Eddo’s Review of Starbucks New Sandwich

Two thick slices of moderately fresh bread dusted with flour to make it appear bakery fresh- it isn't.

A pittance of turkey doled out in such a spare portion that I am reminded of the popular Wendy’s commercial “Where’s the Beef?!” but this time I wondered, “Where’s the Turkey???”

Southwestern Turkey Sandwich- Really? If you can just add spicy mayo to a sandwich and then call it southwestern then I guess, yeah, it was sort of southwestern.

A flavorless bready attempt to make a fancy sandwich, so much bread that even I couldn’t eat it all. I felt swollen and bloated when I left. The sandwich also had the trademark Starbucks price of 4.95. Which seems reasonable at Starbucks when you are paying 2.11 for a glass of iced tea.

The Joy of Redesign II

Yesterday I got in a hurry and just wanted to have something up for the links that I created for my site. I don't like having links that don't work, even if it is only temporarily.

I spent a lot of time redesigning my site, and creating a photo journal to rival all my other photo journals. I have done one for Joe and Amber Bruner, and I have done one for Cribby and Jenni, but neither of them had this many pictures. Last night I finished with around 90 pictures just for Nikki's wedding. I started out with about 160, but after I looked through them I realized that a lot of them were either out of focus, or just too repetitive. I think a photo journal should be comprehensive, sort of like a documentary, giving you enough information so that if you were unable to be at the wedding, then you could get a general idea of what the wedding was like.

So yesterday, I threw together a few designs knowing that I needed to have pages set up for my old blogs, and links created for my photo blogs. All of the new pages are very different than anything I have ever done as far as backgrounds go. These backgrounds are all from www.squidfingers.com and to me they look really old fashioned, like wall paper from the 70's and 80's, but that is kind of what makes them cool. Another note on design, a lot of times when people design they try to make things appear masculine or feminine. Surprise! There's design out there that is neither, it is just good design, creating a look that everyone will appreciate.

So, if you are wondering- why aren't the new pictures posted? Where is this new Photo Journal? Well, it's still on my home computer. Last night I worked on it until after 11 and I then I realized I was out of CD's to burn the Journal on so I could upload it at work.

The Joy of Redesign

I am currently in the process of redesigning this website. Many of you may or may not know this, but my site is a template. What is a template? Well, it is a predesigned website that I can change with the click of a button. It is really nice, the guys over at www.stopdesign.com created the ones that I have been using, but I like to create my own designs. I like to be original. So, that is what I am doing- but... I did borrow a background for www.squidfingers because I really liked the backgrounds they have. But the layout is all mine. Be prepared to be amazed when this is all done and I will have some amazing wedding pictures up soon!

Love you!

Nikki Elliot and Jeremy Johnson

Tomorrow at 10 in the morning Nikki will wed Jeremy and she will no longer be Nikki Christine Elliot, she will be Nikki Christine Johnson. I will just call them NJ and JJ from now on.

They will be getting married tomorrow at Mr. and Mrs. T's house- an outdoor wedding by the pond on their sprawling 17 acre ranch in the beautiful Oakmont area.


Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Talburt

There will be a reception to follow at Mr. Fletchers which is next door to the Talburts. Mr. Fletcher is also Nikki's employer. He owns a Therapeutic Riding Center called Spirit Horse that helps people with various disabilities or other troubles.

Mr. Fletcher is possibly one of the kindest, most patient men on the face of the planet. I don't think that the horses and riding are even necessary, just being around him makes you feel better.


Mr. Fletcher and Nikki

Here is a picture of one of their students- her name is Gwenneth.


Gwenneth

I am extremely excited about the wedding tomorrow. I wrote a poem for the occasion.

A Poem for Nikki and Jeremy...

I smile at the thought,
Of love, and ever more;
Of times shared, memories
People worth dying for.

I admire those that commit
Their hearts and their minds
Forsaking all others
For eternity, for all time.

I stand in awe of those who sacrifice-
Unselfish, humble, beings
Uniting themselves to each other-
With simple golden rings.

I smile at the thought
Of dreams coming true...
Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue.

Now the wedding bells are ringing
Joy is in the air.
Clad in white, dressed in black
Everybody stares.

Mothers Cry, the music plays
It's the end and the beginning
A prize, a kiss, a tossed bouquet
Everyone is winning.

Only God could make this happen
A miracle so sweet
Taking two halves, two separate people...
And making one complete.

Nikki, you are special, a rarity... and Jeremy, I hardly know you, but
if Nikki is in love with you, then you must be quite a man. I hope the
two of you are ridiculously happy forever.

Humbled by a Hair Cut

It’s odd how dieting makes you feel. The very act of trying to do something better for yourself makes you feel good, but at the same time you feel deprived because you are no longer swilling 4 Dr. Peppers a day and a dozen chocolate chip cookies, you stopped eating 20 deep fried hot wings in a sitting, and you stopped munching down on butter-filled mashed potatoes, and homemade lasagna. You replace the sweets with fruit, the fried foods with grilled, the lasagna with salad. You do Yoga and work out 5 times a week and you start to notice the changes in your body. Your arms are bigger, you can walk to the car without losing your breath, you have more energy, and you start to feel really, really good about yourself- and then you go and get your hair cut.

When you get your haircut they drape that large black sheet around your body making you look like one of those scary masked people from Scream sans mask, or maybe a really large California Raisin. For some reason that black cape/tarp/sheet makes your body look three times its normal size- (or maybe it doesn’t- could I possibly be as a large as an elephant??? ) And the very worst part of the black cape is that it really shows you how fat your face is. It is amazing how the rest of your neck and body really help your face look slimmer, proportionate, handsome even. With the black tarp draped around me I suddenly become a bodiless freak with a big round head just floating mysteriously in the air- ugh! And then you have the fluorescent lights to deal with.

The fluorescent lights erase any pride you have left in yourself by revealing how thin your hair really is, no gel or mousse to hold it in place over your receding hairline, no buttery soft lights with shadows to conceal the shiny scalp. Nothing but you and your floating fat face and the barber asking you inane questions about your life that you really don’t care to answer because you’re too upset about the way that you look. For 10 minutes it is the most humbling moment you have had in the last 6 weeks.

Then the cape is removed and you suddenly appear to have lost 100 pounds, your hair looks great, your head- once reattached to the neck looks quite handsome once again and you feel obligated to tip 50 percent of what the haircut costs.

The Season Premiere of "LOST" And Man on Fire

Last night I didn't feel like doing much so I went to blockbuster when I got off work and rented Man on Fire. IT. RIPPED. MY. HEART. OUT.
I get a little emotional when it comes to little kids, and especially little kids that are as cute and loveable as Dakota Fanning. I used to know this little girl named Jean Marie- she was Joe Bruner's Mom's Boyfriend's Granddaughter- but she lived with Joe's Mom- Ernestine. She reminds me a lot of Dakota- Smart and cute and blue-eyed- the kind of kid you can't help but spoil rotten- Man on Fire made me miss little Jean Marie. Joe's mom broke up with her boyfriend and moved back to Ft. Worth and Jean Marie moved back to her Dad's- it's a very long complicated story.

Denzel Washington was amazing and the movie was good and apparently was based on a true story.

Which leads me to my next story which is not true- "LOST"


Do you remember when we were kids and there was that show called "Land of the Lost" All I remember was that they were always hiding from dinosaurs in caves and eating peanut and lettuce sandwiches- but we LOVED IT!! This looks like a take-off of that same premise.

I was thoroughly entertained by Lost. Interesting characters, great special effects, beautiful scenery, beautiful people, ugly people, an asian couple that apparently doesn't speak English- very interesting... AND there is something gigantic on the island killing people- is it a dinosaur? Or is it a GIANT PREDATOR. There were a couple of sound effects that made me think of the Predator, and the fact that they are out in this jungle that looks like the same place they shot Predator.

It was a nice evening of sitting on the couch and chilling out after being outside all day DJ'ing for our United Way Activities Day. Then, after watching TV till 8 I tried to do Yoga- I got a new really hard yoga dvd from www.poweryoga.com. It is super hard and I can't get through it without stopping and resting during some of the poses. So Maksim came over- my Russian friend from work that also lives in the same apartment complex as I do, and we went for a 3 mile walk.

So in closing, I recommend LOST, and Man on Fire.

Long Distance

It is weird growing up thinking that life is never going to change and then one day you wake up in a new city, alone, in your apartment, and your closest friend is 45 miles away.

I. DONT. WANT. TO. GROW. UP!!!!

My best friends all live far away and because I plan to stay at my job forever, I either have to move away from work, or I have to commute every weekend to see the people that I love. This coming weekend it will be a trip to see Joe. I need to take a trip to see Alan in Oklahoma, Jimmy is in China- won't be able to see him again probably till 2006, Braun is in North Carolina, Sarge was in Japan last time I heard- he's a marine. Most of "the group" is now married, and the one's that aren't are sure knocking on the marriage door. I wish someone marrigeable would come knocking on my door.

Someone said to me, "Why don't you just make new friends?" I was like, "Yeah, right". I have met a few people in Plano, some from work, some in my apartment complex, but they will never be the same as your old friends.

So, I thank God every day for email and yahoo and cell phones. It's been 8 months since I moved to Plano, and I am getting used to it, but I still miss "The Group" and the good times we had.

Snik, Cribby, Jenni, Luker, Jimmy, Alan, Joe, Amber, Amanda, Sarbear, Stowe, Erika, Josh, Lashmets, Millers, Donna, Chris, Jamie, Sent, Braun- I miss you guys- hope all is well. Much Love.

The “Mormon’s are a Cult” Incident


I work for a very diverse company. I work with people from all different ethnic and religious backgrounds, unfortunately I forget that and I just start blabbing and end up offending someone because I speak before I think.

I have been working nights this week from 3-midnight to help train the nightshift on anything that they are lacking due to the fact that they are not on days. Well, Tuesday night I was talking about www.dooce.com and how Heather B. Hamilton the creator of www.dooce.com used to be a Mormon. I then proceeded to say, “Well, she is no longer a Mormon because she thinks it’s a cult, and it is, Joseph Smith was only like 15 when he wrote the book of Mormon… etc. etc.”

That is when one of my co-workers, the one that I was talking too, said, “I’m Mormon” and I was like, “Ha, yeah right, that is so funny!” and he was like, “No, really” and I was like, “Oh” and I felt like a huge Jackass. I then proceeded to apologize profusely, but it’s like apologizing after a fart, the stink still lingers in the air. To my co-workers credit, he did not get upset, nor did we launch into a big Mormon v. Christian discussion, we just changed the subject.

So, now that was a reminder to keep my opinions to myself, and should be a reminder to everyone that even if you don’t agree with someone else’s opinion, then you should at least respect them and their beliefs. Be understanding. Be Kind. Right now is a perfect time when everyone is all up in a roar about politics, Bush vs. Kerry. There is a lot of spouting off at the mouth, a lot of emotion, but when you strip away the emotion- you are left with the facts, and the reality of the situation – it all becomes very logical.

So, now to all of you Mormon’s, Hindu’s, Muslims, Bhuddists, Khabbala’s- my opinion is this- Christianity is the only path to heaven and eternal life, with Christianity the restrictions are few and the blessings are abundant. If you want to persuade me that I am wrong, then I will be more than happy to listen, but I am 100% confident in my faith, no doubts at all whatsoever and I suggest that if you are not 100% sure where you will spend eternity, then you better search for the truth- cause in the end it will set you free. I love you, I only want what’s best for you… via con Dios.

On a separate note- this song is on the Victoria's Secret commercial- I know- one minute I am talking about Jesus and the next Victoria's Secret- out of the same mouth... but this song comes on and I hear it even when I am looking away from the screen- especially since I have the commercial recorded- recorded when I recorded Joey and The Apprentice= not recorded so I can watch it over and over and over.

Anyway, this song is catchy- at least what I have heard of it is... listen to it here.

And if we have a minute why don’t we go…

walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

(break)

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

(instrumental)

This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

Design

I realize that when I am designing a website- especially one that is not for myself I want real feedback. I need the other party that has requested my services to be just as excited about my work as I am- and if my design is not to their liking, then I want them to say so.

Unfortunately, that is not how the real world works. This is what happens.

"Hey Eddie, can you design a website for me?"
"Sure, just call me we'll discuss it"

A week later

"Hey Eddie, let's get together and discuss the web design"
"Sure, you name the place"
"Okay, I will call you back when I have a time nailed down"

Another week later

"Hey, how bout getting together this weekend at noon"
"Cool"

The weekend

"Okay, for a web design you need to think of your target market" (Yes, I had marketing 101 as a business major)
"Sounds good"
"Here are some design ideas"
"Great, I like them all just come up with something and then we'll pick"
"Great"

Meanwhile Eddie goes home and designs and creates and works and works because he is a people pleaser and because he loves doing design.

A week later

"Hey, check out my designs"
"Oh, those are great, we'll get back to you"

A few weeks pass...

Eddie wonders if the customer remembers who he is, but he doesn't want to bug them, besides, it's their web, it's their project. So he waits.

Truthfully, I have come to expect this. Most people that want websites have other projects going on in their lives and web is on the back burner. At my last company, Custom Food Group, it took them 3 years to get their website up. Why? Because they didn't realize the importance of a good web and how it would increase their business.

I am not upset at all, so if you read this and you think that it is directed at you, it is not, it's has just been the reality of all the websites that I have done. I am really excited and the customer is always like, "yeah, nice" and I am like, "How Nice?" on the inside. I am like a woman when it comes to feedback, I want to know what parts are your favorite, what colors you like or don't like, if you like everything, then I want you to say, "I really like what you have done with the colors, that background is clever, and wow, how did you get that layout to look so fresh and clean?" Again, in reality it is never like that and so I really don't expect it.

So, here is a website that I have been doing for Stowe Campbell. Stowe has been very communicative and we are only waiting on some videos before we go to full production with his website. - I think I posted one of the other designs already but in case I didn't- here are some concepts. I have a lot to do, a lot to work on- I mean a whole lot, but creation has to start somewhere and then it evolves.

Design 1

Design 2

Design 3

Web design involves a lot of elements, layout, colors, and of course graphics. If you are starting from scratch, then you really have a lot of work to do. You also want to be sure that updates are easy for your customers, and that it is organized well.

Unlearn what you have learned. -Yoda

In an effort to learn CSS- cascading style sheets, I went to Barnes and Noble today and picked up a few books on the subject. I love Barnes and Noble, it's a library really, everyone is there using the books for free, only they are new books, and you can't check them out, you have to buy them. I wanted this really amazing CSS book that was probably the best reference book I have ever used. It was so easy to understand that after reading chapter 1 I felt like a CSS guru- unfortunately the book was $45.00 dollars!!! That is a lot of money, especially when I can find most of the information on the internet. The great thing about a book is the comprehensiveness that a book provides. I like book because everything is in one place, and I can look at the book and work on the computer at the same time. I know, this is a BORING post, but it is what is going on with me right now.

The first part of the chapter in the CSS book began with the quote above, "Unlearn what you have learned - Yoda" I like quotes, I take them to heart, they become my mantras, they keep me going. I know it is a little cheezy, but hey, whatever works. So, you should see some new posts about CSS here and hopefully I will come up with a really cool website for Posted Note that has pictures and everything like the old one... maybe. I sometimes get all fired up about something and then after about 6-8 weeks I give up- fortunately in my new job I will be actually using CSS and therefore, I won't be able to give up on it.

Well, that's all for now.

Love you.

My Big Fat Obnoxious Body

Ugh. I weighed this morning and the scale said 357.6 which means I am gaining weight. Which doesn't make sense since I have really cut back on the sugar intake and I have increased the cardio exponentially. When I was dieting before I lost weight really fast, I guess when you are younger it comes off easier, but my goodness, I would expect to have at least lost some weight, not gained weight. So, when this happens I normally give up and I start eating everything again, but this time I am not going to do that. I am going to keep eating boring healthy foods most of the time, try to stay away from fried chicken and other fried foods, and hopefully in time if I don't lose weight, I will at least be a healthier person.

My sisters both had that lap band surgery and I would like to have it done as well, but it is too much effort, however, it would be nice if I was forced to eat smaller amounts. That is what the lap band does, it is a small band that limits the amount of food you can put in your stomach at one time. It is non-invasive surgery that is really quite simple, but unless your insurance pays for it, it will cost you 15,000 dollars.

So... being someone who can hardly remember to drop his bills in the mail, I know that I would never jump through all the hoops necessary to get my insurance to pay for this surgery, so that means I have to do it on sheer willpower and lots of cardio... and if you know me at all I have very little willpower and I hate doing cardio.

Hopefully I will have something intriguing and fascinating to post here soon.

I love you...

Google Your Name!

Today I was googling my name and friends and I found this link...

http://www.thrustonracing.com/results/021221_5k.html

Jog'R Egg Nog'R 5k - December 21, 2002
Norbuck Park, Dallas, Texas

Amanda Adams finished 162 overall and I finished number 248. It was very cold and I just gave out after about the first mile- I WAS SO TIRED. It is hard to believe that was almost two full years ago.

This year I want to run the 8 mile at the Turkey Trot- Amanda did the 8 mile the same year she ran this jogger egg nogger with me- or rather I ran it with her. She got into this running kick and just really... well, ran with it.

She is also building a house right now in Argyle. I have always been impressed with her independence. I would have married her in a heartbeat if she would have had me. She is like watching Elaine from Seinfeld, and she would probably be a handful, but that is what makes her so great.

Amanda and I don't see each other much now. The Denton Friends has broken up, Jimmy is in China, Alan is in Oklahoma, Sarah is married to Stowe, Nikki is marrying Jeremy Johnson September 25th, Luke Zimmerman didn't go back to Kamp this year, Cribby married Jenni and they turned into adults- I guess we all did, that's what happens in life- one day you roll out of bed, notice that half your hair is missing, your voice finally changed, your skin finally cleared up, you have a job, a car, bills, debt, your an adult and it sucks... But on the flip side who really wants to go through puberty again or High School?

I sure don't.

Design, Design, Design!

I have been working on some side projects that deal with web design. I like to be creative, I like to paint, and decorate and put things together. Personally, I can't draw worth a flip, but I can put things together, and I am good with space and form- to some degree. I never really wanted to be a graphic artist or a web designer- it was just something that I did for fun- a hobby, but now that I am doing design at work, and design for others- then I really think that I am going to continue down this path and try to learn CSS and Flash, PHP and ASP. You can make good money doing web design if your great, you can make decent money if you are average- decent money is fine with me.

Doing Web Design is BLOWING MY MIND!!! I LOVE IT!! You start with nothing, and then you add some of this and that and then you have something!

Currently I am working on a site called Know Consequences it is a really cool idea that Stowe Campbell came up with. You will have to visit the site for all the information, but it has to do with taking erroneous, misleading media and showing the youth of our nation the truth- a sort of, "What are they not saying" approach to MTV and VH1 and other shows.

I have also been helping my boss with a redesign of his website www.dentonyogahut.com this site I have actually only changed a few colors and stuff- but I have been working on these complete redesigns

Redesign 1

Redesign 2


So, now my quest is to find a few classes that will teach me everything I want to know about Flash and PHP programming, and a few graphic design classes and I will be set- the problem with going to classes is that sometimes you get into a class and they spend the first half of the class at a level that you already know. I want to get into the meat of the subject- skip the appetizers, I already know the basics- or do I? Sometimes I think I know and I really don't know and that is why I can't move forward- because I haven't mastered the basics.

Either way, look for new site designs on both KnowConsequencs.com and postednote.com

On a separate note I just realized that Avril Lavigne sounds a lot like Alanis Morissette. Especially in her new song- My Happy Ending.

who loves you baby? I do.

The Punisher...

I rented The Punisher last night- I realized that the movie fit it's title- the movie punished me and I plan to use it to punish my friends... "Hey, let's rent The Punisher". If you hear that phrase then you know I am pissed at you.

On another note- I left my book that I have been reading in Denton at Big Time Bob's!!! Dang it! Only 20 pages left- Did they catch the Psychopathic Murderer or Does He Get AWAY!!!! I'll never know! It was called Rules of Prey by John Sandford- if you know the conclusion, please let me know...

Loves ya-

Eddo

Increase Exercise=Increased Hunger

Yesterday I think I ate my weight in food. Not really, but I ate more than I have in a while since I have been trying to watch what I eat.

For me a normal day consists of a bowl of cheerios for breakfast, something simple for lunch, and something baked- like chicken and green beans for dinner.

Yesterday I had the Cheerios for breakfast. Then for lunch I had Chinese, and then for a mid afternoon snack I had a hamburger at 3:00 from Big Time Bob's in Denton after my dental appointment. Then I went for a bike ride- about 8 miles, a good pace with 3 skinny friends on Cannondales- yeah, my bike sucked compared to theirs. Anyway, afterwards I was hungry again! So I heated up some leftovers- a chicken breast and some squash. It was so delicious, I stuffed it into my face like a Lion devouring a Gazelle. All in all I still didn't eat as much in a day as I used to, but I am not losing weight. I know, I know- it is probably turning into rippling chords of muscle on my biceps, abs, delts, traps, and quads, but I want it to show on the scale that I have lost 5 pounds this week because I feel like I have denied myself at least that many calories!!!

Money Drunk... Money Sober


A kid wearing his kaidangku -- a common site in Shanghai during the summer.
Compliments of Jimmy McWhinney...

Sometimes when I post on this blog I feel like I am leaving myself exposed for all the world to see- ass just hanging out in the wind...

I am reading a book right now that helps with your finances- it was recommended by a good friend who gives the best advice. It is called Money Drunk Money Sober by Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan Right now I am trying to find excellent balance in all areas of my life, Spiritual, Physical, Financial, Social- you get the idea. Over the years I have had a tendency to over do it in one area or the other therefore leaving one area of the pie chart lacking. If I am working on weight loss, I tend to spend too much money buying running shoes, workout clothes, healthy food, etc. If I am working on saving money, I neglect my friends because I don't want to go out to eat, I don't want to visit, I just stay at home and don't spend money. If I am working on spending more time with my friends, then I tend to read my Bible less, spend more money, eat out a lot and put on weight. It's a Sick Cycle Carousel- to put it in the words of Life House.

Another bad habit that I used to have was that I would try to fix on thing before fixing something else. For Example, I'll just start college after I get back in shape. I actually did this. I took a year off from school in 97 and started working out. That was the year that I lost 113 pounds. I stoppped doing anything but going to work and coming home and running. I worked with my mom at Boeing and I would have her drop me off in town and then I would run the rest of the way home- about 4 miles. When I finally got really thin I enrolled at TWU and started school, I started going to the Crossroads at DBC and I started trying to be the man I was supposed to be. Before that I had spent a lot of time partying with friends, going to NCTC, working, and working, making money- not saving any of it, trying to have the coolest clothes, the best looking truck, you know, the typical college thing that kids do when they grow up with low self esteem and little money.

Our parents always made sure we had food and nice clothes, but we lived in a trailer home on a piece of land that flooded often. The mobile home we lived in was like 1400 square feet and I slept in the living room since it was only a two bedroom. When the house burned in 1990 we moved into another mobile home. We were never rich, but our parents loved us and took good care of us, but for some reason when you are raised in a world that makes you feel like you have a certain number of check boxes checked in order to feel good enough, when a few of those boxes are left unchecked you feel like a failure. I have talked about this before- the way that most of my life I felt like I was just almost good enough. Just almost funny, almost an A student, almost a great football player, almost... almost... almost... that is the way that life is though. That is what growing up is all about, realizing who you are, and understanding that the world does not define who you are- you do. Don't allow people to label you, and they can't. Don't let them put you in a box, don't let them stifle your dreams, don't allow them to tell you that you can't be what you want to be, or drive what you want to drive.

Back to Money Drunk...

The book has helped me to realize the reason why I spend money- the same reason alcoholics drink- to escape, for temporary relief from the strain that is this crazy life, for a few moments of pleasure. The reasons are numer0us, but the solutions are simple. Understand the root cause of the problem work on that, not the symptoms. So that is what I am doing. I am trying to find balance- balance in my checkbook at the same time in finding balance on the scale, and by doing Yoga I am finding balance, quite literally, physically.

Spiritually- I am at a crossroads. For the past few years I have been heavily involved with Denton Bible Church- I have had some type of ministry that I have poured myself into. I have had spiritual goals and desires- now I seem to be getting away from that and it scares me. Going to a new church, meeting new friends, letting go of old ones... it's hard. It's hard to be settled in your ways and then to suddenly make changes- especially changing so much at one time. But I am 28 and I have been running full speed in so many directions for so long that I am worn out with trying to do too much. It's time to start taking care of me. I go to the doctor now when something hurts, I get my teeth cleaned on time every 6 months, I floss, I try to workout 5 times a week even if it is just for 20 minutes at time, I take time to talk to God, I try to spend time wtih the people that I love and to let go of the people that are holding me back. It's not easy, it sucks sometimes, but I know it's for the best. Things are looking up, the checkbook is balanced, I've lost a couple pounds this week, I am at Cody's house for the weekend, life is good...

Fists of FURY!!

I rarely get sick- I mean really rarely, I have not called in sick to work once this year. My whole life I have been pretty healthy, but yesterday, I started feeling a little quesy, a a headache came over me like an angel of death- a very heavy angel with big claws clamped on to my cranium!

I wanted to go home from work, I felt achey, I had cold sweats, I needed to vomit- but I just held it all in and waited till I got home. Why was I sick? I had cereal and a banana for breakfast, a salad for lunch and a whole bunch of water- so I decided that what I needed was something fattening and non-healthy for dinner. When I get sick the black side of me comes alive and I crave fried chicken and watermelon. I didn't have watermelon, but I had the stuff to make fried chicken, so after a long nap I made some fried chicken- AND- I drank two Dr. Peppers. I figured if my body is craving sugar and caffeine, that would do the trick- it didn't. I still felt like crap, bloated and weighted down by the fried chicken strips and squash that I had for dinner.

I finally decided to go to bed because there was NOTHING on tv and I was tired of reading and my headache was not getting any bettter. I was lying down on my infinitely cozy bed when someone decided to start hanging pictures on their wall- the wall that was attached to my wall that my bed is leaning against.

At first I thought, "How many pictures could they possibly hang?" Apparently 10 because I was getting tired of the banging and so I put on my robe- my huge robe that makes me look like the grim reeper, and I went outside to go and knock on my neighbors door to see why in the heck they were hanging up pictures at 10:30 at night. Well, I was thwarted in my quest because their neighbor stopped me and asked, "Why are you out in your robe?" She is an older lady and suddenly I felt foolish for being so angry and I said that I heard a strange noise coming from the apartment next to mine and I thought I would check it out. She looked at me all worried like and I said, "Well, it was probably nothing" and I hurried back to my room.

I heard the hammering again and it set me off. I got up out of bed and pounded the wall with my fists so hard that I am sure the entire Apartment complex probably shook with my wrath.

I heard no more hanging of pictures, but now I was wide awake... I finally fell to sleep about 1 am after watching Conan O'Brian. I get tired of just laying in bed hoping to fall asleep while my mind races through a myriad of things at a rate that is surely the rate of all peoples minds that are insane. In other words, lying in bed waiting to fall asleep makes me crazy.

Fortunately, today I feel better. much better. But if I see my neighbor, I might just have to break out the fists of fury on his face!!!

360 Pounds of Hot Goodness

I bought a scale online from Walmart.com and it came in yesterday. I had to buy one online because most of the ones that are at the store have a 300-330 pound limit. I knew that I probably weighed about 330-340 and I wanted one that would weigh me accurately, so I found one that is digital and weighs up to 350LBS’.

I was so excited when my scale arrived that I brought it to work so that I could set it up and play with it all afternoon yesterday. I made everyone that I could get on the scale and weigh and then I got on and was shocked to find that it weighed me at 360.4 pounds!!!!! Holy Goodness! 360?!?!?! How is that possible? Most of my clothes are a little snug, but they still fit, the same ones that fit when I weighed 320. Then I got to thinking about it- that scale that said I weighed 320 was probably 20 pounds off since it only went to 300 and it was not digital. And so now, finally I have a good scale that tells me exactly what I weigh and I can start moving forward with some extreme weight loss.

I have mapped out the plan since I have done this before- it goes something like this.

Go to the grocery store and get 100 dollars worth of good food. Bananas, salad, salsa, chicken, fruit, etc.

Then run a total of 20 miles a week- it doesn’t matter how you do it, just do it. And I don’t mean walk 20, I mean run 20. Normally 4 at a time is the perfect number for fast weight loss. If you can’t run 4 all at once, then work your way up to it.

Eat Cheerios for breakfast with skim milk and add a banana. Potassium and Fiber- great for weight loss- if you know what I mean.

Stay away from places that cause too much temptation, i.e. malls, restaurants, grocery stores, friends houses, etc.

Lift weights. I don’t like to do it, but you don’t want to lose muscle in this process so you have to eat lots of protein and lift weights to help balance out the weight loss.

Measure inches. The scale doesn’t always show inches lost.

Don’t be too restrictive. Being too restrictive only makes you want to give up. Eat a piece of good cake or ice cream at least once a week- then go run an extra two miles you big porker!!!