Blackbeard

I've come a long way in the past 10 years of my life. It's been a journey with some regrets, some triumphs, and some failures. I'd like to think that I have grown for the better in these past 5 years. Met my wife. Got working again. Starting to workout almost daily. My wife and I joined a gym last month and it's felt so good to work out again. My knee problems are going away and I'm feeling better than I have in a LONG time. I had let myself go when I moved to Oklahoma and then when I got back to Cali. I'll post pictures of before and after when I get more of this weight of. I want to be FIT and TRIM. I don't want the doc's having anything to say about me other than, "You're Fine."I can't wait to go do some camping, Fishing, and in the market for a motorcycle. I need to get 2 wheels under me again. The sunny weather is just making me want to ride! (Not to mention it would help with my commute.)Rubber side down! Just remember that and yer fine!I'd like to share a little bit about Aloha with you all.. Aloha is often also explained as follows: A - Aloha = love, friendshop, hello, good bye L - Lokahi = working together for a common goal, sticking together as friends, as family, as a nation O - Ohana, family, not necessarily blood-related, everyone helps everyone, noone is left alone (remember the movie Lilo and Stitch : Ohana, means family, noone is left behind or forgotten ) H - Ho'oponopono = a problem is discussed and all sides are heard, either there is an agreement after that or not, but after all has been said and heard, not matter what, there is ho'oponopono, people don't talk about it anymore (pono means righteous in Hawaiian ) A = again AlohaAloha does not mean Mahalo. Aloha and Mahalo mean SOO much more than that. They have a MUCH deeper meaning.AlohaAnother source of the meaning of Aloha. http://www.kaleoaloha.com/ The best description I have found is stolen from: http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/shelties/mahalo-aloha.htmlAl oha & Mahalo [Pronounced: ah loh' hah & mah hah' loh] pronunciation guideIf you learn just two words in Hawaiian, learn these. They are two of the most important words in the Hawaiian language, representing paramount Hawaiian values.In Hawaiian thinking, words have mana [pronounced: mah' nah], meaning spiritual or divine power], and aloha and mahalo are among the most sacred and powerful.Say them often as they can be life-transforming and -enhancing. Be careful to use them ONLY if you truly feel mahalo or aloha within. Do not exploit these words for personal gain, and neither cheapen, nor trivialize their use by verbalizing them carelessly or without sincerity.Aloha and mahalo are ineffable, indescribable, and undefinable with words alone; to be understood, they must be experienced.Deeper meaning and sacredness is hinted at by the root words of these words. Linguists differ in their opinions as to the exact meanings and origins, but this is what was told to me by my kupuna (elder):On a spiritual level, aloha is an invocation of the Divine and mahalo is a Divine blessing. Both are acknowledgments of the Divinity that dwells within and without.Aloha [Alo = presence, front, face] + [hâ = breath] "The presence of (Divine) Breath."Mahalo [Ma = In] + [hâ = breath] + [alo = presnce, front, face] "(May you be) in (Divine) Breath."So spread the spirit of Aloha! See how many people you can infect with Mahalo! :)It really is time for people to stop being so pissed off and embrace a better way of living.Mahalo for reading my words.Brian