Weekly Workout Rewind - 10/7/2007

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

Weekly Workout Rewind - 9/30 and 10/7

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

'Ghost Bikes' Appear in Pittsburgh

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

Pittsburgh Penguins Season Opener - 10/5/2007

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

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

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

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

LETS GO PENS!

KDKA TV Hires New Weather Babe (Meteorologist)

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

Golfer's Elbow

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

Weekly Workout Rewind - 9/9/2007

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

Weekly Workout Rewind - 9/2/2007

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

Weekly Workout Rewinds - 8/19 and 8/26

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

Sorry For Lack of Posts

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

2008 Trek and Gary Fisher Bikes

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

Weekly Workout Rewind - 8/12/2007

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

Weekly Workout Rewind - 8/5/2007

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

Time to Seal My Driveway

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

Weekly Workout Rewind - 7/29/2007

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

8/7/87

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

One Flush, Two Flush, Wait, No Flush

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

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

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

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

Weekly Workout Rewind - 7/22/2007

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

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.