Abby Normal's Wisdom

The Compleat Follow Through Man

    Have you ever wondered if you can truly take a man for his word? Chances are in this day and age that his mouth is moving, but nothing is coming out. You know the guy I’m referring to…the one who is constantly talking, but never actually accomplishing anything. He loves to brag and boast about his achievements but you can never quite catch him in the act of doing anything. Well, it’s time to become a follow through man. No one wants to be around a boy who constantly makes promises and never owns up to his vows. Stop running your mouth and get your arse in gear! If you say you’re going to help your buddy build fence or fix the truck…then get your gloves on and go to work…don’t leave him out there on his own. If you promised to meet your lady at her favorite restaurant for dinner at a certain time…set your alarm and show up a few minutes early. One of my biggest pet peeves is sitting around waiting on people! How rude! Believe me, my time is important too. Stop flapping your jaw and get it done. If you are unable to follow through in your personal life, then you can kiss that job of yours goodbye. Not many employers tolerate someone who can’t perform. Expect to be replaced quickly. It wasn’t that long ago when people would tell you they were going to do something and it would get done. Now, you may find yourself waiting around on people to do something at their convenience. That is the definition of total rudeness and disrespect to those who find themselves waiting on you. Not appropriate social etiquette in my book! How will you ever be able to run your own business when you have people expecting you to do what you say you will do? You must be able to follow through with your work and your intentions. Otherwise, someone else gets the business. So, before you decide to open that mouth of yours and make plans, remember that people count on that promise you made, so follow through with your actions. Don’t let them down. Your pride, honor, and respect ride on the simple fact that you can follow through with promises you make. If you say it, then be prepared to do it!

2012 Compleat Man Challenge. With the New Year comes the opportunity for a new you, but now that it’s April and all of your resolutions for 2012 have fallen flat and you’re back to cheeseburgers and beer and have given up on the gym; why not try something that will really benefit you? This is your opportunity to participate in the 2012 Compleat Man Challenge. All participants have 30 days from reading this to complete the following checklist. Time to Man up boys, enjoy. Learn how to tie the classic Windsor knot. Some of you might need to start with learning what a Windsor knot is, once you have conquered that hurdle, get a tie and practice. If you think you know how, get a tie and prove it. Build something with your hands. It really doesn’t matter what so long as you are using your hands, you know like a man would. Here are some basic ideas: tie some flies for the approaching summer, reload some ammo, or make your kid or your lady something special. Learn a new recipe. Cook, what? Hell ya. Real men know how to cook, at least the basics. Try something new, you don’t have to get crazy, try looking up all the ways you can cook with beer and whiskey. That way even if the recipe sucks, the rest of your night won’t. Start reading a new book. Trust me you do have the time. Check out the list of recommended reading on the blog. Compleatman.blogspot.com Call someone you can’t seem to find the time to call. Could be family or a friend, either way a simple phone call might make that person’s day. Help Someone Who Needs Help without being asked for it. Hold the door for someone; help a neighbor with yard work, anything to help someone out. Show some love to your ride. Sure it gets you to work every day but when was the last time you took care of you vehicle the way it takes care of you? Check the fluids, bump the tires, clean the glass, vacuum the interior and clean out all the trash. Trust me it’s time well spent. Last, give your lady something she is sure to love, your total attention. That’s right, time for you to shut up and listen to what she is talking about. She might thank you by tolerating your dumbass friends. If you don’t have a woman in your life, give your mom or grandma the same treatment. Act like and man and make changes in your life that make sense. Act like a man and start today. Have all these mastered already? Check out the advanced compleat man challenge on the blog site. compleatman.blogspot.com

Back? We never left.

Just an update/reminder for all our friends and readers of the Compleat Man. We have been busy. The web page is making progress but still no word of the official launch date. Going into the website will be a discussion forum, pod casts so you all can hear what I have to say, and a link to the blog to read back issues and random thoughts from the Compleat Man staff. We are looking forward to having a new issue out in print next week be back up and running from there. So next week look for the new issues to post on the blog. Until then my friends I will leave you with a thought to ponder, what sounds better steak or Kate Upton?

Happy Holidays from the Compleat Man

As I See It, from here in SoCal.
I have been here in sunny Southern California for the last week visiting family. During this time I have seen several "Sightings of Unmanly Behavior". It is highly unmanly to let your precious lap dog crap on the side walk and not clean it up. No one looks cool while picking up dog poo. Acting like a man is not about looking cool, it is about doing the right thing. Other unmanly sightings are in the nature of unmanly clothing. These include but are not limited to: the man purse or murse, skinny jeans and finally the unmanly use of pajama pants.
My wife and I had stopped at a grocery story during our long journey to San Diego to pick up final supplies for the following mornings' family breakfast. I elected to stay in the car while the wife ran in for the few items we needed. My parking spot allowed me a close vantage of the entrance to store where I observed five out of seven men entering or exiting the store wearing pajama pants. Pajama pants are for sleeping and home lounging, not for public. Acting like a man starts with dressing like a man.
Along with these pajama clad meatballs was one lady who caught the attention of everyone within a hundred feet and a clear line of sight. Her tee shirt was small, far too small, in an attempt to show off what I can only assume were her recent medical enhancements. The nip in the air only aided in her display, as only her thin tee shirt protected her skin from the coastal breeze. I observed as men, women and children alike stopped to stare. While as a man I feel that her behavior is something to be encouraged, men must understand the rules. Act like a man, observe don't stare.

As I See It

Got Scrap? The Advocacy of Conflict.
Conflict is not only natural and healthy, but conflict is necessary in the development of young men. I am not advocating violence, although men need to understand, conflict can lead to violence. The more comfortable men are with this understanding of conflict, the more self confident they will become. Stand-ing up for the weak or what is unjust in this world causes conflict. This conflict, when justified, is necessary and the responsibility of all men. By now most everyone has heard about the scandal involving Penn State University. Former assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky founded “The Second Mile”, a program for underprivileged young people who could “benefit from positive human interaction”. Sandusky allegedly used this program to pipe-line young men to his door so he could sexually assault them. According to the Grand Jury Report several peo-ple were aware of Sandusky’s inappropriate activities and did nothing. The report details in 2000, two members of the Penn State janitorial staff witnessed Sandusky sexually assaulting a young boy; yet they did nothing to stop it. Again in 2002 an assistant coach and former Penn State football player, Michael McQueary, witnessed San-dusky assaulting a boy at on the Penn State campus in a locker room shower. According to reports McQueary alerted his head coach Joe Paterno, thus fulfilling his “legal obligation”. McQueary also reported directly following his witnessing of the incident he called his father for advice. His father advised him to leave the campus and come home. WHAT? Come home! How about call the police, campus security. How about get your candy ass back over there and confront him! What do you think your father would tell you to do if you witnessed a child being raped? I can only speculate that all of these people were so afraid of conflict that they allowed children to be in harm’s way. Be thankful they are not your neighbors. Then again, sickos who hurt kids are everywhere and so are the cowards who let it happen. You can pick which one you want to live next door to; the one who will hurt your kid or the neighbor who is so self absorbed and cowardly that they will watch and let it happen? Call me old fashioned but I think there are still things worth starting a fight over. However you feel about conflict we should all agree that the strong should protect the weak. If you can’t get on board with protecting kids from pedophiles maybe you should move to Happy Val-ley PA, rumor has it that they tolerate you kind there. Stand up for what is right, if that means conflict then so be it. Act like a man. Start Today.
-S. Hanson

King's Corner

Corruption of the Holidays
and how to fight back.
In our consumer society the only break we get from some horribly commercialized holiday is August, even that is ruined by attempts to convince the public they need to make purchases for school. Labor Day is about the BBQ, Halloween about high end costumes and candy, Thanksgiving is represented by gluttony and Christmas, well let’s not get started on how bad it has gotten. Do yourself a favor, break away from the rush, the expense and the disconnect of a commercial holiday and find out what they are really about. Get over the idea that receiving is what the holidays are about, get rid of the extraneous crap filling your plate and car. Get back to the basics, working with your hands and mind for the holiday. Go cut a tree in the forest, shoot a turkey or duck, the TV is not what should be guiding your decisions in life. Break away from the keyboard and screen to build a bird house, try baking a pie, developing new skills round out a Compleat Man. While taking away new knowledge and experience you can give from where it matters, not the store.
Each holiday is something different for each person, years ago Thanksgiving to me began a tradition of deer hunting. This tradition began due to the fact that I lived a good distance away and could only afford to be home for Thanksgiving. It was an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with my family and possibly fill my freezer. This tradition continues to this day. I am looking forward to going out and hunting. This is my tradition for one holiday, if this time of year is breaking your back, take the time to create your own traditions, buck the status quo and become an individual, one with an idea about how to bring back the true meanings of the holidays. I am looking to giving thanks for all that this year has brought. I can honestly say that there have been many changes and I am struggling to keep up, but a Compleat Man has resources; friends, family, beliefs, tradition and his inner strength. -B. King

Self Education, Keys To Success.

Listen up fellas, I just finished Jon Krakauer's "Where Men Win Glory" and damn that is what I call a book. In case you are unfamiliar with the Pat Tillman story, he walked away from the NFL to enlist and serve his country. Now how many of us out there would do that? It goes to show that the spirit of the American Man is not dead yet, at least not in some of us. The time has come gents, zero hour is upon us. Time to suck it up and quit acting like little boys, or in some of your cases, girls. Quit blaming your father for your mistakes. Quit celebrating mediocrity like success and honestly get off your cell phone or facebook or whatever digital media is corrupting your brain and read a book. Start with "Where Men Win Glory" by Jon Krakauer. Find some motivation. Who knows, maybe this will be your first step to moving out of your parents basement and enjoying the company of a young lady that's not inflatable.