Walk, Mow and Sweat

I felt like mowing my lawn today. I have no idea what got into me, but I had been putting it off because my riding mower may be terminal and I really didn't feel like walking all over my yard -- behind a push mower. I've fixed my rider three times, and it's starting to get a bit more expensive that I want to deal with. So, I fired up my pusher and went to work. About four hours later (about an acre of mowing) and lots of sweat, I finished. This included trimming. I was focused.

I still have my rider. That piece of machinery is 16 years old. Now I have to decide what to do with it. But, walking in what seemed to be like a steam bath this morning and afternoon is helping me to decide.

I sweat so much that I am sure it was very cleansing. But, as I walked and sweat, I kept thinking of the words my dad would say and would probably still be saying. He would have looked at me and seen me drenched in sweat and said something like this. "Take-a lottsa water out."

Run, Jump, and Throw

Thursday, May 7, was the TSSAA Section 1-AAA Track and Field Championships. What a day -- all day. I got to the track at 8 am and returned home at 7:15 pm -- worn out. But, someone did the same thing for me when I was in high school.

It was worth it. Our high school will have 15 different athletes in 12 events at the state track meet. I am especially pleased that my grandson has qualified to go as part of the two sprint relays (4x100 and 4x200). He's a freshman -- I think the only freshman of the 15.

I guess I am not really surprised because he used to sprint wildly down the aisle of the church (and everywhere else) when he was two years old. In fact, the boy has always had two speeds --sprint and sleep. Now, he has a bigger play area.

Our high school is well-represented by some very fine athletes -- boys and girls. Go to my website to see more.

http://www.oakridgetrack.org

We were at the discus area practicing one day, and one of my boys was celebrating his 17th birthday. I chuckled to myself. I'm a half-century older than he is. What fun it is to see these young folks do their work.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Tomorrow, April 26, marks three years with my new hip. Seems to be working just fine. It's not perfect, of course, but it's much better than what the original had become. It was nothing but two bones rubbing together. I was afraid I was going to set myself on fire. Hurt like the dickens, too. There was absolutely no way to get comfortable. Replacing that one part solved a lot of problems.

Now, it's hard to compare my new fake hip with the original model. The Original Manufacturer made a pretty good product. But these parts do wear out.

So, I'm going through the life stages: build up, maintain, repair, and spare parts. I may be at the spare parts stage, and I am glad that medical science keeps improving these parts. Besides, my new part reduced my overall average age. However, I am not ready to repeat the experience any time soon.

Right on Track (and Field)

Pre-season conditioning for track and field is underway at the high school, and, right on cue, here comes the cold, wet weather. It seems to be a rule.

I'm a volunteer coach for the throws (discus and shot put). This means that I'm at practice daily -- like a good-boy volunteer. Some will ask why a coach is needed for throwing things. Those two events (discus throw and shot put) only look simple. There is nothing simple about it. And, we will never get the techniques right. That's why we practice under a structured program.

Since we are not yet allowed to actually go outside and throw, we are hoisting weights. The boys are mostly football players, so they're involved with the football weight workouts, but the girls are under my care. And they do work. Neither the core groups of boys nor girls whine about their work. They just do it, and they will stay right with you. Good kids and fun to work with.

Hopefully, when we can actually go outside and begin throwing, the implements won't seem so heavy.

Inauguration Day!

I don't think that I have ever watched as much television in one day as I did yesterday, January 20, 2009. In fact, I may have watched more on that day than I usually do in a week.

Inauguration Day! Fascinating--and mesmerizing. The whole thing. Even the flubbed oath which underwent a do-over today.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics-whitehouse/20090122/Obama.Oath.Do.Over/

Now, to work -- and much work there is to do. Even I know that.

Congratulations and best wishes, Mr. President -- to you and to all your team -- which includes all of us.

I Still Like Toys.

So, the holidays are over, and all the purtys have been put away. Friends and family have been visited. Parties have been attended. Folks have been entertained. Money has been spent. And, a good time was had by all -- I think. Of course, my bride does most of the work. I certainly do my part -- by keeping out of the way.

I did treat myself to a new little toy, however. No, not a new flat screen TV, since my old big-box TV is still good. Besides, I can fall asleep in front of my old one just like I could in front of a new one.

I bought a new electric pizzelle baker. My old electric one had seen better days, and I was not going to use the old stove-top baker that I have. My mother and dad used it, but it is labour-intensive, and I am not in to that. For those of you who do not know what a pizzelle is, you should look it up. Basically, it's a thin, crispy Italian cookie -- somewhat like a waffle. They taste good.

I have made one batch already, and another one is due to be made soon.

Happy New Year to all.

Santa Rocks into Town

Once again, Santa came. Amazing. Sometimes I wonder if he really pays attention throughout the year, or if he is just very forgiving.

Grandson got a "Guitar Hero" game. He is really quite good at that game. Late in the afternoon, my bride, my daughter, grandson, and I were huddled around the game -- each with a different part to play -- yes a regular rock "band." Grandson was good. The rest of us were very marginal, but he was very patient with us as we tried to learn. For those of us of a mature age, there is nothing easy about that game

Our renditions of "Hotel California," "Beat It," and "Eye of the Tiger" were just barely recognizable -- at the "easy" level. We actually made it all the way through the last one without getting cut off by the game.

But, we had a good time.

Merry Christmas to all.