Downsizing my stuff, er, crap...

I've been telling myself for the past few months to go on a mission to purge much of the stuff I own. I just have too much stuff! The past month has been pretty good but I haven't been really diligent about purging so I'm going to make a renewed effort in the coming month. In fact I'd like to have a significant amount of junk removed from my apartment by the end of May. I swear I'll get it done.

Over at My Money Blog Jonathan posted about this same thing yesterday and he got a lot of comments regarding methodology of the planned purge and a lot of tips from readers on how to manage the purge. I think I'm going to use some of these tips and see how good I can do. I'll have to remember to recount my purge by the end of May and see how much progress I've made.

Visiting Grandma One Last Time

Last week I traveled by car with Flor to Springfield, MO to see family and attend my grandmothers funeral. Man was that funeral tough for me. Most of the entire family was with her in the last days and many were there as she passed but I was here in San Diego. I also had to drive out so I didn't get there until Sunday morning, Easter morning, and I didn't get to visit her at the funeral parlor like I did for my grandfather. I think that really would have helped prepare me. Monday noon was her funeral, it was open casket and I got to see her one last time. I just about broke down looking at her, it was awful tough for me. I held my sister as we said goodbye and kissed Flor's hand as she stood by my side. I just wish she could have met Flor. After the funeral we went out to The Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Springfield and laid her to rest next to my grandfather. It was a very emotional moment for me and it is even now as I write about it.

The rest of our time in Springfield was spent with family. Flor and I stayed with my Uncle Dan and Aunt Beth and my parents and sister stayed with my Uncle Ken and Aunt Mary. Cousin Josh, Heather, Jess, & Dylan were all there. It was the first time I've seen all my cousins at the same time in years. It was also really nice to see and talk to my Uncle Paul and Aunt Cathy as I don't get to see them very often. All in all it was really nice to bond a little with family and introduce Flor to everyone. It seems as though everyone accepted her right away and she wasn't turned off by them either... after all, we're all pretty weird. :) Mary put it best when she said "of course she's not freaked out by the entire family, shes with Brian. If you can handle Brian you can handle the Mounts'".

We were only in Springfield for 2 days the remainder of the week was spent driving. It took Flor and myself 2 days to get there and 3 days to get back. We drove about 3500 miles and nearly doubled the amount of states that Flor had been too. I knew she'd like Missouri and I think she did. We had bad weather for most of our driving too. A snow storm in New Mexico, rain in Arizona and Oklahoma, a dust storm in California, and wind the whole way. We took some pictures and had a good time in the car. We even stopped at some interesting land marks such as the worlds largest McDonald's which is a bridge on top of on Oklahoma freeway, the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere, and the Great Continental Divide. Cool stuff.

2007 - Road Trip To Missouri

To cap the recap off I would have to also mention the new addition to my household that we brought along with us. Grandma left behind a sweet long haired grey calico cat which is now currently residing at NGS East 2.0 out in La Mesa. Her name is Cutie Britches. How about that huh, I now have a cat named Cutie Britches. :) She's really great but she needs a good trim. In the days ahead I'm going to schedule her for a bath and trim. I'll definitely have to take pictures. Anyway, that's about it for my trip to Missouri. I'll miss you Grandma.

Places I've Visited

This post is just for fun. I love interactive stuff like this. Below is the map of all US states I've visited shaded in red and below that all the European countries I've been to. Pretty cool huh? I thought so. :)







There are a few other world maps I could make but I've only been to Mexico in addition to the above states and countries so it would be a waste of space. Check out World 66 to make your own maps, ohh and thanks to Flor for finding this cool site.

Wolfowitz And His Girlfriend

I must admit that I haven't quite caught up on current events during the week of my trip to Missouri but I just read this post that sums up a lot of the corruption scandal at the World Bank regarding Wolfowitz and his girlfriend.

Apparently he went around routine HR practices to secure his girlfriend a $60,000 annual tax-free raise and prescribed annual 8% tax-free raises going forward amounting to huge sums of tax-free money. This becomes particularly scandalous because he is a Bush appointee and the president of the World Bank whose primary mission is to provide loans and banking services to poor and underdeveloped countries, countries which are typically troubled with large amounts of corruption and poverty.

Anyway, it a lot to read and I haven't even taken it all in yet but this is much more interesting and news-worthy than all this Imus In The Morning garbage.

Side note: I can't believe Imus got Time's cover. Ugh!

Child Abuse

So I read this disturbing report today. I thought I'd share. We should all write letters to our congressmen about this.

Majority Of Parents Abuse Children, Children Report

Are There ANY Anti-Aging Doctors Out There?

I am calling my (a) doctor today to schedule my first check-up in who knows how long. I've been putting this off for a few months now... ever since my string of visits to the dentist back in January and February. Now it's time to get the rest of me checked out.

I came across this article 'Age management' is a controversial new medical focus linked from a CR Diary's recent post on the new and strangely controversial medical focus of 'Age Management' or 'Preventative Medicine'. 

Being interested in longevity I read on and clicked through to another linked article: The secret of living to 100 and found the website: Living To 100.

According to their calculator I am on pace to hit 81 and I can raise the bar close to 90 by doing some basic things. One of which is getting my check ups regularly. My life expectancy appears is growing as we speak. :)

Anyway, I think more doctors should get onto the bandwagon of Preventative Medicine and more people should think of doctors in this light too. A doctor shouldn't be there to just treat problems but to help prevent problems from ever cropping up. To quote the movie Patch Adams:

We need to start treating the patient as well as the disease.

Updated 6/29/09:
For those who are interested in similar topics I'd invite you to take a look at How To Live A Longer Life for some relevant information on disease prevention and longevity.

Google's Free 411 Service

Well Flor and I got back from our long road trip last night. The trip was not really a trip inspired by adventure but it was fun for the most part nonetheless. Anyway, since I've been back I've been trying to catch up on what's happened in the world over the past week and as I was surveying my backlog of stuff in Google Reader I found this post from My Money Blog regarding important and extremely handy 800 numbers to have in one's phone. Too bad I didn't have some of these for the trip... especially Google's free 411 service: 1-800-GOOG-411 and for driving directions among other things: 1-800-555-TELL. I guess I know now for my next road trip.

Fight Cancer before You Get It

Considering my last post I thought this article from Healthbolt.net was of particular relevance. Eating your berries consistently can help fend off cancer and keep it from ever attacking in the first place.

Eat strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. They all contain phytochemicals that appear to reduce cancer risk. Those chemicals apparently block metabolic pathways associated with cancer development. They also contain antioxidants in anthocyanins, a substance that gives them their great blue, red and shiny black colors. Every week you should eat one to two servings (one serving equals one half cup).

There you go. Maybe I'll have to do this from time to time and expect a longer, healthier life.

Death In The Family

Today my Grandmother, Betty Arlene Mounts (Wells) passed away from a long bout with cancer. She was 81 years old, window to my Grandfather Ben Carol Mounts, mother of four, and grandparent of six. She will be dearly missed by the whole family. I will be attending her funeral on Monday, April 9, 2007 back in Ozark, MO.