AFH: September 29 - Take your time. Find Space to just breathe and be still

I am not good at these weekend ones at all... One of my biggest things ever has been to be able to just sit down, stop, and smell the roses.  I struggle with taking time out.  I fill my weekends with mindless tasks, laundry, packing dog food, cooking, swimming, cleaning this thing or that, it is rare that I find time to just sit down.

Well yesterday I got a little time to do just that.  After my 1200 yard swim, I just sat in the pool and took it all in.  I smelled the chlorine (which for most people is an awful smell but for this swimmer it smells like success and hard work), I looked at the pillars and plants around the pool, and I felt the cool and refreshing water against my skin.  I love the pool.  It is my true home. I could stay in there all day. The time to sit an breathe was short lived. 

The rest of the day was spend cleaning and getting things ready for guests, researching meals to make, shopping, and playing with Kona Beast.

Shiner gets here in a few hours.  We will see how Kona does with another dog in the house for a while.  We get to have a dry run of getting her a brother by having Ms. Shiner here for a while.  I am excited but worried at the same time.  Kona is great when dogs come to play.  However, she has he spaces in the house that she doesn't even like me to mess with.  I am sure all will be well.  Shiner was here when Kona first got here, and last time she visited a little over a year ago, they were BFF's.  However, Kona is on strict training these days and I must be careful to make sure I don't let her regress. 

Well I am going to get some last minutes of peace in before the double dog agenda starts and the NFL red zone gets turned on. 

A Game for the Ages & then there were 2

It was a hot day in Dublin, CA and quarter end close was settling in on all of them.  Five finance professionals out on the hallowed grounds of the CCFO BBL Court.  The threesome of Pallina Gretzky the 12 seed who had pulled one upset after another in the tourney after a 1 – 3 season stared at the score board that read 6 – 1 in dismay wondering what had happened to the stroke of luck that had carried them to the final four. Number 1 seeded Buca di Bocce and their MVP Favorite Tristan Vincent and his long time team mate and Bocce Ball Partner were circling the over Gretzky’s like Sharks around a wounded seal.  It appeared to all be over but the crying.  League Commissioner and Gretzky team Member Billy “Side Ball” Burkle had come unglued.  In the last round he had been more than clutch but today he couldn’t have hit a cow’s arse with a banjo.   His teammates had shown up but he hadn’t.  Standing at the south in the court he looked north.  The MVP had the ball and his team was in a spot to get a few points.  Side Ball knew and epic Vincent smash was coming and come it did.  However, in a un-Tristan type fashion he knocked Pallina right back into the game by putting them in with two points.  It was 6 – 3 and it was a new ball game. 

You have heard all the references before on any of your favorite sporting events:  David v. Goliath, 1 v. 16, Foreman v. Ali, Patriots v. Eagles, 2009 Mav and Warriors if you will, it is the great underdog story.  September 27, 2018 gave us another one (1) Buca di Bocce v. (12) Pallina Gretzky.  Gretzky played well in the friendly’s but slumped into the regular season never able to make the clutch shot.  

Buca di Bocce bull dozed their way to a number 1 seed.  They were rarely challenged.  The mind meld between Vincent and Li is one of legends, name a great combo and these two belong up there with them.  They outscored appoints 48:16.  The only time they were challenged was against Gretzky in Week 4, that time an epic come back would fall short and Buca would win 12:10. 

New Ball Game or not Buca di Bocce was un-phased by their JR moment.  Vincent and Li had more ice water in their veins than blood.  They came back strong and were steady in their scoring.  Before they could celebrate the JR points the score board was pushed back up to 8 – 3 and that sense of the run was over starting to sink in once again. 

Every shot that Gretzky would make, Buca made one better.  Kin Ming Li whose approach to the game seems to be carefree but in reality is a deadeye assassin kept hitting shot after shot.  Vincent was getting back on his game as well.  It seem the game was well in hand at 8 -3. 

 Side Ball was throwing the ball everywhere but near the pallina.  However, his teammates Devang Patel and Susanne Graf, the true heroes of this story, and as Side Ball would say in the postgame interviews, the best teammates a guy could have,  made up for his poor play time and time again.  They were steady.  They were focused and like all season long they were kicking ass and taking points.  Devang remind his team they played well when they were having fun.  So fun they did have.  They rolled up their sleeves, gritted their teeth, and started to play for the love of the game.

Slowly but surely, point after point, Graf and Patel strong together great through after great through.  This lead to the score board starting to balance itself out and next thing we the teams knew there was a dead lock at 8 to 8. 

The feel of the game took on a different tone.  It was no longer David v. Goliath.  It was a slugfest.  Each team giving and taking one blow after another blow as balls were rolled from end to end, which left both teams heading back to the south end of the course in a 9 all tie.

Side Ball sitting on the concreate barrier at the side ball turned to Vincent and admitted, I was having fun, but now I am feeling a lot of pressure coming on.  Both teams knew this was end game now.  At 9 in Bocce ball anything can happen.  Three good roles are the difference between playing in the next game for the championship, and playing for third place. 

There has to be kudos given to Steven Kropp and John Tupasi.  These gentlemen not only came out to cheer on the each team but also ended up referring the match.  Each one did a great job.  They owned the measurement.  Took on the tough calls about which ball was closer and who should go first.  They are gentlemen, scholars and damned skilled officials.  They called a good clean match and I would ask them to be the referees for the 3rd place match and the finals as well. 

    

9 to 9 was the score.  Then Side Ball being the elder statesmen on the course rattled off one of his favorites quotes “Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.”

Ok, ok, Side Ball isn’t that cool and though he knows most of that legendary quote by heart, all he said was “Nine for the men who were doomed to die!” because it was what he always says when he hears the number nine.  Much to his dismay no one on the course knew what he was talking about.  The men who took rings from Sauron the Deceiver and would become his Nazgul, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead,  come on people I am talking about Lord of the Rings here, this is classic literature.  In the words of the Great Dr. Duan “COME ON!”

Although no men died at 9 – 9 one teams’ hopes of going to play for the championship did.   It was at this point Side Ball finally stepped up and starting helping his team a little bit.  At 9 – 9 Gretzky had a chance to put the game away.  There was a casino opportunity on the course. It would have won the game.  Buca was out, like way out.  However, unsteady hands couldn’t close the deal and the door was left open.  The score was now 10-9 Gretzky heading to the north end of the court where side ball has struggled all season. 

Any door you leave open for Vincent and Li is dangerous.  They are two good of players to do that.  They communicate on another level than any other team.  It is like the other one always knows what the other is thinking.  When you are playing them sometimes it is scary and at other times it is downright frustrating. 

The balls were rolled and it is all over now.  It is a blur and it wasn’t that long ago.  At the time of writing we are probably less than 3 hours post game.   I remember Gretzky being in.  I remember Side Ball coming up with the game on the line.  If he put the balls in, the biggest upset in CCFO BBL history would happen.  He had been up and down all year.  He turned to the opponent and actually asked if I through this to hard is it possible I put you guys in.  The answer was yes.  Patel just said let it roll.  So he rolled and his ball, was in. 

Gretzky did it.  They won the game 12-9 and earned a place in the in the Championship. 

It was a game for the ages!  An upset like this is unlikely.  Vincent and Li are champions.  They were the regular season champs.  They represent on the Bocce Court and should be praised.  They are a formable opponent and two great guys. I would be happy to roll with either of them and am very glad to call them friends. 

Suzie Graf and Devang Patel are heroes.  They made this upset happen.  They both were calm and composed the whole time.  They never got too high or too low.  They played like the champions they are.  Well, well deserved.

For old Side Ball, he still feels like he is living in a dream.  He couldn’t stop gushing over his teammates and how much respect he had for the other team.  Whatever happens in the finals will happen.  Getting there is an amazing journey and he is happy to be along for the ride with such wonderful teammates.

There are two team left vying for the title of Championship and either team is a worthy champion because they got this far.  There are also two more games left.  The 3 v 4 game is still a trophy game.  The 3^rd play team walks away with hardware.  The 4^th place team gets nothing and likes it.

The Fighting Mongooses and Pallina Gretzky have met before.  It was a 12:7 win by the Geese.  Gretzky can’t remember if there were a lot of birds out there that day or if I that was just Chris Louie chirping.  No Chris L, nothing but love for you man.  I do love the Mongooses’ name, as a matter of fact the first suggestion for Gretzky name was the Sasquatch, yes the fighting Sasquatch, to be exact, because much like Patrick, I to love Futurama too… Anyway it will be a really fun match.   It has been a great Bocce Ball season, thanks everyone for being a part of it.      

Good luck to all parties still in the Tourney!  Thanks everyone for a Great Season!

September 23: No Plans day - make time to slow down and be kind to yourself...

Action Calendar: The Self-Care September Sunday September 23:

No Plans day - make time to slow down and be kind to yourself...


No plans... Lets see how I did? 

I made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week. 
   - Oatmeal for Breakfast
   - Lasagna for Lunch
   - Taco Casserole for Dinner

I did my laundry. 

I packed Kona's lunches for the week.

I packed my meds

Trained Kona

So I am not sure if I slowed down or not, and at 8:20 I am exhausted and ready for bed. 

I did get to spend a few hours out back with Kona.  We did what we normally do, just hanging out and throwing her toy.  That's all to report. 

AFH: September 22: Get Active outside and give you mind an body a natural boost

It was August 27, 2018 and I was sitting in my waiting area of my doctors appointment, it was the second of the two appointments I binge on every Monday.  I looked down and their was this Calendar and it was this action plan for good mood, or lowering stress, or happiness or something.  It wasn't their the week before, at least I don't recall seeing it, but here it was.  An action plan.  I am a man who likes actions plans.  So, I picked it up.  The action plan was for the month of August, which would be over in less than a week.  So, I put it back down and thought well that is dumb, why would they put that out after the month was done, when you can't do anything about it. 

The first two Mondays of September I went in and looked at the calendars sitting there and saw they were still August.  I was like whom ever is doing this is really missing the mark.  We are two weeks into September and how can you work an action plan when the month is over?  Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb.  When I got there this week the action plans had changed and September had arrived.  It was called "Self-Care September Calendar" and I sat there and thought Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb.  We are three weeks in now.  How, can you start a plan for a month 17 days. 

When the person I was meeting came out to get me, I decided I was going to take the calendar back with me and give her the business about the late calendars.  That was my plan.  Not really because I was looking for an action plan (although I was) but more because I am an ass and it is what I do. 

She noticed that I brought the Calendar in and asked me what I thought about it. I said it was Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb.  She told me to read that days saying on the Calendar.  I did, it was "Notice Things you do well today, however small".  She asked me what I had done well today.  At the time of writing I can't remember what I said, there were a couple of small things I had done, that I was proud of.  However, I couldn't get over how dumb it was that the calendars were put out late.  She told this could be a new challenge for me that I could start something in the middle of the month and see if I could be successful with it.  I considered it and was like we will see where it goes. 

Six days later and i am really digging the little calendar and the little mantras or sayings it gives me.  It is sort of fund having an action plan.  The best was the one I read yesterday after I read an amazing article on the obesity wars, you can find it on my facebook page, it was perfect for that article "You Matter. Remember that you are enough, just as you are."  It is easy to forget that, but I am not ready for that journaling yet but the day of reckoning is coming and soon. 

The website I have yet to really check out the calendar comes from, so at this time I won't promote it because for all I know I could disagree with everything they say but the September Calendar, we will investigate it more and I might give it my support, I am just not sure yet.

What I do know is that today's lesson or thing to do was "Get Active outside and give you mind an body a natural boost" and that was all I needed to hear.  Active = good.  Outside = gooder. 

So, i went for a swim.  I got everything ready, I grabbed my swim bag and then I set it down and went over and grabbed my apple watch.  Got it on and headed off to the pool.   I was going to do a 900 yard swim: 300 free, 300 back, and 300 breast.  I got to the gym and I was ready to go.  I got a good parking spot.  I got out and walked to the trunk and I put the trunk up and I saw my bag of cloths to change into, but my swim bag, was not there.  I checked the back seat.  I checked the front seat.  Nope, no swim bag.  My swim bag, has my ipod.  My goggles.  My workouts.  Pretty much all gear needed to swim. 

The initial response was to pack it up and go home.  How many times have I done it, or you done it, packed up from the gym b/c you forgot your ipod.  Come on we all have done it.  However, i remembered that I can always walk in the water and I enjoy it.  I don't need music.  I don't need my aqua socks, i don't need my weights.  I can just do it with my feet, and my swim suit.  That is the best thing about walking, you don't need a lot to do.  So, into the water I got and walk i did.  I did my half mile in 28 minutes.  Getting faster all the time. 

Then I came home and i did what I do most weekends, i spent a lot of time out back with Miss Kona.  Letting her run around.  Stalk the neighbors, no, I am serious she watches them through the fence.  She is a bit of a creeper.  So, i got outside, I got active and I rested the body and I am pretty sure I got a got a good boost. 

It was a great Saturday.  =)

1000 free

I am not a huge fan of Monday's.  I think weekends are two short.  Two days aren't enough.  I need more time to unwind =)

The best part of any Monday is the pool.  It is my freestyle only night.  What makes a better Monday?  When the freestyle feels good.  Tonight has been my best freestyle night in a long time.  The breathing was good.  The stroke felt good and strong.  The glide was good too.  Everything worked.  I was strong and it has been a long time since I could say that about my free. 

Good night, great swim!!!

rest

Tired...

For the first time in my life not working out over a weekend I don’t feel lazy, or like I did something wrong.  I am not beating myself up about it.  I am just accepting it as is.  I just got in plenty of movement this weekend: cleaning, working with Kona, cooking, meal prep, and stretching.   Hey man exercise is any movement of the body so suck it. 

My body is screaming at me that it is tired.   So I respected it.  I listened to what it was telling me and I chilled.  I enjoyed a lot of time with Kona.  I got to watch some good college football.  I also got to watch the opening day of the NFL.  Colts are bums, but then again I don’t think any of us thought the Colts wouldn’t be bums.  So I am ok with that.

I made a pot roast today. I got up at 7 a.m. and filled the crock pot.  Then around 2 this afternoon in my other crock pot I made lasagna.  It is supposed to take like 15 minutes to put together but 46 minutes later, I got it done.  I guess the instructions are smarter than I am.  However, I did do some Billy b mods.  I added mushrooms and diced spinach to the ground beef.  I also added some left over provolone cheese I had.  I am not sure that is such an add-in as just getting rid of what was in the fridge.   

Overall nice weekend, except I burnt the shit out of my tongue on the roast when I took it out of the over.  Stupid me, why on earth would a potato that has been in a crockpot 10 hours be hot, how could that be?  Laundry is almost done, and the dog is worn out.  Good weekend in deed.  Tomorrow we get back to it.  Think I will stick with a 1200 swim when I go back to the pool.  I jumped from 900 to 1800 quick.  I will just listen to the body when I get in.  As long as I get my half in and my ring closed that is all that matter.  Everything else is just icing on the cake. 

36 x 25

36 x 25

Some days you have to listen to your body.   Some days you have to listen to your mind.  Some days you have to listen to both.  Today I listened to my body.  If I looked at my swim Schedule it said to do a 1500 split between 500 free, 500 back, and 500 boob.  No one gave me that schedule.  I didn’t write it down. It was just the natural progression Friday should be a smaller workout than Wednesday which was a mile, but not a total slack off, but Saturday is a big swim, shooting for another mile.  However, my body has told me the last two days, you are tired. I have over slept.  I have moved with bounce in my step of a slug.  I ache from head to toe.  Upping my pool game has been great but exhausting.  So, I said ok, we are going to take it easy.  No fast Friday for me.  We are going to crank out a half mile and see how we feel.  So, I did my Friday work out that normally consists of 25’s (once down the pool) 20 second rest, and then another.  A half mile is 36 x 25, give or take a yard here or there.  So I did 300 free, 300 back, and 300 boob.  It felt really good.  My free was strong today and steady.  Back was back and Breast I just slowed it down and made sure I did some good strokes.  Yes, I am one hell of a stroker after all.  I am still really tired.  I don’t know what I will swim tomorrow.  Maybe a mile, maybe a half, not sure, don’t care, I will take it as it comes.  All that really matters is that I move and feel good with what I do. 

The B"r"e"a"st Mile

The B"r"e"a"st Mile

Ok a really bad play on the best mile which happened to happen on boob night... Great swim tonight.  1800 yard pyramid of breaststroke.  My breast stroking is strong right now.  I got the mile done in just over an hour.  I was a little bummed, I wanted to close it out in an hour.  Some times I have to remind myself that the journey and the exercise is the goal not the time. I have come a long way since the beginning of the year when doing 600 hundreds were a pain in the ass.  That is hard work paying off, I can see it. 

back to the pool...

Got to get back to swimming today. After back to back days of walking hard in the pool I was happy.

Yesterday I walked a mile in the pool in 56 minutes. I’m not gonna lie it might have been the hardest mile I’ve ever done. A mile is 72 laps in a 25 yard pool. By lap 56 I had nothing left. I had to will myself to keep pushing forward. I think the last ten laps took longer than the rest of the work out, lol, I was zig zagging the lane. However, I got it done and I’m happy.

Today it was supposed to be a 1200 yard swim of mini pyramids. Due to bad math on my part I ended up doing 1350. I did a 400 freestyle. The free style was hard as fuck, I am not sure if it is allergies or air quality but breathing has not been easy the last week or so. Then on my 100 free I drank a big gulp of Pool water. Ewwww

After the free I struggled thru backstroke for 400 yards. Again air just feel heavy right now. Deep breathes hurt and I’m not liking the fires at all. Then I broke out 450 of breast stroke. Breast stroke was strong. It’s always strong. I maintained a good pace and had fun with it.

I close out with a 50 of free and a 50 Of backstroke. Well actually I did two twenty fives of breast, back, and free to finish it off. I can’t even keep my workouts straight.

The I did my shopping big cooking day tomorrow. We got pulled pork and bbq brisket on the agenda. I choose pulled pork for dinner because it’s a versatile meat. I can make sandwiches with it, pizza, carnitas, or just eat it like a roast. I like an all purpose meat.  It is like a switch blade