Month: September 2016

Why I Still Use Outdated Technology

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I’ll never forget the moment I pulled out my phone to send a text and my friend Matt was like, “What is that???”  His eyes lit up in amazement. I was surprised and asked why the befuddlement.  He thought it was strange that I had a keyboard on my phone.  He made it seem like my phone was a dinosaur. I guess with the way technology moves with its constant upgrades, I don’t keep up with the tech wave like most people around me do.

So here’s a list of some of my low tech favorites:

Keyboard on the phone

boost-samsung-transformultra-keyboard-lg

Yes I love a keyboard on my phone.  I love not having to get a spell check for every single word I type.  I have control and it is similar to typing on a keyboard.  I’ve been typing on a keyboard since I was in elementary school and I’ve been conditioned that way.  I also have big fingers so it sucks when you are typing on the surface of a phone or tablet and you misspell words constantly.  I also don’t need the constant suggestions! I am a former a spelling bee champ, so I’m very confident with my spelling skills.  Just sayin’! I just love my keyboard so I’m kind of sad to see that Blackberries are now going extinct.  But are all keyboards gone for other brands of smartphones???

MP3 Player – Sansa Clip

sandisk-sansa-plus-03

My darling wife bought me an iPod for Valentine’s Day 2014.  I have yet to use it.  Why? Because I like using my Sansa Clip MP3 player.  The Sansa Clip was outdated when I bought it in 2010. I know that the iPod is way better but I’m a little hesitant to pledge an allegiance to Apple.  I once owned an iPod and I had to replace it twice at the hint of mist.  It was annoying and buying a replacement was very expensive.  I guess with that experience I rather keep my wife’s iPod in its case because I don’t want to go to the Apple Store to deal with a bunch of geniuses again.  The Sansa Clip, which I have never heard of before, works and doesn’t die at the first hint of mist or a drop of water or even accidentally washing it in the washer machine.  The thing works and the one time it did die on me, it was practically 3 years old.  So wear and tear versus mist, you be the judge! So let’s just say I’m loyal to this old thing right now and I guess if in case of an emergency, I’ll use the brand new iPod when I’ve decided to move on from the Sansa.

Printing out hotel confirmations, tickets, and directions

dotmatrix

I could just pull up the confirmation on my phone right? I guess this one definitely ages me out.  I guess there is something about viewing a document on a piece of paper rather than viewing it on the screen of your phone. It’s tangible for one and very reliable.  I have a strong argument about printing out map directions because I’ve proved to my wife that her phone can lose reception at random times.  It becomes handy to have a printed set of directions when your phone is no longer voicing directions.  AHA!  So take that Iphone or Samsung Galaxy or whatever gizmo you have!

I’m a little disappointed that ducats for sporting events are beginning to fade away too.  There is something about keeping a ticket for nostalgia.  I mean you can go on your phone and show off the barcode right?  Yes you could take photos and post them on social media but what happens when the cloud disappears or dies.  What happens when the day comes that nobody uses Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter, and your photos are in some sort of Myspace void?  Then the ticket comes in handy right? I believe the ticket is special because of its composition, the logos, and even the font used to describe what section you are sitting in.  I still have tickets to old Shea Stadium that I fully embrace now.  Hopefully they will be of value one day! lol

A BOOK!

bookshelf

I am not convinced on switching over to an e-book.  I’m sorry but I just love touching a book and having it sit on the bookshelf.  Granted it may collect dust if I’m not re-reading it but I still fancy them over an e-reader.  I just don’t feel the need to download a book.  I’m not suggesting everyone throw away their Kindles or Ipads but it’s just not for me.  Plus my main argument with e-readers is that they also get upgraded right away.  So why buy a Kindle when it will be outdated in a year or two?  A book doesn’t get outdated.  Editions will change, the cover may look nicer but it’s still the same text.  Besides, isn’t it nice to show off how well read you are? lol

That’s it for now but if you have some outdated tech that you like to use please share!

 

How To Not Fat

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“How To Not Fat” seems to be the theme for me and a lot of people.  It’s about making the right choices when it comes to eating and it can be pretty stressful.  When you begin a diet, you are motivated by the transformation to a former self or a new you but by Week 5 you’re ready to eat some cookies, ice cream, or a pepperoni pizza.  Fuck it! Fuck it all to hell!  I am craving sugar and grease!  (If you don’t get like that until Week #35, then good for you.  You’re better than me and you deserve a cookie!)

Jennifer and I know the struggles of avoiding sugar and eating bad foods.  It truly is a drug, you can be off of it for months and then Thanksgiving & Christmas come along and you take a bite out of a pumpkin pie or a greasy NY pizza slice and you’re ready to binge.  I didn’t know what eating healthy was until I met Jennifer in 2013.  Before Jennifer, my diet consisted of fast food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Sometimes I would go on a “diet” and eat frozen meals that were low on calories but high on sodium or eat a salad at a Wendy’s.  Now salads are good but not when you’re pouring dressing on the salad like you are literally dressing them up to go somewhere nice to eat. It was more of a soup than a salad. lol  Looking back, that salad and my diet became null & void.  I also had no problem telling people I’m going to McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Dominos, Wings N Things, Pollo Campero, Subway, Checkers, Sonic, Jack In The Box or any local pizza joint.  Of course, I would wash it down with a Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi.  Nothing wrong with that right?  I figured if I kept active, it would all work itself out.  I also didn’t drink an ounce of water either.  This had been something I had been doing since I was a kid.  Water was just foreign to me.

I carried this habit once I started college and didn’t realize this was a problem until a couple of years ago and I think a lot had to do with moving to Washington D.C.  There aren’t a lot of fast food joints readily available like they are in Houston, Texas or Long Island, NY.  I started to notice that maybe I need to avoid fast food when I started getting weird looks about where I would want to eat.  And I was like, “Why are people too good for McDonalds???  I mean Filet-O-Fish is 2 for $5 during Lent! It’s amazing!”  I also noticed that I had to drive very far to get to a nearby Wendy’s or a Burger King.  D.C. has a lot of fancy, trendy restaurants and this is the city where everyone has some sort of status.  So why would someone with status go to a McDonalds, right?  Also the people of D.C. love to flaunt their alma maters.  So why would someone with a degree eat a Big Mac, right?  It’s beneath them, it’s beneath many in D.C.’ers.  Well to be clear, McDonalds or any fast food would be beneath the transient D.C.’ers.  The locals who grew up in the area seemed to love fast food too, especially hidden gems like Horace and Dickeys. It’s the best fry fish place in DC!  They also showed me the nearby Papa Johns, the hidden Checkers on Capitol Hill, and many other places where you had to be in the know.  Ben’s Chili Bowl was a tourist trap and everyone who knew that I had a penchant for greasy food, told me to avoid that place. They were right, that place wasn’t anything special. lol

It took a long time for me to really assess that eating out all the time was no bueno.  Once Jennifer and her mother finally pressed me to work on lowering my blood pressure to a normal level, it started to sink in a bit.  I was a “walking heart attack” to my doctors and for years I managed to convince them that I would work on it.  I didn’t want to take any pills and I convinced myself that if I exercised and cut some of the crap, I would lower it.  I was wrong and I never lasted long on my crash diet.  The numbers fluctuated and I could tell you that the bottom number was always above 120.  I think the highest I ever saw my BP was 210/140.  How am I still alive???

I was conditioned to believe that there is nothing wrong with loving food.  I believed eating everything you had on your plate and since I wasn’t really getting body shamed, I felt no guilt, especially when I lived in Houston.  I would run, lose some of the weight, and feel good about myself.  There were times where I did lose a significant amount of weight but my diet would still be as bad and I would overlook it based on the numbers on the scale.  Even though I felt fit and looked it, my BP was still off the charts.  I didn’t think about changing my eating habits until I had severe Plantar Fasciitis.  At one point, I was playing soccer, running 3 miles a day, and playing other sports with friends during the week and my body just couldn’t take it anymore.  I was now 34 years old and I couldn’t run anymore.  Walking was very painful.  After a few weeks of inactivity, I knew then that I had to start doing things differently as I couldn’t run my weight away anymore. I reluctantly started Weight Watchers and learned from Jenny different exercises that would help build muscle.  Once I started tracking down everything I ate, it finally hit me.  I have been guilty of overeating and not taking the time to enjoy a well portioned meal.  Once that started, I was able to focus on avoiding sugar and over indulging.  No more 2nds or 3rds!  It was a lengthy process but I was able to get through and see results.  My blood pressure started to dip down to levels that were still high but not to the level that they were before.  I’m at a constant battle of trying to keep the weight down and staying on track with dieting.  It truly is a lifestyle change.  I just have to always stay on track and it’s tough because of the holidays, visiting family, or just a craving that won’t go away.  It’s something that I will have to tackle from now on and have the support from friends and family.

I have to give credit to Jennifer and her mother, Jenny.  Jenny is all about fitness and eating right.  She’s very fit and full of energy.  Granted she can get upset about a minor joke but it’s all in fun.  The great thing about them both is that they are understanding about when you get off track on a diet and are extremely supportive on getting you back on your feet.  Of course there’s some ribbing during family events but it’s good to not feel so guilty when you get off track and gain some weight.  That’s the frustrating part is when you know you’ve gone off track and notice the weight gain.  This summer was a bit brutal.  Family vacation to Myrtle Beach, eating whatever, then eating a lot of BBQ and some sweets throughout the months of July and August and boom, 12 pounds gained.  As of now, I’ve shed about 7 pounds.  I started to get back on track after Labor Day weekend and so far I’m doing well.  I’m a little worried about Thanksgiving but I think I’ll be in better shape to handle the temptations.

I remember when I was a teenager that could eat whatever and would never gain weight.  It was frustrating for me back then because I wanted to get bigger and I didn’t want people to assume that I was a stick.  I just didn’t realize that I was burning calories consistently based on my activities.  I had an idea that I was eating bad back then when I wouldn’t do much on the weekends and go to soccer practice on a Monday and feel really sluggish.  I always felt a bit slower and knew that my body wasn’t in the shape it should be in until the middle of the week.  I guess once I gained my Freshman 15 in college, I wish I could have educated myself on what not to eat.  The idea that you could just burn off the weight and keep yourself in shape stuck with me from high school on.  Now I realize that is just part of it.  I hope to instill what I’ve learned the last three years to my kids and hope they can avoid all that junk.  If they do eat it, I would hope that they don’t get consumed by it like I was.

I didn’t want to make this into a long post but I guess the more I think about it, there is a lot I could not ignore.  I could write a long lengthy story, detailing this journey but I’ll wrap it up here.  I am not patting myself in the back because I’m trying to eat better now, I would say that I’ve learned and finally embraced a new idea.  Being stubborn could have cost me a heart attack. Being stubborn has left me wondering if I’ve damaged my body to the point where I might not recover.  I worry about my kidneys and hope they don’t fail.  I hope there will be a time where I don’t have to worry about my blood pressure anymore.  I want to grow old and I hope I can get there.  I hope to stay on track.

The Dad Moment

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My son was born last year and of course, my life changed forever.  When my son was born, I honestly couldn’t believe it.  I was thinking, here is this little being who is going to call me “Dad” one day.  What is this going to be like?  I didn’t even know what to do when I physically saw him for the first time.  I just touched him with my finger to see if he’s real!  It was just too surreal and for some reason, the first 24 hours with Nik felt like a dream.

The first couple of days, the first few weeks were memorable.  He was so tiny, he took a lot of cat naps, and seemed to be curious about his surroundings whenever his eyes were open.  I was learning everything I could about taking care of a newborn baby.  My friends and family were always asking me, “What’s it like being a Dad?”  “How do you feel now that you are a Dad?”  Honestly, I didn’t feel anything Dad-like during this time.  I was expecting it to hit me right away but I was consumed by making sure I was there for my family.  I wanted to make sure my wife and I were doing everything right in taking care of Nik.  We were learning what works best for Nik and following the outline of things to do and look out for from our pediatrician. A part of me felt like I was learning to babysit a new child.  I wasn’t panicking that I didn’t feel like a Dad but I figured it would hit me in time.  In the first couple of weeks of having Nik in the house, I thought about it whenever someone asked me that question otherwise it really wasn’t on the forefront of my mind.

I would say about 3 months or 4 months in, it finally happened.  I wish I would have recorded the date now looking back but the memory is still there.  It was early on a Saturday morning, around 4 or 5am when Nik started to cry.  Jennifer faintly said, “It’s your turn now.” and I was reluctant to get up.  I knew Jennifer was tired and had been up with him earlier so I had no choice but to get up.  I remember being so annoyed with Nik and I was like, “Alright, let’s do this.”  I knew he wasn’t hungry as Jennifer had given him a bottle when she was up with him.  So I figured he either had to be lulled back to sleep or needed a diaper change.  His diaper was full so I picked him up and took him to the changing table in the other room.  I turned on the light and put him on the changing table.  I was the only one that really used the changing table.  Jennifer and her mother would change him on the fly on the couch or on the bed.  I just needed to have all the diapers, wipes, and the Peepee Teepee around me so that I wouldn’t mess things up on the couch or the bed.  My fear was to have Nik pee all over me or all over the bed or couch.  If you don’t know what the Peepee Teepee is, it’s a cone shaped cloth that basically absorbs the pee in case your baby starts going while your changing them.  I only ended up using once, so I guess I got lucky. lol

Nik had calmed down when we got into the other room.  He was very calm when I put him on the changing table.  I remember taking off the soiled diaper and began grabbing the new diaper when all of a sudden a loud fart emerged.  He farts loud and I wake up instantly.  Up until that moment, I thought baby farts were supposed to be a soft noise, a cute noise, something associated with adorable and the phrase “awwwww”.  This was not adorable whatsoever.  This sounded like a man fart.  The type of fart you hear in a public men’s bathroom.  I was shocked and looked at Nik with astonishment.  I was very awake now.  I looked at Nik and was like, “Only a baby but farts like a grown man! I’m so proud of you!” and I start laughing uncontrollably.  My laugh was contagious that Nik starts laughing uncontrollably as well.  It was the first time that we had a moment like that.  I connected with him more than ever and it was the first time I had him laughing like that.  I wasn’t into making silly faces or silly noises.  Jennifer would make him laugh like that and she would tease me for not trying to do that with Nik.  I would get a smile from him from time to time but not a giggle.

After changing his diaper, I held him for a long time.  I remember looking directly at him and saying, “I love you son!”  I had woke up with an attitude and now I’m looking at my son and saying, “Every single moment I spend time with you is worth it!” with a giant grin on my face.  I remember not wanting to go back to sleep in that moment, I even wanted to wake up Jennifer for that moment but quickly realized she was too tired to be bothered.

I put Nik back to sleep in the bassinet and remember crawling back to bed.  I remember not falling asleep right away as I was so happy to have that moment with Nik. I couldn’t wait to tell Jennifer about it.  I remember being excited that I can finally answer my friends and family with a sincere response that made me feel proud to be a father.

Shark Tank, The Profit, and R. Kelly make me believe I can fly!

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My wife, Jennifer, loves to watch Shark Tank and The Profit.  I am always reluctant to watch but when I do, I get hooked.  I am starting to like The Profit more than Shark Tank because I just like Marcus Lemonis.  Marcus doesn’t fit the TV mold and I believe that he’s a no non-sense type of guy.  The Profit has done some follow ups where they will show businesses that Marcus invested in and have failed, which makes me buy into the show more.  After watching The Profit and Shark Tank, I’m left thinking about the people who are profiled on the show.  They will tell their story of how they got started and how passionate they are about the product they are selling.  I’m amazed by their motivation and their passion for their work.  I’m left wondering, what exactly is my passion?  I’m still drawing a blank.

Who doesn’t want to be the boss of their own company?  Who doesn’t want to set their own hours?  Who doesn’t want to live out their dream of becoming a success? Who doesn’t want to fly their own jet, buy random cars, and live lavishly?  I do!!!  But I’m still drawing a blank.  I don’t really have a product to sell.  I don’t have an idea for something useful. I don’t have something I want to create anywhere in my mind. Anywhere! I also don’t know any geniuses that I can piggyback off of either.

I want to become that contestant so that I can become the next Profit!  I want to be the next Mark Cuban.  Shoot, I just want to be rich, and invest on some motivated geniuses so I can get richer.  I mean, that just sounds amazing and fun.  Sell me your pitch, let me see if you bullshitting me, maybe I’ll give you some money but you have to give me some of your soul too, let’s crunch the numbers…okay, let’s shake.  Let me be honest here, I don’t want to be Michael Jordan rich but if I can live off of $100k for the next 70 years, I would be more than okay with that.  I think once I’m 107 years of age, I can look back and say, this was an awesome ride and sleep in peace.

As much as I don’t like watching reality shows, these two shows do get me going and they make me believe.  That’s what matters right? Belief?  I still get a kick about the Squatty Potty or the thing that illuminates your toilet bowl at night.  I should have come up with that!  lol  Just like I should have come up with the lottery numbers too.  I have to admit, when I listen to R. Kelly’s I Believe I Can Fly, it does take me to a place that I’ve been thinking about since I was 13.  The thought of dunking on a basketball hoop that’s 10 feet up in the air. Now at 36, I’ll take 8.5 feet in the air while someone takes a photo and posting it on social media so that it looks like an impossible feat.  For a good 10 seconds while listening to I Believe I can Fly, I fly, and yell “I’M FLYING MOMMA!”  Now I’m back at my desk trying to figure how to make some money!

Update: I’ve invested in Acorns. Slowly but surely folks!

Best Views Ever: 1 view on March 22nd 2016

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It is now September 21st and I’m finally making an attempt to write a blog. I had some ambition in March.  I had the idea to want to start blogging and maybe write a children’s book or a pop-up book.  Six months later, I’m starting to blog.  How about that!  I don’t feel so shitty now.

It is just about 6 months later and a lot has changed since March.  In April, after a long court battle, my wife, Jennifer, won full custody of her daughter and she now lives with us full time.  I call Jennifer my wife even though we’re not officially married.  I also say my wife because if I do anything stupid, I’m pretty much sleeping on the couch or in my car and she has to the power to burn the house down.  The household also includes my son, Nik, who turned one in May and now my 12 year old step-daughter, Danielle.

I’ve decided to start writing.  I need to start somewhere and I want to see what this blogging world is like.  I feel like the word “blogging” is an outdated term that some 67 year old says after they’ve retired from some government job.  “So how’s retirement Marie?  Oh it’s wonderful, I’m getting on my computer and blogging about my travels, it’s so wonderful!”  Fucking wonderful!  It’s like dancing on top of a mountain like the lady from The Sound of Fucking Music.  Blogging just sounds so uncool.  It’s as uncool like when I say, “You and your teenage world.” to my step-daughter.  She really hates me saying that.  I do it because I want to sound like a teacher trying to be “down” with their students and also to annoy her.  I guess I’m going to write about whatever comes to mind.  I hearken back to my Myspace writing days.  They were fun and full of creativity.  I hope to catch some of that now.  It’s been 10 years since I’ve done that.  So maybe I should call it “Re-living My Myspace Days Again” instead of blogging.  Now that sounds really old.

I’m going to write about something I’m passionate about, either in the moment, in the present, things I’m thinking about for the future, and other random stuff.  I’m going to incorporate random pop culture references, pictures, videos, and something unique.  I don’t know what that uniqueness is but I’ll start with one follower, probably my wife, and build it up to our family members.  Force them to read this.  Then I’ll add my friends.  Force them to read this.  Then post on Facebook of my newest piece!  Then force those “friends” to goddamn read it.  I’ll try to garner a following of maybe 50.  Then maybe 100.  Then maybe 200k followers.

Now I’m pumped. Soon, I will have to re-read that paragraph to get hyped again.  Motivation is something that I will try to work on.  I will do my best to not disappoint the fan base.