O T T Dawg !!

I wish I had some of what makes this dog go !!
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http://www.dogwork.com/dogsnow/

Tragic Loss of an Austin Area Tiger

This is very sad holiday news. While running the Dallas White Rock Marathon this past Sunday, December 14th, Erin Krielow Lahr, Austin area Louisiana native and LSU grad, tragically passed away. She was a seasoned 29 year old runner who was in fantastic shape. She was a wonderful, fun-loving person who will be very sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go to her husband Jeff, to her family, and to her friends and coworkers. Below are the latest details for Erin's wake, funeral service and memorial fund:
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Wake: Thursday, Dec. 18 Time: TBD (best guess 4-7pm)Delhomme Funeral Home1011 Bertrand DriveLafayette, LA 70506(337) 235-9449
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Funeral Service: Friday, Dec. 19, 10:00 AMSt. Pius X Catholic Church201 E. Bayou ParkwayLafayette, LA 70508(337) 232-4656
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Burial will be at the Gueydan Cemetery in Gueydan, La.
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A memorial fund has been set up in Erin's honor.
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Donations can be made to the following: Erin Krielow Lahr Memorial FundP.O. Box 80373Austin, TX 78708
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As you celebrate this holiday season with your family and friends, please keep Erin's husband, family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
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Information courtesy of LSU Austin Alumni Association

Inaugural Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

Since I began what is commonly referred to as running about a year ago, I've made it a personal goal of mine to increase both my speed and endurance. I must say, the speed is still lacking but the endurance part has gotten much better. So, I signed up for the SA Inaugural 1/2 Marathon...It was a hoot !!

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There I am at the starting line, in the conspicuous purple hat...do you see me?

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Here I am again, struggling to do this thing...running. BTW, the weather was absolutely perfect: 40 degrees, 30% humidity, sunny, and no wind.

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(Insert pseudo-British sounding voice) And now glancing at photo #3: I actually finished the thing in 2:13. Not bad for my first 1/2 marathon. No kidding...I must have passed up like 300 slow runners. Sheeze did I expend needless amounts of energy trying to get around those clowns ! Actually, I signed up to be in corral #20...what a mistake. So, I ducked out of my original corral while returning from El Potty and snuck-scooted up to corral #17 once the race began. Unbelievably, I still had to pass what equated to a small village of poky runners. (Lesson learned #1)

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Any way, some lady at the finish basically made me take a "finisher's" photo. Yes...I'll have a burger with that cheese.

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That's it. Short and sweet. I would like to thank everyone involved with this running pursuit of mine: the peeps who initially talked me into this Kool-Aid drinking thing, my running buds at the Black Sox and Coach Bill for his assistance, insight and guidance. Thanks Everyone !!

The New Government Symbol

Here is a very succinct way of explaining why yours truly is a Libertarian. I don't think I could say it any better than this...

Get Out And Vote, Damnit !!

Everyone knows what is today. So, whether you are Democrat or Republican, Green Party or Libertarian...get out there and vote if you have not already done so. Contrary to what the candidates are saying, I think we will have change no matter who wins this election !!

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As my friends are fond of reiterating about me, strange things happen in the most unexpected ways. You don't always know what you'll find, until you begin to look for it.

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What? You are wondering for whom you should vote today? Hmmm...I have a few ideas, so let me help you with that... ; )~

WTF ??

Yesterday, as I'm cruising north bound on Hwy 287, from Wichita Falls toward Vernon, TX, I was doing the usual listening to tunes and la-ly-gaging along. Then, out of the corner of my vision I saw what was surely a North Texas, hotter-n-hell mirage. So, I look again. And, sure enough, it was what I thought it to be. Two bikini clad chicas sitting atop an old Cadillac, right there, on the side of the road, in front of someone's home. Except the chicas were not as they appeared. Damn manikins !! OK...back to the real world and on to my appointment having enjoyed a small laugh for the morn.

Coeur d'Alene Ironman

I wanted to congratulate my friend (and neighbor) Robin for her completion and very good results in the 2008 Ford Ironman, Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. Her inaugural Iron by the way... Here is a video of it prepared by her brother: http://animoto.com/play/g5cguzAZjiX0VB71VXXrTA

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Way to go Robin !!

OMG...It's a Strandbeest !!

Theo Jansen is a Dutch artist who builds walking kinetic sculptures that he calls a new form of life. His "Strandbeests" walk the coastline of Holland, feeding on wind and fleeing from water.

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Theo has been working for 16 years to create sculptures that move on their own in eerily lifelike ways. Each generation of his "Strandbeests" is subject to the forces of evolution, with successful forms moving forward into new designs. Jansen's vision and long-term commitment to his wooden menagerie is as fascinating to observe as the beasts themselves.His newest creatures walk without assistance on the beaches of Holland, powered by wind, captured by gossamer wings that flap and pump air into old lemonade bottles that in turn power the creatures' many plastic spindly legs. The walking sculptures look alive as they move, each leg articulating in such a way that the body is steady and level. They even incorporate primitive logic gates that are used to reverse the machine’s direction if it senses dangerous water or loose sand where it might get stuck. Check 'em out: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/162

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"A self-styled god, Jansen is evolving an entirely new line of animals: immense multi-legged walking critters designed to roam the Dutch coastline, feeding on gusts of wind." --Wired News

The Adventures of Barack and Hillary, con't...

Priceless !!

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Random Thought: Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's actually more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

The Best Rock Show In Town: Rush

These guys flat out rock!! I've seen them many times and they still continue to impress me, more so each and every time. Gary Lee Weinrib (aka, Geddy Lee) is amazing. Alexander Zivojinovich (aka, Alex Lifeson) is one of my fav guitarist. But, that Neil Peart (pronounced: Peert) is without a doubt the best drummer, ever ! Bar none. I left the concert is a mild form of daze at just how good a show I had just witnessed. For the record...I only had one beer. ...lol

My New Living Will

Here is my New Living Will Form:

I, Scooter Boudreaux, being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under NO circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead partisan politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it or lawyers/doctors/hospitals interested in simply running up the bills. As a matter of fact, if a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to ask for at least one of the following:

______a Martini

______a Margarita

______ a Scotch and soda

______a Bloody Mary

______a Gin and Tonic

_____a Glass of Shiraz

______a Steak

______Lobster or crab legs

______The remote control

______a bowl of ice cream

______The sports page

______Chocolate
______Flying Magazine or

______Sex

It should be presumed that I won't ever get any better. When said determination has been reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day.

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At this point, it is time to call the New Orleans Jazz Funeral Band to come do their thing at my funeral, and ask all of my friends to raise their glasses to toast the good times we have had.

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Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

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RANDOM NOTE: I also hear that in Ireland they have a Nursing Home with a Pub. The patients are happier and they have a lot more visitors. Some of them don't even need embalming when their time comes. If anyone knows the name of this happy place PLEASE pass it on!

2009 Job Market

A friend of mine sent this to me...very creative and freakin' hilarious, without regard to anyone's political affiliation ! Click on the title for a direct You Tube link, for better viewing.

Engineering Question Du Jour

Q.) How much does a house weigh ???

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A.) Just a tad more than a rural two-lane bridge can hold, apparently.

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So (and you all knew this was coming... as it is the trickiest and best part of this conundrum) would this damage be covered by the Homeowners policy, the Commercial Truck/Common Carrier's policy or does it come under Roadside Assistance coverage from AAA? Either way, there's going to be a mad and temporarily homeless redneck family, somewhere !! Spoot !

La-re-do del Norte (Biz Tripping)

Apparently, a long, long time ago...Laredo was known as Laredo of The North, meaning located in the northern provence of Mexico known as Tamaulipas. Then, there was a fight and you all know the rest of that story, so I won't bore you with repetition of it. Suffice it to say that Laredo is different, even as border towns go. But, I must say that the folks are friendly and you can get the best less than $10 Tex-Mex lunch anywhere.

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The next best thing that it is known for is various and sundry, inexpensive Mexican imports. You know the kind. Like the ones pictured above. I even texted Erin to see if she would like for me to pickup a couple of these for her pad. They would be quite effective in scaring off would be "unannounced visitors." She responded that she would pass on the imports but I figured that some photos would at least be mildly entertaining and somewhat decorative, in an ironic sense. These are quite sturdy as they are made of cast aluminum...they could double as family heirlooms for generations to come !!

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Workout Report:

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Wed: Cycle, 20 miles down the Parm windtunnell, 16.9 amph

Thur: Mesa Hill repeats with The Du's, 4 repeats, 5.6 miles and a couple of cervesas. Now that's a Quality Workout.

Fri: Nada...El Tripe to Laredo + Happy Hours

Sat: Cycle, 45 miles with Stephen at the Rosedale Ride

Sun: Run, 5 miles on Brushy Creek Trail, 8:50 average...man, the days are warming up.

Mon: Gym (yes, I rediscovered it !!) and 3 miles running on the dreadmill

Do What ??

An old college friend of mine sent these jokes to me today. They are so funny that I had to pass them on. Hopefully, they help with your Wednesday !!
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1. So, how many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Then, raise my hand.
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2. OK, so what's the speed of dark? Hmm...I dunno.
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3. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. There may be alcohol involved with this one.
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4. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now! (definitely my fav.)
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5. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges? (Requires DEEP thought)
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6. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines. (That's true...and as you all know, "weaseling into" or "out of" something is definitely one of my favorite expressions of speech)
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Work Out Report:
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Fri: Run, 5 miles, 8:45 pace. What the hell am I doing, running on my day off ??
Sat: Cycle, 35 miles, 17.5 mph average. Man, I love that new Parmer extension. It goes past Hwy 29 and so far out into the country now that you can see members of the "Land of The Nine Fingered People."
Sun: Nada....just chilled; Whassup !! Sniff...
Mon: Run, 8.5 miles with Erin around TLT (Town Lake Trails). A little right thigh stiffness after that one.
Tues: Run, 4.6 miles with the Du's at AHS; 400 repeats (2:10 average) with 200 recovery...did eight of these total, plus the run to and from J&A's. Ah yes, Spring is back.

What Is That ??

Last week was a blur...lots of stuff going on and just like that, it was gone. I found myself saying "What is this or what am I doing, here" quite often...a true sign of a busy schedule. But, a lot was accomplished that needed to be done. Even though work obligations took up most of my time, I still was able to "squeeze in" most of what I set out to do, relative to work out activities. However, I do need to get my butt (and the rest of myself) in the gym more often.

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Work Out Report:

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Tues: Run,6.5 miles, quality work out with the Du's
Wed: Core w/o and spin class, 20 mile cycling equivalent
Thurs: Run, 4 miles on the dread, at the hotel
Fri: Happy, Happy Hours...king of the Friday Afternoons !!
Sat: Cycle, 40 miles Tim, Erin, Dionn and Gina along with a run for 3 miles....this little ditty wiped me out
Sun: Cycle, 50 miles and a small fall off of the bike at an intersection...a little embarrassing but good fodder for laughing at myself. The ride with E., Tim, Maggie, et al itself was a good one. (Really, E., it was 50 !! Check it off the list. ...lol ) Also, 1.5 miles run...a bit less difficult of a brick than Sat's; so apparently I'm getting acclimated to it.

Things People Put on Their Vehicles

"Pirate and Proud" ...how nice !! Looks like this person was in town for a marshal arts convention. Let's see: 1-marshal arts badass and 2-pirate tendencies; Hmmm...yes, I shall chose to leave this person alone, as in not messing with them. If you get my drift, Matey !!
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I do enjoy entertaining myself while I'm out and about town...sometime I'm working, other times not.
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Workout Report:
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Wed: Spin Class, 20 mile equivalent
Thurs: Run, 7 miles
Fri: I mean REALLY people...Happy Hours ahoy !!
Sat: Cycle, 50 miles with Erin, Glenda, Kris, Dionn and Tim down Old SA Road
Sun: Cycle, 32 miles with Stephen, doing the Parmer Wind Tunnel Exercise. Random Thought: man, I really like my new Schwinn rain jacket. It doubles as a very formidable wind breaker as well and it came in handy not once but twice this weekend. Get one folks.
Mon: Run, 400 Repeats on the dreadmill; and let's not forget a gym workout, to boot... AARRR !!

Ladies and Gentlemen...Ms. Amy Weiskopf

Within the last week, independent of each other two friends asked me for New Orleans restaurant recommendations as they were both going there for business conventions. Needless to say, they were not disappointed and I, of course, was jealous. Particularly my friend Christine who opted for the cuisine at Emeril's Delmonico. One of my all-time favs. She noted both the exquisite fare and the elegant, yet understated decor of the restaurant. Most notably in her observations, though, were the paintings on display both at the bar area and at various parts of the dining portion itself. In what was a seemingly deja vu encounter, it donned on her that the paintings were somehow vaguely familiar, though she had not been to Delmonico before. Things that make you go....hmmm?

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As it turns out, she has previously viewed the work of Amy Weiskopf at the Hackett-Freedman Gallery in San Francisco some time ago. Viola !! The fog began to clear. When the restaurant was renovated in July of 1998, the current owner wanted stunning paintings to hang in the restaurant, so he commissioned the world-renowned still-life artist to paint oil paintings that showcase the classic elements of Creole Cuisine. Weiskopf's paintings are noted for their visual acuity and tightly controlled compositions, wherein daringly arranged foodstuffs, seemingly poised on the edge of collapse or out of context, push to the forefront of the picture plane. According to the artist, her "paintings are more visual than narrative. They are about opposites, contrasts of tonal structure, color values and varying depths of space, creating a complicated visual experience within the precise format of still life." A unique style but very cool...
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Work Out Report:
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Friday: 5 mile run
Sat: Gym in morning (some people just cannot get up on the weekends...) and 28 miles cycling later in the day
Sun: 34 miles cycling

Mon: Walk 5 miles; Then ran 10x, 200 yard sprints w/ 200 yard active recovery in between

Tues: 6 mile run, at Wm.son County Park w/ Coach Bill's Clan

Wed: Gym and spin class, 20 mile equivalent workout...that spin class instructor is tuff!!

South Padre Bound...

Yesterday was a biz trip day to The Island. After boarding the plane, I began reading the daily Austin American mis-Statemen paper. And here's my horiscope du jour (BTW, Erin's the one who got me hooked on reading this silly stuff) : "There is always an exception to the rule, and today, you're it. You're special, your talent is special, and the world gives you special treatment. Soak it up. This doesn't happen every day or to everyone." I have to admit, I like this one...

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So, here are a few pix from the trip:

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1-Leaving the Austin airport. It's about 40 degrees outside.

2-The view from the client's second story louvered tower. It's about 72 degrees outside, now.

3-The front of the office that burned. Does this look like a $1 million fire to you? Me neither...

4-The back porch view, from the client's beach home. I gotta tell you...it would be uber cool to look out your back window or door, to to see this each and every day.

5-And, (insert circus music...) no trip to SPI would be complete without a stop at Shell World !!

6-H-Town on the return trip. BTW, where is that service attendant with my beer??

Zee Marathon !!

Missy, Cameron and numerous friends, neighbors and acquaintences ran either the entire AT&T Marathon on Sunday or the half. What a truly exciting event to witness. I was also lucky enough to watch the leaders basically fly by me, not once but on four different occasions.

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Missy and Cameron did well, finishing with a 4:12 time on what was their first marathon. Here are a few pix:

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1-Missy and Cam at the beginning, trying to stay warm

2-The start line for the race

3-Cam and Missy (in the back) at mile 19. I met Matt and Donna (my friends and neighbors) on Arroyo Secco to see this part.

4-Missy's brother, Mark, up from Houston as a surprise visitor for the run.

5-Yours truly, Donna and Matt....what great fun it is to live in this town !!

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Work Out Report:

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Thurs: "Rest Day" What, you did something else??

Fri: Real Rest Day

Sat: Gym and spin class, 20 mile equivalent

Sun: 38 Bike miles, cruising around the marathon course....brrrr, a quite chilly 40 degrees, to start

Mon: Yet, another rest day....I suppose I need to get my ass busy, again !! Sheeze...that work thing is starting to materially interfere with my work outs, again...

Grand Champion !

Tuesday evening as I was watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, it occurred to me how riduculous some of these "Champions" look. The Poodles look like some sort of girly Star Wars creature, instead of someone's pet. BTW, who would go out in public with a dog that looks like this...I mean REALLY?

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However, the coolest of the real dogs where the Akita and the Beagle "UNO," the latter of which won Best In Show. The Akita reminded me of my own dog, Rocket, who is part Akita and part Collie. UNO I must say, is a studly dawg and to boot he lives right here in Austin, TX !! Geaux UNO !!

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Work Out Report:

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Mon: 27 miles on the Bike (Did I mention how I love riding my bike??)

Tues: 5 mile run (actually, an easy run...imagine that)

Wed: Gym workout and 1 hr. spin, 20 mile equivalent (my legs were a little sluggish for some, odd reason)

I Am A Star !!

Last Tuesday, after a run, Erin casually mentions something about doing a small, very casual, 5K on Saturday morning right near her house. BTW, she's kind of sneaky and persuasive like that. Later in the week, as my introduction into 5K's in general, I sign up for the Lil Longhorn and meet both Erin and Maggie there to do the run. The run well, I did a 27.06 and we each go our separate ways afterwards. It was fun...

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The surprise comes later. On Sunday morning, I'm reading the Austin American Mis-Statesmen and what do I find inside of the Metro Section...a picture of Moi, along with all of the others at the beginning of the run. (I am right under the "O" in the white hat and shades) I never was able to locate either Erin or Maggie in the photo (above). Anyway, it's probably for the best...those two already have America's Most Wanted in hot pursuit of them as we speak !! Since they are not visible in the picture near me, I won't have to answer all of those 'Persons of Interest' inquiry calls from the authorities...

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Workout Report:

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Mon: Pas Rien. Rest day.

Tues: 5 mile run. Begin to feel the onset of a nasty sinus thing.

Wed: Sick Day

Thurs: Bike, 27 miles...hacking all the while

Fri: Gym workout for a couple of hours; also, 3 miles on the dreadmill

Sat: 5k (!) or 3 miles + 15 miles on bike with Stephen

Sun: 15 miles on bike at Veloway...discovered that I'm a local celebrity ...lol

What's Wrong With This Picture ??

A friend of mine sent this picture to me. These men are installing and setting solid steel pillars in concrete to stop vehicles from parking on the pavement, outside a sports bar in downtown Norman, OK. Apparently, the Okies are cleaning up at the end of the day.

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So, how long do you think it will be before they realize where their vehicle is parked? And, they wonder why we make fun of them, so !!

Allons a Mardi Gras !!

Horoscope Du Jour: Embrace your weirdness today. Trying to be 'normal' is a pointless waste of time. I think for once, they have me pegged...especially on this day that is so revered and celebrated in my native New Orleans. I suppose my horoscope parallels the addage: you can take the boy out of the City (a term New Orleanians use to refer to their hometown) but you can't take the City out of the boy. Happy Mardi Gras everyone !!

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As you can tell, everyone gets involved in the festivities: Grand Ma's, Cave Men and Women, Dorks Extraordinaire and Indians (a self-described term used by Creole African Americans who have a Taino Indian, Caribbean Native American, heritage). Very fun and interesting stuff even for those NOT intoxicated for the event !!

The Positive: Workplace and Life

Leadership is not about the size of your office or the prestige of your title. And it's not just for CEOs and VPs of sales. We all can lead, in all that we do. For me, true leadership is more about the depth of your commitment and the strength of your character than about the position that you hold. Lead without a title, as it were.

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To me, leadership is a way of being. It's about inspiring all of those who surround you to realize their gifts and stand for personal greatness. It's about taking responsiblility for every dimension of your life, as opposed to blaming others for what's not working. It's about devoting yourself to excellence in every pursuit and making things better, no matter how good they already are. After all, when has "good enough" really ever been good enough?

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Leadership is also about connecting to people. Deeply. Genuinely. Passionately. Because business and life are really all about people. And people can always spot a fake...

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A friend of mine were having a discussion recently, about how incredibly short life can be. How we need to dream, act and be the people we know we can be... right now. How all that we can leave behind, in the end, are the great things we have done and the kindness we have given others. And, how success is powerful. But living with integrity and significance is even better. Those of us who live with all of these elements are those who are superb leaders and human beings. These are goals with the underlining understanding that none of us are perfect.

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The bottom line is any person who wants to lead and live a remarkable life, can. Teachers, entrepreneurs, artists and students can lead. As Mark Twain once wrote, "if everybody was satisfied with himself there would be no heroes."

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Work Out Report:

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Sat: 3 miles...measly, I know but I have friends who are bad influences on me. ; )

Sun: 1 hr, spin class, 20 mile equivalent

Mon: Rest Day (small, family emergencies notwithstanding)

Tues: Gym and 1hr, spin class, 20 mile equiv.

Wed: Gym and 1hr, spin class addiction 'fix', 20 mile equiv.

Thurs: 7 miles on the trails, sans the walk breaks. My longest continous run, to date.

Fri: Happy Hours vs. Gym and a Run? ....hmmm; TBD

A Public Service Announcement

This message goes out to all my friends who drink wine regularly, to my friends who enjoy a glass of wine occasionally and to those who don't...

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As Ben Franklin said: in wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 litre of water each day (and most of our training friends do that, right?), at the end of the year we have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli (E coli) - the bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop. Major ewww factor!

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However, we do not run that risk when drinking wine and beer (or tequila, run, whisky, or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting. Remember the formula this way: Water = Poop, Wine = Health
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Therefore, it is better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of sh*t. And, again there is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I am doing it as a pro-bono public service. So, drink up Toute Le Monde!! That reminds me..it's cellar tidying time again. Who's up for the proceeds?

Yummage Du Jour:

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2005 The Colonial Estate GSM Envoy, 93 points (Drink 2006-2014. ). The compelling 2005 Envoy GSM’s blue/purple color is accompanied by gorgeous aromas of graphite, camphor, blueberries, blackberries, and acacia flowers. Dense, full-bodied, and rich, with extraordinary purity and precision, it was aged completely in French oak. This beauty should drink well for 7-8 years. But, who can wait that long...drink it NOW!! Guaranteed to be better than the Koolaid...

Hot Lunch

I know there is no such thing as a Free Lunch. Ahh...but no one ever said anything about a Hot Lunch !! For those, there are aplenty. The ingredients can definitely be mixed or matched, depending on what's fresh and available. Here's today's version. I call it Terrific Tuesday's Hot Lunch.

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Mix the following into a medium heated, olive oil laced 8" skillet, once the veggies are washed and towel dried:

-one stalk of fresh celery, cleaned and chopped

-1/2 cup, fresh organic babby carrots

-1/4 cup, sweet Maya onions, diced finely

-2, small sweet Portuguese peppers, chopped

-2 tablespoons, chopped garlic

-1 cup, grape tomatoes, sliced in half

-1/2 cup, pine nuts

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Stir fry these until the onions are clear. Then stir in the following:

-2 cups, fresh organic baby spinach

-(optional and skipped for vegetarians) 1 cup chopped left over meat: BBQ brisket, salmon or chicken. Tofu is a good sub for this item.

-season with black pepper and your fav seasoning salt (Emeril's Essence is mine)

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Stir fry for another 2-3 minutes and then let sit for one minute, to allow seasonings to merge and the dish to cool enough to eat. My most anticipated moment !! Yummage Du Jour.

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And, of course, no meal is complete without the assistance of my astute Sous Chef, Rocket...