Returned from Portland weight: 311.2 lbs

Rolled into Oceanside yesterday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.; about a twenty-six hour journey. I consumed 2 quarts of water, 2 foot long Subway veggie max's, one low fat yogurt cup, one string cheese and 1/3 bag of fritos. Right around $15 total.

Portland had beautiful weather which hovered in the high 70's the whole time. Driving into town from Megan's house is simply gorgeous! The shadows and shades of green are remarkable.

I went to weight watchers and recorded a two pound weight loss. Last night I devoured a 1/2 gallon of chocolate ice cream very easily which means I must work on my eating habits on an hour by hour basis.

Not to bore the reader too much, but I have to tell this story of my missing car keys. Before I start let me explain that I have a bright green coiled wire (over a foot long) attached to my keys so I don't misplace them. Just before I left for Portland I could not find them. I normally put them in a green glass dish on the kitchen counter when I come in the house; either there or I leave them in the car ignition. Could not find them, looked all over and could not find the green wire coil. Just before Joy and I left for the train station on Wednesday morning I stopped the car in the driveway and ran back inside the house for one last look; could not find them. The last place I looked was in the green dish. BTW Joy had also looked in the dish too. Upon returning home I walked into the kitchen and where do you think I found the green coiled wire so easily recognizable? Yep, in the green dish. The keys were not visible, but the green wire was easily seen. Go figure.

I got through half a book on the bus which surprised me, because normally I don't read too well while traveling. The book is a light read; an action police mystery plot...... Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child. I just received a used book from Amazon: A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman; history of the 14th Century.

I have lots of stuff to do: Nancy and a walk, recycling, bicycling, doctor's appointment for some kind of weird back ache around the right kidney area; it's bothering me enough to check it out. It's been going on for about a month and I figured I was not drinking enough water, but that doesn't seem to be the case.......I'll see the doctor this afternoon.

My man-child druggie neighbor is beginning to piss me off. I'm going to the police and find out what to do. I know the guy, he's the son of a resident who passed away about nine or ten months ago. I've tried to keep my cool, but little stuff keeps piling up like: cars, car noise, cars in the driveway, trash outside, weird visitors, using the garage as living quarters, I could go on, but I'm sure I've given an apt description of events......

That's about all the news from Lake Wobegone.

Portland Visit Weight (naked): 306.8 lbs

I arrived in Portland (Wednesday) around 5:00 p.m. on Southwest.  Avery had on her pink tutu swimsuit and swank looking pink flip-flops.  Upon arrival at the house I was honored to watch her choreographic interpretations from Angelina Ballerina's TV show.  Very impressive, however she tired of this and soon was sans the ballerina outfit and sitting on my knee while I read books to her.

Yesterday we shopped and ate at 4 Season's Food Market.  I collected vegetables and fruit for a power salad I made later that night.  Megan baked salmon to go along so we were well supplied with good nutrition.  Avery is an amazing eater of vegetables, not picky at all.

This morning we dropped Avery off at  her day school.  I didn't realize that she stayed so long!  9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and woe unto Megan if she is picked up too early, because that girl enjoys snack time and lets it be known that snack time becomes smack time if Megan gets there too early.

Megan and I headed off to drop off some styrofoam at a recycling plant then dropped by a public rose garden for a brief sniff and over to the vagabond food court where all the merchants have rings in their noses and tattoo's on their forearms and who knows where else? ......... as long as they bath before going to work is about as good as it gets I suppose ........ anyway, the food is good ..... peace. 

As part of the Smith tradition relatives are invited along on their "date night" so I will dine at a local bistro in their company and then to a movie theatre to watch a documentary movie which has a 94% approval rating.

A Greyhound driver was killed early this morning just outside of Fresno.  I recognized the Sacramento driver's name; I believe he was the driver when I took the bus to Portland a few months back.  Apparently there was nothing he could do, because the car he hit had crashed moments earlier and was already upside down and sideways when he drove upon the scene unaware of the danger.

Weight Watchers is working out nicely.  I believe I weighed in Tuesday at around 312 lbs (clothed);  I weighed in this morning in glorious splendor @ 306.8.

I plan on taking the bus home on Sunday afternoon.  I don't have any worries about accidents, they are few and far between. 





  

Portland tomorrow 313.2 lbs

I'm ready for the flight to Portland tomorrow....... packing will be two hours before departure (no idea why such a delay). P R O C R A S T I N A T A T I O N ?

Weight Watchers logged me in as: 313 lbs ....... this is acceptable.

Successful week #1 Weighed in @: 317.8 lbs

The past week was a successful one both at Weight Watchers and at the craps tables. Total loss for the week was 7.8 lbs. I've yet to start truly exercising methodically, but I can feel the motivation starting to well within. Success at the craps table is determined by the net gain; If there's a gain then there's success and that was attained.

Doug McLean is having a gathering of his daughters and grandchildren at a San Clemente State Beach Park for the week so I visited him yesterday.

I found the nicest Episcopal Church in Pala where one of the casinos is located. I felt very comfortable so I've decided to become a member. The Puama Valley is so beautiful. The high and dry mountains contrast with the verdant avocado groves, orange groves and commercial nurseries occupying the valley floor. I look forward to the drive by car or by bus anytime I venture forth.

So that's about all..... thankfully my risk management business is available to me for the next week...... and I feel motivated to continue it!

In search of the great motivation

The battle of the bulge is somewhere between mouth and anus (TMI?). So my battleground has been elevated............... now it's between dice and no dice. I should digress......

Here's the deal: I'm joining Weight Watchers ( for all of the bells and whistles ) ................ then, I'm committed to a pound a week .................. anytime I miss the goal then I cannot go to the craps tables of Pechanga, Pala, Rincon, Fantasy Springs or Phoenix for one week until the next weigh in. BTW, I am gainfully employed; I am now in risk management, aka, professional gambling :)

Tomorrow Weight Watchers records my first defiant stance against gravity.