The Latest
at long last.....
Since most of you already know my fiance Christi, I figured it was about time I came out of the shadows and introduced myself. Like Christi I am a brave high school teacher, who has allowed lack of time, motivation, and, in my case, a fondness for good food made quick, to get the best of me. In addition to my teacherly duties I spend most of my time coaching (cross country and tennis), walking our dog Loretta or just hanging out with Christi. Lately its become very difficult to convince my runners that I was, at one time, a runner. Mix in our wedding day in March and I have got all the motivation I need to raise my level of fitness.So enough with the introductions its blogging time. Since the first group workout Christi and I have managed to mix-in an innocent amount of jogging while walking our dog around the neighborhood. This weekend while Christi worked out with y'all I was down in San Antonio with my cross country team. That night Christi and I managed to complete a 45 minute walk around Town Lake with Loretta the sweet Hound doggy.This week Christi and I would like to complete at least three workouts (in addition to walking our sweet hound doggy everyday).Remember vote for us and we'll make all your dreams come true.Chris and Christi
6:55PM Sun. Oct. 7, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Dog-pooh and Cheerleaders
Can I just say that I hate my intro video and photo? I have such a round face!
Well, I’m not as sore this Sunday as I was last Sunday, but I’m still sore. Patrick had us doing a “warm up” yesterday that seemed more like a “workout” to me. It kicked my butt (literally...one of the exercises was to kick our own butt). I do feel like I worked myself harder than before, and I guess next Saturday I’ll work myself harder than yesterday (and I can’t say that I’m happy about it;I don’t like the outdoors, I don’t like heat, and I don’t like sweating, all three of which took place yesterday).
On a side note, my allergies were killing me yesterday after our workout! I guess kicking up grass and dirt may not have been the best way to start an allergy-free day. And speaking of dirt and grass, many of us have noticed the nice dog-pooh aroma the grass contains. If you did push-ups in the grass, you’d notice too. Yucky.
I’m trying to eat better, but it’s so hard during this season (this season being the big eating season). I want to stuff my face with pumpkin pie and candy. I noticed last week I was eating more because I was more active during the day, but I don’t think waffle fries and Skittles are the best sources of nutrition. I see a trip to the grocery store to get real food in my near future.
OH! So, on Friday night I was flipping through the channels and came across Making the Team. This show documents the girls that want to become Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Once the girls start their training camp, they have to do a body assessment to see how much they weigh, how much body fat they have, etc. One of the girls was considered “heavy,” and she was two pounds smaller than me!!! She was told that her mid-section needed to be toned up and that she needed to lose weight. I couldn’t believe it! Oh well, there went my dream of being a Cowboys cheerleader...
3:41PM Sun. Oct. 7, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Gay is Un-American (Idol)
It's funny, I always get excited when there are queers on American Idol, replaying the stat "one in 10," wishin' for some out and proud gay talent in the mainstream (like my fave: Dale in Top Chef) ... even it's just a reality-TV mainstream, couch voyeurs passing popcorn and judgment.
But, out and proud wouldn't come close to describing the "sign here if you love Jesus more than butt sex" Clay Aiken on the Bible Belt circuit or the silly-haired Sanjaya, who immediately had to squelch gaywad gossip when he didn't win Idol, but instead, won 12 minutes (tops) of limelight, a strictly non-rainbow-hued light.
Just saying. These are no Idols of mine.
3:55PM Sat. Oct. 6, 2007,Kate Getty Read More | Comment »
TODAY'S EVENTS
Sydney Wright
Geraldine's
Flower Crown Workshop at The Lucky Duck
Roky Erickson birthday tribute w/ Eve Monsees, Mike Buck, Tjarko Jean, Speedy Sparks, Johnny X, Sumner Erickson, Freddie Steady Krc, Billie Buck at Continental Club
MUSIC | MOVIES | ARTS | COMMUNITY
week2wisdom
i realize that for me, exercising is a lot like doing dishes (and for those who know, i'm not referring to the other metaphor, i'm talking about the actual cups and plates in the sink.)
most of you probably live in the modern world, with a dishwasher, so maybe this is not very relatable. in my house, i am the dishwasher (because i refuse to cook, and this is the division of labor that comes closest to working).
every single time i wash the dishes, when i'm done, i think *that really wasn't bad at all,* and it really never is. at least it's not nearly so big a deal as i turn it into with avoidance - the same way i do exercise. and with exercise, i almost always even end up enjoying it (though i do whine a lot, ask greg).
problem is...the dishes are currently spilling over my double-basin sink, all across the counter, with even more scattered across the house. now that i think about it some more, maybe this metaphor is only useful for making me feel kind of bad about myself :)
our assignment over the past week was to go walking 3 times. i went twice, and i'm okay with that. but the truth is, i'm all growed-up now, and it doesn't seem unreasonable that i should be able to convince myself to complete a simple task every *other* day.
though i hate to take advice force-fed me by mega-corporations with documented human rights violations, i think the best advice to myself right now is to 'just do it'. no internal dialogue about optimal weather conditions, or how various errands should be prioritized first, no invention of spontaneous small injuries...just quit thinking so much and make it happen.
the group factor helps a lot, and somehow i made it up and on the lake with the rest of the team this morning, for a much more challenging workout than last week. and since it seems unwise to try to give up all my issues at once, this means that i will most definitely not wash any dishes today.
re: the picture - that's "olga," about 10 minutes after she was born. my dog turned out to be very pregnant when we adopted her last year. she had 7 puppies only 10 days after we found out about her condition, and we raised them in our bathroom for 2 months. since i lived through that, i think i can make it through this challenge. (and olga's is a prettier picture than one of my dirty kitchen sink would be.)
liz
2:29PM Sat. Oct. 6, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Better Views
This blog has become more about my vacation than my training . . . so why stop now?
We made it to southern California (Redondo Beach) and the weather stopped cooperating. It didn't rain, but the wind working in tandem with the beach sand was enough to sand blast a mac truck. We got in late in the afternoon, made our way to the beach and didn't run.
I knew it would be difficult to run and train while I was out here, but I'm a little disappointed in myself. There have only been a couple of days that I really had the time and I didn't do something, but it still feels like I have been slacking.
We head out today for the Sierra Nevada Foothills, then get on a plane Sunday. I probably won't post until we get back to Austin on Sunday night . . . probably wont run until then either :(
I'm looking forward to meeting all of the other Club Chronicle team members next week, judging by the videos they seem to be a fun group. Please stop by soon as I will post more about my training (I promise) when we get back.
12:07PM Sat. Oct. 6, 2007 Read More | Comment »
Long Drive
Have a long drive ahead.
I will post when we get some time in Southern California.
12:07PM Sat. Oct. 6, 2007 Read More | Comment »
NEWSLETTERS
Mystery Men Mysterious No More
Never heard of Dr. James Leininger or Bob Perry? Don't worry, you will, if Texas Dems have anything to say about it.
According to the Money in Politex report issued by Texans for Public Justice, these conservative ideologues were the two biggest donors during the '06 election. They dumped a combined $12 million into Republican campaign coffers, or rather, into the campaigns of hand-selected candidates that followed their conservative creeds. Amber Moon of the Texas Democratic Party called it "the Leininger effect," where increasingly radical Republicans were winning primaries and elections on the back of big-donor money. And now the Democrats are going to use that in the '08 campaign against every single GOPer that took their cash.
For election attorney and campaign finance expert Buck Wood, now it’s a campaign issue. “That money from the Leiningers of the world is going to be used against Republicans who take it. Because they’re buying this candidate who claims he’s representing you, but he’s representing Leininger or Perry.”
If the strategy pays off, Wood expects the money men to back away, or even be pushed away by candidates who realize their name association is a liability. That’s a big change from ’06, when their check-writing was almost brazen. “They threw a lot of money at campaigns very late last time around, and it’s kind of hard to counter that in a very short period of time. They can’t sneak up on anyone this time.”
3:49PM Fri. Oct. 5, 2007,Richard Whittaker Read More | Comment »
Marion Jones Admits Steroid Use
According to The Washington Post, track & field star Marion Jones, who won five medals at the 2000 Olympic Games, will plead guilty today to lying to federal investigators about using performance-enhancing steroids. I mention it here only because, according to the Statesman, she moved here to Austin earlier this year.
12:23PM Fri. Oct. 5, 2007,Lee Nichols Read More | Comment »
That's Why We Have Metal Detectors
This from CNN: Man kills self in front of City Council after zoning decision in Clarksville, TN:
A business owner shot and killed himself during a City Council meeting Thursday night after members voted against his request to rezone his property, witnesses said.Ronald "Bo" Ward, owner of Bo's Barber Shop, had told the council his business would go under if he couldn't get his home rezoned as commercial. After the 5-7 vote Thursday night, Ward stood and walked toward the council.
"Y'all have put me under. ... I'm out of here," he said before shooting himself in the head with a small handgun.
Chronic thought it knew something about how painful zoning is, but apparently not.
11:30AM Fri. Oct. 5, 2007,Wells Dunbar Read More | Comment »
PHOTO GALLERIES
Austin FC vs. New York City FC
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