Heading to Knoxville, Tennessee to honor a friend. What’s up with you?
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Once again, happy birthday to another one of my sons. We didn’t plan to have birthdays clumped together. Life happens. But he’s a great boy and it’s worth noting his big day.
Today’s cartoon, if you are so interested in seeing it.
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Yesterday’s cartoon caused a healthy debate. For the most part, it was respectful and positive. A couple of folks decided that they could read my soul by my cartoon. One person told me to “get over it.” I didn’t lose much sleep over either comment. There were some shallow comments, too. But most folks realize they live in a good place with flaws. That we need to continue to make this a better place. But that cheap shots weren’t going to solve our state’s problems. Only hard work and caring will. Here’s more on it.
Any award for Mac McAnally is deserved. He’s one of my writing heroes. The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center will honor country singer Moe Bandy and Mac with stars on the Walk of Fame.
Looking for the MHSSA State Championship Baseball Schedule? Here you go.
Greece Fire! There is a run on the banks there and now talk of leaving the Euro.
Joe Biden goes to Ohio. Gaffe in 3….2…..1…….
CNN’s take on fake cop/shooter threatening the highways in North Mississippi.
Today’s Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit Blog - QUIT MAKING EXCUSES!
Boot-shaped chicken nugget up for auction. Made from the chicken’s foot, I’m sure.
No, this isn’t a repeat of yesterday’s post. Yesterday was my youngest boy’s 5th birthday. Today is my oldest son’s 12th. Trust me, my wife and I didn’t plan it to happen this way. In fact, our middle child was born on November 14th. So we have birthdays on the 14th, 15th and 16th. I can NEVER keep it straight.
I married at 25. My wife and I waited seven years to have kids. Our first miracle came 12 years ago today. I was 32 when he was born and was completely stupid about being a parent. I saw him enter this world, with his black tuft of hair (he looked like the fifth Beatle) and his little round face and kept looking for the attached owner’s manual. It wasn’t there. He was the kid I learned how to be a parent on. I quickly realized what Craig Ferguson said about parenting was so amazingly true, “I think when you become a parent you go from being a star in the movie of your own life to the supporting player in the movie of someone else’s.”
I’ve made a ton of parenting mistakes but he’s a pretty resilient kid.
My son has grown into a very sensitive, bright young man. He’s a Scout and an excellent mathematician. He plays the baritone with precision and gets straight A’s. He doesn’t draw like me, but has a brilliant imagination when he writes. His mother gave him his looks (his hair is now our dirty blonde, btw), but he is very much like I was as a kid. At times he struggles and I suffer with him. The stresses of being a budding teenager reminds me of my own struggles so many years ago.
So he’s 12 today. The years have gone so quickly. It seems like yesterday I was being wheeled into cancer surgery and I saw his little one-year-old face one last time. I vowed to survive so I could see him grow up. I’m so glad I did.
Goal Weight: 195 lbs.
Had an odd dream last night. In it, Paul Lacoste (the excellent life-coach/trainer who helped me shed my first 45 lbs.) pretty much busted me for making excuses. I was telling him my situation right now — how my schedule is too hectic, and that I’m too busy, and did I mention that I’m exhausted — blah, blah, blah. I told how I didn’t have time to train. While all of that has a grain of truth to it, he was having none of it. He told me that your life is what you make of it. And that I needed to quit making excuses. He put me in my place.
Why my subconscious is talking to me in the form of Paul Lacoste, I have no idea. In fact, I will never eat what I had for dinner last night ever, ever, ever again. But apparently I needed the lecture. And I heard it loud and clear.
Yesterday I was doing show prep for my show, sitting in the radio show and half-listening to my cousin Dave Ramsey. He was talking about those people you know with all the talent in the world who always tell you their woes. How life is mistreating them. And how they are not getting anywhere. You know them — the people with amazing amount of talent who never seem to get anywhere because their attitudes hold them back like a boat anchor. I caught my image in the window and thought, “he’s talking to me.” It was a moment of powerful self-reflection.
Like many of you, I am tired. I’ve had some pretty annoying things happen to me. I can fill this blog with reasons why I have a right to be angry. But I (and you) need to let let that go. When you feel like making an excuse, do the work. Me? Well I have to kick it back into gear and start moving back toward my goals. Heck, I need to set new goals and start charging after them. And I need to do it with a smile.
As Mr. Lacoste likes to say, go to the “Next Level.”
P.S. I ran 4.5 miles this morning in 45 minutes and did 50 pushups and sit-ups.
Our first two boys were born right on schedule. They made their cheerful appearance by 3:30 p.m. Not our third. By 5:30, the emergency C-section was over and he had fought valiantly to be born. I think at that point we should of known that he’d be different. And he’d be a fighter.
For five years, he has been both. There have been challenges and worries. I’ve been covered in his blood when he pulled an IV out. I clutched him and held him when I thought I’d never let him go. I’ve prayed over him as he slept. He looks like his mother and shares part of my name.
Today is his fifth birthday. It has been 1,865 days since he entered our world. And I can truly say I’m a changed man because of it. I’m more patient. More accepting. Less selfish. More aware. As I look into his blue eyes, I wonder what his life will be like for him. I’m just thankful I’m part of it. And I will spend the rest of my days making sure his life is as good as he deserves. He loves to steal my iPad. And he regularly steals my heart.
Happy birthday to a wonderful little man.
I’ve lived in Mississippi for nearly 16 years. I live here by choice. It’s a colorful place full of interesting people and fantastic stories. But I don’t have my head in the sand. I know there are problems. I’ve been commenting on them since my third day of living here.
That said, the Governor of North Carolina launched a major cheap shot against the people of this state. She painted every single person with the same broad brush. I know better. I’ve met the good people who are working hard to make this a better place for my boys to live. So I think the best way to respond to her would be a phrase my grandmother perfected oh so well:
Bless her heart.
Goal weight: 195 lbs.
Thirty-day pushup & sit-up challenge: Day 1 — 50/50 Total
Woke up at 4:18 this morning without an alarm. It took about six minutes to finally roll out of bed — I stayed up until 11 last night writing a short story. It took a while to get out of the house but I did it. I turned left out of my house and felt the cool air blow against my body as I headed up the tallest hill in my neighborhood. If I go right, I go downhill. If I go left, it’s uphill. I like to tackle the biggest challenge first. It sets the tone for the run.
This morning could not have been more perfect for a long run. I ran from one end of my neighborhood to the other (about 2 miles.) I then headed into the neighborhood across the street from mine. It’s a smaller development with much more expensive homes. There are a couple of homes I’d really like to own (but really wouldn’t like the payment.) I run past them and smile. Maybe someday.
I stopped and got this nice shot of the power lines that run through the back of the neighborhood. It was a good study of perspective. Perspective — something I really need right now. Running (and exercise) does that for me. I got back to my house after 5 miles (and 832 calories burned) and smiled. It’s not the biggest or the best house in the world. But the people inside of it make it a home for me.
Check out Beneath the Delta Sky. It’s a sequel to Up in the Delta Sky.
Hope you have a great day.
