This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!
1st Monday of 2022 and I’m dealing with snow. What makes decisions difficult with what we do is that we are not just driving to one place and then working for the next 8 hours. We drive somewhere – do the job – and in an hour to an hour & a half head out to another job throughout the day. Or on days like today – throughout the snowstorm. Anyway – glad to get this first one out of the way because by the time we have the 4th or 5th one, everyone won’t be so uptight and the decisions are typically a little easier.
Funny thing with not running yesterday (or today) – I didn’t hit my steps goal. Initially, I thought my watch was broken or something, but then remembered “Oh, yeah – I didn’t get those 7000 ‘steps’ running today.”
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, subtract things every day” – by Lao Tzu via Leidy Klotz’s book, Subtract (p. 17)
This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!
You know what I’m grateful for – having a Sunday after New Year’s Day. We all needed this day to put it all back together.
So, here we are again, but I didn’t run today and won’t. The streak will be over.
2022 is bringing something bigger. That’s my plans. I learned from 2021 via this morning babble of a vlog that I was holding myself accountable to a daily 5K runs and I didn’t want to disappoint. I didn’t want to quit. Last year – I counted up towards the goal of 366 days in a row of 5K runs. This year will be a countdown. I want out of what I’m currently doing. I’m not happy and need to change that.
Morning Babble will continue. Maybe I’m being selfish, but it’s so therapeutic and important to me. I find myself looking forward to reading something good for everyone. Finding an inspiring quote of the day. So, the Babble lives on BUT only Monday through Friday. On the weekends, I plan on working on bigger projects – separate videos. Teaming up with Cecil. Maybe even bringing back Pigskin Gourmet for the umpteenth time.
I’m going to run this year, but not every day. In fact, I don’t think I’m running at all this week. Instead, I’m going to use the extra time in the morning this week to review some writings, organize some thoughts, and do some actual new writing. Remember, you won’t find the time, you need to MAKE the time.
What’s the big overall goal? Countdown to Exit Plan. By the end of the year, I don’t want to have to be on the road anymore for my business. I intend to very much be a part of the company and know that I have a lot of work ahead with the ideas that I want and need to implement. But – I want to be doing more and this past year was a hard lesson learned, I hit some lows that I don’t think a lot of people really know that I hit. I missed some events for my kids that really crushed me inside. I don’t like being sent the pictures. I want to be taking the pictures. Like I said, I was unhappy and I’m out to change all that. So, I invite you all along again as I’ll tell my story, my mini milestones on the journey to Morning Babble’s Countdown to Exit Plan.
Some other random goals for the year:
Finish writing my book! Confessions of a Workaholic
More readings of my shorts – I call them each: Droplet of Life
Weekly Newsletter beginning in March
Guitar Lessons with my daughter
Monthly 3-Day Fasts – yup, I’m doing it again
Create my own Journal
Put together a charity called “Hold my Doll” to help fight for gender equality
Podcast?
Outside weekend adventures with the family – biking, walking, whatevers. Get outside!
Breathe and just keep moving it all forward. All while – “Enjoying the Now”
That’s all I’ve got. A lot of work ahead, but it doesn’t have to all be done this week. Again – I’m very excited to be sharing this all with you.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “For all those times we think we can’t, maybe we should try.” – by Simon Sinek
This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!
Happy Friday and Happy New Year’s Eve! Who’s going to nap today?! My kids are pumped because the obvious goal is staying up to midnight. Yeah. I’m napping. Back in the day. Back in radio working days – events would start at 10pm and go to 2am. I remember being at Polyesters in Philly – doing a 4-hour live broadcast and then driving back to my house in Baltimore. I did that. I stayed up. Of course, you wouldn’t see me on Sunday until 12noon or 1pm kick-off.
365! I officially ran a 5K every day for the year 2021. The goal is through tomorrow for 366 days which will be equivalent to a leap year of days
New Music Friday:
Katy Perry teamed up with Swedish DJ, Alesso for a new single called “When I’m Gone” / During her debut performance of her Las Vegas residency, she performed in a beer can bra that dispensed beer. On Monday, January 10, the official music video for “When I’m Gone” will premiere when ESPN broadcasts the video at halftime of the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Back in June, Flo Rida released his first single of 2021 called “Summer’s Not Ready”. Today – New Year’s Eve, he released his 2nd single of the year called “Wait”. No fancy video out there, just a lyric video on YouTube.
Three-time Grammy Award-winning country superstar Miranda Lambert (and Anderson East heartbreaker) has teamed up with Netflix fashion program “Queer Eye” with her new single: “Y’all Means All.” Out today and in time for the debut of the sixth season of the popular streaming program.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You become what you give your attention to.” – by Epictetus
‘Tis the season of Christmas, so holiday decorations are everywhere, including people’s bathrooms. Standing inside one at a client’s home, I took in my lavatorial surroundings as I slowly trickled “lighter.” To the immediate right of the toilet, stood a butler frog (toad?) decoration, whose year-round job was to serve up the back-up TP rolls. Strangely, I got used to seeing this subservient frog, but today, it was bearing a lit-up, red nose along with a set of reindeer antlers (what?). My eyes didn’t have to wander much farther as I noticed the current “in use” toilet paper roll, which was imprinted with nostalgic reindeer – all eight of ’em. To my left, I saw that the regular towels were replaced with bright red and green versions complete with blinking lights along the edges. Is that even safe when drying your hands? But finally, in slow motion, like Ralphie’s F-bomb in “A Christmas Story,” my eyes fell to the very back of the toilet, where there sat a glass dish. What could be in a dish on the back of a festive themed toilet, you may wonder? Maybe some cinnamon scented potpourri? Wrong. Instead, it held edible candy-coated chocolates that melt in your mouth and not in your hand. It was M&M’s in all their delicious glory. Since one hand was busy, the free one slowly began reaching for the candy shelled chocolate delight, but suddenly, remembering where I was standing, the hand snapped back to my side. It was at this point when thoughts of Andy Rooney, Lums Restaurant, Krimpets in the shower, and dirty toothbrushes began dancing through my head. Don’t worry, I can explain.
(To a kid, this show felt more like 60 hours)
Growing up, I remember watching, along with my dad various news specials and interviews on the television show 60 Minutes. I know, I know – why would a young punk-kid ever want to sit through that, but let’s set the scene. It’s a Fall Sunday, game day. Normally, my dad and I would have just lived through an Eagles football game (4pm kick-off time). Immediately following my beloved Birds weekly pigskin battle would be this power hour for news along with the crazy-eyebrowed man himself, Andy Rooney. Part of me felt bad bailing on my dad after the shared football enjoyment. The other part would think, “Come on, Dad. I’m a frickin’ kid, cut me some slack, and change the damn channel.” Alright maybe not in those exact words at that time, but I was feeling a rumbling of angst. Anyway – 60 minutes always had the upper hand on the remote control in my parent’s household. A handful of those stories fascinated my little brain and I’ve carried them with me all these years.
This particular special focused on the health hazards of candy bowls, mint dishes, nut platters, whatever. These snacky containers were always located conveniently by the register at restaurants’ check-out counter. The crime was that these unwrapped treats were good-bye gifts of germ collections. “Have a nice night . . . vomiting.” The show’s sleuth investigators sent away the actual dishes for testing and the results were disgusting. They found urine, rat hairs, pubic hairs, rodent fecal matter, human saliva – the list goes on! So, undoubtedly, the candy/nut/mint treat was laying in this mess and soaking it up. Kind of synonymous with today’s black light meets hotel bed sheets – hmmm, I think these were used already.
(everyone’s favorite grandmother’s house candy offering -too bad cousin Michael never washed his hands)
Instantly, I recalled joining my grandfather (Pop-Pop) and my father (Dad) at the register of our family’s favorite nearby restaurant, which was simply and uninspiringly called “Lums.” I patiently stood by as the bill was being paid. Once done, a treat was taken by each of my family members via the restaurant’s candy dish. Eventually, it was my turn and someone in the group would drop the dish down to my eye level. Happily licking my lips, I eagerly scooped out the night’s prize.
Fast forward to the present and here I sit on the couch, with my dad catty corner in his recliner, not a word is spoken aloud to one another. I’m young (maybe 10?), but I get it and my dad knows that I get it. In turn, we both should probably be vomiting at this point or at the very least brushing our teeth. It really doesn’t matter that the last time we went to “Lums” was over a week ago – but something was needed in order to validate to ourselves that rodent waste or human urine wasn’t still “hanging out” in our mouths.
Looking back, as a kid, you see food, you eat food. Plus, it doesn’t matter where you would inhale it. I remember eating Krimpets on the shower floor during my actual showers before school. Every morning, I delivered the local paper, so it was still God awful early when I got back to the house. It was a combo of being tired and the body needing to be fed. I would sit tucked in the shower corner, with legs stretched out, eyes closed, and enjoying the sound of my morning rainstorm. Finally, I unwrapped a butterscotch-iced cake Tastykake. Two packages were always the requisite and they were damn good.
(Tastykake rules – fight me)
Obviously, I couldn’t be held accountable for my food choices at that stage in my life. Who’s going to fault me for wanting those naked gum drops out of the dish from Lums? At the time, I didn’t even know about the rat feces that they were marinating in. Additionally, I certainly couldn’t taste that crap (literally) either . . . I just tasted the joy of candy.
Everyone is always so focused on the prize before them that they don’t think (or taste) the other issues that could be found within their new found treasures. Random health tip: If you’re having a party, hide your toothbrushes or get new ones afterwards. Guys at parties do nasty stuff to them. Insider tip.
Finally, we’re back to where this rambling all started – Shake, shake, shake. Zip. I’m standing at the sink washing my hands with peppermint scented soap that I just pumped out of Frosty’s top hat. My eyes remain locked on the candy bowl and, just like the days at Lums at the end of the night, my mouth is watering with anticipation. Desperately wanting to discourage myself from reaching in, I fail to convince myself that I wouldn’t eat the peanut kind or the new kind with the pretzel that’s hidden away inside – I simply love me some M&M’s – who cares what’s beneath that candy shell! Then again, the main issue is that the candy resides on the back of a toilet. Did you know that it is suggested to flush a toilet only when the lid is down? Nobody does that, but they should. Granted, I’m not in the bathroom too often with company, but I see enough of the laziness in the men’s room when the hands washing routine is skipped. Ugh, this brings us to another source of contamination. Not only do the candy delights receive an excrement spray treatment from the flushing toilet, there’s also the unwashed, urine tainted hands that dig into the colorful candy dish to contend with. Pic or it didn’t happen:
You’d think with all the excessive decorating that my clients would have purchased the holiday green & red M&M’s. Nope, instead they bought the traditionally colored . . . almond ones. 🙂 The almond ones are my favorite.
This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!
Christmas cookies and coffee – nothing beats it especially for breakfast. Around the holidays I’m not shy with my eating either. I’ll have 2 cookies. Nope – I’ll take 8. Tell you what – let’s go double digits.
You know why I can do this? I’ve got an exercise routine. I also have changed my thoughts on the monthly 3 Day Fast. I did it this past year for the body reset and I believe it did help with allergies. I took a whole lot less Claritin for the year. BUT – every month, my weight lowered some. Currently, I’m at the weight that I want to be. I call it my Jiu-Jitsu weight – I’m so ready for that again. BJJ – I’m looking at you!
Anyway – with the new year. Weight loss is a common New Year’s Resolution. The problem is that you won’t weigh what you want on January 3rd, which will be the most crowded day at gyms all across the land. It takes time – throughout the whole year. Set monthly goals.
I ran – #363 of 5K runs. Only 3 more for the goal to be hit!
Violet ears are pierced
Lost John Madden and Harry Reid
Life is short / Remember, you won’t find the time, you need to MAKE the time.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Forget about outcomes. Focus on making a little progress every day.” – by Ryan Holiday
This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!
Yesterday, was my 1st day full day without Christmas music in a while – amazing what’s out there and what you forget. It’s like finding new favorite bands all over again.
I ran #362.
Listening to the Chase Jarvis podcast who had on James Altucher. His daughter (Altucher’s) was having difficulty getting into schools (colleges). He convinced her to take a year off and try other things. She took up lessons for racing and, in turn, became a professional racer. Now – she had something else to add to that application. When she reapplied, she got into every school.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Don’t just be better, be different” – many different versions of this quote out there, but I’m giving credit to Chase Jarvis.
A lot of people are already talking about how 2022 is going to be a continuation of 2020 like 2021. For me, I felt good about 2021, because I made it feel good. I didn’t allow it to get the best of me. I got the best of it. That’s how I’m going to attack 2022. Bring it.
Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I love ritual and repetition. Without them, I would be a balloon with a slow leak.” – by Anne Lamott (quotes via Twitter)
This is the scribble that leads to the babble. Sometimes it gets tidied up, but sometimes . . . not so much. When all else fails – go watch the video!
How’s everybody doing? The day after a big holiday like Christmas – one can be tired, still celebrating, but even depressed. Check up on everyone.
I have not been drinking enough water. Feeling it.
Fun fact – I have had my teeth brushed prior to every Morning Babble.
As of those typing, the run hasn’t happened yet, but it will be #360 of the 5K runs – today is the day that I’ll surpass 3,106 miles on the Nike App and reach the Black Run Level. For the year, I’ll be surpassing 1,200 miles.
The prize was a hardcover book from David Chang – Eat A Peach (A Memoir) For every Tweet on Twitter, Like on Instagram, and Share on Facebook – that’s up to 3 entries each day. Plus, if you haven’t signed up for the newsletter, you can get an extra 5 entries AND another 5 entries for subscribing on YouTube. Spread the Babble. Deadline for entries was yesterday. Winner announcement was done today on the video: twice!
Spread the Babble enough and I’ll give away some more!
