The Holston is by far my favorite river to fish in the SouthEast, and I was excited to be there. I knew that all around me, there were trout. Large Trout. Thousands of them. Long ago, the wildlife engineers in this part of the country really did us a favor and placed large concrete pillars upriver that aerated the water, and when they did, the trout explosion began. The Holston now boasts more trout per foot than any other river in the state.

I was being careful…watching the water. Listening. Every now and then, a hungry trout broke the surface, chasing a tiny fly.

Working up and down the bank, I was certainly having a good time. The only problem was that I wasn’t catching any fish. I knew the fish were there, but try as I might, they eluded me.

Every once in a while, my leg would be bumped by a branch floating by underwater.

Bump.

Bump.

Bump.

Then I realized that the bumps were becoming more and more frequent, and that the bumps were on the wrong side of my leg. It would have meant that branches would have to go against the current, and surely that wasn’t happening. So I looked down.

All around my feet, there were trout. 20 at the very least. They were surrounding my feet, darting back and forth in a gorgeous ballet. When my feet kicked up rocks and loosed the tiny bugs underneath, they were feasting on them. Their mouths flashed white in the current, and I couldn’t believe that they were so close. Mesmerized, I slowly reached my hand beneath the water and cautiously stroked the back of one that came too close. He darted angrily away for a moment, but then thought better of it and returned to my feet with his friends.

I stood transfixed for what seemed like hours, watching them play and follow me. They weren’t afraid of me, even though I stood above them, fly rod in hand, and had been trying to catch them all morning.

Finally, I gave in and quit fishing altogether, opting to instead enjoy their beauty. I walked back and forth, kicking up rocks so they could eat, and in return they gave me a display of their charm and grace. They are, on all accounts, the most beautiful creatures ever placed by the Creator into our rivers. That’s why we chase them.

As I decided to go walk to the bank to eat some lunch, I reached my hand into the water one last time. My trout friends wouldn’t have any of it this time though, and darted away before I could touch them, and that’s when it occurred to me…

We search and search and search for something beautiful, when all along, we should have been paying attention to the tiny bumps at our feet. More often than not, the gorgeous things are closer than we think.

I hope you find the beautiful things, dear ones. I truly do.

R

I can say this – I was tired. Tired of being fat. Tired of having anxiety attacks because I knew I could have a heart attack at any moment. Tired of the way my clothes didn’t fit and my knees hurt all the time. Tired of not being able to run anymore, and tired of being so very tired.

I think that the biggest thing that people miss when trying to motivate an overweight person is that they are dealing with an addiction that is so powerful that it isn’t a simple matter of “cutting back” or “taking small steps towards a healthier you”.

That’s a load of crap.

I’ve never known anyone who lost weight that way. You have to get radical. Scary radical. You have to say to yourself, “I know this diet is insane, but it HAS to be a better idea than dying at 50 of a heart attack.” That’s why Jarrod ate all those Subway sandwiches. That’s why a co-worker of mine spent almost 15,000 dollars on bootcamp trainers. (she is my hero) That’s why people cut out all meat. That’s why people eat ONLY meat. You get the idea.

I first heard of HCG when I noticed that our television producer, Joe Palo must have gotten cancer. Now, Joe doesn’t have cancer. I just said that to recapture your attention for a moment. That fact is that he dropped weight so suddenly that one day I thought, “Joe must have cancer.”

I’m super glad Joe didn’t have cancer. (side note: cancer is awful and I hate it) What Joe DID have however, was a new diet. The kind of diet that had made him shrink up. Where “Big Jolly Joe Palo” had been, there was now “kind of weird looking because he’s so skinny Joe Palo”.

So I started the diet. I didn’t wait forever, but I did research it first. More importantly, I had my dear friend Ken Scott, who is also the corporate medical director for Life Care Centers of America research it for me. He said, “Let’s do it.” so I did.

If you haven’t heard of HCG, you will soon. It’s becoming one of those hot-button items like Atkins diet was years ago.

I’m not here to tell you that everyone out there criticizing the diet is wrong. I honestly don’t know if they are or not. I just know that my personal doctor here in town has been thankful that I did it.

The first few days were tough. I wasn’t sure I could do it. It wasn’t a physical thing. It was mental. After all, I’d been overeating for 37 years. That doesn’t change overnight. Still, my friends and family kept encouraging me, and I found myself sticking to the diet.

Then the weight started coming off. Lots of it.

By the end of week one, I’d lost 12 pounds. 12 pounds in a week. What? Yes.

Now, I’m 80 pounds lighter and 10 inches smaller. My kid tells his friends, “My dad is so skinny!” which isn’t true, but makes me feel absolutely awesome. The best part is that it isn’t coming back. I’ve kept it off.

One month ago, I gave away 90% of my wardrobe to a homeless man. I can’t tell you how good that feels.

So, are you sick of feeling horrible? Are you done being afraid that you’ll die of a heart attack? Want to know what it feels like to not hurt when you walk? Are you ready for something that isn’t easy, but works?

If so, email me at robalderman@gmail.com and tell me you want to and we will get started.

Love you,

Rob

DECEMBER 25 2005 -If you must know, I spent some time tonight in the Shack that sits in my backyard. I smoked two cigars and drank EggNog and Bourbon with a very dear friend. The two of us just sat for a long time, sharing dreams and hopes. Speaking of the things, which I believe we all want to speak of but sometimes never get the chance to say. The feeling I have at this moment is wonderful…I wish I could bottle it up and send some of it to each of you.

You know, the feelings that I get at Christmastime simply refuse to be denied…they come bounding into my heart in waves with such force that at times I am almost positive that any more happiness will make me simply explode. Watching my son today as he opened presents was amazing. Rusty was filled with the pure joy of a little boy who isn’t quite sure why everyone is being so nice to him, but isn’t going to let a little uncertainty stop him from enjoying himself to the fullest. We had a wonderful time with the tree, the presents, the Christmas story, family, and turkey… all of it. But that wasn’t my favorite part.

My favorite moment came around 4 am Christmas Eve, when my wife and I had finally finished preparing everything for Christmas morning. I sat in the dark living room, watching the fire in the fireplace and the lights on the tree, while our new kitten, Coal purred in my ear like a Mustang GT that has lost its muffler. I was tired, sure…but how could I possibly sleep when I knew that in a few hours, my beloved son was going to wake up and start the happiest morning of his life. No, sleep was not an option. So instead of sleeping, I allowed myself to doze quietly on the couch and take it all in. Wow…

Though I had not asked for any presents this year, my wife was still able to exceed all of my hopes. She surprised me with the first volume of the St. Johns Bible, which contains the Synoptic Gospels and the Book of Acts. Some of you may have heard about it this year in the news or on NPR. It’s the first illuminated, hand-scribed Bible to be made in over 500 years. A man studied in the arts of the ancient Celtic Monks who transcribed the Book of Kells, is transcribing it at St. Johns University, and it is truly something to behold. I determined that the very first passage that I would read from it would be the book of Luke, Chapter 2, which is the story of the birth of the Christ. As I held the book in front of me, I let my eyes drift slowly down the page, savoring every word. I let my fingers graze each letter, being careful not to miss any nuance. The opposite page had a beautiful impressionist painting of the nativity, and I took a moment to let it all sink in…. “Be Ye not afraid…for unto You this day, a child is born.”

You know, I am not sure what kind of Christmas you have all had. I am sure that the Christmas experienced had by all of you Roblog readers has been as varied as you readers yourselves. I can only pray that you have each had at least one moment when everything was right in your universe. One moment when time stopped and there was no pain. One second during which your soul was at rest.

I know that many of you do not believe in the Christ child. Many of you in fact, may have very legitimate reasons for not subscribing to this whole Christian thing. It’s amazing how much damage people can do in the name of Jesus. As a result, I’ve never been the type to beat anyone over the head with my big Bible (and given the size of the St. John Bible that I now own, you should consider yourselves very lucky for that fact.) But here’s the beauty of the birth of Christ – Its importance is not dependent upon your belief.

That sounds crazy, but I assure you, it’s true. You see, the Shepherds who were out on the hills that night had never seen or experienced Jesus before. They were just some guys out doing their jobs. It was cold. It was dark. They were probably pretty uncomfortable. Some of them were more than likely cursing themselves for taking this job in the first place…I mean, nothing new ever happened around these parts, and let’s face it, watching sheep gets pretty boring after the first few weeks. And yet…something happened that night that would forever change them, and had they not been in that job at that time, they might have missed it entirely. These shepherds didn’t know Jesus from a hole in the ground, but suddenly they found themselves in the midst of the single most important moment in the history of mankind up until that point. (And, I might add, quite possibly the most important moment ever since…) And that’s how it works, you see. You don’t have to believe in Jesus right now for his birth to be the most important thing that has ever happened to you. The fact that you don’t believe doesn’t change the miracle one little bit.

I know many of you are sitting in your day job hell, working every day with nothing to show for it other than a paycheck that barely pays the bills. Your dreams and hopes were railroaded a very long time ago by a variety of things…people… circumstances… possibly even yourself.

That’s a scary place to be. I know. I’m there. In fact, if we are all a bunch of scared shepherds, then I am the most incompetent shepherd among us. My sheep are always getting lost. I never remember to feed them on time, and I suck at using that staff thing that is supposed to keep them in line. In fact, most days, I’m either sitting around afraid that the Head Shepherd is going to fire me, or wishing with my whole heart that he would. I am a sad sack of a shepherd indeed.

But if you don’t mind, since we are here on our hill all alone for the moment, allow me to play the role of the angel when I say… “Hey shepherds… I know you didn’t intend for this to be the way that your life has turned out. I know that it’s cold out and that you are uncomfortable. I know that 10 bucks an hour doesn’t pay the bills. I know that you are scared…but don’t be afraid, because tonight, in the city of David, a child was born…and guess what, he’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. You may not believe in him yet, but he believes in you.”

Peace and Grace to you this night, dear readers…Godspeed and faith.

Rob

Still, I thought it might be fun to muse for a moment on some things I’d simply rather not live without. I’m not putting a lot of thought into it, but instead just naming a few things that come to mind.

1. iPhone- My iPhone is the key to it all. I mean, seriously. Everything. My calendar, contacts, emails, news. It all filters through my iPhone. For the record, mine is white with a minimal bumper on it. I didn’t choose an elegant piece of tech to wrap it in an otter case. Ugh.

2. Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots- This may be premature since I’ve only had them two weeks, but I can say with relative confidence that they will be worn until the day I die. Comfortable, rugged and stylish, they have replaced my old brown British Doc Martins. Let’s face it, once Martins stopped being made in England, they weren’t worth a damn. The 1000 mile boot is by far the best show I’ve ever owned.

3. Saddleback Leather Briefcase- No matter where I’m going, the SB case goes with me. 100 year warranty, minimal moving parts, heavy leather. If Indiana Jones were a real person, this is what he’d carry.

4. iPad- the iPad replaced my laptop a long time ago as the computing device that goes with me everywhere. For the majority of what I do, the iPad is the easiest, quickest, most efficient way to work. Plus, clients love it.

5. Ford 150- My truck is a full size 2000 F 150. I love sports cars and motorcycles to be sure, but neither of those things would have been of much use when the Tornadoes blew through our county last April. This truck is tough in an understated, get it done, sort of way that I really appreciate. Now that she has heat again, it’s even better.

6. Old Navy Boot Cut Jeans- I have some super expensive jeans. They don’t have the comfort and fit level my old navy’s do. I wish I could argue otherwise, but I just cant.

7. Colt Defender .45- I’m from the school that we have certain freedoms in this Country that we shouldn’t ignore. Carrying a gun is one of them. I’m no gun-toting crazed hillbilly, but I do like being able to know that if push came to shove, I can shove pretty darn hard.

8. Blue- As I write this, my Great Dane/German Shepard Blue, is sitting in my lap. He enormous. He eats too much. He poops too much. But he is my constant amigo, and when I’m driving around town, he is always happy to ride along. He is sweet to the kids, but growls at folks who approach our front door. He doesn’t bite, but if he did, you’d lose an arm.

9. St. Croix 4 weight Ultra Legend Fly Rod- Fly fishing is really the only true hobby I have, and the proper gear is essential. For the southeastern rivers I fish, the ultra legend is the perfect rod, balancing power, precision and delicate presentation. I have landed huge trout on this rod and had just as much fun landing tiny trout. If I could have only one fly rod, this would be it.

10. Citizen Eco-Drive Blue Angel Chronograph- When I was young, my dad took us to the Sears Tower in Chicago to watch the air show. The highlight of the entire event was watching the Blue Angels fly beneath us through the city of Chicago. I’ll never forget it. Years ago, my wife bought me the Blue Angel Citizen watch and I never take it off. It looks good, sure. Even banged up and scratched, the watch oozes cool. But more importantly, it keeps time. One a day, the watch syncs up to the main time station in New York, ensuring that it is never more than .5 seconds off actual time. Pretty neat.

11. Case Pocket Knife – My Great-grandfather, Grandfather and father all carried Case knives in their pockets. I have all of their knives in my collection now, and a pocket worn Case Trapper is my every day use knife. I know there are many knife choices out there, and lots of knives that are “tougher”, but for me, the knife is a tool, and keeping it simple is the key to using it properly. I open boxes, cut rope and even use it occasionally for a steak knife when I eat.

Well, that’s it for now. Hope you enjoyed this list. I could pick many more things, but 10 seemed like a decent place to stop. What are some things you wouldn’t live without?

I believe in things you have to touch to enjoy. I’m tactile and there is nothing better than something that forces me to work on it. I just finished dressing my boots with Montana Pitch Blend. You have to use your hands and rub it into the leather. It smells and feels wonderful as the leather begins to glow and become more pliable. These are the simple things I look for. Things that bring me quiet joys.

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Rob

Posted via email from Rob Alderman

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Rob

Posted via email from Rob Alderman

For those of you keeping score, it’s cold here in Tennessee. More specifically, it’s cold in my home. Our heater went out just before Christmas and it can’t be fixed. The part needed is no longer manufactured, so we have to have a new unit put in, and that’s just too expensive right now. It isn’t that we are destitute or anything. We are actually doing pretty well financially compared to many people. It is simply that it costs a lot of money to replace the unit. More than we have.

It’s been a strange time here at the Alderman Ranch. Mostly, that’s because there has been little to no complaining about the cold. Everyone seems to be having a fun adventure. Our television also went the way of the buffalo, so we can’t watch TV unless we are in our bedroom. This means more time spent sitting around heaters playing games. And don’t forget the ever-burning fire in the fireplace. We have been burning a fire every night since Turkey Day.  In lots of ways, I’m enjoying myself. I think the boys really love it and April is a good sport through it all.

Don’t get me wrong. Walking through a thoroughly frozen home is not fun. Our  joints ache from it. Our teeth chatter at times and going in to the attic requires suiting up like you plan on living with the Eskimo tribes. Still, there have been many fun times and lots of laughs.

I’m thankful that we have this home. I really love it here. Yes, it’s old. We don’t have any closet space and I’ve sunk more dollars into repair this summer than I want to remember. Still, I’m glad that we have a place to call our own. I’m glad for a job that pays the mortgage and a family to live here with me.

Because I love it, I feel the need to defend it.  Does that make sense?

Ever since the heat went out, people have been offering us the chance to stay with them. ( This is so loving and wonderful. We have the best friends in the world. ) The problem is on a couple of levels.

The first one is that there is no quick fix for this. We don’t have the money to fix the heat, so staying with a friend is kind of silly since you can’t stay there for long enough. While people are hospitable, no one wants an entire family living in their home for months at a time.

The second issue is that in the end, I have to reclaim my home from the cold. That’s why I am becoming a heat-ninja.

That’s right, a HEAT-NINJA.

Slowly, we are winning. We are using our cunning ninja ways to find the best places to put space heaters and tracking down where cold drafts are coming in. Tonight, we nailed a heavy blanket up in front of the kitchen door, and it improved the temp in our home by 15 degrees at least.

All in all, I’m learning a lot. I’m more thankful than anything for my family and friends. It may be cold outside, but it is warm in my heart.

Rob

Posted via email from Rob Alderman

Rob

Posted via email from Rob Alderman