Monday, February 28, 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Thursday, February 24, 2005
I will know the truth!
So if you remember correctly, I mentioned some time ago about the fact that I was on a diet, The South Beach diet to be exact. Basically it breaks down into three phases of two weeks for each phase. Phase one is the toughest by far for those of us who love pasta, bread and baked goods of all kinds. When I was reading the book and doing my research on a heart healthy, conscientious diet, all the things that the South Beach talked about really resonated with me. Give up sugars, refined carbs, yada, yada, yada. I remember thinking that this was going to be good for me and that I NEEDED to do this not only for my health now, but also for these oncoming years of my middle age-dom.
I've done the whole work out 5 times a week and eat 6 times a day program, working my ass off to loose not only weight but also trying to burn body fat through cardio. I thought this was going to be the more common sense approach by first modifying my eating habits. Holy crap! It's so hard to not eat the bad things. Going with out sugar is not so tough really. You know, sugar cereals, candy, flavored coffees etc, but when you have to pass up on fresh baked breads and pasta's your cutting my soul.
I resigned to attempt this and I'll say this, that during the week it's a whole lot easier than on the weekends. When I started out I was at my all time highest for weight at 230lbs. After 2 weeks of Phase 1 I finally went down to the gym at my office and weighed in. It came up to 219lbs. WOW!!! I was elated, shocked but elated. Why shocked, because I cheated folks. I cheated all the time. I was thrilled though, and when I read more, I found out that men loose weight faster and easier than women and here was proof. Man I was stoked and decided that I would be easier on myself about those cheats.
Well, it's now been about 10 days since that last weigh in and I went down to the gym again this morning. I stepped up onto the scale and slid the lower weight over to the 200lb mark and started to move the top weight over, but it said it was too heavy, so I slid it back to the start...still too heavy. Immediately I'm stunned...so I grab that lower weight and slide it back to the 150 mark...too light, so I start sliding that top weight across...all the way over and too heavy, so I move back ever so lightly to the 46lb mark. Bingo...balanced. So let's see..150 plus 46...what, that can't be...196lbs!?!? I step off and reset the scale to zero...looks balanced. I get back on and set the scale again, same results.
I would love to believe that I had lost 23lbs over 10 days, but let's face it, I would of noticed something different..right? Right. God damn scale...it lies. Evil, malicious scale lied to me, made me think I was getting somewhere when I wasn't. We're going out to buy a scale for the house tonight. I will know the truth before I go to sleep tonight. It better be good news.
I've done the whole work out 5 times a week and eat 6 times a day program, working my ass off to loose not only weight but also trying to burn body fat through cardio. I thought this was going to be the more common sense approach by first modifying my eating habits. Holy crap! It's so hard to not eat the bad things. Going with out sugar is not so tough really. You know, sugar cereals, candy, flavored coffees etc, but when you have to pass up on fresh baked breads and pasta's your cutting my soul.
I resigned to attempt this and I'll say this, that during the week it's a whole lot easier than on the weekends. When I started out I was at my all time highest for weight at 230lbs. After 2 weeks of Phase 1 I finally went down to the gym at my office and weighed in. It came up to 219lbs. WOW!!! I was elated, shocked but elated. Why shocked, because I cheated folks. I cheated all the time. I was thrilled though, and when I read more, I found out that men loose weight faster and easier than women and here was proof. Man I was stoked and decided that I would be easier on myself about those cheats.
Well, it's now been about 10 days since that last weigh in and I went down to the gym again this morning. I stepped up onto the scale and slid the lower weight over to the 200lb mark and started to move the top weight over, but it said it was too heavy, so I slid it back to the start...still too heavy. Immediately I'm stunned...so I grab that lower weight and slide it back to the 150 mark...too light, so I start sliding that top weight across...all the way over and too heavy, so I move back ever so lightly to the 46lb mark. Bingo...balanced. So let's see..150 plus 46...what, that can't be...196lbs!?!? I step off and reset the scale to zero...looks balanced. I get back on and set the scale again, same results.
I would love to believe that I had lost 23lbs over 10 days, but let's face it, I would of noticed something different..right? Right. God damn scale...it lies. Evil, malicious scale lied to me, made me think I was getting somewhere when I wasn't. We're going out to buy a scale for the house tonight. I will know the truth before I go to sleep tonight. It better be good news.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Okay, apparently I have reached that phase of blogging where I'm torn as to how far I can actually go with regards to talking about things. In the beginning, I resolved that this blog was for me and for me alone, but ultimately you do have to take into consideration who will be reading this. Take www.dooce.com for an example, she lost her job for writing things that were about her work place and she didn't even name names.
I've always thought of myself as an open book. Ask me anything and I'll tell you. Just make sure you want to know. I think the real issue is that I really don't want to hurt anyone. If friends and family read this will they take things out of context, will they feel like they are being exposed? Ya maybe, a little bit, but at the same time I have to trust my judgement that what I do here is going to be considerate. I'm not doing anything to retalliate against them, unless they really provoke it and then lets face it, you brought it so I'm bringing it right back.
So maybe it's time to put another disclaimer in place: Hear ye, hear ye, all that read this dribble. This is my site and my way of getting rid of a lot thoughts that really do keep me awake at night. What may spill out one day can be totally altered in my way of thinking two days later as a result of being able to ventilate in such a manner. These thoughts and discussions are the sole property of Greenthumb. Any and all similarities between here and real people and events probably are factual and some of them may be a bit skewed by the teller. I welcome any and all comments as long as you're respectful and fully prepared for feedback.
I've always thought of myself as an open book. Ask me anything and I'll tell you. Just make sure you want to know. I think the real issue is that I really don't want to hurt anyone. If friends and family read this will they take things out of context, will they feel like they are being exposed? Ya maybe, a little bit, but at the same time I have to trust my judgement that what I do here is going to be considerate. I'm not doing anything to retalliate against them, unless they really provoke it and then lets face it, you brought it so I'm bringing it right back.
So maybe it's time to put another disclaimer in place: Hear ye, hear ye, all that read this dribble. This is my site and my way of getting rid of a lot thoughts that really do keep me awake at night. What may spill out one day can be totally altered in my way of thinking two days later as a result of being able to ventilate in such a manner. These thoughts and discussions are the sole property of Greenthumb. Any and all similarities between here and real people and events probably are factual and some of them may be a bit skewed by the teller. I welcome any and all comments as long as you're respectful and fully prepared for feedback.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
First Kiss
Well it's been a few days since I've posted anything. Not a whole lot has really been happening. After a week of beautiful weather, we were once again plunged into the soggy, dreary, coldness that is every weekend. Granted, we need the rain, we are buckets shy of what the normal should be and that's got all the water people up in a wad. But come on, Mother Nature needs to get the days worked out. It's suppose to be the other way around.
Tomorrow is Valentines Day. Nick bought me new speakers for the Honda. I'm so excited to hear ALL the music when I'm driving. I went and bought him 2 dozen red roses and a couple of cards. I want to take him to 14 Carrot Cafe for brunch today. That's where Nick took me on our first date. That was almost 4 years ago now. It's so funny how I can remember so much of that day like it was...yes, I know, I know...just like it was yesterday. But come on, it is still one the most memorable days of my life.
If I'm going to relate this facinating and riviting story here, I need to back up just a little. It all started with me putting a personal ad on the internet. Good ol' Gaydar.com. Oh the many men there were on that website, they were from all over the world. Just for the record, gay men are everywhere. Anyway, each day I would logon and check messages and look to see if there was anyone new. You could do an advanced search for profiles with specific criteria and I would input all my requirements. Tall, my age or there abouts, what else? Anyway, you get the idea. Each time I ran this search, this nicho_devil would come back as one of the profiles, but I would always disregard it for certain reasons. One night, after looking at profiles I was feeling particularly fiesty and I sent him an instant message complaining about the fact that he always show up in my search results. That was all it took, the rest really is history. If you would of told me then that I would be with him now, I would of laughed and never given it another thought.
What started with that one smart ass instant message turned into months of instant messages and long emails. That was back in January of 2001. Around April of that year a friend and I were going to Seattle for the weekend to see a comedy show. He had been corresponding with someone there too, so we made arrangement to meet our respective pen pals. Nick and I arranged to meet at the bed and breakfast on Sunday morning for a breakfast date. He said he would be there at 10am to pick me up. I waited and waited and waited...it was almost 11 and I told my friend that I was ready to go. We picked up our bags and headed out the door of the room we stayed in. As I headed down the stairs, someone from above called out my name. It was Nick.
We decided to keep our date and I arranged to meet my friend back there at 2pm. We went to breakfast a 14 Carrot Cafe and he was so nervous that he just chatted like crazy. He was undenialbly the cutest man ever. He took me to Volunteer park to see the conservatory. I was of course naming all the plants I new and he just walked up behind me and but his arms around me. It was so exhillirating. We walked around some more, but almost before we knew it, it was time for me to go. We went back to the bed and breakfast and walked around the gardens. My friend showed up and I turned to say thank you and to say good bye. He took me into his arms and kissed me. I rode all the way home to Portland in total bliss. I was in love for the first time in my life. It was all so incredible and so was that unmistakeable bulge in his pants. (sorry mom. sorry dad.) All I knew was that I wanted more. We started commuting back and forth shortly after that. We missed about 8 weekends in 3 years time. We know every turn and and every bump in I-5 between Seattle and Portland. Well that was how it all started. It's still wonderful. I love you Boo Boo.
Tomorrow is Valentines Day. Nick bought me new speakers for the Honda. I'm so excited to hear ALL the music when I'm driving. I went and bought him 2 dozen red roses and a couple of cards. I want to take him to 14 Carrot Cafe for brunch today. That's where Nick took me on our first date. That was almost 4 years ago now. It's so funny how I can remember so much of that day like it was...yes, I know, I know...just like it was yesterday. But come on, it is still one the most memorable days of my life.
If I'm going to relate this facinating and riviting story here, I need to back up just a little. It all started with me putting a personal ad on the internet. Good ol' Gaydar.com. Oh the many men there were on that website, they were from all over the world. Just for the record, gay men are everywhere. Anyway, each day I would logon and check messages and look to see if there was anyone new. You could do an advanced search for profiles with specific criteria and I would input all my requirements. Tall, my age or there abouts, what else? Anyway, you get the idea. Each time I ran this search, this nicho_devil would come back as one of the profiles, but I would always disregard it for certain reasons. One night, after looking at profiles I was feeling particularly fiesty and I sent him an instant message complaining about the fact that he always show up in my search results. That was all it took, the rest really is history. If you would of told me then that I would be with him now, I would of laughed and never given it another thought.
What started with that one smart ass instant message turned into months of instant messages and long emails. That was back in January of 2001. Around April of that year a friend and I were going to Seattle for the weekend to see a comedy show. He had been corresponding with someone there too, so we made arrangement to meet our respective pen pals. Nick and I arranged to meet at the bed and breakfast on Sunday morning for a breakfast date. He said he would be there at 10am to pick me up. I waited and waited and waited...it was almost 11 and I told my friend that I was ready to go. We picked up our bags and headed out the door of the room we stayed in. As I headed down the stairs, someone from above called out my name. It was Nick.
We decided to keep our date and I arranged to meet my friend back there at 2pm. We went to breakfast a 14 Carrot Cafe and he was so nervous that he just chatted like crazy. He was undenialbly the cutest man ever. He took me to Volunteer park to see the conservatory. I was of course naming all the plants I new and he just walked up behind me and but his arms around me. It was so exhillirating. We walked around some more, but almost before we knew it, it was time for me to go. We went back to the bed and breakfast and walked around the gardens. My friend showed up and I turned to say thank you and to say good bye. He took me into his arms and kissed me. I rode all the way home to Portland in total bliss. I was in love for the first time in my life. It was all so incredible and so was that unmistakeable bulge in his pants. (sorry mom. sorry dad.) All I knew was that I wanted more. We started commuting back and forth shortly after that. We missed about 8 weekends in 3 years time. We know every turn and and every bump in I-5 between Seattle and Portland. Well that was how it all started. It's still wonderful. I love you Boo Boo.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
WAKE UP!!!
I think I may have very nearly killed a man this morning.
My car has keyless entry, which hello, I love. I only realized this after going to Hawaii and renting a jeep the did not have this feature, but I digress. I have a terrible habit of clenching the keys and the clicker when trying to get in or out of the car. I don't know how many times during the predawn hours at home that I have set off the alarm because the keys press the 'panic' button on the clicker. These events scare the shit out of me everytime. I look at all the houses thinking lights are going to start coming on in all the dark windows. They don't.
This morning I pulled into the parking garage here at work and proceeded to devour my Egg McMuffin minus the muffin (South Beach Diet...another post another time). I'm intently listening to NPR as they discuss Academic Freedom and about the plight of this professor in Colorado. I'm clueless about anything outside the car. Let's face it, I'm looking at the cheese coated english muffin and yes, the words "oh baby" came like a clarion call to my mind. I finished eating, gathered up my bag and coffee and opened the door and off goes the panic again. I almost dropped my coffee, but that's not the worst part. The poor bugger in his car next to me, finishing his early morning nap, sat bolt upright with eyes wide and looking like he was shot. I headed for the elevator out of shame and to hide the evil smirk and supressed laughter. There was no escape however, he made it before the doors closed. He thanked me for waking him. I blabbered on about how it always happens, so sorry, blah, blah, blah.
P.S.
I didn't eat the muffin...oh but I wanted to.
My car has keyless entry, which hello, I love. I only realized this after going to Hawaii and renting a jeep the did not have this feature, but I digress. I have a terrible habit of clenching the keys and the clicker when trying to get in or out of the car. I don't know how many times during the predawn hours at home that I have set off the alarm because the keys press the 'panic' button on the clicker. These events scare the shit out of me everytime. I look at all the houses thinking lights are going to start coming on in all the dark windows. They don't.
This morning I pulled into the parking garage here at work and proceeded to devour my Egg McMuffin minus the muffin (South Beach Diet...another post another time). I'm intently listening to NPR as they discuss Academic Freedom and about the plight of this professor in Colorado. I'm clueless about anything outside the car. Let's face it, I'm looking at the cheese coated english muffin and yes, the words "oh baby" came like a clarion call to my mind. I finished eating, gathered up my bag and coffee and opened the door and off goes the panic again. I almost dropped my coffee, but that's not the worst part. The poor bugger in his car next to me, finishing his early morning nap, sat bolt upright with eyes wide and looking like he was shot. I headed for the elevator out of shame and to hide the evil smirk and supressed laughter. There was no escape however, he made it before the doors closed. He thanked me for waking him. I blabbered on about how it always happens, so sorry, blah, blah, blah.
P.S.
I didn't eat the muffin...oh but I wanted to.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Pooper Scooper
Nicho says: guess what I did at lunch
Joseph says: I'm afraid to guess
Nicho says: it is something that will make you happy
Nicho says: lol
Joseph says: did you pick up poop?
Nicho says: I picked up the poop
Joseph says: (K)(K)(K)(K)(L)
Nicho says: :-)
Nicho says: I cant believe you guessed
Joseph says: was there a lot?
Nicho says: omg tons
Joseph says: I'm afraid to guess
Nicho says: it is something that will make you happy
Nicho says: lol
Joseph says: did you pick up poop?
Nicho says: I picked up the poop
Joseph says: (K)(K)(K)(K)(L)
Nicho says: :-)
Nicho says: I cant believe you guessed
Joseph says: was there a lot?
Nicho says: omg tons
Good one Mike!
Every month, NW AID's Alliance hosts Gay Bingo. Each month has a central theme, for example, this month is Carnivale', for obvious reasons.
I was online chatting with Mike (a fellow dog parker) discussing the theme for next months Gay Bingo...Reject Barbie Bingo.
Mike asked if Nick and I dressed up for these events.
I said, "um no...we don't".
"Do you mind if I do?" he asks.
"No" I said, "what would you dress up as?"
"Meth Lab Barbie" he replied.
I busted up laughing (LOL online of course) and promptly replied that I could come as Crack Whore Barbie.
(more LOL's insue)
At this point I suggested that Nick could come as Tweeker Chick Skipper, Barbie's trusty sidekick and that all we needed to round out our ensemble was Pimp Action Ken Doll.
Man we laughed...out loud. LOL!!!
I was online chatting with Mike (a fellow dog parker) discussing the theme for next months Gay Bingo...Reject Barbie Bingo.
Mike asked if Nick and I dressed up for these events.
I said, "um no...we don't".
"Do you mind if I do?" he asks.
"No" I said, "what would you dress up as?"
"Meth Lab Barbie" he replied.
I busted up laughing (LOL online of course) and promptly replied that I could come as Crack Whore Barbie.
(more LOL's insue)
At this point I suggested that Nick could come as Tweeker Chick Skipper, Barbie's trusty sidekick and that all we needed to round out our ensemble was Pimp Action Ken Doll.
Man we laughed...out loud. LOL!!!
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