Making the leap…

19. April 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: laptop, Mac

This week, I made the leap of faith from PC to Mac, and the leap was long, faith that I can do this strong, and the desire to separate work on a PC from non-work on a Mac. With my upcoming job change, I wanted to have that clear distinction.

This week, my new Apple MacBook Pro 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 15.4″ laptop arrived. It’s a loaded box with iLife ’08, MS Office 2008 for Mac, Aperture 2.0 and tons more. I upgraded to 4GB of RAM from crucial.com and also purchased an HP Photosmart C7280 because of a $100 combined purchase rebate. Clear distinctions aside, this is an Intel-based system. I will be installing VMware Fusion this weekend, along with Windows XP Home so that I can get my Quicken up and running to actually pay bills when in Mass.

Needless to say, I am really excited, yet concerned that learning the Mac style is somewhat difficult for me, the old PC guy. I have been using PCs since the dawn of time – at least from a PC perspective. I will definitely need to purchase a book or two on the subject, at least one of those “Dummies Guide” books to get me kick started. It is certainly easier today than yesterday and will be easier in another week or two. Some of the keyboard shortcuts that I have apparently taken for granted on the PC are really missed. I’m sure they are there, but I’ll need to have some sort of book to figure it out!

Putting the house on the market

18. April 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Massachusetts, moving, Richmond


Today, we met with our Realtor (Erin) to discuss the price for selling the house. I will be taking the pictures in the morning and the house will be officially for sale on Wednesday. Erin was very impressed with how much work we have done on the house, including how much we have cleaned out to make the house appear much larger than when she first walked through the home.

The challenge is to have all of the photos taken by Monday at the latest, then have her create and print fliers by Wednesday or Thursday. This is a whirlwind compared to last time we sold our home in Phoenix (10 years ago). There, we plopped a sign in the yard and it sold. The real estate market today is very different today.
I leave on May 10th, so everything that I need has to be packed and ready to go prior to that. The challenge is that we still need to have the house until school is out. We have the added challenge of camp for both kids, although that is higher with my spouse than I. Perhaps it’s my incorrect gut feel, but with a limited amount of time allocated for temporary housing and a limited amount of funds to sponsor an extension of that time, that I really want to be in a house by late June, even if I am sleeping on the floor and waiting for our furniture to arrive in a week or two.

Timing, they say, is everything.

Monument Avenue 10K

05. April 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, running

Today, I ran the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond. The weather was interesting – warm and damp. The race has grown to more than 30,000 participants (runners and walkers), which is both good and bad. The good is that the greater Richmond community has embraced the race to get people out of their chairs and moving. The bad is that there are too many stinkin’ people in the race to make it fun for anyone running. I guess you always get the bad with the good. Four of us left our normal parking area at 6:30 AM so we could access our good secret parking area where I have been parking for years.

The elite runners took off at 8:30, and we took off at 8:57. Lori, Sara, and Quina were running with me for a bit, although we all splintered off as the race wore on. Richmond is a very small town – not in population, but the fact that you can be anywhere and see people you know. My physical therapist (sports med doc assistant) was almost beside me at the beginning and the end. Lots of folks from church, work, etc. were all there. I even ran into and spoke to the one newscaster I know from WTVR who had just completed an interview when I arrived.

The race was okay – I had a new PR for a 10K, although it was not what I had hoped. 1:03:06. I brought my own Accelerade which worked well. The only water I took was one cup at mile 5 to pour directly over my head to cool me down. It rained on and off, but never hard. I didn’t walk other than at the one water stop and to regroup during the 6th mile. I made the mistake of taking off too fast, especial for mile 2, about 30 seconds per mile too fast. So, a slow mile six made up for it. I ran a 10:09 initial mile out of the crowd, then had a single negative split into mile 2 (9:37). I was warmed up and feeling good, but let my legs outrun my head. Towards the end, I was out of energy, another negative of eating at 6 AM for a 9 AM start. I’m not sure how to get around that in the future, other than to get a ride to the race closer to the start and not have to worry about parking!

This was the last race for a while. Details shortly.

I am a new hybrid owner

03. April 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Camry, change, hybrid, kid at heart, Richmond

Starting on Monday, and concluding today, I purchased a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. This car is loaded to the gills, with a full navigation system, XM radio, heated leather seats, and moon/sunroof. I never thought I’d pay this much for any vehicle, but with my job situation likely to change in the next few weeks, I will have a much longer commute each day. The car is very comfortable and will also make the 18-hour drive back home for a weekend or two worth while!

Here is a picture if you want to see (CLICK HERE).

One of the things I like most is the Bluetooth integration. From the steering wheel, I can initiate calls or answer calls. From what the people I’ve spoken to say, the clarity is excellent – much better than with my Bluetooth headset in my truck.

The other thing I like is the dead silence when the car is stopped. No noise what-so-ever. After running tonight, I asked Melanie to tell me if the car was running or not. She said no… then I put it in drive and edged away. She was surprised to say the least. Give me a few thousand miles to figure out if I really like it!

It might be the happiest day of the year…

23. March 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: stock, taxes

Well, maybe not YOUR happiest day… but my happiest day each year is when I have electronically transmitted my taxes to the US and state governments. It typically means that I can sit back and wait for them to accept, then wait for the cash to hit my checking account. Maybe I should wait for the acceptance email from the government to be happy, but at least I’ve figured things out and they are out of my hands. Last year, I wasn’t so lucky…

First, let me say that there is an up-side and a down-side to non-qualified stock options (NQSOs). Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP) are generally good, so long as you are earning money. This year, my ESPP lost big time. Stock was high at the beginning of the year before a steady decline during the year. So, I decided to cut my losses and sell what I could, then transfer the cast to my broker since he couldn’t do worse for my return if he put my money anywhere and went on vacation for the entire year. ESPPs are also really easy for taxes since you can get all of the information you need from the company that handles them.

NQSOs are a different beast. You see, you get an option granted years ago. It vests a couple of years later, and when you roll it into your broker, then decide to sell it (see the steady decline note above), you actually have to figure out the details from a transaction that happened years ago. Fortunately, I have sold the last of it, I think, so shouldn’t have to go through this nightmare again. What a way to spend Easter…

Getting back to the “I wasn’t so lucky…” comment above…

In my fret to get everything done for taxes last year, I filed right about at the final day, but electronically so I could get my refund as soon as possible. Imagine the fear when the Federal Government returned a status as REJECTED!!! It took me a while but found out that some schmuck had used one of our SSNs in their return, or, more likely, that they filed a paper copy and either they, or the typist at the IRS, fat fingered one of my kids’ SSNs. In any case, I finally heard from them after having to print and send via snail-mail the return. Weeks (could have been months) later, I got my refund. This year, I planned on submitting my return early, but had to deal with the damned NQSO and figure out how to cost that out. So, I will find out in a few days if my return is accepted or, God forbid, rejected again. At least I’m early this year so can get my nice refund early. Three weeks is early, right?!?

Shamrock 13.1 finisher!

17. March 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: running, Shamrock Half Marathon

As of 9:26 am on Sunday, I can officially say that I have finished a half marathon! I finished standing up, albeit struggling at the end, but I finished! Final time, and my newest personal best, 2:26:35.

The race was not held under ideal conditions – mid 40s and a cold 20 MPH wind out of the north (which means it was cold since it came off from the Atlantic Ocean). The fact that it stopped raining before we were outside to run was excellent.

Course summary — we took off shortly after 7 AM and headed north for about 3 miles on Atlantic. From there, we ran by both of my children who got out of bed on a cold morning to walk to see me! The kids took the hats and gloves that others wanted to drop. It was really close to the house where we were staying and another water stop. Then, we headed NW on Shore Drive for about 3 miles. Those 3 miles were a boring 3 miles, but were sheltered from the wind by trees. We passed by First Landing State Park, where the eventual Jamestown Settlers first landed.

Next, we turned east into Fort Story, home of the Cape Henry lighthouses (old and new ones). I’ve been on Ft. Story a few times — to climb the old lighthouse and to visit my Mom once (stays there every year for a week with her ex-Air Force hubby). We continued for the 3 or so miles through Ft. Story with the winds whipping off from the Atlantic (you could see the ocean to the left – no break from the trees). Next, we headed out of the west gate of Ft. Story for the 4 miles south. We passed by the house where we were staying, then the water stop where we headed NW (above). This was our Goo stop on the return trip.

Finally, we cut towards the Atlantic Ocean at about mile 12 or so. The elite Marathon runners were starting to pass me (they were heading north, we were heading south), just as I headed towards the ocean. We made a quick jog to the boardwalk and then ran the final leg on the boardwalk to cross the finish line. Done… thankfully.

After finishing, we got our own emergency (space) blanket (foil-like wraps with the Yuengling logo), our finishers medals, bananas, a bag of goodies, and the best part — a hat that declares me to be a 13.1 finisher! I met up with my running buddies who all finished ahead of me and we eventually headed into the celebration tent. There, they handed each runner 4 beer tickets (the race was sponsored by Yuengling), and had Irish Stew to eat.

Eventually, I was able to retrieve my car and head to the house where we packed and headed home. Today, I treated myself to a massage and a day off from work. Tomorrow, the real world will get back under my skin…

Half Marathon – here I come…

13. March 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: half-marathon, knee pain, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Today was the last mid-week run before the half. We ran a measly 4 miles – very short even by mid-week standards. I ran slowly at first, got rid of the congestion that has been plaguing me for the last week, then increased my speed with each consecutive mile.

My miles were 10:31, 10:41, 10:15, and a blazing 9:43. I felt fantastic! I almost sprinted up the final long hill (which I generally hate), then kept going. I passed Melanie and Sara both — I think they were shocked… Knowing that I only had the four miles to run helped a great deal. My knee felt great. My feet felt great, and my belly felt great as well. If it weren’t for the congestion, I’d be really happy now.

The half marathon is Sunday. I have decided to head to Virginia Beach on Friday so I can relax on Saturday all day. I need to visit the Expo to do packet pickup, eat some lunch, then cook dinner for my buddies on Saturday night (pasta, of course). Early to bed, then an early rise on Sunday for the race. At this point, I think that I will need to leave the house around 5:30 at the latest to find parking in a public lot. Driving around in pre-dawn light is not my idea of a good, stress free day. After the race, I will relax, pack up and drive home. The best part is that I am off on Monday, have a 4 PM massage scheduled, and will have zero email or BlackBerry all weekend long.

Continued knee pain, then relief!

05. March 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: doctor, knee pain, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Last week after the almost 14 mile run, pain set in. My left knee was a bit sore on Sunday, and very sore by Sunday night and early Monday. Ice and ibuprofen were my only resolutions for then. I went to the gym on Tuesday to attempt to run but was promptly reduced to a slow pace on the treadmill. With each step, excruciating pain. It would have to be a week of rest. On Wednesday, Lori and I walked 2 miles – it was cold and my knee was again not up to it. Time to call the doctor.

I saw the good doctor (she is a tri-athlete). and a good bit of feeling my knee and a few digital x-rays later, she had her diagnosis. Pes bursitis or pes tendonitis. Something about the bursis getting inflamed by the rubbing when I run. So, she shot me up with cortisone, fitted me with a strap to keep the kneecap in place, and put me on high-dose anti-inflammatory drugs. If this doesn’t work, I will be back for other stuff on Friday. I am attempting to run on the treadmill tomorrow (maybe 4 miles), then see how the knee feels.

Saturday, in the park

27. February 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Okay, so it wasn’t a walk in the park… but, I did run 13.85 miles on Saturday! I was so pleased with how I felt, how I worked through the pain, and how I kept going when stopping was so easy.

As scheduled, we ran the first 4 miles with the 10k team. It was so easy… we started late, chatted with everyone we passed (many of them), and finished up significantly warmer than when we started. Then, we took off again after a few minutes of a break for a short 10-mile jaunt. This was actually easy for the first half of a mile, then I started coughing up a lung getting my breathing down right and letting the Allegra kick in. Once I got back in the swing, I ran pretty good through mile 5 (so that would be of mile 9 total). A few periods of walking and I finished it… I was having a hard time when I finished mile 11, right before the SAG. By mile 11, the muscle fatigue had started but I worked through it.

My diet this week consisted of a goo after mile 4, another one after mile 8, and one more at the SAG at mile 11. Lots of Accelerade throughout, and I was feeling pretty good.

Sunday, I was lame as can be expected, then lame again on Monday. Today, I went to the YMCA to run on the treadmill and my left knee was so sore that I just couldn’t run at all. I walked 2.5 miles, but will try to run 5 miles tomorrow night with Lori.

The longest distance I will ever run?

23. February 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: half-marathon, Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Tomorrow morning, we are scheduled to run 4 miles, them recoup and run 10 more… that makes for 14 total miles. Since we are training for the half marathon which is a mere 13.1 miles, 14 miles is insane.

If I run all 14, I will know that I can do 13 and finish standing up. If I run all 14, I will know that I will feel like I am 80 years old (and I’m not even 50 yet). If I run all 14, I will have the satisfaction that February 23rd, 2008 will be the day that I ran the furthest distance of my life.

While it seems to be a daunting task, it will make the half marathon in 2 weeks much easier knowing that I can cover the distance.

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