Genetics

Well, I finished the Dallas Whiterock Marathon in 4:22:58. I wanted to finished in under 4 hours, but the wind today was gusting up to 30 miles per hour. Running around the backside of the lake was punishing. I finished 1653 overall and 205 in my age group (M 45-49). So all in all, I'm pretty happy.

I don't mind telling you that the legs are totally gone! You all need to send your Unca Ich a get well soon card!

You're a badass.

Okay, today has been pretty gross so far

First, the big toenail on the left Ich foot has turned black and started to separate from my toe! I can pull the left side up like a car hood! I'm thinking about going to one of the Asian shops for a pedicure and watch the place empty out like Godzilla's after them after I take off my shoe

Second, Ich Jr had his wisdom teeth removed this morning. He's home now and I'm having to change his dressings every 2 hours. He's bleeding like it's the wrong week at the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants!
I just stuffed two teabags on either side of his mouth to see if that will slow down the blood flow. (Old country treatment)

This happened to me last DTs season. Just pull it off. It'll grow back.

Was this after you played outfield?

I think it was the night we won both games. It happened running the bases.

^gamer^

^flamer^

We missed Rocco's birthday yesterday! Happy birthday Rocco.

Merry Xmas to everyone on the forum. I hope Santa was good to you all.

It was good to see Jeffy's post. I was wondering if he was going to renew or not. Now, we have another year of seediness and debauchery!

I am experiencing the circle of life as I type this. It's Xmas morning and the parents are up and around, while my kids are still sawing logs! As they get older, the thrill of Xmas evaporates.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, Ich! I hope you and everyone here had a Merry Christmas!

new book about the NSA will scare you shitless, Uncle Ich

The NSA is eavesdropping on every damned thing. Even if only 10% of this book is true, shit has gotten worse than I ever thought.
I know I've done my fair share of bullshit about politics, yelling n shit, but honest to God, THIS book will stop you in your tracks.

Okay, Xmas spirit is officially gone and you know I'm going to order this book and have a coronary!

I am officially as scared/paranoid as you now, Ich. Seriously.

Happy New Year to All! Got to admit that 2009 is the first new year that my old ass has been awake for in the last 4 years! Here's hoping 2009 is an absolute kickass year for everybody, as personally, I say good riddance to 2008. I'm tired of a tanking economy, killer earthquakes and hurricanes around the world and a 5 win season for the Tennessee Vols; just one disaster after another.

Well, the Ich family traveled to the AAC last night for our annual witnessing of Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert. I think this is our sixth year in a row. Never disappointing as the Les Paul's were wailing and the cute mini-skirted blondes were whipping their hair back and forth while belting out their songs. Simply an amazing show... I never realized one could actually rock while playing a cello!

Watched VH1s countdown to the 100 greatest Rock songs this week. It was based upon voting on the internet so the fact that Free Bird was number 26 will be forgiven. Still and well, the fact that Led Zeppelin and The Who were in the top ten shows that the VH1 audience is at least showing the proper respect.

I met Ichette's new boyfriend over the holidays. It turns out that I actually like this kid. Of course the bar was not set terribly high off the ground by her previous boyfriend. This new kid seems to actually have a plan for his life that actually looks past this coming Friday night, (He's a private pilot studying for his commercial license), and he appears to adore Ichette... I did explain to him that I recently finished a marathon, so if he hurt my daughter, that I would be able to eventually chase him down and reek a swift and painful revenge We understand one another now.

Shouldn't be long before Ichette's in the Mile High Club.

I'm sorry, Ich, but

Okay, I am calmed down enough to type this now...

My Good Puppy Dog has died.

After my last post on Sunday morning I went downstairs to change his water and refill his supper dish. He's normally waiting on me at the backdoor. But, this time he wasn't. This time he was laying in the yard at the back corner of the fence. He apparently laid down to go to sleep and never woke up. He looked peaceful.

Funny thing is, I didn't think I particularly liked this dog. In fact, I didn't want him to begin with..... All Ichette wanted for her 12th birthday was a dog. I said no, but was overruled by Mrs. Ich and found myself at the McKinney Animal Shelter. There, we chose a Chow/Shepherd mix puppy because he appeared to be the only dog there not barking its damn head off.

We brought him home and presented him to Ichette to her delight. I read her the riot act and explained to her that I was not to know the dog was here. Translation; She feeds and waters him, cleans up after him, bathes him and walks him. And she did. They became close to the point that he was basically a one person dog. He and I barely tolerated one another. When I went into the backyard, I was always viewed with suspicion and I pretty much ignored him.

But, little girls grow up, graduate and leave home. Most times they do not leave with a full grown 60 pound mutt. Ichette was no exception. So, it fell to me to start taking care of the feeding and watering. At first, I did so grudgingly, and the dog would retreat to the back of the yard until I had changed his dishes. But slowly, both of our attitudes begin to change.

Before long he understood that I was the food person now and his retreats became shorter and shorter - until, one day, he didn't retreat at all. He just stood there and when I looked up at him after setting down his dish, his tail was wagging. It wasn't love at first sight, but from that day on he required an ear scratch or a neck rub at each feeding, and so, without me really realizing it at the time, he became MY dog.

But now he's gone, and every time I walk into the kitchen I still catch myself looking to the back door to see if he's peering in between the blinds waiting on me.

awww. That sucks, Ich.

That's a tough thing dude. Seriously. A good puppy dog is a hard thing to lose.

That sucks, Ich.

Damn man.

Ich, I know what you are going through. My thoughts are with you guys.

Sorry for your loss, Ich.

This is worse than when vbear sold Mikey to a family of Negroes.

STOP THAT! I actually saw him last week and he's loving life. Sorry about your families loss, Ich.

YOU GAVE MIKEY TO A BUNCH OF SCHWARTZES?!?!

They live in Joshua. Think about that for a minute.

Karl Malone black?

I don't think i've ever seen a black in Joshua.

do they have restaurants?

There aren't any hangin' from a Joshua tree?

i see what you did there.

winner

Well, the obstacle course that is the Ich life continues.......

New job has been a roller coaster. A week after I was hired my boss became my cohort and we both reported to a new VP. Two weeks after that my old boss is gone. A week after that 23 people, including one more from my department, are laid-off! Still, gotta say that 2009 is still my year. Any other year Ich would have been out on his ass! Stay tuned.

It was national signing day for high school football last week. Tennessee did okay. It appears we really concentrated on the defensive side of the ball with plenty of Linebackers and DBs signed. We'll see how it pans out in a couple of years. Meantime, you gotta love the absolute cockiness that has been Lane Kiffin. I know its talk for the alumni and contributors, but he makes it known he expects to kick Meyer's ass at Florida and Saban's ass at Alabama this coming season. I know its not realistic, but it does excite the Ich weinie to hear! Also, love the fact that he has snaked the top recruiters from South Carolina and Alabama. That gets us competitive immediately with regard to recruiting in the SEC.

top three things in Ich's life (in this order):
SEC football
job
Mrs. Ich's ass.

Very astute Walt, as they are all inter-related:

SEC football =
job = keeping Mrs. Ich in shoes, therefore happy
Mrs. Ich's ass = something to do with my

It's the circle of life

My Favorite Westerns (in no particular order)

The Outlaw Josey Wales
Unforgiven
True Grit
Little Big Man
Silverado
Dances with Wolves

My Favorite Guilty Pleasures (I stop down when I'm flipping channels)

Urban Cowboy - The saga of Bud and Cissy centered around a mechanical bull!
Roadhouse - Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliott kicking some ass.

Well, I bought into the hype of the infomercial and completed my first week of P90X. That's right, your Unca Ich has decided to "Bring It!" [crosses arms into an "X"]

I can report that I'm sore as hell, but that I have lost 6 lbs in 6 days. I have the advantage of working at a company that has a gym no one uses, so I have the place to myself in the mornings. They have an "assisted weight" pull-up machine, otherwise I could probably do about three pull-ups and be done for the day. Push-Ups are okay, I've always been able to pop off push-ups. Pull-Ups..... not so much.

I'm interested to see how many I'll be able to do at day 90.

"Growing older" is not the same as "getting old."

Is that stuff the "cream" or the "clear"?