A Sport I Never Thought I Would Try...

It came up the other day at work. The Luge.

For some reason, hurling myself down an ice track, laying down on a sled was never something I felt I had to do in my life. Call me crazy, but it just seems slightly crazy and unreasonably dangerous. Ok, super crazy. These guys fly down the track at speeds up to 130km/hr and all they are wearing is a helmet. Let's just compare this to hockey, a much slower sport.

130km/hr = 1 Helmet

25km/hr in hockey = Helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, pants, shin pads

I can only assume that professional hockey players, on average, are going about 25km an hour. In this case, we can assume they are on a 'rush'. I guess one would have to consider the fact that there is no one on the luge track trying to smash you into a wall, but only a helmet for protection still seems unsafe. And we don't even need to touch on Skeleton racers, who go head first...

So as I was discussing the finer points of luging, (and by finer I mean scarier), I was shocked to find out that guy I was talking to had been down the Calgary luge track almost 75 times. Just for fun, not for sport and he's about 60 years old! Apparently the luge can be a hobby. And you don't need a sled, you can use a crazy carpet. Suddenly the luge track doesn't seem too scary, maybe once the Olympics are gone and the craziness stops I can give it a try. On the crazy carpet of course and only with the thin foam sheet at the end of the course which screams safety measures! If I were designing the track, I would have a giant foam pit at the end of the track, like the ones gymnasts use. The foam sheet just looks like a pathetic afterthought.

As I am writing this, I just saw the Canadian Men's 2-man Bobsled overturn near the end of the run. Boo.


~Bean

My God I Love This Game...

Hockey is it for me. I don't think I love anything more than hockey (wink). Playing it, watching it, talking about it. It's never a bad time for hockey. Oh wait....except during the Olympics when games are scheduled in the middle of the day.... Sure, not all the games are in the middle of the day. I am going to one a 9PM at night! Still, better than in the middle of the day when I'm at work.

So, Canada's Women's Team is 2-0 with wins over Slovakia and Switzerland. The win over Slovakia was a complete blow out, 18-0. Actually, the 10-1 win over Switzerland was pretty much a blowout too. I felt back for the Slovakians, until I found out that in one of their Olympic Qualifying games, they blew out Bulgaria 82-0. That's averaging 27 goals a period. Did Bulgaria even show up? 139 shots on net...I think the only Bulgarian to touch the puck was the goalie, as she was being pelted with it repeatedly. Average shots on net per game for the NHL is about 27. Kudos to the her.

Right now, the Men's team is playing their first game and they are giving the Norwegians a good ol' fashion ass kicking. Should I feel torn, working for a Norwegian based company? Nope, totally not, but that might be because I often feel the need to give Norwegians a good ol' fashioned ass kicking. Not all of them, just a select few... See, that's not very nice of me. I shouldn't have such feelings of angst towards people. It must be the hockey player in my blood...

Final score: Canada 8 Norway 0. Awesome. This is the only time I will cheer for Iginla...

Up next, Switzerland.

~Bean

Why Do I Do It To Myself?

I am a glutton for punishment...

I decided yesterday that I need to be more active. Hockey twice a week isn't enough. I used to go to the gym, by now my gym is 30km away, give or take a few km. That's a bit far for 45 minutes. I could check out the other locations for something closer, but I hate new gyms. The people are different, the layout is strange, I'm not used to the noises. And they always smell different, but I attribute that to the different people. Everyone stinks in their own way, especially at the gym.

Anyways, I decided to start doing Pilates and what better way to start than on YouTube. By better I mean cheaper. I took a "Yoga-lates" class once and yes, it was just as weird as it sounds. It was a Yoga Pilates combination class. I found there was way too much Yoga and not enough "-Lates". Too much breathing and posing, not enough movement. I like to move when I exercise. To me, yoga is all about stretching, posing, breathing and relaxing. Clearly it works for a lot of people, but not for me. I guess I'm more aggressive in my approach to staying fit, hence the hockey twice a week.

So anyway, back to YouTube. I found a series of beginner Pilates classes. Nothing terribly strenuous, but a good 20 minute workout. There was a lot of focus on the "core" and lifting through your ribs. Based on how I feel today, my ribs have never done any heavy lifting in my life! 20 minutes! And it wasn't 20 minutes of straight sit ups or anything! The exercises seemed pretty basic, a few crunches (but they weren't called crunches), leg lifts and table tops and of course, a few hundreds. I felt good, just like I do after a good workout at the gym. Felt the burn a little, but nothing like a hockey game or even two!

Today, it hurt to cough. My abs (and ribs) are so sore! I feel the same way I did after I got tricked into taking a Cardio Kick Boxing Class. Of course the kick boxing was more of an all over pain, but these sore abs definitely feel familiar. Needless to say, I have a whole new respect for the world of Pilates. Those girls are hardcore...

Second night was a little tougher. My "core" is tender and the pelvic tilts were a little excruciating. Still felt good, especially when it was over. Thank god I have hockey tomorrow night, it will give me some time to recover!

I'm hoping YouTube will keep the videos coming until I find a one that I can use daily. To be brutally honest, I'm mostly looking forward to the wicked abs and toned thighs. I think this will be a great way to get into shape for the martial arts classes I want to take. In Pilates, I'm learning to work my core. In martial arts, I hope to learn how to break plywood and bricks with my bare hands. I love exercise!

~Bean

Oh...it's going to be one of THOSE days....

You know, those days you wake up in a fuzz and feel a little like you're floating between sleep and consciousness. That's where I am. Nothing really makes a lot of sense, but nothing seems crazy or out of the ordinary either. It's like a dream. I can't concentrate because I'm focusing too much on making sure my eyes stay open. It's a losing battle...

Driving back from the store at lunch today, listening to a story, I was sort of staring off into space because I was too tired to focus my eyes. Then I saw it. A horse, walking down the sidewalk on 84th Avenue. My jaw dropped...just in time to see that it was a gardener, carrying a giant tarp of lawn trimmings and branches. My eyes are playing tricks on me...this is an interesting tactic.

The sun started to come out as we continued down the hill. As we approached the overpass, I saw an airplane driving over it, right along side regular traffic. I rationalized that a semi must be transporting the plane to the airport. In reality, it was just three semi's and the sun was casting misleading shadows. My eyes are winning...

During some regular office banter, the local news was brought up. There was a search in the area for a body. I hadn't heard this story, but as I was being told the details, I started to get worried and stressed out, almost like I was being overwhelmed by guilt and fear of getting caught. Strange, since I don't remember committing any crime, let alone a crime involving the disposal of a body. It was a strange sensation and it can only mean one of two things. Either I am watching too much Dexter or my mind is now ganging up on me with my eyes. My battle just got harder...

So here I sit, on my lunch break, hoping to get through the day. I foresee an evening nap on the couch in my future, my life is just that exciting! I shouldn't say that, I had a very full weekend of cooking dinners for people. Sounds weird, but I live for it. I think I might just resurrect bimonthly dinner parties. I just need a house to use as a host venue....any takers?

My head just came out of the fog a bit, but only to focus on the menu. Tuna Tartar Amuse-Bouche, Shaved Almond and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad, Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin with Onion Crisps, Asparagus served on a bed of Scalloped Potatoes..... Dessert is the tough one....either a blueberry creme brulee or raspberry chocolate pots...yum!

Now that the menu is done, back to the fog.....back to work....


~Bean



~Bean

Into the depths of Surrey...

It sounds a whole lot worse than it actually is. House sitting at my aunt's house in SOUTH Surrey. South Surrey is often confused with Whiterock, but only by the people that live here. Not all the people, just those who live in denial.

It's quiet out here....almost like I'm living in a retirement colony. I have yet to see anyone in the streets, granted I've only been here a few hours today. The past few weeks have been exhausting. I'm so glad it's Friday. I was supposed to go out tonight, but the second I sat down on the couch, I knew it wasn't happening. A night to myself isn't such a bad thing. I edited some pictures, answered some emails and now I am here, letting it all out. When I first got here, I couldn't remember the password for the wireless and panicked for a while. I even went as far as to email my aunt, in Palms Springs, from my phone. I can't imagine what I would do without internet access out here. Is that sad? Or is that Surrey? =) As you can see, I found the password. As soon as I did, I clearly remember my aunt telling me it would be there...

Tomorrow I will explore this neighbourhood. I've decided it would be handy to find, at the very least, a grocery store. I don't think I can survive on the Grape Crush and mini pizzas my aunt stocks for her grand kids. I did try a Grape Crush though...I got three sips in and decided that it was just not meant to be ingested. I should probably locate the mailbox too, since I haven't brought in any mail for about a week. It's strange not getting mail delivered to the door. I've never experienced having to walk to a central mailbox to pick up my mail. This must be a suburb thing.

The house has a pretty open and in the middle of this floor plan is an old clock, like a small grandfather clock. It hangs on the wall and every 15 minutes, it rings. On the hour, it chimes once for every hour. At first, I thought the doorbell was ringing. Within the first hour, I was looking for the off switch. Couldn't find one, so I thought maybe I would be able to live with it. It's still hanging on the wall, intact. The battery is sitting on the shelf below it. Apparently I'm not as tolerant as I thought.

So here I sit, in front of the fire, with my feet up, watching people get shot down on "Shark Tank". I feel bad for them, but at the same time, the ideas they come up with are a bit weird. It's not only amazing what people will buy, but also what people think will sell. I don't think anything will be the next "Lego", but I also never would have thought to "Send a Ball" to anyone in place of a card (or email for that matter). Kudos to their ideas and guts....I wouldn't be able to do it.

Well, I'm going back to my show....maybe Dexter is on somewhere....


~Bean

The Effects of Frequent Flying...

I feel like I've been on a red eye for the last 4 weeks. I've spent more time in hotels than my own home and have used a suitcase more often than my dresser. Where there used to be a toilet is now just the bare plumbing and the laminate has been replaced with cement foundation....I guess we decided to renovate while I was away. The cat condo, which I recently broke my toe on, has been moved to a location of high traffic and it makes me feel uneasy in it's new spot. I got home last night and didn't recognize the clothes in the drawer because I hadn't seen them in so long. When I first got to my room, I noticed a towel on my bed. I couldn't remember if I had put it there and if I hadn't, who did and what were they doing?

This is one of the many effects of frequent flying. Don't get me wrong, I like travel. To travel on the company's buck is a great way to see the world. But sometimes it seems like I spend all my time at home catching up to the rest of this world, the home life. It doesn't stop because I can't be here. Life goes on and it goes on without me.

It sounds a little dark, maybe a tad depressing, but at least it's honest. I haven't had a day off in 3 weeks because of trade shows. Exhausting trade shows. I sat through a phone conference today and the only thing I contributed was a yawn every minute or so. I did get a lot of work completed, but I have to admit I found myself just staring at my computer screen a few times and wasn't really sure how long that had been going on. Is that sleeping with my eyes open? I think they were really wide open too....like my eyelids had given up. It probably would have looked weird if someone had walked in.

I started writing this two days ago, thought I might have something more to add to it or end on some great insight. It looks like I'm tapped out on words of wisdom for now.

I just caught myself staring again...my eyeballs are dry.

~Bean