Sorry, I’m a day late on posting my birthday gift photo but due to scheduling conflicts, I had to move my appointment for tonight.   Without further ado, here it is — and YES, it did hurt!   But it was worth it!



Thanks to Anita’s great recommendation, I made my tattoo appointment with Calvin at Blue Collar Art Co..   What do you think?

Update:   I found this excellent tattoo care video by Pat Fish in Santa Barbara that offers fantastic advice on the care & maintenance of a new tattoo.   Tattoo aftercare varies widely from artist to artist (and with some, it’s barely even addressed) but Pat provides more detailed instructions & explanation than any other artist I’ve dealt with.
 

Labels: self-improvement

Over at The Art of Manliness blog, Brett & Kate McKay recently capped off their "30 Days to a Better Man" series with an article extolling the manly virtues of getting a straight razor shave that tapped into a soft spot I’ve long since had.

Y’see, the day before my wedding, my brother Rich (whom I hadn’t seen for several years prior due to him being stationed at a USAF base in the Philippines) & I went to get haircuts together.   We scoured the town trying to find a barbershop that offered old-fashioned straight razor shaves but we were advised that (at that time) nobody was doing them out of fear of AIDS.   So I just kinda dismissed the notion and never really looked back.

That was 13 years ago...

On a whim last week, I phoned around to see if I could find a barbershop that does this now and on Saturday, I took the plunge and finally got that elusive straight razor shave I had backburnered for so long.

Was it everything I’d thought it might be?   Well, my usually-stubbly face felt as soft & smooth as a baby’s bottom and my moustache & goatee has never looked more neatly & precisely trimmed.   And to be sure, it was a distinctly masculine-feeling thing to do.   But...

I’m not sure I chose the right barber to do the task.

There were no hot, moist cotton towels or fancy facial prepwork to soften my whiskers.   No ceremonial stropping with that ominous schtick, schtick sound of the cold, glinty steel razor being dragged across a timeworn piece of leather to finely hone its edge.   No bushy badger brush clinking in the old ceramic cup of soap to whisk up a warm soapy lather.   Nope, my first ever old-fashioned straight razor shave sadly featured none of the quintessential rituals that would’ve made it so much more of a momentous venture.

There were, however, lots of nicks that stung like fierce little rattlesnake bites when the barber hit me (without warning!) with the thankfully unscented, but nonetheless very potent post-shave astringent.

Still, if you were to ask me if I’d get a straight razor shave again, I’d say "Yes!"   Now that I know that some barbers do offer this service again and I’m past the initial apprehension of having someone come at my tender face with a big, gleaming piece of sharpened metal, I do think it’ll happen again — but with a different barber next time!
 

Labels: humor, self-improvement

I could think of no better way to start the new year on a positive note than to take a moment to commemorate a significant milestone...

As of today, Dede has been kickin’ butts for three years — cigarette butts, that is!   Yup, she stopped smoking on Dec. 31st, 2005 and hasn’t picked ’em up since!
 

Labels: self-improvement

Mango Languages just launched their online language learning product in beta.   They’re offering 11 free languages courses - including Russian!   Each course is comprised of 100 lessons, presented in a PowerPoint-style sideshow providing the written form of the words along with the spoken dialog.   The focus is on learning short, conversational sentences.

Even though we’ve fallen way out of practice since our classroom-based Russian language primer course at U.T.P.B., I was surprised at how much of this seemed familiar.   As we begin to prep for our first trip to Cheboksary, maybe the combination of the Mango online lessons and the Pimsleur audiobook courses will help to ease some of the language barrier.

(You have read the latest exciting news over on our Russian Adoption Journal, right?)
 

Labels: self-improvement

At the end of May each year, Pat Fierro’s students in the Odessa College Massage Therapy program have an internship period during which they amass 50 hours of (wait for it...) hands-on experience in preparation for becoming registered massage therapists.   Karen W. tipped me off about this a couple of years ago.   So each Summer, I look forward to taking advantage of the opportunity for a great massage (or two!) at an incredibly reasonable price.   And over the past weekend I did just that.   It was well worth the wait!

Likewise, over the past few years, I’ve also become accustomed to getting a pedicure every 4-6 months to alleviate ingrown toenail problems.   So, a few weeks ago, Dede & I visited MCM Eleganté Getaway Spa & Salon for some pedis.   As is customary, Christy did a fantastic (and pain-free) job at whipping my gnarly dogs into tip-top shape for Summer.

And of course, I suppose that I’ve gotta come clean about getting my hair cut at a "salon."   Our pal Jen over at The Palms Salon has been doing my "do" for several years now and I couldn’t possibly keep up my stylish coiffure without her skillfull scissor support.

Not to mention that I moisturize after showering each morning.   Oh, then there’s also the fancy Crest Spinbrush for cleaning & brightening my choppers.   And don’t forget the goo-spitting electric razor & nifty little Wahl beard trimmer...

Sheesh, I’d never really considered all of this cumulatively, but it sure all adds up to a lot of, um, fussy primping & preening for just an average guy.   Sure enough, I’ve unconsciously been a lot more mindful of my general appearance & health since my gastric bypass surgery almost 3 years ago.   Now I’m pretty secure in my manhood, but I started thinking...   This could have me bordering pretty close to metrosexual...

metrosexual   (met-roh-SEK-shoo-ul)   n   [coined by Mark Simpson, 1994.]
A usually urban heterosexual male who has a strong aesthetic sense and/or an inordinate interest in appearance and style, similar to that of heterosexual females or homosexual males.

Ack!!   Could it be true?   Am I becoming metro?   Well, hopefully not, but at least I can take solace in knowing that I’m not nearly so extreme or clichéd as the metrosexual hipster doofus pictured above.

Update:   I had a tough time chasing back down the source for the cool cartoon, but Dede finally nudged me in the right direction.   (She is the Google guru, y’know.)   "Nutless Tendroid" and many, many other hilarious "Bane of My Existence" cartoons by Rod Filbrandt can be found at Chowderhead Bazoo.
 

Labels: health, humor, self-improvement

Years ago, the term "hacker" carried a connotation of a malicious meddler who attempts to gain unauthorized access to sensitive computer systems to steal, change, or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism.

But today, it’s come to mean something entirely different and much more flattering. Now a "hacker" is someone who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations — someone who makes things work beyond perceived limits through unconventional means or skills. And there’s a whole new social culture of hacking that’s emerged as a result of information-sharing via Internet-based communities.

Some of our favorite websites to visit are hack sites, where off-beat, sometimes-radical thinking folks put forth creative ideas to make everyday things work just a little bit better, easier, and/or cheaper. Here are just a few:



Lifehacker makes getting things done easy & fun with simple tricks for managing your information & time. If you don’t already have this site bookmarked, well, do it now!



Danny O’Brien’s lifehack.org is a frequently-updated blog built around the theme of hacks, tips, & tricks that get things done quickly by automating, increasing productivity, & organizing.



Asha Dornfest’s Parent Hacks is a collaborative weblog that collects useful parenting tips, recommendations, workarounds, & other bits of wisdom. It’s the stuff that would’ve been left out of the instruction manual — if there were one to begin with.



ikea hacker is a a nifty site that offers simple tips on repurposing, tweaking, & otherwise improving the cool stuff from Dede’s favorite store, IKEA.
 

Labels: blogs, cool sites, home improvement, self-improvement, software

New Year's Day is a reflective time to look back on what's happened during the previous 365 trips around the Sun. Many people begin to form some plans or hopes about the coming dozen months and make resolutions to do projects, enact lifestyle changes, travel, or fulfill other personal goals.

Dede's pal, Ellen Degeneres has been on a "Life List" kick over the past season. Not just a simple to-do list, but list of dreams & goals, no matter how fantastic or unreachable they might seem at the moment. We all have those, "I've always wanted to..." or "Someday, I'm gonna..." dreams but most often, those interests go unachieved or abandoned because we get too busy, broke, cynical, tired, or whatever. Ellen contends that you can harness your energy & direction by creating a personal "Life List" — that you're far more likely to commit or follow-up once goals are listed out right in front of you.

Then yesterday I read this insightful quote on post by Thom G. on his interesting (and sometimes quite candid) Surface Tension blog site:

"Mortal man has but one physical destination — a six-foot hole in the ground, or decorative urn collect[ing] dust on some mantle. I'd like to think it's the journey that makes the destination more meaningful.   For me, now on the cusp of 2007 and nearing my 43rd year, it is the journey that is the teacher."

This was Thom's attention-grabbing lead-in for 43 Things.

43 Things was founded 2 years ago by Seattle trio Robot Co-op as a social networking tool where you setup an account, start your own list of hopes & dreams, and can even collaborate with others who have similar ambitions. It can also schedule future reminders to help keep you on-track. Nope, ya don't hafta have 43 things to do — it's just a catchy title for the site.

After just a few minutes, I had nearly a dozen items on my list on 43 Things. Some are piddly, some just fun, and some downright life-alterting! Will having a list make a diff? Dunno. But having things in black & white does make them seem more possible.   So, what's on your "Life List?"

Labels: self-improvement

Today marks an exciting & significant anniversary. Dede's been kickin' butts for a whole year! She put down the smokes on Dec. 31st, 2005 and hasn't picked 'em up since. It was a conscious & deliberate decision — she still has an unopened pack of cigarettes in the freezer. According to Wade Merideth's article What Happens To Your Body If You Stop Smoking Right Now on Healthbolt.net, there are some remarkable & fairly immediate benefits for those who kick the habit. In the first year a former smoker's risk of heart attack will have dropped by half!

Labels: health, self-improvement

Tonight was our final session of Russian class at U.T.P.B. The class, which has been a big help in our efforts to learn some of the basics of Russian language, has met once a week for 3 hours (whew!) over the course of 4 weeks. So despite only having 12 hours of actual class time, our teacher, Tatiana, seemed to cover A LOT of material with our small class! We've learned to read the Russian Cyrillic alphabet, how to count, a little bit about how to read & write cursive Cyrillic lettering, and several very useful conversational phrases.

One of the highlights of our class was going as a group to see Mikhail Gorbachev speak at Midland College's Chapparal Center a couple of weeks ago. He had some interesting views and it was quite a treat to be able to understand a few of his words throughout his speech.

I'm don't think we're quite ready to blend in with the Russians without notice but I do feel a bit more confident about our upcoming (hurry, hurry!) visit to the country.

Labels: self-improvement

In preparation for a couple of upcoming major trips, we've begun the not-too-easy task of trying to master the basics of a new language. Suffice to say, Cyrillic letters roll off our Texican tongues about like butter off of a frozen knife.

Вы понимаете По-русски?

At any rate, Dede, Marsha, & I are taking a course at U.T.P.B. led by a charming native-speaker Tatiana Tyutko. So far, we've learned just a few introductory phrases like:

Меня зовут Роб.

We've also been listening to the very helpful Pimsleur audio language programs, thanks to Brad & the Midland library. And we've stumbled across a few sites (like this, this, this, and this) that are helping us wrap our brains around this new stuff.

Labels: self-improvement

Ralph Parlett may have said it best when he wrote, "Real birthdays are not annual affairs. Real birthdays are the days when we have a new birth."

Today, July 27th, marks an anniversary for me - its been one year since my RNY gastric bypass surgery. Many others who've had this procedure refer to the day of surgery as a "rebirthday" and considering how life-changing that day was for me, I think that's fitting. I owe a great deal to all of you who've been so supportive and complimentary about my progress over the past months - having my own little cheerleading squad sure made a big difference!!

I've gotten a bit lax about posting progress pics, so here's a "before & after" style update...

Labels: self-improvement

I’ve regularly donated when United Blood Services has held blood donation drives at Medical Center for a few years now but I was anxious about donating blood since having had surgery.   I finally decided to get back in the groove today.

Today the UBS staff employed a new-to-me technology called pheresis.   During pheresis, whole blood is drawn and goes into a machine that separates the red blood cells (or platelets) from the other components in the whole blood.   The remaining plasma is then returned to the donor.   Since a unit of whole blood only contains about one tablespoon of platelets, the net result is that you can donate 16 times as much of the most vital blood component while actually losing less volume than you would during a traditional donation.   Apheresis only takes about 10 minutes longer than the normal blood donation method and, aside from the initial needle sting, is just as painless.

Donating blood is, of course, a very charitable gesture and that’s certainly reason enough to do so.   What’s more, there’s some evidence that donating blood helps lower bad cholesterol and may play a part in preventing heart disease for the donor.

So, give blood — it’s good for your community and good for your health too!
 

Labels: charity, self-improvement

Those of you who know us well know that we've developed a keen interest and real respect for Tibetan people and culture over the past couple of years. I think our interest in this began with the movie "Seven Years in Tibet". This movie led us to want to know more about the Dalai Lama and Tibet, so we also rented Martin Scorsese's "Kundun" and the documentary "Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion". Another very interesting DVD we rented was "Robert Thurman on Tibet", which is really more of a lecture than an actual movie.

(Robert Thurman, father of actress Uma Thurman, is a former Tibetan Buddhist monk, Director of the Tibet House in New York City, and a personal friend of the Dalai Lama.)

At any rate, we were completely unfamiliar with what the Buddhist religion is about, the reasoning behind the Chinese takeover of Tibet, and the story of the Dalai Lama's exile to India. So these films were real eye openers for us. "Snow Lion" paints a vivid picture of Tibetan culture and the devastating genocidal affects of the Chinese occupation. The imprisonment and torturous treatment of the Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns is particularly shocking and reminded me of the unthinkable treatment of Jews by Hitler's Nazis back during WWII. Robert Thurman's accounts of Tibet and it's people is very fascinating and thought-provoking stuff!

For more information about His Holiness, The Dalai Lama, and the Tibet effort, visit the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration or consider reading The Dalai Lama's "An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life". This book gives an overview of the fundamental Buddhist principles and aims to show how Buddhist practices can lead to a more compassionate and happier life. The concepts presented lend themselves to being applied by anyone, regardless of religious beliefs. I'm impressed by how the Dalai Lama isn't on a mission to convert people's religion, but rather turn their hearts and enrich their lives through compassion for others.

So this all brings me around to our belated New year's Resolution. There is a compelling argument about how to force China to abandon it's Tibetan occupation made in more than one of the films I mentioned above. And that argument is that the Chinese government will leave Tibet when it finally becomes too much of an economical burden, which could be brought about by a widespread boycott on the purchase of Chinese-made goods.

So, it seemed like the conscionable thing to do is join in this effort. So, we've made a serious effort to avoid buying anything that has a "Made in China" label over the past couple of months. And while this is not necessary an easy feat, it makes sense to us to our little part in casting a vote with our dollars. Will this work? Can a collective effort to cause a lapse in consumer demand in Chinese goods really cause Tibet to be free again? Hard to say, but you can read more about this activism campaign effort at Boycott Made In China.

What do you think?

Labels: opinion, self-improvement, shopping

Tuesdays are my WLS "anniversay" days that I weigh in, take measurements, and do progress photos. This time last month, I weighed 67 lbs. less than what I had weighed on the day of my bariatric surgery, July 27th. As of today, I'm down 78 lbs. So, as Rich says, here's da mug shots:

July 25th, 2004	Aug. 24th, 2004
Sept. 21st, 2004	Oct. 19th, 2004
Nov. 23rd, 2004

Labels: self-improvement

If I were into numerology, I'd say that today was chocked full of meaning. The number 3 dominates this day. How so, you ask?

Well, Tuesday is the 3rd day of the 7-day week. 3 x 7 = 21 and today, September 21st (2 + 1 = 3) is my birthday. So I am, dare I say it... 41. Of course, 4 - 1 = 3. And all of the numbers in my birthdate (9/21/63) are evenly divisable by 3.

Today also marks my 8th week "anniversary" of my weight loss surgery. I've lost 55 lbs in that time. (8 + 55 ÷ 21 = 3) Also in that time, I've stepped down 3 sizes in pants and shirts. So, this last weekend, I bought 2 new shirts and a pair of shorts (2 + 1 = 3) at Dillards for just under $30.

See what I mean about the "3" thing? It's almost spooky!

Want more? Well, Dede reminded me that she started work at MCH on November 3rd, we went out on our first date 3 months later on February 3rd, and got married 6 months after that (2 x 3 = 6) on August 3rd, 1996. August 3rd also happens to have been Dede's parent's anniversary day.

Still not enough? I got a cool birthday e-card from Clemens at 3 a.m. this morning!

Labels: self-improvement

Today marks 5 weeks since the day of my weight loss surgery. I’ve lost 40 lbs from my pre-op weight.   Everything seems to be falling off of me.   I have had to take a link out of my watch, my wedding ring won’t stay on, I am down 2 pants sizes, soon to be a 3rd, and even my shoes are fitting looser now!

I’ve had a bit of a dry spell on the blogging lately, but big thanks to Karen P. for making me get going again!


 

Labels: self-improvement

Today is the 2 week 'anniversary' of my weight loss surgery! The first question that probably pops into your mind is, "Well, how much weight have you lost?" Dede and I are in a bit of disagreement over the numbers. Y'see, from what I weighed prior to surgery on Tuesday, July 27th, to the following Thursday morning, I had gained slightly over 20 lbs due to all of the IV fluids pumped in during and post-surgery. I don't really count all that since it was kind of an artificial gain - it was just water - but Dede thinks it all counts. Anyway, I've shed that 20 lbs of "water weight" and I'm down 29 lbs from my July 27th starting weight as of this morning.

I don't feel a difference yet, but I am starting to notice a few things. My wedding ring won't stay on my ring finger today. My watch kinda dangles off of my wrist a bit. Dede insists that she can already see a difference.

I'm keeping up with a fairly standard morning routine - getting up early, showering, having breakfast, and getting dressed - as though I were having to leave for work. I figured there'd be no point in settling into lazy habits that I'd have to wean back off of in a few weeks. I'm walking for 20 minutes twice a day and I especially enjoy the cool and quiet early morning strolls.

Daytime T.V. sucks. I've read books and surfed the net until my poor eyeballs are bleary. Been working my way through a Photoshop tutorial book... Spent awhile this morning vacuuming and dusting. Folded some laundry I did yesterday. Still get worn out and have to take naps during the day. I'm not released to drive yet, so I'm kinda stuck here at the house. Can you tell I'm bored?

Well, there you have it... Recovery is progressing along and I'm feeling a little stronger day by day. Still testing the waters on this whole "solid food" thing. Thanks again to everyone who's been passing words of encouragment along via Dede!

Labels: self-improvement

August 3rd is a special day for a couple of reasons. Today marks the first week milestone of my having weight loss surgery. The decision to undergo Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was the culmination of more than 2 years of thoughtful consideration, research, discussion, and prayer. I was initially unsure how - or who - to tell about this decision because it was such a personal choice.

Overall, my surgery and post-op days were truly blessed. I've experienced little pain, just general aches and soreness and unusual sensations. My surgeon, Dr. Davenport was very attentive - he made sure that I was well-informed all along the way and the visits while I was in the hospital felt like he'd gone out of his way to make quality time for Dede & me. And I'd be remiss if I didn't also praise the MCH 6C nursing staff, especially Mona, Brad, Hope, & Shawna. They were patient and supportive and, well, just everything I needed and more.

And of course, it goes without saying that I couldn't have undergone this kind of life-changing surgery were it not for Dede's understanding, support, and unconditional love.

So now, one week post-op, I'm back at home recovering and doing well and the prospects of the changes I'll be making in the coming weeks and months are so exciting that I can't bear not to share. I'm proud of myself for having the determination to go through with such a dramatic procedure. I'm excited to imagine how my size will no longer dominate and limit nearly every decision I make. I'm thrilled to imagine cool new clothes for Christmas. But more than anything else, I'm filled with joy at the idea of having bought myself many more happy, healthy years with Dede.

Thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement! I'll keep you posted on my progress...

Labels: self-improvement

My gastric bypass surgery on Tuesday went well and I’m back home.   I miss the reassurance of having a nurse a few feet away if something comes up, but being back on home turf is wonderful!

Overall, my surgery and post-op days were blessed.   I’ve experienced very little pain, just the kinds of aches and soreness that I guess you’d expect with abdominal surgery, some unusual sensations, and a general sense of fragility, which I’m sure is more perception & paranoia than anything else.

The opening from my new stomach pouch into the newly attached small intestine had some swelling that prevented the x-ray contrast from passing through for the better part of a day, which certainly gave us all a bit of a scare.   There was a chance that Dr. Davenport would have to go back in and make an adjustment, but patience triumphed and we all breathed a big sigh of relief when we repeated the test this morning and the contrast just slipped right through like water.

A tremendous "thanks" goes out to everyone who sent such nice notes of encouragement and especially the visitors who came by to offer morale support and comfort.   And I can’t say enough about how great Dr. D was about making sure that I was well-informed all along the way.   I really appreciated his visits — which never felt rushed — and felt like he’d gone out of his way to make quality time for Dede & me.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also praise the MCH 6C nursing staff, especially Mona, Brad, Hope, & Shawna.   They were patient and supportive and, well, just everything I needed and more!
 

Labels: health, self-improvement

Prepping to leave for MCH for my Roux-en-Y Gatric Bypass surgery this morning, I dared one last look at my home scale.   Whether it was teasing me by being optimistic or I’ve done better in the weeks pre-op than I had thought, I can’t decide, but the silly thing claims I weigh 366.8 lbs today.

I’m not too nerve-wracked...   I’m taking slow deep breaths, saying lots of silent prayers, and drawing great comfort & resolve from knowing that so many people are wishing me well and keeping me in their prayers.   I’m blessed to have so much enthusiastic support.   Thanks and I’ll see you on the "loser’s bench!"
 

Labels: health, self-improvement

More than 2 years of thoughtful consideration, research, discussion, & prayer culminated last month in a life-altering decision — my decision to undergo weight-loss surgery.

My decision to have Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a major one.   It’s a choice that I took seriously & willfully, with an ever-increasing awareness of the potential pros and cons.   This procedure isn’t an "easy way out" but more simply it is...   a way out.   Out of what?   Limits.   My lifestyle is littered with limits imposed by my weight, peaking recently at more than 380 pounds.   And without a radical change, the future promises more of the same.   These limitations physically made it difficult to do things I need to do, much less things that I want to do.

Being large and/or heavy invades your mental processes also — gradually your thought patterns shift from "what would I like to do" to "what will I be able to do?"   Someone would invite Dede & me to go to a movie, for example, and my first thought was not about whether it’s even a movie I’d like to see — it was whether the theater where the movie is showing had tolerable seating.

Being "morbidly obese" — a sickening term that I’m embarrassed to admit applies to me — puts limits on daily routines.   Random and increasingly more-frequent arthritis flare-ups have made even minimal walking a real challenge some days, although I thankfully still had many more good days than bad.   But joint problems have been altogether debilitating at times, causing multiple missed days of work — two years in a row, I was hobbled with intense knee swelling right at Christmastime when we’ve had friends visiting and wanting to enjoy our company.

And other heath issues are certainly at hand.   The looming fear of cardiac problems has been on my mind frequently.   Granted, I know of seemingly trim & fit guys who’ve had heart problems, so that isn’t a threat unique to someone of my size, but being this overweight is surely tempting fate.   Dr. Perlman advised me that I was on the brink of Type II Diabetes back in June, which certainly served as yet another strong incentive for a permanent weight-loss solution.

So, the die is cast.   I’m scheduled for surgery with Dr. Davenport on July 27th.   Beyond that, hopefully, the sky’s the limit!
 

Labels: health, self-improvement