2012 is finally over...it has been a long and difficult year for me. Generally and in all of the big ways, it has been great. The kids are good, the wife is good, and we are all healthy. On a more personal level, that is when its all about me, its been fucking brutal.
The early part of the year were fine. I trained for, and completed, my first 1/2 marathon. Never thought I'd be able to do that (hell, 18 months ago I couldn't run 1 mile, let alone 13). I lost almost 50 pounds over the course of the year. I'm working on the next 30 in 2013. More fucking exercise, I suppose. I hate that shit, but you do what you have do, right?
In April, shit began falling apart. To put it blandly, I had some work issues, that were not my fault (aren't those the worst kind?). At the end of May, I received bad news regarding work. In July, I left my old firm and joined a new firm (a big law firm downtown). I find this very ironic for a few reasons:
1. This firm never would have hired me before they did...I am not their normal "profile" for new attorneys.
2. I did not finish in the top ten of my class; i did not work at large law firms during the summers
3. I have an authority problem.
It has worked out though (5 1/2 months in). They have treated me well and I have work to do so, in the end, that is all that matters.
In October, I began the trial of my life. I will provide more details after it is completely finished (sentencing is in March so you know the result). That was very tough and emotional for me. I like the guy and he is reminding me constantly of that fact. Very tough day on the 28th.
Now it's 2013. I kept most of my 2012 resolutions....less soda, work out more, eat better (most of those b/c of my wife). Those will not be my 2013 resolutions b/c they are a life style choice and I've made them. I will still go out to lunch and eat a burger periodically, but I'll continue to do better. I'd like to live a while so I can see my kids as adults and meet their kids (if they have them). My resolutions are more about making me well rounded.
I want to read more non-fiction books. I'm reading a book about Thomas Jefferson now and I am going to continue reading such books. I'll give reports about them as I read them.
I want to write more. I have written 3 books (novellas, really) during NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month). I did not in November this year b/c of the trial, but there is no law that you have to wait until November to write. I am also going to write on this site more often. If nothing else, i like it. Its a good way to pass the time, it gets stuff out that needs to get out, and it will give a history for my children when they are old enough to read some of these posts.
The writing is for me. Its to flesh out my thoughts and opinons and make me think. When I was in school, I did my best studying when I was writing. It makes me think about what I am considering, which often will result in a different view. Not very exciting, but useful (I'd recommend it to others. @JeremyBaldwin is / was prolific writer and I hope he continues writing as he was before (though the kids make it more difficult).
I have no doubt that 2013 will be a good year. All in all, I hope and pray for the same things:
1. The family stays healthy and generally happy.
2. That professionally, I keep advancing, learning more, getting better, and earning enough money to support my family .
3. That I stay healthy and that the wife and I have no major health scares (or minor health scares)
4. That everybody try to remember that most of what we worry about is relatively minor compared to the issues that other people face. Let's keep some perspective on life. Its not the end of the world. If you are healthy, your kids are healthy, you have a roof and some food, it could be a lot worse. Don't get pissy b/c you can't buy the sweater that you wanted...
Enough preaching. Have a great day and a great year. Next time (2013) I'm will be wrirting again, but I am going to change the format some. In 8th, 9th, and 12th grade I had to keep a journal. In that journal, it always worked best if I was writing to somebody, so I wrote to "George". I've decided to bring George out of retirement 20 years now) and begin writing to him. Be easy everybody and talk to you soon.
-cp
It is what the title says, it is simply what I think. nothing more and nothing less.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Triathlons and stuff
So, its Monday, October 1st. A big day for me for a couple of reasons. One (and most importantly) it is my son's second birthday. Lincoln turns 2. Unbelievable, weird, and time really does fly. Lily's birthday is Wednesday (6). I can't believe she is in kindergarten and closer to 10 years old then her birth. Life is funny.
I was talking to a good friend of mine, Bryan Thorson, and we were talking about how you never know where you are going. He was telling me how he had accepted the fact that he may not get married or have children. Now, he is married to a wonderful woman and has two beautiful step children. He, like me, probably would have bet all of the money I had (not much at that time) that I wouldn't be where I am.
I mean professionally (at Greensfelder), married with 3 kids. In 2004, I had just gotten back to St. Louis from Nevada, MO. I was married (not to bec), but it was clearly ending. I was working at Brown and James (until August 2004). I was in such a different place that I would have bet millions of dollars that I would not be married with kids. Life is funny.
That leads to my next point. Last year at this time, I could not have run one mile slowly. I weighed close to 300 pounds (depending on the day). I ate like shit and I wasn't healthy (though I rarely got sick :)
Then, in November, Bec started working out with a friend, Sarah, doing group classes and stuff. She decided in December to run a 1/2 marathon in Champaign, IL. Within a week, I decided to do it too. The hilarity of that strikes me now b/c I had no business committing. I guess, though, I did. As bec says, I am remarkably stubborn (true) and I began training for the 1/2 marathon.
In February, I ran 3 miles in 42 minutes (that is almost walking). I thought I was going to die. Over the next two months, I worked and worked, ran and ran, and in April, I ran teh 1/2 marathon. I did it in 2:36, which was fine with me. I had lost about 40 pounds in the process. Since then, I have continued running and working out, eating healthily, etc.
I ran another 1/2 marathon in May. It was very hot, but I did it in 2:42 so that was okay. Over the summer (which was difficult for different reasons), I slowed down on the working out, but I did not gain weight. In fact, I kept losing weight. In August (or July), Bec decided to do a triathlon in Benton, IL (Rend Lake).
I signed up too. During the past 2 months, I've swam, biked, and ran to get ready and yesterday, I did it. It was harder than I thought it would be. I swam 750 meters, biked 21 miles, and ran a 5K (in 35:00 which is one of my fastest times and AFTER biking 21 miles). I underestimated the effect of riding a bike for 21 miles on running (my legs were jello in the beginning).
In any event, I finished 6th for men over 215 pounds and it was good. I'll do more triathlons b/c I thought it was fun and it is a good way to stay in some semblance of shape. I'm down to 245 pounds, and I'd like to get to 235 (i Probably should get lighter than that, but baby steps).
One year ago, I would have told you that I couldn't run a 1/2 marathon or that I couldn't do a triathlon. I did it, though, and I think almost anybody can if they are willing to do some work. Its hard (but what isn't). but it was worth it.
I hope you have a great day!
be easy
-cp
I was talking to a good friend of mine, Bryan Thorson, and we were talking about how you never know where you are going. He was telling me how he had accepted the fact that he may not get married or have children. Now, he is married to a wonderful woman and has two beautiful step children. He, like me, probably would have bet all of the money I had (not much at that time) that I wouldn't be where I am.
I mean professionally (at Greensfelder), married with 3 kids. In 2004, I had just gotten back to St. Louis from Nevada, MO. I was married (not to bec), but it was clearly ending. I was working at Brown and James (until August 2004). I was in such a different place that I would have bet millions of dollars that I would not be married with kids. Life is funny.
That leads to my next point. Last year at this time, I could not have run one mile slowly. I weighed close to 300 pounds (depending on the day). I ate like shit and I wasn't healthy (though I rarely got sick :)
Then, in November, Bec started working out with a friend, Sarah, doing group classes and stuff. She decided in December to run a 1/2 marathon in Champaign, IL. Within a week, I decided to do it too. The hilarity of that strikes me now b/c I had no business committing. I guess, though, I did. As bec says, I am remarkably stubborn (true) and I began training for the 1/2 marathon.
In February, I ran 3 miles in 42 minutes (that is almost walking). I thought I was going to die. Over the next two months, I worked and worked, ran and ran, and in April, I ran teh 1/2 marathon. I did it in 2:36, which was fine with me. I had lost about 40 pounds in the process. Since then, I have continued running and working out, eating healthily, etc.
I ran another 1/2 marathon in May. It was very hot, but I did it in 2:42 so that was okay. Over the summer (which was difficult for different reasons), I slowed down on the working out, but I did not gain weight. In fact, I kept losing weight. In August (or July), Bec decided to do a triathlon in Benton, IL (Rend Lake).
I signed up too. During the past 2 months, I've swam, biked, and ran to get ready and yesterday, I did it. It was harder than I thought it would be. I swam 750 meters, biked 21 miles, and ran a 5K (in 35:00 which is one of my fastest times and AFTER biking 21 miles). I underestimated the effect of riding a bike for 21 miles on running (my legs were jello in the beginning).
In any event, I finished 6th for men over 215 pounds and it was good. I'll do more triathlons b/c I thought it was fun and it is a good way to stay in some semblance of shape. I'm down to 245 pounds, and I'd like to get to 235 (i Probably should get lighter than that, but baby steps).
One year ago, I would have told you that I couldn't run a 1/2 marathon or that I couldn't do a triathlon. I did it, though, and I think almost anybody can if they are willing to do some work. Its hard (but what isn't). but it was worth it.
I hope you have a great day!
be easy
-cp
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Leadership St. Louis / 20th Year Reunion
Its Thursday morning and last weekend I participated in teh first weekend of events for Leadership St. Louis. LSL is an annual class selected, allegedly, though I doubt it with my inclusion, of leaders or potential leaders in St. Louis. A colleague of mine is also involved.
On Friday, we drove to Cedar Creek Conference Center in New Haven, MO. We did this at the early in the morning so we could spend all day learning about us. Frankly, I think the program will be excellent. We are going to have great opportunities to see and do things we might not otherwise have the chance to do. However, the weekend, while a lot of fun, was at times a little slow moving.
One area, though, caused the most anxst and boredom. We took a DiSC assessment. It is a multiple choice test (questions) that ultimately result in a packet of information that tells you what type of leader are you. Are you dominant, creative, do you lay in the weeds, etc.
I was a rules person who does not feel the need to be dominant. In other words, I get stuff done, but I'm not in your face about it. Now the assessment itself has value and as we read the descriptions of ourselves, they were for the most part spot on. Mine was eerily accurate. The presentation, though, was painful
The lady who did the presentation was quite proud of herself. She also enjoy talking about Myers Briggs, something that I had not taken. While discussing Myers Briggs, she used acronyms (a pet peeve of mine) when we did not know what the acronyms meant. In any event, the 4 hours with her was not a good four hours.
The rest of the weekend was very good. We did team building exercises. Generally, I don't like those, but we had a lot of fun and did help break the ice since 65 strangers were together for the first time. We had an open bar in the evening, which always helps breaking the ice.
We had to put on a little ten minute show. The group time to put the show together was also fun, but my group was good. I avoided many of the particularly "take charge" people that can irritate me.
That was last weekend. This weekend, I am going to my 20th high school reunion. It seems like yesterday that i graduate high school. I remember being in the church. I remember leaving in the limo my parents had rented (or won at an auction) and driving around town. IT seemed like the whole world was in front of us, and, I suppose it was.
18 years old is so young, but at the time, it seems so old. you think you know so much about how the world works and what your place is in it. In fact, you have no idea how it works or what your place in the world really is. I guess, though, I still don't know place in the world. In the end, isn't that the hardest thing, knowing your place, and more importantly being happy in your place, wherever your place is? I think perspective is the most important attribute that a person can have.
In any event, its amazing how much things have changed since high school. I'm the same person, but in some ways, I am so different. I had no confidence in high school. I had no feeling that I was special or that I could do special things. I was just a person on a track with no control. I look forward to seeing the class mates that make it. I've seen a few class mates through the years, but recently, I've seen nobody. It should be a great time to think back 20 years and remember how we were and how that shaped us into what we've become today.
This post got heavier than I intended when it started (that is one reason why I love writing...you don't know where its going). I hope everybody has a great day.
Be easy
-cp
On Friday, we drove to Cedar Creek Conference Center in New Haven, MO. We did this at the early in the morning so we could spend all day learning about us. Frankly, I think the program will be excellent. We are going to have great opportunities to see and do things we might not otherwise have the chance to do. However, the weekend, while a lot of fun, was at times a little slow moving.
One area, though, caused the most anxst and boredom. We took a DiSC assessment. It is a multiple choice test (questions) that ultimately result in a packet of information that tells you what type of leader are you. Are you dominant, creative, do you lay in the weeds, etc.
I was a rules person who does not feel the need to be dominant. In other words, I get stuff done, but I'm not in your face about it. Now the assessment itself has value and as we read the descriptions of ourselves, they were for the most part spot on. Mine was eerily accurate. The presentation, though, was painful
The lady who did the presentation was quite proud of herself. She also enjoy talking about Myers Briggs, something that I had not taken. While discussing Myers Briggs, she used acronyms (a pet peeve of mine) when we did not know what the acronyms meant. In any event, the 4 hours with her was not a good four hours.
The rest of the weekend was very good. We did team building exercises. Generally, I don't like those, but we had a lot of fun and did help break the ice since 65 strangers were together for the first time. We had an open bar in the evening, which always helps breaking the ice.
We had to put on a little ten minute show. The group time to put the show together was also fun, but my group was good. I avoided many of the particularly "take charge" people that can irritate me.
That was last weekend. This weekend, I am going to my 20th high school reunion. It seems like yesterday that i graduate high school. I remember being in the church. I remember leaving in the limo my parents had rented (or won at an auction) and driving around town. IT seemed like the whole world was in front of us, and, I suppose it was.
18 years old is so young, but at the time, it seems so old. you think you know so much about how the world works and what your place is in it. In fact, you have no idea how it works or what your place in the world really is. I guess, though, I still don't know place in the world. In the end, isn't that the hardest thing, knowing your place, and more importantly being happy in your place, wherever your place is? I think perspective is the most important attribute that a person can have.
In any event, its amazing how much things have changed since high school. I'm the same person, but in some ways, I am so different. I had no confidence in high school. I had no feeling that I was special or that I could do special things. I was just a person on a track with no control. I look forward to seeing the class mates that make it. I've seen a few class mates through the years, but recently, I've seen nobody. It should be a great time to think back 20 years and remember how we were and how that shaped us into what we've become today.
This post got heavier than I intended when it started (that is one reason why I love writing...you don't know where its going). I hope everybody has a great day.
Be easy
-cp
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Another day
Its Thursday, 7:12. I just finished my morning work out (few weights, run 2 miles, and swim an 800). I'm training for a triathlon (which I always misspelled until about 2 weeks ago). Its on 9/30 and it should be interesting. I have no idea how long it will take, primarily, b/c I don't know how long it will take me to ride a bike for 21 miles.
We swim a 750, so that should be okay (not too bad), but it is in a lake so it will be a challenge. Then we bike 21 miles and then we run a 5K. Amazingly, the 5K is the least of my issues. One year ago, I couldn't run .25 miles (that's 1/4 to you and me). I am not running multiple miles multiple times a week. Now I am actually worried about speed (of which I have very little).
I ran my first 1/2 marathon in 2:42 (that is 2 hours). My second in 2:49 (but it was 85 degrees in my defense). I'm running another at the end of October and I want to beat 2:30. I think I can do it, based upon how I feel now, but so much appears to depend on how I feel on that day. I used to tell people that I would only run when being chased...now I actually enjoy it. It gets me some time by myself to think about what ever I need to think about that particular day.
Sometimes, its my kids. They are something...Lincoln is a holy terror when he is not charming the pants off of everybody else who meets him. He turns 2 in 2 weeks and I can't believe my youngest is so old. Time really flies. Lily is going to be 6 and she is in kindergarten. She is bright, funny, and rather athletic. She also sucks her thumb (we are looking for ways to stop that). BTW: When a pediatrician tells you to take the binky away at 1 year, DON'T DO IT. A 1 year old will immediately move to their thumb and you CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY. With Lucy, we took the binky at about 2 1/2. She did not move to her thumb and we're good. We are taking the same tack with Lincoln, but we'll see what he does. He only uses one at night (same as Lucy) so I think we'll be okay.
Do you think Lily knows that is her college fun going to her braces??? :) Just kidding (kind of).
Sometimes I think about work (the work I should be doing now). The new job is going well...I'm keeping busy and people keep hiring me to help them with their problems. Interesting work and interesting times. The stress, of course, is wondering and worrying where the next case/client is going to come from. You learn quickly that what you did last year has very little bearing on what will happen this year.
Sometimes I think about my parents or my brother. I wish I saw them more. My parents are 70 and clearly getting older. Its weird for a long time they did not seem to age, and now, they are clearly getting older. My dad is doing well, but my mom looks and acts like an older lady. It is kind of depressing in one respect, but in an another, I suppose that will happen to me at some point (right??) I guess I hope so b/c if it doesn't that means that I've gone WAY TO EARLY!!.
I hope everybody has a great day. These rambling posts might one day turn into something with a theme or a point, but maybe not. Some days I might post personal stuff, other days, it might just be funny shit I found. Who knows, I certainly don't. I do know that I like writing and I've decided to do it more and more. NaNoWriMo is coming up again and I'm going to try and get out my 3rd book.
I'll talk to you later. Take care and be easy.
-cp
We swim a 750, so that should be okay (not too bad), but it is in a lake so it will be a challenge. Then we bike 21 miles and then we run a 5K. Amazingly, the 5K is the least of my issues. One year ago, I couldn't run .25 miles (that's 1/4 to you and me). I am not running multiple miles multiple times a week. Now I am actually worried about speed (of which I have very little).
I ran my first 1/2 marathon in 2:42 (that is 2 hours). My second in 2:49 (but it was 85 degrees in my defense). I'm running another at the end of October and I want to beat 2:30. I think I can do it, based upon how I feel now, but so much appears to depend on how I feel on that day. I used to tell people that I would only run when being chased...now I actually enjoy it. It gets me some time by myself to think about what ever I need to think about that particular day.
Sometimes, its my kids. They are something...Lincoln is a holy terror when he is not charming the pants off of everybody else who meets him. He turns 2 in 2 weeks and I can't believe my youngest is so old. Time really flies. Lily is going to be 6 and she is in kindergarten. She is bright, funny, and rather athletic. She also sucks her thumb (we are looking for ways to stop that). BTW: When a pediatrician tells you to take the binky away at 1 year, DON'T DO IT. A 1 year old will immediately move to their thumb and you CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY. With Lucy, we took the binky at about 2 1/2. She did not move to her thumb and we're good. We are taking the same tack with Lincoln, but we'll see what he does. He only uses one at night (same as Lucy) so I think we'll be okay.
Do you think Lily knows that is her college fun going to her braces??? :) Just kidding (kind of).
Sometimes I think about work (the work I should be doing now). The new job is going well...I'm keeping busy and people keep hiring me to help them with their problems. Interesting work and interesting times. The stress, of course, is wondering and worrying where the next case/client is going to come from. You learn quickly that what you did last year has very little bearing on what will happen this year.
Sometimes I think about my parents or my brother. I wish I saw them more. My parents are 70 and clearly getting older. Its weird for a long time they did not seem to age, and now, they are clearly getting older. My dad is doing well, but my mom looks and acts like an older lady. It is kind of depressing in one respect, but in an another, I suppose that will happen to me at some point (right??) I guess I hope so b/c if it doesn't that means that I've gone WAY TO EARLY!!.
I hope everybody has a great day. These rambling posts might one day turn into something with a theme or a point, but maybe not. Some days I might post personal stuff, other days, it might just be funny shit I found. Who knows, I certainly don't. I do know that I like writing and I've decided to do it more and more. NaNoWriMo is coming up again and I'm going to try and get out my 3rd book.
I'll talk to you later. Take care and be easy.
-cp
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