After watching the reactions to the sanctions and the statue removal at Penn State University, I have come up with some ideas that might better serve everyone instead of the action taken. I am problem solving!!
Statue
Positions PSU people think it should be there, victim advocates think it should be removed
Solution: Return statue to rightful place in front of stadium. Paterno made that Stadium what it is. The football players who used to be behind him, they represent the football program and thus they should follow the coach and return to their place,but elevated a foot of the ground. This should make PSU people happy. Now, under the feet of the "football program" behind Paterno we should put statues of screaming children being trampled by the football program. Move Paternos hands over his ears to avoid hearing them scream. BAM Victims advocates happy. Everyone Happy Happy!!!
Football Program
Positions PSU people think sanctions unfairly hurt current staff and players when most of people who covered up are gone OR they think the evidence of thousands of documents and hundreds of interviews
done by the police and THEIR OWN independent Investigator was not enough to warrant action. Victims advocates believe the program needs to be severly hurt to stop this from happening again. Many believe death penalty for multiple years should have happened.
Solution Remove all scholarship sanctions as they only hurt current and future players. Allow them to play in Bowls and for Big Ten Title but have ALL proceeds go to the same charity as the fine is going to. Keep them on probation and stick with the fine. Both are needed. Do allow any players to transfer without penalty, many had no idea what the program allowed to happen. This should allow the football program to remain relevant and make extra money for school and for charities that stop child sexual abuse. PSU people should be happy. Now, all PSU football players may not wear pads or athletic cups during practices or games. I assume PSU people wont mind this since protecting young people isn't as important as playing football games. Victim advocates happy. Everyone Happy Happy!!!
Paterno Family
Problem They want desperately to restore the legacy of Joe Paterno. However, everything they say just makes people more upset.
Solution Hire me to do your PR. Only let me talk for you. First statement "We are deeply saddened by the actions of Jerry Sandusky and we know that until the day Joe died, he always felt partly responsible for even hiring such a monster. We plan to use our power, money, and influence to help victims of abuse and advocate groups to identify and stop abuse of children in sports. We hope that truth comes out in its entirety and all guilty parties are dealt with accordingly. Right now this is all about helping the victims heal and working to stop others from being victimized." See Paterno family, anything else is going to only tarnish JoePa, the image more. Do the right thing and be part of the solution and if there is really truth that is hidden, try to unearth it quietly while publicly making it about being part of the solution. If you do this, the Paterno name will at least restore dignity for finally doing what is right.
Past Players and Games Forfitted
Problem They won a bunch of games and now they feel those games are not considered wins.
Solution I stand behind vacating the wins because while a team scored more points on the field, the program was a failure. Think of it this way. A prowler walks into your house to steal money. You wake up and apprehend him, call the police and he goes to jail. However, in the struggle your dog is injured and dies. In the end, you kept your money and apprehended the criminal!!!! Woohoo. However, in doing so you sacrificed your dog.... do you feel like a winner? My message to the players is that the touchdowns they scored are still scored. The wins they remember still happened. However, the victory was nobody's. Children were hurt to make sure you could win the game. The games are still won, the memories and scars are still there, and I don't want you to forget them. You WERE NOT the guilty party. The University though were losers those days and thus the record book doesn't represent YOUR failures or victories, but those of your school.
Everyone happy happy?!?!?!?
(Thanks to Duck Dynasty the TV show for the "Happy Happy", I like it a lot.)
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Saints and Rooney Rule and Trayvon
I was asked why I thought it was extreme to institute the Rooney rule for the Saints in hiring an interim head coach. Here is my rationale:
1. I don't like the Rooney rule in the first place. I do NOT believe it levels the playing field and I do NOT believe it is good for African American coaches to be looked at as a requirement. It would shock me if even a single coach was hired because of it and if not, it just wastes their time.
2. They have less than a week to find a head coach for only 1 season. The list of coaches who could fill in for just 1 year and know the system well enough to do it is VERY small. Asking the Saints to bring in guys for an INTERIM job would then suggest teams in the middle of the season might have to do the same, which would be a massive problem.
3. This interim job is a true temp job. No chance of keeping it.
It is time African American coaches stand on their own two feet FOR THEIR SAKE. When my kids were old enough to walk, I let them walk. Not because I didn't want them to make it, but because I thought it was better for them to make it themselves. I just think that the culture in the NFL has changed enough that the Rooney rule is actually counter-productive to the hiring of minority coaches. If teams don't interview them, players and coaches will know and I bet the team finds it harder to attract some players and coaches who care about this issue. I have a great respect for Mr Rooney and the spirit of the Rooney rule, but I just think that it should no longer be needed. In this case, with such limited time and such a limited group of coaches who could do the job, it seems extreme.
I was also asked about the Trayvon Martin case. This issue is quite simple. Decisions were made that had grave consequences:
Martin chooses hoodie: Seriously? We (Geraldo Rivera=we) are suggesting this kid died in ANY part because he was wearing a hoodie? Come on folks. Kids at the school I work at wear hoodies all the time and they would never be considered suspicious because of it. This choice had ZERO effect on the outcome. ZERO! This happened because he was African American, not because he was wearing a hoodie. Otherwise, Bill Belichick can't walk down the street now? Please?!
Zimmerman racially profiles Martin: This was an ignorant act on his part. He saw an African American young man walking and made him to be suspicious for no other reason than walking at night while black. This is sad but also not criminal. Remember folks, Zimmerman is not a police officer, security guard, or anyone with any authority to serve or protect. Because of this, this particular act was not criminal but reprehensible.
Zimmerman calls police: This was the only thing he did correct. If you (mistakenly or otherwise) think a suspicious person is in your neighborhood, you call the police. He did the right thing here. He sadly stopped at 1 good decision.
Zimmerman defies police order to stay away: The Police told him not to follow Mr Martin. He defied that order and someone died. Why is it a federal offense to defy the command of a stewardess in flight but not even a crime to defy the orders of the police? In this case a person died directly because of this choice. At the very least, since he made a choice against the orders of the authorities, why isn't it at the least involuntary manslaughter? He shot an unarmed man that HE FOLLOWED!!!
Martin allegedly instigates altercation: This is a joke, right? While he may have been a physical aggressor, the person who followed and got close enough to engage a man he thought was a potential criminal has to be considered the instigator since he was the one who followed a man he thought was a potential criminal, WITH A GUN. I don't know what happened but it seems like at the worst Trayvon saw he was being followed by a man who was looking at him as an enemy and might have thought Zimmerman was coming to attack him. Any aggression on his part would be justified and true self defense. How is it justified legally to be self defense for Zimmerman when you have the ONLY deadly weapon and you follow the person. He could have easily removed any threat to him by NOT following Martin.
Bottom line is that the criminal part was Zimmerman stalking Martin and then pulling a gun on him. Period! The sad part was that an African American kid cant walk down a street without being looked at as a criminal. I just know that I wont ever understand what it feels like to know this could happen to you for just walking down the street.
1. I don't like the Rooney rule in the first place. I do NOT believe it levels the playing field and I do NOT believe it is good for African American coaches to be looked at as a requirement. It would shock me if even a single coach was hired because of it and if not, it just wastes their time.
2. They have less than a week to find a head coach for only 1 season. The list of coaches who could fill in for just 1 year and know the system well enough to do it is VERY small. Asking the Saints to bring in guys for an INTERIM job would then suggest teams in the middle of the season might have to do the same, which would be a massive problem.
3. This interim job is a true temp job. No chance of keeping it.
It is time African American coaches stand on their own two feet FOR THEIR SAKE. When my kids were old enough to walk, I let them walk. Not because I didn't want them to make it, but because I thought it was better for them to make it themselves. I just think that the culture in the NFL has changed enough that the Rooney rule is actually counter-productive to the hiring of minority coaches. If teams don't interview them, players and coaches will know and I bet the team finds it harder to attract some players and coaches who care about this issue. I have a great respect for Mr Rooney and the spirit of the Rooney rule, but I just think that it should no longer be needed. In this case, with such limited time and such a limited group of coaches who could do the job, it seems extreme.
I was also asked about the Trayvon Martin case. This issue is quite simple. Decisions were made that had grave consequences:
Martin chooses hoodie: Seriously? We (Geraldo Rivera=we) are suggesting this kid died in ANY part because he was wearing a hoodie? Come on folks. Kids at the school I work at wear hoodies all the time and they would never be considered suspicious because of it. This choice had ZERO effect on the outcome. ZERO! This happened because he was African American, not because he was wearing a hoodie. Otherwise, Bill Belichick can't walk down the street now? Please?!
Zimmerman racially profiles Martin: This was an ignorant act on his part. He saw an African American young man walking and made him to be suspicious for no other reason than walking at night while black. This is sad but also not criminal. Remember folks, Zimmerman is not a police officer, security guard, or anyone with any authority to serve or protect. Because of this, this particular act was not criminal but reprehensible.
Zimmerman calls police: This was the only thing he did correct. If you (mistakenly or otherwise) think a suspicious person is in your neighborhood, you call the police. He did the right thing here. He sadly stopped at 1 good decision.
Zimmerman defies police order to stay away: The Police told him not to follow Mr Martin. He defied that order and someone died. Why is it a federal offense to defy the command of a stewardess in flight but not even a crime to defy the orders of the police? In this case a person died directly because of this choice. At the very least, since he made a choice against the orders of the authorities, why isn't it at the least involuntary manslaughter? He shot an unarmed man that HE FOLLOWED!!!
Martin allegedly instigates altercation: This is a joke, right? While he may have been a physical aggressor, the person who followed and got close enough to engage a man he thought was a potential criminal has to be considered the instigator since he was the one who followed a man he thought was a potential criminal, WITH A GUN. I don't know what happened but it seems like at the worst Trayvon saw he was being followed by a man who was looking at him as an enemy and might have thought Zimmerman was coming to attack him. Any aggression on his part would be justified and true self defense. How is it justified legally to be self defense for Zimmerman when you have the ONLY deadly weapon and you follow the person. He could have easily removed any threat to him by NOT following Martin.
Bottom line is that the criminal part was Zimmerman stalking Martin and then pulling a gun on him. Period! The sad part was that an African American kid cant walk down a street without being looked at as a criminal. I just know that I wont ever understand what it feels like to know this could happen to you for just walking down the street.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Sports Rant Ahead, Yield If desired
The last two days of sports headlines have got my juices flowing. Tim Tebow debates started the flow and he dam broke when Warren Sapp went journalist for a moment. I will tackle a ton of thoughts on these matters in this blog entry. Let's start with Tebow.
I am white, I am a Jewish Christian, and I love Tim Tebow. It isn't idolatry, it isn't hero worship. It is a deep respect for an individual who maintains who he is despite a vocation that is not conducive to his lifestyle. I want him to succeed. Now that I have full disclosure, this trade to the Jets has me completely split.
As a Tebow fan, this is a HORRIFYING development. New York City is the single worst place for anyone with class or morals to play in the first place. The fans don't respect people nor do they respect a lifestyle that is clean cut. Look, I respect and follow tons of athletes with different beliefs and lifestyles. I don't care what you choose to do in your life, that is between you and God. So why do people so hate what Tebow does in his life? The bottom line is that Tebow wins games. This is not up for debate. He won in college. He won in regular season. He won a playoff game. WINNER. So, as a Tebow fan, I hate this for him. As a Patriots fan, I am laughing hysterically. There is almost no chance the Jets will actually use him correctly. All he will do is bring a divide into the locker room by just being there. He will give the fans a way to get onto Sanchez on every bad throw. He will continue to add to the circus that is the Jets (have you followed their offseason?...lol).
There was a debate on ESPN with @RealSkipBayless and @stephenasmith about whether race was a factor in the Tim Tebow situation. In this case, I say emphatically, NO. This isn't about race. This is so eerily similar to Slash Stewart that I do think race can be discounted. This is about Christianity. Tebow has an extremely loyal following because of his religious beliefs and the way he respects God. Many people are rooting for him to succeed and spread His (His=God , his=Tebow. Huge difference) message.Many people are rooting for him to fail because they detest everything about evangelical Christians. Before we get into sports passions, we already have a very emotional group of supporters and detractors. This is simply what it is about. Otherwise, we would have a Kordell Stewart situation again and most likely a similar career path. This folks tells you a lot about the climate in our country today. Many people who are not Christians, despise us. They think Christians are elitist and arrogant hypocrites. For this reason, many people are emotionally volitile against Tebow and all things Christian. If you know me, you will know that I blame this situation on ourselves. As Christians we have not done enough to spread the word of God's love to those who don't know Him. Many times we think we are being loving but come off as hateful or hypocritical. Anyway, I do think it is important for us all to take stock of what is important and focus on that. I don't wish to make this blog into a religious or political blog, so I will end this section now!
Now, as for the New Orleans Saints. If you have talked sports with me, you should be aware that I do not like violence in sports. I do love a good solid hit that causes a fumble or an earth shattering hit where the person gets right up in the face of the hitter and says "that didn't hurt!". I love that stuff, I just abhor useless violence. (NHL is best example of senseless and useless violence that takes a great SPORT and morphs it into an almost unwatchable "sports entertainment" package.....where does that sound familiar from?) Anyway, I am sickened that the bounty system was in place. Pay for forced fumbles or broken plays or scoring plays..... but pay to INJURE or knock players out of the game? That isn't sports, that's cowardice. Dear Saints involved: Where you really unable to win with your best available vs their best available that you need to get to their bench to have a chance to win? Are you so sure you cant win playing vs their best that you need to injure someone? Aaron Curry reminded me that the NFL was barbaric. I disagree. Good NFL games are VIOLENT but not barbaric. Players are human beings, not animals. What (many other teams and) the Saints have done with this needs to be removed from NFL. Had the Saints told the truth about this and not lied to the commissioner, I would be a proponent of a lot smaller of a penalty. The fact they lied and lied and lied makes it imperative that the league drops a bomb on them and they have.
With this said, Warren Sapp decided it was time for him to break a news story. He decided to out the "snitch". The @QBKILLA decided he needed to make sure everyone knew who the person was to blame for this. The person players can't trust in the locker room. The player everyone should hate. SO using the word snitch and the power of Twitter (happy 6th birthday Twitter), he outted fellow Hurricaine Jeremy Shockey. First, let me tell you that anyone who has followed Warren Sapp knows that he often passes along "news" on twitter that he himself grabbed off of other people's tweets. He has been dead wrong on at least one occasion because he read an incorrect tweet. This alone makes him an awful person to trust when he breaks news. Robert Littal (@BlkSportsOnline) and others seem to be fairly sure that Shockey is not the main source in this case and from my experience, these people are more reliable twitter feeds for information. Anyone, including NFL Network who ran Sapp's allegations better have made sure they have backup on this or Mr. Shockey will have a legit reason to sue both Sapp and the NFL Network.
I am begging players and ex-players and ex-coaches to stop defending the bounty system. I think we all know this USED TO be the norm. Bounties USED TO be part of most teams. However, the NFL (with my full support) is trying to make player safety a focus. This allows fans to see more games of their favorite players, a better product since best players remain on field, AND it protects players from becoming the next early obituary.
Finally, I don't care who the snitch/honest person is. The person who TOLD THE TRUTH is not the villian. The person who TOLD THE TRUTH should not be blackballed (as he will be). The person WHO HAD INTEGRITY should be praised for helping remove a part of the game which is barbaric, immoral, and criminal (not to mention a flagrant breaking of the rules). I do not buy the assertion that NFL players are out there to satisfy our blood-lust and that them getting "impaled" is a form of entertainment. I used to love hockey fights when I was younger, so I understand that many people love violence, but as I have matured, I want to see sports and the game played, not blood and broken bones and broken lives. Stop with the Thin Blue Line rhetoric and the idea that what (illegal things) in the locker-room stay in the lockerroom. When it comes to snitching, the rule should be to respect those WHO TELL THE TRUTH not those that hide it to protect criminals and rule breakers. PERIOD
I am doing the Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser. Please help me reach a very modest goal of $500. The link is below, you can donate online, and you will be helping a wonderful cause. Please take a moment to donate!!!
http://www2.mda.org/site/TR/Lock-Up/77-F2-679-SpringfieldMoDistrict?px=1156039&pg=personal&fr_id=2239
I am white, I am a Jewish Christian, and I love Tim Tebow. It isn't idolatry, it isn't hero worship. It is a deep respect for an individual who maintains who he is despite a vocation that is not conducive to his lifestyle. I want him to succeed. Now that I have full disclosure, this trade to the Jets has me completely split.
As a Tebow fan, this is a HORRIFYING development. New York City is the single worst place for anyone with class or morals to play in the first place. The fans don't respect people nor do they respect a lifestyle that is clean cut. Look, I respect and follow tons of athletes with different beliefs and lifestyles. I don't care what you choose to do in your life, that is between you and God. So why do people so hate what Tebow does in his life? The bottom line is that Tebow wins games. This is not up for debate. He won in college. He won in regular season. He won a playoff game. WINNER. So, as a Tebow fan, I hate this for him. As a Patriots fan, I am laughing hysterically. There is almost no chance the Jets will actually use him correctly. All he will do is bring a divide into the locker room by just being there. He will give the fans a way to get onto Sanchez on every bad throw. He will continue to add to the circus that is the Jets (have you followed their offseason?...lol).
There was a debate on ESPN with @RealSkipBayless and @stephenasmith about whether race was a factor in the Tim Tebow situation. In this case, I say emphatically, NO. This isn't about race. This is so eerily similar to Slash Stewart that I do think race can be discounted. This is about Christianity. Tebow has an extremely loyal following because of his religious beliefs and the way he respects God. Many people are rooting for him to succeed and spread His (His=God , his=Tebow. Huge difference) message.Many people are rooting for him to fail because they detest everything about evangelical Christians. Before we get into sports passions, we already have a very emotional group of supporters and detractors. This is simply what it is about. Otherwise, we would have a Kordell Stewart situation again and most likely a similar career path. This folks tells you a lot about the climate in our country today. Many people who are not Christians, despise us. They think Christians are elitist and arrogant hypocrites. For this reason, many people are emotionally volitile against Tebow and all things Christian. If you know me, you will know that I blame this situation on ourselves. As Christians we have not done enough to spread the word of God's love to those who don't know Him. Many times we think we are being loving but come off as hateful or hypocritical. Anyway, I do think it is important for us all to take stock of what is important and focus on that. I don't wish to make this blog into a religious or political blog, so I will end this section now!
Now, as for the New Orleans Saints. If you have talked sports with me, you should be aware that I do not like violence in sports. I do love a good solid hit that causes a fumble or an earth shattering hit where the person gets right up in the face of the hitter and says "that didn't hurt!". I love that stuff, I just abhor useless violence. (NHL is best example of senseless and useless violence that takes a great SPORT and morphs it into an almost unwatchable "sports entertainment" package.....where does that sound familiar from?) Anyway, I am sickened that the bounty system was in place. Pay for forced fumbles or broken plays or scoring plays..... but pay to INJURE or knock players out of the game? That isn't sports, that's cowardice. Dear Saints involved: Where you really unable to win with your best available vs their best available that you need to get to their bench to have a chance to win? Are you so sure you cant win playing vs their best that you need to injure someone? Aaron Curry reminded me that the NFL was barbaric. I disagree. Good NFL games are VIOLENT but not barbaric. Players are human beings, not animals. What (many other teams and) the Saints have done with this needs to be removed from NFL. Had the Saints told the truth about this and not lied to the commissioner, I would be a proponent of a lot smaller of a penalty. The fact they lied and lied and lied makes it imperative that the league drops a bomb on them and they have.
With this said, Warren Sapp decided it was time for him to break a news story. He decided to out the "snitch". The @QBKILLA decided he needed to make sure everyone knew who the person was to blame for this. The person players can't trust in the locker room. The player everyone should hate. SO using the word snitch and the power of Twitter (happy 6th birthday Twitter), he outted fellow Hurricaine Jeremy Shockey. First, let me tell you that anyone who has followed Warren Sapp knows that he often passes along "news" on twitter that he himself grabbed off of other people's tweets. He has been dead wrong on at least one occasion because he read an incorrect tweet. This alone makes him an awful person to trust when he breaks news. Robert Littal (@BlkSportsOnline) and others seem to be fairly sure that Shockey is not the main source in this case and from my experience, these people are more reliable twitter feeds for information. Anyone, including NFL Network who ran Sapp's allegations better have made sure they have backup on this or Mr. Shockey will have a legit reason to sue both Sapp and the NFL Network.
I am begging players and ex-players and ex-coaches to stop defending the bounty system. I think we all know this USED TO be the norm. Bounties USED TO be part of most teams. However, the NFL (with my full support) is trying to make player safety a focus. This allows fans to see more games of their favorite players, a better product since best players remain on field, AND it protects players from becoming the next early obituary.
Finally, I don't care who the snitch/honest person is. The person who TOLD THE TRUTH is not the villian. The person who TOLD THE TRUTH should not be blackballed (as he will be). The person WHO HAD INTEGRITY should be praised for helping remove a part of the game which is barbaric, immoral, and criminal (not to mention a flagrant breaking of the rules). I do not buy the assertion that NFL players are out there to satisfy our blood-lust and that them getting "impaled" is a form of entertainment. I used to love hockey fights when I was younger, so I understand that many people love violence, but as I have matured, I want to see sports and the game played, not blood and broken bones and broken lives. Stop with the Thin Blue Line rhetoric and the idea that what (illegal things) in the locker-room stay in the lockerroom. When it comes to snitching, the rule should be to respect those WHO TELL THE TRUTH not those that hide it to protect criminals and rule breakers. PERIOD
I am doing the Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser. Please help me reach a very modest goal of $500. The link is below, you can donate online, and you will be helping a wonderful cause. Please take a moment to donate!!!
http://www2.mda.org/site/TR/Lock-Up/77-F2-679-SpringfieldMoDistrict?px=1156039&pg=personal&fr_id=2239
Monday, December 5, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
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.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
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!
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.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
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!!
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!!
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
A blogless blog? Just temp!
| Things are crazy this week, haven't had the chance to blog. I will return later this week. |
Sunday, June 5, 2011
My (maybe skewed) Philosophy
So I had chose not to classify my current focus on health as a diet for fear that once I have a minor setback, that I will choose to call it a failure and walk away (a sad tendency of mine). However, I am beginning to question this decision as it assumes setbacks or failures and I want to focus on striving for perfection. So, I run into a common quandary:
1. Do I focus on striving for perfection, keeping failure and setbacks out of my mind and thus setting myself up for successes?
or
2. Do I prepare for setbacks/failures so that when they happen, I am prepared to bounce back?
Psychologically, this is a conundrum for me. I worry that preparing for failures set me up for failures. I worry that not preparing for failures will leave me ill-prepared when they come. Either way it leaves me in a less than ideal situation. I am well aware that I am imperfect and that I will not perfectly diet (for lack of a better single word). I am also aware that I am set up to succeed in the long run.
This issue came to light from a conversation my son relayed to me. Ryan and his teammate Eddie had a conversation Thursday night in the dugout. Eddie told my son that (these are Ryan's words exactly) "if you say something like I stink at baseball, your brain will go along with it and make it happen". Now, it is interesting to hear 2 elementary school kids discuss the concept of self-fulfilling prophesy but the more important aspect was the impact it had in me this week. The fact that Eddie was trying to keep Ryan in a positive frame of mind as Ryan was struggling to hit the machine pitched baseball brought this concept to the fore-front of my mind. Is it better to prepare Ryan for failure so he wont get discouraged or to have him focus on the end result so his mind wont "make it happen". In answering this about Ryan, maybe it will help me with my own dilemma.
So, I asked myself that same question in my current focus towards better health. The answer might be different for different people but for now I chose to focus on preparing myself for setbacks/failures. Every time I have dieted (seems like I am getting comfortable with that word now) it has got derailed with a failure and never got back on track. So while I am apt to suffer setbacks/failures, I hope I am set up better for long term success by being prepared for what has hurt me in the past.
Currently, I am struggling with appetite and portion control. I am very happy with my food choices overall but my portion control and frequency of eating needs to get better. With that said, I did tell myself to focus early on food choices, then add exercise, and finally pick a program (calorie, carbs, points,.....) and go with it. Adding little by little until I am dieting (yes, I have decided that this lifestyle change must start with better choices, move to a diet, and finally go back to the long term lifestyle change).
So overall, despite the imperfection of my current diet, I feel I am still succeeding in where I want to be. Losing 18 lbs in the first 21 days is a good thing. I do worry this week will not be nearly as good but I do think my body is happy with my current food choices and thus I am succeeding in step 1 and getting close to step 2.
Today I faced two monumental challenges/tests to my willpower. They might not seem huge to you, but to me and my psyche they are huge. We went out to Nakato Japanese Steakhouse (my favorite restaurant). My favorite thing they serve is their fried rice. I usually eat my portion and part of my kids portion too. They also have outstanding noodles. So, needless to say, I was worried going in. So instead, I ate 3 small salads, shrimp, chicken, some steak, and extra veggies (onion, zucchini, and carrots). I traded a few shrimp for some steak but otherwise had a normal portion of the protein. So I replaced the rice, noodles, and 3+ servings of seafood sauce with 2 small salads, extra veggies, and 1 portion of sauce. Not perfect, but I didn't even take a bite of fried rice nor noodles. This was huge for me. Resisting favorite foods that are on my plate without even a little cheat helps me to solidify my resolve.
My second test was when I was making dessert for my family. I made a no bake oreo pie (pre-packaged). Usually I will lick the bowl and beaters and get a little on my hands which I also lick off. This time, I washed it off my hands and sent the bowl and beaters to the sink filled with warm soapy water leaving the remnants untouched. I could have easily taken a little taste for a few calorie treat but instead I claimed victory over it and told it I was not going to waste even a few calories.
See folks, while little cheats or small tastes are okay for many dieters, for me I need to succeed so bad that it is imperative I pass the little tests to help with the bigger ones. Tomorrow I hope to weigh in and while I expect 1 lb. or less weight loss, I am still very upbeat and ready to continue this journey. My goal is over 200 lbs lost total at the end. I hope to do it in 100 weeks or less. I figure at that rate and duration, I will be in a habit I can sustain forever. Also, it means when Ryan goes to middle school, he will have a dad in shape to keep up with him and his siblings. That means more than fried rice or a taste of pie to me.
1. Do I focus on striving for perfection, keeping failure and setbacks out of my mind and thus setting myself up for successes?
or
2. Do I prepare for setbacks/failures so that when they happen, I am prepared to bounce back?
Psychologically, this is a conundrum for me. I worry that preparing for failures set me up for failures. I worry that not preparing for failures will leave me ill-prepared when they come. Either way it leaves me in a less than ideal situation. I am well aware that I am imperfect and that I will not perfectly diet (for lack of a better single word). I am also aware that I am set up to succeed in the long run.
This issue came to light from a conversation my son relayed to me. Ryan and his teammate Eddie had a conversation Thursday night in the dugout. Eddie told my son that (these are Ryan's words exactly) "if you say something like I stink at baseball, your brain will go along with it and make it happen". Now, it is interesting to hear 2 elementary school kids discuss the concept of self-fulfilling prophesy but the more important aspect was the impact it had in me this week. The fact that Eddie was trying to keep Ryan in a positive frame of mind as Ryan was struggling to hit the machine pitched baseball brought this concept to the fore-front of my mind. Is it better to prepare Ryan for failure so he wont get discouraged or to have him focus on the end result so his mind wont "make it happen". In answering this about Ryan, maybe it will help me with my own dilemma.
So, I asked myself that same question in my current focus towards better health. The answer might be different for different people but for now I chose to focus on preparing myself for setbacks/failures. Every time I have dieted (seems like I am getting comfortable with that word now) it has got derailed with a failure and never got back on track. So while I am apt to suffer setbacks/failures, I hope I am set up better for long term success by being prepared for what has hurt me in the past.
Currently, I am struggling with appetite and portion control. I am very happy with my food choices overall but my portion control and frequency of eating needs to get better. With that said, I did tell myself to focus early on food choices, then add exercise, and finally pick a program (calorie, carbs, points,.....) and go with it. Adding little by little until I am dieting (yes, I have decided that this lifestyle change must start with better choices, move to a diet, and finally go back to the long term lifestyle change).
So overall, despite the imperfection of my current diet, I feel I am still succeeding in where I want to be. Losing 18 lbs in the first 21 days is a good thing. I do worry this week will not be nearly as good but I do think my body is happy with my current food choices and thus I am succeeding in step 1 and getting close to step 2.
Today I faced two monumental challenges/tests to my willpower. They might not seem huge to you, but to me and my psyche they are huge. We went out to Nakato Japanese Steakhouse (my favorite restaurant). My favorite thing they serve is their fried rice. I usually eat my portion and part of my kids portion too. They also have outstanding noodles. So, needless to say, I was worried going in. So instead, I ate 3 small salads, shrimp, chicken, some steak, and extra veggies (onion, zucchini, and carrots). I traded a few shrimp for some steak but otherwise had a normal portion of the protein. So I replaced the rice, noodles, and 3+ servings of seafood sauce with 2 small salads, extra veggies, and 1 portion of sauce. Not perfect, but I didn't even take a bite of fried rice nor noodles. This was huge for me. Resisting favorite foods that are on my plate without even a little cheat helps me to solidify my resolve.
My second test was when I was making dessert for my family. I made a no bake oreo pie (pre-packaged). Usually I will lick the bowl and beaters and get a little on my hands which I also lick off. This time, I washed it off my hands and sent the bowl and beaters to the sink filled with warm soapy water leaving the remnants untouched. I could have easily taken a little taste for a few calorie treat but instead I claimed victory over it and told it I was not going to waste even a few calories.
See folks, while little cheats or small tastes are okay for many dieters, for me I need to succeed so bad that it is imperative I pass the little tests to help with the bigger ones. Tomorrow I hope to weigh in and while I expect 1 lb. or less weight loss, I am still very upbeat and ready to continue this journey. My goal is over 200 lbs lost total at the end. I hope to do it in 100 weeks or less. I figure at that rate and duration, I will be in a habit I can sustain forever. Also, it means when Ryan goes to middle school, he will have a dad in shape to keep up with him and his siblings. That means more than fried rice or a taste of pie to me.
Monday, May 30, 2011
21 day weigh in
As expected my weight loss was not as prolific this week but not as bad as I thought. Weighed in down 4 more pounds for a total of 18 in 21 days.
My first main goal is to get to 330 lbs so I can use the wii balance board. I have been told I don't have to wait until then but I will just in case.
So, I am 4 pounds closer. Got to do better this week.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
A Note To Each Major Sports Commissioner
To Bud Selig: I know this wont be popular but you need to suspend Scott Cousins. I am well aware that he didn't mean to injure Buster Posey BUT what he did has got to be against the rules and ended the season of another player. A small suspension would be worth it to MLB. Contrary to popular opinion, Cousins did not do the right thing. Since Posey was not blocking the plate and Cousins had a clear path to the plate, there is nothing legal to interfering with a player trying to catch the ball. He should have been called out for interference and kicked out of the game for the severity of the hit to Posey. MLB should make it clear that collisions by runners on fielders NOT obstructing the path to the base is not going to be tolerated. For years I have wondered why breaking up a double play is legal. The runner is already out and therefor should have no impact on the rest of the play. Anyway, now that we have seen this problem impact a team's playoff chances, maybe we can fix this problem and make it safer for players to field their positions. I think it is important to say I don't think Cousins tried to injure him and he was doing what he was taught to do, BUT that is what needs to be changed (especially since kids and recreational ball players to this all the time that leads to injuries that have no place in the game!).
To Gary Bettman: After seeing the Nathan Horton incident where he squirted and then threw his water bottle at a fan, I wonder out loud if the NHL shouldn't make squirting heckling fans ALLOWED by rule. If a fan is close enough to a player to be squirted and is heckling such player, shouldn't the player have recourse? Squirting said fan with WATER (ONLY) would be a harmless recourse from the usually vulgar (and sometimes horribly inappropriate) heckler. Players are people too. Just because they are athletes doesn't mean they should be treated so rudely. Fans should be able to boo and cheer and yell but not in the face of a player especially after a loss. In this case, Bruins players were being pelted by hand drums by the classless TB fans after a loss and then players are expected to walk through a tunnel of rude drunk fans yelling obscenities? I do not condone the throwing of the bottle at all but the squirting seems like a suitable response to me.
To David Stern: Your league has great athletes, exciting plays, and intriguing match-ups but your officiating appears to be horribly biased if not completely corrupt. One thing you could do is start instituting fines for unsportsmanlike conduct and issuing points to refs for horrible calls. The first fine needs to go to LeBron James. The flop he took in the playoffs vs Derek Rose was a complete joke. Made your refs look horrible and your game a joke. Rose ended the game with 5 fouls and thus may have impacted the entire game because LeCheat decided to take a dive. His wink can and should be used against him in a court of NBA and he should be fined severely. While I have a bias against LeBron to begin with, I can't imagine anyone out side of the Divacs family thinking his actions were anything but disgusting. Mr Stern, I know the NBA wants WahBron to win a title but should they have to earn it without to appearance of help from NBA refs? Refs should be instituted points for calls that upon review are horribly wrong and the refs with the lowest points for the season (per game called) should be your playoff refs. Thus, maybe refs would stop trying to help your favorite teams, Mr Stern and call games cleanly. (PS points should be assigned by a panel of ex-players)
To Roger Goodell: Last week it was reported that the St. Louis Rams gave $25K to the Joplin relief cause. While it impressed my wife, it disgusted me. I wonder out loud how much money and time would have been given by the Rams and Rams players had the league not been in a lockdown. The NFL and NFL players have always been very generous with charity causes but right now everyone involved is being frugal with money until play resumes. This note goes to DeMaurice Smith too. You guys have got to get it done now. In this economy, I am not the only person to find it disgusting that our government has to foot the bill for you all to bicker in court! Why not hire an independent mediator (where is Joseph Wapner when you need him!) who arbitrates (BINDING ARBITRATION!!!!) and gets this impasse solved? It is a crying shame that charities will suffer, regular everyday employees will lose jobs and money, and the US government will have to pay people to hear the case in court! Folks, it is disgusting now!
To those who follow my blog to follow my journey to good health, I will weigh in Monday or Tuesday. Today the free app of the day on Amazon Appstore was Cardio Trainer Pro. I am hoping to use this to help with my exercise regimen when I begin it. Thanks to CP for alerting me to this! I think I have been overeating so far this week, but my food choices have been very good, so I hope to better control portions and soon add some exercise. I am nervous to get on the scale this week, but it will most likely be a good reminder to eat slower and watch portion control as well.
To Gary Bettman: After seeing the Nathan Horton incident where he squirted and then threw his water bottle at a fan, I wonder out loud if the NHL shouldn't make squirting heckling fans ALLOWED by rule. If a fan is close enough to a player to be squirted and is heckling such player, shouldn't the player have recourse? Squirting said fan with WATER (ONLY) would be a harmless recourse from the usually vulgar (and sometimes horribly inappropriate) heckler. Players are people too. Just because they are athletes doesn't mean they should be treated so rudely. Fans should be able to boo and cheer and yell but not in the face of a player especially after a loss. In this case, Bruins players were being pelted by hand drums by the classless TB fans after a loss and then players are expected to walk through a tunnel of rude drunk fans yelling obscenities? I do not condone the throwing of the bottle at all but the squirting seems like a suitable response to me.
To David Stern: Your league has great athletes, exciting plays, and intriguing match-ups but your officiating appears to be horribly biased if not completely corrupt. One thing you could do is start instituting fines for unsportsmanlike conduct and issuing points to refs for horrible calls. The first fine needs to go to LeBron James. The flop he took in the playoffs vs Derek Rose was a complete joke. Made your refs look horrible and your game a joke. Rose ended the game with 5 fouls and thus may have impacted the entire game because LeCheat decided to take a dive. His wink can and should be used against him in a court of NBA and he should be fined severely. While I have a bias against LeBron to begin with, I can't imagine anyone out side of the Divacs family thinking his actions were anything but disgusting. Mr Stern, I know the NBA wants WahBron to win a title but should they have to earn it without to appearance of help from NBA refs? Refs should be instituted points for calls that upon review are horribly wrong and the refs with the lowest points for the season (per game called) should be your playoff refs. Thus, maybe refs would stop trying to help your favorite teams, Mr Stern and call games cleanly. (PS points should be assigned by a panel of ex-players)
To Roger Goodell: Last week it was reported that the St. Louis Rams gave $25K to the Joplin relief cause. While it impressed my wife, it disgusted me. I wonder out loud how much money and time would have been given by the Rams and Rams players had the league not been in a lockdown. The NFL and NFL players have always been very generous with charity causes but right now everyone involved is being frugal with money until play resumes. This note goes to DeMaurice Smith too. You guys have got to get it done now. In this economy, I am not the only person to find it disgusting that our government has to foot the bill for you all to bicker in court! Why not hire an independent mediator (where is Joseph Wapner when you need him!) who arbitrates (BINDING ARBITRATION!!!!) and gets this impasse solved? It is a crying shame that charities will suffer, regular everyday employees will lose jobs and money, and the US government will have to pay people to hear the case in court! Folks, it is disgusting now!
To those who follow my blog to follow my journey to good health, I will weigh in Monday or Tuesday. Today the free app of the day on Amazon Appstore was Cardio Trainer Pro. I am hoping to use this to help with my exercise regimen when I begin it. Thanks to CP for alerting me to this! I think I have been overeating so far this week, but my food choices have been very good, so I hope to better control portions and soon add some exercise. I am nervous to get on the scale this week, but it will most likely be a good reminder to eat slower and watch portion control as well.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
15 days in the books
Well, I had a bad weekend of eating. Still eating the right foods but just eating too much. Still haven't been able to add exercise either (which I expect to add after I have shed a few more pounds). I was discouraged this weekend but realized I was still doing ok.
So, this leads in to the weigh in. Here are the results so far:
Day 7 weigh in: down 8 pounds
Day 11 wiegh in: down 3 pounds
Day 15 weigh in: down 3 pounds
15 day total: Down 14 pounds.
I am happy with the results so far but I do need to be more diligent with my preparations. That is my goal for the next 4 weeks. Good preparation, good choices, and good thoughts. Aiming for 5 lbs this week. We shall see! Thanks for following and keep up the comments, they really help!!
So, this leads in to the weigh in. Here are the results so far:
Day 7 weigh in: down 8 pounds
Day 11 wiegh in: down 3 pounds
Day 15 weigh in: down 3 pounds
15 day total: Down 14 pounds.
I am happy with the results so far but I do need to be more diligent with my preparations. That is my goal for the next 4 weeks. Good preparation, good choices, and good thoughts. Aiming for 5 lbs this week. We shall see! Thanks for following and keep up the comments, they really help!!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Week 1 is over
Well, week 1 is over. I weighed myself lat Monday when I did the blood tests, and I weighed as much as I had ever weighed. So, over the last week I have tried to eat better. I am not jumping into a workout routine yet, but working to get my food choices fixed.
First I am focusing on sugar. Since I am either diabetic or darn close to it, I figured it was most important to focus on learning how to eat like a diabetic. This has gone well. I am learning to check labels, use an app on my phone, and be smart about food choices.
My secondary focus is on calories. Trying to make smart calorie decisions.
Both of these are dependent on having the right foods in the house. So I have made an effort to bring in low sugar snacks and foods.
Well, I feel somewhat successful so far and the scale agrees. I lost 8 pounds. I am very happy with the 8 but it is a marathon and one can't get too amped up over the first 1000 feet!
First I am focusing on sugar. Since I am either diabetic or darn close to it, I figured it was most important to focus on learning how to eat like a diabetic. This has gone well. I am learning to check labels, use an app on my phone, and be smart about food choices.
My secondary focus is on calories. Trying to make smart calorie decisions.
Both of these are dependent on having the right foods in the house. So I have made an effort to bring in low sugar snacks and foods.
Well, I feel somewhat successful so far and the scale agrees. I lost 8 pounds. I am very happy with the 8 but it is a marathon and one can't get too amped up over the first 1000 feet!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)