Update XIX: Melancholy and the Infinite Napping

[Joe Biden 2020]

Lunch time.  Today has been very productive so far.  My back still hurts, but it may take time to alleviate.  I really need to lose weight.  I'm sure if I lost even 25-50 pounds, my back would feel better.  So, I am going to try to behave myself the rest of the year except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  I know I'll feel better if I can get some of this weight off.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I need to eat more vegetables and I will do so.  Maybe not every single meal, but most meals.  As far as exercise, I need to make the time to do it.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I need to eat more vegetables and I will do so.  Maybe not every single meal, but most meals.  As far as exercise, I need to make the time to do it.

No. Make plans to eat vegetables with every meal. That way, when you fall short of your plan, you still eat vegetables most of the time. Always commit to it.

That's a good point.  Always aim high so the lower goals are within reach.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Reposted. You need to address this:

An inability to admit that your refusal to change (in spite of all the sound advice and ENCOURAGEMENT from so many over the years) has COST YOUR FAMILY UNNECESSARY MONEY is cowardly.

You want us to focus on the good? I tried that with you. A lot. Didn't work. You're no better off today than you were when you started this whole saga. And it is costing your family more now than it ever has.

Maybe it's not intentional, but it's deeply rooted in, at best, ignorance. More likely, you prefer only happiness where no one calls you on your BS.

Your inability to implement the smallest of change to better yourself HURT your family today. Wake up, Jeff. Your inaction has consequences that go beyond you!

Are you getting the picture yet? Your refusal to a) actually work to build a career and study your supposed skills, b) take better care of your health and lose weight and c) learn basic life skills like cooking or shopping on your own IS HURTING OTHER PEOPLE. This is not a consequence-free existence, Jeff. And consequences could hurt more than just you.

Are you happy your history ended up in your family spending ultimately unnecessary money on you? Are you happy they're $100 poorer because of it (and don't give me the $79.99 BS ... add taxes, time and travel, and you cost them $100). A positive attitude means nothing if you ignorantly continue to sh:t on other people.

Keep it up, Jeff. Ignore how you're killing yourself. Your family will have to pay for your funeral, too (average of $10,000). How does that make you feel?

I know things must change.  What I need is a new attitude on my health.  I asked God on the way home from work to give me that new attitude and the desire, willpower, and discipline to make the changes I need to make and stick to them.  In a few minutes, after I finish this glass of unsweetened iced tea, I am going to get me a glass of water.  That will make 4 glasses of water (counting the iced tea as water).  That will be a good finish to what was otherwise a rotten food day.  I didn't have breakfast and I had Whataburger for lunch.  That's a big no-no, I realize.  I felt awful this afternoon and my mood wasn't exactly great, either, because I was mad at myself for ordering and eating such slop.  We had beef and noodle casserole for dinner.  I had one and a half scoops and two slices of bread with the aforementioned iced tea.  Tomorrow, I will probably have Chick-fil-a for lunch and try to eat light when I go to the McDonald's on the turnpike for dinner.  I am seriously considering going back to my no fries and no ice cream diet that I did in September.  I will still eat potatoes when they are served to me, but I will not have any French fries.  Yes, my attitude needs to change and slowly, but surely, I will change this attitude.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bushie, I need you to stop using God as a way to make excuses. God will not micro manage your life, you need to take personal responsibility for yourself, and it's good that you recognize that you're treating your body, but saying that you'll be having Chick-Fil-a for lunch and McDonald's for dinner? No. Don't go there, saying "I need to get healthy" then saying "I'll eat at McDonald's" is an extremely contradictory thing. I know I sound like a dick right now, but the only reason I am is because many of us are concerned for you, and who knows, maybe J-Mann and others like him are part of God's plan to help you in your life and for you to be successful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUwqEcOhAcM

You need to realize that we aren't mocking you, we want you to be successful and to be able to live your dreams, but first you must listen to our advice so you can take the first steps in getting to that goal. You can lose 100 pounds, you can get a stable job, you can have a successful relationship, but you need to realize we aren't saying 'do this, do that' just because we want to. We do it because we know that's what you need to accomplish to perform to your full potential.

I know those aren't the healthiest choices and in the statement I made are out of place.  I get off work at 1700, so it will be 1900 before I get to Tulsa.  That's too late to eat most nights, plus I would be going out to eat anyway since there isn't any food In my refrigerator in the apartment.  I'm not going to starve myself all night.  King has deemed Chick-fil-a as a healthier alternative to most burger joints.

[Joe Biden 2020]

What I need is a new attitude on my health. I asked God on the way home from work to give me that new attitude and the desire, willpower, and discipline to make the changes I need to make and stick to them.  In a few minutes, after I finish this glass of unsweetened iced tea, I am going to get me a glass of water.  That will make 4 glasses of water (counting the iced tea as water).

That's not how this works. That's not how ANY of this works!!!

That's how it all works.  God will give me the strength.  I've tried my own strength, and I fall short.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Chick-Fil-A can be healthier. The normal fried chicken sandwich or nuggets are not healthy. But their salad and grilled chicken sandwiches are terrific. It's very simple: you have to eat fruit and vegetables. There are fruit and vegetables at fast food places. If you choose to eat them, fast food can be healthy. If you don't, it is not.

I'm still not seeing any healthy change, but I will keep telling you the truth for you to know it.

Duly noted about the grilled chicken sandwiches.  I will get that tomorrow!

As far as the not seeing healthy change - it's only been a couple of hours.  Give it some time.  Please do keep feeding me the truth.  It's one thing I definitely need!

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bushie needs to start off with consistent walking before he gets into weights, Smash.

It isn't like I am asking him to start lifting heavy or anything like that, 10 pound dumbbells is all I am asking him to get.

Well if Bushie was able to find discipline to lose a huge amount of weight, lifting would be key because it heads off any loose skin problems.  You also just look better. A lot of people who don't lift and loose a bunch of weight look sickly. You feel better when you lift too.

Let me lose some weight and have the discipline to keep it off for a time and then I will get those dumbbells from Walmart or Dick's or wherever and start trying to integrate lifting into my regimen.  For now, though, one thing at a time.  You know what happens when I get too starry-eyed at the future.  The optimism soon fades into overwhelm and even boredom and nothing happens.

[Joe Biden 2020]

You're looking healthy and happy, Patrick. I would love to get down that small.  Tell me, how long did it take you to get down to that weight and what exactly did you do?  I ask because you've sparked something inside of me.

[Joe Biden 2020]

You look good, as well, Jesse.  I'm serious that Patrick has sparked something inside of me.  I want to know what you both did to get down to that healthy weight and then I want to find a way to implement that into my life and my situation.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Thank you guys for your encouragement this evening.  It is time to put action to my plans.  As the Bible says in the book of James - Faith without works is dead.  This is just the beginning of our discussions of this journey.  Tomorrow, I will start putting it into practice as best I can.  I will likely fall short of my goal every now and then, but the key will be to get back up and do it again.  I will take a "break" for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, but then again, I won't gorge myself either, limiting myself to one helping of each dish, and at least it will be mostly healthier options with turkey and vegetables.  The only unhealthy part will be dessert and I'll not overdo it there, either.  At least there won't be burgers, fries, and shakes at the holiday meals.  New Year's Day we always follow tradition and have black-eyed peas at dinner (except for Dad who detests them), so that's something to look forward to.

I am going to read my Bible for a little bit this evening and then go to bed at 2200 to get ready for a Friday, Day 15, and the closure of Week 3.

[Joe Biden 2020]

You look good, as well, Jesse.  I'm serious that Patrick has sparked something inside of me.  I want to know what you both did to get down to that healthy weight and then I want to find a way to implement that into my life and my situation.

It's all about execution, Jeff. Patrick was fat. I was scrawny. We both needed to change in order to be our better selves, and we did more than plan. We DID. Talking about wanting to do something doesn't work. Doing something does.

I can't tell you how many times I was in pain lifting weights and changing my diet far beyond what I was accustomed to. But I did it. And I was better for it. So many have done this, Jeff. You can, too. You just have to DO.

Good job Jesse. Yes, you have to as Nike abuses, just do it.  Excuses about weather and improper lighting is failure before you even start.

And LOL at King's clickhole.  I have a size XXXL shirt too

Unfortunately, I regularly wear 3X shirts.  I don't like it, either.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Thank you guys for your encouragement this evening.  It is time to put action to my plans.  As the Bible says in the book of James - Faith without works is dead.  This is just the beginning of our discussions of this journey.  Tomorrow, I will start putting it into practice as best I can.  I will likely fall short of my goal every now and then, but the key will be to get back up and do it again.  I will take a "break" for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, but then again, I won't gorge myself either, limiting myself to one helping of each dish, and at least it will be mostly healthier options with turkey and vegetables.  The only unhealthy part will be dessert and I'll not overdo it there, either.  At least there won't be burgers, fries, and shakes at the holiday meals.  New Year's Day we always follow tradition and have black-eyed peas at dinner (except for Dad who detests them), so that's something to look forward to.

I am going to read my Bible for a little bit this evening and then go to bed at 2200 to get ready for a Friday, Day 15, and the closure of Week 3.

Holy sh[inks], yes! This! But you've got to DO, Jeff. And continue DOING. Don't stop.

A feast day on a couple of holidays isn't a big deal if you follow through on both eating well and execising every day.

The book of James has another gem in it.  "Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only."

[Joe Biden 2020]

Have you had a McRib yet? I think I'll get one tomorrow. So glad they're back!

That's one thing I do not like is the McRib.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Talk is cheap, yo. I still remember the Ice Cream Challenge. Thanksgiving is coming up.

Talk is definitely cheap.  I may have a little ice cream on Thanksgiving with my pie, but the non-holy-days I will honor the challenge.  With the Thanksgiving and Christmas clause in the challenge contract, this challenge will expire on December 31, 2014 at 2359.

[Joe Biden 2020]

That's what holiday stands for - holy day.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Thanksgiving is a Christian holy day because this country was founded on Biblical principles and the pilgrims celebrated and gave thanks for what God had done for them.  It is a fact that every good thing originates from God.  Today, Thanksgiving is a good time to give thanks for all God has done for us through that year and opens our hearts to the celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are connected and cannot be separated.  Both are Christian holy days and prepares us to receive God's blessings for the coming year.  That's why so many put Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same holiday season.

[Joe Biden 2020]

What I expressed are my beliefs.  I fully realize and appreciate other people may not hold the same beliefs.  I should have said "I cannot separate the two."  My mistake.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I do not.  I can still move around very well, so I leave those carts for those who genuinely need it.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Hey, folks, I made it back to the Tulsa apartment for the next two nights.  I just paid December rent.  I am going to look at my lease contract and see if it says how much it would cost to break the lease early.  If it is reasonable, I will talk to Dad about it Wednesday night and we can come to a decision on this apartment.  The sooner I can break this lease, the sooner I can get my own apartment in Oklahoma City closer to work and regain my independence.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bushie what did you eat today at Chick-Fil-A and McDonald's

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Double Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese, no fries

Diet Dr Pepper at both places.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just looked through the lease paperwork and I couldn't find anything mentioning voluntarily ending the lease early.  I know when I tried to break the lease of my Midwest City apartment in 2009 I had to pay 3 months of rent or risk my credit being forever tarnished.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Why can't you live with Granny for the duration of this contract and then wait until you get a long-term job until you get a new apartment?

(1) How much of a cash cushion do you have? Your finances are f#$%ed up and you have no business living on your own unless you can say you have at least 3 months of living expenses liquid in savings. Not when you have your debt load, not when your parents are still helping you out, not when you have a way to avoid the expense of rent at least temporarily.

(2) Your quality of life will be better if you have a shorter commute. You don't have kids - screw good school districts and "safe neighborhoods" and all that crap. You'll have more time in the morning and evening to actually live your life - and less of an excuse not to actually get off your ass and go do something.

As to the first point, I may have to live with her for six months, which is how long I have left in this lease.

From Grandma's house, I drive 31-32 miles/40-45 minutes one way to work.  I would move actually into Oklahoma City so I can make the commute much shorter.

This work contract is going very well and things are looking pretty decently for it to be extended.  My boss so far is pleased with my work, and things are pointing in that direction.  There are no guarantees, of course, but things are looking as if I may be employed well into the Spring, maybe even Summer.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I just looked through the lease paperwork and I couldn't find anything mentioning voluntarily ending the lease early.  I know when I tried to break the lease of my Midwest City apartment in 2009 I had to pay 3 months of rent or risk my credit being forever tarnished.

What is the term of the lease (ie: how many months)? Did you ever investigate subleasing (ie: Google "how to sublease an apartment")?

It is a 12-month lease, expiring May 31, 2015.  I have to give them notice to vacate no later than March 31, 2015.  I haven't Googled how to sublease, yet.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Good Saturday Morning!  I slept quite well up here in Tulsa last night and I'm ready to hang out at the apartment most of the day.  I will leave here about 1715 for the bowling alley and the church fellowship.  I will spend one more night at the apartment tonight and then get up and leave by 0815 in the morning and head to my home church in OKC.