Here are the songs that are getting the most play of late on my ipod, in the car, and at home:
1. Skinny Love by Bon Iver
2. Cape Canaveral by Conor Oberst
3. Northern Soul by Darker My Love
4. The Day That Never Comes by Metallica
5. Great Expectations by The Gaslight Anthem
6. If You Fear Dying by One Day as a Lion
7. Oviedo by Blind Pilot
8. Older by Colbie Caillat
9. Drink the Water by Jack Johnson
10. And I Fell Back Alone by World Party
Exclude the Metallica and One Day as a Lion songs and you’ve got a pretty chilled out mix here.
RESPECT! to Chris Thomas for turning me onto the new album “For Emma, Forever Ago” (love the album title). He described it as “The perfect Chad Nikazy album.” So far The Figurehead is agreeing with him. Check out the video for The Wolves:
Here’s what I wrote on my other blog today over at topstepfitness.com (TS Blog Train Like Me):
TS Blog (Train Like Me)
8/23/08
Ran a couple of FAST miles y’day. Brett and I scaled back this weekend before we start our really long rides next weekend (5 plus hours). We did 1:40 on the bike this morning. I spent some time crunching numbers this morning as I really start to think about the Old Hickory Lake Triathlon. This will be my 5th time to race there…and I’ve yet to win my age group. I’ve placed 2nd a couple of times, 3rd, and 4th. I thought I’d examine my training volume from April to August since 2005 to show the lead in to the early September race date. I knew I had scaled way back on tri specific training this year, but the numbers are alarming. Funny thing is …I still feel just as fast…maybe faster because of the extra hours on the bike. Here ya go (cycling and running are hours, swimming is yards)
Swim:
2005: 80,330 yards (this is studly)
2006: 50,887 yards (big drop off)
2007: 40,050 yards (another drop off)
2008: 17,375 yards (did I forget how to swim?)
Bike:
2005: 59 hours
2006: 57 hours
2007: 64 hours
2008: 81 hours (so long Michael Phelps…hello Lance Armstrong)
Run:
2005: 41 hours
2006: 34 hours
2007: 39 hours
2008: 30 hours (gosh I hope all that H.I.T. training and plyo kept me in shape).
Total hours plus swim distance:
2005: 100 hours and 80,330 swim yards
2006: 91 hours and 50,887 swim yards
2007: 103 hours and 40,050 swim yards
2008: 111 hours and 17,375 swim yards
Let’s hope the extra bike hours keep me competitive. The good news is that swimming is the sport of the three that I’m most naturally talented in. I started scaling back my swim volume after 2005 because I noticed that I wasn’t slowing down any even with severly reduced training yardage. Running used to be a real weapon for me in triathlon. I could often catch the guys who passed me on the bike on the run. The real studs stayed away though because cycling is the key to winning in triathlon. Starting last year I started really boosting my cycling hours and the difficulty of my rides, because it’s always been my weakness. I havent done a single tri yet this year, unlike other years when I normally do 5-8 by this time. My results at OHL will be a true mystery until race day. I’m headed to the pool in a bit (by the way Izzy is out of town otherwise I’d be spending Daddy time instead.)
I was introduced to “popcorn prayer” a few weeks ago; that’s prayer where one person starts with something like “God, I’m thankful for…” and then people in the room randomly say things aloud they are thankful for. I’ve been so busy with my new position at work that I haven’t had any real great blogging ideas of late so I thought I’d try “popcorn blogging”…just short random ideas and thoughts I’ve had lately. Here goes:
1. Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinting sensation, is a STUD. His laid back attitude towards sport is refreshing. He seems to know it’s not the end of the world no matter if he wins or loses. I love that youthful enthusiasm…he doesn’t celebrate to taunt…he celebrates out of joy.
2. World Party’s “Goodbye Jumbo” is one of the most underated albums in the history of music. I’ve always loved it, no matter what my mood, what the weather is like. You should too. All serious music fans should know and love the song “And I Fell Back Alone”
3. Lots of people, probably 10 in the last two weeks, have asked Karen and I if we know that Karen looks like this swimmer named Natalie Coughlin. Yes, we know. Weird…Karen used to be a year-round swimmer too.
4.Something about the changing of the seasons resets my thinking; I don’t like myself when I take myself too seriously…or when I take life too seriously. I don’t like being the classic definition of an “adult”. I think we sell ourselves short and deny ourselves much of life’s enjoyment when we try too hard to be “grown up.” I take responsibility for important things, but I also let go and have fun alot. This year one of my resolutions was to take “sport” less seriously. I’ve done a good job so far. I’ve enjoyed doing the things I do more since I stopped caring so much how well I did them.
5. I’m pretty sure my kid is not only a prophet (those who know the stories know what I’m saying), but I’m also pretty sure she’s destined to be a professional or olympic athlete of some sort (she makes the other kids look silly). Here she is “working out” and doing “gymnastics” on her “gym”. Oh yeah…she’s cute too.
yeah…she’s “hyper-flexible” too. Check out that freaky arm (Karen’s do that too)!
There are alot of things I love about riding my bike. One of the best things is that I get to see alot of beautiful rural countryside in the early morning hours before most of the world is awake. I seek out big hills – I’m a pure climber – too small to go real fast on the flats – but powerful enough to climb big hills and mountains better than most because of my anaerobic (wrestling) background. Here’s a cool little pic taken by my friend Bruce near the top of Pulltight Hill somewhere in Williamson (or is it Davidson or Rutherford) County.
A couple of years ago I did a seperate blog listing and discussing my 50 favorite albums of all time. I think it’s time revisit that list and make some much needed changes. I start doing that soon. Until then, you can peruse the original list - but remember – I’m making changes this go around.
I sat through this program last week and was blown away. The program teaches those with the heart of a teacher and a passion for helping others to go into the field and counsel/coach those in need of financial guidance. The program is 5 days long, all inclusive (hotel, meals, shuttle service),and covers all aspects of financial counseling based upon Dave Ramsey’s 7 baby steps:
1. $1000 in a Starter Emergency Fund
2. Pay off all debt using the “Debt Snowball” (Except the house)
3. Finish full emergency fund (3-6 months of expenses)
4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRA’s and pre-tax retirement savings
5. College Funding
6. Pay off the house
7. Build Wealth and Give
For more info on becoming a certified counselor or on Dave Ramsey in general click HERE
