Aging up, USAT Board Meeting, Movie reviews

Well folks it is now time to see the USA Triathlon aging up rule in action. Here's is how it works. When you register for a USAT sanctioned race, i.e. duathlon/triathlon, you simply put your birthday down on the application, and your age in this race would be age on 12.31. To carry this even further let's use my birth date as an example, which is December 16, 1938. So, I register for the duathlon this weekend not putting my age down, but putting my birthday of 12.16, which means that rather than being 69 I am really 70 by their standards. Which also means that for the first time in my life I will be competing as a 70 year old. This also means that many people have ask me what it feels like. What a helluva a question. My response is fairly typical of me in that I answer with a question. I simply say, "well look around you and how many things do you see that are my age(really 69), i.e. say an automobile-no way are there any 69 year old autos on the road, but let's say there might be, then think if the automobile was 69 how worn out the parts would be, i.e. carburetor, generator, wheels, transmission, etc., etc.?" So, does that answer how I feel or is it just two steppin around the aging process. While I don't really know for sure I can say that my body probably feels better than the 69 year old auto would feel. After all I have had the opportunity to service my body whereas the auto depends on some human meat head to take care of it. If I have done a decent job on taking care of myself I should feel good, and I do. Bottom line here is that I am ready to race and bring on those 70 year olds'. Funny thing is since the age group goes 70-74 I could be racing a true 74 year old depending on his birthday. Isn't it strange how organizations come up with these complicated rules. I think there is nothing easier than being in my own true age at any thing I do. Oh well, so be it, watch out you 70 year old studs I am on the prowl.

Just returned from the first USAT Board meeting in Colorado Springs. It was a very productive and positive meeting. Rob Kasper was re-elected as the President of the Board. Rob has been a very stabilizing President of the Board and it was a wise choice by the voters to elect him back. I ran against him, so does that make me a gracious loser or what? I hate the word loser so let's just say he got more votes than I did and we are both winners. As I told him I will serve with the same enthusiasm for the sport and represent those that elected me no matter my position on the board. The Federation is in very good shape and Skip has done a great job in putting the new face on USAT and leading it forward to the 100,000 member total for 2007. The sport is on a 40' wave at least and the growth is tremendous. All is well in the Springs.

Movie reviews: "In the Name of the Kind: A Dungeon Siege Tale", 0000Terrible, This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. While I thought they had quit making B movies, I was mistaken. The script was terrible, the acting was worse(Burt Reynolds as the King, Ray Liotta as the villain, stumbled through their parts, but I am sure took the money anyway, while Jason Statham did a fairly good job as the Hero). It is in mid evil times, good against evil. That is the best way to describe a disgusting waste of money. If you go see this after this rating, God forgive you!

"The Bucket List", *****, This is a true five star movie with awards to follow I am sure. Played by two 70 year old actors, Jack Nicholson is a billionaire, while Morgan Freeman is an auto mechanic, they both have something very much in common. They are both dying of cancer, so they prepare a list of things they would like to do before they die. Thus, they live out together the items on the bucket list and get to know many new things about life. These two actors, while very different in style, play the parts to perfection and probably present these characters like no other actors I can think of could do. Even though the ending is predicteable, the presentation makes it very enjoyable and worth the ticket price, doubled.

greerman

It's over, thank God, Movie Reviews

This past holiday season must have been the longest in history. It seemed as though we had three day work weeks forever, so long that it is very challenging to meet the task of a full work week this week. Wow, today is only Monday and we have until Friday to complete the week. What a feeling of challenge and question why we had so many days off. We know when the holidays are over in Ransom Canyon simply because the decorative lights are all put up for another year and there are no Santa Claus's in the front yards. Another clue is that everyone gets back to normal by not speaking, asking how you are or putting on that phony ass slight of hand smile(for the holidays only). There is no "Merry Christmas" greeting or have a Happy New Year message, just back to normal. A couple of terms used during the holidays really bug me so I am glad when it is all over. First, "are you going to have a big Christmas?" Second, this same people follow up by asking, "did you have a big Christmas?" My reply always falls in the smart alec category, "why of course I will have a big Christmas, since I am always very good and Santa likes that kind of action," or "yes I did have a big Christmas, so big that it was bigger than anything on the block, because I deserved it and Santa knew he better come through or I would peg him and take away his beer on the next ride into town."(The longest sentence in the world proves how much I hate that question.) So, let's get on with life and have a great 2008!!

Movie Review: "Sweeney Todd": The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. ***, My local critic gave it 4.5 stars, but not for me. Yea Johnny Depp is great as usual, yep it was a well done movie, but it was hard to understand, and very depressing. If you like to watch people get their throat cut with lots of blood gushing out and then see their body grinded up in a meat grinder, with no saving grace whatsoever, then you will fall in love with this movie. It is the ultimate revenge movie. Oh, I forgot, it is a musical so every other dialogue is a song. I am not budging, it is 3 star and no more, but will be nominated for something. Rated R for graphic bloody violence(to say the least).

"I Am Legend", ****, Will Smith does a great job as nearly the sole actor in this movie. He is a very good actor so he makes this sci-fi movie very believable. The story goes that through some scientific screwup with a vaccine that cures cancer, no less, it has a reverse affect that emits a plague that either kills and turns its' recipients into aggressive vampire killers. Mr. Smith is a doctor who is trying to kill this virus and bring humanity back. He is one of the last to survive this plague in New York City and lives through the day looking for food or clues on how to save mankind. He refuses to move to a safe haven in Vermont, and wants to save the day in the City. Rated PG-13 for intense(understatement) sequences of sci-fi action and violence.

greerman