Home Alone

Well it is just me and Mavrick this weekend, Home Alone. The girls headed off to Tennessee for the annual Winterfest Youth Rally in Gaitlinburg. So pup and I have just been hanging out.  Not really accomplishing much at all either.  I have been working on a few rendering and a few new models for potential projects. Other than that, I have just been roaming the house looking for snack food.....there is none! My wife did a good job of keeping the fatty foods away from me.

Truly bored though. There is only so much old television, rendering, and wandering a person can do. Funny, the house used to be a thriving bustle of noise but now the noise of kids just comes from the neighborhood kids playing out in the evening on probably one of the last warm days before the snow hits.

So Mavrick and I watch some TV, eat some.....so called food and SLEEP.  Mavrick sleeps alot....and takes up too much room on the bed.  He sprawls out everywhere.  I rolled over on my side last night on the edge of the bed and he rolled up right against me.  I could even roll back.  He was dead. I had to drag him by his paws to move him over.  Funny dog.  The rest of the time he stole my wife's spot.  I guess he misses her too.

Sleeping in Mom's spot

This is one of those weekends where I really could have got some things accomplished but I already knew I was going to be swamped with work next week.  I have four jobsites that I need to field measure and one of them is in Raleigh. I will be wiped out I am sure.  So, I am taking my rest time now. I could have played a little bit of XBox Kinects but wasn't really into it.  I could have played a bit of Sim City....I did...just a bit. I love that game. I could have exercised.....really? I know I should.  I will run today...I promise! Other than that, I plan on being lazy.

Taking a nap on the fancy pillow

The girls will be home tonight so I will need to make sure I clean up a few things.  I didn't make much of a mess or dirty any dishes...... (Mavrick cleaned the dishes for me)....Maybe I can make a nice treat for them when they get back as a surprise. A snack treat or something since I am not sure when they will get in exactly.......I guess that means I will have to go to the dreaded grocery store otherwise the only thing I could probably make is a dry sandwich or salsa favored popcorn.  By the way, why do we have so much salsa in this house but nothing to put it on? Take care my friends.  I believe I should be rescued from this solitude and saved from having to survive on Triskets and Laughing Cow Cheese. Don't worry, I wont let the girls know we missed them.....we will play it up like it was the best guy's weekend ever! Take care my friends....Stay lonely....NOT!

The Battlefield: Left Flank

So what is attacking us on the left side?.....or should I say what is attacking ME from the left side? Well, once I actually wake up....like I was describing in the first piece, http://etsthisibelieve.blogspot.com/2012/01/battlefield-first-front.html here. Then I have the struggle (or have in the past) with what exercise to do.  How many exercises are there? Don't ask that question.....too many! But what is right for you.

Have you seen all those crazy info mercials about the equipment they sell? Sliders, gliders, pullers, runners, weight machines, stretch machines, tension machines, tummy tighteners, thigh strengtheners, butt squeezers....(okay maybe not that one)....But come on....why so many?  Why? Because we are gullible enough to think that just because we buy it, first we will actually use it and second that it will actually work.  (like the miracle cure they are describing on television).  Have you read the fine print at the bottom? Yes, Not all results shown here are typical......Really? Come on!

Well I have been lucky enough in my earlier years to really learn alot about exercise and what works and what doesn't.  The biggest challenge really is just getting up off your butt and doing something. Do it all the time, consistently and do it often and do it with VIGOR. I used to love lifting weights.  I recently posted this picture of me back in the day when I powerlifted.  Fun, probably not right for me today.  I would more than likely leave my arms on the floor if I deadlifted that much today.  If I squatted that much, I would be a squashed piece of meat on the floor resting under all the weight...(PETA please don't protest me for saying MEAT!).  My goal these days is to have energy and get slim.

Cardio is the answer.  Create a workout that allows me to sweat a bit and get my heart rate up.  I hated running like I have mentioned but it is somewhat rewarding and provides a bit of challenge against a few others if not just against myself as I continually try to better my last time or distance. I hate the treadmill but I can run inside when it is cold (absolutely hate the cold), and I can track my time/distance with great precision. Little goals and increases are fine.

Here is another...a bit crazy.....I asked for XBOX Kinects for Christmas.  So now I can exercise and play a game or two.  I haven't mastered it all yet nor set up a routine but I am working on it.  I have played a few sports events, like football, baseball, track is good.  Even some of the FUN games are very good for creating a work out.  One of the specific exercise ones has me running through the streets of New York City and gives me history lessons of some the architecture that I run past.  Sort like running through a sketch up model!

So my recommendation? Well, not like you might care but whatever you do, just get your heart rate up and doing it regularly.  Do somethin you enjoy so you will stick to it. Heard on TV the other day about a 67 year old man that runs 4 marathons a week.......really? Okay......I have a long way to go.  My friends....stay healthy!