Hello! Anybody out there?

Good morning, everyone! And by “everyone,” I mean the three people who might still wander onto this blog by accident. I know… I know. I’ve been terrible at keeping this thing updated. Between work and spending time with James, my brain has the attention span of a goldfish with Wi‑Fi. But I’m trying to do better. Really.

So… where do I even start?

Let’s begin with work, because that’s where most of my sanity has gone to die. Work has been absofreaking CRAZY for about 18 months straight. Every time I think I see a little light at the end of the tunnel, someone cheerfully builds a brick wall right in front of it. It’s been nonstop, back‑to‑back projects since October 2010. I love my job, I really do, but 60‑hour work weeks? I’m too old for that nonsense.

Speaking of being old—I turned 51 in November. It didn’t hurt too much. Better than the alternative, right? And honestly, I’m feeling pretty good these days. Since June 2010, I’ve lost 63 pounds. Thirteen of those since January 1st. My goal is another 17 by the end of March, and then another 20 after that. I’m aiming for 230 pounds and—fingers crossed—off my diabetes and blood pressure meds by the end of the year.

I’ve made some big changes to my diet. I’m trying to get most of my nutrition from plants now, with a little fish or chicken on the side. And yes, sometimes a steak or pork loin sneaks onto my plate because I’m human. But meat is now a side dish, not the star of the show. My skin looks better, my energy is up, and if I eat too much meat, I feel like I swallowed a bowling ball.

I flirted with the idea of going full vegan, but let’s be honest—I’m not ready to break up with meat completely. I have, however, mostly ditched dairy. No milk, cheese, or butter since Christmas. I still have the occasional egg with whole‑grain toast and homemade hummus because I’m not a monster.

Oh! And I signed up for organic, locally grown produce delivered every other week. I’m obsessed. The veggies taste like they were picked by woodland elves. After eating this stuff, Safeway produce tastes like disappointment and pesticides. Maybe I’m imagining it… but I don’t think I am.

James and I are doing well overall. He hasn’t worked in almost two years and was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. It’s been rough on him emotionally, but he’s handling it with more grace than I probably would. We’ve applied for disability and are waiting to see what happens.

We’re also debating whether to give up the house and rent for a while. I’m feeling the need to be mobile. If the right job came along, I’d be open to leaving California. It would have to be somewhere that recognizes our marriage… maybe the Netherlands? Teleplan is headquartered there. Who knows. We’re just seeing where life takes us.

Before I wrap this up, here’s a fun family update: I’m about to become a great‑uncle. My nephew Josh and his girlfriend are having a baby boy in March or April. I’m thinking about a trip to North Carolina this spring, so I’ll definitely get some baby time in.

Love you all!

Way too busy...

It has been a couple of months since I've had time to post here.  But, I have to say that the holidays were wonderful this year.  A bit melancholy as they usually are...especially when we have lost loved ones during the previous year.  Yet, we managed to honor those memories and continue our traditions this holiday season by having special time with our family and friends.

I had a last minute trip to Boston on business the Sunday before Christmas.  It was definitely cold there, but I enjoyed getting to travel there.  It had been more than 20 years since I was previously in Boston, but honestly...it hasn't changed all that much.  Still a beautiful city and I got to see some decent snow while I was there.  I got home the Wednesday afternoon before Christmas and managed to finish last minute shopping in time to cook the traditional Christmas dinner.  My mom wasn't able to join us from the east coast this year, but we spoke on the phone.  It's not the same by any means, but just knowing that she was doing well, in good health, and spending Christmas with other family was enough to make it a good holiday.

The new year has brought changes at my company.  Teleplan is being acquired by a company called Gilde from Germany.  We're being told that there are no expected changes to our organization or to our jobs here in Roseville, but it is nerve-wracking as usual when uncertainty enters your world.  I've been through so many reorgs and mergers over the last 10 years and it's difficult when you think your job could be in jeopardy.  Just keep your fingers crossed for us, please!

I'm hoping to finally make a trip home to NC in April.  This trip will also include a 3-day romp through Atlanta to which I haven't been since 1991.  I'm very much looking forward to hunting down some old friends and paying my respects to the grave of my former employer, Rex Nelon.  Also hoping to catch a drag show somewhere while we're there...and when I say 'we', I mean that the lovely and talented Anne-Marie Trout will be meeting me in ATL for some R&R.  As she put it, "I have a feeling that we'll be so drunk one night that we can't feel our feet."

I tend to agree!

Blessings to you all!

Thanksgiving already? Oh shit...

Two weeks before Thanksgiving...holy shiz on a shizzle!  I cannot believe how fast this year has gone and my mind is reeling trying to catch up.  I have to say that I'm looking forward to the holidays this year...James and I have created our own family traditions and we love it.  It makes us more of a family that way and we can incorporate things that we bring from our individual families into it and keep some of those traditions alive as well.  I have had trouble with holidays since my grandmother passed, but honestly...after finding my own spiritual practice again over the last couple of years, I realize that she's still with us in spirit.  And I can feel a new peace that wasn't there before over the deaths of friends and family members...yes, I can miss them.  But, I don't have to get mired down because I know I'll see them again.  Simplistic?  Maybe...but, it gets me through the day.

Update on the 50 for 50 campaign...8 pounds to go.  These last 8 pounds are moving really slow...with less than 3 weeks before my birthday, I have to kick this up a notch to make it.  But, honestly...I'm so happy to lose the first 42 that I'll forgive myself if I don't get all the way there.  I still have another 30 on top of that 50 I want to lose...so I'll keep pushing!!

Job is going amazingly well...in training this week for my CBAP (Certified Business Analyst Professional) certification exam.  Intense class but a lot of great information.

I've been going through old photos and posting them on Facebook over the last week.  I'll share a few here with you guys...hope you have a great week!

Ray

Living for the weekend...

Well, it's Friday morning and I'm looking forward to the weekend.  But, I've found after being in the workforce for nearly 30 years now that the week flies by and then the weekend blinks by in an instant.  It seems the older I get, the faster the days pass.  Turning 50 years old this year seriously reminds me of how rapidly time goes by.  I don't feel any older...I mean, yes I have a few more aches and pains than I used to but most of it I blame on my weight.  It's getting better as I am slimming down.

Speaking of which, I am hovering now around the 30 pound mark in my Fifty for Fifty campaign with slightly over two months to go.  I need to put this in high gear to meet my goal of hitting 250 pounds by the end of November.  I've been a little lazy lately, so I am trying to get back in the habit of moving my fat ass on a daily basis.  I hurt my ankle during aerobics a few weeks back and it still wants to swell up on me when I walk alot or try to be more active.  I bought an ankle brace which is helping, but I still haven't returned to my workout routine on a regular basis.  I've been focused mainly on my diet...which is going well, but it is not enough to meet my goal.

For those of you who don't know, James and I have added another set of little feet to pitter patter through our house.  We adopted a new chihuahua, Norbu, about 3 weeks ago.  Norbu is Tibetan for "precious gem."  He is a sweetheart who gets along with our Willow so well.  We are blessed to have him with us and I thank spirit for bringing him to our family.  Here's a picture of him in the Jeep with me on the way home when we first met him.

He was very nervous and skittish when we first got him.  For the first two days he was walking around our house with his tail between his legs because he was so scared.  The paperwork we got from the rescue center had notes from the vet who saw him when he first came to the pound back in January.  He was difficult to examine at that time because he would scream and yelp when people would try to touch him or pick him up.  He also tried to bite people out of fear.  He's definitely come a long way though at times he goes back in to fear mode with us.  But, we just show him as much love as we can and he's making progress each and every day.

Last Sunday, we joined James' sister and mother for his niece's 5th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.  It was actually a lot of fun even though I was getting over being sick and James was just getting sick.  We stayed for an hour or so, but it was honestly great to see his side of the family.  We haven't really spent much time with them since last Christmas which is sad since we only live about 6 miles away from them.

I was hoping to audition for a children's show at RSP a couple of weeks ago, but it just wasn't to be in the cards.  I have so much going on right now and am hoping to plan a trip to North Carolina for a couple of weeks in the fall, it just was not a good time.  I don't know if and when I'll be ready to go back to do a show.  I hope that it happens at some point, but I do miss performing.  I have been playing piano a lot more at the house and I'm trying to vocalize on a daily basis, but it's not the same as being in front of an audience.
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I've spent a great deal of time following news stories regarding the Prop 8 trial.  I was ecstatic that it was ruled unconstitutional back in August; but disappointed that the 9th Circuit court allowed a stay of the ruling until they can hear arguments in December.  I'm seriously trying to stay out of the politics of it, but I'm getting so tired of trying to be "tolerant" of people who are against my marriage when the truth of the matter is that even civil unions are not safe for us.  They could easily be overturned with a majority vote just as our right to marriage was.  We are expected to be happy for any crumbs that the majority throw to us...at some point, we have to have a court determine what our rights are under the constitution.  Otherwise, we will be at the mercy of the political winds forever.  

It really sucks that the United States is so far behind the curve on this issue.  I'm beginning to believe that its promise of freedom and equality for all is a bunch of bullshit...pardon my french.  James and I have seriously discussed leaving the country if Prop 8 is upheld by the US Supreme Court.  If this is what being an American is about...having your liberty be at the mercy of right wing nut jobs like Maggie Gallagher...then maybe I don't need to be here any longer.  I'll give my loyalty and tax dollars to a country that does support me.  Democrats (including Obama) have already lost my loyalty because they throw us scraps like hospital visitation rights through executive order which will probably be shot down with the next administration.  Plus, they really don't want to give us anything concrete because if and when we do get full constitutional rights, we'll not be locked into voting Democrat any longer.

Sorry for waxing political...it's been on my mind lately.  I'm following it closely which tends to drive my blood pressure higher...and I get chastised for referring to prop 8 supporters as bigots.  I don't apologize for it any longer.  I'm tired of being defensive about it...I'm going offensive.  And that means I'm going to offend a lot of folks!

Prayers of peace and blessings upon each of you!

Ray