Update Season VII: "The OK Corral"

[patrick1]

Well, you did get your old ONG job with that degree, which would have been a stable job for you long term. Your fixation with call centers was quite a bizarre one, but then again...

It didn't require a degree, I got it off referral.  It would have been a good job, but the gal who referred me keeps telling me to be glad I'm not still working there. They would have drained my paycheck because I'm fat.  I'm not exaggerating, either.

Easy solution to that: don't be fat.

[patrick1]

Well, you did get your old ONG job with that degree, which would have been a stable job for you long term. Your fixation with call centers was quite a bizarre one, but then again...

It didn't require a degree, I got it off referral.  It would have been a good job, but the gal who referred me keeps telling me to be glad I'm not still working there. They would have drained my paycheck because I'm fat.  I'm not exaggerating, either.

Easy solution to that: don't be fat.

Still, draining paychecks for weight or other health issues like smoking is completely unethical and should be illegal if not already.  Their new policy requires employees to disclose personal medical information or face a $500 per month loss.  Doesn't that violate HIPPA?

I am no lawyer and haven't the foggiest but I don't see anything particularly unethical about charging more for bad behavior.  Why should people who take care of themselves pay extra for the DIABEETUS medication of someone who caused themselves to get that way?  If you  weren't an Injun we would all be paying for your medications because you choose not to walk when there is a light drizzle.

[patrick1]

LOL!  0 Xs?  You haven't repeatedly lied in the Update threads?  I'm pretty sure that I alone have revealed at least 20 lies.

Keep them coming! I've got all day!

Yeah, we know you morally repellent leech.  That is it,  I just can't take this anymore. I tried to think that Bushie was just a well meaning person with emotional problems but the evidence is that he is just a passive aggressive, lazy who will manipulate anyone to get what he wants. It is all about what makes him happy and screw everyone else. Your daddy or older brother should have knocked some sense into your lazy a$$ a long time ago. Day after day
of your attention seeking whining about your boring life. I thought maybe some advice of well meaning people would take hold but he is just a troll.

[patrick1]

My headache keeps slowly improving.  Right now, it is at about a 3.0 average on the aforementioned scale.  I say average because it has been fluctuating between a 2.0 and 4.0.  I'm going to get another very light snack here pretty quick.

I've learned something today.  With high blood pressure, I need to eat more than once a day.  I need to have at least two medium size meals a day.  A light snack and a big dinner doesn't work too well.  Three small to medium size meals a day is probably ideal, but I'm going to try two medium size meals a day.  Basically, I'm going to try to combine breakfast and lunch into brunch and then dinner.  I may have a few peanuts, in the middle of the afternoon, but as far as main meals, just a medium size brunch and dinner.  What does everyone think about that?

Eat 1800-2000 calories a day, get in some exercise and you will lose weight. Push yourself on exercise a little more or farther each day. Peanuts are likely too calorie dense in beginning and will sabotage you. This isn't freaking brain surgery. Once you get in a more manageable weight you can start experimenting on other stuff.

[patrick1]

What does the Bible say about being a complete and utter pussy? IIRC, it is against it.

[patrick1]

Yes, BK. Dropping Psalms on 'em. I am at point where I am just going to be full on drill sergeant on Bushie. The well meaning advice is stage is over. I get the sense that so many people in our protagonists' life are coddling him: Oh Gee whiz, Jeff is trying. However, thinking about doing something and talking about doing something is not trying. And from all accounts he will pay lip service that he tried and failed and will then manipulate people into doing what he wants. That is cowardly behavior.  I don't really know why I care but I do. I suppose I turned my life around quite a bit and I'd really like to see him do the same. Maybe some bizarre need to pay it forward.

[patrick1]

Wait, so what are you going to wear for a month while your clothes are all packed up?

These are just the supplies.  We pack the personal items on our own later.

Yeah, God forbid you buy supplies from the local merchants and actually contribute to the local economy.  We need the cracker brigade to parachute in to save the day.

[patrick1]

Wait, so what are you going to wear for a month while your clothes are all packed up?

These are just the supplies.  We pack the personal items on our own later.

Yeah, God forbid you buy supplies from the local merchants and actually contribute to the local economy.  We need the cracker brigade to parachute in to save the day.

We do buy some supplies down there at the "Nakumat" which is Kenya's version of Walmart, especially the liquid or gel products, but they don't have all the supplies we are looking for, so we're taking a few supplies with us.

You know what my above statement is unfair. The real useless cargo is a plane load of Oklahomans spending thousands of dollars and burning through untold fossils fuel to go to Kenya in the first place... to do what exactly?  Feel better about themselves.  I don't question the motivation of you all but rather the effectiveness.  You really could be helping in other ways.

[patrick1]

Wait, so what are you going to wear for a month while your clothes are all packed up?

These are just the supplies.  We pack the personal items on our own later.

Yeah, God forbid you buy supplies from the local merchants and actually contribute to the local economy.  We need the cracker brigade to parachute in to save the day.

We do buy some supplies down there at the "Nakumat" which is Kenya's version of Walmart, especially the liquid or gel products, but they don't have all the supplies we are looking for, so we're taking a few supplies with us.

You know what my above statement is unfair. The real useless cargo is a plane load of Oklahomans spending thousands of dollars and burning through untold fossils fuel to go to Kenya in the first place... to do what exactly?  Feel better about themselves.  I don't question the motivation of you all but rather the effectiveness.  You really could be helping in other ways.

There are some cases where hands-on work is more effective than money.  Love is best expressed through physical interaction and touching, not a checkbook.  We can't help the workers build by money alone.  They need physical labor.  All money does is fund such projects.  The church families of the travelers are the ones who raise the money to fund the projects.

The Bible calls us to be the hands and feet of Christ on this earth, not just the checkbook of Christ.  The Apostle James says that true religion is caring for the widows and the orphans.  We are Christians, so we follow the Christian Holy Book, the Bible.  It's like a Muslim would be following the Quran for his expeditions, or a Jew would be following the Torah.  When I was a child at church (the same church where I'm an Associate Pastor/Church Clerk now), on the wall of one of the Sunday School rooms had a photograph of a child and the caption said "She needs your time, not just your money."

Volunteer at a local soup kitchen then.  Help the poor...start with yourself.

There are plenty of local people much more skilled who could use the wages doing the work that you pretend to do.  Really this venture is about fueling your egos and getting your photo ops so that donors will continue to donate.

[patrick1]

I love how Bushie always gets "small" hamburgers every time he describes what he eats! I mean, he could've gone for the grilled chicken, but that's not our Bushie!

Respectfully this is why people are so fat in America. Rather than teaching mindfulness and discipline, the diet industry preaches gimmicks or denial. You ever notice so many of the fat girls at the office are always ordering the salad- then inhaling birthday cake a few hours later.

[patrick1]

These constant pipe dreams and inability to focus on anything is not normal and you need to see a therapist.

[patrick1]

These constant pipe dreams and inability to focus on anything is not normal and you need to see a therapist.

So, its not normal to have dreams?

Nope. You have a new plan, dream and goal every day. This is not normal behavior and you need to fix it.

[patrick1]

May I ask the forum a question?  Anybody who wants to respond feel free?

Why am I not encouraged to follow my dreams?  Am I somehow not allowed to follow my dreams?  Every time I mention something I hear people constantly saying "it's impossible", "don't try it", "you're wasting your time", "it's a pipe dream", etc.

I have made many mistakes, but it doesn't mean I have no right to pursue my dreams.

Which dream, the pastor, the Rainbow system guy, the architect, The Utahan, the Peace corps, the Maisha rep, the church planter, the devoted husband caring for a disabled wife and her mammy, dell guy, parks department guy, weight loss guy, which one is it Jeff.

[patrick1]

These constant pipe dreams and inability to focus on anything is not normal and you need to see a therapist.

So, its not normal to have dreams?

Nope. You have a new plan, dream and goal every day. This is not normal behavior and you need to fix it.

Have you heard of the term called "change"?  My plans are not completely different each time, they are evolving.  I don't know if you realize, but the Peace Corps is related to foreign missions.  Yes, I need to find one thing and stick to it, but to think that it is somehow not normal to still be searching for one's calling is ludicrous

Your thought patterns are sabotaging your life.  You are lacking in focus and worse yet not learning from your missteps. I think talking to someone will help you.

[patrick1]

These constant pipe dreams and inability to focus on anything is not normal and you need to see a therapist.

So, its not normal to have dreams?

Nope. You have a new plan, dream and goal every day. This is not normal behavior and you need to fix it.

Have you heard of the term called "change"?  My plans are not completely different each time, they are evolving.  I don't know if you realize, but the Peace Corps is related to foreign missions.  Yes, I need to find one thing and stick to it, but to think that it is somehow not normal to still be searching for one's calling is ludicrous

Your thought patterns are sabotaging your life.  You are lacking in focus and worse yet not learning from your missteps. I think talking to someone will help you.

I do not have the money to see a super-expensive therapist who cares nothing for me except my wallet, but will charge me out the wazoo for a 5 minute session and prescribe me some expensive medication.  That's not going to happen.  That is not needed.  The only way I would go is if I were guaranteed to not have to pay a single solitary dime.

So now you are frugal with other people's money? Grow up, get your $hit together and stop making excuses.

Bacon King that was beautiful man.

[patrick1]

Glad to hear you have it all figured out then. Do you, Jeff. Do you.

[patrick1]

If its not storming or no threat of storms, I will walk.  I keep my family and friends on facebook advised of severe weather threats, so their safety will be my top concern. 

whiskey tango foxtrot?

is this really necessary?

[patrick1]

Jeff, some pro bono and unsolicited head shrinking here my man. You don't necessarily need to pay big bucks or go the pharma route to try to fix some things in your life.  

Metaphor time: If you were listening to some music on your grannies' vitriola and the record was skipping would you keep it playing or get up and change the tune?  You are stuck in a vicious cycle and pattern of behavior. You talk yourself into these decisions and then quickly pull the trigger ignoring the possible repercussions of failure. This can hurt yourself and others in the process. When things aren't as you thought they would go you seem to either retreat into the familiar or quit.

No Half measures
Your dream of helping in Kenya is great  but you really have to build toward this. Your track record is bad about sticking to things. This is why I recommended talking things through with someone. You should figure out why you have a habit of quitting. Laziness is a learned behavior. Figure it out and fix it.

You have to prepare the mind and this will go a long way toward preparing and repairing your health. Next, You also have to be realistic with yourself. We would all love to be a cowboy astronaut millionaire. However, as you get older you realize that most of the lines we were fed growing up were pure bull$hit. You can't be everything or do everything you put your mind to. You can't be everything you want to be or dream. We all have talents and skills and a whole lot of shortcomings.  This is why I think you are treading on dangerous ground with some of this God's calling stuff.  Be careful this isn't you talking yourself into a bad decision.  You have talents and skills: build them, refine them and put them to good use.  At the end of the day though, if this is what you want to do then do it. Don't hedge. don't keep moving goal posts back or sideways. Go full bore into it. Put yourself into a position where this is your decision. Own it. No sponsors, no bull$hit, no excuses. You may crash and burn but at least do it your terms.

[patrick1]

I like that post, Patrick, thank you!  I fully realize that there is a "scratch on my vinyl" and I'm stuck in "Groundhog Day".  I am working to fix it.  It will take time, but I am working to fix it.

I do know what I want to do, and you're right, its time to put my eggs in that basket and do everything I possibly can to make it happen.  I'm going to quit making excuses and start living.

All I can say right now is buckle up!

Just try to manage your expectations. I'd love to be the starting first baseman for the NY Mets but you know what I can't hit a lick, wait a minute bad example...but you get the drift. Are your dreams proper, realistic, useful, sustainable?  You recently mentioned architecture of some sort. Rule #1 of building- you have to start with a good foundation. You're a bit shaky right now. You have to fix yourself before you can fix or help others.

I may be mean here sometimes but it is for a purpose and not its own sake.  If you let some rain get in your way then you are being a pussy. Plain and simple. Knock it off you aren't an 80 year old woman who should be scared of getting a chill.

[patrick1]

Oh, Bushie! How do you expect to drop 70 pounds if you don't want to change your diet habits/don't like anything healthy? See, you are just proving my point.

eat less and exercise more.

As you progress forward a slow evolution will take place. You realize that many calorie dense foods, don't fill you up at all. You make better decisions by default. So instead of a 700 calorie large fries, you'll do an actual potato for 150. Gradually you lose a taste for the most unhealthy stuff.  Most diets fall at their inception because people think they have to eat "health food" and frequently foods they dislike. Gradual changes over time are much better.

[patrick1]

Go outside and give us field report. Get out of the house and do something.

Sitting around eating cheetos and watching the weather channel will not get you to Kenya.

[patrick1]

Bushie you probably only burned anywhere from 200-300 calories over a two day period so don't take your stroll as a license to eat more. Unless you work very hard with exercise, you will have to eat a lot less than you are accustomed.

[patrick1]

If weather is such a passion for Bushie, why didn't he study that in college? Go with that you're passionate about. He could become a Kenyan weatherman!

 Bushie clearly respects geographical boundaries when it comes to weather. He won't just horn in on another man's action and offer up his opinions on the Great Lakes or Kenya. Now how some of choose to worship God is another story.

[patrick1]

I'm done with this conversation.  I don't have time to argue pointless rhetoric.  I've got severe weather to track.

Inks, Ain't nobody got time for that. Bushie's got work to do.
To the bat cave

[patrick1]

Can I place bets on whether it will rain or not?  Lord knows it will be better than my horse handicapping today.