Update on G in the Hermann Memorial Half-Ironman

There is a website that has "live" updates on the athletes in the Half-Ironman. I've been waiting to see what G's time is at the next checkpoint of the bicycling leg... I don't think the stats are quite as live as the word "live" would indicate.

I can see that he swam the 1.2 miles in 46 minutes. I can't find anything on the news this morning about the wind and water conditions, but i do know that event-holders cancelled the swim leg of yesterday's races because the choppy water was too dangerous. They said they would not cancel today's swim leg no matter what.

Here is the website that has the athlete tracker, G's number is 1002.
http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/lonestar70.3?show=tracker

He is listed as 34th place of his division (men, age 50-54)...GO G!

I keep trying to post something...

...but I just can't think of anything remotely interesting to write about, which is saying a lot as it seems the scope of what I find interesting is broader than many would consider to be so. I'm going make myself do this now.

Today: Fed the critters, ate breakfast, washed dishes, roasted coffee, watered plants, called Lonestar College and had to leave a message for the advisor, prepared strawberries for shortcake, gave a recruiter a glowing review of a coworker from my last job, cleaned the pond filter, moved some pond rocks around, let the dawgs out and in and out again, etc.

Now I think I will take a shower.

It seems I have good days and bad days, and yesterday/today have been sort of a ho-hum low-spot in my energy and outlook. It is pretty lonely here all day and I feel kind of useless. As frustrating as the stuff at work got, at least I felt like I was intellectually good at something.

Yesterday I was feeling pretty crappy about myself, questioning my decision about school again, my eyesight drives me nuts and i wonder if I am making a bad decision about the BFA in painting...my thoughts keep drifting back to the Monet painting at MFAH that Monet did later in life when his eyes were failing him. It is dark and dreary and contrasts much with the body of work he became famous for.

The logical side of my brain is screaming that I should work toward something more in line with what I was doing at my job. Some strong coding skills would definitely provide a return on the investment. When it comes right down to it, I'm really floundering inside...pbbbffft. I don't mean to sound like a total loser caught up in a pity-party for myself. At least I know these moods seem to come and go... and this too will pass.

Tonight Gordy and I are going to try and check out the art exhibit at M-Squared. We haven't seen Max and Michael in quite some time and I could use a dose of Max's wackiness.

Gordy will be participating in his first ironman this Sunday down in Galveston. He is real excited about it. He won't be trying to win any records, his goal is to pace himself and simply complete it. I did some research about good snacks to eat during these things and found a gold mine of recipe's from Dr. Allen Lim. So I will be putting together a batch of things sat/sun for Gordy to have. I don't know yet if I will be able to go down there and watch Gordy cross the finish line, I would really like to see him accomplish this as he has worked long and hard to achieve it.

Entrance Gate to Joshua's Native Plants

Entrance Gate to Joshua's Native Plants
Originally uploaded by Michael-Ann

Today I FINALLY got around to checking out this nursery located in the Historic Houston Heights. WOW! What a neat little place... amongst the many unique and beautiful plants are fountains and antiques and folk art stuff. I had a wonderful time browsing around.

I could not resist bringing home a few treasures from the place: some Thai Basil, a small sassafras tree, AND a hybrid thornless blackberry bush :-))

I think I have made a decision about school. How does a Bachelor of Fine Arts (studio) in Painting sound to you? I've always wished I had some formal training. I feel very self-indulgent with my decision. I've always had this feeling that art was not something I should consider a means for making a living, but G keeps insisting I should not think about having to make a living and go with this.

For my minor I'm still trying to decide: visual studies, marketing, or management.

Hello there blog... Sorry I've been away so long

I'm just gonna spit out a few random thoughts. I feel like I'm in the beginning of a new chapter of our (G & My) lives. Today G left early this morning headed toward his first day at his new job downtown. Neither one of us slept well last night. I have to say this feels a little odd after working together every workday for the last 12+ years. In a small way, I feel like I'm being left behind in the dust of a talented man zooming ahead in his career. On the other hand, I am very excited for him. I think this is the first time in a long time he has had the opportunity to work along side people fully-qualified in his same field.

For me, I am very fortunate that he fully supports my going to college and getting a degree. It would seem a degree is about the only thing standing between me and being taken seriously as a candidate for a good job. The crux of the matter is, if we are to invest time and money into my getting a degree, it should be a solid decision on my behalf, and well, I don't really know what I want to be when I grow up. Biology, computer science, art, marketing, business management, either appeal to me a great deal, or seem to be logistically wise as far as rounding-out my current career trajectory. That is to say in some way or another each is a hat I could see wearing.

I have a few weeks before the next semester begins. I feel very anxious about making this decision. Shall I keep on the same path, or make this an opportunity to explore a new one?

I could just focus on the short-term and the fact that I need to take some remedial math courses before moving forward with anything. Never made it past Algebra I in high school with all my delinquent behavior.

*sigh*

On an utterly unabashed different topic... Have been having a wonderful time the last week spending time with both G's. I love them so much, as I do my whole family. If I can be blessed (heathen that I am) I am truly blessed in the form of family. So many different, intelligent, humorous, talented people. On a daily basis I am in some way or another inspired to be a better person by at least one member of my family. I don't believe many people can claim this.

I have to wrap this up now, even though many sentences above could and should be written about in much deeper depths. I still have cages to clean and birds to feed. Then I suppose G jr and I will figure out what needs to be accomplished today on his list of things to do.