When I was 30 years old, I wrote down several big physical goals. I achieved one of them a little over a year ago! I only have 11 weeks to reach my second big one… I want to be 12% bodyfat when I am 50 years old. Let’s just say that I am not there so I need to [...]
The skeptics trifecta
June 29th, 2010Category: Goals
It wasn’t a waste of time
June 1st, 2010I won!!! I won!!! I won!!! About four months ago, my oldest daughter started her own blog. I pretended that I was interested and actually went to it and read what she had written. I told you about that I was hit with an unexpected wave of insecurity when I saw how hip, how modern her blog [...]
Category: Goals
Why am I in a bad mood?
May 30th, 2010Last week, before the mid-week church service began, the pastor walked up to me while I was typing on my computer. “What are you doing?” “Writing a post for my blog.” “Can you e-mail me the link. I’d like to read it.” “Sure.” Well, that little conversation has been haunting me ever since… “I can’t [...]
Category: Goals
Now, that’s progress!
May 3rd, 2010I had a VERY exciting weekend! No, I didn’t go anywhere special… No, didn’t buy anything expensive. (I did whip up a little of my old magic and buy 5 books for $6.50! I love when that happens!) So, what was so exciting about this weekend? It all started on Saturday morning. I didn’t have [...]
Category: Goals
No pain, no gain!
January 22nd, 2010I thought I should talk about goals today… Well, really about setbacks… I started taking my first steps toward my physical goals this week. I have told you that I have worked out an exercise schedule that is short and varied. Well, you already know that I missed my workout on Monday. On Tuesday, I [...]
The pain of accountability
January 18th, 2010Everything was going so well when I went to bed last night… My goals were loaded into my new jazzy software. I was going to bed on time. In just a few short hours, I would wake up, do some exercise and check off my first completed task of 2010! However, there was a problem [...]
I found gold!
January 16th, 2010It didn’t snow today…but it is still foggy and cold. So, I decided to stay inside and work on my goals today! Doesn’t THAT sound EXCITING, boys and girls? I have been writing about goals on this blog off and on for the past two weeks. However, I needed to spend some time figuring out what [...]
Category: Goals, Technology
Oh, yeah…about those goals
January 14th, 2010The cold weather has broken. The snow is melting. The four foot pile of snow at the bottom of the stairs has shrunk to three feet. Anyway, as I was saying until the weather so rudely hijacked this blog… Zig Ziglar says that when you set a goal, you go from being a wandering generality [...]
Category: Goals
Now, where were we
January 8th, 2010Nearly thirty years ago, I bought a tape series by Zig Ziglar on setting goals. It changed my life. One of his best insights is that we shouldn’t just have one or two goals. We should have goals in every area of life. For instance, if my only goal is to climb the corporate ladder [...]
Category: Goals
You’ve got to want it
January 5th, 2010For a goal to be good, it has to be meaningful. Take for instance my goal of trying to get and stay in shape. Do I really want to do that or is that just something that I am “supposed” to do? I really want to do it… Two years ago I began exercising and lost [...]
Category: Goals
You’ve got to write it down
January 4th, 2010I generally use this time of year to set goals. This year is no exception. On New Year’s Day, I turned on my computer and looked for the file that contained my 2009 goals. It took me a few minutes to find it. It turns out that last year, for the first time, I wrote [...]
Category: Goals
Beef…it’s what’s for dinner
November 6th, 2009I finally did it! Something that I have been wanting to do for over two decades!!! I hinted at it last weekend… Some time in the early 90′s (that sounds SO long ago. When I was younger, that phrase meant the 1890′s!), someone told me that they had bought a side of beef. “What’s a [...]
What they don’t know…
November 1st, 2009A few weeks ago, I accomplished a long held goal when I met the inventor of Sonic Bloom and visited Hazel Hills Nut Tree Farm in Wisconsin. I am halfway to achieving another odd goal. Today, I bought a chest freezer. I had decided to buy a 7 cubic foot unit from Lowe’s but as [...]
Category: Goals
Am I nuts?
October 10th, 2009I must be a glutton for punishment… I did it again this weekend… I went straight from work yesterday and drove for 8 straight hours. Why??? Another of my “crazy” ideas… 8 years ago, I learned of a product that caused incredible growth in vegetation. I read how his product could cause black walnut trees [...]
It’s starting to get cold
October 9th, 2009To pick up on the last post’s theme… By next year, all of my children will be launched into their own lives. My wife and I are entering winter. But, our winter has come in the midst of turbulent seas. Our season of rest will not be like Thoreau sitting at Walden Pond and pondering the meaning [...]
Category: Goals
She earned every bit
July 24th, 2009My youngest daughter is turning into quite the little “go-getter.” As soon as school ended, she realized that she would have to take start taking all of the standardized college tests (SAT, ACT) in the Fall. If she wanted to do well on them, she would have to know Algebra and Chemistry. The problem is that she [...]
Category: Goals
OUCH!
July 9th, 2009When I was younger, Fram Oil Filters ran an ad campaign featuring a mechanic sporting a thick New York accent and a knowing grin in front of a broken down car saying “You can pay me now or pay me later”. Here is the print ad. The idea was that you either chose to incur [...]
Category: Goals
It’s time to stop talking about it
July 6th, 2009If everything goes according to plan, in six days my youngest daughter and I will be driving to Denver, CO. We will then spend the next two days standing in REALLY long lines with thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of other people at INVESCO Field (formerly Mile High Stadium) and then drive 9 hours back to [...]
Category: Children, Goals, Parenting, Travel
It’s official!
June 29th, 2009Although we haven’t heard from the Financial Aid Committee concerning our appeal, we made the final decision today. Big A is going to Drexel! We sent in the housing deposit and scheduled vacation time in September for the big trip to New Jersey/Philadelphia. I called the Baker University wrestling coach with the bad news. I [...]
Just tackle the next thing
May 13th, 2009I am having to practice what I preach to my children. It happens to all of us at some time. Whe have a special social event, an important class or function at church, have to work more hours than we planned at our jobs and all of their teachers at school decide to give them [...]
Category: Goals
One giant step forward to a chasm
May 9th, 2009I took a giant step toward accomplishing a huge, long term goal! And I feel further away from accomplishing it than I did before I started. To my more technically inclined readers, this post will seem ridiculous. However… One of my l-o-o-o-o-n-g term goals is to write a commentary on the Bible. I have been working [...]
Category: Goals, Technology
My self-induced Sisyphean challenge
April 28th, 2009I know why people don’t exercise: it’s hard! and discouraging! In January, I was running a little better than an 8 minute mile pace for almost 4 miles. Now, just 3 1/2 months later, I can’t barely run 3 miles… AT ANY PACE!!! Man, decay happens! and so quickly! Why am I doing this? Oh yeah, [...]
So that’s how you do it
April 25th, 2009It seems that if it’s Saturday, I am spending the day with my son at a wrestling tournament. Today was no exception. He won again. This is his third tournament in a row. However, he had a really tough second match. At a crucial point at the end of the first period, he picked his [...]
Category: Goals
Just like we planned
April 2nd, 2009It is so nice when a good plan comes together. Everything went well with my son’s flight yesterday. He arrived on time in Norfolk, VA. My parents picked him up at the airport and took him directly to the Virginia Beach Convention Center. We had splurged and rented them accommodations so they could spend time [...]
Category: Family, Goals, Travel
How can you forget?
March 30th, 2009If you have been reading for awhile, you know that I have been making a prolonged effort to get in shape (click the exercise tag if you are interested). I had been saying for years that after I finished remodeling the house, I would get to work rebuilding my body. I made fairly good progress [...]
The front page hits home
January 15th, 2009Two days ago, my oldest daughter, Bean, called me to tell me that her roommate was laid off with no severance. Her company, Nortel, declared bankruptcy. She had worked there for about one year right out of college. Her aunt, however, had given the company 20 years of hard work. Although she had earned 11 [...]
Category: Goals
Her prayers were answered!
January 5th, 2009The hullabaloo had a happy ending!…but not without a little twist. This morning we received “official” notification from the high school that the Great Books tutorials will be “acceptable” to the school district. I put those words in quotations because my youngest daughter’s school adviser sincerely encouraged her while confiding that she has not read [...]
And they’re off…
January 1st, 2009I started the new year off early this year by taking my youngest daughter’s friend to the airport at 4:15 A.M.! Because of this, my wife and I were in bed well before midnight on New Year’s eve. Somehow, the thought of staying up late to watch the clock tick isn’t quite as thrilling as [...]
Ahh! The sound of slamming doors!
December 19th, 2008I am not really surprised anymore. My plans to enroll my two children in the Great Books Tutorial just hit a big snag. The instructor just called me to tell me that he will accept my daughter in GBT II if her writing skills meet his criteria! If he does accept her, she will also have to [...]
How ya’ like the ol’ man now?
November 29th, 2008I accomplished a long held goal today and it was really satisfying. About 20 years ago, I told my wife that I wanted to be healthy enough and in good enough shape to wrestle my son when he is 18 years old. I said that before we even had a son. Well, today I did [...]
Are you ready for…?
November 26th, 2008Fill in the blank with the next fast approaching holiday and you have a common way to make small talk at this time of year. However, I am really asking…are you ready for Thanksgiving? Did you know that we are one of the few countries on earth who actually have a holiday set aside to [...]
Can’t say that I am surprised
October 31st, 2008I was supposed to receive an official offer from my new employer yesterday… I still don’t have it. I can’t say that I am all that surprised. It would have been strange if things had actually gone as planned. The delay is altering my plans. Once I received the offer, I was going to go [...]
You have a chance to change
October 21st, 2008My youngest daughter has started an exercise program this year. And like most people, she has struggled. She will get inspired, start vigorously, make a few allowances because she doesn’t “feel” like exercising, have a few small changes in her schedule that devour the time that she was going to exercise, and then she feels [...]
Category: Children, Goals, Parenting
A young lady blossoms
October 9th, 2008I am really blessed with GREAT children. I mean that-GREAT children. I first started talking to my youngest daughter about developing the character trait of self-control and the importance of setting goals when she came out to help me pack up our house in March. Over the past six months, she has really been making [...]
A good sign
August 23rd, 2008I got dressed to go running feeling just like have for the past six runs: uninspired and tired. However, when I actually started, I noticed that I had some spring in my legs. Wow! And my lungs actually had a little bit of life in them! Well, what do you know! And when I finished [...]
Really? But it felt terrible…
August 22nd, 2008I ran my full course for the third time this week. Hurrah! Howvever, all during the run, I was slightly disgusted with my slow pace. “How much slower would this be than the last run?” Those type of thoughts plagues me right up until the time that I crossed the finish line and hit the [...]
My little disciple
August 10th, 2008My youngest daughter has taken the plunge. She is going to use her first daily planner. We found a pretty pink cover at Office Depot in the Bargain Bin for $8! She will be using “week-at-a-glance” pages that I designed and printed up. We discovered that both Staples and Office Depot ONLY “month-at-a-glance” pages for [...]
I really don’t like this part
July 31st, 2008I started seriously looking for a job today. I went on all of the usual job sites (Hot Jobs, Monster, CareerBuilder) and applied to whatever I thought might fit. I then searched for recruiters because I truthfully didn’t find that many jobs that fit my skills. I really don’t like looking for a job. I have [...]
The third time is a little cheaper
July 17th, 2008A third shop gave me a quote of $630 to fix my SuperCrew’s front end. While that is still a bunch of money, it is much better than the previous two shops! However, here is the catch… They are thirty minutes away. I have no way of getting back home. So I will spend most [...]
Now why did I want another opinion?
July 8th, 2008I never ceased to be amazed at the power God gives other people to change my plans!!! My second daughter called me to report the findings of the latest mechanic to look at her car. “Dad, I am at the third mechanic and he says…” She then went on with a hazy description of a [...]
Category: Goals, Parenting, Providence
There has to be a better way…
July 7th, 2008If you are a regular reader of this blog, you might get the impression that I am a “seat of the pants” type of guy. Few things could be further from the truth. Usually, I analyze things too much! I really am a responsible guy. Or at least I try to be! After using Google maps [...]
Category: Goals, Parenting, Travel
The blog has launched!!!
June 27th, 2008Yesterday I officially launched this blog! By that, I mean I sent out an e-mail to my friends to inform them that it existed. I have to tell you that it is thrilling! I have been planning this for years. I have owned the domain name for 2 1/2 years! My wife and a few [...]
Category: Goals
I have won the battle!
June 26th, 2008I am about to send out e-mails to announce this blog to the world. This is the culmination of roughly two months work and uncounted years of planning and dreaming. In the last two months, I have come to know on a very personal level the tremendous resistance we face when we venture out to [...]
Category: Goals
Something strange happened today
June 17th, 2008My youngest daughter came into the bedroom that I am organizing into an office/library and asked me: “Dad, can I listen to Zig Ziglar’s Goals tape series?” Uuuummmm… Is this a trick question?… let me think about that… you want to learn to set goals… hmmmm… that’s a tough one… She’s actually doing this voluntarily. [...]
Category: Children, Goals, Parenting
Well, what do you know!
June 17th, 2008If you read my last post on the subject of running, you will appreciate my delight in reporting that I beat my previous best time by 48 seconds!
I just wanted to…
June 5th, 2008All I wanted to do was get an ice chest out of the storage facility. That is all that I wanted to do. As I did, I noticed that two small boxes were wet! Hmmm, that’s funny. I don’t have anything liquid in storage… The roof is leaking! I told the facility manager… I spent [...]
Category: Goals
Why am I surprised?
June 3rd, 2008This morning, I told my wife and son that I had a present for them! I brought in the box that held my new computer so that they could have the pleasure of opening it. They were excited to open it. I was excited when I plugged it in and turned it on. The new computer [...]
Category: Goals, Technology
Why didn’t you call me sooner?
May 28th, 2008Less than an hour after I told the guy in Texas that I was coming and paid for a hotel in Wichita Falls, the guy in Colorado Springs CALLED ME BACK. Keep in mind that I e-mailed him three days ago.” Why didn’t you call me back sooner?” “I’ve been having computer problems the last [...]
Category: Cars, Goals, The Trip
Yesterday’s plans, revision 1.2
May 28th, 2008Here is the results of my sleepless night… I will leave Tucumcari for Amarillo (117 miles) and rent the car in the middle of the day. I will then drive to Corsicana (435 miles) and back to Wichita Falls (220 miles). I will sleep in the hotel room that I rented via Travelocity and drive [...]
Category: Cars, Goals, The Trip
Sleep deprivation
May 28th, 2008As if things aren’t difficult enough, I woke up every 1/2 hour from 3:30 until I finally gave up on the wonderful idea of sleeping at 7:00. Trying to keep track of all the logistics made it difficult to rest. Here is a sample of the thoughts that ran through my head all morning…er, I [...]
Category: Cars, Goals, The Trip
One of the secrets to my success
May 27th, 2008One of the principles of success is to plan your day. Here are my plans for tomorrow… As if driving 110 miles to buy a cell phone today wasn’t enough, tomorrow I am going to drive 110 miles in my old 1979 F150 so that I CAN RENT A CAR! Why am I going to [...]
Category: Cars, Goals, The Trip
You’ve Got to be Kidding Me
May 25th, 2008Well, I slept well at the “Cars” gas station. I resumed my great escape from CA at 5:00. Gas prices in Needles, CA are ridiculous! $4.39 per gallon! Exit 9 in AZ was only 21 miles away. My fuel gauge said that I had over 1/8 of a tank. Not a problem… Well, the first [...]
Category: Goals, The Trip, Travel
Back in the far recesses of my memory…
May 23rd, 2008This morning, I did something that I haven’t done for over two decades… I RAN 5 MILES!
A Great Plan
May 16th, 2008Cathy and I are flying to LA this weekend for our oldest daughter’s graduation. She will fly out on Saturday and return on Tuesday because she has to get back to work. Since I am currently unemployed, I plan to spend a week out in LA to make sure that my project car gets shipped [...]
I don’t think the Lord’s happy…
April 17th, 2008I had given up trying to find nice bookcases at inexpensive prices. Some of the nice ones listed on Craig’s List sold literally within minutes of their listing! I have never seen anything like it. I had settled on some cheap shelves from Target that looked reasonably nice. The attendant informed me that their store [...]
Category: Goals, Money, Providence
Fitness for Old Farts: Phase 1 is accomplished!
March 14th, 2008I did it! I weigh 187 lbs. That is what I weighed when I was 18! I don’t look like I did when I was 18 (yet). But, I have lost 27 lbs. this year!
Fitness for Old Farts: Phase 1 modified
January 8th, 2008I already am down to 195 lbs. I have modified my first goal. I will weigh 187 lbs. by February 22nd and I will be at 18% bodyfat! Why did I choose 187 lbs.? That is what I weighed when I was 18 years old! Why did I add/choose 18% bodyfat? That is the highest level [...]
Here we go!
January 5th, 2008I first heard this as I listened to Zig Ziglar’s tape series ”The Goals Program” in the early 80′s. I have set two physical goals in my Fitness for Old Farts program: I will weigh 195 lbs. and have a 32″ waist by February 22nd. Zig says that if you are setting a ‘give up’ goal, you should [...]
My latest program
December 10th, 2007I have decided to walk two miles three days and run two mile three days.
Fitness for Old Farts Begins
December 6th, 2007I have been saying for years that once I finish rebuilding the house, I will rebuild my body for the second half of my life.Well, today I started. I realize that I am much older than the last time I “got in shape.” So I started by walking one mile. It was hard on my [...]