Health Update and Random Thoughts

My apologies, but I need to get this posted and didn't edit for content, speeling (lol), or anything else.

For those who have asked (and I thank you greatly for doing so), I am still moving forward in my focus on health.  Recently, I hit the 50 lb mark and with it, a few nice milestones:
1.  I got to reunite with my bathroom scale.  It only goes up so far, and now I am under that number.
2.  I know now that I wont need to drive 20-30 miles to get a cat scan (or MRI, I forget which).
3.  I made it through Thanksgiving without hitting the desserts.  Now I did hit the main meal a bit too much, but I feel comfortable that I ate decent foods and stayed away from the bad choices.

Next I do need to find more exercise in my routine and continue to eat smart.  I haven't weighed in recently, but I feel stronger and I am not as sore when I am on my feet for long periods of time.  

Anyway, back to the grind.  Pray for me for continued resolve as I get through Christmas.

Now for some other random thoughts:

I know politics for me is usually full of skepticism, so this wont be any different.  I am already ruing voting in the Presidential election.  I do not think Obama has done a very good job and I have no confidence that either Newt nor Mitt would do any better.  It may be time for a 3rd party vote for me.  This makes me sick and sad.

The BCS is all messed up and you know their supporters are hoping for a very good game with LSU winning.  This would let them claim they got it right and have a champ people could get behind.  If Alabama and OKSt both win (which I hope for). LSU, OkSt, and Alabama will all have a legit claim tot he title.  Playoffs anyone?

Red Sox tabbed Bobby Valentine for the managers job and while I actually find him entertaining and reports are he is a good manager, I was hoping they would give a younger manager a shot and bring in a solid veteran bench coach (Don Baylor or Gene Lamont maybe) to help out.  I hop this works out but I dont know!

Jerry Sandusky case is really confusing me right now.  Why is this guy doing interviews?  Is his lawyer going to claim malpractice on himself?  Even if he was innocent, these interviews only make him look more guilty.  I guess we should all be happy Sandusky isn't trying to claim the law is bad and that he did everything he is accused of but it shouldn't be a crime.  I hope justice is served and the victims get whatever justice they can.  I suspect the damage is already done.

The Fine case in Syracuse brings up a very interesting point.  For those who said a woman would have protected the child when McQuery didn't in the Sandusky case, here is a case of a woman who not only didn't protect the children involved, but they she victimized them further by having an affair with one.  I do believe Jim Boeheim knew nothing, but I wish he would retire and go out there speaking to support victims rights groups.  His attack on the kids involved was a mistake and while he shouldn't be fired, he should quit.

Tim Tebow is a better Qb than people want to credit him for because he uses his head.  If Vince Young had Tim Tebows head, he'd be giving Aaron Rodgers a run for MVP (probably in Tenn working for Jeff Fisher).  People, Tom Brady didnt throw a great deep ball when he won his first ring.  He made smart throws, he was accurate, and he protected the ball.  Tebow does these things too.  His defense has confidence in him and thus they don't overplay, they are not put in too many bad situations, and they get to rest during the game.

Look, it's Christmas time.  It is about God's gift to us, his sacrifice, and his grace and mercy.  For those who believe in Him, please remember that Jesus was born not only for you, but for everyone.  For those who do not believe in Him, let's make a deal.  You promise that if I wish you Merry Christmas, you wont get offended.  I promise, in return, to try and be respectful and wish you Happy Holidays.  See folks, I read a tweet the other day saying to make your faith obvious but not obnoxious.  I completely agree and while I will try my best to live by this, I hope others with respect me enough to not find offense in my beliefs.

Lastly, while watching a video of a missionary in a foreign land, it hit me as I looked a picture of one of the native people in the video that there were people in third world countries who suffered from kidney stones or cluster headaches without any medical care and no chance for relief of pain.  Needless to say, it terrified me.  So during this holiday season, no matter what you believe, try and do something for these people.  Give some time or money, pray for them, or even just get the word out that they exist. 

What is a Nittany Lion?

Sitting by the pool watching my kids swim, I read the following story:

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/12/penn-state-stadium-profanity-scorn-joe-paterno/?page=1

It is one of dozens I have read about the Penn State scandal. I have been vocal in my disgust and yet I wonder what should be done. Should they have played the game, should Paterno have quit,  and most importantly what about the victims? 

The above story has sealed it for me. PSU should have either earmarked every dollar of proceeds to the victims or cancelled the season.   I feel bad for the players who did nothing wrong but worse for the permanently scarred victims who could have been helped.

If you cussed at the guy in this story, you should be disgusted at yourself, if you threw a beer,  you should be nauseated.. if you didn't walk by and at least say amen, you should ask yourself why.

See folks, if football is that dang important to you that you can't think of child victims for a second when walking to the field without assaulting someone, then the game is too important.  You actually prove the point that the game shouldn't be played.

Folks, learn from this. Make your default response one of silence not violence when you don't agree with a protester. And diligence not silence when you don't agree with a predator 

I know my thoughts are random. That's the beauty of a blog. If you expected to find out what a Nittany Lion really is, you did. He stood for the victims....... finally.

Sports Thoughts

The Boston Red Sox destroyed my love of baseball (for the time being).  They continue to stomp on my love of the team and the game.  Here are a few messages to people involved:

Terry Francona:  I respected you when you came, when you were here, and now that you are gone.  Do not think for 1 minute that any Red Sox fan blames you for what has happened.  Yes, it was your job to fix it, but you didnt cause the problem.  You were a top manager and a class act.  Marital problems or pain meds are not my concern.  Red Sox fans wish you luck in the future, you will always be a Red Sox Hall of Fame Manager!

Theo Epstein:  Good luck in Chicago.  May you lose 5 straight World Series to the Red Sox!  You did an amazing job rebuilding the team.  I wish you luck.

Ben Cherington:  Good luck.  You are inheriting a team with a ton of problems.  I expect it to take years to fix it!

David Ortiz:  You want to go play for the Yankees as you said in an interview?  Goodbye!  The Red Sox believed in you when you had done nothing, the fans supported yo when you couldnt catch up to a Tim Wakefield fastball, and now you are trying to use the Yankees to get more money?  You could have been a leader in that clubhouse.  You could have grabbed Crawford, Pedroia, and Paplebon and run that team.  Instaed of trying to start fixing the problems, you are courting the Yankees?  COMPLETE SELFISHNESS in a tough situation is so against everything Sox fans had thought you were.  Thanks for all your incredible moments, I hope you get paid a ton of  money on a losing team.  I wish you had remained the person we all admired and not an RBI and $$ focused athlete.   There is time for you to cement your image and retract what you said, take a leadership role, and bring the Red Sox back to glory!  Your choice!


Carl Crawford:  Red Sox fans owe you an apology.  By all accounts you work your tail off.  By all accounts you wanted to be a leader.  By all accounts you were stunned by the lack of professionalism.  With all that, the only thing you have said is that you blame yourself and you will work harder to turn it around.  You are a real man and I, for one, would rather have 25 players like you than most of the guys you shared a clubhouse with this year.  My hope is that with a new manager, you and Pedroia can get together with a few others and lead that clubhouse.

Larry Luccino:  Here are my choices for manager.  Martinez (TB), Pena (NY), Baylor, Sandberg, or Hale.  I know most are being talked about except Baylor.  What I like about Baylor was his ability as a player to run the clubhouse kangeroo court.  He also went to 3 straight World Series with 3 different teams.  He was a leader who might be able to empower some of the Red Sox to do as he did and unite this clubhouse.

John Lester and Clay Buchholtz:  Go apologize to the strength and conditioning coach.  Apologize to your teammates.  Apologize to your owners.  Then go out and do what made you both so darn good.  WORK HARD!!!  You both can make us all forget the junk by getting back to where you were!

Josh Beckett:  I dont know what to think about you.  I think you have it in you to turn around and be a leader for the BETTER.  I just don't know if you care about that now that you got paid.  I hope I am wrong about this, I just don't see that fire to dominate that the greats all have.  You have the stuff.  Is the desire there?

Dustin Pedroia:  With Tito gone, you have the numbers and work ethic to take a leadership role.  Embrace it!  Tito may have loved you, but you earned it too!

OK, I am done ranting.  I still love the Red Sox.  I just want to respect this team again!


Here's my message to the NBA:  LOLOLOL     Enjoy the time off!

Health Update and Call to Arms

Well folks, it has been forever since I have given a health update and I really appreciate the many of you who have inquired.  I NEED that accountability.

Although I continue to stay focused on my health, I have struggled to really get the train moving.  I have lost a total of around 40 lbs so far and I continue to make solid food choices, but I need to add exercise and counting calories to my routine.  I have a new goal and a new reason for my goal.

I am going to have to have surgery.  It is minor surgery but involves general anesthesia.  At my weight, general anesthesia has risks.  I have been told if I lost 100 pounds, I would reduced the risk a large amount.  Lori and I (barring last minute information) have decided to wait on the surgery for a year while I try to drop 100 (more) pounds. 

So here is where you come in!  I need my friends and family to keep me accountable.  Keep reminding me to make good decisions.  Question things that don't look right.  Folks, the responsibility to lose this weight is all mine.  I caused this problem, it is my job to fix it.  While I am asking you all to help me, in the end it is going to be about me trusting in God to give me the strength to lose this weight.  It will be tough, it will take every bit of my determination and faith.  I ask for you to continue to support me as you have in the past.  Keep asking me for updates, keep questioning my decisions, and keep supporting me!  It is a lot to ask, and I do not deserve it, but I have always been blessed with friends who have shown me love, grace and mercy.

I celebrated my 13th anniversary this week and I fully expect to celebrate my 14th anniversary a 100 lbs lighter and ready for my surgery.

Thanks!!

Edited to correct local anesthesia to general anesthesia.

NFL Preview!!

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!!

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. 

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.