Random Rants

Well, as another week comes to a close, I’ve modified my workout regimine yet again. I’ve started Spinning in the mornings on MWF (well, WF this week anyways). What is spinning you ask? Well, it’s where Sado-Masochistic folks who like to bicycle put themselves through varying amounts of torture for the purpose of being physically fit. It’s a 40 minute class, and the sweat just pours off of you (in most cases). Remembered my little towel this morning, which helped with the sweat in the eyes issue.

In addition to all of that, I’ve added more and more free weight exercises to my workout circuit. Granted, I still use the Smith machine (free weights for wimp dummies), but at least I’m progressing with real weight as opposed to “resistance”. Now to go and rest since my body is killing me right now. Wish I could’ve swam this morning like I wanted to .. Peace my friends …

Dan Working Out

I can’t believe it, but I think today actually marks the time school is coming to an end. I submitted my application for degree at Texas A&M. It’s been such a long haul that I’m not sure anymore of what I want to do. I want to teach, but I’ve had an opportunity presented to me in an IT related field that also has merit and tugs at me.

In other news, I tried a spinning class today. Let’s just say that I’m really feeling it right now. I sweat my a$$ off this morning (if not literally, then pretty close to literally). Chuck and Jason (couple of guys I work out with at the Y) were surprised that I survived the class. Not too much of a surprise given that I used to bike all over Grand Lake back when I was younger. I liked it as a class. Definitely brought out the heart attack factor in me, that’s for sure (for those that don’t know, the heart attack factor when working out is the burning in your lungs and the pounding of your chest that makes you wish you’d have a heart attack and get it all over with). Hit the weight room after for a bit, did some pull ups and some bench presses with the Smith machine. Weight was in the 222-224 range again this morning. I’m still trying to get down to 220. Soon, if I keep up the spinning .

And then there’s the new house. Who hates dealing with bankers?? I do! I do! I swear they try to make things extremely difficult for people in hopes that things will fall through or something. Every time I turn around, the “underwriters” are asking for yet another piece of information or asking for a blood sample, or a guarantee that we won’t say the word “Starbucks” on any day other than the fourth Thursday of the fifth month (which is the day after closing, by the way). I mean c’mon. How difficult is it. We have good credit scores and have no late payments in any way on our current mortgage or credit accounts. Heck, I’m even squeezing an extra $400 a month away from my 401k to guarantee there’s money in the bank for the bills. AARRGGHHH!!

Dan General Rants, School Rants, Working Out

Well, so much has happened since I wrote my last real post. Where to start though? Let’s head back to New York just over a week and a half ago. Left work early on Friday to hit the road to New York. I swear, the past few times we’ve gone up 13 we’ve hit bad weather. Well anyways, made some decent time (even better after the New Yorker started driving). Got into the in-laws house in time to say hi and get some shut eye. Oh god how I hate that bed but love that bed (hate it for comfort and shortness, but actually love it because it pushes me closer to my wife).

Saturday was the day of the big game at Yankee Stadium. Tim Wakefield was pitching and we had seats in left field. Caught the train in, got heckled a bit for my Sox wear, but all in all I didn’t get harassed too bad. Subway ride was more of the same once we figured out which train to take and which station to catch it at. Got to Yankee Stadium in time to catch some of batting practice, find our awesome seats in left, and get some pics. Got some great pics of Wakefield and Dougie, some decent shots of Monument Park, Nikki went and got some shots of the big NY logo, and got some shots of each other in our seats. Now these weren’t normal seats mind you. These are the standing room type seats with folding chairs. Got to stretch out and really enjoy the game. Beer guys walked by left and right, so all was good. I got sick of the “Manny Sucks” chants, but what are you gonna get from ignorant Yankee fans anyways. Yeah, we lost the game (only Sox lost to the Yanks so far this season), but it was a 3-1 game, and we knocked out their starting pitcher .. literally. Subway ride home was more of the same and we pretty much slept on the train ride back.

Sunday came and the “secondary” reason for the trip. Nikki’s mother’s 60th birthday party (even though her birthday was technically yesterday, we held it a little early). Kind of a half surprise. She knew the kids would be there, but didn’t know that Merry and Kim invited all her friends as well. Good food in a true Italian restaurant on Long Island (still not as good as her mother’s cooking, but damn good anyways). Then it was back home for everyone for a bit, had a “Fudgie the Whale” to celebrate Kyle’s birthday as well (since his was Monday) and just relaxed for once (and watched the Sox win as well).

Well, the weekend over, we hit the road at 4:30 in the morning. God, it was early, but Nikki had the first leg, so I slept. So did the kids. After breakfast, we swapped places, and I took the run home. We were home by noontime-ish, and got to spend the rest of the day looking at paint, deciding on colors for the new house (which as of this posting, we close in just UNDER two weeks). Home again and relaxing for a while longer.

Then came Wednesday (I know Tuesday’s in there, but it was a boring, normal Tuesday). On Wednesday, the kids and I, sans wife/mother, went to Glen Allen, Virginia, almost two hours away. What, you ask, would we go 2 hours away for? Weird Al, that’s what. The first leg of the Weird Al tour here in North America kicked off that night in Glen Allen, and for being the first night the show rocked. The location sucked (The Innsbrook Pavilion is nothing more than a stage on a field), but the concert was great. The kids loved it. Thankfully the rain stayed away. White and Nerdy shirts for the kids, and all was good. Long drive home, and the late night made for sh*tty workouts the next few days.

Got a weekend to relax last weekend, with the exception of the electrician working on the new house. Now this guy has never seemed too bright, but dear God. Don’t tell ym wife on Friday that you need a part on Monday that I have to call someone else to arrange to pick up for you. WTF! Well, needless to say, I made it work, picked up the part (an electrical disconnect box) from the spa place, and dropped it at the house (and as my wife say, we have a colored door now). Nikki and I did some shopping at Lowes, which was nice, as we kept it slow paced and didn’t rush. Went to the mall and mallratted for a bit, and picked up an AppleTV. Now begins the compression marathon Gotta compress ALL the movies now .. Doh!

And that brings us to this week. Did I mention before that writing term papers sucks? Well, I had one due on Saturday and one due Monday. Both made it in, but I’ve been wiped out writing them. I think this is the most I’ve written in the past 48 hours, so enjoy. Final grades are posted on the 15th, so of course the grades/GPA will be updated soon enough.

Hopefully a past due Red Sox week(s) in Review will come tomorrow.

Dan General Rants, Music, Red Sox Rants, School Rants, Working Out

Well, a lot has happened in the past few days.

Let’s begin with last Friday. Evanescence with Finger Eleven and Chevelle at the Ted Constant center. What a show. Finger Eleven opened the night. The whole house sang along to “One Thing”, and the rest of their show was very upbeat and kept the crowd lively. Chevelle came on to follow them. I’ve never been a big Chevelle fan, but I’ve got to say I was pleasantly pleased. I only knew one of their songs, “Send the Pain Below”, but the rest of their show, like Finger Eleven before them, was upbeat and rocking. Then the main act. Amy Lee and Evanescence. I’ve heard that their live show is not that good, but I think they disproved that. They rocked (and Amy Lee looked hot on stage). Not much else to say, other than I enjoyed it.

Saturday brought the hunt for the working Gamecube. Yes, you read right, a working Gamecube. Kyle bought a used Gamecube from GameStop on Friday, and it didn’t work. Thinking it was the used game he bought, I went to trade it in or get another one. Since there were no other copies of Super Smash Brothers, I wound up buying another game. In the end it wound up being the Gamecube that was broken. So, before bowling, Nikki and I swapped it out.

But, before picking up the new Gamecube and bowling, Nikki and I went down to the new house. Checked out the wiring. All looks good, so we did a count of the wall plates we’ll need to buy. That’ll be a pretty penny.

At bowling, I was just on. Not a better way to say it. Seemed like most of the stuff I threw just worked. And the surprising fact was, I think I threw out my back during the first game. I was just on a natural endorphin rush. I actually shot my second 600 of the week. Not too shabby. Off to the bar.

Got totally blitzed at the bar, singing up a storm, including an Evanescence song and a Shania Twain song. OK, I was drunk. What can I say. Had some fun, and next morning I’d pay the price. I was out of contention for most of Sunday. Not really a hangover, but my back combined with the sleep I was missing, just didn’t lead to a day of work. We watched “The Benchwarmers”, which is a funny movie, but then again, most Rob Schneider movies are. Then we watched “Beerfest”, from the guys that brought you “Super Troopers”. Then it was off to bed for a “good” night’s sleep.

Thankfully, my workout this morning seems to have stretched my back enough to work the kinks out of my back. Swapped lower body and upper body, which I may do every day this week to mix things up. Speaking of working out, I’m still down below 225 (yes, below), which makes me happy. Red Sox play tonight

Dan Bowling Rants, General Rants, Music, Working Out

Well, I said I’d post the other day, and it’s a few days later and I still haven’t typed up a post. But, I’m doing better and actually posting in LESS than a week’s time. So anyways, this morning, I’m driving to work and see a license plate that says 2GLSNME. Being who I am, my first thought isn’t the general observation of “2 Girls and Me”, my first thought is actually “To Grand Lake Stream and Maine”.

Now that the partial morning post is out of the way, let’s start a “real” post. I wound up subbing for someone at bowling last night, in a league that started at 9PM. I must have been insane. Let’s just say the beer helped. I wound up bowling a pretty decent set of 637, with a 182, a 213, and a 242. Not too shabby. Unfortunately it didn’t make me feel very good come this morning, as I didn’t get much sleep. So as a result, I skipped my workout, slept in, and got to work a little late.

But here’s what I’d say, based on bowling last night. Working out is definitely improving my bowling, as I’m finding my arm strength is holding up much better to 3 games of bowling. Bring on the 15 game marathon again!! Yes, I feel insane, I know.

As for working out, I’ve stalled on weight loss, but I’ve had no weight gain, which is good. When I get a workout, I have more energy during the day. That wasn’t more evident than this morning, when all I wanted to do (at work) was sleep. Luckily there’s a wonderful thing called caffeine .

Well, only thing left is the Sox. I’ve been keeping up, we’ve got our team, and things look good. Season starts soon. Wahoo. That is all.

Dan Bowling Rants, Red Sox Rants, School Rants, Working Out