I Am Lex Luthor !!

I took the Google Super Hero/Super Villain quiz. http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/

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The results were mildly surprising. Apparently, and as some of you may have guessed...my mischievous Scooter side came through in the quiz! So, this means that as Lex, I am a brilliant businessman, on a quest for world domination and the self-proclaimed greatest criminal mind of our time! Hey...this has potential and could be fun!!

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Work Out Log:

Sat: Spin Class, 1 hr., 20 mile equivalent (That Thomas guy on Saturdays is pretty funny and cool.)

Sun: Ran 10 miles with Erin and her friend Jeff (It took 4-ever !! Like, two hours and something...anyway, Thanks for having me along.)

Mon: Spin Class, 1hr., 20 mile equivalent (I think the Nazi Woman is trying to kill us all !! And, I'm starting to get creeped out by her. She randomly hops off her spin cycle and walks around during the class, with a strange look in her eyes... like she's on the prowl or something. She's probably Cat Woman in an everyday woman's clothing, as camouflage! )

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`A Plus Tarde, Toute Le Monde !

Behold, The Squirrels

My friend Jeff calls yesterday, asking for assistance of a unique kind. I said " Jeff, I'm not in to that sort of thing, Dude!." "No, no" he says, " I need help getting rid of some squirrels in my attic." To which I replied, "well...do you just want to get rid of them 'period' or were you planning on utilizing the 'humane, relocation method'? Not one to mince words, he says "WTF...I don't care...the little bastards scared Rita (his smarter and better half) with their scratching noise up there, they're tearing up the attic and they're shitting everywhere." OK....well, now we have a plan. I'll be over in a minute.

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So, as I'm driving there...I wonder. Does he have singing squirrels? A family of squirrels? Or, simple, Mr. Bad-Ass squirrel in his attic? It matters as to how you're going to address the situation, people !! So, initially, we go with Phase I: Implementation of Live Traps. Bait them with peanut butter and set them out around the attic. Check. When we catch them, give 'em a ride.

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If that doesn't work...there's always Phase II ! Brroo-Ha-Ha....

Hey Monsieur...Does Your Dog Bite?

These pictures were sent to me by a commercial pilot friend of mine. They were taken just outside the carrier flight crew's layover hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, by a field tech working with them. The locals seem friendly enough, though. It creates a whole new paradigm to the old Pink Panther line (above)...or, better yet the following one by Inspector Cluso, "Monsieur, I thought you said your dog does NOT bite! Monsieur, retorts the man on the street, that is not my dog!!" I'm not so sure these are even dogs, at all.

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Do you think they have been vaccinated? Would you like to pet them !!

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Anywho...here's the other stuff:

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Work Out Report

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Mon: 1 hr. of spin class... Approx. 20 miles

Tues: 400 x 6 repeats... Not sure of time; seems my runner partner may have been confused.

Wed: 1 hr. of spin class... Approx. 20 miles (That cycling Nazi gal wore me out !!)

Thurs: Ran w/ Coach Bill... 6 miles of trail running; Williamson County Park

Fri: Gym and Dreadmill...5 mile equivalent

Today's Gotta Be Monday!!

At the beginning of work weeks, I often wonder: during this one, am I going to be the fish or the Creature from the Black Lagoon?

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"Swamp Thing, I Think I Love You" (electric guitar sounds whaling in the background).
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Aquarists take note, it is critically important to consider the full size and special care requirements of adult specimens before stocking your tank with juvenile versions of these. Yes, they’re adorable and cute. And sure, they’re nice and small now. But (much like alligators and reptilians in general) what are you going to do a few months from now...when they’ve reached full maturity, and you’re chasing one around the house with a harpoon gun? You know the story...it caught a glimpse of your girlfriend or significant other in her swimsuit, fell in love, grabbed her and ran away in the general direction of the foggy swamp?
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"I Wanna Know For Sure" Wha Wha Wha Whaaa...

We Are The Champions, My Friends...

Ahh yes...I almost to post the findings of the BCS Championship Game. How silly of me to forget, to quote one of my LSU buddies. Well, it went well and I must admit that Ohio State was a much more formidable opponent than were those Okie Chokie, Loser Sooners in 2003. My hat goes off to Ohio State and a big "Yaa-Hoo" to the Tigers !!

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And to my buddy Phil in Cleveland, that's a size medium shirt, Sir. All cotton, please, just like last year's. ; )~ And, I expecting the photo of you, with yours on tout de suite and again on Ohio State/Michigan Weekend in November.

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Here's a little additional PPS of the game, for your viewing pleasure... http://www.nola.com/photos/t-p/index.ssf?2008BCSshow/

2007 In Review

In 2007, I am thankful for many wonderful things: my family, friends, my career and last but not least, my hobbies. My immediate and extended family are doing well. I am especially grateful that my younger brother, Shane, safely returned from Iraq for what was essentially his second tour of duty in the Middle East. He is currently in Kosovo amid other UN Peacekeeping troops, in a concerted effort to both stabilize and rebuild that war torn country.
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To all of my friends I say many, many “Thanks” as each of you has helped me this year in some form or fashion. In 2007, I met new friends and continued relationships with my established ones. Random Thought: It is extremely interesting to me (and it has been the subject of many philosophical discussions, both with and without adult beverage overtones) as to how we go about selecting the people that we call “friends.” There certainly is an endearing and alluring quality about them that seems to call us into a friendship with them. I once read a poignant statement that “Friendship is love minus sex and plus reason. Love, however, is friendship plus sex and minus reason” (M. Cooley). A strange little paradigm indeed but by all accounts appears to be true. Friends are like that…figuratively smashing a cymbal right near your ears, in an effort to wake you up to what’s going on in your world. We all need that from time to time. Again, thanks to each of you for that…
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I am certainly glad about my return to Crawford in March. I have been very comfortable and happy doing what I do for the San Antonio Office, along with ancillary assignments across other parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast South, en general. I am especially proud to be part of the Most Improved Branch Office of our company. This office was seventh from the bottom rank (out of seventy-three offices in the entire US) a year ago. Since then, we have worked very hard and diligently in all phases of what we do. This focused and concerted effort has moved us all the way up to the number three office in the entire US!! A little friendly competition is always good...
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My hobbies, of course, include sports. Some things never change. In early ’07 I purchased a Fuji road bike and also began running, as of the latter part of the year. While the running is still in its early, developmental phase I must say that I’ve really come to enjoy and excel at cycling. I completed my first Metric Century this year and continue to look forward to many more of these outdoor adventures in 2008. It sure beats the hell out of laying about on the couch. ...lol
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That's a wrap. Happy New Year Every One !!

Holiday Musings

The Holidays were quite fun and relaxing this year. No rushing about, trying to get to Keystone, Colorado by a certain time, to squeeze in the maximum amount of skiing. No sir...this year was laid back and moved at a much more leisurely pace, indeed.

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Here is a photo of my niece, Ariel, the prototypical teenager. The next one is self-explanatory and was taken at my sister's home. And, the final one is of a Christmas present that I received, here in Austin...it seems that at least one of my "friends" is insinuating that I may have a thinking problem !! Thinker's Anonymous, here

I come...