Day: July 19, 2013

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Old Shoe


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A large portion of my home inspections are performed on vacant homes. Some of the homes are void of any indication of past residents but often times there are personal items such as pictures, clothes and various items found in homes. There are times when I see something that makes me wonder what the person is or was like that owned that item and lived in this house. I’m especially curious when it’s an older item located in a far corner tucked away like an attic or even a crawlspace.

Old Shoe
Old Shoe

The shoe in the photo was found in an attic of a vacant home in Detroit. There’s nothing particularly fancy about the shoe but what struck me was the location. It’s not like this attic was a storage area with plywood or boards laid across the structure to hold boxes. This shoe was at the far end of a rather large attic surrounded by debris. Based on the condition I imagine it’s been there for a long time. I wondered who owned it and why it ended up in the attic area.

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Listen up young man!


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Clock
Clock

Time travel, you know the stuff of movies? My favorite movie about time travel is The Time Machine (1960) directed by George Pal. Who knows what the future might hold right? So I am creating this entry for my future self with advice from the younger me. But then again I am not really the younger me right now so this blog comes too late really or perhaps it’s too early. If one day I have the ability to go back to my younger self, read the blog from my older self, take note and go back to my younger self again…Here is my list with information starting for my really younger self.

1. Sure things suck at home but you know there’s a better way and you will one day find it. Stay focused on that but let the anger go young man because it will one day eat you up inside. You will in fact be stronger and progress towards your goal faster with less collateral damage without it. Remember one day too it’s not evil to leave the curtains open at night with the lights on. Come on you know nobody’s out to “get yours” and you know what I’m talking about.

2. Stay focused on education. Find a way to surround yourself with others who have this interest and tough it out please. You do have family members that will help you if you just open up to them a little, reach out with determination.

3. Exercise and read a lot.  Healthy body, healthy mind. Less time on the Atari too.

4. Tell people you care about them. Keeping things inside won’t help you. If you follow advice #1 this won’t be an issue.

5. Remember the things that are important and focus on them, I mean really work at them.

7. I realized this list is thin and I wish I could offer you more advice but you are reading the blog of a 42 year old man with much to learn.

BTW Travel a little while you are young.

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Fitness


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Today we went to the gym again even though I was thinking of an excuse not to. As a way to stop myself from not going I asked the kids if they wanted to go swimming today which I knew they would. The boys swam while I went upstairs and ran. Starting out I felt pretty good but withing less than a mile I started to feel winded and wondered if I could continue past one mile. The mile came and I slowed down a little to catch my breath then started up again. The second mile came easier and I got into a pace slowing down again to lower my heart rate then going once more for a total of just under four miles. Stepping off the treadmill my legs were a little wobbly and I wondered if anyone saw me wobble a little. This is a good start and I can’t wait to go back for more but my legs are already sore and will be more so tomorrow.

My eating habits continue to be good too with my choices of meals today being granola for lunch and a vegetarian sandwich for dinner. I’m not even craving anything bad and am determined to stay on the right path. My guess is by this time next month I will have made great progress. If I can keep the kids involved that will drive me.