#2403: Tuesday, December 10: Miscellaneous thoughts

Post 2403

- 8 years and 344 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

A few things - current but random - that got my attention today:

• I am going to return the CBD-and-melatonin based sleeping pills. A real case of overpromising and under-delivering. The promise: Quick to sleep, then seven hours. After a month, never happened once. The trial was fully guaranteed.

• I am also going to return the bass I bought, as soon as it comes in. I had thought the detached neck would fit a large suitcase I bought for my trip, but using my Fender as a stand-in (the bass hasn't arrived yet, but the suitcase did), I see it will not even come close. In fact, I'm not going to use the suitcase this trip at all - I haven't decided whether or not to return it - and I've bought a hard case for the Steinberger. I will use my capacious Travel backpack suitcase-with-shoulder-straps, as I did last Winter, and, if I need to, check the Steinberger as luggage. I'm determined to have a good bass with me when I travel this time.

• I love my band, I am Fool. I love every member. I love their families. We had rehearsal tonight, and I realized, again, how much this group of friends and musicians means to me. If the medical situation improves while I'm away, and it becomes a performing group again, I cannot leave the way I'm planning. Although there are good reasons to go, I'll stay for the music and love. I made a commitment to the band (although they actually don't know that I did, they just assumed or in J.'s case, demanded it) to stay the course as long as possible when I realized I couldn't turn my back the great life I had here, five years ago.

• My doctor is moving to Sacramento. It is not a surprise. I need a new doctor. The practice has offered up a D.O - I was interested in osteopathy once. I like this change. With, possibly, only eight months in the area to go, it doesn't seem like I should invest the time involved in getting a new doctor from scratch. I've been happy at this practice for eleven years, I'll stay.

I am blessed. My problems aren't disabling or even overly challenging. If nothing ever got better, I'd still be okay. I still marvel at this fact, since I lived in fear of the opposite until about eight years ago.
All I can do is be grateful and appreciative of everything I 'have'.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/9/19):         200.6 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

I like being down below 200 pounds.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:35pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Korean BBQ Pork: Kale, quinoa, kimchi, cucumbers, spicy broccoli, Sriracha sprouts, fried egg, slow-roasted pork, and Korean bbq sauce.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
11:55pm: Cole slaw, almonds, avocado toast on Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grains bread, cottage cheese, and two Quest bars.

Liquid Intake

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

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#2402: Monday, December 9: No comment

Post 2402

- 8 years and 343 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

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

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.6 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/6/19):         202.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

I feel pretty good about the way the weekend went. Any loss over a weekend is unusual, but I was very conscious about my eating - I made my cheats small, and didn't drink nearly as much as a typical weekend.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:25pm: 

Arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, roasted turkey breast, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette. Not shown: Avocado toast with Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grains bread.

Lunch
9:25pm: Almonds and parmesan cheese and kimchi, and a Quest bar.

Dinner
1:15am: Spinach dal with chia seeds, feta cheese on riced cauliflower, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

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

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#2401: Friday, December 6: No comment

Post 2401

- 8 years and 340 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I've got nothing today, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/5/19):         200.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is not a surprise. I had thought having spent almost all my waking hours yesterday eating, that I was in for a weight gain, and now I'm seeing it. I am 8.3 pounds heavier than I was at my ten year low, which I was at exactly eight weeks ago. I don't know if I'll lose weight this weekend, but it is definitely on my mind.

Food Log

Breakfast
7:45pm: Bacon, eggs and brussel sprouts with cheddar cheese.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
12:15am: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, homemade mayonnaise, Spring Mix Greens, cabbage), almonds, and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 74+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2400: Thursday, December 5: Doing nearly nothing

Post 2400

- 8 years and 339 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

In the eleven-and-a-half years I've lived in the Syracuse area, the weather has not kept me from doing anything that I had to do or wanted to do. I am a little bit proud of that.

I don't enjoy cold weather. I don't, in general, enjoy (or do) any Winter-specific activities (other than travel to get away from the cold weather).

Tonight, though, with a very light snow, I just wasn't feeling it, and I stayed home, and finished watching Season 1 of The Crown (which I am enjoying).

I could have spent my time more productively. I could have done so many things, but I didn't and I'm not worrying about it at all.

One thing I do regret: All that down time, I spent the whole time eating. I think I ate more, quantitatively in volume and calories, than I did on Thanksgiving, and maybe more than I've eaten in a long time.

So it goes. I'll pay for it tomorrow, on the scale, no doubt.
Or maybe not. I'm lucky. We'll see.

I did buy a big orange suitcase for my upcoming trip. I'll have to be very good tomorrow, or risk having to buy new clothes.

I'm very grateful for a sense of humor right now.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/4/19):         200.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Third day in a row at this weight. I don't like it!.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:05pm:

Vegetarian sloppy Joe (Quorn Grounds, spinach, kale, Wegman's Diavolo Sauce) with chia and hemp seeds, on spaghetti squash with shaved parmesan. Not shown: Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grains bread with guacamole.

Snack
8:15pm: Almonds and cheddar cheese, cottage cheese and a Quest bar.

Lunch
10:50pm: Prosciutto and kimchi; walnuts and Greek yogurt.

Dinner
11:05pm: Scrambled eggs with bacon on salad: Spring Mix greens, cabbage, walnuts and homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.;

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#2399: Wednesday, December 4: But that was yesterday

Post 2399

- 8 years and 338 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

I was almost going to 'No Comment' this post.

The only reason I'm not is due to a change from yesterday, when I stated how I showed restraint in not buying a bass to take with me in my coming travels. Today, I did just that.

The reason being I realized something today: I was not going to be able to pack the Steinberger. It is as small as a full-scale bass can be, but it still will not fit in even a large checkable piece of luggage.

The solution is to pack an un-bolted bolt-on-neck bass - the neck can be packed along the diagonal of the orange, hard-sided large suitcase I will be buying from Amazon.

The next thing was to choose a bolt-on bass. I have two (of the five four-string basses I own). One is the eponymous Reverend that got me my nickname, the other is my modded Precision.

They are both precious to me (and would be very expensive to replace).

Today I decided it was worth $200 to bring a good bass with me that I wouldn't care if it broke or went missing during the eleven weeks I'll be out of state.
I ended up buying the best cheap bass I know of, on sale, and a set of the strings I use, for $215 delivered.

If the bass makes it back from the trip, I can easily sell it for a super-low price, which will recover some of my investment, but it is less expensive than renting a terrible instrument for that amount of time - and they're all terrible.

I am thankful for the wherewithal to do this.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/3/19):         200.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

The same weight? I thought I'd lose some today, given I was on-plan the second day in a row. Not that there's anything wrong with today's weight, it is so close to my original goal weight that I should be cheering, but I haven't weighed this much in ten weeks! And, to be honest, I feel like my weight is down - but it isn't. Then I got a buzz on at Shifty's and couldn't stop eating when I got home, so the same or worse tomorrow.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:35pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, homemade mayonnaise, Spring Mix greens, cabbage, walnuts), and avocado toast with Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grains bread.

Lunch
10:05pm, : A slice of pepperoni pizza.

Dinner
12:45am: Almonds and shaved parmesan cheese, prosciutto and kimchi, and a Quest bar and cottage cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; a lot of Jameson's Irish whiskey

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#2398: Tuesday, December 3: Some practical matters

Post 2398

- 8 years and 337 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

Last week I worked out my car problems. The car was tested hard over the long Thanksgiving Day weekend, and came through very well. It's fine, at least until the next thing goes wrong. But now I have a mechanic I trust if that happens.

I went to the post office to put in my insurance claim, for the fourth time, for my new hearing aids. This should do the trick. I went because I also had a question about how to deal with my mail while I'm away for eleven straight weeks - the PO will only hold your mail for thirty days, max - and found out the answer is to have it forwarded for the time I'm gone.

I also solved another problem concerning my upcoming travel: Getting my two prescription medicines while I'm away from home.

The solution was in the timing and the pharmacy: Getting my thirty-day thyroid hormone supplement filled at Walmart provided the answer to both, in fact.

Thirty days from today will be January 2, 2020. I will be in LA, and will refill December 30, 2020, by going into a Walmart there with my prescription bottle and having the prescription refilled there. I will repeat this on January 30, 2020, when I will again be in LA. At that same time, I will refill my other prescription, a low-dose statin with a ninety-day refill. It will be a week early to refill it, and that should be no problem at all.

I've been going 'round and 'round over bringing a bass with me this trip. I almost bought a cheap one, just to bring with me, using black Friday deals, but I cannot justify it. I need to get rid of basses, not buy more. Rare restraint on my part.

Due to things not me, I am Fool has not practiced in the last couple of weeks - and that makes me sad. I really think I have been mourning the loss of the band's performing and having good rehearsals this entire year.

I did get some playing time at tonight's open mic at the Limp Lizard BBQ, but, although he's  a great guy, and I've known him for a decade now, the singer/guitarist who led the set has such a vanilla delivery, it was somewhat unsatisfying. But as a social occasion, it was great. I got into a conversation with a young bass player, saw lots of friends, including my non-playing friend Debbie, and that is what makes those Tuesdays at LLL (third 'L' is for Liverpool) really worthwhile and enjoyable.


After, though, while on my way to the next open mic, I began to feel an urgency to take a dump, and fearing - for no particular reason - that it might be diarrhea, I went home. It wasn't diarrhea, my fears were baseless, but I ended up staying home, preparing and eating lunch and dinner, while watching 'The Crown'.

Not a typical night - that would involve more playing and hanging out - but nearly.

And I'm grateful for that, and everything else.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/2/19):         199.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is an unwelcome surprise. I had thought, with my good eating yesterday, that I would lose weight. Oh, well, nothing succeeds as planned.

Food Log

Breakfast
5:35pm, at CoreLife Eatery:

Korean BBQ Pork: Kale, quinoa, kimchi, cucumbers, spicy broccoli, Sriracha sprouts, fried egg, slow-roasted pork, and Korean bbq sauce.

Lunch
10:45pm:

Veggie sloppy Joe  (Quorn grounds, Wegman's Diavolo sauce, spinach and kale) on broccoli with shaved parmesan cheese). Not shown: Avocado toast (with Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grains bread).

Dinner
1:05am: Almonds and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

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

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#2397: Monday, December 2: Thanksgiving weekend review

Post 2397

- 8 years and 336 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

My Thursday drive from Liverpool, NY to Sharon, MA was pretty easy. There was some traffic, but nothing odious, and the weather wasn't pleasant most of the way.

But I was delivered to a Thanksgiving feast that couldn't be beat (yes, I listened to Alice's Restaurant on the way).

I get great satisfaction being with my family. I really wish we all lived near each other and could have family get-togethers often (not just more often, but often).

Something about sharing space with those with whom you have the greatest shared history puts me in a certain pleasant frame of mind that is a bit different than other pleasant frames of mind I find myself in in other situations.

It is self-generated, true, but the feeling is turned on in the company of my relatives.

Friday was relaxed and rewarding, in that nothing happened but I did see a lot of good TV and movies. We skipped going out to the movies for dormancy and a little day-drinking.

Saturday, on the other hand, wasn't easy in any way. Circumstances necessitated driving to Brooklyn and then driving home instead of driving straight home. Traffic was bad - at times, especially when we got close to New York City, really bad.
Traffic around New York City was so bad that Waze routed the trip to Syracuse around Manhattan, instead of through it, as it has every other time. This time, I detoured through Staten Island, a first when heading from any part of New York City to points North.

The usually four-hour trip to Brooklyn took a little more than eight hours. But, thanks to the curious route home, that trip took a more typical five hours. The weather, during all thirteen hours of driving, was pleasant, so there was that.

I did miss everything I had wanted to do at home Saturday afternoon and evening. I got home at ten sharp, exhausted. I took Sunday off, which was easy, because shortly after I got home, it started snowing, and that storm lasted until Monday. I watched more TV.

Today, my dental appointment was cancelled due to the weather, I had a phone meeting to discuss portfolios, and spent a few hours in discussions with my medical insurance company's customer service about the claim for my hearing aids, which I have been working since late September. I think it was figured out - we'll see. And I cooked a bit.

I am grateful for my family, my circumstances which allow me to be helpful, and my easy life.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/26/19):        197.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

I consider my gain under two pounds to be a major victory, given the abandon with which I ate over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Now that I'm home, I'll lose that quickly.

Food Log

Breakfast
6:00pm: Blue-green protein smoothie Plus! with almonds, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, blueberries, whey powder (24g 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
9:15pm:

Vegetarian Sloppy Joe (Quorn Grounds, Wegman's Diavolo Sauce, organic kale and spinach) on top of riced cauliflower. Not shown: a Quest bar.

Dinner
1:05am: Kimchi and prosciutto and almonds.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 22 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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#2396: Wednesday, November 26: Happy Thanksgiving

Post 2396

- 8 years and 331 days since I started this blog -

  

Daily Comment

The gig tonight was fun, and the band was re-hired (although I'm just a sub and will be in Ecuador when that gig goes down). The only downside was that I got myself all balled up with my eating schedule, and just grabbed a couple of Quest bars, in other words, not enough good food.

After, I went to Shifty's (hungry) and brought my amp in, (as requested last week), and became the unofficial house bass player. for that, I got some good playing time. Of course, the kitchen was closed, but they still had the special left, so I finally got some food, although not 'choice'.

Tomorrow is a travel day (Thanksgiving), and I won't be coming back until Saturday, so this is my last post until Monday.

I will give thanks (officially) at my sister's, and almost the whole family will be there (except Alex, who I'll FaceTime with at some point.
I have a lot to be thankful for, and I hope you do, too.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/26/19):        197.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Oh, well. My hopes for a bigger loss before the long holiday weekend, during which I will eat lots of off-plan things without concern or regret came to little. Still, I can't complain about my weight (can I?) (No).

Food Log

Breakfast
7:05pm: A Quest bar.

Lunch
8:45pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
11:05pm, at Shifty's: Beef burrito and potato chips.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 32+ oz.; Jameson's Irish whiskey and Jim Beam

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