Wednesday, March 31, 2021

#2637, Wednesday, March 31, '21: Long dry spell ending?

Post 2637
- 11 years and 90 days since I started this blog -
From March, 2018
Daily Comment
I have been sleeping alone for a long time.

We're talking nearly fourteen years (I had to do the think hard to remember how long it has been). Yes, that's a long time, but it's been neither accidental or unintentional.

After the breakup of my second marriage, I was, for the first time since pre-adolescence, not motivated to find a new romantic partner, or even just hook up. 

The relationship part was initially just a complication I didn't need as I put my life together post-marital split. I was a financial and emotional wreck, and not good physically - weight up, energy down, no libido. 

And... I wasn't looking to change my unattached situation. I felt like I didn't want to have to take anybody else in consideration in my plans, and, not to put too fine a point on it, I felt more than a little that my changing sexuality - medical problems and aging had zeroed out my confidence - reduced my desirability as a sex partner.

And when I figured out to be happy, when I became happy almost twelve years ago, it had nothing to do with any relationships. Then, I became leary of rocking that particular boat.

Over time, my libido returned, but I found it simpler, easier, and far less frightening to take care of my needs myself, especially considering I had to figure out how, because it wasn't the same as before I had chemo and prostate cancer.

I did, though, because i'm still a human and still have those urges, albeit less often, and with different emotions, moves and results.

Why am I mentioning this now? Because it's about to change. I am about to spend some time, including overnight, with the virtual friend I've been talking with since October, when she leveraged our Facebook friendship into a text conversation. 

That, right there, made a difference. Because a woman would have to be assertive to meet me, and she was. We began talking when she was in New Mexico planning on coming to NY to be near her kids.

We 'talk' pretty much every day, and, now that we're both vaccinated, we've decided to meet. At first, I was going to just come to Buffalo to see her very cool living situation (an arts collective in a repurposed church), but she thought we should meet without the distraction of a bunch of people around, and when she was closer, visiting her son, forty-five minutes away (as opposed to two-and-a-half hours in Buffalo).

That quickly evolved into a plan to meet for dinner, and get a room, so we could drink freely, and also not be distracted by my meeting a lot of other people around her scene.

So, we'll be meeting up in a week. Exciting, and a little scary. Thinking about it now, I haven't ever had such a long period of singleness in my life! 

Whether I have a second date after next week or not, I'm grateful for still finding challenges and excitement.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
199.5 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/30/21):         199.5 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment
I'm very happy I didn't gain any weight after yesterday's lunch. That gives me hope for the othre half of the package in my freezer. More than that, I finished the month with an average weight of 199.68, the lowest monthly average since I've been keeping track - that's more than eleven years!
 
Food Log
Breakfast
12:45pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
5:05pm: Celery and peanut butter, and a Quest bar. 

Dinner
7:45pm: Brocolli, lentils and black soy spaghetti in curry sauce. An ounce of Peruvian 68% chocolate.

Snack
11:50pm: Guacamole with shaved parmesan cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 96+ oz.; 


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Tuesday, March 30, 2021

#2636, Tuesday, March 30, '21: No comment

Post 2636
- 11 years and 89 days since I started this blog -
From March, 2018
Daily Comment
I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
199.5 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/29/21):         201.2 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.7 lbs.

Diet Comment
This nice loss brought to you by a day of on-plan eating and a good night's rest.
 
Food Log
Breakfast
1:55pm: Veggies and egg scramble (Kale, spinach, mushrooms, peppers, onions, garlic, eggs) with dry toast (Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread).

Lunch
7:10pm: Asparagus and broccoli cheese dip with buffalo chicken breast. (This is a mistake - I misread the ingredients - I didn't realize the listing was for 1 of 14 (not 4) servings - it is a calorie bomb). 

Dinner
12:20am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 


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Monday, March 29, 2021

#2635, Monday, March 29, '21: Weekend update

Post 2635
- 11 years and 88 days since I started this blog -
From March, 2018
Daily Comment
Nothing much happened over the weekend.

The weather reversed itself and was cold and windy.

I didn't make any visits, so didn't see any friends. 

In fact, I only left the apartment twice, once for groceries, once to take out the garbage. 

Life during the pandemic. Last Friday marked the 2-week anniversary of my 2nd Moderna Covid-19 vaccination, which I celebrated by playing at an open mic until I had blisters on my fingers (from not being able to hear myself - I usually have a light touch and could play longer with no ill effects).

But over the weekend, no celebrating. As close as I came was finishing the season of Genius: Einstein, which I thought was very, very good.

One thing I did today was make plans to meet my first-and-only virtual friend, Vicki, sometime next week. We're going to get a motel room - neutral territory. I'm excited and scared and... mostly excited.

I'm grateful for the wonderful possibilities of an unknown, unknowable future.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
201.2 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/26/21):         201.3 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment
This is kind of a 'no change' to the good side, but it does mark a continuation of the reversal of last week's weight run-up. 
Food Log
Breakfast
1:25pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
6:15pm: Chopped salad (Chicken, parmesan crisps, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette). 

Dinner
11:10pm: Carrots with homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 


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Friday, March 26, 2021

#2634, Friday, March 26, '21: The Joy of Cooking

Post 2634
- 11 years and 85 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
The joy of cooking. And, by cooking, I mean playing music.

I had that joy briefly last night, and then again tonight, for a more extended and successful outing.

The venue and hosts were the same both nights, but the participants were different. I got up and sang one, even, which isn't typical with these hosts, who were also the hosts of the Dinosaur BBQ open mic, which I was a regular at (as well as doing gigs there). 

They have, both recently and in the past, exhibited a preference for me to play bass (and shut the fuck up, LOL). Which is fine with me, I love to play and often get to play different stuff with them. 

So, no kick from me... But tonight, I got to do both, and participated in making a lot of very well-received music with the people I backed up.

Another highlight is that I got to play with a keyboard player who I'd been wanting to jam with for five years, and although we met often in the interval, there was never a playing situation after that first time when we were both subbing to help out a friend just starting a band.

Last night was the night, and it really was everything I'd hoped it to be, other than not getting to call the tunes myself. Except one. And, man, that was fun!

I'm grateful for the wonderful opportunities that crop up.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
201.3 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/25/21):         202.8 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.5 lbs.

Diet Comment
My bad week comes in above where it started, but breaking the weight-gain trend after a good night's sleep. 
Food Log
Breakfast
2:15pm: Greens, eggs and cheese (kale, spinach, peppers, onions, mushrooms, eggs, parmesan and asiago cheese.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
11:00pm: Chef's salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, roast chicken, walnuts, parmesan crisps and homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey


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Thursday, March 25, 2021

#2633, Thursday, March 25, 21: No comment

Post 2633
- 11 years and 84 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
202.8 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/24/21):         202.0 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment
This has become the worst week for weight gain in months, and I don't completely understand why I'm gaining. It may be the last couple of nights of poor sleep. It may be that suddenly I'm not handling the increased carbohydrates in my diet, where before I was - or maybe that I've increased too much. Or both. I don't know (third base!). Eating at Jus Sum Jazz Lounge tonight was a big mistake, the opposite of what I should have done, and it won't be repeated. 
Food Log
Breakfast
12:25pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
7:30pm at Jus Sum Jazz Lounge: A bacon 
double-cheeseburger with fries. 

Dinner
12:10am: Broccoli and parmesan crisps.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 68+ oz.; 


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Wednesday, March 24, 2021

#2632, Wednesday, March 24, '21: No comment

Post 2632
- 11 years and 83 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
202.0 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/23/21):         200.6 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.4 lbs.

Diet Comment
Okay, sometimes you lose some, which in this case means you gain some (weight). Why? I don't know - it may be some hangover from previous days, when I unexpectedly lost weight. I know I didn't sleep as well as i had been last night, and that might be the whole thing right there. 

Food Log
Breakfast
12:55pm: LEO (lox, eggs and onions) with dry toast (Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread).

Lunch
6:45pm: Chicken salad (chicken, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts, parmesan crisps and balsamic vinaigrette). And a Quest bar. 

Dinner
10:10am: Oatmeal with Greek yogurt and peanut butter, and carrots and homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 20 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 


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Tuesday, March 23, 2021

#2631, Tuesday, March 23, '21: No comment

Post 2631
- 11 years and 82 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
200.6 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/22/21):         201.1 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.5 lbs.

Diet Comment
That's nice. I wasn't sure I would see a loss after last night's over-consumption of chocolate. But that was the day's only indiscretion, and I did go to Cardiac Rehab, although I don't know why, exactly, that would matter (my forty minutes of exercise may have burned off a hundred calories, but definitely less than the chocolate I ate). 

Food Log
Breakfast
3:05pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
8:00pmHigh-protein miso ramen noodle soup with spinach, kale, and chicken.. 

Dinner
11:30pm: Celery with peanut butter, manchego cheese with salsa, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 


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Monday, March 22, 2021

#2630, Monday, March 22, '21: Carb O'Hydrate

Post 2630
- 11 years and 81 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I have been reintroducing carbohydrates to my diet.

It began with something my friend, benefactor and I am Fool band leader J. said to me during the period I was convalescing in his house, "You should find a way to eat healthier for your heart, not prioritize your diabetes now."

I demurred at the time, but when I saw a film on heart-healthy eating at Cardiac Rehab a few months later, I decided to experiment. With oatmeal, at first. 

Oatmeal seems to be dietitians' favorite heart-healthy food. I realized I could make it like a variation of my protein-veggie smoothie, subbing oatmeal for the veggies, but including many of the other major ingredients. 

That's how it began. It turns out, I like oatmeal a lot, and it has become a regular feature of my diet. As far as i can tell, it doesn't compromise my weight or have a bad effect on my blood sugar.

Next added was pasta, in the form of pasta made from beans. Net carbs are low, protein is high, and the taste is good. I have it less than oatmeal, but it does mark an increase in carbohydrate intake.

Completely separate from my attempts at heart health (but not completely unrelated), I bought two kilos of Peruvian 68% dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is supposedly healthy to eat in small quantities. It is so good, I ate an immoderate amount (in other words, a lot - okay, probably much too much) today. We may never know if small quantities are beneficial at this rate.

I'm grateful for the food i am able to put on my table. All the time. And, of course, for my health, thankful that I don't have to medicate to keep my blood sugar regulated.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
201.1 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/19/21):         198.7 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.4 lbs.

Diet Comment
I knew when I went shopping Saturday that I would gain weight over the weekend. I ate a lot, and carb-heavy, too, neglecting my own dietary 'rules'. Sunday, I ate oatmeal twice, had a bunch of chocolate, and even ate some 'protein brownies' which aren't that good and I felt a need to use up the sample pack I'd bought. And, here we are. 

Food Log
Breakfast
1:00pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
11:00pm: LEO (smoked salmon, eggs and onions) on a bed of greens, a Quest bar, 68% Peruvian chocolate.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 


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Friday, March 19, 2021

#2629, Friday, March 10, '21: Some random thoughts

Post 2629
- 11 years and 78 days since I started this blog -
Busking, May, 2017
Daily Comment
I slept great last night. I've been trying to improve my sleep, and last night felt like success. It's been a matter, for the most part, of learning to fall back asleep after waking up in the middle of the night. Usually, I wake up twice, and struggle for a while before going back to sleep, sometimes requiring a smokable sleep aid.

Last night, only woke up once and was able to fall back asleep quickly, for a nearly continuous seven-and-a-half hours of sleep. Victory!

Lately, I've been entertained by the randomness of the thoughts that pop up when I meditate. They follow no pattern, are rarely relevant, sometimes cartoonishly unreal. When they pop up, out of nowhere, while I'm meditating, I find them hilarious before dismissing them. But these days, I note them. Previously, not so much.

I have made a virtual friend for the first time in my life. Vicki contacted me on Facebook - she had friended me a couple of years ago when she saw a pic of one of my bands to invite to play at a Festival (that ended up not happening). A couple of months ago she messaged me on FB, and we've been texting, calling and video-calling ever since. But we've never met in person. We will meet up in April, the first weekend two weeks after her 2nd COVID vaccination. 

I am really, really hating on the cold weather. 

My friends in Florida are going on a visit to Oaxaca, Mexico. I'm jealous.

I'm grateful for my wondrous, random life.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
198.7 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/18/21):         198.7 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment
No change? Excellent! March is shaping up (hah!) to be the month with the lowest average weight since I started tracking eleven years ago. 

Food Log
Breakfast
2:05pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
6;00pm: Celery with peanut butter. 

Dinner
10:00pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, celery, homemade mayonnaise) and greens and quinoa soup (organic chicken bone broth, spinach, kale, quinoa, black soy spaghetti) 
and a Quest bar

Snack
12:15am: Carrots with homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 


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Thursday, March 18, 2021

#2628, Thursday, March 18, '21: No comment

Post 2628
- 11 years and 77 days since I started this blog -
Busking, May, 2017
Daily Comment
I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
198.7 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/17/21):         199.1 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.4 lbs.

Diet Comment
I'm happy to have lost a little weight - it felt like I ate a lot yesterday, right up until bed time.. 

Food Log
Breakfast
1:05pm: LEO (lox, eggs and onions) and toasted Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread with guacamole.

Lunch
7:15pm: Celery and peanut butter and a Quest bar. 

Dinner
10:30pm: Manchego cheese with coleslaw. Carrots and homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 


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Wednesday, March 17, 2021

#2627, Wednesday, March 17, '21: Quick update

Post 2627
- 11 years and 76 days since I started this blog -
Busking, May, 2017
Daily Comment
I tried to go to cardiac rehab today, after missing Monday's session due to 2nd-injection side-effects, but when I got to my car the battery was dead. User error -  apparently I left the dome light on when I got back from my injection.

Maybe that makes it also fallout from the injection. I will say that I am fully recovered, physically. By the calendar, I should have immunity in less than a week-and-a-half.

After i got a boost, needing to run the car for a bit to restore the battery to full charge, I did some shopping. I did some FaceTiming. Life in the pandemic. 

I got some bad news: My Thursday night is in tatters - the open mic canceled, only two weeks left of the poker game. 

I am Fool and its members are MIA. I'm at fault, as well - but I'm missing my band mates.

I'm grateful for things to be changing around me. Nine days to COVID immunity, four days until Spring.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
199.1 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/16/21):         198.4 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment
This may not be the reversal it seems - I got on the scale early, before I had voided, as per my usual practice. That being said, it's no big deal even if it were more accurate (like, a couple of hours later). We'll see if it marks a trend. 

Food Log
Breakfast
1:05pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
10:10pm: Greens and lentil curry, coleslaw, and a Quest bar.

Snack
12:30am: Celery and peanut butter.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 


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Tuesday, March 16, 2021

#2631, Tuesday, March 23, '21:

Post 2631
- 11 years and 82 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
Back in November, I began having symptoms that reminded me of the time in 2006 when I had a trans-urethral resection of my prostate, a very common procedure among middle-aged (and older) men.

The hallmark symptom that precedes the operation is having to pee frequently and urgently.

I have been peeing frequently for as long - actually longer - than I've been writing this blog. After August's surgery, though, I started having occasional urgency. If you don't know what that means, it means a very brief window of time between when you realize you have to pee and when you start peeing - like, seconds. 

At the moment, Florida, Ecuador, and Mexico aren't 'inviting' due to the current status of their own pandemic situation. And Thailand is not open to Americans. 

So... It's still wait and see.

Meanwhile, I will still be checking to see if I can get my shots sooner. I think sooner is better than later.

I'm grateful for all the wonderful possibilities with an unknown, unknowable future.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
201.1 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/22/21):         201.1 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.4 lbs.

Diet Comment
I knew when I went shopping Saturday that I would gain weight over the weekend. I ate a lot, and carb-heavy, too, neglecting my own dietary 'rules'. And, here we are. 

Food Log
Breakfast
1:05pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, whey protein, and kefir.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
12:10am: Cottage cheese and peanut butter and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 


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#2626, Tuesday, March 16, '21: Online friendship

Post 2626
- 11 years and 75 days since I started this blog -
Busking, May, 2017
Daily Comment
In my personal use of the internet, I have made only one online friend (I am specifically not talking about Facebook Friends, of which I have thousands I've never met in the physical world, but know nothing about). Only one person I know only virtually, that I developed a friendship with exclusively online.

This was a woman who, having encountered me online through my band I am Fool, in 2019, friended me on Facebook then, without us every doing more than establishing that, while we had mutual friends in common (I won't accept a friend request unless we have a mutual friend I actually know in the real world).

Eight months into the pandemic, this person messaged me to inquire about my health, and assertively asked if I'd like to have a text conversation with her. She flattered me a little, told me I was interesting and attractive, while apologizing if she was too forward. I told her I think that being forward is probably exactly the right way to approach me and overcome my reserve. 

And so, we've had conversations - text messages, or voice or video calls - almost every day for the last few months. 

Now, we're planning on meeting in-person at the arts colony she lives at, two weeks after she gets her second shot. It's exciting!

I'm grateful for friendship, for my friends, both met and not-yet-met.

Food and Diet 
Today's Weight:                    
198.4 lbs.
Previous Weight (3/15/21):         198.6 lbs.
Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment
Even - nothing, no change - is good. Once in a while. 

Food Log
Breakfast
1:05pm: Oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, and kefir. Ugly scrambled eggs.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
10:40pm: Chicken, kale, spinach, Wegman's Grandpa's Sauce over riced cauliflower.

Liquid Intake
   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 54+ oz.; 


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