Another sick kid. :(

On Monday, after school, J was complaining about 'not feeling good'....which she always does until she finds out what's for dinner.  If she likes it, she perks up....if not, well then she's 'sick' and only nuggets or soup or tuna or hot dogs will help.  Well....she actually had a fever and passed out on the couch right when she walked in the door.  Gave her Tylenol and put her in bed and she slept the whole night.  Yesterday morning, her fever was low grade (99.4) so I gave her more Tylenol and we got ready for school.  I sent a "FYI" text to my boss to let him know.  Well....guess who I got a call from at 10:45????  Yup....she's got a 102 and she's complaining of a sore throat.  So, I go pick her up and bring her to my on-site clinic at work and she had a 'weak positive' for strep.  Amoxicillian 'script and rest is what the PA said.....so that's what we did.

Since I had to leave early, once Annie got home and we finsihed dinner, I had to finish up work stuff from home and run two errands for Annie since she'd be at home all day tomorrow....putting me back at home at 8:30-ish and on the trainer at 8:45.  I was supposed to do 2:15 on the bike but did 1:45.

Today was supposed to be a swim at lunch (which I had just typed out "Today I'm swimming at lunch", but deleted that as when I typed it, I realized that my workout bag is where I left it at home)......and tonight is a 4 mile run.  Depending on timing, I may get both in.  If I have to choose, I'll do the run as I'm still working out some soreness from Monday's swim.

We had a roll over

...the baby that is.  She finally rolled over!  After about 4 days of getting almost all the way over, she finally figured it out.  We cheered and cheered.....she looked at us like we were crazy, gave us a crooked and toothless smile......then tooted. 

So....last week, I lost all kinds of motivation.  I thought I'd pick it back up over the weekend, but did not.  I did get lots of chores done around the house.  I started building some shelves out of a 'rescued' pallet (I'll post pics when I'm done), I bought and hung a ceiling fan for the guest room (***funny side story***  we have the same fan in our bedroom.  After I had hung the fan, got everything attached, and was ready to test it out, I grabbed the remote and started it.  I tested the lights, the fan speeds, etc.....I was happy with myself.  I go downstairs and my wife says "were you just messing with our fan?"  I said no.  She said "Our fan kept coming on and going off, lights were off and on then off then on...."     HOLY CRAP!!!!!!  The remotes are on the same frequency.  I didn't even think about that.  So I took it down, reprogrammed the remote and rehung.....)

Last night I went for my first swim of the season.  1000m in the pool.  I thought I'd be around 20 minutes as I had not swam since August.  Well....it was a "blazing fast" 18:03.  Not too shabby for first time in over 6 months.  I sent JFord a text and said that I'd found my motivation again......and not a moment too soon.  I have a 2:15 ride tonight.

I'll have to conceede the ab challenge to my man....JFord.  I haven't done any since last week.  Still, I did okay for what I thought I'd do.  It helped me focus on the core a little more.  I do owe a before and after pic (which probably hasn't changed much) so I'll post that later this week.  I will continue with focusing on the core work and try better at the next mentor group challenge.

Lost all motivation....

Don't know what's wrong with me.

Just want to sleep or watch TV for hours.....and not work out.  I don't even feel bad for missing.

Blah.....

In fact....I don't even feel like putting tags and labels on this post.

Brad vs. the Volcano

So last night on my trainer ride, I watched Joe Vs. the Volcano.  It's a cheeky movie with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, who plays 3 parts, BTW.....

Basic premise of the movie is a guy thinks that his life is ending so he's enticed to "live like a king and die like a man".  While a funny movie...it kinda hit home.  Making changes in your life so you're happy.  I don't think that anyone went to heaven, met St. Peter at the gates and said....I'd really like one more day at work.  Or, You think I can get one more shot at spending time alone.

Now, don't get me wrong....I have a great life.  Good work/life balance, loving family, 2 healthy and happy and smart and beautiful and.....ok, I'll stop....kids, a hot wife, a nice house, I'm training for an Ironman, eating good......I have no right to complain, at all, about anything.  The movie struck me about that....that last sentence.  I shouldn't complain.  When training is hard, when work is difficult, when the baby is screaming in my ear......it's all a part of the process.  At the end, I'm happy. 

The trainer ride lasted only an hour (of supposed to be two).  My nutrition was off yesterday and water consumption was zero.  I trudged thru that hour, then did resistance exercises and sit-ups/push ups for the second half of the movie.  I crakned out 200 push ups and 550 sit-ups.....BOOM!  (and I'm feeling it this morning)

Tonight is a 4 mile run.  It's 40 degrees outside with a 90% chance of rain until 9am tomorrow.  Run may be on the treadmill, if so.  No need to tempt fate and maybe get sick.


Total crunches:  3550

Playing Catch Up

Friday night was Family Movie Night.  Watched Frankenweenie.  Meh.....it's like an intro to the world of Tim Burton for kids.  Not my thing, but my daughter liked it, so that's all that matters.

Saturday and Sunday....well....they happened.  I was supposed to run on Saturday morning but got up and it was windy as hell.  So I decided to work in the yard, plant two Silverado Sage's and 2 Knock Out Rose Bushes.....then mulch....then finish painting/staining everything.  The garden is about 80% done.  So....needless to say with family in town, my chores, J-Birds party, and all that goes with the family in town, I didn't work out.  I had planned for an off day on Sunday so I took that instead of running (hahaha).  I did manage to get 500 sit-ups done over the weekend.

Last night was an actual off day, normally, but since I didn't get other chores done when the family was in town, I had to grocery shop, shave my head (and other parts), and do some resistnace exercises and 300 sit ups.

Tonight is a 2:00 ride.....I'm looking forward to that.  Strangely enough....I'm digging the bike a lot now.  Now....if I could just feel the same about running.

I start swim training next week.  I'm pumped about that too.....it'll feel great to get back in the pool.



Total crunches : 3000

Are you a Psychopath?

Last nights trainer ride (on Valentines Day....which is a holiday that neither my wife nor I really get into) was brought to you by the movie Seven Psychopaths (IMDBs Synopsis and Reviews).  It's a dark comedy with some blood, cussing, bewbs, more cussing, a dog kidnapping, and a cast of some A-List Stars.  It's not a movie for everyone but I enjoyed it.

It got me to thinking.....are we somewhat psycopathic when it comes to our working out?  My dad used to call it 'A Mask of Saneness'.  While some of the definition of psychopathy include lack of empathy, criminal behavior, and manipulation.....other 'symptoms' include:

Prone to Boredom
Impulsive
Egocentric
Anti-social behavior


I know that when I'm in full training mode, I fit this.  I can't sit still and get agitated.  I'm doing the triathlon training for me and by myself.  I get impulsive and I'm definitly not always sane.

So....I guess I'm borderline psychopathic.....and I'm writting a blog about me.....by me. 

At least I'm not using First Person narrative......yet.


Brad says "Have a great weekend" and he wants to add...."DO WORK"

It's Mah (daughters) Burfday

Today is J-Bird's 7th birthday.  There have been lots of things that have happened in the last 7 years.  Some good, some bad.....but I can't believe where we've come in this life.  7 years ago, my wife and I welcomed in a bundle of joy.  She's been a great kid.  She's smart, she's funny, she's a she-devil, she's hard headed, she's cute, she's uncoordinated, she's healthy and she's all girl!!!  I can't believe that we have a 7 year old.

On the day she was born (at approx. 7:30pm) she didn't want to come out.  She flat refused.  There were some complications including, at one point, where she had positioned herself on the umbilical cord and wasn't breathing.  Then....when she came out (which she was 9lbs....do the math) she was stuck in the canal....to the point that a nurse was almost on top of Annie shoving down on her stomach....and when she came out she wasn't breathing.  I was not able to cut the cord, but as I was a new dad and had never witnessed child birth, I had no idea something was horribly wrong.  The Dr. and the nurses were so calm.  We found out later all that was going on....and why it was dire.  Jili also had had something called Shoulder Dystocia (Find out more) which can be fatal and have long lasting effects.  That's how scary it was to find out what all had happened and how truly lucky we are.

Last night Annie and I rigged her door with a balloon avalanche and this morning I got her donuts and put a candle in one of them.  We sang happy birthday and catered to her wants this morning.  At lunch, we're going to surprise her for lunch too.

Pintrest Idea.....balloon avalanche

Last night was a short 1:00 trainer ride, followed by 3x10 resistance exercises and 200 crunches.

Tonight (after dinner....Jili's choice of course) is a run followed by my crunches....need 300+ a day to get the goal.



Total crunches:  2200