Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Two Things

SO the first thing is I got up this morning and got on the scale and saw that I have already met my goal this week of loosing 5 lbs. The week is only half way done so if I keep this pace up maybe I can double that!?!?!

Second thing is I felt like an idiot the other day. I bought a PS3 system a few days ago, and it comes with one controller. The controller had a cord to plug into the system. I really wanted a wireless controller because my TV and couch are a good distance apart from one another. So I would either have to pull my system out as far as the cords would reach or I would have to sit on the floor. Both options I did not like.

It was getting so annoying that the other day I came very close to buying a wireless controller. That is until I looked at the underside of my current controller. It said "wireless controller" I unplugged the cord and guess what???? It worked. I had had a wireless controller the whole time.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Pain....Lots of Pain!

So last night my wife sent me a link and Double Dog Dared me to loose weight. Now this is something I have wanted to do for some time, but have put off. Today I decided to get really serious and commit to this. Here is Knoxville there is a Masters swim team. A Masters swim team is for adults of all ages. I have been looking at joining a masters team for some time, but to be honest never have taken the step to go to a practice. This morning I did!

I got to the University of TN early. Practice starts at 11:30, and I wanted to be a little early to check out the pool and talk to the coach. I met Coach Tyler. He and I chatted for a few minutes and he got me set up with some paperwork and a team schedule. C. Tyler told me the team was a good team and a good mix of ages. There were around 50 team members and practice attendance varied from around 10 to 50 people showing up to practice.

Today there were around 25 people there. Knowing my swimmers rules, and knowing I would be one of the slowest swimmers there since I had not practiced in years I sucked up my pride and took the outside lane.

NOTE: For those of you who dont know swimmer rules, the middle lane is always considered and reserved for the fastest swimmers, while the outside lanes are for slower swimmers.

Once people started showing up I felt a little out of place. I didn't know anyone, and this was my first practice in years. I knew I was going to suck. However much to my surprise everyone was very friendly. People came up shook my hand asked my name and introduced themselves. Then they invited me to swim in one of the middle lanes, closer to the group. I quickly caught onto the fact that what I knew about swimmer rules meant nothing here! Which was both terrifying and calming at the same time. At least with the rules I knew where my place was. Throw the rules out the window and I had no idea.

The practice was passed out, and I tool a look at the outline of what was to come. It seemed like a basic practice.

600 warm up Swim/Kick/Pull
16 50 on the 130
2x 200 - 100 BK Pull
100 BR Pull
400 Kick 100 FR BK BR FL
400 WARM DOWN

I think I am missing a set or two in there, and there were times attached to each set that I cant remember, but you get the idea.

I jumped into the water, and let me tell you it felt WONDERFUL! Water has always been my element, and to be in it a surrounded by it felt great!

Then the pain began.

It wasn't the actual workout that hurt, however my shoulders right now feel like jello. It was trying to breath. I just quit smoking over 4 weeks ago, and let me tell you smoking did nothing to help my practice today. There were times I really felt I couldn't breath. I one point my body needed air so bad that I tried to breath under water. NOT a good idea. As practice went on my lung got a little better but I was still having to breath every stroke. I usually breath every three strokes.

However bottom line I made it through my first swim practice without the Lifeguard having to drag me out, and I get to go do it all over again tomorrow!

Friday, April 24, 2009

The Big Idea...Or The Big Nightmare

OK so here I am once again thinking a blog is a good idea. I really have no idea why I think this is going to be a good idea. The last time I blogged I had two. One for personal things going on, and the second was a professional blog aimed at making my resume look good. For me blogging is both good and bad. I enjoy reading blogs, and I do enjoy posting every now and then. However when you forget to post on a regular basis your friends start asking "Hey man, you haven't posted in awhile." May I just speak on behalf of all bloggers out there when I say, we hate that comment!

Having said all that I find myself in a situation where I have a great deal of time on my hands. For the last several weeks I have been running into a wall, generally around 10:30 at night, where I simply dont know what to do with myself. Hence the birth of this blog.

So jumping right into what I have been doing with myself. Over the last 3 or so weeks I have found myself getting interested in woodworking. Specifically refinishing furniture. I have had a few projects waiting to be worked on over the last several years, however, I never could find the time or really the space. Now I have some space and some time, so the projects began.

The first project I started working on was an old coffee table of mine. It used to be my parents. I grew up with this table and formed a strange attachment to it. Years ago my parents were getting ready to throw this table away, and I insisted they keep it in storage. They did, and when I moved out of my parents house I brought it with me. One problem, my wife hated this table. It was old and scratched and the finish was coming off. It needed a lot of work. So for the last three years it has been in storage under our bed.

I started refinishing it, and think I did a good job if it. My wife told me yesterday, after seeing it for the first time, that it looked much better. I still think she doesn't like it, but at least its not under our bed at the moment.

I have a few pictures of it, but none of it completely done. I will try to get some and post them this weekend.

Next project an old writing desk.