I have no doubt that most people would say, yes, I am fucking insane. I might agree with them. I suppose, though, the true evidence of that is not some of the things that come out of my mouth, or the topics that float through my head on a daily basis, or even some of the things I've done. The real evidence of that is that I signed up to run a half marathon in April.
You may be asking yourself, why the hell would Pickett do that? The smart ass answer is, b/c I am crazy. The real answer is that I have decided its important to be in better shape (good shape?) b/c I have children. I guess, in the end, I'd like to be a good example for the kids of not only the benefit of hard work, but also the importance of being healthy. the kids see Bec and me work out and we talk about the importance of exercise, but I want them to see it too. Not for aesthetic purposes b/c we'd like them to believe that everybody is beautiful in their own way, but to know that a healthy body is a good body.
I have lost almost 40 pounds since January 2011. I'd like to lose more, and it is coming off, slowly but surely. Bec and one of her friends decided to do the half marathon in December. She asked if I would like to go to (its in Champaign, IL). I said, yes, and I'll run in it.
I know myself, and without a goal of some sort, I would eventually revert back to bad habits (chicken wings, hamburgers, etc etc). Bec is doing a great job cooking for the family (and me). We actually had bean soup on Sunday night. Anybody that knows me well knows that is not something I would have eaten 5 years ago (though I suppose that is another reason why Bec is perfect for me, or possibly just perfect).
She is keeping me on track and things are going well. I am hopeful that by the time I run the half marathon, I'll be down another 12 pounds (1.5 pounds / week). I would be happy with that. I do know, though, that after this half marathon, I'll need to sign up for another one in the fall. As I said, without a goal, frankly i don't have the discipline to keep moving forward. I don't know what I'll run in the fall, whether it will be in STL (if there is one) or some place else. I am excited, though, with the training for the April half marathon. I am to the point where i look forward to running. I've always liked (maybe too strong of a word) working out with weights, but running was something I''ve loathed.
In any event, we are moving forward and I'll keep moving forward. Its 6:42 AM and I need to get to work. I hope everybody has a great Valentine's Day. Show your significant other that you care, if even by writing a short note.
Have a great day.
be easy
-cp
It is what the title says, it is simply what I think. nothing more and nothing less.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Personal Responsibility
Now that I have kids, I think I am more sensitive to personal accountability and responsibility. The wife and I were talking today about it. It seems that much of this country has moved from personal accountability and moved towards me me me.
You may think, after reading that first paragraph, that I am a conservative. That is not true...I am as liberal as anybody (well not anybody, Paul Yarns is more liberal than me). However, I am a firm believer in some social equality issues that prevent me from considering the republican platform (opposition to gay marriage, opposition to abortion, irony of small government that controls what I do in my home -- does nobody else notice that?)
In any event, my issue with the democrats, and many liberals (no offense to my liberal friends), is what could be considered to be lack of personal responbility. It is a difficult question. If there is a poor white child in rural missouri, is it fair that your parents were poor, and your cousin makes meth? is that your fault? according to many of the republicans, it is your fault and you should be able to pull your self up by your boot straps. on the other hand, that same kid should have some responsibility and do the best with what they have. I know that the child that I have described has a significantly more uphill battle than a similarly aged kid with equal intelligence who was born in Ladue. The kid in Ladue will assume they are going to college and will be able to afford it? Do we want a country where a child's chance of success is almost directly related to their parents? Aren't we dooming an entire portion of society to poverty and to never really having a chance?
The repubs will have you believe it only takes hard work, and they are right in part. Clearly, the kid in rural missouri needs to work and take advantage of what he can, but, is it fair that the kid in Ladue, frankly, does not really have to work?? The current system is not working. On the other hand, I am not a socialist/communist (my more well-read friends will tell me I don't know which is which -- and they are correct).
I don't think the wealthy should be required to pay for everybody (though increased taxes aren't the end o the world). I do think, though, that every kid should have the opportunity of a very good education. There is no doubt that our system is failing the kids, and it is not b/c of the dedicated teachers that do their jobs well everyday. it is more than that. it is systemic. it needs to be fixed.
Frankly, I would suggest the Federal Government give significant money to subsidize school districts that do not have the tax base. Ladue School District should not exponentially more wealthy than other school districts just because the wealthy live there. Can nobody see the vicious circle that creates? Good tax base, good schools. more wealthy people move in. higher tax base, better schools, etc etc etc. On the others side of the coin, are the poor neighborhoods. low tax base, bad schools, depresses real estate, and the circle of poverty continues.
I began this with personal accountability and responsibility. I very much believe that everybody needs to do their share to better their lot in life. I also believe that the poor kid in rural Mississippi, or the City of St. Louis should not be so disadvantaged from the start they have no realistic chance. Consider this, there may be a kid in a City school, or a school in rural Alabama that is extremely intelligent. She might be great at science. She might have the potential to discover the cure for cancer or aids, or some other global problem. Instead, though, she goes to school with substandard supplies and classrooms with too many children. Nobody recognizes her intelligence, potential, or will to learn. Her family is poor and her mother works two jobs just to keep food on the table. As she gets older, with no guidance from anybody, she hides that she is smart b/c she is 15 and is more interested in boys than books. She quits studying. She is still smart, but she never considers college. She ends up working as a CNA, waitress, or hotel clerk. She never works in the field where she had the most to give. Shouldn't every kid have a chance? Let's put the personal responsibility on the kid, but give them an equal chance.
these are not complete thoughts. These are not finished projects. But ultimately, I want my children to have every chance and I want them to work for what they get. I also want them to recognize that not everybody is as fortunate as them and giving back is a good thing too. Perhaps, that is something the republicans have forgotten.
Have a great day
- cp
You may think, after reading that first paragraph, that I am a conservative. That is not true...I am as liberal as anybody (well not anybody, Paul Yarns is more liberal than me). However, I am a firm believer in some social equality issues that prevent me from considering the republican platform (opposition to gay marriage, opposition to abortion, irony of small government that controls what I do in my home -- does nobody else notice that?)
In any event, my issue with the democrats, and many liberals (no offense to my liberal friends), is what could be considered to be lack of personal responbility. It is a difficult question. If there is a poor white child in rural missouri, is it fair that your parents were poor, and your cousin makes meth? is that your fault? according to many of the republicans, it is your fault and you should be able to pull your self up by your boot straps. on the other hand, that same kid should have some responsibility and do the best with what they have. I know that the child that I have described has a significantly more uphill battle than a similarly aged kid with equal intelligence who was born in Ladue. The kid in Ladue will assume they are going to college and will be able to afford it? Do we want a country where a child's chance of success is almost directly related to their parents? Aren't we dooming an entire portion of society to poverty and to never really having a chance?
The repubs will have you believe it only takes hard work, and they are right in part. Clearly, the kid in rural missouri needs to work and take advantage of what he can, but, is it fair that the kid in Ladue, frankly, does not really have to work?? The current system is not working. On the other hand, I am not a socialist/communist (my more well-read friends will tell me I don't know which is which -- and they are correct).
I don't think the wealthy should be required to pay for everybody (though increased taxes aren't the end o the world). I do think, though, that every kid should have the opportunity of a very good education. There is no doubt that our system is failing the kids, and it is not b/c of the dedicated teachers that do their jobs well everyday. it is more than that. it is systemic. it needs to be fixed.
Frankly, I would suggest the Federal Government give significant money to subsidize school districts that do not have the tax base. Ladue School District should not exponentially more wealthy than other school districts just because the wealthy live there. Can nobody see the vicious circle that creates? Good tax base, good schools. more wealthy people move in. higher tax base, better schools, etc etc etc. On the others side of the coin, are the poor neighborhoods. low tax base, bad schools, depresses real estate, and the circle of poverty continues.
I began this with personal accountability and responsibility. I very much believe that everybody needs to do their share to better their lot in life. I also believe that the poor kid in rural Mississippi, or the City of St. Louis should not be so disadvantaged from the start they have no realistic chance. Consider this, there may be a kid in a City school, or a school in rural Alabama that is extremely intelligent. She might be great at science. She might have the potential to discover the cure for cancer or aids, or some other global problem. Instead, though, she goes to school with substandard supplies and classrooms with too many children. Nobody recognizes her intelligence, potential, or will to learn. Her family is poor and her mother works two jobs just to keep food on the table. As she gets older, with no guidance from anybody, she hides that she is smart b/c she is 15 and is more interested in boys than books. She quits studying. She is still smart, but she never considers college. She ends up working as a CNA, waitress, or hotel clerk. She never works in the field where she had the most to give. Shouldn't every kid have a chance? Let's put the personal responsibility on the kid, but give them an equal chance.
these are not complete thoughts. These are not finished projects. But ultimately, I want my children to have every chance and I want them to work for what they get. I also want them to recognize that not everybody is as fortunate as them and giving back is a good thing too. Perhaps, that is something the republicans have forgotten.
Have a great day
- cp
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Sometimes you don't know
I am sitting at my desk at 6:45 AM. I have begun coming to work very early so I can get home for dinner. The girls seem to prefer that I get home to eat with them. Frankly, I like it better anyway. I am more productive early in the morning, today not withstanding. I love spending time with the kids, and this way I get to spend more time with them.
Lily is now 5 1/2 (or close to it). I can't believe how big she is getting. She is asking so many questions about everything. She (and her sister, Lucy) have begun the death questions. When is Charlie going to die (our very old dog), how did Veronica die (my sister), why did she die, when are you going to die, when is lucy going to die, why do people die, is the table dead?
These questions are normal, I know, but they are harder to answer, particularly when it is about me or their mom. We always tell them, don't worry about that. People die when their bodies just don't work any more and usually that happens when they get old. Of course, the follow up question is Brown Papa (my dad, their grandpa) is old. MaMa is old. Nanny is old. Papa Erwin is old. True enough, but their bodies are working right now.
It has made me reflect, though, on the fact that my parents (and in-laws) are getting old. I have not had to deal with the loss of a parent, but with parents who are 69 and soon to be 71, it is clear that things are going to wind down. Not to be morbid, but how do you deal with older parents. Knowing my parents, they will never voluntarily realize they are not well enough to live on their own (not even close to that now), but they are very stubborn people (perhaps where my stubborness comes from). They are in Florida, which was a good idea whne they were 60, but as they age, the distance is more of an issue.
I, generally, am not a worrier, and this post is more to vent than anything. I am no different from anybody with older parents. Eventually, as the children, we have to become the grown-ups and deal with parents as they age, and eventually pass away. I assume (probably shouldn't) that it won't be for a long time, but as i learned all to well with my sister, people die and there is no way to know when or how it will happen.
I hope everybody has a great day!
Be Easy
-cp
Lily is now 5 1/2 (or close to it). I can't believe how big she is getting. She is asking so many questions about everything. She (and her sister, Lucy) have begun the death questions. When is Charlie going to die (our very old dog), how did Veronica die (my sister), why did she die, when are you going to die, when is lucy going to die, why do people die, is the table dead?
These questions are normal, I know, but they are harder to answer, particularly when it is about me or their mom. We always tell them, don't worry about that. People die when their bodies just don't work any more and usually that happens when they get old. Of course, the follow up question is Brown Papa (my dad, their grandpa) is old. MaMa is old. Nanny is old. Papa Erwin is old. True enough, but their bodies are working right now.
It has made me reflect, though, on the fact that my parents (and in-laws) are getting old. I have not had to deal with the loss of a parent, but with parents who are 69 and soon to be 71, it is clear that things are going to wind down. Not to be morbid, but how do you deal with older parents. Knowing my parents, they will never voluntarily realize they are not well enough to live on their own (not even close to that now), but they are very stubborn people (perhaps where my stubborness comes from). They are in Florida, which was a good idea whne they were 60, but as they age, the distance is more of an issue.
I, generally, am not a worrier, and this post is more to vent than anything. I am no different from anybody with older parents. Eventually, as the children, we have to become the grown-ups and deal with parents as they age, and eventually pass away. I assume (probably shouldn't) that it won't be for a long time, but as i learned all to well with my sister, people die and there is no way to know when or how it will happen.
I hope everybody has a great day!
Be Easy
-cp
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2012
Its been a while. As I wrote almost two months ago, finding time is difficult. Like everybody, though, I have made "resolutions". I have not really figured out what good they are, why wait until 12/31 - 1/1 to make changes in your life. If you have changes to make, make them.
I have read a lot of facebook posts and articles on what to do and how to act now that it is a new year. Why can't we be that way all of the time? why can't we be positive all the time? I have no idea what it is about the new year that makes people begin considering making changes in their life. The real question is how long are those changes going to last? how long will you eat healthy? how long will you work out? how long will you get to work on time? How long will you be nicer to your spouse? how long will you be the person you want to be, as opposed to the person you are?
The real question is why are you the way you are? Is it really so bad? Of course, everybody can get better and improve. Have you ever asked yourself (I am not sure that i have until now), why am I impatient, why am i short with people, why can I be difficult? Why did I eat that Swiss Cake Roll (that's easy, I love them).
Either way, i have tried to be a good person and I will keep trying. I don't know that i have resolutions only because there are things that I am constantly working on. One of them includes exercise (like most people).
In what may have been a weak moment, I have signed up for a half marathon. My wife and I are running the half marathon in Champagn, IL at the end of April (I am referring to this day as the day that my wife becomes independently wealthy). We'll see, but I am rather competitive AND VERY STUBBORN. I'll finish the fucking thing, I have no doubt about that (though it will make these sixteen weeks very difficult)
I have decided i have two goals related to the half marathon 1. finish 2. don't finish last. I have been joking that I will knock over a 90 year old if it means that I don't finish last. I am quite serious about that :)
I look forward to it. My wife will beat me by about 1 hour, but I figure by then she'll feel good enough to carry me home (or roll me in a wheel barrow). Will be interesting and fun.
I will keep you updated on my progress.
I suppose, after my introduction, I should not suggest that I will write more frequently, but what the hell, I am going to say it. I plan on writing more frequently. This is for me. It keeps me honest and I like writing. I did not finish my novel in November (primarily because of work -- I had to unexpectedly travel), but I am going to finish the novel I started.
A lot to do and so little time to get it done. And as i teach my children there are only 2 rules that matter:
1. Have Fun
2. Be Kind
Have a great day.
-CP
I have read a lot of facebook posts and articles on what to do and how to act now that it is a new year. Why can't we be that way all of the time? why can't we be positive all the time? I have no idea what it is about the new year that makes people begin considering making changes in their life. The real question is how long are those changes going to last? how long will you eat healthy? how long will you work out? how long will you get to work on time? How long will you be nicer to your spouse? how long will you be the person you want to be, as opposed to the person you are?
The real question is why are you the way you are? Is it really so bad? Of course, everybody can get better and improve. Have you ever asked yourself (I am not sure that i have until now), why am I impatient, why am i short with people, why can I be difficult? Why did I eat that Swiss Cake Roll (that's easy, I love them).
Either way, i have tried to be a good person and I will keep trying. I don't know that i have resolutions only because there are things that I am constantly working on. One of them includes exercise (like most people).
In what may have been a weak moment, I have signed up for a half marathon. My wife and I are running the half marathon in Champagn, IL at the end of April (I am referring to this day as the day that my wife becomes independently wealthy). We'll see, but I am rather competitive AND VERY STUBBORN. I'll finish the fucking thing, I have no doubt about that (though it will make these sixteen weeks very difficult)
I have decided i have two goals related to the half marathon 1. finish 2. don't finish last. I have been joking that I will knock over a 90 year old if it means that I don't finish last. I am quite serious about that :)
I look forward to it. My wife will beat me by about 1 hour, but I figure by then she'll feel good enough to carry me home (or roll me in a wheel barrow). Will be interesting and fun.
I will keep you updated on my progress.
I suppose, after my introduction, I should not suggest that I will write more frequently, but what the hell, I am going to say it. I plan on writing more frequently. This is for me. It keeps me honest and I like writing. I did not finish my novel in November (primarily because of work -- I had to unexpectedly travel), but I am going to finish the novel I started.
A lot to do and so little time to get it done. And as i teach my children there are only 2 rules that matter:
1. Have Fun
2. Be Kind
Have a great day.
-CP
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)