I am finishing up day 5 with no Mountain Dew. I was pretty grumpy for 3-4 days. I didn't cut soda altogether this week. I even had some Coca Cola. I fell better today though, and it will get easier to avoid Mountain Dew with each passing day. Eventually, I hope to eliminate soda altogether, except for certain special occasions. The stuff is just not good for your body.
5 days no dew. 5 months and 25 days to go.
11/14/10
11/10/10
A Mountain Dew Fix
I am addicted! It's sad, but true. I have tried to drop my dew habit many times, but now it is official. Day 1 of the Mountain Dew Fix was today. And, yes the pun was intended.
So, for the next 6 months I am going to blog about not drinking Mountain Dew. Yes, all of it. No Baja Blast, Code Red, or the Retro Sugar original allowed. It is time. I want to quit the habit, and see how dropping the dew will effect my weight loss and life in general. So, here it goes.
Day One:
Well, day one is always easy. I can go a day without Mountain Dew. I usually do that every Sunday anyway. It is a non-event really. the real business of this will happen over the next couple of weeks and months. So stay tuned, if you want, and if not well I am doing this anyways.
The Mountain Dew Fix began today.
..........
...
...
So, for the next 6 months I am going to blog about not drinking Mountain Dew. Yes, all of it. No Baja Blast, Code Red, or the Retro Sugar original allowed. It is time. I want to quit the habit, and see how dropping the dew will effect my weight loss and life in general. So, here it goes.
Day One:
Well, day one is always easy. I can go a day without Mountain Dew. I usually do that every Sunday anyway. It is a non-event really. the real business of this will happen over the next couple of weeks and months. So stay tuned, if you want, and if not well I am doing this anyways.
The Mountain Dew Fix began today.
..........
...
...
10/28/10
10 Wonderful Years !!!
Darci and I celebrated our tenth anniversary today. (the actual day of our anniversary is October 27th) I can't believe it has been ten years. It has been a fun journey. We have lived in California, Oregon, and Texas. We have been blessed with 4 healthy, smart, and happy children. They are obnoxious too, but I guess that comes from the offspring of two very stubborn and independent people. I told Darci that I wouldn't change a thing.
We spent the day shopping for Halloween costumes. It was a lot of fun. It reminds me of a story that happened after our honeymoon. We went in to a grocery store on Halloween Day, but we actually didn't know it was Halloween, because of the honeymoon and everything. One of the first people I saw was a man dressed in drag. I just figured he was cross dressing. We were afterall, at the beach in Southern Oregon. As we walked through the grocery store we saw witches, nurses, goblins, etc.. After several minutes one of us finally realized what day it was. We had quite the laugh.
Happy Anniversary Darci!!! I love you. Ben
We spent the day shopping for Halloween costumes. It was a lot of fun. It reminds me of a story that happened after our honeymoon. We went in to a grocery store on Halloween Day, but we actually didn't know it was Halloween, because of the honeymoon and everything. One of the first people I saw was a man dressed in drag. I just figured he was cross dressing. We were afterall, at the beach in Southern Oregon. As we walked through the grocery store we saw witches, nurses, goblins, etc.. After several minutes one of us finally realized what day it was. We had quite the laugh.
Happy Anniversary Darci!!! I love you. Ben
10/24/10
Graduate School
I wanted to post the text of my letter of intent for graduate school. I would love to hear what any and all of you have to say about it. I can't wait to get started with school again, but I guess I have to get accepted to the program first. Sorry for the short sentences it had to be less than 500 words. Anyways here it is:
Over ten years ago I lived in the Dominican Republic as a missionary. It was an enriching experience that has blessed my life in many ways. I learned to speak Spanish. I discovered new cultures. I saw unbelievable poverty. I was amazed at the resiliency of the people there. I began to understand that there is much more to life than what we own. After two years I returned home. I soon was married and began a family. I also started college. I decided to study history.
My undergraduate work was completed at Portland State University. I studied as much as possible about the land I had lived in and had grown to love as my own. I studied politics, culture, race, and even baseball. I enjoyed sharing what I learned with fellow students. I loved the chase of a fresh topic and the research involved to write about it. After five years I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Minor in Spanish.
I was very busy during school. I worked full time as a loan processor. As the sole provider for my family I had to work extremely hard to find time for every aspect of my life. I worked, studied, and nurtured a young family. Through it all I managed to graduate with a respectable grade point average, and a thirst to continue my education.
I applied and was accepted to Washington State University Vancouver. I was excited to begin a Masters program in History. However, as the term started the economy went sour. I was laid off. I informed the school I would not be attending classes. I decided to use my degree immediately to teach high school. The next two years were filled with substitute teaching and working as a special education aide. When the school year ended I knew it was time to finish what I had only briefly started.
I am now applying to the graduate program at UTSA. I am excited to learn more about history, the methods of teaching, and research. I look forward to using primary sources in Spanish. I am fascinated with stories about immigration. I enjoy seeing how immigrants assimilate into American culture, and how they introduce their own cultural traits to American society. I also want to explore the topic of race in the Dominican Republic, and how it is different from racism in other parts of the world.
I plan to finish my Masters degree in History and use that as a stepping stone to earn my Doctoral degree. I want to research, write books, and share what I learn with others, both in print and in the classroom as well. I look forward to working with the staff and graduate students at UTSA. I know they will invigorate my education, and help me to learn and grow as a historian. I also know that my knowledge will help others to learn and to succeed in their educational goals and aspirations.
Over ten years ago I lived in the Dominican Republic as a missionary. It was an enriching experience that has blessed my life in many ways. I learned to speak Spanish. I discovered new cultures. I saw unbelievable poverty. I was amazed at the resiliency of the people there. I began to understand that there is much more to life than what we own. After two years I returned home. I soon was married and began a family. I also started college. I decided to study history.
My undergraduate work was completed at Portland State University. I studied as much as possible about the land I had lived in and had grown to love as my own. I studied politics, culture, race, and even baseball. I enjoyed sharing what I learned with fellow students. I loved the chase of a fresh topic and the research involved to write about it. After five years I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Minor in Spanish.
I was very busy during school. I worked full time as a loan processor. As the sole provider for my family I had to work extremely hard to find time for every aspect of my life. I worked, studied, and nurtured a young family. Through it all I managed to graduate with a respectable grade point average, and a thirst to continue my education.
I applied and was accepted to Washington State University Vancouver. I was excited to begin a Masters program in History. However, as the term started the economy went sour. I was laid off. I informed the school I would not be attending classes. I decided to use my degree immediately to teach high school. The next two years were filled with substitute teaching and working as a special education aide. When the school year ended I knew it was time to finish what I had only briefly started.
I am now applying to the graduate program at UTSA. I am excited to learn more about history, the methods of teaching, and research. I look forward to using primary sources in Spanish. I am fascinated with stories about immigration. I enjoy seeing how immigrants assimilate into American culture, and how they introduce their own cultural traits to American society. I also want to explore the topic of race in the Dominican Republic, and how it is different from racism in other parts of the world.
I plan to finish my Masters degree in History and use that as a stepping stone to earn my Doctoral degree. I want to research, write books, and share what I learn with others, both in print and in the classroom as well. I look forward to working with the staff and graduate students at UTSA. I know they will invigorate my education, and help me to learn and grow as a historian. I also know that my knowledge will help others to learn and to succeed in their educational goals and aspirations.
10/4/10
Humongous Words.
I hate it when people use big words. Especially when a little word will work just fine. Today at work, a customer was trying to impress my boss by using his extensive voabulary while trying to get me in trouble. Anyways, my boss and I had a good laugh. He came up with his favorite big word "discombobulate". Pretty good, a colleague overheard us and pitched in his favorite, "conundrum". All I could think of was "extraordinary", dumb I know. I was the guy who was getting in trouble though.
Anyways, what is your favorite word?
Anyways, what is your favorite word?
9/20/10
Fiction Idea
There was a cool breeze blowing when I stepped out of the restaurant. I could smell the storm coming. It never just rained in Santo Domingo. It was always a hot sticky down pour. Within seconds the street was flowing with the dirty run-off of the street vendors. I was already soaked as I sloshed across the street and into the alley behind the hotel.
"Don't move" the man whispered. I kept walking. "Don't move", he said sternly. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the building shadows. In the darkness of the alley we watched.
Suddenly, a man turned and started running towards us. I turned too, but the mysterious stranger was gone.
"Don't move" the man whispered. I kept walking. "Don't move", he said sternly. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the building shadows. In the darkness of the alley we watched.
Suddenly, a man turned and started running towards us. I turned too, but the mysterious stranger was gone.
9/17/10
I have no idea
I have nothing to write about tonight. I thought about posting a book idea. That would have been cool. I thought about writing about my day, but thinking about that was tiresome. Finally, I decided to write a random piece of fiction. I started with this.
We can't stay here all night.
I know Colin said, but we have to wait for the rain to stop.
After I wrote that I couldn't decide what would be cool enough that they had to wait for the rain to stop for. Maybe they were going to shoot a satelite into space, or maybe they got into some kind of mischief and were in the middle of the getaway, or maybe they were just sick of getting rained on. I lived in Oregon for several years, so I know how that feels. Then, Darci came home and I paused for a few minutes to talk to her. While she was visiting the ladies room, I decided I was just tired.
So, I will post again tomorrow, something a little more thoughtful, I hope. Goodnight.
We can't stay here all night.
I know Colin said, but we have to wait for the rain to stop.
After I wrote that I couldn't decide what would be cool enough that they had to wait for the rain to stop for. Maybe they were going to shoot a satelite into space, or maybe they got into some kind of mischief and were in the middle of the getaway, or maybe they were just sick of getting rained on. I lived in Oregon for several years, so I know how that feels. Then, Darci came home and I paused for a few minutes to talk to her. While she was visiting the ladies room, I decided I was just tired.
So, I will post again tomorrow, something a little more thoughtful, I hope. Goodnight.
9/16/10
Ballin'
Boy do I miss the basketball days in Lake Oswego! If any of you guys read this, throw up a lefty three for me, and make a layup for Landon. I went and played basketball tonight for the first time in ages. It felt pretty good. I took it slow. I didn't even take a shot in the first game. I threw up a couple wild shots in the second game, and finally made a three. The last two games I made several shots, and started feeling pretty good. Then, I hit the wall. What wall you ask? That I am out of shape and fat wall. I hope I am not too sore in the morning. Especially my ankle. I am already looking forward to next week.
9/15/10
Babysitting
I was about to post a long rant about my irritation with colleagues at work, but then I read today's daily quote about humility. I paused for, I don't know, ten seconds or so, and decided to post it anyways. I swear I spent my whole day making sure other adults did their job. I could have been doing other things, like, I don't know, my job!. Anyways, it made me realize I definately do not want to be a manager any time soon. There would be way too much drama.
After work was much better. I enjoyed dinner with the family, and then spent the evening with the youth group at church. We played capture the flag in the church parking lot. I was going to sit it out, but one of the other young men leaders wanted to play. It was fun. I apologize for the title of todays post. If you were looking for soiled diapers, vomit, and real babysitting stories then you came to the wrong place. But you never know what tomorrow's post might bring.
After work was much better. I enjoyed dinner with the family, and then spent the evening with the youth group at church. We played capture the flag in the church parking lot. I was going to sit it out, but one of the other young men leaders wanted to play. It was fun. I apologize for the title of todays post. If you were looking for soiled diapers, vomit, and real babysitting stories then you came to the wrong place. But you never know what tomorrow's post might bring.
9/14/10
A Writer's Block
It has been nearly a year since I updated the blog. I know all of you have been dying to find out what I have been doing. Well, a lot actually. Darci and I added a beautiful baby girl to our family. Gabriella is nearly six months old already, and is almost as feisty as her mother. The others are all a few weeks into the new school year, and seem to be adjusting well to new teachers, friends, and classmates. Darci stays ultra busy trying to manage it all. I have been swamped at work, but interest rates seem to be rising, and a lull for me would be a welcome suprise.
You may be asking yourself about the nifty name change to my blog, and if you aren't I will tell you about it anyways. Afterall, this is a captive audience. There is no backtalking here. Unless you use that comment button. I may have to think about blocking that function. Anyways, I went to see a counselor today at UTSA, the fine San Antonio University I will be attending soon. I have decided to start my Master's program in History again. One of the things the counselor suggested is a daily writing exercise. So this is where it will be. A daily dose of all things according to me.
And with that it is time for bed. Goodnight.
You may be asking yourself about the nifty name change to my blog, and if you aren't I will tell you about it anyways. Afterall, this is a captive audience. There is no backtalking here. Unless you use that comment button. I may have to think about blocking that function. Anyways, I went to see a counselor today at UTSA, the fine San Antonio University I will be attending soon. I have decided to start my Master's program in History again. One of the things the counselor suggested is a daily writing exercise. So this is where it will be. A daily dose of all things according to me.
And with that it is time for bed. Goodnight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)