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Socks

1.30.2006
For the longest time I've needed some socks that weren't white and didn't have the words crew/athletic/moisture wicking in front of them, so I went to Target yesterday and picked up a few pairs of dress socks. I bought two brown pair and two black pair. I figure that should last me a week since Fridays I go super casual. I say super casual because most of the time I'm in a t-shirt/shirt and jeans anyway; I'm an engineer not a businessman. Well I was all happy with my purchase until I put on my socks this morning. The first thing I notice is the foot portion of the sock is abnormally long. In my mind I'm hoping my foot is also that long, so I put on the first sock with a little hesitation. I'm not even halfway to putting the sock on and the heel is up past my calf already. I continue pulling up the sock which eventually stops just below my knee. For a microsecond, yes I was counting, and yes my brain does that have that type of chronometric resolution, I didn't like it but my entire lower leg felt really warm and cozy. I've been having a problem lately where all my extremities are really cold so having a nice warm leg was a definite and welcome change to the norm. So I was happy with my sock apart from the heel which left a bit of fabric hanging from the back of my leg like that thing that hangs from the throat of a turkey. Once in a while my hand unconsciously slides behind my leg and fondles the fabric...not really.

So I have rehearsals all this week for a launch we're preparing for in February. We've had our initial rehearsals and our nominal rehearsals and now it's time for the down and dirty contingency rehearsals where all sorts of shit can go wrong. Ahhh yes, 3 days of scrutinizing and analyzing myriad bits of data trying to determine if that glitch in telemetry is really an anomaly or a problem with the sim. I am so not prepared.

I love lightly salted crunchy peanut butter. All others who disagree with me obviously have malformed or mutated taste buds. Yeah I'm talking to you. Punk.

Why must I covet that which I cannot have? The alure of the unobtainable and the chase that go hand in hand are intoxicatingly tantalizing.
Posted at 17:43

I like to whee!

1.24.2006
mmm...fast running.

Did a track workout this morning and ran my first sub-6 minute mile! I ran it in 5:55.30! It felt relatively easy too and it's just the start of the season! I can only get faster from here. I love my Nike Air Max 360s. I did pick up a pair of GT-2110s this weekend as well, so I don't wear out my 360s too quickly.

My weekend was super busy! I ran 6 on Saturday around my new neighborhood. I live in a really cool neighborhood by the way because it's a great place to run. Well since I was running a new route I didn't know what to expect, so about a 2.5 miles into it I encounter this hill. For the next mile and a half or so, there was hill after hill until I finally reached the apex and started making my way downhill, all of this was through a light rain. I finished just in time to put some pants on and a sweater so I could head downtown to volunteer at an information table for Team In Training; We were trying to recruit people for the new season. I, along with a few others, stood in the now terrential rain for a couple hours trying to get people to sign up for the Spring season. We managed to snag a few, so hopefully they'll show up at the kickoff meeting this coming Saturday.

After volunteering and some food I relaxed for the rest of the day and watched my new addiction, Battlestar Galactica. A runner friend of mine lent me the first season and I burned through 13 episodes in less than a week. Saturday I powered through 3 episodes of season 2. Battlestar is a really good show. At times I don't even feel like I'm watching a Science Fiction show rather a drama show that just happens to be set in space. I haven't been addicted to a show like this since Alias first came out.

Later that night I had dinner and drinks with some friends. We ate, we drank, and we were merry. Although the womenfolk were somewhat perturbed by the men babbling on about Battlestar Galactica. Who knew geek talk and women didn't mix?

Sunday I did an 8 mile run replete with more hills, but not as bad as Saturday's unexpected climbs. Knowing that you have hills to run is much easier than not knowing since you can prepare yourself mentally for the challenge. At least on Sunday it wasn't raining. After the run I again, along with some others, manned a information table for a couple of hours. We managed to get a lot more people this time! We should have a big team for this upcoming season. I can't wait!

I've run almost a 100 miles this year already. Holy crap that seems like a lot.
Posted at 09:09

I'm an Encouraging Leader!

1.19.2006



My Personal Dna Report
Posted at 20:46

It's not where but who you're with that really matters

Did a speed workout this morning. We did 8 quarters including a 2 mile warmup beforehand and a mile cooldown. Like I've said before I love running fast. I booked on the second to last quarter. This was probably due to me wearing my running tights and under armour top. I just cut through the wind like a hot knife through something that melts when a hot knife when is put through it. I went to the gym after to work on arms. I was thinking after that I run with some very interesting if not very influential people.

This morning there I ran with a CFO/Executive VP of one company and the VP of another company. I also frequently run with one of the original people who worked on the Mac. It's weird enough working in the heart of the Silicon Valley where companies like Apple ,eBay and Google are literally in my backyard, but it's weirder still the company I keep considering who they are and what they do.

I have a gripe. What's with people wearing headphones while driving? Newer cars are very acoustically isolated from the outside already but compounding that by wearing headphones and listening to your iPod. WTF. Do you want to cause and accident? Asshats.
Posted at 13:42

I am a leaf on the wind

1.18.2006
Come to think of it, I felt more like a peregrine falcon flying through the air on my way to who knows where. I always liked peregrine falcons as a kid. I did a 30 minute tempo run yesterday. Started off nice and slow, although my breathing belied the ease with which I was running. I rounded one corner and then the next, finally I reached my mark and set off like a bullet being shot from a sniper rifle. I love to run, but I love to run fast even more. It's like being a kid again without any inhibitions or worries because you just run. So I ran, for 12 minutes 17.49 seconds. I covered a little under 2 miles, not exactly the fastest run I've ever done but decent enough for recently getting back on the training wagon.

Today is another easy one, some leg strength training, 3 easy miles, and then stretching my ass off. Tonight I work out some aggression on the punching bag.
Posted at 09:54

Sleep would be good

1.16.2006
For some reason I'm a bit pissed off. I have no idea why, but I was in a bad mood this morning. Hopefully it'll wear off pretty soon.

I had a pretty hectic weekend. I did a 5 mile marathon pace run on Saturday. I was a bit reluctant to head out though because rain was coming down in buckets. I went out anyway and ran in the rain. The pace I'm hoping to run in the marathon is 7:00 min/mile. I managed to keep that pace on the track for 2 miles, but then I went out on the trail for 3. I don't think I was able to keep that pace for the time I was out on the trail but my workout intensity sure seemed like I was working at the same rate as I was on the track. Oh well it's only the first week, so no biggie.

Later that day I bought a new pair of running shoes. I was originally going to buy a pair of Asics GT-2110s, but I was persuaded to buy a pair of new Nike Air Max 360s. The two shoes don't compare at all. The Nikes are so much better than the 2110s that they're basically in another class. However, I paid for that class because the shoes are $160. I'm going to pick up a pair of 2110s next week so I don't wear out my Nikes. While I was at the running store I also picked up a pair of running tights and underwear. More on that later. Saturday evening I went to a friend's house where she made this absolutely delicious hot pot dinner. There was so much food it made my head hurt and my stomach too. I ate a lot.

Sunday I went for a 11 mile run. Since I had picked up new running gear the day before, I of course had to wear them that day. So I was decked out in my new Nikes, running underwear and of course my brand new, leave nothing to the imagination, form-fitting running pants. These tights made me feel like a superhero. I left a lot of room in the crotch so as not leave a visible bulge around the crotchal area. It's either show a bulge or don't show anything at all. I went for the no bulge look. This had the effect of making me look like a eunuch or, as one of my running buddies pointed out, a ken doll. The pants are great for running but not so much for normal walking about, which I ended up doing after the run. I forgot to bring a pair of regular pants, so I was stuck in my tights. For some strange reason I felt oddly exposed. I wonder why. Later that day my friends and I ended up going to our local running store again, where the owner promptly put me in a pair of looser fitting pants to make me decent. We also persuaded another guy to buy a pair of 360s.

And now for some brain farts.

I only have a few boxes left to unpack!

Never make tuna sandwiches in the presence of cats.

Rold Gold Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks are evil.

Battlestar Galactica is a really good show.

Audioslave's second CD rocks.
Posted at 09:13

I ain't doin' nuthin' toda'

1.13.2006
Wednesday I did a nice short recovery run of 3 miles after doing some strength training on my legs. The strength training I've been doing has really helped to ease some this sciatic pain I've been feeling. After running I spent 20 minutes stretching. Stretching almost invariably helps with aches and pains I'm feeling. I've become almost religious about it the past few weeks.

Thursday did another track workout. We did the same thing as last Thursday where we did 6 quarters, although this week was much easier than last. Today I do nothing but sit on my ass. Mmm...I love rest days. Tomorrow I'm doing a pace run. I'm hoping I can keep up a 7:00 min/mile pace for 5 miles. Sunday I'm doing a relatively long run of 10-11 miles.

Saturday night I'm going to a friend's house for a hot pot dinner thing she's cooking. I haven't seen this friend in a while so it will be nice to catch up again.

I love Friday.
Posted at 08:13

Nice legs

1.12.2006
I forgot my pants today.
Posted at 09:21

How could I forget this?!?

1.10.2006
One huge highlight forgot to mention in a previous post.

Liverpool winning The European Champions League! I cried because of a sport!
Posted at 17:26

Have a nice trip?

Before running on the track this morning, we did a short little warmup. Just as we were getting back to the track I tripped over this speedbump and took a tumble. Somehow I managed to do a pseudo tuck-and-roll and not hurt my legs. I just landed on my left hand and right shoulder, nothing too bad. The track workout this morning though, that was killer. I was sucking ass! I have lost a lot of my speed over the last month, and feeling really tired this morning. It probably didn't help that I worked out twice yesterday. I'm reconsidering doing these double workouts on Monday because I want to be able to get a decent Tuesday morning run.

I'm geeking out putting my training schedule together.
Posted at 11:07

Odds & Ends

1.09.2006
Moved in this weekend. Much easier than previous times I've moved because I had a lot more people helping this time. Hopefully I can stay at this place for longer than 15 months, which is a record for me!

I was wearing a red shirt I got from honolulu the yesterday along with a black zippered running vest. I got asked twice yesterday at two seperate stores if I could help a "customer." I was asked first in Bed, Bath & Beyond, which sort of confused me. I think it was the black vest, but when I walked into Target with a blazingly red shirt and that vest I knew I was in for something. Oh well. It made me laugh.

I went for a 10 mile run yesterday. I felt amazingly good and was able to finish with some fuel left in the tank. I was worried that I had lost some of my endurance, but I was back out there, albeit a bit slower than normal, running like I had always been. I officially start training today. I'm doing some strength training, running 3 miles, then some stretching. Tonight I'll probably head to my boxing class for some core and upper body. I'm hoping to lose at least 4 pounds by the end of this month.

I'm almost done unpacking. I've become an expert at packing and unpacking quickly. I'm not sure if that's good or not.
Posted at 08:23

Don't open your mouth

1.06.2006
I just farted in the men's room while was I washing my hands and some guy walked through my fart wake. I hate it when I do that. It's worse when you get a mouth full of fart. This is why mouthbreathers will always lose.
Posted at 14:32

On the move again

Well I'm moving again this weekend. I'm moving to a place called Saratoga, which is just a few miles from where I am now. I'll only have one roommate and her boyfriend, plus cats and maybe a dog. Almost everywhere I've lived in California has had repeating numbers in the address, be it in the zip code or street number. The place I'm moving to now is no different. In fact the street number and zip code have repeating numbers. This makes me sound superstitious doesn't it?
Posted at 09:54

On the road again

I got up at 4:45, a tad too early, yesterday morning to go do quarters at a track. I showed up a half-hour early, so I spent the time waiting restlessly trying to take a nap in my car. Well the other people I was waiting for showed up and most of us did quarters. I ended up doing 6 quarters which was plenty enough for me to get the engine going again. It felt great to be out there running again, especially running fast. I officially start training next week for my next marathon, so I needed a little kick to get me going.

Random thought. When and how did bombs become so complicated in movies? This doesn't seem to be a case of art imitating life because you hardly ever hear of bombs needing to be diffused, especially bombs with countdown timers and elaborate multiple failsafes. Unless the clandestine organizations out there are exceptionally good at covering up things like this, but I'm not so sure of they're that good at what they do. I still wonder though are bombs fictional bombs becoming more elaborate because of writers minds or because of realy life. I told you it was a random thought.
Posted at 09:20

Year in Review

1.04.2006
Updated with more stuff
Before I go into my review for this year, I realized again this morning that this year marks the 10th anniversary of me graduating high school. Holy Crap!

The last year has been really good to me and luckily I haven't had much bad stuff happen. I've made a bunch of new friends. I'm in the best shape of my life. I feel pretty content in my life as it stands. I'm sure other urges will impose themselves on me and cause me to momentarily lose that contentment, but I'll regain it again in no time. I'll list the highlights and lowlights of the last year:

Highlights

  • Running two marathons - In 2004 I said I wanted to run a marathon. I never thought I would run two in one year! It sort of seems old hat, but I know there's a lot more to learn about running. There's also plenty of room for me to improve, so 2006 will see me run at least 3 marathons.

  • Making tons of new friends - I didn't expect to make so many new friends through running and Team In Training(TIT!), and yet here I sit with myriad new people on my cell phone. It's sort of weird having this many friends because I've never actually known so many people at one time that I could call my friends. I'll expect to make many more new acquaintances through running, Team In Training, and other walks of my life. You can never have too many friends.

  • Travel - I sure logged a lot of miles in the air this year. I've been to Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska. Japan was awesome, I got to spend a month abroad working with all expenses paid. Going to Japan sparked that travel bug in me again, so I'm planning a trip to somewhere foreign this year. I'm not exactly sure where, but I'll definitely be flying to another continent. Who knows, maybe I'll finally make it back to London after 15 years! Alaska was great. I got to run my first marathon there, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I saw a bright midday sun at 10pm, and I saw first hand the immensity of a whale dork. Hawaii was friggin' awesome. I don't think I've ever been so relaxed. I actually was comatose for a while because I was so relaxed. I'm definitely going back next year and will explore more this time as opposed to just lounging around the beach.

  • Work - Yay I got a promotion. Yay!

  • My mum getting out more - My mum has been doing a lot more stuff lately. I'm happy to see her get out and do things.

  • Feeling like I've grown as a person - Admittedly I read this on nancies, but I have certainly matured emotionally. I've become more confident, even more outgoing, more empathetic and certainly more willing to express myself if needed. Of course there's still much more room for growth.

Lowlights

  • My car got broken into again - This was more my fault than anything, but crap it was still annoying as hell.

  • My car has been sort a pain in my ass - I've had lots of weird little mechanical things go wrong with my car, but luckily I've had the money to keep it going. I do hope to get a new car in the next year or so because I can only take so much.

  • My best friend separating from his wife - I have never seen a more tolerant and understanding man than my best friend. I aspire to have even half of his tolerance and understanding. He did a lot to keep his relationship alive but to no avail, but he's a good man and will find a better woman that will make him happy.

  • Living with shitty roommates - So this is what it's like to live in filth and squalor...

  • My mum not passing Anatomy & Physiology again - My poor mum has tried to pass this class for her nursing prerequisites 3 times I think now, and each time she's failed. I wish there was something I could do to help.

  • Being single - I'm not terribly worried about this one, but it sure would be nice to find someone with whom I could share my life and stuff, ya know? It's not like I'm not trying. Maybe I should stop trying and just let the fires of fortune forge my future. Oh screw that, I am master of my own ship of destiny! We head East! I hear there are strange and exotic women in the lands of the East...Milpitas here I come!



Goals for this year

  • Qualify for Boston - I might try to qualify later in the year so my qualification is valid for two years.

  • Pay off the last little bit of my CC debt

  • Travel more

  • Get down to 160 lbs. or get a six pack, whichever comes first

  • Do a triathlon

  • Become a better swimmer, so I don't drown in the triathlon

  • Learn how to ride a bike, so I can do the biking portion of the triathlon

  • Get a bike, so I can learn how to ride, so I can do the biking thing

  • Become a better guitar player

  • Cook more

  • Stop interrupting people when they talk. I hate it when I do that, and I'm pretty sure other don't like it as well.
  • Create a life list of things I would like to do in my lifetime. This should give me something to do.

  • Try to take over the world!

Posted at 13:11

About resolutions

I don't really make New Year's resolutions. I just make periodic changes or adjustments throughout the year to reflect those in my life. The New Year just happens to be a good starting point just for most because it's akin to starting with a blank slate or at least a really buffed down slate.
Posted at 09:54

When I grow up

I want to be like this guy at work. He's about to turn 60 but looks like he's in his late 40s. He's in great shape too!
Posted at 09:46

Dang.

1.02.2006
I love clementines.
Posted at 19:15