November 8

Post 1000, Day 312 of 2013
- and 1042 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

It's a travel day - always exciting. The trip was pretty smooth, beginning at 11:45, when my friend Al picked me up and took me to lunch, then to the airport.

It had snowed, and was snowing slightly when I boarded the jet to New York City. I checked in with Facebook and mentioned that the season's first snow seemed like a great day to fly to sunny, warm Los Angeles, even if the sleet building up on the jet's portholes was a little worrying.

My fortune cookie told me I made impossible things possible (cognitive dissonance, anyone). I told Al, at least it didn't warn me not to fly. 

After a three-hour layover in beautiful Terminal 5, JFK Airport, it was six-and-a-half hours in the air, and I landed at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank - my first time at that airport. There, I got my exercise carrying my bags from the gate at one end of the airport to the Hertz rental booth at the extreme other (this is literal: I walked from the tarmac past the terminal into one end of the terminal, walked completely to the other end of that building, and walked outside to within fifty yards of the airport exit; it was at least a mile).

Within an hour from touch-down, I was hanging with Alex. 

Oh, and this is my thousandth posting! Number 1001 will come in 10 days.

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 Food and Diet Section

December 31, 2012 to November 7, 2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         209.0 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     209.0 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:     -  0.0 lbs

Diet Comment

I didn't weigh myself. The day's eating was crazy, consisting of a bit of overindulgence at lunch - and then, large quantities of off-plan foods during the trip. The only almost-healthy part was the protein bars I brought, which I used instead of sweets during the twelve-and-a-half hours I spent at airline terminals, or in jets.I ended the day with a salad eaten in a bar in Sherman Oaks.

 Next weight/diet update will be November 18

Food Log 

Breakfast
A cacao-kale-hemp-chia protein shake (almond milk, kale, a large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, psyllium and stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

At Ling-Ling's Chinese Buffet and Grill:

Brussels sprouts (pictured, but hard-boiled eggs were substituted this time), kimchee, and, from the "Mongolian Grill", my go-to dish, pork and chicken with cabbage, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and broccoli. This is the same picture, as always, but this time, there were variations. Besides the hard-boiled eggs substitution, I had a plate of pastries at the end of the meal, to formally start my vacation.

Snack

A protein bar. Followed by a bunch of in-flight nut mixes. And another protein bar.

Dinner

At a bar in Sherman Oaks, whose name I didn't get: A chopped Mediterranean salad.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  16 oz.   Water: 84+ oz. One Blood Mary, in-flight.

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November 7

Post 999, Day 311 of 2013
- and 1041 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Just after four-thirty this afternoon, my vacation began. I celebrated with a visit to J.'s stage adaptation of Reservoir Dogs, and it was 'way beyond excellent. It was, in every way, excellent. Written, acted, set, and directed well. A great production. J. did the directing, as well as the writing.

Bravo!

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         209.0 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     207.4 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.6 lbs

Diet Comment

Desserts owe me over a pound-and-a-half. Or I owe a lack of desserts that much. Or something. I was hoping to start my vacation at a lower weight, but didn't follow through with any actions, and put on over five pounds in the last two days, Oh, my!

Food Log 

Breakfast
A cacao-kale-hemp-chia protein shake (almond milk, kale, a large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, psyllium and stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

Scrambled eggs and a Spring Mix, cole slaw blend, black bean salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

Snack

A protein bar

Dinner

At Ruby Tuesday's (near the theater): Blackened tilapia and spaghetti squash, with salad bar (including pasta salad - big fail).

Snack

A protein bar

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 112+ oz.

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November 6

Post 998, Day 310 of 2013
- and 1040 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Today was marked only by building excitement for my trip to LA, which begins on Friday.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         207.4 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     204.0 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 3.4 lbs

Diet Comment

Yesterday's big lunch fail, combined with a late, high-carb snack, and, "Bam!" three-plus pounds appear like magic.

Food Log 

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch

At Ling-Ling's Chinese Buffet and Grill:

Brussels sprouts, kimchee, and, from the "Mongolian Grill", my go-to dish, pork and chicken with cabbage, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and broccoli. Yes, it's the same meal I always have here, and yes, the same picture, too.

Dinner

At Eskapes Lounge:

Grilled pangasius with sauteed vegetables (what the chef called 'the kitchen sink'). Not shown: Lentil soup and spinach salad (appetizer); banana bread and oatmeal-cranberry cookie (dessert).

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  8 oz.   Water: 120+ oz.  and a healthy glass of Merlot.

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November 5

Post 997, Day 309 of 2013
- and 1039 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I'm not big on complaining. In fact, I find it difficult. For many years I had a friend in North Carolina who complained about everything. Most of the time, he did it with great humor, claiming there is an art to complaining. Ultimately, it grew tiresome.

For me, complaining is linked to fear. I never complain when I don't want to show fear. And, of course, that means I complain rarely, because who wants to be seen as fearful? 

But complaining sometimes is merely reportage. When I describe a situation that seems to be a negative in my life. When I feel like a victim, even if only a victim of circumstance.  If any emotion accompanies my report, it is a complaint.

And, of course, complaining is useless. Feeling like a victim is useless. It is an illusion. It has little to do with the present, which is not unfolding events - it has one foot in the future.

When you are 'present' there are no complaints.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         204.0 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     204.0 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.0 lbs

Diet Comment

I expected to gain a little after the last two low- and no-calorie days and yesterday's resumption of eating. But no.

Food Log 

Breakfast
A cacao-kale-hemp-chia protein shake (almond milk, kale, a large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, chia gel, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, psyllium and stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

At the VA Behavioral Unit Veterans Appreciation Ceremony: veggie pizza and cookies. (Big fail). But I was cold, performing outside under a tent that made it colder, thanks to the shade. I had a craving for cheap calories.

Snack

Protein bar.

Dinner

Italian-style chicken sausage (with onions and peppers) with cole slaw and a salad of Spring Mix greens and black beans with creamy balsamic dressing.

Snack

Ezekiel 4:9 Golden Flax sprouted grain cereal with blueberries, almond milk and stevia-inulin blend. Not Shown: Coconut Paleo bread with guacamole.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 120+ oz.

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November 4

Post 996, Day 308 of 2013
- and 1038 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Back at work today and bored, so, boring.

Also tired, which means, tiresome.

Still optimistic, though.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         204.0 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     204.8 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.8 lbs

Diet Comment

Yesterday's fast certainly helping the trend.

Food Log 

Breakfast
A cacao-kale-hemp-chia protein shake (almond milk, kale, a large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, chia gel, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, psyllium and stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

Wild-caught salmon and black bean salad on Spring Mix and cole slaw blend.

Snack

Protein bar.

Dinner

Italian-style chicken sausage (with onions and peppers) on coconut Paleo bread with cole slaw.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  22 oz.   Water: 112+ oz.

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November 3

Post 995, Day 307 of 2013
- and 1037 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

This was yet another slow weekend day. The only unusual thing about it is that I couldn't be bothered to eat today.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         204.8 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     205.4 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.6 lbs

Diet Comment

Yesterday's low-calorie eating managed to pull off another half pound.

Food Log 

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner

Skipped.

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  0 oz.   Water: 60+ oz.

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November 2

Post 994, Day 306 of 2013
- and 1036 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Nothing - a very stay-in-bed, crappy-weather, do nothing until the music starts kind of day.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         205.4 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     205.6 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.2 lbs

Diet Comment

After eating a huge amount of on-plan food, then ending the day off very late with an off-plan (but healthy) snack, and no change. Cool.

Food Log 

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner

Dal Tadka (lentil curry), spinach and scrambled (large, organic) eggs.

Snack

A protein bar

Liquid Intake

   Coffee:  0 oz.   Water: 80+ oz.

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November 1

Post 993, Day 305 of 2013
- and 1035 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I had to lie by omission tonight.

There was a surprise guest at my gig, a harp player. This is someone I had jammed with in the past, including a couple of times when I was asked to rehearse with a band he was in, just to fill in. 

One of those times, I told him he was playing 'Spoonful' wrong - playing it like it was in a major key (it's in a minor key). I just asked him if he was aware of that, in an attempt to improve what was a pretty dismal-sounding session. 

We didn't argue or fight about it. Later, I heard he asked that I not be invited to play anymore. 

He showed up at my gig, which featured his on-again-off-again girlfriend on drums, someone I've been looking forward to playing with for some time (see my Daily Comment from October 16). I was told, we have a guest harp player.

So, I didn't bring up what I remembered about our previous encounters. Instead, I just acknowledged him, and, when he played well (which he did), thanked him for it.

It feels like a lie to me. When I heard that my suggestion - just constructive criticism, given only to make a song sound better, make him sound better, and given with a smile and no snarking - made him 'hate me' and cost me a few gigs, I was angry in return. 

But I got over that, mostly. Forgive but don't forget, you know. And I did learn something from the incident: What someone thinks of you is none of your business. So I took the high road on this one. I was as gracious as I could be.

Felt like a lie.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         205.6 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     205.6 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.0 lbs

Diet Comment

A perfect eating day yesterday, and no change. That's fine with me.

Food Log 

Breakfast
A blueberry-hemp-chia protein shake (almond milk, blueberries, a large egg, hemp seeds, chia gel, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, psyllium and stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

Roasted turkey breast with black beans, Spring Mix greens, cole slaw blend and creamy balsamic dressing.

Snack
Protein bar.

Dinner 1
Grass-fed ground beef burger on coconut Paleo bread with cole slaw.

Dinner 2
At Scotch and Sirloin (after-gig):  Mixed salad with chopped greens, walnuts, chick peas, blue cheese, peppers and onions, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner 3
At Tully's:  Chicken Tuscan (broiled, with pesto) and broccoli.

Snack

Ezekiel 4:9 Golden Flax sprouted grain cereal with blueberries, almond milk and stevia-inulin blend.

Liquid Intake

   

   Coffee:  16 oz.   Water: 102+ oz.

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October 31

Post 992, Day 304 of 2013
- and 1034 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Tonight, one of my very favorite Syracuse events came to an end. RIP the Thursday night open mic at Mac's Bad Art Bar. 

I met so many wonderful musicians at this open mic, specifically including the members of the house band - who allowed me to play and sing tunes I couldn't bring anywhere else - and the members of i am Fool, who I first met there.

They have the best sound system of any club in the area, and excellent and personable sound men to make the music happen. I considered this my 'Cheers', where everybody knew me and I knew just about everybody. I developed a friendship with the club owner.

Now, the only time I will spend there will be when i am Fool or one of my friends' bands performs there.

My loss.

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 Food and Diet Section

2013 Daily Weight

Today's Weight:         205.6 lbs

Yesterday's Weight:     206.0 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.4 lbs

Diet Comment

I ate well yesterday, and so reversed the slight upward movement. It's especially pleasing because all the meals were at restaurants, which usually means an opposite effect.

Food Log 

Breakfast
A cacao-kale-hemp-chia protein shake (almond milk, kale, a large egg, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, psyllium and stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch

Roasted turkey breast with black beans, Spring Mix greens, cole slaw blend and creamy balsamic dressing.

Dinner
Grass-fed ground beef burger on coconut Paleo bread with guacamole and salsa. Mashed faux-tatoes (mashed cauliflower, butter, salt and pepper).

Liquid Intake   

   Coffee:  24 oz.   Water: 124+ oz.

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