Introductions

Nothing really new to post, I just thought I would introduce you to my family. Some of the blogs I read use real names with a ton of pictures, and some use pseudonyms without any pictures. I began using nicknames, but to tell you the truth sometimes its hard enough to keep their real names straight. So I'm not going to worry about stalkers and share my family with you. I don't have a picture of my wife to share, but she will should pick one out soon. I don't have a picture of me either, so I will use the dog for now. He is better looking than me anyway, and I'm tired of the smoking alpaca.

Anyway, here we go.

This is Owen and Jackson. Owen is the small one with the incredibly round head.

This is Mia. Don't let the beautiful face fool you, she is trouble!

This is Sam, Samson, or Sam Sam. It depends on who you are talking to.

More to come!

Donuts with Dad

Just found out that Mimi had donuts with dad yesterday. Wow, that is depressing! Looks like she didn't know it was anything special which is good. I hate that I'm missing things in my kid's lives. I will never get used to that! I keep telling myself I have a good job, and this travel is not going to last forever. It certainly makes the weekends more special.

On a happy note, O has been walking since New Years. That's what this blogging thing is suppose to be about. He is really turning into monster. Its funny to watch him around other people. He is so reserved, but when he around his brother and sister, he is a madman.

The cat's out of the bag, I broke down and told more people that I have a blog. Hi, to all my new visitors out there. I promise not every post is depressing. I am really going to make an effort to post some pictures this weekend.

Traveling home today, I can't wait!

Travel is fun

Well it started last Wednesday night. There was snow in Atlanta, at least an inch. My travel partners and I decided it was a good idea to show up early at the airport on Thursday. We were schedule to fly at 7 pm that day. We were going to shoot for the 7 am or one shortly after. Upon arriving at the airport, and being greeted by a less than hospitable ticket agent, we found that the first three flights of the day were canceled. They were canceled because there might be bad weather. Give me a break! I might win the lottery, but I'm not ready to quit my job tomorrow. After 7 hours in the Atlanta airport we finally made it home. I didn't find out until I unpacked my bag that I left my shirt at the La Quinta. Nice way to end that implementation. On to Houston.

Man, Houston is depressing! I understand Seattle can be that way because of the gloomy weather, but at least you something to look at. Houston is just Houston. I hope to be out of here in a month.

Weighed yesterday, 237.5 pounds. I gained 4.5 pounds in a two week period. That is actually closer to my accurate weight. Of course, I didn't do any exercise so what do you expect. We'll give another shot for the guilt that the accountability is suppose to be gernerating to begin.

Weight, Birthday, Travel Buddy

Well, the weight thing hasn't gotten off to a fast start. I was in Lubbock all weekend so I didn't have time to weigh on Sunday morning. At best there was probably no change. I had too much birthday cake and Taco Villa to have lost any weight.



Speaking of Taco Villa, we had that for my birthday lunch. It was nice, my sister-in-law bought me a cake and everything. I was actually flying to Atlanta on birthday. I guess Atlanta's present to me was to get me through baggage claim as fast as possible. My bag was the fourth on turnstile.



I am going to break into a sports analogy now. I think I have always looked at life like a home run hitter. Always looking to smash the ball over the fence no matter what kind of pitch it was or where it was located. I am only happy with the home run, I'm not interested in singles or doubles. The problem with that logic is that I am closer to a Jason Tyner (1 career home run) than Barry Bonds (pre or post steroids). I am trying to take some enjoyment from the smaller things in life. I don't need the lottery, my freaking suitcase was one of the first ones off the plane. That may not be a smash over center field. It is more like I went with the curve ball on the outside part of the plate. Sure I grounded out to second, but I moved the runner from second to third putting him a position to score on a sacrifice fly. Its the kind of thing that doesn't show up in the box score. Enjoy the smaller things in life.



There is a new #1 travel partner. Knocking off Rowdy Roddy Piper is the great Dan Reeves. Coach Reeves is one of my all-time favorite coaches.

Hopefully I will finally get those pictures up sometime this week.

New Year's Necessity

I am not making a New Years Resolution. I am making a New Years Necessity. Everyone wants to lose weight at the beginning of the new year, but I need to lose weight. I weighed in on Sunday morning before I flew to Atlanta. I have to say the results weren't great, but it was actually a little better than I thought it would be. I guess staying off the road helps my wasteline. Anyway, I don't really have a plan, so I'm not off to a great start. I did some push-ups and sit-ups this week. I didn't find out until this morning that the hotel I am at has a small workout room. Its not much, but it does have a treadmill. I guess we will see how committed I am beginning next week. I am going to post my progress here every week. I hope the blog will hold me accountable. After all I don't want to disappoint both my readers.

At the beginning of week 1, I weighed in at 233 pounds. Wow, that hurts me to say that!

My wife is doing WW, which she has done incredibly well with, and I think their first goal is to lose 20%. So, 20% of my total weight is 46 pounds. That would put me at 187, and that really is about where I want to be. Since that is going to put me close to my final weight I may have to rethink that goal. It seems like I need a few in between. Of course, I may get to 187 and still need to lose, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I also need to think of a time frame. I don't know what is realistic, and what is selling myself a little short. I'll talk to the queen of weight loss and come back with some concrete goals.

Hunting

I shot a 10 point buck last weekend. Actually that is why there has been a delay in posting. I was hoping to get a picture posted of him, but that will have to wait. All in all it was a good hunting season. We saw several bucks that were bigger than they were in years past. That area has seen a lot of rainfall, and you notice the benefit it has had on these animals. My brother-in-law shot an eleven, and my father-in-law shot a huge ten. It was actually the deer I wanted, but I really shouldn't complain. He is generous enough to let me hunt for basically nothing. He can shoot what he wants, but I had to give him a hard time about it.

I really enjoy hunting, at least I think I enjoy it. It is nice to spend some time outside in the middle of nowhere. (You can't believe the amount of stars that you can see at night) It is interesting to watch the deer interact with each other. I like the rush of adrenaline when you see a big buck, and the anxious moments waiting until you will have a shot. Even the disappointment when it doesn't work out. We have cameras set up at the feeders, and I love seeing what happens when I am not there. You learn to identify different animals, and it helps you decide which animal to take. The only part I have a problem with is the actual shooting of the deer. So does that make me any less of a hunter? I can't figure out what I am feeling from the time I pull the trigger to the time I collect the deer. I guess it is the fact that I am taking a life. I just can't put a finger on it. Maybe I will figure it out someday.

I will continue to go every year, if no other reason than to spend time with Dad (that what the grandkids call him). I married the oldest of his three daughters. Jenn says that he likes spending time with me because he always wanted a boy. Whatever the case, we have a good time and now my oldest has been going with us. In the mean time, I will wait 10 months for my new trophy to be hung on the wall.