Adventures From the NH Seacoast to the Jersey Shore

It is hard to believe but i have made it to day 14 (including the ease out period of 2 days). In the end I have shed 17lbs and I have given my body and day to day existence the jump start it has needed for some time. I do not know many people that could go through this, but if you are determined to make a change then there is no reason why you cannot succeed. Like anything else in life, it is a matter of setting a goal that is challenging, yet attainable.

I first heard about the master cleanse in the summer, did some research and decided after Labor Day, when the kids are back in school this is what I am going to do. It was an interesting journey as I prepared my daily potion and ended each evening with an all cleansing salt water flush. I will not miss downing the salt water mixture and running to the john 45 minutes later each night.

Overall I am very pleased with the results as I have dropped some serious lbs. and have a renewed sense of energy in my day. the only thing that did not happen as I expected was the “cleanout” of my insides. Maybe I was not all that bad to begin with? Not quite sure but I am not going to stress about it. I have just launched a message board for master cleanse related topics here.

Now I am embarking on the first phase of the South Beach diet. I will chronicle my journey here with some hopefully interesting and insightful posts. A South Beach diet message board is also available here.

It is hard to believe seven years have passed since the fateful day when so many innocent Americans lost their lives. I remember every vivid detail of that day like it happened a few hours ago. I just got done writing my yearly email to an ex-coworker who I spent 5 hours in a car with as we left New Jersey late that morning to head back to New England. What will always stand out in my memory is how quickly (a matter of hours) American flags were draped over every single highway overpass on that ride home.

We recently had an exchange student from France staying with us and when I was driving her to our home from the airport we were talking about general differences between our countries. I asked her to tell me the first thing she noticed that she did not expect to see here in America (in the 60 minute ride from the airport); and her response was… “all of the flags”.

Never forget the sacrifices made on that day..nor forget the sacrifices of the thousands of other Americans and their families in the days, months and years that followed.

Tomorrow, the kids go back to school.  It is one of those times of the year (like New Year’s) where  you can wipe the artificial slate clean and make some resolutions that you can try and keep.  The past year and a half has been both good and bad and I am aiming to focus on Q4 of this year and make sure it is all good.  I have a long list of “to-do’s” that need to get accomplished and I am going to use the start of the kids venture into their new classrooms as my start as well.

On the work front, there is a lot to accomplish.  Between the product I have been developing and day to day client work my plate is more than full.   One very cool project I am currently working on with one client is nearing completion for the first phase.  All of the teeth of this machine are now coming together and it is a matter of making sure things are lubed up enough to keep the friction to a minimum.  There are a number of technical challenges to overcome, but there are some really good people working on this and I am confident that the business will be satisfied in the end.

On the home front the big goal for Q4 is losing some significant lbs.  With all the stress, travel, etc.. of the past 12-15 months I have not been doing my body good.  Going to have one last hurrah this labor day weekend and then start September off with a Master Cleanse.   I guess I’ll lose some weight with this thing; but I am more interested in trying to flush my system of everything bad and nasty so I can then continue on with moderating the nastiness I put into my body.  I refuse to give up the things I like as you never know when your time is up and I’m not going to forgoe a spur of the moment chili-cheese dog only to get hit by a bus crossing the street moments later.  No..my goal is to moderate these pleasures so that I can be sure to enjoy them as special occasions.  I am planning on blogging in detail regarding my plunge into the cleanse so stay tuned.

Club championship is this weekend…going to try and qualify on Friday.  They changed things up this year so we’ll have to see if I can outplay my handicap and put the hurt on some unsuspecting victims.

Have not played poker in what seems like ages.  I have been so busy that my level of concentration is just not there.  I am looking forward to getting back to playing and will have a whole different attitude and outlook at the table when I return.  More on that later.