Check Out My New Blog

I've taken a leap into WordPress to embark on a new blog - Stay-At-Home Field Advantage - covering an array of topics from parenting to sports to music to utter nonsense.

Thanks and see you there!

-Ryan

I Loathe Candy Crush

Level 65 had me cornered for weeks. Now it's Level 79--I mean come on!

53 moves but I don't think I could beat it if I had double that. And people buy things that help them? That's a line I'll never cross. 

Instead, I'll use my blog as a platform to voice my displeasure with this life-controlling game. To be fair to myself, I do only play once or twice a week because I've given up hope. But fear not, there's now like 400+ levels. I'll never get to 80 so it doesn't affect me. 

One more time. 

Miami Heat Locker Room? Drake Gets Denied

I know I'm a few days late but every time I see this video it makes me chuckle. The best part is the commentary of the guy videoing it all, "Drake getting turned down, Drizzy Drake!" And man does he look sad.

I Started Running Again and Felt Like Homer Simpson...D'Oh!

The day was Thursday, June 6 and for the first time in a long while, I voluntarily went for a run. And felt like this:

The distance (.86 miles) was irrelevant but for the first time in a while (working out in the gym excluded), I did some cardio--and I felt great about myself. Not that I was sitting around feeling like a pile of manure but it was good to get out there and run. My pace was paltry (13 minutes) but again, I ran. Without music, which turns out is my downfall.

Fast forward to Tuesday, June 11. After a four day hiatus, I hit the ground running once again, vowing to increase distance and pace. Mission accomplished. Ten minutes, twenty-four seconds to complete 1.37 miles, for a 7:36 minute/mile pace. Thanks to The Bronx in my earphones.

Thursday, June 13. Another run sponsored by The Bronx. 1.89 miles in 15:08, good for an 8:00 minute/mile pace. Things are starting to come together. I just wish this rain would cease since it has caused the ground to turn to marshland.

Friday, June 14, today. Two miles was the goal and once again, I was relegated to the track. And The Bronx. The outcome was 2.29 miles in 21:45 (9:29 minute/mile pace). I sacrificed my blistering pace for further distance but eventually, it'll all come together.

Lindsay and I are running a Run or Dye in Hartford July 20, it's 5K, so the way I'm looking at it is as long as I keep running and feeling less and less like Homer Simpson, I should have no problems at all.

Just wanted to let you know I'm trying to get in shape again. It's not easy to just turn on the running--after all, it is boring as hell. Especially on a track. Oh yeah one more thing. I need an arm-band for my iPhone because having in your pocket while running sucks.

Random Baseball Card of the Day - 6/12/13

1983 Fleer #360 Tony Gwynn (Rookie Card), San Diego Padres

(photo cred: comc.com)

Every baseball fan knows the story of Tony Gwynn, former Padre great and current head coach at San Diego State University. He's was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the Class of 2007.

Batting Title Tony: He was quite possibly the best hitter of his era, winning an unbelievable eight National League batting titles--his first in 1984 and his last in 1997.

No K in Gwynn: In 9288 career at-bats, Gwynn struck out only 434 times, for an average of 29 a season. Some guys strike out 29 times in the first month of the season.

Passing It On: Tony Sr. coached his son, Tony Jr. at SDSU. Junior has a ton of talent but to help put it in perspective, he's struck out 274 times in seven seasons in the majors. He's already on his third team (MIL, SD, LAD) but has yet to crack the Dodgers' big league roster this season though he is hitting .301 with 18 RBI and 4 stolen bases for AAA-affiliate Albuquerque. 

Random Fact: Gywnn's longest hitting streak of his career was a 25-gamer back in the 1983 season, his second year in the big leagues.