YouTubed

As of this posting the video tribute to me has only received 4 views.

Snow end in sight

I guess we're waiting for spring.

Wasting away

I'm down another 4.8 lbs. I got another star at the meeting tonite (we didn't really attend the meeting. We weighed in and left) I was kind of freaked out that the woman wanted to give me a name tag. Then again I could've given her an awesome name like "Chubby McBurger" or "Gary Gastric."

After the meeting we went to Olive Garden - for soup and salad. Only when I got home I learned the pasta fagioli was 12 points a bowl and I had 2!!! Thank goodness I get a lot of points. And then we bought a pie - not for us, mind you.

More press

Here's a write-up for an award I'm receiving tonight.

Here's the tribute the guys at work created for me.

And here's a blog entry about the video.

No clean-up yet.

Also fake spiderwebs (that we assumed were just Halloween decorations) are still on the bushes in the front yard.

You can call me "Slim"

Mariella and I started doing Weight Watchers last week. The meetings were a bit strange at first. Sort of like an overzealous church group meeting but instead of God we were talking about weight loss. My natural sarcasm sense kept tingling through the whole meeting. Our leader, Carl, has been a member for 35 years and has lost 200 pounds. But by the end of the first meeting I really kind of enjoyed the chubby camraderie.

It really seems that I'm eating more than I did before because I have to keep track of everything including portion size. I get way more "points" than Mariella, so I'm always looking for something to eat. But apparently it works as I dropped 6 lbs. the first week. Which is awesome. I'm kind of disappointed that we have to go to a different meeting next week because I have an awards reception to go to.

Very specific

Apparently, the Parmatown Giant Eagle was tired of customers constantly being unable to find the gerbil food.

Another Marc's find

Creepy on many levels.

Creepy

I own an old house in Toledo that we're rehabbing in order to sell. It's a duplex that was built in 1925. I had some radiators burst a couple of years ago and we've been working on the house ever since. So I was up there by myself from Thursday evening through Saturday morning doing some work. I was sanding and restaining some woodwork where there was previously one of the original radiators. I found a scrap of paper between the wall and molding.

I didn't think much of it. Until a little further down the wall I found this one:

Now, I'm not easily spooked. I've spent two nights inside a haunted prison. Macho man, blah, blah, blah. But when I found myself in this old house by myself my mind can run a little wild - and I started thinking that the noise of the sander is disturbing the spirit realm. I'm not even sure I believe in ghosts but this freaked me out a bit. But I really needed to get this stuff done. So I figured that I have Dad on my side in any supernatural, paranormal battle royale.

I kept sanding and came across these:

It seems I was just cleaning up after some kid who's probably now approaching retirement.

Baby found in van down by the river

Tempting fate

The highs and lows of my sister Karen.

A closer (but still messy) look

A dramatic improvement.

Not really.

Cap'n Chloe

Arrrrrrr, i'm an annoying pirate

Blubbering

Last Wednesday night, Mom and I went to a dinner honoring Dad. He was inducted into the Cleveland CYO hall of fame. It was a nice evening (though a bit long. It started at 6:00. We didn't get home until 10.) The recipients were all invited to say a few words after their induction. Mom wrote something and said that if she couldn't finish it I would have to. I said that was fine. I used to be terrified of speaking to large groups. Ad Fed cured me of that. Now I kind of enjoy it. Believe it or not I like an audience. Anyways. Terry Flanagan introduced Dad and said a ton of great things about him and I lost it. I struggled to hold back tears without much luck. Mom got up there and read her piece as though it was nothing while I held the plaque whimpering. I'm glad she kept it together because I sure didn't. I didn't really expect that rush of emotion. It was pride and sadness. I still miss him everyday. Many of the other inductees came over and shared stories about dad. I'm still amazed at how many lives he touched. I'm also continually amazed at how mom rises to every occasion.

The Eagle has Landed a hundred bucks

I won the "best effort" category at work. The prize was $100. That was the prize in every category. They gave best of show to two girls that dressed up as two women from the movie "best of show."

I don't really care but unoriginal Halloween costumes really steam my beans. It's not creative if it's someone else's creation. I don't think it's creative if you're dressing up as someone else's creation. Every year someone dresses up like a SNL actor or something. I don't think it's amusing or clever. Just like you're not funny (or funnier) if you can quote lines from Austin Powers or whatever the crappy comedy of the moment is.

Neighbor's yard - as awesome as ever

The neighbor's backyard is just as awesome as ever. Fortunately, they put up some Halloween decorations in the front so now the whole yard resembles a hellhole.

More eagle awesomeness

You can see my entry here.

And here are some additional shots:

Suitable for framing

Eagles are Awesome!

And so is my halloween costume. In case you can't figure it out, I'm a bald eagle

It's for this contest.