Peanut Butter (The Truth).

Once again; mankind has taken a nutritious good healthy food and have turned into one of the worst things we could consume. My wife thought I had lost my mind as I displayed the grease container (an empty can from the black beans that I included in my Sunday football ritual in Mexico). I had cooked chorizo sausage and drained off the grease. I set atop the refrigerator where it could not be seen. I for years have consumed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before bedtime as I sleep better with food in my stomach. It also is an additional 500 calories, good for a few extra pounds overtime. A period of four days had passed as I was making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and being on the quest for the truth I reached up and grabbed the grease can.

The chorizo grease had remained at room temperature since I put it in the can. I reached up and grabbed the grease can, still mostly liquid form. I do not refrigerate my peanut butter and never have. Realizing that the grease in the can is still a liquid it supports the fact that "Hydrogenated" "Fracturized" "Trans-fats" are plugging up our precious circulatory systems faster than the saturated fat consumed by all eating animal proteins.

This amazing process of hydrogenation makes you the consumer buy the product as it looks pretty (sounds like a possible bad marriage) truth is by making it so pretty we have created a monster killing you slowly, as I'm sure eat peanut butter too.

The remedy:
You can still enjoy peanut butter, look for the peanut butter some consider ugly as the oil separates to the top and of course you have to labor to mix it up with a spoon. You may not enjoy as much as the top selling brands as it more than likely will have less salt and sugar also.
This ugly sister peanut butter has not been "hydrogenated" and is good food for you with the benefits you deserve as a consumer, since you are paying for it.

Moral of the story: Don't let the process of "Hydrogenation" take your life early.

Why, Why Me, Why Not?

Why am I writing about the subject why? This word has come about all week for me. Today I opened up my face book account to find my daughter’s posting and the comment clearly said Why Me? It inspired me to write my thoughts I pass on to you:

Why, makes a great question as it enables you to get the answer you want with explanation. Do you remember asking this question and driving your parents, teachers and other mentors to the brink of their insanity as you gather the information from their replies. Did you take why to the point where they replied, “I don’t know.” or did they divert your attention to something else to stop your questioning of knowledge, and information, you were trying to gain, or the worst ,did they tell you to shut up! This happens to all of us.

Why, when combined with one other word can change your life. “Why me?” stop and think about this question as you look for the answer, you probably set yourself up to become a victim or you are being victimized and this is your cry for help. Try asking, “Why, explain?” you will get feedback from the greater authority (be it god, yourself, friend or foe). Be prepared as you asked for the return comment. At least you set yourself up for positive feedback verses someone capitalizing on you and taking advantage and making you a victim again.


More to come……

Is bald beautiful? Why are you balding? / ¿Es pelón hermoso? ¿Por qué es usted parcialmente calvo?

This is the question of the day or whatever. I truly look forward to your participation.

Esto es la pregunta del día o de lo que. Espero sinceramente su participación.

I give no clues, tell me why?

¿Yo no doy indicios, me dicen por qué?

Treat Others The Way You........

Halloween has passed and kids in the United States and a few in Merida (as trick or treat is not customary) are still consuming candy which they received as a treat. These children that are still consuming candy, had to overcome their fears to go to your door and then ask you for a treat (tricks usually excluded, unless you really are a despicable human being). Most of the children who came to your door are thrilled with any offering you might provide. Children who lacked self esteem and overly shy received less candy than those that came to your door with confidence and full of themselves. Although if they were overly obnoxious you might send them away with less, any way survey says the obnoxious child received more than the quiet shy child. If you don’t ask you won’t get. So Treat? No Trick!

What is the meaning? How does this relate to you?

For me there are several meanings that I hope to pass on to you:
1. “Treat others better or at least the same as you want to be treated yourself.”
2. “Tricks are not needed and not appreciated.”
3. If you don’t ask, you will not get what you are looking for.
4. Use your confidence when asking for what you want.
5. It is okay to be animated and possess personality, as it helps captivate your audience.
6. Charm and charisma go along way when asking for something.
7. Remember your manners (please, thank you, etc.).
8. Take control of yourself but not others.
9. It is okay to take “no.” for an answer.
10. Don’t give up as there is always the next house that might "Treat" you with candy.

What motivated me to write this today?
I had an appointment scheduled today that I thoroughly enjoyed, I walked into a gymnasium and was greeted by a young sales staff that initially greeted me the way I would or should greet everyone. They all had smiles ear to ear and made sure I was comfortable as I came to sell my product. (What product is that you ask? Myself.) I sat close to the sales staff as they made small talk with me. They “treated” me as if I was a member of the club not an outsider trying to get in to the club. They even seemed to “treat” each other just as well. I always take notice to those who have a positive attitude as I find it motivating actually I found it to be very self motivating as I did my “Treating” with no tricks. With a smiling face grinning ear to ear. I was greeted by the general manager once again the hospitality was in the air, I was soon to be greeted by the owner as we adjourned the lobby to the manager’s office.

Once inside and made comfortable by my hosts. I immediately could see their professionalism achieved at a young age and realized that they had been well mentored.
These young people understood solid communication skills and with the treatment I received, I can promise them the best of what I have to offer, as they were willing to the same for me and I know others as well. These two young professionals “Treated” me better than I expected to be. They gave me their full attention as I promoted my product, and communicated to me that they had a places for me to help them within their operations. It was a “Treat” and another inspiring moment in life that reminds me of (“That’s Why I’m Here!”). Departing, now having more confidence in our future generations, thanks to the inspiration of the owner through the entire staff at this particular gymnasium. I want to thank them for inspiring me to take the time to write about my “Treatment” and reminding me how to “Treat Others, The Way You Want to Be Treated.”

Nutrition: Do you know what you are eating?

Calories? / ¿Las calorías?

Which has more calories a gram of sugar or a gram of peanut butter / why?

¿Cuál tiene más calorías un gramo de azúcar o un gramo de mantequilla de cacahuate/por qué?

Peanut Butter? / ¿La Mantequilla de cacahuate?

Is peanut butter healthy? Tell we what you think.

¿Es la mantequilla de cacahuate sana? Diga lo que usted piensa.

That's Why I'm Here!

Here I am living a new life in Merida, Mexico. Fusing two cultures together, speaking span-glish and adapting to changes. I certainly enjoy the daily challenges that I have encountered. My wife and I developed a Mexican Corporation in hopes to support ourselves. It covers our education and diversity. Included our links to our developing businesses, as we scratch out pesos to survive, we have watched our savings plummet as we invest in Mexico's Economy and network ourselves to other businesses, and people. We are very fortunate to live with such wonderful accepting people from our pueblo to all of those throughout our travels.

We bought our home in San Pedro Nohpat, as a vacation home after a cruise of the Mexican Riviera with our boys Zach and Ian. Ian and I had a revelation flying a kite in Isle De La Piedra, Mazatlan. (A great stress reliever and a great way to think and make changes as you mind wanders like the kite.) I expressed to Ian that I could live here and he replied "Me too!" We presented our idea to Deb my lovely wife as she lied in an outdoor hammock drinking a Pacifico beer. When I met Deb at the peak of economic boom in the United States we spoke of our future and dreams. Deb wanted to live in a cool environment with ocean setting (Vancouver Island) this was here dream. As for me I liked the Southern California scene (Venice Beach) for other reasons than just the history of "Muscle Beach". Ian and I were surprised by Deb's reply as it took no thinking and she quickly said "Yes".



We ventured home and Deb began researching from South America to Mexico and arrived at the conclusion that Merida best fit what we were looking for as a vacation retirement home. We put ourselves on the 6 to 8 year plan to retire and occupy the home full time. In my home office I was always entertained by Ian's artwork on my dry erase boards I still have visions of his drawing depicting himself, Deb, Zach and I on a boat and a caption with my stick figure flying a kite exclaiming, "I could live here." and his reply, "I could too."

Diligently searching the net for real estate in Merida, my wife found "White City Properties" and Carol Kirby Williams in early May of 2008 we flew to Merida to view a property located in San Pedro Nohpat. It was advertised as a perfect little two bedroom bungalow connected to the Hacienda San Pedro Nohpat, landscaped to the hilt, and with the amenities of the hacienda, a pool, restaurant, hotel we thought we found Paradise (at least as far as the internet).



We arrived at the airport to customs and were greeted by what later transpired into being a great friendship with an employee of immigration here. We stayed at El Presidente Hotel in Central Merida and met our real estate agent. After a tour of several downtown locations and seeing the urban living conditions of what we could afford and how much we would have to invest in remodel we set out for what we came for:(our bungalow in paradise). We drove fifteen minutes from downtown to a struggling patch of street with a large hacienda as we entered the hacienda we found a full service hotel with amenities owned by a Canadian immigrant. Her friend had bought the property and was selling it. She was using the property as her honeymoon suite as part of her property to entice and satisfy customers until the property was sold.

After meeting her, we had concern of her selling the hacienda and what would happen to our bungalow once walled off and all use privileges gone, left with a postage stamp lot, and surrounded by poverty and nearby Kanasin we left our dream behind. We retired for lunch with our realtor at "Hacienda Teya" an exquisite hacienda which even Hillary Clinton has visited. Discussed what we saw completed our Yucatacan meal and headed back out for our last stop. We drove back toward San Pedro Nohpat taking a different entry and headed into a new sub-division with two streets of new homes. I was amazed at how perfect it was for us as it had all we needed for a vacation home and the price was ridiculous twenty seven thousand dollars. Deb and I looked at each other and new this is it paradise at last. With great joy I handed over the monies for a down payment and never even saw the beach. We had reached euphoria with our new investment and discussed our future all the way back to the United States.

As the United States economy continued to decline, consumers demanding lower prices cut in to past profits, as I had strong emotional ties to my employees I was not about to reduce wages. Instead I raised their wages and tried expanding my small business with new supposedly educated people a new set of goals and a lot of trust I opened the door to:"What brought me here hard and fast!"

Mortgages were abundant as the refinance war began; small business throughout the United States looked to the value of their precious home to bail out their business endeavors. I owning a large amount of equity in my home jumped on the trend and set the bar high. A over achiever at all I do. I set forth with confidence and expanded the business. Knowing that my employees were suffering also I refused to lower wages I raised them and brought on new employees looking forward to expansion. The bottom dropped out of the real estate market as I watched the home which was now refinanced plummet in value as did many. I was watching my investments dwindle to nothing.

Seeing the handwriting on the wall I invested into myself. My wife Deb suggested that I continued my education and turned toward passion as motivation. I have been a competitive athlete all my life from school organized sports to owning the courts in the concrete jungle of the parks playing pickup basketball and even being a local ringer for corporate teams or churches in many city leagues. I played many a year of slow pitch softball also as I aged. Staying in physical shape was always important to me so I could participate at a level younger than I truly was not to mention the vanity of the sport I would pursue in my late thirty's and still compete with those much younger than myself bodybuilding.

Deb and I were drawn together at the start by exercise as we met on the internet site Match.com, once we started dating we were never separated for long. She knew what made me function at a level others could not it was exercise and a shot of testosterone. After her suggestion I enrolled back into college and pursued a grueling schedule of nutrition, anatomy-physiology, and strength training as well as other exercise science courses. I jumped in with both feet, while still managing my business and a full load of school. I did a internship with the YMCA. I truly enjoyed working with the staff as well as members as they all new me as "Physical Ed" the bodybuilder.

In January of 2010 I tested and passed with the American Council on Exercise. I began pursuit of a new career at age forty eight. Continuing my business and paying for my clients work to be done with my employees, my savings was quickly diminishing. I started training individuals and offering free advice to others in the gyms in hopes of other income. Many wonderful friendships were made as well as clients, but not providing enough income. Deb and I wanted to stop the bleeding.

In March we had a conversation and made the decision to take a leap of faith. We put all assets and worldly possessions out for yard sales. Weeks passed like days and we watched our possessions be sold for pennies per hundred dollars. We prepped our families for the big jump and set a date to arrive 05/3/2010. I continued to work for the Y and administrate my business and of course selling practically everything I own.

Deb working diligently as always did the research and planned our itinerary. The trip would take five nights and six days with two stops in the overnight in Texas. Deb knew every road and hotel as she started booking them in April. We were concerned about driving our two vehicles with the two of us and the dogs through Northern Mexico along with what possessions we had left.
During the last of the massive yard sales I asked my amigo Bart if he would be our escort and drive with us all expenses paid. Bart agreed and did me a favor that I will owe for a long time. "Thanks Bart You Are the Best!"

On 4/28/2010 we packed up was left and headed to our vacation home which now is our residence touring the Gulf Coast route to Merida. Not having a single problem with the exception of Deb falling in Matamoras and reinjuring her shoulder from a broken acromion process debacle at my daughters wedding three years prior. All we were told through the media in the United States proved false. Arriving 5/3/2010 exhausted we were thrilled to occupy our new home.