Stomper

LOL.... Chris, bite me!

Fergal, I have had armor for a few years now... I have packed it within itself in so many confiigurations trying to reduce the space it takes up. Unless your armor can be totally taken apart I don't think the cod/butt/ab/kidney plates would EVEN beging to fin in an overhead bin, or under the seat in front of you... just too large, mate!

Bernard pretty much hit it on the nailhead. One of THE BEST foods for getting the most protein for the calories is a can of tuna (packed in water), drained, then eaten straight out of the can, (with 5-6 crackers of your choice). You can even add a bit of non/low fat mayonaise if you want. I would eat fresh fruit in the morning, have a can of tuna for lunch, and run 6 miles (every other day)... I dropped 25-lbs. and was knocking out 6 miles (cross country) in 40 minutes after about 2-1/2 months. DO NOT eat anything after 9pm... no matter HOW BADLY you m ay be craving a bite to eat.

I'm 41, was always the "fat kid", had buck teeth and was always the brunt of jokes growing up... then I started to come into my own in High School. I got braces at 14, started to lose the baby fat, grew a head (or two) taller, put on muscle mass, wound up bigger, meaner, and tougher than my childhood tormentors, plus most of them are now pot-bellied, bald, low-skilled workers. Most of them have mellowed with age, so its all good... but it's nice to know that I could easily break any one of them into three easy pieces if I chose too... I did 8 hard core years in the U.S. Army, been around the world three times doing Uncle Sam's "bidding", completed the 2 week Air Assault school with a seriously messed up knee/leg during the ENTIRE legnth of the course that finished with a 10-mile, fast paced, forced road march (in full combat gear) by sheer will power/determination alone, & finished my "career" as an Infantry Drill Sergeant. I'm on my 3rd marriage, have 3 kids from a prior marriage, and 3 step-kids who have a dead-beat father.... and yes I shell out $1,000 a month to the ex-wife on top of it all. I have had many good friends (that have come and gone) during all of those phases of my life. I have developed an internal fortitude that I draw from that has gotten me through to the end that I survived (a miracle by itself), plus I'm just a mean-a$$ed ground-pounder S.O.B. Through it all I have realized that people/friends come and go, but you and your family are forever. Those who are worth a dam will appreciate you for YOU, all others aren't worth your time or angst. One major key to life is BALANCE! Sure, you might like to wear eccentric clothing fashions... go for it, but if you want a decent job do you think you should show up for an interview wearing Superman underwear as a suit, and purple sneakers, with all kinds of fishing tackle hanging off your face? Probably not. It's a "balance thing", being true to yourself, but also showing respect to others, or showing respect for an event/situation like a job interview. Another thing about balance, for instance some folks take the Star Wars hobby to lofty heights of extreme. It defines them and they obsess over every STUPID, VAPID detail... discussing and extrapolating on things as silly as the manufacturer of the E-11, the number of bumps on a crapily made movie-prop Stormtrooper helmet worn in Tunisia, and how many flippin' grains of sand were embedded in the left tear drop/trapezoid and so forth.... like it's real, or even matters. If that is what some folks are into and it makes them happy that's fine, but they are limited to the type (and number) of folks that can/will relate to them. Always keep this in mind... if YOU are paying your own bills, and nobody else... tell them to suck eggs!!! Some of the most interesting people are those who didn't know what they wanted to do until they were in their 40's. You have just begun, and in 20 years you'll look back and be glad you know what you know... and wish you knew it back then. Plus what Nathan said earlier... oh yeah, and don't start up with the anime thing again... I hate that goofy stuff! <_< All things aside, the one piece of advice I can give that will truly help you in your life... wear sunscreen. Watch this video: Hope that helps!

Yesterday, I had one of them new BBQ chicken breast sandwiches in a combo-meal with chili and a small Coke from Wendy's $5.... I now have a new favorite (fast food) BBQ chicken sandwich! (Last night, I took the family out to Chinese food)

NICELY DONE, Thomas!!

LOL... if you guys ONLY KNEW how "real life" can sneak up on you... the next thing you know, 2-3 months has gone by and you haven't gotten a damned thing done on planned projects! <_< This is my first post here... after almost 1-1/2 months!!

Dan, AWESOME PULL... HOLY SMOKES... my heart... skipping...a...beat... can't feel... toes... must BREATH!! Just a couple suggestions (according to my opinions): #1 suggestion: This "trap-dimple" version is cool for the "gotta have it just as crappy looking as they were on the movie set"-collectors, but I would (IF I were you) also make an "idealized" version without the distracting "imperfections"... believe me, there are PLENTY of Troopers who prefer "idealized armor" over the movie set "crapola-looking up-close" versions. #2 suggestion: Send it to me!

Well dam... according to the Myan celestrial calendar... the world ends Dec. 21, 2012... we won't have long to enjoy all of this!

You "sir", can kiss my butt-plates!!

LOL... HEY!! I shot that photo at the Starlgiht Parade!!

John, those kick "A"!!! I just added them to my stored "effects" photos!!

Yeah, I think that was a typo... he corrected it. Those buckets are the WORST I have EVER seen... send them to me.

That's AWESOME, Scott!!

Take a piece of PVC pipe, spray paint it flat black. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes, then rub against your armor here and there, you can also lightly "whack" it against your armor... it makes for nice carbon scoring and light battle damage. Here's a shot of my dirty TD armor while "visiting" a Starbucks... all of the black smudges and "scrapes" were done with the "painted pipe" technique: Hope that helps!

Name dropping helps, too!

Very cool!! Tell me though... what's up with the lisp?

.... I'm not going to EVEN touch that one, Wyatt!!

ROTFLMAOPIMP.....

LOL...THREAD HIJACKERS!!! Besides, it's when your prizes arrive and they smell like week old tuna fish sandwich, or moldy cheese.... THEN you should be worried!

LOL... aww c'mon, Mate... it's all roses!!

LOL.... your two-tone "butt nuggets" get posted today!

LOL.... Dave, don't be surprised if your 2-tone hovis show up smelling like... butt!

WOO HOO... I just sniped a"monokote" iron, and two of the "hot sock" iron covers off eBay and only spent a paltry $21.55USD (including shipping) on it! Now where did I leave my chest plate(s)?

Hey Scott, No matter what happens, (to the best of your abilities) be strong for your wife, she'll need you (as her man) to be that rock of strength that she can physically look on to take shelter and comfort in. We're all pulling (in prayer and spirit) for you and your family! I echo what Tony S. said, please let us know if we can do anything for you!