Frustrated

The "Run of Ellie" has taken a bit of a break this past week. Seems last Saturday's run aggravated my Achilles tendon. So I rested two days and tried to run on Tuesday...got two miles and had to stop.

I then became a student of how the Achilles tendon works, how to treat an injury, all the appropriate steps to getting it back to full strength. I even went to the doctor on Friday, but really didn't get any words of wisdom.

So...Holly and I went to John's Run Shop in Lexington yesterday, talked with another fellow runner, told him where I was in my training...ended up buying some arch inserts to help stabilize everything.

I've iced, elevated, popped lots ibuprofen...and rested this dang thing. Come Monday I'm going to try a light run and see how it feels.

Regardless of how it feels from here on out...the run for Ellie will happen, because I can be a stubborn man! I may end up walking a portion of it...but hey, the goal is to complete it!

So please pray for my Achilles tendon!

A few randoms...

1. Go Cards! They looked a little flat in the first half last night, but got it in gear for the second. Gotta be a lot of pressure on these guys! Next up Sienna?? (That messed my brackets all up!)

2. Boys Sweet 16...for the past two days I've been at the KY High School Boys Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena. I've been going for the past 10 years now...always a great time...100% PURE basketball.

3. The "Run for Ellie" is a month away...got up and did six miles this morning. My body is feeling good...after a long run it seems to take three days to recoup. My knee (the one I had surgery on) is feeling great. Early on I thought it wasn't going to hold out, but it has!

MARCH MADNESS

Love March Madness...for the next three weekends it will be full of basketball watching. I love the excitement of the NCAA and watching the KY High school Boys Sweet 16.

Speaking to the NCAA...my brackets are filled out...here's my final four:
1. Louisville
2. Memphis
3. Pittsburgh
4. Oklahoma State

Final two:
Louisville vs Pittsburgh

My final game prediction:
Louisville

Ricky P. has them about as ready as they can be. They are firing on all cylinders right now...hoping these predictions come true (at least the Louisville part!)

UK fans...sorry, maybe next year!

Cardinals Rule!

What a week of basketball it's been. One thing that I have enjoyed so much of this basketball season is watching Louisville Cardinal basketball with Hollybird. She's become quite the Card fan...

This week was the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden...the Cards looked great each night they played. They seemed to struggle with their first half play, but then Pitino says something magical in the locker room and they come out on fire.

Last night was no exception...Syracuse is a great dynasty bb team...but the Cards were too strong for them. We were jumping up and down last night...there was a lot of shouting as well, trying to coach them through the TV.

In the end the Cards are the Big East Champs...regular season and tournament! Now on to bigger tournaments...Go Cards!

Stupid weather!

Tuesday's high - 81 degrees

Two days later...

Thursday's high - 39 degrees

I love Kentucky Weather!

Random Saturday

Here's how this Sunny Saturday played out:
-7am - woke up! Huh? On a Saturday?? Internal alarm clock said "get up!"
-8:30am - Ate breakfast with our deacons and helped with some training
-9:30am - Ran FIVE miles this morning...greatest distance so far in the training
-11:30am - Family day in Lexington
*Little Chicago's Pizza for lunch...mmmmmmm good!
*Went to Woodland Park, Bryan skateboarded, Holly walked, I read and napped
*Browsed Hamburg a bit...
*Came home the long way...Valley View Ferry (very scenic route)
*Getting ready to play some scrabble with Hollybird
-9pm - UL vs West Virginia
-After the game...goodnight!

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour!

Still running for Ellie

I'm about four weeks into my training for the Mini-Marathon in Louisville...trying to build endurance right now. A just for the record I'm a real "turtle" when I run...not really worried about my time...just want to finish!

I'm still raising support by running for Ellie. My goal is to get 100+ people to support a dollar a mile...13 miles x 1 dollar = $13 bucks. So far I've got maybe 60+ involved...it's been a great motivator!

Last October I bought some new running shoes...Nike+ puts out a great running shoe, especially for how I run. And the really cool part about the Nike+ is the gadget you can buy with it. It's a chip that fits into the shoe...there's a receiver that connects to your ipod nano...download the program and it will track your running.

Tracks your mileage, time, splits, calories, etc. pretty cool gadget. After a run you download the info onto your computer and you can see the progress, make goals, share info with friends...

So here's a run that I did a few weeks ago...like I said, I'm a turtle when I run!

Let the "March Madness" begin!

What a season the Cardinals have had. Showing they are a contender for the National Championship on the road and at home.

Today the Cards knocked off #8 Marquette...it was a Freedom Hall "white out"...even Ricky P. wore his white duds (I don't think Armani makes a white suit!) Two more regular season games (Wednesday vs Seton Hall and then next Saturday at West Va.)

Go Cards!

I am the father of a TEENAGER!

If you have followed my blog for awhile then you know that our son Bryan is a "leap day" baby...he was born February 29th, 1996. So this year he doesn't have a "real" birth date...but don't think for a moment that we don't celebrate! Usually the celebration lasts for an entire weekend!

Here's the plan for birthday:
THURSDAY
-Family Birthday Dinner...Bryan chose to go to The Pub, one of his favorites!
-Afterward we went to the Guitar Center to look at drums, guitars, etc. Bryan bought a drum stick bag and several pair of drumsticks.

FRIDAY
-This morning I took him to Starbucks before school...mmmmmmmmm good!
-Tonight several buddies from church are coming over for a par-tee! Pizza, video games, middle school boys humor, etc.

SATURDAY
-Holly's mom and dad and Kristen (cousin) are coming over for more par-tee-ing.

My mom is currently away on a cruise, so when she returns the other half of our family will get together for yet another par-tee.

I love my boy...can't believe he's 3.25 years old. He's turning into a young man and I couldn't be any prouder of him.

An idea that's been brewing in my head...

-I'm still fine tuning it a bit...
-It involves our adoption of Ellie...
-It will involve some sweat...
-It could involve you...
-I've already been preparing...
-It involves endurance and commitment...

Got your mind wondering? I'll unveil the "IDEA" on Wednesday or Thursday, so stay tuned!

New Mute Math

I've been a fan of Mute Math since their conception...a few of the members used to be part of the band Earthsuit, they broke up and lead man Paul Meany started M.M. Bryan and I saw them live at Ichthus several years ago...really put on a great live show!

They've got a new EP that you can preview at lala.com Check it out...it's good stuff.

Thursday Treat

Busy times since last post...but today is the Thursday Treat!

I was in a conversation yesterday about our favorite School House Rock song...no brainer for me...I'm Just a Bill. What is your favorite?? Enjoy!

This is awesome!

Saw this story on the Today show this morning...it will bring a definite smile to your face.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Thursday Treat

Okay I'm going to try something a little different each Thursday. I'm going to give you a "treat." The "treat" might be a funny video to make you laugh (like today) or maybe an interesting picture, or maybe a cool link to a web site of sorts. Anyhow...enjoy today's Thursday Treat.

They actually threw the mascot out of the game! Sammy was thrown out of the game...listen how the commentators just keep it going, even a slow-mo replay!

Ouch...

You know economic times are tough when comic strip characters lose their job! Dilbert lost his job...Dilbert!

Crazy Sunday

So...for the first time in TEN YEARS...I had the opportunity to watch the Superbowl in the comfort of my own home, along with a host of friends. You see we typically have a big Superbowl Party at the church and for the past ten years, that's where I've been. BUT, because of all that transpired last week with the ice storm and because the cable TV was knocked out at the church...we canceled and encouraged folks to invite folks over to their homes and enjoy the Superbowl there.

Great first half, I was very pumped for my Steelers...enjoyed halftime watching the Boss put on a great show...beginning of the third quarter...ZAP! Our power goes out. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I shouted. We lit the candles...everyone left...I had one of my former yutes text me play-by-play until the end. (Thanks Tate!)

Of course this morning going into the office everyone is talking about how great the game was...what a great second half...what a great catch by Holmes..."Hey Jeff did you see it? Did you see it?"

"NO" I said.

The "Thaw" has begun!

Actually got up in the high 30's today...sun was shining bright. Holly and I were out driving around town this afternoon taking in some of the sights from the ice storm. Lot's of trees were down...many were on top of cars, through windows, etc.

It was really a beautiful sight to see with the thaw beginning to take place...sounded like it was pouring down rain. Something so beautiful yet destructive...

Tomorrow it's supposed to be in the high 40's...more thawing!

Here are a few more pics I took this morning...

We got POWER!

Our power finally came back on late last night...we were already up in Lexington at a hotel, so we stayed one more night. Bryan and I came by the house to drop off some "stuff" before heading over to the church. Lot's of lights were on...even the TV, so at least the cats had some entertainment last night! The temperature was a comfortable 68...Wednesday it was 47.

Good to be home...still there are many without power and heat. Funny how we take things for granted! Tonight we threw all the food out from the fridge...that was a bummer.

Here are a few pics that I took!

Ice, Ice Baby...

All the snow/ice talk got me all riled up last night...I woke up around 4:45am today, just couldn't sleep. I began to hear the sounds of the freezing rain bouncing off the windows...and then all the news stations began to report all over town of ICE STORM 2009.

I couldn't even get out of the drive way this morning, that was a good sign to get my butt back inside. It was a good day to be inside! Holly and I ventured out later in the afternoon, once some of the ice "softened"...

Around 6pm all of our power went out...so we took off to Lexington and got a hotel for the next couple of nights.

This morning (Wednesday) we got up and went to the house to check on the cats and get more clothes, etc. WOW...trees are down everywhere! I've got some pics (post later!)...I'm actually finishing this blog at Best Buy in Hamburg. Holly stayed at the hotel and Bryan and I ventured out to find something to do.

Were not sure how long the power will be out, so we are making the best of things...thankful for a warm place to sleep!

Tonight...we're going to BW3's to eat and watch the Cards at 7pm...tomorrow we'll reevaluate everything and go from there.

Wicked Weekend

Tonight I'm taking Hollybird to see "Wicked." She's been wanting to see this ever since she read the book sometime ago. It's a prequel of sorts to the "Wizard of Oz"...you get some background of the wicked witch of the west, etc.

Finally the performance has come to Louisville at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. So when Bryan gets home our bags will be packed and we'll hit the road. Bryan is going to hang out with mom...Holly and I are going to "On the Border" first to munch on some mexican food and then on to the play. Afterward we're going to spend the night with mom and head home sometime on Saturday.

Really looking forward to a theater date with Bird... we enjoy going to plays and artsy kinds of things. We don't go very often, but always enjoy something different and just being together.