tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41918062012288900012024-03-13T13:25:27.117-07:00Project Treadmill Desk"The longest journey begins with a single step."
-Lao TsuJulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-24691508372306232912009-06-15T07:26:00.000-07:002009-06-15T07:32:26.898-07:006 mile daysWith the students gone, I have been doing some serious mileage. Since graduation, I have averaged 5 mile days, a bit of a jump from my 2-mile days when the students were on campus. I have crossed some serious thresholds: 1000 miles and 2 million seconds. I am knocking on the door of 3 million steps and should knock that out before I head out of town on a conference. The warmer weather has brought new challenges as I had to find cooler clothing and comfier sandals. I have been able to go without my overhead light due to the fabulous nature light that pours through my office windows and the improved air flow of an open window is refreshing. It is hard to imagine that I have been following this routine fairly religiously for nearly nine months. I am excited to see what the next three will bring and to continue to evaluate my physical, emotional, and work well-being as I head in to the last three months, which will draw me toward my one-year treadmill desk anniversary!Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-3495093436680733272009-05-18T08:14:00.000-07:002009-05-18T08:14:53.320-07:00Still treading alongWhen your older brother starts pestering you for updates on your blog, you know it is time for a quick update. So here it is:<br />
I am still using my treadmill desk for at least part of every day.<br />
Sometimes that means less than 9 minutes; sometimes that means more than 6 hours.<br />
My use of the treadmill desk continues to create smiles (from those that arrive to my office), confusion (from those who can only see the top part of me from the sidewalk below my office window), and productivity (from me.)<br />
While I have been too busy to blog, I have continued to keep track of all my mileage, time, caloric burn, etc. So since my last blogging here is what I've done:<br />
Over the course of 52 hours, I've walked 72.9 miles, and burned more than 15,000 calories.<br />
In that same period of time I have watched 23 Little League games, attended 3 award dinners/desserts, given one public presentation, cleaned my office, met with a gazillion students, and cut my hair.<br />
<br />
So while life has been crazy busy - my time on the treadmill desk has helped keep my keel even.<br />
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Happy treading all!Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-73866487630574711682009-02-16T09:22:00.000-08:002009-02-16T09:22:26.950-08:00Endorphin EquationI like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Valentines just as much as anyone - but for years - probably since the arrival of the small people in my house, it has served to mark at the winter hibernation season. Maybe it is because of my kids have severe peanut allergies that I find it to be my motherly duty to devour any such item that arrives in their bucket, stocking, cracker, or box. That combined with the darkening of days and the frigid temps in the past has made the decision between taking a walk and eating a box of Whoppers to be a no brainer. For whatever reason, Easter doesn't seem to cause a similar response. The weather tends to improve and the 40 days of lent takes the edge off of the gluttony of an Easter basket on Easter morning. This year, however, has been different. The holiday stretch has brought focus, fortitude, and a stability of purpose. And while I certainly ate my share (and probably then some) of the office candy bowl, I also knew that I was doing my part ot keep it all in check. I think it was also due in large part ot my endorphin addiction. Research shows that chocolate and exercise enhance endorphin secretions. So it would follow that if one ate 106 mini-chocolates to equal X amount of endorphins in 2007-08's holiday stretch, then one exercised y amount of minutes exercising on one's treadmill desk in 2008-09, the total mini-chocolates needed to match the endorphin high of the previous year would be substantially less:<br /><br />x = endorphins from 106 mini-chocolates<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SZmg0qzrKVI/AAAAAAAAD8E/oI8mgz68w0Y/s1600-h/full_miniatures.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SZmg0qzrKVI/AAAAAAAAD8E/oI8mgz68w0Y/s160/full_miniatures.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />x/106 = endorphin/mini-chocolate<br />y = exercise minutes on a treadmill desk<br />z = endorphins from treadmill desk exercise<br /><br />x= z + q(x/106)<br /><br />where q is the number of mini-chocolates needed for 2008-09<br /><br />106 > q<br /><br />Happy end of the holiday stretch!<div style='clear:both; text-align:RIGHT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-27330291197918271052009-02-04T06:16:00.000-08:002009-02-04T06:41:43.205-08:002,000,000 steps and countingYesterday someplace between advising a student and adverting a graduation crisis, between my tenth cup of coffee and spilling my lunch on the floor, between a staff meeting and a budget meeting - I stepped my 2,000,000th step since my journey began. It occurred without ceremony or fanfare, without balloons or fireworks, without sweat or tears. As I knocked out another 45 push-ups on my quest to 15,000 by years' end, I recognized that I have learned to feed my body, brain and heart in a way that will continue to fuel it for strength, success, and peace.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-12939535339192040992009-02-02T11:14:00.000-08:002009-02-02T11:14:57.617-08:00Life @ 1.4mph<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SYdGC1k0hDI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/an-H4_n0YVE/s1600-h/dunntreadmill.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SYdGC1k0hDI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/an-H4_n0YVE/s400/dunntreadmill.jpg" border="0" /></a> The college that I work for ran a brief blurb in the weekly newsletter. This is the accompanying picture, which I love because you can see the movement in my legs and fingers (blurry), but my head, face, and upper body look perfectly still. Life @ 1.4mph = pure bliss and total productivity.<div style="clear:both; text-align:LEFT"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-23886761884936460372009-01-30T06:35:00.000-08:002009-01-30T06:58:10.180-08:00stress fightin' machineA week ago I attended my first giant staff meeting for my new branch of the college. As an ice breaker, we answered a serious of questions - How will your co-workers know if you are stressed? How will you combat stress? How will you work toward life balance? As I stared at the questions on the page, I realized that the treadmill desk has fundamentally changed my work persona. While the answer to the first was pretty easy - I will be frustrated about mundane things - it was difficult to craft answers to the other two which didn't <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">include</span> <i>treadmill desk</i> in the answer. How will I combat stress? - walk a few minutes on the tread. How will I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">strike</span> balance in my life? - walk a few minutes on the tread. I realized that not only has my body responded physically to the demands of walking an average of 4.8 miles per day at work, but my psyche has also responded positively. Being able to put myself in a work zone is great - the increased productivity and focus washes away any stress that might otherwise build up. It can also be a johnny-on-the-spot remedy. As we finish up the second week of classes, I wonder if I will feel the same way once mid-semesters (and their associated d-slips) roll around.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-76357791473152682322009-01-26T06:56:00.000-08:002009-01-30T06:57:29.045-08:00Lean...Throughout this journey I have tracked just about any variable I could possible track: steps trekked, seconds walked, inches lost, average mph, average incline, and while I report some (see progress report in the right column), there are a whole slew of them I do not. I am pretty religious about updating my progress report on Monday mornings, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that today I have gained some muscle as measured via my anthropometric formula. While not the most accurate of the body fat percentage measurement tools, it is one that I can accurately at home by myself. As far as I can tell, the lean muscle numbers come from some combination of your forearm girth and your wrist diameter. With the inclusion of 40 push-ups per day since Halloween, my upper body is definitely more fit than when I started this project. Having just crossed the 3500 push-ups completed mark last night, measuring progress in the lean body weight was a nice surprise!Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-57299901403819544872009-01-20T20:26:00.000-08:002009-01-26T06:48:11.176-08:00FAQs<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SXaj49hnauI/AAAAAAAADyI/1qOmd9MieXY/s1600-h/100_5190.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SXaj49hnauI/AAAAAAAADyI/1qOmd9MieXY/s400/100_5190.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a> Since today's onslaught of students in our office ("do you have any more of those planner thingys") brought with it a maelstorm of questions, I thought I would take a few lines to address the most frequently asked of those:<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Q: A treadmill desk in your office! Really? In your office?</b></div><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">A: Yep, really, in my office.</span></b><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Q: Does your boss know you have this in here?</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A: Yep, my boss knows, and her boss knows, and his boss knows. So short of a trustee dropping in and voicing a loud objection - I think I am good to go. </div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b>Q: Do you walk on that </b><em><b>all day long</b></em><b>?</b><br />
A: I walk on it when I can. Today I did 4.44 miles and 3 hours worth of office work aboard the tread. Tomorrow I am packed with meeting after meeting -- so will probably only get in an hour.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Don't you ever just want to sit down?</b><br />
A: Not really. I actually feel very energized, productive, and focused -- whatever antsy-fidgety-doodle in the margin-link clicking part of me that often emerges when I sit, seems to have to just go along for the ride when I am walking. Today I had to sign 300+ letters and while I could probably have signed them atop the desk, it was more practical to do it at the table.<br />
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<b>Q: How fast do you walk?</b><br />
A: 1.4 mph @ a 5% incline<br />
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<b>Q: What kind of shoes do you wear?</b><br />
A: Pretty much whatever I wear to work. Yesterday 2" high clogs, today flats. When I work at my home treadmill desk, I wear my treadmill tennis shoes (I bought them as a getting started present to myself last September).<br />
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<b>Q: Don't you get dizzy?</b><br />
A: Not anymore. I did after the first day, but since then I am not bothered by the movement plus reading or typing or writing. As a person who still gets carsick as a adult, this is a monumental feat.<br />
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<b>Q: Doesn't your office stink?</b><br />
A: I don't think so. Of course it is winter, so the office is a bit chilly. Come spring and summer I might have to dial down the mph and incline to make it all work.<br />
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<b>Q: Can </b><i><b>I</b></i><b> use your treadmill desk?</b><br />
A: Absolutely. However, you might have to fight off C or P who have dibs on the lunch hour. I am always gone for an hour @ 9am so if you want to give it a go -- come on over. If you want to use a laptop, bring one along -- I am wired for all. (aside: When B helped me bring it into the building (under duress I might add), he suggested that I put it in the break room (does my building have a one of those?) so that everyone could use it. He's missing the point on its purpose.)<br />
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Hope this clears up any unanswered questions. Please stop by if you can, and as GBC regularly said to folks he encountered in his day "have an effective day."<br />
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</b><br />
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: RIGHT;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-15938181812740262702009-01-19T15:41:00.000-08:002009-01-20T06:43:46.834-08:00As mundane, expected, or drab as any other office furniture<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SXXilPtcFKI/AAAAAAAADyA/cA5Oq-Rbn00/s1600-h/100_4791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SXXilPtcFKI/AAAAAAAADyA/cA5Oq-Rbn00/s200/100_4791.JPG" /></a>It really didn't strike me until today, that not once during the 3.5 hours of academic advising on Friday did one of my advisees make mention of the fact that I had a treadmill in my office. In their defense I was not aboard the tread when they arrived. This coupled by perhaps the anxiety, excitement, or both of registering for their first term at our college, it is understandable that they had other things on their minds. The oddity of their lack of response versus the students who I have encountered since then has reinforced my decision to bring the tread to work in the first place. I was greeted with big smiles, a few whatthe*%#&, and one wave (from the outside sidewalk below). One of my bosses dropped in and told me to keep walking as though this would be commonplace -- me walking while we discussed registration, orientation, communication, or one of the other -tions. I chose not to keep walking, but in the future, I just might. It will be interesting, as the student interactions are increasing with their return to school, to see the continued response (or lack of response). Regardless, I think it is fair to say that the tread is here to stay - to brighten someone's day, make someone stop and take a second look, or just consider how they might think differently.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-15427955282799219922009-01-15T19:24:00.000-08:002009-01-20T20:28:56.967-08:00Four days and feeling less like a zoo animalYesterday I was walking in the later part of the afternoon/evening on my treadmill desk, when I noticed some shadows of folks outside of my window. I'm sure they didn't see me or if they did, certainly didn't care -- but it creeped me out enough that I drew the blinds. I felt too much like a zoo animal, but it wasn't enough to stop my walk. A docking station with monitor, keyboard, and mouse have been ordered for my office, but since the items have yet to arrive, the treadmill desk set-up is the best option in terms of ergonomics. But by mid-day today the zooiness (is that a word?) of yesterday seemed to be diminishing. As a campus tour cruised by, I kept right on trekking, knowing full well that at least one parent took a double take. My sense of productivity, whether real or imagined, is palpable. Syllabi, one training camp schedule draft, two letters, and one advisee questionnaire written, along with 5 advisee folders read; sprinkled in with advisee meetings, impromptu visits, and other office work - I feel like I am running, not walking, ahead of the game. I am sure the onset of the semester will knock me back in to reality. I am happy, for now, to stroll along @ 1.4mph, but feeling as though I am sprinting along effortlessly at 7.0.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-23098333848332478822009-01-12T18:33:00.000-08:002009-01-12T18:39:48.169-08:00Oh happy day...So today was my first day on my treadmill desk, in my new position, in my new office, with new co-workers in a new building and all went well. I was able to cover 2.35 miles today (which was just short of half my milesage for all of last week), so I am so happy to be back on the tread so to speak. I am also happy to report that based on a quick survey of office mates, office neighbors, and the colleague directly below me -- no one seemed bothered by either the novelty of having a treadmill desk in one's office nor the noise that such a desk might produce. It seems quite hysterical to me that for the first time since starting this blog I am sitting in a chair to type in my entry, rather than walking on the tread. But the tread calls and lucky for me, I have two of them. So while the kids and B take in KungFu Panda courtesy of NetFlix, I am going to head upstairs to the home office to feed my brain some brain candy as I delve into my new read: The Middle Place.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-40049253603131012742009-01-11T18:18:00.000-08:002009-01-11T18:31:36.419-08:00<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SWqofV4cRNI/AAAAAAAADuA/WuTkKUQETVs/s1600-h/100_5128.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SWqofV4cRNI/AAAAAAAADuA/WuTkKUQETVs/s400/100_5128.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_m-hP2RjDM">Watch a video of my office panoramic</a> </span></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-58145736443792473252009-01-11T17:15:00.000-08:002009-01-11T18:19:13.230-08:00An end to the discombobulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SWqf2so3RCI/AAAAAAAADtw/hT0_GdW_Qz4/s1600-h/Microsoft+Word+Document+1112009+50655+PM.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SWqf2so3RCI/AAAAAAAADtw/hT0_GdW_Qz4/s400/Microsoft+Word+Document+1112009+50655+PM.bmp.jpg" /></a></div>I will start this post by publicly admitting that B was not very excited about helping me move Treadmill Desk 3.0 to its new home in my new office at my new job. It was only after two days of talking about it, a several hours of reassurance that if my new boss thought it was a bad idea, I would move it home. I had, however, done my homework. I measured the space, I played with floor plans (see earlier posts), and I cleared it by the appropriate folks. Since our larger office must meet ADA minimum clearances, I knew I could get it from the car to the office. It cleared all thresholds without incident. After the 2nd picture, B left. I think he still isn't sure this is a great idea. So here is a commentary on the set up from left to right. I will also add my panoramic video to the column on the right.<br /><br />1. Space<br />2. Wheeling Pro-Form in to position<br />3. Foam insulation to put between tread and floor (although I am lucky enough to have a storage room below me, rather than a person).<br />4. Treadmill mat over the top of the insulation to hold it in position and to provide further quieting.<br />5. Done -- this part took me a whopping 5 or so minutes (I have not counted the time to get it in the car, drive to work, get it in the building, up the elevator, etc.)<br />6. Another view of the treadmill desk workspace.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SWqiA4E8uOI/AAAAAAAADt4/pM3t_iCuNu0/s1600-h/Microsoft+Word+Document+1112009+50716+PM.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SWqiA4E8uOI/AAAAAAAADt4/pM3t_iCuNu0/s400/Microsoft+Word+Document+1112009+50716+PM.bmp.jpg" /></a></div><br />7. I then added a pre-cut 3' piece of shelf board.<br />8. It is held in place with three bungee cords.<br />9. Underneath view of the bungees.<br />10. I added a 3' long kitchen shelf (for traditional use above one's kitchen sink). It is clamped in place<br />11. A piece of plexiglass rests between the kitchen shelf and the front of the treadmill controls.<br />12. Another view of the plexi. I rest my laptop on the plexi and use a wireless keyboard and mouse on the shelf below. Ergonomically it works great.<br /><br />So, as all can imagine, I am psyched to head to work tomorrow morning and jump on first thing to help get me focused for the day ahead.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-13855801155065749722009-01-03T14:47:00.000-08:002009-01-04T16:03:49.404-08:00See you later, See you soon<img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SV_rIIQhwqI/AAAAAAAADqw/BWwbodlcOyU/s320/Document1+-+Microsoft+Word+122009+33733+PM.bmp.jpg" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" /> As I am T minus 48 hours from officially starting my new job, I decided to create a compilation CD for my dear friends who have been along for the ride (some knowingly, some not so much). Although I am moving less than a football field from my previous locale, the distance is far greater in terms of personal and professional movement. As much as I can't wait to get started on my new chapter, I am equally troubled by the sense of abandoning several friends. So no better way to help quell those feelings than creating something that will perhaps serve as a small token of appreciation for their steadfast friendships.<br />
<br />
Here is the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">playlist</span>, which I might add, is a great treadmill desk <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">playlist.</span><br />
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1. You Don't Have To Move Mountains <em> Nickel Creek<br />
</em>2. Morning Star <span style="font-style: italic;">Borne</span><br />
3. I Was Here <span style="font-style: italic;">Lady Antebellum</span><br />
4. Peace Be Upon Us <span style="font-style: italic;">Sheryl Crow</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">5. Learn to Live </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Darius </span></span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">Rucker </span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(changed my mind on this one)</span></span><br />
6. This Is a Good Street <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mudcrutch</span></span><br />
7. Truly Believe <span style="font-style: italic;">Edwin McCain</span><br />
8. Heal Yourself <span style="font-style: italic;">Ruthie Foster</span><br />
9. Everything to Me <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tamarama</span></span><br />
10. The Best Ride <span style="font-style: italic;">S</span><span style="font-style: italic;">tereo Fuse</span><br />
11. Chutes & Ladders <span style="font-style: italic;">Sean Watkins</span><br />
12. Mastermind <span style="font-style: italic;">Grace Potter & The </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nocturnals</span></span><br />
13. Suddenly, I See <span style="font-style: italic;">KT </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tunstall</span></span><br />
14. Get Your Shine On <span style="font-style: italic;">Jesse McCarthy</span><br />
15. Diamond Road <span style="font-style: italic;">Sheryl Crow</span><br />
16. Through My Door <span style="font-style: italic;">The Muckrakers</span><br />
17. Live Out the String <span style="font-style: italic;">Marc </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cohn</span></span><br />
18. All Good Reasons <span style="font-style: italic;">Barefoot Truth</span><br />
19. Clarity <span style="font-style: italic;">Shawn MacDonald</span><br />
20. See You Later, See You Soon <span style="font-style: italic;">Stephen Kellogg & The </span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sixers</span></span><br />
<br />
Thanks to all who have supported me in this adventure!<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: RIGHT;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-25479009841700261542009-01-01T11:59:00.000-08:002009-01-01T19:40:46.482-08:00365 days of good healthAs mentioned several times before -- I am a geek. I love all things gadgets, tech, numbers, stats, and learning. I have already figured that if my daily mileage continues to average around around 5 miles per day, by this time next year I will have walked a bit over 1900 more miles and will be on track to walking the length of Interstate 40 by my 40th birthday. When (not if) I continue my 40 push-ups per day, by this time next year I will have completed 14,600 push-ups. While the numbers might be daunting for some, I find comfort in knowing to where and to what I aspire. I encourage you to do a bit of number crunching for the new year and find yourself at a healthier, happier, and some resolute place when 2010 rolls in. Happy New Year to all!Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-75929120628777013672008-12-31T13:41:00.001-08:002008-12-31T14:05:57.352-08:00Steadiness of purpose<span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to my dear friend S and my sweet brother R, I am reminded to begin to think and engage in that age old tradition of making a resolution or two for the coming year. </span><a href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/homepage/flash/0,23022,,00.shtml"><span style="font-size: small;">Real Simple magazine</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> (January 2009) suggests that rather than committing to do something (eat better, exercise more, stress less, etc.) that we should commit to </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: small;">NOT</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> doing something (being consumed by things we cannot control, worry, obsess over our bodies, etc.) So in that vein, I am working both sides of the resolution coin so to speak. I looked up the etymology of the word resolution (I've resolved to let my inner geekdom shine forth in 2009) and settled on the following from which to guide my thinking: "Determination; firmness or steadiness of purpose; confidence; conviction, certainty, positive knowledge" (source: <a href="http://www.oed.com/">OED</a> ). I resolve to continue my sabbatical habits of moving while I work, which will allow me to be a positive force at work and at home. I am resolving <span style="font-style: italic;">NOT</span> to concern myself with the water that has already passed under the bridge. I am also resolving to embrace my new job, responsibilities, surrounds, and co-workers. I am also resolving <span style="font-style: italic;">NOT</span> to forget where I've been and where I am going - this journey is only just beginning.</span>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-27113171365190829142008-12-27T15:28:00.000-08:002009-01-03T15:11:28.194-08:00Virtual workplace acclimatization<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SVa6GkLyQrI/AAAAAAAADnw/kdKaenEWku0/s1600-h/Fullscreen+capture+12272008+31738+PM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SVa6GkLyQrI/AAAAAAAADnw/kdKaenEWku0/s400/Fullscreen+capture+12272008+31738+PM.jpg" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>So probably the most daunting part about transitioning to my new job is carving out a space that I can feel at home in and do my best work. I am anxious to get my move on so to speak, but due to the holiday - I kind of need to wait. In the meantime I have played around with some <a href="http://www.floorplanner.com/">free floor planning software</a>, which has a 3d tool so I can design what seems like a good plan and try to acclimatize myself through the virtual medium. I am pleased to discover based on the dimensions and my configuring that I can probably set up my office in such a way as to include both the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gargantuous</span> L shaped desk (that I think is probably stuck in the office for life) and my treadmill desk without it feeling too cramped. I am thinking of ways to insulate the undercarriage of my treadmill so that the person whose office is directly below mine and the one whose office is adjacent to mine won't be completely irritated and bothered by my quirky <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">idiosyncrasies. I hope to have three distinct work spaces -- sit down desk, tread desk, and side table for working one-on-one with students. I am hoping that my arrival will model the myriad of environments that one can seamlessly work between. </span><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: LEFT;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-31506452460736278252008-12-25T19:49:00.000-08:002008-12-27T15:29:12.197-08:005:30am wake up callSo when the kids said they were getting up REALLY EARLY they weren't kidding. Lucky for me - I didn't hear them at all and once B heard them he told them to go downstairs and fall back asleep. When I woke around 7ish, B was asleep and to my surprise both boys were crashed on the couches near the fireplace. They slept for another good half hour. By 8:30 they had discovered their big gifts by accident -- we didn't hide them very well and they were upstairs playing pool together (with their new pool cues that they had opened on Christmas Eve) when they noticed their big gifts. We had: 1) not accounted for new pool cues from G'pa the night before, 2) that they would be anywhere besides right next to the gift laden tree, and 3) that you could see the big gifts if you were patiently sitting on a stool waiting for your turn in pool. As it turns out is was a blessing in disguise. While we waited for G'pa to come over after church, B and G'ma watched a movie, and I got the sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes started. The big gifts kept the boys occupied until we were all assembled and ready to do the stockings and the tree. It was a quiet day that is now being put to rest with a few miles on the treadmill desk, listening to some new Christmas songs, and watching the boys ACTIVELY play Mario Smash Brothers for the Wii. I'm going to head in to my new office tomorrow to take it all in and start playing around with a good layout. With two windows in the opposite corner from the door, I have to figure out a way to capitalize on an office with natural light (the first time in 16 1/2 years) and views, while facing the door. I hate having my back to the door and with a ginormous L shaped desk, I am somewhat limited in where the desk can go so my creativity is going to have to kick it in to high gear. I am so excited to start my new job with awesome co-workers who have similar passions and energy for student learning.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-41595135515332356952008-12-23T17:12:00.000-08:002008-12-26T07:26:35.259-08:00Half-way through the Holiday stretchYippee! Today marks the half-way point (for those of us that are keeping track) of the holiday stretch (Halloween to Valentine's Day). I feel a renewed sense of energy and will power knowing that, like winter solstice, I have survived to the point at which it becomes easier (fewer candy and food gorge days and longer daylight hours). I think the holiday stretch is equally challenging because we have to endure the urge to hibernate beneath huge fleecy blankets, add to our fat stores, and sleep the weeks away. The treadmill desk has certainly done its part to keep the part of me who enjoys summer days, hiking, fruit salads, fresh vegetables awake. I have raised enough curiosity with my new colleagues and neighbors in the administration building (see last post) that I think I will at least be able to bring the treadmill desk in on a trial basis. My new office is quite a bit bigger as compared to where I have been, so I am eager to get in and make it my own living-working-life balance laboratory. As soon as I begin the set-up I will post pictures to detail my progress.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-76926962309128702562008-12-22T09:13:00.000-08:002008-12-22T19:21:20.226-08:00Crossroads<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SU_KqymUTOI/AAAAAAAADhc/WAGt20Ph72U/s1600-h/100_5064-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SU_KqymUTOI/AAAAAAAADhc/WAGt20Ph72U/s400/100_5064-1.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a>Well now that I have formalized my brief stop at a career crossroads, I am excited to announce that effective January 1, 2009, I will trade in my tape cutting scissors and ortho exams for new responsibilities as the newly appointed Director of Academic Resources. For those of you that know me, this is just the perfect amount of stretch and challenge -- as I explained to my 11 yo, rather than being responsible for student-athletes' physical health, I will be responsible for students' academic health. This is a formidable challenge and an exciting new venture. I have to admit that shortly after the Dean and Provost pitched the position to me - one of my first thoughts was "hmmmm, I wonder if they will let me bring along my treadmill desk." Since we are quite deep in snow - and likely won't thaw out too soon - figuring out how to move Treadmill Desk 3.0 into the administration building is not something I yet have to entertain. I am reminded however that just as the treadmill desk had a legitimate place in my soon-to-be-former position, it also has a place in my soon-to-be-new position in that it is a perfect demonstration of how kinesthetic learners can keep one part of their brains busy (by walking) while the other parts go to work on reading, writing, figuring, exploring, applying, experimenting, etc. I am excited to model this type of learning preference accommodation. So just when I thought this journey was coming to an end, I am excited that it is just taking a hard right turning and getting started all over again.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: RIGHT;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-46575383323378546782008-12-18T18:21:00.000-08:002008-12-25T20:36:20.800-08:00From my vantage...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SUsFNKRjP3I/AAAAAAAADfU/5fAFo8RamQA/s1600/100_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YIkcWOceFhM/SUsFNKRjP3I/AAAAAAAADfU/5fAFo8RamQA/s400/100_5048.JPG" style="margin-top: 0px;" /></a><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;">...it looked kind of like my treadmill, which made it a whole lot easier to shovel the 16" of snow that had accumulated in the driveway and along 150' of sidewalk. Not only was my shovel just about as wide as the tread, but when I got to the end of the walkway, I turned around to discover that I could also follow my progress in the icy remnants of my treadmill. As I look back over the 50 some posts that make up this blog, I realize that this is much more than a report about how I set up my treadmill desk and how much (or how little) progress I am making. Rather, it is the tidbits of a life being rediscovered. Friday marked my arrival at an unexpected crossroads, one that I hope to speak to early next week. I'm not sure if I would have been mentally or physically prepared as I was had I not jumped on this tread and committed to do something solely for me. The investment in my physical wellbeing is also paying off dividends in my emotional, psychological, and professional health. So as I stand at the crossroad, ready to take a hard right turn, I am thankful for a forum to explore the ideas and for the family and friends who have been so supportive in this journey and whose commitment to me for my next journey is palpable. "I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it." Rosalia de Castro</span></span>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-53496587993255800282008-12-15T08:59:00.000-08:002008-12-15T09:37:17.012-08:00Solace in the humSometimes when you least expect it, life just jumps up and bites you in the behind. This happened to me at the end of this past week and as I prepared for a series of unexpected meetings, I found amazing solace and calm aboard the tread. I'm not sure if it were the whirrr of my tread motor (although it is pretty quiet) or the steady rhythm of my steps that lulled me in to a quiet reassurance. I felt grounded, focused, and ready to take on the world successfully, which, incidentally, I did. After the meetings, I found the treadmill to be the perfect place to debrief. I turned up my sabbatical soundtrack and let the motion, music, and minutes return me to my pre-meeting, stress-less place. As I gear up for another long week, I find that like any kind of activity, a little warm up aboard the tread pays off. I am also pleased to note that although the week in hindsight seemed pretty stressful, I managed to maintain my routine and continue to make good progress toward my goals (see progress report to the right).Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-3788760209940962052008-12-11T10:26:00.000-08:002008-12-11T17:33:16.364-08:00A day in the life...I thought it would be interesting (at least to me, and hopefully to my readers) to see how this might work in real life. So here is a series of snapshots of today's workday:<br />
<div></div><div>Got to work (read: stepped on to the treadmill desk) @ 7:58am</div><div>Walked for 56 minutes before heading out to a 9am appointment</div><div>Got back to the office (read: stepped back on...) @ 10:10am</div><div>Walked for 84 minutes before heading out for lunch with D<br />
Got back to the office @ 12:50pm<br />
Walked for 30 minutes before jumping off for an afternoon meeting<br />
Got back to the office @ 2:05pm<br />
Walked for 46 minutes before heading out the door to pick up kids<br />
Got back to the office @ 4:15pm<br />
Walked for 57 minutes and then went downstairs to think about cooking dinner.<br />
<br />
So...on a typical day I might walk nearly 5 hours while at work, covering 6.82 miles, and burning (at least according to my tread) 1200 calories</div>Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-7454746115397635682008-12-11T07:59:00.000-08:002008-12-11T10:30:50.428-08:00Ta-da & the 1st dress rehearsalLast night as I was updating my tracking spread sheet, I realized that I would cross the 1M second mark in the last minutes of my evening desk work. So rather than finishing last night, I cut my workout 1 second short of the milestone so that the very second I stepped on to my treadmill desk today I would have accomplished something great! I wasn't sure how I would feel, but as I pushed the speed button and listened to the beeps as the treadmill ramped up and watched the first second tick off, I felt a rush of adrenaline. 1,000,000 seconds. Dang that is a lot of work and workout. 277.77 hours of walking. Although I have only put in one 8+ hour day, I anticipate that with my return to work in January that the second million might come more quickly. Since, I have an appointment this morning at 9am (the same time I will start teaching in January), I thought I would run a dress rehearsal this morning and see how my mileage might be on a average day. I had planned to get on the tread by 7:45am (see earlier posts), but didn't get on until a little before 8am. Since I have to drive to my appointment, rather than walk across campus, I will have to jump off a bit earlier than I will when I return to campus. My plan is to be working at the treadmill desk when I am not at an appointment, lunch, or afternoon meeting. This should be pretty close to what an average day will look like when I return to work. I will report the mileage in a post later this week.Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191806201228890001.post-26139375061316116912008-12-10T18:49:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:01:04.315-08:0045 calories"45 calories," I could have shouted at the assisted living facility's activity director. I almost did today as she was bounding up the stairs as I was following the kids down. Yesterday, when we were in reverse roles (I bounding up, she walking down), I overheard a conversation between the activities director and one of the co-workers. Something along the lines of "I don't need a treadmill, I walk these stairs a gazillion times a day." It made me curious and so I looked up the number of calories burnt while ascending and descending a standard set of stairs (16 treads). Turns out it is just short of .5 calories per tread -- 15 calories for up and down one flight. Since I was coming down from the third floor and I assume she up from the first -- round trip would equal 45 calories. I clocked it on the treadmill desk and @ 5.0% incline, 1.5 mph, it took me ~ 9 minutes to burn 45 calories. She is right - she doesn't need a treadmill desk. But for those of us that don't regularly ascend and descend 3 flights of stairs multiple times a day, the treadmill desk can do the trick. I do think, however, that the stairs provide an important object lesson, particularly in this place where the elevator is the "default mode of transportation" for most of the residents. When we are able we should take the stairs because it can prolong our need for the "default mode of transportation."Julihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02768105271536082893noreply@blogger.com0