Forget the Work-Outs

OK, OK, OK,

I quit the gym. It wasn't as convienent as I thought it would be. However, on September 2, 2008 I joined Weight Watchers. Results have been mixed. As of Tuesday October 28, 2008 I have lost 26.4 lbs. This is the best I have ever done on Weight Watchers. It is not as confusing as it once was. It is a much simpler plan to work with now. In a nutshell, Weight Watchers is all about making wise food choices and accounting for what you eat.

In addition to the weight loss, my blood sugar has dropped from the 180's to the 130's. Although ecstatic about my weight loss, I am far more pleased with the drop in my blood sugar. I will return to the Dr. in November for a check-up. I am actually looking forward to it. I am anxious to find out what my cholesterol and my A1-C has done considering my weight loss. My cholesterol is usually pretty good, the highest it has been in my adult life is 223. The last time it was checked, my overall cholesterol was 184, without any medication. I hope to be down at least 30 lbs. by the time I see the Dr.

By the way, (Melissa) I am still exercising. I am just exercising in the basement and the living room.

Happy Fourth to All!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and our great country is celebrating it's birthday. I am very concerned about the presidential upcoming election. I am frankly a little scared. It bothers me when I hear people blame all the problems in our country on George W Bush. Although he is the president, he is only the president. He has no power to enact laws or declare war. As president, he doesn't event have the authority to introduce legislation. Our congress, sets policy, enacts legislation and through a system of checks and balances prevents the president overstepping his authority. So any blame should be directed at our congress. Please, exercise your constitutional right to vote. Now more than ever!!!

Billy, Brandi and the girls are coming over tomorrow for the Fourth. Millie and Tim are also coming as well as Tim and Flora Hayes. We are grilling burgers and going to watch the fireworks in Pell City weather permitting. Linda has to work tomorrow night so we are have lunch. We are going to the fireworks without her. I would much prefer if she could be with us.

Meanwhile, last Saturday, Linda and I had the opportunity to meet Rick Bragg and hear him read excerpts from his new book, THE PRINCE OF FROGTOWN. After the reading, he talked for about 30 minutes. We really enjoyed it. I would highly recommend his books. Although one should really read ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN' prior to reading PRINCE. SHOUTIN' lays a lot of the foundations on which PRINCE is built. These books will especially be enjoyable for those folks who grew up in the Calhoun County area. Although they have a broad appeal to most anyone who are blue collar or one or two generations removed from those people who performed hard manual such as farming, factory work or day labor.

Almost Summer!

Well, here is is the first part of June and it is almost Summer. It felt like July yesterday at my house. I'm not really a summer person. My skin is too fair and I burn easily. That, plus the heat is really hard on a fat man like me. I can't take the heat. I prefer the Fall and/or Winter. I can put on more clothes if I am cold (which is rare) but there is only so much that I can modestly take off if I get hot. My darlin' wife (I call her Flash) has her hot and cold spells. Sometimes at night, I will be sleeping peacefully, she will go into "flash" mode. She begins frantically fanning the bedcovers like a matador waving his cape, she will get up and get a cold washcloth, then twenty minutes later she's cold again. Life is never dull.

Speaking of my wife, I must say again how much I really love and appreciate her. we really had a good time Sunday at the "Coming Home" at Adamsville coC. We got to see a lot of people we don't see often enough. I really love and appreciate my extended family, and you know who you are. Words can not express exactly how I feel about the people who have become a big part of my life over the last thirteen years.

The family and friends I inherited by becoming part of Linda's life really mean a lot to me, especially the good people who are the Adamsville church of Christ.

Yes, it's almost summer. It looks like it may be a hot one. However, it will be nothing compared to the eternal heat that will be Hell. I want to remain a faithful Christan so that I can be with God in eternal comfort. I can't take the heat.

God bless and Go with God!

Just More Ramblin'

Yesterday was Memorial Day. One would have thought that with the price of gasoline things would have been relatively quiet on the lake. I really don't know how the lake was cause I never left home yesterday. I worked in the yard. However, if Friday and Saturday was any indication, yesterday was packed. I have never seen so many BIG pick-ups and HUGE boats headed to Logan Martin. One might have suspected that people would squelch their extravangances but not this past weekend. WHEW!. I do not know how people afford it.

I was up at 5:20 am yesterday putting out WEED-N-FEED and Fire Ant killer in my yard. I really didn't want to feed my yard but it came with the package. I walked about two miles and never left my yard and I'm sore today. I finished this project around 8:00 am.

I cooked some ribs and Linda cooked a potato. We had a nice lunch and then I took a nap. Last night we watched "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" for the umteenth time. It is a classic and one of our favorites. It is amazing how many of the things in the movie I can relate to my own early years. We had popcorn and kool-aid which we really enjoy doing. (Our feet didn't even stick to the floor.)

Just in case you don't know, "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" was written by Alabama writer Harper Lee. She is from Monroeville, Alabama. The movie was filmed in 1961. It starred Gregory Peck and two unknown kids (who were the real stars of the movie) both of which were from Alabama. Mary Badham played "Scout" and Phillip Alford played Jem. Both these young stars went on to play a few more parts in movies and on TV but neither pursued acting a full-time profession into adulthoon. I didn't realize for a long time, until Billy pointed it out to me, that Robert Duvall played Boo Radley.

If you haven't read the book or seen the movie I would encourage you to do both. It would be well worth your time.

More Gatlin Brother Pictures

Larry Gatlin now wears black in honor of Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash was very influential early in the career of Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. Oh, by the way, the fourth guy in the pictures is Steve Smith. Steve Smith has been with the Gatlin Brothers for 32 years.

Gatlin Brother Pictures As Promised

Here are the pictures I promised of the Gatlin Brothers in concert at the Ritz Theater in Talladega, Alabama. April 19, 2008. If you too, like The Gatlin Brothers you may visit their website at http://www.gatlinbrothers.com/.

Workin' Out!!

Saturday I began a new workout program. A couple of weeks ago I joined a gym in Talladega. I belonged to this gym a few years back and was beginning to really see results when I quit due to financial reasons. Saturday I really just did a "mock" workout. Last night I went through a light workout. I am going to take it slow at first. Right now I am just conditioning. In about 6-8 weeks I will begin my work outs in earnest. I'm only a little sore today. I hope I don't get anymore than that. I'm going to try to use this blog as a method of keeping myself on track. I will try to post my results as I go. I beg for your prayers and encouragement.