Ankle

So I wrote last week that I rolled my ankle and I thought it was fine.  I even did two mediocre runs on Thursday and Saturday but it seemed to be going well.  Last night, when we were having dinner outside, I took off my socks only to see my ankle had swollen up!  I am so bummed as I really need to train for the next 5K in 2 weeks.  I'm not sure what I can do.  I guess I need to just rest and hopefully it will get better by next week so I can get a few training runs in before the race.

Running

So I am really freaked out that I am not going to be able to run well at the Independence Day run in Redondo Beach.  I have been having a really hard time training since my wife had her surgery 4 weeks ago.  And now, last night when I decided to do an easy run (the loop in my backyard, no elevation), I roll my ankle and most likely won't be able to run for the rest of the week.  Super bummed and concerned. 

Interruption

So I just realized that this blog is turning into a movie review site.  I guess we have been on a movie kick recently (probably due to our lack of energy and bad television shows).  I'll try to get some more posts in about something else.  Of course, as I write this, I have two more reviews pending to be posted.  Anyways...

Robert E. Ryan Park

So I didn't actually do what I said in my "Frak" post from last week, but I did take the boys to a new park and took pictures the following day.  Of course, there was some massive volleyball practice going on with 15+ courts and 150+ people filling up any existing grass and therefore creating a gaggle of parents and kids swarming all over the park.  The park is gorgeous with sweeping views of the coast, Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.  Here are some of the photos I took (If you click on them, you get a high resolution version of it).  They are not very good as I was busy watching after the boys (a little freaked that some crazy might snatch one, since it was so busy).  The boys, however, had a fantastic time and H and G loved playing peek-a-boo with a couple of new friends.  H keeps asking to go back to the "pirate ship park."  Hopefully, it will be a little calmer the next time we go.

Frak

So I am feeling really down today.  I don't know why.  Maybe the weather.  Maybe lack of sleep.  I feel like I want to do more things in life but I don't have enough energy or time.  I know I watch too much television in the evening (8-10 PM, essentially).  I need some kind of project!  But what?  I don't have very many interests and the few that I have, I'm not very good at.  Maybe I will try and take some pictures this evening with the family.  We live in such a gorgeous area, I am sure I could find something to photograph.  Part of me thinks I will do something different this evening.  Another part knows that I will just end up sitting on the couch... Frak!

iPad Ranting

So I had high hopes for the new Apple tablet but I am totally underwhelmed by it.  I have been waiting on purchasing a new computer because of the potential of the mysterious Apple tablet computer.  I was hoping it would be more like a computer (run OSX) and less like an iPhone (since I have an iPhone).  Turns out, it is just a novelty-sized iPod touch!  Don't get me wrong; I would love to have one and play with it.  I love Apple products and hate using my PC at work, but I don't think it is practical for me and really for anybody.
There are a few pluses:

• Price - it isn't too expensive for an Apple product (even the contract-less AT&T 3G is relatively cheap, especially since you can cancel without fees).
• iBooks - This looks really cool and should give all the other eReaders a run for their money.  But I have my own problems with this idea.
• ummm... I guess that's it....

The minuses:

• That bezel!  WTF!  It look like a picture frame.  Did it really need to be 2 inches big?  That really detracts from the awesome styling of Apple.  Also, no widescreen.  Everything is filmed and made in widescreen now.  The iPad still thinks it is basic television.  Nothing like 4 inches of black bars on your 10 inch screen to watch a movie.  Blech.
  
•  No software.  Only apps.  I thought the whole point of apps was to be a simplified version of a webpage that would run better on a smaller screen.  Why would I want to use a Facebook app on the iPad when I could just go to the website and have everything there?  At least there will be a simplified iWork for it, but certainly no chance of running Microsoft Office.  I would have thought there would have been iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, etc.).  I don't see how you can even upload photos and movies from your camera and email or post to the internet.
• iBooks - The idea of an eReader to me is ludicrous.  Why purchase a book if you can get it for free from a library?  If you really want to own the book, why not purchase the real thing?  An eBook still costs about the same as a real book.  This whole concept is beyond me and until these eReaders adopt rental or borrowing services, I don't see how they can beat out paper.  If I had a Kindle or iPad and I could go to the library (or library website) and check out a book out for free on it, then I might change some of my feelings on this subject.
• No multitasking - You still cannot write and email and have AIM chat open at the same time.  Not being able to run multiple apps at once (at lack of flash support) really stinks.  I can get past it on the iPhone because, well, its a phone.
• No cameras or iChat.  No video chat.  Jeez, I thought this was going to be a revolutionary device.  It actually steps backwards in that it can't connect with other people with video.

Well, that's it for now.  I'm sure I will find more faults but hopefully I will find some good attributes to this useless device.  I guess I need to start researching which MacBook I want to get...

Fail

So I like to think that I am somewhat computer savvy.  I have been able to install new memory cards into computers and what not.  Heck, I even hacked my apple TV (which I now need to sell on eBay).  But I cannot deal with my stupid printer!  After my brother-in-law spent a lot of time getting it set up on my new wireless router, it worked great.  Then, that evening, it stopped working, due to no toner!  What are the odds?!?!  Anyways, I ended up buying a new cartridge and I just installed it today and of course, it doesn't work.  What the frack!  So now I am at the same point as before with a non-wireless functioning printer and a broken oven to boot.  Frustration abounds!