Hello running shoe's, I'm back: My first 5K run.

I love to run.

It makes me feel great. I'm happy to be blessed with good health with the help of a healthy mix of junk and health food (!), being drug free, and taking a daily vitamin that has kept me free of illness for the past 3 years- not even a simple cold.

I ran Cross Country in high school, which I loved to do until I suffered a knee injury at a baseball game during the CC season. The coaches decided then that I could stay on the team and train the other runners. It was fun, but I missed it dearly.



Shoot forward to August 16, 2006, and I'm invited to cheer on my younger sister as she ran and finished her first half-marathon (13 miles)- the Chicago Distance Classic. I was so inspired by her accomplishment, that I swore I would do that someday too- with her as my inspiration. My little sister has been through a lot in life, and to see her finish this on her own was simply breathtaking.

Last November, I signed up for a membership at Waukegan's new Field House at Hinkston Park with the hope of resurrecting my long-distance running abilities. My overall goal is to finish that marathon someday.

Here I am at the end of July, and after a brief (and unintentional) break from working out at the beginning of this year, I am at it full speed ahead. I'm currently covering 3 miles within a 30-minute period, which is pretty close to where I want to be. This past weekend I started mapping a route near my home for some real pavement running.

It was difficult at first because I didn't know how I would feel. For some reason, getting started went easier that I thought, perhaps due to my cross country training- but that was long ago. Now I'm starting fresh, and I'm feeling amazing.

Today I signed up for the Condell Distance Classic, which is being held on Sunday, September 16, in Libertyville, IL. I was being optimistic and thought I'd sign up for the 10k (6 miles), but opted for the 5K instead to get my feet wet with running in crowds again. I think it's a great goal to train for a 10K, but run the 5K instead.

For those of you reading this that are into that running/workout thing, come and join me! Sign ups are still being taken, and it should be fun.

Visit this website for all of the info and registration.

I'll post updates on my progress for sure.

Scoreboard

In the shadows of the sports last remaining hand operated scoreboards.

Cubs vs. Phillies at Wrigley.

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Sent with a Treo 755P Smartphone

Bleacher Virgin

My first time in the Wrigley Field bleachers for Phillies vs. Cubs.

I'm sooo looking forward to this game. The Cubbies are .5 games out of first!

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Sent with a Treo 755P Smartphone

More Devil's Lake

West Bluff trail. Defenitely the most scenic yet. This one was taken on my way back down. Not sure how I missed it going up!

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Sent with a Treo 755P Smartphone

Devil's Lake

Sent from atop of West Bluff trail overlooking beautiful Devil's Lake in Baraboo, Wi.

The hiking trail is a must see!

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Sent with a Treo 755P Smartphone

Ahoy!

A photo from the beautiful Wisconsin river.

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Sent with a Treo 755P Smartphone

Soul Cleansing part II: Wis. Dells Trip

I'm heading out on another one of my camping excursions Friday through Sunday. This time I'm heading back north to the beautiful Wisconsin River, camping on the outskirts of the Wisconsin Dells area for some fishing, kayaking, hiking, sightseeing, and relaxing.

I was a little late in booking a spot Point Bluff Resort- a favorite spot of mine. Instead, I'll settle for a day of Kayaking here, going about 7 miles (3 hours) down river from the dam at Castle Rock Lake. I'll be camping just south of Point Bluff resort near River Bay campground.

I'll be packing up on Sunday and then head south to hit some hiking trails at Devils Lake State Park in Baraboo. Since I'm unfamiliar with the terrain, I hope to hit the sissy trails first!

I hope to post a few updates here as I go along my trip depending on how I'm doing with a data connection.

First stop: A good breakfast, and then to the car shop to get an overdue wheel alignment to get rid of a shimmy in my steering wheel.

Off to pack the car!

Happiness

"Concentrate on what makes you happy most, without getting yourself hurt. Everything else will fall into place." -Me

Summertime Outdoor Rock N' Roll

Yesterday, I headed down to beautiful Independence Grove forest preserve in Libertyville to catch their weekly free outdoor concert series in the plaza. Boy was I impressed!

(forgot my camera, so up there is a shot from my 755P)

I've always wanted to check the shows out, and to my surprise, even after arriving 45 minutes early, the main lot was already full. I wasn't expecting so many people to be down here, but I was blown away as to how popular this event was- and what a perfect setting.

It was a bit like a mini-Ravinia festival. People had their lawn chairs spread out and the wine flowing. Spoken Four provided the entertainment and people were dancing and screaming out the cover tunes. H made fun of the singer's tiny voice, and we both chuckled at the backup tracks they were playing to. Being the local music fanatic that I am, I could barely name any of the popular artists they were playing.

Nothing beats an outdoor concert in the summer, and I'm sure I'll be back for more. Besides, the sunsets at this preserve are a quite the site to see.

Summer Fun Continues...

I stole this bulletin from Jonny Pekkarinen's Myspace...

Just a few events you should be doing this summer if you're in Lake County:

"Upcoming Events July 28th and August 4th

So, as usual, Summer is quickly cruising by. So in order for you to maximize your party time, I figured I would post this blog to inform as to some hot spots to rock.

First of all, this Saturday at the Up North Pub in Waukegan, The Jonny/Reggie Motovun Duo will be opening for 17 Years. aka Drivin' South. This is a guaranteed good time as the Drivin' South will be playing every single song they have EVER written. They gonna bring it funky old school. Showtime is 9pm. There will be a cover at the Door. which will probably be the back door man.

Saturday at Noon I will be at the Waukegan Beach. I funna kick it real chill and just chillax lakeside. Get ready for the show. I plan on also hitting the beach on Sunday after the Mayhem that will be Saturday nite.

NOW, most important . . . August 4th. Saturday. It has come to my attention that I have NOTHING planned for a Saturday. Which leads me to the conclusion that it will be the perfect day for a MASSIVE BEACH PARTY!!! I am for real about this people. I will be bringing a grill and plenty of beverages and I plan on spending the WHOLE DAY and well Into the night on the beach. If you are wise, you will join me. I will have the guitar. I will bring a frisbee. IT will be a party like you've never witnessed before but ONLY if every single one of you shows up. So get with this. Let's make it a summer party to remember for EVER and EVER.

If that is not enough for you . . . on August 11th there is ROCK FEST at the Waukegan Beach. ANOTHER chance to enjoy the beach baby. Rockfest starts at 3pm and Goes until. 10pm. After wards there will be an after party at the Burgundy Room. You dig? with performances by Bug and Sam from 1908. Myself. My brother and some dude named Rob. You got that? Get with it.

Also, August 18th Gipsy King's at Ravinia. Let the party continue."

Smoke Free At Last

I was glad, ecstatic actually, to find out Illinois lawmakers have voted to ban smoking in bars, restaurants and other public workplaces. The ban would take affect Jan. 1 of 2008.

According to the story on the CBS2Chicago website:

"The new law would ban smoking in every public place, every place of employment, every college dormitory, and even in not-for-profit private clubs like cigar bars, as well as within 15 feet of entrances to public places."

I know to expect people smoking when I go to bars, which is something I've dealt with over the years. And I don't doubt that it's doing me harm in one way or another. I don't believe for one second when bars or restaurants say they'll be "devastated" when the smoking ban goes into affect. Truth is, non-smokers now outnumber smokers, and people will still want to eat, drink, and have a good time with their friends when they go out.

So the days of smelly clothes and foggy bars are numbered, and I'll soon enjoy a nice meal in a restaurant without having to ask people to kindly put out their cigarette while I eat!

Goodbye Lakehurst Cinemas

Like its neighbor Lakehurst Mall a few years ago, the cinemas next door are being demolished today.

This was a happening place before Gurnee Mills came in. I don't have too many fond memories of this place, but if I wasn't at Lakehurst mall, I was probably here watching a movie.

That's all there was to do in Waukegan back in the day.

I believe a hotel chain is going up in its place.

See ya later ol' friend.

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Sent with a Treo 755P Smartphone

Scoopin' Weekend

(Taken at Scoopin' Genesee 7/13/07).

I once owned a car just like this one that I won at a raffle, say, sometime back in the late nineties. A friend was selling tickets for the owner who became paralyzed and was unable to drive the car anymore. I remember the tickets were $10 each and I bought two because all I had was a $20 bill at the time. A few weeks go by and a knock comes to my door. Sitting in front of my house was this muscle car and a guy telling me I had just won it. After picking up my jaw from the floor, I went out for a ride in it with my dad.

I'm not sure what exactly happened to it except for the fact that my mother ended up selling it a few months later. The only way I can justify my sadness for getting rid of it was to think that the money probably got her through another month's rent, or put food on our table. It makes me feel better. But darn!

Scoop was fun. I wasn't sure what to make of the event's new look, but it seemed well organized. The new scooping rule of no cars made on or after 1980 was a nice change, but it seemed like it was the same cars over and over- not much of a variety as in past years.


The weekend ended on a nice note with about 15-20 people attending my annual picnic at Old School forest preserve. I knew it was going to be a rough day to get out for another party with it being scoop weekend and all. Still, it ended up being a good time with some good people.

The highlight of the picnic were the ice bucket wars that took place near the end of the day. I think it started when someone decided to pour ice water into a bucket and put their feet in to cool off. It ended up being a contest as to who could stay in the longest before toes were lost. I think I survived about 1 minute and 24 seconds before my brain started to freeze. The max was an impossible 20 minutes or more!

Check out some of my weekend photos on my Flickr here...

Scoopin' Genesee

At one time I had a car that would of been perfect for this.

I can't help but to look for the For Sale signs in some of these great classics.

Finally! A replacement for my Treo 755P

Via Engadget...

...well... not exactly. It's purely conceptual according to Engadget, but I would shelve my Treo 755P in a second if I had this puppy to buy! That's coming from a life-long Transformers fan.

Maybe in time for Christmas? Please? Pretty please?

Touchscreen iPods in '08??

Rumor has it that Apple will be releasing a new video iPod with iPhone-like features including a full touchscreen and running a version of OSX in January of '08.

Although I was undoubtedly tempted to wait in line for the new iPhone, I held out with the hope that Apple would release a new iPod with many of the iPhone's features (minus the phone of course). If the above rumor is true, I'm glad I waited.

A friend of mine was showing off his iPhone to me recently, and I was impressed with the shear beauty of the interface alone. But still, I couldn't justify leaving my Treo 755P for this phone. My Treo does everything I need it to do from accessing my corporate and private email accounts, GPS navigation ala TomTom Navigator, streaming music, high speed EVDO data, and viewing/editing documents with Documents To Go. An actual keypad is also nice!

So my 755P survived my initial iPhone craving. My shiny new iPod Nano, on the other hand, may not be so lucky the next time around!

Via Slashgear...

Beach time

Summertime means days at the beach. Nothing beats it.

Round Lake Beach Fest

Staffing the WRLR 98.3FM prize wheel at Round Lake's Beach festival.

Indiana!

At a Welcome Center somewhere in Indiana on the way home from my company's newest acquisition. Sent there to 'plug' them in to our wide area network- success!