Maybe I act like a kid because I am one?

Amanda frequently laments that I act like a kid (to which I offer no argument). I'm a kid at heart and I don't have a problem with that!

A story from the BBC seems to give support and rationale to Amanda's claim that I am a kid. Apparently those who exercise frequently (or more precisely to the story, those who aren't sedentary) have "longer telomeres", in fact, these "telomeres" are 200 nucleotides longer in those who exercise 199 minutes a week compared to those who exercise 16 minutes a week.

These "telomeres" are purportedly a key in cell protection, so the longer the "telomere" the better protected your cells are. The better protected your cells are the less breakdown you have, keeping you younger in that domain.

Right now for Challenge 2008 I'm getting about 200 minutes of exercise a week, so my telomeres are nice and long baby!

Only in Dutch Harbor?

I remember hearing about this when I was a kid (though I thought the end product was a coat not hats).

From an article on Anchorage Daily News:

"I skinned them out and had them tanned and made them into hats," said Abi Woodbridge, whose basement was overrun several years ago. "Most people don't know it, but their fur is very soft, really beautiful ... and also very warm."

The creatures she's talking about are rats

Challenge 2008
Target to date : 76.50
Actual to date : 100.44

Superspeed

It's been a good week for running, new personal records again.

Mile : 6:34
5k : 23:15

Again, not blazing but slightly more blazing than previous.

2008 Challenge is rendering me in better cardiovascular shape, perhaps I'll be ready to go with Ultimate Frisbee season is upon us!

Challenge 2008
Target to date : 68.31
Actual to date : 92.51

Faster than the old me!

Yay! I am now officially faster than the old me. While not blazing I broke two personal records this week in jogging.

Mile run in 6:41 (was 6:57)
5k in 24:34 (was 24:42)

Now have to figure out my next goal, maybe Mile run sub 6 minutes? maybe 5k sub 22 minutes? Worth a shot!

Challenge 2008
Target to date : 62.84
Actual to date : 85.32

Barn Raising Party - Feb 8 - 10

We're having a "Barn Raising" (or at least a Silo remodel) on February 8th through February 10th. I'm missing my company Christmas party at the Timberlodge Steakhouse to be with you all!



We're coming down to try to get our house back in order. Mr. Cross has agreed to be a sort of foreman on this project (Thank you!), though we still need someone who can let contractors such as the carpet layer in (any volunteers?)



Anyone that wants to come over sometime from the 8th through the 10th to lend muscle or moral support feel free (we'd be grateful for help)!



We hope to have the carpet done before this party, and maybe John will have the drywall complete so that we can lay the tile on one day and do the cabinets the next day. This would leave just the countertops and staging to be completed. The countertops we'll probably contract out, hopefully there's not too much lead time. Then staging then back on the market!

Summer Job

I saw this job posting on the Anchorage Daily News' website and couldn't resist.....anybody need a summer job?


SALMON ROE SUPERVISOR

Description

SALMON ROE SUPERVISOR. 3 temporary positions from 5/1/08-9/30/08. Oversees grading, processing, curing, packing, use of additives. Keep precise records of production, shipping and instruct trainees. Must have a minimum of 48 months experience processing salmon roe for the Japanese market. Room/board and transportation provided if contract completed. Will transfer between operating locations throughout Alaska depending on production needs. Wages vary from $29.57/hour-$42.39 depending on location. Fax resumes reflecting all qualifications to: Ocean Beauty Seafoods. c/o AKDOL(and)WD, FLC# 3032. Fax # (907) 465-5558.

Source - Anchorage Daily News

Pictures

Our good friend Chris was kind enough to go over to our place in Chicago and take some pics of the damage for us. These are after the Service Master guys have already been in to clean up all the damaged drywall, carpet and laminate flooring.



The kitchen/downstairs....





Bedrooms/Upstairs.....

The Bright Side

The bright side of the whole leak/collapsed ceiling/ruined floor is that we'll finally get the new kitchen cabinets and countertops I've wanted for the last three years...the down side is we won't get to use them.

What "Extensive" is

So, we had this leak in Chicago. The upstairs toilet was leaking, and leaking and leaking, something came loose. Plumber said that there is no reason this should have come loose, especially with nobody there. We've never had a problem with this previously.

Net result is that our house is off the market for the better part of a month (or more). We need new carpet on the entire upstairs (sans master bedroom but maybe master bedroom due to wanting the carpet to not look tacky when it doesn't match). We need to replace the ceiling drywall in the kitchen and the hallway to the garage. We need to replace the kitchen cabinets and countertops and we need to replace some of the laminate flooring that we labored to get finished before coming up north here! All from a silly leak.

While this doesn't make for fun it at least comes at a "good" time in the sense that it's tax return season and we'll be getting a decent return. Also our insurance company is helping out with a bit of it (unfortunately not all, but better than nothing!)

Perhaps some good will come out of this? The next owner will get an upgraded kitchen and new carpet, maybe this will mean that we'll sell at an earlier date than if this fun never started?

Also I've been thinking a lot about perspective over the past day:
1) We still have our health
2) We still have our family
3) We're blessed to be in America and have a [two] home[s]

I've been really thinking about number 3 today. Most of the world doesn't have the luxuries that we have. In a large portion of the world people have to rebuild their entire house after a heavy rain and that considers that they survive! In a different large portion of the world people dying due to not having any water. So, while it's a frustration we have it relatively easy.


Challenge 2008
Target to date : 46.45
Actual to date : 60.94

House Flooded

Chicago house flooded due to some problem upstairs (perhaps pipe(s) leading to the guest bathroom wore compromised), based on statements the kitchen ceiling and floor will need replaced. Word repeated by the realtor is "extensive" (though I don't know what his definition of that is).

Makes it fun! Will keep you posted.

Whirlwind

In the last two months of sending out dozens of resumes and only getting one phone call , this week was a bit of a shock. Out of the blue, I started getting phone calls and emails. I had one interview on Tuesday, an interview with another company Thursday, a second interview with the first company Thursday afternoon, then, out of now where, comes an interview with a third company.

I interviewed with the third company this morning at 9am, went back for a second interview this afternoon at 2pm and was back in the office again at 3:30pm to sign the offer letter. I guess they knew what they wanted and didn't want to let me get away. So, one more week of freedom then it's back to the cube farm.

What's in a name?

So, what's in a name? Perhaps it's a clue to our identity or does a name give you an idea of what your calling should be?

Based on name Amanda should be an author. She was told today that her name would make a good author's name. Apparently I should be a weatherman, my co-workers sister says that my name is a good weatherman's name.

So, what have you been told that your name makes you?

Challenge 2008
Target to date : 8.20
Actual to date : 11.47

A Tale of Two Cities

A quip the perhaps demonstrates the difference between Chicago and Minneapolis.

We rented a 24ft U-Haul truck to move from Chicago to Minneapolis.

City 1: Chicago
While in Chicago we backed the truck into our driveway and due to the layout of the driveway we blocked perhaps 60% of the road around our complex. Things were going along swimmingly until the very end. As we were taking final inventory of the garage and getting ready to shut 'er down one of our neighbors (or at least one of the residents of the complex) drove up and took the time to stop to complain that we were blocking the road and that we had some nerve to be blocking it for so long. Note that the 40% of the roadway remaining was plenty big enough for cars and trucks to drive by.


City 2: Minneapolis
Same 24ft U-Haul truck. Even worse driveway setup. The townhouses where we're renting are set up in rows that face each other and have a joined alley way (for lack of a better description). This arrangement doesn't allow for too much wiggle room. We backed the U-Haul into the communal alley and then into our driveway. As the alley was not wide enough we parked at an angle blocking maybe half of our neighbors driveway and approximately 80% of the alley. The resultant 20% was big enough perhaps for a moped. Our neighbor came out and I asked if he needs me to move, his response was something like "Nah, my truck is parked in the visitor spot and I can just drive over the snow berm to get around you".

So: Case 1 (chicago), plenty of room, stop to complain.
Case 2 (Minneapolis), not plenty of room, let your truck play in the snow

Chicago was good, but we like it up here. Another benefit is that people let their kids play outside in the snow and cold!


Challenge 2008
Target through today : 5.46
Actual through today : 7.62

Hockey Renaissance?

This was airing today right on NBC. That's right! Nationwide hockey being televised on a day traditionally associated with college football. Is hockey making a comeback? Let's hope so!

Earthquake!!!

There was a localized earthquake reported at our townhouse today. Lasted 30 minutes. No damage reported.

Actually, it was just me starting off the 2008 challenge. Apparently there's no good place to put a treadmill in this unit, some light running was enough to shake the whole structure. Hopefully we'll sell our Chicago house soon and then we can move into a house where I can tread without causing a calamitous earthquake.


Target through today : 2.73
Actual through today : 3.59

Another Day

I think I might need just one more day to complete my 2008 challenge .... I just don't know that I can get it done in 365 days, if only there were one more.

Why, would you look at that! February 29th is scheduled this year, so 366 days to complete! This means that all my prior calculations were incorrect (oh the humanity!).

So, I just need to walk:
0.113843 miles per hour for 8784 hours ... or ...
2.73224 miles per day for 366 days ... or ...
19.12568 miles per week for 52 2/7 weeks ... or ...
83.33333 miles per month for 12 months ... or ...


Again I say bring it on!