I'm a 41 year-old police detective.

Over the past 10 years, I've let myself get overweight. Tired. Lazy. Unattractive. Boring.

It was easy--I had an excuse. I went back to school in 2002 and worked my way through a Master's degree from the University of Florida, Summa Cum Laude. Mostly, I carried a full-time course load in addition to my full-time job. And homicide callouts. And court overtime. And instructing at the police academy. You get it. I'm a Type A personality.

While I was busy perusing book after book and researching paper after paper, my ass got bigger and bigger. My pants size grew larger and larger. Meh...I'll fix that later. Well, guess what?

Later.....is NOW.

And, it's a hell of a lot easier putting the weight on than taking it off. Anyone who had gained and lost more than 20 pounds will tell you the same.

This is my journey to lose 35 pounds and compete in the closest thing to the Olympic Games offered in amateur sports. The 2011 World Police and Fire Games in New York City.

I have 5 months to lose the weight and train my body to compete against elite athletes from around the globe. I've seen the records and they're no joke. I'll have to swim faster than I did when I was 14 or 15 and broke county records in Maryland back in the 80's.

No luck necessary. I'm getting my fat ass into the pool.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Spin the Wheel

This water wheel is one of my places of solace.  The gentle sounds and continuous rotation lull me into a quiet place amidst the hustle and bustle of St. George Street.  It seems as though these little hideaways have come in quite handy as of late; places where I can escape all of the bad news circulating through the newswire.  I think we all need our retreats, whether they be figurative or actual.  Unfortunately, many people I speak with have said that their particular choice of escape lies in a cocktail glass.  If that's the case, wine and liquor sales should be a surefire boost to the economy.  I don't think my investment portfolio will change to reflect that particular forecast, but hey, whatever works for you.  

I am hopeful that our country will soon come full circle, like the wheel.  As long as my metaphor doesn't replace the water with money.  Water-- we've got.  

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