Tuesday, April 30, 2013

April 30

Post 816, Day 119 of 2013
 - and 850 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
No comment.



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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         204.8 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     206.4 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 1.6 lbs

Diet Comment
The day after a high-protein day (even with a bit of a mid-day cheat) looking very good. No cheat today, so even better.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Dal Tadka with scrambled eggs and spinach. Not shown:Spring Mix, baby spinach, cole slaw mix and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner
Pepperoni, hard-boiled eggs and cole slaw. 

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  24 oz.   Water:  64+ oz.


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Monday, April 29, 2013

April 29

Post 815, Day 118 of 2013
 - and 849 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
Do you know what I like? I like to admit when I'm wrong without excuses (explanations don't count).

I'm wrong a lot, and I like surprising people with how easy admit it, and they are almost always surprised (can I admit that I like seeing the surprised look on their face? I do). 

I just say, "You're right, I was wrong about that." Nice and simple. It feels good to just lay it out like that.

I'll be saying that at tomorrow night's rehearsal. I was wrong to consider the Foolapalooza! as just a gig, and not an event. It was a great event, got us new fans, made us some money. 

Now, people think I am heavily invested in being right, which actually isn't true, although I understand why they think so. Because I usually know why I have a certain opinion, in any discussion, I am prepared to debate, even argue my point of view. Because I can 'argue my case' with conviction, people think I am not open-minded. Not the case. I can be convinced of another perspective.

But I don't mind being wrong, not at all. I don't mind being given the opportunity to examine a new point of view, new information, or a different interpretation. I don't mind being convinced of a position other than the one I started out with.

II don't think it is bad to be wrong (I'm not talking about doing wrong, that is bad). But realizing you had a wrong idea, notion, impression, etc. is growth, self-improvement.

And whoever reveals your error has done you a favor, right? A big favor.

Right.



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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         206.4 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     207.0 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.6 lbs

Diet Comment
The recovery period continues.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Cocoa-kale-hemp-chia protein shake: Almond milk, kale, cocoa, hemp seeds, chia gel, a large egg, vanilla whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, vanilla, psillium and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
Jelly beans - yes, I had some left over. I brought them to work for me. By noon, I'd ruined my appetite.

Dinner
Pepperoni, hard-boiled eggs and cole slaw. 

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  24 oz.   Water:  80+ oz.


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Sunday, April 28, 2013

April 28

Post 814, Day 117 of 2013
 - and 848 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
I didn't get dressed until 5:30pm today.

When I did, I made 'breakfast' then unloaded the car from last night's gig, took out the garbage, and went out and jammed some more.

I'm still in recovery from Saturday night/Sunday early morning.



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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         207.0 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     206.6 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 0.2 lbs

Diet Comment
I am astonished that my weight is not higher than it is. I can't figure it out.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
Peppers, onion and hemp seed omelet with Italian-style chicken sausage with peppers and onions. 

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  22 oz.   Water:  56+ oz.


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Saturday, April 27, 2013

April 27 - HCHC Day

Post 813, Day 116 of 2013
 - and 847 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
A big, big night. The band's CD release party, Foolapalooza! 

That happened. 

Despite my many misgivings about the number of other performers, the need for party favors for the audience, the hiring of auxiliary talent - I half won on this one when the balloon twister turned out to be a jerk, and we only had an electric hula-hooper - the show ran like clockwork, we had our best turnout ever, and everybody, the performers and audience alike, had a great time.

I doubt that there was any other stage in NY where you could see a more eclectic variety of performers: we opened with hip hop, then a bluegrass band, followed by our early set (go ahead, try and categorize our music - nobody has been able to do that yet), then acoustic rock followed by classic rock followed by R&B. At the end of our closing set we ended the night with a jam session with the musicians that stuck around that late, and for once, the audience was totally with us, totally engaged.

All the performers brought their A-game, and, while some in the audience didn't like this or that group, there was, overall, a positive response to every performance. And, when we took the stage, we got the audience rush to the front. That was a thrill.

Amazing. What a night. Of course, it lasted until the wee hours, and I didn't get to bed until near-sunrise, but, well, there it is.

That happened. I'm happy, and proud of my band, and quite content.

And exhausted.



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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         206.6 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     206.4 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 0.2 lbs

Diet Comment
Last night I got all weak-willed and bingey on jelly beans and ruined an otherwise good day. I'm glad I didn't pay a higher price, weight-wise.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
At Ruby Tuesday:
Cajun tiilapia and shrimp with zucchini; potato and macaroni salad. Not shown: mixed salad (including Spring Mix, spinach, broccoli, green peppers, tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, bacon and blue cheese dressing) and Waldorf salad.


Dinner
I didn't really have a conventional dinner - I just ate some jelly beans in the green room from load-in to the last set.

Snack
After the show and load-out, at around 3:15 AM, we all went to Denny's for a post-show decompression dose of protein and fat. I had an ultimate omelet, which is eggs filled with an assortment of meats, onions, peppers and mushrooms topped with cheese, and a side of hash browns and dry rye toast.

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water:  96+ oz.


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Friday, April 26, 2013

April 26

Post 813, Day 116 of 2013
 - and 847 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
It has been almost five decades since I last played in a coffee shop. Tonight's gig was fun, and I will probably accompany the singer/songwriter again.

I will also have to spend some time rehearsing with him, because he isn't used to playing with accompaniment and all the structure that implies. Especially in regards to rhythm.

It was a nice change-up from my usual, and I'm all about that.



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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         206.4 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     205.4 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.0 lbs

Diet Comment
Late night eating and lots of pepperoni happening last night seems to have a deleterious effect on my weight. I didn't help my 'cause' with a midnight binge on jelly beans, either. So it goes.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Cocoa-kale-hemp-chia protein shake: Almond milk, kale, cocoa, hemp seeds, chia gel, a large egg, vanilla whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, vanilla, psillium and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
At Ling-Ling's Chinese Buffet and Grill:
Brussels sprouts, kimchee, and, from the "Mongolian Grill", my go-to dish, pork and chicken with cabbage, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, snow pea pods and broccoli. Not shown: a little beef and broccoli.

Dinner
Hard-boiled eggs and guacamole, Spring Mix greens with black beans and balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack
FAIL! Jelly beans. Sigh. I bought a few pounds for the green room tomorrow, and ate a whole lot of them late tonight, then promptly passed out.

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  38 oz.   Water:  96+ oz.


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Thursday, April 25, 2013

April 25

Post 812, Day 115 of 2013
 - and 846 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
Work and chores and rehearsing for a benefit tomorrow and jamming at an open mic and I ended the day hungry and tired and so ate and slept.

For the most part, just the human condition.



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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         205.4 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     204.6 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 0.8 lbs

Diet Comment
Late night eating and lots of pepperoni happening last night seems to have a deleterious effect on my weight. So it goes.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Italian-style chicken sausage ewith onions and peppers, and scrambled eggs. Not shown: Salad of Spring Mix greens and cole slaw mix with balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner

Pepperoni.


Snack
Smoked turkey breast with home-made mayonnaise and guacamole.

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  24 oz.   Water:  112+ oz.


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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

April 24

Post 811, Day 114 of 2013
 - and 845 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
Tiring day, nothing to say.



Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!


 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         204.6 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     206.0 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 1.4 lbs

Diet Comment
Well, that was surprising, but maybe it shouldn't have been - my cheat was not a high-calorie, simple carb, processed food nightmare - sprouted grains were the off-diet item.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Cocoa-kale-hemp-chia protein shake: Almond milk, kale, cocoa, hemp seeds, chia gel, a large egg, vanilla whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, vanilla, psillium and stevia-inulin blend.

Dinner
Cauliflower with Dal Tadka (lentil curry) and hemp seeds. Not shown: Pepperoni.

Snack
Pepperoni and cole slaw.

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  24 oz.   Water:  96+ oz.


Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

April 23

Post 810, Day 113 of 2013
 - and 844 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
Synchronicity striking again. After a wonderful conversation about the meaning of time and space, I received this from friend-poet-activist David Wolinski:


Thunderhead

The man with a hole in his head
was not dead, but imagine what worlds
fly howling through that hole, and how
he would be whole. We think, therefore
would be.

The man with a hole in his head
wasn't lead, either. But in the morning
when he rises, or tries,
and coldly appraises the pain,
and warmly commends his slow, trying bones –
that morning may be all his mornings,
and that useless to mourn, false
though seeming all he has
to make too much of.

The man with a hole
the man in a hole
of course is not whole
has headlong gone to Hell --
par for the course, merely, just a poor
wayfaring strangeness, desiring to speak
this, that may or may not heal.

He once had a friend
who uttered a forest of strangers
and became later a stranger himself.
Neither knew then
how nothing would come of something
with nothing for it
but to wander on alone.
Nothing to it. Nothing to atone.

Yeah the one of whom you have read

will become dead. His ghost and I
commend your bones to such upstanding
endeavor as yourselfness may still, rickety, try.

In the wind and the rain
you can hear the hoarse cry:
Miss the train I'm on.
Know
-- I am gone.
Hear the whistle blow
a ghostsong tune.

Blackhead, thunderhead...
The man with his head in a song

was just plain wrong. Wrong
to imagine because something sings
it speaks to all things. But in the morning,
still, he rises and like the lark exposes
his throat to the chill, extending his trembling wings.

                           --david almaleck woilnsky




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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         206.0 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     206.2 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.2 lbs

Diet Comment
No change, and the direction remains the same. But the snack fail late at night will probably hurt tomorrow's result.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Spinach and black bean fritatta with salsa and Paleo coconut bread toast.


Lunch
Chia gel.

Dinner
Salmon and hemp-seed salad on Spring Mix greens.

Snack
Ezekiel Golden Flax cereal with almond milk and stevia-inulin blend.

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  20 oz.   Water:  112+ oz.


Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!

 

Monday, April 22, 2013

April 22

Post 809, Day 112 of 2013
 - and 843 days since I started this blog -




Daily Comment
The expression, no good deed goes unpunished applied yesterday.

Typically, the good deed was inspired by miscommunication. I was under the impression that the band needed T-shirts to sell at the show on Saturday, so I arranged to get some made, only to get a heart-breaking note from the drummer's wife that she had busted her ass all weekend making T-shirts, and wouldn't have spent the time and money if she'd known we were going to buy them. She felt unappreciated, her effort ignored.

My understanding, and that of other members of the band, was that, at most, only a few T-shirts were going to be made, none for sale.

I felt terrible, and called and spoke to her. Hopefully, explaining the situation, she knows that I meant no disrespect for her, that I do value her efforts, and have in the past.

Of course, all this was a communications problem. My band mostly communicates through emails and Facebook private group message threads. The drummer rarely participates. His last communication was early in the weekend when he said he was working on shirts to sell and give away, and would have shirts for the staff. Then, nothing, while messages went out about how many shirts we had, and would we have enough for the show? But no more communications from the drummer.

The kicker? Yesterday, when I first got the message from the drummers wife, and during the subsequent conversations, I was wearing one of the Tees the drummer and his wife had previously made for me.



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 Food and Diet Section
First-half year 2013 daily weight
Today's Weight:         206.2 lbs
Yesterday's Weight:     206.8 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.6 lbs

Diet Comment
A change of direction, thankfully. However slight, it is the right direction.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Cocoa-kale-hemp-chia protein shake: Almond milk, kale, cocoa, hemp seeds, chia gel, a large egg, vanilla whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, vanilla, psillium and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
Roasted turkey breast on Spring Mix, baby spinach and cole slaw mix with balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner
Pepperoni and cole slaw.


Snack
Egg salad on Paleo coconut bread and home-made mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake   
   Coffee:  30 oz.   Water:  140+ oz.


Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!