The Nuclear Option

I've often pondered what it might be like to have a training partner.  One that would hold me accountable for each and every workout.  A partner that would make sure their were consequences if I started to slack off.  One that didn't care what kind of day I had at work.

Meet Harper.

Harper is an 8week old Red Heeler or Australian Cattle Dog.  Back in the 1840's Australian cattle ranchers needed a dog to drive and herd cattle.  George Hall bred the droving dogs of the day with dingoes resulting in the Australian Cattle Dog.  The dogs far exceeded Mr. Hall's expectations.  They have very high energy and require a lot of exercise or they can develop destructive behaviors out of boredom.

You see if I get lazy and skip workouts this training partner will eat my couch in retaliation.  This may seem like a foolish plan, and it just might be, but I think it will work.

She is still too young to take running but in the week she has been with us I have been outside with her it seems like every hour that I am home.  All that time outside while not strenuous exercise for either one of us is time off the couch and time away from mindless snacking.

See,

It's already working.

Harper and I are going to have many great adventures together.  In a couple of weeks we start obedience class, then the fun really begins!

Passion Quest

Watch the video first...I'll wait...

I've been struggling with this problem for a while now.  All of the things that I used to have a great amount of passion for have fizzled out.  The worst part is feeling like a total failure.  I had such lofty goals, I was on a path toward accomplishing great things (as much as skateboarding over 100miles can be considered a great thing).

The real problem though is not the loss of passion.  The real problem is that I stopped trying.  It's as if I expect to wake up one morning and find that everything is like it used to be.  I realize now that without at least some effort on my part that will never happen.

But what about the 100plusProject?

The answer is nebulous at best.

100plus was my great passion project, until it wasn't.  I still love the concept but right now it doesn't move me, and trying to drag it along behind me is exhausting.  So for the time being the project is dormant (unless someone else wants to give it a go, seriously contact me, we'll talk).  Maybe when I find my passion again it will become active again but for now it's time to let it go.

Hello, hello, hello... Is anybody out there?

This is a test of the emergency blogcast system...

Stand by for instructions...

Shift in Focus

If you've been wondering why I haven't posted anything here for a while it's because I have abandoned this blog for the foreseeable future.  The 100+Project has become my primary focus as it should be and maintaining two sites is too time consuming.

If you have enjoyed reading my posts please check out the 100+Project website!

Occasionally I will be guest posting over at ROCK-Racing if you are interested.

Patrick Albert: Adventures in Metaphor

This video captures a brilliant moment in the history of, well, me.

When we are presented with an obstacle or challenge, as easy as it may seem to overcome, it is necessary to maintain a proper balance in order to do so.



That's a metaphor in case it was lost on you.

The Struggle: Truth Behind the Lies

If you watched my last video you may remember that I laid out a plan for the coming week where I was going to hit the gym on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  The plan was to also clean up my diet a bit and start eating healthier.  

None of that actually happened.

When I made the video I really meant what I was saying, and at the time, in that state of mind everything seemed on track.  What happened?  I'm not sure exactly.  A combination of things I guess.
I was honest at the outset when I said I struggle with fitness.  Don't we all?  I know there are people out there who work harder, and have more stacked against them than I do, and yet they still make it to the gym or fit that run in where ever they can.

But let me tell you something about that.

Just because someone else has it worse than I do, doesn't make my struggle illegitimate.  If that argument has any validity at all then there can only be one person in the world that is worse off than everyone else and thereby gets a free pass to make all the excuses they want.  I imagine that person has never seen a gym though and their chief concern is probably where to find clean water on a daily basis.
While I meant what I said in the last video, I feel bad for not following through.

On a positive note, I have been more active in other pursuits.  I've been land paddling, SUP'ing, running, and cycling.  Although on the run last night I strained my calf again so I won't be running until it heals.  I should have known better than to push it when it was already tight.

My diet is also coming along.  It's not great but I have reduced portions, and replaced some of my go to snacks with healthier alternatives. 

Here is something I am proud of: It has been four and a half months since my last Dr Pepper.  I've been tempted a few times where it was really hard to resist.  The strongest pull was after I cut the piece of my thumb off.  Leaving the ER I really wanted to stop at QT and get myself a Dr Pepper, after all I had just been through a traumatic experience and deserved a treat.  Luckily I came to my senses, and my resolve held.  If it hadn't I'd probably back up to three or four a day by now.  

I wish I could apply that resolve to other areas of my life.

So in summary:

• Lies

• Guilt

• Struggle

• Activity

• Pride

• Hope

  Oh Yeah, I actually did make it to the gym yesterday here is proof!

Land Paddling

Yesterday I did a little Land Paddling, and decided to make a short video to show everyone what it's all about.  Land Paddling is cross training for Stand Up Paddle Boarding but it is also a fun way to get around in it own right.  It is also quite the head turner.  From their expressions I could tell that some people thought it was pretty cool, others thought I was an idiot, and some couldn't wait to tell their friends or family that they saw some weirdo pushing himself with a stick while on a skateboard.  I enjoy it quite a bit I'm thinking about getting a board more suited to land paddling from Billy Lush Brand who are on the forefront of developing land paddling into a viable fitness activity.  Their boards are wider allowing a more natural SUP stance which is easier on the body allowing for equal paddling on both sides.  In a staggered stance on a regular longboard while paddling on both sides is possible most paddling is done on the front side.  This unbalanced approach led to a little strain in my right shoulder.  I'm almost healed now but that wider BLB board is sounding better all the time.

The Struggle: Episode 3

Last week I robbed you of the chance to see another video and maybe even hinted that this week the video would be something special.  Well, it is different, somewhat.  Maybe I didn't realize how much work is involved with video production.  It takes a lot of time to throw these things together, stick with me though because they will get better.

The Struggle: Picture Edition

The footage I shot for this weeks video was out of focus, so no video this week.  It really kills me too because it was going to be a really good episode.  I filmed it right after riding my bike and with all of the endorphins flowing through me, talking to the camera didn't feel totally awkward, and I felt more like myself.  I'll try to do something special for next weeks video, but I'm working on two classes right now and generating content for a couple of different sites so I am stretched pretty thin.  I like video though so hopefully I'll get the time.

My view from 4am this morning.

I've made it to the gym twice this week.  My plan is to go on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for now so I am on track with that.  I've been riding and running more lately.  My thumb is healed enough to get back out on the water.  Overall I'd say I'm doing pretty well.  There is still plenty of room for improvement though.  If there wasn't it wouldn't be a struggle now would it?

The Struggle: Episode 2

I meant to get this out yesterday but didn't like the footage so I re-shot it all.  In the future I'll try to mix things up a bit.



Thanks for watching!

The Struggle: Word Edition

Heart:

Something I have been lacking.
Back in the day, before the wheels fell off I was never the best or the fastest but I had heart.
Lately that seems like the missing part of the puzzle.

How do I get it back?

Welcome to the Struggle

Welcome to the Struggle.  I plan to document my struggle with fitness in hopes that it will keep me on track, and maybe inspire someone who is also struggling to get fit.

The video explains it, so watch and enjoy.

My Friends are Hilarious, My Coworkers Not So Much

Returning to work this week is certainly a disappointment but even more so are the low caliber nicknames that have been shopped around for me.  Really poor effort on their part.

Over the past three weeks I have been the butt of some well crafted puns, jabs, and wise cracks.  The level of comedic talent among my friends is astonishing especially since many of them don’t seem very bright.  They know who they are, well they probably don’t.  Anyway I was surprised by the quality of their efforts.  

Some of my favorites according to Kate:

Princess: Thumbelina

Cartoon character: Thumper

Fairy tale character: Tom Thumb

Song: "Thumbwhere Out There"

Commercial: Mounds/Almond Joy (Thumbtimes you feel like a nut...)

Food: Thumbkin pie

Casey was quick to point out that my favorite Happy Days character was Fonzi.

Any guesses as to what my favorite social media site is?

If you said Thumblr you’d be correct.

That is just a small portion of the comedy gold I’m talking about.  So when I got back to work I was kind of expecting a new round of thumb related comedy.  There was some muttering about the people who abducted me cutting my thumb off and mailing it to my family.  A good premise but it wasn’t taken very far and ended up falling flat.  I had to give it one and a half thumbs down.

Then it was decided I needed a nickname.  Why not?  They were all uninspiring, and the one that got the most traction was, wait for it...Mitre Saw!  

How bad is that?

They were quick to point out that the person being named has to hate the nickname, and the more he hates it the more it will stick.  I don’t hate it.  It is pretty egregious but I don’t hate it.  Mostly it makes me sad that they couldn’t come with anything better.  Sad for them.  

Meeting the Mississippi Challenge Crew

Re-posted from 100+Project

Sam, Matt, and Harry had been gradually making their way down the Mississippi, and I had hopes of paddling with them for a day.  They seemed up for it and I was excited because since I got the stand up paddle board my kayak has led a lonely existence.  Once the accident happened I knew paddling would be out of the question, but maybe if it healed enough by the time they arrived I could manage a short stretch.  There was hope after all.

Unbeknownst to me during this time they really quickened the pace because they had to reach St Louis by July 11th because they had secured a free room at the Embassy Suites downtown and had a full day of media scheduled for the 12th.  Their arrival caught me totally by surprise and because of previous commitments I feared I wouldn’t even get to swing around and say hello.  Messaging back and forth on facebook I learned that they planned to leave Saturday morning, so the best I could do is wish them luck on their journey.  I was kind of bummed especially since I missed Rod Wellington when he came through the area.  There was little I could do though because I was already booked up.

Saturday afternoon I was checking the hits on the website and saw that someone on the Embassy Suites network had visited.  Thanks for the hits guys.  So they hadn’t left after all.  I went to their facebook page and didn’t see anything new and then by chance checked my messages.  There was no indication that I had a message but I clicked it any way and there was a message from Matt asking if I had some floor space where they could crash.  It may sound really strange but having people over really causes me a lot of stress, and not in the usual way when you have to apologize for the speck of dust on the otherwise spotless floor (not a description of my floors).  Real stress that keeps me agitated and on edge.

If I couldn’t have them over I would do the next best thing, put them up for the night in a hotel.  I knew they were keeping their kayaks at Harbor Point marina (home of the egregiously wrong display of the American flag) so I got them a room in Alton nearby.  In hindsight I would have gotten them a room closer to home in case they needed anything.  They managed fine without me though.

I picked them up downtown we were both easy to spot, they in their Mississippi Challenge shirts and me in the bright yellow Adventure Truck.  I apologized for two of them having to squeeze in the back of the cab.  It has one seat that folds down from the side but I don’t think it was ever intended for real use.  They managed just fine and were very thankful for the help.  After checking in at the hotel we went out for dinner at a nearby Mexican place.  Harry forgot his ID so was not able to drink a beer with us.  He ordered a mountain dew but got a pepsi and just went with it, maybe after living on the river anything beats water.  Dinner was great and Harry insisted on paying as a thank you for me getting the hotel.  Afterwards I felt like I should have taken care of it.  I can be social awkward so sometimes in situations like this I only realize what I should have done too late.

Sam is happy not to be in the back.

Sunday morning I met them at the hotel, and after the laundry was dry-ish they compressed themselves into the back of the truck and away we went.  They made their preparations to get back on the water after a couple of days on dry land.  Packing away food, and stowing gear in its proper location.  They were sorry it wasn’t more exciting but I was just glad to be able to help.  I think adventures like this are important, especially in this country, where many people have lost the adventure spirit, due to being stuck on the travelator, mindlessly moving them forward through life without a stop to see the possibilities all around.

Loading up.

After they launched I went to the Alton Lock and Dam in hopes of getting some pictures as they locked through but was told I wouldn’t be able to get close enough to actually see them in the lock because of the current security level.  I stayed for a while anyway watching the river from the levee trail.  I tried hard to see them but if you’ve ever looked across a body of water you know that without a good reference like a boat or buoy your perspective can get all out of whack.  I never saw them.

Leaving the Marina

While I was waiting to catch a glimpse of them I saw a guy on a fully loaded touring bike down on the road.  I snapped a couple of pictures because I had my camera already in hand and then didn’t think too much more about it.  After giving up on the up river side of the lock I went to the see if I might spot them on the down river side.  When I got there I saw the guy on the bike, and as he rolled past I asked how far he was going.  He said, “To Maine”, without blinking an eye.  His name was Kevin and he also told me that he started in Oregon.  To him it sounded like a good excuse to take four months of work.  He was riding a Surly Disc Trucker too (same bike that I own).  He said the bike hasn’t really given him any problems which is great to hear.  I have yet to really put my bike to a long test so it was good to see one out in the wild and thriving.  I said goodbye to Kevin and he was on his way.  Like I said before I think adventures like this are important, and it made smile thinking that at the moment I had lost one sight of one adventure I stumbled across another.  Life is funny like that sometimes.

Kevin, on his way to Maine

So Sam, Matt, and Harry made it through the Chain of Rocks and Port of St Louis and are currently spending a couple of days in Cape Girardeau.  Meeting these guys was a real treat as they were both gracious and generous.  I wish them the best of luck on the remainder of their journey down the Mighty Miss!

They are making this journey to raise money for Help for Heroes, a charity that helps get wounded British soldiers back on their feet again.  Truly a worthy cause.

Thumb Bit, I'll Miss You

Re-posted from 100+Project

Today I said my final good-bye to Thumb Bit.  It was a small private service attended by friends and family members.  Even though I have come to terms with the loss, I will always feel like a part of me is missing.

Instead of flowers I ask that a donation be made to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation St Louis Chapter.  To make things easier on you just click the donation link in the header.

Thank You!  If Thumb Bit were still with us it would give you a big “thumb’s up”.

Lazy On My Own Terms

Because I foolishly cut off the tip of my thumb with a mitre saw I'll be spending some time away from work.  In most cases time away from work is a blessing.  I didn't grow up wanting to become a slightly below average air conditioning mechanic, so when given time apart from the grind I rejoice.  This doesn't mean that my days off are always jam packed to the gills with one adventure after another each one more exciting than the last.  More often than I would like to admit they are spent napping on the couch whilst burning through a season of some random show on Netflix.  Even though I consider that time a total waste on another level it is satisfying just to take a day and do nothing.  I fully realize that I take far too many of these "Do Nothing" and should probably get out and do something, but as Mike Horn says, "Sometimes it's easier to lay down and die than to keep going".

Okay, that may be a little dramatic, but the analogy is sound.

Now that I am bound to inactivity until I do a little more healing all I want to do is...SOMETHING!  Being lazy on my own terms, while not necessarily good for me in the long run is a somewhat enjoyable pursuit.  A break from all the demands of the world.  All the while though it is a choice.  I know that at any moment I can jump up and go for a nice long ride or a run or any number of other possibilities.  By "any moment" I mean after I finish this episode.  I can't leave before I find out if Enterprise get those new plasma converters.

Now that I am forced to chill out and be sedentary the knowledge that at any given moment the best I can do is mosey on into the kitchen for a snack or a glass of water, is leaving me a little empty inside.  I want to go do something!

Being lazy on my own terms is way more satisfying than being lazy as a result of my circumstances.  I think I will mix things up today and plant my ass on the love seat rather than the couch.  That sounds like quite the adventure now doesn't it?

Adventure vs Adversity

Thursday I had an ambitious day of multisport planned.  I wanted to get some video of me on every non-motorized vehicle I own in order to make a really cool edit for promotional use.  I got a late start, but was still eager to get some footage.  Below is a video I made from the footage at Highland Skatepark which sadly ended up being the last footage of the day.

I had a really great time.  I may be fat and have almost no fast twitch muscle fibers but being on the board has a way of shutting everything out, and allowing me to flow.  I may not skate on anything close to a regular basis anymore but I'm still a skater.

On the way home from Highland I decided to try out some land paddling.  First though I needed to build a paddle, a decision I would soon regret.  Paddles cost between $100 and $200 so making one seemed like a great idea.  All I needed was a long dowel and two rubber ends, simple.

I guess I was in a hurry because of the late start and when I was cutting the dowel I managed to cut the tip off of my left thumb instead.  Stupid, stupid, stupid!

So off to the emergency room we went.  Because of the way I sliced it there was not much they could do, and they said to change the dressing twice a day or more.  Luckily I got to see the hand surgeon yesterday and he gave me some great news.  The best course of action that will allow me to retain the most function is to continue with dressing changes.  It will take a while to heal but as long as there are no complications I won't need surgery.  So in the grand scheme of things I am pretty lucky.

It's too early to tell how this will affect the hike in Sept.  Hopefully I will not have to use my vacation time while I am healing, and can save it for hiking instead.  If the hike gets cancelled then this year will be a wash as far as big events go.  I have some other ideas for fundraisers in development though so maybe I'll manage to raise a little money.  So far '13 as not been my lucky number.

Many people have asked to see pictures of this gruesome injury, but I won't be taking any until the healing process is well under way.  Believe me you are better off, some things once seen cannot be unseen. 

I Know I'm Overweight But Thanks For Pointing It Out

It's no secret that I have let my self slip into a sedentary lifestyle over the past twelve months and as a result I have packed on the pounds.  I feel like a family of Inuit people could survive the winter on my blubber alone.  Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration but I am currently the heaviest I have ever been. I'm not happy about it and since I have survived five weeks now without any Dr Pepper I decided to make some other changes to my diet to help shed some of these unwanted lb's.

So today I was feeling good about the course I've plotted.

Then I had a real WTF moment.

While waiting for the elevator one of the new guys at work who I have never spoken to struck up a conversation.  He was looking at my badge and said, "You look a lot different than the picture on your badge".  I wasn't sure what he was talking about but whatever.  "I guess so" I replied.  Then he said, "Looks like you gained a bunch of weight".  This was the WTF moment I'm referring to.  What would possess a person I've never spoken to before to say some shit like that?  I'm not even going to mention the fact that he looks like he could outweigh me by 70lbs.  That's like a big fat pot calling the heavier than you'd think kettle, black.

I didn't go cry in the corner, I didn't go eat a bunch of donuts, If there were any rage I certainly  wouldn't have balled it up and used it to fuel my determination to get back in shape.

The take away is that some people are just assholes.

I still feel good about the direction I'm headed and what's his name can't bring me down.  Maybe I should bring him a box of donuts as a reward for being such an astute observer.

xx2i Sunglasses

As a JV member of ROCK Racing adventure racing team I get to enjoy a few perks.  One of my favorites is the occasional pair of sunglasses from XX2i Optics.  Finding a pair of sunglasses that I feel good wearing is no easy task.  My wife can attest to that.  In fact she has vowed never to shop for sunglasses with me again.  I have one of those faces that makes a comfortable pair hard to find.  Years ago I found a cheap pair at Walmart that fit me really well so I went back and bought seven pairs.  When the last pair died an honorable death I went from pair to pair never really happy.

That a good looking pair of shades!

When Chuck and Robin (the varsity team) gave me the first pair of xx2i sunglasses a couple years ago it wasn't exactly a match made in heaven at first.  But now I can't imagine wearing anything else.  The glasses fit great and are very comfortable and easy to wear.  I am currently on my third pair, and while they are showing some signs of age my first pair is still in serviceable condition.  One of the cool things about this company is that they stand behind their products.  One of the ways they do that is with a 365day return policy.  That's right they give you a whole year to decide if you like them or not.  If you don't then just ship them back for a full refund.  How cool is that?  But wait there's more!  If you decide you want to keep them They have a lifetime warranty.  If you break or scratch them, send them back for a replacement all you pay is shipping.  I'm no expert on what other companies are offering but that sounds like a sweet deal to me.

The protective case is really nice.

These are the first pair of sunglasses I have ever owned with interchangeable lenses.  They come with dark, orange, and clear lenses.  I spend a lot of time in the woods and the orange lenses are my favorite because they are great in wide variety of lighting conditions.  The option of having clear lenses at night is a bonus.  While serving in the Army I turned around during a night exercise and walked directly into a the end of a low hanging branch that poked me in the eye and scratched my cornea.  I definitely get some use out of the clear lenses.
If you are in the market for a new pair of sunglasses give xx2i a try.  You won't be sorry.

Canceling My Dr Pepper Appointments

It has been four weeks since I last had a Dr Pepper, or any type of soda for that matter.  I guess you could say I was addicted.  While being addicted to Dr Pepper won't deplete your savings, land you in jail, or push your family away, constantly losing the battle of will with your addiction takes its toll.  About a year ago I decided to relax my diet a bit.  Not that it was ever good, but I decided that I would be okay with a few Dr Peppers in moderation.  The plan was stop after a week or so.  The "or so" part turned into a year, much of which was spent struggling with trying to stop, and feeling more and more powerless and out of control.  The harder I tried to stop the more I consumed.  The bottle I drank at lunch turned into a bottle at lunch and one with dinner.  Those two bottles were joined by another at break.  Before long the diner bottle was accompanied by an after dinner bottle.  I was consuming 1000calories everyday in Dr Pepper alone!  I always felt bad about it in a self-loathing sort of way.  The days I tried to break the cycle are too numerous to remember.  There were countless times when I would tell myself, "Today at break, no Dr Pepper" only to find myself in the store with one in my hand.  "What the hell is wrong with me?", was my thought on several occasions.  I would immediately begin bargaining with myself.
"Okay, since we're here and all, go ahead and drink it but tonight you have to go for a run."
-"Sounds fair."
"Agreed then, Dr Pepper now, and a run after work."
-"We got this!"