Head-dibs

Know what's in my mailbox? Nothin'. Well, that’s not true. Bills. Ads. That’s what's in my mailbox. Found a bird’s nest in my mailbox once . . . actually, it was in the newspaper box underneath the mailbox. I'm surprised the mail-man never said anything about it. But he's not the paper-boy, so not his problem I guess. And I don't get a newspaper. Should I be surprised that nobody noticed it at all, for as long as it was there? Anyway, the nest is not there anymore.  Actually, he's not a mailman 'cause he's a she. She's the mail-woman.  That sounds weird. I get no mail unless I order something, subscribe to something. In other words, I don’t get anything unless I send it to myself--or someone wants my money. That's what's in my mailbox. 

The smartest thing I did today was to set my mind (no matter how I felt or what the day would bring) to have a good day and pursue happiness. Even if that happiness is found in one miniscule thing that nobody notices (my happiness is not theirs nor is their happiness mine), I would do something for myself that brings me happiness, gives me contentment and pleasure. I’ve wasted to much time being angry, depressed, worried and life is not slowing down. Each “tomorrow” plods along in its petty pace from day to day. The earth does not slow its orbit and we take yet another round about the sun--so why waste any more time? What will it take to be happy, even if for a moment? Most often (for me, at least), happiness follows when I do something different, something that is not normal. Something a little crazy. Something that pushes my “red line”, that internal border that says, “here and no further.” Most frequently, those moments are found when I completely break out of my routine. I sit...

A friend recently posted a picture of a doughnut in a bowl of cereal. The caption read, “the bigger the Cheerio, the better it tastes.” This same friend also posted a picture of piece of chocolate cake. The caption read, “keep cake moist by eating it all in one sitting.” I think my friend is on to something! My cousin posted a pic that reads, “Women belong in the kitchen. Men belong on the kitchen. Everybody belongs in the kitchen. The kitchen has food.” She, too, is on to something! I’ve learned that it’s best to think of food as fuel--I just keep a full tank, I guess. There are some foods I like more than others--like chocolate. But man cannot live by chocolate alone (did I just write that? Someone feel my head). Here’s what I like: Pizza Hut Deep Dish Super Supreme Pizza Korean Food Homemade Banana Pudding Ice Cream (the darker the chocolate, the better) with Magic Shell. Must have the Magic Shell.  I think my favorite dish is one I make myself. It’s a Cabbage recipe...

Writing. Again. Climbing Mt. Mitchell. Again.  Climbing bigger mountains. Hiking longer trails. Completing the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run. Again.  Completing SEALFit training in its entirety. Losing weight and/or inches and gaining fitness as I mature. Seeing one dream of my life come true. Arriving. Being complete.

Someone recently asked me, "how many push-ups can you do?" I have no clue. One of my warm-ups often include up to 50. Note I said, "warm-ups." The pic here was taken during Murph, a memorial workout that consists of a 1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and then another mile run. That's me over there, catching my breath. I like push-ups and I do them until I can't do any more. The great thing about push-ups is that you can take them anywhere. Can't take a bench-press with you wherever you go, but you can push your body up off the floor. I'm not a Navy person, but if I was on a ship getting tossed about in 40 foot swells, you would not find me on a bench press. Push-ups is just one training exercise that taught me that I can accomplish what I set my to accomplish. I had no plan but to finish. If I have 50 or 100 or 200 to do, I push myself to finish. The same is true with many things in my life. Finish. Finish sweaty, finis...