I’M JUST A BREATH AWAY
At first I only had a few simple goals for running the 5K race. One, to finish it under 40 minutes. Two, don’t have to use the paramedics. Three, run most of the race (I figured I would have to walk some). Four, I want to survive.
However, when I got two the race, I had to add few goals. Five, since the race involved running the course two times to get to the 5K, I did not want to get lapped. Last, I did not want to get passed by anyone pushing a baby carriage. If they started out a head of me, that was fine, but if I got a lead over them I did not want to get passed by them.
So on April 17, 2010, I ran my first 5K race. I have been training for it for about four months. I still needed another four months to get ready, but that was too bad as my time was up. My first 5K race was the West Side Stride which was a fund-raiser for The Third Story. It is a charity I learned about back in 1996 when I became a tutor/mentor in their tutoring program for inner-city kids at risk. I was a tutor there for many years and now I help out in various ways.
This was their first ever 5K race that I have ran in. I am excited because I was the first to sign-up. I figured that would be the only part of the event where I was first. Turns out that was not true. I was the first ever to check-in, too!
My wife decided to walk the course. Money Pen member, Todd, came out to run it. Also, Anne came out to run it and encourage me.
As for the race, I was able run most of the race. I only had to stop and walk for a few steps a few times. So I was pleased about that. I am still slow, but I did finish the race around 37 minutes (under 40). I did not get passed by anyone just walking the race. I did not need any help from the paramedics. I did not come in last. The Third Story was able to raise money. So all in all, it was successful and fun day.
I want to thanks Bob, Nancy, and Karmen who answered all my running questions and gave me a lot of good advice for running. My next race will be in late May/early June. The race I was going to do, got canceled, but I think I found a replacement.
Also, thanks to my wife, Todd, Anne, A.B., Adam, Gene, and all the volunteers who were all encouraging and putting the race together. It was a fun day, even though it involved running.
Click Here To See Photos
LikeWE JUST LIKE TO SEE THE BOYS HIT IT DEEP
We made it to our first Rockies game of the year on April 10, 2010. Mindy, Lynzee, and I went to the game a part of a group of around fifty people. The group went to the game to celebrate Steve’s birthday. His wife Kelli pulled the party together.
We did not really know anyone in the group besides, Steve, Kelli, and their daughter Sarah, but we still enjoyed it. Sarah and her two kids came out from KC for the game and party. It was the kids first baseball game, and they did great. It was nice that their first MLB game was a Rockies game not a Royals game.
As for the game, it was a good one. It took fourteen innings to play, but in the end the Rockies lost to the Padres, 5-4. The Rockies gave up too many walks and were not able get many base runners. You don’t win many baseball games when that happens.
Steve with his grandson, Silas
PUT ME IN COACH – VI
Happy Easter and Happy Opening Day (my two favorite holidays)! Since it is opening day, it is time for the most anticipated entry this blog offers. It is the 6th annual Code Monkey’s MLB Team Predictions and Slogans.
As normal, the predictions will probably be wrong, but they are here just in case I get one right so I can brag about it. The slogans are more in-line with what I think the team’s slogans should be.
AL EAST
1. Evil Empire – We are so good, our manager has enough time to teach the Jets QB how to slide, field a bunt, block the plate, and eat a hot dog.
2. Evil Nation – Really, we did not want to have a powerful and younger outfield to help our old batting lineup. We just wanted great pitching
3. Tampa Bay – Young, Talented, and maybe moving to Orlando where maybe we could be called the SeaWorld Rays
4. Baltimore – Improving but our nest is still located the AL East
5. Toronto – We miss the days of the Expos being the worst Canadian baseball team
AL CENTRAL
1. Minnesota – We lost the roof over our heads, but we have heated consession areas
2. Detroit – We keep telling ourselves, “We Are Still Better Than The Lions”
3. Chicago – We have decided to stop using the social media, learn more about our decides on Ozzie’s Twitter Account
4. Cleveland – Looking forward to developing another CY Young Pitcher that we can trade when he wins the award
5. KC – Hoping to draft the Phenom named Bryce Harper and not sign him cause we can’t afford him
AL WEST
1. LA of Anaheim – Still the guardians of the AL West
2. Texas – We are now owned by an attorney who will appeal every lost
3. Seattle – As a dog returns to its vomit, so a foolish team thinks Milton Bradley will not hurt their team and clubhouse
4. Oakland – All we want is to move out of Oakland, for the love of God let us go to San Jose
NL EAST
1. Philadelphia – Who needs two CY Younger Winners on their team at the same time
2. Atlanta – Bobby Cox in his final season will try for 2500 career wins and 200 career ejections
3. Florida – Cheapest team of the last decade, but we won one World Series
4. NY Mets – Minaya’s Messy and Mismanaged Mets
5. Washington – Someday Strasburg will come and be our stimulus plan
NL CENTRAL
1. St. Louis – Our new hitting coach will provide all our batters with all his ‘roids knowledge
2. Milwaukee – Honoring our former owner, a used-car salesman, with a statue to be called Cash For A Clunker.
3. Chicago – Fighting for nicer facility for spring training since we don’t play anywhere during October
4. Houston – We sign every ex-Phillie we can. It is too bad, Howard, Utley, and Halladay aren’t ex-Phillies.
5. Cincinnati – Capitalism is where where a player who escaped from a Communist Cuba signs with a U.S. team called “The Reds”
6. Pittsburgh – Stopping even Super Mario from buying and saving this franchise
NL WEST
1. Colorado – We have the most guys who used to be backups for the Manning brothers in college and in the Oreo Double Stuff Racing League
2. LA – Hoping that Manny will not need maternity leave this year
3. Arizona – We don’t need no Stinking Good Schlereth
4. San Francisco – Doing all we can to keep the A’s suffering in Oakland
5. San Diego – New Ownership, but same so-so team
SLOGANS FOR MLB:
I could not decided between the two following ones. So I put both of them there because it is my blog and I can do what I want.
OTHER PREDICTIONS:
First manager to get fired: Jerry Manuel (Mets)
WILD-CARD PICKS:
AL: Texas Rangers
NL: Atlanta Braves
PLAYOFF WINNERS:
OK, Monkey Pen Member Rick pointed out last year that I don’t do Playoff and World Series predictions. Since I try and improve on things for the Monkey Pen Members, I have made playoffs guesses as well and I will from now on for Rick.
Divisional Series:
Evil Empire over Rangers
Angels over Twins
Rockies over Braves
Phillies over St. Louis
Championship Series:
Evil Empire over Angels
Rockies over Phillies
World Series:
Evil Empire over Rockies (man that hurts just to type)
STATS:
In case you are worried I might made correct predication and your team has no hope, don’t be afraid. Here our my stats the previous five years to ease your fears:
| Correct AL Division Winners | 8/15 | 53% |
| Correct AL Wild Card Winners | 2/5 | 40% |
| Correct NL Division Winners | 6/15 | 33% |
| Correct NL Wild Card Winners | 0/5 | 0% |
| Correct First Manager To Fired | 0/5 | 0% |
| Correct Playoffs Guesses | -/- | –% |
Thanks to Rick as this will be the last year the playoff is a good percentage.
OTHER THINGS:
Also, after hearing from their fans, I changed the what I call the team from Boston. I use to call them Mini Evil Empire as I think they are always trying to be like the Evil Empire but not as big or with as much wins. So from now on I will just call them the Evil Nation so they don’t feel so Mini. I hope they are finally happy, that is if fans of the Evil Nation can be happy.
I know some of you must be surprised I have so positive hope for the Rockies. Yes, I do love them, but usually I am the pessimist about their chances of being good. However, this year I am excited and optimistic about their chances. I think they are a good baseball team.
There you have it, my view of the 2010. Enjoy the day and season, baseball fans. Go Rockies!
ROLL THE STONE AWAY, IT’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
“Salvation is here
Salvation is here and He lives in me
Salvation is here
Salvation that died just to set me free
Salvation is here
Salvation is here and He lives in me
Salvation is here
Cause You are alive and You live in me”
Salvation is Here – Lincoln Brewster
