TV STUFF

Since this is the kick-off to the fall TV season there were two shows I was curious about so I checked into them. You know, I think my main curiosity for these shows stems from the fact that they were constantly advertised in every media (internet, TV, radio, etc.) possible.

CANE -- I was mildly curious to see Jimmy Smits return to TV after a nice little run during the final seasons of the West Wing. This drama, at least after one show, didn't do anything exceptional for me. However, I can see how it would be enjoyed by certain audiences but it just isn't' for me. It was a decent show at best. At worst, this show gets the axe after just a few episodes. Something about sugar farming, rum and a family business that just doesn't seem all that appealing to me.

BIONIC WOMAN -- This is a show I think I could enjoy on a weekly basis. The show has all that "set-up" crap out of the way now they can really get going on making an exciting. After the first episodes there are certainly a level of curiosity that has me wondering what will happen next. Will she use her powers for good? What's up with the other bionic people? Who was the guy that just got out of prison?

FLY MUCH?!?

There are just some things that you hear and read about that are almost not even real. This story is one of those things ...

Boy survives two-hour flight to Moscow hanging onto plane wing

LOVE IS

On Sunday at Waypoint we took a crack at defining what "Love" is all about. I thought I would share a few comments that were left on 3x5 cards ...

* Love is popular and slippery: known by most and difficult to grasp.

* Love is … respecting your loved ones thoughts & desires even if you just don’t get it – and wanting them to succeed if it “outshines” you.

* Love is … going to the gym or walking with your partner at 5:30 in the a.m. just so you can be with them a little more that day.

* When my husband cleans out and organizes the pantry.

* Love is when my dad goes on a business trip, and my mom really does miss him

* Love is … like a weebie wobble. It weebies, it wobbles, but never falls down.

* Love is undefinable, yet demonstrable.

STEVE PREFONTAINE

So I have been reading a few things here and there about Steve Prefontaine the past few days and I came across these two quotes that I thought were fairly interesting and motavating as well.

"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift."

"A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more. Nobody is going to win a 5,000 meter race after running an easy two miles. Not with me. If I lose forcing the pace all the way, well, at least I can live with myself."

THE "GUY RULES"

This is not my list but I found it to be rather fun and amusing so please read it with some laughter in mind (at least for the most part). As I was reading the list, I kept thinking of all the time I could have saved myself by not having to read For Men Only.

I think #1 is a good rule ...

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1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.We need it up, you need it down.You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports, it's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Ask for what you want.Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of them makes you sad or angry, then we meant the other one.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.

NDSPN

This is so wrong yet so funny ...

NDSPN

BRENDAN JAMES

This morning I was checking around my e-mails and I got one that said something like this " ... for all you Norah Jones fans, be sure to check out Brendan James new EP."

Being the ultra-big Norah Jones fan that I am, I was curious enough to check this guy. He has this great jazzy, blues sound that is somewhere around Amos Lee and Norah Jones. I'd definately be curious to hear more of his stuff.

Take a listen - here.

FREE NACHOS?

Not sure if this is really true, but if it on the internet it must be real!!! :)

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Here's the letter that the folks at Taco Bell sent to Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on Monday.

September 17, 2007

Mr. Charlie Weis
Head Football Coach
University of Notre Dame
C113 Joyce Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Dear Coach Weis,

We've all had days we'd rather forget. Clearly, the season isn't unfolding the way we all hoped and Saturday was another tough loss. When that happens, we call it "NACHO DAY."

Hey, it may sound corny, but sometimes when your chips are down, all it takes is a gesture of support from an unexpected source to help turn things around. At TACO BELL, we always "THINK OUTSIDE THE BUN", so we'd like to offer the enclosed "NACHO DAY" award and an order of Nachos to help lift your spirits.

In fact, we want to lift the spirits of everyone in South Bend. We invite all fans of the Irish to head into any participating South Bend TACO BELL location on Sunday, September 23 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and we'll give them a free order of regular Nachos.

Please enjoy our offer of free Nachos to help you get through all those crunchy "NACHO DAYS." Hopefully, things will turn around and you can just enjoy the food!

- Your friends at Taco Bell

STARBUCKS

Can you say business monopoly? ...

$8.98
Price of a venti mocha at the new Starbucks near Moscow--the megachain's first shop in Russia; one costs $4.71 in New York City

20,000
Number of stores Starbucks wants to eventually operate overseas, roughly the same number it has in the U.S. It currently operates 4,101 abroad

WHICH WAY?!?

I'm glad that this road sign wasn't on my drivers test ...

SALMON CHASE - 10K

Best race I've ever run.

Slowly but surely I am starting to get used to running these races. I felt good the entire race and the mostly flat course and cooler temperatures helped in running the race in 44:55. I was just trying to run the thing in less than 48 minutes. I really didn't think running something in less than 45 minutes was possible. Now I have all these delusions of grandeur.

During the entire course I kept looking at my watch and couldn't believe the time I was running. It almost felt like the course wasn't measured correctly but apparently it was. I know that I have never run a 7:15 mile pace for six miles so do it that for the first time was a great sense of accomplishment.

I finished fourth in the 25-29 age group and was 40 seconds (which is actually a long time in a 10k) away from placing third. It would have been nice to get third because the top three got medals. Oh well, something to work towards.

WORLD VISION

The other day I got to take in an free exhibit put on by World Vision. For the next several months they are traveling around the country and putting on this exhibit focused on the AIDS crisis in Africa. While the exhibit is quick (about 30 minutes) I found it to be very educational and moving all the same.

As you take in the exhibit you follow the life of a child who has been affected in some way by AIDS. Take a few moment and browse around the website - here. If you get the opportunity to take-in this exhibit, it would be well worth your time.

(MORE) RUNNING STUFF

The final event of my summer of running concludes on Saturday when I run the Salmon Chase 10K through downtown South Bend. I hoping to run something less that 48 minutes! The results will be posted - here.


AND, this pretty much sums up why I can't sit still and need to be active ...

KOOL AID MAN

Watching the commercials with the Kool Aid Man and his big "OH YEAH" was great. To see the Family Guy's parody was even better and very clever!

FLORIDA ATHEIST

I found this to be rather amusing ...

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A Florida atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about discriminations inflicted on atheists by constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays, while atheists had no holiday to celebrate.

After listening to the long, passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared, "Case dismissed!" The lawyer immediately stood, objected to the ruling and said, "Your Honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case?

The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have the Passover, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah ..... yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!" The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, "Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own atheists' holiday!"

The lawyer pompously said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?" The judge replied, "Well it comes every year, exactly the same day, April 1st!

Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools' Day,' consider Psalm 14:1 & Psalm 53, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture he is a fool, thus April 1st is his holiday!"

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Dating back to last season, the Irish have lost four consecutive games by at least 20 points. Last time Notre Dame lost four straight by 20 or more? How does never sound? But then again, they've only been playing football in South Bend since 1887.

So the Notre Dame student newspaper ran this poll online -- When will Notre Dame win its first football game this season?

at Michigan - 55%
Michigan State - 13%
at Purdue - 5%
at UCLA - 0%
Boston College - 1%
0-7 Start - 24%

Ok, let's be really honest here. The best chances for ND wins are home against MSU or on the road at Purdue. If they don't win either one of those, this team is going to 0-8 because they probably aren't going to beat B.C. (Oct. 13) then one week after that game beat USC (Oct. 20).

The only thing about ND losing that bothers me is that it is quite as much fun around South Bend. Winning = More fun ... image that!

TRIATHLON

I didn’t think a human could be so soaking wet from sweat. After swimming for 500 yards then biking for 16.8 miles only to top all that off with a 4 mile run I have decided that I have never been so filthy sweaty. It was kind of nasty and satisfying all the same to complete the event.

To complete the mini-triathlon felt great. As much as it was an amazing experience, it was a learning one as well.

SWIM – This is the best way to summarize my “swim” effort is to recall the last 75 yards when one of the lifeguards boats followed me to the shore. They were kind of enough to ask me if I was ok and I was but I’m just slow in the water. Something to work on. After I got out of the water I felt like I could have more fun with this event.

BIKE – While Indiana is a fairly flat state, this bike felt like it had very little flat-ness to it. It was a good challenge that was made a little greater for me because I used a mountain bike instead of a road bike (I’m told a road bike would shave about 10 minutes). It was a good ride but I was ready for it to be over because I wanted to get to the run. Somewhere around mile 10 of the bike I began to wonder how people cycled before there were gears.

RUN – The hardest thing about the run was having absolutely no clue about how fast I was running because my legs were jello like for the first mile. I felt as good as possible during the final stage of the event. It felt good to pass a handful of people without getting passed. I did the run at my normal sub-eight minute mile pace which was very satisfying.

My final time was 1:55:59 and I was rather pleased with that since I gave a solid effort on each stage. The next time I do one of these things I’ll do a better job of swimming and try to use a better bike. The big thing for me is to swim better because if I do that I’ll have a more enjoyable time. All things taken into account it was fun event.

Of course, the best part of the whole thing – the post race ice cream! ;-)

2007 NFL PREDICTIONS

This is what I am going with and I am sticking to it:

AFC East
1. N.E. Patriots, 11-5
2. NY Jets, 9-7
3. Miami Dolphins, 6-10
4. Buffalo Bills, 5-11

AFC Central
1. Baltimore Ravens, 10-6
2. Cincinnati Bengels, 9-7
3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-7
4. Cleveland Browns, 5-11

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts, 11-5
2. Jacksonville Jags, 10-6 *
3. Tennessee Titans, 8-8
4. Houston Texans, 5-11

AFC West
1. S.D. Chargers, 12-4
2. Denver Broncos, 11-5 *
3. K.C. Chiefs, 8-8
4. Oakland Raiders, 3-13

NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys, 10-6
2. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-6 *
3. Washington Redskins, 8-8
4. NY Giants, 7-9

NFC North
1. Chicago Bears, 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings, 8-8
3. G.B. Packers, 7-9
4. Detroit Lions, 6-10

NFC South
1. N.O. Saints, 10-6
2. Carolina Panthers, 9-7
3. T.B. Bucs, 7-9
4. Atlanta Falcons, 5-11

NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks, 10-6
2. S.F. 49ers, 9-7 *
3. St. Louis Rams, 9-7
4. Arizona Cardinals, 8-8

* - Indicates Wild Card Winner (i.e. going to the playoffs)

Super Bowl XXXXI -- N.E. Patriots over Dallas Cowboys

KITE RUNNER

What a wonderful book!

I normally struggle with reading fiction because I don't see how a made-up story could effect the way I live and think. Actually, I bought this book thinking it was a true story and got frustrated when I found out it wasn't after I read it.

Fortunately for me I read this amazing book despite the fact it is a fictitious account of what is happening in Afghanistan. It follows the life of Amir from his life as a child to his days as an adult. The roller coast of emotions that he encounters - some of which are brought on by his own doing - have you hooked from the very beginning.

To me it is the brilliant story of how everyone in humanity wrestles with all the really hard emotions that we encounter on a regular basis. Add into that mix the Taliban and it makes for an unforgettable read. While it may be listed as fiction it felt like a very real account of what it is like to live in modern day Afghanistan

The books is very graphic through out and even violent which drew out in me emotions that I have never felt while reading a book.

The only frustration I had, and it is a very small one at that, is that I had trouble following the geography of the areas he was describing. I wish I'd kept a map with me while I was reading it.

In early November the movie version hits the theaters - see trailer. (Be Warned! -- there is a spoiler or two in the trailer)

RADIO NOWHERE

The first single off of Bruce Springsteen's new album. Tickets for Chicago go on-sale this Saturday!

Radio Nowhere:
I was tryin' to find my way home
But all I heard was a drone
Bouncing off a satellite
Crushin' the last lone American night
This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?
This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?

I was spinnin' 'round a dead dial
Just another lost number in a file
Dancin' down a dark hole
Just searchin' for a world with some soul

This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?
This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?
Is there anybody alive out there?

I just want to hear some rhythm
I just want to hear some rhythm
I just want to hear some rhythm
I just want to hear some rhythm

I want a thousand guitars
I want pounding drums
I want a million different voices speaking in tongues

This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?
This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?
Is there anybody alive out there?

I was driving through the misty rain
Searchin' for a mystery train
Boppin' through the wild blue
Tryin' to make a connection to you

This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?
This is radio nowhere, is there anybody alive out there?
Is there anybody alive out there?

I just want to feel some rhythm
I just want to feel some rhythm
I just want to feel your rhythm
I just want to feel your rhythm
I just want to feel your rhythm
I just want to feel your rhythm
I just want to feel your rhythm
I just want to feel your rhythm

BLUEBERRY STOMP 15K

I have only run past the nine mile mark one time prior to the Blueberry Stomp on Labor Day morning so I was curious to know how it would feel to run a 15K (9.3 miles) in a race setting. I gotta tell you, it was a good time. The start of the race starts with literally thousands of people lined-up along the main strip in the town.

It was a fairly challenging course with a lot of rolling hills but the course never had a really steep climb or a quick decline so keeping my pace was fairly easy to do. I think the most odd thing about the whole course, which was an out-and-back, was running in what felt like the middle of nowhere. Plymouth, IN isn't exactly a bombing metropolis but it was kind of odd just running past row and row of corn.

Coming back into town on the flip side of the course was a good feeling as the Blueberry Festival parade was going down one side of the street and the runners on the other side. Once again, thousands of people watching. The final mile felt like it took a long time because it was just one straight stretch.

I crossed the finish line in 1:14:38 so I beat my goal of finishing the race in less than 75 minutes. Actually I feel like I left a little bit out on the course so I'll have to learn from that as I increase the mileage in my races. Fortunately my nasty bout of poison ivy didn't effect my run. I credit that to a good tape job from our trainer at SMC and fellow runner Stacy Schlumbohm.

NOW, the best part of the race was the post-race blueberry donut and blueberry ice cream from the festival. The absolutely best tasting ice cream I have ever had! Shoot, I'd do that race again just to partake in the post-race ice cream!