Last day of the year

Now, I could go on and post all my doings from the last year, but that would be long an boring, and I don't want to put you to sleep, so I will narrow it down to my last weekend of the old year.

I had a great weekend!!!

I went out country dancing Friday night, and had a great time. I even did something that I never had done before, and that was ask people I don't know, to dance. As someone told me, the worse thing they could say is no, but they didn't say that. So, I had a great time.

Saturday, I got my 500 gig external drive, and got my computer up and running and ran my 1st back up. I am thinking of getting Norton Ghost to run my back up. I also ordered a PCIMCIA fire wire card for my external drive and my DVD burner I already had.

Sunday, I relaxed and then had a really nice dinner out with a friend, it was a good way to end the weekend.

I am now at work, I know, working on New Years Eve, but what sucks more, is I have to work on New Years day also.

All and all , it was not a bad year. Tomorrow I have been invited over to a friend house after work for a Southern dinner, something about black eyed peas and good luck, it should be fun.

I am really looking forward to 2008!

Up and Running!

Well, everyone, I am up and running. I got my new hard drive, and it is so nice not to hear a grinding noise. In fact, my computer seems to be running a bit faster.

Just so you all know, I did go to Costco today, and I purchased as 500 Gig External Hard drive, for back up and storage, so this will not happen, again. WHOO HOOO


Thanks again everyone who helped, I am a happy Red Bear.

Thank you Everyone

As you might have noticed, I have taken down my donation link for my hard drive. Even thought this is my 1st Christmas alone, I have not felt alone once. Thank you everyone who helped me get a new hard drive, I now have enough money to get one, and get my laptop up and running again.

I also need to give a big thank you to my roomie, for letting me use his laptop, while mine is dying on the kitchen table.

I thought this was just going to be another day, but now I know that the Christmas spirit is very much alive.

I think it was in the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" but my heart grew three times it size today

Thank you everyone and have a very Merry Christmas

Technology SUCKS

I am pretty much a geek, I know a lot about computers and such. But what happened last night, will stab any computer person right through the heart.

My hard drive crashed.

we are not talking Virus or anything like that...It was like this.."what is that grinding soung" Then the Blue Screen of death, then nothing. I rebooted and just got a blinking cursor, and of course the lovely grinding sound. Did I back up my stuff..NOOOOOOO I have about 2 years of stuff on that drive, my banking, my taxes, photos people sent me, email addresses. All gone.

The worse part is, I don't have the funds to get a new hard drive. I had to take Dexter to the vet, last week becsue he was limping. And for you that have pets know...nothing is more important than their health!

So here is my dilema, I need a new hard drive, it could be a month before I can afford a new one, do I am going to swallow my pride and see if anyone want to "donate" to my hard drive fund.

Right now I am using my computer at work, and that will be the only internet access I will have until I get a new hard drive.

So, If anyone wants to help a bear out, I have set it up do that people can donate to my pay pal account.

I am sure I will get grief from this, but it can't hurt to ask.

To donate, just click on the link the right

Thank for you help

EVIL!

Damn those Candy Canes..they are winning...they need to be BANISHED!

EVIL......EVIL........EVIL!!!!!



That is all I am saying......

Inspiration...me...go figure

I woke up the other morning and logged into Bear411, and I had a message from someone that I had chatted with on off over the last couple years but not that frequently. He sent me message that surprised me, but in a good way. He said that he had been doing the South Beach Diet for 2 weeks, and had lost 8 pounds, and it was because he had been reading my profile on Bear 411, and I inspired him.

I was at a loss, I don't think I have ever inspired anyone before. I told him to keep up the good work and that I am glad he is doing well on the diet.

Me, an inspiration..who'd of thunk...

Candy Canes are EVIL!!

Ok, I said it, candy canes are evil, pure sugar sweet evil!

Yesterday at work, they opened the "Holiday Lounge", that has snacks and such for us during the holiday. Such as, cookies, mixed nuts, chex mix, candy canes and juice and water. Now, the nuts I can have, that is part of the diet.

I was munching on some nuts (take that any way you want) and one of my co-worker had a candy cane and said, "here have one". I thought, what harm would it do. I had one, was good..but then, that taste lingered in my mouth, sweet, sweet Peppermint...I had to have another..just one, it would not hurt. And of course, one more...and one more.. and one more. Now I know how a junkie feels. There is just something about them, that I just could not stop.

I didn't touch the cookies and such, no urge for them just the candy canes. I had a piece of fudge later on in the day, and that didn't sit right with me, and I just stopped. I think it is because the fudge has the fat and sugar and Candy cane are just plain sugar.

I avoiding the "Holiday Lounge" today, good thing it is on the second floor.

My Diet

So, yes, I have been dieting and such and people have been asking me how I have done it, so I am going to tell ya now.

Let me tell you this first, there is no pill, miracle diet, no drink, no quick fix. It is hard work, plain and simple.

You want to have to do this, you can't do it half assed or anything like that, if you don't you won't be able to do it.

Chose a goal that is reachable. Don't say that you want lose 100 pounds, that is great final goal, but not an original goal. I did my goals in 25 pound increments. If you goal is 25 pounds and you lose 5 pounds, having only 20 pounds to go to your goal, is a lot more encouraging than know you have 95 pounds to go. Once you reach your goal of 25 pounds, set your next goal of 25 pounds, it adds up quick.

Find a diet that suites you. I have been on many diets, but I found out that the South Beach Diet worked best for me. I had a friend that did the diet, and I was able to talk to him about it and how it worked for him, and how it would work for me. Do your homework, ask around, talk to your doctor. My family has a history of diabetes, that is why the South Beach is working good for me.

The last, but not least, the thing that everyone hates, Exercise. Just like the weight loss, start out with a reachable goal. Don't go out and try to run 5 miles in shot, you will hurt, get pissed and give up. Start out slow, set a goal that is reachable, and shoot for that. I just added weights to my work out after doing cardio for 2 months. Do something you like to do. At work we have bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines. I hate, HATE the elliptical machines, I did it once..got 5 minutes into it, and said...I am not enjoying this...got off and got on the treadmill, and was much happier.

So, to break it down

• You have to want to do it
• Make reasonable goals
• Find a diet that works for you
• Do exercises you enjoy.

That is what I am doing and it seems to work for me.

I suppose I should throw in, before starting any diet or exercise program, talk to you doctor, keep them informed, I did,and I am glad I did.

Good Luck.

Happy Birthday!!!!

It was 8 years ago today, that 5 bundles of joy were brought into this world. Now, I know you are thinking, he only has 2 dogs...there is a story...Sit down..relax..and read.

Back when I lived in Portland, and was with my 1st partner Craig, we were watching a friends dog, Avery. Well, we had her for a couple years, and he wanted her back, before we gave her back we asked if we could breed her, and he said yes. Lo and behold, and one big pup, out came 5 male pups....Bear, Dexter, Baxter, Tucker and Guinness. I kept Dexter and Bear and gave the others to family and friends.

They are the joys of my life and I don't know what I would do with out them!

Happy Birthday Boys!!

The Boys enjoying an apple with peanut butter as a treat for their birthday

Caught up

Now that I have started this again, I should tell a little about myself. I know, boring stuff.

I am 43, and live in Seattle, Washington, West Seattle to be exact. I can see the skyline of downtown Seattle from my living room. I am single, and have two daschounds, Dexter and Bear, their pictures will pop up in a blog or two, they are the best friends a guy can have.

I am a gay man, or a gay Bear, hence the name Red Bear, at 6'4', 275, furry...yep.. you can call me a bear. I am not a sterotypical bear, I listen to country music, a homebody, not big on partying or bars. When I do go out, it is to a local bar to go country dancing and that is maybe once or twice a month. I do like working out, in August of 2007, I weighed 325 pounds and figured it was time to do something about it. I had a friend that had success with the South Beach diet, and I decided to give it a shot. It seems to be doing the job, I work out 6 days a week and I am down 50 pounds. My massage guy called me a gym rat....I wanted to smack him.

That is about it for now, I will put more later

I am back

It has been awhile since I have done a blog, I think almost a year. Now it is time for me to put one back up.

Give me some time to gget it up and running, and I will try to keep it updated.