Wednesday, January 21, 2009

A Funny Thing Happened After Three Miles

Yesterday we got a brand new President, Barack Obama. Did you know you can use lots of occasions to make a new start or start a new habit? For me, it helps to have some familiarity with the new habit and since I've been walking more intentionally for a year and blogging about it, walking early in the day is now like an old friend with lessons to teach me. As I said, yesterday we got a brand new President. Today is his first full day in office. Using that new beginning as my inspiration, I decided to start something new. I'm walking early and this morning my dog and I walked nearly 3.5 miles before 6:15 a.m. and then I came back and checked my online networking while I ate a nice breakfast my wonderful wife made.

On Facebook I noticed that Mark Labberton had accepted my connection. He is a man of faith and he writes about it and speaks about it. I Googled him and found a recent post I urge you to check out - The Lima Bean Gospel. Even if you are a critic of the church you will find some agreement there. He says some things that should light a fire under those who follow Jesus and maybe give some verbal ammunition to critics of the church.

Keep walking!


I have walked 93 miles in 2009.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Sometimes You Just Gotta Walk

Here's a little bit of an update:

I did gain weight in The Bahamas. I want to stress that the walking was effective. I'm sure I gained a pound or so LESS because of all the walking. For you skeptics, that's just the way it works. Your body does physical work and it burns calories. There is no magic (except in romance). I DECIDED that I was going to eat basically what I wanted after a couple days at Atlantis. I had never been east of Florida before and I was not going to miss out. I chose to eat more and a wider variety, knowing the consequences. I had already done a little of that New Year's eve.

Regular readers may recall that earlier on New Year's eve I weighed myself and that final weigh-in for 2008 was 112.2 kilos. I started the year at 123.2 kilos and that difference of 11 kilos means that I lost 24.2 pounds. Some (females, especially) are amazed how much weight a man can gain in a short period of time. If you're really curious, email me. I am back to "being good" with what I eat and this morning I weighed in at 113.7 kilos. That is down from our arrival home Sunday night.

New readers may actually wonder, "What are you telling us all this stuff? Do you just like to hear yourself speak(/write)?" [ Let me think...MAYbe...I did once tell a mentor that I treasure my own company! ;-) ] My hope is that by seeing what is actually going on with a real person you can be encouraged that YOU can do it, too. No matter what it is for you, you can do it. (And, for 90%+ of us, walking is something we can do and it helps our bones and our brains!) Weeks or months or years from now you can revisit my blog and as long as I'm alive and coherent (some already see this as iffy) enough to post, you will see me making progress. I know you can do it. I'm DOING it in my life right now!

I want to acknowledge our creator here. (If you don't believe, you obviously have the choice to skip ahead, but please don't stop reading this blog entirely. People who care about you want you to reach your goals and be around when you're old to do things like bounce your grandniece on your knee or teach her math and science or read Where The Wild Things Are to your grandson.) In 2007 I wanted to lose weight and I barely achieved that goal. I lost 1 pound in 2007. On December 31, 2007 I asked God for help in losing weight and getting in better shape and in 2008 I lost 24.2 pounds. (Thank you.) I also want to thank you who are reading my blog. Knowing that you're out there (especially when you comment!) means that there are some people to whom I'm accountable. That helps me and it can help you, too.

Right now I'm going to do it - some walking - because no matter what else is going on, sometimes you just have to close your mouth and stop what you're doing and saying and get out there AND DO IT! And my loyal dog, Mellow, will be a little happier. Somebody said, "Just Do It!" That's what I'm going to do. Right now.


Keep walking!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

On Networking Discoveries

If you're on Twitter, get on Facebook and vice-versa. Once you're on Twitter, you can use Tweetworks. If you have a blog, all the better. I'm telling you - I'm really figuring this stuff out. Of course, you have to remember to take a break and take a walk.

Keep walking!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Thanks, AAA!

Just got off the phone with AAA, the Automobile Club of Southern California, and the call took less than four minutes. Cedar Towing should be at our house in less than 30 minutes. (If you don't have Triple A, you should. There aren't many actual shoulds in life, but it's one of them.) I guess I really am back in the real world! I'm grateful that this didn't happen to our son while we were in The Bahamas.

Keep walking!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Walk While You Can

Some of us remember high school and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations and that's where I went to see about walking quotes.



Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.


Jesus (John 12:35b)

Twitter quote 121 http://tinyurl.com/BMW777195 at Bartleby.com

Getting Back Into The Swing

My wife, Marianne, and I arrived back home from The Bahamas late Sunday night and I'm finally feeling relatively normal. Yesterday I was feeling the after-vibe of Paradise Island and I turned off the radio and was singing in my car as I drove to pick up Mellow, our dog. A few hours later the tiredness hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks and it was a chore to visit Trader Joe's last night.

Following an email notification from my brother-in-law as well as a high school friend, I finally started to connect with some people on Facebook, so now you can find me there, too.

I have walked 72 miles in 2009.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Coming Home Tomorrow

We have definitely had some big fun here in The Bahamas at Paradise Island this week and, after discovering The Marketplace buffet on Thursday we have eaten there four times. More walking and pictures are in store for today. We heard from family that our son is doing ok, though we heard he's been sick. It would be nice to hear from the horse's mouth, but...

So far I have walked 62.5 miles in 2009. Atlantis, Paradise Island is one heck of a place to take a walk.


Keep walking!

Friday, January 9, 2009

More Fun In The Sun

Today we found a place called The Cove here at Atlantis, Paradise Island. What a beautiful pool! There were beds as well as lawn chairs there and four beds in the middle of the pool. Lots of dance music, swimming, and generally laying in the sun and then back to our room to freshen up. Only after we left did we find out that we were not technically supposed to be there because we stay at the Coral Tower. We also tried out the water slides fairly early before the crowds got there and they are a blast. I haven't gone on the scariest one yet. We have gotten a little bumped and bruised on the slides and the rapids. Nothing serious, but you really have to pay attention. I'm not 100% sure they would have these in the U.S. without some restrictions making them safer. I haven't heard of anyone getting hurt seriously, but you really do have to be awake. I wouldn't go on these if I had had any alcohol. Still, if I could afford it, I would want to take all my family and a few friends here next year.

So far in 2009 I have walked 58.5 miles and what an incredible place to take a walk!

Keep walking!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Boromir Is Dead

Yesterday the Orc hunt did not go so well. We lost Boromir, yet we will live to fight another day. I did not last in my second day of the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure when I got a set of threes beaten by a flush on the last card. For those of you who are poker novices, a set of threes means three threes with two in your hand and one among the common cards.

I have walked 50.5 miles so far in 2009. The Bahamas is incredible. When I lost yesterday I was in shock for a little while, but this place is a wonderful place to regain that step in your stride. I've also been reading a book by Tony Campolo and both of those things combined have me back to 99%. (This is the biggest tournament I've ever played in as well as this vacation being the grandest prize I've ever won.) If you come to The Bahamas, you must stay at Atlantis and eat at The Marketplace buffet. We may not eat again today and for The Bahamas, that place is a great deal.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Beautiful Wednesday In The Bahamas

So far in 2009 I have walked 38 miles - most of it in the beautiful Bahamas. We had great food this morning in Murray's Deli and in less than an hour and a half I will start Day 2 of the poker tournament. Every day I've awakened singing a different song. First it was Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and then ABBA's Dancing Queen and this morning The Cars' Dangerous Type. I'm picturing myself as Aragorn hunting Orcs this morning. Here's hoping!

Keep walking!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Bahamas Update

Yesterday I started the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure tournament at noon and survived the first day. We started with 20,000 in chips each and, unfortunately, I am down to 14,800 while nearly all of my opponents will have multiples of that when we start again on Wednesday. The tournament is so big that there are two "first" days and we are combined on Wednesday. Late in the day I was moved from my first table to one where Tom McEvoy was on my immediate left. If you Google him you will find that he has extensive poker experience. I have one of the tournament books that he co-wrote with me here in the Bahamas! The good news is that I have today off to rest after finishing after 1:00 a.m. last night.

At this morning's buffet I finally gave in and have more carbohydrates than I've had for a while. I realized that I failed to mention that I ended the year at 112.2 kilos which means I lost 24.2 pounds in 2008. I'll share more about that later as my time on this computer is running out. I have walked 33.5 miles so far in 2009.

Keep walking!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Tournament Starts In Less Than Half An Hour

My wife and I have enjoyed a few days of really nice weather in the Bahamas and we've walked more than we probably would have at home in early January. This morning we had a nice "American" breakfast at Murray's Deli and now we're back at the library. I am ready to go for the tournament and will head over there as soon as this posts. I've walked 26 miles so far in 2009. Blessings to you.

Keep walking!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

15 Minutes In The Bahamas

There's not much computer time available here because we share with all the guests. If I had realized that, I would have brought my laptop! Last night we recovered sleep time after falling asleep to the Chargers overtime win. This is day 2 here for Marianne and me and we have been walking. My total for the 2009 is now 21 miles. And, yes, the food is good AND expensive.

Keep walking!

Friday, January 2, 2009

We're Leaving Imminently

My brother should be here to pick us up in less than 20 minutes. For those who might have been wondering, yes, I am still walking and so far I'm a little behind for 2009. I have walked 5.75 miles as of about 1:30 p.m. January 2. I expect that moving through the airports will catch me up to my expected above 5 miles a day average. Gotta go! Next post will hopefully be from the Bahamas.

Keep walking!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!

We had a great time with family last night and I took my nephews to the bookstore today. I told them getting a book was a great way to start off the new year. I'm amazed that it's 2009 and told them for someone who remembers 1976, our bicentennial, it's even more amazing.

My wife, son and I got home this afternoon and found that our neighbors think a water leak is coming from our place and I've been running around getting ready for the trip to the Bahamas tomorrow. We didn't really anticipate challenges with tasks like doing laundry right before departure. Thankfully a friend of mine and I came to an accomodation with him taking our dog to the boarding place tomorrow. If I win this tournament, he'll be amply rewarded. My goal is to blog every day while I'm away and fill in the readers of Big Man Walking. We shall see. Time to get back to the last minute preparations/complications. Honey's home and we're going to talk with the neighbors who got home, too.

Keep walking!