Amicalola Falls

As many of you already know, I hike with Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta once a month. I have become co-leader of these hikes with Lisa. This means any time we decide to try somewhere new, Lisa and I will go weeks in advance to try it out (we get all different skill levels, so we want to let everyone know what to expect). What they should expect from Amicalola Falls is beautiful vistas and great scenery that is trying to kill you by causing you to have respiratory failure on the way up the mountain (at least you will die somewhere pretty).

We started the climb on the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail. It starts off as a tight rocky and rooty trail with a steep ascent which leads to a much steeper gravel road. This gravel road is a gut buster and has no shade. The only good thing that can be said about this section of trail is that when you stop to catch your breath and get a drink of water it has some nice views (I took pictures of the views so I could enjoy them when my heart wasn't threatening to boycott my life). Once at the top you will come to a parking lot and the top of the falls out look. There are restrooms (pack your own TP), Coke machines, water for the dogs and a fitness trail (I am wondering what SADO-masochist would design a fitness trail at the top of a steep hike).
The way down is along the falls and down some steps (600+ steps). You may be thinking this isn't so bad, and you would be right, if it was just me and Lisa and not me and Lisa and 4 dogs. You see these steps are not regular steps; they are made out of metal grating. Many dogs don't like to go down steps anyway, but add to that the fact that the pads of there feet keep slipping through the grates, makes for a long descent for them. By the time we got to the bottom my knees were killing me (I am using that as my excuse for not jogging Monday). From the bottom of the steps the trail continues down on a paved walkway that leads back to the parking lot.

All in all, the hike was between 2.5 miles and 3 miles and took about 2 1/2 hours to complete. This is a great hike if you are into photography or nature. It is not a great hike if you are out of shape, have bad knees, want to go hiking with your dog (no place to swim and grated stairs), are afraid of heights (grated stairs make you look down), or want to do a group hike (mostly single file, especially on the stairs).

Jumping the Shark

My place of business is expanding, and it has promoted some people from the rank and file to supervisor positions. Now I believe that promoting from within is a good thing. I was promoted from within. My only problem with these recent promotions is that they are supposed to be the best of the best not the worst of the worst. They should have something going for them other than their father forgetting to put on the condom.

Every worker that has heard the names of the new supervisors has laughed hysterically. That is all workers except my friend Steve who is going to have the two worst working for him (it wasn't his choice to promote them, and he's pissed that he has to deal with them). My friend and co-worker John has referred to this series of promotions as our company "Jumping the Shark". How can you expect high standards from a company when the people enforcing the standard have set such a poor standard their entire career? Once a person moves out of their parent’s house the old line "Do as I say and not as I do" doesn't work anymore. Quality is about to go way down.

Parents often tell their kids when they get older that they hope they have kids just like they were when they were kids. I sort of feel the same way; I hope these new supervisors have workers that are as bad as they were, working for them. It would prove karma does exist.

The Great One

I would like to take a moment to welcome a new member into our pack. His name is Gretzky and my sister adopted him a few weeks ago.

Where Does The Time Go?

Where does the time go? After working all day and spending over 1 ½ hours in traffic I got home and mowed the yard (what fun). After I finished mowing I got the chance to do laundry (do I know how to party)? While I was doing laundry I made GRRA (Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta) phone calls to prospective adopters of Dottie.

Once I finally got a break, I decided to go for a run with Buddy. I was running at the Lockheed/Martin trail, and was half way through the run when I was approached by security and informed dogs were not allowed on the trail. The security guard was very polite and professional not like Lisa’s angry man (I think he just was trying to help me with my lack of time by stopping my running).

I am kind of annoyed by this. I know Lockheed/Martin has the right to ask me not to have a dog on the trail, but why now after all these months and after I’ve asked the security guards if I could have a dog on the trail. This means I have to find a new place to run. I could keep running the trail without Buddy, but that’s not going to happen. Buddy is my running partner and motivation to run. Plain and simple, I don’t like to run, and if it wasn’t for Buddy enjoying the run I would rather couch surf (remember I’m a fat guy, and I didn’t get that way by exercising all these years).

I am a little worried that if I don’t find a good place to run, I’ll stop. Remember, basic physics says an object in motion tends to stay in motion, and a gelatinous blob on a couch tends to stay on the couch (I think that’s one of Newton’s laws). But if I do stop running, I’ll at least know were some of the time is not going.

Men are Simple Creatures

My company doesn’t always work smart, but it is a good company and it tries to do right. Today it did something that surprised me. It worked smart, to do right.

My company participates in the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run every year and it advertises and recruits participants. This year they have been really advertising it, but haven’t gotten the response they hoped for from the garages. Here’s where they got smart; the garages are full of mechanics and most mechanics are men, so they sent two of the best looking women from HQ to do recruiting for the race.

Someone downtown must watch TV. Because if you have seen any commercial geared towards men, it will have a beautiful woman in it. We men are simple creatures. We like women, we especially like beautiful women.

These two women walked into the shop and all work stopped and everyone went over to talk to them (talk to them is guy speak for hit on them). All they had to do was ask everyone if they would participate in the corporate run and guys lined up to join (I had joined weeks ago, because it was one of my short term goals).

A funny thing, most of these men joined thinking they might get a chance to hit on the women at the corporate run. But, after they finished signing everyone up, I asked them if they were running or walking? They said they weren’t doing either.

We men are simple creatures.

Then & Now

Yesterday I almost didn’t go running. It started with having to wash my running gear (shorts, shirt & socks), and then when I left the house and turned on the Dick Tracy watch it had low power. This got me thinking about then and now.

Then: I use to run in my early 20’s. I was in the Coast Guard and most mornings I ran (unless I was out at sea (my ship wasn’t big enough, and I can’t run on water.(Although, if I could, I would be a lot cooler than I am or crucified))). When I started running I wore a pair of converse, tube socks, gym shorts and a t-shirt. The way I figured out how far I ran was I drove the route before I would run it. The way I figured how hard my workout was, is that I would breathe hard.

Now: I am in my 40’s (and fat) and I run 2 to 3 times a week (unless it’s really hot, then I will make excuses). Now I wear a pair of running sneakers, but not any running sneakers, trail running sneakers. These sneakers are not just for running, they’re for running off road on a trail. I am wearing a pair of socks that help support my arches. The shorts and shirts are moisture wicking and light weight. The way I know how far and how hard I ran is that my watch tells me.

Cost difference between then and now.

THEN
Sneakers: $15
Socks: $5 for a pack a 10
T-shirt: $5 Unless it was a concert t-shirt, then it was $15
Shorts: Free, I got them in boot camp.

NOW
Sneakers: $70
Socks: $15 for a pack a 3
T-shirt: $20
Shorts: $35
Dick Tracy Watch: $300

I think this proves two things, the old adage, “The more you make, the more you spend.” is true and I’m not too bright spending that much more money to do something I’m not crazy about doing. At least I didn’t join a health club or buy a treadmill to run indoors.