Well, I did it. I downloaded the 15-day trial version of Diet Power and set it up tonight. I'm starting with a short term goal of losing 20 lbs in eight weeks. Right now I weigh 320 lbs and I want to be at 300 or below by March 8th. That also happens to be Todd & The Marcy's wedding. Once I've reached that goal (and I will) I'll pick another significant date and figure out how much to lose by then.

I've also been seriously looking at motorcycles. Prices, payments, insurance... I've been researching it all. I've worked out a budget and if I can stick to it, I should be getting a bike by May. I'm still paying off hospital bills from 1999 and planning a wedding so I can't afford a huge monthly motorcycle payments (yes, I've talked with Celly about this and she supports the idea).

We both wish I could afford a Harley Davidson, but there's no way unless I get a Sportster. For those of you unfamiliar with motorcycles, the fastest way to compare bikes in the same class ("cruisers" in this case) is to compare the engine size. The H-D Sportster has an 883 cubic centimeter engine and costs a little more than $8000. The bikes I'm looking at are the Honda Shadow Spirit (1063 cc engine) and the Yamaha V Star 1100 Custom (1063 cc engine). Both bikes are just under $8000 and have roughly the same rider profile (wheelbase, peg placement, etc) but I'm leaning towards the Honda. I like the handlebars on the Honda and the fact that it comes with a nicer passenger seat. Naturally it will depend on what's available used, but for new bikes, those are the two I can afford.

Anyway, those are the big plans for now. I'll try to update daily on weight program.

I promised an update soon. Eight days is pretty soon, isn't it? Well, first things first:

Congratulations Lieutenant John!

I imagine Lisa will be putting up her own announcement soon (Hint! Hint!) but for now I get to be the first to let you know that MrWhizzr passed his Lieutenant's Exam for the police department! Just make sure you use ALL FIVE fingers when saluting...

Now to update the quick list I made last week:

The good news is that I'm feeling more like myself than I was. Maybe it was a seasonal thing or a holiday thing. I don't know. I do know that my head seems much clearer and I'm more focused.

Wow, lots of things going around in my head today. I've gotten my deadline pushed back until Monday for a procedural document I'm writing at work. That takes a little pressure off my mind for today anyway. I'll still have to finish it over the weekend but I can't be depressed about that because Sunday night is the season premiere of both "Oz" and "The Shield". Oh yeah, baby! Full on testosterone, reality TV!

This is also the weekend that the Clanlad and his mother move to their new townhouse in Gainesville, VA. Which means that between driving out there (about 2 hours away) to pick up the ClanLad and driving to NC to see Celly (about 4.5 hours away) I'm going to put a lot of miles on my car this year. Gah, I hope I start racking up tickets again.

Right now I'm just trying to organize my life. I've had so many things (deadlines, relationship stuff, concerns about friends, holiday pressures, financial crap...) rattling around in my head for the last few months. I'm trying to take advantage of this being a "new" year by regaining control of my life. I don't know if it was a seaonal thing or just a lot happening at once, but I've lost my center somewhere. I constantly feel like everything in my life is out of control and spinning madly about. My mind is a whirring milkshake of colors and faces. Even thought logically I know that some things aren't really spinning that much and others were never under my control anyway, I still feel off balance.

It's taken me all day just to write this much. *sigh* Where o' where are the days when I could pound out pages and pages of amusing drivel for you, my faithful few?

Lemme try making a list. I'm sure Ani will help me if I don't do it right. *g*

I know it doesn't seem like much of a list but it feels overwhelming right now. Plus, I'm sure there are things that I'm forgetting to add. *sigh*