Procrastinating Thoughts

I have to apologize for not posting very often. (Here comes the excuses) Actually I am going to use the only excuse that I have.....I'm Lazy.....There I said it...now you know. I could have wrote something but in my head I have justified not writing with ideas like..".I have just been too busy to write" And in all actuality I just blew it off and watched America has Talent on the Boob Tube. Or I will do what I do best...Procrastinate...I have this down to a science now. I have been doing it for many years now and I am serious when I say that I could make a college course from the knowledge I have on the subject. Its either that or sarcasm...I think I could teach a class or to on that subject too.
Here's a couple things that have been happening in my life that is worth mentioning. First is the Taylor has FINALLY graduated from Western Michigan University...and I could not be any happier or prouder.I always told her that I did not care how long she took to do it ...I just never thought she would test me on it. :)  She has a wonderful job in her Telecommunications Field,  that she likes and just got a nice promotion in the last week....so I am very Proud of her for sticking to it and getting it done and I am Happy because she can now start paying some of her own bills. :)
The other really exciting thing happening is that Kim and I have started a outdoor project. We will redo our over grown back yard landscape project from 10 years ago (its only overgrown because I have been so busy.....Not!! ) but we will be putting a garden next year....this year we will just get it all ready and will be putting in raised boxes so it  wont be so hard on our backs bending over to pick all the delicious vegetables that we will be growing. That  is only one of the projects that I have to get done this year, others include making a dock with my neighbor and another is putting down that yucky black stuff on the driveway (can you tell my dislike for this job?) Seems like every time I do it I end up ruining my shoes , pants and shirt and I really think I hate it more than I hate painting.
I know I am rambling but I was watching Americas Got Talent and they had this sword swallowing female on there and she said something very funny...she said she thinks that her talent his hereditary...Now all I could think was...Hmmm I wonder what your Mother did for a living? Prostitute? I mean really...the ability to swallow a sword is definitely not hereditary....I am pretty sure you have to learn how to do that...and in spite of the fact that this girl looked like a man with hooters....I am sure she has the ability to make her man (if she has one) very happy.

Ok I'm back now from that tangent...sorry where was I? Oh yeah I was diverting myself from making something to eat...I'm starving. I really want to lose weight before the Grim Crim race in August. My hope is that it will be easier if I am lighter. Its kind of like thinking that you can run faster with a new pair of tennis shoes. (Which I still think every time I buy a new pair) But I think I am going to need every advantage I can get just to finish the dang event. I just realized that I am procrastinating going to bed. So I think I will call it a night. Night

Like Father.... Like Son

You look just like your Father....I hear it all the time. And its true....I do. I have his hair, smile, and natural good looks (Yes...I just said that) We even have the same sense of humor. However....There is this one thing  that I hope I didn't inherit from him. The ability to say"I'm proud of you" to my kids.And this is why I wrote this....please keep in mind that I Love my Dad very much....he dedicated his life to raising six kids after my mother left when I was twelve. So I don't want this to sound that I don't Love and appreciate who he is and what he has done for me. Nuff said!!!!

My Dad

 I had heard that my Dad didn't really care for my Blog. My immediate reaction was that I don't write it my blog because I want his approval. However, my next reaction was....what didn't he like about it? Huh?...I didn't want his approval but I want to know his thoughts on it? Hmmm..maybe I did want it. But it made me think if I ever really had my Dads approval on anything I have done in my life. I cant really think of I time when I ever had heard him say how Proud he was of me. Isn't that our goal in life....to make our parents proud? It kinda is...I think...and to grow up your whole life trying to prove something to people that you seek it from...can put you on the dysfunctional side of living.
(I have mastered that part of life.)
 But it starts with the things that you say....you will look at them for their approval. Then it slowly moves into to actions....and the next thing you know you are living your whole life hoping you get someones approval....only to find out that its not there.
I don't want to make my dad out to be some sort of non caring father who never gave a shit about his kids and never supported them....that's not what I am saying at all. My father was a very supportive man and would always give a word of advice or encouragement to any of us kids when he thought we needed it. He went to my wrestling matches and football games...I might have even seen him at a track meet once or twice. I wonder if I had went pro in football or made it big with singing if I would have heard those six words from him then?  My point to all this is....Why do I search out his approval all the time? He is not the kind of guy who would bluntly come out and say it anyway...he would say something like...that was really nice, or Good Job son ....something else but never..."I am so proud of you son".
I remember when I would sing at events like weddings or a baptism for a niece or nephew....My dad would say something about the song like..."Yeah...I could really understand every word you sang"....wow dad...Thanks I was hoping for a "That was Great Son"...or "I am so proud of you...you were Fantastic". instead I really just felt like saying....wow Dad...did you get a new hearing aid? (No he don't wear one...but at the time.,..I wished he did.)

My biggest Fear is that I might treat my own daughter the same way.I just hope that my daughter never feels like that. I hope that she always knows that I am proud of her....she doesn't have to become anything , or do anything spectacular....except be herself. Always wanting approval is such a bad thing. You can miss out on some important things in your Life....like satisfaction and Pride You should live your life with a drive to be your best...that's right...YOUR best. And if you do that...you shouldn't need any ones approval except your own. Maybe that's it...I don't need my Dads approval as much as I just wanted it. I know he Loves me and that is enough for me.

The Walk of the Year

We did it Timberly...Woot Woot !!  The walk is over and I am relieved. Its like this big weight lifted of our shoulders whenever we finish it.This year there just seemed to be much more pressure put on Kim and I for some reason. I am not sure is we put it on ourselves or if it was real or not. It felt real. I felt it more than anyone. Everyone else was like ...no big deal....I will worry about things the day of the walk and not a moment before...whereas I was like...OMG We haven't even planned for this and that...and probably causing all the stress for everyone else in the group. But oh well...Its just how I roll. I worry about the details. And having said that...I learned alot this year to apply to the next.
And I know that Kim , Taylor and I did our best...so what more can you do?

Kim , Taylor and I

We had been watching the weather a week prior and new we had a pretty good chance of rain the day of Timbers Walk. But what we weren't planning on is the 48 degree temperature and the high winds to boot. So if you haven't figured it out yet...It was miserable outside on this day. Putting up the tents that morning in the rain and the wind was nothing but freezing wind and cold rain. We are so thankful to have such wonderful friends who came out to help setup everything. Otherwise...I'm not sure if we would have a walk if it weren't for them. We certainly could not do it alone that's for sure.
But we managed to get set up as people started arriving around 11:30am. We had a dilemma with the tents because the pavilion was set up for the music and one tent was set up away from the pavilion and of course... had I of listened to Kim who had suggested keeping all the tents together around the Pavilion....we could have had more people covered underneath the tents. OK...so here's what I learned..... At least entertain the idea when your wife suggest something.

Some of the Walkers

Walkers

The Clowns didnt stay long because there wasnt many kids

Our Bracelets

Our Hoodies

So with it being so miserable outside alot of people did not come....but the true blues...as Kim and I call them...all came out and had a wonderful time. The true Blues are the people who Loved Timber Very much or really good friends of ours...or both. We are so Thankful for our friends....they know how to make a good time out of any situation. Mainly because they can laugh at anything. We absolutely Love our True Blues. Having said that...We actually had a pretty darn good turn out...with over 200 people showing up. Some just came and said Hi and Left, others came bought a tee shirt and Bracelet and Left. Either way we really appreciate the fact they came out on such a miserable day. And for our friends who came and walked...I hope that had a good time and at least enjoyed the Balloon launch. Which to me is my favorite part. And the best part was that it stopped raining and the wind stopped for the balloon launch.

Our Lupus Warriors

So this year we had gave away different colored beads for Lupus. White Beads for those who knew someone who has past away from Lupus. Blue if you know someone with Lupus. Orange if you HAVE Lupus. Right before the Balloon Launch I had ask everyone wearing the Orange beads to come down to the front. I introduce them to the Crowd as "Our Lupus Warriors"  and as I gave a short speech about the battle they fight everyday....the music kicked in and as I counted to three...We released the balloons.It was a beautiful sight to see.  All I saw were people crying and I had a some tears I was trying  holding back but couldn't do it fully.

An Emotional Moment

I went and gave a hug to all the Warriors. And they were all crying...every single one of them. To Me...That was Priceless....because I know how much that meant to them. It was not about being the center of attention....to them...it was about being understood. And That .,...is exactly why we do the walk every year. If Nothing else went right that day...that alone made it a success.





After the Balloon launch, Kim and I were given a wonderful Honor. The Director of the Lupus Alliance bestowed upon us a Lifetime membership with the Alliance. They gave us a Plaque, a very cool sweater and a Hat. We were very honored and thought that was a very nice gesture on the part of Lupus Alliance.

We were honored

Hugs for everyone

The walk itself was just cold...Ok I must admit...I didn't walk because my feet were freezing by then...but I went the opposite way and met up with everyone and greeted them at the finish line. I think it is important to thank each and every one for walking. Next year I hope to have an actual finish line for them to cross...I think that would be cool. If we can just improve  a little something each year we should have a Wonderful event. I have always said this and I mean it whole heartily....Its not about the money we raise....Its about raising awareness so people...like employers, friends and Family of someone with Lupus...Understands what Lupus does to a their body and why we call them Warriors.

Me and My Friends and new sponsors from Entech Staffing Solutions

A couple random thoughts of an Ianstein : )

I thought I would put just a couple of my thoughts down because so much has happened in the last couple weeks,,,and as always...I have a opinion on them all. :)

So many of you might have saw clips of the Royal Spectacle Wedding. I for one just don't get why its such a big deal. The amount of money the world spends on this wedding, in both preparation and execution....they could cure World Hunger....or end homelessness in England,I don't know but I'm sure they could do something more worthwhile. I am not a frugal person by no means...nor am I against splurging every now and then.So when I see such a waste I cant help but throw up when I see it, because it just makes me sick. However, I would like to go on record as saying that the princess is a stone cold fox...I mean she is as beautiful as a rose.

So we killed Bin Laden. I am not happy about that. I would have much rather had seen him captured alive. And I am pretty sure that we could have done that had we wanted to. So why didn't we? Was it all for political reasons? Wouldn't it have been nice to have lined up all the people who were directly effected by 9-11 and let them walk by him one by one and give him a wedgie or something? (Yeah I know that he wouldn't be standing after the first person...but you know what I mean.) It just seems like he could have played a more strategic role for us if he was still alive and behind bars. Don't get me wrong...I am not losing any sleep over his death...nor am I sad that a very bad man is gone...I just cant bring myself to rejoice in the fact that we killed someone. It doesn't seem morally right....and like I said..I don't think it was the right move that we could have made. And... I personally don't think that this changes anything on the war on terror. There are plenty of bad men that Hate America and will gladly step up and kill every one of us.

So I am really busy getting Timbers Lupus Walk ready, So my next blog will be about the Lupus walk, and I will  hopefully have pictures to go along with it. I have this week off so I don't stress out about all the stuff that needs to happen and the little time I would have had to get it all done Woot Woot !!  I Love not working.  Until next time....

Peace Out!!