May 15th 323

The number just above is today's weight record.

It's 6:00 a.m. and I'll be going to KoK shortly. Hopefully, I'll meditate before without rushing into it.......what's the point if I rush into it? On second thought that is probably the best time to do it since that's when I am wired.....I got through the meditation and I'm back from KoK. Had a piece of carrot cake for Paul's 34th "Birthday."

I have a power breakfast to make, some food preparation and then I'm off for Cream of the Crop. They have some nice outside tables right next to Coast Highway; Using the sound muffler Megan gave me makes it an excellent place to lunch, relax and read without the distraction of auto traffic.

I think I am going to expand my bicycling to Cream of the Crop to include brief workouts at 24 Hour Fitness. I'll probably buy a bus pass which will allow me to go to various cities to do those small workouts.

Right now an average day look like this:

1) Meditation/prayer
2) Kok
3) Breakfast
4) Small garden chores
5) Bicycle/read
6) Home/computer/

I rode about 10 miles this afternoon at my own pace. I'm starting to generate some energy with this output. Stopped by the bike store and bought a pair of riding gloves and a helmet.

Did some reading from the Big Book as well as some from the baseball book that I am reading.

Going to a speakers meeting tonight at KoK.

Reunion and rededication 324

May 13th.........Had a great get together at John Smith's house in Huntington Beach along with "Luke" Lunquist, Bill Howley, and Mike Lavrusky. We rehashed the "good ole days" and we all concluded that we truly lived out "Happy Days" in the Covina of the '50's.

While there I concluded that my overweight(5/10 = 327, 5/13 = 324)problem should be addressed, so starting yesterday I am on a quest to drop poundage and better my overall life. Last night I had boiled spinach, chopped tomato, whole grain bread, mozzarella cheese, 2 oz chopped chicken, almonds, veggie thins and rice milk. This morning breakfast was a concoction of: lentils, white rice, onion, tomato, jalapenos and mozzarella cheese. Lunch was essentially the same with the addition of brocholli and a very minute portion of yam.

Exercise today will consist of a short bike ride, light Miracle Seven dynamic exercises and five minutes of health rider using the 10 hard 20 rest technique............................................................
May 14th.......I did the KoK meeting, things went well, returned home and had a BIG breakfast of steamed spinach, fish and you name it.........became tired and went to bed......It's now 2:00 p.m. and I'm ready to bicycle down to Cream of the Crop market, about a seven mile round trip. I've decided that this will be a daily regimen thereby solving the need for exercise and always having fresh food. I'm off...........................................................................

One more time

Went to a KoK meeting this morning, I'll be conducting morning meetings every Thursday. Then a couple of hours later I took Joy and Nancy to In and Out Burger for early lunch. On the way home, stopped by Lowe's and picked up some bedding plants (they're still in the car trunk though I did water them for the night).

Went online with Kaiser-Permanente and registered for a weight loss program as well as an overall wellness physical scheduled for 6/03/09. Slept and listened off and on to the radio until just a few minutes ago. The weight loss program has all the recording tools and goal setting forms as well as a variety of information. I think I can feel the boulder slightly moving as I push.

Life is good.

May 4th

I have been having a terrible time getting over the hump. I have the easiest garden in the world to prepare and take care of, yet I've managed to weed and move a few spade fulls of dirt, no plants or seeds.

I've decided to keep track of my time from morning until bedtime* to see if I can shame myself into more productive bouts of time spent within the twenty-four hour orb. The following has taken place since awaking at 6:00 a.m.:

6 to 7 a.m.---dressing, reading emails and spending time refuting misinformation from the right by using snopes.com One high school teammate keeps sending me bullshit emails about various conspiracies, fraud by the government agencies, etc....each one he has sent me (at least ten) has been bogus according to snopes.com

7 to 8 a.m.---attended a King of Kings (KoK) meeting.

8 to 11:00 a.m---chased after Nancy, made coffee, worked the computer for Rawstory.com articles, fixed a breakfast of: steamed white rice, chunks of baked chicken and organic baby spinach, downed a variety of supplements and blood pressure medications, called library to lay away the book, Playing With The Enemy.

Note* It's now 7:00 p.m.5/07/09.......regrouping once again

Phoenix

Arising from the ashes once again, after obsessing with the NFL Draft for the past two days, I'm ready to disassemble and reassemble my habits. The garden has remained fallow for over a year....my weight has increased eight percent since last year....I've indulged myself with too many sugary products....exercising has slowed to a standstill. It's time to get after it! More to follow............

February 28th

Awoke at 3:30 a.m and vowed no coffee. I mixed some chocolate protein mix with powdered dry milk and microwaved it for some hot cocoa drink. Love coffee, but the jolt it gives is supposedly not the best thing in the world if one is trying to rewire his circuitry.

The Kaiser-Spa, as it's affectionately termed, is alive and well. My monthly Coaster pass was purchased yesterday. Being over 62 years allows for a discount so the cost is $45.50......reasonable to say the least. Anyway, the train usually gets me within a ten minute bicycle ride to Kaiser and I've made the ride daily with the exception of two days.

It's wonderful to watch people change as the days go by. I'm in a yoga class. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and oh how true that is with yoga and where my flexibility and endurance are for starters.

Today, I'll try to take down my raised garden bed the depth of one cement block. Also, I'm going to clock a bicycle run to the train station by a different route in order to increase my strength and stamina. As it now stands, I can ride to the station in 14 minutes with most of the ride downhill. This new route will be mostly flat and will increase the distance by a mile to two miles. My knee certainly is feeling better (like 99.8%)....YES!

So that's the happenings and thoughts on this day. I love my grand children, children and their spouses. May we all smile.

Update

Last Tuesday I started an overall wellness program (at my pace) in conjunction with Kaiser Permanente. I attended various meetings and explored the surrounding community and found such basic needs as: a Subway Sandwich Shop, 24 Hour Fitness, Vons Market, the safest bicycle route from the train platform to Kaiser and return, a quiet place to read, etc...

I made the decision to structure this program as a typical workday, i.e., 5:00 a.m. wakeup, take the train to Kaiser (Point Loma), do what I have to do and then return home anywhere from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Joy wholeheartedly supports this approach towards adjusting to full retirement.

My knee is 95% better, it now feels as if I've just recovered from a hyper-extension injury, in other words, I can jump from a ruler, but not a yardstick. My weight is at the 300 plateau so it's still an issue, but it can be remedied.

Finished listening to the Hollywood Crows and am now reading a true story by Wambaugh, The Fire Lover, an account of capturing and convicting a Glendale, California fire
captain turned arsonist.

One cup of green tea got me to this point. Nancy just awoke and requested egress for her early morning front yard pee and then a quick return to the comfort of HER bed which she shares with me.

Moving Forward

I took care of some paperwork for Social Security (and indirectly private health insurance) today and tomorrow hopefully, I'll be closer to health benefits during retirement.

Tomorrow, I'll get my peepers checked and see if I need glasses.

I've got an audio book, Hollywood Crows, which is the sequel to Hollywood Division I've just finished, and I'm now listening to on the recorder.

Denise, Collin and Dylan are coming out Easter Week and that will be wonderful.

Today I purchased my bus pass for the month of February so my game plan is to fully go about my business by way of the local bus routes..............we'll see.........the interesting thing about retirement is the fact that whatever I've dreamed of accomplishing or attempting has always been tempered with the fact that a work schedule has always been considered. GUESS WHAT?.....no more........now I can put "my would of, could of and should of" into action without any kind of rationalization. In my short period of retirement I have found some inadequacies in my plan, but I am still excited!

Las Vegas Bound

Tomorrow, the 13th, I ride to Las Vegas via Greyhound and meet up with Collin. From there we'll leave the next morning and drive on down to Santa Margarita CA. We're staying at the Union Plaza so perhaps some craps is on the agenda.

I've got a $5 bet at 26 to 1 odds that the Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl. I keep all my paper propositions in a marble cigarette box. Every few months I look at them then dream and brag to others.......well guess what? Now I can't find the tickets! I feel like a kid who's lost his baseball trading cards. Somewhere in my room of clutter is my precious Super Bowl bet, I MUST FIND IT!

I finished reading Hollywood Division; it was a great read filled with all kinds of cop talk. I'm now reading The Life of Jesus by the same author (Joseph Girzone) who wrote Joshua. After this one I think I'll read something by Zane Grey or Louie Lamour....I've had an interest in reading a western novel lately.

Overall, things are going well. I'll miss Joy and Nancy. I am hoping that Joy will be able to give Nancy some exercise. I'm going to try to have Nancy (a neighbor) try to assist Joy by running Nancy (the dog) back and forth for treats. Joy and I used to do this at the park when we first got Nancy.

Adjusting To The Retired Life

I'm adjusting to this new environment which doesn't require me to observe the clock. Interesting........Saturday night I watched the Chargers defeat the Colts, SWEET! Then today I watched the Ravens and Eagles advance. I have Super Bowl bets on the
Eagles and Chargers made six months ago. Eagles are at 26 to 1 and Chargers at 7 to 1. It would be cool for both to make it all the way.

I just finished reading a Tom Clancy book, SSN, about nuclear submarines and now I'm reading a Joesph Wambaugh novel, Hollywood Division, about the LAPD in 1996. I think I would have enjoyed being a cop, however, I remember talking to a seasoned LAPD detective in 1968 advising against it, because of politics, sociological changes and various other drawbacks. Now I realize how easy it is to become injured working in that profession.

I'll be meeting Collin and Maggie, his newly adopted chocolate lab, October 13th in San Luis Obispo. We'll drive back together to Cheyenne and I'll visit for a few days.

Megan's blog about Mexico is entertaining. I envy her being in a pristine environment able to observe the majesty of blackened skies sprinkled in a colorful mix of astronomical settings.

Incidentally, my knee is much better and I have no need for crutches. There is some stiffness and tenderness, but now it is quite tolerable. I am certain I made the correct decision in retiring from driving; I would have just continued to cause more pain and damage if I had attempted to gut it out.

Eventually I want to start riding more than just taking Nancy for her exercise sprints and jogs, but that is a few weeks off. For the time being I am going to slowly begin some type of program at 24 Hour Fitness.

Home chores include rearranging and cleaning my room, thinning out my collection of used books, taking my block garden down one level and relocating the soil to relieve pressure against the south side wall. Oh yes, and preparing wholesome meals for myself (Joy is included as long as she isn't too finicky about what I prepare :).....I must admit that some of my concoctions would make someone appear to be finicky if not panicky.

Retirement

Tomorrow begins my official retirement from NCTD. Today Joy and I will sign some papers to initiate retirement processing. This is all good, but the real happiness is that my knee is much better. With that said I vow to lose some weight in order to lessen the workload on said knee. As anyone can tell from my past writings this has been a real cause for concern.

I want to apologize to Denise and Collin for not phoning them on Xmas. I just got caught up in events and before I knew it it was the 27th. Megan, I could have done a Facebook "Merry Christmas" to you, but I didn't think of it until just today.

While I think of it let me share this with you: I appreciate birthday gifts and Christmas gifts, but unless it is an "extra special kind of gift", I would rather have Kiva gift certificates or else money donations to AC MaNalac (PH-439-0114) at Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO 80997.

Here's hoping that 2009 will be fine and that I'll be able to make some visits to Wyoming and Oregon to see my grand children.

Rain

It's raining finally, a cold rain, good.
Joy and I will be going for her six week visit to the doctor. She's outside now, bundled up with a ski cap and layers of clothing completing her soduku puzzles.

My knee problem is still a problem. I am using the crutches more and more since it takes so much weight off when I walk. I am really at a loss for the moment. This really sucks, yet what is there to do? Compared to the Sunday before last I am 50% improved so that's a plus. The fact that I can still ride a bicycle without much discomfort is also something to cheer about.

Life is good. Joy is good and Nancy too.

Found an interesting blog site: http://yes-to-me.com/

Off From Work

I went to work this morning with the aid of crutches. The crutches allowed me to cover ground much faster than to go without them and trudge toward a destination. Everything went fine, passengers never saw me with crutches and I got to the bus and back to the drivers room quite easily. This was a bit much for the boss upstairs so I've worked it out to be off until December 29th and either I'll be good to go or ready for retirement. Actually, the only reason I am working now (other than money) is my uneasiness with the economy and the future of my pensions. Regardless of the outcome after Dec. 29th I think I will go ahead and retire. Part of this knee problem is from repetitive motion and now with an older body frame I should quit while I am ahead of the game.

Home For The Day

Got a cortisone shot in the knee, hopefully that will lubricate the bothersome area. Right now I can limp around the house. I'll try to ride my bike for the sake of Nancy's walk. In the past the pedaling movement didn't seem to bring on pain. Nancy is patiently waiting by my side trying to read body language.

Sunday

Went to Walgreen's and bought a pair of crutches. Will go to the doctor's tomorrow to find out wtf is going on? I will not work tomorrow. I am wound up tight.

Mid-week

At the middle point of my work week. Purchased some green tea from Peet's online and just had my second gigantic cup (the Starbucks Coffee cup won at our last reunion); pretty good taste and there is a choice from a variety of three teas.

I started Weight Watchers on November 20th and have lost 3 lbs. I haven't been following it to the letter, but at least there's hope. Right now about the only exercise I am getting is my bicycle time with Nancy. My knee is really bothering me which limits any kind aerobic motion on the ground. I'll see the doctor on the 11th to figure out my next step. I suspect part of the problem is repetitive motion and pressure applied to the foot feed (accelerator) for so many years. Yesterday, I adjusted the height of the seat to see if I can cause any change for the better.

I'll try to read Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations since this is the genesis for free market style economy. I'm a slow reader, but I want to go through every sentence to see if ever there is any mention of social responsibility. I doubt it since the premise of Milton Freidman's economic philosophy is that the free market alone will make adjustments along the way to keep an economy strong. This dilemna our nation and world faces is extremely worrisome. I've heard that it is quite conceivable that every man, woman and child in the U.S. is burdened with a debt of $60 thousand plus. The U.S. citizenry will never be able to ascertain with certainty, because so much of budget is off limits for accounting because of national security.

Well breakfast is coming to mind, obviously I'll be doing my lentil thing.

Great Breakfast

A quarter cup each of diced onions, green pepper and tomatoes stirred in olive oil with low heat. After a few minutes add pre-cooked lentils (about 3/4 cup) and stir. After all is heated add one chopped up cheese string finger and two eggs and scramble. Season with whatever moves you. A very hearty breakfast and easy and quick to make.

I'll do a bit of shopping for next week and then return to watch the Chargers. They have their work cut out for them.

It was great to have a four day work week, I'm looking forward to Christmas and New Year's and the days off it provides me.

I saw an interesting article on research being done in Michigan on vortex hydro energy.

http://www.vortexhydroenergy.com/

I've got 23 games of chess ongoing on Facebook's ChessPro. Anybody care to play?

Saturday

In a few minutes I shall clean the house and pick up (ahem) Nancy's items left outside. I just now called her in from the front yard. Her coat is so full and she literally gleams from the sun's rays. Such a treat to have her as a companion.

I fell over my parked bike in the middle of the pitch black night about two weeks ago. I had a puncture wound in my left hand which is finally in the last phase of healing over. Antibiotics.....the whole works.....it could have been nasty so I'm grateful for the assorted bruises and scrapes rather than an ambulance ride.

I get such a good feeling when I read about the good that Kiva loans do. I also sponsor a young Filipino boy through another organization. His parents are dirt poor and so appreciative of this support. I'm going to add some kind of monthly stipend for the family. They have some kind of small store business and I'm sure whatever amount I decide upon will be of help. So much poverty in this world, but it's better to hope than to hope less.

Joy and I spent a quiet Thanksgiving together. I bought some marinated chicken from a local market however, what I thought were chicken breasts was some other part and tasted bad. So we savored the potatoes and green beans. There's always next year :)

The Night Before Thanksgiving

It was the night before Thanksgiving and glad to be alive, glad for my children and grandchildren too, turkeys were frozen no need to awake, just wait for tomorrow and savor the bake. Avery and Dylan you're enfolded in love, you're held gently in a giant velvet glove. Nephews and cousins isn't cool, playmates will soon be there for you?

I am thankful for my children and the mates which they chose.
I am thankful to be earning a living.
I am thankful that I am an American.
I am thankful to be where I am and what I know.
I am thankful to experience love in such a variety of ways.
I am thankful for brave people who are much braver than me.

Mistake

Yesterday I strolled into the drivers room confident that everything was well. When I went to sign in I was advised I was 18 minutes late and my run had been assigned to someone else. My mind had quirked and I thought that 1:50 p.m. was the report time, but that was the report time to the bus location NOT the drivers room where I was to have shown up at 1:28 p.m. Aside from money loss and a slight reprimand no harm done.
Irksome though.

Going to work shortly (at the correct time); still working on the eighteen games of chess.

Nancy has had her park walk and run in our cul-de-sac.

It was good to read Megan's blog once again.

The Wyoming clan sounds well.

Time to go.

End of the work week

Am listening to some KUNC jazz (McCoy Tyner) while I blog...I have the most wonderful work schedule; split shifts which allow me to go home and take care of Nancy (Joy also is obviously included :)

I joined Weight Watchers for 10 weeks......butt naked I was at 304 lbs at the time of enrollment........and NO I wasn't such at weigh in time! ( I did a weight check prior to going to the meeting.....you BAD people! )

I've got 18 games of chess going thru Facebook (18)..... it's fun, because I spelled out the situation that I may make four moves within an hour or one within twenty-four or forty-eight.

The state of the national economy is unbelievable. To think my off-spring must go through a recycling process of the the 30's is unthinkable. My solution is borrowed from the Rotary Club:


The 4-Way Test

Of the things we think, say or do:



1.

Is it the TRUTH?
2.

Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3.

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4.

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

_____________________________________________________________________________

This mentality should be plastered on every wall of every high school, grade school, and every institute of higher learning everywhere and tattooed on the foreheads of every CEO in the world.
______________________________________________________________________________



From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The 4-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word code of ethics for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy

Getting ready for Monday

The Chargers lose to the Steelers. I watch some numb nut #27 give a chip block/tackle (HELLO?) with three seconds on the first half game clock and I go ape ..............calming myself, I realize I can't do anything about it.........I take Nancy to the park and return to watch the Chargers lose...........oh, how I have issues....never mind..........

Joy surprised me with a BOSE Radio for our anniversary.....very cool....very, very cool.......

I've heard The Angler is an important book to read........

Life is good........I'm always seeking self improvement (though not necessarily accompanied with the necessary motivation from said self).

OH, how we love Avery and Dylan!

Inspiration

Determining Your Own Future

“We are face to face with our destiny and we must meet it with a high and resolute courage. For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.”—Theodore Roosevelt

Why is it that so many people who exercise and diet year after year remain overweight and lacking in muscle definition? They go through the motions, thinking that success is merely the combination of the right exercises and the right foods. Although that is definitely part of the route to success, the truth is that you cannot get the results you want unless you begin with the goal clearly defined in your mind.

The whole key to making miracles happen in your life, whether in your fitness, your career, or your marriage, begins exactly the same way—with your intention. First, you must establish order through mentally picturing what it is that you want to achieve. Then you add power, life, vitality, radiance, and passion to the mental image by breathing life into it.

We become what we think about with deep, vivid emotion. To merely think a thought does not give it transformative power. But to think a thought backed by an abundance of passion, enthusiasm, and life-affirming emotion puts it into the realm of the extraordinary.

This is the way of the transformed life. You, and you alone, determine what you want in life. And you alone—with faith, courage, and perseverance—make up your mind that nothing will prevent you from reaching your goal.

Resolve to stop thinking negative thoughts such as “I can’t—there’s too much for me to overcome.” Start saying, “I can! I will! Nothing will stop me!” Each day is a new day and a new start, so make yours happen positively.

Refocus your life priorities and make fitness a dynamic part of it. Then put your heart and soul into your workouts and you can achieve goals that are beyond your wildest dreams.—J.P. www.transformetrics.com

____________________________________________________________________________________

Actions not words...........do the walk and walk and walk some more.

How the weeks fly by

Just read in my last blog how I put poppy seed pods in a 55 gallon barrel and that in a week I would spread the seeds around...WRONG, they're still in the barrel, perhaps today...........

It's a great day the temperature is at 79 degrees with a gentle breeze. I'm now working a Monday thru Friday bid which lasts through January 24th. It's a split shift where I work Mondays and Tuesdays early morning and mid-afternoons until 7:30 p.m.; WThF I start at 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. then return at 4:30 and off at 8:30 p.m. SWEET!

Joy is doing relatively well. She just doesn't have a sustained energy level. Her white cells counts are down, but so are her blood platelets so that's the quirk.

My shoulder is much better, but not the same. I've got some arthritis going in my right knee, but other than that things are well.

Still doing the crock pot thing, but lately I've just been cooking a large batch of lentils and extract what I need then place the remainder in the refrigerator. The basic dish I make is: lentils, chopped onions, brocolli, green pepper, tomato, jalapenos, one string cheese, large amount of cayenne pepper then microwave for two minutes, place a scrambled egg on top and chow down.

I am very happy and relived that Obama won. If he can stabilize the mess he has inherited I will be astounded. He actually speaks too!

July 24th

Had a relatively good sleep last night. It is never terrific, because Nancy sleeps with me and though we share halves it always seems to shift to 4/7ths to 3/7ths in favor of her side. Wouldn't have it any other way though.

Just finished picking poppies from the street area. I threw a bunch in a 55 gallon plastic barrel and now I'll let them sit for a week and then I'll bang the bottom of the barrel on the cement floor to shake loose the seeds and go about distributing the seeds in various spots around the HOA area. Each year the propagation of the species becomes larger and larger. Around Super Bowl playoffs is when I begin to see where the seeds are sprouting. California Poppies are so beautiful!

I received notice that my ING (savings) check is in the mail which means I'll be transacting purchase of my military credits at this time next week give or take three days. I am assuming I'll be laid off and I'm comfortable with that. Part time work may become available, but I am not actively pursuing that path. As it now stands I'll try to collect unemployment and when that runs out I'll retire; after that I'll just play it by ear. If I find that I am laid off as of August 10th then Joy will request her chemotherapy treatment be postponed until after our reunion is over.

Today I'll be working a protection assignment which will probably allow me to read as much as I want. Every once in a while some bus breaks down or some unknown transportation problem pops up, but on the whole things are usually quiet and reading friendly.

Went to my King of Kings meeting for the third day in a row. Some really nice people go there, and I always feel welcome.

It's 11:00 a.m. and I want to squeeze in some ChessPro and Scrabulous before readying for work.
_________________________________________________________________

BRUCE'S JUMBLE WORD OF THE DAY: something that functions with water: IKSREPLRN

July 23rd

Today I have a few chores to do such as: pick up bottled water, put air in my bicycle tires, give Nancy a run/walk, pick-up around the house, make more salad, make a crock pot of lentil based soup, read something about Soduku, read more of The Poisinwood Bible and do some Jumble (whew!).................just how much will be accomplished..........who knows? Right now my energy level is up. I noticed yesterday after eating some turkey my energy dropped significantly.

Sounds like all is well with Avery. Dylan seems to be holding his own too. Pretty cool grandchildren :)

I contributed $25 towards Al Gore's 10 year goal of eliminating fossil fuel dependence for our country. What a vision and what a challenge ahead. The oil companies and their stockholders are not pleased I'm sure. My pet peeve is watching the driving habits of U.S. citizens. We are gradually entering a crisis stage, but still assholes race past one another to be first at the red light; others show their displeasure with other people's driving mistakes by accelerating and roaring past with disapproval.

It's now 9:30 a.m. ..................and time to do some things.

BRUCE'S NEW "JUMBLE" CHALLENGE

The following mixed words that Moody blog readers would run across while reading the blogs:

YERAV LICONL GAEMN MNIADA IEEDD SEDINI LRETUT MOABO OYJ

Joy's Doctor Visit

Joy went in for her blood test prior to starting up her third round of chemotherapy, but after analysis the doctor suggested putting off anymore therapy for a month. Chemotherapy is reducing the cancerous cells (good), but it is also reducing her platlet count (not good). So for now she's rescheduled for the third week in August. She mentioned to me about putting it off for another two weeks so that she, Nancy and I could drive out to the reunion. She'll run that idea by the doctor tomorrow. She doing relatively well, however she tires easily.

I saw my naturopathic physician today in hopes of starting up another weight loss attempt. Made a heck of a salad this afternoon. Sometimes I just can get myself to make up a salad so today was quite an accomplishment.

Weighed in at 303 lbs today. I can't see a physical therapist until August 20th, but the shoulder is much better so I'll just do movements which will not exacerbate the injured area.....the doctor described it as an impingement. Had X-rays taken the other day, but I haven't heard anything back.

I've gotten into playing Jumble, the mixed letter game which can be found in most newspapers. I went into Barnes and Noble and bought a book full of Jumble games. I also bought a book on how to go about solving Soduku puzzles. Perhaps I'll become as addicted to finding solutions as Joy does on a daily basis :-)

I certainly enjoy the photos which Collin and Megan post. It gives me such a glowing feeling knowing my children are such loving parents along with their spouses........ EVERYONE ROCKS!

Well, Jumble awaits me at the living room table as well as some serious Soduku studying.

ERASIES

I've changed my mind, I'm going to exercise my seniority and bump a lower man than me from the part-time board and that makes me lower than the lower man; he'll be pissed I am sure. Anyway that's what I'm thinking three days since my last posting. My purchasing of military credits is still firm. I'll be working anywhere from 17 to 25 hours weekly, with Saturday and Sundays off. With that said, nothing is ever etched in stone.............

Nancy was freaking out last night from all the fireworks. I finally thought of a solution, I put big band music in the CD player and cranked up the volume and she mellowed down. This dog has taste!

I've emailed some of you about Luminosity.com, check it out, it's fun and very interesting to track one's improvement in the various functions of brain skills, i.e., memory, etc.... it costs about 10 dollars a month, but they'll give you the first 14 days free as a teaser and trial test. I sure hope that Avery and Dylan get signed up for it when the time is right.

I'm going to work in about 45 minutes and I want to play some quick Scrabbulous and ChessPro so that's all for now.

The Planets Have Aligned

Everything seems to be working out to perfection. Yesterday I received notice that I was going to be let go......work force reduction......it was hard to keep the smile off my face. Today I will attend a retirement seminar. Probably about the time I will be laid off (mid August) I'll have received the necessary paperwork which will allow me to purchase credit units due to my Air Force stint and therefore qualify me for a partial retirement through CalPhers. I might wait a bit before officially retiring because of unemployment benefits, I'll find out more tomorrow. I consider myself extremely fortunate.

Collin sent more pictures of Dylan, great snapshots! I'll be flying out to give him a hello and caress in about a week. I was going to take a bus, but with a quick two day visit I can afford to fly since I won't miss any work.

Nancy has really gotten into staying on leash while I ride the bicycle. She's a pretty smart dog and since I don't know how to train she picks up on what she is supposed to do on her own. I just keep praising her and that seems to work.

Hopefully Joy won't be doing any chemotherapy around reunion time and the three of us will drive out to Wyoming. If she isn't up to it then I'll drive the two of them to Roseville, CA where Heather purchased a house and then solo out to Wyoming on a bus. I might be able to hitch a ride on Powder River Bus Lines out of Salt Lake City since Greyhound makes a diagonal approach to Denver bypassing a portion of Interstate 80.

I'm reading The Monster of Florence, a true story of an unsolved series of murders in Italy. I checked it out from the library rather than buy it from Amazon Books (what a novel concept, check books out from the library rather then spend money :) Anyway I asked the library to buy the book, Icon of Evil, a very important piece of history in the 1920's and 30's dealing with Palestine and the present problems the world faces with radical Islam. John Rothman is a co-author and a person I listen to on the radio on weekends. At one time he worked for Nixon, but is now on the Obama bandwagon.

So that's about it from the shores of Oceanside.

D-Day plus 2

Collin sent us pictures of Dylan and he looks great. Joy and I haven't been calling for fear of being in the way during this first week. Let us know the best times to call.

Going to work at 1:00 p.m. and drive southward along the coast to La Jolla (Hoy ya, not Joel ah). Looking forward to retiring, I'm getting stressed from being overly concerned with the passengers walking to their seats while the bus is in motion. I'm also tired of dealing with poop heads, though most passengers are appreciative of my services.

I bought a new bicycle seat yesterday. I had fallen off the bike at a very slow speed a few weeks ago and as a result the other seat was sprung. Same model though so my tush shouldn't feel any better or worse.

Watched Fresno State beat Georgia in the CWS at Omaha last night. Pretty good game and impressive that Fresno State could pull it off since they were seeded so low.

My shoulder is feeling much better. I never got the MRI I had intended to get, but since it's getting better there's no loss. Didn't consume any beer last night which is good news for my weight scale. I hit 304.6 yesterday, but today I was at 299 and the day before yesterday I was at 299.6 I'll try to start slowly with the Tiger Moves once again. I also plan to start short intensive periods of exercise. If anyone is interested in my approach go to www.bodybot.com I am very impressed with what I purchased - it was a one time purchase too. I like the concept of 20 seconds INTENSE followed with 10 seconds of rest for a duration of 5 minutes and the whole program can be executed in front of the computer. It has all the features, i.e. timer, music, selection variation, etc... I think I found the proper type of fitness approach to combine with Tiger Moves.

The real challenge will be to shut my pie hole during emotional upheavals.

I have a book ready to be sent to anyone wanting to read about a first hand account of what goes on at Guantanamo. Brutal treatment but told without any outrage...almost a dispassionate style. Very interesting, sad and informative.

WELCOME DYLAN!

Welcome Dylan, welcome from a lot of people who were anxiously awaiting your grand entrance upon the stage of life and in Wyoming no less. Okay, let's learn the first fact which all Wyoming newborns must learn: THE WIND.......remember Dylan, Wyoming generates no wind of its own. Your beloved state is unfortunately geographically situated between Utah on the west with Nebraska on the east. The only reason Wyoming has wind is because Utah blows and Nebraska sucks!

It will be great to hold you and look into your eyes. Grampa wants to learn some stories to tell at bedtime. I vowed to whip into shape when Avery came into our family. Well, Gramps took a few steps back so Gramps will dust off the Health Rider and assorted workout videos and get after it once again. Thanks for the inspiration.

Oh, by the way, Grandmother Joy is feeling much better. Her white count is good as well as her red count, however her platelet count is not at an acceptable level. She sends her love..............me too :)

Awaiting Dylan's Arrival

Hey fella, it's time to breathe in some of that wonderful Wyoming air.....come on out and meet your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and a bounty of friends!

Joy is funky from treatments, but hanging in there with all of her hair intact.

I'm coming out of a round of depression and ready to take on the world and take off the weight........got myself up to 297 lbs. I thought I was ready to start pushing it about a month ago, but I tripped over the dog ( by the way, I am convinced that Nancy has Great Dane in her. I came to that conclusion after watching a dog show this morning with Labrador/Great Dane mix.......she's an exact replica) in the darkened hallway and had to break my fall with my left arm which has left me with some kind of muscle or tendon damage around the deltoid area. I'll be going back to the doctor to request an MRI. Still riding the bike, and by the way, with gas prices nowadays, I'm probably saving myself a dollar each time I ride to work.

Just read an insane article..................... http://www.truthout.org/article/wrongly-jailed-detainees-found-militancy-guantanamo .........about Guantanamo and its influence on al-Quida and Taliban recruiting. Guantanamo turns out to be an excellent recruiting source for the terrorists.

Does this madness ever stop? Wouldn't it have made sense to have fair and speedy trials in the first place in order to determine those who truly were legitimate terrorists?

Enough of that kind of chatter........DYLAN, ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AWAIT YOU :) Love, Grandpa

Weigh In 280 lbs...

I just returned from weighing in at the drivers room. Lost 39 pounds (adjustment for no boots, pants or workshirt and I lost a legitimate 35 pounds.) I should be sky high, but I'm just pissed that I can't shake the remnants of a cold which prevents me from wanting to exert myself on the bicycle. I think I won first place, I'll find out tonight or tomorrow. I believe 1st place prize is $375. I don't think I'll enter this kind of competition again, especially at my age. It isn't about how much it's about how much from what source.......fat or body mass? I took a look at my arm the other day in a crooked position resting on my thigh and I saw quite a bit of atrophy (OFS).

I've got to get ready for work. This particular bid assignment ends after tomorrow and I'll go back to an on call basis routine. I'm still looking at retirement in a couple of months.

Time to restart

Just finished reading Denise and Collin's new blogsite, very entertaining. Of course there's Megan's to read too. Megan's blogsite is a Mercedes Benz type blogsite with the complete package of bells and whistles; a very cool website.

Was able to visit with she and Avery for a short time last Wednesday while Damian was in the Escondido area for a conference retreat and golf outing. (those two terms are interchangeable :)

Avery is just as precious as ever. She seems so very alert.

Our grandson's name is Dylan! I'll Google "Under The Milkwood" and see what comes up.

I've been remiss on exercise, biking to work and eating this past month. So I'm putting this out to be read for all to read (including me): I will do 31 days of straight exercise, biking to work and strict adherence to properly eating the right things. With that said, I am pleased to report that I start the day off weighing in at: 284.6 lbs

It's 10:15 a.m. and I've got to get Nancy over to the park for her exercise and mine too.

Dylan and Avery: grandpa's going to be rockin' and rollin' this month!

Time

Time has come for Joy to start chemotherapy. I will do my best to comfort her, she's a trooper. It's something that must be done; such a stark reality.

I was glad that we saw Avery and that we'll see her again at the end of February while Damian is in San Diego on business. She's very alert and already becoming a traveler. She's truly loved by all.

Work is going well. Still planning on retiring around June 1, 2008 and then working part time for the company (maximum 975 hours per year).

Nancy is on a restricted diet because of suspected allergies. I still take her to the park, but I have to keep her on leash so she doesn't scarf any leftovers strewn about the grounds. She's a wonderful companion.

Slacked off a tad in exercise, but not too much and certainly not back to becoming a couch potato. I've got the right attitude to stay the course.

I am concerned for Joy, but I am determined to stay positive and be of as much help as possible.

Netflix will deliver some Monk episodes to us by Thursday so we'll do our "green tea and Monk" routine in the late mornings or early afternoons.

So here we go........................................................

Lots of Rain

We've been inundated with rain. No flooding in the North County area where we live, but a substantial amount. It certainly is nice to wake up to the sound of rain drops on the cement walkway outside. I've always loved the rain and sloshing about though I remember the time my parents bought me a brand new fur collared coat then I went outside and explored the gully wash that ran nearby our property. After an hour of sloshing through mud and wet vegetation I returned soaked and the new coat a muddy collage of colors. I believe dad used a yard stick on my bare behind. I never quite figured out the logic of that punishment, because a half an hour later they presented me with a new bike. So I guess the sequence of events went something like this: we're pissed let's do something, then afterwards it was, "Now what? We bought this bike for him." It must have been my birthday.

Joy and I will be in Portland on February 2nd with plenty of rain I'm sure. Avery's pictures are adorable, it will be such a thrill to hold her and to look into her eyes. I will have amassed 20,000 points in Presidents Challenge program for fitness, that's enough to earn a bronze medal which will be my gift to Avery. Gramps aint going to be a fat ass no mo. Twenty pushups for Avery! (Not just yet Avery, pretty soon though)

I'm working on my off day. The dispatcher called last night and was breathing hard so I relented and volunteered my services. It's for six and a half hours and I don't go in until noon so it'll just kind of slide by for me.

I'll see John Smith tomorrow. It was John, who I saw in 1996, who linked me up with Joy after so many years of no contact. It is hard to believe that it has been over ten years since I last saw him. Anyway, I'll take the MetroLink up to San Juan Capistrano and visit with him for a couple of hours and then I guess it will be another ten years before another reunion.

We'll close on our house this coming Thursday. Can't say enough for the help from Denise and Collin. Thank you! At this time I'm entertaining the thought of full time work until June of 2009 and then take whatever retirement benefit is available to me from NCTD. At that point we'll consider our options as far as where and when to live and for how long, etc...

Today is the second week of the cleansing diet. First week went well. Second week will be the same except that I ramp up the powdered ingredients by one third more and eliminate all meat. I don't know that I'll ever become a vegan but it doesn't seem to be such a difficult lifestyle choice. For me the difficult lifestyle selection is a commitment to full time exercise. I have to continually remind myself to move rather than sit.

I am at 282.0 lbs today. I'm comfortable with .1 lb weight loss per day. There's not a need to hurry about this weight loss. It took me years to put it on and it is going to take much less time getting it off even if it is at the rate of a tenth of a pound a day. With this outlook I am rocketing downward. An aside observation: I can now step onto the weight scale and look down and actually see the registering numbers rather than having to step off before being able to see them. Ah, the small things in everyday life which make it so abundant!

Coffee, alcohol and adrenaline

Presently drinking coffee at the now time of: 12:15 a.m....... Twelve hours ago it was beer while watching a valiant attempt by the Chargers to unseat the vaunted N.E. Patriots from the top spot of the NFL.

How is adrenaline spelled? I thought it was spelled: a d r e n o l i n e but not the case, the schwa was an a and not an o. I am laughing at myself with my Kiva cap complete with a bicycle headlight, CD player and me stooped over the large dictionary by the front door searching for the correct spelling.

At Unity this morning, Reverend Julie spoke of going within to find peace and solutions rather than outwardly manipulating events to fit our definitions. On three different occasions someone's watch started beeping........meditation, prayer and a marvelous song by the guest pianist and the fricking watch was beeping! Oh how I was thankful to be able to go within and not step outside and crush that fucking watch! I mean that could have been my newly purchased watch from Walgreens Drug Store and I don't know how to shut the thing off. I have found peace.

I have mentioned how I have wanted to "turn it up a notch" in regards to exercise. I find it to be more talk than action. In my mind I can "just do it" but that's much easier said than done. However, with that said, I am up to six REAL push ups (I think I'm good for eight, but I am afraid that I may fail if I test my hunch). I have now begun to do push ups (maximum 6) in front of the bus when at time points. I don't do them on the ground, but I use the lowered bike rack as my grip for the muscle work. As I age I lament (but not too much) the fact that I didn't push myself for more strength. Actually, I am going to try to become as strong as I can be over the course of as many years that I have left; Now that is a lofty goal! It is in print for not only me to reread, but for anyone else to see. Do I walk it or talk it? At the moment it's talk.........I'm still hesitant to try for eight push ups.

For the next three weeks I am going on a controlled diet to cleanse various body functions. Wish me luck. I'll accept any kind of encouragement too :)
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“Isn't it the moment of most profound doubt that gives birth to new certainties? Perhaps hopelessness is the very soil that nourishes human hope; perhaps one could never find sense in life without first experiencing its absurdity...”

Vaclav Havel quotes (Czech Playwright and President of Czechoslovakia(1989-92), b.1936)

283.8

The ritual for my morning weigh-in is as follows: My right leg up and over Nancy (sleeping next to me) much in the fashion of a track meet high jumper. Take down the Tanita from atop my non functional CD player which incidentally has five CD's inside and I can't get to. Walk through the hallway and place the Tanita on the tile floor. Step on the scale while both hands are pushing against the walls; this allows for a gradual weight increase on the Tanita. In no way do I want this machine pissed at me. Think about it, if I can't get five CD's out of a broken CD player then what would be the consequences of having a fancy smancy weight scale disenchanted with the way it's handled. And the resulting read for today? Uh huh that's right dog, 283.8 lbs. Tanita, baby, today I'm going to rub your glass surface slow and gentle with a warm moistened cloth and loving hands, because Tanny Baby, you ROCK!

Talked to Al and Dot on the phone yesterday. Always enjoy talking to them. They are situated in a small comfortable house in Boulder close to where Johanna lives which will make it much more convenient for Johanna to check on the two of them.

I'm up to 92,000 grains of rice. It takes me approximately 6 minutes to amass 1,000 grains which is the size of an average serving of rice. So I think 15 minutes a day at the computer trying to do something for humanity while improving my vocabulary is certainly a positive.

Starting today I am going to do sets of three push ups ten times a day. I did six in a row two days ago so three should be the right number for repetitions.

Collin called a couple of days ago and told us the results were in on their child to be. It's a boy and all indicators say everything is fine. He told Joy they've decided on the first and middle names and said they were going to keep it secret, but he did suggest we probably would be able to guess the the middle name with certainty. My thinking cap is on Miss Olmstead (my fourth grade teacher); You would be so proud of me!.............or you are.....or.......you am? Never mind, I've put the cap on and I am not watching the clock, now give me the damned "C" so I can go out to recess and play kickball.

70,280

Just can't stop playing Free Rice.

I was watching Book Notes this morning and an historical author, Mark Perry, was discussing World War II and the working relationship between Eisenhower and Marshall. Somewhere in the course of questioning from the audience came this shocking gem: The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff is not in the chain of command! Huh? Think about it, not in the chain of command. It goes as follows: President, Secretary of Defense and then the seven commanders who form the Joint Chiefs, but the Chairman is out of the loop. Interestingly strange I say. Put another way: There are eight male Generals or Admirals who comprise the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chairman; (Question): If there are 14 gonads amongst them where is the missing pair?

Perry at one point expresses to the audience that he is a Republican in a party that no longer shares his values and goes on to explain he is an isolationist, small government advocate, etc...and then the following brought a big grin with an equal sigh from me. Perry is explaining how the present policy against global terrorism is skewed (at this point he apologizes for sounding like "liberal psychobabble") and then guess what? Uh huh, he uses the liberal position to explain a better policy to confront global terrorism, i.e., this is a battle of an idea and not a militarily forced solution. At that point I arose from my chair and repositioned myself in front of the computer screen and racked up more grains of rice for the Third World. Since I have to go to work, I couldn't very well slug down any beer. Third Worlders you lucked out this morning. COOPERATIVE INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM POLICE TASK FORCE WHERE ARE YOU?
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I just looked at the pattern of rice grain contribution for the month of January:

January 1, 2008 114,143,280
January 2, 2008 143,815,320
January 3, 2008 161,073,080
January 4, 2008 163,428,220
January 5, 2008 112,720,840
January 6, 2008 109,177,920
January 7, 2008 159,954,980
January 8, 2008 168,648,120
January 9, 2008 173,358,320
January 10,2008 190,065,540
January 11,2008 195,108,860

I can only conclude that there others around the world who also have to go to work.

Back At It

Had a spill on my bike at 1 mph which left me sore on the Butt Tocks (Forest Gump enunciation). I measured the bruise area this morning: 7" X 11"! I thought it wise to chill out for a couple of days. I just now returned from the park with Nancy. She, cheering me on with encouraging barks and pants while I did the Tiger Moves. Not really........... Nancy is the quietest dog I've ever been around, though come to think of it, Arty is pretty mellow too.

I been obsessing with the www.freerice.com website. I've now been recording each incorrect answer. I'm up to over 75 words at least. Presently I've contributed more than 62,000 grains of rice to the program. I'm going to try for a minimum of 500,000 by next January (2009). Incidentally one thousand rice grains is the equivalent of the average meal size.
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How does playing the vocabulary game at FreeRice help me?

Learning new vocabulary has tremendous benefits. It can help you:

• Formulate your ideas better
• Write better papers, emails and business letters
• Speak more precisely and persuasively
• Comprehend more of what you read
• Read faster because you comprehend better
• Get better grades in high school, college and graduate school
• Score higher on tests like the SAT, GRE, LSAT and GMAT
• Perform better at job interviews and conferences
• Sell yourself, your services, and your products better
• Be more effective and successful at your job

After you have done FreeRice for a couple of days, you may notice an odd phenomenon. Words that you have never consciously used before will begin to pop into your head while you are speaking or writing. You will feel yourself using and knowing more words.

How does the FreeRice vocabulary program work?

FreeRice has a custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. There are words appropriate for people just learning English and words that will challenge the most scholarly professors. In between are thousands of words for students, business people, homemakers, doctors, truck drivers, retired people… everyone!

FreeRice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the “outer fringe” of your vocabulary, where learning can take place.

There are 50 levels in all, but it is rare for people to get above level 48.

How is the difficulty level for each word determined?

The program keeps track of how many people get each word right or wrong, and then adjusts each word’s difficulty level accordingly. So the words at the easiest levels are the ones that people most often get right. The words at the hardest levels are the ones that people most often get wrong. As more and more people have played the game, these levels have become increasingly more accurate.

Is FreeRice adding more words?

Yes. A team of professional lexicographers from the firm of Lexiteria is working to add words and additional levels to the FreeRice database. In particular, the hunt is on to find the hairiest and most difficult words in the English language. But we are also looking to add easy words, medium words and all the other words you might ever want to know. The new entries should begin to appear in January 2008. In short, we do not want you to run out of vocabulary to learn anytime soon...

When did FreeRice increase the amount donated for each correct answer from 10 grains of rice to 20 grains?

For its first seven weeks, FreeRice gave 10 grains of rice for each correct answer. On November 28, 2007, we were able to increase this to 20 grains. We hope to be able to increase this again in the future. Here is how we look at it: Your part is to play and donate the rice. Our part is to increase the amount you can donate!

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It's 3:00 p.m. and I have to be in the driver's room by 1608 hours so I had better sign off for now. Tonight will the first time to ride the bike home in about a week.

Tanita Measurement

Today I used the scale which Megan and Damian sent me for Christmas. It was christened at 286.2 pounds. Then I pressed all the various buttons and a variety of numbers popped up indicating that I was still a fat ass (the Chinese have no tact).

Last night I took "the hill" with no sweat. I was wearing a headlamp and I guess it was good that I was, because another bicyclist was coasting downward and there could have been a good chance of collision. The area that I ride is about six feet wide with a guard rail to my left and a chain link fence on my right side. Very unusual to see another rider at 12:30 a.m.

Got an email from Dave Martin inviting me to come up to San Onofre (17 miles north on I-5) and rendezvous for a short bike ride after he finishes surfing. Dave's sixty-eight years old and the best all-around athlete I've ever been around. He had a heart attack about three years ago, but had a shunt implanted and now he's good to go. I still see him as the BMOC. He could do it all. Anyway, maybe next week I'll be up there pedaling away.

I'm at 75% of the 20,000 points I need to earn in order to receive a bronze medal from The Presidents Council on Physical Fitness. Avery, this one is for you! The next one will be for your cousin in Cheyenne. The third one will be a joint award and the fourth goes to Nancy who sees to it that I get over to the park and exercise.

Denise and Collin are keeping us appraised of the goings on with our house in Cheyenne. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty on this transaction!

January 2, 2008

Once again the flying colors racing across the TV screen have been put to rest for another year. I don't think I watched an entire game. Either I slept through a portion or all of a game, or I was jacking around with the computer. Still, I love January 1st and all of the football games.

We're very, very close to owning a house in Cheyenne. Actually we've signed all of the necessary papers for the purchase, but there are inspections taking place, etc..., but for all intents and purpose we have a second home in Cheyenne. It's located in the "avenues area"(whatever that means) about five blocks from Collin and Denise's house. This is great and Denise is doing a bang up job following through on all of the details.

Joy and I will be going to Portland (Feb 2 thru 6) for a visit with our new grand daughter, Avery! Is that cool or what? Very exciting.

Weigh-in for the "biggest loser" contest at work will be January 11th. I'm sure I'll be in the money, i.e, 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. I didn't do a weight check today, because I was afraid to look; I had a few 40 ouncers yesterday and the day before too....oh well...Still, I'm doing okay. As I look in the mirror and I can see changes taking place. As I remarked to Scott in an email today, I may have lost weight, but anyway you cut it, 285 pounds is still pretty stout for a 5'9" frame. I am projecting myself to weigh around 230 pounds by the time the next reunion takes place.

I'll be driving about six hours from now. I'll only have to work four days before another two off.....that is nice. I'm starting to formulate what's going to take place within the next two years. I'll probably retire within the next two years and then continue to work for NCTD, but at reduced hours. I'll be allowed to work a yearly sum of approximately 975 hours and no more. So my plan is to go balls to the wall and rack up the 975 hours as rapidly as possible and then just coast the rest of the year which means Portland and Cheyenne visits often. Babysitting service is done freely with love :-)

So life is good. I'm going to see Joel Osteen this Friday at Cox Arena in San Diego. I just love to listen to him; such a humble laid back approach to preaching.

Salad

I make from scratch some interesting salad concoctions. The one I made today had balsamic vinegar and virgin olive oil as a base. The first distinctive ingredient was a winter squash (chilled), though I'm sure any kind of mashed sweet squash would do. After that I threw in the following: red onion, sweet white onion, red bell pepper, chard, baby spinach, mixed salad greens, jalapenos, three chopped string cheese fingers, walnuts, tomatoes, celantro....then tossed it. Very good tasting. I really like adding squash or yams as it gives the salad some body and a distinctive sweet taste. Someone give it a shot and let me know.

I've got lunch box packed with a sliced turkey sandwich half, celery and string cheese, the salad mentioned above, a few pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts and lastly some cottage cheese with a sliced fresh half. It's funny but I probably eat better on my eight hour work shift than I ever have before. I am committed to six meals a day hence the reason for such an elaborately packed lunch. I am no longer a chow hound; I usually feel full and when I do eat it is out of knowledge rather than hunger pangs. This is something I never thought I could master.

Today I weighed in at 285.0 lbs. I've yet to use the fantastic weight/body fat scale that Megan and Damian sent me. I'm going to wait until I'm 280 lbs for initial weight in..........use this as something like an incentive.

Last night I rode up Mission Ave hill in eight an a half minutes starting from Butler Ave to the top of hill where the traffic lights are located. When asked by a driver how long it takes me, I estimated twelve minutes and the driver told me no way. Well, I guess it's "oh Way!" I think he is beginning to think about exercising after watching me pedal off into the night homeward bound.

I'm going to take Nancy to the park for a 20 minute tour. Last night at work I was able to fit in my "Tiger Moves" so I'll do the same tonight. Sleep tight Avery, Gramps is thinking of you:-)

Saving Joy's Foot

Monday night Heather, Joy, DJ and I went to Capazelli's for some Italian food. As we were being seated our waitress was bantering about and as she left Joy remarked that she was pregnant and how she wanted to ask her when the baby was arriving, etc... I said to Joy to be careful, because maybe she's NOT pregnant. Joy assures me that she surely is, but I persist that she not ask about any new birth assignment. As the night went on the waitress came over and was chatting about work, her family and tying down all the mundane facets of life. At the right moment I asked the waitress, "So do you plan on having any more children?" "Oh my heavens, no!" she exclaimed and we all laughed as she left with the check. All eyes went to Joy and I handed her a napkin to dab away the perspiration pooling on her forehead.

And me, the hero of the night, how did I fare the next day at the Z-Market? I'm making a beverage purchase and feeling witty and chipper. Proud of how I was able to save Joy's foot from the abyss of her mouth. So the foxy young Argentinian woman behind the deli had just finished talking to the man at the cash register. "Is that your daughter?", I asked. He hands me my change and says, "She's my wife." GULP.................I was certainly glad that I had washed between my toes the night before.

On being frank

Frankly readers, I crack myself up. Fortunately, Dougie is my sounding post and he laughs whether it's funny or not.

Crazy Stuff

I drove to Petco with Nancy riding along. I've got some far out customized (Best Buy)CD's. So I'm cruising Mission Ave. doing exactly what pisses me off about the young punksters: I cranked up the stereo to maximum volume and play Bo Diddley mean and nasty. All the while, just like the punksters, I glance around me to see if any cars have their windows down so I can drive by real cool with my eyes casually staring straight ahead while blowing out their eardrums and probably Nancy's too, but I'm still cool and laid back with my head bobbing ever so slightly. I B KOOL!

LET'S GET NAKED! No,wait hold that thought..........let it pass, whew I'm under control again. Now, where was I?

The wheels are smoothly rolling along for a home purchase. (I just remembered, I have to get a phone fax source). Hey, Collin, when you read this I have an established goal: When I am under two hundred pounds and can do a minimum of 20 push ups, I want to climb Edward's Crack with you or John leading and me in the middle. I think the 20 push ups is a good safety factor. Soon I will be able to say I live in the "avenues area" of Cheyenne. I'm ready for the cowboy factor. I've already told Denise how to recognize a "real cowboy".......with three in the front seat of a pickup truck, the real cowboy is the one in the middle. You non-cowboy people eat your hearts out, 'cause I ain't (cowboy talk) givin' any cowboy secrets away and that's that! Specially since them horny toads from Brokeback Mountain started sharing their shit with the public.

So Avery here's the deal: I'm going to own the Mission Ave./Airpot Road hill climb, but here's the real deal........by the time your cousin is born, I'll celebrate the event with a Foussat Road climb. Can you feel it? I'm getting psyched up all ready!

Sunday Bicycle Ride

I awoke this morning and thought I had overslept going to Unity. Fortunately, I misread my watch and saw that it was 9 and not 12, go figure. Anyway, on my bicycle I leaped and away I went. I was cruising coast highway when this mountain bike (all purpose) passes me. Not to be denied I stepped it up a notch and passed him. I glance at the rider and recognize him as a passenger I drove for two nights ago. So now I'm out in front and WHOOSH, he scoops me. I bide my time until a slight downhill appears and I turn it on. SCOOPED HIM BIG TIME......so long punkster! Damned if he didn't scoop me on a slight uphill climb, but I faked it and acted like I had reverted to cruise control and I was just out for a fresh air ride. I guess this explains that stealth not strength is what oldsters do best.

Speaking of bike rides. Man, did I ever revert to young and insane.......I mean, it couldn't be brushed off as a senior moment. I've got the Marines Corps running cadence CD blasting away into my eardrums, jacked up from coffee and exercise and then the rush of Megan's phone call. This resulted in a downhill charge that made me quiver. I had cut in front of a truck because I was just plain out speeding him, then the next car was slowing down for an off set zig zag designed to slow cars down. I took the opposite side and flew by them and cut back to the right entering a ten degree curve at around 35 mph. I couldn't hit the brakes or I would have lost it so I just leaned over to the left and let tire traction do the work. Not over with craziness I went opposite side again sailed by another car. By this time the Marines were "fussin' and a fightin' yada yada yada and I made it to the four-way stop intersection at 20 mph and pedaled through a left hand turn in top gear. YES, way to go Gramps. Now this was clearly not a controlled moment, this was absolute insanity, but I must admit that it rocked. In retrospect I will never do that again......unless there's a really slow ugly car, maybe then...............I'll have to cogitate a tad more :-)

Great News!

Megan called me around 1:30 p.m. yesterday and what a great surprise! As she spoke, while Damian drove, she was holding their daughter, Avery Madison Smith, riding home from the hospital to take up residency on NW Sunset Circle in Portland, Oregon. Oh Avery, I hope you come to understand the meaning of "lucky ducky" because you just made Megan and Damian very lucky ducks and they will try to do their utmost to make you a "lucky ducky" too. By the way Avery, Megan and her brother, Collin, loved to go to the park to feed the ducks in Glenmere Park, so be sure to ask them to do the same thing in Oregon. Hopefully, they do have ducks in Oregon.

I look forward to being in the Unity congregation tomorrow and share the joy I am feeling at this moment. Reverend Julie is very special leader.

Avery, this blog is for you and I want you to know that I dedicated my ride home from work to you. I rode up the Mission Ave. hill faster than any other time, because December 22nd was a special event for me, you inspired me to get in shape and be healthy so that I will see you grow into womanhood. Oohah (that's a military thing)

Scrabble With Megan

Last night when I got home I found Megan up and online so we attempted a scrabble game. I wouldn't say things went swimmingly, however progress was made on how to bring up, stay up, select, undo, ask, cry about the intricacies of setting up. Finally we got rolling. Megan allowed me to go first. All seven of my letters were consonants (with power too) so I had to pass. Eventually Megan hit the rack so I assume that the game is in limbo. It will be fun once I don't have to plead my way onto the game room.

I rode up Butler Ave. in a straight line from the bottom of the hill at Mission Ave. to the intersection at Todd Ave. Never had done that before. I just about tried for the whole enchilada and do the section between Todd Ave. and Mesa Drive, but figured I'd wait for the return of the Marines running cadence CD I sent to Collin so I can get just a tad of motivational juices into my system. Love that CD!

Lots of packages beneath the tree. We're sending the San Diego Super Shuttle to pick up Heather and friend rather than drive down. I was going to call in sick and do it, but I'm probably going to call in sick in a couple of weeks so I didn't want to push the issue. Besides it is a more convenient way of travel since they will be delivered right to the home porch.

We were pre-approved for a house loan. We're now awaiting delivery of a DVD that Collin and Denise took of the house.

Ashamed to say I am still getting ready to clean my room. Who's kidding whom, it doesn't bother me that much, but it does tweak Joy a bit.

Since I am trying to become more spiritual in outlook and practice I feel it only correct to let all eyes know that you are being prayed for. Something in the Bible says something about praying in a closet as well as not beating one's chest while in the course of supplication. So prayer is what the eyes get, not for whom, what, where or when....nothing more; just enjoy knowing that I love you.

Christmas Tree

Yesterday we drove to Home Depot and picked out a five foot Nobel Fir. With the tree on the car rooftop and Nancy in the backseat we were a joyous sight to behold. The tree was decorated last night between plays on Monday Night Football, swigs from green bottles Grolsch beer and chit chat with Joy. As I type this my head is adorned with a festive red and white Santa hat. Christmas is here and all is really well.

I am posting the following from the Transformetrics website:

Make the Choice!

“There are two primary choices in life; to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” -- Denis Waitley

The decisions you make in life, day after day, moment by moment, will make the difference in the quality of life you enjoy. Nowhere is that more evident in health and fitness. Americans are, by and large, obese, out of shape, and unhealthy, because of the little choices they make day after day.

Little do they know that, with some simple nutritional choices and as little as fifteen minutes per day of basic exercise (like the Tiger Moves), they could transform how they look, how they feel, and how long they’ll be around.

Each one of my books in the Transformetrics™ Ultimate Training System series—The Miracle Seven, Pushing Yourself to Power, and Isometric Power Revolution—are designed to help you make those little choices on a daily basis. They are choices that will help lead you to health, fitness, and a quality of life you may never have thought could exist for you.

Actually, I’ve found that when individuals make the choices to turn around this one part of their lives, it very often leads them to success in other important areas of life, as they choose to succeed rather than fail.

The point is, changing the cycle of failure in life to a cycle of success means making a start and enjoying little successes. As the prophet Zechariah counsels us in the Old Testament, do not despise small beginnings. They will inevitably pay big dividends if you stick with them.

Think about it. – J.P.

Today I have to push myself a bit to get over to the park. My plan to step it up a notch to PUSHING YOURSELF TO POWER hasn't started yet so I'll have to give myself a pep talk over in the park as I take Nancy for her walk. She really helps me stay on the exercise routine, because she needs to be exercised and therefore the window is wide open for me jump through and complete my "Tiger Moves."

Got an email from Al Grams telling me about his grandson being invited to spring training with the L.A. Angels which is very hot stuff! I'm guessing two more years in the minors and he may get more then just an invitation to workout with the big leaguers. What a grind to finally get to the big show.

We're expecting a callback from a Wyoming bank loan officer giving her approval for a "pre-qualified" home loan. Then we'll take the next step and make an offer. We trust Denise's judgment and expertise in making this purchase happen.

Gotta rap this up and get to the recycling center as well as the park.............and then there's the bedroom mess, damn!

Saturday is my Friday

Today is my final day of a five day work week. It's a different route, but roughly the same hours. Work is going well, aside from the head on crash I barely avoided a couple of weeks ago, the job is a piece of cake. My body is still adjusting to the late shift hours, but I'm used to odd sleeping hours. Everything I've read says that continuous sleep is very important for one's health, but I just deal with weird and varied sleep patterns the way I have for nearly forty years.

I weighed in at 286.2 lbs today. My weight will go back up four pounds in the course of a day due to water retention, but the fact I got to 286.2 means that in one more week I should be doing the rear view mirror routine to anything over 285 lbs.

Not a whole lot planned for the weekend. I keep reminding myself to clean up my bedroom, but it is still a mess. Maybe I'll accomplish that task by Monday night.

We're going out to breakfast, shopping chores at PETCO and a romp in the park with Nancy before mounting the bike for the downhill run to NCTD.

A health tip for anybody reading this: An Exercise You Can't Do Without: Squats! (HALF SQUATS UNTIL YOUR FANNY TOUCHES THE SEAT OF A CHAIR) my emphasis........ "They strengthen all of the major muscles of the lower body, including the gluteals, hamstrings, quadriceps and calves." Taken from an online source.

287.4

Alright, the 290's are in the rear view mirror! Weighed in at 287.4 this morning. The first reading was 288.2 and that was satisfactory, but I went back to bed thought about it for a while and decided to go back to the scale for a reread and presto, somehow .8 of a pound mysteriously dissolved (no bathroom break in between either :-).

Just got through contributing $25.00 to Congressman Wexler's (Florida) campaign, because he has the huevos to pursue impeachment hearings against the Dickster. This nation is in peril and this administration still does anything it damn well pleases without any kind of dissent from the public. The right wing pundits cry out about a left wing press....... Question: If our newspapers are so left winged then why aren't headlines screaming for impeachment?

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Spurned_by_major_newspapers_Dem_Congressman_1214.html

Joy and I are on the same page in regards to buying a house in Cheyenne. I keep running through various scenarios with her as to why we shouldn't and no reasons come up. We can swing it and still stay where we are for the foreseeable future. We would plan on renting it out until the dust settles around here. So as of this moment I'm acting as if we have acquired some rental property.

Tomorrow I will attempt to incorporate some or all of the features in the book, PUSHING YOURSELF TO POWER. The main thing for me to do is provide time in order to work a sensible program.

Part of a prayer that I am remembering: "I understand that I am on a journey of self-awareness, inner healing, and spiritual growth, with lessons to learn, issues from the past to heal and Divine Ideas to bring into expression. With God's help I will resolve anything that comes my way so that I may demonstrate greater good in my life!" I feel comfortable with Unity Chirst Church in Carlsbad.
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More BS from the White House

The White House gives the go ahead to destroy video tapes of water board interrogations in order to "protect the identity of the agents." Huh? Does this mean that the CIA doesn't possess the capability to alter video tapes in order to protect its agents? Again, huh? If so, we are in deep doo-doo.

Got in a good 50 minute bike ride in last night as well as getting my Tiger Moves in too. This morning I weighed in at 289.2 so this may signal the end of the 290's forever, AMF!

I'm floating the idea of buying a house in Cheyenne. It's only floating at this point, but one never knows. We would keep this place. Which reminds me that Joy and I have to talk to Megan, Heather and Collin about our Oceanside property.

Lentils

Last night another concoction was made in the crock pot. I assumed the lentils would cook overnight, but such is not the case. They were still crunchy, edible but still crunchy. Note to self: precook lentils before adding to the crock pot. Each batch has a different taste. I added more olive oil this time around.

I've noticed my eating habits are changing and this is a very positive sign. In the past I've been a chow hound, but now because of work and diet I find that I am eating five to six small and varied meal portions instead of the basic three squares a day. Yesterday, Joy and I went to Coco's for lunch. I ordered a hamburger and upon arrival of the order I found myself scraping off the cheese and not eating the bun. Just meat and the trimmings. What is so unusual is that afterwards, as we drove home, I found that I was not feeling stuffed, but pleasantly and comfortably without any hunger, a very good feeling.

I received my four month bid assignment which starts in January. I'll work the extra board with Sundays and Mondays off. It was hard to believe I was able to get a Sunday off, because anytime an officially paid holiday occurs the work schedule automatically reverts to the Sunday work schedule which in my case means I never have to work on any holiday. I am #302 of 312 coach operators on the seniority list so I didn't think I'd have chance, go figure!

Today I'm going to call a place that professionally puts up Xmas lights. If it doesn't seem to be too high an expense I'll go ahead and purchase the service. Extension cords, electrical outlets, burnt out bulbs isn't my cup of tea.

That's all the news from Lake Wobegone. Readers, I assume you do occasionally listen to Garrison Keeler of PBS Radio if not, for shame.

Last Day of work

Saturday has finally arrived and after this workday, I can savor two days off. Today will be a 10 hour stint. There is a bid today and I honestly don't know anything about anything. I think this attitude stems from the fact that I am ten from the bottom in seniority (out of 350) so not much will be left to decide what I choose. My gut tells me I'll be on the extra-board with a couple of days off during the week.

I did the Tiger Moves while at work last night. I had a 25 minute break so I was able to squeeze in some vitals, a bathroom break and two sets of Tiger Moves. When I got to Escondido at 2210 hours I was able to complete the last set of TM. I think I'll go to the park after this blog and do TM's, and then go to work.

I've completely forgotten to do any kind of relaxed meditation. I am praying now and consciously making an effort to see things from a spiritual perspective, but the 20 to 30 minute seclusion in silence is not yet a habit. It's funny how I have such difficulty compartmentalizing my time for various tasks. It's not like I have any pressing obligations. This is a problem, but oh how sweet a problem it is! Life is good.

I have estimated that I am losing .23 lbs per day which means a weight loss of 84 lbs per year. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" I WILL attack the hill!

Close Call

Last night while I was entering an intersection in Escondido a car attempted a left hand turn in front of me while I had the green light right of way. To make matters worse I did not see him until he was eight feet from me, because it was a small car and it was obscured by a larger car making an opposite left hand turn and I was passing on the outside lane. The occupants were a couple of young teenagers oblivious to anything but themselves. We both applied maximum brakes and must have ended up within a foot length's distance from a collision.........dumasses from damasses.

FINALLY! This morning I weighed in at 289.6.

Bicycling around town

Rode to the doctor's office in Carlsbad and back for approximately eleven miles. I'm at 292 lbs. Her test showed that I had lost five pounds of fat and gained two pounds of muscle. Blood pressure reading was 122/68! So something is going on inside of me.

Megan said a package with my name and her address had arrived at her residence. I think there was a mistake on the part of a volunteer who took the order and a computer that showed I done a similar thing a couple of years ago.

Work last night was easy with the exception that the bus lost power in the middle of heavy traffic, but I was able to nurse it to the side of the road and reset the electrical circuitry and everything went well afterwards. This is the kind of run I like, efficient work with ample time for rest.

Had to ride home after midnight, but took a back way so missed almost all car traffic. This run will work out nicely for me.

Power Breakfast

Last night I did the crock pot potpourri, i.e., oatmeal, quinoa, pinto beans, lentils, chicken breasts, onions, green peppers, yams, celery, jalapenos, herbs and spices, etc.,..then this morning take a portion of the concoction and place it in a skillet to heat while frying an egg, add Tabasco sauce and Power Breakfast is served!

Workouts are going well, approximately 26 days out of 30 I recorded some kind of exercise with COWS. Getting psyched up to begin a different kind isometric regimen probably starting on December 16th. Same trainer, just a bit more focused and advanced than the Miracle Seven. My weight is hanging around the the 293 range (have to quit drinking wine and beer at night after the workouts). Body is definitely rearranging itself. I did two regular pushups today, first time since 1993!

This afternoon will be my new driving assignment for the next six weeks. Should have a pretty solid workout program since I'll be walking up the (Fousat Road) hill when returning from work. I'm not real keen on riding up the hill on Mission Ave. at night.

Joy and Nancy are fine. Joy's outside bundled up against the morning coolness working her daily soduko while Nancy is cutting Z's on the leather couch.

Megan's baby crib selection was an excellent choice. My imagination goes wild in anticipation of the great event!

Inspiration and mystery

Cylinders, I need more cylinders, hence, the mystery:......cylinder, wtf is meant by cylinders?

Finished my last day on the 321 route and I now begin a three day rest before beginning a six week gig on the night shift and the 302 Oceanside to Escondido run.

Oceanside has received a goodly amount of rain over the past 24 hours and I think all concerned are appreciative. Water levels are down in the storage areas.

Feeling good. No exercise today, felt I needed a rest. My mind has accepted the fact that the Miracle Seven routine is here to stay for me, but with other alternatives as I become stronger at my age; (OH YE WHO HAVE EARS) hear this: whilst you have your youthful strength, build on it.

Hill Reaquaintance

I'm riding the bike up the hill again. It's getting easier, not easy, but not real hard either. I use the Marine Corps CD running cadence to spur me up the hill. I figure if they can say it while running I should be able to listen and pedal. I'm staying in the low 290's, but I can feel that I have added some muscle, because of the way I move and fit into my clothes. Still fat, but not mushy fat.....beer belly fat. The hill will take care of that problem. Still doing isometrics. Yesterday I went to the park with Nancy and she got behind me so when I got to the place where I exercise I turned around and couldn't see her. Then I see a man sitting on a park bench a couple of hundred feet away and who is seated right next to him? Oh yeah, just snuggled right next to him. It was such a funny sight. It was the bench where she and I often sit and gaze out towards the ocean.

I've got a new run assignment starting on December 4th and ending on January 12th. It's a night run to Escondido (about 20 miles from Oceanside). 1600 until 0001, Tuesdays thru Saturdays.

Took Joy to Coco's Restaurant tonight; nice to get out once in a while.

I now sponsor a five year old Filipino boy living in the Philippine Islands. He has a real family so I am not exactly sure what's going on, but I should find out more in a week or so.

Another Crock Pot Success!

I love making up recipes for the crock pot. The standard is usually: lentils, pinto beans, tomato sauce, chicken broth, onions, celery, brocholli, olive oil, an assortment of herbs and spices and an occasional experiment such as adding 1/2 cup coffee. The batch I made yesterday will be enough to last throughout the week. It makes packing lunch quite easy when I use the small plastic containers.

My liquid breakfasts are usually made in the blender with steel cut oats, quinoa, (these are soaked in boiled water from the kettle for 3 minutes on up) Ultra Meal Plus (Metagenics), Triple Greens Powder (Purity Products), cinnamon, powdered milk, 1/2 pear, 1/2 banana, add ice cubes and water then blend. A powerful drink.

Check out quinoa. Supposedly quite a bit of nourishment compared to other grains.

Called in sick

Called in sick about an hour ago, not sick; I just didn't want to go into work. I am really jacked with my decision to attend Unity. It really feels like a fit. So after attending Unity I went to Best Buy and burned a great CD, Jesus centered from modern gospel groups along with a modern beat. After that I returned home and watched the Chargers win and then watched the Bears barely win against the Broncos; The Eagles just about pulled it off against the Patriots, but not to be at the final gun. This truly is a great team, but it is so hard to imagine that they would dominate the likes of the '85 Bears or the Miami 17 and 0 team way back when.......which means that defense dictates: Keep the offense off the field and they can't score. As I recall the two teams referenced were absolute terrors on defense.

I'm now listening to Rose Mary Clooney's, Hey There, and it reminded me of my past: my mother and father.........after she had returned after a summer excursion with her sister and brother-in-law in the east. A sandhill too steep.

Spiders and Unity

An observation Joy and I have made is the fact that we don't see many spiders or insects inside the house anymore. We do have one species of spider in the house, but we consider them our guests, the spindly spider known as "Daddy Long Legs." I watched a "Daddy" hone in on another species of spider the other day and make short work of it in deed! Its venom is as poisonous a that of a Black Widow's, but it doesn't have the ability to lock onto human skin so we're safe. They are almost translucent and so thin as to not be noticed. If anyone who reads this have any Daddy Long Legs around encourage them to take up residence with you as they work for free and don't pollute the environment. They often take up residence in the bathroom or at the floor and ceiling corners.

Today, I attended Unity Christ Church in Carlsbad. I enjoyed the service and plan to make it my place of fellowship. Using a Google search will explain the philosophy and beliefs of Unity. I agree with their observations and I need some fellowship so I am now one of them. Interestingly, there is no membership per se, and "Unity does not emphasize formal membership and has never been preoccupied with gaining converts merely for the sake of numbers. In fact, Unity says that one can subscribe to its teachings and still retain membership in any other church. Unity's viewpoint is that there need be no conflict of religious beliefs. Unity believes that there is good in every religion and that we should keep our minds open in order to find the good when an opportunity is presented. In keeping with this attitude, people of various religions the world over find good in the practical Christian principles taught and promulgated by Unity. Unity has no strict creed or dogma. One might describe Unity as a religious philosophy with an 'open end,' seeking to find God's truth in all life, wherever it may be."

Workout experiment day

Today I will experiment with bicycle exercise. Collin told me of this approach about a year ago and since then I've read similar veins of thought. I'll go to the bike trail and go "balls to the wall" for one minute and then cruise for four then repeat these series six times.

The Miracle Seven exercises seem to be producing results. I've lost about three inches in the waist line. Today I'm weighed in at 293 lbs. I expect to be in the 280's range by December 1st. I believe that yesterday was the first time I didn't do any "Seven" since starting the program. None of the exercises require lying down and that's very convenient.

I've been listening and reading C.S. Lewis and Joel Olsteen. I want to attach myself to some kind of Christian fellowship. The Unity program in Carlsbad seems interesting. With the exception of being pissed off in stressful moments I've concluded that I live my life by the principles of Christ, i.e., charity, kindness and respect for life so why not find a group of like minded people? It's kind of awkward if Joy doesn't go with me, but what the hey she might.

Work assignments for next week are from 0500 until 1230 everyday. This is very good.

Powder puff day at work

Didn't drive at all today. Stayed in the drivers room talked, played chess and even watched a full episode of Star Trek, circa 1970. After work I rode my bicycle to the bike trail which runs along the San Luis Rey River. All in all I recorded close to 1,000 points to the Presidents Challenge Website. Will definitely work tomorrow at 0500 until 1430 doing a coastal route to La Jolla and back to Oceanside. It's a very beautiful drive and one that goes by very quickly.

I worked up a crock pot preparation last night with tomato paste and lentils being the main stock and then adding a variety of veggies and herbs and olive oil. Very good tasting. I especially like the addition of chopped cheese string fingers to the mix.

It's a little after 8:00 p.m. so I have to pack lunch, shower and hit the rack.

How the time flys by

November 18, 2007

I've gone full time with NCTD, started September 21st. Am keeping up to the task, however a full workday feels differently than the former 20 hour work weeks. Planning on working full time until April of 2009.

Joy has been diagnosed with CLL leukemia. Since the diagnosis about five months ago she has been holding steady with her blood counts and therefore no chemotherapy or the likes. She doesn't aggressively pursue any lifestyle changes, i.e. smoke, drink and exercise. I am doing what I can, but I have to accept the fact that change is a very difficult thing to do, not impossible, but nonetheless very pressing.

I am struggling with lifestyle changes, namely exercise, weight loss and reduced beer consumption. I've exercised steadily since November 3rd and plan to do some aerobics after I complete this log. I now weight 295 and I am consulting with a naturopathic physician in Carlsbad.