Fiyah powah!

My last post was about fueling your body, wood or trash? I wanted to expand on that.

Go with me on this. These tasty BBQ is your end result. What do you need? FIRE!!! So how do you build it? Do you get some charcoal and lots of lighter fluid to start it? Do you find the best wood around, get kindling and nurture the fire to the best coals you can get?

Where is this going? A student asked me how do I gain weight? I asked him how many calories are you eating a day? Turns out he was at his maintenance level. He would NEVER gain weight at this level. I asked if he knew what his Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) was, he didn't. You want to find this out so you can determine how many calories you need to eat to lose or gain weight. I asked if he knew how many macros he was consuming, he had no clue. That's when I brought up the fire.

So back to the BBQ. I told him to get a tasty BBQ you need to add kindling to start your fire. Kindling is like your Carbs, quick to burn. You can add some lighter fluid to help get things started, supplements, but too much and you spoil your fire.

As the fire gets going you add larger pieces of wood, fats, they have lots of stored energy but you can not start a fire with them. You can change the flavor of the meat with wood chips, proteins. They build the flavor profile, again you can start a fire with them but they are better used to build and enhance. A little Pecan chips mixed with some Apple wood thrown into your mesquite fire greatly changes the way the meat tastes. Proteins can even be the spices and marinades you use to enhance the flavor. Proteins are critical in getting what you want out of your workout. They are the building blocks of the body and if you are not getting enough then your body does not function correctly.

Though out your BBQ, you must tend to your fire. Just as you must tend to what you eat. It is easy to get lazy, buy some charcoal briquets and cook. It gets the job done, but to get a good BBQ you never, never use charcoal, only real woods. So you can do the quick and easy way of fast foods and easy quick microwaved meals, they get the job done. Are they your BEST choice? Let's be honest, do you really think that fast foods will help you achieve your body goals? That's what I thought. Choose your foods well, don't be satisfied with something fast. Losing/Gaining weight takes time, just as in building a fire. Slow and steady wins the race. In the end when you build the right fire you and you have waited 10-12 hours for that succulent brisket it is so worth it. Same is true when you spend years eating right, exercising daily and taking care of your body you are rewarded with the best you there can ever be.

Dammit! now I want some good smoked BBQ. Anyone have any Mesquite?

It is called fast food because it speeds you to the grave. -Chuin

It's only 300 calories.

A cord of wood 4ftx4ftx8ft

                                                                                         Trash 4ftx4ftx8ft











Both of these are the same in volume. So they are the same, right? They both burn, right? Just as a calorie is a calorie, right? Well, just because something has 300 calories doesn't mean it's good for you. Just as both of the pictures above will keep you warm on cold night. Which would you rather have in your fire place at night or using to cook your food? So, why would you choose a fast food meal just because it's claimed to be "healthy" and "a low calorie substitution?" Personally, I would much rather use the wood to use in my BBQ pit. Yes, it does have some things that are not good for you, but it is much, much cleaner to burn than trash. Who knows what is in that pile of trash?  Yet, some people would rather eat trash because it tastes good, it's easier to get, you get more for your buck, blah blah blah. Yet, a more nutrient dense meal will provide more for you. People will scoff at a clean meal. "it has no flavor!" "It cost too much!" bah blah blah.  Yet, burn the wood, it will burn hotter and longer than the trash.

Look at what you are eating, can you say what you are ingesting? Does the ingredient list have more than 3 items? Does your diet comprise of numerous trips to McBurger Queen and StoreBooks? Take my advice with a grain of salt. I am not telling you that you must eat a vegan diet or your going to die!!! Eat what you want, its your body. It's a temple, if you choose to trash your temple, that is on you. Good luck!

the ongoing battle with fat loss

So how many commercials or infomercials about weight loss have you been bombarded with just today? I'd bet a lot! Let me get this out now. THERE IS NO FAST WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT!!!

Whew! That's off my chest. I hear all the time especially from those close to me that they need to lose X amount of weight in the next month or in the next 10 days. It can't happen!!! Be happy with your body and work with what you have. Most people are over critical about themselves, Repeat this to your self, "I am beautiful!" Say that over and over to yourself. Don't say it, then say, but I need to lose this or if only this wasn't so jiggly. When you are happy with yourself you can do more.

Most people live in a constant state of dehydration. Those crazy headaches that you get for no reason is your body screaming at you saying GIVE ME WATER!!! If you are thirsty, you are way low on water.  Yes, you will have to go more to the bathroom, when you first start taking in more water, but he human body will adjust.

Funny thing about the human body. When it's low on water, it holds more, you feel bloated. Solution, drink more water it releases all the excess and you feel better. Same is true with eating. Most people who are "trying to lose weight" restrict themselves from eating. Guess what the human body does? It keeps everything you do eat to protect itself. I would bet that you are below what you need to survive right now.

"Well I eat 1200 Calories a day!" A calorie is only a unit of measurement to determine how much heat is needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram water ONE DEGREE CELIUS. It takes 3500 calories to burn ONE POUND of fat!!! Does that mean stop eating? Go workout for 5 hours? How about eating better? Working out out smarter?  Forget the calorie counting! If you eat clean, veggies and leaner meat you will see a HUGE difference. Restrict the amount of grease that you eat. You need fats to survive. In fact eating fats will aid you n exercise. That does not mean eat a pound of bacon before you go workout as tasty as that may be. Try this 40% Protein, 40% Carbs, 20% Fat. This can be adjusted to 40/30/30. With a diet like this, YOU MUST EXERCISE!!!! Sitting on your BUTT will only make your butt bigger!!

Why the higher protein? Protein helps with the building of muscles. Muscle burn fat. So the bigger your muscles the more fat they burn. Ladies, you will NEVER get muscles as big as a man. You do no have enough testosterone to support that muscle growth. However, if you do start to lift weights you will burn more fat. Spending an hour on an elliptical will help but not as fast as lifting heavier weights. So lose that mentality of if i lift I'll look like a man!

It will take some time. If you are trying to lose weight after a pregnancy, remember it took 9 months to put the weight on it will not come off in a month. If you are tired of the weight gain same thing, it took years to gain the weight, it won't "melt" off of you.

You will not get everything you need from your regular foods, you might have to supplement. Do your research, just because you see flashy ads about people dropping weight FAST doesn't mean its the best. "Mira, Juanita is using BRAND X and she lost 200lbs in 2months!" I call BS!!!  I steered clear of supplements for some time. I did my research and found a great line that does work. If you want to know please message me and I'll be more than happy to tell you what I use and have put my wife and family on with great results.

Man in motion

As Head Instructor of a Martial Arts School, I get asked health related questions all the time. What should I eat before class? What is a good way to lose/gain weight? I am SO sore, how do I stretch this muscle? I can answer all of these and more. Why?

I am fortunate because in a previous life I worked for a Health Club as an Certified Personal Trainer (ACE Certified) and in a Physical Therapist's office as a PT Tech.  I also hold an Assoc. AND a Bachelor's in Kinesiology. 

Let me warn you, what is passing for Personal Trainers today is sad. Anyone, I mean anyone can pay as low as $69.95 for an ONLINE course and boom, you get a certification to print out at home.  Ask what degrees and certifications they hold.  Look for ASCM, NSCA, NASM, ACE, AFFA and CI. These require months of intense study and require continuing education to keep said certification.

Why the rant on Certifications and Education? Lately EVERYONE is a self proclaimed health expert because they say, "the internet said" this is the latest and greatest exercise. "The internet says" don't eat this much or this food. So because some wahoo says something worked for them all of a sudden they are the guru of fitness. Yes, there is a lot of good info out on the internet. Just make sure it is a trusted source.

Man in motion by Leonardo DaVinci

The human body is quite a miracle. It works on a simple principle, put energy in you get energy out. I've always have compared the body to a car in a sense. You need to put gasoline in your car to get anywhere, right? Same with your body, you HAVE to eat(gasoline) for your body to function. You can not take a road trip without stopping at the gas station at some point in your trip.

The human body requires anywhere from 1600-2800 calories per day to MAINTAIN current weight. Why the 1600 calorie difference? Because EVERYONE is different. Some people are sedentary and require less, some are VERY active and require more.

There is a population of people that believe that if I don't eat I can lose weight. These are the same people who say, "I just don't have enough energy! I need something to perk me up." NO!!! You NEED to eat! People gain weight for two main reasons, Either they are eating TOO much and not doing anything or not eating enough and can't do anything. The human body works off this, I eat for energy and need to do something with this energy. I can move and burn it off or do nothing and STORE the energy for later.  There it is, the root of the problem, most people do nothing. They hope that a magic pill will come and take their fat away. As I said earlier you have to eat AND do something, like walk, ride a bike, run, martial arts, canoe, jumping jacks, etc... you get my point. You have to MOVE!!! The human body was designed to move not to sit for hours on end.

I am being very simplistic and not delving into types of food or certain diets or exercise regimes. To stay with my car analogy, the higher the octane the cleaner the fuel. So the more natural your food is the better it is for you. Stay away from the Fast Food places. Back in the day they were closer to natural, but now they are a den of processed madness.

There is so much more I can go into. One of my favorite classes was Exercise Physiology, we went in depth of how the body utilizes the energy you intake. I plan on going further in later posts.

Live Life!!!!!

Shave and a haircut, 2 Bits

After sitting in a Barber shop for 2 hours today. My mind reached for ways to pass the time. I was messing with my phone for a while but I really miss the older days of cutting up with the Barber/Hairstylist. A good Barber Shop will have a group of characters. There will always be a discussion of sports, politics and women.

My first memory of a barber shop was one on Ayers Street in Corpus. I remember the leather strop to sharpen razor blades hanging off the chairs. I asked Dad what was it for, the barber didn't miss a beat, "to give noisy kids spankings!"

Years later, my Mom would take us to see Sandra at Mr. Louie's. She cut our hair for years. She became a close family friend. Whenever Dad would take us, I always noticed he would close his eyes. I never understood why Dad would sit in the chair and close his eyes, almost sleep while getting his hair cut.

As I got older, I ran into a hairstylist named, Tammy, at Louie Louie's. Yes, the same guy open both places. She seemed to know me in a chatty, flirty way. Had I met her before? I really don't think so, I REALLY would have remembered her. Tammy cut my hair for YEARS in Corpus. It got to a point that I didn't have to tell her how I wanted my hair cut, let it be known, I never crossed the line with her. She was my Barber/Hairstylist.

As I got older I ventured into getting professional shaves. If you have never had a professional straight razor shave, do it. It is so relaxing. At first I could not stand the hot towel, or the sound of the blade across my face. By the way, I HATE shaving. yet I love getting a real shave. Weird huh?

Now as I go to get a haircut I see why Dad would close his eyes. It is a very relaxing getting your haircut, when you trust the person cutting your hair. Something today told me I should have walked out. Usually everyone is great where I get my haircut. The guy who cut mine today looked like he had been at work a little too long and he stayed out a little too late. He was jonesing hard for a cigarette and his phone was buzzing away with text messages. I'm not happy with my haircut. So the question is now, go back and have them fix it, fix it myself or wear a hat until my next hair cut. It's not bad just not what I wanted. I was pissed off after waiting 2 hours, so I paid and walked out. So now do I find a new place?

It's a beautiful day!!!

Driving back from dropping Venus off at work and this song came on the radio.  On our way I noticed people driving crazy, honking horns and cutting people off. This song reminded me that, It's your choice! You can think of all the bad things in your life. Yet, it IS a beautiful day. The sun is still going to rise. So what that they ran out of your favorite coffee at the Quicky Mart, the birds are still singing. It's a beautiful day don't let it get away. 

Your problems are small in the grand scheme of things. Will getting to work 10mins late really affect the outcome of the day? Well, it could affect how you see things. Those extra 10 mins in traffic could have been enjoying the sunrise, that crazy looking cloud that looked like a funky flamingo. You didn't see that one? Smile, enjoy your day. Trust me there are much bigger problems in the world. It IS a beautiful day, don't let it get away!

It's a Beautiful Day - U2

The heart is a bloom
Shoots up through the stony ground
There's no room
No space to rent in this town

You're out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
And you're not moving anywhere

You thought you'd found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace

It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

You're on the road
But you've got no destination
You're in the mud
In the maze of her imagination

You love this town
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over
And it's been all over you

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day

Weekend at my Grandpa's

In an attempt to resurrect my blog I will be reposting a few OLD posts. I spoke of a few about my Grandpa, here is the first. Enjoy!!

Reposted from May 11, 2008

This weekend I got to spend the weekend with my Grand father. My uncle took my grandmother to Dallas to visit.  My Grandfather didn't want to go so I was charged with watching over him.  It sounds weird, huh?  Me taking care of an 89 year old man.  I felt bad that I had to leave this afternoon.  We was so happy to have me there.  We went to lunch yesterday and he insisted on paying.  I took movies over to watch. He got a kick out of my favorite movie, The Three Amigos.  I ended up sleeping on the couch, oh my back and my neck!  Does anyone know a good masseuse?  I woke up late felt good to sleep late.  Funny thing, I never knew how much my Grandfather influenced me. WE went to luch and ordered the same thing.  I didn't  asked what he was getting and I was surprised when he ordered. It was hard to leave but I had to get home to get ready for work. I could tell that he wanted me to stay again. 

What was funny was talking to my Grandmother after! I didn't get to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. so I was telling her about the HUGE party Grandpa and I through. We had all kinds of fun while she was a away. Then I said, he didn't tell you? Even about the dancing girls? she had the biggest laugh!!

Nerdy Mosquitoes

When I was growing up my parents bought me an Encyclopedia set. When I got bored I would pick a volume and read it. Yes, I read encyclopedias for fun. That's why I have so much random crap in my head.  Included with the standard set was a kid's set called Childcraft Encyclopedias. I would read them all the time. Seems I'm not the only one. Check this out.

One of the stories I read YEARS ago popped into my head with all this talk of West Nile. It was in Stories and Fables and was titled:

How Mosquitoes came to be

A Tlingit Legend

Long time ago there was a giant who loved to kill humans, eat their flesh, and drink their blood. He was especially fond of human hearts. "Unless we can get rid of the giant," people said, "none of us will be left," and they called a council to discuss ways and means. One man said, "I think I know how to kill the monster," and he went to the place where the giant had last been seen. There he lay down and pretended to be dead.
Soon the giant came along. Seeing the man lying there, he said: "These humans are making it easy for me. Now I don't even have to catch and kill them; they die right on my trail, probably from fear of me! "The giant touched the body. Ah, good, he said, "this one is still warm and fresh. What a tasty meal he'll make; I can't wait to roast his heart." The giant flung the man over his shoulder, and the man let his head hang down as if he were dead.
Carrying the man home, the giant dropped him in the middle of the floor right near the fireplace. Then he saw that there was no firewood, and went to get some. As soon as the monster had left, the man got up and grabbed the giant's huge skinning knife.
Just then the giant's son came in, bending low to enter. He was still small as giants go, and the man held the big knife to his throat. "Quick, tell me, where's your father's heart? Tell me or I'll slit your throat!" The giant's son was scared. He said: "My father's heart is in his left heel."
Just then the giant's left foot appeared in the entrance, and the man swiftly plunged the knife into the heel. The monster screamed and fell down dead. Yet, the giant still spoke. "Though I'm dead, though you killed me, I'm going to keep on eating you and all the humans in the world forever!"
"That's what you think!" said the man. "I'm about to make sure that you never eat anyone again." He cut the giant's body into pieces and burned each one in the fire. Then he took the ashes and threw them into the air for the winds to scatter. Instantly each of the particles turned into a mosquito. The cloud of ashes became a cloud of mosquitoes, and from their midst the man heard the giant's voice laughing, saying: "Yes, Ill eat you people until the end of time. "As the monster spoke, the man felt a sting, and a mosquito started sucking his blood, and then many mosquitoes stung him, and he began to scratch himself.

How to build a wall.

You have no idea how many times this speech has come into my life. Every time I hear it, I can hear my Dad's voice instead of Stallone's. Just in case you don't want to watch the video here's the text:

 

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!

I have had many adversities in my life. Yet, I am still here. I have literally lived off ramen noodles and mac n cheese. Yet somehow, I pulled through. Now as I feel as if I am standing on the edge of a pit, waiting for that breeze of wind to add that final push that will hurdle me to oblivion. I come across this video again. It brought me to a good place. One where I realize that I AM moving forward no matter what!

As I watched it, I see off to the side a video from Tony Robbins. He goes on to talk about when you feel that nothing is going your way, you are just off my a millimeter. Just a millimeter...hmm? That's it! I am looking at the whole picture and not just the one thing that is front of me!  Think about that for a minute. A millimeter is small, but if you take that millimeter diversion and follow it off your original path you will end up at an entirely different destination.  Ahh, Don't look at the whole picture just focus on what is in front of you! Wait a minute! I've heard this before. I speak it every day to the kid's in my classes.

I watched another, a series of interviews with Will Smith and his ideas of how to achieve success. In it he speaks of a time when his father tore down a wall. Will and his brother had to rebuild the wall. He thought it was an impossible task to rebuild a wall. Then he thought, what if I focus on laying each and every brick perfectly and exactly? In the end you get a perfect and exact wall.

Where does this lead me?? No longer will I wallow in misery. No longer will I blame others for my mistakes. I can no longer wait for success to come to me. I have the power, he he, to make all my dreams come true. I lay my trust in my God, for He knows the path I should follow. As I journey through this undiscovered land I come once again to this,

Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7  
This scripture has a deeper meaning to me.

As I was feeling that all doors were being shut in my face, I realized that all I had to do was just ask. I sat for a while brooding as why I felt everything was crumbling around me. It wasn't! I was looking at the wall I had to build and not just the brick(stone). Time to spend some time and work the roughness off my stone and work it into a perfect Ashlar. Hmm? Is there a deeper meaning here? Of course there is!

Would you be ready?

Would you be ready for the lights to go out? I've thought about this one for a long time. Most people today are not ready for an event such as this. Would you know how to feed your family? How about find water? Cook food WITHOUT electricity. Electricity is in EVERYTHING we do now. It's hasn't even been 60 some years that we went from an truly agricultural society to a technological society. If my phone dies I am toast. I should write things down like SSN's, birth dates, other important info but it's so easy to store it digitally. Society will fall. Read Lord of the Flies, watch The Postman or The Mist and you will see how society will act. 

What do you do? Get some strike anywhere matches and a few quart baggies.  Put the matchbox in one baggy. Fill another with DRYER lint. Get you some steel wool and a few 9 volts(they stay good FOREVER). All of these can be used to make a roaring fire.keep each of these separate, especially the steel wool and the batteries.

Do this now, read up on how to purify water. The simplest way is boiling, hence the fire. Read up on building or finding shelter. You don't know if your house will remain safe. 

Always carry a bandana not to align yourself with the Crips or the Bloods but it is a fast way to drink "clean" water. I put clean in quotes because you are not safe from water borne diseases but you won't drink mud. The bandana will also protect you from the elements such as wind and sun. 

Cover yourself from head to toe in layers. People are generally nice until something is taken away from them. So learn to protect yourself. I am not advertising this TV show it just got me thinking. There is more to survival in the wilderness.

I am so wrapped around her little finger.

Bella on her glider swing.

Walked in today from Kung Fu classes and Venus says that Bella is having a hard time going to sleep. She was asking for Daddy. I go in and...she is excited to see Daddy. She reaches out, puts her hand on the side of my head and whispers, "I love you Daddy." Awww, I melted! She then says, "I have a surprise for you when I wake up. I drew a picture for you." She is growing up too fast! I can;t believe that she will be THREE in a couple of days. 

BTW, She figured out how to use her tricycle today.

On a side note, I weighed in at 163lbs today.

24 days? Thats all it takes?

As many of you know, I once was in the Fitness industry. I NEVER, repeat, NEVER endorsed supplements. Here I am several years later and I can say I'm a believer. I started the Advocare 24 Day Challenge back in March of this year. I started at 181lbs and dropped to 164lbs.  This was doing nothing more than my normal routine and following the plan to the letter.

I wondered what would have happened IF I would have done extra workouts or started to run? Mind you the 24 Day Challenge is not a magic pill that you sit on your coach and the fat melts away. You have to eat right AND do some exercise. 

These products are endorsed by the likes of Drew Brees and Colt McCoy.  Visit www.sparkignited.org and look at the list of athletes that take and endorse these supplements. 

I say the proof is in the picture. I could not find a good enough picture of just before I started, but i can tell you that I was at or near 180lbs in the picture with the brown shirt.  The other picture, those shorts can slide off me.  If you would like to drop a few pounds visit www.sparkignited.org to order products.

There is another side, you can save AND earn some $ by becoming a distributor too. Ask me how.
Email me at info@sparkignited.org

So excited ;-)

Today we received some very good news. Before I saw I'll step back into history. I wrote a few months ago about pregnancies that did not take.

A few weeks ago Venus showed me a POSITIVE pregnancy test.  Of course I was excited! Both of us wanted to be sure. We waited and waited for a Dr's appt. Sonogram came back VERY good. We heard a heartbeat, whew! So we scheduled our next appt and waited. To see our regular Dr, I say "our" like I'm being seen.  All I get to do is drive, hold the purse and hand the lady my Credit Card,  Venus has the hard part. I digress, we had to travel to the other side of the world, Shertz, TX to see our, Venus' Dr. If you pay attention to the GPS it will tell you you are in "skirts" I didn't see many skirts.

They did and ultrasound and...172bmp and we got to see arms and legs! Woohoo!! Dr said that if we are this far along and the baby has that strong a heartbeat then it's time to schedule subsequent appts and when we get to meet this little one.

We have no idea if this one will be a King or a Queen, if you haven't caught on to our daughter's names they are named after great Queens from history. If you ask Bella, she says she wants a baby sister. Bethy says, a baby. But that's the difference a year makes. Look for December baby pics.

Side note, I sang the first line of Bohemian Rhapsody, Bella sang the next two lines. WOW!!!

I think I'm in the wrong business!

The old Army ad said, "We more before 9am than most do all day." I can say that today I lived that slogan. I visited FOUR daycares and picked up paperwork from the Dr.

Why?

Our current daycare in my opinion is in decline. When I first moved here we were happy at the amount of money we were saving. The staff was attentive to our daughter. As our family grew, they were very accomodating. The girls were happy. I started noticing some of the people we were very pleased with were leaving. Also seeing a high turnover rate. Hmmm? Clue 1!

In June of this year, Pooks turned 2 which should have decreased our tuition. Our tuition INCREASED? it made sense so we accpted it. Not more than 2MONTHS later there is a notice that rates are INCREASING across the board. WTF? I complained an the Center Director did some calculating showed me a calculator said here's your rate. It was $15/week higher, we grumbled but accepted it. Late September, I'm shown a paper with our tuition on it. A couple of missing payments (I only use my check book in two places) a rate HIGHER and LATE FEES. My face must have been readable from space because the Director immediately said I'll check into this. Time passes. Clue 2!

Yesterday I'm shown a paper with a rate that looks EVEN HIGHER! i'm told "oh that rate is incorrect. I don't know why its like that?". I contain myself from exploding. I send an email stating my disatifaction. Are we encouraged to stay? Was there a, hey lets looks this over? We've cared for your children for over year how can we fix this? No! It's almost like hey pay us what you owe and theres the door!

I know there are good Martial Arts schools out there and bad Martial Arts school out there. I try to be fair wifh all my students. I do not want to make any of them feel as if I am forcing them to choose between me and rent. With that, there are good Day Cares and bad Day Cares. Of the places I went to today, the high was $360/week! That's $1440 a month! WTF?

I think we've decided on what we are doing. Whatever it is it needs o ve done ASAP. The Girlies are going to have an adjstment period. Seems, just when we get a little ahead we get drug back down.
Grrrr!

Attention Young Men of America!

While driving The Girlies to school today, I noticed several young men walking to school. Pants sagging, oversized clothes, hats worn wrong. The one that got me, was the dude with skinny jeans sagging! Basically, slobs.

Here's a tip, find a tailor. If you can't find a tailor go to JC Penny's, Dillard's, Men's Warehouse or some other men's SUIT store and get fitted. Yes, every MAN should own a good suit, but the message here is find out your real size. I promise you, women will notice you when you are not tryin to stand out.

If you want people to treat you like a Man, then dress like a Man. If you feel that you're not getting respect, look at how you dress. You only get one chance to make a first impression. You could me the nicest, coolest ct on the block. If you dress like a thug, guess what I'm thinking as you walk up?

While I'm on the subject, a Baseball hat should fit down to the ears. Not resting on the top of the head. The brim should have a bend in it not be flat. The degree of bend is a personal preference, but there should be a bend. Also take the tags OFF! We all know how much a Rangers hat is, leave the tags for Minnie Pearl. Come on young men, step p and be a Man!



HOWDY!

What's stopping you?

This is not aimed at any one person. So read it and take from it what you will.
 

I know I NEED to practice my material. I haven't devoted enough time to my katas as I have in the past.  Why? I have been consumed with tracking stolen items. Material items that can be replaced. Now that I have identified my hurdle it disappears. 

Cochise Stronghold, Arizona

So why the cliff face?  When you first come up to a cliff face it looks daunting. The thought enters your head,  " I can't climb that!" Then with great scrutiny you look and see minute details in the rock. Hand holds, foot holds, cracks and crannys. This is how you overcome a challenge like this.  The only way you can rock climb is one hand hold, one foot hold at a time.  You slowly make your way up the rock. Next thing you know your standing a top looking back saying, "that wasn't that bad!" Same is true with one of our katas. You first see it and say OMG there is no way I can learn that! You practice small pieces with your teacher and slowly your remember more and more.  Then you are one or two moves ahead of your teacher and POW it's yours! 


Fear is a factor in both. Fear is a poison, once it enters, it gets into everything you do. You must banish it from your very being.  It prevents you from learning, from growing, from enjoying YOUR life.  You can live in fear of just about anything OR your can live your life. 

When I saw this part of the movie Apocalypto, I knew I was onto something.  Fear MUST be struck from your heart.  How does fear and Kung Fu connect? I'd bet you that if I said before your next test you must stand in front of the class and give a brief talk about the history of Shaolin Do. Would you be scared? How about if I said I signed you up for a demo at the next tournament with a kata that you haven't learned yet? For those NOT in Kung Fu. What if your supervisor walked up to your work area and said you have a presentation in 15 minutes. Here are the directions to the place. By the way the profitability of the whole company rides on your shoulders.  Ahh, there it is! Fear scratching at you from the inside making you uncomfortable.Your heart sinks you get that metallic taste in your mouth and want to say, "Uh, I don't think I can..."  YES YOU CAN!

You can accomplish ANYTHING! Remeber those hand holds from the cliff face? One step at a time. There is a corny joke I used to tell my 6th grade classes, How do you eat an elephant? they would always say, "eat an elephant?! That's impossible!" My response, "One bite at a time."

Good luck! Remember, it never get's easier. You only get BETTER!

It's only material

I keep saying that to myself, "it's only material things." If you don't know by know our house was broken into today. We are all safe, but they took several things. I can't understand why these hardened criminals took our daughter's DVDs. NOT dvd player! DVDs! Really? You had to take the few things that two little girls love to watch? I am glad that this did not happen when the girls were here. I am so glad that we are all safe. I could have walked in on the assholes and who knows how that would have turned out.

If I had it my way, thieves would lose body parts when they get caught. Hand, foot, ear, etc... i have no mercy for thieves. 

So besides myself

When things are hard I tend to write well I have something weighing on me and need to write. Warning, this is a tear jerker.

About 10 days ago my wife sent me a text to hurry home. Shewas besides herself in joy. I could hear in her voice. She nearly knocked me over walking through the door as I walked in. In her hand was a small stick. She had just tested positive for pregancy. We both were overjoyed! A third little one, To add in our brood.

In the midst of trying to figure out how were we going to do it we started talking to the girls about this wonderous event. Pooks and Lil'Bitwould clap in enjoyment, me knowing they had no idea what was happening to Mommy.

Then, two nights ago Venus calls me and says shes spotting and cramping. The fear in her voice is devastating. We make an appt with the Dr. They run a test as well and it reads...not pregnant. Says she "may" be miscarrying. WTF? Dr. I'm feeling empty right now, I know what I'm feeling is nowhere near what my wife is feeling. Doc takes a blood sample to "be sure" and they send us on our way.

Both of us are in shock, Venus wanted to take her at home test. We buy one and...PREGNANT! WTF!?

So, we're sitting, waiting, to hear from the Doc. Is number 3 on thier way or not. This such a crappy way to tell the world. My every thought is on my wife. It kills me to see her so lost, not knowing. Pray for her and the little one she may be carrying.

Location:At home ,San Antonio,United States

Calgon, take me away!

We have officially entered the terrible twos. The word for the day is...NO! Everything is, no! We've got a wildhaired, lovely little sassy pants. She HAS to run, jump, hop, dance, yell at the top of her lungs. Sigh. I know that it will settle down but, OMG!


She is in flight in this picture. Her new thing is to jump from the ottoman to her Dora couch.

Any tips????

Fear is the mind killer

Back in early 2007 I wrote a blog entry titled, Fear, here is that blog:

"Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain."
Mark Twain

I have always said I'm afraid of being alone. But now to face that fear head on. I don't think I ever faced it before. I've faced other fears and conquers them. But the fear of being alone, wow. That's a biggie! I used to go surfing almost everyday and we used to have to jump off the end of the jetties to get into the surf when it was big or too chopped out. Standing at the end of the jetties with the waves crashing at your feet was scary. You have to time the wve just right so you can slide down the back side of wave then paddle like hell so your not tossed like a rag doll on the jagged rocks. we would watch people who didn't have their timing down and get hammered on the rocks, I did not want to be one of those guys. So you sucked it up and jump. After a few times you are no longer scared , the fear is still there but no longer shaky scared. Why the surfing story you ask? I never faced my fear of being alone. It sucks, the house is empty the phone doesn't ring. I want to get out and do something. This is kind of like when I was the one armed bandit, ha damn broken arm. I can do anything I want but i need to be away from people for a while. I'm not contagious, my leprosy is under control. If I don't do this now I'll never be the same person I was in my past, full of life, loved what i did for a living, loved myself. My self image is no where what it used to be. So how to fix it? I guess back to the gym, work harder at kung fu both are my therapies. Live each day as if it were my last, that's the one! My biggest motto has been Why just stand and watch, live life!

I have to do this for myself, so that I can love fully again. Yes the ability is there to love but how can I trully love another if i don't love myself.. Lots of work. But I have my entire life right?

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear. - Dune by Frank Herbert

Why? Why fear? Fear is the subject of many great philosophers, my favorite...Yoda.
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you." He also said, “Named must your fear be before banish it you can.” You would think that after 800 years you be that you to would have such wisdom, right? You MUST name your fear. Stare it in the face then, KILL IT, or it will own you.

I know people that are scared to death of water, even though they have never been near it. Why? The thought of drowning has overtaken them to the point of not even stepping in the water. Some people are afraid to travel for fear of the unknown. Uh, hello? Traveling gives you experiences that you can NEVER find at home. Yes, you can watch TV and see all these wonderful things, but to actually stand on a Mayan pyramid and to see one on TV are not the same.

Plato's Cave speaks of people chained in a cave. They are compelled to stare at a wall with a fire behind them. All they can see are shadows. To them, the shadows are their reality. How would these people react if those chains were broken and they entered the sunlight? Overwhelmed? Scared? Then they would see the wonders that are around them as they acclimate to their NEW surroundings. Then what would happen if these people went back into their cave? They would see that those shadows were merely shadows and that there is a bigger world around them. This is more about education AND about fear because overcoming fear is educational. Going back to see once you have banished fear that is really is a shadow and not your world. Overcome your fears. Try something new today.

Why just stand and watch? LIVE LIFE!!!