Absurd reality...

After watching a program about the Empire State Building the other day, a thought occurred to me:

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Concerts

I love concerts. No... I mean I REALLY LOVE concerts! I always have. I recall when I was about ten years old, my parents took me to my first concert. The circumstances of it were quite interesting... let me elaborate. It was the final show of the Joy To The World tour of Three Dog Night. You know where they played their last show?! Idaho Falls High School auditorium in Idaho Falls, ID. Still, to this day, amazes me. I recall being completely taken by all of the lights, the volume, the sheer spectacle of it all. My father bought me a shirt from the show... I still have it. It has a singing frog on the front and says, "Joy To The World Tour". Afterwards, my dad found out that the band was going to be signing autographs out back and anyone could come and get one. Of course I jumped at the opportunity and got my shirt signed by Cory Wells and Gary Moon. I was mesmerized and have made every attempt to attend concerts of bands I enjoy ever since.

Shortly after, I remember my parents taking me to see Eddie Rabbit, The Judds, Diamond Rio (my parents liked country... if you couldn't guess!)... even Donny Osmond! Although I didn't like that style of music, the very essence of seeing those bands live made it completely enjoyable! My musical tastes have changed over the years... here's a list of my top ten concerts I have attended.

1) Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge tour - Honolulu, HI
2) Bush/No Doubt - Boise, ID
3) Scorpions/Motley Crue - Nampa, ID
4) Van Halen - Balance Tour - Boise, ID
5) Queensryche - Boise, ID
6) 311/Sugar Ray/Incubus - Boise, ID (although Sugar Ray was nothing to write home about)
7) Coal Chamber/Anthrax/Pantera - Boise, ID -- Met Scott Ian and all of Pantera backstage
8) Poison - Flesh & Blood Tour - Honolulu, HI
9) Festival Con Dios - Boise, ID -- Audio Adrenaline and Mercy Me were amazing!
10) Metallica (I know, I know...) - Load tour - Boise, ID

So yeah... fairly eclectic list... these are by far my faves and bring back the fondest concert memories, however.

The pitfalls of weight loss

So last September, my wife and I decided to go on Weight Watchers together. She wanted to lose the left-over baby weight from being pregnant and I needed to drop some weight for health reasons. My wife hit her goal of 40lbs about a month ago. That's losing 40lbs, not that she's down to that weight! :)

As of two weeks ago, I, too have lost 40lbs. I weigh less now than I did when I got married. I still have about 20lbs to go but it's nice to be more than half-way there. The feeling of accomplishing this is simply amazing, not to mention the high levels of energy I have now. Also... my last four shirts I purchased were size 'Medium'. Do you have any idea when the last time I wore a medium shirt is? I think it was around my freshman-sophomore year in high school! :D

I am learning, however, that there are some pitfalls to such drastic weight loss. First of all, I began to run out of clothes to wear. I had to go and purchase clothes so that I had something which fit properly and didn't make me look like a slob. This is fine and dandy but I was still in the process of losing weight... so what happened? Two to three weeks after buying new pants, they started to become too big! Again, exciting, but painful on the pocketbook! At the present time, I am down to about six shirts and two pairs of pants which fit... but the pants are becoming questionably large.

The second, and more drastic pitfall, regards my wedding ring. I never thought that losing weight would cause my fingers to get smaller. Apparently I had fat fingers! My wedding ring finger has dropped a full number size. Even the jeweller was surprised at this. She said that it is common with people in my situation to lose a half or quarter size... but not a full size! What's really bad about it is that when I am cold, my fingers get even smaller. Where my knuckle would usually hold my loose ring on, it falls right off from the simple force of gravity if I am out in the cold.

Last night we went out for ice cream (this really cool stuff called 'Glace' which is non-fat, non-dairy, and has zero sugar. There is only 40 calories per 4oz serving... and it is heavenly!) and after leaving, I was halfway down the road when I realized my ring was gone. Cassandra and I both thought it was gone for sure. We went back to the ice cream shop and lo and behold it was on the floor under the chair I was sitting in. Praise God!!

The pitfall regarding the ring is this: unfortunately the jeweller we purchased the ring from is out of business and did some things in making the ring which were shortcuts and not done right. Due to this fact, it cannot be sized down. Now I will have to get a new ring. Although I can trade the one I have in toward a new one, I don't like the idea of replacing the original ring my wife gave me on our wedding day. I don't think I have much choice in the matter this time, though... we can't afford a new one outright and I don't like to walk around without one. Until then, it resides on my middle finger. :)

I refer to these issues as pitfalls, partially in jest. I am very happy that I have been able to discipline myself and lose the weight. It has drastically improved my health and my ability to be there for my family in the long-term. The week before we decided to do it, I had a dream in which I had a heart attack at the age of 30 and my son watched me die. Yeah... if that doesn't get you to change a lifestyle, nothing will!

This is a long post... hehe... I am done now! :D

That great movie theater of life...

I was going to post this as a comment in response to Lee's post earlier about his family troubles but I felt that it was more appropriate to post a new message altogether.

I hear ya, Lee. I wish I could say I fully understand what you are going through but I cannot. All I can offer is prayer and the following:

Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

I know it is a verse that many of us Christians have seen and read. I also know that with the trials I have experienced, looking back on them I am able to see how God worked them through in the most amazing ways.

My wife once explained the situation like this:

A mother and her child decided to go to the movies together. The mother wanted to get out for a while and forget about her own troubles and worries. When they entered the dark hallway leading to the theater, the child pulled back and resisted.

"I'm scared, Mommy! It's dark!" she cried out.

The mother leaned down and replied, "Don't worry. I am with you the whole way. We are going somewhere you will enjoy. Please, take my hand and trust me. There are lights along the path and you will like what you find at the end."

As the mother said these words, God spoke to her and said, "That is what I have been trying to tell you this whole time."

When we journey to our own movie theaters of life, we experience much of the same. God takes us into an uncomfortable, dark situation that can scare us. We tend to resist. In the end, God just wants to show us this awesome movie He made because He knows that it will bring us joy.

Kind of a strange analogy but it worked for me. Hopefully it will provide you with some comfort, Lee.

In Christ,

~Cory

Depressifrustratilethargification

Yeah... try saying that five times fast!

Anyhow... I'm having a 'Monday'. The doldrums are pounding down my door with the impending work of the week now upon me.

1. I have an art project due tomorrow morning at 9:00am... which I haven't started on.
2. I have three tests this week (Logic, System Archtecture, and Legal Environment of Business).
3. I have a web design business that needs to go somewhere fast... but perhaps I'm being too hasty with this one
4. I'm struggling with the motivation to keep going... and it's only MONDAY!!!

To anyone who feels the desire, please pray for me this week. I need all of the help I can get!

Normally I hate to post stuff like this... for no other reason that it can come off like whining. I know that everyone has rough days/weeks/months/etc. I know that I am not the only one feeling down right now. I have found, however, that it helps to get it out there rather than just sulk in it all.

My Heart, Christ's Home

I would recommend a booklet (if you can find it) called, My Heart, Christ's Home. Can't remember who wrote it but it is an excellent booklet about a man who has Christ living with him in his house and He goes with the man everywhere. One day the man wants to go out with some friends for some less-than-wholesome activities and Christ starts following him out the door.

The man turns and says, "I don't think you will want to come." So Christ sits and waits for the man to return.

Thinking about it in that aspect is so convicting. Christ doesn't leave when we put ourselves in a compromising position, we ask Him to leave.

:)

Well... I have now entered the greatness which is Geezerville, USA! I look forward to posting my thoughts on the world, the universe, and most importantly, the state of spreadable cheeses in third-world countries.

I also look forward to sharing in discussions with other citizens of Geezerville. Thanks, Mr. Modlin, for making me feel at home!

*stands up from his chair and, holding his back, walks away*