Category: friends

And the home stretch for spring 2024

And, OF COURSE, everyone piles on stuff right at the end. I almost have my final exams ready; just a few more questions to write.

And others have it far, far worse than I do.

Now for working out and baseball:

baseball: I saw three Chiefs losses in a row: 5-3 on Thursday, 5-4 on Saturday and 14-6 today. Today’s game was a bit unusual as the Chiefs lead for about half the game; it was a back and forth affair featuring hitting and some subpar fielding on both sides (wet grass a factor?) but it was 7-6 Wisconsin after 7. The Timberrattlers rocked the Chiefs for 5 runs in the 8’th and 2 more in the 9’th. It was a chippy game on several levels with the umpires ejecting the Chiefs manager in the 7’th and a dugout player, and then a Chiefs official got onto the Wisconsin bus drivers for whooping it up just a bit too much during the final innings. Not sure about that one.

What I was sure about is that 9 walks, 2 hit batters sure didn’t help. And there was a 3 run inning where the Chiefs booted two potential double play balls; the pitcher did better than the box score might indicate (in that inning).

The 5-4 game was a heartbreaker; competitive the whole way. It featured two Wisconsin runners beating the tag (so the umpire said) during rundowns and the Chiefs second baseman getting ejected the second time.

The 5-3 Thursday loss was in front of an all but empty stadium and featured 2 towering Chiefs home runs but little else.

It was a rough week against a strong team. But I had great company.

Working out:

I recorded yesterday. Today: PT, trap bar deadlifts, then a flat 4.3 miles at 14:37; my mile 2 to 3 (MacArthur to home via Moss) was 14:29).

The deadlifts…felt good? I think that my back exercises are helping.

10 x 110, 10 x 140, 10 x 190, 10 x 225 low (perhaps a bit too much bounce in the final set)

10 x 250 wagon wheel

10 x 280 6 inch

I did these in rain dampened basement.

Yesterday: I got 2 sets of 10 and almost a 3’rd. This is set 2.

And some chins:

after my bench press worksets I did some with the Swiss bar

I am still working on the correct weight for this exercise: this weight caused me pain on the top of the shoulders:

the high incline while tied in tight is very humbling. 10 x 80 works. 7 x 94 with a loose tie in is ok but wow..

Colts lose a heartbreaker to the Texans

Ok, I’ll be the first to admit that the Texans have a good team. But over the past few weeks the Colts have defeated the Steelers and the Buccaneers, both who are playoff bound. And they came close this time.

They were trailing 23-17 and had 4’th and 1 at the Texans 15; they had driven it from the 25. The Texans had scored a touchdown but missed the PAT to leave the door open.

So 4’th and 1:  Their star running back had amassed 188 yards of rushing up to then. So, they give the ball to him, right? Right?

An intentional safety on the next possession made it 23-19.

The return of the free kick was smothered.

Alas, we were treated to a nice drone show outside of the stadium though:

The game started ok; the Colts drove the opening kickoff to get a field goal and lead 3-0. That lasted until the Texans first play from scrimmage; a beautiful 75 yard bomb.

The teams settled down a bit but in the second quarter, another drive lead to a 14-3 lead, but the Colts hit a loooong field goal to go into the half trailing 14-6.

In the 3’rd, the Colts running back broke a beautiful long run and it was followed by a 2 point conversion to tie the game! The Colts “doinked” a long field goal and the Texans drove in close enough to make theirs, and so it was 17-14 Texans going into the 4’th.

The Colts made a shorter field goal to tie it.

At this stage, I thought that the Colts had momentum, but a long Texans drive put them up 23-17, but a missed extra point left the door open for the Colts. But it was not to be.

Socially: Barbara and “The Boys” went with me…and aside from the result, enjoyed the game. Lucas was bedlam.

2023 in review

Ok, maybe I’ll write a few words. 2023 started kind of tough: I was tasked with chairing a search committee; that process was time consuming, gave us two GREAT hires….who got cut during the fall blood letting that saw us lose our major. 

But I was unaware of that at the time; what I did get was COVID. That stopped my walking momentum and had me start the semester online. 

Summer saw a Chiefs playoff season, smoke, trip to Texas, sinus infection and then the horrible fall semester with time consuming meetings, AAUP activities (mistake?) and some awful decisions made by higher administration.

Highlights was football, diminished radiating pain, and a star party that saw me see the starlink satellite chain.

For previous years:

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

January

February

March

April

April

May.

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Long catch up

Saturday (23 December) Deadlifts: 10 x 110, 10 x 154 deficit, 10 x 190, 10 x 225 low, then 1 x 300 (felt bad), 10 x 280 8 inch. Then a 4.35 mile walk 14:30 pace.

Saturday: adventure in Chicago. Drive to Chicago; have my GPS freeze so I parked at the Wells Street lot and trudged .7 miles to the hotel (after a misfire; was next door).  Checked in early. Then 5.9 miles on the Lakeshore which included a trip back to the lot to get the rest of my stuff and then back to the hotel. Then 1 mile to the game and 1 plus miles back.

So, in all, it was 8-9 miles for the day. That would have been impossible 2 years ago.

Last night: 4 pm after driving, family lunch: 17:14 pace for 5K of very wet walking.

Today: leisurely weights and a 4 mile walk (4.1 in 56:20; Cornstalk course plus an extra) 

The weights: pull ups: 10, 10, 6 sets of 5 (last 4 were chin ups)

downstairs: bench: 5 x 134, 1 x 154, 1 x 165, 1 x 170, 1 x 154, 5 x 150, 5 x 150, 5 x 150 (no bounce in any set)

high incline: 7 x 105, 5 x 110, 5 x 110, 4 x 115 (out of gas)

3 sets of curls.

The walk: much better than yesterday.

Now about the game: I got there in plenty of time and enjoyed a 50 yard line, front row Media Deck seat. But I had to show my ticket: at the gate, at the Media Deck section and again to GET to my seat. You don’t have to show quite so much in the Media Deck corner sections. But man, what a seat.

And the game: the Bears offense started well; it was 21-0 in the second quarter. The Cardinals eventually closed it to 24-16 in the 4’th (went for 2?) and the Bears got an insurance field goal late (after a 4’th down stop) to win 27-16. J Fields had quite the game; close to 100 yards rushing and connecting with his tight end (who got hurt on his last long reception) and the Bears ran well.

Oddly: everyone on my right left early in the 4’th quarter.

Family lunch: Christmas

And it comes crashing down.

I knew this day was coming. I have a feeling that this is NOT over.

Bug: yeah, I still have it; burning nose, stuffy head, though I did not wake up coughing last night. The cough is not gone but it is better.

Workout: 50 reps pull ups: 20 singles, 4 sets of 5, 10 singles, 30 second hold (timer at 35 seconds)

bench: 7 x 134, 7 x 134, 5 x 145, 5 x 145, all with a pause at the bottom.

3 sets of 10 shrugs

3 sets of 5 x 110 high incline
3 sets of curls.

2 mile walk (16:10 pace) and of course, PT. That was enough for Monday. Weight: 186.5

Yesterday:

I counted this as 3: to and from the stadium, easy pace, with Harry.

The game:

Well, the Bears won 28-13, out scoring the Lions 18-0 in the second half.

Basically the Bears owned the first quarter going up 10-0. The Lions owned the second (behind some good running) 13-0. But at early 2n’d half Bears drive tied at at 13, then the Bears put them away with 2 touchdowns (missed PAT, missed a 2 point attempt) and a field goal.

The Lions took a lot of 4’th down risks and came up empty; the Bears defense was magnificent.

The quarterback was spectacular. More than once, I thought he was sacked. But he wasn’t.

I did make a mistake as to where I sat: there were a lot of young “jack in the boxes” who stood at the first hint of excitement. And that matters because I am slower to stand (comes with age) and so I should probably choose the higher up seats or the more expensive club seats. I’d see the player break open..then stand to see the rest but miss a bit. But the monitors were close by…so it worked out and I enjoyed the experience.

So unless the weather is dreadful, my best bet is probably the first few rows of 300 or 400 or United Club.

Even more catching up

Friday: before class: out and back on the West Peoria 4 plus 2 more on campus: 1:22:57 for 6.23 . I moved pretty well.

Saturday: Weights first (leisurely, and PT of course). the pull ups: 20 singles, some sets (10: 7 counted), then a bunch of sets of 5 some pull, some chin, two mixed grip sets, then a PR for a chin up hold: 37 seconds (timed by the wife)

Downstairs: bench: 5 x 134, 1 x 154, 1 x 164, 1 x 174 (ugly), 3 sets of 5 x 145 with a brief pause at the bottom with each rep.

Shrugs: 3 sets of 10
High incline: 10 x 94, 7 x 105, 5 x 110

curls: 3 sets of 10

Then a flat 4 mile walk in 56:35 (4.02 by the watch)

Later: watched a basketball game:

Later: Tracy came over to watch the Big Ten Championship game (26-0 Michigan over Iowa).

Today: deadlifts and a 4 mile walk (56:25; same course as yesterday)

the deadlifts:

deficit (25 lb plates) 10 x 110, 10 x 140, 10 x 187

neutral: 10 x 225

4 inch: 8 x 271 (lost concentration and form)
10 x 271 (wanted to GET IT RIGHT)

5 turn overs doom the Illini vs Penn State

I started my day with PT and a short walk (West Peoria 3.14 course in 40:18 or 12:50 mpm). Then I picked up Tracy and it was off to the Penn State game.

The tone was more or less set on the opening drive which lead to a missed field goal by the Illini. The Penn State offense was less than impressive, but an early fumble and TWO interceptions lead to Penn State taking a 13-0 lead. On the first of these drives, Penn State had a first and goal at the 2 and got stuffed.

A blocked field goal (52 yd) set up an Illini TD drive (one determined run) but then a late exchange of punts lead to a Penn State field goal as time expired. 16-7 and it could have been a lot worse.

An early drive in the 3’rd quarter was thwarted by yet another interception. Then came a drive punctuated by an option pass for a 23-7 lead…then a 4’th interception (5’th turn over) which lead to a touchdown run and 30-7 lead.

Penn State then got the ball back and turned it over to their second team quarterback and played a lot of guys on defense as well, and the Illini second team quarterback (with 3’rd running back) got a consolation touchdown with just over 4 minutes to go to cut it to 30-13. (2 point conversion failed)

Total yards: 383 to 354 Penn State, but much of the gap was closed in the 4’th, and those turnovers!

Socially: we got there early so we checked out aspects of the stadium.

Game weekend: where do I begin?

Well, I saw a Big Ten football game, a clash between two solid mid major men’s basketball teams, and clash between two (bad) women’s basketball teams. The latter ended 65-62 where the losing team (Central Michigan) had two chances to tie or take the lead at the end. And the other two games went to overtime!

The men’s game was between Bradley and Utah State was a solid, solid game between well coached teams. It was close throughout and ended tied at regulation at 62. Both teams had a chance to win in regulation.

Bradley won 72-66.

Now to the football game:

It started out slowly; it had the makings of a punt fest. But then Illinois got the offense cranking.

The Illini had to settle for a field goal on this drive. Then the defense forced another punt (there were not many) but fumbled it away; Indiana then converted to a touchdown and lead 7-3.

Back came the Illini for a very quick touchdown drive; the player who fumbled the punt caught a medium pass and converted it to a 75 yard gain and the offense punched it in. But the extra point was missed and it was 9-7.

Things were just getting started. Indiana drove it in the second half; easily; 14-9. The Illini responded with a drive of their own but had to settle for 3 and it was now 14-12. Indiana another drive (passing and running at will): 21-12. Then the quarterback made his only bad play of the day: interception while trying to throw the ball away. EASY 52 yard drive and it was 27-12 Hoosiers.

But the Illini got it right back; Indiana had now defense either and it was 27-19. Then the Illini defense got a stop; got the ball back and ran a 2 minute drill to pull within 27-26 just before the half ended!

Second half: the Illini appeared to control the 3’rd quarter, stopping one drive on a fumble, forcing a punt and then taking a 33-27 lead.

4’th quarter: the Illini converted an interception to a touchdown to take a 39-27 lead (failed on 2 point conversion).

But the Hoosier offense woke up again and drove for another touchdown: 39-34. The Illini had a chance to put the game away but had to settle for a field goal and a 42-34 lead.

One last Indiana drive was stopped on downs at the Illini 37 with 2:58 to play.

But the Hoosier defense got a stop and forced a punt and got the ball at their own 15 with 1:37 to play and no time outs.

No problem: 85 yard drive for a touchdown, and 2 point conversion in left corner of the endzone. 28 seconds were left.

But in the first overtime period, Indiana ran it three straight times and kicked to take the lead. But the Illini scored a touchdown on the right side to win.

The Illini had 662 yards of offense and 507 passing yards; the Hoosiers had 451 total yards, but benefited from some short fields.

Yes, I remembered to work out too.

Saturday: so so 4 mile walk (gave blood on Friday)

Today: walked 10K in 1:29:26 (4:30 slower than on Thursday, before the blood donation) and then did 4 light sets of deadlifts: 10 x 134 4 inch, 10 x 184, 10 x 226 4 inch, 10 x 260 8 inch (no difficulties at all)

Keeping sanity

Well, it was a wild weekend for football: lots of big comebacks, dominating victory by Notre Dame over USC, Illinois winning its first Big Ten game of the season (by a last play field goal, no less), Navy winning 14-0 based on two very long plays…just wild.

What I was was Indiana State at Illinois State which ended 44-7.

On Illinois State’s first drive, a tipped pass lead to an pick 6 for the Sycamores. After that: all Illinois state on a gray, blustery day that saw one punt actually sail into the stands! It was 23-7 at the half, 37-7 going into the 4’th quarter.

Harry, as usual, was good company.

I worked out too. Game day: PT and a steady 10K walk that went well; it was my 5 mile “hill course” in Bradley Park plus an extra 1.2 miles.

Today: I had to get caught up (and I was not the only faculty member there). But I did weights then a flat 4 mile walk.

Weights: 10 x 134, 10 x 184 4 inch. 10 x 184 low, 10 x 225 low, 10 x 266 4 inch, 10 x 280 8 inch. Then 2 sets of belt squats, then the flat walk. On the walk, my left calf felt swollen.

Football: two losses but

Well, this is a summary: Illinois lost to Nebraska 20-7, in a game where Nebraska tried to give the game away but Illinois refused to take advantage.

On Saturday: No. 1 rated (FCS) South Dakota State raced to a 20-0 first quarter lead, 34-14 halftime lead, and held on for a 40-21 victory. The story here is while the Redbirds moved the ball well, the Jackrabbits gashed the Redbird defense with running between the tackled; two runners had over 100 yards and averaged over 9 yards per carry.

Friday night: The game started promising for the Illini: the initial drives tend to be good. And here the Illini took the kickoff and marched right down the field getting first and goal at the Nebraska 2. Then it was 3’rd and goal inside the 1 and the Illini got stuffed on 2 tries.

Then Nebraska hits a pass to just about midfield, and march down for a field goal.

The second quarter saw a long Nebraska drive for a touchdown, this time against the wind. THEN a kick off stalled in the wind, but the Illini failed to field it. Nebraska had it at the 25. Then a quarterback keeper to the right was met with NO resistance and boom: it was 17-0 and boos rained down.

Eventually, the Illini hit a 46 yard touchdown pass (to the right) and got the ball back, but missed a 53 yard field goal.

Second half: the defenses took over. Nebraska could not move, but and Illini pass was caught but stripped and caught in the air by a Nebraska defensive back. That lead to a field goal and a 20-7 lead.

But what followed was pure ineptitude by both teams. A blunder by the punter lead to a punt block and another short field for Nebraska but they missed a 3x yard field goal.

It was 20-7 going into the 4’th quarter, but a short field from another Illini 4’th and 1 failure lead to Nebraska driving to the 12, where they had an unforced fumble. Then an interception gave Nebraska another short field, but then there was a fumble at the 15. Time and time again, Nebraska failed to put the Illini away, but a final Illini drive stalled inside the Nebraska 20 which was enough to end the game.

Saturday Night The South Dakota State Jackrabbits were ranked No. 1 in FCS and showed why. They had 547 total yards including 374 rushing, mostly between the tackles. The run blocking was simply outstanding.

Their passing wasn’t that bad either:

They started the game with a 87 yard touchdown drive. Illinois state failed to move the ball and bam, another long drive and it is 13-0 early. The Redbirds fumbled the kick off and South Dakota cashed in with a short touchdown drive and now it was 20-0.

The offenses then traded touchdown drives; the Redbirds mixed it up and took longer whereas the Jackrabbits used mostly gashing runs up the middle. It was 34-14 at the half and the Jackrabbits had yet to punt.

But in the second half, the Redbirds made it interesting for a while. The opening drive ended with a long touchdown run to the left and soon it was 34-21.

Then the Redbirds forced a punt! They could not move but a second Jackrabbit drive ended with a missed field goal. But the Redbirds could not take advantage. A long drive and run gave the Jackrabbits a 40-21 lead and that is how it ended.