This past Sunday marked a few notable milestone for me. Not only was it my 16th racing event, but it was my first race in the 30-34 age division. I keep telling myself that the next 4 years could be my fastest, so I have plenty of time to prove it. Unfortunately for me, my pie in the sky dreams of getting a PR in San Antonio were derailed, quite literally. Before we had finished the first mile of the race, we were stopped by a train crossing. A train crossing! I first noticed it when I heard some booing just ahead of me. I looked up and noticed the train crossing arms lowering, blocking an already large crowd of log jammed runners. And with more runners coming up from behind us, the crowd was only going to grow larger.. I exclaimed my utter disbelief aloud. I simply couldn't believe that the organizers hadn't planned for this. We were delayed anywere from betwen 3 to 6 minutes as we waited for the entire train to pass. Considering the large group that had been jammed up there, I knew that the delay had completely erased the wave start and that we would have to start up a dense crowd all over again. I turned to my cousin Peter and told him that we could forget about PR'ing. But you know what, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing after all.
One of my side goals for the weekend was to help get my cousin over the finish line in under 2 hours, a feat he has never accomplished in his many years of racing. Six weeks prior, I had told hiim that if he commits to training with me in the weeks leading up to the race, that I would personally guarantee him a PR time for him. To my pleasant surprise, he stuck with the training. Our confidence was boosted even more after we had a great training run the week prior to the race. Things seemed to have just clicked in my cousin. He has unlocked the technique that I used to call "the magic stride!" (It's basically the well known running technique that a lot of veteran runners use that maximizes distance running efficiency in your running gait.) I had discovered this technique several years back and I had been hyping up all this time. So it seemed as though Peter had finally discovered the power of it to help him run faster. It worked so well for him that we agreed to rename the technique "Texas Boots" as an homage to one of the greatest side scrolling brawling games of all time, River City Ransom. Also, it just seemed appropriate. Anyway, so back to the weekend of the race. At dinner the night before the race, I start telling Peter that I felt that a 1:45 finish was in the cards. I could tell he was nervous about that idea. A 1:45 finish was much faster than even my current PR of 1:49. The 4 minute difference may seem minimal but the difference in pace to achieve that is pretty significant. So in my excitement I had set some pretty insane expectations for both of us. I could have potentially set us up for a big letdown really. You see, my original goal was to post a solid run under two hours. Now all of the sudden, I wasn't just talking about beating my old PR, I was talking about completely annihilating it. All that talk about speed records might have unnerved Peter. Mind games can really ruin a runner's pysche. So maybe the train delay was kind of a blessing in disguised. I told him he could relax now, because the pressure is off. It must have worked because he put in a great run and finished well under 2 hours for a new personal best. I was really excited for him because I knew how big of a milestone for him that was. You see, although he had been running for many years before me (despite being just 26), he had told me that he hasn't ever had a race that he was really proud of. I was determined to help him change that and I was thrilled when I saw that he did. Congratulations Peter!
As for me, I posted a solid 1:56:30. (That's before the time adjustment for the train delay, which I still need to officially calculate and submit to the organizers...)
Also, I have to once again thank my amazing wife, who is my biggest supporter and my greatest inspiration.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Busy Signal
The last couple of months have been the busiest in recent memory. My work load has at least doubled. The pressure to grow professionally seems to be greater than ever. Duties at home are a constant. I'm being pulled in a million different directions. I suppose it's not a terrible thing to be busy. My work days fly by. I'm learning new things. The downside is the feeling like you're constantly treading water. It's both overwhelming and rewarding. The real surprising thing is that I don't feel completely burnt out (yet). Maybe it's that there's just enough exciting things on the horizon that keeps me motivated. Or maybe it's that I've started to find that elusive balance in life. I haven't figured out which it is, but for now I'll continue to attack each day with everything I have got.
Friday, March 12, 2010
2010 Texas Independence Relay
Team 1 does it again! Robot style!!
[ details to be filled in later ]
Finishing in just under 31 hours, we had the strongest running team we've ever had. Everyone on the team did an outstanding job. The runners were great and the supporters were equally amazing. My wife did an incredible job organizing the team this year. She has gotten it down to a science, I tell ya! A huge thanks to all!
[ details to be filled in later ]
Finishing in just under 31 hours, we had the strongest running team we've ever had. Everyone on the team did an outstanding job. The runners were great and the supporters were equally amazing. My wife did an incredible job organizing the team this year. She has gotten it down to a science, I tell ya! A huge thanks to all!
Monday, February 15, 2010
2010 Austin Half Marathon
1:51:48
No PR, but I feel good about it. I knew topping my best half marathon time from a year ago would be tough, so coming in just 2 minutes shy of it is more than enough for me. I always look forward to the run in Austin. Aside from the enjoyable course and great crowd, I just really enjoy the Austin vibe. We stayed at the Radisson, which is situated right at the start line. It's impossible to beat that sort of the convenience. The only minor hiccup in our plans was that we had forgotten to pack bread for my pre-race breakfast. We ended up paying 5 dollars for two slices of toast! Oh well, it did the job. The weather was nice and crisp. The hills were nice and fast. I was moving along and a great pace until my first walking stop, which I took at mile 7. The next 3 miles were were just a hair slower than the first 7. Then at mile 10, I started feeling the cramps coming on. I slowed down and stretched it out a few times. I knew I had given myself some padding with the fast start, so I was just hoping to have a steady finish. It took some fighting through it, but I got there. The cramps came on pretty strong towards end though. I even took a full stop at the capitol building (less than .25 miles from the finish line) just to stretch out both calves.
The highlight of the event really came after I had finished. I hadn't done this in my last couple of races. I took some time to cheer on the runners approaching the finish. I find it so inspirational. You can so clearly see it in the faces of the runners fighting in that last quarter mile. Some look as though they're in complete agony. You see runners limping and hobbling. You see them grimace in pain with each step. And then you see the the look of determination. You see them fight for the last hundred yards as the crowd cheers them on. And then you see them finish victoriously. And that's exactly why I love the race.
P.S. A special thanks to my patient wife who is always by my side to support me!! That was my 14th race! Number 15 is next month. It's almost time for the TIR!
No PR, but I feel good about it. I knew topping my best half marathon time from a year ago would be tough, so coming in just 2 minutes shy of it is more than enough for me. I always look forward to the run in Austin. Aside from the enjoyable course and great crowd, I just really enjoy the Austin vibe. We stayed at the Radisson, which is situated right at the start line. It's impossible to beat that sort of the convenience. The only minor hiccup in our plans was that we had forgotten to pack bread for my pre-race breakfast. We ended up paying 5 dollars for two slices of toast! Oh well, it did the job. The weather was nice and crisp. The hills were nice and fast. I was moving along and a great pace until my first walking stop, which I took at mile 7. The next 3 miles were were just a hair slower than the first 7. Then at mile 10, I started feeling the cramps coming on. I slowed down and stretched it out a few times. I knew I had given myself some padding with the fast start, so I was just hoping to have a steady finish. It took some fighting through it, but I got there. The cramps came on pretty strong towards end though. I even took a full stop at the capitol building (less than .25 miles from the finish line) just to stretch out both calves.
The highlight of the event really came after I had finished. I hadn't done this in my last couple of races. I took some time to cheer on the runners approaching the finish. I find it so inspirational. You can so clearly see it in the faces of the runners fighting in that last quarter mile. Some look as though they're in complete agony. You see runners limping and hobbling. You see them grimace in pain with each step. And then you see the the look of determination. You see them fight for the last hundred yards as the crowd cheers them on. And then you see them finish victoriously. And that's exactly why I love the race.
P.S. A special thanks to my patient wife who is always by my side to support me!! That was my 14th race! Number 15 is next month. It's almost time for the TIR!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Chevron Houston Marathon 2010
Another one in the books! I came into this year's marathon with tempered expectations. My training was not nearly as consistent as I would have liked. I had only run one training run over 20 miles, instead of the three I had planned on. I didn't adhere to proper tapering schedules, I crammed a lot of long runs just weeks before. I felt so behind. I managed to string some solid runs together while training with my brother. I finished a 23 mile run the week prior just to give me some confidence (I know. I was supposed to be tapering!). We stayed downtown again, for the ease of getting to the starting line with a little extra sleep. The strategy paid off once again. I felt rested and ready to go. Less than a mile into the run, I noticed that my Garmin stopped tracking me. I fiddled with it trying to get it started again and lost about .60 miles of tracking. The malfunction threw my usual strategy for a loop. I couldn't rely on the pace slip as a reference and my readings weren't reliable. Then it dawned on me, this might be a blessing in disguise. Maybe it will be liberating to run without relying on the watch for once. It was. For the first 13 miles I kept between an 8:45 - 9:15 min/mile pace. I was with the 4:00 hr pace group for much of the race. Around mile 16 or so, I started losing them after some water breaks. I expected this so I wasn't worried. I was just happy that I felt as good as I did. My goal was to stay ahead of the 4:30 hr pace group which would bring me in around the same time as I did a year ago. After mile 19 I could feel my pace slowing. As I walked through a water station, a man with a Jamaican accent wearing an orange Hawaiian lei pats me on the back and says "c'mon, let's keep going. each step takes us closer." I smile and start kicking again. I say to him "alright. I'm with you, brother." I run with him for about a mile at an 8:00 min/mile pace, all the while knowing this could very well hurt my finish. I didn't care because I was having fun. After a mile, I decided I should conserve my energy for the remaining miles. I slowed back down to a conservative 9:20 pace. Around mile 21, I felt a hint of a cramp coming on in my right quad. I took a few breaks just to stretch it out. I hoped that it would buy me enough time to finish strong. Instead of stopping at only the water stations like I had been, I started stopping at each mile marker. I stretched each time I stopped. At mile 23, the cramps became more prevalent. My pace slowed considerably to a 10:30 min/mile. This is when the 4:15 pace group caught up to me. I ran with them for about a half mile before I had to stop again to stretch. With less than 3 miles left, I knew a PR was within reach. I just needed to hold it together for the final stretch. I pushed forward. At mile 25, I said a prayer as I usually do. I asked for strength and fortitude. I received it. At mile 26 I see my family. As always, it's the best feeling in the world. Their cheers give me what I need for the last .2 miles. I kicked hard to the end. My legs were like concrete at this point, but I kicked. In the end, I narrowly beat my best time by 11 seconds.
4 hours 19 minutes 41 seconds
Another one in the books. :)
P.S. I forgot to blog about my San Antonio run back in November. I finished the Half in 1:53. A few minutes slower than my Half PR.
P.S.S. A special thank you for my awesome family and wonderful wife for supporting me! I love you all!
4 hours 19 minutes 41 seconds
Another one in the books. :)
P.S. I forgot to blog about my San Antonio run back in November. I finished the Half in 1:53. A few minutes slower than my Half PR.
P.S.S. A special thank you for my awesome family and wonderful wife for supporting me! I love you all!
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Quick Update: Happy New Year Edition
My resolution is to stop making empty promises on my blog...
Here are the highlights since September:
- Asics DS Trainer 14 impressions - Pretty solid so far. I've probably run 200-300 miles in them so far and haven't had any problems. They feel a lot like the DS 13 with a little more polish. We'll see how they do in the next marathon (two weeks from today!).
- Batman: Arkham Asylum Review - Awesome all-around! The game exudes smart design and polish. It's rare that I play a game that is paced so well that I feel compelled to keep playing it to finish the story. This is how adventure games should be made. Ironically, it wasn't a game that was on my radar until the near it's release, but I'm sure glad I picked it up. I'm looking forward to finishing it on Hard.
- Scribblenauts - Clever game filled with charm and replay value. It has not disappointed, though I admit I haven't picked it up much since (mainly due to a blitz of huge releases though the holiday season).
- DJ Hero - Easily my favorite rhythm/music game now. The playlist is packed with great mixes that totally suite my music sensibilities. The gameplay is familiar but the interface breathes new life into the flooded genre. Unfortunately, it hasn't sold very well at all. Get out there and support this game!
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii - What a welcome entry into the Mario Bros. lineup. Classic 2D platforming at it's best. The cooperative mode is a great new twist although be warned if you're planning to play with your significant other. I can't tell you how many times my wife and I got mad at each other for causing the other person to fall to their death. And every time, we're just sooo certain it was done on purpose. (I swear, honey! I don't care how it looked, it's always accidental!)
- Left 4 Dead 2 - I had no intentions of getting the game, but then the trailer got me really hyped. I've played the first campaign twice and they're definitely not kidding when they say the difficulty has been amped up from "tough" to "ridiculous". I'd be playing this a whole lot more right now if it weren't for the next thing on this list...
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Ahh, here's the where all my gaming time has been spent. Man, Modern Warfare 1 blew me away and I wasn't completely sold on all the new locales that was to be featured in this game, but now that I've experienced it I can honestly say it's the best CoD yet. The campaign is nearly as thrilling and twisted as the first Modern Warfare, though I'd probably give the edge to the first one because it impressed me so much. The campaign is equally short, but that's not where the game truly earns its keep. The multiplayer is fantastic! The new gameplay elements and tweaks have totally rebalanced things, particularly the addition of the Death Streak perk. I've logged about 30 hours in multiplayer so far and I can see no reason why this game won't dominate my 2010.
- Ireland - My wife and I went on a wonderful vacation to Ireland in December. We had an amazing time filled with castles, waterfalls, Guiness, blood pudding, and ghosts!! (more on that later) It truly is a gorgeous country and a place I'd highly recommend visiting.
- Other new game purchases - Lego Batman, Pure, Stranglehold, Quake Territories, Frontline, Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Van Halen.
Here are the highlights since September:
- Asics DS Trainer 14 impressions - Pretty solid so far. I've probably run 200-300 miles in them so far and haven't had any problems. They feel a lot like the DS 13 with a little more polish. We'll see how they do in the next marathon (two weeks from today!).
- Batman: Arkham Asylum Review - Awesome all-around! The game exudes smart design and polish. It's rare that I play a game that is paced so well that I feel compelled to keep playing it to finish the story. This is how adventure games should be made. Ironically, it wasn't a game that was on my radar until the near it's release, but I'm sure glad I picked it up. I'm looking forward to finishing it on Hard.
- Scribblenauts - Clever game filled with charm and replay value. It has not disappointed, though I admit I haven't picked it up much since (mainly due to a blitz of huge releases though the holiday season).
- DJ Hero - Easily my favorite rhythm/music game now. The playlist is packed with great mixes that totally suite my music sensibilities. The gameplay is familiar but the interface breathes new life into the flooded genre. Unfortunately, it hasn't sold very well at all. Get out there and support this game!
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii - What a welcome entry into the Mario Bros. lineup. Classic 2D platforming at it's best. The cooperative mode is a great new twist although be warned if you're planning to play with your significant other. I can't tell you how many times my wife and I got mad at each other for causing the other person to fall to their death. And every time, we're just sooo certain it was done on purpose. (I swear, honey! I don't care how it looked, it's always accidental!)
- Left 4 Dead 2 - I had no intentions of getting the game, but then the trailer got me really hyped. I've played the first campaign twice and they're definitely not kidding when they say the difficulty has been amped up from "tough" to "ridiculous". I'd be playing this a whole lot more right now if it weren't for the next thing on this list...
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Ahh, here's the where all my gaming time has been spent. Man, Modern Warfare 1 blew me away and I wasn't completely sold on all the new locales that was to be featured in this game, but now that I've experienced it I can honestly say it's the best CoD yet. The campaign is nearly as thrilling and twisted as the first Modern Warfare, though I'd probably give the edge to the first one because it impressed me so much. The campaign is equally short, but that's not where the game truly earns its keep. The multiplayer is fantastic! The new gameplay elements and tweaks have totally rebalanced things, particularly the addition of the Death Streak perk. I've logged about 30 hours in multiplayer so far and I can see no reason why this game won't dominate my 2010.
- Ireland - My wife and I went on a wonderful vacation to Ireland in December. We had an amazing time filled with castles, waterfalls, Guiness, blood pudding, and ghosts!! (more on that later) It truly is a gorgeous country and a place I'd highly recommend visiting.
- Other new game purchases - Lego Batman, Pure, Stranglehold, Quake Territories, Frontline, Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Van Halen.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
It needs more salt
So I've been thinking. This blog needs some spicing up (no no, I don't mean raunchy stuff). I've decided to start doing reviews on things I'm using/playing at the moment. First on the list, my new performance training shoes, the Asics DS Trainers 14. After that I'll do a review on Batman: Arkham Asylum (I even beat it!), then a first impressions review of Scribblenauts, which I've been eagerly anticipating since E3. Stay tuned!
(Keep an eye on my twitter feed if you're interested in getting into the cavernous abyss that is my mind. All in 140 characters or less, mind you.)
(Keep an eye on my twitter feed if you're interested in getting into the cavernous abyss that is my mind. All in 140 characters or less, mind you.)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
WTF jerks!
So my car was broken into today (7/28) as it sat in a downtown parking garage. No broken windows. No sign of a break in aside from the plastic window guard that was pried upward and some scrapes around the trim. I didn't even notice until I sat down and saw my stuff was sitting in my front passenger seat. I figured the jerks who did it managed to sneak a wire in there to unlock the doors. They took my ipod video, ipod dock, radar detector, a couple of sunglasses, and some loose change. I guess I'm lucky I didn't have one of my laptops in there. I'm also glad they didn't take my garage door opener. A lady had also reported that her car was broken into and had her radio stolen. Apparently, she owns the same make and model of car as me. Jerks.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Our Friend Dan (One of my favorite conversations of 2006)
Jackie Chang says: lunch at 11.30 or 12?
Phi Nguyen says: i'm only going if everyone else is
John Malone says: i'm good for whenever
Jackie Chang says: i'll go whenever as well
Phi Nguyen says: I suppose it's up to our friend Dan
Phi Nguyen says: who rules with a sceptor and an iron hand
John Malone says: plays the spoons in a 5-man band
Phi Nguyen says: headbutts his enemies like Zidane
Jackie Chang says: hahahaha
John Malone says: traveled to the 20's to play kick-the-can
Jackie Chang says: saves kittens out of trees when he can
Dan Fields says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahah
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahahhahaa, aweosme
Dan Fields says: you guys know me so well
Phi Nguyen says: eat's pb and j but never sans the jam
Jackie Chang says: was the first to put a disco ball in the back of his van
Phi Nguyen says: hahah
Dan Fields says: hahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: is the Prince of Persia, but never been to Iran
Jackie Chang says: who always refers to the ladies as "Ma'am"
John Malone says: he hates the Spam but is still a black ham
Jackie Chang says: who always has time to play with his friend PAN
Phi Nguyen says: for my wedding, he bought me a sham
Jackie Chang says: always closes doors with a mighty slam
Phi Nguyen says: hahaha
Phi Nguyen says: he loves boisenberry, not a fan of the cran
Dan Fields says: I'm so cool
Dan Fields says: HAHAHAHAH
John Malone says: hahaha
John Malone says: likes to fly helos by the side of a dam
Phi Nguyen says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: in his gyros he prefers his lamb
Jackie Chang says: shares his name with a fictional Lieutenant who served in 'Nam
John Malone says: before some Greenghetti he sprays pans with the Pam
Phi Nguyen says: hahah
Dan Fields says: Shops at Pier One where I can buy some rattan
Phi Nguyen says: to the little kids he yells "Beat it!" and "Scram!!"
Dan Fields says: hahahah
Phi Nguyen says: loves his cajun food like that of Zataran
John Malone says: thought i beat him at C&C but it was just a scam
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahaha
Phi Nguyen says: he's no sissy boy, he's a real man's man
John Malone says: if he lived in africa, he'd be chief of the gourd clan
Phi Nguyen says: once called the Wambulance for me during a LAN
Dan Fields says: hahahahhaa
Phi Nguyen says: hahah
John Malone says: a fan of the Tres Leches and maybe the flan
Jackie Chang says: lassoed the sun from the sky because he wanted to wokr on his tan
John Malone says: hahaha
Phi Nguyen says: hahahha
John Malone says: with biceps and bulges like the 10 mill dollar man
Dan Fields says: Going to retire in Austrailia with a wallabye and a ram
Phi Nguyen says: ahhahahhahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahah
Dan Fields says: hahahahh
John Malone says: rides with Chuck Norris in a catamaran
Dan Fields says: hahahaha
Jackie Chang says: fish don't come ashore b/c he drew a line in the sand
John Malone says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahah
Phi Nguyen says: once played the role of Frodo, not that fat hobbits Sam
Phi Nguyen says: ahahahhahahahhahahahhaha
John Malone says: can call for free on his long distance plan
Phi Nguyen says: hhahahahahahaaha
Jackie Chang says: hhahahaha
Jackie Chang says: asked Chuck Norris why he's so cool and Chuck said "its b/c of you Dan"
John Malone says: hahaha
Dan Fields says: Keeps only one shoe in a pair because two are too bland
Dan Fields says: hahahah
Jackie Chang says: hhahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahaahha
Phi Nguyen says: blows his nose with the gust of a million fans
Jackie Chang says: hahahahaha
Dan Fields says: awesome
John Malone says: killed a grizzley before he learned how to stand
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahahhaahhaagaghahahah
Phi Nguyen says: plays killer bass while pal john rips the drum in his band
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahaaha
John Malone says: haha thanks
Dan Fields says: Steals PAN's g36E whenever I can
Phi Nguyen says: hahha
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: he stares the pearls out of oysters, out-muscles the clams
John Malone says: able to shoot acid from his pituitary gland
Phi Nguyen says: HAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHA
Jackie Chang says: haahahhahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!
Phi Nguyen says: God said let there be ocean, Dan said "No, let there be land!"
John Malone says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Dan Fields says: yhahahahaah
Phi Nguyen says: can make OR gates in his sleep, but his favorite is AND
John Malone says: hahahaha
John Malone says: opened a lemonade stand and made a grand
Phi Nguyen says: hahaa
Phi Nguyen says: tells the Godfather what to do, he's number one in the fam
Dan Fields says: Killed a killer whales with only his teeth and some Cayan.
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahah
John Malone says: hahaha
Phi Nguyen says: scoffs at domestic brands, only consumes thing made in Japan
John Malone says: climbed mount everest with only one hand
Jackie Chang says: friends with Borat, has a 4 wives in Kazhiskstan
John Malone says: hahahah
Dan Fields says: AWEOSME!
Phi Nguyen says: HHAHHAHAA
Dan Fields says: Makes a good quiche and nobody question's he's a man.
Dan Fields says: you can't follow up jackies
John Malone says: with electricity on your knees and fire in your hand
Phi Nguyen says: let's all celebrate our friend named Dan
Phi Nguyen says: i'm only going if everyone else is
John Malone says: i'm good for whenever
Jackie Chang says: i'll go whenever as well
Phi Nguyen says: I suppose it's up to our friend Dan
Phi Nguyen says: who rules with a sceptor and an iron hand
John Malone says: plays the spoons in a 5-man band
Phi Nguyen says: headbutts his enemies like Zidane
Jackie Chang says: hahahaha
John Malone says: traveled to the 20's to play kick-the-can
Jackie Chang says: saves kittens out of trees when he can
Dan Fields says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahah
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahahhahaa, aweosme
Dan Fields says: you guys know me so well
Phi Nguyen says: eat's pb and j but never sans the jam
Jackie Chang says: was the first to put a disco ball in the back of his van
Phi Nguyen says: hahah
Dan Fields says: hahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: is the Prince of Persia, but never been to Iran
Jackie Chang says: who always refers to the ladies as "Ma'am"
John Malone says: he hates the Spam but is still a black ham
Jackie Chang says: who always has time to play with his friend PAN
Phi Nguyen says: for my wedding, he bought me a sham
Jackie Chang says: always closes doors with a mighty slam
Phi Nguyen says: hahaha
Phi Nguyen says: he loves boisenberry, not a fan of the cran
Dan Fields says: I'm so cool
Dan Fields says: HAHAHAHAH
John Malone says: hahaha
John Malone says: likes to fly helos by the side of a dam
Phi Nguyen says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: in his gyros he prefers his lamb
Jackie Chang says: shares his name with a fictional Lieutenant who served in 'Nam
John Malone says: before some Greenghetti he sprays pans with the Pam
Phi Nguyen says: hahah
Dan Fields says: Shops at Pier One where I can buy some rattan
Phi Nguyen says: to the little kids he yells "Beat it!" and "Scram!!"
Dan Fields says: hahahah
Phi Nguyen says: loves his cajun food like that of Zataran
John Malone says: thought i beat him at C&C but it was just a scam
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahaha
Phi Nguyen says: he's no sissy boy, he's a real man's man
John Malone says: if he lived in africa, he'd be chief of the gourd clan
Phi Nguyen says: once called the Wambulance for me during a LAN
Dan Fields says: hahahahhaa
Phi Nguyen says: hahah
John Malone says: a fan of the Tres Leches and maybe the flan
Jackie Chang says: lassoed the sun from the sky because he wanted to wokr on his tan
John Malone says: hahaha
Phi Nguyen says: hahahha
John Malone says: with biceps and bulges like the 10 mill dollar man
Dan Fields says: Going to retire in Austrailia with a wallabye and a ram
Phi Nguyen says: ahhahahhahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahah
Dan Fields says: hahahahh
John Malone says: rides with Chuck Norris in a catamaran
Dan Fields says: hahahaha
Jackie Chang says: fish don't come ashore b/c he drew a line in the sand
John Malone says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahah
Phi Nguyen says: once played the role of Frodo, not that fat hobbits Sam
Phi Nguyen says: ahahahhahahahhahahahhaha
John Malone says: can call for free on his long distance plan
Phi Nguyen says: hhahahahahahaaha
Jackie Chang says: hhahahaha
Jackie Chang says: asked Chuck Norris why he's so cool and Chuck said "its b/c of you Dan"
John Malone says: hahaha
Dan Fields says: Keeps only one shoe in a pair because two are too bland
Dan Fields says: hahahah
Jackie Chang says: hhahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahaahha
Phi Nguyen says: blows his nose with the gust of a million fans
Jackie Chang says: hahahahaha
Dan Fields says: awesome
John Malone says: killed a grizzley before he learned how to stand
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahahhaahhaagaghahahah
Phi Nguyen says: plays killer bass while pal john rips the drum in his band
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahaaha
John Malone says: haha thanks
Dan Fields says: Steals PAN's g36E whenever I can
Phi Nguyen says: hahha
Jackie Chang says: hahahahahaha
Phi Nguyen says: he stares the pearls out of oysters, out-muscles the clams
John Malone says: able to shoot acid from his pituitary gland
Phi Nguyen says: HAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHA
Jackie Chang says: haahahhahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!
Phi Nguyen says: God said let there be ocean, Dan said "No, let there be land!"
John Malone says: hahaha
Jackie Chang says: LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Dan Fields says: yhahahahaah
Phi Nguyen says: can make OR gates in his sleep, but his favorite is AND
John Malone says: hahahaha
John Malone says: opened a lemonade stand and made a grand
Phi Nguyen says: hahaa
Phi Nguyen says: tells the Godfather what to do, he's number one in the fam
Dan Fields says: Killed a killer whales with only his teeth and some Cayan.
Phi Nguyen says: hahhahah
John Malone says: hahaha
Phi Nguyen says: scoffs at domestic brands, only consumes thing made in Japan
John Malone says: climbed mount everest with only one hand
Jackie Chang says: friends with Borat, has a 4 wives in Kazhiskstan
John Malone says: hahahah
Dan Fields says: AWEOSME!
Phi Nguyen says: HHAHHAHAA
Dan Fields says: Makes a good quiche and nobody question's he's a man.
Dan Fields says: you can't follow up jackies
John Malone says: with electricity on your knees and fire in your hand
Phi Nguyen says: let's all celebrate our friend named Dan
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Friday, May 01, 2009
Finally!
The Rockets finally got out of the first round last night. It was pointed out to me that the last time this happened, I was merely 16. I've been bleeding Rocket red for so long, I think I'll go ahead and relish this moment a bit longer. Let's go Rockets!!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The 2009 Texas Independence Relay (March 6th-8th)
I admit, in the months leading up to this year's TIR, I found my excitement waning for the run. I had a busy first few months of running and I didn't allow myself to look beyond the events I had lined up ahead of the relay. Also, the fact that we again struggled to put together a full team roster took away some of the enthusiasm. I was starting to think that we'd have to do the relay with as little as 6 runners, and I was not thrilled about having to run so many legs. Fortunately, our efforts to get the word out finally piqued some interest and we managed to bring together a team of 11 runners and 7 supporters.
Runners:
-Ashley
-Bob
-Peter
-Long
-Phi
-Huyen (new)
-Shaundae (new)
-Heather (new)
-Johnny (new)
-Julio (new)
-Sheila (new)
Support Team:
-Thuy
-Tina (new)
-Andre (new)
-Charlie (new)
-Zhahan (new)
-Dan (new)
-Jess (new)
As you can see we had a lot of new faces this year. As the team started to become more concrete, I found my enthusiasm spiking again. In the last month, we worked out much of the planning and logistics of the race. We learned a lot from our previous experience and worked hard at refining our plans. We wanted to make sure we maximized the amount of sleep for each runner. I think we did a good job at this, however, I knew Julio and I were going to be getting the short end of the stick. The way the leg assignments had sorted out, it would be a miracle if either Julio or I got more than 2 hours of sleep during the race. I was very nervous about this, but I looked forward to the challenge.
The first night, we stayed at this budget motel about 40 minutes from Gonzales. It was certainly no Olle Hotel (the fantastic Bed and Breakfast we stayed last year). We felt this was a suitable location for our first night, since we weren't going to be there very long and it was a short drive into Gonzales. We got up around 4:30 that morning and were on the road before 5:30. Our start time was at 7:00 am so we had an hour and a half to drive there and get ready. We got in with no problem and had plenty of time to get our bibs and swag bags. At about 5 minutes till 7, we walked to the starting line. Our team was announced on the loud speaker and my wife fired the historic cannon to officially start our race.
After finishing the prologue leg (1.15 miles) as a team, my brother Long headed off on leg 1 (4.26 miles). We wished him well and headed to our two 12 passenger vans to meet him at the first exchange. We got to the exchange point shortly thereafter and kept our eyes on the path that lead up to it. He finished well and passed the running bracelet to Julio, who sped through leg 2 (4.85 miles). Now it was my turn on leg 3 (8.78 miles). It was ranked as the most difficult leg due to terrain, distance, and elevation. Despite that, I had a lot of confidence I could do it at a very strong pace. Boy did I underestimate it. The terrain was a lot tougher than I had expected. It was mostly large rocks and loose gravel down this narrow and winding farm road. I knew it would be hilly, but the combination of loose gravel and big elevation changes took its toll. The wind was also gusting so I was caked in dirt. The views of the rolling countryside were really impressive though and I'm glad I took that leg.
My second run wasn't going to be until the night time so I had hours to hang out. I tried my best to catch some sleep, but the task proved nearly impossible. It was great seeing many of the small towns and exchanges I had missed the previous year though and the team did great running throughout the day. By the time my turn was up again, I had started getting nervous about the long night I had ahead of me. Leg 19 (5.5 miles) was mine. That would have been no problem, but I also had leg 27 (6.51 miles) soon after that. At the exchange for leg 23, we had a support team swap. I was so happy to see my good friends Dan and Jess there. At this point, my body was spent. I was exhausted. The long night was wearing on me and it was great to see them out there in the wee hours of the night. They injected some fresh energy into the team and carried us through the night. With the teams encouragement, I managed to soldier through my third leg that took us back to Katy. I was so close to home, I could smell it. We were using our house as the resting stop over the night for the runners and supporters. Julio and I were the last ones to get there and we would only have a couple of hours to clean up and rest before we had to head out again. After Julio finished leg 28 (3.6 miles), we had a van exchange and headed back to HQ (our house). As soon as I got through the door, I tip-toed to the kitchen, scarfed down two slices of cold pizza and went to my room. It was around 7:30 am and it was great to finally shower and sleep! It wasn't long before Andre woke me up to tell me we had to head out. I was still completely burnt out, but at least I was clean. My fourth and final leg was leg 40 (5.32 miles), the last leg of the race. I had some time before then, but again couldn't get any additional sleep. My body didn't feel at all rested, but I still had enjoyed hanging out with the rest of the team. As we made our way to the last exchange, I started trying to get amped for the last leg. My body was tired, but at least I wasn't fighting off an injury like I was the previous year. My muscles weren't very sore, despite already running 22 miles. The biggest obstacle was overcoming the lack of sleep. You know that feeling of exhaustion where your body feels totally achy. That's pretty much how I felt. But with the team behind me, I had to put in a strong performance. That last leg turned out to be my fastest of the weekend. Thanks team!
I have to say, everyone did an outstanding job running, supporting, and planning. An event like this is a logistical nightmare. Fortunately, my wife loves this sort of challenge so she was a big reason why we could be as organized as we were (I love you!). Thank you all for making it such a memorable experience!!!
Runners:
-Ashley
-Bob
-Peter
-Long
-Phi
-Huyen (new)
-Shaundae (new)
-Heather (new)
-Johnny (new)
-Julio (new)
-Sheila (new)
Support Team:
-Thuy
-Tina (new)
-Andre (new)
-Charlie (new)
-Zhahan (new)
-Dan (new)
-Jess (new)
As you can see we had a lot of new faces this year. As the team started to become more concrete, I found my enthusiasm spiking again. In the last month, we worked out much of the planning and logistics of the race. We learned a lot from our previous experience and worked hard at refining our plans. We wanted to make sure we maximized the amount of sleep for each runner. I think we did a good job at this, however, I knew Julio and I were going to be getting the short end of the stick. The way the leg assignments had sorted out, it would be a miracle if either Julio or I got more than 2 hours of sleep during the race. I was very nervous about this, but I looked forward to the challenge.
The first night, we stayed at this budget motel about 40 minutes from Gonzales. It was certainly no Olle Hotel (the fantastic Bed and Breakfast we stayed last year). We felt this was a suitable location for our first night, since we weren't going to be there very long and it was a short drive into Gonzales. We got up around 4:30 that morning and were on the road before 5:30. Our start time was at 7:00 am so we had an hour and a half to drive there and get ready. We got in with no problem and had plenty of time to get our bibs and swag bags. At about 5 minutes till 7, we walked to the starting line. Our team was announced on the loud speaker and my wife fired the historic cannon to officially start our race.
After finishing the prologue leg (1.15 miles) as a team, my brother Long headed off on leg 1 (4.26 miles). We wished him well and headed to our two 12 passenger vans to meet him at the first exchange. We got to the exchange point shortly thereafter and kept our eyes on the path that lead up to it. He finished well and passed the running bracelet to Julio, who sped through leg 2 (4.85 miles). Now it was my turn on leg 3 (8.78 miles). It was ranked as the most difficult leg due to terrain, distance, and elevation. Despite that, I had a lot of confidence I could do it at a very strong pace. Boy did I underestimate it. The terrain was a lot tougher than I had expected. It was mostly large rocks and loose gravel down this narrow and winding farm road. I knew it would be hilly, but the combination of loose gravel and big elevation changes took its toll. The wind was also gusting so I was caked in dirt. The views of the rolling countryside were really impressive though and I'm glad I took that leg.
My second run wasn't going to be until the night time so I had hours to hang out. I tried my best to catch some sleep, but the task proved nearly impossible. It was great seeing many of the small towns and exchanges I had missed the previous year though and the team did great running throughout the day. By the time my turn was up again, I had started getting nervous about the long night I had ahead of me. Leg 19 (5.5 miles) was mine. That would have been no problem, but I also had leg 27 (6.51 miles) soon after that. At the exchange for leg 23, we had a support team swap. I was so happy to see my good friends Dan and Jess there. At this point, my body was spent. I was exhausted. The long night was wearing on me and it was great to see them out there in the wee hours of the night. They injected some fresh energy into the team and carried us through the night. With the teams encouragement, I managed to soldier through my third leg that took us back to Katy. I was so close to home, I could smell it. We were using our house as the resting stop over the night for the runners and supporters. Julio and I were the last ones to get there and we would only have a couple of hours to clean up and rest before we had to head out again. After Julio finished leg 28 (3.6 miles), we had a van exchange and headed back to HQ (our house). As soon as I got through the door, I tip-toed to the kitchen, scarfed down two slices of cold pizza and went to my room. It was around 7:30 am and it was great to finally shower and sleep! It wasn't long before Andre woke me up to tell me we had to head out. I was still completely burnt out, but at least I was clean. My fourth and final leg was leg 40 (5.32 miles), the last leg of the race. I had some time before then, but again couldn't get any additional sleep. My body didn't feel at all rested, but I still had enjoyed hanging out with the rest of the team. As we made our way to the last exchange, I started trying to get amped for the last leg. My body was tired, but at least I wasn't fighting off an injury like I was the previous year. My muscles weren't very sore, despite already running 22 miles. The biggest obstacle was overcoming the lack of sleep. You know that feeling of exhaustion where your body feels totally achy. That's pretty much how I felt. But with the team behind me, I had to put in a strong performance. That last leg turned out to be my fastest of the weekend. Thanks team!
I have to say, everyone did an outstanding job running, supporting, and planning. An event like this is a logistical nightmare. Fortunately, my wife loves this sort of challenge so she was a big reason why we could be as organized as we were (I love you!). Thank you all for making it such a memorable experience!!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Austin Half Marathon February 15, 2009
I'm back from a nice weekend in Austin. I had a (surprisingly) solid run on the hillier, but very fun course. I was actually expecting to finish in around 1:55 but ended up beating my previous half PR (set a few months ago in San Antonio) by a whopping two seconds! Not too shabby considering the challenging course. Here's the breakdown:
Official Chip Time: 1:49:12
Average Pace: 8:20 min/mile
(Garmin data coming soon!)
The best part is, I feel I had speed to spare! I laid off the pace in the last mile when I felt my calves getting a little tight. I was worried I'd cramp before the end so I slowed down about 45-60 seconds off my min/mile pace. Now that's out of the way, I can really focus my excitement on the upcoming TIR. It'll be the perfect way to cap off the cool weather running season. I can't believe it's already been a year!
A big congratulations to my brother-in-law Richard who completed his first half marathon. Very well done, man!
And of course, a very special thank you to my wife who is always cheering me on from the sidelines. You are my inspiration. I love you sweetheart.
Happy running everyone.
Official Chip Time: 1:49:12
Average Pace: 8:20 min/mile
(Garmin data coming soon!)
The best part is, I feel I had speed to spare! I laid off the pace in the last mile when I felt my calves getting a little tight. I was worried I'd cramp before the end so I slowed down about 45-60 seconds off my min/mile pace. Now that's out of the way, I can really focus my excitement on the upcoming TIR. It'll be the perfect way to cap off the cool weather running season. I can't believe it's already been a year!
A big congratulations to my brother-in-law Richard who completed his first half marathon. Very well done, man!
And of course, a very special thank you to my wife who is always cheering me on from the sidelines. You are my inspiration. I love you sweetheart.
Happy running everyone.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Chevron Houston Marathon 2009
As I crossed the starting gate, I pressed the start button on my watch and said to myself "Here we go again..."
4 hours 19 minutes and 52 seconds later. I crossed the finish line...happy. Not because I was finished. And not because I had a new best marathon time, but because I was happy about the road I had just traveled. I was happy. I had found the pure joy and love that I thought I had lost for the sport. This isn't to say I didn't struggle at times during the run. I had moments where the fatigue and strain started to weigh heavily on me, but each and every time I would say aloud to myself "enjoy this." I would then close my eyes and smile. I would look around at the crowd. I would tune into the anonymous cheers. I would give appreciation to the supporters who pronounced my name correctly. I was equally thankful for the supporters who didn't. I slowed down and in some cases traveled back against the flow of runners to say hi to a familiar face.
And so as ran, hobbling on stiff legs, for that last mile, I remembered why I did this.
p.s. A very special THANK YOU to my wife and all my loved ones who supported me.
4 hours 19 minutes and 52 seconds later. I crossed the finish line...happy. Not because I was finished. And not because I had a new best marathon time, but because I was happy about the road I had just traveled. I was happy. I had found the pure joy and love that I thought I had lost for the sport. This isn't to say I didn't struggle at times during the run. I had moments where the fatigue and strain started to weigh heavily on me, but each and every time I would say aloud to myself "enjoy this." I would then close my eyes and smile. I would look around at the crowd. I would tune into the anonymous cheers. I would give appreciation to the supporters who pronounced my name correctly. I was equally thankful for the supporters who didn't. I slowed down and in some cases traveled back against the flow of runners to say hi to a familiar face.
And so as ran, hobbling on stiff legs, for that last mile, I remembered why I did this.
p.s. A very special THANK YOU to my wife and all my loved ones who supported me.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A Running Epiphany
A few weeks ago I was bogged down in a real running rut. I was in the thick of the heavy part of my training schedule and I was beginning to dread each long run. All of the sudden, I couldn't stay motivated. I was more excited about finishing the run than about doing the run. Thoughts swirled in my head about laying off the marathons indefinitely after this season. The idea excited me. No more extended training sessions. No waking up before the sun just to have enough time to run. The idea become the light at the end of the tunnel that I thought would motivate me through my current training. The boost was short-lived. Just days later, I was back in my rut. I simply couldn't think my way out of it. I was starting to question whether or not my love of the sport was waning. The questions weighed heavily on my mind. Was it time to hang up the running shoes? Was it time to move on?
A week later I was in the middle of a long training run when I ran into a familiar running friend on the trail. We exchanged casual pleasantries and talked about each others' training. It was then that he gave me the simplest of advice that triggered something for me. He said "if you're enjoying it, you'll run at your best." Suddenly, I realized what I had been doing wrong. I had started to become too concerned with the my mileage, my splits, my average pace, my times etc. Running started to become too much about the numbers for me. It was all about quantitative improvement. Constant competition. It had become a chore. A part of me felt as though I had to constantly improve or I was a failure. I had loss sight of what attracted me to the sport in the first place. The beauty of running is unequivocally the journey. It's about the run itself. I remembered back on my very first running event. It was a half marathon. I hadn't yet built any expectations for time or pace. I was just soaking in the moment. I remember the beautiful sky as the sun broke above the horizon. I remember the herd of runners all around me. I remember the incredible vibe. It was all so magical. I realized that it was what I was now missing. So I started to remind myself of these things and all of the sudden I felt rejuvenated again.
I'm happy to say that it couldn't have come at a better time. Tomorrow morning, I'll be running my eighth running event, my second full marathon. Last year ended a little on a bitter note because I struggled mightily after mile 20 with leg cramps and an injury. For the last year, I was set on redeeming myself from that performance. Now I'm only concerned about enjoying the journey.
Run happy, my friends. Run happy.
A week later I was in the middle of a long training run when I ran into a familiar running friend on the trail. We exchanged casual pleasantries and talked about each others' training. It was then that he gave me the simplest of advice that triggered something for me. He said "if you're enjoying it, you'll run at your best." Suddenly, I realized what I had been doing wrong. I had started to become too concerned with the my mileage, my splits, my average pace, my times etc. Running started to become too much about the numbers for me. It was all about quantitative improvement. Constant competition. It had become a chore. A part of me felt as though I had to constantly improve or I was a failure. I had loss sight of what attracted me to the sport in the first place. The beauty of running is unequivocally the journey. It's about the run itself. I remembered back on my very first running event. It was a half marathon. I hadn't yet built any expectations for time or pace. I was just soaking in the moment. I remember the beautiful sky as the sun broke above the horizon. I remember the herd of runners all around me. I remember the incredible vibe. It was all so magical. I realized that it was what I was now missing. So I started to remind myself of these things and all of the sudden I felt rejuvenated again.
I'm happy to say that it couldn't have come at a better time. Tomorrow morning, I'll be running my eighth running event, my second full marathon. Last year ended a little on a bitter note because I struggled mightily after mile 20 with leg cramps and an injury. For the last year, I was set on redeeming myself from that performance. Now I'm only concerned about enjoying the journey.
Run happy, my friends. Run happy.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Cake is a Lie!
So I have a few day off this week leading up to the new year. I decided to use my time wisely by catching up on a few things, namely chores/house work, creative projects, and video games!
Speaking of video games...
Just minutes ago, I completed one of the most satisfying single player gaming experiences I have ever gone through. I beat Portal, one of the best games of 2007. It had long been on my list of games to play. Knowing that the game was relatively short, I decided to sit down with it to see what the hype was all about. Boy was I totally NOT let down. This game is fantastic. I was really afraid all of the hype would just build my expectation to impossible levels and ultimately lead me to a major let down. Even with my knowledge of the general premise and unique game mechanic, the gameplay felt utterly refreshing. The game design was impressively elegant and the pacing was masterful. I think anyone who gave Portal a chance understand what I'm talking about. Portal easily lands a place on my list of "best games I've played this year." Speaking of best games I've played this year, I think I'm going to go finish Braid!
Speaking of video games...
Just minutes ago, I completed one of the most satisfying single player gaming experiences I have ever gone through. I beat Portal, one of the best games of 2007. It had long been on my list of games to play. Knowing that the game was relatively short, I decided to sit down with it to see what the hype was all about. Boy was I totally NOT let down. This game is fantastic. I was really afraid all of the hype would just build my expectation to impossible levels and ultimately lead me to a major let down. Even with my knowledge of the general premise and unique game mechanic, the gameplay felt utterly refreshing. The game design was impressively elegant and the pacing was masterful. I think anyone who gave Portal a chance understand what I'm talking about. Portal easily lands a place on my list of "best games I've played this year." Speaking of best games I've played this year, I think I'm going to go finish Braid!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon - November 16, 2008
I had a successful weekend in San Antonio. I managed to finish in 1:49:14, which is a new personal best for me. Hooray! Here's the breakdown:
Official Chip Time: 1:49:14
Average Pace: 8:20 minute/mile
My Garmin 405 reported:
Distance: 13.22 miles
Time: 1:49:20
Average Pace: 8:16 minute/mile
I'm guessing the additional .12 miles can be attributed to the actual path I took while running which happened to be just slightly longer than the standard 13.1 length. With streets as wide as they are, this type of variance is understandable.
Overall, I'm very happy with the results. I managed to do a pace of 8:16 while taking a few short walking breaks through the water station. My actual moving pace stayed around the low 8s most of the time.
Also, I didn't have many complaints about the Asics SpeedStar 3 that ran in. I did have some soreness in the outside arch of my left foot, but the discomfort went away. I decided to go with the SpeedStars 3 instead of the DS Trainer 13 because I wanted to see how they would do in race day conditions. Also, they're slightly lighter than my DS Trainers. Despite the good results, I'm planning on using my second pair of DS Trainers for the Houston Marathon. For a distance that long, I'll feel more comfortable with the additional support that the DS Trainers have.
Happy running everyone!
Official Chip Time: 1:49:14
Average Pace: 8:20 minute/mile
My Garmin 405 reported:
Distance: 13.22 miles
Time: 1:49:20
Average Pace: 8:16 minute/mile
I'm guessing the additional .12 miles can be attributed to the actual path I took while running which happened to be just slightly longer than the standard 13.1 length. With streets as wide as they are, this type of variance is understandable.
Overall, I'm very happy with the results. I managed to do a pace of 8:16 while taking a few short walking breaks through the water station. My actual moving pace stayed around the low 8s most of the time.
Also, I didn't have many complaints about the Asics SpeedStar 3 that ran in. I did have some soreness in the outside arch of my left foot, but the discomfort went away. I decided to go with the SpeedStars 3 instead of the DS Trainer 13 because I wanted to see how they would do in race day conditions. Also, they're slightly lighter than my DS Trainers. Despite the good results, I'm planning on using my second pair of DS Trainers for the Houston Marathon. For a distance that long, I'll feel more comfortable with the additional support that the DS Trainers have.
Happy running everyone!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Obama Endorsement
The Houston Chronicle does a good job at making its case for Obama. The Chronicle is historically very conservative. It is the first time that it has endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 when it endorsed LBJ.
I agree whole-heartedly with the endorsement. It's time for change.
I agree whole-heartedly with the endorsement. It's time for change.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Rant: Politics (read at your own risk)
I've been really perturbed with the recent tactics employed by McCain and his camp. Among the biggest sticking points for me are the attacks against Obama's tax proposal. So McCain claims Obama is a socialist for believing in "spreading the wealth."
As I struggled to find the eloquence to express my feelings about this, I happen to stumble upon this comment on a Digg article about all the political labeling going on that I couldn't possibly agree with more.
As I struggled to find the eloquence to express my feelings about this, I happen to stumble upon this comment on a Digg article about all the political labeling going on that I couldn't possibly agree with more.
Political and social constructs overlap. It's dangerous and misleading to quote a line or two from one philosophy and label anyone who agrees with the quote as a believer in all aspects of the philosophy. I'm a fiscal conservative and social liberal. I believe that we should use our country's resources with profound respect and accountability. I also believed that a truly functional society requires that people take care of each other. All taxes spread the wealth around. The current administration did a massive redistribution by raising taxes on the middle class while lowering taxes on the wealthy, which contributed to the economic mess we're in. The "trickle down theory" has failed twice, spectacularly. The middle class is worse off by far now than 8 years ago. Obama's tax plan is breathtakingly simple: the wealthy will pay an additional 3% on taxable income over $250,000. (No change for taxable income below $250K.) The middle class will receive a necessary tax break with which to regain their financial footing. I aspire to be among the wealthy someday. I will not quibble about paying more if I ever break through that $250K level. I want to live in a society that values the health and fiscal well-being of all citizens.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Pre-Season Basketball!!!
I love this time of year. Plus, the second presidential debate is tonight. My DVR will be busy.
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