Weigh-In

Update per the post below:

May 31 - I came in at 159.0 exactly. Time to go eat a huge hamburger. (lol)

Also, just noticed I blogged no less than 12 times the first 4 months, and only really 7 times in May. I'll make up for that in June. Promise! (ack, what am I getting myself into).

Every great man should be able to:

I'll get to the blog title in just a little bit. Some updates first on the Resolution Challenge. Its been an interesting couple of months for just about everyone involved. Tow missed last month's weigh-in, and the real concept of this challenge set it. If it wasn't for the fact that all of us are eager to continue to collect his hard earned cash, I know he would have stopped (probably around 175 lbs). You always hear goals and resolutions work better in groups - nice to see this is actually working. As far as I've heard, he's on track for this month and will most likely be switching from weight loss to healthy maintenance. Its really nice to see everyone being a little bit healthier.

Its even rubbing on of those that are not in the challenge. I'm sure come 2009, we're going to have more than the 4 of us in the challenge, which I'm really excited about.

As for me, I've been flirting with my final goal (160) for a couple months now, and its just been insanely tough to finish off. I've now been sub 160 3 times, yet haven't been able to hold it. The lack of being able to really push some good exercise due to my hip is really making finishing this off a bit tougher than I would like it to be. For now, I get to look at less than 1 pound (160.4 this morning) and figure out how I want lose it.... mmm... laxatives. (kidding mom)



As for the other part of my challenge - went to Gameworks - not really sure if that qualifies as a "bar", but its close enough in my book. Wasn't nearly as exciting as I thought it would be. Was kind of like a Chucky Cheese - but without the ball pit. And come on, the ball pit is the best. Ultimately it was fun, but not really something I'll find myself doing often.

For the title of the post, I ran across this link and initially baulked at some of the items on it. I still do; but I have to say, it is a good life goal list to start from.


Some of my favorites:

1. Give advice that matters in one sentence.
5. Name a book that matters
18. Speak a foreign language
65-67. Throw a baseball over-hand with some snap. Throw a football with a tight spiral. Shoot a 12-foot jump shot reliably.

http://www.esquire.com/features/essential-skills-0508?src=rss

Oh yeah - Forrest got a much needed haircut:

(outside Petsmart) - Forrest, "Seriously Dad, I'm fine. I don't need a haircut"

Happy Birthday Uncle Jimmy

Well, a while ago I made a post about calling people and wishing them happy birthday... and if I missed, I would owe them $100.

Today is my Uncle Jimmy's birthday, who was all too happy to sign up for this deal (and laughed at me, if I remember correctly). Unfortunately, the phone number I have for him now is invalid, and he will all to willingly collect on my error if I don't at least do something.

So - for the record:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE JIMMY. :-)

Personality

I've been told by many people that the reason they initially started swinging by my blog was to see how I was doing. This is something I now have been told that I got away from sometime ago, and replaced with links, videos, pictures and other random "cold" things.

True, I find these things funny or thought provoking - and you can rest assured I'm not going to stop with them; but I am going to try to make a conscious effort to talk about me.

We had some of the nicest weather over last weekend that we've seen in probably six months. Of course, with the temperatures closing in at my place near 90-95, Mr. Competitive decided that keeping my temperature at 97.8 degree's wasn't safe from being beaten by Mother Nature. Hence, all weekend I sat around with a 100.4 temperature. Brilliant. What a way to spend a nice weekend.

You'll be happy to know my pasty white complexion is intact. ..and yes, I was sick enough I didn't make it to one of my favorite events of the year (see post below). What crap.... Perfect weather, and Travis did great (he won).

On a completely different note, I'm now waiting to hear back from the University of Washington business program to see if I made it into the MBA Program. I have decided to attempt to get my CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), which will be by far the hardest academic thing I've ever attempt to achieve. Hopefully it will lead to a very interesting and intense couple of years.

Lastly. Ikariam. Its a game I mentioned in passing many weeks ago. Very simple in concept (build towns, build armies, do it better than the 10,000+ other people playing). Its my type of game. Numbers, trends, calculations, etc. Anyways, I have got enough of my friends involved as well I just had to show off (nerd brag?). Oh yes, I have excel spreadsheets for a web based game. Ahhh.. Numbers, how I love you.

Oregon Trail Rally 2008

One of my favorite "Local" events is back again this year - The Oregon Trail Rally, which takes part both at the Portland International Raceway, and in the hills outside of Hillsboro.

Last year Travis Pastrana managed to blow up his engine on stage 1 - and was never to be seen again; then Saturday and Sunday were marred by 40 degree temperatures and heavy rain. Oh, you know you want to come out and enjoy that again.



Honestly, its one of the best chances in the PNW to experience good rally (Leigh-Ann, Canada rally is not included in this statement, so you can stop composing your hate mail).

The current schedule for the rally can be found HERE - and spectator information can be found HERE (though maps are not up just yet)

If weather.com and accuweather can be even remotely believed, the weather is shaping up to be in the mid 70s and sunshine.

If anyone is interested in joining me, let me know.

Zero Punc vs. Fanboys

My favorite video game reviewer, strike that, my favorite anything reviewer takes on angry email messages about some of his latest reviews.


Again, blah blah not work safe, blah.

Random 439

Between their theme park that will have life size dinos walking around, some of the tallest structures in the world, the 300 private man made islands shaped like world, and now a city constructed from scratch to house over 50,000 in a "zero carbon footprint" experiment - Abu Dhabi is quickly becoming a very interesting place (as well as the place all our oil money goes).



WRC Jordan:




Completely unrelated, I have to say I really enjoyed watching the Rally of Jordan (hmm, maybe not completely unrelated - since the location was that deserty area somewhere off to the east that 90% of Americans have no clue about its history or geography). I know I've talked up rallies in the past, but the level of competition on this one, including some of the surprises (fire, crash or otherwise) gave a great completion to the rally.

Hopefully this rally will be back for many years to come.




WRC Round 5 Jordan - Torrent Links
Day 1  
Day 2  
Day 3

Resolution Challenge 2008 - Update #whatever

Super short and super sweet. I'm going to try to actually put a real blog up here in the next day or two, just been crazy:

Me: 3 for 3 - Came in at 160.9. Next month: Come in below 160
Kristy: 3 for 3
Doug: 3 for 3 - Came in at 239. Next month: Come in below 237
Tow: 2 for 3 - He's a fatass and didn't make weight. Come at 170 or below.

Kristy 12
Bryce 12
James 11
Doug 10

Random videos because I'm too busy right now to come up with my own content:

Rally Jordan post coming. Was a great new rally. The lack of landmarks (trees), and sun baked gravel seemed to make it a very tough rally:




Zero Punc (language warning as always):