Attitude of Gratitude – Day 10

Note: I’m only a few hours late on this one!  I was just tired last night!

Today I am grateful for:

• Beautiful weather – Sun, breeze, clear skies!  Nice!
• Kids that enjoyed our time together and were helpful to each other tonight
• Max’s childhood enthusiasm and excitement about things as simple as jumping off a playground thing
• DVR

The Marietta Roof Snake

Having already scared one grand parent into a panic, I thought I had better sort this out quickly!  Before I dive in – nobody gets hurt in this story.

For the FULL impact of this – you need to know that I use Google Voicemail.  A great service that “listens” to your voicemail and transcribes it.  It works “pretty well”, but it’s not always accurate.

Now… on to our story.  The other day, I was working in the yard, trimming my bushes and I found the Marietta Roof Snake in the bushes.  You may be wondering, what in the world is a Marietta Roof Snake?  It’s simply a string of roofing nails hanging in a bush! When I saw it, I laughed and emailed a photo to Ben (my roofer friend) and Sarah (my Wife). Ben laughed and Sarah got scared! She didn’t want to come home until I had killed it! Mind you, she was looking at it on a cell phone … so it was hard to see – but we all got a good laugh out of this as well.  All was good.  I called Ben and told him about it.

Well, last night I got a voicemail from “my dad” – or so I thought.  I was reading this on my phone (reading, the transcription) when I got scared.  I thought my Dad got hit by a car.  It read:

Scott, It’s Dad, I just got bit by the very very rare very everything of the big bad to you. You had that one.  You know I need the bed and he doesn’t have to track down that once I get over to the doctor golden dear bye.

I’m still not sure how I got that he got hit by a car… but well, I was scared and tried frantically to call the Voicemail to hear what it really said. This is what I heard:

So as you can see – it’s been a lot of fun! Now – here is the Marietta Roof Snake!  Very deadly!

Marietta Roof Snake

Even with the snake the left, I’d still recommend ATLRoof.com!

Attitude of Gratitude – Day 8-9 roll up

I must confess – I forgot to post on Sunday, remembered on Monday, then forgot…

On Sunday and Monday I was grateful for:

• Getting to see Derek and his friends perform at Church
• Better than expected weather on Sunday
• Fun @ Derek’s soccer game
• Good burger for dinner
• Living to be 42 years old
• My wonderful gifts (I’ve burned 1250 calories today, as I type this!)
• The Cake Hag
• Not gaining a ton of weight as I indulged this weekend
• Finding the “strength” to work out yesterday when I was feeling sorry for myself
• About 150 people, around the world, that took time to say Happy Birthday on the phone, FB and in person
• Not being bitten by the Marietta Roof Snake!

A little bit torn

So – in 2008 I decided to run my first 10k.  I wanted to break an hour and I did.  I was proud of myself.  It was a good run and it helped motivate me to run a little more and do other things.  I went on to run the Peach tree road race in 1:09.xx that year.  I was pleased – I hadn’t run at all, I just did it.

Last year, in better shape, but without running I ran the Peachtree in 1:05 ish.  Cool… but I wanted to break an hour.  I actually had a goal this time.  Now as you probably have figured out, I’m obsessed with breaking 1 hour.  I ran the 10k 3 weeks ago in 57 something or other.  Good… on track.

Today, I suffered a mental set back.  It’s kind of got me a little worried, a little nervous – if you will.  You see – I ran the Spring Chicken again today.  I ran a better time, I ran well.  I focussed on first mile pacing, but I suffered miserably on the hills and finished less than 30 seconds faster.  My mind is racing.  There was a lot different – it was colder, it was windy, it was a different (in my opinion, harder) course.

I take  few positives out of this – in that I paced my first mile MUCH better than in the 10k – but now I’m nervous about July.  Am I on track?  Am I dreaming?  I don’t know.  I guess at this point, my best bet is to just keep working on weight loss.  Run some here and there and lose weight.  When we get about 6-8 weeks out from the Peachtree – get on top of the running hard core.  I haven’t really been running as much the last three weeks, I did spend 1 week NOT running as I was sick.  I’ve ridden more … I think if I focus, I can do this – but this was not the number I wanted to see today.  At the same time – I’m glad I did it, I had fun.

All of that mental obsession put aside – Derek WON his category again!  Last time, he won the whole thing, but this time, he faced a 12 year old with a beard… and a coach!  He did great.  Max ran the 1 mile fun run.  He did AWESOME!  I ran with him and he ran about 95% of the event.  He didn’t complain one time and smiled the whole way.  Both of the boys did great and had fun!  An awesome event and I think we will look to do it again next year!

Attitude of Gratitude – Day 7

Today I am grateful for:

• A good time running the Spring Chicken
• Derek running VERY well – winning his age group in the 1 mile event
• Maxwell running a mile!  (He walked 3 times, but pretty much ran the whole way in jeans and sweater!)
• A good day of yard work – shack is looking a little better!
• Good company for dinner tonight!  Thanks to the Tickners!

Attitude of Gratitude – Day 6

Today I am grateful for:

• Getting lots of stuff done
• Being able to surprise Max w/his friend Kara for dinner
• Improving weather
• Reduced calf pain
• The day coming to an end.  It was a good day, but it was long!
• The weekend

Near and dear to my rear! #fb

A while back, I created quite a ruckus, talking about Anti Monkey Butt Powder.  I then, quietly, went about my way enjoying the freedom, the comfort and the lack of monkey butt I always wanted.  I was not open.  I was not honest.  I didn’t share my thoughts and feelings with my friends and family.  For that, I am deeply sorry.  All that I can do is tell you now and hope that when you experience the smoothness, the comfort and the love that Anti Monkey Butt Powder brings you, you too will find the gluteal nirvana that I regularly experience!

Surely, many of you have sat in a car all day?  Sat at your office for way too long?  You may not get a round and red monkey looking keister you see on the AMB bottle, you know you get a little itch here and there?  Come on – you can admit it!  We are friends here! I’m here to tell you that the special blend of herbs and spices that makes up the Anti Monkey Butt Powder is your ANSWER!  The positives of this product are nearly limited!  It’s smooth!  It smells good!  It prevents monkey butt!  It goes on easy!  It seals well so you don’t spill! It’s good for quite evenings at home as well as hard runs in the woods!  I’ve personally tested this product in numerous conditions!  Hot, cold, slow and fast!  It’s never let me down!

I give this product 2 thumbs up!  No questions asked!  It has my un-categorical endorsement! Coming from a guy with a butt as big as mine, that’s a big endorsement!

http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/

Attitude of Gratitude – Day 5

Today I am grateful for:

• Max – though I had to get off work early – being ok.  (He “didn’t feel good”).
• My calves not hurting while running on the treadmill today – opening up the opportunity to run the Spring Chicken
• The internet and direct access to the World Track Championships

I really … at this point, don’t feel very grateful.  In all honesty, I’m letting stupid crap get in the way of important stuff.

Attitude of Gratitude – Day 4

Today I am grateful for:

• Perhaps the nicest day of 2010
• Riding my bike two days in a row for the first time in 2010
• Being able to spend lots of time at the park with Derek and Max last night.  Derek practiced w/his team – which is really starting to “come together”, I think!   Max played and played and played – he was so happy, all the way down to his little munchkin sized inner core.
• Dinner at Church tonight – no work, just enjoy!
• The internet and the speed at which we can get real, factual information about events being held all over the world.

Attitude of Gratitude – Day 3

Today I am grateful for:

1. A safe bike ride, even in the face some stupid route decisions.
2. Improving weather
3. Being able to go to Men’s Bible Study last night
4. The people that represented me, and other cyclists that couldn’t make it, on the Georgia Rides to the Capital event yesterday.
5. Waking up to a new day, doing the right thing, even though I desperately wanted to sleep.