The Story of Skinny and the 411

For those of you wondering, “why Skinny”? Here is the quick and dirty version (not really quick or dirty, but it sounded funny).

Back in high school, the guys I hung around with played sports, rode motorcycles, and drove cool cars. I was the smallest dude in the group, that’s how I got the nickname. I didn’t play typical high school sports and was too broke for a motorcycle or a cool car. Although my old truck was pretty cool (a ‘78 Chevy truck). Fast forward 30 years and I still use the name even though I haven’t seen those guys in a long time (I moved to another city and wasn’t able to “check in” on anyone. Decades passed, and you know how we get caught up in “life” even though it isn’t really living). For the last 25 years I have been working, paying bills, struggling to get by, and surviving. When someone misses out on life with family and friends, it does something to the spirit. Now that I have passed 50, it’s time to “get back” to life and worry less about work (nice thought, I am still working to get out of work). With help from anyone interested in my journey (or would like to come along), I started tfallsce.com where there are items I make (scented stuff and woodwork). Alongside items purchased from other crafters as well. There are also antiques (Old stuff I hope someone is looking for). This has led me to Skinny’s 411, an “alter ego” that I use to “show the world” from a “different” perspective. Skinny is the chosen name to remind me of a better place in time when things didn’t seem so flocked up. (By flock, I mean there seems to be to many “blindly following sheep” in humanity). With all the random thoughts going through my head, is it any wonder why I ramble the way I do? “Squirrel”! Lots of shiny squirrels….

When I started Trickling Falls, I didn’t know where I wanted to go with it, I just knew I wanted to get people interested in what I was making as far as scents and woodwork. Skinny came to mind, and I went with it. On the Trickling Falls site, Skinny puts in his “two cents worth” for philosophy and lends his “thoughts” in the form of “Skinny’s Thoughts” as well as many blog entries also. As Skinny “grew”, I opened this site to “bring him to life” and to get people more interested in going out into nature. There are so many hiking, biking and camping places to visit in Southern Indiana! If you don’t know about them, they are hard to visit (some places are “pull into the ditch and park”).

Now for the 411.

As many know, 411 is short for information (telephone operators’ number was once 1411 or just 411 in some areas). “Why Skinny’s 411”, you ask? Well, Skinny has lots of information he wants to pass along to anyone interested in getting back out in nature. People of all ages seem to be caught up in the mundanities of “modern” life and have forgotten about what lies beyond the asphalt and walls they have become way to accustomed to. I would like to take you outside and maybe inspire people to get out more often than just getting in their car so they can drive to work and the store.

“So Skinny, how do you plan to get me interested in taking my worn-out butt outside, just so I can wear it out more using my own energy to propel myself to unknown destinations”?

Simple answer? “Inspiration”!

Over the years I have worked many different jobs, and they all had good and bad points. The worst point is that there seems to be no real time to truly enjoying living and working 6 days a week really sucks. I’m not saying everyone’s job sucks (my current job isn’t all that bad), I’m saying what I do for money is taking a toll on a life that will soon be nothing more than a bitter memory. Working at something joyful lends meaning to an otherwise meaningless life. I would like the chance to try something enjoyable that may also bring joy to others by creating a community for those with similar interests! By the way, I have only presented you with the first steps to where this escapade will be going. Starting a business is pretty easy, keeping it going and financing it until sales come in are another dimension entirely.

Now for the inspiration.

I was laid off from a factory job after 15 years there. I had become accustomed to Friday paydays and making good money. The last check I got from there was a bad day to say the least, I went from making around $550 a week to under $300 (Reality SLAP)! I had already lost my house, car and other belongings to a bankruptcy, I was living in a three-room apartment, and had no extra money to even pay attention. I was able to keep a piece of property that was not taken in the bankruptcy and decided to “camp” there until things got better. Well, 16 years later and I am still camping on the same property. Although my financial situation has improved, and everything has been paid for with cash (for some reason I don’t want a home loan again, go figure) my living status has remained the same; work, pay bills, make a business, eat, sleep, go to work, have no time to accomplish anything worth talking about, lament the past, and strive for a better future! How’s that for inspiration!

“Skinny, you suck. Where is the real inspiration”?

Living by paying cash for everything is difficult (no instant gratification). Over the years I have built up quite a “junk yard” around my place of items that will someday assemble into a structure, and 2025 shall be the year they get assembled! Look for the pictures with captions in “Projects”. Back to my past jobs. What got my attention for what life throws at you was the year I drove a semi hauling coal, gravel, and other “rocks”. Driving for 12 hours a day and then 45 minutes (one way) to get home leaves a person less inclined to enjoy “getting out”. I was on the hook for a year and once it was over I quit, although I do still have my CDL. It was a fun job but sitting that much took a toll on my body. During that time, I thought of an exercise routine that was easy to get back to moving. Check out “Bex, Chex, Sex” in the video reviews section (coming later in 2025 after the studio is complete). What it means is Bex (bed exercises), Chex (chair exercises), Sex (Standing exercises) (Sex sounds better than Stex). All of these routines accompanied with eating more whole foods while including vitamins and other supplements helped me to get back in shape.

“Damnit Skinny, I’m out of here if you don’t inspire me”.

“Ok, here goes. Everyone needs a back story to see where this is going”!

Doing the exercises didn’t “bring me back from the dead”, but they helped get me wanting to get out and enjoy life again. Before all this went on (job loss, moving out of state, and driving a semi), I was in the best shape of my life. I very much enjoyed “getting away from it all” most weekends and setting up camp somewhere besides “home”. As time went on I got a full time job and lost my “freedom” to get out as often as I would like to. In 2025 I want to make a major change and am still planning on how to get it done.

“FU Skinny, I’m outta here. Your inspiration is about as dry as a desert rock”.

“ I understand, let me explain the plan”.

“This better be good, I’ve read enough to know this could have been shorter”.

Starting in August 2024 (life slapped me around and its now going to be August 2025), I want to be set up to quit full time work at a “regular” job (just have a part time position to get the bills paid) and go full on with Trickling Falls (what I call my property and business). During the winter, I will be making and selling scented stuff as well as woodwork. I will also be getting everything ready to go full outdoorsy in 2025 (I’ll just be covering the nearby stuff this year, that didn’t happen either, sigh…). If this is successful, eventually, there will be a place for outdoor enthusiasts to gather and a transport shuttle to get them to a trailhead without worrying about their auto being messed with. Lots in the pipeline (currently a pipe dream) to accomplish. I have a plan, and it needs to be implemented!

If you want to get outside more, make a plan, work it, get fired up, and get started! If you are like me, motivation isn’t easy sometimes and any help is appreciated. Once you decide to embark on a grand adventure, start out small and work up to it, otherwise bad things will eminently happen. I can’t say what worked for me will work for you, but you can try out the Bex, Chex, Sex exercises and follow a more whole food diet (if you like sweets, some whole foods are naturally sweet to cover the cravings). The major issue with change is that your mind and body try to resist it. Make slow, but fast changes to your routine and it will be an easier transition (it doesn’t happen overnight and sometimes longer than a couple months. Stick with it! It will be a grand accomplishment when you get there)! I will be making a more detailed diet and exercise plan for anyone who wishes to give it a try (When the studio is ready, and it ain’t ready).

“Inspiration Skinny, my patients are wearing thin (pun intended)”.

Everyone at some point wants something more than what they have, I’m no different. Some people are perfectly happy with how their life is and really don’t want change, awesome for them! If you are more like me, follow my journey and see if there is any inspiration coming from it that you can relate to. Maybe try something new that you have been wanting to do for a long time or even many years! Skinny’s 411 “outings and adventures” will seem to start out slow (at least until the studio gets done, where the videos will be made), but as I get settled into a new routine (that’s what it takes to do the new you, a good routine is essential) things will fall into place and progression will come easier. Plan big, start small, work hard and quickly once you do start. Getting motivation is like jumping into the pool, you know it is going to be cold and miserable to start but will feel better after you get moving. Take the plunge, just jump in, all at once, and get moving toward your first goal. Then as that goal is achieved, celebrate (not too much though) and relish in the moment of accomplishment, then move to the next step. Live life to its extreme fullest before it disappears, and you are left with the consequence of inaction. Go from a crawl to a walk, then run to the next goal as you work the magic of self accomplishment to the next level. Subsequently, your life will improve beyond even your greatest expectations. Work it, live it, love it, own it! This is your life and only you know how you want to live it!

“Damn Skinny, that was some deep sh…”