Thursday Dec. 24th: Merry Christmas!!
Hope everyone is having a great Christmas!
We just got back from Candlelight service where we had the honor of lighting the advent candles. Tonight was the first Candlelight service that me and the kids have been to and the first one Jenny has been to since she was 8 years old living in Indiana.
Our clan in front of the Church's Christmon Tree
Wednesday Dec. 23rd: It got warm today!
Ah, love Florida. Two day s of lows in the 30's and night runs in the high 40's. Well, that went away and in came the warm weather. Back to the high in the 70's. Did a, hour and a half run today at 3:30. It was warm, but not bad. Worked up a nice sweat which made it almost cold with the wind as the sun started going down and cooled off a bit.
We are looking forward to Christmas Eve Candlelight service tomorrow night. I am still shocked that the Church asked us to do the final lighting of the Advent candles which is a pretty big deal. I can't believe, we have the honor of participating during the ceremony.
Saturday Dec. 19th: Say No To Drugs 5K in Clearwater Race Report
It was a cold (OK it was only 46 degrees) and windy morning. Got up before 5Am to make it to Clearwater early to get registered and ready to run. The race was delayed because there were so many people and they weren't able to get the numbers and packets handed out quickly enough. That's why if you go to a race, make sure to get there early to pickup up your packet and use the bathroom!
Considering the wind and the large bridge we had to cross coming and going, I was pleased with my time of 20:02. Amazingly, I ran almost even mile splits. I won my age group, but have to wait for my award because of a timing error where my timing chip did not get registered.
My wace went well. I started out pretty fast hoping to bank some time before I hit the bridge and the wind. Going up the bridge felt like someone attached a parachute to my back. Hitting the turnaround was nice and I held strong going over the bridge again. After another small hill, hit the wind again to fiinish the third mile. The finish was all down hill and fast!!
Yes, I did beat they guy behind me!!
Friday Dec. 18th: RBSMS Band Christmas Concert
Last night was the big Christmas band concert held at Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts. The place was decorated beautifully with poinsettias adorning the stage, lighting, and snow effects. Not bad for a free show! All bands did really well. The beginning band sounded good with only a couple squeeks here and there. The highlight of the night was the jazz band which sounded awesome. I am not a big jazz fan, but the way they played the songs, it didn't sound quite so "jazzy".
Our night started early as well as we got there around five to get ready and take group shots of all the bands. Jazz band was a little tricky as they did not rehearse before hand and had to be shot during their performance. The photos came out great, I am very pleased. I was able to get the photos done and do some quick proofs so the band could sell them. Before the concert had even finished, they had sold over $400 worth. I told Mr. Leahy he should have sold them for more than $5!! I will be curious to hear the final count. With 50-50 and other items sold, the band took in a pretty good haul.
No rest for the weary, we will be heading to Clearwater in the morning where I will be running the Say No To Drugs 5K. Will see what running over the Clearwater Causeway does to my time.
If you would like to view some video from the concert, click HERE
Group photos shot at concert.
Monday Dec. 14th: Site updates & other news
I added tons of updated content to the site today. There is more in the gallery (and more coming)and pretty much completed wedding photography info. I am sure I will be doing more tweaks as I nit-pick everything.
As you can see below, I am playing with adding videos also. Planning to upload to YouTube to improve loading as the files are somewhat large and Quicktime wants to download the whole video before it plays which takes forever!
Finalized plans with Mr. Leahy who is the band director at Stewart Middle. I will be taking group photos of all bands at the Christmas concert this Thursday so they can sell and raise money for the band. Hopefully, I won't screw it up and Mr. Leahy will want me to do more work for him. ;) This is really good because it opens up a whole ton of free advertising opportunities and to reach more people to introduce them to what we do.
Sunday Dec. 13th: Tommy performs at Church
It was Tommy's day to play his sax at Church this morning. He played two songs and sounded really good. Sound was crisp, clean and smooth. Only hiccup was at the end of the first song, he paused because there was a microphone laying on his music and he couldn't see the next notes. The congregation loved it and he got many, many compliments including from the Church Music Director Artiste Parsons.
Tommy Performs at Church from Neil Clements on Vimeo.
Saturday Dec 12th: Reindeer Run Race Report
Ran the Reindeer Run 5K at Lake Jovita this morning. Finished 3rd overall in a time of 19:22 which is really good considering the course was fairly hilly with a steep incline to the finish. I managed to stay fairly close to the two leaders until just after the two mile mark where my lack of hill training was taking effect and I had to shut it down a bit and coast to the finish. Officially, I placed 2nd in my age group but should have been first because the race winner was also in my age group and the ones doing the race did the placings wrong so that he also got the age group award as well. They also did the same with the overall female/masters winner got both. Melissa and Robbie are both friends of mine and I was impressed that Melissa pointed out the fact to the race organizer t that she should not have gotten the masters award and the overall. Robbie didn't even stick around for the age group award. Oh well, the medals were pretty generic. I will have to put something on to even tell what race it came from.
Overall, it was a good race with decent shirts (need to be short sleeve though), good after race refreshments and a challenging course that was accurately distanced..
Considering the number of races around the area this day, the runner turnout was OK with 160 or so participating.
Things that need to be improved at this race is faster completion of scoring. They need a bin for each age group to make for easy scoring. Standard scoring where overall winners do not receive age group awards. Medals with at least the race logo on instead of generic medals that says "Running" on them.
I think if they clean up a couple things, the race could attract more and faster runners.
Saturday Dec. 5th: Zephyrhills Christmas Parade
Tonight was the annual Zephyrhills Christmas parade that took place on Main St. in downtown Zephyrhills under clear skies and cool temperatures. It actually almost felt like Christmas weather (at least for Florida).
The Stewart Middle School Band did great as usual. But, they look even better in a parade setting compared to the other local school bands. The gulf of quality is amazing. It is a credit to the RBSMS band director Mr. Leahy that the band is so good.
Zephyrhills Christmas Parade RBSMS Band from Neil Clements on Vimeo. It was dark, so there really is a band marching there!
Thursday Dec. 3rd: Pasco All-County Band with the Dallas Brass
Tonight was Tommy's big concert playing with the Pasco All-County Band and the Dallas Brass. The Dallas Brass is a 6 man brass/percussion ensemble that put on a really entertaining show. Tommy's All-County band played three Star Wars songs and did a fantastic job. The kids got to spend all day with the Dallas Brass getting advice and a private concert. The kids had a perfect end to the day getting their posters signed and talking to all the guys in the band.
Tommy in his fancy tux, love the duds!!
Tommy and fellow RBSMS kids.
All-County Band Performs w/ Dallas Brass from Neil Clements on Vimeo.
Monday Nov. 30th:
Yay, last day of hurricane season!!!
New post about motivation in Running. Click the link for Running at the top of the page.
Sunday Nov. 29th:
What a nice day it was today! Cool when we got up, warmed up a little and in the 50's for overnight. Looks like the heat will stay off tonight!!
We cut it close getting into church this morning, but made it in time. Today is the first day of Advent which is the beginning of the time of expectation of the birth of Jesus. I am no expert in this stuff as I am just really learning about all of it. The last few months have been the first time I have ever really gone to church and this will be the first time celebrating Christmas in the church. It is nice having more of a meaning attached to Christmas than the usual stuff that I am pretty tired of. The season has become so commercial, materialized, and fake that I really have no patience for it. So, I am hoping that this year will be different...So far so good!
Saturday Nov. 28th:
Got up a little later than planned this morning. Ended up skipping my Saturday 2 hour long run.
Went to Church to help decorate for Christmas. It turned out really nice and everyone had a good time. The minister brought in pizza for lunch which made all the kids there happy. Dr. Hamilton is especially good with the kids. Was nice watching him spend time with our kids teaching them about some of the meanings of the decorations they were putting up. I think they learned more in a couple hours than they have in their Sunday school meetings.
Friday Nov. 27th:
Happy Black Friday! While all freaks (Jenny and Tommy went out with Jenny's Mom early this morning), I took the opportunity to sleep in and wake up to a nice blue sky and cool temperatures. Most people are happy to save up to 50% on holiday items. I am happy to report that I personally have saved 100% by not spending anything!! Hopefully, people aren't out there blowing what credit they have and digging larger holes for themselves all in the name of Christmas. At least Jenny went out with a few dollars and got a couple little things for the kids and a bed for Auggie (my doggie). With having kids, I have come to the conclusion that the more things they get, the more they don't appreciate it. Plus it doesn't seem like kids really take care of even things they really like. I think that most kids just figure someone will buy them a new one when the other is broken or lost. So, even though your kids think they are entitled to have everything, deprive them of it...It may make it so they really have something! Better yet, keep the money, take them somewhere and create a memory that will last forever.
Thursday Nov. 26th:
Happy Thanksgiving!!
We have had a full and busy day which started out at 5AM. Had a great run at the YMCA Gobble Run. I ran a PR of 19:02 and Chris had his best run of 26:20. Unfortunately, this was a fun run with no prizes. The kids each got a nice medal for completing the 5K.
Here are some photos from the day. All taken on Jenny's cell phone.
Emily, Tommy, & Chris on the playground at Al Lopez Park.
Lake at Al Lopez Park.
Cancer Survivor Garden.
Drawing from a young cancer survivor.
We just got in the door at 10PM from Jenny's Grandmother's house where we stuffed ourselves with turkey, ham, and Jenny's pumpkin pie...Twice!!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!
Wednesday Nov. 25th:
Has been a nice rainy day and is starting to get cool outside. Not often that it is in the low 60's at 6PM. Feels nice outside.
Just got back from church where they had a silent communion where you just go in, meditate, then take communion at the altar. Today was the first time they have done silent communion and was very nice.
Ready to settle in for a nice quiet evening of watching hockey and getting ready for the YMCA Gobble Run at Al Lopez Park in Tampa in the morning. The Gobble run should be a much more low-key event compared to the Turkey Trot in Clearwater we did last Thanksgiving. The Turkey Trot was the worst race we have been to as far as parking and just overall non-ease of the whole event. So, hopefully the Gobble Run will be enjoyable. I will be curious to see how fast of runners will be there since most of the faster people will be at the Turkey Trot. I hope there will be some good competition.
Jenny is in preparing some of her awesome spaghetti and will be cooking her even more awesome pumpkin pies later. Can't wait, maybe she will have some mix left over for some pumpkin bread. And, no, she does not use the cans of ready to bake pumpkin pie mix either!
Tuesday Nov. 24th:
The Kids at Woodland Elementary had a great time doing their annual Turkey Trot which raised money for new computers for the school.
The kids raised the roof as skydivers swooped into the stadium at Zephyrhills High putting on quite the show.
The classes that raised the most money got to throw "mud pies" at administrators and teachers which made for quite the mess. I give points to those who did not whimp out by wearing protective clothing.
Meanwhile, Chris had a good time selling snacks to starving school children.
Friday Nov. 20th:
Welcome to the new version of our site. I have made it simpler and hopefully easier to navigate. Plus, it will be easier for me to update. I am steadily adding more content, so keep checking back. I should have the beginnings of a photo gallery up soon with more to follow.