The Written Gyroscope

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2011-03-13T16:21:00.001-04:00

iMapMyRun: Mar 13, 2011 2:05 PM

Lazy Sunday Biathlon

2011-02-27T20:08:00.004-05:00

In an effort to stay active this winter I've been swimming laps on Sundays. I'm terrible at swimming (it's the breathing thing) but, it's nice to do something different and I usually force myself to jump off the high dive at least once every time I go. Today my running buddy and I wanted to do our own biathlon so we ran a 5 mile route around the nearly dead town of Middlebury. There were some pretty killer hills in the route, thank goodness we went down the biggest one. My thighs will probably be pretty sore after that one. It was nice to get outside, other than the Frosty 5k I ran the other weekend I've mostly been running indoors. We finished up our run and I popped a few of Jelly Belly's sport beans (more on those in another post). We went in and of course the swimming area was dark. Due to volleyball that was scheduled at the same time there was no swimming to be done. Better luck next time I guess. I'm thinking about riding my bike the 10 miles to get there next time.

Deep Breaths

2011-02-25T09:01:00.004-05:00

I've been kicking around the idea of breathing in my head lately. (I realize that sentence sounds weird) I've been trying on my own to really focus on deep breathing as a way to improve my running and my overall energy level as well. Somewhere, probably on the internet, I read that the most efficient transfer of oxygen into the blood stream occurs in the depth of your lungs. From what little browsing I've done, there are claims that deep breathing and breathing techniques can cure many ills. I'm not sure I totally believe that, but I don't think it could hurt either.

I was at the library yesterday, checking out some cd's to listen to, when I decided to pick up a book with some breathing exercises in it. I've mostly flipped through it so far, I did try one of the exercises. I sat up straight in a chair moving my arms up and down as I breathed, the book suggested "like a sea anemone" which I thought was a pretty good use of image. I'm doing this to improve my running (hopefully) but also to help maintain my focus while trying to read Chaucer. We'll see how it works out. Now if only I could improve my breathing when I try to swim laps. Hmmm.

Half Marathon

2011-02-23T09:44:00.002-05:00

April 10th I plan on running the Holy Half on Notre Dame's campus. My racing career so far consists of five 5k's and a 10k, however I think I will be much more prepared by the time it rolls around. I've been plugging in some speed-work into my running that I hope will pay off. I hope the new snow clears off soon, I've devised a long running route that I'm eager to start building up to. Straight to the end and back I'm estimating will be around 15.5 miles. There is also a side trail I could incorporate that would add about another 3 miles. I have an indoor track at my disposal which beats the hell out of a treadmill, but I'm anxious to get outside and breath some fresh air tainted with fresh fertilizer rather than stale sweat and gym disinfectant.

Just another day

2011-02-22T07:37:00.002-05:00

I ran the toughest 5k to date the other weekend, on a snow covered golf course. I ran it in just over 30 minutes considering there was 2 inches of snow that gave way under your feet as you pushed along. The best way to pass was on the downhills and I came in 2nd in my age group, out of 4 people that is.

This blog seems to be descending into a focus about running, which might be ok. It never had a focus before and I'm still not promising a focus now. I will still put up poems and such. I also had enough ambition to submit a poem and short story which I will provide links to when they become available. Until then...

10K

2010-08-30T08:15:00.003-04:00

Signing up for a 10k on September 18. It's time to step it up. (Running and Writing)

p.s. Step It Up is not a reference to one of those dancing or cheerleading movies.

5

2010-06-17T13:49:00.000-04:00

I put together five straight days of running. I think I'll take Friday off, watch some soccer, and start thinking about a training regiment for March......

Bonneyville Mill After 3 Days of Rain, a Trail Running Saga

2010-06-15T08:03:00.000-04:00

The last 3 weeks my running has suffered. It all started about the time I attended a birthday party which started with Sake bombs and ended with fist pumping to Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA." My motivation combined with the early June heat have not made for a productive 3 weeks. I managed to squeak out a respectable time in the Sunburst, but it certainly wasn't because I had trained hard.

On Sunday, after a weekend of hot dogs, brownies, coca cola, and beer I decided I had better get the train back on the tracks. I've gotten sort of burnt out on running at my usual park and I'd gotten a blister on one of my toes from my VFF's being too tight.

I decided a needed a change to get me feeling like running again. I broke out my Timberland trail running shoes and searched google maps for nearby Bonneyville Mill park.

The first mile of the trail was well maintained, a little wet, but a nice change of pace. Then I got to the back side of the 3 mile loop. Lots of mud, which didn't really bother me, it made it fun trying to leap over as much of it as possible. The mosquitoes were a different story, my legs look like I have chicken pocks there are so many red splotches on them.

I think I'll wait until we get a few good frosts before I head back there again.

Go USA!! pt2

2010-06-14T13:24:00.003-04:00

I watched the US soccer game Saturday (or match, whatever it's called) and I will say, I was pretty impressed. It was pretty clear where the commentator's loyalties aligned, I had a hard time not laughing when after it was over the ESPN special commentator was nearly crying because the game ended tied.

I don't know a lot about soccer, but I'm catching on. I finally figured out how they calculate how many minutes to add on to the end of the half. It seemed to me that the US was pretty nervous for most of the first half, then they settled into things. England seemed pretty rattled by the easy goal scored, (come on seriously I could have stopped that one). I would have liked to see the US play a little more aggressively, but then again, what do I know about coaching soccer.

I was really impressed with South Korea, those guys were all over the field, constantly stealing the ball from whoever was trying to dribble. Those guys played with some heart. Let's hope the US was paying attention to how they played.

USA Futbol

2010-06-12T13:25:00.003-04:00

Getting ready to watch USA take on England in the World Cup tournament and I'll admit I'm pretty excited. I don't know a lot about soccer, but I picked up enough watching Greece and South Korea today. I watched yesterday's matches too, for being low scoring games they were pretty exciting.

GO USA!!!!!

Is Your Office Chair Killing You?

2010-06-10T08:09:00.000-04:00

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_19/b4177071221162.htm

I read this story the other day and I'll admit, it has me a bit worried. This is totally the type of stuff I've been interested in lately, running has gotten me thinking about biometrics, evolution, cultural anthropology and such.
Shhhh, don't tell anyone, but rather than sitting in and office chair at work, I snuck into the next door office and stole an exercise ball to sit on while I'm typing. (I would rather not refer to it as a birthing ball thank you).

Congrats Blackhawks.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

2010-06-09T08:39:00.001-04:00

I was listening to World Cafe the other day and heard the song, "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. I can't get it out of my head. I don't know why I'm obsessed with songs that feature an abundant amount of whistling or banjo. I'm currently searching YouTube for another song of theirs as catchy as that one. I'll let you know what I find. Nothing so far.......

BH

2010-06-08T13:33:00.001-04:00

"Money brings ease, ease makes softness, and throughout history it has always been the toughest, most self-sacrificing who have survived and conquered."
- Bernd Heinrich

Sunburst 2010

2010-06-07T14:50:00.001-04:00

I ran the 5k Sunburst race Saturday in downtown South Bend. It was crazy humid at 7am, I was nearly sweating just pinning my bib on.
The loudspeaker came to life and we were instructed to line up in the street. The crowd ahead suddenly surged forward an we began trotting along, tryin to find a rythm. The crowd came back together like an accordian, then stretched itself out again as we yearned for the start line. I glanced around trying to take it all in. I saw Mike Golic standing on the sidewalk watching us stream past.
We started down a hill and I couldn't help but think of us as a herd of wild buffalo making it's way through the streets. The young and the weak dropping to the sides of the moving herd. Walking, hair and shirts rife with sweat.
Coming into the Notre Dame stadium with all of the crowd noise was sick. I have to go for the half marathon next year.

Goshen First Fridays

2010-03-27T11:03:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to concentrate on the extracurricular writing this semester and a little more on making sure that I pass Spanish 204. I would really hate to take this semester over again because I was worried about the plot developement in my novel. (hence the lack of posts as of late).
I've continued running on a regular basis, I'm down about twenty pounds from when I was at my heaviest. I run because it's good for my physical and mental health, it gives me more energy, and the oatmeal stouts I enjoy so much don't translate directly into tighter pants.
After putting in laps on an indoor track all winter (I began shunning treadmills) I started kicking around the idea of competing in a 5k. Within a few weeks an email hit my work inbox fishing for intrest in a 5k on April 2nd in Goshen as a part of Goshen's First Friday's block party.
I'm in. There's only one problem. All the training I've been doing is for endurance, at a very slow pace. I ran a practice 5k to get an idea of my time and it was horrible. I've been "speed" training for a week in an effort to not embarrass myself next Friday. We'll see what happens.

USA Hockey

2010-02-28T07:56:00.001-05:00

I'm excited to watch the mens Olympic hockey team today. I like hockey, I just don't get much of a chance to watch it, nor do I really understand the rules. When your team scores 6 goals in the first period, knowing the rules is not really on your mind. Go USA!!!

Super Bowl in 10

2010-01-06T12:55:00.001-05:00

My prediction for this years Super Bowl. Indianapolis Colts vs Minnesota Vikings. Manning vs Favre. One of the greatest quarterback matchups of all time. Write it down and remember who told you. Colts win by the way.

Let It Snow

2010-01-05T13:08:00.001-05:00

It's been snowing non stop since about Saturday. Or something. The days are blending in together and I'm trying to enjoy every last bit of my break from school. I want to go snowboarding one o these weekends but I don't look forward to the cost. Even on the cheap snowboarding is expensive. Like everything else it is cool when it costs next to nothing. Then, it gets popular and more expensive.

lots o stuff

2010-01-04T16:34:00.002-05:00

I've been busy enjoying my break from school the past few weeks. I got everything I wanted for Christmas; a nose hair trimmer, a record player, and a collection of Wes Anderson movies.

I read the book, "Born to Run" in 4 days. I would highly recommend it if you are into exercise. It changed the way I thought about running. I think I'm a new member of the growing "barefoot running" cult. I won't explain more, you'll just have to read the book and do a little Internet research on your own.

I 've been running fairly regularly the past couple of weeks, though I just upgraded my cable package to digital cable with HD channels. Given my weakness of procrastination this could be a bad thing.

My only weakness worse than procrastinating is my interest in hobbies. (I would argue that this is not actually a weakness but a strength)

More S**t About Running

2009-12-28T15:48:00.001-05:00

Picked up this book from the library today. I would highly recomend it. Went for a run in the cold snow this morning and it was wonderful. Except I didn't stretch enough first so my knee hurt. More to come.

Think

2009-12-22T20:02:00.001-05:00

Electric car maker, Th!nk, is considering manufacturing electric cars in Elkhart County. Pretty sweet. Let's hope it works out.

The Speed of Facebook

2009-12-20T17:00:00.001-05:00

I read on Facebook about an hour and a half ago that Britany Murphy died this morning. I quickly checked a bunch of news web sites to confirm the news, but there was nothing. The speed in which information spreads in our society (our world really) is crazy. That isn't the first time I've learned something from Facebook before it hits the other media outlets.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

one day to relax

2009-12-18T16:15:00.002-05:00

I'm done with my finals and I'm relaxing today before the craziness of the holidays and how busy I'm about to get at work. Thought about running, decided not to. Will probably watch movies and sports this weekend. Maybe a nap or two. All for now.

One Final to Go.

2009-12-15T14:42:00.001-05:00

I finished one final yesterday and I have one more to finish on Thursday. Then I get a break, at least a little bit of a break. There are always so many things I want to accomplish during the break, my sights are usually set pretty high. There are two books I want to read over this break.
One of them being "The Rum Diary" by Hunter S. Thompson. I want to do a fair amount of exercising too. I ran today even though it was snowy and cold. I had to watch out for ice. My lungs burned and I thought I was going to puke.
I will enjoy this break. But I'm sure it will be over all too soon.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I needed to get some fresh air today.

2009-12-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

Went for a walk at my local park this morning. I noticed a new sign at the front entrance.

This Watch

2009-12-10T16:10:00.001-05:00

I like this watch. I like it for a number of reasons. I didn't pay any money for it. That's always a plus. It tries so hard to be cool that it's not cool. Which makes it cool. The only potential thing that could make it cooler is a calculator.

Finals Week Eve

2009-12-08T15:09:00.001-05:00

This week is the week before finals. The week when all the big projects are due. All the big projects I should have started two weeks ago...........

Happy Hunting

2009-12-05T17:46:00.000-05:00

Leftovers

2009-12-03T14:43:00.003-05:00

I still have a large Ziploc bag of Thanksgiving day turkey in the fridge. Today is the first day in a week I have not had some form of turkey. Granted the day isn't over yet. I tried mixing it up yesterday, I wanted to make a turkey rueben for lunch. The problem was I didn't have the right bread, or thousand island dressing. I did have saurkraut however and some left over rolls. It wasn't quite the same, but it was still ok.
I'm not really into turkey soup. I thought about turkey fajitas, but I just don't have the time. Maybe I'll just go to the grocery store and pick up some turkey spam.

GM

2009-12-02T09:05:00.000-05:00

Just saw on the news this morning that GM's CEO resigned. I don't know his name, but I guess he uses to be at AT&T. CEOs are like college football overpaid and expensive to buy out. The shareholders are like impatient alumni, nothing but a winning record will suffice.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Patriot's Monday Night

2009-12-01T09:26:00.001-05:00

As a Colts fan, how could I not mention the Patriots in today's post?
Regretfully I was not able to watch the game. However, I was quick to check my fantasy football score. Drew's 5 touchdowns were enough to put me over the top for a win. It was great considering Cedric Benson put up a big goose egg this week. He was injured so I guess I can't be too mad at him.
The Patriots must have been trying to avoid injuries when they pulled Tom Brady with five minutes left in the game last night. After the heat Belichick took from the infamous gamble on 4th and 2, he will surely be critisized for giving up. Especially given that he hasn't pulled players when having a big lead.
I don't get it either, but I guess that's why I don't coach football.

One Christmas Tree Down, One to Go.

2009-11-30T08:46:00.000-05:00

Sometime this week my wife and I will enjoy our annual hunt for a Christmas Tree. We don't stray too far from our house, usually ending up at the local greenhouse just up the street. Our house is small so we usually pick a small tree, lodging it into the trunk of my Civic with the back seats pushed down.
It's small enough that I can manhandle it into our house by myself. Mostly. My wife then puts an enormous amount of decorations on it while I sleep. It looks pretty good by the time I get up, that is of we can keep our dogs from peeing on the tree skirt.

Tiger

2009-11-29T15:15:00.001-05:00

If by now you haven't heard that Tiger Woods was injured in an auto accident over the weekend, you must be living under a rock.
Of course there has been non-stop coverage, the media has scrambled to find anything new to report about the incident. It's like sharks in the water really. The desperation to find dirt on Tiger is pretty sad. I shouldn't be surprised. We like to read about other people's problems. It makes us feel more normal. What could make me feel more normal than someone being rescued from their vehicle by golf club.
Honestly, I hope Tiger is ok. I also hope no one is too surprised when it comes out that Tiger's wife knocked him out with his own Nike driver.

Sorry Charlie

2009-11-28T12:12:00.000-05:00

Tonight will most likely be Charlie Weiss's last game as Notre Dame's head coach. It's hard not to think about Charlie's first season and the excitement that followed. We thought it wouldn't be long before we were celebrating a national championship. Instead here we are, in the same boat we are always in.
It reminds me of fantasy football. I won my first game and I thought I had the championship wrapped up. I'm now in second to last place.
I almost feel sorry for Charlie, except that he won't be walking away from Notre Dame a poor man. He will be bought out and most likely continue to coach somewhere else.
My guess is that ND will bring in Cincinati's coach as the replacement. I haven't learned the guys name yet, but I heard him speaking after his win on Friday. He's the only coach I have heard remain vauge about the possibility of coaching at ND.
No matter if they win or lose to Stanford tonight, we will all have to wait to see what tomorrow brings. Literally.

Black Friday. (Again)

2009-11-27T12:34:00.000-05:00

It's the infamous Black Friday again. The day when people shrug off all manners and go out into public to find great deals. At least I haven't had to watch any news stories about people being trampled. The corporate overlords kept people's safety at the front of their minds this year. Maybe it was common sense, or maybe it was just fear of bad P.R.
I myself am out shopping today. I'm out with my in-laws looking for a Christmas tree. It always takes an extra amount of patience when shopping with other people. I just hope we are stopping for a beer after this.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T08:54:00.000-05:00

Gotta Admire The Patience.

2009-11-25T14:07:00.002-05:00

Somewhere in the last 24 hours I read a story about a man in Warsaw Indiana who built a full size horse drawn carriage from toothpicks. It took him 15 years to build. Talk about patience. I only wish I had that kind of dedication. (On a side note, I picked up the banjo again the other day.)
I would post a picture on here, but for the life of me I cannot remember where I read the story. Either way, I've got some banjo practicing to do.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T13:37:00.002-05:00

Today I am thankful for my family and those who have become my family.

Old SKool

2009-11-23T13:40:00.004-05:00

I was driving past my local Honda dealership this morning when I noticed something new sitting in the lot. It looked a little like an Accord, but sat up higher and the rear part of the roof looked different. I looked it up when I got home and found that it is the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour.

Now in my mind the term "Killer Crossover" will forever be associated with the NBA starTim Hardaway. But it also reminded me of something else from my childhood only from the automotive world. The AMC Eagle. I remember an Aunt of mine picking me up in one of these things. Pretty wicked really. Funny how things that go out of style always come back around.

The Things We Learn

2009-11-19T09:45:00.003-05:00

A while back I noticed a fellow coworker of mine crocheting. He was crocheting a scarf out of blue yarn. Did I mention he is a young man, in his early twenties? We got to talking about hobbies, it turns out I'm not the only one with an abundance of them.
I asked him who taught him to crochet, thinking he would tell me a great story about how his grandmother had patiently taught him, perhaps because he was the oldest Grandchild.
Instead, he told me he had brought up YouTube and learned from videos posted.
I guess it doesn't matter how, or who we learn things from, as long as we keep traditions going.

Thanksgiving Is Still a Week Away, But.......

2009-11-19T08:32:00.002-05:00

I'm already seeing Christmas ads and Thanksgiving is still a week away. I guess it's all in anticipation of Black Friday. I'll applaude Wal-Mart this year for staying open 24 hours on Black Friday to avoid the tragedy of last year, in which people actually died because they were trampled.
There are a lot of things that I'm thankful for, things that I should be thankful for everyday instead of just the times when I am sad or in need. I've had a long week, which is why my blogging has been sporadic.
This week I am thankful for the simple things in life, especially my family.

More Good Signs

2009-11-17T09:16:00.003-05:00

In the Elkhart Truth today is a story that Elkhart RV maker, Heartland, will be adding 400 more jobs to their payroll by March. Another sign that things could be starting to turn around in Elkhart County. The great thing about these jobs is that they provide a ripple effect through the community. (A good ripple effect) The workers from these jobs will spend money at restaurants and other places around the community, creating more jobs.
My own personal opinion is that this winter could still be a little rough, but when the grass and flowers begin to grow next spring, I think the local economy will too.
It's been a tough year for everyone, even those that still have jobs, but don't lose hope. I think we are seeing the so called light at the end of the tunnel.

I Love Football!

2009-11-16T14:23:00.002-05:00

The title of today's post would be very different had the outcome of the game been different last night. Instead the Colts beat the Pats in what was maybe not the most stylistic win, but it was certainly a "signature" win for coach Caldwell. (Charlie take note) On an unrelated side note, today was the first time I had ever seen Caldwell without a hat on. Not what I expected. (not that I expected cornrows or anything) Colts don't quit. Go Colts!

Fried Bologna Sandwich

2009-11-14T09:44:00.002-05:00

I got to spend a few hours hiking some trails at a local park yesterday. I was starting to feel hungry, contemplating stopping and eating the apple and granola bar I had brought along with me. I came upon another hiker, who was there with his dog. He had stopped at an overlook bench and was eating a sandwich. I couldn't tell what sort of sandwich it was, but suddenly I had a craving for a bologna sandwich. So much so that I couldn't eat the apple or granola I had brought with me.
I hated bologna when I was a kid. Many of my childhood meals were made up of some combination of mac & cheese, spam, bologna, tuna, peas, and au-gratin potatoes. I just couldn't shake the bologna desire yesterday, then a thought occurred to me, why make just a normal bologna sandwich when I could make a fried bologna sandwich.
I got home and actually sought out fried bologna sandwich recipes online. I remember my mother making them a few times when I was a kid, and the key was to cut a small X into the center to avoid the dreaded cupping of the bologna resulting in unequal cooking.
I added pickles and a spicy brown mustard to mine, also grilling the bread as if it were a grilled cheese sandwich. I avoided cheese because I really couldn't come to a decision on what sort of cheese would best fit the sandwich.
I guess I have enough left over that I could do some more trial and error sandwiches. I'm certainly in no danger of my wife eating it.

MY EPL.ORG

2009-11-13T17:11:00.003-05:00

http://myepl.org/cgi-bin/index5.pl?&file=auction/auction_list.pl

Very cool auction I read about in today's Elkhart Truth. They are auctioning off some of the original furniture from the librarys opening in March 0f 1963. This is a great opportunity for the library (which I love) to raise a little capitol for themselves. I'm a sucker for "vintage" things, I've been in search of a record player as of late. We have this fabulous (in my opinion) dynamic in our society where we love new things, new tech, the latest and greatest. However we also respect, and even covet old things that have classic style or function that make them ageless.

The Infamous Sky Hook

2009-11-12T07:32:00.002-05:00

The other day I read that Kareem Abdul Jabaar has a form of blood cancer chronic myeloid leukemia. The article I read described the disease as the body producing too many white blood cells.
Kareem was part of the eighties L.A. Lakers team that inspired me to live basketball when I was a kid. I would argue the late eighties, Kareem final basketball years, were the greatest era in the NBA. Kareem, Magic, Isaiah, Charles, Michael. I don't even have to spell out the last names, you know who they are.
Of course when anyone mentions Kareem the first thing you think of is the mighty sky hook. Talk about a signature move. The sky hook has tops on the list of hard to defend moves. The sad thing is that nobody does it anymore. (At least I assume, I haven't watched much basketball since the nineties.) Shaq does a sort of min-hook. Some of the tall European players may use some semi- variations of it, but nobody does it like Kareem use to.
The articles I read say that he was diagnosed last December and that so far, the disease has not significantly affected his lifestyle. I hope he comes out a champion on this one, just like when he did play ball. Though I know that just because you were a professional ball player, that doesn't mean your life will forever and always revolve around the rim.

Seasame Street Turns 40

2009-11-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of Seasame Street, the kids show that airs in nearly every country around the world. (I don't know the exact statistics here.) I really enjoyed Seasame Street when I was a kid, surprising given my fear of muppets. There were a few characters that creeped me out a little, the aliens for one. One character that didn't freak me out was Big Bird. In my older years he may have annoyed me slightly, but that was just my own need to be cool warping my perspective. He really was a pretty relatable character.

Even Michelle Obama is getting in on Seasame Street. She will be appearing (I have no idea when) to help the show create more of a dialouge about the environment. The newspaper article I read mentioned that she will be planting seeds on the show and talking about gardening. Hopefully Seasame Street will get the opportunity to continue to have an impact on kids around the world, not just the ones in the United States.

Elkhart County Has a Ski Resort?!?

2009-11-09T09:13:00.004-05:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=497748

(please note; images were taken from the websites http://www.mtwawasee.com/, or etruth.com)

A very interesting story in the Elkhart Truth, I found out a little bit of County history that I wasn't aware of. Local history is an interesting subject to me, like so many other things, I wish I had more time to devote to it. On a side note, I spent a good part of my summer researching a local history item, more on that much much later.

This story is about the highest point in Elkhart County going up for Auction. If I were significantly wealthy and could afford to operate a ski resort at a loss for a number of years I would be all over this place. The first thing I would do to increase it's marketability is change the name. I'm sorry, but I think the name Buzzard Hill probably discourages visitors. It really would be amazing to see what kind of potential this place would have. Unfortunately, my guess is that it will be bought up and turned into a gravel pit. With the economy the way it is, other than Warren Buffet, who would have the balls to invest in a risk like this? Personally, I think investing would be a lot less risk than mortgage backed securities. But then again, I'm a sucker for sentimentality. Please tell me someone out there is willing to take a chance, I'd love to give skiing another chance on the Buzzard Mt. hills. I've gotten over the time when I was 6 and tried to learn how to ski. I couldn't figure out how to stop and I ended up running into a lady who was stopped at the bottom of the hill. I know I could do much better now.

Notre Dame Loses....Again.....

2009-11-08T08:44:00.002-05:00

The writer in me wishes I wasn't writing about Notre Dame again today. I wish they had squeaked out a win against Navy by 7 points and we could all just forget about it. Instead I'm sitting on a balcony, drinking coffee, and listening to fellow guests yelling to each other, loud enough to wake up the whole hotel complex.

The part of me that is a Notre Dame fan is a little glad that they lost yesterday. There is no more doubt in my mind and I suspect in most other ND fans minds that Charlie must go. The game was so disappointing yesterday that I ended up sleeping through most of the second half. I was awake long enough to see Navy run all over ND's defense. I was awake long enough to see Jimmy try to run the ball into the endzone, taking a wicked hit on the 1 yard line. I think those of us that held out hope of a championship were blinded by Charlie's superbowl rings. I just don't see how of all the coaches at Notre Dame in the past 45 years Charlie is the only one to lose to Navy. Not just once but twice.

I once was blind, but now I see.

Happy Anniversary

2009-11-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

I took the day off of blogging yesterday, it was my 3 year wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe that time goes that quickly. I can still remember our first date very clearly. We went to a hockey game. Romantic I know, but I had never been to a hockey game before and I was at a point in my life where I was ready to try some new things. I was ready to get out of my comfort zone and I found out later that she was ready for a change as well.

I don't pay much attention to all the controversy surrounding gay marriage because I really can't see how it would affect my own marriage. I really can't see how anything or anyone could affect our marriage but the two of us.

Very appropriately my wife just gave me an anniversary card that says, Happy You & Me Day. I sent her a Jib Jab sendable card. It's sort of like a customizable mini South Park episode that you can attach a picture of your own face to.

I would spend more time on today's blog, hopefully giving some sort of insight into marriage, but instead I think I will go enjoy the beautiful day with my wife.

Who Cares About the Yankees?

2009-11-05T08:35:00.000-05:00

Ugh. Another World Series celebration by the Yankees. I will save you the play by play of the game. To be honest, I didn't watch it either.
I would say that no one in the midwest wants to see the Yankees win, but I would be wrong. At least the mid-westerners in Indiana. Maybe it's because we don't have a professional baseball team of our own, but most baseball fans around here take stake in the White Sox/Cubs rivalry. Still, there are some Yanks fans around. They wear jerseys, hats, and put license plates on their cars.
Why would conservative mid-westerners root for a team in the capitol of liberalism? Good question. Maybe some people like to jump on the bandwagon. Maybe they like to root for a "dynasty." One thing I do know is that anyone around here who does root for the Yankees is likely to be harassed daily during baseball season.

Jayco

2009-11-04T13:46:00.002-05:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=497487&fcid=Know-NEW/UPDATED

Some good news finally hitting the newspapers. The past few weeks I've been hearing of various businesses around Elkhart County starting to hire again. Jayco has announced it will be hiring 200 which I believe is the largest hiring amount I've heard. Many of us here still aren't sure that the R.V. industry will ever be what it was, but this is a good sign. There are many people hear hungry for work.
The great thing about this is that it will have a ripple effect through Middlebury and hopefully into the rest of the county. We are about to head into a cold dark winter, but just think about what awaits us on the other side.

What Day is It?

2009-11-03T13:51:00.002-05:00

So right now I'm thoroughly confused. Someone told me it was election day, which I thought was very strange since I didn't read anything about it in the newspaper or see anything about it on T.V. For nearly a half hour I traveled the future, thinking it was currently the year 2010 and today was the midterm elections and somehow, some way I just hadn't heard about them. Crazy I know. (Luckily I held off text messaging my wife and friends that today was election day.)
I drove to my local polling place expecting signs for Dems and Reps. There was nothing. I had so been looking forward to flaunting my moral superiority over those who had not voted.
My very brief investigation into how I was lead astray reveals that apparently there are some general elections going on in New Jersey and Virginia. Also some sort of city elections in a few places in lower Michigan. Either way, it will be another year before I have any purple ink on my finger. Wait a minute, that might not be right either.................

Bristol Pipe

2009-11-02T09:05:00.000-05:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=497177

I could make jokes about pipe, but I wont. The Bristol Pipe factory in Bristol is shutting down, a place I've driven past many times in my life. It's a little hard to believe that even with the economy as sour as it is, that no more pvc will come out of that place. If you have ever lived in Elkhart county there is a good chance you have known someone who worked there.

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T10:39:00.003-04:00

Today is Halloween. (like you didn't already know) I was lame and didn't come up with a costume this year. It's not that I didn't want to, I just didn't have the time and effort to put into it. I almost went as Waldo from the previously popular Where's Waldo book series, but I didn't have the hat and didn't feel like creating one.
It's tough this time of year to have much ambition. The weather is turning colder, it's gray and rainy outside. I should be out buying candy right now, preparing for trick or treaters and instead I'm tweaking my fantasy football team. Maybe it's evident in my blogs too, I'm rambling, unfocused, and having a hard time coming up with blog topics.
I'll leave this one at that, go get some candy and enjoy yourself, Thanksgiving will be upon us before you know it.

The Tipping Point

2009-10-30T10:55:00.002-04:00

http://www.wndu.com/hometop/headlines/67573257.html

If you are in any industry in which you may receive at tip and you get one for $29,000, you may want to hang on to it for just a little bit before you go on a spending spree.
A woman was accidentally tipped just shy of the 30 g mark by Notre Dame, now they want it back. How does one accidentally put 3 extra zeroes on the end of a tip?
Now the lady has to pay a good portion of it back. I wonder how many thousands of dollars Notre Dame had to pay to get that money back? They should have just subtracted it from Charlie Weiss's salary.

And You Thought Your Day Was Bad

2009-10-29T10:25:00.003-04:00

www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=496770

A man who was cleaning a jail cell accidentally locked himself in last weekend. Apparently no one realized he was in there. His family came to check on him and was told he wasn't there. Around 10pm they finally realized he was in a cell. Welcome to Elkhart County my friends. I wouldn't recommend committing any crimes here.

At least there will be some repercussions for the fact that no one had a clue where this guy was for 12 hours, there is an internal investigation underway.

No wonder there have been numerous escapes from the Elkhart County Jail. I thought things would get better after millions of our tax dollars went into building a new, more secure jail. I guess it must be pretty secure, for someone who was to be let out to disappear so to speak. At least we save money by heating it using methane from the garbage dump.

The Hawk

2009-10-28T13:56:00.003-04:00

This morning as I hung around campus early waiting for my class to start, I tried to look past the wet, foggy weather. I tried to ignore all of the leaves on the sidewalks. I drank a cup of coffee, then walked to the library sure that the bottom of my jeans were soaking up the dampness, listening to Elliott Smith on my earbuds. If you're feeling a little bit down the best way to wallow in it is to listen to some Elliott Smith.
I try to be funny or witty on here most often and I think I'm ok at it. I wasn't feeling very witty this morning. I trudged up the stairs to the fifth floor of the library and set up to work on homework next to a window that looked out over some of the run down houses next to campus. I pulled out my notebook trying to write a poem, or anything really that was haunting, or hauntingly beautiful really. It wasn't easy. That sort of writing doesn't come naturally to me. My I-pod quickly ran through the Elliott Smith playlist so I put on Sufjan Steven's Casimir Pulaski Day, which if taken literally is a rather depressing, but tender song about cancer.
I looked out the window at the gloomy day wishing I was home taking a nap, I glanced over at a tall bony tree with white leafless fingers, tall enough to reach above the fifth floor. In it's branches sat a hawk, mostly white with a little brown on it's head and tail. The swallows and robins were swooping and diving all around the tree, but it just sat there, occasionally moving it's head from side to side. I watched it for a while. Just stared, wondering what it would be like to look through it's eyes. Wondering what it would be like to fall through the branches, wet leaves brushing against my face.
After a few minutes I turned back to my notebook and tried to force some words, some emotion onto the page. I didn't have much luck. I looked back out the window, eyes searching for the hawk, but it was gone. It had flown away.

I Ain't 'Fraid of No Ghosts.

2009-10-27T04:48:00.004-04:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=496365

I don't know about this one, seems a little odd, but then again who am I to make fun of other peoples oddities. My favorite movie as a kid was Ghostbusters, apparently I'm not the only one. If I didn't have a million other hobbies and interests I would actually think about this. Though, I'll admit I get scared fairly easily. On my fear scale, I think ghosts rank lower than aliens and large crowds, maybe on par with puppets.

It Should Be a Warm Winter

2009-10-26T09:47:00.002-04:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=496587

Weatherologists and Almanacists are saying it's going to be a mild winter without much snow, that along with an abundant natural gas supply should make for a little relief this winter when we open up our heating bills. For most of us it couldn't come at a better time.
NIPSCO however would disagree. They have just been ordered to pay back 4.1 million to Northern Indiana customers for overcharging them. Now before you get too excited (assuming you are my wife, or one of the 2 other people that read this blog and live in Northern Indiana) the 4.1 million is only going to amount to about $5 for you, if that. It will be added as a credit to your bill, no Ed McMahon showing up at your door with a large settlement check. (R.I.P. Ed)
Either way, it's not really good news for NIPSCO who is already losing revenue with all of the factories in Northern Indiana turning off their lights for good. (Does that count as a pun?)
Economics is a complicated thing, but I always remember what my dad told me when I was young and wanted to spend a bunch of money with those music clubs where you get 10 cd's for like 10 cents a piece. "If someone is making money, that means someone else is losing money." That's what my old man taught me. I know that makes sense and I don't work on Wall Street either.

Exercise = Good

2009-10-25T08:31:00.003-04:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=457391#

I don't think this story should come as any big surprise. A study released points to more exercise decreases one's chance at having Alzheimer's and relates to better brain function. I can say from personal experience that after exercising I always feel just a little bit smarter. I certainly have no background in any sort of medical training, but I would think that common sense would tell us that physical exercise results in increased oxygen to the brain. Increased oxygen to the brain equals better brain function. Not to mention exercise helps lower cholesterol, which I'm sure your brain doesn't mind either.
So if exercise is medically proven to increase brain function and reduce the risk/onset of Alzheimer's, why is gym class the first thing schools cut when they need to make budget cuts somewhere? I realize that showering with your classmates at that awkward phase in your life is not the easiest, but if you can face that and live through it, you can overcome a lot of things in life.

Another Short Boring Rainy Fall Day Blog Post About a Notre Dame Football Game Before I Take a Nap.

2009-10-24T12:44:00.003-04:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/Sports/Story.aspx?ID=496610#

It's Saturday and I'm about to lay down for a much needed nap. Therefore the topic of today will once again be Notre Dame football. I'm going to refrain from posting tailgate pictures from last Saturday's game against USC. Not because they are raunchy or anything, they are just pretty lame, admittedly I a may have been somewhat inebriated when I took them. Had I caught a picture of Will Ferrell tailgating I guarantee I would have posted them, instead I thought it wise to invest my time in line for the bathroom to assure I wouldn't pee my pants.
Now, as for today's game. Notre Dame has lost 6 consecutive games to Boston College. What!? Yes that's correct. Notre Dame's snotty little red-headed brother has pushed it around for all of Charlie's career. (That will be the extent of my, get a new coach, subtle hints)
Is this a statement game? It's a little late for that isn't it? Shall I ask more rhetorical questions? I shall not.

Halloween Costume

2009-10-23T12:45:00.004-04:00

I'm trying to figure out what I want to be for Halloween. There are some controversial choices, the "illegal alien" costume for one. There is also the current event costume that no one will remember next year, such as "baloon boy." I'm not too crazy about wearing a plastic or rubber mask of any kind either. I'm not really into dressing up in such a way as to try and scare people, pyscho clowns and monsters just don't do it for me.
My most succesful Halloween costume was probably the year I dressed up as Pee-Wee Herman, this was of course before the movie theatre incident. When I brainstorm I keep resorting to inanimate objects. Maybe I could be an I-phone, or I thought about an elaborate costume demonstrating "The Graveyard Shift." No matter what I end up going with, I'm sure I'll procrastinate it until the last minute.

uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

2009-10-22T08:41:00.002-04:00

I'm feeling a little under the weather today. I can always feel sickness coming on, at least a couple of days ahead of time I start feeling rundown and overly tired. I just hope it's not H1N1. Why are we calling it that instead of swine flu now? Have people become numb to the phrase swine flu, so we had to come up with a scarier name? Don't get me wrong, there are already an alarming number of deaths in the U.S. attributed to swine flu, I just thought maybe this would be another S.A.R.'s.
Regardless, I'm going to have a long day of laying on the couch, reading, watching tv, and sleeping. Until next time.........

Pet Hamburger

2009-10-21T13:41:00.001-04:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=496098#

This is why I try to eat at McDonalds as little as possible. I'm not perfect though and I'll be the first to admit it.

Andrew Sorkin's "Too Big to Fail."

2009-10-20T13:37:00.002-04:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13

I'm listening to this story as I write this blog, hopefully by the time you click the link (I hope you do this story is incredibly interesting.)
This story is about the meltdown on Wall Street last year. No matter what your political leanings are, even if you are apolitical you most likely have some opinion on the TARP or bank bailouts last year. Sorkin has a lot of inside info from some of the meetings that went on between the Treasury and the Wall Street Banks. If you have ever gotten angry over bailed out banks paying large bonuses to their employees I would recommend that you listen to this.

Detroit Marathon

2009-10-19T14:00:00.002-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33373752/ns/local_news-indianapolis_in/

Tragically, three runners lost their lives in the Detroit Marathon yesterday. One of the men was 65, another 36, and the other was 26. Pretty hard to believe. Even harder to believe is that they all went down within 20 minutes of each other. I've always wondered if I was tough enough to run a marathon. I thought my biggest challenge (assuming I ever stopped procrastinating long enough to sign up for one) would be mentally. Maybe I wouldn't be so set physically either. I would be satisfied with a doctor's physical exam, but my guess is that at least one, if not all 3 of these guys were checked out by doctors ahead of time. Even if they were checked out, there is no guaranteeing that the doctor would have found anything. I suppose statistically that this was less likely than winning the lotto or getting hit by lightning. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

ND vs USC

2009-10-18T09:19:00.003-04:00

Well, I can't say I'm all that surprised over the outcome of the Notre Dame, USC game. Once again Notre Dame was beaten.
I stood in line for about 40 minutes to use the bathroom and there was a rumor that Will Ferrell was at the tailgate close by. I didn't go search him out. Instead I left the craziness that was the parking lot in search of a place to actually watch the game. I should have tried to find Will. Neither team played a very inspiring game, Notre Dame could not stop the run, though they made a comeback at the end getting me all excited until they came up short.
I'm all for giving a coach time to build a team. I understand that it doesn't happen overnight, and taking shortcuts (cheating) to get better players just isn't the ND way. However, I think Notre Dame has tremendous talent, but let's be honest, has Charlie ever won a big game? He has won some close ones and this year they have shown that they are fighters, but I'm slowly losing hope that they could ever be a championship or even top ten ranked team. Hopefully I'm proven wrong.

TAilgating

2009-10-17T09:39:00.004-04:00

I'm participating in one of the great American pastimes today. I'm going tailgating at the ND vs USC game. Tailgating combines barbecuing of brats, burgers, and dogs, cheering for your favorite sports team, and drinking beer before noon.
I know what your thinking, Derick, I thought you hate being immersed in large crowds of people. (OK, I realize you probably were not actually thinking that.) I do not particularly care to be shoulder to shoulder with thousands of drunk people. A 12 ounce can will help keep the claustrophobia at bay. The other thing that I don't particularly like about tailgating is the line for the port-a-potties. Though the line is much shorter than a line for a ride at Cedar Point, the 20 minutes you spend in line there is much longer than the hour and a half you waited to ride the latest and greatest coaster. Your fellow line goers only make things worse. Inevitable there will be one female who has waited entirely too long to seek out a bathroom, she will threaten to pee her pants unless someone let's her cut in line. Of course it's never another female she asks to cut in front of.
So why am I going? Because it is Notre Dame's biggest game of the year. It may not be on quite the same scale as Times Square on New Years Eve, but it still should be pretty crazy.
Overall it should be a good time, it will probably be the craziest tailgate of the year. Every Notre Dame fan in the country has USC in the cross hairs. Though I was a little disappointed, on ESPN I saw a clip of Pete Caroll talking about the game with much excitement and energy, then they showed Charlie. He looked pretty depressed. Today may just be the biggest day in his coaching career.

Have You Seen This Man?

2009-10-16T07:51:00.004-04:00

http://thisman.org/

The topic I blogged about yesterday apparently is turning into a big debacle, so I will move on to other things.
This morning I was listening to the radio and the dj's were talking about a website called thisman.org. I just briefly caught what they were talking about, but supposedly thousands of people around the world have had dreams about a particular man who gives people advice.
The website is rather creepy with theories and sketch drawings. One of the sketch drawings makes the man look rather alien like.
I usually don't buy into this kind of stuff and I don't this time either. It's still weird though. Unless I have a dream about a specific person, I certainly can't remember random faces, I don't know how anyone else could either.

Balloon

2009-10-15T16:09:00.002-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-life/

This sort of goes along with the story I blogged about yesterday. Not really, but they both contain unidentified flying objects. Unfortunately do not have the time to write more.

Halo Cloud Over Moscow

2009-10-14T09:33:00.003-04:00

http://www.softsailor.com/news/9105-halo-cloud-over-moscow-wasnt-a-ufo-so-please-remain-calm.html

In my search for blogging material I came across this article and picture, If you haven't seen it floating around the internet yet, you most likely will before the end of the week. It's not aliens or wierd weather, apparently it's just the way the sun was shining at that particular moment and the way the clouds were spread out.
Personally, I'm glad it's not aliens. Aliens freak me out, probably my #2 fear behind puppets. An alien puppet would truly scare the bejesus out of me. No matter what experts weigh in on this video, I'm sure there will still be theorists out there who insist that it is actually contact from alien beings. Good for them. I envy their strenght of belief. Now if only I had enough belief in myself to get my Spanish homework finished on time.

MP to tha 3eee E Book

2009-10-13T13:46:00.003-04:00

After a few weeks hiatus I hit the gym again this morning, running on the treadmill for a half hour. My I-pod shuffle had a dead battery, so I had a lot of time to think about Ezra Furman album I wished I was listening to, and the Spanish quiz I was about to do terrible on. The treadmills do have little stands, as if I was a orchestra conductor and wanted to put sheet music on it. The point is it is too small to hold a book. I don't even need to mention the technical difficulties of trying to focus on small print while running. That's a friction burn waiting to happen.
I love to read, I just don't have time to read for recreation, well outside of 5 minutes to read a couple poems before I go to bed anyway. I would gladly listen to audio books while I'm working out, I just don't want to buy them on cd, or pay mega bucks to download them. I would pirate them, but I'm morally opposed to stealing an author's work. (Actually I'm not I just can't figure out how to pirate it.) Here is my idea, though admittedly I haven't checked to be sure it doesn't already exist. Library's should provide downloadable audio books. I'm sure the technology is out there, you "check" out your "book" you have 3 weeks to listen to it, then it self destructs. I believe I tunes already does this with movies. I get to listen to an audio book and the library gets more patronage for things other than people filing unemployment and homeless people seeing if anyone "friended" them on Facebook. Not to mention that the library will have to pay something for the rights to the audio book, so the struggling author will get half a cent a download, rather than if I stole it from them off of Limewire. Everyone wins.
Now if I can just figure out how to play the chapters in order with my I-pod shuffle.................

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons

2009-10-12T11:03:00.002-04:00

I just downloaded Ezra Furman and the Harpoon's album inside the human body. Actually I downloaded it yesterday, but for syntax purposes I lied. Very cool album though I'll admit I'm a little behind the ball, I think it's been out for a little while. I think I'm going to try and go see them in Indy next month. Would love to catch a Colts game that weekend too except they are away. Highly recommend the track "Take Off Your Sunglasses."

Rouge River

2009-10-11T10:20:00.001-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33258707/ns/us_news-environment/

The only thing Rouge you will ever see me mention on here. I so need to get out of the midwest.

Seasons End

2009-10-10T14:02:00.003-04:00

Today is hopefully the last day I will have to mow the lawn until 2010. My yard is full of black walnuts, I'm not picking them up. It's got many little sticks all over, I'm not picking those up either. Once the snow covers it up it's all good.
Then it's just a matter of remembering to drain the oil, drain the gas, take out the battery, etc. Maybe one day I'll have a snowplow for the lawn tractor and I can use it all year long. Until that day comes I'll look forward to the end of season ritual that is today. (Notice Notre Dame is on a bye this week)

Ashes to Ashes

2009-10-09T10:21:00.003-04:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112894124

Ok, if you don't listen to NPR you're missing out. I don't care what your political leanings are, get over it. They produce all sorts of ear grabbing stories, like this one that I listened to in the car this morning. It begins by talking about a certain kind of beetle that finds small dead animals. The beetle and it's mate fly presumably considerable distances to quickly drag the dead mammal off and actually bury it! Once buried they build a nest of sorts underneath it, feed themselves off of it, and feed their offspring from the dead bird or mouse or whatever.
Ok, a little odd. Then the story segways into humans. Think about how we break the cycle of nature when we bury ourselves sealed in a box. A box where our remains turn to whatever it is they turn into, presumably dust.
Maybe most people don't really give it much thought, but I'll admit the topic has crossed my mind before hearing that story. Somehow the thought of being separated from the earth, is disconcerting to me. The elements of our body ostracized from the other elements in nature they belong to. That idea seems creepy to me.
In the last part of the article they even touch on a new technique for reuniting your flesh with the earth. The technique involves flash freezing you and then shattering you into tiny pieces in order to be easily spread. I'll let the story explain more.

The Nobel Prize for Literature

2009-10-08T10:44:00.002-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33221497/ns/today-today_books/

My chances of receiving a Nobel Prize for Literature are probably about as good as me winning the lottery. That doesn't mean I can't be happy for other people. At this point I'll just concentrate on getting something published.

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

2009-10-07T08:36:00.000-04:00

I read this for my Brit Lit class today and rather enjoyed it. I thought I would share. Now go drink some tea and have a biscuit. Note; the spacing of lines may not be 100% correct.

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear the water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray, I hear it in the deep heart's core.
1892

I'm Taking What They're Giving 'Cause I'm Blogging For A Living.

2009-10-06T07:41:00.000-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33177160/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

If anyone would like to send me free stuff I would be more than happy to divulge that information. The Federal Trade Commission would not need to investigate me. I'm especially interested in reviewing microbrews in the Midwest. (hint,hint, wink, wink) Aside from all of this, does anyone say anything in public without a motive anymore? We've all grown up watching politicians be politicians, it's rubbed off on us. If you get a free product and you think it sucks just say so. The more people feel you're honest, the more that will read you and the more samples you will receive.

ESPN

2009-10-05T08:26:00.002-04:00

I'm happy for the ESPN broadcaster who can finally rest a little bit easier. Police arrested her stalker over the weekend at the airport in Chicago. I think by now everyone has heard about the video posted online of her changing clothes, a video taken without her knowledge. Apparently the guy somehow modified the peephole on the door and took the video with his cell phone. He tried to sell the video to TMZ.com which may have had something to do with his arrest, who knows.
With the tiny cameras you can get today and the ease at which people can gain information, it's a wonder things like this aren't happening more often. All I can say is that I hope the guy gets his due. The actions he took unquestionably crossed the line and I hope that if this video lingers out there on the internet, people boycott it in order to prove a point.

Northridge Football

2009-10-03T11:21:00.002-04:00

http://www.etruth.com/Know/Sports/Story.aspx?ID=494786#

Hey, what do you know? My old high school actually has a halfway decent football team this year. I may have to go to a game one of these Friday nights.

Toyota Recall

2009-10-02T09:11:00.000-04:00

Sometimes a go a whole week struggling to think of topics to blog about. Today I could have 3 I could choose from. I could really care less about John and Kate Plus Eight so I won't mention it more than I already have. I'm curious to hear more about the Dave Letterman thing, it all sounds pretty crazy. So instead I'll go with killer floor mats.
Toyota has issued a recall of vehicles because of the risk of the all weather floor mats sliding forward and causing the accelerator to stick. Is there any piece of a car not capable of killing you? In there rush to push out the latest and greatest designs things slip by. I can somewhat understand that. Who would have guessed the floormat could cause problems. I don't think anything will ever reach the fame of exploding gas tanks in Gremlins. At least car makers aren't purposefully putting our lives in danger right? Maybe? Perhaps we should consult Ralph Nader on that one.
I'd better go give a once over to my Honda before I go anywhere today.

Injured Throat

2009-10-01T08:05:00.000-04:00

I don't particularly care for USC, I'm a Notre Dame fan. However, I was watching Espn Sportscenter when I heard about their tailback Stafon Johnson and his weightlifting injury. Apparently he was bench pressing and somehow the barbell came down, crushing his throat. Wow is all I can say.
The accident makes me think of the circa early eighties weightlifting bench that resides among the cobwebs in my basement and I shudder. I used it sporadically through the years, starting when I was around 18. I never gained a lot of muscle mass from it, my attention span for weightlifting was no better than any of my other hobbies. Once however, I lifted to the point of exhaustion (Stupidly without a spotter, Stafon had one by the way, so even that's not foolproof.) When I began to lift the barbell back up onto it's cradle (I don't know the terminology) my muscles decided not to cooperate. The weight slowly came back down and rested upon my chest. I was stuck. I don't think anyone was even home at the time. Obviously I didn't suffocate and die, at the time I was probably benching 110 lbs. I escaped by tilting the barbell until one end reached the floor and I could squirm out from under it. I believe I gave up my short lived dreams of being a body builder after that.
I still enjoy lifting. I occasionally frequent the student activity center of Indiana University South Bend. I always feel great afterwards and promise myself I will stick to it 3 times a week from there on out. Then I get behind on homework, or there is a weightlifting class and the gym is reserved. Something usually derails me. At least temporarily. Because I rarely drink light beer, my belly usually signals to me when it's time to start hitting the gym again.
Best Wishes Stafon, even if you do play for USC.

MId America Filmmakers

2009-09-30T08:35:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine is in the group Mid America Filmmakers. They are having a screening Friday October 9th. Here is the link. Sorry, I'm feeling lazy today and I have to finish about 50 pages of reading for my Brit Lit class. No witty commentaries on life in Elkhart County Indiana today.

http://www.midamericafilmmakers.org/

Stumble On

2009-09-29T08:32:00.000-04:00

I like to think of this as my Victory roll
I put some English on it, very strong
like grey tea on a foggy morning
forget your call to arms
when the layman is laying about
eating nothing for ciggaretee breaks

Captain Kangaroo

2009-09-28T08:31:00.003-04:00

My mind wanders. Like everyone's I suppose. There is a style of writing called stream of consciousness. That's my life. I don't think I could even capture it accurately because my mind leaps around so much. I'm in need of a haircut. I was admiring the length of my sideburns yesterday and they brought to mind Captain Kangaroo. I loved that show when I was a kid. I think even more than Seasame Street. It's the only kids show I can think of who's puppets don't scare the shit out of me.
I also considered blogging about the new cast member on Saturday Night Live who dropped the f-bomb on Saturday nights season premiere. I was too tired to stay up and watch it, I just heard about it on the radio this morning on I had to YouTube it. Funny, but I'm sure it will be made into a huge deal when it's totally not necessary. Maybe if the FCC just ignores it it will go away. I just hope the new cast member, Jenny I think, doesn't get in trouble. I YouTube'd it and got distracted with a video of Detroit Lions fans fighting other Detroit Lions fans. I think the Lions will be halfway decent this year. In the playoffs next year. Quote me.
Now I just need to figure out how to post a YouTube video of Captain Kangaroo on here. Blogspot, don't make me bail to WordPress!

Art Beat 2009

2009-09-26T13:59:00.003-04:00

You don't need to be famous to be creative. You don't need money to make art. You don't need schooling to appreciate music. You don't need a critic's approval for anything.

Art Beat

2009-09-25T08:05:00.000-04:00

I'm pretty excited about the Art Beat downtown South Bend on Saturday. I haven't been there before, but I'm curious to see the turnout of local artists. I already know at least 2 people that will be there. I'll be taking my camera. Maybe I'll see you there!

Dubs

2009-09-24T08:18:00.000-04:00

The other day I was on my way to school when I pulled up to a stoplight next to a large blue SUV. It had large 20 inch chrome rims and I couldn't tell whether it had it's radio turned up loud or not because I had my radio up. I try really hard not to stereoptype, but I think we are all brought up with certain presets and it gets hard to pull yourself away from that sort of thinking. Casually glancing over I noticed it was a white lady, probably in her early 60's driving this SUV. I was surprised. I've seen this a few times now, so I should be used to it. I'll admit I did a double take. Of course it very well could have been her grandson's (or even granddaughter's) car, but I probably would have gotten strange looks had I rolled down the window to ask. Who knows, maybe she was listening to Flo'rida instead of Lawrence Welk. By the way, why are wheels called dubs anyway? Can anyone in the over 50 crowd answer that for me?

Haven't Granted

2009-09-23T08:10:00.003-04:00

I'm sorry to hear you haven't blazed your way to fame,
a soap opera, a music contract, or modeling career,
anything to get you out
of mopping floors at Dairy Queen, the cream mix slippery
on the floor, sticking in the tiny rubber diamonds of your
non-slip shoes. Youtube yourself in a t-shirt that's two
sizes too small. Steal a taxi and charge the fare.
School is just too godamn much work for the amount
of time I've put in. Are you doubting my commitment
or the fact that I've never finished a single thing
that I've ever started except the blue potato I grew
for my fourth grade science-fair project?
My school ID expired yesterday, by the way
and It's time to pick up some new underwear.

Black Walnuts

2009-09-22T08:11:00.000-04:00

I love the fall, it's probably my favorite time of year. Other than one thing, I'm constantly being startled by large objects striking the roof of my house then rolling off onto the ground. There is a very large black walnut tree planted right next to our house. Why they call them black walnuts I don't know. They are green until they lay on the ground and rot, eventually turning black.
Sometimes they startle my dogs, who are jumpy anyway. The assume the worst and begin barking like someone is trying to break in.
I've heard that you can actually pick them all up and take them in somewhere AND that they will actually pay you for them. Who these magical black walnut elves are, I don't know. I don't know if you can even eat the things or if they are only good for stain. Squirrels eat them I guess.
The thing I really hate about them is the last few times a year that I have to mow the lawn and I'm constantly hitting them, shooting them out from the side of the mower. I've heard that they are only bad every other year. I think this year is the year. I should get out my golf clubs and practice my golf swing.

Inside vs Outside

2009-09-21T09:40:00.000-04:00

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful fall day. Yellow leaves were slowly spinning down into the still green grass. It was sunny and warm, after the slight chill of the morning the day slowly got around to being warm enough for shorts, but not too warm to where I get hot. Cool enough not to run the AC but warm enough not to turn on the heat. The perfect day to open up windows. The only problem was that I was stuck inside doing homework all day. The whole day was somewhat of a continuous theme of my life. I sit inside, looking out at the beautiful weather, wishing I could enjoy it. I stay inside, studying, hoping that someday an education will pay off by allowing me to spend more time outside. Talk about cyclical logic.
I also am working at becoming a published writer. (If you haven't figured out, that is why I write this blog.) First off I enjoy reading. I've always enjoyed reading. I read to be a better writer, but at some point in order to be a good writer, you have to go out and live life. Live your life in order to give yourself material. Granted you should learn from your mistakes too. How does a person know what a fair balance is? How much time is too much time spent in your head, and what constitutes being an overly outward person, spending little time on self reflection. All I know is that all of this thinking is making me sleepy. I need a nap. Besides, it's raining today.

King Procrastinator

2009-09-20T09:22:00.003-04:00

I'm an admitted Procrastinator. In fact, as I write this I have a rather large amount of Spanish homework to catch up on. I also wanted to get this blog finished this morning before I started my homework, but of course I found it necessary to complete the facebook quiz, Which Work of Literature are You?" as if 9 questions from a facebook application could accurately define who I am as a person. All the same I was immensely interested to know that I am Crime and Punishment., which I admittedly have never read.
I've gone so far as to name my fantasy football team The Procrastinators. Though that's a bit of a misnomer because fantasy football is what I waste my time on when I'm procrastinating doing something that is more important. Maybe it is a fitting name after all.....
The real question I have about procrastination is; Is it nature or nurture? My parent's are two of the hardest working people I know, I don't believe they do a lot of procrastinating. My brother and I however are guilty. So, does that lend one to believe it is something in our genes, or our DNA? I would do more research online, but I should probably get moving on that Spanish homework, as soon as I make sure my fantasy football lineup is exactly how I want it that is.

ND VS MSU

2009-09-19T08:17:00.002-04:00

I'm truly excited for today because it will be the first time in the current football season that I will be able to sit and watch an entire football game. I watched the first half of the Notre Dame/ Michigan last week and was not very happy when I found out that Notre Dame had lost. I read that Notre Dame has not beat Michigan State at home since 1997! Charlie had better start winning games because his time is running out. With Clausen, Floyd, and Golden Tate they have a lot, lot, of talent on that team. Maybe the billboard above the linebacker that was forced down wasn't so far off after all. Charlie, the internship is over, it's time to earn your keep.

Bobcat Alert

2009-09-18T10:42:00.000-04:00

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/59598882.html

The principle of a middle school close to where I live cancelled the schools recess because she was sure she had seen a bobcat nearby. I understand you have a responsibility to keep children safe, but I would think that the likelihood of a bobcat wandering into a playground and dragging of little Suzy is about as likely as me going to see the upcoming Sex and the City sequel in the movie theatre. This reminds me of an episode of Monster Quest on the history channel. (I know, I know, it's Monster Quest, a whole other blog altogether) In the episode people report seeing large cats in north America, providing photographic evidence that under further evaluation turned out to be an optical illusion as to the cats size. I was a little surprised to learn that a bobcat isn't quite as large as what I had thought it was, about twice the size of a regular house cat maybe this is due to the NBA team Charlotte Bobcats logo which would lead me to believe a bobcat is nearly the size of my Honda Civic. I've also heard rumors of large cats up in Michigan, about an hour north of where I'm at, dragging deer carcasses up into trees. Now I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I do get a little paranoid if I go hiking in the woods.

Snuggee

2009-09-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

Carrying over from yesterday, I'm posting about another commercial today. Just like obnoxious celebrities I hate to mention the snuggee here to give it any more exposure than it already has. However, there was a fashion show the other week in New York featuring the blanket you wear. The commercials are obviously meant to be campy, which I have to admit was a brilliant marketing move. There are thousands of parodies of the commercial on You Tube. It's a blanket. A blanket with holes cut in it. It I want a blanket with holes in it I'll use a pair of scissors. How this thing requires a fashion show is beyond me. Why anyone would attend it is another matter altogether. The show featured such prints as Zebra and Tiger. I think I'll wait until I can get one with an Indianapolis Colts logo on it.

body by jake

2009-09-16T08:38:00.003-04:00

I'm enjoying blogging about commercials I find odd or amusing. I saw another one yesterday and I'll admit I'm a sucker for commercials hawking exercise equipment. My basement holds a home workout arsenal, a small stair stepper, treadmill, and my favorite piece of equipment, the "Power Tower." The draw is that you can have a workout worthy of muscle beach within the comfort of your own home. No expensive membership, no drive to the gym, and most importantly a shower set up for a mere one person.
The commercial I saw yesterday was for something called "Body by Jake" it's pitchman is one of those MMA fighter guys, I don't really know what that means other than he could beat the crap out of me. The thing hooks up in a doorway and basically has large bungee cords with handles that you pull in different directions. Allegedly in a mere 11 minutes a day I can have a body shredding workout, or something along those lines. The best part about the whole thing was the voice-over's super thick New York accent. The only thing I've seen comparable is the P90X, though the next personal cardio/muscle confusion/ core building / ab scorching machine will probably be bought at a garage sale. At any rate the most enjoyable piece of fitness equipment I own is my hiking shoes.

Patrick Swayze

2009-09-15T07:52:00.001-04:00

I really try to avoid writing about celebrities on here, what little bit of celebrity news I'm exposed to is too much. It annoys me when they do something obnoxious then everybody talks about it, making sure they don't fade away into oblivion.
However I thought I would take a few minutes today to remember Patrick Swayze someone who is not like the celebrity I'm thinking of above. Swayze passed away yesterday from cancer. While I'm not a huge Dirty Dancing fan, I have to respect the man's career. I heard that he really had to resist being turned into a teen idol after either that movie or The Outsiders, I'm not sure which one came first. All I know is that Point Break is and will always be one of my favorite movies. I really wanted the surfer life after that movie. He plays an excellent bad/good guy. Ghost was a pretty good movie, for a chick flick and I still can't turn on cable in the middle of a Saturday afternoon without finding Roadhouse on. The man's work lives on.

Garrison Keillor

2009-09-14T08:22:00.001-04:00

Garrison Keillor suffered a mild stroke last week and I had been trying to fit a blog about it in somewhere. For anyone that listens to NPR, the words A Prairie Home Companion are very familiar. Keillor's voice is instantly recognizable and comforting. If you don't even know what NPR is, chances are you are not reading this blog anyway. (I downloaded the NPR app for my I-phone) Hell, there is even a Prairie Home Companion movie with Lindsay Lohan in it. (Which I just added to my Netflix list after writing this)
Hopefully Keillor will be back to normal, my own grandfather suffered a stroke around the same age and lived another 20 years with a fairly normal life, riding his bicycle all over the state of Indiana.