The Pressure

Well it seems I have been slack on the blogging, since Da Hoop has pointed out my non-blogging since Oct. 13th.

Kinda busy around here, plus been fighting a bad cold the last couple days.

Well I finally started getting back to swimming a couple days a week since my surgery, YEAH!!!!!

I rode my bike again, and the shoulder is holding up, a little sore, but I am happy to be active again.

Then this damn cold has knocked me for a loop, hopefully I will be better soon, I am swimming to try and win a turkey on Thursday, more on that later.

My daughter's 4th Birthday party is Saturday, it is hard to party like a 4 year old.

Well onwards and upwards.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia: Fear of Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th - The Most Widespread Superstition?

The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both have foreboding reputations said to date from ancient times, and their inevitable conjunction from one to three times a year portends more misfortune than some credulous minds can bear. Some sources say it may be the most widespread superstition in the United States. Some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th; some won't eat in restaurants; many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date.

Just how many Americans at the turn of the millennium still suffer from this condition? According to Dr. Donald Dossey, a psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of phobias (and coiner of the term "paraskevidekatriaphobia"), the figure may be as high as 21 million. If he's right, eight percent of Americans are still in the grips of a very old superstition.

There have been a number of events known as "Black Fridays" in history. Usually, these events are devastating. Some historians propose that the origin of the "Black Friday" was the simultaneous arrest of hundreds of Knights Templars on October 13, 1307 (Friday), to be later tortured into admitting heresy.

I say is is all in their heads!

So Soon?

Wow, almost a month since I have blogged. SO busy and really have not much to write about. Been kinda bummed, I have been so busy at work I have not been able to start back swimming, I went only once LAST week. I really need to get in the pool. I need to try out Hoop's new chute, nice job to Hoop on the Swim Miami 10K, you could not pay me to swim that far or for that long ever again. Only a really good or fun bet would MAYBE do it.

Well the fall TV season is underway and shows are getting cancelled. Smith is already gone, and it looks like Kidnapped is on it's way out, been banished to Saturday night and told to wrap up the show by the 13 episode order. Happy Hour, a show I have never heard of is on it's way out as well.

It looks like my Tivo can take a rest on two shows for now. I kinda liked Smith, Ray Liotta is cool, and so is Simon Baker. It had a good concept, just no one watched. Amy Smart was annoying though.

I watched the Nine, do not know if I like it yet, but Heroes is AWESOME! Plus my usual shows I watch!

It's Back

Fall TV has made it's way back to our screens. What a relief, there were some good shows this summer, but I cannot wait for all the shows to be back.

Fox and F/X have started their shows, thank goodness for Nip/Tuck, makes our troubles look like nothing compared to these two guys. Prison Break is getting good, and House made a great comeback.

The new show Vanished is not looking so good, Justice is not so bad, and I Tivoed Standoff. I missed TV on Monday because I was working at the FSU vs Miami game, two great teams looking like crap.

Oh well, I will catch up soon.

Pluto’s no longer a planet??

Capping years of intense debate, astronomers resolved Thursday to demote Pluto in a wholesale redefinition of planethood that is being billed as a victory of scientific reasoning over historic and cultural influences. But the decision is already being hotly debated.

Officially, Pluto is no longer a planet.

Scientist decided Pluto is no longer a planet, WTF?

OK, I mean it is ok to make a mistake, but a whole planet?

I wish I could make a planet sized mistake and keep my job.

The Next Great Movie

Beerfest, how could this not be a great movie. You have to see the trailer This is gonna be funny.

The guys from Broken Lizard make some of the funniest movies around. Yes it is dumb humor, but that is the best. There is time for the smart humor of John Stewart, Dennis Miller, or George Carlin. This is the movie I want to see next.

There are some other films that are coming out soon which should be good:

The Prestige
The Black Dahlia
The Departed
Employee of the Month
The Fountain
Hollywoodland
Jet Li's Fearless
Invincible

Run one way or another

The dumbass of the week, they make it easy for us to pick on them.

The legal morass that has ensnared Maurice Clarett since he was Ohio State's star running back mounted Wednesday when police found four loaded guns in his sport utility vehicle and couldn't subdue him with a stun gun because he was wearing a bullet-proof vest.

It was just the latest in a series of problems for the beleaguered Clarett, who hasn't played a game since scoring the winning touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl as a freshman for Ohio State's 2002 national champions. He already faced trial in an armed robbery case next week, and his bond on those charges was raised to $1.1 million after he was jailed on the new weapon and traffic charges.

Clarett hid one semi-automatic handgun under his legs in the driver's seat and had an AK-47-type assault rifle on the passenger seat, police said. They said they found two other semi-automatic handguns, including one in a holster in a backpack.

Now Mo, I guess staying in shape and making millions of dollars running from 300 lb lineman was not enticing enough for you. Running from the cops is much more fun.

Too many hits the the head or the bong, maybe when you get out you can hang with Ricky Williams and Jim Brown, or even O.J.

Way to High!

OK these gas prices are totally getting out of control. But at least I am not driving a total gas guzzler. Imagine those suckers driving a huge SUV, ouch. I saw Shaq driving a modified semi, guess he is going from gas station to gas station leaving his money behind.

America needs to wake up and start making cars that do not rely on BIG OIL. They have been able to make these cars for years.
The rich oil magnets have never seemed to let his happen. Check out the movie Who Killed the Electric Car?

Hopefully this gas issue gets solved before we are paying $5.00 per gallon. Eventhough I read a story about how expenisve gas might help the country. How you might ask? By having people who are working on alternative fuels, to work harder and smarter to get their ideas out their and viable.

Whooooo A little to much!!

A blitzed Mel Gibson launched into an obscenity-laced tirade when he was busted on suspicion of drunken driving early yesterday, threatening an officer and making anti-Semitic and sexually abusive remarks, according to a police report.

Wow, it the funniest thing I have heard in a while. I though Mel has lost it a while back, but this proves it. The whole make two movies in Dead Languages thing, and the crazy beard, nice Mel. You have proved you are a supreme ass.

According to the incident report obtained by TMZ.com, the Road Warrior embarked on a belligerent, anti-Semitic outburst when he realized he had been busted.

"Fucking Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," the report quotes him as saying.

"Are you a Jew?" Gibson asked the deputy, according to the report.

The actor also berated the deputy, threatening, "You motherfucker. I'm going to fuck you," according to the report.

Mel, Mel you have finally made it to the I have lost my mind catagory, I will never see a movie with you in it, or directed by you. I guess it took too much drink to show your true hatred.

What were they thinking?

Whoa, Stan Lee this is just not working. I mean Monkey Girl, Fat Momma, and what is with Cell Phone Girl? This is almost to laughable. The steroid freak was pretty funny as well, he wanted to kill people. Not what a superhero does.

This summer's tv programs are either full of crap and some really good shows. But are the crappy shows are way to awful to watch and the good ones you cannot miss, I guess this is the only one to fall into the category of watch it cause it is so bad, it is funny.

At least the summer is almost over and the regular shows begin.

On a side note, depending how much of a tv junkie you are, the pilot episode for Aquaman is availabe on iTunes for $1.99.

Also NBC will be putting pilot episode of some of their new tv show Heros on iTunes for free in September.

TV Show/Movie - Movie/TV Show

Why do they keep making lame ass tv shows based on movies, and the other way around?

Blade the TV series, did they screw the pooch on this, come on Sticky Fingas cannot act his way out of a parking ticket.

The Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky and Hutch, Æon Flux, and the live version of the Flintstones were such a waste. I heard they a making a Knight Rider movie. Please do not screw up the Transformers, but they probably will.

I think M*A*S*H* and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie was horrible) did it right coming from the movie screen to the boob tube. Now they want to make a 24 and a Sporanos movie. WE SEE THEM FOR FREE!!! Why would we want to pay to see them on a movie screen.

Now Serenity was a way to do it, Joss Whedon makes good tv and movies.

Please Hollywood, stop the remakes and redos and come up with something original.

Eureka!

Well the Scifi channel has come up with another gem, Eureka. What a fun pilot the other day. Basically here is the jist of the show "Nestled in the Pacific Northwest, Eureka is a seemingly ordinary town whose residents lead ordinary lives … at least to the naked eye. Shrouded in secrecy, the picturesque hamlet is actually a community of scientific geniuses assembled by the government to conduct top-secret research".

Why the big networks ever come up with great ideas I will never understand. The best shows on tv are not on the networks, they are on SciFi, HBO, and F/X.

24, House, Lost and Veronica Mars are the best network shows, but come on they cannot touch Battlestar Galactica, Rescue Me, Nip/Tuck or Deadwood.

Makes You Wanna Smack Someone

Not that elevator rides are the most pleasent things in the world, but will people get off the friggin' cell phones! I cannot stand being in a small confined space with some loud asshole, listening to their whole conversation.

The elevators in my office building are really slow, and having to ride up with a loud talking schmuck is the last thing I want to do.

Cellphone are the biggest convenience with the biggest annoyance, and please do not get me started on the annoying ring tones in the office, and the people who leave their phones at their desk so we all can hear it 20 times a day.

Ahh, the rant is over.

Funny New Show

I started watching this new show called Psych. It is pretty funny, most of the new summer shows have been horrible, or scarry to even think of watching ie. America's Got talent.

It was sad to see Gabriel "Picachu" Iglesias get kicked-off Last Comic Standing, he would have won so easily. I guess I will go with Josh Blue, funny dude.

Rehab is going well, 4-6 more months till I can swim again, at least my daughter is getting in.

Da Vinci Tech

I watch a show called Modern Marvels on the History Channel. This show has some of the best info around. I Tivo almost every show.

About two weeks ago they has a show called Da Vinci Tech. Man was this guy way ahead of his time. It is I think to say that Da Vinci is about the biggest genius ever. I knew some about his work, but this stuff was amazing.

I went to the library the next day to read up on his inventions, he was a clever guy, with some really cool military weapons, paintings, sculpture and drawings.

If you get a chance to watch the show, you should. I am in the middle of watching the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirate's Life For Me....

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest comes out next Friday. Man I am so ready to see this. I guess almost every little kid pretends he is a pirate at sometime. I have gone on the ride at Disney World a couple hundred times in my life. Now that I have kids, I take them when I visit the Magic Kindom.

My daughter loves it and sings the pirate song, it is sooo cute. I must ride it 5 or more times in 3 days. I must say this is the way to make a movie based on anything, a ride or comic book. I am thrilled it did not turn out to be the Haunted Mansion, nice try Eddie Murphy.

Pirates are just the coolest thing, due to the fact they were REAL. Just wondering if anyone has a favorite pirate, and no One Eyed Willie does not count, for those who know.

Look Up In The Sky!

I went to see Superman Returns last night. I was very hopeful that this would be a good film. I was please with the overall look and feel of the film. There was not enough action, please this is SUPERMAN, give him something to do. I hope now that this film is in the can, that the next one will be a triumph.

The trailer for Spider-Man 3 was shown, NOW that looks AWESOME. I cannot wait until May.

I am now looking forward to the next Pirates movie next Friday, might have to see that one more than once.

Only One Arm Left

Well it has almost been a week since my shoulder surgery. I am doing fairly well. Major accomplishment for today, I washed my hair with both hands. Listen it is a small step, and I will be happy to get any of them. I felt like crap for the first couple days. I am actually feeling pretty good.

I have rehab this afternoon, I just do not want to cry. It hurts!!!!

If you can avoid messing yourself up, and having to have surgery, it is a smart move.

6-8 months out of the pool, AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

They Heard Me

Well is seems the powers that be heard my call about moving
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It now will be on Monday in the
slot where Medium was.

Thursday night is saved!!!

Boy, am I a t.v. junkie or what.

Then End of Shows

It seems that I will be picking a whole new slew of tv shows for next season. Since the shows I have been watching for years, and my new season pickup are gone.

It was time to say good-bye to Alias, Charmed, Conviction, E-Ring, Four Kings, Heist, Invasion, Killer Instinct, Love Monkey, Surface, Threshold, Wanted, and The West Wing. Then the Sopranos seems to be going as well as one more season of Deadwood the best c@#ksucker show on t.v.

I hope the new shows for next season have some potential. Of course they pile up at least one day of my watching schedule.
Thursday Night at 9 is jampacked next season, I hope they move some stuff around, since the upfronts have 3 returning shows and the new Aaron Sorkin show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Here are my t.v. junkie new picks to go along with my old faves.

ABC - The 9 and 6 Degrees
CBS - Smith and Shark
FOX - Vanished, Standoff and Justice
NBC - Heroes and Kidnapped

Who knows if I will watch these are not but they look ok, and some have actors I like.

It seems to be hit and miss these days, and I cannot stand Reality TV, it sucks, well except Hogan Knows Best.
Hulk Hogan Rules the Fu-Manchu!!

Nationals Day 3 & 4

Well I was sooo exhausted after Day 3 & 4, I did not post. To sum up Nationals, I was a second
slower in all my events, I thought I would go faster. I cannot complain. Over all it went well.

Our team placed 3rd overall, Men 2nd and Women 3rd. Way to go FLA.

Well now I have surgery scheduled in one week and I will be out of the water for a while.

I think I am going to help out with helping with working on my teammates technique.

I think I might start with the Big Texan Da Hoop.

Way to Go FLA!!!!

Check out our team photos.

Nationals Day 2

Well the second day is over, and man I am tired. I swam OK, wanted to swim faster, but hey it did not happen.

The relay I was in is now a National Champion Relay, the other relay I participted in got 4th, and I swam into 9th place in the 50 fly. Time to ice my shoulders eat a lot of Aleve or Advil and rest.

Day 3 to come!!!!

Masters Nationals Day 1

Well the first day of Nationals is over and my two buds won their respective races, Good job H2 and Da Hoop. I got second in my race the 1000 free, man did it hurt, I am such a sprinter. Our team is 1 point off the lead after the first day, time to rest and here comes day two.

I am swimming the 50 Fly, one of the events I am looking forward to, I love to sprint!!!! I also have two relays, which should be fun.

More updates tommorrow.


GO FLA!

Just bloggin away

Well another crazy week here in sunny South FLA. I have been beyond busy with work and clients, no time to rest. My wife is sick, my son is getting over tonsilitis and then a sinus infection. Then my daughter takes a toy truck to the face, and has to get 2 stiches over her lip. Not the week I really wanted to have.

One more week till Nationals, still swimming the 1000 Free, all my friends are wondering if I am going to finish, as I am a drop dead sprinter. Hopefully I will surprise them, and myself. I love and hate tapers all at the same time. I feel great when I go fast, everything else just sucks.

Well hopefully next week will be stress free and fast swimming.
IT WOULD BE NICE!!!!!


GOOD LUCK TO THE FLATEAM!!!!!!

Head or A#@

Easter is here and the age old question arises. Do you eat your chocolate bunny by
the head or ass first?

I polled my friends, some do not eat chocolate, so they were no help. But hey, who can resist a peep?

It was mixed some head, and some ass, or tail first if you wish.

I like Easter candy, even though I cannot eat it till Passover is finshed, but who does not like chocolate Matzoh?

Just wondering which way does everyone else eat their bunnies.

Done and Done

Well my first foray into the relms of triathlon went somewhat well. I finished 5th in my class.
I wish my time was a bit faster, but hey it was my first time and I finished. A big thanks goes out to my friend and helpful triathlon coach MLB.

Now it is only 4 weeks until Masters Swimming Nationals, and it is time to get ready. I am also
going to swim the 1000 Free which I have never raced before in my life. I swam a 500 which is half the distance, about
oh 14 years ago, and it was not that much fun then. GO FLA!!!!!!!

I am sore, tired, and hoping to go fast. Lets see how it goes!

Getting Nagged On

Well is seems I have been remiss about posting lately. Da Hoop reminded me that I have not posted.
I have been busy training for my triathlon, which is Sunday, and Masters Swimming Nationals - coming up next month.
I guess blogging went to the background.

My son turned 1 this weekend, man does time fly. My daughter comes up with the craziest things, she had been getting up frequently during the night, leaving me exhausted. She tells my wife that her room is not as FUN as her brothers, SOOOO, we turned her room into a Princess room thanks to the Disney store and $110 out of my pocket. I think that is well worth it for a good nights sleep.

Now I have my swimming dilemma, to swim the 1000 free, hello I am a SPRINTER, or not swim a 6th event. What is a swimmer to do. Oh well, it can't be that bad, or can it?

Well I am done blogging for the day, will post on Sunday with results from my 1st ever triathlon.

Not a Good Start....

Well I got up at 4:15 this morning to do a 15 mile ride on my bike. It was between cold and not too cold, so I wore my jacket, and started to sweat about 5 minutes into it. There was a strong wind, and I just did not feel too fast.

But the worst of it all came about 1 mile from my house when some jackass decided to make me his hood ornament. Let me tell you this is one of the most frightning experiences as a cyclist. Especially since it is still dark out. I have a high flashing beam on the front of my bike and I was only 50 yards from him. The SOB was in a coma or something.

I hope the day gets better, swim practice here I come.

A Good Sammich

Today I took my friend over to Spanky's Cheesteak Factory in Ft. Lauderdale to get get some lunch. Man they are huge and I know I should not order the whole, but it sooooo damn good.

My buddy did not listen to me to order a Cheesesteak, and ordered a buffalo chicken philly. Normally they come out like a rocket, and today it too so long. I was so hungry, but noooooooooo had to wait, and eat the sammich at my desk because it took so long.

Anyone out there find a good place for food, and the portion is so big, but so good you have to eat the whole thing?

I usually do not eat a ton, but mmm good!

What a weekend!

I had a swim meet, and I am exhausted. My kids are sick and I am just having one of those days.

I stuck around at the meet to count for my friend who swam the 1650 - the mile to all you non aquatic types. In the middle of the race the rain starts, and keeps getting harder and harder and harder. I was soaked to the bone, I hope he appreciates it.

Well now the countdown is on for me, as my triathlon is  6 weeks away and swimming nationals are 3 weeks after that. 

Hopefully after some nice rest and the kids feel better I will have a nicer day, but it still was not that bad.

Thoroughly Frustrating

Do you ever wonder what the other people at you job do all day? I wonder this all the time when easy things do not get accomplished. This drives me insane, if you have a job, do it and do it well. All this slacking and diversion of duties really get annoying real fast.

All the simple, easy tasks that should take one day take weeks, and all the things that need to be taken care of before things happen don't. If people would just make a list of things that need to get done, it would really help the situation.

Oh well, people just do not change that easy.

Song stuck in my head

I saw Walk the Line last night and thought it was great, Johnny Cash is the man. Now I had Ring of Fire in my head, until a friend of mine decided to start singing really crazy songs during this mornings swim practice.

Then for the rest of practice I had half songs in my head, kinda through me off. So I had to just listed to as much as Johnny Cash for a while to clear my head of the pop garbage he spouts. Hopefully I can just relax and listen to some good music.

The only thing is about getting a song stuck in you head is if it the wrong one it can melt your brain.

February 10th is my date of birth

I got to the party and I did the smurf - thank you Beastie Boys!

Well it was my 31st Birthday yesterday, and I played hookie with my wife. We did our taxes - the only NON fun thing we did all day.

We went to this place called Boomers and played video games - soooo middle school I know, but it was fun.

We walked up and down Las Olas Blvd. and my Mom bought us lunch.

Then we went home and played with the kids.

We went to this wonderful Mexican Restaurant and we saw The Matador - it was very funny by the way.

Then I had a good swim practice today which was run by my friend, who made the practice fun and interesting.

Well 8 weeks till the FAU Triathlon and 13 weeks until Masters Nationals, whoooooo

Four Things

Four jobs I’ve had:
Web Designer
Network Administrator
Lifeguard
Swim Instructor

Four movies I can watch over and over:
PCU
Swingers
The Three Amigos
The Godfather

Four places I’ve lived:
Davie, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Dayton, Ohio
Across the Sea

Four places I’ve vacationed:
Los Angeles, California
Vail, Colorado
New York City
Sandefjord, Norway

Four TV shows I love:
24
Scrubs
The Shield
Battlestar Galactica

Four sites I visit daily:
One Digital Life
ESPN
Joe's NYC
Wikipedia

The First Post

I have read a couple blogs, and I figured I could give it a shot.
Observing the world the way I see it and letting people know is not such a bad idea.

Normal life is pretty intersting stuff, because it happens to everyone.

I will be adding some photos that I have taken around the world, and in
Ft. Lauderdale, and of my swimming junkie pals.

Hope you enjoy.

PS - I blame Da Hoop for this!