Someone clicked!

Someone clicked on one of the Google Ads giving me a 13 cent bump. I am now up to 99 cents. That's right, 99 whole complete cents. Just one more click and I gots me a dollar! Too bad Google waits until you make it to $100 before cutting you a check. It took me 2 months to make 99 cents. So all of my smart friends, here is where you come in. If this rate continues, how many months will it take to reach $100?

Rules of Engagement

So a second person tells me that they have been checking out my blog. First person tells me that, "isn't it great?! I don't have to talk to you and I know all about what is happening in your life." I mentioned to the second person how I have been going to the gym and she says, "Yeah I read it on your thing."

Ok friends... Here is the deal. I am writing these things, putting my feelings and thoughts and my whatevers out there so that all of you can laugh at me. It's ok to laugh at me, I don't get offended that easily. I do get a little discouraged when I don't think no one is reading. I will stop posting for a couple days and the only person who seems to notice is Diane. She will even post on her blog about the lack of posts on my blog. I gotta love her for that. I can't find her post at this moment but I swear I remember her commenting somewhere about it.

For the rest of y'all. There is a little Comments link down there beneath each post. Don't be afraid to use it. I allow for anonymous posts so you don't need an account to write, but please sign off at the bottom so I know who you are. So, write your comments. Let me know that I am wrong, or humor me and tell me I am right. Say Hey good job! Or say well 239 pounds is still fat ya big tub of goo! Anything so I know who my audience is.

Good News for us South Floridians

I just read some excellent news posted on Herald.com. The headline read, "Gap between home prices, income widens in Florida." Isn't that wonderful?! Gives us all hope of ever owning a home here. The estimated median household income in Florida is $43,982. The article does not state what the median price of a house in South Florida was but I can make an educated guess that it is lingering at around $300,000. The average mortage for a household making $43k a year would be no more than $120,000. There is a gap there of $180,000. How do they expect us to make up that difference? Are we going to start to see 60 or 70 year mortages?

The problem needs to be fixed, pronto. The higher prices also affect rent prices, commercial properties, etc. Which means that our employers are also having to pay more money to keep an office here. Which means there is less profit. Which means there is less of a chance for a substantial raise. House prices go up 30% while we get a modest 2% or 3% cost of living bump in our salary. As property values go up, rent will usually follow. Eventually there will be no profit and no more job. What is going to happen then?

Then what happens when the person renting the apartment realizes they can sell it for much more than what it can rent for. They get to sell their property, turn a profit and not have to deal with a tenant any longer. Why not sell? The new owner then raises the rent, who then sells to the next highest bidder, who then raises the rent, and up and up. Eventually pricing everyone out of the market.

I really love this city. No really, I do.

Practice

Yes, I am still living at home. But I am not a "momma's boy." I am anything but that. Since I was about 13 or 14, I've been doing my own laundry, my own cleaning, my own mopping, my own sweeping, etc. I've also done my little bit of cooking here and there. Mom has never "babied" me. Not even when I am sick. And I think I am a better man for it.

The parents have been on vacation this week leaving me home alone with my younger sister. I am loving being alone. I've gotten the chance to use my cooking skills. On Sunday, I roasted some chicken seasoned with a little Badia Complete Seasoning and some mojo. Delicious! Monday night, a "cuban" steak. Yummy. Tonight was my best yet. Sweet and Sour Pork Chops with some dirty rice. Purrrrr. (I just realized I hadn't purred in a few weeks). I honestly cannot wait until I have my own place.

I decided a couple weeks back that I have had enough of the folks. And took on a second job to make extra money so I can afford rent. Now it's just a matter of finding a place I can afford in a place I want to live. I am not being too picky. First, I can afford about $750 a month. Second, I would like to be near the LA Fitness in Doral. Third, a washer and dryer in the unit. And fourth and probably the most important a place to put my Weber Genesis Grill. I could leave it here but my parents have never ever used it. It would go to waste. The Fountain Blue, Westchester, Sweetwater, Dolphin Mall, Doral areas are all game. I hope I can find a place soon for my own sanity.

239.5!

I did it!! I met, and beat, my goal of weighing 240lbs by this morning!!! I am so excited!!!! My goal this next week is to get down to 238 pounds!!!!!

I've got Bluetooth!

No, not blue teeth, but Bluetooth! And I am so happy. I bought a new cellphone and the only feature I was looking for was Bluetooth. And I think it is so worth it. As I sit here on my laptop, my cellphone can sit up to 20 feet away and still transfer pictures, music, and synch my Outlook calendar with it. The synch happens automatically at a set interval. I don't have to do a thing, as my Outlook calendar updates, so does my phone's.

It also has that feature that lets you attach an image to each caller. So I have Shannon's pic on there because she is one of my bestest friends. I would put up Kim's picture but I don't really have any that I can show. And because I think they are both adorable - I put Dimple and Spectacular on there too. Not that I have a chance with either one of the two but they're cute and I like them.

So you wonder how I got their picture? I'm pretty bright and resourceful. Nothing too crazy. I just went to Match.com and right clicked on their picture. The context menu appears with Save Picture as an option. Yes that easy. So now in the off chance that I actually get a call from one of them, I'll see their picture.

Through the magic of Bluetooth, I also transferred a handful of MP3s to the phone. Yes, it also plays MP3s!! I just have to get a bigger memory card since it only comes with a 32meg card. So yeah, I'm loving it.

I'll just call her my girlfriend

I've been spending so much time at the gym lately. I also currently do not have any females in my life. Which gives me plenty of extra time to spend, where else, but in the gym. Today I decided that I will just call the gym my girlfriend. Her name will be Gymena. We spend so much time together that I just might as well.

Two good Letters to the Editor in today's Miami Herald

There were a couple Letters to the Editor from today's Miami Herald that I think I worth a mention.

Nancy Erdvig from Pembroke Pines suggests that South Florida secede from the rest of Florida and become the 51st state. It is apparent by their actions that the legislature is not looking out for South Florida. I agree with her. They only seem to look out for North Florida, while South Florida continues getting the short end of the stick. They continually pass or veto bills that affect South Florida in a negative way. I say we secede and invite Orlando and Tampa to come with us. Maybe we invite Daytona too. That pretty much means that all of the huge tax bases of the State would now belong to us! After Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando - are there any other cities or counties that generate as much in tax revenue as us?

The second letter was from Rolf H. Parta from Pembroke Pines. His letter is in reference to politicians promoting democracy around the world and forcing it on other nations like it's a one size fits all solution. He says, "a democracy's purpose is to impose the majority's political will on the minority." In a way, I agree. However, our forefathers left Europe looking to escape the religious persecution they were facing. Fast forward and "All men are created equal."

Unfortunately this is not true. This country is being run by the Christian Right. They are forcing their views, their opinions, and what they see as being correct down everyone's throat. And our idiot politicians are allowing them. We live in a blue state so why is our Governor Jeb Bush running this as a red state? He is being pressured or lobbied by the Christian Right (or is it the Christian Reicht?). Or he is doing it out of spite because he knows that the only reason the entire state is Blue is because South Floridians voted that way.

The Incredible, Shrinking, Ed

We've been hearing about Melissa's weight loss program. She's been using Weight Watchers and having much success with it. Personally, I have a tough time "dieting" like that. Unfortunately for me, I was getting larger and larger. The last couple of weeks has been different. I've been shrinking! And ladies, don't worry - it's not THAT part that is shrinking. Geez get your minds out of the gutter you perverted people. I meant my belly is shrinking!

I was weighing in at 300lbs at some point in my life. I managed to lose 100lbs in about 8 months. I did it by eating less. I still ate all the foods I normally ate, I just ate less amounts of it. Then, I would go to the gym every day. About an hour of weights with about 30 minutes running on the treadmill. On weekends, I would mix it up and ride my bike instead. Eventually I met someone who distracted me from the workouts. And you get comfortable and the weight slowly started coming back. I've been lingering around 245 pounds now for some time. I decided last week that enough is enough. So, the gym it was. I've been going religiously now for just under 2 weeks.

Since I don't like to cheat myself of all the yummy food society has to offer, this past week's lunch diet included Taco Bell, Burger King twice, Pizza and Garlic Rolls. Also included little pieces of cakes and sweets for dessert. You'd think I'd be gaining weight right? Negative my friends! For one, I would eat a very light dinner figuring I ingested enough calories at lunch to cover me for the whole day. Second, I've also been spending an hour and a half in the gym everyday. All of this hard work seems to be paying off. I just stepped on the scale and it came in at 240.5 pounds. Just over my 240 pound goal that I wanted to be at by tomorrow.

Lucky for me, I am off today. And my plans include going to the gym this morning. I also don't have any plans for this evening so I will probably return to the gym for a second workout. All I need to lose in one day is a half pound and I would be able to hit my 240lb mark for sure!

Apartment Hunting?

I am off on Friday. And I've had it. I need to get my own place. I really wish I could find a roommate but looks like I am going to have to live like a poor person. I think that for my own sanity, I should go. I can't take my current situation any longer. I live with a bunch of inconsiderate people who only care that they are not bothered. Yes these are my parents and my sister. Well, that is not fair to say. My little sister and I actually get along. My big sister however insists on visiting every day.

She drives an SUV and doesn't care how or where she parks it. However it ends up is where she shuts it off even if it is taking up 2 or 3 spaces. She talks SUPER loud not caring if you are taking a nap. She cranks the TV volume up so she can hear over herself. I've had enough.

I am not even going to get into my parent's problems. Way too numerous to list and the only response would be to ask me why am I still living at home. Well, it's a very simple answer. It's because rent in this God forsaken banana republic of a half ass backwards city is ridiculously high! I don't know how much more the market can bear since our salaries are not keeping up with the sky rocketing housing situation but I can tell you that I cannot bear my living arrangements any longer. I have already found a couple places online that I am going to have to find out how to afford. I don't know how I am going to come up with the money but I'll find away. Friday I will drive around and check them out.