The obligatory "catching up" post

It truly shocked me to see that I had not blogged since December 2010 (and that wasn't a real entry).  I blame Facebook.

Since my last real post, several things have happened.

Most importantly, my fifth daughter, Claire, was born in December 2010.

For those who followed my posts about marathon training, you should be pleased to learn that I did, indeed, complete the 2010 Dallas White Rock Marathon.  I also completed the 2011 Rock and the 2012 OKC Memorial Marathon.  I am currently training for the 2012 NYC ING Marathon in November.

I lost my job at the Dallas DA's Office at the end of 2010 and spent a few months trying to find a new job before deciding to open my own solo law practice.

My weight loss journey started back up again last fall.  During marathon training in 2010, I had lost 20 pounds.  When I took a few months off before kicking it back up in 2011, I had gained 10 of that back.  I thought I would be able to lose that 10 again just as easily as I had the year before, but it was not to be.  In fact, over the first 3 1/2 months of training last year, I gained 3 pounds to get back up to 250.  In September, I downloaded the MyFitnessPal app for my phone and started tracking my daily caloric intake and burn.  I got down as low as 193 in April.  Right now, I'm back up a little because I haven't been as diligent as I need to be.

So, what inspired my return to this corner of the blogosphere?  I was a Delegate to the 2012 Texas Republican Convention last week.  Although I am not particularly thrilled with who wound up as the GOP Presidential nominee this year (sorry to my Ron Paul supporting friends, it really is a done deal at this point), the convention (as tiring as it was) renewed my enthusiasm for politics.  Thus, you can expect a decidedly political focus going forward.  That's not to say that I won't mention other things, but politics will be the primary subject.

Long, Strange Trip

I can't explain why I haven't updated here since April. Let's blame it on Facebook.

Life has been through many twists and turns over the past 9 months.

To keep it short:

Work is still work.

I won an acting award for my performance in Suessical: the Musical as Best Actor in a Featured Role at the Awards Gala for Kaufman County Civic Theatre.

I decided to run for District Attorney in my county, and then at the last minute I had to drop out because of a work-related issue.

As a result of my candidacy, I missed an opportunity to appear on "Jeopardy!" I can only hope that now that I'm no longer a candidate, they will give me another shot. This is only the latest installment in this saga. You can read a brief account of my Jeopardy! Tale of Woe.

I've gained a little weight, but not so much that it's depressing.

I don't do New Year's Resolutions, but I have decided to get in shape and prepare to Run the Rock in December 2010.

Back in Pain

I have a spot between my left shoulder blade and my spine that hurts on occasion. It feels like the muscle are completely knotted up. the past few days have been one of the painful occurrences. I think I am in serious need of a massage. If that doesn't take care of it, I may have to break down and go to a chiropractor.

Sic 'Em Bears

I went to the Dallas unofficial Baylor watching location for tonight's National Invitational Tournament's semi-final game with San Diego State University.

Ran into an old college fraternity brother, and thoroughly enjoyed watching the game with dozens of fellow Baylor Alums.

It's a Wonderful Life

Not just the title of my favorite movie, the heading of this post is pretty much true for me, as well. I have been blessed by God with a loving, supportive wife and four beautiful and smart daughters. My parents did a great job raising me and my brother and sister. My siblings are genuinely nice people who are always willing to listen and lend whatever support they can.

Unlike George Bailey, I wouldn't want to know how the world might have been different had I never been born, but more importantly, I wouldn't want to know how my life would have been different if any of the important people in my life hadn't come along.

Short Update

I'm still out here. Life has been hectic since November. No excuse for not at least posting a little now and then.

Work is work.

Family is fine.

Life is good.

I'll post more later after I get home from rehearsal.

What's Going On?

I've been on a blog hiatus for a little while. No more.

We took a vacation to Half Moon Lake in Michigan a couple of weeks ago. Despite having no air conditioning in the lake house and no hot water the first night, it was an enjoyable time. I read 2 1/2 books and did very little else.

At work, there are some issues that have cropped up in the past week and a half, but I don't like to blog about work things, so lets just leave it at: I could use your prayers.

I'm rapidly approaching my 40th Birthday. If you haven't received an invitation to the party (some went out in the mail, some via Evite) and feel like you should, let me know. I tried to think of everybody, but I'm sure I inadvertently omitted some folks.

Fast, Effective Weight Loss Plan

Want to lose 5 pounds overnight? Get a stomach virus like I did yesterday.

I'm feeling better already, but I was miserable from about 9:00 last night until I fell asleep at 11:30 this morning and slept for 5 hours. My stomach still isn't completely right, but I'm pretty sure the worst is over.

Daylight Saving Time

Am I the only one who doesn't like Daylight Saving Time? There is just something wholly unnatural about having to get out of bed before the sun has come up.

Johari Window

I created my own Johari Window personality assessment. You can contribute to it here. Or you can get your own Johari Window

Arena (known to self and others) confident, intelligent, observant, witty

Blind Spot (known only to others) complex, dependable, idealistic, independent, religious, trustworthy

Façade (known only to self) friendly, self-assertive

Unknown (known to nobody) able, accepting, adaptable, bold, brave, calm, caring, cheerful, clever, dignified, energetic, extroverted, giving, happy, helpful, ingenious, introverted, kind, knowledgeable, logical, loving, mature, modest, nervous, organised, patient, powerful, proud, quiet, reflective, relaxed, responsive, searching, self-conscious, sensible, sentimental, shy, silly, spontaneous, sympathetic, tense, warm, wise

Dominant Traits

100% of people agree that TheCalvinator is confident

All Percentages

able (0%) accepting (0%) adaptable (0%) bold (0%) brave (0%) calm (0%) caring (0%) cheerful (0%) clever (0%) complex (50%) confident (100%) dependable (50%) dignified (0%) energetic (0%) extroverted (0%) friendly (0%) giving (0%) happy (0%) helpful (0%) idealistic (50%) independent (50%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (50%) introverted (0%) kind (0%) knowledgeable (0%) logical (0%) loving (0%) mature (0%) modest (0%) nervous (0%) observant (50%) organised (0%) patient (0%) powerful (0%) proud (0%) quiet (0%) reflective (0%) relaxed (0%) religious (50%) responsive (0%) searching (0%) self-assertive (0%) self-conscious (0%) sensible (0%) sentimental (0%) shy (0%) silly (0%) spontaneous (0%) sympathetic (0%) tense (0%) trustworthy (50%) warm (0%) wise (0%) witty (50%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 24.6.2008, using data from 2 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view TheCalvinator's full data.

Computer Issues

We had lost internet access at home a few days ago. We were sure it was a problem with our ISP, but it turns out our Ethernet port was dead. Unlike some computers, the iMac does not have a swapable ethernet card. To replace it would require replacing the entire logic board. Instead, I decided to get an Apple Airport Express base. Once I opened it up and plugged it in, we had internet access in about 30 seconds. Also, if we ever invest in newer computers for the calvinatorettes or Macbooks for me or Mrs. Calvinator, we can access the internet on all of them through the wireless hub.

For those who haven't seen

Here's a picture of my newish tattoo.

I got it in celebration of my 39th Birthday.



Creideamh = Faith
Grá = Love
Dóchas = Hope

UPDATE: In response to my brother's suggestion, I will reveal that the tattoo is on my upper left arm and shoulder area.

My Car is Mine

We made the final payment on my '02 Olds Intrigue late last month. The Title arrived in the mail today. After five years, and over 100,000 miles, I own the sucker free and clear. It hasn't been the most trouble-free car in the world, but overall, it hasn't been too bad. It will be nice not to have that $300+ car payment every month.

Something to Ponder

Does buying a Sport Bike turn people stupid, or do only stupid people buy Sport Bikes?

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

I awoke at 3:20 a.m. this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, so I went ahead and got out of bed at 4:00, got ready, and came on in to work.  I got to the office at 6:15.  Still dark.

I figure that I'll be "crashing" by 10:00 this morning, but for right now, I seem to be doing okay.

It is, however, already time for a 20 oz. Diet Dr Pepper. 

Here I Am Again, Fellas

Up way too late when I have to be in Court in the morning (I can't think of those words without thinking of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park. Speaking of Neil Simon, I'm directing Brighton Beach Memoirs at KCCT. Rehearsals don't start until August 27th. Thankfully, I have been able to cast the entire show. Now, I want to make sure we promote the heck out of it because its a great show that I think people will enjoy, and it would be a shame if we only average audiences of 20.

Toddler Logic

Tonight after dinner, I had a Philly Swirl, Reduced Fat Sugar-Free Fudge & Chocolate bar. My daughters asked if they could have one, but we don't let them have things with artificial sweeteners, so I said, "They're only for grown-ups. Calvinatorette IV, our almost 3 year old, said "Can I be a grown-up?"

Worst Blogger Ever

That'd be me. I think of things I want to say, and then when I get to the computer, I forget them.

Bowling for Dollars

Not for me.

For Big Brothers/Big Sisters. If you would like to donate, you can click the link below and sponsor my pathetic attempts to knock down pins with a 16 pound ball (or maybe a 14 pound ball).

Sponsorship Page

UPDATE: I edited the sponsorship link, and hopefully it will work this time.

July 4th

If you are in the vicinity of Terrell tomorrow, please come to the park for the July 4th celebration.  I will be doing some narration along with the North East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and I will be leading the crowd in a sing-along during one of the numbers.  The orchestra is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m.  Let's hope the rain clears out and allows us to perform.

Fireworks are at about 9:15 p.m., weather permitting.