John Stone's Picture Gallery and Video Archive

[John Stone]

Thanks for all the supportive posts and encouragement.

Yesterday's update was hard for me to write. A couple weeks ago I resolved to improve, and I failed again. I'm not the kind of person who says he's going to do something and then fails to come through, and that's something I'm proud of. So it was quite a blow to my ego to sit down yesterday morning and write about how I've failed to live up to something I said I would do.

Maybe there's some truth to my body craving more calories right now and maybe stress is playing some part in this. I can sit here and come up with excuses all day long, but excuses get us nowhere. It comes down to me being mentally tough enough to stay the course even when conditions are not optimal.

Honestly, I'm pissed off at myself right now. I'm fighting mad, and that's probably just what I needed.

[comp818]

John, after reading your today's update, I was just wondering what industry Lisa is in.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by comp818

John, after reading your today's update, I was just wondering what industry Lisa is in.

She's a pole dancer with Lockheed Martin, or she's in management. I always get it mixed up.

[Andrew M]

Originally Posted by JS

pole dancer with Lockheed Martin

Shame you live in the south-east not the south-west. Skunk-works would have been much cooler!

[Buster]

Hey John, nice update today. Really liked the words about getting back on the wagon now rather than later. Keep up the good work.

[Croz]

Originally Posted by Buster

Hey John, nice update today. Really liked the words about getting back on the wagon now rather than later. Keep up the good work.

Yeah, that was great. We all have a tendency to want to start on 'natural' starting points (new week, new month, new year, etc) but that's just putting it off and leading to a greater delay!

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Buster

Hey John, nice update today. Really liked the words about getting back on the wagon now rather than later. Keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by Croz

Yeah, that was great. We all have a tendency to want to start on 'natural' starting points (new week, new month, new year, etc) but that's just putting it off and leading to a greater delay!

Thanks guys, I'm glad you got something out of it.

I know I didn't say anything groundbreaking there, but sometimes it helps to hear it. Shoot, right now I'm dying for a cheeseburger and kettle chips, and I have all the stuff right here to make that if I want. But I'm going to start heating my chicken breast up and then make some broccoli. I'll be glad I did in the morning, and my planned cheat meal later this weekend will taste that much better.

[Reno]

Hopefully that great weather you have over there will hold out for another 6 weeks or so until i get to Florida!

Loving your updates John. I'm glad you're always completely honest with them. Let's us know you're mortal at least.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Reno

Hopefully that great weather you have over there will hold out for another 6 weeks or so until i get to Florida!

It sure hasn't shown many signs of letting up! We've had a few spots of rain/cloudy days, but for the most part November was the most beautiful stretch of weather I've seen in a long, long time.

Originally Posted by Reno

Loving your updates John. I'm glad you're always completely honest with them. Let's us know you're mortal at least.

Very mortal. Glad you are digging the daily updates!

[Merk]

Originally Posted by Reno

Hopefully that great weather you have over there will hold out for another 6 weeks or so until i get to Florida!

Loving your updates John. I'm glad you're always completely honest with them. Let's us know you're mortal at least.

I hear that! I've been reading his updates every morning for the past few years, ever since he inspired me to hit the gym. What pisses me off is when I beat him to an update (meaning I check the site in the morning and it isn't updated yet). It isn't easy to admit to hitting some bumps in the road when it comes to diet and training. Props to ya John for doing so.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Merk

IWhat pisses me off is when I beat him to an update (meaning I check the site in the morning and it isn't updated yet).

Ah, just check it at 9:00 AM Eastern time (or after) and you'll never be disappointed. After nearly five years of daily updates, I've never been late updating the page.

[Merk]

Originally Posted by John Stone

Ah, just check it at 9:00 AM Eastern time (or after) and you'll never be disappointed. After nearly five years of daily updates, I've never been late updating the page.

Lol, I cured that issue recently. I started to sleep in till around 8:30-9:00am. So now I can look forward to your lovely updates. The worst was when I was working for a furniture company doing delivery. I was gone by 7 am and sometimes didn't get home until 1:30 am (seriously) So there were times I would read them half asleep, not remember them and then have to re-read them on my days off. Alone your dedication to updating the site everyday by the same time for 5 years thats inspiring.

[LCJ]

I woke up an hour early this morning and tried the technique you posted yesterday, sure enough I was out like a light within minutes.

[Antimatter]

Hmm, did'nt work for me. I was'nt restless more than usual (takes me a good half hour to get into sleep mode) but the eye thing felt weird, like my eyes were "squishing" back and forth. A little distracting, but ill try it when i'm imsomniac.

[vidasuena]

Thumbs up on the bed. There is a time in everyone's life where the sofa, futon, and then cheap mattress can be made to work. But when it comes down to it, you just spend way too much time experiencing your bed to cut corners there.

The wise, British mom of a friend once said: be frugal, but do not skimp on beds, shoes, or dentistry. <--- Listen up!

[John Stone]

Today Lisa and I accomplished a tremendous amount of packing, cleaning and painting! I'm finally starting to feel like we're going to get everything done in time for the move.

I know updates to this thread have been sparse lately, and not all of you have been following my new home construction journal in the VIP forum. I thought I'd post a few pictures here so everyone can see what's been going on in my life lately....

Today I got most of the Titan (which was disassembled last weekend) moved into the garage. You also can see my new gym flooring stacked up towards the front of the garage. I cleaned out the garage today and boxed up everything (with Lisa's help, of course):



The entire dining room is stuffed with boxes (the drapes are staying):



All the equipment hanging on the wall in the gym (mirrors, boxing gloves, straps, wraps, belts and so on...) has been removed, and today the drywall was patched, sanded, textured and painted. The paint is still drying here. The crappy foam gym floor will be removed and thrown away on the day of the move. You can also see some of the bigger Titan parts here, the Titan accessory rack and the dumbbell rack:



This is the family room. All the paintings and speakers have been removed from the walls. The drywall was patched today, and tomorrow evening I will sand, texture and paint the patched areas. Lisa is relaxing here with a glass of wine and good book. She busted her butt today, and has certainly earned a little downtime!



This is the DVD storage room, and the room I take my monthly photos in. I have about 3/4 of the DVDs packed up, and the rest of the room is stacked with packed boxes:



Another view of the DVD storage room. You can see my amp, the old widescreen HDTV (which will go in the new home's bonus room) and more boxes:



Finally, here's our new home as it nears completion. The driveway and driveway approach still need to be cleaned and swept, and there is a lot of final polishing that still needs to happen, but the house is almost done:



I'll be posting much more in my New Home Construction Journal as we move and get settled (links in my sig).

[carguy]

Hey, John. I really like the deep color of your house and the paver driveway. Both very good choices. Hope all goes well with the move.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by carguy

Hey, John. I really like the deep color of your house and the paver driveway. Both very good choices. Hope all goes well with the move.

Thanks, Mike.

Looking good, btw!

[jchantelau]

Beautiful home John. I love the driveway. Hang in there, hope all goes smooth.

[mepopo]

What kind of music do you play on guitar?