I AIN'T AS GOOD AS I ONCE WAS
Saturday August 27, 10:30 pm
I started to ask if any of you have ever heard a refrain from a song and have it stick in your mind? However, such a question would be superfluous because (of course) we have all had that happen to us. For me... I awoke this morning with one particular line from a country song (of all things) being played over and over in my mind.
Now, dementia has not yet set in so I am still not a great fan of that genre but upon occasion I get a “hankerin” to listen to something other than the type of music I usually enjoy. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I found myself in a place where country music was being played and I heard a song I thought was sort of fun and besides that I felt that I could relate to what was being sung.
The words I heard then and awoke to this morning are in a song which is sang by Toby Keith and the particular refrain I kept hearing in my mind was... “I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was.”
In this song the singer finds himself in certain situations where as a younger man he might even have excelled in those areas and he realizes that he can still do all of those things now, as an older guy... but, maybe only once? I said that I could relate to that because I find that I can still do anything I could have done as a younger man, and maybe as well... but, I just can't do it as often! (lol)
Shaw stated that, “youth is wasted on the young.” I don't know that I believe that exactly... but I do think it is probably not appreciated by the young. The things my body responded to so easily as a younger man... I now have to work much harder to accomplish. I guess I am at that awkward age that Kinky Friedman spoke about. “I'm too young for Medicare and too old for girls too care.” Yeah, I guess that old Kinky Friedman is a sage after all.
LOVE STINKS
Tuesday August 23, 2011 5:57 am
In many ways I guess I have lived a charmed life surrounded by people who have told me they “love me.” Even from an early age I have heard those words said to me many times and from several different people. Now, older and looking backward at my youth I believe that at least some of those who said that particular phrase (I love you) to me were probably confusing “love” with some other emotion which is probably similar to love and could be confused with that emotion.
True love (I think) is most probably an extremely rare occurrence. But, people are so used to saying those words for just about anything that it has simply lost its meaning. I was in the break-room the other day and I heard a snippet of conversation from three girls I have never met and in the course of a two or three minute conversation I heard them say how much they “love” certain types of food and then how they “love” some television show they all regularly watch and one of them... “really, really loves” one of the guys on that same show!
I do have a point to make but I am finding it hard to find a way to introduce what I am wanting to say. The day before yesterday I had a person I haven't known that long say those words to me. I was hoping they wouldn't because I never know how I am supposed to react. I mean... “Thank you” doesn't seem adequate, but I certainly couldn't reciprocate so I always just feel uncomfortable. I don't want to minimize the way anyone believes they feel about another, but I just find it hard to accept that love is that easy a commodity to find. Besides, it seems to me that someone always ends up hurt whenever they say that to another person anyway. I know it is supposed to be a good feeling, but (at least) for this morning I think true love is more like Adam Sandler (The Wedding Singer) and his own version of the classic song... “love stinks!” (lol)
ENVIOUS OR SORROWFUL?
Wednesday August 17, 2011 7:57 am
I was a little conflicted this morning as I began my ride. The first thing I realized was that I wasn't dressed warm enough: tee-shirt and shorts was not getting it on this chilly morning. I knew I would have to pedal hard for a little while in order to warm up. At the six mile mark on this particular route there is one hill that I knew if I wasn't warm by then... I would be by the time I crested the hill: it worked like a charm.
The reason I said I was conflicted at first was that as I was leaving our little city behind and heading into the countryside I saw that almost every home I was passing was still closed up for the night with drapes all drawn... and I wondered about the people in these homes who can apparently sleep with ease and I felt somewhat envious of the unnamed souls in those houses. But, as I really started looking around, soon I felt differently.
The sky already had some light but the Sun had not yet climbed high enough to make an appearance: so the big, white, Moon was still clearly visible: also over all of the low lying pasture fields a heavy white fog had them all but blotted out.
I could feel my legs beginning to burn as I forced myself on but it was a good and not a bad feeling. Off to my right and in a break in the fog I saw a large wild turkey strutting along. I see them every once in awhile but usually they are in small groups. This guy, or gal... had ventured out on its own. I called out to him but he completely ignored me and kept moving toward whatever goal he had set for himself.
A little later I first heard... that unmistakable sound that precedes a gaggle of geese and I looked up and saw a perfect “V” formation these birds so often form, and I knew that they would soon be directly overhead. Inexplicably, just as they were passing overhead their formation broke and for a little ways they were in a long straight line, I counted 18 of them as they noisily flew on their way.
At my turnaround point as the fog was lifting and off to my left in a field far below there were four deer... all doe's, scampering and playing in the wet grass. Most probably there was a buck nearby keeping watch, but if he was there I didn't see him this morning.
With the early morning Moon still apparent, even in a light sky... the heavy, wet, fog hanging over everything: turkey, geese, deer, and my heavy breathing with exhales of white plume and my legs on fire... I understood that it was a good morning to be alive! Now, instead of feeling envy for those who sleep so long and easily... I felt badly for them knowing what all they missed this morning by sleeping in. Now... to any of my sleepyhead friends who reads this and was still slumbering at 5:30 this morning... don't you wish you could have been biking with me to see and enjoy what all I saw and enjoyed (:
Time Is Growing Short
Tuesday August 16, 2011 9:50 am
A little while ago I finished a very good bike ride on this crisp and beautiful morning. I followed that by a complete workout at home with my weights and I am now sipping on my early juice for this morning as my reward. Today's "mean-green drink" I juiced consists of a bunch of kale, 3 stalks of celery, one apple, 1/2 lemon, a piece of fresh ginger-root, and 1/2 of a large cucumber... mmmmm, good!
I have 88 days until my birthday and I want to have all of the physical goals I set for myself on January 1 of this year accomplished. Originally I had given myself the full calendar year to get everything completely done... now though, I am a little more impatient to finish. Besides, I would like to have a piece of chocolate cake for my birthday as a reward for my efforts. So... I have to work even a little harder to make certain I am there at that time. Right now I have 30 days until my first iron-man sprint and 60 days until I am back on the trail at Burnheim. Hopefully, if all goes well, I will post some before and after pictures on November 12.
I was never a big fan of being shirtless even when I was a younger man and could have gotten away with it. That being said... I might? I might? I might...do that then for this blog. The biggest deterrent though for me not doing that is an old joke I first heard about 20 years ago from Drew Carey in one of his stand-up comedy routines. He talked about an old guy strolling the beach with out a shirt and wondering aloud ... "Where are all the girls?"
And Drew said, "They are all over in the bushes puking their guts out!" (lol) Pretty funny stuff!
Anyway... at that time if I am either brave or stupid enough to do that... I will post a warning at the top of the blog so you can either skip that post or get ready to run to the bathroom (:
As an aside I will tell you that the juice I made this morning actually tastes rather good... but the color of it is a sickly green and it leaves a skim on the inside of the glass tumbler... yuck. I just realized that as I finished it off (:
TEAR IT OFF... OR EASE IN SLOWLY
Thursday August 11th 10:33 am
I need to find out which camp most of my readers are in, and by knowing this you might be able to help me. I think I can find out by asking just a couple of questions. I will give you just two scenarios. First: try to remember back to when you were a kid and there was some sort of scrape or cut which required a bandage. Okay... do you have that memory firmly in mind? When the bandage had to be removed and you knew (because the blood had dried and congealed) that some healthy tissue was going to come off along with the bandage: did you tear it off quickly... or did you, ever-so-slowly peel it away?
Secondly: did you ever climb a fence or sneak into park pools after hours... or was that only me? (lol) Anyway... on the sly or not, when you first entered waters that you knew were going to be very cold... did you, ever-so-slowly ease into the pool: or did you just dive in and get it over with quickly?
Alright, now that's my two scenarios to find out what all of you think is the best way to get past something that (at first) will be unpleasant, but you know rewards will soon follow. I mean, even with the cut or scrape and the bandage being removed, at first pain... but healing soon follows. At first, there is biting and numbing cold when you enter frigid waters... soon though, the joy of swimming becomes the reward.
Now, one final question for this blog. If you have to do or say something which will not be received well and will cause hurt... do you come straight to the point and get it done quickly, or do you dance around a little and hope everyone catches on? I will give you two examples, and you tell me which one works best.
The captain of an Army unit has just been informed that one of the soldiers under his command has lost his mother by a heart attack. Okay... here are two ways of giving the soldier this news.
First: the captain calls Kowalski (this is the soldier who is now motherless) to his office and he says: “Soldier, at 0700 hours yesterday morning your mother dropped dead of an apparent heart attack... you have my condolences. Dismissed.” Now, that is rather blunt but there is no denying that the message was received.
Secondly: the captain calls for all of the soldiers in Kowalski's barracks to fall out for an inspection. After all of the men are in a long line standing side-by-side the captain says: “Alright men, all of you who have mothers who are still living, take one step forward. (pause) NOT SO FAST there Kowalski!” Though a little more subtle... I suppose this does get the point across.
Anyway, I am planning something that (at first) will be unpleasant and I need some help. So, do I tear it off, or ease in slowly? Do I become blunt... or beat around the bush? I wish I knew!
At times I think I see things with crystal-clarity, and I KNOW what I need to do... other times though I feel as confused as Curt Gowdy of NBC fame made his viewers feel when a ball game went into extra innings and he announced: “The 'Tonight Show' has been canceled, the 'Tomorrow Show' will be seen later tonight, and the 'Today Show' will be seen tomorrow.”
Sometimes it seems to me that my life is an Abbott and Costello and “Who's on first?” skit. In case you haven't seen that particular skit I will include a link which will need to be copied and pasted for viewing: these guys were really good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M
It's funny as a skit, but not as funny when decisions have to be made and I am not sure what is the least painful... and the best way to make these decisions. Help (:
Mishmash
Thursday August 4, 2011 -- 6:07 am
All of you reading my recent blogs know I have been trying to exercise for awhile in order to get ready for some upcoming events I have planned and am trying to accomplish. In September I will do my first iron-man sprint. Then, in October I am back to hiking the trail in Burnheim Forest that nearly killed me in March of this year... seriously. On my birthday in November I am doing my third mini-marathon and all of this is a prelude to my desire to run in next year's iron-man event that Bob completed last month.
I have been biking, hiking, swimming, running (ugh) and trying to eat right: in other words … except for one area of my life ): … I have been living like a monk. However, all of that might change for me as yesterday, Kathy emailed some information to me from a doctor. I mean, if a doctor says it then it must be right? Anyway, I thought I would pass this great information along to you... all of my faithful readers. What follows is from the great, Dr. Chang!
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No pain...good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food are fried these day in vegetable oil. In fact, they permeated by it. How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?
Q:Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me...
Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets (:
Whoever said that television is a waste of time never saw the quote I did on one of the shows I saw the end of last evening. I think it caused me to dream another unwanted and very sad dream. Well, to be fair it wasn't the dream exactly which was sad... it was waking to the reality that it was just a dream is where the sadness begins... nonetheless, the following truism hit home. So, I thought I would pass this along to all of you as well.
“There are things we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.” ~Author Unknown~
