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Chester the cutest dog ever

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Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

C!

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Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

C!

My Chart

Well, as I neared the end of the lap band adventure, here's the final graph. The little kick up at the end is my bounce up from the loosening. Which, they said may occur, mostly because I'm EATING now. Although I don't want that trajectory to continue up, or I'll have to get an adjustment to have saline put in. I'd prefer not to which means, diet and exercise - the two words I couldn't escape before - I still can't escape. But, now - anyways - I feel "hopeful".

Hope you're well. I am too.

Back to Food.

Well, it's been about 18 months and I reached my goal weight of 150. That's down from 280 and I feel so much better. Well, Mostly.

Mostly because towards the end of my lap band experience, I was having extreme difficulty holding down anything. Even water. This obviously is concerning because I wasn't sure what was going on. It became serious as I was experiencing dehydration and unable to go to the bathroom.

I went to visit the lovely lap band folks at True Results clinic where I've been going for a couple of years. They were nice enough to put me under the scope, an x-ray-like procedure where they have you drink the barium solution and watch it go down. As I saw the dark liquid enter my throat, esophagus and then down to my stomach - there it was. The stomach. The band. Everything.

But as the liquid hit the stomach nothing happened. That is to say, nothing was entering. That was a problem obviously and explained why my blood pressure was so low and I was feeling so crappy. I wasn't even able to take in liquids. Additionally, you could see on the screen that my esophagus had become somewhat bloated or "dilated" as the folks at True Results were telling me. A condition where when the band has slipped or is too tight the food backs up into the esophagus. This is not a healthy condition. So, the protocol turns out to be to remove the saline immediately to allow the food to pass into the stomach naturally without restriction.

Well. That turns out to be ok for me. 1 because the condition is not comfortable and I thought at points I would die of feeling constricted. 2 because I've pretty much met my goal now and so it's time to have it reduced anyway.

What occurred after this can only be described however as the equivalent of uncapping a volcano. When the band was loosened all that acid that had been building in my stomach shot up into my already dilated and irritated esophagus and I thought throughout the day that I’d pass out. Really – I felt weak, dizzy and like I’d collapse from pain. I’d never have thought heart burn or reflux could be so severe that it’d make you lose consciousness. I was wrong.

It turns out after a week of Dr. visits and general not feeling good - I feel better. Much better.

I celebrated my feeling good with - and get this - a visit to the gym. I'm thinking I must have changed on some level that I hadn't because this, before my surgery, would never have occurred to me.

Food has always been my first choice of celebration. So, for me to go and have a walk on the treadmill to celebrate my victory is not only a 'new' thing - it's a revolutionary one.

Of course, that was last Friday. Then came Saturday. I woke up "hungry". It's been a while since I've woken up famished. With the band, I rarely found myself in a situation where I felt "hungry".
The worst I felt was more described as indifference. Like "I could eat, or not. I'm not sure one way or the other". But this morning - Saturday - was definitely that old feeling that I hadn't experienced in a while which was 'hungry'.

So, I thought "waffles". I thought that because of all the breakfast foods I missed during my lap band mode, this was probably one of the hardest to give up. During my 18 months with the band I ate eggs and bacon, pretty much anything but bready things like toast, pancakes, biscuits, etc. But waffles I missed.

So I had some. They were delicious. Well. I don't have to tell you!

But then I thought about all the things I missed and proceeded to reminisce with sandwich, pasta, pizza, cookies, smores and more. Not all in one sitting of course. But throughout the weekend.

Nevertheless it left me a little worried this morning when I stepped on the scale and found myself at 155. Good golly miss Molly. How can one gain so much back in such a little ole thing as a weekend? Well. It's all coming back to me now. How I got into the situation I was in, in the first place! And, I've enjoyed my weekend of walking down memory lane. I'm sure there are other things I'd like to remind myself of how good they are. (Chocolate cake?). But I have a life time to eat those things and in moderation. This, as we know, is not a word I’ve been familiar with.

I'm going to remind myself of refocus and commitment. So, as I sit here, Monday morning, with a cup of hot tea and a handful of almonds - I'm reminded that I actually like eating the lap band way. I feel more than just a sense of being satiated for my hungry. I feel a victory in the investment in myself and my health. Sure the pizza, sandwiches is all good. And, I'm sure with some level of restraint I can have those things. As a matter of fact, when eating that Italian sausage and peppers sandwich at Mandola's, I finished half, and wrapped the other half to take home. I checked in with my stomach that responded "hey. we're unbanded! We can eat the whole thing. No problem!” And, rethought how much food was on my plate, and whether I really needed to eat a whole sandwich in one setting. Even, if I could.

I decided it was better to spread so much food between two or more meals. Maybe I did learn something! Maybe something took. Time will tell - but that's my prayer for today.

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The Dallas Crew

The Dallas Crew
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

I had such a great time in Houston this last weekend. It was great to see friends converge from Dallas, San Antonio, Houston AND Austin. I hope the trend continues.

This picture reminds me of happy and warmer days. It's cold now. :)

The End of An Automotive Era

My first car was a Pontiac. I was so happy that day. I believe I may have written about it here before. I was as intensely sad to see it hooked up and taken to the wrecking yard (what we now call auto recyclers).

To think the last one that rolled off a line was a G6. Not on of the marks most exciting or even memorable models. Maybe that's indicative of the problem. And, speaks to the end result.

I Agree

http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php

Poor politicians. I agree. Long hours, 365 days a year can really... wait. Oh. What's that? They don't work all year long? Oh.

In the famous words of Emily Latella - nevermind

Elected officials on Sacramento do work to hard. If you view it one light. What we have is a part-time legislature with a full time salary. There was a day when our Legislature was part time. In the interest of saving money, and now their health. I suggest we return to those days.

How Radical A Thought: Time for a New Union?

The Mighty, Messy Power of Europe | Newsweek Business | Newsweek.com

Just a few short years ago. Remember? When the idea was proposed of a Union of Europe? I remember thinking, wow - how would any of these proud, old countries and their citizenry be willing to give up an inch of autonomy on even just economic policy - let alone political ideology and goals?

The main focus of course was on economy because the proposal was to replace the Franc, Mark, Lire with a European currency. Blasphemy! I remember thinking, that I couldn't imagine America being willing to give up the Dollar in exchange for a unilateral currency. And, of course, the idea at the time was preposterous. Why would America give up anything, let alone it's mighty dollar.

For years we have been the pre-eminent in all things fiscal. We have set the policy or at the very least had a modicum of influence in nearly every world wide matter. Just by virtue of the dollar being the 'standard' by which most things were measured. Oil? Sure it's in the middle east, but it's traded for in Dollars. China's trade surplus? Sure, it's huge. And, it's measured in dollars.

But somewhere along the way, oh say between 2000-and-2008 America lost it's focus, if not its way. Political ideology leaned conservative at all costs. Anti gay and pro corporate welfare? Vote Republican. Pro school voucher and anti democrat-anything? Vote Republican, Pro military, pro life, pro religion taking over social welfare programs, etc. You get the idea. Vote Republican.

In fact, I'd argue that the down fall of America can be traced to the Gays. Well, not the Gay's in as much as American religious intolerant hatred of them. "Oh boo" you conservatives say. We don't hate gays. We love them. We just wish they were us. That's all. Ok.

As a result of years of being steered by a President who claimed to have a monopoly on a moral compasses but would appear no real world fiscal, political, or intellectual leadership we have come to this. We have countries pushing for a new standard and to de-dollarize the world from measurement. China being a chief advocate of this and no small wonder as it enters the stage posed to be the new eminent power - and some would argue already is.

So, we could spend the next decade (and probably will) pointing fingers to determine exactly who is at fault. I would argue that we've been headed for these rocks for sometime. Republicans would try and have you believe this all just came about in the last 10 months. Ever since Obama was elected, the worlds gone to shit. Really? Wow. We're in deeper doo than I thought.

So here's a radical idea. What about an American Union? That is, a Union of the Americas. North, Central, South. It's time we realize we may have to swallow our nationalistic, jingo-istic pride and chart a new course. One that includes our neighbors and begins to look - at least in our own backyard - to other countries as equals. Sure, Mexico and other countries have severe problems. And, Venezuela might rather we fall off the face of the earth than join a picnic with us let alone an economic alliance. But, as we wrap up the first decade of this century, we're in poor straights than where we were just 10 years ago.

And, given the challenges we have and the benefits which could be had from linking our combined currencies and efforts with those around us, is it really that radical of an idea? Oh, American's will never have it. I'm just dreaming out loud of course. But think about it. It could be the next big thing.

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Who Paid for the Question One Passage in Maine

Welcome to the Public Campaign Finance Page for the State of Maine

In case you were wondering, it's the who's who of gowned men. No, I'm not talking about drag queens. Although, they are gowned men too. I'm talking about the church. Pick one, but predominately Catholic and Mormon. Don't you think entities who are essentially political action committees rather than tax-exempt religious organizations should be paying their fare share? I do.

Or, maybe gay couples shouldn't be struggling at city hall to get marriage licenses, maybe we should be approaching the IRS to incorporate as churches. Two members, devoted to worshipping each other. It could work. God knows "I" could use the tax relief. Shoot. If my home were a church, I'd be on easy street. I might even have enough left over money to - oh, I don't know - donate to my favorite causes.

But, Really - You're Not Surprised Are You?

Gay leaders blame ads, Obama for loss - More politics- msnbc.com

You can't possibly be stunned that our President hasn't stood with us in our continued march in this civil rights struggle right? Rather than coming down as a community on President Obama for being disengenious, wouldn't it be better to look inward in this instance?

President Obama is displaying nothing new. He's been one hundred percent consistent throughout his campaign and into the coming end of the first year of his first term. Which is - he's been silent. If you read back through my blogs, you'll know that I've been consistent too. I've said, in one form or another, that President Obama is no friend of the Gay community. Granted - and a big granted - he's not a mortal enemy. He exists somewhere in between. You know. Like that family member that knows you're gay. Is "ok" with it, but would prefer you weren't so swishy or you used less "s" when you said "passssth the ssssalt".

President Obama has never appeared comfortable at any time this topic has come up. He shifts and says, no he's for marriage remaining between a man and a woman, but he feels our struggle and he wants to support our community. Oh, those analogies of the uncomfortable relative are coming back.

Let's be clear. The President only came out a few weeks ago to speak about Don't Ask Don't Tell. And, only when we publicly begin to question why we spend millions supporting candidates like Obama and the democratic party in general when they don't listen to what our concerns are and the very human rights struggle we view this to be. Kinda like that uncomfortable relative who wishes you wore colors that were more muted but because your successful, doesn't have a problem calling you occasionally for a loan. Only after do you give him the money does he forget that there's elements about you he'd rather not acknowledge.

This ladies and gentlemen, and gentle ladies and ladies that are gentleman is the nature of politics. So, what is it about the LGBT community that's so self deprecating that we can't see this charade for what it is. Back to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

With one stroke of a pen, the President could effectively end this policy. As Commander in Chief, he could merely order the military to stop enforcing this policy and spend our war time resources on more productive matters like .. oh - I don't know - STOPPING THE TALIBAN? Finding Bin Laden, paying for that inevitable troop surge in Afghanistan, pulling out of Iraq, closing Guantanamo - a number of more important endeavors.

But we refuse invitation to a high-profile Democratic fundraiser, and publicly indicate that we're re-thinking our support - and all of a sudden he's warm and fuzzy on the topic of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. We cheer, he goes back behind the curtain, nothing changes.

Rather than looking outside ourselves at what the problem is, let's start here. Stop spending gay dollars, and support on wasteful expenditures. Yes, our President represents the lesser of the evils that was offered to us his go around in 2008. And, given the nature of Republican politics with the likes of Newt, Sarah and Rush - we might be faced with similar situation in 2012. But, FOR NOW - WE are supposed to be in charge. We're the people - remember? Let's start behaving like it.

Love Me Some Pandora

Pandora Radio - Listen to Free Internet Radio, Find New Music

If I haven't told you lately how much I love Pandora - I do.

Gimme a break MSNBC and Moronic Media

NYT analysis: Victories rekindle GOP’s hope - The New York Times- msnbc.com

You're kidding me right? You think because a state like VIRGINIA voted in a Republican Governor that this is supposed to be some sort of harbinger of things to come. That somehow the whole country is destined to be swallowed up by red tidal wave?

I don't know whether to laugh, or snort.

I'm not certain if there's a left media, or a right media in America. Some would argue that MSNBC represents left media. Some would argue Fox News represents right media. But, one thing that is becoming clearer, it's all one big - moronic media. In this day of tabloid journalism and one up-mans-ship on the wow factor it's understandable that our news conglomerates would want to create a story where there isn't one.

I suppose the picture painted of darkening clouds on the horizon is supposed to create interest or a stir in a non-story, but it's not working for me. Firstly, Governors races have little bearing on the national agenda. People in a particular state vote for their Governor - and get this - on State issues. Surprise moronic media. For Christs-sake - CALIFORNIA has a republican governor! It means little. Secondly, this represents nothing on the scale of the 'republican revolution' which gave us the likes of Newt Gingrich and others and their contract on America.

So, stop, please - stop. Trying to create a story out of nothing. Stop scoring the psycho violin music every time there's a local referendum and try and transpose that on a national graph. Mary please.

I sure miss Tim Russert.

Another One Bites the Dust (Or Headed That Way Soon)

Is Fiat Helping Chrysler--Or Fiat? - Forbes.com

It may be time to say goodbye to another American Brand(s).

Chrysler, and by extension Dodge (no need to mention Chrysler, the last interim trustee of this great American brand killed that portion) is still in decline and has no prospect of ever returning to profitability, let alone greatness.

It seems Fiat has pulled off the greatest Automotive coup since BMW stole Rolls Royce away from VW. With no apparent plans of ever infusing cash into this ailing maker, the billions taxpayers have already invested seem to being squandered. The government essentially 'gave' Chrysler to Fiat in hopes that they would invest eventually, and at least initially infuse the company with some small-car product and know-how. But, that seems to be a premature wish.

More likely Fiat is going to raid the company for it's rear drive platform, i.e. the Chrysler 300 so that they can expand their own offerings. In return? Well - they've killed the Nissan/Chrysler venture. They've killed the Mercedes truck import initiative. Basically anything promising that could help provide income to develop new products has been starved or cut. So where will the money for new product come from? Here's my guess. There is no plan for new money and by extension, new product. The Italian plan all along has been to rape Americans for the Taxpayer investment already put forth, which was essentially life support to keep the company viable long enough for Fiat to absorb some of the production capacity for its own Fiat and Alfa lines. Take the platform of the rear wheel drive 300, an excellently engineered drivetrain as it was originally the previous generation e-Class Mercedes Benz, and allowing the Chrysler and Dodge nameplate to wilt. Oh. And, all the American jobs that go with it.

Sure, they may keep Jeep. But only as a brand that might have global recognition and some (tarnished) cache. I suggest this. When those Fiat 500's roll off the line, if they aren't badged Chryslers, you spit on em when they drive by. You've already pissed away your tax dollars to provide a huge corporate give away to this Italian company - you might as well add some more body fluids.

Where's the Plan?

I wonder where the magic-better-than-yours-why-don't-you-consider-this Republican Health Care plan is? What do they propose. For a group that has no new ideas, no proposal, and nothing new to offer, they certainly have gotten a lot of traction with no promise of anything.

Why on earth would anyone listen to the negative of a group that isn't offering an alternative. This only solidify's the reputation of the Republicans becoming the party of "NO".

The plan, as I understand it (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/09/transcript-gop-response-obamas-health-care-address/) Read Rep Charles Boustany's response of the Obama Healthcare Proposal: the Republican party would have you.. just not get sick. Rather, make healthier choices, earlier in life and these problems won't exist.

Are you kidding me?

For reals.

That's your solution?

Ok ladies and gentleman.

This Nancy-Regan-Just-Say-No approach may work if offered an illicit drug, but not when the demon of heart attacks is standing on your porch.

There's simply no way of knowing if you'll be in that percentile that experiences a catastrophic health event, and if you do - is that the appropriate time to establish how much you contributed to the condition? Is that what formula we'll use to determine how much a person will pay for their portion of the bill? Talk about death panels, who will head the what-portion-is-yours panels?

The conservative folks of this country are beating their chest, and crying and espousing lies but in all that there are no concrete plans on what they suggest we do instead. So, until they put up - I'd offer - shut up as a good plan.

Thank you.

The End of an Era. The Era of Civility.

Perhaps it's best that Eunice followed so closely by Ted has passed on into another dimension.

We can always recall fondly the times that the Kennedy's represented some of the best of America and what it stood for.

Sure there will be those who would go on, and on about how in some ways they represented the worst. But, even so. No, family should have to endure what the Kennedy's have. No family.

One thing that can be assured is that they were patriots. Perhaps, not your brand of patriots, but patriots nonetheless. And, while I feel sad that another icon of Americana has passed from the scene, I can't help but wonder if it's all for the best. What I mean by that is - that with the current state of this nation and radical element that is being fed by the evilest forces in this country - it's probably just as well that folks from a different era aren't forced to witness the decline of our American society and the slip into what I believe, may someday be, civil war.

While that in itself may seem like a radical notion. I'd like to draw attention to the last few weeks and the tactics the Republicans in this country have turned to. So pleased during the Bush years to mock the liberals with we won, you lost, get over it, they are now in the opposite position, and seem the least likely candidates to embrace democracy. That notion that the will of the people should govern our land is completely foreign to them. While they talk about American values, they simultaneously have adopted of posture of louder is better.

It would appear that merely drowning out your opponents viewpoint, or turning up the volume on your rhetoric means winning. It does not. It means whining.

So while we have protesters at town hall meetings carrying guns and painted signs of our President with Swastikas and mustaches. While they burn their Democratic Party congressional representatives in effigy and talk about the tree of freedom needing a drink of the blood of the likes of our elected officials - those who would never espouse violence to solve our countries differences have passed on.

I would never propose violence to solve anything.

That's why when we have the FAUX news network espousing tea parties and mimicking the poisoning of the Speaker of the House - I do think that the level of incivility will only rise. And, ultimately a shot will be fired. Perhaps at our President by some misguided, brainwashed malcontent who probably would be the one to tell you killing (as in abortion doctors) to stop the killing is a reasonable idea.

Perhaps it will be a shot fired at one of our elected congressional officials, or maybe it will come from the other side, whereas a liberal just can't take it anymore - because some of the stuff they are claiming is utter nonsense!

Do you really think that President Obama proposes and supports death panels? Really? If so, please - stop reading this blog, and go directly to the asylum. Really.

We will have to wait until the next round of elections for America's referendum on all this nonsense. The sad part is that even if there's another extension of the Democratic revolution, and we gain an even BIGGER majority - there are those that will simply revert to louder is winning. And that certainly won't help anything. It will be interesting to see how the FAUX news network and others in the Conservative media will try to spin this into having us believe that they had no part in it. That guns don't kill people - people kill people - while all the while they've been cleaning, loading, and handing the gun to the radical factions that they know will use it.

Yes, while it's sad that the end of the Kennedy era has passed - I think they are better off to not have seen what we have descended into - or what may become far worse than it is now. Good bye Senator Ted Kennedy.

For Folks That Have Been Asking...

I updated the blog links on the right hand side. Below the link for my pictures on Flickr is a link for Rob's pictures on Mac Gallery. Yes. I know. We're one family but when it comes to these things we still can't get it together. He really likes his Mac Gallery - while I still sing the praises of Flickr.

But I suppose if one site blew up, we'd still have some pictures on the other. In any event, Rob has recently completed some art projects so he keeps those on his Mac Gallery so you can keep up with what he's up to on painting.

Take care and let us know how you're doing!

Why the Overhaul is the Single Most Important Legislation in This Administration

This could be the big one. It's why the Republican-America-Haters have boasted that this could be President Obama's waterloo.

I call them America-Haters, because for all their talk of patriotism, it's clear that they'd rather be "right" than see the country prosper. For all their crowing about how much they love capitalism, and equate that to the American way of life, they just as soon as see it run over a cliff than even consider anything they deem to stray from the path of capitalism.

And, driving off a cliff it is.

The statistics composed by the National Coalition on Health Care, which can be found in some variation from other sources, indicates that the current rate of health care spending is approximately 4.3 times the cost of national defense. In 2008 we spent as much as 17 percent of our Gross Domestic Product on health care. More than any other industrialized nation in the world. (Compare: Health care spending accounted for 10.9 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.7 percent in Canada and 9.5 percent in France)

Now, this isn't the worst part. The worst part is that this isn't stagnate. These figures are on an upward trajectory. There is no end in sight for these costs. They will continue to climb, some estimates having the GDP dedicating 20 percent to health care costs as we enter the next decade.

Now. Before we go further. I'll tell you right now. Republican-America-Haters will stand up at this point and say. "Stop comparing American health care to Canada or Germany. We have the best health care system in the world! Precisely because it is profit/capitalism based. The research which brings the best drugs, the most promising cures, and most advanced treatments comes because of our current system!".

I wouldn't argue this. We have the Cadillac if you will (in some regards) of health cares. However, we can no longer afford to drive a Cadillac. In 2008 the average employer paid for each worker covered $12,700 with each employee contributing on average, $3,700.

Under a plan where the U.S. economy continues to grow, and incomes increase, and property values climb and the GDP enlarges, and the overall productivity flourishes - this model could sustain itself for the foreseeable future. But we all know that today - none of these factors exist. In fact the enlarging costs of health care are exacerbated by the shrinking economy. Meaning - yes. We're headed for a cliff.

People wonder what will we do if the State of California, the worlds 7th or 8th largest economy, fails or collapses. I would argue, what would we do, if the U.S. federal government follows behind it? We view the federal government as if were a savior for all our ills. The reality, our deficit continues to grow and not unlike a person who lives on their credit cards, someday the bill will have to come due. In no case can you continue to outspend your income for an indefinite period. At some point, the credit line will cease.

Such is the case with our federal government, and the economy as a whole. The model we've been using for health care insurance in this country is broken. It no longer works. It is dragging our hopes for the future down.

That is why we must rally behind our President during this critical time. The Republican-America-Haters are employing tactics such as shouting down town meetings and disrupting public forums where this topic is addressed. It's a ploy they used in Florida during the hanging chad incidents. They paid congressional staffers and other Republican operatives to storm voting offices. This gives the impression that folks are against something. That they are riled up about something. It plays to the cameras well - and the average American sitting at home watching Katie Couric may think. "Wow. I must be on the wrong side of this debate if all these people are upset about this."

Don't believe it.

It is time for us to do our part and see these ploys for what they are. To ask those who would come to the table to 'discuss' health care, what their alternatives are. We need to ask the party of "NO" what they propose, what solution they offer - because the status quo, keeping things the same is not a solution. It may have worked in different times - it doesn't any longer.

It's time however too for our President to step up. I appreciate that President Obama has done an admirable job of attempting to court both sides of every issue. His approach seems genuinely concerned with all sides and making sure that he appears to be a President for all Americans. He seems to hope that all sides can come to an agreement - a comprimise.

This will be the President's waterloo if he continues this approach.

When Congress comes back in session in the fall - I hope the President starts talking Turkey. I hope he lays out a specific plan, that addresses the MAIN concerns. (It won't address every concern, it never can). And push for a vote. It's clear, at this juncture that it may fall upon party lines. That Republican-America-Haters may appear to be left out of the dialog, but they are not. Crossing your arms, holding your breath, stomping your feet and uttering "no" is hardly a dialog.

The American people hired President Obama to get things done. If he fails to get this, the most important act of his presidency done, then he will not lived up to the promise and the task we set him upon. Americans want a better life. Americans need a better life. An overhaul of our health care insurance system is the most fundamental key to that progress. Without it, there will only be a steady decline.

So, I'm prepared to listen. I'm waiting to hear the specifics of any proposal. I'm waiting to see a genuine debate in the Senate on this topic. I don't fear that President Obama is going to drive us into a ditch with any proposal he may offer. There's little comfort in that idea - that he could drive us into a ditch. However, I'll take my chances because we are assuredly headed for a cliff.

Taxing Health Care Benefits? Are you Crazy? Oh. Wait.

There is a 'new' debate in America at the mere suggestion that part of the national overhaul in health care might include (get ready to gasp) a new health care tax. The result of this might be that Americans would be required to pay taxes on the benefit they receive from employers on their health care benefits. Essentially, the IRS would look at a persons health care benefits as taxable income, rather than the current exempt status.

This idea is considered radical by some - welcome by others. Who would consider this a welcome idea? Taxes??

Well, there is a school that says when you tax something it reduces consumption. And, when you remove a tax it increases consumption. The by product of taxing these benefits might result in people becoming more active in the selection and take on more activist roles in demanding higher quality - and lower prices from their health care insurers. Currently, the tax exemption on these benefits may result in ending an employee's passive approach to the benefits they receive.

Which brings me to the real point of my rant today and the use of my quote marks around the word new.

Wake up America. No. really. Come-to. Gain consciousness. Grow up.

Welcome to my world. The one I've been talking about for years. And let me pose this question to you. How does it feel?

I'm a proponent of this tax. If, for no other reason to provide equality and parity. Even though my current situation would result in a reduction in income with the addition of this tax, I've seen the inequity of being one of those who pay it, while the many of Americans do not.

What I'm talking about is another example of the two Americas class structure we live under - American Apartheid. Whereas one group of people, predominately straight - set up laws that fail to recognize another group of American's predominately not straight. Gay people have been paying this tax for years. We've always paid this tax. It's one of the fiscal inequities (there are many, many more) which serve to oppress an entire class of people in this country. Most people aren't aware, or don't think about this of course because they are unaffected.

But, when Rob struck out to start his own business we had to find an employer that would allow us to have both of us covered by insurance - like most families in America. In 1995, the Sacramento Bee, my employer at the time, did not offer this benefit. I sought out employers in the Sacramento area that did. One of them, was the University of California. Traditionally higher education related employers are much more progressive in this area - unless you look at an institution like the University of Texas, which in most respects is a leader in education and research but in other areas think it's 1909 instead of 2009 - but I digress.

Once I accepted a job at the University of California, Davis - I added Rob to my benefits as a domestic partner. Aside from the hoops I had to jump through that traditional married couples are not, we were just pleased that Rob would have this. We tried for a period the route of the self-insured and found that for his little start up company - health care was eating up 50% of his operating expense budget!! What business can operate under that kind of cost structure!? (i.e. witness the current state of the auto companies).

What did come as a surprise though was the pay stub attached to my first check. What? I was surprised to see that Rob's benefits were taxed. Not only were they taxed, they were taxed at the estimated "value" of the benefit (i.e. the amount that I paid in addition to the amount the university covered). I shrugged at the time thinking how unfair that my co-worker who sat across from me had a different tax structure than I did.

Didn't we do similar work? Hadn't she just met her husband like 6-months earlier, her 3rd marriage, etc. etc. (this isn't about her after all). Where is the justice in that?

So gay people, who are in unsanctioned marriages like Rob and I, have been paying this tax all along. It usually gets no notice. The payroll representative I inquired from when I saw the stub that first time, had to research and call me back with the answer because she wasn't aware why my tax deductions were different than my co-workers around me.

I hear the collective gasp that this proposal has initiative has caused.
I understand the trepidation of headed down this road of taxing something that for 'most' people was here-to-fore not taxed.
But, I just can't quite work up a tear. Why would I. Finally - parity. Even if I wish we could achieve parity in the 'other' direction by providing this exemption to everyone.

But, justice, is justice.




Christopher @ Brazil in Houston
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Summer Begins - Friendships Change

Three Amigos
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

We have a new Supreme Court Justice Nominee, Ms. Sotomayor. We have an abortion Dr. (Dr. Tiller) who was murdered last week. And, President Obama is running around the Muslim world, making nice.

Closer to home, Spring is in full bloom. Summer almost approaching. I didn't even know the trees needed pruning. I'm oblivious to such things. Remember, I'm the one who could just as easily live in a condo. I've never been very invested in having to have space. The only reason I could see having any outdoor space would be for a dog - and Rob is clear, this is not in the near future. Sigh.

Thus, I could care less about the state of the trees or lawn for that matter. Are they long? Oh. I guess they are. So, let's hire someone to come and cut them back. Oh hell - cut them down - then we'll save future cost. But, Rob is a yard person - and so I can easily conced this space to him. The yard is his to do with what he wants.

These things are becoming less contentious all the time. He let me have complete freedom on the paint choice colors in the living room (mostly anyway) and recently he's agreed the Master Bedroom is mine to decorate as I'd like. Wow. This is from two folks who used to argue about moving the vase a little to the left, or a little to the right.

I guess as one gets older, things like whether we have a quit or comforter on the bed, just don't seem as important. We're grateful that Jerry and Eric came over to lend a hand to Rob. It's fantastic that he has friends who 'get it' and understand his love for the yard and things green. Things of green make me sneeze and don't get me riled up like they do Rob. So having folks who can get as excited about such things is truly a blessing!

-----

The President has nominated Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Mom called me the other day and asked my thoughts and to be completely candid, I haven't formed an opinion.

I have my concerns. One is that she's been completely mum - well, with the exception of the recorded rant they keep playing in the media that some have charged as racist. But I do want to be understanding of the process and that she can't be forthcoming on her views on things like abortion, etc. To do so would only stir up opposition so the very nature of the process requires that she be tight lipped. She is Catholic, which in my book is not necessarily an asset.

While some say we should "trust" the President - that he certainly wouldn't nominate someone who wasn't pro-choice. Would he?

But, my trust for all things Obama is waning. Remember, this is the evolution of candidate Obama who promised to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". He's since backed off that. And, as California continues it's march to falling off in to ocean, and less and less people caring - the President still carries the same stance as most moderate Republicans which is to say, he does not believe in marriage.

But, for a warm, fuzzy, we're all in this together platform where has he been on this issue? Why didn't he even provide an indication that he stood in solidarity with millions of us who live under American Apartheid?

When advised to judge a man by the content of his character, the character is demonstrated by action - and our President has taken none.

----

I really don't get involved in the abortion debate. It's a sad, sad state of affairs that anyone would be in a position to have one. With the widespread availability of contraceptives there should be no such thing as an unwanted pregnancy. And, it is certainly not solely the woman's responsibility. This is a shared responsibility between the two people. That being said, they do occur. And, I support a family's right to choose such matters for themselves. Thus, I support maintaining this freedom while continue to support the use of intelligence, and planning for goodness sake.

What I don't understand is "pro-life" people who advocate "death" for abortion providers. Some don't see this as consistent. I am one of them. What's been hard however is realizing, particularly in Rob's case, how we're different from the Midwest folks and the values they hold. I lived there for four years, and Rob of course is from there.

What things like Gay Marriage, and Abortion have brought to the surface is our incompatibility and that's sad. How does one maintain a friendship with someone who looks down their nose at you, and says that your relationship isn't as valid as theirs? I'd like to pose this question to Miss Manners. I'm certain she'd respond with something like "Dear Gentle Reader.. in all the decorum one can muster, one should simply look them in the eye and advise that self-fornification might be advisable"

Well, since we're not those kind of people, we've agreed that it may be time to allow some of these relationships to die a natural death. Sometimes matters of distance and time can't be overcome with a quick connection on Facebook. Or a once-every-6-months-check in whose entire content can be summed up right here .. like this.

How are you?
We are fine. You?
We are too.
Talk to you in Six Months?
Ok, take care.
Bye.

This is hardly the process by which friendships flourish. It would appear, that they can't even be maintained.

If you love someone, let them know today. And, take more than three words if you can to do it.

Dramatic Skys

IMG_0758
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Mom reminds me today that I need to update my blog. It's been a little while. We were at dinner last night and looked up into the sky. The one thing that is definitely different between Texas and California is that the Texas skies are certainly dramatic when there's a thunderstorm moving in. And, we had quite the lightening storm last night.

Rob loves it because he sits on the back porch and watches the sky. He likes to sleep with the windows open, which makes me crazy of course, because it's still hot and muggy enough to have the air on. I hate the air on, AND the windows open. So wasteful.

Everything is going good here. I'm putting the frosting on a cake, and rob is drinking his press pot coffee. We're laughing about the time Mom insisted she'd try it even though we tried to disuade her from it. The face she made still sticks in our mind - and makes us laugh.

That was in Mountainview, 1990. Almost 20 years ago! Wow.

Hugs from Texas.

A Great Weekend in Austin. Rockband Rules.

We had a great evening at Janice's a couple of weeks ago when we celebrated with Zylo. See you next time!

Ten Days Before My Goal Date

Pictures are are:

Me before surgery, 20 pounds shy of 300. That's Jon in the background. A fun day, but I don't look like this anymore.
Next is me on a sunny day a couple of weeks ago sitting next to the Turtle Pond on campus at UT. Rob and I were having a great lunch date.
Next is me with some friends from Dallas.
Next is me, in my new "medium" gap shirt at Chris and John's just yesterday at a game night event.
Lastly is the graph that shows my progress along the way. I'm not there yet, but I'm so close!










































I wanted to reach a hundred pound weight loss prior to my anniversary date of 1 year. And, I made it. I'm so happy with the progress. There have been times of discouragement, but mostly the scale has been cooperative. There were plenty of flat spots. But, even in those flat spots, people seemed to think I was losing weight. Maybe my body has been adjusting all along the way.

I'm feeling good for the most part! (Although, not at this precise moment of writing, because I just took a bite of chicken that was too big).

I'm still learning about eating differently. I'm trying still to remain conscious about how big a bite I take, and also how fast I eat and thoroughly I chew. This is not as easy as you'd think! I have a lot of years of not thinking about eating to undo.

But there's been some really good victories to commemorate this year.

• I no longer have aching knees/joints.
• I can fit behind the steering wheel
• I don't struggle to get into tight spaces
• People don't have to pull their chairs in to the point they are turning blue, so I can squeeze by
• I participated in a 5k
• I have gone from a 46 inch waist pant, to a 33
• I have gone from 3x Shirt to a Medium-Large
• Rob says I look amazing, and that means a lot
• I feel better about my ability to address my health
• I can sit in a booth at a restaurant
• I walk faster and folks don't have to wait on me (as long).
• I can board a plane without fear about the seat
• I can sit in the movie theater next to my friends and not spill over into their space
• I don't feel self-conscious walking into rooms full of people
• I feel younger
• I feel closer to the person I think God would have me be

So, all of those things mean a lot. But, they aren't everything of course. There are benefits of course related to appearance and such. But, mostly I'm glad that I just feel better. I am still about 10 to 20 pounds away from my goal. (I debate whether I'll stop at 170 or 160). But, I'm confident I'll make it by end of July, beginning of August.

Everyone has been so, so supportive and I just couldn't ask for better friends or family. I feel so loved, that I'm truly the luckiest person in the world - without regard to size. I hope to see you all soon.

Us Having Fun

This was us at John and Chris's the other night having an evening of games. We enjoyed Aurora's famed Ginger Cookies, but I fear it may have pushed me to a 99 pound weight loss instead of 1oo. Sigh. Oh well - I can see this is going to be ongoing. :)

By Any Other Name

I've kept mostly quiet about the whole Miss California versus Perez Hilton. Mostly because it's just two kinda queens battling out views in the media and I don't think either of them does a very good job of representing their constituencies or communities.

I wish Perez would just shut up and go away. He's inarticulate, ignorant, and a fame seeker of the largest magnitude. His main claim to fame is a blog site that is just a venue of gossip and really, who cares?

Miss California - well, one only need to hear her open her mouth to draw a conclusion.

So now that Miss California has appeared in different states of undress, the battle heats up. Was this before her boob job? Or, after? Was she 17 or was she 18? Are the pictures too revealing for the today show? Does all this line up with her spokesperson status for the religious right? (Click on the title of the blog to link to the news story)

Blah, Blah, Blah.

Ok, now I wish both of them would just shut up and go away. Perez: You may have had a make over so your hair is prettier, but everything that comes out of your mouth is still ugly. And, you don't represent my community. So, please throw a disclaimer on what you say because people presume you're like every-gay-man. And, you are not.

Miss California: You can claim Christian morales and high ground if you want. But, really - by my estimation anyone who takes off their clothes for money and fame can call yourself a 'model' if you insist, but there are other names for it too. You may want to remember about that casting the first stone thing.

So, that's all I have to say about it.

The Death of an 86 Year Long Era

When I was a upcoming graduate of Del Campo High School, I'd saved a little money. I worked at the A-1 Grocery Store. It was a little mom and pop store in downtown Fair Oaks. Mr. Lee was a Chinese man who hired me because he thought I was "good boy".

Riding the bus home from school was never much fun. I didn't get along well with most of my class mates, and the confined space of a bus didn't help that situation much. So often I would walk the few miles home instead. When I walked, I often passed this home that had a car parked on the side of the house.

With the grass grown high in front of it, the headlights appeared like the eyes of a cat stalking me as I walked past. I always wondered why it just sat there. It seemed like a nice car with the exception of all the dust that had settled on it. From what I could see, it had a teal blue interior. A Pontiac. 1964. The year Pontiac's started getting really good.

The 60's certainly were the grand years for the brand. I don't know, looking back, if it ever got any better than that. Certainly years later, 1985, driving around in my friends Korean made, front wheel drive LeMans, it was clear that someone at Pontiac completely had no emotional connection to the 60's.

But I digress.

With just a few hundred dollars in my account from my work at the cash register and helping Mr. Lee with sides of beef I walked up to the door one day and knocked. I didn't know what I was going to say but the mystery of what seemed like a perfectly good car sitting there with GTO dual-hood-scoops had to be solved. The woman who came to the door was very nice.

She said her son Billy had parked it there when he left for college back east. He'd since decided he was not returning to California, having accepted a job out of school - also back east. He'd ok'd her to sell the car, but she just never got around to it.

I was not very good at the game I would later learn of being a disinterested buyer. It didn't occur to me to not tip my hand, that I really "had" to have this car. I think I might have even hopped up and down there on her front porch at the prospect of buying my first car. I think Mrs. Billy's Mom was fighting a smile as she anticipated my next question.

Might she sell the car to me?

"Well", she wondered, "The car has been sitting there for a while. It runs fine, but the battery may be dead". "I don't care" I said - losing any pretense of a poker face.

And, so it was, 1 battery for $29.99 and a hundred dollar bill to Mrs. Billy's mom, I was driving home in my 1964 Pontiac. I don't know if I've ever been as excited to drive a car home since. (Although my husband Rob might declare that he can't imagine me being more excited than the day I bought my first BMW convertible, or when I finally landed the rare 1989 Dodge Dakota Convertible that I'd wanted a long time).

Having that memory and also the one of the other Pontiac I drove (a 1975 Firebird Esprit with a 400 Cu Inch engine and a 4-barrel Quadra-Jet Carburetor) made it especially sad today to hear that the many years of GM mis-management have resulted in the demise of this brand.

Remember? Pontiac was supposed to be the 'excitement division'. Sure, many of the cars were knock off of Chevrolets but they were nicer, sportier for sure, and often times, I thought - far better cars. One of the things about growing older that I'm finding is the melancholy that comes from remembering good times when we didn't worry about things like the downward spiral of American manufacturing preeminence. Or that these products, which we emotionally connect with - like cars would be perceived as one of the pariahs of our social ills and economic collapse.

It's going to be harder as time marches on, I supposed, to fight the resistance to be one of those "old" people we used to make fun of. You know, the ones who'd claimed about how things were better in the 'good ole days'. I don't know if they were, or they weren't. But they sure seemed simpler.

I just know that as I watched that 1964 Pontiac hooked up to a tow truck to be taken off to Rancho Cordova Dismantlers that I had a feeling of sadness. And, I'm experiencing again watching a whole division full of history being dismantled. I was holding two one hundred dollar bills in my as the tow truck turned the corner. And, somehow that didn't provide any comfort - knowing that I'd made a hundred dollar profit from the price I paid for the car.

My hope is that all those executives at GM who have plundered this company for personal gain and have, for years, disregarded the brand value and historical trust they were charged with steering have just as little comfort counting their money knowing that the whole division has been hooked up to a truck to be taken to the wreckers.

But time marches on. Things change. Products come, products go.

Then again, right now - some high school student somewhere might be walking home looking wistfully at an old Hyundai. I just can't imagine - in my mind - that once he or she turns the key and pulls out on the road that the experience will be the same. No Hyundai of any year will be a 1964 Pontiac.

At the Turtle Pond

At the Turtle Pond
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Rob and I had lunch on campus today. It's beautiful outside but
supposed to be a record high. It's not so bad in the shade though!

C!

Dark

It's Friday morning and it's dark and spooky outside. I had to turn the lights off to get the picture outside my office window, because it's so dark - all you could see was the reflection of the glass!

Over 3,000 lightening strikes over Texas in the last hour. It's wet outside.

Tomorrow I'm walking/running in a 5k. I know. Shut up - right?

Me - exercise? Two words that don't traditionally go together. But, it's a fundraiser for the Students in Recovery on campus, and I agreed some time ago that I would go. And, after all - a commitment is just that right?

I'm also at 187 on the scale which brings me to just 7 pounds to my next milestone goal of a 100 lb. weight loss. So, that's a good development. I just had an adjustment last week to the band, and I'm back to an 8cc fill. I had scaled back to 7.5 when I went to California and Michigan so that I could fly (and land) comfortably and not be as queasy when I arrived. It was nice stepping down to 7.5cc but in a period of 6-weeks, I didn't lose a single pound! Of course, I didn't gain any either - but after consistent loss, it was a little discouraging to see the scale remain the same, day after day. But, the loss has started again, and my goal is to lose the next 7 pounds in 4 weeks. Should be easy right? We'll see.

I've been struggling a little bit with having to step back to liquids for a while. The solid food just isn't settling very well - but it's a temporary thing.

We have a big weekend ahead (when don't we). We're doing dinner with friends on Saturday night and my new friend Daniel is having his friends from Houston. They are looking forward to meeting Rob and I as he has told them so much about us, and we're glad to meet new folks.

I'm sure it'll rain during the run tomorrow, but I guess I'll bring an umbrella. I'm not so worried about my time, so I guess if it turns into a stroll in the rain, that should be fine right? I've been Twittering and Facebooking more than blogging these days, but I'm not ready to give up on the blog (like you Mr. Rob) - so I'll just have dedicate myself more to taking a moment to sit down and write a thought or two. How can I expect you to tell me what's going on with you, if I haven't been willing to share?

I hope this latest note finds you well and I get to hear from you or see you soon. The hail has just started falling but it doesn't appear to be golf ball size, so I think we'll be ok. Take care!

Our new friend Mike

Our new friend Mike
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

Ok, mike from flint is a sweetheart. So-so Jenga player. :)

C!

A Great Weekend of Dallas Comes to Austin

 

We really did have the best weekend. And, managed to cram a lot in actually. We played Uno (those folks from Dallas are ruthless and have the meanest rules. I loved it!)

And, we drank coffee and hung out at Spider House. Well, until the birds became a bit much. Poor Steve shrieked like Tippy Hedron and nearly ran all the way back to Dallas from Austin. But, to be fair - the birds were a bit much!! When they began dropping bombs, we had to call it an afternoon.

We walked through SoCo and even found some new outfits for the folks for the upcoming 80s dance. And, we found the classic candy store! That was fun. But, no takers on the chocolate covered bacon. Can you blame them? Ewww.

Cassy and Kevin got some shots of the Capitol. And, we did the standards of Threadgills, Magnolia Cafe, and of course, Kerbey Lane. 

All in all - it was very relaxing and we made some great new friends. I hope they all come back soon. Maybe in June? But, we plan to make it to Dallas in May and now I feel so much better about the journey, knowing there'll be some familiar faces on the other end of the trip.

Hope you're doing well. Let us know!

The Drug-Addicted-Bloated-Face of Everything Wrong with the Republican Party

Well. How can we take seriously anyone as anti-American as Rush Limbaugh? Anti-American. That's what I said. No different than anyone ever accused of being a communist, socialist, extremist, or anything else that the Republicans hurled so easily in the last 8-years at anyone who didn't support the Iraq war, or support an indefensible George W. Bush.

Now the defacto leader of the Republican party doesn't even mask his disdain for anyone who doesn't agree with him. This goes beyond partisan differences and bickering. For anyone to say they hope that the President fails, before he's even had a chance to start - can only be described as "Un-American".

If the Republican party truly wants to reassert itself as a viable option to any other political ideas offered by the Green, Libertarian, or Democratic parties it's time for them to step up and denounce this man as someone who is NOT their leader. This week he has in as much asserted himself as so. When he says he has no desire to be the leader, we have a hard time believing this - since his actions and words instruct otherwise.

Rush represents everything that is failed about Republican politics. Just as we learned in the Milk movie (on the life of Harvey Milk) - you gotta give em hope. The Republican party is running a deficit in this area. It is, hopeless. They offer no solutions, no alternatives, nothing that moves us in a positive direction. They merely want to complain about anything anyone else proposes. And, now through their perennial hero, Rush Limbaugh, they have taken off their mask to reveal their true selves. The ugly part.

The result is an image of a party that is beyond just trying to find itself. It is, hitting a bottom so to speak. My hope is that it can't get uglier than this. It's time for the self-identified Ditto Heads, to step up and say YES - THIS MAN SPEAKS FOR US.. or denounce him for the lunatic the rest of America believes him to be.

I can tell you this much, with certainty. He is NOT helping your cause.

Mr Rogers? Or Next Leader of the Republican Party?

OK. I just listened to the Republican response to the President's address last week. It took me a while to get around to it. But, I had heard some negatives from some folks so before passing judgement on something I hadn't heard first hand, I thought that I should sit and listen.

This guy is a moron. Or, maybe he's super intelligent. But he comes across like one because he talks in baby-speak. I feel like I should have a plate of cookies, glass of milk and a fuzzy blanket curled up on my lap when he talks.

Does he really think people are that stupid? I mean when he says tells the story of the sheriff yelling in the phone. I had Mr. Rogers Neighborhood flashbacks. I envisioned the Governor of Louisiana wearing a cardigan and taking off his shoes.

It was really hard to get to the substance of what he said because of the kindergarten delivery. Awful.

But, there was substance in what he said. He condemned in his words "something called volcano monitoring". What? I wonder if Governor Jindal replaced the word "volcano" with the word "hurricane" - if he'd think it was such an inane expendture. Come on! Do, folks who AREN'T in LOUISIANA deserve less protection? Or, maybe those folks who are dumb enough to live next to a volcano and persist on building in the path of a lava river get what they deserve? But, shouldn't they be at least afforded warning that disaster is about to strike? Or, is that reserve for those in the Big Easy?

I think he ought to be ashamed of himself for his insensitive comments, unthoughtful conclusions, and moronic delivery. If THIS is the hope of the Republican party (some have even floated Jindal as a potential rival to Obama in the next Presidential election) the state of the Republican party has a lot more in common with our economy than I thought.

Which is to say, we all think it's bad - but the truth is it may actually be much worse than any of us believe. Poor republicans - they may never, in this generation, be a viable alternative to the democratic or any other party.

That stands to reason. George W. broke the world - why wouldn't the republican party be included in that?

A great Austin Weekend -Back on the Road

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by ChristopherSolis.

A weekend here in Austin. Back home after a great California trip. 

Last year we had a challenge getting the Dakota to pass the Texas inspection. Which, of course, made no sense to us since it just had passed California smog, which is supposed to be stricter.

I was worried because the technician told me last year that it only passed "barely". And, it would likely not pass again. But, we did have the fuel injection system replaced since then, so it passed. Which, I should have suspected it would. But, it still didn't curb my surprise and when the technician handed me the paperwork, I looked down half expecting the same "fail" that I received last year. When I scanned the paperwork though, I didn't see it. So, I asked "did it pass?" and when he said "sure". I said..   "IT DIDDDD?????".

He looked sort of strange at me.

I'm just happy to be back on the road.

Round Up Weekend in Austin Texas

We had a great time with our friends Steve and Dave who visited from San Jose, CA. They brought friends from San Francisco and Seattle with them.

We went to the capitol building and looked around Austin. Unfortunately the eateries were not cooperating this weekend.

What usually is great fare, was a little poor this week for some reason with some of my favorite places having an off day. :(

There was Magnolia's with cold pancakes and even colder butter. So cold, the butter would rip right through the chilly cakes. Not a good representation of Magnolia Cafe. Usually the food there is hot and good. Then Hyde Park Cafe, known for their french fries could not seem to put together an entree that didn't have onions. Our friends that day all deplored onions (not me. I love em). And try as they might, they couldn't seem to do it. But the worst was Artz Ribhouse. Wow. That place just plain sucks. Do not even bother. They had no ribs, no chicken, no brisket, no turkey. Just burgers. Not really Texas BBQ do you think?

We ventured out and had a good time though. Here's some pictures.

Here's David and Steve in front of Ann Richards - smiling and then for some reason when I had them step over just a few feet they lost their smile under the picture of dubya (he has that affect on some people)

Georgio and Rob enjoying BBQ.

Take care.

Some of the boys outside of Ironworks

A MILESTONE FOR SURE!

Well. I made an agreement with myself I would sit down immediately once the scale dipped below 200 because in my mind, that would be a huge accomplishment!

I haven't been under 200 pounds since 1992. Not that I haven't tried. 

I have been feeling particularly nauseous this week but have pushed through with my regular routines knowing that it would appear that less eating always results in loss.

So, it would appear - an uncomfortable day equals a good weight loss day.

Hmm.

But, all is well here. I'm doing fine and am able to move around much better so I guess my excuses for not visiting the gym more often are slipping away. Yikes.

Here's a spontaneous picture of Rob that is one of my new favorites. Also is Resta and Cupcake at our favorite Yogurt place I turned everyone onto - Planet Yogurt. Great yogurt, terrible smoothies.

Then we have the smiling Adam, who we've determined is called "Minnie" because he's quiet as a MOUSE. 

Lastly we have the lovely Selena in our kitchen getting a new do from Serene and we're all one big happy home in our home/barber salon here in Texas! I hope this note finds you well and I'm excited about my visit to California next month. :)  Be well.

7 Months and 80 Down

Well, I'm now 7 months after my surgery. I'm still making progress! I'm averaging about 2.2 pounds per week weight loss. So, for today that accumulates to 80 pounds. I'm now 200 down from 280.

I think that's amazing. I feel better and am able to move easier. I'm also seeing the first signs of baggy skin. eww. But, I think that's a price I'm completely willing to pay for improved health. Friends all comment on the amazing transformation but I'm thinking when I see my friends in California next month and Detroit in March, all who haven't seen me since before the surgery - they will really be surprised.

You can see from the graph, it really adds up that's for sure.

This week was President Obama's inauguration. I wish now I had taken the day off. It was too difficult to try and watch it at work. The internet streaming kept jumping and of course there were still clients in need - so I was pulled away so many times - I just gave up. I watched it at home that evening. It seems like so many folks were touched, I think it's great that we had a national moment. I really didn't detest Pastor what's his face so much that day. I was too filled with hope to allow differences to diminish the feeling.

I hope whereever you were, and who you were with, were also filled with hope. With so much work to do - all of our hopes need to be with our national leaders these days.

Be well until I see you again.

How is Left Wing Lunacy any Different from Right Wing?

I think that just plain crazy should be called such. It doesn't really matter who proposes crazy does it?

I mean really.

I say this in all seriousness because it's hard to take serious the new campaign by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Their aim is to rename fish - SEA KITTENS.

It seems the folks at PETA have come up with the notion that if FISH are renamed people will be much less likely to commercially and personally angle for them. They are opposed to fishing.. or, excuse me, sea-kittening.

Somehow they believe that people who normally have no problem putting an earthworm on a hook (most likely it's own travesty in PETA's view) and putting it in the water to catch a fish would somehow conjur up different images if we associated kittens with hooks in their mouths.

All this is just plain ridiculous. Love me some pets. Hate mistreatment of animals. Even have come to not roll my eyes at my vegetarian friends. But this is crazy is, as crazy does. There's really no other way to view it.

All this ranting has now raised my appetite. I'm heading to red lobster to eat me a plate of sea kitten planks.

Mmm Mmm Mmm.