Happy post!
Yeah, technically, there's still exams to be written, given and graded, but screw it, I'm doing the summer goals post a little early because I want to use this weekend to accomplish the first one.
This is the 11th year of the summer goals and I still haven't managed to hit a perfect 10/10 yet. Maybe this is the year.
1) Run the Flying Pig marathon. I'm doing this Sunday morning. Cincy is hilly and I've battled through a jammed knee and rolled ankle during training as well as currently being in therapy for a pinched nerve in my neck. I'm not looking to p.r., I'll be happy to finish and I'll be even happier if I get a medal with a pig butt on it.
2) Take at least three awesome pictures of California. Pinnacles, Yosemites, Lake Tahoe, Lassen Volcanic and San Francisco. I don't think this should be too hard to do it.
3) Read both Journey Through Genius and Mathematics Through the Eyes of Faith, I also want to watch Fermat's Room because I want to do some mathy stuff this summer.
4) Do an analysis on the probability distribution for starting hands for Texas Hold 'Em poker. Actual mathy stuff that's out there, but I want a full distribution as opposed to just the winning probability.
5) Find more opportunities to volunteer.
6) Bike 100+ miles. Step 1 is to buy a bike. Step 2 is to make amends with my knees.
7)
8) Initiate the home buying process. I certainly don't plan on actually buying something yet, but I should talk to a banker and see how much home I could actually afford. After that, I need to get out and see what homes in my price range actually look like in both Fishers and Noblesville and maybe even Anderson if the first two depress me. I'd check out Carmel too, but I can afford roughly a used refrigerator box out there. Don't get me wrong, it'd be a really nice refrigerator box, but I want at least two rooms.
9) Hike another 14er and not do it solo this time.
10) Host a game night that includes the other math professors. Hooray for a social life! Maybe I'll actually have one this summer.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Friday, April 24, 2015
A quick update on my shoulder just to let everyone know how its doing. There's been good news and bad news. The good news is that the pain has become less frequent and if I'm distracted or involved in something else, I don't notice it. I'm also sleeping better, albeit on my couch and with an ice pack. The bad news is that the numbness in my finger still hasn't gone away. Further, the area just above my left elbow has started to hurt a little bit.
On a referral from one of the athletic trainers, I went to a walk in clinic yesterday. They did a series of x-rays on my shoulder which showed no structural damage so everything looked good there. The current diagnosis is that one of the muscles alongside my shoulder blade spasmed on Sunday night and just hasn't fully relaxed yet. I'm on a five day regimen of prednisone which should help relax the muscles and hopefully that will take care of everything. If not, the next step will be physical therapy. I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that because that means I'm probably running the flying pig with a janked shoulder and I'm just really ready to be done with this.
On a referral from one of the athletic trainers, I went to a walk in clinic yesterday. They did a series of x-rays on my shoulder which showed no structural damage so everything looked good there. The current diagnosis is that one of the muscles alongside my shoulder blade spasmed on Sunday night and just hasn't fully relaxed yet. I'm on a five day regimen of prednisone which should help relax the muscles and hopefully that will take care of everything. If not, the next step will be physical therapy. I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that because that means I'm probably running the flying pig with a janked shoulder and I'm just really ready to be done with this.
Monday, April 20, 2015
I hurt myself today
Recently, I had being a little bit of soreness and just kind of a dead spot behind my left shoulder blade. Last night, I started using a tennis ball to try and roll it out much like I do with my foam roller. After a minute or so, I got a good pop and then kept going for a little bit, but things took a turn for the worse. A couple minutes later, my shoulder was feeling completely dead and if I laid on the ground on my back, it hurt just to be there. I had something similar to this about five years ago and it sucked. I was able to get an appointment at MSU's D.O. Clinic and they took care of it fairly quickly. Once this goes away again, I'll need to make sure I spend plenty of time stretching.
I was able to email one of my colleagues in the kinesiology department this morning and she took a look at it this afternoon. We're trying positional release therapy. Round 1 helped a little but I'm still in a decent amount of pain and have very limited flexibility. There's some tingling going on in my index finger as well. My colleague told me its the worst case of muscle fasciculation she's experienced and she completely understands the pain I'm in. To be fair though, she came to Anderson with me so she may only have been doing this a few years. She tells me that my nerves have essentially knotted up and there having a hard time relaying information. The goal of the PRT is to relax those nerves and stretch them out again and hopefully then everything will be fine.
The worst part of this is that I just don't feel like myself since my ability to be active and athletic has been taken away. I was told I could do anything that doesn't cause me pain, but that likely won't be much. The marathon is coming up in two weeks and California is in five weeks. I would be incredibly disappointed if this affected either of those. I'm a little depressed right now from it anyway, but that might be a side effect of only getting two hours of sleep last night. I try to stretch at all and the pain comes shooting back and I hate this. Prayers would be appreciated.
I was able to email one of my colleagues in the kinesiology department this morning and she took a look at it this afternoon. We're trying positional release therapy. Round 1 helped a little but I'm still in a decent amount of pain and have very limited flexibility. There's some tingling going on in my index finger as well. My colleague told me its the worst case of muscle fasciculation she's experienced and she completely understands the pain I'm in. To be fair though, she came to Anderson with me so she may only have been doing this a few years. She tells me that my nerves have essentially knotted up and there having a hard time relaying information. The goal of the PRT is to relax those nerves and stretch them out again and hopefully then everything will be fine.
The worst part of this is that I just don't feel like myself since my ability to be active and athletic has been taken away. I was told I could do anything that doesn't cause me pain, but that likely won't be much. The marathon is coming up in two weeks and California is in five weeks. I would be incredibly disappointed if this affected either of those. I'm a little depressed right now from it anyway, but that might be a side effect of only getting two hours of sleep last night. I try to stretch at all and the pain comes shooting back and I hate this. Prayers would be appreciated.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Reality bites but that's what life is
I'm glad you're happy, but I've really missed you as a good friend. I only see one way I can get back and I would never hope for that. Goodbye.
Friday, April 10, 2015
And the sky opened up and started pouring rain
Or if the sky opened up and started pouring rain
Like it knew it was time to start things over again
it'd be all right, yeah, it's all right, it'd be easier that way
There have been several thunderstorms this week. You could always tell they were coming because it would be super dark at 10 in the morning still like the sun had just never risen. My biggest disappointment is that I've only gotten one or two really good cracks of thunder and a few minutes of pouring rain, but not that super intense storm. Driving back from the grocery store right now, the sky had turned a fairly ominous hue and I want that storm to come. Checking the weather report is a total downer though since there is currently a 0% chance of precipitation. I want that storm though - that storm that frightened me as a kid and I couldn't fall asleep until it was over. I want that storm to last for at least a little while. I want that reminder that God is in control and that he is all powerful. Yes, it may be a reminder of my insignificance apart from Him, but that's part of the grand beauty of it all. I've had a crappy week. Its not because of anything that has happened to me or any terrible coincidences or the such; its all been my fault as I have a certain level of standards I'd like to keep and I've failed miserably at most of them. I got 20 miles in on Sunday but since then I've coasted. I haven't run since then and I skipped this morning's lifting session and I really should try to make up for it with some yoga tonight, but that very likely won't happen. I've eaten an entire 9x13 cake that I frosted with a mixture of frosting and caramel sauce. It was entirely delicious but terrible for me. Additionally, I went through a bag of jelly beans. My diet has been an absolute farce these past several days and its affecting me. That's the great news that comes in the storm though. All of this gets washed away because I'm not the one who determines my own fate. If I did, I'd have been beyond hope years ago. Instead, I like God take care of everything and all the stupid crap that I don't want to do but kinda of actually do and so I do them all gets left behind and the crappy parts of me will eventually be refined out. I can't wait for that.
Like it knew it was time to start things over again
it'd be all right, yeah, it's all right, it'd be easier that way
There have been several thunderstorms this week. You could always tell they were coming because it would be super dark at 10 in the morning still like the sun had just never risen. My biggest disappointment is that I've only gotten one or two really good cracks of thunder and a few minutes of pouring rain, but not that super intense storm. Driving back from the grocery store right now, the sky had turned a fairly ominous hue and I want that storm to come. Checking the weather report is a total downer though since there is currently a 0% chance of precipitation. I want that storm though - that storm that frightened me as a kid and I couldn't fall asleep until it was over. I want that storm to last for at least a little while. I want that reminder that God is in control and that he is all powerful. Yes, it may be a reminder of my insignificance apart from Him, but that's part of the grand beauty of it all. I've had a crappy week. Its not because of anything that has happened to me or any terrible coincidences or the such; its all been my fault as I have a certain level of standards I'd like to keep and I've failed miserably at most of them. I got 20 miles in on Sunday but since then I've coasted. I haven't run since then and I skipped this morning's lifting session and I really should try to make up for it with some yoga tonight, but that very likely won't happen. I've eaten an entire 9x13 cake that I frosted with a mixture of frosting and caramel sauce. It was entirely delicious but terrible for me. Additionally, I went through a bag of jelly beans. My diet has been an absolute farce these past several days and its affecting me. That's the great news that comes in the storm though. All of this gets washed away because I'm not the one who determines my own fate. If I did, I'd have been beyond hope years ago. Instead, I like God take care of everything and all the stupid crap that I don't want to do but kinda of actually do and so I do them all gets left behind and the crappy parts of me will eventually be refined out. I can't wait for that.
Friday, April 3, 2015
I'ma do the things that I want to do
This is the second time I've ever successfully given up anything for lent. A couple of years I managed to give up alcohol. Since I gave that up for most of February to see if that would help me get in slightly better shape as well since I'd stop drinking some calories. Did it work? Not really. I might have lost a pound, but nothing noticable. Did it work for its greater purpose of making me think about Jesus' sacrifice every time I wanted a coke but instead got a lemonade or sweet tea instead? Not in the least. In fact, I never even connected the two until I started thinking about this post. In fact, I'm making more of a sacrifice right now as I'm skipping a free Weezer concert downtown right now because I'm going to go to a Good Friday service tonight. I know there are some people out there who make big deals of lent and it does amazing things for them. I just happen to not be one of them. I think there's enough power in Holy Week as it is and there's definitely been some effect this year. I only wish yesterday's thunderstorms would have been tonight (still some chance), just because it would have been more fitting.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Work sucks, I know
Can you use sarcasm font for a title? I just want to make that clear - work doesn't suck and I love what I do, but I definitely need to get back to it.
While the past couple of weeks were spent just waiting for spring break to get here, I'm a little glad its nearly done now and I can get back to the grind, as it gives me direction and focus. The hiking was great, but besides that, I didn't accomplish much. My most meaningful face to face conversation lasted about three minutes and it was with a restaurant manager. I haven't done a single push-up or pull-up and this morning's four mile run was the first run since the previous Thursday. If I hadn't already paid for everything, marathon training would be in serious jeopardy as I've missed so many runs. I've got essentially the next five Sundays to turn this from half-marathon training into marathon training. That's something that should be done over six weeks in a worst case scenario and I'm trying to do it in four. I will officially just be trying to finish when I run it that May morning.
I did get a good story out of this morning's run though. I cut a six miler short to four miles because I was having lung issues and probably shouldn't have been drinking during last night's Iowa game, but whatever. I'm walking those last two miles back when I see a Dodge Magnum pull up near me and the window rolls down. I see its a black woman in probably her mid-to-upper 30s. The way it came about, I assume she's going to ask for directions or something. Instead, she tells me,
"You look like a marine or something."
I'm still expecting a question but don't get so it takes me a second to respond with,
"Nope, just out for a morning run."
"Where's your wife?"
"Don't have one."
"Do you need one?"
(Laughs) "No, I'm good. I've got a girlfriend."
(She laughs) "Darn. Well, never know if you don't ask. Have a good day."
"Have a good day."
And then I walk away with my morning made and that big stupid grin that I get when I can't help but to be happy. Further, if you're going to hit on me, that marine line is a pretty good one.
While the past couple of weeks were spent just waiting for spring break to get here, I'm a little glad its nearly done now and I can get back to the grind, as it gives me direction and focus. The hiking was great, but besides that, I didn't accomplish much. My most meaningful face to face conversation lasted about three minutes and it was with a restaurant manager. I haven't done a single push-up or pull-up and this morning's four mile run was the first run since the previous Thursday. If I hadn't already paid for everything, marathon training would be in serious jeopardy as I've missed so many runs. I've got essentially the next five Sundays to turn this from half-marathon training into marathon training. That's something that should be done over six weeks in a worst case scenario and I'm trying to do it in four. I will officially just be trying to finish when I run it that May morning.
I did get a good story out of this morning's run though. I cut a six miler short to four miles because I was having lung issues and probably shouldn't have been drinking during last night's Iowa game, but whatever. I'm walking those last two miles back when I see a Dodge Magnum pull up near me and the window rolls down. I see its a black woman in probably her mid-to-upper 30s. The way it came about, I assume she's going to ask for directions or something. Instead, she tells me,
"You look like a marine or something."
I'm still expecting a question but don't get so it takes me a second to respond with,
"Nope, just out for a morning run."
"Where's your wife?"
"Don't have one."
"Do you need one?"
(Laughs) "No, I'm good. I've got a girlfriend."
(She laughs) "Darn. Well, never know if you don't ask. Have a good day."
"Have a good day."
And then I walk away with my morning made and that big stupid grin that I get when I can't help but to be happy. Further, if you're going to hit on me, that marine line is a pretty good one.
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