Here are my NFL picks for this year. I will be way off because I am playing it to safe and injuries will make a huge difference.
AFC Division Winners Jets*, Ravens*, Texans, Chargers
AFC Wild Cards Patriots, Steelers
NFC Division Winners: Eagles*, Saints, Packers*, Rams
NFC Wild Cards Falcons,Bucs
Round 2 matchups: Jets vs Patriots, Ravens vs Steelers, Eagles vs Falcons, Packers vs Rams
Conference Finals: Patriots Over Ravens, Falcons over Packers
Super Bowl Patriots over Falcons
My feeling is that the leagues 7 strongest teams overall are NE, NYJ, Pitt, Balt, Phil, GB, and Atl. However, my feeling is that the Patriots will start off slower than normal and will not focus on winning the division but being playoff ready. Like the Falcons, they wont even win their division but they will meet in the Super Bowl. Due to the short offseason, it should be easier for already good teams to be better out of the gate than teams who added pieces. Those early games make it harder to break the playoff tape. Teams I like to make things interesting are Detroit, NYG, Chicago, KC, and Cleveland (dont ask me why). I dont think any make the playoffs, but they should make things tough.
Come join my pick em league and whoop me!!!
http://picked-off.com/13542 password : bringit
A health update will be coming soon. I am still on track despite being in a holding pattern. Other medical issues have jumped to the forefront but I have not started to gain nor give up!!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Health Update
So, I went to weigh in on Saturday July 2nd for fun. I had been eating well, went swimming, and thought I had done really well. It was only 4 days from my last weigh in, so I wasn't expecting anything much coming off my 5 lb loss, but was excited to find out.
I weighed in...... up 2 pounds. UP? What?!?!?!?
I was really upset. I was on a roll and doing very well. I thought I would be down a bit and it would help me stay focused during the holiday, which was made harder by making homemade ice cream and working the booth selling it. I know there are ups and downs on the scale. I am aware that without consistent exercise there will come a day that I will not lose anymore until I add it in. But 2 pounds????? Dang!
This was another stumbling block put in my way to test me. Could I resist temptation to give up? I had not blogged in a while anything substantial, so it would be easy just to have a bad week and then blog when things were good!!! However, this time is going to be different. I wont let minor setbacks derail the greater goal. I will not fail as I have in the past by giving up. Having this blog and those of you who have encouraged me and kept me accountable (yes, Jonny and others, I mean you!) was a great source of strength.
So I kept going forward. I made the ice cream. I refused to even taste it. I refused to lick a drop off my finger. In this time when I could easily slip up or give up, I held strong. I kept the course. I cleared the stumbling block and I am ready to continue moving forward.
So I weighed in on Wednesday (first time I could get to the scale). The result was a 1 pound loss (3 pounds down from my unofficial weigh in midweek). That 1 pound was huge for me. It not only symbolized another successful week, but it symbolized my first real challenge. I must admit that I am very excited. So, to sum it up.... I am now down 30 pounds. Not bad so far.
So, what do I go do? Well, I opened my mouth and put my foot in it. I made a challenge I can't really win. I challenged someone to race to a certain weight. They need to lose 135 fewer pounds than I do to get to this weight. However, I am going to give it my all. I do hope to lose this bet because this person is my friend and I want that person to succeed. However, I am going to try and get there. My situation is much easier for me to lose weight than for my challenger. Family situation, work, and current eating habits all favor me. I am a very competitive person with too big a mouth (and stomach FOR NOW). Wish me luck and hope I get there soon but lose by a lot!
Well, good day for now.
I weighed in...... up 2 pounds. UP? What?!?!?!?
I was really upset. I was on a roll and doing very well. I thought I would be down a bit and it would help me stay focused during the holiday, which was made harder by making homemade ice cream and working the booth selling it. I know there are ups and downs on the scale. I am aware that without consistent exercise there will come a day that I will not lose anymore until I add it in. But 2 pounds????? Dang!
This was another stumbling block put in my way to test me. Could I resist temptation to give up? I had not blogged in a while anything substantial, so it would be easy just to have a bad week and then blog when things were good!!! However, this time is going to be different. I wont let minor setbacks derail the greater goal. I will not fail as I have in the past by giving up. Having this blog and those of you who have encouraged me and kept me accountable (yes, Jonny and others, I mean you!) was a great source of strength.
So I kept going forward. I made the ice cream. I refused to even taste it. I refused to lick a drop off my finger. In this time when I could easily slip up or give up, I held strong. I kept the course. I cleared the stumbling block and I am ready to continue moving forward.
So I weighed in on Wednesday (first time I could get to the scale). The result was a 1 pound loss (3 pounds down from my unofficial weigh in midweek). That 1 pound was huge for me. It not only symbolized another successful week, but it symbolized my first real challenge. I must admit that I am very excited. So, to sum it up.... I am now down 30 pounds. Not bad so far.
So, what do I go do? Well, I opened my mouth and put my foot in it. I made a challenge I can't really win. I challenged someone to race to a certain weight. They need to lose 135 fewer pounds than I do to get to this weight. However, I am going to give it my all. I do hope to lose this bet because this person is my friend and I want that person to succeed. However, I am going to try and get there. My situation is much easier for me to lose weight than for my challenger. Family situation, work, and current eating habits all favor me. I am a very competitive person with too big a mouth (and stomach FOR NOW). Wish me luck and hope I get there soon but lose by a lot!
Well, good day for now.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Health Update
Well folks, it has been a crazy few weeks, but here is an update on my health focus!
Weighed in on day 43 and I have lost a total of 29 pounds. I lost 5 pounds last week!
I am hoping to keep up a 2 pound a week pace.
I am feeling better (except for the headaches) and have yet to include exorcize. Once I do, the weight will begin to come off even faster.
As for eating, I am still making solid choices and while I occasionally eat too much, I am doing better with that as well.
Ok, got to run..... catch you all later. Please feel free to bug me for updates if I don't post. If I struggle, i am worried I will try and stop blogging. That is why I started using my (used to be sports) blog for this purpose. Thanks to a ton of you for your support. It has been invaluable. I will try and be more detailed next entry.
Weighed in on day 43 and I have lost a total of 29 pounds. I lost 5 pounds last week!
I am hoping to keep up a 2 pound a week pace.
I am feeling better (except for the headaches) and have yet to include exorcize. Once I do, the weight will begin to come off even faster.
As for eating, I am still making solid choices and while I occasionally eat too much, I am doing better with that as well.
Ok, got to run..... catch you all later. Please feel free to bug me for updates if I don't post. If I struggle, i am worried I will try and stop blogging. That is why I started using my (used to be sports) blog for this purpose. Thanks to a ton of you for your support. It has been invaluable. I will try and be more detailed next entry.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Putting THE Father in Father's Day
Yesterday was Father's Day and had me thinking a lot about a lot of things. As many of you might know, Lori's Grandpa Farrell has been in declining health. He was put on hospice and then had to be moved to a nursing home as it was expected to be his final days. This weekend was a crazy one as we were in and out of the nursing home, celebrated Alex's Birthday, and also father's day. It was a true emotional roller coaster.
God was again there doing what he does best. Multi-tasking! He had a plan and it was good! I wont be able to relay all the amazing details of how He awesome his plan was, but I will tell you a few awesome things He did:
God was again there doing what he does best. Multi-tasking! He had a plan and it was good! I wont be able to relay all the amazing details of how He awesome his plan was, but I will tell you a few awesome things He did:
- Alex did not want Grandpa to die on his birthday. He may only be 7 but he is really sensitive and we were so thankful that God chose to honor Alex's request. Alex had a decent birthday overall, thanks to a party last week that went so well! So, happy birthday little man!!! You are the pepper of my life. With you, everything is going to be interesting.
- While I thought it would be appropriate for Grandpa to die on Father's Day, as there is no greater gift than getting to be home with Jesus, it was not the wish of his youngest child. She didn't want it and I am very glad, yet again, that God chose to honor the request.
- My kids got a chance to see him and we got a chance to make sure they understood what was going on. By being honest with them and upfront, I expect when we have to tell them he has passed, it will be much easier.
- I am generally a very self-centered person when it comes to things like Father's day. This father's day was not very much about me. This was His message to me. It can't be about ME.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Saying goodbye
Sometimes God has single messages to tell me and sometimes he goes with a series of messages. Recently, I have been faced with a series of messages on goodbyes. Some have been happy, some sad, and some mixed emotions. Either way, God is trying to teach me a lot about being able to say goodbye. See, for me goodbyes meant new beginnings and new beginnings meant change and change meant trepidation. However, God is trying to help me learn not to get that far. He wants me to able to have joy in change as well as joy in status quo. Goodbyes come in so many forms and we all have to say goodbye much more often than we realize.
Recently, if you remember, I had to say goodbye to my old eating habits. I have had to say goodbye to cookies, cakes, and just about anything with sugar. My doctors told me I was either pre-diabetic or diabetic and that I needed to do something right away. So, bye bye sugars and hello better eating habits. This was a tougher goodbye than I thought. I didn't realize how much poor eating was part of my lifestyle and how much comfort I found in food. God has helped me though and I have lost 22.5 lbs and although I have more work and changes to make.... I feel like I have said goodbye the right way.
Meanwhile, our family has had to prepare to say goodbye to Lori's grandfather. While we are unsure how long it will be, we are having to prepare for it. My kids are at a tough age in that they understand death enough to be sad but they aren't old enough to have experience in dealing with it. Ryan seems to be handling it well, Katie may not fully understand, but we had to talk with Alex last night as he was the one who got very emotional about it. I could go on for years about the psychology of children dealing with death, but I am really wanting to focus more on being introspective here. I have found myself having a hard time with this goodbye. Grandpa is Lori's grandfather and I always consider my in-laws as my own family. The relationships are very different but emotionally, I care the same for them all. He is going to be missed by a lot of people including a wife, 3 children (and their spouses), 8 grandchildren (and the 7 spouses), and many great grandchildren (I AM too lazy to count). His illness and decline has been very tough for everyone involved. He has always been a strong independent man and watching his decline has been tough. Emotions have run high. I honestly didn't think saying goodbye to him would be so tough for me, but it is.
In other goodbyes, I have said goodbye to my mom in a much less permanent way. I dropped her off at the airport in Kansas City after a 20 day, or so, stay. This goodbye was easier for me because she is planning to return soon. I think it is obvious, but I will say it anyway.... the more permanent, the more emotional a goodbye is for me. We miss having Aiya visit us, but it wont be long before she returns:)
I said goodbye this month to the 2010-2011 NBA and NHL seasons. Both ended on a good note with the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup for the first time I can remember (I was only months old the last time) and the Heat losing. Congrats to all involved on the Mavericks and Bruins for your success.
In May I said goodbye to many students. This was tough for me as some of the students will not be returning. The thing I enjoy most about working in schools is seeing kids grow up. I look forward to see what is in store for these students. The ones who wont be back will be missed next year. I wish them all the best in the various things that await them in the future. While our school isn't perfect, I am excited to see the direction it is going to move. To me, it is still far and away the best education for my children. So, goodbye to 2010-2011 school year is also hello to 2011-2012 school year. Because I have difficulty with goodbyes, I am going to focus on the hello here and get excited for the new things on the horizon for my kids, our students, and His plan for it all! (Note: we are saying goodbye to some teachers as well, and I wish them ALL the best)
Today we spent some time saying goodbye to our next door neighbors. In the short time they have lived next door, they have become an important part of our lives because my kids have always had other kids to play with almost anytime they wanted. Even Lori and I have had the chance to spend a little time socializing with them. I wish them a safe trip to California and my intense prayers that they sell their house quickly to some more great neighbors with kids!!! Our neighbors are all really great right now, I just wish some of them would stick around!
Last week I said hello and goodbye to VBS. VBS is a ton of fun for me. I never had VBS when I was a kid, so I get to experience it as an adult where I can enjoy all the fun and really appreciate the learning aspect as well. Thank you so much to all those involved in VBS planning... they are AMAZING and I had a blast. Someone once told me VBS was geared towards the kids...... I'm not so sure! I am very sad though to say goodbye again. It is a very fun week!
I am hoping to say goodbye to the upswing in headaches. My Cluster Headaches have been worse the last few days and I hope they settle back down to the much more manageable pattern they had been in.
Well, it looks like I am having a hard time saying goodbye to this blog entry. I am very emotional these last few days for so many different reasons. Change is everywhere and, if you know me, it means a massive uneasiness...... USUALLY. Not this time folks, God is in control and He is going to help me get over it, grieve for the losses, and be joyfully ready for whatever is next!
Recently, if you remember, I had to say goodbye to my old eating habits. I have had to say goodbye to cookies, cakes, and just about anything with sugar. My doctors told me I was either pre-diabetic or diabetic and that I needed to do something right away. So, bye bye sugars and hello better eating habits. This was a tougher goodbye than I thought. I didn't realize how much poor eating was part of my lifestyle and how much comfort I found in food. God has helped me though and I have lost 22.5 lbs and although I have more work and changes to make.... I feel like I have said goodbye the right way.
Meanwhile, our family has had to prepare to say goodbye to Lori's grandfather. While we are unsure how long it will be, we are having to prepare for it. My kids are at a tough age in that they understand death enough to be sad but they aren't old enough to have experience in dealing with it. Ryan seems to be handling it well, Katie may not fully understand, but we had to talk with Alex last night as he was the one who got very emotional about it. I could go on for years about the psychology of children dealing with death, but I am really wanting to focus more on being introspective here. I have found myself having a hard time with this goodbye. Grandpa is Lori's grandfather and I always consider my in-laws as my own family. The relationships are very different but emotionally, I care the same for them all. He is going to be missed by a lot of people including a wife, 3 children (and their spouses), 8 grandchildren (and the 7 spouses), and many great grandchildren (I AM too lazy to count). His illness and decline has been very tough for everyone involved. He has always been a strong independent man and watching his decline has been tough. Emotions have run high. I honestly didn't think saying goodbye to him would be so tough for me, but it is.
In other goodbyes, I have said goodbye to my mom in a much less permanent way. I dropped her off at the airport in Kansas City after a 20 day, or so, stay. This goodbye was easier for me because she is planning to return soon. I think it is obvious, but I will say it anyway.... the more permanent, the more emotional a goodbye is for me. We miss having Aiya visit us, but it wont be long before she returns:)
I said goodbye this month to the 2010-2011 NBA and NHL seasons. Both ended on a good note with the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup for the first time I can remember (I was only months old the last time) and the Heat losing. Congrats to all involved on the Mavericks and Bruins for your success.
In May I said goodbye to many students. This was tough for me as some of the students will not be returning. The thing I enjoy most about working in schools is seeing kids grow up. I look forward to see what is in store for these students. The ones who wont be back will be missed next year. I wish them all the best in the various things that await them in the future. While our school isn't perfect, I am excited to see the direction it is going to move. To me, it is still far and away the best education for my children. So, goodbye to 2010-2011 school year is also hello to 2011-2012 school year. Because I have difficulty with goodbyes, I am going to focus on the hello here and get excited for the new things on the horizon for my kids, our students, and His plan for it all! (Note: we are saying goodbye to some teachers as well, and I wish them ALL the best)
Today we spent some time saying goodbye to our next door neighbors. In the short time they have lived next door, they have become an important part of our lives because my kids have always had other kids to play with almost anytime they wanted. Even Lori and I have had the chance to spend a little time socializing with them. I wish them a safe trip to California and my intense prayers that they sell their house quickly to some more great neighbors with kids!!! Our neighbors are all really great right now, I just wish some of them would stick around!
Last week I said hello and goodbye to VBS. VBS is a ton of fun for me. I never had VBS when I was a kid, so I get to experience it as an adult where I can enjoy all the fun and really appreciate the learning aspect as well. Thank you so much to all those involved in VBS planning... they are AMAZING and I had a blast. Someone once told me VBS was geared towards the kids...... I'm not so sure! I am very sad though to say goodbye again. It is a very fun week!
I am hoping to say goodbye to the upswing in headaches. My Cluster Headaches have been worse the last few days and I hope they settle back down to the much more manageable pattern they had been in.
Well, it looks like I am having a hard time saying goodbye to this blog entry. I am very emotional these last few days for so many different reasons. Change is everywhere and, if you know me, it means a massive uneasiness...... USUALLY. Not this time folks, God is in control and He is going to help me get over it, grieve for the losses, and be joyfully ready for whatever is next!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Random Fram Strikes
My weight is now down 22.5 lbs since I started. While the amount is smaller each week, I am learning and the eating the right foods has got easier. I will have to add exercise and more portion control if I wish to lose faster, but for now, i am pleased with my decisions and commitment to this.
The Bruins are in a game 7 for the third time and I fear they will finally lose tonight (predicting 4-1). Great season Bruins, you can do it, I just don't think you will. PLEASE prove me wrong!
My poor brother is in India and doesn't have a way to watch the game yet. Any ideas?
Thank You Dallas! I would have been sick to watch Miami win. You deserve it.
Note to LeBron. Fire your PR people and call me. I will help make you into what you want. Without me, you are looking like a less sympathetic Alex Rodriguez. I never thought that would be possible! Send me a message here, I promise I can help you restore your image and get you to the next level.
Note to ALL people, not just celebrities/politicians. I am not sure why people put things on text messages and social networking sites but here should be your litmus test: If you wouldn't put it on a billboard on the closest major highway, DO NOT POST IT ANYWHERE OR SEND IT ANYWHERE on the INTERNET! Think people!
Fianlly, remember to take the time to show others respect. Hold a door open, pick up a dropped item, or even let a person with a few items in front of you in line. Don't expect a thank you and don't expect getting it back.
The Bruins are in a game 7 for the third time and I fear they will finally lose tonight (predicting 4-1). Great season Bruins, you can do it, I just don't think you will. PLEASE prove me wrong!
My poor brother is in India and doesn't have a way to watch the game yet. Any ideas?
Thank You Dallas! I would have been sick to watch Miami win. You deserve it.
Note to LeBron. Fire your PR people and call me. I will help make you into what you want. Without me, you are looking like a less sympathetic Alex Rodriguez. I never thought that would be possible! Send me a message here, I promise I can help you restore your image and get you to the next level.
Note to ALL people, not just celebrities/politicians. I am not sure why people put things on text messages and social networking sites but here should be your litmus test: If you wouldn't put it on a billboard on the closest major highway, DO NOT POST IT ANYWHERE OR SEND IT ANYWHERE on the INTERNET! Think people!
Fianlly, remember to take the time to show others respect. Hold a door open, pick up a dropped item, or even let a person with a few items in front of you in line. Don't expect a thank you and don't expect getting it back.
Friday, June 10, 2011
A little Sports Post
As a die hard Boston sports fan, it is awesome to see a team of mine have a shot at a championship. The Bruins are is what amounts to a best 2 out of 3 series for the Stanley Cup. They are not the more talented team, they do not have home ice, and they do not have their 2nd leading scorer in the playoffs.... yet they DO have a shot. Good luck Bruins.
The NBA finals continues to remind me why Miami is a team not worth EVER rooting for. Lebron's acting, Miami's thug tactics, and the copious amounts of crying the Heat does is an embarrassment to the league. They have been the benefactors of significant injuries to Rondo, O'Neal (J), Allen, Rose, and Dirk while being very much the reason for many of them. Yet, before Game 5, they chose to act like a bunch of spoiled brats and mock a player on the other team. Sadly Wade has learned how to lower himself to LeBron's level instead of helping LeBron rise to a higher level of class. ESPN has the article (I will link it below) that talks about what they did. Honestly, I thought the antics or the Canucks and Bruins in the NHL finals was bad, but this behavior is horrible. If the thug tactics, faking fouls and winking, crying and celebrating because you won the conference SEMI-finals, and "The Decision" weren't enough to turn your stomach...... this article should push you over the edge. I hope Cleveland has an amazing off season and finds a way to win a Championship before WahBron..... that, my fiends, would be worth celebrating.
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/conversations/_/id/6648286/lebron-james-dwyane-wade-feign-illness-dirk-nowitzki-expense
The NBA finals continues to remind me why Miami is a team not worth EVER rooting for. Lebron's acting, Miami's thug tactics, and the copious amounts of crying the Heat does is an embarrassment to the league. They have been the benefactors of significant injuries to Rondo, O'Neal (J), Allen, Rose, and Dirk while being very much the reason for many of them. Yet, before Game 5, they chose to act like a bunch of spoiled brats and mock a player on the other team. Sadly Wade has learned how to lower himself to LeBron's level instead of helping LeBron rise to a higher level of class. ESPN has the article (I will link it below) that talks about what they did. Honestly, I thought the antics or the Canucks and Bruins in the NHL finals was bad, but this behavior is horrible. If the thug tactics, faking fouls and winking, crying and celebrating because you won the conference SEMI-finals, and "The Decision" weren't enough to turn your stomach...... this article should push you over the edge. I hope Cleveland has an amazing off season and finds a way to win a Championship before WahBron..... that, my fiends, would be worth celebrating.
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/conversations/_/id/6648286/lebron-james-dwyane-wade-feign-illness-dirk-nowitzki-expense
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)