#1800, Tuesday, January 24: Bad jokes

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Post 1800, Day 24 of 2017
- 2,216 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

It turns out, I no longer think dirty jokes are funny.

Most of them are mean to women, and even when not, they're based on a morality that says extramarital sex, or sex for pleasure is wrong. And the myth that women who desire sex like men do are nymphomaniacs. Or, at the very least, "the battle of the sexes" is a 19th Century stereotype, man-animal vs. woman-angel. Horseshit. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge stuff.

Now, I don't hear a lot of dirty jokes, but they were going around after my birthday band rehearsal today.

I didn't find them funny, and I was surprised. I think there was a time I would have.

Am I just getting old? Well, I am, but I think it's more on the lines of giving up the adolescent, ignorant hypocrisy that is the foundation of humor.

The same way racist, bigoted humor stopped being funny many decades ago. Sexist/sexual humor really isn't any different.

I am grateful for this evolution.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      207.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/23/17):           208.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                       - 1.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

That's better. Onward and downward/lighter!

Food Log

Breakfast
12:20pm: Green protein smoothie with coconut milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, celery, whey powder (36g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch

Skipped.

Dinner

11:45am: Pepperoni, baby-cut carrots with home-made spicy mayonnaise, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;  Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 56+ oz. 

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#1799, Monday, January 23: Non-musical friends

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Post 1799, Day 23 of 2017
- 2,215 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I meet people through going out and playing music. Since I moved to Syracuse eight-and-a-half years ago (!), music has been almost the only way I've made new acquaintances, with one exception.

Before I got here, I knew exactly one person living in Syracuse, who was living in North Carolina when I met him. In North Carolina, I didn't meet too many people through music. In this case, I met Al through friends I knew from working at Northern Telecom.

We had few interests, and little background in common. One thing we both enjoyed was music, although he is not a musician, he is a music fan, and was immediately supportive and enthusiastic when he learned I was one.

But Al is also a rare type of person: He is playful and helpful, always willing to contribute to any good time. He is also loyal and generous.

I hadn't seen Al in almost seven years when he learned of my divorce and financial distress. He immediately reached out with an offer to help get me a job interview at a company he had just signed on to work for (but not yet started, as he was finishing up a contract). That led to me flying up to Syracuse for an interview (Al helped me prep for that, too) - my first time setting foot in that place.

Al has been a good and generous friend as long as I've known him. He's also, getting back to my initial point, the only person who has introduced me to people I now consider friends outside of the music world.

I'm writing about this because the music world once again threw some new friends my way tonight. I may be in another new band, based on my appreciation of the little rehearsal/jam we had last night. In making conversation with my new friends, I mentioned how almost all the people I know in Syracuse I've met directly or indirectly as a result of going out to open mics, music jams.

Immediately, the exception came to mind.

I am grateful for the people in my life, now and past - somehow, they've helped me get where I am (floating in an ocean of gratitude, if you have to ask).

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      208.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/20/17):           206.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     +   2.4 lbs.

Diet Comment

I didn't think I did badly over the weekend, but I was seriously wrong, and my one acknowledged cheat - at a birthday party Sunday afternoon - seems to have done real damage.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:15pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Tuna poke salad with: Kale, cabbage, quinoa, cucumber, carrots, scallions, ginger,edamame, avocado, tuna poke, sesame seeds, almonds and miso-sesame dressing. Not shown: A cup of chicken bone broth.

Lunch

Skipped.

Dinner

12:15am: Sliced London broil with Philippe's famous hot mustard, and a salad (Spring mix, spinach, cabbage, shaved parmesan cheese, creamy balsamic dressing).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;  Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 48+ oz. 

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#1798, Friday, January 20: Free-ish choice

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Post 1798, Day 20 of 2017
- 2,212 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I go out and listen to bands, and during the course of the night, I have a whiskey or two. Neat. With a side of club soda. It has become a ritual.

I went out tonight, listened to a band, and didn't get a whiskey. And I missed it.

That's when I realized stopping would be a good thing, not just a healthy choice.

I fear habit almost as much as I fear addiction. I always want to be free to make a choice, and want it to be a conscious choice. Habitual behavior undercuts that.

I was so pleased with myself for having this thought, this feeling, I felt myself opening up. I did something I've never done, and challenged a friend in the bar to a game of pool. In part because it was a completely different behavior, in part because I was just feeling it. 

I'm a crap pool player, and my friend is very good. But I was feeling something, and it just seemed right.

I shot the best game of billiards in my life.

I left the bar feeling nothing but good.

I am grateful for my life.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      206.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/19/17):           206.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     +   0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

After gorging myself on nuts and dark chocolate last night, this is an unexpectedly small gain. Still, this hasn't been a great week. I will tow the line this weekend, and come back lighter Monday.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:55pm:  Fritta with eggs, London broil, Dubliner cheese, chia seeds, hemp seeds, kale, spinach, chard, onions, and peppers.

Lunch

9:00pm:   A  Quest bar.

Dinner

1:15am:  Pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;  Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 90+ oz. 

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#1797, Thursday, January 19: Whiskey cut-back early indicator

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Post 1797, Day 19 of 2017
- 2,211 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Modern science, right?

My alkaline phosphatase numbers have been elevated. in the last blood tests I've taken (over a six-month period). Usually, this means bone loss, but that has been ruled out (which is great). Today, I went for an abdominal ultrasound, mainly to check my liver, because liver function problems could also be indicated.

My exam was at 2:30pm.

My results were in within two hours, and available online for me before 5pm(!). Modern science.

My liver is enlarged with indications of 'early fatty liver.' This is a symptomless and not particularly dangerous problem.

It is probably due to a combination of diabetes and my relatively recent (five years) affection for whiskey. I am going to have to cut back.

No problem. I will cut back my liquor intake to one shot a week.

I am grateful for such a simple challenge.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      206.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/18/17):           206.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     +   0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Oh, boy, I didn't see that coming. That's just two slices of the healthiest bread I know of, still off-plan, but gee - that's a negative surprise!

Food Log

Breakfast
5:15pm, at CoreLife:

Chicken Cobb salad (shredded kale and spinach, grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, hard-cooked egg and blue cheese dressing with a little sriracha).

Lunch

Skipped.

Dinner

10:45am:  An entire bag (26 oz) of mixed nuts with dark chocolate pieces.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;  Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 68+ oz. 

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#1796, Wednesday, January 18: No comment.

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Post 1796, Day 18 of 2017
- 2,210 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Nothing today.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      206.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/17/17):           205.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     +   0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

Oh, boy, I didn't see that coming. That's just two slices of the healthiest bread I know of, still off-plan, but gee - that's a negative surprise!

Food Log

Breakfast
3:00pm: Green protein smoothie with coconut milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, celery, whey powder (36g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend. Also, a slice of toasted, buttered Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner

1:00am, at Mama Nancy's:

Half order of Big Anthony's Frittata (eggs, sausage, pepperoni, Swiss cheese, onions, peppers, broccoli, potatoes) and dry rye toast.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;  Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 24+ oz. and two shots of Irish whiskey (different brands)

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#1795, Tuesday, January 17: Ode to Fool

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Post 1795, Day 17 of 2017
- 2,209 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I had a great i am Fool rehearsal.

My idea of a great rehearsal is one where we play a lot, and one where when we aren't playing, we're discussing business and actually figuring things out as a result, and when we aren't playing and discussing business, we're laughing.

And that's what the rehearsal was about.

I love these guys.

Tomorrow I rehearse with a new (to me) band, who have asked me a few times over the years to join. The music, while probably the most popular style locally, is not material I have much experience playing. A new challenge. Really looking forward to making that happen, but it is a secondary project, without as much appeal as playing with i am Fool, but a lot more playing will happen, and gigs, too.

The reason I'm still in Syracuse is that the music scene here supports (and allows) my participation in making ensemble music, which is pure joy. Most of that began, and is, in turn, supported by i am Fool. If Syracuse is my safe harbor, Fool is my anchor.

I am grateful for the manifestation of a lifetime of musical pursuits that culminated in this band.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      205.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/16/17):           205.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     -   0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

OK, okay - I can do better, and will. Still, it isn't a gain. We'll see how today goes!

Food Log

Breakfast
5:20pm:  

Omelet with peppers, onion, greens, chia seeds, hemp seeds, parmesan cheese and bacon. Not shown: Two slices of buttered, toasted Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread, two more slices of bacon.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner

11:30pm: Pepperoni and cole slaw, a Quest bar and cottage cheese.

Snack

1:00am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;  Coffee: 22 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 74+ oz.

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#1794, Monday, January 16: Daily accomplishment

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Post 1794, Day 16 of 2017
- 2,208 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I'm slogging along, making the best I can out of life in the bad-Winter-weather zone.

I was able to accomplish a few things today: Fix a doctor's appointment that was scheduled incorrectly. Do my clothes laundry. Begin my taxes. Pick up some groceries. Put my car back in gigging format (day-to-day, non-vacation style), including recycling all my bottled water plastic. Finish another rehearsal CD for my new band gig. Beat down my queue on the DVR.

This far exceeds my daily minimum for accomplishment.

That new band gig is nice. The band will play a gig a month beginning in March, ending in November - avoiding Winter gigs. The material is a lot that I'm familiar with, very little I've actually played. So a nice little challenge for me, going mainstream, as it were.

And playing popular bar music will be a nice change, too.

Ever-grateful for my life.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      205.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/13/17):           205.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     -   0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Not bad, not bad at all for a weekend that did include some off-plan eating.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:40pm: Green protein smoothie with coconut milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, celery, whey powder (36g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend. Also, a slice of toasted, buttered Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread.

Lunch
8:30pm: London broil with Philippe's famous hot mustard and carrots and celery with home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner

11:40pm: Pepperoni and Dubliner cheese.

Snack

12:30am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

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

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#1793, Friday, January 13: Change: Resistance is futile

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Post 1793, Day 13 of 2017
- 2,205 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

While I was on vacation, I thought about what I would do when I got back.

I made plans to improve aspects of my life I was unsatisfied with. The New Year's Resolution kind of thing, although the timing was mostly coincidental - I do the same thing every time I take a temporary break from my normal day-to-day ways. The timing is coincidental in this case.

Getting back, I find my ordinary routine has too strong a grip on me to carry out my plans for improvement.

I perpetuate my own existence according to a set of deeply-ingrained priorities, and recognizing the ones that don't serve me, when they aren't really breaking me in any way, does little to change them.

Neither does making plans to change when I am internally resistant.

It is the resistance that has to be addressed.

There really is no incentive to change when I am happy with the flexible way my current life deals with changes over which my only control is in my reaction, overall. Grateful how things are working out.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      205.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/12/17):           205.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     +   0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

Really? A piece of birthday cake? Oh, well, in the long run, the trend is down - to an almost silly point.

Food Log

Breakfast
2:15pm: Burger on Ezekiel 4:9 Flax bread and a salad of kale, spinach, chard, cabbage, parmesan, chia seeds, hemp seeds and balsamic vinaigrette.

Lunch
8:30pm: London broil and Dubliner cheese.

Dinner

11:40pm: A Quest bar and cottage cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;  Coffee: 20 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.

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#1792, Thursday, January 12: Medical day

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Post 1792, Day 12 of 2017
- 2,204 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Regular three-month doctor's visit today, following up on my quarterly blood tests.

The tests monitor (mainly) four areas of interest: diabetes, blood lipids, thyroid hormone level, and elevated phosphates.

That last is the only new area of interest.

Usually elevated phosphates come from bone loss or liver function.

This time, we eliminated bone loss as a problem. I've scheduled an ultrasound to see if there are any visible (audible?) signs of liver damage. What I think is that my liver is function is a bit abnormal, as it has been my entire adult life (hepatitis B when I was 18).

My cholesterol numbers are a little high, but not anything I'm concerned about. Mainly, I'm not concerned about cholesterol levels at all, I don't think they're a useful indicator of anything. My doctor wants to increase my dosage of statin - I'm at a minimum dose now - but I don't like statin drugs, their side-effects are not worth their bandaid cure for a problem (bad cholesterol numbers) that I don't think is a problem.

For some reason, after decades of stability, I need to titrate my thyroid hormone - down. I am, apparently, producing more, naturally, than I was. Go figure, but it's a good thing. Speaking of which, after years of identically good results for my blood sugar test, this time it changed, and my blood sugar levels actually dropped five percent.

I am very happy with the results, overall. Grateful how things are working out.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      205.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/11/17):           206.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     -   1.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

One good low-calorie, on-plan day, one pound gone.

Food Log

Breakfast
12:35pm: Green protein smoothie with coconut milk, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, celery, whey powder (36g protein), hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, cinnamon, coconut oil and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
6:45pm: Pepperoni, carrots and home-made mayonnaise.

Snack

9:40pm: A piece of birthday cake.

Dinner

11:40pm: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;  Coffee: 24 oz.;  Tea: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.

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#1791, Wednesday, January 11: Flat

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Post 1791, Day 11 of 2017
- 2,203 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

Great i am Fool rehearsal tonight.

But, on the way, I got impatient. Two blocks from Mike's house, where we rehearse in the basement, I tried to make a right turn on a red light with a car in front of me. I thought I had enough room, but caught a piece of broken curb, and blew out my tire.

I didn't even realize it until after practice.

It ruined the rest of the evening. Kia Souls do not have proper spare tires. After waiting about an hour for road service, my car was towed to the place near my apartment where I get my oil changes done - which is where I had purchased a few tires before.

I wasn't upset, but I did reflect on how my impatience had caused this problem. It was on me, and me alone.

It's a lesson I thought I had already learned. Apparently not.

Food and Diet

Today's Weight:                      206.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (1/10/17):           205.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     +   0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

A little blip that means nothing! Hmmph. Don't know that today will be any better.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:35pm:  Casserole:  Cauliflower, spring mix, ground beef, dal tadka (lentil curry), chia and hemp seeds.

Lunch

8:45pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner

12:10am: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;  Coffee: 0 oz.;  Tea: 16 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.

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