Awesome Awesomeness

Today was a strictly cardio day for me in the gym.  I was feeling crazy, so I started off on the rowing machine.  Pretty intense.  We have a club crew team, so they have some pretty nice stuff they have stashed in the fitness center.

I started off with the "Fish Game", couldn't get the hang of it, so I put the squash on that.  Opted instead for a 2,000m row.  Don't ask what distance that is or what it even means (I assume 2,000 meters?) but it took me just over eight minutes and was very intense.  It was a solid cardio and back workout.

From there I headed to the stationary bike.  Rode around for a while on "Pike's Peak" and listened to some music. 

As per yesterday, here's a look into the music that started my day:

1. Every Time I Die - "Organ Grinder" - just a barrel of awesomeness to start off
2. I Am The Avalanche - "Always" - melodic yet hard enough to pump me up
3. The Gaslight Anthem - "American Slang" - NJ band with a sound eerily similar to that of Bruce Springsteen
4. Every Time I Die - "For The Record" - "I've had a good run but can't run anymore" - PLAY IT LOUD!
5. Kid Cudi - "Dat New 'New'" - if you don't know this guy (and are under 32), WAKE UP!!
6. Brad Paisley - "Water" - just a song I enjoy singing along to

7. Nine Inch Nails - "Where Is Everybody" - a going-away pump up song to cool down to

And you should definitely listen to these songs.  Because they're awesome.  And so are you!

Photoshopping

I recently began my subscription to Popular Photography for my Lindsay's cousins school fundraiser, and it got me thinking - is a free, timed trial any way to enhance and share my photos?  I think not.

I downloaded the 30 Day free trial of Photoshop Elements 9 and this thing is freaking unreal.  Don't get me wrong, I understand there's plenty of photo editing programs for free (Picasa, PhotoScape, gimp, etc. etc.) but the lure of Photoshop finally convinced me to cave and I'm trying it. 

It's a lot to get down in one sitting so I've been checking out the free tutorial videos to see what it is I'm supposed to be doing to edit, refine, and totally change photos I've taken.  It's still a work in progress, but I think everyone should get in on Photoshop Elements 9.  The regular soup-to-nuts Photoshop CS5 is some where around $600 - way too much for me to fork over - I can get this version of Elements for $60 and it'll suffice.  I am not out there photographing weddings and pro sporting events for magazines, so being able to do some cool shit with different features is pretty neat.  Bed time.  Be back in the morning.

Anyway, I carried this post over until Monday - I woke up early, took Nathan out, got to the gym early and lifted.  Feeling pretty good right now, I know one day doesn't make me a superhero, but it's a start.  I'm beginning to keep a log of what I did on what day - see if I can get in a little better shape.

I may or may not take a break until after the holidays.  Have a happy and safe Christmas (and whatever other holidays there may be).  I hope Santa brings you everything you wished for.

HO! HO! HO!

Slim it down

Two pointed topic.

First, I will blabber about my plans to begin a workout regimen, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  I learned in one of the classes I took in college that goals often times do not come to fruition if you do not write them down - well, here it is.  I just typed it down, and that seems to be as close to writing as you're gonna get on a computer. (I wrote down the exercises on a post-it note also.)  I just did a little workout at the apartment, but am going to turn it on when I get into work today.

First stop is the weight room to work out.  Next stop is Dunkin' Donuts for a large iced with milk and sugar.

Second, can the Yankees close out an inning one time?  (Namely A.J. Burnett)  Bad AJ showed up last night in the desert, as the D'Backs pounded the Yankees starter to the tune of 7 runs in 4 innings, including three homers in the first.  Amazing how a guy with such good stuff can be so inconsistent.  Is it a lack of trust? 

I digress.  The reason for this post was to discuss how closing out an inning will severely slim an ERA and keep your team in the game.  The D'Backs scored all 10 of their runs with 2-outs.  That is just a lack of focus and a lack of control of the game.  Frustrating, especially as a pitching guy.

Here's the shake down: 
Bottom 1:  F7, 6-3.  Two quick outs, no one on base, leads to a 5-run inning.  (HR, single, single, HR, HR)
Bottom 2:  3u, 4-3.  Two quick outs, no one on base, leads to a 1-run inning.  (single, double)
Bottom 4:  F7, 4-3.  Two quick outs, no one on base, leads to a 1-run inning.  (2-out BB, SB, single)
Burnett done.  He was done in the first.
Enter Chan Ho Puke.
Bottom 8:  single, K, single, K.  Two out, two on, leads to a 3-run inning. (HR)

Oddly enough, in the 1st, 2nd, and 8th, Justin Upton was the guy to come up with 2-outs.  He did more than enough, going 3-3 with 2 HR, 4 runs, a stolen base, a hit by pitch, and a walk.  He had a hand in 8 of their 10 runs.  Well done young fella.  Maybe the Yankees can figure out this house of horrors and come back to win a series. (they just lost their first game to the Mets and won that series.)

Time to focus up and get ready for work(out).  I'm gonna be jacked!