Defeating the Yerkes-Dodson Curve

It's been a rough week. Company policy is that I can't talk about operations on the Internet so I won't go into further detail in an effort to avoid prosecution.

I feel like that scene in Ghostbusters, you know, Dr. Venkman's study on the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP? It's like I have to guess what's going on, and if I guess wrong I get tazered (hypothetically speaking of course).

So apparently you need to be at the top of this curve to maximize efficiency. And this curve is different for everyone...mine is probably much steeper uphill.

Recommendations for defeating this curve include things such as monitoring physical signs of stress (headaches, tiredness, etc.) and immediately enacting some sort of stress reliever to get you back to an even keel. This probably explains people's hip flasks. Can't use that solution.

Anyway, it has gotten better today, Megs has been very supportive (even in the presence of sick kids), so I'm looking forward to ending the week and enjoying the four day weekend.

*****

On a sad note, my Uncle Don passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. He was one of the most kind-hearted, intelligent, patient men I ever knew. Always had a smile, loved to travel, play cards, and engage in conversation. He spent winters in Alaska as a soldier, and summer tending to his countless gardens. Best green thumb I ever met.

Peace be with you, Uncle Don.

This Year's Sqaud

QB - Matt Schaub

QB - Matt Cassel

RB - Chris Johnson

RB - Ryan Grant

RB - C.J. Spiller

RB - Darren Sproles

WR - Santana Moss

WR - Hines Ward

WR - Deion Branch

WR - Jacoby Ford

WR - Jordy Nelson

K - Garrett Hartley

DEF - Lions ??

Fantasy Football Weekend

Getting ready for the trip to Indianapolis for the annual fantasy football draft. The main event will take place after a round of golf, need to leave the house at like 4:30am tomorrow to get there in time.

Big day at the McNamara house - Aidan had his first day of Kindergarten. We just dropped him off on the bus, he had no problems running to his seat. He gets home around lunch and we're gonna hit Chili's to celebrate - - it's where he wanted to go.

HURRICANE LOOK OUT! I made the prediction with Megs last night that just like every hurricane, the second it hits land it gets downgraded to a tropical storm and instead of mass destruction there's just a lot of rain. Let's hope I'm right.

Raising My Zerg Fighter

I am a giant nerd. Which means I am obligated to raise nerdlings.

Aidan and I spent an hour playing Starcraft 2 last night, and the kid couldn't be more into it. He made sure to keep an eye on the mini-map for Zerg spawn while I made sure to vaporize them with my laser cannon as I tried to recover the artifact my wife married a stud.

Anyway, there was a great article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday (linked via my twitter account PLUG!) about Starcraft 2 fans invading sports bars, and taking over the TV's that were previously allocated to sports. One owner was quoted as saying these "Barcraft" events have raised his revenue by 50%. 50%!

Now I know what you're thinking. Joe, why are you exposing your kids to yet another activity where he stares at screen for an hour without blinking. But where Starcraft is different is that it actually requires a bit of economic intelligence and strategy. This isn't Call Of Duty where you just point and kill (by the way I love that game and own a pair of COD-branded night vision goggles), it requires more a bit more thought and preparation.

I should probably stop at this point to prevent further embarrassment. Shameless.

Return From Michigan

Aidan enjoyed the rowboat, I enjoyed the blisters that accompanied the minor degree of physical exertion.

Had an awesome time in Michigan. Aidan and I hung out in the loft, Lila slept in a tent in the bedroom, and Megan listened to Lila sing songs every night for an hour before finally going to bed.

Discovered that the drive was only 6 hours away, made sure to roast marshmallows immediately that night. Lila was real good at rolling them in the dirt before they caught fire and quickly became torched.

Saw Uncle Tim's cabin as well, swam with the kids, hit Tally's [http://www.yelp.com/biz/talleys-log-cabin-lewiston] for their righteous burger/vernors combo, and grabbed some of the best ice cream Megan and I have ever had while the kids played on the playground.

All in all, an awesome family trip that we're already looking forward to doing next year. Big thanks to Grandma for a fantastic time.

More About Michigan But First...

We spent 8 hours driving back from Michigan only to discover our neighbors were having an outdoor wedding reception that lasted until midnight. Most people were upset by the noise, I was more ticked by the fact that they ended with this song.

A Year Without Alcohol

So some may know that I've stopped drinking. Some may not. And while it's probably a bit strange to discuss a personal issue like this online, it's important to me.

Many people who know me were surprised to hear I made this decision, and almost everyone I discussed this with told me that they "really don't think you have a problem, Joe". Even Megs has said the same thing, the person I'm closest to in the world.

However, the stories just kept adding up, the embarrassment and shame that accompanied so many "the day afters" were too much for my own comfort level. It was just surrounding me and boxing me into a corner that I didn't want to be in.

In my opinion, a lot of it had to do with my surroundings. High School peer pressure, Fraternity peer pressure, Just-Turning-21 peer pressure, Sporting Event peer pressure, work stress, young adult stress, it goes on and on...

I came to the point where alcohol impacted my identity so much, that I didn't like, care about, or respect myself as a person. I cared only about the next rush. Yet I don't think my issues with alcohol were a physical addiction as much as they were a mental one. It was always more of a stress relief valve. I didn't develop healthy coping mechanisms for the pressure I was putting on myself.

I'm not mentioning this because I'm suggesting it's the right thing for everyone to do. It was just the right thing for me to do. Everyone I know who reads this blog still drinks, so I certainly don't want to be a downer here. I just don't want everyone to think I'm not comfortable with my decision. I am.

My life has improved more than I ever expected since I have made this choice, and it's amazing to see the impacts such a behavioral change can make. If any of you need any support from me, for any type of personal matter, please know I'm there - - willing to help and provide a perspective that's sensitive to the challenges of others.

The best part - - giving it up really wasn't hard to do.

This one's weird!

Saw Cedar Rapids on the plane home yesterday. Hilarious.

Ending The Birmingham Run

Last day at the office. To the left is Castle Rye. Picture taken in a city called...Rye. This is the castle I was protecting when I issued the fire command show below.

Had a great visit with Steve and Linda in Kent. Apparently it is known as "The Garden Of England", which I discovered essentially means ENDLESS SHEEP. A cool part of the trip was that I took a high speed train that went 180 mph there. The whole journey took about two hours, and of course there was a thirty minute outbound delay. Why not.

I've gone ahead and checked into the flight to Frankfurt (then to Chicago). Once the afternoon meetings are finished we'll head out for a celebratory dinner and start packing. Need to leave for the airport at 5:00am. Awesome.

Can't wait to get home.