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Post 2024
- 7 years and 60 days since I started this blog -
- 7 years and 60 days since I started this blog -
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| At Thapae East Club, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
February was the first month skipped since starting this blog - but there will be others, unless I decide to blog-journal my trips in the future, which I might.
Unlike any other trip I've taken, in the last decade at least, this trip was more about the people I visited than me and my pursuit of fun and info, because everywhere I went (Cary, North Carolina, Wilbur-by-the-Sea, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana), the friends I visited were dealing with issues of their own, issues that came up rather suddenly. Some were physical (medical): my friends had injuries and were hurting. Some were situational: Job and relationship problems, and the accompanying psycho-spiritual difficulties. My friends were dealing with all of these in combinations. Me? I just had to be there, add a little strength, let them know their current situation had no effect on our friendship or my respect for them.
I was a little surprised at how this affected me and my time with them, in that I wasn't completely forearmed, as these people are usually bright and active, and were much less so this trip. Another part of the surprise? I still had a great time with all of them.
These are long-standing friends. While their various problems are nothing to celebrate, these long friendships are set, and don't depend on circumstances.
I have never spent less time at the beach than I did in the three-week NOLA sandwich (I visited New Orleans for a week in the middle of February). I never ate less fish-entree meals there. Instead, I had more conversations with my friends, did more meditation, and, to be honest, drank a lot more alcohol than on any other visit I've ever made there. Somehow, everybody was happier for it.
In New Orleans, I never saw less music than during Mardi Gras week, which I expected anyway, although not to the degree. My other recent visits, after all, have all been purposefully music-centered, a la the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, aka Jazzfest. Still, out of seven nights in New Orleans, I only went out for music on four nights. My initial reason for going, to parade with my friend Kokomo Slim's krewe, was also trashed, thanks to him suffering an arm injury following a fall that prevented him from participating. Also, my friend Darren, meeting me down there once again, was in more than usual pain (he is on total disability due to a back injury), and had limited participation (and much more alcohol intake) in the whole process, resulting in him declining to participate in a few nights' entertainment.
Did I have a great time in NOLA? Yes, an awesome time. My first Mardi Gras that didn't involve the French Quarter, and that brand of over-the-top, over-enthusiastic, over-wasted celebration, which had almost kept me from ever revisiting New Orleans was replaced by the 'family' Mardi Gras of the Northern city parades, including the Zulu parade, during which Grand Marshal Spike Lee personally handed me a plastic cigar.
So, expectations aside, I managed to dodge some absolutely awful weather at home and get even closer to the friends I visited, while helping them manage some difficulties that came up during my visit.
Today, my first day back, I: Checked my weight, which had not increased nearly as much as I feared; I did a little housecleaning; prepared some practice material for I am Fool; then had a long and joyous rehearsal with them, and played bass again for the first time in more than a month!
What a treat, what joy!
I am grateful for the presence of wonderful friends in my life.
Today's Weight: 208.0 lbs.
Previous Weight (1/29/18): 198.0 lbs.
Unlike any other trip I've taken, in the last decade at least, this trip was more about the people I visited than me and my pursuit of fun and info, because everywhere I went (Cary, North Carolina, Wilbur-by-the-Sea, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana), the friends I visited were dealing with issues of their own, issues that came up rather suddenly. Some were physical (medical): my friends had injuries and were hurting. Some were situational: Job and relationship problems, and the accompanying psycho-spiritual difficulties. My friends were dealing with all of these in combinations. Me? I just had to be there, add a little strength, let them know their current situation had no effect on our friendship or my respect for them.
I was a little surprised at how this affected me and my time with them, in that I wasn't completely forearmed, as these people are usually bright and active, and were much less so this trip. Another part of the surprise? I still had a great time with all of them.
These are long-standing friends. While their various problems are nothing to celebrate, these long friendships are set, and don't depend on circumstances.
I have never spent less time at the beach than I did in the three-week NOLA sandwich (I visited New Orleans for a week in the middle of February). I never ate less fish-entree meals there. Instead, I had more conversations with my friends, did more meditation, and, to be honest, drank a lot more alcohol than on any other visit I've ever made there. Somehow, everybody was happier for it.
In New Orleans, I never saw less music than during Mardi Gras week, which I expected anyway, although not to the degree. My other recent visits, after all, have all been purposefully music-centered, a la the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, aka Jazzfest. Still, out of seven nights in New Orleans, I only went out for music on four nights. My initial reason for going, to parade with my friend Kokomo Slim's krewe, was also trashed, thanks to him suffering an arm injury following a fall that prevented him from participating. Also, my friend Darren, meeting me down there once again, was in more than usual pain (he is on total disability due to a back injury), and had limited participation (and much more alcohol intake) in the whole process, resulting in him declining to participate in a few nights' entertainment.
Did I have a great time in NOLA? Yes, an awesome time. My first Mardi Gras that didn't involve the French Quarter, and that brand of over-the-top, over-enthusiastic, over-wasted celebration, which had almost kept me from ever revisiting New Orleans was replaced by the 'family' Mardi Gras of the Northern city parades, including the Zulu parade, during which Grand Marshal Spike Lee personally handed me a plastic cigar.
So, expectations aside, I managed to dodge some absolutely awful weather at home and get even closer to the friends I visited, while helping them manage some difficulties that came up during my visit.
Today, my first day back, I: Checked my weight, which had not increased nearly as much as I feared; I did a little housecleaning; prepared some practice material for I am Fool; then had a long and joyous rehearsal with them, and played bass again for the first time in more than a month!
What a treat, what joy!
I am grateful for the presence of wonderful friends in my life.
Food and Diet
Net Loss/Gain: +10.0 lbs.
Diet Comment
Five weeks of off-plan eating. I don't think I had a single on-plan meal. I seriously expected to have gained more weight - twice as much, in fact. I really feel I got away with something here. Ah, well, back to on-plan eating. Although my gain was not as much as I thought it would be, it must still be knocked back down. I have (at least) ten pounds to lose. Let's see how fast I can make that happen.
Food Log
Breakfast
4:35pm: Lox, eggs and onions, and a sugar-free chocolate truffle.
Lunch
Skipped.
Dinner
11:25pm:
Liquid Intake
4:35pm: Lox, eggs and onions, and a sugar-free chocolate truffle.
Lunch
Skipped.
Dinner
11:25pm:
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| Cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, roasted turkey breast, feta cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. |
Espressos: 1; Coffee: 22 oz.; Tea: 0 oz.; Water: 24+ oz.;
Please leave a comment when you visit my blog. Thank you!
I love you, Kenny. you are an inspiration
ReplyDeleteOh, I love you, too, Joan!
ReplyDelete