Dave Brubeck 1920 – 2012
December 5, 2012 in Music
Thank you for gracing me with your most wonderful music. Words cannot simply describe the wonderful sounds I’ve had the opportunity to hear with my CIs. Time Out, Dave….in Heaven.
Day 14…
Day 14…a totally and complete rest day especially after the treadmill gave me the worse case of tendinitis in the foot. It should be fine after a couple of days so today was spend doing absolutely nothing but drink Flying Bison Brewery Beer, refinish some furniture and watch the Super Bowl. It was a pretty boring game
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Day 12….
Day 12….another rest day before the long run tomorrow which will consist of 8 at easy pace and then 4 at marathon pace. Should be fun! 1800 yards in the Y pool this morning was quite refreshing. The mornings are better than the evenings since the guppies are still sleeping. Anyway, for those of you
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When will it end?
November 13, 2012 in Drunk driving
For the second time this year, someone I knew was killed by a drunk driver, The first was Heather Boyum, a high school teacher, mother of two and triathlete. She was out riding her bicycle one Sunday morning when she was struck not only by a drunk motorcyclist but also by his drunk girlfriend in a car. The second happened this past Sunday on an unguarded section of the Amherst bike path that runs alongside Tonawanda Creek Rd. A drunk motorcyclist went off the road and killed 2, one of which was someone I knew from the gym, Shelia Pelton. When will it end? Sadly, we as a society allows those who have little regard for their actions the right to defend those actions. The laws are just too lenient for those who choose to drink and drive. I googled “NYS drunk driving convictions” and after 10 minutes of reading
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Taking back my life
November 9, 2012 in Uncategorized
This most recent political season has really done a number on me. The mudslinging, criticisms, name-calling, threats, and all of that bullshit that was bought by the 2012 Presidential campaign really manifested itself into a prison known as Facebook. I have never been so pissed off in my life at something that I have very little control over. It then dawned over me that that the thing out of control is really controlled by people…some of whom I have deemed out of control. So Facebook….here is my take….fuck you; I am taking back my life starting with cleaning up my friends list. So where do I draw the line? Here goes…you qualify for de-friending if: you are a hypocrite because you’re telling me what to do with my life yet, you don’t practice what you preach. you try to force feed your concept of Christianity down my throat by telling
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It was the right call
November 3, 2012 in Marathon, Running, Superstorm Sandy
Just as predicted yesterday, they cancelled the marathon. I would love to take credit since the call was made around the same time I posted the story. I know some people would call me a loud mouth arrogant SOB but at least Mayor Bloomberg listened to my voice of reasoning. It was the right call when you consider all of the devastation and need for resources. We don’t know what will happen with all of the registration fees but if it were mine, I’ll say give it to the Red Cross. $255 is a big chunk of money but I was going to lose it anyway by the way of Steph’s deferment. I much rather see it go to a worthy and needy cause than sit in a bank account of some running club that I am not a member of. Even one of my friends went right back to
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To run or not run the marathon
November 2, 2012 in Marathon, Running, Superstorm Sandy
Superstorm Sandy has really done a number on us runners. Just like the reasons for picking one presidential candidate over another, there is now a debate about whether to run or not run the NYC marathon. We are seeing arguments going both ways and many of them are plausible and justifiable. We have heard that the mayor pulled generators from Staten Island where there is no power so that there will be power for the marathon. We have heard from marathoners who say that the city needs the lift and economic boast that the marathon brings. Even the NY Road Runners Club is kicking in a million for the relief efforts with sponsors throwing in a million or so of their own money. Now granted, I am 400 miles away but I do have family down there and friends who are already there to run Sunday. I really cannot comprehend
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Hello, hello, hello….anyone there?
October 25, 2012 in Customer Service
Hello, hello, hello….anyone there? That is how I feel dealing with a local appliance store when we called for service on our dryer which decided to take a poopout 2 Sundays ago. And it still hasn’t been fixed yet. After wrestling with a voicemail system a couple of times, we finally get a human being or what sounds like one. They tell Steph they don’t have enough people to send out within a week. After much pleading, they forward us to a partner service outfit who sent someone out right away. The guy comes and tells us we need a timer switch. “No problem! We’ll get it ordered and it’ll take 5 minutes to install. I’ll be back out Saturday with it.” Friday, we call to confirm. “Oh I am sorry Mrs. Spritzer but we are still waiting for warranty authorization.” Now mind me, I am not good with the
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The cat peed on the bed!
October 22, 2012 in Cat
Here I was on the first day I have taken off in God knows how long just for me when as I am getting ready to shower, the onerous distinctive odor of cat pee was in the air. Sure enough, there was a fresh wet spot on the corner of the bed where Steph’s feet would normally be. The cat peed on the bed! Now, this is a cat that has been locked in the basement during the day because of her lazy bladder habits. Yet, on the one day I grant her freedom, she climbs up 2 flights of stairs, jumps on the bed and proceeds to do her “up yours!” duty. Now, never mind that she not only peed on the comforter but also the blanket, the electric blanket, the sheets, the mattress pad and the MATTRESS. All but the latter…could easily be replaced but not a $1,000 mattress! I am like
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Romney vs. Obama debate – part 2
October 17, 2012 in Politics
I watched the Romney vs. Obama debate last night which riding the bike on the trainer. 20 miles in a little under and hour…not a bad way to burn off some calories. I think Obama won this one hands down. He came well prepared and his answers had all of the facts right and examples that made sense. One thing Romney said really pissed me off and earned my disrespect…he questioned when the attack on the the embassy was called an act of terrorism. Not only was that a blatant disregard of the facts but it was a slam in the face for those who lost their loved ones and friends by using it as a platform for political gain. Shame on you, Mitt! Now the one point that really hit home. Taxes! Romney said that we would lose some of the most sacred deductions such as mortgage interest and
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Pictures
October 16, 2012 in Photography
Lately, I have been indulging in taking pictures once again. I have a website just for this. Its called Welcome to Sam Spritzer’s Picture Site and it can be found here. So when I am not running or doing triathlons, I can be found capturing what my eyes see. The most recent series is based on a trip to Albany where I grew up and went to high school. Some people try to figure out why me and my friends are such fanatic runners. I want to share some wisdom that I posted on someone’s Facebook page… consider this fact….you’re accomplishing what less than 0.000001% of the population does…..small percent, HUGE accomplishment!
Favorite Yankees
October 15, 2012 in Sports, Yankees
The local pizza place, Riva’s, asked on Facebook for two guess of Yankee players they are thinking of from the past 30 years. No brainer for me…AndyPettitte and Paul O’Neill, two of the grittiest, hardest playing Yankees around. This is the only picture I could find with both of them together. On another note, the Pumpkin Run was a lot of fun. Took 5th in age group, 30th overall out of 300 plus runners on a gorgeous cool fall morning. My time of 22:44 was the best of this year. You know, if you don’t pressure yourself and just go out and have a good time, you probably will do! Next up is the Bob Ivory at the end of this month but there is a chance I might do something before that. I just haven’t decided yet. Oh one more thing…I have decided that I am going to do
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