Yearly Archives: 2009

LBRR for PDR, 2009

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LBRR = long boring race report; PDR = Philadelphia Distance Run (half-marathon)

Raced today. Finishing time (1:34:46; a 7:14 per mile average pace; #988 out of 12,247) was about what I had expected, based on my general lack of training. What I had not anticipated was the huge slow-down as the race progressed. With no goal time in mind, I felt that this would be a good day just to get out there and see what happens. Things started off well (each of the first 5 miles in the 6:50 to 6:59 range, which felt comfortable), but I slowed down drastically from there. I could definitely feel the slowing down. Around mile 10 or so, my legs felt like bricks. And having a wandering mind (thinking about a whole host of things other than running) didn’t help either. I had to keep mentally checking myself back in to what I was doing.

This is one of those days where having a four story row house is not much fun – too much stair climbing when all I want to do is rest.

Race day on Sunday!

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This Sunday will be my 10th consecutive Philadelphia Distance Run (best time: 1:30:02, in 2007).

I’m fortunate enough to have been healthy and injury-free at this time of the year for 10 years. That is something in itself. Though I am still recovering from my knee “injury” (I still don’t know whether it’s an injury or not). Not that the distinction matters. What does matter is that I lost 2 months worth of running (including the time off for injury and the recovery period to just get back to where I was). The problem was that I didn’t want to increase my mileage too fast and risk further injury, so my longest run was about 11.2 miles on August 30 (vacation plus mild taper thrown in afterwards).

Finishing won’t be a problem. I just likely won’t be racing. I have no goal time, which is good for relaxed running. I just want to be able to maintain the start corral number.

Caroline’s Elmo obsession

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It started a little over a month ago, when we took out the Tickle Me Elmo Extreme to show her. She went nuts for it. I think the Elmo Live pushed her over the edge.

She started excitedly saying “Momo! Momo!” (At just about 19 months, that’s as close to “Elmo” as we get.) So the next day we had to go shopping for a regular plush Elmo; since it was far easier to carry around (no skeletal movement system). First stop: Target. No luck. Next (unplanned) stop: Toys R Us. Got one.

Picked up a Cookie Monster too. After some initial resistance (“Do you want Cookie?”  “Nooo!”), she has warmed up to Cookie. But at not the Elmo-level obsession. Every time she sees Elmo (which is tough to hide, since he’s on the diapers and the diaper box), it’s tough to get her to stop thinking about Elmo. All things considered, it could be worse.

Why I think the Eagles signed Michael Vick

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It’s obviously not for the controversy, unless it’s for a giant distraction from some other problem. The Eagles have said that there is no quarterback “situation,” meaning that McNabb is the starter and Kolb is the #2. But I still can’t figure out a football based reason why Vick is there.

Then it occurred to me: McNabb is desperate to win a Super Bowl. He’s on the backside of his career, at 32 and in his 11th season. Not that old, but getting there in NFL terms. He has said numerous times that there is a “limited time window” to win a championship. The older he gets, the more limited the window becomes. I think the Eagles are doing whatever they can to help him get his ring. But even so, signing Vick doesn’t make sense to help that goal. Why not sign a wide receiver? There were a few available in the off-season and the Eagles had money to spend.

Winning cures lots of problems. It will take a hell of a lot of wins (i.e., minimally getting to the Super Bowl) to overcome the controversy of signing Vick.

Owen Wilson is a giant douche

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Owen Wilson (yes, the actor) is a giant douche. Let me explain.

He’s here in Philadelphia, filming a movie. He’s staying at the Four Seasons. Karen and I were at a wedding there on Saturday night. The cocktail hour after the ceremony was outside, in the courtyard. We were near a window and could see inside, specifically the entrance to The Fountain. I happened to be looking in, and there’s this shabbily dressed guy standing looking at the menu. It was Owen Wilson, possibly just coming from the gym. The bride was inside and asked him if he wanted to join the party for dinner. She was about 15 feet or so away from him. He said about two words and dismissed her with a wave of his hand, like he was waving off a dog.

How rude. Now I can understand his desire to be left alone. But he could have been nicer. Especially to a bride in her wedding dress. No congratulations, nothing. A little courtesy would have been nice. Apparently he forgets that it’s people like us who allow him to do what he does.

Eagles’ dumb move: signing Michael Vick

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Wow.

I think the Eagles have made an insanely stupid move by signing Michael Vick (see the ESPN story).

Karen’s reaction was stronger than mine. The Eagles are banned from being on TV in the house. If I want to watch, I have to go out. But I am also very disgusted by Vick and his behavior. I don’t really care that he “served his time” – it was celebrity justice.

Do I now need to carry a weapon when I walk the dog? I hope not. I’m guessing there will be a strong reaction from Eagles fans. The problem is that it will probably be a mixed verdict – people desperate to win at any cost. I’m sorry, but the cost of having Vick on the team, regardless of how good a football player he is, doesn’t outweigh the negatives. We had to put up with T.O. and now this? Ugh.

Another fun day on SEPTA

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Aah… the joys of leaving work a little early. I get to spend some more time with the girls, get to eat a leisurely dinner, time to read the paper, whatever. But, I have to rely on SEPTA to be on time. Ha! The 6:19 #57 bus this evening didn’t show and the next#57 bus (supposed to be at 6:35) was late, too. So the bus was jammed. And I got to listen to some crazy old guy complain to nobody in particular (meaning he was talking out loud to himself) about the lousy SEPTA service. <sarcasm> I’m so glad he was there to point that out </sarcasm> Which probably was a good thing, because some punks at 4th & Washington threw lit firecrackers in through the front door. Because the bus was so crowded, someone was standing right there and was able to kick the firecrackers out before they went off. It took just over an hour to go the three miles from my office to home. Almost ruined the evening. Spending time with Miss Caroline was more than worth it.

Twitter has nuked the fridge

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Or jumped the shark, if you’re feeling a little old school.

I don’t even use Twitter. I thought about maybe, someday using it instead of tiny little blog posts.

But now that Oprah uses it (and that’s Twitter’s “big news”), and people seemed to be more focused on who has the most followers, I think it’s time has gone. Some people will disagree and think Twitter can be saved from itself, but I think I’m not the only one who is done with Twitter.