Monday, December 31, 2007
Friends Visit
Awhile back my best friends Pope and Ben came in from Boston and Austin. Pope brought along his lady friend Carrie. Lauren took most of the pics, Here is the result:
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Enough
I wrote this awhile back when I was having a rough night, and the thing is that it applies on the good days just as much as it does on the bad. Here is what I wrote.
"It's funny how Faith in Christ works. I recently heard a sermon where the gospel in our hearts was likened to coins in a vending machine. Sometimes the coins get stuck, and don't drop to the place they are supposed to drop. Same with the Gospel sometimes, the words come in and get stuck in our heads, not finding their way to the place they are supposed to reach, our hearts. I know I for one struggle with this. Knowing something in your mind but it takes time to reach your heart. For example I know that God is more than enough for me and is everything I need, but why do I get down sometimes and look for satisfaction or approval from somewhere or something other than Christ? I wish I knew. I just pray that I continue to wrestle with this until the Gospel finally drops in my heart and I "get it". I pray that I feel in my heart what I know in my mind, that Jesus Christ is more than enough for me and can fulfill any want and need that I ever have had or ever will have. I hope if you are feeling the same thing that this will be an encouragement to you. I pray that the Gospel and complete Faith in Christ, that he is enough, will drop into your heart."
"It's funny how Faith in Christ works. I recently heard a sermon where the gospel in our hearts was likened to coins in a vending machine. Sometimes the coins get stuck, and don't drop to the place they are supposed to drop. Same with the Gospel sometimes, the words come in and get stuck in our heads, not finding their way to the place they are supposed to reach, our hearts. I know I for one struggle with this. Knowing something in your mind but it takes time to reach your heart. For example I know that God is more than enough for me and is everything I need, but why do I get down sometimes and look for satisfaction or approval from somewhere or something other than Christ? I wish I knew. I just pray that I continue to wrestle with this until the Gospel finally drops in my heart and I "get it". I pray that I feel in my heart what I know in my mind, that Jesus Christ is more than enough for me and can fulfill any want and need that I ever have had or ever will have. I hope if you are feeling the same thing that this will be an encouragement to you. I pray that the Gospel and complete Faith in Christ, that he is enough, will drop into your heart."
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Holiday in the Park
Lauren, Jennifer, and I went to Six Flags a couple of weeks ago. We had a blast. Of course I didn't ride any of the big rides, but did enjoy Runaway Mountain, The Bobsled, and has a blast taking these pictures. Lauren and Jennifer rode the Titan and said the Superman: Tower of Fear was awesome. Here are some of the pics we took dressed up.
Friday, December 7, 2007
All I want for Christmas
Its that time of the year, except its not really. I don't consider 75 Christmas weather. But, in any case there are trees up at the Hughes casa in Lubbock, the 3 Amigos apt in Plano, and Lauren's pad in North Dallas. Visibly more decorations at the 2 other than my place, but hey, 3 guys living together, what do you expect. Al is suprisingly the most excited about Christmas here. He bought stockings for the 3 of us and Lauren and wrote our names on them, and has also hung up a singing Santa on our door. Crazy, right? Isn't that CRAZY ted?
So Lauren and I went to see Big Gary and Karen and the great city of Lubbock last weekend. We had a great time but ate too much junk, and I think I ate maybe a gallon of queso from my favorite mexican food place of all time, Lujan's. So good. It was fun showing Lauren all the old hangouts: Chimy's, Crickets, Wal-Mart. I know right, thats about all there is there. We did get to go visit Tech campus and we also went to the Carol of Lights, which was my first time to see it. Really a neat experience but we almost froze to death. We also helped decorate my parents tree since my Mom has a torn ACL and my dad has been out of commission for a couple of months now with a bad back and now an over prescribed medication that has caused him some issues. We wno't get into it here. Just know Big G is on the road to a full recovery. Here is a picture of Lauren and I in front of the tree, us with Big G, and one of the Hughes family sans KimBeau.
We made some Christmas cookies tonight which was a blast! Lauren's were much better decorated than mine, although I did have a couple of good ones. Sorry no pics as of yet, aaaaand we may or may not have eaten some of the more festively decorated ones. Have no fear, we will make more and take pictures next time!!
I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. It will be my first one to get to spend with my family in 2 years, since last year's trip from Boston got cancelled. I also have new people in my life I am excited to share the holiday most importantly celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Happy Holidays to all, and God Bless.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight"
So Lauren and I went to see Big Gary and Karen and the great city of Lubbock last weekend. We had a great time but ate too much junk, and I think I ate maybe a gallon of queso from my favorite mexican food place of all time, Lujan's. So good. It was fun showing Lauren all the old hangouts: Chimy's, Crickets, Wal-Mart. I know right, thats about all there is there. We did get to go visit Tech campus and we also went to the Carol of Lights, which was my first time to see it. Really a neat experience but we almost froze to death. We also helped decorate my parents tree since my Mom has a torn ACL and my dad has been out of commission for a couple of months now with a bad back and now an over prescribed medication that has caused him some issues. We wno't get into it here. Just know Big G is on the road to a full recovery. Here is a picture of Lauren and I in front of the tree, us with Big G, and one of the Hughes family sans KimBeau.
We made some Christmas cookies tonight which was a blast! Lauren's were much better decorated than mine, although I did have a couple of good ones. Sorry no pics as of yet, aaaaand we may or may not have eaten some of the more festively decorated ones. Have no fear, we will make more and take pictures next time!!
I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. It will be my first one to get to spend with my family in 2 years, since last year's trip from Boston got cancelled. I also have new people in my life I am excited to share the holiday most importantly celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Happy Holidays to all, and God Bless.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight"
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Turkey Time
Slapsgiving.............sorry, Thanksgiving is almost here. Inside joke for those "HIMYM" watchers out there.
So it has been awhile. What is new with me?? I moved into a new apt with James and Al, 2 co-workers, both trainers. Moving weekend was exciting, which also included running in a 5K in Flower Mound with Lauren and her family. I really had a great time but needed a nap afterwards for sure. I now have a more steady internet connection now that I won't be mooching it from my neighbors unsecured networks, I have my own network!! Finally.
Work is still going well. Again God is great and has blessed me with some wonderful clients, although I may have too many at this point. I am supposed to be selling training for other trainers but with 13 and 14 hour days sometimes training 10 people in a day, it doesn't leave much room to prospect and look for new business.
I know I keep mentioning this, but I am also the happiest I have ever been in my adult life. My relationship with Christ is growing stronger, although somedays it feels like 2 steps forward 1 step back, just because I am a screw up. I have Lauren in my life, which is a big part of my happiness. I also really enjoy my job. I have never been this content as an adult. The pessimist in me feels that I should be expecting something bad to happen, you know like you usually do on a day that is going perfectly, but the optimist in me believes that things are going well for a reason and none of it is chance. Again, I am a blessed guy.
Basketball season has started too. The Mavs are doing well again, the Celtics are killing people, along with the Pats, and this past weekend the Red Raiders creamed Boomer Sooner. Ownage.
I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving also! Even though I am sad I don't get to run in the Turkey Trot with Lauren I do get to spend Thanksgiving with her in Flower Mound, and hopefully get to hang out with Beau and Kimbo too. It's been too long since the last double date. Maybe Kimbo will teach us to speak spanish like she does.
On a different note, my Dad is still having issues with his back and psiatic nerve, as well as spells of dizziness and blacking out. Please please please pray for him. My mom is also having some troubles with her knee, which she kept hidden from everyone for the past several months, which bothers me. I'm worried about my parents and will keep praying for healing for them. I am looking forward to our trip to Lubbock next weekend. Hopefully they will be mobile enough to hang out and do some things around town, maybe the parade of lights on Tech campus.
Hopefully they will feel well enough to go to Lujan's too. If not I will definitely be picking it up to go for the 4 of us. Best Tex Mex Ever.
Well my blog reader, I hope you are doing well and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
I will try and post some pics of the new apartment next time. Its really a sweet place.
God Bless.
So it has been awhile. What is new with me?? I moved into a new apt with James and Al, 2 co-workers, both trainers. Moving weekend was exciting, which also included running in a 5K in Flower Mound with Lauren and her family. I really had a great time but needed a nap afterwards for sure. I now have a more steady internet connection now that I won't be mooching it from my neighbors unsecured networks, I have my own network!! Finally.
Work is still going well. Again God is great and has blessed me with some wonderful clients, although I may have too many at this point. I am supposed to be selling training for other trainers but with 13 and 14 hour days sometimes training 10 people in a day, it doesn't leave much room to prospect and look for new business.
I know I keep mentioning this, but I am also the happiest I have ever been in my adult life. My relationship with Christ is growing stronger, although somedays it feels like 2 steps forward 1 step back, just because I am a screw up. I have Lauren in my life, which is a big part of my happiness. I also really enjoy my job. I have never been this content as an adult. The pessimist in me feels that I should be expecting something bad to happen, you know like you usually do on a day that is going perfectly, but the optimist in me believes that things are going well for a reason and none of it is chance. Again, I am a blessed guy.
Basketball season has started too. The Mavs are doing well again, the Celtics are killing people, along with the Pats, and this past weekend the Red Raiders creamed Boomer Sooner. Ownage.
I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving also! Even though I am sad I don't get to run in the Turkey Trot with Lauren I do get to spend Thanksgiving with her in Flower Mound, and hopefully get to hang out with Beau and Kimbo too. It's been too long since the last double date. Maybe Kimbo will teach us to speak spanish like she does.
On a different note, my Dad is still having issues with his back and psiatic nerve, as well as spells of dizziness and blacking out. Please please please pray for him. My mom is also having some troubles with her knee, which she kept hidden from everyone for the past several months, which bothers me. I'm worried about my parents and will keep praying for healing for them. I am looking forward to our trip to Lubbock next weekend. Hopefully they will be mobile enough to hang out and do some things around town, maybe the parade of lights on Tech campus.
Hopefully they will feel well enough to go to Lujan's too. If not I will definitely be picking it up to go for the 4 of us. Best Tex Mex Ever.
Well my blog reader, I hope you are doing well and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
I will try and post some pics of the new apartment next time. Its really a sweet place.
God Bless.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Highlights of the past 2 weeks.....
Let's see:
1) Could barely walk after my tri and my knee still hurts. Thank goodness for co-workers that know how to fix me.
2) Lunch with my new pal David at Blue Goose, great mexican food. Excellent queso and a killer brunch selection. I highly recommend. Next time I will try the 'ritas.
3) Bought Transformers the Movie. Yes this is a highlight, I was a Transformers freak as a child and the movie was awesome. Ask anybody.
4) Sox won the ALCS in 7 games and will now demolish the Rockies in the WS. TOo bad I moved right before all this is going down AND the Pats may have the greatest NFL team of all time. Brady and Moss are ridic and my boy Wes Welker is killing people too.
5) Bowling with the work crew. Too bad I suck at bowling.
6) Dinner and Grey's with Lauren. Can't stand George or Meredith. Private Practice is getting better.
7) Dinner and a movie with Lauren. "Gone Baby Gone", set in Dorchester, MA. I felt like I was back in Boston after I walked out of that movie. Great movie BTW, strong language, but very well done. Directed by Ben Affleck.
8) Grilled or baked salmon 3 nights in a row. Seriously? Yes, thank you Sams. Excellent salmon on the cheap.
9) Finally finding (I think) a small group to go to.
10) Finally dropping below 10% bodyfat. According to Lloyd's 7 site skin fold test, anyway.
11) Did I mention Salmon?
12) A nice little Saturday coming up. Maybe a some go carts, the driving range, a bike ride, dinner and a movie at the park. I don't know yet, will there be enough time??
13) Pope and Carrie coming to town in 10 days, and going to a the Mavs season opener and maybe a Spazmatice show with them too.
Lowlights:
1) Texas Tech football. Period.
2) Sore glutes, hips, piriformis, knees, and back. Aye caramba!
3) Being at work at 5am every day. Wow that's early. Good thing the clients are awesome or I would fire them.
4) Texas Tech football. So bad they are listed twice.
5) Beau having something come up and not being able to hang with his big bro.
1) Could barely walk after my tri and my knee still hurts. Thank goodness for co-workers that know how to fix me.
2) Lunch with my new pal David at Blue Goose, great mexican food. Excellent queso and a killer brunch selection. I highly recommend. Next time I will try the 'ritas.
3) Bought Transformers the Movie. Yes this is a highlight, I was a Transformers freak as a child and the movie was awesome. Ask anybody.
4) Sox won the ALCS in 7 games and will now demolish the Rockies in the WS. TOo bad I moved right before all this is going down AND the Pats may have the greatest NFL team of all time. Brady and Moss are ridic and my boy Wes Welker is killing people too.
5) Bowling with the work crew. Too bad I suck at bowling.
6) Dinner and Grey's with Lauren. Can't stand George or Meredith. Private Practice is getting better.
7) Dinner and a movie with Lauren. "Gone Baby Gone", set in Dorchester, MA. I felt like I was back in Boston after I walked out of that movie. Great movie BTW, strong language, but very well done. Directed by Ben Affleck.
8) Grilled or baked salmon 3 nights in a row. Seriously? Yes, thank you Sams. Excellent salmon on the cheap.
9) Finally finding (I think) a small group to go to.
10) Finally dropping below 10% bodyfat. According to Lloyd's 7 site skin fold test, anyway.
11) Did I mention Salmon?
12) A nice little Saturday coming up. Maybe a some go carts, the driving range, a bike ride, dinner and a movie at the park. I don't know yet, will there be enough time??
13) Pope and Carrie coming to town in 10 days, and going to a the Mavs season opener and maybe a Spazmatice show with them too.
Lowlights:
1) Texas Tech football. Period.
2) Sore glutes, hips, piriformis, knees, and back. Aye caramba!
3) Being at work at 5am every day. Wow that's early. Good thing the clients are awesome or I would fire them.
4) Texas Tech football. So bad they are listed twice.
5) Beau having something come up and not being able to hang with his big bro.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Tri Time
We did it, Lauren and I survived the innagural US Open Triathlon. Yes, even though it took me 2 hours and 33 minutes, I did survive. The swim (800M) plus the first transition took me about 40 minutes. Lauren kicked butt and finished the whole Tri in 2 hours and 17 minutes(I think that’s right). Yep, she owned me, and you know what, I am really proud of her. I know that in the spring she’s gonna break 2 hours on a sprint Tri and probably kick butt at the Olympic Distance (no pressure Lauren.) I am glad we did the Tri though. It was a lot of fun training and preparing for it, and finishing an event like that gives you a great sense of accomplishment, because Lord know I wanted to quit about every 20 meters in the choppy, nasty water of Joe Pool Lake. But I didn’t. And I’m not nieve enough to think that I did any part of that race without help from above. I spent half of the bus ride from Reunion Arena to Joe Pool praying for the strength to finish the race. Lauren thought I was so nervous that I was sick. For those of you that don’t know, my calves cramped up really bad Thursday night and I could barely even walk on Friday and was still a little gimpy on Saturday. I was seriously worried I would cramp up in the water and have to be pulled ashore by a rescue boat. No way I made it through that race without some divine strength. My calves didn’t cramp up once during the whole 2.5 hours. Now my quads and hamstrings, that’s another story. You think maybe I was a little dehydrated?
Overall it was a great experience. Once I loosened up on the run I probably finished my last mile in about 7 minutes. Afterwards we enjoyed an awesome mexican food lunch (thank you Bob and Johnny), and then napped the rest of the afternoon and went to church and had a big fat burger with bbq sauce and cheddar cheese. Guess it was ok to eat since I burned over 2600 calories during the tri, plus whatever I burned in the hours immediately following. Probably 3500+ within 5 hours. Crazy.
Another fun part of the weekend was that my friend Mike Pelaggi (Holla!!) was in town from Beantown, aka Boston, aka Dedham. We got to meet out Friday night for some beeahs at Pete’s Piano Bar. Fun times. Good to see Mike but poor choice of pre-event carb loading. I think you are supposed to carb load on pasta, not on Miller Light. My bad. Also probably shouldn’t have had around 2 bags of chips with guacamole, salsa, and cheese dip on Saturday during the Tech/A&M game (WRECK EM), hours before the Tri. Nice work Eric, you are a genius. Anyways, it was great to see Mike and hang out. Too bad we didn’t get to go to the Pats/Cowboys game with him like we had originally wanted to do. Probably best since it was a struggle to get up off the couch Sunday after the Tri. At least the Pats won.
So, a busy weekend, but an awesome one. I am attaching a pic from after the Tri. Enjoy!
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Finally an update......
So, I know you all have been wondering what I have been up to. Well, alot actually. I just got back from a long weekend that included hanging out in downtown Dallas with old friends, attending the Village Membership class, attending the Youth Group's Fall Retreat, FOCUS, down in Cleburne, or Glen Rose TX to be more exact, working 8 hours today, and getting lost in between Dallas and Ft Worth, which is not half as cool as getting lost in between the moon and New York City. For those of you that are young, that last reference was to a song in the 80's by Christopher Cross, it was on the "Arthur" soundtrack and very popular. Overall a very eventful weekend, plus Tech and A&M won (don't ask, yes I support them now in a small capacity).
So, overall life is fantastic. I thank God every day for the people he has placed in my life here and also for bringing me here. I am also thankful for the times he kicks me in my balls and shows me how jacked up I am and things I need to work on. Which is ok, because I understand that life full of him is life full of joy, and that whatever happens to me, if I am following him and in his will, then he will take care of me. Make sense? I love how he showed me my pride today, let me simmer, blow up, and cool back down and then spoke through someone else on why he lets things happen to me, and that just makes me love him more. I think I almost broke my fist today punching the ceiling of my truck i was so mad, and for those that know me, I don't really get mad like that often at all. He even hinted at his plan to break me and let me blow up the night before when I was at the youth retreat and opened up my bible and saw some old passages in 2 Corinthians that I had highlighted several years ago, 12:7-10
"To keep me from becoming conceited because if these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord ti take it away from me, but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG."
Man, how hope I can be that faithful, and that blessed to constantly be insulted, put through hardships, and difficult times. Only so that I can more fully see how much I need Jesus in my life and be more passionate about him and build a stronger relationship with him. I also need to boast in my weaknesses more like the fact that I am a prideful, vain, insecure, and lustful person. I will totally own up to all of that and say that without more of Jesus in my life that list will just keep getting longer and longer, but with more of him it will become shorter as I grow in Christian maturity.
Why? Well, if you believe that verse, then in my weakness Jesus will make me strong, make my ways right, and in that I will glorify God and see life as he has it planned for me, which is more promising that any other alternative, because it will be eternal.
Wow, off on a tangent there some, but that's how I feel and time and time again it is revealed to me through numerous avenues. Just can't argue it anymore, and I don't want to.
So, other things in my life, well I have been seeing someone a little over a month now and she is truly amazing. I am just blessed and overjoyed to have a sister in Christ and a friend first and foremost in the person I am dating. I am really happy.
Work is good, I got promoted to the sales team at the end of my first full month, which I think is very good, and my schedule is full to the point that I am having to try and drop some clients so that I have more time to go out and find new business for our other trainers. I am moving into a new apartment in November, same complex, next building over. That is kind of exciting, but also sucks since I just moved in.
My Dad has been in the hospital recently with a sciatic nerve acting up, which really scared me. To know that your family is sick and hurt and there is nothing you can do is really humbling. Thankfully all is ok for now and he should be out in a day or 2. Big G will be ok.
One last thing, the US Open Triathlon is this coming weekend, which Lauren and I are both competing in. If you pray, please pray we both finish and especially that I survive the 800M swim that precedes the 40K bike ride and 5K run. Or if you see me, just shoot me. It would be less painful. Seriously though I am really excited for the race and can't wait. It's gonna be wicked pissah. Don't ask.
Until my next update, which will hopefully be after next weekend and accompanied by some pics of me kicking some tail, take care and God bless.
So, overall life is fantastic. I thank God every day for the people he has placed in my life here and also for bringing me here. I am also thankful for the times he kicks me in my balls and shows me how jacked up I am and things I need to work on. Which is ok, because I understand that life full of him is life full of joy, and that whatever happens to me, if I am following him and in his will, then he will take care of me. Make sense? I love how he showed me my pride today, let me simmer, blow up, and cool back down and then spoke through someone else on why he lets things happen to me, and that just makes me love him more. I think I almost broke my fist today punching the ceiling of my truck i was so mad, and for those that know me, I don't really get mad like that often at all. He even hinted at his plan to break me and let me blow up the night before when I was at the youth retreat and opened up my bible and saw some old passages in 2 Corinthians that I had highlighted several years ago, 12:7-10
"To keep me from becoming conceited because if these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord ti take it away from me, but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG."
Man, how hope I can be that faithful, and that blessed to constantly be insulted, put through hardships, and difficult times. Only so that I can more fully see how much I need Jesus in my life and be more passionate about him and build a stronger relationship with him. I also need to boast in my weaknesses more like the fact that I am a prideful, vain, insecure, and lustful person. I will totally own up to all of that and say that without more of Jesus in my life that list will just keep getting longer and longer, but with more of him it will become shorter as I grow in Christian maturity.
Why? Well, if you believe that verse, then in my weakness Jesus will make me strong, make my ways right, and in that I will glorify God and see life as he has it planned for me, which is more promising that any other alternative, because it will be eternal.
Wow, off on a tangent there some, but that's how I feel and time and time again it is revealed to me through numerous avenues. Just can't argue it anymore, and I don't want to.
So, other things in my life, well I have been seeing someone a little over a month now and she is truly amazing. I am just blessed and overjoyed to have a sister in Christ and a friend first and foremost in the person I am dating. I am really happy.
Work is good, I got promoted to the sales team at the end of my first full month, which I think is very good, and my schedule is full to the point that I am having to try and drop some clients so that I have more time to go out and find new business for our other trainers. I am moving into a new apartment in November, same complex, next building over. That is kind of exciting, but also sucks since I just moved in.
My Dad has been in the hospital recently with a sciatic nerve acting up, which really scared me. To know that your family is sick and hurt and there is nothing you can do is really humbling. Thankfully all is ok for now and he should be out in a day or 2. Big G will be ok.
One last thing, the US Open Triathlon is this coming weekend, which Lauren and I are both competing in. If you pray, please pray we both finish and especially that I survive the 800M swim that precedes the 40K bike ride and 5K run. Or if you see me, just shoot me. It would be less painful. Seriously though I am really excited for the race and can't wait. It's gonna be wicked pissah. Don't ask.
Until my next update, which will hopefully be after next weekend and accompanied by some pics of me kicking some tail, take care and God bless.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Lovin' Life
Let me start off by saying that I am the happiest I have been in several years. I love my job and my co-workers, I love the area I am living in, I have met a couple of wonderful people that I have been hanging out with, and I am involved in a Christian community and going to a Church that is helping me draw closer to Jesus every day. Not to say I don't struggle with certain things still, cause we all do, but I am blessed to be where I am now and think that the best is yet to come.
I signed up for a Triathalon today, the Toyota US Open Triathalon on October 14th, sponsored by my company, Lifetime Fitness. Of course I am only competing in the sprint distance, but I am very excited. I also have an AWESOME training partner and as hard and as much as I have been working out and training, I am having a BLAST doing it. I just hope my swimming improves so I don't drown! I think once we get our schedule down and start hitting the pool more it will get better. Hopefully racetime I will have lost a few pounds and be at about 8% bodyfat too, which will help me run a little faster and not kill my knees.
I also sold my first training package at work yesterday, 24 sessions. Now all I need is a couple more of those packages to hit my personal goal for the month. Anyone want to buy a polar watch and/or some metabolic tests? Let me know if you do!
One last thing I am pumped about is getting to see Randy Rogers next weekend in Lewisville. He's been my favortite Country singer for awhile now and I haven't seen him in concert yet, that will change next Saturday.
I signed up for a Triathalon today, the Toyota US Open Triathalon on October 14th, sponsored by my company, Lifetime Fitness. Of course I am only competing in the sprint distance, but I am very excited. I also have an AWESOME training partner and as hard and as much as I have been working out and training, I am having a BLAST doing it. I just hope my swimming improves so I don't drown! I think once we get our schedule down and start hitting the pool more it will get better. Hopefully racetime I will have lost a few pounds and be at about 8% bodyfat too, which will help me run a little faster and not kill my knees.
I also sold my first training package at work yesterday, 24 sessions. Now all I need is a couple more of those packages to hit my personal goal for the month. Anyone want to buy a polar watch and/or some metabolic tests? Let me know if you do!
One last thing I am pumped about is getting to see Randy Rogers next weekend in Lewisville. He's been my favortite Country singer for awhile now and I haven't seen him in concert yet, that will change next Saturday.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Back in Texas
Wow, it has been a couple of weeks. I finally made it back down to Texas after a long 2 days of driving, one of which was 21 hours straight from Canton, OH to Plano, TX. Talk about a haul. Big Gary did take over for me for about 30 min so I could get a quick power nap in, so props to him for that. I was so glad to get to spend time with my Dad, he's such a great guy, hilarious, and one of my best friends. We had some fun times at the NFL Hall of Fame and on the congested highways of Oklahoma at 3am. Traffic jams at 3am suck by the way, as does the Oklahoma highway system. Bassakwards Sooners.
I started my job as a personal trainer for Lifetime Fitness in Plano this week, had my first client at 6am on Monday and again tomorrow at 6am, followed up by a 5:30am workout class on Thursday. Talk about a long first week! I love it though. To be able to help people transform themselves through hard work is such an awesome thing. I also get to witness to people every day, and build relationships with new people everyday. I am so thankful God opened so many doors to help me get down here to pursue my passion. I'm blessed way more thank I deserve. I get to do what I love everyday and get paid for it. Plus my coworkers are awesome and incedibly supportive. I'm lucky to have landed at such a great place.
I'm also excited about this weekend. My good friend Christa is getting married in Lubbock and I get to be an "ursher" in her wedding. A little Ludacris humor there for ya. Anyways, for a long time I didn't want to go to Lubbock under any circumstances, and now I look forward to going back to visit every time, and especially this time. I'm so happy for Christa and Chris, both great people who deserve one another.
Another thing I am excited about is getting to work with the youth group at The Village. I will be working with the 9th grade boys every Sunday night, and the entire High School group on Wednesday nights. I love working with kids, and pray that I can be a good mentor to them each and every week. I also fully expect them to be like the youth at City View and think that, because I am a little more muscular, that them punching, kicking, elbowing, and slapping me doesn't hurt. It does. Kids.... I am also working to start a home group here in the Plano/Frisco area. All I have to do is find 4 or 5 other people that want to meet each week and I am set! Easier said than done.
Anyway, I am busy and happy, and excited about where the Lord is leading me next. Until next time, HUGHES OUT!
I started my job as a personal trainer for Lifetime Fitness in Plano this week, had my first client at 6am on Monday and again tomorrow at 6am, followed up by a 5:30am workout class on Thursday. Talk about a long first week! I love it though. To be able to help people transform themselves through hard work is such an awesome thing. I also get to witness to people every day, and build relationships with new people everyday. I am so thankful God opened so many doors to help me get down here to pursue my passion. I'm blessed way more thank I deserve. I get to do what I love everyday and get paid for it. Plus my coworkers are awesome and incedibly supportive. I'm lucky to have landed at such a great place.
I'm also excited about this weekend. My good friend Christa is getting married in Lubbock and I get to be an "ursher" in her wedding. A little Ludacris humor there for ya. Anyways, for a long time I didn't want to go to Lubbock under any circumstances, and now I look forward to going back to visit every time, and especially this time. I'm so happy for Christa and Chris, both great people who deserve one another.
Another thing I am excited about is getting to work with the youth group at The Village. I will be working with the 9th grade boys every Sunday night, and the entire High School group on Wednesday nights. I love working with kids, and pray that I can be a good mentor to them each and every week. I also fully expect them to be like the youth at City View and think that, because I am a little more muscular, that them punching, kicking, elbowing, and slapping me doesn't hurt. It does. Kids.... I am also working to start a home group here in the Plano/Frisco area. All I have to do is find 4 or 5 other people that want to meet each week and I am set! Easier said than done.
Anyway, I am busy and happy, and excited about where the Lord is leading me next. Until next time, HUGHES OUT!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Back to Texas
So, I had a pretty crazy weekend, capped off with a day of tailgating at Country Fest in the Gillet Stadium parking lot. It was wild to say the least, good grillin, good beer and friends, and a few fights. Wild time.
So the big news with me is that I am moving back to texas this weekend. Plano to be exact, just North of Dallas. I am pursuing my passion, which is fitness, and i will be a personal trainer at Lifetime Fitness. Timing on th job and the move all worked out perfectly and I couldn't be more excited to finally be doing something that I love and not just doing something that I can do and that I am good at. I will also be close to my brother and sister-in-law, and The Village, which I am so excited and looking forward to become a regular part of. A sense of community is something that I have sorely missed over the past few years.
So, give me a shout if you ever get to the Plano area, and keep checking back to see how the move goes and hear all about my new job. It is an exciting time for me.
So the big news with me is that I am moving back to texas this weekend. Plano to be exact, just North of Dallas. I am pursuing my passion, which is fitness, and i will be a personal trainer at Lifetime Fitness. Timing on th job and the move all worked out perfectly and I couldn't be more excited to finally be doing something that I love and not just doing something that I can do and that I am good at. I will also be close to my brother and sister-in-law, and The Village, which I am so excited and looking forward to become a regular part of. A sense of community is something that I have sorely missed over the past few years.
So, give me a shout if you ever get to the Plano area, and keep checking back to see how the move goes and hear all about my new job. It is an exciting time for me.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Pre
One of the great things that has come out of me living in Boston has been a renewed interest in reading. Recently I have been like a sponge, from business books, books by Christian authors, to inspirational books, and personal training manuals. Its been great. Right now I'm reading a biography of Steve Prefontaine.
For those of you that haven't heard of "Pre", he was a middle distance runner in the late 60s and early 70s for the University of Oregon and for the US in the Olympics. This guy was amazing. His life was cut short though, he died in a car crash around the age of 25. I don't think he EVER lost a meet in college, sometime running 2 events on the same day and setting college and American recods in both. Think of running in the 5 mile, winning and setting a collegiate record, then turning around and doing the same thing in the 3 mile. All this still under 22 yrs old, which is young for distance runners. This guy was also insanely famous for a runner. Think Michael Johnson at his most famous times 10. His coach at Oregon was Bill Bowerman who co-founded Nike. Pre was one of the first people to ever wear Nikes and help populartize them when they first started.
One of the things that keeps coming up is how determined and competitive this guy was. He had the determination of Lance Armstrong without having gone through the adversity that Lance did. I mean think about it, Lance was great before his battle with cancer, but because of the strength and determination that overcoming cancer gave him he became one of the greatest athletes of all-time. Would he have been as great if he hadn't had that adversity to overcome and make him stronger and more determined? Personally I don't think he would have. Pre had that type of determination because he knew he had a gift, and felt that not using that gift to its fullest was a waste. He always ran in the front, not drafting off of other runnners which is the norm. He felt that giving anything less than everything he had every race was chickenshit.
His legacy is still around today, Nike has a whole freakin line of Pre clothes, and every up and coming track superstar is always compared to Pre, who I think still holds a ton of HS and College and even American records. I highly recommend that you, my blog fans, check the book out. Just type prefontaine into amazon or something.
Man, what an inspiration. To have that drive every day, think how different life would be. Crazy. I love reading this kind of stuff because it motivates me to not waste my gifts. It reminds me of the parable about the Servants and the Talents in Matthew 25 (I think thats right). We all have gifts and we are meant to use them to their fuillest, anything less is a waste.
On another note we won our semifinal game in my YMCA league tonight, so we are in the finals next week. Yours truly was ballin with around 14 points, 8-10 boards, and 4-5 assists. Usually I am fine to sit back, have fun, not worry about doing anything more than board and play D, but tonight I decided to be AWESOME instead. True story. Although I think I strained my calf a little so I gotta rest that baby before next week. Even studs like me get hurt sometimes. I can't wait for the 'Ship next week though!
Speaking of awesome: Transformers. Go see it. I am trying to convince my friend Tim to name his second son Optimus Prime. I think it is a very dignified and respectable name. I mean, he's only a sentient robot that helped save the world from the Decepticons, I think the least Tim could do is honor the man, errrr robot, whatever.
Here's a pic of Pope, Carrie, Hailey and me at the Sox game.
For those of you that haven't heard of "Pre", he was a middle distance runner in the late 60s and early 70s for the University of Oregon and for the US in the Olympics. This guy was amazing. His life was cut short though, he died in a car crash around the age of 25. I don't think he EVER lost a meet in college, sometime running 2 events on the same day and setting college and American recods in both. Think of running in the 5 mile, winning and setting a collegiate record, then turning around and doing the same thing in the 3 mile. All this still under 22 yrs old, which is young for distance runners. This guy was also insanely famous for a runner. Think Michael Johnson at his most famous times 10. His coach at Oregon was Bill Bowerman who co-founded Nike. Pre was one of the first people to ever wear Nikes and help populartize them when they first started.
One of the things that keeps coming up is how determined and competitive this guy was. He had the determination of Lance Armstrong without having gone through the adversity that Lance did. I mean think about it, Lance was great before his battle with cancer, but because of the strength and determination that overcoming cancer gave him he became one of the greatest athletes of all-time. Would he have been as great if he hadn't had that adversity to overcome and make him stronger and more determined? Personally I don't think he would have. Pre had that type of determination because he knew he had a gift, and felt that not using that gift to its fullest was a waste. He always ran in the front, not drafting off of other runnners which is the norm. He felt that giving anything less than everything he had every race was chickenshit.
His legacy is still around today, Nike has a whole freakin line of Pre clothes, and every up and coming track superstar is always compared to Pre, who I think still holds a ton of HS and College and even American records. I highly recommend that you, my blog fans, check the book out. Just type prefontaine into amazon or something.
Man, what an inspiration. To have that drive every day, think how different life would be. Crazy. I love reading this kind of stuff because it motivates me to not waste my gifts. It reminds me of the parable about the Servants and the Talents in Matthew 25 (I think thats right). We all have gifts and we are meant to use them to their fuillest, anything less is a waste.
On another note we won our semifinal game in my YMCA league tonight, so we are in the finals next week. Yours truly was ballin with around 14 points, 8-10 boards, and 4-5 assists. Usually I am fine to sit back, have fun, not worry about doing anything more than board and play D, but tonight I decided to be AWESOME instead. True story. Although I think I strained my calf a little so I gotta rest that baby before next week. Even studs like me get hurt sometimes. I can't wait for the 'Ship next week though!
Speaking of awesome: Transformers. Go see it. I am trying to convince my friend Tim to name his second son Optimus Prime. I think it is a very dignified and respectable name. I mean, he's only a sentient robot that helped save the world from the Decepticons, I think the least Tim could do is honor the man, errrr robot, whatever.
Here's a pic of Pope, Carrie, Hailey and me at the Sox game.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Hello
So, this is my blog. I guess I started blogging a little back in my myspace days, before I deleted my profile. This will be where I share my thoughts, some pics, quotes, jokes, who knows. We shall see. It will be a work in progress, much like me. I think my bro and seom other friends of mine have blogs on here somewhere, so I will try to add them to my friends list.
A little about me. I'm 28, single, living right now in the great city of Boston, MA, working in Sales for an IT company called EMC. I have learned a lot in the 10 months I have been in Boston, and grown a lot as well, as an adult and spiritually. Sometimes you head down a path and it takes to to a completely different place than you expected. Somewhere that wasn't even on the map when you took that first step, but in the end it is where you were headed all along.
I have wonderful family, my parents Gary (Big G) and Karen, still married after 29 years, and living in Lubbock. Also my little brother Beau and his new wife, Kimbo, who live in Highland Village, soon to move to Denton where Beau will be the campus Pastor for The Village Church: Denton Campus. Beau, Kimbo, and my parents are so wonderful and support me more than I deserve, and all serve as examples to me daily. I can't wait to get to spend more time with them in the future.
I am a Christian, and working every day to build a stronger relationship with Jesus, from whom everything I am and have comes from. I am thankful everyday for the gifts in my life. Right now I am reading some great books by CS Lewis, John Eldredge, and the book of Matthew. Lewis is a tough read and works your mind, Eldredge plays to the heart and reminds you how exciting our story is. They sort of contrast one another but both build different areas of my spiritual walk. Great authors. I am also a big fan of John Piper and love to podcast sermons from the Village Church http://www.thevillagechurch.net/podcast/index.html (my brother preached 2 weeks ago, "Remebering the Gospel", it was awesome.)
I love sports and fitness, and being active, when my lazy TV watching side doesn't get the better of me. I am a Certfied Personal Trainer with the Nat'l Strength & Conditioning Assoc, and have some plans to put that thing to good use, as well as get a few more certifications. Its fascinating to learn how much the human body is capable of, and how to continually challenge it and push it to the limit, which is what I try to do everytime I train. I can't describe the rush and sense of accomplishment I get after a killer session.
So, that's a little about me. I am also a pretty goofy, sarcastic guy, so some of that will probably come out in what I write, if I keep this thing up! Thanks for stopping by my little spot on the web. I will put up some pics and stuff when I figure out how to. God bless.
A little about me. I'm 28, single, living right now in the great city of Boston, MA, working in Sales for an IT company called EMC. I have learned a lot in the 10 months I have been in Boston, and grown a lot as well, as an adult and spiritually. Sometimes you head down a path and it takes to to a completely different place than you expected. Somewhere that wasn't even on the map when you took that first step, but in the end it is where you were headed all along.
I have wonderful family, my parents Gary (Big G) and Karen, still married after 29 years, and living in Lubbock. Also my little brother Beau and his new wife, Kimbo, who live in Highland Village, soon to move to Denton where Beau will be the campus Pastor for The Village Church: Denton Campus. Beau, Kimbo, and my parents are so wonderful and support me more than I deserve, and all serve as examples to me daily. I can't wait to get to spend more time with them in the future.
I am a Christian, and working every day to build a stronger relationship with Jesus, from whom everything I am and have comes from. I am thankful everyday for the gifts in my life. Right now I am reading some great books by CS Lewis, John Eldredge, and the book of Matthew. Lewis is a tough read and works your mind, Eldredge plays to the heart and reminds you how exciting our story is. They sort of contrast one another but both build different areas of my spiritual walk. Great authors. I am also a big fan of John Piper and love to podcast sermons from the Village Church http://www.thevillagechurch.net/podcast/index.html (my brother preached 2 weeks ago, "Remebering the Gospel", it was awesome.)
I love sports and fitness, and being active, when my lazy TV watching side doesn't get the better of me. I am a Certfied Personal Trainer with the Nat'l Strength & Conditioning Assoc, and have some plans to put that thing to good use, as well as get a few more certifications. Its fascinating to learn how much the human body is capable of, and how to continually challenge it and push it to the limit, which is what I try to do everytime I train. I can't describe the rush and sense of accomplishment I get after a killer session.
So, that's a little about me. I am also a pretty goofy, sarcastic guy, so some of that will probably come out in what I write, if I keep this thing up! Thanks for stopping by my little spot on the web. I will put up some pics and stuff when I figure out how to. God bless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)