P90X - Day 11

Greetings Readers

Today was the last of the vegetable soup was for lunch.

And for the first time in 11 days I had something different besides water. I had Glaceau vitamin water Zero Naturally Sweeten - Lemonade flavored.

Less than a gram of sugar, but I think I tasted sugar. Nevertheless, I have to admit that little sugar was pretty good in the drink - as well as the different taste. Since, I have been mostly have plain water or every now and then water with a slice of lemon. Yes, I would consider this a treat for me!

I have scheduled the YogaX program for the P90X for tonight. If I remember correctly this is the longest workout on the program. An hour and a half. That's too much time, but okay. I just hate that I have to set aside an hour and half.

Oh, today was the second run at lunch and second run since doing the 24 Hours of Boulder last October. Fucking awesome. I felt good and ran about 5 minutes and 20 seconds faster than I did two days ago. I felt good to put the hammer down and kind of go for it. I did hit a few stop lights, but other than that I was okay. Again, I ran 3.86 miles in 35:30.

For the evening meal I had saute shrimp only. Using Olive oil and the seasoning I used was onion power and black pepper. I did not even use salt. No biggie since I really do not add salt to sauteed shrimp. I had about 8 oz and it was pretty good.

And that is all for today's post.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A New PS3 Controller, Red

Greetings Readers

I had to succumb to buying a brand new DualShock 3 controller for my Playstation 3.

There is a story, but no different from probably why new controllers are bought.

It has been almost three years since I bought my PS3. I do like the PS3 though I probably not using it to its potential.

Anyway, 57.00 bones later I have a new red controller.

Basically, threw the original controller around one too many times and the last time it was thrown was about just a week ago. And that was all she wrote. No way to be fixed.

My fault. period. I can not blame natural disaster or act of God.

Anyway, I will try to control that controller throwing better, which I have been. Since I do not want to spend another 57.00 that I do not have to.

Oh, the only reason why I bought red (as opposed to black) was that this red controller was advertised for the God of War 3. That's it

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

P90X - Day 7

Greetings Readers

Last night was my first steak in a while... well, since being on the P90X plan again.

I bought some sirloin steak (a 4 pack) for a pretty good price on Saturday afternoon.

First, the weather was actually ok (meaning not cold and not windy). And lastly, I was craving steak.

I did think about buying just one, but thought I am allowed to have steak on my plan, but I do not think back to back. Yet, that was not going to stop me from eating a portion for the next few days. As long as I watch my portions, the fat (oh I desire to eat that, but alas can not since I am on this P90X program.

The only thing that was with the buying of the steak is that I could not have A1 sauce, a lot of salt (meaning the usual amount that I put on a steak) and I could not have a beer or Coca-Cola wth my steak. Fucking sucks. Well, I could have, but again that defeats the purpose of the food plan.

Anyway, as much as I wanted to eat the steak alone, I did buy some fresh green beans from the produce section and then I cooked up some Wild Rice (though that added more than an hour to my cooking time since it does take that long to cook the wild rice. Since I was not going to have my usual seasonings with my steak I did buy a Jalapeno to eat with my steak. I have to admit the jalapenos was ok - not hot nor mild.

Oh, the other thing I want to mention is that I could not eat more than 1/2 a steak. Fuck me, did that fucking suck. I only limited myself to half a steak - I estimated about 8 oz. And that is basically going to be my portions for the next few days until I eat all of the steak - NY strip by the way.

And, I have to admit I do see a difference in the waist line. Though, the real noticeable place I notice is my pants. I can already feel the difference of how much of that "spare tire" I have lost in the past 10 days (or 6 days officially)

I do not know if the picture does it justice, but that is the picture of my dinner and it was oh so delicious. And I have to admit the steam fresh Green beans came out good - I added Onion power and just a dash of garlic salt - and lot of black pepper.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Denver Post Sunday Paper

Greetings Readers

I blogged perhaps a year or two ago about the Sunday Morning paper and me.

I had a ritual for every Sunday Morning.

However, that ritual was broken when the Denver Post Sunday Paper got smaller, the Sunday paper costs going up and the eventual disappearing of the Sunday comic I loved to read on Sunday.

Also, the news was not that exciting anymore. I admit the other reason why I bought the Sunday paper was for the ads. The ads. Sales and sales to be looked and analyzed over and over.

But, Damn if I was going pay 50 cents more to read a smaller paper when I can get the info from the TV and Internet.

Yet, February 6, 2011 I decided to buy another Sunday Paper. After all, it has been just a year since I bought my last Sunday Denver Post Paper. And I only bought the Sunday Paper back at that time for the same exact reason. Granted, I could have found the information that I was looking for on the Internet, but thought what the fuck I can splurge the $ 1.50 for one paper.

Note: Readers, I have bought many, many Sundays in the past two years, but those are the Albuquerque Journal and only when I am vacationing down in New Mexico.

What? Why did I buy the Sunday Denver Post Paper.

The only reason why I bought the Denver Post, that is, the Sunday Denver Post was for the announcement of the bike tour I did a couple of years ago. No drum roll. It is the announcement of the Ride the Rockies 2011.

I have to admit that I am now looking to see what the route would be the new year. I am not impressed by the route itself. And the starting line is not even a place I thought would be a Ride the Rockies start. Granted, I never new where the starting point of any Ride the Rockies prior to my participating in 2009. And there is an explanation why I did not care/know.

Last year, the Ride the Rockies 2010 started in Grand Junction and if I remember correctly ended in Salida, CO. I actually thought it was nice route and even thought about applying, but decided not to.

Anyway, here we are. I will give it a thought, perhaps two, but I do not think that I will be applying for this year's Ride the Rockies. I will have to look at the Mountain Passes as well as the towns that the stops will be at for me to even consider applying for a spot. I am not impressed and after all I can already state that I have done the Ride the Rockies.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

P90X - Day 5

Greetings Readers

When I woke up the day immediately hit me like a freight train - I am sore and hurting in a manner of speaking. My mood is that I am beat fucking tired.

My body may have hit the too much "healthy" food and no sugar, carbs or anything that I am not allowed to have - as well as working out almost every body part.

I did not wake up shaking or anything like that, but when I woke up I was tired and everything was sore. I mean everything.

I had planned to make my lunch before leaving for work this morning, but that was not going to fucking happen. I know, I know Readers, I should have made the salad the evening before. But elected not to since I did plan to make my lunch salad in the morning.

What I did not count on what how I woke up and felt.

I dragged myself out of bed and basically dragged myself around my humble abode trying to move quickly and forget the rest that I wanted to do. I focused on trying to get ready and out the door. I woke up late and I was going to have to take the RTD bus and Light Rail to work due to how I felt. And if I was going to do that I had to get a move on before I miss the bus and have to wait about 30 minutes for the next bus to come.

I hate buying the salad lunch at work - basically about 6.00 bones. Yet, we do have a health conscious food place so I am sure that I could get a semi-healthy meal to buy, if I am allowed to buy one.

The other thing I was hungry. Real hungry. No egg whites hard boiled this morning. I guess I am going to be making one more stop this morning. McDonald's. That was the only place open at 5:30 in the morning on the route I was going to work on.

I know, I know, but I really was hungry for a Brekfast potato wedge and Egg McMuffin, and I had to satisfy that small craving, but more importantly that hunger. And I needed some fast energy, I think.

I got off the bus stop near McDonald's and went in. I also had a drink and I did get some sweet tea. Yes, Sweet tea and it did have sugar. I did not have a lot, but I did have some. The real first sugary drink in about 9 days. It was good. I felt guilty, but also knew that I was not going to go on a bender of Sweet Tea and Breakfast Potato Wedges. I did my best not to eat the yellow yoke in the McMuffin, but alas that said I was also eating the muffin - which is a no-no also.

As I was waiting for the Light Rail train to come I quickly ate the rest of McMuffin and saved the Sweet Tea for later. Why? That was going to be a drink to be savored and also it was going to be all I was going to have.

Soon, lunch came and I was still hungry. I decided to head to the place that serves meals. And that was where I saw Jerky Chicken with a rice mixture (sign indicated 323 calories). That did not sound too bad. Though there were two things that were "bad" about the meal and that was the chicken skin (fat) and the white rice (I should not be eating at all). I did not eat the chicken skin, but I did eat the white rice. That was something that I did not want to do, but I did since that was the only side dish to the meal. I know the chicken was healthy since that is on the meal plan and is lean, I think.

And that was the day. I did know this type of day was coming, but I did not think it was going to happen today. Oh, as you can see from the picture I took of myself does reflects on how I felt. Sore, tired and too exhausted to even get a smile.

Also, this time I am very aware of what I ate all day and what the consequences were. I am not ashamed, but that should be the last time that will happen.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

P90X - Day 4

Greetings Readers

This is another picture of me. I know I can not see any difference in my body and did not expect to since I just started the P90X program (again). This is the fourth day and it is way too early to see / notice any differences to my body in a picture. Yet, I am hoping to see that "spare tire" go down in the next week though.

Yet, I needed to take a picture since I am going to make a conscience effort to take a picture of myself and post.

I did not eat breakfast. Time got away from me, but I did take some Stir fry for lunch (and was also going to have for dinner). Since there is shrimp in the meal that shrimp must be consumed within a couple of days of cooking or else it goes bad.

I did make alot of stir fry and that was the plan. I wanted shrimp for the next couple of days and knew I would be okay with it.

I am very sore today, but overall my mood is okay. I did have about 2 oz of cashews for dinner.

Unofficially, this is the 8th day of starting my program, but officially the fourth day. I am very sore and knew what to be expecting. Yet, every time I start a new plan (again) I have to learn to cope with the new (or old) workout and what it initially does to the body. In the end, though the soreness will go away and I will be fine.

Here is the funny part, though it was not funny when going to bed. I have several positions that I sleep in.... anyway, I could not sleep in any of them. I basically slept in comma position all night. If I tried to move my legs, arms or straighten out my body - I could feel the soreness / tightness of my muscles. LOL. I think I smiled, but I can not remember, when trying to get into any position to go to sleep in. Oh, I did fall asleep right away, but getting into position was the hard part of going to bed.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

P90X - Day 1

Greetings Readers

Once again, I have embarked on the P90X Program.

Here is the Day 1 picture that I thought over and over about to post or not to post.

I am not fat, in a manner of speaking, but I did notice that I am getting a spare tire around the waist as well as the pants getting snug. And this is due to drinking of the dark beer, as well as few frozen margaritas the past week, Pizza Hutt Meat Lover's Pizza, KFC, Lays Potato Chips, and endless Coca-Colas.

Last year, I did not post a picture of myself when I did the P90X plan. I was embarrassed to post a picture of me with a "spare tire". Granted, I saw numerous blogs that had people way bigger than me posting pictures of themselves without a second thought. However, I was just not ready to post a P90x picture. Yes, I took pictures of myself but never had the guts to post my pictures I took last year of myself.

This time around I thought about it again, but fuck it. No Guts, no glory. Anyway, you faithful Readers know (and seen) me post pictures of my ass, nipples, and other revealing pictures through the years. Granted, I was not posing in my underwear like I am now. Anyway, I never gave it a second thought about my other pictures to post and whether or not I am revealing too much. And in this case it is for the P90X program, so it means like I am not flaunting anyway. Perhaps in 90 days I will be. =) Who knows, but hope to be.

In addition to the posting of the pictures - I took measurements and weight since I did not do that first time. I just gauged the weight loss by the looseness of my pants. I also bought a diet guide, but this is solely for writing down what I eat, drink and approximately how oz. I am eating. I am logging the supplements I am taking and the exercise.

Anyway, I am going about it a bit more technically, but also going to do with a bit of change of the last time. I understand what I went through the first time and am making allowances to the program. I do not wish, but hope to do within 90 days, but due to my work schedules during parts of the month as well as my personal life - I understand that I am going to be going longer than 90 days, and will not give it a second thought. I will give the program still my 100% involvement.

I am also allowing certain times to have "treat", "reward" or whatever name you want to give it to eat something not on the P90x program. Last time, at work I isolated myself from my friends since I could not go to lunch with them. Temptation was an issue last year. Better not to go was my thinking and that approach worked for me. This time around I am going to allow myself fries at least once a week so I am not being "stuck up", in a manner of speaking. Readers, my friends know that I am not being stuck up - they know that I am doing the program and how restrictive it is to me.


With that said so far, let me come to a stopping point. Let us see what comes of this and I am going to make the biggest effort to log / blog my P90X with you.

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Valentine's Day

Greetings Readers

I am valentine-less today, but that will not stop me from saying Happy Valentine's Day to the others who are not. Day has started though so perhaps I will be surprised by someone.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The First Pre-P90X Meal

Greetings Readers

Okay, this is my first un-official healthy meal from the P90X program.

The weather was a bit cold for grilling on the barbecue grill and I have loaned out my indoor grill to my brother last year.

So, I was stuck in a bit of a pickle, a quandary.

Well, perhaps that is the wrong thing to say. What I mean that there was only one way to cook this Salmon. I was going to have to Pan fry this Salmon - in Olive Oil. Believe that. First of all, to pan fry a fish, to me, is a big no-no. I just do not do that. Period. Number two. I was going to have to use the healthy Olive Oil, as oppose to using something like butter or Crisco shortening.

Anyway, I tried remembering seeing any of the cooking shows on the Food Network that someone had cooked a fish in a pan. But, I could not remember. I did have the notion of wrapping this Salmon up in Aluminum Foil and sticking the Salmon in the Oven to cook. Fuck that option. I wanted to see first hand if I was going to fuck up cooking this Salmon.

Oh, before starting the pan fry Salmon I had started the Canadian Wild Rice since that does take about an hour to cook fully.

That was going to be my meal. Salmon and Canadian Wild Rice

Oh.... you know Readers this was not first pre-meal before going officially on the P90X program - my first meal was the Red Pepper Soup. Sorry.

I would say about 15 to 20 minutes later on the stove and pan frying the Salmon I was done. I knew that I did not want to over cook my Salmon since a dry fish sucks. All in all I got the right temperature, flipped accordingly and carefully and was able to get a nice cooking on the fish side and a nice and crispy skin on the skin side of the fish. I think what helped was monitoring the cooking temp, listening to the cooking and keeping a piece of aluminium foil over the frying pan. That helped keep the moisture in the fish.

Anyway, here is picture of the Salmon and I have to admit that I did a fairly damn good job pan frying my first fish on the stove stop.

And tomorrow will be the first official day of starting the P90X program, again =).

P.S. Yes, I sure did stink up my humble abode with Salmon smell.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

P90X - Day 1 (well...pre day 1)

Greetings Readers

Now, is the time for me to begin the P90X program - again.

Well, let me rephrase that. I am going to do what I did last time that was going to go cold turkey on the vices that I am not allow to have on the P90X program.

What that means - no Cola-Cola, no junk food, no alcohol and no fast food (except french fries).

This worked well last year and I am going to start that again with this pre-P90X routine .

Last year, I thought I needed to cold turkey for solely one reason and that was for the Cola-Cola.

Me being addicted to Coca-Cola is pretty bad (or good depending on your point of view) There are some (a lot) calories as well as that high fructose corn syrup that in the drink. I basically had to have some all day long. The comparison would be a cigarette smoker that needs to smoke all day long. In my case, I think it more than the caffeine in Coca-Cola that I desire.

Last year, after three days of going cold turkey - it all hit me like an addict. I woke up shaking and was having urge to get one fucking taste. I was lucky that there was no Coca-Cola in my humble abode.

Anyway, here I am. Beginning the detox. This is good for me since I can get that out of the way and not be detoxing and sore from the P90X program at the same time. I hurt last time and if I figure if that I was detoxing at the same time the first time I started the P90X program I knew I would have caved.

I have had the last of those Pizza Hutt Wingstreet Wings, I had my last bag of Potato Chips and I hope to have had my last 1 liter of Coca-Cola yesterday. This is not forever, but will be the last for I hope a while. Granted, last year, I went on vacation and did allow exceptions since I was on vacation and not to subject my parents (and brother) to the P90X food program. And since I was doing well at the time in the P90X Program I knew that enjoying some of the things I was doing in Colorado I knew I was okay to partake in some of the fast food and Cola-Cola that I did not have for a time.

I am going to go shopping for the healthy food today / tomorrow. I might as well start that to get a small head start into the "new" meals I will be having for the next three months.

I am also going to follow the plan a bit different since the meals I was making was too much (and too costly) for me to making, spending and trying to follow to a T. I am cooking and eating for myself, but also if I was making the meals per the P90X meal plan I have to eat something different each day and was also making alot for one person to eat. I am going to incorporate some of the meals back to back days so that I am not wasting food (and money)

The best thing around is that I know what to expect and how to approach this since this will not be my first time doing the P90X program.

Water was hard thing for me to do last time. Meaning, I really had a hard time drinking water, plain water, all day/all week long. This time around I am okay and know that having a slice of lemon (or lime) helped greatly with water. That's a helpful tip for your first time P90X starters.

The other hard part of the P90X program was setting aside the time to do the workout. Meaning, if you are the typically white collar 40 hours a week person, have a life (or even a family) it is tough to make time to workout with the DVD's. In addition, if you are single like me you have to do the cooking after working out. So, it was best to get your work done, get home at a decent time to leave yourself some time to workout. Worst one was the Yoga X - that is an hour and a half of your time doing the P90X program. After that, it was time for me to cook and the next thing you know it is time to go to bed.

Oh, there was never a problem going to bed (dog tired) since most of the time I was beat. And the more rest you had the better off you are the following day. I remember days last year going to bed before 9 P.M. Worst yet, falling asleep in front of the t.v., with it on, of course. The next thing you know I am half asleep walking to my bed in the early morning to finish sleeping.

okay Readers enough blogging for now and time for me to blog more later on this. After all I (or we) have some more time to get know each other (really myself)

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A fucking heat wave, in a manner of speaking

Greetings Readers

As the post states... A "heat wave"

I was actually enjoying the nice break from the negative and single digit temperatures.

Also, we got another round of snow so I am still riding Lily.

This picture was taken about 6:30 P.M. I used the auto correct on the picture so the picture is way lighter than it way. It was pretty dark, pretty slick and where I was riding I was the only traffic that had come through in a while. Also, snow was falling lightly.

You may think I am a bad ass for riding in this weather, but I have to state that I am not as bad of a bad ass that I know of. She rides in Alaska and has a fucking nice bike for this type of weather, knows how to dress warm for the Alaska cold and does this with a smile. We Coloradoans experience real cold from time to time and this a period of time that we going through right now.

I do get bundled up and ready to ride in this cold excited, but then I think of that one woman in Alaska and she has so much more bad ass factor than me that she puts me into place - yet that draws a smile from me.

LOL.

Anyway, I thought me crouching next to this concrete wall would make a good picture. And I think it does.

Enjoy the weekend fellow Denverites.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

It's gonna get colder baby!

Greetings Readers

Fuck me. You know Readers? From time to time I have shown (written) that I am a "penny pincher" from time to time.

Anyway, it got colder today.

So, there I was getting off work later than I should of and knew that I was going to take Light Rail and then try to time the RTD bus on the bus route that I need to catch on the way home.

I got changed, bundled up pretty good and my fare ($2.25) ready before heading out in the sub-zero temperature outside. I was riding on the streets due to the sidewalks not being shovel out from the snow. Anyway, it was about 6:00 P.M. so traffic was light.

I came to the street that I was to turn on when I thought to myself... what if I have to wait for the next Light Train to come? I ain't going to wait in this mother fucking cold. No way. And then have to pay 2.25 just for a short Light Rail ride and then perhaps another wait until a RTD bus shows up for my bus route? No way. I am keeping my money. I would rather suffer now and keep the money than have to wait for the Light Rail, get warm, get cold waiting for the bus, and then finally get warm on a short bus ride home.

Six miles. Yet, miles in this fucking cold. Well, I kept on riding and was doing good. Though until about mile three, I estimate when I started to feel the cold in my fingers, feet, and the outside of my thighs.

And that is where this is the picture was taken about. About three miles from work and about three miles from home. I thought what the fuck. I stopped riding and decided to take a picture. Might as well mark the moment on this frigid evening. Also, it would stop the frigid wind I was feeling on my body and face from bike riding with Lily.

In the end I was very cold, but ok in a manner of speaking - as long I was not misery cold. I thought about taking a hot shower to warm up, but then thought otherwise. I turn on the t.v. switched to W.W.E. Raw, then turned on the stereo and turned off the t.v. I was going to crawl into bed and just listen to the t.v., W.W.E. Raw, in the dark.

Man oh man, certain parts of my body were very cold. It was cold in the sheets, but I could actually feel the frigid cold that my body experienced. Wow. I would say all in all it took about 30 minutes for me to actually feel warm and okay. The outside of my thighs got real cold. That is the part that usually does not get cold due to the pedaling and the blood flow being circulated in the thighs. Yet, tonight the skin on my thigh was icy cold to the touch.

Crazy.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

As my ex-co-worker would say "Awesome"

Greetings Readers

So, I was on my way home when I had to make a stop at the local Supermarket to pick up my lunch for the week – Sunflower.

I have found out that Sunflower does have the cheapest produce, in my opinion, and usually the freshest produce around my part of the town.

I knew where I was going and also was on a mission to get in and out as soon as possible.

A few minutes later I was walking to the check out line – the one that I usually go to.

That was when I saw her. A woman from my past. Actually, it is the one to whom I refer to “as my ex-co-worker would say "Awesome." The very one Readers.

I could not believe it – I think it has been about 5 years since I last saw her.

Nothing bad, nothing good, but honestly Readers I was not in the mood to say “Hey…”

So, I headed to another open check out line, which by the way was only the next one over from her.

I made sure not to make any eye contact over in next line. I kept my eyes focused on my cashier and see how things play out. Meaning, would she initiate a conversation. If she did, so be it. If she does not, then so be it.

I smiled and made small talk with my cashier and played it out like any other time, except not looking around while being checked out. I know. I know. Kind of tough since I do look around.

Lo and behold, I noticed her glancing over in my area, but do not know if she was really looking since I did want her to know I knew she was who she was.

Writing this post – you may wonder why I did not say hi. I could have. But didn’t. I do not know. Again – nothing bad and nothing good. Though I did have a thing for her when I started working with her when I first saw her about 6, 7 years ago.

Anyway, thought to blog about this since it was nice to see her again from a distance. Her curly long red hair, nice profile (and body). I did not see her face, except in profile so I can not remember how she looked before I parted ways (as well as her accident)

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Birthday to Me

Greetings Readers

Alright - Happy Birthday to me.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Birthday to my Mother

Greetings Readers

First thing First

Happy Birthday to Mom

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Toy Crane Game Machine

Greetings Readers

That toy crane game.

It is the devil.

I am strangely drawn to this coin operated game when I do come across this in my travels, mostly vacation travels. Though, not in my everyday travels since I could have a problem if I did have toy crane game to play everyday.

Then again, in the part of town that I live in near Denver, I can not even think of a coin operated toy Crane game being at. Definitely at no local supermarkets – and that includes any video games of any sorts.

Well Readers, it has come to a sort of tradition… fuck it… let me be honest. It is fucking tradition that I play a certain toy Crane game at the local supermarket chain store – Smith’s – in Rio Rancho, N.M. I have to admit that whoever does stock the prizes in the machine does a pretty good job of stocking items that someone would want. Yet, with the, in my ex-co-worker’s infamous line, “awesome” prizes – there are the fucked up prizes that are not even worth the 50 cents that cost to play the game.

The many years of playing those toy crane games I can tell which toy crane machines you may actually have a chance to pick up / win a prize. What I mean is that there are some toy crane machines that the “claws” are “loose” when picking up the prize. Also, I have come across a couple of machines that the “claws” are greased. That further pushes the odds against getting any prizes. Yes – Greased – You can see the gleam in the lights when looking at the “claws” from a certain angle catching the lights in the supermarket. Furthermore, I estimate that 25 percent of the machines that I do play and actually get the crane to get a prize when the crane does retract the “claws” the machine will jerk to a stop and when it does that jerk is enough to release the prize I did get from the “claws” and drop back into the machine’s pile of prizes.

Oh, how that fucking pisses me off. But, as Paulie Walnuts would say – “What are you going to do?”

Now, I am not going to drop more than two dollars in one meeting. After all, if I try and try and get close I usually know it ain’t going to happen.

And this depends on the prizes themselves. You Readers may think that the prizes are just there in the machine ready to be won. Oh no. About 90% of the time the good prizes are strategically placed in the machine so that you / someone will have to actually get the piece of shit prize before getting the, in the words of my ex-co-worker “awesome” prize. Meaning that if you see that one prize you want and even try the “claw” will get the prize and start to reel in. Yet, when the “claw” retracts the prize, the prize soon gets hung up and gets released from the “claw” Whoever stocked the toy crane machine has purposely placed the prizes in the machine so that you can not get the “good” prize without getting the piece of shit prizes surrounding the “good” prize since the bad prizes have been carefully wedge around the “good” prize.

So, even when I see a prize I desire, I must go for the piece of prize since I am there to play – period.

I know it is a waste of money, but I can not resist. To me it is like a gorgeous blonde I meet and I can not resist not saying hi.

I would say that the game is game of skill, but it is a game of skill and luck – but more of luck than skill depending on some the factors I did mention above. The skill is looking at the crane and the possible drop point and contact of said prize you want. Of course, if the “claws” rotate during the descent of the “claws” then skill goes out the door and luck comes into play. Although, with my background of toy crane playing I have taken in that factor so skill comes back into play since I have taken in the account that most likely the “claws” will rotate during descent.

Anyway, coming to this blog post and why I decided to write about this. This time around on vacation I was able to win two prizes at the same machine on two different occasions on my vacation. The first time I wanted the Simpson’s Bart/Krusty the clown prize, but fucking knew that prize was unobtainable without spending a lot of money to get. So, I opted for a prize I knew I could get and lo and behold – I did. Basically, A rabbit in a purple hat – a soft top pop toy. I wanted to play the machine and I wanted to win so I chose the only prize I knew I had a chance to win.

Then, on New Year’s Eve, after dropping my brother off at Albuquerque, me and my Dad stopped off at Smith’s and saw that someone won the prize I wanted before, but I saw another Simpson’s plush toy. Again, I saw that was not going to be possible to get without spending money. Then, I saw a prize that was not too bad and obviously a prize I could get. 50 cents later and first try – I got the prize – a walrus – his/her name on the tag is “Blithe”.

And that Readers is another part of my life. No addiction, but I can not resist playing when I see that there are prizes that I want.

What? The Holy Grail? Currently, I have seen a few machines with South park plush toys. And I so fucking want. You know me – I am a die-hard South park fan and I want any South park collectible. So far, I have not gotten any. I would say I have gotten close, but in reality no. What it has always comes down to is spending the money in order to get that South park toy.

I do not play every toy crane machine. Only the ones I see with prizes I would want to have. Otherwise, if no toys look desirable I am not going to play.

What made this obsession funny this vacation was that I pulled out a roll of quarters and told my Mom that I was going to play until I won something.

LOL – I said this, but did not mean it. Consciously, subconsciously, I wanted my Mom to middle name call me.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Apology Letter (and last) to D

Greetings Readers

As I mentioned just recently in order to move forward you have to put the past behind you.

I have and thought to myself I might as well complete this statement by writing a blog post that will mean nothing to any of you faithful Readers, but only to that one person. I do not have a clue if she does read my blog, but there may be a chance that she does. Does that matter? I guess you faithful Readers may never know that answer to that question.

Hi D

This is not the first time that I was wrong and this will not be the last time that I will be wrong. I also do not like to give an apology for something that I did not do wrong initially.

I acted the way the way I did since the initial act was instigated by you. I felt that if you treated me the way that you did I could do almost the same thing, but in a different manner to you. It does take two to Tango and I know I have things I did to you that you could mention.

I gave you the silent treatment. Yes, silence is a powerful thing to do someone close. All I wanted was for you to ask me why I was giving you the silence treatment. I would have given you the reason why – no bullshit.

Like the reason I was mad at you for not keeping a couple of lunch meetings early in our friendship. Yes, something small and I understand that we all have emergencies and what not, but that was/is something I do not tolerate if the same thing happens over and over. Call it a pet peeve or not, but I do not like to be cancelled and cancelled upon over and over again.

I was mad for a time and then I came to you and explained why I was mad at you. If the other person was wrong I wait for them to come to me, but in the case with you I came to you and explained why I was the way I was. We mended the relationship, but with my character I can not forget that this event ever happened.

Well, this past year, you approached me in a manner that I was taken aback by surprise. I understand you got the degree and have that over me as education and status placement, but my placement in life is what I have chosen. Though, the one thing that I am not is an AA or an EA. I do not fetch coffee, I do not keep up calendars, and other things EA’s or AA’s are known to do for the person(s) they are hired to assist. You had a pissed off look and addressed me in a pissed off manner and I did not especially care for that.

Then, as the weeks past by and you noticed something different you used a mutual friend to try and talk to me through our mutual friend. That further drove the nail in the wrong direction. If there is an issue – talk to me directly, pull me aside, just do not involve any of our mutual friends into our differences. I am honest with you and can take most things that are said or thrown at me.

Sure, I would have apologized for my above actions in a heartbeat, but you never came to me at all. I could have went first to you, but after the first incident in our relationship I could not make the first move again. No matter what, in my opinion.

I enjoyed knowing you. As you know I made the effort to get to know you. And so as I learned of your martial status I did not let that deter me. And at that time I knew that I could not pursue you as a romantic interest – even though you are the woman I do desire – the hair color, the body, the voice and the demeanor.

I did flirt from time to time, but I hope never flirted any more than I should of. I never suggested let’s go for a drink, I did not inquire about your personal life. Though when I saw that one tattoo – it was an immediate turn on. But again, I kept the friend relationship to a minimum, even by not talking to you every day, which I could have done, but elected not to.

So, that is what caused my friendship with you to be cut off so suddenly. Now, I do and did apologize and I did call your phone number for the first and only time since you gave to me a couple of years ago and I left you a voicemail. I could have hung up, but I did not. I kind of remember leaving a voice message, but I do not actually remember what I said on the voicemail. Sorry. I was nervous, but my message was unrehearsed and my thinking on what to actually say was the tough part.

I could have said so much, but not knowing how you felt about me, what had happened and what you did not know – again I did not want to say something that could be perceived as something it should not. And I will admit that I may be thinking something else, but that is neither here or there. And as Prince sang “…it’s such a shame our friendship had to end…”

I do wish the best for you and I do hope that you give me a call, or send me an email to say something / anything from – a fuck you or you accepting my apology and tell me I am still an ass for acting the way I did to you. If not, I also understand your reasoning why not. I truly do.

What also bothered me, though not from you was that other people suggested that perhaps I was the one that made you question yourself. Or I was the cause for your troubles with giving you a bottle of wine. You giving me a couple / few rides home. I hope that was not the case. Again, I never asked about you and your hubby’s personal current relationship. I do not know if perhaps there is a therapist that you may be seeing for whatever reason(s). I do not know about your life except those moments you did share with me, which in my mind were not on a personal / taboo basis at all. Anyway, once those “seeds” were planted I could not help think I may have had something to do with your personal life. I hope not, but somehow I feel I did, but only by people even saying I may have a part. Consciously, I know I did not, but perhaps subconsciously I did do something that I am not aware of. If I did, I am very, very sorry. I am past that part of my life where I did have extra-martial affairs, but as we age so does comes wisdom and more thinking to the consequences of the act of an affair. Granted, I do have a lot of gorgeous married women friends and I do tend to flirt from time to time, but I think I know when I have / am crossed the line of going to far with a married woman. With your physical condition the last time I saw you – you were thinner than ever. I was worried, but also brought flashbacks to a woman I loved who is no longer in my life. Yet, that is another story, which I talked very little about, but affected and changed my life from that point on in my life.

You referred to yourself as a princess, I disagree. You are more than that – a desirable Queen. Though again that is something I never voiced to you - or could. And I could never call you a princess since I had a friend who referred to herself as a princess and she was that (but a whole more, but not princess like.) One princess in my life is plenty and I could not make two princesses in my life. If I were to be blunt you would be my “cougar.” Oh baby.

The only way to go any further is in my fantasies, but that is something that I will not share. We all have fantasies and I am not going to share about who I may be having fantasies about. (Not going to talk about that with you my faithful Readers… well you could buy me a couple of drinks and perhaps I might just slip about that subject.)

By the way, I know it has been two years, and like an elephant I really never forget things. Do you remember when I made Lasagna and I gave you a small Tupperware dish with a piece of Lasagna? I never asked for the dish back nor did I ask what you thought about my cooking. I am not worried about the Tupperware not being returned to me – at all. After all, my faithful Readers know how I personally feel about Tupperware.

If you need a reason, one reason, to contact me and are reading this blog, then that there is a reason (or additional reason) why you could contact me. Tell me how you liked/disliked my cooking. We may laugh. We may have uncomfortable conversation. Or we may say sorry to each other and see what happens. I do not know.

But again – As I was sitting with my family after Christmas in the living room – “in order to move forward mama always said you had to put the past behind you.”

I did see you walk out of my life before you were gone – walking to your vehicle. Corny as that statement reads but that is the last time I saw you. Sounds like a cowboy song. Or could just be life.

Take care and I hope the best for you in your life.

Yours Truly

Daryl

Readers, that is that. Readers, it took Forrest Gump to make me realize that I had to do the same thing. I have made my peace with myself and now look forward to a new year and a new age bracket to compete in. Hah hah. By the way, it does sound like I lost a love, but it is not. Just someone I cared about more than most of my friends - nothing wrong with that.

“and that is all that I have to say about that.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A Summary perhaps?

Greetings Readers

The many things that I do not like coming back from the Ranch is that I have to check all of my Internet accounts as well as emails that I was unable to access. This is due to the location of where our Ranch is as well as the isolation from the world where our Ranch is.

I was able to log onto my Facebook account for a few minutes and check one of the email accounts I have and boy oh boy I do not want to go through that mess. Though with one of my email accounts - that is my junk email account so most of those emails can be deleted right off the top.

The facebook account is just an everyday account that I mainly use for gaming for the two games that I play regularly – Farmville and Mafia Wars. I saw over a 100+ friend requests, which I did not even bother to even get started on answering / replying. There were two messages, but the one that I was hoping for was not there.

I checked the blog account – not anything new really, but the traffic has picked up since I have started to blog once more again on a regular basis. I do like to see that since I like to think I am sort of interesting to follow / read.

What I have written is just my personal stuff. I have yet to check my work stuff. I almost got the hankering to check, but thought I am going to find out in another day so another day can wait.

I have no qualms about this. Since I do not have access to the Internet that means I will not be able to be on the Internet. Sure, I do not like being incommunicado for such a long time, but I have learned to deal with this. I know that I saw a TV commercial that advertised you could have Internet access via satellite, but for me that is so far not needed in my life. I can not even imagine the cost, but really thinking about it how much am I going to utilize satellite Internet? Only the times that I am visiting the Ranch is when I can use this service. The parents probably could use the service also, but first they will need a computer / laptop with wireless connection.

That is the tip of the iceberg, I have the mail and phone messages to check. As well as stock the fridge and do laundry. I also have to get caught up on current events that have happened in Colorado, as well as elsewhere. Though, I did listen to the local radio station KTNN and got the hourly CNN updates at the top of the hour.

Alright Readers, time for me to continue catching up with my everyday life and I will let you get back to yours.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

First Post of 2011

Greetings Readers

In order to move forward you have to put the past behind you.

I know this, but this is sometimes very difficult for me to actually to do from time to time. Yet, if it is difficult for me why did Forrest Gump never give it a second thought about putting the past behind him?

I just do not know.

Anyway Readers, I have taken some time off from work and my regular life for about 2 weeks. I said, or say, I think I needed it, but to be honest with myself I really did need the time away from my everyday life. With that said I headed off to the Ranch and sent some time with the family.

Very enjoyable and it took a few days get out of my everyday routine. Granted, I was sleeping on a mattress, in the farthest room from the pellet stove, but I was okay with that. I did bring my laptop and new portable dvd player so I had something to keep me busy/entertained.

With all that said I was able not to think about the things that have happened to me in the past month and started to question myself. And question others. Not second guess myself or others, but to think too much about something that should not be thought about that much in the first place.

I slept, cooked, worked a bit here and there, chopped ice for the animals, rode the four wheeler to name a few things that I did on my vacation. I also watched / listened to a few movies as well as played some Diablo II on my laptop. I realize that is an old computer game, but I was looking for some game that I wanted to load that was not too heavy on the RAM or the hard drive space on the laptop. Also, I borrowed a sub woofer from my brother so I wanted to hear a game an all new way. And let me tell you Readers there is a big fucking difference in the sound. Wow.

See. I was able to put the past behind me once more, but there are just a couple things that I will remember though, but know that I am able not to think about day after day, week after week.

In the next couple of weeks I will perhaps touch on some of the things that I did on my vacation. Like I swear that I saw the splitting image of Uncle Junior at Furr’s Buffet in Albuquerque, NM.!The icy cold weather that kept us in for a few days since it was too too cold to work outside on the Ranch. The three dogs that were shot since they went onto our Ranch property and killed one of Ranch Animals, my “Christmas Present”, my winnings at the toy crane game at the local supermarket – Smith’s, another award (as well as thank you letters) from the 4-H club to my parents for their yearly contribution, the blind calf’s progress, and how I spent my New Year’s Eve (not exciting though).

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Christmas Day

Greetings Readers

Hope your day is what you wanted it be

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete