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Post 1999
- 6 years and 363 days since I started this blog -
- 6 years and 363 days since I started this blog -
What a wonderful year this has been. What a wonderful life I have.
I am not going to reminisce much, only in generalities, but I want to talk about where things are at the end of the year.
I started this blog as a food journal and weight loss record January 1, 2011. On July 1, 2011, I made my goal weight of two-hundred pounds. This year, after spending most of February in Florida, not blogging (or weighing myself), I came back at my second highest weight since I reached that goal. The rest of the year was making sure, even on my New Orleans and Los Angeles trips, that I stayed well under that, and ended the year exactly at my original goal weight.
I had a couple of health issues during the year, none severe, and none still bothering me. I am, however, becoming arthritic. I feel it mostly in my hands and knees. It isn't bad or debilitating now. That is the only new health concern that I'll be taking into the new year.
Musically, the year ended on a high note. I am Fool's last gig of the year was, as far as I'm concerned, the best concert we ever gave. The last few gigs with Scuba Gear have been nothing less than triumphant (that includes, btw, tonight's gig. We will be rehired in a tough club. This is a band that didn't exist last year, Scuba Gear. This has brought me much joy, and I believe next year will see a lot more playing time with SG, as I believe we will become more popular - this year didn't really get going until after the summer. December's house bass gig at Rooter's was also off the hook - great nights of jamming. And all my other open mic-related activities have been rewarding.
I expect all of this to carry through into 2018. I am certain my bands are going to do better, be more active, reach more people. The open mic jamming which has been the highlight of my time in Syracuse doesn't seem to have any kind of end-date or show any signs of diminishing.
My travels in 2017 were more than memorable. Great times with great friends. I did every bit of traveling I wanted in 2017, and then some. 2018 will be even more intense. Thailand, North Carolina, Florida, New Orleans, Los Angeles are all definite, and you never know...
Financially, things are looking good. All by itself, Social Security and my two small pensions are adequate. I made about twenty-four hundred dollars at playing, a multi-year low, but, given that I was out of town for much more time than ever before, I'm happy. I also made about three thousand dollars in my trading account, which I closed a few months ago, because it was dominating my time and becoming an emotional problem. My retirement portfolio, consisting of a self-managed Traditional IRA account and a small regular account, have been purposed, from day one (only eight years ago), to give me the maximum dividend income, and in that and every respect, the bull market that began when I started my accounts has delivered handsomely, rising in capital amount and dividend income to the point where I believe I will not have to touch the capital once I start withdrawing from these accounts in 2020. Something to celebrate, indeed. My focus on dividends means I am not so worried about the bull market ending or a huge loss in portfolio value. None of these directly affect dividends.
I got a lot closer to some friends, and made some new friends. I said final farewells to a few. My relationships are solid. What will 2018 bring? Well, we're all a little closer to death, but my peers are all moving into the upper sixties. I'll have to remember nothing is forever, and that there is no death. Hopefully, in the coming year I'll be able to see more of my friends, spend more time with them, and have the opportunity to express my gratitude for their part in my life, my happiness.
I don't dwell on regrets, but I have a few this year, mostly how I didn't see my closest friends downstate as often as I would have liked. I regret failing to clean my apartment, despite making plans to do so over and over again. I regret that I have more stuff now than when the year began. That's really all I can think of.
2017 was mostly glorious. I can't express my gratitude at how my life has worked out. Glad I showed up this year, and will carry my optimism forward. I hope the New Year brings you love and health and everything you wish.
I am not going to reminisce much, only in generalities, but I want to talk about where things are at the end of the year.
I started this blog as a food journal and weight loss record January 1, 2011. On July 1, 2011, I made my goal weight of two-hundred pounds. This year, after spending most of February in Florida, not blogging (or weighing myself), I came back at my second highest weight since I reached that goal. The rest of the year was making sure, even on my New Orleans and Los Angeles trips, that I stayed well under that, and ended the year exactly at my original goal weight.
I had a couple of health issues during the year, none severe, and none still bothering me. I am, however, becoming arthritic. I feel it mostly in my hands and knees. It isn't bad or debilitating now. That is the only new health concern that I'll be taking into the new year.
Musically, the year ended on a high note. I am Fool's last gig of the year was, as far as I'm concerned, the best concert we ever gave. The last few gigs with Scuba Gear have been nothing less than triumphant (that includes, btw, tonight's gig. We will be rehired in a tough club. This is a band that didn't exist last year, Scuba Gear. This has brought me much joy, and I believe next year will see a lot more playing time with SG, as I believe we will become more popular - this year didn't really get going until after the summer. December's house bass gig at Rooter's was also off the hook - great nights of jamming. And all my other open mic-related activities have been rewarding.
I expect all of this to carry through into 2018. I am certain my bands are going to do better, be more active, reach more people. The open mic jamming which has been the highlight of my time in Syracuse doesn't seem to have any kind of end-date or show any signs of diminishing.
My travels in 2017 were more than memorable. Great times with great friends. I did every bit of traveling I wanted in 2017, and then some. 2018 will be even more intense. Thailand, North Carolina, Florida, New Orleans, Los Angeles are all definite, and you never know...
Financially, things are looking good. All by itself, Social Security and my two small pensions are adequate. I made about twenty-four hundred dollars at playing, a multi-year low, but, given that I was out of town for much more time than ever before, I'm happy. I also made about three thousand dollars in my trading account, which I closed a few months ago, because it was dominating my time and becoming an emotional problem. My retirement portfolio, consisting of a self-managed Traditional IRA account and a small regular account, have been purposed, from day one (only eight years ago), to give me the maximum dividend income, and in that and every respect, the bull market that began when I started my accounts has delivered handsomely, rising in capital amount and dividend income to the point where I believe I will not have to touch the capital once I start withdrawing from these accounts in 2020. Something to celebrate, indeed. My focus on dividends means I am not so worried about the bull market ending or a huge loss in portfolio value. None of these directly affect dividends.
I got a lot closer to some friends, and made some new friends. I said final farewells to a few. My relationships are solid. What will 2018 bring? Well, we're all a little closer to death, but my peers are all moving into the upper sixties. I'll have to remember nothing is forever, and that there is no death. Hopefully, in the coming year I'll be able to see more of my friends, spend more time with them, and have the opportunity to express my gratitude for their part in my life, my happiness.
I don't dwell on regrets, but I have a few this year, mostly how I didn't see my closest friends downstate as often as I would have liked. I regret failing to clean my apartment, despite making plans to do so over and over again. I regret that I have more stuff now than when the year began. That's really all I can think of.
2017 was mostly glorious. I can't express my gratitude at how my life has worked out. Glad I showed up this year, and will carry my optimism forward. I hope the New Year brings you love and health and everything you wish.
Note: I will write a blog entry for New Years Day, which will be posted January 2nd, then I am traveling to Thailand for three weeks. I may post some stuff from there, no promises, but if I do, it won't have this format. I'll make a post or two when I get back, then I'm traveling again. It is entirely possible after January 2nd, the next post won't be until March. I love you and hope you will be kind to and take care of yourself.
Food and Diet
 |
| Final weight chart of the year! Low 199.8, Average: 204.75, High 217.2 |
Today's Weight: 200.0 lbs.
Previous Weight (12/28/17): 200.1 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain: - 0.1 lbs.
Diet Comment
The official last weigh-in of the year, and I have met my goal. Perfectly. What a year! After a huge weight gain down in Florida (February), and a lesser but still large gain in Los Angeles (October), I mostly managed to stay under 205 pounds, and I'm very happy with the results this year.
Food Log
Breakfast
5:50pm: Cauliflower-Quorn casserole (Quorn [mushroom-based beef substitute], cauliflower, chia seeds, hemp seeds, Grandpa's Sauce [sausage, pepper and onion pasta sauce] with shaved parmesan cheese).
Snack
8:45pm: pm: Walnuts.
Snack
2:45am: pm: A Quest bar.
Dinner
3:35am: The rest of the Cauliflower casserole (no cheese).
Liquid Intake
5:50pm: Cauliflower-Quorn casserole (Quorn [mushroom-based beef substitute], cauliflower, chia seeds, hemp seeds, Grandpa's Sauce [sausage, pepper and onion pasta sauce] with shaved parmesan cheese).
Snack
8:45pm: pm: Walnuts.
Snack
2:45am: pm: A Quest bar.
Dinner
3:35am: The rest of the Cauliflower casserole (no cheese).
Liquid Intake
Espressos: 1; Coffee: 18 oz.; Tea: 0 oz.; Water: 64+ oz.;
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