This is who I really am.

I finally got the chance to run for the first time in over two months. And it was AWESOME! I got the "all clear" on Friday but somehow waited until Monday to get out and run. Going in, I had a little bit of fear. Really just little silly worries: will the knee be ok, will I get shin splints, will I remember how to run, will I be terribly slow, will I have to - gulp - walk. Monday afternoon was the perfect time to get that first run. I couldn't think of any better way to get going than my favorite running weather: hot-as-balls! The temperature had to have been over 90. I know a lot of people don't like running when it's that hot but I love it. It really make me pay more attention to my body and how efficient I am. As I was getting ready to go outside my kids asked where I was going. Of course they all wanted to go but the girls just can't make it but my son can ride his bike right along with me. Those are some of my favorite runs wh...

This week's Music Monday is "Back In The Saddle" by Aerosmith. I've been really busy the last week and the coming week looks a little hectic. I missed last week's post and this week is short but very sweet........ Why is it so sweet? I'm back!!!! Yep, I'm a runner again! I had a great run this afternoon and there is a great story that goes with it. I will share it when I get a chance. So here's some Aerosmith while you wait. It's from when they were actually good. (I liked them in the 80's and 90's until I heard their music from the 70's and realized the stuff I was listening to really sucked compared to the old stuff.... Rant over) Enjoy!

This week's Music Monday is "As Fast As You Can" by Our Lady Peace. In case you haven't heard OLP has a new album out. If you haven't heard shame on me for not telling you. The name of it is Curve . It is a little bit different than most of their previous albums. It has what I call an indie rock kind of feel to it. That's the best way I can describe the sound but lyrically it is on par with everything else they've done before. I'm thinking about doing a review on it here on this blog. The only problem is that I am not well versed in "music lingo." Every time I read a music review I wonder if they just make words up or if I'm an idiot. (Probably a little of both.) Anyway, this is my favorite song by far....well maybe not by far. (I think I drive my wife crazy when we listen to a CD and every song that comes on is "my favorite song on this CD.") But this one is my favorite. ("If This Is It" is a close second... or ma...

This week's Music Monday is "Open Your Eyes" by Guano Apes. This song helped pick me up today (Tuesday) during my workout when I was in need of a kick in the ass. I wasn't struggling with my workout. I was struggling with my focus. I have been really bummed about the way my knee has been and starting to really get down because I can't do what I want, RUN. This song really gives me that reminder to stop being negative. Open my eyes and beat that feeling. I am not completely shutdown. I can still do other stuff. Just gotta keep myself focused. Open your eyes,open your mind  Proud like a god don't pretend to be blind Trapped in yourself, break out instead Beat the machine that works in your head The funny thing is that after this song played another awesome song came on. Hole's "Be a Man" came on. There is something about Courtney Love screaming "BE A MAN!" that makes me work harder. Enjoy!

This week's Music Monday is "Superman's Dead" by Our Lady Peace. This is a live version from Woodstock '99. I was there! But that is only the reason why I picked this version. The reason I picked the song is because I am in the middle of a "pity party." It's mine and I'm having it. This past week I was feeling really good about how my knee was feeling. I decided to bump up what I was doing because I really felt much better........bad idea. I really felt like I was babying it too much, but apparently I was doing the right things. Also, recently I was talking to a couple people and one of them made the comment: "I thought he was Superman?" Nope. Superman's Dead. Enjoy.

This week's Music Monday is "This Time" by Depswa. This is so very much a song that I can relate to. It's one that every time I hear it my blood begins to boil. My fists clinch. My teeth grind. This is a song about me. The psychological battle within is the hardest to win. We often know the way to win but we constantly let our "mental demons" get the best of us. I know how to lose the extra weight I am carrying right now. I just keep losing these little mental battles with myself. But THIS TIME I've finally had enough! THIS TIME I'm ready to fight! Everyone has these battles. They can be about anything in your life, not just weight loss. So if you keep losing these same mental or emotional battles with yourself I suggest you clinch your fist and say: This time, I think you'll finally see This time, I will not break This time, I'm smart enough to know There is only so much I'll take This time, I'm gonna make change This ti...

This week's Music Monday is "Superstar II" by Saliva. Lately I have been really struggling with this whole "not running" thing. I finally went to the doctor in March and was diagnosed with tendinitis. The doctor told me I could do whatever I want....as long as it doesn't inflame the knee. In other words: no running. For two months. I thought it wouldn't be that hard. I could still lift weights as long as I wasn't using my knee. This was actually a bonus because I HATE doing walking lunges. (If you've ever seen my do walking lunges, then drop and do four push ups, it is one push up for each letter of the four letter word I want to scream out loud.) I also had found pool running  as a way to "run". I knew what I could and couldn't do, now it was time to do those things that were allowed. I came up with a plan and thought it was a good one. Not quite. The plan: MWF - Pool running. 1+ hour in the pool running and swimming. Tu...