End of the Year Awards

It’s December 3oth and I’m mentally preparing myself for my first day of real honest work tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM in Bourne. I’ve got my bags all packed ready for the job and for New Year’s Eve after in Pocassett afterwards, and my fancy new clothes are all laid out on my bed. I’m trying to calm my nerves by looking back on 2007 and thinking about my favorite things from the past year. I suppose I could call them the “Griffies” but why in the world would I do that? That would be stupid.

Anyway, without further ado:

Entertainment:

Album of the Year: Kanye West, Graduation (Runners up: Jay-Z, American Gangster; Radiohead, In Rainbows)

Song of the Year: Radiohead, “Nude” (Runners Up: Kanye West, “Stronger” and “Good Life”)

Movie of the Year: Gone Baby, Gone (Runners Up: I Am Legend; American Gangster)

Book of the Year: I didn’t really finish any, but I’m still working my way through John Adams, so that wins by default.

TV Show of the Year: The Office (Runners Up: NOW on PBS; Daily Show/Colbert Report [tie])

Podcast of the Year: The B.S. Report with Bill Simmons (Runners Up: The FitCast with Kevin Larrabee; That’s What She Said with Matt Sommer)

Radio Show of the Year: The Big Show on WEEI (Runners Up: Toucher & Rich on WBCN; Dale & Holly on WEEI)

Sports:

National Athlete of the Year: Tom Brady (Runners Up: LeBron James; Devin Hester)

Boston Athlete of the Year: Tom Brady (Runners Up: Josh Beckett; Randy Moss/Kevin Garnett [tie])

Madden NFL 2008 Player of the Year: Randy Moss (Runners Up: Lawrence Maroney; Adrian Peterson)

And now our first musical guest of the night, Britney Spears!!

I hope everyone enjoyed that. Back to the awards!

Fitness:

Exercise of the Year: standing barbell push-press (Runners Up: deadlift; Bulgarian split-squat)

Protein Shake of the Year: Peanut Butter Cup (Runners Up: Strawberry-Banana; Peanut Butter Mocha)

Excuse of the Year: “I’m letting my body recover.” (Runners Up: “I work hard all goddamn day, I’m going to play video games.”; “My car is out of gas and I can’t drive anywhere.”

Miscellaneous:

Personal Event of the Year: getting engaged in July (Runners Up: completing graduate school; getting a job)

Meal of the Year: Filet mignon, baked macaroni & Boursin/Parmesan cheese, chocolate cake, “007″ vodka martini at the Cedar Street Restaurant in May (Runners Up: Filet mignon wrapped in bacon made by Jaylynn in October; any XL order of Gold Fever Wings at the 99; scallops wrapped in bacon at Mark and Rachel’s yesterday)

Alcoholic Drink of the Year: 2001 Opus One cabernet sauvignon (Runners Up: Original Coors; Miller Light)

Non-Alcoholic Drink of the Year: large Dunkin’ Donuts hazelnut coffee, cream no sugar (Runners Up: Diet Sierra Mist; water)

Ugly Mess of the Year: Amy Winehouse (Runners Up: Britney Spears; Pete Doherty)

—————————–

So there you have it folks, the best and brightest of 2007. I hope you’ve enjoyed your evening. I suppose I could do a “Worst Of…” list too, but I’ve already wasted enough time on this charade. I’ve got better things to do.

Wish me luck at work tomorrow!

Continued Post-Holiday Nothingness

It’s Friday afternoon, I’m dicking around doing some Genesis paperwork and listening to some podcasts. I am not going to the gym or doing any bodyweight workouts today. I’m going to go for a nice walk (without the heavy pack) to just enjoy the cool, sunny day we have right now. My mental calendar is totally thrown off due to the holidays, it does not feel like Friday.

Mentally, I feel pretty good. I’ve eaten a peanut butter brownie today and I’ve had a few cups of coffee and I feel great about that.  I’ve given in to the idea that there’s no real sense in doing anything this week, it will all be over by Tuesday morning and I can really start the new year on a newer, stricter diet (I’m picking up TNT today) and a new more-intense phase of NROL.  There’s only so much weight I can gain in a week, and even then I think I’ve kept my calories in check.  I still feel skinny and my jeans are still falling off.  This really is a special time of year and I’m going to enjoy it, damnit.

I start in Bourne on New Year’s Eve day, and I’ve got a ton to look forward to.  2007 was a pretty great year when I look back on it objectively.  In the moments everything has happened, it was hard to feel really good about them, as I usually hate anything new, but when I list everything I’ve accomplished I feel very proud.  I did two internships working with new people every day (that I was horribly nervous about going into them), actually completed graduate school and got a master’s degree (which always seemed so far away), got engaged to the love of my life (the best and most important decision I could ever make), and on the last day of the year I begin my career that I’ve spent so much time preparing for.

There have also been some mishaps.  The weight gain certainly was the biggest one topping out at 231 in May, though I have lost the majority of it.  I actually think the process of falling off the fitness wagon was a blessing in disguise because it forced me to reevaluate my diet and weight-lifting philosophies and start from scratch.  I read more (Men’s Health, New Rules of Lifting, TNT Diet), listened to more (The FitCast) , and interacted with and got support and ideas from others who are interested in the same thing that I’m interested in (JP Fitness Forums).  I was in decent shape before the fall-off, but I was also on a strength plateau for about 3 years and wasn’t going to make much progress.  I had to take all those steps back in order to take more steps forward in the future.  On my wedding day, I am going to be in ridiculous shape, I guarantee it.

I’ve made a few other mistakes as far as my responsibility and organization but hopefully those gaffs are behind me and I’m a better person for it. I’m always trying to improve my life in someway, despite the fact that I don’t always implement a lot of those ideas.

People say that New Year’s resolutions are mostly garbage, as everyone gives up on them by February 1 (not looking forward to the gym being packed at 5:30 AM every day for that first month).  That hasn’t stopped me from typing up 4 pages of goals (fitness, relationships, profession, finances, anything else I could think of) that I’d like to accomplish.  I have some pretty specific goals and ways to achieve them and while it seems a little too Tony Robbins-ish to post here, I think it’s a good blueprint.  It’s just a coincidence that it starts with January 1, but with the job starting and the new workout/diet starting then anyway, why the hell not?

Here’s to 2008 being the best year ever.

—————-
Now playing: ESPN – The B.S. Report: 12/26
via FoxyTunes

Thursday

Nothing physical today, ate a little bit better. An omelet, a couple Christmas cookies (I was hoping I’d be able to use my will power but since they were there I ate a couple in lieu of lunch), some chicken, and a ton of coffee. I don’t know about calories but I feel decent. I did a lot of shopping today. I picked up some nice work clothes from Macy’s and picked out some shoes to buy later. I’m pretty tired but hopefully I’ll go out for a little socializing tonight while friends are still in town.

Tomorrow would be great if I could get myself to the gym. I’m not going to be able to do anything for the next few days so tomorrow will be important to do some physical activity. I don’t feel mentally committed to it right now. Health and fitness are very far from my mind.

—————-
Now playing: William Wilson – Wine for Newbies 20–Wine Tastings
via FoxyTunes

Powered by ScribeFire.

StutterTalk

I hope everyone enjoyed the few days during the holiday, I know I did.  Jaylynn and I did the tour of Massachusetts, opening presents with both the Griffin/Berard sides of my family on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning (Plymouth/Swansea), and later to the Laverdure family party in the afternoon and with her family Christmas night (Lancaster/Berlin). A lot of miles were put on my car but it was well worth it.  We’re lucky in that our family gatherings don’t conflict with each other, therefore allowing us to see everyone.  I love my new Michael Kors watch and 6th-row Celtics tickets, as well as everything else I received and hope everyone liked what I gave them as well.

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything about stuttering, but I came across a great podcast called StutterTalk where two SLPs who stutter and an SLP grad student talk about different issues (search “StutterTalk” on iTunes).  They seem to have great rapport with each other and are very knowledgeable about stuttering.  If you can remember back a couple years ago I had an idea for a stuttering podcast but never really got it off the ground.  I’m sort of jealous because these guys have followed through on something I wasn’t able to create myself, but they have put together a pretty great show and maybe I’ll contact them to try and get involved somehow.  I think it would be a great listen for people who stutter, speech-language pathologists, or anyone interested in learning about stuttering in general. I’m in the process of going through all of the back episodes to try and get caught up, so my next few days will be spent doing that and prepping for work starting New Year’s Eve.

—————-
Now playing: StutterTalk – StutterTalk.com – Stuttering and Breathing (and StutterTalk Gets Crack-a-Lackin!)
via FoxyTunes

Merry Christmas Eve

To me, blogging is a sin on a major holiday (and Christmas Eve is a major holiday in my book), but I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.

Also a big congratulations to Ethan Tease and Kate Whitaker for their engagement, as well as a belated congrats to Andy Hill and Moriah Delano for theirs.  Welcome to the club!

JustGive

Every once and a while I start to feel selfish for not doing enough for other people.  Sure, I’ve worked with many children and adults for my clinic assignments and outplacements and I’m going to be doing it every day starting on New Year’s Eve, but apart from school or work philanthropy has never really been my bag.  I feel guilty about that and have always wanted to be someone who donates to charity, but I never get around to it.  I usually give a few bucks to the Salvation Army whenever I see them around and I think I gave $10 or $20 to Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina, but I think that’s it. No Habitats for Humanity (like History’s Greatest Hero, Dan Teles), no Alternative Spring Breaks, no soup kitchens, no nothing (at least not since Boy Scouts). Usually it’s “I need to pay for gas/food/cable first, then I’ll do it” and then I just never do it.

However, seeing as how it’s the holiday season and everyone is in a giving mood (and this Mormon Tabernacle Choir music is making me all misty), I’m more likely to do something now while I’ve got momentum. Because this feeling will probably fade away once Seasonal Affective Disorder sets in about mid-January, I’ve been researching some charities online that will automatically donate $10 or $15 per month from my credit card to a couple charities of my choosing. It isn’t much but it should help out and also ease that White/Catholic (I never know which) Guilt that creeps up. I think JustGive looks like a contender. You can search for the type of charity you want to donate to (e.g., kids, cancer, disabled, the arts, animal rights, etc.) and your card is automatically charged every month.  Once I start my job I’m going to do this, and I think it would be a good idea for anybody reading this to do as well.

On John Mayer’s blog today, he writes about a site called Donors Choose where teachers can post how much money they need for certain materials they can’t afford (books, supplies, etc.) and you can individually donate to the specific person or school.  Also a cool idea.

Easter Seals, Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, National Stuttering Association and a couple others are all being considered for my new monthly donating schedule. There are a million charities and a million different causes whether at these sites or others, so pick something you care about and do something positive if you aren’t already.

—————-
Now playing: Mormon Tabernacle Choir – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire)
via FoxyTunes

Morning Walk

After some chicken parm, 3 glasses of pinot noir, a brownie, and a couple cookies last night at Mama Mia’s and the Sinatra Christmas party (which was fun, by the way), I had to go for a weighted walk this morning for about 40 minutes.  I really, really should do a bodyweight circuit later tonight before bed.  Hopefully I’m at least offsetting a few hundred calories I’ve been taking in.  While I’ve been eating like shit the past few days, I haven’t really been having a lot in terms of calories.  Substituting a 3-egg omelet breakfast with 3 peanut butter blossoms isn’t very nutritious, but the calories are probably comparable.

Anyway, let’s hope the damage has been minimal. My pants are literally falling off especially in the past couple of days so I must be doing something right.

Actually got myself to do something!

Instead of sitting around wrapping presents (poorly) and playing NBA Live, I got myself to go for an hour-long walk with the weighted backpack on and do one half of a bodyweight circuit. Not the most I could have done but it’s something to keep active. I’m surprised I was able to get myself moving considering the mood I was in this morning and while I’m still a little down, at least I’ve done something to combat the darkness.  Granted I should have done the intense stuff prior to the walk, but whatever.

—————-
Now playing: Smashing Pumpkins – Doomsday Clock
via FoxyTunes

Christmas Time is Here

All my shopping is done.  This is where I keep reminding myself that I have a real job now and will be making real money in 9 days, because I spent more than I thought.

I need to step up my holiday movie-watching.  Usually by this time I’ve watched Love, Actually and at least a few of the clay-mation ones on TV, but I’ve been slacking.  While I own the DVD, I’ve never actually seen It’s a Wonderful Life, so I should probably watch that.  The Holiday was a surprisingly good movie last year, I’d like to see that again.

Going to a Christmas party tonight which is (for some reason) Sinatra-themed. I’m all for Blue Eyes, and I assume we will just be wearing suits listening to the Rat Pack’s Christmas album.  No problem with that.

Seeing as how I’m in no mood for health or fitness (I guess the holiday spirit has sucked it right out of me), I’ve eaten a couple Christmas cookies and haven’t worked out the last two days. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold out, so I just need to make sure I don’t go crazy with them. One peanut butter blossom from breakfast is enough.  I have no desire to work out, so maybe I will take this week as my off week as opposed to next.  I just need to eat reasonably.  I’m not going to get to my 200-pound goal regardless, there just isn’t enough time left and I’m still 205.  I’ve had to look at my diet and really look at what needs improving.  I don’t think Adam’s Diet is really working out for me (the post-workout shakes just have too much sugar), so that means either the TNT or Abs Diets after New Year (I said that the TNT Diet is an update of Adam’s Diet, and from what I hear the first phase of it has no carbs during the workout window.  Six weeks of that could mean some serious fat loss).  Here’s to not gaining 10 pounds in the next 10 days.

Happy holidays.

TinyEYE

For anybody in speech-language pathology, WSC or otherwise:

I found this website, TinyEYE.com, a new company for speech-language pathologists to perform online therapy with clients who would not normally have access to an SLP.  It involves webcams, headsets, and online homework.  I believe this is brand new and while I’m sure there are bugs, I think the idea behind it has enormous potential.  For those of us who are just beginning our clinical fellowships, we would not be able to take part in this yet as we are not certified or licensed, but I am going to email some professors  and ask their opinions of it.  I believe it was presented at the ASHA convention this year.  If nothing else, it’s a great idea. Check out the tutorial.