24 Hours 312.4 (24 hrs later: 308.6)

Today, I am going to attempt to record all of my activities starting now at: 7:06 a.m.
7:06 a.m. - adjusted wall clock as it was running four minutes fast and I simply cannot function without the clock being in sych with the computer dash clock. Why don't I leave the wall clock be and use the computer dash clock? As I mentioned in the first twelve words of this journal I am recording all of my activities, no judgment only recording. (I noticed the time is 7:12 a.m. and I haven't gotten the wall clock down, because I'm writing about the wall clock, time and what I'm going to do ......... story of my life (7:13 a.m.); just reread what I've just written and it's now 7:15 a.m., the wall clock is still running too fast. The wall clock is down and on the desk! Now it's 7:23 a.m. ....... no, wait, that's the fast time, because I haven't adjusted it yet! It's really 7:19 a.m. I just wasted another minute waiting for the second hand to get to the twelve o'clock position, but it overran by 2 seconds so I'm spending an extra minute more allowing it to go around for 58 more clicks before I pull out the AA battery. I have everything set and was even able to hang the clock back on the wall in one try. The time now is 7:30 a.m. I can see that this is going to be a very productive and insightful day.

7:31 a.m.
I am feeling really uncomfortable already. How do I write what I am going to do and do it without wasting time writing about what it is I am going to do in the first place? ( 7:33 a.m. at the time of rereading this).
7:34 a.m. Fuck it, I'm going to make some coffee.

Between 7:34 a.m. and 8:46 a.m.:
I went to my bedroom, hugged Nancy, then found a blank spiral notebook to use while away from the computer. Next, I went outside in search of a pen I remember placing on the patio table last night. Couldn't find the pen, but discovered some pumpkin seeds I had left outside. Decided to eat breakfast. Heated up a cup (Megan's pyrex glass container) of concoction from the night before and downed that while dining at the T.V. table tray while watching Book TV C-Span2; Ralph Peters from the NY Post was being interviewed. I computed and projected, i.e., 7.2 lbs weight loss in 21 days divided by 365/21 = 17.3809524 times 7.2 = 125.142857 lbs for the year. (I worry about the last .142857 lbs). Walked into the kitchen and sliced an orange (did you know there is no word in the English language that rhymes with orange?) into quarters, ate it then finally sat down and had my first cup of coffee (now working on my second cup).

8:46 a.m. - 9:47 a.m.
Reading about Cervical Spinal Stenosis which is the diagnosis for Doug's condition.

Did a bunch of stuff.........end of journal (perhaps I might be a candidate for AADD).

365/35 = 10.4285714 X (322.0 - 308.6) = -139.742851 + 308.600000 = 169 lbs on 8/24/10

Library reminder: The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Fairer and Cheaper Medical Care

August 21, 2009 310.8

Another Friday, how quickly the weeks go by. I was thrilled to know that Megan is running on all cylinders now. Avery called me the other day to say hello. Grampa sounds like pop paah which sounds like grampa to me :) I say hello to Dylan but for now he's into the moment and not any salutations. I was impressed with Collin and John's third place finish at the Boulder Muddy Buddy contest. Way to go Collin! You too, John.

I'm hovering around the 310 lbs level now. This current round of weight loss I attribute to a vegan eating approach, no beer and some auto-suggestions I listen to on CD's or on iTunes.

I still attend meetings on a daily basis and find that I am developing some very nice friendships. It's amazing how the world looks when I'm not pissed off.

Nancy is doing well. She decided to abruptly stop in the course of one of our bicycle rides to a morning meeting. I picked up a couple of scrapes to the elbow and knee. Nancy still doesn't know what happened. All is well with her as long as she gets her one "greenie" treat a day.

I met a fellow today who invited me to play horseshoes in his backyard sometime next week. Then yesterday, Jimmy, the owner of Z-Market asked me to call him and makes plans for some chess games to be played on the tables in front of his market. I guess I'll have hit the Nirvana level if ever I can find someone to play pepper in the park.

So things are going well. I have lots of things to do, hopefully my energy level will increase with the coming weight loss.

Aug. 13, 2009 317.0

I've just returned from my morning meeting with Nancy accompanying me alongside my bicycle. A cool overcast morning kept the heat away. I've noticed I am riding just a bit farther up the hill now. I'm projecting that I'll be pedaling all the way to its crest when I record a solid 310 pounds. I'm definitely getting stronger. Arthritis is still bothering my knees, but not my bicycling so this is very good.

Next Monday night I'll drive up to Hollywood with a friend to watch another friend participate in a rap song competition. I wasn't aware of his creative abilities until I happened upon a conversation and then found out about this particular competition.

There will be some blue grass music over in Vista a couple of weeks from now. I'm hoping that Joy and I will be able to go.

We've been adding to the economy this past month: a new computer, a new microwave, a new hot water heater and an air popcorn popper, whew!

August 10th was my six month of sobriety; I'll take a token at tomorrow's morning meeting. It has been an interesting six months and much easier since I've bought into the spirituality of the AA program. Not stepping on toes and keeping my mouth shut and my eyes open has helped immensely too.

Megan, I hope that you're feeling better.

August 10th 314.6

Nancy and I have been having quite a bit of exercise lately since I've begun to bicycle again. My odometer turned to 3,000 miles over the weekend.

Imagine my surprise upon coming back online over the weekend when I found out about Megan's pain problems. I love you, Megan. Get well.

I weighed in at 5:00 a.m. 314.6; at 10:30 a.m. 313.6 and at 4:30 p.m. 315.2.

Not too much going on in Oceanside. A few meetings, naps and snacks. Life is good.
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It's an hour and a half later since the last sentence was written. I just have to exclaim about my food concoction sans recipe.

Here's my rave for tonight:

Note: all ingredients are placed in a colander steamer and steamed for ten minutes before serving.

pre-cooked lentils and brown rice
microwaved potato
spinach
four asparagus all below are chopped
onion
cabbage leaves
Roma tomato
brocholi
seasonings and salt
Dejon mustard
zuchinni squash
Grapeseed Oil Vegenaise
two corn tortillas (diced)
one slice w/wheat bread (diced)

After steaming for ten minutes, flip ingredients into a stainless steel bowl and stir to cool. Very very easy to make. BON APETITE!

August 7, 2009 317.6

We updated our emailing system .......... bought a new iMac ...... go figure. The old iMac which Carol and Herb so graciously gave to us some five years ago had hard drive problems. Now we have all the bells and whistles with this one.

The sound system is terrific; Presently I'm listening to birdsongradio.com and the whole garage is immersed in bird calls, rustling leaves, flowing brook waters and wind sounds. You can also bring it up on the internet or go to "radio" in iTunes and locate "ambient" then click on for background bird songs and nature sounds as you go about your business on the internet.

The McDougall vegan thing is going well. I did purchase another paperback from Amazon.com ...... The Gabriel Method ...... it appears to dovetail nicely with McDougall. I also picked up a killer Chinese CD: Elixir Yang Ying.

Just returned from a morning meeting with Nancy running along side the bike. We're figuring out this riding compatibility and doing well may I add. Last night we rode to a night meeting on the other side of the hill. She now has a collar for night bicycle riding, a white LED light on an elastic collar. (from PETCO)

I'm very satisfied with reading The Gabriel Method; it's a visualization and meditation method of altering eating styles and relaxing the body into acceptance for this approach.

Life is good. The following is from an email my friend sends me: ***********************************************************

As Bill Sees It

Willing To Believe, p. 219

Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms
deter you from honestly asking yourself what they might mean to
you. At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual
growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God as we
understood Him. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many
things which had seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth.
But if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. So at first we
used our own conceptions of God, however limited they were.

We needed to ask ourselves but one short question: "Do I now
believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power
greater than myself?" As soon as a man can say that he does
believe, even in this small degree, or is willing to believe, we
emphatically assure him that he is on his way.

Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 47

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