I haven't done one of these for a while, mostly because I seem to have a continuous cold that will not go away no matter what I do (isn't exercise supposed to make you MORE healthy?), and because I haven't been watching what I eat as closely as I need to be.
Suprisingly I still weigh around 182. I've been as low as 176 and as high as 186.5 since my last update. I've tried hard to stick to my Monday lift, Wednesday class, Friday lift plan, but with these constant colds, I haven't had too many full weeks.
I keep hoping that the weather is the main culprit and that once it warms up I will start feeling better for good. As it is I've probably equaled my body weight in snot production over the last two and a half months. Not that you probably wanted to know that...
Now that I've had a bit of a hiatus from my healthier eating, I'm starting to get the desire built back up again to be strict. That and the fact that summer is just around the corner and there is still not an ab in sight. The lifting is going good. I have moved up in weight on almost every excercise so hopefully that will pay some dividends.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
Scam Sensor
A lady called our house the other night, and for some reason I didn't immediately hang up on her like I do most of the calls I get like this. She had an offer for us to come out and take a tour of this resort about an hour from our house. In exchange we get the chance to pick a key that could win us the choice between a Chevy Blazer, PT Cruiser, or $15,000. The really interesting thing was that just for showing up, we are guaranteed 2 of the 5 following prizes.
$10 gift certificate to Red Lobster
4.0 Megapixel Digital camera
27" flat screen TV
A 3 day, 2 night vacation
$500 cash
For those that know me well, you probably wonder why I ever stayed on the phone. The reason is that my scam sensor never went off. I figure that my scam sensor is one of the more accurate and sensitive ones out there so if it didn't sense anything, I didn't have to worry.
I'm not holding out much hope for the grand prize but the free gifts sound cool. I doubt anyone ever actually gets the TV or the $500 but if I'm wrong, that could be really good. I guess I figure that they aren't trying to scam me, and that taking a shot isn't going to cost me much. Just about 3 hours of my time (Drive + tour).
My guess is that we will get the $10 gift certificate and a vacation at their resort. I imagine that that is what 90% or more of the people get. That would make the most sense. I guess the only reason I'm doing it is that they have to actually give the good prizes away at some point to stay legit, and the people seemed like they were genuine about actual people winning the grand prize from time to time. Plus the people from the actual resort called me, not some prize broker middle man. (which I verified by calling them back)
The more I write about this, the more I can't believe that my scam sensor didn't go off. Is my sensor wearing out or failing me, or is this a really good thing? I guess I'll find out thursday, and if nothing else, it will be a night out for the wife and I, and a cheaper bill the next time we go to Red Lobster. Low expectations are a good thing, that way I won't be dissapointed with what I expect, and be all the more happy if I'm wrong.
$10 gift certificate to Red Lobster
4.0 Megapixel Digital camera
27" flat screen TV
A 3 day, 2 night vacation
$500 cash
For those that know me well, you probably wonder why I ever stayed on the phone. The reason is that my scam sensor never went off. I figure that my scam sensor is one of the more accurate and sensitive ones out there so if it didn't sense anything, I didn't have to worry.
I'm not holding out much hope for the grand prize but the free gifts sound cool. I doubt anyone ever actually gets the TV or the $500 but if I'm wrong, that could be really good. I guess I figure that they aren't trying to scam me, and that taking a shot isn't going to cost me much. Just about 3 hours of my time (Drive + tour).
My guess is that we will get the $10 gift certificate and a vacation at their resort. I imagine that that is what 90% or more of the people get. That would make the most sense. I guess the only reason I'm doing it is that they have to actually give the good prizes away at some point to stay legit, and the people seemed like they were genuine about actual people winning the grand prize from time to time. Plus the people from the actual resort called me, not some prize broker middle man. (which I verified by calling them back)
The more I write about this, the more I can't believe that my scam sensor didn't go off. Is my sensor wearing out or failing me, or is this a really good thing? I guess I'll find out thursday, and if nothing else, it will be a night out for the wife and I, and a cheaper bill the next time we go to Red Lobster. Low expectations are a good thing, that way I won't be dissapointed with what I expect, and be all the more happy if I'm wrong.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
The Best Thing Since The Remote
For a few days this week, I actually had to watch tv the old fashioned way. Sans DVR. It was a terrible experience that I hope never to have to go through again.
At this point, I'm convinced that the DVR is the greatest TV invention since the remote. It truly is one of those things that once you have used one, you can never go back. The ability to have all the shows that I care about automatically taped without my interaction and then being able to watch them at my leisure along with the ability to pause a show I'm watching in order to get the clothes out of the drier or talk one of the kids back into their bed is priceless.
I found myself hurrying to get the kids to bed before the 8 o'clock shows started and missing important parts of my shows due to the inability to pause them to deal with other things. It was terrible.
I feel bad for those of you who may still be stuck in the TV dark ages, but soon, like others before you, you will get the newest requirement to life. First their was running water, then electricity, then the phone, and now DVR.
Join us, and be amazed...you will never go back.
At this point, I'm convinced that the DVR is the greatest TV invention since the remote. It truly is one of those things that once you have used one, you can never go back. The ability to have all the shows that I care about automatically taped without my interaction and then being able to watch them at my leisure along with the ability to pause a show I'm watching in order to get the clothes out of the drier or talk one of the kids back into their bed is priceless.
I found myself hurrying to get the kids to bed before the 8 o'clock shows started and missing important parts of my shows due to the inability to pause them to deal with other things. It was terrible.
I feel bad for those of you who may still be stuck in the TV dark ages, but soon, like others before you, you will get the newest requirement to life. First their was running water, then electricity, then the phone, and now DVR.
Join us, and be amazed...you will never go back.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
78 - 44
No it's not the latest basketball score, it's the temperature change from monday to tuesday, and the reason that I have become a walking snot factory again.
I really hate spring for this reason. When it's warm, it only stays that way long enough to make you sick, or it rains the whole time. I've never understood why anyone would like spring at all. I guess if you lived somewhere where the changes aren't so drastic it might be nice, but around here, I'll skip directly to summer please.
It amazes me that since I started watching what I eat and excercising more, I have been sick more often than any other time in my life. Clearly that seems wrong to me, but I can't seem to make any sense of it. Of course, after the way I ate this past weekend, I should be feeling better any minute now....... :)
I really hate spring for this reason. When it's warm, it only stays that way long enough to make you sick, or it rains the whole time. I've never understood why anyone would like spring at all. I guess if you lived somewhere where the changes aren't so drastic it might be nice, but around here, I'll skip directly to summer please.
It amazes me that since I started watching what I eat and excercising more, I have been sick more often than any other time in my life. Clearly that seems wrong to me, but I can't seem to make any sense of it. Of course, after the way I ate this past weekend, I should be feeling better any minute now....... :)
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Raising Them Right
At the time that I write this I'm sitting at home watching the three stooges with my two daughters. Someday, their husbands will thank me.
My next plans are to be sure that the love football, play golf, and snowboard like they're going to the X Games. I don't worry too much about turning them into tomboys either because my wife will see that that doesn't happen. It's the perfect balance. In short, I'm doomed.
It scares me to death to even think about them being teenagers and dating, and the way we're raising them, they're going to be highly recruited. Especially if they get their looks from their mom. I'm still deciding between sitting in a creaky rocking chair on the porch holding a shotgun or just cleaning one at the appropriate times. Not the rocking chair, the gun. I guess that would be scary in it's own way, but it isn't what I had in mind.
I'm sure it will all be ok, but I can't help worrying a little. My plan for the time being is to not think about it. If you are raising boys out there, be sure they know how to do a little cleaning and learn how to listen. Hey, I'm doing my part, so you keep up your end of the deal!
My next plans are to be sure that the love football, play golf, and snowboard like they're going to the X Games. I don't worry too much about turning them into tomboys either because my wife will see that that doesn't happen. It's the perfect balance. In short, I'm doomed.
It scares me to death to even think about them being teenagers and dating, and the way we're raising them, they're going to be highly recruited. Especially if they get their looks from their mom. I'm still deciding between sitting in a creaky rocking chair on the porch holding a shotgun or just cleaning one at the appropriate times. Not the rocking chair, the gun. I guess that would be scary in it's own way, but it isn't what I had in mind.
I'm sure it will all be ok, but I can't help worrying a little. My plan for the time being is to not think about it. If you are raising boys out there, be sure they know how to do a little cleaning and learn how to listen. Hey, I'm doing my part, so you keep up your end of the deal!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Verizon = annoying
I really don't like dealing with Verizon because they continually mess things up, but this week I had no choice. Crystal needed a new phone badly because hers had been lost and we had been told that we were eligible to get the discount on new phones on Feb 28, so this past friday, I decided to call and verify that that was the case:
I called to verify the 2/28 date, and was told that it wasn't 2/28, it was april 3rd. She tells me that on june 3rd of 2004 we switched the primary line from my phone to Crystal's and started a new agreement. I told her that that was not my fault and that the line was switched without my consent and that I was assured at the time that it would not affect our two year agreement date. She tells me that that wasn't the case, and that according to her records, my phone had been the primary line for a year and that we just switched it that month. I then tell her that my phone was never the primary line and that this was Crystal's account and that I just had a phone added to it so there is no way that that is possible, but of course their records say otherwise so there is no room for any other interpretation.
So I tell her that everytime I call or talk to anyone they tell me something different and act like they have no idea what the previous person was talking about and I'm sick of dealing with all this misinformation, and that I want to talk to a supervisor. She assures me that the supervisor will give me the same answer but I insist. So she is gone for a while and comes back and tells me that the supervisor is willing to make an exception and that we can have the new every two but Crystal will have to call in and give her consent, and that we will have to order the phones over the phone and have them mailed to us, since the stores can't make exceptions.
So I ask her why I should believe that the next time I call in that they are going to have any idea what we just talked about since no one ever seems to remember any conversations I've had with them, and she gives me her name, and id and her supervisors name and id. I ask her if the comments from our conversations about the line switching are there and she says that there are some about the discount but nothing that says that our two year agreement date shouldn't change (which they assured me at the time that there would be, of course).
So monday, I decided to go to the store and check out the phones so that I would know what to order and on a whim I asked the lady if their records still showed us as eligible for the discount. (they were the ones that originally told me 2/28). She says yes, which just proves that their systems make no sense.
To make a long story short we were able to get phones last night, but not without one last hiccup. The store was out of the phones we wanted so we had to drive a few miles to another store to get the job done. I really truly wish that there was some way that we could have another cell phone carrier but since everyone we know has Verizon, we can't pass up the mobile to mobile discount.
I'm just waiting to see what they mess up next.
I called to verify the 2/28 date, and was told that it wasn't 2/28, it was april 3rd. She tells me that on june 3rd of 2004 we switched the primary line from my phone to Crystal's and started a new agreement. I told her that that was not my fault and that the line was switched without my consent and that I was assured at the time that it would not affect our two year agreement date. She tells me that that wasn't the case, and that according to her records, my phone had been the primary line for a year and that we just switched it that month. I then tell her that my phone was never the primary line and that this was Crystal's account and that I just had a phone added to it so there is no way that that is possible, but of course their records say otherwise so there is no room for any other interpretation.
So I tell her that everytime I call or talk to anyone they tell me something different and act like they have no idea what the previous person was talking about and I'm sick of dealing with all this misinformation, and that I want to talk to a supervisor. She assures me that the supervisor will give me the same answer but I insist. So she is gone for a while and comes back and tells me that the supervisor is willing to make an exception and that we can have the new every two but Crystal will have to call in and give her consent, and that we will have to order the phones over the phone and have them mailed to us, since the stores can't make exceptions.
So I ask her why I should believe that the next time I call in that they are going to have any idea what we just talked about since no one ever seems to remember any conversations I've had with them, and she gives me her name, and id and her supervisors name and id. I ask her if the comments from our conversations about the line switching are there and she says that there are some about the discount but nothing that says that our two year agreement date shouldn't change (which they assured me at the time that there would be, of course).
So monday, I decided to go to the store and check out the phones so that I would know what to order and on a whim I asked the lady if their records still showed us as eligible for the discount. (they were the ones that originally told me 2/28). She says yes, which just proves that their systems make no sense.
To make a long story short we were able to get phones last night, but not without one last hiccup. The store was out of the phones we wanted so we had to drive a few miles to another store to get the job done. I really truly wish that there was some way that we could have another cell phone carrier but since everyone we know has Verizon, we can't pass up the mobile to mobile discount.
I'm just waiting to see what they mess up next.
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