference of the wind noise. My traffic jam and traffic light friends next to me are always appreciative for the entertainment. I can tell so by the looks on their faces.

Merle Haggard - Okie from Muskogee An irrestible gem that can be sung in key or out of key. Doesn't matter. I usually repeat this song so I can get in another "By Golly", my favorite part.

Styx - Babe The great things about Styx: You can tell they had music classes in school, and their lyrics are intelligible and very singable. When I'm on a roll and the pipes are feeling good, I can belt out an entire album.

James Brown - I Feel Good Nothing is better than the Godfather of Soul to give me a little "pick me up" at mile 450 of 500. Michael Jackson's moonwalk didn't have a thing on James Brown's 360 degree moves...

A road trip would not be complete without a little Southern Rock, so finally I share with you

Allman Brothers - Ramblin' Man Sometimes, if traffic gets bad in Georgia I switch to Highway 41. Perfection.

So, there you go. Just a very small portion of my repertoire. I know you are dying to take a ride up to Ohio with me now.

Bonus: Needs no introduction.

* Why no, I don't remember how badly I sang as Charlie Brown in the Junior High musical and I definitely hope no video or audio has survived to remind me.

GE Adora Microwave - Product Review Trifecta

2010-03-11T13:26:00.005-05:00

Well, some people say things tend to come in threes so I felt it was only fitting that this post complete a set of three product related posts.

I bought a GE Adora Microwave model # DVM1850SM1SS from my friends at Home Depot. It worked very well until about 1 month after the parts and labor warranty ran out. It heats, but it also sounds like I have a stethoscope pressed against the closest power station.

I made a little video to illustrate what it is like to use this fine product. Enjoy.

Open Letter to James Dyson, Founder and Chairman of Dyson

2010-03-07T21:18:00.019-05:00

James,

How's it going on the other side of the pond? I've had a long day, the usual weekend chores and stuff but I managed to finish things up - or should I say find a good stopping point. So I pulled out my trusty Dyson vacuum cleaner to clean things up a bit.

First, I should say that I love this vacuum cleaner. Seven years ago, being fed up with my cheap and not very sucky older vacuum cleaner, I took out a second mortgage and headed on over to my favorite big box store and ponied up my $400+ U.S. for your model DC14.

Worth every penny. Had I known at the time, I would not had held on so tightly to those hundred dollar bills at the checkout register. Simply put, this machine is pure engineering, quality and durability genius. I couldn't be happier. But...

Focus on your frustrations

Does that phrase sound familiar. It should. Frankly, I have been so happy that it has taken me seven years to come to this point that I even had a smidgen of a complaint or frustration. Maybe it's just my unit, and not everyone else's but, Why did you make the power cord length an exact multiple of the wrapping distance from the top hanger to the bottom catch? After I finish wrapping up the cord, I cannot use the handy little hook on the back of the plug to clip the plug to the wire as intended.

Every blissful vacuuming experience ends with this struggle. That yellow clip is right where my cord ends!
How could you spend 5 years and go through 5,127 prototypes on this piece of engineering genius and overlook the cord length? Tell me it isn't so!

I'm no engineer, but I'll recommend that your cord technicians change the length of the cord so when one wraps the cord up it ends up something like this.

Not only can I now easily use the hook on the back of the plug but when I am ready to use my vacuum the next time, I do not have to reach to the floor to retrieve the plug for unwrapping and plugging in.

Regards,
Tommy

P.S. Please excuse the lousy pictures captured on my "free" Samsung cell phone. You get what you pay for, you know what I mean.

Open Letter to: Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda CEO

2010-02-24T14:31:00.021-05:00

Dear Takashi,

I am writing you as a loyal owner of a 2001 Mazda Miata. I am loyal because I have been extremely satisfied with the performance and reliability of this car and have subsequently purchased another Mazda automobile the Protege 5 hatchback (predecessor to the Mazda 3). Both cars really do deliver on your Zoom-Zoom promise. I specifically chose the Miata because it is a convertible and I really enjoy driving the car with the top down with the sun shining on my ever increasingly bald head. As a matter of fact, we probably both agree that the car is most appealing when the top is down. If it is over 50 degrees here in Georgia, USA, the top is going down.

My car has 87,000 miles on it and I am convinced that I might just get another trouble free 87,000 miles. Even so, I am tempted to buy another newer Miata and always love admiring the new models in the showroom at the local dealership where I get my oil changed.

But there is a problem with your newer MX-5s as you now call them. They all have black interiors. Some models may have a hint of mid-brown or red trim, but they are primarily black.

Now Tak, can I call you Tak? I am no engineer, but I did pay attention to the fifth grade science fair we had at my elementary school. One of the undeniable facts about the color black is that it absorbs sunlight. And that absorption leads to a significant heating effect. It should come as no surprise that some outdoor enthusiasts can actually cook and prepare food with small, black sunlight-absorbing cooking devices.

I don't think doubling as an oven is a feature you should promote...

a little better but when I rest my arm on the top of the door panel it's going to hurt!

Due to the education from my fellow classmate and scientist T.G., I had the foresight to purchase a Miata with a light tan interior.

This is what it should look like - your 2001 LS model.

I can't help but notice all of the convertible owners out there with black interiors with the top up on a perfectly beautiful 75 degree day. I am sure these folks have discovered that a black interior will cook them! I don't understand how they can properly enjoy the car as they apparently do not take advantage of this heating effect when the temperatures are cooler.

So Tak, I implore you! Please build your convertibles with light color interiors. It is not just enough to have light colored seats. Have one of your engineers sit in the car. Ideally, the only surface that should be black is the dash. Any other part that is capable of being touched by the occupants should be light colored with a small concession for the steering wheel and shifter knob as I have no problems with those in my car. I realize that a uniform interior color scheme saves your company money on the production line and might return more value to your shareholders. But I also know that in my case it discourages me from ever replacing the Miata I have. And also, cost cutting measures may have unintended consequences as your friends at Toyota have discovered.

My next car will most definitely be a convertible and I have only one reason not to buy another MX-5, the black interior.

Thank you

P.S. I write this letter as a public service announcement on behalf of all you future convertible owners who will be looking for your new convertible very soon!

The Circus is Coming to Town!

2010-02-03T23:33:00.031-05:00

The greatest show on earth is coming to town. The circus that is. I took my progeny to the circus when they were young...I didn't like it. As a matter of fact, it was downright depressing.

I'm not sure how I ended up with the tickets; I can't imagine paying for them. I loaded up the kids and we headed to the Omni or Philips arena, I cannot remember which. Either way, we were in a dome or modern edifice as opposed to a big tent which would have been more charming.

The one minute commercials make it look like everyone is having so much fun they can barely contain their excitement and the performers are full of life too. I found though that once inside the bigtop that was not a bigtop, the performers were dull and lifeless. They appeared worn out and merely going through the motions - the same show over and over again all across the country with little rest I am sure.

There were three rings of action to satisfy today's children with short attention spans - including one of mine. The sheer size of the place eliminated any feeling of excitement or buzz. The occasional children's cheers and squeals dissipated into space it seemed. The aisles were filled with toy vendors peddling grossly overpriced Chinese plastic gizmos designed to do little more than take parents' money. There were trapeze artists, clowns aplenty, and of course the animals.

The wild animals were anything but, reduced to parading robots as the handlers buzzed about them poking, prodding, correcting any that got out of line. A place that was supposed to be happy and exciting was depressing. It was sad, downright sadness. All those creatures peddled about the country, living a life of nothingness. Performing only to be fed with little more than train or truck rides in between.

You might think that I am a PETA nut. I am not. I think we as humans are perfectly correct to raise, hunt, kill, eat what we please as long as we don't drive a species into extinction.

But when considering the circus and it's history of using animals, I think its time has come and gone. In the beginning, the circus may have been the only opportunity to see animals in person that live exclusively on another far away and mostly unreachable continent. In the early 1900s, I cannot imagine a more exciting prospect to a small town Marietta child than to see lions, elephants, zebras, whatever that may have traveled around the country with the circus.

But now, we have television, the internet, DVDs, and so many forms of media where people can experience and learn about wildlife in their natural habitat. Planet Earth on Blu-ray is absolutely stunning.

click photo to enlarge

If you think about it, there is nothing educational or natural watching lions in a cage hop from barrel to barrel through a hoop, watching a dog ride a horse in a circle, or seeing an elephant standing on its front legs.

The circus is for the children, but don't expect the event to be anything more than a passing curiosity for them.
The next day they will likely be just as fascinated with what has fallen into the cracks of the sofa cushions.

Go if you wish, and report back how it was for you. I'll be watching Planet Earth, and maybe a little Cirque du Soleil on the television.

Levi's 501 Jeans

2010-02-02T09:34:00.011-05:00

It occurred to me that if retailers just sold good old fashioned jeans, then they wouldn't be suffering from these gangster smash and grab thefts...

When is the last time the proprietor was quoted, "They cleaned out all my Levi's 501s. They knew what they were after because they only took the jeans with the red tag on the pocket"...?

Hit the Brakes, Shift to Neutral

2010-01-30T14:21:00.016-05:00

First, let me say that I have long considered Toyota a premier car brand when it comes to exceptional value and reliability. Recent events regarding the stuck accelerator problem are shaking the company and its long standing reputation of excellence down to the core.

This is a problem that has contributed to the death of drivers and passengers and cannot be taken lightly. There is a widely spread 911 call as a Toyota owner or passenger calls as the car careens out of control and ends with the death of all occupants.

The official solution or the one being promoted by news organizations is that if your car accelerates or the pedal gets stuck is to: Hit the brakes, and shift to neutral. Maybe the short term solution is this easy, but I wonder does it not occur to the drivers to do so?

My first car was a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle.

It had a manual transmission and after the obligatory first week of jumpy starts I got the hang of it fairly well. While driving a manual transmission, the use of the clutch and neutral becomes instinctively natural as the driver engages or disengages the engine from the wheels. I routinely use neutral in the process of slowing down and stopping my car. As a matter of fact, it requires little if any conscious thought to do so. This is good, as I have been accused of driving like I left my brain at home. It occurs to me that many people never learn to drive a manual transmission.

As a result, I could imagine that in the moment of the emergency, it does not occur to them to move their shifter into neutral and eliminating the threat of the out of control throttle.
Or is it possible that the transmission is so engaged that moving the shifter to neutral is impossible?

I have my own experience with stuck or problem throttles. While driving my VW bug late - or early in the morning depending upon which way you want to look at it - one night, somehow a small part of the engine fell right between the engine housing and the carburetor which resulted in the throttle being stuck wide open, and I mean wide open. Since it was very late and raining cat and dogs, I chose not to park and walk home. Cell phones did not exist at the time. Now I am driving through a neighborhood with the throttle wide open which required some rather skillful clutch engagement and gear selection to keep a safe speed. The main problem was the roaring engine as I made my almost legal stop at stop signs. Fortunately, the late - or early hour - meant no one was on the road. I made it home and the parents never mentioned my roaring approach to the house.

The old style VW bugs were amazing machines...Once I was driving my '72 bug home from Athens back to Marietta. In this instance, the throttle cable broke just outside Athens. You must understand that Fosters by their very nature will not spend money on a tow truck unnecessarily and this resistance was reinforced by my being a broke college student. Using my experience with what I will now call "constant state throttle position", I was able to rig (VW bugs were very receptive to this skill) the throttle open, this time choosing a more leisurely throttle position. I was able to get the car back to Athens and have the cable replaced.

Great times in that bug, but I have to admit I don't miss it. I'd rather drive a Toyota.

How to Start Helping Others

2010-01-22T12:11:00.022-05:00

You may think that since I chose to write about helping others that I am an expert and I have all the answers. Nope, nothing could be farther from the truth. But, I'm going to make a post anyway.

Recent events punctuated by the earthquake in Haiti have caused an upsurge in those of us that want to help out in some way. One disaster after another, one family tragedy after another, another job loss, one disease diagnosis after another. It becomes overwhelming; so many needs for help. I believe most of us recognize the needs and do want to help.

But after that initial thought we begin to hesitate and think to ourselves: How do I help? Where do I go? What can I do? Cash or labor? I don't have the time. Which is the best organization to support? Can I make a difference? Will my efforts go to waste? Will a corrupt government seize my relief donation for its own selfish gains and profits? Will my money be tied up in a bureaucratic mess only to be redirected later to something I did not intend? I have bills to pay.

Hesitation turns into inaction.

Resist the temptation to rationalize inaction. Be quiet and listen to your heart and you will know what you need to do and where to direct your energy.

For now, for me it involves an organization that is closely related to what I enjoy in my free time, riding bicycles. By chance, fate, or God's will I found a biker's blog, read of a man's struggle to support his wife in a battle with cancer and literally shed tears onto my keyboard at the news of his loss. Never met the man thousands of miles away. But in reading, he inspired me to open my heart to those around me, to people online who I will never meet. Reach out, help others, make a difference. Fight. So, because of this I choose to make a difference through The Lance Armstrong Foundation and the LIVESTRONG Challenge.

All these years, I have been focused on trying to eek out an existence for my family since I left the comfortable and leisurely confines of my parents so many years ago. And while I have always considered one of my life's greatest priorities is to have a reasonably happy and relatively secure family, due to only moderate success this has not left much room for reaching out and helping others.

I think neglecting the needs of others has caused me to neglect a part of myself that could have made me a better person. I hope it's not too late.

Reach out, help someone, anyone.

Next Blog >> Feature - What?

2010-01-06T15:24:00.023-05:00

Obviously, I use Blogger for my blog. It's good; it's free. Accountants / financial analysts like that. There's a feature that has not been that great despite the free-ness. It's called "Next Blog".

Should I even complain? No, probably not but its function or the way it works is a little disturbing to me these days.

In the past, it used to take the reader to a completely random Blogger site. Since most Blogger users are outside the U.S. (Alert! apparently we are NOT the center of the universe), you would never know where you would end up language wise or values wise. Usually, in a few clicks you were looking at a page originating from a country where they do strange things with animals.

Apparently the kind Blogger people started to get a lot of negative feedback. So, they set out to change the function of this "Next Blog" button. Now it is supposed to take you to sites related to the page you are on and written in the same language.

I tried it out. First I started on my site (this one) which I would describe as a general, random topic blog.

Click #1: Aim Academy for Somatic Integration

"I have found the professionalization process fascinating, ever since the early 90s, when I watched what the Trager community went through.The pilates community may face similar-seeming issues when"....

At a glance I have no idea what the association with my blog topics is, but I trust the programmers...

Click #2: Yogi in the City

Interesting...clever site name anyway. If he only had a pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps on...

Click #3: Lucy's Yoga Adventure

"Now 47, I completed the grueling Bikram Yoga Teacher Training. Now I'm traveling across the US in a Pop Up Camper to visit various key studios to learn"....

At least we are about the same age...

Click #4: Lone Star Kettlebell

"So as I'm being wheeled down to the ground level, I realize what I look like: a guy who must've nearly ..., but I couldn't tell that to the mass of gawking onlookers. Long-story short, after some blood work, a CT scan and 2 liters of fluid, I was released around 5:30am with an acute case of gastroenteritis (food poisoning)."

Hey! I've had food poisoning. But what is a kettlebell? It's all making sense to me now...Methinks this button is not quite ready for prime time.

I Hate Cancer - Help Me Fight It

2010-01-02T19:03:00.046-05:00

I've been blessed to not have to confront and fight cancer myself or in my immediate family. But like all of us, I don't have to look far to know of those around us that have had cancer, some died, some are survivors, some are in the fight right now.

My grandfather Roy Shields was taken from us due to a battle with prostate cancer. He was a great man. There's not enough room for all the good things to say about him here. Although he was always gentle with me as a youngster, I also knew he was a man to be respected and even feared if you got a bit out of line. He was an ordained minister and also raised cattle. He was tough as nails and I remember the older brothers talking of their experiences tossing hay bales. We were city boys in comparison and they would get the fear in their eyes at the hint of having to go "toss hay bales". Luckily, I was too young to get in the fields.

I also know that the man loved rasslin' and I'm not talking about the high school version. I'm talking Mr. Wrestling I and Mr. Wrestling II from the late 1960s back before it went all "Hollywood". He would turn on the TV and once the rasslin' got started he was lost to the world around him gyrating, throwing punches, bouncing off the ropes and body slamming all from his La-Z-Boy chair. And for all you football wives out there, my grandmother Shields was a rasslin' widow if there was such a thing. She could tell you who won yesterday's match and who was going to get it in the re-match.

He was 82 years old when the cancer took over this man that to me was as strong as his largest bull.

Cancer 1, Family 0

Kenneth K. is my father-in-law. Several years ago he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He thought the pain in his back was due to a bad mattress. The cancer was far enough along that the best option was to have the cancer surgically removed. As a result, Ken lives with a fraction of one kidney. We and others are blessed to have him around with us still as he is constantly in motion finding ways to help others through several programs and mission efforts. Ken just enjoyed his 76th birthday.

Cancer 1, Family 1

I have set some goals for myself this year and one includes being more proactive in helping and reaching out to others. I'm going to continue riding my bike for my health and with the Lance Armstrong Foundation I can combine my love of biking for a weekend with a fight to beat cancer.

On August 21st, I'll travel to Philadelphia (at my own expense of course) to ride 100 miles with fellow LIVESTRONG team members. So, I invite you to follow me and or join me in my journey to help beat cancer.

Click here to visit my personal LIVESTRONG Challenge donation page to support my quest to help others in memory of and in honor of those that we all know that have been affected. At $10,000, I've set the bar pretty high but I know that this is a reachable goal. I'm going to have to be diligent and persistent in my effort to make this goal over the next 8 months; a small price to pay compared to the courageous battles of our friends' and families' fight every day against cancer.

Click here to visit the Lance Armstrong Foundation site for more information about the services they provide to families fighting cancer.

Click here to join my supporters on Facebook

Please post your comments and cancer fighting stories below. I want to hear from you.

Also, you can help me by using the power of the internet by re-posting or forwarding the link of this blog entry or the link of my LIVESTRONG site to others. It all starts with one person, but it will take the effort of many to win the battle with cancer.

Thank you * FLS * Allez Team Fatty

Click Here to Donate

Swim, Bike, Run Update

2009-12-26T21:17:00.012-05:00

Too much food. Too much sofa time. Ouch. These are what I muttered to myself for about 26 of the 53 miles I rode on my bike today. I haven't updated on the triathlon progress in a while and although I have not quit the pursuit lets just say I have been treading water, figuratively.

I have been attending group rides fairly regularly for months now and a standing ride is after each holiday there is a Budweiser Brewery ride that starts and finishes (imagine that) at the Budweiser Plant near Cartersville on I-75. Its a 53 mile route with a store stop around mile 27. Rolling hills and low traffic roads. It's a very nice ride.

Today's departure time was 10:00 and it was a bit chilly at 38 degrees, but these are some pretty hard core riders and I guess there were about 30 riders today.

I got a few Christmas presents from my mother (how did she know?) that made the ride entirely tolerable and almost pleasant. First, a pair of neoprene booties.

Part of the problem with the standard biking shoe is that it is well ventilated. A feature that is great mid-summer is horrible mid-winter. So, you pull these booties over your shoes and they seal your feet up very well against the wind and water. They look really goofy but hey, I've already got on spandex and tights.

The second was a balaclava. which without Biker Brian to educate me, I would just as well called a ski-mask.

Is this really necessary in the south? At 38 degrees, factor in some wind chill due to the 15-25 mile per hour speed and it gets really cold. This underneath a helmet kept me really warm today. As you warm up, you can pull the lower section below your jaw to open it up a bit. If you are falling out of the pack, you can pull the balaclava back up to hide your face as the hammers fly by.

Riding in a group is wonderful as the drafting effect in a group of bikers is significant. So much so that most will kill themselves to stay in the main group. I have yet to make this ride and stay with the pack. Today, I kept up for about 15 miles and as the hills turned up a bit the hammers dropped me. I managed to catch the group at the store stop but they quickly left me again after they got back on the road.

So, back to a solo ride which I really don't mind as the route is well marked and I can make my own pace. Unfortunately, I have a knee problem as I have pulled or aggravated a tendon in the back of my knee. This has been an issue for about three weeks now and the past few days was the first time that I felt good just moving around the house. But tenderness flared up again. So, I'm afraid I am going to have to rest this knee a while longer which is going to postpone running and biking for sure. I may head to the pool, which I have been threatening to do for about a month now. Maybe the knee can tolerate a leisurely swim.

LIFE Magazine Online - A Virtual Museum of History

2009-12-22T17:42:00.047-05:00

Recently I was watching a TV show and in the background was a set of Childcraft books. These were the children's volumes that accompanied the World Book encyclopedias that many of us had in our homes in the 1970s.

The How and Why Library

I Googled Childcraft and discovered that they still exist although in a smaller format shown above. In addition to the wonderful Childcraft books, my parents also purchased the Cyclo-Teacher. This was a strange contraption that used large circular wheels of self-gradable quizzes on various topics, each color representing a different subject area. I remember pink was Mathematics, blue was Language Arts, orange Social Studies.

Early 1960s Cyclo-Teacher

I loved both the books and the Cyclo-Teacher and no doubt spent countless hours reading and learning as a ~~little~~ young person.

One more Google click and I was taken to an ad for the Cyclo Teacher in LIFE magazine. It turns out that Google has imaged many of the LIFE issues from the 1940s to 1970s. Every page - advertisements and articles there for the viewing. What a treasure trove of history. You can read about history in many places, but that involves someone else's perspective and interpretation of what took place.

What I found so fascinating was reading articles fixed in the past, unchanged from the effects of time, changing society, and the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. Also interesting is the letters to the editor section. It must have been odd mailing in comments as opposed to the instant gratification available to all of us through the internet to immediately make a post to the author that you disagree or that the article (blog) stinks.

Ward: Honey, where's the good vellum bond paper? I want to type up a comment on an article I read in this LIFE magazine I picked up at the newstand today...

June: Dear, it is right where it always is stored in the top drawer of the rolltop desk. You would lose your head if it wasn't screwed on (grinning).

Ward: Thanks dear, nice pearls by the way goes great with your dress and apron.

June: Don't forget postage went up to three cents.

Ward: I'll feel better tomorrow after I mail this off. That will show them.

Want more information about a product in an ad? Clip the "I'm interested" coupon and mail it in for additional information. Advertisement pages are dominated by autos, smokes, liquor and an occasional appliance including American made TVs (gasp).

I could enter the Smithsonian Museum and quite possibly never come out, and finding these LIFE magazine images creates the same kind of insatiable curiosity in me. I spent hours browsing and didn't even come close to scratching the surface.

Here's a small sampling of some of the items that quickly caught my eye. Some are important, some just entertaining:

Martin Luther King, Jr. - April 12, 1968
The MLK article seemed to be at a loss for words compared to the Jim Morrison (The Doors) article. Could it be explained by the amount of time taken to compose and publish in magazine format an article back then? Did journalistic integrity make it difficult to produce a fitting article at the last minute? Today, a significantly less public figure dies and there are pages upon pages of articles available the next day.

The Credit Card issue, March 27, 1970
Credit cards were evil even in the beginning...Note the ad with the World Trade Center under construction (next to last image)...Vintage Jack Nicholson...

The Woodstock Special issue, August 1969
An instantly epic event...

Marriage Issue, April 28, 1972
The 50-50 marriage contract.....Welcome Springtime, can't you just taste it? - Salem Menthol Cigarettes...

Ted Kennedy - before Chappaquiddick, January 15, 1965
An astonishing machine called the Ultrasound revolutionizes medicine...A lady walks an empty leash and collar long before Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil...Ice cold Coke goes great with piping hot tomato soup says Coca-Cola...

January, 4, 1954 The Boom Time - A Decatur family man George Perryman, employed at Lockheed is featured in an article about household budgets. His annual grocery bill was greater than his annual house payment.... Corvettes are featured as plastic cars..Economic predictions for the bicentennial year 1976, twenty-four years into the FUTURE!

March 1, 1968 - The infamous Vietcong street execution photo and commentary...The concept of dialing 911 for emergencies is introduced...Some unknown actress named Katharine Ross gets a movie role..."Music groups have gone so electronic that pop groups rarely dare perform live anymore"...Restoration of Ford's Theater...

October 31, 1969 - Marijuana issue
Introduction of the Big Mac - "a meal disguised as a sandwich" and guaranteed by Parents Magazine ...Some puppeteer named Jim Henson gets some attention...Should marijuana be legalized?...1970 Chevelle SS 396 ad...Introduction of the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar including winsome stewardesses...Need a quick energy boost? Nothing works better than Golden Blossom Honey!...

March 10, 1972 - The Godfather - Brando makes a promising movie...A small car company called Toyota markets its car based upon its price, its reliability to be discovered later..."It takes something pretty strong to make people trade in their Volkswagons" - AMC Gremlin..."Dream Wrap" the slenderizing sensation...Tattoos - I'll love this psychedelic butterfly forever, right?...

May 19, 1972 - The Population Control Question
How many people are too many? A shortage of water prediction for half of the country by 2022...Join the Army and we'll pay you $288 per month a give you free room and board...MGB Convertible- it doesn't create an image. It confirms one. (tow truck not included)...

August 27, 1945
It turns out there were a lot of sailors kissing random women at the end of WWII. A few ladies were so excited they skinny-dipped in a San Francisco park fountain, accompanied by photographers and revelers alike. I think I see evidence - or lack of it - of early attempts at "Photo-shopping"...A waterproofed toothbrush?...

July 5, 1968 - Special Issue - The Presidency
A look into the office of the presidency when it still was afforded some respect...Ghost writers of famous presidential quotes...

Just like my childhood trip to the Smithsonian...times up, and way too soon. I'll have to go back for more as time allows.

The Shallow End of the Pool

2009-12-16T11:13:00.014-05:00

It has been a few months since I've started this blogging thing and I have to say that it is an enjoyable outlet. I'm not sure how many bean-counters have blogs, but its probably safe to say that most don't. It's not an occupation that lends itself to creative writing; creativity in accounting and finance leads to jail.

I can probably count the number of my blog readers on one hand, but as I said at the beginning, it serves me more than others I am sure. Now that I am starting to get the hang of blogging at its most fundamental level, I have started checking in on some of the millions of blogs out there.

I like people watching. Maybe having a psychology degree inclines me to take interest more than most. I am out of practice however, as I almost never get close to a mall or any other crowded places for that matter.

When you people watch, your perception is all based upon the outer person. You project what you want to believe about the person based upon what you see and how they look and act.

Reading blogs is people watching but it can be so much more revealing. It's more of an inside-out process. A personal blog can go in a myriad of directions and usually in the unexpected. People will put into a blog information about themselves you would never glean from that same individual in a mall and quite possibly if you knew that person as an acquaintance. My beautiful wife, after reading one of my blogs said, "Have you been keeping all this stuff in your head all these years?" (26 including dating)

Well, no. But like many women I am sure she was surprised that I (being a man) was thinking anything at all.

There are a lot of fascinating, talented writers and people out there in the blogosphere. And unlike the mall, they are all available 24/7. My poor, untrained writing is quickly exposed in comparison. I guess I should have turned in a journal like everyone else in Mr. Bond's class - not sure how I got away with that.

The more I read, the more I discover that in the great pool of blogs...I am still in the shallow end.

Top 10 - Bottom 10 Christmas Songs

2009-12-13T13:14:00.102-05:00

Despite the fact that I have only one functioning ear, I can say that I am a self appointed connoisseur of Christmas music. As I was trolling through the 2,000 channels on the TV yesterday morning as I was enjoying my morning java, I sought out the music channel that was set to play "holiday" music.

I finally found the channel for Christmas music and I couldn't believe my ear! Apparently, the person that put together that play list bought the music from the ten cent bargain bin at the dollar store. I can only explain it as Christmas music carnage. There were absolutely awful renditions of the classics scattered with new creations that were about as good of a Christmas song as a paisley tie is a gift for a man.

I know that every halfway successful singer / performer ends up making a Christmas album and I can understand the financial motivation to milk a few extra dollars out of the fan base. I added performer to the last sentence because so many of today's music entertainers can't sing worth a darn. The ability for a current singer to out-sing and perform the Christmas classics compared to the earlier renditions are rare. As far as I am concerned, some of the classics shouldn't even be attempted.

In an effort to restore Christmas music back to its proper glory, I will provide to you lucky readers a top 10 list of Christmas music you must have and just in case you don't get the point about what to look for, I'll also provide a bottom 10 list of songs that will take the shine off a Christmas ornament faster you can say "Come on in, can I take your coat" to the in-laws.

This is an extrasensory post. You should really either have decent speakers hooked up to your computer or at least use your i-pod headphones. It's OK if you don't recognize the names, trust me.

Tommy's Top 10:

1. The Christmas Song - Nat "King" Cole

2. White Christmas - Bing Crosby

3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Gene Autry

4. Hallelujah Chorus - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

5. Silver Bells - Johnny Mathis

6. Sleigh Ride - Boston Pops

7. O Holy Night - Celine Dion

8. Ave Maria - Luciano Pavarotti

9. It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas - Perry Como

10. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Bing Crosby

And a very special mention:

A Charlie Brown Christmas Album - Vince Guaraldi

As far as I am concerned, the first three are untouchable...

You may question Celine in Oh Holy Night but this song has French - Canadian connections so she is an excellent choice. I know she may seem a little over-cooked since the excessive success of the Titanic theme song, but she is an exquisite contemporary singer. Josh Groban - not even close.

As for Sleigh Ride, it has to be the Boston Pops version because it is almost as good as the MHS symphonic band version from the 1970s. Yes, I was privileged enough to be a small part of that.

If Pavarotti does not give you goosebumps then check yourself for a pulse.

Where's Jingle Bells? you ask. Technically, it's a holiday song, not a Christmas song.

Tommy's Bottom 10:

1. What Christmas Means To Me - Hanson

2. Christmas Day - Dido

3. Mele Kalikimaka - Jimmy Buffett

4. Do They Know Its Christmas? - Band Aid

5. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

6. Santa Baby - Madonna

7. Last Christmas - Wham!

8. Merry Christmas, Baby - Christina Aguilera

9. This Christmas - Chris Brown

10. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

And a very special mention:

Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas

How in the world did Buffett make this list? Well, lets just say he was probably feeling the effects of too many Mai Tais when he decided to cover that one. Buffett was only marginally worse than the Bing Crosby original.

Madonna singing Christmas songs? That is wrong in so many ways as is Chris Brown the girlfriend beater. I'm pretty sure my wife does not want a bruised face "This Christmas".

I think Christina has her "back massager" turned up a little too high.

Mariah makes the list as not only is this song bad, but it gets a lot of airtime for some reason I do not understand. My wife tells me that the Olivia Olson version of the song is part of the soundtrack for the 2003 movie - Love Actually.

You can't have a great Christmas unless the house is full of great Christmas music. So, round up the classics, make yourself a hot toddy, climb under your Snuggie, and have a very Merry Christmas!

A 2010 Bonus: This belongs in the bottom 10 somewhere...

The Island of Misfit Toys and Random Elf Thoughts

2009-12-02T18:43:00.047-05:00

One of my favorite Christmas shows is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and I particularly feel a strange bond with the occupants of the Island of Misfit Toys. Recently a cell phone company took some liberties with the Christmas classic...

I'll pile on to Verizon's idea by adding a few more misfits:

XBOX 360 - Only Microsoft could afford to produce such a colossal failure and stay in business. Anyone with a trouble free unit is luckier than an Irishman in a field of four-leaf clover. Our household was 2 for 2 in the defect department.

the XBOX ring of death

XBOX 360 is aptly named as this is the perfect description of the notorious 360 degree "Ring of Death" on the front of the unit which means the XBOX is dead. To add insult to injury, the unit also makes a perfect 360 degree circular scratch on the game CD rendering it unusable. If it wasn't for the insanely cool and popular game HALO, XBOX would have been retired a long time ago.

Lawn Darts -

Rechargeable Cars, Trucks, Jeeps, Scooters - Really fun for a few days, then the hassle of getting a decent charge overcomes the fun factor. Trying to get replacement parts like batteries and chargers will make you want to slash your wrists. One of my children got a fancy electric scooter (that was his big gift that year) and I bet he got less than 5 miles out of it before it was dead and unrepairable.

Because I am nearing retirement in this arena and so many young people are just getting started, I figured I would share some elf thoughts.

Elf Thoughts for the newer parents out there:

I know this is going to be really hard to comprehend, but you can get a kid too many toys. Don't fall victim to buying toys to fill a certain space. It goes like this...."Honey, I piled-up all the toys and little (put your child's name here)'s pile looks really small compared to (other child's name here)......"

For toddlers and young children. What you think is the most spectacular present under the tree will be relegated to the sidelines as the little tots play for hours with a Nerf football or alphabet blocks the crazy Aunt and Uncle gave them.

Don't let your childhood memories strongly influence the choices. My number one spend the night friend Stephen and I would play a hockey game for hours upon end or until his father yelled up the stairs and demanded that we go to sleep. One year I got the boys an awesome hockey game with fully functional sliding players.

Remember Josh's observation in the movie Big? They didn't get it. Too low tech I suppose, and Georgia isn't exactly the hockey capital of the world. Don't even think about electric football if you see it.

Legos: Although seemingly expensive they provide years of fun and are almost indestructible. You cannot have too many. However, avoid the complex castles and specialized kits with the hundreds if not thousands of parts. I got the twins a medieval castle one year and it took me all of Christmas day and another day to build it up like the wordless directions (about 100 sequential images) showed. About one day later, the boys who were about five years old at the time had completely dismantled my two days work and it never got rebuilt. All the specialized parts faded away into the more normal blocks.

not an exact match but you get the point...

BB and Pellet Guns: I tried this one as I was not about to pay for a $100 paintball gun and then more money for CO2 cartridges and paint balls. As far as I am concerned a paintball gun gives a very false sense of safety. I mean they are intended to shoot at people. BB guns are not intended for that use. But, no matter how responsible you as a parent plan to be and mature for their age you think your children are, you might not be and they definitely aren't. Never mind the thirty neighborhood children that will be at your house wanting to shoot the gun. We had so many boys in our yard that Christmas day you would have thought Heidi Klum was doing pole dances. And any adult not related to the children will be calling and complaining that the kid must be up to no good if he is carrying a BB Gun. At least I have a BB gun to shoot yard critters if necessary.

Mr. Potato Head: It was brought back for a reason. You just cannot put it down. And it's very inexpensive. Same goes for Etch-a Sketch.

Crayola - This company tries to reinvent art tools every year. Stick with the basic box of 64 colors and blank newsprint or coloring books. Invisible ink, magic pens that only write on special paper are a waste of effort.

If a toy gets insanely popular and hard to find, go ahead and suggest an alternate. If the child is young enough to believe that Santa is on the hook, then he / she is also young enough to be convinced the elves cannot build them fast enough for all the good boys and girls. The stress and years taken off your life getting one is not worth it. Whatever you do, never pay above store price. If you do, then the toy is probably more to satisfy some psychological issues of your own than to fulfill the kid's request. Remember, a child's wish list is a list of wishes, not a demand note.

Electronics: If you cannot bring yourself to buy a quality product then pass on the ultra low-priced version. Items like small TVs, DVD players, Boom-boxes and such. It is impossible to build a quality piece of electronic equipment and sell it for $20. These knock-off manufacturers are counting on you not returning the broken unit two weeks after Christmas. Also, today's children are much more focused on compressed files and portability and getting a song at a time than they are true hi-fidelity sound that our generation was so enamored with. Buy true hi-fidelity audio equipment for yourself, not the kids.

G P X Brand

Trust the Classics: There's a reason why Candy Land, Monopoly, Barbie and G.I. Joe have been around as long as they have. The more specialized the toy as in Super Mega Zyborg Morphing Wolfman Hyper Galactic Fighter, the less staying power. It just cannot be that interesting for very long. These quickly come to mind: Power Rangers, Pokemon, Beanie Babies.

American Girl Dolls: Wonderful high quality products but be warned, they are a lot like Lays potato chips...You can't have just one. And of course every girl has her own unique ensemble of associated trinkets.

Plastic Models: Once the mainstay of any boy's collection, it appears the fact that the plastic glue can get him high as a kite and subsequently kill him has taken some of the appeal away. The plastic, glue and paint are all highly flammable. Eventually, the model no matter how carefully constructed will be destroyed by explosives or fire. This urge to destroy is especially strong if your son is a Boy Scout.

a C-5 Galaxy of course...

Video games: If you take the cost of the game and divide it by the hours spent playing, it will be an incredible bargain and you will be proud of your wise purchase. Unfortunately, there are many hidden costs of overuse of video games. The failure to receive a Hope scholarship comes to mind...Never, ever, ever allow a video game and TV (even if it does not have a cable connection) in the kid's bedroom if you ever want to see them other than a quick sweep through the kitchen and refrigerator for food.

brain meltdown

Computer games: Games with an educational twist can be a hidden gem.

Zoombinis - A Logical Journey

Zoombinis - a very fun logic game that gets progressively harder as you play it comes to mind. Some role playing games can be great for parents to play along with the kids. The kids and I both enjoyed playing the King's Quest series together.

a true classic, unfortunately it is hard to run on the newer computers

They would sit in my lap and watch me play for hours. They learned about oracles, minotaurs, catacombs etc. and it blew the teacher's mind at Cheatham Hill when they talked about those in class.

Roller Coaster Tycoon combines spacial geometry and free enterprise in building roller coasters and a successful amusement park.

However, once the children become pre-teens and older, the role playing games can get extremely addictive, i.e. World of Warcraft, etc. and essentially they are interacting - within the game in real time - with a very strange population out there in cyberspace.

Overall, trust your instincts, bridle your enthusiasm. The latter may be a lot easier than in years past due to the current economic environment....

Christmas is a magical time for children. It should be just as fun for the parents as the children. No child is going to be ruined for failure to get the perfect ensemble of gifts and toys. If you think you are overdoing it, then you are definitely overdoing it.

A final thought...

Merry Christmas!

The Magical Power of the Cookie Jar

2009-11-23T17:32:00.003-05:00

What is it about a cookie jar that makes anything placed in it so irresistible?

Thanksgiving Gets the Shaft

2009-11-20T14:35:00.035-05:00

When it comes to holidays, Thanksgiving gets the shaft. I've heard, and it is a common sentiment, that we as Americans rush right into Christmas preparation directly after Halloween. This frustrates a lot of apparently thankful people.

Most will be quick to point out that retailers are responsible for most of the shafting going on. Christmas displays are being put out the same day as Halloween costumes are put away and the unsold candy is tossed into the clearance bin. I have observed, the less chocolate the more likely to be unsold. Retailers are ruthless people, always seeking profits.... Fact is, they try to sell what people want. It does not take much brilliance for them to recognize that people start shopping for Christmas much earlier than they used to. A vicious circle of cause and effect.

But there's really more to it than that.

First, getting together with family and giving thanks is priceless. It really does not cost that much to gather and give thanks. We can be thankful 365 days a year. The world would be a better place if we could manage that. I find it odd that we pause to give thanks for what we have (I find contentment very appealing and economical) and then the next day some of us get up at 4:00 in the morning to seek out all the things we don't have and yet must buy to bring ourselves and others happiness. Risking life and limb in the process.

Second, and more telling, Thanksgiving was founded by Pilgrims, and Pilgrims are boring in modern terms. Reverent, devoutly religious people, conservatively clothed with scarcely a vice to be associated with. That makes for a quiet and pensive celebration, does it not? The Indians' attempt to liven up the party with a little tobacco and mushrooms was probably snuffed right quickly. It's probable that there was some beer (why do you think the Indians showed up?), but I don't think Thanksgiving barrel-stands were part of the event. I mean, a good meal is nice, but it is also prone to making one want to take a nap. It takes more than good food and catnaps to liven up a crowd for a celebration worth talking about the next day. And it is worth noting that there aren't really any Pilgrims around these days to continue the promotion of their esteemed holiday. The first Thanksgiving might have been completely different if it had been attended by a more lively Irish group of settlers.

Contrast that with Thanksgiving's holiday predecessor, Halloween. It is a pagan sponsored holiday that begs for irreverence, partying and debauchery. What the adults do is another story altogether...And there are so many things can be sold / bought to accompany the celebration. Halloween celebrations are fun; they make for lots of good FB pictures...

Christmas celebrations very early on were adjusted to accommodate a little revelry of their own with caroling (bourbon flask optional), neighborhood gatherings (more food and drinking), visits from Santa, gift giving and all that entails.

Also, Christmas parties have to be carefully planned and held well ahead of the real Christmas date to accommodate the invitee's already full party schedule. This means that the host's house has to be prepared and decorated well in advance which pushes the shopping into November for sure. By the way, if you are a Marietta native and you are familiar with the Marietta Pilgrimage, tour house preparation starts in about September no matter how relentless the attempt to keep things low key and under control. It ends about when the docents bring the first group in. The poor souls that generously open their houses to thousands probably don't even realize Thanksgiving has come and gone.

For Christians, Christmas will always be a celebration of the birth of Christ but just enough of the other distractions have been incorporated to keep the holiday from languishing like the oh so familiar and unchanged Thanksgiving celebration.

Decorating: Halloween and Christmas make for excellent decorating opportunities. Thanksgiving, not so much. Fall leaves, fruit cornucopias, grains and gourds can only go so far, especially if yellow, orange and brown clash with your color scheme.

Music: Christmas music wins hands down. Thanksgiving music will never close the gap. Ten Little Indians was Thanksgiving's only hope and that one has been killed by political correctness. Give me a break...

a disclaimer from a children's nursery rhyme web site

Politicians:
The post World War II tradition of politicians pardoning turkeys is getting out of hand and I am not sure this is helping the Thanksgiving cause.

Darryl merrily slaughters turkeys as Palin "pardons" another

Public Education:
Another problem that Thanksgiving has is the ridiculous treatment by our public education institutions. It is likely suffering from an identity crisis. If you have not heard, Indians are now called indigenous people. That's not quite as marketable as Indian; too many syllables for good ad copy or songs for that matter.

♫ One little, two little, three little indigenous people ♫
...??? It just doesn't sound right.

Pilgrims were very religious; you can't talk about religion in schools you know. And they gave thanks to God did they not? Definitely a taboo topic in the public schools. Around here, the only higher power in schools that is acceptable to recognize is the school board and superintendent. According to public schools, Thanksgiving was celebrated by "people with unknown motivation to suffer" and "indigenous people". Boring, if not befuddling.

PETA:
PETA wants people to believe that the food was all vegan. I guess the deer and turkey were hanging out off to the side like the stable animals in the nativity scene.

Commercialism aside, Thanksgiving has some real issues to overcome, thus causing the proverbial "holiday shaft". Maybe we should come up with some ways to update the Thanksgiving tradition to give it more weight when compared to the rush towards Christmas celebrations.

The Koozie Suit

2009-11-15T22:27:00.021-05:00

A week or so ago, I came across an online offer for an entry level wetsuit made for swimming triathlons, etc. It was not an unprecedented price but it was a very low season ending clearance kind of price. After polling some triathlon web site forum members, I decided to go ahead and invest in this thing for the June triathlon attempt. I read that you can rent a wetsuit for an event but for the cost of just two rentals, I could go ahead and buy this one. This was highly motivated by my fear of not being able to swim well. What's a few dollars compared to drowning, right? I have read that these things really help buoyancy along with keeping you a little warmer in cold water. When swimming, the less energy consumed trying to stay on top of the water, the more energy available to move yourself forward. I like that thought alot. It really hit home when I finally got the wetsuit out of the packaging. It feels and looks like a human shaped raft!

When I ordered the thing there was a fit chart to help determine the proper size. It was a height / weight matrix and by my height it recommended a small and by my current weight it recommended a medium. So, I plan to lose a few more pounds and I went with the small with my greatest concern being that the legs would be too long.

I tried it on, all the while laughing at the sillyness of this raft disguised as a piece of triathlon gear. The only way I can describe it is it's like putting yourself into a huge neoprene koozie. You start with your ankles and you pull the huge koozie suit up inch by inch taking care to not tear the device. I think it fits well and the small was the right choice provided I don't gain any weight. Its also black, so its very slimming! Too bad though that anywhere other than 20 feet away from an outdoor swim site, this thing looks downright ridiculous. But there are people that think the same about biking wear. To me, biking spandex and lycra is not that unusual, although you won't catch me out shopping in the stuff.

Maybe, I'll post of picture of myself in my koozie suit someday. For now, here's a picture of my suit with my body double in place of me. I know he's not much to look at but it's hard to find good body doubles these days...

Xterra Vortex 3

Triathlon Training update:

This week was one of those two steps forward, one step backward kind of weeks. After some great bike riding last weekend totaling 95 miles, I ran Monday and felt great which is not what I expected given two straight days of riding. I managed to add another quarter mile lap and walked half and ran half of it. Not only that, but that last section I ran really felt like running - an agressive run instead of my normal plod. Total time on the track of hell, 30 minutes, 52 seconds for 2.75 miles.

That run got me a little excited about the running and I ran Wednesday and Thursday also. But these two were marked by a slightly slower time for the now 2.75 miles. Oddly, the walking laps losing time, not the running laps. I'm not going to over analyze it. But I do know that my legs were really sore this week and even walking around reminded me my legs hurt. I waddled like a duck. The good news is I think the running is helping my biking.

This weekend was too beautiful to not get out so I joined a group in the Woodstock / Hickory Flats area for a 50 mile bike ride Saturday. I was also hoping the biking would help loosen up the leg muscles.

It's a nice route but the roads a little more busy with a few too many inattentive drivers in overpriced SUVs talking and tapping on their cell phones and crackberrys for my comfort.

I guess for road rides, I prefer the less high-strung Paulding / Polk county folks in pickups and old Trans-Ams

fumbling with their Big Macs and fries. The tender legs kept me from a banner day but I got out in the sunshine anyway. I was tempted to and should have found a ride Sunday, but decided it was time to rest the legs and get rid of the soreness. So, I took an afternoon nap instead.

Interrupting Ordinary

2009-11-08T17:42:00.010-05:00

Besides a few spectacular bike rides, it has been a fairly unbloggable week...another ordinary week in the life of an ordinary guy...

While resting at the brushy mountain tunnel on the Silver Comet Trail today,

I overheard two sixty-ish men talking about their lower back problems...One eventually said to the other, "You know, if you have your health, then all else is icing on the cake".

Hmm, I pondered his true but not exactly original or profound statement. I have a lot to be thankful for the things that did not happen this week.

I do not have back pain
I did not have a heart attack or stroke
I did not have to get a biopsy, bloodwork, scans or other medical tests
I did not have to wait for test results
I did not get a diagnosis that I have cancer
I did not have to get treatment for cancer
I did not have to worry about what will become of my family should I die of cancer
I did not lose a loved one
I do not have premature babies in NICU
I did not have to bury my child
I did not have to interview for a job
I did not lose my job
I did not lose my house or car
I was not under attack from deranged sociopaths
I did not get robbed, assaulted, or worse
I did not have to battle e-coli or swine flu
I did not have a car accident
The only news that I heard from my college age children was that they needed money.
My wife did not add any pets to the household
I only have one active unfinished house project, or at least I have convinced myself of that
I did not rake / blow any leaves, although I should have
I did not injure any wildlife in the name of fitness
You fill in this line...

Bottom line is there are so many things that can happen in our lives that can interrupt ordinary.
Come to think of it, this was a glorious week! And I think that is something to talk about.

Beginning to Run

2009-11-03T22:26:00.019-05:00

First, let me clarify something. When I say "running" that means anything faster than a walk. I know that I am not really running, but that is the word I am going to use until I can actually run...

I have run three times now in the past week. I go to a local park that is little more than a mile from my house. It used to have a full width track, but it has been modified to about a 12 feet wide walk / run track.

Track from Hell

It does appear to have a track-like surface, but I am sure it cannot begin to compare to the town high school track which is said to be Olympic quality.

Marietta High School track

I like my wannabe track for now. It is frequented by walkers mostly, and fortunately very unlikely to be anyone I know. That is good, especially at this stage when my running is not a very pleasant sight I am sure.

It is with great apprehension that I start to run as I know I have very bad running form and lousy, loose knee ligaments that allow my feet to flail about - a very inefficient means of locomotion. One beautiful thing about biking is that my feet are attached to the pedals and this effectively reduces the wayward leg motion.

Run 1:
The first thing I noticed as I parked my car and made my way to the track was that the 1/4 mile loop looked huge versus what I remembered from my junior high school track from my P.E. days (my high school did not have a track on its campus). I even thought to myself as I looked over the vastness why would they increase the size of the loop? The oval looked big enough to hold two football fields at least. People on the opposite side of the track looked like ants.

I had decided that my first attempts at running would be comprised of walking laps alternated with running laps. I thought about getting a heart rate monitor / timing device but after a little research I decided that was too much at this stage. Maybe later. I bought an inexpensive timex watch with a lap function; it will do fine for now.

I pressed the start button and began to walk. The first thing I noticed was that there were parts jiggling. Not watch parts, but body parts. Strange... not like I remembered from my junior high days. I knew I was going to pay for this jiggling mass I was carrying around with me. A certain pro golfer's moobs came to mind...

This was unsettling to say the least, but was motivating to shed the weight at the same time. As I finished my first walking lap, I hit the split button and began to run.

I felt like I was trying to lift 500 pounds with each stride. Suddenly, I was taken back to my visual memory of all the anorexics in the running shoe store; now I understood. I looked down the main, straight stretch before me and wondered how in the world was I going to get around this track even once. I thought to myself, I can ride a bike for four hours and 70+ miles without a wimper, surely I can run for a mile or so. But, it was not long before I had serious doubts. All the biking fitness was not showing itself on the track. Soon, I was huffing and puffing along gasping for air which reminded me very much of my first April bike ride.

This was not fun. Why would anyone want to run for pleasure? There was no tiger chasing me in a run for life; I was not running down my next meal either. I could feel muscles that were being used for the first time in a long time especially below the knee. I quickly began to appreciate the marvelous and efficient machine called the bicycle. This was going to hurt for a good while. I lumbered back to my starting point and knew that the 1/4 mile was about all I could do without a walking rest. The walk felt really good. Humbled, I relished that next 1/4 mile. I managed to plod along for a total of ten laps - five walking, five doing something like running.

No medals for me. Total time on the track of hell - 32 minutes for a 2.5 mile jaunt. Two good things came of the first day:
One, I made my first run which I really did dread.
Two, there's plenty of room for improvement!

Run 2:
Same strategy as first day. I only have one speed of running at this point so I cleverly decided to make my walking laps as fast as possible so I could record a little progress. It worked. My running laps were a tad better than the first day, but I really shaved some time off the walking laps. I know that's a lame way to reduce total time, but I also know that eventually the whole routine will have to find gains where possible.

Still no one handing out medals. Total time on the track of hell - 29 minutes, 37 seconds

Run 3:
Still keeping the distance at 2.5 miles. Since all my running laps have been pretty close to two minutes and a few seconds, I decided to try to run a little bit in the walking laps. This way I can work my way up to running more and walking less. I ran for a little bit in two of the walking laps, I probably added about .1 mile of running. So, 1.35 miles of running, 1.15 miles of walking. Baby steps Tommy, baby steps...

Total time on the track of hell - 28 minutes, 41 seconds.

Now that daylight savings time has ended, biking opportunities will likely be limited to weekends. I know one thing, I am going to love every minute of heavenly biking!

P.S. So far, very happy with the running shoes.

My Magic Shoes

2009-11-02T10:49:00.010-05:00

Enter another new stage in the life of T. As part of my quest to complete a sprint triathlon in June I started to run this week.

First, let me share my experience with buying a pair of running shoes. I had read on various internet sites that it is very important to get properly fitted running shoes to avoid leg / foot injury. This I can understand as essentially running is slamming your body's weight - and I've got more than necessary - down upon each foot about a million times during a run. My sister-in-law recommended a running shoe store and off I went. Apparently, it has to be a store that specializes in running shoes and all the customers look like anorexics.

Its pretty neat, you first place your feet on a scanner and it produces a multicolored computerized image of how you place pressure on your feet as you stand.

Kind of like the commercial where there are fake doctors behind the machine that looks like a scale where they all say "You over pronate, and I concur"...By reading my footprint and asking my shoe size, my sales guy decided I had average arches and ran back to the room to grab a pair for me to put on. It was especially nice that he did not mention that my feet look like they belong on a leprechaun (size 7).

Only, he had no intention of selling me these shoes. They were to do another test. I put on these shoes and he had me run on a treadmill. Now this is the first time I had performed anything that resembled a "run" in probably 25+ years and I had premonitions that he was going to kick that thing in gear and I was going to fly off the back of it. So, I warned him to not start that thing up too fast. Luckily he heard me.

I was now plodding along and he explained that he was recording the way my feet land as I run. There was a camera at floor level attached to the back of the treadmill. Using this video playback he determined that I run - or whatever you want to call it - with a rather neutral foot motion. I don't over or under pronate. He then showed me some videos of both so I could understand what he was talking about. Bad pronation looks painful; like you are going to snap your feet off your legs at the ankle.

Armed with this additional information, he ran to the back and pulled out two pairs of shoes. I tried them on and he decided I need a wider shoe. I tried on the wider shoe and he sent me out the door to jog around. He didn't realize he was sending me out for a full running workout. I was amazed at the lightness and almost absent feel of the shoe and the springy effect. I have not worn a decent pair of tennis shoes much less running shoes in forever. Oddly, when in high school, I used to run to lose weight in my wrestling shoes.

Those were leather shoes that had no insoles and the sole was a pancake flat bottom about 1/4 inch thick. These new shoes were heavenly. He asked me how they felt and I replied that they felt good but had nothing to compare it to since my idea of footwear is 12 year old docksiders. When they get a hole in the sole I buy another pair; got to keep the feet dry...

The sales guy rang me up and wished me luck on my training. He was a super nice guy, very professional but I did not get the feeling he felt like I was going to survive this running thing. So, there's a challenge: To be able to go back next year with worn out running shoes and looking like I'm suffering from anorexia.

Riding with Peter Rabbit

2009-10-28T23:48:00.031-04:00

Rode the bike today. Biker Brian was out of town so I had to go it alone. The weather was really nice. Temp was in the high 60s, clear skies and little wind. The plan was to start at Carter Rd and ride out to the Brushy Mountain tunnel.

This ride is usually about 43 miles, but there is a small detour in Hiram where you have to leave the trail due to the torrential rains we had a few weeks ago. The trail portion is not washed out, but there is a slope that has washed away all the way up to the concrete path. So, it is likely to be unstable and that section is closed for now. With the detour it is about 44 miles.

Usually, I get on the bike and the first mile or two reveals a little tenderness in the legs, but today I felt really good right out the gate. My goal was to ride as steady fast as I could (within reason) while maintaining about an 85 cadence (pedal revolutions per minute). There weren't very many bikers today so pedaling required little concentration as far as obstacles go. Leaves are starting to accumulate on the path. Dry leaves - no problem, clumps of wet leaves - possible problem.

Wildlife was out. Rabbits getting their final kudzu meals before the freezing temperatures bring it to a temporary halt. Squirrels gathering nuts for the winter. I don't get warm and fuzzy over creatures hanging out on the trail since my rabbit incident.

I was pedaling along the Cobb county portion of the trail a few weeks ago and a rather healthy rabbit tried to hippity-hop through my front wheel. I was going about 17 mph at impact. Well, the furry guy made it exactly halfway and then he was - by virtue of the still rotating wheel - raised up to my front forks. The front wheel thudded to a stop. Luckily for me and Peter Rabbit, the trail was pretty damp and my tire was wet. Wet enough to allow me and the bike to skid for about 30 feet versus the more probable end over handlebars crash. I managed to get unclipped just in time to avoid the oh so familiar clipped-in topple.

Peter was not happy and howling like I had never heard a rabbit howl. Come to think of it, I've never heard a rabbit howl. He looked mad, like he had a vicious streak a mile wide! I was worried he was going to try to get his revenge as I released him. I slowly backed up my front wheel and he darted off the trail and into the woods. I was really surprised he made it off the trail. But that was a good thing as I was not carrying a shovel and was not prepared for a rabbit burial. As I gathered my wits, I noticed that my bike and myself were nicely covered in rabbit fur. All over everything. Fortunately, there were no card carrying PETA members out that day.

Here's how I used to see God's little creatures on my meditative bike rides:

Now, when I see those critters near the trail, I see something more like this:

I will take you down!

I will take you down to Chinatown!

I had a few near misses today and I have to say that I puckered up pretty well each time. I hope I get over this after a while..

Moving along anyway, I felt pretty darn good heading out to the tunnel. I wasn't breathing hard and yet I was still moving along at what seemed to be mostly in the 18-21 mph range. I thought to myself, I must have a tailwind. Normally, for this part of the country and path position, I would have a tailwind on the return segment not the going out segment. I've been riding out to the tunnel for a few months now and every time it does not appear when I am ready for it ( that is: ready for a break). There is usually about a mile yet to go before it finally appears. But, I know its there; nobody's moving that monster anytime soon. It's an old railroad tunnel and 800 feet long. Click the following link for some neat photos and info.

Brushy Mountain Tunnel Waymark

Here's my stats for the out segment:
22.31 miles
1hr, 17 min, 26 sec
17.3 mph average, maximum speed 23.9

Not record breaking, but I'll take it especially this time of the year when there are fewer good days to ride.

After about a 5 minute rest I was ready to head back. A few bikers passed me as I was stopped and I probably let them get one or two minutes ahead of me before I got back on the bike to head home. It's nice to ride with others and thought I might catch the guys in front of me. But I have learned this year that catching a decent biker that is two minutes ahead of you can be a very tough task. I used to hammer away and try to make up ground quickly. Every once in a while it would work, but what happens is that by the time you catch your "target" you are too exhausted to keep up a decent pace. They get a rush of adrenaline or motivation knowing that you are now on their wheel and they take off. It could be intentional or unintentional. It doesn't matter because you are shot and they drop you pretty quickly.

This time I focused on a nice steady cadence and put my hands low on the bars and tried to ride slightly above my average speed. After a short while, I could see them ahead. Small dots, but they were there. I didn't press but maintained a nice pace. Patience was rewarded about 10 miles into my return trip and I was about 30 yards behind them as I approached a trailhead.

They rolled through the winding trailhead and I lost sight of them behind some pampas grass for about five seconds and all of the sudden they were 200 yards in front of me! I swear they were teleported. Seems a waste of good teleportation energy for only 170 yards - I would have teleported myself back to the car...

At this point, whatever they were doing it was a lot faster than before and there was no way I was going to try to run them down a second time. Now, I didn't feel so fast, but the computer said I was moving along pretty well and the cadence / gearing felt right.

I got back to the car right at dusk.

Here's the stats for the return half of the ride:

22.31 miles - this is good because it is the same distance as going out, it means I did not get lost. Nevermind that it is a trail with no turns...
1hr, 17min, 41 sec
17.26 mph average, 29.3 maximum

Total ride:
44.62 miles
2:35:07 time
17.26 mph
1785 calories burned
Not bad for a 100% solo ride.

This Old House

2009-10-26T17:52:00.029-04:00

150 year old trees

Moss instead of grass

Church bells calling the hour; announcing wedding celebrations

Worn pine floors from life and living;

Unlevel from years of experience

Neighbors and friends a living legacy of occupants past

Cox

Hadaway

Restoration by visionary caretakers

A child's marble reappears ready to play

Long forgotten Christmas card envelopes slipped into narrow cracks

Delicate pieces of wallcovering uncovered

Cracks in plaster that come and go with the seasons

Thick walls that refuse to share secrets

A structure that inhales fresh air

A fireplace born of necessity and function

Cool breezes fall through the canopy of oak and pecan branches overhead

Front porch close to the street makes for easy greetings

Neighbors meandering along the sidewalk

Knowing who they are

Wavy pine siding colored in crackled paint

Shutters creak on their hinges with the howling winds

Cast iron bathtubs with feet, drain plug on a chain

Frost on the windows in winter

Layers upon layers of paint with each color a decorating mission fulfilled

Random noises as the house gets comfortable on its brick foundation and almost petrified beams

Passing trains in the night; a trio of alto horns and rhythmic contrabass rumble

Wavy glass, hand made doors and windows, solid not hollow

Plaster walls strengthened with horse hair

2 x 4s that are really 2 x 4

Glass doorknobs, keyhole driven locks

Wind-up clocks tick and chime through the interior landscape

Chunks of coal in the yard; silent testimony to cooking and heating past

Iron-red earth transformed into dark brown from a century of grazing, growing, mulching

Rain exposed shards of broken glass and dishes from days gone by

Mailbox on the front porch where it belongs

Wrap around porches, rockers permanent fixtures, where all the town news was shared

Porch swings with room to spare and low light for kissing

Birds build nests on the porch ledges jockying for space with holiday bunting

Fireflies dance in the night

Posts perfect for flag bearing

Fireworks for celebrations

Veteran of wars, victory gardens, and homecomings

E.R. Hunt

Standing through pain and sorrow; providing shelter through unannounced storms

Giving strength to those that dwell in it

Mothers heroically risking life while bearing life

Children born in bedrooms and survive by the grace of God

Summertime Victorian era parties hosted in the yard

Society mentions in the town paper

Norman Rockwell's inspiration

Home

A Triathlon Quest

2009-10-22T22:59:00.043-04:00

The date of my first triathlon is June 5th, 2010 at Lake Lanier which I understand is pretty prolific when it comes to hosting triathlons for amateurs and pros. It will be a beginners only sprint triathlon which is 1/4 mile of swimming, 12 miles of biking, and then 3 miles of running. What I think is really appealing to me about this particular event is that the swim is along the shore and set up so that if you get too tired to swim, you can stop, stand in the water, and rest without leaving the course! Come to think of it, the mere fact that the race organizers point this out is a little disturbing. A bit about my swimming skills later.This will be my first and probably not too interesting post on the subject.

I have the biking part taken care of. I won't be the fastest but I shouldn't lose ground either. I started riding my road bike back in April of this year and have ridden about 2,700 miles to date. That may seem like a lot but it's on the low end for serious bike riders.

This photographer must have had a 1/1,000,000 shutter speed to freeze my blazing speed

My first ride this year was on the Silver Comet Trail with my biking brother Brian. It was pretty much an uneventful - although slow - ride for him, but for me it was close to a near death experience. It was only 25 miles and I thought for sure I was going to collapse for about 20 of those miles. I couldn't breathe! Lots of people work really hard while riding, but I was just trying to keep the pedals moving so I didn't fall off the bike from lack of momentum. My average speed was a measly 13 miles per hour. Kids with training wheels could have passed me at that rate. Over a decade sitting at a computer at work and on a sofa watching TV at night had taken its toll. I came home and collapsed on the den floor and was lectured by my wife for my idiotic stunt of trying to ride a bike after all these years. She was right.

For you that are not familiar with the Silver Comet Trail it is a "rail to trail" path which means it was originally a railroad line that was converted into a recreational path. It starts in Cobb county just NW of Atlanta and extends to the Alabama state line west of Cedartown. That's about 61 miles of path in Georgia and even more connected in Alabama. Given that the path was built for trains it has a very flat grade. This can be good as there are generally no hills you have to climb. This can be bad as there are generally no hills to go down! So, you pretty much end up pedaling the entire distance, which I kind of like.

I survived for another day and gradually was able to ride at a respectable pace. Eventually, I decided I really liked the exercise and that I was losing weight at the same time. I upgraded my 1984 Trek 560 to clipless pedals thanks to the generosity of brother Brian. And I bought some new biking shoes although my 1984 Dettos (they're Italian) were still in pretty good shape but could not use due to the new designs for clips. I know I just said I needed clips while also saying I have clipless pedals. It's a twisted bit of bicycling logic; you will have to trust me.

fine art Italian Detto racing shoes mid 1980s

Then I stumbled upon a pretty good deal for an almost new exotic bike on e-bay and one bid later I was the proud owner of a new Trek Madone 5.2. I am sure that won't mean a lot to most of you but it is an incredibly sweet and sexy bike. It is also very light which makes riding up hills oh so much more enjoyable. I have more fat around my belly than the total weight of this bike!

It is much more bike than I need to fufill my weight loss goal and ride for fitness mission. Now at least I look like I can go fast...until the ride starts anyway!

I've read at Fat Cyclist that a serious biker should never tell a non-biker how much he paid for his bike (see rule #5). Fatty recommends telling any non-biker the bike cost $499.99. Apparently this is a number that non-bikers can accept as a sane amount to pay for a bicycle. Having a sexy fast bike is a pretty strong motivator. No one wants to pedal an exotic bike like this at 13 miles per hour. As "Mammy" from GWTW would say, "It ain't fittin'." If you don't get the GWTW reference, don't worry.

So, I started riding longer distances and increasing my average speed, trying to do my bike justice. So far, my best rides for a respectable distance are a pair of 36 miles at 18 mph rides and a recent 44 miles at 17.5 mph. I have even mixed in a 100 mile ride and a 60 mile ride in the north Georgia mountains. Just this week I managed to pedal up Kennesaw mountain three times in about 50 minutes.

Warning: boring paragraph ahead. Bikers express a hill's or descent's severity in percent grades. It is in general terms a ratio of height increase (decrease) over distance. Here is a trigonometric formula in Excel format that is slightly more accurate, but not materially so: =100*tan(asin(vertical change/length of road)). Kennesaw mountain (as we like to call it) averages a 7.5% grade. You climb about 620 feet up over a distance of 1.57 miles. Broken down even more, you go up 9 inches for every 10 feet forward. Now it sounds pretty easy!

Climbing hills or the anticipation of climbing hills is a huge motivator to manage food intake. You lose your voracious appetite when you think of the extra pound you may have to carry up the next big hill on the bike. Every pound counts! I've come a long way since the first few rides, but I am still riding at a rather pedestrian pace especially for a triathlon. The good news is that now I do most of the passing - or I don't get passed very often - whereas when I started riding the trail, bikes whizzed by me so fast I wondered if I was even moving.

How did I make the decision to try a tri? First, a rather fit friend and fellow Mariettan had posted some of his triathlon pics on his FB and I made a statement about how I cannot swim (I do tend to sink) and I cannot run (I have horrible form and wobbly knees). My swimming is so bad that when I was young and took swimming lessons at the old Brumby gym pool they made me wear a T-shirt so they could reach under the water and pull me back up easily. As for running, during football practice drills in high school I was the fastest (quickest is probably a better word) for 5-10 yards and the slowest for 100 yards. Every lineman on the team could outrun me, even the 300+ pounder. Second, I was content with my excuse of not being triathlon material until I came across this video. It gets really amazing at about the 1:15 mark. This is for real, and not a one-time stunt. And for the record, this video features a finish from an IRONMAN triathlon! That is a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run! I told myself after watching this video about five times back-to-back that there was no reason why I could not participate in an entry level triathlon. To borrow a phrase from the late great Georgia Bulldawg and Southerner Lewis Grizzard, this video "tore my heart out and stomped that sucker flat!" I did not have to win to be a winner and hypothetically, if I ever ran into the man Dick Hoyt (click here for a video biography, its worth the time I promise) I would not be able to look him in the eye knowing of my lame excuses for avoiding a challenge like a sprint triathlon.

Now I have to learn how to swim and learn how to run before June 2010.

P.S. Welcome to our world little Noah Gorman!

Miata Cars and Man Cards

2009-10-18T19:44:00.033-04:00

I drive a Mazda Miata.

It’s a small coincidence that I bought my little sports car near my 40th birthday. It had a little to do with some level of a mid-life crisis. Never mind that I had three non-driving children at home. Using that as a basis, I would be driving a minivan or similar behemoth. In reality, 99% of the time I spent in my car was commuting to and from work alone and the thought of a one passenger limit on weekends was very appealing. To be fair to me, I was driving a car that was nearing the end of its useful life unless you are the type that thinks cars exist to provide a stable income for mechanics. You know you have a problem when you start getting personalized Christmas cards and wedding invitations from your repair shop sales rep and you know all about his health problems and family.

Back to my mid-life crisis moment… So, I was heading home on I-75 one day in plodding rush hour traffic and I thought to myself I need a new car, no I want a new car. To help justify my desires, I borrowed an often used phrase from my wife - “If you want it, you need it”. One day soon after, following a lunch-time ride up and down Peachtree Street in a coworker’s 1960’s convertible Cadillac I knew I wanted a convertible, but I kind of stumbled on the Miata. Another co-worker told me of her wonderful experience with her 1990 Miata. This was in 2003, and that’s a pretty powerful recommendation that she was happy with her 13 year old car and the thought of divorcing myself from the repair shop rep and getting a convertible to boot was very appealing.

So, I went and drove one. I loved it; tons of fun to drive. I took the wife to the dealership to look at two used Miatas that I had picked out. I am pretty sure she had convinced herself this was merely a distraction for the afternoon and never considered I might actually get one. She played along and suggested I get the newer dark green one instead of the older silver one that I had picked out… mumbling something about the green one being a more manly color.

That should have been a sign of things to come but I paid little heed.

A little sidebar fun from one of my favorite movies : Meet the Parents

Jack: I'm just curious, did you pick the color of the car?

Greg Focker: Uh no, the guy at the window did, why?

Jack: Well they say geniuses pick green.

Greg Focker: Oh.

Jack: But you didn't pick it.

You know the phrase , Zoom-Zoom? That’s what it is like to drive this car. If you ever drove a go-cart when you were young, you know the feeling… so low to the ground that when you turn there is little sway and you can turn and stop on a dime. Some Miata owners say it’s the most fun you can have in a car with your clothes on – I agree. It's also very fun below the speed limit. I enjoy the NPR radio show Car Talk and occasionally surf its web site. I posted a review of my 2001 Miata and was quoted, but credited only as "Survey taker #2047838" See the first review post. And most importantly, the car has been extremely reliable. Over the past 6 years, I have changed the oil, put on a new set of tires, got the 60,000 mile service (thumbs up), and finally replaced the brake pads at 80,000 miles. There have been only two relatively minor repairs. The service sales reps at the Mazda dealership have no idea who I am and I like it that way.

Some of my more manly friends scoff at my little car I am sure. I hear. “It’s a chick car”, or “It’s a gay car”. That doesn’t bother me at all. Intrigued, I did some Google-style research for this post and found this site. Apparently, looking at older quarterly lists on this site gay people like Miatas, but looking at the most recent list it appears that they are just as likely to put themselves in Audis, VWs, Saabs, and Mercedes. I could not find any gender specific statistics, but I see far more - usually older - men driving Miatas than women. Miata owners are similar to Mac computer owners in that they form some type of unofficial cult-like association with each other and Miata owners will give a wave of the hand or blink of the lights to other Miata owners on the road as they pass each other. A well-versed and objective thinking car man can explain the virtues of the little car such as its 50-50 weight distribution, tight shifting manual transmission, rear wheel drive, and other “man favorable” characteristics. There is even a car racing division exclusively for Miatas or MX-5s as the men like to call them.

The fact that the car is the most successful and best selling roadster in the world is good enough for me. One guy said I turned in my man-card when I got the Miata.

You know what a Man-Card is right? Although it does exist in a literal and physical sense, it is more importantly a concept or way of life. A right that a man has to call himself a man because he is and does manly things. This is a very special and apparently sensitive club, and if you as a male violate a standard of approved actions and behaviors you can have your man-card revoked. Take note of all the manly favorable images of winsome women and topics on the home page. If a web page could drip testosterone, this would be it.

I’m pretty sure owning and driving a Miata is a violation of great magnitude and quite possibly leads to a permanent suspension with no right to appeal or reinstatement.

Man-card revocation defined: 1. Any action that implies effeminate, unmanly behavior or characteristics as opposed to stereotypical masculine ones. 2. Any action that would cause a man to be viewed as a wuss, sissy, punk etc.

Given the urban dictionary definition above I must admit, that I probably turned in my man-card long ago as I was not aware I had to preserve this apparently fragile state of manliness. Here are some other things I have done in my past that would have led to man-card revocation:

• Keeping a reasonably clean and orderly apartment while at college.

• Watching ice skating

• Crying while watching a tear jerking moment on TV whether it’s Terms of Endearment or an epic sports victory like Olympic gold for an athlete. My wife enjoys this immensely.

• Taking Lamaze classes with the expecting wife

• Driving a mini-van

• Sewing on rogue buttons, hemming my pants, washing and ironing my clothes

• Watching “House Hunters” or “Color Splash” with the wife on a football Sunday

• Turning down a keg-stand opportunity

• Wearing a light blue or pink shirt

• Helping women pick out wallpaper

• Making a grocery store run for the wife for products only a woman can use

• Going to a chick–flick like “The Notebook”

• I don’t own a gun

• Using a hair care product.

• Blogging - I say this as blogging seems to be much more prevalent among women than men

I am sure there are many other man-card violations that are not listed. Feel free to add comments of your own Man-Card revoking acts.

In the mean time, I am off to seek out twisting mountain roads for some happy top-down driving therapy. And, if you are brave enough let me know and I’ll lend you my Miata for a day and you can experience a little Zoom-Zoom for yourself. For you Man-Card holding men, bonus points for test driving without using a disguise.

If you liked this post about Miatas, you may like: Open Letter to Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda CEO