Just to busy to blog right now. Everyone is doing better with every day that passes, and time together is good. I think life will start slowing down a bit next wee, I'll be back then....
Ed. note: I have been off in the mountains in pursuit of fish - but I got a chance to check in. I'll be sending pictures of the fishing adventures soon - now that the power is back on. If you enjoy this post, please consider receiving Almost Fit in your inbox. Thanks. As I have mentioned in several places, (IowaAvenue,for one), on Thursday of last week I left my corporate day job in favor of...
So it turns out that my July trip to NYC is going to be several days longer than I expected ... I will, in fact, be in NYC from July 15 - July 22. Sharp eyes will notice that there's a weekend in there. And even sharper eyes will notice that it's the weekend of Readercon. Therefore, I am wondering ... should I get ahold of an Amtrak ticket a cheapass Chinatown bus ticket and head up to...
Our Family has been very saddened by the passing of our Grampy.Through the sadness we also find joy and celebrate the life that he and our Grammy built on this beautiful farm and the people they helped us to become.We will continue to honor them every day of our lives through hard work, laughter and our love for one another....
How stinkin cute are they!! They live under Wendy's house, but we can smell them from ours : )
Thanks so much to everyone for your congratulations on my last post! I have the best fList in all the world. Y'all rocketh!!!! I'd go in and every one of you personally, but there are 100 emails waiting for me in my work box and ... well ... doody calls. Oh wait, did I spell that wrong? No, I didn't. Definitely lots of doody in my inbox. 700 days (based on an arbitrary made-up date in May...
Our new/old fountain resurrected for the first time since I was about three years old. COOl huh!
Ed. note: Here's a little exercise story about a young man named Metroknow. Why his parents chose that name is beyond anyone's recollection, but that's not really integral to the story. When I watch my soon-to-be four year old, like millions of parents before me I marvel at his sheer level of energy. He plays hard, laughs hard, cries hard, and sleeps hard. In my case I seem to have replaced...
So you all have NO IDEA how hard it has been to sit on this news since June 13th, when I got the final word. But now it can be blogged: I* have sold 2 books ("The Native Star" and sequel) to Juliet Ulman at Bantam Spectra! I just got off the phone with Juliet, and she is just as cool as everyone says she is. I am so excited to be working with her! (I mean, look at the awesome writers she works...
I was outside ALL day yesterday!I woke up feeling really good and just took the feeling outside and stayed there.I put together a new koi pond that is sooo cool. It's one of those giant concrete yard art bowls from the 1960's that had been filled with dirt. So I got a shovel and started runnin' it.The sheep guy and is wife came by to pick up a sprayer. It should have been a ten minute job, but as...
'' I've had a bit of an accident. Somehow, I have stumbled into an exercise routine. It's like a tripped on a crack in the sidewalk and fell into a state-of-the-art elliptical training machine. I would like to say that I'm exercising because my tremendous force of will has caused me to make changes for the better, but the truth is that it has kind of just happened. There could be worse things....
Ok, here goes. My attempt to grab a line, look for the light and pull myself out of the depression ditch I have dug. Trust me, it's a deep one. I have been sleeping and crying and eating since Friday afternoon. I haven't even been able to pull myself together enough to talk on the phone for two days. I have been a big fat blathering bed headed mess and it has to stop. First. I need to identify...
Metroknow, the site, has been dormant. Time to wake up. A lot has changed in the last couple of months, mostly for the better. For one thing, we are finally out of the winter/spring gloom and into the glorious summer - and this year it was indeed a long time in coming. Jonah is out of school for the summer, although he does have a few weeks of school time later in their summer program. Rima is...
Ok, so how many people thought my previous Adam Ant icon userpic looked like Helena Bonham Carter? Too many, obviously. So I have obligingly changed it. I present to you ... iAdam!...
Well, I have to say these have been some rough days.I have no witty banter or funny stories to tell.My heart has been filled with sadness at the rapid Delcine in GK's health.Hospice was here on Tuesday and made the decision to admit him into a five day respite facility to evaluate his medications and see how much pain medication he can tolerate.His cancer has metastasized from his shoulders to his...
This post is Thursday’s Real Food Resource, which is a weekly spotlight on books, sites, and relevant media that helps you to identify what real food is. If you enjoy this article, please consider receiving Almost Fit in your inbox. Thanks. "Vegetarian? Carnivorous? Onmivorous? Low-Fat? High-Fat? Are you confused about how to eat for optimal health?" So reads the...
Your result for The What Middle Earth race do you belong to Test...Wizard You scored high in morality and intelligence, but lower in physical strength and aggression, which means you're probably a Wizard. Counted among the very wise and (with that one exception) good creatures of Middle Earth are the Wizards, or Istari. Though they appear as old men, the Istari are actually powerful...
This is part three of the series, "How I quit eating fast food". If you enjoy this post, please consider receiving AlmostFit articles in your inbox. Thanks. In parts one and two of this series, I described how I've quit eating fast food using 3 basic steps: Educating myself, Deciding to quit, and Acting on my convictions. In this final part of the series I'm describing the actions I've used to...
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Your result for The Fashion Style Test...The Fashion Style Test [Tasteful Original Deliberate Sexy] GLAMOROUS SOUL. You choose your outfits carefully according to many criteria. You don't like looking cheap, dull or random and you go to great lengths to avoid this. You are successful, too. People admire your taste and sex appeal. Many try to imitate you but not many can recreate your...
It has been a very sad day on the farm.My Grampy was admitted to a care facility for respite care today.His condition has deteriorated to the point that we are no longer able to care for him at home.We hope that with some medication adjustments he may be able to come home at the end of the week. My eyes are wet and blurry and my heart aches, so thats all for now....
Out of the blue my friend Yma (Amy) called on Saturday. She was in town, tracked me down and wanted to know when and where we could meet and catch up on old times and new. First I had to catch my breath because I couldn't believe it was her on the phone.... Whenever, wherever was my reply and we met up a few hours later. When I saw her (it has been ten years since the last time) it was like I had...
What a weekend, and what a week. The water main to our house broke last Sunday, so most of the week was consumed in the stress of getting our water restored. But we paid off the last contractor on Friday, and I had a lovely 6 mile walk on Saturday morning with hhw and then the Father's Day weekend fun began in earnest. The major Father's Day present? World, meet our new puppy! Eight weeks...
I know, I know, today is supposed to be laying on the couch day, but I didn't get to Hallmark for a card and don't have a new power tool on hand to offer up as a gift to show our appreciation So I will pay homage to one of the greatest Dads of all time with my words and my heart and of course, a few photographs. I'm pretty sure Sparky will love being the star of his own photographic montage....
I know it's Saturday which is supposed to be picture day, so I will be adding some photographs from my Northern sabbatical, but I also just wanted to check in with an update. GK has remained stable in his out of itness.He sleeps alot and is usually confused and out of sorts when he wakes up.He is still having the terrible pain that we are doing whatever we can to suppress.Hospice comes today and...
Editor’s note: This post is this week’s Friday Fit recipe. The idea is to try “real food” recipes that can be prepared on the weekend. Of course, each recipe can also be prepared during the week (that’s when I’m trying it), but with the hectic schedules of most, a recipe might be easier to try on the weekend when work is generally less of a factor. If you enjoy...
Today is this blog's seventh birthday. I can't believe I've been doing this since 2001. And I think it's cool that today is Friday the 13th. EOM.
Split town for a couple days to restore my sanity. I'm in the Valley with Shelley and she's taking care of me for a day or so. GK is holding his own at home with the family and we are all hoping for Hospice to provide some much needed support. See ya when I get back. Pea's Out...
So for a long time I've been building a "list" of local writers, readers, fans and friends to whom I mail announcements of readings, signings, parties, etc. And as I was doing this for the umpteenth time (for Barth Anderson's reading this weekend), I realized that it was kind of silly to keep doing it the way I've been doing it (that is, plugging dozens of individual addresses into the BCC field...
more on Writing Fiction in Oregon City—
"64 oz. soda? Does it come with a chance to win Boardwalk? Well then hit me Brutha!" - Metroknow, 26 lbs heavier About 6 months ago, I completely quit eating fast food. For me, this was no minor feat. In the first part of this two-part series, I'll tell you about my relationship (yes, relationship) with fast food. In part two, I'll tell you exactly how I'm doing it, and how you can too....
GK is very still, in lot's of pain and pretty out of sorts.He is having to take medication for the vomiting that makes him drowsy, and it doesn't seem like theres anything that helps the pain.Yesterday he laid in his bed most of the day and today he has been resting in his chair.Last week was tough, but at least he isn't having any more of the "manic" incidents where he doesn't know where he is or...
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9 miles on Sunday. A pretty laggardly pace, though -- 2:45. Oi! I must not have eaten the right breakfast, because my ass was dragging the whole way. Lovely weather, though. On the road today and tomorrow and mostly offline, but thanks to everyone for their congratulations on my yellow stripe! Oh, and PS? In the spirit of martial arts, daughter and I went and saw Kung Fu Panda last night. It...
This week I've been working on tuning the look, feel, and direction of Almost Fit - The new design is not ready for prime time yet, but it's getting there. As part of this process, I've been looking through my posts, analyzing the areas of focus that seem to really interest people, and trying to approximate the shape of Almost Fit in the coming months. I've had some reasonably successful...
So I had to forego my 6-mile training walk today in favor of taking my Tae Kwan Do belt test--so I'll have to do the walk tomorrow, which is supposed to be my rest day. Oh well. Can't let the good be the enemy of the great. And hey, I passed! A couple of the black belts testing me said they really liked my kicks. One even went so far as to say I looked like a "gazelle." I don't think I've ever...
Welcome to Almost Fit. If you've just arrived from GetFitSlowly, an extra welcome to you as well. Almost Fit is about one thing: Improving health by eating real food in moderation. No low fat this or low carb that, just healthful eating with weight loss being a satisfying side effect. If you enjoy Almost Fit, please consider subscribing. Have a poke around and let me know what you think....
So at the urging of my daughter, I've been taking Tae Kwan Do with her at a local school here in Oregon City. To be honest, it really is kind of kicking my ass. However, tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. I get to take my first belt test. God willing, after tomorrow I'll no longer be the oldest, fattest, AND lowest ranked student in the dojang! (Though I'm afraid I'll hold the "oldest" and "fattest"...
Rough night last night.911 was here to take GK to the hospital at 1:30a.mHe is still there and having kidney and liver problems and very disoriented.Wyatt is still sick and Mike has to go North for his Grandfathers memorial service today. My Sister is coming to help on the chance they send GK home today.I can't do it by myself as the nights are the worst and if he gets off base I need someone here...
This post is Thursday's Real Food Resource, which is a weekly spotlight on books, sites, and relevant media that helps you to identify what real food is. If you enjoy this article, please consider subscribing to Almost Fit. Thanks. Every once in a while I stumble across an entirely new, personally unexplored pocket of the Internet that really inspires me. I don't know why I'm surprised by the...
WYATT IS IN BED THROWING UP WITH A FEVER Thats all I have to say.
Tonight's episode of Top Chef was a flippin' travesty.
Late blog today, GK has an appointment to meet with his doctor this morning about starting Chemo. If you feel the need to read, click the "saucy" pink badge to your right for some GREAT blogs....
Hi everyone! So the Diet Soap Team has been working hard to get a head start on Issue #3, which is scheduled to hit the streets in late October 2008. The theme for issue #3 is "Sabotage" and we need fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and art. Send us stuff! We pay $5 per piece, plus a contributor copy. And for this next issue, we're going to be moving to Lulu for our printing and doing the magazine...
We went to the Doctor yesterday and got the news we have been dreading.Chemo.I don't understand why now and not a year ago when his body was better able to handle the medication (poison.)Interesting how a Doctor has as much will to think he can cure, as the patient has will to live.The doctor said he was unable to do anything about quantity of life, but he could assist in quality of life....
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more on The Farm Blahg—
"Look, Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over." [2001: A Space Odyssey] - Sir Arthur C. Clarke [photo courtesy of FilmReference.com] When it comes to losing weight, managing stress over the last several months has been my biggest challenge. While I'm still ahead of the game at 26 lbs for the...
I had something I wanted to submit to Farrago's Wainscot but I dilly-dallied and now they are closed until September. ONCE AGAIN I AM DEFEATED BY THE MIGHTY POWER OF FATHER TIME, THAT PATRIARCHAL OPPRESSIVE BASTARD! Harrumph. Update: I just checked, and Electric Velocipede is closed too. Now where the hell am I going to send my brilliant experimental screeds, I ask...
I'm laying on the couch today.
So, having signed up for a marathon (and having gotten lots of interest in this undertaking from a lot of interesting people on my fList) I thought I'd go ahead and keep a record of my trials and tribulations. So I figured the first thing I needed to do was get my hands on a good pair of running/walking shoes. The old Cole Haan Nike Airs I've been using at the gym are flat-out busted, and even...
Instead of blogging on the weekends, I think I will do a "week in pictures" on Saturday and then just lay on the couch on Sunday. A random posting of photographs, old and new for you viewing enjoyment. Example:Yesterday I took a number of pictures after the brakes went out on the tractor and Mike came careening through the pasture and busted through the gate almost hitting the Goatwagon (GK's...
You know, I never thought I'd say, "Christ, it's been a stressful week, I am totally craving a couple hours in the gym to blow off some steam." And yet somehow I have become that person. At 39 years of age. Why the hell wasn't I doing this when I was 22? In other news, I registered for the Portland Marathon. Walking, not running, though I'd like to run at least one or two miles of it. It's...
Well, Birthdaypalooza 08' has come to an end. I love looking forward to our birthdays, but by the end of the week I'm ready for the festivities to be over. The year Wendy graduated from high school I must say was the most exhausting. Between both of our birthdays and the graduation parties and ceremony, we had enough cake to feed a small country and flowers enough to outfit a church for the...
Ah, Harvey, I shall miss you. You were one of the greats.
Over the past month, I have added the following new tech toys to my Batwoman-like arsenal: (BlackBerry Curve) Paired with these honeys: (Cardo Stereo Bluetooth Headphones) And, for my last trick: (A MacBook Air big enough to eat Steve Jobs!) No, I didn't just win the lottery. The BlackBerry was the result of my cell phone account being due for a handset upgrade. The MacBook Air was...
Oregon City
