WHAT IS THERE TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT THESE DAYS?

It's the time of year when it's too damn cold to hang out long outside. Yeah, I know, weak Californian can't stand the 50-degree (F) weather. I spend a lot of time indoors thinking about things. I need some kind of creative outlet but have been pretty unmotivated. It would be great to feel like I was an expert at something besides work-specific topics. I'm thinking of studying something bizarre just so I can have something to be passionate about. It would need to be interesting enough so that I could get-away on a trip somewhere occasionally for a field trip. Yeah, that would be nice.

If anyone has ideas to fuel my creativity...shoot.

In other news, my Fantasy NBA team has been changing quite a bit. Not the best weak, but I might squeak out a tie. Fantasy Bowl week is upon us too and I'm currently 2nd behind my brother-in-law. Trash talking has already been initiated. Last of all, I haven't been working out nearly as much as I want to. I think this stems from the cold and very bizarre aches and pains I've been experiencing the past couple of weeks. One day no pain, the next, weird back pain or neck pain. I have a feeling I'm sleeping wrong.

THE RUNNING MACHINE (IF THE MACHINE TOOK ITS SWEET TIME)

So lately I've been jogging a lot. I call it "running", but at an average pace around 11-minutes per mile it's probably better described as "clomping", or perhaps "plopping". Yeah that sounds about right. To my own ego it's closer in physical activity to pooping so I'll stick with "plopping".

Anyway, since I got this cool fandangled Nike+ gadgetry, I've been plopping quite a bit around my 'hood. I've dripped sweat all over Flora Vista, Granada, Pomeroy and Benton streets and even a little bit of blood. In the month of September I completed 15+ miles total. w00tels.

I just started October with a bang....er, plop! Today, October 1st, 2008 was the first day since I was in High School that I was able to complete a mile with approximate constant pace - without stopping to walk for any length of time. The most amazing thing is that at the end of my total 2-mile workout, I still feel great. No significant pain in my legs, endorphine rush, the whole shebang. I'm beaming with energy and confidence.

I think I've figured out my pace, and to stagger runs with rest days. It's really paid off. I like this routine now. I think that it was necessary to push myself a little bit hard at first because I had next to nil endurance and my legs were not ready at all to support my weight.

Wish me luck! Or not, if you have a challenge waged against me. Then you wish me to fail!

BTW, I'm really loving the Justice album "Cross". That's been really good music to workout to.

Here's the stats on my recent run from the Nike+ site: