My preparations for this year's City-Bay fun run are, shall we say, a little bit behind schedule. I'd like to say that I'm ahead of where I was at this time last year because I didn't start training last year until August, but since I haven't started training yet this year I'm really no better off at this stage.
If I'm to put in a better performance than last year's debacle, I'll have to extract the digit pronto. I've been planning to get started for about six weeks now, but there always seems to be a reason (or excuse) why I can't start today. Either we've got visitors or I'm too busy or the wife's too busy so I have to look after the kids or I'm feeling sick or it's too cold. A couple of times it actually rained. You can't go out running in the rain. Not unless you're a crazy person.
I've been talking about training strategy with my brother in law. He's a football umpire and the most accomplished runner I know, having completed the 2001 City-Bay in 40 minutes and 40 seconds. He gave me some good advice about how to prepare for this year's event, but that was several weeks ago now and I've forgotten what he said. Sorry Jack. Send me an e-mail to remind me, would you?
If anyone else has any training or motivational tips, I'd love to hear them.
13 July 2008
07 July 2008
How I feel right now
A little polar bear goes to his mummy and says “Mummy, am I a polar bear?” Mummy says “Yes dear, you’re a polar bear.”
“I’m not a grizzly bear or a Russian dancing bear or a little brown bear?”
“No dear. You’re a polar bear.”
The little polar bear goes to his daddy and says “Daddy, am I a polar bear?” Daddy says “Yes mate, you’re a polar bear.”
“I’m not a black bear or a panda bear or a koala bear or anything?”
“No mate. You’re a polar bear.”
“Well, why I am I so friggin’ cold?!!”
Yes I know it's an old joke and you've probably heard it lots of times before. I'm just reminding you of it.
What's your favourite joke?
“I’m not a grizzly bear or a Russian dancing bear or a little brown bear?”
“No dear. You’re a polar bear.”
The little polar bear goes to his daddy and says “Daddy, am I a polar bear?” Daddy says “Yes mate, you’re a polar bear.”
“I’m not a black bear or a panda bear or a koala bear or anything?”
“No mate. You’re a polar bear.”
“Well, why I am I so friggin’ cold?!!”
Yes I know it's an old joke and you've probably heard it lots of times before. I'm just reminding you of it.
What's your favourite joke?
19 June 2008
Everybody's a comedian
For me, one of the best things about being a parent is when my kids deliberately say or do something to make me laugh, especially when they succeed.
A couple of weeks ago we were having dinner at the local RSL club and I asked the kids what they wanted to drink. I thought I might get a laugh by saying "You can have lemonade, lemonade or lemonade" but my eight year old daughter outdid me by asking "What was the second one again?"
A couple of weeks ago we were having dinner at the local RSL club and I asked the kids what they wanted to drink. I thought I might get a laugh by saying "You can have lemonade, lemonade or lemonade" but my eight year old daughter outdid me by asking "What was the second one again?"
20 April 2008
Really so very annoyed
I was reminded today of one of my pet hates regarding the misuse of the English language. I know I'm quite a pedant and I myself am far from perfect, but it gets my goat that people just can't be bothered to speak correctly.
The offence du jour? Use of the word 'really' instead of the word 'very'. 'Really' and 'very' do not mean the same thing and they are not interchangeable. "How was your trip to Melbourne?" "Great, but it was really cold." No! It was very cold. Say what you really mean (not what you very mean).
Speaking of 'very', it is also being increasingly omitted from 'thank you very much' and being ludicrously replaced by 'so'. The phrase 'so much' requires a 'that' followed by a descriptive statement. "I love you so much that I just had to buy you these flowers." "Thank you so much" is trendy, but completely meaningless.
There is nothing wrong with the word 'very'. If you mean 'very' then say 'very'.
Thank you really much.
The offence du jour? Use of the word 'really' instead of the word 'very'. 'Really' and 'very' do not mean the same thing and they are not interchangeable. "How was your trip to Melbourne?" "Great, but it was really cold." No! It was very cold. Say what you really mean (not what you very mean).
Speaking of 'very', it is also being increasingly omitted from 'thank you very much' and being ludicrously replaced by 'so'. The phrase 'so much' requires a 'that' followed by a descriptive statement. "I love you so much that I just had to buy you these flowers." "Thank you so much" is trendy, but completely meaningless.
There is nothing wrong with the word 'very'. If you mean 'very' then say 'very'.
Thank you really much.
18 April 2008
Strange real estate photos
I love looking at houses for sale on the web. We might be in the market for a house some time later this year and I've been doing some preliminary investigation. It intrigues me that some of the ads have some very strange photos. You would think that people would show photos that display the more appealing aspects of their property, but I often wonder what I am supposed to be impressed by when I see an overgrown back yard full of junk or a laundry strewn with dirty washing.
I was looking at houses on the web today when I came across this gem. (Click to enlarge. Woo-hoo!) I can't quite work out what it is meant to be a photo of, exactly. Now, I like the shiny wooden door and the seahorse fridge magnets, but the piles of rubbish in the back room are a bit of a turn-off, don't you think?
Seriously, how does this promote the house?
I was looking at houses on the web today when I came across this gem. (Click to enlarge. Woo-hoo!) I can't quite work out what it is meant to be a photo of, exactly. Now, I like the shiny wooden door and the seahorse fridge magnets, but the piles of rubbish in the back room are a bit of a turn-off, don't you think?
Seriously, how does this promote the house?
