Day 88 - Chillen in old mall

Today I spent 1/2 day in training then working with families - I had time to kill before my last appointment so I walked in this old mall on the out side of Flint and like so many other long in the tooth mall that were built in the days of SUPER malls - there are many empty stores in them. It is odd walking in these old malls about every 2 stores are empty next to nice little shops and large chain stores at the far ends. There are the odd little kiosks selling the cheap gold and cell phone stuff. In this one there are even a few rented odd ball shops that sell odd things - LOL ---

Still it is sad to see all the empty stores that once held people dreams and offered jobs to people - but gone are those days and here are the shells that remain.

Here is a picture of me chillen in front of an old store --

Stay chilled -- 

Day 87 - Chillen on the 5th Floor

Ok - today was an all day training so there is not much to say -- This is on the 5th floor over looking downtown flint and you know from this view Flint looks very nice -- just don't look to close LOL --

I was able to chill out for a few while almost everyone (and those left did not even ask why I did this - go figure) was out at lunch. I love training's well sort of, I don't mind them is they are something I can use and apply to my job and today was a 50/50 type training - I could use some of it but not all of it so I only lost focus part of the time LOL -- well until tomorrow STAY CHILLED

Day 86 - Chillen at sons Football tryout

Yep I am officially feeling middle aged today - I have my son at his 7th grade football tryouts -- I will tell you this I LOVE IT -- I just love being a dad - It is the best thing in the world and helping my kids explore the world and all it options is FREAKING scary but exciting at the same time :)
I am not sure they are real tryouts or come out and some of you will start and some sit on benches -- but either way it is fun to watch and dream of  the NFL --- LOLOLOL


well here I am at my age chillen while he is at his age running his #$#$# off LOL --

Day 85 Chillen and Smokin

Well today was a busy busy busy Sunday but they as they say slower is better - that goes for cooking to I am told ;) -- So about a month ago I went to a yard sale and bought this smoker for $10 -- I have always wanted to try smoking things (not green stuff either LOL)

Today around noon I started smoking a chicken - I soaked half bag mesquite chips for 2 hrs added the water mixed with a glass of wine for sweetness - the smoke was SSOOOOO sweet smelling all day drifting in and around trhe house - come 5pm I open the lid and oh my oh my -- yummmmmyyyyy is the word - mix that with grilled potatoes and you can say yummmmyy LOL -- Well here is the picture about 4ish...

Day 84 - Chillen 1960 Vet style

Today we hit the road and hit some yard sales looking to Ebay fodder - we did find a few cool items but over all it was just a good time hanging out with the family :) -- This afternoon I got a call from the In-Laws asking if I wanted to join them at the local car show with the kids. Well that as you might have guessed that it did not take a lot of work to convince me.

We showed up and just my luck they were selling Pulled Pork BBQ for $1.50 -- well of course Ihad to get one for me and my teenage stomach I have for son LOL -- Then off to look at the cars there were many fantastic cars and some so/so cars - but in this Pic you will see my old age dream car - I use to say my mid life crisis car for to close to that and no $ lol -- Well stay chilled :)

 

Day 83- Chillen @ football physical

Now not manny people can chill at the Dr. office and if you have had cancer like I have and the treatments that have followed you know that chillen @ Dr office is next to impossible! This time I was not the docotree I was the father -- My 13yr old son is wanting to try out for football and he had to have his first physical..

Yep I still remember my first physical when I started sports --- that is all I will say on that.. ANYWAY - he wanted to be a big boy and go in by him self which did not really bother me to tell you the truth! So he completed the physical and came out all acting cool and I was able to see that my 13yr old son is 5foot 8 inches and 149 pounds - that is my baby boy LOL --- So now on to football tryouts I hope he makes it but I also hope he understands having three guys bigger than him hitting him at the same time will not feel good and will be 100% different than video games --- well we will see --- LOL---

I can not believe that my little guy is in 7th and trying out for football -- sigh -- well (smiles) I will be yelling that's my boy if he is scoring TD's or if he is sitting on the bench!!! Good luck my son!!!

Day 82 - County Chillen

HI chillen peeps --- We went out to see our garden or as I should say wild animal feeding lot - that we have a friends house in the country. We have about 5 tomatoes and a few onions - left out of this large garden area BUT we will have plenty of bell peppers so OLE --- LOL -- every thing else has been eaten by on the good Lord knows what --- I will find out this fall when I go hunting out there - then I will get some of that food back LOL -- 

The nice thing about this feeding lot is that it is in the country and away tom the noises of town - so after looking over our feeding lot we sat down and just enjoyed the quite of no cars :) or trains or anything -- so tonight's chillen pic is true quite evening country chillen -- :) 

Until tomorrow stay chilled

Day 81 - Chillen with MY plant!

I never really have been a plant type of guy - I mean I like roses and flowers but to say I went out and bought any flowers prior to this year would be saying WAY to much. The only flowers I had ever bought was those that I gave to my wife and NO not after a fight.

A few weeks ago I went wondering with my wife and we went to this green house that is like several hundred yards wide and long - this place is huge. I was not looking for anything but my wife NEEDED a hanging basket or so she said - But what happened is that I found this really cool looking plant that was on 50% off.  _ This is a Griffin Begonia--  I liked the the look of this thing so I was like LETS buy it!

Then I found a daisy plant on sale and I was like lets buy THAT TOO -- see chillen day 48!  Then I came to a realization that I am now OLD and actually care about PLANTS!!! Well as long as I don't every wear high hiked pants that are blue I guess I will live -- LOL

Day 80 - Chillen with Mongoose

Ok well another save the world hit thre ground running day- meetings and client session and all the funs stuff that comes with working in the human service field. I have so I am a a loss right now - my only 2mo old MetroPCS cell phone had it's camera die and that has been my main chillen pic taken device!

I reall should not complain about two weeks ago I was out running to yard sales and it feel off my hip and I kinda sorta -- ran over it --- BUT in my defense I did not know this - I went to make a call and I noticed that my phone was gone. So we retraced our steps and there it was at the fourth or fifth sale laying where he parked. As we drove near it I noticed that it was laying where I had driven and I figured I would be picking up a bunch of pieces -- BUT NO! I snaped on the back cover hit the power button and bang it started up! I can't say that from time to time is did not do some odd things but it was working- LOL

Then the other day the camera quite - so I had to use the insurance to get a new one so for $10 I get a new one my camera back in about three days :) so I can once again take my chillen pics on the road:) Today's chillen pic is almost a boastful one - it shows my new Mongoose bike that I bought for my self at a yard sale for $5.00 - these sell for near $200 and the only thing wrong is a back brake had fallen apart and rusty chain GEE I wonder if it can be fixed - YEP -- LOL  So as they say in MO "I dun goood" LOL -- Only real problem is now I don't have an excuse not to exercise LOLOL---

Stay chilled my friends for life is not that serious!!! 

day 79 - Chillen and the Sunset

To be honest this is not been a day that I have been able to hold to the true meaning of Chillen feet - in fact with all the stressors and problems that hit today I was on the opposite end form chillen - BUT - I have made a promise that I will never let a day go by that I do NOT chill at least for a few minutes - so tonight I went out and sat down outside the garage and watched the sunset over the suburbs - not the same as a nice beach, lake or mountain sunset but at least it reminds you to CHILL and that life still goes on with all the problems and everything else that life throws at you!!! Enjoy the sunset and my moment of chillen in a day of chaos!!

 

Day 78 - Chillen with some Wine

Today was another doing nothing day LOL -- My poor wife has been recovering for being ill this weekend and I have been been more domestic-- Tonight I got creative to the level that Guy Fieri  would be proud of -- I took a med size onion, a clove of garlic - cut and diced and seared them in a virgin olive oil - then threw in a yellow bell pepper chopped up - added chives, Italian seasoning, Pepper, and a touch of salt. Then I took a couple of left over BBQ'ed pork stakes and chopped them up and threw them into the mix then seemed it all with a cup of Mascato wine

Well to say it was good would be THE TRUTH -- LOL -- it was awesome! -- My chillen pic is post supper with this wonderful dinner wine. It is sweet and delicious and this is surprising considering the fact it has a screw on cap and cost all of $6.00 - but hey sometimes good things come in cheap bottles LOL --

Well that is it for today off to watch a NFL football game so I can keep my man card LOLOLOLLLL

stay chilled -   

Day 77 - Chillen wtih My Ducks

Well Today has been a rainy day in MI - and I have done nothing but chillen today - :) in fact the one thing about a rainy day that can get to you is ALL the chillen - I did sell a bike I bought for $2 and $50 for it YAY - but other than that I started my day off by making (yes I made them) some AWESOME -Blueberry muffins and messed around on the computers with 3D animation software -

Then I did what any man would do I folded our family laundry and then watched Iron Man - note the sequence here - Cook - Laundry then MAN blow-um-up movie and now Baseball on TV LOL -- have to off set the domestication with some MAN stuff! So today's chillen pic I was putzing around in the garage  and was cleaning up my new to me Duck hunting Decoys (real MAN stuff ) and I thought this would be a cool chillen time-

I got into duck hunting last year and I loved it - even though I shot NOTHING - if you did not know ducks fly FREAKING fast and there feathers are like Kevlar LOL --so yesterday I was looking on Craigslist and this guy had 10 decoys for $20 - I was like um yeah they are like $200 in the store for a set of them so now I got decoys just need a gun, accessible hunting pond with out a boat and have any clue what I am doing LOL -- but I am on my way...

So until tomorrow stay chilled - 

Day 76 - Chillen under Kitten - attack

I know I have done a chillen pic with the rescue kitten but these little things are so darn cute the this one got a second invite to chillen. However I will say while I was chillen the kitten NOT so much - he was attacking my shoes with a vengeance - Now if you look a the picture you will see that I am not wearing socks but shoes -- the reason I point this out is the fact that these cute kittens love to bite TOES!!!

I have to wear shoes most of the time right now - they have this very odd foot fetish (no not like chillen feet there is a reason for these pics!) I am not sure if feet remind the kittens of mama cat and her food supply devices ;) -- or of they just like the soft chewiness of them???

Any way you will see that I have shorts on this is a BIG mistake - I now have matching 4in scratches from where these cute Tasmanian Devil kittens have tried to climb my bare leg when I was getting their food ready -- All I can say is that it is a good thing I am now almost 40 I do not think I would have been able to laugh off the blood and pain at 20 LOL ---

Well tomorrow a much more fun chillen pic for my fans - stay chilled

Day 75 - Chillen with China bound camera

I have been working on building up an EBay sales income - over all it has been a sharp learning curve but it has produced a couple hundred in income. over the last month or so. The thing I have found is that you just never know what is going to sell for a good amount.

I have sold 2 children DVD for 12.50 and a sold a bunch of old fishing lures that did well up to $45 for one and then there was this little 35mm camera - see I got this little box for a $1.00 at rummage sale. I have had it setting around the house for almost a year when I found it and said why not throw it on Ebay - well little did I know that this little thing would sell for $20 bucks - Now I know that is not a ton of money but the cool thing is that it is going to a buyer in China!

I have sent items all over the USA and several to Canada - but this is the first time I have ever sent anything over seas. Now I have to say when the buyer asked if I would ship it to China I was like CAN I DO THAT? I said sure -- now I had to go to the post office to see if I could do that and oddly enough it is easy to send things to China - who knew - LOL -- Well I could not pass up chillen with what might be my only thing I ever send to China. PS this is a camera made in Japan shipped to USA then now back to China - the life of a international Camara...

until tomorrow stay chilled

Day 74 - Chillen with ANGRY BIRDS!!

Ok it is true - I am a victim of this STUPID ANNOYING game - thus the chllen pic -- and yes I love it LOL -- I tried the free version of angry birds for chrome and got addicted to the three levels you get there - I was at one of my clients houses and I saw them playing the game only on a level I had not played!

Well being a good therapist I inquired about the game-hehe - they told me the full game was only $4.95 on angrybirds.com and that there was even a second version - We talked about the interaction and thought that it takes to play this game. I suggested that they could even use this as a family time seeing as they all like it. It was all very professional and therapeutic-

Of course as soon as I got home I downloaded the game on my laptop and started playing but here is the kicker - many of you ladies out there might be saying typical over grown boy! Well I am going to rat out my wife - We had to download it on her laptop TOO --- LOL ---

From a fun perspective it is a very good game, from a wast of time perspective it's only rival would be if you sat and stared at a broken television for hours - it is a TIME EATER but hey I laugh and I cheer when I kill those nasty ole pigs so it is an emotional and mathematical training devied also... RIGHT if you believe that I got a nice piece of ocean side land for sale in Az. LOL

Until tomorrow stay chilled!

day 73 chillen and melons

Today took me back to work in the wonderful filed of extremely troubled families - sometimes I wonder if the guy flipping burgers need an assistant - LOL -- well I ran aound the county and did my thing and then had to hit the grocery store for some supper things..

On the way out I saw a perfect chillen spot - so I plopped down on a nice wooden bench just outside the little home town market and took a few mins to chill with one of my favorite food in all the world - Water Melon -

Now these are what they market as personal melons @ $4.99 each I think personal rip off -

When I eat water melon I want WATER MELLON not three bits and done! I like the melons they grow in FL and CA - the ones that can reach like 3 feet long and weigh like 25lbs -- Wohooo that is a water melon - NON of these itsy-bitsy melons for ME!!

I remember as a teen eating a whole one of those bad boys all by my self -- yes I was going to the bathroom a lot but it was WELL worth it! LOL -- well for today and because we are a prepackaged one size fits all world now -- I chilled with these sad little expensive melons - O well times change but desire to eat REAL water melons lives forever!

Until tomorrow stay chilled

Day 72 Chillen @ supper

Today my wife and I celebrated our anniversary that was on last Friday but we had money today :) - So what do couples do on the 16th anniversary day - Well we got up this morning and went out for coffee then ran errands for most of the rest of the day - when we were not running errands we played some Wii bowling which she beat my A** royally LOL --

Then after caring for our rescue kittens we slipped out to supper at one of our local spots - I like sitting on the patio because the noise level in the place is just WAY to high and tonight was a almost perfect MI summer night -- 68 degree and only spotty clouds :)

Until tomorrow stay chilled

Day 71 - Chillen in the Corn

Well today is Sunday and we don't go to morning church - so we got up this morning and went out to the Church of Starbucks and used a gift card to get some spirit lifting latte's. My spirit does not get as lifeted as it use to in my youth - I use to get a quad (4) shots of espresso in my Venti Vanilla Latte - but that was before I had that little cancer thing in my stomach now it is just a plain Ventievery now and then - :)

We got that Coffee and took a nicce ride in the country - The one thing that living in MI allows you to do is get away from people and ride in the country. It may not be completed isolated but far enough between people that you can breath and feel free for the all seeing eye of a sub division.

During this time of the year the Sweet corn in MI is at the picking stage so I thought why not stop and chill with some of Mi sweet corn crops -- :) so I pulled on over popped open the door

and chilled with the corn - I would have actully walked into the corn field except two things - 1 - it had been raining and it was all muddy and 2 - most farmers have GUNS in MI and stealing corn can get a guy shot LOL

So chilline out the car door is what it is :)

Until tomorrow stay chilled

Day 70 Chillen with Iron Giants

Today we hit the road - Driving 150 miles north to see my mom - there is a rest area that we always hit just outside of Clare MI - This rest area has these 9 foot tall iron art piece that honors the road construction workers in MI.

How could I pass up the chance to chill with these Iron Giants :)

All I can say is I get some very interesting looks when a 6'4" 28oish guy lays down in the middle of a walk way for a pic of his feet and some art LOL

Well worth it for a chillen Pic :)

Day 69 - Chillen @ Fun Park

Today is my anniversary - I have been married to my wonderful wife for 16 year!!!! I could not be more content or happy in this part of my life than I am right now. So why then you might ask is my chillen pic showing my daughter and my feet at play park map??? The answer is simple - I took the kids and went to a company sponsored picnic at CJ Berrymores near Detroit and she stayed home!

OK before people get to upset at me - My wife and I had AGREED to do this long before today @ she was supposed to have come along but the only thing we did not see was the fact that she was going to have to stay home and rescue kitty sit while we went :( and :) --- (we are celebrating on Monday when our kids will be at G-mas for a week :)))))) )

CJB's has 4 go-cart tracks - 36 holes mini golf - bowling - rock climbing - batting cages - bumper boats and more.... We started this chillen day off at 11am and finished a 3pm -- My chillen feet are tried!!!! LOL -- but my spirit is full of joy playing with my kids!!! it does a heart good to just beat your teen age son at go carts LOL!!!

Until tomorrow STAY CHILLEN!!

Day 68 Chillen in the Sky

You know that some days working with problem families the problem is – that you become so accustomed to abnormal being normal that when abnormal become abnormal it reminds you of how far from the social “normal” you really work! This has been one of those reminder weeks J

In today's pic I was sitting in a park under a tree chillen due to the need to regroup! I found a very nice little tree and sat down and laid back -- I took a few breaths and just watched the clouds float through the air and thought about the old song from Wizzard of Oz - "Blue Birds fly why can't I" it would have been a very pleasant day to fly over the world just float away!

The blue sky the puffy clouds and a flag over the fire station - just thought there is a good chillen pic! One of the most amazing places is looking out the window of airplane and looking at the top of the clouds like the ones in the pic today -

It would be a fun place to fly like an Eagle soaring in and out of the mist and swooping around the tall spires if the clouds - and just think of the quite -- DEEP BREATH IN --- and sighhhh

Visualization is a very good chillen technique :) So that is what this chillen pic is all about allowing all the stress of the day to fly away! -

Until next time stay chilled!

Day 67 - Chillen at My Office

Ok - this chillen pic is not a 100% pure chillen to be honest with but it does embody the spirit of chillen. Se today in MI it is one of those summer days that I absolutely love! It is bout 75 degrees and there is a light breeze and semi-cloudy sky with bright blue in between the clouds.

I had just finished working with a client and had to complete the paper work for that meeting and several others. This takes about an hour of working on the laptop. I was very excited about haivng my job today - I swung into Mc Donalds grab an unsweet tea and headed for the park over looking a lake. I sat at this picnic table and speard out my office :))))

I could not think of another day in any office I had ever been in that could compare to this office. I have been in tower office 45 stories above city skylines and in huge mahogany filled CEO offices but none of them matched the grandness of this office. Trees, water, breeze and peace! It is not often you can chill and fill content while you are at work!!!!

Until Tomorrow stay chilled.

Day 66 - Chillen under a tree

You know when it come to chillen in the summer is there a better place to enjoy a few mins of quite than in the shade of a tall tree with the wind blowing. I have enjoyed many times sitting under tress on hot summer days in MI so this chillen pic is nothing new for me but more of return to a wonderful relaxation.

There is something awe inspiring about watching the leaves blow and hearing the rustle - it brings the power of nature into focus for a moment. I always feel a little small next to a tree looking up at it. I am 6'4" so most of the days I tend to look down on everything around so looking up at a powerful old tree is something that makes me feel small yet comforted in that life is much bigger than me.

I have always wanted to see the Red Woods in Ca. I can not imagine a 300ft tall tree. Who knows maybe before the end of this year maybe I can get out and get a chillen pic there but seeing I don't have a lot of money to fly there I doubt it will happen but YOU just never know - I am trying to figure out how to take my chillen pic on the road :)

Until tomorrow Stay Chilled -- :)

Day 65 - Chillen with Kitty king of the mountain

Well my day did not go the way I had it planned - I had several clients to see today but that crashed and burned with computer problems so reschedule later this week -- I got home and got buried under reports and other business issues -

I took sometime when the glitches and crossing T' and Dotting I's started to get to me -- I needed to chill so I went into the living room and played with the Triple Trio of Cuteness Rescue Kitties! in this chillen pic my feet was the lunching pad for the kitty on the bottom that was trying hard to knock of the top cat :)

Now I want to explain in the pic you see little straps around their bellys - well these are actully collars that will not fit their necks so we VERY loosely use them as belly collars -

WHY you ask -well these kittens are thre exact CLONES you can not tell them apart!! SO fir our sanity and their health we added the belled belly collars LOL -- I promise you they are safety break away collars :) when we rescue kitties we do it right - weird but right LOL

Day 64 - Chillin with Star Trek Next Gen

Today I have done a whole lot of KITTY sitting - so chillen was only when they are sleeping - April and kids headed off to the store and the kitty's were sleeping so I decided to chill with one of my Favorite SciFi shows Star Trek the Next Generation!

I know that Trekkies are supposed to be loyal to Capt. Kurt and Mr. Spock but I have to admit I like Capt. Picard and #1 Riker - Lets not forget counselor Troy -- but then how could any one for get that character :) -- I will get hit from my wife later LOL -- but I really enjoyed the this show and so I took some time to chill with the Next Gen while my family was out - They are low brows and can not appreciate Capt. Picard -

So in the words of Star Trek Capt. Picard - "Set course to chillen - maximum warp @ make it SO..."

Day 63 - Chillen In the Garage

Day 63 - chillen in the garage - see in Michigan there is and odd thing that happens in the summer - most people that have a garage turn into EXTRA room - we sit in the edge of and look out on our world like we are on the deck of penthouse over looking the skyline of of the world.

I dont really know why we do this but it is what we do - I have seen some of the new inventions this year and that is a full screened in snap in place garage door!!! That is the BOMB for garage sitters LOL ---

Stay chilled

Day 62 Chillen during chillen :)

Day 61 - In this chillen pic today it seems to me to be an oxymoron - To say I am chillen while playing golf seems odd - HOWEVER I contend that if you play golf the way I do which is bad and you walk and do not use a cart THEN ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury - This picture is a legitimate Chillen pic -

We are on whole # 7 and may I remind you we walked the course, WHICH is harder for out of shape american males - and after using the port-a-potty I had to wait for the rest of the guys (my son and father-in-Law to take their turn AND THEY TOOK THERE TIME (hint hint if you guys read this) - Because I have this wonderful mind set I was able to CHILL -- I propped up my feet and just Chilled and refocused on the last few holes - THIS IS A REAL CHILLEN PICTURE even though plying golf is it self a chillen activity!!!

PS - It did not really help me do any better on the last hole but at least I chilled :)

Day 61 Chillen with chips

Today's chillen picture was taken at a time today that I had to refocus on a client and the family they are from - I was sitting on a bench over looking a playground trying to find new ideas - SO I could not think of a better refocus on way to do this then taking a chillen time --

I have to say that sitting there looking at the play ground seeing the "normal" kids playing I started to wonder why society take people and put them into categories. Chillen is a time of reflection - on sky blue day with puffy clouds floating over it is easy to do as the song says - Imagine there is no heaven, hell, war or (my addition) categories for people!

I enjoyed the chillen and thinking today and yes I did come up with a some new ideas :)

Until tomorrow stay chilled :)

Day 60 Chillen with Bowling Feet pile

Today is month number 2 :) --- When I started this chillen journey there was no intention to do this every day for the last two months but it has been a blast everyday reminding myself that life is NEVER to extreme or to busy to find a moment to CHILL - or relax and smile :)

Yesterday I worked a long time and today I hit the ground running again early so --- this afternoon I took a CHILLEN afternoon with my kidos - I signed them up for 2 free bowling games for the summer and so I took them today to have a little time out- I could not think of better way to chill then in a pile of bowling feet :) ---

The only sad part if what happened today is that dad won the first game 148 to 104 & 105 - but lost to my 10yr old girl 121 13yr old son 119 to my sick 104 LOL --- well every teacher wants the students to pass the teacher.

Well on to the next 10 months of chillen..

Day 59 - Chillen @ 7/11

Ok - today was a long day - the rescue kitten did not go to sleep until 12:15am and I had to go to work @ 8am - We got us at 7am and I finished my last family session today at 8 pm -- I did get home in time to grill up some stakes and zucchini for the family and sit down and have super with them :) split up work days are not that fun but it is what is -:)

Today chillen was in need - On the way to my last session I had to take a moment to CHILL -- and for anyone that has ever had a Coke Slurpee at 7/11 stores you know that they are a excellent way to chill :)

Until tomorrow STAY CHILLED

Day 58 - Chillen by stream

Today was about a 6 on a 1 to 10 stress scale day. I mean in my work a 6 to me might hit the high 8's to others LOL -- but over all it was a rather lower stress day :) -- I have to say over the last few days I have been able to be part of some very feel good things - First the rescue kittens (see yesterday blog and pic) and second I was able to get a big box of food to distribute to some very needy families - I have moto in life - "try to live in balance with your Faith. Thoughts and Actions all working together :) (see my other more serious blog)

Today I was on my way home and I took the old roads - I just did not feel like driving fast on the highway or fighting the traffic. Along the way home I passed this little stream - I stopped and just enjoyed the sounds of rushing water and the quietness of the country road - I could not think of a better place to take my chillen pic than here -

I will tell you balancing on a small beam to get this pic was not easy BUT for all my fellow chillers out there it was worth it :)

Until tomorrow - Stay chilled