I love October Baseball!

Let the post season begin!  The Red Sox are back in the chase for another title, and I can’t wait for the games.  Nothing like seeing the Fenway faithful in scarfs and mittens cheering on the home team late into the chilly New England night.  I know they play in California for this first series, so these first two games will be almost impossible to watch live.   I’m hoping for a Sox-Cubs series this year, it’ll be just like 1906!

On The Market

Our house is now officially on the market.  We want to move to Virginia.  We like the idea of being closer to the water.  We like the choices of restaurants in NoVa.  We like the communitiy feel of places like Del Rey and Rosemount and Beverely Hills.  We like the shorter commutes.  We like the change of scenery.  We like the new house idea.  We’re freaked out about the economy, the cost of selling, the cost of buying, the loan process,  packing up, the moving process, change of address cards, mortgage rates, and higher mortgage payments.

I’m half tempted to take what we get from the house (if anything!) and chuck most of our stuff and just head out somewhere for a while.  Drift.  Roam.  Explore.  Escape.  Is that wrong?

Zuma!

Add this to my wishlist:

Yamaha Zuma 125

The Yamaha Zuma 125.

P90X

I’ve been doing P90X for two weeks, three days so far and I am loving it!  Today was Plyometrics.  This was my third time doing this set of exercises.  Lots of jumping, squats, jacks, and agility.  The best part of this whole series is that I don’t get bored day to day, and I don’t get bored within any workout.  They are only about 1 hour long, and they are structured so you do a few, repeat, do a few new ones, repeat, then combine them.  Cool down and you are done.  Fast, and you don’t have to think about it.  Tony tells what to do, shows you, and you go at your own pace.  Man oh man do I sweat, though!

In the last 35 days, I’ve worked out 30 of them.  That is probably the longest exercise streak I’ve had since at least my marathon days (1997-1998!) or maybe even high school track (1984-5).

If I get brave, I’ll post my day 30 photo here.  You won’t see my day 1 photo until I get to day 90, though.

Even after just 2 weeks, I would totally recommend this workout to anyone who wants to get in shape.

President Clinton at the Convention

Remember when we had a president who could put two sentences together and make you want to listen to him?  President Clinton reminded me again of what a smart, articulate, inspiring speaker can do.  He made a great speech last night.  I hope there is a place for him in the Obama administration.

Kenpo-X

I had a great work out last night.  I did the KenpoX workout for the first time and it was fun.  The hour long exercise went by quickly and I can tell this is going to be one of my favorites to do.  Punching, kicking, balance, coordination, cardio – it had a lot going on.  I felt great afterwards, too, for about 3 hours before I started to get tired.

I’ve done 7 days now of P90X and I have to say, I can tell that ever so slightly my body shape is changing.  The spare tire isn’t as big.  My arms and shoulders seem a little more defined.  I think I stand up straighter and my belly isn’t as round as it was when I took my day 1 photo.  Yay me!

Tonight is back to the first workout – chest and back.  Lots of pushups and pullups.  It’s been a week since I’ve done it and I am totally ready to do it again.  This is one of the reasons I bought this workout, because everyday it is something different.  I am not doing the same exercises day after day, but they come back just as you are ready for it and want to “Bring It!” 

My diet is OK.  I do recognize that I need to always eat better, and I have found that I am eating better.  I am much more conscious of what I am eating, when I am eating and how much I am eating.  That’s good for me.

Random Monday Thoughts

1. I like Biden, and I think he is a great choice for Obama.  He brings the experience and the knowledge of how Congress works, plus I think he has a good reputation on both sides of the aisle for being smart and reasonable.  I think he’ll be a grounding voice in the Oval Office and will give President Obama straight forward, usable, and real ideas.  How long before he puts his foot in his mouth? I don’t care!  I look forward to it, actually!  He brings some hardscrabble reality to this dog and pony show we call democracy.
2. I don’t understand the appeal of graphic novels.  A friend gave me Watchmen the other day.  I saw the movie trailer and that looks cool, but the novel is one big comic book.  I was never into comics as a kid, but I will give it a try.  I want to become a more well rounded reader and try some new genres and themes.  I read on the recommendation of another friend, an English teacher, Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill.  Horror/ghost stories are generally not in my library unless they have some sort of historical context.  I ended up really liking the book, although it took about half of the novel to get into it.
3. I’m a little discouraged about my workouts because  I didn’t work hard enough over the weekend.  I’m going to “Bring It” today.  My goal date to be in great shape is November 1.
4. I need a new job.  Still.  But doing what, exactly?  I don’t know.
5. I’m reading “Beautiful Boy” now, about a father dealing with his son’s meth addiction.  Addiction stories fascinate me for some reason.  Maybe in a former life I was an addict, or lost a loved one to addiction.  I have no desire to try drugs and really don’t understand how anyone would try – even once – a chemical that could catastrophically destroy you.   I need to start watching “Intervention” on A&E.

The Beach – In 50 Words

The Beach

Usually I don’t like sitting
on the beach.  The sun
gets too hot and the
wind blows sand everywhere.  The
ocean is cold and salty,
the waves either too big
or too small.  But this
time I loved the sun,
the sand, the wind, the
water, the waves – the friends.

Day 1 of Vacation

I’ve started vacation today!  Hurray!  I am still at home, but not at work.  We are headed to the beach later this week, but I figured I’d take the whole week anyway.

Today I got up about 7:30.  I watched some of the Olympics coverage and played with Fiona a bit.  Then it was down to work.  My workout dvds arrived last week.  It is a 90 day intensive muscle confusion program that will hopefully reshape my flabby body to a taut, tight, energy efficient machine!  (or at least get me to sweat and grunt and work some muscles I used to have).  Today was chest and back.  I can tell I am going to be sore.  These first few days before vacation are just a warm up for me.  I am going to start the program in earnest after we get back.  I took some before pictures for comparison when I am done in November.  I weighed in at 165 today. (not bad, considering that about 2 weeks ago I was 170).

I was feeling so good after the work out, though, that I went out and ran about 4 miles.  The temperature is a perfect 75 degrees, no humidity, sunny, blue sky, slight breeze.  It was a great morning!

Things I don’t do enough of

I got up early this morning and was out the door for a run just as the sun was coming up.  The sky was going from gray to pink to orange as it got brighter and I thought to myself, “This is a great way to start the day.”  And I wondered why I don’t do simple things that I enjoy more often.  Sure, getting up at 6 am to run isn’t always fun, but once I am out the door, generally, I feel good and am happy.  Which leads me to this list:

Some things I like doing and make me happy,  but that I don’t do enough of or often enough:

1. Kayaking
2. Mountain Biking
3. Journaling/blogging/writing
4. Calligraphy
5. Playing my guitar
6. Seeing live music
7. Going to the movies
8. Talking to my brothers
9. Watching the sun rise
10. Visiting my nephews and nieces

Next time I think I am bored, or down, or unhappy, I want to remember this list and pick one.

Looking over the list, I see a pattern.  Active.  Arts.  Social.   Translate to Mind, Body, and Soul, and you have the triad of life.