The past few days.

I had a semi-relaxing on-call weekend. I got called a couple of times on Friday night to help the FBI setup some wiretaps to find some missing kids in Milwaukee, but it was otherwise pretty quiet. I played hockey Sunday night with my cell phone in the bench area, just in case work called. Since I play for the Whiteman Bombers, and half the team is off doing readiness drills getting ready to threaten Iran, we got slaughtered. I stopped looking up at the scoreboard after it was 8 to 0. I got some shots, but their goalie is catlike. They ought to move him up a league. Monday was typical and I got a lot done. . . necessarily so. I prepared to upgrade some OC12 links to OC48. I ate. I worked out. I napped. I came back to work at midnight and worked straight through. Now I've had a nasty McDonald's breakfast on this dreary morning. . . but then Rolf called to chat. Long time no see! I must head to OKC to catch up with old friends, especially now that Rus is back in the States.

The race is on.

So, I made a little wager with my brother now that we're working out at the same gym.  The original wager was the first one to weigh 205 wins.  Well, when we shook hands on it, I was 190 and he was 265.  I put up $500.  Since his lean muscle mass is probably near 205, we agreed that if he can lose 50 before I gain 15 (and I have to maintain the same body fat percentage) he'll gladly take my money.  Well, we're both stepping up the workout intensity and changing our diets to win this thing.  It's serious, and I think it's going to take me about 6 months to achieve it, but I believe I'll win. . . and more than gladly take his money.

 

Ceasar versus Brutus

r hill (10:11:39 AM): Ooh... beware the ides of march!
C Hill (10:11:59 AM): Et tu Brute!?

Lyric Opera

http://www.kcopera.org/  <-- Lucia di Lammermoor = excellent, if you dig that kind of thing.  I went last night and was pretty much floored.  The soprano they have playing Lucia is not to be missed.  Scotty and J were along for the show and we met up afterwards with Adam D, who was a tenor in the chorus, who sometimes overpowered the chorus <eg>.  We lounged at The Stables, inhaled turkey sandwiches, and exchanged contact info to facilitate future outings and potential voice lessons.  So, Scott, when are you playing open mic night?

Crazy weekend.

After a late night of babysitting Friday night, Saturday was a long day. The weather was phenomenally perfect, so I did some cleanup of my flower beds. Shawn came and picked me up, and we went to Pho '97 for some A+ Vietnamese noodle soup. I polished off some spring rolls and an entire "big bowl" of pho. On the way downtown we were near the river market and it came to light that he had never been there. I would put the river market on a Saturday on the top 10 things to do on a regular basis in Kansas City. We made a detour and I think it's on his list now, too. We scoped it out with plans to come back after the auto show. . . which we did. I stocked up on produce, because it's so inexpensive there. He bought a rabbit from the butcher shop with the intentions of letting his dog devour it. I want video. The auto show was great eye candy. I got to sit in cars that cost more than my house. "Don't fart in there or they'll make you buy it." Yeah right.

The mixed martial arts fights at Memorial Hall were pretty good.  The venue didn't sell out, but at those prices, I'm not shocked.  I was pretty thrilled to get to conversate with Matt Hughes and Tim Silvia.  I have autographed t-shirts and I'm been kicking myself for not having my camera with me.  I'd surely have a video of a guy getting thrown down, but posting his arm to try to catch himself instead of the prescribed tuck-n-roll.  He threw his shoulder out.  Matt Hughes was the official for that one.  He pulled the other fighter off of him and held the guy's arm/clavicle in place until the paramedics ran into the cage.  I respect the risk those fighters take, but I think knowing how to land would be a prerequisite for even signing up to try it.  I was there with George and his compadres Brian and Scott.  We grabbed dinner at Uno on the Plaza.  I did not know that you could get a good steak dinner in this town that close to midnight.

Fast forward to the house party at Jason's house.  Guitar Hero.  Trash can punch.  Nuff said.  When the host passes out, that does not mean the party should wind down, necessarily.  And it didn't.  I'd like to say I made it home safely.  But I didn't even go home.  A few episodes of Trailer Park Boys at Adam B's house and I was down for the count.  I awoke at 7:24am andslipped out.  I proceeded to drive my brother and his kids to Arkansas to meet up with my folks.  The neice wanted to go stay with her Nanna.  The trip home was harrowing.  I was keeping a close eye on some very scary clouds.  Just when they got the scariest, it started raining very hard.  I was sort of relieved because I know that if there was a tornado, it was rain-wrapped and wouldn't be dangerous.  Then the hail started pummeling my poor car.  Then the hail started falling sideways.  Then the car started rocking side to side.  We sat through that for a few minutes and it let up a bit.  We proceeded, because that was not the place to be.  The ground was completely covered in hail stones.  It appeared as if the ground was snow-covered.  It was like that for the next mile.  There was a truck with a flat trailer stuck in the median.  When we broke into the clear, the car was acting sluggish.  Something's wrong with the engine.  It's two days since I had it towed from Belton to the shop I use in KC (for surprisingly little money), and they're just getting around to looking at it.  I have no idea, but we were very near the studio where Rich's band was set to record, so Mickey came and picked us up.  I missed my hockey game.  Lisa gave me a ride back to my Jeep, which I've been driving since.  And that's how good weekends go wrong.  I just went straight to bed.  I woke up Monday feeling great, though, and I'm on a roll.

Timely advice.

The more I read Trump, the more I like him. http://www.trumpuniversity.com/connect/newsletters/itt/issue32.cfm?mm=U_143660_301#one

Friday. Busy. Hurry.

My ankle is almost back to normal. I was able to do my leg workout today. I did lower weight, but lots of reps.

Tonight, I babysit the nephew and the niece. I'd rather take them to Crown Center than sit around the house, so that's the plan.

I'll surely sleep in tomorrow.