Irony, you crazy devil…

So, I went to the Dr. for a checkup.    First time in 4 or 5 years.  Long story short; blood work came back good except my cholesterol is high.  Not through the roof; but higher than it should be.  Dr. told me I needed to cut out salt, cut out sugar, cut out desserts, cut out fatty foods, do some sort of cardio for for 20-30 everyday.  Fine.

Tonight, I was debating with myself about trying to do just that; get some cardio and take Rhubarb for a walk.    I could think of numerous other things that I could do or would like to do more (play ddo, watch a show, work on writing a song, eat of piece of cake….)

Finally, I realize that I have an audio book sitting on my hard drive by Stephen King called The Stationary Bike.   I have no idea where I got it from or how it came to be on my hard drive.  I like Stephen King and thought that I’d at least heard of every thing he’s written, but I’d never heard of this.  I have no idea what it’s about.  I decide that I’ll put it on my itouch,  and listen to the audiobook and walk for 30 minutes (of course with Rhubarb).

I start out.

• The first scene is the protagonist sitting in his Dr.’s office.
• He’s been putting off the checkup for 1-3 years.
• His blood work looks good except his cholesterol is high.  Not through the roof, but higher than it should be.
• He’s 38.
• He’s 6′. (I’m 5′10″)
• His cholesterol was 230.  (Mine was 203).
• His weight: 223.  (My weight: 195)
• His Dr. proceeds to explain to him that he has been blessed with a “good” metabolism; not great.  But good.  The problem is that it’s getting older and he needs to stop eating and acting like he did when he was a teenager.
• His Dr. says that if he starts taking care of this now, it’s far from too late.  But if he doesn’t do something soon, the fat’s going to start packing on and in 10 years, his health is  going to be in serious trouble.
• Next scene, I find out he’s an artist.
• He’s an artist who feels he’s neglected his art for a long time and has only produced anything for monetary gain which has successful squelched his own creative impulses.

This is the book that got me out of my chair to go walk the dog tonight.

3 weeks minus 1 day

That is what my Christmas break has turned into.  We were supposed to go back to school on Monday, and didn’t actually make it until Wednesday.  And then the elements conspired against us and we were told to stay home on Thursday and Friday.  Weird.

I’m not really sure how to handle myself.  If I know I’m going to have downtime, I look forward to doing nothing.  If I get unexpected downtime, what do I do? nothing.

These 3 weeks have been supremely unproductive.    Don’t have much more to say about that.

Snow day, you say?

This calls for  BATMANGIRL!

Lumber-SHACK! (eating cheese/sausage biscuit)

And I have chopped some wood this week…

Still haven’t shaved!  No Shave November has become something bigger!  Tomorrow (Dec. 17th) will be 49 days since I’ve shaved.  (Okay, I’ve trimmed my neck and cheeks a little bit…)  After making it through the valley of evil scratchiness, it’s difficult to break down and shave now.  It’s kind of like growing your hair out…wait…I mean….whatever.

Can’t decide if I’ll keep the ’stache the whole week so as to not freak out students or to shave it off before school on Friday.  (Holly will not be pleased either way….)

Today, a student asked:

“Mr. Shacklett, when are your ever going to shave?”

Me:  ”I don’t know.  Why?  Is it buggin’ you?”

T: “No, I was just askin’.  You just kind of look like a young Santa Claus or something.  But you’ve got more white hairs coming in on your face so….”

Me:  ”T, you know you’re the reason for more white hairs, right?”

T: “Yes!”

No Shave November- One Month!

Last Shave: 10/29. It is now 11/29
4 Weeks=One Month

Responses:  Holly hasn’t complained about it too much lately.  She says that between the facial hair and the hair on top grown out, she “can’t see” me.  Ivy doesn’t seem to notice, but I think she might be a little freaked out if/when the face goes.  My sister (at t-giving) thinks I should let it keep going till I need to comb it.  Don’t think that’s going to happen.
Current condition:  Mostly, I just hate the feel of the mustache and want to lose it, but everybody seems to hate the “Abe Lincoln” except me.  Don’t know how much longer it’s going to last. Now the “super-itchy” is over, it seems a shame to just get rid of it.

My new addiction…

Pomplamoose

I think Holly is sorry that she showed me this video.  I’ve never been a fan of this song until now….

Check out their youtube channel, but be prepared to stay awhile.    It almost makes me want to get busy recording…

Jesus wants my what?!

http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/11/20/jesus-wants-your-vajayjay/

Just go read the article. It’s great and I had to share.

Enough is enough…

I first heard about this Bible verse being used as a “prayer for Obama” last night.  It makes me sick.

If you are embracing or promoting this mentality, you are embracing evil.   You are bowing at the altar of the same twisted idea of a god that would justify flying jet airplanes into skyscrapers or parking a moving truck full of explosives outside of a daycare.

You don’t have to agree with our President or his party.  You don’t have to be excited about a new health care plan.  You don’t have to like the fact that he is currently our President and you can throw all your efforts and prayers into voting him out of office when these 4 years are done.

But for Christ’s sake:  let go of ignorance and choose good over evil.

Please.  Before evil has opportunity to take over.

No Shave November Update!

Last Shave: 10/29
3 Weeks

Responses: Holly still hates it. With my uncut hair and beard, an older lady told me last night that I reminded her of Russell Crowe.  My favorite response that I saw from Brian H was “Shaving is for girls!”
Current condition:  Finally moving out of  face-so-itchy-I’m-going-to-go-insane phase.  Just about didn’t make it through last weekend.    The ’stache’s days are numbered, though….

For the love of God: Trick or Treat!

Ugh.   I hate that facebook has the ability to ruin my day.  It seems that at least once a week, somebody posts some warning or story or update or call-to-ban-something-else that ends up in my news feed that lacks critical thinking and common sense.  The interior argument gets stuck in my head and I have a hard time functioning the rest of the day because I’m so irritated with the absurdity.  Here’s my attempt at exorcising my “demons of frustration”.

Halloween: opportunity to celebrate and encourage community, fellowship, dressing up, make believe, playing silly games, free candy, joyful childhood?  Or too literally dancing with the devil?

Let’s see, if we’re truly worried about the taint of its roots in pagan rituals and celebrations, than you need to get rid of Christmas and Easter, too.  And Valentine’s Day.  And you better not be teaching your kids to say “God Bless You” when somebody sneezes.  Because that’s basically practicing voodoo by trying to ward off the demons and spirits that are out to get you and have an opening when you sneeze.

If you’re trying to get your message out to people who don’t share your belief system,  you sound like a kook and you’re not convincing anybody.  There. I said it.  You want some truth? There it is.   We’re talking about candy, costumes, games and visiting your neighbors’ for Pete’s sake!  Nobody cares or even knows about the pagan symbolism of traditional Halloween decorations until you start talking about it.  It was all about fun until you started trying to make it scary.

And while we’re on the topic of fear:  let me suggest that getting yourself (and trying to get others) into all a tizzy about all this could very well be an indication of weakness of faith.  If nothing else, it’s coming from a position of fear.   You’re giving Satan and his minions way more credit than he’s due and not exhibiting a belief that God is bigger and stronger than anything the bad guy’s  got.  Consider:

1 John 4:16-18

16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

No fear in love.  Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.   If you’re afraid of the devil and ghouls and ghosts and witches, you’re not trusting that God can protect you and your kids (who just want candy).  If you’re afraid God’s not going to be happy that dressed your kid up and went out and talked to your neighbors and got your kids free candy and/or welcomed little neighbor kids into your home and put a smile on their faces with treats, then not only are you just being loony, you’re fearing punishment.  ”The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Finally, consider as well: Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Which scenario sounds more like overcoming evil with good?:

-Dressing up, eating candy, playing make believe,  laughing at spooky decorations or costumes that startle us, ringing the doorbell of a neighbor and taking “trick or treat” as an opportunity to introduce yourself, extend a hand of friendship, build community, take opportunity that happens once a year when people expect and welcome the doorbell ringing and strangers smiling at their door…

or

-Researching all the pagan symbolism of traditional Halloween decorations and customs, telling friends, neighbors, (facebook), to watch out for the devil and explaining all the symbolism they didn’t know or care, turning off your porch light and prohibiting your kids from costumes and trick or treating because of demonic forces they’ll be” implicitly celebrating”…

Now that we have that settled, we need to focus our efforts on burning all the books about that Satan worshipping 4-eyed spawn of hell warlock, Harry Potter….