In the past month I've lost about 7-9 pounds. Yippie! Of course stuffing my face at the TKD Banquet didn't help, but I had a great time. I've couple of thingsa out about myself too.

First, I carry about 15 pounds of extra weight with me in the form of clothing and gadgets. Which means I always weighs myself in the morning before putting on the combat dress uniform (College School Clothes) and standard equipment for the early 21 Century. I carry so much stuff my pockets in my jeans are starting to wear thin and rip. (Maybe I need one of those fashionable male purses.)

Standard Day "What's in my Pockets"

Right pocket
Cell Phone (4 oz)
Car Keys (two cars with the little beeper/door lock device) (4 oz)
$2 in change (Quarters)(for Diet Sodas during lectures)(1oz)

Left Pocket
House/Office/Rental/Church keys (About 10 different keys including a bike lock key)(5 oz)
Multi-Tool (Knife, Screwdriver, Saw, Pliers, etc) (5 oz)

Back Pocket
Wallet (6 oz) (mostly ones, video memberships cards, and photos)

Where is all this going?

After the TKD Banquet, I spent two hours talking with two lovely ladies. I had a great time buying drinks and being a nice guy. Which is something I don't get to do that often, being a man about town spending money like water. Which for me is 30 bucks, and cheapper than bring my family for $125 for five place settings at a banquet. Also add the fact that none of my kids would have liked the menu, and I'd spends another $30 at McD to feed them. (ASIDE: Before you think I left my family naked in the cold, they had someplace to go too. The Last friday in April had four events booked in three different cities. My event was set three months ahead of all the others, expect another Awards banquets in Muscatine. Normally I hate awards banquets, because it stikes me as just a grand ego trip for the most popular people. The TKD banquet was different becuase I felt the people really did earn thier honors. Mr. Evans can kick like nobody's business! I expect to see him in the Olympics.)

Back to my point. Guy's a tip. Beside all the crap you should be carrying:Car keys, house keys,wallet, ID, etc. You should have two more things: A Cutting tool, (pocketknife, or multi-tool) and a lighter (Or matches). I have never been on a date or formal party where I have not used my multi-tool, even if it's used for cleaning my fingernails, or cutting flowers someone's garden while the ladies are in the restroom. Even if you don't smoke, matches are a must. You should always have the ability to make fire. Just like James Bond you never know when you may have to light a fuse and blow something up. A lighter is best, but dry matches work in a pinch. Think of lighting candles, or firing a lady's cigarette. Even if you don't smoke, being able to lite a lady's cigarette is just classy. Just like Cary Grant.

Remeber Guys: If the ladies don't find you handsome, they should find you handy.

(BTW - The ladies made it home with their honor intact and unmolested. DAMNIT!)