December Debrief

December was pretty much defined by Christmas. I had the most time off during Christmas since graduating from college, and it was pretty nice. I’m pretty proud of myself for hanging on to that vacation time all year. The very first thing I did when I got back to work was put in a vacation request form for the entire week of Christmas in 2011. Let’s see if I’m able to do it again.

December Running Totals
4 workouts
1:54:23 duration
12.79 miles
8:56 per mile average
1,443 calories burned

Books Read in December:
The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists — Ravi Zacharias

Movies Watched in December:
Tooth Fairy – 2/5
From Russia with Love – 2/5
Austin Powers 1 – 3/5
Pet Sematary – 3/5
The Marc Pease Experience – 4/5
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – 5/5
Restrepo – 4/5
Short Circuit – 4/5
RoboCop – 3/5
A Fish Called Wanda – 3/5
Lucas – 5/5
GoldenEye – 4/5
The Trotsky – 4/5
Moonstruck – 4/5
Elsewhere – 3/5
Mallrats – 3/5
Yogi Bear – 2/5
The Rundown – 3/5
The Graduate – 5/5
Tron: Legacy – 4/5
Thunderball – 2/5
True Grit (1969) – 4/5
Mission: Impossible – 4/5
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – 3/5
Gulliver’s Travels – 3/5
Almost an Angel – 4/5
After.Life – 2/5
Four Christmases – 3/5
The Other Guys – 4/5
The Fighter – 5/5
Christmas Vacation*
Jingle All The Way*

Filed under: 2010, Books, December, Movies

November Debrief

Talk about a boring month. That was by design I suppose. After training so long for that Grand Rapids Half Marathon, I decided to take November off from running which allowed for a lot of nothingness. Which I enjoyed greatly.

November Notables:
• Conan returned to television
• Daylight Savings Time ended
• Learned how to play Whirly Ball
• Sparky Anderson & Jim Daft passed away
• Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday
• Finally watched a lot of the Bond films
• Michigan lost to Ohio State, again

Novemeber Running Totals
Nada

Books Read in November:
Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son — Michael Chabon

Movies Watched in November:
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole – 3/5
RED – 5/5
Halloween II – 4/5
Alien vs. Predator – 4/5
Megamind – 4/5
Ghandi – 5/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street – 3/5
The Town – 4/5
Splice – 4/5
Leaves of Grass – 4/5
Goldfinger – 3/5
Jackie Brown – 4/5
Owning Mahowny – 4/5
Winnebago Man – 4/5
Die Another Day – 3/5
The Running Man – 2/5
Skyline – 2/5
Daredevil – 3/5
The Thomas Crown Affair – 5/5*
Grown Ups – 4/5
Dr. No – 4/5
Brooklyn’s Finest – 4/5
Big Trouble – 3/5
You Don’t Know Jack – 3/5
Superman – 5/5*
Aliens vs. Predators 2 – 2/5
Tomorrow Never Dies – 3/5
You Only Live Twice – 4/5
Saving God – 3/5
The Last Airbender – 2/5
Raw Deal – 3/5

Filed under: 2010, Books, Movies, November

October Debrief

October, how I love you.

You bring with you the bright colors on my trees. You bring cooler weather, and a new wardrobe. You bring new menu’s full of comfort food. You bring a slew of once-a-year movies to watch, and an excuse to dress up and collect candy. You bring the baseball playoffs, and new television premieres. And you bring an appreciation for the sun we’re about to lose for the next few months.

This year you also brought my second Half Marathon.

But I suppose the biggest thing to remember about October 2010 is that I finally crossed the threshold of watching “scary” movies. I’ve avoided them all my life, but I’m finally over it and made a pretty huge dent in the classics this month. I’ve come to the conclusion that Halloween series is far superior to Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th, and that Texas Chainsaw Massacre is c-r-a-z-y (although not very scary). I have a couple more to wrap up here in early November, but I’m looking forward checking out a bunch more next October.

I’ve also plowed through every single episode of Dexter this month. I haven’t been that hooked on a show since discovering Arrested Development.

October Running Totals
7 workouts
6:21:16 duration
44.6 miles
8.33 per mile average
5,054 calories burned

Tweet of the Month

RT @joelklampert Take God out of that box you put Him in and embrace the mystery of our faith. #fb
— @mudpuppy October 28, 2010 9:32:17 AM EDT

Books Read in October:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter — Seth Grahame

Movies Watched in October:
Letters to Juliet – 2/5
The Good, the Bad, the Weird – 3/5
Dexter: Season 2 – 5/5
MacGruber – 1/5
Alien – 3/5
Predator 2 – 2/5
Dexter: Season 3 – 5/5
Aliens – 3/5
Friday the 13th: Part 2 – 4/5
Friday the 13th: Part 3 – 2/5
Dexter: Season 4 – 5/5
Friday the 13th: Part 4 – 3/5
Predators – 3/5
Jonah Hex – 3/5
Texas Chainsaw Massacre – 3/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 – 3/5
Candyman – 4/5
Halloween – 4/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 – 3/5

Filed under: 2010, Books, Movies, October

September Debrief

Easily the quickest month this year.

No doubt it went so quick because Tanner started school, a new paper route, Fall soccer, and flag football this month. I’m not sure how people with more than one kid do it. This kid keeps us plenty busy!

Michigan football returned in September, and I attended two games for the first time in over three years. For a while there I had season tickets, so it was nice to get back to the Big House and enjoy a good brat early in the morning. I’ve missed that. How about that Denard Robinson!

Three of my favorite television shows returned this month—Community, The Office, and Big Bang Theory. It’s nice that they are all 30 minute shows because they don’t take too much time to get through. I started watching Dexter as well, and I’ve already plowed through all of Season 1 and seven episodes of Season 2 as of today (I started five days ago).

The Clinton Fall Festival came and went as usual. I didn’t know if Clinton would pull it off with all the construction, but it wasn’t too bad. The biggest excitement of the weekend was the three foot sinkhole that dropped in my yard. It’s creepier the more I think about it.

My running got more intense this month as I am in the final stages of preparation for the Grand Rapids Half Marathon. The miles are really starting to pile up. Speaking of running, it became official that I’ll be running in the Traverse City Full Marathon in 2011 with my buddy Brandon. That should make the next seven months… interesting.

Bring on Fall and all its colors, smells, and sweatshirts!

September Running Totals
13 workouts
9:12:59 duration
64.72 miles
8.33 per mile average
7318 calories burned

Tweet of the Month

RT @superman1224 “Awesomely horribly unsurprisingly not english.
— @mudpuppy September 28, 2010 2:27:27 PM EDT

Books Read in September:
Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make A Difference — Max Lucado

Movies Watched in September:
Blow – 4/5
Harry and the Hendersons – 5/5
Nanny McPhee – 3/5
Nanny McPhee Returns – 2/5
Tyson – 4/5
Furry Vengence – 2/5
Killers – 3/5
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – 4/5
Twisted – 3/5
Desperado – 4/5*
Gone in 60 Seconds – 5/5*
Assassins – 2/5
Kalifornia – 3/5
Prince of Persia – 3/5
Big Fat Liar – 3/5
Universal Soldiers – 2/5
Carlito’s Way – 4/5
A Perfect Getaway – 3/5
The Manhattan Project – 4/5
Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show – 4/5
Dinner for Five – 3/5
Bigfoot – 1/5
Dexter: Season 1 – 5/5

* Not the first time watching.

Filed under: 2010, Books, Movies, September

August Debrief

August has always been my favorite month.

13 - Softball Tournament (5th place)
27 - Birthday (35 years old)
26-29 – Mancation (Road trip to Traverse City + Fantasy Football Draft Party)

August Running Totals
8 workouts
5:24:47 duration
36.39 miles
8.39 per mile average
4018 calories burned

Tweet of the Month

Having a hard time figuring out why the whole world is actually taking Favre at his word this time. September 9 is when we’ll find out.
— @mudpuppy August 3, 2010 11:54:01 AM EDT

Books Read in August:
Broken Record: Enjoying the Music of Relationship Through the Hisses, Pops, and Scratches — John Voelz

Movies Watched in August:
Encounters at the End of the World – 1/5
Old Dogs – 3/5
Point Break – 4/5
The Ghost Writer – 4/5
Brewster’s Millions – 3/5
The Hangover – 4/5
The Exorcist – 4/5
Arlington Road – 4/5
Dead Man – 3/5
The Whole Nine Yards – 3/5
Paycheck – 3/5
Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion – 3/5
Pirates of Silicon Valley – 3/5
The Expendables – 3/5
Pirate Radio – 4/5
Poltergeist – 4/5
Cop Out – 2/5
Art & Copy – 5/5
Summer Rental – 2/5
The Losers – 3/5
8 Heads in a Duffel Bag – 2/5
First Snow – 4/5
Four Rooms – 3/5
Bella – 4/5
The Burbs – 5/5
Repo Men – 3/5
Romulus, My Father – 2/5
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers – 5/5

Filed under: 2010, August, Books, Movies

July Debrief

As taxing as June was, July was the exact opposite.

On the 3rd we hosted our 2nd Annual Kenya Dig It 5K & 10K. Tanner smoked his previous PR with 27:24 in the 5K—not bad for a 6 year old.

On the 10th Tanner played in his last baseball tournament of the year. Travel ball was a lot of fun, but it sure can be a time-suck. Bittersweet memories.

On the 12th Tonia had knee surgery to repair some cartilage and a torn meniscus. As a result, she’s been off work and at home all month. Having her and Tanner at home during the day has been really nice! I’ve even been riding my bike to work, 6 days straight as of today.

On the 23rd Tanner turned 7. Crazy how fast time flies.

Most of the month was unscheduled and relaxed. We spent a lot of time at home, getting a few things done around the house but nothing too taxing. July actually felt like a summer vacation.

July Running Totals
8 workouts
3:37:24 duration
25.65 miles
8.29 per mile average
2903 calories burned

Tweet of the Month

That was a fun morning. Raccoon falls out of tree right in front of me. I watch raccoon for an hour. Dad kills raccoon w/ baseball bat.
— @mudpuppy July 24, 2010 12:38:26 PM EDT

Books Read in July:
N/A

Movies Watched in July:
Remember Me – 4/5
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – 3/5
Jaws – 5/5
American Zombie – 2/5
Magnum Force – 3/5
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry – 2/5
Legion – 3/5
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead – 4/5
Michael Jackson’s This Is It – 5/5
Under Suspicion – 4/5
Hearts in Atlantis – 3/5
The Karate Kid 2 – 3/5
Extraordinary Measures – 3/5
The Outlaw Josey Wales – 4/5
Toy Story 3 – 3/5
Inception – 5/5
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – 3/5
The Proposal – 3/5
The Vanishing – 3/5
Green Zone – 4/5
Surrogates – 3/5
Instinct – 4/5
Airheads – 3/5
Karate Kid 3 – 3/5
Despicable Me – 3/5
Fright Night – 2/5
Youth in Revolt – 2/5
Gamer – 1/5
So I Married An Axe Murderer – 3/5
Amreeka – 4/5
Manhunter – 3/5
The Wraith – 3/5
Pale Rider – 4/5
The Bounty Hunter – 3/5

Filed under: 2010, July, Movies

June Debrief

June was taxing.

Technically we were still in Traverse City when June began, but later that same week my sister-in-law got married, and all three of us were in the wedding. The following week we celebrated our 11 year anniversary by camping at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes with Tonia’s family. The next weekend we celebrated Father’s Day with more camping in Chicago, and running in the Warrior Dash. Just for fun, the following week Tanner had 2 nights of 2-hour baseball practices, 1 scrimmage, and a weekend tournament.

Somewhere in the midst of all that Summer officially began.

Running Totals
3 workouts / 1:48:48 duration / 13.68 miles / 8.41 per mile average / 1608 calories burned

Tweet of the Month

Tonia and I dated for 6 years + married for 11 on Friday = 17 years together. I’m currently 34 years old. #dothemath
— @mudpuppy 3:44 PM Jun 8th

Books Read in June:
N/A

Movies Watched in June:
A Fistful of Dollars – 4/5
Defendor – 3/5
It’s Complicated – 4/5
Sleepless in Seattle – 4/5
The Three Musketeers – 3/5
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot – 2/5
The 11th Hour – 3/5
Edge of Darkness – 4/5
From Paris with Love – 2/5
Benny and Joon – 3/5
Invictus – 4/5
The A-Team – 5/5
The Karate Kid – 4/5
For a Few Dollars More – 4/5
Knight and Day – 3/5
Amadeus – 4/5
Kelly’s Heroes – 4/5
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – 3/5

Filed under: 2010, June, Movies

May Debrief

May was pretty much defined by my first ever Half Marathon (more on that coming soonhere). After being reminded by Cindy Hughes last year that a Half Marathon was on my Bucket List, and that Mike had his sights set on the Bayshore Half Marathon in Traverse City, I decided to buck up and enter. Prior to registering, the farthest I’d ever run was about 4 miles. Again, more on the race later, but needless to say it was a defining moment, not just for May.

Going into May I limited my diet to try to go into the race in top form. No pop, no fast food, no sugary foods, no fried foods. As a result I lost 10 lbs.—the most significant weight loss I can ever remember having.

Speaking of bucket list’s, we saw the Barenaked Ladies for the second time and I’ll say it again, seeing them live should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Right there at the end of May I bought a new(er) car. The old Alero had definitely seen better days, and I was presented with a deal I just couldn’t pass up. I’m now sporting a fancy 2004 Pontiac Aztek (as seen driven by Walter White).

Since the race was in Traverse City, we made a vacation out of it. Camping at Ranch Rudolf was alright (they should clean their bathrooms occasionally), minus the spider bite that left my head looking like Placido Polanco circa 2006. We made it to the following eateries: Pangea’s Pizza, Bubba’s (hand’s down favorite), The Omelette Shoppe, Scalawags, Moomer’s Ice Cream, Don’s Drive-In, and La Seniorita’s. We also visited the Traverse City Beach Bums, Pirates Cove Adventure Park, a couple of beaches, and Tanner went horseback riding.

Running Totals
11 workouts / 9:16:12 duration / 66.24 miles / 8.30 per mile average / 7,458 calories burned

Tweet of the Month

FYI – Mixing jalepenos’s into your hamburger patties is a beautiful thing.
— @mudpuppy 8:36 PM May 20th

Books Read in May:
N/A

Movies Watched in May:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – 2/5
A Nightmare on Elm Street – 3/5
L.A. Confidential – 4/5
The Peacemaker – 4/5
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father – 5/5
Iron Man 2 – 5/5
The Island – 3/5
National Security – 2/5
Ping Pong Playa – 4/5
The Ghost and the Darkness – 3/5
Daybreakers – 3/5
Out of Sight – 2/5
Crazy Heart – 5/5
Precious – 5/5
To Die For – 4/5
True Crime – 3/5
Robin Hood – 4/5
True Crime – 3/5
The Road – 3/5

Filed under: 2010, May, Movies

April Debrief

April went pretty quick, but looking back I sure packed in quite a bit. I definitely took my running up a notch in April. Tanner began his first season of machine pitch in Little League, and I began my first season of coaching (assistant to the traveling secretary). I’m already hooked, as long as the weather keeps getting better. Those brisk evenings at the ballpark are the only downside. The results of my physical—the first since 2008—were decent. All of the numbers went in the right direction, but I felt they should have been better. Guess I really am going to have to start watching what I eat in addition to simply exercising.

April Highlights
Diabetes 5K
Mom’s Birthday
Easter
Martian 10K
Date Night w/ family
Little League Opening Day
NFL Draft
Physical / Cholesterol

Running Totals (not including races)
11 workouts / 7:30:44 duration / 53.36 miles / 8.27 per mile average / 5,983 calories burned

Tweet of the Month

Said a little prayer of thanks for my wonderful mother. Thanks mom for seeing my potential before I was even born! Love you! Philippians 1:3
— @mudpuppy 2:19 PM Apr 8th

Books Read in April:
The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers — Cathleen Falsani

Movies Watched in April:
The Time Traveler’s Wife – 3/5
Lady in the Water – 2/5
How to Train Your Dragon – 5/5
The Man Who Wasn’t There – 5/5
The Box – 2/5
Date Night – 4/5
Couples Retreat – 4/5
Old School – 2/5
Stand and Deliver – 4/5
Whip It – 5/5
Wall Street – 4/5
Kick-Ass – 5/5
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans – 3/5
K-19: The Widowmaker – 3/5
1984 – 3/5
Brother – 3/5
A Scanner Darkly – 3/5
Clash of the Titans – 3/5
The Blind Side – 3/5
Friday the 13th – 3/5
Five Minutes of Heaven – 5/5
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – 3/5
Underworld – 4/5

Filed under: 2010, April, Books, Movies

March Debrief

As I mentioned earlier, I knew March was going to be pretty sweet.

The Switchfoot concert was probably the highlight, but the NCAA tournament has been great, baseball is finally in the air, historic legislation has been passed, Breaking Bad is off to another tremendous start, daylight savings time has begun, the running posse is clocking more miles (we hit our highest distance yet—8 miles), and it’s finally getting warmer!

And I got a bonus at work! How’s that for a good month?

Tweet of the Month

Just told Tanner I’d give him .25¢ for every thawing turd he picks up in our lawn. I think I’m going to need to take out a loan.
—@mudpuppy 3:43 PM Mar 7th

Books Read in March:
Scared — Tom Davis
Everyone Communicates Few Connect — John C. Maxwell

Movies Watched in March:
Red Rock West – 4/5
Gentlemen Broncos – 2/5
2012 – 4/5
For Your Consideration – 3/5
Saw – 4/5
Barton Fink – 3/5
American Flyers – 4/5
The Boondock Saints II – 3/5
Up in the Air – 5/5
The Crazies – 4/5
The World Is Not Enough – 2/5
U2: Rattle & Hum – 5/5
Michael Collins – 4/5
All The King’s Men – 3/5
Angels & Airwaves: Start the Machine – 5/5
Miller’s Crossing – 3/5
Fantastic Mr. Fox – 5/5
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow – 3/5
The Ladykillers – 3/5
The Men Who Stare at Goats – 3/5
The Informant – 4/5
Alice In Wonderland – 3/5
All the Right Moves – 4/5
Blood Simple – 3/5

Filed under: 2010, Books, March, Movies