Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Hey, it's nearly October

Good Morning and how about we take this day and bottle it up?

Sitting here this morning, it suddenly hit me tomorrow is October 1.
'Rocktober 1'  as certain old-time radio stations used to announce. Apparently, there's something called 'Hawktober' about to start on City Line Avenue. So, no matter what you call it, we are in the home stretch of 2014.
Which, to me, seems too soon, but time does march on. It's funny how you look back on the year and it seems so quick, but those long days at work seemed like a marathon.
I like to see October come rolling in.
It's still warm enough you don't need the heavy jacket, but there is a crispness in the air, right out on the edge. It's the best month for apples as well. Which, I'm sure you really needed to know.
Unfortunately, that means we will be seeing more stores start decorating for Christmas.
I've been able to keep my blinders on so far, but it's soon going to get out of hand.
I'll enjoy October for a couple of days, then the leaves will come down.

Monday, September 29, 2014

It was fun to run, but it was still crazy

Good Morning and let's hold a revival!!

I'm going to flash back to the morning of September 21.
The alarm went off at 5 a.m. (yes, that's early for a Sunday), because I (foolishly I thought) was going to run a half marathon downtown.
By Noon, having gone the full 13 miles (the last mile is a blur), I was sitting on the couch wondering how somebody like me could get it done.
Sure, I was able to 'run' the Broad Street Run in May, but that was kind of like a bucket-list thing. I needed a goal to keep exercising and I did it.
I remember the Monday after being a day my legs didn't much like the rest of my body. They actually refused to get up off the couch.
So, I got talked into doing the 13 miles and trained as best I could. The first 10 (what, 10 miles? You are crazy!) went pretty well. The last three, well, lets not talk about that. Anyway, I got it done.
This past Sunday, we were out for a better cause: childhood cancer.
At first, I thought I wasn't going to be able to even walk the 2 miles, but by yesterday morning I was longing to run.
Of course, I think I need a little more than a week recovery, but that's still a good sign to me,
Now, to find something for this weekend...

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Late night hustle

Good Morning and how about those clouds?!?

I used to absolutely hate when the Eagles played on Monday Night Football. All it meant for me was a later than usual night as we waited for the game to end and copy to appear.
Now I don't like it for another reason: There is no way I can stay up until the end.
Last night seemed like it was going to be a pretty good game, but I only made it until the very start of the second half.
I guess I could of have stayed up, but keeping my eyes open today would be a bit of a struggle.
I also realized about 10 last night the Phillies were in San Diego. Guess I won't be seeing any of those games.
Really, though, I don't think I miss out on much. At least I could catch Dancing with the Stars.
You know, priorities.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Just a little bit nervous

Good Morning and here we are again!!

I decided to try something totally different earlier this year and ran the 10-mile Broad Street Run.
The training was tough considering I had never done any kind of distance run. Prior to starting to train last December, the most I had walked was back-and-forth to the refrigerator.
To say I was out of shape, well, that would be an understatement. I was the poster-boy for couch potatoes. When they talked about how American's didn't exercise enough and ate too many fatty foods, they were talking about me.
So, I was proud of myself for not only turning that part around, but actually completing the run. The fact I found it hard to walk the next day only made it better for some reason.
Two days later, my brother started texting me about running even further.
"You ran 10 miles, 3 miles more won't be so much," he pleaded (at least that's the way I see it). "There's a half marathon in Philly in September. Let's do it."
It took about a month of begging (OK, maybe he wasn't begging but I let myself believe it), I signed up for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Philadelphia.
I started my running again and tried (sometimes unsuccessfully) to eat right.
Well, the 13-mile run is this Sunday.
Really, can't you give me a couple more weeks?

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Reading and no rainbows

Good Morning and welcome back to the 'Net!

I picked up a Kindle about two years ago. I was heading on a trip and thought it would be better than taking along a couple of books.
In those two years, I've probably read more than I ever have in my life.
I enjoy reading all kinds of different books. When they are well-written, they truly do take you to different places. I'm of the idea now I'd rather read a book than see a movie.
Unfortunately, I don't know if reading is coming across to the next generation.
Most of the time, teachers tell students to read 20 minutes a night at home. I found out a couple of years ago, they can't actually assign that as homework (it would take time away from actual homework, I guess, was the reason), so they "recommend" reading.
For some (and a couple I know in my house), that means they can't be forced to read.
I don't get it. Using the Kindle or the Nook (I have both) makes it so easy to go from page-to-page.
I understand there's now beeps and whistles, but there can be so much more.
I guess it's a battle I won't give up.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Finding my footing

Good Morning and it was nice to open those windows last night!

Back in the day, I didn't know much or care much about soccer. A couple of friends played in high school. I think I went to one game.
When I got to college, I joined the school newspaper right away.
OK, the sports editor at the time told me, you can cover soccer.
So, I headed to the library and did some studying on the game. I talked to the coach, to the players, to my friends.
When I started I couldn't tell you where a midfielder would play (yeah, it's kind of obvious). By the end, I could call an offside before the ref (yeah, it's kind of obvious).
Throughout my career, I've seen thousands of soccer games. I've watched the World Cup. I've even found the game fun, not boring like so many Americans.
The last couple of years when the children got involved, I've found even more reasons to enjoy the game.
This year, about three days before the season was to begin, I heard there was no coach for my daughter's team.
I jumped right in and, even though it was about 1,000 degrees Saturday, we started the season. I think the players actually had a good time.
Now, I need to talk to those refs about offsides.