Atlanta airport

On the MARTA platform just outside of the Hartsfield airport in Atlanta. I'm going to try to navigate the MARTA system up to the Buckhead area to my hotel.

Atlanta

I'm sitting in the airport, waiting for the inbound AirTran plane to arrive so I can leave on time. I'm not sure what the time to turn a flight is with AirTran, but it used to be really fast with Southwest.

This is one of the first times I have flown for business since 9/11. What a total pain. While I realize that this is all in the name of safety, there is no doubt that the cost to fly has increased dramatically mostly due to the increased security. Removing the shoes is probably the biggest pain, and the fact that I had to check my luggage because I had liquids that couldn't to into a carry 0n bag because of the size. So, I checked the bag through. I really hope that it makes it since I have everything there other than my laptop and items that I carry back and forth to work daily.

Of course, the flight is overbooked (are there any other kinds?), and they are looking for volunteers. If I didn't have a meeting tonight, I'd take them up on it!

More from Atlanta.

Motivation and the 3 W's

I have not been motivated to run lately. I'm trying to figure out why... it might have something to do with the 3 W's.

Work - I've spent way too many hours at work lately. When I finally leave, it's hard to find the time to relax. Sleep doesn't come easily these days, but when I finally fall asleep, I sleep hard and sleep deep, making the 5:15 AM gym time easy to avoid.

Weather - the weather is starting to cool down (it's in the low 60s at 5:30 am now). The heat of the summer just beat me up and sent me indoors.

Weight - my weight is hovering... I have been unable to drop further than the 15 original pounds from last year. While I attribute some of it to muscle conversion, I attribute the rest to the fact that I like to eat.

Truth be told, there are 4 W's that I cannot stand - only three listed here. The other W is the one I helped put into office (only the first time), but I digress.

I think I need to move a bit further up the alphabet.

a picture a day...

I took this after taking a 1-day photography class put on by Sony. "Take at least 1 picture everyday..."

Living a normal life on 9/11

While we will never forget the lives lost on 9/11, today was a normal day. Here is the sunset as we left the mall near our home after shopping for our wife's / mom's birthday. I think this is God's way of reminding us that everything is alright...

Indoor climbing

Jake and I went climbing for the second time today. We climbed at an indoor gym called Peak Experiences. They advertise themselves as one of the East Coast's largest indoor rock climbing centers. They have many walls to climb, equipment to rent, classes and so on. It's not been that crowded when we have gone (twice now), so it's been low key and somewhat relaxing.

Both Jake and I took our belay test this week, after attending out introduction class last weekend. We both passed with flying colors. This translates into me being belay certified and Jake (being under 16) has to have 15 observed belays, but no more than 5 in any day. Of course, this meant that I climbed 5 times today so will likely be sore tomorrow. I fell once (he caught me), and skinned my arm against the rock. No big deal, just a small scrape. Jake climbed to the top of their 50-foot wall, their biggest climb (although not too challenging other than the height). While I don't need to have a back up belayer, Jake still requires someone to back him up until he's completed the 15 belays.

We received a 2-week trial membership with the class, so got in for just the rental today. Once again, this was a great bonding opportunity for us - and one that we will continue as time and money permits.

Back to running on the street

The forecast for Saturday (yesterday) was to be a cool morning, so Sara and I decided to start running on the street again. Both of us have been running on treadmills during the heat of the summer, but it was September, so cooler weather was around the corner. We ran three miles, certainly not the distance we used to run, but enough to get our feet wet, so to speak, with the streets. She'll be out of town the next two weekends, so I will need to find another partner or two, or hit the streets solo. My goal is to run a 10K on October 13^th – now less than six weeks away. Now where is my training book from the 10K in April? I guess I need between 3 – 4 miles every Monday and Wednesday, plus cross training (elliptical) on Thursday, and a long run on Saturday. Either that or suffer through the 10K on the 13^th!

Today, Jake and I are going to an indoor climbing gym (http://www.peakexperiences.com/climbing-center/About-us.htm). While I used to climb in college, I haven't been for years. Climbing is a very humbling experience as I remember, but once you let go of your fear of falling, you can enjoy the fact that you have no strength in your fingers to keep your old, fat body from falling when you make the next move. Of course, my legs are stronger now than they have been ever, I presume, and that won't hurt. Jake is like a monkey, however – tall and lean, and getting stronger every day.

Tomorrow morning (Labor Day), I'm planning on hitting the local industrial park for a long solo run. Of course, that is dependent on not killing myself at the climbing gym today!