Time Flies...

I'm very surprised that it's already the end of April. Where have the last 3 and a half months gone and how do I get them back?!!!! It's amazing how the sands of time flow so loosely through our hands. Speaking of time, counting today, I can't believe I recently turned 28 either! o.O I'm slightly afraid. I'm getting older and I feel like I have to be more like a grown up... at least act the part.

April marks my 1 year anniversary of becoming more active and losing weight. I've lost approximately 90lbs and have kept it off. My goal as of late is to slowly lose the last bit of chunk and gain a more muscle to help secure keeping the excess fat away. I've learned even more about nutrition than what I had previously known in this past year... I thought I knew a lot actually. I had lost weight before when I was around 22 and kept off most of it.  At my heaviest, I was around 350 or 360. For the longest time after, I fluctuated around 280-300lbs until recently. I now weigh around 205.

Reflecting upon this amazing transformation in my life, I know dealing with my grief concerning mom has been my main motivator to be active. I've needed an outlet, and it's been a very positive one. I know how concerned she was about my obesity, yet I'm sure by now she'd tell me to eat a few doughnuts, have a slice of her pineapple upside down cake, some sweet tea, along with some of her fried chicken by now. I wish I could tell her about how much I've changed.  I don't know how I've survived this long without even hearing her voice other than looking ahead and knowing my loved one that remain need me. Life just keeps on going. Losing her is something that effects me every day, but I try to stay positive. I usually keep my grief to myself or discuss it with a select few who bear the burden with me, yet writing just seems to make me think, reflect, and express whatever comes to mind.

Concerning the topic of writing, I've not been as active as I was in 2010. My last journal entry dates are far apart and usually just a few paragraphs. I desire to write, but just don't make the time for it. College was great for me because it made me write daily, helped me see the areas in my writing that needed improvement, and it challenged me to go farther. Without that push, I've let it go to the wayside fairly easily. I do desire to convey more of my thoughts through blogging or in my journal, I just need to act on it like I do with exercise.

We can hope and wish for things to happen all too often, yet until we take action and work on our passions, hopes, goals, and dreams, nothing will ever happen. It's just like a farmer looking out on a barren field hoping for his crops to come to fruition without setting forth the effort and dedication it takes to make it happen. I've proven to myself that I can, I just need to do. Herein lies one of my ultimate goals and that is to be more of a doer and less of a sayer.

Thankfully, I have been active for some time at reaching this personal goal. I'm seeing some successes that I've been very happy with lately. One has been improving my career. I'm glad within the past 6 months that I've passed this fantastic marker with a job I now love. Life Works has been a  great experience for me. I never knew how rewarding working there could be. I can't say every day is full of sweetness and happy feelings. It can be challenging, yet I know I'm making a difference in a life. It's exciting to see that difference too.

Another goal I have is to be more prompt on updating Majorly Mark. One reason I don't is I fear I'm a bore. Yet if I don't write how will I ever improve?  I'm going to make myself a challenge to blog every week with a well thought out topic or perhaps even a new piece of art I've done. Doing so will encourage me to knock out another goal which is to work on my art more. I could also write about my thoughts on a new book I'm reading as well or maybe some of the old things I've done like post about an awesome dish I cooked. It's been a while since I've done one of those. Or.... Wait...  here I am brainstorming. I should just jot these ideas down now and build on them so we can see where they take us. I guess it means I should conclude this long entry then.  Have an awesome week and we'll see what next week may bring.

Free Love Day

I'm participating in a facebook event that is being held all day. As stated, "Free Love Day is a day to promote awareness of suicide and depression, as well as to advocate a LIFESTYLE of unconditional love." If you're interested in being involved, you can visit the link here for more information.

I wear my heart on my sleeve today in rememberance of friends and loved ones who have suffered with depression and for those who thought the only remedy was taking their own life. My friends, if you're suffering know you always have an open non-judgemental ear and a shoulder to cry on with me. :)

A Stumbling Upon

I'm struggling to find the words to create an introduction to the reason for this instant sharing I'm wanting to do with this song. While listening to Pandora, I came across this very song that stopped me in my tracks and it struck a chord within me. I'll be having an actual update soon. One is in the works, and I should have it out by tomorrow. Till, then.

Sea/Space Creatures- Art

   Last week, I finally took some time to sketch. I allowed myself an hour to just come up with something and draw it. I've been in a space mood with all the DS9 I've been watching (going through the whole series on Netflicks.) Here are two pages of sketches I did. I hope to make more time for my art, and in turn, share more with the world. Balancing all my loves is hard, but I'm willing to work on it. Hey, blogging two weeks in a row should show how I'm trying to achieve my goal. ;) 



This was where I first wandered into, aquatic alien territory. o.O
I tried using my imagination a bit, then started thinking about
 all the crazy creatures in the deep. I wanted to incorporate more
of a strange oceanic creature feel to the guy,
so I went to studying the very creatures I wanted to present.
 I still need to finish the guy, but here's where I'm at so far.  



Here are some of my little studies. My favorite has to be the vipor fish on the bottom right. I think when I finish the concept for the space creature, he'll have more characteristics of the realy strange sea slug above the aformentioned fish.



Snow Falling In Longview

As the snow falls gently cascading down to join it's already fallen bretheren, I stand outside absorbing the scene that lays before my eyes. The forecasters said it would arrive around 4pm yesterday. Apparently, the snow wanted to make a glitzy entrance to suprise the sleepy eyes now waking this cold February morning. Here are a few glimpses into what I witnessed a few hours earlier.

Kyle entering work as the snow keeps coming down.

It's hard to see, but it started falling real fast for a bit.

The big fountain on the lake.

Walking about past the pavillion.

The statue of a man playing fetch with his dog.

The iconic remake of an old relic of Longview in times past.

One of my favorite photos of the day.

What happens when one stands in place for too long in the snow!

Reminds me of Odo off DS9. 

Mother nature playing games with us.

A little blurry, but I wanted to show it anyway.

The state flower.

Breakfast time for the birds!!!!

New News for Those Who Love News

"So the science gets done and we make a neat gun for the people who are still alive." Here is a little reference to my last post. If you don't get it,click here. Good song and a great game.  Hey everyone.  Longtime no type, I know.  Even after I promised to write soon, I broke it. It's been a busy one, but it's time for an update and perhaps a little cake.

Since mid-October, I started working for another company called Lifeworks. Lifeworks is all about helping people with developmental disabilities. For more info, click here.  It's totally different from anything I've ever done, but I really enjoy it. After being hired as relief at Lifeworks, I tried working both there and my old job at Burgerville. It was really intense not having a life for the first few weeks. I'd go from one job to the next, then sleep, and get up and do it all over again.

After those initial weeks,  Lifeworks offered me a full time position in which I gladly accepted .  Upon receiving my new schedule from them, I realised I was not able to work both places and said fair well to a job I've worked for over 2 years. Since then, I've not looked back really. I miss my friends at Burgerville, but who says I can't hang out with them now? It's been 2 months, and I can not believe how happy I am doing what I am.  I see this as my career and would like to go back to school to help me improve my abilities in this field.

Since October, I've slowly been losing weight still. I'm down to 215.8lbs. That's a loss of about 12lbs!  Altogether, I've lost over 12inches off my midsection and have about 3 more inches I'd like to see gone! My new goal exercise wise is to focus on doing more weight training so I can put on more muscle while losing the bit of chunk that I still have. I've also started doing this as well when I run. It's helped a lot already and I've been doing it for only a few weeks.

I find a lot of my information on exercise and nutrition for free off websites like Youtube. Here are some of my favorite people so far, Yuri, Scooby (although I think he's a little corny), Scott Herman (again, a little corny, but has great information), and Mode Athletes.  Men's Health has a few good books I personally like also. the Abs Diet, Weight free Workouts, and The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises are all great.

I hope to make more time to blog. I was doing so well for quite some time, but then again, life does happen and we all get busy at times. My reading has suffered as well, but I still do keep a book with me almost all the time to open up now and then. I'm currently finishing up a short tale from J.R.R. Tolkien called, "Leaf by Niggle." Just a few more pages and I'll be done. In my next blog, I'd like to post highlights of my year in photos, so look for that after Christmas. I may blog before then though, we shall see! I'll leave you with this video for now.  The song has been in my head, and it's been a theme in my heart lately as I reflect upon this past year or two.  If you have anything to ask, want to say, or suggest please leave a comment or msg me!

I'm Still Alive!

I've been such a busy person lately that I've not had time to catch everyone up on here.  I know, it's a well worn excuse, but it's true.  I've been so busy with 2 jobs that I've not taken the time for much lately, but I wanted to let everyone know that I will be giving a total update soon on how my life is going.  So, within the next few days I promise to post something of greater substance than what I am posting right now.  Take care and I hope your fall is going great!


Mark