I decided to make an interesting choice when it comes to my calorie goals this time around:
Before I started this round of dieting I went to the calorie goal tab on Livestrong.com,
I entered in the age I'll be when I hope to hit my goal weight (31yrs, May 7th 2011)
I entered my goal weight (235 lbs)
I entered sedentary lifestyle (assuming absolute baseline, no workouts)
I set to maintain weight
My calorie goal was set at 2,883. (once again, I apologize to those 5'2" and such. I'm 6'6" and that skews my numbers)
I thought it would be a good idea to use that number as an absolute ceiling to my calorie intake for any given day from here on out. Whether I work out or not. This is my intake max, not a net max.
This will make maintaining once I am at that weight that much easier. This was very helpful in the beginning to lose a lot of weight fast because at my initial weight (345.6) I could have eaten some 3200 cals and lost 3 a week. By working out and setting a ceiling of LCGW (lowest calorie-goal weight) I lost a lot early. (10 1st week, 37 total over 8.5 weeks) Now, even though my calorie goal (2,666) is well below my LCGW, I use that number as a buffer to which I don't beat myself up over, because, hey at least I'm still under what I would be eating at my goal weight!
The trick is to use it for mental health, not as a cheat. In this manner I have been quite successful. I have only gone over my LCGW 5 times this diet (Jan 10th-present). It was twice early on (a couple of binges), two trips to St Louis, and one wedding reception.
Just another tool in my belt to help me stay sane throughout this process!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Dialectic Eclectic......Diabetic?
I went to the doctor in November and had pretty high blood pressure. 150/91.
Yowza.
My doc said she would give me two months to see what I could do with my bp before she put me on meds. I missed my first appointment with her, but started a really good diet/exercise plan over the past four weeks (really just watching my calories, hitting the treadmill, and Wii Biggest Loser).
Went to see her recently, and in the past four weeks, I have dropped my weight by 22 pounds, and my bp went down to a 134/79.
So, yay! right?
Yeah, some bad with the good. We had some blood work done and it turns out I am also diabetic. (fasting glucose = 171 avg, Hemoglobin A1c 7.6%)
Not bad, no insulin shots or anything. At this point my doc thinks it will be manageable with a simple med (metformin, 1000mg Xrelease, once a day) and losing a lot of weight. So I'm on target to have lost 45.6 pounds by my birthday, May 7Th, officially dropping me to 300lbs. Then I hope to hit 275 by August-ish, 250 by Thanksgiving, and with loads and loads of luck, my target weight of 235 by my 31st birthday. (I haven't weighed that since 2000 I think)
Summer 99 with Shannon, quite possibly my lowest weight as an adult.
235 might be unreasonable. For now I am aiming high. 260 is really the BIG BIG goal. That is the level where my BMI officially drops from Obese to Overweight. That would be exciting. Anything after that is cake. Well, not cake. Cake has a lot of sugar...I digress.
Keep in mind I am taking the BMI with a grain of salt. It says 214 is right on the precipice of going from healthy weight to overweight for my height. I find that absurd. My lowest as an adult (over 18) was 230 in sophomore year. 235 is the best I could find as a target ideal weight:
Take 106, add 6lbs for every inch over 5' you are. Then if you are of larger frame (compare wrist size to other men) then add 10%. That would put me at 214+21=235.
As of now I am only supposed to check my glucose once a day. Morning fasting for the first week, random times of the day the second and third week. Then I go visit her to see how I am doing and start going to classes with a dietitian after that (23rd or 25th). Earliest class I could get into unfortunately, so I'm kind of chomping at the bit.
I'm excited because now it isn't just about losing weight to feel better, it is about living long and well.
Dave
ps So, maybe I should change the name of the blog from:
Sarcastic Dialectician For Hire
to:
Sarcastic Dialectic Diabetic For Hire?
Yowza.
My doc said she would give me two months to see what I could do with my bp before she put me on meds. I missed my first appointment with her, but started a really good diet/exercise plan over the past four weeks (really just watching my calories, hitting the treadmill, and Wii Biggest Loser).
Went to see her recently, and in the past four weeks, I have dropped my weight by 22 pounds, and my bp went down to a 134/79.
So, yay! right?
Yeah, some bad with the good. We had some blood work done and it turns out I am also diabetic. (fasting glucose = 171 avg, Hemoglobin A1c 7.6%)
Not bad, no insulin shots or anything. At this point my doc thinks it will be manageable with a simple med (metformin, 1000mg Xrelease, once a day) and losing a lot of weight. So I'm on target to have lost 45.6 pounds by my birthday, May 7Th, officially dropping me to 300lbs. Then I hope to hit 275 by August-ish, 250 by Thanksgiving, and with loads and loads of luck, my target weight of 235 by my 31st birthday. (I haven't weighed that since 2000 I think)
Summer 99 with Shannon, quite possibly my lowest weight as an adult.
235 might be unreasonable. For now I am aiming high. 260 is really the BIG BIG goal. That is the level where my BMI officially drops from Obese to Overweight. That would be exciting. Anything after that is cake. Well, not cake. Cake has a lot of sugar...I digress.
Keep in mind I am taking the BMI with a grain of salt. It says 214 is right on the precipice of going from healthy weight to overweight for my height. I find that absurd. My lowest as an adult (over 18) was 230 in sophomore year. 235 is the best I could find as a target ideal weight:
Take 106, add 6lbs for every inch over 5' you are. Then if you are of larger frame (compare wrist size to other men) then add 10%. That would put me at 214+21=235.
As of now I am only supposed to check my glucose once a day. Morning fasting for the first week, random times of the day the second and third week. Then I go visit her to see how I am doing and start going to classes with a dietitian after that (23rd or 25th). Earliest class I could get into unfortunately, so I'm kind of chomping at the bit.
I'm excited because now it isn't just about losing weight to feel better, it is about living long and well.
Dave
ps So, maybe I should change the name of the blog from:
Sarcastic Dialectician For Hire
to:
Sarcastic Dialectic Diabetic For Hire?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Three-ee-eigh-eight-tee-EEN, three-ee-eigh-eigh-TEE-een!
So I skipped a week on the update front because I just had too much going on. But I am off today, and have a little extra time, so....
Three-ee-eigh-eight-tee-EEN, three-ee-eigh-eigh-TEE-een!
(imagine the rhythm of a conga line bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-BUM, bum-bum-bum-bum-BUM-bum)
I've had that in my head all day because I am very excited by this number! It is what I weighed this morning! Last week I had to wait until Thursday to weigh in at 321 (2 pounds down) and this week I tried to workout a little harder and watch the calories a little better to get to 319 in a six day period. But, this morning I weighed in at 318 instead! At 28 pounds down, that puts me at 40% of the way to my original end of the year goal and 8.09% total weight loss.
I've been trying to think of things that weigh 28 pounds...
Two of my usual size bowling balls,
Two of my dog Curly,
open to other things that weigh that much, just can't think of them...
Changed factors in my diet:
I no longer take a second partial cheat day on Sunday. I eat about 2500 calories Sunday-Friday, then on Saturday I let myself have a little bit more than that. This past Saturday I went a little bit overboard, so I am SHOCKED that I lost three this week. The numbers say it should have only been about 2.25 pounds, but I guess I worked out harder than I thought.
Sometimes I switch in a low carb protein shake and banana in for breakfast instead of the usual eggs, bacon, and toast. Give me a chance to have breakfast food for lunch and a little more room for small snacks during the day.
I've started adding cinnamon to a lot of things. Besides it being really good for the processing of sugars, it adds a lot of taste to toast, pudding, and yogurt! Yum!
We are eating so many fruits, veggies, and eggs now means our trash gets a little stinky. So JoVanna and I are going to go to a composting class that the City of Columbia offers. They offer a drastically reduced price wooden composting box for attending, plus we can learn a lot. It would be nice to start that outside, especially if we want to have a garden sometime!
On a side note, I am still studying to get my teaching certificate and luckily ran into a math teacher friend of mine who is going to be needing a sub for a good period of time in the very near future. (about 60 subbing hours are required for me to get my teaching certificate here in Missouri) So yay! Now I must go finish my Substitute Teaching Application.
Onward and Downward,
Dave
Three-ee-eigh-eight-tee-EEN, three-ee-eigh-eigh-TEE-een!
(imagine the rhythm of a conga line bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-BUM, bum-bum-bum-bum-BUM-bum)
I've had that in my head all day because I am very excited by this number! It is what I weighed this morning! Last week I had to wait until Thursday to weigh in at 321 (2 pounds down) and this week I tried to workout a little harder and watch the calories a little better to get to 319 in a six day period. But, this morning I weighed in at 318 instead! At 28 pounds down, that puts me at 40% of the way to my original end of the year goal and 8.09% total weight loss.
I've been trying to think of things that weigh 28 pounds...
Two of my usual size bowling balls,
Two of my dog Curly,
open to other things that weigh that much, just can't think of them...
Changed factors in my diet:
I no longer take a second partial cheat day on Sunday. I eat about 2500 calories Sunday-Friday, then on Saturday I let myself have a little bit more than that. This past Saturday I went a little bit overboard, so I am SHOCKED that I lost three this week. The numbers say it should have only been about 2.25 pounds, but I guess I worked out harder than I thought.
Sometimes I switch in a low carb protein shake and banana in for breakfast instead of the usual eggs, bacon, and toast. Give me a chance to have breakfast food for lunch and a little more room for small snacks during the day.
I've started adding cinnamon to a lot of things. Besides it being really good for the processing of sugars, it adds a lot of taste to toast, pudding, and yogurt! Yum!
We are eating so many fruits, veggies, and eggs now means our trash gets a little stinky. So JoVanna and I are going to go to a composting class that the City of Columbia offers. They offer a drastically reduced price wooden composting box for attending, plus we can learn a lot. It would be nice to start that outside, especially if we want to have a garden sometime!
On a side note, I am still studying to get my teaching certificate and luckily ran into a math teacher friend of mine who is going to be needing a sub for a good period of time in the very near future. (about 60 subbing hours are required for me to get my teaching certificate here in Missouri) So yay! Now I must go finish my Substitute Teaching Application.
Onward and Downward,
Dave
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Lapsed Catholic Guilt Engenders New Goal Schedule
Weighed in on Ash Wednesday, a six day weigh in period, and really REALLY wanted to be at 323 pounds. I did the calorie math and that is what my math said I should be at.
Lo and behold,
323 pounds, 1 pound ahead of schedule!
For my number dork-dom that is a big number again. 23 pounds lost, 23 pounds until 300!
So, for the beginning of Lent, as a lapsed Catholic, I still fell like I should take part in the sacrificial act of giving something up. My reasons for not wanting to give something up are many:
1) I've already given up a lot.
2) I still want to succeed on this diet, and doing this and dropping say, chocolate, could very well be my undoing.
3) As my mother instilled in us at a young age, maybe it isn't always about giving something up, but possibly taking something up. Taking on a good habit. She used to say that I shouldn't give anything up because instead of eating 6 things I would only eat 5 things. (That I would eat six things at a young age may even be a bit of a stretch...) So in that vein,
I will be moving up my 10% weight loss goal to Holy Thursday(Passover) instead of the end of April! (a loss of time of three weeks)
That will mean losing two pounds a week for the entire period of lent, so that on April 8th/9th I will be at 311 pounds. I again figure this is a doable goal. I moved my three pounds a week goal period of time up 50% (4weeks --> 6weeks), so this means I will be upping my two pounds a week goal period of time by only 33% (6weeks --> 8weeks) for this new goal. Not so bad when I look at the numbers like that!
Onward and Downward,
Dave
Lo and behold,
323 pounds, 1 pound ahead of schedule!
For my number dork-dom that is a big number again. 23 pounds lost, 23 pounds until 300!
So, for the beginning of Lent, as a lapsed Catholic, I still fell like I should take part in the sacrificial act of giving something up. My reasons for not wanting to give something up are many:
1) I've already given up a lot.
2) I still want to succeed on this diet, and doing this and dropping say, chocolate, could very well be my undoing.
3) As my mother instilled in us at a young age, maybe it isn't always about giving something up, but possibly taking something up. Taking on a good habit. She used to say that I shouldn't give anything up because instead of eating 6 things I would only eat 5 things. (That I would eat six things at a young age may even be a bit of a stretch...) So in that vein,
I will be moving up my 10% weight loss goal to Holy Thursday(Passover) instead of the end of April! (a loss of time of three weeks)
That will mean losing two pounds a week for the entire period of lent, so that on April 8th/9th I will be at 311 pounds. I again figure this is a doable goal. I moved my three pounds a week goal period of time up 50% (4weeks --> 6weeks), so this means I will be upping my two pounds a week goal period of time by only 33% (6weeks --> 8weeks) for this new goal. Not so bad when I look at the numbers like that!
Onward and Downward,
Dave
Friday, February 20, 2009
Still On Pace, shockingly...
Weighed in on Thursday morning, guess why?
Aye, not a great weekend. But I expected that! I knew reaching my goal this week would be tough, so I spent some extra energy the three days prior and two days after to resist eating a full calorie load to make up for it. JoVanna and I went to visit her parents in Parsons, KS. There were two places I needed to eat at while there. The Sirloin Stockade for their yeast rolls. (a m a z i n g l y y u m m m m m m y), and at Ernesto's for some tacos and queso dip. Alas, no Ernesto's on Sunday. Will definitely be taking a trip to Tequila/Agave here in Columbia to get theirs some coming Saturday to make up for it. Anyhow,
with a weigh in of 325.5,
I have reached 20 lbs!! Yahoo!
So I am still shooting for losing three pounds a week as a secondary Mega-Goal, but my heart is still set on sticking with the current plan. I have encountered some people on LiveStrong.com that are losing at a faster pace, so I kind of feel like I could do better. I keep telling myself though, this is a lifestyle change, and I need to do it in steps to keep it up. Kind of a detoxing situation if you will. No cold turkey here. Mmmmm, cold turkey....
Detox Items
Soda/Caffeine - Done.
Chips - Oof, that could take a while. I am interspersing carrot sticks for chips one lunch a week. Need to find some lower sodium items to take the place of chips with my daily sandwich. I need the crunch.
Hot Chocolate - The toughest thing I have had to do without since I started this diet. I am trying to not drink any empty calorie beverages during this diet. Really hating that I gave it up now that it is colder again. I have noticed there is a 'recipe' for a hot chocolate made with the powdered SlimFast mix. I need to see if I can adjust it to work for the LowCarbDiet Liquid Slim Fast that I drink once a day. Any good, actually free of sugar, 'sugar free' hot cocoas out there?
Bad Meats - Let's face it, I love Bologna and Hot Dogs. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely eating a lot of chicken and lean beef on this diet, but it is really hard for me to give up these items. I am going to start trying to sub other lunch meats or even tuna for my daily sandwiches. Really no low-salt varieties of bologna or hot dogs. Boo. ( I notice a lot of salt coming from these and the turkey bacon. I may start subbing an egg white in for a piece of bacon to eat less of that.)
Ice Cream - I'll never quit, never!!! I am my mother's child after all. I do love Breyer's Carb Smart Chocolate Ice Cream. I am very thankful JoVanna let me try hers! Yum! Now I need to make sure I don't eat all of it. That would be cruel...
Keeping up the good fight,
Dave
Aye, not a great weekend. But I expected that! I knew reaching my goal this week would be tough, so I spent some extra energy the three days prior and two days after to resist eating a full calorie load to make up for it. JoVanna and I went to visit her parents in Parsons, KS. There were two places I needed to eat at while there. The Sirloin Stockade for their yeast rolls. (a m a z i n g l y y u m m m m m m y), and at Ernesto's for some tacos and queso dip. Alas, no Ernesto's on Sunday. Will definitely be taking a trip to Tequila/Agave here in Columbia to get theirs some coming Saturday to make up for it. Anyhow,
with a weigh in of 325.5,
I have reached 20 lbs!! Yahoo!
So I am still shooting for losing three pounds a week as a secondary Mega-Goal, but my heart is still set on sticking with the current plan. I have encountered some people on LiveStrong.com that are losing at a faster pace, so I kind of feel like I could do better. I keep telling myself though, this is a lifestyle change, and I need to do it in steps to keep it up. Kind of a detoxing situation if you will. No cold turkey here. Mmmmm, cold turkey....
Detox Items
Soda/Caffeine - Done.
Chips - Oof, that could take a while. I am interspersing carrot sticks for chips one lunch a week. Need to find some lower sodium items to take the place of chips with my daily sandwich. I need the crunch.
Hot Chocolate - The toughest thing I have had to do without since I started this diet. I am trying to not drink any empty calorie beverages during this diet. Really hating that I gave it up now that it is colder again. I have noticed there is a 'recipe' for a hot chocolate made with the powdered SlimFast mix. I need to see if I can adjust it to work for the LowCarbDiet Liquid Slim Fast that I drink once a day. Any good, actually free of sugar, 'sugar free' hot cocoas out there?
Bad Meats - Let's face it, I love Bologna and Hot Dogs. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely eating a lot of chicken and lean beef on this diet, but it is really hard for me to give up these items. I am going to start trying to sub other lunch meats or even tuna for my daily sandwiches. Really no low-salt varieties of bologna or hot dogs. Boo. ( I notice a lot of salt coming from these and the turkey bacon. I may start subbing an egg white in for a piece of bacon to eat less of that.)
Ice Cream - I'll never quit, never!!! I am my mother's child after all. I do love Breyer's Carb Smart Chocolate Ice Cream. I am very thankful JoVanna let me try hers! Yum! Now I need to make sure I don't eat all of it. That would be cruel...
Keeping up the good fight,
Dave
Thursday, February 12, 2009
6 Weeks down.....
Weighed in on Wednesday morning again. I moved to Thursdays for a bit to help with the poor weekends I had twice in a row. But now, I'm back where I belong!
And with a weigh in of 327.5,
I am 0.5 lbs ahead of my goal for the first 6 weeks!
I wasn't sure I could do an average of three pounds a week for that long, but I am super proud and am very excited to shoot for only two pounds a week now. I am actually counting calories to aim for losing 2.5 lbs because I think I can do that, and to create some possible wiggle room for a slight indulgence around St. Patty's. We will see...
Things I found out through these six weeks.
- I can do it!
- This past Tuesday I seriously thought of eating some stuff I shouldn't, but somehow my desire to hop on the treadmill was stronger than the desire for food. Scary huh?
- They say it takes 21 days to make a habit of something. I have tracked food for a solid 30 days, and feel weird to not track the food. Habit achieved! I hope Livestrong.com doesn't quit offering these tools for free!
Added goals for the next six weeks.
- I don't have a whole lot of goals to add because I accomplished so many through the first six weeks. I dropped soda, pretty much completely. I'm sure once the summer comes along I may indulge on my cheat days every now and again, but I have had a Pepsi and a Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist in the fridge for 2 weeks and not been even slightly enticed, even on cheat day. I have cut carbs & cholesterol to 100% of the R.D.A. for a 2000 calorie diet, and have averaged 291% R.D.A protein, 134% fiber, and my balance of protein to sugar is at about 1.5g protein for every 1g sugar
(I hear diabetics and those prone to diabetes should make sure they 'balance' their sugars and proteins. Is this supposed to be a straight one to one balance? So am I doing ok? Anyone?)
- Add some variety into my exercise. So far just been treadmill and outdoor walks. I hope to add some barbell, situps, pushups, as well as borrowing a Wii Fit from a friend who hasn't used it since the first two weeks after he bought it. Thanks Andy! Hoping to get a six week borrowing period out of him...
- Eat more veggies. Every other night I have been having salad & a hot green veggie. These tend to fill me up pretty good, but so that I don't crash, every other night I have been having a side of pasta or rice. I hope to cut that down to less than every other night. I especially need to be eating more during the day. Carrots, celery, etc.
- Still not ready to really tackle the salt issue. I need to eventually see a doctor and determine how out of control my salt really is. It might not be that bad...At this point I still need to keep an eye on the calories.
- Get all of this down to running like a machine. I will be needing to focus on a lot of other things over the next few weeks, so I can't spend all of my time doing this!
'Downwards' and Onwards into the Second 6 Weeks!
And with a weigh in of 327.5,
I am 0.5 lbs ahead of my goal for the first 6 weeks!
I wasn't sure I could do an average of three pounds a week for that long, but I am super proud and am very excited to shoot for only two pounds a week now. I am actually counting calories to aim for losing 2.5 lbs because I think I can do that, and to create some possible wiggle room for a slight indulgence around St. Patty's. We will see...
Things I found out through these six weeks.
- I can do it!
- This past Tuesday I seriously thought of eating some stuff I shouldn't, but somehow my desire to hop on the treadmill was stronger than the desire for food. Scary huh?
- They say it takes 21 days to make a habit of something. I have tracked food for a solid 30 days, and feel weird to not track the food. Habit achieved! I hope Livestrong.com doesn't quit offering these tools for free!
Added goals for the next six weeks.
- I don't have a whole lot of goals to add because I accomplished so many through the first six weeks. I dropped soda, pretty much completely. I'm sure once the summer comes along I may indulge on my cheat days every now and again, but I have had a Pepsi and a Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist in the fridge for 2 weeks and not been even slightly enticed, even on cheat day. I have cut carbs & cholesterol to 100% of the R.D.A. for a 2000 calorie diet, and have averaged 291% R.D.A protein, 134% fiber, and my balance of protein to sugar is at about 1.5g protein for every 1g sugar
(I hear diabetics and those prone to diabetes should make sure they 'balance' their sugars and proteins. Is this supposed to be a straight one to one balance? So am I doing ok? Anyone?)
- Add some variety into my exercise. So far just been treadmill and outdoor walks. I hope to add some barbell, situps, pushups, as well as borrowing a Wii Fit from a friend who hasn't used it since the first two weeks after he bought it. Thanks Andy! Hoping to get a six week borrowing period out of him...
- Eat more veggies. Every other night I have been having salad & a hot green veggie. These tend to fill me up pretty good, but so that I don't crash, every other night I have been having a side of pasta or rice. I hope to cut that down to less than every other night. I especially need to be eating more during the day. Carrots, celery, etc.
- Still not ready to really tackle the salt issue. I need to eventually see a doctor and determine how out of control my salt really is. It might not be that bad...At this point I still need to keep an eye on the calories.
- Get all of this down to running like a machine. I will be needing to focus on a lot of other things over the next few weeks, so I can't spend all of my time doing this!
'Downwards' and Onwards into the Second 6 Weeks!
Thursday, February 05, 2009
329.5!
Whew! I was a little worried there...
I weighed in on my usual Wednesday and it showed 334! Unhappy! So I looked back at my week, and knew I was in a little bit of trouble for the following reasons:
- I overdid Cheat Day a lot.
- I overdid Swing Day a bit. (SuperBowl Sunday, can you blame me?)
- I overdid Monday a lot a lot.
I had a good reason...(or so I tell myself)
I missed JoVanna!
JoVanna had to go to Sikeston to help people who were in a shelter down there due to the ice storms. All of the power was knocked out, so they had between 100-250 people there at the high school. Anyhow, with her gone I was lonely, and I had no one for myself to answer to. I think this is a very strong point in my success at losing weight this time around.
I have always (to my knowledge) been more likely to do things so as not to disappoint other people in my mind.
Let me clarify.
Say something is good for me to do. A.k.a. lose weight.
I don't seem to have some of that evolutionary necessary survival instinct/ego. I've never been very good at doing something for me. So, in my mind, losing weight for my health in a selfish manner, doesn't motivate me. Therefore, I need people that I FEEL will be disappointed in me if I fail, and subsequently proud of me if I succeed. THAT will motivate me. I've never felt like anyone would be disappointed in me for failing at something I tried my best at. Not JoVanna, my parents, siblings, family, or friends. So I have to externally place that feeling in them for me to succeed. That is why I tend/have/just do put myself out there and tell a lot of people about it. I feel sometimes people think I am bragging, but it's really this, I need to feel like I am disappointing A LOT of people if I do poorly.
That's my number one motivation. Don't disappoint.
That make sense?
Certainly I have other forms of motivation.
-I do feel better. My knees feel better. I would love to just feel better all the time. So my health is a motivating factor.
-I'd like to be around for a long time. For JoVanna, future kids, etc.
-I haven't felt a sense of accomplishment in a long time. This sense of accomplishment will help motivate me to get moving on getting into teaching, too.
But, the disappoint motivator is the one I can point to when the cravings hit. I need something that strong to use to combat those strong cravings.
Anyhow, long story short, I reweighed myself Thursday morning after being good Tues. & Wed. and found I was down to 329.5! I consumed a lot of sodium Sat-Mon, and I think that really messed me up. Working out Monday and Wednesday helped me sweat a lot of that out. That and some time helped drop me back down.
Goals Reached!
-Still On Track
-Belt Notch Down (2 so far!)
-Under 330
-Loss Noticed In Face By Customer Who Doesn't Know I'm Dieting (Yay!)
-Thanks to Tracy & Mike, I found I like Cherry Coke Zero, (although it is still too sweet to me right now!)
I weighed in on my usual Wednesday and it showed 334! Unhappy! So I looked back at my week, and knew I was in a little bit of trouble for the following reasons:
- I overdid Cheat Day a lot.
- I overdid Swing Day a bit. (SuperBowl Sunday, can you blame me?)
- I overdid Monday a lot a lot.
I had a good reason...(or so I tell myself)
I missed JoVanna!
JoVanna had to go to Sikeston to help people who were in a shelter down there due to the ice storms. All of the power was knocked out, so they had between 100-250 people there at the high school. Anyhow, with her gone I was lonely, and I had no one for myself to answer to. I think this is a very strong point in my success at losing weight this time around.
I have always (to my knowledge) been more likely to do things so as not to disappoint other people in my mind.
Let me clarify.
Say something is good for me to do. A.k.a. lose weight.
I don't seem to have some of that evolutionary necessary survival instinct/ego. I've never been very good at doing something for me. So, in my mind, losing weight for my health in a selfish manner, doesn't motivate me. Therefore, I need people that I FEEL will be disappointed in me if I fail, and subsequently proud of me if I succeed. THAT will motivate me. I've never felt like anyone would be disappointed in me for failing at something I tried my best at. Not JoVanna, my parents, siblings, family, or friends. So I have to externally place that feeling in them for me to succeed. That is why I tend/have/just do put myself out there and tell a lot of people about it. I feel sometimes people think I am bragging, but it's really this, I need to feel like I am disappointing A LOT of people if I do poorly.
That's my number one motivation. Don't disappoint.
That make sense?
Certainly I have other forms of motivation.
-I do feel better. My knees feel better. I would love to just feel better all the time. So my health is a motivating factor.
-I'd like to be around for a long time. For JoVanna, future kids, etc.
-I haven't felt a sense of accomplishment in a long time. This sense of accomplishment will help motivate me to get moving on getting into teaching, too.
But, the disappoint motivator is the one I can point to when the cravings hit. I need something that strong to use to combat those strong cravings.
Anyhow, long story short, I reweighed myself Thursday morning after being good Tues. & Wed. and found I was down to 329.5! I consumed a lot of sodium Sat-Mon, and I think that really messed me up. Working out Monday and Wednesday helped me sweat a lot of that out. That and some time helped drop me back down.
Goals Reached!
-Still On Track
-Belt Notch Down (2 so far!)
-Under 330
-Loss Noticed In Face By Customer Who Doesn't Know I'm Dieting (Yay!)
-Thanks to Tracy & Mike, I found I like Cherry Coke Zero, (although it is still too sweet to me right now!)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Great Diet Experiment of 2009
So, Mom asked to be thoroughly informed about what I am doing for my diet, so she could be jealous and therefore 'properly' motivated. Whoa boy, should she have watched what she asked for...wait, you did say thoroughly, right Mom?...
The rest of you didn't ask for it, but I felt like sharing anyway!
(I will explain the subject line number at the bottom, beware, this is a fairly long email...)
JoVanna and I have been talking about getting back into watching what we eat now that Wedding/Honeymoon/Holidays are over and we have more time to devote to it, so on New Year's Eve I weighed myself at Mike & Tracy's (our scale doesn't go over 330!) and found my weight to be 346 lbs. Eek.
So I decided that I was going to just kind of watch myself over the first couple of weeks, just minding what I ate. No counting calories, no psycho diet or anything. Just prepping myself for the inevitable major dieting. Drank less soda, got it out of the house. Ate less random things at work, started trying to get used to bringing my lunch. Basically prepping and hyping myself. I planned on starting after just one week of the prep, but the stomach flu will make you second guess the limiting of calories once you start feeling better.
So I set about some goals,
MAIN GOAL - Get healthy!
SECONDARY GOAL - Get to 250lbs
So here's my plan!
Count calories vigorously!
Using www.livestrong.com and their helpful program called The Daily Plate, I track every calorie I take in. I'm talking even the gum I chew! This may seem difficult or time-consuming. (it is a bit time consuming..) but we all know I am a bit of a geek and all the percentages, numbers, and averaging makes me happy. Plus the time I spend at the computer means I'm not spending that time eating!
Luckily most of what a person eats is already in their database. There are a few things that aren't, of course. For example, I've noticed whenever I change the recipe on a pasta box to include less or no butter, the 'calories as packaged' numbers usually aren't available online. But, they make it pretty easy to input the data yourself. Once you've done it once, it stays in your regularly eaten foods list. You can also make a meal! So instead of entering bologna, bread, & lite mayo every time, I made a Bologna Sandwich meal and can just add that. They even have quite a bit of restaurant menu choices available on The Daily Plate as well. This program keeps track of fat, calories, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, sugar, fiber, and protein also!
The Details
I am employing bits and pieces of various diets to help me in my cause and have created the following weekly plan.
Workout at least 3 times a week. Luckily there has been quite a bit of shoveling/sweeping snow and mopping at the store to help the number reach more like 5 times a week.
Cheat Day Revised I have found I need to incorporate a day in which to eat some things I crave for during the week. Without this I would definitely not succeed. But it isn't an everything goes cheat day, I still keep track of the calories I eat, and the total I allow is dependent on how well I do the 5 days prior.
example - To lose 3 lbs a week, I have to cut the calorie intake I need to maintain my weight by 1500 calories a day. If, Monday thru Friday I cut 2000 calories a day, I then have 2500 (5x500) calories I can add to the weekends. That would allow me to cheat a lot on Saturday, and a little on Sunday, to get myself back in the groove. (Believe me, it is easier to blow those extra calories on a day than one would think!)
Weigh In only Once a week I have read that a big subversive move people pull on themselves is multiple weigh ins. I figure I will keep mine to a sensible once a week, every Wednesday since that is the day I started. Plus it isn't distorting the data too much by placing it right before or right after my big cheat day.
Of course, not everything is going to be roses....
Expected/Previously Encountered Problems - Falling off the wagon. Unrealistic goals. Losing track of calories eaten. The inevitable? slowing down of weight loss.
Ways to beat the problems -
Falling off the wagon - The more and more I read about dieting, the more I see the main problem most people face is quitting. This is why I have used all the knowledge I have gained from previous diets, other people's diets, and literature on the subject to help me create something I believe I can stick to.
Unrealistic Goals - I am setting myself up to lose a big chunk of my weight. I realize that even within this diet, I am not eating as healthy as I can. Especially noticing how much salt I take in over the course of the week. First things first. Get to a more manageable weight, then build on that success to eat even healthier. I am at least adding these goals to the diet:
Cut carbs to at least 100% of the daily recommended allowance of a 2,000 calorie diet. (for me this is a huge deletion!)
- 300g recommended, averaging 375, but getting better. Cheat days hurt this average.
Up protein to at least 200% of the daily recommended allowance of a 2,000 calorie diet.
- 50g 'recommended', shooting for 100 every day, averaging 120.67 since I started on the 12th of January
Once I feel I have these two goals under wraps and happening frequently, I am going to try and tackle the salt issue...that's going to be a tough one.
Losing track of calories eaten - Have paper, have pen? Write what you eat down, portion size, and fill it in later in the week when you get a chance. Item not in the list of foods? Approximate. I have had to do that a few times now. I feel like I got as close as I could to the real numbers all while remaining honest with myself.
The inevitable? slowing down of weight loss - This I factored into my goals. So here then are my individual short term goals to reach my long term goals:
Since I lost almost six pounds in the first two weeks from just watching what I ate and the stomach flu, I figured to plan on losing 3 lbs for the first 6 weeks. Then 2 pounds for the second six weeks, then a pound a week after that. If I get ahead of that goal, great! If I fall behind I adjust as needed. Whether that means upping to a 2 lb week every now and again during the 1lb period or what I do not know yet. I found out this isn't such an arbitrary idea. They say a good goal for weight loss when looking to lose 50 or more pounds is 10% of your body weight over the first four months (roughly 35lbs, goal at the end of April, 311!) and 20% of your body weight over the first year (roughly 70lbs, my exact goal of 276!)
So the numbers: (with roughly every 5 week goals)
12/31 --- 1/7 = 343
1/7 --- 1/14 = 340
1/14 --- 1/21 = 337
1/21 --- 1/28 = 334
1/28 --- 2/4 = 331
2/4 --- 2/11 = 328
2/11 --- 2/18 = 326 20lb!
2/18 --- 2/25 = 324
2/25 --- 3/4 = 322
3/4 --- 3/11 = 320
3/11 --- 3/18 = 318
3/18 --- 3/25 = 316 30lb!
3/25 --- 4/1 = 315
4/1 --- 4/8 = 314
4/8 --- 4/15 = 313
4/15 --- 4/22 = 312
4/22 --- 4/29 = 311
10%!
4/29 --- 5/6 = 310
5/6 --- 5/13 = 309
5/13 --- 5/20 = 308
5/20 --- 5/27 = 307
5/27 --- 6/3 = 306 40lb!
6/3 --- 6/10 = 305
6/10 --- 6/17 = 304
6/17 --- 6/24 = 303
6/24 --- 7/1 = 302
7/1 --- 7/8 = 301 45lb!
7/8 --- 7/15 = 300
7/15 --- 7/22 = 299
7/22 --- 7/29 = 298
7/29 --- 8/5 = 297
8/5 --- 8/12 = 296 50lb!
8/12 --- 8/19 = 295
8/19 --- 8/26 = 294
8/26 --- 9/2 = 293
9/2 --- 9/9 = 292
9/9 --- 9/16 = 291 55lb!
9/16 --- 9/23 = 290
9/23 --- 9/30 = 289
9/30 --- 10/7 = 288
10/7 --- 10/14 = 287
10/14 --- 10/21 = 286 60lb!
10/21 --- 10/28 = 285
10/28 --- 11/4 = 284
11/4 --- 11/11 = 283
11/11 --- 11/18 = 282
11/18 --- 11/25 = 281 65lb!
11/25 --- 12/2 = 280
12/2 --- 12/9 = 279
12/9 --- 12/16 = 278
12/16 --- 12/23 = 277
12/23 --- 12/30 = 276 20%!
So with luck, here's what will happen by New Year's 2010
- I will be down to 276 pounds.
- I will have a healthier diet of all types of foods. Including many veggies and fruits.
- I will hopefully find a drink alternative that I like such as diet soda or tea.
- I will have better joints, including my knees!
- I will be set up to lose the last 26lbs by New Year's Eve 2011.
- I will sleep better and snore less!
UPDATE
I've almost completely lost my taste for soda. At least the really sweet fruit flavored ones. I had a Sunkist on the first cheat day, and had to throw it away after drinking 8 ounces. I had a Dr Pepper on my last cheat day, and even it didn't taste too great. Maybe time to give a Zero or One soda product a chance...
As of 1.28.09 I am at 332 lbs. A loss of 14lbs at 4.05% weight lost! One month and trucking along.
Also, I couldn't possibly do this without the help, love, and understanding of my beautiful wife, JoVanna. Thanks for putting up with all of my insane fixation and understanding it works for me!
Thanks for reading! If you got this far...
The rest of you didn't ask for it, but I felt like sharing anyway!
(I will explain the subject line number at the bottom, beware, this is a fairly long email...)
JoVanna and I have been talking about getting back into watching what we eat now that Wedding/Honeymoon/Holidays are over and we have more time to devote to it, so on New Year's Eve I weighed myself at Mike & Tracy's (our scale doesn't go over 330!) and found my weight to be 346 lbs. Eek.
So I decided that I was going to just kind of watch myself over the first couple of weeks, just minding what I ate. No counting calories, no psycho diet or anything. Just prepping myself for the inevitable major dieting. Drank less soda, got it out of the house. Ate less random things at work, started trying to get used to bringing my lunch. Basically prepping and hyping myself. I planned on starting after just one week of the prep, but the stomach flu will make you second guess the limiting of calories once you start feeling better.
So I set about some goals,
MAIN GOAL - Get healthy!
SECONDARY GOAL - Get to 250lbs
So here's my plan!
Count calories vigorously!
Using www.livestrong.com and their helpful program called The Daily Plate, I track every calorie I take in. I'm talking even the gum I chew! This may seem difficult or time-consuming. (it is a bit time consuming..) but we all know I am a bit of a geek and all the percentages, numbers, and averaging makes me happy. Plus the time I spend at the computer means I'm not spending that time eating!
Luckily most of what a person eats is already in their database. There are a few things that aren't, of course. For example, I've noticed whenever I change the recipe on a pasta box to include less or no butter, the 'calories as packaged' numbers usually aren't available online. But, they make it pretty easy to input the data yourself. Once you've done it once, it stays in your regularly eaten foods list. You can also make a meal! So instead of entering bologna, bread, & lite mayo every time, I made a Bologna Sandwich meal and can just add that. They even have quite a bit of restaurant menu choices available on The Daily Plate as well. This program keeps track of fat, calories, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, sugar, fiber, and protein also!
The Details
I am employing bits and pieces of various diets to help me in my cause and have created the following weekly plan.
Workout at least 3 times a week. Luckily there has been quite a bit of shoveling/sweeping snow and mopping at the store to help the number reach more like 5 times a week.
Cheat Day Revised I have found I need to incorporate a day in which to eat some things I crave for during the week. Without this I would definitely not succeed. But it isn't an everything goes cheat day, I still keep track of the calories I eat, and the total I allow is dependent on how well I do the 5 days prior.
example - To lose 3 lbs a week, I have to cut the calorie intake I need to maintain my weight by 1500 calories a day. If, Monday thru Friday I cut 2000 calories a day, I then have 2500 (5x500) calories I can add to the weekends. That would allow me to cheat a lot on Saturday, and a little on Sunday, to get myself back in the groove. (Believe me, it is easier to blow those extra calories on a day than one would think!)
Weigh In only Once a week I have read that a big subversive move people pull on themselves is multiple weigh ins. I figure I will keep mine to a sensible once a week, every Wednesday since that is the day I started. Plus it isn't distorting the data too much by placing it right before or right after my big cheat day.
Of course, not everything is going to be roses....
Expected/Previously Encountered Problems - Falling off the wagon. Unrealistic goals. Losing track of calories eaten. The inevitable? slowing down of weight loss.
Ways to beat the problems -
Falling off the wagon - The more and more I read about dieting, the more I see the main problem most people face is quitting. This is why I have used all the knowledge I have gained from previous diets, other people's diets, and literature on the subject to help me create something I believe I can stick to.
Unrealistic Goals - I am setting myself up to lose a big chunk of my weight. I realize that even within this diet, I am not eating as healthy as I can. Especially noticing how much salt I take in over the course of the week. First things first. Get to a more manageable weight, then build on that success to eat even healthier. I am at least adding these goals to the diet:
Cut carbs to at least 100% of the daily recommended allowance of a 2,000 calorie diet. (for me this is a huge deletion!)
- 300g recommended, averaging 375, but getting better. Cheat days hurt this average.
Up protein to at least 200% of the daily recommended allowance of a 2,000 calorie diet.
- 50g 'recommended', shooting for 100 every day, averaging 120.67 since I started on the 12th of January
Once I feel I have these two goals under wraps and happening frequently, I am going to try and tackle the salt issue...that's going to be a tough one.
Losing track of calories eaten - Have paper, have pen? Write what you eat down, portion size, and fill it in later in the week when you get a chance. Item not in the list of foods? Approximate. I have had to do that a few times now. I feel like I got as close as I could to the real numbers all while remaining honest with myself.
The inevitable? slowing down of weight loss - This I factored into my goals. So here then are my individual short term goals to reach my long term goals:
Since I lost almost six pounds in the first two weeks from just watching what I ate and the stomach flu, I figured to plan on losing 3 lbs for the first 6 weeks. Then 2 pounds for the second six weeks, then a pound a week after that. If I get ahead of that goal, great! If I fall behind I adjust as needed. Whether that means upping to a 2 lb week every now and again during the 1lb period or what I do not know yet. I found out this isn't such an arbitrary idea. They say a good goal for weight loss when looking to lose 50 or more pounds is 10% of your body weight over the first four months (roughly 35lbs, goal at the end of April, 311!) and 20% of your body weight over the first year (roughly 70lbs, my exact goal of 276!)
So the numbers: (with roughly every 5 week goals)
12/31 --- 1/7 = 343
1/7 --- 1/14 = 340
1/14 --- 1/21 = 337
1/21 --- 1/28 = 334
1/28 --- 2/4 = 331
2/4 --- 2/11 = 328
2/11 --- 2/18 = 326 20lb!
2/18 --- 2/25 = 324
2/25 --- 3/4 = 322
3/4 --- 3/11 = 320
3/11 --- 3/18 = 318
3/18 --- 3/25 = 316 30lb!
3/25 --- 4/1 = 315
4/1 --- 4/8 = 314
4/8 --- 4/15 = 313
4/15 --- 4/22 = 312
4/22 --- 4/29 = 311
10%!
4/29 --- 5/6 = 310
5/6 --- 5/13 = 309
5/13 --- 5/20 = 308
5/20 --- 5/27 = 307
5/27 --- 6/3 = 306 40lb!
6/3 --- 6/10 = 305
6/10 --- 6/17 = 304
6/17 --- 6/24 = 303
6/24 --- 7/1 = 302
7/1 --- 7/8 = 301 45lb!
7/8 --- 7/15 = 300
7/15 --- 7/22 = 299
7/22 --- 7/29 = 298
7/29 --- 8/5 = 297
8/5 --- 8/12 = 296 50lb!
8/12 --- 8/19 = 295
8/19 --- 8/26 = 294
8/26 --- 9/2 = 293
9/2 --- 9/9 = 292
9/9 --- 9/16 = 291 55lb!
9/16 --- 9/23 = 290
9/23 --- 9/30 = 289
9/30 --- 10/7 = 288
10/7 --- 10/14 = 287
10/14 --- 10/21 = 286 60lb!
10/21 --- 10/28 = 285
10/28 --- 11/4 = 284
11/4 --- 11/11 = 283
11/11 --- 11/18 = 282
11/18 --- 11/25 = 281 65lb!
11/25 --- 12/2 = 280
12/2 --- 12/9 = 279
12/9 --- 12/16 = 278
12/16 --- 12/23 = 277
12/23 --- 12/30 = 276 20%!
So with luck, here's what will happen by New Year's 2010
- I will be down to 276 pounds.
- I will have a healthier diet of all types of foods. Including many veggies and fruits.
- I will hopefully find a drink alternative that I like such as diet soda or tea.
- I will have better joints, including my knees!
- I will be set up to lose the last 26lbs by New Year's Eve 2011.
- I will sleep better and snore less!
UPDATE
I've almost completely lost my taste for soda. At least the really sweet fruit flavored ones. I had a Sunkist on the first cheat day, and had to throw it away after drinking 8 ounces. I had a Dr Pepper on my last cheat day, and even it didn't taste too great. Maybe time to give a Zero or One soda product a chance...
As of 1.28.09 I am at 332 lbs. A loss of 14lbs at 4.05% weight lost! One month and trucking along.
Also, I couldn't possibly do this without the help, love, and understanding of my beautiful wife, JoVanna. Thanks for putting up with all of my insane fixation and understanding it works for me!
Thanks for reading! If you got this far...
Monday, November 17, 2008
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
A lot of people have been asking about our first dance song, so here it is!
We wanted a celebratory sounding song, something a little different and off the wall, and this song also had a lot in it's lyrics that made it seem like the song was talking about us. Love it!
We wanted a celebratory sounding song, something a little different and off the wall, and this song also had a lot in it's lyrics that made it seem like the song was talking about us. Love it!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
'Gay Rights' continued!
A few arguments...
I have come to notice that one large problem with a large block of the electorate is the definition of marriage. That religiously, morally, etc. is defined as between a woman and man.
Here's the thing,
Do we drop marriage in the legal sense all together?
Bear with me here,
Wikipedia defines marriage as:
Marriage is a social, religious, spiritual, or legal union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock.
Marriage is an institution in which interpersonal relationships (usually intimate and sexual) are acknowledged by the state or by religious authority. It is often viewed as a contract. Civil marriage is the legal concept of marriage as a governmental institution, in accordance with marriage laws of the jurisdiction. If recognized by the state, by the religion(s) to which the parties belong or by society in general, the act of marriage changes the personal and social status of the individuals who enter into it.
People marry for many reasons, but usually one or more of the following: legal, social, and economic stability; the formation of a family unit; procreation and the education and nurturing of children; legitimizing sexual relations; public declaration of love; or to obtain citizenship.
(underlining added for emphasis on things I plan to elaborate on)
I would say for example, my parents, many family, and friends have had all four of the types of marriage described in the first definition of marriage.
Social, they had family and friends present.
Legal, they had documents from the state signed, sealed, and delivered.
Religious, they took place in a church with both participants being baptized and a current member of a major religion.
Spiritual, the participants believed God was present in the moment and thereafter.
Non-denominational people only fit three definitions.
Secular folks only meet the first two definitions.
Some who elope even only really meet the legal aspect.
Now I will also list the definition of marriage from the Catholic standpoint. Why? Because that is how I was raised...
Catholics define marriage as an indissoluble bond between a man and a woman, created by human contract and ratified by divine grace.
Now with that being said, shouldn't any secular marriage legally be disallowed? Divorce as well?
Here is my dilemma,
So where we are concerned within the law, shouldn't the legal aspect be the only definition we are concerned about? Shouldn't wise, intelligent human beings who are solid in their faith be able to separate the legal and religious definition of marriage and there by not stand in the way of gay marriage? (I understand I used the term human beings in there and by default we are imperfect beings, so this may not happen, but is that not logical at least?)
The final part of the definition of marriage only includes one part a gay couple could not do without help from an outside member of the marriage. Procreation. And even then, plenty of heterosexual couples need sperm donors or surrogate mothers to help them have children.
CIVIL UNIONS
Many argue that Civil Unions take care of this gay marriage issue.
The argument is that gay Civil Unions should be allowed and that they should have the full protection and rights as a Marriage. They said the same thing about schooling and other social utilities in the last century in respect to divisions between White and Black. I am no Civil Rights scholar, so I cannot pretend to understand a lot about the Separate but Equal policy, but I plan to do some reading. But from what I understand it doesn't work and was considered illegal by the courts.
Again from Wikipedia,
The repeal of "separate but equal" laws was a key focus of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. In Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), attorneys for the NAACP referred to the phrase "equal but separate" used in Plessy v. Ferguson as a custom de jure racial segregation enacted into law. The NAACP, led by the soon-to-be first black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, was successful in challenging the constitutional viability of the separate but equal doctrine, and the court voted to overturn sixty years of law that had developed under Plessy. The Supreme Court outlawed segregated public education facilities for blacks and whites at the state level. The companion case of Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497 outlawed such practices at the Federal level in the District of Columbia. In 1967 under Loving v. Virginia, the United States Supreme Court declared Virginia's anti-miscegenation statute, the "Racial Integrity Act of 1924", unconstitutional, thereby ending all race-based legal restrictions on marriage ("anti-miscegenation laws") in the United States.
So the argument for Civil Unions with the same rights and protections as marriage would be unconstitutional per this precedent. Or so I think. Again, not that smart and not a lawyer.
(Plus can we agree there is a certain similarity to what is going on with the Anti-Miscegenation laws from as late as 1967 in the U.S. and in South Africa as a part of apartheid as late as 1985? I believe a large portion of the electorate would consider those Anti-Miscegenation laws reprehensible now, but still support banning gay marriage.)
So if marriage is an unacceptable term, and separate Civil Unions are unconstitutional, shouldn't we just dissolve marriage from the legal aspect completely and make everything a Civil Union? Is this possible to form as a proposition to go on a ballot?
I personally don't want to stop the institution of marriage, just rename it if that is the major problem. But is that really what is necessary?
Again, I welcome dialogue please!
(I avoided using statistics to argue my case because they can be misconstrued very easily and are therefore often disbelieved the second they are put forth as an argument.)
I have come to notice that one large problem with a large block of the electorate is the definition of marriage. That religiously, morally, etc. is defined as between a woman and man.
Here's the thing,
Do we drop marriage in the legal sense all together?
Bear with me here,
Wikipedia defines marriage as:
Marriage is a social, religious, spiritual, or legal union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock.
Marriage is an institution in which interpersonal relationships (usually intimate and sexual) are acknowledged by the state or by religious authority. It is often viewed as a contract. Civil marriage is the legal concept of marriage as a governmental institution, in accordance with marriage laws of the jurisdiction. If recognized by the state, by the religion(s) to which the parties belong or by society in general, the act of marriage changes the personal and social status of the individuals who enter into it.
People marry for many reasons, but usually one or more of the following: legal, social, and economic stability; the formation of a family unit; procreation and the education and nurturing of children; legitimizing sexual relations; public declaration of love; or to obtain citizenship.
(underlining added for emphasis on things I plan to elaborate on)
I would say for example, my parents, many family, and friends have had all four of the types of marriage described in the first definition of marriage.
Social, they had family and friends present.
Legal, they had documents from the state signed, sealed, and delivered.
Religious, they took place in a church with both participants being baptized and a current member of a major religion.
Spiritual, the participants believed God was present in the moment and thereafter.
Non-denominational people only fit three definitions.
Secular folks only meet the first two definitions.
Some who elope even only really meet the legal aspect.
Now I will also list the definition of marriage from the Catholic standpoint. Why? Because that is how I was raised...
Catholics define marriage as an indissoluble bond between a man and a woman, created by human contract and ratified by divine grace.
Now with that being said, shouldn't any secular marriage legally be disallowed? Divorce as well?
Here is my dilemma,
So where we are concerned within the law, shouldn't the legal aspect be the only definition we are concerned about? Shouldn't wise, intelligent human beings who are solid in their faith be able to separate the legal and religious definition of marriage and there by not stand in the way of gay marriage? (I understand I used the term human beings in there and by default we are imperfect beings, so this may not happen, but is that not logical at least?)
The final part of the definition of marriage only includes one part a gay couple could not do without help from an outside member of the marriage. Procreation. And even then, plenty of heterosexual couples need sperm donors or surrogate mothers to help them have children.
CIVIL UNIONS
Many argue that Civil Unions take care of this gay marriage issue.
The argument is that gay Civil Unions should be allowed and that they should have the full protection and rights as a Marriage. They said the same thing about schooling and other social utilities in the last century in respect to divisions between White and Black. I am no Civil Rights scholar, so I cannot pretend to understand a lot about the Separate but Equal policy, but I plan to do some reading. But from what I understand it doesn't work and was considered illegal by the courts.
Again from Wikipedia,
The repeal of "separate but equal" laws was a key focus of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. In Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), attorneys for the NAACP referred to the phrase "equal but separate" used in Plessy v. Ferguson as a custom de jure racial segregation enacted into law. The NAACP, led by the soon-to-be first black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, was successful in challenging the constitutional viability of the separate but equal doctrine, and the court voted to overturn sixty years of law that had developed under Plessy. The Supreme Court outlawed segregated public education facilities for blacks and whites at the state level. The companion case of Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497 outlawed such practices at the Federal level in the District of Columbia. In 1967 under Loving v. Virginia, the United States Supreme Court declared Virginia's anti-miscegenation statute, the "Racial Integrity Act of 1924", unconstitutional, thereby ending all race-based legal restrictions on marriage ("anti-miscegenation laws") in the United States.
So the argument for Civil Unions with the same rights and protections as marriage would be unconstitutional per this precedent. Or so I think. Again, not that smart and not a lawyer.
(Plus can we agree there is a certain similarity to what is going on with the Anti-Miscegenation laws from as late as 1967 in the U.S. and in South Africa as a part of apartheid as late as 1985? I believe a large portion of the electorate would consider those Anti-Miscegenation laws reprehensible now, but still support banning gay marriage.)
So if marriage is an unacceptable term, and separate Civil Unions are unconstitutional, shouldn't we just dissolve marriage from the legal aspect completely and make everything a Civil Union? Is this possible to form as a proposition to go on a ballot?
I personally don't want to stop the institution of marriage, just rename it if that is the major problem. But is that really what is necessary?
Again, I welcome dialogue please!
(I avoided using statistics to argue my case because they can be misconstrued very easily and are therefore often disbelieved the second they are put forth as an argument.)
Sunday, November 09, 2008
'Gay Rights'
I have a strange question for all of you...
Would you mind sharing with me their thoughts/feelings on Gay rights?
Specifically the following subjects:
Gay Marriage
Civil Unions
Gay Adoption
Non-Discrimination Clauses
I am looking for people's honest feelings on this subject because I am seriously debating this subject with various people right now, and I would like to hear a wide variety of opinions. Not just yes/no answers but preferably qualified answers, or even not answers, but thoughts on the subject.
I will say that I would love to have a dialogue with everyone about this, so if you do not want me responding to your opinion, I would say so, and I will do my best. That said, I don't know how many responses I will get, so I can't say I will respond individually to everyone.
I am debating whether or not to share my opinion on the subject in case it alters the responses in anyway. Some of you know anyhow, I'm sure.
So... assume I am not on either side. Or if it works better for you, assume I am opposite your position.
Thanks! Any questions are welcome, and again, mention it if you do not want me posting your answer or would prefer me to post it anonymously.
Dave
Would you mind sharing with me their thoughts/feelings on Gay rights?
Specifically the following subjects:
Gay Marriage
Civil Unions
Gay Adoption
Non-Discrimination Clauses
I am looking for people's honest feelings on this subject because I am seriously debating this subject with various people right now, and I would like to hear a wide variety of opinions. Not just yes/no answers but preferably qualified answers, or even not answers, but thoughts on the subject.
I will say that I would love to have a dialogue with everyone about this, so if you do not want me responding to your opinion, I would say so, and I will do my best. That said, I don't know how many responses I will get, so I can't say I will respond individually to everyone.
I am debating whether or not to share my opinion on the subject in case it alters the responses in anyway. Some of you know anyhow, I'm sure.
So... assume I am not on either side. Or if it works better for you, assume I am opposite your position.
Thanks! Any questions are welcome, and again, mention it if you do not want me posting your answer or would prefer me to post it anonymously.
Dave
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Huzzah!
So I guess there is a possibility some people haven't heard, but I can't imagine how...
JoVanna & I are getting married!!!
I would love to get into the story, but JoVanna & I did an extensive write up on our knot website telling our story:
http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?coupleid=5509177727778302
Of course that tells the story up until the engagement.
Wow! That seems like such a long time ago!
The preparation for our wedding has been fun, creative, crazy, and always time consuming. I can't imagine what it will feel like to not be planning a wedding. I can't imagine it!
The best part is, I'm not at all nervous about BEING married. That's not the nervy part that my brain is worried about, it's the actual procession of the day that I worry about. I can't imagine being nervous about both!
I can't wait to see all of you on that weekend. I will be marrying the woman I love, we will be sharing it with all our friends and family, and we will be throwing one kick-ass party!
Be there or be SQUARE!!!
JoVanna & I are getting married!!!
I would love to get into the story, but JoVanna & I did an extensive write up on our knot website telling our story:
http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?coupleid=5509177727778302
Of course that tells the story up until the engagement.
Wow! That seems like such a long time ago!
The preparation for our wedding has been fun, creative, crazy, and always time consuming. I can't imagine what it will feel like to not be planning a wedding. I can't imagine it!
The best part is, I'm not at all nervous about BEING married. That's not the nervy part that my brain is worried about, it's the actual procession of the day that I worry about. I can't imagine being nervous about both!
I can't wait to see all of you on that weekend. I will be marrying the woman I love, we will be sharing it with all our friends and family, and we will be throwing one kick-ass party!
Be there or be SQUARE!!!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Another reason for my choice
'Obama is willing to acknowledge his indiscretions and not apologize for them. His drug use was part of his journey. He returned the campaign contributions of a former friend with an unsavory past. Clinton seems to think that admitting mistakes or acknowledging indiscretions—having second thoughts—is a sign of weakness. ' -Martin Linsky, Special Guest Columnist, Newsweek
This is what got us into trouble with Gee-Dub.
He refuses to admit any mistakes, and therefore compounds them. I remember being told as a child, that lies can get out of hand when they start building up on one another. Admitting a lie/mistake and moving on clears room for future truth/positive outcomes, whereas creating a stack of lies and mistakes blinds people from seeing the truth or making headway towards positive outcomes.
Yet again, another reason I am hoping for an Obama led U.S. in November...
This is what got us into trouble with Gee-Dub.
He refuses to admit any mistakes, and therefore compounds them. I remember being told as a child, that lies can get out of hand when they start building up on one another. Admitting a lie/mistake and moving on clears room for future truth/positive outcomes, whereas creating a stack of lies and mistakes blinds people from seeing the truth or making headway towards positive outcomes.
Yet again, another reason I am hoping for an Obama led U.S. in November...
Friday, February 15, 2008
Hello Primary Season, Goodbye Soul...or, wait....there is another option?
I can't believe I have stayed fairly silent about the political events going on over these past few months, but rest assured I have had some opinions. Of course, I now feel the need to share some things. Sorry if it seemes like preaching or anything...
Lately I've been hearing a lot about who had what idea first being a reason to vote for one person or another...
Does it matter who had the idea first?
Shouldn't it matter if a person believes it is a good idea and puts it into practice?
I'm tired of politicians, pundits, and citizens who complain about so and so did this first. We can't put all of our faith and hopes on a single person and that single persons ideas. That single person who will end up becoming the president of this country should come up with great ideas, yes, but also know a great idea when they see one and adopt it into their program.
Why the slavish adherence to what the polls suggest?
I think Bill Clinton was, and Hillary Clinton will be a poll-politician. They look and see what the people want, and pander to them. I am not suggesting Obama or any other politican doesn't listen to polls and take them under advisment. Just that they aren't as driven by them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Clinton as a president moreso than any other president dyuring my lifetime, but I don't think any president can ever be the end all be all for a party. Clinton was not the epitomee of a great president. Reagan was not the epitomee of a great president. We can't look to the past and believe it was such a great time. We need to always be looking forward at what we can become.
I find myself watching American President over and over again this time of year. I kind of see why Christina used to watch it ALL THE TIME. She seriously watched it 30 times in a 30 day span once. I'm sure it was mostly due to the romance quality of it back then. But I know now that we can watch it over and over again becuase of how inspiring it is. Go back and watch that speech Michael Douglas gives. It gives me chills. Unfortunately that movie and the show the West Wing (both written by Aaron Sorkin) are the closest I have gotten into being inspired in politics. Until now.
A perfect storm of opportunity has hit this country to get someone in office that can not only affect policy stateside for the betterment of our people, improve our image and our role in the international community, and inspire citizens to work for the betterment of our country and humanity around the world.
Vote Obama for the world, for humanity, not just America. For all of us, not just for ourselves. Let's have a little less selfishness in this world, and a little more giving.
Let's get inspired people.
Lately I've been hearing a lot about who had what idea first being a reason to vote for one person or another...
Does it matter who had the idea first?
Shouldn't it matter if a person believes it is a good idea and puts it into practice?
I'm tired of politicians, pundits, and citizens who complain about so and so did this first. We can't put all of our faith and hopes on a single person and that single persons ideas. That single person who will end up becoming the president of this country should come up with great ideas, yes, but also know a great idea when they see one and adopt it into their program.
Why the slavish adherence to what the polls suggest?
I think Bill Clinton was, and Hillary Clinton will be a poll-politician. They look and see what the people want, and pander to them. I am not suggesting Obama or any other politican doesn't listen to polls and take them under advisment. Just that they aren't as driven by them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Clinton as a president moreso than any other president dyuring my lifetime, but I don't think any president can ever be the end all be all for a party. Clinton was not the epitomee of a great president. Reagan was not the epitomee of a great president. We can't look to the past and believe it was such a great time. We need to always be looking forward at what we can become.
I find myself watching American President over and over again this time of year. I kind of see why Christina used to watch it ALL THE TIME. She seriously watched it 30 times in a 30 day span once. I'm sure it was mostly due to the romance quality of it back then. But I know now that we can watch it over and over again becuase of how inspiring it is. Go back and watch that speech Michael Douglas gives. It gives me chills. Unfortunately that movie and the show the West Wing (both written by Aaron Sorkin) are the closest I have gotten into being inspired in politics. Until now.
A perfect storm of opportunity has hit this country to get someone in office that can not only affect policy stateside for the betterment of our people, improve our image and our role in the international community, and inspire citizens to work for the betterment of our country and humanity around the world.
Vote Obama for the world, for humanity, not just America. For all of us, not just for ourselves. Let's have a little less selfishness in this world, and a little more giving.
Let's get inspired people.
Monday, February 04, 2008
If i cared about the money, I wouldn't be doing this this week, but I am back to walking hard on the treadmill, and it felt great!
The first couple of times i went to work out this session, the only things available were bikes and ellipticals. Boo. So I wasn't too keen on going back. I didn't feel good, or feel like i got a good workout.
But this Sunday I got focused and made a schedule for work outs this week. I am going to try and make sure I am at the gym like I have to be at work, Early or on time. And since my shifts are at weird times of day, I can get a machine no problem at 10:15 in the morning!
I worked out today and it felt great, and I even found some songs that help me hit a fast stride and get the heart rate up at a safe level! I've always just shuffled songs on the ipod before, but it is hard to find ones you really want to hear during your work out when you have about 6000 songs, so about half of my time is spent shuffling. A little over halfway through my workout, I hit these four songs in a row, and they are totally going to be the end of a playlist I make for working out. (Yes, I'm that sickly excited about working out that I used the word 'totally'.)
Here's they are:
Styx - Blue Collar Man
Guns n Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
Maroon 5 - Harder to Breathe
Abba - Gimmee, Gimmee, Gimmee (A Man After Midnight)
I think some of the other workout people were staring at me because I was smiling the entire last half of my workout instead of looking like I was going to die. It was a very strange juxtaposition. Walking fast with a sweat-drenched shirt on a treadmill and smiling.
And now, over 8 hours later, i feel really energized and really good. I can't wait to go hit the treadmill again tomorrow! Watch out everyone, I'm going to take all of your money next session!!
ps. Family - there is a little something more in your emails, don't just read this and not read those! Thanks!
The first couple of times i went to work out this session, the only things available were bikes and ellipticals. Boo. So I wasn't too keen on going back. I didn't feel good, or feel like i got a good workout.
But this Sunday I got focused and made a schedule for work outs this week. I am going to try and make sure I am at the gym like I have to be at work, Early or on time. And since my shifts are at weird times of day, I can get a machine no problem at 10:15 in the morning!
I worked out today and it felt great, and I even found some songs that help me hit a fast stride and get the heart rate up at a safe level! I've always just shuffled songs on the ipod before, but it is hard to find ones you really want to hear during your work out when you have about 6000 songs, so about half of my time is spent shuffling. A little over halfway through my workout, I hit these four songs in a row, and they are totally going to be the end of a playlist I make for working out. (Yes, I'm that sickly excited about working out that I used the word 'totally'.)
Here's they are:
Styx - Blue Collar Man
Guns n Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
Maroon 5 - Harder to Breathe
Abba - Gimmee, Gimmee, Gimmee (A Man After Midnight)
I think some of the other workout people were staring at me because I was smiling the entire last half of my workout instead of looking like I was going to die. It was a very strange juxtaposition. Walking fast with a sweat-drenched shirt on a treadmill and smiling.
And now, over 8 hours later, i feel really energized and really good. I can't wait to go hit the treadmill again tomorrow! Watch out everyone, I'm going to take all of your money next session!!
ps. Family - there is a little something more in your emails, don't just read this and not read those! Thanks!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Great CD Purge
Why in the name of god do I still own some of this stuff?
When is the last time I listened to this?
Do I even remember what crap is on this?
Holy crap I still have that?
My god, what was I thinking?
If you find yourself asking one, if not all of these questions repeatedly, you might also be in the midst of a CD purge.
Please see a doctor immediately as you may be causing severe back problems from lugging them around all over the place.
So, having three cd cases, cds in my room, computer room, car, and work bag, and two Avon boxes of jewel cases has helped me to decide it was time for the Great CD Purge of 2007.
Oh and the fact my computer is dead and I am recording everything I used to have on there onto JoVanna's computer is kinda helping the process...
...and delaying it as I have to listen to everything to decide if I want it, and which songs I wish to record before dropping the cd in the:
'To Take To Slackers' Pile
'Cd's i think someone else has' Pile
'Cd's I don't think are mine' Pile
'Crap nobody in their right mind would pay good money for' Pile
'Use as target practice' Pile
'Recorded Cd's someone else might want' Pile
To Take To Slackers Pile
Slackers, for those of you not from the Columbia area, is like Record Exchange or Vintage Vinyl in St Louis. For those of you not from the Columbia or St Louis area, those are CD trade places. The difference in this case is that I know a person at Slackers. A manager person. She takes good care of me when I visit her store. I imagine I might make a bit more in trade there then I would make somewhere else. Items in this pile include: (so far)
Cd's I think someone else has Pile
I think some people I know have these, but I haven't a clue who...If you do, any chance of returning them? Please?
I would love to have each and every one of these back. All five great cds...
Cd's I don't think are mine Pile
I bet some other people want these back as badly as I'd like mine back, let me know if you think one of them is yours...
Recorded Cd's Someone else might want Pile
Lots of these I recorded from other sources. I have now downloaded them to my computer, and have no desire to listen to them as just the cd's they are. Any of you want them? Let me know...
Actually this list is too long, I'll post it another time...
Deuces,
Dave
When is the last time I listened to this?
Do I even remember what crap is on this?
Holy crap I still have that?
My god, what was I thinking?
If you find yourself asking one, if not all of these questions repeatedly, you might also be in the midst of a CD purge.
Please see a doctor immediately as you may be causing severe back problems from lugging them around all over the place.
So, having three cd cases, cds in my room, computer room, car, and work bag, and two Avon boxes of jewel cases has helped me to decide it was time for the Great CD Purge of 2007.
Oh and the fact my computer is dead and I am recording everything I used to have on there onto JoVanna's computer is kinda helping the process...
...and delaying it as I have to listen to everything to decide if I want it, and which songs I wish to record before dropping the cd in the:
'To Take To Slackers' Pile
'Cd's i think someone else has' Pile
'Cd's I don't think are mine' Pile
'Crap nobody in their right mind would pay good money for' Pile
'Use as target practice' Pile
'Recorded Cd's someone else might want' Pile
To Take To Slackers Pile
Slackers, for those of you not from the Columbia area, is like Record Exchange or Vintage Vinyl in St Louis. For those of you not from the Columbia or St Louis area, those are CD trade places. The difference in this case is that I know a person at Slackers. A manager person. She takes good care of me when I visit her store. I imagine I might make a bit more in trade there then I would make somewhere else. Items in this pile include: (so far)
- Bare Jr Sampler
- Beastie boys Anthology The Sounds of Science Disc 2
- Beverly Hills Cop III Soundtrack
- Blues Traveler Live From The Fall
- Butthole Surfers Pepper Single
- Cibo Matto Stereo Type A
- Harry Connick Jr. She
- Craig David Born To Do It
- Daft Punk Around The World Single
- FireWalk Light A Fire
- The Fold Feeling Like Failure Now
- Guano Apes Proud Like A God
- Sophie B Hawkins Whaler
- Incubus Stellar Single
- Kottonmouth Kings Royal Highness
- Metallica Unforgiven II Single
- Metallica Memory Remains Single
- The Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-1978
- Moby Play
- Mudhoney Piece Of Cake
- Jimmy Page & Robert Plant No Quarter
- Pearl Jam Vitalogy
- Phantom of The Opera Highlights Broadway Cast
- Postal Service Give Up
- Qkumba Zoo Child Inside Single
- R.E.M. Great Beyond Single
- R.E.M. Monster
- Rage Against The Machine Killing In The Name Of Single
- Rush Test For Echo
- Joe Satriani Time Machine
- Save Ferris I'm Not Cryin For You Single
- Squirrel Nut Zippers Hot
- Steppenwolf 16 Greatest Hits
- Type O Negative Cinnamon Girl Single
- Wedding Singer Soundtrack
- Weezer Blue Album
- Peter White Glow
Cd's I think someone else has Pile
I think some people I know have these, but I haven't a clue who...If you do, any chance of returning them? Please?
- Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction
- Animal House Soundtrack
- No Doubt Tragic Kingdom
- Elvis #1 Hits
- Tool Aenima
I would love to have each and every one of these back. All five great cds...
Cd's I don't think are mine Pile
I bet some other people want these back as badly as I'd like mine back, let me know if you think one of them is yours...
- Mr Holland's Opus Soundtrack
- 311
- Stone Temple Pilots Core
Recorded Cd's Someone else might want Pile
Lots of these I recorded from other sources. I have now downloaded them to my computer, and have no desire to listen to them as just the cd's they are. Any of you want them? Let me know...
Actually this list is too long, I'll post it another time...
Deuces,
Dave
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Belief-O-Matic
Belief-O-Matic!
The top score on the list below represents the faith that Belief-O-Matic, in its less than infinite wisdom, thinks most closely matches my beliefs. However, even a score of 100% does not mean that my views are all shared by this faith, or vice versa. Belief-O-Matic then lists another 26 faiths in order of how much they have in common with my professed beliefs. The higher a faith appears on this list, the more closely it aligns with my thinking.
1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Secular Humanism (94%)
3. Liberal Quakers (92%)
4. Neo-Pagan (85%)
5. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (79%)
6. New Age (77%)
7. Nontheist (69%)
8. Theravada Buddhism (68%)
9. Taoism (64%)
10. Mahayana Buddhism (61%)
11. Reform Judaism (57%)
12. Bahá'í Faith (52%)
13. Orthodox Quaker (52%)
14. New Thought (47%)
15. Scientology (45%)
16. Jainism (41%)
17. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (37%)
18. Orthodox Judaism (35%)
19. Sikhism (31%)
20. Islam (27%)
21. Hinduism (27%)
22. Seventh Day Adventist (27%)
23. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (23%)
24. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (21%)
25. Eastern Orthodox (18%)
26. Roman Catholic (18%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (13%)
Interesting that the top two and the second to last are the ones that I have considered myself at various points of my life.
The top score on the list below represents the faith that Belief-O-Matic, in its less than infinite wisdom, thinks most closely matches my beliefs. However, even a score of 100% does not mean that my views are all shared by this faith, or vice versa. Belief-O-Matic then lists another 26 faiths in order of how much they have in common with my professed beliefs. The higher a faith appears on this list, the more closely it aligns with my thinking.
1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Secular Humanism (94%)
3. Liberal Quakers (92%)
4. Neo-Pagan (85%)
5. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (79%)
6. New Age (77%)
7. Nontheist (69%)
8. Theravada Buddhism (68%)
9. Taoism (64%)
10. Mahayana Buddhism (61%)
11. Reform Judaism (57%)
12. Bahá'í Faith (52%)
13. Orthodox Quaker (52%)
14. New Thought (47%)
15. Scientology (45%)
16. Jainism (41%)
17. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (37%)
18. Orthodox Judaism (35%)
19. Sikhism (31%)
20. Islam (27%)
21. Hinduism (27%)
22. Seventh Day Adventist (27%)
23. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (23%)
24. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (21%)
25. Eastern Orthodox (18%)
26. Roman Catholic (18%)
27. Jehovah's Witness (13%)
Interesting that the top two and the second to last are the ones that I have considered myself at various points of my life.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Pick of the Week!
Sarcastic Dialectician For Hire.
Everyone knows I'm pretty sarcastic at times...
The 'Dialectic' part though, I'm sure most people would call me, if they knew what it meant. I'm not questioning any ones intelligence here or anything! I swear. I'm the last person to poke fun for not knowing what words mean. (Or how to pronounce them...who knew cacophony wasn't pronounced cak-o-fone-ee)
Dialectic - the art or practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments.
I'm amazed at how well I believe this word fits me. I enjoy using logic in an exchange of arguments to arrive at the truth. I also think a dialectic conversation is a great way to fully understand another person's views on given subjects.
I've also learned, within the fairly recent past, that this method of reaching understanding between two people can't always work. In fact, unless it's with another Dialectician, it almost never works. I've wondered why in the past, some of the people I argue with, I become better friends with, and some, worse friends. I think I've realized now that some people argue/discuss to reach the truth. Some to be heard, some to be understood, some to get things off of their chest. I think, now that I have learned this, I can become better friends with everyone I argue/discuss with by figuring out what their desire is behind the argument, not just the point they are arguing/discussing.
The funny thing is, I only found the word dialectic while looking for a word to rhyme with eclectic. Strange, eh? Finding one word that describes me by trying to rhyme with another word that fits me like a glove. Hence the web address for this blog: dialecticeclectic.blogspot.com. Describes me well, except for the blogspot.com part. There was only so much I could do there. I could probably B.S. something to make that describe me, too ,but I'm not feeling that creative right now.
And now, the segue into...
The Pick of The Week!!
Wyclef Jean - The Ecleftic
I was flipping through the Starz channels, looking for things I wanted to Tivo, and I came across ' Wyclef Jean's All-Star Jam @ Carnegie Hall ' on Starz-Black. This concert for charity (music education for inner city youth) included artists like Eric Clapton (yeah!), Stevie Wonder (sweet!), Destiny's Child (eh), Charlotte Church (strange), Mary J Blige (awesome), one of Marley's boys (good), and a bunch of teens called Clef's kids who play exceptional music for their age. They only showed about an hour of the show on the TV, but there is a DVD that has the whole thing (Xmas present??)
Now, I've had a CD called Wyclef Jean - The Ecleftic for a couple of years now, and it is awesome. I'm not sure which came first, the concert or the cd, but the have some songs in common. Good songs:
Wish You Were Here (pink Floyd cover)
911 (with Mary J Blige)
There are also a few that are older Clef songs (remakes, I know) that I like a lot:
Guantanamera
No Woman, No Cry
Gone Til November
Maria, Maria
And new remakes/collaborations:
Summertime w/Charlotte Church
Stayin Alive w/Rock Steady Crew
Now That We Found Love w/Third World
Wonderful Tonight w/Eric Clapton
And a new song he and Clapton wrote, called 'My Song'
And a few songs done by the Clef Kids:
Amazing Grace
Bach Medley
Lift Every Heart & Sing
The only bad part is that, for some reason, they had Destiny's Child doing Independent Woman & Say My Name. That was strange.
So, check them out. Either the Wycleftic CD, or the All-Stars DVD. They are awesome!
Everyone knows I'm pretty sarcastic at times...
The 'Dialectic' part though, I'm sure most people would call me, if they knew what it meant. I'm not questioning any ones intelligence here or anything! I swear. I'm the last person to poke fun for not knowing what words mean. (Or how to pronounce them...who knew cacophony wasn't pronounced cak-o-fone-ee)
Dialectic - the art or practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments.
I'm amazed at how well I believe this word fits me. I enjoy using logic in an exchange of arguments to arrive at the truth. I also think a dialectic conversation is a great way to fully understand another person's views on given subjects.
I've also learned, within the fairly recent past, that this method of reaching understanding between two people can't always work. In fact, unless it's with another Dialectician, it almost never works. I've wondered why in the past, some of the people I argue with, I become better friends with, and some, worse friends. I think I've realized now that some people argue/discuss to reach the truth. Some to be heard, some to be understood, some to get things off of their chest. I think, now that I have learned this, I can become better friends with everyone I argue/discuss with by figuring out what their desire is behind the argument, not just the point they are arguing/discussing.
The funny thing is, I only found the word dialectic while looking for a word to rhyme with eclectic. Strange, eh? Finding one word that describes me by trying to rhyme with another word that fits me like a glove. Hence the web address for this blog: dialecticeclectic.blogspot.com. Describes me well, except for the blogspot.com part. There was only so much I could do there. I could probably B.S. something to make that describe me, too ,but I'm not feeling that creative right now.
And now, the segue into...
The Pick of The Week!!
Wyclef Jean - The Ecleftic
I was flipping through the Starz channels, looking for things I wanted to Tivo, and I came across ' Wyclef Jean's All-Star Jam @ Carnegie Hall ' on Starz-Black. This concert for charity (music education for inner city youth) included artists like Eric Clapton (yeah!), Stevie Wonder (sweet!), Destiny's Child (eh), Charlotte Church (strange), Mary J Blige (awesome), one of Marley's boys (good), and a bunch of teens called Clef's kids who play exceptional music for their age. They only showed about an hour of the show on the TV, but there is a DVD that has the whole thing (Xmas present??)
Now, I've had a CD called Wyclef Jean - The Ecleftic for a couple of years now, and it is awesome. I'm not sure which came first, the concert or the cd, but the have some songs in common. Good songs:
Wish You Were Here (pink Floyd cover)
911 (with Mary J Blige)
There are also a few that are older Clef songs (remakes, I know) that I like a lot:
Guantanamera
No Woman, No Cry
Gone Til November
Maria, Maria
And new remakes/collaborations:
Summertime w/Charlotte Church
Stayin Alive w/Rock Steady Crew
Now That We Found Love w/Third World
Wonderful Tonight w/Eric Clapton
And a new song he and Clapton wrote, called 'My Song'
And a few songs done by the Clef Kids:
Amazing Grace
Bach Medley
Lift Every Heart & Sing
The only bad part is that, for some reason, they had Destiny's Child doing Independent Woman & Say My Name. That was strange.
So, check them out. Either the Wycleftic CD, or the All-Stars DVD. They are awesome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
