Often in life, things get away from us. We all have goals, dreams, plans and a certain focus. For me, to maintain focus I have to work at maintaining focus. I’m a List Guy. I have lists of everything from my 53 Favorite Movies to My-To-Do list. I have lists of my lists. I have always been a List Guy, maybe not as much as I am today but still, always a List Guy.

I let life slack. I had a job, a good job but I had goals and ambitions beyond my good job. But life took over, as life always does. One could make excuses; I got a girlfriend, my relationship dug into my goals, I stayed with my job too long, I lost focus and thought process on how to achieve my goals. But, all those are excuses. Years pass. And suddenly, I’m at a job I don’t love, a relationship has ended and the goals are still there waiting.

December 27th, 2017. I was there. Not happy in my job, overweight and not close to achieving my goals. Unhappy, one day I hung out with two friends, who shall remain unnamed, and they began to argue over who weighed more. Their weight they each claimed was not close to reality but the weights they claimed were way too close to my actual weight. And at that moment, I knew I needed a change and I decided to change. I decided to lose forty pounds, focus, be happier and more than anything, be better.

January 3rd, 2018 I stepped into CKO Kickboxing on Hawthorne Blvd. for the first time. I wouldn’t say it was the greatest day of my life but it was an important one. The owners, Asha and Alyssa Ross, brought me into their world and helped change my focus. I had always been an athlete but it had been years since anyone challenged me to be better and I needed it.

I lost the forty pounds in 2018 and I’ve kept them off. I began a new relationship with someone I love, I began to write again and I found my focus. I haven’t accomplished all I wish to accomplish but I know I will. Sometimes you need a reboot in life to come to terms with who you’ve been, who you are and who you’ll be. I thank CKO for helping me find my focus and my strength.

Great Bands you may not know (But I love)

Future Islands is one of those rare bands that I didn’t discover on my own (through NME, downloading, etc) but was suggested to me. I’m usually the one suggesting but a bartender at The Castle in Manhattan Beach, suggested them to me after I declared my fandom of Arcade Fire. What a great suggestion. The crooning of Samuel T. Herring has always reminded me a little of Ian McCulloch from Echo and The Bunnymen and I know that’s damn near blasphemy. Future Islands new record is released October 9th and I suggest a download.

Rolando Eats and Great Meals

What a great night this was with this dish and Mah Jongg to follow. I intended for Albacore but have struggled to find Albacore in stores. Gimme a heads up if you have any tips.

Things I hear in Hermosa

“How long have you been in Hermosa,” she asked, questioning his time living in the South Bay.

“All damn day,” he subtly answered.

That’s all for today folks, I’m preparing myself for Dodger playoff baseball and am Housesitting/Pug sitting for my sweetie. I will certainly supply a photo next week. Until then, my friends, take my advice; pull down your pants and slide on the ice.