Saturday came, and it was time for the big game. Zombieland was fun, the mountains were great, but we were here for TCU football. Little did we know that, in addition to the game itself, a huge competition would exist between ourselves and Mother Nature's fury.
We woke up, had breakfast, and started planning for the game. We'd seen all we wanted to see, nature-wise, and we just thought we'd check out the Academy and then go to the game. Simple enough, right?
Well we knew it would be cold, and I'd brought several layers in order to fight the cold. But as the day approached, even the locals started talking about how cold it was going to be. So I put on my layers (undershirt, long-sleeved T-shirt, sweatshirt, and fleece) and gave it a shot. And I could barely walk around in the parking lot.
Problems included the following:
- My hands. I don't own a pair of gloves, and simply sticking my hands inside of my shirt sleeves wasn't going to work.
- My head. I was wearing a skullcap and a baseball cap, but that wasn't good enough. My face was still exposed, and it was feeling the cold.
- My feet. Cotton socks in running shoes. Enough said.
- My legs - Jeans and boxers. Being from Texas, that's all I've ever needed.
Ashley had mentioned going to a sporting goods store, and I agreed with him. I knew I'd need some underarmor "long johns", gloves, and wool socks, but I was ready to buy just about anything.
So we headed there, and we quickly found that a few people were doing the same thing. And, the funny thing was, they weren't all TCU fans. This weather was unseasonably cold, and everyone seemed to be gearing up for it.
And I decided to go fully crazy. I'd be in this unspeakable cold (every few minutes, the forecasted temperature seemed to drop), and I wanted to make sure I was ready. I bought long underwear (top and bottom), wool socks, gloves, and one of those ski masks that covers everything but your eyes.
$130 later, I was ready to go. I put all my gear on, and it passed the test. I couldn't really feel anything, and almost every inch of my body was covered up. So we got in the car, and we headed to the Academy. Our hotel was just a couple miles away from the entrance, so it was a pretty easy drive.
At the front gate, I came to an interesting realization. The guard had a very powerful-looking rifle in his hands, and I realized that it was probably the closest I'd ever been to that kind of firepower. And, because of this, I made sure to drive the speed limit the entire time. Because these people weren't really messing around.
We reached the visitor's center, and we checked it out. We learned that, due to it being Saturday and the weather being cold and rainy, a lot of things at the Academy would be closed. Even the cadet's chapel, a big highlight of tours of the place, was closed because of a wedding.
So we checked out everything at the visitor's center, including a 10-minute film about life there. It was all pretty interesting because I don't really know about life inside of a military academy. I thought it was cool that everyone is basically required to participate in athletics - either in an NCAA sport or intramurals. I also learned that the Air Force has a junior varsity football team - something I didn't think existed after high school.
It was also pretty cool to read about the history of the academy, how it ended up in Colorado Springs, and all the achievements of the people there. Some of the traditions were cool, including the fact that cadets can't have a TV until their fourth year, and they can't have any personal effects until after Christmas of their first year.
Basically, as soon as you step foot on the Academy grounds as a cadet, you're focused on one thing, and they don't let your focus waver.
I also had a bit of fun with the Academy's honor code - "we will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." And while it was very true (all of the cadets were very polite to us the entire time), it made me think of something. Wouldn't causing a turnover in football be considered "stealing?" And since they run the triple option, isn't their whole offense based on lying?
Yeah, I know.
So we checked out as much of the Academy as we could (which wasn't much), and we tolerated the cold about as long as we could. We drove all the way around, and I was surprised at how vast it all was. I guess it makes sense (since planes have to fly around there), but without any planes in the air, it just felt really big. And there was fog the entire day, so we couldn't really take in the scenery either.
After we wasted as much time as we could, we headed to the stadium. As soon as we parked, a female cadet saw us in our purple and yelled "T - C - Boo!" And I couldn't help but laugh because I don't think I've ever heard that before. It wasn't creative by any means, but it was, at least, unique.
A lot of the "fans" of Air Force were a bit more hostile, but everyone seemed more focused on the cold than anything else. We got inside, found our seats, and watched warmups. It was cool to see the cadets all come in on the field before going to their seats, but I was a little sad that we didn't get a flyover (stupid weather).
A funny thing happened before the game started, though. I went into the bathroom, and I noticed that there were a lot of cadets in there. It was then that I realized that the bathroom had a heater in the ceiling, and the cadets were sitting under the heater to stay warm. During the game, I kept hearing that the bathroom was full of cadets, and at halftime, I saw it for myself.
And it was true - there were probably a hundred cadets stuffed into this bathroom, and I'm sure the women's restroom was the same. You see, cadets are required to attend the game, but I guess it doesn't matter if they actually watch it. So, given the choice between watching the game in the cold and staying in the bathroom, a lot of the cadets were choosing the bathroom.
As for the game itself, TCU jumped out to a big lead, but Air Force's defense was able to keep things close. Just like the SMU game, we fumbled inside the Red Zone a couple of times, and it kept us from blowing the game up too early. We jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but the Air Force kept chipping away slowly but surely.
At halftime, I think most of the people had given up. We were on the same side of the field as the cadets, but the other side of the stadium started to disappear relatively early. By the start of the second half, it was mostly TCU fans and cadets in attendance. Everyone else seemed to prefer warmth to staying.
And it sucked...because less people meant that the wind was stronger. It could've been that the wind was stronger, but either way, it was colder. My running shoes were terrible at keeping in warmth, and my feet were pretty cold the whole time. The rest of my layers were keeping me warm, but it was still a pretty miserable experience that we had to fight through.
In the end, TCU was able to pull off a close win (having to recover an onside kick to clinch it), and we were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Because, honestly, the trip would've been a disaster if we hadn't won the game. After all the cold, it would've put a damper on the rest of the trip.
But we won, and it was fun to be able to celebrate with the team. With no band, we were forced to sing the alma mater with no musical accompaniment, but it was really cool that the fans all sang it together. By that point, we were the only ones left, and it was fun to see the unity there.
As we walked back to our car, I wanted to make sure that I talked to one of the cadets. Because while we were just rivals, these are kids who have committed themselves to protecting the country. It doesn't matter why they did it - they're doing something that I'm probably not capable of doing it. And they're making a commitment in a time when we're fighting a war that probably won't end. And I wanted to at least thank one of them.
And I got my chance when we were waiting for our car to defrost. There were a couple cadets doing the same next to us, and I talked to them for a bit, asking the questions that I'd had about life in the academy. And I thanked them for their service, and they thanked me for my support. It was a pretty cool moment for me, and I'm glad I was able to do it.
After that, we made the long journey through the academy back to the hotel. And as cold as it was and as unpleasant as it was at times, I was really glad that we'd gone. It was a great experience to be there, in the cold, supporting my team, and it was really cool to be in the academy, surrounded by snowfall. Like being in the mountains, it's just not the kind of stuff that I got to see on a daily basis, and I was trying hard to keep it all in.
And, with that, the trip was pretty much over. We still had our final travel day, but for the most part, everything we'd planned was complete. All that was left was the trip home. But day four is probably worth it's own post. And that's how I'll complete my four-part series next time.
Next on Colorado Trip - Part Four - The Trip Home, featuring Tucker and Miles Austin
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Colorado Trip - Part Two - Friday
So we woke up on day two of our trip at 6am because we wanted to get out to Pike's Peak (our primary destination...for some nice hiking) before it was too late. I'd heard about "afternoon storms" and problems with getting caught on the mountain. And since I wasn't sure what the hiking would be like, I wanted to be more safe than sorry.
The hotel had a nice, free breakfast, and we took advantage. I assumed that we'd be hiking until a couple hours passed lunchtime so I tried to eat as much as possible. We also had some beef jerky, some trail mix, and I bought some almonds at a convenience store the night before. I figured that would be enough food. As I'd find out, Ashley's stomach was going to disagree.
So we drove up to Pike's Peak in our little Camry, and I was surprised at my ability to drive on a mountain. I have a pretty decent fear of heights, and I'm also not a huge fan of being crushed by rocks in a landslide. But, throughout the drive, I didn't really disrupt the native Coloradans with my slow, non-mountainous driving. Which is a win for me.
So we drove through the clouds to Pike's Peak, but it was closed until 9am because of ice on the highway. So we drove back through the clouds to stop by Garden of the Gods for a little bit.
And, yes, I mean through the clouds. As we passed a point on the mountain, we drove above where the clouds were. At Garden of the Gods, it was cloudy and cold. Above the mountains, it was warm and clear. And it was really cool to be driving below clouds one minute, in fog the next, and see nothing but blue sky a second later. Its a bit trippy, to be honest.
Garden of the Gods was cool - there's not a whole lot to it, but there's just a whole lot of cool views (all of these enormous red rocks make you feel pretty small). And there was a nice snow that made all of the evergreen trees look great. We only spent about 30 minutes there, but it was definitely worth the trip.
About 9am, we went back over to Pike's Peak, and our first stop was this reservoir about five miles in. And it was freakin' awesome. Here is this water, as blue as I've ever seen, with this huge mountain in the background. My mom said it looked like Heaven. Ashley said it looked like a Coors can. I just thought it was amazing.
We hiked around there for a bit, going through the woods and finding our way back to the highway. It was very nice and peaceful to be out in nature, miles away from facebook statuses, fantasy football, and most of all, work. We also found a little stack of big sticks that resembled a teepee that was pretty awesome.
After that, we did a bit of driving on the mountain. We found another reservoir with just as many picturesque views before starting our climb up the mountain. We figured it would be a pretty big haul up the mountain on foot, and we decided to try and find a nice place to get out and do some more hiking. But as we continued up the mountain, passed the tree line, there wasn't really any place for that.
And by the time we got somewhere to get out, we realized something: on top of the mountain, it was very windy. And very cold.
After that, we didn't really consider much hiking. We did, however, take a few pictures on top of the mountain before we actually reached the summit. And when we did, the wind and cold picked up significantly. I could tell that Ashley wasn't thrilled by the cold, but I was trying to enjoy the moment...particularly since I had no idea when I'd ever be back to this place, where I could see the whole world below me. It was one of those times when you just stand there and realize...this world is just really cool.
On our way back down, I kept looking for places to stop and get out because I wanted to, you know, climb a bit. And everywhere that it seemed cool to climb had no place to stop, and the places to stop didn't have anywhere to climb. I ended up settling for a small place off the road where I was able to climb a bit - I'm sure it was frowned upon, but we were only out of the car for a minute.
After that, Ashley started talking about lunch. Now, if you don't know, Ashley is the kind of person who likes to have 5 small meals a day...as opposed to someone like me, who usually just has two...maybe three meals a day. And since he'd already eaten all of the trail mix and most of the beef jerky (and doesn't like almonds?!?!), I thought that was going to buy me enough time to take one final hike around the reservoir.
I could tell that Ashley wasn't thrilled with this idea, but he went along with me. Like I said, it was mesmerized by this place, and I had to spent another hour or so there. As we walked, we took some water breaks, but I could tell that he just wasn't feeling it. We got passed the place that I considered "the point of no return", however, and I knew that we'd have to finish the hike instead of just turning around. Eventually, however, it seemed like there wasn't really a way to go all the way around, and we had to go back anyway.
And Ashley might disagree, but this was my favorite part of the trip. I wish that I'd brought a notepad and could do some writing out there because it was just so peaceful. It was the place where "America the Beautiful" was written, and you can see why. Everything mentioned in that song is present, and it just screams at you the entire time.
My only regret was that we didn't see any wildlife. At all. At Garden of the Gods, we saw a couple of rabbits, but we saw nothing at Pike's Peak. And Ashley will tell you...I looked.
And it made me a little sad because the park ranger said that someone had seen a bear in the area about a week before. And while I don't really want to get mauled by a bear, I think it'd be cool to see one. Hoping, of course, that they're actually more scared of us than we are of them.
So we made it back, both of us pretty tired, and we drove into town to get Ashley some lunch. We ended up making it to Hooters for some chicken, and a couple hours later, we got Ashley a steak at Outback.
It was a long day with a lot of walking, but it was extremely rewarding. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, and I'm definitely making sure that I make a return trip at some point. It was just so very awesome.
Tired, we went to bed relatively early to get ready for game day. It was the excuse for the trip, and we thought we were ready. But after a beautiful day on Friday, Mother Nature was ready to show us her teeth.
(Fun Fact - On my bag of almonds, there was a warning label. It said (totally honest, here) "Warning: Contains Almonds." It was a bag of almonds, and they had to put on the bag that it contained almonds. Seriously).
Next on Colorado Trip - Part Three - Game Day
The hotel had a nice, free breakfast, and we took advantage. I assumed that we'd be hiking until a couple hours passed lunchtime so I tried to eat as much as possible. We also had some beef jerky, some trail mix, and I bought some almonds at a convenience store the night before. I figured that would be enough food. As I'd find out, Ashley's stomach was going to disagree.
So we drove up to Pike's Peak in our little Camry, and I was surprised at my ability to drive on a mountain. I have a pretty decent fear of heights, and I'm also not a huge fan of being crushed by rocks in a landslide. But, throughout the drive, I didn't really disrupt the native Coloradans with my slow, non-mountainous driving. Which is a win for me.
So we drove through the clouds to Pike's Peak, but it was closed until 9am because of ice on the highway. So we drove back through the clouds to stop by Garden of the Gods for a little bit.
And, yes, I mean through the clouds. As we passed a point on the mountain, we drove above where the clouds were. At Garden of the Gods, it was cloudy and cold. Above the mountains, it was warm and clear. And it was really cool to be driving below clouds one minute, in fog the next, and see nothing but blue sky a second later. Its a bit trippy, to be honest.
Garden of the Gods was cool - there's not a whole lot to it, but there's just a whole lot of cool views (all of these enormous red rocks make you feel pretty small). And there was a nice snow that made all of the evergreen trees look great. We only spent about 30 minutes there, but it was definitely worth the trip.
About 9am, we went back over to Pike's Peak, and our first stop was this reservoir about five miles in. And it was freakin' awesome. Here is this water, as blue as I've ever seen, with this huge mountain in the background. My mom said it looked like Heaven. Ashley said it looked like a Coors can. I just thought it was amazing.
We hiked around there for a bit, going through the woods and finding our way back to the highway. It was very nice and peaceful to be out in nature, miles away from facebook statuses, fantasy football, and most of all, work. We also found a little stack of big sticks that resembled a teepee that was pretty awesome.
After that, we did a bit of driving on the mountain. We found another reservoir with just as many picturesque views before starting our climb up the mountain. We figured it would be a pretty big haul up the mountain on foot, and we decided to try and find a nice place to get out and do some more hiking. But as we continued up the mountain, passed the tree line, there wasn't really any place for that.
And by the time we got somewhere to get out, we realized something: on top of the mountain, it was very windy. And very cold.
After that, we didn't really consider much hiking. We did, however, take a few pictures on top of the mountain before we actually reached the summit. And when we did, the wind and cold picked up significantly. I could tell that Ashley wasn't thrilled by the cold, but I was trying to enjoy the moment...particularly since I had no idea when I'd ever be back to this place, where I could see the whole world below me. It was one of those times when you just stand there and realize...this world is just really cool.
On our way back down, I kept looking for places to stop and get out because I wanted to, you know, climb a bit. And everywhere that it seemed cool to climb had no place to stop, and the places to stop didn't have anywhere to climb. I ended up settling for a small place off the road where I was able to climb a bit - I'm sure it was frowned upon, but we were only out of the car for a minute.
After that, Ashley started talking about lunch. Now, if you don't know, Ashley is the kind of person who likes to have 5 small meals a day...as opposed to someone like me, who usually just has two...maybe three meals a day. And since he'd already eaten all of the trail mix and most of the beef jerky (and doesn't like almonds?!?!), I thought that was going to buy me enough time to take one final hike around the reservoir.
I could tell that Ashley wasn't thrilled with this idea, but he went along with me. Like I said, it was mesmerized by this place, and I had to spent another hour or so there. As we walked, we took some water breaks, but I could tell that he just wasn't feeling it. We got passed the place that I considered "the point of no return", however, and I knew that we'd have to finish the hike instead of just turning around. Eventually, however, it seemed like there wasn't really a way to go all the way around, and we had to go back anyway.
And Ashley might disagree, but this was my favorite part of the trip. I wish that I'd brought a notepad and could do some writing out there because it was just so peaceful. It was the place where "America the Beautiful" was written, and you can see why. Everything mentioned in that song is present, and it just screams at you the entire time.
My only regret was that we didn't see any wildlife. At all. At Garden of the Gods, we saw a couple of rabbits, but we saw nothing at Pike's Peak. And Ashley will tell you...I looked.
And it made me a little sad because the park ranger said that someone had seen a bear in the area about a week before. And while I don't really want to get mauled by a bear, I think it'd be cool to see one. Hoping, of course, that they're actually more scared of us than we are of them.
So we made it back, both of us pretty tired, and we drove into town to get Ashley some lunch. We ended up making it to Hooters for some chicken, and a couple hours later, we got Ashley a steak at Outback.
It was a long day with a lot of walking, but it was extremely rewarding. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, and I'm definitely making sure that I make a return trip at some point. It was just so very awesome.
Tired, we went to bed relatively early to get ready for game day. It was the excuse for the trip, and we thought we were ready. But after a beautiful day on Friday, Mother Nature was ready to show us her teeth.
(Fun Fact - On my bag of almonds, there was a warning label. It said (totally honest, here) "Warning: Contains Almonds." It was a bag of almonds, and they had to put on the bag that it contained almonds. Seriously).
Next on Colorado Trip - Part Three - Game Day
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Colorado Trip - Part One - Thursday
In my U2 post, I mentioned the Colorado trip that Ashley and I took. It was designed, primarily, around the TCU/Air Force game on October 10. TCU is playing four big road games this season (Virginia, Clemson, Air Force, and BYU), and we decided on Air Force. I don't remember our exact reasoning, but I'm sure it revolved around the fact that Air Force is a military school (cool in itself) and in conference. Any of those games would've been cool, and we probably should've picked a non conference game (just because we go to Colorado every two years...we may never go to Virginia again) - but that's what we went with.
One thing about Ashley and me...we're both pretty lazy. We had the trip planned for months but didn't buy tickets until about a month before. In fact, Ashley wasn't even sure when the trip was until the week before (he took off days a week later). So me being the force behind the trip, I made arrangements online, and we were ready to go.
I took off eleven days in a row, with the trip being the centerpiece of my SEC-mandated week-long vacation. So when Thursday came around, I'd already had a few days to get ready, pack, and rest up for the trip. I knew it was going to be cold so I packed a few sweatshirts and a couple of fleeces. My unpreparedness is going to play a big part in my game-day blog (part three) so we'll deal with that then.
I did, however, forget to bring my fan. My closest friends will realize how big a deal this is because I always bring my fan when I'm sleeping outside my apartment. I absolutely have to sleep with my fan on, but on this trip, I left it at home. Which meant that the fan in the AC/Heater had to do for the entire trip. It sucked, but I made it through.
Since we were leaving on a Thursday, there wasn't a whole lot of people available to take us to the airport. Since that was the case, we decided to take public transportation (instead of paying for long-term parking). So look at this fantastic voyage to Colorado Springs.
1. Walk from our apartment to the Forest DART station. It's only about a mile walk, but it was hot and muggy and early.
2. DART Train from Forest Station to Union Station. It was rush hour at this point so we stood most of the time. By the time we got to downtown, the train was pretty empty.
3. TRE Train from Union Station to Centreport.
4. Two shuttle buses to the airport. There's some kind of depot in between, and you have to switch buses there to get to your terminal.
5. Airport. A nice respite.
6. Plane flight to Denver.
7. In the Denver airport, there's a little subway to get to the baggage claim area. Ashley loved it because of this little guitar that plays every time the train makes a stop.
8. Shuttle bus from the airport to the rental car place
9. Rental car from Denver to Colorado Springs
We rented a little Toyota Camry, and it was a miracle vehicle. It got us everywhere we needed to go, on a single tank of gas, and it was amazing. We did activate two warning lights during the trip, including check engine, but she was a pretty great little car.
Anyway, by the time we arrived in Colorado Springs, I was pretty tired. I hadn't felt very good the day before, and I had to take a little nap. By the time I woke up, it was dark and snowing, and we weren't really sure what to do. So we drove around town for a little bit, and we ended up stopping at a movie theater.
We saw Zombieland, and I'm hesitant to talk about that movie until I get the chance to see it again. Short story - I loved it. Long story will probably come when Tucker watches it with us - it will be our third time to see it.
The funny thing about that was the theater itself. It was off the highway, but there was almost no way to get to it. We circled around the damn thing several times before finally finding this tiny little street that eventually led to the theater.
We got home after the movie, watched a bit of TV, and then went to bed. We were planning on waking up very early for our big Friday, and so we made sure to get plenty of sleep.
Next on Colorado Trip - Part Two - Our Day in the Mountains.
One thing about Ashley and me...we're both pretty lazy. We had the trip planned for months but didn't buy tickets until about a month before. In fact, Ashley wasn't even sure when the trip was until the week before (he took off days a week later). So me being the force behind the trip, I made arrangements online, and we were ready to go.
I took off eleven days in a row, with the trip being the centerpiece of my SEC-mandated week-long vacation. So when Thursday came around, I'd already had a few days to get ready, pack, and rest up for the trip. I knew it was going to be cold so I packed a few sweatshirts and a couple of fleeces. My unpreparedness is going to play a big part in my game-day blog (part three) so we'll deal with that then.
I did, however, forget to bring my fan. My closest friends will realize how big a deal this is because I always bring my fan when I'm sleeping outside my apartment. I absolutely have to sleep with my fan on, but on this trip, I left it at home. Which meant that the fan in the AC/Heater had to do for the entire trip. It sucked, but I made it through.
Since we were leaving on a Thursday, there wasn't a whole lot of people available to take us to the airport. Since that was the case, we decided to take public transportation (instead of paying for long-term parking). So look at this fantastic voyage to Colorado Springs.
1. Walk from our apartment to the Forest DART station. It's only about a mile walk, but it was hot and muggy and early.
2. DART Train from Forest Station to Union Station. It was rush hour at this point so we stood most of the time. By the time we got to downtown, the train was pretty empty.
3. TRE Train from Union Station to Centreport.
4. Two shuttle buses to the airport. There's some kind of depot in between, and you have to switch buses there to get to your terminal.
5. Airport. A nice respite.
6. Plane flight to Denver.
7. In the Denver airport, there's a little subway to get to the baggage claim area. Ashley loved it because of this little guitar that plays every time the train makes a stop.
8. Shuttle bus from the airport to the rental car place
9. Rental car from Denver to Colorado Springs
We rented a little Toyota Camry, and it was a miracle vehicle. It got us everywhere we needed to go, on a single tank of gas, and it was amazing. We did activate two warning lights during the trip, including check engine, but she was a pretty great little car.
Anyway, by the time we arrived in Colorado Springs, I was pretty tired. I hadn't felt very good the day before, and I had to take a little nap. By the time I woke up, it was dark and snowing, and we weren't really sure what to do. So we drove around town for a little bit, and we ended up stopping at a movie theater.
We saw Zombieland, and I'm hesitant to talk about that movie until I get the chance to see it again. Short story - I loved it. Long story will probably come when Tucker watches it with us - it will be our third time to see it.
The funny thing about that was the theater itself. It was off the highway, but there was almost no way to get to it. We circled around the damn thing several times before finally finding this tiny little street that eventually led to the theater.
We got home after the movie, watched a bit of TV, and then went to bed. We were planning on waking up very early for our big Friday, and so we made sure to get plenty of sleep.
Next on Colorado Trip - Part Two - Our Day in the Mountains.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
U2
I think, even for a person my age, I came across U2 late. I'm sure I heard a couple of their songs on the radio, and I'm sure that is what prompted me to buy my first U2 album, their "Best of the 80s" double CD.
And one of my clearest memories is riding on a bus in the Dominican Republic on my first-ever mission trip, listening to that CD. There's something about listening to beautiful music (with a meaning) while you're doing something meaningful, and it was pretty cool. Ever since then, I've really liked the band. I don't really have a favorite band, but I've answered U2 as my favorite band on a couple occasions. Because, honestly, they're as good as any other answer I could give.
Of my favorite songs of theirs, a lot of them are from the early years. "Pride (In the Name of Love", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "With Or Without You", and "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" are a few of my favorites. And "One" is one of my favorite songs of all time. I've liked some of their newer songs, but I haven't followed them as closely as I've followed other bands. That probably has something to do with the fact that I haven't bought an entire album in years (of any band), and the fact that I don't listen to much (music) radio.
But when I heard that U2 was going to play The Death Star (aka the new Cowboys stadium), I bought tickets because I knew that I had to go. Seeing U2 in concert was something that I knew I wanted to do before I die, and while I realize that they'll probably be in concert for another 20 years, I wanted to make sure it happened as soon as possible.
And so when I returned from Colorado (much more on that in my next post) on Sunday, I had to put together a group to go. The final roster included Ashley, Tucker, and Beau. It was extremely exciting because it would be my first-ever U2 concert, and it'd be my first trip to the Death Star. I couldn't think of a better experience.
We left around 6:45, and we arrived at the stadium during the opening act (Muse). The stadium is enormous, and it took quite a while to go up all of the ramps to the 400 level. The seats weren't great, but we were pretty close to the stage (albeit behind it).
About 9pm, it started. And the concert was a perfect example of the pros and cons of Jerry's behemoth. First of all, the stadium was huge enough to contain U2's massive stage. The stage was awesome in every sense of the word. It released smoke, lit up, and turned into dozens of different colors. Then there was the 360 degree screen that was always filled with something cool, not to mention the couple of songs where the screen stretched into a cool light show. I'd describe it, but I wouldn't be able to do it justice.
But the sound in that place is terrible. You could hear the music fine, but the lyrics just barely reached me. I've heard that the PA is almost impossible to hear at Cowboys' games, and now I understand what people have been talking about. I knew most of the songs so it didn't really matter, but it was really hard to understand Bono whenever he said anything. He didn't stop down much, but when he did, I had to focus to figure out what he was saying. And, no, not just because of his accent.
That being said, the show was great. All of the visuals, the great music, and the live versions of some of my favorite songs. Yeah, Bono is full of himself, but there's at least something behind the jacket and glasses. There aren't a lot of people who do as much as him, and I think that's commendable.
I was a little surprised that they didn't play "Pride (In the Name of Love)", but they played a lot of other great ones, including a cool live version of "One" that was pretty sweet.
In conclusion: if you like U2, you need to find your way to a concert. You'll love it, and it will be a great memory for you. If you just like concerts, I still recommend it because the band puts on a Hell of a show. And I know there are people out there that don't like U2, but I don't understand it. Not all of their songs are "preachy" and most of them have a great beat/melody. Even the songs I didn't recognize were pretty cool and well done.
And next time, I'm gonna shell out a bit more cash and get better seats. I've had the experience now, but I'm going to want a bit more on the encore.
And one of my clearest memories is riding on a bus in the Dominican Republic on my first-ever mission trip, listening to that CD. There's something about listening to beautiful music (with a meaning) while you're doing something meaningful, and it was pretty cool. Ever since then, I've really liked the band. I don't really have a favorite band, but I've answered U2 as my favorite band on a couple occasions. Because, honestly, they're as good as any other answer I could give.
Of my favorite songs of theirs, a lot of them are from the early years. "Pride (In the Name of Love", "Where the Streets Have No Name", "With Or Without You", and "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" are a few of my favorites. And "One" is one of my favorite songs of all time. I've liked some of their newer songs, but I haven't followed them as closely as I've followed other bands. That probably has something to do with the fact that I haven't bought an entire album in years (of any band), and the fact that I don't listen to much (music) radio.
But when I heard that U2 was going to play The Death Star (aka the new Cowboys stadium), I bought tickets because I knew that I had to go. Seeing U2 in concert was something that I knew I wanted to do before I die, and while I realize that they'll probably be in concert for another 20 years, I wanted to make sure it happened as soon as possible.
And so when I returned from Colorado (much more on that in my next post) on Sunday, I had to put together a group to go. The final roster included Ashley, Tucker, and Beau. It was extremely exciting because it would be my first-ever U2 concert, and it'd be my first trip to the Death Star. I couldn't think of a better experience.
We left around 6:45, and we arrived at the stadium during the opening act (Muse). The stadium is enormous, and it took quite a while to go up all of the ramps to the 400 level. The seats weren't great, but we were pretty close to the stage (albeit behind it).
About 9pm, it started. And the concert was a perfect example of the pros and cons of Jerry's behemoth. First of all, the stadium was huge enough to contain U2's massive stage. The stage was awesome in every sense of the word. It released smoke, lit up, and turned into dozens of different colors. Then there was the 360 degree screen that was always filled with something cool, not to mention the couple of songs where the screen stretched into a cool light show. I'd describe it, but I wouldn't be able to do it justice.
But the sound in that place is terrible. You could hear the music fine, but the lyrics just barely reached me. I've heard that the PA is almost impossible to hear at Cowboys' games, and now I understand what people have been talking about. I knew most of the songs so it didn't really matter, but it was really hard to understand Bono whenever he said anything. He didn't stop down much, but when he did, I had to focus to figure out what he was saying. And, no, not just because of his accent.
That being said, the show was great. All of the visuals, the great music, and the live versions of some of my favorite songs. Yeah, Bono is full of himself, but there's at least something behind the jacket and glasses. There aren't a lot of people who do as much as him, and I think that's commendable.
I was a little surprised that they didn't play "Pride (In the Name of Love)", but they played a lot of other great ones, including a cool live version of "One" that was pretty sweet.
In conclusion: if you like U2, you need to find your way to a concert. You'll love it, and it will be a great memory for you. If you just like concerts, I still recommend it because the band puts on a Hell of a show. And I know there are people out there that don't like U2, but I don't understand it. Not all of their songs are "preachy" and most of them have a great beat/melody. Even the songs I didn't recognize were pretty cool and well done.
And next time, I'm gonna shell out a bit more cash and get better seats. I've had the experience now, but I'm going to want a bit more on the encore.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Surrogates
So last night, we (Tucker, Ashley, and myself) saw Surrogates for free at the Studio Movie Grill. I'm not going to review the movie because there's not much to tell. It's your standard sci-fi action movie, and it's only 90-minutes long. If you want to see something like that, you'll like it. Expect more and you won't. Simple as that.
What I'd like to discuss is the world of Surrogates, something I find extremely fascinating. Ever since I saw the first preview for the movie, I have been asking myself how realistic that movie is. Whether or not most people would choose to live their lives through a robotic surrogate if that option were available. Whether or not I would choose such an option.
At first, I didn't think people would be willing to trade actual experiences for the "ease and safety" that such a thing would provide. When I asked Tucker what he thought, he answered (in a confidence that only Tucker has) that he thought everyone would do it.
And as I started reading about the movie and the graphic novel it was based on, I started to agree with him. I read that the original writer, basically, came up with the idea when he realized that people were getting fired from their jobs and divorced because of their "online identities." That if someone could get wrapped up in a life that doesn't exist, what if they could put a face and body to that identity? What if they could be that identity 24/7?
The movie only glances by this topic. A woman at the beginning turns out to be a man, and a couple people on a subway train have blue skin. Because surrogates would give people the chance to be as out there as possible, whether you wanted to be completely different or simply felt like you were born in the wrong body.
And I think people would love that. People that have always wanted to be a few inches taller could have that done easily. Women concerned about their breast size could have bigger ones added to their surrogates. Fat people could become athletic. And so on.
Not to mention the in-movie explanation for the beginning of the surrogates - disabled people could live happy, normal lives through their surrogates.
So we've established that a segment of the population would love the idea. What about people who are perfectly happy with themselves? Surrogates would allow their human operators to perform superhuman tasks (enhanced strength, increased agility, improved senses, etc). Athletes would probably be interested, and professional leagues would have to outlaw surrogates or use them exclusively. The movie hints at an Extreme Football league, indicating the way the writers thought that would go.
And let's not forget injuries. Tom Brady's surrogate could tear its ACL, and he could just get a new one for the next week. Heck, he could probably have a backup one on the sidelines, just as if he'd torn his uniform.
Then there's thrillseekers and law enforcement officers. Anyone who faces death in their normal lives would want a surrogate. Because, while I'm sure the endorphins are a little less wild when you know you're safe, I'm guessing the experience of skydiving would still be great. And I'm sure there'd be a lot of people who would love to actually plummet to their (surrogate's) death if they knew it was safe. And all fire fighters and police officers would probably use surrogates, just because it takes away the risk of death. More (human) lives would certainly be saved if the saviors didn't have to worry about their own safety.
So there are a few more segments of the population that would use it. What about everyone else?
Tucker seems to think that some people would want to use surrogates some of the time. Maybe you don't feel well, but you want to go to work. You could send your surrogate to work while you "rest" in your home. Maybe a woman doesn't want to worry about putting on makeup and getting dressed to run to the store, and she sends her pre-made-up surrogate instead.
I believe these people would start with just some small thing, and I don't think they'd intend to use their surrogates full-time. But then people would get lazier, I think. They'd be attracted to the ease of things. The sick guy might still feel a little ill so he sends in his surrogate for the rest of the week. Just until he feels 100%.
Then there are the other factors. Maybe I send my surrogate to the grocery store, and I get some looks from a cute girl. I might think that my surrogate is more attractive than me, and I might send it out again to see if that's the case.
But here's my prime theory. I think after a couple months of part-time use of a surrogate, there will be some noticeable changes. With less exercise, the human operator might put on some weight. Maybe there are a couple of blemishes on the face that the surrogate doesn't have. Maybe there's some hair loss or some grey hairs.
Suddenly, the person who was okay with their body isn't as okay with it. And why try to work off the weight when you can just use the surrogate? Why cover the blemishes with makeup when the surrogate doesn't have them in the first place? Don't have hair? The surrogate has plenty.
And now a part-time user of a surrogate is a full-time user.
Then there's things like peer pressure and social norms. If the majority of people are using surrogates, the minority will start to crumble. It takes strength and courage to go against the norm, and a lot of people don't have it. And, perhaps, people who were against surrogates would be tempted to give it a shot. And after a few months, like the people in the example, would be using one all the time.
And I think the world would end up being a lot like the world in the movie. There would, of course, be people who would be against them, and these people would (literally) stick to their guns. But since the surrogate-using majority has the power, these humans would probably live in more impoverished situations like in the movie.
And I'm sure the conflict would eventually get violent.
So there you have it. A way that surrogacy, as described in the movie, could sweep the world. How our world could turn into the world of Surrogates.
It doesn't seem that difficult when you think about it. And, honestly, that scares me a bit. There's something very creepy, at least to me, about a world where robots are running the world. Even if there are humans controlling them.
And here's my final point - how different is the world of Surrogates from the world of The Matrix? Both worlds have immobile humans in charge of AI-based versions of themselves. Both worlds have a small human resistance movement trying to save people that don't even think they need to be saved. In fact, both worlds have people who don't want to be saved (think of Cypher from The Matrix).
One world is less sinister, but I think they're pretty similar in other ways.
So there you have it. Surrogates isn't a great movie, but I think the world it gives us is thought-provoking. Because I watched a little story on the "science behind the movie" and they said we're pretty close to that kind of technology. In fact, they said, it's just a matter of being able to make the robots look more like the humans they represent.
So when it happens, don't say I didn't warn you. Or, I guess, the movie makers. Or the author of the graphic novel. Even if they warned you first, remember that I did too.
What I'd like to discuss is the world of Surrogates, something I find extremely fascinating. Ever since I saw the first preview for the movie, I have been asking myself how realistic that movie is. Whether or not most people would choose to live their lives through a robotic surrogate if that option were available. Whether or not I would choose such an option.
At first, I didn't think people would be willing to trade actual experiences for the "ease and safety" that such a thing would provide. When I asked Tucker what he thought, he answered (in a confidence that only Tucker has) that he thought everyone would do it.
And as I started reading about the movie and the graphic novel it was based on, I started to agree with him. I read that the original writer, basically, came up with the idea when he realized that people were getting fired from their jobs and divorced because of their "online identities." That if someone could get wrapped up in a life that doesn't exist, what if they could put a face and body to that identity? What if they could be that identity 24/7?
The movie only glances by this topic. A woman at the beginning turns out to be a man, and a couple people on a subway train have blue skin. Because surrogates would give people the chance to be as out there as possible, whether you wanted to be completely different or simply felt like you were born in the wrong body.
And I think people would love that. People that have always wanted to be a few inches taller could have that done easily. Women concerned about their breast size could have bigger ones added to their surrogates. Fat people could become athletic. And so on.
Not to mention the in-movie explanation for the beginning of the surrogates - disabled people could live happy, normal lives through their surrogates.
So we've established that a segment of the population would love the idea. What about people who are perfectly happy with themselves? Surrogates would allow their human operators to perform superhuman tasks (enhanced strength, increased agility, improved senses, etc). Athletes would probably be interested, and professional leagues would have to outlaw surrogates or use them exclusively. The movie hints at an Extreme Football league, indicating the way the writers thought that would go.
And let's not forget injuries. Tom Brady's surrogate could tear its ACL, and he could just get a new one for the next week. Heck, he could probably have a backup one on the sidelines, just as if he'd torn his uniform.
Then there's thrillseekers and law enforcement officers. Anyone who faces death in their normal lives would want a surrogate. Because, while I'm sure the endorphins are a little less wild when you know you're safe, I'm guessing the experience of skydiving would still be great. And I'm sure there'd be a lot of people who would love to actually plummet to their (surrogate's) death if they knew it was safe. And all fire fighters and police officers would probably use surrogates, just because it takes away the risk of death. More (human) lives would certainly be saved if the saviors didn't have to worry about their own safety.
So there are a few more segments of the population that would use it. What about everyone else?
Tucker seems to think that some people would want to use surrogates some of the time. Maybe you don't feel well, but you want to go to work. You could send your surrogate to work while you "rest" in your home. Maybe a woman doesn't want to worry about putting on makeup and getting dressed to run to the store, and she sends her pre-made-up surrogate instead.
I believe these people would start with just some small thing, and I don't think they'd intend to use their surrogates full-time. But then people would get lazier, I think. They'd be attracted to the ease of things. The sick guy might still feel a little ill so he sends in his surrogate for the rest of the week. Just until he feels 100%.
Then there are the other factors. Maybe I send my surrogate to the grocery store, and I get some looks from a cute girl. I might think that my surrogate is more attractive than me, and I might send it out again to see if that's the case.
But here's my prime theory. I think after a couple months of part-time use of a surrogate, there will be some noticeable changes. With less exercise, the human operator might put on some weight. Maybe there are a couple of blemishes on the face that the surrogate doesn't have. Maybe there's some hair loss or some grey hairs.
Suddenly, the person who was okay with their body isn't as okay with it. And why try to work off the weight when you can just use the surrogate? Why cover the blemishes with makeup when the surrogate doesn't have them in the first place? Don't have hair? The surrogate has plenty.
And now a part-time user of a surrogate is a full-time user.
Then there's things like peer pressure and social norms. If the majority of people are using surrogates, the minority will start to crumble. It takes strength and courage to go against the norm, and a lot of people don't have it. And, perhaps, people who were against surrogates would be tempted to give it a shot. And after a few months, like the people in the example, would be using one all the time.
And I think the world would end up being a lot like the world in the movie. There would, of course, be people who would be against them, and these people would (literally) stick to their guns. But since the surrogate-using majority has the power, these humans would probably live in more impoverished situations like in the movie.
And I'm sure the conflict would eventually get violent.
So there you have it. A way that surrogacy, as described in the movie, could sweep the world. How our world could turn into the world of Surrogates.
It doesn't seem that difficult when you think about it. And, honestly, that scares me a bit. There's something very creepy, at least to me, about a world where robots are running the world. Even if there are humans controlling them.
And here's my final point - how different is the world of Surrogates from the world of The Matrix? Both worlds have immobile humans in charge of AI-based versions of themselves. Both worlds have a small human resistance movement trying to save people that don't even think they need to be saved. In fact, both worlds have people who don't want to be saved (think of Cypher from The Matrix).
One world is less sinister, but I think they're pretty similar in other ways.
So there you have it. Surrogates isn't a great movie, but I think the world it gives us is thought-provoking. Because I watched a little story on the "science behind the movie" and they said we're pretty close to that kind of technology. In fact, they said, it's just a matter of being able to make the robots look more like the humans they represent.
So when it happens, don't say I didn't warn you. Or, I guess, the movie makers. Or the author of the graphic novel. Even if they warned you first, remember that I did too.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Drew's Day - 9/26
* Note - All times are approximate *
9:45am - Drew wakes up because it's way too bright in the room to try and sleep. He's also been trying to get back to sleep for about half an hour after spending most of the morning sleeping in 15 minute increments.
10:30am - Ashley and Drew confirm the train schedule with Woody, planning their trip to Fort Worth to watch the TCU-Clemson game at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
10:35am - Drew calls Keely to check and see if she's coming to watch the game. She says she will drive to the stadium, hopefully arriving before halftime.
11:00am - Needing to meet the DART train at 11:15, Drew and Ashley leave the condo.
11:00am-11:15am - Dallas traffic.
11:15am - Drew and Ashley are paying for DART tickets when the train comes and leaves. Drew and Ashley realize their only plan is to drive to Union Station.
11:25am - Drew and Ashley, with 30 minutes to make the train, realize there is no parking near Union Station.
11:26am - Ashley runs a red light, and Drew is nearly killed. An annoyed Ashley accidentally gets on the wrong street, and we're forced to drive five minutes out of our way.
11:40am - With only ten minutes to spare, Ashley declares that we aren't making the train. Drew believes.
11:44am - Drew and Ashley park a few blocks away, running towards the train station.
11:47am - Drew and Ashley make the train with a couple minutes to spare. Drew's faith pays off.
11:49am - TRE leaves Fort Worth.
12:15pm - Guy on the train goes around asking if he can use someone's cell phone. One man says that he doesn't give his phone to strangers. Ashley says that his iPhone is an iPod Touch. Drew gives the guy his phone because it's a cheap piece of crap. The first man shakes his head, secretly hoping that the guy will steal my phone to teach me a lesson. The guy doesn't steal my phone, but I don't think he completed his call either.
1:20pm - After a fascinating discussion about religion, Drew gets tired of waiting and decides that it's time to eat.
1:30pm - Tim and Ben show up. Everyone eats.
1:45pm - One car collides with another in the parking lot. Hilarity ensues.
2:15pm - Everyone leaves Railhead for the DMC.
2:35pm - Everyone arrives in their seats at the DMC, and the game begins.
3:15pm - Keely arrives at a game where TCU has taken a 7-3 lead.
4:00pm - Clemson take a 10-7 lead, and Keely starts to believe that she is not good luck.
4:10pm - Keely meets Ryan Thomas. Ryan and Woody loudly argue with each other. Ashley and Drew realize that Keely is having a truly TCU experience.
4:15pm - Everyone returns to the stadium to finish the game.
5:45pm - TCU, having regained the lead, holds Clemson on fourth down twice for the win. Clemson's D-bag fans finally stop counting.
5:50pm - Not wanting to drive alone, Keely offers Drew and Ashley a ride to the American Airlines Center for the Stars' game.
6:19pm - Drew and Ashley arrive at the AAC - four minutes after their train would've left Fort Worth.
7:00pm - Stars' game starts.
9:45am - Drew wakes up because it's way too bright in the room to try and sleep. He's also been trying to get back to sleep for about half an hour after spending most of the morning sleeping in 15 minute increments.
10:30am - Ashley and Drew confirm the train schedule with Woody, planning their trip to Fort Worth to watch the TCU-Clemson game at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
10:35am - Drew calls Keely to check and see if she's coming to watch the game. She says she will drive to the stadium, hopefully arriving before halftime.
11:00am - Needing to meet the DART train at 11:15, Drew and Ashley leave the condo.
11:00am-11:15am - Dallas traffic.
11:15am - Drew and Ashley are paying for DART tickets when the train comes and leaves. Drew and Ashley realize their only plan is to drive to Union Station.
11:25am - Drew and Ashley, with 30 minutes to make the train, realize there is no parking near Union Station.
11:26am - Ashley runs a red light, and Drew is nearly killed. An annoyed Ashley accidentally gets on the wrong street, and we're forced to drive five minutes out of our way.
11:40am - With only ten minutes to spare, Ashley declares that we aren't making the train. Drew believes.
11:44am - Drew and Ashley park a few blocks away, running towards the train station.
11:47am - Drew and Ashley make the train with a couple minutes to spare. Drew's faith pays off.
11:49am - TRE leaves Fort Worth.
12:15pm - Guy on the train goes around asking if he can use someone's cell phone. One man says that he doesn't give his phone to strangers. Ashley says that his iPhone is an iPod Touch. Drew gives the guy his phone because it's a cheap piece of crap. The first man shakes his head, secretly hoping that the guy will steal my phone to teach me a lesson. The guy doesn't steal my phone, but I don't think he completed his call either.
12:45 - The elderly woman sitting across from us, who we've spoken to a few times on the trip, says goodbye with a fist bump. That's right, she offered to blow us up. And, yes, I typed "up." Grow up.
1:20pm - After a fascinating discussion about religion, Drew gets tired of waiting and decides that it's time to eat.
1:30pm - Tim and Ben show up. Everyone eats.
1:45pm - One car collides with another in the parking lot. Hilarity ensues.
2:15pm - Everyone leaves Railhead for the DMC.
2:35pm - Everyone arrives in their seats at the DMC, and the game begins.
3:15pm - Keely arrives at a game where TCU has taken a 7-3 lead.
4:00pm - Clemson take a 10-7 lead, and Keely starts to believe that she is not good luck.
4:10pm - Keely meets Ryan Thomas. Ryan and Woody loudly argue with each other. Ashley and Drew realize that Keely is having a truly TCU experience.
4:15pm - Everyone returns to the stadium to finish the game.
5:45pm - TCU, having regained the lead, holds Clemson on fourth down twice for the win. Clemson's D-bag fans finally stop counting.
5:50pm - Not wanting to drive alone, Keely offers Drew and Ashley a ride to the American Airlines Center for the Stars' game.
6:19pm - Drew and Ashley arrive at the AAC - four minutes after their train would've left Fort Worth.
7:00pm - Stars' game starts.
7:01pm - It is obvious that the Stars don't have it.
8:30pm - The Stars are already down big when four people arrive. Two guys and two girls. Both of the girls are attractive (although one is trashier than the other). I simply note this because the cuter of the two girls was with this really shrimpy small guy. This girl was tiny, but she was still bigger than her "boyfriend." I say that because, despite his Smurf-like qualities, she was all over him.
8:32pm - Drew contemplates taking this boyfriend out with a single punch, fully confident of his ability to win such a fight. The only issue is with the other guy (aka "The Backup"), who might be able to take Drew and Ashley combined. Plan abandoned.
8:45pm - The foursome leaves their seats, having been in them for almost a full period. As they're leaving, I notice that the trashy one is wearing really tight and really stretchy pants, probably made of spandex. Then, the man sitting next to Ashley tells him, and I quote, that "his wife had a dump last week bigger than her." He gets hit, but everyone has a nice laugh.
9:15pm - Stars down 5-0. Seriously, guys? I know you're bringing in a new offense, but you might want to work in a goal. And some defense.
9:30pm - Game is over. Thank God that hockey is only 150 minutes long. We walk over to the train station hoping that a train will go the right direction. We're told the DART is going back to downtown.
9:35pm - Train arrives. We get on.
9:40pm - We're still sitting on the train. Ashley starts getting upset.
9:45pm - Ashley is fully bored and annoyed again. It's been a long day, the train is slow, and he had to watch (bad) hockey for two and a half hours. Drew understands.
10:00pm - The train drops us off at the West End, just a couple blocks from the parking garage.
10:15pm - Drew and Ashley arrive back at the condo.
Final Record
One hockey game (live) and one football game (partially live).
Two meals - good barbecue and a stale hamburger/fries from the AAC
Record - 1-1, although I hesitate to give the Stars credit for the loss. You have to participate to lose.
Total spent - $20 on transportation (train tickets and parking in downtown). About $40 total on food.
One train missed. Two successfully boarded.
Two heart attacks and one near certainly-fatal car crash avoided. But narrowly.
Two elderly fist bumps.
All in all, a full and interesting day.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Sore
About a week ago, Ashley and I started on a new workout plan. Bob Sturm, through George DeJean, recommends it, and I thought I'd give it a try. He basically says that you should do pushups, straight for a minute, for three reps. Don't worry about counting them...just make sure you finish the rep.
It doesn't sound very hard. After all, a minute is just a minute. But Bob says that, by the first thirty seconds, you'll want to switch to "girl" pushups. And that's pretty much true. And by the end of the minute, you're going to wish there was something called "baby girl" pushups.
I mixed in two sets of crunches in between each rep of pushups, both to get an ab workout and to give my arms a rest. Even though it's only about 10 minutes of actual work, it's a heck of a workout. The first time I did it, I pretty much collapsed on the final pushup. My abs were sore, and my arms hurt. I pretty much assumed that I would die, right there on the floor, because I was completely immobile.
I did it again last night, after a few nights off, and I've been sore all day. But I feel like I'm going to stick with it. I'm playing tennis one-two times a week (although the rain is killing me in that area) for my cardio, and this will work out a couple other areas on my body. I'm not sure I've ever been "in shape" in my entire life, but I might be as close as I've been in a while.
It doesn't sound very hard. After all, a minute is just a minute. But Bob says that, by the first thirty seconds, you'll want to switch to "girl" pushups. And that's pretty much true. And by the end of the minute, you're going to wish there was something called "baby girl" pushups.
I mixed in two sets of crunches in between each rep of pushups, both to get an ab workout and to give my arms a rest. Even though it's only about 10 minutes of actual work, it's a heck of a workout. The first time I did it, I pretty much collapsed on the final pushup. My abs were sore, and my arms hurt. I pretty much assumed that I would die, right there on the floor, because I was completely immobile.
I did it again last night, after a few nights off, and I've been sore all day. But I feel like I'm going to stick with it. I'm playing tennis one-two times a week (although the rain is killing me in that area) for my cardio, and this will work out a couple other areas on my body. I'm not sure I've ever been "in shape" in my entire life, but I might be as close as I've been in a while.
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