The Happy News thread

[Kotik]

We are the champions

German cyclist Tony Martin scored an amazing 4th place today in a world tour race in Frankfurt today. What might sound like the first loser is actually an unbelievable achievemnent, considering that he wasd run over by a car 3 weeks ago and rode with an injured shoulder and a broken jaw. Damn! That man has cojones And it all happened 2 miles from my home. First time ever I saw that race live and in person

[WarpGirl]

Well last night was one for the record books! I nearly hyperventilated watching the NCIS:LA Finale, AWESOME! But the big news just hit this morning, while I was in the process of hyperventilation, my new nephew decided to make his entrence into this crazy world. And unlike his brother who had sense to remain a reasonable size, my new little man is over 10 pounds! He takes after his mother's side of the family.

[Weeble]

Congrats.

I already have a cigar so i am gonna enjoy it even more

[WarpGirl]

I truly do not understand the cigar thing, but thank you! He's gorgeous much prettier than his big brother when he was born. Not nearly as scrunched up! But his brother took 10 hours! He only took 90 mins. And he has a full head of lucious blond hair! Unfortunately I didn't get to see his eyes.

[Kotik]

Whoa Nelly ! I'm away from the interwebs and before I know, two of my all-time favourite stories have been continued

Anyways. I finally settled into my new job. Saying that the landscape around here in the black forest is spectacular, would be the understatement of the century. There're a lot of Nordic walking trails around here, which I've taken to walk daily (without the ridiculous sticks though) and I've lost 9 pounds in a week That's a whole baby!
Anyways, considering that I gained about 70 pounds when I was taking that Mirtazapine, I seem to have quite a few walks ahead of me. Plan for the weekend is to walk the 6 miles to the Feldberg and climb it.

Oh, and weeble, there's a new Seleya Hills chapter coming this week

[Cogito]

If you try them you will learn to appreciate those ridiculous sticks, especially on the hills. Glad to hear you're doing well, and especially glad to hear the writing is also going well.

[Kotik]

Nah, thanks. I don't think I will try them sticks. There are only few things, who make you look more ridiculous than that. You look like a cross-country skier, who forgot his damn skis and on top of it managed to miss that you need snow. I may be fat, but my legs are still working well, so why should I climb up the mountain with two canes?

BTW, cogito. You up for some beta-ing? I've churned out three new chapters for "Words", two for "Seleya Hills", one for "Trip Of A Lifetime" and one for "Chasing Away the Demons".

Can someone tell I've been somewhat underchallenged lately?

[putaro]

Sounds like you are in a happy place Kotik! Good to hear!

I am about to head to the airport. My flight leaves at 5 after midnight on 5/23 and arrives at 5 pm 5/23. Gotta love crossing the date line!

[Cogito]

why should I climb up the mountain with two canes?

They will dramatically increase your endurance, especially when your legs are getting tired. Arms are quite heavy things, and simply taking their weight off you is a significant help. While arms are not very strong compared to your legs, they're good at carrying weight (I guess we evolved to hang from trees rather than carry shopping bags) and are strong enough to take a good fraction of your weight without much effort. Think of it like all-wheel-drive for humans. You're going off road; why would you NOT take advantage of the extra performance?

[Kotik]

All wheel drive is bad. It has an inherent understeer. Why should I want to understeer up a mountain I stick to rear-wheel drive. And making it easier is not what I have in mind. I want it to be as hard as possible, because I wanna lose weight, lots of it - at least 70-75 pounds.

[Cogito]

Now I'm chuckling at the vision of Kotik frantically power-sliding himself up the mountain trails, complete with engine noises and tyre squeal.

No problem with the beta reading but be gentle with me, time is still in short supply.

[Silverbullet]

Kotik, got any good Volks Marches around there. Some 10 or 20 kilometers long? You also can get a medal or some damned thing for completing it.

In my youth (around 40 or so) I would go on volks marches. I could finish them before the alloted time. end up at a Bier Sutbe and have a couple glasses of Suds.

SB

[Weeble]

Cog,

Seleya hills first!!!!

Kotik,

i'm with you. Never been able to understand the walking stick thing. Closest i can see is a wading staff, but thats just one more thing to carry. Walking is simply the best exercise you can do. The wife tries for 10,000 steps a day. I just try to wander up and down stream in my waders for hours. Ya can't believe how the pounds peel off and the cardiovascular improves. I will say that due to some of the more remote locations I end up in, i find that placing a few cold ones in the fly vest come in handy. ya might think about that for some of those long walks.....

[WarpGirl]

That's a whole baby!

Congradulations! Indeed, my newest Little Man joined the world on the 15th a whopping 9lbs, and 15 ounces, I was holding him on the 16th and my arms were sore!

Anyway as someone who has walked with canes or crutches my entire life, I can state with certainty that they do indeed help. Whenever I walked without them I tired out much more quickly. But I am very happy for you Kotik, keep up the fabulous work. Excerise also helps with depression, maybe you'll be able to get a lesser dose of your meds in time.

[WarpGirl]

The women in my family are drinking some powerful coolaid. My cousin just had her baby tonight. My mother is a great-aunt! I wish I could join in the fun, but that would require 24th century medical technology, or an alien take over... on second thought, I like myself as I am thank you very much!