Letterman Strikes Deal With Writers/Bloggers

Worldwide Pants, the production company for "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson", has reached an interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America. So what does this mean? Most late night talk shows are scheduled to return to the air next Wednesday. These two late night talk shows will be the only ones with material written by professional writers.

What have the Late Show writers been doing since the strike began? Blogging of course. Here is a link to the Late Show Writers Blog. You will find the infamous "Top 10 Lists" along with a lot of short videos. If you have not guessed, yes, I am a night owl.

Private Practice

Being the day after Christmas, there was not much to watch on TV, so as I was channel surfing, I came across ABC's "Private Practice". I thought it was a good show. However, in real life, you will never find a private practice where the doctors, both male and female, are so good looking.

Annual Pitt Christmas Luncheon

I had lunch today with two buddies who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering. It is an annual tradition that started some time ago. I actually graduated the same year as Jim. Gerry graduated about 10 years earlier than Jim and I. Jim and Gerry grew up together and act like younger and older brothers. Jim and Gerry followed their engineering education and are actually employed as real engineers. I got my MBA Degree from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business, worked in Finance, then moved on to the IT field, my true calling, my gift, my curse. I have no regrets and am very happy working in the IT field. We have been lunching at a Pizza shop on Fifth Avenue for who knows how long. The conversation, pizza, and company was good - as it always is. We will probably get together again later next year for our annual Pirates game. Hopefully the annual tradition of a Pirates losing season will not continue.

Merry Christmas

Wishing Everyone a Very Merry Christmas !

Christmas LED Pics

Cynthia from My Brilliant Mistakes asked me how my LED Christmas lights look compared to regular incandescent bulbs. Here are a few pics I took with my Canon A520. This is the first time I have taken photos in the dark with my camera, so I am not sure how these will turn out. The LED lights were placed inside the window and not outside. The window glass kind of softens the LED's and creates some glare. They would look much better from outside, if they were placed outside. I enjoy viewing the lights from inside, and I think the LED's are just as bright as incandescent bulbs. I will let you judge for yourself. The lights are not perfectly straight, so I will never be able to compete with the Griswold's. This is a view from the street:






This is a view from the sidewalk:

This is an interior view from one of my bedroom windows:

When I bought these LED's at Wal Mart, another shopper spoke to me and said we live in a throw away society. He preferred to pay $2.00 for a 50 light incandescent set versus $10.00 for a 60 light LED set.

This year, the Capital Christmas Tree in Washington, DC was lit with LED lights.

Green Christmas

I decided to have a Green Christmas this year. Instead of the usual incandescent mini lights in my windows, I bought LED mini lights from my local Wal Mart. They were reduced from $10.00 to $7.00. Sure they are more expensive upfront, but in the long run, I will save money in energy costs. Just do not expect me to compete with Al Gore for the next Nobel Prize.

Let's Wait Till the Last Minute

In the winter, why do people wait until the first or second snowfall to figure out that their vehicle needs new tires? I took a day off from work today to get my physical therapy session, get an oil change for my car, and just catch up with stuff at home. I usually go to the local Wal Mart to get an oil change. This morning, around 10:15AM, there were six customers ahead of me. I think everyone was there to get new tires, wiper blades, or a new battery - all stuff you should take care of before winter. Everyone procrastinates, but when it comes to safe winter driving, I like to get prepared for winter in the fall.

Pay It Forward

I did my good deed for the day today. As I left the Target on Route 8 in Gibsonia, I saw two people in the parking lot talking on cell phones. One was a gray haired adult male and the second person was a female teenager. It was kind of strange seeing two people standing six feet apart talking on cell phones. As I was about to start my car up, the older gentleman asked me if I had a set of booster cables that he could borrow to help the young lady. The gentleman used his pickup truck to attempt to jump start the teenager's vehicle, but the battery was just too dead. The gentleman handed the booster cables back to me because he did not want to take too much of my time. I told him I was sorry that the booster cables were not able to help the young lady's car. The two did know each other, either from church or the girl's parents. The girl's car had a temporary vehicle registration in the back windshield, so I assumed she was driving a recently bought used vehicle.

Usually I do not like to help strangers, but it was a lighted parking lot with surveillance cameras, so I thought it would be safe. It was a nice feeling helping someone out, even if the outcome was not the best. You may have heard of the movie "Pay It Forward". It was based on the novel of the same name and there is actually a Pay It Forward Foundation.

10 Things I Love/Hate About Winter

Since we had our first taste of winter yesterday, I am reposting from last year 10 Things I Love/Hate About Winter:

Here are 10 things I like about Winter, in no particular order:

1. When I get home from work, it is dark, so I do not feel guilty about taking a nap.
   
2. Snow makes Christmas much more special.


3. I do not have to mow the lawn.


4. It is too cold to hand wash my car.


5. I can gain some weight and hide it with a baggy sweatshirt.


6. I like wearing boots instead of sneakers in the winter.


7. I like wearing a beanie/skull cap in my cold basement when I workout.


8. I can be late for work because of the weather.
   
9. I can catch up watching my collection of DVD’s because I spend more time indoors.


10. The Pittsburgh Penguins.
    

Here are 10 Things I hate about winter, in no particular order:

1. There are less hours of sunlight. I wake up in the dark, and leave work in the dark.


2. I have to shovel snow.
   
3. I have to drive in snow and ice.


4. Waterproof boots are never waterproof.


5. My car gets all salted up, and it is too cold to wash my baby.


6. My basement is cold, my workout equipment is in the basement, so I workout in a cold basement.


7. My head gets cold because I refuse to wear a hat which would ruin my hair.


8. I have to wear layers of clothes to keep warm, then I feel too warm because I am wearing layers of clothes.


9. My nose gets dry, so I get a lot of nosebleeds.


10. My skin gets very dry, so my fingertips crack. Very painful.
    

Weekly Workout Rewind - 11/25/2007

After a 3 week layoff, I am back to cardio and leg only workouts. It is a weird feeling trying to get back into any rhythm, even just fitting in cardio on a regular basis. I am also completing a series of exercises recommended by my physical therapist for my tennis elbow. I can mimic everything from physical therapy at home except for the ultrasound treatments. I have noticed a small improvement in my elbow. Shaking someone's hand is not as painful on my elbow as it used to be, so that is a good sign. My health insurance for physical therapy is not the best, so I am only going to take two sessions per week instead of three. I am in the middle of watching the Steelers game, posting here, and winding down the day to get up earlier than normal for work, so I am signing off now. Later.

Pitt Wins Backyard Brawl

Pitt just won the Backyard Brawl versus West Virginia. I am a Pitt Alum, so WOO HOO! I guess there will not be any couch burning celebrations in Morgantown this year.

NaBloPoMo-Results

So, how did I do with National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo? I found out about NaBloPoMo on November 10, 9 days after the official start, so I missed 9 posts. Since November 10, I have only missed one post. That was due to the WiFi not working at the hotel I was staying at while out of town on business. I have enjoyed the challenge of posting everyday in November. I am hoping this dedication motivates me to post more often.

Panera Post

My favorite restaurant for a salad at lunch is Panera. I am hooked on the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad. If the you at the nutritional info, it has more fat than you think it would. It is not the healthiest salad around, but it is very tasty. What do I like about this salad? The chicken, the wide variety of greens, the dehydrated apples, the almonds, the tasty dressing, and of course the Whole Grain baguette. Aside from the salad itself, I enjoy the atmosphere at Panera.

I eat a lot of salads for lunch, usually once a week at McDonalds, Wendys, and Panera. Of course, Panera is a bit pricey, but I like to treat myself once a week. The clientele at Panera is a little different than McDonalds. Mickey D's is usually full of Moms with kids under the age of 5. Panera caters to a different crowd - senior citizens, young and older professionals, not too many moms with kids. I will review my other favorite lunchtime salads in upcoming posts. Stay tuned.

GetGo WetGo Review

What is WetGo, a new diaper/undergarment to compete against Depends? No, WetGo is GetGo's name for it's automated car wash. A co-worker gave me a coupon for a free car wash at GetGo which had an expiration date of 12/3. I decided to try it out after lunch, so I went to the GetGo on Route 8 in Butler, PA. I assume my experience will be the same at other WetGo locations. I went inside and the cashier gave me a receipt with an access code printed on it. There was actually an attendant at the start of the car wash who keyed in the access code and gave very brief instructions. I was told to put my car in neutral as I drove onto a conveyor belt which ran under my driver side tires. The conveyor belt eventually grabbed my tires and pulled me into and through the car wash. It was a strange feeling being sucked into the car wash - the sounds, not being able to see out the windows. It was painless and at the end of the car wash, a green lit light indicating it was ok to put my car into drive and head on out. So, how well did it clean my car? My car was moderately dirty, and car wash actually did a good job of cleaning my car. I would rate it 7 of of 10. The rinse cycle was a little short so I was not as pleased with the rinse cycle. The short rinse cycle contributed to some streaking on the windows. My car is a hatchback and has a windshield wiper on the rear window that is a little loose. I was afraid that the car wash would knock off the wiper blade, but it did not. This may sound strange, but I have owned my car for 5 years and have always hand washed/waxed it. Until today. With winter coming, I may consider get more car washes at the WetGo at GetGo.

Van Halen Reunion Tour Rolls into the Burgh 3/21

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that Van Halen will perform at the Civic Arena on March 21, 2008. I grew up listening to Van Halen, from high school, to college, to grad school. I have almost every album/CD they released. Ticket sale dates will be announced soon.

Hot Metal Bike/Pedestrian Bridge Opens

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Hot Metal Bridge for bikers and pedestrians officially opened today after a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is good news for all bikers and helps promote Pittsburgh as a bike friendly city.

Reaper Review

Another new TV show that I have enjoyed watching this season is Reaper on the CW Network. The parents of the main character, Sam, promised their firstborn son to the Devil, in exchange for wiping out the father's gambling debts. When Sam turns 21, he learns he must become a bounty hunter for the Devil. The supporting cast of characters is great - The Devil and Sam's best friend/slacker buddy "Sock" are hilarious. In each episode, Sam must creatively use a vessel (like a Dirt Devil) to capture lost souls. It is a good show, check it out on CW's website.

PT Session 1

I had my first physical therapy session for my elbow tendonitis today. The PT is a young guy (younger than me) in his early 30's. The session was not too bad. He tested my range of motion, used ultrasound with heat, then the only painful part was when he massaged my tendon, followed by ice. He said the treatment was pretty cut and dry, and he seems to know what he is doing. I will keep you updated.

PT

I saw my hand surgeon today for my elbow tendinitis, and he recommended 6 weeks of physical therapy (PT), 2 to 3 sessions a week. I saw a physical therapist about 15 years ago for Plantar fasciitis (heel pain). It really did not help back then. The real solution was getting a pair of custom made arch supports, orthotics. I am not sure how I feel about getting physical therapy. I guess I was hoping for an immediate solution, but I will try to keep an open mind. Way back then physical therapy was not very common, but today PT is fairly common.

Parts is Parts

I spent Thanksgiving weekend at my mother's house in the South Hills with my older and younger brother. On my way back home to the Northern part of Allegheny County, I made my way to the CompUSA in Robinson Township. Sure, it was not a direct route, but I stopped in to buy an Antec True Power Trio 650 Watt power supply for the computer I have not built yet. I have slowly been collecting parts for my DIY home built PC. I already have a computer case, a SATA hard drive, a DVD drive/burner, and a license for Windows XP. I am saving the more expensive parts for later - processor, motherboard, RAM, and video card. With winter here, I really can not work on the yard outside or any outdoor home improvement projects, so building my own PC will be a good indoor winter project. I have essentially replaced everything I can in my present PC and have maxed out the performance of it.

Can I build a PC myself? Sure, I do take apart PC's for a living. The only difference is the PC's at work are standardized by my company and all of the components are guaranteed to work together. I will keep you updated on my progress.

Tale of the Turkey Tape

So, what is the damage after a week of eating out while on a business trip following by Thanksgiving? Not as bad as I thought it would be. I stepped on my body fat/weight scale today, and I gained about 2.5 lbs, and my bodyfat percentage was about 1.0 percent higher than my average. I really have not worked out seriously for about 3 weeks, so once I get back in the swing of things, I should lose the extra pounds and bodyfat.

21

What is the significance of the number 21?

The legal drinking age?

Roberto Clemente's Jersey Number?

No, 21 degrees Fahrenheit was the temperature this morning. Blah!

Moonlight

One of the new TV shows that I have enjoyed watching is CBS's Moonlight. I like a good vampire story. The main character, actor Alex O'Loughlin as Mick St. John, is the vampire and actress Sophia Myles as Beth Turner, is his human love interest. There is a lot of tension between Mick and Beth, and you wonder when the two will finally hook up. The first few episodes were kind of weak, the same vampire stuff you have seen before. The stories have gotten better, but unfortunately, due to the writer's strike, tonight was the 11th and last episode of the season.

RUUTU Shootout Goal Wins Game for Pens

Jarkko Ruutu got the game winning shootout goal tonight as the Pens beat the Ottawa Senators 6-5. Here is a pic of Jarkko between my two favorite WTAE news babes, Ashley DiParlo and Janelle Hall.

Turkey on the Table

As Mike Lange, Pittsburgh Penguins radio play by play announcer, would say, "The Turkey is on the Table". Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green been casserole, mystery soup.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a Happy Thankgiving!

NaBloPoMo - Update

So, how am I doing with the NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) challenge? I did not learn about the challenge until 11/10, so I missed the out on the official start. Since I began the challenge 10 days late, I did miss one post on 11/15. This was literally due to technical difficulties with the Wi Fi network at the hotel I was staying at while working out of town on business. Even though I missed the official start on 11/1, I will do my best to finish out the month.

State of My Union Address

Most of my recent posts have not had anything to do with logging my workouts. Why? Well, after Halloween, I decided I really needed to give my right elbow and the lingering tennis elbow a good long rest. I knew I would be out of town on business the week before Thanksgiving, and the week of Thanksgiving would be hectic, so why not take a break from the workouts. I made an appointment with my hand surgeon for next Monday to check out my tennis elbow. Yes, I had to go to a hand surgeon last year because of Dequervain's tendonitis. I am hoping I can get a cortisone shot, resting my elbow just does not seem to help.

Rest is good, but there are some negatives from not working out: 1) my bad left knee feels unstable. I had arthoscopic surgery on this knee about 12 years ago for a meniscus tear. My left knee feels "rusty" if I do not exercise it for a while; 2) I actually lose weight due to losing muscle mass; 3) I have exercise induced asthma, which flares up when the weather change from warm to cold. I need to keep up my cardio or I will have problems breathing in cold weather. Now you understand why maintaining a workout routine becomes more difficult with age.

Through Rain, Sleet, or Snow

When I go away on business, I submit an online request to have my mail held at my local post office. At the end of the holding date, you can request to have your mail delivered or you can pick up the mail in person at the post office. I usually choose the option to pick up my mail in person, just in case my return date changes. I stopped at my local post office this morning before work and to my surprise was told that the letter carrier had already resumed delivery on Saturday.

Overall, I have been pleased with the Hold Mail service from the Post Office. There have been a few times where my mail was held accidentally. I would think if they saw a Discrepancy between the customer's name and address, they would question it. Most of my mail is junk mail. The important stuff, like bills, I have opted to receive bills on-line. Saves money in postage and ordering checks.

Thoughts on Naples

Being back home, I have a few thoughts about my business trip to Naples, FL:

• Naples is a tourist town. Most of the businesses are hotels and restaurants.
• Naples is bike friendly. I saw a lot of bicyclists riding their bikes, even on the 6 lane divided highways.
• It is warm.
• I have never seen so much mulch and landscaping on a highway median.
• Almost every office building is meticulously landscaped with a waterfall.
• It must be damn expensive to live down there.

Back to the Burgh

I am waiting at the airport in Ft. Myers for my flight to Atlanta, then back to the Burgh. I was disappointed that the High Speed Internet access was not working at my hotel for the last 2 days. The Ft. Myers airport has free Wi-Fi, but Atlanta does not, so I am posting now. The temperature will change from 80 in Ft Myers to about 40 in the Burgh. Back to reality.

I Missed a Post Yesterday

Sorry, but I was not able to post yesterday because the high-speed internet/wi-fi was not working at the hotel.

Red Lobster Whiner

I ate dinner at the Red Lobster in Naples, FL tonight. I waited a long time for a server to take my order. In the booth next to me, a mother and daughter were having dinner and the mother requested to speak to the manager and also wanted a different waitress. In fact, I never say the waitress that was supposed to serve me for the rest of the evening. The manager either canned her or told her to leave for the evening. You would not believe this, but after complaining about everything from the biscuits to the dessert, the mother actually had the nerve to ask the manager how her daughter could apply for a job as a bus person. The manager was politically correct and said that all applicants must pass a personality test. I doubt if her daughter will ever work there. So, how was the food. Well, the food was tasty, but when someone whines all evening about everything, the meal just is not that enjoyable. The mother did have a right to complain, but she went over the top. The daughter was so embarrassed by her mother's whining, she asked to leave even before the dessert came out.

Florida in November

Hey Kids, you will not believe this, but my company sent me to Florida this week to work. I am near Ft Meyers and the temperature today was in the low 80's. It is nice to be down here, but since I am working and I really do not have a chance to enjoy the nice weather.

Remember Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day, so please remember the men and women who have served in the military for our great country. My deceased father was drafted out of high school and served in the Navy in WWII. My father was in his late 30's when I was born.

Why I Do Not Sleep In On The Weekend

The reason I do not sleep in on the weekends is because I get to watch Janelle Hall on WTAE TV's Weekend Morning News. She is my favorite WTAE news babe. Why?, just look at her. The picture on WTAE's website is a little outdated, but she is super fine. Janelle is full of energy, has a positive personality, and is obviously gorgeous.

Winter Car Preparation

My car's state and emission inspection is due this month, so this morning at 8:00AM, I dropped my car off at the Sears in the Ross Park Mall. I was surprised that they were done around 10:30AM, and they did not charge me extra for anything stupid like a $20 wiper blade or a $10 light bulb.

On my way home, I stopped by my local AutoZone to get my car battery replaced. I was still running my original car battery, which was 5 years old, so it was due for a replacement. The salesperson who rung up the receipt did not know what he was doing, so I had to look at the receipt twice. Also, the engine coolant/antifreeze level in my car was low, so I bought a gallon of Prestone.

Now is a good time to get your vehicle ready for winter - before it gets too cold and before any significant amounts of snow or ice. Here are some things you may want to do now:

• check car battery charge, replace if necessary


• check tire tread depth, replace if necessary


• check engine coolant/antifreeze level


• check wiper blades


• buy windshield washer fluid


• prepare an emergency winter kit with booster cables, cat liter for traction, lock de-icer (or matches), blanket or extra clothes, gloves, hat, snow brush, ice scraper, non-perishable food (peanuts are good), small portable snow shovel


• wash car and apply a good coat of car wax - it is easier to remove snow and ice if your car has a nice coat of wax


• AAA membership if you can afford it

November is National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo

I just found out the November is National Blog Posting Month, NaBloPoMo. The challenge is to post something on your blog every day in the month of November. I am 10 days late, but I will try my best to post the remaining 20 days in November. Lately, I have been a little lazy, so this gives me some incentive to be a better blogger.

There seems to be a direct correlation between how much I post and how much I work out. I am trying to rest my injured elbow tendonitis which essentially wipes out all of my upper body workouts. I am doing stretching and strengthening exercises for my forearms and wrists. I have not been able to schedule a doctor appointment to check out my elbow yet, but hope to do so soon.

Later.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 10/7/2007

I only completed one weightlifting session, but I completed 3 cardio sessions, mowed the lawn over the weekend, and rode my bike on Sunday afternoon. I am getting better with my bike riding skills. I have better balance now and feel more comfortable. My front derailleur downshifts OK, but the chain seems to get stuck when shifting to a higher gear. The next time I ride again, I will try out my front derailleur again.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 9/30 and 10/7

I have to admit that I have been lazy about logging my workouts the past two weeks. My right elbow still bothers me, so I have been avoiding working my back and biceps, which seem to stress the forearm muscles more than working my chest and triceps. The last two Sundays I have taken advantage of the good weather and rode my bike at a local community park near my home. Since I am still learning how to ride, I have been sticking to large empty parking lots. I am trying to get used to the brakes, shifting, balance, and steering, all at the same time. I would like to get some quality riding time in before winter, then bring the bike back to the local bike shop for a free post purchase checkup before winter hits.

'Ghost Bikes' Appear in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that an underground group of bicycling advocates is erecting "ghost bikes" in Pittsburgh at spots where cyclists recently have been hit by vehicles. For now, I plan to bike on Rails to Trails and Parks, and avoid vehicles. After I get better with my riding skills, maybe I will try out the roads.

Pittsburgh Penguins Season Opener - 10/5/2007

The Pittsburgh Penguins begin their 2007-2008 season this Friday, 10/5/2007, playing at the Carolina Hurricanes. Face off time is 7:00 PM. For those who do not have cable TV access, you can listen to the game on 105.9 FM “The X”, WXDX-FM. To see a list of other radio stations in the Western Pennsylvania area, go to the following link: http://cdn.nhl.com/penguins/bc/images/schedule/Radio_Stations.pdf

If you have internet access, click on the Penguins home page , there will be a link on the page where you can listen to the game live. Also, you can go to the homepage of 105.9 FM “The X”, and click on the "Listen Live" link.

To view the Penguins 2007-2008 schedule, you can visit the Pittsburgh Penguins Official Home Page.

I am looking forward to another great season from the Penguins.

LETS GO PENS!

KDKA TV Hires New Weather Babe (Meteorologist)

KDKA TV just hired a new Weather Babe/Meteorlogist, Valerie Abati. No, she is not related to Sonni Abatta. However, Sonni did interview the newest Weather Babe to grace the Pittsburgh TV market here. Here is Valerie Abati's KDKA bio. Valerie is taking Rebecca Hower's meteorologist position at KDKA after Rebecca resigned and moved to Erie, PA. Notice I did not say replace because no one can really replace Rebecca Hower, who in my opinion, was one of a kind. We will have to wait and see how Valerie performs on the air. In Rebecca's absence, the veteran meteorologist Dennis Bowman filled in. Dennis Bowman is a true professional and is great on the air. Dennis Bowman gives presentations to schools about weather using his ventriloquism skills, check out his website.

Golfer's Elbow

This may sound silly, stupid, and embarassing, but I injured my right elbow when I test rode a mountain bike at a local bike shop (LBS). My symptoms suggest that I have Golfer's Elbow. Yes, I did eventually buy a new mountain bike. I have not riden a bike since I was a little kid, and I spent most of the test ride retraining myself. I had a death grip on the brakes, plus my elbows were probably locked not bent, so I injured myself. I have always had problems with my right elbow - an overuse injury from lifting too much in my youth. This weekend, I starting using my arms again, I washed my car, but did not wax it. Today, I worked my back muscles, but my forearms and biceps are secondary muscles that get worked in the process. I will see how I feel tomorrow. I hate getting old.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 9/9/2007

Just a short update. 3 cardio sessions, 3 weightlifting sessions. The only body parts I did not have a chance to workout were triceps and biceps.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 9/2/2007

I managed to fit in two workouts and I mowed the lawn once. After spending a week out of town on business and a long weekend at my mother's house, it was difficult getting back into my routine. I got used to not having to cook and clean for myself, so it took a while for me to fend for myself again.

Weekly Workout Rewinds - 8/19 and 8/26

The weeks of 8/19 and 8/26, I did not keep good records of my workouts. I believe I worked all bodyparts over the span of two weeks. I took a week off of work on 8/19 and worked on replacing some 5" x 5" x 8' landscape timbers along one side of my driveway. This little project was a workout itself. Digging dirt, moving heavy objects, working outside during one of the most humid and hot weeks of the summer. During the week of 8/26, I was working out of town on business, but I did manage to fit in one workout at the hotel's gym.

Sorry For Lack of Posts

Sorry for the lack of posts. Here is a cheesy pic of several lamp posts to make up for it.

2008 Trek and Gary Fisher Bikes

Both Trek and Gary Fisher have updated their websites with their 2008 model bikes. I still have not purchased a bike yet, but I am leaning towards the Trek 4300 mountain bike. It is one level higher than their entry level mountain bikes. If I am going to make a significant purchase, I try to time the purchase, taking into account my other expenses, bills, etc.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 8/12/2007

I completed 3 cardio sessions, 3 weightlifting sessions, and mowed the lawn one day. I missed working out my back muscles last week.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 8/5/2007

I completed 3 weightlifing sessions and 3 cardio sessions. I also spent 2 separate days applying asphalt sealer to my driveway in the hot, humid weather. On Monday, I applied the first coat, it rained almost every day afterwards, so I was not happy, but the sealer did not appear to wash away. On Saturday, I applied a second coat, and it looks like no rain until Thursday. I had to rush to Home Depot to get one more 5 gallon bucket of sealer at the last minute. I used an electric drill with a paint mixer attachment to stir the sealer. This bucket of sealer seemed to be thicker than all of the other buckets. I am not sure if they put the wrong grade sealer in the bucket or not. When the last bucket of sealer dried on my driveway, it did not blend in at all with the rest of the driveway. Oh well, there is nothing I can do about it now.

Time to Seal My Driveway

Every summer I complete one of my favorite annual activities, applying driveway sealer to my asphalt driveway. I took off yesterday to apply the first coat. I plan on putting a second coat this weekend. It is a messy job, usually hot and humid, but the driveway looks great when it is all done. My biggest complaint is the sealer never lasts more than one year, even if you buy the buckets that say 5 year guarantee. It is an annual ritual, one of the responsibilities of being a homeowner.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 7/29/2007

I completed only 2 weightlifting sessions and 4 cardio sessions. I made a one day business trip to Central Pennsylvania to meet my company's Vice President, so I missed one weightlifting session. I mowed the lawn this past Saturday, and the weather was so hot and humid. I should have started mowing in the morning versus after lunch.

8/7/87

If you are a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, you know the significance of the date 8/7/87. Twenty years ago today, Sidney Crosby was born. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette has a nice article about the franchise player and outstanding young man. Happy Birthday to Sidney Crosby!

One Flush, Two Flush, Wait, No Flush

Yesterday, I had to drive on the PA Turnpike for a business trip, and I stopped at the newly remodeled Oakmont Service Plaza at Milepost 49.3 Eastbound. The Plaza was nicely done. Spacious inside and the parking lot was repaved/realigned so 18 wheelers could not park next to passenger vehicles. The most noticable change was the Waterless No-Flush Urinals in the Men's Room. The company that makes these urinals has a page on their website explaining how they work. Do they work? Yes they do, and odors are actually blocked so the bathroom does not smell.

Some of the Service Plazas have an infrared sensor to automatically flush when you are done. Others still have the standard manual flush handle. On my way back home I stopped at the Blue Mountain Service Plaza at Milepost 202.5 Westbound. My sense of smell is the best of my 5 senses, and I could immediately pick up the urine odor as I walked in the Men's Room. I finished my business as fast as I could because the stench was very unpleasant.

If you prefer clean bathrooms, you should avoid the Sideling Hill Service Plaza at Milepost 172.3. This Service Plaza is accessible by both eastbound and westbound traffic, meaning more people traffic. During peak 3 day holiday weekends, this Plaza can get very busy with travelers from both the east and west. The Ladies restrooms become extremely busy and a long line usually forms.

So, if you are traveling east on the PA Turnpike, stop at the Oakmont Service Plaza and check out the Waterless No-Flush Urinals.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 7/22/2007

I only completed two cardio sessions and two actual weightlifing sessions. I spent one day mowing the lawn and Saturday afternoon trimming some overgrown hedges which were more like a bunch of small trees.