Off I went, into the night, out to walk up and down Bourbon-not-Bourbon Street in Old Orleans, seeing as how I had to pass the time for a few hours whilst waiting for Mattie 3.0, a character from one of my own stories I had written years earlier who had been defictionalized, to finish his shift at the virtual reality sex-porium where I had gone to get my instructions for the next part of my journey after Captain Sandy had delivered me to what was now a port city of East America.
(And if any of that confuses you, then you must have missed the earlier missives where I explained my trip through the portal created by an app on my cell phone that landed me in 2084.)
I was hesitant to interact with anyone, as I had just been schooled to be careful not to say anything that might pinpoint me as an outsider ... so I made every effort to avoid eye contact as I shuffled about in the shadows.
I had been to New Orleans for a few visits before I jumped through time to land at this re-creation of the town, now situated near what I had known as Tuscaloosa, Alabama -- and now located on the Bay of Mississippi -- the result of drastic geographical changes brought on by the fracking-induced New Madrid Quake of 2023.
The briefing I had gotten on the boat ride from the Florida Isles had prepared me for the successful attempt of the founders to capture the old vibes of the city. The drinking ... the loud music ... the good food ... all of them were fully on display, and there was an air of throwing caution to the wind in order to maximize the fun that was all too familiar to me.
Which is why I was so surprised when the stranger spoke from the alleyway where I had briefly stopped. "They *almost* got it right, eh? But you and I both know that something's off."
An old man stepped out of the shadow and into the dim light that was streaming out from the open doors of a second floor balcony above us.
He continued. "I can see it in your eyes that you know the difference between Old and New when it comes to the two competing towns of Orleans."
Our conversation that night continued ... but I'll have to tell the tale of it on the last day of the month next since the loophole when the VitalNet updates in the final hours of each month is closing. Until our next communication, I remain Ilion -- the new name I've taken on here in 2084 -- communicating with you via Troy in 2018's social media, having been brought to the future by t1a7n72.lif.
Whatever the year is when you are reading this ... stay safe!
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 7/30/18
Circumstances were such that I had to cancel my original plans to return to central PA from whence I came (maybe in 2019? maybe for a 30th high school reunion?) -- although, let's face it, had I made it home, I would have had to deal with epic flooding instead of my planned itinerary, so maybe all things work out the way they should ...
Instead, the previous nine days were all about spending extra time with Casanova (who, as you might have heard, recently, and very unexpectedly, lost all of his vision in one eye and most of his vision in the other) and watching movies I hadn't seen in forever (like 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks') or remakes of things I remember from my youth (like 'Chips') ... and don't get me started on the modern marvels 'Paddington' and 'Paddington 2'. By the way -- another key ingredient of this plan? Doing my best to avoid the news (whether the mainstream kind ... or the alternative kind [which I think is what the conspiracy theorists of today prefer to be called]).
Alack and alas, all such things must come to an end, and today I returned to work -- where, happily, none of my passwords had expired (three cheers for single sign-on)! All I can say is that couch-cuddling with the puppies for multiple movie matinees during the traditional work week, you will be missed (at least until the next period of time off when the holiday season rolls around).
ALL HAIL PADDINGTON (THE BEST PART OF MY RECENT COMFORT 'CATION):
https://www.paddington.com/us/
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PHRASE "ALACK AND ALAS":
https://wikidiff.com/alack/alas
HUZZAH FOR THE MIRACLE THAT IS SINGLE SIGN-ON!:
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10451-what-is-single-sign-on.html
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/29/18
... just the usual back to school discussions.
Although, I have to admit that "usual" is a relative term, as we've come a long way since the days of heading off to the local Hills department store for the best deals on clothing -- and, if you were lucky, different colored duotang folders. Plus here in the SoFlo, it's no longer about waiting until after Labor Day for youngsters to have to recalibrate toward being studious again, because the local elementary school that I see on my daily walk has a sign out front that says kids are coming back on August 15th -- in just two weeks. (Note to self: prepare to monitor the front lawn for the purpose of yelling at children to get off of it, as is required of a man of my age.)
Nowadays, it's about scheduling your shopping for whenever the state tax holiday is happening (this upcoming weekend, for us Floridians), previewing what new policies are in place now that schools are being "hardened" (i.e. turned into mini prisons where students get locked in safely and securely in an attempt to minimize the risk of being shot dead somewhere between 'riting and 'rithmetic), and fighting over where to store "the long gun" (i.e. the killing machine) that the "school resource officer" (i.e. the designated killer-killer) now gets to store on campus OR in his (or her?) car -- the options in the aforementioned argument actually happening in a local government nearby with regards to an elementary school.
Like I said -- just the "usual" back to school conversations (and by that, I mean "usual" for the modern era).
WOO HOO! NO SALES TAX THIS WEEKEND!!:
http://floridarevenue.com/backtoschool/Pages/default.aspx
IT'S TIME FOR SOME "HARDENING" OF SOME SCHOOLS!!:
https://www.news4jax.com/news/what-exactly-does-hardening-schools-mean
WHERE GOES THE "LONG GUN" ... MODERN BACK TO SCHOOL PLANNING!!:
https://southfloridagaynews.com/Local/commissioners-discuss-gun-safe-at-wilton-elementary.html
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/28/18
... it was ONE honey-nut cheerio.
So why the hell did it attract 400 ants?
Note: the accompanying photo is a "stock" one from the google image search and is only *representative* of what happened on the kitchen floor yesterday -- I swept the actual one out the back door before I thought about taking a snapshot.
Additional note: on said kitchen floor yesterday, it might have only been 40 ants and not 400, but it was many more than I expected.
Lookit -- I understand that, with a kitchen door that opens up right into the wide wild world of Florida flora and fauna, I recognize that a spill in that room is going to likely result in an invasion of the Formicidae kind. I just would have rather that the ants had sent an exploratory expedition instead of the whole damn worker colony. I'd much prefer to sleep soundly thinking that me and my two legs have some kind of superiority over the six legged creatures that really rule the world.
THE YOUTUBE SAYS THOSE ANTS LOVE THE HONEY NUT CHEERIO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EHgQzPtIAU
SPEAKING OF ANTS AND CHEERIOS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5xlQsY-s1U
SO THEY APPARENTLY SMELLED IT AS IT FELL:
https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/09/10/ants-have-an-exceptionally-high-def-sense-of-smell/
Monday, July 23, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 7/23/18
(And, as a reminder, Madge is in the trash because this CD version is also already in the overall music collection, and one has to purge at some time in one's life.)
Of course, if I'm being completely accurate, that might be Miss Dita there in the trash, as ... you know ... she was kind of the hostess for the album. (Yes, I am aware that my referring to it as an album is hinting at my old age -- and kids, albums came before cassettes but after eight-tracks. Ask your grandparents -- or a hipster DJ -- for more info.)
As for the tune I'll choose to feature in honor of this item going the way of the empty yogurt container is one that speaks to *this* day and age the same as it did to the 1992 era when this fifth album of hers was released: 'Why's It So Hard' -- and you needn't be worried that a song with *that* title on an album named 'Erotica' might be pornographic, as she saved that approach and her usage of double entendres (and single entendres) ... for other tracks.
LOVE YOUR SISTER ... LOVE YOUR BROTHER ... NOW!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnQdzJ_SO-8
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/22/18
The same thing that everyone everywhere in Florida is talking about (hopefully): the upcoming midterm elections.
For that matter, my wish is certainly that everyone everywhere in every state is talking about the importance of them .. but for purposes of this post, it's the specific dates for my new home state that are being featured -- especially seeing as how the deadline for registering for the primary is just now a few days away.
To all those who may be voting for the first time, or who may have been the type to sit out voting except for the "big" years, or who don't participate because they believe the conspiracy theorists who promote the propaganda that all elections are rigged in hopes that the franchised will voluntarily disenfranchise themselves because they think their vote doesn't matter ... please know that your vote matters AND that your vote has consequences AND that the old adage about all politics being local has a certain ring of truth to it.
Make sure your paperwork is in order ... then research the races ... and then get ready to VOTE!
HERE COME THE MIDTERMS:
https://www.usa.gov/midterm-state-and-local-elections
HERE COME THE FLORIDA MIDTERMS:
http://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/election-dates/
WHY THE MIDTERMS MATTER:
http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/371415-why-the-coming-midterms-are-so-important
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/21/18
... the trash people have moved into the house directly behind us, and I'm not happy about it.
Mind you, I understand that it's all relative ... and when you look at this picture of the back yard as it currently exists, you might not even notice that tarp in the distance that is covering up a truck full of ... well ... trash. I zoomed in for the second picture (which will replace my usual links-in-triplicate that often accompany these posts on the blog/on the Facebook), where it's a little more visible.
I also completely understand that there's probably little I can control over what they do back there ('cause ... 'Murica!) -- but I still get steamed that the first thing they did upon moving in was to tear out all the pretty bougainvillea and then remove branch after branch of the trees in their yard ... which I consider more of an affront when I think about how much greenery our yard lost during Irma almost a year ago (greenery that brings all the birds to the yard -- or that USED to, prior to nature and the trash people doing their respective damages).
And if the deforestation and the parking of the truck with the giant pile of trash in the back yard isn't bad enough, there is also an incessant banging at all hours of the night -- at 9pm when it scares the puppies who are doing their post-dinner constitutional routine ... and at 2am when the only type of banging that *should* be happening is the freaky outdoor sex kind. (My best guess for what's going on is that the amateur trash people are of the "scrappers" ilk, and that the noises are the byproduct of "breaking down" their trash into pieces of metal to haul away for money).
My only hope is that the foliage grows back tenfold there in the spot between yards that we call no man's land (which is where the giant golden orb spiders live, by the way) ... or that code enforcement comes a-callin' ...
Friday, July 20, 2018
Random Flashback for Friday 7/20/18
And now ... the proof.
The funny thing is she decided to throw a little shade (as the kids say) by writing on the back: "me, 5 fish ... Ashlyn, 4 fish ... papa, 1 (smallest)". To translate that, she was kind of bragging that she both outfished her granddaughter (my niece) AND her long time end-of-life partner (also known as Skip), who only managed to snag a the tiniest fish out of this bunch.
This being Montana and all, I have a feeling that all ten fish were eaten that weekend. Just a hunch.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 7/18/18
Used in a sentence: "I'm starting to understand the appeal of Prison Toilet Wine, seeing as how we inadvertently starting making Mango Flavored Trash Can Wine this season."
In other news, the accompanying photo does indeed show the last mango for this year -- and, as previous pics have documented, we had a bumper crop for the first time since moving in in 2015. (Ironically, that increase in yield was likely due to the damage the back yard sustained with Hurricane Irma last September -- as there is now much less foliage competing for the same sun and water.)
Not every mango makes it into the house (to be turned into salsa, or eaten as fresh fruit, or cut up into chunks and stored in the freezer to become a smoothie when it starts to get really really hot and humid again ... at the height of hurricane season), because some fall to the ground and crack open (enticing the ants and bugs and 'possums) and others get eaten by critters whilst hanging on the tree. Those reject-mangos go into the special green yard waste trash can, which, quite simply, doesn't get emptied as often as the regular or recycle cans.
And that is why, with friendly assists from high temps and rain water -- and as evidenced by a certain sweet (albeit slightly rotten) odor -- any guests at ye olde new homestead before the end of the year might just get to imbibe in a little Mango Flavored Trash Can Wine (unless they are chicken and want to opt for the smoothie instead).
I INADVERTENTLY STARTED MAKING A VERSION OF THIS:
https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/how-to-make-prison-wine-how-to-make-pruno
MAYBE THE ONES IN THE FREEZER WILL END UP AS ALCOHOLIC SMOOTHIES:
https://moonshiners.club/homemade-mango-wine/
SO APPARENTLY FERMENTATION ALSO WORKS FOR CHUTNEY:
https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/natural-fermentation/introduction-culturing-fermenting-fruit/
Monday, July 16, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 7/16/18
As will happen over on the Facebook (hence my use of quotes), Stacy Dasher Sherry got offended at a post of the Treasonous Trump kind, declared me a snowflake, and informed me that she must delete me.
My first thought was "who the hell is Stacy Dasher Sherry and why was she on my friends' list in the *first* place". After turning to the google for assistance (seeing as how I could no longer research her on Facebook after she did the social media equivalent of storming off like a petulant child), I was able to locate her photo over on the LinkedIn.
Unfortunately, though, that picture didn't really help me too much -- and after considering that maybe she was one of those fake Russian accounts so in vogue on Zuckerberg's platform -- I did remember that I had recently accepted her friend request ... but only because it looked like many people I knew in my former hometown of Lebanon had also already done so. With just a little more googling, I *did* find a Lebanon connection in what appears to be a online condolence she offered when Lebanonian Vera Eckert passed.
Having established that hometown connection, I turned to my high school yearbook, but alas there wasn't a Stacy Dasher in it. The only other piece of info I had to connect the dots was that both LinkedIn and the condolence page listed her town as Orange, CA -- which gave me fresh appreciation for her poor-person-had-plastic-surgery appearance, but still provoked absolutely no memory of a shared past.
By the way, the image accompanying this post is her as a polyps about to be removed, seeing as how that which apparently so upset her was my declaration that I had decided that those who have their head so far up Trump's ass might as well go ahead and attach themselves to his colon and embrace a shared group name of polyps -- although, in my defense, the polyps post was hidden in a text next to a beautiful photo of homemade strawberry shortcake because I was making the point that people should not bitch and moan about all the food shots I share on social media as I could be expressing my opinion about everything else instead.
Also by the way, in the insult competition where "snowflakes" go up against "polyps", I'll enjoy being referred to as a uniquely-beautiful-one-of-a-kind-thing over being known as an obstacle-in-the-colon-canal-around-which-shit-has-to-navigate any day of the week.
So Stacy Dasher Sherry, whomever the f*ck you are, I feel that I can confidently say that you won't be missed.
THE ONLY CONNECTION TO FIGURING OUT WHY THIS POLYPS KNOWS ME:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/vera-eckert-obituary?pid=118190227&view=guestbook
BEAUTIFUL ... UNIQUE ... ONE-OF-A-KIND ... DOESN'T SEEM SO INSULTING:
https://mashable.com/2017/12/30/snowflake-photographs-make-winter-seem-fun/#jlJA76qWEOqD
SHALL. SUFFER. DEATH!:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2381
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/15/18
The swearing in of the first female fire chief here in the FTL -- which happened a few days ago.
Lookit -- there may be a day in the future where the fact that she is the first *she* won't be something worth discussing, but that's not quite the world we live in ... yet. By the way, it turns out Rhoda Mae Kerr is used to breaking glass ceilings this way (as she did so previously in Little Rock, AR and Austin, TX), and now she's back in the city where she started her life of fighting fires to take complete charge.
And here's to breaking records that should have been broken years ago. Welcome (back) to the FTL, Chief Kerr!
BREAKING RECORDS IN THE FTL:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-sb-fire-chief-rhoda-mae-kerr-20180625-story.html
FOR ALL THE WOMEN IN THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES INDUSTRY:
https://www.i-women.org/
WHERE CEILINGS ARE STILL UNBROKEN GLASS (LIST AS OF NOV 16):
http://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-woman-has-never-held-2016-11
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/14/18
[... remember, a rave once a month on a day I normally dedicate to ranting is good for my health to give my body and soul a break from all that anger ...]
... guess what today was?
If you said the bi-annual book sale day, then you'd be correct.
If you said one of the days of the year when I'm happiest to grow my tactile library (you can take your nooks and your e-readers and give them to your grandkids thank you very much, for I like to feel a page getting turned), you'd also be correct.
If you said that time when I brag about how I can haul off ALL of those items for a low low price (this year, all for $11!), you'd be batting a thousand with your correctness score.
If you said it's the start of a few days of frantically trying to figure out how to work all those tomes into the existing overflowing shelves of books in the batcave and the hallway and the guest bedroom and the kitchen, I'd also accept that answer.
Here's to the next event in February of 2019!
THANK YOU FRIEND OF THE LIBRARY:
https://www.friendsofthewiltonmanorslibrary.org/
LOOKS LIKE EBOOKS ARE BECOMING PASSE (MAYBE)?:
https://www.inc.com/glenn-leibowitz/heres-why-an-ebook-can-never-live-up-to-joy-of-reading-an-old-fashioned-hardcover.html
I MIGHT HAVE TO TRY SOME OF THESE:
https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/clean-and-organize/21-beautiful-book-storage-ideas-pictures
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 7/11/18
Used in a sentence: "I don't know if I'm in on the joke necessarily, but the cashier tonight at the local 'Lucky's' announced loudly that I was a Chia-Troy when I stood in line after coming in to the store after having been soaked by the storm in one of those torrential downpours that the SoFlo gets every now and then."
Prior to that particular exchange, I was fully prepared to use this post tonight to humble-brag about my coping skills (courtesy of a little bit of my understanding all about cognitive therapy as learned from my undergrad psychology-major days at the end of the last century), but hey -- she made me smile ... and I'm afraid that there will be more opportunities to practice my coping skills in the days ahead (I'm in a bit of a Job phase right now -- as often happens toward the end of a decade [don't get me started on my 7's theory about how something always happens that year that completely controls the next decade]).
So ... if a little rain on my noggin makes my groomed hairs (always cut to the half-setting on the clippers at the barber) look like a Chia-Troy in bloom, so be it.
CH-CH-CH-CHIA:
https://chia.com/chia-pets/
LOOKIT -- IT'S MOST DEFINITELY WHY I'M STILL ALIVE:
https://www.cognitivetherapynyc.com/What-Is-Cognitive-Therapy.aspx
'CAUSE THE CASHIER THERE MADE ME SMILE:
https://www.luckysmarket.com/
Monday, July 9, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 7/9/18
Remember -- this isn't some kind of protest, but just the realization that, seeing as how we also have the CD in the collection, holding on to a duplicate of her release in cassette tape format from the last millennium is no longer necessary.
As for this album -- her third -- from the heyday of my life known as the late 80's -- the song I'll choose from it to accompany tonight's goodbye post is the rallying cry to save the world for the boys and girls born into it by choosing love not war. Because, in a time like ours, is there ever a message more relevant as one that affirms that 'Love' [is what] 'Makes the World Go 'Round'!?
REACH OUT FOR SOMEONE'S HAND:
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/8/18
The islands. The ones in danger (again).
Poor Puerto Rico is yet again in the cone of concern with regards to the second hurricane of the season (although it's looking more and more like it will only have to deal with the remnants of a tropical storm when it passes in the next two days). Please consider sending the Trumpster some paper towels *now* so that FEMA will be ready to sop up any necessary storm related damage. (Snark aside -- our thoughts are with the still struggling island and its peoples and its rum.)
Then there's Haiti, currently going up in flames over a rise in gas prices. If you're not aware, the SoFlo is chock full of Haitians (at least up until said Trumpster follows through on his plans to deport them all back from whence they came) ... so unrest in their mother-land hits the 'hood hard. And for those of you anti-immigrant enough to not care, know that there are several church groups and missionaries stranded amidst the danger who could use some of those patented "thoughts and prayers".
The only good news this weekend seems to be across the world over in Thailand with some of the soccer team finally emerging from the cave -- although, sadly, I'm pretty sure that they are doing so too late to play in that there World Cup thing for which the Russians have likely pre-determined the winner via Facebook memes and such.
EVEN THOUGH DOWNGRADED, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A MESS:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/puerto-rico-prepares-remnants-beryl-some-still-remain-without-power-n889721
SPEAKING OF MESSES:
https://www.wsoctv.com/news/copy-of-haiti-suspends-fuel-price-hike-after-protesters-riot/785506999
FOUR WILD BOARS FREED ... NINE MORE TO GO!:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/08/world/asia/thai-cave-rescue.html
Saturday, July 7, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/7/18
... I may have discovered a fatal flaw with my favorite newer Facebook feature -- the snooze button (aka the #stfu button).
All y'all are coming out of your 30 day timeouts and you haven't changed your anti-social-social-media behavior, and so you're ending up right back in the timeout ... lesson completely unlearned.
Which brings me to the aforementioned flaw -- there's no notification to you to inform you that I just made you shut the f*ck up ... just a warning to me in my feed that you are about to become unsnoozed a few weeks after I activated the feature on your account. Sure, MY life in the prior 30 days has been peaceful and calm and unstressful in a way not felt since the earlier part of this decade, but what's the point if you are just going to come off of your time out rarin' and roarin' and misbehavin' to just end up right back in the equivalent of the Facebook corner (if the Facebook corner had a fully functional ball gag).
DISCLAIMER: My use of "you" in this post couldn't possibly mean "you" the reader ... unless, of course, "you" know that "you" are one of the ones to whom I am most definitely referencing and then the content of this rant most certainly applies exactly and specifically to "you" (and there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the "you" toward the end of that disclaimer is the plural form of "you")!
ADDITIONAL DISCLAIMER: As fond as I am of this snooze-a-person feature, I'm not endorsing the enhanced version of it that was just recently announced where you can snooze keywords. Basically, I make you #stfu because I believe that temporary insanity is a thing and that hope isn't completely lost on you until you snap and become the latest white man terrorist acting out your shoot-em-up video games OR you get busted via viral video for being your now-free-to-be-hateful-self in public in a moment when someone has a cell phone running at the same time. Keyword search seems a little more head-in-the-sand and a little more likely to be abused by BigZuckerbergBrother and his ilk in a "we are the future (?!) propagandists your mother warned you about" kind of way.
So where was I? Right -- I guess I'll just have to send "thoughts and prayers" that one day you will be a human again ... and until then, enjoy your snooze -- and by "enjoy your snooze", I mean that *I* will be the one most enjoying the fact that I snoozed you.
WHEN TIME OUTS DON'T WORK:
https://www.parents.com/kids/discipline/time-out/when-time-outs-dont-work/
A PITHY SURVEY OF THE MOMENT:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/danielkibblesmith/shut-the-fuck-up
TAKING THE SNOOZE FEATURE TO THE NEXT LEVEL:
https://mashable.com/2018/06/27/facebook-keyword-snooze/#BlpVIQb8QPqg
Friday, July 6, 2018
Random Flashback for Friday 7/6/18
You can read other posts that detail my complicated relationship with the lady in this photo (my bio-moms, yo!), but for now, just know that she regularly sent me cards that included photos of her life in Montana (and other western states when she traveled).
She was also super-good at being sure to write on the back of the pictures, which is how I know that *this* particular shot in the wild is from a trip she took with some of her grandkids to Browns Lake, Montana. As upcoming pics in this special twenty-year old summer series will show, it was a place for horseback riding and fishing -- lots and lots of fishing (as you'll see in the photo planned for two weeks from now). Until then, here's my (late) momma, happy in her environment, circa summer 1998.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Random Wordplay for Wednesday 7/4/18
Used in a sentence: "I am excited to announce that I have a goal for the fourth year of my weight loss (?) journey: 4000 (or less) in year 4!"
In case you weren't following along, this whole thing started back in July of 2015 -- and I made some kind of progress for a bit (until my doc told me that fat people can't just start running without hurting their knees), but then things started to fall apart, and my fortnightly check-ins started trending upwards instead of the way I wanted. I decided I needed a breather -- and then I accidentally took off pretty much the whole third year, only weighing myself once a season and converting that to ounces because I didn't like the number I was seeing displayed in pounds.
Which brings me to the kick-off of year 4. I've decided to keep the ounces ('cause I gotta be me), but to weigh in monthly as a new frequency for the check-ins. And, most importantly, I'm going to apply everything I've previously learned to get my desired results: to be 4000 OUNCES (or less) by the end of year 4 in July of 2019. And it will be as easy as A-B-C-D ('cause 4 things in year 4 only makes sense).
- Ambulating on the regular (I have one hour walks in the am planned for 5 days a week, and one hour lunch walks 6 days a week)
- Bringing back my dumbbells (with my "work-whistle" workouts M-F at the end of the day and special bicep curl lifts on W and F)
- Controlling portions (especially at lunch when I tend to eat more and at fast food restaurants, when I make the high-caloric choices)
- Drinking fewer calories (with more zero calorie drinks all the time and a little less alcohol those nights when cocktails are part of the menu)
NOTE: Not on the list -- reducing my bacon intake (at least not until my first heart attack). And ... here ... we ... go ... with an official kick off weigh in of ... 4256!
YOU CAN DO A LOT WITH A DUMBBELL:
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PORTIONS:
OH THOSE LIQUID CALORIES:
Monday, July 2, 2018
Random (UN?) Memorial for Monday 7/2/18
Scott G -- about whom there was an official recording in the latest edition of my undergrad alma mater's alumni magazine.
Mind you, Scott G probably didn't know that he had been the topic of more than one of those "where are they now" style conversations that LVC-ers of a certain age have on the regular -- particularly those who Wig-and-Buckled with him at the same time -- but sure enough, his name was near the top of that list.
It's nice to know that he's alive and well ... and my favorite part of the blurb might just be how he comes across as a dual-identity superhero type: mild mannered actuarial scientist by day and super-theatre-guy at night. Those of us who knew him expected nothing less.
Now if only Cathie W's name would show up one of these times I open up this magazine, then my life would be complete ...
GO WIG AND BUCKLE:
http://www.wigandbuckle.com/
GO LVC's THE VALLEY:
http://www.lvc.edu/alumni-giving/stay-connected/the-valley-magazine/
GO SCOTTIE G:
http://www.delcotimes.com/article/DC/20171113/ENTERTAINMENT/171119876
Sunday, July 1, 2018
JUST ONE MORE ... (odd) holiday (distraction) (July 2018)
JUST ONE MORE ... (odd) holiday (distraction).
I am willing to bet all the marbles that you might be looking for a distraction right about now. (Full disclosure: I actually don't currently own ANY marbles -- so I guess if I win the bet, I'd at least have YOUR marbles.) Lucky for you, I have this ongoing concept to embrace incremental change in order to empower folks (or just me) to stay positive and solution-focused in a day and age where problems often seem insurmountable, control often seems out of reach and apathy often seems to be running rampant ... and if most people's current status is "distraction desperately needed" as I suspect, then I'm going to be able to provide exactly what is needed.
Lucky for me -- and lucky for all of us in the aforementioned category -- the month of July happens to have all kinds of slightly official reasons to focus on anything other than the news of the day in order to otherwise occupy your mind and body and soul with something ... well ... something more distracting. My made-up holiday (MidYear's Day) isn't on any slightly official list (yet), but it didn't stop me from making sure that I spent today surrounded by quality bbq (because quality bbq is the traditional meal for MidYear's Day, as per me).
Over on the Facebook each week I'll be highlighting other special days coming up this month ... and hopefully you'll join me -- especially when it comes to flitch day (you know if you know) -- for the celebrations. Because really, isn't it true that, after all we've been through, you and I deserve just one more ... (odd) hoilday (distraction) ...
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 7/1/18
The annual MidYear's Day celebration!
In case you don't remember (or don't know) the details about this holiday I made up just a few years ago, the traditional MidYear's Day meal is bbq ... and the traditional activity is to reflect and to recalibrate and to recommit to any resolutions you may have made six months ago while there is still time to salvage your efforts.
Oh -- and, to the best of your ability, you are to somehow incorporate bacon and Guinness into any festivities.
In lieu of the usual companion-links-in-triplicate, please find the second plate of bbq below (or you're already seeing both plates if you are perusing this post over on the Facebook). And happy MidYear's Day to you and yours from me and mine!
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