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Dropping The Big C

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:09:32 -0500

Back in January I got the mildly unsettling news that my cholesterol was a bit high. My number was 207 which isn't ridiculously high but not good considering my family history and a poor HDL/LDL ratio. My dad had some serious heart problems from his late 30s on and I thought to myself, "I'm there now." I'm in much better shape than my dad was at his age but I always want to be in the best physical condition possible. So I decided to take action. It's hard not to notice the many cholesterol lowering drugs that we see pushed on TV these days. I made a conscious decision to not consider that route until I had done everything I could naturally. I did have my doubts about being able to lower the number much more since I have always lived a comparatively healthy lifestyle. Still, I pressed on. After doing a bit of research on the causes of high cholesterol I decided to embark on a meatless diet. I didn't go total vegetarian because I was eating a lot more fish than previously. Staples of my "drop the big c" diet were bran flakes with skim milk, fruit (apples and oranges particularly), pretzels, canned tuna and salmon, oatmeal, water, lots of vegetables, non-fat yogurt and green tea. I started the diet in January and got my cholesterol retested in the beginning of April. My new cholesterol number was 142. I dropped 65 points in three months with mostly changes to my diet. My HDL/LDL ratio improved as well. Yes, you can drop your cholesterol without taking drugs. I'm glad that I was able to make these changes without taking drugs. I know that most people will find it difficult to change their diet as drastically as I did for a period of months. The results are worth it though. You become healthier on the inside. As a bonus I even lost six pounds of fat too. But the key is the inside. This process reminded me that you can look very healthy due to exercise but if you consume junky food there are other not so obvious effects. My advice on this topic is simple. If you're over 35 go get your cholesterol checked. If your number is borderline or high do something about it before it's too late.

Realtors In Denial

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:13:37 -0500

By now everyone has heard or experienced the current issues with real estate markets first hand. There are lots of home owners having tough times these days. Some of it is their own fault. Some bought too much house for their income. Some took on zero-down loans with low teaser rates that were only destined to go higher. Some speculated in property and thought they'd flip and get rich. Others used their home's imaginary capital gains as a cash machine to fund a high lifestyle. A variety of villains have emerged during this time when many are realizing that home ownership was not the guaranteed investment that many thought it was. At least, its not a good investment when you're in for a short period of time with a variable rate mortgage. There's no question that banks, mortgage brokers and home builders played to the base desires of people and happily took advantage of the situation. We see it time and again. People get a little taste of financial success and then they get greedy. One segment of the real estate profession that seems to have escaped scrutiny are the realtors themselves. They don't lend people money and they don't make any real promises. Yet I'm very sure that they played a key part in this mess. And many are playing a key part in dragging out this down turn longer than it will need to go on. Realtors are cheerleaders for property sellers. Most realtors are in the game to get the highest price for the seller at all costs. Higher prices mean higher commissions. Unfortunately sometimes higher prices mean that buyers end up with a really bad financial investment. On top of the cheerleading there are loose connections with mortgage brokers. And quid pro quo deals with inspectors who promise not to be too harsh in their reports. It's a dirty game but it doesn't look too dirty. The subtle fibs that realtors tell are harmful as well. Bright people who are on their toes can see through this stuff. But most of us kind of go a little crazy when we're shopping for a house. So we miss the small stuff. So I think that some of the blame for the way things got with real estate needs to be placed with realtors. There are too many who are too poorly trained while lacking real ethics. I'm sure that many a realtor will disagree with me. Most of those folks are full of it. Anyway, now that the markets have taken a turn south a lot of these hacks have been forced from the profession. That's a good thing. With any luck they will never return. The good ones deserve to get more commissions. In some areas the drop in real estate values has not been so pronounced. But the market is slow. And realtors in these areas just might be (aw what the heck they probably are) screwing it up for their clients who want to sell. You see, I had been shopping for a house in Albany for several months until a deal fell south a couple of weeks ago. The experienced sucked. Every single house I looked at was over priced by at least $25,000. I'm not kidding. I used websites like Zillow, Trulia and Eppraisal to track down comp sales and prior sale prices on all the homes I was interested in. I did my homework on the true market value of homes. My realtor was pissed that I was doing this.

John McCain For President

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:47:05 -0500

I was originally supporting Rudy Giuliani for the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination. Most people felt differently and now the presumptive nominee will be John McCain. As soon as Rudy dropped out of the race I decided to support Senator McCain. Why John McCain? I feel that Senator McCain is the strongest candidate in the Republican field. McCain has a lot of experience in Washington. And those years of experience have yielded results in the form of legislation passed with support from both sited of the aisle. McCain's ability to work with both parties is an important asset and one that we need to see more of from the next Presidential administration. Fiscal Responsibility John McCain has a strong record on fiscal responsibility. I think that Washington has spent way too much money on wasteful programs over the last twenty years. Spending money on preserving and protecting the country is money well spent. But too much federal taxpayer money goes to pork barrel programs that only benefit certain states. State-level projects should be paid for by state-level taxes. McCain is committed to reducing pork wherever possible. Terrorism And Foreign Policy John McCain has a strong position on terrorism and dealing with rogue dictators. He believes in a well funded military, strong intelligence and takes a hard line position when dealing with rogue dictators. The job of the American President is not to placate our enemies and do what Europe wants so they like us. The job is about representing the interests of the American people. I believe that John McCain has proven via his record that the needs of Americans, and not the opinion of European leaders, will drive policy decisions. Dedication To Public Service John McCain has dedicated his life to the service of our country for almost fifty years. Senator McCain showed great will and loyalty to the country while serving over five years in a Vietnamese prison camp. He could have gained early release but he wouldn't give the enemy the propaganda they wanted. That sort of proven courage counts for a lot in my book. Senator McCain's service in the Navy lasted twenty-two years. And he has spent twenty-six years representing the State of Arizona. Given his strong record and universal respect across party lines, John McCain could have gone into the private sector and made a lot more money long ago. Senator McCain has chosen to serve and the people have chosen him over and over again to represent their state. McCain vs. Barack Obama It appears that Senator Barack Obama will win the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. And at the end of the day it's a choice between two (and perhaps three) major candidates. I strongly prefer John McCain over Barack Obama for a variety of reasons but I will only mention one now. Barack Obama's vision of a bright future for America seems to be contingent on him being elected President. Senator speaks frequently of hope while highlighting the current absence of hope in our country. This is quite hypocritical in my opinion. It paints a picture of a man ungrateful for all that America has allowed him to achieve. Barack Obama has things that most people will never have. He has an Ivy League education. He has an income of nearly one million dollars per year. He occupies a powerful position as a United States Senator. Barack Obama is also a published author of a best selling book. Barack Obama's achievements are partly due to the fact that he has lived and currently lives in a country where everyone has immense opportunities to improve their lives if they work hard enough to make it happen. I don't hear him acknowledging that. I see a man who refuses to acknowledge the greatness of our country. And it seems that he is doing so in order to scare people into voting for him. You see, I read Barack Obama's message of hope as a message of fear. As if hope for a better life and a stronger country is only possible if Barack Obama is elected President. I strongly disagree. In contrast, John McCain is proud of the United States and doesn't deliver a message of hope that is contingent on his election. Hope in this country is a given. That doesn't mean that we live in a nirvana where everything is perfect. Every nation has problems. it does mean that we realistically acknowledge that no one person determines the possibilities in our nation. Spread The Word If you think that John McCain is the right choice for President please speak up. Don't be deterred by the shrill and angry responses that you might get from those who disagree with you. Your speech is very important. The New York Times has already begun to wage war on John McCain's character by running a three-thousand word hit piece on the front page that hinted at faults in John McCain's ethics. The story claimed nothing outright because there was zero concrete evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Senator McCain. The story was based on anonymous sources and circumstance. It is now obvious that the New York Times will stop at nothing to derail John McCain's candidacy. That's why it is very important for you to speak your mind when and where appropriate in order to ensure that John McCain gets a fair shake from the American people come November.

A Pair Of Devastating Proposals

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:14:18 -0500

I have been following the campaigning on both Democratic and Republican sides very closely over the past week. I know for sure that I am supporting either John McCain or Mitt Romney. I'm going to have a to make a decision on that before voting next Tuesday. I'm not allowed to vote in the Democratic primary but I can tell you that I'm hearing some scary economic stuff from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. In the Democratic debate on CNN this week Hillary called for a moratorium on home foreclosures along with a cap on interest rates for mortgages. Talk about a blow to the gut of the financial industry. The foreclosure moratorium would cause a sharp spike in mortgage rates due to the increased risk borne by the lenders. Hence the rate cap. This is dangerous territory as the fate of mortgage lenders would be in the hands of the government. I feel bad for people who are losing their homes. But many of those people knew the risks of taking out mortgages that they might not be able to afford if they lost their jobs or if home values declined. I've been more fiscally responsible. So why should I pay (via my taxes and increased mortgage rates) to reverse bad decisions? I hope to be a homeowner again in the next year but if rates are pushed to seven or eight percent it might not be worth it to buy a home. The proposal reeked of political pandering. Both sides do it and it makes me ill. California has been rocked by foreclosures due to their crazy housing prices and that's obviously an idea that plays very well with the locals.

Who's The Boss?

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:14:30 -0500

I loved the TV show Who's The Boss. I just noticed that they're now putting episodes up on Hulu. Pilot's from TV shows like these are truly classic. Its like stepping into a time machine. Alyssa Milano was such a cute little kid. Hard to believe that's the same gal from Charmed and some really bad B movies.

If you want to step into a time machine do take a few moments to watch the pilot episode below.

California Dreamin

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:10:47 -0500

We took a nice vacation to California last May. On cold days like this I think about warm, sunny days hanging out at the beach. This pics were taken on the beach in Santa Monica. If you look closely at the first photo you can see Juliet in my sunglasses.

Hello 2008

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 18:35:32 -0500

Juliet and Mia in October 2007

How do you sum up a whole year in one post? You don't I guess. Or maybe you say something like, "We made it!" The past year has been one of big changes in the life of our small family. We started out in Weehawken, NJ and ended up in Woodstock, NY in the spring. We've got another move coming soon so watch this space. I started out the year working as a traveling energy consultant and ended the year as a cube bound strategic energy analyst for the New York market. The space in between was interesting. Call or email me if you want the details. The upshot of this change is that I've had a lot more time at home. My elite status at the airlines and hotels has slipped away. That's fine, because its much better to be home every night so I can tuck see Juliet and tuck Mia into bed. Speaking of my ladies. Juliet has definitely enjoyed the move up to Woodstock. There have been many walks through town to the library with Mia. In the summer we spend some time down at the local stream. Juliet also got connected with the photography center up here. There's more time driving around since we're not exactly in the center of the world here. So Juliet is driving our Malibu full time and I bought a new Honda Civic back in the spring. Mia is just great. You can see her progress over at Mia's World. I try add a few new posts each month. Things are changing with her so quickly now that she is two and a half. She loves to paint. She loves to draw. She has a great imagination. And Mia talks up a storm. Gets that from her dad. In short, Mia is doing well and is very much a great joy for us.

Rob and Mia on the beach in Santa Monica. May 2007.

As for me. Its great to be off the consulting treadmill. One thing I've learned is that companies will take as much as you give and then want some more. So at some point you have to draw a line. I've learned a few other things in the past year as well. Drop me a line if you want to discuss and trade notes. I'm feeling healthy too. I've been doing my best to try and exercise on a regular basis. I've been spending a lot of time in the car and in the dreaded cube but my new place of employ has a nice gym facility with good treadmills. I do lots of tech geek type stuff these days like blog and toy around with my iPod Touch. What a great device that is. There's a lot more. So if you want to follow my other creative exploits head over to www.awakenedvoice.com. In 2008 I hope to have us moved to a spot closer to my work in the Albany area. I've been scouting places for months and I'll keep trying til we find something that works. We also hope that everyone in reach of this message has a healthy, happy and prosperous year in 2008. Oh, and I hope the high heaven that the Mets can win the World Series in the final year that Shea Stadium exists. And one more thing...

Ultrasound of Juliet's tummy taken in December of 2007.

We are indeed expecting a new addition to the family in June of 2008. It is definitely going to be an interesting year.

First Snowstorm Of The Year

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:42:29 -0500

We got a solid six to eight inch dumping today.

Its That Time Of Year

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:47:08 -0500

Went out and picked up a tree today. We'll be in the Woodstock area for the holidays this year. The tree is a wee bit smaller than in recent years. We got a little spoiled with fifteen foot ceilings in Weehawken. The living room does have a cozy feeling and a nice tree smell. Just goes to show you that sometimes smaller is better.

The Misadventures Of Rob

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:54:53 -0500

Some would say that I've had some crazy misadventures in this life. I would tend to agree. From my days as a tank platoon leader to canoing the jungles of Belize and a backwards 400 foot bungy jump I've always enjoyed adventure. I recently added a photo set to Flickr with some pics from the aformentioned adventures and more. Too bad that digital technology wasn't that great in the 1990s. Most of my pics from the best stuff are printed the old fashioned way. One of these days I'm going to hit the scanner hard and get lots more digitized. Til then enjoy this small sampling.

Why U2 Is Such A Great Band

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:25:21 -0500

Back in 1986 I discovered a new favorite band. I was lucky enough to score a pair of tickets for an all day concert at Giants Stadium for the cause of Amnesty International. I was only 16 years old so I cared little about the global implications of the cause. I saw the event as an exciting opportunity to be a part of music history. So many great acts played that day. Santana, Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, U2 and The Police were on the bill. I remember burning that day in the hot sun as act after act took the stage. The music got better as the day went on. As day turned to night it was U2's turn to take the stage. The sun disappeared and I felt some respite from the searing heat. Jeez I got sunburned that day. U2 took the stage to the strains of a song called MLK. Bono started with, "Sleep, sleep tonight..." I had only heard a couple of U2 songs on the radio and didn't know this one. It was really chilling and moving. Just like that Bono screamed, "Pride in the name of love, ugh!" as Edge's guitar crackled. Over the next 30 minutes a serious U2 fan was born. Since 1986 I've bought most of the music that U2 has ever made, including their work before The Unforgettable Fire. I've seen them in concert about six times, including in 2001 at Madison Square Garden. They are just about the top live act that I've ever seen. And that's coming from a huge Billy Joel fan who has also experienced a rocking Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show. No, U2 is a band I would love to see live one more time. U2 Performing Bad and Sunday Bloody Sunday At Amnesty International Concert I've been reading a U2 biography recently and as a result have had a chance to ponder their music and what it has meant to me. The thing is that U2 is a band that has conveyed such shameless emotion in their music without it feeling forced or contrived in any way. Their music really defies categorization. Its part rock, part gospel and very classic even when its new. I don't like preachy rock music but I've never minded Bono's preaching. There's no slamming messages there. They just want you to know how they feel. U2 Performs MLK/Pride (In The Name Of Love) At Amnesty International Concert I keep finding myself going back to the U2 catalog and none of it is old for me. And so much of it is very moving. I'm an even bigger fan now that I know the extent of Bono and Edge's faith that guided them in a lot of this music. Its not any bit religious for me in the traditional sense. Its just great to know that rock can be fun, uplifting and honest all at the same time. No compromises for these men from Dublin. Back in 2001 I saw U2 live at Madison Square Garden just a month and a half after 9/11. The city was still in a pseudo zombie-like state from what happened. These guys came to make it all better for one night. Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam hit all the right notes. Their new music was just right for the time. When Bono sang, "...and if you're glass heart should crack. And for a second you turn back. Oh no, be strong. Walk on." The crowd, all 18000, were with him. Later in the show U2 displayed the names of people lost on the crowd via a light show. There were no dry eyes in the house. Who else could have pulled that off? So I think that U2 is one of the great bands (maybe the greatest) of the last 30 years and I wanted everyone I know to know that. The videos above are from that night in 1986. I really do remember it like it was yesterday. It was great to find the videos on the web. And by watching them maybe you can see a little bit of what I experience d on that summer night in June 1986.

Sign Of The Apocalypse?

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:49:57 -0500

Through the strong efforts of my lifelong friend Mike Tenaglia, a short film project I'm involved with is about to screen at its second festival in two months. You can come to see Pie In The Sky for free at P.S. 166 in Queens on Saturday, November 10th at 6:45PM. This is part of the Queens International Film Festival. Check the trailer below to get a taste. A shorter (about 7 minute) version of this made a splash at the Tribeca Tropfest last month. You can see the full short film here. Oh and I now have a pair of credits on IMDB thanks to this foolishness. A sign of the apocalypse indeed!

Trip To Philadelphia

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:31:31 -0500

I recently took a trip to Philadelphia and shot this short video outside of City Hall in the downtown area.

Targeting Rudy

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 18:49:30 -0500

Right now I'm supporting Rudy Giuliani for President. That could certainly change if new information comes forward. Unfortunately I think he is going to be a major target by other candidates and pundits over his family history. The guy has been divorced twice and its all on the public record. Its also public that his son and daughter have a contentious relationship with him. Does that mean he has serious flaws? I don't know. But there are other politicians who have much worse problems family wise and they simply cover them up or deny everything. At least with Rudy its all out in the open and he doesn't deny it. The accompanying clip shows Rudy answering a very loaded question from the recent Republican debate on Fox News.

TV Shows I Watch

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:14:14 -0500

Just a list of some television shows I watch regularly. Garner from this list what you will.

Damages on FX
Rescue Me on FX
Flight Of The Conchords on HBO
Entourage on HBO
Holmes On Homes on Discovery Home
Mad Men on AMC
Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America

One thing that stands out for me is that none of my regularly watched shows are on network television. Very soon I will add to this list Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO. A new season starts in a couple of weeks.