Well, some of you know I've been trying to lose weight for awhile.  Back in 2003-ish (I think, I could be off by a year) I hit my personal high of around 235 lbs.  You never really feel how heavy you get until you see a picture.  Eric and I were on the paddle boat at the Lake over the 4th.  A picture was taken showing this.  My side of the paddle boat was, ummm, a little low.  So with Anne's help I started exercising more and eating better (South Beach that time).  I did pretty good.  Got down to a little under 190.  For maybe a month. 

Then classes and work picked up, we were in the process of adoption, all kinds of distractions.  By this last July (is there a pattern here?) I was back up to around 213 lbs.  Not as bad as last time, but I didn't want to go there again.  So, more exercise and attention to diet. 

This time I took the engineer approach.  I started recording my daily calories and my weight.  The first week I didn't alter my diet, just recorded how much I was actually eating (actually, I modified it a bit, couldn't help it.  Did I really need that extra piece of candy?).  Then Anne found a good calculator for weight loss.  I used this as a guide to try and lose two pounds a week.  But I didn't sweat it too much if I missed one day.  This allowed me to continue eating out for lunch twice a week.   But those exceptions HAD to be exceptions.  Eating badly for a week had an immediate effect.

Anne and I weighed in once a week on Saturday night (I was trying to lose, she was trying to gain).  So, steady, persistent work and I'm close to my goal.  I wanted to get down to about 180 lbs, and maybe even a size 34 pair of jeans. Not quite there yet, but here is my progress so far:  I'm at 185 lbs, and a loose size 36.  Lowest weight since high school.  Of course with a Christmas trip up to Mom and Dad's looming, I probably won't maintain that.

Here is my weight loss chart.  Not too bad.  About 30 lbs since July.  About 1.5 lbs per week, overall.

OK.  I thought I was fed up with religion in the presidential race before.  Now I'm officially disgusted.  Who do you think better represents Christianity, Huckabee or Romney? 

In an upcoming interview with the NY Times Magazine, Huckabee is asked to comment on Romney's religion.  He says something along the lines of "I don't know that much about it".  Nice political answer.  Even if as a former Baptist preacher with a Biblical Studies degree he should have come across quite a few references to the LDS.  He may even have preached on it.

Then, without missing a beat, he asks the reporter an "innocent" question related to a detail about LDS theology that may be designed to make Romney look like a nut. 

Now, I've known a few Mormons.  Nicest people you will ever meet.  They would give you the shirt of their back and be sorry it was the wrong size.  However, they may not be Christian as I think of it.  But the way Huckabee acts, I'm not sure he is either.  By their fruits you shall know them, right?  That would probably make Mormons just as much Christian as Lutherans.  I'll let God determine whether their or our mistakes in doctrine prevent us from entering Heaven.

In any case.  The more I see of Huckabee, the more he leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  Which I might excuse if he actually had a sensible, thought-out position on anything.  But he strikes me as a pro-life Bill Clinton. 

Man.  Again.  Let's have discourse on qualifications, not who believes what about Jesus.

Don't know if the "Islamic Like Me" links are working.  So.  If you are interested, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com and search for "islamic like me".  You should bring up the articles.

 Right here.

A joke floating around Britain right now (recall the Teddy Bear/Sudan stupidity):

I bought a Teddy Bear for £10, named it Muhammad, and sold it for £20 on EBAY.  Did I make a prophet?

The kind of joke I hope we can tell for a long time to come in the U.S.  I have my doubts about anywhere else.  I hear a Jesus joke, I usually can laugh.  A Muslim hears a Muhammad joke, or even sees a teacher allow her class to name a bear after themselves, and they reach for a sword.  Sigh. 

A slight aside, you can find a lady blogging about wearing the full Saudi Burka stuff for a week here, here, and here.  The fourth installment comes Monday.

BTW, How many Lutherans does it take to change a lightbulb?  What?!  Lutherans change?

Here's another:

"This pastor was talking to a group of kids and, to illustrate a point, he asked, 'Does anybody know what's small, furry, has a bushy tail, and runs up trees looking for nuts?' All the kids were silent but, finally, one little boy said, 'Well, I know the answer is Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!'"

While I'm on the topic of religion, is anyone else getting sick of all the religion talk going on?  We've got a pro-life Slick Willy (Huckabee) saying God wants him to be President.  We've got a Mormon having to give a speech about his beliefs if he wants to be the Republican nominee for Pres.   We've got questions about God and Jesus in debates. 

ARRRRRRGGG!

What does all this have to do with government?  Do I want my President to be Christian?  Yeah, probably.  A moderate Muslim?  Yeah that's fine too.  But I would rather have a competent, moral atheist in the office than a well-meaning incompetent (Jimmy Carter comes to mind, Bush too, for that matter).  I just wish the press would concentrate on the qualifications of people running instead of their religious habits.  Sigh.

Repainting part of the house.  Man this stinks.  I'm tired.

Errr.  The bucket game.  Eric and Lisa invited me up for the game (thanks guys!).  Anne was awesome in taking care of the kids so I could go (Thanks Anne!!!!!!!).  Great biscuits and gravy for breakfast, good food at the tailgate.  Eric and Lisa's friends were very good to a Boiler fan.  A credit to IU's fan base.

The game was mostly frustrating for a Boiler fan, but the last quarter was at least entertaining.  For those who follow Purdue football, you probably agree with me...we need a new offensive line. They're a bunch of kittens.  Sigh.  I won't describe the game, other than one team knew what they wanted, and another one woke up too late.  Congrats Hoosiers.  Play 13.

Check out the pics from the day...

Hey, just posted some new pics from a visit to a local park.  Kids had a blast.  Keith of course managed to find some forgotten toy cars on a picnic table.  That was fun getting him away from them.  Sefia was cute, as usual.

BTW, check out the new link to Mom and Dad's cabin.  Under new management!  Now its cheaper to rent a great secluded cabin!

Please pray for the Guatemalan election coming up.  Our political divisions pale in comparison to the violence that can occur there.

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