Today's Workouts

25 miles cycling yesterday.

4.2 miles running today - a bit of the hair of the dog - legs a bit sore but really not too bad.

Silly Sunday

Today's Workouts

20 miles cycling. I bit chilly out but not horrible. Legs felt pretty good but I was tired.

Happy Thanksgiving

Did you go with a traditional turkey? Or maybe something more exotic like a Turducken.

We went the turkey route. But here are some pictures of a Turducken we had at a party a few years ago. It was yummy.

At Least He Knows What Dirty Is

After Mass yesterday I told Dominic to go change into some play clothes and hang up his church clothes since they weren't dirty.

Dominic - 'well my shirt's dirty'

me - 'you only wore it for an hour it's not dirty'

Dominic - 'I used the shirt sleeves to wipe my boogies on during church'

Pride goes before the fall

Pride goes before the fall.

So this is what it feels like to DNF. I bowed out (that’s a nice word for quitting) at the 34.4 mile aid station. Called Sam and the kids and they came and fetched me and we drove home. Why? I don’t know. Pacing seemed fine, nutrition fine, no injuries, training was decent. But from around mile 16 on my legs felt thrashed. Mile 15 or so is when you get off the Appalachian Trail (think running on a hilly rocky path). I think it did a number on me. By mile 32 I was reduced to a walk, a very slow walk. I was barely able to walk to the aid station. I only had 15.6 more miles to go and still 5 hours left on the 12 hour cutoff but I couldn’t even walk let alone run anymore so I bailed. I’m miserable sore (like everyone else who did the race I’m sure) and have no Finishers medal to show for it. I gave Joey my race shirt. I wanted to throw it away but it is a decent Under Armor shirt so I figured he could wear it around.

Oh how I so wanted to put one of those JFK 50 stickers on my car. Wanted it too bad maybe. I never even considered that I wouldn’t finish (not too bright taking a 50 mile race for granted). I thought maybe I wouldn’t make my goal time (sub 10 hours) but not finishing wasn’t even an option. I’ve never not finished a race. I did my first race in 1978 and no matter how hard they got a kept running somehow and finished the damn things. But that didn’t work today, I faked it as long as I could but I had nothing left. Everything from the lower back down was shot. I don’t think anything is injured, just sore as hell.

Now I will regroup and figure out what is next. I will also try and not put so much of myself into a race and the training that goes with it. It really does become all consuming and drains me mentally and physically. Plus it’s not good for my family. Hopefully I’ll quite feeling sorry for myself soon and stop being a baby.

Thanks to my wonderful wife and family for their support and for the Donk coming out and crewing for me. Love ya all

2 More Days But Who's Counting

Not much going on today. Working from home and getting ready to head out tomorrow morning to go to Hagerstown, MD. Running a race in that area on Saturday. It’s called the JFK 50 Miler. Part of it is on the Appalachian Trail and some of it’s on the C&O Tow Path. It finishes up on some country roads. This is my first race over the marathon distance. To say I’m slightly stressed would be an under-statement. Pray for my wife and kids who have to put up with me the next few days.

I’m packing an assortment of clothes for the race, We have a cold front coming through and the forecast for the race is: 23 degrees with a wind chill of 13 at the start of the race. Going up to a high of 36. I’ve got everything from running shorts to a winter parka packed.

I’ll probably look like this guy:


No if you will excuse me, I need to go repack my gear bag again, eat some more bananas and polish my running shoes.

The Birthday Haul

So here's the loot I got for my birthday from the family, other relatives and friends.

Rice Steamer
UMBC Dad t-shirt
Major Award t-shirt with a picture of a leg lamp
Civil War book
Some metal condiment holder thingie (ask Sam)
RUNNING SHOES
Nike workout shirt
Hoodie Sweat shirt
Bike shorts (picture below)
Bib Bike shorts (think bike shorts with suspenders - picture below)
Bib Bike tights (tights with suspenders and stirrups - picture below)
Dave's BFF t-shirt (picture below - yes I'm straight, see picture of 11 kids)
Matthew Mcconaughey pillow (see picture below - once again yes I'm straight there is a story behind each of the last 2 gifts)

EOTWAWKI

Another installment of occasional updates on how we are doing out there

• Starbucks reports that its profits are off 97% and it's stock is down 75% this year


• GM stock at lowest price since 1937


• Citicorp plans to layoff 35,000


• Sheik sues Michael Jackson for $7 million for failing to deliver new album


• White truffles are down 84%.


• Coach stock down 66% year to date


• Tiffany's stock is down 50% so far this year

As usual one of these is false

answer - Unfortunately Citicorp is planning to layoff over 50,000 employees. This on top of the 23,000 they have already laid off so far this year. Merry Christmas

Today's Workouts

4.3 mile run at lunch. Not much running will be happening this week. Resting up for the big race on Saturday.

A Weekend in the Life

Haven't done one of these in awhile.
Here was our life this past weekend starting Friday.

Friday

5-6am Sam at Holy Hour

6-6:30 Sam at grocery store

6:15am 4 littlest guys wake up

6:30-7am Sam at daily Mass

8-11am Homeschool

9-9:30am Sam back to grocery store

11-11:30am Lunch

12-1pm Holy Hour for Vocations

8am-4pm Dad at work

3:30-5pm Joey to a leadership training workshop

3:30-5pm K4J (Catholic Kids Club) at our house. Sometimes it is at the park down the street when the weather is nice. 15 boys. Girls club meets at a neighbors house, 2 of our girls go to that

5-7pm Dominic's birthday party. 7 boys invited.

6pm Caleb and Elizabeth leave for weekend retreat - home Sunday in time for lunch

6-8pm Barbara at Girl's club meeting

7pm-next morning Joey at slumber Birthday Party


Saturday - aka Dominic's birthday

7am dad grocery shopping

9-10:15am CCD for 3 of the kids

10:30-1pm Barbara at oratory

11:30-2pm Joey at year-end soccer party

noon-3pm Dominic lunch and birthday shopping with his aunt

3pm Alex home from college for weekend

5-9pm Barbara at year-end soccer party

5-8pm relatives over for Dominic's birthday dinner


Sunday - aka my birthday

7-8am Dad goes running

10am Mass

11:30am Caleb and Lizzie home from retreat in time for lunch

11:30am-1pm Lunch with Dad and Step mom at the Chinese buffet for my birthday

3-6pm Sam at church for and Internet Safety Forum

3-5pm Barbara had friends over

3-7:30pm Donk and Family over for dinner

7-8pm Friends over for cake and ice cream

8pm Alex heads back to college

8:30-11pm Redskins vs Cowboys game

Happy Birthday to Me

From my Bride

Silly Sunday

It's my birthday, I get to put up whatever I want :-P





This one is a lot funnier if you have seen Weird Al's orginal first

Happy Birthday Little Puppet

Dominic (#8) is 7 today! Is by far our goofiest most amusing child to be around.

For example. He gave himself the nickname Little Puppet when he was 4 years old. He picked it up from a movie called The Pacifier. He would walk around the house saying 'my friends call me Little Puppet'. We couldn't figure out where he got it from at first.

He's also famous for falling asleep anywhere and everywhere. We have tons of
pictures of him asleep. Asleep at the dinner table, on the stairs, in the hallway, on the toilet, during church (well everyone does that).

EOTWAWKI

Another installment of occasional updates on how we are doing out there

• DHL is laying off 9,500 US employees


• Democrats in the U.S. House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts (including 401(k)s and IRAs) and convert them to accounts managed by the Social Security Admin


• 8 million houses with negative equity in the United States


• Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie announce they are adpoting the country of Nigeria


• Associated Press says that there are 10 million people out of work – the most in 25 years


• Fannie Mae Posts Record $29B Loss in Third Quarter


• "I fell asleep crying and smiling at the same time. I woke up with mascara running and a smile on my face!" — Beyoncé, gushing with pride the day after Barack Obama made history by becoming the first black president of the United States.

As usual one of these is false



answer - this was a tricky one. 2 are wrong. The Brangelina one and Obama became the first half-black man elected prez

Today's Workouts

10 mile run this morning before the rain got too heavy

Only 8 More After This One

# 3 child (Caleb) turned 15 and 9 months recently - the age that the People's Republic of Maryland has decided to 'allow' us parents to teach Our children to drive. He actually can't get his license for another 6 months. And in that time he has to log 60 driving a parent.

So now I get to teach Caleb how to drive. Sam will help with it also but for some reason I seem to do better at this than she does. Which is kinda weird cause she has a whole lot more patience than I do. She has the patience of Job and I have the patience of Hannibal Lector at a morgue. Go figure.

Teaching a teen to drive in this traffic-packed crazed-driver area, also known as the DC suburbs is like teaching someone how to be a knife thrower and you are the target. Maybe it's that way in all areas of the country. But it sure seems particularly bad to me around here. On top of the sheer volume of traffic we have here. We also have; all the speed-crazed commuters rushing to work while texting or talking on their phones, soccer moms in their SUV's, immigrants who are in cars for the first time in their adult lives and lots of geezers who for some reason haven't moved down to Florida yet.

So far he's doing better than Alexandria or Josh did at this point. Alex if you are reading this - sorry but it's true. It's that whole hand-eye coordination thing.


Maybe I should get a sticker like this one put on the cars. The only problem with this sticker is that people like me would email the parents with horror stories of how bad their child was driving - just for a cheap thrill.




It could be worse - at least I don't have to deal with this with Caleb - at least I don't think so. Black nail polish maybe but not lipstick, that I know of....




Pray for me. I'm sure by the time I get to #11 I will have almost no hair left and have a nasty Valium addiction.

EOTWAWKI

Another installment of occasional updates on how we are doing out there

• Disney's 3rd quarter profits were down 13%


• Circuit City files for bankruptcy protection


• Senate leaders have proposed a bill to give low income familes a $250 gas card


• Israeli Police arrested 2 monks for fighting at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, revered as the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.


• Feds give AIG $40 billion more in return for partial ownership


• A new study says home prices not likely to return to their peak values until 2023

As usual one of these is false


answer - as of now the Senate has no plans for more give aways

RIP Gus

We hardly knew you.

World’s ugliest dog dies after battle with cancer

GULFPORT, Fla. - A one-eyed, three-legged dog that won the title of world’s ugliest pooch this summer has died.

The St. Petersburg Times in Florida reports that Gus, a Chinese crested dog, had cancer. He was 9.

Gus was rescued from a bad home and went on to win the annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in northern California.

Today's Workouts

8 easy miles this morning

7 Is So Lame

(disclaimer - this post is in jest. If you have 0-7 kids I'm kidding ok? Don't get your panties in a bunch)

Only 7 of the kids were around this past weekend. 2 are away at college and 2 of the others were at various retreats over the weekend.

The house was quiet like a tomb or a morgue or a McCain victory party. It was so darn quiet, creepy quiet at times. I was waiting for someone to jump out of the closet with a hockey mask on and an axe in hand. Wait, bad example. That's a daily occurrence at our house.

Sam and I kept looking at each other wondering what to do with 'only' 7 around to take care of, feed, take to various activities etc......We cooked to much at meals, only used around 20 gallons of gas this weekend, didn't have enough bodies at chore time...heck I had to rake the leaves myself - who am I kidding, I didn't rake the leaves. The kids can do that this week. I mean what's the point of having them if I can't get work out them.

The biggest problem is when one of the kid’s playmates is gone and they get bored and are looking for attention. What you want daddy to play with you?! Daddy is busy watching this important North-Central Idaho vs. Southern Topeka Poly Tech football game. And after that PBS is having a documentary on the evolution of Victorian Dress and its influence on the Romantic period of English literature.

It was weird. Sam could actually go to the bathroom without being bothered. But she was in the bathroom a lot longer though. She probably forgot how to go without an audience.

For a good part of Saturday 4 of the other kids were out of the house doing other things. So we were down to 3 kids for awhile. Heck we can do that with one hand tied behind our backs. Which is a good thing since the boys will tie you up and try and burn you at the stake in a second if you aren’t paying attention.

Now, if it had been all the older kids that were away and we had the 7 youngest at home that would be a different story. That would mean Sam and I (really Sam) would have to buckle the kids into car seats, wipe little kids butts, clean up oatmeal that was used as finger-paint on the walls……

My kids noticed it too (well the non-blondes do). They kept asking where everyone was. And saying it was quiet and boring around the house.

To make up for it we had neighbors over for dinner Saturday night who have 5 young kids....that helped some but we still had lots of leftovers and it just wasn’t the same.

And just to show you what type of people we are, when we only have 7 kids at home we like to call up friends of ours who have 7 kids and tell them how easy they have it and how lame they are and that they better get to work on number 8.

Today's Workouts

Monday - 4.3 miles running

Sunday - 5.2 miles running

Saturday - Day off! First day off from working out since the end of August

EOTWAWKI

Another installment of occasional updates on how we are doing out there

• Employers cut 240,000 jobs from their payrolls in October, the 10th straight month of cuts


• the number of job losses in 2008 so far is 1.2 million.


• The unemployment rate surged to 6.5%.


• Walmart announced it's laying off all of their greeters who give out the yellow smiley faces


• Gasoline prices fell another 2.6 cents to a national average of $2.314 a gallon


• Britney Spears joined Madonna on stage during her "Sticky and Sweet" tour


• GM is almost out of cash after posting a $4.2 Billion loss for the quarter - looking for help from the Feds

As usual one of these is false



answer - the Walmart one is false - thankfully since that's my retirement plan

Silly Sunday

For my sister from another mother down in Georgia

Sam and I go to 11 also...kids that is.

How to Live Longer

How different lifestyle changes can add years to your life


1.8 years

Be a winner


2 years

Eat chocolate


2.5 years

Have lots of sex


3 years

Be religious – and have friends


3.6 years

Eat less meat


3.7 years

Keep active


4 years

Drink wine


4.1 years

Have low blood pressure and cholesterol


5 years

Be educated and play golf


6.6 years

Eat well


7 years

Lose weight


7.5 years

Stay positive


8 to 10 years

Don't smoke


10 years (men)

Get married


10-plus years

Be happy


14 years

Change your lifestyle - Researchers found that those who exercised regularly, ate five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, didn't smoke, and had a moderate alcohol consumption lived an average of 14 years longer than those who adopted none of these behaviours.


20 years

Be wealthy and live in the right neighbourhood

Today's Workouts

4 mile easy run today. Weather is fantastic out.

EOTWAWKI

Another installment of occasional updates on how we are doing out there

• Both the US stocks and home values have each lost $5 trillion in value


• Fidelity Investments to layoff 1,300 workers


• The Gap announced a new line of clothing called 'Hope'. Inspired by the Obama victory


• Circuit City says it is closing 155 stores


• Toymaker Mattel lays off 1,000 workers


• A HS football coach in Chelsea, Mass., is accused of spending the team's uniform money at strip club

As usual one of these is false

answer - No Obama clothing line...yet

Pope Cracks Down on Slackers

From Bloomberg news:

“For the first time in almost half a century, Vatican administration staff will clock in for work as part of a clampdown on slackers, a sign that the global financial crisis has also spread to the world’s smallest state.

“Timekeeping was scrapped in 1960 under Pope John XXIII. Starting Jan. 1, the practice returns. All Holy See employees will be given magnetic badges and forced to clock in and out in an effort to track their movements and ensure they’re working a full day, said a Vatican spokesman who declined to be named.

“‘We can’t afford any waste,’ Bishop Renato Boccardo, secretary of the Governatorate of Vatican City State, told La Stampa newspaper. ‘There is a lot of work that needs doing, and the financial situation doesn’t allow us to hire more staff.’”

Just one more Sign of the Apocalypse

Today's Workouts

21 easy-paced run this morning. Great weather out.

Priceless

Family Cell Phone Plan - $220 a month

Ring Tones - $1.99 each

Replacing the occasional phone that is dropped in puddles - $50

Bill when teenage daughter goes over her minutes - $75

Sending Love Texts to your Hunny during business meetings - Priceless

Bad News for my Sons

is good news for my daughters

Attractive fathers do not pass their looks on to their sons but they will hand their good looks down to their daughters, research shows

Sorry boys, looks like your sisters are getting all my hotness.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day -Update

Update to the earlier Guy Fawkes post.

My lovely bride just gave me our copy of The Gunpowder Plot by Hugh Ross Williamson that has been sitting on the bookshelf gathering dust. So I'm going to start reading that tonight in honor of the big day.

It's good timing since I just finished reading Walker Percy's Love in the Ruins (for like the 20th time) last night. That's a very appropriate book for these troubled times (aren't all times pretty much troubled times?)

Today's Workouts

Monday 4.2 miles
Tuesday 7 miles
Wednesday 4.3 miles

Easing back the mileage a bit to slowly rest up for the big race on the 22nd

Happy Guy Fawkes Day

November 5th marks the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, a conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament and King James I in 1605, the day set for the king to open Parliament. The anniversary was named after Guy Fawkes, the most famous of the conspirators.

On the very night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.

Apparently the British have no sense of humor ;). This post should not be taken as encouraging the blowing up any government building of any kind...not even the Dept of Motor Vehicles :-P

Alas I can't find Guy Fawkes listed in Butler's Lives of the Saints nor is it a Holy Day of Obligation...the Church has gotten soft over the years...

For a very loose modern day interpretation check out the movie V for Vendetta. Warning it's violent, salacious and potty-mouthed at times. You may want to catch an edited TV version of it instead of renting it. But the message, People shouldn't be afraid of their government, is awesome. And will become even more important now that Comrade Obama is the new Emperor.

"......words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent......More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot." - V

EOTWAWKI

Another installment of occasional updates on how we are doing out there

• A new hotel opening in Las Vegas put out a call for employees. It got 67,000 applicants for 500 jobs


• Gm Sales down 45%, Chrysler down 35%, Ford sales down 30%, Nissan down 33%, Honda down 25% and Toyota down 23% in October.


• Obama is the Chosen One


• A CEO in India was beaten to death by employees after announcing massive layoffs. 63 people have been charged with his murder


• American Express said last week that it will cut 7,000 employees


• An English soccer player was fined $2,600 for hitting a nightclub doorman in the head with his girlfriend's handbag


• Volvo got orders for 41,970 of its big trucks in the 3rd quarter of 2007. In the 3rd quarter of 2008, 155 orders

One of these is false

answer - Obama and his followers just think he's The One

No McBomba

My Man Card Has Been Suspended

I drank not one but two cups of pumpkin spice coffee at work today!!! I have no idea what came over me – maybe I was channeling The Donk. It was there and it was free - I'm so embarrassed. I normally take my coffee hot black and bitter (sounds kinda like a certain presidential candidate). I sincerely apologize to everyone. I expect better of myself. I hope the children of America haven’t been scarred for life. I like to think of myself as a coffee role model. If y’all give me another chance I promise to never ever let it happen again.

As punishment I’m suspending my Man Card for 1 week.

EOTWAWKI

Another installment of occasional updates on how we are doing out there

• New York State faces a deficit of more than $40 billion over the next 18 months



• Kannapolis, NC, took down flags honoring native son Dale Earnhardt because Martha Stewart was coming to town



• McDonald's announced that they are lowering the amount of beef in their double cheese-burgers



• In the 3rd quarter GM says its North American sales were off 18.9% from last year



• Obama thinks he is the Messiah



• High School Musical 3 grossed $42 million in its opening weekend



• $400 billion for another ‘stimulus package

One of these is false

answer - the one about McDonald's, come on, you really think there is beef in their burgers

The Lesser of Two Evils

A simple analogy for those who believe in voting for the lesser of two evils: Who would you rather vote for, Grima Wormtongue or Saruman, to take the Ring of Power to the fires of Mt. Doom?

One More Day Until This Damn Election is Over

Today's Workouts

7.5 mile run yesterday and 5.5 miles today for a weekly total of 80.

Silly Sunday

Amsuing Facts

Found a new site, Amusing Facts

Among the amusing facts you'll find at this site:

A dime has 118 ridges around its edge.

A cricket's ears are just below its knees

Early Romans used porcupine quills as toothpicks

America’s favorite Crayola color is blue.

Every second two Barbie dolls are sold around the world. And, Barbie's full name it Barbara Millicent Roberts.