10/21/08

Well, one month down and only one goal checked off. Rough start, but I still feel like I am on track. I'm running 3 miles four days a week, doing my push-ups, taekwondo classes, and eating right so at this pace I should be in the best shape of my life fairly soon. The only problem is that this is one goal that is hard to quantify. I will just have to go by feel and check it off when my gut (pun intended) tells me I'm there.
I had an opportunity to check off one yesterday, but I chickened out. I ran into a Cottonmouth in the woods while I was putting up a stand - actually I almost stepped on it. I grabbed a long stick and moved him around a little to watch his reaction - nothing, so I figured it was time to man up. I broke the stick down to about a foot long and my intention was to hold his head to the ground and gently slide my hand behind his head. O MY GOD! Before I could even get the stick close, he struck at it with such speed and force that my heart stopped beating and my life flashed before my eyes. If that stick would have been 4 inches shorter I would be typing this from the hospital with just my left hand. After I gained my composure, I gently laid the stick down on the ground and explained to this snake that today is his lucky day, I have way too much to do, but if I had the time I would certainly teach him a lesson. Then I tucked my tail between my legs and walked back to my truck to retrieve my toilet paper... I might need to re-think this one.
On the getting out of debt goal, we are making good progress. The way I have it figured, we should have no revolving debt by December '09. Of course this assumes no unforeseen emergencies pop up and we can stay focused and disciplined enough. Time will tell.

Gotta get to work, will update again soon.

Update

OK, so its been three weeks and I am still on track. I have checked off one item and I am pretty close to checking off another - I am handling 30 push-ups pretty good and sure that I should be at 50 by next week...
Taekwondo is alot more challenging that I had originally thought, which is great because I am all about challenges right now...
I started walking on the treadmill in the mornings last week, and now I am walking 20 minutes and running 20. I recall being able to run 2 miles when I was younger (much younger), so I would like to beat that distance as well...
I have chosen my poems and I have the first one, the longest, just about memorized. In case you were wondering the poems are: IF by Rudyard Kipling and INVICTUS by William Ernest Henley. This is one of those goals that seem odd to want to do and I really can't explain why, so lets just chalk it up to quirkiness...
I have got to get to the hunting land this week so I can get the fields ready for deer season. Nothing, and I mean nothing, would make me happier than to see my boys get their first deer. There is no other feeling like it in the world and I have looked forward to that day since they were born. It will be their first step toward man-hood in my eyes. To know that you can go out and hunt an animal and bring back food for the table to feed your family, oh man don't get me started. It sure beats being the "gatherer" of the tribe...
I took and minute (well a second really) and counted up the states I have been to. Are you ready for the grand total? 9. That's right, I have only stepped foot on 9 states. If my math is correct, I have to see 41 states in 35 months. That may turn out to be my hardest goal of all. But then again, I love a good challenge.

OUCH!

Well, first adult taekwondo class is over and I am starting to get my legs back together. M was sick so she did not go with me - yes, I am holding that against her for a little while. We did one hour of these so called "hard-core stretches", I had no idea my body could move in that direction. One positive is that I can reach over and touch my toes at any time now, so I can finally check off the first item on my list. Only 39 more to go...