scoreboard

It's been a little while since the last update, so I present to you a recap of the things that have been going on in the past few weeks...

The New Job
On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, I started in my new position at Georgetown as the Manager of Information Systems and Technology Contracts. So far it has gone fairly well, at least as far as I can tell. As with any job, there is a certain learning curve involved, so I've had to ask quite a few questions. Once I get the basic procedures down. though, I can start working on making it my own. I already have a couple ideas that I think would help the processes out a little bit. I just want to make sure I'm comfortable with everything before I start messing with any existing processes. One thing that I am really happy about with this position is the fact that I'll get to telecommute once a week. I've been looking for a position that offered that for a while now, and finally have it. I've decided to telecommute on Mondays, but won't be starting that until around Thanksgiving - when I should be more comfortable with everything that I'm doing.

Halloween
I haven't gone out to do anything for Halloween in quite a few years. This year, since I would be going out by myself meant that I was going to attend a few parties that I'd been invited to. So, the first stop on the evening was to a party hosted by a few guys I play softball with. The picture you see here is a shot of all the guys who were at the party who played for our softball team (the Money $hot$) during the summer and fall leagues. (As a side note, after the team finished 0-18-0 in the summer league, we finished 9-8-1 in the fall league). Anyway, it was quite a good time, as with the number of people who attended, they ended up going through three kegs by midnight.

I'm the guy in the blue and yellow face paint. My shirt said "Go Ceiling" on the front, and "Ceiling is Number 1" on the back. What was I? A ceiling fan. A little humor for you there.

I ended up not making it to the second party ("by accident"). When I got back to Shirlington I got a call from a friend who lives in my building and I met his wife and him at Bungalow for another hour and a half. After shutting the bar down (and playing some pool), we went back to the club room for a little while. I ended up being up until a little after 4 AM - the latest I'd been up in a few years.

All in all, a great Halloween.

Fitness
I've been fairly dedicated to my workout routine for the past two months. This weekend marked the fact that I've been on a weight training program for an entire month. I have noticed that it has gotten easier to get my butt downstairs to work out the more I've been doing this. Based on the exercises I've been doing (as well as the cardio I do nearly every day), I can definitely see results. I've lost about 25 pounds since June, and I can see a change from the weight lifting, which is what I really wanted. They say if you can continue to do something for 60 days, it becomes habit. If I can get through November and keep this up that whole time, I should see some fairly significant changes. I've already seen about 15% increases in the weight I can lift.

Travel
In the next two months, I'll be traveling to a few places. Over Thanksgiving, I'll be returning to Michigan again. I'm actually hoping they see some snow on Thanksgiving again, because I rarely get to see any measurable amount here in DC. I'm planning on driving up, and may go to Canada as well for a day or two. In December, my mom is taking us to Disney World. She took me for my law school graduation, and she's going to be taking everyone again as Tom will be graduating from PA school next summer - but this was the best time to go, as over the summer it was likely both Tom and his girlfriend would not be able to go. I'm sure it will be quite a bit different than the last time I went to Disney, but I'm really looking forward to it. We're going December 20-24, which unfortunately means I'll be flying back in to DC on Christmas eve, and won't be spending the actual holiday with my family. I might go up for New Years and Tom's birthday, but haven't decided yet. It all depens on the financial situation.

So, that's the story for the last couple of weeks. I'll try to update again soon with some more thoughts....

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In hopes of helping our quests to get in shape, Martha and I have decided to start taking day hikes on the weekends when we have nothing else going on. Two weeks ago, we took a trip out to Great Falls Park, Virginia to do some hiking. We ended up taking the "River Trail" for some scrambling over rocks that tested our endurance. The rest of the time, we were hiking the main path that was pretty flat and level.

This weekend. to enjoy the unseasonable 82-degree early August weather, we decided to enjoy a longer hike that would put us in the sun for a large portion of the hike. So, we decided to head out to the Manassas National Battlefield Park. We ended up hiking about 10 miles of trails on the day, which took us approximately four hours.

Continue reading "Hiking Manassas" »

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 09:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Martha and I recently came to a decision that I needed to stop driving our (one and only) car in to work. It wasn't a happy decision for me, as taking public transportation seriously bugs me. I, of course, grew up in rural Michigan where the option of public transportation wasn't exactly available. In fact, those Detroit SMART busses were downright scary. But they didn't come to White Lake - I think the closest they probably got was Pontiac....

Continue reading "Pain in the Butt" »

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tonight is opening night for a hockey team in the DC area. Not the Capitals, the Washington Wolves Adult Men's B League team out at the Kettler Capitals Ice Plex.

I skated this past summer on all free-agent team that was put together by the K-Plex staff, and it was a lot of fun. So much so, that I decided to try to get a team started out there myself. I've been playing hockey a long time, and it seems like we've got a good group of guys together here. Luckily, I was able to pick up six former ACHA players, including 5 from Richmond and 1 from Johns Hopkins. On top of that, I added about seven guys from this summer's "Caps Blue" free agent team - essentially the core of the team that showed up every night. We plugged in a few more guys who were friends of guys on the team, and we're all set to go.

So, we have a 20 game season running tonight through February, plus playoffs, assuming we make them. Through the Wolves website (link at right), I'm going to keep a running count of our stats and record. I'll also try to throw a few blog entries in about how the team did.

So, hockey season is upon us. Sharpen those skates, and lets get on the ice.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 06:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, much to my suprise, I remembered to take my self portrait on day two. Now comes the hard part - the weekend. Hopefully I can remember both days. Today's was done after I blew off some steam at The Energy Club. It's been a rough week at work...

I don't think I'll be blogging all of the photos - just the ones I feel like. I'm not particularily artsy, so I'm sure some of the pictures will turn out like crap. And those are the pictures that don't need to be broadcast to the world. I hope this project makes me a better photographer - it is something I've always wanted to do. I'd like to take a class, but I think I'd need a nicer camera (probably a real fancy one) for that.

In other news, I'm trying to start a hockey team for the fall. So far six people have said they want to play. I need at least 15 to form a team, I think. I'm not sure if I'll get that many, as I haven't received the cash from anyone yet. Well, hopefully there will be a team called "The Wolves" in the Kettler Capitals Ice Plex "B League" in the fall.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 09:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now that I'm back at Georgetown, I had a long weekend for Easter, as the University gives employees Easter Friday off of work. I was able to accomplish quite a bit with my three day weekend, although I wish I would have had more time.

First, I spent Friday first moving some stuff from the apartment in Richmond back up to DC. This was not a whole lot of fun, seeing as how I had to battle the traffic for Easter weekend in both directions. I did manage to get a substantial portion of the stuff moved, though. Really all that is left is the furniture, which I'll need a bigger vehicle to move. Unfortunately, I had to rush back to DC because Martha and I were scheduled to meet with a mortgage banker with BB&T. I made it in time, and we were able to talk to the mortgage guy about what we can expect if we decide to pursue buying a condo. I think Martha and I both left with a better feeling than when we arrived, if that says anything.

Saturday was a little bit of a bummer. We had to take the cat and dog to the vet at 8:30am. Getting up that early wasn't pleasant, but the vet trip wasn't the greatest either. Saber (the cat) always freaks out at the vet, and he was shaking up a storm and trying his best to hide. Luckily, he got his shots and was healthy - still a little overweight, but he had lost some since last year. The dog, on the other hand, did not get such good news. We had discovered several lumps in varying places on her skin, including a rather large one on her stomach. This is actually what lead to the vet appointment in the first place. So, in the process of the vet appointment, the vet identified several more lumps - five in all - that they want to remove from Glory. They shaved her spots, took blood and a sample of the lump on her stomach, and I'm taking her back in on Thursday to have them all biopsied. I hope they are just fatty cysts or something benign...

Sunday was pretty cool, although I was skeptical at first. I had purchased a gift certificate to Natural Body Spa for Martha as a Christmas gift. She called and found out that they were open on Easter Sunday, so she decided we should both go for one of their "Sinus Relief Massages." Having never gone to a spa for a massage, I didn't really know what to expect. However, it turned out to be pretty awesome. The massage was pretty good, but the thing I particularily liked was the aromatherapy oils they used. My sinuses were clear by the end because of those things. So yeah, I'd definitely go back and do that again.

All in all, it was a decent weekend. Hopefully nothing is wrong with the dog, and this week will be a decent one too.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 01:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend I was invited to play in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Hockey Benefit game here in Richmond. The premise is that this event gets together the best hockey players in the Richmond area for a USA vs. Canada match-up. I was asked to play a week or so before the game, after playing in an A league game in the adult league.

I suited up for Team Canada, despite the fact that I'm not Canadian. I told them I spent my summers in Lions Head, Ontario at my grandparent's farm, so they allowed me to adopt that as my Canadian hometown. They needed a goalie, anyway, so I stepped in and played.

Each team had two goalies who were to split the game. Unfortunately, the other team Canada goalie had a rough first period, and we found ourselves down 5-1. So, I was up to start the second period. Our team definitely picked up the pace to get back in the game, and I shut down the USA's shooters during the second, including a break-away by one of Team USA's best players, as we rallied to within one goal (5-4). The third period saw Team Canada knot up the score at 5-5, after which Team USA would get their sixth (and only regulation goal against me). Canada would tie it up 6-6. After much deliberation, both teams decided against a five minute overtime, and in favor of a five man shoot-out.

Of course, I was a little nervous, as this was a pretty serious game. The opposition's goaltender just happened to be former NCAA D1 goaltender Joe Blackburn, of Michigan State University. Unfortunately, in the shoot-out, the first one would get by me, and Team USA would lead 1-0. From there, I stopped the remaining four shooters. Our last shooter of the five would score one on Blackburn, for a 1-1 tie in the shoot-out, and one round of sudden-death. Unfortunately, the first sudden death shot by Team USA got by me, and our last shooter didn't score. The result, a 7-6 Team USA win in the shoot-out.

All in all, it was a very good game. There was some great action, and it was pretty intense. I actually ended up winning player of the game for the Canadian team.

It would be nice to be able to play at that level every game. It was fast, good hockey. I play a lot better the faster the play gets, and find it hard to adjust to some of the adult leagues. Now that I'm going back to DC, I hope I can find a league where the play is as good as it was in this game. I also hope that I get invited back to play in this game someday...

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I moved down to Richmond last weekend for the new job, and I decided it was time to start getting in shape for the wedding and honeymoon. Not only that, but for myself as well. My (little) brother's a fitness nut, and my parents run every day - but I've just never been able to sustain any serious workout program. Hockey and baseball were really the only physical activity that I did when I was growing up.

So, I purchased a membership at Golds Gym. They have a special right now where you get three Physical Training sessions for free, and I am taking advantage of them. My first meeting, with the trainer Greg, was mostly about getting a fitness test done. He had me do a series of exercises to determine my capabilities. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed to learn that I am nowhere near as strong as I thought I was.

Anyway, after about an hour of the exercises he showed me, it was time to go. He assured me I would be a little sore the next day, and to continue doing these exercises until I could do them all. It's two days later, and my arms are still incredibly sore. But, I'm going again tonight to continue to work on this.

The goal is to get my body fat down to 19% by the wedding. I'm currently at 24%. This is an obtainable goal, according to the trainer, as long as I continue to work at it. That's the problem - motivation and resolve to actually do this. We'll see what happens, though. I'm hoping that with this regimen I see real changes.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 08:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)