Weekend is ending

Well the weekend is fast drawing to a conclusion. But at least it's been relaxing and productive.

One of the outside spigots for the hoses developed a leak on Thursday. I had never changed out a washer in one and figured this would be a good time to learn. After a few minutes of advice from a neighbor (thanks Bob) and a little googling, I set to work. There were only two hurdles to overcome. The first was getting the stem out. It was somewhat tougher than I had anticipated, but with a little WD-40, and some elbow grease, out it came.

Next came the trip to Lowes. After searching around in the plumbing department to no avail, I looked for some help. The salesman in the department helped me look for either the correct washer or a replacement stem. Neither was available. So, now I'm back in the car and off to Home Depot. After a quick search with the help from one of their staff, the correct washers were found and I came home to finish the job.

The second project undertaken Saturday was to change out the old thermostat for a programmable one. Angie had bought one and I had agreed to change it out for her. Now that I had the time, I wanted to get it done.

I had had a friend of mine (a different Bob) show me how to switch one out in my house. Since it was relatively straight forward, I didn't anticipate any challenges. I turned off the power to the AC unit at the breaker box, and got going on the project. After a little bit of sweat, the new unit was on, and a temporary program set.

Last but not least, Angie and I had lunch downtown with Gretchen and Dawn and the best man from my wedding, Tom. He had flown in from California to visit customers and we all went to lunch and then to the zoo to cap off the afternoon.

It's been a long time since I've updated this, so where to begin?

First, I am now married to a wonderful woman, the former Angela Spears. We were married on the 31st of May, in an outdoor ceremony. The weather was perfect, she was stunning and we were surrounded by friends.

The company I am working for merged with a competitor in April and we now have a new boss and a new name. The combined companies are a great fit and I'm excited by the possibilities. Even in what looks to be a down market, there should be plenty of upside to this merger.

I know that I've neglected posting here, but I have a renewed interest in blogging and will endeavor to do a better job.

Now after not one but two pre-season losses I have some serious questions about the team for this year.

The positives I have seen so far are not that many. The first team proved they can score. But the defense proved they have some work to do to stop the opposing team from scoring. Philadelphia threw almost at will, and New England ran the ball right down the Panther's throat.

If the defense can't stop the run, they are not going to get off of the field. During the New England game, Delhomme made a bad pass that resulted in an interception. But a number of times he was scrambling for his life, and the offensive line didn't seem to be able to establish the run.

Preseason Win!

I had a chance to review the Panthers preseason win against the Giants Saturday night.

I have a few thoughts on the game and what I saw.

First I was pleasantly surprised to watch the first team move the ball down the field and score a touchdown. I may be mistaken, but I don't remember them doing that during the preseason games last year. The zone blocking scheme worked well, and Deshaun Foster (5 rushes for 62 yards) was able to get a number of nice carries off of it. I think this will bode well for the team this year. Foster, and Williams are not the big, bruising backs that play their best games between the tackles. They are built more to take advantage of their speed (and the athleticism of the offensive line) by finding holes and cut-backs and exploiting them.

The defense looked good, if not stellar. I wasn't disappointed in what I saw, and think they are improving nicely. Beason led the team in tackles and forced a fumble so what more can you ask of your first round draft pick?

The part of the game that still looks sketchy to me is special teams. I am not convinced that the Panthers special teams are where they need to be. John Kasey is still accurate in the kicking game and has plenty of leg. Jason Baker is more than serviceable as a punter. However, kickoff coverage and the return game still need to be better if this team is going to be considered a serious contender this year.

I'm hoping to attend the training camp on Wednesday, and will try to post my thoughts (along with some photos) when I get back.

Michael Vick is facing suspension by the league. Yahoo! Sports reports that the front office has seen enough to warrant suspension.

I am a big believer in our system of justice. It is by no means infallible, but it is the best we have. Innocent until proven guilty is the cornerstone on which it is built. Now that some of the other members in this drama are turning on him, his fate looks sealed, at least from the NFL's standpoint. If Vick had no direct involvement, he still should have known what was taking place on his property.

I will be following this with much interest, that's for sure.

Degree Work at the Lodge and my thoughts on Clinton Portis

We had a second degree last night at the lodge and didn't make it home until late.

We're beginning to see the slow down here at the office for the summer. With a long weekend ahead and gas prices up, I think that will have an impact on sales this year. However, last year we saw a good summer despite the gas prices, so hopefully that will continue this year.

I had a chance to read the comments on dog fighting by Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins. I have to say I was more than a little disgusted by the whole thing. How anyone can condone dog fighting is beyond me. He put his comments out there and apparently his agent or the organization had a little heart-to-heart talk with him, because the very next day he was retracting and trying to distance himself from his previous days comments. I'm afraid it is too little and too late for him on that front. Hopefully for him this story will die, and his comments will be forgotten, but the story is showing no signs of doing so.

Busy Weekend

Well I have had a very busy and active weekend.

I ran a 10k course yesterday but not the race I was looking forward to running. I completed the run in 1:00:36, so which is not bad. It's my first go, and the route I chose was hilly.

Today, I took off and went hiking with a friend. We did about 3 miles on trails that I will be running in the late fall. Now I'm going to relax, and enjoy dinner.

I am recovering now from a very busy morning. I ran a team 5-k challenge race this morning. It consisted of running, and numerous stations for push-ups, sit-ups, and other challenges. It was through the river and mud, and was enormous fun!

This is a photo of our team, muddy, tired but smiling. (I was mugging for the camera)
My other three teammates are all adventure racers, but none of us had done this race before. We had a very good time.

Well I promised to update this on a more timely basis, so here goes.

Today's run was the beginning of week 8. The total time was for 54 minutes, but the actual runs were for 10 minute intervals with a one minute walk in between and a 5 minute warm up followed by a 5 minute cool down. I found last week (Wednesday) that I was really running out of energy quickly (more so than I thought I should have). I couldn't put a finger on an exact cause. I had been sleeping well, and eating well. The only thing that came to mind was my hydration. Since I am running first thing in the morning, I don't have the luxury of have a long water intake prior to the run. All of last week it was starting out in the mid-70's with high humidity and ending up at or near 80 by the time I was finished. I'm trying a new routine and the results so far are encouraging.

I am also watching closely the Middle East once more spiral down a path last taken in the late 70's and 80's. I can see the Palestinians having a short memory, but surely the Israelis can see where this path will lead them? They are going to wind up invading Lebanon again, and this time, I don't think they'll stop at Beirut. I think the country as a whole has had enough. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them trying to solve this problem once and for all. I'm not sure that they really know how to solve it, but they're going to try.

Happy Fourth of July!

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another....

Thus begins one of the most moving and memorable documents in human history.

I bid you all a happy Fourth of July. Happy Birthday America!

Candlelight Run

I have just finished my morning run, and wanted to update you on my run Saturday night. I took part in the Candlelight 5K run in Greenville, SC. While I didn't run a record time (nor even a very good one) I did finish strong. It was a pretty hilly course, and running at night isn't my thing. But I feel good about finishing, and it's a step in the right direction. The results are up, and it's pretty ugly. 30:49 isn't exactly a stellar pace.

This mornings run was rather strenuous. My legs felt like they weighed a ton. And the weather was pretty bad today. We have thunderstorms all around us, so it was as humid as you could get. I could wring out my socks and clothes from the sweat.

Another day, and another good run.

Although today's run was interrupted half-way through by a lost truck driver looking for directions I still managed to get in a solid two miles. I wasn't looking to go longer today. I wanted a solid run, and that's what I got. My legs (especially my calves) felt heavy today, but I suspect that's just an after-effect from Monday's run.

I had a wonderful run this morning. I was a little apprehensive because on Friday's run, I tweaked a muscle in my back. (It sucks to get old!) I was taking pills for my back all day Saturday and Sunday. Today was one of those days where I could have run an extra 30 minutes or more with little to no problem.

I did manage to put together the bar for the back porch. That was a chore with a pulled muscle in my back. I was quite proud of it, that's for sure.

I had a very good long(ish) run this morning before picking up Loretta from the hospital. I also had a chance to stop by Dick's Sporting Goods to take advantage of their sale on running apparel and picked up some shirts, shorts and socks.

While my run this morning wasn't quite as long as I would have liked, it was a solid 5k. I wasn't too worried about the time, just the distance. I need to start stretching my runs in preparation for the 10k and a 5k next week.

10 Weeks and Counting

Well I've decided to run this race. I'm not quite sure how sane I am for doing so, but what the heck. My insurance policy is paid, so no worries, right? Take a look at the photos and keep me in your prayers, cause I'll need them!

I'll be updating here on my progress and a countdown to the Spring Maid Splash run. Now if I could only find a countdown timer to put up on my blog!

Ok, Ok, Ok! I get it! I've been absent for far too long. But in my defense, it's been very busy here at the Bar Tab Ranch.

I'll do more to updates this week, but just a quick blurb about this past weekend. I traveled south to Charleston, SC to be with a customer for his scenario paintball game. It was a 24-hour game that started at noon Saturday, and concluded noon Sunday. He had over 400 participants, and great weather and a good game. It was very hot for this time of year though. Yesterday it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. While I don't normally mind hot weather, that is unusually hot even for South Carolina. We aren't even officially in summer yet, and have already topped the triple-digit mark!

I did take some photos this weekend, and will try to post them this week.

I had a good long morning walk today with Shadow. It was very cool, with a clear bright sky, and with the sun just coming up as we finished.

I also began my run program this morning. I've taken back up the "Learn to Run 10k" program by SportMedBC. Since I've been running already, I've started at week seven. When I woke up this morning, I had a good sinus headache starting, and wanted to use that as an excuse to put off running until this evening. But I know me. Had I put it off, I wouldn't have run this afternoon. There would be a million and one things to keep me from it.

Now it's off to the shower, and get ready for work. I have a lot to do in a very short time. *sigh. There really aren't enough hours in the day.

The Nanny State

It is spring time and the trees and flowers are full of pollen. When you add in a low front moving through, that spells trouble for me and my sinuses.

I was scheduled to go to a friends 40th birthday party tonight at 7:30. I went out today to do some shopping for the house, and stopped by a local CVS pharmacy. I picked up the CVS brand of Claritin D 24 hour sinus medication and took it to the counter to pay and be on my way. When I pulled out my wallet I noticed the lady at the counter pull out a large notebook. She asked me for my id. I thought she wanted to verify it against my debit card I was using and showed it to her. She then asked me to take it out as she needed to write down my name and address. I asked her why she needed that. She informed me that a new federal law was in effect and they were required to take the information on me. Needless to say, I told her no thank you. She seemed shocked, but I politely informed her I wouldn't be making the purchase.

I understand what the intent of the law. Sinus and cold medication contains a precursor that drug dealers use to manufacture methamphetamine. Had I been purchasing a large amount I might have understood. However, I had intended to purchase a box containing 10 tablets. I am becoming more frustrated with the onerous requirements thrust upon us by our government. Between the machinations of the TSA to this new silliness, where will it all end?

Another good day at the office followed by a much needed run when I came home.

Tomorrow the Masters tournament begins. The hype that precedes it each year reminds me of the Super Bowl. I don't enjoy all the garbage before the Super Bowl, and find I like the pre-tournament shows even less. I love the Masters, and everything about the course, but enough already! I'm sure if I looked, I could find someone trying to dig up Bobby Jones for an interview.

Now for something that truly is frightening. The implications of what happened here are not very good. An adult's job is to correct children, especially when their safety and security is at stake. I would love to hear from the prosecutor and hear his story in this. Not just a two or three line quote in the middle of a paragraph, but sit down with him and hear why he thought this deserved to go to trial.

It's so nice now that spring is finally here. I had the chance to come home, change and go running (two miles). It's a great way to let the stress from the day melt away. Today was tough run though. It's incredibly windy out and fighting a headwind almost killed me. Now that I'm home the wind is howling. I have the windows open and the wind is pushing the blinds open and closed. Shadow is not amused by all the noise and commotion.

I have been following all the hoopla surrounding the immigration issue. While I understand both sides, my question is why now? Why is now the time to discuss this? What precipitated it all?

This is not a new problem. This has been an issue for well over one hundred years. While the nationality of the immigrants (legal or otherwise) has changed, the attitudes towards them have not. The story remains the same. What do we do with the (Italians, Irish, Vietnamese, Cubans, fill in the blank)? The poor are always leaving their homes to seek a better life elsewhere. I saw this in Spain with the North Africans (Morrocans mostly). In Greece it was the gypsies. However, these were commonly reviled all over the Mediterranean where I visited. Some of their reputation was deserved, but most was not. Yes they had thieves that traveled among them, but they numbered less than the native thieves.

There is more to be said on this, and I'll revisit this later.