Morgan Davis » Pursuits

Mt. Helix

Morgan Davis — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:08:36 +0000

Where Am I?

Morgan Davis — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:52:09 +0000

On my back
On a beach towel
On the sand
On Coronado Island
All the above

Why I Love Racquetball

Morgan Davis — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:53:45 +0000

The sports facility where I play just put up some cool poster boards with statistics on the fitness benefits of racquetball. For many years now, I’ve played twice a week for two hours and get in at least five games. Taking into account I weigh 175, now let’s do the math…

Morgan serving up a mean game

Calories burned in 30 minutes for a 160 lb. male:

Racquetball	382
Running (10 miles)	360
Swimming (fast freestyle)	349
Tennis	288
Weight Training	288
Bicycling	288
Aerobics (vigorous)	256

Fitness Facts

Racquetball offers both aerobic and anaerobic benefits, with both sustained high-level heart rate activity and quick burst of energy required during play.
Racquetball works nearly every muscle group, including sustained, repetitive use of large muscles that increase calorie burn and reduce fat percentage.
The average number of calories burned during racquetball play ranges from 640/hour to 794/hour.
Racquetball players work at a constant rate of 75 to 85% of their maximum heart rate for the duration of a typical game.
An average game will take 20 minutes, during which a player will run a distance of approximately 3,650 feet – or over two miles in one hour!

(Source: www.usra.org)

Not convinced? Watch these!

And, like golf, you can play forever. Check out local player, Burdette Hansen, at 80 beating someone half his age.

He’s totally sticking it to the youngster (probably in his 30s). Love it! The lesson for all Rball players is to stay healthy and strong enough to just get into the court at that age. The skill is treacherous and ageless, as Mr. Hansen clearly illustrates. What a great example for everyone. Now that’s inspiration!

Rare Dark Jellyfish Spotted While Kayaking

Morgan Davis — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:18:20 +0000

Saw these off Coronado while kayaking into San Diego Bay. It’s a rare dark purple jelly fish called the black sea nettle (Chrysaora Achlyos). This species can grow up to 3 feet across with 30-foot-long, stinging tentacles.

The Black Sea Nettle (Chrysaora achlyos)

Thank You Note from Mom

Morgan Davis — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:41:27 +0000

But she still won’t approve my friend request on Facebook. What’s up with that?

Finding Love When You Least Expect It

Morgan Davis — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:43:33 +0000

I was hiking a new trail up to Cowles Mountain today. I’ve been taking the main trail for a few weeks and decided to explore a different route. When I got to the summit, I just happened to notice that an airplane was sky-writing a heart shape over Lake Murray. It was there one minute, and gone the next. Just like love, fickle and fleeting, in which timing is everything. I hope for whomever arranged this special message for an equally special love, it lasts a good while longer.

Sam the Cooking Guy

Morgan Davis — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:34:01 +0000

Sam the Cooking Guy with Morgan the Eating Guy

I love to cook. So I had to meet Sam Zien (aka Sam the Cooking Guy) at a book signing today. He’s quite the character in the kitchen on TV, but super nice and humble when you meet him. He spent time talking with everyone. I was one of the last people in a very long line to get my book signed (see video of crowd on Facebook), and he still took his time, chatted with me, joked and we laughed… it was great. He even thanked me for waiting so long to get the autograph. What a cool guy, and I just love his cooking philosophy: big taste, little effort. Perfect!

Some guy (not me!) shot some video of the event (see below). It’s a funky little edit job, rather sophomoric, but the only video I could find.

My Father’s Hands

Morgan Davis — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:06:55 +0000

These are the hands that I held when I was very small. These are the hands of a meat cutter who followed those of his father. These are the hands that showed me how to lay my fingers across the threads of a baseball to throw the perfect pitch. These are the hands that gently rested on my shoulders while singing “Sunshine on My Shoulders” in the car. These are the hands that taught me how to hold a racquetball racket and grip a golf club correctly. These are the 74-year-old hands of my dad on Fathers Day — hands that I am blessed to still be able to hold.

View from a Shot Glass

Morgan Davis — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:25:02 +0000

One of the great things about cell phones these days is that you always have a camera with you. The trouble is, they do a poor job of photos in low-light conditions. They turn out lifeless, dark, grainy, and basically dreadful. And this shot in a bar was no exception. It was one of those photos you take and then realize how grateful there is a trash can icon right there to mash, expunging it from its pathetic existence. But every now and then, with the help of software like Photoshop, you can infuse life into the lifeless. This shot turned out to be a perfect example of pixel recycling. For some reason, I love the amorphous people, the glow of the cash register monitor on the face of the bartender, the curling edges on the cocktail napkin under the wine glass, and the warm glow over the rack of glasses. That’s how the bar truly felt, even if the shutter (well, sensor-on-a-chip) couldn’t quite get it right. Hooray for embellishment.

Memorial Day 2010

Morgan Davis — Mon, 31 May 2010 07:00:14 +0000

Lizette Trerotola: wow! nice pic Morgan….did you take it?? it’s perfect!
Morgan Davis: Between missing putts, yes, I shot this. Grabbed the iPhone and waited for the wind to luff the flag just right. From you, Lizette, means much! Thanks!
Lizette Trerotola: aww, you’re sweet. I really like this image, something to be very proud of. it should be framed and admired by others. it really is a gorgeous shot. good eye

Photo taken with iPhone 3GS from the practice green at Singing Hills, Dehesa, CA