How To Lose 44 Lbs. Without Really Trying

         I am amazed and delighted with how well my weight loss plan worked. It seems that the combination of cutting calories(under 1500 a day), no soda, no late night binging, a lot of green tea and water, taking CLA Tonalin pills(available at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, etc.)some treadmill work and a lot of walking has helped me trim down from 230 to 186 currently. It does seem like a lot of steps, but when you consider that I did not do any working out in a gym and I never really skipped a meal and I did occasionally cheat a bit with Taco Bell and Wendy's and Domino's Pizza(because I work there), I am proud of what I accomplished here. I did do about 50 push ups and sit ups everyday and they did get easier as I lost weight.
         In case you're wondering, the CLA Tonalin pills are healthy and they do an awesome job of burning belly fat. I had a real beer gut for many years, and though it's not completely gone, it is quite diminished. I did also try Hydroxycut but I heard about way too many health issues with them to continue. They are very bad for the liver and heart. I don't just want to be a skinny corpse.
       The main thing is, I feel better about myself. I don't look in the mirror and say that I'm a fat bastard anymore, I say that I'm alright, though I will focus on hitting the gym soon and "pump it up".Whatever gets the ladies to notice me..........

The Roller Coaster Ride Continues......

Since I last posted, things have really been up and down. I'm not sure where to begin, therefore I will just spit out what's happened and what I hope happens in the near future.
        First, about two weeks ago, I started totally freaking out, because I couldn't land any job and my bills started to feel overwhelming. That's why I posted some crazy stuff and then deleted it.Once again, my apology if I caused any of my readers to worry about me. Everything is quite a bit better since then. What happened to change things? Well, first I was called the next day for a job. It's not exactly a tremendous career move, delivering pizza for Domino's, but it's an insanely busy store. I averaged $17.50 per hour for last week. That's not too shabby. Next, I went to see a room in an apartment in Stuy Town and I liked it enough, and I guess the lady liked me enough for us to agree that I could be her roommate for at least three months, and possibly longer, at a very fair price, which she later lowered to an even better price. It will allow me to get myself established in Manhattan, and near the neighborhood that I grew up in.
       This snowstorm has been awful, which my fellow New Yorkers know all too well. It's unbelievable that there are side streets that no cars can pass through, three days after the snow stopped falling. The city dropped the ball on this and the mayor's sucky attitude doesn't help. He has a limo drive him to his office every day and he really shows that he don't really care for the little people.That seems to be the way that all the government folks act towards us hard-working people..I'm sure there are some that do care, but it sure doesn't seem like it.
         I want to thank everyone that reads this and I want to wish all of you a wonderful 2011!

Homeward Bound

I'm sitting in the railway station. 
Got a ticket for my destination. 
On a tour of one-night stands my suitcase and guitar in hand. 
And ev'ry stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band. 
Homeward bound, 
I wish I was, 
Homeward bound, 
Home where my thought's escaping, 
Home where my music's playing, 
Home where my love lies waiting 
Silently for me. 
Ev'ry day's an endless stream 
Of cigarettes and magazines. 
And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories 
And ev'ry stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be, 
Homeward bound, 
I wish I was, 
Homeward bound, 
Home where my thought's escaping, 
Home where my music's playing, 
Home where my love lies waiting 
Silently for me. 

Tonight I'll sing my songs again, 
I'll play the game and pretend. 
But all my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity 
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me. 
Homeward bound, 
I wish I was, 
Homeward bound, 
Home where my thought's escaping, 
Home where my music's playing, 
Home where my love lies waiting 
Silently for me. 
Silently for me. 

The Prior Post

I deleted that post last night because it was wrong for me to say that you readers don't love me. I just get very frustrated with things sometimes and I may overreact some times........besides, Opie & Anthony keep getting rehired, why can't I??? I love you all....

My Plans/Resolutions For 2011

     Like most people out there, I usually spend the month of December hustling around, getting ready for the holidays. I'll make my gift list out and go shopping, though this year, I've had to curtail my generosity, due to having great difficulty finding a job. Besides the holiday madness, like most people, I'll reflect on where I am in my life and I'll think about how to improve things over the next year. I'd have to say that physically, I'm in better shape than this time last year. I'm 37 lbs. lighter than the fat blob I was. I still have a ways to go and I'd like to work on improving my physical strength but overall, I've made great progress in that area.
  I took a step back financially due to my employment difficulties but I do see a light at the end of this tunnel with the interviews coming up this week. Hopefully, I will land one of these jobs and in 2011, I'll be able to work on developing two other streams of income through my e-business that I'm working on and hopefully be able to get out there and do some karaoke or DJ gigs. Maybe sometime during the year I'll get through the hiring process for either a court officer or corrections position. There's a lot of potential for me out there and I just hope it works out.
   I would like also, to be able to move back to where I'm from, the East Village or somewhere close to there. Oceanside is not a bad location, with its proximity to Long Beach and it's under an hour to Manhattan, but for future employment opportunities, I feel that it's necessary to free up some of that travel time, especially if I have three or more different things going on. Also, with my weakness in terms of social skills(don't let my Facebook or party planning skills fool you) I feel the need to be around as many women as possible, and Manhattan is the best place for that. An issue related to that is, the need to maybe lower my romantic expectations ever so slightly. I know that I may be aiming a little too high in this area. Miss Perfect is not exactly beating down my door, but maybe if everything goes right for me in 2011, she might at least, send me an email or a poke.

The Facebook Numbers Game

This new idea, to write a message as a status update to someone who supplies a random number is interesting and fun, in my humble opinion. The only drawback will be a crowded newsfeed. What I'll do here is assign Facebook friend numbers to the friends that I want to write a short statement about. I obviously won't state who they are, but I think it would be interesting to see what I come up with:

#1 - A cool dude who thinks in a very similar way as I do. I wish I was as humorous as you.

#7 - I don't envy the tough life you have. I do wish I was your age again...

#9 - I know you forever and I really appreciate what you are trying to do for me. I owe you big time!

#10 - One of the reasons I am so grateful for Facebook. You may be my favorite Stuy alum of all!

#14 - I have always admired you lady! I'm very pleased with how you have turned out.

#19 - For you, I see an amazing future! Go get 'em!

#26 - I wish I had the chance to know you better at Stuy. We totally disagree politically and religiously, but I respect you so much!

#39 - The very first girl I ever liked in my life. I am so proud of how you have turned out!

#47 - Talent with a smile. As simple as that...

#52 - Probably the coolest and most beautiful lady to grow up in the East Village.

#86 - The same as #52 but 3 years older...

#117 - Give me back my Ipod!!

#120 - My favorite female classmate, freshman year at Stuy and I still think you're awesome!

#122 - Probably the most beautiful NY politician. Glad to be your friend.

#126 - Dude, if you keep your head together, the sky's the limit. I really mean that.

#140 - One of my best friends ever! I'm so glad that we are in touch again. I love you man!!

#143 - I'm grateful to you pal, even though I don't always show it.

#156 - I have only met you a few times, but I seriously dig you!  :)

#170 - The same with you as #156

#173 - Damn, I wish I had your job!

#180 - You know, somebody tried to fix me up with you! LOL

#187 - I still love the tattoo! Thank you!

#204 - I'm so happy that you've found the happiness you deserve. It gives me hope.

#221 - I dig you so much, but you're 2,000 miles away!

#227 - You are a special, supportive Stuy friend, and I appreciate it so much!

#231 - I only really had one year to get to know you but I think you are such a sweetheart!

#251 - You are so damn cool lady, and smart!

#275 - 20 years ago, I thought you were all that!!! LOL

#291 - One of my best friends at Stuy, glad I have a chance to pal with you again...

#299 - I never knew you at Stuy, but I admire you so much now. You're gonna win that Tony someday, i just know it!

#319 - Barely knew you at Stuy, but always admired your beauty! :)

#322 - I've known you 34 years, believe it or not, and I still value your friendship big time!

#332 - My FB Mama! I love ya!

#347 - We've been through a lot pal and I'm so glad I've known you!

#352 - The coolest Stuy chick I've known....

#357 - The first place I've ever worked. I hope you can stay open for many more years.

#367 - I love ya dad!

#372 - Another one of my oldest friends. I'm sorry we've drifted apart...

#383 - Boy did I dig you back at St. Stan's! LOL

#389 - Amazing beauty and amazing spirit, keep on rockin!!!

#410 - Such a cool chick, I've always admired you(and your sister!) LOL

#419 - My first teenage crush!! Boy does time fly...

Have fun trying to figure out who each one is. I will not admit it, unless you are this person......

Why The Heck Do I Enjoy Karaoke So Much??

  This is a question that I've been asked by several people who don't really get why such a "silly bar activity for drunks" has become such a big part of my existence.
    First, let me give you a little bit of my story. I was always a very shy guy that never wanted to do anything in front of any crowd of people. I would hesitate to get in front of a class in school to explain something on the blackboard. I would hardly ever lead conversations with people. I was very introverted, and in a lot of ways, I still am quite inhibited, though I have made great strides in recent years.The reason that I ended up being very interested in karaoke was an old girlfriend of mine, who was into karaoke, and she would sometimes drag me to a bar to do karaoke. She would try to convince me to go up and sing, and I would say, "No way! You have fun darling" and I would watch everybody sing. Well, one night, I had a few extra drinks and she was able to convince me to try one song. It was Elvis Presley's "The Wonder Of You". I guess I sounded ok, because a lot of people were clapping when I was done. That made me feel great and set off a light bulb in my head. From that point on, I enjoyed it more and more and soon, a weekend couldn't go by without me visiting a bar to sing. If the place didn't have karaoke, I wouldn't go there. I was now dragging my girlfriend to the bar, instead of the other way around. In her words, she had created a "monster"!! Within a year or so, my relationship with this lady ended, but I kept going to karaoke nights and after a year of it, I decided to buy my own DJ/Karaoke equipment and look for my own shows to host. I went to bars all over NYC and was able to book some shows. I also friended some of the other hosts and they gave me some valuable tips on how to be a good host. I also had the chance to fill-in for some of them from time to time. It was a wonderful time. At one point, I had shows 5 nights a week. The mistake I made was relying on it as my only income. By the time 9/11 had occurred and soon after that, it became a lot harder to book these gigs and some of the crowd that was coming had disappeared. Without a big following, it was harder to command the same pay for these gigs and I basically went back to working for other hosts, who had bigger followings. Nowadays, I just grab whatever bookings I can get and I do karaoke more for just fun.
    To answer the title of this post, I just like singing my favorite songs and I don't really care what people think of my singing voice. I think I sound ok, as long as I sing songs that are in my range. Over 12 years, I've been able to figure out what songs are better for me to do. It's helped me to be out with people more and some of the friends I've made through this activity have been well worth it.

All The Time

All the time I thought there's only me
Crazy in a way that no one else could be
I would have given everything I own
If someone would have said "you're not alone"

All the time I thought that I was wrong
Wanting to believe but needing to belong
If I'd've just believed in all I had
If someone would have said "you're not so bad"


All the time, all the wasted time
All the years waiting for a sign
To think I had it all
All the time


All the time I thought there's only me
Crazy in a way that no one else could be
I can't believe that you were somewhere, too
Thinking all the time there's only you



All the time, all the wasted time
All the years waiting for a sign
To think I had it all
All the time