Day 77: Golf, Findlay and Grilling

First weekend day I can remember with absolutely nothing on the calendar... so what did I do? Fill it with stuff :) First I hit the links with a good friend Greg. Then I came home, and went with Melanie to Findlay Market... man I love that place. We went late (3 PM) and the place was still packed. Picked up some lunch meat, fresh italain sausage and went back home for lunch...

Then I had a break for a couple minutes so I did some yard work for an hour, hit the stationary bike (Blade 3 on the DVD... cheese-ball action movie, but it certainly passes the time), and by that time it was time to fire up the grill... Great day and great weather!

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Total Pledged/minute: $0.74 + ($1 per pound lost + $0.01 per mile)
Today's Minutes: 41 Minutes
Total Minutes: 2213 Minutes
Today's Distance: 11 Miles
Total Distance: 583.8 Miles

Day 76: Wedding #3 and Airline Tickets to Ecuador

Finally bucked up and got the airline tickets to Ecuador. Head down to Miami and direct to Quito International Airport, Ecuador. I think that was one of those moments when you finally realize something is actually going to happen. I mean, I've known I was going to Ecuador for months now, I applied with Habitat, filled out my contact info... even faxed in my passport information. But the flight purchase was when it really hit... I'm going to Ecuador. But it's not apprehension, it's total excitement. Not only am I going to Ecuador, but I'm going to be able to help out people who live there, make a real impact on real lives, and learn about the culture of the country from the people who live there... how exciting!

Read more about my thoughts, this blog, and the biking challenge in an article by Maggie Downs in the Enquirer. Great story, though I think the comments about the trimmed hair and the button down was a slight dig ;) Pretty funny though, as catching me in 'business attire' is a rare occasion :)

Also this evening...we went to our 3rd wedding of the summer. Only 6 more to go, though we won't be able to attend the next two weddings.

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Total Pledged/minute: $0.74 + ($1 per pound lost + $0.01 per mile)
Today's Minutes: 25 Minutes
Total Minutes: 2172 Minutes
Today's Distance: 7 Miles
Total Distance: 572.8 Miles

Day 75: Melanie's B-day

Today was my wife's 'golden birthday'... I didn't know what that was either, but apparently it's when you turn 28 and your birthday is on the 28th, or 29 and your birthday is on the 29th. So my golden was last year, and as far as I can tell it doesn't mean a thing, other than something to talk about for 5 minutes ;)

The birthday was a lot of fun (well I hope Melanie had fun)... she picked dinner (Ambar up in Clifton), and then we met a bunch of friends at Hofbrahaus. Lot's o' fun, but no biking.

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Total Pledged/minute: $0.74 + ($1 per pound lost + $0.01 per mile)
Today's Minutes: 0 Minutes
Total Minutes: 2147 Minutes
Today's Distance: 0 Miles
Total Distance: 565.8 Miles

Day 74: Neglected Yard

Well, I figured it's time to get back in the yard. With work, the biking challenge, give back cincinnati, project lily pad and hanging out with Melanie and friends the yard took a back seat... especially since it was 100,000 degrees the last couple weeks, efforts to keep things green were futile anyway, unless you were to make it a full time job.

So I hit the yard to pull some weeds, water some plants and see what could be saved!

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Total Pledged/minute: $0.74 + ($1 per pound lost + $0.01 per mile)
Today's Minutes: 0 Minutes
Total Minutes: 2147 Minutes
Today's Distance: 0 Miles
Total Distance: 565.8 Miles

Day 73: Utility Biking

That's what I've learned it's called. When you ride your bike not specifically for exercise, but for a combination of exercise, recreation AND transportation. So I guess each Tuesday evening I am 'Utility Biking', when I hop on my bike in Newport and start pedaling for Lunken and our Sand Volleyball league. Sure I get some exercise out if it. It's a 9 mile, 27 minute long ride. But it also gets me to my volleyball game, so it's function is transportation... what a novel idea.

Once the challenge is over I am going to look for more ways to incorporate biking into my daily life, it makes exercise so much easier and less time consuming.

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Total Pledged/minute: $0.74 + ($1 per pound lost + $0.01 per mile)
Today's Minutes: 27 Minutes
Total Minutes: 2147 Minutes
Today's Distance: 9.0 Miles
Total Distance: 565.8 Miles

Day 72: Peddling and Going Nowhere

First time in almost a week I headed to the basement to pedal some. But it is unrelenting hot everywhere... even in the basement. So even being inside it was a pretty brutal ride.

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Total Pledged/minute: $0.74 + ($1 per pound lost + $0.01 per mile)
Today's Minutes: 62 Minutes
Total Minutes: 2120 Minutes
Today's Distance: 16.8 Miles
Total Distance: 556.8 Miles

Day 71: Tee Time

First time I've played since last years Give Back Cincinnati golf outing that i've hit the links. I figured it was time to get ready for the next event on Aug. 6th, so I needed to practice a little.

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Total Pledged/minute: $0.74 + ($1 per pound lost + $0.01 per mile)
Today's Minutes: 0 Minutes
Total Minutes: 2058 Minutes
Today's Distance: 0 Miles
Total Distance: 540.0 Miles