ps-i shaved my beard off, so the previous 'compare and contrast' post has been deleted as it is no longer relative.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tee Hee
I needed a 'funny' today. Normally I get it from any sort of lolcats or the meme of the moment. I think this will do
ps-i shaved my beard off, so the previous 'compare and contrast' post has been deleted as it is no longer relative.
ps-i shaved my beard off, so the previous 'compare and contrast' post has been deleted as it is no longer relative.
Friday, September 28, 2012
This Could Be Just As Important
I heard a saying once a long time ago that made profound sense to me, "You don't get what you don't ask for." In the context of the time it was meant to convey the idea in a relationship that the other person is most likely not a mind reader and if you want something you need to communicate clearly what it is you want.
But just as equally important I think it is good to know what you don't want. What you don't like. Now for you I will share some of the things I don't like.
-taking immuno-suppresant drugs.
-snakes.
-most chocolate.
-apples.
-nightmares. two nights ago I had at least 4 that I awoke yelling from.
-ice.
-being so sick I spew from both ends simultaneously.
-not making as much money as I used to.
-the effects addiction has on people, their lives and their family.
-90% of all musicals.
-reality tv shows.
-country music after 1979.
-dental work.
-clueless or entitled people who have no idea about the social contract we all should live by.
-paying for parking.
-speed limits.
-caffeine.
-the idea that to build one group up you must tear another down.
-Volkswagon.
-China.
-slasher/torture movies.
I've found that knowing what I don't like does make it easier to find what I do like. Even if it is my own, at least it's a formed opinion.
-taking immuno-suppresant drugs.
-snakes.
-most chocolate.
-apples.
-nightmares. two nights ago I had at least 4 that I awoke yelling from.
-ice.
-being so sick I spew from both ends simultaneously.
-not making as much money as I used to.
-the effects addiction has on people, their lives and their family.
-90% of all musicals.
-reality tv shows.
-country music after 1979.
-dental work.
-clueless or entitled people who have no idea about the social contract we all should live by.
-paying for parking.
-speed limits.
-caffeine.
-the idea that to build one group up you must tear another down.
-Volkswagon.
-China.
-slasher/torture movies.
I've found that knowing what I don't like does make it easier to find what I do like. Even if it is my own, at least it's a formed opinion.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
When no one is watching (but maybe just reading)
I'm paraphrasing but the saying goes, "A truer measure of a man's character is how he acts when no one is watching." In my case 'when no one is watching' is to mean what do I do with my time during the day when the only person I'm beholden to is myself. What do I do when I'm totally self guided?
Secondly, in my circumstance I define 'acts' to mean not some moral code, but the physical tasks I choose to occupy my time. And possibly the inherent value they must have or not have based on my willingness to spend my time at them.
A majority of my days are "Rowdy" days and this is how I am choosing to spend this rowdy day:
-make bed
-put away clothes
-empty dishwasher
-take a shower
-eat breakfast of wheat toast, banana, fat free yogurt, water.
-50 jumping jacks, 20 push ups, 10 pull ups, 30 crunches
-shooting practice focusing on target transitions
-lunch date. Greek food.
-bike 10 miles around Lake Mirimar
-send off travel info to resort in Chile
-do three races in Moto Forza 4, I haven't played in a month!
-visit friends in Chula Vista/Eastlake
-dinner?
What do you think??????
Secondly, in my circumstance I define 'acts' to mean not some moral code, but the physical tasks I choose to occupy my time. And possibly the inherent value they must have or not have based on my willingness to spend my time at them.
A majority of my days are "Rowdy" days and this is how I am choosing to spend this rowdy day:
-make bed
-put away clothes
-empty dishwasher
-take a shower
-eat breakfast of wheat toast, banana, fat free yogurt, water.
-50 jumping jacks, 20 push ups, 10 pull ups, 30 crunches
-shooting practice focusing on target transitions
-lunch date. Greek food.
-bike 10 miles around Lake Mirimar
-send off travel info to resort in Chile
-do three races in Moto Forza 4, I haven't played in a month!
-visit friends in Chula Vista/Eastlake
-dinner?
What do you think??????
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The One Thing
The one chore I hate doing the most, the dishes.
The one song that always makes me teary, the national anthem.
The one thing I want most right now, to get into a PA school.
The one food I couldn't live without, pizza.
The one town I used to live in but haven't visited in the longest, Walla Walla. (and don't care to!)
The one thing that must be eaten on Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie. A traditional one.
The one thing I dislike the most about my physical self, cavities.
The one activity I haven't done but still want to, parachute from a helicopter.
The one song that always makes me teary, the national anthem.
The one thing I want most right now, to get into a PA school.
The one food I couldn't live without, pizza.
The one town I used to live in but haven't visited in the longest, Walla Walla. (and don't care to!)
The one thing that must be eaten on Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie. A traditional one.
The one thing I dislike the most about my physical self, cavities.
The one activity I haven't done but still want to, parachute from a helicopter.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Secret Sauce
This weekend I was second place of 6 in my class (stock service pistol/unclassified)and 5th out of 16 overall in all the classes and divisions. Go me! I definitely seem to be getting better and stated to some of the master shooters that I wanted to be expert class within a year. They said I am close and could possibly be there in 8 months! Wow.......
I've been called a competitor. Obsessive. All or nothing. So you can imagine that is how I am with this new sport. I mean, if they're keeping score and I'm playing; I'm in it to win it then. I mean, I do have fun but I am strongly focused on improving skill sets and competitive results. My long term goals are to be classified as an Expert level shooter in a year, so August 2013, and to shoot in two major or national tournaments within the next year as well. (secretly wanting a medal place finish as well)
Or as Dimitri Martin says, "I found out you can buy trophies. Now I am good at lots of things."
For those who say, what's the big deal, it's just shooting a gun at cardboard. How hard could it be to be an "air quotes" expert? Well let me tell you just what I am doing to improve at this sport. (as I doubt any of my competitors are reading this I feel safe in telling)
-I still exercise. But with a focus on cardio for a slow heart rate and breathing control. Shoulders, arms and wrists for good gun control. I also do lost of standing stuff on the bosu ball for core, balance and proprioceptive work.
-I do drills to heighten my visual acuity. Patterns I do with my eyes closed to strengthen the muscles and get my eyes working in concert. Also drills to relax my eyes as well as improve ability to focus over changing distances.
-As a subset of the above I take extra beta carotene for vision and b-12 for nervous system health. Vision and reflexes as sharp as I'm able.
-Dry fire drills. Reloading drills. Quick drawing drills. Soon I will have a shot timer as well.
-Sight picture and stance/grip drills against 1/3 paper and full size official IDPA targets.
-The modifications I can afford for my class on the top gun for it, a new gen 3 Glock 34 I just bought.
-An excel spread sheet where I tabulate all my match results and information for analysis.
-Videotaping as much of my matches as I can for later review.
And in the near future I am going to join a shooting range so I can practice once a week live fire. Which brings in all sorts of more drills. And the purchase of a real shot timer like we use in competition to get me faster, used to the beep at start and to quantify exactly what I am doing during life fire practice.
What do you think my competition is doing?????
Friday, September 21, 2012
A Long Goodbye -or- No More Jiu Jitsu (with updates!)
I've done brazilian jiu jitsu for almost 1/4 of my life! When I was soo sick and beat down with all my medical problems only three things kept me moving forward and one of them was jiu jitsu. Or the desire to participate in it again. I probably trained 15 hours a week for 6 years. That's just over 4,000 hours. Malcom Gladwell says you need 10,000 hours in something to be expert at it. I was halfway there.
Clothes, friends, travel, work outs, schedules, tournaments, injuries and everything was wound up in jiu jitsu. I thought it was my job. It was the primary way in which I defined myself. To myself and to others.
But I'm done. For more than a few reasons. I know I have blog readers who are heavy into it still. Heck, half the contacts in my phone are jiu jitsu related. But I'm simply done and I guess it is easiest to just list most of the reasons why.
-My body is not as strong and resilient as it used to be, jiu jitsu was tearing me down rather than keeping me tough. I can still stay fit and strong and look good by doing other things.
-I am past my athletic peak for the sport. To be uncompetitive and just a hobbyist, was just not how I wanted to continue. It is very hard to be in it casually and train at Atos.
-A subset of above is that at even at the biggest tournaments my class would only have 5 people. For my competitive side I get no joy out of being 3rd of 5. I prefer the competitive spirit of what I am in now where I can be against 20+ people.
-Injuries. Illness. Man, 3 months of ringworm sucked. Broken fingers and toes. Dislocated rib from sternum. Broken arm. Two broken teeth. Broken nose. Black eyes. Tendonitis.
-$175 a month to train. I'd rather spend that on my new sport. (once my contract is done)
-Desire. I just don't mentally or physically have the desire to go to the academy anymore. Let alone for 4 hours a day 3 or 4 days a week.
-And finally I no longer want it, jiu jitsu, to totally define me. And I can really only be all or nothing with it as time and experience has shown. I want to be thought of and defined by different things. I want what my loved ones think of me, what my friends think of me and others I might help think of me to matter more than what I thought of myself seen only through the prism of jiu jitsu. I want to be known and loved for other things. Other personality traits. Other joys.
My gi's are all sold off on ebay. For a profit as they were all Shoyoroll. The tv and mats I had in the garage are gone. I'm in the process of riding my closet of over 28 jiu jitsu t-shirts. (really) All of my medals will go in a drawer, to be curiously looked at by grandkids in 25 years.
On the flip side, what do I like about my new hobby/competitive outlet?
-Matches locally are on Saturday. I don't do this sort of thing on Sunday, so this is huge for me.
-I compete against a larger group of people, which leads to greater satisfaction when I do well. There is a concrete way to measure yourself against others and I get scores within 24 hours. I've already made a spread sheet for me to track metrics of each match.
-I seem to be naturally good at it. But beginner good, as there is a considerable gulf between my abilities and where I plan on being in a year.
-I can do a lot of practice at home. Both mental and physical preparation.
-I'm outside.
-It's still "martial", in the classical sense.
-I could shoot at Pala, Alpine(Lemon Grove Gun Club), Oceanside and Corona if I really wanted to drive that much.
The negatives are it is expensive as I spend $99 on ammo a month and $80 a month on match fees if I go to 4 matches a month. Max spending could be $180 a month. Is that high?
Clothes, friends, travel, work outs, schedules, tournaments, injuries and everything was wound up in jiu jitsu. I thought it was my job. It was the primary way in which I defined myself. To myself and to others.
But I'm done. For more than a few reasons. I know I have blog readers who are heavy into it still. Heck, half the contacts in my phone are jiu jitsu related. But I'm simply done and I guess it is easiest to just list most of the reasons why.
-My body is not as strong and resilient as it used to be, jiu jitsu was tearing me down rather than keeping me tough. I can still stay fit and strong and look good by doing other things.
-I am past my athletic peak for the sport. To be uncompetitive and just a hobbyist, was just not how I wanted to continue. It is very hard to be in it casually and train at Atos.
-A subset of above is that at even at the biggest tournaments my class would only have 5 people. For my competitive side I get no joy out of being 3rd of 5. I prefer the competitive spirit of what I am in now where I can be against 20+ people.
-Injuries. Illness. Man, 3 months of ringworm sucked. Broken fingers and toes. Dislocated rib from sternum. Broken arm. Two broken teeth. Broken nose. Black eyes. Tendonitis.
-$175 a month to train. I'd rather spend that on my new sport. (once my contract is done)
-Desire. I just don't mentally or physically have the desire to go to the academy anymore. Let alone for 4 hours a day 3 or 4 days a week.
-And finally I no longer want it, jiu jitsu, to totally define me. And I can really only be all or nothing with it as time and experience has shown. I want to be thought of and defined by different things. I want what my loved ones think of me, what my friends think of me and others I might help think of me to matter more than what I thought of myself seen only through the prism of jiu jitsu. I want to be known and loved for other things. Other personality traits. Other joys.
My gi's are all sold off on ebay. For a profit as they were all Shoyoroll. The tv and mats I had in the garage are gone. I'm in the process of riding my closet of over 28 jiu jitsu t-shirts. (really) All of my medals will go in a drawer, to be curiously looked at by grandkids in 25 years.
On the flip side, what do I like about my new hobby/competitive outlet?
-Matches locally are on Saturday. I don't do this sort of thing on Sunday, so this is huge for me.
-I compete against a larger group of people, which leads to greater satisfaction when I do well. There is a concrete way to measure yourself against others and I get scores within 24 hours. I've already made a spread sheet for me to track metrics of each match.
-I seem to be naturally good at it. But beginner good, as there is a considerable gulf between my abilities and where I plan on being in a year.
-I can do a lot of practice at home. Both mental and physical preparation.
-I'm outside.
-It's still "martial", in the classical sense.
-I could shoot at Pala, Alpine(Lemon Grove Gun Club), Oceanside and Corona if I really wanted to drive that much.
The negatives are it is expensive as I spend $99 on ammo a month and $80 a month on match fees if I go to 4 matches a month. Max spending could be $180 a month. Is that high?
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Schedule of Events
Sept 22-shooting competition. Church BBQ in Old Town.
Sept 24-friend visiting from Colorado. Mnt biking and shooting.
Sept 29-shooting competition, first time with new gun. Glock 34.
Oct 4-Black Keys concert with superD.
Oct 6-Del Mar Mud Run.
Oct 9-MX visits for 5 days. With friends!
Oct 13-airshow at MCAS Mirimar.
Oct 15-my brother visits from CO to go to Chargers/Broncos game with me.
Oct 25-leave for Patagonia trip.
November I haven't thought of anything. Maybe do my ABC's of San Diego photo project.
December is two weeks in New Zealand!! Wow, 2012 is almost gone. I thought time was supposed to slow down when you were old?
Sept 24-friend visiting from Colorado. Mnt biking and shooting.
Sept 29-shooting competition, first time with new gun. Glock 34.
Oct 4-Black Keys concert with superD.
Oct 6-Del Mar Mud Run.
Oct 9-MX visits for 5 days. With friends!
Oct 13-airshow at MCAS Mirimar.
Oct 15-my brother visits from CO to go to Chargers/Broncos game with me.
Oct 25-leave for Patagonia trip.
November I haven't thought of anything. Maybe do my ABC's of San Diego photo project.
December is two weeks in New Zealand!! Wow, 2012 is almost gone. I thought time was supposed to slow down when you were old?
Plan C
Plan A- apply to PA school. Get in. Move away for two years. Graduate. Return to SD working as a PA and life happily ever after.
Plan B- find a nuclear medicine job full time in San Diego. Happily ever after.
Plan C- uh..... ummm..... what was the question?
A and B are starting to look dicey. I have no Plan C. I seemingly have no strong desires. I don't know what to do.
The saying, "when you can't stand it anymore, kneel" comes to mind. I'll see what happens.......
(excuse the ellipses madness)
Plan B- find a nuclear medicine job full time in San Diego. Happily ever after.
Plan C- uh..... ummm..... what was the question?
A and B are starting to look dicey. I have no Plan C. I seemingly have no strong desires. I don't know what to do.
The saying, "when you can't stand it anymore, kneel" comes to mind. I'll see what happens.......
(excuse the ellipses madness)
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Booty. Booh-tay. Bootie. Bootey.
If I'm gonna spend 5 days walking around Patagonia, I want good boots. I still have black toenails from the ones I wore on Mt Whitney back in June. Goodness!
Quick trip to REI, huge bump to next years dividend and I have some new boots. With today's materials and manufacturing it is not as crucial how you break boots in, but they still should be worn a bit before the big trip. Especially if you have leather boots. As mine are mostly synthetics, the break in period is quick.
I remember having to wear them hours on end. Walking in a heavy pack around the yard or block. Soaking them completely in water and then wearing them until dry. And rubbing in waterproofing compounds and leather conditioners. No need for that anymore thankfully. Just a quick run up and down Cowles.
Quick trip to REI, huge bump to next years dividend and I have some new boots. With today's materials and manufacturing it is not as crucial how you break boots in, but they still should be worn a bit before the big trip. Especially if you have leather boots. As mine are mostly synthetics, the break in period is quick.
I remember having to wear them hours on end. Walking in a heavy pack around the yard or block. Soaking them completely in water and then wearing them until dry. And rubbing in waterproofing compounds and leather conditioners. No need for that anymore thankfully. Just a quick run up and down Cowles.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Haira Del Fuego
If you don't get the at least 3* ways that is funny, you either didn't watch much Bugs Bunny as a kid or you're not that bright. Either way, should we still be friends?
When I was in Iraq I grew a beard for part of my time there, it was just something you did. One, because you could if you were a contractor or SF. Secondly, since I was often driving around in a car by myself, outside of the wire, the hope was that I'd pass a cursory glance as a local if I had a beard.
For some reason I feel like having a beard again when I go to South America on vacation next month. Maybe the latent "rugged Oregon/Washington boy" in me is returning. Since I actually am one, but who just happens to be living in so-cal.
Here I am as of yesterday with two days growth:
I trim my upper lip and my neck, so whatever style that would be, I have.
As comparison, here is an Iraq picture:
If any of my readers have been to Baghdad, you know exactly where I am standing.(Why oh why do I miss being there?!?!?!) That is about half way into my growing of a beard there in the sand box.
*1- Haira del fuego and I'm going to Tierra del fuego.
2-Haira rhymes with tierra. It's about my hair in that location.
3-Fuego is Spanish for 'fire'. I have red or fiery hair.
Are you beginning to get it now? I could go on.....
When I was in Iraq I grew a beard for part of my time there, it was just something you did. One, because you could if you were a contractor or SF. Secondly, since I was often driving around in a car by myself, outside of the wire, the hope was that I'd pass a cursory glance as a local if I had a beard.
For some reason I feel like having a beard again when I go to South America on vacation next month. Maybe the latent "rugged Oregon/Washington boy" in me is returning. Since I actually am one, but who just happens to be living in so-cal.
Here I am as of yesterday with two days growth:
As comparison, here is an Iraq picture:
*1- Haira del fuego and I'm going to Tierra del fuego.
2-Haira rhymes with tierra. It's about my hair in that location.
3-Fuego is Spanish for 'fire'. I have red or fiery hair.
Are you beginning to get it now? I could go on.....
Monday, September 17, 2012
1,000,000 dollar game
Remember when you were a kid and would play the game of, "what would you do if you had a million dollars?!?!?!", and all the crazy and cool exciting things you thought of. Exotic cars/motorcycles. Huge houses. Travel around the world. Having your own zoo and aquarium (with sharks). Never cleaning or doing chores again.
Then you age and that game isn't nearly as fun. You become practical. Rational. Playing the game today this is how it works out for me:
$1,000,000!! Woo hoo!! Let's spend it, oh wait.......
Taxes 40%. So now I'm down to $600,000.
I pay tithes to my church of 10%, so now $540,000.
Debts. Let me just list all of these and then add them up:
Student loan-$23,000
Child support-$10,000
Credit card-$2,000
Mini Cooper S-$10,000 for a total of $45,000.
Leaves me with $395,000. Wow, that's really a lot of money! Oh wait..... Guess what I didn't list in my debts? Yep, the house. Which is more than the roughly $400,000 I have left. Much more.
So even if I did win a million dollars I'd still owe money. That's really kinda depressing.
(this picture reminds me of all the times in Iraq I heard about pallets of cash going missing)
Then you age and that game isn't nearly as fun. You become practical. Rational. Playing the game today this is how it works out for me:
$1,000,000!! Woo hoo!! Let's spend it, oh wait.......
Taxes 40%. So now I'm down to $600,000.
I pay tithes to my church of 10%, so now $540,000.
Debts. Let me just list all of these and then add them up:
Student loan-$23,000
Child support-$10,000
Credit card-$2,000
Mini Cooper S-$10,000 for a total of $45,000.
Leaves me with $395,000. Wow, that's really a lot of money! Oh wait..... Guess what I didn't list in my debts? Yep, the house. Which is more than the roughly $400,000 I have left. Much more.
So even if I did win a million dollars I'd still owe money. That's really kinda depressing.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Quantify It
Toot toot goes my own horn. As I'm new, all of this is new to me so please forgive me. Evidently the "Postal Match" I shot on Saturday is a standard match all across the USA. Year after year. So I looked up the results for 2011 and this is what I learned...
In the marksman class for ssp I would have been 102nd in the US out of 398 shooters.
In novice class for ssp I would have been 6th in the US!! (out of 110) hahaha, This reminds me of being excited about being the best white belt. No one really cares but me, hahaha, but I do.
In the marksman class for ssp I would have been 102nd in the US out of 398 shooters.
In novice class for ssp I would have been 6th in the US!! (out of 110) hahaha, This reminds me of being excited about being the best white belt. No one really cares but me, hahaha, but I do.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
3rd and 4th!!!
Today was my 4th time doing an action/IDPA style pistol competition. Well my oh my, but at the end of the day today I was 3rd overall in the Postal match and 4th overall in the total IDPA match!! And not out of like five or six people either. (I saw you smirking over there!!) It was out of 22 shooters!
A lot of beginner's luck. Also a small pool of shooters. But still!! Can you tell I'm happy about it? The way things are measured are that you have a skill class for how well you shoot and then a class for the type of pistol you shoot. I shoot a SSP or stock service pistol gun. Very very few modifications allowed.
For skill level I am what is called 'unclassified'. To accurately rank people accross the USA there is a a course that is uniform for everyone called 'the classifier'. How well you do there determines your skill ranking. As I have not shot it, I am unclassified.
The ranking order from least to greatest goes like this: unclassified, novice, marksman, sharpshooter, expert and master. Today out of the 22 people only the people ranked expert or master out-shot me. And I definitely had the least competition style gun of the people ahead of me.
I have a huge list of things to change improve and learn. So I'm very happy to see some improvement even in what I've done in this short time. It is a larger goal for me to be shooting at expert level by this time next year. Go me!!
btw-I did a 'go big or go home' commitment to this sport and bought a competition gun, a Glock 34. I'll be able to shoot it by the end of the month, so just two more competitions with the Sig Sauer. Now of course I need a new holster and mag carriers. Man, this is NOT a cheap sport.
Here is video of each stage. Not very impressive on film but it will give you an idea.
A lot of beginner's luck. Also a small pool of shooters. But still!! Can you tell I'm happy about it? The way things are measured are that you have a skill class for how well you shoot and then a class for the type of pistol you shoot. I shoot a SSP or stock service pistol gun. Very very few modifications allowed.
For skill level I am what is called 'unclassified'. To accurately rank people accross the USA there is a a course that is uniform for everyone called 'the classifier'. How well you do there determines your skill ranking. As I have not shot it, I am unclassified.
The ranking order from least to greatest goes like this: unclassified, novice, marksman, sharpshooter, expert and master. Today out of the 22 people only the people ranked expert or master out-shot me. And I definitely had the least competition style gun of the people ahead of me.
I have a huge list of things to change improve and learn. So I'm very happy to see some improvement even in what I've done in this short time. It is a larger goal for me to be shooting at expert level by this time next year. Go me!!
btw-I did a 'go big or go home' commitment to this sport and bought a competition gun, a Glock 34. I'll be able to shoot it by the end of the month, so just two more competitions with the Sig Sauer. Now of course I need a new holster and mag carriers. Man, this is NOT a cheap sport.
Here is video of each stage. Not very impressive on film but it will give you an idea.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Aegis Academy
An astute reader will know I have been up to something new. I've been rather circumspect about it but time for a little more disclosure. As I've moved away from competitive jiu jitsu I needed something new to fill that void.
In keeping it rowdy, the void is now being filled with competitive pistol shooting. Primarily what is called "IDPA", or in other words a shooting competition based on defensive scenarios and tactics with a pistol. Not just running and gunning in the open but a little more strict about cover, concealment and such. Primarily shot with a production gun, not a "race" gun.
I've really been enjoying it. I grew up with guns and hunting and such but nothing ever 'tactical' or 'practical'. Anything like that I learned from friends in the teams or groups and while in Iraq. Obviously that means I have quite a bit to learn to move from middle of the pack to competing for podiums. And you know I am in it for the win!
While at one of my very first shoots I ran into some guys who knew what they were doing and were great at helping me. Low and behold they run a shooting academy! What luck to make friends with these folks! As part of my enthusiasm and past experience in other sports the best way to get better is to upgrade the human component as much as possible before dumping tons of cash on hardware. Whatever the sport.
Having had professional instruction in motorcycle racing, car racing, snowboarding, mountain biking, surfing, photography and jiu jitsu I feel I am qualified to rate schools and instructors I attend for all my interests and sports.
With that in mind here is my review and impression of Aegis Academy. If you want to just check it out yourself, their website is HERE. I know Aegis Academy also has a presence on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook, so check 'em out.
I attended their most basic class at Pat's invitation. We spent an hour in the classroom covering all the requisite basics. Safety. Operation. Range commands. Stance and sight picture. All the initial information anyone would need to begin a safe and knowledgeable introduction to guns.
We then moved to the range where through all the other instructors we were introduced to the pistols, rifles and shotguns we'd be shooting that afternoon. What a great thing, to be able to shoot so many different guns in the same afternoon! A great overview for someone with either none or only basic knowledge of firearms. Or if you're like me and you have an intermediate level of use and familiarization with firearms you realize just how much you actually have to learn!
Pat and his instructors know it! They will get the foundation of accurate shooting, trigger control, dialed to the very best it can be. They have the experience, personality and teaching ability to make anyone a better shot. I am already planning how to continue increasing my skillset through learning and training with the guys at Aegis Academy. If you have any interest at all in being a better shooter or the best around, I strongly feel you can do no better than Aegis Academy.
In keeping it rowdy, the void is now being filled with competitive pistol shooting. Primarily what is called "IDPA", or in other words a shooting competition based on defensive scenarios and tactics with a pistol. Not just running and gunning in the open but a little more strict about cover, concealment and such. Primarily shot with a production gun, not a "race" gun.
I've really been enjoying it. I grew up with guns and hunting and such but nothing ever 'tactical' or 'practical'. Anything like that I learned from friends in the teams or groups and while in Iraq. Obviously that means I have quite a bit to learn to move from middle of the pack to competing for podiums. And you know I am in it for the win!
While at one of my very first shoots I ran into some guys who knew what they were doing and were great at helping me. Low and behold they run a shooting academy! What luck to make friends with these folks! As part of my enthusiasm and past experience in other sports the best way to get better is to upgrade the human component as much as possible before dumping tons of cash on hardware. Whatever the sport.
Having had professional instruction in motorcycle racing, car racing, snowboarding, mountain biking, surfing, photography and jiu jitsu I feel I am qualified to rate schools and instructors I attend for all my interests and sports.
With that in mind here is my review and impression of Aegis Academy. If you want to just check it out yourself, their website is HERE. I know Aegis Academy also has a presence on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook, so check 'em out.
I attended their most basic class at Pat's invitation. We spent an hour in the classroom covering all the requisite basics. Safety. Operation. Range commands. Stance and sight picture. All the initial information anyone would need to begin a safe and knowledgeable introduction to guns.
We then moved to the range where through all the other instructors we were introduced to the pistols, rifles and shotguns we'd be shooting that afternoon. What a great thing, to be able to shoot so many different guns in the same afternoon! A great overview for someone with either none or only basic knowledge of firearms. Or if you're like me and you have an intermediate level of use and familiarization with firearms you realize just how much you actually have to learn!
Pat and his instructors know it! They will get the foundation of accurate shooting, trigger control, dialed to the very best it can be. They have the experience, personality and teaching ability to make anyone a better shot. I am already planning how to continue increasing my skillset through learning and training with the guys at Aegis Academy. If you have any interest at all in being a better shooter or the best around, I strongly feel you can do no better than Aegis Academy.
Psycho
Mental. So much of life is what goes on between your ears. What happens in your mind can make or break you. The classic idea that your thoughts lead to actions gives physical weight to something entirely unseen.
Why the rumination? Last week someone said to me, "You're obsessive." The context being that when I find something I really like or am interested in, I don't toe dip, I dive in head first.
My best friend through college tried to analyze my personality and reactions to life solely through the prism of my health experiences having Crohns disease.
Two different sports psychologists have told me I have a fear of success and an inability to maintain focus.
What does it all mean? I have no idea. I'm very very self-aware, but extremely un-introspective. I could care less "why" I do things, only dealing with the fact I did. I know exactly what I do, everything is planned in exquisite detail. I just have no reason why.
I guess, and it truly is a wild guess, the reason I am even writing this is I'm nervous I won't get accepted into any of the graduate schools I applied for and am starting to get tinges of "what's next? what's your plan? what's your contingency?" as I wait on word of acceptance to an increasingly small number of potential schools.
And now off to sing the Scarecrow's song from Wizard of Oz.
Why the rumination? Last week someone said to me, "You're obsessive." The context being that when I find something I really like or am interested in, I don't toe dip, I dive in head first.
My best friend through college tried to analyze my personality and reactions to life solely through the prism of my health experiences having Crohns disease.
Two different sports psychologists have told me I have a fear of success and an inability to maintain focus.
What does it all mean? I have no idea. I'm very very self-aware, but extremely un-introspective. I could care less "why" I do things, only dealing with the fact I did. I know exactly what I do, everything is planned in exquisite detail. I just have no reason why.
I guess, and it truly is a wild guess, the reason I am even writing this is I'm nervous I won't get accepted into any of the graduate schools I applied for and am starting to get tinges of "what's next? what's your plan? what's your contingency?" as I wait on word of acceptance to an increasingly small number of potential schools.
And now off to sing the Scarecrow's song from Wizard of Oz.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9-11
Human history is filled with war and conflict. I myself have seen it and been to:
Pearl Harbor and stood looking into oily water.
Munich and walked the streets of Nazism's birth.
Hanoi and cringed at the cells of Hoa Lo prison.
Little Big Horn of last stand fame.
Rome with its Coloseo of ritualized killing for entertainment.
Israel, the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Iraq in depth from Basra, Kirkuk, Tikrit, Baghdad to Mosul.
New York City and ground zero.
In our enlightened, modern society it may not be correct to think like this but violence has been part and parcel of human existence from the beginning. From the jealous slaying of a brother to world encompassing wars. Conflict and struggle are never going away.
My question to you is, on this day when so many remember victims, the dead and what it all means is this;
Are you going to be the one acting or the one acted upon?
What in your life is worth protecting and fighting for?
Patrick Henry said it soo eloquently with these quotes - “We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power.. the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”
“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Pearl Harbor and stood looking into oily water.
Munich and walked the streets of Nazism's birth.
Hanoi and cringed at the cells of Hoa Lo prison.
Little Big Horn of last stand fame.
Rome with its Coloseo of ritualized killing for entertainment.
Israel, the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Iraq in depth from Basra, Kirkuk, Tikrit, Baghdad to Mosul.
New York City and ground zero.
In our enlightened, modern society it may not be correct to think like this but violence has been part and parcel of human existence from the beginning. From the jealous slaying of a brother to world encompassing wars. Conflict and struggle are never going away.
My question to you is, on this day when so many remember victims, the dead and what it all means is this;
Are you going to be the one acting or the one acted upon?
What in your life is worth protecting and fighting for?
Patrick Henry said it soo eloquently with these quotes - “We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power.. the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”
“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Monday, September 10, 2012
TIAAWA
Things I Am A Wuss About.
Soaked in sweat along my whole backside, from head to toe. How I was when I got out of the oral surgeon's chair for the second time in a week. I had a piece of bone poking through my gum all weekend that cut a huge gouge in my tongue and inflamed my gum. Thus the need for a second visit. For shots under my tongue and grinding down of my jaw bone. To which they said I was a trooper for suffering all weekend through what they actually called a "ginormous" piece of bone doing all that damage.
It really is not big surprise a trip to the dentist would have me covered in nervous sweat, as it does almost every one. But here on my blog I try to present for the most part a certain view of me, Rowdy. One of action, perseverance, toughness, excitement and a happy-go-lucky life. But there are things I am a wuss about. Believe it or not Ripley.
1. Food. Raw meat. Under cooked things. I hate hate pink hamburger. I hate touching raw meat in the kitchen. I just see it as one big germy thing waiting to strike me with hours of sitting in the bathroom.
2. Talking on the telephone. Unless you are a family member I probably won't talk to you on the phone unless you really really pressure me.
3. Being cold. I can handle heat. But get me cold and I will whine. In my mind I'm calculating my chances of permanent damage to my toes and fingers. Cold kills me.
4. Nauseousness. You'd think I have soooooo much experience with this I could be like a boss and just own it. But if my stomach is truly 'upset' I'm done. Fork. I can handle colds, flu, headache or whatever. But please please don't get me nauseous or I gotta retreat into myself for a while.
5. Snakes. In my mind every single snake has only one thought in mind and that is to attack me and bite me. With no intent to devour me but just to cause me injury, pain and fear. My friends with snakes as pets I will not even go to the door. I wait in the parking lot and honk. It's that bad.
6. Singing. Whenever I actually try to sing I get goosebumps all over my arms. Without fail. I know I don't sing well at all but if I am actually making an effort to make the noise coming out of my mouth match the source I'm listening to.... well I just get goosebumps terribly.
7. Dentist. My dentist thinks I have a great attitude, and an extremely powerful bite!!, but I am putting on a front for her. I leave every trip to the dentist, even for just a cleaning, drenched in a cold sweat. Or as a subset, if someone comments on my teeth not being perfect it also really hurts my feelings.
8. Scary movies. I can not do these. Nope, no way. OK, let me define this a little better. I can handle "monster" movies just fine. But I can not handle scary people movies. No slashers, killers, psychos, torture, gorey anything. If the evil character is a person, I can't watch it. If I do I will not sleep at all and all the lights will be on and I'll be freaking out.
9. Diet drinks. I will suffer dehydration requiring hospitalization before drinking a diet drink of any kind.
Soaked in sweat along my whole backside, from head to toe. How I was when I got out of the oral surgeon's chair for the second time in a week. I had a piece of bone poking through my gum all weekend that cut a huge gouge in my tongue and inflamed my gum. Thus the need for a second visit. For shots under my tongue and grinding down of my jaw bone. To which they said I was a trooper for suffering all weekend through what they actually called a "ginormous" piece of bone doing all that damage.
It really is not big surprise a trip to the dentist would have me covered in nervous sweat, as it does almost every one. But here on my blog I try to present for the most part a certain view of me, Rowdy. One of action, perseverance, toughness, excitement and a happy-go-lucky life. But there are things I am a wuss about. Believe it or not Ripley.
1. Food. Raw meat. Under cooked things. I hate hate pink hamburger. I hate touching raw meat in the kitchen. I just see it as one big germy thing waiting to strike me with hours of sitting in the bathroom.
2. Talking on the telephone. Unless you are a family member I probably won't talk to you on the phone unless you really really pressure me.
3. Being cold. I can handle heat. But get me cold and I will whine. In my mind I'm calculating my chances of permanent damage to my toes and fingers. Cold kills me.
4. Nauseousness. You'd think I have soooooo much experience with this I could be like a boss and just own it. But if my stomach is truly 'upset' I'm done. Fork. I can handle colds, flu, headache or whatever. But please please don't get me nauseous or I gotta retreat into myself for a while.
5. Snakes. In my mind every single snake has only one thought in mind and that is to attack me and bite me. With no intent to devour me but just to cause me injury, pain and fear. My friends with snakes as pets I will not even go to the door. I wait in the parking lot and honk. It's that bad.
6. Singing. Whenever I actually try to sing I get goosebumps all over my arms. Without fail. I know I don't sing well at all but if I am actually making an effort to make the noise coming out of my mouth match the source I'm listening to.... well I just get goosebumps terribly.
7. Dentist. My dentist thinks I have a great attitude, and an extremely powerful bite!!, but I am putting on a front for her. I leave every trip to the dentist, even for just a cleaning, drenched in a cold sweat. Or as a subset, if someone comments on my teeth not being perfect it also really hurts my feelings.
8. Scary movies. I can not do these. Nope, no way. OK, let me define this a little better. I can handle "monster" movies just fine. But I can not handle scary people movies. No slashers, killers, psychos, torture, gorey anything. If the evil character is a person, I can't watch it. If I do I will not sleep at all and all the lights will be on and I'll be freaking out.
9. Diet drinks. I will suffer dehydration requiring hospitalization before drinking a diet drink of any kind.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Doheny Days Music Festival
Jane's Addiction
Santigold
Jimmy Eat World
Beats Antique
These good bands, festival food, good vibe and outside at the beach. Really a great time! To me, Santigold rocked it best. She even had like the two first rows jump on stage and dance with her. And asked people to get off the stage who were taking cell phone pics rather than dancing! Which I totally approve of. She crushes Lady Gaga or MIA in my opinion. All in all a great time and I'd for sure go again.
Santigold
Jimmy Eat World
Beats Antique
These good bands, festival food, good vibe and outside at the beach. Really a great time! To me, Santigold rocked it best. She even had like the two first rows jump on stage and dance with her. And asked people to get off the stage who were taking cell phone pics rather than dancing! Which I totally approve of. She crushes Lady Gaga or MIA in my opinion. All in all a great time and I'd for sure go again.
Friday, September 7, 2012
www.DSLRclasses.com
Before my trip to Norway and Israel earlier this year I bought myself an early birthday present of a Nikon D3100 dslr camera. Or as I like to call it, "a real camera".
I mean, you could leave it in the auto mode, treating it like a fancy point-n-shoot. Many people do; I feel that is doing your camera and yourself a disservice. But what to do with that nice piece of equipment you don't totally understand?
What I did was to thoroughly read the manual. Then I talked with people who had a similar model, asking them questions. I watched tutorials on Youtube. I bought a book on composition and studied it for a month. I even tried to take a photography class at community college, but they were full.
Google. Yep, so I started Googling photography lessons in San Diego. Most were too basic, some were too complex. Too short in time or I just didn't perceive them as a good value for my time compared to what I wanted to learn.
Eventually I ended up HERE. Reading a book and the internet can only teach you soooo much. To really succeed you need professional, in person, instruction. And I got it with Hector of www.DSLRclasses.com.
Hector worked with me and the two other students about getting the class on a day off his regular schedule that worked for us. He communicated quickly with me in getting the class set up through email.
On the day of the class he was on time, personable and obviously totally well prepared. He has an easy going, friendly manner and related to each of us students in a nice, personable way. He totally was beginner friendly.
The course cost $150 and we were there for 9 hours. To me, that is a total bargain. He answered every singe question I had about my camera, my technique and general photography issues. This is a great first step for someone serious about using their camera.
If you ever wanted to know what aperture, shutter, iso and focal length mean, what they do, how they are all interconnected AND then how to use them to shoot technically superb pictures, this is THE class for you. I would recommend this class to every single person who has a DSLR and wants to take pictures that are actually good.
Easily the best $150 upgrade to your camera, improving your own skill and knowledge.
(me in the course of the class)
I mean, you could leave it in the auto mode, treating it like a fancy point-n-shoot. Many people do; I feel that is doing your camera and yourself a disservice. But what to do with that nice piece of equipment you don't totally understand?
What I did was to thoroughly read the manual. Then I talked with people who had a similar model, asking them questions. I watched tutorials on Youtube. I bought a book on composition and studied it for a month. I even tried to take a photography class at community college, but they were full.
Google. Yep, so I started Googling photography lessons in San Diego. Most were too basic, some were too complex. Too short in time or I just didn't perceive them as a good value for my time compared to what I wanted to learn.
Eventually I ended up HERE. Reading a book and the internet can only teach you soooo much. To really succeed you need professional, in person, instruction. And I got it with Hector of www.DSLRclasses.com.
Hector worked with me and the two other students about getting the class on a day off his regular schedule that worked for us. He communicated quickly with me in getting the class set up through email.
On the day of the class he was on time, personable and obviously totally well prepared. He has an easy going, friendly manner and related to each of us students in a nice, personable way. He totally was beginner friendly.
The course cost $150 and we were there for 9 hours. To me, that is a total bargain. He answered every singe question I had about my camera, my technique and general photography issues. This is a great first step for someone serious about using their camera.
If you ever wanted to know what aperture, shutter, iso and focal length mean, what they do, how they are all interconnected AND then how to use them to shoot technically superb pictures, this is THE class for you. I would recommend this class to every single person who has a DSLR and wants to take pictures that are actually good.
Easily the best $150 upgrade to your camera, improving your own skill and knowledge.
(me in the course of the class)
Lyrical Haunting
I speak English as my primary language. In high school I took 3 years of French and one semester of Spanish. Later in college I had a Mexican (born in Mexico) girl friend and picked up much more Spanish. Immediately after graduating college I lived in Arizona and had days where I only spoke Spanish.
I've taken a semester of conversational Spanish at a community college, getting a D, and a two month class at Language Door, where my ability really increased.
Then later as I traveled the world or met people from other places I picked up the basics of hello, thanks, no, goodbye and such in Japanese, Arabic, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese and Norwegian. (with SuperD knowing German, French, Italian, Swedish and Russian we can talk to people almost anywhere but Asia) But Spanish would definitely be my second language based on my level of diction, sentence structure and so on.
I like watching TV and movies in languages other than English, but I very rarely enjoy contemporary music from other countries. I mean, I did listen to Juanes, Paulina and Shakira in Arizona but just 'cause of where I lived. But now......
Carla Morrison. As you can tell from all the above information, I am used to hearing conversation and such around me in something other than English and enjoy it. Finally I have found something musically where I feel the same way.......Enjoyment.
I've taken a semester of conversational Spanish at a community college, getting a D, and a two month class at Language Door, where my ability really increased.
Then later as I traveled the world or met people from other places I picked up the basics of hello, thanks, no, goodbye and such in Japanese, Arabic, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese and Norwegian. (with SuperD knowing German, French, Italian, Swedish and Russian we can talk to people almost anywhere but Asia) But Spanish would definitely be my second language based on my level of diction, sentence structure and so on.
I like watching TV and movies in languages other than English, but I very rarely enjoy contemporary music from other countries. I mean, I did listen to Juanes, Paulina and Shakira in Arizona but just 'cause of where I lived. But now......
Carla Morrison. As you can tell from all the above information, I am used to hearing conversation and such around me in something other than English and enjoy it. Finally I have found something musically where I feel the same way.......Enjoyment.
Time Travel
Normally my time travel machine works OK. I get into it, lay down and boom, I open my eyes and it's seven hours into the future.
But thanks to a trip to the oral surgeon I was only able to sleep from 1am until 3am. Yeah, not even 3 Vicoden and being totally comfortable on the couch helped.
I sure hope this doesn't happen tonight. Really though, everyone is tired so I should just shut up about it and do what I need to do. We're all tired. Hopefully this most recent cause is a transient one.
But thanks to a trip to the oral surgeon I was only able to sleep from 1am until 3am. Yeah, not even 3 Vicoden and being totally comfortable on the couch helped.
I sure hope this doesn't happen tonight. Really though, everyone is tired so I should just shut up about it and do what I need to do. We're all tired. Hopefully this most recent cause is a transient one.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Yesterday, Wednesday, I spent the day at a photography lesson. The whole day, like 9 hours. It was a great learning experience. All of the pictures I took were basically exercises to understand aperture, shutter, iso and focal length.
And then from there figuring out how they work together and are interconnected. All with the idea of managing light and your subject.
I know these aren't amazing photos as far as the composition, but they are ones from doing all the drills and learning stuff, so I still feel like posting them anyways. I mean, after spending hours taking pictures of water bottles and stuffed animals I gotta do something with them!
I will write a real review of the class and such later this week.
And then from there figuring out how they work together and are interconnected. All with the idea of managing light and your subject.
I know these aren't amazing photos as far as the composition, but they are ones from doing all the drills and learning stuff, so I still feel like posting them anyways. I mean, after spending hours taking pictures of water bottles and stuffed animals I gotta do something with them!
I will write a real review of the class and such later this week.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Delete/Repost
Ok, I deleted the old posts about the first of the two upcoming vacations because things changed.
Here is the REAL deal.
Fly from SD all they way down to Punta Arenas, Chile. Essentially the bottom of the world. Penguins live there for goodness sake!
From there proceed to Las Torres in the Torres del Paine part of Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia. The lodging:
Spend 5 days in the Torres del Paine area of Chile trekking, horse back riding, exploring and just enjoying being in an amazingly beautiful place.
An extra day in Punta Arenas on the way out and back to SD and vacation will be over. It's a 23 hour flight, so gladly splurged for 1st/Business class.
Here is the REAL deal.
Fly from SD all they way down to Punta Arenas, Chile. Essentially the bottom of the world. Penguins live there for goodness sake!
From there proceed to Las Torres in the Torres del Paine part of Tierra del Fuego/Patagonia. The lodging:
Spend 5 days in the Torres del Paine area of Chile trekking, horse back riding, exploring and just enjoying being in an amazingly beautiful place.
An extra day in Punta Arenas on the way out and back to SD and vacation will be over. It's a 23 hour flight, so gladly splurged for 1st/Business class.
Monday, September 3, 2012
So you want to get into.....
So you want to get into IDPA style competitions? If you lived in San Diego you could shoot/compete 6 times a month! That is a lot of action if you ask me.
Well having just tripped into it and then really getting into it I have some advice from one not-as-beginner to another beginner about what it costs to get into this....
A minimum
IDPA membership $40
Condor pistol belt $30 solid color, $40 multicam
Itac magazine holder $25
5.11 vest or BDU style jacket $75
500 rounds ammo $180
holster $35
eye protection $10
foam ear plugs $5
2 spare magazines $60
----------
$460
You like it
All of the above but..
500 more rounds for a total of 1,000 $180
IDPA practice paper targets $35
target stand for above $25
3 more magazines $100
electronic hearing protection $50
----------
$460 + $390 = $840
You want to win SSP at Marksman or Sharpshooter
all of the above plus.....
Glock 19 or even a 34 $650
year of range membership $350 (American Shooting Center)
professional instruction $550 (Aegis Academy)
-----------
$840 + $1,550 = $2,390
If you jumped into the deep end and had to totally start from scratch you'd be into it for about $2,400 to have zero excuses. You'd have all the best equipment, professional instruction, all the practice you'd need and then you'd be competing from 1 to 6 times per month.
You wanted to win right? Think that's expensive? Let's say you wanted to race mountain bikes, let me rough that out for you... It's about $3,100 and you've gotten ZERO professional instruction.
Bike=$2,500 (my last mnt bike was $4,400 and have sold lots of $6,000 bikes to racers)
Helmet, shoes, shorts, jersey, gloves= $400
Bike rack $250 (double that for roof rack)
Food, gasoline, entry fees and such are all fairly close consumables so just comparing hard parts to get into it the shooting comp isn't too bad. And if you were already a shooter and had some of this stuff it would be even cheaper.
(the bike will make you a lot healthier though...)
Well having just tripped into it and then really getting into it I have some advice from one not-as-beginner to another beginner about what it costs to get into this....
A minimum
IDPA membership $40
Condor pistol belt $30 solid color, $40 multicam
Itac magazine holder $25
5.11 vest or BDU style jacket $75
500 rounds ammo $180
holster $35
eye protection $10
foam ear plugs $5
2 spare magazines $60
----------
$460
You like it
All of the above but..
500 more rounds for a total of 1,000 $180
IDPA practice paper targets $35
target stand for above $25
3 more magazines $100
electronic hearing protection $50
----------
$460 + $390 = $840
You want to win SSP at Marksman or Sharpshooter
all of the above plus.....
Glock 19 or even a 34 $650
year of range membership $350 (American Shooting Center)
professional instruction $550 (Aegis Academy)
-----------
$840 + $1,550 = $2,390
If you jumped into the deep end and had to totally start from scratch you'd be into it for about $2,400 to have zero excuses. You'd have all the best equipment, professional instruction, all the practice you'd need and then you'd be competing from 1 to 6 times per month.
You wanted to win right? Think that's expensive? Let's say you wanted to race mountain bikes, let me rough that out for you... It's about $3,100 and you've gotten ZERO professional instruction.
Bike=$2,500 (my last mnt bike was $4,400 and have sold lots of $6,000 bikes to racers)
Helmet, shoes, shorts, jersey, gloves= $400
Bike rack $250 (double that for roof rack)
Food, gasoline, entry fees and such are all fairly close consumables so just comparing hard parts to get into it the shooting comp isn't too bad. And if you were already a shooter and had some of this stuff it would be even cheaper.
(the bike will make you a lot healthier though...)
Fitspo & Pinterest & Me & Thermodynamics
Fitspo: The amalgamation of 'fitness' and 'inspiration' to describe a picture extolling the benefits of physical fitness and exercise.
Have you been to Pinterest? I know I've joked about this before, but it is either fitspo or food porn. Ad I think it has effected my life!
I start the morning like this at Antique Row Cafe:
Which forces the rest of my day to go like this:
What is your ideal body weight? Mine for my style of sports and frame is 2.1 pounds per inch of height. 136 pounds. I weigh 141-2.
What is my basal metablolic rate?
What is my BMI?
How many calories do I need to restrict to lose 6 pounds?
How many calories do I need to expend to lose 6 pounds?
It's all math. Calories taken in - Calories used up = how much you weigh.
Have you been to Pinterest? I know I've joked about this before, but it is either fitspo or food porn. Ad I think it has effected my life!
I start the morning like this at Antique Row Cafe:
Which forces the rest of my day to go like this:
What is your ideal body weight? Mine for my style of sports and frame is 2.1 pounds per inch of height. 136 pounds. I weigh 141-2.
What is my basal metablolic rate?
What is my BMI?
How many calories do I need to restrict to lose 6 pounds?
How many calories do I need to expend to lose 6 pounds?
It's all math. Calories taken in - Calories used up = how much you weigh.
What's a man to do.....
I know I'm going to start painting this picture with a wide, rough brush but here goes...
When men first starting doing stuff there were just two kinds of men, free men or men who were enslaved or subject to other men.
As things developed then new roles opened for men. Free men could choose to be in the clergy, merchants or in the military.
In the discovery of the world these men were then asked to find and settle frontiers.
Science, the Industrial Revolution, "progress" allowed a man to be just a worker. A provider. Originally a man had to fulfill all the roles. Then he was limited to just a few choices.
Now what is a man to do?
Get a degree? More bachelor's degrees are awarded to women now than men.
Be a father? More children are born to single parents than not.
Be a warrior? Extremely out of favor.. A priest? No thanks... Merchant? Seen this unemployment?
When all of a man's traditional roles are gone, limited or frowned upon; what's a guy to do?
When men first starting doing stuff there were just two kinds of men, free men or men who were enslaved or subject to other men.
As things developed then new roles opened for men. Free men could choose to be in the clergy, merchants or in the military.
In the discovery of the world these men were then asked to find and settle frontiers.
Science, the Industrial Revolution, "progress" allowed a man to be just a worker. A provider. Originally a man had to fulfill all the roles. Then he was limited to just a few choices.
Now what is a man to do?
Get a degree? More bachelor's degrees are awarded to women now than men.
Be a father? More children are born to single parents than not.
Be a warrior? Extremely out of favor.. A priest? No thanks... Merchant? Seen this unemployment?
When all of a man's traditional roles are gone, limited or frowned upon; what's a guy to do?
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Uncled Again
My latest nephew! I hope he is healthy and everything goes good!
His name will be some sort of variation of Brecken, Breckon
Flip Side
In the past few months I have heard women around me talking about their dogs in this sort of manner, "Oh, dogs are better than men. They will never leave you. They will always love you. They are always happy to see you. They won't cheat on you." Generally comparing dogs more favorably than men.
But guess what? "Dog" is a negative appellation for a man. Your oh-so-better-than-a-man dog? Well he will still try to hump your leg. Constantly. You're still fixing all his meals. And buying them. And constantly cleaning up his crap. Piles of his crap. And he doesn't have a job, only wants to play.
Good choice girls, good choice.
But guess what? "Dog" is a negative appellation for a man. Your oh-so-better-than-a-man dog? Well he will still try to hump your leg. Constantly. You're still fixing all his meals. And buying them. And constantly cleaning up his crap. Piles of his crap. And he doesn't have a job, only wants to play.
Good choice girls, good choice.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Dramatic....
In learning how to get better at taking pictures I've heard that dramatic clouds can help make outdoor pictures go from tame to stunning. So I thought, why not just take a picture of dramatic clouds? So I did.
A few nights ago I went to La Jolla Playhouse and watched "An Iliad". This was a 105 minute, non-stop, one man play. Well there was a very prominent musician playing an off stage roll of a 'Muse', and while riveting in performance the true star was on stage.
A sparse stage setting, an indeterminate time and location, but within modern history the main/only character proceeds to tell us in spoken prose the general story of Homer's Iliad. With some subtle and not so subtle allusions to our times and the human nature's response to the inhumanity of war and conflict.
Frankly, it was completely enthralling. I did not even look at my watch or know how much time had passed till well past an hour into the performance. I can't remember how many more showings there are, but if you are even remotely interested I would make the effort to attend. (use Google to get some review, they are all positive and better and elucidating just what it's really like)
Today, Saturday, was also my second competition. I am making an impact as no one is treating my like a newbie anymore. People are watching me. I get the attention of the pros as someone with talent. So they avoid me or mentor me. It's a very expensive thing to compete in, but I am really enjoying the validation I am getting. Switching "sports" to get my competitive 'fix' has been dramatic in the time, attention and just everything it takes to do well at something new. Or attempt to do well.
A few nights ago I went to La Jolla Playhouse and watched "An Iliad". This was a 105 minute, non-stop, one man play. Well there was a very prominent musician playing an off stage roll of a 'Muse', and while riveting in performance the true star was on stage.
A sparse stage setting, an indeterminate time and location, but within modern history the main/only character proceeds to tell us in spoken prose the general story of Homer's Iliad. With some subtle and not so subtle allusions to our times and the human nature's response to the inhumanity of war and conflict.
Frankly, it was completely enthralling. I did not even look at my watch or know how much time had passed till well past an hour into the performance. I can't remember how many more showings there are, but if you are even remotely interested I would make the effort to attend. (use Google to get some review, they are all positive and better and elucidating just what it's really like)
Today, Saturday, was also my second competition. I am making an impact as no one is treating my like a newbie anymore. People are watching me. I get the attention of the pros as someone with talent. So they avoid me or mentor me. It's a very expensive thing to compete in, but I am really enjoying the validation I am getting. Switching "sports" to get my competitive 'fix' has been dramatic in the time, attention and just everything it takes to do well at something new. Or attempt to do well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
As most of you know, I am learning to swim in my 30's. This got me to thinking about things I should have learned as a male growing up a...
-
This month I'm off to Arkansas for my "far away" shooting match. I want to be in the top 30% of Expert dang it! So lots of pra...
