AUGUST RUNNING

My first month of running in Los Angeles has gone fairly well. Got to experience some cool things during my runs around the Rose Bowl and Beverly Hills. I really cut back on my running in August with the move and my body is asking for some rest. I figure it would be a good idea to take it a little easier than normal.

The August Running Stats:
Total Miles Run - 67.84 (according to mapmyrun)
Days of Running - 14
Longest Run - 7.25 miles
Approx. calories burned - 8,862

Year to date miles - 874.5 miles

L.A. HOMELESS

There was an absolutely fasinating story in the LA Times last week about the hidden homeless in Los Angeles - here.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Since the 2008 college footabll season gets into full swing this weekend, here's my fearful predictions for the upcoming season:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida
6. Missouri
7. West Virgnia
8. Auburn
9. Clemson
10. BYU

It pains me to think that Ohio State could play for a third straight national title but they are clearly the class of the Big Ten this year and I think they will beat USC in a few weeks so there's one undefeated team but I think Georgia is too talent (even in the tough SEC) and they will claim the national title.

VANILLA LATTE

Since moving out to L.A. I have been raving about the vanilla latte from the Conservatory just up the street from where I am living. It's not just the art the barista produces with each latte it is the flavor, the foam, the presentation, etc., etc. Seriously, it is so good. Why else would I take a picture of a vanilla latte?

While I am really, really looking forward to moving to Pasadena, I will miss the being able to walk two blocks to experience the best vanilla latte I've ever had. I've probably ordered about six 12 oz. lattes in the month that I have been out here. In case you were curious, it's $3.05 for each 12 oz. Compared to Starbucks, I'm not only saving money but getting a much better drink!

And, I am a coffee snob ...

TOP 10 OLYMPIC MOMENTS

I know the Olympics are probably a very distance memory to many people at this point but since I watched seemingly endless hours of coverage here's a list I came up with.

The Top 10 Surprising Moments from the 2008 Olympics. The opening and closing ceremony are not included and only one moment per athlete/team.

1) 4 x 100 Men's Freestyle Relay
2) Men's Volleyball Winning Gold
3) Dara Torres 50 meter freestyle race
4) U.S. men and women Water Polo reach gold medal game
5) James Blake stuns Rodger Federer
6) Usain Bolt's 200 meter run
7) Smog, pollution? Where was it?
8) 4 x 100 U.S. men and women relay collapse
9) U.S. Softball Team losing in gold medal game
10) U.S. men's gymnastics captures bronze medal

Finally, in what be classified as anything but top 10, there is an interesting story in the LA Times on the price that many Chinese athletes had to pay to be apart of the Olympics - here. It's fairly sad and some what disturbing.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Location: Hermosa Beach, CA

Temperature: 75 -- Sport of Choice: Volleyball --- Food: Burgers, Brats, Fruit --- Water Temperature: A chilly 66 ... Life is Good!

HELLO CALTECH

Say hello to the newest employee of one of the best universities in the nation! Needless to say at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday morning was a good moment. It was a big burden off my back to finally get offered a job. And a really good job at that.

After searching through 150 or applicants and two interviews, the powers that be in the public events office at Caltech decided to offer me the position. For a while I actually forgot my official title (oops!) but it is "Ticket Office Customer Service Coordinator"

The university puts on 50-70 public events like a lecture or concert series through the school year and I am one of the key players in helping to organize those events. The job really plays to my skills that I learned with the South Bend Silver Hawks and at Saint Mary's.

I get to work at one amazing university in one of my favorite places in the country (I love Pasadena!). There's is no doubting that I am a very fortunate and blessed person. This scenario in getting this job is almost beyond belief. There are so many people that come to L.A. in the same manner as I did and work for months (if not years) to get a really good job. Yet somehow it took me just three weeks. Yes, I am extremely grateful!!

It's a stable job with amazing benefits and I will get to work with some really great people. Plus I will get to meet some really amazing people. There are so many positives with this position and it's a great way to start this next chapter of my life.

Lastly, I will be able to volunteer along skid row. That is, obviously, a very important of how I am wired and if I couldn't do than I would not have taken this position. There is also a very good homeless center in Pasadena I will devote some time to as well.

Advancing the Kingdom ...

JOB OFFER

This is what you do when you get offered and accept a great job:

10:30 a.m. - Get offered Job
10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Tell a lot of people
3:00 p.m. - Finally accept job offer
4:00 p.m. - Get on Craigslist and look for new apt.
7:00 p.m. - Celebrate with Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich (YEAH! Diddy Reese!!!)
8:00 p.m. - Tell more people before going to bed
-----
6:30 a.m. - Wake-Up and ride bike to the beach
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Apartment hunt all day
6:00 p.m. - Dinner and Olympics

ORDINARY, EXTRAORDINARY, OLYMPICS

This past weekend at Mosaic was pretty cool. There was a celebration for Erwin's 50th Birthday and 15 years as the lead pastor at Mosaic. But that's way besides the point.

Much more important than that, there was about a 20 minute conversation with four-time Olympic gold medalist John Naber. He won all of his gold medals in swimming at the 1976 Olympics. He had this one quote that really stuck with me --

"[Olympic athletes aren’t simply extraordinary people] they are ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things because they are willing to do what others won't so that they can accomplish what other can't."

Here's the thing - everyone has the ability to be extraordinary. Yes, really, EVERYONE! Are we willing to make the needed adjustments in our life to make the move from ordinary to extraordinary? Are we willing to stay disciplined enough to shift from one state of being to another?

Proverbs 13:4 anyone?

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat. (NASB)

The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (AKJV)

IN GOD WE TRUST

Check out this poll on MSNBC ...

Should the motto "In God We Trust" be removed from U.S. currency? -- Vote/Results

SATURDAY MORNING

Went for a little bike ride to the beach (about 11 miles roundtrip) on Saturday morning and this was the view of Venice Beach around 8:00 a.m. Rest assured the sun quickly broke through and it has been a nice day!

DARK KNIGHT

Finally got to see Dark Knight the other night at the Howard Hughes IMAX theater.

Great movie! Great story line(s). Great acting. Great writing.

It would have been nice to have a few more scenes with the Joker because Heath Ledger is absolutely amazing in that role. If he doesn't get nominated for best supporting actor, it is highway robbery.

What is up with that weird Batman voice?

SETTLING IN L.A.

I am just past the 10 day mark of living in Los Angeles. Clearly my blogging has taken a serious hit over the last three or so weeks. Let's just play a little catch-up for this post for the good and the bad so far --

GOOD
* Been able to reconnect with a lot of old friends and meet some new ones as well. Went to a Angels/Yankees game, my first comedy improv show, help serve at Mosaic and ventured out for dinner at In/Out Burger.
* Went down to skid row and did some volunteering at the Union Rescue Mission. Looking forward to doing a lot more of that.
* Went to a Nike Running Club event in Beverly Hills which was amazing!
* Best Latte Ever - Conservatory in Culver City, CA
* Gas prices going down!
* Got some temp. work with a great co-worker!
* Roommates have been very hospitable

BAD
* Sleep schedule is all screwed up (flippin' three hour time difference!)
* Job search is going well then bad then well then ... (I press on regardless!!)
* Traffic (as expected)

OLYMPICS

Did you see the men's 4 x 100 freestyle relay? DID YOU SEE THAT?!?

Recap

L.A. ARRIVAL

At 3:15 p.m. on Thursday afternoon (July 31) I arrived in Los Angeles after 2300+ miles of driving and $335 spent in gas! So I have only been here for 48 hours but so far so good!

My first job interview went well down in Long Beach and hopefully next week I will have two or three more interviews. I have also been able to reconnect with a few people thus far and I am looking forward to seeing a few more over the next few weeks. 

What else to report? ... hmmm ... Getting my body to get on Pacific Coast time has been quite an adventure thus far. I go to bed late but still wait up early but I'm sure that will go away in a few days.

I was "fortunate" enough to experience some L.A. traffic on Friday afternoon on my way to an improv comedy show in Pasadena. I went something like 20 miles in 50 minutes. 

After the next few days my blogging could be quite limited but hang with me and I'll get more vocal as I get more settled in ...