I've got the will, and I've found a way.

I'm happy to report that I am finally in possession of all of the tools I need to get back into fighting shape. Here, in the heart of whitetrashville, where I currently (and gratefully) make my home, is my fairly-complete home gym: nice Olympic weight set and proper stands and benches, adjustable dumbells, and best of all, my elliptical trainer. It appears that the majority of my neighbors are deep into a self-destructive lifestyle not very much unlike that which I have left behind, and I am alone on a mission to make up for lost time. I can only imagine what they are doing on the other side of those walls. I can't save them, but I can be the change I want to see.
Part of that change is getting into the shape I was when I left the joint in December of '04. I won't do it by dieting. Creating a killer low-carb "diet bread" (killer light?) is on my short-list of worthy projects, but don't expect me to eat it. I have never been a dieter. I just exercise hard.
I put on a few pounds when I quit smoking a few months ago, and my arthritis kicked in and made running a painful ordeal. To reduce the impact on my joints, I finally purchased a good elliptical trainer. and now it's on! Ok, it's not going to be as easy as it was in my 20's, but people who use age as an excuse just get older quicker. I readily accept the challenge not to go quietly into my later middle years.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.