StyleWatch: Ben Affleck's Impression of Keith Urban

I don't pay too much attention to celeb styles, but this one struck me as funny.

Apparently it's for his newest movie role in Argo (which he's also directing), but I sure hope Ben Affleck's style impression of Keith Urban doesn't become permanent.

Let's leave those locks to the rockers, Aussies, and Justin Biebers of the world.

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Metallica Monday: Welcome Home (Sanitarium)

Today's Metallica Monday is dedicated to the very talented, troubled, and late Amy Winehouse.

To my knowledge, Metallica never did an official cover of a Winehouse song, nor vice versa, so I've chosen a song to wish her well going to her post-mortal home, where her earthly demons will no longer torment her.

Most likely you've all heard by now that Ms. Winehouse passed away over the weekend. While it hasn't been confirmed, based on her past issues, the general presumed cause is a drug overdose. I imagine her addiction was much like being trapped in the place described by Metallica.

"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)".

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Road ID: Training Piece of Mind

If you haven't purchased one yet, I highly recommend you get a Road ID. This wrist/ankle/shoe band is inscribed with contact info in case something happens during training, or a race, or anytime, really.

You can pick from a variety of colors and styles. I went with the Slim version in black, which is similar to a Livestrong band but with a metal piece containing the inscription. You can even just get the metal piece and then attach it to the cause band of your choice.

Here is mine:

If you're interested in getting one, they gave me a coupon code to share with friends, and it's good for $1 off any Road ID order made by 8/19/11. Feel free to use "ThanksAaron8155110" on the RoadID website, and you're welcome in advance.

Safe and happy training, everybody!

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Future Date with an Olympian

Recently, the big thing has been movie stars being asked to Military Balls by military:

1) Mila Kunis accepted this invitation

2) Justin Timberlake accepted this invitation

3) Betty White, though flattered, had schedule conflicts, so declined this invitation

Movie stars are great, but I'm partial to Olympic athletes.

Especially funny ones like Lolo Jones.

A little while back, Lolo and I were tweeting back and forth, and, well, I'll just let you read it:

Don't worry; I'm not completely delusional.

I know she was just being nice to a sports fan and Twitter follower.

But I do know some tasty restaurants and a couple fun DC-area activities, just in case she ever does take me up on the offer...

P.S. You can follow Lolo on Twitter here. She's a regular nominee and winner of the Universal Sports 'Tweet of the Week', so that's an she's worth following (if my recommendation isn't enough for ya).

P.P.S. My Twitter account can be found here. Maybe not written by an Olympian, but I like to think I write some funny stuff.

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Help Me Pick a Charity

My bank (Wachovia) is merging into Wells Fargo. As part of that merger, they're going to donate money to several charities, based on the votes of current bank members.

All of the options are excellent, and while all will receive funds from Wells Fargo, I just can't decide which to choose.

In order to determine my vote, I'd like your help.

Here are the options, with links and their impact focus:

A) Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington - juvenile crime, teenage pregnancy and STDs, childhood obesity, and lack of arts programming.

B) Capital Area Food Bank - hunger and nutrition.

C) Community Foundation of the National Capital Region's Neighbors in Need Fund - food, clothing, and shelter.

D) Goodwill of Greater Washington - job training services to people with disadvantage and disabilities.

E) March of Dimes (Maryland-National Capital Area Chapter) - preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

As you can see, these are all important causes, so I appreciate your vote and, if you'd like to, a brief snippet of why you chose the charity you did.

And of course, if you have funds you'd also like to give directly, I fully encourage your doing so to any of the charities above.

Thanks so much for your help and input!

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Big Birthday for Pops

This is really late in the day, but I wanted to give a quick blog shout-out to my pops.

It's a big birthday for him, though I won't say the number (this is a sure-fire way to show how much I love him).

Happy xxth birthday, Dad!

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Math That Matters: Women's World Cup - USA v France

Number of shots taken

France: 27 USA: 12

Number of Abby Wambachs & Hope Solos per team

France: 0 USA: 2

'Nuff said.

Good luck in the final, USWNT!

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I'm No Emeril or Julia Childs: Aaron Recipes

A little while back, my friend's blog had a post requesting easy recipes for a future missionary to use. This was my response [don't judge]:

Here are a couple that sound weird, but if he's not a picky eater, they're nutrient-packed and very easy to make. I used them often in my Ironman training, because I was too tired to fix fancy meals. Bonus: all recipes leave only one bowl/Pyrex to clean.

1- Put tortilla chips in a bowl or round Pyrex. Crush them into smallish pieces. Add tuna fish. Pour on spaghetti sauce. Stir. Eat.

2- Place spinach in a bowl. Add Perdue Short-Cuts Pre-cooked chicken strips (multiple flavors available). Optional: add cheese. Add salsa on top. Eat.

3- Use microwave to make 4 oz packet of Idahoan Mashed Potatoes in a round Pyrex. Add either Perdue Short-cuts or tuna fish. Drain can of green beans and add to the mixture. Eat.

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RIP Olympus Stylus

Someday, I knew this would happen.

It's the way of the world. Front dust to dust and all that.

My Olympus Stylus point-and-shoot camera finally died.

Above, you can see some of the water that came out when I opened it up.

That's never a good sign.
I have no idea how many pictures I've taken with this camera, but I'd guess it's easily in 5 figures.

RIP Olympus Stylus. You will be missed.

PS So what camera should I get as a replacement? Please chime in, readers.

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No Playing Ball in the House

My mom always told us kids not to play ball in the house.
Did we listen? Of course not.
And sometimes our selective hearing would come back to haunt us, in the form of a broken lamp or other object.

Well apparently I haven't quite learned my lesson.
This is what happens when you practice your golf swing in the house.

And no, it wasn't a full swing.

Just slow-motion, but it caught the fan just right to snap a blade off.

Let's hope my building's maintenance guys have a spare and will install it for free...

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The Best Way to Celebrate America?

Blowing stuff up, of course!

Gettysburg camping & re-enactment

We started things off by camping 10 mins away the famous Pennsylvania battlefield, including having dutch oven stew and cornbread, as well as sch'mores (a s'more-like treat of a toasted mallow and peanut butter between two fudge stripe cookies).
In the morning, we packed up and went to see actors and actresses re-enact different scenarios from the Battle of Gettysburg (cavalry, infantry, artillery, and mortar-firing). Pretty cool stuff, just a shame that many (most?) of the fatalities from conflict back then were due to infection of minor, highly-treatable wounds.

Hard tack (a very appropriate name)

Definitely Confederates

Tubing in Fredericksburg

The most popular spot for tubing in this area is Harper's Ferry, WV. On a holiday, it's probably a madhouse there, so we went south to Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg, VA. Very fun chatting while relaxing and floating along, mixed with the excitement of going down whitewater sections.*

Fireworks from the Jefferson

I've watched the show from various spots around DC, but this was my favorite so far. The grass wasn't crowded, and we had a perfect view of the fireworks along with their reflection on the Tidal Basin. Since we couldn't hear the music across on the National Mall, we made our own by singing patriotic songs, including the Star-Spangled Banner.**

Here's a bonus: my favorite fireworks scene from the movies. The Sandlot.

Happy birthday, United States of America!

*Tragic side-note: this is when my Olympus Stylus kicked the bucket.

**The fireworks started just as we were singing "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air." Perfect timing.

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Our Family's Matriarch

I'm not going to say how old she is, because I still want to be on her good side, but the 4th of July is my Grandma's birthday. Let's just say she's been around for "a while".

And look how cute she is! Still full of laughter and life and sharp as a tack!

Cute mom and kiddos

She's a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. We all love you so much, Grandma!

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