Wednesday, April 30, 2008

#74 Go to a baseball game in a park I’ve never been, keep score, and pound some peanuts

Why is it on the list?

Although basketball will always be my first and true love (I am from Kentucky after all), at one point baseball occupied a similar place in my heart. My Dad played both sports in high school and continued playing pick-up ball and softball up until he tore his knee to hell when I was around 12 or so. Dad taught me both sports and I remember lying in bed listening to Joe Nuxhall (the ole left hander rounding third and heading for home) and Marty Brennaman (And this one belongs to the Reds) calling Reds games as I drifted off to sleep.

I was both a player and a spectator. I played tee-ball and knothole (Little League), but I much preferred playing whiffle ball or homerun derby in the backyard. However, I did have some memorable Little League moments, including the day I got thrown out at home after almost hitting an inside the park homer. As for being a fan, highlights include being at the 1988 All-Star game (SABO! SABO!), running around the house with a broom when the Reds swept the A's in 1990, being woken up to see the end of Tom Browning's perfect game by Dad, and seeing my best friend at the time take a line drive hit by Wally Backman (whose baseball cards we spent the next several years destroying) off the forehead .

For me not much beat sitting at the ballpark, pounding some peanuts, eating a hot dog, and keeping score. Keeping score is a skill my Dad taught me and as far as I know, no two people keep score the same way. And for some reason I just find it fun to sit there and score the game.

Then the strike of 1994 happened. At the time I was 14 and it absolutely devastated me. I swore off those lameass millionaires and made the decision to never again attend a ball game. That's a big statement, and it's a tribute to my stubborness that I actually refused to go to games until 1999 and only then when it was free. I finally broke down a few years back and actually paid to go to a few Reds game. But the spell was broken for me back in 1994. I no longer follow baseball as intently as I used to and I no longer root for the Reds with the same passion I reserve for the Wildcats and the Bengals.

However, I still enjoy peanuts at a ball game more than anywhere else, and keeping score still takes me back to a time when I really enjoyed the game. So I decided to try and do this at least one over the next 1001 days.

The Process

My original intent was to go to a Major League park that I've never been to. I've seen games at Riverfront, Jacobs Field, and whatever the Diamondbacks call their field. I've also toured the Colorado Rockies facility. So I thought I might go to Seattle and see the Mariners or maybe St. Louis.

However, this past weekend I decide to go watch some Double AA baseball. The Tennessee Smokies are the Double AA affiliate for the Chicago Cubs and play just outside of Knoxville. After a full day of biking in the mountains my wife and I thought it would be a perfect nightcap.

And you know what? It was. It was the way baseball should be. I paid $10 bucks for each ticket and we sat in the 2nd row right on the 3rd baseline. The program was $3 bucks, had a scorecard in it, and when I flipped through it I saw a sticker telling me to head to fan services to claim my prize (free ice cream from Marble Slab!). I headed to where they had the starting lineups written so I could fill out my scorecard and lo and behold there were 3 other folks doing the same thing! I've kept score at several Major League games the past couple years and have never seen anyone doing that! I thought it was a lost art! But here at this AA game there were many of us!

The game was great. Sure the Smokies got beat, but it was fun hearing the crack of the bats, the chants of the fans to the organs, seeing the kids chase after foul balls, and most importantly, enjoying a fun evening with my wife.

I pounded some peanuts, kept score, and for one night, enjoyed baseball again.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

1. Finish Qualifying Exams

What is it?

For my Ph.D program, before you start work on your dissertation you have to pass this thing called a Qualifying Exam. Basically, you form a committee of four professors and develop a reading list for each one of them. The exam has two parts, a written part and an oral part. For the written exam, each professor gets to ask a question. It lasts two days, and on each day you get two questions, 4 hours to prepare, and then 4 hours to write your answer. Then around 2-3 weeks later you get to come back and defend what you wrote in an oral exam.

Why is it on the List?

Well, it was something I needed to do and something that I had been dragging my feet on. I finished my Masters in late 2005 and should have taken this exam much sooner than now. I don't really know why I kept delaying it, but I knew when I made this list that this was something that was a huge priority for me and so it occupied the number one spot on the list.

The Process

About 3 weeks ago I took the written portion of the exam. Yesterday, I completed the oral defense of the written exam, and I passed. Now, I am ABD (all but dissertation) in terms of completing my Ph.D. There is still a lot of work ahead, but now all hurdles in my path have been cleared except this last one. Sure it's the biggest one, but all the other requirements are finished.

Of course, the dissertation process can be broken down into some steps (Proposal Development, Proposal Defense, Data Collection, Data Analysis, Writing it Up, Defending it) but yea... the dissertation is all that remains. I'm starting work on the proposal now and hopefully by Fall I'll have it defended.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Monday, April 14, 2008

The Physical Activities Update!

Looking at my list I feel like I have a lot of irons in the fire but I just can't scratch anything off yet. But trust me, I'm working hard! On the physical activities side of things, I have a full schedule this year, with races scheduled for March, April, May, June, July, August, October, and November. In March I did a 10 Mile Run, which was great preparation for the Half Marathon in May. I'm also already registered for a Muddy Buddy (in August) and will be registering for an Oly Tri soon (in July).

You'll also notice I don't have a race scheduled yet for September. If all goes according to plan at the Half Marathon, I'll probably accelerate my plans and try and do the Air Force Marathon in Dayton that month! And if I can get that under my belt, then all of a sudden a HIM in early 09 and an IM in late 09 don't look as far fetched. I still have a loooooong way to go, but I feel very much encouraged by my performance in the 10 Miler (see My Space for a link to the race report) and if the Half Marathon goes just as well....

I'm also reconsidering Heart Rate training. I know it's "good" but I've run a few times recently w/o my stopwatch and I actually enjoyed myself. I don't know if I really want to add another gadget.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

#62 Discover 5 new awesome local restaurants

Why it's on the list?

I think I've covered my love of local restaurants in previous posts.

The Process

Well, I think I'm waaaay over 5 now. With Saya, The Sunspot, Leathas, Market Square Kitchen, and more I think I've found plenty of sweet new places to eat. Of course, there's always more places to find and today it's time to talk about two of my new favorites:

Soups and Scoops Cafe: This is a little restaurant in Knoxville that has some of the best homemade soups I've had the pleasure of trying. My wife loved the Tomato Basil and I enjoyed the chicken noodle soup. The turkey sandwich with apricot chutney was also excellent. They also make their own ice cream (and have an astounding number of flavors). I've yet to try it, but I know a pistachio cone has got my name on it. Plus on Mondays ice cream is half off when you Moo like a Cow! Right up my alley!

Lynn's Paradise Cafe: Our friends in Louisville took us out to this place and it was a blast. We knew from the outside of the restaurant that whatever the food tasted like it was going to be a fun. They had one of those boards where you can poke your head through and get your picture taken (as a fork and a spoon). They had a store of merchandise filled with everything from Sigmund Freud Action figures to Awesome Derby Day Hats. The music was also excellent... nothing beats a little Classic Rock. Finally, each table had an ugly ass lamp on it... evidently there's a local ugly ass lamp contest and the winners wind up here!

On to the food! My wife and I started with the Fried Green Tomatoes. Now, sometimes when you order fried green tomatoes in a restaurant you get more fried than tomatoes. Not here. They were excellent and the spicy remoulade was delicious. Next, I decided to try the Spicy Seared Salmon, which is described in the menu as: Pan seared salmon marinated in garlic, ginger, shallots and crushed red pepper. Topped with a tomato fondue and shrimp jus. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the tomato fondue and shrimp jus really brought the dish together. I was definitely pausing and savoring the flavor. I also loved Lynn's choice of sides. Instead of just the traditional options, they had things like herb braised lima beans and braised rosemary cabbage. I chose those two items and they were great. I especially enjoyed the rosemary cabbage, a dish that was new to me. My wife's dish also tasted wonderful (the Hoppin Juan :a black bean chili and organic jasmine rice smothered with a zesty tropical mango chile salsa, cheddar cheese, sour cream and with cumin scented blue corn tortillas. I'm looking forward to a return trip, and this time I just might get the Jambalaya Pasta!