Catch up

So it has been awhile since I really updated things.

I spent Memorial Day weekend over in Ohio visiting my friends and attending their sons birthday party. It was a blast...except for the 12 hour drive over, which wasn't all that bad...I would probably still be driving around Northwest OH if it were not for my TomTom GPS. On my way back over I spent the night in Cleveland with my aunt and uncle which was nice. I was so beat when I got home Monday night after spending the weekend drving and chasing a 3 and 1 yr old around.

Last Wednesday I turned the big 3...0...
Not only do I feel older but I have been constantly fighting the urge to watch Matlock and Murder She Wrote then go out and sit on the front porch and yell at the neighborhood kids. All in all it was a good birthday...I mean it wasn't like last year when I had my broken wrist/hand.

Speaking of injuries...I am still training for my triathlon which is about a month away. I have been slacking because I am still dealing with the tendinitis in my right knee. Even after a month of PT it still bothering me but I have decided to MAN UP and work through the pain and then go back to the Dr. and have both my knee and wrist (which is still bothering me) checked out again. Other than that training is going alright, trying to ride my bike daily and do the Tri-Club on Wed and Sunday. I am getting more comfortable on the bike and might be purchasing pedals so I can clip in rather than use the toe cages which make it difficult to start and stop.

I have been teaching SPINNING at the Albany YMCA for 2 weeks now which is cool. I bet it is even cooler when people show up...the Wellness Dir is going to start calling people and let them know that the morning class is back so hopefully people will show up because I am not sure how long they will continue to pay me for exercising by myself. I should get a class or two in the fall at the YMCA I go to everyday but until then this should serve as a way to hone my skills on the mic.

I have seen a few movies over the past few weeks:
Iron Man was real good and enjoyable. Probably one of the best comic book related I have ever seen. 4.5 out of 5

Indiana Jones 4 was a bit of a disappointment. It lacked many of the things that made the other good. The CGI gophers and stuff along that line really took me out of the movie along with the ending which was a let down and the fact that Indiana Jones didn't really do anything archeology related as things just seemed to fall into place.

Prince Caspian...besides butchering the story it reminded me of the first one which I really enjoyed. The added scenes and leaving out of pertainent plot points which would have made it a fuller story took away from my overall enjoyment. I wish they had stuck to the book like the first one did.

I have been renting alot of documentaries through Netflix which I will probably talk about sometime.

Well I think that about brings things up to speed...

-c

Indecision 2008? Part 2

So now we have the November race setup...Darth Vader vs. Alfred E. Neuman.

Come on that's like telling me...So for the next 4 years you can drink all the beer you want...but your choices are Natural Light or Milwaukee's Best.


Hmmm I choose none of the above.


-c

I Did My Part....Dammit !!!(addendum)

Forgot to mention that I am also going to be purchasing a new pair of running shoes (w/ birthday money)* I would have gotten them this past weekend but they did not have the half size down in the shoe I want and this is not your run of the mill shoe store, this is one where they actually film your stride and whatnot. I can't wait because I really need a new pair of shoes which will greatly help take care of the tendonitis and fluid in my right knee which has been hampering my training.


* this will be the second year that mom's birthday present to me was shoes. Last year I got a pair of Crocs and my Spinning shoes.


-c

I Did My Part....Dammit!

So I did my part to help the economy which is going into the crapper.

I bought:
-a new Ipod to replace the one that crap out on me at the beginning of the year. Got the 80 gig classic. This will come in handy when I start teaching SPIN class

-I used part of my tax rebate to get a TomTom GPS. I decided to just go with the small 3.5 inch screen since thats all I really need. Still in the process of figuring out how to work it.

-My most recent and most prized purchase is a new bike. It is a 2008 FUJI Newest 2.0 road bike and is super sweet.
I needed a bike for the Triathlon in July and wanted to get a bike to ride. Once I get used to it I might even drive to the gym and bike the rest of the way in (~6 miles one way). This is going to take me a bit to get used to since it has been 13 yrs or so since I have really ridden a bike on a consistent basis. Once I get familiar with the bike I am going to get pedals with clips so I can wear my bike shoes but want to get the hang of everything first.

-c

Indecision 2008?

I have a confession to make....

For the past 13 years I have been a hack and apologist for the Republican Party. If you could see my head it would be hanging in shame. Over the past year or so I have come to the conclusion that all politicians, both Republicans and Democrats), are merely self serving, uninspiring, clods who waste both the taxpayers time and money as they pursue their selfish ends. The other day I was going through some old papers I wrote during my Political Science Masters program and it struck me how much I let my political leanings a the time influence my interpretation of the material I was reading. I am surprised I even received some of the grades I did on certain papers it was so bad.

I was discussing the so called "candidates" that are running for President this year th other day at the gym and we agreed that whomever wins this year, the country loses. Now I did vote in the primary this year...for Ron Paul, only because he was the least detestable candidate for the party nomination (yes I am registared as a Republican but only in name anymore).

None of the current candidates really are at all appealing to me.
For Example:

John McCain:
The Republican party is in a sad state when this guy is able to win the nomination. When I think of McCain I think of both Star Wars and a beaver (stay with me on this one.)

McCain reminds me of Darth Vader except older and a lot more bitter. Close your eyes and imagine McCain in the Vader suit with his helmet off, whispering "I am your father, Luke." On one hand, this might be good for national defense and the war on terrorism to have Darth Vader at the helm. But on the other hand, Darth tried to kill his own teenage son, who went on to star in some very bad movies. I think it sends a mixed signal about family values.

notice the eerie likeness...

McCain also reminds me of a huge, angry beaver: industrious, yet rodential. I imagine myself sitting in a log cabin, looking out the window and seeing him just sitting on my lawn waiting while he scowls and licking his lips. I know I need to go to work, yet I am afraid that when I get home the house will be gone and probably floating down the river nearby. In order to prevent this I recommend building a large metal fence around McCain's "Straight Talk" tour bus just to protect him from the rest of the country.
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Hillary Clinton:
First off there needs to be and end to the vicious cycle (Bush-Clinton-Bush) that the country has gotten itself into over the past two decades. It is like the country is an abused person who keeps coming back hoping that this time it will be better.

Hillary Clinton reminds me of Dr. Suess's Grinch

I shudder everytime I see her and think that there is a slight possibility that she could be the leader of the free world. I am not against strong women and believe that eventually we will have a women President I just hope it is not her. Hillary reminds me of the old time snake oil sellers or used car salesman as a more updated reference. Hillary's big thing (again) is the BIG GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE proposal. Everybody knows that the average voter is an idiot, but Hillary is actually DOING something about it: Experts agree that the proposal would most likely raise taxes on the middle class, but the idiot-infested middle class supports the idea because they don't pay attention too closely and they think they will be able to walk into the hospital and get serviced like a car. You have to love a candidate who isn't afraid to treat the whole thing as an investment.
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Barak Obama
The new kid on the block. Not much is really known about him since he does not have that much experience in politics on the national level. Obama reminds me of E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (one of my favorite movies of all time). He's lovable, that's for sure. But I'll never forgive him for making me cry uncontrollably as a kid when I thought the little guy was dead. It's hard to enjoy a movie when your head is puffed up like Ted Kennedy after an all kegger. Obama currently holds a small lead in the race for the nomination but who nows with the primaries still to come but ET fooled us too.

Not knowing that much about Obama and his lack of experience it scares me. He is almost like a cross between Mister Rogers and Alfred E. Newman. He seems like a nice guy who has it all together, but I have this nagging feeling that all is not right and every other morning or so he puts his underwear on backwards, calls his wife in to show her that "OOPS...I Did it again" and then they both laugh hysterically for an hour or so at the fact that he's trying to become the leader of the free world.
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I wish there was there was the option of "none of the Above" on the ballot as a way to show that there is NO CONFIDENCE in any of the candidates running. At this point I don't know who I am going to vote for in November. I might take Lewis Black's advice and vote for Santa Claus. I mean Christmas is apparently the lynch pin in the U.S. Economy since Christmas seems to becoming earlier and earlier each year. I also agree that electing Santa Claus as President would show terrorists we are crazier than they are. Although President Claus would only be allowed to use his well known phrases and laugh when giving a speech or meeting with other world leaders.

-c

Brand New Day

I close both locks below the window.

I close both blinds and turn away.

Sometimes solutions aren't so simple.

Sometimes goodbye's the only way.

-Shadow of the Day, Linkin Park

Today marks a new day in my life as I am no longer an officer of Sigma Theta Epsilon after 8 years of selfless dedication. In a way it is saddening but also a relief after events of the past year or so of stress caused by a few of the other broad members. I think the what hurts the most is that my final request, to stay on till the end of the fiscal year so I could properly get the office ready to turn over to whomever was next, was denied using logic which still is puzzling. I guess my greatest regret was that I never finishwhat I wanted to before my last term was supposed to be complete in 2009.

It is a relief in the sense that I no longer have to deal with the things I have had to over the past year. I also have the time to focus on the important things that I put on the back burner so that I could focus the majority of my energy into the fraternity. I now have more time to do the following :

• Figure out why women hate me
• Train for my upcoming triathlons, which includes dropping weight
• Spend more time organizing my comic collection
• Other projects in the process of development.

I don't plan on leaving the fraternity altogether, however since I still support the organization as a whole and its goals and ideals. I will probably take a sabbatical for awhile and then reexamine things. I also plan to keep in contact with many of the brothers whom I have gotten to know over the years and shared many great and memorable times with.

I guess the whole thing can be summed up as I feel a great weight and burden has been lifted off of my shoulders, while at the same time the "phantom limb" syndrome is becoming increasingly strong.

I am eagerly waiting the new experiences and other interests I will now have time to pursue in the coming years.

-c

Catharsis

Paul A. Burdette, 95, of Elkview went home to be with the Lord on March 20, 2008 at home after a long illness. He has joined the Lord, his wife, Mary Bell and his son, David in his eternal home.
He was the former owner and manager of Ashmore Optical which closed in April 2007. He worked as an optician in the Charleston area for over 75 years. He started his optician apprenticeship with American Optical, and later worked for Mr. Cotton at Cotton Optical. He started at Ashmore Optical after WWII with O.L. Ashmore who promoted him to the position of dispensing optician. In 1957, he purchased Ashmore Optical Co. and retained the name of the company. He was a long term member of the Guild of Opticians and took great pride in his work. He enjoyed many of his customers over the years and always looked forward to solving their optical needs with the help of his beloved employees, who had all worked with him for the last 30 years.
During the summers, he looked forward to his weekends waterskiing and boating on the Kanawha River with family and friends. His leisure time was otherwise spent mowing his lawn astride his Power King mower and working outside. He was also an avid reader when weather would not permit him the luxury of being outside.
He served in the Navy as Chief Petty Officer on a destroyer during WWII and crossed the Atlantic 42 times during his term of duty. He was a member of Charleston Baptist Temple where he enjoyed many a church weekend retreat and the special Sunday School classes.
He was born July 26, 1912 as son of Braden B. Burdette and Grace Young Burdette. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Bell Trent Burdette, and his son, David Kenneth Burdette.
Left to cherish his memory are his two daughters, Kay Ellen Burdette Frank of Cleveland, OH and Kirtha Bell Burdette Day of Elkview ; his brother, Kenneth Russell Burdette of Charleston; his son in law, Michael Robert Frank, of Cleveland, OH and his daughter in law, Charlotte J. Rose Burdette of Elkview. He is mourned by his grandsons, Shawn C. Burdette and wife Emma of Willington, CT, Chad A. Burdette of Ravina, NY and Seth A. Burdette of Irwin, PA and his granddaughters, Jessica K. Day Mason of Frederick MD, and Valerie R. Day of Elkview and many nieces and nephews.

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On Thurday evening, March 20 my grandfather passed away, he was 95 (almost 96) years young. While it came as no surprise since his health had taken a down turn, it still hurts to see a member of the family go. The thing that makes it worse was that being so far away that I didn't get to see him as much as I used to since moving to New York. Before moving to New York I lived with him during the time I spent between finishing graduate degrees.

The past week for me was a very exhausting and draining one physically, emotionally and mentally. After talking with my aunt the night he passed away the arrangements had not yet been made but were going to take place after Easter. Thinking I would have at least Monday to make my plans to attend the services so I dropped my suit which I had just had altered off at the dry cleaners Friday morning with the intention of picking it up Monday before I left to go to WV. I was 2/3 the way to my older brothers house later that day (to have Easter dinner with his in-laws) my mother called and said "What's your plans" to which I replied ...going to Conn. She then proceeded to tell me that the visitation was Monday and the funeral Tuesday. Not knowing what my brothers plans were at that time I continued to Conn. as planned.

I ended up leaving Boston at 1:45 pm on Sunday after having Easter lunch, drove back over to Albany got to the house at 4pm picked up my suit which my landlord got from the cleaners for me and then left the house at 4:30pm drove all the way to Morgantown, WV arriving at my friends place at 12:30 am. I did not get to sleep until almost 2am that night because my brain was still driving. The whole trip took me through seven states and I only stopped for gas 3 times. I finally got home Monday about 1pm and was still tired from the night before. I finally returned

My grandfather was an amazing and wonderful man. He finally retired at the age of 94 last year when the decision was made to close the optical shop. Words are not enough and I don't have enough space to write all the memories that I had with my grandfather. While I am sad to that he is no longer with us I do know that he lived a full life and is now reunited with his wife and son(my dad) in heaven. While I never got to "say goodbye" in his last days I am sure he knew that he was loved by both firends and family and that he touched us all during his time with us.

Can't think of a Snappy Title...Oh Well!!!

So I am so FREAKING glad February is over...

First ...the most eviliest(now a word) "holiday" happened (Valentine's day)
I spent the second week with the freaking flu...so glad to be breathing w/ both nostrils again
Spent the 2oth doing my what seems to be annual trip to the ER with a severe migraine. The EMT's came to the office and took me out on a stretcher and was in the ER till ~6:30 pm.

mmm drugs....

Let's just say it has been a big hit to my training and attempt to lose weight ...


I am in favor of global warming after the last big snow we had... driving home was a nerve racking experience on the 26th .... did a 270 slide but luckily did not hit anything or damage my car...

Did my taxes...getting $1200 federal back and a whopping $9 back from the great state of NY
add that to my upcoming tax rebate and State worker / PEF union increase/ cost of living increase and I can have a lot of singles..( strip club anyone??...I kidd!).

My landlord gave me her old dryer so all I have to do now is get the new venting duct to go down the friggin hole...

so those are the current highlights of my ever exciting life..

-c

So it has been awhile since I updated:

-Became a certified SPIN instructor & sub at the Y
-Been doing the Triathlon Club training
-got bookshelves

other than that my life continues to suck

-c