Scootin' Report

For some unknown reason, I've encountered resistance within myself to posting my running results. I suppose it has something to do with being a novice and therefore not posting very good numbers, to date. To make matters worse is Cameron, my stepson, that twit gloats on and on about his 5:45 5K pace...that, does not help !

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But anyway, here I go (pinching my nose and taking the medicine) with todays five and one half miles: 55:43 or 10.17 per mile. Slow as shit, right ? All I have to say for myself is "give it time" and the Scootin' Report will improve proportionately !!

What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been !!

Ohio State and LSU were considered dead once, but the grateful duo are truckin' on...to the BCS National Championship Title Game that is !!

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LSU and Ohio State have tickets to the title game. (BTW, I'm in need of those, too !!) Everyone else has a pretty good gripe. The latest chapter in this crazy, unpredictable college football season was written Sunday when LSU won the sport's version of the lottery, being picked to play Ohio State for the championship and leaving about a half-dozen other candidates with plenty to complain about. Oh well, that's the BCS for you. Clearly, a play-off system is needed but I don't thing fans of either of these schools will be complaining, at least not this year.

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The Buckeyes were ranked first in November, but surrendered that with a 28-21 loss to a then un-ranked Illinois, that only added fuel to those who said they weren't deserving. But they backed into the BCS game without even playing, beneficiaries of the fact the Big Ten doesn't play a title game while many other conferences do.

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Their opponents will be LSU, a program that appeared on the verge of losing its coach as late as a few hours before kickoff Saturday (college football's drama at its finest). That's when Miles held an angry news conference and said reports he would be leaving the Bayou for Michigan were false. In fact, he said, he had agreed to a new contract to stay in Baton Rouge.

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Then, the Tigers went out and won. Later, they sat calmly and watched chaos reign for the rest of the day. On Sunday, they learned they were in the championship game for the second time in five years.

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There's no disputing it: This college football regular season was crazier than ordering a chocolate martini at a biker bar!!

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Weird, yes. Wacky, probably. A roller coaster ride, indeed. Yes, it was all of that. Or, maybe it was the only fitting way to close out a very imperfect 2007 in college football. Either way, it's on...by that I mean, bring on the Buckeyes !! BTW, what exactly IS a Buckeye? I don't think we have those in the South. ...lol

"Victoria...I Love You, Man !!"

Yesterday was a biz trip day for me, to lovely Victoria, TX. Highway 183 runs Southeast from Austin to the Corpus Christi area, via Victoria. As you may recall from your Texas History class, Corpus used to be the main port of entry into Texas, prior to the ascent of Houston, to that position. Apparently, Hwy 183 was also a historical route to and fro The Coastal Plains, the Central Texas venue and Northwesterly to the High Plain Region (back in the day, it was Indian Domain).

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So, when I began noticing the ever increasing signage, yesterday, I then began to take heed. The stories and historical anecdotes outlined on them were surprisingly interesting. Here are three, of the many and they are basically self-explanatory. BTW, I would have taken better photos except, I swear, the redneck Bubbas kept "buzzing" me with their pick-ups as I stood on the highway's shoulder, trying to frame these shots. Bee-ass-tards !!

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Check them out, if you are in the area. They are cool, indeed...the signs, that is.

Cruising Da' Hood Post

As of late, I've been running around my neighborhood, the green-belt and the school tracks, in an effort to jump-start this running thing. It's going well. The shoes are comfortable and seem to fit well. The low temps have been tres cool. (Side note: I could do without the rain, though. It clearly makes for Bad Hair Days, Damn-it!)

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As of Friday, I'm moving up to four miles but I've not timed myself as yet. Once I get somewhere above five miles then I believe a time trial will be in order, the results of which I may or may not post. ...sniff ; )~

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Clearly, I need to commune further with my Inner Runner because those running shoes are quite sassy! They keep calling my name!

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Now that all of this is going on, however, I suppose there will be a run...on those dorky, little visor-mounted rear view mirrors, down at Academy's or where ever. Inside Voice: "Where the hell is that damn Scooter S.O.B.? Is he back there somewhere?" Nuff said...

Scooter Needs A New Pair of Shoes

After some discussion and fanfare, I've decided to begin running. You heard it right, running. I'll initially utilize it as a cross training item and later add to it, if all goes well and as planned. My first agenda item will be to determine my own pace. Being a sprinter in a prior lifetime, this will take some adjustment on my part.

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These are Asics (duhh..) Gel-Landreth 3's, with a Medium-High arch support and a neutral platform, meaning no pronation or supination (i.e., no slant in either direction). I'm surprised at how much larger of a size I needed, almost two more than my regular shoe size. Thanks to Erin's advise, I was able to get the Russian Lady (she was very nice and cordial, BTW) at the Riverside and S. 1st Runtex to fit me. These shoes are Uber-Cool!

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To all my running friends, buddies and acquaintances out there...here is your fair warning. Be sure to Always Be Closing, as the saying goes, because The Flying Scooter is adding another part to his Game and will be in your rear view mirror very soon !! ; )

Road Trips Rock !!

What do you get when you add a car load of semi-intoxicated Texans, in with 93,000 of their closest LSU friends? Answer: one hell of a party !!

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The road trip to LSU's Death Valley, this weekend, was Big Time Fun. As you know, these things always start off out with an anecdote. This occasion was no different with yours truly as the brunt of the initial ribbing: I was late to my own event!

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Friday: It starts when I was hanging out with Erin (aka, I.C.E.) at her company's noonish golf outing, at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, when it occurred to me that it was past time for me to go. The joke being that my friends know very well that being late is a pet peeve of mine and they were clearly not going to let it slide...at least not until dinner, at Al-T's Cajun Restaurant in Winnie, TX. By then, the subject matter obviously shifted to something more interesting to them at that time, than grilling me: food. As their saying went, I was dubbed "Scooter, the other white meat." Cretins...the whole lot of them. ...lol

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Of course, no road trip would be complete without Walter getting us lost. He is clearly "directionally challenged." So, I asked him "Wally, I love you man...but how in the hell do you get lost by simply going down I-10?" That, my friend, takes skill.

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Saturday: The day begins with Bloody Marys and Breakfast. Then, off to the game. The tailgating experience was awesome !! These clown friends of mine were clearly impressed with the both the ambiance of the pre-game festivities and the numerous, gregarious parties that preceded the game itself.

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Lunch was at Walk-Ons, just off the campus, as Walter and Jeff have seen the ESPN Game Day Dudes eat there before and wanted to do the same. The food was exceptionally good. Of course, Dinner was had with our new Bayou Friends! Everyone wanted to feed "Those Texas Tiger Boyz". I bet we had a dozen offers for dinner...everything from Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Steak to one guy who tried to feed us some kind of "Mystery Meat" concoction. Well...the last one....that was NOT going to happen. We politely smiled, thanked the guy, indicated that we were "already full" and moved on. I was not about to risk spending Sunday at the ER, or worse.

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Then, we strolled into the stadium to watch both the pre-game National Anthem and later a half-time performance by the Country Artist, Lee Greenwood, doing his "God Bless America" rendition. I'm usually not in to that sort of thing but his performance was really quite good. Of course, the Tigers kicked butt. Now, its on to the BCS National Championship Game in N'Awlins in early January 2008.

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As expected and after the game, we went back to some subsequent tailgating fun. BTW, Man Code 3423.7901 precludes me from further commentary on this part of the weekend but I've been known to accept significant monetary or vino bribes. ...lol

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Sunday: A little breakfast and head back to Austin. It was a really fun weekend. No gator, snake or Cajun Women bites noted. It was a success !

Hey Baby !!

Saturday was one of those defining momements in my life. I abided by my "I don't drop friends rule" and what is more, that frickin' Elvis Bastard was definitely in need either of a ass busting or a bullet!! I asked Lula to photograph him, especially if "he wiped out"...from her facial expression, she concurred wholehearedly, well at least as much as the O.U. Guy simulaneously hitting the deck, anyway.

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Saturday was about both maintaining friendships and developing new ones. I gotta say...I'm looking forward to arm-wrestlin' that Lulu Chichy...I hear she's a W.C.B.A. and they always make my day !!