Greetings from Oklahoma City!!

Yep, that is right . . .when it rains it pours . . no pun intended.  While in Nashville, I was contacted by one of the firms Summer and I contract with and they asked if I could possibly work some hail and tornado claims out in Oklahoma City.  So after a short 12 hour drive through last nights tornado's (you may have seen it on the news) I arrived at the Midwest hotspot of OK City.  I am staying at the luxurious Day's Inn . . which I am sure at one time was a prime destination - - but now . . .well, maybe not as much . . .for $39 a night I can't complain though

Nice view - -big window - - "home away from home".  I keep the television on Nickelodeon (you can see Dora and Swiper there on the TV) when I work.  It reminds me of being at home - - I work better - -weird huh?

I think this Days Inn was years ahead of the "People with Disabilites" requirements as my shower is designed for a "Little Person", I do believe

No schtick, no joking . .I am standing flatfooted in the shower - - -what are ya going to do?

This is the view right outside my room - -however, don't get jealous . . . .the pools are empty . . .other than a little black rainwater in the very bottom

All in all not too bad - - it isn't home - -but it does the job.  Will start working claims tomorrow and should be here for a while.  Am going to get back to running today - -it has been nearly two weeks of eating crap with no exercise - - jumping back on it today.

Wish everyone the best and I'll try to do better staying in touch

B

Been predisposed . . quick update

Becoming a prolific blogger - -several have wondered if I have fallen off of the face of the earth - - no I haven't.  I am currently working the flooding catastrophe suffered by Tennessee and have been adjusting claims 18 hours a day for the last week.  Even as we speak, Summer and I are working diligently to get these processed - -I will be returning to Nashville tomorrow and staying indefinitely . . . . . My running was put on hold for a week at least now - - I am in limbo at W8D1 - - -below are a few shots of I took the other day

All of the roads - -miles and miles are lined with everything from a persons home - -no discretion, no humility- - -the smell of rot is thick in the humidity and the heat

This next one you can see my truck parked in the background - - but there are literally cars everywhere abandoned

What struck me was the feeling that these piles of muck & rubble and disaster appeared to go of into infinity - - whatever direction you look, up or down a street any direction - - -it just keeps going

You get the idea - - I'm still here - - just busy - - -I'll be back though . . .charge . . .

Reid job

View - Car port - North end - 2x6x16 joists with 2x4 batten boards on top

Nashville - - makes you think

Been a long day - - Couch to 5K has been put on hold for a week - -I am in Week 8 limbo.  I am on-site in Nashville - - as a Catastrophe Insurance Adjuster . . .just like a police officer, doctor, EMT . . you would think you would get used to things . . . . .I don't have the words at this point . . . . .  Nashville, TN . .

This next one is Titan's Stadium

I heard on the radio they have found another body . . . it is interesting that I am not hearing the outcry and concern for the what many would consider the heart of rural, country America - -Nashville . .that I heard about the "cultural loss" of New Orleans and Katrina. 

More claims tomorrow . . . . . not in the mood to be chatty . . . . .We should count our blessings and kiss our baby's foreheads this evening . . .what a tough go of it these folks are having . . .

B

W7D3 complete and my Garmin info - - Thanks Dave!

Yesterday, Friday, I completed W7D3. After my totally crappy run of Wednesday, I made it a point to get up and out early. The run proved to be pretty uneventful.  It was a beautiful morning.  The route I took was pretty much through the neighborhood.  We have a couple monster hills close by  - I incorporated a few but they mostly fell within the "walking portion" of the entertainment.

Thanks to Dave's patience, I have been able to figure out how to post my Garmin stats - -so Dave, here you go

I'm still trying to figure out what I am looking at  - -what is good; what should be a red flag . . . numbers, numbers, numbers . . .

Here is a chart with some pretty colors

Last, but not least, the Google Earth version of my route

I seem to have plateaued a bit in my weight loss.  I think it is a result of a combination of things - - 1)  I am not nearly doing the exercise that I was doing the first three months of the year.  For 3 solid months I walked at least 4 miles every day, 60 minutes - -without fail - -7 days a week.  Since starting C25K, I have limited myself to only what the program calls for - - about 30 minutes of exercise - -3 days a week.  I wanted to make sure that I didn't reinjure myself (knees, shins, ankles).  That exercise plus the 100/200/200 program has been all I have been doing.  I stuck to those Rest days.  Additionally, I have become lax on my caloric intake.  I am still eating healthy, just a lot more of it - - since I have started running, I have become ravenous.  Come Monday (thanks for the phrase Jimmy B.) it will be all right.  Starting Monday - W8D1 - I am going back to bootcamp - -along with my running for the program - -after the completion of my run - I am walking another 2 miles at a 4 mph pace.  Additionally, I am going back to my Spark People Nutrition Calculator - so I can keep track of my calories.  I would like to get at least another 10 pounds off by June 12th - Possum Ridge -so I can look Ultra Svelte on race day.  I've not gained any weight - -it has just stopped coming off for like the last 2 to 3 weeks - -I have been stuck in the 258 - 260 range.  We'll see what happens . . .

W7D2; A Visit to the Battleground & a performance piece for Dave

Wow - -talk about a recipe for disaster.  Due to some prior obligations, I was not able to run today until late afternoon.  My routine is to normally run in the morning.  By 4:00 this afternoon it was over 80 degrees, I had consumed maybe a total of 300 calories in the last 30 hour stretch, and had spent the day going up and down a ladder onto various roofs. Started out strong and ran the first mile at a 9 minute pace - - at around 16 minutes of the 25 minute run I started cramping horribly in the abdomen area and this was rapidly followed by a general weakness in the legs . . . . .crap, crap, crap . . . I finished out the last 6 minutes or so at a brisk walk.  I am going to make sure I go into Friday's run ready.  If I experience any more issues I believe it is the heat - - and I may have to hang around Week 7 for a while until I am satisfied.  Up to this point I have been a cooler temperature runner.  The whole time my heart rate didn't get above 153, I believe. Disappointed - -but I have read everywhere that sometimes you will have a crap run - -I figure one in 9 weeks of running 3 times a week isn't too bad - -I'll get it squared away. I have been to the Battleground

During my travels today, I realized that I was close to the site of the upcoming 5K at Taylorsville Lake State Park and decided I would scope out the race course.  I had seen a map but I did not have it with me; however I knew I was on the right road - -it was just a matter of what section.  One end of the road the race is to be run on starts here:

The other ends here

A beautiful area if I say so myself.  However between those two points lie this

From way down by the lake it looks like this

Fortunately there is a "waystation" at the bottom of the hill

Would you expect anything less from "Possum Ridge"?

Aside from the hill, which I have fondly nicknamed "Shocking Reality" the rest of the course consists of a few undulating rises and straight, flat stretches

Saw some of the locals

Overall, was impressed with the course - - but obsessed with that hill.  I have to admit I breathed a sigh of relief when I made it home a referenced the map

It appears that the Start/Finish is at the top of the hill and heading back toward the entrance . . . . I may walk the hill for my warm-up . . .hell, I may run it after the race just to conquer the demon . . . . My final installment is a performance piece I captured for Dave - - on my drive back home from Possum Ridge I was reminded of my little buddy and captured a bit of video - -it is more for the soundtrack than anything


Until later . . . . . . to my beautiful wife in Florida - - I love you honey . . . .we all can't wait to see you tomorrow

Can you believe that boy?

Talk about the apple not falling far from the tree.  Since seeing his Daddy & Papaw taking pictures a week or so back; Jackson has adopted this as his new "pose"

Here are the younguns heading out today - Jackson to school and Kyra with Daddy to run some errands (Jackson posing)

Patriotic little guy; isn't he?

(Jackson posing)

Please note how stylish both of them are - -I am doing a pretty good job of getting them ready - -even did pig-tails for Kyra - -and yes that is a fake plastic Bowie knife she is chewing on . . .the Jones . .go figure . . .

Love Nest

Another post to keep my beautiful wife up-to-date.  I am sure she appreciates the minute by minute reporting - -she is only with these kids 24/7 - -LOL.  Here is the Wonder Nest I was telling you about honey

and another

and another

Kyra is laying there watching Wonder Pets and has not quit hitting that little Merry-go-Round thing for the last 20 minutes - - eating Sour Patch kids, playing that Merry-go-Round and singing along with the show - -Jackson still on the DS.

Love you.

Good Morning Mama!!!!

Good morning Mama - - Kyra and I are being are normal charming and cooperative selves this morning.  I thought I would take a little time and get my Nintendo DS work in first thing this morning and Kyra decided she would help me

She isn't much of a help - -but what can I say - -I'm a nice guy

We miss you and hope you have a great couple days in Florida.  Learn alot and of course, we expect you to enjoy your time by the pool as well.  Dad seems to be doing OK - - the stress may be getting to him a little

But overall everything seems to be going fine . .. well, there was one small episode

But Mickey came over and took care of it

Other than that - -everything seems fine - - Daddy did get us a new pet

We can keep him . . .right????

First Garmin Test to place in blog

Dave - - I gave it a shot - - -how can I isolate specific sections - - say I just want to show the totals section in its entirety as you often do?  Or just the graph . . . .thanks - - -B

W7D1 complete and a post for my baby

W7D1 - complete . . .now on to my beautiful wife.  Hey honey!  Glad you made it safely.  Summer is in Orlando doing some training for our business - so I am playing Mr. Mom for a few days here in Kentucky . Here is an update sweets - .got Kyra ready for school fine AND she let me take pictures this time

Jackson spent most of the morning in our bed

And Sam was convinced he heard a zombie upstairs

Of course, you know we went to Chuck E Cheese and Kyra overloaded so much . . she had such a blast that when we got home she had to crash.  She fell asleep on the couch in the sun room, and was so tired she actually fell off and just kept on sleeping

Everyone has had Chinese for dinner and Jackson is amazed at the concept of a fortune cookie - -he broke open all of them and "read" them to me : " Skiddla skiddla Jackson Daddy skiddla skiddla Attention"

Here are a few more of the babies:

Love you sweetie . . . we all miss you . .