Circular weight loss.

"Will It Go Round in Circles" is a song written by Bruce Fisher and Billy Preston, and recorded by Preston for his 1972 album Music Is My Life. On its release as a single in 1973, the song was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and sold over a million copies.

It has almost been a year since I last posted to this blog. Injuries and illness have plagued me since I turned 50 (December of 2010). Accompanying the illness and injuries has been a circle of weight loss and gain. The latest illness was pneumonia. This nasty bout of sickness left me very week and unable to participate in physical exercise for two months.

I am currently 187 pounds. I will be spending two weeks with the person who is responsible for my ship slowing rising off the bottom of the lake (see my July 19, 2010 post). I hope to be 185 lbs before I leave and return weighing 180 pounds or less.

What I learned on this journey is that Preston is one of several people sometimes referred to by outsiders as a "Fifth Beatle." At one point John Lennon even proposed the idea of having him as the "Fifth Beatle" (to which Paul countered that it was bad enough with four).

Close to You

"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. It was not until seven years later when this song finally spouted and grew. In 1970, it was released by Karen and Richard Carpenter as, (They Long to Be) Close to You. It became their breakthrough hit. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.

We never know when a seed that we have planted will spring to life. Today I had coffee with one of my former (and first) students. I first met Rachael at 14. She was a freshman in high school. When she was a junior, I selected her to be the captain of our school’s volleyball team. Her senior year, my son chose her to be the assistant coach of the school’s soccer team.

Today, at 19, she started college. We agreed to meet for coffee. As we talked, I saw the first green shoots of her life coming out of the grounded state she has lived since High School graduation. Her dream is to become a forensic biologist. I believe she will.

Rachael represents the reason why I teach. I believe in and love dearly every one of my students.

Two other little known facts: First, “(They Long to Be) Close to You” is Homer and Marge's love song on The Simpsons. Second, Rachael is the only student I have given a math final that “Aced” the entire first page and then missed every question on the second page. Duh! (Thank-you Homer Simpson)

A Simple Song

In August 1968 the first single from the Beatles' record label Apple Records was released. The name was “Hey Jude”. Spending nine weeks as the number one in the United States, setting a new record, until “You Light Up My Life” beat it. More than seven minutes in length, "Hey Jude" begins with a verse-bridge structure based around McCartney's vocal performance. The ballad, and I love ballads, evolved from "Hey Jules," a song Paul McCartney wrote to comfort John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce.

I am not sure there was any comfort offered to my children after my divorce. No songs or books to soothe any hurts. There were no fancy dinners or the closeness of friends rushing to their side. I can only imagine that it was quite the opposite. So here, in this blog, and then with my life I am composing a song to them. It simply says I love you. We are going to be all right.

Yesterday, I completed jogging 5k for the second time in as many weeks. I am working towards jogging a 5k to support nursing in Oklahoma. There will not be any fanfare when I cross the finish line. There may not even be a single person present that I know to see it happen. But, as long as God allows, it will. So, to my four children: David, Daniel, Faith, and Jeffery Jr., on September 25th I am running “Hey Jude, I love you. We are going to be all right”.

http://www.occc.edu/lifesaver/index.html

Bunco

In 1961, a bit before my 1st birthday Ray Charles sung a Percy Mayfield penned song that hit number one for two weeks. "Hit the Road Jack" was also number one on the R&B Sides chart for five weeks. The song spoke about the break up of a relationship over (the lack of) money. Relationships that are formed around money are destroyed over money. But if they are formed over shared experiences like the ones I am looking towards… even if the money is gone, the relationship can stand.

This portion is patterned after James T. Kirk who would say “Captain’s log supplemental”. SFBG’s blog supplemental - I have been hearing conversation regarding a game called Bunco (Bunko). Even a popular Christian radio station mentioned that their staff would be going to a Bunco game.

http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Play-Bunco-245251462

Seems to be very popular among Christian women although some men do play. Sounds like a great reason to socialize and build shared experiences. I think it is worth investigating. This may prove to be another kick in my swim to the surface.

Hmmm, were those wine glasses in the video? (smile)

Even a Wrecked Life Can Rise Again.

In 1974 Gordon Lightfoot released a song titled “Sundown”. It arguably is his most popular. Although not known at the time when it reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the song was about a dark period in his life. To his credit, after the sun went down on him, he recovered and emerged back on top writing other great ballads. “Carefree Highway” (1974), “Rainy Day People” (1975), and my personal favorite, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976). This 1976 classic song was a direct reflection of my personal “love life” during my high school days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7aw

35 years later, I am in a place where my personal relationships are in a place of recovery; this wreck is coming up off the bottom of the lake. What changed? The sun finally set (divorce). I hit the bottom of the lake. I decided that I could either stay down here or push off the bottom and swim my way up. So I pushed, and someone who knows this wreck is helping me kick. Another change, I weigh less than 190 pounds for the first time in over a year. Perhaps being lighter makes the swim to the surface a bit easier. As I swim for the surface I will remain single... and Black (smile). But when I emerge, I will not be fat. If you are on bottom perhaps its time to push off? Consider what sunk you, and how you can raise your own ship, then start kicking!

Time to Give My Best

Anita Baker, an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter released her third album, Giving You the Best That I Got , in October 1988. The album became a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart and selling five million copies worldwide. The title track, which became Baker's biggest pop hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

Christmas 2009 saw me return to my former glory of 197 pounds. Too many Christmas cookies! It also heralded (yes like Hark the Herald angels sing) the arrival of my treadmill. Last night my oldest son and his wife came over and set up the treadmill for me. I will try it out for the first time tomorrow morning before going to work. My desire is to give 2010 "the best that I got."

I also recently learned that most people fail to keep their New Year Resolutions before Valentines Day. What are the chances I fall into that group?

More than "Stayin' Alive" is "Being" Alive

"Stayin' Alive" is a song by the pop group Bee Gees was released on December 13, 1977 as the second single from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. This was a day after my High School won the Colorado State Football Championship. By February 4th it hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Consequently it became the band's most recognizable tune.
All I have been doing is staying alive at 194 lbs the last two weeks. That is not acceptable for myself. To combat this I will purchase a treadmill. It goes against conventional wisdom, but this single fat black guy knows what he will do. I have also been doing research and found that too often, treadmills seduce you into cranking up the speed or incline beyond what is comfortable to manage. If you're supporting your body weight by an object, you're using less personal energy to ambulate forward, therefore using less muscle and fewer calories.
Interestingly enough, I have been supporting my emotional weight with multiple things. It has taken less personal energy in healing therefore less ambulation forward. I want more than just “Stayin’ Alive” and my God has more in store for me. So, I need to say good-bye to emotional and hello to purchasing a treadmill. Hey, today is Black Friday. Cannot think of a better day.