Friday's with Mark and Marbert

I haven't had the opportunity to chronicle the events of the past few Fridays with my buddies Mark and Marbert, until now.

Marbet, Mark, and myself (the 3M company) have made a semi-tradition of hitting golf balls, shooting pool, and throwing darts each Friday after work.

As some of my regular readers know, I tend to dominate in golf and darts. However, Marbert has suddenly become quite the 'dartsman'. Rumor has it, he has been taking lessons. He actually has won the last two times we have played.

As always, Marbert wins every pool match. Mark is still trying to find his groove in one of the three events. He has been taking golf lessons from my old coach Javier and has shown some signs of improving his swing.

The interesting part of the recent visit to Peabody's was that we found ourselves in a waitress vortex. When we arrived, we started to play pool and after 10 minutes, we realized that we had no waitress. So, I mentioned it to the girl who hands out the 'pool' cues. She went to find someone. Five minutes later, we finally got someone to take our order.

The odd thing is that the waitress looked just like a young Kellie Martin (she played Christie on a TV series). But that's beside the point. She took our order and we never saw her again. So, we waited and waited until another waitress comes by with our beverages and later our wings.

But, we survived. We think it was all because of the week before when the service was so bad, we left a low tip. This weeks tip was even lower. We may have to bring our own food and beverages the next time.

Dog Car

I was so excited when we got our Honda CRV. It would be nice to have a utility vehicle for hauling things back and forth from the store and also for vacations.

Little did I know that Rusty would have other plans.

He also loved it. So much so, that he would just want to hang out in the car (in the garage) and just sleep. I guess it was more comfortable than the tile floor.

Being a retriever, he always had to carry something with him as he went in the car. It didn't matter what it was. If you were missing a shoe or any other possession, that is the first place you would want to look. His favorite items were his wide variety of stuffed animals or one of his chewy toys.

Eventually, the car took on his odor (and dog hair). Every now and then, we would take it to the car wash and have it detoxed, but it became an uphill battle. Especially, after we added Bob. I'm not sure which dog sheds the most.

The dog's get an escort via the CRV to the places that I walk them (which are normally wide open fields). That is because I can't walk them through the neighborhood since they make a contest out of who can 'mark' the most objects. Some people have an issue with their newspaper receiving an early morning 'squirt'.

My First Book Review (The Shack)

I just finished reading a book called, "The Shack", written by Wm. Paul Young. The book is about a man who is devastated after his young daughter is abducted by a serial killer. Four years later, the man receives a note, apparently from God. The note invites him to the location where the killer murdered his daughter.

The rest of the book describes the man's encounter with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

The book is not meant to replace the Bible. It has some questionable theology. Although, I did read that the author did not intend the book to be published. He wrote is as a way to teach his children about God.

I recommend this book to anyone who has issues with forgiving others, especially if you have gone through some traumatic experiences. Also, the book would be helpful to anyone who is experiencing sadness over the loss of a loved one.

Actually, I recommend the book to anyone.

Some things that were reinforced for me after reading the book, were:

1. When we choose to be independent from God, we lose his relationship
   
2. Jesus would have died on the cross if it was for only one person
3. God uses things we consider evil for good
4. God uses our choices for the ultimate good
5. It's ok to be hurt, angry, and confused
6. We must have God within us to truly love
7. Serving others is how we are most like God
8. We fill our lives with things that will not satisfy us
9. We spend most of our lives trying to acquire financial security, health, and planning for retirement
10. We spend too much time thinking about the past and worrying about the future. The best circumstance is to "live in the present".
11. The person who lives in their fears we will not find freedom
12. God allows us to experience great pain to draw us closer to Him
13. Church should be about people and building relationships
14. Forgiveness is not about forgetting, but releasing that person to God's judgment
    

The Lunch Weeper

Recently, my friend Dennis and I went to Panera Bread for lunch. I was coming down with a cold and needed some chicken soup.

So, as we arrive, I heard someone who was obviously having a bad day. There was this older lady weeping and wailing, making a terrible scene. I was hoping it wasn't due to a bad serving of chicken soup.

We quickly made our way to the counter to order our food. I got mine first and proceeded to find a seat as far away as I could from the Weeping Willow.

It looked like we were safe when all of a sudden, the 'tear jerker' started to head our way. Fortunately, she was headed to the restroom.

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but if I wanted to hear crying, I would fly to Detroit and listen to all the Red Wing fans cry about what the Penguins did to them in the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.

All kidding aside, the lady did have some obvious emotional problems. So, I did feel sorry for her. But still, you would think that Panera Bread would have a sound proof room for this type of situation. Maybe, I can fill out a suggestion card.

The Park Crew

After 10th and 11th grade, I would work during the summer on the Scott Township park crew. Scott Township is a community located in southwest Pittsburgh. My father got me the job. He was a township commissioner. It was one of the most unique jobs that I would ever have.

The other guys I worked with were mostly about my age, maybe a year or two older. We had some adult supervisors, but we overran them.

We would paint benches, pick up trash, and clean the bathrooms (to name a few things). The bathroom job went to the rookie. Trust me, it's not a fun task, especially after a weekend party.

The other main job was cutting grass. We made it into so much fun, it was something we looked forward to. One place we cut the grass was by the township pool (where the high school girls would be). About 5 of us, would get in a staggered line and cut the grass in formation. As we cut the grass, we would do some crazy leg movements. We would also bark out some 'army-like' chants. It must have been hilarious to watch/hear.

The 'cut' grass wasn't the only grass that was seen that summer. I got my initiation into the 'other' type of grass. Being easily influenced, I had to experiment. The place we did our 'recreation' got to be known as 'hippie-grove'.

The adults were not a good influence either. They used to buy us teenagers beer as they used to spend at least one afternoon a week hiding out from doing work. They would drive the trucks to a secret location, drink beer, and sleep the afternoon away.

Your Tax Dollars at work.

It was an interesting job for a 15 year old.

My Cancer Scare

About 10 years ago our church had a health fair. I was volunteering that evening and during a break, I walked around looking at the exhibits. At one booth was a dermatologist. I decided to let them give me a once over. They said I had a few odd moles and suggested that I make an appointment to come to their office.

I made the appointment and they did some scraping. Thankfully, nothing came back as any type of cancer (I was nervous). I kept going back once a year for checkups. As a teenager, I had to be sent home from the pool because my skin had blistered real bad. I learned that skin cancer only needs an event like that to develop years later.

After a few years of appointments, I started to think the occasional 'scrapings' were a gimmick to make money from insurance companies. I thought about not coming back, but I am glad I did.

A few years ago, one of the scrapings came back as a certain type of skin cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I had to have a mini-procedure (called Mohs surgery) to have the cancer removed. Thankfully, they were able to get it all. I was shocked at the number of patients in the waiting room. Almost all of us had bandages in the same spot (under the right eye).

They told me that if had not been diagnosed, it would have kept growing, and it could have been lethal.

So, needless to say, I go back for all my appointments.

I encourage anyone reading this to see a dermatologist (especially, if you never have).

For more info, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_cancer#Types

Rennerdale Memories

When I was growing up, we used to drive to my dad's parents home almost every Sunday. My grandparents lived in an area known as Rennerdale. It was where my father grew up. He was one of three children (he also had a younger brother, Dickey, who died as a young child). His sister Lorna has passed away (she was a huge Pittsburgh Pirate fan). His brother, my Uncle Dale, is doing well. I just visited him a few months ago.

Visiting Rennerdale back then was kind of like visiting Mayberry RFD. They had a country store and not much else. But, we enjoyed our visits there. I also remember spending a few weeks there during some of my summer vacations. My grandparents house was very comfortable. Just an ol fashioned home.

I would help my grandparents with their garden and play with the neighborhood kids. There was also the local pond where kids would fish. Oh, and the Volunteer Fire Department. I think people would hope the alarm would go off to give them something to do.

It was a simple life and a simple time.

But, things have changed in old Rennerdale. A few years back, some developers bought land and started putting up million dollar homes where the corn fields used to be. A championship golf course was also constructed.

But surprisingly, the old country store is still there. So, I guess, some things do remain the same.

The Mighty Jeremiah

Last weekend my wife and I were invited to a special dinner. The purpose of the dinner was to encourage a special young man before he went off to college.

The young mans name is Jeremiah. He will be playing football at Thiel college in Pennsylvania. Thiel is a small Lutheran school.

There is nothing small about Jeremiah. He is 6'1" and 345 pounds of muscle (and still growing).

He had a serious knee injury year and the doctor told him he may never walk again, let alone play football. But with his determination and God's healing power, he was able to continue to practice with his team (in a limited way) as he made a full recovery.

Even though he is big, he is a 'Gentle Giant'.

We got to know Jeremiah when we served in a children's ministry program at our church. He had finished the program (5th grade), but he had a desire to serve after that. So, for 6 years after that, he was a faithful volunteer helping out wherever needed. Serving snacks, etc.

He set such a good example, it wasn't long before other youth started to volunteer.

Jeremiah was so much of a strong example for Jesus, that he would wear Christian t-shirts to school and would withstand criticism from teachers and others.

At the end of the evening, people encouraged Jeremiah and we prayed for him.

We know that he will be a strong example to others and a great leader.

We wish him well.

The Fire Department Told Me To Go Home

I grew up in Scott Township. A community southwest of Pittsburgh. Each year, the local volunteer Fire Department had a carnival to raise money for various things, like firetrucks.

One of the money raising games was a basketball contest. You paid $1.00 and you had to make 3 shots in a row (free throws from 10 feet away) to win a prize. They probably figured the odds were on their side.

When I was about 13, I was already a pretty good basketball player. Shooting baskets at my neighbors for hours at a time (day after day) helped me develop my skills.

So, one night at the carnival, I decided to give it a try. At first, I did ok, winning about 1 out of 3 times and then I got on a hot streak. The more I made, the more people gathered around. And then, people started giving me money. One guy game me $5.00 and I made 12 in a row to win him 4 stuffed animals.

I won so many for my sister, that I lost count. There were so many, we had to store them in trash bags (sadly, they passed away in a flood).

Eventually, they told me that I had won enough and I needed to give other people a try.

The next night, there was no more basketball contest. I had shut it down.

I guess it was for the best, I didn't want to have to think that I was the reason they couldn't get a firetruck. That is why (to this day), I always give to the firemen who have their boot drives.

ps: As I got older, my free throw skills improved. My all time record is 77 in a row.

The Bee Story

I have a lot of funny stories to tell from my job at NewHomes (stay tuned).

NewHomes was an internet based company where people could find a home by searching through online listings. My job was to support the back-end programs.

One day, we learned that the 'traveling' Vietnam War Memorial was going to pass by the road in front of our building. Being the patriotic employees that we were, we decided to walk out and cheer them on. There would be hundreds of motorcyclists escorting the memorial.

So, as we made our way to the viewing area, I challenged my friend Dennis to climb on top of this office sign. If he made it, I was going to give him $20.00. Little did I know, that there was a secret ladder inside the sign, so I thought I was out the money when Dennis started his climb up the ladder.

But fortunately for me (not Dennis), there was a bee hive inside the structure. I never seen him move so fast as he came out yelling. He had two or three stings, but fortunately, he survived.

I kept my $20.00.

Later that day, in a meeting, he was asked if had completed an assignment that was due that day. He replied, "I was unable to complete my assignment due to bee-related injuries".

More NewHomes memories in the days ahead ...

My Day with the Red Hats

About 5 years ago we went on a vacation trip North Carolina. We were out sightseeing one day and I started to notice a bunch of ladies who were dressed the same. I am a curious person who enjoys asking complete strangers questions. Most of the time (I have learned), people like to talk about themselves. I think 99% of the people in the world are friendly. Most are probably a question of way of telling you their life story.

I will have some future blogs about some of those experiences.

But on this day, I learned all about the Red Hat Society (and I was made an honorary member).

The ladies I am pictured with were very nice to explain (over and over) again all about their group. I can't say I remember much (I think I was blinded by all the red). But there sure were a lot of laughs.

An Uncle Who Cared

When I was growing up I was slow in developing socially. Probably because my best friend (like the movie with Tom Hanks, "Castaway"), was named Wilson. My Wilson was not a soccer ball, but a basketball.

I played with Wilson day and night. I had childhood friends, but not a lot.

As I grew older, I was shy and withdrawn. I didn't come out of my shell until the 10th grade in High School.

During that time when we would see family at various events, my Uncle Frank, always made a point of talking to me and asking me how I was doing. That was special.

Most adults just ignore kids or ask the basic questions (without listening to the answers). My favorite was "How's school?". I could have answered, "I poisoned my teacher today", and they would have eaten another handful of Doritos.

He would also encourage me constantly. No matter how I answered, he would say, "That is great" and then he would add on some advice. I am sure that advice helped me become the person I am today.

He passed away over 10 years ago, but when I talk to his son, my cousin Paul, I always try to tell him how much his father meant to me.

So, the next time, you see a young person who needs encouraging, take the time to listen and give sound advice.

The Church Handshake

Our church, like a lot of churches, has a designated time where people exchange greetings, hug, shake hands, etc. People are smiling and laughing. I do that on the 'outside', but I don't always enjoy it.

Before the big moment, I am scouting for hackers and sneezers. I try to avoid those people but they are shaking the hands of the 'non-carriers', so it is inevitable to get some second-hand germs. It may be how I got my recent cold.

The hand shake time used to be after the offering and special music. I used to use that time to escape out to the lobby and eat my protein bar (part of my diet plan). Now, the handshake is right at the beginning where they is no graceful escape.

We now depend on hand sanitizers to avoid being the victims of some unwanted germs.

My Caddyshack Moment

While I was watching soap operas, some of my High School classmates were getting a good start on their futures. One of those was a friend who went to Penn State. He invited me up several times to see the Nittany Lions play football.

On one of these occasions his fraternity organized a golf tournament. It was shortly after the release of Caddyshack (the Bill Murray comedy).

Of course, these college nuts had to try to imitate the movie as much as possible.

The one thing I remember is my introduction to Mickey's Malt Liquor. On a hot day, I drank those things like water. So, I am not sure what hole it was, but as I was walking to get my ball out of a sand trap, I decided to take a nap (or, I collapsed from the Mickey's). The trap was the one cool spot on that hot day.

Either way, I think I had to take a penalty stroke.

ps: These and other Dave 'partying' stories were all before the age of 33 (when I took my last drink). But, I still like to have fun!

Golf League - Week 1

A friend of mine from church recently invited me to join a golf league. Yesterday was the first evening that I participated.

I thought it was a church league, boy was I wrong.

My first clue was on the first tee when I met the guys from the other 'cart'. Garland and Charlie were definitely not 'church' guys. Within a few seconds of introduction, Garland lets out a stream of expletives that would make a sailor blush.

The course was in fair condition, my golf game wasn't.

Put it this way, the highlight of my evening was purchasing a new pair of golf shoes.

My partner Rick played well. I did okay near the end.

That is the lure of golf. Hitting a few good shots always makes you want to come back for more.

Another Jerk

Today, we ventured out to the Jerk Hut again (click here for part 1).

This time, the participants were Marbert, Dennis, Richard, myself, and the two Marks, 'Jamaican Mark' and 'English Mark'. Coincidentally, they were the two drivers. I rode with Richard and the English Mark. Before we left, there were a few challenges on who would arrive at the location first. No actual bets were made, but there was a spirit of competition.

Little did I know that I would be driving with someone who could out race, the 'Jamaican Mark', (who is famous for his New York City cab driving skills).

But, Mark the Englishmen, had a few tricks up his sleeve. He looked at the Interstate-275 entry ramp and sped off on a shortcut. I said, "That's a mistake".

Little did I know.

I also did not know, that my driver has a thing for speed (the driving kind, not any illegal drug). He told us that he once drove a motorcycle 175 mph and his car over 160 mph.

To make a long story short, we beat the pants off the Jamaican Mark.

Once we got there (and waited about 5 minutes), everyone went into the Jerk Hut to order their Jamaican lunch. Everyone besides me.

I had been having flashbacks to what I considered to be unsanitary conditions at the Hut, so I opted for a slice of pizza from the place next door. It was good (and inexpensive). Although, it made me a little sleepy after returning to work,

Everyone had a nice time, except that it was extra humid inside the restaurant. To make things worse, our fan was broken,

Til next time, that is today's food report.

One Lucky Putt

The area that I live in, Tampa Palms, has one of the most prestigious golf courses in Florida. It was selected to host the Senior golf tournament in the early 1990's.

At one of these tournaments. MetLife hosted a putting contest for charity. To qualify, you had to make three putts in a row (there was a $2.00 fee to try). I made my three putts at the mall.

Myself and about 50 other people qualified. On the final day of the tournament, we all gathered on the practice green for a putting contest. Some guys showed up wearing golf shoes, and golf gloves, and expensive clothes. They all had fancy putters. I showed up in my Hooter's t-shirt with a golf club that is probably an antique. It was my grandfathers putter.

So, the contest started. The first part was an elimination. Whoever putted the ball into a circle from 60 feet away would advance. The putt was not easy. It was downhill and fast (with a sharp break).

The first 25 people missed the circle and then it was my turn. I made a few jokes and seemed to be the crowd favorite (I didn't look like country club material). So, I walked up and hit the ball. Somehow, it almost went in. Just missing by a few inches.

I then had to wait for the rest of the players to put it in the circle. Luckily, for me, they all missed. I won! It was a thrill. I was interviewed for the Tampa Tribune. I also won two round trip airline tickets and the golf clubs that I still use to this date.

It was one lucky putt. Below is the newspaper 'blurb'.

Billy Graham Getaway

I remember when I was real young, our family went to a Billy Graham crusade. I think it was at the old Pitt Stadium at the University of Pittsburgh.

My one memory of that evening is that my father rounded us up (not to go forward), but to leave early to beat the traffic.

It reminds me of the church we attend now. Right near the end of the service and during the invitation you see many more people heading away from the altar (to their cars) than heading towards it.

What some people will do to be first at the Cracker Barrel.

Hopefully, the people leaving know the LORD. Even if they do, they should realize that they are a distraction to the people who do not.

How I Became a Computer Programmer

In high school I had average grades. In 9th grade, I had almost all A's. But after that, I was a B/C student. The one class I got a D in was Computers.

After I graduated, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I had a few jobs that my dad helped me get. Those jobs ended and I was just living at home trying to figure out what my future career would be.

At the same time, my mom was going through a bad 'depression'. It was a difficult time. She had some friends who were members of a church. One time, they came over and prayed with her. She was instantly healed/cured. My mom was ecstatic and I was too.

It was because of one of her new friends, that I became a computer professional.

Her friends daughters was going to a computer school called ICM School of Business. It taught computer courses. That is how I learned of the school. Even though I wasn't sure I would like it, I went for a visit and decided to give it a try (although, it was hard to give up on my soap operas, the Guiding Light was my favorite).

Instead of getting poor grades, I put my mind to it and graduated with A's and B's. I realized that I could do this for a living.

So, that is how I got started on my profession.

God's hand was definitely directing my future.

Signs

I just finished watching the movie Signs with Mel Gibson. Boy, that movie scares me. I had seen it a few years ago, but it still makes a powerful impression on me.

Mel Gibson plays a disillusioned priest who questions his faith after his wife dies. Without giving the movie away, the theme of the movie is "there are no coincidences".

Or to put it another way, "Things do not happen by accident".

When I look back at my life, I realize that all the events that have led me to the place I am today, is exactly where God wants me to be. I think that is true for each of our lives. A quick example, which I will blog about, is how I became a computer programmer. It all started with a family member going through a depression. There are many other events in my life that appear random, but I believe they are not.

As I have been thinking of things to blog about, I have been amazed by all the seemingly unrelated things that have led me to where I am today. I will try to chronicle as many as those events that I can (hopefully, in a humorous way, so my readers do not get bored).

Stay tuned ....

ps: Our pastor gave a sermon on July 5th, 2009 that touched on this theme. His message was also, "There are no accidents".

Why I Am Not a Member of Tampa Palms Country Club

About 5 years ago, I was walking our dog Rusty. We see this overweight man approaching and he starts yelling something at us. Something like, "You better pick up after your dog, blah, blah, blah". Now Rusty had just done a #1 (not a #2) and I don't like it when people yell at me or my dog.

So, I said to him, "Mind your own business", or something like that. He started swearing at me as he walked away. I sized him up (and he was a large size) and decided that I could take him in a fight if it came to that. As he was walking away, I had to give him one more comment. I said, "Shut up, go eat some more donuts". He just huffed and fumed and swore some more. His face got all red.

Fast forward a few years. We get an invitation from Tampa Palms country club for a free lunch where they would try to convince us to become members. We went to the lunch and I may have joined except that my golf game was 'bad' at the time. I didn't want to spend a lot of money if my golf game was not enjoyable.

What sealed my decision was as I was walking down the hallway, I see pictures on the wall. They were pictures of all the big shots at the club. The person who was the President of the Country Club was 'you know who'. The fat guy. I didn't want to run into him every now and then.

Maybe some day, I will join. My golf swing is coming back and the fat guy won't be there forever.

Rusty Knows How to Stay Cool

Rusty has always loved the water. We are fortunate to have nice neighbors who allow Rusty to swim in their pool. When he is not in a pool, he likes to cool off in the neighborhood ponds.

Most ponds are off limits due to gators. We live within a few miles of the Hillsborough river and have seen plenty of gators in our local watering holes.

The pond pictured on the left is just starting to recover from a 2 year drought thanks to the recent heavy rains. This pond is not deep enough for him to swim (and I could see any gators if they were near by).

So, after a hot humid walk, Rusty insists on his cool down.

He will sit and then lay (without budging) until he gets his way.

He also takes on any water sprinkler, no matter what the pressure. He just puts his mouth right over the gusher (that's gotta hurt).

The only water he does not like is associated with soap. He is not a fan of the bath.

Jerk for Lunch

The other day, Mark, Dennis, Richard, and myself took a trip from Westshore to the city of Tampa. Mark showed off his driving skills by simulating a New York City cab driver. Our destination was the Jerk Hut, a Jamaican restaurant in downtown Tampa.

Mark, being from Jamaica is an expert on the cuisine. We all look to him for suggestions, but so far, I have played it safe. I always get the chicken with rice and beans. I have to work up the courage to try the goat or oxtail.

So after we survived the ride, Mark pulls up to his reserved spot right in front of the restaurant. Unfortunately, he pulled up to close, because as we were exiting, his door got stuck on the curb. Richard tried to pry it free and he eventually did.

One scary thing happened. As Richard went to get a tray, he found it was dirty, So, he removed that one only to find the second one caked in some red goo. I think it was goat blood.

We ignored that thought and ordered the food (although, I thought I saw a horn in the kitchen).

My other observation is they try to simulate the actual conditions of Jamaica within the restaurant. The temperature must be 95 degrees inside. I couldn't wait to get outside to get some air.

Overall, it was a nice time. A few things were learned.

1. Dennis announced that his new Blog will be about his observations on my Blog.
2. We got to know Richard better, our first time guest.
3. Mark parks too close to curbs
   

So, that is the food update for today.

My Journey to Florida from Pittsburgh

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and I never thought I would leave. But, God had other plans for me. Through a series of events, I ended up in the Sunshine State. Here are the events:

1. I had a friend from High School who lived in Clearwater with his wife, They had invited me to join some of their friends on a couple vacation trips in 1986. One trip was to Key West and the other was to Daytona Beach. I had a good time on each trip, but I had no intention of moving to Florida.
2. My company in Pittsburgh was relocating to Henderson Nevada (near Las Vegas).
3. My parents were getting divorced.

So, I needed a job and I knew people in Florida, and my home life was not ideal.

So, I started looking for a job in Florida. I saw an ad in ComputerWorld magazine for a contractor job in Florida. I had a phone interview that went well and I was offered a job that ended up being as a contractor for GTE in Tampa (now Verizon). I worked as a contractor for a few years before becoming a full time GTE employee.

So, on a snowy day in October of 1986, I was on my way to Florida.

If any of the above three events had not happened, I am sure that I would still be in the Steel City.

I still enjoy going back home and I really miss my family. I wish they could visit me more often.

Randall the Town Bully

About seven years ago, My wife and I (and Rusty) went on vacation to the mountains in Franklin, North Carolina. My wifes brother and his family live there.

One day, while my wife was inside a store shopping, Rusty and I decided to rest our feet/paws and sit outside the shop.

While we were minding our business, this nut, Randall, walks by and proceeds to threaten Rusty. It turns out, Rusty, had encroached on his sidewalk turf and he had to take two small steps out of his way to avoid stepping on him.

So, Randall says "That's a good way to get your dog kicked". Now normally, those are fighting words, but fortunately, my survival skills kicked in.

I muttered "Your a nice guy" and left it like that. I figured this guy was looking for trouble. The fact that he was built like a mountain man, made me be careful as well.

It turns out, he was the town bully.

My wifes brother (my first official follower) still teases me about old Randall.

My New Job and It's One Flaw

I really like my new job. I work with a lot of nice people and it keeps me busy. My only complaint is that there is only one men's room on each floor. There is also a lady's room on each floor.

With all the male employees, you sometimes find yourself having to run up and down the stairs and hope for the best. More often than you would think, both are unavailable. The other alternative is dodging traffic to make it across the street to our other location. I did this once, only to be drenched by a mini tsunami on the way back to the office.

What can be really annoying is when you hear the flush and do not see an 'exit' in a reasonable time. The other day, I heard the flush, followed by 2 minutes of water running ("Is he taking a shower?") and then 30 seconds of hand drying. I thought, "Boy, this guy is thorough".

To even make it worse, I have had a cold and have been drinking this orange powder drink several times a day (my limit is 4 at this point). With the other water I drink, my trips have increased.

Anyway, that is my one gripe.

No job is perfect.

How I Lost my Weight

I was very active (and skinny) as a kid. I would play sports pretty much every day throughout the year (even in the snow). Basketball was my favorite, but I would also play baseball, football, etc.

As I got older, I still was at the correct weight for my height. When I moved to Florida in my late 20's, I continued my active lifestyle. I played a lot of tennis, basketball, softball, and golf.

My weight problems started when I became less active. It was accelerated by eating at too many buffets (especially, Chinese). That was a big thing we used to do at lunch when I worked at GTE. So, slowly, I went from 180 to 230.

During that time, I tried many diets, including Atkins and Weight Watchers (point counting). I would lose some weight, but they never worked long term. I needed an experts help.

When I hit 230, I decided I had to do something. A few friends from church had lost weight by going to their doctors, so I decided to do try same thing.

Our doctor had a weight loss program run by Premier Image. I went for a consultation and decided to try their program. The program consisted of eating smaller portions of certain food types at various times throughout the day. I also had to continue my exercise program and they prescribed a pill, called Phentamine. The pill increases a persons metabolism.

Each week, I would go back for a weigh-in and they would review my 'food log'. It took about 7 months, but I slowly reached my goal of 190 pounds. I didn't like the side effects of the pill (dry mouth and anxiety).

After I stopped going to the doctors, I slowly put 10 pounds back on. I then decided that I had to stop gaining weigh on my own (I did not want to go on the pill again). So, with the help of my IPOD, I started to track the calories I was eating.

By simply watching what I was eating, and eating healthier (no snacks, very little desserts, and smaller portions), I was able to lose weight. I also started playing basketball again. I think the cardio made a big difference.

I am now (of this blogging), down to 178 pounds. I also lost over 10 inches around my waist.

My new goal is 175. I may have to quit there. I don't want to have to buy a new wardrobe.

It's a Small World

What are the odds that my wife and a good friend at work would both be responsible for preparing children's crafts for a mission trip to Guatemala.

For the same week (August 2009).

And they each attend different churches.

Our church in Tampa, Idlewild, will be sending over 125 people (mostly teenagers with adult supervision) and my friends church in Clearwater will also be sending a good size team.

Both missionary teams will probably be on the same plane.

It's a small world.

A Sad Day At Idlewild Baptist Church

Tony Dungy was a member of our church (Idlewild Baptist) in Tampa Florida until a few years ago. He moved his membership to an intercity church that was originally founded by our church.

A few years ago, when Tony's son, James, took his own life, Idlewild was asked to host the funeral.

The church had just opened and this was the first time it was used for an event like this.

Those who attended the funeral were moved deeply when Tony spoke at the end of the service. There was not a dry eye to be found.

There is not a person who I have ever met that has more character than Tony Dungy.

He truly is a man of faith.

Here is a video on Tony's comments.

Oh Deer

The community where I live, Tampa Palms, backs up to thousands of undisturbed acres. From an aerial view, we live directly behind the Lettuce Lake park property. It is also near the Hillsborough river. So, it is not that unusual to see some different kinds of wildlife than other parts of Tampa.

Yesterday, I saw two beautiful deer, just around the corner from my house. They were just hanging out eating breakfast (the neighbors lawn).

We also see wild turkeys, otters, an occasional bobcat, etc. I have also seen wild pigs, but not for a while. The pigs had become such a nuisance, that they had to hire 'hunters' to shoot them with a bow and arrow.

Rusty's Photogenic Moment

Rusty never cared much for vacuum cleaners. But since he sheds a lot, it was something he would see now and then.

The picture on the left was taken after he jumped
onto the table to avoid the vacuum (he was pretty athletic before the snacks took over).

We thought about submitting it to a contest PetSmart was having.

Just another memorable Rusty moment.

The Demise of the Hyatt Buffet

This past Tuesday was a difficult day for those of us who were fans of the Hyatt buffet. Myself and three work buddies (Dennis, Marbert, and Mark) headed to the Hyatt to celebrate Marbert's discovery of a 'bug' in one of our critical applications.

As we entered the Hyatt, we were shocked to learn that they no longer offered their awesome buffet. I was flooded with memories of the great salads, pastas, and other selections (not to mention the ice cream bar). I admit, I got a little teary-eyed.

There were other memories. Like the time I was chased down by a waitress when I accidentally forgot to pay my tab. And, the time I got a gift card and a free lunch from my new employer (even though it was like my first week on the job). I probably had 4 or 5 free meals there.

But I must get back to the events of the other day. We quickly regrouped and started to think of an alternate location. After a few minutes, we decided on the Bahama Breeze.

While at lunch, we learned some interesting things about Mark's past (actually, a mentally challenged roommate of his) and we learned that Dennis was starting an old fashioned blog where he will write down his memories on a yellow legal pad. Marbert, the star of the day, sipped his Lemon Breeze and enjoyed his fish tacos.

It was a fine lunch with a lot of laughs. Marbert turned down a request to have his lunch paid for. But, I still owe him one.

Now, the work begins. The search for a replacement to the Hyatt Buffet.

Vision Update (Some Good News)

Just returned from my latest eye appointment and I am happy to report the following:

1) The original surgery is holding up
2) No new 'tears' or other concerns
3) I can resume my exercise routine
4) I will need only 1 more appointment (in one month)
5) The floaters are decreasing

When I told the eye doctor that I was seeing less floaters, he kind of smiled and said that they would all still be there. After he examined my eyes, he said, "Well, I do see less floaters".

Thank you to all the people who prayed for me and showed their concern.