for your VINformation

Recently, I find I take a great deal of comfort from narrated info-tainment shows such as Life After People, The States or The Presidents; basically, I’ll watch almost anything that airs on The History Channel, History International, Ovation, The Discovery Channel and their ilk.

I wonder if this is because my tastes have changed or if I’m just getting old.

As soon as I put on my “house shoes” I start to shuffle around 1R like an old man, why is that, do you think?

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle…

I’ve been quite lucky of late, I found a fifty dollar bill in the left-over sludge of “storm of the century” last week, and just yesterday, I found a Whole Foods gift card worth $91.75.

Now I look around and think, “What is god gonna let me find today?”

There is something so wonderful about the look of relief on a person’s face as he, running down the steps against the flow of traffic, realizes the train just pulling-out is headed the other direction.

I was all set to write a funny, witty post and by the time a sat to type it up, I forgot what I wanted to say.

Old.

On the way to work, I was forced to stop and watch as a Semi-Truck-Driver manuevered his huge payload into a space the size of a tuna can along one of the narrow side-streets that make up Manhattan.

It was both impressive and inspiring.

I give it up to Semi-Truck-Driver.

Keep on Trucking!

• Flexibility – In only one short week, I already feel twice as flexible as I was before I started Bikram.

• Poopin’ – “Wow. What good poops I’ve been having.”

• Drive – I’ve regained the internal push to continue bettering myself; in fact, I almost feel as if I’m missing something on the days I don’t practice.

• Pride – I’m very proud of myself for even going to class, there’s a lot to gather-up – including one’s thoughts – to get ready for Bikram; clothes, towels, water, mat – I’m a bag lady on Yoga day…

While organizing my thoughts on My Month of Bikram, I decided to write-up an “article” about the experience. I don’t want anyone to think I’ve stopped going already because I’ve haven’t been posting about it here…

I left my new red plaid, black wool ear-flapped hat on the bus last night. It made me very sad.

I filed my taxes and it’s a sad day indeed.

After paying NY – $104.00 and NJ – $56.00, I end up with a federal return totaling $363.00.

That is so not enough for an iPad…

I thought I had nothing to eat for dinner, but with just Whole Wheat Pasta, broccoli, onions, garlic and sun dried tomatoes, I made a dish fit for a king!

Simple, healthy and filling – just like me

De-lish!

Starting Weight Watcher’s again was a good thing for me. I lost 1.8 lbs this week!

Woo Hoo! It’s the modest successes that give methe most joy…

I’m still 8.4 lbs above my doctor approved goal weight of 180, but something clicked inside me and I’ve set a new personal goal of 170 lbs.

I think, I may even – wait for it – bum Bum BUM – exercise when it’s time for the nude beach I’m gonna be smokin’ hot!

I just celebrated my third anniversary with Direct TV

While I don’t usually keep track of such triviality, I got a card in the mail announcing the fact. As a gift they’re giving my three months of Showtime and The Movie Channel for free; three moths starting January 1st.

I got the card on the 22nd.

Whah – whah – whaaah

Codeine – I can see, how Elvis and Judy got addicted to prescription drugs…

I found out a friend from high school, and next-door neighbor, Brian O’Sullivan (42) died of a massive heart attack two days ago.

I grew up with Brian.

We got into a lot of mischief as kids.

While I haven’t seen much of him lately, knowing that when I would visit New Rochelle, he could most likely be my cab driver and for the few minute ride to my mother or sister’s home I’d visit with an old friend.

He was 42!

…of the rest of your life.

A poster with that saying hung on the door to my fifth-grade classroom. I remember as a child not understanding what it meant, because the first day of the rest of my life started the day I was born, right?

I asked my teacher, Mrs. Crowley – who later became the Principal of my elementary school, but that’s neither here nor there – to explain it to me.

“Vinnie…” she started as she sat me down. “Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Not the first day of your life. Today is the day in which you decide where you’re headed on this journey. Today is the day you commit to living a full, moral, productive life.”

“But what about tomorrow? Won’t tomorrow be the first day of the rest of my life?” I asked quizzically.

“That’s the magic of life.” She responded. “Everyday is the first day of the rest of your life. Everyday you’ll be faced with problems and dilemmas and issues that make you question the way you do things, those questions will lead to answers, and those answers, will alter the course of the rest of your life.”

Today January 4th, 2010 is the first day of the rest of my life, and the best ting about that? If today doesn’t go as planned, the next day or the next or the next, will still be the first day of the rest of my life.