Saturday, January 24, 2009
AC Joint - Update 2009-01-24
Today we went over to Orem Rec again to finish watching the rball tourney and let the girls play a bit. The girls didnt play, but I got to ref some games and watch some great games. This got me thinking that even though I lost my second game in C division, I was happy that I was able to play. Just 162 days ago, I was out at 5 mile pass, suffering from a torn AC joint in my shoulder. I looked back just now at my blog and saw my 50 day update, having gotten back on the dirtbike and was riding again. So, 162 days from tearing it, I was able to compete at a descent level in rball tourney. Yeah Me.
Friday, January 23, 2009
How I spent my day off (2009-01-23) - woodworking
Earlier in the week I worked extra on Monday and Tuesday, enough to cover an entire day. So, Friday, I took the day off of work, having worked 40 hours in the previous 4 days. I was tired, so got to sleep in. However, when I was awake, I, as always, felt the push to get something done. I always feel this push.
I have been working on an entertainment center addition, but with the cold weather, i have been stymied with the staining process. Today was a great day of weather, and I actually worked in my shortsleeves, and was able to hear the heater shut off on its own many times during the day. I finished staining and steel wooling the entertainment center today, and finished up some touch up parts I had not known what to do with yet. I added backing to different portions of the project. I even spent quite a while trying to get the doors to work. I didnt come up with a definite solution yet, but am on the way to one, I hope. I did scope out the wood for the drawers, and actually put together part of one to test it out and learned a lot.
Some pictures are here, in my flickr site.
Also, while I was waiting and confused on direction, I made a couple clocks. One was for a friend of mine's Birthday gift. The wood had been previously cut out to size to accept a clock, so finishing it was relatively simple. I also converted an idea for a clock that I had seen at work into a wood version. Its a 3" block that balances. Its hard to describe, check out the pics.
After all, I spent quite a bit of time in the garage, working on a few different projects and made some great progress. I ended up going to Home Depot and picking up a new saw blade and some quick clamps with my christmas money.
It was a good day.
I have been working on an entertainment center addition, but with the cold weather, i have been stymied with the staining process. Today was a great day of weather, and I actually worked in my shortsleeves, and was able to hear the heater shut off on its own many times during the day. I finished staining and steel wooling the entertainment center today, and finished up some touch up parts I had not known what to do with yet. I added backing to different portions of the project. I even spent quite a while trying to get the doors to work. I didnt come up with a definite solution yet, but am on the way to one, I hope. I did scope out the wood for the drawers, and actually put together part of one to test it out and learned a lot.
Some pictures are here, in my flickr site.
Also, while I was waiting and confused on direction, I made a couple clocks. One was for a friend of mine's Birthday gift. The wood had been previously cut out to size to accept a clock, so finishing it was relatively simple. I also converted an idea for a clock that I had seen at work into a wood version. Its a 3" block that balances. Its hard to describe, check out the pics.
After all, I spent quite a bit of time in the garage, working on a few different projects and made some great progress. I ended up going to Home Depot and picking up a new saw blade and some quick clamps with my christmas money.
It was a good day.
2009 Orem Open - Racquetball tournament - game 2
Game two pitted me against a guy from the Orem League that I have never played well against. Rory. In the first game, I actually was up in points for a bit, which suprised me. But I soon lost the lead, and never gained it back. I did put up a fight though.
In the second game, I simply sucked. Nothing seemed to work. If I didnt skip the ball, I would end up placing it where he would dink shot it in the corner. So, it was soon over, and I had lost. Too bad.
But, the goal was to play after having injured my shoulder 4+ months prior. I played a lot better than we all figured I could. I had to ice up after the first match, but I didnt on the second game, and the next day my arm and shoulder were fine. So, my strengthening regiment had helped. My trips to the gym have helped. And my patience in waiting to play has helped.
Now, I need to continue on, building more and more, and practicing. More tourneys will come my way, and I hope to be ready.
Tomorrow, we will go to Orem Rec again, and watch our girls play some games with other kids their age. I hope they enjoy themselves and do well in their games.
In the second game, I simply sucked. Nothing seemed to work. If I didnt skip the ball, I would end up placing it where he would dink shot it in the corner. So, it was soon over, and I had lost. Too bad.
But, the goal was to play after having injured my shoulder 4+ months prior. I played a lot better than we all figured I could. I had to ice up after the first match, but I didnt on the second game, and the next day my arm and shoulder were fine. So, my strengthening regiment had helped. My trips to the gym have helped. And my patience in waiting to play has helped.
Now, I need to continue on, building more and more, and practicing. More tourneys will come my way, and I hope to be ready.
Tomorrow, we will go to Orem Rec again, and watch our girls play some games with other kids their age. I hope they enjoy themselves and do well in their games.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
2009 Orem Open - Racquetball tournament - game 1
This week is the Orem Open in Orem, Utah. The rec center is where we often play racquetball as a family and where I go during the days now on lunch break to play twice a week. So its familiar territory.
I signed up for this tournament, the first since separating my AC joint. I have not been playing as much racquetball as I did last year, due to the injury and changes in my schedule. I sure miss it. So this is my chance to test my body and endurance at a tournament level. I entered this tourney in a higher level than I was playing last year. So, I was a bit worried how the shoulder and arm would hold up.
To make matters worse, Monday at lunch I went to the gym to run on the elliptical, then Monday night I worked extra doing releases, and was tired. The next day, Tuesday, I played racquetball with a buddy of mine at lunch time, then went to a Racquetball League form 7pm until 830pm. After the league, I started backing up databases for an hour, then proceeded to work on a Billing Staged Run for work, until 2am in the morning. The next morning, Wednesday, we had a Company Kick Off event, that started early, at a distance from my home, so i had to go a bit earlier than normal to 'work'. I ended up working until 5pm that day, and ran home to eat some dinner and take a nap. I was so tired. I didn't see myself playing well at all after the last few days, and what was four 8 hour days of work already by Wednesday.
So, I'm tired. But jazzed about playing again. The nap was awesome, and actually helped incredibly. I showed up to the tourney, saw old friends from the rball community, caught up on what we've been doing. Soon, it was my turn to play. I got ready, and started warming up. I was able to use my free ipod nano I won from SQL Server Central.com as SQL PASS last November from Steve Jones. I warmed up and we started to play. My shoulder isn't in the best shape, but held up well, and I was able to bang out some great shots. I led the first game for my first 11 points, then gave up the lead, and kept the game close, until my opponent ended up winning me by a couple points. I was ecstatic. I had done so much better than expected.
The next game was on. I ended up running 11 points with my opponent not scoring at all. But i couldn't hold it, and gave up a few points, maybe 6 or 7 points, before winning the second game. Woohooo. I'm on a roll now.
The tie breaker was a game to 11 points, where the other 2 games are to 15 points. So, its nice to not have play as long on the tie-breaker, since I'm usually so tired by the third game. I started the tie-breaker strong, but as usual, made mistakes, and let a lot of points get away from me. I was able to nail down some solid serves, and even got quite a few aces. The last point, I could taste it, but ended up skipping my shot, giving my opponent a chance to loose. I was able to gain the serve back, and was excited. I stood up to hopefully get my last point, and pulled out one of my favorite serves. A Z drive serve with my forehand, from the left side of the court. The Z ends up in the back left behind me, and hopefully bounces oddly in the corner, preventing a return, if any. I aced this serve. Last serve of the game, and it was over. Woohoo.
So I won my 1st match in the Orem Open in C division. This is a huge accomplishment for me, and I treated myself to a chocodile from a gas station on the way home. My entire family came out and cheered me on. They always are such a great support to me, and help me and coach me and simply love me, no matter the outcome. I love to play this game, and am excited that I'm doing it again, even with this shoulder injury nagging at me. I am sitting here now typing this with an ice pack on my arm. Soon, I'll put it on my shoulder, and cool it down.
I play again tomorrow at 6pm. I'll post those results in a new post.
I signed up for this tournament, the first since separating my AC joint. I have not been playing as much racquetball as I did last year, due to the injury and changes in my schedule. I sure miss it. So this is my chance to test my body and endurance at a tournament level. I entered this tourney in a higher level than I was playing last year. So, I was a bit worried how the shoulder and arm would hold up.
To make matters worse, Monday at lunch I went to the gym to run on the elliptical, then Monday night I worked extra doing releases, and was tired. The next day, Tuesday, I played racquetball with a buddy of mine at lunch time, then went to a Racquetball League form 7pm until 830pm. After the league, I started backing up databases for an hour, then proceeded to work on a Billing Staged Run for work, until 2am in the morning. The next morning, Wednesday, we had a Company Kick Off event, that started early, at a distance from my home, so i had to go a bit earlier than normal to 'work'. I ended up working until 5pm that day, and ran home to eat some dinner and take a nap. I was so tired. I didn't see myself playing well at all after the last few days, and what was four 8 hour days of work already by Wednesday.
So, I'm tired. But jazzed about playing again. The nap was awesome, and actually helped incredibly. I showed up to the tourney, saw old friends from the rball community, caught up on what we've been doing. Soon, it was my turn to play. I got ready, and started warming up. I was able to use my free ipod nano I won from SQL Server Central.com as SQL PASS last November from Steve Jones. I warmed up and we started to play. My shoulder isn't in the best shape, but held up well, and I was able to bang out some great shots. I led the first game for my first 11 points, then gave up the lead, and kept the game close, until my opponent ended up winning me by a couple points. I was ecstatic. I had done so much better than expected.
The next game was on. I ended up running 11 points with my opponent not scoring at all. But i couldn't hold it, and gave up a few points, maybe 6 or 7 points, before winning the second game. Woohooo. I'm on a roll now.
The tie breaker was a game to 11 points, where the other 2 games are to 15 points. So, its nice to not have play as long on the tie-breaker, since I'm usually so tired by the third game. I started the tie-breaker strong, but as usual, made mistakes, and let a lot of points get away from me. I was able to nail down some solid serves, and even got quite a few aces. The last point, I could taste it, but ended up skipping my shot, giving my opponent a chance to loose. I was able to gain the serve back, and was excited. I stood up to hopefully get my last point, and pulled out one of my favorite serves. A Z drive serve with my forehand, from the left side of the court. The Z ends up in the back left behind me, and hopefully bounces oddly in the corner, preventing a return, if any. I aced this serve. Last serve of the game, and it was over. Woohoo.
So I won my 1st match in the Orem Open in C division. This is a huge accomplishment for me, and I treated myself to a chocodile from a gas station on the way home. My entire family came out and cheered me on. They always are such a great support to me, and help me and coach me and simply love me, no matter the outcome. I love to play this game, and am excited that I'm doing it again, even with this shoulder injury nagging at me. I am sitting here now typing this with an ice pack on my arm. Soon, I'll put it on my shoulder, and cool it down.
I play again tomorrow at 6pm. I'll post those results in a new post.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Words Words Words and Wordl
On my Work related blog, I recently posted a blog about using Wordl. This is a word jumble tool that lets you input a website, or a series of words. For work related stuff, I had the idea of doing some Wordl's about my resume, my blog, twitter, etc.
But over here, on my family blog and hobby blog, I wanted to do something a little more non careerish.
So, I did our family mission statement. Not 1, but 3 different views of the words that make up our family mission statement. I liked the results.
Then I posted a few other documents I had that were church related.
Here is the Wordl from 'The Articles of Faith'
Here is the Wordl from 'The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood'
Thanks to the internet, and the Guttenberg project, I was able to pull text versions of the Book of Mormon into Wordl and produce the following jumbles.
Book of Mormon Preface
Book of Mormon - 1 & 2 Nephi
Book of Mormon - Jacob
Book of Mormon - Words of Mormon
Book of Mormon - Mosiah
Book of Mormon - Alma
I would like to add more to this as I find ideas to do Wordl jumbles on.
Let me know ideas, if you have them, in the comments section and I will publish the results.
But over here, on my family blog and hobby blog, I wanted to do something a little more non careerish.
So, I did our family mission statement. Not 1, but 3 different views of the words that make up our family mission statement. I liked the results.
Then I posted a few other documents I had that were church related.
Here is the Wordl from 'The Articles of Faith'
Here is the Wordl from 'The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood'
Thanks to the internet, and the Guttenberg project, I was able to pull text versions of the Book of Mormon into Wordl and produce the following jumbles.
Book of Mormon Preface
Book of Mormon - 1 & 2 Nephi
Book of Mormon - Jacob
Book of Mormon - Words of Mormon
Book of Mormon - Mosiah
Book of Mormon - Alma
I would like to add more to this as I find ideas to do Wordl jumbles on.
Let me know ideas, if you have them, in the comments section and I will publish the results.
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