Waiting for that sheet of paper....

Well I handed in my thesis: God hope it was good enough.
handed in my past due work for the incomplete and now it's hoping my grades are good enough to pass. I don't think either effort was my best work. My thesis was more of an anthropology paper than a history one....that's the problem with contemporary issues I focused too much on the contemporary and not enough on the past.

So now I'm in hope and pray mode that my grades were good enough to pass and maintain at least a 3.0 average and I can get my sheet of paper, start working a more fulfilling gig. Otherwise I'll be cashing checks and balancing classes again in the fall, granted I'll probably be taking classes in the fall any way but those are supposed to be helping my grad school ambitions, not going into year 7 on trying to get this damned bachelors. ( 2 years Fordham...1 year off, 1/2 a year of credits not transferring, 3 years of course work at CCSU amid all sorts of family crisis seriously 1 major one per year.)

All that aside the chips have fallen and it's time to get back into training. Start packing and ironing out housing for the summer, settle my fiscal mess...the BA will really help in this. If I have my BA take my GREs, take a Latin refresher as well as either Spanish or Italian and start working on my writing sample, for entering a Phd Program...yes I know I'm a glutton for suffering.

If I get the dreaded..."yeah Mr. Duguay you're six credits short..." letter...after screaming, pulling out a large chunk of my scalp and curling up in the fetal position saying "damn it why do I do this to myself." I'll knuckle down suck it up and see if I can do an Independent study for my thesis.

In my "hopefully" last semester of college I have learned the following:

an 18 credit course load, a 40 hour a week job and training for an Ironman at the same time is not really a good idea.

My professors and co-workers should be up for sainthood.

I don't have alot of friends but the ones I got are good ones. ( damn hope I didn't write like that on my thesis.)

Red Bull is Austria's greatest gift to Mankind.

One Person can single handedly save Colombia's legitmate market economy.

Jstor is my homeboy.

It is quite possible to live for 4 months getting 5=> hours of sleep a night.

Juan Valdez es mi amigo bueno.

Well for right now it's back to the grind.

Waiting by the mailbox.
R.D.

Edit 1: Got news back from my thesis advisor: The paper got a B.

Changes in the air....

Saturday I walk...Monday I hand in the thesis
God knows when in June I get my sheet of paper...

My Undergradate career is at an end...no more posts of how I have to burn gas getting to good old Uconn's bastard sibling...I mean CCSU.

To celebrate I worked out for the first time in over a week..3200 yards in the pool. Now I've just got to finish shit and get myself into shape for Patriot.

Also last week I went to my sister's comencement ball at Salve Regina in Newport, seriously 5 to 1 girl to guy ratio I so should have gone there.... I went with one of our mutual friends...I'll just code name her as The Spanish Teacher, needless to say the Spanish Teacher is kinda cute and I've known her for quite a while...and not in the Biblical sense ...to cut any smart alec comments off at the chase. So is she Bob-o's next romantic interest?

Also Melissa Graduated and now holds the title as the first in the fam to graduate from college...man if I hadn't partied too hardy at Fordham....
but on that note as I stand here with my bachelor's almost in hand...I'm left to debate what to do with my life.

Do I go after my masters in basket weavin...I mean history and persue a career in education...
Do I do my current plan and take my sciences while teaching and apply for med school?
Do I go after a PhD and become Dr. Bob-o expert on Italy, Britain and living off Ramen?

It sucks that I could be pretty happy doing any of the three...I guess the summer will tell.

So on that note it's back to the grind and the debate...

On the threshold of something big.
R.D.

Juan Valdez is my Homeboy....

That's right people it's finals week. Sleep has been replaced by writing...training has been replaced by writing...and to fuel that writing I'm sure I've single handedly helpped increase Colombia's legitamate GDP. I could go on a rant but I'm tired of staring at computer screens more than the back of my eye lids. On the thesis I have enough for a rough draft...essentially half the paper...I feel my ideas are a little all over the place but as long as I can put them togehter coherently it's all good...final copies aren't due until the 20 so I have a week to write 10 pages.

My Modern Germany final paper is due Friday...so I'll be working on that tonight and tomorrow before heading off to Salve....only 6 more pages on the Pope's actions or lack thereof in World War II...

Anth Mid term (to handle an incomplete)...I discovered file courrpted are the two most painful words in the English Language so I had to rewrite it...in fact I need to find the articles that we used last semester for one question... arrg! I just want this thing done.

After all this paper writing nonsense is done I've got to clean my room and start packing...look for a real job and hope that the incompletes were handled so I can get my "sheet of paper" and hopefully start earning enough to pay off my debts...sigh....I wish my life wasn't as complicated as it becomes sometimes.

Well regardless back to the grind...

The human word processor.
R.D.

I have a paper due Wednesday..

and can you guess the weather forecast: Sunny, warm, with an incredibly light wind....
Alright papers haven't prevented me from training before so I just have to HTFU and get it done.

This week my training has been crap....I haven't swum in a week and my only activity has been a 10k I ran on an indoor track...on Tuesday. I guess I can chalk this up to being a rest week. Sadly my lack of exercise is taking itself out on my personality...I seem to be lacking testosterone, hopelessly crushing on some chick, just emotionally a mess, lacking all rationality, having the sudden urge to drink diet soda with a little umbrella in it...damn it I need to do something manly...and quick...before I start watching Sex and the City reruns and ordering Cosmos..oh wait I'm going to have to do that Saturday night ( have to visit a gay bar for a law class project and then write about what it's like to be a minority for a night.).

So in order to save my manly worth I'm going to do some decent training this weekend.

Tonight: an 8 miler followed by a 3000-4000 yard swim, followed by paper writing.

Saturday Morning Swim, Afternoon: a 70 miler and a 5-10k run brick followed by my night at a minority establishment, and paper writing.

Sunday: I'm going to be a heathen and skip mass and go for a Long ride then a long writing session.

My training mileage should start going up in a couple weeks as things start winding down at school...then begins the job hunt for a better paying gig or at least a couple of side gigs I've got debts to pay and dreams to plan for. Otherwise I may be auctioning a kidney on ebay...but we'll see what happens.

Juan Valdez is still my homeboy.
R.D.

The running man returneth....

Well Yesterday I couldn't enjoy the beautiful running weather we had...I was supposed to attend a women's empowerment meeting ( a law class project I have to go a sit in a place where I'm an "outsider".) but I couldn't find the group meeting place I left a message with the head honcho wait she's female so does that mean she' a head honcha? does that mean that this isn't a woman's empowerment group but a womyn's empowerment group. and got no response so there was half an hour I could have been running gone.. then I had a psychology class project ( ie we have to be research participants for grad student projects or write papers...I'm thinking the 10 minutes to fill out a questionnaire trumps having to sit and do research and type.) needless to say the grad student ran a little late so I went to class in my running shorts and I still hadn't run. Prof. let us out early. I was initially going to do campus loops then hit the pool but decided just to run instead and New Britain wasn't looking appealing without a training partner.So I drove back to Wolcott and went to the High School track and did 4 miles. The speed wasn't what I'd like I was averaging just under 8 min. miles, but my training hasn't really been what I'd like. So Last night has kicked off a mini run focus for me. Today 8 miles... and the pool. Saturday Ride then out to Newport and while I'm in RI dinner and a movie with a friend who just happens to be a girl... and I just so happen to be her date to her comencement ball. I figure a nice flat 8-10 miler on Sunday before hauling back to the C to the O to the double N.

Next pay check I need to haul out to Road and Track and pick up some new New Balance trainers for the 09 season, as my 768's are approaching the end of their service life...they have had a good run.. no pun intended...but they're at the end of their road and to continue to put prolonged mileage on them would result in injury. So that is the next major purchase on the equipment horizon. I wish I had some new and exciting stories but right now it's just the same drivel...that will change in about a month.

Enjoy the weather people it's finally spring! ( deepest apologies to my Southern Hemisphere readers where it's autumn.)
R.D.

Sorry if I've been away....

Sorry for not blogging much this weekend nothing really happened on the training front and Saturday and Sunday I spent in a cloud of smoke ie doing the altar boy ( one of the kids didn't show up to mass so I got to play with fire and incense Saturday night....and to answer the burning question I did not set my church on fire.)- Eucharistic minister thing for Easter. I could go on a reflective tangent about suffering, pain and redemption, the amazing JC workout plan but I think I covered the full spread last year to read those posts click here and here. My blog is going to be pretty dead over the next couple of weeks as I finish my thesis and other papers so if I go two weeks with out a post ( highly unlikely but still it could happen) I'm not dead although I'll probably be wishing I was as I get the last 40+ pages of my undergraduate college writing career in....and Colombia's coffee futures start growing at an exponential rate. ( note to self Caffeine detox after this semester.)

Yesterday I managed to gather all the sources for one of my papers and it's going to be a good one...religion, politics, genocide...
The thesis well it's dragging out but I'll Get R Done.

Thats it for me.
R.D.

Work, Class, Train, Papers, Sleep, Repeat.

Alright to explain a little bit on the April Fool's post....I'm not becoming a Catholic Priest although at one point I was realistically considering it ( no lie, just ask Angry Runner.)... the no wife/girlfriend/ sex ...ever and do what the bishop tells you to do even if you don't agree with it clauses really didn't appeal to me. (Especially the latter due to my stance on gay rights/ separation of Church and state.) It's not for everybody so my hats off to the guys who do it.

Alright that out of the way, my life is starting to get back into routine post spring break and post New Zealand...I'm starting to get a little more sleep at night, my workouts are starting to get scheduled around courses, and I'm getting back into order. Life is starting to get into balance...the sad thing is...now the papers are coming due....I have a proposal to crank out for my 25 page thesis, a five pager on late Wiemar/ early Nazi Germany, A memo for law, A ten pager for my modern Germany course, get things organized with my professors and deans so hopefully I'll be handed my degree and not an empty envelope in May....meet with my advisor just in case I have to comeback in Sept. which also means filing financial aid just in case.
All that is a little confusing....but we wouldn't be UConn's bastard sibling....I mean the wonderful Connecticut State University system if it weren't for our bureaucracy.

I renewed my USAT membership for 2009...now I just have to enter one more race to make it worth the $40. They got rid of the online processing fee but instead jacked up the annual fee...seriously I looked at the registration for Tri NZ $5NZD That's $2.50 USD for a memebership...granted NZ has ACC so if some psycho motorist takes you out...the state covers your medical bills ( well this they cover anyway.) and damages although this means you can't sue....Cat seemed to look at me perplexed when I commented on a dude I knew at Fordham.He got hit on his entry level Trek and upgraded to a pimped out version with the proceeds from his suit...mental anguish pays dividend$! Also apparently you can insure your bike down there ( similar to auto insurance),but anyway $40 is seeming like it's a little ridiculous.

I'm going to wait until my next check to sign up for Patriot...I'm planing on going as an elite again to try to set a blistering pace in the swim, also it will be a good hard tune-up for Providence, and it's always nice to have a clear road on the bike....if I can manage to place I'm not going to lie a $300 or $200 check would be sweet, but even an overall top 5 or top 10 would be a huge morale booster.

Still have to sign up for the Griskus Sprint...then the season after Providence is up in the air. I have Park City to keep me motivated... if I make Kona then all resources will be pooled to that...if I don't Niantic might be a fun race to do again, and the Hartford Marathon...or just the marathon...or maybe the Redman full? or just pool up for my next Ironman. Haven't thought about that yet but 09 looks to be better than 08.

Looking ahead.
R.D.

T-minus 3 days before my next hardcore training block kicks off.

Yep that's right I've gained about 5 pounds and am getting tire of being a lazy...some what studious fellow...so my next training block will be kicking off this Sunday....hopefully there will be some more and intersting posts once this kicks off.

Part of me realizes the need to start training again is the fact I'm getting fat, I'm eatting wrong, staying up late, drinking coffee like it's going out of style,generally regretting my courseload, plain and simple I need to once again. This year weights will be on the priority scale hopefully it will help turn me into an unstopable beast other wise it will add some definition to my scrawny ass.

Running I'm due for new shoes in May I'll start going with relatively short 3-8 milers and build up from there....and remain injury free.
Cycling I have the feeling I'm going to be spending weeks on my bike.
Swimming well we know what happens when I hit the pool. So now I've got the training dialed in I've got my race schedule pretty much set in my head, my A priority race pretty set, and hopefully life will pan out accordingly.

Alright this post was boring if you're looking for good reads see my links Leana usually has some good stuff up as does Judi...Speedy's twitter will knock you out, and Don't mess with the Iron Fucking Matron! Also if anybody happens to have any info regarding the whereabouts of a Mr. Satan A. Chilles please let us know...there is talk of a reward for info regarding the safe return of him or at least his blog.
Well that's it from me I've got a paper to write a midterm to study for and a bed that is calling my name like a siren.
R.D.

Game on.

Well today I start what should be my final undergraduate semester at CCSU...Game on Academia!
This weekend my plans for a lot of riding were killed by somewhat cool weather. Sunday I did manage an indoor swim/bike brick, granted I did nowhere near the mileage I wanted to on the esspresso bike. I think I got about 30 miles in on the bike after a 2000 yard straight swim. This weekend it's going to be in the mid to high 30's so that will make riding a little more pleasant....at least until I hit that 20mph head wind at the lake...well I'll be one step ahead in Taupo where the wind is equally as strong. Also only 10 more days until I can throw on the running shoes again...I can't freaking wait....granted I have to build the mileage a little more cautiously than I'd like unless I want to be remembered for an infamous crawl to the finish line and a wrecked season.

This morning I went for a 3000 yard swim, not too bad of a day. This afternoon class until 9:30PM Tonight after class more stretching and Trigger point goodness, and tomorrow a morning spin, work ,class meet up with Angry for some rehab work and then maybe some more swimming or spinning. Saturday/ Sunday as long as the forecast holds I'll be riding outside... as I have been dubbed by some of the runners in the greater Washington Area..that nut out on his bike...ahh to know what most people think of the state of my mental capacities is interesting.
So as of right now the Ironman is happening...my mileage on the bike has been disappointing but it was disappointing at his stage of the game last year as well....I'm a little not so much worried but concerned about my run, granted I feel what triggered my injury was a combo of factors:

Weaknesses in the legs and hips, not doing my usual animalistic runs during the school year, going too hard too often on the treadmill, a hex placed on me by some Maori Medicine man ( stay tuned I've got a comic post about that theory including a youtube clip.), carrying my life stress in my lower body....afterall I've trained like an animal on natural or at least quasi-natural surfaces ( ie asphalt.) and not really had any major issues, maybe this is the last of the 2008 crap purging itself from my system...and a good result "Down Under" will springboard me into a more positive 2009.

Well that's it from me I've got to go negotiate my brother as collateral at the bookstore.

Bring on that thesis!
R.D.

Returning to Running..kinda sort of...

Well yesterday, New England was hit by a big ol' ice storm, unlike Judi, I decided not to risk it on the ice and instead went to the Y and got on the dread...I mean treadmill. I decided to take it easy for the first 15 min. going 7 mph or 8:34 miles after 15 min I cranked it up to 7.5 mph or 8 min miles, I held this pace for the next hour. My ankle started to ache again at this point and after talking to the guy running next to me it seems to be a common aliment from using my gym's particular brand of tread mill. I managed to get in just over 9 miles in an hour and 15 min. Not bad for a first day back. I got the trigger point roller and unlocked my left leg... one of my training partners suggested I get a massage but right now I don't have the dough so my little brother and his skillz that killz will have to do. ( Mike I'm paying for your massage therapy school.)

I managed to get a weight session in with Alex after attempting to do regular dead lifts, it became apparent that my back couldn't hold a neutral spine, he proceeded to show me how to do dumb bell dead lifts to build leg strength, as well as planks and hyper extensions to try to get my back with the program, he also suggested some minor machine work because my back was so weak..row and lat pulls but other than than everything else was either core or free weight. including first half Turkish get ups with kettlebell...crap I'm starting to turn into Angry Runner, I'm drooling over kettlebells...

On the swim front last night was sort of a sprint night, lots of rest, lots of speed, 4600 yards of pain and goodness. Friday I have my usual pre-Ironman test an hour straight trying to give myself an estimate of what I can realistically expect for a split in Taupo.

Tonight trainer love and maybe a swim, tomorrow a run and swim. Saturday, they're predicting snow but then again don't they always. I would love to ride outdoors but' I'll see if it's feasible. Otherwise a snow run might be on tap hopefully 15 + miles but it all rests on my ankle and how it feels. Sunday if the roads aren't crap an after mass ride is up on tap otherwise it will be an aftermass trainer session. I have one week before the semester and I begin to juggle time between school, research, work, and this crazy Ironman thing...only good thing out of this Bjoern is back and I'll have someone to ride with. So for now I need to crank out the miles while I have free time. I just hope the weather will co-operate.

Praying for a freak heat wave...
R.D.

The zone...

It seems that in the last few days I have entered the zone. Whether it was the fact that 90% of my stuff was running late, the semester's drawing to a close, or I just want to get shit done so I can start training again...everything has come together. Papers that it took me eons to start and research were completed in what seemed like effortless hours...whether the grades reflect this or not remains to be seen,but shit is getting done, hopefully I'll be able to exorcise the dust off my chain ring this weekend.

R.D.

Operation Juan Valdez...and other ramblings.

Well I managed to get extensions for most of my papers so tonight and Friday I will be glued to the computer writing on Piracy, Ethnicity, Israelis and Palestinians destroying one another for land rights, and the global capitalist agenda...I mean religious issues. (sigh I always find someway to do something involving the Middle East.) so tonight begins Operation Juan Valdez or I'm not sleeping until I finish at least one of my papers. I figure sitting in the library or student center with out my Internet cable will allow me to avoid "distractions" and Get R Done...oh crap I quoting Larry the Cable guy get me more red bull.

Other Ramblings

Team Zoot Gu is disbanding, so next year I will be racing unsponsored, figure I'll load up on my GU2O now, that and I won't feel like a douchebag wearing my HEAT livery ( which is Garineau.) Also 2009 for me is going to be a hectic year, with graduation, getting a real job, traveling to 2 races ( granted they will be a little more spread out than last year.) I figure I'll probably be racing a little less but more spread out than last season. Nothing was worse than the Amotivational Syndrome I suffered from mid-July to August, no races on the calendar just mounds of training for Nutmegman, which turned out to be all for nought. I figure if I sign up for one race a month ( June, July and August) in April I'll have at least 3 races on the calendar and motivation to train, and if I run into lack of fundage like last season I know I'm in to my big three well 4 ( I always do one Sprint in July.).

I'll be announcing which Ironman/ Ironmans I will be gracing with my Lycra clad arse in 09, just before Christmas, hopefully after pillaging the Mohegans, with Angry's Crap table probability skillz that kill, afterall nothing would be better than walking away with more money than I brought with me. But I will be doing an Ironman in 2009, even if it isn't an M-dot, or it's just me swimming at Waramaug, riding through Litchfield County, and running a personal marathon on my own. Who knows maybe I'll up the distance and make Connecticut a mecca for the >140.6 mi (226.2km ) crowd...who knows maybe I'll spawn my own crazy distance between Ironman and Ultraman...The Almightyman*? I could just see it now 3.1 mile (5k) swim 200 mile (320km) bike and a 36 mile (60k) run and a 24 hour time limit..yeah that would be hardcore...until I get sued for somebody actually attempting this distance, and dying/crippling themself.**
Also last night I got back in the pool for the first time in a week. I felt so fat and lazy that I need a 3000yd. exorcism of Turkey day left overs. I just have to survive a few more papers and I'm free to train again.

Alright that's enough out of me for the moment.

I need creamer with a back up of donuts
R.D.

*The Almightyman Triathlon title is considered my intellectual property...anytheft thereof will result in me calling you a cheap, un creative ( explative.)!
** I will not be held responsible for some out of shape moron going off and trying to attempt this distance, with out undergoing a proper training and hydration and Nutrition plan/ psychological and medical assesments before hand. Endurance athletics don't kill, stupidity does.

Dear Academia...

You regally suck! You're a high matinence ,needy and whiny bitch. I'm done with you!.....
so I assume we'll be meeting again at 5:15PM and you'll want a paper right?
-Bobby

My Professors' effort to make the workload light at the end of the semester resulted in everything being due after Thanksgiving, not a problem for a "normal" college student, but I'm not a "normal" college student. Combined late nights training and gathering resources have left me mentally and physically and mentally exhausted...not to mention a little thing known as a day job. I committed the eleventh deadly sin and rested on my vacation, hoping to crank out most of my work on Sunday, that got dampended when I drove my sister back to Newport and arrived home beat from the drive. So last night I was up until 2am Cranking out 60-75% of a 12 page paper due this afternoon, I'll most likely be up to that hour again tonight cranking out an 8 pager due yesterday... in essence Juan Valdez is going to be my homeboy until I can actually earn a goodnight's sleep which will most likely be around Christmas. I don't know why but I've just been exhausted and being behind on classwork hasn't made life easier, I haven't trained in almost a week, and nothing has really gotten done I just read a few books and formulated arguements I've got about 6-7 pages of pure BS written....I just feel overhelmed just like I have the rest of this year. I'm beat ,I'm exhausted, I'm handing in my resignation to life, if anyone needs me I'll be curled up in a recliner trying to get some REM sleep, for the next half an hour.
Coffee has been my substitute for sleep. It's so bad I can now tell the subtle differences between, Green Mountain Coffee,Maxwell House, Folgers', Cumberland Farms slect Blend, Dunkin Donuts Regular, and Starbucks dark roast. Red Bull now actually slows my heart rate, and my pillow is covered by a fine layer of dust even though I just took a 2 hour nap, or at least I think I did...

I think I can taste a hint of Maple Syrup in the Green Mountain Vermont Country Blend.
R.D.

Yeah...that whole train like an animal thing...

Didn't happen. With papers and deadlines and research,my mind turned more to academia and getting that "blasted piece of paper." Although tonight proved to be fruitful in the pool as I got in some quality yards with my usual workout crew. I did about 3500 mostly focusing on IM with some build freestyle 50's. It was a pretty good night and part of it has me contemplating getting my ass back into masters and doing a few meets this season. Afterall when I last swam masters I had the fastest 1000yd. Freestyle time in my age group in the nation for almost 4 months. Granted that's not saying alot because all the fast kids are swimming NCAA. Tomorrow, a morning run, finish a midterm, glue my advisor to a chair and get my PIN to register,for hopefully my last undergrad semester. Talked to one of my professors about law school vs.Grad school. Told me point blank if I go to grad school to go to the best name I can get into/afford..fuck the masters degree and go straight for your PhD. Good advice,as I'm not really sure what to do with a history degree,and I've been more or less focused on just trying to finish undergrad that I didn't even begin to look graduate. In essence with all the layoffs in the financial sector I'm not sure if I'll be able to get/keep a job with all the crap going on. I already know that little kids and me get along like ammonia and Clorox. Also to teach in the private schools you earn crap pay, academia seems like it could be a good route, I get up lecture and BS, write and BS, discuss BS with my students, help them learn the art of BS and maybe if I master the art of BS get political and run for office. Alright now that this post has gone in a completely different direction that intended I'm going to hit the hay so I can face the day and hopefully get some productive workouts in before class tomorrow.

If life is a highway, I think I got on at rush hour.
R.D.

Arizona and New Zealand entries are due....

and at the moment I only have enough dinero for one. Upon the advice of friends and other athletes...Tempe has beaten out Taupo for the time being..most likely for 09... I mean I can hope they have open slots in January, but by that point booking a hotel is a hassle. So this has become triage in a way, Tempe sells out faster than IMNZ it's 12 months out, it doesn't require me freezing my ass off to prep for it... If by some miracle NZ doesn't sell out I'll go but The barren desert is looking like my most viable path to Kona..which is probably a good thing...after all in NZ I tended to get a little ADD ...people new surroundings..screaming fans...maybe some solititude, pissed off drivers and nothing but caucti to look at will get my ass moving a little faster on that damned bike leg...after all we americans are pissed off by nature that's just how we roll. I hated I tried to defend going to NZ for so long and now it most likely will not happen..but if it's meant to happen it will. all I know is my second(possibly 3rd) Ironman will be markedly differnet than my first. This time around I'm not going to sightsee and make friends I'm going for the sole purpose of kicking ass and may God help the poor son of a bitch that's in my way. Tempe, Arizona next November I'm going to crush you Barack Obama* style.
I have just awoken from a delerious dream...and now I have to settle down and look at the goals at hand...no relationships, no life..school, degree, work, train...BA by June 09 better job by December 09, Kona slot for October 2010..everything else doesn't matter. This is life, hopped up on ambition and fueled by rage..may god have mercy because I sure as hell won't!

Focused and driven
RD.



*President Barack Obama has not approved of this message.

When we last left our hero....

Alright I'm not a hero but I am the protagonist of this blog, and things are getting busy and confusing in the World of Bob-o, also my sincerest apologies for the Howard Dean style rant at the end of my last post, but read this post from Speed Racer's Blog and you'll understand, I have a very similar sentiment, I hate it when other people tell me what I should do... unless I ask for advice but that's a rant for my other blog.

Getting Busy: This weekends my plans for long rides were dashed by a midterm and rolling back and forth to Newport. On the plus side I was able to get a nice 10 mile run in on Sunday. The semester is drawing to a close which means I need to get off my ass and do more research..also I have to draw and quarter...I mean corner my advisor so I can get my busy course load ready for next semester, and hopefully last semester at the Harvard of Centrally located State Universities in Connecticut. My sister wants me to haul up to Newport for her concert Next Weekend which I will most likely do , but I still want to ride on Saturday maybe even Sunday because the weather is supposed to be in the mid-50's after this week's Arctic chill. I miss you summer...are any girls in Australia/ New Zealand/ any where South of the Equator yet North of Antarctica looking for a room mate or a short term relationship..like an October to May fling...or a boarder? Catherine, Simon I'm jealous. Also add to this Entry fees are due for IM New Zealand and IM Arizona and a little holiday that rhymes with "sickness" is around the corner. So yeah things are going into over drive.

Confusing:

Dear producers of AXE Shaving cream/ TAG body spray:
You know all your ads where you insinuate that your fine products will make you attractive to the opposite sex. They do.
R.D.
This letter sent from the top of a palm tree where I've been cornered by a mass of frenzied women.

Alright it's not that bad but I'm am in a predicament that is kind of unusual for me. Usually I am what Angry would call the Beta male. I'm not overly agressive competing to attract a mate and produce offspring. In fact I really don't want to have kids, so I'm fully content to let my bloodline die with me. Selfish yes, but trust me somepeople have what it takes to be a parent and I don't.
So now having 4 women interested in me is an odd predicament. Normally I get attracted to a girl, hit on her, go on a few dates, feel awkward, realize it's not going to go anywhere focus on the more pressing things in life. Now it's the opposite the girls are attracted to me and I don't want to be a dousche bag, playa, baller, pimp, what ever the terms the Alpha males use. Weird for a guy who's idea of fun is inflicting mass quantities of pain on himself or takes rejection somewhat well he can't dish it out. Add to this some of Melissa's Salve friends are hitting on me, this is becoming more confusing than I ever wanted it to be...Part of me wants to go with that suppressed inner Alpha male, wants to sell, sell, sell, live it up use up my carnal inclinations. Sow my wild oats..etc. My Beta male self image, doesn't really want to hurt anybody, why do I have a conscience and morals! Damn you oh Catholic upbringing! I guess the sad thing is at the end of the day is I can't hit and quit..unless of course she 's the one quitting me then it's all good. Damn this is bad I'm quoting Hitch. Now I NEED to DO SOMETHING MANLY! How ever this situation works out is how it's going to workout, I've got more pressing issues on my plate, like training for an Ironman, getting through and planning my next semester, focusing my mind on life after college, debt reduction, wealth building, in essence my whole life post CCSU. This brings up a whole new set of confusing possibilities, but in essence, I feel I'm not in the right state of mind, or mode of existence to begin a relationship, especially when there is a lot more on the priority scale. Alright that done.

Well that's all from me, I'll start posting some more sport related posts again this week, I just had a lot to get out of my head, especially since it's going to be filled with more paper and midterm related crap. Ahh Academia how I will miss thee...Not!

The Cassanova of the Campus
R.D.

A lot going on...

Well right now between school, work and training for I guess what could be best described as "Bobby's folly"... I find myself in another awkward yet somewhat enjoyable postion between a few girls....( not physically) man, I knew I'd be getting comments on that.... In either case I've got 3 girls at CCSU fighting for my affections...my own crush,whom I'll most likely never have, has my morality, ethics, my desire to "do no harm" and libido working overtime....because seriously for me this is a new position. I don't want to hurt anyone...out of this whole chaotic situation, especially because one of the girls has proven to be a pretty good friend...that and I don't want to be a pimp, playa, gigilo, on a list of ex's awaiting assasination, etc.. At the same time, the more dark ,evil, carnal, animalistic side of me is like "dude you're a fox in a chicken coup." Give me some action....Then the little altar boy side of me chimes in again with the whole ethical code I try to live by... So that's where that lies , I am pitted in the common battle for any man a battle between the rational mind and the fire of passion. Damn it Hustle and Flow was right...life ain't easy for a pimp....

This week:
midterms, eh...write some BS papers, study for some BS tests get some BS grades...already had one, I think I passed..got two take homes and my sociology exam tonight so this is going to be interesting.

Training..well I've wanted to get some early morning swim sessions in but I've been burning the midnight oil...so after mid terms I'm going to take a little time to settle into a routine. Also this weekend my plans for rides have been cut short because I'll be working as a courrier between CT and Newport ( ie my sister needs a ride home then back to school.) Also depends on my work schedule if I'm slated off on Saturday, I'll ride in the morning, same on Sunday, before hauling out to Rhode Island. Also the club meeting tonight will iron out practice time letting me know when I need to coach and when I can train.

Well that's all that's happening at the moment

lookin fo his featha hat, and cane.
R.D.

My grandmother is going to haunt us among other things.

Well to start off with the first part of the title I will not be surprised if my parents phone rings and mysteriously hangs up ..constantly...in the middle of the night... My father buried a phone with our beloved Memere. To understand the joke one would have to understand the lady she was, she'd get home at 5PM put on comfortable clothes and her slippers, grab a pack of cigarettes ( hey it was the 60's -70's) and make her rounds of phone calls to her friends, family, you name it. If they had AIM she'd have a buddy list as big as de Nile ( yes the river in Egypt.) well anyway on day in 1970 something my father made the sly comment that he was going to bury her a damn telephone, and sure enough yesterday, her tossed a cheap-o phone that served me through my two years at Fordham into the casket. All I know is I'm not answering any phone calls from Valhalla, Heaven, Hell, Hades,Purgatory, Paradise, or Beyond for a while, or at least not without a chuckle.

Next order of business, last night I worked out with some of the girls on CCSU's Swim team ( the men's program went the way of the dodo about a decade ago...afterall America loves their swimmers unless the men's program interferes with the football, and basketball budgets.) Needless to say I'm fast for a triathlete but put me in the water with the real deals and I'm usually hanging on for dear life. Needless to say we didn't do much, and I felt kind of awkward because I live with the assumption most female swimmers ( except for my Fordham team mates, and a couple of the girls who dabble in tri ) hate my guts and find me annoying, but having to push for a little bit felt good.

I got in touch with Catherine and found out the Times is undergoing job cuts, she was on the chopping block, and will know today whether or not she'll be staying in Taupo or heading back to New Plymouth, regardless she said she'll be up for the Ironman and would try to help me find a home stay, regardless I'm keeping Ken Glah's number close at hand. But hopefully she'll keep her gig, otherwise, she's looking at going into police training. But still I wonder if she'd be interested in coming Stateside?

Classes are going ok, I showed up 5 min. late for a lab and the professor was packing up, it seems like it's going to be a straight forward no bull class and the less bull the better. My assignments for the weekend are pretty simple read a lot of John Locke, read some stuff on Ethnic groups, and top it off with the preface to how Colonial New Englanders viewed themselves as British subjects and London, not Hartford, not Boston, not even NYC was the center or shall I say centre of the universe.

Well that's it for me. Time to get home so I can get back to the grind.
R.D.

A new type of threshold workout...

Well in following the Angry/ Speedy ideology war ( Angry going mostly speed /power work with a little distance, Speedy going mostly distance with a little speed.) Yesterday I decided to break my former track coach's #1 rule of speed work...go out easy and build, yesterday I went out hard and tried to hold it. My workout wasn't a long one by any standards 800 meter warm up followed by 5 x 1600m on 10:00. I did my torture de jour following an 11 mile long run on Sunday. Upon seeing the Wolcott Boys soccer team was dominating the field at the High School I went to my Alma Mater Holy Cross in Waterbury and decided to do this shit at my old black rubber stomping ground. The warm up went well the football players were finishing their scrimmage, and there was not a power walker in sight clear track for the first 1600. I did the first 1 on 6:42, I figured as long as I was going sub 7:10 ( Boston Marathon Qualifying pace.) I would be in good shape. The second didn't go as well as the flood of power walkers began to arrive. Now this particular group was mostly made up of kids that did a 100m walk 100m run 5 min. steretch/squat routine every lap. Also an older gentleman came down to do laps, apparently he must have run track in his younger pre- joint replacement days, as he decided to park himself in the inside lane, also known as the shortest way around, I didn't mind much as it brought back memories of when I was doing the 1600 and 3200 on this same piece of real estate back in the day. The second 1600 was slower a 6:46 but with having to weave in and out that could have easily cost me the 4 seconds. 1600 number 3 was slower still as the lactic acid was filling in my legs and I really had to pee. 6:55, after hitting the near by port-o-let within the confines of my break I cranked out #4 6:56. At least I was under 7 min. I started going on #5 as some teen age dude was running, with his i-pod. I decided that this runner in a sea of power walkers was going to be my target and I was going to chase him down like a gazelle on the savanah. Each lap the gap came down and finally on my last circut I went into Benard Lagat mode and sadly like the great Lagat came up short of my target. My last split was the fastest of the day 6:41. It was no "Michelle" style run, or a blazing fast Angry Sprint set. But I seemed happy with it. I might add it to the arsenal once I have more time to run, because as of September 2 my ass belongs to Central Connecticut State University.

This afternoon I just did a ride nothing major. As of Tuesday, my afternoon runs and rides will become limited as I have the class schedule of doom and gloom on tap.

Degree= more money and more time to train
R.D.

I want to choke slam who ever came up with these requirements....what else is new....

Well last night talking with my parents about the college thing, I have pretty much come to the conclusion they think I'm a lazy idiot. I don't know if they think I've been purposely trying to extend my stay in college, they chastized me for not following up on my paper and still incomplete grade in Latin American Cultures, which ok maybe I should have pestered my professor, but with all the shit on her plate , it's easy to get lost in the mountain of paper work, so there I can't argue.

The other thing is that if I continue with my current purposed course load I will come 4 credits short of graduating ( that is if I get credit for LAC). My dad's been purposing I take internet courses sadly I don't believe Central offers them, but maybe Charter Oak does,the current plan for me is to take a winter session course, if I can find one that would be compatible with work, and try to load up to the max in Spring semester (ie 12 credits during the week and two classes on Saturdays, that I have to clear with the boss, especially since our part timer has left and we have a lovely hiring freeze on non-essential personel.) Absoulte worst case senario I will be able to walk in May and have to take one summer course to get my coveted sheet of paper. I'm thinking of taking a day off in 2 weeks to sit down with the dean, because they say I need to take an intro level American History course, I've tranfered in a AP exam so I need to see if they counted it, other wise I'll see if I can take a CLEPT exam which will save me a course in the spring.

For my parents I really don't know why watching my college graduation is a big deal, maybe it's because they want to hand out business cards to kids as they come down with their degrees "Got a degree, get a house!" Maybe they want to gloat that " yes sadly we won't be available the next three weekends, week X we'll be in Newport watching melissa walk and then the following week Bobby will be walking in Hartford, and then Christina's graduating Holy Cross." For me walking and getting the pomp and circumstance, the president of the school going on an ego trip, some ex-politico coming in saying how Central Kansa... ( re reads card )Central Connecticut State University has formed several of today's top leaders, and the alumni association tries to pick your pocket on the way out isn't that big a deal I'll do it for my parents but realistically it don't mean shit to me. For me I just want the paper...that's it, plain and simple, have the paper so I can apply for jobs that actually pay living wages and I can get my weekends back for the first time in years, and I can move on to the next chapter in my life: paying back college so that by the time I'm in my early 30's I can start making the investments and business ventures that will shape a good fiscal future for the next generation of the house of Bob-O ( I don't plan on having kids so my siblings' children will be set for life.)

So in essence that's why I've been stressed. I need to graduate because if I don't the administration at Central will be the cause of my early demise.

R.D.