Holiday spirit
I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned it or not, but I started running again a few weeks ago. Taking almost a year off, coupled with the new weightlifting –
On a side note, if you’re looking for something to shake up your weight training, the Men’s Health Home Workout Bible is pretty incredible. Four weeks on a routine I developed using this book let me pile 20 more pounds onto what I work out with on my bench press. It’s all about full-body moves and exercises designed to strengthen muscles you don’t use too much. Lots of things like one-leg squats, moves on the exercise ball, pushups where you lift a weight with one hand when you’re in the pressed-up position. It builds some serious balance and improves your overall strength. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
– routine I’ve been doing and all the hiking, apparently got my legs into better shape than I thought. I’m running almost 3 miles at a pop, 3 times a week, and mostly enjoying it. Even scarier, some mornings I drive to the middle school, park, and run up to the tip-top of Rainbow Mountain (which, granted, should probably be named Rainbow Knoll) and back.
It’s amazing how much your body will respond if you push it, even when you think you’re in decent shape.
I didn’t mean to get sidetracked with all the stuff above, I actually just wanted to bitch about running this morning. The windchill was minus ten. It was damn cold, and I lost my one remaining testicle somewhere in my neighborhood.
Even worse? It’s not going to be above freezing here until sometime Sunday afternoon. (Yeah, yeah, Yankees. I know, you’re crying me a river right now, aren’t you?)
“In other news,” Don said, “some people down in Bartow, Florida have taken advantage of a recent decision by the city council to allow a nativity scene on city property. Officials warned that other groups might want to put up their own displays, and they have.”
I sat in my car this morning, driving down highway 72 into Huntsville on my way to work, listening to the radio. Don Phipps is a local TV newscaster who does double-duty on one of the radio stations, delivering the news at regular intervals during the morning broadcast.
He’s no Dan Rather.
“New displays are now up by groups like the Zoro-uh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-strians and one–”
“Zoro-uh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-strians?” Kris, one of the two normal DJs for this station, asked. Fortunately his partner, Bee Bee, wasn’t there to bray the goddamn donkey heehawing laugh that she does every time Kris says something. Seriously, anything he says makes her go into paroxysms so strong one wonders if she might do us all a favor and choke to death.
“Zoro-uh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-strians,” Don replied.
“Is that anything like Rastafarians?”
“I don’t know.”
Kris launched into a long story about how the Rastafarians believe that Ras Tafari — whom Kris called “Rasta” — is Jesus Christ himself. Don allowed that he didn’t realize that, but still didn’t know if the Rastafarians are like the Zoro-uh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-strians.
Don continued.
“Another group has made a display honoring Festival, which was made popular by the TV sitcom Seinfeld in the 90’s. Officials say—”
“Uh, Don,” Kris said, laughing in a most smug and superior way. “That’s not called ‘Festival’. It’s called ‘Festus’.”
Jesus Christ.
“Festus?” Don asked.
“Yep,” Kris replied, and laughed again.
I wanted to break my cardinal rule against using my cell phone in the car to call the station.
“IT’S CALLED FESTIVUS, YOU MORON!” I’d shriek. “FOR THE REST OF US!”
With radio like this, is it any wonder I’m always in a bad mood when I’m driving?
On a related note, anyone out there use XM radio? What say you? Speak forth in the comments. Worth it? Crap? What?
Merry Fucking Christmas from us to you.
(no, that’s not Photoshopped)
I bought Cowboy XM Radio for Xmas, so I’ll let you know after the weekend how he likes it. I did listen to three days of a sample on the internet before I bought it, and I’m kind of hooked myself, based solely on the programming. I may have to get one too, but we’ll see how the reception is.
XM is totally worth it. I’ve had it for over a year now, and couldn’t possibly live without it. (And this is coming from the girl who swore off cable television for three years and counting.)
Oh, I forgot…
SPANKY!!!
My wife has Sirius satellite radio and real enjoys it.
I’m back to running, too, although can’t do three miles without stopping. I can do two miles with a few rapid walking breaks — but my basic rule is that I don’t run when the temperature goes below 52 degrees or over 88. Lucky I live in coastal California - I can run just about every day of the year. (Sorry)Anyway, you’re totally right about the amazing part of what your body can do if you push it. Cheers!
I have been lusting after satellite radio since I first heard of it.
I am waiting for the price to come down a bit OR for me to come into some moolah!
I can’t get the sirius web site to work on my pc(everything slows down and freezes)so most of the info I have is about xm radio.
I reckon that I would listen mostly to country,talk radio and the comedy channels(I fancy myself a stand-up comedienne in the future).
As per your description of the radio DJs,I hate their banter!
Have a Happy Christimas everyone!
My mom just got XM radio and she LOVES it. Keep in mind..she lives in Podunk, Idaho where they dont get radio 10 miles from town and she is about 40 miles from town, downriver, where there is no power or civilization. She gets all the stations and now wants to marry XM radio.
I have had XM radio since June and haven’t listened to regular radio since. It’s worth it just for the lack of commericals, but they have so much variety that I’m never left without something to listen to.
We drove from Las Vegas to Dallas, TX, with it and never lost the signal, even in the mountains. Awesome!
I highly recommend it!
Festivus….. A Holiday for the rest of us……….
We do feats of strength and sit around and tell each other how disappointed we are with each other. Plus, we eat REALLY bad, fattening food. Wanna come?
XM Radio rocks! My husband and I fight over the channels - I love driving now! Its the best - I have several friends that have it also - they love it!
I don’t have it yet, but my son does and he loves it. I personally know several other people who highly sings their praises, too.
XM is good but Sirius is much better
A Merry fucking Christmas to you and your Family too!
Hi Fred,
My DH and I both have Sirius and love it. We researched both it and XM and decided to go with Sirius. We live in a Clear Channel Monopoly area so the radio is all crappy. I listen to only satellite radio now, and LOVE it! So many good choices in music, talk and entertainment. You would love it fellow dork!
PS Have a Great Holiday, you and Robyn and the spud.
Kitty
Got XM with the new car in Sept. and we love it. The comedy channel alone is worth it - great to have on the drive home from work. Plenty of music categories to choose from. I can’t compare it to Sirius - no exp. with that one - but XM is pretty great. And they just came out with a handheld device, too. NEAT. I’ll send you an email as well.
Most of the eating establishments that have music playing in the background are using either XM or a music channel off of their satellite. It is great
There is literally a channel for everyone.
I got xm for my husband for x-mas 2003 and I would get jealous everytime I borrowed his truck, so I bit the bullet (and the $6.99/ month fee for an extra radio on the plan) and bought one for myself. I’ve had it for about 3 months now and I honestly haven’t turned on my regular car radio since then. I appreciate how their are channels that are specifically geared for niche musical interests and I also LOVE the xm version of NPR - I missed Bob Edwards and it’s great to be able to hear This American Life every weekday on my drive home. Plus there are things that you just couldn’t hear on regular radio because of FCC regulations or because they aren’t commercially viable. I just can’t say enough good things. It’s like TiVo - once you’ve got it there’s no going back.