The PERFECT diet!

Let others eat!

I have been struggling with my weight for a long time. When I graduated from college I weighed 165. When I was in the Army I was at the maximum of 201 for many years and often had to be weighed in again because I was at the limit. I ran 2 miles every morning with my unit and that helped keep the weight down. At my first unit I met a guy that convinced me to drink diet sodas and I have ever since then. I like the taste of diet sodas, and I like the zero calories.

Me and brother in law in Korean Hanboks.

If you ask my kids what they do with extra food on their plate the would say, "Feed it to Dad!". I guess I look like a bear because they treat me like a bear! I realize that I don't eat when I'm hungry, I eat when I see food. I don't like to leave food on a plate. If there is food I eat it until the plate is empty. When I was in Korea I found out their manners was different than ours. In the USA we are polite when we eat at someones house and we clean our plate.

Bixby bridge in

In Korea it is polite for the hostess to never let let your plate be empty. One year I was at my mother-in-law's house in Korea and I ate this dish that Koreans RAVE about. The think it tastes great, but I didn't like the taste. My upbringing taught me to eat it all, and tell them I enjoyed the taste. I ate it all, smiling while I complimented on the meal. After I finished eating it I turned around and said something to my daughter and when I faced the dish again it was FULL! I asked my wife if I had to eat it and she laughed and explained the Korea manners.

Jousting at the Ren Faire.

This week I realized that is the best answer for a diet. Eat when I'm hungry and when I am not hungry stop eating. Sounds easy, but it is kind of enlightening. Always leave food on the plate, because if you eat like a bear you will look like a bear. If my kids want me to eat their leftovers, I will ... because I'm their dad. It is a thing my kid's father does, so I don't want to disappoint them. I would rather be fat as a bear, and loved like a dad than thin like a sleek cat and disappointing.

18 Races finished!

Before the race that started at 8:45 PM.

Last night I did my 18th race this year. I try to do different things when I do my races. I have done 2 races on the same weekend, I have run in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, I have run in a different state (in mud), I have run in the mountains in Santa Cruz, I have run along the ocean and along San Francisco Bay, I have run in a patriotic race (on the 4th of July before the parade), I have run the same course in different directions, I have run around a baseball park, I have run in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day, and now I have run at night under the moon!

Starting the race.

I have 3 more months to finish my promise to run 2 races a month. I already have October and November mapped out. October I will run in San Francisco on a Monday morning and then I'm not sure if I will run in Santa Cruz or Tracy. I'm wondering if my last race will be on New Year's Eve or a couple days before. I also don't know what I will do next year, maybe a 10K each month. Any suggestions?

What it looks like to run at night!

Finished!

My knees still hurts, with my ankles too now. I am thinking of running twice a day. Yesterday morning I ran 2 miles before I ran the 5K at night.

My knee HURTS!

Running the extreme 5k in Idaho.

When people hear that I run 5K races they always ask me if I hurt my knees because of my age. I guess when people run a lot when they are younger their knees hurt them when they are young. That is why I was reluctant to run when I was young. Now that I am over 50 I run and my knees don't hurt me. My knee is killing me right now, but I attribute that to me now running for a week.

Extreme 5K through the mud!

 When I stop running is when my knees or ankles hurt. I find that if I sit around too much my body hurts more than if I run every day. I have been trying to wake up and hour early every day so I can run then. I haven't been successful lately and as the school year wears on I will be able to less and less.

This is why they call it EXTREME!

 I find when I run in the morning my whole day is better. I guess it is that endorphin thing kicking in. I have never drunk coffee in the morning an I wonder if I could drink coffee to get the same feeling as running in the morning! I don't think I will try that. I think it is interesting that I learn more about my body as I get older. I wish I knew some of this stuff many years ago. Maybe by the time I die I will know better ways to have improved my life.

Get up an Hour Early

Horse Ranch

Today I drove home from Paradise, California today. I worked at Paradise High for a couple hours in the morning. I really like when I work at schools and the people that invited me are very happy with what I do. Many people ask me what I do and I tell them to go to www.asvabprogram.com to see what I do.
This morning I work up an hour early like I have all week.

More rice in California.

The rest of the week I have been in the gym before work. I knew I wasn't going to be able to run this morning, so I walked 3 miles last night before I went to bed. Tomorrow morning I will continue getting up early. I am going to make this a habit if it kills me!!

CHP waiting for a speeder.

Paradise High mailbox!

Driving through Northern California

Many things on the side of the road!

Grapes near Stockton.

Today was the first day this school year that I have driven much. I started in San Jose, drove to Sacramento then to Stockton. I worked for an hour in Stockton then drove back to Sacramento to pick up a packet and then drove to Paradise (city in California) to stay the night so I can work there in the morning then I will drive back home. On my way to Paradise I stopped in Oroville to see the Oro Dam and take pictures.

Rice North of Sacramento.

I love the diversity in California. I drove through big cities, drove past grape vineyards and peach orchards and then drove past rice for 2 hours. I also drove past horse farms and factories that make trailers. I love having the opportunity to drive through California. Today it was 5 hours north, next week I will drive 5 hours south. Soon I will have to drive 7 hours north and then I will have to drive through the desert to get to the south east portion of the state which is 8 hours east.

Dam in Oroville

 I only regret that I am given a very small car. I walked 2 miles when I got here this evening to try to get rid of all the soreness in my body from being cooped up. I sort of feel like the man in the animation film "Incredibles" where the big guy has to fold himself into his tiny little car.

Hills in Butte County.

Lemon driving a lemon.

House made of a Shoe!

As I drive I stop periodically and take pictures. These are just random pictures that show "Americana". Nothing special nor noteworthy. I try to get pictures of normal everyday things that people see all the time, but don't really take notice. As I write my blogs I will try to include a bunch of pictures.

Paradise city hall

Never know what is around the corner.

Challenging ESL Students

Christmas Party!

When I teach I like to challenge my students. I like giving them work that is difficult and then they feel a sense of accomplishment when they complete it. I like knowing I taught them something they can use and they know they couldn't do it before. Like having my students have to puzzle something out and find the solution. The problem I found was ESL students find it challenging to do anything in English. Having them have a conversation is often challenging to them as much as debating something. Talking on the phone in English is one of the most challenging things to an ESL student. They can rely on no other clues besides the tone of the voice and the words.

Teaching my class to play softball.

One of my students that wants to be a teacher sent me her lesson plan today for her final practicum. She wanted her students to debate whether students should wear uniforms or not. I was thinking that was something that might be done in a US school and she didn't want to teach "down" to her students, she wanted to give them something challenging. She is forgetting that the "challenging" part of it is doing it in English, not what they do. I think teachers need to remember the Objective of their course, not just try to make things challenging.

Sarah visiting my class

I often tell my student teachers, "If you don't laugh you don't learn". I also tell them if the students aren't happy with the teacher then they will go to another school. It isn't like high school or college where they were trying to get a good grade. It is more like students going to the most popular movie and next week they will go to another movie if your movie isn't fun and entertaining. Even though the students are adults doesn't mean they don't like to have fun, it is just the difference in what they find fun. Some people find debating fun, but more people are on the football team than the debate team for a reason. You need to make the class fun for the masses not the geeks that find debate fun!

My class in 2006

Just Do It!!

Night before the race in Monterey.

This morning I got up at 6:45, drove to the gym, and ran 2 miles on the treadmill. I then came home and took care of the cats and vacuumed (for the first time in 3 months)! I would love it if I could make that a "habit". I guess the secret of making it a habit is doing it again tomorrow, and forcing myself to do it the next day. No matter where I am or what I have to do I need to force myself to get up early, exercise, and then do something around the house. I need to force myself until it becomes a habit. I have made myself have habits before.

Lover's Point on race day.

I have been able to loose weight because it had become a habit to eat half as much as I usually do and exercise twice as much as I usually do. I have been able to run 2 races a month this year because it has become habit, I have often thought of abandoning my idea of running 2 races a month. But, then I know how I would feel if I didn't run the second race. I don't know if I can do this same thing next year. I will finish this year because it has become a habit to think about it. I can do it if I really want to!!

September Class

In summer put your tree on the balcony!

This month I am teaching my weekend class in Berkeley, at the student union of the UCB campus. I have 11 students this month. Two are Koreans (one is working for a company as a Japanese translator), one is from Afghanistan (he wants to teach in Middle East) , a couple of students want to teach in Europe, a couple want to go to Korea, and a couple want to go to South America. Like every class this class has an unbelievable diversity that is fun to work with.

Mission District of SF

Last weekend I had a group of visiting ESL students, twice as many ESL guests as students in my class. It was a great experience for the future teachers and the ESL students learned a lot about Americans. I showed my students how to be innovative and dynamic. After we found out they were coming we made a quick scavenger hunt so the ESL students could see the Berkeley campus and my students got to interact with them on a one to one basis. After they looked around the campus and had lunch I taught a class, demonstrating to my students how easy it is to make a class fun and how students learn better if they laugh!

Streets of San Francisco

After my lesson my students taught 15 minute lessons, using the teaching strategies I taught them the day before. The ESL students had a blast and so did my class. Everyone learned a little and had a great experience. I really love my job, and I know I'm making a difference in LIVES!

Back ...

A look into the outside from inside.

I haven't written for a long time. It doesn't mean I don't have anything to write, it just means I haven't done it. Things go through my mind all the time on what I should write about. I wanted to write about the elections, comparing President Obama to President Carter. I wanted to write about driving in California and how I can start in 70 degree temperature, go to 101 degree temperature, and end up in 65 degree temperature all within 3 hours.

What happens when the water quit flowing?

 I wanted to write about having 4 laptop computers in my house and none of them can do what I need one computer to do. I wanted to write about how proud I am about my youngest daughter and how I think she will make an impact on the world at some time in her life, and on many peoples' lives in the meantime.

Contemplating her future!

I wanted to write about my brother being in the hospital and how lonely and isolated he must feel and how do we deal with that in all of out lives, surrounded by people but feeling like we are alone. I wanted to write about many things and ended up writing about nothing. I think we all need routines, like me routine of writing before I slept, just to keep us on an even keel. I have done the same thing with my running routine, if I skip one day then I put it off until it is no longer part of my daily ritual. I am starting to write again, I will start to run again, I will stay busy.