End of February post

Not too much going on in the last few weeks.  I've been sticking to my workout and diet plan pretty well.  I am hovering around 213 pounds. So with this means lots of gym time and of course you notice things at the gym.  Ok I've gone to the Towson location a bunch and there are a lot more older people at that location than Canton. My question is why do older men like to hang out naked in the locker room?  On more than one occasion I have observed dudes carry on long conversations and just taking their time getting changed stark naked. This seems to be part of their routine.  I chalked it up to an older man thing, innocent until one day this old man was talking to a little boy who was with his dad.  The dad was changing and this naked man was talking to the boy about his belly button.  I just left not leave the boy in danger, his dad was there, but I don't think I would be real comfortable with a naked man talking to my son about his body parts. I'm sorry but it ain't right. Next issue is a bit less inappropriate, but inappropriate none the less.  So I head into the gym around 6:30 (Fort Avenue), there is the older man reading the newspaper up by the desk.  Ok no big deal its not normal for people to hang out much at all, most people in and out.  I get changed and do my hour routine. I come back into the locker room and who waltzes in? Yep, newspaper guy.  So I start getting changed, this guy finds an outlet and starts to shave his beard.  not at a sink, but like 5 feet from me at some lockers. He doesn't just shave but then proceeds to groom himself like picking nose hairs and the like. Im thinking how is he going to get the hair up off the bench? I mean the next people to change there are going to have old white stubble all over their clothes.  Then I was thinking is this guy well? Think about it he read the paper for an hour or so then decides to shave, I don't think he was even thinking about working out.  This isn't a rental living area it is a gym primarily for working out.  This was weird, the next weirdest thing I had seen at that gym was the guy who would ask if you were done with a piece of equipment then try and strike up a conversation.  Most people either wait patiently or find some other thing to do.  if they do ask its like you almost done yes/no ok I'll wait. No this guy is like: you done no oh well I need to use it, you know its real busy in here, I like to do that exercise, etc. He got me once and I figured it was a one-time thing. I was wrong, every time I see him he's do it. Guess what he's an older gentleman. I would think that these guys would take clue from the majority of the clientele, come in, work out, go home. That makes it easier on everybody.

The Baltimore Allstars showed up again and Ski trip '13

It all came together one more time and this one was for Ray. This picture says it all:

Closing thoughts on the season:

Flacco's going to get his money, just don't break the team, because without talent in the other 10 on the field, specifically the O-line most importantly, Joe wont be successful.

Lastly, thanks Ray, the Ravens will not be the same without you.

The weekend following the Baltimore All-star's victory was the 3rd annual Ski trip.  For the second season we went to West Virginia's Canaan Valley, although only 2 couples participated. Getting there in the winter is interesting, we were ok but our guests came later and ran into some weather. Last year the same thing happened to some folks.  I think in the future daytime arrival is critical.  Weather from there on was beautiful and made hitting the slopes a pleasure.  We snowboared at Timberline Saturday (where we stayed) and then the Canaan Valley ski area on Sunday.  I had a new used board to get used to.  It did it's job after a few incidents, but all in all it was an upgrade from the tired ex-rental board I had been riding.  My brother in-law likes to push the limits so the first day it we did a double black diamond (see picture below).  That went ok for me meaning I got down on the board not my face. As the afternoon crowds hit lift lines became nuts.  The second day, I followed him off a trail into a few feet of powder on the steepest slope I had been on.  Let's just say I'm glad powder is soft.  We ran all the trails that place had (with no lift lines) and had another great day on the slopes with no permanent injuries.

Timberline morning

 Me

Experts Only (but nobody asked for my card)

 Canaan Valley Ski Area 

wife and the dogs