It's Real

I received copies of Room for Two from the publisher. They look WONDERFUL!!!!

It's hard to believe I'm actually holding a copy of this book in my hands. All the years of hard work has finally become a reality.

I know many of you have asked to purchase signed copies of Room for Two. I’ll have a mechanism set up to do this on Thursday.

Please note it won't be available in book stores until mid or late September. Though it's listed on Amazon.com, they won’t have copies in stock for another 2-3 weeks.

Look for more information about getting copies before the general public on Thursday....

Getting to Know You

It was five years ago this month that Marathon Girl and I began dating seriously. One of my fondest memories of that time is sitting on her kitchen floor after a long morning run and talking about things like our favorite movies, books, and food.

Even though our opinions differed on a lot of things, I remember looking at her and thinking how comfortable I felt talking with her and sharing my thoughts and views. There was no worry between the two of us whether or not we even liked the same things. It was a chance to get to know the other person better and see how comfortable and compatible we could be even though in some ways we were very different from each other.

Even if you spend every day with someone, your tastes and opinions grow, develop, and change. Successful relationships are the ones where the husband and wife can still be in love with each other even as they slowly change over time.

Occasionally Marathon Girl and I have that conversation we had on her kitchen floor. We go over our list of favorite movies, actors, actresses, books, authors, athletes, sports teams, restaurants, main dishes, and hobbies. There are 35 items on our list and it's always fun to see where our opinions and tastes have changed since we first fell in love with each other.

Last night Marathon Girl and I had that conversation again. We brought out our list and asked the other person what some of their favorite things were. No, we don't guess what each other is going to say. We let the other person answer and then if the answer surprises us or has changed for some reason, we talk about why their tastes have changed.

Out of the 35 items on the list, there were six things I found out about Marathon Girl that I didn't know about. Marathon Girl found out seven new things about me. We thought it would just take 30 minutes to run through the lists. Instead we ended up talking late into the night and had a lot of fun doing it. In a way I felt like we were sitting on her kitchen floor again. Just the two of us and me falling head over heals for her.

It's easy become so accustomed to a person being part of your everyday life that you don't notice how they change in little ways. Sometimes if these changes go unnoticed for a long period of time, you wake up one day and realize that you're married to a complete stranger.

I'm glad I had the chance to get to know Marathon Girl all over again and realize how fortunate I am to be married to such a wonderful woman. 

More to Come...

My posting has been rather sporadic the last weeks as I've been setting up a small business so sell copies of Room for Two and manage other business related expenses of being an author. Though the process hasn't been difficult, it's been rather time consuming and also very educational. The good news is that it will all pay off next week when copies of my book become available.

More to come soon!

The Miniature Garden

 

Admittedly, Marathon Girl and I aren’t the best gardeners. This, however, doesn’t stop us from plating a small garden every year in the hopes of having some fresh vegetables to eat during the summer.

The last two years our garden has done quite well. We’ve had an abundance of tomatoes, squash, and corn despite adverse growing conditions and a lack of any natural gardening talent on our part.

This year something went horribly awry. Despite the fact that we fertilized the soil, weeded the garden, and did everything else just like the past two years, many of our plants have stubbornly refused to grow.

Oh, they’ve flowered and produced fruit. It’s just that the plants themselves and what they’ve produced have been very small.

For example, our squash plant has only spread out about eight inches from where it started. And though it’s produced a lot of squash, they all very in size from three to five inches. (See photo above.) The tomato plants are small and producing fruit about the size of cherry tomatoes. (No, we didn’t plan cherry tomatoes.) Our onions stand about three inches tall and have bulbs about the size of Molly’s fingernails.

We have no clue what has caused this. Our neighbors’ gardens on the other hand are growing normally and producing normal sized fruit. Some have suggested we didn't put enough nutrients in the soil. Others have said we didn’t give them enough water.  Most have just smiled when they've seen our Munchkin-sized garden. Whatever the problem is, the garden is beyond saving.

It’s too bad we didn’t plant corn. At least there’s actually a use for small ears of corn.

The Best Way to Reduce Childhood Obesity

In a move designed to fend off potential litigation and possible state and federal advertising regulations, eleven of the nation’s food and beverage companies have come up with their own guidelines regarding junk food advertising aimed at children under 12. According to the Los Angels Times, the voluntary ban includes junking ads for "candy bars, soda pop, and sugar-laden cereals, including such brands as Trix – famously advertised for decades as being ‘for kids.’"

While the pledges from companies such as General Mills, McDonalds, Pepsi, and Kraft may come as a welcome relief to parents tired of their children’s constant demands for sugary treats, it will do nothing to decrease the number of the nation's overweight and obese children.

Numerous studies have shown that a bigger contributor to childhood obesity isn’t the amount of junk food advertisements children are exposed to, but the amount of television they watch. One 2003 study concluded that children who watch three or more hours of television a day are 50 percent more likely to be obese than kids who watch fewer than two hours and that "more than 60% of overweight incidents can be linked to excess TV viewing." Another found that in "12- to 17-year-old adolescents, the prevalence of obesity increased by 2% for each additional hour of television viewed."

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, when you include videos, DVD’s, and other prerecorded shows, children watch about four hours of television a day. Times that by seven days a week and that means kids, on average, are spending slightly more than an entire day in front of the boob tube. The amount of television viewed shouldn’t come as a complete surprise considering the average home now has more televisions (2.73) than people (2.55) and one third of children as young as six have a television in their bedroom.

With the copious amounts of television being watched in American households, is it any wonder kids are becoming fat?

The solution to the growing obesity problem doesn't involve government advertising regulations or lawsuits against the junk food companies but, quite simply, better parenting.

In too many households television has become the babysitter, entertainer, and parent. It’s become the easy way to keep them entertained, distracted, and out of a mom or dad’s way for a couple hours. And while letting children watch an occasional DVD or cartoon in order to accomplish housework or other tasks may be at times necessary, letting children watch hours upon hours of television every day is simply irresponsible.

Turning off the television may at first invoke weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth from kids used to doing nothing else but staring at a screen with blank expressions, but being a parent often involves telling their children no and, if necessary, providing alterative activities.

Sadly, most kids probably get their television viewing habits from their parents. Those who watch a lot of television are probably most likely to have parents who also watch a lot of television. Part of getting kids off the couch and involved in more physical and meaningful activities may include getting their television-addicted parents doing something as well.

The results of a decrease television viewing can be very rewarding. Not only may kids (and adults) shed a few pounds but their school work might improve and family relationships become stronger.

I can defiantly attest to the latter. Even though I occasionally enjoy watching programs on our one TV (yes, we only have one), at the end of the day I’ve always found the time better spent with my wife and kids and have never regretted missing a sporting event or news program to spend time with them.

Curbing the numbers obese or overweight children doesn’t require government regulation or even self-regulation from the food and beverage industry (though the latter is appreciated). The solution begins at home with parents who can turn off the TV, remove it from their child’s room, monitor what their children are eating, and involve their kids in more engaging, stimulating, and ultimately more rewarding activities.

The result could change families and a nation for the better.

***

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This essay was originally published on FreeCapitalist.com. You can read all of Abel's FreeCapitalist essays here.

Random Thoughts July 2007

When I tell people they’d make a good politician, sometimes they take it as a complement. It’s not. Why do people insist on bringing their cell phones in the work out area of the gym? I really don’t want to hear about how awful your ex-spouse is while I’m working out.

Sometimes I think I’d be a better parent if kids came with some sort of instruction manual.

After years of watching the Tigers languish near the bottom of baseball’s power rankings, it’s nice to see them consistently ranked in the top five.

Why is it when someone is an expert in one field, they think that makes them an expert in everything else?

Sometimes the hardest thing about writing books is deciding which of the three or four that are constantly bouncing around your head is the one you want to write.

Nice clothes, a fancy car, and a big house may give someone the appearance of success, but the real measurement of success is not what you wear, drive, or live but what you actually produce.

Michael Connelly is one of the best writers in America. Too bad the literary snobs of the world won’t give him a read. They’re missing out.

As much as I love politics, I’m really sad that the presidential election has started as early as it has. I could get burned out on it long before it comes time to vote in the primaries.

The only thing worse than having one sick child, is having two sick children. Thankfully I don’t know what it’s like (yet) to have three sick children.

We haven’t had any measurable precipitation in over six weeks. It’s time like this I wished I lived in the Seattle area.

You know it’s hot outside when you never seem to cool down from your run no matter how cold of a shower you took.

I’ve gone to the pool more this summer than in the last 10 years combined.

Talking about fixing a problem is easy. Taking action to actually solve it is difficult.

I love reading to my kids.

If I could have anything in the world right now, I’d ask for a comfortable couch to lie on, a good book to read, and ask that all my other pressing deadlines simply go away.

Mike Maroth is a Cardinal. Who knew?

 

I’ve been so busy being a husband and father, and getting the final details on my book worked out, I didn’t even know that the Detroit Tigers traded Mike Maroth to the St. Louis Cardinals three weeks ago. I was driving back and forth from the hospital on Saturday listening to sports radio when some baseball announced that Maroth was getting pounded against the Phillies and my first thought was: What are the Tigers doing playing the Phillies? I thought they were taking on the Mariners this weekend.

The only reason I mention it because I saw Maroth pitch in his second major league game and earn his first victory against the then defending World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks five years ago. (What it really five years ago?) It happened to be the first Detroit Tiger game I ever attended and one of my fondest sports memories. Marathon Girl and I also saw him pitch and earn a win against the Rockies the following summer.

Because he seemed to win every time I watched him play in person, I offered to attend every game he started in return for airfare, tickets to the game, and other expenses. Sadly, he never took me up on it. He really could have used my presence in the stands Saturday.

I hope he enjoys playing for the lowly Cardinals. That has to be a big step down going from a winning team to a losing one -- espically when he was with the Tigers when they were the lowliest team in the majors.

Room for Two Book Cover and Back Cover Excerpt

Available to order online at abelkeogh.com in August 2007

In bookstores September 2007 

On a November afternoon, Abel's world comes to an end.

As he steps through the door of his home, he hears a gunshot echo from the bedroom. His fears are realized when he finds his pregnant wife dead, a victim of suicide. Their premature baby is rushed to the hospital. She dies nine days later.

A true story, Room for Two follows Abel as he deals with the grief, anger and guilt that accompany his wife's death. As he struggles with the thought that he is to blame for Krista's depression and subsequent suicide -- and the death of their only child -- Abel comes to realize that if he wants to move on, he must forgive Krista, as well as himself.

With time and the help of a wonderful woman, Julianna, Abel begins to understand that if he can let go of the past he can have another chance at happiness. As their relationship progresses, he also learns that every life has trials and tribulations -- none are exempt. It is when a person rises to their challenges that they conquer and find peace.

A touching account of one man's struggle for happiness, Room for Two is a story that readers will never forget.

Read the first chapter.

Fake Book Cover

 

Those who are on my mailing list know I’ve expressed concern that my book cover would look like some sort of silly romance novel – you know, one that I’d be embarrassed to be seen reading, selling, or giving out for friends and family.

Well the good news is that I just approved the final cover of the book from the publisher. I really like it and I’m proud to say that it’s a cover that I’m not ashamed of. All things considered, I think Cedar Fort did an excellent job and captured the mood and message of Room for Two very well.

I showed the real cover to my graphic designer friend Trevor yesterday. He said the publishers didn’t get the actual message of my book and whipped up the cover at the top of this post.

I think he did a great job recreating my reoccurring nightmare.

I did have some fun with the fake cover around the office, however. I proudly showed several co-workers the amazing cover for my book and had to hold back the laughs as they struggled to complement it.

I’ll be posting the real cover in the next few days and unveiling some new places on my website. Be patient and stay tuned.

Update: I forgot to mention that I thought Trevor did a great job of capturing my muscular body though my hair's brown, not black.