I took the day off work today so I could go take the physical for my new job.  The walking and step climbing was easy, as I expected.  The weight lifting was easier than I thought it would be.  The only thing that stressed me was one particular exercise in which I locked my feet under a bar, laid on my stomach on a declining bench, and lifted my upper body up with back and leg muscles.  It really wore out my legs.  He told me to do it until I couldn't anymore or he told me to stop.  I decided I would do until he told me to stop or I passed out.  Fortunately, I hit the two minute mark still conscious, but wow, I'm still feeling it in my legs.

On the walking test, my heart rate maxed out at 130 bpm at 2.5 mph on a 5 degree incline.  Actually, I think that's slower than my normal walking speed.  Just based on how it felt, my normal speed is probably closer to 2.8 or so.  Two-point-zero felt like slow motion.  Of course, this was in an air-conditioned building.  I'm more used to doing it outside when the temp is 95 and the humidity is typical intense south Texas humidity.  Sometimes I even whistle while I'm walking like that, although I have to stop when I actually read a meter because my brain can't seem to do music and numbers at the same time.

I'm glad I didn't work all day and then go do the physical.  I would have been pretty tired.

My experience today reinforces my belief that I have always been correct in telling my boss that he should have some basic physical requirements for applicants.  He'll hire anyone who doesn't flunk the drug test, and that's just not good enough.

Anyhow, I passed with flying colors.  Only three more days this week and then four next week.  I specified my last day as next Thursday so I can give myself a three-day weekend before I start the new job.

Speaking of air conditioning, it turned out that our old AC was in the process of kicking the bucket.  It was choked with mold and operating at only about 20% of its capacity.  It would have cost so much to fix it that I told them to just put in a new one.  Sheesh.  We had to have it financed, of course.  Another bill to pay.  The old one was 14 years old, and was of course the cheapest the mobile home company could find.  I'm pretty sure the new one is a lot better unit than the old one.

1,683 Guitarists Play 'Smoke on Water':

Some came from as far away as California and Germany on Sunday to take part in a Kansas City radio station's effort to break a Guinness world record for the most people playing the same song simultaneously. The record had been 1,323 people playing the same song in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994.

Next week:  More than 1,800 guitarists to converge on Kearney, Nebraska for a mass rendition of "Sweet Child of Mine."  And one guy in the back with a keyboard playing "Jump."

Eighteen years ago yesterday.

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