From the Inside Out

USA has taken the gold again. More specifically, Plano has taken the gold. Nastia Liukin just won the gold medal in the women’s gymnastics all-around competition at the Beijing Olympics. She trains at her family’s gymnastics club, World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, in Plano, TX. It’s the same gym where Carly Patterson (the previous winner of the all-around competition) trained. Yay Plano!

Coming in second place was another amazing girl from the USA, Shawn Johnson. Take that, China! After all the lies about the ages of the Chinese gymnasts, I feel like justice has been served. According to a news article today on Yahoo! Sports, nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government’s news agency reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13 making her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold metal earlier this week. The Chinese government states that her age was incorrect in that article. To quote Mike Myers from Wayne and Garth, “Yeah, and monkeys fly out of my butt.”

Regardless of the age controversy, the lies, and the cheating, the real champions showed up tonight and demonstrated that they can get the job done with honor, grace and integrity. I’m so proud that these are the girls representing my country.

Go USA!

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics will air on television Friday night. Approximately 91,000 spectators and 15,000 performers will participate in this ceremony which is expected to attract a global television audience of more than 3 billion people. It will be a 5-hour spectacle that includes 35,000 fireworks — an amazing sight to behold.

Despite the controversy surrounding the host nation of the Olympics — including concerns over pollution, security and human rights — the games will go on. Athletes from 205 countries will represent their countries and compete to earn one of the most coveted awards in sports, the gold medal. This year, NBC will broadcast events live via the Internet. If you don’t want to wait for the tape delayed broadcast on TV, you can visit www.nbcolympics.com and watch what you want, when you want it. It’s the Olympics “ala carte” style. Simply pick and choose your events. You can even open two windows and watch multiple events at the same time. About 2,200 hours of programming will be available on the Web — impressive, huh?

Because of the time difference, while we are watching the opening ceremony on Friday night, the Olympic games will be gearing up in Beijing. To calculate the time difference, here’s an easy shortcut. Flip the a.m. and p.m. to go from Eastern time to Beijing time. Remember, it’s always ahead in China. So, 8 p.m. Friday in New York is 8 a.m. Saturday in Beijing.

The Internet viewings enable you to watch the games online Friday night and cheer on your favorite athletes while the events are occurring “live” Saturday morning in Beijing. Ah, the power of the Internet. Remind me again…why do we need broadcast TV? Oh yeah, so we can watch mindless commercials and advertisements, but that’s a different rant for another night.

Go team USA!!

I must confess that my workouts have been non-existent over the last few months. I haven’t been to the gym or on the bike for longer than I’d like to admit. Even my “at home” workouts have suffered lately; it’s the result of having too many things loaded on my plate. I’d like to get back on a regular workout schedule now that Pirates of Patmos is over. I’m not sure if I can stick to it since SNL is quickly approaching, but I’m going to try. Maybe I need a workout partner to keep me motivated and force me to go even when I don’t feel like it. Do I have any volunteers?

Yesterday we hopped on our bikes for an evening ride. It felt great to be back out there (except when I had to climb hills, that didn’t feel so good). We rode to the new Watter’s Crossing area on Bethany in Allen — about 14 miles round trip. For the most part, it’s an easy ride using the bike trails that start near our house. We even got to see some wild life on the way. Okay, it was one armadillo and a few bunnies, but when you live in the city, that’s cool.

I’m hoping we can make the ride a regular weekend occurrence. I’d love to participate in the “Hotter than Hell” ride in Wichita Falls, but that may be too much for my first organized ride. Then again, they say to “dream big.” Hmm…maybe I will make it into the “Hotter than Hell” this year after all.

Anyway, I’m off to California this week. Travel wreaks havoc on your exercise plans, but my hotel has an adequate workout facility. I’m thinking I can get spend some time on the machines this week. I got a decent workout when I was out there a couple of weeks ago. Wish me luck!

I’ll be back on Friday. Have a good week everyone.

The two ALC co-ed softball teams battled each other tonight for bragging rights, and the “One Life” young married’s group came out to cheer their favorite teams.  Well, some cheered and others heckled gently.  The teams aren’t so good.  They are both winless in the league.  However, the good news is that one team was finally guaranteed a win tonight. 

The ‘Sluggers’ took the early lead in the game against the ‘Ballers’ (what kind of name is that for a church team anyway?).  Although the Ballers put forth a valiant effort in the final inning, the Slugger’s lead carried them through the game.  If I remember correctly, the final score was 16-5.  Yeah, I know…it wasn’t a close game, but it was lots of fun. 

Go ALC! 

The Internet is abuzz once again with rumors of Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson.  This time, everyone is talking about the couple being married.  

Here’s the story.  Simpson’s mom made an off-handed comment to a paparazzo when they were leaving a Chilis restaurant in L.A. this week.  She was asked when Jessica and Tony were going to get married.

“They already are, what are you talking about?” replied Simpson’s mom. 

He asks Jessica, “You guys already married?” 

Jessica and her mom laughed, and then Jessica says, “I guess, if mom says so.”

From the sound of it, they were just joking with an annoying paparazzo, but she has been dating Tony since last year.  I hope it’s not serious.  If it is, you can say goodbye to the Cowboys’ season this year.  

She single-handedly brought him down by attending one game last year.  Can you imagine what would happen if they were actually married?  Ugh!  I hear collective sighs from Cowboys’ fans echoing across the country. 

Seriously, what is he thinking?  Yes, she’s hot, but she is also a spoiled, immature diva. 

C’mon Tony…you can do so much better.