I squeezed your bun and the experience was wonderful (not dirty)

I was trying to put my lunch into the work refrigerator Friday morning only the find the fridge packed with people’s leftover food, which they forget to throw away.  In the middle of it all was this subway sandwich that had been sitting in there for at least a week.  Frustrated by peoples’ poor housekeeping habits, I squeezed the sandwich and shoved it out of the way.  That’s right, I did it.  And if you were to confront me at work regarding your turd of a sandwich, I’ll proudly claim responsibility for mutilating your sandwich.  And if I had the chance, I’ll do it all over AGAIN.  The act was socially unacceptable, but it felt so liberating.  Call me the Robin Hood of refrigeratorland. 

You can DO IT

Hello Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

As some of you have already heard, I am participating in the inaugural CBC Marathon.  Yes, that is 26.2 MILES.  I have no idea how I’m going to finish it.  Some young high school runners will be participating in the event as well, which will just make me look like Al Bundy.  “I once ran 4 races in a single day” (too bad I didn’t win any of them).  I use to be in great shape.  Once in High School, I ran 16 miles in a single day.  Sure I was sore the next day, but the point was I did it without much preparation.  Then I got out of school, stopped running constantly, worked, decided I should blog instead of run.  Stupid BLOG!  I think I should be able to complete the marathon.  But it’s going to hurt.  In addition, this is a BYOW (bring your own water) race.  I’m debating whether I should bring a camelpak of water or purchase water along my route.  It comes down to “do I want to lug water (which is freakin heavy) for 26.2 miles or risk dehydration?”  Whoa… dehydration sucks…. Guess I’m bringing water along. 

I have been training myself for the marathon.  Yes, I am proud to say that I can run for 6 miles now without stopping to “stretch”.  Sure it doesn’t sound very impressive, but it sure is when you consider my stiff knee.  Take that younguns.  (Before you know it, you too will have an extra 5 millimeter of fat around your belly.)  Perhaps tomorrow, I’ll run for 8 miles… whoa… I am mentally motivated because I told myself that I shall run faster than P Diddy, who ran the NYC marathon in 4:14:54.  Oprah ran the DC marathon in 4:29:30.  I am not a P Diddy fan so I’ll try to beat his time.  And I will definitely pray before the marathon.  My mind, body, and soul will be ready on Jan 20^th. 

            I though I had something funny to write, but I totally forgot now.  Perhaps it had to do with another bus incident.  I have no idea now. 

            BTW, please pray for all the CBC participants.  It is dangerous running in the streets of SF.  Drivers are CRAZY!!!

Special Edition Election Blog (w/ warriors game)

11/7

6:00 PM: I find myself following the election results closer than the Warriors game.  I’m constantly refreshing both CNN and ESPN.  BTW, warriors are WAY down.  Dems have a sizable lead in the house while the GOP is clinging onto a 3 seat lead even though they lost two seats.  Wow, that’s drama (take that TNT)

6:10 PM: CNN predicts that democrat Robert Casey Jr. will upset incumbent Rick Santorum, the 3^rd ranking GOP in the Senate.  I have no idea who these people are, but this doesn’t wane my excitement.  I think I just love seeing upsets.  It’s a sports thing.  Also, Lieberman wins!!! Politics’ comeback player of the year without the Viagra endorsement.

6:20 PM: Warriors down by 9 against the hornets at halftime.  Monta Ellis and Anthoy Roberson (who?) have 9 points each.  9 points is also the combined scoring for J Rich, Murphy, Dunleavy, and Biedrins.  Key word, combined points.  Richardson and Murphy did play extended minutes yesterday and were key contributors to yesterday’s win.  Biedrins had a good game too.  No comment o Dunleavy.  Trying to remind myself that Dunleavy is a NOT a stats guy.  Intangibles intangibles…

6:25 PM: Dems down by 1 with 11 more seats still in play in the Senate and up by 14 in the House.  There were 33 seats at stake in the senate with 22 decided.  So this is like the 3^rd period in a hockey game.  At this point, I have totally neglected my personal statement. 

6:47 PM: Republicans are down 100-79 in the house and lost only 3 seats in the process.  There are still 256 undecided seats so there is plenty of action left even though they are down by 21.  GOP still leads by 2 (45-43).  Two left wing independents secured seats which means that it is really tied at 45.  Dems will control the senate only if they win by one because vice president Richard Chaney is president of Senate. 

6:55 PM: Why can’t people tally votes faster.  Warriors are down by only 6 with a minute to play in the third.  Biedrins with 8 points, only 1 personal foul, and 5 blocks.  Murph is the assist leader with 4.  Senate tied at 45 each.

7:30 PM: (At dinner) Looks like the democrats won’t win the Senate.  GOP Allen of Virginia may win and retain his seat.  Wondering how the Warriors are doing.  My sister keeps changing the channel and it’s driving me crazy.

9:00 PM: I don’t get it.  CNN does not show the two independent victories in the independent column.  They are marked as Democrat victories, which is weird to me.  No love for the independents.  The warriors lost by 4.  They came so close, but were not enough.  Anthony Roberson had a good offensive game. 

9:14 PM: Looks like the senate breakdown is going to be 50-48-2.  The house will be controlled by democrats with Nancy Pelosi will be our new House speaker.  So things went according to predictions.  I am a little disappointed because I was hoping for a surprise or a major upset. 

11/8

9:00 AM: Democrats, not GOP, won Montana and Rumsfeld resigns.  Democrats / independents 50 – GOP 49.  Only the Virginia seat is left.  There may be an upset.

10: 38 AM: The are still counting?  Come on

1:45 PM: Still counting

5:10 PM: Webb is holding a nine thousand vote advantage over Allen.  So the democrats might win.  I can’t wait till the tally is finished, I have stuff to do.  Boy, politics is suddenly really boring now that all I can do is wait.  Allen, just give up already.  People got things to do.  Come on

6:43 PM: Finally Allen gives up.  Dems win both Senate and House. 

It’s hard to say that the liberal congress will make the nation better.  That aspect is always up for debate although politicians always claim to know.  But one thing is for certain, business is not going to be conducted as usual for better or worse.  The United States will certainly pull out of Iraq before President Bush would like.  More interesting is how this will shape the 2008 election.  I would expect that this defeat will give the GOP a chance to regroup and soften their hard stance.  This will obviously bring the GOP back closer to the middle.  Remember “compassionate conservatism” was supposed to appeal to the moderate.  That went right out the door after Bush declared war.  The harsh right wing message was emphasized during 2004 as Bush appealed for every republican to vote.  In doing so, the GOP left the middle to the liberals, who took the middle without saying thanks.  I expect conservatives to regain the Senate in 2008 because there are more red states, the GOP will move back towards the middle, and many voted democrat simply because of the Iraq war, which should end before 2008.  Democrats can retain control only if they can show America that a democrat led congress will pass reasonable laws which appeal to both liberals and conservative.  Appeasing both parties will be hard in a nation this divided in politics.  America has made their decisions, now it is up to the politicians to do what is best for the nation.  God help us all. 

Waste of time

VH1: Remember the edible apple?

There was a time in American culture in which the Apple (the edible ones and not the computer maker) was highly touted.  Those in the past generation remember the phrase, “Eat an apple a day keeps the doctor/dentist away.”  Teachers receive apples from good students.  Fuji and Washington apples were the king of fruits in the 80’s.  People gave decorated boxes of Fuji apples for Christmas gifts and apple recipients were always delighted because the apples were A delicious and B substitutes for awful fruitcakes. 

Something odd occurred in the 90’s, people stopped caring for apples.  Blueberries were the fruit of choice because of their antioxidants.  They produced a refreshingly new taste when added to muffins and bagels.  Mango was the hip tropical fruit.  Beauty products also used mango scents because mangos were sweet and exotic.  Strawberries were always considered the romantic fruit because they can be dipped in chocolate or whip cream.  The influx of different fruits pushed apples aside.

Other “traditional” fruits, however, were able to stay in the limelight.  Even with its mushy texture, banana’s popularity remained constant because of their nutritional content.  Athletes worshipped the banana (please keep you mind clean here) because bananas are a great source of potassium.  Grapes made a recent comeback thanks to the popularity of wine (sideways).  Orange, although not eaten as often, is in great demand in juice form.  Americans love to have a glass of OJ in the morning and reach for a glass of OJ for vitamin C when they are sick. 

Apple’s demand fell because it lacked traits consumers desire.  Americans’ main health concerns are now obesity and cancer.  Eating apples has health benefits because the fiber in apples helps clean up intestines, the process reduces intestinal cancer.  Other fruits and vegetables are great source of fiber as well, which limits apple’s position as the fiber leader.  New age diets also encourage Americans to reduce the intake of carbohydrates, which are abundant in apples.  There are also limited complementary goods that can increase apple’s demand.  Apples are not associated with any meals or popular other foods besides apple pie and candy apple.  Apple pies are not regularly consumed because of their high calories and candy apples are associated with county fairs, which are being phased out.  Apple juice, which tastes as good as orange juice, is simply not as popular possibly due to poor marketing. 

An American stable, the apple slowly diminished its importance in our everyday life.  The combination of American’s waning interest in the apple and the introduction of other fruits have pushed apple aside.  Let raise a glass of imaginary apple juice (like you have apple juice in your fridge) and remember when times were simpler and apples reigned supreme.

Run NSCC (It’s like that, and that’s the way it is…)

For Holloween, I got my coworkers to dress up like 80’s rappers.  I sported some ice (tin foil taped to my ear) and full Adidas gear, shoes, pants, and pants.  It was pretty comfortable wearing windbreakers to work.  It’s like going to work in sweats.  The rest of my “crew” also dressed up in for the occasion.  This older guy donned on a full gangster/pimp outfit.  Another one wore a clock from our office on a gold chain.  We took a picture together on a camera phone.  A couple others purchased an “Instant Big Daddy” kit at Walgreen’s.  The kit came with grill, shades, and gold chain.

The five of us entered the relay race together with my boombox blearing in the background.  (Computer speakers plugged into my IPOD Not really old skool)  Our presence dominated the staging area.  The large crowd drown out diminutive speakers, which was a little disappointing.  The relay consists of four events 1. Eating donuts on a string w/o hands 2. walking with small pumpkin on top of head 3. dig through pumpkin guts for 4 items and 4. trivia challenge.