Joe Workshop

My years of watching DIY and HGTV and Fine Living, and Discovery Home, and
reading, PM, PS. Readymade, and a slew of others has finally come to fruit.
I got my workshop up and running. This has been a "dream" of mine for 15
years, when I bought my first house. I had a nicer one there, but this one
will do fine. I got it organized today and managed to complete 3 or four
projects today alone. What caused this? I repainted 2 tables and a cart,
and started work on a step stool. I started to crave a space to do it in.
I had this huge workbench downstairs. I pimped it out with a phone, a fan,
and am lined up to have cable down there. For now an MP3 capable boom box
will do just fine.

Actually, the a/v junction box is already mounted, I took care of that in my
frenzy this morning. Now I just need to run cables/cords from my DVR/DVD
Player upstairs down to the central junction, from which I can get the
signal up to my bedroom as well. I opted only for the digital cable in the
Surround Sound room. My big dilemma is whether or not to have dvd go down
to the junction, which would allow simultaneous playing of all my a.v
content on 3 TV's simultaneously. Or just the cable audio and TV signal,
which would allow the cable music to play elsewhere when the dvd player is
playing. As I discuss the options with Herr Blog, I realize the latter
would only benefit a multi-person household. I live alone. So the a/v
signal will come form the Television outputs, which will pull the signal.
No wait, the dvd sound does not ever enter the TV. I'll figure a way to do
it. I think the Surround Sound system has a l/r RCA analog out, of which I
an run to the TV, which will fix that.

I got so into the workshop I kept postponing my gym appointment. Ultimately
I realized I can go tomorrow now that I am in phase 3. Tomorrow I need to
get down town, and get a copy of my deed, meet with my attorney, talk with
my counselor, drop off a CD, then off to the gym. I'll probably be too worn
out to work out. But I would not have traded this day for any other.

My mom pointed out that today is the forth anniversary of me being admitted
to thew hospital. Knowing what I know now, I was almost dead that day.
Except that I am freakishly strong.

I was scheduled with a Dr through Social Security to give me a physical. I
hope they check my heart function, because I look like a million bucks.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

I'm gonna strut

I finished my 8 weeks of stage 2 cardiac rehab today, which is 24 visits of monitored workouts at essentially a gym. For the last weeks, I have been doing the treadmill, bike, rower, stepper, and recently, weights. They measured me at the beginning, weight and percentage body fat. They took the same measurements today. I was astounded at my progress. Incidentally, someone today, asked me if I was a marine or a former marine due to my work out progress while still in a monitored state. He said that's about the only kind of man I would expect to be able to do what you do as soon as you are doing it. He asked, I told. I have never been a member of the Arm Forces, but I did watch a lot of M*A*S*H.

The math... 157# * 17% bf = 26.69# fat, 130.31# the rest 161# * 14% bf = 14.51# fat, 146.49# the rest 26.69# - 14.51# = 12.18 pounds of fat lost 146.49# - 130.31# = 16.18 pounds of muscle gained

Ok here are the numbers.
I was 157 pounds when I started, and am 161 pounds now
my body fat percentage when I started was 17%, and 14% now
this represents 12.18 pounds of fat lost, and 16.18 pounds of muscle gained.

according to some chart 14-17% is considered "fit" 6-13% is considered
"athletic", but I think that is pretty damn good.

###

Kronick
...but still Feelin' Better, Stronger, Faster

---

Second Hand Smoke free since February 2004
... to infinity, and beyond!

---

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Black Tie White Noiz

Some guy once said derisively that I have a tuxedo for every day of the week. Depending on what you count as a tuxedo, that is not entirely correct. I have 3 Black standards, 2 True Navy Standards, a Black waist coat, a white standard, and royal blue sequined. So technically that is 8, more than one a day for a week. But The white one is in real bad shape, as it is vintage 80s, the blue sequins is a novelty jacket of very low quality. My standards have a variety of lapels, and a variety of designers/brands. Two are former rentals.

One night, I was a presenter at a local awards show. One of he catty queens said to me in all seriousness, "I thought you'd go all out for this". I thought two things, this is a formal awards show in an ornate historic theatre, covered by the press. A tuxedo is appropriate. The other thought was "Who is this bitch criticizing a Dior?" I do have a reputation as a flashy dresser, and that is mostly what I think she meant, but geez.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Speedo Poly Mesh Square Leg Male

I found the swimsuit I want. The Speedo square, for under $25 - Penney's Dick's or a few other places.
Speedo Poly Mesh Square Leg Male

Cool Idea

I have this cool idea. Related to a sleeping porch, I wonder if I would be allowed to build my hard-wall tent in my back yard as a summer sleeping room? I could tuck it away in the corner of my yard, and have a raised boardwalk leading up to it. It could straddle the swale. Much like the garden shed, it could even replace the garden shed, "hiding" completely. Step one would be building a deck platform. Then the walls, and frame, then the cotton duck or canvas.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Flirting

People are flirting. Today I think the young male pharmacist was
flirting with me. It was just small talk, but it was the way he was
talking. And the fact he rushed over to help me when he saw me. Not
passing go, not collecting $200. If he'd have been a woman, he'd have been
twisting his hair and touching her breasts. Last week it was the bank
teller. Or maybe I am turning into one of those said "s/he wants me" kind
of people. I do not think everyone is, it seems to happen more
when I am dressed real well. I did look especially buff this morning. My
snug Tee accentuated my chest, and my pecs poked out my vest.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Cable

Oh the joys of digital cable and DVR. I wonder if I can do anything but
watch TV now? with 40 hours of programming to be saved, 8 showtimes, a
gazillion channels, an voracious appetite for time shifting, east coast west
coast channels. I am in La-z-boy heaven. I wonder how much one of those
models with the fridge and vibrating massage cost? Seriously, as much as I
say this was a cost cutting move, I have so much consumer surpus now it is
not even measurable. But the truth remains for less that I was paying for
My ISP/DSL and Phone, I am getting Cable a Digital Video Recorder, Cable
Modem and local phone. The internet is faster, and the recpetion of our
local UHF stations is flawless plus I get the low poer UPN and the no-power
WB from Louisville. That in addition to my CNBC, Fine Living, HGTV and
Aqua Teen Hunger Force. And more Will & Grace than I can shake a stick at. And this morning I was able to record a horrible film form the 70s that I thought I dreamt up for the longest time. It shall remain nameless.
###
Kronick

Money

Ugh - I made some mistakes in my check book, and they snowballed into $200 in negative, through fees and adjustments. Thankfully, my old boss lent me $400 and another friend gave me $200. I am going to assume the latter was a loan. I'll send a thank you note assuming such and see what her reply is. She has a lot of money, but is rather thrifty with it. She's always trying to make more ready cash.

I can pass around a lot of blame here, but ultimately I was not careful, and I did go on a spending spree these past two weeks. I wonder if it was a manic state? I used to think I bought stuff when I was depressed, but I have been in great moods for quite a while - currently as well.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Convergence

I've been trying to figure out a way to get cable into my budget and spend no more money. I figured out how. I got rid of my phone, my DSL and my ISP - added Digital Phone, Broad Band Cable Internet and digital Cable with DVR and am spending less per month. How exciting. In September the price goes up to be $5 more than I am paying now. That will give me enough time to get my webhosting switched. I have expensive DSL - half my bill come from my ISP and half from my phone company. So between the two of them I'd been paying almost $125 a month. Yikes.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

New Body

I am feeling great in my new skin. Its so weird. I am not sure if I am exuding confidence, or if I am a bit cocky. But, people are being nicer to me. Maybe I am noticing it more, and attributing it to my new skinny body. Chas, the skinny guy at work, thinks I am skinnier than he is. But in a side by side comparison, Chas was thinner. But I am more pronounced because my frame is larger, my shoulders are broader, and my hips are thicker. In other words, I have the V body I have dreamed of. Too bad it took until I was 40 and a heart patient.

I found stretchy Tees at Target and am loving them. My Japanese ball shirts are also snug, in that the follow my body to the thin parts, then flows back over my hips when they are not tucked in. Donna said that made me look skinnier than with just the black stretchy Tee. She also said I am getting a bit vain. I'll need to keep that in check. She's cutting me slack for a bit, but I think I need to get used to it if I plan on staying this way

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Other Drivers

Other drivers can make me mad, a list of gripes.

• People that turn at 45 degree angles, at intersections, in parking lots. It is like they have lost the ability to turn a steer wheel beyond the ten and two positions.
  
• Impatient left lane passing not allowing you to get in the slow lane if you tried.
  
• People talking on cell phones while maneuvering in a parking structure
  
• the 45 degree backing out of a parking spot behavior
  
• treating my road like a grand prix raceway, and acting like I knew they'd be coming around the curve over the hill 10 miles an hour over the limit.
  
• DVDs playing in the dashboard
  
• timid left turners
  
• impatient right turners that will turn right in front of you from the left
  

Linens 'n Things - Kikkerland Invisible Playing Cards

Linens 'n Things - Kikkerland Invisible Playing Cards these are kind of cool. - I had a perfectly horrible day of shopping. This despite spending about $200. It was mostly ok, until I got to Kohl's. Because I have changed sizes so much in clothes, I asked someone in the men's department if there was a way I could get my neck and sleeves measured. I always forget them anyway. She said "I can give you a tape measure". I gave up on fitted dress shirts and thought I would get some underwear. They do not carry my size. Apparently Kentucky Men and Boys between 28-32 inch waists do not shop at Kohls. Target does. Linen N Things was better shopping experience wise, but with only oneee check out clerk and customers a mile long, the experience suffered a bit.

Old time rock and/or roll

Here is another from the shoot, I was on the furniture. I broke all the rules. Just wait until I get the rest of the pictures edited. Very John Waters, they are.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

The Hot Boi

Met a hot boi Saturday night. Don't know his real name. I was up in the DJ booth, and the lights went out. I looked down and saw this boi plugging them back in, after he tripped over them, trying to come up. He was one of the amateur strippers trying to give me his music. After that initial encounter, he was all smiles to me the rest of the weekend. When he asked me to for his music back, he kissed me on the cheek. The next day he did not recognize me all snazzed up. In my black tie, and clean shaven, I guess I looked pretty different. But he still kept smiling. He leapt up at the occasion to help me hang my clothes. Sad thing is I don't know his name. He went by Adrian while dancing but I think it may really be David. He looks very studious, all dressed up, but his bod is killer chicken. I am not a chicken hawk, but the way his back joined his bubble butt made my toes curl. And from the smiles his may have been curling too. I wonder if he has any idea how old I actually am. I did look pretty good that night. My friend Nattie came up with the rest of the music saying "I cannot handle how hot you are!".

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

House Sitting.

I am finished house sitting tonight, and am so tired and this is a big weekend. Movie tomorrow At 1:00 The girls are back from Italy. They found their surprises right away.
-kevin3.blogspot.com

Court Days

Its coronation weekend. I have 2 drag shows to go to this weekend, a dinner I am skipping and the big election on sunday, show, and awards.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Off Plan Spontaneous

Here is a spontaneous creation that was off-plan from my photo shoot yesterday. I am wearing one person's PJs and the other's hat, while sitting on their toilet.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###

Photo shoot

My stint of house sitting is just about over. The girls come back from Italy tomorrow night. Today I had a photographer come over and take shots of me air-guitaring to "Old Time Rock & Roll" in tighty whities, Oxford, tube socks and black sunglasses. I also did the unthinkable and dressed up my dog in scooby doo underpants and sunglasses for a couple poses. For bonus shots I had the last minute brainstorm idea was to have him snap pictures of the cleaning/yard girl and myself - Licking everything in the house. We're licking the couch, the stove, food in the fridge, the sink, faucet, shoes, their bras, we're in their matching pajamas on their bed, licking their hats, I am posing for a painting while licking something phallic, we're drinking the plant food water we were warned not to drink, we were licking licking licking.

If you do not understand why, rent Pink Flamingos.

The best of the risky business pic is going in the house somewhere tomorrow, the rest will be put in an album entitled "What we did why they were in Italy". From Kevin & Sarah.

--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
###