SEPTEMBER RUNNING

I am getting oh so close to that magical 1,000 mile mark for the year! As long as I stay healthy, I should hit that mark sometime in the two weeks or so. I am officially training for the Pasadena half-marathon in mid-November.

Total Miles Run - 85.57 (according to mapmyrun)
Days of Running - 17
Longest Run - 8.25 miles
Approx. calories burned - 11.155
Year to date miles - 960 miles

WISHING TREES

I was walking around Oldtown Pasadena on Saturday morning and I turned down an alleyway to see what trouble I may find and came across all these trees ...

What I thought was rather random really intrigued me a lot so I decided to investigate a little more. It turns out that anyone can write their wish and attached to any of the 21 trees in the courtyard area. It is in conjunction with the Armory Center for the Arts.


It was really fasinating and humbling all the same to walk around and see what people were wishing for. If you can wish it, then it was wished for on one of these 21 trees. Some of the wishes were heartbreaking while others were just quite funny. I thought about for a long time and just decided to write this on my wish ...

HALF FOR THE HOMELESS

Most of you know that I really enjoy running. Some of you think I am crazy just based on that fact. However, more recently I began to wonder how I can take my passion for running and combine that with my desire to help the homeless.

Donation Page -- HERE

The opportunity has presented itself! On November 16, 2008 I am runing the first ever Pasadena half-marathon. All the funds that I raise go directly to the Union Station Homeless Services.

I listed $300 as my fundraising target. The Union Station wants us to raise at least $100 but I know that with the support of all of you, that $100 is too low of a number. Maybe $300 is too low as well. Believe me when I tell you that I won't be disapointed if I raise more than my target amount.

As many of you know I moved to California with a desire to help the massive problem of homeless in the great Los Angeles area. This is an opportunity that really excites me.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions!!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

* Who would have thought that the OSU to beat USC would be Oregon State and not Ohio State?!?!

* Check out this story -- Cancel UGA-Alabama Game, Urges Oil Executive ... Cancel a big time college football game in the south? That's like a declaration of war!

* Notre Dame loses to Purdue this weekend. The Irish will finish no worse than .500 - probably!

* Watching ESPN College Gameday at 7:00 a.m. is really odd but I'll get used to it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY "BOSS"

Today is Bruce Springsteen's 59th birthday! After seeing him live back in October, this man still lives like he is in his mid-20's! Man, you gotta love that.

Come to think of it, should today be some sort of national holiday? He did, after all, produce one of the greatest (if not the greatest) rock album of all-time with "Born to Run" in 1977.

At some point in everyone life, there was at least one Bruce Springsteen song you liked. I guarantee it. At least one song!

My iTunes is chalked full of some of his best stuff. Currently here is my play list of "Springsteen's Best ..."

Darkness on the Edge of Town, The Rising, She's the One, Countin' on a Miracle, Backstreets, Badlands (Live), Glory Days, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), Devils & Dust, Devils Arcade, Atlantic (Live), Born to Run, Girls in their Summer Clothes, Land of Hopes and Dreams and American Land

If you want to see a person truly rock out a sold-out show, just check out this YouTube clip of "Born to Run" during his 2002 tour -- here.

GOOD-BYE YANKEE STADIUM

It was bittersweet to watch the last game in Yankee Stadium last night. However, it was mostly sweet because there are so many good things I remember about watching games from the old ballpark in the Bronx. Whether I was watching a game live or jumping up and down in my living room during another moment provided by the ghosts of Yankees past.

I have been to Yankee Stadium five times. Each time was unique but there are two experience that I will never forget. During those five trips the Yankees went 1-3 and had one game rained out.

1) July 3, 1999 -- During my second game at the Stadium the Yankees were down 5-3 to the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, a lead off single by Chili David and a walk by Jorge Posada set-up a dramatic finish.

Luis Sojo followed the Posada walk with a strike-out and my once excited hopes got crushed for a moment. Scott Broius nailed an offering from Auther Rhodes into the leftfield stands for a dramatic one-out three-run homerun to win the game for the Yankees.

The homerun ball landed literally three feet away from me but I was too excited about the win that I never went for the ball! Oh well, at least the Yankees won!

2) After the attacks of 9/11 I went to the first playoff game at Yankee Stadium in mid-October against the Oakland A's. The trip to the Stadium was what I remember most. Me and my friend took a ferry that went by Ground Zero. It was one of the most eerie 15 minutes of my life. There was still a fair amount of smoke around the site even three weeks after the event.

Unfortunately the Yankees lost the game to the A's but seeing Ground Zero just a few weeks after such an impactful event left all 100+ people on the ferry speechless.

BLAME, RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY

Ever since creation it has been spat through out humanity. It only took three chapters into the Bible for it to become evident.

Blame!

First, Eve blamed the serpent for tempting her with the apple then Adam blamed Eve for giving him the apple. How about a little responsibility you two? Funny how things haven't really changed much over the past several thousand years.

This past weekend when the U.S. economy continued to show its flaws and cracks, what did the two Presidential candidates do? Blame one another. Or at least blame their opponent respective political parties.

There was no responsibility, no plan, no accountability by either one of them. Instead of offering up hope, they fired away at each like a budding police cadet at the academy firing range. Here's a sampling of a few quotes by each:

Obama -- "This is a guy (McCain) who's spent nearly three decades in Washington. After spending the entire campaign saying I haven't been in Washington long enough, he apparently now is willing to assign me responsibility for all of Washington's failings."

"[McCain] wants to run health care like they’ve been running Wall Street,” Obama said earlier at a Daytona, Fla., campaign stop. “Well, senator, I know some folks on Main Street who aren’t going to think that’s a good idea.”

McCain -- "The crisis on Wall Street started in the Washington culture of lobbying and influence peddling, and [Obama] was square in the middle of it."

"My opponent's only solutions are talk and taxes. I will reform Wall Street and fix Washington. I have taken on tougher guys than this before."

These two can take a page from Ed Hochuli's book on being accountable and responsible. Here's a guy who blows a fairly big call in the San Diego/Denver NFL game last Sunday. He made a mistake and admitted it. He didn't blame anyone else. He just stood up and took responsibility for his mistake. Here's his statement:

"I'm getting hundreds of e-mails -- hate mail -- but I'm responding to it all. People deserve a response. You can rest assured that nothing anyone can say can make me feel worse than I already feel about my mistake on the fumble play. You have no idea … Affecting the outcome of a game is a devastating feeling. Officials strive for perfection -- I failed miserably. Although it does no good to say it, I am very, very sorry."

OK, I understand that there is a huge difference between the NFL and the U.S. economy. I'm not blind to that. However why is that an NFL referee has the most shining example of being responsible and accountable for mistakes? He didn't blame anyone. He sucked it up and took his lumps.

Maybe Ed Houchuli should be running for his U.S. President.

LUNCH BREAK READING

During my hour lunch break I usually like to print off a few articles and read while enjoying my midday meal. Here's a sampling of some of the more interesting articles

"The Science of Happiness" -- here

"McPalin Rattles Team Obama" -- here

"What Happens When We Die" -- here

"A Stock Market for Do Gooders" -- here

"Love and Infidelity: How Are Brains Keep Us from Straying" -- here

All of these articles should take no longer than 10 minutes to read through. Good material to read over lunch, dinner or other things that take a few moments ...

ONE CAMPAIGN PETITION

The first Presidential debate is being held next week and since the economy is the #1 issue on every ones mind these days, it makes sense to find out how Americans can give their money away and help people in extreme poverty

This is a simple petition to sign. Here is what the One Campaign is doing --

"ONE is launching a new campaign to get “Just ONE Question” about the fight against global poverty asked at the 2008 presidential debates."

Sign Petition

What makes this so central to me boils down to one questions -- "what would happen if American started caring more about the better-ment of others and less about themselves?"

You know that whole idea of doing something larger than yourself. This is a very simple way to start.

TO NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL FANS

(OK, this comes with some level cautious optimism)

Be very, very nervous about your teams 2-0 start. They were amazingly lucky to escape the home opener against San Diego State then they just took advantage of some awful play by Michigan to post a win over the maize and blue.

Could this team realistically find a way to a 10-win season? You know what they just may because they only play one team that is currently ranked in the top 25 -- USC. Let me tell you, there is no chances that the Irish will beat them. None! However, the schedule is some what favorable to posting a really solid win total.

I had them going 7-5. That could still happen very easily but I think they will finish better than that just because the schedule is that chalked full with "so-so" teams the rest of the way.

If they do reach the 10 win plateau it is because they finally starting running and passing the ball on a consistent basis. Notre Dame's offense is still mediocre at best but they are doing just enough. The defense is playing fairly well and the special teams has enough to get things done.

So be careful about putting the Irish among the top 25 teams in the nation. They are currently a far cry from that but Irish fans stay excited but nervous as well.

MADE ME SMILE ...

Gas in South Bend -- about $4.00/gallon


What I paid for gas in L.A. on Sunday afternoon ...

LOS ANGELES RANKINGS

Travel and Leisure magazine did their annual list of Top 25 cities in America based on a wide variety of factors. Where did your city rank?

L.A. Ranks

THE SOLOIST

Just take three minutes (View Video) --



For a little bit more of the story - here. Please Hollywood don't mess this up. Please!

TWO QUESTIONS

I have been perplexed with two questions --

1) Do I purchase a nice new HD TV for roughly $500/$600 and be all set for the conversion in February or buy a "regular" TV and get the box?

2) Get a nice road bike ($300 or so) or just get a regular run of the mill bike that will get me from point A to point B successfully?

I'll keep you posted ...

LEAVING DODGER STADIUM

I went to the Dodgers/Diamondbacks game on Friday night and while leaving the game with my friend we overheard a Dodger fan:

"That wasn't a real exciting game"

My friend and I look at each other thinking the guy went to a different game we just witnessed. The Dodgers won 7-0 in game where the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are within a 1/2 game of each other for the division lead.

This is also the game where starting Dodger pitcher Derek Lowe went eight innings giving up zero runs and only two hits but the game wasn't real exciting.

During the game Dodger leftfielder Andre Either went 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and five RBI's but the game wasn't real exciting.

The crowd of 55,000+ was into the game the entire time and there was excitement during the entire contest.

So really the game wasn't that exciting? I tend to think otherwise.

2008 NFL PREDICTIONS

Don't take this predictions to the bank ...

AFC EAST
New England Patriots 13-3
New York Jets 9-7
Buffalo Bills 8-8
Miami Dolphins 5-11

AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
Cleveland Browns 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals 7-9
Baltimore Ravens 5-11

AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis Colts 12-4
Jacksonville Jags 10-6 *
Tennessee Titans 9-7
Houston Texas 6-10

AFC WEST
San Diego Chargers 12-4
Denver Broncos 10-6 *
Oakland Raiders 3-13
K.C. Chiefs 3-13

NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys 12-4
Philadelphia Eagles 10-6 *
New York Giants 9-7
Washington Redskins 8-8

NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers 9-7
Minnesota Vikings 9-7 *
Detroit Lions 8-8
Chicago Bears 7-9

NFC SOUTH
Carolina Panthers 10-6
T.B. Bucs 9-7
N.O. Saints 9-7
Atlanta Falcons 4-12

NFC WEST
Seattle Seahawks 10-6
Arizona Cardinals 9-7
S.F. 49ers 6-10
St. Louis Rams 4-12

AFC Championship Game - New England v. Indianapolis
NFC Championship Game - Dallas vs. Seattle

Super Bowl - Indianapolis vs. Dallas