We sent you to Washington to cut the deficit.
We sent you to Washington to stop the slide into mediocrity.
We sent you to Washington to put this country back on course.
We did not send you to shut the government down.
We did not send you to worry about your perks and your benefits.
We did not send you to continue the stupidity of the past.
The Moderates, the Conservatives, the Left or whatever you are called need to hear the American People.
We want smaller Government.
We don't want someone telling us how to live.
We want to decide how and where we worship even if it is a quiet prayer in the classroom.
We want our children to pray if they wish to.
We want to decide how to spend our money.
We do not want to have a group Washington Insiders telling us how to believe, how to live, how to raise our children and how to die.
Pay off the debt.
If you have to, raise taxes.
Simplify the Tax Code.
Help Americans earn the Dream.
It is not worth much if it is "given to them".
If you can't make it better then go home.
I will not hate you for failure but I will despise your limited vision of the Future.
If we can no longer dream of the stars couldn't we at least dream of the Inner Planets.
Dream the dream of America, Freedom, Peace, Innovation, Hard Work, Worship and Hope.
If these values fail to inspire then go home and sit in the corner and sulk.
But don't try to remake America.
America is more a vision, more a hope, more a dream than a place and everyone should be allowed to pursue that dream.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
An Exercise of the Mind
Alter-egos danced last night
Neath a Moon that shined so bright
Too soon forgot their daytime face
Too soon forgot their daytime place
Found again youth now past
Balanced on a chasm, vast
Toyed with things now best forgone
Hearing now the Siren’s song
Hearing sounds of crashing waves
The keening wind through hollow caves
The song of nature sings to them
They enjoin the primal hymn
The clothes of shame now fell away
They danced on sands
Where they would lay
Drinking in night’s misty dew
Spinning drunk on life renewed
Felt the surge of passions fire
Would too soon burn on that pyre
Glistening forms now intertwined
Flames on flames jumping higher
Breathless sighs and silent moans
Hearing now loves true tones
Enchanted by the living poem
When at last the embers dying
They found release both in crying
For all the time now gone and spent
For all the dreams torn and rent
Then finding finally, renewing sleep
As the night turned ere more deep
The Sun was first to find them there
Covered by the seas own hair
Just Impressions on the beach
Where alter-egos strove to reach
Existence beyond dreams at night
Where silent hopes could take flight
But shattered in the new days light
Neath a Moon that shined so bright
Too soon forgot their daytime face
Too soon forgot their daytime place
Found again youth now past
Balanced on a chasm, vast
Toyed with things now best forgone
Hearing now the Siren’s song
Hearing sounds of crashing waves
The keening wind through hollow caves
The song of nature sings to them
They enjoin the primal hymn
The clothes of shame now fell away
They danced on sands
Where they would lay
Drinking in night’s misty dew
Spinning drunk on life renewed
Felt the surge of passions fire
Would too soon burn on that pyre
Glistening forms now intertwined
Flames on flames jumping higher
Breathless sighs and silent moans
Hearing now loves true tones
Enchanted by the living poem
When at last the embers dying
They found release both in crying
For all the time now gone and spent
For all the dreams torn and rent
Then finding finally, renewing sleep
As the night turned ere more deep
The Sun was first to find them there
Covered by the seas own hair
Just Impressions on the beach
Where alter-egos strove to reach
Existence beyond dreams at night
Where silent hopes could take flight
But shattered in the new days light
Thursday, March 17, 2011
So Now I Have to be a Gymnast?
Just imagine that I am hanging from a High Bar and have been able to hold my legs up in the “Pike” position, (curved like a U with feet higher than my head).
Now further imagine that I am able to rotate my legs from the hips, first to the right and then to the left, 15 times each side for a total of thirty rotations.
This is one of the “ab” exercises that Sparta has surfaced as a new challenge in the gym. (This same exercise was also featured in the movie, The Fighter)
I have to work on this one and basically become a gymnast.
I have started hanging from a high bar, raising my legs at the hip until my feet are above my head and then I try to hold this position for at least 15 seconds and try to repeat this 15 times.
This is a chunk of work and as of yet I remain unsuccessful.
The second new “ab” exercise is just as wicked.
Imagine lying on a bench with just the back of your head, neck and shoulders touching the bench while your body is at a 45 degree angle, suspended on a hope, a few fragile ligaments and mainly muscle.
The shoulders, neck and especially the upper “abs” all feel the pain in this exercise.
Supposedly, the local record for this exercise stands at 45 seconds.
This also requires one to become a gymnast.
The question, can you become a gymnast at age 46 (transposed 64).
I think, yes, Hell Yes.
It is interesting, the amount of pain one can endure, it is s lot more than anyone would expect and becoming a gymnast does require some pain.
I guess I have always wanted to be a gymnast and now I have the opportunity at 64 (transposed 46) or 8 which is the square root of 64 or 24 which is the product of multiplying 6 times 4.
Hell, who really needs to know the age at this point, once you have decided to get it done.
Now further imagine that I am able to rotate my legs from the hips, first to the right and then to the left, 15 times each side for a total of thirty rotations.
This is one of the “ab” exercises that Sparta has surfaced as a new challenge in the gym. (This same exercise was also featured in the movie, The Fighter)
I have to work on this one and basically become a gymnast.
I have started hanging from a high bar, raising my legs at the hip until my feet are above my head and then I try to hold this position for at least 15 seconds and try to repeat this 15 times.
This is a chunk of work and as of yet I remain unsuccessful.
The second new “ab” exercise is just as wicked.
Imagine lying on a bench with just the back of your head, neck and shoulders touching the bench while your body is at a 45 degree angle, suspended on a hope, a few fragile ligaments and mainly muscle.
The shoulders, neck and especially the upper “abs” all feel the pain in this exercise.
Supposedly, the local record for this exercise stands at 45 seconds.
This also requires one to become a gymnast.
The question, can you become a gymnast at age 46 (transposed 64).
I think, yes, Hell Yes.
It is interesting, the amount of pain one can endure, it is s lot more than anyone would expect and becoming a gymnast does require some pain.
I guess I have always wanted to be a gymnast and now I have the opportunity at 64 (transposed 46) or 8 which is the square root of 64 or 24 which is the product of multiplying 6 times 4.
Hell, who really needs to know the age at this point, once you have decided to get it done.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Spinning 110, Degrees That Is
The Spin Room is a circular room about 20 feet (give or take a few feet) in diameter.
It has at least a 9 foot ceiling.
There is a ceiling fan and three floor fans.
There are 12 bikes each placed about 2 to 3 feet apart.
The circumference of the room is 78 feet, (give or take a few feet), giving each bike a space of about 6 feet including the bike.
Volume of the room is calculated by the equation 4/3*Pi*r3.
The volume is approximately 4800 cubic feet.
The ambient room temperature at the beginning of class is 75 degrees, (give or take a few degrees), at the end of class the temperature approaches that of a South American Rain Forest, humidity and all.
I have never taken the actual temperature at he end of class but it is something I want to do.
I am sure the temperature is approaching "110" or maybe 89 degrees with 100% humidity.
It feels like late August in the swamps or Evansville.
Every article of clothing is soaked through and through.
If I was smart enough I could get some heat transfer equations and use the specific heat of air to calculate the average energy flow but this is beyond me.
Take it from me though, a lot of energy and heat transfer is occurring.
Twelve people burning anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 calories in one hour in a closed box, it does get close and sometimes the odors are less than "White Shoulders".
But I will keep going back, where else can you go for a ride in a sauna, through a rain forest with great music and a leader who likes to ride up mountains.
"Steamed Spin" certainly beats "Hot Yoga" with fewer residual calories.
It has at least a 9 foot ceiling.
There is a ceiling fan and three floor fans.
There are 12 bikes each placed about 2 to 3 feet apart.
The circumference of the room is 78 feet, (give or take a few feet), giving each bike a space of about 6 feet including the bike.
Volume of the room is calculated by the equation 4/3*Pi*r3.
The volume is approximately 4800 cubic feet.
The ambient room temperature at the beginning of class is 75 degrees, (give or take a few degrees), at the end of class the temperature approaches that of a South American Rain Forest, humidity and all.
I have never taken the actual temperature at he end of class but it is something I want to do.
I am sure the temperature is approaching "110" or maybe 89 degrees with 100% humidity.
It feels like late August in the swamps or Evansville.
Every article of clothing is soaked through and through.
If I was smart enough I could get some heat transfer equations and use the specific heat of air to calculate the average energy flow but this is beyond me.
Take it from me though, a lot of energy and heat transfer is occurring.
Twelve people burning anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 calories in one hour in a closed box, it does get close and sometimes the odors are less than "White Shoulders".
But I will keep going back, where else can you go for a ride in a sauna, through a rain forest with great music and a leader who likes to ride up mountains.
"Steamed Spin" certainly beats "Hot Yoga" with fewer residual calories.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Chasing Sparta
Someone said it tonight, to Sparta following a rather vigorous Spin Class, "I don't see how you keep doing this same "shit" day after day".
She was heading down to do a Power Pump class.
I interpreted the comment to say, "Wow, how do exercise hour after hour and keep going"?
The answer was quick, "Sitting behind a desk is harder and it kills much faster."
Great interchange, great discourse, great concise conversation.
It was all there, either use it or lose it, either try or die.
The real answer is movement, continuous, lots of it.
Stay still and the bad things overtake you.
Obviously this is an oversimplification but even in Genesis it states, "Thy shall earn thy keep by the sweat of thy brow".
No where does it say, "He who lives the sedentary life style shall find life everlasting".
So today in Boot Camp, at least 34 participants all eager to "kill" themselves for Sparta.
So who is relevant in all of this.
Everyone is relevant, all of the participants, all of the people looking in, wanting to join, (had a conversation at dinner with a gentleman), "I am trying to get to the point I can join Sparta's Boot Camp".
Sparta is relevant.
She is the reason all of these people are wanting to join.
I looked at her today as I was running my two laps, as I was hitting the mitts and I saw complete commitment to training, to improving the lot of we, the less fortunate.
She has some spectacular genes, I have no doubt of this, but if we could all follow her discipline, her program, genes or no genes, we would all be much richer in health and fitness.
Will we live longer, I don't know, don't care.
All I want now is to do what she is trying to teach.
Go hard or go home.
Don't waste time, she is giving us her best.
She was heading down to do a Power Pump class.
I interpreted the comment to say, "Wow, how do exercise hour after hour and keep going"?
The answer was quick, "Sitting behind a desk is harder and it kills much faster."
Great interchange, great discourse, great concise conversation.
It was all there, either use it or lose it, either try or die.
The real answer is movement, continuous, lots of it.
Stay still and the bad things overtake you.
Obviously this is an oversimplification but even in Genesis it states, "Thy shall earn thy keep by the sweat of thy brow".
No where does it say, "He who lives the sedentary life style shall find life everlasting".
So today in Boot Camp, at least 34 participants all eager to "kill" themselves for Sparta.
So who is relevant in all of this.
Everyone is relevant, all of the participants, all of the people looking in, wanting to join, (had a conversation at dinner with a gentleman), "I am trying to get to the point I can join Sparta's Boot Camp".
Sparta is relevant.
She is the reason all of these people are wanting to join.
I looked at her today as I was running my two laps, as I was hitting the mitts and I saw complete commitment to training, to improving the lot of we, the less fortunate.
She has some spectacular genes, I have no doubt of this, but if we could all follow her discipline, her program, genes or no genes, we would all be much richer in health and fitness.
Will we live longer, I don't know, don't care.
All I want now is to do what she is trying to teach.
Go hard or go home.
Don't waste time, she is giving us her best.
Monday, February 21, 2011
22 Grams of Protein
I am trying to refine my diet to achieve ideal weight but the goal of 160 pounds continues to elude me.
My shirt size has gone from XL to M.
My waist size has dropped.
I feel good but would like more mass and 18 pounds less fat.
So what is the right amount of protein intake per day?
Most of the formulas would suggest 105 to 145 grams of protein a day for someone exercising at my intensity level.
Until you try you would be surprised at how hard it is to eat 130 grams of protein a day without a lot of protein shakes and those don't satisfy the need to chew.
Then someone put me onto Greek Yogurt, still not really chewable, but with a thicker consistency.
I found one with 15 grams of protein per serving until a friend told me about a Greek Yogurt with 22 grams of protein per serving.
It is expensive but it tastes good and goes great with whole grain granola.
Cottage Cheese has 15 grams of protein per serving, the addition of fish 4 oz. (22 grams of protein), chicken or turkey 4 oz. (19 to 20 grams of protein) rounds out the daily intake along with a protein bar that supplies 31 grams of protein------- protein intake 90 grams plus a 40 gram protein shake, a grand total of 130 grams of protein per day.
80 oz. of water, a large dose of fiber along with fruits and vegetables still leaves me trying to figure out how to lose the next 18 pounds.
If only Red Wine was high in protein and boosted metabolism, then life would be grand.
It probably was and did in the Garden Of Eden but that is a whole other story.
My shirt size has gone from XL to M.
My waist size has dropped.
I feel good but would like more mass and 18 pounds less fat.
So what is the right amount of protein intake per day?
Most of the formulas would suggest 105 to 145 grams of protein a day for someone exercising at my intensity level.
Until you try you would be surprised at how hard it is to eat 130 grams of protein a day without a lot of protein shakes and those don't satisfy the need to chew.
Then someone put me onto Greek Yogurt, still not really chewable, but with a thicker consistency.
I found one with 15 grams of protein per serving until a friend told me about a Greek Yogurt with 22 grams of protein per serving.
It is expensive but it tastes good and goes great with whole grain granola.
Cottage Cheese has 15 grams of protein per serving, the addition of fish 4 oz. (22 grams of protein), chicken or turkey 4 oz. (19 to 20 grams of protein) rounds out the daily intake along with a protein bar that supplies 31 grams of protein------- protein intake 90 grams plus a 40 gram protein shake, a grand total of 130 grams of protein per day.
80 oz. of water, a large dose of fiber along with fruits and vegetables still leaves me trying to figure out how to lose the next 18 pounds.
If only Red Wine was high in protein and boosted metabolism, then life would be grand.
It probably was and did in the Garden Of Eden but that is a whole other story.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
The last two weeks were spent in Mexico.
I love Mexico, especially the Baja Peninsula.
The weather in February is spectacular.
The Bay of Cortez is filled with Gray Whales and Humpbacks.
The catch of the day can be Tuna, Dorrado, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, etc.
The sun shines every day.
The sunsets literally take your breath away.
A full Moon in the Baja screams love and dancing the slow songs.
The desert while arid has a beauty all it's own.
The Mexicans are truly the best artisans I have ever witnessed.
The stone work, tile work, architecture, pottery and art are incredible.
I really believe I could get lost in the Baja and stay forever.
Here is the rub.
I need to exercise, I need my endorphins.
I guess I could lift rocks and run hundreds of miles but in the end I love the gym.
The resort, Fiesta Americana, has a gorgeous gym, weights, treadmills, ellipticals, machines, mats and all sorts of equipment.
The one thing they don't have is Sparta.
It takes a "wicked person" pushing you beyond your limits to make progress.
But in the end it is a personal issue to succeed, so do 15 Intervals, run 9 miles and hour for 2 minutes and then walk three miles and hour for one minute and repeat the sequence 15 times.
That will begin a good sweat.
Next go to the free weights and push yourself to do the most weight you have ever done without crushing your skull.
Then drink 15 gallons of water and skip all Margaritas for the week and get ready to re-insert into regular life------------
but wait--------anybody willing to get lost in the Baja,
Give me a call, maybe it can be arranged for the rest of our lives.
I love Mexico, especially the Baja Peninsula.
The weather in February is spectacular.
The Bay of Cortez is filled with Gray Whales and Humpbacks.
The catch of the day can be Tuna, Dorrado, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, etc.
The sun shines every day.
The sunsets literally take your breath away.
A full Moon in the Baja screams love and dancing the slow songs.
The desert while arid has a beauty all it's own.
The Mexicans are truly the best artisans I have ever witnessed.
The stone work, tile work, architecture, pottery and art are incredible.
I really believe I could get lost in the Baja and stay forever.
Here is the rub.
I need to exercise, I need my endorphins.
I guess I could lift rocks and run hundreds of miles but in the end I love the gym.
The resort, Fiesta Americana, has a gorgeous gym, weights, treadmills, ellipticals, machines, mats and all sorts of equipment.
The one thing they don't have is Sparta.
It takes a "wicked person" pushing you beyond your limits to make progress.
But in the end it is a personal issue to succeed, so do 15 Intervals, run 9 miles and hour for 2 minutes and then walk three miles and hour for one minute and repeat the sequence 15 times.
That will begin a good sweat.
Next go to the free weights and push yourself to do the most weight you have ever done without crushing your skull.
Then drink 15 gallons of water and skip all Margaritas for the week and get ready to re-insert into regular life------------
but wait--------anybody willing to get lost in the Baja,
Give me a call, maybe it can be arranged for the rest of our lives.
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