My Little Inspiration

Several weeks ago I decided to jump back on the horse and start exercising again.  Hoping to find success, I've decided to set an achievable short-term goal.  Five days out of the week, I need to exercise for at least 30 minutes.  What makes up an exercise?

1.  P90X
2.  Jogging
3.  Walking with my family through the park while pushing my daughter in her stroller.
4.  Swimming at the beach.
5.  Running around in the backyard with my daughter.

Exercise is pretty much anything that gets my butt off the couch.  So far I've done okay and seen some results.  My "Uncle Belly" is shrinking and I don't have to hold my breath when I tie my shoes.  However, there are still days that I feel like being lazy and when I do, I try to imagine my daughter.  Do I want to see her grow up and have a family of her own?  Do I want to be an active father or an out of breath daddy?  Do I want my grandchildren to see me able bodied?  These and many other questions flash through my head as I struggle with my weight.

My baby girl has been a great inspiration to me and at times has coached me to push harder.  Believe it or not, she enjoys doing P90X with me.  She tries to do push ups (Only 2 years and 4 months old) and usually can do a few on her knees.

One day, I was laying on my stomach, exhausted and out of breath.  My little inspiration looked up at the tv and realized it wasn't time to stop and so she proceeded to yank me up and tell me "Get up daddy.  Get up."  Looking into her sweet eyes, I smiled and gave it one more push.  Burning out my arms, I lay on the ground a few more seconds and smiled.  I had done more then I thought I could.  Thanks to my little inspiration.  

This is a short clip of a push up session my daughter and I had together.  Just in case you didn't believe me.    

            

NFL Roundup Week 3

Here are my picks for NFL Roundup Week 3:  

Rams at Chicago
Chicago - First out door game of the season.  Chicago defense will eat up another young quarterback. 

Bills at Browns
Browns - CJ Spiller will be hard to stop but the Bills haven't been able to stop anyone else. 

Buccaneers at Cowboys
Cowboys - Rob Ryan's defense is going to show the Buccaneers coach what is hard nosed football. 

Jets at Dolphins
Jets - The defense should bounce back. 

49ers at Vikings
49ers - They will hit'em in the mouth both on offense and defense. 

Chiefs at Saints
Saints - Brees and the Saints will get their first win behind a ruckus crowd. 

Bengals at Redskins
Bengals  - Bengals offense should have a big game against a depleted defense. 

Lions at Titans
Lions - If the Titans cannot run they're going to get passed out of their building. 

Jaguars at Colts
Colts - Luck has gotten back into his grove and should pick up another win at home. 

Eagles at Cardinals
Cardinals - The unlikely unbeaten Cardinals will shock the world because their stellar defense. 

Falcons at Chargers
Falcons - Chargers won't be able to handle the Falcons, who look poised to make a run at the Super Bowl. 

Texans at Broncos 
Broncos - Peyton will have another week with his teammates and usually plays well against the Texans.

Steelers at Raiders
Steelers - Without an effective running game, Raiders have no chance.  

Patriots at Ravens
Patriots - Probably the game of the week.  Bill will have his guys ready for this game. 

Packers at Seahawks
Packers - Rodgers will finally break through with a big game on the road.  

Rewarded for Watching TV

How much tv do you think Americans watch in a day?   Based on data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2011, Americans on average watch about 2.8 hours a day (15 years of age and up).  How does that stack up against other leisure activities (hanging out with friends, going to parties, playing outside)?  Based on the same data, tv is number one and that probably won't change with 3D, LED, Blu Ray entertainment becoming affordable.  Heck, I'd rather watch a sporting event on a flat screen tv then watch it live.

Now we have Viggle.  A program that can be downloaded to your IPad or Smart Phone that allows you to get points while watching tv.  So while you're watching American Idol you get a point for every minute that you watch.  Then once you collect enough points you can redeem them for awesome prizes like movie tickets, ipod touch, kindle fire, apple tv and many other prizes.

You might be thinking that this sounds to good to be true.  It is in the sense that getting enough points to get one of the big item prizes is almost impossible especially since prizes come and go.  They aren't indefinite.  However, the prizes are very real.

Here are some of the prizes I've received:

$5 dollar coupon for Burger King
  
I've been able to watch many of the blockbuster movies for free (not counting popcorn and drinks).
The Avengers
Batman: The Dark Knight Rises
Brave
Battleship
Snow White and the Huntsman
Madagascar 3
Ted
Step Up Revolution
Expendables 2
The Cabin in the Woods
The Hunger Games
Wrath of the Titans

So here you go.  The cold hard truth is that now you can watch tv and it can get you somewhere.  It may not be good for your health or social life but you could watch a ton of movies or get that kindle you always wanted.

Proceed at your own risk.

Who Said TV Isn't Good For You

 
While washing some poi (her favorite food) off my daughter's hands and face I was proudly shocked.  In awe, I watched as she scrubbed her little hands and up toward her elbow.

"I didn't teach her that."

When her mommy came home I asked if she had and surprisingly, she didn't.  After a thoughtful moment it dawned on me, "Elmo".  One of my daughter's favorite shows this past year has been "Elmo Potty".  She can watch it again and again until my ears begin to bleed.  In one of the scenes they go through the hand washing process with a catchy song and what do you know, they wash their hands up to their elbows. 

Here is a You Tube clip from, "Elmo Potty Time".


There you go.  "Thanks Elmo."  Thank you for teaching my baby girl proper hygiene because to be honest, I don't wash up to my elbows.  Now if it could actually motivate her to use the potty it would be a perfect world.   

10 Reasons Why I'm Happy My Wife Was Born

I'm happy to say that my wife was born on this day.  In her honor and since this is probably the best way for her and I to communicate I've decided to post a list of reasons why I'm happy she was born so many years ago. 

In no specific order: 

1.  I have someone that will laugh at my jokes.  Whether she is laughing at me or with me.  I try not to think about it. 

2.  If it wasn't for her I would be computer illiterate.  I wouldn't know the joys of blogging and facebooking.  Yes, you have to thank her for unleashing my random blog thoughts upon the world.

3.  I know for a fact that if she didn't believe in me I not only wouldn't be able to graduate with my Master's degree, I definitely wouldn't try.  Thank you for being my inspiration honey.   

4.  Even though she doesn't like it when we debate, I'm really happy she has a mind of her own.  She doesn't let me get away with stupid comments and I like defending those comments.  Those moments are the spice in my life.

5.  I have someone to watch a movie with.  I can tell you from experience, it's boring and a little sad when you go to a movie by yourself.

Doesn't it look sad and/or creepy.

6.  A couple of weeks ago I realized I sleep a lot better when she's in bed with me.  She's like my human snuggy.

7.  She introduced me to the Italian cuisine, which is probably the reason why I'm 250 lbs.  There is nothing like having some of her lasagna with extra cheese.

8.  I have somebody who knows all my secrets and still wants to be with me.  Let me tell you something, it's hard to find someone who wants to be with you when you show them all your scars and blemishes.

 
9.  I have someone who knows what she's doing when she is caring for our baby.  It's comforting to know that when I'm working she's isn't putting our daughter in harms way.  

 
10.  I'm extremely happy that my wife was born because there really isn't anyone else I can imagine who can make me laugh, cry, mad and happy all at the same time.  It makes life an emotional roller coaster that I hope won't stop anytime soon.  

Ihi's Perfect Present.  Young and skinner me.

 
Love you Bugga.  Hope I can make this birthday memorable.  In a good way.                              

 

Why Football Players Are Crazy!

On Wednesday, September 5th I was excited and nervously anticipating not only the start of the NFL season but the healing prowess of Jason Witten, who after injuring his spleen in a preseason game was suited up on the sideline.  After listening for hours on ESPN's Fantasy Football podcast, I was assured by their resident injury specialist, Stephania Bell, that it was impossible that Witten could be back for the start of the season.  She emphasized it's an injury that can't be rehabbed and if injured again could be lethal.  So to my surprise and unhealthy desire to observe a car accident, I watched and anticipated what would happen if Witten were to get speared in the back by a corner back.  Luckily, nothing happened, however, it confirmed what I already knew, "Football Players are Crazy".

When does it start?  In my opinion it starts in Pop Warner, however, the first time I encountered courageous and stupid actions by football players was in high school.  There were several occasions when players bit their lip as they played with a broken foot and possible concussions.  I actually had a teammate who played a whole second half of football after being laid out on a punt return and the next day didn't remember what he did the whole second half.  Even I begged my coaches to let me play after hearing a pop in my right knee that required my knee to be drained. 

Now this macho attitude is not only on the football field but probably in every sport.  As a society we watch movies, hear stories from old timers and revere superstars like Micheal Jordan and the like who play sick and injured.  We admire these men and women.  They are what we wish we could be.  Our modern day heroes that sacrifice their bodies for our entertainment.

So what should our society do?  Should we do away with football that a study just revealed makes players more vulnerable to degenerative brain disease such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease?  Or should we allow players the right to play football?

Personally, I believe if players are educated and still willing to play football they should be allowed to with the caveat that they can't sue the NFL.  Is being a football player anymore dangerous then mining coal or serving in the military?  Is it anymore dangerous then working in a prison or fighting brush fires?  It's not and in a lot of those instances those jobs are a lot more dangerous and doesn't pay those men and women millions of dollars.  But we accept that reality because those jobs are necessary. 

Does that mean football is necessary?  Not as much as the jobs I previously mentioned.  However, it does serve society as a form of entertainment.  Like acrobats that fly in the air during a circus or a high wire act above Niagara falls.  As long as players understand the danger and accept it, football players can be as crazy as they want to be.              
   

NFL Roundup: Week 1 Results

Overall, I got 9 out of 13 games correct.  It's safe to say I didn't win this week but at least I'm better than the flip of a coin.  If you want to take a closer look at my picks I've pasted them below with the results of each game.  

1. Colts at Bears: Peppers and the Bears will win and officially greet Luck to the NFL.
 
Results: (41-21 Bears) Welcome to the NFL rookie.

2. Eagles at Browns: Another sucky season for the Browns. Eagles in a blowout.
 
Results: (17-16 Eagles) Wasn't a blowout and makes me wonder if the Eagles are in for another up and down season.

3. Patriots at Titans: Tom Brady vs Jake Locker. Patriots, closer then you think.
 
Results: (34-13 Patriots) Patriots defense looks tough. Patriots more dangerous then ever.

4. Falcons at Chiefs: High scoring game. Falcons has to many weapons. Falcons
 
Results: (40-24 Falcons) Turner is older, it's time to rely on the arm of Matt Ryan.
 
5. Jaguars at Vikings: Vikings defensive line is going to eat up Gabbert. Vikings
 
Results: (26-23 Vikings) Adrian Peterson is super human.

6. Redskins at Saints: Trust in Drew. Saints
 
Results: (40-32 Redskins) RG3 rookie of the year.
 
7. Bills at Jets: This will be probably be a low scoring game. Bills will end up on top.
 
Results: (48-28 Jets) Jets have a good poker face.
 
8. Rams at Lions: Megatron is back. Lions
 
Results; (27-23 Lions) Closer then I thought it would be. Lions may take a step back.

9. Dolphins at Texans: My team is going to suck this year. Texans
 
Results: (30-10 Texans) My team didn't disappoint.
 
10. 49ers at Packers: Still don't trust Alex Smith. Packers
 
Results: (30-22 49ers) The Alex Smith stock just rose. Still not going to put any money on him.
 
11. Seahawks at Cardinals: Russell Wilson is already better then the Cardinals QB's. Seahawks
 
Results: (20-16 Cardinals) Don't know what to say about this game. I don't understand the NFC West. 

12. Panthers at Buccaneers: Cam Newton vs Josh Freeman. Panthers in a great game.
 
Results: (16-10 Buccaneers) Great game but turned out differently then I thought. Greatest nickname: Muscle Hamster.
 
13. Steelers at Broncos: Weak offensive line vs quick defensive line = Big Ben on his back. Broncos
 
Results: (31-19 Broncos) Big Ben made some big plays but not enough to beat the young defensive Broncos.