December 31, 2007
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New Year's Resolution 2008
New Year's Resolution:
Make and Keep New Year's Resolutions before Midnight on Dec. 31st, 2007.
I like to think I'm the most (well, if not the most, among the most) enlightened person in existence, able to leap tall buildings, er, wait a minute, no, that was Superman, wasn't it? (And I admit, I'm not Superman.) Well, besides being enlightened to a certain extent, I believe I am quite level headed and prone to making and following up on my plans. I usually have the same New Year's Resolutions, which always include losing weight. I recently found out from taking a straw poll at work that most everyone on the planet makes the same resolution following their Holiday gorgefest. I don't consider myself really "overweight", but each year I get a big bellyfull of Holiday food and candy, mostly the candy, and by late February or March I've thinned down considerably.
This year I was down to a respectable 165 pounds before summer hit us like a heatwave, which, in fact, it was. With record temperatures, I began enjoying my cold drinks of beer after work and on weekends, and each suceeding weekend, the heat got worse and I drank more beer, and when summer ended, so did my respectable 165 pounds. I ballooned to 185, which is larger than I have ever been.
As I state in my "Xanga Profile", I wear western style clothing. The shirts have snaps instead of buttons. You know where I'm going don't you? My usual shirt size is "medium", and I began popping snaps sometime in September. The gaps between the snaps weren't (and aren't) pretty. I began to feel bad. Not only were my clothes getting old. (They age as quickly as I do these days for some unknown reason.) but they didn't fit.
As the year progressed, I kept promising myself that I'd cut down on my beer and food intake and lose some pounds, so I didn't pop my snaps. I had to wear less pairs of pants each month too, and rotate them more, because I couldn't fit in the size 36 pairs anymore. I remember with relish when I could fit in a size 34, or even a size 32. I have short legs, so 32-30 is pretty available, but 36-30 and 40-30 starts to get iffy in most stores. And while I admit loving to shop for electronics I don't really like to buy clothes, and I really don't like having to try them on.
I wanted to buy some new clothes. Some of my 30 or so shirts were getting to be careworn, and should be retired, at least from work wear. I did get a couple of large shirts a few months ago, but there are only two of five days in a work week. I wanted to get new clothes, but didn't want to buy them too big if I lost weight, and then they'd look like tents on me. Decisions Decision. The end of the year came soon enough, and so.
Around the time of our Christmas party, on the 21st, I made my first real "resolution". Instead of procrastinating one more month, I was going to use some of my bonus money to get some new clothing (in large instead of medium). I'd already stocked up on new underwear. (I buy lots and lots of clothes to "last me" and hopefully don't need to buy more for long periods of time.) I wasn't always like this, I was a bit of a style maven in my youth (with my own "sense of style", to be assured) but as I age I want to spend less time worrying about wardrobe.I already got two new pairs of shoes. I do need a new jacket, but I'm letting the old one (bought when I was with Pat in the early 90s) go through yet another winter.
Today I went to the local Target and bought 4 pairs of khakis (on sale, total $70.96 plus tax.) When I got home I called Shepler's (the mammoth western wear store in Las Vegas) and I ordered 10 shirts, (5 each stripes and 5 each plaids) for $16.99 each ($169.90 plus tax and shipping.) So now I have my "working wardrobe" for at least this coming year. The pants are 40-30 (I was surprised to be able to find four pairs in my size!) The shirts are large. I gotta tell ya, the men's department at the Carson Target had very few styles of pants I even like. I prefer what they call "boot cut" pants even though I don't wear boots anymore. I don't like the overgrown cuffs that seem to be the style now. (Although I never shied away from the biggest flare legs I could find in the 70s) There are jeans for sale (at a lot more than the pants I bought) that put the term "distressed" to shame. A lot of the jeans on the racks looked like pants I would have already thrown out, not even suitable for Goodwill!
I decided to "model" a new outfit to see what I look like. I took the photos with my new camera, attempting to put on my best "catalog model" poses. Then I copy/pasted me into some of my photographs. I really was in my own back yard, but here I can be seen (also sporting my new cap) at the top of Signal HIll in Long Beach, with Los Angeles seen from 30 miles away. I am also in downtown L.A. looking up at a biplane which really wasnt' in the picture.
As you can plainly see, I haven't attempted to "hide" anything. The shirt is not one of the new Shepler's bunch which will be coming next week. But it is relatively new and is a large instead of medium. The belt is new too, by the way.
There is one other resolution. I deliberately procrastinated all year without paying my roommate his half of the utility bills. I always took care of my finances with the Microsoft Money program, and because I really wanted to concentrate on getting a good start on reducing my debt this year, I didn't use the program. I kept all the bills Joel gave me, and I paid him a couple hundred here and there, but never actually did the accounting. I promised to either do the accounting (which I can see that I'm probably just not going to want to do.) Or pay him another $200.00. I can easily cover that promise. EDIT: 8:43pm pst. I did the accounting, and I actually show that I owe him less than $200.00. But Joel isn't as organized as I am and he didn't give me ALL the bills. I had to fudge a bit here and there. He denied that I paid $175.00 in August to pay the phone bill, when they disconnected my internet. I had to prove to him that I charged that amount, so I could deduct it from my half of the "total bill". I should have "charged" him more for satellite TV usage. I pay about $80.00 a month ($110.00 starting this month, becuase of the extra HD channels) and should charge him at least half. I "backcharged" him only $30.00 a month. I gave him $200.00, which is what I 'felt' I owed anyway. It's only money. Now we're square, and I'll make sure I pay each time he gives me the bills he paid next year, and not let it pile up.
So in conclusion, I have made and kept two New Year's Resolutions before Midnight tonight. If this doesn't make me enlightened, I'll eat my new leather captain's hat. Well, I'll probably be asleep by midnight, so....
Happy New Year to everyone.
Comments (110)
What a dapper fella you are, Mike! Happy New Year!
sounds like you have some good new years resolutions. i've already managed to mess mine up for this year. i was going to make mine to be more girly (like wearing make up again and doing my nails and hair that kind of thing) but i have my psoriasis again on my face so i am not wearing make up till after it's gone which maybe a while.
Mike, I am very happy to see that you are ready and willing to addressss this very important stiuation... the widening of the waist. It is annoying and requires less sodas, sugary snacks and :::shivers::: exercise!
you can do this!
Get in shape.
My resolutions are to... um. hmmmm.
Be more cheerful. That could be a good one.
Maybe clean up a little around here.
Happy New Year.
I am such a crummy blogger person these days.
Always too busy to comment... but I do read your bloggie
Every year after the first, hordes of people snap up all the diet books off the shelf, so I know everyone feels the need to lose some of that holiday poundage. Candy is my downfall this time of year, too. Dark chocolate M & Ms get me all year long, though.
Nice picture manipulations!
Happy New Year!
Well Michael I still think you're hot... it's the whole package that counts! My man is not little guy and that's fine...Happy 2008, I am glad for a fresh new year.
Just had to drop in and check out your pics
Happy New Year, Mike!
Your post today is rather entertaining. You are a jolly good fella ain't yah. LOL!
You are right, your inner child is quite active and jumping about!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, MIKE!!!
For auld lang syne.
Happy New Year
Happy New Years. Love to you, Judi
Mike you are beautiful...I work at a fitness center
so you know we have been quite busy with the new year
crowd.
My words to you would be....you know what to do
slash that beer and food intake...and whoops...it will
make a difference ; but movement is the key.
I love that early on you found a style and have made it you own.
Happy New Year Dearest Mike.
Hey, I'm not 115lbs anymore either and the miniskirts I wore in the 60's only cover one thigh now. You are a hoot and if I were Joel I couldn't live with you for 2 weeks.(kidding) but it'll make Joel happy.
I've always put more stock in metabolism rather than weight, since muscle weighs more than fat.
Congrats on your resolutions! I generally resolve not to make resolutions each year, hehe.
Happy New Year!
~Jenny
Okay, you are doing great. In face, we want a monthly update on your progress....hahaha. Like that will happen....okay, next year we will get one...I concur with that decision. Have a happy one.
:heartbeat: sounds like you have things under control and ready for a new year! :sunny: may your new year be full of love and great adventures!
HAPPY New Year!
I don't really like buying clothes, either. I like to get it done as quickly as possible when I'm in the store.
Oddly enough, I have found that I like purchasing clothes online.
Happy New Year, Mike! It's pretty gutsy (no pun intended) for you to bare yourself that way in pictures. There's a reason I haven't put up any recent pictures of myself
I may scan some photos from a wedding I was in in August and put a few on my site, for myself as much as for anybody else. Through my husband's company, he and I recently got really cheap rates on a fitness center right next to his store. I've gone half a dozen times and intend to go back again today, now that my vacation is officially over (my brother left yesterday) and I'm back at work (even though neither of my bosses is). I ate a healthy breakfast and packed a healthy lunch. I'll check out Steve's store's salad bar for dinner unless I'm completely famished by then. It's weird, though - exercise suppresses my appetite rather than increases it. 
Good times.
I like your approach to wardrobe... its logical and efficient ,,I myself am fortunate not to need a work wardrobe,and since I wash clothes everyday i like that i have it down to pure simplicity what with two shirts ,and two pairs of jeans,,i just alternate them..although i sometimes wear a different shirt i have two favorites so i stick with them....The way you and joel manage your budget ,and stay fair looks to be a study in controlled mayhem that works... kind of like a cluttered desk that the owner is fine with because he knows where everything is. i finally got by to see your composit art.I like especially the contrast between the roses ,and the cement and metal of the city.I am impressed with how realistic your composites are.I stll have no clear grasp of layers but i can see how they can make magic.....,,,,happy new year Mike
That's great that you made resolutions and are sticking to them! Congrats! I didn't make any. Well, I don't usually. I guess my only real resolution would be to get a job. Any job at this point, otherwise I'll have to move back home with the rents and that'll be just horrible...lol, but I'll do my best. That's the best I can do after all. Anyway, Happy New Year! -QL
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