Ok self, so it's been a while since i've bothered to put any of my thoughts down on paper and i think i miss it. I've thought about getting back on here several times, but until my mom said something today on the phone, i just didn't follow through on the thought. I was talking to her today when she said I should get back to writing on my blog because it seemed to benefit me by focusing on the positive.
I have to say, I think that's probably very true; i think that for everyone this holds true, the more you focus on the good aspects of your life, and the things you enjoy and all of the great things you have going for you, the more you a)enjoy life, b)succeed at your endeavors and c)have a positive impact on others.
Those are pretty benefits i think, so in light of these thoughts, I'm going to give my blog/diary (in the manliest terms possible) another go. I think it should be called a maniary...that has a good ring to it.
Speaking of inventing words, here are my favorite 2 I've invented while speaking with Audrey:
1) Mancision Noun Verb Any decision which, to outside appearances, makes no sense, but is rooted firmly in manly thinking.
2) Mantrum Verb Noun The manly act of throwing a seemingly over-exagerated fit due to events unfolding in a less than ideal way.
On another note, here is where I stand for now on goals:
1) I have Ironman in 1 week. I want to complete the race in 11 hours or less.
2) I want to complete the 50 mile White Rive run in July and qualify for Wester States 100 mile Endurance Run
3) I want to get a job making as much or more closer to home, so that we might be able to keep our home and not have to move
4) Complete a Half IM in under 5 hours this year
5) Sign up for either a)community college and start working towards degree or b)Divemaster classes and become a dive master
That's it for now, there might be more, but I'll add them later.
Life has been kind of tough lately, mostly becuase of the drive to work, I think adds a lot of stress to my life for no reason, the traffic, the time, the money in gas, the discomfort of sitting in the car so long. I think it has a very detrimental effect on my life. I need to get a new job by home, and i need to do it soon. As much as i love where I am working (being around healthy people and being proud of what I'm selling), it just isn't working. They say gas is going to stay above 4 dollars per gallon for a long time.
Well, I think that's it for now, I'm going to commit to writing more and thinking more about all of the good. Right now, I'm the fire chief for my two boys, who are the fire squad, Lieutenant Jack and Sargent Isaac. They are driving their Fire REscue Jeep up to the hose, filling up and then I give them a mission in the culdesac of highest priority, it's hillarious, they are both wearing their somewhat matching bike helmets with flames on them and they both have similar blue shirts on, very very cute,
Mike
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Reflection
Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.
Leon J. Suenes
Once again, been a while since I've written anything, becoming a habit... I got into a conversation at work today about my past; stupid things I've done and interesting parts of my story. It got me to thinking, I need to do more.
Isaac, the two year old, has croupe. So last night, I put him to bed and I lay down and read for a few minutes before I feel the complete exaustion overwhelming me. Cody, our dog, decided he wanted to sleep in our room at the foot of the bed, and not wanting to be the huge prick who kicks the poor, unloved dog out of the bedroom where he entertains his only sense of belonging and love (am I reading too much into this?), I decide to leave him in the room even though I am worried he'll make the noises he has made every other time I've tried this and wake me up. I'm a pretty light sleeper and I can't go back to sleep once I wake up, so disturbing my sleep is a pretty big no no. This is why when we had our baby Isaac, Audrey was much more frequent in getting up in the middle of the night to attend to him (change diapers). It's not my fault, it's just the way I was made.
Anyway, so I fall asleep and sure enough I wake up 1 hour later or less to Cody, the dog, barking in his sleep and breathing hard. He was either being chased by a big dog, chasing a squirrel, or having crazy dog love... I don't know, but whatever the case, it woke me up, so I got up and kicked him out of the room and laid back down.
Miraculously, I fell back asleep in about 30 minutes, and sure enough about 30 minutes to an hour after that Isaac gets up and comes in our room because he can't sleep due to the Croupe that makes it hard to breathe at night, calling for mommy.
Mommy, AKA Audrey, had to be up at 3 to go to work so I heroically leapt from the bed, barely having a chance to grab my cape, and whisked Isaac out of the room. Knowing the tricks of the trade, I cuddled him and offered a little bit of Thomas the Train to soothe his weary mind. It turned out that Thomas was a short fix.
I laid back in bed and about an hour and a half later (me still awake...actually praying and half conciously enjoying it), here comes Isaac again calling for Mommy. This time I kicked my feet and threw a small tantrum, so audrey gets up and puts on a movie for him and comes back. It's now 2am, Audrey has to be up at 3, and I was planning on getting up at 5 to work out on the trainer. Going to sleep is pretty much a joke at this point so we both got up and had some coffee. AT about 4am Isaac finally went to bed, Audrey was at work, and I went and rode the trainer in front of the Tv for an hour and a half....what a night!
Then, I had to go to work, so needless to say today was a bit of a struggle.
But regardless of that, back to where I was headed, I need to do more with myself. I've fallen into a pit of acceptance and have not been striving for a while now. The only way my life can really be fulfilled is if I am striving to accomplish what I can, be everything I can be and enjoy every moment.
I can be a great racer. This is one example. I know I can be great because with little training really and a very poor diet I do pretty well. To do really well, I need only to have some discipline (which, if I'm not mistaken, is what I allegedly picked up in military school, lowe these many years ago).
I need discipline in my diet. No coffee, no alcohol (or only occasionally), and less fat and sugar.
Discipline. Working out every day, following the training plan.
Discipline. That's what I need, that's what I want and that's exactly what I know I have. So now the hard part: I have to exercise it.
Isn't life a piece of work?
Leon J. Suenes
Once again, been a while since I've written anything, becoming a habit... I got into a conversation at work today about my past; stupid things I've done and interesting parts of my story. It got me to thinking, I need to do more.
Isaac, the two year old, has croupe. So last night, I put him to bed and I lay down and read for a few minutes before I feel the complete exaustion overwhelming me. Cody, our dog, decided he wanted to sleep in our room at the foot of the bed, and not wanting to be the huge prick who kicks the poor, unloved dog out of the bedroom where he entertains his only sense of belonging and love (am I reading too much into this?), I decide to leave him in the room even though I am worried he'll make the noises he has made every other time I've tried this and wake me up. I'm a pretty light sleeper and I can't go back to sleep once I wake up, so disturbing my sleep is a pretty big no no. This is why when we had our baby Isaac, Audrey was much more frequent in getting up in the middle of the night to attend to him (change diapers). It's not my fault, it's just the way I was made.
Anyway, so I fall asleep and sure enough I wake up 1 hour later or less to Cody, the dog, barking in his sleep and breathing hard. He was either being chased by a big dog, chasing a squirrel, or having crazy dog love... I don't know, but whatever the case, it woke me up, so I got up and kicked him out of the room and laid back down.
Miraculously, I fell back asleep in about 30 minutes, and sure enough about 30 minutes to an hour after that Isaac gets up and comes in our room because he can't sleep due to the Croupe that makes it hard to breathe at night, calling for mommy.
Mommy, AKA Audrey, had to be up at 3 to go to work so I heroically leapt from the bed, barely having a chance to grab my cape, and whisked Isaac out of the room. Knowing the tricks of the trade, I cuddled him and offered a little bit of Thomas the Train to soothe his weary mind. It turned out that Thomas was a short fix.
I laid back in bed and about an hour and a half later (me still awake...actually praying and half conciously enjoying it), here comes Isaac again calling for Mommy. This time I kicked my feet and threw a small tantrum, so audrey gets up and puts on a movie for him and comes back. It's now 2am, Audrey has to be up at 3, and I was planning on getting up at 5 to work out on the trainer. Going to sleep is pretty much a joke at this point so we both got up and had some coffee. AT about 4am Isaac finally went to bed, Audrey was at work, and I went and rode the trainer in front of the Tv for an hour and a half....what a night!
Then, I had to go to work, so needless to say today was a bit of a struggle.
But regardless of that, back to where I was headed, I need to do more with myself. I've fallen into a pit of acceptance and have not been striving for a while now. The only way my life can really be fulfilled is if I am striving to accomplish what I can, be everything I can be and enjoy every moment.
I can be a great racer. This is one example. I know I can be great because with little training really and a very poor diet I do pretty well. To do really well, I need only to have some discipline (which, if I'm not mistaken, is what I allegedly picked up in military school, lowe these many years ago).
I need discipline in my diet. No coffee, no alcohol (or only occasionally), and less fat and sugar.
Discipline. Working out every day, following the training plan.
Discipline. That's what I need, that's what I want and that's exactly what I know I have. So now the hard part: I have to exercise it.
Isn't life a piece of work?
Monday, November 19, 2007
O Dark thirty...that most specialist time of the day
'Stress is a funny thing, it makes you feel ways you shouldn't and want to do unreasonable things because you are feeling cornered. We get stressed for all different reasons, but the results in our lives are almost always the same.
I was feeling stressed last night because I left for work at 815 in the morning and got home at 7 in the evening, and I came home to a letter from the county saying that the infiltration (which was installed per their instructions) is installed wrong and must be removed or they will fine me.
It's not that big a deal, I went to the county building today and I think it's worked out, but last night, just wanting to relax and feel better, I had some beer, and subsequently remembered why I don't like drinking beer.
Sure, it relaxes me for a little while, buuutt, then I have to deal with the aftermath of being dehydrated and unable to sleep.
Which brings me to 330 this morning, me, awake, lying in bed staring up at the ceiling unable to sleep. So I got up, and I had a big jug of water, and then a coffee while I looked at the news stories online (don't have tv), and then from 5 am to 7 am I rode my trainer in the garage and watched Seinfeld on DVD. And you know what? I loved it. I like being up super early, with time to do what I want to do without feeling like I am cheating time from somewhere else. I love the feeling of having accomplished a lot before other people are awake (well, if you consider working out for 2 hours accomplishing a lot). Either way, it's more than most have done. Annnnd, I love training with a heart rate monitor. It's terrific to look down and know exactly how much I'm exerting myself, the two hours was still difficult by the end of it, but I stayed at around 70% of my max HR the whole time, and know without a doubt that I am definately doing base training for the first time in my life (purposefully anyway... the truth is I have no idea what level I have trained at for the last couple years because I haven't used a HR monitor).
For the time being, I will know my heart rate and train in a particular zone with a purpose, but because I'm on a trainer for the bike portion during the winter, I'll really have no idea if I'm improving at all. But the truth is, if I stick with my plan and actually work out consistently six days a week, and do a real base training I have no need to worry about improving, I won't be able to help but improve since it will be the first time I've actually trained right. I mean, take a look at my year this year, I've done alright for my goals, almost met all of them and improved dramatically over the year before, all without any kind of structured training plan (well, I had a training plan I designed myself, but I didn't really stick to it at all and it didn't include proper base training or peaking for a race). All I really did was run bike and swim a little more than I have before (well a lot more in the case of swimming). But I did it all ass backwards, doing 1 mile speed running intervals on the track in February and March, giving myself shin splints so I had to stop running for a while. I was doing 60 mile race pace time trials on my bike in april and may, trying on every outing to beat my previous time (not exactly base training). And swimming? Well, I swam you know? And I'm proud of how much swimming I did. It wasn't perfect, but I got in a few 2 and 3 mile swims and even one 3 hour swim in a river prior to Ironman. I might not have started soon enough on putting in the distance in swimming, but I definately improved dramatically and made it through the Ironman swim in 1:27 (I even got second place in my age group out of 6 guys overall).
Anyway, needless to say, I'm excited for the coming year, and I'm excited to train right and hopefully become truly fit, which I don't think I've ever been. My ambient heart rate (sitting down) is still around 70, I'd like to see that around 60 or lower, and feel like I am truly improving my health and not just suffering repeatedly through strenuous training and racing days.
So here's to heart rate monitors, base training, waking up in the wee hours of the night to exercise, and becoming fit!
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
Jack Handey quotes
I was feeling stressed last night because I left for work at 815 in the morning and got home at 7 in the evening, and I came home to a letter from the county saying that the infiltration (which was installed per their instructions) is installed wrong and must be removed or they will fine me.
It's not that big a deal, I went to the county building today and I think it's worked out, but last night, just wanting to relax and feel better, I had some beer, and subsequently remembered why I don't like drinking beer.
Sure, it relaxes me for a little while, buuutt, then I have to deal with the aftermath of being dehydrated and unable to sleep.
Which brings me to 330 this morning, me, awake, lying in bed staring up at the ceiling unable to sleep. So I got up, and I had a big jug of water, and then a coffee while I looked at the news stories online (don't have tv), and then from 5 am to 7 am I rode my trainer in the garage and watched Seinfeld on DVD. And you know what? I loved it. I like being up super early, with time to do what I want to do without feeling like I am cheating time from somewhere else. I love the feeling of having accomplished a lot before other people are awake (well, if you consider working out for 2 hours accomplishing a lot). Either way, it's more than most have done. Annnnd, I love training with a heart rate monitor. It's terrific to look down and know exactly how much I'm exerting myself, the two hours was still difficult by the end of it, but I stayed at around 70% of my max HR the whole time, and know without a doubt that I am definately doing base training for the first time in my life (purposefully anyway... the truth is I have no idea what level I have trained at for the last couple years because I haven't used a HR monitor).
For the time being, I will know my heart rate and train in a particular zone with a purpose, but because I'm on a trainer for the bike portion during the winter, I'll really have no idea if I'm improving at all. But the truth is, if I stick with my plan and actually work out consistently six days a week, and do a real base training I have no need to worry about improving, I won't be able to help but improve since it will be the first time I've actually trained right. I mean, take a look at my year this year, I've done alright for my goals, almost met all of them and improved dramatically over the year before, all without any kind of structured training plan (well, I had a training plan I designed myself, but I didn't really stick to it at all and it didn't include proper base training or peaking for a race). All I really did was run bike and swim a little more than I have before (well a lot more in the case of swimming). But I did it all ass backwards, doing 1 mile speed running intervals on the track in February and March, giving myself shin splints so I had to stop running for a while. I was doing 60 mile race pace time trials on my bike in april and may, trying on every outing to beat my previous time (not exactly base training). And swimming? Well, I swam you know? And I'm proud of how much swimming I did. It wasn't perfect, but I got in a few 2 and 3 mile swims and even one 3 hour swim in a river prior to Ironman. I might not have started soon enough on putting in the distance in swimming, but I definately improved dramatically and made it through the Ironman swim in 1:27 (I even got second place in my age group out of 6 guys overall).
Anyway, needless to say, I'm excited for the coming year, and I'm excited to train right and hopefully become truly fit, which I don't think I've ever been. My ambient heart rate (sitting down) is still around 70, I'd like to see that around 60 or lower, and feel like I am truly improving my health and not just suffering repeatedly through strenuous training and racing days.
So here's to heart rate monitors, base training, waking up in the wee hours of the night to exercise, and becoming fit!
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
Jack Handey quotes
Saturday, November 17, 2007
In sickness and in health
Been a while since I've written anything, so I figure I better get back on the horse before it gets away.
We're supposed to cherrish our loved one for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, etcetera...you know the drill. Well, it seems like with little kids, there is a lot more of the in sickness part than there used to be. Jack goes to school and gets sick, Isaac goes to daycare and out to nightclubs and gets sick (ok maybe just to daycare), and then they bring it all home to mom and dad. Plus, my best bud has three little ones who are always getting sick and transferring their sicknesses over to us. That's the case with our last bug we just got over. It was like a two week flu! We got sick right after completing the Tri-Cities Marathon, and are just getting better. That's right, Audrey completed her first full marathon! What a gal huh? She's also committed to do an Ironman with her best friend in three years. Awesome!
So needless to say, because of sickness, my base training has not yet begun for the 08 season. But it's very much on my mind. I've finally gotten back in the gym since being sick, today for the second time, and you know something? Lifting feels damn good. With all of the endurance sports I've gotten pretty far away from the weight room anymore and I forgot how strong you feel and the vitality it brings. So I'm totally committed to maintaining a weight lifting schedule amid my base training for swimming biking and running, I figure I could get in the gym three times a week no problem.
Speaking of base training I had a thought while I was at work yesterday (surrounded by bicycles), when it's particularly slow at work, why don't I just throw on some bike shorts, get on one of the bikes already hooked up to trainers and do a quick (one or two hours) workout? I mean, it's not like I couldn't help customers while I was spinning, after all it's base training, I can speak intelligently at 140 heart beats per minute. In fact, it would probably increase my level of customer service, being more energetic and feeling good, you know?
It's so easy to get bored at work when there are no customers. There's things to do, of course, but without the customers it's almost harder to get them done, harder to stay focused and energetic.
Well, it would be a great idea, but my work ethic won't allow it. One of the guys told me that last winter they would sit on the counter and play cards for hours when it was slow, and race tricycles around the perimiter of the store (better not happen this year).
On another note, the Bonney Lake house is allllmost done, just need the driveway installed per plan and hopefully I'll be set. On the darker side however, I still don't know if I'll be getting it sold, refinancing it or filing for Bankruptcy...SeLaVi! (I think that's french for Fuck It!)
I'm finally getting rid of my car and getting a cheaper one, Hooooraayyy! Boy did I ever get in over my head with a 40 some thousand dollar car! So now, as long as things go right, I'll be driving a 23 thousand dollar Hybrid Aura. Sounds good to me, 35 MPG!
Also, I've been drinking less, woohoo! The sickness really helped I'll admit, but none the less it is a success. My goal is to simply not drink every day. It's not good for my training. And I get to feeling wore out after a while.
Well, I do believe I'll leave you with a few quotes:
If it's sent by ship then it's a cargo, if it's sent by road then it's a shipment.
-- Dave Allen
The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life.
-- George Carlin
Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.
-- Will Rogers
My experience has taught me that a man who has no vices has damned few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln is a genius)
All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.
-- Steve Martin
Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.
-- Wendell Johnson
You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
-- Dean Martin
We're supposed to cherrish our loved one for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, etcetera...you know the drill. Well, it seems like with little kids, there is a lot more of the in sickness part than there used to be. Jack goes to school and gets sick, Isaac goes to daycare and out to nightclubs and gets sick (ok maybe just to daycare), and then they bring it all home to mom and dad. Plus, my best bud has three little ones who are always getting sick and transferring their sicknesses over to us. That's the case with our last bug we just got over. It was like a two week flu! We got sick right after completing the Tri-Cities Marathon, and are just getting better. That's right, Audrey completed her first full marathon! What a gal huh? She's also committed to do an Ironman with her best friend in three years. Awesome!
So needless to say, because of sickness, my base training has not yet begun for the 08 season. But it's very much on my mind. I've finally gotten back in the gym since being sick, today for the second time, and you know something? Lifting feels damn good. With all of the endurance sports I've gotten pretty far away from the weight room anymore and I forgot how strong you feel and the vitality it brings. So I'm totally committed to maintaining a weight lifting schedule amid my base training for swimming biking and running, I figure I could get in the gym three times a week no problem.
Speaking of base training I had a thought while I was at work yesterday (surrounded by bicycles), when it's particularly slow at work, why don't I just throw on some bike shorts, get on one of the bikes already hooked up to trainers and do a quick (one or two hours) workout? I mean, it's not like I couldn't help customers while I was spinning, after all it's base training, I can speak intelligently at 140 heart beats per minute. In fact, it would probably increase my level of customer service, being more energetic and feeling good, you know?
It's so easy to get bored at work when there are no customers. There's things to do, of course, but without the customers it's almost harder to get them done, harder to stay focused and energetic.
Well, it would be a great idea, but my work ethic won't allow it. One of the guys told me that last winter they would sit on the counter and play cards for hours when it was slow, and race tricycles around the perimiter of the store (better not happen this year).
On another note, the Bonney Lake house is allllmost done, just need the driveway installed per plan and hopefully I'll be set. On the darker side however, I still don't know if I'll be getting it sold, refinancing it or filing for Bankruptcy...SeLaVi! (I think that's french for Fuck It!)
I'm finally getting rid of my car and getting a cheaper one, Hooooraayyy! Boy did I ever get in over my head with a 40 some thousand dollar car! So now, as long as things go right, I'll be driving a 23 thousand dollar Hybrid Aura. Sounds good to me, 35 MPG!
Also, I've been drinking less, woohoo! The sickness really helped I'll admit, but none the less it is a success. My goal is to simply not drink every day. It's not good for my training. And I get to feeling wore out after a while.
Well, I do believe I'll leave you with a few quotes:
If it's sent by ship then it's a cargo, if it's sent by road then it's a shipment.
-- Dave Allen
The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life.
-- George Carlin
Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.
-- Will Rogers
My experience has taught me that a man who has no vices has damned few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln is a genius)
All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.
-- Steve Martin
Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.
-- Wendell Johnson
You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
-- Dean Martin
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Taking chances and burning yourself
Well,
It's funny, but, if you're a chance-taker, it seems that you pretty much live your whole life that way; you take chances when you're young, and you continue to take them as you get older, the only difference being the kind of risks you take.
If you're not a chance taker, you just don't get it. Unfortunately, that's pretty much the end of the story. I don't know if non-chance-taking-types can change their ways, but it seems to me that this is an innate characteristic of some, and not of others. In any case, I've always been this way, as if something unseen spurs me ever onward towards the unknown and untested. This is, in large part, why I got in trouble a lot growing up. I tend not to want to simply look at the rules and say 'OK, those are the rules, let's follow 'em'.
Well, needless to say, when you test boundaries you sometimes get burned. I believe this is one of those times. No worries of course! But financially speaking, things are very interesting right now. But I guess things are pretty interesting right now in just about every way, and that's really how I like it!
I forget sometimes that this is what I want. Do you ever do that? Lose focus on what you want your life to be like? I do that pretty frequently and have to remind myself that if my life were all in order and simple I would be bored. Afterall, that's why I pursue things which are outside of my current boundaries. Whether it's physical, financial, mental or spiritual, I pretty much am always looking to push the envelope. Maybe it's in my blood? I have heard that the Irish tend to have something like that in their blood (not just alcohol!!).
I hope this isn't all too vague for you, if it is, you probably aren't like me and just don't get it.
The tough part is, that when you play with fire, you get burned sometimes. And if you're someone who is naturally a little wreckless, well...
But! Who cares! The important things in life are your health, your happiness and your choices about how you treat others. So in regards to the important aspects of life, I'm sitting very pretty right now. And what more can you ask for?
Oh...that's right. There's that one thing: Ironman Hawaii babieeee. This Saturday morning, I will be up bright and early at 345 in the morning to begin watching the Ironman championships (perhaps next year I will be there? If not, the year after for sure.) It's going to be 8 to 9 hours of pure joy. How do the pros do it so quickly? You got me. But I'm damn sure going to try and figure it out over the next couple years!
Saianara (is that spelled right?) Don't let the details get you down! Life is too short, always remember that. When you start feeling overwhelmed, picture your life 100 years from now (that's right...when you're dead). Think about your funeral if you want...will they say, 'We always loved how he/she worried about money,'? Is that possible? I don't think so. Putting it all into perspective like that helps me. When you think about your life really being over, doesn't it just make all the useless shit in life just seem to shrink away and die?
Mike
It's funny, but, if you're a chance-taker, it seems that you pretty much live your whole life that way; you take chances when you're young, and you continue to take them as you get older, the only difference being the kind of risks you take.
If you're not a chance taker, you just don't get it. Unfortunately, that's pretty much the end of the story. I don't know if non-chance-taking-types can change their ways, but it seems to me that this is an innate characteristic of some, and not of others. In any case, I've always been this way, as if something unseen spurs me ever onward towards the unknown and untested. This is, in large part, why I got in trouble a lot growing up. I tend not to want to simply look at the rules and say 'OK, those are the rules, let's follow 'em'.
Well, needless to say, when you test boundaries you sometimes get burned. I believe this is one of those times. No worries of course! But financially speaking, things are very interesting right now. But I guess things are pretty interesting right now in just about every way, and that's really how I like it!
I forget sometimes that this is what I want. Do you ever do that? Lose focus on what you want your life to be like? I do that pretty frequently and have to remind myself that if my life were all in order and simple I would be bored. Afterall, that's why I pursue things which are outside of my current boundaries. Whether it's physical, financial, mental or spiritual, I pretty much am always looking to push the envelope. Maybe it's in my blood? I have heard that the Irish tend to have something like that in their blood (not just alcohol!!).
I hope this isn't all too vague for you, if it is, you probably aren't like me and just don't get it.
The tough part is, that when you play with fire, you get burned sometimes. And if you're someone who is naturally a little wreckless, well...
But! Who cares! The important things in life are your health, your happiness and your choices about how you treat others. So in regards to the important aspects of life, I'm sitting very pretty right now. And what more can you ask for?
Oh...that's right. There's that one thing: Ironman Hawaii babieeee. This Saturday morning, I will be up bright and early at 345 in the morning to begin watching the Ironman championships (perhaps next year I will be there? If not, the year after for sure.) It's going to be 8 to 9 hours of pure joy. How do the pros do it so quickly? You got me. But I'm damn sure going to try and figure it out over the next couple years!
Saianara (is that spelled right?) Don't let the details get you down! Life is too short, always remember that. When you start feeling overwhelmed, picture your life 100 years from now (that's right...when you're dead). Think about your funeral if you want...will they say, 'We always loved how he/she worried about money,'? Is that possible? I don't think so. Putting it all into perspective like that helps me. When you think about your life really being over, doesn't it just make all the useless shit in life just seem to shrink away and die?
Mike
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Brain-eating Amoeba and other tales
Holy crap! There is a brain eating amoeba that lives in lakes! The news story I read about it was extremely sad too. This dad held his 14 year old in his arms as he died from getting this brain-eating amoeba while swimming at the lake near their home. Holy crap! It goes up your nose and latches on to your medula oblongata or somthing else, and eats your brain! Now, I've never had my brain eaten before...wait, I take that back...Ok, so the closest I've come to experiencing this is when Tom Shane comes one the radio to tell me about diamonds and rubies...You have a friend in the...ahhhhh my brain is being eaten!!!
Did I get side tracked? Well, in any case, the only way to protect yourself it turns out is to wear a nose clip when swimming in these lakes or...by living in a frigidly cold, miserable climate where the water you jump into is never actually warm and inviting but only bitterly cold (Seattle area). Apparently the amoeba only lives in warmer waters(hmmmm...the amoeba is smarter than us?), but with global warming they say...look out, this fatal microbe could be infesting our northwestern waters by as early as, say, the year 2109 (warn your great grand children of their impending doom!). Things should be really warming up around here by then, my neigbor just bought yet another large suv, they have four!
Which reminds me. Isn't it freezing ass cold here right now? Hmmmm...strange. Something about the whole global-warming thing keeps sending me the mixed signals that the earth will be warming up on some kind of global scale. As in, this planet...getting warmer...right now. Is anyone seeing this? This summer was very mild, and it's freezing cold already. I think we should start cutting down some trees and burning them via fossil fuels. Whatever it takes, you know?
Lastly, work is hard and I want to move to France. I hear they only work 32 hour work weeks, take long lunches and have sex while on the job (ok...I didn't actually hear that last part..I may have just made it up). Why can't Americans get this figured out?
Did I get side tracked? Well, in any case, the only way to protect yourself it turns out is to wear a nose clip when swimming in these lakes or...by living in a frigidly cold, miserable climate where the water you jump into is never actually warm and inviting but only bitterly cold (Seattle area). Apparently the amoeba only lives in warmer waters(hmmmm...the amoeba is smarter than us?), but with global warming they say...look out, this fatal microbe could be infesting our northwestern waters by as early as, say, the year 2109 (warn your great grand children of their impending doom!). Things should be really warming up around here by then, my neigbor just bought yet another large suv, they have four!
Which reminds me. Isn't it freezing ass cold here right now? Hmmmm...strange. Something about the whole global-warming thing keeps sending me the mixed signals that the earth will be warming up on some kind of global scale. As in, this planet...getting warmer...right now. Is anyone seeing this? This summer was very mild, and it's freezing cold already. I think we should start cutting down some trees and burning them via fossil fuels. Whatever it takes, you know?
Lastly, work is hard and I want to move to France. I hear they only work 32 hour work weeks, take long lunches and have sex while on the job (ok...I didn't actually hear that last part..I may have just made it up). Why can't Americans get this figured out?
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Some Quotes
Fran Leibowitz:
Remember that as a teenager you are in the last stage of your life when you will be happy to hear the phone is for you.
Mark Twain:
The perfection of wisdom, and the end of true philosophy is to proportion our wants to our possessions, our ambitions to our capacities, we will then be a happy and a virtuous people.
Martha Washington:
The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.
Ramona L. Anderson:
People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.
Remember that as a teenager you are in the last stage of your life when you will be happy to hear the phone is for you.
Mark Twain:
The perfection of wisdom, and the end of true philosophy is to proportion our wants to our possessions, our ambitions to our capacities, we will then be a happy and a virtuous people.
Martha Washington:
The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.
Ramona L. Anderson:
People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.
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