Nike Pro Vent Review 4

I was pleased to find that Nike's Europe website has a site with information about the Nike Pro Vent line of clothes Nike Pro Europe. The site explains how the clothes work, lists the 3 lines (tight, basic, and loose), and shows European athletes who endorse the product. I have been getting a ton of traffic from European visitors, so I am endorsing the product, but I am not a world class athlete, so I will never get a big product endorsement contract from Nike. What a shame.

I am a little puzzled why there is no U.S. site for the Nike Pro line. Maybe Nike does better outside of the U.S. Maybe Nike does not compete that well in the U.S. versus Under Armour.

I am receiving a huge amount of traffic from people searching for information about the Nike Pro Vent line of performance athletic clothing. So as a service to my readers, here is a list of my previous posts about Nike Pro Vent:

Nike Pro Vent Review 3 - This was my third most comprehensive review, including a graphic size chart, my personal review of the product, and where to buy.

Nike Pro Vent Review 2 - This was my second review, with a text only size chart.

Nike Pro Vent - This was my first review, when I first decided to buy it.

I went to Marshall's on Saturday hoping to find the long sleeve version of the Nike Pro Vent line. Winter is here and I wanted to wear a long sleeve version in my basement where my workout equipment is located. The thermostat for my furnace is set at 70 degrees, but the basement is about 5 degrees colder, so it was a little chilly wearing a short sleeve shirt in the basement. I was in luck, I was able to find three long sleeve Nike Pro Vent Tight shirts - black, gray, and hunter green. The retail price was $35.00, but the clothes were considered "Out of Season", so the price was cut down to $15.00. A successful shopping trip.

Weekly Review - 11/12/2006

I completed 4 cardio sessions and 3 weighlifting sessions. I missed working out my back and biceps, but I did hit my chest, triceps, quads, hams, and abs. I am trying to increase my poundages on all bodyparts because I am disappointed in my body mass. I am barely a size medium, and would like to get back to a large size. I also need to work out all body parts once a week.

From a diet perspective, I am easing back in my protein powder. For breakfast, I have been opting for Pop Tarts versus Oatmeal with protein powder and raisins. I have also been lazy about eating yogurt with protein powder at night. I need to increase my protein intake to support my weightlifting sessions.

There is always something I can do to improve my overall fitness: 1) Iron - weights; 2) Intake - food; 3) Inhale - cardio; or 4) Insomnia - sleep, rest. These are my 4 I's.

Butler Subway Restaurants

One of my favorite places to eat for lunch is Subway. The subs are fresh and if you do not add any cheese or special sauces, they are very low in fat content. I am pleased that there are so many Subways in the Butler area. On Tuesdays, you can buy any footlong sub for $4.29. It is a good deal. On days that I do not want a whole sub, I just get a 6 inch sub, but make it an extra value meal by adding a small drink, and two delicious cookies. My favorite cookie is the white macadamia nut. I have to treat myself once in a while.

I have actually been to all of the following Subways in the Butler area:

Westside Square Shopping Ctr
534 W Cunningham St #A
Butler PA 16001
724-283-8999
Local Store Web Page

622 Moraine Pointe Plz
Butler PA 16001-2414
724-283-0023
Local Store Web Page

330 Greater Butler Mart
Butler PA 16001
724-283-4900
Local Store Web Page

1768 N Main
Butler PA 16001
724-283-0799
Local Store Web Page

101 Clearview Cir Room
210 Clearview Mall
Butler PA 16001
724-282-6909
Local Store Web Page

501 N Main St
Chicora PA 16025
724-445-2445
Local Store Web Page

I do not have a favorite location, it all depends on what errands I may want to run during lunch. If I have time, I prefer the Subway located at the Clearview Mall. There is ample parking at the mall, the restaurant itself has more seating than some of the other ones (or you can eat in the Food Court), and it is a good place for people watching.

There are 4 other Subways in Butler County that I have not been to yet:
1651 Perry Hwy
Portersville PA 16057
724-368-3601

111 E Main St
Evans City PA 16033
724-538-9990

432 S Main St
Slippery Rock PA 16057-1251
724-794-1212

100 Perry Hwy Ste 101A
Harmony PA 16037
724-452-5699
Local Store Web Page

No, I am not being paid to endorse Subway. That job belongs to Jared.

Business Travel – Workout Tips

So your employer has asked you to work out of town for a week. How does one keep up with their workout routine? Well, here are a few tips.

Do bring your workout clothes, athletic shoes. If you are a swimmer, bring your swim suit. You will not have access to your normal exercise equipment, so you will have to improvise. When you book a hotel, look for one that says it has an exercise room or swimming pool. Unless you book a four star hotel, do not expect the exercise equipment to be very good. Exercise equipment, like multi station weightlifting equipment, treadmills, exercise bikes, etc are costly to maintain, and that is why most hotels do not have the best equipment. Most hotels rarely have any weightlifting equipment, but will have treadmills, exercise bikes, and maybe a stair climber. The exercise bikes most likely will not have foot straps on the foot pedals, so bring a roll of sports tape or duct tape with you so you can tape your foot to the foot pedals.

What if your hotel has no exercise equipment at all? You can use bodyweight exercises like push ups, leg squats, and lunges. Ab exercises do not require any special equipment, so they can be done anywhere, anytime.

Another option is to check out the exercise equipment at www.lifelineusa.com. They have jump ropes, resistance bands, and a bunch of other non traditional, very portable equipment. They also have an “aerobic treadmill belt”. You basically run in place using the resistance band as resistance while you “run”.

If you are a business traveler, and want to maintain your workouts, you have no excuse for not working out now.

Weekly Review – 11/05/2006

I worked out of town in Virginia last week and was only able to complete one weight lifting workout and two cardio sessions. I worked ten hour days, so I did not have a lot of energy to workout. One night, I used the treadmill at the hotel’s exercise room, and used some resistance bands from www.lifelineusa.com. The other nights, I just went through my 30 minute pre workout stretching routine. I will post about working out during business trips shortly.

As far as diet goes, I went off my usually “clean” diet. I tried to eat healthy, but two nights I decided to get dessert, which was not good for me. I weighted myself Saturday, and was surprised I did not gain any weight, but my body fat was up, and my water weight was down: weight=144.5 lbs, fat percent=10.5, water percent=68.5.

I will get back into my regular routine this week. Sometimes, it is good to take a week off, just to let your body recuperate.

Nike Pro Vent Review 3

I receive a large number of visits from people searching “Nike Pro Vent”. In fact, Nike Pro Vent ranks as the number 1 keyword that brings visitors to my blog. An interesting side note is that almost all of the international visits to this blog are from searches for Nike Pro Vent. I would like to thank all the international visitors (mostly from Europe) for landing here at my little tiny blog.

Probably the biggest question is what is the size chart for the Nike Pro Vent Tight series of clothing? Here is the United States size chart taken from Nike’s website:

SIZE, CHEST, HEIGHT
S , 35-38 , 5'7"-5'9"
M , 38-41, 5'9"-5'11"
L, 41-44, 5'11"-6'1"
XL, 44-47, 6'1"-6'3"
XXL, 47–50, 6'3"-6'5"
XXXL, 50-53, 6'5"-6'7"

These are Nike's recommendations directly from their website:
If your body measurement is on the borderline between two sizes, go to the lower size for a tighter fit or the higher size for a looser fit. If your body measurements for Chest and Height result in two different suggested sizes, you are better off going with the size from your Chest measurement. Compression Fit, Ultra Skin Tight. We suggest you may want to size up by one size.

Here are my thoughts:
1) If you do not like tight fitting clothes, the Nike Pro Vent Tight line is not for you. Nike does make a Nike Pro Vent Loose line also. The other competitors, Under Armour and Reebok, make both a compression line and a loose line. The Nike Pro Vent line is very tight on the body, even tighter than Under Armour and Reebok’s Play Dry. I have read that the moisture wicking properties of performance compression clothing work best if the clothing is tight.

2) My chest size is 37, so I am right between a small and a medium. Small is way too tight. Medium is OK because I do not have bulging triceps/biceps. Also, I am at the small end of the medium size, so medium is OK with me. My bone structure is lean, so my arms will never be bulging. If you do have bulging arms, I would recommend sizing up one size from your chest size if you wear the short sleeve tops. Arm size is not an issue if you are wearing the sleeveless version. If you are not sure, my final recommendation is to size up one size from your normal size.

3) It may take one or two workouts to get used to the skin tight fight.

4) It will take a few more workouts to figure out how to take off the skin tight shirt. It is really difficult trying the pull the back of the shirt over your head and overstretched arms. I find it easier to remove one arm first, then your shirt is easier to pull over your head and the remaining arm.



Alright, where can I buy the Nike Pro Vent line? Here is a list of possible places to buy, starting with retail prices and dropping down to discounted prices:
1) Nike’s Web site, http://www.nike.com/ - retail price

2) Dicks Sporting Goods, http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/home/index.jsp – retail price.
Sign up for their Score Card frequent buyer card and you will receive coupons through out the year for discounts. Good color selection.

3) Nike Factory Outlets – somewhere between retail price and discount price. Go to Nike's website, www.nike.com, and search for a Nike Outlet near you. Prime Outlets at Grove City, PA is the closest outlet to me.
http://www.primeoutlets.com/

4) Marshalls Discount Department Store, http://www.marshallsonline.com/ – very good discounts, $10.00 for short sleeve tops, $10.00 or less for sleeveless tops.

For a guy, I am a very good bargain hunter when it comes to shopping for clothes. If you are buying purely on price, Marshalls is the cheapest place to buy Nike Pro Vent Tight clothes. Look in the Men’s Athletic Wear section. The color selection is not very good, usually just black, white, and heather gray. Also, Marshall’s carries irregulars, so compare two different sizes of clothing one on top of the other. A medium may actually be the same size as a large. Also, since their stock changes constantly, you may have to make several trips before your preferred size and color are available.

Oh, by the way, the most important question you probably want to ask is, Does this stuff work? Yes, the Dri Fit fabric actually does what it is advertised to do – pull moisture/sweat away from your body to keep your dry. Dri Fit is so much better than the old sweaty cotton tee shirt.

I do like the compression fit. It gets me in the right frame of mind to workout. It feels goods and I feel pumped up even before I start working out.

Addendum: I have 3 other posts about the Nike Pro Vent line of performance compression clothing. Here they are:

Nike Pro Vent Review 4 - This was my fourth post after I discovered that Nike had a Nike Pro Europe website. This site explains how technology behind the Nike Pro line. The site also showcases European athletes who endorse the Nike Pro line.

Nike Pro Vent Review 2 - This was my second review, with a text only size chart.

Nike Pro Vent - This was my first review, when I first decided to buy it.

Election Day 2006

I knew I would be out of town the week of Election Day, so I applied for and received an Absentee Ballot. I did my civic duty and mailed it in last week. One thing that bugs me about Election Day is all of the pre-recorded voicemails from the candidates. I lost track of how many voicemails were left on my answering machine. Yes, they are annoying, but they do serve as a reminder to go out and vote.

Weekly Review - 10/29/2006

I completed three weightlifting workouts, one cardio only day, and mowed the lawn once. It was a better week than I expected. I did miss working my biceps and triceps, but I did work the larger back and chest muscle groups. On each of my weightlifting workouts, I am also doing 15 minutes of cardio. It has taken me a while to work up to 15 minutes and it seems to be helping. The most visible sign is the increased vascularity (visible veins) on my arms. Being a middle aged guy, the fat comes off my abs last, and everywhere else first. Once I start increasing my cardio time, I may have to cut back on the cardio during weightlifting days, and add cardio only days on days I do not lift.

I will be working out of town from November 6-11, so it will be a challenge fitting in some workouts.

Flu Shot

I got my flu shot this morning at the Northway Mall in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. I am not a senior citizen, so I paid $26.00 cash for the flu shot. There is supposed to be a good supply of the flu shot vaccine this year, so the line was short and I did not have to wait very long.

In some of the past years, there was a low supply of flu shot vaccine, and I had to wait in very long lines to get a shot. I blame the media for hyping the shortage and causing mass hysteria of people swarming to get a flu shot.

You can search for a flu shot clinic at the following web sites:

Health Hope Network, formerly Visiting Nurse Foundation

Maxim Health Systems

There are more flu shot clinics in Allegheny County than Butler County. If you live in Butler County, you may have to drive a little bit to either Zelienople, New Castle, Cranberry, or Mars.

I hope all my readers out there do not get the flu this year.

Pittsburgh Penguins, Nightowl Club

Penguins radio broadcaster Mike Lange referred to anyone listening to the 10:30PM start of the Penguins game as belonging to the "Nightowl Club". I listened to the entire game on 105.9 FM. I do not have cable TV because I would become a couch potato if I had it. Here is a link to radio stations that broadcast the Penguins games. I am kind of glad that FSN Pittsburgh decided not to renew Mike Lange's contract, because I get to listen to him on the radio. Mike Lange is known for his Lange-isms, but he is also a great play by play broadcaster. It was a great game, Evgeni Malkin scored in overtime and the Pens won. If you are interested in news, commentary, etc about the Pittsburgh Penguins, I highly recommend The Pensblog. There is also a link on the right side of my blog page under the SPORTS section.

The Wind Blows

I drove home today from Virginia and had to deal with the heavy wind gusts. I was driving the company vehicle, which is a GM Cargo Van. It sits up high and is a high profile vehicle, meaning wind gusts can move it suddenly. When I left Virginia, it was sunny and about 60 degrees. However, as the hours went by, and as I got closer to Pennsylvania, the clouds came out, it got cold, and very windy. Again, I had a death grip on the steering wheel, this time trying to keep the big white whale Moby Dick vehicle steady on the highway. I took a quick lunch break around 1:30 PM at a rest stop on the PA turnpike near Somerset. It was raining, but it was more like sleet turning into rain. Ugly. Driving through the last set of mountains before reaching Pittsburgh was ugly also. Still windy. I arrived in Downtown Butler around 4:00 PM, and the skies opened up...Wet, cold rain/sleet, an intense downpour for about 15 minutes. Overall, my trip home, was windy, wet, cold, and ugly. It will be nice sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Afton Mountain Fog

I worked late Friday night in Virginia and decided to stay overnight in Waynesboro, VA. I had to drive on I-64 West through the mountains. When I came through on Wednesday heading East on I-64, I noticed the signs warning that it was a fog prone area. Wednesday night was clear, but Friday night was rainy, and yes very foggy. After I passed mile 107, there was a sign warning motorists of upcoming fog the next six miles. The hotel was located at exit 96, and somewhere between mile 107 and 96 it became very foggy and the road was very windy. The first thing I noticed was that the road actually had lights built into the road along the right side of the right lane and along the left side of the left lane. These lights really helped. Visibility at certain stretches on the mountain was only a few car lengths. I was very nervous and literally had a death grip on the steering wheel. I made it to the exit and hotel safely. I was so relieved.

When I got home on Saturday, I searched www.google.com for I-64 and learned that I was driving through Afton Mountain. Here is a link from Wikipedia. The lighting system is called
Automated Pavement Lighting. I found out there is also a webcam and 800 number where you can get updated traffic/weather conditions. If I ever have to travel to Virginia again, I will check the traffic/weather conditions and possibly have an alternative route planned.

Weekly Review - 10/22/2006

I was out of town for about half of the week working my new job resposibilities even though they do not officially start until November 1. I only completed two cardio workouts this week. I got one in today when I returned home. Due to a crazy work schedule, I was not able to work out. On business trips I usually lose weight, but the weight re-distributes itself to my stomach. I had a feeling I had lost some weight because my cargo pants kept falling off my waist. Here are my reading when I got back home: weight=144.5 lbs, fat=9.5%, water=70.5%.
The week before I weighed 147.0 lbs. Even though I ate out for dinner instead of cooking dinner for myself, I lose weight on business trips because I miss the mid morning, mid afternoon, and late evening snacks.

Cold Wendy's

I went to the Wendy's on Rt 356 today because I wanted to stop at the Target over lunch. From past experience, I should have remembered that this Wendy's is always cold in the winter. It seems like they do not keep the heat on overnight and do not turn on the heat until the workers arrive in the morning. By lunchtime, the building is still cold. I arrived around 12:30PM, it was about two-thirds full, but still cold. For the most part, I usually order salads or something healthy when I dine out for lunch. Since it was cold, I ordered a Taco Salad. I have been to a few restaurants that were always cold at lunchtime in the winter because they were cheap with the heating. I do not think that the Wendy's at the Clearview Mall has this problem. The next time I am up that way, I will check it out. It is not a good sign when you sit in a restaurant during lunch, and almost all the customers are still wearing their coats.

PA State Car Inspection

Yesterday, I had my car inspected to comply with Pennsylvania's annual vehicle inspection. I had a coupon for a $6.00 inspection. Of course, this was only the vehicle inspection and did not include the emissions testing, sticker, or anything else they could find. I dropped my car off at 8:00 AM and the shop did not call me until 2:30 PM. They told me I needed new wiper blades and the brakes needed adjusted. They told me the brake adjustment would cost $20.00, so I said OK, proceed with the work. I picked up the car around 3:45 PM.

My bill totaled almost $100.00. How? Well first off, they charged me about $15.00 a piece for each wiper blade. Not a wiper blade refill, but the refill with a whole blade assembly. That is damn expensive. I checked Advanced Auto Part's website, and whole wiper blades cost anywhere from $8.00 to $20.00. However, there were only a few around the $20.00 range. These wipers better last forever. They claimed that my wiper blades were streaking. With all the rain, I have been using the wipers, but they seemed fine to me. $20.00 for the brake adjustment, $40.00 for the emission testing, plus some other miscellaneous stuff brought the bill to almost $100.00. Even though I had the coupon, they always find someone stupid that needs replaced. Usually it is a lightbulb, but I guess they are cheaper than wiper blades. I am glad I only have to get a car inspection once a year. What a rip off!

Weekly Review - 10/15/2006

I completed two weight lifting workout and one cardio. Not the greatest week, but at least I did something. My head is not on straight lately. I have been worrying about the amount of travel I will have to do with the change in j0b responsibilities. I will be out of town half of next week and my boss proposed that I be out one week in November. I will be in a training class for one week in December. And I still have 5 vacations days that I have to use. Hopefully, I am not over reacting.

Nike Pro Vent Tight Review 2

Below is the men's size chart for the Nike Pro Vent line of compression tops

SIZE, CHEST, HEIGHT

S , 35-38 , 5'7"-5'9"

M , 38-41, 5'9"-5'11"

L, 41-44, 5'11"-6'1"

XL, 44-47, 6'1"-6'3"

XXL, 47–50, 6'3"-6'5"

XXXL, 50-53, 6'5"-6'7"

These are Nike's recommendations directly from their website:
If your body measurement is on the borderline between two sizes, go to the lower size for a tighter fit or the higher size for a looser fit. If your body measurements for Chest and Height result in two different suggested sizes, you are better off going with the size from your Chest measurement. Compression Fit, Ultra Skin Tight. We suggest you may want to size up by one size.

My recommendations:
1) If you do not like tight fitting clothes, the Nike Pro Vent Tight line is not for you. Nike does make a Nike Pro Vent Loose line also. The other competitors, Under Armour and Reebok, make both a compression line and a loose line.
2) My chest size is 37, so I am right between a small and a medium. Small is way too tight. Medium is OK because I do not have bulging triceps/biceps. My bone structure is lean, so my arms will never be bulging. If you do have bulging arms, I would recommend sizing up one size from your chest size for the short sleeve tops. Arm size is not an issue if you are wearing the sleeveless version.
3) It may take one or two workouts to get used to the skin tight fight.
4) It will take a few more workouts to figure out how to take off the skin tight shirt. It is really difficult trying the pull the back of the shirt over your head and overstretched arms. I find it easier to remove one arm first, then your shirt is easier to pull off of your head and the remaining arm.

The important question is does this stuff work? The answer is yes. The Dri-Fit fabric wicks sweat off your body and then evaporates. Say goodbye to the days of sweat soaked cotton tee shirts.

Addendum: I have 3 other posts about the Nike Pro Vent line of performance compression clothing. Here they are:

Nike Pro Vent Review 4 - This was my fourth post after I discovered that Nike had a Nike Pro Europe website. The website explains how the Nike Pro line works to wick sweat away from your body. It also showcase European athletes who endorse the Nike Pro line.

Nike Pro Vent Review 3 - This was my third most comprehensive review, including a graphic size chart, my personal review of the product, and where to buy.

Nike Pro Vent - This was my first review, when I first decided to buy it.

Blogger Beta

I switched over to Blogger Beta on Sunday. I lost some of the links to my favorite websites and blogs, so please bear with me while I re-construct everything. Thanks for your patience.

Job Changes

At work, I accepted a new position. It is more responsiblity and visibility. On one hand it is exciting, and on the other hand I have some fears of the unknown. It is a brand new position, so there are a lot of unknowns right now. Geographically, my area expands from just Butler, PA to a national basis. Functionally, my responsibilty shrinks from the whole company to one specific department in the company. It is not really a lateral move and it is not really a promotion either. It is kind of like a stepping stone to a promotion. The position will require some travel, so I have some concerns about keeping in shape. My new position begins November 1, so I am transitioning out of my current responsibilities.

Weekly Review - 10/8/2006

I completed cardio on two days, one day of lifting, and mowed the lawn one day. It was not the most productive week. I also got off track from my diet. For breakfast, instead of oatmeal with protein powder and raisins, I opted for Pop Tarts. For bedtime snack, instead of yogurt with protein powder, I opted for Mom's homemade zucchini bread. My bodyweight today was 145.5 lbs, 9.5% bodyfat, 70.5% water weight. The bodyfat is up a little and the % water weight dropped some. I need to get back on track.

Computer Expert "Digital Bill" Passes Away

On a sad note, computer expert "Digital Bill", originally from Butler, PA passed away on October 4, 2006. You can read the article from the Post Gazette here. I did not know "Digital Bill" personally. I feel a sense of loss because I am also an IT Professional. I extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Butler Bloggers

I just joined Butler Bloggers at www.butlerbloggers.com. My blog is already listed with Pittsburgh Bloggers http://www.pghbloggers.org What is my Butler connection? I work in Butler. In fact, my office is located in downtown Butler. I actually live in Allegheny County, Gibsonia, to be exact. I get to experience both a big city like Pittsburgh, and a smaller, more rural city like Butler. I will be adding more posts about Butler in the future.

I have read it is not wise to talk about work on a blog, so I will not. My employer and I will remain anonymous. If I do speak about work, it will only be in very general terms, and how it relates to the general theme of this blog: The challenges of a single, 40 something guy maintaining a fitness lifestyle.

Thank You Butler Bloggers for listing my blog!

KOHS Class of 1981 25 Year Reunion Announced

The 25 year Reunion of the Keystone Oaks High School Class of 1981 has been announced. The reunion contact at http://www.classmates.com/ sent me a e-mail and posted an announcement on the Classmates website.

Reunion Information
Place: Dormont Pool Recreation Center, 2nd floor
Date: Friday, November 24, 2006
Time: 7:00 to 11:30
Cost: $15 per person ($30 per couple)
RSVP by November 11, 2006
Pizza, beer, snacks and soda provided, byob, casual attire.
Also, information will be posted on the following website: http://kohs1981.servebbs.org

Checks can be sent to two different people. I will not publish their names or addresses on this blog. You can e-mail me and I will send you the names and addresses. Look in the upper right section of this page, in the "About Me" section, click on "View my complete profile". On the left side of the page under "Contact", you will see my e-mail. I hope to see you there.

Weekly Review - 10/1/2006

This was the week of non-traditional workouts. I mowed the lawn one day. I washed and waxed the car another day. Completed two cardio sessions. And on the weekend, I literally dug a trench two feet deep on one side of my outside storage shed.

Why, you ask? I had a family of cats living under my shed for a few weeks. I bought some animal repellant from Home Depot where the main ingredient was cayenne pepper. I also bought some moth balls. The cats, father, mother, and three kittens were entering from one side of the shed that has a small wooden deck platform. The repellant and moth balls scared the cats away. In the past, I have also had groundhogs under my shed. I removed the wood planks with a crowbar, placed and secured chicken wire along the one side of the platform, covered with dirt, and nailed the planks back down. The chicken wire should prevent any animals from digging underneath that side of the shed. I was only able to work on one half of the length of the shed. I will have to complete the other half another day.

It was difficult work. Using a crowbar, removing nails, digging and moving dirt. My biceps were sore and the hamstrings were tight. I am right handed, so my right hand is "tired" from gripping a hammer too many times.

Around the start of the Steelers game, I heard a kitten meowing from outside. The kitten was in my neighbors backyard and I saw it run away up their driveway. The cats are still in the neighborhood, but not under my shed anymore.

Weekly Review - 9/24/2006

I actually completed 4 workouts: 1) legs, 2) triceps and biceps, 3) chest, and 4) back. It was more productive than I thought it would be.

Keystone Oaks Class of 1981 - 25 Year Reunion Announced

The 25 year Reunion of the Keystone Oaks High School Class of 1981 has been announced. The reunion contact at www.classmates.com sent me a e-mail and posted an announcement on the Classmates website. Here it is:


Reunion Information
Place: Dormont Pool Recreation Center, 2nd floor
Date: Friday, November 24, 2006
Time: 7:00 to 11:30
Cost: $15 per person ($30 per couple)
RSVP by November 11, 2006
Pizza, beer, snacks and soda provided, byob, casual attire

Also, information will be posted on the following website: http://kohs1981.servebbs.org

Checks can be sent to two different people. I will not publish their names or addresses on this blog, so please e-mail me by Viewing My Profile and clicking on the e-mail link..

Cold Case Babe

Isn't she just beautiful? This is Kathryn Morris, star of CBS's Cold Case. I really do not have to say anything else. Wow!

KDKA News Babes

Have you ever noticed the number of attractive female reporters on the local TV stations? KDKA, WTAE, and WPXI all have a large number of attractive news babes on their staff. Which station has the best news babes? It is hard for me to give an objective analysis because, I do not have cable, and I get the best reception from KDKA, so I cannot judge the WPXI and WTAE that well. Why don’t I have cable? Partially because I am too cheap, plus if I had cable, I would spend too much unproductive time watching TV.

Since I can not compare station to station, I will just focus on KDKA, past and present, and then tell you my favorite news babe.

Sonni Abatta – young, attractive, petite, what else could you ask for. I believe she looked better when she first started with KDKA. She has gone through a lot of hair color and hair style changes, a couple too many in my opinion. I do not know why she keeps trying to change her look. She is not perfect. She is a bit too skinny and needs to add some meat on her bones.

Stephanie Watson – the newest babe who anchors the weekend newscasts. A very attractive brunette. Her newscasts seems to be robotic, I am waiting for her personality to peak through. When she is not anchoring a newscast, and reporting a story, she does seem to have an upbeat, pleasant, personality. At times she looks too perfect, but she is still good eye candy.

Kristine Sorensen – she has a perky personality, kind of like Mary Hart, but not annoying. She has spunk, plus she very rarely stumbles with her words. Marty Griffin did good marrying her.

Yvonne Zanos – an older lady, but she fights for consumer rights, so this counterbalances for her age.

Patrice King Brown – quite attractive for her age. Sometimes, she speaks too fast and stumbles with her words. She has been with KDKA for a long time, so years of service is a plus for her.

Susan Barnett – who could forget her? Blonde, petite, perky, Ahh ! I read somewhere she is in Philly now. Pittsburgh’s loss, Philly’s gain.

Alison Morris – cute, perky blonde, you only see her reports on early morning broadcasts.

Jennifer Antkowiak – cute as a button face, great personality. I lost count of how many kids she has.

Dr. Maria Simbra - can a practicing medical professional really look this attractive? Few and far between.

Who is my favorite? Drum roll please…
Rebecca Hower – She is such an attractive lady. Some guys think she is a makeover gone bad, but I have to disagree. On occasion, she has filled in with the morning news along with her weather duties. The close ups show how attractive her face really is. When she has filled in with the regular news, she does a very good job. No stumbling with words at all. Intelligence is attractive and her being a meteorologist is attractive. She looks great standing in front of a weather map. She is the whole package – Beauty, brains, face, figure, great speaking skills. I really did not care too much for Julie Bologna. JB was more of an attractive female who did the weather. Rebecca Hower is more intelligent, respected meteorologist who happens to be a babe.

I would have to say Kristine Sorensen has the best personality.

If I was considering youth only, I would say Sonni Abatta.

When I get reception for WTAE, my favorite news babe is Janelle Hall. Hot!

Nike Pro Vent Tight Review

A few weeks ago I was at the North Way Mall and decided to stop in at Marshalls. I have never shopped at Marshalls before, but I had some extra time, so I gave it a try. I was in the men's althletic clothing section and spotted some Nike Pro Vent Tight Short Sleeve Tees. Regular price was $30, selling for $10, a bargain, so I decided to buy. Nike and Under Armor are competitors in performance athletic apparel designed to wick sweat and moisture away from your body to keep you dry. I am a big fan of Under Armor's Cold Gear line. The Nike Pro Vent Tight line is ultra skin tight. I have shrunk to a size medium, but can sometimes wear large. The Nike website says you may want to size up one size, but I decided to stay with the medium because I do not have any tops that are ultra skin tight. Apparently, the wicking properties are more effective with skin tight clothes. I wore the Nike Pro Vent the other day and was pleased with it. It was hard to judge the moisture management since the weather has gotten cooler and I do not sweat as much. It takes getting used to the ultra tight fit, but it actually feels good. The skin tight fit is energizing because it gets me in the right frame of mind to work out. I give the Nike Pro Vent line a thumbs up!

Addendum: I have 3 other posts about the Nike Pro Vent line of performance compression clothing. Here are the links:

Nike Pro Vent Review 4 - This was my fourth post after I discovered that Nike had a Nike Pro Europe website. The website explains how the Nike Pro line works to wick sweat away from your body. It also showcase European athletes who endorse the Nike Pro line.

Nike Pro Vent Review 3 - This was my third most comprehensive review, including a graphic size chart, my personal review of the product, and where to buy.

Nike Pro Vent Review 2 - This was my second review, with a text only size chart.

Is Match.com a Ripoff?

I have strong suspicions that the on-line dating website Match.com is a ripoff. I was a non-paying member several times in the past. Amazingly, it seems that almost exactly one month after my paid subscription expires, I receive an e-mail in my Inbox. Of course, the only way to read the e-mail is to subscribe. When I open the e-mail, it is from someone who has deleted her profile and also who happens to be from Russia with an-email address ending in *.rambler.ru. It happened to me in mid September, almost exactly one month after my subscription expired. If my memory serves me correctly, I subscribed back in February of this year because I received an e-mail. Of course, it was from a female supposedly from Russia, again with an e-mail address ending in *.rambler.ru.

I thought I should warn all you single guys out there about this. I have seen similar accounts on the web from guys stating they were fooled into subscribing. I have read some news articles that there have been lawsuits filed against Match.com. One lawsuit claimed that Match.com hired females to go out on dates with guys. Slime-balls !

Weekly Review - 9/17/2006

I lifted twice, had one cardio only session, and mowed the lawn once. I only lifted half the number of sets for my resistance training sessions while trying to get my groove back. Oh well.

Keystone Oaks High School 1981 - 25 Year Reunion

I would like to get in touch with anyone who graduated from Keystone Oaks High School in 1981 to see if there is any interest in a 25 year reunion. Would you like to have a 25 year reunion? Do you know any classmates who would like to have a 25 year reunion? Would you help to organize and plan a reunion? Do you know anyone who would like to help organize and plan a reunion? Would you like to re-connect with classmates? I usually do not like to promote any websites, but please register yourself for free at http://www.classmates.com/. An accurate count is needed to determine if there is enough interest in holding a 25 year reunion. Please e-mail the reunion contact through Classmates.com. If you can help organize and plan a reunion, please e-mail the reunion contact at Classmates.com.

I am a real KOHS 1981 graduate. I am not here to promote any website. I am not being reimbursed for mentioning any website. I simply would like to have a 25 year reunion. Classmates.com makes it easier for the reunion contact to get in touch with everyone. Classmates.com keeps track of all graduates rather than one person, who would spend enormous amounts of time updating contact information. Plus, Classmates.com “hides” your personal e-mail address and does not make it public knowledge or provide it to any classmate. If you feel uncomfortable about registering with Classmates.com, you can e-mail me by viewing my profile and clicking on the e-mail link. I will then provide you with another e-mail address so you can e-mail the reunion contact. I will not speak for you because I do not want to misquote or misrepresent you. I have been grossly misquoted in the past, and it is not fun.

Please, spread the word. I hope to see everyone at an upcoming reunion, but only if you voice your opinion. Thank You.

Annual Pirates Game - 9/16/2006

Four years ago, a friend of mine from Pitt and his friend started a tradition of attending a Pirates baseball game around the end of summer. The three of us share one thing in common - we all graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. Jim graduated with me in 1985 and now lives in Virginia. Jim's friend, Gerry, graduated a few years before us and lives in the Burgh. Occassionally, my younger brother from Ohio, who also graduated from Pitt, but with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, also joined us. Jim usually picks the date to coincide with some type of giveaway. This year it was a Jack Wilson bobble head. Gerry attends a lot of Pirates games throughout the year, so he is in charge of buying the tickets. And I just show up.

Sure, the Pirates have not had a winning season in 14 years, but it is still a good time for several reasons: 1) reconnect with old buddies; 2) visit the best ball park in the U.S.; and 3) people (babe) watching. The game started with John Tucci, a groundskeeper for Rober Morris University, singing the national anthem. Mr. Tucci must have been nervous, because after a while, I thought his singing was a practical joke. I researched his name after the game and found out that Mr. Tucci has experience signing the national anthem for RMU sporting events. You can read more about Mr. Tucci at the following links:

http://undergraduate.rmu.edu/rmu-all-star-staff-member-selected-to-sing-national-anthem-at-pirates-game.aspx

http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=1753

It was a sellout crowd last Saturday. I found out that the NY Mets needed to win one game to clinch, but the lowly Pirates would not let them. There were a large number of Mets fans in the stands. There was a blonde Mets babe off to my right a few rows up with her boyfriend. A few rows below me there was a short, cute, but young brunette. Gerry lucked out last year. A young blond, probably not legal yet, sat right next to him. She was wearing a white rib tank, and had black and gold face paint. She was thin, but had a great figure.

There was one annoying Mets fan a few rows below me. One of the Pirates hit a foul ball down the 3rd base line. The ball boy picked the ball up and tossed it in the direction of a young boy, probably only 8-10 years old, when an adult wearing a Mets cap, about three seats to the left of the youngster, pushed his fat body in front of the boy and snagged the ball. The fans were furious and heckled the Mets fan for about 10 minutes. The Mets fan would not budge and give the ball to the boy, who was a Pirates fan. What an idiot, he stole the ball from the young kid. The crowd was getting louder and it got to the point where it could have disrupted the game. The ball boy did a wise thing. He ran to the Pirates dugout and got at least one, maybe two autographed balls, and handed them to the young kid. The crowd stopped their intense heckling, but occassionally someone would make a derogatory comment about the Mets idiot.

Anyway, the Pirates won in the bottom of the 9 th inning. It was a good evening, good weather, good company, a free bobble head, a few babes, a little heckling, and a win.

Weekly Review - 9/11/2006

My sinuses started bothering me at the beginning of the week. My sinuses were draining. It could have been a slight cold or me adjusting to the change of seasons. I took some Dayquil and it cleared up by the end of the week. I fit in two weight training sessions, one cardio session, and mowed the lawn once.

Weekly Review - 9/4/2006

It is always difficult to maintain my workouts on a three day holiday weekend. My younger brother visits my mother, so I do the same. So essentially, I do not work out for three days. I completed two cardio sessions and mowed the lawn once.

9/11 Thoughts

What was I doing 5 years ago? I was working in Central Pennsylvania with one of the worst co-workers I had ever worked with. This psycho lady was taking some kind of anti-depressants. She had mood swings, needed to be in control of everything, was never wrong, and was the victim if something did go wrong. It was hell working with her. It is unfortunate that I do not remember too much about 9/11 but more about 9/13. This was the day that my former co-worker did not report to work. She took short term disability for one year, then left the company with a pension. I am 99.9 percent sure that she had a mental breakdown, and that is why she left.

I would like to commend Craig Ferguson from the Late Late Show on CBS. His entire show was dedicated to remembering 9/11. It was a serious show. Craig Ferguson did manage to squeeze in a few jokes, but for the most part it was very somber. This is actually the second time Craig Ferguson had a “serious” show. The first time, he had a Scottish “Wake” to remember his father who had passed away. He actually received an Emmy nomination for this show. Thanks for helping me remember 9/11.

Rockstar Supernova Thoughts

Has anyone been watching Rockstar Supernova? I have watched a few episodes and am impressed with Dilana. She has the look of a rock n roller - piercings, tattoos, multiple colors in her hair. This girl can sing. She kind of has a raspy, Bonnie Rait, type voice. She has done well singing traditional rock and roll as well as slower songs. The other female singer, Storm Large, is no longer on the show. She is a good singer, but not as good as Dilana. Storm Large is a major babe, but her looks could only take her so far. I enjoy listening to rock and alternative music when I work out. I like my music with an edge, and attitude. I like 80's music also, it takes me back to the days when music videos where so popular.

Three Day Weekend Blah

It is always tough getting back into the groove after a three day weekend. My younger brother from Ohio usually visits, so I essentially stop working out. It also does not help that my mother always makes oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I weighed myself yesterday and weighed 147.5 lbs, 10.0 % fat, 70.5% water weight. I have noticed that when my bodyfat percentage is high, my weight is higher and my water weight is lower. One another note, my sinuses are started to bother me this Wednesday. At this point, I can not tell if I am getting a cold, or if it is just seasonal allergies.

Weekly Review - 8/27/2006

I have no idea how many workouts I completed. It may have been 2. I was gearing up for the three day weekend and totally forgot about logging my workouts. Oh well.

Weekly Review - 8/20/2006

I completed two weightlifting workouts and three cardio sessions. On Monday, I took off from work and put some driveway sealer on my driveway. On Saturday, I put on a second coat of driveway sealer. I was in a hurry to put on the second coat, so I did not put sunscreen on my arms. My right arm got sunburned right where the elbow bends. It is red, hopefully it will not blister. Here are my bodyweight readings from 8/22/2006: weight=144.5 lbs, bodyfat=9.0%, water=71.5%.

Weekly Review - 8/13/2006

I completed two weightlifting workouts and two cardio sessions. I felt blah the week of the 13th. My knee felt unstable most of the week. When I keep up with my workouts, the knee does not feel unstable. Later.

Weekly Review - 8/6/2006

I lifted weights 3 times, one extra cardio session, and I mowed the lawn once. I did not work all bodyparts. I missed working my biceps and triceps. Even though I did complete more cardio last week, my stomach still has a little bulge to it. My shirt size is a tight medium or a loose large. I am in between sizes. All of my size 32 inch pants are loose on me, but I still have a little belly. I even think that my shoe size has gotten smaller. For dress shoes, I wear a size 9, size 9 1/2 seems too big for me. For athletic shoes, size 9 1/2 is good for me, size 9 is too tight. It sucks being in between two sizes. Do I need two separate wardrobes? Anyway, I should go now.

Right Elbow Tingle

When I woke up in the middle of the night on Saturday/early Sunday, my right elbow felt like it fell asleep. I have not had this tingly feeling for quite a while. It is almost the same feeling when you hit your funny bone. The last time I felt this way was probably five or more years ago when I was lifting heavy. Saturday afternoon, I spent some time spraying some grass/weed killer on weeds located between concrete blocks and the edge of my driveway. The grass/weed killer has a trigger sprayer handle where you use your hand to grip, squeeze, then release the handle. I made sure that I alternated hands during the spraying. I also completed my back workout. The combination of the two activities must have contributed to the numbness in my elbow. I will monitor and hopefully it will clear up.

Sam's Club, Mt Nebo Point Drive, KOHS Class of 1981

Sorry for the deception, but the easiest way for me to get hits on my blog is to post about Sam's Club in the North Hills, now located at Mt. Nebo Point Drive. I am actually trying to see if anyone from the Keystone Oaks High School Class of 1981 will read this. If so, please read my post about a possible 25 year high school reunion, click here

I receive numerous visits to my blog for people searching for information about Sam's Club in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Sam's Club moved from McKnight Rd to 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive. Here is a summary of the four posts I have published to help you find the place.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sam's Club - Mt Nebo Point Drive click here

Sunday, June 18, 2006
Directions, Sams Club, 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive click here

Sunday, June 11, 2006
Mt Nebo Point - Sams Club click here

Saturday, June 10, 2006
Where in the World is Sam's Club? click here

Weekly Review - 7/30/2006

I managed to complete 3 workouts and mowed the lawn one day. I worked all bodyparts except my triceps. Since recovering from my cold and working late one week to complete a project, I have not kept track of the amount of sleep I am getting as well as after work nap times. Yesterday, I woke up earlier than usual and worked late. I did not get enough sleep time and no after work nap. Today I took a nap after work, but I still felt tired, so I only completed a cardio session, no weights. I have been keeping track of my bodyweight. Here are my readings from yesterday: weight=144.5 lbs, fat=8.5 %, water=72%. Compared to the three weeks that I did not work out, my bodyweight is back down as well as my bodyfat.

High School Buddy

One of my old high school buddies contacted me through www.classmates.com. I was quite surprised to hear from him. We probably hung out together in high school for about 2 or 2 1/2 years. We lost touch with each other after high school. The last time I spoke to him was at our 5 year reunion 20 years ago. I am curious why he contacted me after 20 years. He asked for my e-mail and telephone number. Did he get sentimental and decide to reach out to old high school buddies? Is he recruiting for Amway? He did send me a lengthy e-mail telling me his life story for the past 25 years, condensed of course. I will e-mail him back. I am still puzzled by this though.

Weekly Review - 7/23/2006

I worked out three times last week and mowed the lawn once. I missed my leg workout though. I worked late two nights trying to complete a project deadline. I was surprised I was able to fit in three workouts. The downside was that the interior of my house is a real mess, a true bachelor pad.

Hornet's Nest Gone

On Tuesday, I thought it was safe to take down the hornet's nest, and I was correct. I was still a little apprehensive. I wrapped the remains of the hornet's nest in 4 plastic bags. It was disgusting, but from another perspective, it was a great work of engineering by the hornets. Thurday was trash day, so out it went Wednesday night in the trash can.

Weekly Review - 7/16/2006

Last week I was still recovering from my cold. I was on vacation the week of 7/10, so I decided to work late to catch up on work rather than work out my body. Plus my body was still in no condition to do anything too physical. On Friday, I decided to mow the lawn after work because the grass was getting way too long. On Saturday, I decided to work out my legs even though I still did not feel 100%. Working late probably prevented me from recovering from my cold quicker. I should have tried to catch up on rest rather than work. At work, I am the only one in my department. The closest person in my department is 1 and 1/2 hours away, but she reports to a different supervisor. The closest person in my workgroup reporting to my immediate supervisor is 225 miles away. This makes it difficult to get someone to cover for me if I am out of the office for an extended period.

Wasp, Hornet Update

Here is a pic of the wasp/hornet nest. The spray that I used destroyed most of the paper like outer layers of the nest. You can see the honeycomb shaped structure. I bought two more cans of the wasp/hornet killer today and used it again. There were still some lingering wasps/hornets hovering around this morning. I sprayed again this evening. The honeycombs may have larvae in them, so it may take another day of spraying to kill it completely. This still scares the crap out of me.

Bee, Wasp, Hornet Nest

I was on vacation last week and played catch up at work this week. I worked late Monday through Thursday this week. I am still recovering from my cold, so no real workouts this week yet. I decided to mow the lawn after work today. When I was done, I noticed something strange sticking on the underside of my deck. It was a giant bee, wasp, or hornet nest. At first I could not believe how big it was. It is about the size of a football. I am not joking. It scared the crap out of me. It must have taken a while for a nest that big to get that large. I think most of it may have been built the week I was on vacation. It was very warm, humid, with almost no rain. The bastard insects chose a good place for a nest. Protected from the rain, wind, sun, etc.

I only had half a can of wasp/hornet spray, so I decided to go to Wal Mart to pick up a couple more cans. I picked up two twin packs, yes four cans, of wasp/hornet spray. To my pleasant surprise, my favorite cashier was working the express line and actually rang me up. She is actually younger looking than I originally thought, probably late twenties or early thirties. She is married of course, but she has an extremely attractive face. She has long thin arms, without any fat at all, no flabby arms on this girl. She was kind of covered up with her Wal Mart vest, and I tried not to stare too much, so I did not get a good look at her figure. But I have fond thoughts of previous sightings where she wore some pretty low cut, tight fitting tops. I still can not believe that a girl that gorgeous is working at Wal Mart. She brightened up the rest of my evening. Thanks Wal Mart Babe!

Weekly Review - 7/9/2006

I only worked out one day and spent one day mowing the lawn and replacing some landscape timbers. I caught a summer cold last Monday, 7/10, and still have it as we speak. I feel better than last Monday, but the cold is taking it's good old time going away. I am taking a decongestant for 12 hours during the day to clear things up. I am a little reluctant to take a decongestant before going to bed because I will not be able to fall asleep. I am also reluctant to take Nyquil because it will make me too sleepy. What should I do? This really sucks!

Sudafed - Pseudoephedrine

I woke up this past Monday morning with a sore throat and congested sinuses. I am off this week, so I am glad that I am not at work where I would have to use my brain to think. I think it is part allergies, but more likely a summer cold. My mucous has some discoloration to it, a sign of congestion. I went through my supply of allergy medication and decongestants and found out that most of them are well past their expiration dates. I did have generic claritin/decongestant that did not expire. It was a 24 hour dose, I took it yesterday and could not fall asleep. So, I went to the local Wal Mart to purchase 12 hour versions of the generic claritin and decongestant. I want a 12 hour dose so I can fall asleep at night. This is the first time that I have purchased a decongestant since a law went into effect that you must register your name, address, etc and present your driver's license to purchase the stuff. Decongestants can be used to make drugs and that is why the law went into effect. The process of registering was painless, but kind of uneasy at the same time.

Landscape Timber

Yesterday, I replaced three rotting lanscape timbers that are located on one side of my driveway. I bought 3 landscape timbers from my local Home Depot. They gave me an extra one free because it was warped. The timbers were 5 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in x 8 ft and were damn heavy. I was able to fit the four timbers in my Pontiac Vibe by laying the front passenger seat down. My biceps and hamstrings are sore from this outdoor project. This past Sunday, I decided to work out very late, and worked my back and biceps. My biceps were still sore yesterday from Sunday's workout and they are still sore after yesterday. I have been good at getting my workouts in, but I have not been good at getting more sleep and rest to compensate for the extra stress on my body.

Sam's Club, Mt Nebo Point, Posts

I receive numerous visits to my blog for people searching for information about Sam's Club in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Sam's Club moved from McKnight Rd to 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive. Here is a summary of the four posts I have published to help you find the place.






Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sam's Club - Mt Nebo Point Drive
click here

Sunday, June 18, 2006
Directions, Sams Club, 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive
click here

Sunday, June 11, 2006
Mt Nebo Point - Sams Club
click here

Saturday, June 10, 2006
Where in the World is Sam's Club?
click here

Weekly Review - 7/2/2006

I only completed two workouts and mowed the lawn once. On July 4th, my cousin had a family cookout, so I did not workout. Also, I took a working day trip to Beford, PA on Friday, so I was just too damn tired to workout. My mom made her delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, which are not good for me but they taste out of this world. I had the following readings on my Taylor Body Fat Scale: Weight=145.0 lbs, Bodyfat=10.5%, Water=69.5. This is actually my highest body fat percentage and my lowest water percentage. I will blame it on the cookout and Mom's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Weekly Review for 6/25/2006

I completed three workouts and mowed the lawn two days. I am pleased with last's weeks efforts. I actually worked all body parts last week. I added triceps to my chest day and added biceps to my back day. For my chest/triceps workout, I increased the poundages, but I did not feel sore afterwards. A good sign, this means I have been lifting too light. I did have difficulty completing my last set on my chest, so I can improve here. Also, my right elbow was not sore, which is also a good thing. Overall, a very productive week.

I was at my local Wal Mart last Saturday, and caught a glimpse of my favorite cashier. I observed WMGirl bagging items in front of me, and damn, she has biceps. Not bulging, but very toned arms, very appealing. I was in the line where there were two cashiers, I seem to end up with the other cashier though.

I made a trip to my local GNC to buy some protein powder. I decided to increase my protein intake since I am taking my workouts more seriously. Every morning, I eat a bowl of Quaker Instant Oatmeal and mix in one scoop of protein powder and Sunmaid raisins. I used to take another scoop before going to bed by mixing the protein powder with yogurt. For some reason or another, I stopped my yogurt/protein mix before going to bed. I am starting it up again. In the past, I have always purchased Designer Whey Protein, Strawberry, in a 5 lb plastic bucket. I was disappointed that my local GNC did not stock the 5 lb size. I checked on the internet and noticed that not too many on line retailers carry the 5 lb size. I had to settle for the 2 lb container. Optimum Nutrition does offer a 5 lb size in Strawberry flavor, so the next time I may have to buy Optimum Nutrition's brand.

I ran into a gal who used to live in my development a few blocks away. I will refer to her as the RunnerGirl. I never actually carried on a conversation with RunnerGirl, but I always saw her running through the development. She was a brunette, taller in person, fairly attractive. She was surprised to see me also. I believe she moved because she re-married.

Anyway, time to go.

Sam's Club - Mt Nebo Point Drive

Stop, no you did not reach my blog in error. Do not leave this site yet. I have directions and info on the Sam's Club in the North Hills of Pittsburgh that moved from McKnight Rd to Mt Nebo Point Drive. Please read my previous posts below. I am trying to help you, my fellow consumer. Keyword Analysis from www.sitemeter.com and www.statcounter.com shows that the #1 keyword search that brings people like you to my site is "Sams Club, Mt Nebo Point Drive". In my opinion, Sam's Club did not do a good job of informing people how to get to their new location. So, that is why I have posted info here and that is why I continue to post about Sam's Club at Mt Nebo Point Drive on a weekly basis. I want you to reach my site so I can help all of the lost Sam's Club shoppers.

Garbage In, Garbage Out

To increase my body weight, I need to consume more calories than I burn. This means that I must eat more. This means eating the right foods, eating more frequent, smaller meals. One of the side effects of eating more is garbage in, garbage out. This is only temporary. My body will eventually adjust.

Weekly Review - 6/18/2006

Last week, I completed two workouts and mowed the lawn two times. To increase my weight, I need to exercise all body parts at least once a week. I fell short last week. Yesterday, I worked my back, but I also added biceps. My previous thinking that I could work out 4 days - (chest, back, legs, arms) and get good results may not work. With summer, I need to spend at least one day mowing the lawn, which takes away one day that I could work out. Yesterday was the first time in a very long time that I combined a compound body part (back) with a secondary body part (biceps). Physically, I am sore, but mentally, it feels good to be sore. My 3 day a week workout should be: Day 1) chest and triceps, Day 2) back and biceps, and Day 3) quadriceps and hamstrings. Abs would be worked in when I feel like it.

The Weigh In #2

Today, I bought a new bathroom scale at WalMart. It is a Taylor 5571P. In addition to being a scale, it measures body fat, and percentage of total body water. Body fat is determined by sending a small amount of electricity to the body. If you wear a pacemaker, this scale is not for you. The technology is called Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA). I do not know how accurate the body fat readings are, but at least I will have a baseline to record my readings. The results: 145.5 lbs, 9.0% bodyfat, 72.0% total body water. It just confirms that I have really lost too much weight. I weight less than 150 lbs now. My new favorite, cute, attractive, married WalMart cashier was working today. I will not post her first name to protect her identity.

Directions, Sams Club, 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive

I have gotten a lot of hits on my blog looking for information on Sams Club in the North Hills, which recently moved from McKnight Rd to 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive. The problem I had with finding Mt Nebo Point Drive is that no mapping software (Streets and Trips, Delorme Street Atlas) or internet site (Mapquest) has Mt Nebo Point Drive in their database yet. Mt Nebo Point Drive is located near the intersection of Camp Horne Rd and Mt Nebo Rd.

If you are coming from I-279 and know where the Camp Horne Rd exit is:
Take the Camp Horne Rd exit.
You do not want to head towards Emsworth (West).
Head North/East on Camp Horne Rd and look for signs for Mt Nebo Rd or Lowries Run Rd (the Greenbelt)
Continue East on the Greenbelt, Lowries Run Rd, until you see a new PNC Bank.
Make a Left.
Travel in a clockwise curve around the left side of PNC Bank.
At the stop sign, make a right turn.
Travel up the hill in a counterclockwise curve.
When you reach the top of the Hill, Sams Club will be on the left.

If you are coming from the intersection of McKnight Rd and the Greenbelt (Babcock Blvd on the West side of McKnight, Peebles Rd on the East side of McKnight Rd) the directions are basically follow the Greenbelt until you see a PNC Bank, make a right at the bank, circle the bank on its left side, stop at stop sign, make a right turn up hill, reach top of hill, Sams Club is on the left side.

Here are more detailed instructions from McKnight Rd and the Greenbelt. This is the intersection where McKnight Rd and the Northway Mall cross.
Turn onto Babcock Blvd (Greenbelt) from McKnight Rd.
Continue on Babcock Blvd until Greenbelt becomes Third Degree Rd.
Continue on Third Degree Rd until you reach Rt 19, Perry Highway.
At the intersection, make a right onto Perry Highway.
At light, make left from Perry Highway onto Sewickley Oakmont Rd.
Follow signs for Greenbelt.
At intersection, Rochester Rd is right, make left onto Rochester Lowries Rd.
Follow signs for Greenbelt.
Make right onto Lowries Run Rd.
Look for PNC Bank on right.
Make right at PNC Bank.
Travel in a clockwise curve around the left side of PNC Bank.
At the stop sign, make a right turn.
Travel up the hill in a counterclockwise curve.
When you reach the top of the Hill, Sams Club will be on the left.

Hope this helps everyone looking for the Sams Club at 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive!

The Weigh In

For kicks, I decided to weigh myself today. The scale said 146 lbs. I can not believe it, I weigh less than 150 lbs. Is the scale wrong? Probably. I placed two 25 lb plates on the scale, and it read 55 lbs. Could the 146 lbs be an overestimate? If the scale is accurate plus or minus 5 lbs, then I really lost a lot of weight. I will have to go out and buy an accurate digital scale.

I have noticed that my body composition seems to have changed. My chest is not full anymore, rather flabby. I measured my chest with a tape measure and it only measures 38 inches. Most of my shirts are size large, and most of them fit baggy on me. My waist is less than 32 inches, my pants size, because most of my pants fall off of my hips. However, my stomach seems to have bulged out. I really have to get myself back in shape. It is summer, and everyone wears less clothing – shorts, t-shirts, muscle shirts, and tank tops. I want to look half decent this summer. Another thing I noticed about my physique are the veins that are visible where my shoulder meets my chest. This vein runs from the shoulder down the upper arm/bicep. These veins were not visible a year ago. Being able to see veins means that there is a low amount of body fat in the area. Time to go now.

Weekly Review for 6/11/2006

I completed 4 workouts and I mowed the lawn once. I was surprised at how much I completed last week. However, by Friday, I was really tired. I slept 8 hours straight on Friday evening, amazing. I still need to work on getting more sleep and cutting down on the carbs before going to bed.

Big Ben Statement, Apology, Overkill

Ben Roethlisberger issued a statement through the Pittsburgh Steelers concerning his motorcycle accident. I will not go into details because frankly I am quite sick of hearing it recited by the Pittsburgh media over and over again. The Pittsburgh TV media will not recite the statement in its entirety. Instead, they will recite a few sentences, add some video clips or comments from fans, stop, go on to another totally unrelated story, then recite a few more sentences, and continue this relentless cycle. His whole statement gets spread out across the entire newscast. Unbelievable. And the print media, like the Post Gazette, is doing the same thing. It the media keeps reciting the whole damn statement, I will start to memorize it, almost like the pledge of allegiance.

Weekly Review - 6/4/2006

Last week I completed two workouts and mowed the lawn once. I lost some motivation at the end of last week. I am worried about the stability of my job. I have not been eating as healthy as I should, especially before I go to bed. Before I go to bed, I usually eat 2 or 3 six ounce cups of yogurt. But lately, I have also been eating Pop Tarts, Granola Bars, or other carbohydrates in addition to the yogurt. At the end of last week, my lack of sleep really affected my motivation to work out. I just feel too tired when I do not get enough sleep. It is getting late, so I better go now.

Mt Nebo Point - Sams Club

I made it to Sam's Club at Mt Nebo Point this morning. The one thing I noticed immediately was the drive up the long, curvy, winding road to the top of the hill. At least there is no chance of ever getting flooded up here, it is so high. This road should be quite interesting during inclement weather. The re-located Sam's is larger than the old one on McKnight Rd. It is about the same size as all of the other newer Sam's Clubs - Butler, Robinson, Greensburg, Washington, and Century III. Yes, I have been to all of these Sam's Clubs. I could not find a few items that I was looking for - MSM tablets and Balance Bars. I am not sure if I just could not find them or if they stopped carrying these items. The McKnight Rd Sams was the only one I knew that carried the diet versions of Red Bull and Monster Energy drinks. I was pleased to see that they still carry these items.

I also stopped in at the Target. It was kind of dead for a Saturday morning. I believe the Target near Wexford is moving next to the Kohl's near McKnight Rd. I am not sure how they decide to strategically place these Targets. There is one in Cranberry plus one will open up in Gibsonia on Route 8. You would think the Target Gods would try to distribute the stores so they are not too close to each other.

Mt Nebo Point has a lot of empty stores right now. The main anchors are Sam's Club, Target, and the Sportsman's Warehouse. Here is a pic high atop Mt Nebo Point. You can see I-279 and on the left side the Home Depot and Giant Eagle if you look real close. Later.

Where in the World is Sam's Club?

I went out shopping this Saturday morning. One of my stops, Sam's Club, on McKnight Rd, has moved. I was there a couple of weeks ago and overheard some of the employees talking about them moving. I did not think much about it until this morning, when I pulled into an empty lot on McKnight Rd. At least they had a sign out with the address of their new location, 289 Mt Nebo Point Drive. Mt Nebo Point is located at the intersection of Camp Horne Rd and Mt Nebo Rd. Apparently, there has been some controversy about Mt Nebo Point. There always is when a developer decides to build a new shopping development with major retailers like Target and Sam's Club. I usually do not head out that way, but I will make a trip tomorrow to check it out.

Some other thoughts on my shopping adventure:

WalMart in Gibsonia, Route 8 - I saw a new cashier that I have not seen there before. She was blonde, with shoulder length hair, very attractive face, nice figure shown off with a low cut tight fitting top, good with kids, and unfortunately wearing a wedding ring on her left hand. I will have to make more frequent trips to my local Wal Mart.

Sears, Ross Park Mall - I was looking for some C-clamps or spring clamps in the tools department. I noticed at least 4 or 5 teenaged employees just standing around in a huddle just talking. Was the store that slow or are they overstaffed? There was one cute female teenager in the middle of the huddle, all of the male teenagers surrounded her like a queen bee.

Arby's, McKnight Rd - As I was sitting down eating my lunch, a customer walking through the parking lot caught my eye. No, not an attractive female, but a male with hair that looked SO FAKE. It had to be a hair piece. I tried not to stare and check it out, but it looked so stupid. As this older dude walked in the door, he placed one hand on his hair. It was like he was making sure his hair piece was in place. Almost like when you adjust a baseball hat on your head.

Enough of my shopping adventure.

Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Ring Bling

Check out these pics of the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Rings. They are SO COOL ! There really is not much for me to say here. The pics say it all.

Weekly Review - 5/28/2006

Last week, I mowed the lawn twice and had two real workouts. I am slowing easing myself back with the weights - the poundages and reps are not completely where they normally are. I saw the Hand Dr. today for a follow up appointment for DeQuervain's Tendinitis. About a month ago, I was given a cortison injection in my right wrist. Everything seems pretty well, almost 100% recovered. I say almost, because I am not quite where I should be with my weights and my right wrist seems to get "tired" after working out. The doctor quoted a very high percentage (over 75%) where one cortisone injection will be enough for a complete recovery. He said there are rare instances where a second injection is needed. He told me to monitor my progress and call the office back if my problem reoccurs.

Piss Me Off - Inspired Workout

I promised myself that I would not talk about work on my blog, just my life outside of work. However, someone at work yesterday sent me an e-mail which really pissed me off. It is still bugging me this weekend. I will not go into details, but I had an inspired workout yesterday evening. Here is a pic of HE-MAN from the Masters of the Universe. This is how I felt when I was working out. HE-MAN is also similar to a nickname that some of my co-workers call me on occasion. My last name rhymes with HE, so my nickname is my LastName-MAN.

I worked my chest - barbell presses and dumbbell presses at almost 100% of my capacity. My injured wrist from a few months back, DeQuervains Tendinitis, is probably 90% recovered. I have a follow up Dr. appointment this Monday. While my wrist was injured, I could not do any push ups. I have not tried any push ups yet, maybe next week.

Speaking of Dr. appointments, I had a dentist appointment yesterday. One of my previous fillings is deteriorating, so I will need to get it re-filled. On the plus side, the dental hygienist who cleaned my teeth was a cutie. Too young for a forty something guy like me, but still a cutie. I also got an impression made of my lower teeth for a night guard for my Temporo Mandibular Joint (TMJ) symdrome. In layman's terms, I grind my teeth at night. I also clench my teeth when I am stressed out, so I wear a mouth guard when I work out. Much like Kurt Angle, who now wears a mouth guard when he wrestles.

Weekly Review - 5/21/2006

I only managed to complete two non traditional workouts last week. One day I washed my car. This works the shoulders and triceps. On 5/25/2006, I mowed the lawn. I lowered the height on the lawn mower one notch because of the upcoming rain and also because I would be at my mother’s house over the Memorial Day weekend. I did not finish mowing the lawn until about 8:45 PM. It was a long evening. My backyard does not connect to another backyard, just a big open area, so I bag my grass clippings and dump the clippings in the big open area. Setting the height adjustment one notch lower resulted in numerous trips down my sloped backyard to the big open area. I now have to mow the lawn every 6 or 5 days. If I wait 7 days, the grass gets too long. Work took away two of my evenings for possible workouts. One of those evenings I worked late. The other evening was spent driving back from Bedford, PA. My job sometimes requires me to travel to Bedford, PA. It took me longer to complete what I needed too, thus the late evening.

Under Armour

Under Armour makes great compression clothing for working out. My exercise equipment is in my basement, which gets cold in the winter and is a bit chilly in the summer with my whole house air conditioner turned on. In the winter, I wear Under Armour's ColdGear line. I wear a mock turtleneck and leggings. They are great for wearing outside when I am shoveling snow off the driveway or using the snowblower.

In warmer weather, I have always worn compression shorts by HIND for the longest time. I started wearing them when they were not cool for guys to wear them. In warmer weather, I have never worn compression wear for my upper body. I bought Reebok's Play Dry compression T Shirts from Kohls a few weeks ago because they were 40 percent off, and with an additional 15 percent off coupon, the final price was way cheaper than Under Armour. The Play Dry compression T Shirt feels great. The compression feeling puts me in a better state of mind to work out. It is tight against my chest, biceps, and abs. I feel more pumped up. I highly recommend wearing compression clothing for both the upper and lower body.

Weekly Review - 5/14/2006

Last week I worked out 4 days and mowed the lawn one day. I wrist is about 66 percent recovered. I still do not have my completed range of motion yet. I am happy about the number of workouts I completed. However, I did not get enough sleep during the week, so I was physically exhausted by the end of the week. One thing about working out is I can worry just a tiny tad less about my diet.

Weekly Review - 5/7/2006

I completed two cardio sessions and mowed the lawn once. No weight lifting. I was still a little reluctant to lift weights.

Yesterday, I started flexing and bending my wrist to get it back in shape. Here are a couple of my wrist exercises:
1. I hold my fingers clenched like a fist, then flex my fingers to open my hand. I do this both palm down and palm up.
2. Vertical wrist bends – I bend my wrist down and up vertically. I do this palm down.
3. Horizontal wrist bends – I bend my wrist left and right, I do this palm down.

I decided to lift weights for my upper body today. It has been over six weeks. I decided to work on my triceps because it seemed like it would be the least stressful to my wrist. It is a start. I will see how I feel later in the next few days.

Slots for Mario

Hey, I just found a website where you can sign a petition in support of the Isle of Capri plan. Click here. I usually do not get too involved with politics (yes, this is a political issue), but I felt that I should post this. The Isle of Capri plan will not use taxpayer dollars. It is the best plan. Plan B proposed by Governer Eddie R is a joke. Let's keep the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh!

Weekly Review - 4/30/2006

I completed three cardio sessions and mowed the lawn once. Even though my activity level has decreased, I did not reduce my overall caloric intake, so my midsection is not looking slim and trim. I lifted weights (quadriceps and hamstrings) on Monday for the first time in over four weeks.

My wrist is getting better, but not fully recovered yet. I do not have my full range of motion yet. I have not tried any specific exercises for the wrist yet. I am able to grip a pen and write without discomfort now. This is a big improvement. I can not turn a screwdriver or other twisting motions with my wrist yet.

Time to go to bed.

You Searched for CRUNCHES and Landed Here

My Sitemeter counter http://www.sitemeter.com/ reveals that the number one keyword search that brings people to visit my blog is CRUNCHES. Obviously you are looking for advice on trimming your waistline. As a public service to you lurkers who are looking for advice, I will start posting tips on working out and living a healthy lifestyle.

What are my qualifications? I am not a personal trainer. I do not have 6 pack abs. I am just a normal guy who happens to be a fitness enthusiast who has consistently maintained a workout routine for the past 17 years.

So how good are my abs? I would say that I have a 4 pack. I have never been able to attain the 6 pack that most guys dream about. My abs are very solid. If you poked at my stomach like the Pillsbury Doughboy, you would say, “Wow, your stomach is very firm”

My number one piece of advice on abs is: You can not spot reduce. You must follow PittLeo’s 4 I’s:

Insomnia-sleep/rest
Intake-diet/food
Iron-weights
Inhale-aerobics

What the hell are PittLeo’s 4 I’s? My 4 I’s are similar to Kurt Angle’s 3 I’s, only better. Please see my previous post here.

Ladder Match Anyone?

Not really, fooled you. At work today, I spent time going up and down a ladder running cat 5 cable. I did ride my exercise bike and my Nordic Track after work, but my legs were a little tired from the ladder runs.

Route 8 Accident - Homicide Charges Filed

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that homicide charges were filed against the driver of the truck hauling a wood chipper that became unattached and slammed into a van killing a father and two of his three triplet children, see the story here.

The driver did at least four things wrong which contributed to this tragedy:
1) He was taking stolen prescription painkillers (percocet) that day.
2) He drank beer the day of the accident.
3) Investigators estimate that he was speeding at 67 - 73 mph in a 45 mph zone.
4) He admitted not checking the trailer connection, locking pin, and the safety chains.

Dude, you were just plain stupid, irresponsible, and careless! Three people died because of your actions.

Weekly Review – 4/23/2006

Last week was not a productive week. I was feeling down because of the uncertainty about my wrist injury. I did not do any lifting at all for the third week in a row. I mowed the lawn twice and had one aerobic session.

For lack of a better term, my midsection feels bloated this week. I attribute this to my lack of weight lifting and aerobic exercise the past three weeks. Plus when I was less active, I did not decrease my caloric intake.

My plan for this week is still no lifting until the weekend. I will try to increase the number of cardio sessions this week. I will also try to avoid eating complex carbohydrates before going to bed. I will just eat yogurt.

I have found that after an extended break from working out, the amount of time to get back in shape is roughly the same amount of time as my break. This is week four, so it should take me roughly four weeks to get back in shape.

DeQuervain's Tendinitis

DeQuervain's Tendinitis

I saw a hand surgeon today, and the diagnosis is DeQuervain's Tendinitis. What the hell is it? Well, here is a description from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/brochure/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=52&topcategory=Hand

DeQuervain's stenosing tenosynovitis is an irritation and swelling of the sheath or tunnel which surrounds the thumb tendons as they pass from the wrist to the thumb. Pain when grasping or pinching and tenderness over the tunnel are the most common symptoms. Sometimes a lump or thickening can be felt in this area. If the hand is made into a fist with the thumb "tucked in" and bent towards the little finger, the pain gets worse (Finkelstein test). Tendonitis may be caused by overuse and also can be seen in association with pregnancy or inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid disease. If treated early, many cases improve with short periods of rest in a splint, followed by stretching exercises designed to get the tendons gliding. Injection with steroids and/or taking anti-inflammatory medications. More severe cases or those that do not respond to other treatment may require surgery. Modification of the activities which caused the symptoms initially also may be required.

I received a cortisone shot in my wrist this morning. The Dr. said the wrist should start feeling better mid week or the end of this week. What a relief! I am on the road to recovery.