#1885, Friday, June 30: Long weekend off... sort of

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Post 1885, Day 181 of 2017
- 2,373 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I am going to have one helluva weekend. A gig tonight. A gig tomorrow night. A gig on Sunday. Drive to Vermont for a friend's daughter's wedding (and reunion of old friends, to boot) on Monday. Drive back Tuesday.

So my next weigh-in will be Wednesday, which means my next blog post will hit Thursday.

My weight is up today. Given my activities, I suspect it will be higher Wednesday.

My positional vertigo is bothering me again. And my knees (yes, both) hurt.

And I still think life is good.

I live a life of being grateful for what I have, what I enjoy, what I love, what I can do. I don't think about what I want much. Not never, but not much. When I do, I go back to thinking about what I have, and how much better my life turned out than I expected, when I was full of want.

Yes, I'm one grateful son-of-a-bitch.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      204.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/29/17):           202.7 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 1.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

Aww, damn! Seems like I ate a lot of food yesterday. In particular, that casserole I ate had a lot of beans, maybe too there were too many carbs for me. I woke up feeling heavy, after not enough sleep. Now I'm just above the trend line. Drat - not the way I wanted to go into the long weekend.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:20pm: Green and blue protein smoothie with coconut-almond milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, whey powder (36g protein), coconut oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, turmeric and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
8:30pm, at Sand Bar Grill: Fried scallops with cole slaw - bleccchh! (They were out of fish).

Dinner
12:45am: Sriracha chicken breast, cottage cheese, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 78+ oz.; 

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#1884, Thursday, June 29: It's the what, not the how

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Post 1884, Day 180 of 2017
- 2,372 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Things work out.

I found out today that I have a gig Sunday. I was supposed to drive up to Brattleboro, Vermont to see my friend Richie, so I called to cancel and see if we could reschedule for July 4th.

He called to say that his wife Gloria was sick and so was his daughter-in-law, and that he had been getting ready to call me to let me know to make other plans for Sunday. He was relieved that things worked out the way they did.

Yeah, that's the way things seem to roll. Lost valuables are found. Mistakes are fixed, or, worst case, learned from. In times of need, relief comes.

I think the important thing with all this is, to keep the what in mind, and not so much the how and when. Those parts seem to sort themselves out without much intervention.

Or so it seems to me, in this charmed life I've grown up to.

I'm grateful for that. Big time.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      202.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/28/17):           202.7 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

The lack of progress is a delayed phenomenon caused, I believe, but the quantity of cheese I ate last night.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
5:45pm: Cauliflower, spinach and kale casserole with chana masala (chick pea curry), scrambled eggs, chia and hemp seeds, and cottage cheese, and a Quest bar.

Snack
9:30pm: A Quest bar and mixed nuts.

Dinner
12:45am: London broil with Philippe's famous hot mustard, cole slaw, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 92+ oz.; 

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#1883, Wednesday, June 28: Work to do

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Post 1883, Day 179 of 2017
- 2,371 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Since I am writing this comment in the same writing session as yesterday's, I might continue the theme.

I mentioned that I'm thinking about making some lifestyle changes.

I'm thinking about joining a gym. I used to enjoy going to the gym, but when I wanted to lose weight I stopped (testing a theory I had read about that working out wasn't necessary to lose weight - which was validated). My recent short round of PT - largely unsuccessful, probably because of it's brevity (5 sessions in 3 weeks) indicated that I have some work to do. I want to address long-standing flexibility issues as well as strengthening my legs to help my arthritic knees.

I'm also considering starting a (private) journal, mainly to help with these changes, because change is hard. Like my food journal (this blog), I believe writing it down helps focus your attention and therefore helps you get results.

One particular result I am hoping the journal will help me achieve is a clean apartment. I'm thinking about dedicating some time to cleaning the apartment. There are things I want to do that I don't because of the condition of my apartment. Also, a long-term goal, of reducing my possessions, is totally compatible with that. It's beginning to cause me some stress.

These are the changes I'd like to make: Start a journal, add regular exercise, clean and maintain my apartment. There are others, but I think these three are first.

As I have a very busy couple of weeks coming up, I may just start with the journal, which might force me to do some cleaning just to have a place to write. I'll look to starting the gym when I get back from Sharon on July 10 or 11.

It makes me appreciate what I have, that these little things are what I choose to add to my life. Some people find what I love to do (performing music) difficult, but take for granted the things I struggle with: body issues and neatness.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      202.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/27/17):           201.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

This weight-gain brought to you by ice cream and pop corn.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
5:45pm: Eggs scrambled with salmon, onions and peppers, and a salad (chard, kale, spinach, cabbage, balsamic vinaigrette).

Snack
10:30pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
1:45am: Dubliner's cheese (a lot - once I start...) and blueberry chia pudding (coconut-almond milk, cottage cheese, yogurt and chia seeds with blueberries - a new recipe, it is not likely to become a regular feature) and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 92+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey.

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# 1882, Tuesday, June 27: Comment pressure

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Post 1882, Day 178 of 2017
- 2,370 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Sometimes, nothing comes. Sometimes, because I write these comments the day after (usually in the morning), an idea I had is forgotten.

The inspiration to write a comment is usually not present when I start. Most of the time there's a tell when tell when that happens: I start with a question.

Today's comment went missing after I got active with my trading as I was just getting going. Then other distractions came into play, and finally an appointment, and then my day really got rolling, and I never got around to this comment.

Now I'm a whole day behind.

Which is a little stressful.

The quicker relief would have been to just make this a 'No comment' day - what I usually do. But I have to admit, the struggle to keep up makes that seem like a cop-out.

There is precious little reason to get down about it - as far as I know, my blog has only one reader, and that is occasional (if you think I'm wrong, comment!). The pressure I feel is internally-generated.

It makes me realize that basing my present around the daily prospect of playing may not be enough structure for me. The non-playing part of my day is kind of like a perpetual hooky-playing style sick-day.

This blog and my trading are what I have for structure. The playing is pretty non-structured, most of the time. Yes, the trading is my 'work', but it keeps me in bed because that's where I do all my computer-related stuff these days.

I'm considering some life-style changes. And grateful to have some choice, and the ability to implement them. Or, at least for the feeling (illusory? maybe) that I have a bit of choice.

That feeling may pass (change is hard) - but the gratitude won't.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/26/17):           202.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

There you go - with two out-of-town weekends coming up, I need to lose a bit every day this week.

Food Log

Breakfast
4:45pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Tuna poke salad with: Kale, cabbage, quinoa, cucumber, carrots, scallions, ginger,edamame, avocado, tuna poke, sesame seeds, almonds and miso-sesame dressing. Not shown: Medium cup of chocolate and vanilla twist soft-serve ice cream.

Lunch
7:40pm: Scrambled eggs on Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread.

Snack
10:00pm: Popcorn and a Quest bar.

Dinner
1:05am: Sriracha chicken breast, cole slaw and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey.

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#1881, Monday, June 26: Just another day

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Post 1881, Day 177 of 2017
- 2,369 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Today I worked at my trading in the morning. I booked a little profit, and set things up for the next day. I get out of bed (I do this in bed) already having been productive.

Then I made a CD of songs I have to learn for Reverend Ken's Summer of Love Festival.

I weighed myself, got back on the computer to document that, which led to spending some time on the internet.

Then off to physical therapy (for my knee), then to the Monroe Muffler and Brake shop where I get my oil changed and have my car serviced to check out why my low tire pressure indicator was lit (I'm going to have to replace the sensor head in one of my wheels - it's fine, but that's what they say is leaking the air.

After all that, I made breakfast for myself.

By the end of the night, I felt better and was ravenously hungry. I ate the comped dinner, and an emergency Quest bar.

That pretty much ended the day's productivity.

I watched some science TV, then the first two episodes of season 2 of 'Preacher'.

Then some more computer time (documenting the Diet Log for this blog, for instance, as well as emails and Facebook) before going to bed.

Another day to be grateful for.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      202.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/23/17):           202.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

This would have been even lower but for the end-of-the-night ribs, with their too-sweet (for me) barbecue sauce. Still, it's been so long since I've had ribs, and longer still since I've had what I thought were good ribs.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:00pm:

Kale, spinach and cheese omelet (with onions and peppers, chia and hemp seeds) and bacon.

Lunch
8:10pm: A Quest bar and cottage cheese with blueberries.

Snack
9:40pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
12:05am: London broil with Philippe's famous hot mustard, and a salad (chard, kale, spinach, arugula, cabbage with creamy balsamic vinaigrette).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; 

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#1880, Friday, June 23: Sick gig

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Post 1880, Day 174 of 2017
- 2,366 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Today, all day, I felt sick. I had a little vertigo and a little nausea from the instant I got up.

I couldn't get anything done.

Then I had a gig. I thought I was going to have to cancel, then realized I wasn't dead, picked up one of my basses, and said to myself, it's a fifteen minute drive, maybe the change of air will do me good.

No such luck. That was a very uncomfortable fifteen minutes.

I've played gigs sick before. I think nobody could tell. As I played (sitting, very rare for me to do a gig seated). Music heals.

By the end of the night, I felt better: Still a little bit of vertigo, but the nausea was replace by hunger. I ate the comped dinner before I even started packing up and loading out, and ate a Quest bar I'd brought as I put my gear in my car.

After, walking up the stairs to my apartment post-gig, I felt a powerful urgency and began to sweat as I fumbled with the keys, rushing to the bathroom with diarrhea.

After taking a shower, I felt a little better. I went right to sleep.

Epilog: I woke up early the next morning feeling fine.

I have a lot to be grateful for.

Food and Diet

 

Today's Weight:                      202.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/22/17):           203.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 1.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

This would have been even lower but for the end-of-the-night ribs, with their too-sweet (for me) barbecue sauce. Still, it's been so long since I've had ribs, and longer still since I've had what I thought were good ribs.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
11:15pm, at Limp Lizard BBQ:

Blackened catfish with rice and beans and cole slaw. Not shown: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 18 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 48+ oz.; 

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#1879, Thursday, June 22: Sometimes, it ends badly

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Post 1879, Day 173 of 2017
- 2,365 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I was reminded tonight, a little bit, about the two sides of my music life-style (that is, the large portion of my life-style that is about making music).

I went to two open mics. The first one was at one of the first places I played at in Syracuse - the place where I first met a lot of the musicians here, because, unlike the Sunday jam at Rooters, it wasn't primarily blues - quite the opposite, blues music was played infrequently. The host band was a rock band. It had closed about five years ago, and reopened with a different name and new owners, and recently started hosting an open mic.

When I showed up, I was the only musician there, although there was a good number of people playing around the bar and playing pool. I was called almost immediately, and I played an acoustic set. One of my songs was live video-casted on Facebook, and I was allowed to play as long as I wanted, the audience of non-musicians were pretty enthusiastic, and it was a blast.

I should have stayed and hung out.

My next stop was Rooters, for the Thursday blues and barbecue open mic. This time, everything came up craps.

There were very few people - very few. A couple of folks at the bar. Besides the house band, only three musicians.

Things were off to a bad start when the pulled pork I'd enjoyed since this summer series started wasn't available. Instead, a new recipe, honey-garlic, was being offered. I went with the barbecue chicken, which was good, but before I could get started enjoying it, I was called on to play.

When I began playing, I felt as though it - the music - wasn't really happening. For one thing, I didn't like the bass player's rig, or, more accurately, I didn't like the way I sounded. This isn't that big a deal (I've made do with worse, and it always comes down to what you do with the hand you're dealt, anyway). But I couldn't hear myself very well, and I really don't like that.

With very few people, and none of them bassists (outside of the house bassist), I got to stay up as long as I wanted, through a couple of changes of musicians.

The guitarist I got up with first was someone I had played with before - not the easiest guy to back up, kind of eccentric with his rhythm, but he was having equipment problems and that made it twice as hard. Plus, he was calling songs that nobody but him - and me - seemed to know and also indulging his habit of playing them at fast tempos. Trainwreck is the word that musicians have for that kind of performance.

When he gave up on the guitar and stepped out, some house band members filled in along with a drummer I've played with a lot over the last few years, including last night! Last night, I felt he was having a bad night. Tonight, he was worse.

When the rhythm section isn't together, there's little joy for me. I pressed on, kept trying, but never felt as though the music was good.

It's luck of the draw when you sit in on a jam every time.

Nights like this, which ended so unmusically make me grateful for all the nights that don't.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      203.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/21/17):           203.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

No gain, no loss? No idea why. But I'm guessing I'll do well today, although thanks to having barbecue, I expect any bump to be a delay from yesterday - when my weight should have been down.

Food Log

Breakfast
4:15pm:  

Omelet with peppers, onion, greens, chia seeds, hemp seeds and bacon.

Lunch
9:15pm, at Rooters Lounge: Barbecued chicken from Big Awesome BBQ.

Dinner
12:05am, from Big Awesome BBQ: Ribs.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 96+ oz.; and two shots of Jameson's Irish whiskey.

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#1878, Wednesday, June 21: No comment

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Post 1878, Day 172 of 2017
- 2,364 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Nothing today.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      203.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/20/17):           201.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       + 1.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

I think part of the reason for this weight gain is that my weight guess yesterday was too low, and part was all the carbs (lentils and popcorn). Still, today I am going very low-carb and low-calorie, we'll see.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:45pm: A Quest bar.

Lunch
8:45pm: Sriracha chicken breast.

Dinner
1:30am: Cheeseburger (no bun), cole slaw and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey.

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#1877, Tuesday, June 20: Blogging gratitude

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Post 1877, Day 171 of 2017
- 2,363 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

What do I write about when I have no deep thoughts and the day has been prosaic enough, similar to other days I have written about or not found interesting enough to write about in the past, that events have not suggested a topic?

Well, not politics.

I think I'll talk about the blog.

The blog has changed a lot in the last six-and-a-half years. Starting out as a food diary and a place to track my attempt at losing weight, it was initiated by an article I read (in preparation to set out on that journey) on dieting. The article was about the successful techniques of those who had lost weight and kept it off. The authors had read studies and other articles, and distilled it into a couple of nuggets: To lose weight and keep it off, your diet had to be one you could live with after you reached your goal weight. I realized this is where I had failed in the past. The other thing found, though, was that the one thing that almost all of those successful weight loss people had in common was that they kept food journals.

Thus, when I got down to it, a journal was begun. I did it online thanks to something else I read: That journaling your food was easier if you did it by taking pictures of everything you ate. This meant my journal was going to be online. The article suggested blogging your journal, as that would give you a sense of accountability.

Deal. Thus, this blog came to be.

After about a year and a half, the blog was a habit. I had kept the weight I lost in the first six months off for a year. I already stopped blogging when I was on vacation/traveling, now I dropped blogging the weekends. Just to give myself a break. And maybe a reward for my achievement.

Then, about two years in, I had to move the blog due to problems with photo storage capacity. When I did, I wrote a comment on the reason why. That started the Daily Comment.

I really enjoyed it for quite a while, and still do, even after the novelty, and honeymoon phase, wore off. I may have talked myself out, too, and at times it felt like a chore.

But mostly, I enjoy it. I also like the way it gives me a chance to emphasize how grateful I am for all that I have, for my life.

And so it goes.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      201.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (6/19/17):           201.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Today's weight is a guess. My apartment complex lost power at about 4am, so I wasn't able to shower or do my usual weigh-in, leaving the house early when I realized what was going on. I'm probably low-balling my weight - we'll see.

Food Log

Breakfast
11:15am, at Freedom of Espresso: A blueberry scone.

Lunch
4:45pm: Beef and broccoli casserole with hemp and chia seeds, lentil curry, and a Quest bar.

Snack
6:30pm: Cottage cheese.

Snack
11:00pm, at the Gathering Lounge: Popcorn.

Dinner
1:30am: Sriracha chicken breast and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 90+ oz.; a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey.

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