lama_fats

Enough

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:13:26 GMT

so when is enough really enough. so many of us are tired of scraping by. just making the rent. just paying the bills (sometimes a day, or a week, or a month late). just keeping food on the table. just getting by. so its not really that hard for us. the utilities dont turn off. noone bombs my neighboorhood. theres food in the store if i can find the money for it. I have plenty of all of the above. i have no children to feed. i have no loved ones to support. just me, and i require little. so when do i have enough? when does my consumer diet start? do i measure my portions? my tv is big enough, i dont need a new one. sure that bigger faster newer shinier one is ON SALE, CLEARANCE even. so that i can trade the sweat from my brow, for the sweat from anothers (well not so much a fair trade, more like a 90/10 split the guy who did the sweating probably makes 1/10th of what i do).

so the onus falls on me. i have to say "i have enough. i am content." Who among us is going to be the first to say "sure ive been here x years, but this time i Dont need a raise." What company is willing to say "Ok you turned down a raise so well create another job". When do we start the long slow crawl back into the positive and who is willing to make the personal sacrifice to start it?

Everyone wants to make a million dollars a year, but so many of us are scraping by not quite clearing 20k or less. sometimes more. sometimes none at all, lately. for every person who makes a million though 50 of us are out of a job. we Must ask ourselves, is it worth it, for my dream of consumerism to put 50 people i dont know out of a living? how many backs must i bruise to be truly happy?

So i've decided to stand alone or lead the charge, or just be some idiot out there in left field. Whatever you want to call it. Im content with what i have. Im not accepting any raises. Im not buy new things that i already have. Im working harder to do those little things that make the world better around me. Enough Is Enough, for me.

Who's with me?

Living on condiments (aka How to get by and fat doing it)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:00:17 GMT

     This has been a long time coming. A lot of people will laugh and say that the knowledge i try to impart here is common, or that the methods are cheap or pointless. I'm ok with that. My methods ARE cheap and the knowledge is common sense. But common sense isnt so common, and everyone can use a helping hand. If you already know of these things feel free to pay no mind. If you dont you may find a treasure trove of helpful fridge stocking and wallet fattening tips.

     First off, yes im cheap. The things ill ask you to do will garner you some odd looks and even some dirty looks by some shop owners. But if youre interested in living cheap, dirty looks are free. The things i suggest arent dumpster diving, theres plenty of guides on that. My suggestions are just ways to shave a little here and there.

    First off lets start with condiments. Condiments are your friends, and your bread and butter. Any condiments that are left out are fair game. They stock your fridge, and flavor your food, enough ketchup packets and you can make spagetti. Mayo packets and a can of 33 cent tuna makes you tuna salad (use relish packets to add sweetness and texture, and so on... ) . Keep your eye out for non-standard condiments; taco seasonings, salsa, ranch, and so on. When you look at condiments look at the cost versus the cost it would be to obtain it otherwise. You like bacon bits? Get a to go box at anywhere with a salad bar and fill up the to go box with nothing but bacon bits (or sunflower seeds or whatever). If the salad bar is 3.99, and a bottle of bacon bits is 3.00 then getting 5 bottles worth for 3.99 is a good deal right? Sure the cashier is gonna look at you funny, but you just got 15 bucks worth of bacon bits for 3.99. This applies for everything. Salad bars are your friends, and you are thier worst enemy.

      Salad bars, one of my personal favorites. They have cold cuts and you can LOAD up on cold cuts, cheeses, fruits, nuts, salad dressings (ask for a cup and fill it up, you paid for salad dressing they didnt say how much you could take), salsa whatever you can think of. Just make sure it pays for itself, in most cases you can save at least a few bucks. In some cases you can save a Lot.

Got to run but we'll follow with more, and feel free to contribute!!

The more ideas and suggestions we get here the happier and cheaper we can all live!

Kickin tires

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:43:00 GMT

Its been a long time since ive had much of anything to say. aside from the usual updates in new living arrangements and employments and such, Id rather expound on an old love that ive rediscovered. I realized that its been years (almost a decade) since i last treated myself right. Regular workouts and proper diet have been a stock joke for me. (theyll remain so but i guess i too must fall beneath the juggernaut of self improvement) So yes im back on a diet, last time i went on the diet i lost 45 pounds, this time im aiming for a mere 25-30. Of course Ive gained 3 pounds so far on the diet, but i blame that on my reacquaintance with an old flame. I missed that feel of explosive strength i had back when i was invincible. The fast healing and the confidence that no matter what was asked i could do it.I miss the fire in the veins. Im not sure if 10 years of sedentary lifestyle (and a diet that should have complications), and 15 years of smoking (also quit) have had an irreversible toll on my well being. But im Going to find out. Its hard when you start after sitting for a long time to not go for the old benchmarks, that urge drives you to want to put the bar one notch higher. You want to explode on the room, scream your defiance at the years that have been beating you down. Make the world know that I RISE. But The time isnt yet, for now we fill the tank, start the fire that will spread through the veins. Dust off the gauges and oil the hinges. Let the beast mummur as it wakes, theres plentty of time to roar. Start it up and cough and sputter, spit your blood and feel the years flake off your skin like an old shell, a self you can no longer stand to have a part of you. I can taste that metal bitterness telling me its the right choice.

Its time to kick the tires.

a long absence

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:53:38 GMT

i can be reached through im mon-friday 9-5 aim: chucknmidgets . sorry for being so out of touch.

The passing of the dude.

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:36:55 GMT

    Theres a fine line between good and evil. Some of us waver on either side, but never stray too far into one or the other. Some of us spend our time running from one extreme to the next. A rare few of us choose a side and stick to it. Today i mourn the passing of one who took the good side and never strayed.

    From the first day i met him, jumping at the chance to come home with me hes been the epitome of a good pet. Always quiet, patient , and unobtrusive. He never did beat the bars that held him in, but he never stopped trying.

    Today marks the passing of "The Dude". His passing looks to have been quick, most likely heart related due to a diet that would have felled a lesser creature in days. He was hands down the best pet ive even had the pleasure of living with. I will miss him dearly.

Busy busy busy

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:45:21 GMT

Kinda strange being calm when your life is flying around you like a tornado. If you havent caught the Monty Python show at the Acrosstown Repertory Theater youre missing out ! Its a good time :} Between working crazy hours and being at the theater and a change in my living location i havent seen much of anyone lately. Fraid thats gonna continue for a while, the moneys good, the theater demands attention (which i love anyway) and my girlfriend (yep) pretty much gets the rest. Drop me a line if you feel like hanging out, talking, or whatever.

I sit in the midst of the storm
I am not moved
I love the rain
The tears of the gods
I love the wind
The breath of the land
I love the thunder
Voice of the sky

voice of the sky
speak to me in your kind and godly voice
tell me what you see
from your seat in the clouds
point to beauty that i cannot see
with fingers of lightning

breath of the land
flow over me
inhale the hot dry air
and breathe over me
your cool moist refreshment
your scent so clean
like the scent of water

tears of the gods
purify me
wash away my thoughts
and leave in thier place
streams of cold
leave me fresh
and clean when they pass

I sit in the midst of the storm
I am not moved
I love the rain
The wind
And the thunder.

Bend over teachers

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:41:08 GMT

Its not often i say much on a polital vein. But I'm raising my voice about this. This is unadulterated, UNREPRESENTED, UNCONTROLLED TAXATION. On a group of people who are already unrepresented (due to a busted union). Its bad enough that teachers dont get paid well enough, but to add insult to injury is really too much.

http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=17757

What kills me the most about this whole thing is "The written agreement must be in place before the first day of the employee's service; otherwise, the deferred compensation is subject to a 20 percent excise tax charged to the employee." . This change in regulation was announced the DAY BEFORE most teachers go back to work. On a sunday! Jesus hopped up christ!

But amerika will take it with a grimace. Cause thats what we do.

When are we having the ten million man march on dc for tax reform?

Tadpoles and butterflies

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:32:47 GMT

Its always darkest when you have your eyes closed. Over the last week ive been tempted to think my world was a dark and depressing place. I fell into that, my fault. Shouldnt let things get to me like that. So while out for a walk today i finally saw the butterflies flocking around me. Thought i was noticing bubbles on the bottom of a puddle, but on a closer (and quite smiling) look it was a bunch of frog eggs. Lo and behold they were hatching before my eyes! Awesome! Now frogs arent MY favorite creatures, but im sure theyre someones. Which makes it really cool.
:}
Saw some pretty flowers. I was also reminded very strongly at how much i missed by driving by everything. The baby horses have shot up since i last saw them, and i got to say hi to my favorite indifferent horse (who never says hi back, but why should that stop me?).

On a side note today has been way too stressfull to be healthy, but ill cope.

Its hard to have a crappy outlook when your'e looking with the right kind of eyes.

Was that the best you had god ? (cause the butterflies and tadpoles were impressive ;P)

Sojourn

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 17:30:14 GMT

Its been a while since ive said much of anything to anyone. For those of you whove missed me, i apologize, for the rest of you.....What the hell man? thats cold! I assure you i had an amazing reason.

Aside from being breathtakingly hot shes an amazing person too. like you blame me :}

So after a few weeks of having my world tossed around, i return. I think the return journey started today while i was at Sam's club. For those of you who arent familiar with one of my loves in life: i enjoy finding ways to feed myself for pennies a day. Still eating well is the challenge.

Ive done it again !
While this wont beat Grits (the single cheapest food ive EVER found), I was walking through Sams and had a moment of mathmetical momentum strike my meager mind with the meaty force of a mac truck! So i bought 100 hot dogs for just under 10$ (10c a piece), the buns ran me 11c a piece. So for 42c i can have 2 hot dogs which is a (semi)decent meal. Plus whatever cost condiments run me (like im paying for condiments?!?!?!?! fuck that ill just walk up into a fast food place load up and walk out). MMmmmmmmmm.... Hot dogs. Lots and Lots of hot dogs.... im gonna be sooo sick of hot dogs..... but 50 meals for >14$.... cant beat it.

Cheesecake comas

Tue, 29 May 2007 00:35:37 GMT

Thank you to everyone who showed up and munched on cheesecake. It seems like a good time was had by all :}. It was my pleasure to have you all over.

So whats next? ideas? suggestions? someone had mentioned a make your own sushi type thing...... Im always open to new ideas :}. Bring em on.

Mon, 21 May 2007 05:10:41 GMT

spend long enough in a comfortable place and you forget what butterflies feel like.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheesecake challenge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tue, 15 May 2007 16:49:59 GMT

Due to an obvious bent towards cheesecake, the time has come to engage in a bit of indulgence.

MAY 26TH. THE COUNTRY OF FATKISTAN WILL BE HOSTING A CHEESECAKE EXTRAVAGANZA. There is no cost to come join in and eat cheesecake till you feel sick. Fatkistan simply requests that you bring something cheesecake related(cooking utensils, supplies, or just plain knowledge), and a willingness to gain a few pounds.Bring your best cheesecake recipes. (and whatever special ingredients you may require, or let me know prior so we can obtain em).

lucinda im asking for your help on this one, you is the cheesecake master :}. more details as more people reply.

LAMA COOKS !!!!!!!!!!

Sat, 12 May 2007 20:26:42 GMT

Ok, so for jesses birthday im baking. I DONT bake. i suck at baking. i can cook meat veggies and just about anything that doesnt take an oven. i hate baking.

sooooooooooo..........

im baking a 4 layer devils food (with milk choclate chip) cake with banannas foster filling (homemade), a layer of choclate and dark choclate filling, more banannas foster and a triple choclate fudge chip icing. (i may hate baking but dammit im gonna do it right).

yes i take requests, if you call and say fatten me, i will tell you what to buy, you bring it ill cook it :}. im still waiting for someone to request a mango cheesecake.

sweeet

Tue, 08 May 2007 15:22:57 GMT

say hi to my little brother folks :}
http://nopeace182.livejournal.com/

this is the perfect opportunity to get all kinds of background dirt, embarassing stories, or just plain wierd little facts on the lama. You may even meet a cool young guy in the process.

Give and take

Tue, 08 May 2007 03:49:53 GMT

give and take, push and pull, reign and release, give and take.

For years ive been trying to figure out where the middle ground is. When 2 people enter a relationship its often the way that one of them will pull the other away from thier particular group of friends. i think its more to do with the comfort level of the two together than much else (hopefully). but what bugs me is, why? i understand that when two social lives collide there will have to be some give, most people dont have half of thier time just sitting around waiting for someone else to fill. when two people join lives (bf/gf, husband/wife, friend/friend, whatever) something gives. in best case scenarios its only casual friendships and relationships that suffer. sometimes people seem to disappear from our lives without warning.

why, when removed from a casual friendship do we often not feel the need to so much as say goodbye? i dont think its that we dont respect the people weve known less well (i hope its not that), but it seems each of us draws a line somewhere in our head. we discriminate as to who is important enough to change our plans, to inconvience our partners, to go out of our way to stay in touch with.

How to reach a middle ground. how do you draw the line? is it fair to pull someone out of thier life to insert them into yours? tear them away from thier friends just because you want to spend time with them? is it fair to your friends to let someone tear you away from them? ive met quite a few successfull couples. just looking for a bit of input.

(pardon the rambling, out of focus post).

Not much to say

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:20:42 GMT

I look happy. Heck i had a great time that day.

Ever feel like a prizefighter between rounds? Tired and worked up, chomping at your bit. Ready to go back in swinging but held back by forces out of your control. People patting you on the back, rubbing your shoulders and giving you advice from every direction. But the bell just wont ring. Sure, stand up jump in place. Throw some punches in the air. Shake your head and wipe the sweat off your nose. And wait. Waiting with everyone in your corner. Ready to do battle with the unknown, but the unknown doesnt come. Theres nothing to battle, no challenge. Youre on familiar ground, and nothing rises to meet you. Its not some damned zen saying "There is no bell.", there actually isnt a bell. Its not going to ring, no matter how badly you want to get out into it.

Its hard to guide that. Turn that energy some direction where it wont hurt anything you look at, try to hug when all you want is to hit. How do you live in peace when you were given a sword instead of a plow ? When do you lean to turn your weapon into a tool? What is your outlet ?

Everyone needs some pressure relief valve, and i havent had one in a long time (5 years if i count right). I dont need to relax, i do that all the time. I dont need to blow off steam, i passed that a long time ago. I need to explode. I need a target. I need some challenge. I need that damn bell to ring.

And so, another fine day.

Up for grabs

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:56:22 GMT

1 free futon with matress. First to come and take it away gets it FREE!!!! (good condition, wooden armrests, blue matress)

Camping last call

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:14:09 GMT

please respond to this post if you plan on going camping this weekend, ill be calling folks to give details and directions tonight. :}

Details for camping

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:14:32 GMT

Where:http://funandsun.com/parks/GoldHead/goldhead.html

When: March 2,3,4

How much: You DONT pay to get in, tell the gate your with Brians party on campsite 67!

What to bring: Bring yo ass! bring canoes kayaks bikes hiking shoes binoculars kites volleyballs and whatever else floats your boat! (for a full list of stuff to do there http://www.reserveamerica.com/fl/Gold_Head_Branch_Sp/Campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?agency=FL&parkId=1032 )

Food: This is camping, bring whatever you think will sustain you. (or may be fun to burn over a fire as im SURE we will grill out at least once :} )

Please let us know by contacting myself or dewflink. Or Hell just show up without contacting us, fine, be that way.

Whos up for camping?

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:57:29 GMT

Details
Date: 1st weekend in march
Time: Starting friday evening, going through sunday afternoon (or however long or short you feel like hanging out for)
Place: Gold Head state park (http://funandsun.com/parks/GoldHead/goldhead.html)

More details to follow as we get closer!

EVERYONES INVITED!

If your tired of seeing concrete every time you look down and buildings everywhere you look then this is a great chance to get out. If you just want to hang out with some awesome folks and see the stars on a clear night, again an awesome chance! SMORES and fire roasted weenies will be on the menu (yes they have grills there). The place rents canoes (for those of us who swim like stones or wounded fish), theres biking hiking and all kinds of stuff to do (like the "lets toss someone in the lake" game). Or if tossing and lakes isnt your idea of fun im sure theres volleyball fishing and all manner of outdoorsy stuffs i havent thought of in years! Besides, camping is relaxing and letting off the excess tension of the holidays will be nice.

Buffet!

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:29:04 GMT

Im planning on destroying my diet on saturday by spending a few hours at Tony and Pats pizza with a few friends. Everyones invited! Come pig out on pizza and join me in saying "Were not gonna take it!" from the diet crowd for at least one day! (on a side note my diet is still kickin my butt and leavin my name) so, Whos in?

Wandering

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:45:50 GMT

I disappear. Mostly from club. I'll be talking to people, drinking and having a good time. Then I feel a need to retrace my footsteps. I was born in gainesville, gre up here. Have lived most of my life here. Thompson says "if you look west with the right kind of eyes", my west is here. Tonight i retraced my steps when i was 4. I wandered out of club and found myself on the top of the side stairway of the hippodrome. I remember looking out through those bars, holding one in each hand and pressing my face against thier cold steel and feeling so full of happyness. I had just seen a play, and my mother had taken me to it. The joy you can feel years after some moment of wonder like that, to feel if still swirling deep in your heart. Some little bit of goodness in the world. I stood up there and remembered the skyline before it was tall. Like me the town has grown. But sometimes i still see it with the right kind of eyes.

Memory does not change, only the way you see it.

Its cold.

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:46:28 GMT

This feels like cold. The cold i remember. A dry cold that reaches into your lungs and caresses you with cold fingers, numbing you from the inside out. Why didnt i feel the cold on my lips? As the wind flew by and moans in your ears of how its laughing at your clothes, your feeble attempts to keep your fading heat from it. Tying your clothes tighter and closer. That brittle feeling in the air, stillness you can hear. Any sound seems louder for the bounce off frozen earth and sky, but the beauty hidden in the cold i remember too. Rainbows everywhere. Hiding in icicles, shining in someones eyes reflecting off the snow. Dancing on thier face without thier knowledge. And in plain view. ringing a frozen moon, a rainbow without end on a cold clear night. Falling snow in darkness, the simple joy of watching a million stars falling at you in the glow of a street light. The cold clarity of a sky without water. All the clouds resting at your feet. I remember cold. Sometimes i almost miss it.

Looking away.

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:25:08 GMT

Ive discovered a remarkably bad habit that i exhibit far too often. If youve been in conversation with me and someone else has walked up and interrupted then youve seen me do it. I listen. I assume that interrupting my conversation someone Must have something important to say. I allow my focus to be pulled from the original conversation untill the interupter is done speaking then go back to my origional conversation. That actually bugs me. Why am i so easily distracted? So im asking for feedback, what is the best thing to do in that instance?
a.) Ignore the interrupter.
b.) politely carry on withe the interupter, then resume my conversation?
c.) give up on the conversation and walk away in disgust?

I ask because i dont know the "correct" way to handle that. and it does kind of get under my skin that i may be rude to folks without knowing it.

The ones you love

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:17:24 GMT

The ones you love hurt you the most. The sharpest jabs come from behind. Often unknowing, sometimes uncaring, and rarely purposefull. How many times have we opened up to someone only to be rejected, ridiculed, and cast off? No, more often our hurts come from those close to us, you cant step on a persons toes without dancing with them. So we stand face to face, breath to breath and open wide, like a kiss gone wrong. The horrible click of teeth meeting, sharp bite of bone in flesh, the ones we love hurt us because we come from different places. A person who aggrees with everything you say and think cant hurt you (maybe disappoint you sometimes). So we talk and as we talk i am in step with you, i agree with what you say. Then you say something I dont aggree with, and only because wer'e close do i feel the seperation. That momentary pulling away of the mind, a flash to my own opinion, and the step loses sync. Do i pull ahead? Do i fall behind? Does anything matter but the fact that we grow further apart as long as i focus on my own opinions? How close is too close? Where do we push people away out of fear? Is drawing the line any different from walking away?

Walk with me while you wish.