I had to make a regrettable decision about a week and a half ago. So regrettable, that I held off making it for weeks after I knew I would have to... and that I haven't really been able to talk about it until now.
For the past three years, I've been a roadie for AIDS LifeCycle. The last two years I was a roadie captain. This year I was to come back as the captain of the Camp Services Team with some additional responsibilities over camp events. Unfortunately, I won't be participating this year.
It kills me that I won't be there, and part of me feels there's no good reason to not participate. People with far worse situations than mine have still found a way.
I've got so many balls in the air right now- between the amped up atmosphere at work right now, the economic and emotional stresses around my housing search, the amount of time I've put into my own health this year (rightfully so), and not to mention possibly not having a place to live at the end of June (I may not be able to go month to month at my apartment). I found that ALC just kept falling to the bottom of the list of things to do... with other things screaming in my face to pay attention to them. I wasn't supporting my roadies the way I needed to, and I was completely unprepared for the event this year.
This was a very hard decision to make, and one filled with regret.
My love to all my riders and roadies. My thoughts and heart will be with you.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Balanced LifeCard: March 2009
Labels:
Balanced LifeCard
Alright, it's time for my monthly report. Let's jump in. For each goal I gave myself either 0 points, 1/2 point, or 1 point. Then I averaged those up the chain.
Balanced LifeCard March 2009 - Failed, score of 63%
Overall this was a tough month. I'm at the point where some of these resolutions seem either ill-advised, or poorly timed. I would cut the "read 20 stories" right now if I could. There's no way I'll save $5,000 if I buy a house this summer (more on that later). And lastly... I *cannot* find a Starbucks Tumbler that doesn't start reeking to HIGH HOLY HELL after a week. Ugh. But even with all that, my overall score did go up five points since last month. So that's progress.
Personal Finances - Failed, score of 33%
To be an attractive client to financial institutions
- To have a 720 FICO Score; 1 point - I did it! I'm at 754!
To be financially secure
- To save $5,000; 0 points, I haven't been able to start saving again (and might not if I buy a house).
To spend my money intelligently
- To spend less than $2000 on fees and interest; 0 points... the cruise with Pertle screwed my finances this month, but was totally worth it!
Health and Wellness - Failed, score of 71%
To have a healthy body
- To have a 46" waist; 1 point! I have lost another 1/2 inch this month!
- To have healthy blood pressure; 0 points cause I haven't gotten in checked (bad on me)
- To run a nine minute mile; 1/2 point for trying. My big issue right now is that my shins start to hurt really bad after a few minutes.
To have a strong mind
- To read six books on user experience; 1/2 point for being slightly behind
- To read six fiction novels; 1/2 point for being slightly behind
- To read six non-fiction novels; 1 point for finishing Team of Rivals (which was a great book but a LONG read)
- To read six general business/technology books; 1/2 point for being slightly behind
To have an enriched soul
- To attend 12 live performances (of varying types); 1 point for seeing a review on the cruise, and for seeing my first Opera (I'm not a fan, but now I know)
- To visit four major museums; 1 point for going to the SF MOMA
Friends and Family - Passed, score of 83%
To be a fun and engaging friend
- To design four friend outings; 0 points for no progress (but the invite is sent for next month)
- To throw six dinner parties; 1 point carried over from last month
To foster healthy relationships
- To hang out with a family member once a month; 1 point for lots of time with Mom and Dad
- To hang out with a friend once a week; 1 point for tons of fun times
To support loved ones dreams and goals
- To attend 80% of my friends accomplishment events; 1 point for seeing Paul's Opera
- To donate 50 hours to supporting my friends; 1 point for eight hours helping clean out my Grammie's apt
Community Involvement - Failed, score of 64%
To be environmentally conscious
- To re-use containers for 90% of my water and starbucks; 1/2 point, I've been really good about the water, but I can't find a Starbucks reusable container that doesn't start smelling after a week or two :-/ Help!?
- To recycle 90% of my soda cans; 1 point for always recycling at work and collecting my cans at home for recycling
To be knowledgeable about the events of the world
- To listen to 200 podcasts of Anderson Cooper 360; 1 point for being ahead of schedule
- To listen to 52 podcasts of This American Life; 1 point for keeping the pace
- To read twenty stories a week from the International Herald Tribune; 0 points for failing miserably
To support worthwhile charity organizations
- To donate $100 a month to charity; 1 point for the Santa Ana Zoo and the ACLU
- To donate 80 hours of time to charity; 0 points for nothing this month
Balanced LifeCard March 2009 - Failed, score of 63%
Overall this was a tough month. I'm at the point where some of these resolutions seem either ill-advised, or poorly timed. I would cut the "read 20 stories" right now if I could. There's no way I'll save $5,000 if I buy a house this summer (more on that later). And lastly... I *cannot* find a Starbucks Tumbler that doesn't start reeking to HIGH HOLY HELL after a week. Ugh. But even with all that, my overall score did go up five points since last month. So that's progress.
Personal Finances - Failed, score of 33%
To be an attractive client to financial institutions
- To have a 720 FICO Score; 1 point - I did it! I'm at 754!
To be financially secure
- To save $5,000; 0 points, I haven't been able to start saving again (and might not if I buy a house).
To spend my money intelligently
- To spend less than $2000 on fees and interest; 0 points... the cruise with Pertle screwed my finances this month, but was totally worth it!
Health and Wellness - Failed, score of 71%
To have a healthy body
- To have a 46" waist; 1 point! I have lost another 1/2 inch this month!
- To have healthy blood pressure; 0 points cause I haven't gotten in checked (bad on me)
- To run a nine minute mile; 1/2 point for trying. My big issue right now is that my shins start to hurt really bad after a few minutes.
To have a strong mind
- To read six books on user experience; 1/2 point for being slightly behind
- To read six fiction novels; 1/2 point for being slightly behind
- To read six non-fiction novels; 1 point for finishing Team of Rivals (which was a great book but a LONG read)
- To read six general business/technology books; 1/2 point for being slightly behind
To have an enriched soul
- To attend 12 live performances (of varying types); 1 point for seeing a review on the cruise, and for seeing my first Opera (I'm not a fan, but now I know)
- To visit four major museums; 1 point for going to the SF MOMA
Friends and Family - Passed, score of 83%
To be a fun and engaging friend
- To design four friend outings; 0 points for no progress (but the invite is sent for next month)
- To throw six dinner parties; 1 point carried over from last month
To foster healthy relationships
- To hang out with a family member once a month; 1 point for lots of time with Mom and Dad
- To hang out with a friend once a week; 1 point for tons of fun times
To support loved ones dreams and goals
- To attend 80% of my friends accomplishment events; 1 point for seeing Paul's Opera
- To donate 50 hours to supporting my friends; 1 point for eight hours helping clean out my Grammie's apt
Community Involvement - Failed, score of 64%
To be environmentally conscious
- To re-use containers for 90% of my water and starbucks; 1/2 point, I've been really good about the water, but I can't find a Starbucks reusable container that doesn't start smelling after a week or two :-/ Help!?
- To recycle 90% of my soda cans; 1 point for always recycling at work and collecting my cans at home for recycling
To be knowledgeable about the events of the world
- To listen to 200 podcasts of Anderson Cooper 360; 1 point for being ahead of schedule
- To listen to 52 podcasts of This American Life; 1 point for keeping the pace
- To read twenty stories a week from the International Herald Tribune; 0 points for failing miserably
To support worthwhile charity organizations
- To donate $100 a month to charity; 1 point for the Santa Ana Zoo and the ACLU
- To donate 80 hours of time to charity; 0 points for nothing this month
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Jeff's Letter to Obama No. 3
Labels:
Politics
Dear President Obama,
Wow, that AIG thing really blew up in your face, didn't it? But honestly, I think you handled the whole thing poorly - but not in the way other people think. Some people are mad you didn't get your hands dirty earlier and stop the bonuses from happening. Here's why I'm a little judgmental.
The AIG bonuses don't matter.
They were stupid, the company is lame, and I think it's ridiculous - but it's a scandal that really means nothing. Let me tell you why, I did some math.
Right now you and Tim are working on fixing the economy. It's a big economy, the GDP is around 13.84 trillion dollars right now. These bonuses added up to 165 million dollars. For most people, these numbers are SO big that they can't put them in a context. So I decided to put them in a context that I can understand.
Imagine you're trying to buy a house (I'm actually thinking a lot about this right now). The loan you're trying to get is for just under $300,000. Here in Orange County that means I'm getting a crappy little condo, if I moved I could probably buy Montana... but that's another story.
But you get the loan for $300,000 and on the way home from the bank you take out $3.50 to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Now... was it the smartest thing to do? No. But it's only $3.50! Get over it. Move on. Save the house and screw the coffee.
I'm over it Obama, and you should be too. Focus on the big picture, and don't let coffee cup scandals distract you from the plan.
Your friend,
Jeff
Wow, that AIG thing really blew up in your face, didn't it? But honestly, I think you handled the whole thing poorly - but not in the way other people think. Some people are mad you didn't get your hands dirty earlier and stop the bonuses from happening. Here's why I'm a little judgmental.
The AIG bonuses don't matter.
They were stupid, the company is lame, and I think it's ridiculous - but it's a scandal that really means nothing. Let me tell you why, I did some math.
Right now you and Tim are working on fixing the economy. It's a big economy, the GDP is around 13.84 trillion dollars right now. These bonuses added up to 165 million dollars. For most people, these numbers are SO big that they can't put them in a context. So I decided to put them in a context that I can understand.
Imagine you're trying to buy a house (I'm actually thinking a lot about this right now). The loan you're trying to get is for just under $300,000. Here in Orange County that means I'm getting a crappy little condo, if I moved I could probably buy Montana... but that's another story.
But you get the loan for $300,000 and on the way home from the bank you take out $3.50 to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Now... was it the smartest thing to do? No. But it's only $3.50! Get over it. Move on. Save the house and screw the coffee.
I'm over it Obama, and you should be too. Focus on the big picture, and don't let coffee cup scandals distract you from the plan.
Your friend,
Jeff
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Once Upon a Time
Labels:
Friends
Once upon a time, in a magical kingdom lived two Princes. The Princes were very much in love, and everyone in the kingdom loved them. Their balls were attended by all the citizens of the kingdom, and their love was known far and wide.
But then, something horrible happened. One of the Princes was afflicted by a horrible curse and turned into a Jack-Ass. The curse was irreversible, and he was to remain a Jack-Ass forever. The other Prince, consumed by grief, locked himself away in the castle. He spent three days and three nights drinking potions to make himself forget, but alas, he still remembered.
On the fourth day, a Fairy Princess came to the Prince. With a wave of her wand, and the help of several field mice, she got the Prince to bathe and put on fresh robes. She took him out into the countryside and fed him fresh food and drink, bought him new glorious robes and jewels, and sat with him during entertaining minstrel shows. The Prince smiled for the first time in four days.
It was that day that the Prince and the Fairy Princess would form a bond of friendship that would last forever more. Every year hence, they would celebrate that day they became the very best of friends - never to forget.
------------------------
True story.
Happy Anniversary Pertle, I love you!
But then, something horrible happened. One of the Princes was afflicted by a horrible curse and turned into a Jack-Ass. The curse was irreversible, and he was to remain a Jack-Ass forever. The other Prince, consumed by grief, locked himself away in the castle. He spent three days and three nights drinking potions to make himself forget, but alas, he still remembered.
On the fourth day, a Fairy Princess came to the Prince. With a wave of her wand, and the help of several field mice, she got the Prince to bathe and put on fresh robes. She took him out into the countryside and fed him fresh food and drink, bought him new glorious robes and jewels, and sat with him during entertaining minstrel shows. The Prince smiled for the first time in four days.
It was that day that the Prince and the Fairy Princess would form a bond of friendship that would last forever more. Every year hence, they would celebrate that day they became the very best of friends - never to forget.
------------------------
True story.
Happy Anniversary Pertle, I love you!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hydrostatic Body Composition Analysis
Labels:
Getting Fit
As I left work today my friend Mike jokingly told me to enjoy the baptism. Today I was "dunked" or more specifically I underwent a hydrostatic body composition analysis. Basically, they weighed me, measured me, dunked me in a tank of water and determined all sorts of important things about me. When presented with the report, the "baptism" comment took on a new meaning because to a certain extent I felt reborn. Everything I ever thought about my body was wrong.
Hydrostatic Evaluation
Body Fat: 114lbs, 38.1%
Lean Body Mass: 186.6lbs, 61.9%
Ideal Body Fat: 15%
Ideal Weight: 219.5lbs
Metabolic Information
Activity Level: 3 to 6 Hours per week
Maximum Exercising Pulse: 159bpm
Fat Burning Zone: 122bpm - 140bpm
Cardio Training Zone: 140bpm - 150bpm
Lose 2lbs per Week: 3824 calories per day
Lose 1lb per Week: 4324 calories per day
Maintain Weight: 4824 calories per day
Gain 1lb per Week: 5324 calories per day
Gain 2lbs per Week: 5824 calories per day
Hydrostatic Test Data
Sex: Male
Age: 31
Height: 72"
Weight: 301.5lbs
Ankle Circumference: 9.5"
Alright, so let's start thinking about this in context. Here's my list of aha moments.
I should be eating 3,824 calories PER DAY. I have been only eating 1,500! I should be eating more than TWICE what I've been eating to be properly nourished.
I'm BUFF. My lean body mass is 186.6lbs. Think about that for a moment. If I had 0% Body Fat I'd weigh almost 190lbs of solid muscle. When I joked that I was hot underneath all this fat I had no idea how close I was to the truth.
I'm 82lbs from my goal. To get down to a healthy 15% body fat (for my age range 12-15% is considered "good") I need to drop 82lbs of fat from my frame. While that sounds like a lot... I was expecting the number to be over 100. And looking back I've probably dropped around 30lbs since I started back in October. So if I continue at a 2lbs per week rate, expect me to hit goal around New Years.
Hydrostatic Evaluation
Body Fat: 114lbs, 38.1%
Lean Body Mass: 186.6lbs, 61.9%
Ideal Body Fat: 15%
Ideal Weight: 219.5lbs
Metabolic Information
Activity Level: 3 to 6 Hours per week
Maximum Exercising Pulse: 159bpm
Fat Burning Zone: 122bpm - 140bpm
Cardio Training Zone: 140bpm - 150bpm
Lose 2lbs per Week: 3824 calories per day
Lose 1lb per Week: 4324 calories per day
Maintain Weight: 4824 calories per day
Gain 1lb per Week: 5324 calories per day
Gain 2lbs per Week: 5824 calories per day
Hydrostatic Test Data
Sex: Male
Age: 31
Height: 72"
Weight: 301.5lbs
Ankle Circumference: 9.5"
Alright, so let's start thinking about this in context. Here's my list of aha moments.
I should be eating 3,824 calories PER DAY. I have been only eating 1,500! I should be eating more than TWICE what I've been eating to be properly nourished.
I'm BUFF. My lean body mass is 186.6lbs. Think about that for a moment. If I had 0% Body Fat I'd weigh almost 190lbs of solid muscle. When I joked that I was hot underneath all this fat I had no idea how close I was to the truth.
I'm 82lbs from my goal. To get down to a healthy 15% body fat (for my age range 12-15% is considered "good") I need to drop 82lbs of fat from my frame. While that sounds like a lot... I was expecting the number to be over 100. And looking back I've probably dropped around 30lbs since I started back in October. So if I continue at a 2lbs per week rate, expect me to hit goal around New Years.
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