#2544, Friday, November 13, '20: A little thing...

Post 2544

- 9 years and 318 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

My old MacBook Pro turned five and broke. I took it to the Genius Bar today, and it's going to get fixed, nicely, for two hundred bucks.

I had to move some things around in the budget, but it's covered.

For the first time (I think - I can't remember another time), I've decided not to feature myself at the top of the page. What's there now is an iPhone photo I grabbed while on a sunset cardio walk last Tuesday, when the weather was still beautiful (it turned wintry the next day).

What do you think? I fancy myself something of a photographer, a hobby I've had longer than anything else I've done. Would you like to see some of my favorite photos? I enjoy them - my screen saver randomly displays my photos - sometimes I watch my computer when the screen saver is active just like I would a TV show. 

I'm grateful for the entertaining memories.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/12/20):        203.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

Yesterday I ate a lot, and some of it late - I ate while playing in an online poker tournament, which mindlessness led to overconsumption.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:35pm: Oatmeal with blueberries and peanut butter, scrambled eggs with parmesan cheese, onions and peppers.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
8:10pm: 

Arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, roasted turkey breast, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 20 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; 

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#2543, Thursday, November 12, '20: I am Happy Jack

Post 2543

- 9 years and 317 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I am bringing back the beard.

Today, in cardio rehab, I showed everybody two similar selfies I took. One pic was taken right before I shaved off my beard (about two weeks before my surgery), the other a week later (one week before my surgery). So one with beard, one without.

I asked six people - four therapists and two patients - who had not known me when I was bearded (which was for more than six years. Every other friend I have knows me with a beard) whether they preferred the pic with or without a beard.

They unanimously favored the beard. 

Also at rehab, we watched a film about the psychological effects of heart disease.

It did not seem relevant to me. It mentioned many things that did not correspond with  my experience (like feelings of fear, depression, anxiety, anger, helplessness). My experience did not even include having a 'heart attack'. I mean it did, but I never felt it.

With three days between finding out my heart was bad and I needed a quintuple bypass and the open-heart surgery, I never felt any physical discomfort or pain, and was never afraid.

After the surgery, I was never depressed or angry. I exceeded all post-surgery recovery benchmarks, and was out of the hospital four days after major surgery. I had friends step up to take care of my every need, many times without being asked. 

I credit my philosophy, my good physical and emotional health leading up to this incident, my amazing support network, and my positive attitude for my excellent recovery, and my good mental health.

I credit my fabulous network of friends and my family. 

I credit the pandemic for giving me much less a sense of loss - I have no gigs and exactly have been to only three open mics in Syracuse this year, and that has nothing to do with my medical condition. Weirdly, there's been no better time in my life for this to have happened. 

I think it doesn't hurt that I have assumed a heart attack was coming my way for the last twenty years, given my family history. I wasn't shocked or surprised.

I'm nothing but grateful for the peace of mind I sometimes (dare I say, typically?) enjoy.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/11/20):        205.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is what I predicted yesterday.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:15am: Oatmeal with blueberries, Ezekiel 4:9 Flax toast with peanut butter.

Lunch
4:45pm: A Quest bar. Almonds and grapes.

Dinner
7:20pm: Salmon salad (fresh-caught salmon, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts. And a Quest bar.

Snack
11:20pm: Manchego cheese and kimchee.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; 

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#2542, Wednesday, November 11, '20: Friendship and love

Post 2542

- 9 years and 316 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

The cardiac rehab is getting a bit more challenging. I am now quite tired at the end of it.

On this unseasonably warm rainy day, I did my rehab, then drove home and had a lie-down. Since my bed is also my office, I modified my cell phone plan to save ten bucks a month.

I spoke with my friend Jerry, who is in Mexico, and will be moving there very soon.

I spoke with my friend Marco, who is in Florida, and who will probably be the first person I visit when I travel again (unless that's in the summer - nobody goes to Florida in the summer). 

I spoke with Alex, and helped him a little with his portfolio.

I watched TV (Wentworth, if you must know), sang and played guitar a little and got stoned.

Maybe it's not much of a life, I know I'm not creating much, but it is full of friendship and love.

I'm grateful for that.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/10/20):        205.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is a wash - noise-level difference between yesterday, although I do believe that tomorrow will see a nice loss (carry-over from the last few days.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:10am: Scrambled eggs, mushrooms, onions and peppers, oatmeal with peanut butter.

Lunch
3:25pm: Carrots and homemade mayonnaise, cottage cheese and grapes.

Dinner
7:10pm: 

Edamame and mung bean fettucine with sautéed greens and mushrooms and shaved parmesan cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 108+ oz.; 

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#2541, Tuesday, November 10, '20: No comment

Post 2541

- 9 years and 315 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

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

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/9/20):         203.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am not surprised at all by this weight gain. It is from high-calorie, high-sodium late night eating.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:00pm: Purple-green protein smoothie with almonds, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, frozen organic berries, whey powder (18g protein), coconut oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, fo ti (mushroom powder), cinnamon, turmeric and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
4:15pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
8:10pm: Riced cauliflower with organic, 93% ground beef, sauteed onions, peppers and mushrooms, peanut butter oatmeal.

Liquid Intake

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

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#2540, Monday, November 9, '20: Medical report

Post 2540

- 9 years and 314 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I got a bunch of good medical news today.

My thirty days of heart monitoring, finished last week, resulted in a report of no incidents of a-Fib, which was what it was looking for.

I also took a blood test today, and got most of the results back. The comprehensive panel turned up nothing.

However, my Hemoglobin A1C test was the highest it's been in eight years, and is just over the line in the pre-diabetic area. 

I'll be talking about that with my primary care guy next week, and with my cardiologist the week after. I'm not happy with that result, and I don't know what caused this change - is it the result of my surgery, slight changes in diet (I'm eating more whole grains and nuts, and less beef) changes in medication and supplements, or something else?

I definitely want to turn that around.

Otherwise, I've been exercising both with cardio rehab and at home, and my calf hasn't been bothering me as much as I've gotten used to in the last couple of years. Nonetheless, next week I'll get a new test to locate where the blood flow restriction is happening there.

I'm grateful for the health I have that enables me to pursue getting healthier.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/6/20):         204.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am not surprised at all by this hopefully temporary weight gain. I was bound to rebound from my fast when I started eating again, after a forty-hour fast.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:00pm:

LEO (lox, eggs and onions - in this case sautéed with turmeric, hence the 'brown' look) with a slice of dry Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain toast. Not shown: steamed brussel sprouts with balsamic vinaigrette and creamed cottage cheese.

Lunch
3:35pm: A Quest bar and peanut butter.

Dinner
8:10pm: 

Bacon cheeseburger and coleslaw.

Snack
11:10pm: A bag of pork rinds.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 76+ oz.; 

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#2539, Friday, November 6, '20: Nice day!

Post 2539

- 9 years and 311 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I had such a good day today!

To begin with, I got to spend some time with Alex via Zoom, and, although I had caught him up with my latest last night, he had some good news of his own. My day was off to a good start.

It was also a beautiful warm Fall day. I went for my longest uninterrupted walk since, well, Cuenca, Ecuador in February. Twenty minutes. Unlike back then, this walk was, wonder of wonders, pain-free! A subtle touch of soreness in my calf - but far from the usual painful cramping.

I felt it was a good workout, and I am now keeping an exercise log - I'm going to try and walk every day I don't have cardio rehab, and eventually get to thirty minutes a day, maybe more. 

I also returned my heart monitor, which ended up meaning a trip to the post office, as the prepaid mailer wouldn't fit in a mailbox. My month of twenty-four-seven heart monitoring is complete - almost without incident. There was one time they called, I mentioned it in a previous post, that amounted to nothing. One more 'clean bill of health'. What keeps it from being boring is that I can never get enough good news.

I also did a load of laundry.

I count this as one of my most productive days that didn't involve medical appointments since my surgery.

I'm just grateful.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/5/20):         201.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am not surprised at all by this hopefully temporary weight gain. I was bound to rebound from my fast when I started eating again, after a forty-hour fast.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:00pm:

LEO (lox, eggs and onions - in this case sautéed with turmeric, hence the 'brown' look) with a slice of Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain toast. Dry. Not shown: steamed brussel sprouts with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Lunch
6:40pm: Peanut butter and a pint of low carb coffee ice cream.

Dinner
11:40pm: Cottage cheese and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2538, Thursday, Nov 5, '20: Health update

Post 2538

- 9 years and 310 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I had a colonoscopy yesterday. It was, by far, the easiest one yet. An hour-and-a-half, door to door.

And the result was - perfect. Nothing found.

I have been on a 3-year schedule for colonoscopy's ever since my first one, about twenty years ago. I have had four, including yesterday's, since moving to Syracuse, and there has been a problem with each one until now, and the problem was in the prep, not the findings. 

So, I am hoping to move to a five- or six-year schedule now.

Today I had my annual eye exam after my cardio rehab. 

This is always a big deal, because it is very thorough, and because after all the tests, Dr. Tucker does an exam of his own and that is always entertaining. He's really something - a Buddhist (there are pictures of him with the Dalai Lama(!!!) all over the office. Apparently he had a private audience at some point) and a really funny guy.

The verdict? My eyes are in good shape - no hint of any "possible problems" he'd been watching the last few years, looking mainly for complications arising from my original referral, for diabetes, almost ten years ago. I enjoy reminding him that I've had everything under control for years, and that I was no longer considered diabetic.

As to the cardiac rehab, I've been coming right along from that. I've had five sessions in the last two weeks (missing yesterday's for the colonoscopy), in which time I've gone from twenty-five minutes of very low intensity work to thirty-six minutes of more-intense-but-still-low intensity workouts, which leave me feeling that I have exercised. So, coming along nicely.

I'm grateful for all the good health I'm enjoying, and for the progress in restoring the less-healthy cardiovascular and skeletal systems to health.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.9 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/2/20):         205.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 4.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

In preparation for the colonoscopy I had yesterday, I fasted Tuesday, as well as totally emptying my digestive tract Tuesday night. I ate a regular amount of regular food Wednesday. Thus, the big loss today.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:00am: Sautéed spinach, kale, onions, peppers and mushrooms with eggs and parmesan cheese.

Lunch
4:25pm: Cottage cheese and pork rinds and macadamia nuts.

Dinner
8:10pm: Carrots and home-made mayonnaise, parmesan crisps, a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2537, Monday, November 2, '20: This weird week

Post 2537

- 9 years and 307 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I don't deal well with the time change, "Fall back". I do better with Fall back (not well, but better) than with "Spring forward," though.

But things get unsettled. It took forever to leave the house, and I was a little late to get to cardio rehab.

There will be no blog posts/updates the next two days, Tuesday and Wednesday. Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be fasting and cleansing in prep for Wednesday's colonoscopy. I will not write more until my Thursday update.

It will be my sixth colonoscopy. The last two had no findings, due to poor prep. The poor prep was not due to me not following instructions, but because the prescribed prep materials were ineffective. Not this time. 

Anyway, things are in a state of flux until I resume my regular schedule on Thursday, when I have my cardio rehab and then my annual vision check-up.

I'm just grateful to still be able to maintain my life, and hopefully, improve it.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.9 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/30/20):        205.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm not particularly happy to have gained weight over the weekend. But, given that I will be fasting tomorrow in preparation for Wednesday's colonoscopy, I fully expect to be lighter at the end of the week. So, all good.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:00am: Toasted Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread with peanut butter (aka, peanuts).

Lunch
3:05pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, home-made mayonnaise, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts) and parmesan crisps.

Dinner
8:10pm: A Quest bar, carrots and home-made mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2536, Friday, October 30, '20: No comment

Post 2536

- 9 years and 304 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but its okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/29/20):        204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad to post the loss, but really, I think I would have weighed the same as yesterday if I weighed in at the same time. Conversely, I think if I'd weighed myself at the usual time, I think this would have been what I weighed.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:00pm: Grilled cheese sandwich (Manchego cheese, Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread).

Lunch
7:15pm: A Quest bar and peanut butter, carrots and home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner
8:10pm: Lentil curry with kale and spinach, over riced cauliflower.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 12 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2535, Thursday, October 29, '20: On-line poker

Post 2535

- 9 years and 303 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

Every Thursday night at 8:30pm I have a date with some friends and friends-of-friends from North Carolina.

We use the Pokerstars app to play Texas Hold-em.

My friend and benefactor Al, who I met in NC and whose move back to NY paved the way for mine in 2008, runs the game. There's a ten dollar buy-in, and all the money is returned to the winning players. Any money Al makes he donates to charity. On the relatively rare occasions that I win, the money goes for pot.

Last week, I came in first. This week I came in second. 

That says bad things about the quality of the other players, because I'm not that good.

But not that bad, either.

During the game, Al and I have a video call going on. It's open to every player, but Al and I are the only users, most of the time.

I'm grateful for having a safe way to enjoy the company of my friends.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/28/20):        204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad to post the loss, but really, I think I would have weighed the same as yesterday if I weighed in at the same time. Conversely, I think if I'd weighed myself at the usual time, I think this would have been what I weighed.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:00am: 

Sautéed kale and spinach, with eggs, onions, peppers and mushrooms, and a side of bacon.

Lunch
3:25pm: Carrots and homemade mayonnaise, grapes, and a Quest bar with peanut butter.

Dinner
8:10pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, home-made mayonnaise, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach and walnuts).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2534, Wednesday, October 28, '20: Fool news

Post 2534

- 9 years and 302 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

Finally, and I am Fool rehearsal. Well, a little:

We played and jammed a bit on some new things J.'s written. But mostly we listened to recordings of sessions we did in the 2017 and 2018, that were never finished.

J.'s been sitting with them a while, mixing them. In some cases, editing. I think he did a great job with them. I think a few are release-ready, some nearly, and some he still needs to start on.

It was a good time for me. I've missed this band hard.

Still, I'm grateful for what time we do get together.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/27/20):        204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad to post the loss, but really, I think I would have weighed the same as yesterday if I weighed in at the same time. Conversely, I think if I'd weighed myself at the usual time, I think this would have been what I weighed.

Food Log

Breakfast
9:15am: Mixed berries protein shake (one large egg, two cups of frozen mix of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and cherries, kefir, whey protein (28 grams), peanut butter, fo ti, stevia w/inulin).

Lunch
5:55pm: A salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, balsamic vinaigrette) and cottage cheese.

Dinner
10:40pm: Grapes and mixed nuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 108+ oz.; 

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