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17 Jan |
Playing not to lose Inspirations
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Not sure how this might relate to every day life, or the treatment of cancer, but in the world of football, it is a sure fire way to lose a game.
I saw it a couple of weeks ago when Baltimore lost to New England in the final seconds of the game, and you can see it for yourself, in the body language off Hines Ward, as my beloved Steelers lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars last night.
After being down by 18 points, in the 3rd quarter, the Steelers played brilliantly to gain the lead by one point, with just over 6 minutes remaining in the 4 quarter, with a wide ranging attack of short passes, and the occasional run.
But with just over 3 minutes to go in the game, the Steelers resorted strictly to their running game in an attempt to run the clock down, and ended up giving the ball back to Jacksonville with 2:38 to go.
And the rest is history.
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5 Jan |
The art of forging Work
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The boiler operator, where I work, took this picture depicting one of the manufacturing units, and it’s crew there, and won 1st place in a recent photo journalism contest in Ventura, CA for it, and I thought I would share.To be clear, I’m not one of those guys you see there (back in Pittsburgh, we used to call them mill hunky’s) doing the back breaking, dangerous work. (As I’ve described it many times to others, I’m an educated mill hunky! 
I’m the one, standing in the [distant] background (who you can’t see), that tells manufacturing what temperatures the parts need to be heated to for forging, among other things.
The unit the crew is working on is a 50,000 pound hammer. Just picture an old time blacksmith making horse shoes using a hammer, then multiply that by 50,000 times, and you’ll get the picture.
I think it’s amazing, when you consider all the rapid advancements in technology being made today, there are still technologies around, that haven’t changed much since the 19th century.
The blast furnace is another such technology. If you ever get a chance to see one in operation, I suggest you take it. You’ll literally think you’ve been transported into the past.
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3 Jan |
Did I ever get put in my place today Cycling
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My performance on the bike today was just pitiful. I was so embarrassed.
Normally I wouldn’t ride on Thursday, as that is one of the two days I go into work (Tuesday being the other day), but the plant is still shut down for its Christmas/New Years break, so I had the day off.
And since the rain is supposed to come in with a vengeance starting this evening, which means it’s unlikely I’ll get much riding in the next 3 days, and in spite of the fact this was my 3rd day in a row riding, and the Thursday ride is a speed workout, I decided to do the Thursday club ride.
Besides, I’m a strong rider, I was feeling good, and the weather was cooperating. There was no wind to speak of, and temps were in the high 40’s (oF). It was a nice morning for a ride.
I just don’t know what happened. Maybe it was the past two days of riding (although I didn’t think I worked that hard those days), or maybe it was the fact three or four of the strongest riders in the club were there, but there were also a number of other riders, I know I was as strong as, if not stronger than, and I’ve been able to keep up with the fast guys before, but I just didn’t have it today.
I even thought I was prepared as we entered the Bolsa Chica state beach parking lot (after a 5 mile warm up), for what was to come.
As the pace picked up, I had to bridged up to the first 4 riders, but that didn’t seem to be a big deal, and I settled in behind the last rider to recover.
But then that rider decided to pick the pace up, and went off the front. Initially nobody went, but that didn’t last long. Soon I saw myself dropping further and further back, unable to muster enough energy to hang, watching rider after rider pass me by.
It was at the point when I say the last 3 riders, all of whom I thought I was easily as strong as, if not stronger than, pass me by, and I couldn’t hang on, I knew I was in trouble.
It was so demoralizing. I kept trying though for a little while longer. I even thought there was some hope, when I saw the group slow down slightly in front of me, but alas, my attempts were futile, the group was just too far ahead.
I was toast!
So I just did another 30 miles down the coast alone, contemplating what happened, and what was to be.
Maybe it’s good the rains are coming. I’m hoping a few days off the bike will be good for me.
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