Here is a pic of my Uncle Jack taken this week, after he lost 72 pounds. Jack is a deputy and lives in Martinez, Georgia. At 183 pounds, he’s only a couple of pounds from his goal weight (and looking mighty good for an “old” guy — yes, my mom’s kid brother is 5 years older than I am). He’s quite an inspiration for me in keeping off the 88 pounds I lost last year. Heck, you could make a whole other person out of just the fat the two of us lost over the past year (yes, that would be one butt-ugly person, but you get what I’m sayin’).

Ed Fields and me in 2006, when I was in Oklahoma on business

Got an email this weekend from my Cherokee language teacher, Ed Fields. Always great to hear from him. Ed has taught online Cherokee classes for the nation’s cultural resources department for the past few years. I’ve completed Cherokee 1, 2 and 3 (several times each) and really enjoy Mr. Ed’s patience and humor. I’ve learned a lot — I’m not fluent, by any stretch of the imagination, but I can understand enough to get the gist of the Cherokee radio broadcasts available on iTunes and to carry on a basic conversation. Wado, Mr. Ed.

I’m signed up to take Cherokee 3 again this season (classes start the week of Jan. 12). Jesse and I will also take Cherokee 1 using the online lesson archives. This is in addition to the Lakota and Ojibwe classes we will be taking starting next weekend through the American Indian Education Program in our school district. We’ll have our own Tower of Babel when we’re done.

Swarm lead West Division with 1-0 record

11-7 is the final. The Swarm effort was led by Kevin Ross with three goals. Sean Pollock scores two and adds five assists. Croswell, after a rough start, finishes strong. After starting the game with three straight Lumberjax goals and falling behind 5-2, the Swarm fired back and scored five unanswered goals and dominated on rebounds and power plays. Nice game. A lot of players with goals.

All Swarm games will be webcast for free this year on  Swarm Vision Live. The channel broadcasts lacrosse games, interviews and features 24/7, in addition to all of the Swarm games live. Check it out when you’re trying to look busy at work.

Swarm it up!