210 !!!

After my 4.5 mile run today, I weighed in at 210. Whew! I've now lost over 40 pounds and I still have at least 20 more to go. I've really kept up a good pace as far as not plateauing and not going anywhere. I cracked 220 just a little over a month ago. Eating better and exercise is the way I'm going.

With that being said, here's what Laura and I ate over this past weekend.


So good...

And here's a little photo update. The top photo was right around 240#. The bottom is about 213# or so.

Kaden's Finger Update

We had another visit to the doctor and his finger is doing well. Now we just have to keep it cleaned (as much as a 1 1/2 year old can keep a clean finger) and we'll be back in two months for a follow up visit. His new nail is already growing out and everything should heal up just fine with full use of the finger.

Amateur MMA Fight

A few friends and I made our way down to Bellefontaine tonight after some dinner at Ralphie's. The fight was put on my the local gym ran by Scott "Iron Tiger" Sheeley. There were 17 fights with three of them being kick boxing and one between two girls.

We all bought "ring side" tickets and enjoyed about three hours of fights. I'd guesstimate there were about 1,200-1,500 people there total. Both sides of the high school gym stands were full and the floor was covered in chairs and tables that were full. It was packed.

I'm looking forward to another one of these.

Friday Room Update

Well, I haven't done much on the room this week due to being gone for most of it. However, Laura got the first layer of paint applied while I was gone and we are planning the second (and last) coat tonight or tomorrow which will give it some kind of textured pattern. I don't know - I just work here.

Here is a pano of the room, my after blowing insulation last weekend and what the overhang looks like. You can see the can lights and ceiling fan mounts. Should be sweet!

Back From Delaware

I had to go to Delaware for a few days for a work related issue. One of my customers put on a small, one-day trade show, so I showed up to help answer questions about our product. It seems we all did very well and the trip was most definitely worth the time.

I stayed at the University of Delaware's Courtyard by Marriott, which was pretty nice - big rooms, exercise room and a good pool/spa area. However, not much else around, so I was glad to have a rental.


The only real meal I ate there was at Bertucci's Brick Oven Ristorante. I found this place last year when I did the same show and it was fantastic. I hit it pretty hard ordering the sausage soup, three cheese focaccia, pep and sausage pizza and diet Coke. Oh man - I was hurting. Totally worth it and I think this place would do very well in Easton.


Both of my flights there were late and the one coming back from CLE to CMH was late for de-icing. I spent entirely too much time at airports on this trip. Ugh.

Sunday Room Addition Update

Well, things are getting closer and closer. The drywallers finished the walls and ceiling on Thursday. It was all mudded and sanded and only required a wipe-down. Saturday morning, my dad, mom and I blew insulation into the attic above the room. Laura wiped down the walls and prepped it for primer and Kaden ran circles in the room. He approves.


Sunday will a long day of priming the walls. It was longer for Laura since she trimmed it all and then did another coat. Ugh. Way to go, Laura! Also, we noticed that the gutters are done, so apparently in the last week or so, those guys came and did their thing. I hadn't noticed.

Anyway, now on to flooring, wall paint and, uhh... trim? We're just about there. I hope to be ready to watch the Super Bowl in a ready-to-roll room. Time will tell.

Update:

Here's my dad during the festivities...

Flight to Louisville, KY

I had a meeting in Louisville today for work and decided that flying would be the best way to do it. How else?!?!

I left the house around 10am and landed in Louisville (KLOU) around 12:15pm. That beats a 4-4.5 hour drive! I rented a little car and drove to Frankfort Ave. and ate some lunch at El Mundo. They have some great fish tacos. I found the restaurant on an online Louisville restaurant guide.




After a successful meeting, I loaded up and headed back to the airport. I was airborne around 4:15p and was landing in Bluffton at 5:30p. I averaged about 155 knots GS. (I averaged ~145 knots GS on the way down @ 8000'.)

Great day overall and I sure needed to get back in the air. It had been 2.5 weeks.

To check out all of the photos, just click here.

Kaden's Doctor's Appointment

Kaden did good at his doctor's appointment. The doc said everything looked good and to keep it covered for another two weeks when there will be another visit.

Since some of the finger pictures are gross, you have to click here to see them.

Kaden At Grandma & Grandpa's

Kaden spent the day today with Justin and Crystal and then with Grandma and Grandpa W. He had a good supper of ravioli and fruit and then relaxed after that. Don't worry...he only had milk to drink.

Who's The Man?

Kaden lets you know who the man is. (And it ain't daddy!)

To view the video, just click here.

Ready For Drywall

Tonight we finished all the wiring for drywall at 8:30a on Monday. Laura's dad did all the inside work over this past week (electrical, insulation, etc) and I ran speaker wire on Friday and had to fix it over the weekend.

Finally it's ready. Check out all the room addition photos by clicking here.

Kaden On The Phone

Over the past few days, Laura has worked an evening shift, so Kaden spends some time on the phone with her before bedtime. He's been walking around the house with my cell, talking to her for five minutes or more about who knows what. They sure made for cute photos.

Also, on Friday evening, Kaden decided it was a long week and thought he'd put his feet up just like mommy does.

Be sure and check out all the photos by clicking here. There are some major cute ones.

Kaden's Finger Saga

Well, we knew it be sometime. Last night, Kaden had to be taken to the ER for an injury. We were at Stan & Kristen's house relaxing after a delicious meal of lasagna. To make a long story short, Kaden's finger got closed in a bathroom door. Right after it happened, it looked like it almost took 1/2" off the end.

We rushed him to the ER at LMH and, since my wife and mom work there, a hand specialist was already on his way before we got there. They decided to take him to surgery and put him under. They had to put the nail back in the nail bed and use stitches to put everything back together. Nothing got broke or torn, so that is the good news. In six months, you won't be able to tell.

Kaden was doing well today and it really hasn't slowed him down. He's taking his antibiotics since the bone was exposed and he's also on the Tylenol to keep the pain down. He's got a little wrap on it for a week when we go back for a check-up. He was a trooper throughout and has been great.

First two photos are not long after getting to the hospital. The third is right before going to surgery with temporary gauze with mommy holding him.

Monday Room Update

As of this afternoon, two of the three new walls have siding. The third side should be getting some more pasted on it Tuesday if all goes to plan. Check out the progress in the gallery.

Inside, we are doing more and more wiring and have the drywaller lined up to do that once we finish wiring and putting the insulation in. Woohoo!

Check out the full album by clicking here.

215 - Over 35 Pounds Lost

Today, after my 4.5 mile run, I weighed in at just over 215 pounds on the digital scale.

Woohoo!

Kaden At The BK Lounge

After some TV and speaker shopping on the west end of town, Kaden and I stopped at BK for some chicken and hot, tasty French fries. He was enjoying his food and flirting with pretty much any girl he saw that was under 80. (That's right - eight zero.)

Working Man Kaden

Looks like while I'm at work, the ladies put Kaden to work in his thick jacket and STIHL hat with some tape. That's OK, when I'm home, he picks the camera back up and goes back to his artistic self.

Check out all the photos by clicking here.

Thursday Room Update

Today was a big day for the room. As you can see, the windows and outside door were installed in just a couple of hours. Next should be siding and getting the overhang done and it should be ready for an inside. The inside has lots of wires already and still needs a lot more. It'll get there!

Check out all the room updates by clicking here.

2007 Goals

Here is my official list of 2007 Goals so that I can have something to go back to on December 31, 2007. I'll try my hardest to get them, as they are all very attainable.

• Run 500 miles
• Run at least one race (5K, etc) for fun
  
• Fly 100 PIC hours and earn my Commercial
  
• Weigh under 200 pounds (before June)
  

(I reserve the right to add more goals at the year goes on.)

Kaden's Vespa

Kaden got a little Vespa this year from Grandma Carol and John. He's been riding it a lot around the house. It's pretty cute to see him use the little forward/reverse shifter to get out of a jam and then hold the horn in. I'm sure he'll be an aggressive driver when he's older. Anyway, here's a little peek at him cruising the kitchen.

Check out the video on YouTube by clicking here.

Happy New Year 2007 !

We went over to the Szuch's again this year to ring in the new year. After enjoying some Pizza Hut, playing in the basement with the kiddies and some Xbox 360, 2007 arrived quickly. We enjoyed some kisses and sparkling cider and hit the road for home.

It was a great night and hope to do this in our new room next year.

You can see all the photos by clicking here.