The post Momentum first appeared on thrumyeyes.
]]>Yesterday, you have done by me well.
You have taught me much more than I can tell.
I hate to say goodby, it is really true.
But now beckons, and the future does too.
Some say parting is such sweet sorrow,
but that still leaves joy for welcoming tomorrow.
The past is truly past, and so it will always remain.
But that does not mean we remember it in disdain.
It has shaped our now; as it always will,
Yet we must keep eyes for the future still.
Yesterday, you have done by me well.
You have taught me much more than I can tell.
This “poem” was inspired by this week’s 100 Word Challenge for Grownups. The prompt was
…parting is such sweet sorrow….
For those of you swinging by from the 100WCGU, feel free to stop reading now, since this is really what you are looking for. But I am once again doing a two for one, and am going to explore the thoughts behind the poem a little bit more. For the brave among you … keep reading! 
Change is part of life. This is a simple fact. But somehow it becomes more evident for people at this time of year, as life reemerges from its “dormant” state, getting a fresh start, almost as if attempting to wipe away the shadows of yesterday. The pattern is never-ending … birth, aging, death. Yet each new rendition of the pattern is slightly different. It is not a precise mechanized process, but rather art being repeated over and over, with each new work somehow different from the last. Many would halt the process, or worse yet try to reverse it. That is basically fear of the unknown. But those who truly value life in all its glory will embrace it, and even do what they can to add to the art.
Lately, though it seems that the world is in a tight conflict between those who embrace the change that is inherent in life, and those who refuse to accept it. So in a way this post is an homage to those who choose to embrace life. And taking an opportunity to do a little shameless plugging 
Many of those close to me are heeding the call, and so many people I know are stepping out of their comfort zone and basically reaching for the stars (me included). There is no way that I could list even a fraction of the people I know doing this right now, but I can do a shout out for a few, and maybe they will get some benefit from my hurrah.
For one, my sister has taken a leap of faith into her future, which includes stepping her blog up to HER blog, domain and all. I know many of you have followed her for several years now, but I wanted to help spread the word that she has moved. Check out her new manifestation of creativity. I have two more bogs I want to point out, and on the surface it looks like I am just promoting myself. While I am involved with both of them, the truth is I am trying to get them noticed more for what they represent than because my name is attached. One is more than a blog, but an attempt at creating a movement. I have mentioned PAX Nation before. Yes I came up with the idea, but my intent has always been to make it into some sort of group effort … hopefully something that will grow and take form without NEEDING my input. So if you think humanity is moving in the wrong direction, and want to maybe try to guide it towards life again, maybe you might want to take a look.
My final shout out is two a new project I am doing with my blogging brother Mark (many of you know him as The Idiot). We have undertaken a journey for self growth that somehow has manifested into an attempt for two middle-aged Idiots to maybe make a little difference in the world. For more details, take a look at our joint website, Two Hiking Idiots. Again, I am not doing this to promote myself or the blog itself, but we are trying to raise as much money as we can for as many charities as we can in the process of our little endeavor, so would love if anyone feels they can contribute.
Frankly there are many people I wish I could shout out about right now. It seems this season change has become the anthem of many. Which is a truly wonderful thing. For the individuals and the world at large. So despite my “selfish plugs”, I want to be sure to give the honor do to all these days who are embracing a better future. Kudos to all of you. Every little bit counts! 
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]]>The post #atozchallenge: Crazy is as Crazy does first appeared on thrumyeyes.
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“You’re crazy!!”
For some reason that particular phrase is aimed at me quite often. I don’t really get why. Sure I used to be called the Test Dummy when I was younger. What of it? And what is wrong with going on vacation and not coming back for four or five months? Who DOESN’T do that? And really folks, food is MEANT to be eaten. Does it really matter if it is still moving? Or that it has a few extra legs? By the way I love walking. And don’t like cars. Who needs a driver’s license anyway?
Crazy? Pshaw!
Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of the internet, I have actually encountered a few poor, misunderstood souls who have been so wrongly labeled as well. That is one of the advantageous of living in a cave. We can choose our friends wisely. One particular friend turned out to be the long-lost brother I never even knew I had, despite my mother’s insistence that she does not even know who he is. I mentioned him in yesterday’s post. His name as Mark, known as The Idiot in some circles (see what I mean?), and as I mentioned, we have a PLAN. We were not quite ready to announce it to the world yesterday, but now the world must know!
Mark and I have decided to join together on a grand adventure to prove once and for all how crazy we are … NOT. This is a long-term plan, involving a few years of prep before the meat of the adventure begins. Just to keep the records clear so that everybody can embrace our absolute sanity, we have jointly created a NEW BLOG (making my 5th active blog. hmmm that is kind of crazy. ← IGNORE THAT!) to document the whole journey. Books and movies will no doubt be made. We even went and made a Facebook page to make sure everyone can mocksupport us. For all you FB junkies out there, feel free to like it.
Please stop by the Tail of a Trail, and read the first post to get all the crazy details.
A new adventure begins!
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efore I started blogging, I used to think of bloggers as self-important folk who think that the world needs to hear what they have to say and had too much time on their hands. It dawned on me that those words described ME perfectly so what was I waiting for? At first I just posted a bunch of things I had already written throughout my life, thinking that no doubt once someone got a look at my genius word would spread and I would be famous.
I am pretty sure that some three years later most of these posts have never been read.
What I did discover though was a whole world. A world that I have not actually encountered in the “real” world for quite a long time. Blogging is fundamentally about COMMUNITY, something that I feel is very lacking in this modern-day world. It is about finding those who we can relate to; about being able to share parts of ourselves that might leave us vulnerable, yet still being able to feel safe. It is finding the family that you did not even know was missing.
In short, blogging good.
The best part though is finding powerful connections with people who I would never have encountered if I had not explored this vast and crazy virtual world. People who inspire; people who make us laugh when we are down or maybe take us down a peg or two when we are floating too high. People who know the value 
of dreams and thus will gladly support you as you pursue your own. For the longest time I have been adrift in an endless sea with no land in sight. By blogging, I have not only managed to keep afloat, but learned to appreciate the floating in ways I would never have before. And by joining this community, I know which way lies land, and even have managed to come up with the occasional plan to be grounded again. Granted none of them has really got me anywhere yet, but it will happen eventually. As long as I don’t give up.
This is mostly the result of the friends I have made, and the inspiration they all exude like a sumo wrestler man in a sauna. Maybe not the prettiest image, but you get my meaning. I actually have goals again since I started blogging, even if I approach them with the speed of a napping tortoise. The newest … a plan with my Blogging Brother (Return of The Idiot Speaketh (Idiot 2.0)). It is … something I am not going to tell you right now because we are not quite ready to reveal it to the whole world. But it could happen any time now. Suffice to say it involves great adventure, muscle clad Adonis’s, sweat, blood, tears, a whole lot of laughter, and will probably shake a world or three.
Brace yourselves!
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]]>Unfortunately I hid so well for the last few weeks that I have not been properly updated with the competition. Apparently Mark has been out and about doing father/sonly things, and has had a setback or two himself. And it seems Chlost is so comfortable with her as of last update healthy lead, so is going on about her life. But I figured it was time to … well wake up and join the world again for one. I even made a pretty chart to show my progress to date.
As you can see I have made progress. I am not sure what in, as my goal loss is in orange and the actual “loss” is in blue, but there is definite activity here. At the very least it makes for a pretty chart. By the way does making a spreadsheet chart count as exercise? It had me sweating ….
Joking aside, I am not proud of myself right now. Once upon a time I had this thing called will power, and even a touch of discipline. Somewhere along the way I allowed both of those traits to sneak off, leaving me with this pudgy motivation-less mess I call me. Time for me to beat myself senseless to knock some sense into myself (does that make any sense?). I’d like to say I have a new drive and sense of purpose right now, but really all I have is a strong sense of disappointment in self. I have fallen into the way of acceptance.
This must change.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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]]>The post Failed strategy? first appeared on thrumyeyes.
]]>But no doubt, being here on MY blog y’all wanna no where I am at (Yep. I said y’all). Well the truth is my new strategy did not seem to work again. Apparently sleeping for a week is NOT really considered a proper exercise and diet technique. Yesterday’s weigh in had me at a solid 7 lbs from my starting point. Sadly that is up. Yes my valiant efforts have successfully raised my weight nicely. I am very clearly in last place still.
Irony IS a way of life isn’t it?
I’ll let you in on a little secret. This is really all according to plan. I am letting them build their confidence, being the nice guy that I am. It would not be nice for me to become a model of man flesh TOO quickly! We wouldn’t want anyone to lose hope.
Now if you excuse me, I hear a thick piece of chocolate cake desperately calling my name.
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]]>The post Battle … er … um … friendly competition update first appeared on thrumyeyes.
]]>Me: UP 1.5 lbs.
See what I mean?
And now there is new twist to this race of Hanna-Barbera Wacky Race proportions. We have some additional competitors. Well technically only one actual competitor with a couple of training in the sidelines. My sister and blogging friend athursdayschild are using our incredible example of weight loss godliness to inspire themselves, and who knows maybe someday they will officially join the challenge. But it the mean time we have a ringer with nefarious purposes of her own jumping on board to not only put us both to shame, but to ensure we are working our manly best. And what better person to do this than a woman … a woman who wants to be able to get down and boogie at her daughter’s wedding.
World domination pales compared to that kind of motivation.
I have not had the fortune of meeting Chlost until she smacked our cheeks with a white glove, but she seems to be “bringing it” with a loud shout, starting off her week with a loss of none less than 4 lbs!
I might have to rethink my strategy. I suspect she is too wily for any good luck gifts. Even The Idiot managed to overcome those.
Back to the low cal drawing board it is!![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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]]>The post Releasing my inner Adonis first appeared on thrumyeyes.
]]>And then I wake up. Yep. The Super Secret Plan exercise program begins today. Now the Hokey Pokey is playing as I do my first sit-up, almost pulling a muscle as I get out of bed. I barely make it down the stairs and the several hundred … inches .. to the scale. I have my lightest fig leaf on, so the immense climb onto the scale is practically easy with a lot of help from the local counter. I look down and see it says 180 pounds. Unfortunately I then realize I don’t have my glasses on, so I make the sweat building trek back to my room to get them. Who knew that glasses weigh so much? The scale now says 244!
But it is now on. My buddy Mark (the famed Idiot) has also officially weighed in, and we are on our mutual adventure to become svelte examples of manhood again. It is a friendly competition to see who can lose the most on a per weekly basis. We will keep it friendly and fair. The twelve pounds of bacon I just sent him was just a good luck gift. I am holding the skittles in reserve for congratulations if needed.
On that note I need to have a snack, after working so hard so far. We welcome the screams of adoring fans to help us make this competition exciting. Unfortunately I am competing with the Idiot empire there so I think he has a home field advantage. Off to the gym (a patch of rug in my living room) I go!!
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goddess entering the pantheon of the blogshpere, known as The Bumbling Blonde. She just entered the sphere, but she will no doubt be among the greats in no time, considering she hobnobs with other blogging gods such as The Idiot, and Jamie (The Life of Jamie). The Idiot, who is currently taking a virtual bike tour of Europe, is, in fact, The Bumbling Blonde’s guru; sensei; guide in all things blogging. With and Idiot to guide her, she cannot go wrong. I know Jamie mostly from her comments on other blogs, but every time I brave actually reading OTHER people’s blogs and visit hers, I am always inspired to thought and most likely laughter.
I also want to give a mention to another of my blogging friends. She was quiet for a while, but has recently jumped back in with among other things, examples of her amazing art skill. Take a wander over to athursdayschild for some beauty and good ole’ country wisdom. It is well worth the trip.
As always, if I truly wanted to name all the bloggers that I admire and inspire me, I would have a post that would put the biblical begat lists to shame. But my experience of the blogging world is that this is what we do. We share. Help each other out. Maybe by just reading. Or throwing in our support when support is needed. And occasionally a loud shout out to lend a hand, or simply because someone’s name was in the right place at the right time. Blogging at its utmost is about community. Building community. Sharing community. Supporting community. Otherwise we are just writing our journals to be hidden in drawers … never to be shared with another. And how will our thoughts ever make an impression then?
I almost made it to the end without a self plug, but I just can’t do it! After all I started a new blog myself recently (making it four blogs that nobody actually reads now ) Had to be done!
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]]>The post I (yep “I”), myself, and me … first appeared on thrumyeyes.
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So in honor of the letter “I” in the A to Z challenge, I (I mean me) myself am posting three posts, as well as gratuitously plugging one of my favorite bloggers, known to the masses as the Idiot. I (myself and me also) have sadly neglected his blog (as well as all my other favorites) recently as self-absorption took over. Since he is the Idiot, he gets to trump all the other bloggers who equally deserve accolades simply for beginning with the letter “I”.
I posted “I” posts:
And do visit the Idiot. Well worth the trip (though he is already world-renowned and doesn’t really need any help from my … compared to him .. tiny following haha).
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]]>The post A plea for your generous assistance (via THE IDIOT SPEAKETH) first appeared on thrumyeyes.
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The post A plea for your generous assistance (via THE IDIOT SPEAKETH) first appeared on thrumyeyes.
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