Rocky

A good alternative aerobic exercise is to use a U B E -- upper body ergonomics machine. It's a bicycle type thing that you "pedal" with your hands/arms. I do 38 minutes a day, 4 days/week and get my heart going to about 75% of max rate (128-135 bpm) which is toward the upper end of the target range for cardio conditioning. Then I also use a NuStep machine, which is a "seated" stair climber... I do that for 15 minutes each day I'm at the gym... I do the NuStep so my legs don't let out of condition, but don't go as intensely as I do with the UBE. Besides the weight loss I've accomplished, my resting heart rate had been in the 80s before I started working out around the summer of 2005, then for a long time it was in the low 70s or high 60s. Now, I'm getting resting HR readings in the lower 50s. AND I lift weights... because muscle burns calories, but fat only stores them. Since I started in '05 my body's fat % has dropped more than 15 points... and I still have plenty to go.

Jonny, I hope you have a good time... BUT don't expect to get out of there without being HIGHLY pressured to buy into the timeshare... They're not giving you so much entertainment and such just because they're nice people. They EXPECT something in return... and that something is not just your two hours watching their video. But as long as you know that up front, you can go prepared and enjoy yourselves.

This is an excellent idea. The city council has a stake in the city maintaining a wholesome image. These task forces operate in large cities and small towns. Generally, since local businesses also have a stake in the image and social environment, there can be a plenty of volunteers/donations to hit the graffiti practically as quick as it gets put up. And after a while, when they realize their "monuments" aren't staying for more than a couple of hours, it'll frustrate the taggers and they'll probably stop.

Hey Fellowshipper, Have you a picture of that yellowfin to show us? That'd be really coooool. Tnks.

Remind you of WHAT Tom? Hey niKa, I can't imagine any better mild winter place than Tucson! It has better air than Phoenix and you can find places to climb all over the place (both in and outside AZ, and I imagine Mr. niKa knows some in S. AZ).

Indeed. And there's no question that you do NOT get that feeling at the BOB.

By "intimacy" do you mean that it feels closer to the game? Perhaps that would be because it IS....? And I'm not that thrilled with the "Bob" aka Chase Field (no, it doesn't feel like going to the bank, but it does feel like baseball in an airplane hanger)... BUT it beats the heck out of being in the sun on a summer day in Phoenix. How do you do a "sweaty smile" emoticon? Five weeks (35 days) until pitchers and catchers begin reporting!

Good for you, Potato! And your two major points of concern are quite reasonable and undoubtedly ON THE MARK. So, I hope you're able to do a Happy Dance these days.

I've also heard the "things are better now" line... a couple of years ago, I took my daughter to a local Payless Shoe Source store to buy her some shoes. I knew the guy who manages it had been formerly in twi and I knew that he and his wife went back into it. Now, he's a nice guy overall... and he only talked to me because I went to his store, but he had the same lines. Also, just a couple of weeks ago, I saw a car with a newfangled twi bummer (er, bumper) sticker... the gal was pulling into a gas station near my home. It didn't take me but a nanosecond to decide it wasn't worth my time to follow her to that station... "what would be the profit?" hehehe... BUT...WB, isn't it possible that your response was "inspired?" I mean, I think it sounds like the perfect comeback in that situation. :)

It's been a few years, but I've rented from Alamo (in California) and they were priced lower than the others then... My hunch is that if you check the rental companies' web sites directly, you should be able to tell fairly easily which will give you the best price given the dates/locations/types of car you'd like to use.

I haven't seen any pics of her (them, i.e. Ripkin's family) probably since he broke Gehrig's record, but it stands to reason... most rich guys DO have hot wives...

Congrats Ron, that's really great. I'm taking it a little slower, but I do some of the same things you do... ... like starting the day with a protein enhanced drink (mine's a little simpler, skim milk with WHEY supplement) I work out at the local community college... they have some great machines... my main aerobic exercise is on a UBE (upper body ergonomics) machine. That's essentially a bike that you row with your arms... and I do a weightlifting routine. Anyway, your accomplisment is impressive. I hope you're able to keep it up.

Conseco got SIX VOTES! But that's still shy of the 5 percent needed to stay on the ballot... needless to say, adios Buhner, Bonilla, Caminiti AND Conseco. With Caminiti and Conseco, we KNOW they were steriods users...

Is THIS subject really "about the Way?" Anyway, I did the internet dating thing once. It was fun. It was interesting. It was adventurous. But it wasn't something that could turn into anything long term. Because... as some said on this thread, you just really can't get to know people in this kind of setting -- well enough for it to be the basis for a genuine, emotionally intimate relationship. MAYBE, if the geographic distance is NOT significant, it MIGHT be reasonable to meet someone (indeed, in public first, and perhaps second and third also), then decide whether you can be friends who talk by phone and spend non-threatening time together... but that's about all it's good for... IMO. :)

I read something last night about one writer submitting a blank ballot because he did not want either Gwynn or Ripkin to be UNANIMOUS winners. No player in the Hall has ever been elected by receiving 100 percent of the vote. He felt that these two did not deserve to be the first or only ones to earn that distinction. Nothing more to it than that, I understand.

Google ads are UNOBTRUSIVE... so, by all means. Beats the heck out of popups.

THAT could be because he IS at home in Arizona. He LIVES here. Anyway, changing the subject just a little... MLB.com is now reporting that Cal Ripkin and Tony Gwynn HAVE BEEN elected to the HoF... in their first year of eligibility. I say they both deserve it.

Lots of good ideas already have been offered by folks on this thread... One thing I wanted to add... on the FOOD network, I saw a program the other day titled "10 days to a new you" or something close to that. The host has training/education/background as a nutritionist. I watched it and found that it was pretty much the same thing I'm learning in a class/support group I attend once/week for 10 weeks each calendar quarter at the local VA medical center. The primary reason for the group is to promote weight loss for a healthy and long life. It's been tremendously helpful to me. In just over the last two years, I've lost 65 pounds and no longer have the trouble getting around that used to hinder me. I haven't done this, but I'd bet that if you GOOGLE the name of the host of that tv show (Elie Kreager, I think), you'd probably find what she was saying... Of course, you can GOOGLE various specific topics related to nutrition/exercise/relaxation (and other related mental health issues)... to get a plethora of excellent information. And it certainly helps to filter out the extraneous when you ask folks (like this thread) what they know that has worked for them... it's sorta like having our own GSC support group for health topics. :)

When my brother died, about 15 years ago, I was the lead person in taking care of business, and settling his estate (very small estate). My brother was NOT a donor. And if he had been, his organs (even at age 36) would have been in no condition for use in a transplant. However, I have always felt that the funeral home was doing some unlawful harvesting and selling of body parts. We were not even allowed to watch them seal the casket with my brother in it. That has ALWAYS bothered me. Then, two months shy of 10 years ago, my dad died. I had little to do with the arrangements, other than to go to his home town (Rochester NY) to grieve with the rest of the family. He and we were treated with 100 percent greater respect by the funeral home there. They made sure we were there to witness them closing and sealing the casket. Both my dad and brother died from heart disease. Dad was 66, bro was 36. Anything that could be used from their bodies would have been in some undesignated "research." And while that is certainly a good thing, overall, I just couldn't see either of them being treated like "things" instead of people deserving of respect. I can see the value of a young person, who perishes from some sort of tragic cause other than disease processes, donating organs that can give life to another person. But overall, I believe there is just too little control over what happens and too little of the true facts of what happens to people who donate -- other than when it's obvious that certain organs would be suitable for transplanting in someone who could then live a long (hopefully) healthy life. Of course, the fact that the subject comes up from time to time on crime drama tv shows (i.e. CSI and Law & Order series), doesn't help me develop any confidence in the systems and processes.

NO. Why? Do you think I should be? IF so, can you address my concerns with the system(s)?

Nah... but given your screen name... and that I used to get that comment a lot from my daughter's teachers (that she talked quite a bit in class... for her, the school work was generally too easy)... it just seemed to fit!

Indeed. I figure if he wins 12 games in 2007, that's more than any one pitcher for the Dbacks in 2006, except for the reigning Cy Young winner, Brandon Webb. And the fans will likely be more supportive than they were for him in the Big Apple.

Okay, so it's NOW 38 days. And apparently it's now official (pending a physical examination), the Unit will take his Spring Training in Tucson rather than in Florida.

39 days!

Yeah... one of these days. I have tivo now, so when it comes on, I can record it to watch at my convenience. And geez, Belle... you make me feel ... hmmm... OLD!? No, just kidding. When I turned 50 I considered it a significant accomplishment. Not everyone makes it this far... obvious, I hope you do... and figure you will. And I'm past grieving for them, but as the oldest sibling, I've already lost my younger brother and sister to heart disease. But don't worry, I've got lots of life left in me... and I work out 4-6 times a week. No problem... you were probably talking in class!