G and Pat stories

Blog
Last Wednesday, when working out at ASA, G came up to say hello and visit with me. Kris and I haven't seen him in forever (also known as two months), so it was great to see him. He's been working overtime at Cabrillo, and had to cut back on time at ASA. Sucks big time for us. But things have been going well for him. He has a potential job offer as a head coach, one where he can actually play, too. How cool is that?

I asked him about Pat Frost, too. Pat was one of the other trainers at ASA. He was working at ASA while he was training for spring training. Pat had a walk-on tryout with Kansas City as a pitcher.

Well, it turns out he pitched really well, and landed a contract. He goes out in spring training to pitch his first game ("all excited like," says Kris). Throws a pitch, and *ow* he tweaked his shoulder. The doctors looked at his shoulder and, yep, sure enough, tore his rotator cuff.

Boo.

The good thing is that he had a contract, so his medical expenses are covered. The bad thing, it's his rotator cuff. So, Pat's back in the Bay Area.

Coke. Coke? No, Pepsi

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So, anyone who knows me knows that I don't drink caffeinated beverages. Nor do I typically drink carbonated beverages. The former is because I was told caffeine can trigger migraines, the latter because I was told the phosphor in carbonated drinks contributes to osteoporosis.

This second connection is actually dubious. The original observation was that women in recent generations have more osteoporosis than older generations, and, hey, they drink more sodas, so there must be a connection, a link between the rise in soda consumption and the rise in osteoporosis. The first theory that developed was that the phosphor in the soda was leeching the calcium from the bones, causing the osteoporosis increase.

The link, however, is that the increase in soda consumption resulted in a decrease of milk consumption, and therefore a decrease in calcium consumption. This decrease in calcium consumption meant less calcium in the bones of the latest generation of women (and men, actually), and hence an increase in osteoporosis.

There are probably a larger number of factors, such as reduced sunlight exposure (vitamin D!), increased toxin consumption, less weight bearing exercise and the other factors we don't know about, but the one I kept with me (quite irrationally) is the phospor in carbonated beverages can cause oestoporosis, so don't drink it!

So much did that stick with me, that ten years later I actually recall an otherwise unremarkable hike with Hester Bell. Hester and I were hiking in the San Gabriel mountains, on a hike similar to hikes where the idea for Amerigon was fostered by Lon Bell. I very much enjoyed spending time with Hester. Lon, on the other hand, intimidated the hell out of me.

And I still don't drink many sodas. I will on occasion, however. Take last week, for example. Kris was at work until after 4:00 am. I stayed up as best I could waiting for him. The next day, I was tired. So tired. So, at lunch, I had my first full Coke in years. Yes, years. Not just a sip from Kris's cup. Not a shared Coke. A full Coke.

Caffeine and all.

My first moblog!

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My first moblog! This is going to be fun.

Kris bought me a new phone last week and I'M PRETTy excited about it. Though I seem to have fatter fingers than I thought I did.

We'll see how this goes. I have a camera phone so maybe more impromptu pictures. Or maybe not. I am sure I'm going to need to streamline my blog entry process though. I can't even find the freaking comma key.

Update! Kris found the comma key for me! blob-M. Whoo!

Baseball season starts today.

Blog
Great.

Much to Kris' excitement and anticipation, the 2005 MLB season starts today.

Boston vs NY Yankees.

Oh joy. Must... contain... excitement.

Not.

Magazine a day: day 2

Book page
Day two of my magazine-a-day attempt, which started yesterday.

Today's magazine was Nutrition Action. It's a thin magazine without advertising. Each issue discusses a main health topic, as well as smaller blurbs of other health topics. It also has an comparison article discussing how to make good choices with some food group.

The whole magazine is very light (being thin), but is pretty good for the topics it covers. This issue discussed thinning bones and what nutrients can help prevent osteoporosis. The last issues was about lead in water. That cover story is actually online at the magazine's website.

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