President's Day Holiday

Wow, it was a really nice, beautiful day in Seattle. It sunshined all day. I didn't have to work today, and spent the day running around, as usual. Ate Vegan Buffet for lunch, and a large salad for dinner. I also have a bag of sunflower seeds I'm bunching on. I also spent a few hours hanging out at the REI outdoors store reflecting on my desires to get outdoors and into the wilderness at least a few times this summer. Seattle is near the Olympic Rain Forest as well as Mt. Rainier, 2 premier wilderness designations in the entire U.S. I've lived here for 5 years now, and haven't gotten to either location, but it's on my list of things to accomplish. There was a 12'1" Laird Surf Board on sale at REI too, and made me want to learn to surf this year. I have lots of vacation on the books, over 5 weeks, perhaps I can take a vacation to Hawaii and learn to surf...It's about 5:45 p.m. and I'm still downtown Seattle. I didn't get my resume done this weekend like I had hoped, but oh well
I have to head out back to Tacoma, and then enjoy my 5 mile hike home. It's probably going to be close to 9 p.m. before I get home...

Valentine's Day/Weekend

You know Valentine's Day elicit alot of emotions from a lot of people, but for me, it's a quiet self reflective time to be mindful and loving of all the things and people I have been blessed with in my life. Yep, it's ironic, but I'm single and have been for the past few years, but most peaceful. I admire the simplier things, the quiet, the solitude of an adventure alone. This weekend, I haven't had to speak too many words, nor participate in small talk just to entertain someone else. I enjoyed the Valentine's Day in quiet adventure, it getting out, and being mindful of those moments when life is wonderful, where your mind can grasp the grace of the simple phrase, such as what caught my eye today, "Life is good!" There's a new store at the University Village Mall, selling Life of Good wear. It's simple, but it's true. Love your life and be thankful for all that it is, and not worry about all that it isn't. I was happy all weekend. A simple truth - I am happy!

I spent the weekend running around Seattle, going to movie, eating vegetarian, reading magazines, and books. Even running out to the U-District, University Village Mall searching to see if I could see the new Apple Ipad computer. (It won't be out for 6 more weeks). I asked them why the pronouncement weeks ago, and the so called release of the Ipad, when it's not even available for another 2 months? Well, they lost a potential customer. It was a pleasant weekend, a pleasant Valentine's Day, perhaps next year, there will be someone to share it with....

End of the Month, January 2010

My focus this weekend is to see whether I could spend the weekend in silence. It's not too difficult when you're single and spend most of your time to yourself, but it's extremely difficult all the same. How many "thank you's, 'cuse me's, have a great day" I;ve spoken this weekend, but there were quite a few. Otherwise, I afforded starting any conversations with anyone. I had read about spending time "in silence" while reading a magazine article on buddhism, or mediation, I don't recall which, but I thought I'd give it a try. Yet, you mind holds it's own conversations. I've been reading the Noble Eighfold Path, one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, or having (1) Right view, (2) Right intention, (3) Right Speech, (4) Right Action, (5) Right Livelihood, (6) Right Effort, (7) Right Mindfulness, and (8) Right Concentration, and have been to look at my thoughts, my thinkings. It's amazing that when we are mindful of our own thoughts, that we recognize them for what they are; some of my own are terrible, and truly could lead to the wrong view if it weren't from my own self recognition - wow!!! where did that or these thoughts arise from. We live in a culture, a society, bombarded with violence, greed, and selfishness - our higher selfs aware of this, but our lower selfs, ignoring or delusional about where our heads are at. Raised as a Christian, fascinated with Judiasm, and religion, I have to say for practical purposes, Buddhism has universal appeal for creating a better world. I printed out about 18 pages from the Wikipedia web site on the Noble Eightfold Path, and plan to carry them with me every day, so I can read and continue to be mindful.

I still enjoy reading my life extension, longevity articles, and am continuing to try to incorporate some of the healthful behaviors into my life, but that's difficult too. But I'm still walking about 10 miles a day, eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast, and of late, having a large salad for lunch, or a veggie burrito from Chipolte....but I'm drinking too much coffee, 5-8 cups every morning, and still using sugar... Hopefully, this year I will actually enroll and start practicing Yoga, and embarking on formal mediation trainings and instructions....

The New Year Continue's

I lot has been happening in the world since my last blog, there was a major 7.0 earthquake to devastate Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed. I usually don't donate anything principally due to the believe that so many others are helping, but I felt complied to give something for the relief effort. My heart is moved by the suffering of so many, in such a country that has some little to offer it's citizen's even without such a horrific event. There's few people in the world who hasn't heard to devastation or the call for assistance....

I've grown homesick, missing my city I love so much, Portland, Oregon. Today, I saw a the movie Extraordinary Measures, filmed in Portland. Many of the scenes I recognized and have frequented many times over my life. I was raised in Portland, and saw it's development, growth and refinement into a Great City. Someday I hope to move back home.

A personal reminder

I don't get into my blog that often, but during one of my breaks from my desk today, I walked outside and a biker caught my eye, it reminded me that this year I want to start a new habit of becoming a self propelled commuter, and to become a "BIKER"..... Many weekends I go out to the U-District and sit in the UW Bookstore window on the Ave. Right in front of the window is where bikers lock up their bikes, and you can observe the many different people who bike. Of particular interest to me are those people who you can tell RIDE as a way of life. The middle to upper aged, white couple, with packs on their wheels, well used bikes and appareal, scream out their true self propelled. It's like the obvious Yoga/Vegan Hippie styled person, you have to admire their lifestyles...

The New Year 2010

Gosh, It's to believe a decade has past since the millenium of 2000. For me a major shift in my interest over the past decade has been with the science of aging, and the prospects of stopping aging. I'm hopeful that I can make another decade where science may provided me with a few additional years to enjoy life. It's also been a decade of seeing both my daughter's, Lakyn and Nia, grow into young women. I'm very happy to see their development and how well they both matured. I've suffered some fairly substantial financial set backs, but I'm optimistic about the turn around. Of recent, I've begun reading a lot of buddhist literature and find myself attracted to it's basic precepts. I've moved closer to a vegetarian lifestyle, but still eat meat fairly regularly. Hopefully, this is a year when I'll be able to nearly eliminate it from my diet.

Being a man.

I am a man among men, devoted to a life of learning, and evolving becoming aware of the benefits of mediative awareness. I am a man of 70's style soulful R&B, a man who has loved a few good women in his life, and lost a rarer jewel or pure love only once, but remains a man of passionate desires. A man who longs for the perfection of the buddhist precepts, the non-harming, the non-grasping, but recognizing a man of my american cultural upbringing, a man who still will at times eat a great steak, mindful that a cow was slaughtered for my flesh craving. I am a man in this secular age, caught in a world of religiously dogma, a man of scientific truth rendoring his minds eye, a man who sees a future of healing awaiting perhaps some of his decendant's. I am man, who knows life will be brighter tomorrow. Still, I am an ordinary man like you.

Thich Nhat Hanh

I am currently reading Thich Nhat Hanh book, The World We Have, a Buddhist approach to sustainability and environment. I truly enjoy reading his writings. I came across some articles where he and Martin Luther King met to discuss the oncoming U.S. War in Vietnam. He's survived and has thrived in his life. I am definitely someone who admires the Buddhist precepts, but much more, will modify my life to some degree to live accordingly, however, I'm a 50 year old american male who will continue with my daily desires in a consumerist society. Right now I don't own a car, a house, or much of anything of value. I have a photos of Ghandi's few personal things who had at the end of his life to remain me not to grasp so much, but I still would love to have a Bentley Continental GT. I'm still a retro kind of guy, and still enjoy listening to the Whispers, or Maze to Jay Z; and still has occasional yearnings for an angus rib-eye steak to anything styled "fusion" or "vegan", but stick to a vegetarian lifestyle 90% of the time. It's simple, sometimes, we will continue to admire those things in life that have brought us comfort, sometimes they are old, simple, easy listening. Changing a lifetime of being who after 50 years of living makes it acceptable, to simply be a Flexitarian, or perhaps owning a few things. I admire the level of scientific advancement made in our western culture, wherein, humanities future may become some much brighter for us all in spite of our grasping.

Sunday Afternoon

Well, the weekend is winding down, and it's been a fuller weekend than normal, primarily because I've stayed downtown instead of going down to Tacoma which saved me at least 3 hours every morning. Today, I read about 40 pages of the book I purchased yesterday, The World We Have, and admittedly, want to do more personally to make the world a safer, more peaceful, more sustainable place to live. As in the captioned below the heading of chapter 1 notes. "The bellls of minfulness are calling out to us, trying to wake us up, reminding us to look deeply at our impact on the planet." In paragraph 2, "All of us know that our beautiful green planet is in danger. Our way of wlaking on the Earth has a great infludence on animals and plants. Yet we act as if our daily lives have nothing to do with the condition of the world..." This is day 3 of my eating vegetarian, and I'm hoping I can stretch that out over many many more days. One of things I've observed about myself this past weekend, is although I am clearly aware of the impact of my own personal actions, and particularly the damages we are causing the earth by depending our cars propelled by fossil fuels, my minds is always daydreaming about owning a Escalade, or other big SUV. It's nearly a nightly thought. Yet, I'll then find myself admiring someone who is "self propelling" there way around. Today, I was up in the U-District, sitting in the window of the UW Bookstore flipping through magazines, when I observed a graceful looking, silver haired, woman, approach the bike stands beneath the window where I was sitting, out of a shoulder bag, one of those re-usable grocery tots, she pulled out a bike helmet, and then unlocked a bike, to ride off. I noticed how clear her complexion looked, how she appeared to have a few less of the aging winkles around her eyes and chics.. She appeared to be middle to late 60's, and healthy, fit, and living a conscious lifestyle..... Seeing her, I reflected on my dreams, my thoughts the night before, of the large SUV I was imagining buying.....naw, I'm simply going for the bike. Living a self-propelled lifestyle is almost scrary. Being single, I fear, what is some prospective female going to think of a 50 year old male without a car, without a mortgage, without some many of the typical material things of our American psyche going to think.... Oh well, at 50 I can simply continue being me and doing those things I believe are right for me to do...hopefully, love will someday find it's way to my eyes.

Summer 2009

Wow, it's been a long time since I've been into this blog. I'm still living and working in Seattle. Over the past several months I've become keenly interested in Buddhism and Veganism, principally due to the moral precepts and my interest in mediation and health. Over the weekend I bought a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, THE WORLD WE HAVE, a Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology. I look forward to reading it. The nice thing about it, it's small enough to fit in my back pocket of my jeans, so I can carry around with me. My adventures in Veganism are slow at best, wherein I may eat vegan 1-2-3-4-5 days, but then stumble and eat meat, but I allow myself these stumbles and I develop my new life path and direction. It's the same with my interest in being self-propelled yet having desires to own a SUV. I search the web looking at Escalades and Range Rovers, while reading momentum magazines. It will be interesting what my next blog may reveal about this journey.

Venture into Vegetarianism

Well, for the past few months I have ventured into eating far less meat and more frequently than not, vegetarian. It's been an adventure. My favorite Vegetarian Restaurant in Seattle thus far has been Chaco's Restaurant in the U-District, followed by Araya's, and the Bamboo Garden. I really love the Green Juices I've been taken to drinking a couple times a week, but it's relatively expensive. I can honestly say that I do believe it's clearly a healthy choice. Over the past several months, I've lost about 25 to 30 lbs and my weight is down to about 155 lbs, from nearly 190 +. Ending my cravings and consumption of junk foods and sodas probably was a wise decision. I also have consciously chosen to walk the 4 miles each way down to the Tacoma Dome to catch the express bus into Seattle, vice catching the local bus to the Dome. So, it's added 8 miles of light exercise to my daily routine. I keep myself motivated by purchasing and reading several books on Veganism, Vegetarism, Health, Longevity, etc.

Snowy Seattle

It's Thursday, December 18th, 2008, this morning was definitely an usual start to my day, as the weather in the Tacoma - Seattle area is creating traffic havoc and delays. It's snowing hard today. I arrived at my office after commuting for 3 1/2 hours via the bus. Right as I got into work, the office closed due to the weather and I arrived to a nearly empty building. I chose to stay at the office a few hours as I'm not looking to the adventure when I attempt the return trip. I've actually enjoyed spending the past couple of hours searching the internet......

October 2008

I'm still living and working in Seattle, Washington. My 2 daughters Lakyn & Nia Perry are both now in college, Lakyn at University of San Francisco, and Nia at Drexel University in Philadelphia. I proud that they both have the demeanor to seek higher educations since the future is going to be far more dependent on information.

July 30, 2008 Seattle, Washington

I noticed that my daughter Nia offered a few comments to my last post. I was pleasantly surprised. She's my pride and joy. She's finally graduated from highschool and on her way to college and she has discovered that she has a new found freedom that comes with reaching a age of emancipation. She's 18 years old, but with her freedom now she also is accountable for all she does. But she's FREE...oh, how wonderful it is to live here in America. Her future is so bright - and more probable than not, we'll get through this dark period of international agressions and threat of nuclear terrorism...and live the life of her full potential..... it's a life with potential beyond the imagination of most people as yet.

I also saw a YOUTUBE video this morning regarding a very youthful 81 year old man whose web sight, http://www.hawkwalk.com/, documents his walking adventure footing it throughout the world. He is on a quest to walk some 80,000 miles. After seeing the video, I realized that although I am 53 years old now, I have 30 years just to catch up to this guy, and he's full of life and healthy. How much more do I have to look forward to with all the scientific advancements that will occur for me in the next 30 years. I'm somehow a little more optimistic this afternoon.

Another Year Passes

Celebration - another year of growing gracefully older, today I turned 53 years old. I thank G-D for all my blessings. I'm living here in Seattle, Washington enjoying life and working everyday. Overall, I rate my life as being exceptionally happy though I have had my shares of its ups and downs. But, it feels good to be alive. I feel very optimistic about the long term outlook for humanity - if only I can be here another 20-30 years until the science is available to effect how much we age. Today, the BBC new's reports that there is a woman alive in Northern Israel, Mariam Amash, who is 120 years old. She have over 410 direct decendents alive. She notes her longevity to eating vegetables, lots of vegetables and going on walks. How much better will our lives be when we are able to get the stem cell treatments, the pharma treatments, the nano-machines that circulate in our bloodstream and rejuevate us....could I live long enough to know a great, great, great, great grandson or daughter.....

July 4th, 2008

It's another 4th of July come and gone. The summer is begun. It's almost funny how the summer is just now beginning. The weather throughout the U.S. has been terrible. I have been on vacation the past week, but didn't do anything per se but stay away from work. The biggest news of late is that my daughter, Nia, graduated from Highschool this past week in Rochester, NY, and will be off to college this fall to Philadelphia - Dexler University. My other daughter, Lakyn, just returned from six weeks touring Europe. I was disappointed that I didn't receive any photos of her trip although I financed it. Oh well, being a father isn't easy.

Spring 2008

It's been a few months since I've been in my blog - life hasn't changed much at all, but I have gotten some regular weekly exercise since my last blog due to enrolling in the Health Sound Fitness Program. Yet, I'm not yet working out daily but working on it. I'm far more conscience of my choices trying to live a healthier, greener, more sustainable lifestyle.

A highlight of this week, is that Nia, my youngest daughter is turning 18 years old on the 17th. She's growing up and emerging as a strong, bright young lady. She applied to several colleges and leans towards a Music Major. My other daughter, Lakyn, is now in her 3rd year of college at the University of San Francisco, where she's majoring in Biology. She's done well these 3 years, and has maintained a respectable GPA and last semester reports she was on the dean's list.

Sound Health Solutions

This week I joined a six month program through my employer essentially to improve my health and modify my lifestyle towards fit living. The program is monitored by a MD with the assistance of a personal trainer, nutritionist, and stress coach. For the past two weeks, I've met with the doctor, taken part in and completed an array of surveys and forms, had my Lipid Profile, CRP, VO2 max, body fat percentage and numerous other blood tests to establish my baseline level of fitness/health. Yesterday, we began with out first actual workout using a gym at the office here. I was late, but it essentially was 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise on the treadmills and bikes at the office. My own personal goal is prinicipally to initiate a daily routine of exercises.

Existence is Wonderful: SENS 3 Media For Your Edification

Existence is Wonderful: SENS 3 Media For Your Edification

A Wonderful Life (Oops Future)

It's amazing to me that so many people are so doubtful about the enormous benefits science is bring into our world - Yes, we are going to make huge in roads into slowing and stopping ageing within a decade or more. Yet, everyday, the nay sayers, seem to dominate the media outlets with negative feeds. Still, just yesterday, I watched a PBS show relating the SPUTNIK. It's the 50th anniversary of the first man-made technology to breach into space. It was only 50 years ago!!!! How much has our science come in those 50 years, and for anyone who takes the time to track the nearly daily scientific discoveries taking place in science, whether biotechnology, nanotechnoloy, or computer technology, how could anyone realistically think - Stopping Aging without our lifetimes is impossible. It's not just possible, but huge progress is made daily. Be proactive and you'll live to enjoy our wonderful lives....