Natale allegro!

That's right. Merry Christmas! (That's Merry Christmas in Italian, by the way).

Officially one week from yesterday is Christmas day. Of course, Christmas just isn't the same without family, but still looking forward to it. Compared to our last Christmas, this one is going to be great for us.

Last Christmas we were in the middle of packing and moving our stuff to Peoria. So, we didn't have time to decorate or set up the tree. We had a 4 inch plastic tree as our Christmas tree. It was pretty sad. It was like 70 degrees that day too. It wasn't Christmas.

Anyway, this year we have the apartment decorated and we have done lots of shopping. We're eager to give each other (and Wegman too) our gifts and spend the day together. It will be nice. But what's even nicer is knowing its our last year away from family. Next year we'll celebrate with family back home.

I finished shopping for Elaine last night. I still have a few little stocking stuffers to grab but other than that, she's done. Whew. Now I have to wrap them all. And I'm not looking forward to that.

I hope someone gets me some Tim Hortons coffee this year. Because if not, I might have a heart attack without it. Sure, I'll enjoy some fine Tim Horton's grounds very soon... but I'd like to get a nice big can so I can enjoy it every morning. However, we all know it's just not the same as getting it at an actual Tim's.

Ok - need to go to work now. Enjoy the last week before the big day!

Stand America Music Video

I was involved in a musical project back in Buffalo after the terrorist attacks in 2001. This song was written and recorded by a bunch of WNY musicians (across all genres) and I was involved. I represented "Invention Seven" in this song.

I uploaded the music video of this track. It got radio airplay all over the country. Do you remember hearing it?

You can see me in the back row against the right wall during the chorus shots. Alot of "star" WNY musicians were also part of this, and it was cool meeting people I didn't previously meet before. The impeccable Lance Diamond, Scott Celani, Billy McEwen and more were part of this.

Enjoy!

Cardinals / Seahawks

I'm not a huge Arizona Cardinals fan. However, since living here for almost two years, I've grown to be behind them and hope they win. My blood still runs Red White and Blue for the Buffalo Bills, but I also root for San Diego Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals.

I got a phone call yesterday from my Boss, and he had a spare ticket fo the Cards/Seahawks game. I was stoked. I met him nearby and we proceeded to the brand new Cardinals Stadium, as it is now named "University of Phoenix Stadium".

The place was fricken unbelievable. The home of the 2008 Super Bowl is one of the sweetest arenas I've ever been in. In fact, it may be the sweetest. The stadium holds like 65000 people, and I swore every seat in the place was taken. And the sad thing is, almost 1/3 of the fans there were Seahawks fans. It got VERY loud.

Anyway, here are some pics of yesterdays game, taken from my cell phone (sorry for the quality)

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Bored on a Saturday afternoon

Ok, I was bored.

Our wacko cat, Wegman

I haven't posted about our crazy cat Wegman (or Schweggs as we like to call him) but he was just too silly today. Elaine was folding laundry this morning and the cat decided to get into the hamper. He loves climbing into things.

Enjoy!

Energy with no carbs!

FINALLY! A no-carb energy drink that I LOVE VERY MUCH! I have been drinking the sugar-free Rockstars, but this is even better! PLUS THEY DOUBLED THE CAFFEINE! 240mg of caffeine in the entire can.

Plus it has a great taste! You should check it out if you're watching your carb intake and want a boost.

Feeling real good lately

I've been feeling extremely good lately. Being a Type II diabetic is not always fun. Haha, so it's never fun. The only 'fun' part of being diabetic is knowing that I'm probably feeling actually better than a lot of people.

Luckily for me, I do not have any complications (as far as I know) so far. My sugar levels have been real good and I've been losing weight. I've been working out quite regularly and eating extremely well. I cheated and had a beer the other night, however. But, everyone knows me and my love for beer. I gotta have it once in awhile. But I don't even come close to drinking what I used to. I used to go through easily a 12-pack every week or week in a half. I know go through a 6-pack every 3 months if lucky.

Anyway, it's amazing what working out does to you. Now that I'm a bit leaner than I use to be, it's alot easier to work out. Back in Lancaster, NY... I joined a gym for 6 months and hardly went. I didn't like to work out at all. It was a pain in my ass. I forced myself once in a while. But that's hardly working out.

Now I force myself to get up just about every day at 6 am and I walk over to the workout center here at the complex. I usually put in a 40-50 minute workout, mostly aerobic and some weights. If I don't feel like getting up that day, I usually go over after work.

Now, mind you, I'm still a big guy. I have a looong way to go to meet my goal. I should be putting in more hours at the gym but right now I'm not. Anyway, my total weight loss, since last summer is 40 lbs. It's not that much, but significant. I have lost 13lbs however since my wedding.

Here's a before picture of me in Lancaster:


And here's me today. (I don't know why I'm not looking at the camera.) I'm not showing my body (it's just too bootylicious) but I can tell you this, that I can't wear any of my old button down shirts anymore because I'm swimming in them. Plus, I'm fitting into smaller pants! YAY! I'll keep chugging along, and hopefully by next summer I'll be at my goal, or hopefully almost there!