Eighteenth posting - OCD

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Memorial Day. Fortunately mine was both. I took the train to Washington and visited some college friends. From now on, I will be taking the train as much as I can: it was virtually hassle-free, the seats are comfortable, price was reasonable, and a man selling beer and wine was never more than 100 feet away.

My friends actually live in a small, tight-knit, and well left-of-center community called Glen Echo, just outside of Washington (http://www.glenecho.org/). Because the weather was great (low humidity, upper 70s), we sat on the porch a lot, shooting the proverbial breeze. Every so often, we would see a gold Infinity sedan drive by, along their short street. The driver didn't look particularly odd, although he drove slightly fast, and completed only a "rolling stop" at the stop sign.

A neighbor had pointed out that this car and driver had been spotted along the street repeatedly over the past several weeks. She also mentioned that others had seen him, and he'd followed the same route -- in one end of the neighborhood and out the other, each timing coming from and returning to the South. His trips seemed fairly regular, so I timed him. First time was 14 minutes. Second time 12 mins. Third was 14 minutes. It seemed to get a little creepy in that now we were waiting for him to come. No one wanted to stop him and ask his business, but another friend did suggest this behavior indicated Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Perhaps.

After some reconnaissance work by a journalist who lived nearby, they discovered his name (Timothy) and where he lived (Bethesda). Timothy has no criminal record, other than some violation related to an obstructed license plate, but he does have 2 homes. This was all very interesting. The police were called again, but nothing has come of it yet. If he's not dangerous, maybe he could be some unofficial village time-keeper. "What time is it?" "Timothy just drove by...must be close to two o'clock."

My friend pointed out the irony that Timothy's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may, in fact, have created a similar disorder among the villagers, who are growing obsessed in anticipating his next trip...

Enjoy your week, especially those of you with birthdays, and don't drive too often along the same route (or the villages will start to talk). NATHAN

P.S. For you runners out there, here's a link to a site on Age Grading, a method by which you can see how your times stack up generally against others in your category. http://www.pinebeltpacers.org/AgeGrade/newwava.html Achievement levels above 60 are considered locally very strong, 70+ are regionally strong, 80+ are national, and 90+ are world class. My best 5k so far doesn't get me anything yet, although I'm close. Need to get under 20 minutes, which is a good goal in the coming weeks.

Seventeenth posting - kids

I found something online that I thought I'd share. What do you think the following list of skills represents?

• Knows first and last name, age, birth date, address and phone number.
• Knows the letters of the alphabet.
• Knows some rhymes, poems, and songs.
• Identifies objects in picture books.
• Prints own name.
• Counts to 10.
• Knows size, position, and directions; for example, big and little, up and down.
• Uses alternate feet going down stairs.
• Completes simple puzzles.
• Throws and catches a ball.
• Draws and colors beyond scribbling.
• Cuts with scissors.
• Recognizes and names colors and shapes.
• Names body parts.
• Dresses self.
• Follows one- and two-step directions.
• Stays on task.
• Cooperates and interacts in group experiences.
• Speaks clearly and uses sentences.

According to the Sacramento County (CA) board concerned with early education, it is a list of skills that children should have when they enter kindergarten. Now think about where you work and the people around you. Perhaps a remedial class might be a good thing...

Here's a house update for you: Looks like the tenants in my condo have found a place to live and will be moving out of the condo at the end of June. My mortgage rate -- which is pretty good -- is locked until June 13, so I have to close then and become a temporary landlord, or I can push my mortgage guy to work up a new mortgage just as the lock expires. The long-term rates have fallen slightly, so this would not be a bad thing. Just have to figure out what I risk by waiting to close.... Of course, the longer I wait to move in, the worse my memory becomes -- and the better and bigger the condo is in my mind. Impatiently yours, NATHAN

Sixteenth posting - nephew

Today's blog is a little deviation from the norm. This morning I received an e-mail from my sister about my nephew's experience at a Florida minor league baseball game. I hope you enjoy the following excerpt. NATHAN

"Good evening baseball fans! Well, most of you are probably reading this in the morning, but it is 10:45pm here! The kids and I just got back from Connor's last day of school activity at a Clearwater Threshers vs. Palm Beach Cardinals minor league baseball game. Jon unfortunately had to miss it and is in Arizona. Anyway, it was such an incredible time, I thought I would tell everyone about it and at one time.

We got in for $12 a person (Abby free) and got tickets to any seat in the stadium and free food from 5:30-8:30. I of course loved the all you can eat for one price. So the kids first played on their playground, then ate, and then we took our popcorn, ice cream sandwiches, and drinks to out seats. I chose next to 3rd base. So around the 3rd inning, some general manager said that Connor and Abby could sit close to the field with him. Connor had his mitt on ready to catch a fly ball the entire time.

He and the guy chatted and then after the 4 or 5th inning, he took Connor onto the field, the umpire gave him a brush, and Connor got to sweep home plate! Then at the 7th inning stretch, he gave Connor the microphone and he lead the crowd to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". Just before that Connor had to use the potty, so he let him use the one that the players used, too. Then at the end of the game, all of the kids get to run the bases. He was out on the field doing some ball throwing thing to win $$ and he nnounced, "Connor are you ready to run the bases. Connor, remember to let your little sister come, too."

Well, the game ended and Connor was like .05% sad that he didn't catch any fly balls and all of a sudden another manager came up and said, "Here you go," and threw him a game ball! Last but not least, the first manager guy gave me his card and said, "Next time you guys come to a game, please give me a call and I will have Connor throw out the first pitch!" Now that's cool! On the way to the car Connor said, "This was one of the best days of my life!"

Don't you wish you were five again?

Fifteenth posting - race again

On Sunday I competed in the Queens Biathlon (3.1 mile run + 20 mile ride + 3.1 mile run). Longest total distance I've ever run, and my first time in this event (so I had no idea what the course looked like, although I should have figured out something might be tough based on the hill that led up to the start).

My first run and ride were both decent (top 1/3rd of racers). Second run was not so great (middle 1/3rd). Overall, my time was 1:44:18. The longest race I'd ever done was just under 1hr 15min, and today my legs still feel like they could use a mighty good rubdown (note to self: use my sister's spa gift certificate for massage...). Overall I came in 64th of 163, and top 42% of men. My most competitive time was the bike (no surprise)... Fortunately, I did have enough energy at the end to shoot past a runner I'd been trailing for the last 2 miles. I checked the times last night and discovered the runner I passed was 60 years old. Pop goes the ego bubble.

Kudos out there to those of you who have been exercising more and have noticed that you're feeling good, sleeping better, eating more (!!!). It's all about balance, really -- and an easy to way to "win" for those of you with competitive streaks (just ten more situps...just twenty more minutes on the trail run...just 100 more yards on the rower...just enough under 30 minutes to be truly under 30 minute on my run...).

Get fit & have fun. NATHAN

Fourteenth posting - id/ego

A friend told me last night that Congress recently passed legislation authorizing a national ID. At first I didn't believe her. Even after an immigration attorney in the room confirmed the news, I still didn't believe them. Sure, much of the world uses cards like these, and there are benefits. BUT there are tremendous risks involved -- and an ever-closer movement toward a big brother state.

I am hardly a Libertarian. In fact, I think the goverment in many areas could become even more proactive (care of the environment, corporate regulation, health care), but friends, this national ID could be very scary. Here's a website with more info (it is biased) -- http://www.unrealid.com/index.html. From what I understand, here's the scoop on the whole thing:

• National ID language was inserted into a House emergency spending bill the first week of May. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI, and lapdog of the Right) seems to have been the sponsor
• Bill was passed 368-to-58, with little debate about the national ID
• Senate considered similar legislation, which was passed 100-0

I strongly urge you to take a look at the exact language of the legislation. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:6:./temp/~c109O0YnKC:e238497: It should concern you. Here are some highlights:

"Minimum Document Requirements- To meet the requirements of this section, a State shall include, at a minimum, the following information and features on each driver's license and identification card issued to a person by the State:
(1) The person's full legal name.
(2) The person's date of birth.
(3) The person's gender.
(4) The person's driver's license or identification card number.
(5) A digital photograph of the person.
(6) The person's address of principle residence.
(7) The person's signature.
(8) Physical security features designed to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes.
(9) A common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements."

A lot of this is already on your driver's license, but more information on this last point (no. 9) is explained in greater detail in the Bill.

Let's hope the national press finds a reason to cover this. And let's also hope the Red states wake up and vote the idiots out.

Rock on. NATHAN

Thirteenth posting - air/smell

I heard this morning that the New York metro area currently has the worst levels of pollen in 10 years. Now all of the wheezing and sneezing I've been hearing at the office and in the neighborhood makes sense. I for one don't seem to have been as dramatically impacted by all the floating spores and seeds (at least for now)... but the lovely light yellow layer of floral dust on my black truck certainly confirms the pollen report.

I've been thinking a lot about air lately. Even the semblance of fresh air is important to me. Having the window open in the car, the air blasting me on an airplane (yes, I realize it's hardly "fresh") or a little fan in my office -- they all contribute to at least moving the air around me. Several years ago I spent some time in Estonia, where stiflingly warm and stale indoor air was accepted (and, to some extent, cultivated). Long winters surrounded by rarely cleaned suits and sweaters were hardly an olfactory delight, although I did recognize something very organic about it. The problem was that many of the folks I worked with recognized a possible odor issue and attempted to mask it with cologne or perfume. In some cases my own nose would get confused by scents competiting at the extremes, but in the end, just getting acknowledged as "unpleasant" in the middle.

Speaking of smells, there is a woman I work with who uses the same perfume as one of my elementary school teachers (20+ years ago). Interestingly, my co-worker is in her mid-30s now, and my teacher was probably the same age then. The only perfumes I remember by name from that time in my life are Chanel no. 5 (Mom) and Charlie (advertising). I can identify Chanel now, but for her sake, I hope it's not Charlie...

I have also read that the sniff people take when trying to imagine an odor closely resembles the sniff they would have taken if the odor were really there. For example, when imagining the smell of bus fumes, people take a timid sniff, but when imagining the smell of a rose, they take a vigorous sniff. I may try this as an experiment at the office today... (little do my co-workers know the guinea pig roles they will soon adopt...)

Sniff on! NATHAN

Twelth posting - food

So I've been minus one kitchen for way too long. By kitchen I mean the space itself as well as the appliances and all the kitchen stuff (dishes, pans, forks, etc.), not to mention the food. Sure, I have a small fridge and a microwave, but if I were to rank - in order - the essential parts of a kitchen, those are 2nd and 5th on the list. First is sink, and 3rd is stove, 4th is oven. Since the microwave became part of my life, I've used it twice.

Now about food. I'm involved with a few friends in something called Dinner Group. We just had our 3rd dinner. The way it works is as follows: The host chooses a theme and can (a) actually host the event, prepare a main course, and send out course assignments, or (b) come up with an alternative plan for dinner (e.g., restaurant). The inaugural dinner was Cajun (complete with beads and crayfish), the second was Mexican (think Rick Bayless, but yummier), and Saturday was Greek (Sophocles didn't eat as well...). There are no teetotlers among us (I'm not sure if I have any as friends, to be honest...), so well-chosen beverages also make up a good portion of the night's consumption. (NOTE: Ouzo is not a hangover-free potable...)

I bring up Dinner Group because it's been an enormous pain being involved and NOT having a kitchen. For those of you who know me, you also know I'm generally not a complainer, but I'm getting tired of washing my cereal bowl in my neighbor's sink, dumping my coffee grinds in their garbage -- and never really knowing what's for dinner. (I can tell you, it's not beef.) Thank goodness for great neighbors. I hope everyone's as lucky...

Wondering if there is anything edible at the company store, NATHAN