Prayers to Jessica and family

My last gaming convention was DragonCon 2004. The con was fun, but the important thing was meeting a pair of New Yorkers, Jessica and Chris.

Jess is unbelievable. Depending on your inclinations you wish you were her or dated her. Smart like a whip, compassionate, attractive, and very into her Jewish roots. She can quote Hebrew poetry, discuss the nuances of fine literature, teach classes at the collegiate level, play video games, play tabletop games, look good in a bodice, and has a wicked sense of humor to boot. For us geeks, she worked for Clay Shirky! If there is anything not to like about Jess is that I know she watches at least Japanese horror movies.

Chris is her boyfriend of a decade or so, and keeps up with her in what seems every regard (except the horror movies). In a more savage world he would be challenged to sword fights for the right to court Jess.

These are good people. Trust me.

Jess has shared at least once that her father is important, and holds him in respect. She described him recently by comparing herself this:

For those of you who have met my father, or heard my stories about him, you have some idea of what an amazing guy he is. For those of you who don't know him, our family jokes that I am his clone - so if you know me, you do know him, a little bit. He is my hero, my role model, my compass and my guide. I am hoping and praying for his recovery so that I have a chance to share the next thirty years with him.

If he is even a little like this, then her father must be quite the gentleman. He should move down here because we need more smart people to run the country.

Anyway, on Friday, August 22, 2008, Jess' father had a serious accident. He is in the ICU up in Boston. I've extended my prayers and hopes to them that he recovers quickly.

Moving major appliances

On Sunday I did a ton of work around the house.

It started in the morning clearing brush in back of the house. My old clippers are pretty much done so I grabbed one of my kukris and went at it. As a combination hatchet/knife I have to say it worked smashingly well. The kid came out and asked why I wasn't using both at the same time. I laughed, said that only happened in the movies or on the mat, then taught him how to do what I was doing. He liked doing it, but didn't like the bugs. When I was 16 I was more used to bugs and stuff so it was pretty amusing.

Then came in the lifting. The kid was busy so this was all me. Besides moving stuff all around the basement, I took the old water heater out. Alas, not all the water would drain so it weighed about 150 pounds when I took it up the back stairs. That meant I had to dead lift all 150 pounds of it above my head, which tweaked my shoulder a bit.

The old dryer came next. I rolled it up the stairs.

I cleaned up stuff a bit and took a shower to get grunge off of me.

Then it was to the place where we were getting our new washer and dryer. That meant taking both pieces down two flights of stairs and lifting them up into a van. Fortunately I had the kid and this other guy to help there.

We got the pieces home and the kid helped me take the pieces off the van, through the backyard, and down the stairs. I'm proud to say even through that tight back stair nothing got scratched, and most of it was him doing the thinking.

I'm still much stronger than the kid, but if he sticks with this fitness thing we are on he should eclipse me within 6 months, if not sooner. He outweighs me by about 40 pounds and has youth to boot.

There was more labor too but that was the hard stuff worth writing about.

Fitness update

Me

So I started lifting weights again on my birthday after a month-long hiatus. Had to do it because I didn't like my arms feeling rubbery when I did't flex them. I completely changed my routine, focusing mostly on freeweights, starting with as heavy as I can go on something for a full set and then doing secondary and tertiary sets with lighter weights, with the later exercises including auxiliary muscle work. I'm liking the results a lot.

Now that he's started up again, I train in TKD every time the kid trains. Its nice not to be a teacher and just focus on me for a few hours each week. On the plus side, to get a full workout I need to bike from work (12 miles) then train or the class is too easy. This is a good thing especially since...

As of December 2007 I'm eligible to test for my 3rd degree black belt in TKD. I'm not sure I'm going to do it, but I'm thinking about. I plan to make a decision by the end of this month, August 2008.

As for cycling, trying to do it every day except mapbe fridays. My bike has issues, like a seat that won't adjust, so I may have to get a new bike. I've got my eyes open on craiglist for something nearby that is affordable. Next month I do 102 miles in NYC with JSR and my brother.

Kid

He's going to the gym with his mom for treadmill and cycling work. He also rides his bike a lot. And he has decided in TKD he wants to double test in October. He'll have to work hard or that because that he could fail and onl get one belt.

He has a couple pending free personal training sessions he can use. I want him to do these because he ought to be doing weights. But I'm making a point of not pushing him.

Jen

Cycling and treadmilling plus now circuit training. Woot!

Taught my son yesterday

He's been doing a lot more cycling and has started back up with Tae Kwon Do, albeit from the beginning. So far he's gone with me to one of my teacher's classes on monday nights with me. He really enjoys it, although he has trouble with the warm ups, but that will come with time.

So yesterday, on a Tuesday, he came to my teen class. I treated him like any other beginner, which meant a focus for part of the class on falling. My classes have a lot of falling and tumbling, and also get into sparring and a lot of rough contact. It will be months before he will be ready for that stuff in full, but this is the start.

He prefers the other class. That doesn't surprise me, since my class is limited to just 45 minutes and I have to cook in everything I can in that limited amount of time. Also, the falling part is different and a bit uncomfortable for him.

NYC century bike ride

My intention is to go up to New York City with my good friend James and ride for 100 miles. Thats if I can get a good bike rental I think. Otherwise I might go less. We'll stay either with my brother Doug or with my Mom's cousin Roxanne. Will be much fun!

Another reason to dislike P.F. Changs

I dislike them. The quick and dirty:

• Decor that seems to make certain that even mildly busy times are noisy. You are shouting at the people next to you
• Mediocre Chinese-American cuisine made from mediocre ingredients
• Not cheap

So if that isn't enough, here is another reason:

http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/20-Worst-Foods/8_Worst_Chinese_Entree.php