Father of Six

Hello everyone.

A quick update.

Thanksgiving was nice. We went to Tim and Jeanne’s and had a wonderful afternoon. We missed Amanda as she was in Nebraska with her boyfriend and his family. (Ugh. Lame Bug-eaters.)

Tami and I are headed to San Jose this afternoon for an organizational off-site at the Seascape Resort in Aptos, California. It’s a nice little perk.

Anyone interested in College Football? If you are, you might know that there is still more controversy with the BCS. The system is flawed, and it seems that every year, yet another problem is uncovered. That is a process that needs an improvement and a mistake proofing focus. At any rate, it has allowed my beloved Oklahoma Sooners to play for the Big 12 Championship (against Booger Daniel and the Missouri Tigers.) BOOMER SOONER!

My new job is everything I expected it to be. I love going to work every day. And I love leading people to do their absolute best.

If I could ever find the time to spend some quality time with my brother Paul, I could not only catch up had have a great conversation about careers, strengths, and friends, but I could really make some much needed enhancements to this blog. (Like a “twitter” widget, for one.) Maybe over the Winter Holidays?

Everyone who reads me on Facebook, I really enjoy the interaction. It is so interesting to be plugged in to this age at what it offers.

I hope to give this blog a renewed energy in the coming weeks, or at least by the first of the new year, so thanks for being patient.

I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, or what music you like; everyone just has to watch this video on youtube.

(Show it full screen and turn it up.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0jRN6aFEXQ

Now tell me you’re not impressed. Never mind his unique-ness. That performance flat out SMOKED!

It’s 9:04pm ET, and I’m sitting in section 19, box 278, row F, seat 7 at the Yankees vs. Red Sox game in Yankee Stadium. It’s 7-3 in the bottom of the 6th inning, Red Sox.

Lucky.

It’s been raining for three days … and I love it.

I had a pretty good week of work. Our team did a Habitat for Humanity project on Tuesday up near Evergreen. Then we had an all day session to discuss our larger areas of influence. I was a little disappointed in the results of this session, but the dialogue was good. I also had an excellent session with my mentor later in the week. Something good just might come from this.

I’m traveling the next two weeks to close out August. Then I’ll probably stay home until we go to Kansas on September 25th.

My new bike is being put together at the shop. Hopefully I’ll get it next week. I’m looking forward to riding some high mileage. I’m going to need a name for the new machine. Probably need to take a look at it and ride it a bit to understand its character before naming.

Lughnasadh, (August 1st) refers to Lugh, the Irish sun god, is the celebration marking the union of the Sun and the Land . Old Lugh (the sun) has not yet waned, but he is entering his Golden age; he loses some of his strength, and thus the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer. The sun is at its hottest; early in the day, but quickly fading. The farmers are planning for the future and cutting their first blades of wheat and harvesting sweet corn. The symbols of Lugh are grains and fruits.

We’ll be celebrating this evening with a vegetarian faux -Chicken and Leek Pie for Brittany and Danielle, and steak and chicken kabobs for Manda, Becca, Howie and Andrew.

I’m taking the rest of the week off, and Monday too. I’m feeling a little run down - more mentally than physically.

My dad and Susan arrive for a quick visit tomorrow, and they’ll head out again on Sunday.

The 100 pushup challenge is going well. Tami and I are both on plan here in week 2.

No news on the bicycle front. I’m still riding the pig while a solution to Mo’s problem iron’s itself out. Speaking of bicycles, is anyone else following the Tour de France? I love it.

It is 1:30 in the afternoon on Sunday, May 18th. I’m sitting at the airport waiting for a flight to Philadelphia. I’m supposed to be going to Washington, D.C. That flight was canceled 3 hours ago due to any actuator problem. I got rebooked on this Philly flight and now it is delayed 1.5 hours because of weather. When (if?) I get to Philly, I’ll then rent a car, drive to the Dulles airport, turn the car in, go pick up my bag (which made it on a different flight to D.C., then take a cab to my hotel.

This has been a fun day. Seriously.

(Also a first of sorts. I made this entry using my Blackberry.)

Just in case anyone forgets … here is a reminder to always “Hook ‘em Down.”

Here are my stats for the Double Ironman Triathlon Challenge

5 swims 5.0126 miles 3h:15m:27s 1.5379 mph
12 rides 224 miles 16h:17m:56s 13.74 mph
13 runs 52.4 miles 9h:34m:18s 10:57 per mile pace

Injury Update: I have a Doctor’s appointment this afternoon.

I finished the Double Ironman Triathlon Challenge this morning with a 4.45 mile run. So the 5 mile swim, the 224 mile bike ride, and the 52.4 mile run is over. The goal was to finish in eight (8) weeks.

I did it in five (5.) Not bad for a 46.8 year old dude.

Actually, I’m fibbing. I ran 3.75 miles today. Then my right Achilles Tendon gave out. Almost literally. It felt like someone stabbed me. Sudden. Immediate. I couldn’t continue. I had to walk the last three quarters of a mile. Limping.

The tendon is not detached. But it might be torn. Or strained. It hurts like hell. I can’t walk. Sort of.

I’m going to Dr. Kelly tomorrow, with the hopes that the injury is minor, and that she can use the needles to get me right. Otherwise …

I think the past few significant injuries I’ve had have been specifically related to running. I severely sprained/twisted my ankle by stepping into a manhole cover one morning. I tore my calf muscle. I broke my foot running the half-marathon last year.

Now this Achilles thing.

I think it might be time to retire from running. Maybe just bicycling and swimming from now on.

Maybe.