2009 so far

Well I have made it nine days into 09' and I have not yet made my mark or achieved my resolutions. I have not given up but I haven't made much progress. The best thing I have done is I have cut out my "Salted Carmel Hot Chocolate with 3 shots of Espresso". I don't know why it is so hard to quit an 800 calorie beverage that I might drink twice a day.

I have been working out okay. Tuesday I even woke up at 4:40am to go swim and do spin class. I am still working on an epic year. Filled with great success.

Titans Game

I am going to the Titan's Game on Saturday. This is going to be my first NFL playoff game. We are in the 2nd row. It is supposed to rain like crazy. I don't care about the rain but I am worried about how Teresa is going to feel about sitting in a downpour for 4 hours. I am not talking about Oregon rain. We are forcasted to get 4-5" tonight. I will be planning my rain strategy this week.

Going to Atlanta for the day

Teresa has two of her very good friends from college visiting family in Atlanta. They live in Denver and we always talk about going to visit. Which always reminds me of how bad I miss skiing. This is going to be my 4th season missed in a row. I have to make this a big priority for 2010. The kids might be ready by then.

Swimming

I am 40 and thought I knew how to swim. I never have thought I am good at it but I am comfortable swimming in all kinds of conditions. In the 3 triathlons I have done I stunk in the swim and on the last one it was terrible swimming boat to boat. So I bought a DVD on swimming and have watched it 7 times. I was the example of what not to do on every drill. So on yesterdays workout I spent an hour in the pool working on my technique and swimming laps. I am really excited about improving before July's Triathlon with a .9 mile swim.

Monday I had 1851 calories.

Happy New Years

Well here we are again. January 1st and I can look back on not hitting any resolutions. I am the king of over promise and under deliver to myself. However, I am not about to let this get me down. I have made my plan for 2009 and it is complex and will include a lot of my biggest weakness...discipline. The resolutions are:

1. Health Management.

• Weight in the 200's. I am at 252. I am on my-calorie-counter.com where I have a $50 bet with Ken on consecutive days of entry. I know the hows...I just need to be disciplined and committed.


• I am at 26% body fat...which is officially obese.

2. Finish my screenplay. I have been working on it for 5 years. I guess I can't say working on it. I should say started it 5 years ago. This is a personal discipline that is fulfilling.

3. E-bay sales of $40,000 and profit of $15,000.

• I must commit to my time at night and the weekends to get items listed.


• Why wouldn't I want to net $15,000 for working 9 -11 hours a week on my couch.

I have other small personal goals:

• 265 blogs in 2009. Not for readers but for keeping myself honest and working on my creativity and writing skills.


• Fitness events (3 state / 3 mountain, Chattanooga Waterfront triathlon, Sportsbarn Sprint Triathlon and a few others).


• Career Peace

You know the drill...live to my potential. I didn't mention father and husband skills because these all work into that.

2 days til Chicago

I really can't wait for my little get away to Chicago and Green Bay to see my Brothers and Nephew. Here is the Agenda.

Thursday - get into Chicago at 2:15 look for a hotdog on the to get my luggage. We will all meet at O'Hare and go to the Hotel...Walk around Michigan and Eat dinner at Na Ha.

Friday - We are going to Milwaukee for lunch and then onto Manitowoc to watch my Nephew Jordon play basketball (He is a Junior at Manitowoc Lutheran). Then we will party like we are in Manitowoc.

Saturday - We will watch my Nephew Bowl league and then bowl with him. We will hopefully get to play some ball this day. We may go to the Wisc-GB basketball game.

Sunday - We are going to Lambeau to see the Packers...and then drive back to Chicago.

Monday - Come home.

How fun is this when you don't get to see your siblings much. I can't wait.

The weather is even looking good.

Thanksgiving is over

Thanksgiving weekend is over I am only working three days this week because I am going north to see Ken, Shea and Jordon on Thursday. Shea, Ken and I are going to meet in Chicago. So I am in tear it up mode at work as I will be attempting the finish your work in three days routine in consecutive weeks. More to come on this trip. I am really got into facebook this weekend. This is a big week...Work, get caught up on E-bay and go see my brothers.

Driving Home

Yesterday we spent the day with Ken, Cathy, Carly, Jordon, Chuck and Sandy. We had a great time at the Knoxville Zoo and Chuck and Sandy's house. While driving home I had a lot of time to reflect on some life things. I realize that I have had an amazing life and been able to experience some amazing things on one hand while on the other I am a huge underachiever and have completed very few things that I have started. I am now 40 years old and am thinking I need to go back and complete some of these task that I have on the table. For my personal peace I must complete some things:

• Lose this weight?
• Finish my screenplay?
• I have about 6 books with 3 or more chapters to finish?
• Drive my e-bay business?
• Work success?
• my degree?

I am not sure where to drive this but I do know that I am an underachiever and not to "get a lot closer to my potential".

As a new venture that I plan on completing I am going to do one top 10 list a week about my life. I will be writing this on Sundays.

My favorite Religious sayings

This post has been removed by myself.

I have been trying to ride

For my 40th birthday I really wanted a new bike. I had the Klein since 1990. That is a long time...3 rear derailleurs, broken frame twice and rode over a hundred miles. I really skipped years at a time without significant mile. I told Teresa everything I could to get a new bike:

1. I would lose weight

2. I would stop looking at bikes on the Internet

3. I would ride the 3 state 3 mountain challenge

4. If I had a new bike I could ride up our mountain.



Well I did get a new bike and it is the bike of my dreams. We also got a great deal from Jensonusa in California. I got a 2007 Bianchi 928 with SRAM Rival. Full Carbon. Awesome.



I received the bike in March and have stopped looking at bikes and did the 3 State. I have logged about 200 miles this spring including up our mountain 3 times. I did the challenge in thunder storms. I have had a tough time getting on the bike with rain and child care. I have enjoyed it when I have been on it. I am heading up to Iowa June 7-8th to do a 200+ mile ride with Ken. I am in big trouble. I am going on a group ride today 35miles and am riding Saturday and Sunday next week. I need to get on it!!!!

I am back

I quit doing the blog and I don't know why. I have plenty of material. So I will get it back on this week.

Oh My

I have really been busy...selling and shipping Webkinz, work and spending time with the family. We have sold 61 Webkinz. We are getting close to even on what we have put in...we have 60 more to sell. Our inventory continues to grow. If we see them we buy them now that we know they will sell...we ship them mostly to the Northeast.

Idol gives back was rough. In the middle of the show as Teresa was crying and I was right behind her...she said it makes me want to go hug our babies...they were sleeping. We have so many reasons to appreciate what we have.

I am not surprised by no one getting cut. In fact within 10 minutes I was saying how I didn't think they could cut someone.

This is the week I usually am at National bowling. It is in Reno this year and I really like bowling at the big stadium. I always pretend that I am Munson from Kingpin. I cancelled my spot in November. I really am missing it more than I thought I would. I was on a great team.

Have a great day.

Wacky for Webkins

A few weeks ago I bought Teresa a Webkins Cat that looked like Sassy. We had Sassy put to sleep and I thought is would be nice. Teresa got hooked on the games, feeding her cat and decorating her cats room. I later bought her a dog and got her one in her Easter basket. We looked on e-bay and found that they are hard to find and are double the price. So we decided to load up and sell on e-bay.

I have them at work in the gift shop...so I bought 30 and Teresa and her friends went all over town and bought them up. I got kicked out of a store for trying to buy a bunch after Teresa was there. That is a low point in my life...who am I Beanie Baby guy? As Timora might say "I am so Ken Klein right now". We have sold everything we have posted at a profit between 35% to 210%. I am posting Webkins every 6-8 hours and moving em out...My big fear is getting stuck with a bunch of worthless stuffed animals. I have made a spreadsheet to keep track of our 113 Webkins. My measurement is what % profit are we at vs investment...we have collected (82.94%). Have a good weekend.

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually felt bad for him on the goodbye. Sonjaya is gone. Idol is great but is the least of my thoughts with the tragic events in Virginia. Go Hokies!!!

The Klein's have left the Nooga.

So the Klein's have left and we had a great time. Here are the final scores:

• Indoor golf champion - Jordon beat me at the Terrells.


• I am the bubble breaker champion beating Ken and Jordon while setting the record in the final match.


• 2 on 2 Champs - Brian and Jordon...4 games to 1.


• Sargent majors was a split - Ken and Cathy each won once.


• One on one champ - Me? I was 2-1, Ken was 1-1 and Jordon was 1-2.


• Golf - 1st Jordon, 2nd Me and 3rd Ken...all within a few strokes...I want a rematch.


• Indoor kids basketball ...I beat Jordon.


• UNO...1st Me, 2nd Teresa, 3rd Cathy, 4th Ken and bringing up the rear Jordon.


• Trampoline basketball - Jordon out lasted me 2-1 at 1am this morning.


• 3 on 3 full court hoops - My team beat Jordons 2-1.


• Air Hockey - I won the tourney beating Ken, Jordon and Cathy along the way.


• Around the world video game - Jordon won by 2.


• Indoor horse - I won at the Terrells we did not finish the game at our house.

Wow that is some serious game action in only seeing each other a few day...It was great.

American Idol just got uglier

The one woman singer who looks like a star is gone...Bye Haley. I am not shocked by her being elimination, but will miss her performance factor. I can't believe that Sanjaya is hanging in...next week Phil will go.

Current Rankings

#1 Melinda
#2 Blake
#3 Jordin
#4 Lakisha
#5 Chris
#6 Phil
#7 Sanjaya

The Kleins are here for lunch tomorrow. I am making hamburgers and potato salad.

Kien es tu papa

How was I supposed to watch American Idol after finding out that I am not Danny Lyn's Daddy. Congrats to Larry I wish him the best.

Today at work I was helping with with a sales survey where we put together a dog and pony show and set up a replica of the food stations we are going to add to their cafeteria. We had 45 minutes to convert a banquet room into 4 exhibition stations. It was fast and furious and crazy...but we pulled it off. It was one of the most bizarre caterings I have ever ran.

The Kleins are here in 2 days. Soddy Daisy may never be the same.

Easter Sunday

I had the best Easter I have had in years...maybe the best I have ever had. We went to the Terrells' in Madisonville, TN. We ate at a little hometown restaurant, watched the Masters, a great Easter egg hunt, time with family and some 2on 2.

• Anthony was so cute hunting eggs.


• I loved seeing every one Cindy, Brian their children Cole and Riley...Ken, Cathy, Jordon and Carley...Chuck and Sandi...They were all great.


• It was just fun being around everyone.

Now the low point...Ken and I got killed in 2 on 2. We lost the first 4 games and won the fifth. It was painful. It was hard watching Ken laying on the ground counting clouds. It was hard shooting like a joker. It was hard having Jordon play me on defense and shut me down. Brian was shooting the ball like he was good or something. It was a nightmare. Every time I tried to have a pep talk with myself Cindy would laugh at me. The only thing I can think would have changed things is if we would have been skins.

Ken and family get to Chattanooga on Thursday...I can't wait.

Go Melinda Go

So Sanjaya wasn't the weakest singer last night. My top three things from last nights show was:

1. When Melinda finishes tearing up the stage and the crowd is going crazy. Melinda is looking around in shock..."me???, You like my singing????, I am shocked..." Doesn't she get it? She is a real Diva / Virtuoso.

2. When Simon told Sanjaya he was incredible and he got excited like Simon was serious.

3. Haley Scarnoto...hello...Does Simon have any manors? When asked about her performance he says "you have great legs". I hadn't noticed until he said something...I am only focused on her vocal performance.

For those wagering or who want to plan a going away party...say goodbye to Phil Stacey.

Teresa and I did spin class last night. It was fun.

I just can't hide it...

I am so excited about the Iowa Klein's making an Easter trip to the South. When you think Easter you think ham...when you think ham...you think South. We have more kinds of ham than Portland has tofu.

We have a 2 on 2 game planned featuring the "bully brothers" vs Jordon and Brian. Our huge front line will be tough to stop.

Teresa and I have been doing a good job of working out. I am really proud of Teresa as she is hitting the gym harder than I have ever seen her. She has gone 3 days in a row and is really pushing herself. I have been doing well also...

Last night I had a big pop in my jaw. It hurt like a well diggers toe nail. I had to get up and take some Tylenol...However, this morning it feels great...better than before the pop...I noticed a bizarre surgery side effect today. When I used a q-tip in my right ear I felt it in my chin.

I just can't hide it...I am so excited...I'm about to lose control and I think I like it.