The little Sunday that could

As you might have noticed, I'm running out of titles that are even remotely clever. Sorry guys. It was always a pretty shallow well anyway. Finally, at the wife's urgings, broke down and went to a clinic. The verdict is sinus infection. Yay! I don't remember ever getting a sinus infection until the ole nose got broken and Humpty Dumptied back together. I might be scheduling an ENT visit soon to check on that. 

So, two shots in the you know where and a laundry list of drugs later I feel blah. Just slightly less blah than I have been. Hopefully tomorrow we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming. Going to try to make it to work and if my body can handle it get 14.3 done at the last minute. Rich Fronning got 177 reps. I'm going for 178. Well, in my head at least. If AT&T will get our internet up and running I'm going to upload Issue 2 of By the Fire. I swear if I had other options for internet service out here I'd love to make a change. Then on to my looooong list of things to be written. 

On an aside we walked past the half finished buffet under the carport and Hannah asked how tall it was going to be. So, we did a quick measurement. Yeah, it's like ten inches shorter than the one we are replacing. I guess I'm going to have to get creative. Wish me luck!

Run! It's colored powder!

After a very sleepless night last night we drug ourselves out of bed at 7:00 to head to Ruston for the Color Run 5k. Sick. Exhausted. But we still did the dang thing. It was my first ever 5k and Hannah's 2nd. We manage to finish in 40 minutes. Which, considering I ran almost 100% of it with a cough drop in my mouth ain't too shabby. 

However, that wrecked us both for the rest of the day. We got home, cleaned up, and have spent the rest of the day in bed. I've lost track of all the different medicines that I've taken. We've got two cute little fur babies though who are just beside themselves though trying to make us feel better. They've been even more needy than usual. 

I am proud of us though. I could tell that all of Hannah's training is starting to pay off. The good lord did not make me a runner though. Nope. Not at all. 

Friday. Sick day.

Yep. Took a sick day. Which I hate to do. Spent most of the day watching Videos on Demand since the internet is down. There went my plan of watching Dr. Who until I felt better. On the plus side the wife and I watched the new Veronica Mars movie without having to drive to Baton Rouge to see it. That is all. Carry on. 

Go home Thursday, nobody likes you.

I woke up today feeling pretty rough. Still had a bunch of crud in my chest and the Robitussin in my system left me pretty groggy. This will be a brief blog today because being sick shut a lot of things down. 

Work:

Late. Yeah, I know. Staggered through the day more or less. I did what I hate to do and just put in a movie for my classes. It still beats calling a sub I guess. 

Managed to sit up, sorta, on a chair and monitor my classes. Finally decided to just tKe tomorrow off so I called a sub. Well, had my drum major call a sub since she knows her from church. 

Speaking of church, I had to cancel practice. I might could make it through a brief practice but I'm just not up to that drive today. Especially after dark through the backwoods with no cell service. 

Made it home and sorta puttered around the house a bit till Hannah got home. Ate. Watched the following. Normal noring stuff that everyone does amplified by feeling drained. That's my Thursday. Kind if a busy. 

Writing:

Tapped out a review over breakfast. It was brief and not up to par but I felt like I needed to stay on some sort of schedule. Trying to do one a day. 

Got a little under two hundred words typed on Thorn. My output hasn't picked back up from the holidays still. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. 

Fitness:

Nope. Didn't happen. Could barely stand up straight much less lift heavy things. 

14.3 has been released however. It's a ladder involving Deadlifts and Box Jumps. I feel pretty good about this one. If I'm back to 100% by Sunday. 

Music:

Too busy hacking up a lung. 

Project:

Again, couldn't stand up straight. I wasn't about to play with power tools. 

Wednesday Testing

Woke up today feeling kinda rough. Headache, chills and a lovely little cough. It could be from the sawdust I inhaled yesterday. 

Work:

Plan/Explore testing today. Spent the first two hours bored out of my skull watching kids test. I wasn't allowed to even read a book. I mostly just spent the time day dreaming story ideas. So, time not completely wasted. 

No junior high kids today. Or for that matter Juniors and Seniors. Today was testing just for Freshmen and Sophomores. Next week the juniors take the ACT so there'll be a few more lighter days ahead. That's all just as well since I felt pretty blah today. 

The rest of the day was essentially babysitting duty. I had eleven kids in my last class. 

Writing:

Added a little more to the end of Judgment. It's a little clunky but as smooth as I can make it. Calling it good and putting it to bed. 

Now to turn my focus exclusively to Thorn in the Side. Minus a few reviews of course. I got a few hundred words done on Thorn. Almost done with chapter four. That leaves about three left. 

Fitness:

I felt terrible by the time I got home. No lifting, skipping or running today. 

Music:

For all of the above reasons no practicing today. It's also hard to play a wind instrument with junk rattling in your chest. 

Project:

Same as the above. 

Tuesday Bluesday

I set my alarm for 4:45 with every intention of starting the day struggling with gravity. In other words picking up heavy things and putting them back down. And that just didn't happen. I finally got up at 5:45. Got myself together while watching an episode of B7 to review later. 

Work:

Headed out about 7:10. That's a few minutes later than I meant but what can you do? Grabbed another cup of coffee for the road. Still feeling wiped from the time change. 

This week is testing week for Freshmen and Sophmores. Today was precoding day so of course 1st block was a no go. Originally I was supposed to be a runner which I was looking forward to. I'm so close to finishing a good book. But alas, at the last minute I was reassigned to giving the test to kids who get extra time. That wouldn't be so bad but I'm not allowed to read, write or text while they test. Shoot me. 

If you ever wonder where your tax money goes here it is. This week we, along with the rest of the state, are taking the Plan and Explore tests. Next week every junior is taking the ACT. All three tests are purchased from the same company. Think that over a minute. EVERY student in the state. How much money is this company making a year from Louisiana?

I have to confess, not going to festival is a relief, but it also robbed me of what little motivation I had left. It's harder and harder to get up on that podium. At least I remembered my lunch today. I'm the worst about packing it and then leaving it on the counter. 

Had two students tell me I'm mean today. I don't dispute that one but but I was curious why. One of them, completely deadpan, told me "you're the reason I cry at night". I'm 90% sure he was joking. Well, 85%. Maybe. 

Writing:

Got all my shorts rebranded and uploaded to B&N and Smashwords. Now if the darn things will just sell. I'm still not crazy about two covers but that's something I'll have to fix later this week. 

Spent some time going over Thy Judgment Come. It's almost ready to go. The final showdown scene needs to be expanded slightly. Honestly I'm ready to move on to the next project. While monitoring Power Hour I got a little over 500 words done on Thorn. I think I have about 8-10k more to go till it's finished. Once I can give it my full attention it should go quickly. Might can get it out late this month or early next. 

Got my review of Breakdown done. Churning through season 1 fairly quickly. Considering I watch mostly on my iPad while I'm getting ready for work or lifting in the garage. I'm hoping to finish this season by next week and do a season review. I might take a short break before I start season two and slip in a one off review of something else. We'll see. 

Fitness:

Squat 12x2@220

Deadlift 10x2@245

Didn't get any accessories or conditioning done. I was just too tired and my lower back felt pretty hammered. 

I'm struggling with my diet if I'm being honest. I'd like to slim up a little but dieting properly is almost another part time job in and of itself. Especially for me. I have to watch every bite I eat and put in more cardio than is my want. I don't mind cardio but I prefer brief intense cardio over longer sessions. I hate long slow runs and chipper work outs. Give me sprints any day. 

Music Practice:

Didn't get a chance to practice anything today. I have several passages that need a little time and attention. I also need time to just work on basic things and regain some basic flexibility and endurance. Sigh. So much to do so little time. 

Project:

Got another step done on the buffet. I'm roughly halfway done. I'm pleased with how it's turning out. I'll never be a master craftsman but it's coming together much smoother than I expected. 

B7 Re-Watch: Season 1 Roundup

Series Overview:

Originally running from 1978-1981 the show was pitched as a combination Dirty Dozen/Robin Hood in space. It featured the eponymous Blake and his motley crew of criminals as they fought against the despotic Federation. 

The Ship:

Liberator

Liberator is a large, extremely advanced alien warship. The crew lucks into its possession and it becomes their most capable weapon in their war for freedom. 

Zen

Zen is the main computer of the Liberator. He is extremely knowledgable but prone to refusing to aid the rebels when they least expect it. 

The Crew:

Blake

A political dissident who is framed with heinous crimes and deported to Cygnus Alpha. 

Avon

Computer genius and highly functioning sociopath. He clashed constantly with Blake. 

Jenna

Smuggler and expert pilot she often serves as the voice of reason. 

Cally

A telepathic alien she was the final survivor of a resistance cell. Rescued by the crew she becomes a crucial member. 

Vila

Thief. Lock pick. Coward. 

Gan

A gentle giant who is restrained from acting violently by his limiter. 

Orac

Genius computer. Complete tool. 

The Villains:

The Federation

Servelan

Supreme Commander of the space force. 

Travis

Space Commander. Psychopath. 

The story thus far:

Framed for crimes he didn't commit Blake is deported to the penal colony Cygnus Alpha. En route he and his not so merry band escape aboard the Liberator. Waging a guerrilla war against the vast and Totalitarian Federation they continually match wits against Servelan and Travis. Along the way they find new tools such Orac. The show garnered a reputation for handling relatively dark subject matter. The final scene of the first season showed Orac predicting the destruction of the Liberator. 

Best to Worst:

1. Seek-Locate-Destroy

2. The Way Back

3. Cygnus Alpha

4. Orac

5. Mission to Destiny

6. Space Fall

7. Duel

8. Project Avalon

9. Bounty

10. Deliverance

11. Time Squad

12. Breakdown 

13. The Web