May 30, 2012: Post 151, Day 151

May 30, 2012

Daily Comment

Am I too involved with the internet? 

Probably. I go to the internet for a lot of things, a lot of reasons. And I spend too much time there.

I've cut down on the amount of time I spend on Facebook, and I don't get on every day (besides, it pushes stuff to my phone). 

But my email is very active, and I like to keep up with and do maintenance on that.

I also get movies and some TV shows on the web.

I constantly use the web to explore topics of interest to me: Music, photography, food, and foreign retirement destinations. For that matter, I subscribe to email letters and blogs on those topics, as well.

And that is just what I do on the internet. 

The total amount of time I spend on the computer, not just browsing the internet, makes that my number one recreational activity, on a par with sleeping. Not that high a bar, I don't sleep much enough.

What does all this mean? Well, maybe my social skills are atrophying. Maybe it contributes to a certain lack of movement when it comes to doing unpleasant things (which mostly includes housework and exercise). My computer is certainly the go-to distraction when I am procrastinating.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        202.8 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    204.0  lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 1.2 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

I am on track to be under 200 pounds by Saturday. I don't like the fact that there are two spikes of my highest 2012 weight in the same week.

Food Log

Breakfast
A cocoa-kale protein shake (almond milk, vanilla whey protein (36g protein), kale, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch
Skipped. I had a late breakfast.

Snack
Celery and home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner

Chicken, peas, and tomato-lentil curry.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   32 oz,   Water:96+ oz

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May 29, 2012: Post 150, Day 150

May 29, 2012

Daily Comment

After the Memorial Day 3-day weekend, it was back-to-work today.

I could so easily stay home, do nothing, vegetate.  It is frightening how little problem I have with that.

I never worry about boredom. I have music, books, the internet, tv, movies, photography, and on and on, to keep me busy. All these distractions.

I expect to get 'busy' with living after I have control of all my time.  In other words, when I don't have a work schedule to live around.

I don't want to give the impression I'm not enjoying life, or that I don't consider what I do now to be 'living'. Certainly, that would be a miserable existence, and I'm definitely not unhappy. In fact, I'm quite contented. 

But I do think that my 45(40 hours, plus lunch, plus commute) hours of work every week (that, yes, I am very grateful for, even when I'm there) gets in the way of the natural expression of my inclinations, my 'natural' rhythm. 

Work isn't the only thing, though. There's lots of things I want to change when I take the next step, in 3-1/2 years or so: Things like having to drive to get things. I don't want to ever own a car again. And, as pleasurable as they are, band rehearsal schedules will also get left behind. In fact, just about every regularly-scheduled thing in my current life, no matter how pleasant or currently necessary, has to subside.

I think it will be very interesting to see what I do with my time when I am free to follow my own rhythms and make appointments my way. 

That may be the thing I look forward to most about the new adventure that will start on my 66th birthday.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        204.0 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    205.4  lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 1.4 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

I now want to lose 5 pounds in the next 6 days. And I will, too.

Food Log

Breakfast

Spinach and eggs, with salsa and guacamole.

Lunch

Roasted turkey breast, Spring Mix greens, red cabbage, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack
Pepperoni, baby carrots, home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner

Broccoli with butter, sausages, wild-caught salmon burger, cole slaw.

Snack

Baby carrots and homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   22 oz,   Water:128+ oz

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May 28, 2012: Post 149, Day 149 - Fast Day

May 28, 2012

Daily Comment

Today is for relaxing, and recovery. I played late last night, having gone to an open mic after the gig.


So, today is lazy-day, late out of bed. A few chores, easy. Bring in the gear from yesterday. Look at photos, and catch up on the blog (never published Saturday's and didn't even start Sundays. 


As of this blog today, I'm caught up, though. 


What a nice, relaxing, music-filled weekend. 


I'm very grateful for this ease I feel today.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        205.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    203.4  lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 2.0 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

An entirely expected weight gain, and I'm in for more of the same, as I'm cheating two days in a row.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner

Hard-boiled eggs, celery and home-made mayonnaise.

Snack

Chocolate Egg-Cream/Kale protein shake: Kale, Cocoa, an egg, vanilla whey protein (36g protein), cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   32 oz,   Water:102+ oz

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May 27, 2012: Post 148, Day 148 - Cheat Day 2

May 27, 2012

Daily Comment

I played on the lawn facing the pool at a private party. It was a fine afternoon and evening.

Here are some  pictures:

i am Fool. 

Bass player feet.

It was a very good time. Before we could leave, I caught this lit-up hot-air baloon (unmanned) on my cell-phone, as it sailed into the sky:

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        203.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    201.8 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 1.6 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

An entirely expected weight gain, and I'm in for more of the same, as I'm cheating two days in a row.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch

Late breakfast again:  Grapefruit (both halves eaten); Second Nature Wholesome Medley (dark chocolate chunks, roasted and salted peanutss, almonds and cashews, tart red cherries and dried cranberries); and Ezekiel Sprouted Grains Golden Flax with blueberries, almond milk, and stevia-inulin blend.

Snack
Second Nature Wholesome Medley (dark chocolate chunks, roasted and salted peanutss, almonds and cashews, tart red cherries and dried cranberries).

Dinner

At the party: A plate of Spinach and Jerusalem artichoke salad, chicken and eggplant; wild rice salad; and macaroni salad. Not shown: sausage, pasta salad, and strawberry shortcake. 

Snack
Second Nature Wholesome Medley (dark chocolate chunks, roasted and salted peanutss, almonds and cashews, tart red cherries and dried cranberries).

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   32 oz,   Water:148+ oz

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May 26, 2012: Post 147, Day 147 - Cheat Day 1

May 26, 2012

Daily Comment

I played a gig tonight I've been looking forward to all week. 

I haven't played much this week, due to i am Fool moving rehearsals to Thursdays. That is the same night as one of the jams I check in with regularly, so that means one night instead of two nights out playing). Of course, I get in some good playing time on those two nights, but it is too concentrated - I'd play as much and then more on two other nights if I could. 

Realistically, it would be great if I could get all that time spread around a little more during the week.

Along with a change in  playing availability at a few other locations, and cancellations of various open mics, I am down to only two nights of available jamming: Thursdays and Sundays. Since I don't like playing at home, alone, I have to find activities for two nights of non-playing.

Having established a certain tendency to 'escape' whenever I have free non-playing time, I have been squandering this new-found time unproductively. I think that's going to change a bit. Probably just in time to add a couple of new nights to playing, and save me from doing anything productive with my life.

Outside of my playing. 

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        201.8 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    200.4 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 1.4 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

Yesterday's prodigious eating bodes ill for my weight after this weekend - even though I do plan on an all-day fast on Monday, Memorial Day.

Unfortunately, this holiday weekend is not promising for weight maintenance. I have activities that will probably involve lots of food Saturday and Sunday...

And I had a lot of food at dinner - I just kept eating. Not sure what's going on with that...

And it's the first of two consecutive cheat days.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch

Breakfast for lunch meant Second Nature Wholesome Medley (dark chocolate chunks, roasted and salted peanutss, almonds and cashews, tart red cherries and dried cranberries); a Swiss-cheese, peppers and onions omelet with an Italian-style chicken sausage; and Ezekiel Sprouted Grains Golden Flax with blueberries, almond milk, and stevia-inulin blend.

Snack
Oreos.

Dinner

Sorry about the picture, my new iPhone doesn't do well in low-light situations. Anyway, what we have here is a Waldorf salad, with fruits, nuts, and greens, with goat cheese and a too-sweet dressing. On the right, Chicken tenders with hot sauce, sour cream, ranch dressing, and french frries. I took the salad to go, and finished it the rest of the night.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   32 oz,   Water:100+ oz

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May 25, 2012: Post 146, Day 146

May 25, 2012

Daily Comment

This is a good question: 

Why do I write this blog?

The simple answer is that I do it because I am self-centered. It is an egotistical exercise in self-advertisement.

Well, maybe, but maybe not so much. I certainly don't expect this blog to bring me any fame or glory. In fact, initially, it wasn't even about self-expression.

If you look at the original description (now amended), the blog was about my need to have accountability for my weight-loss - an audience for my pictorial food diary; the feeling that describing my dietary actions publicly would keep me on track.

That worked. To the point where it wasn't necessary to highlight the food any more, and I was bored with it. It had become, not irrelevant, but tedious. 

As a former fatty, I think I still need to watch what I eat, and keep to a plan, so there is a diet section.

But now I want to write down what I'm thinking. So the simple answer, that this is just one-person, one-handed sex, is, I think, at least partially wrong. I have other reasons, and while they still might be, in part, me stroking myself, it is at least a bit more deep and complicated.

For one, it is self-improvement. I write a page of my thoughts every day, with two hopes: First, improve my writing by practice, and second, clarify my thinking. At least it shows that I am having thoughts.

Once I start my retired life, I hope that, at least for a while, writing and photography will add some purpose, fun, and, maybe, a little spending money to my life. It will also keep me critically examining my steps, my course, my progress along the path. 

Even if that path is just a yellow-brick road.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        200.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    202.0 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 1.6 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

My weight is still a little high, merely a tad, not out of my range today... but not bad.

Unfortunately, this holiday weekend is not promising for weight maintenance. I have activities that will probably involve lots of food Saturday and Sunday...

And I had a lot of food at dinner - I just kept eating. Not sure what's going on with that...

Food Log

Breakfast
A cocoa-kale protein shake (almond milk, vanilla whey protein (36g protein), kale, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

Smoked turkey breast, hard-boiled eggs, Spring Mix greens, cole slaw mix, balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack
Pepperoni, baby carrots, home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner

Chili, made with grass-fed beef, mushrooms, peas, spinach, tomatoes, black beans and spices.

Snack
Baby carrots and home-made mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   22 oz,   Water:128+ oz

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May 24, 2012: Post 145 Day 145 - Fast Day

May 24, 2012

Daily Comment

This is my 500th post on this blog. I'm just saying. Since January 1, 2011, I've only missed 11 days of posting (all because of vacation/out-of-town problems with getting data, when this blog was primarily a weight-loss tracking tool of mine).

Now that that's out of the way, let's say a word about Bob Dylan.

I was not an early fan. When he first came around, I was put off by his voice. I thought Peter, Paul and Mary's version of 'Blowing in the Wind' sounded better (which, in many respects, it did, as long as you thought smoother and more harmonious was better than emotionally direct) - I mean, I was 13!
>
I continued to like other people's versions of Dylan's songs, and dismissing the performer himself - while liking his songwriting more and more - I wasn't really into the talking blues stuff (then) because I found it 'inauthentic' (as if I could actually tell back then). Then, the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man" sent me over the top.

When he went electric and got booed at Forest Hills (right before he offended the Newport Folk Festival people the same way), I thought, 'sell-out' and figured that was the end of him. But then came 'Bringing It All Back Home' and I was there. Late to the show, yes, but I was a fan, and suddenly all the old records I hadn't liked sounded good.

Such is the way. This is also the period where I discovered blues, soul, and R&B, thanks to my best friend in high school, Thom Jones (RIP), who I admired so much that I copped his taste in music whole.

Throughout my hippie days in the late 60s, Dylan was a staple... But gradually, I stopped listening. As I got more into playing bass guitar, I gravitated to artists whose bass playing was more interesting to me. Beginning in the early 70s, this meant less rock and more soul, funk, and R&B.

That culminated with me playing in a soul review in the mid-to-late 70s. Then, when I went corporate with IBM in 1977, I moved upstate and pretty much stopped playing. I also stopped listening to pop music, including soul and R&B, and listened almost exclusively to jazz and classical. 

I was aware of new Dylan stuff, but not really listening.

At the end of the 90s, I had an opportunity to see Dylan in concert. He gave an awful performance. So awful, I ended up wondering what he was doing it for. It alienated me from all my positive feelings about him for a while.

But just for awhile. Now, my feelings about him are that he is very much his own man, and I don't know anything about him, personally. Which is fine. The things I loved 35-40 years ago, I love as much, maybe even more, today. And that's currently where it sits with me.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        202.0 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    201.2 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 0.8 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

Still on the high end of normal - we'll see how the fast goes today.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Skipped:

Dinner
Pepperoni, carrots, and home-made mayonnaise; a cocoa-kale protein shake (almond milk, vanilla whey protein (36g protein), kale, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend).

Snack
Spring mix greens, cole slaw mix, hard-boiled eggs and balsamic vinaigrette.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   42 oz,   Water:148+ oz

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May 23, 2012: Post 144 Day 144

May 23, 2012

Daily Comment

I haven't been given to politics, except that I always seem to get involved, because I try to stay informed and I have opinions. Strong opinions.

For instance: While no lover of the Democratic Party and their politicians, I dislike - strongly - the Republican Party, and their basic principles. 

And that was before the strong turn towards the fanatical right.

That's really all I have to say. Last time I had the chance, I voted straight Working Family Party.

Not one of their candidates (mostly the same as the Democratic ticket, and counted as Democratic votes in that case) won.

This, like North Carolina before, is a very conservative area. And my politics are definitely 'progressive' - I think.

I have done little, deliberately, in the past to make my voice heard, although I haven't missed voting in an election in 44 years or is that 41? I can't remember if 18 year-olds could vote when I was 18.

But, somehow or another, I did get involved. I protested ROTC on CCNY campus. I protested the placement of 'temporary' trailer classrooms in a student-gathering ground (not that we didn't want the classroom space, but they found the most ecologically and aesthetically harmful place to put them), and we were right - temporary was a lie, and the damage done was permanent, including the removal of a healthy, 150-year-old tree).

Largely, my involvement was more reflective of the social scene I was in than a burning passion for politics. Can I admit that? I just did. On the other hand, I never did anything I didn't believe was right and consistent with my opinions.

I have made little personal protests as well. Some of them were... felonious, I think, so best left unrecounted, even with the statute of limitations long expired. 

And, I have never lived a conservative lifestyle, even while living among the arch-Conservatives in Raleigh and Cary, NC, or in Duchess County, NY. 

But I really hate what I'm seeing in the United States, the trend towards militarization and corporate control, at the expense of the lower- and middle-classes - and I'm also talking about the stratification of society into one of only two classes: The haves and have nots.

Some people will think I am naive, but if so, it is because I believed things were different at some point of my life.

Do I protest now? Well, I've stood with government employees, and with unions, and I've visited the Occupation sites in New York and Los Angeles. But, unlike some of my friends, who are actively trying to make a difference, make a change (bless them!), I have decided to vote with my feet.

In less than 4 years (about 44 months), I'm out of here. If the old non-choice of 'Love it or leave it' still has any advocates, all right, then: I'm leaving.
>

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        201.2 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    205.4 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         - 4.2 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

That is more like it. I'm more comfortable back in the weight range. Today's a no-breakfast day in honor of the huge lunch I'll be having with Al.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
At Ling-Ling's:

Mongolian Grill with bean sprouts, broccoli, snow pea pods, mushrooms, onions, peppers, pork and chicken; kimchi, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, hard-boiled eggs and blue cheese dressing..

Snack
Celery and home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner

Italian-style chicken sausage with whole-grain Dijon mustard, mashed broccoli with chipotle Tabasco sauce..

Snack
Chocolate protein shake:  Almond milk, cocoa, vanilla whey protein (24g protein).

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   28 oz,   Tea, 8 oz,  Water:108+ oz

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May 22, 2012: Post 143 Day 143

May 22, 2012

Daily Comment

It's always something:


I started doing my weekly laundry last night, only to discover the apartment's one working washing machine... wasn't working. It hadn't agitated. So, no spin dry, so my clothes came out soaking wet, with soap visibly still on the bottom-most articles of clothing.


I just sighed, got my phone, made an appointment to call the landlord ("thank you, Siri."), put money in a dryer, and resigned myself to going to a laundromat today.


I haven't been to a laundromat since 1985. 


However, at the end of the dryer cycle, my clothes were still wet, although now they were hot and wet. So, I put more money in the dryer, and let it go for another go-round. Then, up in my apartment, I fell asleep waiting for that cycle to end. 


When I woke up this morning, I decided I would just put them in their basket, and take them to work, going straight to a laundromat after, but, wonder of wonders, one of the washing machines that had been broke, was fixed! So I put some money in it and re-washed my clothes. After one cycle in the dryer, they were dry, all was happy. 


Management is going to refund my money for last night's misadventure, maybe all of it, but at least the money for the broken washing machine. And they've promised to fix the other washing machines.


I'm good until next Monday.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        205.4 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    204.8 lbs
Net Loss/Gain:         + 0.6 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

I don't like the recent trend - I have been gaining weight for a week, and am now at my highest weight for the year, which is heavier than I'm comfortable with. Time to fall back to some eating control. I don't want to obsess about it, but I don't like it.


Also, in response to a question, here's the grocery shelf with the prepackaged Indian curries I buy:

There are other shelves in the organic section, and these days I mostly buy from the Indian grocery stores in town (better selection, prices, local).

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch

Smoked turkey breast, hard-boiled egg, Spring Mix Greens, cole slaw mix, balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

Wild-caught salmon with mayonnaise, tomato dal (lentils and tomato curry) and peas.

Snack
Chocolate-kale shake: Almond milk, kale, vanilla whey protein powder (24g protein), unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend.  

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:   32 oz,   Water:96+ oz

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