There are many things I enjoy about getting older: wisdom, experience, clarity, not giving a crap what other people think.
But one of the things I like least is watching my friends lose their parents. In the past year or so alone, six of my friends -- people my age or younger -- have had to say goodbye to their fathers.
Mr. Gardner
Mr. Tsakataras
Mr. Bistline
Mr. Manchon
Mr. Mekonis
and now, as of Monday, Mr. Gervay
If I go back farther in time, I can add more. Mr. and Mrs. Traumann, Mrs. Rabinowitz, Mr. Brown.
I don't have the right words to comfort my friends. What can I possibly say to ease their pain? And how can we be old enough to be losing our parents? It just doesn't seem possible.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Accountability
Several weeks ago, I started posting about my half-hearted efforts to drop a few pounds. In the spirit of disclosure, I am here today to post that I have stayed steady at 151.4 for the third week in a row.
To be honest, I'm disappointed. While I didn't get all my workouts in last week, the ones I did do were pretty kickass. I am starting to feel a little better, and I think I'm starting to look a little better too. I know the scale isn't the be-all, end-all measurement of fitness, health, attractiveness, etc, but it's so hard to step away from it... and even harder to not let it get you down when you don't see the number you want.
Anyway, 151.4. Again.
Next week will be better.
To be honest, I'm disappointed. While I didn't get all my workouts in last week, the ones I did do were pretty kickass. I am starting to feel a little better, and I think I'm starting to look a little better too. I know the scale isn't the be-all, end-all measurement of fitness, health, attractiveness, etc, but it's so hard to step away from it... and even harder to not let it get you down when you don't see the number you want.
Anyway, 151.4. Again.
Next week will be better.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Decision-making 101
Or maybe not, since I am the most indecisive person in the nation!
Three years ago this summer, I did my first and only Olympic distance triathlon. I was terrified in the swim, way too conservative on the bike, and overheated in the run... but I finished, about 16 minutes slower than I wanted to finish. I was terribly embarrassed by my performance and finish time and vowed to come back to the same race the next year to kick its ass.
So I signed up the next year... and about two months before race day I chickened out and dropped from the Olympic to the sprint distance. And won my age group. :)
Last year due to vacation plans I wasn't able to do either distance at that race.
Which brings us to this year. There are two Olympics I am interested in. Race A is in July and is completely flat. Race B is my revenge race in August and is VERY hilly. I know the course. I know how hard it is. I also know I won't be satisfied if I take the easy route and try to PR at the flat course. Only 3 weeks separate the races.
Coach thinks I can do both: use Race A as a training day and practice race, then go back to Race B -- my nemesis -- and finally kick its ass. I'm concerned that doing two Olympic distance triathlons just three weeks apart will doom me to failure in the second race, which, let's admit it, is really the goal race. Coach is convinced I can do this.
Would you do both?
Three years ago this summer, I did my first and only Olympic distance triathlon. I was terrified in the swim, way too conservative on the bike, and overheated in the run... but I finished, about 16 minutes slower than I wanted to finish. I was terribly embarrassed by my performance and finish time and vowed to come back to the same race the next year to kick its ass.
So I signed up the next year... and about two months before race day I chickened out and dropped from the Olympic to the sprint distance. And won my age group. :)
Last year due to vacation plans I wasn't able to do either distance at that race.
Which brings us to this year. There are two Olympics I am interested in. Race A is in July and is completely flat. Race B is my revenge race in August and is VERY hilly. I know the course. I know how hard it is. I also know I won't be satisfied if I take the easy route and try to PR at the flat course. Only 3 weeks separate the races.
Coach thinks I can do both: use Race A as a training day and practice race, then go back to Race B -- my nemesis -- and finally kick its ass. I'm concerned that doing two Olympic distance triathlons just three weeks apart will doom me to failure in the second race, which, let's admit it, is really the goal race. Coach is convinced I can do this.
Would you do both?
Friday, February 4, 2011
It's time once again...
... for the MP Quote of the Week!
"But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy." ~ Sarah Palin, explaining the $700 billion government bailout of Wall Street to Karie Couric during a CBS News interview
"But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy." ~ Sarah Palin, explaining the $700 billion government bailout of Wall Street to Karie Couric during a CBS News interview
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Truly frightening stats
While taking a silly How Green Are You? quiz, I learned that Americans discard 2.5 million plastic bottles AN HOUR. An hour! Every day! So I did a quick Google search and learned even more horrifying statistics about plastic water bottles.
- Americans spend $11 billion on bottled water each year. (Imagine what good could come of that money if we invested it in something else. Cancer or AIDS research, feeding the hungry, investing in women's shelters, spaying or neutering homeless pets... But I digress.)
- Worldwide, $35 billion is spent on bottled water each year.
- Only 14% of plastic water bottles are recycled. The rest end up in landfills or on the side of the road.
- In California alone, more than a billion plastic water bottles are thrown away each year, ending up in landfills and taking 1,000 YEARS to biodegrade.
- 1.5 million barrels of petroleum are used to produce plastic water bottles in the United States each year. That’s enough petroleum to supply 250,000 homes with electricity or 100,000 cars with gasoline.
Something's gotta give. Please, if you can, buy a water pitcher (like a Brita or Pur) and filter the water from your tap. When you need to take it with you -- on a roadtrip, at work, at the gym -- buy an ecofriendly reusable bottle. Here are some that Time magazine recommended.
If we all do this one little thing, imagine the impact we can have.
- Americans spend $11 billion on bottled water each year. (Imagine what good could come of that money if we invested it in something else. Cancer or AIDS research, feeding the hungry, investing in women's shelters, spaying or neutering homeless pets... But I digress.)
- Worldwide, $35 billion is spent on bottled water each year.
- Only 14% of plastic water bottles are recycled. The rest end up in landfills or on the side of the road.
- In California alone, more than a billion plastic water bottles are thrown away each year, ending up in landfills and taking 1,000 YEARS to biodegrade.
- 1.5 million barrels of petroleum are used to produce plastic water bottles in the United States each year. That’s enough petroleum to supply 250,000 homes with electricity or 100,000 cars with gasoline.
Something's gotta give. Please, if you can, buy a water pitcher (like a Brita or Pur) and filter the water from your tap. When you need to take it with you -- on a roadtrip, at work, at the gym -- buy an ecofriendly reusable bottle. Here are some that Time magazine recommended.
If we all do this one little thing, imagine the impact we can have.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
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