Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wednesday, April 23

Post 1147, Day 112 of 2014
- 1,207 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I used to worship at the altar of 'cool'. Cool was what I wanted to be, how I wanted to be perceived.

Cool was the unit of measure that determined the appeal of things to me. 

My, my, how times have changed. I'm in no danger of being cool by my former standards. However, those old days when it was really important to me have left me with some useful behavior.

For one, I don't catastrophize things. I mean, not normally. 

When my second marriage broke up suddenly, and I saw the ruins that had been my whole adult life, I fell apart. I couldn't sleep - I was marginally effective, at best, in handling anything, and I wasn't coping well. I had a little push in that direction from my best friend, who specializes in seeing the worst in any situation, and whose only comfort was to tell me that when he was in the Army, lack of sleep was one of the few excuses for non-performance. He also comforted me by taking me out to dinner and giving me his assessment of my situation: "You are totally, completely and permanently fucked."

It took a few long conversations with my brother to haul me back off the emotional precipice this situation and that bleak view left me on.

That is the last time I looked at anything short of natural disaster as 'catastrophic' in social/emotional terms. That's a good thing.

Which naturally leads me to anotherAnother important residual benefit of my little obsession with Cool comes from my definition of cool, meaning being both competent and a bit detached and unemotional in any situation, including fight-or-flight emergencies. 

Now, I'm pretty much unflappable in the face of bad events. I cope. I handle. My response is measured and considered, whatever emotional response I might have is background; and I have been tested.

This drove my second wife crazy - she thought if you didn't have an emotional response (always, seemingly, a negative emotional response), it was because you had no emotions.

But it makes me very efficient when dealing with emergency situations, like when an amp caught fire at a gig I was at, and other people were yelling and, yes, fleeing for the exits (it really wasn't that big of a fire), I walked over and pulled the plug, then smothered the fire with the amplifier's cover. 

Then finished the song (the guitar player whose amp was smoked played 'air guitar' on his actual guitar, then borrowed an amp and laughed about the whole thing later).

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         203.4 lbs
Previous Weight:        202.2 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.2 lbs

Diet Comment
Bad late-night snacking has undone me today. Today's restaurant meals are not going to help.


Food Log 
Breakfast
A kale protein shake (almond-coconut milk, kale, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), chia gel, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon and stevia-inulin blend). Special added ingredients: Almonds and celery.

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. This is the same meal, and the same picture, as always.

Snack
Pepperoni and cheese, almonds, and a salad of baby kale, baby spinach, chard and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner
At Eskapes: Blackened salmon on a romaine, spinach, bacon and tomato salad, with sauteed spinach on the side.

Late-night snack
BioTrust protein bar.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  32 oz.   Water: 64+ oz

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Tuesday, April 22

Post 1146, Day 111 of 2014
- 1,206 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
It seems to me that all our personal communication devices (I'm talking about personal computers, tablets, smartphones, cell-phones, you get the idea) are degrading human communications.

They put a porous layer of accessibility between people, which lets you easily communicate with remote people, but forces you to do so at the expense of interacting those immediately at-hand, creating an environment that favors reach over content, and information over intimacy.

I am grateful for the ease with which I can speak with (even see and speak with) my friends, family, or salesmen not near-at-hand. On the other hand, I am very dissatisfied with the way having 'private' conversations in public has become acceptable. Then, again, I also don't like wearing earphones in public (private listening in a public environment.

And having text conversations (texting, instant messaging, so on) is not really conversing, and has caused me a lot of confusion and misunderstanding, especially when there is a group involved (as in my bands). Possibly useful for simply communicating a fact (location, item, data, address, etc), discussion and debate aren't possible in this format.

Human communication actually requires colocation. And if your device is disconnecting you from your surroundings while you're active, its on you when you're eaten by a dinosaur.

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         202.2 lbs
Previous Weight:        202.8 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.6 lbs

Diet Comment
Good day yesterday.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Two BioTrust protein bars.

Lunch
Roasted turkey on baby kale, spinach, chard, cole slaw mix, shaved parmesan, almonds and balsamic vinaigrette.

Dinner
Pepperoni.

Late-night snack
Almonds and cheese and cole slaw.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  32 oz.   Water: 96+ oz

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Monday, April 21, 2014

Monday, April 21

Post 1146, Day 111 of 2014
- 1,206 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
Well, don't I live in exciting times. The US is turning into 18th Century France (pre-Revolution) except worse.  If the US government fails in my lifetime (I'm not talking about failing to live up to its ideals, either; I'm talking about the government being replaced by... something else), I'm screwed no matter where I am when that happens.

So party on now. 

I just finished an incredibly weekend of music, so I'm doing fine myself. 

I'm doing so well, I'm revisiting my retirement date. Maybe I'll push it out a few months until the weather's better for moving and traveling. Just thinkin', here.

Of course, having plans like that, I always have to remember that my plans mean little - a thousand-thousand and more things could make me change my direction, and there are almost 650 days (as of today) for any of those things to happen.

Maybe it helps that I visualize and try to move in my desired direction, but these things unfold like an O. Henry story. Even when everything works out in the end, there's a plot twist you didn't see coming to get there.

So, I assume, it will be for me.

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         202.8 lbs
Previous Weight:        203.8 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 1.0 lbs

Diet Comment
Yesterday's off-but-mostly on gave results that seem like the average of the last few days eating - mostly off.


Food Log 
Breakfast
A kale protein shake (almond-coconut milk, kale, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), chia GEL, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon and stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch
Tuna salad on baby kale, spinach, chard and cole slaw mix.

Snack
Dark chocolate.

Dinner
Pepperoni, organic cheddar, celery and home-made spicy mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 90+ oz

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Sunday, April 20, 2014

Sunday, April 20

Post 1145, Day 110 of 2014
- 1,205 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
4/20, so I had to support my friend's reggae band on their Easter Sunday 4/20 gig. They were the openers, but after they played, I just felt like I had to go out and play.

My seminal Syracuse open mic was up, so I turned out, and ended up playing all night (the house bass player is a guitarist this month) due to no other bass players.

Always listen to your gut.

Good times.

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         203.8 lbs
Previous Weight:        203.0 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 0.8 lbs

Diet Comment
Yesterday's off-but-mostly-on eating gave results that seem like the average of the last few days of mostly off eating.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
Scrambled eggs with kale, cheddar cheese, and tomato-garlic oil and a side of organic uncured bacon.

Dinner
Skipped.

Snack
Celery and home-made spicy mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 60+ oz

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Saturday, April 19

Post 1144, Day 109 of 2014
- 1,204 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
Because I got no rest this past week, I struggled to get up to go to the Farmer's Market before a rare daytime i am Fool rehearsal. 

After rehearsal, I made myself dinner and went to bed early. Woke up four hours later, watched some tv, wrote this comment, back to bed.

A day in the life.

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         203.0 lbs
Previous Weight:        204.0 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 1.0 lbs

Diet Comment
Yesterday's bad eating? No effect. Today's? I'm not betting on it.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Breakfast pizza. This time, good breakfast pizza, but still, not ideal for me.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
Sauteed kale, onions, peppers and eggs over a quinoa-lentil pilaf with curried tomatoes and toasted Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread (not shown).

Snack
BioTrust Protein bars.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 46+ oz

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Friday, April 18

Post 1143, Day 108 of 2014
- 1,203 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
Of course, burning the candle at both ends, as the saying goes, is nothing new to me.

It's a lifestyle choice I made when I got back to serious music-making in the 90s. 

Friday comes, and I'm exhausted - but still try to make the rounds, supporting my musician friends at their gigs.

Then, late, I get home, and it's time to just drop.

So it goes today. The upside? I never have trouble falling asleep.

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         204.0 lbs
Previous Weight:        203.0 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 1.0 lbs

Diet Comment
Ugh. Today was a terrible day. Not only did I eat off-plan, mostly due to bad planning, pun intended, but the food was pretty bad. I don't like being at the mercy of the nearest restaurants.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Breakfast pizza. Terrible, bad-tasting, greasy, rubber-crust breakfast pizza.

Lunch
Ming Garden takeout: Roast pork egg fu young. I was thinking this was the least-bad choice (I mean, eggs and pork, right?). But it's as though I had never eaten Chinese takeout. I used the fried rice (horrible) to cut the taste of these... whatever they were. The hot and sour soup was the 'star' - it wasn't bad, but then, it had so much msg in it that my nose started running after just a few spoonfuls. I don't know what I was thinking.

Dinner
Pepperoni, cheese and quinoa-lentil pilaf.

Snack
BioTrust Protein bars.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 76+ oz

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thursday, April 17

Post 1142, Day 107 of 2014
- 1,202 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
Baby steps. To me, the correct way to approach anything. Slowly.

However, I don't agree with people who say a slow approach has to be a tentative one. I move with commitment and decisiveness.

But while I believe that even small (maybe only small) efforts can be made that move you towards realization of your dreams and goals, I never pretend that I can bring about change. I also don't believe in worrying too much about how my desired results have come about.

In the big picture, where I am has little to do with what I've done, and a lot to do with my surviving to see things play out.

That is all.

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         203.0 lbs
Previous Weight:        203.2 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.2 lbs

Diet Comment
Maintaining.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
A kale protein shake (almond-coconut milk, kale, raw organic cacao powder, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), chia seeds, whey powder (24g protein), cinnamon, celery and stevia-inulin blend) and a toasted cheese sandwich with organic Swiss and Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread.

Dinner
Pepperoni, cheese and quinoa-lentil pilaf.

Snack
BioTrust Protein bars.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 76+ oz

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

 

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Wednesday, April 16

Post 1141, Day 106 of 2014
- 1,201 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I sense changes afoot. 

Last night's i am Fool rehearsal led me to believe there may be changes coming. Members' attitudes changing, for better or worse. A possible relocation that would shake up the lineup. I'm encouraged.

Because change is good. And constant - inevitable.

Tonight's Bradshaw Blues rehearsal also introduced a change, and it was invigorating. After some supply-side delays, our drummer Jim got a cajon, a drum box. 

I had urged him to get one because it is so much easier playing with him than playing with Chad as a duo, and some venues don't allow drums, although hand-drums are acceptable. 

Jim initially resisted, because he felt he could play at a low volume with a small kit, and would be too limited with less. He is a schooled drummer, and this basic, no-skin rig didn't seem like a proper platform for his craft. And, truly, we can swing at low volumes with him on the kit. But there were those gigs he couldn't play...

We were all smiles as he proved himself wrong. The sound of the trio was excitingly new and fresh and had all the groove of his playing on the traps, and maybe more.

Just like Jim's very first rehearsal, where he immediately fit right in, the first time he ever played a cajon, which was at tonight's practice, he nailed it. It was quite wonderful, it took no adaptation on our parts, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it didn't become an option on gigs that allowed drums.

Change is good.

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         203.2 lbs
Previous Weight:        202.6 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      + 0.6 lbs

Diet Comment
A little bounce - too many late-night carbs?


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. This is the same meal, and the same picture, as always.

Dinner
Pepperoni and cheese.

Snack
Baby kale, chard and spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette and a BioTrust Protein bar.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  8 oz.   Water: 90+ oz

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

 

Tuesday, April 15

Post 1140, Day 105 of 2014
- 1,200 days since I started this blog -
Daily Comment
I... have nothing. 

"I ain't nothing but tired..." (Bruce Springsteen, Dancing in the Dark).

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 Food and Diet Section
January to June, 2014 Daily Weight
Today's Weight:         202.6 lbs
Previous Weight:        203.0 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:      - 0.4 lbs

Diet Comment
This is an acceptable day-to-day variations.


Food Log 
Breakfast
Spinach, baby kale, onions, peppers, parmesan cheese and scrambled eggs with garlic-tomato oil on toasted Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread.
Lunch
Roasted turkey breast salad (with celery and home-made mayonnaise) on Spring Mix greens, baby kale, and cole slaw mix.
Dinner
Pepperoni and cheese and a BioTrust protein bar.

Snack
Ezekiel 4:9 Golden Flax sprouted grain cereal, blueberries, hemp seeds, almond-coconut milk, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend. 
Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  22 oz.   Water: 72+ oz

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