Thursday (couldn't come up with a pithy title for today)

Somedays it's just hard to get motivated for work, ya know? This morning was like that. But when I stepped outside with my cup of coffee and saw the sunrise just starting, heard a few birds chirping, and felt the crisp air on my freshly shaven face... ok, sometimes the early morning is the best time of the day.

However, work was work. What more is there to say about that?

Had practice tonight for our play at church. I play Simon Peter. Now, in the Leonardo Da Vinci painting of The Last Supper, I'd never noticed it before, but someone is holding a knife. For the purposes of our story, Peter is the person holding it, but in the painting you can't tell for sure who Da Vinci intended. Troy brought to church tonight a nice, long, quite sharp and pointy, ornamental dagger for the play. It's way cool, with a matching scabbard and everything. I'm kinda nervous about using it in the play, though, because we have to stand stock still in the positions of the painting for most of an hour, and I know by the end I'm gonna be TIRED. I'd really hate to stab someone by accident. I'm gonna go look around Wishing Well or someplace and see if I can find a good looking plastic or rubber knife.

The play is the April 1,2,3 & 4 at 7pm, with a matinee on Saturday, April 3rd at 3pm, at the First Baptist Church of Fair Oaks, 4401 San Juan Ave. It'll only runs a little over an hour, so come take a look if u get a chance. Admission is free.

Coffee and Wellness

Met my brother, Jack, for coffee this morning, over at Starbucks on Elverta & Walerga. I got over there about 8:50am. Talk about a b-e-a-utiful morning. Cool temps, light breeze, warm sun, good coffee, pretty girls (my kids are gonna roll their eyes at the "girls" comment, but hey... it's true... ). I hadn't talked to Jack for a couple of months, so we spent a few hours catching up on life; filling each other in on what's new, which for both of us just happens to be quite a bit. Our relationship is kinda funny. We live about 15 minutes apart, do similar jobs, and often don't talk for several weeks at a time, but when we get together, it's like the last time we talked was just a few days ago. He's real easy for me to chat with, which is amazing considering we fought like dogs when we were small. We're gonna meet next Monday and go golfing, which is gonna be funny because I've only golfed once in my life, and that was over 20 years ago, and I was awful.

EFJ called me, asked if I could take her to Kaiser to pick up some medicine because she has strep throat. No prob, so I went and picked her up after coffee with my brother, and we headed off to Kaiser. The pharmacy took forever, so we wound up sitting and talking for about 30-40 minutes. Good, productive conversation. We left there, without the meds yet because there was STILL a wait, got some McD's, went to her school to pick up her homework, back to my place for a few minutes, and back to Kaiser. They finally had it ready. Oh, did I mention not only did EFJ have strep throat (so wasn't feeling the greatest) but also has some fractured bones in her foot from a fall she took in the house the other day? So, she's sick and hobbling on crutches. But she never complained. What a trooper.

Took the other two, CLJ and LMJ to church, then back home. All in all, a nice, normal Wednesday. I'm looking forward to CLJ coming back over on Friday, and maybe EFJ too. She says she likes it at my place. Granted, there's not many chores over here, and I'm sure that plays into it, but I think she genuinely likes the change from her mom's house. All I know is I like having them here.

Oh, I tried to eat better today. A little less than I'd normally eat. I'll try to keep that up for the week.

Weighty Issues

Goodness gracious, I think I'm gonna faint. I just stopped by the Kaiser offices at Point West, by Cal Expo. They have a good scale there. I knew my pants were tighter lately, but ... whew.... I tipped the scales at .....

380lbs.

Ok... now, to fomulate the plan.... I'll have to get back to you on that one... I sense some salad and vegetables in my future.... and maybe some excersize.... sheesh...

Musically speaking

Typical Monday. Slept in pretty late, ran a few errands. Had lunch at Coco's Restaurant. I HIGHLY recommend their asian chicken salad. It has the most unique and best dressing I've tasted on any asian salad I've ever had. I bought a bottle to take home, and I put it on just about everything I ate tonight. Yummy stuff.

Watched Stargate with LMJ. 5 Episodes we'd never seen. That's pretty exiciting stuff, actually. Stargate Monday's have become sort of a fixture around here. I'll miss 'em when LMJ goes back to her mom's in the next coupla weeks. Maybe I'll make Monday our dad/daughter night.

I caught a little bit of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame program on VH-1 tonight. I was channel-surfing when I caught of glimpse of Prince and his band doing a flashy stage show. I stopped and listened, and I have to admit, Prince is just about as close to a musical genius as a person can get. I've never been one for overtly sexual lyrics in my music, so I've never been a huge fan of his, but there is no denying it - the man has PRESENCE. The particular set he and the band were doing was kind of a funk/big band cross, and it was SO slick. The stage show was SO tight and well coreographed, and the man can make a guitar sing like no one else I've ever seen.

His acceptence speach was very short and to the point. He said thank you to Jehovah first and formost, then to Warner Brothers for letting him have his artistic freedom (a reference to his long battle to be free of the lable. I'm not sure if it was sincere or a backhanded slap).

But then he said some simple comments about his spiritual journey in life. Again, I don't consider myself a huge fan, but Prince always surprises and impresses me when he talks. He's very intelligent and articulate (qualities NOT found so much in today's mumbling young stars). He talked about how life has been a spiritual journey, and he was thankful for the mentors he has had. He also told the young stars the real mentors they need won't be found on their payroll. I thought that was pretty insightful. He really made it sound like his spiritual journey is what has been important to him. Thinking of all the things he could have chosen to talk about at his induction to the RRHF, I guess it IS important to him. I have no idea what Prince's idea of spirituality is, but it's refreshing to see someone as successful has him telling the young folks, it's not all about the bling. It's about the spirit.

I Wish Every Day Could Be Sunday.....

....because Sunday = Friday in my bizarre work week. On Sundays I feel like Fred Flintsone waiting for the bird whistle to sound, telling everyone the workday is over. I can't wait to jump outta my seat and slide off the tail of my dinosaur, land in my car, and start pedalin' for home.

I actually like work on Sundays. Every other Sunday morning my co-worker NS and I work together in dispatch. Business is usually slow, so there's usually not a lot ELSE to do for a few hours except read the paper, drink coffee, and chit-chat. I talk about my kids, family, news, whatever, and she talks about her kids, family, news, whatever. What other job can I get paid pretty well for drinking coffee, reading the Sunday paper, and catching up with a friend for a coupla hours?

Although, today was one of those days when another friend and co-worker of mine earned her salary. AW was working dispatch when a deputy got shot in the arm. Naturally, all heck broke lose, and the radio became a frenzy for a while. She called me later, and we talked about it. It was the first officer-involved shooting she'd ever worked, and naturally, it rattles the nerves. I have a feeling she did just fine, though.

Somedays I need to just think and remember how fortunate I am, in many ways. Sure, I could use a lot more money, and I think the state lottery owes me. But, I'm not poor, not starving (goodness knows, and more on in a moment), my lights are on and my cable bill is paid (evidenced by the fact I can still get online), and although it's late every month, my car payment gets paid. So, overall, I can't complain about too much.

Something that's been on my mind lately, though, is me. Folks who know me, know I'm a big man. By big I mean hefty, tubby, big-boned, or, on days when I'm really honest with myself, quite fat. The reason I bring this up today, is because I've been thinking about my birthday. In May I turn 40. That's right, America, the Big-Four-Oh, and although there is no magic gene that suddenly activates on the day of my 40th birthday, 40 seems to be a milestone. A life-marker. For one, I'm entering heart-attack country for men. And what is one of the prime factors in assessing heart attack risk in men?

Obesity.

Now, I went to the doc last year for a physical, and he said I'm healthy as a horse, but that I should really lose some weight. Right now my relative youth still lands me in the OK range, because my health HAS been fairly good, but as I get older, if I don't do something, I could be in serious trouble. I really want to see my kids grow up, and have grandchildren.

I've never really done a strict diet, or really "tried" to lose weight before. Oh, I've dieted for a couple of weeks, and yeah, some weight comes off, but I always lose interest, and the weight always comes back. Heck, I lost about 60lbs 4 years ago when Their Mom and I first split up, just because I started walking every day. I was up to six miles a day when I stopped, and I'd lost 60lbs in 4 months. But when I stopped the weight came back.

So, here's my plan. Kaiser has scales at every office in town. I'm going to pick one close to me, and stop in there every week on the same day, and weight myself. I'm thinking Mondays, because it's the first of my days off. I'll post my weight here each week, and keep track of my progress. Hopefully, being able to see it in print, I'll be a little more motivated to keep up on whatever I come up with to try and lose weight.

I'm not in denial about my weight, I've just been in denial about the effect is has on my life. Maybe this self-evaluation will help.