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.

Mike Lange Returns as Penguins Broadcaster

It is a great day for all Pittsburgh Penguins fans. Mike Lange has signed a one year contract to return as the play by play Radio Broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I listened to almost every Penguins game on the radio this past season. Mike Lange is the best. Here is a list of his so-called Lange-isms:

Oh no, Eddie Spaghetti!

Great balls of fire

Slap me silly, Sidney

You’d have to be here to believe it

Never teach a pig to sing

Can I get a witness?!

The turkey is on the table

Go ahead, make my day!

Scratch my back with a hacksaw

How much fried chicken can you eat?

He doesn’t know whether to cry or wind his watch

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog!

He takes the heat out of a hot kitchen

Hop in the Cordova baby, we’re going bowlin’

Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too

He picked his pocket like he was walking down 5th Avenue

Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll

It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh

If you missed this one, shame on you for six weeks

Lookout Loretta

He’s throwing out checks like it’s the first of the month

Donna needs a donut

Stop the press It’s time to buy new shoes

Shave my face with a rusty razor

Hallelujah Hollywood!

He beat him like a rented mule

He smoked him like a bad cigar

Michael, Michael, motorcycle

He's got more patience than Mercy hospital

He gave him more moves than Mae West

Call Arnold Slick from Turtle Creek

Let’s go hunt moose on a Harley

Buzzing like beeeees around a hive

He went right down Broadway and then some

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has just left the building

He’s smilin’ like a butcher’s dog

I’ll be cow-kicked

She wants to sell my monkey

Puttin’ on the ritz

Book ‘em Dano

Get that dog off my lawn

He hasn't scored since the eighth-grade picnic

That's the brief list.

I Am Meeting the Vice President Next Week

I am meeting the Vice President next week. Dick Cheney? No, the VP of my department will be visiting Central PA next week. My company is a national company with offices located across the United States, mostly in rural areas. My VP is making his rounds, meeting all the worker bees. On the western side of PA, I am the only employee in my department. In Central PA, there are about 15 other employees in my department. The VP scheduled a meeting at 8:00AM. It is a 4 hour drive one way for me. I asked my boss if there are travel monies available so I can drive out the evening before the meeting. My boss said yes, so I do not have to worry about falling asleep in front of my VP.

To Bike or Not to Bike

I am thinking about buying a bike as a birthday present to myself in August. I have been considering either a hybrid or mountain bike. A hybird has skinnier tires, so I will not be able to go "off road" if I want to. I am leaning towards a mountain bike because I can use it both off road and on road, more versatility. I have been scouring the internet searching for bike reviews, recommendations, etc. Bikes do require maintenance, so I am trying to decide if I am willing to spend time on bike maintenance. I have also read that bikes are discounted after Labor Day, but a local bike shop told me that their bikes sell so well, they usually do not have sales, and that new models are rolled out all year round. I also have some upcoming expenses - car insurance in August, a furnace check in the fall, and maybe a new set of contact lens or eyeglasses. You will have to wait and see what I finally decide to do.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 7/15/2007

I fit in 3 weightlifting sessions, 3 cardio sessions, and I mowed the lawn once. Compared to the two previous weeks, my weightlifting sessions have increased from 2 to 3. I am slowly getting back to my normal routine.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 7/8/2007

I was still trying to get back into my workout routine after the 4th of July Holiday break. I managed 2 weightlifting sessions, 3 cardio sessions, and I mowed the lawn one afternoon.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 7/1/2007

The July 4th holiday on Wednesday threw my workout schedule way off. My brother was in town visiting at my mother's house, so I say them on July 4th, and the weekend after. I only managed two weightlifting sessions, two cardio sessions, and I mowed the lawn one afternoon.

Weekly Workout Rewinds - June 2007

I apologize for being out of touch, so here are my Weekly Workout Rewind Updates for June 2007:

6/3/2007 – worked out all body parts over 4 days, 4 cardio sessions, and on Saturday, mowed the lawn and hand washed my car. A productive week.

6/10/2007 – completed 3 weightlifting sessions, missed working my biceps/triceps. Completed 3 cardio sessions. Mowed the lawn one day, and spent one morning waxing my car. Another productive week.

6/17/2007 – a disconnect this week. I only completed one weight lifting session, two cardio sessions, and mowed the lawn one day. I had to work late two evenings and this kind of blew up my schedule and motivation.

6/24/2007 – I completed two weightlifting session and two cardio sessions while I was out of town on business.

Cristie Kerr Wins U.S. Women' Open

Congratulations to Cristie Kerr who won the U.S. Women's Open today. Cristie is a real life example of how working out and eating right can positively benefit your life. In 1999, at 5'3", Cristie weighed 175 lbs, wore a size 14, and had back problems due to her weight. She hired a nutrionist and fitness trainer and transformed her body to 125 lbs and a size 4. Golf Digest has a very nice article about her from 2005. She is now considered one of the hottest golf babes in the LPGA. Cristie is a great humanitarian, she started Birdies for Breast Cancer to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.

Roid Rage?

Disturbing news that WWE Pro Wrestler Chris Benoit may have murdered his wife and son, then committed suicide. I am not ashamed to admit that I do watch and enjoy WWE Wresting as a 43 year old guy. Why? It is fun to watch, there are the universal characters of good versus bad, and the wrestlers are all in top physical condition. Sure most of it is scripted, but the wrestlers do have to be in great shape to pull off these stunts.

There is a cost and sacrifice that these wrestlers pay to succeed as a Pro Wrestler. Although that substantiated yet, it appears that steroid use may be the cause of this unfortunate incident.

I personally have never used steroids. However, I do know the challenges of keeping in shape as a 40 something year old guy. Benoit was 40 years old, same height as me, 5 ft 10 in. He weighed 220, and I weigh around 145. In my early 30's when I was probably in the best shape of my life I weighed 165. As a 43 year old, my body simply can not withstand the wear and tear to sustain a bodyweight of 165. Sure, I looked great back then, but I always seemed to have some type of nagging overuse injury. An example was my right elbow that had the tingly feeling "I hit my funny bone" most of the time.

I will not preach about steroid use. I just want to comment that maintaining a healthy body as you grow older does become more difficult. You have to work out smarter. My right elbow still tingles sometimes, but no where near the frequency when I was in my 30's.

Out of Sight

I am sorry that I have not kept you up to date by logging my workouts on my blog. Yes, I still do workout and Yes, I still do blog. It has been a busy few weeks, both at home and at work, since my last post. I will make it a goal to post at least once a week so you know that I am not Out of Sight. I have kept that goal for this week.

Apple Releases Safari Web Browser for Windows

Apple just released Safari Web Browser for Windows. Safari previously was only available for the MAC's, but is now available for Windows. Here is the press release. You can download Safari here. Apple claims that Safari is 2 times faster than Internet Explorer. I am usually not an early adopter, I prefer to wait for the bugs to be worked out, but I thought I would give Safari a try. While creating this post on Blogger, the "Save Now" and "Add Image" button did not work. I will tinker with Safari and let you know how I feel about it.

Weekly Workout Rewind - 5/27/2007

I mowed the lawn once, completed 3 cardio sessions, and 3 weightlifting sessions. I missed working out my back. It was a short week due to the Memorial Day weekend.