Sweatin' to the Oldies

Okay - not really the oldies. Just....sweating.

As Dana alluded to in her comment on Monday - the area I live in has been under a severe heat advisory and a stagnant air warning since Sunday. And it continues until Friday. We've had temperatures in the 100s, no breezes, no clouds, no rain, and no air movement.

Oh yeah - and no air conditioning.

At night - if we're LUCKY - it gets into the mid 70s.

It'll be in the 80s again on Friday - but until then - holy cats. Amber and I are just MELTING. We're slow, sluggish, and really just trying to stay hydrated, and likely sweating off pound after pound.

Weather permitting, the week will END strong.

Meanwhile, I'm going to take a COOL shower. Have lots of business stuff happening today - YAY!

Oh yeah - and Fee, Justin, Matt - we NEED to schedule some time for a Team Voice meal (or meals) together before or after the race. What do you guys wanna do? When does everyone arrive and leave? Where is everyone staying?

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Saddles - and getting back in them...

It's all coming together - professionally and personally.

This week I have two major goals PERSONALLY.

1) Get back to eating healthy good foods in proper portions.

2) Exercise five times between today and next monday - two times with EA Active - and three times outside on the road.

I also have a bunch of professional goals, not the least of which is to - GET THE OFFICE OPEN.

Regardless. I feel like I'm getting wind in my sails, and a push in the right direction here. I have FIVE weekends before I head to Anaheim. And I am GOING to succeed there. And you are all going to be there to share in the success. Some personally, some virtually, but the Voice is going to overcome these hurdles, and push forward to be even better for himself, his family, and his little Elizabeth!

It's all about getting back on the horse after being quickly, suddenly, and violently bucked off.

HI HO SILVER!

(Did I really just go there?)

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A Simple Life

Remember when life was simpler? When the joy of your day was getting to go down to Ritter's Pond and feed Ritz crackers to ducks and birds? When you didn't have to worry about bills, or leases, or malpractice insurance, or loans, or promissory notes? When you were fit just because you were an active kid?

Yeah. Me too.

So - we've secured funding. We're borrowing money from family unless we can make a bank see reason on Monday. It's a real loan though - 12 months WITH interest. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Now I have to find an office space. Get equipment. Malpractice insurance. A website (do any of you guys do web development? Search Engine Optimization? I'm looking for someone who is professional - fear not - you WILL get paid! LOL). Clients. A way to pay a loan back. LOL

And of course, the weight loss couldn't possibly have been a true 3+ pounds in 2 days. A half pound came back to visit. This is why I was only weighing in once a week.

And oh yeah - is anyone else having a HORRIBLE allergy season? Waking up with painful throat? Coughing early morning and at night? Ugh.

But fear not - I have my head up - I've registered my domain - I have leads on everything I'm looking for - and I've got another workout scheduled tomorrow and Sunday - leading up to a 3 mile outside training session on Monday.

I can't wait for Disneyland. I've SO earned this trip. And this race will be about overcoming all this stuff. It might even be more emotional than WDW.

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Duality

Good news, my friends. I'm down 3.2 pounds already this WEEK! I'm heading back in the right direction! I'm dealing with some SUPER bad allergies and dry throaty stuff - but dealing with it - and getting back in the habit of exercising. This week I'm doing various exercise activities, and on Monday I get back to a wogging routine.

Now the bad news. The bank we were going to work with decided that although we have fantastic credit, and a great business prospect, because we haven't worked with them in the past, they won't even give us a credit card. Is the economy THIS bad?

I have a few other options - and will be seeing a few more banks today - and then if worst comes to worst - borrowing from my family. I just don't want to have to do that. I want to work on establishing business credit. But alas. One door shuts.

That's okay - I'll open another. :)

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Shock and Awe

I'm not sure whether I'm shocked that over the last month I've put on six pounds, or shocked that over the last month I've ONLY put on six pounds. LOL

Regardless - six pounds it is. And it is unacceptable. So now that the shock of losing my job is gone, the stress of moving the parents is gone, and we're on our way to building a new firm (which is stressful, but in a whole different way - more fun really), it's time to get back to the business of ME.

No more eating out. No more pizza and burgers and cheesy bread. No more huge pasta dinners. Time to go back to portions, healthy meals, and oh yes, exercise. Rest assured, friends. I have 49 days until DLR, and I will still be thinner, fitter, and faster. It just means I'm going to work harder and harder to get there.

The fact is, now that I don't feel weighed down by some of the things that have been really bothering me for months, I feel like I can be even more successful. Isn't that weird? I've taken a few steps back, but I feel poised to start a huge SPRINT forward!

On a side note. I'm reading "Designing Disney" by John Hensch. Wow. Really - if you can get it from your library or bookstore - I highly recommend it. Just seeing the level of thought and detail that went into the creation of the parks - more so than I realized - helps me visualize how I want a business to run. How I want to create MY reality.

This is going to be fun folks! But do me a favor - keep your fingers crossed - we find out tomorrow if we got bank funding. :)

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Courage

Danger? I laugh in the face of danger - I walk on the wild side! Ha ha ha ha ha!

It's been a crazy week. We've been busy.

Between getting my parents and grandmother settled, and focusing on planning what's next, I'm beat.

But we've made significant progress, I believe. We have a name for the business, a mission statement, have applied for a business license, have a federal tax ID number, and more. We're well on our way to welcoming our first clients. Now we just need an office and some money to pay bills and rent! LOL

Regardless, things are coming along. We're going to register some domains today - and keep building our foundation.

I'm a bit freaked out at times, but we're keeping it together. It's like - I realized yesterday - that we're kind of flying without a net. Exciting - but scary.

Speaking of excitement - I'm allowing myself to be excited for Disneyland. And I'm going to start training again Monday morning. I will not let this derail me. In fact, I have NO excuse now not to get out there. So rest assured - we'll take stock, and move forward.

Thank you all for your continued love and support. I mean it. It means a ton to me.

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What a week....

I'm finally home. But oh man - what a week.

Today will be a short post catching you guys up to where I am right now - and then the next few posts will be further updates.

Let me first say that Disneyland is STILL ON.

My parents and grandmother are HERE in Seattle now. It was stressful helping them pack up and dealing with their fears and worries, but it worked. My grandmother is a bit more feeble and elderly than I was expecting - but I believe that the Assisted Living facility will still accept her today. If not - then I have to find her a nursing home. FAST.

But the "best" part of my trip happened Thursday night right after getting there. I'd mentioned that I'd been tired and stressed about things lately - but had been kinda vague. The fact is that things at work had been going not the greatest. I won't go into specifics here (if you want to know, feel free to e-mail me personally - but this is a public forum, and it's not appropriate for me to go into the specifics). Regardless, Thursday night - I got an e-mail telling me I'd lost my job effective immediately (I was formally laid off).

So I've had a hard week overall.

But - we have plans. And it may very well be that I'll be opening my own law firm very soon. Things are unsure in that vein. But I'm not really sure that I'd go work for anyone again.

Today and tomorrow I have to deal with getting my family settled, and then I have to divert my energy to figuring out how to make a living again.

Don't worry though - training and AATM will not suffer. Anaheim is still happening, and I'm still focused on my goals. In fact, I might find them EASIER to accomplish. We'll see. I'll talk more about then in the coming days. But I wanted you all to know - because you guys are part of my support system.

Anyhow - have to shower and go get the family. :)

Oh yeah - and it's good to be home. ;)

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Ultrasound II

I still can't describe to you how awesome these ultrasound thingies are.

Yesterday's was awesome.

First a quick update. I'm feeling a little better - pretty sure it's allergies working overtime and not actual illness. Which is good. I leave tomorrow morning for Oklahoma, and will be back on Monday - but dealing with the folks until Thursday when I go back to work.

And then - hopefully things go back to some sense of normalcy. LOL

Okay - first piece of news from the Ultrasound.

We confirmed it. Elizabeth IS in fact, a girl.

Okay - so here's what you're looking at. The two circles on the left side that look like a separated snowman are her knees. The arrow is pointing at a white dot. Just above and below the dot, if you look hard, you can see two lines. I'll spare you the terminology that the sonographer used. Let's just say - these are GIRLIE parts! :)
We got a great profile shot, where you can see the SKIN of her nose and lips and chin. See how at the top of her face it looks like there's a transparent double-image? That's skin!!!
And now her face is towards you. You can see the eye sockets, the nose bones. This is what they call the Skeletor look. :)

We also got to see her YAWNING in real time on the sonogram! Awesome stuff.

I am BEYOND jazzed about this, folks. And I can't wait to meet her!!!

Okay - off to work! Have a great day! When I get back from Oklahoma, we'll be gearing up full blast for Disneyland!

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Sick

Well something got me again guys. It might be allergies, or a little bug, but regardless, I feel like crud today (and frankly since Sunday).

I have to focus on getting better so I can keep my work getting done, and be healthy for my folks.

On the bright side (yes, with all the stress I have right now - there IS a bright side) - today is Amber's birthday - and we get to see Elizabeth on the ultrasound again! YAY!

Regardless, thanks for sticking with me - I'll be updating more regularly once I'm back from Oklahoma, I promise!

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Independance

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Today is a special day for us - and it's one that often goes overlooked in lieu of barbecues, fireworks, and parties.

Let's not forget that over 200 years ago today a group of men signed a document that immediately made them traitors. And helped form this nation.

And it was formed on a notion that rings true today - even here - in Team Voice.

The notion of working together for a common goal against a common enemy.

As Benjamin Frankly opined: "If we do not hang together, then we will most definitely hang separately."

It's true for us too. Don't lose sight of your teammates, your goals, your fight.

I sure haven't.

Things get back to "normal" around here on Monday - just in time for me to leave for a few days to Oklahoma. But I'll be back quickly - and keep on track. Things at work are a little crazy right now - and between my parents, Elizabeth (the bean), and general life stress, things are a little out of control. But every day that goes by, I wrangle things back under control more.

And before you know it - we'll be seeing each other in Disneyland! How cool is THAT?

So - enjoy your day, friends. But remember where it came from while you eat that hot dog.

Oh yeah - and have a fire extinguisher nearby for the fireworks. :)

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Happy Canada Day

I want to wish all my friends in the Great White North a Happy Canada Day!

If you don't know what Canada day is - think Fourth of July - only in Canada.

I also want to thank ALL of you for your support and comments. Gosh it meant a lot to see all your praise for what I consider to be an awful race performance. LOL

Rest assured, I'll be training for a 15 minute pace in DLR. I'll also have better shoes, and more water on the course. And I will not be swept.

I've been pretty much resting the last three days, letting my legs (and my shoulders for some reason) work themselves out through normal daily activity.

Tomorrow I go back to EA Active and turn up the difficulty. And the challenge that is July begins. Until the 9th, things should proceed normally. Hopefully once I'm back from Oklahoma, things will settle into a nice groove, and we'll make some great progress - both in terms of weight, and speed.

Can you believe the PNW MouseMeet is 45 days away!?!? I've gotten GREAT stories from folks (Mary - your stories are AWESOME!) - so keep them coming! I want to have lots more pictures to include in my slideshow!

And DLR is less than 70 days away at this point. How awesome is that?!?!

Time to start thinking about ADRs and AATM Meets. :)

Suggestions?

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