Time to change my game

So today is the official kick-off for my new health plan and I've decided if I want to reach my goal of losing 40 pounds by the end of the year, I need to change the way I think. Especially about food.
Right now I use it as a crutch, a comfort and a way to kill boredom. Not good. Not only that but I eat in larger portions than is really necessary. So it's no surprise why I've been steadily gaining weight.
Now I must change my mind completely. I need to start looking at food as a fuel. If I want to be a lean, mean anything machine I need to use the proper fuel in the correct amounts. Like the cliche goes, "garbage in, garbage out". Flood your engine with too much fuel and it sputters and dies.
So here we go. Week 1 and my starting point: 264.7 pounds. Goal weight is 225 by the end of December. I can do this.

Melting Away

As always, I resolved to lose some weight at the beginning of the year and have had little to no success at this point. Most of it was due to my lack of motivation and discipline and a variety of half-hearted excuses.
Like a switch being thrown, I decided to finally get my act together a little at a time. About three months ago I took the first step by cutting out soda, including energy drinks. I was buying them in the morning as an energy crutch, but the only thing getting a boost was the vending machine owner's bank account. I'm pleased to report I've only had a small sip of my wife's cream soda and am still going strong.
Next was something more drastic and much more challenging. I work maybe twenty steps from a wonderful bakery and cafe and would visit almost daily for a cookie, some cake or other sweet delight. Once again it served me no benefit, only shrunk my wallet and expanded my waistline. It's been a month now since I said bye bye to those lovely confections without a relapse but still struggle with other unhealthy foods.
In comes my most recent and daunting challenge yet: to stop eating junk food altogether. Not that my wife and I are drive-thru jockeys or deep-fry aficionados, we just enjoy an occasional pizza or grab a burger because we come home from work late and exhausted and really don't feel like cooking. I do have a sweet tooth and usually find myself with something sugary but empty of vital nutrients.
Along with eating the right things is portion control. Most men struggle with that, especially growing up in an era that reinforced this notion by parents echoing the "clean your plate before you leave the table" mantra.
The final facet of my plan is to gradually introduce more physical activity into my daily routine. Last week I attempted to use the elliptical treadmill for 20 minutes and had to stop after 15. My legs were so sore I couldn't walk or sit properly for several days, but it taught me some valuable lessons: I need to stretch before attempting anything like that again and pay attention to the signals my body is sending me. Nothing shatters your masculine image, both self and what others perceive of you, like wincing with every step.
"That's all well and great, but talk is cheap." you say. Well, I've devised a way to make myself accountable. First is to track my progress on a weekly basis. Not only will I be recording how much weight I lose and the inches that drop off, but a simplified record of my food. Second, I'll be posting my results here with pictures to prove that if I can do it, anyone can.
My wife couldn't be more supportive and is starting to make the same changes for herself. So stay tuned as I begin this journey, because it's going to be a great one!

Catching Up

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post, but things have been hectic lately. The move back into my parents' house went well; my wife and I are still trying to organize and unpack all the things we need into a small bedroom, one cupboard in the kitchen and a small shelf in the garage. This has been not only a logistical challenge but a battle of will. Juggling work, spending time with my wonderfully patient wife, some semblance of a social life and church is difficult enough. Trying to find time and energy to unpack and organize has been a daunting task.
I have, however, managed to start taking better control of my health. Two or so months ago I resolved to stop drinking soda. I was using it as a crutch to boost my energy. The only boost was going to the vending machine company's wallet, so I stopped cold turkey. I miss the cold, refreshing taste of Mountain Dew from time to time, but overall have done well without it.
Next and far more challenging was to stop frequenting the bakery I work near for pastries and desserts. Delicious, yes. But expensive and loaded with calories, a double hit I do not need. Axing junk food entirely is my next tactic as well as adding some low-impact exercise and vitamins to accelerate my results. Portion control is also part of the plan and finding the right foods to fill me up on the first, smaller serving.
Mother's Day weekend was awesome. Saturday I spent most of the day outdoors photographing a friend's birthday party in 65 degree sunshine at a lakeside park. 5 rolls of film were used and the weather continued Sunday, where I got up extra early to make buttermilk waffles with strawberry sauce from scratch and then go to church. For dinner we had most of my wifes' side of the family over and my youngest sister-in-law and I made spaghetti with pomodoro sauce; my wife made a salad and dessert was provided by another sister-in-law. Entertainment consisted of my devastatingly adorable 18 month-old nephew.
That pretty much sums it all up. My small side photography business is finally getting some momentum and soon I'll have enough saved for my dream camera!

HTC Hero Review

So I've had the phone for a week now and am just now getting a chance to post this. With everything else going on it's been hard to find time. This isn't all-inclusive or massively technical, just my impression and experience.
Form factor: The Hero doesn't exactly stand out from the crowd at first glance. It's a bit bigger than a deck of cards with rounded corners and a flush screen. At the bottom is a brushed aluminum plate with 6 physical keys and a trackball. (The keyboard is on screen, but we'll get into that in a sec.) The phone feels solid and light and the back is textured in a way that prevents it from just sliding out of your hand. That's also where you'll find the grill for the speakerphone and the camera lens. The left side sports a rocker arm for volume control and at the top is a standard headphone jack for enjoying your tunes, with the USB at the bottom. Gripe alert: The USB cable plugs into a wall adapter for home charging and the wall connector comes out at the slightest provocation, so be gentle! After having a ATT Quickfire (nicknamed the Brick) I sometimes panic when I can't tell if my phone is in my pocket because it's so thin.
Using the phone: HTC launched a new user interface called "Sense" with the Hero that allows you to customize not just three but seven screens with all your app widgets and such. At first this can be a bit overwhelming but once you have things organized and sorted the way you want, it's pretty handy. Just swipe your finger left or right to change screens. Along with that comes the "Scenes" feature with different themes for different situations: Work, Play, Social, Travel, HTC and Clean Slate. While cool, I found it was easier to just organize all my shortcuts on a custom screen with my productivity stuff in one direction and social/entertainment in another.
The keyboard is virtual, which is a first for me. In portrait mode, it's pretty cramped, but I can usually get the job done, and when I switch the phone to landscape the accelerometer kicks in and the keyboard switches after a brief pause. More space to type, but the USB cable and headphones can get in the way when plugged in. In either mode the predictive text and spell check are intelligent, so I don't really feel the need to download a "better" keyboard.
The web browser is a bit sluggish, but not intolerable. To be honest, I don't really use it all that much right now because of the apps I have downloaded. When I am, it's straightforward and easy to use.
Phonebook functions are great, adding contacts is a breeze and you can even pull info from your friend's facebook page and add it into the entry. I love that.
There are a couple downsides to this phone: at the moment the apps can only be stored to the phones small internal memory, which slows it down. Granted, there is a way to fix that, but I' really not savvy enough to do that.
Battery life is short and you have to constantly manage your power with an app that shuts down anything running in the background.
Other than that, the phone is great. I'm really happy with it so far.

Fighting the Good Fight

Sometimes I forget that I'm only a man and try and fight it all alone, which is a mistake. I think I can handle it, ignoring the support from the corner but quickly find myself overwhelmed and on the ropes; bloodied and bruised form a much tougher and merciless opponent. Just when I've got nothing left and the knockout punch is winding up, remember that I'm not alone.
As soon as I cry out for help He's there, healing the bruises and easing the pain. I don't always get exactly what I want, but I do get exactly what I need. When the bell rings again I come out swinging with a steeled resolve, renewed strength and more focused sense of purpose. Driven by my commitment and devotion to those I love, I fight on while heeding the voice of the Master. With His support I can conger any challenge, defeat any opponent as long as I put my trust in Him and work hard.

Moving to "The Now Network"

Our cell contract with ATT&T is up in a week and my wife and I have spent the past several months researching and deciding on the best network to switch because we knew we were getting hosed. $130 per month is too much to pay for two phones that share 700 anytime minutes and unlimited texting. My wife also currently has a Samsung BlackJack II, an older generation smart phone and they charge $70 just because of that. No internet or GPS.
After an extensive evaluation of the available networks we decided to go with Sprint because overall, it's the best value. Two smart phones with unlimited access to web browsing, GPS and data, MMS (text, picture and video messaging) and other amenities. Along with that is unlimited mobile-to-mobile and 1500 anytime non-mobile minutes for about $20 less per month with the standard night and weekends free, but nights start at 7PM. And this is before my awesome corporate discount for working where I do.
I'm really looking forward to having a web-enabled phone again so I can read the news, check weather reports, etc as these will be our only internet access at home for a while. But what really excites me is the smart phones we've decided to purchase.
I've opted for the HTC Hero and my wife, the Samsung Moment. Both run on the brand-spanking new Android 2.1 operating system. In a nutshell, it's a system designed for customization by anyone who has the knowledge to program it, and it doesn't sound all that complicated to learn. On top of that it offers the Android App Market, where you can download thousands of free applications that do everything from update your Twitter status to stock forecasts and more. Like the iPhone with a growing number of applications in the library. Essentially, it turns your phone into a versatile extension of your home life. Like a Leatherman multi-tool, only you get to select the tools on it and swap them out as needed.
My wife for example, would probably download a few applications for viewing her Facebook page, playing games, some themed wallpapers and viewing Microsoft Office documents such as spreadsheets, Powerpoint slides, etc. Most of the productivity tools would be used for school assignments.
For myself, on the other hand, there are much more ambitious plans. First will be a some hefty security features to help me recover my lost/stolen phone, an updated web browser, improved GPS via Google Maps, a barcode scanner coupled with an application that searches popular online websites and stores to find you the best price for any desired product. (How cool is that?!) Then you can get the address and turn-by turn directions to the place all with a few simple clicks. Web radio, a possible Picasa app and maybe a game or two. Finally, I'm hoping to get the full standard works scriptures (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price) as well as other church material. It may not be an app yet, but I can at least get them as text documents.
Why all the fancy-shmacy gadgets, you ask? First of all is productivity. While going to school full-time it will be imperative that I be able to keep in contact with classmates, look up assignments online while not in class, study effectively and manage time wisely. Most phones now have the capability to accommodate that, but these applications make it much easier to streamline and integrate into my already technology-heavy lifestyle.
Second argument is flexibility. As my school needs and job prospects change I need to have a phone that's as versatile as I am.
Finally, it's just plain cool!
I'm getting the phone next weekend and will post my review as soon as I get a chance.

I need a Mac and Finale Software. Any sponsors?

When finally deciding what career to pursue my first choice was music composition for movie scores, game soundtracks, ect. It doesn't take much to trigger a song in my head and there are times I start composing things without even trying. Random songs are constantly playing in the back of my mind just like a MP3 player stuck on permanent "shuffle" mode.
I've never regretted or resented this gift I've been given, nor the opportunity I took to play the violin from elementary through high school. I still have the instrument my parents purchased for me, although I regret not picking it up more. It's been a wonderful way to outlet my musical ideas and, at times, express emotions I couldn't properly put into words.
But after some prayerful consideration I came to the conclusion that it wasn't really a viable option for me. While I believe I have the natural talent to get started the cost to attend schooling to hone my skills is extremely prohibitive. And I sometimes doubt my lack of commitment to an profession that can take a decade or more to get a break.
That doesn't mean I don't still think about and mentally compose music all the time. There's no switch I can throw to stem the endless tide of new ideas and variations. Most of what generates in my noggin is string quartet or chamber music of the classical variety from the Romantic or Baroque period, with occasional brilliant flashes of John Williams-esque epic orchestral masterpieces. Along with Williams my favorite movie score composers include Hans Zimmer, James Horner, Howard Shore, Randy Newman, Stephan Zacharias, Ennio Morricone and others.
In fact, sometimes I'll go see a movie just because of the score composer. Such is the case with Schindler's List. I was listening to a local classical radio station at age fifteen or so when they were featuring some of John Williams' most famous work and I was absolutely riveted. Hearing Itzhak Perlman pouring his heart and soul into that gorgeous violin solo nearly brought me to tears, and I ran out and bought the soundtrack. That began my infatuation with movie scores. Next was Forrest Gump followed by Mr. Hollands' Opus. More would follow until I started earning enough money to buy the movies.
Flash forward to about 8 years ago when my grandparents gave me a wonderful electric piano with the ability to record, loop, layer and edit without the aid of a computer. I'd been teaching myself to play simple melodies and chord structures and began filling the internal memory with whatever struck a chord. (Pun intended)It was about this time my music tastes really began to include more classic jazz, big band and swing, blues and even bluegrass, which inevitably started influencing my compositional style and range. I still have the piano and would like to see what I can do just as a hobby. Who knows, I could wind up writing a gorgeous choral arrangement, wedding suite or the next movie score!

Fictional writing 1

This post was spawned from an idea I had while waiting for the bus and is completely fictionalized. Enjoy!
I remember the first guy was scared, and justifiably so. He was maybe twenty with olive skin, dark brown eyes and the beginnings of a thick coarse beard. He kept glancing around the room and then closing his eyes and whispering something to himself; probably praying. His clothes were traditional and threadbare but clean. I couldn't help but take pity on him as I escorted him into the interrogation room and closed the door with a solid, metallic click of finality. I knew he wasn't getting out of here. Not with what they had against him.
The second guy seemed to loathe everything and everyone he set his dark blue eyes on. His face was twisted in a scowl and he too was muttering something under his breath but it was more like a threatening hiss. His skin was much darker and he was clean shaven with similar garb but appeared to be a few years younger. He glanced around the rows of desks covered with stacks of paperwork with such contempt it almost unnerved me. He has like a viper that had been harassed and provoked; ready to lash out at any second. He didn't resist as I escorted him down the concrete hallway but I could feel the tensile strength in his arm and was glad when the door locked behind him.

We bought a car!

Friday a friend of mine posted online that she was selling her car. Being without one, my interest was immediately piqued and I made an inquiry but was a bit skeptical about the condition considering the low price. I spoke to my wife and we agreed to go look at it and take it for a test drive.
Saturday morning I got the impression that we really needed to act on this offer, so I tried to instill a sense of urgency in my wife. After speaking with my friend we discovered there was some competition. So we ran to the bank (quite literally) and withdrew the amount plus some extra in case we had a mechanic look at it, with only a few minutes until the bank was due to close!
Upon arriving at the residence where the car was stored we were pleasantly surprised to see the 1999 silver Dodge Neon Sport in excellent condition. The exterior was nearly flawless except for a dusting of pollen and a few small scratches and some tiny rust spots. Inside was equally impressive; the upholstery was dated but free of defects and was recently detailed.
During the test drive we noticed it only had 147,000 miles and pushed it to 40mph without any problem. With only 4 cylinders it didn't get there right away but that's fine with us. Fuel economy will be much improved over the gas-guzzling Beast.
My wife and I felt great immediately after the test drive and decided to purchase it for the asking price, a good $500 below Blue Book value. It was our first major purchase as a couple and love the way it sips fuel, but we're mostly grateful just to have something to drive. Once it gets an alignment, oil change, new tires and brakes I'm sure it'll drive like brand new!

Another year gone?

Generally I turn philosophical this time of year because my birthday falls on the 22nd of this month. I reflect on how quickly another year of life has come and gone and how much progress I've made in the last year as well as life in general. This year is no different except now I post everything online.
So this time last year I was prepping to get married, enjoying the waning days of bachelorhood and despite a few minor things enjoying a fairly comfortable routine. I was also trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life and mulled over several options including studying music to compose for movie scores, acting, joining the military and being a professional writer.
I really had only a small grasp how difficult married life would actually be and suddenly found myself in a trial by fire. There was no lovey-dovey dream honeymoon phase; I was instantly forced to take a hard look at myself and many of my bad habits that put a strain on our relationship that were magnified as soon as my wife moved in. While those have improved over time and I've resolved to correct many of my past mistakes I still have a long ways to go.
My wife and I had initially decided to wait a year to decide to have children but that quickly changed as many of her friends and were getting pregnant or had young children. I'm still a bit hesitant because of our financial situation but at the same time would love to have a child in our home. We are continually amazed by our adorable nephew, now about 18 months. Watching him grow and develop a personality has been a joy and wonder. I understand that raising a child is not all smiles and sunshine. Challenges will arise and I will be tested beyond anything I have yet dealt with. But I feel the joy of bringing someone into the world to learn and grow and become a faithful follower of Jesus Christ is worth whatever obstacles stand in my way.
Another thing I've tried to work on is letting go of the pain of the past and embracing the lessons it offers. Holding grudges does nothing but turn you into a bitter, cynical person and Jesus clearly states that those who do not forgive have the greater sin upon their heads. That doesn't make me a doormat but it also allows me much more freedom from anger and pain for something that may or may not have been intentional. Along with that has been learning to worry only about the things I can control and leaving everything else up to Heavenly Father. If I do what is right and keep my shoulder to the wheel the rest will work itself out.
One thing I know I still struggle with is taking good care of my body. I eat horribly and don't get enough exercise. The will to do better is there, but I lack commitment and discipline.
I guess that's all I can think of at the moment.

A walk in the park

Last weekend was absolutely gorgeous, and I was invited to meet some of my wife's long-time friends. One of them lives in New York so whenever she comes into town for a few days they all get together and have lunch.
It was beautifully sunny so the four of us walked to Palagacci's Pizza on Broadway, me happily lagging behind and snapping pictures all the way. The pizza was excellent and then we meandered over to Volunteer Park and the plant conservatory there. Almost two rolls of film were spent in an area about 1500 square feet. I can't wait to go back in the springtime when everything else is in bloom, especially the desert flora. We then headed back in the general direction of our startting point, making sure to stop at Dilletante Chocolate and martini bar. Best german chocolate cake ever. And I know a thing or two about cake!
By the time we got back to the condo we'd started at the sun was just setting and I managed to snap a few final pictures in the remaining light.

Moving forward in a sideways kind of way

For those of you that haven't heard, Thyra and I will be moving out of our apartment at the end of April and into my parents' house in order to save money for the big move. Yes, that means I will be changing wards (or congregations, however you want to term it) and there will be some adjustments to be made.
I think the greatest challenge will be a lack of privacy. Anyone who's ever lived with a roommate can attest to this; there are certain privacies we enjoy living on our own that will be compromised or lost once we move in with them. But all for the greater good, right?
There's also some logistical hurdles such as laundry and shower scheduling, cooking duties, ensuring the house stays tidy, sharing the tv and so on.
My mother's main concern is that we'll come away from this hating her because she has a bad day and takes it out on us. Don't we all have bad days? I don't know about her, but a few bad days isn't going to ruin a relationship with me and although the relationship is still relatively new as of right now, it shouldn't topple the foundation she's building with my wife.
At any rate, that's where we're at right now.

My Picutres

So these are some of the wonderful pictures I've taken. Yes, these showcase just dogs (none of which are mine) but I wanted to give everyone the idea of what my camera is capable of. I currently shoot with a Nikon N55 35mm SLR, using a 30-80mm and 70-300mm Nikkor lenses. I love this camera dearly and the pictures come out pretty spectacular, despite lack of formal training and low-grade film. More to come soon!

All aboard the crazy bus!

Recently, the wonderful people over at Sound transit and King County Metro decided to cut express routes from major transportation points. ST Route 565 and 564 and KCM Route 194, to be exact. Granted, the 565 and 564 were essentially the same route, but they could have combined them into a single run that goes from South Hill in Pierce county to the Overlake Transit Center.
What was the reasoning, you ask? Because Sound Transit has a contract with the other transit agencies not to overlap routes, which cuts out most of the express runs between cities and major transit hubs. Also, they want to steer passengers toward the Sounder Light Rail system.
What it actually does is forces thousands to take slower buses that will inevitably be more crowded while they wait for the light rail to be completed in those centrally-located transit centers, scheduled for sometime in the next century. Sounds like fun, eh?

No-show

Due to unexpected call volumes at work (where I usually write this) I will be unable to post anything of substance this week. But have a great weekend and tune in for more details!

A listen to The Girl In The Other Room

About a week ago I found myself with a Wal-Mart gift card and decided to spend it on an album, which is a rare treat for me. A debate with myself ensued over which to purchase before I finally decided on Diana Krall's The Girl In The Other Room. I've been a fan of her music for quite some time now but this is my first time purchasing something comprising of just her work. It was waiting for me when I got home last night and I excitedly tore away the packaging and put it in the cd player like an excited kid at Christmas.
I was immediately taken by the first track: "Stop This World" enters dramatically with Diana's serious jazz piano chops and sultry voice grabbing you and demanding your attention. "Almost Blue" is one of those classic, languishing piano lounge-type ballads that emphasizes the natural beauty of her voice. Other songs I'd recommend include "Narrow Daylight", (my personal favorite) "I'm Pullin Through", "Love Me Like A Man" and "Abandoned Masquerade".
One of the reasons I love this set and her music is because unlike quite a bit of jazz out there, it's accessible. Her songs are both beautiful and easy to listen to without pretentiousness or too much complication.
Overall, 4.5 our of 5 stars.
(Note: I am not a professional critic, musician or anything else but a fan of great music. And this, my friends, is great music.)

The million dollar man

So the alarm I have set to wake me up each morning is currently set to "If I Had A Million Dollars" by the Barenaked Ladies. The other day it got me thinking. What woulld I do with a million clams? Spend it on junk or save it?

The correct answer is both. If I had it at this exact point in my life I would start by paying off my bills. Then I would put some money away for a house, my upcoming college expenses and purchase a small, pracitcal car.

After that I would invest in quality photography and audio equipment and put the remaining funds into my future children's college savings. Or maybe the other way around on that last one. But it would be put to good use, that's for sure.