Book Review: Saved

I just finished reading Jack Falla's book, Saved, which was a good read. A novel about a goalie's quest to win the Stanley Cup, it is a good blend of fiction and the game of hockey, nicely paced. A former Sports Illustrated writer, Falla knows the sport. Recommended. Sadly, Falla died this past past fall. visiting family in Maine.

Game: CII Rec League: 1st Game -- Cancelled!

I have been really sick this weekend, so I won't be able to play in the first CII Rec League at Center Ice. The schedule will be two weekends on and one off, so I'll attend the Skills and Drills on my off week. I'm really disappointed, but since the illness is in my chest and my whole body hurts, better to wait.

Training: Motivation to Run

I'm glad I put my Nike Mini on this blog, because it has really been mocking me lately and it's a good inspiration to run! The weather has been so good the last few days and, as I'm in training this week, my schedule allowed me to get out this morning. I ran over to Maple Grove, hoping to have some time on the trails, but it wasn't to be. What was left on the trails was pure ice, so, rather than risk injury, I returned to the streets. Even though I know I have been cross-training via hockey and the occasional workout, it was a relief that the run wasn't too difficult!

Races: Adventure Races 2009

U.S. Adventure Racing Association

The March 2009 National Geographic Adventure is out and has a good sidebar on the burgeoning popularity of multisport races. They also list 5 events in the U.S., from beginner up to extreme.

Beginner: The Central Coast Adventure Challenge: 18 mile kayak, bike, and run

Advanced Beginner: Adventure Week: A little bit of everything, from Xterra triathlons to mountain biking

Intermediate: Adventure Xstream Summit: This race takes place in Frisco, CO, between 9,000 and 12,000 Feet

Difficult: The Longest Day: 26 hour race involving trekking, trail running, paddling, and mountain biking

Extreme: Primal Quest Badlands: 600 miles long and includes everything but the kitchen sink

Adventure Brief: Travelblog.org

Some friends of mine are living in Africa for a year and i discovered their blog on Travelblog.org. It seems like a really neat site, probably something for everyone. They are spending a year in the capital city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The objectives of their sabbatical include taking direct action to help understand and fight extreme poverty and global inequalities. It is a small drop of aid, but hopefully the seven of them will cause ripples of goodwill. I'll be following their blog and, if you are interested, you can check it out here.

Adventure Brief: 2009 Mugs Stump Award Winners

From The Cleanest Line:

Clint Helander, the Revelation Range, Alaska; with Seth Holden. The climbers propose a trip into one of the least-explored (20 parties have visited since 1966) clusters of granite mountains in Alaska, to pursue rock, ice, and ridge-running objectives on three unclimbed massifs.

Ryan Hokanson, the southeast face of Mount Logan, Alaska; with Samuel Johnson. The two climbers will make an alpine-style bid on the unclimbed southeast face, expecting mixed ground on an exact line TBD tackling a wall two miles high, one of the largest on the planet.

Sam Magro, north face of Broken Tooth, Alaska; with Aaron Thrasher. The climbers have spotted a diagonalling weakness on the 1,000-meter north face of Broken Tooth, climbed to half-height, with difficulties up to M6, on a previous bid but never completed.

Jim Martinello, Mount Bute, British Columbia, Canada; with Bruce Kay and Jason Sinnes. The climbers look to pioneer a new free route on Bute’s unclimbed lower buttress (2,500 feet), and then either free the existing route on the upper west face (20 pitches; 3,000 feet) or climb a new line on the upper wall.

Doug Chabot, Kuk Sar II, Pakistan; with Bruce Miller. The pair will attempt the sheer north face of this unclimbed 6,925-meter Karakoram peak, one that’s never been visited by climbers; the face has locally been rumored to be "impossible," as well as up to 3,000 meters tall.

Colin Haley, North Ridge of Latok 1, Pakistan; with Josh Wharton and Dylan Johnson. The climbers propose an attempt on this longstanding, oft-attempted (20 attempts) prize of Himalayan Mountaineering, climbed nearly to the summit in 1978. They propose beginning on snow and ice beside the ridge crest, to make quicker progress down low.

Josh Beckner, El Lonko, Argentine Patagonia; with Dave Anderson and Jared Spaulding. The east face of the El Cap-sized, unclimbed "El Lonko," in the back of the remote Pirate Valley, in alpine style; a secondary goal will be a new route on the North Arête of the nearby Mariposa (2,220 vertical feet), in the same style.

Gear: Porsche Design Indicator p'6910 Wristwatch

Porsche Design has come up with a luxury watch for men that includes a digitally displayed chronograph, seen in the 3 o'clock position. This watch is self-winding, a power reserve display, and a titanium case. The sapphire crystal back reveals the inner workings. The price: $150,000 (no, it's not a typo).

25 Random Things About me...

On Facebook, there is a Note going around, where, if you are tagged, you have to write 25 random things about yourself. Here's my list:

1. I’ve always had a great life, but the last 2 years have been just amazing!
2. In middle school, my nickname was the “Maňana Kid.”
3. In college, my goal was to move every year with only what I could carry – you should see all the stuff I own now!
4. One of my fondest memories of high school is snowskiing and surfing the same day!
5. My one lasting ambition has been to travel around the world.
6. I suggest everyone work for the federal government.
7. It’s scary to think that our children will one day be out on their own.
8. Every year, I’d like to do something totally new.
9. I’d love to run a 100-mile trail race.
10. I don’t miss Florida, but I miss that weather right now.
11. Someday I’d like to finish a project on the home in a reasonable amount of time.
12. I’d like to be fit again.
13. I wished I owned homes in 4 dissimilar spots and just travelled between them as my job for several months at a time.
14. Hopefully, my kids will be more focused than I ever have been.
15. I’m looking forward to summer weekends in Pier.
16. I haven’t been back to CA since 1987, but maybe it’s time…
17. After high school, I wanted to apprentice with Sam Maloof and build furniture.
18. I like 2-buck Chuck! (and don’t care what others say)
19. An anagram for Palubinskas is A SLAB IS PUNK.
20. Sometimes I just have to laugh at my kids.
21. I still read Ayn Rand.
22. With skating, basketball, soccer, piano, violin, tumbling, and dance, the kids might be overscheduled.
23. The first concert I went to was Saga, Rush, and Jethro Tull.
24. I’m addicted to House.
25. Punk rock made me the person I am today.

Book Review: Introducing Quantum Theory - A Graphic Guide to Science's Most Puzzling Discovery

I'm currently reading "Introducing Quantum Theory - A Graphic Guide to Science's Most Puzzling Discovery" (by J.P. McEvoy & Oscar Zarate, 1996: Totem Books). While it is not making it any easier to understand, the cool graphics make it more interesting to read. Recommended as a refresher or as an introduction.