Just Get it Out!!!

I've never been pregnant, but I've been around some pregnant women in my day. After last night's hot dog eating contest, I can't help but think this is what the final days of pregnancy might feel like. There's something inside of me, I must get it out, and I must get it out now. Yep, this is exactly like pregnancy, except without all the joy of bringing a new life into the world. O, there will be joy, but it just won't be the same.

A Friendly Competition (updated)

A friend from work wrapped up a "Biggest Loser" style contest yesterday. In honor of his accomplishment, he wanted to have a hot dog eating contest at work today. Unlike most competitive eating contests, this one is a marathon, not a sprint. We all got to work at 6 PM and started at 7 PM. We're wrapping up at 5 AM tomorrow morning. I can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday evening, although I can think of better ways to spend Wednesday afternoon. I have a secret weapon....Metamucil. I self-medicated before I left for work. I'm feeling a little full from the Metamucil, but I fully anticipate it paying off in the end....literally, my end.

Update: The contest ended at 0225 when we ran out of hot dogs. My plan was somewhat successful. I had six hot dogs, went to work out, then put the hammer down....sorta. We started off with Vienna Beef hot dogs. I had one at 1900, 1910, 1930, 2000, 2115, and 2138. After jumping rope and a half hour on the treadmill, I had hot dogs at 0035, 0055, 0125, 0200, 0205, 0207, and 0225. Truth be told, we ran out of the Vienna Beef brand and switched to Ballpark franks around 0100. They weren't as thick, but they were full bun length. Either way, they went down quite a bit quicker. At 0225, I was tied with the guy who suggested the contest. We'd both had about enough, but we had to address the lone remaining dog (Hello, lone remaining dog.) We split it and the prize money. That's right, I've now officially eaten food for money.

Bromance is in the air...

Midnights are going just swell. So swell in fact, that even on my off days, I sleep like I'm still working midnights. The plan tonight was to get to the gym in time for the UK game at 6 PM. I didn't make it. In fact, I was off the phone and getting ready to go at 10:15 when I decided to check my facebook account. 3 hours and some good chatting later, I was finally out the door. I had a nice little workout. I came home to make some eggs and watch my TV shows (DWTS, How I Met Your Mother, and This Week in NASCAR), but I stopped to check my Facebook again. Next thing you know, I'm on Youtube watching videos. I'm going to post this and be done. I found these guys while looking for a performance of Rawhide one night. They're fairly talented and seem to have a good time playing. I may be developing somewhat of a man crush on their talents. They've got some other good stuff with obscure instruments.....and, check this out, I had no idea there were so many videos of people playing the ukulele on Youtube. It's amazing...I want to learn to play after I accomplish all my other goals in life. I should be able to start learning sometime next week.




Oh heck, here's another one. I could totally see myself playing at a nursing home. I'm not sure that's where this is, but could be....

Friday Entertainment

Not much I can say, but I find the talents of some people amazing.

Everybody Needs a Thing

I can't run....never have been able to. I can climb steps. I'm not particularly fast at it, but I enjoy getting to the top, looking out at our fair city and thinking "I got to the top of this (insert your own term) all by myself!!" I've done climbs for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, Children's Hospital of Chicago, and another for the American Heart Association....or some other kind of health-conscious group. Those climbs were anywhere from 83 to 103 floors....start at the bottom, finish at the top, boring climbs. This Sunday at 10:00, I'm taking on a new challenge.

The American Lung Association is sponsoring the inaugural Climb Chicago. Rather than climb the steps at one really tall building, we'll be climbing all 4 of the 45-floor Presidential Towers buildings in Chicago. From what I understand, only 700 people have signed up. Evidently, the perceived difficulty of the climbs has kept some people away. I won't be the fastest climber, and there's a very good chance I could be the slowest.....I mean the one who enjoys the stairwells the longest. Anyway, it's what I can do to help out a cause....it's my thing.

Oh, and I have to raise $35 more dollars by Sunday....if you've got a couple of extra bucks, it'd be cool if you could make a donation. Here's a link.