Sunday, December 04, 2011
Spirit of Christmas
“Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.”
- Oren Arnold
Friday, December 02, 2011
Spirit of Christmas
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
- Calvin Coolidge
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Spirit of Christmas
If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.
- Bob Hope
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Tourette Syndrome
When they're born, all you want is for them to be healthy and to have ten toes and fingers. As they grow older, you have a few more hopes and dreams. We want our children to succeed where we may have failed, to make great grades, go to college, find a great career, get married, and live happily ever after. I think that is everyone's dream for their children.
Of course, not everyone is destined to go to college and even get married but still I think most parents dream of their children throwing their graduation cap into the air and walking their daughter down the aisle. Parents want their children to fly gloriously from the nest, soar high above the world, and succeed. Although it may be wrong, many parents want to live vicariously through their children, to be young again, to see them take a different path, and to share in their success. Whether wanting to live vicariously or just wanting to see your children do better than prior generations, it pains a parent greatly when things go awry.
When Lauren was just a toddler, we noticed that she blinked her eyes a lot but never really thought there was a problem. Later, in elementary school, she began what we called "huffing." Basically, she would exhale several short quick bursts of air. One of her teachers mentioned it to us thinking that she might have a respiratory issue so, of course, we made an appointment to see her pediatrician. Another doctor later and we had a diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome and her "tic" was explained to us.
It's amazing how you blame yourself and suffer so greatly when your child has a basically incurable condition that could worsen as they age. We tortured ourselves wondering which one of us passed along this condition and how it might effect our perfect little girl's life. After a lot of poring over medical information on the net, I realized that I had tics even more complex than my daughters and that I was probably the one that passed it along. I never realized that my penchant for walking away from a conversation repeating what was just said was a tic. They recommended that we medicate her and so we did for years. She gained a lot of weight and was somewhat lethargic but the symptoms were greatly reduced.
She eventually wanted to quit taking the medicine and, although, we feared that adolescence would accelerate or even cause the development of more complex tics, our fears were unfounded. They never worsened nor abated. Teenage rebellion, criminal male friends, and recreational drugs soon became our main fears. Tourette's paled in comparison.
Of course, not everyone is destined to go to college and even get married but still I think most parents dream of their children throwing their graduation cap into the air and walking their daughter down the aisle. Parents want their children to fly gloriously from the nest, soar high above the world, and succeed. Although it may be wrong, many parents want to live vicariously through their children, to be young again, to see them take a different path, and to share in their success. Whether wanting to live vicariously or just wanting to see your children do better than prior generations, it pains a parent greatly when things go awry.
When Lauren was just a toddler, we noticed that she blinked her eyes a lot but never really thought there was a problem. Later, in elementary school, she began what we called "huffing." Basically, she would exhale several short quick bursts of air. One of her teachers mentioned it to us thinking that she might have a respiratory issue so, of course, we made an appointment to see her pediatrician. Another doctor later and we had a diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome and her "tic" was explained to us.
It's amazing how you blame yourself and suffer so greatly when your child has a basically incurable condition that could worsen as they age. We tortured ourselves wondering which one of us passed along this condition and how it might effect our perfect little girl's life. After a lot of poring over medical information on the net, I realized that I had tics even more complex than my daughters and that I was probably the one that passed it along. I never realized that my penchant for walking away from a conversation repeating what was just said was a tic. They recommended that we medicate her and so we did for years. She gained a lot of weight and was somewhat lethargic but the symptoms were greatly reduced.
She eventually wanted to quit taking the medicine and, although, we feared that adolescence would accelerate or even cause the development of more complex tics, our fears were unfounded. They never worsened nor abated. Teenage rebellion, criminal male friends, and recreational drugs soon became our main fears. Tourette's paled in comparison.
Losing My Father
My dad was a simple man. He didn't have much of a traditional classroom education. He never graduated from high school but he was wise. Life taught him everything that he needed to know and his studies began early. His own father passed away at the age of 47 making him the head of the family taking care of his mother and his little brother. He married my mom, had a family, and life was a bit of a struggle.
Except for a few years driving a truck, my dad spent his life toiling in the soil of Madison County. Farming was passed down by his father and it was the only life that my dad truly knew. It was an occupation that he loved except during the fourteen hour days of picking cotton each fall when he threatened to take up sweeping floors for a living. He loved farming but he didn't want to pass it on encouraging us to go to college or learn a trade and we did. It took me 21 years but I finished my Bachelors degree a few years ago. It was the first in our family and dad proudly began greeting me as "The Professor" when I came through the door.
My father was a good man but he wasn't Ward Cleaver. He was the strong and silent John Wayne type. He wasn't very good at expressing himself and never spoke much of his own childhood. He was a rather hard man when we were young. The rod certainly wasn't spared at our house but I'm sure that we needed it. He taught us the value of hard work and respect. I think time and three little grand daughters softened his heart. He still wasn't much of a conversationalist about personal matters but he never failed to tell me he loved me anytime that we talked.
I dropped by my parent's house on my way home from work the day before his heart attack last July. I thought dad was just tired at the time. My mom did too and he certainly wasn't going to admit that he didn't feel well. He hardly ever did. I was espousing on my mechanical skills and my new job during our last conversation. He was proud of me and I of him.
I watched dad struggle to support us for years without truly appreciating the sacrifices that he endured to raise me and my siblings. It took many years and raising a daughter of my own to understand my dad's life, to understand the hard work and the sacrifice that he endured to take care of our family. He gave us opportunities in life that he never had. He taught us well and then he set us free to find our way in the world and I'll always love him for it.
Except for a few years driving a truck, my dad spent his life toiling in the soil of Madison County. Farming was passed down by his father and it was the only life that my dad truly knew. It was an occupation that he loved except during the fourteen hour days of picking cotton each fall when he threatened to take up sweeping floors for a living. He loved farming but he didn't want to pass it on encouraging us to go to college or learn a trade and we did. It took me 21 years but I finished my Bachelors degree a few years ago. It was the first in our family and dad proudly began greeting me as "The Professor" when I came through the door.
My father was a good man but he wasn't Ward Cleaver. He was the strong and silent John Wayne type. He wasn't very good at expressing himself and never spoke much of his own childhood. He was a rather hard man when we were young. The rod certainly wasn't spared at our house but I'm sure that we needed it. He taught us the value of hard work and respect. I think time and three little grand daughters softened his heart. He still wasn't much of a conversationalist about personal matters but he never failed to tell me he loved me anytime that we talked.
I dropped by my parent's house on my way home from work the day before his heart attack last July. I thought dad was just tired at the time. My mom did too and he certainly wasn't going to admit that he didn't feel well. He hardly ever did. I was espousing on my mechanical skills and my new job during our last conversation. He was proud of me and I of him.
I watched dad struggle to support us for years without truly appreciating the sacrifices that he endured to raise me and my siblings. It took many years and raising a daughter of my own to understand my dad's life, to understand the hard work and the sacrifice that he endured to take care of our family. He gave us opportunities in life that he never had. He taught us well and then he set us free to find our way in the world and I'll always love him for it.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Lunch at Ryans
My grandfather retired from work years ago but not from going to town, the town in question being Huntsville. For an elderly couple that didn't spend any money, they went shopping a lot, mostly at Big Lots and similar stores and the all mighty Goodwill store where my grandfather satisfies his unique fetish of buying old, mostly useless, consumer grade film cameras. $2 purchases that he justifies by claiming that the batteries themselves cost at least $6 but that story is for another time.
My grandmother suffered from a form of dementia the last few years of her life. I'm not sure that she recognized me nor my mother at all but my grandfather seemed to take it in stride. She had some interesting hallucinations and once had the garbage man call the police but was mostly a very happy confused person. Her condition didn't slow down the trips to town. It may even have inspired more of them as my grandfather tried to keep her mind occupied and perhaps distract himself from the situation.
For years, my grandparents met my uncle at Ryans every Wednesday for lunch. I tried my best to see them any chance I got and lunch at Ryans seemed to be the only time besides holidays. Occasionally, I made it over there to meet them promptly at 11:00 AM, the offical time for lunch in the Kilpatrick family. I heard my grandmother's voice for the last time at Ryans.
She was smiling and happily speaking to everyone around her. I'm sure the regulars there knew of her condition. She was happy to see me and always mentioned how long it had been, sometimes months but often years by her time table. She believed that they traveled between two houses, their little home in Gurley of more than forty years and what we believed was her parent's home which might have seemed normal to others until she wondered aloud how her cats made their way between the houses, concerned about their travels. My uncle told her not to worry. They went cross country and avoided the roads. She laughed and seemed satisfied with that explanation.
My grandfather couldn't wake her from her nap that Friday night. A stroke had robbed her of her voice, and after hanging on for a few weeks, her life. I miss my grandmother. I hurt for my grandfather.
My grandmother suffered from a form of dementia the last few years of her life. I'm not sure that she recognized me nor my mother at all but my grandfather seemed to take it in stride. She had some interesting hallucinations and once had the garbage man call the police but was mostly a very happy confused person. Her condition didn't slow down the trips to town. It may even have inspired more of them as my grandfather tried to keep her mind occupied and perhaps distract himself from the situation.
For years, my grandparents met my uncle at Ryans every Wednesday for lunch. I tried my best to see them any chance I got and lunch at Ryans seemed to be the only time besides holidays. Occasionally, I made it over there to meet them promptly at 11:00 AM, the offical time for lunch in the Kilpatrick family. I heard my grandmother's voice for the last time at Ryans.
She was smiling and happily speaking to everyone around her. I'm sure the regulars there knew of her condition. She was happy to see me and always mentioned how long it had been, sometimes months but often years by her time table. She believed that they traveled between two houses, their little home in Gurley of more than forty years and what we believed was her parent's home which might have seemed normal to others until she wondered aloud how her cats made their way between the houses, concerned about their travels. My uncle told her not to worry. They went cross country and avoided the roads. She laughed and seemed satisfied with that explanation.
My grandfather couldn't wake her from her nap that Friday night. A stroke had robbed her of her voice, and after hanging on for a few weeks, her life. I miss my grandmother. I hurt for my grandfather.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Long Lost Resume Nets Interview?
The wind was gusting at 25+ mph and the rain was coming down sideways when my cellphone rang the other day. It was a Redstone number so I assumed it was job related. It was... just not my job. On the other end was a gentleman wanting to discuss a job opportunity with me. At the moment, I was just trying to stay dry but I told him to email the details and I'll entertain his offer.
The responding email was a little light on details but the job was a dedicated support position on Redstone, similar to my current position, and I should meet them at a nearby coffee shop on my lunch break. Sure, why not? Who knows? Could be a great opportunity. I shot back an email asking how they had received my resume since I hadn't sent out any since November of 2009 when Knology took over the reins at PCL and I didn't remember sending anything to this company at all but received no reply.
Angel's Coffee Shop is your typical coffee shop. It's located on S. Parkway near Martin Rd., only about five minutes from my current office. I arrived about fifteen minutes early and took a seat in the corner where I could observe four men that I suspected of being with the company in question conducting an apparent interview. A few moments later, another man came in, ordered a coffee, and asked if I was Michael Ray. That's an affirmative and our conversation began and he was soon joined by the senior manager at the other table.
The resume that was produced was older than I imagined! After I graduated in December 2008, I sent out a few resumes and I believe I know the path this one followed. My father-in-law worked for a contractor that provided support on the test ranges and I did talk to a contact there but nothing was available in my field. Three years later, I get a call! Wow. Unfortunately, I'm a bit over qualified for the advertised position. My resume was a bit "dumbed down" and they weren't sure that they could authorize a paycheck in my range but they were interested so we're talking. Interesting, huh?
The responding email was a little light on details but the job was a dedicated support position on Redstone, similar to my current position, and I should meet them at a nearby coffee shop on my lunch break. Sure, why not? Who knows? Could be a great opportunity. I shot back an email asking how they had received my resume since I hadn't sent out any since November of 2009 when Knology took over the reins at PCL and I didn't remember sending anything to this company at all but received no reply.
Angel's Coffee Shop is your typical coffee shop. It's located on S. Parkway near Martin Rd., only about five minutes from my current office. I arrived about fifteen minutes early and took a seat in the corner where I could observe four men that I suspected of being with the company in question conducting an apparent interview. A few moments later, another man came in, ordered a coffee, and asked if I was Michael Ray. That's an affirmative and our conversation began and he was soon joined by the senior manager at the other table.
The resume that was produced was older than I imagined! After I graduated in December 2008, I sent out a few resumes and I believe I know the path this one followed. My father-in-law worked for a contractor that provided support on the test ranges and I did talk to a contact there but nothing was available in my field. Three years later, I get a call! Wow. Unfortunately, I'm a bit over qualified for the advertised position. My resume was a bit "dumbed down" and they weren't sure that they could authorize a paycheck in my range but they were interested so we're talking. Interesting, huh?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Physique Pics
I was reasonably happy with myself when we hit the port in Jackonsville a month later. I was in the low 160's and had a little bit more of a tan after hitting the tanning bed. My Scotch/Irish heritage doesn't allow much in that area either. I was probably 13-14% bodyfat at that point. I wouldn't mind seeing those numbers again but I'm carrying less muscle mass now so the body weight would of course be lower.
The worse was yet to come. I got laid off in April of 2006 and stopped working out.
Physique Pics
Although I'm no bodybuilder, for years, I followed a traditional bodybuilder routine of bulking during the winter and leaning out for the summer. Of course, that plan has mostly been promoted by drug using professionals. I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't work for me. Whether I just don' t have the genetics or have failed in the execution, I get too fat during the bulk and lose too much muscle trying to drop the fat.
I've taken some pics along the way but have never been thrilled with the results so never very many. I've never posted them for public consumption whether for fear of trolls or just my disappointment over the perceived imperfections. Maybe it's time? Maybe they will inspire me to discipline myself for more improvements. These two were shot in July of 2004. The flash wiped out what little definition that I had and body fat was pretty high.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Some Progress on the Fitness Front
I confess. I'm a yoyo fitness enthusiast. I've got the same excuses as everyone else: too busy at home, schedule at work, too damn lazy, etc. For four years, I did nothing but sat on my tail in front of a computer with only my fingers moving for the better part of my day. Athens was good for my state of mind but not for my physique.
Since returning to the Arsenal last July, I joined the MWR giving me access to the fitness centers on the base. I've worked out at all of them over the years but have been sticking to the Sparkman Center this time. My workouts are different now. I now start my sessions with thirty minutes on the elliptical. I've always been a cardio advocate but I just don't like it.
Cardio was a part of my workout between 1998 and 2006 but it was shoved to the end and just wasn't prioritized the way that it is now. If I didn't feel like it then oh well. My fathers early passing prompted a change in priorities. I'm sure that not smoking three packs a day gives me a decided advantage over my dad but the cardio sure couldn't hurt and, after four years of a very sedentary lifestyle, I feel a lot better!
The ego is being checked at the door and my shoulder and back thank me for it daily. I've given up the big three ego builders otherwise known as the bench press, squat, and deadlift. Let them rest in peace. It's Nautilus machines with some dumbbell work tossed in for smaller bodyparts. While I really like the chest and back machines, the arm machines just don't quite feel right. I have split my routine into back/biceps and chest/triceps with calf raises being done at each work. Leg presses were killing my back so the elliptical is the only real leg work that I'm getting. I inherited a set of chicken legs from my dad and I'm gonna have to live with it.
My goal of the three times per week lunch hour work out has only been fully realized a few times but progress has been made. I've dropped about five pounds on the scale. Approximately fifteen more would put me back solidly into high school range which might be a little light but we'll see ... that is... if I can actually get there.
Since returning to the Arsenal last July, I joined the MWR giving me access to the fitness centers on the base. I've worked out at all of them over the years but have been sticking to the Sparkman Center this time. My workouts are different now. I now start my sessions with thirty minutes on the elliptical. I've always been a cardio advocate but I just don't like it.
Cardio was a part of my workout between 1998 and 2006 but it was shoved to the end and just wasn't prioritized the way that it is now. If I didn't feel like it then oh well. My fathers early passing prompted a change in priorities. I'm sure that not smoking three packs a day gives me a decided advantage over my dad but the cardio sure couldn't hurt and, after four years of a very sedentary lifestyle, I feel a lot better!
The ego is being checked at the door and my shoulder and back thank me for it daily. I've given up the big three ego builders otherwise known as the bench press, squat, and deadlift. Let them rest in peace. It's Nautilus machines with some dumbbell work tossed in for smaller bodyparts. While I really like the chest and back machines, the arm machines just don't quite feel right. I have split my routine into back/biceps and chest/triceps with calf raises being done at each work. Leg presses were killing my back so the elliptical is the only real leg work that I'm getting. I inherited a set of chicken legs from my dad and I'm gonna have to live with it.
My goal of the three times per week lunch hour work out has only been fully realized a few times but progress has been made. I've dropped about five pounds on the scale. Approximately fifteen more would put me back solidly into high school range which might be a little light but we'll see ... that is... if I can actually get there.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Words of Our First President
"Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse."
George Washington
George Washington
Monday, January 17, 2011
Remembering the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
"I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man." -- From a speech delivered in Memphis on April 3, 1968. King was assassinated the next day.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Certification Fun
Professional certifications have been on my dream list since graduating in 2008 but cash has not been plentiful. Unfortunately, the lack of certs was a deterrent to gainful employment. Luckily, I found someone that saw my potential and hired me anyway with the stipulation that I had six months to pass the required exams. I passed the CompTIA Network+ last month which gives me a lifetime cert in that area and now I'm studying furiously for the Microsoft 70-620 exam.
I thought I would have another month to study for an exam of my choice but my employer decided otherwise so everyone is taking this Vista test this week! Myself and four of my co-workers got the honors of going first so Tuesday morning at 8:30 it is. I've been studying online and failed my first practice exam by four points after going through half the material. Gotta keep studying! One more day. Definitely not the best way to spend a three day holiday weekend.
I thought I would have another month to study for an exam of my choice but my employer decided otherwise so everyone is taking this Vista test this week! Myself and four of my co-workers got the honors of going first so Tuesday morning at 8:30 it is. I've been studying online and failed my first practice exam by four points after going through half the material. Gotta keep studying! One more day. Definitely not the best way to spend a three day holiday weekend.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
New job!
Actually, I've been back on the military base since July but I've been a bit hesitant to even mention it fearing some ill would befall me if I did. In the words of Bruce Springsteen, I feel "like a dog that's been beat too much until you spend half your life just covering up." Life has certainly been challenging and very different since I was laid off in April 2006 so it's not like I feel this way without reason.
Back in 1987, I began my college career at UAH in the EE department but realized that I had neither the discipline nor the intelligence for the math. I took classes in various areas over the next five years never earning a degree but gaining enough knowledge to earn a decent living in computer support. After the lay-off, I was determined to complete my undergraduate degree hoping that furthering my education would provide some job security.
After looking at the curriculum at local colleges, I chose the CIS program at Athens State University. UAH's MIS program was considered but was more business while ASU's program provided more programming and networking so I headed down the interstate to Athens. At the recommendation of one of my professors, I took a support job at a local cable company that I greatly enjoyed but at half of my prior pay. Convenient to furthering my education but damaging to our finances draining my dwindling resources and forcing me to take out student loans. Sigh.
Two years later, I finished my degree but it didn't seem to help much in pursuit of more gainful employment in the sagging economy. My clearance was inactive and I wasn't certified which knocked me out of contention with many companies and the lack of a clearance kept me out of many local job fairs. In the soft economy, many companies simply didn't want to spend the money for clearances or certs when there was a surplus of over qualified applicants with them already in hand.
Four years post lay-off and thanks to a friend from the racing world, I'm back on the base doing desktop support (but still making less moolah than before) and looking at various options for upward mobility. I just completed my Network+ certification and will be taking a computing environment cert very soon. I'm hoping that these industry certifications will bolster my resume even more and propel my career forward once more. For the first time in many years, I feel somewhat confident that my luck may turn around.
Back in 1987, I began my college career at UAH in the EE department but realized that I had neither the discipline nor the intelligence for the math. I took classes in various areas over the next five years never earning a degree but gaining enough knowledge to earn a decent living in computer support. After the lay-off, I was determined to complete my undergraduate degree hoping that furthering my education would provide some job security.
After looking at the curriculum at local colleges, I chose the CIS program at Athens State University. UAH's MIS program was considered but was more business while ASU's program provided more programming and networking so I headed down the interstate to Athens. At the recommendation of one of my professors, I took a support job at a local cable company that I greatly enjoyed but at half of my prior pay. Convenient to furthering my education but damaging to our finances draining my dwindling resources and forcing me to take out student loans. Sigh.
Two years later, I finished my degree but it didn't seem to help much in pursuit of more gainful employment in the sagging economy. My clearance was inactive and I wasn't certified which knocked me out of contention with many companies and the lack of a clearance kept me out of many local job fairs. In the soft economy, many companies simply didn't want to spend the money for clearances or certs when there was a surplus of over qualified applicants with them already in hand.
Four years post lay-off and thanks to a friend from the racing world, I'm back on the base doing desktop support (but still making less moolah than before) and looking at various options for upward mobility. I just completed my Network+ certification and will be taking a computing environment cert very soon. I'm hoping that these industry certifications will bolster my resume even more and propel my career forward once more. For the first time in many years, I feel somewhat confident that my luck may turn around.
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Wisdom of Stewart Udall
Americans must finally cast aside our notion that we can continue the wasteful consumption patterns of our past. We must promote a consciousness attuned to a frugal, highly efficient mode of living. In closing, I leave you with these thoughts, and hope you will hold to these ideals throughout your lives:
Foster a consciousness that puts a premium on the common good and the protection of the environment. Give your unstinting support to all lasting, fruitful technological innovations. Be steadfast enemies of waste. The lifetime crusade of your days must be to develop a new energy ethic to sustain life on earth.
In the 1960s, when the carbon problem and the exhaustion of the world's petroleum were still beyond our gaze, I advocated a new ethic to guide our nation's stewardship of its resources. I realize now this approach was too narrow, too nationalistic. To sustain life on our small planet, we will need a wider, all-encompassing planetary resource ethic based on values implemented by mutual cooperation. This ethic must be rooted in the most intrinsic values of all: Caring, sharing, and mutual efforts that reach beyond all obstacles and boundaries.
Go well, do well, my children. Cherish sunsets, wild creatures and wild places. Have a love affair with the wonder and beauty of the earth.
Quoted from "A Message to Our Grandchildren" by Stewart Udall
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
More of that Fitness Stuff
I didn't make it to the gym today but I feel OK about it. I managed another 30 minutes on the elliptical yesterday and two more sets of Nautilus Incline Presses and, an addition to my routine, a set of Nautilus Overhead Presses. Tomorrow, I've got legs on my mind. Yeah, I'm talking about my wife's legs but I'm still gonna knock out a leg workout of my own tomorrow.
I just can't see myself getting a good workout doing only Nautilus Leg Presses. There is a free weight hack squat machine in this gym. I've used one many times in the past so I'll give it a try for 2-3 sets before finishing with leg presses. We'll see how that goes. It could be my imagination but I think I'm feeling better!
I just can't see myself getting a good workout doing only Nautilus Leg Presses. There is a free weight hack squat machine in this gym. I've used one many times in the past so I'll give it a try for 2-3 sets before finishing with leg presses. We'll see how that goes. It could be my imagination but I think I'm feeling better!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Weedeaters are Fun
I never participated in the great McMansion, biggest lawn tractor, biggest gas grill competition of the last few decades so I buy cheap weedeaters. I just don't see any need for Joe Blow to spend a small fortune on an industrial weedeater and lawn mower to cut his 7/8th's acre of suburbia once a week. The John Deere "lawn tractor" seems to be the status symbol of choice these days. Interesting that there's almost nothing John Deere on any of them except the name and the green paint. Most lawn tractors bought at box stores are made by only a handful of manufacturers. Same with weedeaters.
The cheap little Weedeater brand weed whackers that I've been using for the past few decades are manufactured by Poulan and have many brand names slapped on them. They're definitely not made for industrial usage but for less than $90, you can't beat 'em. To get the best performance from your own unit, you will need a Poulan carb adjustment tool to tune the fuel mixture and just a little bit of common sense and technical ability to keep it running well.
My newest Weedeater is a FL25 that I bought in the spring and it ran absolutely great until a few weeks ago. A little troubleshooting led me to the fuel filter which looked like the aluminum was disintegrating and actually left a stain in the plastic fuel tank. Weird. Of course, the guy at the small engine shop blamed it on ethanol blends. It sounds feasible but I've been running ethanol blends in everything for more than two decades and have never seen this happen before. Ethanol blends are not supposed to be stored for more than 90 days so I'm wondering if the age of the fuel may have contributed to the problem along with the extreme heat this summer.
$2.50 for a new filter and an hour spent disassembling, cleaning, and tweaking the Walbro carburetor got her back in primo condition. Stay tuned for a future entry detailing exactly how to tweak that carb!
The cheap little Weedeater brand weed whackers that I've been using for the past few decades are manufactured by Poulan and have many brand names slapped on them. They're definitely not made for industrial usage but for less than $90, you can't beat 'em. To get the best performance from your own unit, you will need a Poulan carb adjustment tool to tune the fuel mixture and just a little bit of common sense and technical ability to keep it running well.
My newest Weedeater is a FL25 that I bought in the spring and it ran absolutely great until a few weeks ago. A little troubleshooting led me to the fuel filter which looked like the aluminum was disintegrating and actually left a stain in the plastic fuel tank. Weird. Of course, the guy at the small engine shop blamed it on ethanol blends. It sounds feasible but I've been running ethanol blends in everything for more than two decades and have never seen this happen before. Ethanol blends are not supposed to be stored for more than 90 days so I'm wondering if the age of the fuel may have contributed to the problem along with the extreme heat this summer.
$2.50 for a new filter and an hour spent disassembling, cleaning, and tweaking the Walbro carburetor got her back in primo condition. Stay tuned for a future entry detailing exactly how to tweak that carb!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Back In The Gym: Week Three
I missed my workout last Friday and I was afraid that today was going to be a bust as well. I didn't sleep well last night and was dead tired all morning. A quick midday nap and a Diet Mountain Dew provided the needed motivation enabling me to ramp up the cardio to 30 minutes on the Precor elliptical burning up right under 300 calories and 2.5 miles.
Although muscle soreness isn't supposed to be an indicator of progress, I've alway seemed to suffer greatly in that area and the feedback is useful. My last circuit workout, although challenging, didn't leave me sore so I decided to change it up a bit. Today, I knocked out three sets of rows and three sets of lat pulldowns with reps in the 6-10 range. I then moved on to the incline press but only managed two sets before complete failure.
My capacity for work is rather low as I'm sure the cardio is burning up some energy and I haven't even really cut the calories yet. I'm going to attempt to hit the gym five days this week on a two day split on the stength training with cardio every day. At least that's the plan at the moment. We'll see how it feels.
Although muscle soreness isn't supposed to be an indicator of progress, I've alway seemed to suffer greatly in that area and the feedback is useful. My last circuit workout, although challenging, didn't leave me sore so I decided to change it up a bit. Today, I knocked out three sets of rows and three sets of lat pulldowns with reps in the 6-10 range. I then moved on to the incline press but only managed two sets before complete failure.
My capacity for work is rather low as I'm sure the cardio is burning up some energy and I haven't even really cut the calories yet. I'm going to attempt to hit the gym five days this week on a two day split on the stength training with cardio every day. At least that's the plan at the moment. We'll see how it feels.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Say What?
"It's like a milk cow with 310 million tits."
-- Deficit Commission co-chair Alan Simpson on Social Security
I guess he forgot that the vast majority of those people worked their whole lives and paid into the system. It particularly disgusts me considering that my father worked and paid into the system until he passed away at 60 and thus will never see a dime of that money. My mother, who was a stay-at-home mom and never paid into the system, will receive about half of my father's projected payments in survivor's benefits. The very thought that the bourgeois of Washington D.C. would endanger that well deserved check has me considering the benefits of the guillotine and I don't even support capital punishment.
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