I'm sorta liking these wordy self-centered updates taking place monthly.
To begin with, my fitness program is still going great. It is a very simple formula: EFX for 30 minutes everyday (or in practice, most days), weight lifting every other day (just a few sets of 12 lifts). The diet is reasonable and not very indulgent (still a lot of salad, still no soda, but I still eat dessert), with an emphasis on protein on the days I don't lift. This is trimming fat and building muscle mass, but at a relatively slow pace that would be far exceeded by some of the more complex systems I've read about, but ain't gonna try. Frankly I'm happy with this pace. I have lines I never knew I had, and I bench 200, which is at least a good bit more than I weigh now, and I stay over 120 paces/minute on the EFX. So yeah, there's definitely results and people are starting to notice, but I'd say I'm only maybe halfway to my goal. The bottom line is that, between this regimen and quitting smoking, I believe my overall health, if somehow quantified, has at least doubled. The weight loss is purely secondary by comparison.
I've also managed to pay off the enormous debt incurred for dentistry, orthodontistry, and taxes, from 2005 and 2006. This crushing burden, over $30K worth at its worst, downgraded my credit scores and threatened my financial future. Now it is all over, because I worked hard, and paid it off. I can't put in words how terrible it is to wake up with such a thing over your head every day, or how joyful it is to be rid of it. The only remaining decision to make is, exactly how rude to be when drafting my letters to close the various lines of credit. I regret that I will be unable to be neutral on this matter, and FIA Card Services in particular, who lost faith in me and attempted to jack my interest rates up, will most likely be implicated in a serious family matter with their mothers.
And how bout them politics anyway? I think if you look back to 2004, you'll find me saying something along the lines of the Administration finally having enough rope to hang themselves. Since then, the Iraq situation has worsened tremendously, and the Administration has been abandoned, first by Evangelicals, then by Republicans, and finally by Neoconservatives, all of whom found a convenient scapegoat in the lame-duck president. Unfortunately for the GOP, the American public's memory isn't quite as short as they'd like to think, and not only is their legislative majority in question, but they're working overtime to draft legislation to protect themselves from prosecution for their nefarious and illegal deeds. Good luck guys, you're going to need it. I have given up publicly howling for the GOP's empire to end, in part because I realize they've screwed themselves, and so does the entire country. Unfortunately, we progressives and true conservatives have to try and do a better job at what Bush and his gang totally screwed up: The endgame. Once the GOP and their idiot-in-chief are removed from power, and carpetbagger Democrats show up to fill the vacuum, we can only hope to keep them on a tight enough leash to be fiscally responsible and keep their hands off of our firearms. At least that's easier than winning the current situation in Iraq.
So, I'm in great shape, don't owe anyone, and politics are going my way. But I'm not even remotely finished with everything I have to do. If anything, all I've done is lay the groundwork. What about Mumbai? Dubai? Berlin? Am I ever going to experience the life-changing thrill of world travel? What about my new home with countryside acreage? Should I invest in some of my friends' small companies? Maybe finish learning to fly small airplanes? Cut back on work and finally get a college degree like most smart people? At least some of these challenges are likely to be answered soon. After all, even those incestuous folks at FIA will tell you, Christopher always keeps a promise, regardless of your own faith. You can take it to the bank.
-Chris