Top Ten Tuesday: Rocky Point

We have our annual family trip to Rocky Point, MX coming up and I couldn't be more excited to head down south of the border! My family has been going for 30+ years and now bringing a family of my own is a dream come true. Here are the top ten things I love about the Rocky Point trip.

The drive down - We usually have 20-25 or so people caravan down at the same time to Mexico and stop at the same places every year. Since half of us are coming from Phoenix and the other half Tucson, we meet at a town called Why before heading down into Mexico. We usually stop at an ice cream shop right on the border before crossing and the taste of that ice cream signals to me the trip has officially begun!

The changes in Sonora - It's been amazing to see the first border town we drive through in Mexico change over the years. They are constantly building and are looking more and more like a "city" instead of a town in a third-world country. Don't get me wrong, they still have mainly dirt roads, plenty of buildings in shambles and are behind about 30 years, but progress is happening.

The first peek at the ocean - On the drive down, you always get the first peek at the ocean at the same spot. I can visualize that scene in my head right now because I have seen it so many times. The desert landscape changes to sand dunes, the dunes seem to roll for miles, and then all of the sudden, a bright blue ocean.

The first breath - I love taking in that sea air after we park the car at the house. The crispness of the air. The humid feeling on the skin. The sounds, the smell; it all brings back so many memories.

The assembly line - After traveling down as a large family for 30+ years, you learn some things. My family has learned to unpack and set up with the best of them. You should see how quickly we can unpack 6-8 cars! People are coming and going in all directions, taking stuff out of the nearest vehicle and then putting it where it needs to go. I'm telling you, we're a machine.

Sand beneath my feet - The first walk on the beach is always nice. We've been going to the same beach house now for about 8 years or so and the beach is literally steps away from the backdoor. Taking that first walk down the beach and dipping my toes into the ocean is always such a treat.

The meals - In Rocky Point, each family is assigned a day in which they take care of preparing and cleaning up each meal. We have many of the same meals each year and I always look forward to them. The dinner nights are usually hamburger/hot dogs, BBQ chicken, Shredded Beef Nachos, Steak and chicken soup. My family is in charge on steak night, so I really have to hone in on my grill skills!

The conversations - I don't get to see my extended family as much as I would like (mostly only on holidays), so it's nice to be able to catch up with everyone while we're down there. We have fives days to get all of the updates on what's going on with everything and there is always a surprise or two each year that I had no clue of regarding someone in the fam.

The bread/tortillas - I love the fresh tortillas and bread that we get each year. I know bakeries are here in AZ as well, but there is just something about the bakeries in MX that get me every time. The smell and the variety is always so awesome to take in. Plus, it always seems so cheap...and yummy.

The joy - Everyone has so much fun on this trip. And now, I especially love to see Mckenna running around with her cousins with a gigantic grin on her face. She loves the ocean, sand, sun and everything else that comes along with this trip.

Writing this blog post has me even more excited than before! We are so blessed to be able to do this each year and the fact that I'm taking my own young family is a dream come true :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Things Learned Through (and Loved) About Running

It's not Monday, but I'm (Mandi) posting anyways because when I posted yesterday I realized the last post before mine was Thursday's...clearly Ronnie needs a little back up.

I have been re-inspired to run the last month. We have been doing our HIIT classes the last 3 months and I have put running on the back burner, but while on vacation I went on a couple long runs by the ocean and fell back in love (does anyone else have a love-hate relationship with running?) I also did that half marathon last week, which drove me to want to step up my running game. I decided this week to increase my miles and enjoy some time with my feet on the pavement. Here are the top ten things I have learned through running and that keep me in love:

10. Practice makes perfect. Very few people can lace up their shoes for the first time and go for a long run. It takes time. While I love things that I'm good at, I also love a challenge and knowing that I can continually get better at something.

9. My body will adapt. I once had a soccer coach tell me that, "your body is unlike any other machine, it will adapt to the stresses you put on it." This has been one of the most monumental statements in my life. I repeat it to myself during long runs. I encourage myself with it when I'm in our class and it feels like I can't do another clean and press or another burpee. I tell it to myself when I don't feel like working out. Because I know that if I push myself I get better, but that the opposite is also true. If I sit around, my body will adapt in the wrong direction. Running has showed me this without fail, every time I step up my running, I can run farther and farther.

8. My brain is more powerful than my body. There are times when my body screams to stop. To walk. To take a shortcut home. But somehow my mind can overpower what my body is telling me. I have to admit, the positive self talk in my head is something I rarely share with people, as it may be some of the most embarrassing mental dialogue of all time. But it is incredible what your body can do when your mind tells it that it will be done. I may or may not think to myself "legs engage" before a big hill. There's a chance I have "raced" the mailman down a stretch of road while trash talking him in my head, "I'm on foot and keeping up...what's up now?!" (Please erase that from your brain). I repeat over and over, "you're not in pain, you're just tired. Being tired isn't a good enough excuse to stop," probably 35 times on any given run. It works every time. #Brainsareawesome.

7. I will never be the best - and that's ok. I know I will never be the best runner on planet earth. For a type-A who's a perfectionist, not being the best at something makes me uneasy. I am driven by success. I like to be the best (yes, I said it...and I know I'm not alone, so no snickers, peanut gallery). But running is one thing I know I will never be the best at. I will never win a race. I will never be the fastest or be able to run the farthest. There's something healthy about being forced to sit in the middle of the pack - and learn to feel comfortable with being average.

6. I am intense. I am certain my husband, brother, and parents all just laughed reading that. This is no secret. I'm pretty sure even my dog knows this about me. But running has taught me just how intense I can be. I can push. I can feel like I'm about to faint and still put one foot in front of the other. In fact, Ronnie refuses to run with me, in part because of my intensity...but also in part because...

5. I can be happy even if I'm not comfortable. No one likes that person during a tough workout. I am that person. I have learned in a big way through running that my feelings don't need to be dictated by how I feel. If I'm uncomfortable, it's healthy to be joyful in the place you currently are. Running had taught me to be comfortable with discomfort. To look around at beautiful surroundings while my body aches. To thank Jesus for two legs that burn. I have tried to let this bleed into other aspects of life. In fact, I know for certain it is learning this lesson through running that allowed me to joke throughout my unmedicated birthing process - the reason I was giggling and smiling between pushes. Through running, discomfort never became an excuse for a bad attitude.

4. People bond over shared interests. Ground-breaking? No. But seriously, how cool is it that two runners passing on the street almost always smile or wave at each other.

3. The best thinking is done alone. Sometimes the world is noisy. We live in a world of constant communication and influence from others. Running allows time alone with me and my thoughts. And my best thinking can be done when I'm alone with my thoughts.

2. I'm competitive with myself. I am a competitor. I like a good competition. I really love competition with myself. I like to better myself. I like to show the me of yesterday what's up. Running has showed me this through and through. It kills me if my run today was slower or shorter than yesterday. I've learned I really can refine myself more through competition with myself verses with others. I can't always be better than others, but I can always be better than I was yesterday.

1. My body is a gift. I have been given all the tools I need to be active. I have been given a machine that will get up and move. We all have our insecurities about our bodies, but when it comes down to it, if I'm capable of getting out and running, I know I need to thank God for what he has blessed me with.

Top 10 Tuesday: Best Things About Hospital Stays

It's no secret that Ronnie and I have always embraced hospital stays. They look different now that we have Mckenna, but we are still thankful for them and still have a lot we love about them! (List compiled by both of us)

10. Absence makes the heart fonder - While it totally stinks to not have Ronnie around, it does make me appreciate him and how much he does around the house, for me, and for Mckenna. So in that regard, it is a nice reminder of how much I love and appreciate him!!

9. Adventures - Mckenna and I have started using hospital stays to enjoy time together on adventures around town. We have hit up several fun kid spots around town and I think we both dig it.

8. Family time - Since my mom, step-dad and brother live down here in Tucson, I don't get to see them nearly as much as I'd like to. When I'm in the hospital though, I'm only about 15 minutes away from them and see them more than they'd probably like to :)

7. Family time part II - Even though my in-laws (Papi and Nana) are only about 45 minutes away from our house, we don't see them as much as we'd like to (if you can't tell, I'm a big family time kind of a guy). When I'm here in the Hole, Mandi and Mckenna "move in" with Papi and Nana which makes me feel a whole lot better about my time away. I know Mandi loves being around her parents and I'd bet that Mckenna loves it even more.

6. Home cooked meals - I often get home cooked meals courtesy of my wife when I'm at home, but there is always something to be said for my mom's classics. When I'm here in the Hole, someone brings me dinner almost every night and it's usually something made by my mom. Some of the meals brings me back to my childhood, which for me, is a good thing :)

5. FaceTime time - It's not often that Mandi and I have any reason to FaceTime when I'm at home, but we have all of the reasons in the world to FaceTime when I'm not. I absolutely love to chat with Mckenna on FaceTime because she always does something to make me smile. From holding the phone super carefully as to not hang up or giving me 102 kissies during the course of the call, I'm usually smiling ear-to-ear.

4. Rest - I feel selfish saying this, since I know Mandi experiences the opposite, but it is nice to experience unencumbered rest while I'm here in the hospital. I don't feel guilty to just lay in my bed or sit in a chair and not do anything. I tell myself that it's an important part of the tune-up process, and whether that's true or not, I take full advantage of it.

3. A chance to reset - Ronnie had been "off" for a few weeks before going in. I am so thankful he has a place he can go, to get better, and "reset". He always comes back the man I know and love and full of energy!

2. Hospital traditions - While Ronnie and I can't do all our hospital traditions as much now that I don't stay down there with him, we still get the chance to do some (Dunkin Donuts breakfast, listen to radio podcasts, etc) when I go down to visit. It's really nice to sneak in a few of them here and there.

1. Leaving - Even though it's a place we don't hate, nothing feels better then leaving the Hole!!

Top Ten Tuesday: Foods I've Come to Crave

Mandi touched a bit on it yesterday, but I changed up ("changed up" see: actually developed one) my nutrition plan about 8 weeks ago and so far, I'm seeing great results!! I started at 182 lbs (in the morning) and have seen the scale get to 163 lbs. For those who are worried, my CF team has been kept in the loop and everything is looking good from their perspective. They asked that I don't get much below 160 lbs, which, has never been the plan so I'm good with that! I committed to 3 months of this new plan, and then I will slightly modify to start building muscle (aka up the calories by over 1000).

There was a big adjustment at first, but I know come to crave the foods I can eat. Sure, there are times I wish I could have some candy or a freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookie, but in times like those, I simply repeat this phrase, " That _________ doesn't taste as good as being fit feels".

Here are the top ten foods that I've come to crave (in no particular order):

I would pick the one on your right every time!!

1.    Turkey Taco - I start out with lean ground turkey on a whole grain/blue corn tortilla and top it with a "Santa Fe" mix of veggies (corn, black beans, red and green peppers and onions) and then of course top that off with some salsa.

2.    Grapes - Grapes have basically replaced candy for me. It's amazing how sweet they taste when I have not consumed sugar for 8 weeks.

3.    Broccoli - I try to eat the mini-trees at least every other day. I've always been a fan, I've just gotten away from eating steamed veggies over the years. I'm glad they're back - especially broccoli.

4.    Quinoa - Quinoa is such a great substitution for white rice (among many other things) and a great change-up from brown rice. I usually put some type of hot sauce on it to give it a kick, but even by itself, it has a great taste.

5.    Oatmeal - I start out each day with a bowl full of steel-cut oats with 1 tbs of natural peanut butter and a cup full of blueberries. That meal gives me a ton of great energy in the morning and it tastes superb!!

6.    Smoothie - For my "second breakfast" of the day, I generally have a shake/smoothie. The one that I've been making lately has really satisfied my "shake tooth". I have 10 ounces of water, a scoop of chocolate whey protein, a medium banana and a cup of strawberries. Gives my body some good carbs and protein before my workout.

7.    Mahi Mahi - I generally have fish for lunch after I get home from the gym and Mahi Mahi has become my favorite. I love how thick and almost steak-like that it is. I don't think it is "too fishy", but I also like that I can still tell that I'm eating fish :) Grilled or baked, either way, it's good!

8.    Sweet Potato Fries - Even before this new nutrition plan, Mandi and I had a lot of sweet potatoes. We love them in any form, any fashion, anywhere. We especially love baked sweet potato fries! We usually season them with some sort of steak seasoning and them bake em up. I actually made a "clean" ketchup to go with them :)

9.    Pasta - During my "re-feed" day, I get to eat a lot of pasta. And I mean, a lot. It gives my body the boost I need after being in a caloric deficit and tells my brain that I'm not starving :) I actually have pasta with veggies and pasta sauce for 3 out of my 5 meals on my re-feed day.

10.   Gum - Zero calorie or sugar-free gum surely isn't the healthiest thing around, but it has kept my sane at times. I have a sweet-tooth and gum has been able to satisfy it for the most part. I chew it when I'm working out...and when I'm not!

Well, that's it. Any of those foods look good to you? Any foods that you would recommend that you think would fit my nutrition plan? Let me know!!!

Top Ten Favorite Candies

Before I get to my top ten favorite candies...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!! Love you and thanks for reading this blog every day :)

These are in no particular order as it's almost impossible to decide...except for the top 3! Actually thought of this post after devouring my second favorite candy today.


Cherry Sours - I dig anything cherry, especially pies.

 Chewy Sprees - Favorite are red or purple.

 Hot Tamales - Recently cracked my top ten...bumped out Milk Duds.

 Mini Chewy Sweet Tarts - You can get a big ol' box of these at Sam's Club...and we did...last week :)

Pumpkin Candy Corns - Love eating these while at the gym...don't ask me why.

Skittles - red and purple all day.

Starburst - If the bag only had pink ones I wouldn't be disappointed one bit.

3. Mike and Ike Original - I've eaten far too many boxes of these than I'd like to admit.

2. Conversation Hearts - I love it when Valentines Day is right around the corner!

1a. Brachs Jelly Beans - I go crazy on these things when I'm in the Hole...love the pink ones!

1b. Canadian Wintergreen Mints -  I've loved these since my Grandma gave them to me to keep me quite in church :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Why I Don't Like the Rain.

I think I finally discovered my kryptonite - Rain. Don't get me wrong, once in a while it's an okay thing, but generally speaking, I could do without it. Here the top 10 things that I don't like about the rain:

10.  Watering schedule. Whenever it rains like it did today I have to worry about the setting or altering the current watering schedule for my yard. Big deal? No, but it's still a nuisance.

9. Shoes. I guess I have to wear shoes when it rains but I'd much rather have dry feet than wet. The only problem with this is that I would much rather rock my sandals.

8. Blue skies. One of the reasons I love living in Arizona is that I can count on blue skies almost every single day of the year. When it rains, I'm stuck staring at a gray sky all day.

7. Sleep. I've never been one to take a nap, but when it's raining all day I suddenly have the urge to. It's tough to get going and get things done when you're yawning and feeling like you need to lay down for a while.

6. Lethargic. Not only do I feel like I need to take a nap, but every action I take feels 10 times lower than the same action that I took the day before. It's almost like I'm covered of molasses... including my brain.

5. Gym. Because of the previous 2 reasons I just stated, you could see how the rain messes with my gym time. Without Mandi calling me out yesterday, I'm not so sure I would've made it. I'm of course glad that I went, but it was tough.

4. Joints. As I'm sure is the case with many of you, my joints start to really ache when it rains. I'd say it's the worst in my ankles and knees, but the pin in my wrist doesn't feel that great either.

3. Jezzabel. Whenever it rains my sweet little dog turns into a scared little puppy. She's attached on our hip, which I really don't mind all that much, until she has to go to the bathroom.

2. Messy. Everything just seems to get a little more dirty or messy when it rains. Whether it's our clothes or the floors to our house, everything just seems to get a little dirtier.

1.  Circadian rhythms. I'm a big believer in circadian rhythms and there's no doubt that the rain throws mine for a loop. I've touched on some of the ways that rain affects me, but I just the best way to sum it up would be to say that it just makes me feel “off”.

Now I'm guessing that most of you out there probably like the rain. For the sake of this blog I of course lived it up a little in terms of stating all of the reasons I don't like the rain, and although I can name plenty of reasons that I like the rain, I still think this list would outnumber it.

So my question for you is: Do you like when it rains? Why or why not?

Top Ten Tuesday: Thanksgiving Day

Haven't done a Top Ten Tuesday in a while and I thought this would be a good time to write one out. With Thanksgiving here and now gone (too quickly might I add), I wanted to take the time to reflect on what I enjoyed most about this particular Turkey Day. These are in no particular order :)

Carving Knife - I have never seen, nor held for that matter, a carving knife in action. Not only did I get to see my Dad work the carving knife while slicing up the turkey, but I actually own one now since he and Denise bought us one for the house!

Stuffing - Denise, my step-mom, made her world-famous stuffing (at least in my world now). I still don't know everything that was in it, but I do know this - it contained bread and sausage. Winning.

Hosting - This was the first Thanksgiving that Mandi and I hosted at our home. We usually head down to Tucson, but with my Dad and Denise in town, we thought it would be a perfect time to have Thanksgiving at our house. It was awesome to be able to use our kitchen to it's full capacity and put our dining room table to good use :)

Family - Like I said before in previous posts, my Dad and step-mom Denise are in from San Antonio to visit with us...and Mckenna :) I love spending time with family, and I love spending time with family even more around the holidays.

Apple Pie - We made an apple pie from scratch (as long as you don't include the crust) and as long as you don't judge a book by it's cover, it turned out really well! It was very very tasty and to be honest, I'm looking forward for another holiday so we have an excuse to make it again.

Gravy - This one really doesn't need an explanation. Gravy. That's it...Gravy.

Relaxing - Don't know if it's the turkey, the company or my comfy couch, but whatever it was, I had a very relaxing Thanksgiving. It was so nice to be able to relax and hang out with family after a fantastic meal.

Football - Thanksgiving and football really go hand-in-hand don't they? I wasn't able to throw the pigskin around like I usually do, but being able to watch it on TV was almost just as nice...and less tiring.

Fire - It was a bit chilly out, so just as we always do, we found our excuse to make a fire. Granted, we didn't sit next to the fire as we had an alternate heating source (more on that in a bit), but it was sure nice to look at.

Heater - Mandi's parents bought us a heater for our back porch and it really came in handy on Thanksgiving night. We sat on our outdoor furniture with coffee in hand, pie on lap and heater turned on. It was glorious.

So what would be on your Top Ten Thanksgiving list?

Top Ten Tuesday: Home over the Hole

It is great to be back in the saddle again! My first weekend back was awesome and I got to do some of my favorite things - family over for dinner, lounged on the couch to watch a movie, college football Saturday, church and exercising. It couldn't have been a better "welcome home" weekend.

I thought I would just list the top ten reasons why I love being at home as opposed to the Hole. I'm going to do the first ten that come to mind, so I'm sure there will be some I miss.

Coffee from my own coffee maker - We lucked out and got a pretty spiffy coffee maker from a yard sale that had never been used. It's the kind that has the water tank on it plus grinds the beans right before the coffee is brewed. The coffee tastes super good and if I'm feeling frisky, I can even make myself a latte.

Walking around in my underwear - Ahhh, the simple joys in life. Maybe because it's hot or maybe because I'm just weird, but I love hanging out in my boxer briefs. I mean, isn't that a reason us guys buy our own place? No? I guess it's just me. Anyway, ask my wife, pants are optional in this household.

No late night vitals - It's never awesome to be woken up at 3 in the morning to get your blood pressure checked and your temperature taken. No such madness around here!

A comfortable bed - The bed at the hospital isn't terrible, but it's also not my own bed. On my own bed I have about 67 pillows and a pillow top - basically the closest I could come to recreating a cloud. The mattresses in the Hole are closer laying on the ground than they are laying on a cloud.

A shower bigger than a linen closet - I like big showers and I cannot lie, you other brothers can't deny. Can anyone guess what song that almost is? Anyway, my shower is big and powerful and I love it. Plus, I can always count on hot water and high water pressure.

My yard - While I get outside when I'm in the Hole, I still don't see much of nature. The hospital campus is made up of a bunch of buildings surrounded by a bunch of cement. Grass and trees aren't plentiful and there isn't a fruit tree in sight. What I love about being home, is finding all of that just a few feet out my back door.

My couch experience - There is no kicking back on a sectional with my feet propped up watching a big screen in the Hole. Instead, it's literally impossible to tell what the score is to any football game because the picture is no bad.

The gym - I do what I can in the Hole in terms of exercise, but it doesn't come close to what I can do at the gym. I got back to Spin class yesterday and loved every minute of it. I actually "took it slow" my first day back and still was sweating like crazy. Love it!

Cooking my own meals - There is only so much on the hospital menu. Plus, I really like to cook and the closest thing I do in the Hole to cooking is reheating left-overs. We've already made a couple of meals since I've been back and every bite seems to be better than the last.

Having my Jezzabel around - JBell really is man's best friend. She is so loyal and loving that it's crazy. When I'm in the Hole, I miss walking in the door and having my four-legged friend SUPER excited that I'm back. Plus, she goes on a hunger strike while I'm gone, so I'm always wanting to get back to her quickly :)

Well there you have it! So what about you? What are those things you love about being home that you simply can't get in the Hole?

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Meals

I haven't done a top ten for quite some time on this blog so I figured that now is as good of a time as any. I'm giving this top ten list for two reasons: one, so you can learn a little bit more about me, and two, because I'm hungry. I'm still doing my reduced calorie thing, so I figured that maybe thinking about my favorite meals would satiate me!

I don't want to put too much thought into this and just write down the first ten that come to mind. I'll give them to you 10 through 1, and you can then assume that I thought of number 10, last.

Vegetable, Beef and Barley Soup: I have to say, I actually make a pretty nice VBB soup from scratch. It's a little too hot right now to whip one up, but as soon as it cools off, it's soup time!

Thanksgiving Meal: I love sliced turkey breast. I love stuffing. I love corn. I love mashed potatoes. I love gravy. I love the Thanksgiving Meal.

Pretty much any slice of pizza: If I'm just ordering one pizza I'll go with a pepperoni with extra sauce (especially from Peter Piper). If I'm ordering two pizzas I'll go with a ham and pineapple. If you twist my arm to order three (you don't have to twist too hard), I'll go with a BBQ chicken.

Grilled Ham and Cheese: I have fond memories of eating grilled ham and cheese with a slice of tomato sent up from the hospital cafeteria. If I make it at home, I will usually combine it with a tomato soup as well.

Blueberry Pancakes for Dinner: I like blueberry pancakes anytime, but there is just something about having them for dinner. The only drawback to this meal is that I have no self-control and I literally won't stop eating until Mandi has gone through all of the batter. I always pay dearly for that.

Hamburger Helper Salisbury: I probably had this once a week growing up and it NEVER got old. Oh my goodness, my mom used to make two boxes of it at a time because she could always count on me consuming one on my own.

Chicken and Rice Casserole: This is one of my mom's specialties. It's pretty simple actually, but it tastes sooooooo good. It's basically chicken breast cut into strips and laid on top of some crazy awesome rice that my mom makes and then baked. I want it.

My mom's Pressure Cooker Stew: Another mom classic. What do you get when you throw beef, potatoes, carrots, celery and cabbage into a pressure cooker? That's right, my mom's pressure cooker stew! Throw some brown gravy on top to make it just right.

Chicken Parmigiana: If I go to an Italian restaurant that I have never been to before, this is what I'll get 10 out of 10 times. I can do it the old fashioned way, on a sandwich, wrap, with pasta, without - it doesn't matter. Put breaded chicken breast with some red sauce and cheese, I'll eat it!

Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: If I'm at ANY restaurant and this is on the list, I'm getting it. Doesn't matter if it's 7am or 7pm, I want this in my belly. I don't even need the mash, but I definitely want the gravy.

Now, this doesn't necessarily represent my favorite meals. This just represents the first 10 that came to mind. For instance, I know for a fact that a shredded beef chimichanga with refried beans and rice would be in my top ten. For that matter, so would chili cheese fries. Come to think of it, I surprised that I didn't think of one of my favorite Thai dishes. Ok, now I'm getting really hungry. I'll stop.

So how do we stack up? Anything in common? Have any favorites that I just HAVE TO try? Let me hear them!!

My Top Ten Favorite Shows (at the moment)

It's been awhile since I've done a top ten list. I recently found myself talking about my favorite shows recently, so I figured I would write a blog about it. If you've seen my other Top Ten Favorite Shows list you may see some crossover, but then again, you may not. I'm just going with what moves me :)

The Biggest Loser - Just got done watching a couple episodes of this show. Lately I've been just fast-forwarding to the weigh-ins and the "big reveal" (you know, the good stuff), but this still has to be one of the best shows of all-time. If you find yourself full of excuses as to why you can't work out, tune in to see what these people can do.

Property Virgins - Although I think the host of this show is possibly one of the most annoying people in the world, I still enjoy watching "the virgins" and their house hunt. I love seeing inside of people's homes and this will usually satiate my appetite for a while.

Around the Horn - Whenever I turn this show on, Mandi says "Is this the show that has grown men yell at each other?". Uhhhh, yup! This show gives me some of my sports fill, plus it's a quick one to run through on the DVR.

Sportscenter - I know that I've said this before, but I could watch the same highlights of the same game and not get bored. I find myself on ESPN.com more often for my sports news than I do watching Sportscenter, but it will always be my go to when I want to fall asleep with the TV on.

The First 48 - This is definitely one of the coolest shows ever. It follows murder investigators during the first 48 hours after a homicide. You get to watch as they search for evidence, interview witness and connect the dots up until an (eventual) arrest. Best part is, it's real life and it's real entertaining.

Hoarders - Another show on A&E that we've been hooked on lately. This show can turn your stomach at times, but generally it has you thinking about picking up the messes around your house. Mandi will always ask me if we're close to being hoarders because of our "catch-all" closet.

The Office - This will go down as one of my top 5 favorite shows of all time. I look forward to watching it every week and I'm already trying to play through my head how it will be with Michael Scott gone.

Intervention - If you haven't seen this show already, you need to figure out a way to watch it. It is intense and you'll be thanking your lucky stars for your loved ones after the show. It's amazing to watch different addictions of all shapes and sizes play out on screen and to see how far the people come by the end of the show is truly a miracle.

Teen Mom - We just recently saw the finale and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm already ready for next season. I wish I could tell you what draws me to this show so much (other than my high school was full of these girls). I at least wish I could totally blame it on Mandi for my love of the show. I can't, so I won't, but I just beg of you, let me keep my man card.

Modern Family - If you're not watching this then you really must not care about laughing. Period.

So how does our list compare? What shows have you been into lately?

The 7 Worst Things About Busted Ribs

So the pain in my side/ribs/back is actually getting worse, so I figured I take this opportunity to complain :) No, I'm kidding...well kind of. Just think of this as 7 reasons why you should avoid cracking your ribs or trying to keep up with the youngsters and "really showing them how to boogie board" only to have the wave swallow you up and spit you out like the rag doll it turned you into.

1. It interrupts one of my favorite activities. This would be sleeping. I'm generally a side sleeper and no matter what side I roll to I can't get comfortable. It takes me quite a while to get adjusted and put pillows in the correct position to actually be comfortable to sleep, but then inevitably I wake up in the morning in an ever stranger position and my ribs aching.

2. I haven't been able to exercise in any real sense of the word. We've been very good about our walks and bike rides fortunately, but I would love to get a run in or go to the gym. Problem is, any sort of a "jounce", and it sends me through the roof. As far as weight lifting, almost every lift requires some sort of pressure on yours sides. It just ain't happening.

3. I'm trying to stifle my cough while not stifling my cough. This may be the most troublesome. We all know how important it is to be able to cough like crazy, well, when I cough it feels like some one is jabbing an ice pick into my sides. The other problem, it's getting worse. Which leads me to my next point.

4. My vest is even now starting to hurt. Today, for the first time since the injury, I've had to turn down the pressure on my Vest. I did the Vest the day this all went down and it didn't bother me, but now I just can't take the pressure. This is starting to get very annoying.

5. The pain will make me lose my thoughts. I don't have a good memory as it is and I often forget what I'm talking about in the middle of a sentence, but this is making it even worse. I'll think of something that I need to tell Mandi, get ready to spit it out, the pain interrupts, and then boom, thought gone.

6. I'm taking pain killers. Many would consider this a good thing, but not I. I have never ever liked any sort of a pain killer. Generally they'll muffle the pain, but I've never been a fan of the side effects. They usually mess with my bowels and make me a little sick to my stomach. This may be the worst part though, the percocet is starting to not even mask the pain. Boo.

7. Not actually knowing what is going on and even if I find out, not being able to do anything about it. So long story short: Got hurt in Mexico, went to Mexican clinic for xrays, xrays clean, not so sure I believe the xrays, got second opinion on xrays when I got back home, confirms clean xrays, told that fractures may not show up if xrays were taken right away, now questioning xrays, but ultimately told that no matter what it is the treatment is pain control and rest. Any questions?? :)

Top Ten Reasons To Get Married: Intro

I thought it would be fun for the next ten days to present the top ten reasons to get married according to AskMen.com and provide some commentary. First though, I'd like to start with their introduction into the list:

Top 10: Reasons To Get Married

Married men take a lot of shots in popular culture. Commercials, movies and sitcoms frequently represent married men as bumbling, ineffective, screwups, suffering under the judgmental eye of their all-knowing wives. Every day, married guys are told that they've given up their freedom or that they've been emasculated. But you know what? Married men don't actually mind all the ribbing. They can take the jokes from the media, and from all of their immature, misogynistic friends. They can handle it all because, in truth, they know they have it way better than the single guys do.

You may think that marriage is for suckers, but we’re here to give your head a shake. In fact, we’ll bet that most of you, if interrogated privately away from your binge-drinking bachelor buddies, wouldn't hesitate to admit that deep down you hope to get married someday. And that's a good thing, because being married is ultimately way better than being single. (www.AskMen.com)

I myself never had to be privately interrogated away from my friends to admit that I wanted to be married. In fact, amongst my friends, it was always just assumed that I would be married first. From a very young age I talked about having a family of my own and living that typical "American dream". Little did we know that it would take 30 years for me to sucker a woman into making that dream a reality. It's funny, I was just talking to Mandi about this subject the other day (sort of) and I'm not so sure it came out right.

It started by us talking about the craziness swirling around all of the wedding plans and the many things we had left to do. I somehow transitioned from that into saying it was crazy that we're getting married and then wondering (out loud mind you), "How did we end up picking each other over everyone else we've ever dated? I mean, I'm still trying to figure out how I came to the point where I said 'That's who I want to marry. Isn't that weird?'" So now that I type it out, I guess I can see why she had that somewhat bewildered look on her face. As I explained away my statement, which she understood what I was trying to say fortunately, I realized that we actually probably had very little to do with it. The ONLY explanation I can come up with is that God picked her out of the millions of eligible women out there to be my wife and for some reason He has entrusted me with that responsibility. To think I would be so lucky still blows my mind. We've both dated in the past, and we agree that we've both dated good people, yet it never turned into this. Something above and beyond our control is at work here and I just thank my lucky stars (God) everyday for giving me this opportunity. It's certainly one I don't deserve.

The Ten Things That Make My (CF) Life Easier

This idea actually spun off from me thinking about how thankful I am for different things in my life. I then got to thinking about how much easier my (CF) life is because of certain things I've either bought, inherited, or stumbled upon. Here is the top ten, actually 16, and why I think they make my life better.

16. Good Veins- Having hoses running through my arms has given me the privilege of avoiding multiple sticks most of my life (except this time). I'm not sure if it's something I've done, or just inherited, but I do know that they have made my CF experience more enjoyable. I've had 30+ PICC lines though so who knows how much more they can take.

15. Foot Orthotics- The jury is still partially out on how much the orthotics will help me maintain my running schedule, but so far, so good. I haven't had any major pain to speak of since getting them made for me (Thank you POA and Lindsey).

14. Gyms- I've lived in Arizona my whole life and so far it's been 100+ degrees every summer. That's certainly not optimal outside work out weather. Luckily for me the concept of indoor gyms has been around since before I was born and I have taken full advantage of them. I've had a gym membership since I was 16 years old and although I have had several seasons of my life of consistently going and not going, the gym seems to always call me back to her.

13. My Friends- I've been blessed to always find myself with good friends. Friends who are there for me when I'm sick, but don't treat me like I'm sick when I'm healthy. They've always been understanding in that a CF life is atypical in nature but that it's important for that life to be as "normal" as possible. Often times it's completely forgotten that I'm "different" and they're always there to hold me accountable if I'm screwing up.

12. inCourage Vest System- Admittedly, I would choose a hand pound over the vest every day of the week. I got pounded by hand for the first 20 years of my life at least twice a day and I think it helped me immensely. But with that said, the vest is certainly better than a sharp stick in the eye and I'm thankful that I have a very light and portable one. I take it with me on every vacation and it's very easy to slap on while I work or browse the Internet. It's definitely an easy way to get in all of my treatments and I know that it's doing my lungs good!

11. Wintergreen Mints- It's probably just me, but I swear I breath better when I'm sucking on a wintergreen mint. I usually will have one in my mouth before doing PFTs as I think it opens me up a little. I of course have no scientific evidence to base this on, but sometimes believing that something good is happening is just as good as something actually happening.

10. Baby Bottle Cleaner- This is a fairy new piece of equipment in my house but so far it has produced wonders. I'm actually new to the whole nebulizer cleaning thing (didn't start consistently cleaning my nebs until March of this year) and I started with a hot pot at first and then moved on to just throwing them in a pot of boiling water. Now, I throw them in a baby bottle cleaner, add water, push a button, wait six minutes, and then presto bango, CLEAN NEBS! It's amazing I tell you and what I time-saver.

9. Protonix- So I used to throw-up every single morning of my life from about 1994 to 2004. This of course can be a major problem because I would eventually just be puking up stomach acid, which is not friendly on the throat, mouth and teeth. I had the same routine going of feeling sick almost immediately upon entering the shower and then about 5 minutes later I would start throwing up mucus that I had swallowed the previous night while asleep. I realize that much of this was probably psychosomatic and had just become a habit that I had fallen into, but when I started taking Protonix regularly the throwing up became less and less common.

8. Insurance- I know that I have some problems regarding insurance right now, but there is no doubt that I have been blessed with great medical care my whole life which has been paid for by my insurance company. I've really never had a struggle with getting stuff paid for, and with the exception of one time, they've never put the heat on my doctors for all of hospital stays (a direct phone call from me nipped that in the bud).

7. My Blog\The Internet- This blog has provided such a great accountability tool for me and a great way to express my views and opinions on CF and life (which happen to a lot of overlap). The Internet has allowed my to connect with people out there that I otherwise never would of as well as keep up with the happenings of the CF community and research at the click of a button. Have a question about Cystic Fibrosis? It's only a click away and you can actually get a straight answer from somebody who is going through the same kind of things.

6. Invacare 50 psi Compressor- Going from the PARI ProNeb to the Invacare Mobilaire has made a world of difference. I've cut my treatment times down by at least 50% and the medicine just makes me feel different when going in. It feels like it is having a larger impact on my lungs and it one of the best investments into my health that I've ever made.

5. My Love of Sports- Everybody who reads this blog knows that I preach being faithful with your treatments and staying active. Fortunately for me, I've always been 100% with staying active because of my love for sports. Whether it was tee-ball, YMCA basketball, high school football, or church league softball, I've always been involved in some type of sport. In fact, my longest career thus far has been coaching football which I did from 1998-2004. It required that I stay active just so I could keep up with my players!

4. Patience- Here's the deal, not everything in life is going to work out the way you want when you want. Throw a chronic disease on top of that and your life can be completely different than you ever imagined. There are ups and there are downs, but I've been given the gift of patience by God to see me through the down times. I realize that there is a plan and although I may not know exactly what that plan is, I know that He does and He'll accomplish His Will through me. I also know that His Will in my life will be 100% perfect and I was the man that he chose to carry it out. Sometimes it just takes a little patience for His Will to unfold, as it's not my timing, but the Lord's.

3. Mandi- There is no doubt that when God created Mandi, He had me in mind. There is no other way to explain that a woman exists that has everything I've ever hoped for and has opened my eyes to other qualities I never knew I needed. She is the biggest reason why I'm so committed to staying healthy. I want to be around for her for as long is absolutely possible. Not only do I want to be around, but I want to be the boyfriend/husband that she's always dreamed of. She is truly my best friend and a gift sent by the grace of God because I truly don't deserve a woman like her.

2. My Mom- When I thought of qualities that I knew I needed in the eventual mother of my children, many of them came from what I saw in my mom. She has absolute unconditional love and I knew that her family was what she cherished most. She has sacrificed more than I can list in order to provide me the best care possible starting in early childhood by selecting a job because of the benefits. She lived without so her kids could live with. She was incredibly soft and nurturing yet showed tough love when I needed it most (which was often). Most importantly though, she raised me to live my life and to never ever use CF as an excuse. That put me on the path in which I still live today, and for that, I'm eternally grateful.

1. My Faith- Truth be told, God has provided everything to me that has made my (CF) life easier. He chose my mom , He created Mandi, He gave me my talents and character, He provides me resources, and He put specific people in my life at specific times. I know that He also allowed CF into my life for a reason and that He also promises not to give His children things that we can't handle. He has already set my plan in motion and has given me the proper tools to navigate through life. I trust His plan is perfect, and thus far I wouldn't change a thing. Most of all, when I can't do it on my own (which is 99.9% of the time) He's there for me. When I need His strength it's available. When I need His grace, He provides it. When I feel uneasy, He gives me peace that passes all understanding. When I have doubt, He gives me clarity of mind. When I have sorrow, He is there to give me comfort. And when I have death, He will bring me home to spend eternity with Him.

Here's how I look at it: God and I signed a lease on my life when I was born, I don't know when the lease expires, but I do know that I'll go WAY OVER on the miles.

Tip Top Tuesday

Sorry about my absence yesterday...and that you had to see me sound asleep, mouth wide open, drooling. As Ronnie said, I wasn't feeling too hot. On Saturday morning, I woke up around 5:30 AM with an upset stomach. I tossed and turned until around 6:30 AM when I decided I had to get up because something was going to come out of one end or another (I hope you're not reading this over breakfast). I ended up getting sick a few times, and then went back to sleep until 12:30 PM. I knew I had to get up because I had to drive up to Phoenix and get everything together for the Phoenix Great Strides walk the next morning (Sunday). So I got up and made the drive to Phoenix, took a quick nap, spent several hours getting stuff ready for the walk, and headed to bed. I felt pretty crumby all of Saturday, but luckily when I woke up Sunday at 5 AM to get to the walk to set up (and mingle with all the wonderful folks there) I felt a lot better. I was able to eat a little bit throughout the day and keep it down, but all the activity and lack of food had me conked out by 9:00 last night. Needless to say, I didn't get my blog in and Ronnie was nice enough to cover for me and let me sleep.

Unfortunately, it turns out that it wasn't food poisoning like we predicted. It appears to be a little 24-hour flu bug that Ronnie ended up coming down with late Sunday night. He started feeling nauseous right before bed. He initially was worried that he was getting a bowel blockage because he hadn't been able to go to the bathroom for a few days and remembered a similar feeling and scenario when he had his last blockage. Hoping to feel better he took some laxatives (in hindsight, that probably wasn't the best thing for him). Within an hour, he started throwing up. He finally got to sleep, but woke up not feeling great and still had it coming from both ends. He slept most of the day (with the exception of a few hours that we snuck away to sign all of our house docs...we close on Friday, but we'll update you on that later in the week).

Luckily we know it's just a 24-hour bug, so Ronnie should be feeling better today. I'm sure he'll update you all tomorrow with how he's doing. In the meantime, thanks for checking in today, and forgiving my "skip day" yesterday.

Top Ten Things I Missed About Jezzabel

I got Jezzabel back this weekend after she had been staying with my mom during all of Josh and Chrissy's wedding stuff. I wasn't around much and the last thing I wanted to do was leave her home alone all day. My mom, as she does often when I go into the hospital or out of town, took her off of my hands for a while. It doesn't take long for me to start missing her, but these would be the top ten things I miss most:

10. Not having my morning walk partner

9. She's ALWAYS happy to see me when I come home

8. It's super cute when I don't know where she is and then discover her out cold on her doggy bed

7. The way she stretches and yawns every morning is hilarious

6. When I'm at Mandi's house I'll take her down to the wash and let her run loose and explore

5. The way she shimmies and rolls around on the ground to scratch her back

4. When she puts her head in between her paws and stares at me with her big brown eyes

3. Hearing and seeing her dream after she falls asleep (she's always chasing something and barking at it)

2. The way she stands at the door so patiently when she wants to go outside

1. Snuggling with her (although she doesn't beat Mandi)

Top Ten Reasons You Know You Live in Arizona

10. You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.

9. You discover, in July, it only takes two fingers to drive your car.
8. People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically 
 assumed to be from out-of-state or nuts.
7. Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
6. Your Christmas decorations include a half a yard of sand and l00 paper bags.
5. You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is clever.
4. You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
3. You can (correctly) pronounce the words: "Saguaro", "Ocotillo","Tempe", "Gila Bend", 
 "San Xavier", "Canyon de Chelly", "Mogollon Rim", "Cholla", and "Ajo."
2. You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
1. You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Top Ten Questions about the Healthcare Bill

As most of us are well aware, the President will be signing a new healthcare bill into law today. Here's my top ten questions about it as we move towards the future. If you think you know the answers, please feel free to chime in :)

10. When will I be able to get private insurance on my own?

9. How costly will my insurance be?

8. Will it be as good as my current insurance that I have through my mom?

7. Will my doctors pay be decreased?

6. Is there a lifetime max?

5. I'm sure there is something else, but I forgot to put a #5 in the original blog, thanks Piper!!

4. Will there be longer waits to see doctors and to get into the hospital?

3. Will care become better, worse or stay the same?

2. Will insurance profits go up or down?

1. Ultimately, who is the buck getting passed to to cover all of this?

What are your questions?

Top Ten Favorite "Reality" Shows

So I just got done watching the season finale of The Bachelor with Mandi and I've got to say, I just don't get it. I, like Jake, thought that Tinsley would be the (2nd) most perfect wife out there. I never thought in a million years that he would pick Vienna. With that said, I TOTALLY get his reasoning. If you have to force yourself to be someone different or feel like you're walking on eggshells around that person, pretty sure it's not a good match. It's so important to find that person that you can be yourself around and not worry about the consequences.

Anywhoo, it got me thinking about reality tv in general and how much I love it. I know that I've done a blog about favorite tv shows, so there will be some overlap, but this is my Top Ten "Reality" Shows of all time...well, at least of the last year :)

10. Undercover Boss - This is a new one that airs on Sundays. It takes a CEO of a company and has him/her go undercover in their own company to "learn the ropes" as a new trainee. It has basically the same story line every episode, but I have really enjoyed it thus far.

9. The Sing Off - I got into this show my last hospital stay. It had acapella groups perform against each other and I was absolutely fascinated by the sounds they could make.

8. So You Think You Can Dance - I have nothing but respect for people that can dance the way that they do.

7. Survivor - I don't watch every season, but when I do, I always enjoy it. This season is very enjoyable as it matches past "Heroes" vs "Villains". All of the character development has been done and now you can sit and enjoy the back stabbing.

6. The Bachelor - I don't understand the choices always, but I do always have quite a reaction.

5. Dating in the Dark - I'm hoping they bring this show back. The premise was simple. Have two people "date" without being able to see each other. Then, once they have picked a person on conversation alone, that person is revealed. Once revealed, they decide if they would like to continue with a relationship.

4. The Amazing Race - My mom got me into this show. I like being able to see other cultures and all of the beautiful scenery, plus, it's awesome to see hoe people navigate through the stress that the show brings.

3. Shark Tank - I'm pretty sure it's my goal to one day be on this show. You simply pitch an idea to 4 investors and if they like it, they give you money. Some of the ideas are a waste of time, but many of them are really cool.

2. The Biggest Loser - Probably the most positive and impactful (is that a word?) out there. It warms my heart every season to see the transformations.

1. American Idol - Best. Show. Ever.

Alright, let me have it! What are your guilty pleasure reality shows?

Top Ten Toys I Never Grew Out Of

(**Written by Mandi)

Sunday night Ronnie and I went to listen to live music with friends of ours to celebrate one of our good friend's birthdays. As a little birthday gift, Ronnie and I bought her a Giant Googly Ball (see the picture to the left) that lights up when you push a button inside. It was a huge hit. Even people that weren't there with us took their turn playing with it. That got us talking on the car ride home about classic toys we still loved as adults. Here's our list in no particular order:

10. Etch a Sketch - You all know this one well. Two knobs on the lower left and right hand sides under the screen. The toy that takes massive amounts of concentration to make good images on even at an old age.

9. Pin Art - What other toy can you spent hours with making your hand and face into metal art? I used to love seeing that I could create, and would find myself fascinated with just the mere feel of it.

8. Slinky - Who walks the stair without a care. It shoots so high in the sky. Bounce up and down just like a clown. Everyone knows its Slinky. The best present yet to give or get. The kids will all want to try. The hit of the day when you're ready to play. Everyone knows it's Slinky. It's Slinky, It’s Slinky for fun it's the best of the toys It's Slinky, It’s Slinky the favorite of girls and boys.

7. Yo Yo - Now, I never was good enough to compete in any competitions, and never attended any conventions. But I did enjoy them and mastered the art of walking the dog and around the world.

6. Lite Bright - Ah there's nothing like making images out of little neon light bulbs. There's no wonder this is a toy that's been around since the 60s!

5. Slap Bracelet - It's metal covered in fabric, it's a bracelet, it's dangerous and removed from the market, it's CLASSIC!

4. Magnadoodle - I think my love for this toy stems from a fascination that it actually works!

3. View Master - Like your own personal slide show, no electricity needed.

2. Rubiks Cube - I've never once been able to actually make all the sides the same color, so I've never actually been GOOD at this toy. But I can waste hours playing with it.

1. Magic 8 ball - Will I marry him? Will my hair look good blonde? Will I get an A on my math test? The answer to all life's questions can be found in the infinite wisdom of the Magic 8 ball.

What are your favorite toys that you just never grew out of. We all have them!