This post is specifically for Kimmie, Linda M, Kevin, Steff, Mark, and Sarah with an "H":
I know some of you like to get together and run obscene distances for no apparent reason as sort of a perverted family bonding time. So for next year, I put forth the following challenge: We'll take a road trip to Raleigh, NC, Matthew, Andrew, Jim, and I (and anyone else that wants to go) will wait in one of the local taverns, and the rest of you (see list above) can run this four mile race. It seems easy enough: Run four miles through the NC State Campus with a break at the halfway point and complete the race in under 1 hour. Are you in? Good. I forgot to tell you that at the halfway mark you have to eat 1 dozen Krispy Kremes. To not get disqualified you have to keep them down on the run back.
The race is called the Krispy Kreme Challenge. You can read the entire story, complete with video, on ESPN.com! The race began in 2004 with a dozen runners. This years event had over 5,000. The winner was Eric Mack who finished in 28:09. He is also a member of the Wolfpack track team. He didn't stick around for the awards ceremony because he didn't want his coach to know he had run the race.
It is all for a good cause: The race raised $35,000 for the North Carolina Children's Hospital.
ROAD TRIP!
D
3.30.2009
3.27.2009
Eating on the run
This week was another heavy travel week for me. 342 miles on Tuesday, 330 on Wednesday, and 410 yesterday. Besides sitting in the car for far too long, the trips are mostly tolerable. I say mostly because it depends on the direction I travel that greatly influences the enjoyment of the trip. This week was a good example. Tuesday was enjoyable -- east then north; Wednesday was not too bad -- north; Yesterday was difficult; south then east. Kim and I left Southeast Kansas 10 years ago and one thing remains -- there is still not an easy way to get there from here. The biggest difference is the availability of quality dining establishments in the different areas that I travel. When I travel east I have a wide selection of healthy options for lunch. Usually, I look for a Panera when in Topeka or Kansas City. I find their sandwiches very much to my liking and the soup or salad is a refreshing change of pace. When I am in Nebraska I look for a sub shop or at the very least a Runza. When I travel to Southeast Kansas, which I have done several times in the last month, I end up eating fastfood. Many reasons contribute to this... One, there's not much other than fast food that is relatively quick. Two, it just took me four hours to get there, just in time for my meeting(s). Three, once my meetings are over, I need to hurry back to Salina for Soccer, or Baseball, or just so Kim can get to class. Yesterday I dined on a Sonic Burger and Tots at 65 miles an hour. Exceptionally tasty, but artery clogging none the less.
Happy eating.
D
Happy eating.
D
3.19.2009
Who knew?
Enjoy this randomness...
Koalas and humans are the only animals with unique fingerprints. Koala prints cannot be distinguished from human fingerprints. Luckily, few koalas pursue a life of crime.
The full name of Rhea Perlman’s award-winning character on TV’s Cheers was Carla Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone Tortelli LeBec.
Phobia: alektorophobia Fear of: chickens
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak earned money in college by selling "blue boxes" to other students. A blue box attached to a pay phone created the proper signals to allow a user to make free phone calls.
Rats can swim for a mile without resting, and they can tread water for 3 days straight.
Fashionable ladies of the sixteenth century thought it elegant to allow their pubic hair to grow as lengthy as possible. This way, it could be braided, pomaded, and embellished with bows and ribbons.
Men can have 8 million genetically different sperm, and women a like number of egg types. Together they can produce 64 billion children with no genetic duplicates.
In 1939, Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a novel titled Gadsby. Its 267 pages and 50,000 words do not contain a single letter "e".
While living in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1866-67, Thomas Edison developed the first -- and possibly last -- device to electrocute cockroaches.
D
Koalas and humans are the only animals with unique fingerprints. Koala prints cannot be distinguished from human fingerprints. Luckily, few koalas pursue a life of crime.
The full name of Rhea Perlman’s award-winning character on TV’s Cheers was Carla Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone Tortelli LeBec.
Phobia: alektorophobia Fear of: chickens
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak earned money in college by selling "blue boxes" to other students. A blue box attached to a pay phone created the proper signals to allow a user to make free phone calls.
Rats can swim for a mile without resting, and they can tread water for 3 days straight.
Fashionable ladies of the sixteenth century thought it elegant to allow their pubic hair to grow as lengthy as possible. This way, it could be braided, pomaded, and embellished with bows and ribbons.
Men can have 8 million genetically different sperm, and women a like number of egg types. Together they can produce 64 billion children with no genetic duplicates.
In 1939, Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a novel titled Gadsby. Its 267 pages and 50,000 words do not contain a single letter "e".
While living in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1866-67, Thomas Edison developed the first -- and possibly last -- device to electrocute cockroaches.
D
3.18.2009
Huh? Are you joking?
I will preface this post by saying I have a lot of Catholic friends and I respect each and everyone of them, but this makes me scratch my head.
I just read an article about the Pope. Not the kind of thing I normally choose to read but the headline did what a headline is supposed to do -- it made me read the story. He visited Africa for the first time as Pope. To fully understand the head scratching that went on you need to understand that Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2007 and approximately 1.9 million additional people were infected with HIV during that year. In just the past year, the AIDS epidemic in Africa has claimed the lives of an estimated 1.5 million people in this region. More than eleven million children have been orphaned by AIDS. The infection rate is over 20%.
Interesting info, Dee, but what is the point. The story that I read was titled: Pope visits Africa, reaffirms ban on condoms. You read that correctly. The Catholic Church is so set in it's 19th Century teachings that it does not condone the use of condoms even to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa. Huh? Really? The story went on the say that the Catholic Church has a "moral prohibition" on the use of artificial contraception. From my point of view that thought is inhumane. Don't think of it as contraception, but preserving life. Not as contraception, but compassion.
The Catholic Church goes on to explain that they have "long been on the front line of HIV care..." Adding that it is probably the largest private provider of HIV care in the world. That reminds be of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. BCBS doesn't pay for wellness programs for people who are predisposed to say, Diabetes. They would rather pay for the treatment 20 years down the road than pay for preventive care and education now. The Catholic Church would rather help people die, leaving millions of children orphaned, than end a terrible epidemic and suffering and dying of millions of people. How is that showing compassion in God's name? After all, it's just a condom!
Sorry... I'm off my soapbox now.
D
I just read an article about the Pope. Not the kind of thing I normally choose to read but the headline did what a headline is supposed to do -- it made me read the story. He visited Africa for the first time as Pope. To fully understand the head scratching that went on you need to understand that Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2007 and approximately 1.9 million additional people were infected with HIV during that year. In just the past year, the AIDS epidemic in Africa has claimed the lives of an estimated 1.5 million people in this region. More than eleven million children have been orphaned by AIDS. The infection rate is over 20%.
Interesting info, Dee, but what is the point. The story that I read was titled: Pope visits Africa, reaffirms ban on condoms. You read that correctly. The Catholic Church is so set in it's 19th Century teachings that it does not condone the use of condoms even to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa. Huh? Really? The story went on the say that the Catholic Church has a "moral prohibition" on the use of artificial contraception. From my point of view that thought is inhumane. Don't think of it as contraception, but preserving life. Not as contraception, but compassion.
The Catholic Church goes on to explain that they have "long been on the front line of HIV care..." Adding that it is probably the largest private provider of HIV care in the world. That reminds be of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. BCBS doesn't pay for wellness programs for people who are predisposed to say, Diabetes. They would rather pay for the treatment 20 years down the road than pay for preventive care and education now. The Catholic Church would rather help people die, leaving millions of children orphaned, than end a terrible epidemic and suffering and dying of millions of people. How is that showing compassion in God's name? After all, it's just a condom!
Sorry... I'm off my soapbox now.
D
3.12.2009
Rocky
Kay's head inadvertantly came in contact with another little girl's teeth at recess this afternoon. Freeze tag can be a dangerous game! After going to the school and inspecting the injury myself I took her to the doctor and they put 5 stitches in... she's fine and tough. She didn't cry when it happened. She didn't cry when the nurse cleaned it out. Apparently all she said was "Teacher, I'm bleeding". The cut was deep and about 1.5 cm long. She didn't cry, or even flinch, when the doctor gave her a shot. She didn't cry when he stitched it up. The only tears were when I told her she had to leave school...after the procedure, she insisted on going back to school. If only her brother was that tough!
D
D
I could NEVER live in Arizona
I finally figured out why I like daylight savings time so much. I'm "normal" during those six months. "Huh?", you say. Let me explain. I was born October 5. I was born during daylight savings time. Sooooo, every year when the time changes I have to carry around an extra hour that I was not meant to have. Every year when we fall back, I am burdened with an extra hour that I was not born with! Plus I have to do that for most of six months. It's very hard on me... I never know what to do with it. Do I introduce it to others when in a group? "Hi, I'd like you to meet Two-Five, he's my extra hour and hangs out with me in the winter." Do I treat it like a leper and hope no one sees it? Do I try to disguise it? Do people talk behind my back? "Did you see Dee's extra hour? That has to be embarrassing for him." It's like walking around with my fly open.
Then each spring, I return to normal and carry the standard 24 hours with me. It really is a burden to have Two-Five lurking with me through the winter months. I would never be able to live in Arizona, where they are on Standard Time 24/7. Two-Five would be with me constantly -- like a bad haircut that would never grow out!
D
Then each spring, I return to normal and carry the standard 24 hours with me. It really is a burden to have Two-Five lurking with me through the winter months. I would never be able to live in Arizona, where they are on Standard Time 24/7. Two-Five would be with me constantly -- like a bad haircut that would never grow out!
D
3.11.2009
My Wife
I love my wife. Ours isn't a relationship that has grown stale after almost 15 years of marriage. In 1991, she quickly became my best friend and she still is my best friend. How many guys are lucky enough to say that their wife enjoys football just as much, if not more, than they do? I can. We love going to games together -- Salvation Army, (Insert Jr. High if JD plays when he gets there), High School, College, Pro. It doesn't matter. She is the one that suggested I get a Harley. "Really?" you ask yourself. "Yes." She has her own, too. I like to think that she didn't dislike riding behind me, but wanted her own sense of independence on the open road because that's the way she is. We both have the same love of the outdoors. She runs, I bike. I tried running, but didn't like it as well as biking. She has tried biking but likes running better. We like camping. Walks. Time spent at the lake. We like to have fun. We like to travel. We make each other laugh. She likes to spend money and I think she has enough shoes! She thinks I should exercise more and I think she is HOT. So we are great together. "Where is this leading?" you might be asking... I'll tell you.
I pride myself on my gift giving capabilities. Ever since she told me in 1995 that I didn't need to get her anything for Valentine's day (and I didn't), I have put an extraordinary effort into my gift giving. I like to think she is always amazed at the ideas I come up with. After 4 years of half-birthday gifts she is still surprised when I present her with a gift every November 3rd. I will NEVER forget the expression on her face when she realized I had made a down-payment on a Harley for her 38th birthday. I've presented her with a tennis bracelet, a Nike runners pack, earrings, an anniversary band, a leather coat, a photo book from 1991 to present, trips to B and B's, and that black and orange Harley, just to name a few. I even bought here a sterling silver bracelet shaped like a Mobius strip with the scripture verse from our wedding engraved on it. Everything is always carefully thought out. All that creates a problem though -- how do I top those gifts?
I am proud of my wife, exceedingly so. While raising two kids, working full-time, and training for a half-marathon, she is diligently working on her masters at Kansas Wesleyan. She will graduate in May. When she graduated from K-State all I got her was a dozen roses. What do you get someone who earns a Masters?
In May, she also turns forty. She doesn't look it, but I've seen her birth certificate, it's true! But the thought crosses my mind: What do you get someone who turns 40? It surely has to be a better present that say 38 or 39! See my problem? I set the bar pretty high at 38.
June 4th is our 15th Anniversary. The "Traditional Anniversary Gift" is Crystal. The "Modern Anniversary Gift" is a watch. Pah-leeeze. My wife is not a "crystal" person and she would misplace a watch -- probably by June 15th. So, again, what to get?
Then here comes her Half-Birthday and then Christmas... although I have plenty of time to think those through! Being a great gift-giver is not easy. Those untrained in the art should not attempt it without a net. Besides that, it makes your head hurt, no matter how much practice you have!
I love you, Kimmie!
D
I pride myself on my gift giving capabilities. Ever since she told me in 1995 that I didn't need to get her anything for Valentine's day (and I didn't), I have put an extraordinary effort into my gift giving. I like to think she is always amazed at the ideas I come up with. After 4 years of half-birthday gifts she is still surprised when I present her with a gift every November 3rd. I will NEVER forget the expression on her face when she realized I had made a down-payment on a Harley for her 38th birthday. I've presented her with a tennis bracelet, a Nike runners pack, earrings, an anniversary band, a leather coat, a photo book from 1991 to present, trips to B and B's, and that black and orange Harley, just to name a few. I even bought here a sterling silver bracelet shaped like a Mobius strip with the scripture verse from our wedding engraved on it. Everything is always carefully thought out. All that creates a problem though -- how do I top those gifts?
I am proud of my wife, exceedingly so. While raising two kids, working full-time, and training for a half-marathon, she is diligently working on her masters at Kansas Wesleyan. She will graduate in May. When she graduated from K-State all I got her was a dozen roses. What do you get someone who earns a Masters?
In May, she also turns forty. She doesn't look it, but I've seen her birth certificate, it's true! But the thought crosses my mind: What do you get someone who turns 40? It surely has to be a better present that say 38 or 39! See my problem? I set the bar pretty high at 38.
June 4th is our 15th Anniversary. The "Traditional Anniversary Gift" is Crystal. The "Modern Anniversary Gift" is a watch. Pah-leeeze. My wife is not a "crystal" person and she would misplace a watch -- probably by June 15th. So, again, what to get?
Then here comes her Half-Birthday and then Christmas... although I have plenty of time to think those through! Being a great gift-giver is not easy. Those untrained in the art should not attempt it without a net. Besides that, it makes your head hurt, no matter how much practice you have!
I love you, Kimmie!
D
3.09.2009
Mmmmm, Jawbreakers
Believe it or not, I'm not perfect. I know this will come as a shock to many of you, especially my lovely wife. One of my faults is that I have a bad habit of grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw when I sleep. It causes me to wake with a sore jaw and can't be good on my pearly whites either. It could be stress related, I suppose -- not that this economy is causing any added stress or anything... anyway... on with the story.
To combat my grinding, my dentist made me a nifty little device that I wear at night when I sleep. It fits conveniently over my front teeth and keeps me from hurting myself -- in theory.
The other night I had a fabulous little dream. I was eating one of the hardest jawbreakers I had ever had. I mean I was really having to work to crack this thing. It didn't taste very good, but how many jawbreakers do? I was really having a difficult time keeping it between my teeth. Every time I would try to bite it, it would slip off into my cheek. Each time it slipped off, I would use my tongue to return it to the proper location for biting a jawbreaker and try again, all without success -- I just couldn't break it.Then I awoke, mid-dream, to find that my nifty little device was not longer on my front teeth, but in my mouth. It seems that it was the "jawbreaker" from my dream. I must say, it held up well. I returned it to it's proper place and drifted off to sleep!
It seems I might have to use Duct tape to keep it in place. Or perhaps I could use Fix-a-dent (or something like that) as Dr. Herzog suggested, we'll see. But being a guy, I'm sure the Duct tape will at least get a try!
D
To combat my grinding, my dentist made me a nifty little device that I wear at night when I sleep. It fits conveniently over my front teeth and keeps me from hurting myself -- in theory.
The other night I had a fabulous little dream. I was eating one of the hardest jawbreakers I had ever had. I mean I was really having to work to crack this thing. It didn't taste very good, but how many jawbreakers do? I was really having a difficult time keeping it between my teeth. Every time I would try to bite it, it would slip off into my cheek. Each time it slipped off, I would use my tongue to return it to the proper location for biting a jawbreaker and try again, all without success -- I just couldn't break it.Then I awoke, mid-dream, to find that my nifty little device was not longer on my front teeth, but in my mouth. It seems that it was the "jawbreaker" from my dream. I must say, it held up well. I returned it to it's proper place and drifted off to sleep!
It seems I might have to use Duct tape to keep it in place. Or perhaps I could use Fix-a-dent (or something like that) as Dr. Herzog suggested, we'll see. But being a guy, I'm sure the Duct tape will at least get a try!
D
3.06.2009
Friday Randomness
Yesterday, I finished a marathon week of travel -- 1830 miles in three trips. I went to St. Louis on Sunday (401 miles), back to Salina on Monday (425), to Lincoln, NE and Columbus, NE on Wednesday (475), and Girard, KS (505) on Thursday.
I passed at least 9 Harley Davidson Dealerships on my excursions, some of them twice, and did not stop at a single one.
The hardest to avoid was Frontier HD in Lincoln. They have a new building since I was last there.
I missed my turn leaving America's Center in St. Louis and crossed the river to East St. Louis, Illinois. It reminded me of Vacation, "Roll em up!".
My traveling car averaged over 26 miles per gallon over those 1800+ miles.
All of my meetings went very well.
My "traveling car" for those of you that don't know is a 1991 Oldsmobile 88. It belonged to my grandmother and makes the perfect work car. It gets good gas mileage and runs well. Plus, I'm not putting additional miles on Kim's SUV or trying to keep gas in my Dodge pick-up (it get about 15 mpg on the highway). Since May, my expenses vs reimbursement on the Olds is over $2,500. The expenses include tires, tie rods, oil, gas, and a stereo! Can you say "Cruise"?
I have only managed to work out twice this week, I'll be back in the gym at noon today.
I have designed another tattoo that I plan on getting in the near future. It features both of the kiddo's names and is designed as a cover up to the bad one (quality-wise) I got in College.
Because I have been so busy at MarketAide, I have been unable to take a vacation for a while. I now have close to 7 weeks of time that needs to be used... yeah right!
The weather's getting nice, it's time to get the tire replaced on my Harley so I can hit the road!
I am headed to Lawrence of all places to cheer on my wife if her first run of the year -- a 2K. She'll be in Manhattan next weekend, then her half-marathon in April in Oklahoma City. Go Kimmie!
I met with a prospect this week for the the third time and discovered he was a KISS fan! "Me, too" I said. Finally after all this time, being a KISS fan may actually pay dividends!
Basketball is over for JD! Finally. I don't like basketball very much, but he loves it. Salina Viper's baseball starts tonight, although we will miss the first practice. I love baseball, love helping coach -- it's just a great game!
I am reading another Bill Bryson book -- I'm a Stranger Here Myself -- so far it's great. But I didn't expect anything less.
Daylight savings time begins Sunday at 2:00 AM. I love daylight savings time. I would be happy if they did away with standard time and kept daylight savings time year-round!
DST means I will be able to ride my bicycle in the evening after I get home from work. Hope the weather holds!
My beloved Cowboys released TO yesterday... can't say that I am sad. I am surprised that they let Roy Williams go. That boy could hit!
I'm sure there is more in my little brain waiting to get out, but can't seem to find it right now!
D
I passed at least 9 Harley Davidson Dealerships on my excursions, some of them twice, and did not stop at a single one.
The hardest to avoid was Frontier HD in Lincoln. They have a new building since I was last there.
I missed my turn leaving America's Center in St. Louis and crossed the river to East St. Louis, Illinois. It reminded me of Vacation, "Roll em up!".
My traveling car averaged over 26 miles per gallon over those 1800+ miles.
All of my meetings went very well.
My "traveling car" for those of you that don't know is a 1991 Oldsmobile 88. It belonged to my grandmother and makes the perfect work car. It gets good gas mileage and runs well. Plus, I'm not putting additional miles on Kim's SUV or trying to keep gas in my Dodge pick-up (it get about 15 mpg on the highway). Since May, my expenses vs reimbursement on the Olds is over $2,500. The expenses include tires, tie rods, oil, gas, and a stereo! Can you say "Cruise"?
I have only managed to work out twice this week, I'll be back in the gym at noon today.
I have designed another tattoo that I plan on getting in the near future. It features both of the kiddo's names and is designed as a cover up to the bad one (quality-wise) I got in College.
Because I have been so busy at MarketAide, I have been unable to take a vacation for a while. I now have close to 7 weeks of time that needs to be used... yeah right!
The weather's getting nice, it's time to get the tire replaced on my Harley so I can hit the road!
I am headed to Lawrence of all places to cheer on my wife if her first run of the year -- a 2K. She'll be in Manhattan next weekend, then her half-marathon in April in Oklahoma City. Go Kimmie!
I met with a prospect this week for the the third time and discovered he was a KISS fan! "Me, too" I said. Finally after all this time, being a KISS fan may actually pay dividends!
Basketball is over for JD! Finally. I don't like basketball very much, but he loves it. Salina Viper's baseball starts tonight, although we will miss the first practice. I love baseball, love helping coach -- it's just a great game!
I am reading another Bill Bryson book -- I'm a Stranger Here Myself -- so far it's great. But I didn't expect anything less.
Daylight savings time begins Sunday at 2:00 AM. I love daylight savings time. I would be happy if they did away with standard time and kept daylight savings time year-round!
DST means I will be able to ride my bicycle in the evening after I get home from work. Hope the weather holds!
My beloved Cowboys released TO yesterday... can't say that I am sad. I am surprised that they let Roy Williams go. That boy could hit!
I'm sure there is more in my little brain waiting to get out, but can't seem to find it right now!
D
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