tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194647382024-03-06T23:05:09.151-06:00Laughing Right Out LoudA collection of insignificant postings to share with my family and friends. Thanks for stopping by!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-25387539463101204172011-03-03T21:24:00.004-06:002011-03-04T09:58:49.440-06:00A Long, Cold WinterMy last post talked about how much I have admired the scenery around me when I ride and how I vowed to stop and enjoy the scenery even more. Sadly, I have not been able to do this because my riding was put on hiatus in early December.<br /><br />For many months prior to December, I have awakened at 5:00 a.m. and gone out for a 24-mile ride before work. I had every intention of keeping this ritual going throughout the Winter. However, one early December morning, despite bundling up as best I could in thermal tights, wool socks, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">multiple</span> thermal jerseys and pairs of gloves, I suffered what I believed was a mild case of frostbite on my hands and feet. Later that day, my riding partner and I made the decision that we would only ride in the morning if it was higher than 35-degrees. We never seemed to have too many of those days for the rest of winter.<br /><br />However, the Winter was not a total loss. I did complete my 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> century ride of the year (and my life) a couple of days before Christmas. I also logged my 4,000<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> mile of the year (and my adult life) on New Year's Eve. Also, several pick-up rides held in December introduced me to more local riders with whom I greatly enjoyed getting to know. I logged only 68 miles for January and 227 miles for February. And my longest ride, so far this year, has only been 56 miles.<br /><br />A couple of other <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">achievements</span> that happened this Winter include: I raced in my first 5K on my 40<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> birthday - the Rudolph Run in Huntsville - and I have been able to sustain the weight loss I worked so hard for last year. I have worried that less riding, and thus less calorie burn, would lead to weight gain, but I have tried to diligently adhere to making smart eating decisions. While I haven't done as good with eating as I did last year when I was trying to lose weight, I have been able to solidify the loss of two more inches in my waist. I have now gone from a 44-inch waist to a 32-inch waist. My final weight loss for the year was 120 pounds. I am not trying to lose any more weight, but am dedicated to eating healthy and not abusing myself with the emotional and comfort eating that dominated my habits for so many years.<br /><br />The mornings are beginning to warm up and Daylight Savings Time starts in less than 2 weeks. Both of these factors should lead to more riding time. I sure hope so, especially because I have named two goals - 6,000 miles and 6 centuries. I look forward to making many more friends through cycling (and possibly running) and hitting my goals. And, as discussed in my last post, taking time to enjoy the world around me.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-50102861706813231632010-10-02T12:08:00.008-05:002010-10-02T12:45:38.820-05:00A Nice Change of Pace<div><div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATTwfakEASra2G4UaWS4u1yUFGRKlULkkWGSSatO21CDZ53qquT8OWoIfMsTMDX3WulDMUZvKQ4T8zZsAcyE5RgKi0pjXLgLQ94ggdwaRId0HvZm7NMCIKkpHuenLU4Tg6fBzzQ/s1600/DSCN1564.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523497480884255714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATTwfakEASra2G4UaWS4u1yUFGRKlULkkWGSSatO21CDZ53qquT8OWoIfMsTMDX3WulDMUZvKQ4T8zZsAcyE5RgKi0pjXLgLQ94ggdwaRId0HvZm7NMCIKkpHuenLU4Tg6fBzzQ/s320/DSCN1564.JPG" border="0" /></a>I ride a bicycle. A lot. Most of my rides happen before sunrise around 5:45 in the morning. These rides, which last only about 22 miles, help get me focused for work and give my metabolism a boost as I start the day. Since I am constrained by time on these rides, they usually are at a quick pace that offer me little time to enjoy the scenery. Over the 3,000 miles I have ridden this season, I have seen so many beautiful sunrises, magnificent hillside landscapes, and many wonderful lakes, streams, and rivers. I have always told myself, "One day I'm going to come back here and bring a camera". I decided today needed to be that day. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>I am truly blessed to be able to explore middle Tennessee by bicycle. It wasn't that long ago that it seemed impossible for me to be able to get out and ride like I do. This area is full of magnificent sights and I have decided that occasionally I will take a camera with me, take lots of pictures, and give a ride report for anyone who is interested in reading. </div><div><br /></div><div><br />Today's ride started around 9:15 and, after about 3.5 miles, I had to call Felicia to come bring me a baselayer to put under my jersey. Once she showed up, I pedaled toward Ledford Mill, hoping to get a nice picture or two of the old mill. Having recently visited Falls Mill in nearby Belvidere, I had great expectations for what this mill would look like. Unfortunately, Ledford Mill, which no longer functions, is tucked away in the woods and I could not get back in the woods far enough to take a picture of the water wheel. I took a few pictures of the mill from the dam above the mill, but there are still too many leaves on trees to get a clear shot. </div><div><br /></div><div></div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvJzodGswsXOPLR1Nm4VC0pG_VGVdprg9iYHkBcQjKcAQQVWZ6D0TvQ5u4NRQMhD2-hq1YLUTAyAPddu_gFeYYc0Tm7gxYaKxq5L_YWmTJZz1XC9ZVIzEreWOX9YAMQTq0aX9PA/s1600/DSCN1552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523500371519749202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvJzodGswsXOPLR1Nm4VC0pG_VGVdprg9iYHkBcQjKcAQQVWZ6D0TvQ5u4NRQMhD2-hq1YLUTAyAPddu_gFeYYc0Tm7gxYaKxq5L_YWmTJZz1XC9ZVIzEreWOX9YAMQTq0aX9PA/s320/DSCN1552.JPG" border="0" /></a>I got back on my bike and went a few hundred feet to a small roadside waterfall that I always enjoy looking at. After leaving the waterfall along Shipman Creek Road, I pedaled toward Rowesville Road with the idea of heading toward Normandy to check on one of my favorite restaurants, The River Cafe. I have never taken this route to Normandy before and didn't know what to expect, but I had looked at the road on a map and decided to give it a shot. Normandy sits along a big lake and is at a fairly low altitude compared to the rest of the area. Turning off Rowesville Road onto Normany Road, I saw the start of a very big hill. Once I got the top of that hill it leveled off for about 20 yards and then kept going up. I totally was not expecting that, but hammered my way through it and enjoyed my 45 mph descent into the little town of Normandy (see the picture, this is the whole town).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JnN1wCUV5dL2PIi97uV6SNLT4RDhuvWb84zy5lmlyw0lSqCVbFxzSMVznxveOjiyGfqd6-Qt55nOPwqAiGPfYc0bD4S_o1d4Ay5Rl0eMexJ0Qo1abEczdsht3ju5grUBwYjSPQ/s1600/DSCN1554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523502161335589074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JnN1wCUV5dL2PIi97uV6SNLT4RDhuvWb84zy5lmlyw0lSqCVbFxzSMVznxveOjiyGfqd6-Qt55nOPwqAiGPfYc0bD4S_o1d4Ay5Rl0eMexJ0Qo1abEczdsht3ju5grUBwYjSPQ/s320/DSCN1554.JPG" border="0" /></a>As I mentioned, Normandy is in a low-lying area. There are about 4 ways to come out of Normandy and everyone of them involve a good climb. I decided to come out via Cascade Hollow, the home of the world-famous George Dickel Distillery. The Dickel distillery is quite tiny compared to the behemoth Jack Daniel Distillery in neighboring Lynchburg. Like Jack Daniel, all Dickel whisky is produced right here in middle Tennessee. Both distilleries offer free tours and have some very pretty landscaping. Dickel is a little off the beaten path and seems to never be busy. I stopped there today for a couple pictures of the creek, the general store, and the old fire hose cart that is on display in front of the visitors center. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>After this, I put my camera back in my seat bag and hammered up Cascade Hollow Road back to town. After a couple of big hills, I felt that I deserved a donut, so I made a quick stop before returning home. My total ride was only a little over 23 miles, but very enjoyable and, as mentioned in the title, a very nice change of pace. I look forward to offering more ride reports in the coming weeks. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523505186301928722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZuQyK0ns-t_rXhCXzv6lefpONyC3OYo6DdpvJkVcqJy1xJaKib5TeeJzJsezI0X1l400PPV1QHh4RFHA5_nPQ72BD3R9uMEZx7gvjXOw7YUqrekY-eVNy7bSj4InHV6juGktsw/s320/DSCN1559.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523505197767393442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBb3ZPBdeJzO7_TpVaMzb564pS18LdpQ0_0kRR0hGe9MQz3B_8ANEytCwi_YZMK3bBNMESJo4rBbbAumrfFNrFxOntpQsxt2oi5BvbNJhGjL3FL2VGJ192XAvHtJ6NdmZUKhmog/s320/DSCN1562.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523505195678006626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhroqirG9pionypGwK8hM0CSUOQMxCai7A7RreAhheC8FRKg9g81UMMe6_zVW3i_8AUJnbtdiMZWoa1FGO9wELQtCgAmEPGcNLM8lKZPnXZO5SjRpL4Nw0VIFJ2OpoVeZ7R8XRdA/s320/DSCN1560.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-59214267691675132992010-08-21T22:18:00.003-05:002010-08-21T22:40:11.034-05:00What a Ride! - HOT100 Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdXaHJj9yRHPTwyPn1CTJAZGhILJFZ3uZ-0bXYX4x5xai73xSv3n5zxdadQhfEDyiFCVIibdGQRjL3La0_6IUsvTEa8Gf_MxX92tu3THA7dCuUsnHvaGpXbIT9JphmxZSlFMWJA/s1600/Jason+-+Mile+33.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508068811241341906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdXaHJj9yRHPTwyPn1CTJAZGhILJFZ3uZ-0bXYX4x5xai73xSv3n5zxdadQhfEDyiFCVIibdGQRjL3La0_6IUsvTEa8Gf_MxX92tu3THA7dCuUsnHvaGpXbIT9JphmxZSlFMWJA/s320/Jason+-+Mile+33.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I completed my first century ride today! I attempted a century ride back in May, but fell short due to lack of daylight, finishing with just 86.5 miles. Today I rode the 20th Annual 102-mile Heart Of Tennessee century, in and around Murfreesboro. My riding partner, Steve, told me a couple of weeks ago that he planned to ride this event and I wasn't sure if I was going to or not. This past Sunday, I decided to go for it. I have ridden several 50+ mile rides without rest stops and such, so I figured the 102 mile ride was completely possible.</div><div> </div><div>Every morning before work, Steve and I ride about 22 miles. I know that is not a long distance, but we always take one of our several very hilly routes. Turns out all these mornings that I push myself to get up those hills has conditioned me very well to power through a ride such as today's. The HOT100 rolls through the old Civil War grounds of Rutherford and Cannon county. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and, in some cases, breathtaking. </div><div> </div><div>There were two "significfant" climbs of over 500 foot gain and another with about a 400 foot gain. Outside of that, the day was full of rollers and lots of twists and turns. On each of the larger hills, and also some of the shorter ones, we passed folks who had climbed off their bikes to walk up the hill, and even several who had pulled over and called in the SAG wagon to come pick them up and take them back to the starting point. Each time I was able to power past these folks, I got another shot of adrenaline. Just 7 months ago, I had not ridden a bike in over 20 years. Plus, I was carrying 110 extra pounds of fat and something like this was completely unfathomable. Completing this century today was a very big accomplishment for me and I even teared up a little at mile 98 when it hit me that I was about to finish. Not to sound dramatic, but I truly feel that cycling has saved my life. I believe that my change in blood pressure, cholesterol level, etc and overall general health has moved me out of the high heart disease risk factor category and added years to my life. </div><div> </div><div>I am planning another century in 3 weeks and a metric century (62 miles) before that. I look forward to sharing more success stories like this.</div><div> </div><div> </div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-70885697984064176522010-08-15T21:57:00.004-05:002010-08-15T22:09:48.987-05:00My Finest Days are Behind Me!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjVqwoBSxILq_oUdbgfSjDqIfM3Hor6Lb9IMJ8LvgUtlBJEu1_tSBb1h1FwpKyOuw2_l8M8TkTLbe9WdHaF6ya-KHIoK3xKIFk1ME_hkk-_zfQj4MYZFESETMWEuoEPVqx-db8A/s1600/PICT0055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505838677636814962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjVqwoBSxILq_oUdbgfSjDqIfM3Hor6Lb9IMJ8LvgUtlBJEu1_tSBb1h1FwpKyOuw2_l8M8TkTLbe9WdHaF6ya-KHIoK3xKIFk1ME_hkk-_zfQj4MYZFESETMWEuoEPVqx-db8A/s320/PICT0055.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Six months ago, I bought at 8-year old Fuji Finest to help me lose weight and get in better health. Since, then I have ridden over 2,000 miles and lost a total of 110 pounds. Recall, this was all without diet pills, shots, etc. Just lots and lots of hills and miles and eating right. I'm where I want to be with respect to weight and have been trying to "maintain" for the last several weeks. I've still got to figure out how to quit losing though (I guess that's a good problem to have). To commemorate my accomplishments, I indulgently went out today and bought a new bike. My new Fuji CCR2 full carbon bike with 105/Ultegra components is totally awesome! I can't wait for my next 2,000 miles! </div><div> </div><div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505839088638986402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlCE3Nj0jVCnCVEWE3bOzUZfpaMtArGfz127uE2tuqWhUe0LXDxMFqMVwMMiErXE9jaWMQiFCQIttf5RejqOmWZwI-C_F6ODI8nG8TGHq0-ORqAfLLDqTB7ZrouBKXRc1v1cu_g/s320/PICT0050.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div> </div><div>And to show that it's "not all about me", I also got Felicia a new Masi Alare. This is her first true road bike. She asked if I would help her along her journey. I'm really surprised she had to ask if I would be willing to ride more. Kinda rhetorical don't you think? </div></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-48384995963161024062010-06-15T08:27:00.002-05:002010-06-15T08:40:38.545-05:001990 or 2010?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8SkmapcO9ZFMRWKYXTTZBddDINsemq2l3A_tp-zVPdWsyn8lio8jjJ6p5FlkuMf6XlB_dn2z0UNUMCqw1bc9fgdYg_R4wvxR57ceNEI8YZTt6953EpuyrOL7aSDX2tyvWTS8bw/s1600/198Pic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482991966038762034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8SkmapcO9ZFMRWKYXTTZBddDINsemq2l3A_tp-zVPdWsyn8lio8jjJ6p5FlkuMf6XlB_dn2z0UNUMCqw1bc9fgdYg_R4wvxR57ceNEI8YZTt6953EpuyrOL7aSDX2tyvWTS8bw/s320/198Pic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>I could have taken this picture in either 1990 or 2010, but not in any of the twenty years between. With this number showing on my scale this morning, I can now say my push toward weight loss is all but over. On January 3 of this year, I weighed in at 293 and now, on June 15, I am at 198. That's a loss of 95 pounds. My original goal was to lose 63. Then 83. Then "let's just see where it goes", but I knew I wanted to be under 200. I may still lose a few more, no more than 10, but I do feel a certain drive to get to "normal" on the BMI chart. <br /><br />There are so many people that have followed my journey and offered lots of support and encouragement along the way. My lovely wife Felicia has been supportive and understanding of my drive as I crawl out of bed early in the morning to cycle before work and when I disppear each Tuesday night and some saturday mornings for those longer distance rides. My pal Steve, who I met the first week I started pedaling, has ridden beside me and encouraged me up some monster hills and never got frustrated even when I was a much slower rider. My brother, Scott, planted that initial "seed" that got me interested in cycling, which has been a huge factor to my results. And my brother's friend, Brady, who I have never met, has offered frequent comments on my blog that have been a major source of much encouragement. I appreciate all the support each of you have given me. I appreciate all the encouragement and "pats on the back" that all my Facebook friends have shown. <br /><br />As my posts about weight loss end, please remember to check back in for updates on where my rides take me and to keep up with everything else going on in my life.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-75020909727292285402010-05-15T00:41:00.008-05:002010-05-15T09:21:07.291-05:00First Century Ride<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvX_qmKrefX3bPxFhyphenhyphenob7rJvsHb5aDLT87rboj6judI9U2uS23rTIsA_uP6cAX2AA5b1EhcMRjgU5gsJX0k5vfOCv4HqrxMk3mzgOncGBdXLMxECA3tbEj58vfGDZy-PhHLLbFvw/s1600/DSCN0497.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471369620280096626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvX_qmKrefX3bPxFhyphenhyphenob7rJvsHb5aDLT87rboj6judI9U2uS23rTIsA_uP6cAX2AA5b1EhcMRjgU5gsJX0k5vfOCv4HqrxMk3mzgOncGBdXLMxECA3tbEj58vfGDZy-PhHLLbFvw/s320/DSCN0497.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Five months ago, I would get winded walking from the bedroom to the kitchen and back for a cup of water. Yesterday, I embarked on a 100-mile bicycle ride with my wife.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We first came up with the idea about a week before and we carefully planned every little thing about our day. We made a long list of supplies to carry in a pannier, planned our rest intervals, planned where we would eat lunch. All we had to do was wait for Friday to get here and we would be set! We chose to ride the Chief Ladiga Trail from Anniston, AL to the Georgia state line. In Georgia, the trail renames as the Silver Comet Trail and continues on to Smyrna, just north of Atlanta. The trails are part of the Rails To Trails Conservancy project where old unused railroad beds are converted to bike/walking paths. Given the distance and populartity of these adjoining trails, the Cheif Ladiga/Silver Comet Trail has been awared a place in the Rails To Trails Hall of Fame. We planned to ride 50 miles into Cedartown, GA, eat lunch, and turn back.<br /><br />After spending 3.5 hours driving from Tullahoma to Anniston, we started our ride around 8:30. We did not try to rush at all. We just took a leisurely pace and made plenty of time to snap pictures and enjoy the wildlife (well, except for the snakes).<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471378144494093810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu9BLVgR6WkVFBTyUORU42O-MjH5OnlKZ21kG-tB2UxCpGJvqrTIDRMZ-4GdULGgCs_mHHEx3sbZn8fXwpwDXLQWVapSGUuRrdMnFl_pMrKBAaYaAMGd7501LiJSxC6WqQn0sMA/s320/IMG00082-20100514-1021.jpg" border="0" /><br />After leaving Anniston, our ride took us through the campus of Jacksonville State University and the town of Piedmont (the Piedmont Welcome Center is pictured above) before coming to Gateway Park at the state line. Once we hit the state line, there was absolutely nothing until the town of Cedartown, some 15 or so miles away. We had packed plenty of granola bars, but by the time we reached Cedartown, we were starved. The trail leads to the old train depot, which now serves a welcome center. We stopped in and asked the attendant for a restaurant suggestion. She told us of a little country cafe about a block down the road. We found the place, relaxed there for an hour or so, went back to the depot to refill our water bottles and hit the trail to return to Anniston.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471378767593567746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9b_-cg2z4kVLt4nvN2saCMoNgJgzL6ihyDIzwtqdH4Z3UhjhWzYngpvrWOCxQPq6F-Z0P7U2Bh8CqRi1DPqEL-lx7vwhwGZ7eh4m-NtgnFBR9XcAjbsUsM_HKXgAoCBwUXyaOgQ/s320/DSCN0517.JPG" border="0" /><br />Recall, I mentioned that we had meticulously planned the whole ride? Seems I forgot to check the actual mileage to Cedartown, which we were certain would be our turnaround point. We reached the town at 43.25 miles, which meant that our total trip would come in at 86.5. We made a plan to return to the start of the trail and then ride 14 more to and from Jacksonville to make the complete century. However, the sun set on us and our last two miles were in the dark, so we had to abandon our plans of completing the ride. With that said, I realize there will be plenty of other opportunities to do a century ride. I am considering going back to that same trail by the end of summer and doing 114 miles, the additional 14 to make up for yesterday's deficiency. Even without logging the full 100 miles we set out to complete, yesterday was a very monumental day in the fact that Felicia's prior longest ride was 17.8 miles and mine was 32 miles. We both accomplished so much more than we could have ever dreamed possible.<br /><br />Along the way, there were some great bridges with breathtaking views of the creeks and rivers that ran along and underneath the trails. We snapped lots of pics, stopped along the way to talk with other cyclists and, overall, had a great day together.<br /><br />I have posted pictures of the ride on my Facebook page. If you would like to see them and are not already a FB friend, just let me know and I will add you.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-26745220009956197402010-05-06T07:43:00.004-05:002010-05-06T07:54:35.591-05:00MILEstone Day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmERz7nu38nlSH6wITz4nGf9a5a3euj2Nvscd1O1BLL_NPcpr0FWTkPjHeUo-ZFzeJZ4uc-L-qziad5jDIveYpJY5aEutRAVZ8MP4EAxRqSiy7ueWnx8b9OFWwTtLSHZ1HLqEo3g/s1600/500MilePic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468137554733865778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmERz7nu38nlSH6wITz4nGf9a5a3euj2Nvscd1O1BLL_NPcpr0FWTkPjHeUo-ZFzeJZ4uc-L-qziad5jDIveYpJY5aEutRAVZ8MP4EAxRqSiy7ueWnx8b9OFWwTtLSHZ1HLqEo3g/s320/500MilePic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMASzZ849rKmb5trOHsyTb4-SS9PydpKGooLQbcv-Tcthedj2-XpmBHp8_i1yMbnCYjjrRTvQo8k-JBvKx67pdA7L988MuKKar6ZPXhSHNg5J27zZiCK5-UQpbCieDKFeCpmcGnQ/s1600/500MilePic.jpg"></a>Today is a MILEstone day for me. I have now ridden 500 miles since I started riding on February 17. In that same time, I have lost 43 pounds for a total loss of 75 pounds since January 4. Through cycling, I have improved my health, seen much more of my town, and made new friends. </div><div> </div><div>I am looking forward to my next 500 miles and I am sure they will come a lot quicker given the warmer weather. <br /></div><div>(Thanks to <a href="http://rdside.blogspot.com/">Steve </a>for photo credits and for stopping halfway through our morning ride to take the pic).<br /></div><div></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-11732652360824833192010-04-12T12:14:00.002-05:002010-04-12T12:52:21.789-05:00Ramblings from an Ex-Couch PotatoNinety-nine days ago, my wife took a shirtless picture of me. When I looked at the image, I was immediately taken aback at how mush weight I had gained over the last several years. Ninety-eight days ago, I decided to do something about it. <br /><br />On January 3rd, I weighed 293 pounds. I immediately made drastic changes to my diet by cutting out (most) red meat and all fried foods. I cut out sweets and sodas. I replaced all these things with extra fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean servings of white meat and fish. One week later, I had dropped 15.2 pounds. Fired up with the large one-week loss, I convinced myself that I could successfully meet my goal of losing 63 pounds in no time. I figured, "If I lost 15 pounds in one week, this may take 5 or 6 weeks tops". I was sorely wrong as the next week presented an only 2 pound loss followed by a week with a 0.2 pound loss. <br /><br />This was the point I would normally give up on a "new years resolution" and go have a chesseburger, but I decided I would keep pushing.<br /><br />Dead of winter. Twenty-five degree weather in Middle Tennessee, I would walk home from work. I only live two-miles away, but I decided I would take a longer route to get more exercise. Then I mixed some running in with it. I'm sure I looked pretty strange to most people that saw me, but I didn't care. I was doing this for me and not for what anyone else thinks of me. I began seeing about a steady 3-pound weekly loss. <br /><br />I shared my results with my brother and our conversations turned to cycling. Scott has been cycling for a few years now and seems to go almost everywhere on two wheels. I even remember a post on his blog a year or so ago about a vine growing up the antenna on his car because it had set so long without moving. Scott graciously offered me his well-maintained Trek 7300 hybrid to introduce me to the sport of cycling. A few weeks later, he visited Tennessee and brought the bike to me. That week, we took a couple of short rides and I became immediately hooked. I have since acquired an additional bike, a 2002 Fuji Finest that was very gently used by its previous owner. <br /><br />Cycling has quickly become my favorite form of exercise. Although, I have worked strength training and a little running into my regimen, there is nothing like getting out on a winding country road with the sun beating down and pushing yourself to go even faster and longer than your previous ride. In the middle of March, I made the transition to clipless pedals and now seek out rides with hills to climb just so I can see how much extra power the clipless pedals allow me to put forth. <br /><br />Cycling has become a bit of a bandwagon in my house. My wife, who has experienced her own 20+ pound loss during this time has recently acquired a brand new Trek 7.1FX and our son, just last week, got his first "real" bike - a Trek MT200. Our daughter got a new discount store bike in December, so she will be the next to upgrade. The entire family is able now to get out at the state parks and ride together on the weekends. Tims Ford State Park has 5 miles of hilly paved trails. Last weekend, we got out and rode it all 3 times and I am sure that will become a regular thing for us during the spring and summer months. <br /><br />Back to my loss, the old Jason regularly had blood pressure of 195/140 (dangerous, I know). Last night, my BP was 125/79. The old Jason had a body mass index of 38.7. Now it is 30.3. The old Jason had a diet of approximately 4,000 calories a day. Now it is around 1,500 consumed and usually a good bit more burned. At 6'1", 232 pounds looks ok on me. But I figure, why stop now? In 5 more pounds, I will be out of the "obese" category that the BMI charts have had me at for most of my adult life. I would have to lose down to 189 to get to what is considered "normal weight" on the BMI chart. I don't think I could get there, but I do think I could get down to 210, or maybe a little less. That would be an 83-pound loss for me and has become my new goal. I never would have thought I could lose 63, but looking back, its been a lot of fun doing so. I have learned a lot about the human body, a lot about exercise, and made a few new friends. I never succumbed to seeing a weight-loss doctor, taking any sort of pills or shots, and never once considered any fad diets. I just put all I had into creating a transformation the good old-fashioned way and never once told myself that I was incapable of succeeding. I look forward to getting the next 22 pounds off and all the miles I will encounter in the process. Who knows, maybe I will even share the "before" and "after" pics after all is said and done.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-3271690159194987782010-03-18T21:48:00.002-05:002010-03-18T22:07:50.602-05:00Why Do I Make the Same Mistake Over and Over?I guess I am trying to personify Einstein's famous saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. You'd think I would have learned by now, but for some reason I keep going on rides that I have not driven beforehand to get a feel for the road conditions and such. <br /><br />The first time I did this, I ended up taking a ride that sent me, very quickly down a very steep hill. As fun as that was, it was quickly revealed that what goes down must also go up. That ride occurred during my first week on the bike and truly kicked my tail. Today, I decided I was going to show that same uphill trudge that I was stronger and faster now, so I set out to prove myself. However, this time I didn't want to just do the same 15 mile ride that took me on that route in the first place. Using mapmyride.com, I scoped out some other roads that I could add to the route to add a good bit of distance on it.<br /><br />For the last several days, I have intended to drive my planned route just to get a feel for what to expect once I got back on the bike. I never got around to doing that, but I figured nothing could be worse than that hill I encountered the first time around. Seemed reasonable to me, but I was so very, very wrong. I conquered the old, familiar hill with a vigor that astonished even me. Once I got past it, I was feeling all loosened up and ready to explore some country roads I had not seen. <br /><br />The unchartered roads presented me with a couple of really aggressive dogs that chased me uphill (I had no advantage over them). Fortunately, I think they felt sorry for me and ultimately called off the chase. Also, I was presented with a much larger hill that I had ridden on before. The worst part of this one, is that it bordered and led up to the county's wastewater treatment plant. As such, every one of my quick deep breaths was filled with the pugent smell of raw sewage. You can not imagine how relieved I was to get past that. <br /><br />I think I have learned, for good this time around, to drive the route first. Not so much for the hill, but to look out for unleashed dogs and, of course, sewage treatment plants. Come to think of it, I doubt I will ride that route again. <br /><br />Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day. I doubt I will do a strenuous ride, but I will get Felicia out for her first 15+ mile ride. She doesn't know it yet.......Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-12142312311931846882010-02-24T07:25:00.002-06:002010-02-24T07:46:43.646-06:00Murphy Visited Me TodayWe've all heard the saying, "If something can go wrong, it usually will". Today was that day for me.<br /><br />Last night, Felicia and I planned to go for an early morning ride today. When the alarm on my BlackBerry went off at 4:45, she told me she wanted to sleep in. I, as a result decided to sleep a little longer and then get up around 5:30 to prepare for my ride alone. When the alarm went off a second time, she asked me to reset the alarm to 6:45 and then leave it on my pillow. I did so, but then before I left I swapped her phone with mine and took mine with me just in case I needed to make an emergency call while out on my ride. <br /><br />When I left the house, I went out through the garage and did not have a key to get back in. No big deal since everyone would be up when I returned. It was 27-degrees when I hopped on my road bike and departed for my short, but hilly route. About a half mile from the house, my rear shifter went out leaving me stuck in a gear not conducive to a hilly ride. I could downshift, but not upshift, so I left it alone. I turned around and headed back home, but realized I would have to knock on the door or call ahead so someone could let me in to swap bikes. I didn't want to do that, so I turned back around and headed back out planning to change my route to a less hilly alternative. <br /><br />The new route was one that I had mapped out on mapmyride.com but had not driven to check it out. About 2 miles into the route, I realized I made a wrong turn which put me on Lincoln Street with all the traffic coming into Tullahoma from Moore County. No big deal. I mashed through it and got to Turkey Creek Drive and quickly as I could. A couple of turns later, I began looking for a road that the mapmyride site had shown, but not named (that should have been a big clue). Turns out, that "road" was a dirt path through someone's pasture and it was gated closed. At this point I was on State Highway 130 which is ahilly and curvy two-lane. This is not the best place for a cyclist to be competing for road space with people applying makeup, texting, etc on their daily commute. Nevertheless, I continued on for a little bit, still miffed by the fact that my route was not going as planned. After a few more minutes, I decided to just turn around and follow my tracks back home. <br /><br />Around this time, 6:45 rolled around and the alarm on my BlackBerry started going off. As with most alarms, annoying is what really gets you going in the morning, and this alarm was no exception. Normally, I would just tap the touch screen to turn it off, but with gloves on this wouldn't work. I thought I could wait the alarm out, but it never stopped. I pulled over, removed my glove and liner and found my phone. I tapped the screen (multiple times), but nothing happened. I assume it was too cold to function properly. I removed and replaced the battery and zipped the phone back up in my jacket pocket. Silence, finally. I continued toward home, but apparently after my phone had time to reboot, the alarm started sounding again. With nothing left to try, I just tried to tune it out and eventually made it back home.<br /><br />The lessons I carry away from this ride are as follows:<br /><ul><li>27-degrees is cold and I need wool socks. </li><li>Turn off alarms, obviously.</li><li>Single-speed riding can be fun and challenging.</li><li>Carry a house key in my flat kit.</li><li>When you carry a bike to the shop to fix the shifter, make sure it is fixed before going on a ride. </li></ul>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-88269825526116944122010-02-19T19:22:00.003-06:002010-02-19T19:52:21.311-06:00Notes From a Beginning Cyclist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1k0fjrXTXFh1uf3IIB4U9Yo5l1kK9nEUAJdPlsn9YU8k8h_-mtmU55-mzXBqGZDZM_l435UE9IwhKqpg2Kpcd8KA01b_IYsE24t5zj68Y-HDhtyOBX1Ab1Jy0_RK_izdFSRX5Q/s1600-h/First+Ride.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440136717305213778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1k0fjrXTXFh1uf3IIB4U9Yo5l1kK9nEUAJdPlsn9YU8k8h_-mtmU55-mzXBqGZDZM_l435UE9IwhKqpg2Kpcd8KA01b_IYsE24t5zj68Y-HDhtyOBX1Ab1Jy0_RK_izdFSRX5Q/s320/First+Ride.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div><div>This has been an incredible week for me. My mother's surgery was successful and was met with a week-long visit from my brother. My brother came to town with two bikes in tow - his 1974 Schwinn Le Tour II single-speed and his gently used Trek 7300. We had discussed this in advance and he offered to gift to me the Trek. </div><div></div><br /><div>After we unloaded the bikes, we removed various components and cleaned both bikes really well. Once everything was put back together, I hopped on the Trek for a quick ride down the street. My first reaction was how incredibly smooth this bike was. I have never ridden a non-department store discount bike. As such, I always loathed riding. This bike immediately did away with all those ill feelings toward the sport. </div><div></div><br /><div>After dealing with snow and ice from Sunday to Tuesday, my brother and I set out for a ride on Wednesday. I downloaded a map from the local bicycle club (highlandrimmers.org) and we set out for the 11.4 mile ride. This being my first ride on a bike since the teenage years, I tired easily and had to make a couple of brief stops, but through my dedication we finished the ride in just over an hour. I know 11 miles is not much, but for me it was a huge accomplishment. </div><br /><div></div><div>Scott lessoned me on cycling ettiquette and rules while letting me lead the ride at my pace. We saw some beautiful countryside, overprotective dogs and bulls, and even a texting driver coming down the middle of a double-lined road (but still missing us by several feet). </div><br /><div></div><div>On Thursday I had to go to Nashville for a conference, but was itching to get back out there on the bike. As Scott and I were having dinner with the family, we made plans to go out for a 5:45 a.m. ride on Friday morning. When 5:45 rolled around it was 21-degrees out. Nonetheless, we bundled up and hit the road. This time around, we reversed the route due to traffic flow expectations (turned out to be the right decision) and we made the ride with no stops AND trimmed a couple minutes off our time from Wednesday. After the ride, Scott showered and departed on his return to Omaha. </div><div> </div><div>I am immensely thankful to Scott for pulling me into cycling and for being so very generous and encouraging. <br /></div><div>So where do I go from here? I have definitely been bitten by the cycling bug. I joined mapmyride.com today and have found around 30 routes in my immediate area. I have also created a couple of routes that I intend to try as soon as possible. I am going out in the morning for a 15-mile ride and then planning to hit the gym right after I finish the ride. I have reached out to a local cyclist in hopes of striking up a friendship and finding a partner for those early morning rides. Both my rides so far have been on the Trek 7300, but I recently also purchased a used Fuji Finest AL (in excellent condition) and I am planning to ride it on my rides this weekend. I am also searching for a bike for Felicia. I am hopeful that she will find as much fun in the sport as I have found.</div><div></div><br /><div>Some of my goals include: completing a 30-mile ride by the end of March, a 50-mile ride by the end of June, and preparing for a duathlon that occurs in August. I have never done anything of the sort, but I know that I can do it as long as I stay focused. </div><br /><div></div><div>In the meantime, I look forward to posting more about my personal successes for anyone who would like to share them with me.</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-91586164519719167732010-02-04T08:13:00.002-06:002010-02-04T08:17:52.008-06:00New Years Resolution Update!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt5QtkysdHXLS7m9QFau68IEPTYSA4BO9OZ5UozHOhiPYC77YhX2VZm6eVRJpmXLc9sjHQbnVHc6iZPw_qixu3qvFWb-f1GmcVUz0LnT1kGs6saaRsM1Nnf5xPPGXyOCo9HRjQg/s1600-h/Greenway.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434392260432822354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWt5QtkysdHXLS7m9QFau68IEPTYSA4BO9OZ5UozHOhiPYC77YhX2VZm6eVRJpmXLc9sjHQbnVHc6iZPw_qixu3qvFWb-f1GmcVUz0LnT1kGs6saaRsM1Nnf5xPPGXyOCo9HRjQg/s320/Greenway.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><em><strong>Every noble work is at first impossible. – Thomas Carlyle</strong></em><br /><br />Today marks the one-month mark of my commitment to become healthier. Here are my results:<br /><br />Pounds lost: 29<br />Decrease in BMI: 3.9<br /><br />I have decided to do this, not only to improve my personal health and self-esteem, but also to enable me to become more actively involved in the family. I figure that the healthier I am, the longer I will be around, and the more energetic I will be to enjoy activities with the family.<br /><br />For years I have added weight. I have gone through diets in the past and dropped some weight, only to gain it back (and then some) after it was all over with. With my 40th birthday coming up, I took stock of where I was and where I was headed. Quite honestly, I didn’t like it. This time, I got completely committed to doing something about it.<br /><br />Immediately, I decided to cut out fatty foods and soda. I had given up soda several years ago for Lent and ultimately began to drink non-caffeinated sodas again. Now, I have gotten to where I purchase a single 2-Liter of Diet Sierra Mist once a week and I usually end up pouring out at least a fourth of it at the end of the week. My usual breakfast of a sausage, egg, and cheese McGriddle has been replaced with oatmeal or Special K cereal. For other meals, I am eating fish, chicken, or turkey. I have eaten very little red meat. This is a far cry from the pizza, burgers, barbeque, etc that dominated my selections just over a month ago.<br /><br />After 2 weeks of adjusting to my diet, I began to perform cardio exercise every day. I decided that I would start walking home from work. I did this once, but found out that the 2.2 mile walk did not feel like I was doing enough. So I planned a different 3.6 mile route. I would run some and walk some. I got tired of the route and dodging cars, so I ended up planning a 4-mile route up and down the Rock Creek Greenway. It is much safer and keeps me surrounded by nature and the sounds of a running stream. I would like to say it gives me time to meditate, but mostly it has given me an opportunity to think about how cold it is. On the upside, I seem to be the only person out there each evening.<br /><br />Earlier this week, I purchased a used road bike. The bike, a Giant Kronos, is solid, but needs a little maintenance. I will ride it and fix it up, with the goal of selling it down the road a few months to upgrade. I will now be able to add some variety to my cardio routine and explore more of our town in the process.<br /><br />While the 30 pound loss has been a huge wind in my sail, I am aggressively pursuing my goal of losing 33 more. That will get me down to the size I like to be. Once there, I will evaluate if I want to continue working toward additional loss or if I want to work toward maintaining.<br /><br />My family has been immensely supportive of this endeavor and I truly feel that I could not achieve these results without them. In addition, Felicia is working hard on her goals as well and I am very proud of her success.<br /><br />I look forward to updating you again soon! </div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-21157341791693496652009-12-03T18:17:00.002-06:002009-12-03T18:52:08.627-06:00Out With The Old...I have lived 37 of my 38 years within 5 miles. By that, I mean that throughout the various moves I have endured, I have never lived more than 5 miles away from the last address. My wife and I both grew up in the small city of Hueytown, Alabama. Hueytown is about 12 miles southwest of Birmingham and sprang up in the 1950's as a bedroom community supporting the U.S. Steel plant in neighboring Fairfield. I and my wife went to Hueytown schools our entire lives and graduated in 1988 and 1990, respectively. When we got married in 1992, we moved into an apartment for about 5 years. During this time, I put myself through college and we had our first child. In 1998, we realized our apartment was getting too small, so we began our search for our first home.<br /><br />We looked at several houses, but ultimately decided to build our own. The process went smoothly and we ended up with a house we loved at the end of a dead end street in a very quiet and safe neighborhood. Over the years, the road was extended, more houses popped up, and the neighbors did not necessarily seem to appreciate the little things, such as friendliness among your neighbors, speed limits, the beauty of landscaping, etc. It was not uncommon for me to have to run into the street to caution my kids that a hooptie was flying around the curve and that they needed to get out of the way quickly. It was not uncommon to walk out every morning and find trash in my yard that other people decided they did not want in their cars, but assumed other people wanted on their property. It was not uncommon to see people parked all the way up in their yards instead of in their driveway just to save a few steps. It was not uncommon for neighbors to send their kids over to play in my yard, despite the fact that I was not up for babysitting.<br /><br />I refused to admit it for a long time, but it was clear that my neighborhood was going downhill. I began looking at the city as a whole asking what I could do to make it better. I volunteered with several organizations, was the president of the youth baseball program, vice-chairman of the zoning variance board, etc. I was trying to find some way to give back to a community that I felt a strong devotion to and fought against a solid wall of apathy that seemed to permeate the city.<br /><br />I don't feel that these problems were exclusive to Hueytown. It seems that much of the metropolitan Birmingham area has gone through the same thing. I read a study last week that Birmingham is 7th in the nation in violent crimes (murder, assault, rape, etc). As a matter of fact, on one of my last visits to Birmingham, I actually witnessed someone get killed on the west side of town. Right before my eyes, someone's life was ended by someone else's lack of respect for anyone but himself.<br /><br />When we finally sold our house, I wasn't sure what to feel. My first reaction was fear. Fear of leaving everything I was familiar with. Fear of stepping outside my comfort zone. Fear of leaving behind many great friendships. Since that time, I have thought alot more about what I feel now. I value and greatly cherish every incredible memory. From my school days to watching my children's first erratic bicycle rides to the difference I made in the lives of many people through my dedication to volunteering and serving my community.<br /><br />Hueytown will always hold a special place in my heart, but I am greatly looking forward to wonderful memories that my family will make in a safe, close-knit community filled with pride.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-37409431135753786762009-11-19T17:25:00.002-06:002009-11-19T17:36:12.927-06:00A Very Hectic WeekIt has been a long time since I have had a week as busy as this one. And I hope its a long time before I have another one like this. <br /><br />This past Friday, I drove 7 hours to the coast to participate in my company's annual Board Retreat. The meeting itself was Saturday and lasted a little over 6 hours. As soon as it was over I drove back to Tullahoma, getting home around 1:00 a.m. I woke up Sunday morning planning to have a day to rest and recover, but decided to call my real estate agent to check on the house. She told me that the buyer wanted some more work done (as if I hadn't already done enough), so Felicia and I loaded up and drove back to Hueytown. We spent about an hour painting and then drove back home, arriving around 11:30. <br /><br />Back to work on Monday and Tuesday, but after work Tuesday I drove to Nashville to catch a hockey game (Go Preds!). Plus, I spent an awful large amount of time dealing with the house sale and last minute repairs. Woke up at 4:00 Wednesday morning to drive to Hueytown, close on the house, and get the utilities shut off. This was our first experience at selling a house and it was absolutely horrible. I would be happy if I never had to deal with that ever again. After the closing, we had lunch (Milo's of course) and then drove up to Nashville for a Bruce Springsteen show. <br /><br />I have been to over a hundred concerts, but this one was the best I have ever seen. It was great to be able to get out and enjoy a night on the town with my beautiful wife and catch a great show. We got home around 1:30 a.m. from the show and I had to work all day today. Needless to say, I am exhausted and still have a little bit more to get done today, before I can crash. I know that I will sleep well tonight!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-66538815703930682582009-11-09T21:42:00.002-06:002009-11-09T21:55:32.175-06:00Welcoming Myself BackIt has been almost 4 years since I last posted on this blog. I suppose that is a very long time, but I have been very busy during that time. Instead of trying to catch up and fill in all the gaps, I will provide an abbreviated version in case anyone is not in the know. After 38 years in the Birmingham area, my family has moved to Tullahoma, Tennessee. Last Fall, I was faced with unemployment for the first time and decided that it would be as good of a time as any to look beyond Birmingham. Birmingham was always comforting to me, but I suppose that was mostly because of the familiarity. There were things we loved about it, but we found there was alot we also grew tired of. So, faced with the circumstances, we just decided to see what else there was. To make a long story short, I ended up trying to choose between Fort Walton Beach, FL and Tullahoma, TN. Most people are shocked when I say I chose Tullahoma over the beach, but I really have a fondness for a slower pace of life and the sense of community that is felt here. <br /><br />Our move (and some major budget work) has allowed Felicia to be a stay-at-home Mom for the first time and we both seem to enjoy that. Kinsley and Asher are in great schools and have already become involved in several activities. Asher is in Cub Scouts and Kinsley is in the Key Club. I gave up my political aspirations (at least for now) but still try to be civic-minded. <br /><br />I am the Chief Financial Officer for a 4-year old bank and work with the most dedicated and knowledgeable professionals that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. We are trying to get settled into the church here, but the pending sale of our old home has kept us busy most weekends lately. <br /><br />So, now that you're caught up, I hope you are ready to keep up with what is going on in our lives. Oh, and of course, you can't forget the pictures (Felicia is so good at taking them). :)Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-1140577742941412442006-02-21T20:51:00.000-06:002006-02-21T21:09:03.266-06:00Weekend Trip to the Beach!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/1600/DSCF2981.1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/200/DSCF2981.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>A couple of weeks ago I won a 3-day, 2-night trip to Panama City Beach from one of the local radio stations. I would have loved to make the trip over Spring Break and add a couple of extra nights to it, but the prize was only good through February 19th. We went down on Friday and spent a really foggy, cold weekend enjoying as much as we could in such a short time. We arrived around midnight and made our way to the room they gave us, only to find another couple in the bed when we arrived. After we got that all situated, we finally got to the room and unpacked by about 1:00. We all sat outside for about 30 minutes and listened to the calming sound of the waves. </p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/200/DSCF2966.0.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>After we got up and moving Saturday morning, we decided to ride down the strip and see what all was open. As I passed by a scooter rental store, I joked about how funny I would look on a little-bitty scooter and we all had a pretty good laugh about it. Next thing I know I pulled in and rented one for 24 hours. Kinsley was so excited about getting to ride on the scooter all day, while Felicia and Asher followed behind us in the car. We found Gulf World and checked out a Sea Lion show and a dolphin show. Kinsley was able to get a picture with a Sea Lion kissing her on the cheek and also one of her shaking hands with a dolphin. After the fog came in that afternoon, the temperature dropped about 30 degrees and it was too cold to spend much time on the beach. We checked out the hot tub and the game room and ate some fine seafood. After loading up on souvenirs the next morning we headed back home around noon. Overall, we had a great time and need to get back more often. </p>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-1140576600936337972006-02-21T20:41:00.000-06:002006-02-21T20:50:00.946-06:00Long Time, No PostFor anyone who may be reading this, I apologize for not posting sooner. With my line of work, the first quarter of the year is almost unbearable, and this year is certainly no different. We had an awesome Christmas and New Year and the kids seem to really be enjoying the second semester at their new school. Little League T-Ball is about to start up and I will be coaching Asher's team. I have also been appointed to the Board of Zoning Adjustments for the City and am looking forward to serving my community. I have taken a part-time teaching position at a new school that is close to the house, so I will no longer be driving 50 miles round-trip twice a week for a part-time job. I have been to see a few concerts already this year. So far I have caught Bleu Edmondson Band, Randy Rogers Band, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and Zac Brown Band. All were great and I am ready to see all four again.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-1134966399001554052005-12-18T22:23:00.000-06:002005-12-18T22:26:39.016-06:00Lola!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/1600/Lola-blog.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/200/Lola-blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The kids' grandmother took them out today to find a puppy. They found Lola, a four-month old terrier mix and instantly fell in love with her.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-1133705991343687092005-12-04T08:13:00.000-06:002005-12-04T08:20:35.523-06:00Taking Christmas Pictures<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/1600/2005_1203Image0028.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/320/2005_1203Image0028.jpg" border="0" /></a> We went out this weekend scouting for places to take some pictures of the kids for our Christmas cards. We found this little old country church remarkably close to my office. I never knew it was there. This isn't the picture that we are sending with the cards, but this one was definitely worth sharing.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-1133669418038002212005-12-03T22:07:00.000-06:002005-12-03T22:11:11.090-06:00I Bet I'll Never See This Again!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/1600/2005_1203Image0013.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/200/2005_1203Image0013.jpg" border="0" /></a>We're driving down the road today and I look over to my right just in time to see Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph getting in a little red Cavalier. I make a quick right and beg them for a picture. Asher was afraid of the trio, but Kinsley happily posed.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-1133539996450872372005-12-02T10:05:00.000-06:002005-12-02T10:13:16.463-06:00Laughter Heals<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/1600/lh_org_logo_small_pic.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/128/1927/200/lh_org_logo_small_pic.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite comedians, Craig Shoemaker, has created a non-profitable charitable organization whose goal is to promote healing through laughter. I have always believed that laughter benefits the soul, if by no other way than alleviating someone's worry or anxiety. The foundation's website (<a href="http://www.laughterheals.com">http://www.laughterheals.com</a>) contains several testimonies of the good work done by the organization and provides easy links to contribute. Please check it out.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19464738.post-1133466674410033142005-12-01T13:21:00.000-06:002005-12-01T14:00:20.630-06:00Here I Am!I think I am actually the last person in the world to create a blog. For those who have known me for a while, I used to maintain a web site devoted to my family, but I got tired of paying for the site and have decided to try this out since it is free.<br /><br />One of the reasons it took me so long to create a blog is that I tried to find a good name for a blog that would be light-hearted and could not be subject to any possible negative misconceptions. A few months ago, I was driving through downtown Birmingham and saw a sign advertising a delicacy I have never experienced:<br /><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/jrrflr/2005_1019Image0023.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>My first thought was, "That will be the name of my blog". But then I started thinking I might not want to be known as the Pig Lips Man. So I thought and thought some more about a name and finally decided on "Laughing Right Out Loud". This name comes from a song title (by Bleu Edmondson) and kind of describes my outlook on life. I am easily amused by things I encounter every day and I try to find the humor in almost everything I do. Thus, the blog was born. </p><p>Since this blog will chronicle the goings on in my life, I should start by posting pictures of the two most beautiful kids in the world. </p><p><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/jrrflr/2004_0708Image0119.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/jrrflr/2004_0708Image0119.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is Kinsley (age 10) enjoying the Kenny Chesney concert from the front row. She was excited about the concert she and her mother attended. Since this is not really my taste in music, I asked her to wear her Cross Canadian Ragweed shirt to the show.</p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p></p><p><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/jrrflr/2004_0727Image0155.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p>Here is Asher showing eager anticipation of opening his birthday presents on his 4th birthday.</p>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071788961000546844noreply@blogger.com5