A new post, I haven't done one in quite awhile and I'm tired of reading/commentating on the news. I haven't been able to really write anything because it makes me so damn angry to write/read about the budget deficit, the national debt and the attacks on the Presidents, Congresses' and GOP candidates' characters.
I've been struggling quite a bit for the past two years over the military and whether I want back in or not. God, has it been two years already? I was a Marine in the US Military. "Once a Marine always a Marine" is what may come to your mind. Sure, I enjoyed it, but I keep wanting to go back. I want to experience life through those eyes, ears and actions! Gosh, I miss it. I don't miss being an asshole, having to run at least fifteen miles a week, teaching Marines how to be an adult and the all around bad mood that accompanied everything just listed. I let my job control my life and I feel as though I've just started calming down and realizing that I cannot fix everything. I cannot fix why the asshole next to me is using a graphing calculator even though it was prohibited from the test. I cannot fix the traffic outside. I cannot fix this horrible heat/humidity. I cannot fix things going on in Michigan (I originally wrote home meaning Michigan, but my new home is Texas - Something else I cannot fix).
Speaking to my wife yesterday, I realized that I have no true goals. One true goal would be to get my Business Economics degree at UNT. True goal? Yes, but as far as my weight/lack of physical fitness, I do not have one. I want to be a Marine! But if I don't work out I won't get there, and who's even to say that if I do get in shape, I will be allowed back in? On paper I'm allowed to, but maybe they're cutting down on the size of the USMC? I know this sounds silly, but I have a broken toe on my right foot, and whenever I go out jogging, it starts to hurt. I think it's something that will never heal. I cannot see myself running at least fifteen miles a week with that injury. So the Marine Corps is not in my future. It's tough to even think or say that! It's difficult to watch movies about the military, and think to myself, "That used to be me!" or, "He's doing it wrong!" and "That's not how it really happens!".
So here's where bicycling (road biking) comes in. I need to lose weight, I don't think anyone can/will argue with me on that. But it's always easier (from personal experience and from what I've read) to train for a goal/even than to just work aimlessly. For instance, saying I want to do a 25 mile bike ride, is a better goal than saying, well I guess I'll go ride my bike today. It should be, "I NEED to ride my bike today to get that goal". I want bicycling to be my new sport. Texas gets colder, and eventually it isn't 100 degrees with 120% humidity, and it doesn't snow much during winter (though it does get ridiculously cold for such a hot place!), so I figure this can be an all year sport. Train train train, study study study should be my life for the next year and a half. And I cannot wait to get started :-)
Today I did six miles. I explained to someone today that I have mapped out a three mile loop that has about half uphills, about a quarter downhills, and the rest is flat. I did a measly six miles because I'm afraid that doing more mileage on a road I'm unfamiliar with could get me run over! I hate passing a bike on the road. It's unsafe unless I have three lanes to pass them! I want to get more though, and going to Dallas (a forty-five minute drive) is not the answer (there is a ten mile loop there which I have done before). So what should I do? I will try finding a larger course/trip tomorrow and hopefully I don't die on it.
