Matt's Revolution

Say what you mean and mean what you say…

Common Sense, Random Ramblings No Responses »

Jul 252010

You know…

I’m sick and tired of holding back for fear of offending. I’m not afraid of anybody and I don’t care if you’re offended by the truth.
I’m sick and tired of holding back for fear of running people off. If you fit, you fit. If you don’t, you don’t.
I’m sick and tired of holding back for fear of not being politically correct. What a stupid term anyway! Nobody is politically correct. Politics is opinions.
I’m sick and tired of holding back…period!

There are people in this world that are right…and there are people in this world that are just wrong…not in what they SAY…but in what they DO!!!

If you don’t want the truth, don’t ask.
If you can’t speak the truth, shut up!
Say what you mean and mean what you say.

–Matt Munson

Jeff Eckert wants Pam to get in a fiery car crash!

Common Sense, Family, Nutrition, Random Ramblings, Self Defense 8 Responses »

Jul 082010

After not delivering an ordered product for over 2 MONTHS, and endless correspondence, my wife Pam called our credit card company and initiated a credit back of the paid amount.

JEFF ECKERT (jeff@kbrfoods.com) of KBR Foods (Dick Stephens Cave Man Mix) emailed her tonight and said…….and I quote………

“Ok, thanks anyway. Sorry you’re so angry. You told us to ship it out today …(actually yesterday) and then renigged. We hate people like you. So we will just refund your money and hope you get in a firey (sp?) car crash.”

Yes you read that right, he said “we hate people like you so we will just refund your money and hope you get in a fiery (actually he spelled it wrong) car crash.”

http://www.kbrfoods.com

http://freshcutproduce.food.officelive.com/snackfoods.aspx

I already emailed Jeff to let him know that if I ever meet him I will be beating him within an inch of his life. Feel free to express your concern over their business practices as well.

Regain your ‘Muchness’!

Common Sense, Random Ramblings No Responses »

Jul 082010

You may or may not have seen Alice In Wonderland. In it, Alice, returning to Wonderland, is questioned by many if she is the original Alice. The Hatter knows that she is in fact the original Alice…but that she has changed. She was much ‘muchier’ before. She’d lost her ‘muchness’.

I would conjecture that it happens to all of us, does it not?

Have you not gone through times that you just wanted to give up on this or that? Have you not questioned whether or not this or that or this person or that person is worth it? Worth you? Worth your thoughts? Worth your time and energy?

Well, I would suggest that you don’t have to decide these things. The things and people worthy of your attention and being in your life will simply be. IF, you know who you are and your worth.

Be who you are. Let those that care about you be around you. Let those things that matter to you matter to you. Pursue the things that will help those that you love and care about…and avoid the things that simply drain you of your muchness.

Be muchier! Have as much muchness as you possibly can.

Negative thoughts that affect our world around us.

Common Sense, Random Ramblings 1 Response »

Jun 152010

I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to those folks around me, acquaintances, friends, dear friends, loved ones alike that may or may not have been affected by my generally negative disposition lately.

For most people that know me well, you know that I really do like to laugh and I am a very trusting person. But, I also do get accused often of having a not so friendly surface. I disagree, but whatever. So be it, either way.

A situation has occurred recently in which Pam and I have been greatly disappointed, even offended. What sucks the most is, its happened before and we didn’t see the signs of repetition (though we should have) and were even warned by a few people close to us that it would in fact happen again. We didn’t listen. It happened again.

Pam and I both try to live moral lives. We get off track like anyone, but for the most part, I think we are decent, good hearted folks. And, if I make a mistake I admit it. If I’m wrong I admit it. If I wrong someone, I apologize. I know I place to much trust in the assumption that others will do the same. And, it infuriates me when peoples wrongs and injustices don’t get admitted, when they get ignored or even justified…especially when it affects those closest and dearest to me. It infuriates me to the point that it affects everything I do.

Oh well, lesson learned. Twice.

And, so with writing this, I’m done with the latest bullshit. In the end, this latest situation will likely have no lasting effect on me, my family, my business or my clients.

Here is a quote that I found recently by Marianne Williamson (I have no idea who this person is) that I really like.

“We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what’s wrong in your life, or you can focus on what’s right.”

There are to many great things going on in our lives, good people in our lives and bright future in our lives to be concerned with the silly and insignificant actions, though wrong, of others of late.

Now, back to whatever we were doing!

California Students Sent Home for Wearing U.S. Flags on Cinco de Mayo

Common Sense, Politics, Random Ramblings 1 Response »

May 072010

Ubelievable!!!

By Joshua Rhett Miller – FOXNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/06/california-students-sent-home-wearing-flags-cinco-mayo

“Administrators at a California high school sent five students home on Wednesday after they refused to remove their American flag T-shirts and bandannas — garments the school officials deemed “incendiary” on Cinco de Mayo.”

The Yike Bike

Random Ramblings No Responses »

Apr 022010

Ok, this is kind of cool!

http://www.yikebike.com/site/gallery/video/yikebike-discovery-channel

You Picked A Fine Time To Lead Us.

Common Sense, Politics, Random Ramblings No Responses »

Mar 302010

But my kids won’t eat that.

Common Sense, Family, Nutrition, Random Ramblings 1 Response »

Jan 312010

Upon discussing the topic of nutrition and making the switch from a grain and sugar based, typical American diet to a more Paleolithic, protein, healthy fats and vegetables based diet, one of the questions/statements we often hear at the gym (www.crossfitchampions.com) and our periodic Nutrition Seminars is:

“Yeah, but what do I feed my kids because they won’t eat that.”

“Yeah, but it’s going to be hard to now cook two different ways in the house, because my kids won’t eat that.”

“Yeah, but my kids only eat such and such. I mean you don’t understand, I’m talking tears and tantrums and all day/night fights if I try to make them eat this or that.”

My response; Are you freakin’ kidding me?! Your kids will eat what you damn well tell them to eat!

Now, look, I try to be understanding when it comes to making a sometimes difficult switch from the crack to real food, but the above questions/statements really, really piss me off.

After you have learned what you learned that made you want to make the switch to healthier eating and ditch the poison that fills the typical American diet and the factory food chain, you would still allow your kids to keep eating the junk?

Seriously?

Would you let them ride around in a car without a seatbelt on? Would you let them ride a motorcycle without a helmet? Would you let them handle your firearms without any instruction on what to do when they see a firearm and no trusted adult around? Would you instruct them to talk to strangers as often as possible?

You see where I’m going here?

The health and welfare of your kids is your responsibility! You would take that matter seriously in all areas except nutrition? You would do everything you can to protect them and raise them well and make them aware of the dangers of the world, in all matters except the actual substances they put in their bodies on a daily basis?

Health and wellness starts with food. And your kids are relying on you for proper guidance whether you like it or not.

Alyx’s First Hunt!

Family, Guns, Random Ramblings 3 Responses »

Nov 162009

My daughter, Alyx (14), has been showing quite a bit of proficiency with learning about firearms lately so I asked her a couple months ago if she wanted to go hunting with me and Grandad this year in Abilene (we make the trip every year to see my folks and do a little hunting).

She excitedly said yes, which thrilled me to death!

We drove up this past Thursday and Friday morning my Dad set about teaching Alyx about rifles and shooting with a scoped rifle.

As always, Alyx proved to be an outstanding student and she followed Grandad’s instructions with each and every shot. He started her off on a .22 (the center target), then moved her up to a .223 (the left) and finally, after she handled the recoil just fine with the .223, she moved up to a .243 (the right!). Then she put 3 shots through a life size deer target with the .243. Not to bad!!!

Saturday morning, we saw a decent sized buck and she took him with a beautiful shot at about 55 yards. This buck had obviously been in a few tangles; he had a couple good scars on his body and the right side of his antlers had been broken off a while ago.

Here is a video of the actual shot (it’s not zoomed in very far because the Flip camera doesn’t zoom in much).

I gotta tell ya, I’ve hunted with a lot of people and Alyx proved to be one of the most patient hunters I’ve ever been around. I couldn’t be prouder!

Pam’s Belated Birthday Present

Guns, Random Ramblings 3 Responses »

Oct 282009

Is there anything as exciting as a new pistol?

Pam’s belated birthday present…a Glock 19.

My 2-Year “Fired” Anniversary.

CrossFit, Random Ramblings 8 Responses »

Oct 182009

Today, October 18, 2009, marks exactly 2 years since I was fired from my 11-year corporate job (yep, dress slacks, dress shirt, tie and all) with the Houston office of Bowne & Co., the world’s largest Financial Printer.

Regarding the job, I have a few fond memories, most of which relate to the fact the I was very good at it and initially found a great deal of success, recognition and advancement. But, like most folks in corporate America, that only lasted so long and my climb up the ladder only went so high. It’s not that I didn’t have the opportunities to achieve more, but it likely would have meant moving to another area since the Houston office was already saturated with the folks that would be entrenched in the higher positions.

So, a few fond memories.

Some of the people I worked with were quality and I do miss them. At least I think they were quality and I think I miss them. Actually, the more I think about it, I guess I don’t really miss them. After all, after I was fired, only 1 person from that office called me to talk to me and find out if I was ok. He and I have talked from time to time over the last couple years, and I do wish him well. Another person, who was a CrossFit athlete of ours at the time, stayed in touch for a while, but after she stopped training with us, we really don’t hear from her much either.

I guess what I’m trying to say is…the job was just a job…and while I did enjoy working with most of the people I worked with, it really doesn’t matter to them or me that I’m not there any more.

I have 2 significant regrets regarding my time with Bowne.

1. I wish I had gotten out sooner. Pam and I affiliated with CrossFit in the summer of 2006, about a year and a half before I got fired. We had full intention of turning CrossFit Champions into a full time gig, with martial arts also, but looking back I can honestly say we were just getting ready to get ready during 2006 and 2007. CrossFit Champions is what it is today because I got fired! More on that later.

2. I wish I had broken up with them before they had broken up with me. Yep. I was actively looking for a different job. I was looking for something that paid less, but also expected less so Pam and I could put more effort into getting CrossFit Champions out of our garage and into a real business location and ultimately taking it on full time.

But, they beat me to it. And good. They built a solid case against me (solid case of mostly bullshit) and on the evening of October 18, 2007, they pulled me into a conference room and chopped me off. More on that later. I will admit that I was not that good of an employee there at the end. I was absolutely miserable being there and I’m sure it showed. While I was always someone that spoke my mind and didn’t necessarily play proper corporate office politics (an attribute that actually served me well early in my career there), I probably did it a bit too much there at the end, and probably did it with acid in my mouth. So, I can’t blame them for firing me, I just think the ones involved in the decision are chicken shit bastards. What’s really interesting is Pam saw it coming. After a few incidents and conversations with my supervisors over the course of a couple months, she said flat out that she thought they were preparing to fire me. Naw! No way, I thought.

So…the actual firing. This is the best part. For 2 days in a row, I wasn’t assigned any work (weird) and jobs I had been working on were assigned to others (more weird). Hmm. WTF is going on here? About half way through the shift of that 2nd day, the Houston office VP calls me into a conference room. On the way to the conference room, in the hallway, I see a well muscled guy wearing cargo pants and a nice izod shirt with some kind of symbol embroidered on the left chest. Never seen this guy before in the office. Hmm. In the conference room is seated my department head (a tiny little pip squeak of a man) and the regional HR manager (a pretty nice woman…in from Dallas)(uh oh). I have a seat. He asks if I know why I’m here. Nope. He tells me…and then as swiftly as he possibly can, tells me my services are no longer needed. I don’t say a word. Not one word. I just stare at him. Not in disbelief…I just wanted to stare him down.

He blinked first.

The HR manager proceeds to give me my final check and explains, quickly, that my health insurance will only last through the end of the month.

I get up, again without saying a word, and proceed to go back to my desk and get my bag and things. I’m thinking, damn they beat me to it!!!

I’m stopped from going back to my desk and my bag and things are brought to me at the lobby, where the muscle guy is standing with his hands in folded softly in front of him and his feet bladed, shifting his position as I do so he is always just at the edge of my peripheral vision. Then it hits me. He’s security! They brought in muscle to fire me! They brought in security to fire me! I’ve seen folks fired from there before and I never, ever saw anyone get fired with outside security present. Seriously? Really? Security? What did they think I was going to do, throw a fit? Try to fight someone? Seriously? Just shows how well they know me…not!

Moving on. Pam and I start making serious plans to get CFC rolling and in April of 2008, we move CrossFit Champions out of our garage and into our first location. We move with 18 athletes, all of which assisted in the move! Currently we have about 150-ish active CrossFit athletes, as well as about a dozen CrossFit kids and 10 martial arts students, and a staff of trainers.

I have no doubt that CrossFit Champions would have left our garage at some point, but I can’t say when. Simple fact is, getting fired when I did directly led to us pushing to make CrossFit Champions what it is today. We are making a decent living doing exactly what we always dreamed of doing and what we completely love. How many people can say that?

We love our life and we love our business, and most importantly…we love all our people. Right or wrong, good business or not, we are emotionally attached to our business, CrossFit Champions, and our clients. We’ve been counceled in the past, and recently, to remind ourselves that it is a business and that we shouldn’t let ourselves get too wrapped up with the clients and not let our feelings get hurt when it comes to anything regarding the clients. Sorry, can’t do that.

We believe that there is no higher calling than to serve and help your fellow man. It’s hard to do that if you don’t truly care about them.

And, we do. We are emotionally invested. If you are reading this and you are a member of, or staff of, CrossFit Champions please know that we love you and are proud to be a part of your life. Yes, CrossFit Champions is a gym and the CrossFit training is awesome…but CrossFit Champions is actually really about all of you. You are what make it what it is.

Electric Violin Toxicity

Random Ramblings 1 Response »

Oct 142009

Check these girls out playing Toxicity (by System of a Down) with electric violins and drums.

This is bad ass!

I Hate Rude Behavior

Common Sense, Random Ramblings, Self Defense 3 Responses »

Sep 222009

“I hate rude behavior in a man. I won’t tolerate it.”

One of the best lines ever spoken in a movie, one of the best movies ever in fact; Lonesome Dove.

While I am a fan of being able to speak your mind and speak freely, I’m not a fan of doing so rudely or acting like a jack ass in public. I don’t like people, or government for that matter, thinking they are entitled to anything by reasons only justifiable to themselves.

The enclosed video is just an example, but a good one. And, Captain Call’s response was appropriate, was it not. If your rights, possesions, body, home, territory, life, sense of justice and sense of common sense and decency are being infringed upon or violated, don’t you have the explicit right to defend them in a manner that leaves no doubt in the violators mind that they made a mistake messing with you? Of course you do, no matter what anyone or any government says!

Just my opinion.

Stay tuned.

Random Ramblings 2 Responses »

Aug 112009

Stay tuned for the development of this site.

Hold on to your hats and pants, ladies and gentlemen.