New Year’s Reso-YOU-tions!

Resolution time is here again.  I was planning on making my usual pledges and keep it status quo.  You know, the basic New Year goals - taking over the world and establishing a new world order, ending world hunger, be the lead singer in a rock band, paving the rainforest to build Jay-Land Amusement Park, or opening and operating a successful bed and breakfast in downtown Iran or Syria.    

"It wouldn't be New Year's if I didn't have regrets." ~William Thomas

OK, maybe some of those ideas are a little far ambitious for a single year goal.  Perhaps instead I should join the masses in declaring that 2012 will be the year that I finally stick to a workout plan that promotes weight loss and gets me beach body ready.  I could even give up McDonalds and pizza!  Maybe that’s it, 2012 will be the year that I finally decide to get up early each morning to workout and follow those workouts with sprouts, wheat germ and everything else healthy.  While I’m at it, I could also get my house organized, save more money, volunteer my time to help others less fortunate, reduce the stress in my life, and do all of this while spending more quality time with my family.   Perfect plan!

“New Year’s Day... now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.  Next week you can begin paying hell with them as usual.” ~Mark Twain

OR not, I’m not into the whole morning thing and McNuggets dipped in Hot Mustard sauce are way too delicious for me to ever give up on a permanent basis.  In fact, I’m not going to make a resolution to do any of those things. Why would I make such resolutions anyway? I’m pretty stoked with myself and what I’m doing.  So instead of worrying about what I should do to improve myself, I’m going to do everyone else a favor and make some reso-YOU-tions.

“New Year’s Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.” ~James Agate

What is a reso-YOU-tion you ask?  A reso-YOU-tion is act of informing others as to what their resolution should be.  All the time I encounter people with glaring flaws and most of the time I try to ignore them.  Not this year!  Now when talking to someone with stank breath, instead of trying not to hold my breath, I’m going to suggest they make a resolution to brush and floss or regularly.  And so on...  I’m sure the general public will inspire some great reso-YOU-tions!

"Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits." ~Anonymous

Like the idea?  Great! But if you start giving out reso-YOU-tions of your own I have a little advice for you. Give them to strangers. (Probably best to give to strangers that you can out run or beat up... just saying.) Avoid friends and family.  I started this new phenomenon the other day by providing a reso-YOU-tion for my wife.  This backfired!  She was VERY quick to offer some resolutions right back to me.

"Good Resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where that have no account.” ~Oscar Wilde

This year help out the greater good and hand out some reso-YOU-tions of your own! Happy New Year everyone!    

New Foodie

Baby girl is now officially a foodie.  At her last doctor’s appointment we got the go ahead from her pediatrician to begin her on solids when we thought she was ready.  She must have understood the doc because from that moment on she began to get stronger and stronger.  When the girl began to eye down anything and everything anyone was eating we decided we should start feeding her soon before she began a plot to feed herself.  

"He was a bold man that first eat an oyster." ~Jonathan Swift

So for the past week or so she has been eating her big girl food.  Well... maybe not big girl food but a bowl of mush definitely counts for something.  Rice mush with some sort of vegetable puree all mixed together.  She loves it!  So far she hasn't found anything she doesn't like. .  

"Like religion, politics, and family planning, cereal is not a topic to be brought up in public.  It's too controversial." ~Erma Bombeck

Currently she doesn’t have much say as to what or how she eats.  We strap her into a chair and give her what we want to give her.  But over the next few years she’ll begin to develop her own eating habits.  Sure, I hope she develops healthy eating habits and enjoys nutritious foods but those aren't the habits I’m too concerned about right now.  Instead of wondering what kind of weird quirky habits she’ll develop.  

"I don't like food that's too carefully arranged; it makes me think that the chef is spending too much time arranging and not enough time cooking. If I wanted a picture I'd buy a painting." ~Andy Rooney

Will she...  

• demand that her food not touch other types of food?
• eat everything with only a fork?
• eat her plate in order of least favorite to favorite or will she start out with her favorite item first?
• become a vegetarian?
• will she develop trichophagia and compulsively eat hair?    

"I want my food dead. Not sick, not dying, dead." ~Oscar Wilde

Everyone eats and everyone has some sort of habit attached to their eating.  I did a Google search for odd eating habits and found a few weird celebrity examples:

• Steve Jobs once tried a fruit and veggie only diet in hopes that it would allow him to stop bathing.
• Ronald Reagan didn’t eat a tomato for 70 years.
• Michael Jackson used to have granola, almond milk, fruit juice and a tank of oxygen for breakfast each morning.
• Claudia Schiffer eats nothing but fruit before noon.
• Elvis once flew 800 miles to eat his favorite sandwich.

"I won't eat anything green." ~Kurt Cobain

The holidays are a great time for eating. Enjoy your sugar cookies, honey baked ham, tiramisu, fondu, and all of your other family favorite recipes.

"My idea of fast food is a mallard." ~Ted Nugent

Enjoy... Happy Eating!

Ho Ho Ho...

With Thanksgiving in the rear view and Christmas approaching quickly, I am slowly getting into the holiday spirit.  Growing up I didn’t celebrate Christmas so I don’t automatically go into fa-la-la mode just because tis’ the season.  

"Aren't we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa." ~Bart Simpson 

Don’t get me wrong, I like Christmas and over the past week I’ve given it my best shot to begin getting festive.  Last weekend, I went to a gingerbread cookie baking event at the boy’s preschool, I put up our tree and took the family to a local drive through light show.  I'll admit it, I've even sang a carol or two in the car while drive around the town. (Some of those songs are really catchy!)

"Christmas is awesome. First of all you get to spend time with people you love. Secondly, you can get drunk and no one can say anything. Third, you give presents. What's better than giving presents? And fourth, getting presents. So, four things. Not bad for one day. It's really the greatest day of all time." ~Michael Scott (The Office)

Having kids definitely adds something special to Christmas for me and makes me want to get more into the spirit.  Watching the boy get excited about the lights, music, etc are definitely memory's I'll remember forever.  (Luckily for me he’s still too young and hasn't begun asking for outrageous gifts ~ so far its still just about the fun!)  And watching baby girl have her first Christmas will be very special.  (We already got her picture with the big fella framed.) I'm sure on the big day she will be in a very cute holiday outfit with a bow, on her still mostly bald head, looking prettier than ever. With my great kids and wonderful wife how could I not get into the Christmas spirit?

"Okay, this is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back?" ~Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)

According to Santa, it appears that some of my behaviors and actions still have some room to improve.  To see the video I received from Santa (and make your own Santa video) click here:My Message from Santa.

"I hate Christmas.  The mall is full of nothing but women and children.  All you hear is, 'I want this,' 'Get me this,' 'I have to have this' ... and then there's the children.  Ans they're all by my store 'cause they stuck the mall Santa right outside ringing his stupid bell.  As if you need a bell to notice a 300-pound alcoholic in a red suit. 'Ho, ho, ho,' all day long.  So, nice as can be, I go outside, ask him to shut the hell up.  He takes a swing at me.  So I lay a hook into his fat belly and he goes down.  Beard comes off, all the kids start crying and I'm the bad guy." ~Al Bundy (Married with Children)

Since I’ll probably need to the till the last second to get myself on the “Nice” list.  I’m going to track Santa’s journey around the globe.  You should too!  Check it out here: NORA Santa Tracker

"You stink, you smell like beef and cheese, you don't smell like Santa." Buddy (Elf)

I'm pretty sure this year will be my best Christmas ever! 

I hope it will be yours too. Have a wonderful holiday season.. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, 

Rock on you Festivus people, Happy New Year, etc, etc, etc...

Movember - A Look Back

Well, I survived Movember and my face is now back to normal.  My month of facial hair beauty was quite a unique learning experience.  The most prevalent lesson learned was that the stache is a powerful tool and should only be worn by the most manly of men.  When you don a stache, you are no longer viewed as a mortal man - you are a Rock Star!  

"BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE: If you are not already doing some form of exercise, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activities most days of the week." ~Movember.com

Over the course of time, the world has had the pleasure of sharing space with some great moustaches:  Hulk Hogan, Ned Flanders, Tom Selleck, Charlie Chaplin, Einstein, Super Mario, Groucho Marx, and Burt Reynolds. But for unknown reasons, the stache is no longer a mainstream look.  Instead, the stache has more of a cult-like following along with the likes of the mullet and acid washed jeans.  When one decides to grow the stache, they can not do so with half intentions, or the greatness of the look will consume you.

"EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET: Fill up with fruits and vegetables, whole grains; include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars." ~Movember.com

While growing the stache was fun, and it gave me something to talk about for the month, the main goal of Movember is to educate men about the health risks they face and to raise awareness of healthy actions they can take to prevent illness.  While I'm sure I could have done more to promote those issues, I talked to enough people to feel I did my part.  I think I may have even convinced a few people to participate next year!  

"MANAGE YOUR STRESS: Stress, particularly long-term stress, can be the factor in the onset or worsening of ill health.  Managing your stress is essential to your health & well being and should be practiced daily." ~Movember.com

Men's health is important not only during Movember but everyday!  So men, don't forget to check your balls! 

 

Below is a pictorial journey of my stache...

 Day 8 

 Day 13 - at Tough Mudder

 Day 14

 Day 16

 Day 22 - Co-workers getting into the spirit!

 Day 26 - The stache at the beach.

 Day 27 - The stache tours the city with the boy.

 Day 30 - The end is near!

 It was one wild month!

Time to go...

Free at last!

Keep them Quiet

(Photo by iskir)

We've all been out in public and heard a kid freaking out.  The parent is frazzled and the kid just keeps yelling and yelling.  The parent will threaten, ignore or yell back but nothing works.  It is easy to say that you would never allow your child to act in such a way but things don’t always go as planned.  Luckily... there’s an app for that.

Don't bother people for help without first trying to solve the problem yourself. ~Colin Powell

The only thing worse than hearing a kid freaking out in public is hearing your kid freak out in public.  My baby girl is still too young to cause any real issues but the boy is quite capable of causing quite a stir.  Most of the time he’s happy to go along with the day’s scheduled activities but for those days when he’s not in the mood I hand him my phone and let him play away.  Is this bribery?  Sure it is... but it works.

If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right. ~Bill Cosby

Here are some of the apps that have kept him entertained.  If you have a kid in the there year old range, or know someone who has an out-of-control little rug rat , try these free Android apps:    

• AIAI for kids - A simple alphabet app with several different games. The simple and easy alphabet game for kids.
• NumNum for kids - Same format as AIAI for kids but this one is numbers as opposed to letters.
• Bubbles - Make and pop bubbles.  Very simple but can buy you a little quite time at the food store.
• FishFarts Kids - Touching a fish makes it fart and zoom off.  
• Kids Connect - Connect the dots to create a picture.  The dots can be either letters or numbers.
• Zebra Paint - Color pictures by touching a color then the object you want to change.

Hopefully these apps work for you too because I certainly don't want to hear your kid acting a fool!

Tough Mudder - Mission Complete

This past weekend I completed the Tri-State Tough Mudder in Englishtown, NJ.  Billed as “Probably the Toughest Event on the Planet” this Tough Mudder event was a 12 mile obstacle course designed to test the all-around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie of its participants.  Would it live up to its billing?

First off, I would definitely recommend a Tough Mudder event to anyone interested in entering a challenging but fun event. Obviously, this event is not for everyone but if you think that you have what it takes... go for it! (Click here to read my original 'Tough Mudder' post describing the course.)

After entering the Tough Mudder it is difficult to explain the event to others without mentioning "Electroshock Therapy". It is the one obstacle that sticks in everyone mind. It is the one that makes your mom think you lost your mind. Mud - you know about mud. Cold - you know about cold. Twelve miles - you understand running twelve miles. But most people don't really know about being electrocuted. Could it really be that bad? Well... after going through it and discussing it with my running mates I've learned that it just depends on how the wires hit you. You may feel a little jolt or what one of my team members described as "getting kicked in the face by a mule." But know this, when you run through the obstacle you will get shocked!

For me, getting shocked was never really a concern. It was fun to mention but nothing I thought about as something to worry about. What did concern me was the tunnels. I'm not a fan of tight places so the idea of crawling though a dark tunnel under ground was not too compelling. Since the Tough Mudder is a two day event and I was running on the second day. I decided to see if anyone posted and videos of the course. That's when I found this video... it didn't ease my concerns regarding tight spaces.

But as it turns out the tunnels were not the biggest challenge.  It also wasn't the fire, the mud, the twelve miles, carrying a tire around a race track, the hills, etc... it was the COLD water!  I have never been in such cold water and a few years ago I had a broken water heater for a few weeks in November!  After one of the water events I saw a person whose face was dark purple with spots that appeared ghostly white.  (I'm not 100% sure but I don't think they let that guy finish.)

Instead of trying to explain the experience, here's a video that runner made the same day I did the event. It doesn't capture everything but it gives you a good idea...

All-in-all it was a fun challenge and I'm glad that I did it.  If you decide to enter a Tough Mudder event I highly recommend doing it with a group of people.  It makes the adventure more fun!

New York City Marathon... A year later

With the 2011 New York City Marathon right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about my experience running it last year.  And since the expiration date for me rehashing the story without living too much in the past is quickly approaching, I thought now would be as good a time as any to tell my story.  Hopefully it will calm the nerves of someone about to run it this year and maybe inspire someone else to run it next year.

Why did I want to run the marathon?
I didn’t have any great reason to want to run a marathon other than just to say I did it.  For whatever reason, I kept hearing about marathons.  It was either someone I loosely knew was running one or stories on the news, but one way or another I kept hearing about them and it planted a seed.  At that point, I really didn’t run very often and would not have considered myself a runner.  Sure I had gone through brief periods of time where I would take a jog but nothing too substantial.  My biggest challenge to date was a 10k mud run.  The idea of running a marathon was kind of crazy.    

"Marathoning is just another form of insanity" ~John J. Kelly     

One day, after hearing an inspirational story about a about a person that overcame a grave illness and went on to accomplish some grand goal, I remember thinking that if I ever get some disease or illness that I hope I’m one of the people that fights back as opposed to just rolling over and accepting my fate.  

"If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon." ~ Katherine Switzer

But why should I wait for a potential tragedy to motivate me?  I was perfectly healthy and able now but wasn’t doing anything special, why should I wait?  So I decided that I would run a marathon.  Knowing that completing the goal would take a lot of time and motivation, I decided that it would be easier for me to get psyched up over a major marathon as opposed to a local race.       

How did I get in?
Immediately following the 2009 New York City marathon, I went to their site to find out more information and discovered there are many ways to become a participant.  The “simplest” way is to pledge to raise a large sum of money or to get in through a lottery.  So... I added the lottery entry date into my calender and then basically forgot about it.     

"The marathon is a charismatic event.  It has everything.  It has drama.  It has competition. It has camaraderie.  It has heroism.  Every jogger can't dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon." ~Fred LeBow 

A few months later, I received an email alert that today was the day that the lottery would open.  At first, I ignored the message.  Running a marathon would be crazy.  But as the day went on, the thought of running kept coming back into my mind.  So I did a little research and realized that the odds of me being selected were quite small.  So I went for it...  if I didn’t get in it would still be an interesting story (sort of).

"You should run your first marathon for the right reasons, because you'll never be the same person again.  You must want to do it, not because your boss or spouse did it." ~Bill Wenmark

About a week before the lottery results were going to be announced, I figured it would be a good idea to go for a jog.  Considering that it was quite possible that I’d be training for a marathon, it seemed like a pretty solid idea.  Well, as it turns out it was a good idea because to my surprise I was one of the lucky people selected.

My Training Plan
The first thing I did was research how to train for a marathon.  I read as much as I could and tried to learn the basics.  Quickly I realized that most training plans only lasted a few months.  So I decided my the best thing for me to do was to get running, build up my miles and over the next couple of months develop my training plan.

"A marathoner is a marathoner regardless of time.  Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day's effort, be it fast or slow.  It is conquering the challenge." ~Mary R. Wittenberg

I researched just about every site, blog, and book I could get my hands on.  What I learned was that marathoners, and marathon training plans for that manner,  fall into one of two groups.

1. Anyone can run a marathon.  With proper training and pacing anyone can finish and enjoy the marathon experience.  Oprah ran a marathon, how hard could it be?
2. Marathons are only for serious runners.  If you are not running 75+ miles a week and training everyday you should not enter a marathon.  Marathons should not be a bucket list achievement but instead a race that you intend to win.  The first person to run a marathon died so only the fittest should attempt!

I ultimately found both groups rather annoying.  Group 1 was too easy going and Group 2 was out of my league, so I ultimately developed my own plan.  My plan certainly won’t be touted by anyone as a recommended option but it worked for me.  I basically ran three days a week and tried to improve each week.  My plan kept my legs fresh while still allowing me to work towards the 26.2 goal.  (If you are interested my training log can be viewed here:  My Training Log)

"No doubt a brain and some shoes are essential for marathon success, although if it comes down to a choice, pick the shoes.  More people finish marathons with no brains than with no shoes." ~Don Kardong

One race day tip offered by almost all sources was to do nothing new or different on race day.  During your training you should figure out what actions work best with your body and stick to them.  Good in theory, but this run was going to be different than all of my training runs.  I never had: travel to take a run, catch a bus to a parking lot where I’d have to wait in the cold, and I had never run as far as I was going to run.

The Big Event
The night before the race was surreal.  After all my months of training, coming to NY and partaking in all of the pre-race hoopla, the race was all that was left.  Was my training sufficient?

"The body does not want you to do this.  As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong.  You always go too far for your body.  You must handle the pain with strategy... It is not age; it is not diet.  It is the will to succeed. ~Jacqueline Gareau

Standing at the starting line I felt great.  Any shred of doubt I had was gone.  I was going to run the New York City Marathon and I was going to do it now.  I felt pumped!

"The Marathon is an art; the marathoner is an artist." ~Kiyoshi Nakamura

Aside from just finishing, I had a personal goal of finishing somewhere between 4:30 and 5 hours.  As the race began, I felt healthy and confident that I could accomplish my goal.  After the first few miles, my confidence grew.  

"A marathon is a string of moments, mixtures of events and emotions that we sample as we move along." ~Unknown

I felt so good, I quickly got caught up in the excitement and was giving the spectators high-fives as I ran the course.  I stopped briefly twice to say hello to two groups of people that made the trip to see me run.  (They were both exactly where I thought they would be and I found them without any difficulties.)  Around the 13 mile mark I was ahead of my goal time and still felt great.  I felt unstoppable...  

"The marathon can humble you" ~Bill Rodgers

Over the next few miles things began to change and my body quickly began to tire.  I slowed down, walked a few times, but managed to keep going.  Despite feeling tired, and going noticeably slower, I was still confident that I would not only finish, but still manage to finish within my desired time.  However, my spirits quickly began to damper with about 8 miles to go.  I knew I would finish (no matter what I was going to finish) but my goal time was quickly becoming unrealistic. Approaching mile 20, I was 4 hours into my race. To achieve my time goal, I would need pick up my pace and gut out the last six.

"If you feel bad at 10 miles, you're in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you're normal. If you don't feel bad at 26 miles, you're abnormal." ~Rob de Castella

I gave those last few miles everything I had.  My legs were shot, I was chafed, snot was flowing out of my nose, and tears were flowing down my face with each step, but I kept going as best I could.  At this point the race became personal.  I set a goal, worked towards the goal, and had the goal insight.  All I needed to do was make it a reality.

"If you want to win something, run 100 meters.  If you want to experience something, run a marathon." ~Emil Zatopek

When it was all said and done I finished in 4 hours and 56 minutes.  

"There will be days you didn't think you can a marathon.  There will be a lifetime of knowing you have." ~Unknown

I know my time is far from great, but it is my time.  I put in a lot of hours into getting that time and I am proud of every second.  

Movember - The Stache is Back!

The time has come for me to release my inner stache! This November, along with men (and women) from around the world, I will be improving my look by donning a moustache. 

"I...left the stubble on my upper lip for a moustache I planned to grow" ~P. Theroux

Now, I'm sure many of you are thinking: "of course you should grow a mustache - it is an all-time classic look", "Nice!" or "Great, I was thinking how awesome a stache would look on Jay". And for those kind thoughts I thank you, but this endeavor is about more than just looking awesome. The goal of the moustache is to celebrate Movember to and help raise awareness of health issues affecting men.

Napoleon Dynamite: How long did it take you to grow that moustache? Pedro: A couple of days. ~Quote from the movie: Napoleon Dynamite

The information listed below was taken from Movember.com. Please take the time to read it over and afterwards share it, or what you have learned, with someone you care about. Men are people too!

Thanks,

Jay

WHAT IS MOVEMBER?

Movember is the month formerly known as November, where men and women across the globe join together to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues. Men grow a Mo (moustache) for 30 days to become a walking, talking billboards, for our men’s health causes - specifically cancers affecting men.

Men who support Movember, called Mo Bros, start by registering at Movember.com. Mo Bros start Movember 1st clean-shaven, then grow and groom their Mo, for the rest of the month, raising money along the way. Women who support Movember, called Mo Sistas, also start by registering at Movember.com. Mo Sistas champion the Mo by supporting their Mo Bros, organizing events, leading a team and spreading the important message of men’s health.

MEN'S HEALTH FACTS

• The average life expectancy for men is five years less than women (presently 77 years old compared to 82).
• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 3 women will be.
• Evidence suggests that about a third of the 571,950 cancer deaths expected to occur will be related to obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition and thus could be prevented.
• 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 240,890 new cases of the disease will be diagnosed and 33,720 men will die.
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34. 8,290 men will be diagnosed with the disease and 350 will die.
• Smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. An estimated 115,060 men will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 85,600 men will die from the disease.
• While not as common, men can get breast cancer. About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men and about 450 men will die from the disease.
• The most common cancer in the US, skin cancer strikes 1 in 5 Americans. An estimated 43,890 men will be diagnosed with skin cancer and 8,080 men will die from the disease.
• An estimated 13 million adult men over the age of 20 in the US have diabetes- and a third do not know it.
• Approximately 50 million men and women in the US have high blood pressure- almost 30 per cent of them do not know it.
• About 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure, and blood pressure tends to rise with age.
• 1 in 8 men who suffer from mental illness actually seek help (inspire.org).
• Four times as many men commit suicide compared with women.
• 24% of men are less likely to go to the doctor compared to women.

Let’s face it, men are known to be more indifferent towards their health, especially when compared to the efforts of women, who proactively and publicly address their health issues in a way not traditionally seen with men. As a result, today the levels of awareness, understanding and funding for support of male health issues, like prostate cancer, lag significantly behind causes such as breast cancer.

The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in the US and around the world are numerous and complex and this primarily due to a lack of awareness of the health issues men face. This can largely be attributed to the reluctance of men openly discussing the subject due to longstanding traditions, coupled with an ‘it’ll be alright’ attitude. Men are less likely to schedule doctors’ appointments when they feel ill or for an annual physical, thereby denying them the chance of early detection and effective treatment of common diseases.   

Studies show that many men don’t get regular health checks for the following reasons:

• Fear it will lead to a hospital visit.
• Embarrassed to discuss their health issues.
• Find it too hard to see a doctor because they just can’t fit it into their schedule.
• Just can’t be bothered making an appointment.

Statistics show that, on average, men die at a younger age than women – the average life expectancy for men is five years less than women (presently 77 compared to 82). That said, despite trailing the women’s health movement, things are beginning to change, but much more progress needs to be made to close the gap between the state of men and women’s health.  Established taboos and barriers relating to men’s health are gradually being broken down.
Movember aims to change the face of men’s health and reverse this way of thinking by putting a fun twist on this serious issue. Using the moustache as a catalyst, we want to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to talk about their health more openly.

Movember's primary campaign objective is to raise awareness of men's health issues, specifically cancers affecting men. We want everyone to know that most cancers are highly curable if caught in the early stages - including prostate and testicular cancer.  Movember aims to increase early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment, as this will ultimately reduce the number of deaths from cancer.  It’s time men face the startling health facts.

It’s not all bad news! Maintaining a good diet, smart lifestyle choices and getting regular medical check-ups and screening tests can dramatically influence your health, Regardless of age, stay on top of your game by doing the following:

HAVE AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL
Find a doctor and make a yearly appointment each Movember for a general health check.  Getting annual checkups, preventative screening tests, and immunizations are among the most important things you can do to stay healthy.

DON’T SMOKE!
If you do smoke, stop! Compared to non-smokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer.  Smoking causes about 90% of lung cancer death in men.

BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
If you are not already doing some form of exercise, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.

EAT A HEART HEALTHY DIET
Fill up with fruits, vegetables, whole grains; include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off by physical activities.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS
Stress, particularly long-term stress, can be the factor in the onset or worsening of ill health. Managing your stress is essential to your health & well being and should be practiced daily.

DRINK ALCOHOL IN MODERATION
Alcohol can be part of a healthy balanced diet, but only if it’s in moderation, which means no more than two drinks a day. A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY
Start a discussion with your relatives about the health issues they’ve had in the past. Be sure to learn about relatives that are deceased too.  

Simple Ice Cream Social or beginning of a New World Order?

Preschool is in full swing and the boy is still having a blast.  So far he has had his first field trip, me and the Mrs. had our first back-to-school night, and most recently the whole family attended an ice cream social held by the school.

"Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time." ~Charles M. Schulz

The ice cream social was a lot fun.  There were several activity stations set up for the the kids to enjoy including: spin art, pumpkin decorating, temp tattoos, ring toss, bean bag tosses, etc.  At each station was a Girl Scout (or two) that supervised the event and kept things running smoothly.  

"Three groups spend other people's money: children, thieves, politicians. All three need supervision." ~Dick Armey

At first, I was very impressed with the Girl Scouts.  While appearing to be only 8 or 9ish these girls had complete control over their stations and the kids partaking in the activities.  They had crowds of 3 and 4 year old children following their every instruction.  These girls were amazing.   They had everything running so smoothly that the parents were able to just let their kids have fun and do what they wanted while they stood back and watched or talked amongst themselves.

"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security." ~Thomas Jefferson

However, after watching the Scouts in action for a little while, my opinion of these girls began to change.  Don’t get me wrong... they were still doing a great job, but I began to realize who these girls were and what they were capable of doing.  All of these girls were the alpha girls that ask the teacher for homework or remind the teacher that they were supposed to have a quiz.  But instead of being separated they were all in one place.  They were motivated and working together very much like the raptors in Jurassic Park.

"Now nobody get nervous, you ain't got nothing to fear. You're being robbed by the John Dillinger Gang, that's the best there is!" ~John Dillinger 

It made sense. The school wanted to keep the kids under control so why not get the most controlled kids out there to do the work. Just like how the Rolling Stones hired the Hell’s Angels as bodyguards to control the partying concert crowd. And that worked out well... hold on, that did not end well at all! The Hell’s Angels turned on the crowd and started a melee. Would these girls try to take over?

"The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it." ~Abbie Hoffman

The night ended without the Scouts trying to take over but I saw a glimmer in their eyes that showed they could if they wanted to.  Be careful, I think these girls may be up to more that just selling cookies!

Oh, those Preschool Days!

So big brother is now out there in the big world.  He has been enjoying preschool (or at least we think he has been) as each day of school has offered him something new and exciting.

"Every child has, at birth, a greater potential than Leonardo Da Vinci ever used." ~Glenn Doman

Since birth, my wife and I, have watched and marveled as he has progressed through the various stages of life. He has grown from an infant, into a baby, into a toddler, and now into a kid.  We have always been impressed with what he could do but never really thought about what other kids his age were doing.  Entering him into preschool made us realize that our big guy was now going to be surrounded by his peers. I know that all kids develop at different paces but I couldn't help but wonder how he would compare.  He's not a big talker, he's very independent, full of energy, not yet potty trained (still working on that one), and never really been with anyone but family.  How would he respond to being told what to do by a random adult surrounded by strangers? Would he fit in?   

"To learn anything fast and effectively, you have to see it, hear it and feel it." ~Tony Stockwell

After much consideration, my wife has proclaimed that she would be willing to pay $500 for access to a live video stream of his classroom.  (A little steep but I think I'd also pull the trigger at that price.) But since this is not an option, we only know what the teacher has told us, and what we have seen the few times we were able to view him through the classroom's window, as to what actually goes on in class and how he is performing.    

"If you can dream it, you can do it." ~Walt Disney

All signs indicate that he is doing really well! He clearly has been having fun! Each day he goes in happy and comes out happy. Each day after class he exhibits some new skill or performs a new activity that he just learned that day. He's talking more, singing more songs, being more helpful cleaning up, and exhibiting more creativity with his art. We couldn't be prouder of how he has handled this big change in his life.      

"To learn it, do it!" ~Roger Schank

While I’m glad that we decided to enroll him into preschool, and glad that he is having fun and learning so many new things, I am a little concerned about his picture depicting Humpty Dumpty's tragic fall.  

The blood coming from the nose... In my opinion, a little too spot-on for preschool!