self absorbed

Hi internet.  Sorry about not writing to you lately.  Here goes.

Rode my bike to work the past couple days. Not quite ready to say I’m “doing” it now… but I do have some mild intent to establish a routine, I suppose. For me it’s an easy way to get a few calories down on those days I miss the gym.

Unfortunately, I decided to start just as the weather is warming up – but the morning ride is still beautiful and cool. I bring tennis shoes and shorts with me, ad change before the brutally warm ride home in the afternoon. (Worse, the ride into work is generally downhill, whereas the ride home, logically, goes back up.) And so, when I get home I’m fairly slicked with sweat and winded – which isn’t that bad, since I’m home at that point, after all.

Anyway, with just two days down, I’m enjoying it – and considering the time difference between riding and driving is truly minimal for my short commute – I think I’m going to try and keep it up.  Today, by which I mean Tuesday even though it’s midnight now, I actually rode over 20mi – but that’s a story for another day… because… man… it is a story.

And, since we’re on the subject of exercise and sweat and whatnot – I feel compelled to bring up my progress towards my “Aruba goal.” We leave for a week vacation in Aruba in just a couple weeks, stopping in Atlanta overnight and meeting up with Sharaun’s folks – who are coming as friends, family, and babysitters – and then heading to the island. Believe me, I am looking forward to this like nothing else. Only a week more to go and we’ll be poolside for hours each day, playing on the beach with Keaton, and lounging around in hammocks with our bellies full. For me, the start of vacation made a convenient goal-date for my current weight-loss plans. Having started at a portly 250lbs near the end of January, I wanted to be down to 215lbs by Aruba.

Now look, I know, I sound like a chick… targeting a “vacation weight” and all. I guess I’m OK with that. (And, wait till you read the next paragraph if you really want to question my testosterone levels anyway.) Regardless of this, I’m extremely happy to say that, as of last week’s official weigh-in, it appears that my goal of 215lbs may be realized. Last I checked I was sitting at 219lbs with about two weeks left before we leave. In an ideal loss-per-week world, I will end up at 215lbs on the nose just before departure. I have to admit to you guys that, as odd as it is for me to talk about this kind of thing, I’m really happy with my progress thus far. And, without risking too much more of my manhood, I will mention that my post-Aruba goal is to get down to 200lbs by the 4th of July. Aggressive, to be sure, but I think ultimately doable if I work hard.

Now, as happy as I am with my Aruba weight, I’m still pudgy and as hairy as a yeti. As I’ve aged, these things have bothered me less and less. So much so, in fact, that during last year’s vacation in Mexico, I did nothing to alter my appearance – and simply rocked the body hair au-natural. And, honestly, even though I’m aware of it and just an itty-bitty bit self conscience about it, I didn’t give it much thought and it surely didn’t get in the way of my enjoying myself. But see, this time around… I feel like I’ve worked really hard to shed some pounds before we go… and having realized that goal makes me want to… address… the whole hair thing. I know it’s vain, but I’m totally planning on ridding myself of this hair pre-vacation.

Oh yeah, you read that right. And, since I’m a bloggin’ kinda guy… I figured I’d write about the “procedure” here.

Here’s what I want to do: I have tons of hair. My back, my chest, my shoulders… it’s literally a sweater. Again, I’ve come to embrace my hairiness, and it really doesn’t bug me as much as it used to. However, to complement my weight loss and just overall make me feel snappy, I want to get some work done before we go. No, I don’t want to go college-boy hairless, but I’d at least like to take care of the back and shoulders. Hopefully I can get this done without leaving an unnatural or abrupt “fire line” on the chest hair I’m not interested in removing… I guess that’s left to the skill of my “technician.”

Anyway… after I make the appointment and git ‘er done, I’ll post here about the trauma.  But for now, sleep is calling and I need to heed.  Sorry today was so self absorbed… but this is a blog after all.

Goodnight.

Also written on this day...

• updates - 2019
• swing on the swings - 2008
• exit strategy - 2005
• gold bars fell on my head - 2004