Recovery Day

After the biking on Sunday and strength training yesterday, I feel like I need a day off. I might do some yoga, or at least some stretching, but that's about the extent of it.

Speaking of recovering, Senator Obama is bouncing back nicely in the polls. It's a long way from over, of course. We still have the debates, and whatever skulduggery the McCain team can dream up. I remain optimistic.

Long Ride

Yesterday I went out and did my longest bike ride of the year, just over 28 miles according to my bike computer. MapMyRide had it at slightly less, but that mapping interface has problems. There were a couple of good hills, including one leg breaker that I wasn't expecting. That was the first time in quite a while where I wasn't sure if I was going to make it (although partly that's because I didn't shift down right away at the base of the hill, not realizing how big it was).

I just kept plugging away, kept the wheels turning, and I somehow made it to the top. I still had about 18 miles to go though, over terrain I didn't know, so I backed off from my pace a bit. And by the time I did get back to familiar ground, I was tired.

Great day for a bike though, and I rested while watching my Eagles win ugly over the Steelers.

Expand my reach

It seems that the US is becoming increasingly compartmentalized, a process known as the big sort. The county I live in, I believe, is going to go for Obama in a big way. We'll be isolated in a sea of red, however. The presence of the University makes this county much more liberal than the surrounding counties. (That said, some of the nearby counties are suffering much more in this economy, which in theory should turn them off to Sen. Fundamentals-of-the-economy-are-Strong.)

So, acting locally may well be preaching to the choir.

I need a way to speak to those outside of my sphere. And I need to do that in a way that doesn't insult or demean them. The divisiveness of politics in this country over the past 10 years wearing us all down: that's not the nation we know and love. I will endeavor to be the change I want to see.

Pressed For Time

I didn't get much time to write over the past two days. Yesterday I went to the gym, and then did the weed-eating and lawn mowing. Last night we went over to our friends place for dinner. He's still pessimistic about Senator Obama's chances. I hear that a lot, but I'm trying my darnedest to bring positive energy to the election.

Losing the Faith

I had a conversation with a friend last night. He was quite certain that the McCain and Palin are going to win the election. Somehow, the American people had been fooled again.

I disagreed. I told I him that I had faith in the American people, and there's no way they could make the same mistake for a 3rd time. They've got to see through the BS that McCain/Rove are putting up.

But my faith is shaken looking at the most recent polls. This is a breakdown by state, so it's tallying the electoral college votes, not the national yes/no. Up until a week ago, these totals solidly favor Obama. Look at it now! WTF people, what is wrong with you? Unless you're a millionaire, the McCain/Palin ticket has nothing to offer you. Are you really so upset about gays and abortion that you'll allow yourself to get screwed even further by the Republicans?

Ask yourself this question: do you honestly think that you are better off now than you were 8 years ago? Is the country in a better position? If you're a millionaire, the answer to the first is probably "yes." If you're not, are you really about to vote against your self interest again?

OK, this should be a high polling week for McCain, post-convention bounce and all that. So maybe this is their high-water mark, and Obama will turn things around. Or maybe, just maybe, you really can fool all the people all the time.

Uninspired

I don't know what to write about today. Nothing on Helium is striking my fancy. Believe me, I'd let you know if I saw anything. It's a yawn-fest out there today.

I might take a peak at AssociatedContent, but I've been trying to narrow my focus so as not to let myself get overwhelmed. And of course, there's the writing I'll need to do at work today.

On the exercise tip, I've got to make the effort to go to the gym over my lunch break. Trying to go after work is just not pleasant. In addition to my being tired and often just wanted to get my ass home, the gym after work is just way too crowded. I'm happy for the folks running the place, yea for their success, but it sucks having to wait to use, say, a bench.

Power Failure

I can't believe I missed a day of blogging already. Where's the discipline? Although, I did write yesterday: in addition to the stuff I have to do at work, I also posted an article on Helium.

So last night Sue and I did a quick bike ride. It's about 9.5 miles, the ride we do all the time when we just want a quick jaunt. Something weird happened though: at about 8 miles, climbing a small, barely-notice-it hill, I just conked out. My legs didn't hurt, my lungs were fine, but I just couldn't get my legs to go. I recovered a little on the ensuing downhill, but I just crawled home. Soon after, I had a really nasty headache. And stranger too, Sue did as well later that evening.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do today: maybe yoga, maybe strength training, maybe something else. I'll take my gym bag with me and see where the day takes me.

Getting Back To It

I know, it's been a while. A long while. I'm sure whatever fan base I may have had at one point has long since dried up. But you're here, and that is all that matters.

This has been a difficult season for me. I've had lots of nagging injuries and illnesses, and time has been at a premium. I really wanted to do a lot more this season than I have. I've done nothing, really. The forces of fate have held me down, or more precisely I've allowed them to hold me down. It is time to get back up.

As Coach Ilg says, begin again and again.

So this blog will be a diary of rehabilitation and recovery. I need to get back to my training schedule, and to test myself again. Stop making excuses, start making the effort. I also need to get back to writing, every day, even when I need to force myself to do it. Even when I have nothing to say. Even when I know I am just throwing shit up here, for all to see, comment on, criticize, whatever.

Your support makes me stronger, and so does your derision.

Best of luck to you all,
Paul