Hammer and Paint.

This weekend two of our Granddaughters stayed with us. Gracie Alice and MakennaLinn consider themselves 'best cousins, forever'. They are like two crazy little peas in a pod and a lot of fun to hang-out with. Saturday morning Michelle came to me and said the girls want to do a 'project'. What kind of project my mind wanted to know. They want to hammer nails and paint came the replay.

Right away I'm thinking we need to build something. We'll start with some paper and a ruler. We need a plan; nothing fancy but you've go to have a plan. Tools; I've got to get out my tools. We'll need a scroll saw, a skil-saw, a driver and drill for holes and screws. While I'm fussing around with plans and tools, two little girls found a hammer and some scrap wood in the garage. When I finally took a break and looked up from my busyness, there were a very content Gracie Alice and MakennaLinn happily pounding away. About that time grandma Michelle showed up and they were ready to trade hammers for paint bushes. I was so focused on the details I nearly missed the project.

When they said hammer and paint, they meant hammer and paint. That was the sum total of the project. They didn't need plans. They didn't needs power tools. They needed a hammer, some nails and a few sticks of scrap wood. Then they needed paint. Simple, right?

I have a tendency to get caught-up in the minutia. What's the plan? What's the cost? Who, what, where, when, why? I need information. I need details. Michelle just wants the garbage taken out.

Sometimes the answers there all along, if you listen. The girls want to hammer and paint.    

You may be wondering what this has to do with diet and exercise. Not a darn thing. All that's going really well.

A Lot To Smile About

Some days don't go according to plan. 

This afternoon to took my trusty road bike out for a spin. Here's the sequence of events: 

1) Hopped on my bike and headed South on Colby.
2) Several miles from home I ran into a parked car and ended up on middle of busy street. 
3) Continued riding for six or seven miles until I realized it wasn't going to be my day. 
4) Limped home to face the wrath and condemnation from my loving wife.  

When given the choice between a parked car and a moving car; I'll go parked every time. It was almost a non-event, but the mirror caught me in the shoulder and there was nowhere to go but down. Given the nature of pavement, all the compromise in sudden deceleration took place in my body. The owner of the vehicle happened to be in his yard and ran out into the street. Thankfully, his concern was for me and not his nineteen eighty something POC. My concern, at least initially, was if anything was broken. Once confident I could get up, my concern turned to my bike. As soon as all was sorted, I saddled up and moved on. 

I count myself lucky. It could have been much worse. A little skin, some torn clothing, a few chips of paint and I'm pretty sure I'm going to wake up tomorrow feeling like I swan-dived into the street. Oh wait, I did. 

Michelle's initial concern quickly yielded to open mocking, "You're as bad as little kid; always falling off your bike."

For the record, it's not always. Second, it's only the first time since I've been able to ride again. Finally, no harm, no foul, right!

I don't think tomorrow morning is going to be a good time to go on about how sore I predict I'll be. I'm planning ahead; lots of Advil and I'll smile a lot.   

I've got a lot to smile about. If it weren't for weight loss surgery and a loss of 115 pounds I wouldn't be able to running and riding and be active like I am. A little scrap here and there is nothing. 

I'm a lucky guy!


PS - Yes, (Wife, Mother, Worried Types) I'll be careful out there. 

My Only Regret

Today is the one year anniversary of my weight loss surgery. 

What a difference a year makes.

Weight Loss (so far): 114.6 pounds

Inches Lost (neck, chest, waist, etc): 60.75"

What have I gained?

Health, Vitality, Confidence, My Life!


If you struggle with your weight and you're ready to change your life, then do it. It's not another diet and it's not an instant cure. It IS the most powerful tool available to equip you to conquer obesity for once and for all. 

JoAnne at BeLIteWeight.com is the one who facilitated my Vertical Sleeve procedure. I am forever grateful to her and her staff for making this possible.  

My only regret; I waited so long!  

In My World

Happiness is two tenths of a pound!

I haven't talked much about my weight lately. I've been in a holding pattern for several weeks. I weight myself daily, first thing in the morning, and for several weeks my weight has stayed in a three pound range. It's a very nice range. It's a range almost a hundred and fifteen pounds from where I started, but with my one year anniversary approaching, I'm counting ever ounce. So imagine my joy when I stepped on the scale and I was down two tenths of a pound. 

If you've never struggled with weight issues you have no way of understanding my reaction. If you've ever struggled with your weight there is no reason for me to explain my reaction.

I'm in the living phase of my post weight loss surgery (WLS) life. I am not actively dieting. I eat what I want, although in much smaller quantities. I hike. I run. I cycle. I don't let stairs or parking spots in remote lots dictate my decisions. I live. The fact that my weight continues to creep DOWN in the midst of living a full and rewarding life is nothing short of a miracle.  

That's right, in my world two tenths of a pound is a miracle. 

Not Just Alive

This bit of the summer plague I've contracted just wont go away. It's tapered down to a pesky cough, and I'm tired of waiting. 

Tonight after work, I ran. 

It felt good to get out in the sun. It feels good to feel alive. The pesky low-grade pain in my knees; the sweat in my hair; the deep, relaxed breaths that come after an hour of exertion. All of it. It makes me feel like I'm living, not just alive.  

Living is good!

Couch Potato Ways

This afternoon I sit inside and think to myself; I should be outside in the sun doing something fun/healthy/physical. Instead, I sit at my desk and watch the world go by while I cough, hack, sneeze and blow my nose for the hundredth time this hour. No, I haven't reverted back to my couch potato ways. I've contracted the plague and haven't the energy do do much beside hold my head up and wait for the next round of sneezing and nose blowing. 

I could complain but I wont. My weight is down 113 pounds and holding. The sun is out and someday this nasty little summer cold will pass. When it does, I'll spend my afternoons riding my bike or running the waterfront with classic rock banging in my ipod. 

Until then, I'll grab another tissue and sign off. 

Here's to happier, healthier days.