Good Morning . . .

It is so wonderful to be alive today . . . It is amazing what a little sun in ones day can produce . . . I read a wonderful quote from a friend on FB . . . Here it goes - "As long as we're NOT talking about it, let me just say that I can't understand why I stay up late when I know I have class in the morning and I looooove sleep and when I wake up I'm like, "why did i stay up late?"." I know how my friends feels. I love sleep and feel better when I sleep well, but I stay up too late to get up early for work . . . To go to bed earlier would be a wonderful thing . . . What do you do on the sleep thing??? What does my friends quote make you feel or think? The real issue for me is what will I do . . . Will I go to bed sooner so I get more sleep?? I will, I tell you go to bed sooner and get more sleep . . . Peace

January 21, 2010

Today, I am here at school for a few moments. It has been a quiet semester. Worked with a student on a snow blower Engine rebuild. The semester is winding down, and a new more active semester will begin. I have been working out for the past three weeks, and it is beginning to show in many ways in my life. I feel better, I sleep better, I am learning to eat better. I am becoming better. It is a blessing. I am teaching a class at church called "Husbands Challenge". the men have been wonderful, and I am learning and growing along with them . . . My son turned 11 this past week. Also had fun attending the Detroit auto show with my boys. Well, what do you want to know? Ask me a question and I will try to share my thoughts . . . Peace

(photo free at Auto Show - sponsor by SF, this is not and endorsement)

Is anyone out there ? ? ?

You know, I enjoy this blog thing for the sake of the blog. I know I ramble and at times may never actually get to a point. But is there anyone out there reading my crazy ramblings?

Today, I am thankful for the workout I was able to put in last night. Plant Fitness is my gym, and it was busy last night. My entire body hurts today, but in a good way, and in about 2 hours I will be enjoying a massage and a crack up from my chiropractor. I am blessed and I am thankful. I have a touch of a headache, it may be that blood is actually getting to places in my brain it has not been in a long time. I know this information will be hard to understand, but here is the quick story . . .

I left High School in 1984 weighing 145 lbs. That was a while ago. I went to college and gained some weight and muscle and weighed 165 lbs. When I got married in 1988 I think I weighed somewhere around 175 lbs. or 180 lbs. For what ever reason, I began to gain weight over the next 21 years and topped off at 332.7 lbs. the last day of 2009. I was kicked out of my Wii Fitness Gym for being over weight. I do not know why I did not wake up until today. I did try to lose weight along the way, one time getting as low as 245 lbs. What a wonderful feeling. Now almost 100 lbs beyond my last low weight, I am ready to change me, and the way I live, think, and eat. I have been going to the Gym ever other day and working out. I now have to begin to focus on the amount and kinds of food I take in as well. I have a 2 year goal to be near 200 lbs. I am going to take this trip slow, and allow my body to work together with my mind and heart to move from Obese back to normal. It has been so long since I have been a healthy weight, I wonder what it will be like. I am keeping my eye on the big prize as well as chunking the task into little bite size bits. Here you go . . . one little goal was to be let back into the Wii Fit Gym, I was able to do a body test the other day. I was right at the limit of 330, but it let me play. I have the goal of fitting back into my wedding band. I have not attempted it yet, but I look forward to that being a soon to be reality story. Then it is back on with my college ring. I decided in stead of me resizing my rings, I would try to re-size me. I thought that would be a better option. Also, my daughter Nikki wrote me a note asking me to lose weight, she was afraid that I would not live to be able to walk her down the Isle, that may still be an issue. I have been battling this issue for the past 20 years. I also want to be 270 lbs by this May. I have some wedding to do this summer, and I would like have a better package to present. The task is a huge one, but I need to step up to the plate while I can still step up. My over all goal is to lose 115 lbs. I believe this will take me 2 years. I have much work in my future, but discipline will not be pleasant while I am going through it, but the benefits will out way the investment. I believe this, and will begin to act and behave upon my beliefs. Thank you for your time. Have a great day. Peace

It is cold outside . . .

It has been cold out here in the mitten state . . . I know it is colder other places around the world, but I do not live other places . . . I live here. How do you learn to see things from someone else's perspective, when you life in your body? It seems like I can only see things from my perspective. It appears selfish as I type this though out into words. I am not saying I can not place myself into someone else's shoes, but I still see what ever the situation is from my perspective and life experiences . . . I come preloaded with my own set of ideas about life and views of how things are, that is what I mean by my perspective. I have a desire to become a better listener. There is a discipline for you. I have heard it said we have been given two ears and one mouth, so we should learn to listen twice as much as we speak. I want to be an active listener . . . I seek to understand what is being said. Now on to more fun . . . Marriage is like no other relationship in the world. First for me it starts with the Commitment for life, no not a life sentence, but a relationship that last a lifetime. That is where I hope to be. It is a relationship of exclusion or it should be none the less, hence the rise of Cheaters on the TV. There is no other relationship quite like it, unless you practice in polygamy, then that is a totally different blog. But really, what other relationship is bound by so many energies that press in on it? Think of it like this . . . when you go to work, there may be people you do not like or want to be with, but it is only for a few hours a week. And yes, you keep your cool even when you may want to punch them out. But look at this, when you are in a life long relationship, things have a tendency to build up, carry over and become part of everything. So when you may be talking, there is all this history that is always there. Thing said or done in the past that may or may not really relate to what is going on today. They may be past hurts, resentments, angers or what ever. Marriage is work. Listening is work. Listening without carrying any thing from the past takes work. I want to work to become a better man, husband, dad, employee, or what ever I do . . . OK, I am thankful for your time. Have a wonderful day. Peace . . .

photo found at: http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/listening.jpg

What, seven days in already???

The year 2010 is already seven days old . . . it is amazing how fast time is moving along. You know what I just realized . . . I talk about time a lot. I am a moment by moment man, but it is a topic I seem to look at often. I start my journal always with "Today . . ." I have never been a person that lived for . . . whatever, lets say the weekend, or the big trip, or Christmas, or this or that party. It is always a party during this moment inside my soul. OK, yes, there are times when I am sad, and yes I do struggle with depression at times. Why, I do not know. And yes there are times when I wish I did not have to do whatever it is I am having to do. But for the most part, I have been able to enjoy most of my days, and for that I count myself as blessed. Could the circumstances change? Circumstances always change, i just hope that the joy I feel inside never leaves.

You know what I just learned? I have a hard time staying on one topic. I am a rambler and a rabbit trail chaser. I am good with that, if you ever begin to follow my blog, I wonder if you will be OK with my style. Wait, I have a style . . . The ramble style. That is my style. One thing I am thinking triggers another thought and off I go spinning like a top.

What do I want to say today . . .

• I had to send my camera in for warranty repair. I miss my camera already


• I am getting a hair cut today, maybe a blond Mohawk is in my future . . .


• It is snowing . . .


• I want to redeem today . . . and make it count.


• I plan on working out with my son for the first time in our home Gym.


• I am blessed by my wonderful wife . . . and family . . .


• I am working on my Wreck This Journal . . .

Well, it is just me today . . . Enjoy today and this moment and have fun. Read Proverbs if you get a chance and enjoy . . .

Peace

Balloon

Balloon
Originally uploaded by maryegreene

I want to thank maryegreene for the premission to use her wonderful balloon photo as the background on my blog. Thank you for sharing this wonderful photo with us. Have a wonderful day. Peace

Back to school . . .

We are back to school today, what a wonderful thing. I like the routine-ness of it all. Wake up, go to school, eat lunch, drive home, hang out with the family, eat dinner, go to bed . . . It is nice, epically the bed part, I love my bed, and the down comforter, o me o my . . . it is so warm and snugglely, yes, I did say snugglely, you got a problem with that, I am still the Man . . .

But on to the new day that is today. The first day of school for this new DECADE . . . What does it mean? for some it is amazing, for others like myself it is something noteworthy to comtemplate. What does this decade hold? Will we see the end of the world? (2012) Will we see an end to world hunger? Will we find a cure for aids? Will we find peace in the Middle East? Will we realize the dream of renewable energy?

On a personal note, this next 10 years, if I live every one of them . . . should hold Three children graduating from High School - - - Maybe all three Graduating from College . . . Possible weddings, and I am sure a few funerals. Maybe some Grandchildren, but not in a rush for that one. I enter the decade as a 43 year old man, I will end it as a 53 year old man . . . Wow, that is perspective giving. My hair is going grey by the day, and I hope to still have hair. My Wife Diana and I will celebrate our 25th and 30th wedding anniversary during this time . . . I would like to see my debt diminish, and I have already begun to take the steps to make that happen. I also want to see my waist line decrease, and I have begun working on that as well . . . Wow, it is amazing to future cast, or to forward look, but actually, I only have this moment. I want to make this moment count . . . in my life, in the lives of my family and those whom God has allowed in my life, friend and foe . . .

On to books, I am currently reading a book called "The Education of Little Tree" it is a story of a young Indian boy growing up with his grandparents during the depression in the mountains of Kentucky. I pick up the book because my nick name, or name given to me by my aunt, whom I consider, wise and wonderful is "Little Tree". I have enjoyed this story and will finish it today. I would encourage you to pick it up and enjoy the read from the perspective of a young Indian boy . . .

Well, I will post again and welcome to the new year and new decade . . . enjoy your moment that is now. Yes, tell those you love that you love them, hug them often, express what important people mean to you to them while you can. Also pray for your enemy and do go to those who are your foe . . . Peace

Day 26 . . .

Day 26 . . .
Originally uploaded by SoullooN

Hello 01-01-10 . . . and welcome to life. I am taking each day as a new day of this new decade and new year. I am ready to take in deep of each moment along the way. This is another new beginning . . . Peace