Day 15
Today is day 15 and I still haven’t had any coffee, but I haven’t blogged or worked out every day. Lets keep up no coffee at least for 30 days 
I’m excited about this.
Day 2 of 30
Yesterday was again successful. Ran 2.7 miles in 30 mins and did legs and abs after that. I slept a lot last night and took a nap for lunch yesterday. I had 3 diet cokes yesterday… but I stayed away from coffee. Hopefully today I can get by on 2
Feeling less stress/anxiety and the less coffee + more exercise I think is making me want to sleep more…
12 of 12 – January 2010
I took a few pictures today, not quite 12… 6 to be exact. I wrote 2 other posts last night however, so that will have to do!
Scalin’ |
Breakfast of Champions |
Skype, with Jared |
My favorite book yesterday |
Hope they don’t mind that it got ripped… |
Frustration, how can I make this work on my machine! |
Check out the Uri! Zone for his 12 of 12.
Getting past JSP JSTL Tag frustrations
Today had been a majorly frustrating day with learning how to use JSPs the “right” way.
The model I was working with:
List moviesList = new ArrayList();
moviesList.add("Top Gun");
moviesList.add("Terminator");
request.setAttribute("movieList", moviesList);
And my JSP code…
<table>
<c:forEach var="movie" items="${movieList}" >
<tr>
<td>${movie}</td>
</tr>
</c:forEach>
</table>
First off Tomcat wasn’t really working and I couldn’t figure out why. This had led me down the road to using Glassfish for a while, but I wanted to try and steer clear due to previous scars I still have from using Glassfish.
In Tomcat, it turns out had I had setup the password to be different than our other computer and that was throwing me off. After that, it still wouldn’t launch because it got a file not found (invalid permissions) error. So, i did a sudo chmod -R +x apache-tomcat-6.0.20 and finally it started up! Now, after all this I tried to run some of the samples and found that there were not sufficient permissions for the tomcat directory. So I said screw it and did a chmod 777. I know that’s the worst thing in the world, but hey, it works, right?
So now I could run the example jsp pages that used Tags, but I couldn’t get my pages to work. Frustration! Luckily mid-day I decided to go grab my book (picture shown above) that helped break down JSP tags for me. It recommended to copy the jslt.jar and standard.jar files from the examples into my /WEB-INF/lib directory. That seemed like it should be easy enough. It was easier than looking digging for the libraries in the global Maven repositories (searches that were coming up empty), however it still wouldn’t work. Total frustration!!!
Now, it’s confusing enough that when there seems to be specific implementations of the JSTL (Java Standard Tag Library) for each container i.e. Tomcat, Glassfish, etc. But now I was using the Tomcat Libraries, on Tomcat and the same exact libraries that the samples were using. What gives?? Why isn’t it working?
Finally, after a clear head from the gym and a plan of action I came back and pieced things together piece by piece.
The culprit… well a lot of things it seems, but it all came down to one attribute.
FAIL.web.xml file: |
WIN!web.xml file:
|
What??? Just a version number? All of my web.xml files had been machine generated so that was the last place I looked. At least I got to the bottom of it and can move on to actually using JSP Tags in the morning.
Lesson of the day: Use a version number in your web.xml file. It’s obviously important.
Day 1 of 30
Today was a success (No clue? Read Yesterday). I had zero coffee, although I had 3 diet sodas (1 diet pepsi, and 2 diet cokes). Weening down still from 5 cups of joe yesterday. Tomorrow will be 2, and I might do that for two days, then finish off the last 4 days of weening with just one a day. As far as the gym, I got in 45 minutes and I owe it to Kristen who launched my ass outside and got us to the gym. Excellent.
Not Acceptable – 30 Days of Change
Forewarning
No one wants to hear about resolutions that include the gym or anything like that during the month of January, so if you want to not read that… go somewhere else. I’m sorry. This is my only apology.
The Next 30 Days
I’ve been telling myself since the end of fall soccer season that I would start being healthier and in better shape by the time the winter indoor season started. Tonight was my first indoor soccer game, and I nearly died. It’s true, I’m not that great at soccer, since I haven’t played since I was 13, but really? I can’t even play 1/2 a game (that’s 20 minutes total) without literally feeling like I was going to keel over? I’m 26 years old, and it’s absolutely pathetic. I guess the following factors really set up me for not being the most prepared person for a soccer game.
- Not having worked out since last Thursday, and then who knows before that
- Having 5 cups of coffee today (one at the Social Media Club meeting this morning, one at Spill the Beans, and three? at home)
- Eating delicious and spicy Thai food for dinner
- Sitting on my ass a lot in front of the computer
Oh, and in case you were thinking the last week was just bad, that’s not the case. It’s been like this for a few months now.
More than just Physical Health
For the last few months after starting to be in South Carolina nearly full-time, I have changed. Obviously there are a lot of reasons why that could happen when you move 500 miles away, but it’s not good change at the moment. Yes, I am incredibly grateful for now being engaged, and still having a job among other things, but as of late, I’m simply “not feeling it” (it being the way I’m living life).
Granted I have been doing a good job on focusing more on learning new things on the computer, and applying those in fun projects, but that’s about all I do outside of work. Which leaves me in front of the computer for… 10?-16? hours a day.
For 30 for 30 Days
I’m not going extreme, but I am going to be firm with this. It’s one of those things where it is only 30 days, so I’m not talking about a lifelong change. Anyone can survive such “harsh things” for 30 days, so therefore this is moreso a test of my ability to commit to something for 30 days more than anything else. I know Steve Pavilina is kind of a nut, but he does stick to things such as his Raw Food Diet, and it seems like you’d learn a lot about yourself by doing something like this.
So,
- I’m going to ween off caffeine (slowly the first 7 days, so I don’t end up with massive headaches) Tea will still be acceptable but absolutely 0 coffee, and after the first 7 days, no soda.
- I’m going to work out for at least 30 minutes a day for the next 30 days. That is going to be tough when I’m traveling in February, but it’s do-able, really. Even if it’s a combination of pushups/sit-ups/stretching that will suffice on traveling days.
- I’m going to post here every day
Anyways, I’m doing this for more than me now. I’m engaged, and I need my sanity and health not only for myself, but for everyone around me. Tomorrow is 12 for 12. This whole “thing” starts then. It will go through the next 12 of 12, so if I give up on this? What happens? Well it will show that I can’t commit to something for 30 days. And that’s pretty damn lame. So buck up son! Lets do something different.
Sincerly,
-Sam
Blog is Fixed!
I’ve noticed for quite a while that the main page of the blog was showing up oddly. I finally took the 15 minutes to track it down today. It was a missing </div> tag. Go figure.
Where is the love for this blog? I know I haven’t been to loving to the Handstands Across America blog lately, but I haven’t been traveling anywhere new lately. We do have some handstands coming up in San Antonio, Texas soon so watch out for those. Also, Saturday is a 12 of 12!
12 of 12 – November 2009
A full day of working from Arlington, then meeting up with people for Richard’s Bachelor Party.
1 of 12: suitcase livin [Flickr]
2 of 12: favorite coffee cup at home [Flickr]
3 of 12: no desk in arlington anymore. luckily for only 1 workday [Flickr]
4 of 12: moved office downstairs after lunch [Flickr]
5 of 12: Architecting! [Flickr]
11 of 12: waitimg forever for a check [Flickr]
6 of 12: cheese quesadilla [Flickr]
7 of 12: bachelor [Flickr]
8 of 12: lighting here sucks [Flickr]
9 of 12: round of shots [Flickr]
10 of 12: larry and rich. soooo dark in here [Flickr]
12 of 12: finally made it to shellys, a cigar bar in D.C. [Flickr]
Check out past 12 of 12s here.
Nashville Tennessee Weekend
Kristen and I checked out Nashville for the first time this past weekend. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. Our favorite part of the trip was the Bluebird Cafe.
Here is a picture from the General Jackson Riverboat with the AT&T a.k.a. “Batman Building” in the background.
Handstand for Food
You may have thought by the title of this post, that I would be dedicating myself to helping world hunger, but currently that’s not the case. It’s simply dedicating a handstand for free food! The Shrimp Connection officially made an offer for me to handstand their store at 14735 Bristow Road in Manassas, VA, 20112, in exchange for a free delicious meal there. I think this is fantastic and I will be chowing down the next time I can swing by! See the offer here.
The Shrimp Connection
The Offer
What’s New?
I…
- Joined the YMCA
- Joined a Soccer Team and first practice is today… first game on Tuesday
- Am heading to Nashville, TN on Thursday for a 3 day VACATION (You heard me right, not weekend, VACATION)
So life is good, but blog is not feeling the love. This update is for Uri! so I don’t drop off his list
H.O.K.I.E.S. – HOKIES!
I’m still around and kicking, I’ve just been super busy.
Heading to Atlanta tomorrow for the Season Opener. Watch out Alabama, here we come. Lets Go! Ho-kies!
Car Handstand Fail
Don’t try this at home… or anywhere. Where do they get these people?
This is a Car Handstand FAIL from one of my favorite sites, FailBlog.org
Could You Have Sex A Little Quieter?
It is so incredibly aggravating having neighbors have sex SO loud that it wakes you up in the middle of the night. I have a hard enough time getting to sleep, but when I hear the floor shaking above me and hear high pitched sounds from a hyena while I’m trying to sleep, it really pisses me off! I should be asleep right now, but instead I’m awake and back at home because I had to get out of there. I felt like I was trapped like someone being torchered. Screw that, I am not dealing with those people any more. I have banged on the ceiling before but they don’t seem to give a crap. Should I go up and ask them if they’ve had any luck concieving? Or should I just kick him in the balls the next time I see him? AHHHHH!!!
I am not a person who gets riled up but I have been kept awake on too many occasions, and I am livid.
Word of advice for all you apartment shoppers out there. Get the top floor apartment. Pay the extra $50 dollars a month and consider it money well spent.
What the hell should I do? I really want this to stop.
August 2009 – 12 of 12
1 of 12: 1:19am… Time for bed.
2 of 12: 8:47am – Good Morning Coffee.
3 of 12: 10:58am Late Breakfast. Team Cheerios.
4 of 12: 12:50pm Status Reports are Painful
5 of 12: 1:26pm Time to Shave so I Can Go Into Public Later
6 of 12: 2:50pm Rushing Past Ballston to get on I-66 and Miss HOV-2 Restrictions
I figured out once I was on I-66, that restrictions we not until 4pm. Doh!
7 of 12: 3:25pm Panera “Iced Caramel” Coffee Drink at Herndon Panera. My Favorite.
8 of 12: 5:28pm documenting his Steak Grilling.
9 of 12: 5:42pm Delicious Steak and Yuengling.
10 of 12: 6:48pm Brian’s cat likes to talk, and has no plan on stopping.
11 of 12: 7:59pm Messing with the Google Earth API
12 of 12: 9:45pm Rebecca made it home!
12 of 12 Complete!
Photos are in this Flickr Photoset and here …
Be sure to check out Brian’s site and his 12 of 12.
Check out the other 12 of 12’s people have done on Chad’s site.
Guy Dancing to Music While Handstanding in Paris
Today’s Moment of Zen:
Handstands Across the World
I created a 
Group for the “Handstands Across The World” site. Small progress, but any progress is good!
Random Handstands with MySQL and CSS Fix
Random Handstands
Well, it turns out that the “Random” handstands you see on the right were actually not all that random. They weren’t showing any from my roadtrip or beyond which was puzzling. I still don’t know exactly why that code didn’t work, but I have some that does now, which is less efficient (but works)!
For anyone who is a MySQL guru, I wanted to determine the MAX id, and then generate a random id off of that. Then using that id, retrieve the information.
I accomplish it by making 2 calls now:
- Call 1 (Getting a Random id):
- SELECT FLOOR(MAX(id) * RAND()) FROM `$this->table` LIMIT 1
- Call 2 (Getting the properties out for that id):
- SELECT `id`, `title`, `description`, `small` FROM `$this->table` WHERE id = $rand_id ORDER BY id LIMIT 1
How do I make a query that works in one shot, but accomplishes the same thing?
CSS Fix
My About page was looking messed up as the footer came up and swallowed the entire page. I ended up fixing that thankfully though too. Yay for fixes!
Always Another Voyage Just Around the Corner
Averaging 2,000 Miles/Month
I got my car worked on this weekend and right now I have 117,000 miles on it. As of July 2nd last year, I had 91,052 miles on my car. That equates to a whopping 25,948 miles in the past 13 months… Which (if you allow me to round the numbers) would mean 26,000 miles in 13 months.
Average Mileage per Month = 2,000 miles. How ridiculous is that??
Coming to D.C.!
I’ll be coming up to the D.C. area yet again! I leave tomorrow morning and will be coming to the D.C. area by way of Blacksburg, VA. I’ll be in town until early Saturday morning (the 15th) when I’ll drive my parents down here to South Carolina to check it out! It will add a little over 1,000 more miles on the car. I’ve got a bunch going on, but if you’d like to hang out, let me know! Right now I’m really only free possibly on next Wednesday, Thursday and possibly on Friday.
P.I.M.P. my LIFE!
Not quite the MTV show… but I did get some major upgrades this weekend. I got a bed, and a microwave!
Maybe to you these things seem trivial. However, I have not had a bed in a place that I live in since June of last year (that’s 14 months ago). I was pretty psyched.
As far as the microwave goes… I could never bring myself to pay $50 or so for a microwave, and used a toaster over instead, which kinda works. I was walking to the pool on Saturday though and by the dumpster, a microwave! I spent 30 minuntes scrubbing it inside and out, and now it’s “brand new” for me.
I am now officially a yuppie? I don’t know, but come on and visit, I’ll pop you some popcorn in my microwave, and YOU can sleep on the floor :-p.
Why You Should NOT do a Handstand on a Treadmill
NOTE: If you do not like seeing people get hurt… DON’T watch this.
These guys (Livewire) are AMAZING at Handstands
I was blown away. People think I’m good because I can stay up for a few seconds… ha! This is amazing.
Their Websites: