ng on.

feed still. You can see that on the right of the screen. If this works I might use this method to post to my Blog & give you all updates what's been goi

1st time texting my post from my phone. But don't worry I will be getting my internet connection back soon. For the mean time I will be doing my twitter

For those of you all wondering why I haven't updated my Blog in a while is that I'm currently without internet connection except for my phone. This is my

Showing my car the lovin’…

Today was supposed to be the day that I get my Goldie (aka the car) fixed and show Goldie some lovin’.  But Goldie decided she wanted to be a spoiled brat.  *lol*  It turns out that Goldie is going to require a lot more lovin’ and money to fix her up.  I was finally able to get my car hooked up to the dealer's diagnostic computer today to really see the extent of the motor problems that have been occurring to Goldie. 

1)  Timing Belts - So, before I can really fix the root of Goldie’s problem, I’m going to have to spend nearly $400 on getting the timing belts replaced and fixed.  If I don’t do this first, then the worst case scenario would be buying a used or new motor starting at $3400.

2)  Coils, wires, and plugs – with the timing belts replaced, it is also required to either replace and/or re-sync the coils, wires, and plugs in Goldie that throws off the timing.  This is another $400.

3)  Input & output Speed Sensors & the trans range switch – These sensors are the real root of my problem.  It’s these sensors why my check engine lights stay on.  Therefore fixing these will take care of the problem.  But just fixing the sensors will run another $300.  But then it’s also another $135 to fix the trans range switch.  Basically looking at nearly $450 to fix the sensors and the switch.

4)  Upper Oil Pan & Rocker cover gasket – Another $400 to have the upper oil pan resealed and the rocker cover gasket fixed.  They did say this isn’t as bad but over time it can turn into being back.

5)  Airbag light – as I mention when I bought the car that the airbag light has been on the whole time.  Right now, it’s not as important to get it fixed but finally got the answer I was looking for though.  As long as that light is on, the airbags won’t deploy if I’m ever in an accident.  For them to attempt to fix this problem, they have to take the seats out of the car and try to re-wire the wires which would cost roughly $90.  If they can’t, then the worse case scenario would be to install harnesses which would roughly cost $3000.

So, as you see my day of showing Goldie some lovin’ really turned into a nightmare.  I really didn’t expect this much problems with her but I have the problem now.  My mechanic will be calling me on Monday he said to see what he can come up with as a plan of attack for making these fixes.  Of course it doesn’t help when I really don’t have the money for this.  It’s part of life and growing up.  Time for me to start acting like an adult and take responsibility for things.  I bought this car and now going to have to figure out some kind of plan.  One that just popped in my head is the warranty that I bought?  I wonder if any of these repairs can be fixed under the warranty?  Something I will look into more tomorrow.  I let you all know more about what is happening to Goldie.  In the mean times send prays and money my way.

TL

Cold Stone Truth About TL…

I think the blog title of this post explains where this post is going.  Over the past week or so, my co-workers and maybe some of my friends probably thought I’ve been unsociable or not happy?  It’s not that I was or anything but more like I was doing some serious thinking about myself and the things I want to accomplish between now and when I turn 40 in three years.  There are several things I want to do between now and then but before I can accomplish them I have to figure out a major detail about myself.  It’s all good and dandy that I have plans and etc but what good are they if I fizzle out in the middle of my plan?  Like I said, over the last week I’ve been looking back at all the goals and plans I had for myself only to find a disturbing pattern to all my failed plans compared to all my successful goals and plans I’ve had.  That pattern is “accountability”.

“Accountability” is a major role when it comes to achieving goals and life plans.  Without that role, how does one keep them self motivated or continue to fight the good fight when nobody is there for you to turn to or be by your side?  This is what I have noticed about myself.  I have noticed that I start my goals or life plans out like a wildfire only see it fizzle away when I have nobody that is by my side through the process.  Without that “accountability”, there are days that that I need that motivation or the kick in the ass that a friend or workout partner can provide.  In all my successful goals or plans that I have seen through, I’ve notice that this role was present but in the unsuccessful goals or plans the role wasn’t there.  For example, in 2008 after I was diagnosed with diabetes I was able to lose roughly between 80 to 100 lbs.  The strict diet I was on along with the exercising I was doing, my mom and step-dad was there.  Most importantly my step-dad was a big influence on me when it came to exercising.  My step-dad held me accountable everyday when working.  He even joined me in our walking.  Even though his was a faster walker, knowing that he was out there with me made a huge difference in me wanting to do the walk.  Because afterward, we would talk about how that workout felt or why my time was slower or faster?  It was my step-dad that was my “accountability” and got me through the walks.  Another example, is my car IDA program that I started in September 2009 which ended in me getting my car in April 2011.  The “accountability” in this goal was both the Financial Resource Specialist and the rules of the IDA program.  I mean, would I ever been able to save $2000 for my car to be eligible for my 100% match by Brighton Center without the specialist or the goals?  Believe it or not, I wouldn’t have.  I have tried before and failed miserable.  These are just a few of my examples which aren’t very many.  Don’t have many more successful examples to give though.  So, I’m going to continue think about how I can create the right “accountability” to make my goals before 40 to be successful.

What exactly is my “Goals before 40”?  I think that will be the fancy name for my goals.  What do you all think about it?  “Goals before 40” is a plan where before I turn 40 years old, I’m going to accomplish these goals.  Everybody know that when turning 40 its all downhill in life?  If that’s the truth, then I want to have fun because the first 40 hasn’t been anything but fun for me.  So, I want to kind of re-invent myself over the next three years.  But I don’t want to fail.  My “Goals before 40” has three goals to it.

• Goal #1:
• Before or when I turn 40 years old, I want to lose 150 lbs or weigh around 200 lbs.
• That means on average for the next three years, I need to lose 50 lbs per year.  That’s very doable in my book.  It’s not a goal that isn’t unattainable.
• I’m going to need to find a workout partner.  In the past when having a workout partner, I’m very dedicated to actually working out.  I have no probably on a few days to work out alone but I tend to lose focus if its day after day.  But having somebody there I know will hold me accountable.  This is where goal #2 will come into affect.
• Goal #2:
• Before or when I turn 40 years old, I want to get my diabetes under control.
• Which losing 150 lbs will go a long way in helping out this goal.  So, what I’ll be doing to start this goal is looking at two things?
• 1)  Getting educated correctly.  Usually when diagnosed, all the newbie get educated.  I didn’t have the chance to be educated or take any classes when I was in the hospital regarding diabetes. All my education up to this point is me doing the research and filling in the blanks.
• 2)  Finding a diabetes support group.  I’m hoping this will help with the “accountability” role that I’m needing.
• Goal #3:
• Before or when I turn 4o years old, I want to have in my career job.
• First, I need to know what my career job is?  That is one thing I need to find out.  What exactly is it?  Is it staying in the non-profit field which I very much liked for the last two years.  Or is it going back to the technology field?  Is it a combo of the two fields?  Or is it culinary?  Is it photography?  What exactly is it?  Might need to figure this out first before I can start my career job.

These three goals will be a major start to my “over 40” years.  As you can also tell, these three goals basically go hand in hand.  These are very attainable goals to achieve only if I have the “accountability” role in place.  Anybody have any websites or know somebody in the Northern Kentucky area that might be a great resource or person to contact?  If so, please leave a comment here.

In other news about my life, I’ve also been thinking about other aspects of my life the last few weeks.  Here is a small quick update on things going on.

One of them is about AmeriCorps.  It’s beginning to look like I’m going to be doing a third and final year of it.  Well, I have decided that it will be my final year if I do so get a third year.  I’m kind of counting on it.  AmeriCorps would help me greatly to work on my “Goals before 40” plan.  Basically be working with low income families and homelessness along with some new responsibility.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Second thing is that my car is slowly being repaired.  When I bought the car, there were some cosmetic stuff that needed to be fixed.  So, I have gradually been fixing small things.  But this week, I’m going to have my “check engine” light and my “airbag” light fixed.  I’m hoping my car will make it to this Saturday when it goes to the dealer.  I’m having some problems with it currently due to the “check engine” light.  Apparently, my car decided to give me a code of “system to lean”.  This problem started about a few weeks after I had the car.  So, barring no major expense I’m going to have it fixed this weekend.

Well, thank you for reading my whole blog post if you are reading this.  Please leave a comment.  I’m tired of having no comments because I think people don’t want to hear me but it’s all part of the “accountability” I’m talking about.  Feel free to e-mail me if you want.  I’m always looking to meet new friends.  Again, sorry for the long post.  Enjoy your morning and/or night!

TL

Happy Memorial Day…

I want to wish all our armed service members a “Happy Memorial Day” and thank you for making us safe.  Great job everybody!

This weekend was very interesting for me.  First of all, I went in on a Saturday to finish up some work so that I wouldn’t get behind for this week coming up.  If I wanted till tomorrow to do all the stuff I had to do, I would behind this week and that I didn’t want to happen.  Plus, this weekend I started back cooking meals and trying to measure out my serving size out for dinner as I’m trying to get back into eating right and get my diabetes back under control. 

Off But Not Out of Sight…

Just thought I let everybody know that starting tomorrow, Monday, April 25, 2011, I should be unhooked from the internet and cable TV for a few weeks.  With the recent purchase of a new used car, my money has been tight.  Therefore, I’m going to let some bills go for a few weeks, hopefully until May 13, when I can get back on the internet and etc.  This is only temporary until I’m able to get my money situation back under control.  Sometimes you have to prioritize what’s important.  I’ll still have my cell phone with me which does have my e-mail and some internet capabilities.  So, I’m not totally unhooked.  So, until later, peace out!

TL

Houston, we have a problem…

That’s right Houston, you all are about to be invaded by the BIG BLUE NATION!  Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes, I hope you all have enough room to host the BIG BLUE NATION!  GO BIG BLUE!!!!!  This team isn’t going to take it anymore.  With the play of Josh Harrellson and the other upperclassmen, has the UK Wildcats back in the Final Four.  Congratulations UK Wildcats being the East Region Champions.

So, let’s talk how UK got to be where they are heading.  This journey starts back in November with the Maui Invitational.  Ending with UConn really dismantling UK in the Championship game.  The way UK played really left a bad taste in their mouth.  Then there is the regular season that probably drove a lot of UK fans to drink or something.  How many close road games could this team lose?  I’m not talking good teams either.  I’m talking teams that UK should had blown away but struggle and lose the game by the slimiest of margins.  Not once or twice but six times.  WOW!!!  But towards the end of the regular season, UK started playing more like a team by being a team.  They made this great run in the SEC Tournament run to win the Conference Championship for the second straight year.

But then the stupid NCAA Committee decide to screw UK over again.  The first time with Enes Kanter saying he is permanently ineligible.  Like that was a great call.  But again by deciding UK was a #4 seed.  But with all that, look who is in the Final Four?  That’s right!  UK baby!!!!!

They got here when Harrellson decided to come out and play.  Want to know why Harrellson is playing like he is playing?  Not just his determination to get him in the best shape of his life and etc.  But because he isn’t ready for his college career to be over.  I’m surprised nobody really mention this.  Determination is a powerful tool but also knowing that any game could be your last game of your career.  How would you play?  Another words, he is making sure his last game isn’t a lost.  Way to go Harrellson.  Keep up the great play.  You are one of my favorite UK player.  Play tough against UConn.

The other reason UK is where they are right now?  Upperclassmen…that’s right!!!!  I know Calipari likes the one and done players but you need to surround them with upperclassmen that have the experience.  That’s where Josh Harrellson, DeAndre Liggins, and Darius Miller comes in.  They bring the necessary experience and level headedness that the freshmen need in this type of tournament.  Talent can only go so far in a tournament.  But talent and experience will take you all the way!

Another reason UK is where they are?  They can shoot.  Last years team was all great and etc but had a hard time shooting from outside.  When they got cold last year, they just continue to shoot those jumpers rather than using their strengths.  It was almost like they were stubborn.  But this years team can shoot those jumpers and make them with ease.  A big difference between last year team and this years team.  When you can spread the court by making those jumpers, it makes it a whole lot easier to drive the ball down the lane.

So, again, CONGRATULATIONS UK WILDCATS on making the Final Four.  Let’s bring home #8 baby!!!!  We got next!

TL

Two Songs that explains TL today…

Today has been a day that just is to hard to explain.  You know when people know you aren’t yourself and they keep asking you “are you ok?”?  But you lie and tell them nothing but in reality there is something wrong?  You just don’t know what?  That’s how I am feeling today.  But after depressing around and watching “GLEE’s – Original Song” episode, it somewhat came to me on how I can feel to people through two songs.

The first song would be setting the atmosphere on where I would be and that is “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” by Michael Bolton.  Yeah I know but I have to be honest.  But it’s not really a bay though that I’m looking out over.  It’s more like a ocean.  But somewhere out in this massive area is like a “needle in a hay stack”, which I like to call my problem.  All I know is I’m sitting on this dock looking out into this massive space knowing that my problem is out there but just don’t know where.  So, I feel like I’m just going through the motion everyday.  So, as you can tell from the lyrics it fits me perfectly as what’s going on in my head.

Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
Watching the ships roll in
And then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah

I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothin's gonna come my way

So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooo, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, yes

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home

Now, I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Oooo-wee, sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time

The sad part is whenever I have a problem, this is how it feels like sitting on the dock of the back wasting time.  It’s the same place over and over.  But something happened tonight as I was watching “GLEE”.  They did an original song called “Get it Right”.  When I get in these moods where I’m searching for my problem I tend to watch shows either about music or I watch music type shows like in this case “GLEE”.  I’m glad I picked this “GLEE” episode but as I was sitting on that dock of the bay tonight, the song they sang at the end called “Get It Right” brought several good questions about me that makes me think about “what’s wrong with me” or guide me in the right direction at least.  Here are the lyrics for “Get It Right”.

What have I done? I wish I could
Away from this ship goin’ under
Just tryin’ to help, hurt everyone
Now I feel the weight of the world is
On my shoulders

What can you do when your good isn’t good enough?
When all that you touch tumbles down?
‘Cause my best intentions keep making a mess of things
I just wanna fix it somehow

But how many it times will it take?
Oh, how many times will it take for me?
To get it right
To get it ri-igh-ight

Can I start again with my faith shaken?
‘Cause I can’t go back and undo this
I just have to stay and face my mistakes
But if I get stronger and wiser
I’ll get through this

What can you do when your good isn’t good enough?
When all that you touch tumbles down?
‘Cause my best intentions keep making a mess of things
I just wanna fix it somehow

But how many it times will it take?
Oh, how many times will it take for me?
To get it right
To get it ri-igh-ight

So I throw up my fist
I will punch in the air
And accept the truth that sometimes life isn’t fair
Yeah, I’ll send out a wish
Yeah, I’ll send up a prayer
And finally, someone will see
How much I care!

What can you do when your good isn’t good enough?
When all that you touch tumbles down?
‘Cause my best intentions keep making a mess of things
I just wanna fix it somehow

But how many it times will it take?
Oh, how many times will it take for me?
To get it right
To get it ri-igh-ight

Now this songs almost fits me to a “T”.  Every time I’m like this, I try to ask myself questions to figure out my problems or why I’m depressed or something.  The very first question is a good one that I never have asked myself.  “What have I done?” can’t be any more direct than that.  What have I done to be in this certain situation (i.e. sitting on the dock of the bay)?  I have been playing this song over and over trying to figure that out.  I honestly can’t tell you how much this song speaks to me.  In the above lyrics, everything in red is what I would be asking myself in another post that will be coming in a few days after I sit down and think about those questions.  Maybe some self reflection will help me figure out myself?  Maybe it’s something I need to do to see exactly who and what is wrong with me?

How many times have you all done what’s in green?  You know throw your fist up in the air acting like you are punching it and then saying that’s life basically?  Even though you know it’s not fair or anything but you accept it?  I know I have several times.  But no more.  It’s time to start thinking about change.  If you want to listen to the song, click here for “Get It Right” video.  Enjoy!

TL