W6D3 and a comparison (a bit of self indulgence really)

Today was the end of Week 6 in my C25K program.  In reality I am probably somewhere in Week 9, but with my trip to Florida, having ran 5K several times in the past few weeks, and now runnnig twice as much just so I can play with my Garmin Forerunner - -I had to get a firm point to finish out so I picked Week 6 at the beginning of this week and will finish out according to that schedule.  Week 6 Day 3 was on long 20 minute run - -which I completed.  I ended up pacing myself and ran 2 miles in the 20 minutes.  I ran the first mile in 9:16 . . . my second mile my I scaled back and ran a 10:44 - - felt good the whole way through - -when I figure out how to post the Garmin info I will do that - -I have a consult scheduled with Dave - - I did experience some pretty decent cramping related to a stomach virus the house is having - - so I ran "tense" the entire time (if you know what I mean)

Feeling good - - completed this Week 100/200/200 - - will be doing the testing tomorrow

Now for a bit of patting my own back:

Up top and left - we have me at the beginning of C25K - above was taken today -  W6D3

Again - up top and to the left was taken near the beginning of the program; back in March - -above was taken today W6D3 - -this also includes the strength training - -I am starting to see a difference . . . .Summer still tolerates me pestering her to snap photos . . if I could just train Jackson to use the camera, I would be in good shape . . .LOL

Look Out Donnie & Marie - -the Jones

Donnie & Marie Osmond got nothing on my kids! Somewhere in Branson, Missouri or Gatlinburg, TN - -there is a talent scout that will recognize the phenomenon that is the "Jones"

Kyra off to school

I got Kyra off to school this morning - - -Summer tried to get a much deserved sleep in - but I am not sure how well I did - - this is for her so she can see that I dressed Kyra OK

Hair was done

But I am not sure what her deal was - I think she finally learned how to keep one eye closed

and here

The hilarious thing is that she knew what she was doing - - in between pictures I would say "Stop sweetie" and she would smile so sweet then when I would try to take the picture

She is so funny - -I tried again

I was laughing so hard . . .she would stop and say, "Picture" and I would try again . . and like Lucy pulling the football from Charlie Brown - -I kept trying to kick

To prove that she was messing with me - -she would slide in a "normal" shot

Not sure where she gets her quirky sense of humor . . .(Hee, Hee)

Here comes the Cake!!!

The kids singing Happy Birthday to me - - posted mostly for the relatives.

W6D2 & my birthday

Completed W6D2 because I wanted more time to play with my new Forerunner.  During W6D2, I ran and walked over 3 miles within the workout - -did all the splits correctly - -no worries.  Later in the day, I did a 1 mile intense hill run just to see how my time would work out - - less than a 10 minute mile.  I am still wanting to get Dave to look at some of my numbers and tell me what it is telling me.

Today is my 42nd birthday

The whole gang gathered and sang Happy Birthday

As you may notice - Bum Face has been suspended - - running in Florida with that scruff was for the birds.  I did leave a goattee long enough to get home with and kiss my sweetie - -

Here is the gang basking Daddy in all kinds of attention before presenting me with the ultimate Birthday present

Thats right - - my very own Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. hat to run in . . .just like Forrest.  Guess I'll have to get Bum Face up and running again.  I've got 5 weeks to become indigent - - LOL . . .

Back in the Saddle

This is going to be a lame, haphazard cheat of a post.  I am going to squeeze about 8 days into one quick shot here.  My conference in Florida went great - -excellent contacts made for the business - -will porbably being seeing quite a bit more of those folks when our storm season gets cranked up.  Obligatory Florida picture from the conference window

I took this picture a couple times

Other than my trip to the beach the first day -  I did no other real venturing out.  My time was spent at the conference or at the hotel.  A snafu with the WI-FI kept my access limited so I was bent about that.

Ended my Florida trip with a visit to Grandpap's. He and Marjorie are doing well in Orange City.

Not too bad to be 89, huh?

From a running and fitness standpoint.  I completed W6 D1 & D2 along with W3D1,2,3 in the 100/200/200 - -however I found out that my Garmin had arrived while I was in Florida - so my enthusiasm waned until I got my hands on that jewel.  I had nearly a week break from the last time I ran so in some weird attempt to catch up and to use my Garmin - -I ran W6D1 again today as well as W7D1 - 6 miles - trying to get info so I could start deciphering like Dave - - I am going to need a consult . .  All in all - - I am back with WI-FI, I am so happy to be back with my wife and children; although I am experiencing a bit of insomnia as I have quit dipping smokeless tobacco, Kodiak, after a 25 year habit.  I am not having too hard a go of it; except it is effecting my sleep.  I had thought I would take a Tylenol PM, but it seems they have all vanished.  So hopefully I will bore myself to sleep.  I will begin to post the fancy stuff like Dave does - heart rate, map my route, yadda, yadda, yadda . . .the Forerunner is pretty awesome - - I am trying to find Tetris on it.. . .

W6D1 and Bum Face

Greetings from Sarasota, Florida!  This is going to be a quick post as I have found at that the Wi-Fi advertised at my hotel does exist - however you have to come down to the lobby to get a signal...and seeing as how my new friend and manager of the place, Rashneesh, closes down the joint at 11:00 p.m.; I have to work fast.

First W6D1

Completed W6D1.  I ran at Caspersen Beach - a state park down the road from Sarasota in Venice, Florida.  The temperature was 81 and it was beautiful and sunny; but the breeze coming in of the beach made the run enjoyable.  Caspersen Beach is known for its many fossilized sharks teeth.  After my run I spent a few hours walking the beach and success!!! I was able to find a few.  Some of the people there took it seriously - -had what they called Florida Snow Shovels - -contraptions with a collander like apparatus on the end of a sturdy stick that they would thrust down into the sand and water, and allow the sand to flow out, leaving shells and hopefully shark teeth . . me, I just wandered the shores like a large, pale hairy crane looking for a minnow and Ta-Dah!

Shark Teeth!

Pretty Cool, huh?

Today will be Week 3 Day 1 of my 100/200/200 program.  I haven't had a chance to do them yet - - but rest assured that I will complete them once I get shoo-ed out of the lobby. . . now the moment we have all been waiting for:  Bum Face Week 3!!

As a reference point I have included my Week 1 Bum Face photo.  Starting to really get some "shag" going.  I kind of feel like I am on Survivor.  For those that do not know - -Bum Face was a task that I took on 3 weeks ago as a sign of solidarity with my buddy Dave, aka Man_Boobs, by pledging not to shave until after we complete our first official 5K  - the Possum Ridge 5K in Taylorsville, KY.

Before I left for Florida, back home in Kentucky we celebrated Summer's birthday

I hate being away from my family.  I miss them terribly.

I'm going to draw to a close this evening. I miss you sweetie. . .

West Virginia Style!!!!

This weekend was Summer's birthday.  Saturday evening we had a good ole fashioned weinie roast at the Jones Ranch.  Dad performed wonderfully in his role as fire inspector, Mee Mee supplied delicious homemade slaw and pasta salad . .. and the topper . . .SMORES!!!

Fire safety is of incredible importance to my father . .

He diligently stood guard at the "controlled burn"; making sure that there were no violations or horseplay.  Unfortunately, while Papaw was tending the inferno - -Sam had other ideas

As did Jackson

Nothing says safety like kids, chainsaws and railroad spikes in West Virginia.  I would be remiss and my father is probably cussing me right now, if he reads:

Dad:  " Now look there Jackie(Mee Mee); that Simple Brian is making it look like I just let them kids run crazy with chainsaws and railroad spikes while I fiddled with the fire"

At all times, the kids were adaquately supervised - - I was there documenting everything and there was always the every watchful eye of MEE-MEE

Mee Mee kept all in line - - even when the big saws came out

I'm not saying that Dad would periodically get distracted - -although I did catch him fiddling with his "hare"

The party went to hell though when Dad had one too many cups of coffee combined with an extra large Smore and pulled his "squirrel" out in front of everyone.

Truth is - -he's a pretty good guy - - even for a Dad . . .he has his issues

And many, Summer & Mee Mee particularly, say that he and I are more alike than either of us care to admit

I wouldn't trade him for anything.  The kids adore him

And the truth is - he is one of the few people on this earth that I would trust with the most precious things in my life

Thanks for a great weekend . . .oh yeah, and Mee Mee is always there just in case Dad goes beyond "low idle"

Looking forward to the next trip Home!!

Week 2 100/200/200 Complete

Finished Week 2 of my 100/200/200 push up/sit up/squat program. Actually completed it on Friday. Today I took my evaluation tests.

Week 3 test
Push up test - 20
Sit up test - 31
Squats - 124

Week 1 test
Push ups - 8
Sit ups - 16
Squats - 62

So in two weeks I have doubled all of my totals since I started - - Yeah!

I'm doing a new test as well - -the "Gun Show" - -measure around largest portion of bicep, starting tonight

Week 3 - Gun Show - Right Bicep - 17" Left Bicep - 16 1/2" (always knew I was a little off)

More to come in a bit - - -PLENTY of good WV material - -

Tour of Jones Animal Emporium

I'm being lazy these past few days . . .it is so much fun just making a video of a few minutes - - - this "tour" video features Sam & Jackson as our guides and givew you a pretty good idea of life around the plantation here - -complete with animal husbandry and a break dancing dog. It is about 7 minutes long - - but it is pure West Virginia - - Dad is his usual charming self . . .

The Funny Farm

Thomas Wolfe said that, "you can't go home again" but in some glorious and maniacal way - -myself, my wife and the kids find it pretty easy to slip right into the swing of things any time we go back to West Virginia to visit my Dad and MeeMee.  We weren't here 5 minutes and the kids were barefoot - - chasing dogs, cats, chickens & ducks . . . .around the obligatory trampoline that has fast become a mainstay in nearly every West Virginia yard; nearly completely dethroning the current champs of the rusted hull of an indistinguishable automobile, or, my personal favorite - - matching washer machine and dryer lying on their side, chain attached, serving as fine dog houses (unless of course there is a rooster attached).  Dad kicked up the party atmosphere early - - feeding one of his recent acquisitions

Sammy's New Hair - Post mostly for the Mee-Maws, Mee-Mees, and MaMaws

Within recent months, Sam, our 8 year old has been hinting about wanting a "mohawk" . . . subtle things like, "Dad, can I get a mohawk?"  I've got no problem with it . . but we thought we might "test drive" a partial mohawk - -to see how he liked it; and the fact that he is still in school (mohawks are 100% summer cuts).

Sam recently got his hair cut and we are able to style it into the "Sam-hawk".  It really isn't that big a difference; but boy is he proud of it . . I thought maybe all of the proud grandparents, scattered about, might like a look. 

There you go - - if you look at Sam's lip, you can see a bruise.  Seems he still hasn't adjusted totally to his head size - -he told me he was at his table at school and bent over to get his bookbag and that, these are his exact words, "My head went to fast and I hit my mouth on the table"  Coincidence???

Keelin has recently had a new hairstyle; however aside from when she came home from the stylist, and it looked FABULOUUUUUUSSSSSSSS!!!!! - - it seems that it has returned to her regular everyday "do";  Summer did fix it for her one other day earlier in the week - -but she disappeared before I could document the new coif . . . . so, I am hoping that with my new birdwatching skills, I will be able to document and bring to you here . . . Keelin's new hair . . .

Quick Intro to my Mommy

Many of you may ask, "Where in the world did this schewed and disturbed individual come from?"  Here is my mom, Pat.

Trust me . . .that is not a caffeine-free, diet Pepsi in her hand . . .minutes after this phot was taken the straw literally dissolved into the beverage.  Note the pleasantly numb expression.  As a matter of authenticity and clarification for my few followers that have come to expect nothing but blatant honesty and unabashed realism from me . . .I have to hedge my bets with my Mother . . . .There will be nothing but love for Mommy as she has compromising photos of me and on more than one occassion has let me know that she is not afraid to use them - -one misconstrued attempt at humor or irony at Mom's expense and Facebook will be infected ..  . . you'll know as there will be a mass exodus from the site and demographics will show an increased jump in the lesbian population once confirmed straight women see that a man my size (at the time) can fit into, and look like that in a . . . . .nope, I've said too much.

Mom isn't your typical grandmother of 11.  And it is only me and my sister producing the grandkids - - we're Catholic and very literal . . .so when we heard "Go forth and prosper . . .well" but bakc to Mom . . .she is incredibly self-sufficient, loves doing her own remodeling  and a huge Richard Simmons fan

Incredibly, she somehow was able to do justice to all three of those vices in this one photo . . .THAT IS NOT A KNOCK, MOM . . . .I am merely stating the obvious . . . and don't let any of the ridiculous talk about hormones, the Change, or decrease in desire in women over . . . . .oops . .. women a bit more over 30 than others (got your back Mom, put the pictures away) fool you . . .get her anywhere near this guy

(Trace Adkins)

or this guy

(Toby Keith)

and her goodies are coming out . . .see . . .

And her Ba-donk-a-donk is definitely Honky-Tonkin

Not too bad for a woman of her tenure  . . .huh?

Love you Mommy