How the #$%^ am I going to train for this?

     So, part of me getting off my @$$ is a feeling I have.  I feel that as we are more urbanized, we as people, and myself as a man, are getting soft.  Sometimes we have to do something to test our mettle, even a little bit.  It's cool to go to the gym, however, how often do we test ourselves against something real? I was thinking that if you have a job that demands physicality (hunters, farmers/cowboys, armed forces, protective forces, etc) this doesn't' apply to you.  How often do you push yourself out of your comfort zone.  So, I have decided that I want to I am going to do this: Warrior Dash.





   And if I do O.K., I may do another one, just for laughs.  I have already recruited some of my friends to do it.  It runs on 16 April and 17 April of next year in North Texas.  If nothing else, I will be in better shape than I am now.  But, I have one small obstacle to get around . . . .

     How the heck do I start training for this?

Going Back To The Gym (aka: The enemy is training and gaining)

     This started off as a conversation that I was having with a new friend of mine, here at university.  We were talking about getting older and being out of shape.  We talked about gyms and time and things of that nature.  Then the conversation turned to adventure racing, a little bit.  As the beers were going down we decided to stop being like many of our contemporaries, lamenting weight gain in our thirties and actually doing something about it.  I mean, I am not trying to recapture my 20's, but on the other side I should not just let myself look like $h!t, right? So, she and I made a pact to exercise. 

     But, thinking of all the other times people make these pacts and don't follow through, I put a twist on it.  I challenged her to do an adventure race with me.  We are doing a sprint.  What is that, you may ask?  Many times it is a 5K course littered with "challenges" (read: obstacles).  Some are longer, but you get the idea.  So, we are going to do one that was done here this past year called Warrior Dash.  It sounded like fun and it is six months away.  You have to pay to do it, so there is actually "skin in the game".  I have never done one, but I figure, "What the heck?" and why not?  If I train for this, the only thing I have to lose is weight.  And I gain a little bit of what I have allowed laziness to take from me.  And if I can lose some of this man moobage, that would be a plus.  Trust me, I won't look like this or this, but maybe I can be this guy.

     Today is day one.  And I will start with Couch to 5K.

Election Fever--Something I Don't Get.

     So, it is Election Night in the good ol' U.S. of A.  Every two years, we go to the polls to express our dissatisfaction with certain people that represent us or keep them employed because they are doing sssuuuuuuch a good job ( like the irony?).  As a person who likes to exercise his right to vote, I always try to keep informed on the issues, generally, and if I don't know something, I like to find out.  I may feel one way or the other about something, but I want to argue from facts and see how I feel about things from there.

     This mid-term election season has seen many people say a great deal of outlandish things just to sway people to their direction.  Most of the things aren't fact based.  I know, I know, you are probably thinking, "T.O.  How is that different from any other election cycle?"  Well, this time it feels that much more considering how the Presidential elections went.  And let's be completely honest.  Many people did not want to see a black man as President.  Yeah, I said it because-it's-true.  I am O.K. with this also.  They don't like the party that helped him get elected.  I get that, too.  But the lengths that some are going to, just to retake/reclaim/restore what they feel America should be, bother me.  Especially since I don't recall any of this talk being around when we had eight years of the other guy and twelve years of the Republican/conservatives controlling the Congress, for the most part. And before you start throwing stones, I am not calling anyone racist.  I saying how it looks.  Similar to the fact of the image of the inner city welfare

     The other thing that I don't get is this:  Why are national networks calling races before the polls are closed?  I get it, we always want to project winners and know things for certain.  But, did we not learn anything from the Bush/Gore debacle, no matter who you voted for?  I mean, they are proclaiming that a political party has won such-and-such with only ten percent of the precincts reporting and the polls across the country are not even closed yet.  I am currently taking a Statistics class and one thing I have learned is that this early sampling is very flawed.  The message you are also sending to those who have not voted yet, who may be wanting to vote, is that their vote doesn't count, since the thing has already been decided (not really).  To follow on that, I am really bothered by the fact that with only 1,000 out of over 8,000 precincts reporting, so far, the papers and news organizations are declaring a winner.  With only 10% reporting and the race at 55%-45% for the incumbent.

     This seems very un-American to me.

Why are we making Christianity unsexy?

     HOLA!  This is two small posts in one.  They kind of flowed together so I kept it as is.  I originally posted this on 7 October 2010, but did some revisions/corrections.  So, if you saw this before, this is why it looks different.

     To hear some people tell it, all Christian women should dress in billowy clothes that hide their figures, read bible verses all day and hope that some man will deign to look and see their inner beauty.  Don't exhibit any sexiness at all. That is how they did it in the Bible, right?

     I call garbage!

    I graduated from a Christian academy. I remember that the ugliest girls in my school were still ugly and dateless, the hottest girls still got dates and the average ones were doing the best they could.  Going into their adult lives, many remained single, if they didn't find a man by the time they left high school or college.  One trait they had in common was that they all tried to land their man by any means possible, within reason (Let's study the Bible together.  By the way, I made some carrot cake.  You say that's your favorite?  Wow! I didn't know . . . *in head high five*).  Left to muddle through of their own devices, they do what they can.  What this has resulted in is a good deal of single ladies (and men) in the church.  All you have to do is look around at many of the churches today and see how many single people there are or see how many people have just given up on finding a man/woman in church.

     Why is this?  It is because many "true" Christian churches don't teach their women to be sexual or how to righteously attract a mate.   Now, there is a difference between being sexual and being slutty.  Classy/Trashy.  You get it.  We as humans are sexual beings.  If it wasn't meant to be this way, well, we would be extinct.  There are always ways to be sexual without over exposure.  But it is o.k. to put a little tease on the table.  And if you don't believe the need for this kind of teaching, all you have to do is look at the "worldly" competition.

     Speaking of the world, I am always amazed by my friends who "find" religion.  Or, better yet, those who "rediscover" religion after having taken in all the world had to offer and rejecting it.  Especially those that have attracted your mate/spouse or reached a certain point in life, good or bad. After you see the "world" isn't what you thought it was, you ran back to your Faith.  That's cool, I guess.  However, to me, this usually  happens when you have used the tools you learned out "in the world" to get what you wanted. It's kinda like the minority who makes it to the top and then wants to take away affirmative action (Clarence Thomas).  Then you will evangelize to the world about the "evils" of it all, especially when talking to, and about,  your gender mates.  Usually, this will be women talking about/cutting down other women's actions in a very non-Christian way.

      But, instead of taking a judgmental tone, perhaps it should be instructional.  You may be the person who made mistakes and wants to help people not make them.  You may be the person who feels they lived a righteous life.  Either way you could be helping your friend/church congregant/gender mate with insights about showing how they could do better without belittling them.  Oh, wait, did you forget that all of this is a journey?  Let me help you with that.

     Why such a harsh tone?  Because all religions like to emphasize the great and forget the bad happened.  But as a Christian, I remember that our religion was founded by the wounded.  I remember that there were prostitutes, killers, adulators and polygamists in our past who found their way.  By passing instant judgment like you never "sinned" is an affront to the very tenant of this religion. Before you take the twig out of your neighbors eye, take the tree out of yours(and the stick up you ass while at it). 

     Especially when you were in the club on Friday/Saturday and in church Saturday/Sunday.  Oh, you forgot?  Let me help you.  And you wonder why they call many Christians hypocrites.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Why you shouldn't be worried

***Warning***

     This post will offend two people, in particular.  To those people, read this with an open mind, then judge for yourself.  To everyone else, this post will take a left curve.  I hope you enjoy.

***End Warning***

     I love Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I always feel attached to it.  Why?  Because I love the female breast.  I do, with NO APOLOGIES.  I am straight, however, even gay men love the breastises.  I won't go any more graphic than that.  But anyone who knows me in IRL (in real life) knows how  I feel about the female form.  My mom has breasts and she gave me life and fed me from those things. So, what is there not to love?

     On a serious note,  I have a friend who's mother died of breast cancer, fairly recently.  She is religious (Christian) and prayed for her mother.  But, I guess it was  her time to go (God decided or let it happen).  My friend has been all about breast cancer awareness.  She does the walks and she shares the news.  She is  a new convert (think about your friend who just stopped smoking or just losta great deal of weight/adopted a healthier lifestyle).

     Well, if you have a Facebook/MySpace/E-mail, you are probably aware that, for the past few years, there has been a gimmick to make people more aware of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Last year, it was "Put the color of your bra in your status".  This year is "Put where you like to put your purse when you come in from work".  You can find a link to an article explaining it here.

     Well, said friend feels that it is a mockery of "The Fight" and as a Christian woman, it demeans all women of Faith.  She feels that breast cancer is not sexy and should not be put in such a light.  Several of her friends made the same comment.  They feel it is unbecoming of a Christian woman and is misleading, causing people to lust in their hearts and advocate women of Faith not to participate.  At this, I have to draw a line in the sand and call bullshit.  The following is an open letter to her.

Dear Friend,
     Right now is a really tough time for you.  My heart bleeds, know of the pain that you go through, everyday, knowing that your Mother was taken away from you before the time that anyone was ready for.  I wish I could share your pain, but I can't, because your experience is unique and I would not insult you by pretending that I know otherwise.  I don't know the pain of having to explain what death is to two young children or comfort the emptiness that you have.  All I can do is be the best friend that I can be, when you need me.  That is what this poor sinner will do.


     But to pass judgement on people who are trying to bring a light-hearted face to a very serious cause is beneath you.  Right now, it runs counter to what you feel. Your mother was a victim of this terrible disease.  But, by condemning those people, you belittle the people that have survived and use humor to deal with a very serious cause.  I want you to look at the woman who is getting a double mastectomy. She sees a major sign of her womanhood lost forever.  Tell her that she can't be sexy any more.  Tell the woman who went through/is going through chemo and is stuck with the stigma of a cancer patient that it is not o.k. to make light of her situation.  I point this last one to you.  I followed you through your family's struggle and I KNOW that your mother tried to make the best of a bad situation.  This current way was not her way, but I don't think your mother would have been so harsh on people trying to shed light on serious thing. 


     Who cares, if some men, think it is sexual.  When they find out what it is about, they are most likely to back you vs not having cared in the first place.  Doesn't a cracked vessel not still carry water?  And truth be told, if your pastor/fellow church congregants/church leaders read that in your status and the first thing they thought about was where you "like *sex* wherever",  this is not an issue for me or the public, but for you and them and your husband.  Please don't love me any less for this, I am just trying to bring a little different perspective to you.


With all Love and Respect,


T.O.


P.S.  To argue from a religious standpoint that this is wrong . . .I have another point reloaded for you in three days.  It just needs to finish cooking in the kitchen.

It Is Better To Be Thought A Fool in Silence . . .

     I was occasioned to remember a quote that I heard when I was a child.  It has been reworked many times but, essentially, the passage is, "It is better t be thought a fool in silence, then to speak and remove all doubt."(Abraham Lincoln or Socrates).  The reason why this is the subject of my post, today is that, during my college career and in life, I have come to the realization that I don't know ANYTHING.  This is true for most people.  Now, I don't mean that people are stupid, it is just that we don't seek information that could be detrimental to our world view.

     An example of this is a person who I have become recently acquainted with who lives in my dorm.  This comes from a very sheltered home life and has a very limited view of the world.  Anytime that you try to introduce a new side of an argument/statement/discussion with him, he tries to make it fit his view of things, even if he is wrong.  You could tell him something that is a fact, a verifiable fact, and he will get upset and say that you are calling him ignorant and being dismissive.  I told him that I wasn't criticizing him, I was just letting him know that he was misinformed and pointing him to the truth.

     Another example of this is someone who makes up facts just to fit their argument.  I get furious when someone is making an argument and you can just see them making up the "fact" just to make their point.  Instead of admitting they may not have the full answer, they will just plow through, trying to justify themselves.

     However, more directly, I see this in my classes.  I see this a great deal.  Especially with the younger kiddos.  The will argue with people with PhDs over things that are a settled fact/theory just because it doesn't go with the "thing my brother's best friend's sister who worked as a secretary for so-and-so said".  It is funny how they want to be right in the face of being wrong.

      In these cases, you have people who are trying to make an argument with incomplete/missing information.  Many of us have been guilty of this, myself included.  The difference is, if you don't know, say you don't know.  Because, when everything comes out, you end up just looking stupid if you don't have your facts right.  And even when we are wrong, we should be able to admit it.  It makes you look more intelligent by acknowledging that you were not correct and that you are open to changing.

     That's my take.

The First Days of School

     School started on Thursday.

     WHAT?  Why not on Monday or a Wednesday?  What kinda sense does that make?  Who knows.  All I know is that I was there.  Coming back, getting into the swing of things is really cool.  Now that I am in my second semester of University, I feel that I have everything under control and I am all Kool-n-the-Gang.  Now, for some simple observations.

     1.) I moved back into the dorms (which I am not in love with) but, since I didn't have a job, I gotta go with what I can afford.  However, this will probably be my last semester in the dorms, for two reasons.  the first is, I don't care for it here.  It's small and I share it with another dude.  We sleep  a foot away from each other.  My dorm room is the size of a hotel room because, it USED to be a hotel room.  My dorm is a converted Motel 6/Super 8/fill-in-the-blank.  I also have a good amount of things.  And you can't have people over. Especially, if you want female company (not THAT kind of company, perverts).  Just sayin'.  Plus, I didn't get my old roommate and it takes patience to put up with me at times.  He "got" me.  And that is saying a lot when you live  *that* close together.
    
     Second reason:  The dorms are cool, but I will be looking for a "real" job or internship soon and I need to start establishing for the future.  A more space with furniture and cooking facilities future.  The grown-up look future.  The, "Hey, let's get together at my place." future.  See where I am going?

     2.) People keep asking my stuff like I know things.  This is cool because it means I look like I belong.  SWEET!

     3.)  The college bookstore is a racket.  Every time I go there, I feel my wallet screaming from getting ass-raped.  I am taking a statistics class. $100+ for the book and $175 for a F'ING GRAPHING CALCULATOR?!?!?!  Another $175 and I would have a netbook and I could do the calculations while surfing the web through this boring class.

     4.)  I am going to my first college football game.  I am really excited for that.

     5.)  I GOT A JOB!!!  I start the paperwork tomorrow.  It is working for the Catering department at my University.  It wasn't the job I was really looking for, but hell, I need money sooo, yea.  Back to skills that pay the bill.