A little tenderness

25 05 2009

For those of you old enough to remember when MTV actually was cool and played music videos, you may remember this one hit wonder that for some reason entered my mind a few days back. I think we could all use a little…

I don’t know when to start or when to stop
My luck’s like a button
I can’t stop pushing it
My head feels light
But I’m still in the dark
Seems like without tenderness there’s something missing
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Where is it?

I don’t know where I am but I know I don’t like it
I open my mouth and out pops something spiteful
Words are so cheap, but they can turn out expensive
Words like conviction can turn into a sentence

I held your hands
Rings but none on that finger
We danced and danced
But I was scared to go much further with it
Just half a chance
Make sure that one night you’re here,
But next night you’re not
It always leaves me searching for a little

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?

Whistling in the graveyard
Calling up your girlfriend
Just trying to make her understand
You’re squeezing the telephone like it was her hand
No question (so many questions)
She’s going to catch you out boy
It all seems so underhand
Now she’s the only thing that ever made you feel like a man, man
Madman, madman

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Tenderness
Tenderness
Where is it?

I held your hands
Rings but none on that finger
We danced and danced
But I was scared to go much further with it
Just half a chance
Make sure that one night you’re here,
But next night you’re not
It always leaves me searching for a little

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?

I’m just sick to death of second best, pet
Why should the morning always find you unimpressed?
Is your love like a button?
You can’t stop pushing it?
Oh this all night longing can be such a long time





Man up

19 04 2009

In my heart of hearts I know it well
Been giving myself the soft sell
Anyone can see that i’ve been running away
Not facing the day that’s here

It’s time to man up
I’m man enough
It’s time to man up
I’m man enough
I’m man enough for you
It’s time to man up

The phone is off, the blinds are down
Me and my heart are out of town
The sign is hammered up
Do not disturb
Don’t say another word to me

It’s time to man up
I’m man enough
I’m man enough for you
It’s time to man up
I’m man enough
I’m man enough for you
It’s time to man up

In my heart of hearts I know it well
I hit the ground hard when I fell
Not licking wounds but more like sewing them up
Man it was rough for me

But it’s time to man up
I’m man enough
I’m man enough for you
It’s time to man up
I’m man enough
I’m man enough for you
It’s time to man up





I’ve been off on a journey

5 04 2009

A strange one at that. My entire world is changing before my eyes. First, it started on the inside, but as it is on the inside so it becomes on the outside.

I discovered a new diet program. I’ve not lost any weight on it, but right now my body seems to have other plans. That’s ok. I trust my body. I’ve not gained a pound and I keep gaining muscle.

The new diet program is the not a diet at all, it is called the Gabriel Method. If your body wants you to be fat, guess what, you’re gonna be fat.

I’ve rediscovered a very good song that I’ve always liked:

Ship of Fools by Robert Plant

On waves of love my heart is breaking
And stranger still my self control I can’t rely on anymore
New tides surprise – my world it’s changing
Within this frame an ocean swells – behind this smile I know it well

Beneath a lover’s moon I’m waiting
I am the pilot of the storm – adrift in pleasure I may drown
I built this ship – it is my making
And furthermore my self control I can’t rely on anymore
I know why – I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around – back to my loving ground

Who claims that no man is an island
While I land up in jeopardy – more distant from you by degrees
I walk this shore in isolation
And at my feet eternity draws ever sweeter plans for me
I know why – I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around – back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no – ship of fools –

I love those first two lines, “On waves of love my heart is breaking, and stranger still my self control I can’t rely on anymore”. This is track number 1 on the soundtrack of my life, right now. I know why…

I’ve been getting up at 5:00 or 5:30 AM each day and meditating for a bit. I’ve also been doing a simple yoga set of exercises that I picked up from Anmol Mehta for spinal warm-ups that I use before I meditate and lift weights. I think it has had other benefits besides a looser back, but that is a tale for another day. My friend Swati shared this site with me (amongst many other wonderful things, I am deeply indebted to her for the grace and dignity within which she related to me).

The relationships in my life are improving and intensifying, I’m feeling calmer and more centered each day. I’ve met some interesting new people and I’ll be meeting more very soon (maybe you’ll be one of them?).

If you look around at a life that you don’t like, the first thing to realize is that it is the life of your choosing. Look at what you have chosen for yourself, my friend. This will hurt for some (most?) people, but knowing that this is a life of your choosing allows you to make different choices. Wake up. Make the choice. Do the thing you are most scared to do. Look that demon in the face. Your life will change at a rapid pace.





It’s been a while…

30 01 2009

It’s been a while. Not much to say, been working a lot of hours making the man a little richer. 

Things are getting better. My career is taking off, I’m getting along with my kids better, and I have a life coach. I’m sure this is all leading up to something good…

Enjoy this awesome song!





My new new favorite song.

16 01 2009

If you’ve seen Wanted, you’ve heard this awesome song. The last scene of the movie is a real kick in the butt, too. Wesley Gibson was a changed man. It’s a little bit of the Matrix meets the Count of Monte Cristo meets I don’t know what.





My New Favorite Song.

15 01 2009

I’m not a fan of country music, but there are a few notable exceptions. Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. I also like the old-timey/bluegrass type stuff like “O Brother Where Art Thou?”.

Anyway, it is a freezing ass cold morning here in Iowa. It is so cold that school is cancelled. If only work would get cancelled!





Oops, bad memory strikes again.

6 01 2009

I said in an earlier post that Joe Flanigan who plays John Sheppard on Stargate Atlantis, mentioned the song Solitary Man by Johnny Cash and Tom Petty in an interview. He actually mentioned an old duet with Bob Dillon and Johnny Cash called Girl from North Country.

I’m still a little saddened by my second favorite sci fi show getting cancelled. I’m not a hardcore sci fi nerd, but after many years of watching a great show, you feel like you know these characters.

I love the interviews with the actors/actresses from SGA, though. They all seem like pretty cool people.





Solitary Man

3 01 2009

I first heard of the Johnny Cash version of Neil Diamond’s Solitary Man when I saw an interview with Joe Flanigan from Stargate Atlantis where he mentioned this song. I believe it was a hint because then I heard this song in the Stargate Atlantis second to last episode called Vegas. What a great episode, by the way!

I’m going to miss the characters on Stargate Atlantis. Sheppard, McKay, Ronon, Teyla, and the rest were awesome.





No Mo’ Plateau!

6 11 2008

Finally. I haven’t posted in some time because I’ve been stalled. I couldn’t get back into ketosis. I won’t go into why, but I finally figured it out Tuesday, I did a glycogen depletion workout Wednesday morning and cut out all carbs and I got into ketosis last night. It’s good to be back!

In desperation, I had a cheat meal last Friday night (Dominos Pizza) and managed to get back up to 382 (mostly this was food in transit through my gut because I was back down to 376 on Monday).

At any rate, I’m down to 370! My goal was 350 by Thanksgiving. That won’t be doable, I don’t think. So my modified goal is 360 by Thanksgiving and 350 by Christmas.

This time wasn’t a total loss. I figured out that eating veggies helps to clear up my complexion and I also added some more muscle.





Israel Kamakawiwo Ole’ – Hawaii 78

20 10 2008

Iz’s words and voice really reach right down into my soul.

UA MAU KE EA O KA �AINA I KA PONO O HAWAI�I

(rough transalation: The constant, wet Rain Gives Life to the land
and brings goodness/change to Hawaii)

If just for a day our king and queen
would visit all these islands and saw everything
How would they feel ’bout the changing of our land
Could you just imagine if they were around
and saw highways on their sacred grounds
How would they feel if they ’bout this modern city life

Tears would come from each others eyes as
they would stop to realize
that our people are in great, great danger now

How would they feel
would their smiles be content
rather than cry
cry for the gods, cry for the people
cry for the land that was taken away
and in it you’ll find Hawaii

Could you just imagine if they came back
and saw traffic lights and railroad tracks
How would they feel about this modern city life
Tears would come from each others eyes as
they would stop to realize
that our land is in great, great danger now

All of the fighting that the king had done
to conquer all these islands
now there’s condominiums
How would he feel if saw Hawaii now

How would he feel
would his smile be content
rather than cry
cry for the gods, cry for the people
cry for the land that was taken away
and in it you’ll find Hawaii

UA MAU KE EA O KA �AINA I KA PONO O HAWAI�I