A Triathlon Update – Unexpected Twists

I definitely didn’t predict 2025 correctly. As last year was ending, I’m sure was getting excited about an upcoming year of triathlon training and exercise. Actually, wait a second… both of those things have come true. Well, that’s pretty cool. I joined a gym and have been exercising pretty regularly. I’ve been training, too. The ironic part is that with all the workouts and training sessions, I’ve only participated in 2 races all year and only one of those was a triathlon. What the!?!?!

Now it’s nearly October and no races are on my calendar for the remainder of the year. On the one hand, that’s a bummer but on the other hand, I do still have the desire to race. So I’m glad this year’s mostly dry spell isn’t because I’ve lost interest. Plus, the training is good for me even if there’s no race to go along with it. My current situation is mostly making sure I can get back into running, swimming, and cycling after hurting my knee almost a month ago. I thought I’d recover quickly and maybe I would’ve if I was 20 yrs old. Just this week, 3.5 weeks after the pain started, I’ve been able to run distances I’m familiar with. So that’s good. I would even have a race coming up in 2 weeks had I signed up on time. As it is now, it’s sold out and the waitlist is full.

So it looks like it’ll be more working out and more training for the foreseeable future. When the next race comes along, it’ll be great to feel the rush of “race day” again!

-Out of the Wilderness

The New iPhone 17 Commercial – The Song and More!

My sister loves her iPhone (she has the 12) but just the other day she saw a commercial for the iPhone 17 and her curiosity has been piqued. My guess is she’ll have the 17 before we ring in a new year. Once she has her sights set on something, she gets that thing. Usually it’s a phone or a watch or a WWJD bracelet. She’s awesome. Here’s the ad she watched and if you’re curious about the music like I was, scroll down for the answer. Also, click here for why I’ll never look at the iPhone 17 the same way again.

The Song. Something old, something new. In this case, it’s a new phone with an old song. From 1959, it’s called “Come Rain Or Come Shine” by Connie Francis. Here’s the full track.

Are you an iPhone person or Android? Why can’t we all just get along? I ask this as I tap-tap-tap on my Android without an inkling of desire to ever switch. 😉

-Out of the Wilderness

The Kansas City Chiefs Are Like…

The Kansas City Chiefs are like that kid you knew in school whose dad was the principal. I watched part of their Sunday Night Football game versus the Giants. Granted, both teams were 0-2 going into the game, so I guess I shouldn’t have expected to be wow’d. But wow, pretty much every Chiefs game I watch is more evidence that the referees are their 12th player. It just seems like every time KC has their back against the wall, the refs bail them out in one way or another. And the exact same call that saves them ISN’T called when it would benefit the opponent.

Why is that? Why am I just one of thousands, maybe millions, that believe there’s some kind of odd favor given to the Chiefs?

Football is part of the entertainment industry so I guess every story needs a villain. The Chiefs are the villain of the NFL. Kind of like Alabama has been for college football. Without a villain, there can’t be a hero. So I guess we need the Chiefs, don’t we?

-Out of the Wilderness

Why do these Jersey Mike’s commercials bother me?

Jersey Mike’s has called on stars Eli Manning and Danny DeVito to endorse their sandwiches and subs. Eli is a new addition but Danny has been a spokesman for a few years now. Here’s an ad with the pair battling for who’s the top dog…

Something about Danny DeVito irritates me. I don’t know if it’s his voice or his style of humor, but every time this ad (and other with Danny) airs, I can’t mute it fast enough. Where I should be laughing, I feel rage. OK, that’s a bit dramatic but I just can’t stand Jersey Mike’s commercials when Danny DeVito is the focus. No offense, Mr. DeVito.

It’s the same feeling I have when those NFL Sunday Ticket commercials pop up starring Jason Kelce. There isn’t anything obviously wrong with those ads either, yet all I feel is irritation. Am I the problem?

-Out of the Wilderness

Did Your Church Mention Charlie Kirk?

I’ve had a few specific conversations with family and friends about Charlie Kirk. Not about the actual, sick event that happened on September 10th, but what happened the following Sunday. I’m referring to the title of this post… how many churches did or didn’t mention Charlie Kirk during the Sunday service?

He wasn’t mentioned in the sermon at the church I attend and honestly, I didn’t even notice. I may not be a great example, though, because there are other pretty major family things going on so whether or not the preacher touched on the topic of Charlie Kirk’s passing had never really even crossed my mind at all. But it sounds like other people had opinions all across the country. Should pastors include something about Charlie or not? I think a lot of church-goers would be offended if he wasn’t mentioned, and others are fine if he wasn’t.

I think it’s a weird thing to focus on. Yes, Charlie was a Christian and his untimely passing is so, so terrible. I’d be OK if a pastor illustrated some kind of Biblical truth with Charlie as the subject and I’m OK if they choose not to do that. Charlie Kirk was a Christian and spoke a lot about the love of God, the salvation Jesus brings, and he was also a political figure. Maybe some pastors thought it best to avoid talking about such a hot topic, one that some see as more political than religious, skipping it altogether. Others might have used the pulpit to lift Charlie and all those affected up in prayer. I think either choice is fine but also, one is not better than the other.

What do you think? If you go to church, was there a mention of Charlie and how did that make you feel?

-Out of the Wilderness