First off, sorry about the negative post yesterday. It's just so desperately sad when someone leaves life, let alone leaving it that way.
Secondly today was a good news day as Roo got a good report on a health issue that was worrying us a lot....enough said...
Several years ago when we bought our house on Crescent Ave one of the first things we did was have a concrete driveway put in. I knew the guys that were doing the work and trusted them quite well. Regardless I was quite specific about how I wanted everything done, where I wanted the slope for water runoff, etc. The night before they poured the concrete they had all the forms up and lines stretched to keep everything flat and appropriately sloped. I was tempted to go out there with my level and check it all out prior to the concrete arriving, but I resisted. After all these guys were professionals with a very good reputation. For years I regreted my non-action that day because with the very first rain it was quickly apparent that there was a low spot where the water was never going to drain away. We had paid $5000 for this work and I was frustrated. It's probably not necesaary to tell you that it was minor enough that no one else even noticed, but for me it was almost a perfect driveway with a very ugly puddle! Anyway it nagged at me with every rain, to the point that I realized I would have to change my attitude or have the driveway removed and done again. Since this wasn't reasonable I decided to acknowledege that having a non-perfect driveway was probably good help in curbing my perfectionist attitude. It could help keep me humble. After that I was ok with it.
So why tell you my puddle story? Because it was an important learning for me that has come back to me now and been useful again. The puddle lesson of 10 years ago, allows me today to be grateful for my head! Soon I will have an almost perfect body with a very ugly head. I really am taking great satisfaction in my improved physique. I am actually getting muscles that I have never had before and when I look in the mirror. It would be easy to get cocky if not for my head....thank goodness.
It occurs to me that the puddle that I found so ugly, would have been loved by my grandchildern and I'm pretty sure that they're not too repulsed by my head either.
Anyway, enough of that nonsense. I had a good workout today. I did my hills as promised and also as promised I hated them. I stepped it up to a new level however by doing 12 and at a slightly quicker pace than previous. Not just up the hill but my downs were quicker as well which is a very positive indicator of fitness. It means I'm recovering quicker. I think the single most important workout I do is running hills, as it builds both muscle strength and cardiovascukar fitness in a big way. I also went to the pool tonite but without my swim bag, and so I turned around and came home.
If this Ironman and the required training seems crazy to you how about this...they also have something called Ultraman Canada. It is a 3 day event that is comprised of a 10 km swim!!!, combined with a 145 km ride on day one, an easy 274 km ride on day two and then finally a gentle 85 km run on day 3. Can you freakin imagine? The winning time this past year was just under 25 hours.
I wish to dedicate day 84 to my wife Claudette, because she is more precious to me than my ability to express it allows.
“My psychiatrist told me I was crazy and I said I want a second opinion. He said okay, you're ugly too."---Rodney Dangerfield
“Beauty is but skin deep, ugly lies to the bone; Beauty dies and fades away, but ugly holds its own."---Anon
love
peter
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8 comments:
When I met you, I fell in love with your wittiness, charm, sensitivity, strength, intelligence and then your head; you did not have the hard core body you have now. I never loved you less at your heaviest, and I love you the same at your fittest.
You are a good looking man with many great attributes.
love you forever
xx00
OK I am really frustrated with trying to post comments with the new format - everytime I get something really good though out and written I manage to lose it before it posts. I'm trying again with this tirade and if that doesn't work I will email an official complaint directly to you. If it works maybe you can tell me what I'm doing wrong??!!
OK now I will try to rewrite my original comment = it went something like this.
Man would I love to hear someone say that to me just once before I die. How can you perceive ugliness in something as loved as your old grey withered flabby-necked head. You are unable to see the forest for the trees you idiot. There is beauty in flab, and great beauty in the manifestations of aging such as wrinkles, greying, hearing aids and glasses. Just because you're able to turn back the clock a bit from the neck down doesn't mean you should be so short sighted about the appeal of the rest of it. As you said, its all in your attitude and your perception.
your mirror is broken, Peter, you are a handsome man. You need to hit "finish" instead of "enter", Cory, I think that's the only difference, which I discovered after several lost posts...
Cory...it is different when it comes to posting comments and yes it can be frustrated when you are not sure what to do, and you lose your post, but this is good for your brain
I just finished reading the book, The brain that changes itself and it explains the new science of neuroplasticity and basically it is rewiring the brain to do something it was used to doing one way. This helps rejuvenate our aging brains.
Pete is talking about changing the way you comment again, so get ready to work those new neuron pathways again!!!
love you all!!!!
This is really a reply to Cory directly, but I think it is important enough to put here so everyone can see.
Just like the rest of us, I think you need to take some of your own advice too.
I love you more than i can possibly describe. Any small perceived imperfections are FAR outweighed by your incredible beauty, charm, sensitivity, caring, wit, intelligence, strength, and oh did I mention Beauty? I could go on and on here, but I know that everyone reading this is nodding their head in agreement as they read this. I know of no one who has ever spent any time with you who would argue any of these points. Your incredible power and strength remind all of your siblings of our parents, and BEAUTY is only the first word I use to describe you.
Love Old John
Thank you my Dear Old John
I don't know why it is that all of us see ourselves so differently than we see each other. Maybe it's to keep us humble. I do know however, how fortunate I feel to have the love and support of all my family; both my family of origin and all the families that have become a part of mine through marriage. I am truly blessed for without the love I get from all of you I probably would be both "crazy and ugly". But alas; I know I am neither nor are you Peter. I love you. Mary
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