#2655, Friday, April 30, '21: Off for the next 3-1/2 weeks

Post 2655

- 11 years and 120 days since I started this blog -
 

With George Porter, Jr. April 26, 2018.

Daily Comment

Today I was involved in travel planning.

Tomorrow I will pack, today was about getting ready for that.

But I went far beyond my immediate plans for a three-week road trip to Florida, North Carolina, and New York City. 

I booked flights for Los Angeles, last two weeks of the year, and to Cuenca, Ecuador, for eight weeks taking me out to March next year. I also booked my airBnB for Cuenca, where I will have my own little apartment near El Centro (after one night in Guaquil, because my flight arrives near midnight. 

Still to come: AirBnB in LA, and a round-trip flight between Daytona Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, where I was able to get great flights to LA and Cuenca. But that's it! I'll figure out how to get New Orleans in, and, of course, there will be weeks before and after all the traveling, at Chez Marco's in beautiful Wilbur By the Sea, FL. 

It's a lot, but I'm doing it, and excited by it. I think this is very close to the way I'll be doing winters for the rest of my life.

Now that I've said that, it'll be interesting to see how it all unfolds. Nothing is forever.

I'm grateful for all the wonderful possibilities of an unknown, unknowable future, for which all plans are tentative, even when not refundable.

I may write again in travel mode, but odds are I won't, in which case the next post will be May 24 or 25. Peace, love and understanding - that's my wish for us all in the meantime.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    198.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/29/21):         199.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

I think I was right that yesterday's gain was a holdover from two days before. I'm happy to end the week at the week's lowest weight.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
2:35pm: Greens scramble pizza: Eggs, kale and spinach, onions and mushrooms, gruyere cheese on a cauliflower pizza crust.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
10:30pm: Cottage cheese and popcorn, peanut butter and celery, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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#2654, Thursday, April 29, '21: Doing one thing

Post 2654

- 11 years and 119 days since I started this blog -
 

With George Porter, Jr. April 26, 2018.

Daily Comment

Except for a brief period while I worked for IBM, I have never been ambitious. I have never sought wealth or status.

These days, as ambitious as I get is a personal productivity goal that demands every day I do one thing that needs or wants doing. Just one thing.

Most people might have this accomplished within moments of getting out of bed, but I don't get out of bed early. 

I also don't count things that I do habitually or that is required for absolute survival: Nothing on the computer counts, nor tooth-brushing, meal-fixing and eating. And, of course, TV doesn't count ever. 

Chores count. Today, that meant doing laundry. Which, for reasons I don't have, I waited longer than usual to do, which meant there was a lot of it. Which meant it took a longer than usual time, mostly due to the folding of t-shirts.

And when I was done, I was tired. So I skipped something I wanted to do, in favor of sitting around, smoking pot and watching TV.

I'm grateful for having the choice to be self-indulgent.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/28/21):         198.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm inclined to think this gain is a holdover from the day before yesterday, when all the food I ate came from a restaurant. I'm not complaining, though.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
3:05pm: Overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, and kefir. And scrambled eggs with spinach, kale and mushrooms.

Lunch
7:20pm: Air-popped popcorn. 

Dinner
10:45pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, celery, walnuts, homemade mayonnaise)  over Spring Mix, cabbage, gruyere cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 16 oz.;  Water: 64+ oz.; 

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#2653, Wednesday, April 28, '21: Happy day

Post 2653

- 11 years and 118 days since I started this blog -
 

With George Porter, Jr. April 26, 2018.

Daily Comment

Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, I had to wait three months to start cardiac rehab after my quintuple bypass. It was a 12-week, three-days-a-week course. A surge in infections in Syracuse led to it closing again after my 7th-week, then another 3-month wait to finish.

Today was my last day. I got a certificate of excellence - I assume everybody gets one on the way out - and hugs from staff and fellow-rehabbers. I looked forward to those sessions, I enjoyed them, and I will miss them. I am better and feel better for having done the course.

I drove to that last session in my new 2021 steel-gray Honda Accord Hybrid. The car seems amazing. There's a lot of great safety technology, and the ride is dead quiet. 

That, the road-feel, the handling, are all a total contrast to the noisy, flimsy, grinding 2012 Kia Soul+ I traded for it. 

When the rehab session was over, I drove the new car home for the first time. That put on its seventeenth mile on it. I also put its ninth mile on it during the test drive five days ago. 

Sunday I start a thousand-mile drive to Florida in it.

I'm pretty happy today.

I'm grateful for my privileges, and humble knowing they're unearned.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    198.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/27/21):         198.7 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Better than a weight gain, I'm pretty good with this weight statistically unchanged from the previous.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
12:55pm: Scrambled eggs and papadum from last night.

Lunch
5:45pm: Popcorn (plain), carrots and homemade mayonnaise, gruyere cheese, and a Quest bar. 

Dinner
12:10am: Chicken salad (chicken breast, arugula, chard, spinach, kale, cabbage, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette), and a bit of 68% dark Peruvian chocolate.

Liquid Intake

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

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#2652, Tuesday, April 27, '21: No comment

Post 2652

- 11 years and 117 days since I started this blog -
 

With George Porter, Jr. April 26, 2018.

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    198.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/26/21):         198.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Better than a weight gain, I'm pretty good with this weight statistically unchanged from the previous.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
12:35pm, at CoreLife Eatery: Steak, bacon and bleu cheese greens bowl (baby spinach and mesclun mix, grass-fed tri-tip steak, bacon, beets, walnuts, tomatoes, gorgonzola cheese and yogurt bleu cheese dressing) and a half-slice of whole grain bread.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
6:10pm, from Sahota Indian Restaurant: Chicken tikka saagwala (boneless pieces of white meat chicken cooked in fresh garden spinach with fresh herbs), rice, papadum (unleavened lentil bread) and vegetable pakora (blend of vegetables, deep-fried).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 64+ oz.; 

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#2651, Monday, April 26, '21: Penultimate day at cardiac rehab

Post 2651

- 11 years and 116 days since I started this blog -
 

With George Porter, Jr. April 26, 2018.

Daily Comment

Today i went to my next-to-last cardiac rehab session. Wednesday, which will be my last day, is going to feature me taking delivery of my new Honda, so the final cardiac rehab session that follows may be a little anticlimatic.

Jenny, the nurse who is my case manager, will also not be there Wednesday, so she took some time to speak with me, say good-bye, give me a quick exit interview, as it were.

Jenny said she would miss me, that I had shown the best attitude. I had reached and surpassed every physical goal set by the staff and my doctors. 

I replied that I had really enjoyed my time, and I hoped to never see her at work again - but sometime, I would see her outside of work, and buy her a drink. And I thanked her.

I was sincere. I had enjoyed cardiac rehab, and if it were an option (thanks to COVID-19, it is not), I would have continued longer. Everybody there, patients and staff, was friendly and pleasant, and we all bonded easily for our six-plus hours a week.

I think saying goodbye to everybody on Wednesday is going to be difficult, and, for me at least, a little emotional.

I'm grateful for all the wonderful people who come into my life and make it - me - better.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    198.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/23/21):         200.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

That's what I'm talking about - a good weekend! I'm on track to have my lowest average weight month since I've been tracking - more than eleven years!

 

Food Log

Breakfast
11:45pm: LEGO (Lox, Eggs, Greens and Onions).

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
8:50pm: Popcorn, 68% dark chocolate, homemade mayonnaise and carrots, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.; 

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#2650, Friday, April 23, '21: New car

Post 2650

April 8, 2021

- 11 years and 113 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

Today I pulled the plug on leasing a new car.

I got a 2021 Modern Steel Metallic (gray) Honda Accord Hybrid.

I did have to do some budget reconciliation, because I needed more money up-front than if I would have bought a car, but I'm getting a brand-new hybrid car where I was going to get a 3-year old regular gas model, and my monthly payment is one hundred dollars less. 

I pick it up Wednesday. I hope the Kia lasts five more days, it's traded in. 

I'm grateful for the wherewithal to manage my life.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/22/21):         200.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Thanks to the saltiness of my late dinner, I didn't realize my hoped-for loss, but that's okay.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
6:35pm: Oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds and kefir. Veggie sloppy Joe (Quorn grounds, Wegman's Grandpa's sauce, spinach and kale) on a cauliflower pizza crust.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
Skipped.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 56+ oz.; 

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#2649, Thursday, April 22, '21: Busy day

Post 2649

April 8, 2021

- 11 years and 112 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

It was a busy day.

Beginning with a call at around eleven in the morning - my car was ready. But... They noticed that a driver-side brake caliper was 'stuck'. My POS Kia Soul was going to be a bitch to the very end.

That meant I had to bring it to my mechanic right after I picked it up. And, I had cardiac rehab at 2pm - that meant I had a scheduling problem. 

I decided to slightly reduce my rehab time, to meet my mechanic's best late-afternoon time. Still got a great workout

I dropped off the rental at the collision shop, picked up my... car (I desperately want to drop negative adjectives in front of every mention of my... car) and got to the mechanic's exactly when I wanted to.

And, some good luck! A little adjustment, and my brakes were declared "nothing wrong". I was so sure I was going to drop some hundreds into the car the day before I got rid of it, but no!

When I got home I found a new microwave popcorn maker had been delivered. I burned the first batch, which I will smell forever, before getting it right. I'll need to experiment more. 

Then, before I knew it, it was time for the first of two of the night's open mics, both of which disappointed, resulting in an unusually early night, given that I did get to play at both. Quality, not quantity, is what's important.

I got a phone call from a friend, told him about my plans vis-a-vis my car, and he suggested I look into leasing - which would be a new experience for me. So I spent the rest of the night looking at those options, and decided that's what I would do.

I'm grateful for solutions to even small problems.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/21/21):         201.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Better. I'm hoping for more regression to the mean and weight below 200 tomorrow. That's my hope.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
12:35pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, kefir, and whey protein powder.

Lunch
5:30pm: Popcorn (plain, no butter, oil, or salt) and a Quest bar. 

Dinner
12:10am: Chopped salad (Chicken breast, shaved parmesan, arugula, beets, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach and balsamic vinaigrette) and a bag of pork rinds.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 76+ oz.; and a shot of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2648, Wednesday, April 21, '21: No comment

Post 2648

April 8, 2021

- 11 years and 111 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/20/21):         200.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Admittedly, I ate a lot yesterday, including a fairly high carb count, but I still think this weight loss is more from previous meals while I was in Buffalo, combined with a couple of days of poor sleep.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
1:15pm: Instant oatmeal, with peanut butter.

Lunch
6:30pm: Celery and peanut butter. 

Dinner
12:10am: Cheddar-horseradish cheese with macadamia nuts and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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#2647, Tuesday, April 20, '21: 4:20

Post 2647

April 8, 2021

- 11 years and 110 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

I have deliberately never talked about pot in these comments, out of a desire to protect myself from any legal or social consequences out of using an illegal substance - participating in criminal activity.

I have been a toker for more than fifty-five years. 

At no time did I ever believe I was harming myself with its use. At no time have I ever believed there was a legitimate reason behind its prohibition. At no time, when it suited me, did I have difficulty not smoking, either - here have been periods, months, and, in one instance, years, when I didn't get high. 

At no time did I feel free in my use, though. I saw the danger of it being a banned substance - that is to say, the laws against it created the only danger in its use. 

I have been smoking pot daily the entire time I have been writing this blog. During that time, I have eaten healthily and well. True, my genetics caught up with me, requiring that quintuple bypass last August, but by all accounts I went through that with amazing ease and speed. I used pot (edibles) daily, and it was a big part of my recovery.

Among my friends, pot smoking is more prolific than cigarette smoking or alcohol use, which I believe is a healthy situation. 

In my travels, I have found pot smokers everywhere I've gone.

It's 4/20/21 - Pot Day, 2021. Pot is legal in New York now.

I'm grateful for that.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/15/21):         197.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 3.3 lbs.

Diet Comment

After five days of seriously off-plan eating, I've got to say I'm really happy I only gained a kilo-and-a-half.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
3:45pm: LEGO (lox, eggs, greens [kale and spinach] and onions). Oatmeal with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and Greek yogurt.

Lunch
7:30pm: A Quest bar. 

Dinner
11:15pm: Cheddar-horseradish cheese, carrots, macadamia nuts and pork rinds.

Liquid Intake

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

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#2646, Thursday, April 15, '21: Mini-vacation, near tragedy, car decision

Post 2646

April 8, 2021

- 11 years and 105 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

Last night, I took advantage of an opportunity to gift myself some gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegar.

On my way to pick it up, I hit a deer. The deer scooted away, apparently unharmed, except maybe for a little bit of its tail I found in the grill, so there's that. But my car wasn't so lucky.

My first thought was, "Oh, no - is this going to mean I'm not going to get to Vicki in Buffalo on Friday?" Luckily, no. On the spot, my insurance company got me an appointment (today) to drop my car off at a collision shop and pick up an Enterprise rental (covered by Geico, thank you, Gecko). Which leads me to announce that I'm going to go to Buffalo Friday, and will likely be there until Wednesday. 

Between now and then, no posts. Probably. You never know - maybe I'll bring a scale with me; I'll definitely be bringing a computer. So probably no posts until Wednesday's. 

And then, there's one of those freaky-deaky, new-agey, Universe-is-listening things around the accident as well. When I woke up yesterday, I started checking out cars, thinking maybe I'll trade mine in, because I haven't liked it for all of the eight-plus years I've owned it.

On my way to the collision place, I made up my mind to fix it and then trade it for  something else. Like a used Honda Accord.

And I finished the night by getting a little too high (hahaha) at the Penny. I got a little playing in. Finished the night talking to Vicki.

I'm grateful for all the wonderful things I get to do.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/14/21):         199.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 2.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Wowee! Low weight of the year, thanks to last night's limited eating.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
12:35pm: Ultimate overnight oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, kefir, and whey protein powder.

Lunch
6:45pm: Chopped salad (chicken, shaved parmesan cheese, arugula, beets, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach and balsamic vinaigrette). 

Dinner
12:30am: Macadamia nuts and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2645, Wednesday, April 14, '21: Tell-all

Post 2645

April 8, 2021

- 11 years and 104 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

Today I announced Vicki and I are a 'thing'.

At least, I did in private conversation and an email thread.

Now my best friends and my family know. 

I'm kinda thrilled, myself. And everybody's happy for me. 

Now begins the logistical nightmare, as we live 2-1/2 driving hours apart, she in a really cool scene in Buffalo, me here in Syracuse.Although... there is a camper parked in-between us near Vickis son's house, where we can sometimes stay.

I've never been so close to a woman who brings so much to the table - art, music, experience. She has stories! And she likes me.

I'm so grateful.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/13/21):         199.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Third day at this weight. That's a good thing.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
1:30pm: LEGO (lox, eggs, greens [kale and spinach] and onions) and Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain bread/toast.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
10:40pm: Macadamia nuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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#2644, Tuesday, April 13: New (more-than) friend

Post 2644

April 8, 2021

- 11 years and 103 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

What a great time I had in Buffalo.

Vicki and I got close(r). I was introduced to a really cool scene, made new friends.

Even though it was physically a little uncomfortable due to Vicki not yet being in her actual apartment, living in her studio (no bathroom or kitchen, or much free space at all for living), that was a minor consideration compared to the fun I had with Vicki. 

And I had forgotten how cool Buffalo was, too, not having been there since early in 1972. 

My relationship (I'm comfortable calling it that) with Vicki is developing nicely. We have feelings for each other, and every new and shared experience seems to bring us closer.

I feel comfortable with her, and easy with her, and she seems to feel the same. She is unique among all the relationships I've ever had in bringing so much to the table - her talent, art, humor, adventurousness, gregariousness; her musicality (not a musician, but a true fan).

And, she seems to like me a lot. I'm grateful to and for her - once again, I'm very lucky. She discovered me. and she took an interest in me. I'd be missing out on a lot if she hadn't.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/8/21):          199.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I have a hunch my weight went up and down over the Vicki Day four-day weekend. I didn't eat a lot in Buffalo, but some of it was 'way off-plan. And then, there was the travel-eating (less than two-and-a-half hours drive, it felt like one of my eight-hour marathons). Anyway, there was no damage done.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
2:10pm: Ultimate Golden milk oatmeal, with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, kefir, 'golden' spices (turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom) and whey protein powder.

Lunch
6:10pm: Pork rinds. 

Dinner
12:10am: Manchego cheese, coleslaw, carrots, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 56+ oz.;

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#2643, Thursday, April 8, '21: I know what I said, but...

Post 2643

From April, 2018

- 11 years and 98 days since I started this blog -
 
Daily Comment

When I said I wouldn't be posting today, I didn't realize I would eat the entire day's meals before I went to my cardiac rehab class, and that I would have a bit of time Friday morning to recap the night.

My date with Vicki was a success, if I can go by how I felt and what she said.

We met up a little later than I expected, chatted for a while, and then set out to a new open mic's debut at a club, The Penny, unfamiliar to me before this (although I had passed its downtown location a thousand times). 

I was almost as excited about the open mic as I was meeting Vicki, in person, for the first time. My very favorite local guitarist, Mikal, who excels at jazz, soul and blues, was co-host, along with good friend, jazz trumpeter and vocalist Nick, who has run several enjoyable open mics in the past. 

And it was a memorable evening - best friends Debbie and Frank (lead guitar for Black Uhuru, and bandleader I have played with more than anyone else in recent years), came, and I got to see Frank from the audience with a jazz-oriented rhythm section, then I got to do a few numbers with him, too.

I got good playing time, and was mostly pleased with the music - one 'train wreck' when a tune was called by a guitarist who didn't know the tune's structure was over and forgotten without spoiling the vibe. Musically, it was one of the better jams I've been involved in. 

Vicki, meanwhile, was great. She really got into the music, dug the vibe, and introduced herself to everybody in the bar.

Later, we went to a convenient motel and spent the night. I'm going to take today (Friday) off, and tomorrow, go to Elk Castle in Buffalo, where she lives and teaches art.

This time I can say, definitively, no post until Monday.

I'm grateful to Vicki for finding me and letting me get to know her extraordinary self.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (4/7/21):          199.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

The weight gods giveth, and the weight gods taketh away, part 2. That's that same half pound. Pretty random.

 

Food Log

Breakfast
12:45pm: Golden milk oatmeal, with turmeric, cinnamon, coriander and cloves, oat milk, walnuts, hemp and chia seeds, Greek yogurt, kefir, and whey protein powder.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
Skipped.

Liquid Intake

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

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