Greetings Gurus!

Been awhile since I checked in over here. The place still looks about the same.

I still have my '06 Mustang GT. Still love the car. Sorry... ;)



Hey, I wanted to give ya'll a little update on my life over the past year. For any of you who might care.


Some of you may remember me bitching about my wife here and there...

I tried a lot of things to fix our problems, but her and I decided to call it quits. We just filed our paperwork with the state last week. 90 day waiting period, then we are officially divorced.

It has been super-amicable and without a hint of drama. We both feel the same way, and want the same things...

I am going to move "back home" to Pennsylvania here in a couple weeks. That will put me in Columbia, MO on the evening of May 19 or 20... Just saying! ;)

Anyway, the wife and kiddos are gonna keep living here in the house in Pueblo for the next school year, and we'll hope we can sell the place spring/summer of 2012.

My wife and kids have been wanting to move back to PA for several years now, so we will be reunited (in a sense) next summer, if all goes well.

My bestest buddy from high school and his wife have offered me their home to live in until I can get on my feet back East. I could not pull this off without their generosity.

I'll continue to build my video production company in the Central PA area. If anyone has any video connections out that way, I'd sure love to meet with some folks to see if I can help them out!


On top of the change in marital status, I have made a pretty huge change in my physical being as well. At my heaviest, about a year and a half ago, I weighed 330 pounds. I've lost over a hundred pounds, and am down to 225. So I'm feeling pretty damn good about myself these days. Ready to fight off the ladies.... Or not.

Anyway, I miss you guys, and I hope everything is going well for all of you. If you care to catch me up on your lives over the past year, I will be sure to check back and read up!

Cheers friends!


Chris

Dude, sorry to hear about your pending divorce. I am sorry you couldn't get it fixed for the kids sake if nothing else, but it is what it is. On the losing weight side that deserves a big, Atta Boy! Now you gotta keep up the good work. Best of luck to you!

I appreciate the sentiment, sir! All will be well. The kids will adapt. I know I did when it happened to me. Sure does suck to see your kids cry though. No fun.

I was in PA about three weeks ago, doing a "Feasibility Study" at my buddy's house. I sure do miss that guy, and it will be a BLAST to hang out with him for a few months while I figure my shit out.

I've got about another 30-40 pounds I wanna lose. But I'm addicted to exercise now, as much as I was addicted to mozzarella cheese sticks a year ago. So it'll happen.


I used an app on my iPhone called "LoseIt" to help me keep track of my intake and exercise. I think they have it for the Android platform now too. In case anyone is looking for something like that.

It helped keep me motivated, seeing what my intake and output was.

Well that explains why you sold the Vette for a Rustang.

Stay healthy.

Cheers

Before 330 Lbs:





After 230 Lbs:

Don't follow you, coach... But then, I never did!

Cheers just the same!

that's a stunning transformation, Chris! Congrats!

I need to do the same thing, actually... to about the same extent... yuck...

I will check out that app, but I keep pretty good track of what goes out!

travel safe and you know where we are!

Howdy Chris!

Great to hear from you!
I'm sorry to hear about the divorce, but things do have a way of working out. Very glad it's drama-free..That makes a huge difference, especially for the kids..

Congrats on the transformation!! Great Job!
Man, I moved back to NC in Feb; otherwise I'd have a place for ya to stay on your way through Columbia!

Best of luck with everything!
Keep in touch!
David

Hey brutha!

Good to hear from you!

I hope the NC is treating you well. I sure did hope that one day I would get to meet the MO crew. Just coz I kinda have a kinship with that place. It has always been my "half-way" point between Colorado and PA.

Seems nice, clean and friendly.


Well, you never know where life will take us, and maybe we'll meet up one day!

Funny Chris, I was thinking about you the other day wondering how you were getting along. Sorry about your situation, but there must be some reason. Keep in touch.

Good to hear from you Chris.

Wow, amazing job on the health improvements! Take it as you will, but it also makes you look a hell of a lot younger. I bet you feel better, too.

I have some good friends in Philly, it can be a nice area but I'm certainly no expert. Doesn't sound like you're too worried, even though surely things will be stressful for awhile. Good luck and keep up the great attitude!

Thanks guys! Yes, kind of stressful. Kind of sad. But overall I am VERY excited for the future. It is tough living in the same house as my wife, but only two more weeks of that, I think. Just gotta keep my happy face on and not kill anyone.

I have some very interesting things that may be happening in PA, so we'll see how that goes. I will update as things progress.

I grew up with very low self-esteem, and it has taken me 42 years to fix that. But having my fair share of beautiful women say really nice and sometimes uncomfortably suggestive things to me, really ups the confidence level. It's kinda bizarre, but I am learning to deal with it.

Not the worst problem to have, eh?

Chris - why haven't you left yet???

Going back to PA is prob the best thing you can do.

Safe travels and good luck on the next 2 weeks!!!

Haven't left for two reasons.

1) My youngest son has a birthday on the 16th. I'm having trouble feeling good about leaving on the 19th-20th as it is....

2) I am in production on a few TV spots that are gonna pad the bank account for a couple months.


Otherwise I would be GONE-SKI!


I have some VERY close friends waiting to party hearty as soon as I can get there!

Great to hear from you, Chris! Man, that is a bunch of changes, hopefully all for the better in the end. I'm sure it will be a rough period when you are away from your kids for a while, but at least we have some technology to help deal with that nowadays. Congrats on your weight loss, that is helluva accomplishment! Best of luck with your move, and I hope something great materializes in PA!

Chris - Good to hear from you! I hope all goes well. I'd ask if you would be making Corvettes at Carlisle now that you are moving back to PA, but you need to go to the Mustang event they have there! Much Mojo to you!

Almost forgot what an awesome group of folks there are here... Almost!

I truly appreciate all the kind words and positive thoughts.

It is VERY difficult to leave my kids, as young as they are. I pray every night that I am making the right decisions. I tried very hard to make things work with my wife. It's not fixable.

My kids and I have a great relationship, and they will hear from me EVERY DAY. I know how important it is to have both parents around.

I'm hoping I can get myself into a good enough situation where they can choose to live with me instead of their mom one day.

For now I gotta do what I gotta do, with the resources available.

It sucks, but it will be OK. I have faith that it will all work out.

Thanks again guys. Folks like you can restore a person's faith in humanity.

I should buy a Vettte... . (as if...)

Chris - super good to hear from you brother! Excellent job on the weight loss - I'm super happy for you. I remember talking about it with you as you were starting. Like always, feel free to hit me up for any ideas.

As far as the divorce - I can't say that's bad necessarily. I know you and the wife were having a few issues but as you know I'm a huge advocate of being happy....so BE HAPPY! You've been missing PA for a long time. It's good to go home. I was driving through PA this past weekend on I-80 commenting about how amazing the mountains and landscape were. Not a bad place to live The kids will be along soon enough and that's the best thing for you, too. Until then you can get one of the cell phone plans with unlimited calls between phones.

Sounds like the only dead weight you have left to shed is that mustang

Don't be a stranger and keep us posted on the move and everything.

Matthew

There he is!!!

Hey Matt, really good to hear from you. Thanks so much for all the support. Means a lot, buddy.

What were you doing in PA? Does that happen from time to time? Might I get to see you someday?

I miss all the back roads to cruise on in Pa.
I should get back there for a visit.

Amen, Bill!

Was really missing my motorcycle.

Let me know if you make the trip! If I have my own place, you've got a place to crash!

Quote:

I told all my good friends there that I wasn't coming back until one of them got off their lazy asses and came out to Tahoe. That was 15 years ago.

Where in Pa. are you going to land?

Campbelltown. Just South of Hershey. (Middle of Bumfuk Nowhere) But plan to move closer to Harrisburg shortly thereafter.

I've been thru there.

I was in Harrisburg at least once a year when I was working, our corporate offices were there.

Chris. I'm one of the Columbia Missouri guys, though I have a 1977 C3 instead of a C4.

What are your plans, are you staying overnight? My Wife and I have a guest room you are more than welcome to stay in. It's just her and I, the dog and cat, and my Vette. Let me know if you want to stay with us.

Outside of that, shoot me a PM with your email and phone number and I'll get with you with my info and we'll make sure we plan a meet and greet somewhere where we can all meet and have a few beers and maybe some dinner or something.

Keep me posted.

I'll be in touch! Thanks DB!

Chris - I was in PA because I was driving through to get to NY. I would like to get out there for a Carlisle visit one day, but it's a long trip.

I do however know where Harrisburg is. We used to drive through it all the time to visit family in Ephrata (outside Lancaster).

Keep us posted.

Matthew

Doing my week in review and came across this thread. Glad you stopped in. I can only hope all the changes you have endured will bring a rewarding future. I'm sure there have been and will be umpleasantries. The future holds much in store for you. Pick up the ball and run with it. So what if you get tackled a couple of times. Just keep an eye on the goalposts.

Quote:

And the cheerleaders

ESPECIALLY the cheerleaders!

Been a rather long dry spell for old CSS... My punishment for being faithful.

Great to hear from you Tommy!

The way I figure it, another reason to go to Carlisle...

Wow congrats on the transformation! I wish I could be that motivated...

Wow. It's been a while since I checked in also. I'm proud to hear of your weight loss, it's a hard row to hoe and I'm proud of you for even trying. Diets and workouts are very hard and hard to stay dedicated to. I'm trying also. Divorces aren't eas either but if you are both in agreement, then by all means do what's best for you both and the kids and all will be happy. Also, remember, the Good Lord allows things in your life for reasons. Things happen at a specific time and place for a reason and people are brought in and out of our lives to fulfill a purpose. God won't allow you hurt without bringing some good out of it and it will all inevitably be for your greater good. That's how he works. he won't close one door without having a better one open for you in your future.
And, by the way, that's one hawt photo with that stang!

I'm diggin what you're saying. I'm a spiritual guy, and could not agree more with what you just said.

Thanks for the compliment, also.... Shucks.

Thanks also to Rick. It has not been easy, but buying the next size smaller shirt and pants fuels the fire!

Then there's the compliments from the ladies...

Went from 3XL to L and size 44 to 34 waist jeans.

I used to wake up in pain. Now I wake up ready to kick ASS!



That said, I used to sit in my chair watching "Biggest Loser" eating an entire bag of chips, and knock out a 2 liter of Coke a day.

So if I can do it, anyone can.

Chris... When you move to PA, you will have to get in touch... Mustang or not and I'll meet up with you in Carlisle. (I love Mustangs too... Just different kind of love )

Carlisle is a lot of fun if you never have been. I'll probably be judging cars again this year but that is usually only on Saturday afternoon for a couple hours. I always can use some help with that task anyway.

BTW - Your weight loss is inspirational to me. I need to do the same thing. You know... Get the Big out of Grizzly. Then I could be "LittleGrizzly".

Quote:

Now you ARE the biggest loser!

Don: I'd love to meet up. It'll happen. My buddy in PA and I love to drive to Maryland just for grins, so there's that too...

Matt: Harsh bro.... Harsh.

Columbia Missouri is about 6 hours from here.....

Oooh baby... Don't tease me like that! ;)

Quote:


Chris I'm really glad you'll likely be staying with Sarah and I the night you're in Columbia. It's a shame you can't stretch the Columbia portion of the visit out a few more hours. Either way Sarah and I are really glad to have you with us and we want you to feel very welcome. Sorry, no cheerleaders will be present. LOL.

I'm considering moving my departure back a day to the 20th. Coz that would be a Friday night. So maybe the rest of you guys would be more likely to hang out later.

Columbia is actually only 12 hours from me. I forgot, I stay in Columbia on my way from PA to CO. I usually make it to Effingham IL on the way from CO to PA.

So if Ieave around 5 am my time on Friday morning, I should get to Columbia around 6pm your time.

Cool?

Let me know if the 20th is better, and I'll push the date if so. REALLY looking forward to meeting some folks!!!!!

Quote:


Yeah Chris the 20th is a better night which also puts you in at a better time, which leaves a lot more room to meet with people.

Tyler and I have a C6 buddy who'll make it out with us too.

Tyler?
Andrew?

You guys busy or able to make it to a meet on Friday evening?

Quote:

Friday works for me.

OK, Friday it is. Unless some crazy shit happens between now and then.

About three of us are leaving the 18th for a route 66 trip to Oklahoma City starting from Jonesboro, AR to Carthage MO, Joplin, MO.. Gelena, KS, Quapaw, OK and Miami, OK and Chelsea and Tulsa, etc. We're going the 18-22

vetteblondie! Look who's back!

So, where does that put you on Friday evening, Blondie? Maybe if the planets align, we could combine the two groups?


(Listen to me, coordinating a Vette meet in Columbia, MO... From Colorado.... A guy with a Mustang, no less)

Somebody feel free to kick my ass!

Chris I forgot to mention, Tyler reminded me of this, if you're in the Mustang you're gonna have to park it on the street. LOL.

Just kidding, I really like the new Mustangs BTW. Yours is more than welcome in the same driveway as my Vette.