Team 'Ohana--No One Left Behind: The Continuing Adventures

[FFigawi]

I don't think she gave you the race. I think she was trying a lame attempt to rationalize to herself why she got beat. Very poor sportsmanship, to be sure, but when the excuses and commentary come out, it's because they don't want to admit they couldn't win.

Congrats on winning!

 

[corinnak]

Thanks John. I don't really think she gave it to me either, (and I'm not sure she's convinced she's really "not a runner") but I thought it was weird of her to imply that she did. I've just never been in a situation where it was an issue before!

 

[tiberius]

I don't think she gave you the race. I think she was trying a lame attempt to rationalize to herself why she got beat. Very poor sportsmanship, to be sure, but when the excuses and commentary come out, it's because they don't want to admit they couldn't win.

DITTO!!!
Corinna - don't pay any attention to anyone who can't admit you were the better woman that day.

Race Report
Last night was the El Chupacabra de Houston Nighttime 10K Trail Run. I had a great time on the trails with a group from my local running club. carpooled over in the evening and got checked in at packet pickup while there was still some light out. The start was at 9PM, and it was definitely dark out, but the time we cleared the start area, the only light was from the headlamps and flashlights of the runners heading down the road and onto the wooded trails. Parts of the trails were dirt driving paths while others were narrow hiking and running trails that winded through the woods. I spent the whole event with a group of friends doing a run/walk and just generally enjoying the evening. At the finish there was a ton of BBQ beef, pork and chicken (and some non-meat items), plus a plenty of beer supplied the the sponsor Michelob--as I was the designated driver for my group, I stuck to drinking Gatorade. I would definitely recommend this event to anyone wanting a great event, although you really do need to watch your footing in pitch dark on wooded trails!

 

[jbucci]

Corinna: Congrats on the win. That woman definitely missed the good sportsmanship day at school.

Richard: Sounds like a fun race. I like night events-- it's when I usually run, so I guess my body is more used to it. I think that's partly why I'm so psyched for the food and wine race this fall. The food at the end sounds awesome!

Jackie: Congrats on the half fanatics status! You've been doing an amazing job lately.

Nicole: Good work on getting back out there. Enjoy your GPS watch. I love mine.

I've been lacking in motivation a bit lately and am trying to get back on track. We have a half this weekend in Philia which should be fun but will be MUCH smaller than I thought. I kind of like being lost in the crowds of big races. The race was billed as being capped at 5,000 people but wound up having only about 750 people. The race encourages costumes, so we will be wearing zombie outfits (from the Plants vs Zombies game). Hope for cool weather for us. I've worked this week on the costumes and they look pretty good-- trying to find that balance between good outfit and able to run 13.1 in it. I'll try to post pictures after the race.

I'll whine for a moment here. I went to a new dentist last summer and had the usual xrays taken. He mentioned on of my molars didn't look right- internal resorption- where the tooth starts to destroy itself from the inside out for no particular reason other than bad luck. It wasn't hurting me at all so of course I procrastinated in doing the root canal he said I would need. We just got dental insurance so I finally went for the root canal only to be told the tooth is too far gone and will need to be pulled I'm trying to figure out when to schedule this lovely procedure so it doesn't interfere with races and vacation. Bleh...

 

[FFigawi]

Hi guys! Just checking in to see how everyone's doing. It's been pretty quiet here recently, so I thought I'd stir things up by getting the sci-fi discussion going again. I posted this as today's Mixer question too, but not many people seem to be interested in that these days.

What do you guys think about Lost? Some commentators have said that Lost is this generation's Star Trek in the way that it developed a fan base that loved to debate with each other and the show's creators, and also featured an overarching story arc within the ones that just helped to fill time in their weekly slot. I'm not so sure I'd use TOS as the comparision. Sure, they had the same characters all the way through and tried to keep continuity from episode to episode, but they didn't really have an arc with an end in mind. I'd say better Star Trek comparisons would be with DS9 or Voyager. Even better comparisions would be with the X-Files. Lots of mysteriousness, a definite story arc, and an end that revealed much of went came before it was not central to the story. I think Lost actually had the better ending of the two. Chris Carter and his team screwed up the X-Files by getting too clever and could never get out of the box they put themselves in. The Lost guys had a lot going on but managed to keep it pretty coherent and solid all the way through the end.

Happy Monday!

 

[chimera]

What do you guys think about Lost? Some commentators have said that Lost is this generation's Star Trek

Sacrilege!

I loved the first 3 or 4 seasons of Lost, but this past one, with all the flash sideways deals...meh. The finale wasn't fulfilling for me either. More questions than answers.

Loved X-files! but not so much on the alien conspiracy episodes. I just liked the weird stuff.

 

[jbucci]

I am a total sci-fir geek but never watched Lost. I liked the X-files a lot and watched all of the Star Treks (although missed a lot of DS9 due to having no life and being a resident during those years).

My question is: Should I start with season 1 through Netflix and watch it or should I pass?

 

[princessbride6205]

RE: Lost - Never got into it. After the first season hype, DH and I tried to get into it by watching a few episodes in season 2. But we didn't get hooked, so never ended up watching it again.

JenB - Sorry about your tooth! Hopefully the race will be fun and with good weather.

Corinna - How lame of your "competitor" in the reunion race. As usual, you pushed yourself and prevailed in adverse conditions. Well done!

I can't remember if I welcomed Lisa... If not, HI LISA!

I received my Garmin 305 and I first used it today. Yesterday was a run day, so I tested out my new gadget with my best attempt at race walking. It's so cool! I love knowing how I'm doing on distance and pace. I haven't gotten into the other functions like the racing partner (or whatever it's called!).

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Just had to comment quickly -- I enjoyed Lost and I enjoy Star Trek, but I don't find them comparable. Lost doesn't have the breadth or depth of Star Trek, or frankly the limitless potential.

JenB -- DS9 is both loved and not. I think it depends on how you connect with the characters, so I'd start with season 1 and see what you think. Personally, I wasn't hooked until Worf showed up, but that's just me. I actually liked Voyager better, even though Dennis's favorite character was "2", er, Seven of Nine.

How is everyone? All these finales and the Celtics playoffs are exhausting me. I need Memorial Day weekend so I can be done with the finales and get some rest! Dennis is doing the Run to Remember Half on Sunday, so he's in taper mode. Our ds is having a sleepover Saturday night, so this should be interesting. Good thing they're big enough that as long as there are mass quantities of food, the Wii and the backyard, not much is required of us.

I feel like I'm behind in life and workouts (Well, I am), so I'm going to have to start fresh. Catching up at this point is unlikely.

I hope everyone has a great holiday -- and if you celebrated Victoria Day yesterday, I hope that was awesome!

Maria

 

[deekaypee]

Hi Cousins! Team-wide apologies for my spotty attendance. There's been a lot going on here – stressors both good and bad – that tend to keep me moody and offline. I won't go into much detail here except two things:

1. Those of you who know I freelance might like to know I've been "promoted" to the national Disney Travel Examiner. (I guess I wasn't writing about the Steelers enough). That's good, as it will help get me through the summer downturn in academic writing gigs; but in many ways it's a whole new game.
2. Yep, you guessed it. DOOD and I aren't doing the DL 1/2. It's Labor Day weekend, which you would think would be great timing for us. But it's not (for him) and apparently there are some issues with me doing a Disney race without him. (Who knew? ) It's, therefore, of some comfort that Delta didn't want me to redeem a free flight to Cali over the holiday (which I suspected might be a problem). I'm now got an eye on the Wine & Dine weekend as a "work weekend" to report on the Food & Wine festival. I'm not convinced I want to do a night half on top of that.

So, sulk, sulk, sulk. And over the 55th anniversary of DLR, too.

However, I'm so glad so many of my cousins will be in attendance & you all seem to be doing fairly well.

I've got lots of back reading to catch up on, but I'm going to make an effort to post shorter and more frequently. I miss you more than I can say.

Just a few things:

Richard: Congrats on your night race! How is your FIL doing? Congrats to Amanda as well – it's a big moment well worth celebrating.

Mel: Oh, no! How's your mom?

Christine: Thank you for volunteering at a water stop! I have a great time doing so, and plan on signing up for the WDW marathon.

Maria: Although I haven't signed up for the WDW 1/2 yet (still), I'm going with the 1/2.

Jackie: Woo hoo on being a half fanatic! I guess I didn't realize how many races you had planned.

Erica: You sound like a real trooper for doing your half with migraines. As with Jackie, who I know also sallies forth, my mouth is open in awe (and maybe just a bit of terror).

Corinna: Bah to poor sports, but a big woo hoo to your great performance!

JenB: I love, love the idea of zombie costumes! I'm very sorry to hear about your root canal, though. I hope it's relatively painless.

John: Thanks for trying to keep the thread & the mixer going. I'm working on being here more often, and it's not a reflection of any "newer" members that I'm not here. That is, unless I can convince you all to adopt me and send me $$$.

Lost: Meh. I don't buy TPTB had a master plan all along. Oh, I got the ending, predicted it fairly early on, and I see why they did seasons 5 & 6. But not a huge fan of them. When I got hooked on Lost, I guess I'd hoped for a lowbrow Lord of the Flies, was willing to accept an X-Files with touch of ST alterna-dimensions.

What I got, instead, was a thinly-veiled Gilligan's Island with postmodern pastiche. I mean, I like a shirtless Sawyer as much as the next gal, but I think the writers'/producers' ideas of compelling relationships (because the show's all about relationships) differs from mine. And I can fanwank with the best of you, but that doesn't mean the overall story arc makes a lick of sense as written.

Still, I give Lost this: its finale was far superior to that of The Prisoner. Or of Seinfeld and yes, even the series finale of X-Files, which also failed to satisfy. I said on FB that Lost's pros were that it seemed like fanfic. And that its cons were, you guessed it, it seemed like fanfic. To each their own. And water cooler conversations can be cool, too.

But me, I've got to give it to ST:TNG, my intro into the ST universe. I'm so over Fringe and V. BSG still interests me, though long over. But for my sci-fi fix I regularly turn to Big Bang Theory. I want a custom running shirt that says Bazinga.

Okay, I PROMISE I'll be back in the next couple of days.

 

[laughinplace199]

Hi,

I haven't been around lately, but I thought I'd stop by and say hello.

Corinna - Congrats on your win! You rock!

Richard - That night time race sounds like fun!

Maria - I hope that you're able to get some sleep with your DS having a sleepover. Or maybe boys aren't as bad as girls? Whenever DD has (or goes to) a sleepover, they don't go to sleep until 2:00 or 3:00 AM!

Rob & I are supposed to run the Run to Remember Half this weekend. Unfortunately, I have a lovely case of poison ivy and don't know if I will be running. I also haven't been training (things have been crazy busy here), so it might not be a bad thing for me to sit this one out.

Hello to all the cousins!

 

[laughinplace199]

Debra - Congrats on your promotion to national Disney Travel Examiner. I can't think of anyone better for that title!

 

[chimera]

I want a custom running shirt that says Bazinga.

 

[deekaypee]

Perfect! Does Custom Ink run true to size?

 

[chimera]

Perfect! Does Custom Ink run true to size?

I've never ordered from them, but it's a Champion shirt. They have tons of other styles and colors. I think a lighter blue might be nice. And I'm sure would go better with the leopard tights

 

[jbucci]

Big Bang is one of the best shows ever!!! I love the shirt

 

[chimera]

Debra...congrats on the national gig! National seems to make more sense for Disney than a local writer in Pittsburgh. Mom's ok...thanks for asking. She's now sporting a second stent (got the first one at age 50) and will have to have open-heart if this happens again. I'm rededicating myself to diet, exercise and weight loss. I'd rather have a new sports car then a stent for my 50th birthday.

JenB...how's the tooth? Good luck on your half! Can't wait to see the photos.

Julie...sorry to hear about the poison ivy. That's not fun.

Maria...never got into DS9. We missed Voyager the first time around, but really liked it from Netflix. I wish we had watched it when it was actually on.

John...I was definitely disappointed with the Xfiles movies. Did not have the depth of the series. Did you have a Star Trek series preference?

Richard...good luck with the tri this weekend!

Love Big Bang! I wish it was an hour long...I'm always sad when it's over. It's so fun to chat with you guys cuz I learn new words like story arc and fanwank I'm still not sure how to use fanwank in a sentence (and am a little surprised it's not blocked).

Any big plans for Memorial Weekend? I think we're taking a daytrip to MK, then DD17 is marching in the Memorial Day parade Mon and we have a BBQ to attend later.

Talking with you guys is so cool.

 

[tiberius]

Talking with you guys is so cool.

That is why I keep coming back here!

BTW, good luck getting that sports car at 50, Mel!

 

[deekaypee]

Julie, Mel: Thanks for the kind works about the "promotion." I'm most excited about the excuse to go to Disney more and write it off on my taxes. I guess that makes me shallow. It does mean that I need to keep a lot of receipts, though, and we all know I'm not very organized.

Julie: Poison ivy? How'd you get that? Is it a G-rated story? Man, that might be a good reason not to do Race to Remember. Think of the chafing!

Mel: I'm glad your mom is doing okay, despite everything, and that it's inspired you to do healthy things. That's the kind of proactive behavior that will get you your sports car! (And keep you in our lives a nice, long, healthy time for running years to come!) Whoo hoo.

I'm going to order one of the "Team Bazinga" Custom Ink shirts after the weekend. I think I will tool around and look at the colors. But I can't resist it – I was going to go for a Running Banana shirt, but they only come in white and I do prefer other colors for running shirts. I'll let you know how it fits.

For those of you curious about fanwank (and I never thought about the censors but, um, yeah? ), apparently it has its genesis in a Dr. Who discussion forum. Here's a general discussion of what it means. Fanwank has a mostly derogatory connotation, but I generally use it as a more value-neutral term. Or maybe I just want to re-appropriate the word, like I do with cougar. Mreow.

Hi to John, Richard, JenB, Maria, Jackie, Jeanne, etc. (the list is too long now!)

Anyone here thinking of doing Last Trip to Endor? I'm not a huge Star Wars fan, but the whole ST/Lost discussion has me thinking...

Here's one for all Evanovich fans. Guess where scenes for the new Stephanie Plum film, One for the Money, is filming? Yep, right here in Pgh, starting in July or August. Apparently Pgh makes a good stand-in for Trenton, NJ. Katherine Heigl will be here – no word on whether Jason O'Mara or Daniel Sunjata will be here, too. But you can guess that I'll be visiting set locations, camera in hand, if they're open to the public.

And in last bits of news. I've been doing some running, not much or far, but more consistently in May than in March or April.

 

[Creativebeth]

I want a Team Bazinga shirt too!!!! I LOVE Sheldon and the BBT!

Beth