Sunday, November 01, 2009

Post #125

This is my 125th post on "The Battle I Love" and it will be my last. This blog has served me well for several years but now it is time to make a change and move in a different direction. I have enjoyed sharing my life with you and I hope you all enjoyed the ride.

Now we sing farewell

The Pirate Song
(Namesake of this blog)

To the mast nail our flag it is dark as the grave,
Or the death which it bears while it sweeps o'er the wave;
Let our deck clear for action, our guns be prepared;
Be the boarding-axe sharpened, the scimetar bared:
Set the canisters ready, and then bring to me,
For the last of my duties, the powder-room key.

It shall never be lowered, the black flag we bear;
If the sea be denied us, we sweep through the air.
Unshared have we left our last victory's prey;
It is mine to divide it, and yours to obey:
There are shawls that might suit a sultana's white neck,
And pearls that are fair as the arms they will deck.

There are flasks which, unseal them, the air will disclose
Diametta's fair summers, the home of the rose.
I claim not a portion: I ask but as mine
'Tis to drink to our victory - one cup of red wine.
Some fight, 'tis for riches - some fight, 'tis for fame:
The first I despise, and the last is a name.

I fight, 'tis for vengeance! I love to see flow,
At the stroke of my sabre, the life of my foe.
I strike for the memory of long-vanished years;
I only shed blood where another shed tears,
I come, as the lightning comes red from above,
O'er the race that I loathe, to the battle I love.

Fight on Friends!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Lily and Clark (a Lewis and Clark style adventure) featuring Sadiejawea


Wow! What a weekend. I ran the gamut of emotions, from relaxation, to frustration, to excitement, to anger, to relief and joy. Most of that was all thanks to my beloved football teams.

Alabama escaped a close one thanks to 2 blocked field goals, one occurring as time ran out. Bama defeats Tennessee 12-10. As we used to say at Northwestern state, ant win is a (Sam) Goodwin.

The New Orleans Saints are FOR REAL! But Sunday looked to be a remnant of the "aints" glory days of the past. in the second quarter the Saints trailed the Dolphins 24-3. But they never quit, for its "The Battle They Love"(a shameless plug for the old blog). The Saints fought back and overtook the Dolphins 46-34 in one of the greatest comebacks in team history, and who knew that Drew Brees could dunk? I do believe this is the year. I get the feeling we will be playing one more game in Miami this year (for those who don't keep up with the NFL, the Super Bowl is in Miami this year).

As nice as those two victories were, the highlight of the weekend came far far away from any football field or television set. The highlight of the weekend took place way out in the woods on the Louisiana/Mississippi border.

The 1st exploratory expedition of Sadie and Lily into the woods of the American south took place on Saturday morning. The expedition began as we load the Jeep, which has been nicknamed "the Sack", which fits perfectly in this story. Kelley suggested I call the jeep Betsy Ross as it is a Jeep Liberty Sport and Betsy represents liberty to many (particularly women). However, I thought the name was a little lengthy and thought calling the jeep Sacajawea would be more appropriate as she travelled with Lewis and Clark's expedition across the American west after the Louisiana purchase in the early 1800's. But, Sacajawea is lengthy as well, thus the name "The Sack" was born. It's also nice because I get to say things like, "hey baby, wanna take a ride in the Sack?" Pimp, I know.

So my fuzzy explorers and I head north from capital city to Clark Creek Natural Area which is located on the MS/LA border, about 55 miles north of the house. When I put it in the GPS a message popped up to alert me that the route would take me on unpaved roads and asked me if I wanted it to re plan a route the used only paved roads. Whats the point of 4 wheel drive if you ain't gonna use it. So away we went. We were on an unpaved road only for about 2.5 miles. But, the point is, we fear no road paved or otherwise.


This was Sadie and Lily's first time out on the trail so i was a bit concerned about how they would act. Would they run off never to be seen again? Would they cower by my feet? The result is exactly what I hoped for. The stayed near but often ran ahead or ran into the woods chasing critters and smelling all there is to smell(and there's a lot to smell). they chased each other. Often, the would run over the crest of a hill, disappear for a minute, then come running back over the hill full of excitement as if they hadn't seen me in a week.



We spent about 2 hours hiking. As it turns out, Lily is an off road machine, jumping on and off of boulders, leaping fallen trees, wading, or jumping into, deep parts of the creek. Meanwhile, Sadie was a bit more hesitant. Though very athletic and agile, she is a bit more cautious and deliberate when choosing a way around or over obstacles.

It was a beautiful morning. We arrived around 9am and it was in the low to mid sixties, clear skies and a nice breeze. The weather was perfect and the leaves had begun to change colors. Very beautiful.

Clark creek has 6-7 waterfalls. I was a little nervous when approaching the falls from above(i get that from my mom, stop holding my shirt) but from the bottom we went all the way under falls #5.

We were all alone on the trip in to the woods, didn't see a soul. Had the entire place to ourselves. That's one reason i want ed to go early, i figured most people would get out there closer to lunch time. On the way out of the woods we began to see people. 1st we scared a man and a lady, I don't think the lady liked dogs and the barking didn't help. Then we passed a Boy Scout troop(in think troop 348) from Slidell. All the boys wanted to pet Sadie, Lily would have none of it. Then we met Jake, a large, thick frame boxer and the two ladies he was with. I think Lily liked Jake, which is rare. Sadie was more interested in having the people pet her. We passed a couple more families before reaching "the sack". We loaded up and headed home, as it was getting close to kickoff time for the bama/Tn game. The mighty explorers had conquered Clark Creek, Lewis was nowhere to be found. The conquistadors of dogdom slept all the way home and for most of the rest of the day.

I am glad we went. These dogs are awesome. Even more so, it was nice to get outside and get some fresh air, to feel the dirt up under my feet. It was nice to not be bombarded by city noise and the feeling that there is always someone there. It was nice to be able to think uninterrupted and to go for intervals without thinking at all. It was nice to walk around with a clear head and the headache i had for 3 days before vanished(only to return Sunday night while doing lesson plans). It was great to watch the dogs run and play. I know they are dogs, but i get a joy out of watching them run, jump, romp, and chase things or each other. Very few things make me smile as much as Sadie's ears and jowls flopping when she runs.

It was quite an adventure for the wolf pack 3. I can't wait to do it again.

Monday, October 19, 2009

It's good to be the King!



The Saints are 5-0 and just kicked the crap out of the Giants. Our defensive backs did NOT get beat by the long ball. we actually ran the ball and created turnovers. we opened holes and protected Brees.



Alabama ran the ball all over the old ball coach and is playing dominate defense. Ranked #2 in the BCS and # 1 in the AP. Sophomore Mark Ingram, 24 carries, 246 yards. Dominance.



LSU is in turmoil, the natives are restless. The masses are calling for Les Miles' head.

It's good to be me today.

Monday, October 12, 2009

I'm Prepared to Handle Lifes Bumpy Roads



I bought a Jeep today. Sorry the picture quality isn't great but I took it with my phone(wouldn't Alexander Graham Bell be proud).

The Jeep is a 2008. Excellent condition. 4x4. And at a great price. Its hard to tell in this picture but it is a dark metallic blue. I am super excited. I know what you are thinking, "but Scott, what about your beloved Malibu"? She will be missed. But we must press ever onward. The Bu lived a long and reliable life. She will always have a soft spot in my heart. But her time has passed and I must now put her out to pasture to graze with others that have paid their dues.

I look forward to many miles and many adventures in the Jeep. I look forward to many trips to the dog park and levee in the Jeep. I look forward to cleaning Sadie's drool off the pristine windows for years to come.

At any rate, I bought a new car today. Hopefully it'll get me where I'm going. If only I knew where that was.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

CleVelaNd RocKs

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I am excited because one of my podnas came to town from Florida this weekend. We, along with the room-dog rolled down to New Orleans last night to see one of our friends whom is in a band based of Atlanta. The band is called "All the Saints". They play a pshycadellic metal sound like a cross between early Black Sabbath and Hendrix but with vocals that are hard to hear. The show was good and it was fun to hang out with the rockstar. The band has a show in Dallas tonight so we let them crash here at the house and use the facilites. If they get really big I'll be super cool for letting them stay here. Today, My Podna, room-dog, and I have been watching football non-stop. We have used many choice words and have threatened to dismantle the tv, but, Bama won the game so the tv lives to see another day.

Last weekend I took a trip to Cleveland. I have never been there and have always assumed that it was an ugly town. I was wrong. It was actually vert pretty. Hilly and the leaves were changing. Their was a nice coolness in the air, stayed in the 60's.

I never actually made it to Cleveland but spent my time on the outskirts of the city. I got to visit several of the small towns around Cleveland and have become a big fan of a small town calles Peninsula. Very quaint, on the shores of the Cuyahoga river. Very picturesque.

One thing I really liked is that there are a lot state parks around Cleveland. In fact, they call it the emerald necklace because the parks surround the city. I had the oppurtunity to spend some time in the parks and absolutuely loved it. Now, I'm not saying that I'm ready to move yet (after all, I've never been there in the winter)but the thought did cross my mind while I was there.

Here is a picture of Brandywine Falls, Southeast of Cleveland. it is a very pretty place. If you ever make it to Cleveland check it out.




I hope to visit more places in this great nation soon. Cleveland was a great place and there is so much I didn't get to see. I think I will make a rturn trip soon.

To make a long story short, Cleveland Rocks!!!!!!!

Friday, October 09, 2009

Teaching the Law?




This year I am happy to be teaching American history. I absolutely love it. But, I also find myself teaching a constitutional law class. I like this class as well. The class focuses on court cases related mainly to the 1st amendment and towards cases affecting teens. The students are great and I am lucky to have 3 law students from one of the local universities who do most of the teaching.

The law students found us some local attorney's that were willing to come speak to the class. I like speakers. Well, I usually like speakers. The speakers we had yesterday and today have me confused.

The goal was to have the speakers talk about what they do and talk about how they help protect their clients rights(as we deal mainly with issues affecting peoples rights in our class). But, that's not exactly how the conversations have gone. For the last 2 days I have been listening to these local attorneys explain to the class how to beat the law, or have the best chance of beating the law, faced with a drinking and driving or drug possession charge.

Now, I will give them credit that they are talking about the rights of the accused but I'm not pleased with the the fact that we are teaching the kids how to beat the system. Of course, the kids are all interested, awake, and engaged.

Listening to these speakers makes me like attorneys a little less. It makes me feel like lawyers are less intersted in upholding the law and are more interested in defeating the law.

I'm aggravated by this, but at least I know how to beat the charges now.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Hit the road Jack-O-Lantern



this is the pumpkin that i carved this past weekend. I'm no Leonardo or Donatello, but I think It'll do.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

It's all histroy now



And I'm teaching it! I really enjoyed teaching civics last year. I love the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, articles of confederation, how a bill becomes a law, Levels of government, responsibilities of citizen, supreme court cases. I love teaching all that stuff. But, I really love teaching American history. I think the part I really like are the stories. There are so many of them. Some are funny, some are sad. Some are just plain crazy. But it's these stories that,woven together, creates the fabric of America. I wish I was better at telling the stories. That will come in time as I get more familiar with the stories and their details. I had several history teachers over the years who were master story tellers. They were able to keep students engaged in the story by the way the told the tale. No one could spin a yarn like Dr. Caz at UNO. True, I couldn't always understand some of the words because of his very thick accent, but the stories were great.

I also like being able to show the students how we got here. Our history is not always a pretty one, but we try to learn from those mistakes in order to create a "more perfect union". Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail. But America, and Americans, keep moving forward beleiving in the hope of porsperity and progress. And I think that's why I like history. Because I can look at my own personal history and see the mistakes I have made and learn from them. I can overcome my own bad decisions, make progress and become prosperous. Everyday I tell stories about people who weren't afraid to try. Our founding fathers tried. They knew if they failed they would pay with their lives. I can learn from that. I will never know what I am capable of if I don't try.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Dress shoes continued

I don't like the way the feel. I don't like the way they look. I hate dress socks. they are uncomfortable. The don't make dress socks for people with a size 13 shoe. Thus, all of the socks are too tight. and they are all too thin, then they have extra tight elastic around the top to keep them up. It's like a heroin band around your ankle all day(from what I hear). But, my current employer does not allow us to wear running shoes except on Fridays. So, I'm trapped. I bought a new pair of rockport slip-ons, which in general are pretty comforatble. But the opening is a little tight. So, when i slide my foot in the shoe it puls the sock even tighter. I've gotten into the habit of leaving the socks buhed up by my toes because i know they will be pulled when I slide the shoes on.

I guess this is just a rant because I miss the comfort of my running shoes. I do look more professional in dress shoes. I guess I will just suck it up and deal with it. I just don't like it

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Shoes and socks

I've decided that I don't like slip-on dress shoes. And I really hate dress socks.
I'll tell you more in an hour or two

Friday, August 14, 2009

Summer Recap and New School Update

And so, my summer has drawn to a close. It was a good summer all in all, but just didn't seem quite long enough. I spent 7 weeks working at a summer camp working with about 20 thirteen year olds. It was fun most of the time, sucked occasionally, and did help the checking account, which was really the point of it all. I went for almost 2 months without knowing when or where I would be teaching this year. I parted ways with my previous employer without having anything lined up. That made the summer a bit stressful, but the income from the summer camp kept my spirits up.

I played in a beach volleyball league with some friends and we lost every game. We were the Detroit Lions of the league. In fact, I think I will suggest that as our new team name. We had fun at first, but the toll of not winning was heavy and the last couple weeks weren't the blast we were hoping to have. We have started a new season and have improved but We are already 0-1 in the new season. But, I think we will be competitive and put some wins on the board this year. If not, I suggest we aim for the most beer consumed award. We did beat another team in a practice game last week, unfortunately it was just for practice.

I did travel some. I started the summer with a trip to Orlando. My nieces were a blast, the small fry was hilarious. Big Red was a true sweet-heart, M-Mo was a bag of craziness and ready to do everything, and #3 was the boss(of paw paw at least). Tom & Jeri were a great team to travel with, I actually didn't do ALL the driving this time. And I really enjoyed hanging out with big brother, I even enjoyed hanging out with "quite contrary".

I took several road trips as well, including, but not limited to, trips to Memphis where I found some of the best damned bbq I've ever had, made some new friends, and discovered the joys of bingo, midtown, and the beauty of Lamar ave(the 11th most dangerous neighborhood in America).

I also spent some time in the Pacific Northwest a couple weeks ago. I always enjoy travelling to Seattle to escape the oppressive summer heat and humidity of South Louisiana. This year I left 90 degree New Orleans for the pleasantness of 103 degree Seattle. And did I mention that my peeps in the northwest don't have an AC in their house. It was quite warm, but i was very comfortable sleeping on the futon in the basement. With the windows open it probably got into the low 70's or upper 60's while I slept. I also set a record as I attended the hottest Seattle Mariners game ever(103 degrees), I can add that to attending the largest crowd for an NBA game when the bulls played the Atlanta Hawks during Jordan's final year.

We escaped from Seattle and headed north to the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound. Did some Sea Kayaking, whick was awesome, and some white water rafting in the Cascade Mountains. We ate alot of food on this trip. I ate way to much, and loved it.

I made a stop in Vegas on the way home. My eldest uncle just turned 60 and some family and friends surprised him in Vegas. I was glad to be there for his birthday dinner. I really do appreciate my Uncle because he is the closest link to my grandfather, who I never got to know. I know they are not the same, but he sort of puts a voice and face to the person that I wish I could have met. It was important to me to be thereto honor both he and his father, and I hope he knew that. It didn't take me long to realize that Vegas is not one of my places. It was nice to see it, but at no point did I really feel comfortable there. I would probably return if the right situation presented itself, but don't really have a desire to do so. But, I did come up with a good slogan for Vegas to use. Vegas; a naughty Disney World for rich folks.

And now summer is over. and it's back to work. I landed a job 2 days before leaving for Seattle, Which allowed me to enjoy the trip. I am teaching American History, World Geography(though that might go away), and a constitutional law class. I will miss my old coworkers but am excited about the challenges and possibilities at my new school. The school is only 12 minutes from the house so this should help lower the gas bill. It is a very urban school with a large at risk population. I've been with these kids for a week and already love them. And no, I am not worried about my safety. I haven't had any problems with the kids but I can see that some subjects that we will cover they will find extremely pointless and boring. it will be a challenge to keep them engaged all year. But I can also see that there are gonna be a lot of fun moments and a lot of breakthrough moments. I am sure I will have stories to tell. Finally, I love the way I have been treated by the administration. I know that they are committed to building a better school and I am excited that I have chosen to be on their team. The only motive I can see that this administration has is to make this school a pillar in this community and help these students achieve success in life. I certainly do appreciate that.

That should bring you about up to speed. I know I left things out, such as the adventures of mountain mike, but my little fingers are tired and I have to go teach now.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Chips Ahoy, Matey!



I think I would like to build my own wooden canoe. However, I have zero experience with such things. I know nothing about boats, woodworking, or the tools of the trade. Yet, I have been feeling the desire to build my own canoe for sometime now. There are plans for such things on the internet. It seems that if I just go step by step I should be able to do it. But, it doesn't look as easy as putting together a bookshelf out of a box from Wal-Mart. So, the question then becomes, "to build, or not to build". The other question on my mind is what would I name my pirate ship, I mean canoe? Perhaps the "Bayou Barnacle" or "Scotts Yacht" or "The Chicken of the Sea". Names are very important for this type of thing. What would Speed Racer be without he Mach 5, or Hans Solo without the "millennium Falcon", or Scooby Doo without the "Mystery Machine". As you can see I have a lot of serious questions to ponder. Any suggestions on both questions would be appreciated, that's what the comment section below is there for.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Am I UnAmerican?

I've been sitting back relaxing tonight, enjoying the MLB All-Star Game. Which makes me feel like a good American taking part in the national past time. You see, I really love baseball. I don't watch it much, but I love it. I love the game, the personalities, the ball parks, the smell of a glove, the history of the game. But I've gotten away from the sport in the last 10 years. Maybe it was the strike a few years back. Maybe it was the steroid controversies. Maybe it was not having a local team. What ever it was, I drifted away. A couple weeks ago I went to a New Orleans Zephyrs AAA game. I loved it. I had a seat about 5 rows behind the visiting dug out with a buddy of mine, enjoying a summer evening, making small talk with with the nice people around me. It was a good night, and a good game. the Z's won in the bottom of the 9th. Since then I've been watching the grand old game a little more on the television.

But there is one thing that bothers me, and I feel a little guilty admitting it, but I don't like it when they sing "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch. I loves me some God and I hope he blesses America. But there is nothing as American as several thousand people from all walks of life coming together to sing a song about baseball. Baseball is part of our shared American heritage. "Take me out to the Ball Game" is part of that heritage and is part of baseball tradition. Tradition is why we love baseball. What would the Yankees be with out pinstripes? What would Fenway be with out The Green Monster? What would the cubs be without another losing season? You see, those things are tradition, just as Harry Carray Always sang "take me out to the Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch. I, for one, love it when the camera pans around the crowd and shows people who don't know each other with arms around each other swaying side to side and singing "ONE! TWO! THREE STRIKES YOUR OUT!" to me, that's proof that God has blessed America, and it's not found in a church or cathedral, but at the "Old, Ball, Game"!

Here we go again

It's time.

Time to make it happen, because it won't do it on its own.

I haven't done any real workouts in 7 weeks. Yesterday that changed. The dogs and I did a 3 mile run at the levee in 92 degree heat and lived to tell about it. The goal was just to get out the door and run a bit. Goal accomplished. As most of you can probably guess, that one run is eventually gonna lead to something. You are right. I have been making some tentative plans for some upcoming races. I'm looking at the New Orleans "Jazz" half-marathon in September and the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa the weekend before Thanksgiving. Then possibly the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis in December and my return to the Mardi Gras Marathon in New Orleans in February or March. The only one that I might not do is the one in Memphis as it is 3 weeks after Tulsa, and I may need more time to recover, we'll see.

The important thing is that I got out and got started. When I talk to people about running, swimming, or cycling I often get the comment that they don't see how i run that far. I always tell them that the hardest part is just getting out the door. If you can get your shoes on and step into the street then you will at least walk around the block. That's better than nothing. The next day you might walk 2 blocks. eventually you will be running(or walking briskly)for 10 or 15 miles. It all starts with just getting out the door.

The problem is that we want immediate results without the work. Or as I call it, "instification" meaning we want things instantly, like rice and coffee. But some things take time, like a fine wine or Scotch. that's the way running is. First you just get moving, then you build a foundation, then you train for a goal. Yesterday I started moving, in a couple weeks I will have a foundation, and by Thanksgiving I will be achieving a goal. Feel free to put your shoes on and go for a walk, who knows, maybe I'll be trying to catch up to you soon.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

2 stories for you

It's been over a month since my last post. Sorry for the delay as I know you have been checking this thing at least twice a day drooling like Pavlov's dog in anticipation of the next savory morsel I would feed you. Well, the bell is ringing and it's time to eat rover(or tralfaz, what ever your name may be).

There has been a lot going on the past month or so and there were lots of things I wanted to tell you about, but seeing as how i neglected to write them down, I don't remember all of the tales I wanted to tell. But here's one I do recall. Perhaps you remember me telling you about Lily bringing socks and stuff out into the yard and how she even brought some twigs onto the bed. Well, I knew the day was coming and it finally arrived. A few weeks ago I walked into my bed room only to find a dead bird on my bed. Lily was so proud of it that she jumped up on the bed, picked it up, and jumped around a bit with it in her mouth. I didn't know what to say, and since Lily is a dog I didn't say anything. I just went in the garage, got the shovel and scooped the dead bird off the bed. I gave it a beautiful memorial service as I tossed it over the back fence. Don't worry friends, i washed the sheets.

On a more serious note, I'm sure you all heard that Michael Jackson passed away. I know you have been overwhelmed with the media coverage so don't worry, what I am about to say isn't really about MJ. Let me begin by saying that I am a MJ fan. I think he is a musical genius and one of the greatest performers ever, but I gotta admit, dude was freakin' weird.
MJ was a major part of my childhood. The Thriller album was released when I was in the 4th grade and yes, I did have one of the pleather jackets with the studs and zippers on it. At my 5th grade graduation we sang "We are the World" which was co-written by MJ.and for years after that MJ released hit after hit that found their way into the soundtrack of my life. The day after the story of his passing was released I was driving to work work and listening to the radio. One of he morning shows was doing a tribute and at one point I did get a little misty-eyed. Then the thought crossed my mind(and the point of this post), is this what my parents felt when Elvis or John Lennon passed away. I have heard people from their generation talk of remembering exactly where the were when they heard the news(also true of Kennedy)and how they will never forget that moment. It made me wonder if I will ever forget how I get text messages from 6 different people in less than 10 minutes breaking the news to me. I don't think I was nearly as big of an MJ fan as people were of Elvis(my mom comes to mind) but I think that a piece of me died that day as well. A piece of the innocence of my childhood was erased and painted over with the reality the world we live in. We are not kids anymore and heroes do fall. Some leave behind golden legacies and others leave behind questions and accusations. good morning real world thanks for stopping by.

I suppose what got to me the most was a question that popped into my head. Is this the time where the heroes of my childhood begin to pass away? Will my heroes create new memories for me or have I reached the point where the work of my heroes is done and all that's left are the memories that have given me? MJ is gone, Nolan Ryan hasn't pitched in nearly 20 years, Van-Halen is not Van-Halen anymore, Evel Knievel is gone, John Candy is gone, Jam Master Jay is dead, The Junkyard Dog is dead, and it all makes me wonder whats next?

I guess the lesson to be learned is that it is important to leave a legacy behind. The people I mentioned above all did just that, just as Elvis and Lennon did a generation before. And just as my mothers memories of Elvis will never be taken from her, neither will the memories that my heroes and I shared. But it doesn't take being famous or breaking records to leave a legacy, it only takes a passion and love. My mothers Father passed away a year after I was born. His name is my middle name. We met, but I never knew him. However, he left behind a legacy and is as much a role model to me and example to me as anyone. I wear his name proudly just as I wear the name of my Father proudly. Because I know these men to be great men who were not perfect, but did the best they could with what they had to make sure that their families were provided for. My Grandfather was passionate about his wife and kids and none of them ever doubted that they were loved. What greater legacy is there than that. None.

I guess what I am trying to say is that while we are here we should make the most of our time and build a legacy for those who we love. A legacy they can cherish should they find themselves without us. Be passionate about what and who you love. leave this place a little better than it was when you got hear.

Do what you need to to make it happen. As for me, I'm starting with the man in the mirror.

Monday, May 18, 2009

I Was Walking in Memphis

What a great weekend! I went to Memphis this past weekend and got to got to the annual "Memphis in May" BBQ-Fest. It was fantastic. I don't know how many bbq teams there were but it was well over 300 and they were competing in various BBQ cook-offs(ex. ribs, pork shoulder, brisket, etc.) It's one of the "Superbowls" of the BBQ world and it smelled like heaven. What I did not know is that it is also a huge 3 day party. Every team has a tent set up and many of them come complete with a real bar and real bartenders. There were several 3 strory scaffolds set up complete with dance floor on the bottom, lounge area on the 2nd floor and who knows what on top. One of the highlights of my trip was watching a girl fall off while dancing on a bar. She was ok, which is why it was funny. The only down side was that I didn't get to sample as much of the BBQ as I would have liked, but that gives me a reason to go back.

I did have some very good BBQ at a place called "the Rendezvous". You know it's gonna be good when the place is in an alley. The ribs were good, the brisket was great.

*one thing to note, Memphis is a dry rub town so for those of you who are used to the wet stuff, go to Memphis with an open mind and a jar of your favorite sauce in hand.

Saturday night I decided it was time to really live it up so i went to bingo, that's right, bingo. Now, I've played some small time bingo before but this time I was in the majors. The hall was huge, the action was fast, and I was always one number from winning. But the concession stand was selling fried bologna so I'm pretty sure I'll be back. The speed round is my personal favorite. They don't call letters just numbers and it's one after the other with no pauses, ya gotta be quick on this one. It caused me to think that bingo is probably the perfect thing for old people because you really have to be thinking all the time. So it seems like a good activity to keep those elderly neurons fring and sharp. I don't know if there has ever been a study conducted but there should be.

Sunday I had a veggie pizza with canned corn on it. I've never been big on corn, as a child I hated it, but I have to admit that canned corn(not creamed corn) actually works well on pizza.

Then I drove home just in time for my housemates birthday party, which was at my house. Some one else did the grilling, I did the eating, and thanks Bern for the ice cream cake. Oh, and Sadie thanks everyone for the "this and that" that y'all gave her.

So, that was my weekend. Special thanks to my peeps in Memphis for your kindness and hospitality, I had a blast and look forward to coming back real soon.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Pleasnant Surprises














So when I Pulled up in the driveway to day I noticed a pleasant surprise in one of the gardens in front of the house. I don't know what they are but they are pretty. a pleasant surprise indeed. I moved into this house about 11 months ago. I guess these flowers had already bloomed by then. So now, 11 months into living here I found out something new about the place. Interesting, eh?

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

I never thought I'd say this....

.....But I am honestly bummed out right now because my yoga class was canceled tonight.

I've been looking forward to it all day(something else I never thought I'd say).

I came home from work. Took a nap so that I would be well rested, left early to make sure I didn't get stuck in traffic. Walked in and there was the sign on the door. Instant deflation. I've only done yoga twice so I really don't know why I'm so upset. I guess I see it as kind of an escape, and hour for me where nothing and no one else matters, me time, for lack of a better expression.

So I did what any down-trodden man would do. I came home and made my self a spinach salad. Leaf spinach, Baby Bella Mushroom, and dressing. A very sparse salad, but surely you didn't think it would have all the fixin's, I'm depressed remember? I wish BR had a dairy queen, that would make me feel better(Thibodaux had a DQ, that might be the only advantage it had over BR).

Alls I can say is that if pilates is canceled tomorrow I might have to burn down the"Y".

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Thoughts on a Sunday Evening

I like my family, as crazy as they may be.

I think my dogs are 2 of the best things that ever happened to me. I have learned a lot about myself while taking care of these 2.

I like to run, but I don't like to run away from things, anymore.

I think Sunday night is often worse than Monday morning. It's hard to enjoy Sunday night when you are counting down to Monday morning.

I think that honesty really is the best policy.

I think that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

I think that Jazz Fest is freakin' awesome but is way over priced.

I think i can, I think I can, I think I can.......

I that teaching is the right career choice for me.

I think I need a vacation from teaching. just a week or so.

I would love to travel more, no destinations in mind, just see where I end up.

I would also like to travel to specific destinations like Sicily, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Machu Pichu (sp?), Japan, China, and a few others.

I wish I was more comfortable in my own skin.

I wish my skin was less fuzzy, sometimes.

I think the guy/gal that 1st mixed chocolate and milk was a genius.

I think I will keep what makes me smile the most a secret.

I think I will keep what makes me most unhappy a secret too.

I think that caller ID is killing the art of conversation. A possible future blog post?

I think that life is a series of highs and lows, twists and turns, hello's and good-bye's.

I think that life is too short and we should tell the people we love that we love them.

I think I share too much of my personal business sometimes, which is completely new as in the past I kept everything inside.

I think it's good to let things out, but not to just anyone.

I think I should do less thinking and do more doing. Don't think, just do.

I think we focus too much on our stuff. Uncle Tommy was right Friday night when he told me that all the money in the world could never buy him the happiness he had while spending a few days with his grand kids, and that no possession would ever be as important to those kids as the memory of the time he spent with them.

I think I'm gonna go sit on the porch now and watch it rain. feel free to stop by and join me. I'll save a chair for you.

"Come on Sadie and Lily, Let's go outside".
"Good girls".

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Pain, pain, and more pain

Pilates ain't no Joke!

Tuesday night I went to a pilates class at the "Y" and I'm here to tell you that pilates is the real deal. I am sore in places that I never knew could be sore.

I got there about 5 minutes before the class started and found a large group waiting for the aerobics class to end. When it did they all rushed in the room to get a spot. I, however, trying to be a nice guy let the ladies go in 1st. The room was packed. I had hoped to get a spot in the back corner but because the place filled up so fast I ended up right next to the instructor. I wasn't so concerned with being next to the instructor, I was more concerned that I was now in front of the class and everyone would be watching what I was doing. It turned out to be excellent motivation. everytime I wanted to stop and rest I would remember that everyone was watching.
Truth be told, no one was watching, but I still used the motivation. I was also right in fornt of the mirror. After about ten minutes I was sweating like a beast. I glanced around the room and noticed that no one else was sweating, I tried to convince myself that it was because they were ladies and just don't sweat as much as guys. I'm gonna keep telling myself that.
My pilates partner(who was also my yoga partner)once again looked bored, but after class she admitted that she had to take a couple breaks, just as I had. That made me feel better. After class I talked to the instructor and told her it was my first time. She said I did awesome. She probably says that to everyone.
Overall it was a good experience and judging by the soreness I am feeling it seems to work. I think I'll try it a few more times to see how well ot fits into the new training plan.
I have learned a few lessons though.
1. No body cares what I'm doing(they are all trying to survive the workout themselves).
2.Arrive early and push the ladies out the way (other wise they'll do it to you).
3. Invest in a thick mat(thin yoga mats are worthless when you put them on hard wood floors).

I'll let you know how spin class turns out tonight.

Pilates=no joke

Monday, April 27, 2009

Me, Yoga Class?

Yep.
I went to my 1st ever yoga class tonight at the YMCA with a friend of mine. I think I liked it. I'll have to wait and see if I'm sore in the morning but as of right now I'm feeling good. I'm not nearly as flexible as I like to think I am, nor do I have the ab strength that I wish I had. But, I guess that all comes in time. I also did a 30 minute core workout class before yoga. That one was a toughy but I managed to get through them both only pausing to rest once in each class. So, now it seems I do yoga. How about that?

Tomorrow night is pilates night. I've never been to a pilates class but I hear its quite a workout. Hopefully I won't be too sore from today. I fully expect to be hurting Wednesday morning.

Wednesday night is a spin class(cycling) that I'm planning to attend. The reason I am hitting these classes 3 nights in a row is to see if I like them or not. I'm getting ready to move into a new phase of training and I want to add some new types of workouts to the mix. So, this is my test everything out week. Next week I'll make my final plan.

For those of you who do yoga, I will say that of the positions we did today my favorite was the 3 legged dog, and the only position I didn't do was the "cloud". But I think that's because I was trying to do it wrong.

I'll let you know how pilates turns out tomorrow.


Sadie's favorite position is "the licking dog"
Lily's favorite position is "laying on the bed"

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Jazz Fest 2009

What a great weekend I'm having. Sunday I went to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The weather was perfect and the music was awesome. Better Than Ezra was good, as expected. But, I was really impressed by the Dave Matthews Band. They have some songs I like but after today I am a fan. I'm gonna have to go back and see what I've been missing. They were awesome, but Dave is still no Lenny McDaniel(That boy can sing!).

Monday, April 20, 2009

My 1st Triathlon









For those who may be interested, here is the story of the Triathlon.

Friday night the weather started get a little rough, windy and rainy. initially my concern was that the rain would make the water even colder. As it turns out, the water temp was the least of my worries. The wind was the killer. 10 minutes before the race I went down into the water to get acclimated to the temperature. Honestly it didn't feel as cold as when I was there Tuesday morning but it is possible that it didn't seem that cold because I was walking around in a cold mist while setting up my gear. I think I got used to being cold before entering the water.

As you can see from the pics, I was one of the few, very few competitors without a wetsuit (because I'm a beast, as the kids say). Looking back I wish I had a wetsuit not so much to keep me warm but because they make you more buoyant, and I coulda used that. The problem was that the heavy winds made the lake very rough and choopy. THus, I couldn't get into a rhythm. Everytime I tried to take a breath I got smacked in the face by another wave. I quickly realized that the swim was going to be less about speed and more about survival. In the pool it takes about 15 minutes to swim the distance. Saturday it took 22. But I was still smiling when I came out the water, happy to be alive..

The swim totally drained me, but it wasn't over there. I still had 19 miles on the bike, which wasn't that bad except, again, for the wind. From time to time the wind was at my back and I was cruising but it seems like more often than not the wind was in my face. That causes me to have to do more work. But I survived the distance. Again smiling because I was glad to finish that section of the race.

Then for my favorite and most comfortable part, the run. Well, under normal circumstances it would've been. However, I was totally drained after the bike. But, I gutted it out and started running. about a mile into the 3 mile run i got comfortable. That was good beacuse with a little less than a mile to go I realized that my friend Matt(who was also my training partner) was gaining on me. I am 34, he is 25. There was no way I was gonna let him catch me with less than a mile to go. So, I dug deep and turned it up a notch. I finished 38 seconds ahead of him. That's right, the old timer kicks @$$.

It was a good experience. My first thought was that I'm not doing triathlons anymore. It didn't take long before i started thinking about how I had survived some terrible conditions and that got me wondering how I would do in better conditions. Needless to say, there will be other triathlons. My long term goal is still to do the half Ironman in New Orleans next year, and probably a marathon somewhere between September and December.I will also do some sprint tri's along the way. Feel free to join me if you would like.

Thanks to the parents for coming up and to Emma and Elie as well. Y'all were a great support team.

Enjoy the pictures, and I'll see ya when i see ya, Scott.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Triathlon is Complete

I survived it. I finished. The weather made it tough, but I will give you all the details when I get the pictures in. I'll write a full post with pictures. But, the important thing is that I can check it off my list. I'll email you when I update this thing.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Spring break, part 3

When last you read I was telling you about cutting the grass yesterday. Last night was a quiet night, I had sushi at whole foods for dinner, while a friend of mine ate chocolate mousse, Now that's a healthy dinner. Anyways, I am a fan of whole foods and I think that is going to be my new "fast food" place. Instead of McD's or the King I think I'll go to whole Foods and get one of their relatively healthy meals or salad bar. The food is good and there are always interesting people in there, so It'll be like free entertainment while I eat. But, as my friend pointed out, I need to make sure I don't sit in the same place every time otherwise I will look like some crazy stalker guy. Good point.

This morning I took the girls to the dog park. I'm super proud of Lily, she actually played with another dog today, as in antagonized a dog to play with her. I've had her for almost 10 months and that's the 1st time that has happened. She's still shy, but getting better all the time(just like me).

Tomorrow is the Triathlon. I'm not too nervous. I'm ready to do it. I'm starting to think about marathoning again. I like the tri training, but something in likes the idea of being a runner the most. I'll get through tomorrow first and then start worrying about whats next. Though I will definitely do the 1/2Ironman in New Orleans next year.

Anyone interested in heading to the triathlon in New Roads tomorrow can check out the website at: www.lawired.com/latri/Kenny/Home.html

Click on race details for directions.

Race starts at 8am.

or you can call me if you have any questions.

I know most of you wont be able to make it but just know that I will be thinking of you during the race. I'll be thinking of your smiling face as I cross the line, or possibly as the last thing I think of as I drown in the freezing cold lake. What a sweet thought to end a post with. :)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Spring Break, Part 2

Yesterday (Wednesday) turned out to be OK. I went to New Orleans to see some friends that I went to Northwestern State with. They are all married with kids so we met for a picnic so that the kids could play on the playground while we reminisced about the old days. We each brought our own food. So, I went to the Whole Foods on Magazine street and got a couple slices of pizza, because I try not to do fast food anymore, except chic-fil-a(LOVE IT).

Anyways, It was a beautiful day and it was nice to catch up with old friends. Most of us haven't seen each other in about 13-14 years. It was odd to see these people, we all remember each other the way we looked at 19/20 years old, none of us looked that different but it's easy to see that we are not kids anymore. In a way it made me feel a little old, but it also made me feel like there is a lot of life left in me.

As y'all know, I'm a big fan of Audubon Park. I have good memories there and was happy to add this one to the list. But my favorite memory is still the time that Sadie jumped into the fountain. And of course there were many days walking and jogging there. I always smile when I think of Audubon Park.

After a couple hours I headed back to Capital City. I had dinner with a friend from work and her husband, who is a professional chef. They made chicken parmesean. Very tasty. I even had a glass of red wine with it and finished the whole glass. Quite an accomplishment for me(there's more, read on).

Then we met some others at a place in town that has a beach volley ball league. We watched another coworker play while we drank, talked, and laughed about lots of different topics. I even had a beer. It took me a full hour to finish the bottle. I'm still a light weight but think of the money I save be being such a wuss-ass drinker.

Today I got up and headed to the Y for my last training swim before the race Saturday. it was much warmer than Tuesdays swim. Then I came home and cut the grass in the backyard. The dogs like to be outside when I cut the grass. The always lay in the spot of high grass. They seem to like that better than laying on the freshly cut grass, maybe it's softer.

So, now you know about my yesterday and today. Tonight I have big plans. Me and the girls are gonna be doing a whole lot of nothing. Actually, I'm gonna go to the outlet mall tonight or sometime tomorrow, I need new pants. Anybody wanna go?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

So, this is Spring Break. Aaargh!

Here it is Tuesday afternoon, 3 o'clock, and I have already run out of things to do. This is going to be a long, boring week.

I decided not to go back and rewrite yesterdays post, that's history now. Onward ever onward!

This morning Matt (my coworker who is doing the tri) and I took a ride to New Roads to swim in False river. We have been swimming in the pool at the YMCA but thought it would be a good idea to try an open water swim, and we wanted to see how cold the water would be. It was freezing(not literally). But I walked right in and swam around a bit and eventually got used to it. However, it was a little hard to breathe when I first got in, so Saturday I will need to get in the water about 10 minutes before the race starts to get used to it, otherwise it may be a very short race.

New Roads looks like a cute little town. I might go back one weekend to take a closer look around, it would be a cute place to take a date if I could find a nice restaurant, and a suitable "lady friend"(If you know what I mean;) ).

Anyway, the water was cold and the town was cute. I am really excited but a bit nervous about the race. I just have to remind myself to survive the swim, survive the swim, survive the swim. I'm not worrying about speed this time. I just want to finish the race. I'll worry about speed in the future.

I came home and decided it was time to cut the grass. And, with it being such a pretty day it didn't seem like it would be too much of a chore. So, I cut the front yard, but not the back. I'm gonna let that wait till Thursday because I have nothing to do that day. The funniest and sort of sweet thing about cutting the grass in the front is that Sadie runs around the backyard and house whining because she can't be out there with me. i don't know if she thinks the mower is attacking me or if she just misses me but it's sweet that she wants to be where I am that bad. She is a sweet baby. Lily doesn't make as much noise but will bark some when I push the mower along the fence line.

Well, it's 3:22 now. I just passed 15-20 minutes blogging. What else can I do to occupy myself? Anybody want to go get some coffee, or a beer, bowling, putt-putt, outlet shopping, hiking, dog walking, bungee jumping, bike riding, sushi, or something? I'm bored.

What a fabulous start to spring break. least I get to spend quality time with the pups. That I do like!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Just another manic monday

Crap, I just wrote a long post and accidentally deleted it. I don't have the energy to rewrite it now. I'll work on it tomorrow. Now I must go move Sadie and Lily on to their side of the bed. I'm exhausted. Good night.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

CCC 2009




The pic at the top (in blue)is from the marathon back in February.

I may come back and add a story to this post, maybe not. The pic of me in grey is a picture of me running the Crescent City Classic this morning, and no, I didn't win. Damned Kenyans!
the pic at the top (in blue)is from the marathon back in February.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

A Lily Tail (tale)

Lily is a very sweet dog, most of the time. She can be a little mischevious, highstrung, and a little destructive but she can also be very sweet, personable, and cuddly. Today, I don't know what to call her. Let me rewind.

a couple months ago I installed a dog door so that Liliy and Sadie could go outside during the day if they wanted. I didn't want them to be cooped up in the house while I was at work and figured they would let themselves out and run around the backyard to burn off extra energy. Energy burn off was a big reason why I put the door in. You see, there had been several times when I came home to find various things torn up around the house like mail, pillows, magazines,etc. So, the door idea seemed to make sense.

And since putting in the door there have been very few occurences of things being torn up in the house(though Lily did unleash her wrath on one of the couches last week). However, I quickly learned to close my closet door and not leave things laying around. It seems that Lily developed a new habit of bringing things outside through the dog door. It started with a sock, then a dishrag, then (unevitably) my underwear. But those were small potatoes. Next thing you know it was blue jeans, shoes, and a couple of days ago she even managed to get the fitted sheet off the bed and out in to the yard. That one I was sort of impressed by. But now it seems that things are moving in reverse, I guess she has run out of things to bring outside.

Today when I came home from work I found that Lily brought in a little present for me. The bed was coverd with leaves and pieces of twigs. We had some rough weather a few days ago and so we have some small branches in the yard. The dogs like to chew on sticks sometimes, so I guess lily wanted to be comfortable while chewing so she brought it on the bed, which happens to be her favorite place in the whole world, she loves laying on the bed.

I dont mind some sticks and leaves but if she starts bring in small animals or other peoples underwear then we will have a problem.

Here are some pics of the event. She is a cutie









...and be sure to notice that I didn't add any pictures of Sadie. Because I don't have favorites.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

That's a lot of swimming

Yesterday I went to the Y after school to do my swimming workout. The workout called for 1400 yards(64 laps). I wasn't sure that I had the energy to swim .9 miles but I haven't worked out since last Monday and wtih the Tralthlon drawing near I knew I couldn't keep ducking my workouts.

So, I got in the water. Normally I swim a couple laps and the stop for a minute. Last week however, my friend Matt and I had a sort of breakthrough. We decided to swim for a specified amount of time instead of laps. So instead of swimming four laps and stopping I swam for 8 minutes, Which was 16 laps. my previous consecutive streak was 10. But, At the end of last weeks workout I reeled off 24 straight(56 total laps). I was quite happy about that.

So, yesterday I decided that I would just swim until I felt like I needed to take a break. Well I swam 80 laps consecutively. 80 laps = 1.14 miles (2000 yards). Needless to say, I am stoked about that achievement. It took 43 minutes and surprisingly I didn't feel like I was gonna die at the end. I actually felt good when I was done and I don't even feel sore today. I am definitiely liking the swimming part of the training, now if I would only feel the same way about the cycling and running.

Which reminds me. I thought I was gonna get to keep all of toenails after the marathon. Now, I'm not so sure. Not to gross anyone out but I think I'm about to lose one. I'm sad about that, I don't like losing body parts but I guess that's the price we endurance atlhletes must pay for our passion and sport. I sure am gonna miss that little guy(if it goes).

For those of you who are prayerful people, Please keep me in your thoughts, and not just because of the Triathlon.

TTFN, Scott.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!






The Ides of March are upon us, and that can only mean one thing. It's Sadie's birthday. She turns 3 today. I can't believe it's already been 3 years, they grow up so fast. I remember they day we found her outside the Petsmart in Slidell, and we just couldn't "leave this sweet angel here". Sadie came home to the FEMA trailer and has been my lil' podna ever since.

Lily turns one today. I can't remember the date we determined was her birthday, it's either two weeks ago or two weeks from now. So, I'm rounding it to today to make it easy to remember. Lily was rescued from the mean streets of NOLA East by a friend but he couldn't keep her. We wanted a friend for Sadie and were moving into a house with a big yard so it seemed the time was right. She has made a wonderful addition to the family. She too is a sweet baby.

Happy Birthday Sadie and Lily, Daddy loves you!(Yes, I know they are dogs).

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

I know I said I would come back and tell the Mardi Gras stories but I've been really busy this week. Hopefully I will spin those yarns soon.

Today I have a special treat for you. It seems that spring is trying to send winter packing and I find the foliage around the house coming to life. So, the Pups and I went out to enjoy an afternoon. Here are some pics. Enjoy!



Sadie and Lily playing in the yard. We were outside for about an hour. They were chasing the toys I was throwing, chasing each other, and chasing me. Good exercise for the whole family.


Lily the one eared dog. I figure I have posted many Sadie pictures over the year so it's only fair to give Lil the occasional solo picture. Lily really has 2 ears.



Some of the prettiness in the front garden.


Colorful row of shrubbery between the house and the street.


This is what I see when I look at my bedroom window, not a bad view if I must say. Even prettier on a sunny day.

I hope you all are doing well. I'll be out of town for a couple days but will check in when I get back. Have a great weekend y'all.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Keep checking back, I should have this thing updated sometime over the weekend. I'm sure you all want to hear about my Mardi Gras experiences. I've been quite busy so I haven't had time to tell those tales. I do have time to tell them now but I am way to tired. Looks like I'll be sleeping by 8:45 tonight. I'll be getting up at 4:30 to hit the pool in the morning. Ah yes, this life of mine, 'tis the battle i love.

I will tell you this though, I went to an Indian(as in India) restaurant for dinner tonight, it seems that I do like Indian food that doesn't have much curry. Now I know.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

a weekly update

Well it’s been a week or so since I updated so I thought I would give you an update as to my goings on.

Triathlon training is going well so far. The swimming is getting much better but I have this click in my left shoulder and after many clicks it starts to ache. I’m sure I take several hundred strokes per workout. That equals a lot of clicks. Thus, my left shoulder is very sore today. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to need to have someone look at it eventually. But, I have found that I can modify the stroke on my left arm and avoid the click. It just creates a stroke that is much different than the one I do with my right. I don’t know if it throws off my balance or efficiency but it doesn’t hurt and that works for me.

The cycling is going well. I invested in the padded shorts. Whoever invented those things was a genius. The only down side is that I feel like I’m walking around wearing a diaper. Not Cool!

Oddly enough, running is the hardest part. I’m not really enjoying the running right now, probably because the other stuff is new and exciting. But running is my old standby and my true love. The passion will return when the excitement of the new stuff wears off, I hope.

Last weekend was a good weekend. I was much busier than I anticipated. Dinner Friday night was awesome, pork tenderloin, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Saturday, I thought I would be hanging out around the house for most of the day but I ended up cycling in the morning for 80 minutes and went running at the LSU lake with a friend around 4. Steven and I hit Brew-bachers for lunch, my belly was quite full. It’s probably good that I had 2 workouts. Sunday was good too. A little family/parade time in Slidell. Of course someone had to bring fried chicken. Yes, it was good. But I limited myself to 2 pieces. But I did have 5 brownies.

I feel a little guilty that I was not home more. Luckily the dogs have each other to entertain themselves. Nothing beats coming home and having those 2 sweet angels jumping all around with there tails wagging happy to see me. I gotta get a camera so I can post some new pics, they are the most awesome dogs ever!

This week at school is one that I have been looking forward to for a while now. We are studying Supreme Court Cases. I find this stuff to be very exciting, almost as exciting as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Wednesday and Thursday should be good. The kids have wanted a debate for a while now, and now they get it. Among the other cases we will mention I am going to let them discuss Roe v. Wade for a few minutes. Sparks will fly, that’s why were going to do it last. Hopefully time will run out before we get there.

In other good news, I got my taxes done and don’t owe anything, Yea! I’m getting a little back. I think I’m going to spend it all on frivolous things to stimulate the economy, any suggestions? And no, personal checks to you do not count.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Another movie review

I went to see the movie "Taken" tonight. I thought it was pretty good. I wouldn't put it in the great category but it was very good. I don't know exactly what I was expecting but it didn't meet my expectations. But again, It was good, worth the price of admission but I probably wouldn't go twice. Looking back on what I just typed, I think it's safe to say I'll never work as a movie critic.

On the training front. I did my first workout in the pool yesterday. 40 laps=1000 yards. In the beginning it was a bit awkward but by the end of the workout I figured a few things out. I slowed down, got into a rhythm and controlled my breathing. It got better, I didn't drown. The good news is that I swam 1000 yards(924 meters). The race in April has an 800 meter swim, so it seems that I could make it. The problem is that yesterday I stopped after every 50 yards. Stringing the laps together is definitely gonna take some work and effort.

Today I came home and got on the bike. I rode for an hour(roughly 13 miles) and felt good at the end. The race is 18 miles so I'm very confident that the cycling part of the race wont be a problem. The trick is definitely gonna be surviving the swim. Tomorrow I'm supposed to run for 25 minutes. I'll probably double that. I feel like running is my thing, the part of the race where I can have the most success. Also, 25 minutes just doesn't feel like much to me right now. But I don't want to push to hard. I'm trying to progress slowly and steadily so I don't burn out. It seems like the right thing to do.

That's all I had for today. I hope you all are doing well, I'll holla atcha lata. Scott.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Down the Bayou, Over the River and Through the Woods

Down the Bayou
Well, I did not really go down the bayou but I did do a little Cajun dancing Friday night. Thursday night I got some waltz and two-step lessons. Friday night I went to Boutin's. It's a Cajun restaurant here in Capital City. The great thing is that Thurs-Sun night they have a live Cajun band playing and a large dance floor in the middle of the place. I put my skills to work. I'm not a great dancer but luckily no one got hurt. Luckily my legs finally felt rested from last weeks marathon, 'bout time. I also recommend the blackened alligator, DELICIOUS!

Saturday
It was a good day. I took the kids(dogs) to the Dog park for a couple of hours. It was absolutely gorgeous outside and there were tons of dogs there. Lily is getting more social, she ALMOST plays with other dogs, almost. Sadie on the other hand will play with anyone. She does not discriminate. She played with a Dachshund and 5 minutes later became best buds with a great Dane. I gotta get a camera, Sadie and the Dane were hilarious. Once we got home we kicked it around the house for a while before I headed out to the movies. "The Wrestler" is definitely a guy movie. Ladies, you may enjoy it but if there is another option I would take it. Guys, you gotta see it. You can thank me later.

Over the river and through the woods
Today I got up early and headed to "The Country" to spend some time with my Grandmother, who is completely awesome. One of my cousins is currently living with her(because she goes to college to get more knowledge) and the 3 of us went to church and then out to eat. I absolutely loved it. My Grandmother never ceases to amaze me and make me laugh. I am 34 now and today is the 1st time I ever remember hearing my Grandmother sing. She was singing the hymns at church and it dawned on me that I had never heard her sing before. It was one of the sweetest sounds I have ever heard. I will never forget today or the sound of my Grandmother singing. It makes me smile just thinking of it.

Then we went to lunch. Catfish topped with Crawfish Etoufee(A-2-Fay). Quite tasty, but not as the delicious as the seafood and spinach dip, Amazing! Then we headed back to her house and sat and talked for a while. My Lil' cousin is great, I don't know how to describe her but to say she's great(sorry I couldn't think of anything better than that).

Then it was back to the house. I did my first run since the marathon today. 30 minutes worth, or about 2.75 miles. It felt good. Tomorrow I start my training for the triathlon. After work its off to the Y to do some laps in the pool. I know it's gonna kill me, but I can't wait.

It was a pretty full weekend. But not a stressful weekend.

I feel good about things right now. Not great yet, but definitely good. The Sun was definitely shining this weekend, in so many ways.


Hopefully you got the over the river and through the woods(to grandmothers house we go) joke. I'm going to get a camera soon, it's been a while since I've put up any pics of Sadie and Lily. I know how you all look forward to pictures of those 2.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

The Next Big Thing

So here I am, just days after completing my first marathon. I'm still a little sore but I'm already looking ahead. I have decided to do the 16Th annual Louisiana Triathlon in New Roads, Louisiana on April 18Th. This race consists of a half mile swim(800 meters), 18 mile cycle, and a 3.1 mile run. This will be my first Try at a Tri(my attempt at humor). I am super excited. Ive got a little less than 2 1/2 months to get ready.

I joined the local YMCA today so that I can start training for the swimming portion of the race. I think that will be the most difficult part. The "Y" also has spin classes which I can use as an alternative to riding my bike around Capital City.

I'm not going to start any training until Monday. I'm giving my body time to recover from the marathon. But I am excited about training for three events at once. I think it will be good because I wont be bored because I'll be doing something different every day. We'll see.

Well, I just wanted to let you all know what I was up to. I'll be chillaxin' for a couple more days but come Monday it's back to work. Who knows, this could be the summer of the 6 pack, HA!

Monday, February 02, 2009

My First Marathon

All the training seems to have paid off. About 6 months ago I decided that I wanted to run a marathon. I had several reasons for wanting to do it but mostly I wanted to see how far I could go(as most of you know I tend to go too far). Well, I didn't go too far yesterday, I went just far enough. The months of training paid off as I finished the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon in an official time of 4:58:35. My goal was to finish under 5 hours. Well, let me back up, my goal was to FINISH. My second goal was to finish under 5 hours. I finished with a minute and 25 seconds to spare. Yea Me!

I ran with the 5 hour pace group. Katherine our leader(the lady carrying the sign in the pictures) was great. She kept us motivated, entertained, and maintained an even pace. I don't think I would have been as successful without her, and her running skirt(inside joke).

I slept very little Saturday night. I was up at 4:45, made it downtown at 6:15. the race started at 7AM. My only warm up was some stretching. I knew my body would warm up over the first 2-3 miles, and it did. The 1st 2 miles hurt as my body woke up. As I passed mile 3(picture below) I starting feeling loose. I shed my long sleeve shirt and grabbed my 1st bottle of Gatorade from one of my support crew(newly dubbed "Team Pegasus"). Notice that I am smiling in this picture.

We made our way up St. Charles Ave to Audubon Park. I love Audubon park. It's a special place to me. As I ran around the park I couldn't help but think about the time Sadie jumped into the fountain there, makes me laugh every time. The picture below is at mile 8.5. I was feeling really good at this point, even high-fiving my peeps. Notice that I am running with a group of people. at this point there were probably 50 of us in the group(that's Katherine carrying the sign).I made it to the half way point in 2 hours 29 minutes. We were right on pace. We lost most of our group at the halfway point because most of the people were doing the half marathon. Our group shrank to about 15-20. Halfway through (13.1 miles)and I felt really good. This is where I made my one pit stop, a little to much Gatorade perhaps.

We then headed down towards City park, which again makes me think of the time Sadie jumped in the lagoon there, that makes me laugh too. I was feeling good when we reached the park. At about mile 16 I started to feel a little pain. Mile 18 I started to hurt. I carried that hurt with me the rest of the way. I stopped for a minute at mile 20 to stretch for a minute. It's OK, that was a planned stop. I got fluids and gel from Crawford and Bern and spent the next mile catching up to the ever shrinking 5 hour group. I caught them at mile 21.

The picture below is at mile 22. The group is much smaller now. Everyone was hurting here but everyone was being really positive. One of the things that I enjoyed was the camaraderie that developed. People who had never seen each other before were constantly encouraging new friends. It was great to see people supporting each other like this. It made a big difference in my day. Had I done this alone I may have finished, but there is no way I would have finished under 5 hours. At this point every part of my body was hurting but I had decided that there was no way in hell that i would stop. At mile 24 we were down to a group of 3. Our fearless leader, me, and the lady with the doo-rag(I don't remember her name). But doo-rag began to fade a bit. So, It was just the 2 of us as we reached mile 25. Katherine said she was gonna walk through the last water station to help doo-rag. She told me that if I was feeling good that I should just keep running to the finish. I said OK(that's all the words I had energy to muster). Below is me, alone, just after mile 25. Here I had one mile to go. I spent the last mile thinking about everything I have been through in the last couple months. I thought about the highs and lows. I thought about the brightness of the future and what it will bring. I thought about all of the hard work and training I put into this race. I thought about the commitment I made and how, even though every step hurt, I was glad that I was doing this.


Then, about a half mile from the finish, I didn't notice the pain anymore(but believe me, it was there). All I could think about was me and the rapidly approaching finish line. I knew I was going to finish. The thought of finishing what I started 6 months ago was almost overwhelming. From running 3 miles a few months ago, to 26.2 yesterday was an amazing thought. To know that the farthest I had ever run was 20 miles a few weeks ago to 6 more than that in the race was an awesome thought. I looked down at my watch, looked up to see how close I was to the Superdome, looked at my watch again then said to myself, "i got this". I knew I was getting close to going under 5 hours, I thought I needed to pick up my pace just a little to make sure. In my head I could feel that I was pushing harder but my body didn't seem to be moving any faster. About a quarter mile to the finish I could finally tell I was moving faster As I approached the finish The PA announcer announced my name, I wasn't expecting that, and that's when I knew I was there. I ran across the line and smiled for the first time in miles. I bowed my head and some guy put my finishers medal on me.

Then I stumbled around for a few minutes. I congratulated some of the people who I ran with, some finished ahead of me others behind, and thanked Katherine for her help.

I thought to myself how in many ways I was glad I crossed the line by myself. I thought how I was glad that my support team hadn't made it to the finish line in time to see me cross. I could not have made through the race with out them and it would have been great to have them there yelling for me at the end, but this race was a very personal quest and achievement. I did this for me and now I know what I can do. I know that I can handle the tough times. I know that i can continue on through the pain because there is joy at the end. I learned a lot yesterday.

So I finished my first marathon yesterday. 4 hours, 58minutes,35 seconds.
Maybe I'll do another one some time, we'll see .

THANK YOU
Thank you to my race day support team and to all of you who have been sending me emails and texts.

Special thanks to Crawford and Bern, Having you there was awesome. good work on the signs. my favorite was the one about Sadie chasing the Squirrel.
Uncle Brian- Thanks for coming in, I really appreciate it. You can run with me next year.
Aunt Wanda- It was a surprise to see you and it really picked up my spirits to see you.
Elizabeth- It always makes me smile to see you, I'm glad you came.
Steve- you might have been the loudest of the group, but that wouldn't surprise anyone who knows you. You are a great brother and I really appreciate you being there.
Tom- Thanks for not falling asleep during the race
Mom- Thanks for being there, as you always are. What else can I say
Special thanks to my training partners Sadie and Lily for getting me through those tough training runs.
And finally, Thanks K, for all the times you believed in me and told that I could do anything. Thank You!