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Book of 2016

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Busy day in the kitchen today.  It started really early when I put in a five pound pork shoulder in the slow cooker.  I rubbed this thing down with some rub I get from Lunardi's, no sugar in it so I like it a lot.  I actually rubbed my meat last night and covered it in the rub and then wrapped it in cling wrap to lock in the flavor.  Then I added two bags of onions turned it on high for 6 hours, then on low for another 4 or so.  I have never had meat that fell apart like this pig did tonight.  I swear I just looked at it and it shredded itself.  I shit you not.  It was awesome.  It tasted fab too.  

Then I made a little Irsh stew.  The meat is great and I played with it last night too.  I salted it and pricked it with a fork to make it tender and then put it in the fridge over night. I then chopped potatoes, carrots, onions, and mixed in a little tomato paste, and beer.  I said it was Irish didn't I?  I think things went pretty good until we added the peas.  I am not sure.  They just smell funny.  Now the stew smells a little funny.  They were optional, but I wanted to get more veggies in there, so i took the risk. 

The final move of the day I made some banana, blueberry, muffins with a little almond butter action.  They turned out really well.  

I walked almost 2 miles today and then spend some good time stretching.   

Other than that it was a full schedule of College basketball, some good games today!  

Looking forward to the week ahead!  Hoping to loose at least 1 more pound.  That would be 4 in 4 weeks!!  

Page 79

          

 Book of 2016

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 Brent's Tale Continued from Page 75:

              Brent and Vicky continued to talk for a couple more months, they even took another shoot at going out, but nothing worked for Brent.  He could not quit asking questions.  He always wanted to know what he did wrong, he was trying to be closer to Vicky and make changes to make her happy.  All he was doing was pushing her away. 

            They still talked on the phone every night, or at least Vicky talked on the phone every night, Brent sat there and listened.  He had little to say he was in his own little world.  He hated the fact they were not dating and could never understand how he pushed her away.  He kept asking her what he could do. 

            A typical day in Brent's life at this point would be to get up in the morning and sit in the shower for a half-hour.  He would wonder if this were the day he and Vicky would get back together again.  He would get dressed, then eat breakfast and go to school.  He would meet Vicky at school talk to her and then go to class.  In class he would write her notes that talked about how depressed he was and how he could not go on without her.  He would walk with his head hung even lower than usual.  He had no friends anymore, because all he could think or talk about was Vicky. 

            After school he would go home and sit by the phone until Vicky called.  He would listen to what her day was like and then tell her some sob story about his day.  He never laughed and he never made her laugh anymore. 

            Vicky was at a loss.  She had no idea what to do, but she could not take much more of this.  She decided to go back out with him and for a week it worked.  Brent was pleasant and happy.  Then he started doubting himself, because Vicky mentioned something about Brent dumping her.  Why should he dump her, what had he down this time.  He called more and moped more.  Vicky had tried everything, but she nothing could help her old friend.  He was no longer a person he was a zombie.  He feeds on misery and making her miserable.  He did not want to be happy she believed. 

            Brent did want to be happy.  No one hated Brent Baldwin more than Brent himself.  His friends could not talk to him, because he just wanted them to feel sorry for him.  He hated the fact his every though and dream was about Vicky Harrison. 

            Vicky had talked to many people about what was up with Brent.  She was currently his girlfriend and gave Brent the option of dumping her.  He thought they could make things work.  She knew what she had to do and she picked up the phone and called him. 

            "Is Brent there?"  She asked.

            "Yea."  He said he answered the phone because he was sitting by it waiting for it to ring. 

            "Brent, I am sorry but it is over.  You are not happy, and you driving me nuts.  Take some time to think about things, and try to move on."

            Brent hung up the phone.  He looked down and started to cry. 

            "Why!"  He screamed at the top of his lungs.  He got up went outside his house and lit a cigarette.  He paced back and forth, what did he do.  The questions started again.  They would not go away, for a very long time they would not go away. 

            When Brent finished his cigarette, he went inside and called a couple of girls that were he and Vicky's mutual friends and let them know he had been dumped.  They said they would talk to her and first thing in the morning they approached her and asked what she had done.  It was the last straw, she snapped.  She began to cry and ran out of the school.

            That day at lunch Brent saw her and saw she was crying.  Good he thought, now maybe she has realized what she has done he thought.  He approached her.  She just looked at him and got up and took off. 

            He rushed home that day after school and called her. 

            "Vicky, I am sorry what did I do?"

            "Oh do not give me that bullshit.  What did you do?  You ruined my fucking life.  You mope around and act like you’re so hurt and heartbroken.  I think your just nuts.  I do not want to talk to you ever again.  I hate you and you hate me, when you realize that we will both be better off.  So leave me the fuck alone."  She hung up and cried, but she could do nothing else.  She did hate Brent Baldwin!

            Brent was in shock and now wished he had acted differently.  How could he have been so stupid?  How could he have turned her feelings from one of affection to hate?  The questions ran around in his head.  He was miserable, just like yesterday and the day before.  Why could he not be happy, as he used to be?  What was wrong with him? 

            For the next month Brent did everything he could to talk to Vicky.  He would write her notes and call her.  When he called he usually was told to hang on, then she would click over to her other line and never return to him.  She would take his notes and never read them because all they talked about was how sorry he was, and how he just wished they could be friends.  It was too late for that though.  When he would hand her a note, he would walk up to her and give it to her and just stand there waiting to be acknowledged.  She would never say a word to him; he just stood there and looked pitiful, until she walked off. 

            Brent tried to hide all of this from his family and what friends he had left or at least he told himself he was.  They all noticed that he was not the same as he had once been.  Tony and O'Riley were still in his corner and would try to get him to hang out with them.  He rarely did.  He just sat at home and watched movies and thought about his Vicky.  No one knew what Brent was going through and he knew now one would understand.  He was obsessed with Vicky and could not get her out of his head. 

            One day in Brent's fifth hour Biology class a friend of his, Caleb, broke it down to him:  "Look at yourself, you are miserable right?"

            "Yea, I am sucking my good man."

            "Let me ask you a question."

            "Shoot."

            "Were you any happier when you and Vicky were together than you are right now?"

            Brent was stumped.  He just sat there and thought.  That statement hit home, it was the first reason Brent let in since the night Vicky first let go of their relationship back in December.  Brent was forming a response when Caleb continued.

            "No you were not any happier dude.  You weren't.  You used to be fun and so out going now your bitter and quit.  You never go out with you buddies O'Riley or Tony, or me or Beau.  You never do anything.  Seriously, I am gonna help you get over this shit.  You’re acting so dumb." 

            "Caleb, you are right.  It just hurts so fucking bad.  I hate the way I am acting and I hate the thoughts of her."

            From that day on Brent was back to being himself.  He no longer wrote Vicky or even acknowledged her.  If he saw her in the hallway or out he would ignore her.  He wanted to talk to her but it was letting an alcoholic have a drink.  It was trouble.  He eventually was able to put her out of his mind, but not without a lot of help from his new friends.  Like Beau, Caleb, and of course the dynamic duo itself Tony and O'Riley. 

            They would come over almost ever night and they would swim or go on a bike ride.  They would talk about there future in high school and what they would do after school. 

            Brent also watched the Godfather for the first time and he was transformed.  He wanted to be the one pulling all the strings, the puppet master.  He started thinking about writing a Mafia novel. He always thought he was a gangster.

            Babe Ruth started shortly they’re after.  Brent coach told him that he picked him, because he knew he could bunt well, but after practice started he was the clean up hitter for the whole year.  He would hit over .500 that year and be a first time an all-star.

Brent went from being very depressed to having the best summer of his life.  He played baseball and thought about the Mafia family he would bring to life.  He hung out with his knew group of friends and partied with only them. They would drink a little and smoke a lot; they would even get a little on the side.  But the best thing about Brent's summer was that he never once thought of Vicky Harrison!

Page 78

Book of 2016

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Treatment 2 didn't go so well for the DOC today.  A shitty ending to a week that started with so much promise.  Anyway... I am going to try to keep things light though and not stress over what I can't change.  So, light and quick will be today's blog as well. 

March can be such a special time of the year.  The basketball, the tournaments, and the well of course the cheerleaders who could forget the cheerleaders.   Each year people try to test out there smarts and pick the best brackets for the NCAA Tourney.  I never do well.  Last year I think I finished 2nd over all, maybe 3rd, best run since freshmen year of college when I wont it all.   This year things went bad and they went bad fast!  I should have known when Purdue went down after being up 13, with 3.33 to go that it was going to be a long tourney for the Big Ten.  However, I never ever thought the basketball gods would ever let Michigan State, the fighting Izzo's go down in round 1, let alone would they do that when I had picked them to run all the way to finals, oh ya and to win!  However, today, they were smacked down by the Middle Tennessee State of all teams.  The Blue Raiders!  Really?  I mean sure I have been to Murfeesboro a million times and in the words of the Boy himself "Worse mall in world - good basketball team"  This one is a rough one for me.  My basketball knowledge is now small and I feel emasculated, well, then again, maybe that is just b/c I am wearing this Bracket Buster Crown around as punishment for guaranteeing an MSU win today.  . 

Bracket Busted:

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Book of 2016 

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Things that make you "WTF"

 I went into the bathroom today and I was standing there doing my business when what out of the corner of my did I see? 

A bottle of baby oil?    I was like no fucking way!  Who the hell take a bottle of baby oil to the toilet with them?  I finished my business walked out of the bathroom where my friend was waiting and I was like, hey man, go into the bathroom and look what is in there.  He gave me a look like why are you telling me to walk into the bathroom after you just came out of it and asking me to look at something.  I read the look and said man, it is nothing gross, or at least not like you would expect.  I am sure he was walking in there thinking he was going to see some huge log floating in the bowl.  However, he was in there and he was in there for a little bit and then he came out and was like, you mean the the baby oil?  I was like ya.  We started walking out of the place and he was like well, i guess some times you just need some lube.  We got a good laugh out of that and went on about our business.  

But really, what the hell, in a public bathroom?  Really?

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Book of 2016

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Some days there just isn't a lot to say.   I mean today was just another day in the life of the Kid.  It is was a good day.  I saw Dr. Sue.  I ate under my calories today.  I got a lot of work done.  Ok, really I got nothing to say today.  Happy Day!

Page 75

 Book of 2016

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Brent's Tale Continued from Page 65:

The next night Brent waited around by the phone expecting Vicky to call.  She never did.  He told his mom he was going to Joan's, who lived down the street and would be back later.  Joan was a party girl that hung out with Vicky.  She was also one of Brent's good friends.  They would always meet half way in-between each other’s houses and have a couple of smokes. 

            When he got there he found out that he did not have a lot to say.  They smoked cigarettes and watched Guns "N" Roses on MTV.  Brent was not in a very social mood.  Then Julie's fun rang. 

            "Julie, what is going on?"  It was Vicky.

            "Not much just watching TV, with Brent on some of the other guys."

            "Is Brent pissed at me?"

            "I do not think so, he had not said anything about you." 

            "Let me talk to him." 

            "Hey kid, I am at the mall, then we are coming over.  I we can hang out."  She told Brent when he picked up the phone. 

            "Sounds like fun” Brent said full of sarcasm. 

            Vicky caught it and took offense to it.  Then Brent heard a voice in the background that he did not recognize. 

            "Who was that?"  Brent asked.

            "It was one of Jesse's friends."  She said.  "I will she you really soon. "  She said hanging up the phone. 

            Vicky hung up the phone and looked at Steve and explained to him her situation.  He told her that he understood and that she should go talk to Brent.  They parted telling each other to get a hold of the other.  Vicky and Jesse left the mall and got picked up by Vicky's dad who was in town from Louisville for Christmas. 

            Brent was confused and a little pissed off at Vicky.  What was she thinking treating him like this?  He walked outside with a friend from the click.  They each lit a cigarette and began to talk.

            "Is Vicky coming over."  His friend said.

            "Yea, I guess." 

            Just then a car pulled up and Brent and his friend heard some voices giggling.  It was Vicky and Jessie. 

            They walked through the back gate and saw Brent and his buddy standing their smoking cigarettes.  Vicky walked up to Brent and asked him to come inside.  He blew smoke in her face and told her he would rather stay outside and smoke.    She said whatever and walked inside.  Brent looked at his friend and said.

            "Fuck that, I am out of here."  Then he began to walk out of the gate.  Vicky was now coming back outside in her same trench coat she had worn just a week earlier.  She hurried and tried to catch him. 

            "Brent" she said standing at the gate.

            He turned and looked at her, but found nothing to say.  At the same time he turned around a car pulled into the driveway.  It was Vicky's dad.

            "See ya around."  Brent said pulling out another cigarette and turning and walking down his street.  Brent was now pissed and he knew that he wanted to turn around.  He had a million things to say and wanted to say them all, but instead he kept walking. 

            Vicky turned and got into her dad's car.  She was upset and did not say a word the whole way home.  She walked in the door and tried to call Brent, but the line was busy.  He had taken the phone off the hook. 

            It was now a day later, December 23.  It was Brent's oldest sister's birthday and he would go out to eat with the family.  They had a really nice dinner and then went back to his place and opened her presents.  Brent just hung out and took in all the family's joy.

That is when the phone began to ring. 

            "Brent what's up?"  Vicky said.

            "Nothing, sorry for the way I acted last night."

            "Don't worry about it.  We need to talk."  How Brent dreaded those words. 

            "Go ahead." 

            "I do not think that we should date, I want to be friends like we use to be." She said  " I love you and you mean the world to me, but it is not going to work."

            "Friends Hun."  Brent responded. 

            "That is OK isn't?"  She asked, hoping with all her heart that he would agree.  She did love him and never wanted to lose the friendship they had built, but she her feelings for him had changed and she could not lie to Brent about that.  Somehow she knew though that Brent would not be OK with any of this.  He had changed ever since their date.  He was no longer the friend she had cherished.  He was sad and moody, not carefree and fun.  He had his moments but for the last two weeks he was no longer being her friend, but trying to be her boyfriend.  He thought he could make her life perfect and would not leave things he could not change alone.  He wanted to be in on every aspect of her life, he was smothering her.  She appreciated his kindness, but could not stand his attempts to make things work.  Before things were carefree and wonderful, but now they were awfully unpleasant because they were trying to make something work that seemed unnatural to her.  How could she be with someone that she was not comfortable around, because he was trying to make her life perfect?  How one night could change so many things?

            "What did I do?  I mean things were working weren't they?  What can I change?"   Brent pleaded.

            "Nothing Brent, it is not you it is me.  I do not want to date anyone right now; I just want us to be buddies.  Why isn't that good enough for you?"

            "Because I love you."

            "No, you do not, you only think you do.  Brent you are not listening to me."

            "Yea, I am and I do not understand any of this.   Is there some one else?"

            "No I am going out with anyone else.  I did meet someone, though.  But me and him are just friends." 

            "Friends like us, huh?" 

            "Brent, why are you being like this."

            "Being like what?" 

            "Why is this so complicated?"

            "Because you are dumping me!"

            "Brent I am not dumping you, I am trying to safe our friendship!"

            "Whatever!"  Brent said unemotionally.  "I have to go, it is my sister's birthday.  Have a great Christmas."

            "Bye."  She said hanging up the phone.  She was upset, but what could she do; she was doing the right thing.  Brent and she were friends and that is how they should stay, that is how they were both happy.  She was determined not to give up on Brent; she never would give up on Brent and his friendship. 

            Brent hung up the phone and put his head in his hands.  Why am I so fucking miserable he thought to himself?  What in the fuck did I do?  He eyes tried to tear, but he would not let them.  What had he done so wrong?  How could he hold her affection one-day and turn it off the next?  How could she like him one day and he does something so wrong that she no longer cared?  He had a million questions and never got one answer.  He was a loser, he thought.  How could he screw up his one chance with Vicky?  He laid down that night and thought of her and how he could change to make her happy. 

Page 74

Book of 2016

 - Page 74 - 

Today is national pi day and next to "22" pi is my favorite number. Although it is really more of a mathematical constant than a number?  Is that right?  I don't know I am not a mathematician.  I just like pi.  Not the only the number but also the dessert, but that is a different type of pie.  Now I am just confusing myself.  Slow day for being creative I guess.  Happy Pi day!  Had a great weekend and Monday is off to a great start!  Down 1.7 pounds over the last two weeks, maybe because I have abstained from pies?  Who knows?  Anyway I can relate to the Pi picture above, I also never hear my full name unless Mom is pissed at me and I am in big trouble.