Playing Basketball

Last night was pretty cool. My son finally broke through and had the kind of game he has the potential for. He scored 16 of his teams 40 points. He was driving to the basket like a madman. He only missed one shot... and hit 3 of 4 foul shots.

I was so proud of him. I could kind of see how parents live through their children. I felt his excitement. His team was all patting him on the back and giving him high fives. I could really get a sense for why people get so into sports at that moment.

Shit's Stressful

Seriously. Except I think it's causing some good things.

I am up to 66 pushups.. can do 26 straight. Running 1 mile also. So guess things are getting there.

On The Road Again

Went into work today. Need to go tomorrow too. Been a busy day. Copley is still locked down and has many signs of the bombing including the above memorial.

Started running again. I have been doing in-door running for 20 minutes a day. Today I decided to take it outside. I may end up quitting in the winter again but the summer will be mine! I have already committed to a 5k road race in Boston. I have about two months to get ready for it. The first time I started couch to 5k I could barely run 1/4 a mile... today I got a nice 1.5 mile run in along with a 1/2 mile walk on each end of the run. So I am starting ahead of where I did before.

There is something nice about the exhaustion of a nice run. I feel it more so than doing my 60 pushups or even running in doors. It is a tiredness that feels good and has you chasing it again and again. At least until you get used to the distances and it loses some of it's luster. Still chasing hot jogger ass down the street is not bad.

A friend of mine has me trying protein drinks to build my muscles back faster. Not sure what I think of it but should be fun.

Thoughts on Boston

I suppose as a Boston blogger I should post something on the bombings. I was at work at the time about 3-4 blocks from the bombing. I was talking to my boss when we heard two loud bangs fairly close together. At first I thought it might be thunder. We went over to the side of the building and saw smoke pouring from the direction of the Marathon. I thought maybe it was a transformer that blew or something like that. I really did not want to think it was a bombing.

The office kind of wandered around. People hit the internet and details slowly came in. There was a bombing. It was at the Boston Marathon. People were killed and maimed. They had suspects. They did not have suspects. Someone tackled a Saudi guy. Stuff just kept flying around the office.

A little later the news pictures started coming in. Places I walk every day. Blood covered and strewn with rubble. People being wheeled away with missing limbs. Panic. Terror. Places I pass every day inexorably altered. Turned into some kind of sick Alice in Wonderland.

People were worried. Most people left for the day. I waited until the end of the day. I was not very concerned about another attack despite having to take the train home. I had a few thoughts along the line of "What if they attack again", but I did not think it would happen. Officers kept the platforms cleared until the trains came. Police were at the train stops all the way out in my town about 20-30 minutes from Boston. I drove home. I got some snacks. Ate some ice cream and chips for dinner and watched the news with the kids.

The next day the parking lot at the train station was only half full. The police still sat guarding the train station. In Boston there were hundreds of news people. Clogging up the sidewalks with equipment. Pointing cameras everywhere. It sort of pissed me off.

A few days later. The trains are still a little emptier than usual. We are still waiting to see who did this. The streets are still blocked off but things are showing signs of opening again. Things go on. People want to go back to normalcy.

In some ways I think I should react somehow. I should be sad, or angry, or scared. For some reason I just feel empty. The only reaction I have noticed is a little extra junk food in my diet. Perhaps I am too broken to feel anything. So many years of eating emotions. I say I feel bad about things. I get a little twinge when they show the eight year old's face. I feel like I should feel more. I care about people and do not want them to be hurt.I just wish I could feel more.

Fishing and Poker

Busy weekend. I have been keeping the weekends full of activity instead of just sitting around so that's an improvement.

The fishing derby was today. I took the kids. My son started early and we were there for an hour and caught nothing. My daughter came and in 5 minutes had a 14 inch fish. I think she may have won again. Twice in two years. My son is 0 for 10 years. Some days I think my hacker daughter is the biggest recipient of my genes and sometimes it seems like my son.

I played poker at the home game again. This time we finished early at 1AM. I have been enjoying the games. I take them seriously but not too seriously. I enjoy the social aspects more. I think I am getting the hang of how to play in loose home games. I am becoming much better at both handling the beats and outplaying the Q2 playing opponents. I am being aggressive and gambling when I need to and disciplined and patient when I need to. I am gambling enough to not have too few chips. Some games I go too far in one direction by overall I am in it.

Last night I ended up like 40 bucks. These are all cheap 10$ games. Like I said nothing to take too seriously but fun enough. I had a few early bustouts and a few 1st, 2nd, 3rd places that paid. The best part is that it is just enjoyable. No tilt. No anger. Just playing the game.