Discovery - One Man's Struggle with Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...

From Red Mule to Red Stallion... Out with the Old... In with the New

My old ride - a 2003 Ford F-150 STX SuperCab 4x4

My new ride - a 2014 Ford Mustang GT Premium

Hard to give up the Red Mule....

Almost brought me to tears to let her go.

But it was time.

Checking out the Stang for a Beach Run.... yep everything I need fits in the trunk.

Including the Shaker Pro Sub Woofer on the right.

Different look, Different style.... a Change.

And Change is Good.

This was the hard part - finding the Race Red with the Saddle Brown interior....

Ford didn't make this combo much..... it's the whole classic Ferrari look... Red over Tan.

Got some Mustang Terry Cloth car covers to protect the front leather seats, but for now it's Me and Mickey!!

Believe it or not.... as long as you're not 6'4" or 300+ lbs, there's plenty of room in these back seats and they are comfortable.... and they fold down for more room.

Not as practical and utilitarian as the truck but a helluva lot more fun!!

Already had her at the electronically limited top speed of 150 a couple of times...

And she had a lot of room left....

Pretty Cool Feeling..... jetting down CR 400 at 150 mph!!!

Shoulda heard my daughter sucking wind in the passenger seat!!

Priceless!!

Love the Navigation / Electronics Package - Never thought I'd say that....

But it's easy to use, intuitive and has Sirius Radio and other goodies for 6 months free.

And the optional Shaker Pro sound system which gives you 1000 watts, 7 speakers and the subwoofer in the trunk.

The Stallion had its workout yesterday coming back from El Campo so I did mine this morning at CrossFit WMD.

And don't give me the "Oh... it must be a mid-life crisis thing" - or that it was an impulse buy.... anybody that knows me - which is like 1-1/2 people - knows I've been considering this purchase for over 3 years....

And that I love speed and to drive fast.

Just had to wait for the Right Time, the Right Car and the Right Price.

Was it the right thing to do financially?

To swap out an 11 year old truck for a new Mustang?

Probably not....

But sometimes you have to just stand up, lean back a little and raise 2 fingers to the sky....

Yeah....

Change is Good.

A WOD to forget... A meal to remember... A Journey of Struggle

Sometimes.... you just don't have it.... was the case on the Wednesday WOD.

No energy, Bad Attitude, Poor Performance....

But that's OK - can't knock it out of the park every day....

Sometimes you whiff 3 times or get thrown out at first.

Just show up and participate.... better than TV and a Beer.

Did OK on the squats with 255 for 2.

Loved the skill building focus of handstands!!!

G2OH - Ground to Overhead - however you can get it there.... Not pretty!

Low Man on the WOD Totem Pole!!

Iz OTAY - just glad to be on the board.

Not feeling good?

Make yourself a great meal.

Blackened Pork Chop with my new favorite Rub -

Salt, Pepper, Ras al Hanout (Moroccan seasoning), Hot Curry Madras Power, Garam Masala, Cumin, Curry and Turmeric....

Carrot sticks and red bell pepper seasoned the same way....

Last 2 mins of cooking, throw a portion of kale on top so it all finishes up together.

Plate it with boiled egg on the kale and the ever present Creatine and Fresca post workout recovery drink.

Fast, Simple, Easy, Nutritious and Tasty -

What more can you ask for?

Too many things to list....

The only way you get anything worth having!!

Speaking of Struggle.... It's taken me 2-1/2 years to get here....

A journey of Self Discovery, Experimentation, Trial and Error, 3 Steps Forward 2 Steps Back, Adapt - Modify - Overcome, Pain, Sweat and Tears....

But it was worth it.

Another Chinese Food buffet - this one in El Campo....

What was I doing in El Campo?

Wouldn't you wanna know!

Pushing Paleo - Buying the Right Stuff - Protein Dessert - Don't Kill the Kale

Another HEB basket of goodies.

Meat, Veggies, Fruit, Balsamic, Organic Turbinado Sugar and Brown Sugar / Cinnamon combo for me...

White Sugar for my White Daughter.

Continuing the Seafood Protein Theme....

You ever had Bananas Foster?

With Sausage?

Check this out.

Start with a couple of bananas.

Gonna finish this dish with some egg, nuts and strawberries....

Dice a 4 oz portion of Holmes Pork and Venison Sausage.

Add the diced banana - Huh? WTF?

Wait - it gets better!

Add a sprinkle of organic sugar - No butter - Don't need it if the bananas are ripe.

Is this crazy or what?

See how the bananas start breaking down and create this slurry of goodness with the turbinado sugar?

Mouth is watering....

It's done.... plate it!

Same skillet - fill with organic kale.

Roll it a couple of times so it picks up some of the good stuff left in the skillet from the sausage, bananas and sugar.

Once it's halfway saute'd (2 minutes), get a little bit of water in the lid....

And pour over the kale....

And cover for 2 mins.... that's it.... cooks the kale as far as it needs to be....

Don't Kill the Kale!!

Per usual procedure.... keep a supply of soft boiled eggs on hand for those between meal and late night cravings! 4 minutes and they're good.

I kinda covered up the Sausage Bananas Foster - it's under the strawberries and nuts....

What a delicious combo!!!

Even my picky daughter loves this combo.

Boiled eggs on the kale!!

Protein on Power Greens - gotta love it.

Money Shot!!!

And the ever present perfect food - eggs - for those future meals!!

Liquidating.... Some time you just have to make a move before the move!

Trying to get off High Center on this move to Cali....

For you non-Rednecks..... High Center is a term all Mud Hogging Southern Boys know the meaning of....

You're stuck because the ruts were too deep or you sunk to the axles and are resting on the frame with the wheels hanging or with no traction.

Thus you are High Centered.

Didn't know I used to Mud Hog.... another time another life.

Think 92 Nissan S/C 4x4 4 cyl with 5 spd manual with 32 x 11.50 Super Swampers..... Light, lots of ground clearance.... right combo for the gumbo down heah..... pulled out many a Big Truck with Bigger Tires cause they were too heavy and sunk.

Also had a 72 Toyota LandCruiser with the original 6 cylinder - headers and a 3 spd manual on the floor Camo paint job with 33 x 12.50 Super Swampers...called her the Beast.... looked like one.... drove like one.... was one.

Will try to find some pics and post.... a fun time in my life..... How the hell did I get off on this tangent?

Anyway.... time to get moving on this move to Cali.

Listed my house with my GoTo Real Estate Guy, Ryan Birdsong, with TDECU Real Estate, formerly Birdsong Real Estate.

If anybody can sell it, this guy can.

Trying to get some momentum going....

New music.