Tuesday, November 10, 2009

11-10-09

Featured on 'The Art of Manliness' are a compiled group of YouTube videos of push-ups from standard to the extreme. While I was watching Devin last week we watched an episode of 'Lazy Town'. In its Sportacus (Magnús Scheving) is asked if he can teach someone to do a one-arm push-up, what results is a series of pretty extreme push-ups. I recorded it on the DVR and have since published it on YouTube you can watch the clip here.



Scheving was born November 10, 1964 in the capital Reykjavík, but grew up in the small town of Borgarnes. In 1992 he became the Icelandic Men's Individual Champion in Aerobic Gymnastics. In 1993, he became the Scandinavian champion, and was the European champion twice in 1994 and 1995. He was voted Athlete of the Year by Iceland in 1994. He is the CEO, creator, and co-founder of LazyTown Entertainment. This company produces books, videos, games, and sporting goods to help promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle to children. He is also creator of the show LazyTown, where he plays Sportacus. He is married to Ragnheiður Melsted, and has three children and one grandchild. Magnus is set to star as one of the villains in the new Jackie Chan film The Spy Next Door which is to be released in 2010.

Magnus Scheving presents Pre-School Live Action Award (Children´s BAFTA 2008) (30th November 2008)

Monday, November 9, 2009

11-9-09

Well, after a month of only very sporadic exercise I'm back on track with P90X. Today was Chest & Back, and Ab-Ripper X. It's surprising on one hand how hard it is to get back into it, and on the other how quickly the body responds. It felt good to let off some steam for change! After almost a month Devin went back to his Mom and Dad on Sunday, so from 6 AM to 7 PM Monday through Friday it's just me. After all my complaining the caveat is being alone for so much of the day. I had a pretty regular routine before that keeps me busy pretty much the entire day so hopefully I won't have much time to think about it.



I'm currently reading 'Apocalypse 2012: a scientific investigation into civilizations end' by Lawrence E. Joseph. Last night Discovery Channel had a special entitled '2012 Apocalypse' and as one of the authorities on the subject Lawrence was one of the contributors. I recorded it on the DVR so perhaps I'll post some clips later on YouTube. I'd say overall the program was just OK. It basically covered the most well known and published doomsday scenarios when one thinks about 2012. Considering there were a lot of clips from the new movie '2012' it's my opinion that is just a viral marketing ploy. I look forward to seeing the movie though, whether it's in the theaters or at home on DVD. The book however by Lawrence is proving interesting and is an easy read. His dry sense of humor also makes it entertaining. I highly recommend it.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Devin's Lunch 11-6-09




Chicken nuggets
(he won't eat chicken any other way)

Ketchup and Ranch dressing for dipping.

Mixed Vegetables

I add between one half to 1 teaspoon of sugar as I'm boiling with a pinch of salt.
I find the sugar adds to the natural sweetness of the veggies and kids mow them down.
Tropical fruit salad with vanilla yogurt
V8 splash
- Tropical fruit

11-6-09

My wife had to be to work early this morning so we set the alarm for 5:30 AM. I Got up, and spent around 30 minutes on the computer doing a quick job search. Still feeling a little sorry for myself after having been turned down yet again after a recent job interview. It's been nine months now since I lost my job. After having applied to over 126 positions I've been politely turned down through direct e-mail at least seven times, been through three interview processes all of which resulted in someone else being given the offer (including the most recent one) or heard nothing at all. I found it extremely easy to get down on myself and wonder what the hell it is that I'm doing wrong but that seems selfish, and an abject waste of time. At 6 AM I started prep for a little Kenpo (P90x) while my wife left for work. I was no further than 36 minutes into the warm-up when my grandson Devin strolled into the living room....Fuuuuuuck!

I promptly turned off the DVD and saw to changing his underwear, cleaning him up and getting him a fresh set of clothes. He's been spending the last three weeks with me while his mother's out of town, and to make life somewhat easier for his father while she's away. His father has his older brother Gavin and I have Devin. The strain of not being able to work-out on a regular basis, the inability to get any work done on websites, and seemingly futile task of trying to find employment, is debilitating and frustrating. Coupled with that is the role reversal that I'm experiencing due to this 'He-cession'.

Since the start of my unemployment I found myself in the position of cooking every meal (which I actually enjoy), rinsing dishes for the dishwasher, washing, folding and ironing clothes, vacuuming & dusting, and any other household chore that's needed to be done.

Now with Devin here, and he in the early stages of potty training I've also found myself having to do more laundry to keep his underwear in circulation, being creative by making an appetizing lunch fit (and healthy) for a three-year-old every day, and find entertaining and educational activities to keep him occupied, plus watching Nick Jr. I've even been able to get my hands dirty by rinsing out his soiled underwear after he's had a mistake of #2. Needless to say my brain has turned to mush (which will make the aliens at Hulu happy) and I've developed a newfound sense of respect for any housewife or new mother who finds themselves imprisoned by their home and the sense of responsibility of properly raising a young mind. The upside is if I ever win a place on 'Jeopardy' or 'Cash Cab' I can successfully name all the characters on Wow-wow Wubzzy!, The Backyardigans, & Yo gabba Gabba. I'm also learning Spanish with Dora and Chinese with Ni Hao, Kai-lan....SUPER!

At about 9:45 he started saying he wanted to 'go swing' which we normally don't do until after 2 PM when we go to check the mail. I relented due to the fact that I know he needs the exercise (it's a quarter-mile to play area at our apartments) and I appreciate doing it in the cooler part of the day. Since I live in Florida the afternoon highs have been averaging in the high 70s to low 80s which isn't hot unless your standing still under a cloudless sky pushing a three-year-old on a swing-set, or carrying him a quarter-mile back after he's tuckered himself out on the monkey bars. As I'm standing there pushing him on the swing-set my mind has the opportunity to wander and I think about the bitterness, frustration and discouragement particularly of the last few days...it's been building...and a breakdown has been coming. Something in me though realizes that the frustration I feel is self-imposed. It's real root is buried in selfishness and self-importance. I can't work out. I can't get any work done on websites. I can't get a job. Me! Me! Me! Me!

I began to think of all the reading I've been doing lately on 2012, the apocalypse, or the end of days. It brought me back to the feelings I experienced after 9/11. The realization that nothing really matters more in this world than family and the ones we love. I realized at that moment that although he might be the focal point of my frustration I need Devin as much as he needs me. If the world were to end right now the only thing that matters is that we have each other and that we could pass from this life and into the next in each other's embrace...not alone! I can offer nothing to myself...but when I offer myself to someone else I find my life has meaning and purpose but most of all...love. And that's a lot of my friends!