Your either a bully, a toadie, or one of the nameless rabble of victims.

One of a hundred classic lines from the best off-beat holiday movie ever. A Christmas Story! I bring this up for a couple of reasons. First off, I am just about ready to view this classic, again, for the first time this season. Second, my department at my work is having a Christmas party and they are actually showing it! Plus they are having "A Christmas Story" trivia for prizes. I wonder how many times I can win without making people pissed off. This has me totally psyched. I can't wait for next Wednesday. Free food, possible prizes, and my favorite Christmas movie. No wonder I like this place so much.

The "Italian" prize that Dad wins. Scott Farkus and his yellow teeth. Being triple dog dared into ripping half your tongue off. Drinking Ovaltine. Eating like the little piggies eat. Soap poisoning. I can't put my arms down....you can put your arms down when you get to school. And of course, shooting your eye out. I could go on and on. Its hard to even tell when that movie was made. 15, 20 years ago? 5 years ago? Who knows and who cares. Timeless. There have even been years where it's been run on a 24 hour marathon. I think on TNT. That, my dear friends, is a classic.

I can't wait to see it another 15 times before New Years!

just didn't feel like it, thats why

I have had writers block...or bloggers block as the case may be. Nuttin about nuttin striking my fancy enuff to type about until last night. Yesterday we got hit with the WHITE DEATH. Yeah, snow. Almost 5 inches of the stuff. Wow. We treat it around here like the plague only we freak out about it a bit more than the plague. My typical commute, with picking up the wife, takes me about 45 minutes to an hour. 5 hours last night. That doesn't include the stop at the store. The news had the warnings/watches up for 3 days. What is wrong with that picture. This was not a freak storm. Hell, it wasn't much of a storm. It started around 2 pm and went until sometime after dark. And still it took 5 hours. I take the interstates home, no back roads. 5 hours. A major north-south interstate and our region's circle freeway. The two biggest, no the ONLY two, interstates in this region. 5 freakin hours. There were at least a dozen cars off the road. Maybe 8 or 10 tractor trailers. I understand people having to take it easy when you are riding on snow and you can't see the lines in the pavement. 5 very long hours. The fault has to lie somewhere. This was 5 inches. We measure our snow in inches where a lot of places around this country measure theirs in feet. All of the schools were closed today. No extra cirricular activities for last night or tonight. Did I mention that it took me 5 hours to get home last night? And the weathermen were actually right on this one. They knew how much and they knew when, within an hour or two, that it would start. 300 minutes. I also understand that everyone left around the same time and the salt trucks had to negotiate the same clogged roads that we did. So no one thought that getting out and laying down some salt early might help? 18000 seconds. I think I am staying home the next winter storm that blankets this little region.

Ah yes, the holidays

There are two holidays that I hold dear to my heart....Thanksgiving and Fat Tuesday. And if you have to ask then you need to go back and read some of the posts on here. The two holidays where it is actually bad manners to not stuff yourself to the point of being uncomfortable. The time when you visit with family and mostly only see thier dental work as they devour the delectable delights. And then there is that uncle that finds the couch first and proceeds to take a 2 hours snore-fest. It happens every year. Thanksgiving is more than just making fun of the fact that I can double my weight before halftime of the football game Thursday afternoon. It's about being thankful (duh, thats where the name came from). Being thankful for family, friends, the food, the shelter, the love. Its all covered. But I have a little extra to be thankful for this year...my new wife. I am thankful that she agreed to share my life with me and thankful that she allows me to share hers. I am thankful that she is my best friend and the she loves my kids and cares about them so much. I am thankful that we share the kind of relationship we have. I am thankful for my kids. Two boys that are growing up so very fast. High school is right around the corner. Beddy Sceddy! My family, my mom and my brother and his family. All of my new family that I have. The list goes on....

I am also thankful for the things that don't affect me directly. The ones that maybe some people forget. The troops overseas that fight for thier country. The police, firefighters, and EMTs that fight here every day. The teachers that help my kids learn to be better people through education. The nurses and doctors that give up thier Thanksgivings to help others. All of those who take time out of thier lives to help out someone who can't afford thier own Thanksgiving dinners.

I have so much to be thankful for, I just hope I can fit all of it in in one day.

Not mucha nothin

Man, its early to be thinking. But I have been thinking all night long. I got that dreaded voice message last night when I got home. "This is the doctor's office, we would like you to call us, we are open late this evening...."

I called, and just as I had feared, my cholesterol has gotten worse. More specifically, my LDL is "real bad" to quote the nurse. So now it's Lipitor and more blood work to make sure the side effects aren't going to harm my liver. Of course I tell myself that its hereditary and that medicine is a good thing. Just think what it was like 30 years ago, medicine in general has come a long way. I just don't want to take advantage of medicine just yet. There is that fear of the long slippery slope of going down hill as one gets older. The problem I have is that I am not even 40 yet! The older part is not supposed to be a worry. Yeah, I have all kinds of hereditary illnesses in my family, everyone does. But I have just started a new life with the most wonderful woman in the world and I sure as hell do not want that to be cut short for any reason whatsoever. I had children at a young age so that when they got older, grown up, had kids of thier own, that I would be young enough to play with my grandkids. Besides being overweight, I don't smoke, I rarely drink, I try to exercise and lately I have changed my eating habits. Now if I were a 400 pound, smoking, drinking, lazy ass then I can blame it on lifestyle. Of course, if I was 400 pounds, a smoker, and a heavy drinker then I am pretty sure that I would be single ;-)

I watched my father decline due to a myriad of illnesses over about 15 years. He died at 48. His brother started to decline in his mid 40's. Yes, they had and have different things wrong but when history stares you in the face its kind of hard to ignore.

Of course, things could be ok and the Lipitor could work and I will be fine for the next 50 years to enjoy a wonderful life and grow old with my best friend. I think I just have to work harder now to make that happen.

mt again

I have no idea why Monday is a popular day for me to post here. I rarely have anything worth while to say...ok, I never have anything worth while to say. But for some reason I find myself here just about every Monday. The weekend was pretty uneventful, but then everything kind of is for a period after your wedding. Got the pics back and they are good. We did have some family Christmas pics taken professionally...but not very many due to having the wedding pics. And yes, we went to a photography studio inside of a large department store and yes, we did make an appointment, and yes, we did end up getting in a hour late and almost without any paperwork since they lost track of it for a while. But the pics look good and since my kid's mother is not wanting to help me get any school pics these might have to do in substitution. Speaking of kids and their mother....I have a question for all of you school age parents out there.

What do you do to motivate your child who seems to be underachieving in school. Yes, I know that underachieving can be a label etc etc etc...but I know he can do better, he does for the last two weeks of each semester. He does just enough to get the grades where he can keep them all year if he just tries. We are not talking Honor roll, just average grades. All I have ever asked for is to TRY. Do the homework, study a little. Cs. That's all. We have tried just about every type of punishment and rewards system that is out there and nothing is working. 8th grade, 13 year old, boy, by the way.

Ok, onto other topics. I am seriously thinking about starting a security consulting business on the side. Aimed at SOHO and Small Businesses. With the certifications that I currently hold, plus the CISSP that I will have come January (fingers crossed) I am hoping to be able to secure some extra work on the side and supplement the ole income. Still working out details but the idea has come on strong lately so I can't really ignore it. All of the geeks out there know what certs mean for ego but not sure the SOHO and Small Business owners are gonna see the value. Like I said, still working out the details.

The holidays are fast approaching and, knowing who reads this, I can safely say that I am done fretting over gifts. I know what I am getting (only one left to get really) and that is a first for me. A middle aged, married guy who is almost done with his shopping and its not even Christmas Eve yet. Actually, the wife is great at shopping, in general AND for the holidays. She starts early and is prepared. I may be almost done but she makes me look like a rookie when it comes to shopping. I would go into more detail but those who read this will get a surprise spoiled so, sorry.

Hmmmmm

Not really sure what to write about today. Its extremely busy around here, the new guy started today plus all of my other daily duties. I don't even have time to whine about anything really. Although there is no shortage of topics around. I opened up Sunday's paper and before I could even get to the funnies I caught a glimpse of a story about pirates. No any midwest baseball team, real live pillaging and plundering pirates off the coast of Africa. And if that is not surprising enough, the luxury cruise ship, there is a reason they call them CRUISE ships and not RACING ships, actually fended them off and out ran them to safety. Now as far as pirates are concerned, they should just give it up and find another line of work. Come on, you got beaten, out ran, out hustled by a large cruise ship. Not a good day.

We are entering week 3 of our blessed union and no, it still feels the same, no difference. I still look at her picture and smile that goofy ear to ear grin. She is still the most beautiful woman in the world. My best friend. The one I want to tell everything to. The one I want to share everything with and the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I am happy that there are no changes to report there.

Later....for you.

Pondering

As the week winds down I am left pondering a few things. Lemme update you on what has been going on first. For those who have read, we have a temporary replacement starting Monday for one of our guys that are being deployed to Germany to backfill for some Iraq bound troops. The guy that is starting was NOT our pick, he was just ordained as the new guy. I sit in an enlarged office with 3 other guys from my group. When the guy who is leaving moved out, I was given his cube (it has a window, nuff said). Well come to find out that the guy that moved was moved into a cube of a lady that is on maternity leave. And there is an empty office within 5 paces of that cube. Makes no sense to me whatsoever. I just hope that when he returns to us in about 18 months that he gets his job back, not just any job, but the one he left. I know that he is guaranteed a position but it would be a waste for him not to get his back.

Another thing I am pondering. Actually, this is more of a running theme so far. Something was mentioned to me by a certain someone (whose NEW last name is so very close to my own) that she was asked how married life was, or how it was different. And she replied that there is no difference. I am not sure if this is age, experience, or just the state of our relationship but she is absolutely correct. Besides looking at new pictures and having to change her name with a lot, and I do mean a lot, of places (thank goodness she is organized), there really is no change in how I feel. Yeah, I do look at our pictures and smile, a lot. Yeah, I do enjoy calling her my WIFE. And Yeah, it did require some planning and some money to get the wedding done.

But it's not as if our lives took a new direction when we got married. We knew a long time ago that this was what we wanted. I love her more every day. I felt that way before we got married. I want to tell her everything I think and feel. Yup, same as before. I think about how my kids are changing and growing and how I am enjoying her experiencing that with me. There is not one thing between us that changed with getting married. So I guess my point is this...yes, I am very happy that we are husband and wife. But no, its not any more special than it was a month ago. We have had a special relationship from the beginning and I have a feeling deep down that it will stay that way for a very very long time.

Monday, Monday

I think that I shall never see a blog as lovely as a tree. Or something like that. Fall is all around us (check local listings in your timezone). The trees this year are giving us a beautiful display that was missing last year. It seemed like last year went from summer to winter without mother nature getting to show off her brilliant skill with the water colors. This year is much different. Just running errands this weekend, football, baseball, grocery store, whatever, is a wonder of hues and textures all around. I myself am a Spring sort of person. I love the first warm up after winter. The first weekend you can open up all of the windows and air things out. But this fall is getting my attention. The cool crisp evenings where a sweater or jacket is perfect. We just changed from daylight savings time so the viewing times will be noticable shorter and of course that next good rainfall and wind will take care of the trees but right now it is magnificient. And I don't know, maybe this fall is extra special for another reason too....

I really can't think of too much to go on about today. Friday was a follow up doctor visit and he confirmed that I have indeed lost some weight. Around 8 pounds and counting. Very good news, indeed. On the flip side, the last time I donated blood, the number from the Red Cross was 263. When I relayed that to my doctor he filled out a lab form and told me to get some blood work done before the next follow up visit. I guess with losing weight, if the number goes up, its time to fight it with medication. Which is fine with me. If I am doing the right things and its not helping where it should then fill out the scrip....I will meet you at Walgreens.

The world is as it is. Bush is still fighting to tread water. His second attempt to replace O'Conner is more of a safer choice. His first one failed miserably. Even his own party was questioning that nomination. Hurricane Beta is out there still, but weakening. Pro baseball and its steroid controversy is gone until February. The world series, as exciting as it was for the South side of Chicago, was boring for the rest of us. Football is nearing mid-season and yes, my hometown Bengals are in first place. That is something all its own. over 10 years of futility melting slowly away. The tightfisted owner, Mike Brown, meddled in the team and was woefully bad at making football decisions. Even to the point of being the last team in the NFL to have its own website. The old joke was this....You know why the Cincinnati Bengals don't have a website? Because they can't put 3 W's together! Get it? "www." 3 W's or 3 WINS? Yeah, we heard jokes like that for years. But anyway, I don't follow them too closely even when we do win. Closer to home, things are a bit busy. We have a list of things that need to be done from Thank you cards, to Christmas cards, shopping, getting everything that needs to be done after a wedding. It never stops but then I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am hoping to carry over the weight loss into the next year. Going to start getting more exercise as well as keeping tabs on the food intake. All this being said as I sit and think about 3 pieces of birthday cake sitting at home on the counter.

I went on a 2 week diet and all I lost was 14 days...

Thats an old line from many a diet joke and I am not quite sure why but I like it.

There is really only one topic that I am going to touch on today. I am not going to go on about the war, even though we are burying another local soldier today. The world series is exciting, seeing the Pale Hose go up 3 games to nil and looking pretty unbeatable right now. The hurricanes, Katrina, Wilma, and now to answer a trivia question for you....they start using the Greek alphabet after our own has been exhausted. Yes, tropical storm/depression/whatever Alpha is out there somewhere. Beta and the rest of the college fraternity will be along as soon as class is over. There is even a new virus being transmitted by birds that has the global medical community up in arms. But, those are all pretty secondary, to me anyway, right now.

I got married Sunday. Yes, I mentioned it several times here and counted down and went on and on about it. Now it is done. And yes, this is also why I have not updated the blog in about a week. The days leading up to the blessed event were a bit hectic, in my own little world. God bless the fact that I really didn't have that much to do or take care of. The new Mrs. and her sister were the masters of making the wedding happen. I made sure ME, the KIDS, and the TUXEDOS arrived on time. That's pretty much all I had to do. And I can say with some confidence that I did my job fairly well (please excuse me while I pat myself on the back). Now, having been married once before, I have developed a little opinion on marriage. Of course I have, hasn't everyone?

A good marriage is the best thing that anyone can be a part of. You have with you a best friend, someone that will listen when you need them too. A shoulder to lean on. Someone that will tell you when you have a huge green something-or-other in your teeth without making a big deal over it. Someone that makes you feel secure in everything that you do. Supports you, even when they may not agree with you, but they know its important to you. Someone that you can be sitting in the same room with, pause over that cup of tea or book or even during a commercial and just look at and feel right. Its not about 'never having to say your sorry', its about saying your sorry and knowing that you are forgiven. Knowing that you trust each other in every way. The foundation of any relationship is trust and to have a true partner you have to be able to trust them and yourself.

People say alot about soul mates, the perfect person, etc etc etc...and that is all well and good but it is also about your partner being able to take you as you are. Not perfect, not always agreeing with every decision. Being able to be thier own person. Being a partner in life.

I have that partner. I have that best friend. I have someone that I can look at and look to...that I know feels the same way about me that I do about her. I have someone that I can trust with the most important things and the most unimportant things. I have someone that I can grow with and grow old with. There is truly nothing better.

Respect? What's that?

Today is gonna be set aside for some serious bitching. One of my co-workers is being deployed to Germany to back fill for some troops in the Gulf. Not what I am bitching about, be patient. We are a small group of 4 so losing 25% of our staff is a hard hit, especially for a year and a half. No, still not what I am bitching about, gimme a few more minutes. So we know we hafta get someone in here to supplement his absence. So our boss, who is the nicest guy in the world, starts the interview process. We interview several guys over the phone, finally paring the group down to a few that will come in for a face to face. The face to face interviews go well and, as a group and this is very important, we decide on one guy. No dissention, no debate. One guy stands out as the man. His combination of skills and personality are a true fit. Probably better than the impression that I made when I interviewed (more on that later). See, in our group we are network admins. We have a certain level of skill that fits this position. When I interviewed, I will admit, my skill set was a bit more in depth for this position. But I interviewed well and in my defense, this was and is the type of position and company that I am looking for. I am older, I have been around this industry in this town for over 15 years so when I say that I want a certain position in a certain company, I know what I want. Yes, I am in full bitch mode right now but NO, this is still not exactly what I want to bitch about! So anyway, I got the position here and I know there were some opinions that I was a little too experienced and that I would get bored here.

Now, we had made our opinions known about our favorite candidate and the reasons why we thought he was the one to go with. Our boss even agreed, for a period of time anyway. About a week and a half later, and after two or three more phone interviews we are told that a decision is made and that another candidate has been chosen. The guy chosen is young, hungry and very skilled. He is/was an enterprise admin that seems to be on the way up and he wants it quickly. He said some things in the face to face interview that made it very apparent that he wants certain things out of his next job. The guy we had chosen was more reserved and a bit more stable as far as career path is concerned. But it seems that it didn't matter. We had an end around done on us. No reason why, just done. Why have us interview? Why ask us who we would prefer? Why ask our opinion at all? I have a theory as to why it was done this way and I am pretty sure about this theory although it has not been proven. Time will tell. I will keep an open mind and remember that I might have been thought of the same way. But I will also be on the look out for some signs. I will know them when I see them.

You really can't lick your elbow....it's impossible.

Stop trying too...stop thinking about it. You really can't do it. We are down to 12 days, not counting today, that is about half over. Not getting nervous, not yet at least. It will be interesting to see if I in fact do get nervous before hand. I am usually one that doesn't get anxious or nervous until its time. We'll see. Next weekend is a busy one so that will keep my mind off of it until the drive there on Sunday. My kids will be there so getting them ready and keeping them calm will help keep my mind occupied. Of course, chatting about it here doesn't help matters at all, so.....on to other topics.

Not too much new to talk about although I did read a "sort of" rant from a sports writer on ESPN.com. I read his articles when I can and last week he had interjected some opinions during an interview/article. His rant was on blogs in particular. He makes a really good point. There are a lot of popular blogs out there, this one NOT included, and some of them are taken as journalism by some when in fact most blogs are just opinions or diaries on OTHER events that someone has written or said something about. Someone will take the time and effort to run down facts, check and double check information, and then publish that information in a news source. Then, and I am as guilty as the next, someone on line like a blogger will rip that information to shreds. And even the author will get caught in the sights and suffer the wrath of the opinion. There are actually people out there who think that these blogs and thier bloggers are journalists or in some way are disseminating news when all it is is opinion. And the topper is that the blog is then quoted and re-quoted like it was the official news source. This is one of the products of the Internet. Remember, I am a geek, and I love the Internet. It has afforded me many conveniences over the last several years. And although I do not update this blog as often as I would like, I do like the medium. So I am not in any way condemning blogs or the media, I am just saying that we need to remember where our information comes from before we preach it as gospel. It wasn't that long ago that TV was railed against as being the idiot box that did nothing but rot our brains with useless information and opinion.

One more topic then I will close it up for the day. We attended a wedding of a friend of mine over this past weekend. It was a very nice wedding of a friend of mine that truly deserves to be happy. The reception was good. I saw a lot of people that I hadn't seen in a while and was able to sit at a table with had some good conversation. The one downside was that another friend that is getting married this coming weekend had his bachelor party the same night. Basically even the same time so I missed it. I am not upset that I missed it, it was pretty typical as far as bachelors parties go. But the common thread is that both friends are 40ish and just now getting married for the first time. I was, and still am, of the mindset that getting married, for the first time anyway, in your 20's is ok. Maybe its just me but is this a trend? 40? I know, I know, here I am pushing 40 and getting married but this is my second one so this doesn't count. Why? Because I said so, thats why! It is just interesting that both are happening so close in time together. I tend to enjoy the fact that my kids are well on thier way to being grown up. My grandkids, should I be lucky enough to have any, will have a fairly young grandpa around. And yes, an even younger grandma, I know you are younger than me! Back to my point. I will be young enough to enjoy the time with them. I will also be young enough to enjoy my retirement and the golden years without having to worry about raising a teenager. If we want to pick up and drive across country then we can. I understand that there is another opinion of waiting till you are older and more mature so you can enjoy your 20s and travel and work and save money. I understand that side and I respect it.

On the diet front...keeping steady with a few more pounds lost. I do have a doctor's appt coming up soon but no blood work on the horizon until December of this year.

Yes, it is Monday, why do you ask?

Today is Monday...every last freakin second of it is. Monday. It started out like a Monday, and it's rolling along smacking me in the back of the head just like a Monday. As I share this little tale with you and I whine about things, like I am wont to do, keep in mind that just about everything that I whine about is totally controllable by me, myself, and I. I know this, I really do, but sometimes you just gotta let it out.

Getting up this morning was ok. Got some lunch ready, packed up a naner and a really good apple fresh from Michigan. Except for my better half still being a bit ill, just a cough as she would say, I was cruisin. Get her to work and remember that I still have this lovely little wire attachment hanging from the back of my vehicle hitting the road whenever I hit a bump. Ok, get out at her work and take everything out of the trunk. What? You mean I didn't tell you about my cool little SUV feature with the full-sized spare? The spare tire, full-sized as it is, is hidden under the back of my car. There is a small slot just above the rear bumper that you insert a tool in (keep your jokes to yourself) and you turn the tool and the spare tire just lowers itself to the ground. Very Cool! Well, as I was changing tires this weekend I put the old tire in my trunk and forgot to raise the cable back up so there it was all weekend. Anyway, I got that back up and took off. Get to the parking garage, get my stuff and head toward the office. Just a reminder, I have a 15 minute walk to my building. I get up the elevator and to the door (which is locked and guarded by a badge reader, and you guessed it, I left my badge in the car. I usually get to work fairly early and the only guy I know of that gets there earlier is out on PTO today so I push the down button on the elevator and head back to my car. Now by the time I get BACK to my office, I am not so early any more. Ok, so now I am at my desk, sweating because I hurried back up the hill to the office, and I logon to get some work done. BAM, our weekly computer backups are down because of a hardware failure. Woo hoo, we are having some fun now. I am talking this little development over with a co-worker (remember, I am no longer early so everyone is here now), and the conversation morphs into a bitch session about our boss. More on that little topic later. As the morning trudges on, the Ex calls. Of course she does, it's MONDAY! Helloooo, if I were paying attention I would have seen that one coming. One consolation to the conversation, at least she is not bitching AT me ABOUT me, she is just bitching AT me about one of the kids. His grades were going fairly well until last week. Now they have tanked and she is fed up. From what I have seen lately these two individuals are like oil and water. Now, I know he is a teenager, and I know how she is, but still...she is asking for this the way she is trying so damned hard to be thier best friend instead of thier mother. Then when she has to put her foot down there is no respect there at all. He actually told me this weekend that he understands why I divorced her and that he would do the same thing if he could. I had to really try not to laugh at that one. Anyway, she is going on and on about his grades and his attitude. I listen, like I was gonna get a word in edgewise anyway, and hang up. So now I start explaining my morning to my dearest and she, like always, listens patiently and offers advice at the right times. I continue complaining about my morning, work, traffic, the boss, work, the ex, work, and work. Totally forgetting that she is sitting at her desk sick. So now, not only am I whining about silly crap, I am totally taking for granted my soon-to-be spouse just because I was forgetful and married the wrong woman several years ago. I apologize, profusely. I still don't feel any better but she wouldn't let me feel bad about that, she is that type of person. Hence the "BETTER" half title she wears.

Other wonderful things like, spilling coffee on my shoes, having our bathroom become the exit to the 7th floor roof for our HVAC installers, getting an email about an overdue library book that I forgot about, etc...all happen on days just like today...Monday.

snicker snicker snicker

It's Friday and the reason I am posting this late is that my soon to be wife just got picked up by here sister and is on her way to a surprise shower! It's hard keeping a secret like that from someone when all of that planning is going on around you. I know she will have a blast tonight and I am very excited for her.

I was the lucky recipient of a hit and run accident this morning. The idiot turned right at a light but for some reason did not quite understand the whole stay in your lane thing so he hit me in the left rear side of my car and just kept on driving. What a wonderful experience that is. Either un-insured or drunk or has warrants out on him. Either way he is long gone and I am left to deal with the insurance. Thank goodness we weren't hurt. Other than that, its been a quiet Friday and whole week for that matter. Nothing much to report on on any front. Diet is stable. You know, you would think that something as important as my diet, knowing my cholesterol is high, would be a bit more important to me on a daily basis, not just when I feel like I am failing at the change in my lifestyle. I need to get my shit together and motivate myself. Something has got to change...mentally.

Geekdom

Sometimes being a geek isn't all the glory you think it is. Yesterday, I was all primed and ready to update this here blog and our internet connection was down. Then in the afternoon, I couldn't get the blog to come up past the login page. Geesh. It was geek hell. Problems all around and I couldn't fix any of them. I hate it when machines win. That must be why I am a computer geek.

I really don't have too much to complain about today. The hurricanes are gone, for now. The fallout continues. Media is searching for something to report on. In my little world, things are going really well. Less than a month to the big day! And counting down every day! The only thing left for the wedding are the final tux fittings, getting some haircuts, and the actual drive down there that day. All other arrangements are done, or are being handled by the best little organizationist in the world. Is that even a word? Oh well.

The kids are back in school and going full tilt. My oldest is surprising the heck out of me. His grades are up from last year, he is on the student council, AND he is participating in an after school writing program. My youngest is gonna be on the honor roll if he keeps his current pace up.

So life is pretty good. Now if I could just win the lottery. Of course, you gotta PLAY to win, but I won't let a little thing like that stop me from whining about it.

The diet is stable. Which means I am not losing or gaining. But one thing has disturbed me. I donated blood again recently (something I like to do as often as possible) and I got a bad report about my cholesterol again. Its even higher than before. I do have a doctor's appt coming up so I am going to have to have some more blood work done. Although I am not sure what else I can do, diet wise. We have changed the way we eat pretty radically. I am guessing more exercise will be the recommendation. We are trying to do more of that too.

Oh well, I guess that is enough for today. Later for you....

sniff sniff sniff

Stupid sinus infection/cold/virus whatever the hell it is. I hate being sick during warm weather. One is supposed to be sick in the winter when going to bed and covering up feels better. These days going to bed and covering up while you hear people outside, kids playing downright sucks. But oh well, I will get over it and forget it ever happened, I hope. Not much to say today, its Friday, and yes, I am glad. Got quite a lot planned for this weekend so this little cold thingy is not going to stop me...slow me down a little maybe but not stop me. Next week is training. That is cool. I love a company that is willing to spend some money on it's staff. Increased knowledge is always a good thing. The whole "if I make them better then they will leave" argument is bunk. Its a wonderful way to reward and keep employees. Empowerment.

Oh, and by the way, only 37 days left!!!!!!! We got the license Wednesday!!!!!! Can't tell I'm excited, can you?

Getting there...one candy bar at a time

Good good Monday. There is actually no sarcasm in that statement at all. It is a pretty good monday. The weekend was good, fast, but good. The days are counting down to 10/23. Even work is going ok. The diet is stagnant, but then eating a pan of brownies does NOT help in the reduction of one's waistline. Ok, not a whole pan, but a good portion of it this weekend.

Still reeling over the images of the Gulf States. Also still feeling very proud to be a part of a nation that can come together like we have. I am not sure how it is outside my little corner of the midwestern world but the outpouring of support for the victims of Katrina is awesome. One little boy, I think he is 5, and his family, have raised $5000.00, yes that's 5 THOUSAND dollars, simply by selling lemonade in front of his house. Amazing. And that is just what I see here around my area. NBA players doing a charity game. That's huge. LeBron James going into his local Sam's Club and throwing down 200 large to fill up some semis and head down. Huge. I am proud to be an american. And some of the best news of all is that the death toll is way lower than the estimates. Over 10,000 is what I had heard and now they are counting in the hundreds. I know any loss of life is tragic but hearing those numbers climb and then seeing them fall so much is good news. Bush is down there today. With all of the flak from Iraq and then the FEMA mess just after Katrina hit land, and with two Supreme Court appointments, he better be able to come out of most of that looking good to the public. What little the gas prices have dropped recently is not going to be enough for the GOP to withstand at the next election. I am not pounding either political stump but the dems can really capitalize on this last year or so unless he starts to shine. But then, hey, I am only one little vote.

Day after tomorrow we go and get the marriage license. That's kind of like being pregnant and hearing the heartbeat for the first time. It kind of makes it feel more real. More real than all of the money we have spent on it so far!!!

Dwindling

The days, that is. They are counting down quicker and quicker. Only 47 days left until our big day. Tuxedos are fitted, at least the first fitting. Gifts have been bought. Dresses picked out and ready for alterations. RSVPs are being returned, slowly. We are planning the day that we spend going to the courthouse to get the license. It is all coming together quite nicely. Of course, I don't handle too much of the planning so of course it's going smoothly. If grooms or groomsmen were in charge of the actually ceremony, no matter how big or small, it would be a disaster. The best man does his best just to plan getting drunk one night and possibly going out to see half naked, or if the best man is single, fully naked women. Coordinating food, entertainment, flowers, people, wardrobes, seating, etc etc etc etc would drive us bonkers. Its not that we aren't that smart, we can organize full Fantasy sports leagues with drafts, team assignments, salaries, trades and a full season of being commissioner as well as owner of a team. But a wedding is about the bride. It's her day. She is the one spending thousands on a dress, not $100 for a rented tux. It's her parents that are footing the bill for this little shindig. Granted, once you are on your second, third, fourth, or 71st wedding, the roles tend to blend a bit and the event tends to scale itself down. But still, everyone is there to see a beautiful woman in a beatiful dress walk slowly down the isle toward some guy in a $100 rented tux.

Geez

I have been a whole week without posting. And I wasn't even on vacation or anything. Actually not much to report this week anyway. SSDW, for those of you who get SSDD. There are a few things to touch on....Katrina being one. Gas prices another. Being around on this wonderful rock for some 36 years I have seen a few disasters. Natural, accidental, terroristic. Tsunamis. The world trade centers, both times. Now this hurricane. Plane accidents. You name it, I have seen it. Even two wars, although not on the scale of WWI or II. I won't dwell on the sadness, that is all too evident. I will mention that I have my faith in mankind, at least some of it anyway, tested and fortified every time a disaster happens. To see the people gather and support each other is something I never tire of. Of course, I also wonder at the people who take advantage of these situations. Snipers at a hospital stopping the evacuation. WTF????? Looters. You know what I am talking about. I won't go into gas prices except to say that there has got to be something that is illegal here. It makes no logical sense how gas can be over 3 dollars a gallon. None, at least to me. W is gonna pay for this by giving up the White House AND the senate. Mark my words on that one.

Looks like someone's got a case of the Mondays....

Yeah, Monday. After a weekend where the latest I got out of bed in the morning was 6, today is turning into a very Monday-like day. I am just whining cuz I am tired. I'll quit whining...oooohhhh...about Wednesday I think. Nevermind why, nunya. I will probably post it here anyway either Tuesday or Wednesday but for now, its nunya. Being the geek that I am I spent a good deal of the last several work days trying to work out some issues with my PDA. I have a Palm Pilot and yes, I love it. But for some mind numbing reason it will not be recognized by my laptop or anything else for that matter. I still use it for dates, notes, etc...but no email sync right now. It sucks. The conclusion that I came to? Blow the laptop away and start over. I emailed Palm support for most of this morning and besides the long emails with all of the disclaimers and legal crap in them, I got nowhere. I did get a phone # and a message telling me that they will charge me $25 for a tech support call where I actually get to talk to someone instead of emailing them. I already paid for the damned product, why do I have to pay for service? Anyway, instead of paying and since re-imaging is a fairly simple process, that is the route I am taking. So tomorrow I will spend a good amount of time copying data and settings off to a CD for the rebuild process that will happen on Wednesday.

I did not weigh myself this weekend so no update there, but I did make a huge pot of chili last night so weight loss this week does not look favorable. Today is one of my kids' birthday so we are going to see him instead of working out. TOMORROW we will get to the gym. I better get some sleep if I intend on doing any sort of exercise tomorrow. Either that or hook up a coffee IV.

PLEASE READ THE ARTICLE, PLEASE

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/tom_verducci/08/23/honor.accountable/index.html

Above is a link to an article that was posted on Sport's Illustrated's website. I bed, implore, plead, ask, whatever it takes for anyone and everyone who reads to please read this article. This does not just cover sports but life in general. And with that you will know my greatest pet peave of them all....accepting responsibility.

Oh, and 2 more pounds! Thanks, hun, you were right, as usual!!!!!!!

A real update

It's been a few days since my last post. Things at work at a bit hectic. It seems like we can't get everyone in our office to be here for a full week. Lemme splain..there are 4 of us in our group. And it seems as though we never have all 4 of us here at the same time. This week one of us is out for some training. The week before, one of the guy's wives had a baby. Before that, vacations. It's always something. The hardest part is not picking up the extra work, its making sure that YOUR work gets done in the process. I think I have a pretty good system when we are short handed. I can usually put my stuff off for a day or two then get ahead on the new stuff and be able to end the week without getting behind. At least, thats the plan.

Back to my title...yes, I have a real update. I have actually managed to lose 2 pounds over the last 4 days. And I have actually been keeping track of it. I am not one to weigh everyday. I think that defeats the purpose. If I did that, then I would be depressed every other day. It seems that if I check only once a week, or maybe twice a week, then things are much better in the morale department.

Also, there is an update to my quest to get back in touch with some of my old buddies from school. After dinner a week or so ago with one of them, I caught up with a cop buddy and found out that he had met someone and was actually pretty excited about it. At least, he was excited about the sex. Heard back from him, and apparently he only attracts the psychos. Or at least that is her label now.

Days like these...

There are days like this one that make me want to take a person that creates a virus, tie them upside down and naked to the nearest tree and introduce them to a very angry hive of bees, wasps, hornets, and some fire ants just for good measure. Dealing with all variants of the latest worm that has been spreading. Thank god we have not been hit but since I am in charge of patch management then its my job to schedule, update, and reboot all of our affected systems. So today has been completely unproductive and puts me yet another day behind on every other project I need to get done. Wonderful. I know I have commented on these life-less pubescent, dateless, idiots, but come on. Find something better to do.

Nuggets of wisdom

Ha, had you fooled. Wisdom is one word not usually associated with me. There will be no nuggets here, unless they fall into the catagory of chicken nuggets. Looks like someone is gonna start working out again. And actually, its about time. The stalemate that is my diet progress needs a bump. Plus, with summer winding down, sports are not nearly as prevalent. Yes, there is football practice but that won't last too much longer and seriously, I need to do this. The kids are going to have to understand that the exercise for me is just as important or maybe more than going to every single practice. It just has to be done. I am thinking of going back to a routine that worked for me quite a few years ago. Alternating between heavy arobic and lifting, every other session. I will do both, just emphasise the arobic one day with light lifting then the next heavier lifting with light arobic. The key is going to be making sure I do arobic every time. That is gonna be the key to losing weight for me, at least I think it will be. We'll see come next week. At least I hope so. Packing that bag in the a.m. and taking it to work is harder than it sounds at 5:30. But we did it before and we can do it again!!!!!!

TGIF

cliche? maybe. happy? definitely. Tonight we are meeting up with an old friend of mine that I grew up with (see previous post). Gonna meet at a Friday's type place, take that you unintended punsters! It will definitely be interesting. This particular friend of mine married a girl several years ago that wasn't the most popular girl we had met. But then niether was my first wife. Lemme tell ya a little story....

The day before the wedding, all of the guys in my wedding party showed up at my mom's apartment looking to take me out on the town. Now granted, it was a nice gesture, but the night before?? No way would I have done that. Of course, the evil ex was not about to let me have some fun so she poo'd poo'd the idea anyway. But the last thing I needed to be was green around the gills standing at my own wedding. So anyway, they ended up taking my younger brother, all of 17 at the time, and got him stinking drunk. Glad I didn't go. Suffice to say, the guys blamed the wife. A few days after the wedding they all showed up at our apartment airing thier gripes. I told them in no uncertain terms that if they were looking for me to make a choice between them and my new wife then they were gonna be disappointed. Of course, I was the first to get married so they had absolutely NO freakin clue what they were asking and what they were putting me through but the did it and I chose the wife. I know, I know, hindsight is always 20/20 and I know my current soon-to-be wife would NEVER make me choose or even LET me make that choice. You can have both. And, now that they are all married, its interesting to see exactly what kind of choices they have made. I can actually sit back and laugh at the fact that they might have actually learned something from that little confrontation. So anyway, it will be an interesting little get together. I am hoping that we can reminisce, tell some kid stories, maybe share some pics, and then make a habit out of getting together. But we'll see. Its not that I don't want to hang out, lord knows that friends are hard to come by, especially ones that stick around, but there is always the intangibles, the things you can never really plan on. Lets just say that I am limiting myself to one beer tonight. The only thing his wife said as she yelled to the phone last night was "find someplace cheap to get drunk". Nuff said.

Fat people are harder to kidnap!

That is my new mantra. Actually its just as good as an excuse for not losing weight. This way I am assured to be around longer. The only drawback to that is that I will be alone and around longer. Maybe I better think that one through. Well, the only real update I have is that we all, and I mean the kids too, visited the nutritionist yesterday. She was very nice and the kids liked her. There are and were a few issues to deal with. My oldest seems to think that this means he will starve to death but we are working on it. We got some questions answered and some good information. Now to implement the changes. Slowly, but surely it will get done. I would like to see a definitely change in everyone by next spring. Not necessarily a lot of weight lost but some more positive blood tests. The whole weight thing will follow naturally. We learned about the right kinds of fats. Mono and Poly. Saturated fats are a no no. Fried foods are bad. Duh. I knew that but just kind of ignored it. Dairy is important. Sugar is bad. Lots of things like that. She wants status reports too. I just hope that some of this, any of it, gets through to thier mom. She didn't show up, which left my oldest upset, so she is getting everything from him and me as far as information. There is about a 5 percent chance that she will actually help us with this. But oh well, all we can do is what we can do.
Oh, yeah, one other thing I wanted to touch on. I have started trying to reconnect with some old buddies of mine. From grades school and high school. So far so good. I have had some really good converstations. There was a group of about 6 of us, give or take one or two at any given time. Most have kids and are or were married. Most of them called me back when I called them, which was cool actually. That meant that I hadn't burned any bridges over the years. Its gonna be harder to actually get to see them but I am working on that too. Why all of this, you ask? Because friends are too valuable to let go, even if it seems like you already have. There are a few friends of mine that I have literally not seen in almost 20 years. It seems like not that long ago when I wasn't even 20 years old. A few of these guys I have knows since I was 10. That would be 26 years! School, work, fishing, camping, traveling. All the things I did growing up I did with friends. Calling them, at least some of them, required the appropriate amount of pride swallowing. But once you said Hi, it was like old times. Only now, WE are old and not the times. All of them are around my age, a year or two older or younger maybe. Most of us at the same stage in life. Late 30's, working through the career, kids, wife (first or second). Most of us glad to have the opportunity to get back in touch and recount some memories. Maybe that is what I will update instead of that damned diet thing.

Welcome home!!!!

To the shuttle crew. Home being Earth. They landed in Cali instead of Florida due to weather problems. I am not a huge proponent of the space program. I do like that fact that we can do that and I feel that the experiments are somewhat important (whatever they are) but sit and think about what happens when we goto space. It's mind boggling enough to think about what is involved in making several hundred tons of metal fly across the country, along with hundreds of other similar shaped objects flying at the same time, and land safely exactly where they said they would. But space. That is uber-mind boggling. Putting man in orbit around our planet. Through the atmosphere. Landing safely. I can't wrap my pea brain around that. Hell, I am lucky to understand the mechanics of a hamster wheel. The engineering behind the preparation, take-off, flight, the freakin space walks, and the descent and landing. Even if the space program itself is unimportant, the science and brain power and bravery it has taken to get us to this point is amazing.

The other welcome home is not so amazing. I live in Ohio, if you haven't gotten that from previous posts. Southwest corner, Cincinnati. 14 Marines killed the other day. All from Ohio. 5 from my little corner of the world. As I progress towards true middle age and my kids fly through thier childhood, my view point on war changes a bit. I am still very patriotic. I still believe that the sacrifice for this country, the greatest one for a whole lot of reasons, is the greatest sacrifice that can be made. We are free for a reason. And there are 14 more reasons coming home to Ohio. I am sad for the families. I am proud to be an American. I am proud to be free. I am proud to know that I can go down the hall in my office and debate the war, the president, and the local government without worrying that I might be dragged off to jail. But the closer my kids get to the age where they might be the ones fighting the more worried I get. I know it's normal and it doesn't sway my opinion of politics in general but it does make me think just a bit more about the reasons we goto war. Speaking of reasons...gas is $2.50 a gallon!!!! What the hell is going on here? W or someone around him had better get thier you know what together or every republican in Washington is going to be out of a job. I am no idealist, I know one thing sways voters more than any other. What have you done for me lately. I know that morals play a part. I know that character and service and intelligence are all factors. But I also know that if voters have to pay $3 a gallon on thier way to the voting booth in 08, then there are gonna be changes.

Proof positive that not everyone is like that jerk that cut you off this morning

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/12311591.htm

Here is a story that flies in the face of everything that you have been hearing about baseball players this year. Including much of what I have been ranting about since most of what you hear from the media these days is all about the bad stuff. And I am lucky enough to live in the same town that these guys play in. Hopefully you will read this story but let me give you the Reader's Digest version. This boy's grandpa had a heart attack in the stands of the Reds game last night. The security guard took the boy to the bullpen while the EMTs worked on his grandpa. As they took his grandpa to the hospital and before his parents got there, the Reds players (including some very well paid superstars) took him on the field for the post game high fives, they took him to the locker room and showered him with gifts including a batting helmet worn by one of the guys that played in the All Star game. Truly class acts all the way. And the quote by Junior? Its just a game that we play. Finally a professional athlete that gets it. And it gets buried deep. Nowhere on ESPN.com do we see this story. Not even on the MLB pages. The same with SI.com. But we can keep hearing about Palmiero's steroid problem. How festivities are cancelled. How the feds might be looking at purjery charges. I guess that is what sells. I emailed this to just about everyone I knew. Hopefully everyone will get to read it.

Why do men have nipples?

I hafta admit, I love that question. I saw it today and it actually made me stop and think. Those of you who know me at all know that making me stop AND think in the same day is a hard feat to accomplish. But it does beg the question. I know there is a scientific answer but who cares about that.

I actually have another topic for my little corner of the world today. Baseball. Not the game where pros take illegal substances, lie before thier friends and God, then get caught. I am talking about the game that boys play. I was emailed a wonderful article

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/opinion/31brooks.html?ex=1123819200&en=a92c185d1572be07&ei=5070&emc=eta1

This article says it all about the last several years of my family's existence. My oldest son and now my youngest too, both play for select baseball teams. By select, I mean that they had to try out and make the team. Now, this seems a bit harsh at 9 years old (my youngest) but he requested it. My oldest (13) is still in that world until he joins the high school team after next summer. But that article really describes the world that everyone lives in that shares the dream of being truly good at a sport that you love as a child. My oldest enjoys two things in life...baseball and the outdoors. If he is not playing or practicing baseball then he is fishing or hunting or swimming or something outside. He plays and practices baseball in the dead of winter too. So does my youngest. I will admit, I feed the desire. I am 100 percent behind my kids if they want to pursue something with this kind of passion. I do not push them, I do not live my childhood through them, but I do enjoy going and being part of an extended family of parents that love thier kids as much as I do. That statement may sound a bit harsh. I am not insinuating that parents that don't drive thier kids all over God's creation just to swing a bat for an hour in a cage with a retired minor leaguer love thier kids any less than I do but when you spend a couple of hours a day several days a week for more than 8 months out of the year spread out over several years with the same group of parents and kids, you definitely feel a sense of family about them. It just happens. And its good. My sons have made friends that they would have never made if they had not had this experience. The same with me and my fiancee. When we find out that one or more kids are leaving the team or that the team is breaking up (both of which happen over time, that part is inevitable too), it hurts. Maybe you keep in touch, maybe you don't. Either way, I feel that everyone is better off for the experience. There are two reasons why I went on this rant today, the first one is because of the article that I linked, the second is that my son decided not to return to his main team next year. Why is not important. The important thing is that we made a lot of friends, some that I would consider close. Those experiences and those relationships will carry with me for a lifetime and for that I can never be sorry. I will miss everyone. Some of them I will see again, either through continued friendships or at the baseball field by chance, but I will miss them none the less.

not worth mentioning but who cares....it's my blog

I did read today that the golfer, John Daly, is gonna attempt to hit a golf ball from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls to the American side. From table rock point to goat island. The only relevance this has is that I was just there and visited both sites. That's one helluva golf shot. I read that it's 350 yards in the air. It looked a lot farther than that. Ole John is a big boy too, likes his food and beer. Has had some issues dealing with the fame he got in the 90's but is a good golfer since he has one 2 majors. I like him, the every man's golfer. Sort of the Arnie of my generation. Although with not as much winning potential. Good luck John. I will be channel surfing tonight looking for the video.

Let me drop what I am doing and work on YOUR problem!

Not much going on today. Busy catching up some, still. Not sure if the whole diet update thing is a good idea since I know subconciously I am not weighing myself due to the potential for depression when I see that I have made no freakin progress whatsoever. Of course, I haven't gone to the gym either and my excuses (baseball season) are long over. Of course, I probably don't want to change too much since I have a tuxedo to fit into. Yeah, Yeah, that's it. I can't get into losing weight because the tux won't fit right if I lose too much between fittings. Whew, for a second there I thought I was truly out of excuses.

I'm back....

Ah yes, first day back from vacation. What a relief it is to get back to work. All of that relaxation, stressless days, sleep, fun...it was all getting to be too much. I need to hear the grinding of my teeth at night, the coffee induced meetings, the pain flaring up in my wrists from the incesant typing day after day. Now THAT'S fun. Enough sarcasm (if you can ever have enough). Vacation was awesome. A few notes on the Niagara area. The US side, touristy and not as well kept at the Canadian side. The falls...you must see them in person. There is no way that pictures or video or words can do them justice. Awesome. Mother Earth/Nature at her most powerful. There were a lot of statistics thrown around in various tours, brochures, etc...but the amount of water and the power at which it flows is staggering. Along with the amount of people there to see it. We stayed on the US side, due mainly to price and toured the Canadian side while we stayed. While the US side was a bit more touristy, the Canadian side can keep up the area due mainly to it's pricy sites. Almost $20 just to park near the area. There is a main strip just up from the falls that reminds one of the Gatlinburg area on steroids (insert your own Rafael Palmiero pun here). Lets just say that there was enough on both sides for us to stay busy for the entire time we were there. No boredom allowed. The border crossings were good, faster than I had expected given the current climate and the recent London activity. Even though there were lines it moved quickly. The drive up and back, yes we drove, was good. Yes, 4 people in a car for over 8 hours and we arrived without killing anyone. The kids were great the whole trip. I even got to spend some time with my oldest son fishing. He turned 13 right after we got back. He really enjoyed it and so did I. In fact, he got a set of golf clubs for his birthday and I made a tee time for early that morning so he could use them first thing. Dad of the year material right here. Actually, the idea is mostly my sweetie's and I am just taking credit for it. :-)

We bought a few bottles of local wine from the areas. An Icewine from Canada, a local New York wine along with that. Really building up our collection nicely. We also started a magnet collection of all of the states we have visited together. I have a feeling it won't be long before our fridge door is going to look like a really wierd Rand McNally map.

Other than that, we got more of the wedding items marked off. Got the gazebo/chapel booked and the invites sent to the printers. Ordered the boys' gift. Got the Announcements ordered also. Things are starting to fall into place. T minus 84 and counting. I can't wait.

The day before vacation blog...can you say short? I can't either.

Vacation starts tomorrow!!!!! Today is gonna be a great day. Of course, the last time I went on a real vacation I got laid off the day I got back. No worries, mate. That was then, this is now. This is actually a company that values the employees and a boss that can see past the next dollar sign. Did I mention that I am going on vacation? Today is admin/makeup/catchup/get ahead day at work. All of those pesky little admin tasks that are stacked up get done. Any emails, documents, phone calls, that I have not gotten too get made up today. Anything that needs immediate attention when I get back gets started so I can get ahead. See, there is a method to the madness (One Step Beyond!). Can you tell I got the 80's CDs out? Actually my sweetie got them out, I just enjoy the heck out of them. The ME decade. New Wave. Synthesized everything when it came to music. I rebelled against anything and everything that was synthesized back then. If it wasn't pure guitar and drums then I hated it. Now I wax nostalgic for it and love it. See what old age does to you? Did I mention that I am going on vacation tomorrow? I know my legions of blogging fans will miss me for one week. But I shall return. Old bloggers never die, they just faaaaaaade away.

We told the kids about the wedding date being moved up. They were truly excited. And the oldest wanted to know if we had decided about having more kids! He needs to ask that AFTER vacation. Did I mention vacation yet? I am going on one starting tomorrow. Just a small reminder. Anyway, they are excited. Although I did have to make a slight change. I am having CO-best men. My youngest is a little jealous that the oldest gets to be best man so he gets to me ring-bearer AND CO-best man. The bat will have to be modified. Speaking of which, after we get back the planning will be in full motion. We got the rings last night. Really nice hand made white gold with two very fine lines of black in them. Very nice. Our jeweler (I love being able to say that we have a jeweler) did a really great job. They look nice on, too. Tonight is dress shopping (not for me, of course). I know she is going to be the most beautiful bride EVER. I can't wait to see her in a wedding dress, waiting for me. Puts that silly ear to ear grin on my face every time. I am going on vacation tomorrow. Just in case you forgot.

I'm not prejudiced, I hate everyone!

I love that T-shirt. Saw it again last night. Ok, ok, for all of you clamoring for a diet update, here it is. Same ole, same ole. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Stats Quo. SSDD. No movement (something later on that subject).

Onto more pressing matters. The wedding. Next week is vacation and I am already looking past it to October. It is going to be really nice to have a week off, though. Going NorthEast. Never been up thata way before. I know the boys will have a blast. Sorry, back to the wedding. We have the rings ordered. We are having them hand made. The jeweler recommended that to us so we are going for it. Registered for the tuxes. She has an appointment to look at (translation: try on) dresses Friday evening. Although I know which one she has her eye on already. Her sister, the matron of honor, is also getting a dress that we are insisting that we pay for. She better let us, too! Later this month, we are going to check out pics for photographers and officially book that gazebo/chapel, weather permitting. Invites need to be sent to the printers also. I am ordering 2 baseball bats with special printing on the barrel for the best man and our ring bearer. They are gonna love that. Rawlings bats with thier name, title, and date. I am thinkin that a pic of them with the bats after the ceremony would be really cool. Maybe with thier jackets off over thier shoulder, leaning on the bat. Yeah, like I am creative enough, THAT is why we are hiring a professional (at least we think that until we see the samples). The total group will be less than 40 people so it will be nice and small. Right now, the plans are coming together nicely, and I can't be more happy. The fact that I am looking past VACATION speaks volumes about that.

One thing I would like to comment on. I have very definite opinions on professional sports figures. Let me lay the groundwork before I rant. I feel that if an owner with more money than he knows what to do with wants to pay a (insert sport and position here) millions and millions of dollars then hey, get what you are worth and have at it. If the owner of my company all of the sudden decided that IT geeks should get paid 12 mill a year, then I am not going to turn it down because it looks greedy. OF COURSE IT LOOKS GREEDY, IT'S MONEY!!!!! If we are all so high and mighty then why do we complain about not getting raises or promotions? Hello! Same principal, just different circumstances. I do also believe, to a point, that sports figures are role models. Kids, of all ages, look up to certain people. Mom, Dad, older brother or sister, and whoever thier favorite player is that year. I also believe that it is the parent's responsibility to monitor, to the best of thier ability, what thier children see and hear. So if thier sports hero decides to push around a camera man, or get caught with a hooker, or have 14 kids with 14 different women, then it is MY responsibility to be there to answer the questions that will definitely come from that. Now for my slightly awkward and yet somehow conflicing point of view. Why are some sports figures such jerks? Is it the money that made them that way? Not in my opinion. That is like blaming alchohol for making someone a mean drunk. It just intensifies the personality. So does money. If a guy is a jerk, then that guy with an unlimited amount of cash and subservient yes-men is a HUGE jerk. A giving guy that will donate his time to a soup kitchen or donate part of his paycheck to a charity is gonna be a great humanitarian with huge sums of cash. Cash does not make someone change the way they are, it just intensifies the way they are.

I am willing to take on several millions to prove my point, too.

Like sands thru the hourglass....

so is this day finally ending. Only hump day...it feels like a Thursday. Diet update? Nah, why ruin a good thing now and spoil it by telling you that I haven't made any progress? Of course, any update would be a lie since I have no idea where I am on it.

The baseball all-star game was last night. I didn't watch more than a few pitches late in the game. Strange for me, I love baseball. But I do hate Tim McCarver. I would watch 162 all-star games with Joe Morgan and Jon Miller. Joe Morgan has to be one of the smartest ex-players to come along in a while. His insight is awesome. Being from Cincy doesn't help it that I like him either.

How hard should it be for someone who runs a business to answer even ONE of the phones that they advertise you to call? How hard is that, really?

Why are wedding photographers so expensive? Cuz they know you need the pics. Supply and demand, baby. Supply and demand.

No shuttle launch today. Weather or fuel sensor, something went wrong. And just what in God's name is the 'pass-out game,' the 'fainting game,' the 'tingling game,' or the 'something dreaming game'?????? Headline at CNN.com is that a boy died playing the pass-out game. He hung himself looking for a cheap high. Another girl died of the same thing last week or so. Huh? Choking each other and or hanging one's self? Fun? I would rather my teenager sneak a beer. Worst part about this sad situation is that this boy was 10 years old. TEN!!!!! Is losing conciousness like being high? Wow, this scares me. There are no blood or urine tests for this. And definitely no way I could ever expect someone to tell me that my child hangs himself for the fun of it.

Depression Is Merely Anger Without Enthusiasm

You would think that I might learn my lesson when it comes to the sun and sunburns. After spending countless weekend days out in the sun watching baseball games, I go to the pool. Now mind you, there is a reason that I have been keeping a quasi-diet log on here. Lets just say that I have more area to tan than the regular sized guys. More specifically, more area to burn. And yes, its burned. Not too bad but still, you would think I might learn. I remember the days when I didn't know what a sunburn was and I was out in the sun from daybreak until dusk every day from June to September. Oh well, another peril of getting old.

Diet log. Hmmmmm. Best way to put this is to be honest. I have no update cuz I can never remember to weigh myself. Maybe because I am just afraid too somewhere deep in my subconcious. I am afraid that instead of a number the display on the scale may just read "One At A Time Please". Oh well, I am not overwieght, I am under-tall. Thats my story and I am sticking to it.

Wedding plans are progressing nicely. Place and Time are set. We have even discussed honeymoon ideas. And boy did she come up with a dandy! Cruisin in the winter. Nothing chases away cabin fever like 80 degrees, sunshine, beach, and a huge boat. That is one plan that I hope comes together. Our last cruise was great, not quite as sunny as I would have liked, plus there is that cell phone in the Gulf of Mexico thing, but it was still nice. Eastern Carribean will be nicer, or wherever we decide to go. You know, even though we are technically partners and we live together and all of that, getting married and "officially" starting our lives together is something I want to do so very badly.

Let's see, I have not been the best of bloggers lately. Any worldly events that need commentary? Any one person out there worthy of a rant? Actually, yes. Not so much a person but a thing. Dennis. And Emily after him, and Frank or Fiona, or whatever the next hurricane is gonna get to the coasts. I hear it is supposed to be an "active" season. Wow, it sure looks like it. Sometimes I wonder just how pissed off Mother Nature is. She can sure pack a punch when she wants too. Drought in the Midwest, Hurricane in the gulf, wild fires in the west. She is one powerful lady.

Long time no see

Its been a while, I know. No excuses...holiday...some vaca time...lazy. Take your pick. But the blog is not the only thing I have slacked off on. The diet is not doing so well. As I last left you I had managed to drop around 5, according to the doc's scales. I am fairly certain that what was once lost is now found. No scales involved, lets just say I have that feeling. No matter, though, a renewed sense of motivation is upon me. What could that be, you might ask? Well, ok, no one is asking but I am telling anyway, so there. At the end of this month is a nice little out of town vacation that we (the family unit) are taking and I would like to be able to strut around Canada with less bulk. Plus, I think that a certain life changing event has been moved closer to coming true THIS fall instead of NEXT fall and I sure as heck don't want my love to look like she is standing next to the Michelen man on that important day. The kid's baseball season is winding down which means more time for some structured workouts. Maybe some more rest time too...it has been a looooong baseball season this year. Cardio workouts are gonna hafta start soon and the only time we have is after work. And without games to take up 2-3 evenings a week we might actually get to do something.

Today, London was hit with some terror attacks. Very sad but not altogether unexpected from my point of view. It seems that Tony Blair likes to follow our (The USes) lead a lot and if it wasn't going to be us hit then, to me at least, Britain seems the next likely target. And yes, some form of Al-Quaida (sp?) has already claimed it. Yesterday, London got the rights to host the 2012 Olympics. Coincidence? Not sure. Not being a terrorist, I have no idea how long it takes to organize a bombing so given 24 hours might just not be enough, or maybe it is. Either way, as the days drag on I can't help but wish that we would just finish what we need to do with Iraq and get our troops home. As I get older I appreciate more and more the freedoms that this great country stands for. But also, as I get older, I see my son hitting the teen years and I can't help but worry. How long will we be in Iraq? What about North Korea? They blustered about recently spouting off about Nukes. China. The newest Iranian leader was named as a hostage taker and/or leader from the 80's. As we pound our collective chests to the world we seem to be painting a huge red target on it as well.

Long time no blog...ugh, that sounds horrible

Although it has been a while, there is no way that the title of this is anything but awful. But then, that makes it perfect to keep. To update anyone who cares, last week was eventful only because I was away at geek training. D-day came and went with little or no fan-fare, thank goodness. Status quo and keep watching that diet...as I sit with a large piece of cinnamon alligator in front of me. Today is meeting day for me, one on one and team meetings scheduled, so I may have to fit a couple of posts into one day. But then, that makes it all the more exciting to read. Who knows what this "close to middle-aged" man might write. GASP. Just think of the possibilites! More diet talk! Maybe even a geek fueled rampage! Wow, the possibilities are endless. My mind swims with the possibilities, or it may be that 4th cup of coffee that I am working on, who knows. This whole diet thing has me perplexed. I have no idea where my will power has gone too. Just yesterday I had resolved myself to stick to more of a structured calorie/fat based plan and yet I have eaten more this morning than I should all day. And gee, its almost 9am already. I guess maybe I should have gotten worse news at the doctor. Maybe then I might have some stick-to-it-iveness. Now, there is a word.

Light Travels Faster Than Sound, Which Is Why Some People Appear Bright Until You Hear Them Speak.

Yay for me! This Sunday is Father's day. My day. The one day a year I get. My birthday doesn't count, it falls 2 days before Christmas. For over 35 years, my birthday has been an afterthought, but I am not bitter about that in the least. Back to MY day. Sunday I get to eat where I want, I get to sleep in, lounge around in my boxers if I want to. Hey, wait a minute, that's really not that much different than what I do on the weekends now. Anyway, its Fathers day and I am going to enjoy it. I know of 3 people that will make sure I do. I am very lucky that way, all 3 of them I know will make sure that Father's day is special. I don't have my dad any more (a story for another posting) so the spotlight shines squarely on my unshaven face. And I love it. I even got to pick out my present, early I know but I got what I wanted, so I am happy. Selfishness is forgiven this Sunday.

And by the way, I got new gym shoes. neener neener neener.

Brainstorm? More like a drizzle....

I will be away from the blog for a few days next week. Out for some geek training. It's all good, though, I asked for it. Plus Thursday is D-Day so along with the normal tests I am gonna hit him up for the GFR result on the lab. We'll see what happens. I am also toying with the notion that I need to fast that day. 12 hours...appt is at 3 pm. Boy am I gonna be hungry. Wasting away to nothing all day THEN put up with poking and prodding? I am thinking Big Mac directly afterwards. Yeah, that is why I have no updates on the diet, cuz I am thinking Big Mac MOST of the time. I better up the life insurance, I hear the extra large caskets cost more than normal sized ones.

My kingdom for an idea

I need an idea....writer's block. Blogger's block. Sounds like an Irish Ale. Warm, dark beer with a head on it. Why is sarcasm wasted on the stupid?

Dazed and confused...welcome to my world

No, I do NOT have a diet update, so quit asking!

But I do have an issue. As anyone who reads this knows, as if anyone reads this, whatever. Anyway, D-Day was Monday. Sorry, moved it to accomodate some training to Thursday. One week from today so no biggie. Ok, nuff history. Last night I got out my test results from the first doctor's visit and re-read them. Just trying to get myself all up to date on what was done to me and remembering what was said so that I could deny ever hearing anything about losing weight. Anyway, I hit the back page of the reports and saw that there were some notes that the report added. Something about a GFR range being between 30-90 and if it is then "clinical correlation is needed". Below all of that was a website http://www.kidney.org. Ok, so I hit that site trying to find out exactly what it is that I missed before. Well.....come to find out that GFR is a kidney test that determines how your they are functioning. Oh, and by the way, anything below 90 means that your kidneys are not functioning as well as they should. Now, there are a lot of factors and age, race, and something called Creatinine are the three major ones. Using a calculator online (yes, kidney.org provides you with one if you know your Creatinine level). I confirmed that my GFR is 61. 61. That is NOT above 90. And the lab report really doens't do much more than that. Doc did NOT go into any of this with me so I called his office this morning. I got to talk to a nurse, which is great, they are very busy people and I really appreciated them taking the time first thing in the morning to listen to my babble. The one thing that I didn't like was the lack of knowledge of GFR. If its on the test results that you give me then please at least know enough to tell me what I am looking at. So now, here I am, thinking that I have kidney damage and having to wait a week to talk to my doctor about it. So I took today and Googled GFR. Found lots of sites with information. None of it promising. A lot of technical info from a professional standpoint and not much from the patient standpoint. I have to assume that this means that GFR is a fairly new test and that not enough is out there yet. Again, here I am. Worried.

Not good for someone that needs to lose weight. There are two things I do when I am worried. First, I get quiet. Second, I get jittery and eat. I hope to the good lord above that I can fast Thursday until 3 with these wonderful assumptions rolling around in the gray matter.

nip it nip it nip it

Busy today....
One guy out with appendicitis
One guy out with sick kids
Two left
busy today...
Not much to update anyway
status quo on diet since I forgot to weigh myself this morning
I did remember my badge, that's a small victory

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

A good weekend...not diet wise so an update to that right here would be useless. Kind of like me actually driving PAST a DQ. Useless. Saturday morning I worked at a local midwestern college being a proctor for the ACT test. Basically, a poorly paid hall monitor making sure all the high school kiddies didn't try to cheat the system. Besides the fact that every single one of the students there was born AFTER I graduated from good old Woodward High, June of 1986 in case you were wondering, some of them actually thought they could get away with it. Lemme splain how this works. They seperate the students into 4 groups, all seating in a huge gym. Seperated into 4 areas. With at least 3 adults monitoring the sign-in, seating, and actual test taking. There are very specific rules to the tests. Timed tests. Sealed test booklets. The whole shebang. Still some tried to copy or to go back and make up answers that they ran out of time for. Very amusing. The whole born AFTER I graduated thing bothered me some but not enough to walk out on the extra cash.

One week from today is D-Day. Its not going to be a pleasant conversation, I have a feeling. I have prepped for the morning off but somehow I have the feeling, that the whole day is going to be necessary. Just a feeling that I have.

Hump day

Ah yes, the middle of the week. Looking forward to the weekend without too much regret for what the week has brung so far. Its been a good week, I will admit. As far as the diet is concerned status quo. Although a really good salad at lunch today will help that along nicely. Buffalo spinach...with buffalo, not buffalo style chicken. Tender and delicious. Best part was it was free. Salesman paid for it. Another baseball game tonight, this time my youngest one. Thursday is practice and the Saturday is games. Although we will be working and we will miss my youngest's game. But the extra pay will be worth it. Payin off those bills. Even though they are baby steps, I can feel the steps getting closer to having the house. Man, I cannot wait for that. I would love to be able to whine about mowing in the heat.

Not in the mood

I am not in the typing mood too much today so I will keep this short. No big update to the diet...still holding steady. Less than two weeks till D-Day and I am hoping against hope that I get better test results than the last time. I am thinking that a trip to the dietician or nutritionist (is there a difference) might help. I have a lot of questions about what is best to eat. Not just for losing weight but for staying healthy. And I just know that not getting to the gym because of a busy sports schedule for my kids is NOT going to be a good excuse for the Doc. I can see the look I will get now.

Under the microscope

This past weekend. Lemme give you a glimpse into this past weekend before I do any diet updating. Saturday was baseball...at least one game. My youngest's game in the morning was a washout. But my oldest played in the afternoon with his new team. Now, I am more than happy to goto any of his games and it really doesn't matter who he plays for as long as he is having fun. That being said, the difference between a select team and regular knothole is absolutely mind boggling. First of all, he got to pitch. That in itself was a victory for him but the team he played against....wow. I was shocked to see how poorly they played. Now, I understand that not all kids are baseball greats but I just forgot how the level of play falls off when you go back to knothole. I was actually stunned at the competition. He did seem happy to get his chance to pitch and he did seem to be enjoying himself so, other than some left over hostility to a certain person, I am ok with his decision. Again, and I cannot emphasize this enough, it wasn't the decision but the way it was handled, that pissed me off. Ok, I am done bitching about that. The rest of Saturday went something like this...got up early as usual to do the laundry.

Ok, sorry but I need to vent again. So here is a bit of an aside. We meet my mom for laundry on Saturday mornings around 6:15am. Why? First of all, the place we go to is usually pretty empty at that time and its a good time to catch up with my mom if we haven't had the chance to all week. Second, we usually go out to breakfast right after for some more BSing and a good meal. Now, that being said, the laundrymat that we frequent is always open. The hours on the door say 7-10 but we have been there well before 7 for several trips in a row and its always been open. Now, you know, since I said "always" that, YEP, it was closed Saturday. So we waited a bit. Then went ahead and ate. Returning with 5 minutes to spare before 7, we waited again. 7:10, 7:20, and yes, 7:30 goes by and still locked. What a way to run a business. There was a phone # on the door. I called, and SURPRISE!, I got an answering machine. Nice. Back to the weekend....

The rest of Saturday was great. Got some painting done and did our laundry at the apartments using the much smaller room in the building next door. God, I cannot wait to get a house!!!!! Saturday night was an early one...asleep by 9. At least I think so, I don't remember anything after the first commercial break during Bambi. Yes, Bambi....that tells you what summer TV is like.

Sunday was interesting. Woke up fine. Even fixed a nice big breakfast for me and my honey. But by afternoon, my head felt like it was going to explode. I was sweating, hurting, puking. It was awful. Finally, sometime around 8 or 9 that night all went quiet on the pain front. I actually got to eat some chicken noodle soup with crackers (this is where my fiancee stepped in and does what she does best, take care of me). Suffice to say, I was not worried a bit about the diet this morning seeing as how I ate little or nothing yesterday. There is just about nothing worse than having a headache that keeps you in bed. Light, sound, movement, all bringing it home worse and worse. Then getting that sick feeling in your stomach. Knowing its coming and there is nothing you can do about it. Knowing you haven't eaten anything cuz of the damned headache but still you can't help but praying to the porcelain goddess. Dry heaves. Ugh. I tried everything, a cold wet cloth, heating pad on my neck, I slept off and on for 3 hours in the afternoon, nothing. It wasn't quite a migraine, at least not to the point of others that I had but it sucked just the same. Thank god I have someone that takes such great care of me.

happy happy joy joy

Today is friday, today is friday....I was actually going to make that my whole post today but that would be boring. Ok, slightly more boring than this normally is. Today has been a pretty good day, diet-wise. Kept to my breakfast and lunch with no extras. Although tonight may be a bit difficult depending on where dinner comes from. Gotta keep the mantra....lifestyle change. I really need to step it up and commit better than I have. I do ok until something in my little life changes then it all goes to hell and I am better than that. Focus, bear down, put the blinders on, pay attention, nose to the grindstone, work harder, all of that stuff. So easy to type, yet so hard to follow...........

hmmmmmm

Things are starting to chill out a bit, at least they feel that way. Even though I am still in an uproar over some events of the past weekend, my emotional state is returning to normal. As far as the weight loss, status quo. That's usually a bad thing but when the past 5 days have felt like 5 weeks and the stress level makes you feel every beat of your heart then just keeping steady is as good as it gets. Back to the grind today, somewhat. Counting down to less than three weeks before D-day. I am thinking that even though my weight is not where it needs to be that my change in HOW I eat is going to make a difference in the tests. At least that is my hope. I am keeping everything that can be crossed, crossed.

I almost forgot...

Holding steady, yes even after a weekend of burgers and dogs, at a total of 6 pounds. Too bad I wasn't better this weekend cuz with all of the work I did I am sure I could have cut a few more. But oh well....I am back on it today. Less than 3 weeks and counting till D-day.

Quite sure of one thing....

I will not stop trying to be a good person. I want to be a good dad. And although it may seem increasingly difficult to remain above the fray as it were, as a dad I must. As a team, WE must. I just hope that we don't drop down to her level of pettiness and stupidity. We can sling with the best of them and it would be so easy to start. I could be the Disney dad....all candy, ice cream, and staying up late, but what would that do? Right now, the struggle is to show them the right way to live your life. The consequences of thier actions and decisions. Using thier heads instead of thier mouths. Believing that you can make a difference in your situation instead of quitting it and moving on to another one. Communicating.

What weekend??????

Well, its Wednesday, I haven't updated this in almost a week. I am a baaaaaaaaaad boy. But on the other hand, we were a little busy running a baseball tournament that started Friday. I even took Friday off of work so that we could get to the fields early enough to start setting up and getting ready. Of course, it rained Friday, that set the mood early as tentative but the sun peeked out and things got rolling. So far, I can say, we made pretty good money selling burgers, dogs, etc....and it will all go to a good cause. The down side to all of this was that my son quit the team directly after the tournament. Now, I was fully aware that he had an issue with one of the coaches as far as him not getting to pitch as much. But then to hear on the phone that he quit and that him and his mom had been planning this for a while was, and IS, a bit upsetting. Of course, he has already landed somewhere else along with his mother, so I hope he truly is happy with his decision. I would rather him play somewhere where he is having fun. The process of the quitting along with the way his mother informed everyone is where my problems begin. Once again she pulls the strings and gets her way. I fully believe that he might not have been happy but I also believe that she was there to help him make his decision. Time will tell if that decision is the right one. I will tell you that it was very hard last night to take his uniform up to the field and turn it in. We have a lot of friends up there and even though we know that it was by no means goodbye, it was still hard to leave the team as parents. Right now, I am just tired of being pissed off.

a pound here, a pound there

Holding steady....better than last week when I was gaining but not quite where I want to be. I have started taking a diet pill to help with the weight loss. I am not going to name it, mainly because I don't like endorsing things on the net but I also don't want any failure on my part to be associated with this certain pill. I will admit that after 2 days on it that I had dropped 3 pounds back to my total of 7 pounds again. That was a welcome change that helped me decide to keep taking the pill for the whole month. I have a 30 day supply. I am still watching what I eat, I am not looking for a miracle that will drop the pounds even if I eat nothing but banana pudding all day long. I still need to keep the long term goal in mind. June 20th is creeping up quickly and even if I don't hit my goal loss I am still very concerned about the cholesterol and blood pressure numbers. I don't want more medication or a stricter diet dictated by a nutritionist or dietician.

goodbye....for now

Another one gone. So quickly they go by. Its almost like they were never here to begin with. Take too long to blink and zoom, it's Monday morning again. Sometimes I can't help but wonder where the time goes. I even tried to slow it down by lazying around Sunday but it was no help. One thing led to another and before I knew it, it was Sunday evening, the sun was gone, and I was setting the alarm. And waxing poetic, as poetic as I get anyway, only makes it seem like it was eons ago.

Ah well, onto the update portion of our program. I blew it this weekend. Saturday day was ok but I helped cater a wedding and I'll be dipped if I didn't succumb to the awesome wedding food. I even talked the chef into making me a nice piece of rare prime rib...not including the potatos, veggies, chicken, and of course cake. Then I got up Sunday and ate a wonderful breakfast. I really do understand why fat people are jolly, I am at my happiest when I am eating well. And I am blessed with loving a wonderful cook. So today is better. Small breakfast, small lunch, dinner is up in the air. I didn't even bother to weigh myself, that would have ruined the good mood I was in this morning. I promise to give a more concise update tomorrow after I conjur up the courage to actually step on the digital monster in the bathroom.

Can we swap around the 5 on 2 off thing?

How about someone proposing on the floor of the house that we work 2 days and are off 5. I am even willing to put in a couple of extra hours each day to help make up for the lost productivity. Maybe, say, two 12 hour days? Thats 24. More than some I know put in in a full week. Ah well, not gonna fly, I know. Might as well get on with the update.....

Gained back another pound this morning. I am not so sure what I am doing wrong, besides the whole cardio exercise omission thing, I mean. Yesterday my intake consisted of, and I shit you not, 2/3 cup of Hot Grape Nuts (with water, not milk), a frozen Lean Cuisine, One Salisbury steak, a cup of mac n cheese, a cup of corn, and a medium size piece of cake for dessert. That was it. How can I gain weight from that????? I am not a small human being, I will admit that I take up more of my share of the sidewalk. This had to be half of what I ate 4 months ago yet still I wieghed and there was one more there than there was yesterday. My doctor can shove this diet so far, that it will need a passport to breathe. This is not a fad diet where if I do one wrong thing then I have to start over. But I am still baffled. Oh well, one month until I go back for my follow up and then I can get the tests done again and we can see exactly what I have accomplished. There is more than just weight to deal with. Cholesterol and high blood pressure too. Keep focused on the long term goal. My new mantra "Long Term Success".

Oh, and this tournament might actually just be ok. It seems to be falling into place. If Mother Nature holds course and grants us some good weather then I think a success is in order.
Keeping my fingers crossed...have a good weekend.

Darth Tater

I love the Mr Potato Head as Darth Vader...errr Tater. Star Wars Episode III came out today. Or last night, depending on how much of a true geek you are. I will see it, but not quite yet. I want to let the theatres calm down a bit, plus a ten spot per is a bit much for any movie in my estimation. I have heard that this one is the best of the three...the new three that is. When Episdoe IV came out in the seventies I was in my pre-pubesent prime. I must have seen it more than 20 times in the theatre. I have the Video cassette limited edition set in my cabinet at home. I wondered what the first three would be like when I had heard Lucas was going to finish the saga. Then I went and sat through the first two, the first one good the second not so good. But that debate will rage on in geekdom for some time. Lemme get back to my own epic battle between good and evil....my battle with the bathroom scale.

Staying steady right now, total of 6 pounds lost. Feeling a little better. Clothes do fit a tad bit better, or its just wishful thinking. The dark side rears its ugly head every day...dark chocolate side most of the time. But the force is with me. Actually its just the fear of more doctor visits and a stricter diet that I know I would not stick to. So I trudge on, from meal to meal. Hoping some day that science will truly find that miracle fat pill that I can take and go back to eating what I want. Oh wait, all I have to do is check my email and I will find drugs for fat, erectile disfunction, married-single-christian-lesbian-gay dating, penis enlargement, and breast enlargement. It was here all along. Why am I complaining again?

Roller Coaster

Today is one of those days. Tossed and turned last night and I feel like I have had no sleep whatsoever. Grumpy, tired, hungry, I got it all today. Got to work and someone had left the fridge door open all night so my lunch that I had saved is ruined. Trying to save a little money so eating out is a no go. Speaking of eating, the diet is getting me down. I had lost a total of 7 pounds until this past weekend, then I noticed that I had gained 4 of them back. Not sure how that happened, must have been that hot dog at the baseball game Sunday. Who knows. The combination of my attitude this morning and being on a diet does not bode well for good eating habits. Fortunately I have someone behind me that cares for me and loves me enough to not let me drag around in self-pity feeling sorry for myself and being a general pain in the ass. So, with her pushing me on, I have shored up my resolve, turned my attitude around, and decided that today is NOT going to suck, at least the rest of the day. I may not be smiling through it all but at least I know that the end of the day is coming and tomorrow is another day to start over fresh.
There are a few things on my mind today, Mexico's president sticking his pie en boca (foot in his mouth) by making racist remarks. Now come on, in this day and age, there is no reason for anyone to make such comments. I am not talking about racism in general, there will always be people that will be small minded and stupid and put other people down simply on the basis of difference. I am talking about a public person, a president for crying out loud, making these types of statements in public. Hello? Is anyone at home at all? There are a lot of people pursuing public jobs and careers, politicians, actors, musicians, artists in general, all of which crave the public eye. Why would you pursue any of those careers if you didn't? But to say something inflamatory and ignorant in public or to the press is plainly stupid. We live in the ultimately Politically Correct era and this still happens. The only way it can happen is that these people that commit these little gaffes are just not thinking. Not thinking but yet still talking. Yeah, that makes sense.