Entries Tagged as 'Personal Notes'

Diet Update

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I recently had a request for a diet update. It came from someone who knows I’m in no shape to give an update, but that’s why I started this in the first place, so I would be held accountable. Back in February/March I decided to take a break from dieting for a couple of weeks. That couple of weeks just ended two weeks ago. So, my extended break resulted in 15 pounds in the wrong direction. I’m back on now and apparently have someone watching, waiting, yearning for an opportunity to pounce. Ok Tara, I got the point. Thanks for the nudge.

Who’s Yo Daddy?

Last Thursday night my wife and I took our 6 year old son to his first Cub Scout meeting. A recruiter had been to his school trying to garner interest in a local pack. I was once a Cub Scout, so I knew there was great potential for my son in this program. This was an introductory meeting to inform the parents about the program as well as let the kids have some fun. He had a great time, so we joined. I filled out an application to become an adult leader as well.

Where were they?

A disappointing reality emerged as the room filled with adults eager to learn about the program and kids eager to be kids; there was only one other father in the room. The room was filled with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade boys and their mothers. Call me old school, but I fully expected to see a room full of fathers with their sons.

We Need Both Parents

I believe that there are gender specific roles that are extremely important for overall child development. I’m not saying that the mothers should have been at home doing laundry while the fathers were teaching their sons to kill an animal bare handed. I am saying that there should have been a room full of fathers at this meeting. I’m sure that some of them had reasons why they couldn’t attend while others just had excuses.

This meeting was just a small example of a problem that is showing up all across this country. There are numerous problems in today’s society that are merely symptoms of the decay of the normal, involved family. ( Yes, I realize that I just labeled anything other than a family with a mother AND father as abnormal. If the dress fits…) When I say father I’m not necessarily talking about biological father. I have seen firsthand that  just because you can make a baby does not mean that you are fit to raise one. Fathers in America had better step up to the plate and start acting like fathers. If you don’t fill that leadership role for your kids someone or something else will.

Back To Basics

I realize that my readers have come to expect posts on politics, crime and punishment, patriotism, and such. While I am very passionate about these topics, I never intended this blog to be solely dedicated to them. I started this so that I could publish my thoughts on any and all topics. To my fellow Americans who enjoy the patriotic articles, do not fear. I still bleed red, white, and blue. I am going to diversify my topics, however. If you look at some of my earliest articles you will find education, kids, and nostalgia among other topics.

For a while I also included some affiliate programs on Brainwavers. I have removed those as well. I also got caught up in rankings, popularity, SEO, blah, blah, blah. While I know these are important for business, I was putting more effort into PR than into writing. While I may be venturing into some internet business someday, Brainwavers is not it. This is not a job, and I am going to stop treating it like one.

That Feeling

Do you remember the feeling you had just weeks before your high school graduation?

What about getting ready to head out on you own? Away from your parents. Do you remember?

Maybe you have recently changed jobs and there was that strange “I won’t be walking down this hall”, or “I won’t use this coffee pot again” kind of feeling.

Buying your first home, or moving out of your first home into your second.

I’m not talking about any bad feelings. The feelings I’m talking about are ones of excitement; feelings that something that you have known is about to be replaced with something better. A new world is about to open up. A sense that there is something waiting that has barely been tapped.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about by now I don’t know any other way to describe it.

I had those feelings twice today. They weren’t accompanied by any visions or thoughts; just feelings. I know that all of you who have experienced this are sitting there nodding in agreement. All of you who think I’m losing it; I just ask that if you are ever fortunate enough to experience it you will recall reading an article by that crazy guy at Brainwavers and admit that he wasn’t so crazy after all.

Where did it all go?

We just celebrated my daughter’s eighth birthday, and I never had any idea that eight years could pass so rapidly. I was just driving home thinking about some of the events of 2000 and how they seem to have just happened. Here’s a few of the happenings of the year 2000.

We somehow miraculously avoid a global meltdown brought on by Y2K.

The St. Louis Rams defeat the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Superbowl XXXIV in Atlanta. I actually had to watch this one in the hospital because of my daughter’s birth.

Alaskan Airline flight 261 crashes off of the coast of California killing 88 people.

An IED explodes on Wall Street injuring several but killing none.

Vladimir Putin is elected as Russia’s president.

George W. Bush and Al Gore emerge as their parties’ nominees for president.

Microsoft is found guilty of violating antitrust laws.

Federal agents seize Elian Gonzalez from his family’s home in Miami, Fl.

Windows ME is released.

2000 Summer Olympics are held in Sydney, Australia.

The first of the Subway Series, NY Yankees vs. NY Mets world series, is held. The Yankees won the series.

Iraq rejects UN weapons inspections.

George W. Bush is elected President of the United States despite a serious outbreak of hanging chads in Florida. (I hope they have developed a cream for that by now.)

Charles M. Shulz dies.

Recounts or no recounts? That was the question.

I know it’s only going to go faster from here. All I can do is enjoy it.

Easy Redirect Plugin

I recently checked my blog on websitegrader and found that I didn’t have any type of redirect. I searched for how to set up a redirect, but most of the articles assumed that the reader already knew a lot about coding, which I don’t. I finally ran across an article and plugin from Justin Shattuck. I downloaded, installed, and activated the plugin in about 2 minutes. After activating the plugin I went back to websitegrader and rechecked my site. The redirect worked fine and my score had already improved. Thanks for the plugin Justin.

I’m Still Here

I have not been exiled, gone into hiding, been kidnapped, or died. We are in the final stages of building our house. Anytime I’m not at my paying job I’m either working on the  house or sleeping. I have not had time for much else lately. I have not even checked my email since last week, and I definitely have not had time for much research for posts. I fall asleep every night with articles or business ideas running through my head like I’m looking through a kaleidoscope; I just have not had time or energy to pursue any of them. I will try to keep posting every few days, and I will be back full speed soon. Thanks for visiting.