Marathons are in the air

The temperature is getting cooler, the leaves are starting to fall and the smell of marathons are in the air.

This weekend is the New York City Marathon and I have a hankering to run another marathon.

This will be the 3rd year since 1999 that I haven't run in a marathon. I didn't run in 2002 because I took it off to prepare for the birth of Seth. I didn't run in 2005 because Chase was just born and having a newbord and training for a marathon just didn't mix. And, I took off this year because truthfully I thought I was done running marathons.

But, I'm missing it and I know that is news Shelley doesn't want to here. But as each month passes by, the memory of how it hurts get fainter. But, despite all the aches and pains associated with it, there is an incredible rush of finishing.

I've never had a formal press conference announcing my retirement even though in this post I hinted at it.

We'll see what next year brings..

Baseball as America

Today we went to the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science and besides their normal exhibits, they have a special exhibit called Baseball as America.

It is a travelling exhibit put together by the Baseball Hall of Fame and has some incredible exhibits including a Honus Wagner card, a copy of Willie Mays' contract, and a pair of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson shoes. But one that took me back to my childhood was George Brett's infamous "Pine Tar Bat."

We all had a great time and I recommend seeing it if you get a chance.

Lost Data

I have struggled over the years to find a way to effectively but inexpensively backup my home data. I have tried burning to a cd but that didn't work so I finally got a large external usb hard drive and started copying things to it. This worked pretty well. Then my home machine started running out of space so I just started saving things directly to it. This was great until it crashed a few weeks ago.

There were a few things I didn't want to lose so I sent the drive to a data recovery specialist and they managed to recover about 70%. Unfortunately, it was the 30% that I really wanted. But, it is just data and the world hasn't ended so I'm trying not to worry about it.

But, I have found a pretty good solution for back ups. It is called Mozy. For $4.95 a month, you can back up an unlimited amount of data online. It also has a schedule so you never have to worry about forgetting to do it. And, if you have less than 2 gb of data that needs to be backed up, you can get a free account.

Give it a try, it's pretty cool.

No Cowboy Game This Week

There is no Cowboy game this week so here is a little "uniform talk" from ESPN.

Do you want to know what that blue stripe just above the word "Cowboys" down the back of their helmet is? Well it is dyno tape with each players name and the Cowboys are the only ones who do that.

For more go to this article but don't pay any attention to the writers opinions on the Cowboys, he is nuts.

The 12 Germiest Places

I'm not a germaphob but this might make me one. Here is what a recent study said are the 12 germiest places. Read the article here.

1. Your Kitchen Sink
2. Airplane Bathrooms
3. A load of wet laundry
4. Public drinking fountains
5. Shopping cart handles
6. ATM Buttons
7. A ladies handbag
8. Playgrounds
9. Mats and machines at health clubs
10. Your bathtub
11. Your office phone
12. A hotel room remote control

Paying for Our Raising

Shelley and I often comment that we are "paying for our raising" with our two little blessings. One of our prayers is that they are both blessed with two boys that are 2.5 years apart and maybe throw a little girl in there for good measure.

This is really evident with Chase.

First, he got a double dose of stubbornness. Last night I over reacted and got on to him and sent him to his room. I shortly there after went in to apologize to him and he wouldn't talk to me. He rolled over, turned his back to me and said "Out!" We'll see if he talks to me tonight.

Shelley and I both have some terrible sleeping tendencies. Shelley can't go to sleep but once she does, she can't wake up. Me on the other hand can go to sleep at a moments notice but I toss and turn all night.

I think between the two of us on of us is awake at any given moment during the night.

Well, Mr. Chase got all of those. He has trouble going to sleep and then he tosses and turns all night. I feel sorry for whoever he marries because he also can't sleep length ways but has to sleep across the bed with his feet buried in the rib cage of his bed partner. He has slept in our bed for the last three nights and I have the bruised ribs to prove it.

Separated at Birth

Brad Childress, Vikings Head Coach


Mr. Noodle

Do You Feel Like You are Going in Circles

I know lately I have felt like I'm going in circles and not really headed anywhere.
Well, this weekend we had a really good message at church.

Our pastor told us that God is preparing us for what he has prepared for us. Let that sink in for a moment...

He also told us that he doesn't always take us on the shortest route to our destination and sometimes sends us in circles or even down dead ends because we aren't ready for the destination yet.

He had Moses circling in the desert for 40 years before leading them to the promised land.

I needed to hear this message but even knowing doesn't make the circling any easier.

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Cowboys are 6 - 1

If you said at the beginning of the season the Cowboys would be 6 -1 at this point, it would be the best they could hope for.

But, I don't think the Cowboys are playing as good as they can. Today's win is an excellent example. They took care of business and won but it wasn't pretty. They had a fumble returned against them for a touchdown, the offense sputtered and the defense again looked suspect. If the Vikings had any type of quarterback, I think the result might have been different.

The second half of the season is going to be tough as they still have 2 games with Washington, 2 with Philadelphia and 1 with New York left. All of those will be crucial.

But, hopefully they will be adding Anthony Henry back in the line up along with Terry Glen and Tank Johnson. Those will be 3 big additions and could possibly change the look of the team.

But, now I have to figure out what I am going to do since the next game is now 14 days away. I might try reading a book.

Kids and Guns

I have a 4 year old son and a 2 year old son and I also have guns in my house. I also have loaded guns in my house but do I worry about the boys getting hurt with these guns? No and in fact I worry more about other things hurting them like falling in the bathtub or having an accident on their bikes.

I am constantly educating and reinforcing gun safety with them. Also, since I let them touch and hold the guns while we are doing this education, they aren't curious about them. In fact, now they could really care less when I have one of my guns out unless it is a new one they haven't seen before then they want to see "Daddy's new gun."

I am writing this because I don't have anything else to write and thought I would throw out some controversy but also here is a good article on this topic.

Read the article here.

Times Have Changed

Last night I was in our bedroom with the boys and it sure was obvious how times have changed.

Seth (4 years old) was on the bed with me playing Starfall games on Shelley's laptop. He was working the mouse touch pad like an old pro and could maneuver through the web pages even though he can't read.

Then, over at our desktop sat Chase, the 2 year old. He was playing Elmo games on that computer and when he would occasionally get stuck, Seth would go over and help him.

I don't even think I had a toy that plugged in when I was 4.

Cowboys 27, Patriots 48

In the battle of the unbeatens, the Patriots came out on top. I'm not going to spend much time analyzing this game because the truth is that the Patriots are just a better team.

The Cowboys did prove themselves worthy to be considered one of the top teams but right now I don't think there is a team better than the Patriots.

But, the good things is this wasn't the Super Bowl. If they do meet again it is likely they will be different teams. Hopefully the Cowboys will have Terry Glen, Anthony Henry and Tank Johnson in the lineup and they won't have suffered any significant injuries. Also, they will have had an opportunity to continue to learn the new system.

But, as things stand right now, the Patriots are the better team.

Goaaaaaaaaal

Seth had another outstanding game this weekend and actually scored 2 goals this time.

The coolest thing is he is having fun and instead of having to coax him to play we are having to coax him off the field so other kids can play.

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I Really Like Being a Dad

I took today off from work and got to do a few things I normally don't do. First, I got to take Seth to school this morning and that was very special. But, then at lunch Chase, my mom and I all went and had lunch with Seth.

I really need to find some type of opportunity that gives me more freedom to do these types of things.

There are only a limited number of years that he will want me eating lunch with him and I don't want to miss it...

If anybody knows of anything, let me know...

Cowboys 25, Bills 24

That was the craziest game I think I have ever seen. When can a team throw 5 interceptions and have 1 fumble and still win? How many games have you seen with 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns, a kick off return for a touchdown, a recovered on side kick and a game winning 52 yard field goal?

Romo was horrible but you have to take the bad with the good. But, he did still manage 300 yards and 2 TD passes.

The defense was incredible. They only allowed 3 points from the Buffalo offense.

And, what about Nick Folk? He was money all night and he is just a rookie. I think it was a draft pick well worth taking.

But, I have to take some of the credit because for some reason I wasn't wearing the t-shirt I had worn for the four previous wins. But, in the 4th quarter shortly before Newman's interception, I changed and now we are 5-0.

This Sunday will be an exciting game..

I Hate Monday Night Football

I really hate it when the Cowboys are on Monday Night Football.

There was a time when I looked forward to it but that was prior to me getting a real job and having kids. Now, I just have to look forward to a late night during the week and a tired day at work on Tuesday.

Also, I hate not having a game to watch on Sunday.

Dallas Cowboys Stadium Update

Here are the latest pics of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. This thing is going to be massive.

Sound of Silence

One of my favorite songs is Simon and Garfunkel's Sound of Silence. Well, I'm home alone because my family left for Oklahoma today and the Sound of Silence is deafening.

I never get used to the quiet and the loneliness I feel when they are gone.

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My Deal With Chase

It has been documented several times in my blog and in Shelley's blog that Chase thinks he is older than he actually is. He has told us many times he is 4 but the truth is he just turned 2.

One problem is that most of the sporting activities like t-ball and soccer don't start until the age of 3 and that means Chase won't be old enough until the next fall soccer season. That would force him to go through this soccer season, one more soccer season in the spring and a season of t-ball before he can play and that just won't do.

He dresses up in one of Seth's old soccer uniforms and takes his own ball each Saturday and he is just waiting on Seth's coach to call on his services. During t-ball we have had to bring him off the field kicking and screaming many times.

I don't think I can take it either so I made him a deal. If he is potty trained by the next soccer season, I will go to the Y and see if they will let him sign up as a 2 year old.

We'll see if he keeps up his side of the bargain but since he is already changing his own diaper, I don't see it being a problem...