For 4 years I walked 6 blocks past the homeless and the hungry, over broken bottles and used needles, in my pressed Catholic School uniform to school. One day, somehow, coming home with a used syringe in my pocket. Occasionally a friend and I would ride in the back of his mom’s pickup truck avoiding such situations.
Thoughts of those days are filled will memories of paddles, rulers and thick pencils being hurled my way by the teachers, principles and Brothers of the Church. Today I found out that my elementary school “Holy Redeemer” has closed it doors. Interesting timing, as my wife and I discuss where to send our son for 1st grade in another year.
This news still saddens me. It’s apart of my history, gone. But hey, they can’t beat any more kids though!
I used to be a fitness nut. Addicted to excursive and I had the body to prove it. I was never buff, but I was ridiculously lean. Somewhere in High School, I got injured. That injury lead to laziness. Laziness lead to clinical obesity. I weight at one point 225 pounds at only 5 foot 8 inches. I consumed too much alcohol, caffeine and calories on a regular basis. To top it off, I smoked cigarettes. I always wanted to get in back in shape, if not for me, for my kids.
In December of 2009, inspired by friends Jeffrey, Brian and Frulwin – my wife and I decided to temporarily drastically change our diets. We spent the month as Pescetarians. Refusing to consume any land dwelling animals. At this point I introduced myself for the first time Indian food, crab cakes and Tofu among other more color dishes. I loved it, though come Christmas night, I broke down and pigged out on some home made Jerk Chicken.
Something had changed in me. I didn’t know what, how or why but something had definitely changed. A few days later, News Years day I woke up with a random and very specific craving. A craving to no longer consume caffeine. I cut off Soda, Tea, Energy Drinks and Coffee in one fell swoop. Since that day I have twice now accidentally consumed caffeine (I estimate 4oz total).
3 weeks later, watching a Football game with friends I decided to quit smoking. Just like I had done 2 dozen times before I smoked a shit load of cigarrettes the night before expecting to suddenly feel enlightened and no longer crave the cancer sticks. The difference was, this time it worked. I had no craving. No mood swings. No dramatic change in appetite. I simply didn’t crave nicotine any more.
Just over a month later Kelley, my wife, decided to train for a half marathon. 10 weeks of training later she ran 13.1 miles in 1 hour and 51 minutes. Suddenly another desire hit me. I’ve seen those ‘Insanity‘ commercials one too many times and decided that should be the next hurdle. The Monday after her run, Kelley joined me in tackling the high intensity interval workout that is ‘Insanity’. Plagued with aches and mild injuries we powered through.
We’re now a mere week into another work out video, Chalean Extreme’s weight training regiment. I have plans on purchases a bicycle, kayak, tennis racquet and a driving club in an effort to find more ways to workout than inside a gym or staring at a screen. All signs point to that healthy obsession with excursize returning.
My children, 4 year old AJ and 2 year old Mia have noticed. Sneaking out mom’s yoga mat and resistance cords mimicking our activities. Mia’s started Gymnastics and AJ karate. They drink all natural milk and water almost exclusively, drinking a juice is the exception. Every Sunday AJ asks to “work out”, and I have created a 10 minute interval for him and his sister to do with my help. 15 push ups, 9 sit ups, 45 jumping jacks, 90 knee raises and 2 minutes of stretching completes their once a week regiment.
Though I have a long way to go before I’m at my ideal weight and fitness level, I find comfort in knowing that my children are on the right track. I emphasize the important of trying new things, never giving up and being healthy and I think it’s working. AJ’s even been kind enough to point out that some of his classmates parents “Don’t excersize, and eat too much junk food. They have really, really big bellies dad.”
Though I’m working with him on what’s OK and not OK to say to and about others, he’s right. So while I work to get rid of this belly I’m teaching him how not to get one in the first place. Raising’em healthy I guess.
2 years ago, I wrote about the beauty of random interweb segue’s. How you embark on tiny passive adventures online everyday and stumble upon bits of information you never intended on finding. Then sometime later, you find yourself discussing these random findings in passing. The finds are often remembered, even by accident, but the journeys themselves are often forgotten.
This morning. I received an email about Google’s updated image search engine, at which point I searched for money. Upon playing with the filters for color, I noticed there was a link for maps where I discovered the city, Money, Mississippi. At this point I had thought to tweet about how cool it would be to say “Yeah, I’m from Money, Mississippi.” (imagine a Forest Gump accent, with late 80′s Ice T attitude). But then I read the Wiki. Turns out Money, Mississippi is were 14 year old Emmett Till was lynched in 1955. A mere 55 years ago. An unfortunately timed reminder and ending to today’s segue, as race relations weigh heavily on my mind already.
Where I was originally just going to tweet “An otherwise cool town name shat on by a brutal racist history. ‘Money, Mississippi’ http://bit.ly/9545n3 #RandomFact”, instead I wrote this post.
Race is subjective. At the end of the day, when President Obama looks in the mirror he sees a black man. Rightly so. Explaining why I think he checked “black” on his 2010 census. Wether negative, positive or otherwise how a community and society treat you even based on the color of your skin effects your own self identification.
Have you heard of the doll test? Where black kids would be asked “Which do you prefer, a white or black doll?” Along with, “Which baby is bad and which is good?” when shown two dolls of different race. You can guess the results, and it wasn’t pretty.
How our society is built, how our neighborhoods are designed, how our community operates, and how we are marketed and not marketed to effects our view of ourselves. President Obama is no different.
President Obama also has to raise two black daughters. Part of that is showing them what it is to be proud, strong and educated black parents. Because if their last names weren’t Obama and they went to some city public school, they’d be just another black kid. Not mixed race.
I was baptized Catholic. Raised in a Methodist Church. I once wanted to be a Brother of the Catholic Church.
Attended Catholic School from Pre-K to 4th grade, and again for my freshman year of High School. I later adopted the “God is a rock star. Religions are fan clubs.” mentality.
I don’t pray, nor do I go to church. I’m a spiritual man, but far from religious.
My kids are both baptized Catholic. My son prays and reads the bible every night. My wife is a God fearing Christian.
I say the above only to give my next statement some perspective. Where as I don’t hope to offend (at least not greatly) I only wish to say…
No grown man can honestly he say he watched the Lion King and didn’t a little choked up. I’m not saying you had to cry, I did, but you came close.
This past weekend before my daughters second birthday, AJ my 4 year old son and I sat down and watched Lion King. AJ is a sensitive kid, arguably much like I once was. He wants everyone to get along, be friends, and would rather crack jokes than engage in a confrontation.
After a mini vacation one of our dogs died, Diva, a 6 year old backyard bred American Pit Bull Terrior. AJ didn’t understand, he asked where she was for days. Randomly weeks later he’d say, “she got sick and ran away”. I felt the need to clarify that in fact, Diva was dead. That she got sick, died, and will not be coming back. We then had to spend the next couple weeks ensuring him our other dog, Reesy was in good health.
Later his 3 fish, affectionately named “The Fishies” died. The first one made him said, the other 2… meh, he was kind of excited to flush them. He’d excitedly tell family and friends he was brave and flushed them all by his self.
When my daughter was born, he was scared to hold her but would follow the nurses around and make sure they took good care of her. He’d wait at the entrance to the nursery and command them to take good care.
All this said, I expected our viewing of the Lion King to result in some further explanation and emotional support. My son watched the movie completely un-phased, only jumping when those Hyenas would make random aggressive appearances. And then… the stampede.
I sat close to my son, expecting him to jump, be frightened, concerned; even sad. He didn’t move. AJ watched the screen intently, almost excitedly hoping Mufasa would emerge from the stampede unscathed. Alas, he didn’t. Mufasa’s body lay still and little Simba wimpers “Dad…. dad..”.
I’m ready, bring on the tears!
AJ shouts “I know what’s wrong. He’s dead.” Thrown completely off guard I ask him to repeat himself. “Yeah dad, the animals ran over him. And the mean Lion hurt him. Now he’s dead. Right dad?” How do I respond to that… “Yes.”
He watched the rest of the movie, having a good amount of giggles at Timon and Pumba, then at the credits I ask “What was your favorite part?” AJ replies “When the King died.” My wife and I, shocked ask him why and unable to find the words he manages to elude to the excitement of the moment. He later suggests his favorite part was actually when adult Simba killed the bad King, and all the animals returned to the lush savanna.
Through it all, my son expressed more concern with why Simba was sad, why Simba’s mom would blame him for Mufasa’s death, why Scar was so jealous. The actual death though, didn’t budge him.
Friends suggest I should watch my back. As AJ might be planning to dethrone the King of our own family pride. Ha… bring it.
One might think, “omnipotence” is a bit much. Though in my case, it’s just accurate. For years I’ve known that I am a prophet. I just try to keep my prophecies to myself. Sending the world into mass panic would be reckless of me after-all.
Now after umteen winter storms, 70+ inches of snow and apparently even more in just a matter of days – I just wanted to say… told ya so!
Happy halloween eve and welcome to the hopeful rebirth of rabid { logic }. After leaving this site/blog/portfolio to festure and rot for God knows how long I’ve decided to give it another go.
I’ll try and post something once a day, but no promises. I mean, if I’m not up for arguing an point or killing my productivity with a debate – why bother.
ps. You might have noticed, this site isn’t exactly browser agnostic. Sorry, but I’m just too lazy to pay much attention to IE users. For now make due with the site through very readable text only. Thanks Malarkey! (I’m getting to comfortable using this as an excuse.)
