Deep Thoughts...

"Must Have Done Something Right" by Relient K

We should get jerseys cause we make a great team
But yours would look better than mine, cause you're outta my league
And I know that it's so cliche to tell you that everyday
I spend with you is the new best day of my life
Everyone watching us just turns away with disgust
It's Jealously, they can see that we've got it going on

And I'm racking my brain for a new improved way
To let you know your more to me than what I know how to say
YOu're ok with the way this is going to be
This is going to be thing we've ever seen

If anyone can make me a better person you could
All I gotta say is I musta done something good
I came along one day and you rearranged my life
All I gotta say is I musta done something right
I musta done something right

Maybe I'm just lucky cause it's hard to believe
Believe that somebody like you'd end up with someone like me
And I know that it's so cliche to talk about you this way
But I'll push all my inhibitions aside
It's so very obvious to everyone watching us
That we have got something real good going on.

And I'm racking my brain for a new improved way
To let you know your more to me than what I know how to say
YOu're ok with the way this is going to be
This is going to be thing we've ever seen."

I am sitting at home tonight, just happy to have gotten through a very hectic week, and I realized I have not put something out on the blog-o-sphere in a while, and so I decided to just sit here and write a bit.

• The name of the blog title is from the column I use to write for the St. George newsletter. Every other month I had to write a column for the church newsletter about a things that were going on in the youth group. Mostly, I just wrote what ever was going on in my head at that time. People said they enjoyed my column, so I guess that was a good thing right? I mention that because this week on Wednesday, I start to work with the college age kids at St. George's. I am pumped up about this. It has been three years since I have last worked with kids. And this time it is with a age group I have never worked before. So, I am hoping that this will be a good thing for me and especially the young adults that come. I will keep you posted on how it goes. Right now, I am just nervous that no one will even show up. We will have to see.
• An interesting thing happened to me on Tuesday. I went to vote (not the interesting thing), and walked in to the voting site. Of course at the table that you sign in at, there was one person in line, and that person happened to be in the same line as I needed to be in. That is SO about right, was the thought that crossed in my head, and I then proceded to wait in line. As I did wait, the lady at the table that was to sign in everyone for the A-D names, look at me, and said, "You've lost a lot of weight since the last time you have been in here." I looked at her, and said, "Yes, I have almost lost35 pounds (I am over 37 now:)". She then proceeded to tell me that she could tell, and to keep it up. I was FLOORED. It was awesome...I have only heard that thought from a hand full of people, and to hear it from a random person like that was great. I finished voting, and went straight to the gym. Had the best workout I ever had.
• My heart is hurting for New Orleans right now. Hurricane Gustav is just churning away, and once again, a massive hurricane is beating down New Orleans like a manical Girl Scout trying to make quota. Now, I know that God does not like nor want suffering...but I am praying that this horrible storm will SLOW way down before it comes back near land. The Big Easy, has not had an easy time since Katrina, and I think this storm could very well be the end of that city. I also pray that everyone gets the heck out of there before it gets bad.
• Yesterday was a story of two friends with cancer. One found out that she did not have breast cancer. I so did the happy dance. I yelled at the top of my lungs when I heard about it at work, and scared the heck out of some random lady that was walking to her car last night. I then later found out yesterday that a very old friend of mine is have an experimental surgery on Tuesday to remove a tumor near their brain. This person is not even scared (or did not seem like it). I was amazed by the courage. Sadly this is the second time my friend is having this surgery. This is where the experimental part comes in. Please put out prayers of thanskgiving for the one with out, and prayers of healing for the one with. Cancer has taken so many people that I love and care about's family and friends. Heck cancer has even tried to take out two people I love...and I so want to beat that disease back!

OK, I am going to be now...I will try my best to be back soon to write more. Until then Go Gators, and I am...

Your Eternal Bud

My Friend Bert

Check this link out:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/life/community/12whocare/news-article.aspx?storyid=98010&catid=56

Bert is the man!

Thank You!

"Now we say
I said I thank you
I'll always thank you
More than you could know
Than i could ever show
And I love you
I'll always love you
There's nothing i won't do to say these words to you
That you're beautiful forever" -Good Charlotte

As almost all of you know, we had a little storm called Fay occur over the course of the past few days. Fay which is latin for storm that pours WAY too much water over the state of Florida. The winds were pretty crazy too. I saw trees almost sideways, I saw trees down. I saw electric lines down. I had friends send me pics of the flooding that was occuring in their necks of the woods. It was quite incredible the pics that came from my friend Lauren's house (flooded streets and yard), and from my friend Brian in St. Augustine, which was really trying to join the City of Atlantis.

But my time spent with Fay was pretty tame. Besides working though part of it, I did not have any issues with Fay. I was invited by another set of amazing friends Eric, Laura and Bryce to ride out the storm at their place. We did not have any power issues, cable issues, or weather issues. Just a lot of rain, a lot of wind, and some good conversations. I must say that besides being very concerned for some of my friends, that it was the most enjoyable storm I experienced.

So I wanted to take this time to say thank you to Laura, Eric, and Bryce for crashing their house for a few days. That was awfully kind of you. It was a complete blessing to ride out the storm not being alone.

I also wanted to say thank you to a few people who checked in with me to make sure that I was ok through the storm. Lauren, even though your house was underwater (almost) you still called to make sure I was ok. Brian, thanks for checking in with me even though your city was underwater. Big thanks to my little sis Melissa for continually texting me and asking how I am. Thank you to Kerry for the im's, Kim for the email, John for the call, and of course my family.

My prayers are with the ones that are still suffering through this horrible storm. My praise of thanksgivings are for all the dear ones out there that cared enough to be concerned about me the pas few days! THANK YOU!

Your Eternal Bud!

I Heart Kerri Walsh

"When light goes down, I see no reason
For you to cry. we've been through this before
In every time, in every season,
God knows I've tried
So please dont ask for more.

Can't you see it in my eyes
This might be our last goodbye

Carrie, Carrie, things they change my friend
Carrie, Carrie, maybe well meet again

I read your mind, with no intentions
Of being unkind, I wish I could explain
It all takes time, a whole lot of patience
If its a crime, how come I feel no pain." -Europe

OK, I am in love with a six foot 3 inch women whom I have never met. But let me profess my love. I love her spike, I love how she sets, and I love how she blocks the volleyball back in to her opponents face. You see Kerri Walsh is a beach volleyball player, that makes it look WAY too easy. With her partner Misty May-Trainor, they basically are spending the next two weeks kicking the world around. Kerri and Misty are the best beach volleyball players in the world. The play so well as a team, and are just amazing. They know each others moves, and play almost as one. It is incredible!

Yes, Kerri is blond haired, and blue eyes, and has legs that go on forever (she is also married), but that is not why I heart Kerri Walsh. I mean those are good ideas, but the reason I love Kerri is due to how she plays the game. You see I attempt to play beach volleyball. At least that is what I thought I did. But seeing Kerri and Misty make the game I struggle at look, well easy. It is unreal. And Kerri does everything well. She can block like a wall. She can hit like a hammer, and she sets so beautifully that it just makes me be in awe.

I attempt Beach Volleyball...Kerri Walsh plays Beach Volleyball...and I heart her game so much!

The Olympics so kick butt!

Your Eternal Bud!

The First Hurdle

"Reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
Engines pumping and thumping in time.
The green light flashes, the flags go up.
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup." -"The Distance" by Cake

I am right now feeling awful. I have a cold. I get colds several times a year, although I am not sure why. It kind of stinks, but I did want to take a few minutes to tell you about an event that happened over the weekend.

I went in on Saturday to weigh in, like I normally do, and something very cool happened. I dropped a digit on the scale. I finally lost enough weight (35 pounds) that I am below 400 pounds for the first time in a while. I am now 398.8 pounds, and plan on NEVER seeing 400 pounds again. I still have a LONG way to go dear friends, but this was an awesome tangible fist hurdle.

The next hurdle is 8 pounds from now. That will be where I have lost 43 pounds, ot 10 percent of my initial weight. I will keep you posted on this.

When people decide to climb some of our biggest mountains on earth, (Everest, K2) they have to climb in stages. To climb Everest, it normally takes climbers 3 weeks just to get to the top. The travel is dangerous, and they have to take their time to have their blood get use to the elevation changes. I am kind of equating my weight loss to climbing Everest. It is take me time (wish it only took 3 weeks). I am going to stop at times, due to frustration or just sometimes weight loss stalls, but I plan on always continuing to climb. I have tried to lose this weight over 10 times...all failing...but you know something, it just takes one more time. It takes only one more time trying something before it takes in your life.

So I am at my first check point on this LONG climb to the top of my life. The top is still so far away. But you know, the top is a lot closer than it was 15 weeks ago.

Your Eternal Bud.