Day 1 of 90

It was a rough start to say the least.  I slept in (bad idea), I didn’t eat before I started (even worse idea due to starting at 9:45AM), and I forgot how tough Chest & Back was.  Add that all together and I found myself dragging after the the first half of the workout.  So I downed a recovery drink, ate breakfast, and decided it was best not to continue the routine. But it ended up not being the end of my workout for the day…

With life being so busy lately alot has been neglected at our house, so I cleaned, did laundry, worked outside, and got a really good workout.  Topped it off with a nice grilled salmon patty and some veggies.  What started out as a bad day, has ended up being a really great day.

Plyo tomorrow……

Is August really here already?

Time flies.  Lately my life has been spent at work and the library.  My pregnant wife feels like a widow.   I spend approximately two hours at home outside of the time I sleep.  Today has been a rare day due to the fact that I took the Regulation section of the CPA exam this morning.  It was an extremely tough test, but I feel pretty good about it as my preparations were the best they’ve been by far.

Anyways, what brought me to the blog today started with a visit to the local Max Muscle Sports Nutrition located in Salem.  I’ve been hearing their ads a lot lately on the radio and a high school friend of mine works at one on the East Coast.  If you’ve read the blog you know that I’ve had a thing for fitness and healthy living for the past year and a half (I’ve had my share of ups and downs) and the Max Muscle piqued my interests.  I had a really good visit at the store with the manager and he educated me on quite a few things when it comes to supplements and eating.  So I’m home now and I get to thinking why not have a go at a p90x  90 day routine again.  I’ve made 2 attempts at the p90x routine before and after a month I’ve really petered out.  Anyways, I look back and cannot believe that I last tried back in FEBRUARY!.   I had to look twice…umm where have the past 5 months gone?

Here it is: I’ve calculated out a 90 day schedule starting this Sunday August 2nd that will run until October 31st Halloween.  My main goal of doing this, other than losing 10 pounds, is to get in good enough shape to try out the Cross fit workouts here at a local Salem gym.

Mystery photo. Can you tell what it is?

I know that this blog is getting hits.  Not sure if anyone is reading it though.  Anyways, here is a recent photo I featured in my iPhone 365 project.  Can you guess what it is?  or will it remain a mystery?

Mystery photo

Flickr group – iPhone 365

Post your guesses!

Busy, and getting busier

As it stands right now, I spend approximately 10 hours a day at home. If you do the math with 8 hours of sleep, I’m BUSY.  My wife is a little over 4 months pregnant, I’m spending 2-3 hours a night studying for the Regulation section of the CPA Exam on the 31st, I’m working as an accountant full time, trying to workout every morning, and we are trying to prepare our house for the arrival of our baby.  Then there is the “busier” part…as a supporter of the mighty Portland Timbers Football Club, I devote quite a bit of time traveling to their matches in PDX.  This Thursday pits the top two clubs in the USL First Division at PGE Park as the Timbers welcome in the Puerto Rico Islanders.  On top of that, this Saturday the Timbers will play an exhibition against the newly promoted EPL club Burnley FC.  My attendance of the latter of the two events is still up in the air.

Leslie and I supporting the Timbers in Vancouver, BC

If you are in the Portland area, or even within an hour away, I highly recommend that you attend the match this Thursday.  Cheap beer, cheap tickets($11 day of game), best atmosphere, and battle of 1st place and I guarantee that you can’t help falling in love.

There is bit of light somewhere in the tunnel soon though.  Leslie and I will be celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary on the 19th of August.  Not sure where time goes, but 3 years and expecting..life is wonderful.  Anyways, we are planning a camping trip on the Oregon Coast and I cannot wait.  We haven’t camped on the coast in 4 years, but are adamant to make this an annual excursion.

So that is that.  I guess I’m not that busy if I can take time away from my lunch break to blog about it. 😉

Blazers offseason, a blessing in disguise?

I think so.

I have heard many words being thrown around to describe the Portland Trail Blazers offseason so far.  Most of them are along the lines of awful, losers, failure, rejection, etc etc.  What about blessing?

Recap of the offseason so far:

Additions – via Free Agency: None;  via draft: Jeff Pendergraph (Arizona State), Dante Cunningham (Villanova), Patty Mills (St. Marys) all non-guaranteed contracts

Departures – Sergio Rodriguez and cash to the Sacramento Kings via trade;  Channing Frye to the Phoenix Suns via FA;

Free Agency has been the worst to the Blazers so far this season as they have lost out on their two biggest targets in Hedo Turkoglu to Toronto and Paul Millsap matched by Utah.  While most critics are disappointed that they lost out on both guys, I’m actually happy.  Hedo is coming off of his best season in the spotlight of Orlando and the NBA finals appearance.  However at age 30 and his big frame, how much longer will he be that good?  No questions his impact would of been immediate in the first two years of the contract, but the Blazers were offering him 5 years!!!  Long term, big money contracts have had a way of hurting Portland in the past (re – ZBo and Darius).  He would have been 35 at the end of his contract and that just didn’t sit right with me.  Perhaps the craziest offer was made to Utah restricted free agent Paul Millsap and luckily the Jazz matched it.  The offer made was considered “toxic” with somewhere around $10 million guaranteed in the first WEEK of the contract and $35 million overall over 3 years.  Absolutely ridiculous for a backup power forward that would of been lucky to get 15 minutes a game with the Blazers.

Rumors – PG Kirk Hinrich (Chicago) via trade for Bayless?; SF Tayshaun Prince (Detroit) just rumblings, haven’t heard anything concrete.

Contract negotiations – SG Brandon Roy wants a max 5 year contract and the Blazers are reporting to have offered 4; PF LaMarcus Aldridge is also seeking max contract status; and Coach Nate McMillan has agreed to a one year extension.

The Good News – In my opinion, all of it.  Portland is coming off of a 54 win season that came rather unexpected due to the youth of the team.  Sure other clubs have made moves to improve, but the growth of the young Blazers was immense last year.  Point Guard has been a sore point that most agree the team needs to upgrade.  Hinrich does not fit that role for me.  The Blazers are team that is not focused around the PG and Steve Blake/Jerryd Bayless combo should be acceptable heading into the season.  Dante Cunningham is having a very good summer league so far and could fill the role of banger/backup PF behind LA.  Currently they are still sitting with unused Salary Cap space of $7-8 million (could of been more had it not been for Miles) and hopefully they don’t spend it just to spend it.  There is still a long way to go in the offseason and things could change, but I really like the current roster situation.  Look for Bayless to take over starting PG duties midway through the season.

PG – Blake/Bayless

SG – Roy/Fernandez

SF – Batum/Webster

PF – Aldridge/Outlaw

C – Pryzbilla/ Oden

I’ll take that any day of the week in the NBA.

Disclaimer – I’m not an NBA expert and don’t quote me on facts, just my feelings as a fan.

Photo credit – prspect06 Flickr

Operation “the kid is coming”

Well, Leslie and I are expecting our first child this December and the realization is starting to kick in more as each day passes.  Yesterday she had her 20 week ultrasound done and the entire experience was surreal.  Just getting to see the baby and all of the body was amazing.  We could not stop smiling.   Along with our expected arrival comes a long list of stuff to prepare and prepare for.  This is what I have labeled “Operation the kid is coming.”  Last weekend really kicked things off for me as I started to kick things into gear around the house.  We have kept ALOT of crap from being in college and its time to begin cleaning house.  I began in the garage and went through boxes of school stuff (binders, notebooks, textbooks..etc), you name it.  There is alot more to do in the garage and this weekend will be another adventure out there.  But lots more stuff to come in the upcoming months.  We’ve got to get the babys room ready, baby showers, and just clean house in general to get prepared for our arrival.

Also, even with the pressure coming from Leslie to find out, we are still not going to find out the sex of our baby!

So there it is, a new post to a rarely updated blog.  As always I hope to update more in the future and maybe some pictures.

Harry Potter mayhem

Picture of the crazy people that have been waiting all day for the premier of the 6th Harry Potter movie.

Storm clouds on the 4th

Redmond Oregon on the 4th of July 2009.

iphoneslutz!

Well I do have something to write today ;).

If you own an iphone, heck even if you don’t, I highly recommend you take a listen to the iphoneslutz over at http://www.iphoneslutz.com or iphoneslutz.sprnetwork.com.  Its not as bad as it sounds and you won’t regret it.  Every Wednesday at 10 AM PST there is a live half hour show, or you can podcast it through itunes.  Every show includes mostly reviews of various iphone apps both paid and free.  These gals are hilarious with their humor and wit.  You will be laughing the entire time.  I urge you to have a listen.

Time for an update

Memorial Day has past, that was quick. My busy work schedule made the past 5 months a blur. I think around early April the fatigue from the long hours hit me, both mentally and physically. I am ready for a vacation and hope to get one scheduled early next month. It should help me get kick started for the summer.

Some news: My wife and I just recently found out that we are expecting a little one before Christmas. The excitement is building with every day that passes.

Personally, tomorrow starts another re-start of my workout routine. I have maintained my weight since I stopped in late March so thats a good thing. The way I look at, you will never succeed if you stop trying. So I have scheduled a months worth of workouts at http://www.teambeachbody.com and the plan is to do Power 90 and incorporate some running into my routine.

tis all for now.  Maybe I’ll have something to say tomorrow.