I’ve been meaning to get myself back into shape for a while now. I’ve finally started to do something about it.
Swimming
I’ve started to go swimming with Jamie on a Sunday morning. We are trying to make it a regular thing with Steve and Megan.
Cycling
I also started cycling again last week. It’s been about two years since I regularly cycled. So last week I got back on my bike. I’m starting slowly; cycling from home to the train station and back again in the evening, but will eventually build up to cycling all the way to work. It’s actually not far: 7.5 miles each way. But if I can build up to doing that everyday, I’ll be cycling 75 miles a week. That will be great for my fitness levels.
Smoking
Although I’ve not mentioned it here, some who know me IRL, will know that I have given up smoking. Yesterday was my 29th day without a cigarette and my first whole day without a nicotine patch. I think I have done really well and got to the lowest level patches quickly. I don’t have a patch on today either, and I am going to try to make it 3 full days without. I believe that it takes those 72 hours to get the nicotine completely out of your system. I have come to realise that from now on I am going to have to be ‘vigilant’: like an ex-alcoholic, I’m going to be forever one cig away from becoming a smoker again. 🙁 Actually, I did give up alcohol a few years ago (though I wasn’t an alcoholic) and I’ve had no trouble doing without. I guess because I’d practically stopped drinking anyway, when I made the decision to never drink again, it wasn’t a real problem. Smoking, however, has been much harder. I am taking it one day at a time, but wouldn’t be surprised to lapse once in a while. I know that doesn’t sound very positive, but I honestly believe it. A least I know I can stop now, so I shan’t beat myself up too much, if I do succumb.
WordPress Beta
WordPress beta has been released. Check it out and give us feedback on the support forum.
WordPress
Nearly Official
Wow! Michel Valdrighi has announced that WordPress will be the official replacement for / continuation of B2.
“Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little are leading the new WordPress branch of b2, that is going to become the new official branch once they get a release out.”
The Hokey Pokey (as written by W. Shakespeare)
It’s been around a while, but SteveP Sent me this.
WASHINGTON POST STYLE has a contest in which readers submit instructions for doing various things, their choice, as written by famous authors. Jeff Brechlin of Potomac Falls recently won with the following:
The Hokey Pokey (as written by W. Shakespeare)
O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.The Hoke, the poke — banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, ’tis what it’s all about.
Awesome! Outstanding! Cut ‘n’ pasted from William Gibson, who is still blogging.
Barb Wire and Cliffhanger! and Buried Alive!
Over the last few days, I have read Barb Wire the novelisation of the movie by Neal Barrett Jr. It was very light reading, but I quite enjoyed this. I haven’t seen the movie so I cannot compare them. I’ve also read Buried Alive! and Cliffhanger both by Jacqueline Wilson. I’d borrowed these kid’s books from Jamie. Very enjoyable, quite funny, I especially liked the two main characters, Tim and Biscuits. Great!
Busy, Busy
The Know
A colleague of mine, Jeff, has set himself up a web site over at www.theknow.co.uk. It’s a PostNuke based site with an embedded Wiki, forum, and chat.
“TheKnow is an experimental Opinionating and Community site based upon an advanced content management system combined with a state-of-the-art “Wiki” engine and the popular phpBB bulletin board.”
Go check it out, its looks to be pretty cool. Lots of potential. It already has some interesting content too.
