Projecting good times

When we bought our home 18 months ago, part of the deal was a Hi Fi package already built in. Pretty nice, except when the projector blows up. That happened last week. A certain amount of frustration was experienced when removing it from the ceiling. It might even be fair to say that my usually calm exterior was temporarily ruffled. The prospect of expensive ($600) repairs didn't help. It shows how pampered we can become.
For now, we need to watch TV on the relatively primitive large screen one in the family room. Damn this Chateau Lafite, as Captain Darling said to General Melchett.

Better news from the running front. Last week was time trial #2 at Roxborough Park (Hills Athletics).
Much hilarity after my last run of 3.4k or 8.5 laps. Steve Whelan was kind enough, when addressing the starters, to ask me how long the race was. I answered correctly.
This time I went out a little faster and a little fresher. Aming to beat 14:25, I managed
13:37!!!
I think I can go faster by focusing on lap splits. I'd like to beat 13 min next month. Stay tuned...

Exercise has been consistent, with no cycling yet as the knee is still tender. Instead, I've managed some decent runs and weights sessions too.
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri I've churned out 8k each day, all at 6am. It's still humid, but cooler than later in the day. Midday runs are some months off.
Saturday I managed 10k, and Sunday 12k to Quakers Hill, and then a lift from the family who urged on my run as a means of getting to DSE Nth Parramatta sooner. Some nice HI Fi gear there too...

NSW has an election upcoming in March which may well go down as the most boring ever. It now seems Iemma has an increased lead in the polls. His main line of attack seems to be "look, it's Carr's fault for how things are now. Give me a go and I'll fix them." I seem to recall he personally has been around a while; indeed, he used to be Water Minister. Still, truth is an inconvenience.
What kind of winning slogan has Morris come up with?
"More to do but heading in the right direction"
This is starting to make Barry Unsworth seem charismatic.

I'm tempted to buy property in Lane Cove, just so I can vote for Maxine McKew against Honest John later this year. Oh the delicious irony if he lost the election and his seat. I wonder how much work he'd get as a solicitor now.

Books? Yes, in a slight change of pace, I've read a few Rumpole novels/stories. Brilliant.

Musically, I've put The Beatles (aka White Album) in the car CD player. Superb.

So, exercise, literature and music...

Mens sana in corpore sano

"Exit, stage left"

Almost pasta wondering

The humidity index seemed to go off the scale this week. It's strange how running in it is okay, with all the associated sweat (and toil), but when it comes time to go to work, well, turn the air right up...

I have re-established a detente of sorts with the right knee, which has permitted me to run a little more freely.

Mon, Wed, Thur 8k at 6am around the Clean Streets
Saw GoGirl on Monday at 6am. She was just finishing a 10k run. She is looking lean, mean and probably ready for the hardest race of her life. I hope she sleeps sometimes.

Fri and Sat 10k around Clean Streets
Sun 12k to Quakers Hill, then lift home courtesy of Mrs BB and YD.

Oh and two weights sessions during the week.

So improvement is there for all to see, and just in time too, as the Hills 3k/5k time trial is on Wednesday night. This time I hope to beat 14:25 min for the 3k. Additionally, I plan to run only 3k, not 3.4k like last month.

Valentine's Day brought romance and amusement. The latter is worth expanding on. Mrs BB, YD and I went to the local Thai for a meal. We had told ED and Son the day before we were so doing. ED rang up Mrs BB Wednesday lunchtime, asking the name of the local Italian. She wanted to make a last minute booking. We thought: "great, can't you find anywhere else between Bella Vista and Prospect?"
We ate Thai, keeping an eye out for her and Boyfriend since the Italian is right next door. Nope, not there on our way in or out.
Returned to the carpark, and there they were getting into her car, having just finished an adequate Italian meal.
To say they were shocked is undercalling it. His look was perhaps more aptly described as terror-stricken. I saw them first, so put on my sunglasses and asked what the hell were they doing there?
ED couldn't believe we had eaten next door. Mrs BB couldn't believe how poor her memory is, or alternatively that she didn't ever bother to listen to what we tell her. Boyfriend was just happy I didn't assault him, by the changing expression on his face.
So, everyone ended up having a chuckle and we sent them on their weary way with our best wishes, ruefully wondering about her chance of surviving life on her own without ex-Mrs BB's constant support.

Son is happy, having splashed on on a new Nokia mobile to replace the LG which crashed. He has decide to hook up with 3, so he will never miss any cricket or Rugby League. He may even emerge from his bedroom for meals.

YD is thoroughly enjoying recorder lessons and is currently about two years ahead of me in musical knowledge, having now had three lessons. Netball is only eight weeks away...

I'm going to take an extra week before trying a long cycle again, so probably won't pedal until early March. Ideally, I'd like to ride to Windsor and back when Windsor Rd is complete. And to Parramatta return following the opening of the Tway Busway. More options coming...

Finally, for those who, like me, are fed up with gross indecencies being committed against our language, generally by people who want to appear more impressive than they have a right to expect, why not glance through this website. Just put it on your "to do" list. For heavens sake don't make it an Action Item at this juncture. Hope it's a barnburner...

"Exit, stage left"

"Your zenith, BB?" "No dear. Nadir"

I'm sure if I am able to find Liliaceae to blend into a drink, I could be called weak-kneed and lily-livered. I've got the knees bit down pat.

A likely after effect of the recent sprint training and running on concrete has been a sore right knee.
Now my knees and I don't have a good long term relationship, which is partly why I never did more than 6k per run until 2001. Leftie complained, and I had to back right off. We all know the frustration felt by runners during a layoff. So I eased back, didn't lay back.
Now the right one's unhappy. On the top, fortunately, not behind the kneecap.

I'm thinking my first cycle in years didn't help. Last Sunday, I headed out at 5:30am, to do about 2 hours along the M7, returning at 7:30am. Good hard workout. Problem: knee sore for the previous two days, and it didn't enjoy the various power surges uphill.

So this week, I've cut the training down a lot, in the belief that will work. I find blind faith very satisfactory. It eliminates the need to use whatever part of the brain is normally required, freeing said part for more important considerations like reading an uplifting tome.

In summary, I've run 8k each day except Saturday, when I managed 12k around Stanhope Gardens. Today was only 8k, which felt weird. LSR became SSR with no motivation. I find the humidity more sapping than dry heat, and running becomes something to endure. Still, I've got in a couple of weights sessions and haven't put on weight, so that's a positive.

Plans for this coming week include more of the same, with bitumen favoured over concrete (there goes Rouse Hill) and no sprints!

I'm hoping that the two week "taper" will do the trick, as it has in the past.

On other topics, I'm still enjoying listening to Carly Simon's new CD, reading "The Semptress' Tale" by Margaret Fraser, and mucking about at the nets batting and bowling with Son.

I'm not enjoying managing our largest customer solo, and am getting to the middle stages of recruitment. If only we could recruit using some sort of photosynthetic technique, rather than using Recruitment Consultants. I think the Used Car industry must sack only the very worst and most repulsive employees; these then are destined for stellar careers as recruiters.

Valentine's Day is upon us come Wednesday. A sad day for some lonely individuals. In some cases, sad for married male colleagues. It's certainly a reminder that you're in a relationship. For these select individuals, that's cause for ordering a few beers and wondering what the hell to do about it. Not in my case, not this time around. Mrs BB is just great, and we'll be enjoying a quiet Thai meal, along with YD who is also excited it's Valentine's Day, although to her its significance is unclear. A dinner out has to be good news.

A reminder, though, how some passions can get away from you. I like the nappies part. Must have been a good look.

"exit, stage left"