Stripes

Stripes

You were lyin' there with nothing on
But a goofy little grin and a platinum blonde
I can't believe you'd do that on our bed
I got a pistol and I got a bullet
And a pissed off finger just'a itchin' to pull it
The only thing keepin' me from losin' my head

Is I hate stripes and orange ain't my color
And if I squeeze that trigger tonight
I'll be wearin' one or the other
There's no crime of passion worth a crime of fashion
The only thing savin' your life 
Is that I don't look good in orange and I hate stripes. 

"Stripes"
-Brandy Clark

It was a busy day.

One that I'll tell you about tomorrow.

:-)

Love you Awesome Nerds!
Robert

A Rubdown and a Beatdown

Yesterday was a weird day. I was in a funk for most of the day and I just felt "off".

All day at school I felt cranky, irritable. on edge.

Nothing bad happened, it was just me.

So after school I had three things that put me in a better mood.

And no, none of them was the 3:15 dismissal bell. :-)

First up was a session with my counselor. We had a great talk, and he called me out on being evasive about going to the gym.  He challenged me to write down EVERYTHING I eat.  That's my homework for the month - to just track everything I put in my mouth (minds out of the gutter guys).

I left my session feeling better.

Then it was off for a massage with Nick. He's been my masseur for the better part of a year now and I love going to him. He's pretty damned amazing (and he's kinda cute in an adorkable way).

90 minutes with Nick and I was feeling incredibly relaxed.  Nothing hurt and brain felt like it was perking up.

A quick shower and then it was off to rec league volleyball. Now yes, I realize that it's probably not the best idea to get a massage and THEN go play volleyball, but that was just the way the scheduling worked.

Last season we played in the B-/C+ league and were the kings. We lost all of 1 set the entire season and swept the playoffs. So as a "rewards", we were moved up to the B level, where the competition is better.

Yup, a lot better.

We did play last night with some subs, and we were competitive. But in the end, we got smoked, losing all 6 sets in the 2 matches.

But we had fun.

I got home feeling so much better. My mood was elevated and I felt more like myself.

Maybe it was the endolphins.

Today, I'm accompanying student to math competition at Iowa State. Pretty much while they're testing, I'm sitting around being bored.

But I've got my laptop, so I'm sure I'll find something to occupy my time.

Love you Awesome Nerds!
Robert

Makes Me Smile

Makes Me Smile

Harold, Cy and Harold make me smile. 

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you.

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

"Smile"
- Nat King Cole

Today was a long day, for no other reason than I was in a funk.

This was the first time since I've been on anti-depressants that I've been "down". I have to admit, it's been a strange experience. Maybe I'm just coming down with something.

I'm not sure I've written about them before, but the two hedgehogs and cardinal in the photo are our boys.  The hedgehog on the right is Harold (he's Hubbys), the one on the left is my Harold (yes, they are both named Harold). The hubby discovered them when he worked at the University of Iowa bookstore. I saw his and thought he was adorable, so he got me one. The cardinal, Cy, was adopted from the Iowa State bookstore.  Cy is the ISU mascot.

We've had the hedgehogs for close to 20 years. They are our boys and we take them with us when we travel. It certainly makes for interesting photos when we take pictures of them in famous places. I think my all-time favorite was when we sent them overseas with a friend of ours to England and had their picture taken in front of Stonehenge.

I'm headed for a massage in a bit, so I'm hoping that will help my mood. That and a good night sleeps will (crossing my fingers) do the trick.

In the meantime, I'm going to post a video from last year's Emmy Awards of Sara Bareilles singing "Smile".  Hands down it's my favorite version of the song - EVER!

Love you Awesome Nerds!

Robert

Something Blue

Something Blue

I feel so bad I've got a worried mind
I'm so lonesome all the time
Since I left my baby behind on Blue Bayou.

Savin' nickels, savin' dimes
Workin' til the sun don't shine
Lookin' forward to happier times on Blue Bayou.

I'm goin' back someday, come what may, to Blue Bayou
Where you sleep all day and the catfish play on Blue Bayou
All those fishin' boats with their sails afloat, if I could only see
That familiar sunrise thorough sleepy eyes how happy I'd be. 

"Blue Bayou"
- Linda Ronstadt

I'm sitting here staring at my computer screen.

When I got home from school today I laid down on the couch and fell asleep. It wasn't a bad day by any stretch, but for some reason I came home in a funk.

I crashed for a couple of hours. Maybe I've been staying up too late and not getting enough sleep, and this is just my body telling me to take a break and sleep.

I've got a busy Friday and Saturday, so it will be an early night for me.

Love you Awesome Nerds!
Robert

Reward

Reward

My reward for losing weight

Father I didn't really know you
Mother you are so very far away from me
Hopeless birthdays made me cry
My heart kept saying, "it's alright"
Obviously, that's the way it was meant to be.

Now I know
There was a reason for it all
And I am not lonely any more
I got my reward
That's why I am loved.

I have you
A lover and a friend
You are everything I need
You are the sun, the air I breathe
Without you, life wouldn't be the same
Please never go away
And if you go then don't forget to take me with you. 

"Reward"
- Basia

I think of a reward as something you get for doing positive things. I bought the shirt in the photo as a reward for myself, but I haven't worn it yet.

And there's a reason - I don't feel I've earned it yet.

Stepping on the scale this morning I saw 237.  Ugh.  I've made the decision not to wear the shirt until I see less than 220.

I know, weight is just a number, but it's a goal.

Tomorrow will be the first day for me on the bike trainer.  I've had stuff going on every day and haven't had a chance to break it in yet.  I'm excited to get started.

I promise a photo of me in the shirt when I reach that magic number.

Love you Awesome Nerds!
Robert

Water

Water

I've looked everywhere I can just to find a clue
Oh to get to you and make you want me
And I've run circles around the sun chasin' after you
Oh but it's no use.

Can't you see that I'm going out of my mind?
Trying to find a way to get through to you
Oh, you don't know how hard I try and I try and I try
What do I gotta do?

Do I gotta get water from the moon?
Is that what I gotta do to make you love me, make you love me?
Do I gotta turn the sand into the sea?
Is that what you want from me, I've done everything I can do
But get water from the moon.

"Water From The Moon"

- Celine Dion

I tried something new today for my photo. I put my cell phone in a ziploc bag and filled the kitchen sink up with water. I put the sealed ziploc bag in the water and took a few photos.  I got some interesting results. The one I posted was my favorite.

It's almost a bit disturbing. It's what I would imagine someone would see if they were being drowned.

Yup, that's me - dark and macabre.

It was a busy day with school, then physical therapy for my back, followed by dinner with friends at Buffalo Wild Wings (it's Wings Tuesday Y'all!).  Oh and I caught up on last night's episode of "Castle".

"She wants to lead the glamorous life..."

Tomorrow night it's bowling league night.  I'm just doing it part time this season, as it starts at 8, which is a little late on a school night.

So it's off to bed.  Until tomorrow...

Love you Awesome Nerds!
Robert

Mail

Mail

Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
I ain't got time to take a fast train
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
'Cause my baby just wrote me a letter.

I don't care how much money I gotta spend
Got to get back to my baby again
Lonely days are gone, I'm a-goin' home
'Cause my baby just wrote me a letter.

Well, she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen, mister, can't you see I got to get back
To my baby once more?

"The Letter"
- The Box Tops


Today my new bike trainer arrived in the mail. This will allow me to ride my bike indoors and prepare for RAGBRAI in the summer. Essentially, the trainer turns a street bike into a stationary bike.

I got it set up in the basement and will be trying it out tomorrow!  Every day RAGBRAI gets closer and I get more excited for it!

Love you Awesome Nerds!
Robert