Day 1 and 2

It is that time of year. Summer camp is now here. We spend 9 months preparing for summer camp and then much like a mother, give birth to a monster.

After a few weeks of a very good pre-camp it was time for campers to arrive. It only takes me about 1 minute after seeing that first camper to remember why we work so hard for the rest of the year. The questions they ask are so funny. The creativity is so amazing. The way they look at everything like it is so fresh and new just makes me smile.

Then the second day of summer camp comes. The bus breaks down, the phone system goes crazy, a volunteer nurse backs out and the medical supply company tell you that you owe them $200 when you really paid that bill months ago. Then I remember why sometimes I pray for August.

Keep up the fight

Take Note

See what I was talking about?

• Paul (T) knocked off Grayson (R) in Kentucky
• Specter lost in Pennsylvania

Anti-Incumbent fever and far right Tea party candidates are taking over the ballots.

What about Bob

There is an amazing story coming out of Utah. That is right folks I said amazing and Utah and was not talking about the National Parks. About a week ago the junior senator from Utah, Bob Bennett, failed to win his party nomination for reelection.

Now why is this so amazing? Well a few reasons. 1) In recent polls among the popular vote he was getting like 70%. 2) He carries an A+ rating from NRA and the delegates said he was no conservative enough. 3) He is a Mormon.

All over the country we are seeing more and more incumbents fall in the primary. Not only Democrats, but Republicans also. I find this interesting because typically incumbents do pretty good in elections. Evidently the citizen of Utah are so upset with the federal government that they don't care about losing a rather high ranking representative in the senate.

I have also been thinking about what this could mean for the elections in November. I am wondering if more and more republicans who don't get their nominations may run as independents? Would this split the vote enough to allow Dem to maintain their seats or gain a few? If so, who are these independents going to caucus with?

It also brings up the point of the Tea Party movement in the Republican party. If the delegates who elect our officials, sorry Americans you don't vote in your representatives, from the GOP are now so fed up with Washington that they are going to get rid of Bob, who is safe in the party? McCain is fighting for his career and so are many other big name Republicans. Do the delegates really thank that rank and file rep want an ultra right wing Tea Party candidate in the elections? How is a Tea Party candidate going to get an independent vote?

Obviously this will not matter in a state like Utah. Some states are just red and some are just blue. The purple states should prove to be interesting to watch this year.

Keep up the fight

Stepping into May

The arch created this new walking intensive program. A team of 5 has the whole month of May to walk 500 miles. If we do it we get $25. After that each 500 miles an individual gets they get another $25. Needless to say I am all about this. I am getting paid to work out.

It is also the time of year where I find that I don't stop working until it is time to go to bed. I have been helping out at confirmation retreats, visiting friends in Chicago, cutting and stacking wood, training for fall races, working on ACA accreditation, moving into a new office and working in my garden for the past few weeks.

I do enjoy this time of year because I keep busy. Oddly enough I enjoy the rush. It is nice to come into work have a long to do list. It makes me feel needed and it is o so fun to cross off big projects.

Ok, well on that note, back to it.

Keep up the fight

Andy's First Triathlon

Yes, it is true I did finish my triathlon last weekend. The culmination of about 4 months of training really paid off when I ran through that big blue arch.

I am guessing most of you have never done a triathlon before so I am going to take some time and tell you all about mine.

First of all it was call a "Sprint Triathlon." A sprint means it was a short one. It was 1/4m swim, 10m bike and 5k run. Just to let you know "Olympic Triathlons" are about double that length. To learn more about distances and such check out the Wiki page on Triathlons.

The following is a list of my times and all the ranking number from my race.
Swim 8:32 (259th)
Transition 1 3:47 (377th)
Bike 38:37 (15.5mph 496th)
Transition 2 1:50 (137th)
Run 30:39 (9:52m 560th)
Total: 1:23:28 (483rd/672)
Division 45th/62

I want to share one story from the race. It was about my 3rd length in the pool and there was a swimmer passing me on my left. There were also two swimmers right in front of us and I was getting ready to cut left to pass them. With this guy on my left it meant I could not do that and was going to get stuck behind them all. I decided I didn't want that to happen so I swam right up the middle of the two other swimmers. Then when I went to take a breath on my left the swimmer to my left took a breath on the right and we met goggle to goggle about 6 inches away from each other. It was a really cool moment in the race.

I also learned what draw strings are for on swim trunks. Not because mine also fell off, but because most triathlon athletes look like a blend of meth users, super models and body builders and their cloths are falling off of them because they have no body fat to keep them on.

Overall I was very happy with the race. I had three goals and I meet them all.

1. Do not die
2. Finish the race
3. Under 1:45

So what is next? Well there are several things I have on the to do list.

1. Mudathlon on June 26. What is a Mudathlon? I have no idea but they say it is between 3 and 4 miles with obstacles and participants get a free beer. Combine that with two attractive women on the flier and that was all it took to get me excited enough to do it.
2. Columbus Triathlon on August 7th. I am not sure about this one. It is the day after summer camp is over. That could be good because it could keep me training all summer long or be bad because I am physically spent after a summer camp.
3. Wine at the Line, 5mile or 5k run on September 25th. You get a wine glass, shirt, wine and pizza. And yes, they also had an attractive woman on their flier.
4. The Grand Canyon, Fall of 2011. What is this? Check out my buddy Ford's blog for that information.

Come join me on one or all of the events and,
Keep up the fight

On Your Marks, Get Set, Oh Shit

So today, Saturday, April 10th, is a good day. Why you might ask? The question is rhetorical, I will answer it for you.

1) I got on the scale today and for the first time since 2003ish I weighed in under 200 pounds. That is right folk I was a slim and trim (with two love handles that you could crab hold tight enough to ride a bull on) 199lb.

2) I then:

• swam 1/4 mile: 1 lap around a track
• biked 10 miles: 40 laps
• ran a 5k: 12 1/2 laps (well what I call running, similar to a brisk walk for most)

I did all of this is 1 hour 30 min and 21 seconds. Why did I do this? Again, the question is rhetorical, I will answer it for you. I did this because next Sunday, April 18, I am doing those same distances in a Sprint Triathlon in Carmel, Indiana.

Why the hell would I do that and who took over Andy's body? Two valid questions. There are several reasons:

1. About 5 months ago I had a health screening and almost all levels of health that they measured were in the yellow or red.
2. Several people around me workout a lot and eat healthy, so I had support.
3. I have been told a slimmer man is a bit more attractive (true it is what is on the inside that counts but for me that was arteries that were slowly closing and fat deposits building).
4. The Miller family gene pool tends to favor diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and double chins. I grew a beard for the chin thing.
5. Health Care is getting more and more expensive. If every American lost 5 pounds and moved their nutrition plan 5% closer to what it should look like, can you imagine how much money would be saved and how much healthier we would be.
6. I also realized that I am not in college any more. What I eat and how I take care of my body does matter.
7. Last but by no means least... I look hot in a pair of jammers... ok not really.

3) Now after burning what I am guessing was close to 800 calories and realizing that I am so close to accomplishing the goals I set back in the Advent (Catholic New Year) that it was time to have a mini celebration. So what did I do? Only one of the most amazing things ever. Something that truly proves God loves us. Something that melts all the cares and pains right off the body like a butter cow left in the sun (go to the Iowa State Fair). That is right, I had a beer shower. For those of you that don't know what a beer shower is, I truly feel sorry for you. It is not showering in beer, but rather taking a shower while drinking a beer. It is even better if there is a large green plastic lawn chair to sit down in while you are in the shower, but I have a small shower. O, that moment when the water hits the back of your head and your spin tingles. If you time it just right your mouth tingles with the cold beer at the same time and a little piece of heaven comes out of the faucet (that is not actually church doctrine, but it should be... I'm looking at you Benedict).

4) What could top a day like this off? Well I am on my way to get the Scooter out for the summer. The time has come and I am ready.

5) After a Scooter ride I then get to go to Mass. Nothing like some Grace from God to top off the day. Then home to bed at around 6:00 because man am I tired!!

Keep up the fight

Bacon-Wrapped Maple Pork Loin

So last week I had the best pork I had ever had in my life. Normally even good a pork loin is either dry or sometimes a bit on the chewy side, but not this one. It was juicy, moist and you could cut it with a fork. So tender that it melted in your mouth. It had a touch of the sweet Maple flavor but not overpowering to make you feel like you were eating a pancake. The Bacon it was wrapped in was nice a crisp and helped hold the loin flavor but it didn't give off an overpowering bacon flavor.

This was course 4 of a 7 course meal that Mr. Pat Hurley was the masterminded. I had the special privileged to be his right hand man in the kitchen for the feast. It was served with roasted asparagus and sweet potatoes with a chipotle honey glaze.

If you do not have plans for Easter yet you might want to give this loin a try.

Keep up the fight