I have selected a new theme. Has the style I like, and I think I will keep it for a while. But I may change up my themes every now and then just to try something new. It is not like I have a brand image to uphold.
Also, I added a widget on the right showing pictures from our picture site. It displays random photos so everytime you come here you should get something different.
I made a new poll regarding this weekend’s 5K race. My goal is in the 25s, but we will see.
I have reverted back to the default WordPress theme (the look/design template) because my old theme got hacked and had some links inserted to build up the Google Page ranking of a fradulent site. I will find a new theme soon and update. Hopefully I won’t get hacked again.
I wish I had my camera yesterday at the beach. It was a really beautiful day. Got there about 5:30 and stayed for nearly an hour until dark. Kids had a blast playing. Jacob likes to “jump” over the waves as they come in. Me and him had a good time out in the ocean. His swimming has significantly improved this year. I want to encourage him to take up swimming as a sport, just because it seems like such a good sport in terms of fitness and life long benefits.
My little daughter is probably the toughest 30 inch tall person you will meet. She wears a life jacket at the beach which has a strap which in effect makes it a small leash to hold on to her which is very useful. If you don’t, she will take off and run into the water and the waves. She loves being in the waves and trying to swim. Super duper cute. Yesterday, Shannon was not holding to her leash but standing right by her as she stood just in the water letting the small waves hit. However, a big wave suddenly came in and knocked her down face first into the sand. Shannon went over to pick her up, but Ava just got up, smiled and when “ahh.”
Water was still warm which is not too surprising as we have been consistently in the 80s-90s so far. Hardly anyone was there which is the big plus of living down here in the off season. I do miss a traditional Fall as it is probably my favorite season, but I also enjoy the long Summer. I am been grateful for the experience. One of our reasons for coming here was to experience a tropical life even for just a year, and it has not disappointed. When we moved down here, we specially looked forward to October and November here. So far, so good.
Fall may actually be coming this weekend. Saturday is projected to be sunny with high of 65 and low of 48, first time getting to the 40s. All next is projected to still have highs in the upper 70s.
I am running in the Running Scared 5K here in Orange Beach next Saturday week. I have been running now for 4 years now, but I have only entered 2 official races. I am at a point now of confidence in my running base and of desire to improve, not just finish. I expect I will be a more frequent race participant going forward.
Today at my running club’s weekly run, I wanted to run near-race intensity to get a feel for my speed. I did the 5K+ (it is a little more than 5K) course in just over 27 minutes. My goal for next week is to be somewhere in the 25s.
I have along way to catch my cousin Derek who is tearing it up at Murray State. He is really doing well.
Not to make anyone jealous or anything, but today Shannon and I both complained about how hot and muggy it has been. She had to go to the pool today to cool off.
Upon the passing of Ted Kennedy, I read an article talking about a time he brought in author Robert A. Caro to talk to his Senate colleagues about the tradition of the Senate. The article mentioned Caro writing an “epic” biography of Lyndon B. Johnson. I enjoy political biographies, and I thought I would pick it up and see if it was truly “epic.”
The biography in reference is Master of the Senate which won the Pulizer for biography in 2003. It is the 3rd and latest part of a 4 volume set Caro is planning on Johnson. The 4th and final volume is likely due in the mid 2010s.
I just today finished the 1000+ pages biography, and in conclusion, I have to say the book is worthy of its accolades. It is fascinating because Johnson is a fascinating politician and Caro did such a marvelous job in researching him that he is able to draw unique insights into Johnson’s personality and his incredible political talents.
I will likley make several posts in the next week or so about this book as I have found it so fascinating. I know most people hear “1000+ page biography” and can think of nothing worse to read, but I would highly recommend this to anyone. There are ideas and concepts about interpersonal skills I have learned from this reading which I want to implement in my life. Not everything about Lyndon Johnson was good, with some personal characteristics being truly dispicable. But he displayed great people skills, which he sometimes used for wrong reasons, but other times used to accomplish much good.
Shannon is in Knoxville this weekend for her cousin’s wedding. I have the kids by myself. So far, so good. It has been a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and Jacob has been playing with his friends outside for the past 5 hours. Ava had a good nap and has been very content. Parenting is easy when the kids do exactly what you want them to do. But I will be glad when Shannon gets back on Sunday.
I just got back from a Kantara Initiative conference in Las Vegas. I work with KI in my SAML testing which was the motivation behind the trip. It was my first trip to Vegas, and I was excited to see a city I have heard so much about. I leave there greatly disappointed.
First, nothing about gambling entices me. Many people go there thinking they will just spend X dollars, are prepared to lost that (but only that) and consider the process of doing so entertainment. Not me. I can’t get past the obviousness that slots and the other games are designed to win more than you do. The best that can happen is you get “lucky”, and you quit while you are ahead. Not for me.
Still, I thought I might be able to appreciate the Vegas experience just as an observer. Not happening. Slot machine after slot machine, but everyone looked so unhappy playing them. I heard two or three people yell out in joy during the time I was there, I presume because of their winning something, but the rest looked frankly pathetic.
I also had high hopes for the famed Vegas strip, but it disappointed as well. The buildings were huge, but it had an over-built feel. I did not notice the lights as much as the enormous buildings overwhelming the scenery.
And then it was the small things. Because their profit lies primarily in the gambling, they do everything to discourage from doing anything else but gamble. I stayed in the Rio which is a huge hotel/casino. The only work out room they had in this entire place was was in their spa center, but to use it you had to pay $22/day. Internet service in the room costs $8/hour. The Comfort Inn is better than that.
I know there are other things to do in Vegas like the shows which I did not have the opportunity to see, but those are not big draws to me. I am glad to see it once on business, but I can’t see going back on pleasure.
I saw my Dad have a heart attack.
My parents came down on Thursday evening. We had dinner together, caught up a little and then headed to bed. My dad had some chest pains in the last few days, but they were light and passing. He has a history of heart disease and a had a triple-bypass 15 years ago. His recent problems, even going back further than just this last week, due to different aligments.
Thursday night he had his most severe episode yet. Mom came into the room and told me “Kyle, I need you to take us to the hospital. I think your Dad is having a heart attack.” I quickly decided it was much better to call 911 than to attempt to bring him to the hospital myself.
The EMS was there quickly and by that time Dad’s chest pains had subsided. He was even thinking this just a false alarm, and it was not necessary to go to the ER, but they took him on to the hospital, arriving around 1:00 AM.
Shortly there after, the pains returned and this time strengthened. Now, it was no longer in his chest but into his arms and his back. The pain would come in ever increasing waves. Nitro glycerine, morphine and the other drugs did nothing to hinder the pain, and it continued this way until around 3:30.
Finally, the pain stopped, and he was able to rest. By 5:00 lab results showed that he had indeed had some type of cardiac event. Around 8:00 they transfered him from the South Baldwin Medical Center ER to Thomas Hospital which had a cardiac stent facility. Later that morning he had a heart cath which showed 80%-90% blockage in one of his by-passes. He later had a stent inserted to alleviate the blockage, and he did well with the procedure. He was discharged on Sunday, and he got to spend a few days in our home before leaving back to Georgetown this morning.
There in the middle of night in the ER was a scary moment. Witnessing a heart attack is not something I ever longed to see, but it is something I will never forget. Your heart is something you take for granted. How can you help it, given its silent, steady beating your whole life. Yet, when it comes under distress, you are then aware of its primacy in keeping your body alive. A primacy only exceeded by God Himself.
We are grateful the attack was not a massive, deadly one. While the glycerine and other medicine did not immediately remedy the pain, they likely helped and kept the heart attack from being worse. We are grateful for the providence of God and getting Dad through this. If you are going to have a heart attack, it can’t happen at a better place than a hospital.
Our daughter loves shoes. Loves them. It was one of her first words. She gets fussy if you don’t put on a certain pair she wants to wear that day. Several times a day she brings us shoes to put on her. She also enjoys wearing other people’s shoes. What is especially funny is that she will put them on herself and come walking in wearing them with a big grin on her face. Here are a few pics of her with Jacob’s shoes.
