PARTAMIAN REPORT

Day 3, Week 3

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:45:00 +0000

Start Weight: 226 lbs
Goal Weight: 210 lbs
Current Weight: 223.8 lbs

Distance: 3 miles on the treadmill at the YMCA.

Day 1, Week 3

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:49:00 +0000

Start Weight: 226 lbs
Goal Weight: 210 lbs
Current Weight: Don't want to talk about it...

Distance: 3 miles, in 32:17. Yes, I am slower than a snail... with a limp. But hey, I'm putting in the miles. I'm getting out there.

Had the IPOD on shuffle. The two best running songs that came up were:

War of the Superbikes by The Meatmen
Flashback by Ministry

I smoked a few nice cigars this weekend. A punch Gran Puro, a Rocky Patel Double Maduro, and a Rocky Patel Sun Grown. All were good, but I think I liked the Punch best, which was kind of surprising to me.

Day 4, Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:31:00 +0000

3 mile run with SS and VR at the hooch loop. I'm running slower than I used to run, but I'm feeling pretty good and I think I'll be back to my old self in a few weeks.

Day 3, Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:22:00 +0000

Start Weight: 226 lbs
Goal Weight: 210 lbs
Current Weight: 220.0 lbs
Distance: 3 miles, roughly 550 calories burned +/-

Well... I'm seem to be staying on track.

Day 1, Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:07:00 +0000

I didn't get out an run as much as I had set out to last week. I only ran 2 miles twice. I got out there this morning with SS and did 2 easy miles. The runnersworld.com calculator said that I burned 333 calories... more would be better. I think we'll be stretching those runs out to 3 and 4 miles very soon.

Day 4, Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:16:00 +0000

Goal Weight: 210 lbs
Current Weight: 223.4 lbs
Distance: 1/2 mile walk, 2 mile run, 1/2 mile walk

In other news, I passed another one of the 9 parts of the Architectural Registration Exam. I've taken General Structures, Lateral Forces, and Construction Documents and Services. I'm still waiting on Pass/Fail from the Lateral Forces exam. I should find out in a week or two. It takes them a long time to grade it I guess. Hopefully I'll only have 6 tests to go.

I started smoking cigars in Afghanistan, and I have kind of gone off the deep end lately with my cigar hobby since I've been home. I started a cigar club and we've actually had meetings... crazy.

http://c4cigarclub.com/

Day 3, Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:45:00 +0000

Well... day 2 was a rest day, and it turned out day 3 was as well. I was slack. I'll get out there and run in the morning.

Day 1, Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:13:00 +0000

After a couple of much needed cups of coffee, I headed to the Y at 0545. Jumped on the treadmill and walked 1/4 mile, then ran 2 miles, and cooled off with another 1/4 walk. I'm strictly posting this stuff for accountability. I'm a little embarrassed that my Half-Marathon train-up is starting off at this level, but it is what it is, and if I stick to the plan "it" will be something else entirely.

I pigged out last night and it made the run this morning a little harder. I was still full. I didn't weigh-in... I didn't want to know. I'll start posting my weight tomorrow.

Here's the plan I'm using.

http://www.marathonrookie.com/support-files/10weekhalfmarathonschedule.pdf

My week one is starting out with 2, rest, 2, 2, rest, 3, rest. then my week two is the plan's week 1 and so on.

I'm signed up for the Silver Comet Half-Marathon and the Atlanta Half-Marathon. I've never done the Silver Comet one, but I have done the 10K. This will be my 5th Atlanta Half-Marathon.

Less than Zero Week

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:23:00 +0000

Ran 3 Miles w/ SS at the hooch.

What have I been up to...

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:19:00 +0000

Mostly smoking cigars, eating... too much.

I've been back at work for a few weeks. It's kind of like I never left, which is weird, considering I've been on the other side of the planet for the previous 12 month, dodging IEDs and RPGs, etc.

Things are really good. My daughter is the cutest, and my wife still loves me even though I smell like a cigar here and there. we're having another child. Yeah, I know... I didn't waste any time.

I did crossfit for a while. Good system, but the HH6 wanted to join the YMCA again and I can't do two gym memberships.

My new thing,(which is an old thing actually)is trying to get back in shape. It's amazing how fast you can turn into a slug when you sit behind a desk all day, and eat office food. So, I'm going to train up for a couple of Half-Marathons in the fall. I'll post my training log here daily... no really.

I'm running in the morning and I will post for accountability after the run.

The blog is back!

Blog Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:30:00 +0000

Now that I am back from my 15 month adventure, I'm changing the look of the blog. I'll be checking the links and getting some new ones up.

Oh... I'll still be posting photos from the deployment now and then. Here's a good one for the Homestarrunner fans.

TROGDOR!!!!!

DONE!

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:10:00 +0000

I'm Home!

Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:23:00 +0000

I'm home. It was a long 15 months, but now it's over. I really appreciate being home in the USA and being home with my family.

KUWAIT

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:54:00 +0000

Yeah... I'm done. I'm in Kuwait, waiting... and waiting... and waiting...

for a plane to take me out.

I haven't been able to get onto the blog as much due to army computer restrictions, and my own laziness. It's been pretty ho hum over that last couple of months.

Tim Horton's Kandahar Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:57:00 +0000

I won a limited edition baseball cap from the Tim Horton's here on KAF. I guess they only made 1,000 of them. This seems like quite a few caps to me, but apparently people (Canadian people in particular) are willing to pay some big bucks for one of these hats.

So... if you are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for this hat... contact me. I heard (and this could be some serious BS) that someone offered $1,000 to some of the staff at T.H.'s for one of these hats.

Quality Partamian bakers from . . . Mexico?

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:45:00 +0000

Francisco Rosales, left, and Jose Gonzales, co-owners of A. Partamian Bakery hold up a customer favorite, lahmajunes, that they make from scratch

The crusty owner of the 60-year-old A. Partamian Bakery in the Mid-City area liked the way they cooked his sarma and lahmajune. And he liked the two of them.

So when Partamian died 17 months ago, he gave his bakery business -- and the building that houses its vintage ovens and bread display cases -- to both of them.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-armenian15mar15,1,1950063.story

Still Kicking

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:18:00 +0000

I'm still alive and I'm still in Afghanistan. I won't be here for too much longer. The deployment is drawing to an end. I just went down to Helmand Province. I flew down on a British Sea King helicopter. Not the best ride in Afghanistan, but it beats walking.

And no...I didn't see any royalty.

Some of the friends I have made here are leaving. I'll miss them, but I'm glad they're going home. A year is a long time and they need to be home with their families. Also, their departure means mine is just around the corner!

A Photo From My Man Tractor

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:04:00 +0000

Tractor sent me this photo. I think it ranks right up ther with the egg package.

More Barf! I can't get away from this stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Everything Is Covered In Barf!

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:54:00 +0000

Barf is the Dari word for snow... and yes, it's all over the place now. It keeps the flies and dust down, so we got that going for us... which is nice.

Just Bizarre

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 08:54:00 +0000

Update - More Photos From Off The Beaten Path

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:22:00 +0000

Did I mention it was dusty here? Because... there's some dust.

The Chaplin (aka Mulla Guzook) and I with some Afghan Warriors

When you are a company commander in the ANA, you get only the finest accommodations

Gunning

The 13th century meets the 21st century... ok, maybe the late 20th in this case.

These kids liked the Viewmasters and Etch-A-Sketches we gave them. You have to be very careful when handing out candy and toys to these children. They tend to roam in packs and will take you down. Someone needs to watch your back... I'm not kidding. You could get killed by a couple of dozen 7 year-old boys. I was giving out some candy the other day and I was a little frightened. I now toss candy on the move at no less than 20 MPH.

He drew the most beautiful mosque, but it got erased when he held it up for the photo

Gunning some more

I like the decorative helmet, but I think I'll stick to the one I was issued.

Mornings in Afghanistan are bad... much worse if there is no coffee.

Moving around

The ANA have a nack for destroying everything they touch. This truck just flipped over... for no reason... with my brand new generator.

ANA Destruction... no... they didn't hit an IED. It just flipped over!

Stewie hates cats, but the cat likes Stewie.

Air Force Crew and Army and Stew

Just another picture of the crew.

Ok... this is my first attempt at posting video. I was at the Qalat Castle. This is a place that was once defended by Alexander the great... there's a lot of history here... "but let's just test fire our large machine gun into the walls anyway." said the ANA First Sergeant.

Some Recent Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:41:00 +0000

Afghanistan is almost pretty sometimes, in a dusty sort of desolate kind of way.

I just thought that this was a pretty good photo.

Mud and goats... if you like mud and goats come to Afghanistan.

Yes, another obligatory marijuana photo. This is a police checkpoint. It's common for these guys to get "baked". But I can't drink a beer!

Look! The Russians are trying to help again. I'm sure that the Afghans really appreciate that.

COPS... filmed on location with the men (and women?) of law enforcement.

RPG Warrior... probably Hazara

What's Wrong With This Picture? No. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:48:00 +0000

These people are not carpenters... these people are not carpenters... these people are not carpenters...

FOB DRACULA?

noreply@blogger.com (Partamian) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:19:00 +0000

War isn't tough enough... we need to introduce Dracula into the mix?