Why Did I Go Thru That??

Throughout one's life, you will go through a lot of different experiences, both good and bad. And with each experience, you will always learn something. It could be something big, or it could be something small. Either way, the important thing is to try to remember what you learned, and not get stuck in the problem, having it repeat over and over. That's usually a good goal. It is also usually sometimes hard to accomplish, especially if you let your guard down. One experience that I have gone through is one that has seemed to repeat itself over and over...and I thought I would share. For me...this repeat offender is my constant weight struggle. I can go all the way back to high school with my first experience. If I thought long and hard…I am sure I could go back earlier, but why do that?? High school works fine for me…

I was never the biggest kid, or the strongest kid, and I definitely wasn’t the smallest kid. I was an average kid. And average in my day, sometimes got picked on, or made fun of, or whatever the abuse…I got it. After taking so much as one should take, I decided to change things…and I went to the gym after school. I began to do some walking, lifting weights, biking, etc…I just did it after school, I exercised every day if I could. I did whatever it took to get them to leave me alone. To realize I was not one to mess with. Sometimes it worked…sometimes not. But mostly I did it to get into shape. And the important thing…was I was exercising…and as we all know…it’s good for you!!! I was feeling better about myself…and that should have been the first sign…the first clue…the first kick in the head…something to make me realize…”Hey, you should stick with this!” But instead…I graduated, and I stopped going to the gym…and stopped exercising.

When I was in high school, I weighed about 150 pounds. Wow…looking at that number…it seems like a lifetime ago…and actually…it was, as that is over 20 years ago!!! Well…I stopped watching what I ate, as well as barely exercised. And surprise, surprise…I gained a little weight. By the time I was 20, I had joined the Navy. When I checked into boot camp…I was 170 pounds. My boot camp experience was a tough one. I was in a company that well, we were a bunch of screw ups…and that resulted in us exercising or PTing…well A LOT!!! So…when I got out of boot camp, I was down to 155 pounds. I was in great shape…and of course did I continue to exercise after boot camp?? Well…no not really. When I got to my first duty station…I was lucky enough to go to Gaeta, Italy attached to Commander Sixth Fleet. Know what’s good to eat in Italy?? Just about EVERYTHING…that I tried anyway…!! So…I ate…and didn’t exercise so much…and what was the result?? Well…after about a year, I was put on the “Fat Boys” program…as I was above the maximum limit for my height of 192 pounds. So…what was I?? Just a mere 6 pounds over the limit, at 198 pounds. Yes…That’s right. No I was not happy. How the hell did I gain 43 pounds in the Navy…just before my 2 year anniversary?? I dunno…bad luck…?? So I still didn’t see a problem. That it was a lack of self-preservation…and I did what I needed to do, exercising, and losing some weight, and it was a constant struggle for my remaining 6 years of my 8 year Naval Career.

So…fast forward to May of 2000…I am out of the Navy a month…and well…would anyone care to guess what happened?? Yes, that’s right!!! I got LAZY!!!!!! And still having not seeing the signs from before…I barely exercised, and ate and sometimes, that was a lot. Well…I kept saying, “I gotta do something” and yet I didn’t. So what did this result in?? Well…I was the biggest I have EVER been in my life…I was 261 pounds. And now remember…saying and doing are two different things!!! So I started to experience some health issues. The most painful was my asthma flare ups, and so I went to the doctor. Turns out, I was putting a strain on my body, especially my heart, and my lungs. Well shoot…that just sucks!!! What do I do?? Doctor wanted me to lose weight…about 50 pounds…I loved that idea, but HOW??? I was put on a diet, and I lost 10 pounds…but I needed more help. So I joined Weight Watchers, and what do you know?? It worked!!! I was down to 230 pounds in less than 2 years. Which was good, as my son Jack was about 2, and mobile, so it’s now 2005, and thankfully, I needed to and was able to keep up with him!!!

But then I stopped…OH NO!!! WTH WAS I THINKING??? I dunno…but I am still blinded and dumbfounded, as I got up to 242 pounds. So I re-joined WW…and ya know what?? 2 years later, I was down to 215. HOLY SLIM JIM!!!! I FELT GREAT!!! But…then…it happened…I slacked off…and combined with a medical issue, with medicine whose side effects included weight gain…I went back up!!! UGH!!!! WHY DUMMY WHY???!!!! Well, this past Spring I was in a friendly contest, I ran it actually, called Biggest Loser. I only lost 5 pounds, and having been at 247…that was not great. So we took 2 weeks off…and resumed…and I struggled…and ended up at 241…which really was not good!!! Well, starting again on 9/29, I am in yet again another, and hopefully my last, Biggest Loser competition. My personal goal is 20 pounds, which I am hoping BL will help me drop 10 of that.

So…I have yet again taken charge…and this time I am going to KEEP it. Why?? Because I am tired…I am tired of this constant struggle, battle, fight, call it whatever you want…I am sick of it. I am gonna be 40 in 6 weeks. I wanna be done with it. I wanna be better, happier, semi thinner, and a LOT MORE active. It all starts here!!! Just do it!!! Team Bring It!! Whatever the cliché, or the catchphrase…I am using it, to help motivate me!!! As I look back at all I have written, I am asking myself, “Why did I go thru all of that?” And the answer is simple…I didn’t pay attention!!! So I am suggesting to you…PAY ATTENTION!!! Exercise, be it simple, or HUGE…just get out and do it!!! The important thing I am looking at is when I turn 40, I can say, it’s put up or shut up time…I AM NOT GOING BACK!!
So…the other day…I started my quest…and I went to the gym, and exercised, riding the bike, then walking and running the track. I felt GREAT when I was done. And I was there again today…same thing…AND I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!!! Why?? Cause I didn’t stop. But yet…I still have a LONG way to go!!! I am going to do it…and I am gonna lose weight…and I am gonna get better and be better!!! I will succeed!!! So until my next blog…See you at the gym!!!

Where were you??

Well...it was a bucket list moment. Never thought I would ever see it...or feel it. Yet on 8-23-11 at approx 150PM...I felt the earthquake that rocked some of the east coast...starting in VA. Where were you?? What were you doing?? What were you thinking??  One thing it does is make you reflect on everything...don't sweat the small stuff...as it's the little things that make life worth living...

Another Remake??

So...they are making another killer fish movie. Oh excuse me...they are REMAKING another killer fish movie. Piranha 3D is coming out next month or in October...I forget already...but really?? Another remake?? Can't we make new?? There's a new shark movie out this week...they should just call it like JAWS 15 or whatever number we would be up to. Why remake?? Let's come up with something new??

They got a newer Footloose...talking about Dirty Dancing...I mean really?? Can we just move on, and not ruin the classics?? Doesn't anyone have any new ideas out in Hollywood?? And watch the sequels. Some of those should just NOT be made...

Proper Parenting...???

Here is a $64,000 question...When do you know you are doing a good job as a parent??  I mean, at what point can you sit back, kick your feet up, and say "Wow...I did an awesome job raising my kids!"??  I am sure I have a ways to go yet...cause I have yet to feel like the second moment yet.  I keep asking myself about number one...and the fact I have no answers is kinda scary.

Do you do this??  I am sure all parents do.  I am sure my mom still does...and if my dad were still alive, most likely he would be too.  I have come to the realization, that you may never really know.  But you stick to your guns, and you give it your all, and you raise your child to the best of your ability.  Couple of things that I have experienced that I thought I would share...

1) Kids & Vegetables...why won't they eat them??  OK...we all have gone thru this at some point...and if you haven't...you will...and it will be an interesting experience to say the least.  My eldest son Jack, who is now 8, hates almost every vegetable known to man.  And he is not afraid to let you know it.  "Oh...yuck...it's a green vegetable...I hate them!!"  Green beans, Broccoli, Corn, Brussel Sprouts, etc...  The one vegetable he does like...Carrots.  That's a start.  He will occasionally change his tune and eat Corn on the Cob.  But Carrots is his favorite.  To get him to eat anything else, is like trying to pull teeth.  It's ridiculous.  "Do I have to eat that?" is a very common phrase at dinner for us.  It's laughable sometimes, because you expect it, and sometimes he just doesn't wanna deal with it...so is quiet and eats the veggies, and moves on.  But that is a rare occurrence in itself.  Now of course on the flip side...my youngest, Jonny, who is 4...eats EVERY VEGETABLE!!!  And he has no problem trying to rub that in Jack's face.  He even asks for seconds...and Jack just responds with the fact his brother is weird, and possibly part alien from outer space.  Ah...Siblings!!!

2) Ever get this one..."What is this yucky stuff on my plate?  Do I have to eat it?  Can I have something else instead?"  Again...my 8 yr old...not a big fan of trying new things yet.  Although...while on vacation...he tried the lobster dinner...and HE LOVED IT!!  However, like I said...he is not a big fan of trying things, and he rarely is willing to try something new!!!  The other night...perfect example...my wife made Salisbury Steak.  Now while it may not have looked like something too edible to a child...it looked fine to me...and Jonny of course loved it.  Jack made a rude comment, something like "the most grossest thing he ever saw" which didn't make mommy happy.  And she let him know how it hurt, and how it felt to hear that.  He sorta apologized...and he left the table...and came back after we were all done, and he decided to try it.  And yes he ate it all...including the broccoli!!  I can't really say what motivated him...but maybe he heard me say...she and I will cook for the 3 of us...and give Jack bread and butter...to see how he feels then.  But he wasn't at the table when I said it.  So who knows??

3) Anyone else's kid feel the need to bring their favorite toy everywhere they go??  My eldest does, which has rubbed off on the youngest...and the problem is that lately...it's Legos.  Really??  Legos??  Every time he goes somewhere, unless it is told beforehand, he tries to bring them.  And lots of times, it is a contraption made up of a bunch of little pieces.  And then the little pieces get lost.  Then he gets mad, or upset, and when you try to explain to him that he should not have brought them in the first place, he doesn't care...you can't leave until he finds the pieces!!  This has resulted in declaring before we go anywhere...you may or may not bring anything with you...and if he can...anything but legos!!!

4) "Why can't I get that??  nsert Name> has it...and it's really cool!!"  This is always tough.  Half the time, it's a toy that you know he shouldn't have, or won't take care of, or will break in minutes of owning it.  The other half of the time, you just don't have the money for it, cause you just spent it on groceries, car repairs, or any other thing that life has shown you must buy for necessity, not for pleasure.  My first response is usually, "Well i am not 's parent...I am yours...and I say no."  But then it turns into the other thing...trying to make him realize, you either can't afford it, or he needs to convince me he will take care of it and it will last.  Oh...and never fall for the "I promise never to ask for anything else again" line, cause as soon as you give in...I guarantee, whether in 5 min, 5 days, 5 weeks, etc...he will ask for something else again!!!

5) This is a tough one...it's a Sunday...it's 5pm...you have not done anything all day, except all kinds of household chores, while they have either vegged out on the TV, or played video games, or whatever to occupy themselves with while you did what needs to be done...and then they decide..."can we call up for a play date?  I am bored and wanna play with them."  Then you have to explain to them, that at 5pm on a Sunday is never a good time to call up someone for a playdate that late.  And they don't wanna hear it.  And I feel bad for him...but I didn't know doing the chores that I did, were gonna take so long.  And it does suck, when you get the feeling, they wasted the day.  So...I guess in the future...when you know it's a chore day for ya...see who may be around to keep your kids occupied so they don't go insane with your responsibility madness. 

Well...that's some decent examples/experiences I thought I would share.  And God Bless my wife Christy...she puts up with a lot from me.  And lately it is times where she is constantly explaining to me how I need to change the way I talk to my boys.  I am guilty of talking at them and not to them more often than not.  I keep trying...and trying to remember.  I may never get it 100% right...but I will always try hard, and give it my all. 

So...I guess, in hindsight, the answer to the $64,000 question...how do you know...well you may never know, but you just keep trying and never give up.  You keep letting them know how much you love them, how you will be there for them always, and hope that everything you do and teach, works out for the best.  I think I have done a pretty damn good job of raising them thus far...and I know I got a LONG WAYS to go...but I believe in us...as a family...and we can accomplish anything together!!!  So never say quit, never lose faith, and always believe!!!

Till next time!!!
 

It's Been A While...

Well...like the title says...It's been a while since last I posted!!  About 6 weeks!!  Hmmm...why is that??  Is it because I have been busy??  Is it because I didn't wanna just post anything negative and bitching about anything going on??  Hmmm...Could I be turning over a new leaf??  Nah...that can't be it!!!  I guess I just been busy!!  HAHAHA

So...what is going on...well...Little League has finally ended!!  I am sad to see it end...I enjoy coaching.  Although depending on responsibilities...it can be tiresome and draining!!!  But in the end...it is for the kids...and if you're not at least doing it for them...then you should not be coaching!!  That's all I am gonna say about that!!!

So...the long awaited verdict has come out for Casey Anthony...and all I can say is...REALLY???  REALLY???  Oh well...guess the defense did their job, the prosecution did not, and the world is still without an angel known as Caylee.  That is the real loss here!!!  A child was taken from this world, for reasons we will probably never know...let alone understand...and that is truly sad!!!  On another note...karma is a bitch...and I am sure that Casey will get hers soon enough!!! 

So...as the Little League season came to an end...some of us coaches were discussing an idea to go out with one final hurrah...and then got some other people talking...and so the T-Ball coaches will be having an exhibition softball game!!  I love this idea...and the people picked to be captains are awesome!!!  It should be a fun game!!!  Looking forward to it!!  Some of us decided to get together and have some softball fun just for the hell of it before we play the actual game...and as it turns out...stretching is very important...and when you are as old as I am...you have to learn to accept the fact that you can't do what you used to, and bounce back quicker, unless you are in shape.  I mean, I am in a shape...I think it's called round!!  LOL  Needless to say...I pulled something in my lower back last weekend, while playing in a pickup game to prepare for our big game.  Yeah...I am still in a lot of pain!!  Been to the doctor once this week, and I go again today.  What really sucks about getting hurt...is not being able to do things that you normally do.  My wife yells at me to relax...and I can't...I HATE WHEN I CAN'T DO ANYTHING!!!  It just royally sucks!!!  I should be good to go by the weekend...but the whole waiting game just sucks ass!!!  Just saying!!

Doing a second round of the Biggest Loser again with some friends.  Yeah...this time around really sucks...as I am NOT doing well at all.  I have hit a wall...and I can't seem to get past it.  One of the biggest reasons for this, if not THE biggest reason, is I am not exercising enough!!!  Finding time is so hard lately...and it's such a crock!!!  For health reasons alone...I need to make time, to find time, and to just do it!!!  Need to drop some weight...for no other reason than, it will be healthier to do so!!!  And since I ain't ready to kick the bucket just yet...I need to get my lazy, fat ass in gear!!!

So...that's about all I got for now!!!  Hopefully the next post will come a lot sooner than this one did!!  Hope everyone had a GREAT 4th of JULY!!!  Till next time...

A Childhood Dream Come True!!!

When we were kids, we all had dreams about what we wanted to be when we grew up. Some of us firemen, some policemen, some doctors, some lawyers, some pro athletes, some actors/actresses, some entertainers, some famous singers, some wanted to be superheroes like in the comics. Pretty much a lot of what I listed was what I wanted to be when I grew up. One thing not listed, because I rarely remember other kids talking about it, was being a professional wrestler. When I was a kid, a few of the many idols I had were people like Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Sargent Slaughter, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Hulk Hogan. Some of those names you may not recognize, but I know everyone recognizes Hulk Hogan. Who doesn’t?? The guy was a legend in the world of professional wrestling. He fought wars in the ring, he entertained, and he stood for all that was good in the world. He was an iconic legend for all of us to look up to. With his famous saying, “Say your prayers, take your vitamins, and exercise” all the little kids wanted to be like him. I mean who didn’t wanna be a “Hulk-a-maniac”? I mean and his other line, “Whatcha gonna do, when the largest arms in the world, and all of Hulkamania runs wild on you?”…it’s unforgettable!!! I wanted to be like Hulk Hogan someday. Or Sargent Slaughter, heck maybe even “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair!!!

Well…I wasn’t the best at sports in school. I wasn’t the super jock. I never tried out for the wrestling team. (Probably because this 140 pound dork would have gotten killed!!) I went off after high school and joined the Navy. I got in shape in boot camp…I went to my schools, went to Italy for my first duty station. Then I went to Virginia for my next one. Then I was given shore duty in NJ. And that’s when I made a dream come true.

I was working part time hours when I first got to my command. I was bored, I needed something to do. So I got a part-time job at a gas station in Lakewood. While working there one day with a guy named Kent…we somehow got onto a discussion about wrestling. I started to reminisce and talk about watching Hulk, Andre, Ricky, Flair, Rude, The Warrior, etc…and then Kent said to me, have you heard of ECW, I responded yeah, Extreme Championship Wrestling, with Tommy Dreamer, the Dudley Boys, and Raven, and Shane Douglas. He informed me, he wrestles in Raven’s Flock…his name was Lupas. I had started to remember seeing him…because in wrestling his clothing was obviously different, and his hair style was different too. I was like no way!!! Dude…you’re awesome…you get to do what I have always wanted to do. Well, he offered me the chance to try it. I jumped at it of course. So, the following Monday we met up and went to “Iron” Mike Sharpe’s School of Professional Wrestling in Asbury Park. I remembered Iron Mike from the days of watching him on Saturday mornings when I was younger, and he was famous for chopping people. I got to try out some basic things, and took a few body slams, clotheslines, punches, kicks, hip tosses…it was awesome!!! I signed up immediately!!!

So for 1 year, I trained, and trained, and trained every Monday night from 7-9pm…sometimes even till 10pm…it was great!!! I learned all kinds of things, like arm drags, suplexes, atomic drops, DDTs, figure-four leg locks, sleeper holds, just to name a few. I did my best to learn what I could, how to take them, how to give them, and most importantly, how to not get hurt doing any of them!!! I started to referee matches after training for only six months, so I had to learn how to take ref bumps. One of the most important things I learned was how to entertain the crowd. If you don’t keep the crowd entertained…they won’t care at all about your match. There was only one issue I was afraid of…I was kinda shy in large crowds…so I had to overcome my fear of embarrassing myself in front of the 50-100 people I would be performing in front of. I wasn’t expecting to be in the “big leagues” like the WWF, WCW, or ECW…for me it would be the smaller crowds, smaller shows…and that was fine with me!!!

Well…finally after a year of training…I was asked by one of my trainers, The Jersey Hurricane, if I would be in his show. Of course I said yes…and my very 1st match was held at Edison High School, in the gym, in front of about 120 people. Boy was I scared!!! I was also, thrilled, excited, and anxious…it was an awesome feeling…I was giddy like a little kid!!! My match was was supposed to be a tag match. My gimmick was a military style, I was called The Battleship!! Fitting huh?? As I was still in the Navy…why not…right??!! Well…I was supposed to do a tag team match with Lt Warhead…and we were gonna face Duke Dastardly and Professor T Eacher. Well…Lt Warhead got hurt a week before the show…so they turned it into a singles match…The Battleship vs. Duke Dastardly w/Professor T Eacher as his manager. Boy was I green…and by that I mean nervous…and so raw. I barely had any offense…I got the snot pounded outta me. I lost the match by DQ…as I used the briefcase, the Professor brought, on Duke before he used it on me…and the referee saw it. So…I lost my first match…but it was AWESOME!! My wife was there…before she was my wife, and some friends too…they were happy for me.

I went back to training more…to improve…and by my next match…I think it was 3 months later, I was greatly improved. I wrestled in my first Battle Royal…20 wrestlers in the ring, the only way to get eliminated, was to be thrown over the top rope. This was something I NEVER practiced before. I was one of the final four participants…and me and The Freak got eliminated at the same time by Lupas. It wasn’t so bad going over…as I was able to watch my landing on the hard gym floor…using the bottom rope for some leverage and ease. It was GREAT!!! LOL Then…later on in that show…I wrestled against Lupas aka Kent, who got me into wrestling…and we wrestled for his US East Coast Championship (or something like that…I don’t remember)…it was a title match…which was awesome to me!!! This was one of my best matches…I had a LOT more offense…and working with Kent was just one of the best experiences…he knew how to play off the crowd!!! This time I had my wife, my sister, my brother-in-law, and a bunch of friends!!! They were excited, impressed, and thrilled for me!!! I lost that match…but I didn’t care…I was doing my childhood dream…it was an amazing experience!!!

I wrestled for almost 3½ years…before I hurt my knee…and I decided to stop. I could do it again…now…but I am pushing 40…and well…that may not be the wisest thing to do…but then again…I am not known for being too wise…LOL I was tag team champion with The Jersey Hurricane twice, and 6-man tag team champion. I finished with my head held high!! It was a great experience. I have some of the video footage of my matches…watching them brings back some great memories!! The point or moral of this story I guess…if there is one…is to never give up on your dreams completely…cause you never know when one can come true!!!
I have babbled on for long enough!! Till next time!!!

Deadly Hole???

What is up with a dog's need to dig a hole???!!! Especially when you yell at them constantly to stop??? This hole next to a trash can that's covering another hole...I just filled in!!!! Can't you stop the madness Buddy??? Just for a moment??!! Anyone else have this problem?? How did you resolve it??