Running Another Marathon-Miami

Although I haven't even run the Philadelphia Marathon yet (it is 2 weeks from tomorrow), I figured I need a new goal to keep me motivated to run.  So, I signed up for the Miami Marathon, which is the last Sunday in January.

Also, I want to become a 50 Stater, a member of the 50 State Marathon Club.  To join, you have to have run a marathon in at least 10 states (or DC).  I've run three marathons--one in Ohio and the Marine Corps twice. Since the Marine Corps takes place in Virginia and DC and I've run it twice, that counts as two states.  Philadelphia will be my fourth state (Pennsylvania), and Miami will be my fifth (Florida).  I'm half way there.

While making the arrangements to go to Miami, I found and joined a new Web site.  It is called Airbnb. It allows you to rent apartments or rooms in people's houses at a much cheaper rate (usually) than it would cost to stay at a hotel.

I was trying to make this trip as cheap as possible, but the idea of staying in a room in someone's house doesn't sound like something I would really want to do. However, I did explore the site a bit and found a nice place that had lots of good reviews.

Since the marathon starts super early, I emailed the person and asked if having to get up and go very early in the morning would be a problem. It turned out, the woman who is renting the room is also running the race.  We went back and forth a few times and eventually, she came up with the idea of meeting at the race expo when I fly into Miami and then she would drive me to her house.  She is also driving me to the race the next morning, driving to the gym to shower after the race, and then driving me to the airport after that.  She seems like an amazingly nice person.

As I write this, it seems almost too good to be true that she would do all that for a grand total of $49 (plus $6 fee for the Web site). This bitch is going to murder me.

Seeing Cyndi Lauper's Benefit Concert In NYC

I happened to see an ad in our Time Out New York magazine this morning for Cyndi Lauper's all-star concert to benefit homeless LGBT youth. It is being held in New York City on Sunday, December 4, at the Beacon Theatre. I happened to remember that is where they had the Tony Awards this year and also where Conan O'Brien broadcast from this past week.  In fact, it is where he conducted the same-sex marriage of one of his staff members.

Also, just as I was looking at the ad, I noticed that tickets were going on sale at 10 a.m. today.  It was 10 a.m. at the time. I decide to look up to see what kind of a seat I could get.  The first five rows are VIP seats that cost $500 each. That's a little out of my ballpark, even for a good cause.  However, I did put in for the next level of ticket prices and low and behold, I could get two tickets in the sixth row.

I had quite a decision to make. Shane is in Los Angeles and was probably still asleep at the time. We both love Cyndi.  Shane had seen her perform when he lived in Japan and still talks about it.  And, it is not just Cyndi.  There is a virtual who's who of gay (and straight) celebrities at the event.

Cyndi Lauper & Friends

Wanda Sykes

Harvey Fierstein

Clay Aiken

Alan Cumming

Rosie O'Donnell

Carson Kressley

Norah Jones

Debbie Harry

Chely Wright

Deluka

Angelique Kidjo

Skylar Grey

Laurie Anderson

Vanessa Carlton

And More!

We couldn't miss Skylar Grey!  It was especially risky since it is being held on a Sunday night.  We'd have to get back to work on Monday morning. I decided, "What the hell," and bought the tickets. It was for a good cause after all. When I told Shane later in the day, he was also excited about having such good seats. He wasn't thrilled about the timing, but he likes good seats, so it was not a problem. He was more concerned that we might have to rent tuxedos for such a thing. I don't think you do. 

If you are interested in attending the concert, click here for more information.  If you are interested in giving to Cyndi's charity, The True Colors Fund, click here.  

Where In the World Is Shane?

Shane is once again traveling to some far off and exotic place. This is the scene from his hotel room, which he took with his iPhone 3. Can you guess where he is? Sometimes there is an incredible prize, but only if nobody guesses correctly. Good luck!

Biggest Loser Week #7--Carb Loading

This is week #7 of the Biggest Loser competition at work. Ten of us are competing to lose the most weight for a 1st prize of $140, 2nd prize of $40, and 3rd prize of $20. My photoshopped results are above. My total weight loss since my first weigh-in on September 21 (with a starting weight of 189 lbs.) is 13 pounds.

I'm currently in first place.  All the other contestants are women and they keep saying it is easier for men to lose weight, which is why I'm winning.  That may be true, but statistically, women live longer than men, so I don't feel too bad for them.

This week I lost 2.5 pounds despite massive carb loading for my long run training. I ran 20 miles on Friday, but I ate a huge amount of carbs on Thursday.  I also went to my mom's over the weekend where she decided to have an early Thanksgiving by cooking a turkey, mac & cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and lima beans. Luckily, the running seems to be offsetting the carbs and calories.

There are four more weeks left in the work competition.  I'm aiming for a total weight loss of 20 pounds.

New iPhone 4S Drains Battery Like Crazy

Even before hearing news stories about the new iPhone 4S possibly having issues with fast draining batteries, it had been the subject of discussion with several of my co-workers who have recently gotten the new phone.  It was my understanding that the new phones would have improved battery life.  My old phone couldn't get through the day without a recharge and I was hoping the new phone would do better.  

Today I was shopping for a case to protect my phone at the local Apple store and I saw the Mophie Juice Pack Air, which is a case with a built-in extra battery.  When the phone battery dies, the Mophie case recharges the phone, doubling the the battery life.  It was crazy expensive ($79.95), but considering most of the cases alone cost $30-$50, spending a little more to get a case that extends the battery life seemed like a good idea. 

Hopefully, there also is a software fix for the current battery problem too.  I have better things to do than charging my phone all the time.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #309

What do you mean you don't find me stimulating?

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #309.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.

Not 4 Running--Alanis Morissette "Not As We"

Sometimes I post music I listen to while I'm running.  This is not one of those songs.  This is an amazing song though.  Alanis Morissette is a genius in my humble opinion.  Give it a try.  This is a few years old, but it takes me a while.  We found this listening to Pandora Radio app on the iPhone.  Sorry for the ad.

I'm Dreaming of a White Halloween?

We drove up to my Mom's for the weekend. She lives in Maryland near the Pennsylvania line. It rained the whole way up, but when we got close it was mixing with snow. She had a white roof and the grass was covered. I don't ever remember a snow storm this early in the year.

Philadelphia Marathon Training--Runner's Nipple

Today I did my second long run of 20 miles.  That is the longest distance I have to run in training, but I ran it 2 weeks ago and again today.  It was actually a little easier today.  The first time I ran/walked the last couple miles.  Today, although I had a terrible night's sleep, I only stopped when I had to cross the street and at the very end when I had to go up Capitol Hill.  I actually think I may be able to do this.

After my run, when I took off my shirt, I noticed my right nipple was bleeding.  I believe it is the first time any type of liquid has been emitted from my nipple.  When I got into the shower, the pain of the water hitting my bloody nipple was horrible.  The only other time I felt such pain was when I had a kidney stone and when I severely cut my pinky when I was a kid.  I screamed.  It hurt like hell.  The picture to the right is not me, but I feel his pain.

My First Video from My New iPhone 4S

I got my new iPhone today and I took this video in bed with Maude as I was playing with it.

Biggest Loser Week #6--One Lousy Pound

This is week #6 of the Biggest Loser competition at work. Ten of us are competing to lose the most weight for a 1st prize of $140, 2nd prize of $40, and 3rd prize of $20. My photoshopped results are above.

My total weight loss since my first weigh-in on September 21 (with a starting weight of 189 lbs.) is 10.5 pounds. This week I lost one lousy pound.

Things could be worse considering I went to two dinner parties over the weekend.  I have to say I drank a large amount of wine at both.  I did run 14 miles on Saturday, but it is a wonder I didn't gain weight with all the junk I've been eating.  I have to do better with the intake. 

Philadelphia Marathon: New Hotel Due to Bedbugs

I booked the Club Quarters in Philly to stay at during the marathon in November.  We have stayed at the CQ near Wall Street in New York and liked it very much.  However, my boss told me about this Web site called Bedbugs Registry that tells you about reports of the varmits at hotels across the country. 

So, I looked up Club Quarters and found two reports:

Anonymous on 09/09/2011

Day after I came home, itchy red welts appeared all over my body. I have never encountered this before but inspection and comparison to other's indicated that these are bedbug bites. September 7-8 2011. I have stayed here before but will not again. Horrible.

---

Anonymous on 05/08/2011

April 26th and 27th. I came back to my room on the second day and was locked out. It turns out that they had found bedbugs in my room. They moved me, and said they had all of my clothes and bags checked. Several days later I broke out in welts, presumably from the bites received several days previously.

If I know Shane (and I do), he would kill me if I knowingly stayed at a place with bedbugs.  He has sent me articles about people burning down their houses to get rid of them.  He might be one of them.  I knew I had to rebook.  Now we're staying at the Embassy Suites in Center City Philly.  It was a tad more expensive, but it is much closer to the race start and finish, and they don't have reports of bedbugs.  Can't wait!

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #308

He calls it the "wheel" and I call it delicious!

 

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #308.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too

Top 10 Closed Broadway Show I Wish I Had Seen

10. Annie (Coming back to Broadway in 2012)

9. Hello Dolly--with Carol

8. Xanadu

7. Little Shop of Horrors

6. The Normal Heart

 5.  A Chorus Line

4. Grey Gardens

3. Oklahoma

2. Funny Girl--with Barbra.

1. Carrie

Running With Blue Sponge War Wound

I did my long run today.  I was supposed to do 12 miles, but ended up doing 14. About 4 miles into the run, as I was running past the Kennedy Center along the river, I tripped on some uneven pavement and fell. Some young ladies running in the opposite direction saw me fall and stopped to make sure I was ok. Except for a skinned knee, I was fine. I got up and walked a bit while my knee ached a bit, but then I started running again. I got a few looks as I ran with a bloody knee, but I didn't have anything to clean it up. All in all, it was a beautiful day and I felt pretty good during my run.

Another "End of the World" Date Comes and Goes

Crazy-ass preacher Harold Camping, who I thought had died (but still lives), was wrong yet again in his prediction that the world would end today.  Jeez... Doesn't he ever get embarrassed about this?

While Camping swore that May 21st was going to be the end of the world, it turned into a 5-month process that would be really over by October 21.  Today.  Corpses of the unsaved were supposed to be flung out of their graves and on the ground like manure today.  I haven't been to a cemetery, but I assume if that had happened, it would have made the local news.

My iPhone 4S Is On Order

As I previously posted, I am getting the new iPhone 4S.  It is just taking me some time to get around to getting it.  I went to the Apple store near where I work yesterday to see about reserving one, but it was a mad house, so I decided to just order one online and get it in the mail.  

So, that is what I did.  I ordered a black 32 G phone yesterday.  They said it will ship in 1-2 weeks and then take 5 days to get here once it ships.  Then I have to figure out how to make it work on my own.  Cross your fingers. 

Biggest Loser Week 5--Back in the 170s (Barely)

This is week #5 of the Biggest Loser competition at work. Ten of us are competing to lose the most weight for a 1st prize of $140, 2nd prize of $40, and 3rd prize of $20. My photoshopped results are above. My total weight loss since my first weigh-in on September 21 (with a starting weight of 189 lbs.) is 9.5 pounds. At least I'm back in the 170s!

I was in Florida last week, so I did not get to weigh in last Wednesday. I have to say that I am disappointed with my results. Though I was on vacation, I've been running a lot. I did 20 miles on Sunday.  After running 5 miles at the gym yesterday, I weighed myself on their scale and it said 173!  I hope that scale is more accurate, but the work scale is official.

Another Cholesterol Update

They do free heart health screening where I work, so I had my cholesterol checked this morning after a 12-hour fast.  Previously, I had written about the results of my choesterol when I had to have a physical to get insurance.  That test showed a dramatic increase in my HDL level (the good choesterol).  It said the level had gone from a sickly 29 to a healthy 52.  I had my doubts about how accurate that could be.  My HDLs have never been near that level.

I was right. While today's results showed an improvement from my test in March, the insurance exam in June was not to be believed.  According to what I believe to be the more reliable test, my HDL level is 40, which is the low end of the scale for healthy.  Above 40 is desirable, but 60 is even better.

My total cholesterol is 191, down from 204.  Under 200 is desirable. My LDL level (bad cholesterol) went from 145 in March to 137 today.  Ideally, it should be under 100.  My triglyceride levels went down from 146 to 67, which the nurse said was amazing.  Idealy, it should be under 150.  My ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, which should be less than 5, was 4.7. My glucose level was down from 105 to 99. 

Overall, all the salmom, oatmeal, and exercise does seem to be getting me somewhere, just a bit slower progress than I had hoped. 

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #307

I have to say something Mervin... that 
handbag looks just like our little Irving.

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #307.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too