Cigars

I love a good cigar. My smoke of choice is Arturo Fuente cigars. I prefer a milder taste and a good burning cigar. One that I don't need to relight every five seconds. I've found these are the best for my individual preferences. I'm no cigar expert, never claimed to be. It's kind of like art, I may not know it, but I know what I like.

One of the things I love about cigars is smoking them with friends. My good friend and I have been smoking cigars on each others porches for almost ten years now. We don't smoke many, maybe about six or seven during the "season". Which for us is anytime we can smoke outside but mainly the warmer months. We mainly just sit there, catch up on each others lives and enjoy the company of an old dear friendship.

I occasionally will smoke when I play a round of golf. I've seen a lot of golfers smoke cigars while golfing. I won't say it improves my game, those would have to be some really special cigars, but I do enjoy puffing on a stogie while waiting to tee off or putt out.

So tonight my friend and I sat on my deck and enjoyed the cool night air while puffing on a couple of cigars. A couple of years ago he went through some of the same life changes that are coming up for me, getting married, living with someone who isn't just a roommate, etc. It was good to get another persons perspective. I felt a lot better after talking to him.

I will have to make this blog a little shorter than some because apparently tonight is the night Harley has decided to try a new gymnastics routine on my bed. So goodnight interwebs...sleep well.

Working out...losing weight

Well that's the goal anyway. I have been working out, and working out hard for the past three years. In those three years I've lost probably about 100lbs of fat and gained about 20lbs of muscle. I have just over a year before we are married and I'm needing to shed a few pounds. If I'm honest with myself I need to shed more than just a few. So as a way to motivate myself I'm going to try and keep a blog about losing weight and working out.

I've thought long and hard and decided the best approach for me is a basic one. No Weight Watchers, no Atkins, no South Beach, just need to keep the calorie intake to 2500 a day or less and continue to exercise. So I'm going with a two pronged attack. First will be to keep better track of my exercising. I need to be better at keeping track of my sets and the amount I lift. The second is to stick to counting the calories for the day.

As to the first, I'm pretty satisfied at where my cardio is. My resting heart rate used to be in the 80's and now I'm down into the high 50's or low 60's. My need is for more upper body strength and working on my core supportive muscles. The Fiance gave me 6 training sessions at my gym and I have used them to build a good new workout regime. It has me maintaining or slightly improving my leg muscles, and focusing in on triceps, biceps, chest, back, shoulder and abs. I also am working on new cardio things such as jump roping. I will lay out what I lift after the gym today and then try to keep updating in this blog to see how much (or little) I've improved.

The second will be forcing myself to blog daily about he caloric intake I have. I'm hoping this will keep me on the straight and narrow. Of course I'm saying this while munching on a handful of jelly beans so there's that. But it's baby steps.

So that's the goal, to look good in a tux by next April. As I sit here and type this out, I'm also realizing that I have one large hurdle to overcome. The switch hasn't flicked. What I mean by that is when anyone who has needed to overcome a large change in their lives has a moment of clarity when they realize something must be done. Alcoholics and drug users call it hitting rock bottom. I call it hitting Rocky Road, preferably Ben and Jerry's. It has happened for me a few times when I have lost larger amounts of weight. My hope is in writing this blog and trying to keep up with it, I'll flick the switch.

Working for the weekend

This week has had some ups and downs. I still haven't heard any official word on the job I interviewed for, all I've gotten is an email saying they haven't finished interviewing people. Better than a "no" I suppose. My boss got fired, because he was in a job that was WAY over his head and should have been let go several months ago. He's not a bad guy, and I wish him well, but man he just didn't have the skill set for that job. I feel a little bit like a boxer here. Just gotta keep ducking and weaving, haven't laid me off yet. I'm chained to my desk at work and while it's not boring every single minute, there are times when I just can't play another game of Bejewled Blitz.

It's been within the past year that I've started looking forward to my weekend plans. When I was single, my weekends consisted of going to the gym for an hour or so and then watching TV or playing video games for the rest of the day. Sad...I know. I did a few other things too, but not many. Then I met the Fiance, to be clear she wasn't the Fiance when I first met her, that would be silly. But when I did meet her my weekends started filling up quickly.

Now that spring has sprung and the weather is getting nicer, people are venturing out of hibernation and going to Home Depot. As are we this weekend. Saturday will consist of getting up and having a good hardy breakfast then picking up the truck from Dad's house and heading to Home Depot. We are finally going to tear out all the stupid ground ivy that covers my "front yard". I put it in quotes because it's about a 12x12 patch of dirt that gets no sun, so I couldn't grow grass even if I wanted to.

This ivy has been the bane of my existence since I first bought my place. I don't get poison ivy or poison oak easily so when I say this stuff is evil please understand where I'm coming from. I don't know what this stuff is called but it's the spawn of Satan himself. Never stops growing and if I look at it wrong I break out. But I digress, we will cover the area with mulch, landscaping tarp, flowers and weed killer. Probably not in that order. But not before we head to yoga. Then in the evening we are having a "date night" of movie and dinner. So Saturday will be quite booked. Oh and I forgot to mention, we need to go over to her parents house and pick up some patio furniture sometime during the day as well. Which wouldn't be so bad except it's about 45 minute drive each way to get there.

So that leaves Sunday, the day of rest. Heh...while she is working on bettering herself by getting a national certificate for her job, I will be recaulking the shower, making a run to the dump, and cleaning out storage spaces and closets so we can move the rest of her stuff down in a couple of weeks.

I love my new weekends. Mainly, because I have found someone to share my life with. But there are times when I still yearn to spend an entire Saturday sitting with my friend and marathoning Stargate SG-1.....just not many.

Sleep

I yearn for a good nights sleep. I can't remember the last time I had a really good nights sleep that wasn't drug induced. Now, before you go all "oh my gosh he takes drugs", we are talking Tylenol PM so don't get your panties in a bunch.

There are many reasons why I don't sleep well. But lately it seems that I have a lot on my mind. I'm getting married (which I honestly never thought would happen), my Fiance is moving in. This is something that is a big adjustment for me. I very much want to spend the rest of my life with her, but I've never lived with anyone before. I've had roommates and some of them were women, but never in a let's share a life together aspect. I'm excited to try it and nervous about it all at the same time.

As stated previously she bring two cats with her and my cat doesn't play well with others. If I may digress for a moment. Last night I had a rude awakening. I thought all this time, that my cat was the innocent bystander in all of this ruckus. Just sat there minding his own business when her cats would come over and harass him. But no, this is not the case. I saw my cat growl and hiss at one of hers because her cat was standing in front of the open window that Harley likes to stand in. In other words, Harley was pissed off because one of her cats was in his spot. I don't know if cats have a sound for "places back" but I think I heard it last night.

But back to sleep, the cats not getting along is stressing me out. I'm not sure why, probably because I've never dealt with a situation like this before. The Fiance is wonderful, she is beyond patient with me and my neurosis about the cats. I'm even dreaming about my cat eating the head of one of her cats. It was quite disturbing because I couldn't tell if Harley was playing or actually trying to eat her cat. Yeah...I know...I'm strange.

I know what your saying, once the cats get along and I get used to sharing my life with someone all will be well and I'll be able to sleep. Not so fast there sonny. I also have a job where it's best described as working for the Dread Pirate Roberts, "Good job today, I'll most likely fire you in the morning". I'm looking for a new job, and found a great opportunity, but of course I'm not sure if they are going to hire me. So I do have a few other things on my mind.

I know that in the grand scheme of things, my life is far from bad. In retrospect I've grown up in a very Norman Rockwellish type of environment. I do have a wonderful life in many respects. I have good friends, a fantastic woman who loves me as much as I love her, my health, a loving family, and a job that for now pays the bills. I feel almost guilty complaining about not sleeping well and cats not getting along. But in the end this is my blog, and my venue to vent. To quote someone who I respect and love very much....some days are just oatmeal.

Mr Wussy Pants

As you might have guessed from my picture on top of the page, I have a cat. His name is Harley, so named because he purrs really loud. He is a mix of Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, barn cat, and I'm pretty sure a playgirl pin up as he has a tendency to lay on his back, legs spread, and just look at you. Thank God for fur.

Well, the Fiance is moving in pretty soon and with her comes two other cats. One is very similar to Harley in shape, size and demeanor, the other is kind of like an overexcited kid at Christmas....on crack. We've had a few "get together" weekends with the cats and to say the first time didn't go well is an understatement. I've never heard sounds like that. I still get a cold sweat when I think about it.

The second time went much better, but Harley didn't really "warm" to the newcomers. He refused to allow the other cats near him without growling and didn't eat, drink or use the litter box until I had him in a room alone. So I'm thinking to myself, he will either go hungry or get used to them. However, according to my sister, the vet, Harley could actually make himself sick before he eats or uses the litter box. You would think that common sense would kick in, but this is the cat that tried to roll onto his back and fell down a flight of steps. Not the brightest bulb in the pack if you know what I mean.

So now I have to do my research and figure out how to introduce cats. Like most things on the Internet there is too much information and I quickly have become bogged down. I'm liking more and more the idea my friend gave me of locking them all in a closet until only one remains. Kind of like a furry Survivor. I can even imagine setting up challenges, but I digress. I know the solution, to slowly introduce the cats into each others world, but that seems quite the hassle. Dogs are MUCH easier in this respect. They just sniff each others butt and it's done with.

My cat is a wuss, I've know this for years. And now that I've tossed this out into the river of ones and zeros I do feel a little better. Maybe this blogging stuff isn't all that bad.

Just Starting Out

I've decided to try this blogging thing. I gotta be honest, I'm not too sure about all this. Lots of people tell me they have a blog, or they blogged or they like blogging. And my sister just told me you could make money by having people click on advertisements posted in your blog. I've GOT to get in on that action.



For a long time I have been skeptical. I just didn't get the idea of posting your thoughts for all or a select few to see. Why would anyone want to read about mine? I never have understood Twitter and Facebook is only good for Flash games and pictures as far as I'm concerned. I still don't understand the draw of telling people "off to the grocery store" or "doing laundry" or "holding off a ravenous lion with a swifer". I may have made that last one up, and honestly, if someone could "tweet" while holding off a ravenous lion with a swifer I probably would follow them.



But then a good friend and old roommate started a blog about woodworking. And honestly, I didn't really get the idea of it at first. But I did start reading it, and have been drawn in by it. Now I know people have blogs for many many reasons. Anywhere from someone who is just looking for writing practice and to get some thoughts out of their head. To political commentary on the global market and how it relates to socio-economic classes. To whether or not anyone ACTUALLY SAW ANYTHING when Justin Timberlake ripped off Janet Jacksons top. Sorry, that's been bugging me for awhile.



So I decided I should give it shot. I've got some pretty big life changes coming up and might need a place to release the thoughts that build up. So here goes, watch out interwebs...