I WAS A JERK, AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE!

There comes a time in a man's life when he has to admit when he was a jerk, and just an all around "A-Hole". This is my time. It's actually pretty amusing when I think about it. As some of you know I spent 6 years in the military from 1988 to 1994. It was really one of the more entertaining periods of my life, as I got the chance to travel to places I never would have gone to otherwise, and met some pretty cool people. Well, one of these cool people was Erik Helmut Astheimer. "Asti" was in my unit when I was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Austi had a wife and two kids that I sometimes baby sat for. The kids were Ryan and Kayle. I'm not sure if the spelling of her name is correct because it's been so long, but I think I'm close. His wife's name was Michelle, who happens to be at the center of this story. Michelle was fiery red head with freckles, and she only measured 5' 2" tall. I was young and impressionable at 24 years of age, and I hadn't really lived all that much. In fact I rarely left my barracks and when I did it wasn't to go to clubs or the like. I usually stuck to the base and played it safe.
When I was discharged I needed a place to stay and since I had become really close to the family I was invited to stay there. Now, its not what you're thinking. There was no torrid affair of any kind. In fact we never made any physical contact whatsoever! That's my story and I'm sticking to it! So if nothing every happened what am I apologizing for? Well, I must confess that I had a huge crush on Michelle! Huge! How could I have a crush on what I considered at the time to be one of my best friends? Man, all I can say is that when you're that age and you've never had a girlfriend up to that point, your emotions and hormones can get the best of you! Let's just say that I feel like a total ASS whenever I look back on that time of my life, and if I could ever get in touch with Asti or Michelle I would apologize because I disrespected both of them. I really thought very highly of both of them and I can't help but feel that I betrayed that trust with Asti.
So, Asti if you ever do a google on your name, and provided that I spelled it correctly I hope you eventually find your way to this blog and look me up. My number is 330.412.4762, and my email address is jamieshan@ameritech.net. Look me up and we will reminisce about old times and I hope you will be able to forgive me for being the biggest jerk in the entire world.
Just so we are all on the same page, my wife is the first woman I have ever dated. The first woman I have ever kissed. And the first woman I've ever......well, you get the idea.

DT

UPDATE: I am so bothered by this that I went on line to try to find a current phone number and address for either of them, but no luck. I even spent $7.9 of my own money for one of those pay sites, only to find out later that I could have gotten the same outdated information for free. I also learned that I spelled his name wrong before, which I corrected. I will keep searching, but I must admit that it was weird seeing their names and addresses from so many years ago. It even showed the address where I stayed with them for close to a year. Apparently he remarried some girl named Misty. I would love to catch up with them. The search continues.

My New Lifestyle

What's up my peeps? As most of you know, I have decided to make some dramatic changes in my lifestyle in the last week or so. No, it's not that! I have decided to change the way I eat and exercise. Over the past 10 years I have really let my self go. I didn't realize just how much until I was getting out of the shower and hardly recognized the reflection of the person staring back at me. My face looked 15 years older instead of ten, and my gut had blown up to enormous proportions. Sure, I'd always known I'd packed on a few pounds here and there, but the final tally blew me away. I went from150 lbs. to 200 lbs. over the last 10 years. Now, some may say that this isn't a huge deal, but I'm only 5' 4", and that makes it a huge deal. It bothers me that I'm considered "morbidly obese" by the medical world, so I figured its time I did something about it. It's been a little over a week, and I've only lost 3 lbs., but I feel a whole lot better but I know I have a long way to go. This is not a diet! DIETS DO NOT WORK!!!!! This is a lifestyle change! That is the only way you are going to lose the weight and keep it off! Trust me. I've been doing this for years and years and years, and I know what works and what doesn't. Diets do not work.

Oh, and one last thing. Do me a favor? If you see me eating something less than healthy, or you see me going out to eat at a fast food place don't wag your finger at me and say "Ha, I knew you couldn't do it!" Or "You're of the wagon already?" Or "Hey, what happened to your diet?" Just know that I'm making a conscious effort to eat what I want, and when I want than you very much! Now if you want to offer words of encouragement I am all for that. Thank you very much!

DT