untitled

[Harvey Keitel:] Ms. THird ward, your first question - what is your aspiration in life?
[Beyoncé:] Oh... My aspiration in life... would be... to be happy.

(Uh huh huh)
(Uh huh huh)
(Uh huh huh)

[Verse 1:]
Mama said, "You're a pretty girl.
What's in your head, it doesn't matter
Brush your hair, fix your teeth.
What you wear is all that matters."

[Pre-Hook:]
Just another stage, pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down

[Hook:]
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery

(Uh huh huh)

[Verse 2:]
Blonder hair, flat chest
TV says, "Bigger is better."
South beach, sugar free
Vogue says, "Thinner is better."

[Pre-Hook:]
Just another stage, pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down

[Hook:]
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts (pretty hurts)
Pretty hurts (pretty hurts), we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery

[Bridge:]
Ain't got no doctor or pill that can take the pain away
The pain's inside and nobody frees you from your body
It's the soul, it's the soul that needs surgery
It's my soul that needs surgery
Plastic smiles and denial can only take you so far
Then you break when the fake facade leaves you in the dark
You left with shattered mirrors and the shards of a beautiful past

[Hook:]
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst (pretty hurts)
Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts, we shine the light on whatever's worst
We try to fix something but you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs the surgery

[Outro:]
When you're alone all by yourself (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
And you're lying in your bed (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Reflection stares right into you (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

You stripped away the masquerade (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
The illusion has been shed (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Are you happy with yourself? (pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

Yes
Uh huh huh

Read More

Happy

So I haven't written in here in a while.  Really since the tri. 

In short.  I haven't been happy for a while.  I know its a myriad of things, some that I know and some that I haven't quite figured out yet.

But I'd like to take a step in the right direction in 2015. 

I want to get a little closer to Pharell's Happy than Mudvayne's Happy. 

We shall see. 

Read More

1/16/2009

Let's get back there....and then some.

Read More

With Team in Training....

When you run into TNT peeps at the Creek it's never "how are you doing?" It's "what are you training for next?" #goTeam #itneverends 

Read More

In Memory Of...

In Memory of

Matthew Alan Cook

May 4, 1977 - September 2, 2014

Obituary

Matthew Alan Cook, 37, of The Woodlands, TX, went home to be with the Lord at North Cypress Medical Center on Tuesday, September 2nd. He was born in Columbus, OH, on May 4, 1977 to Dale Richard Cook and Linda Jo (Smith) Cook. He attended Marion Pleasant high school, graduating in 1995. Matt received three bachelor ,degrees in Marketing, Supply Chain, and Production Management from Bowling Green State University in 2000. He began his career in Marketing with Marathon Petroleum Company working in Indianapolis, IN. Matt relocated several times with Marathon including moves to Tampa, FL, Romulus, MI, Atlanta, GA, and Findlay, OH. In 2013, Matt began work for Newfield Exploration Company as the Marketing Manager.

In 2003, he met his wife, Stephanie Moore, and they were married in March, 2005. In October, 2009 he became a father to a beautiful baby girl, Macy Noel Cook. In 2010, the family relocated to Houston, TX. Matt welcomed his son, Grant Matthew Cook, in December 2011. Matt was a wonderful husband, devoted father, loving son, supportive brother and friend to many.

Matt had a strong passion for life. Whatever he pursued, he gave 110% - a true warrior. The word "quit" was not in his vocabulary. Anyone who knew him, knew he was competitive. Matt competed in several sports in high school, but football was his passion. The Ohio State University lost one of their #1 fans. He completed his first triathlon in 2009 and his first marathon in 2011. Matt was an avid runner and cyclist - competing three times in the MS150 in Houston and once in the MS150 in Alaska.

He was an extremely loyal friend and a true man of his word. Matt has always been a man of integrity, enthusiasm, commitment, family, and faith. His life has been dedicated to loving, encouraging, and motivating others to reach their highest potential. Whether as a son, brother, friend, or father Matt always found the words to heal those in need and instill strong values in those around him.

He is survived by his parents, Dale and Linda Cook of Marion, OH, his brothers Jon (Meghean Frazier) of Litchfield Park, AZ and Michael of Chicago, IL. His wife, Stephanie (Moore) of The Woodlands, TX, and his children Macy and Grant. Also his in-laws, Greg and Jennifer Moore of League City, TX and his brother in law, Stephen (Alison McKnight) of Louisville, KY. Many other extended family members in the central and northern Ohio area.

If you would like to make a contribution in lieu of flowers, Matt was currently involved in both missions work and raising money and awareness for cancer research. Below are the links to two non-profit organizations that Matt strongly supported:

www.missionofsight.org
Mission of Sight
1723 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd
Marion, Ohio 43302
In Memo write: Matt Cook Memorial

http://pages.teamintraining.org/txg/falldoub14/mcookqlnua

Matt and his wife also have a 529 Plan established for their children's education. If you would like to donate to this, please contact Jon Cook at cookja99@hotmail.com or 602-315-9808.

Read More

CLI Tri

Just picked up packet.


Shit, meet real.

Read More

14 days.....

AHHHHHHHH Terror, thy name is clear lake tri on Saturday...and Towne Lake Tri two weeks from today.

I repeat. AHHHHHHH!!!!!

Read More

To brick or not to brick

What is a brick you ask? 

From the google Gods:

A brick workout refers to the stacking of two disciplines during the same workout, one after the other with minimal to no interruption in between. As you switch modes of exercise, your body needs to effectively and efficiently prepare for the next demand while recovering from the previous exercise demand. Your heart rate increases significantly as your body tries to shift the blood flow from the muscles of the first exercise to the demands of the muscles of the next. Brick workouts help your body handle the aerobic, anaerobic, and muscular demands of a triathlon event.

http://breakingmuscle.com/endurance-sports/what-is-a-brick-workout-and-why-do-triathletes-do-them

In real life:

A brick is this insane back and forth workout that makes you think, why did you sign up to do a triathlon???

Other common questions to yourself during the brick include:
1) Is it extraordinarily hot today?
2) Why are we practicing in the only part of the park without a shaded run?
3) Who decided you couldn't have music on this event?? Some iTunes would be incredibly helpful right now!

Last week was our first long brick.  Coach Jay said it best:

So there were a few things I kinda got the hang of about myself.
- I need to start running again regularly.  I really haven't done so since I moved.  I love my little heights loop!
-Houston summer is here. 
-Flat tires...seriously?! Still nonsense, but definitely on a small tri loop. 

So it was an experience 4 total miles running and 20 miles biking later, I was pretty exhausted.  If there is one good thing I'm learning about all this, is that I might continue these workouts post-tri just because I burn so many calories in such a short amount of time.

Now if I could only get the post ride drinking and eating down I'd be all set.  Too bad I use that heart rate monitor to know exactly how many calories I can eat back over the weekend.

Read More