HALF WAY HOME

DAY 15

• This morning's weight:      237.4       
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           134             
• Breakfast:                                               

      
       Migas:
       2 eggs

       1 small handful of tostado chips

       2 green onions

       2 strips of crispy bacon

       1 Roma tomato, diced
       2 tblsp salsa
       splash of EVOO and viola! Migas.

• Activities:

       Several trips to Walmart and Home Depot

       Dismantling and sanding

       Cutting and staining

       Painting 

• Lunch: Noon

       Leftover tossed salad and vinegar & oil dressing

• Activities:

        Swept garage and patio       

        Moping (That's pronounced with a long "O". There are 2 "Ps" in mopping - get a clue.) 

• Dinner:

         You're not going to believe this:

         BAR NUTS - I got this recipe from a Food Network show,

          The Best Thing I Ever Ate, 

               Walnuts, Cashews, Pecans, Almonds - toast w/ Rosemary

               Toss with brown sugar, cayenne pepper and butter

          I ate so many, I decided it was dinner.

• Snack:

        Fat-free Cottage Cheese

        Ruby Red Grapefruit segments

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     

     I began work today on another devotional, this one on "Discipline." It was recommended by my wife. She sent me a devotional she had read online. Of course, last Sunday's sermon was on discipline as well. When I went online to get the definition, I got a pop-up ad for a set of 6 CDs on "Self-Discipline," with a special $1.00 thirty-day introductory offer. If I'm not satisfied I can return them and get my $1.00 back! During the check-out portion of ordering  the CD's online, my computer froze and failed to respond. Was it God telling me not to spend the $39.95 (and that was half-price) but to listen to His Word and become self-disciplined? The online marketing company lost the sale. Look for my new post on Discipline at the "From Where I Sit" blog listed on the right side of this page. It should be posted by this afternoon. If not, maybe God will give me my $1.00 back.

          The restoration of my sister's charcoal grille is what I got accomplished today. It was a labor of love and God's proof to me that I could finish what I started. Now, I just need to apply that to my writing and my weight-loss program.

     My overall grade for today: C with a bullet!

     How did you do?        

WHERE DID I GET OFF TRACK?

DAY 14

• This morning's weight:      236.8      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           94           
• Breakfast:                                               

       Regular instant oatmeal

       1 slice whole wheat toast

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Lunch: 1:00pm

       Leftovers:
       2 pork spare ribs
       2 small pieces of sausage
       1/2 cup potato salad
       2 deviled eggs

• Activities:

       I can't remember, and there in lies the problem.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     I really can't remember what I did today. I know I must have eaten more than what's written down here because my weight crept back up. I Skyped the grandkids in Ohio yesterday. I spoke with Art, Tiffany and Liz on the phone. I did go for a short walk, and then embarrassed by its brevity I double-time march around the house for several minutes, frightening the dogs and exhausting myself. I knew I had failed at staying on task today.

  

     The television came on early and stayed on late. Recorded programs of House, Breaking Bad, Damages and who knows what played out till my mind was numb. I did finish my book, Same Kind of Different As Me. I was exhausted by it. The story had drained me emotionally. It had convicted me about things I've wanted to do, promised to do, but just haven't gotten around to doing.


     I hope that stops now.

     

     My overall grade for today: D-

     How did you do?        

SPENT THE DAY PREPARING A FEAST

DAY 13

• This morning's weight:      236.6      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           89           
• Breakfast:                                               

       1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios

       1 cup 2% milk

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Grace Bible Fellowship

       Preparations for Dinner:
            Potato salad
            Deviled eggs
            Pinto Beans
            Tossed Salad
            Made fresh salsa
            Made Guacamole
            Finished off ribs/sausage
            Made BBQ Sauce
            Prepared peach pie
            Prepared cornbread muffins and biscuits

• Lunch: 5:00pm

       

• Activities:

            Enjoyed great food, great fellowship
            Claudia did what she does best - cleaned the kitchen.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

    
     The day began with wonderful fellowship and a great message at Grace Bible Fellowship but soon after the day became all about food... and friends and more fellowship... and then I was full, very, very full.

  

     The exciting news is that even with all the forbidden food, I gained only.2 pounds! So, back to the grindstone. And, back to writing. 

     

     My overall grade for today: A-

     How did you do?        

10 POUNDS IN 11 DAYS!

DAY 12

• This morning's weight:      236.8        
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           133            
• Breakfast:                                               

       2 slices crisp bacon

       1 cup Kashi Lean Cereal

       1 cup skim milk

       3 sliced strawberries

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Put pinto beans on to slow cook
       Washed and dried clothes

       Went to Walgreen's for nitro patch Rx

       Went to Albertson's for tonights dinner out

       Watered backyard

                                                

• Lunch: 12:30pm

       Pastrami w/Swiss on Rye

       Tossed salad leftovers

       3 Zesty Pickle Spears

• Activities:

       Smoking ribs - spare and short and sausage

       Beans are done
       Preparing to do wild rice with toasted cashews for group dinner tonight
       Need to shower before tonight, I smell of mesquite smoke

• Snack

       grapes

       Crystal light lemonade

• Activities
• Blood Sugar before dinner: N/A
• Dinner:  9PM

        Pork Wellington:

           Split tenderloin of pork, stuffed with apricots, then wrapped with

           proccuito, puffed pastry and fresh herbs served with asparagus and

           wild rice.

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     Unfortunately this is turning into a food blog. It was intended to be more about writing and reading and changing choices and character. One area I certainly have succeeded in is losing weight. Ten pounds! And, I have been able to occupy my time with things other than eating and television.


     I need to focus more on my writing and finish reading the books I brought with me. I only have several chapters remaining of Same Kind of Different as Me. I must say I was a little disappointed in the author dragging out the agonizing death to cancer of one of the main characters over 12 chapters. I suppose it was central to the story but it drove me deeper and deeper into depression. Now it has only a few chapters to lift my spirits before the final pages.


     Having dinner with Justin and Kara at their friends house was quite a diversion. There were eight of them in all. They meet Saturday nights to enjoy an exotic meal and a wildly diverse discussion. They are all teachers in their thirties. They all seem to share an affection for animals (There were five cats in the host's home) and a disdain for the school system, students and their parents. Which is why I edited the group photo and their names from these pages. 


     It was an entertaining evening — a conglomeration of Twilight Zone, The Simpson's and an assortment of reality TV shows.
  

     I look forward tomorrow to church at Grace Bible Fellowship and an early evening (5pm) dinner with Steve, Claudia, Pat, Kara and Justin. We're having a good old-fashioned Texas BBQ!

     My overall grade for today: A-

     How did you do?        

NO PAIN, NO GAIN...

DAY 11

• This morning's weight:      238      
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           98             
• Breakfast:                                               

       2 eggs

       2 Frozen Waffles

       1 1/2 cup Skim Milk

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Fixed broken latch on front screen door

       Walked to Dollar General to buy a wood rasp, nope...

       Walked back and drove to Home Depot, Isle 6

       Drove to Eastside Meat Market, got Spare Ribs and Short Ribs

       To Albertson's, got Beef Kiobasa Sausage, Corn on the Cobb,
            Corn bread muffin mix, Bacon for the Pinto Beans, Potatoes
            for the Potato Salad, Eggs for the Deviled Eggs, Peaches for
            the Peach Pie, Vanilla Ice Cream for the top, Serrano Chiles
            for my homemade salsa, Avocados for the Guacamole
             — did I forget anything for the BBQ Dinner Sunday Night?

• Snack: 

       Kashi Trail Mix bar                                                 

• Activities:

        Fixed sticky front door

        Art called with the great news he and Joan are now grandparents

        Claudia stopped by and took pictures of the remaining flowers in
             the garden before they're all gone.

• Lunch: 5:00pm

       Tuna fish sandwich on the new thin Sandwich Rounds

       10 Potato Chips (It's either eat 'em or toss 'em...)

       1/2 avocaado

• Activities:

       45 min. watching Castle (fstfwrd past commercials)

       Another chapter of same kind of different...

• Snack:

       1/2 cup tuna salad

       saltine crackers

       grapes

       2% milk 1 cup

• Activities
• Blood Sugar before dinner: N/A
• Dinner:
• Activities:
• Snack:

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     Grandchildren have been one of the best blessings God has given me. Last night I made reservations for Caedmon (Buddy) to fly to San Antonio for 3 weeks this summer. Being only 11, I must pay an additional fee for an "accompanied minor." Delta now charges an additional $100 each way to permit Buddy to fly by himself. It would have only cost $50 to check him as luggage. In the final analysis, he's worth it!

     Here is a picture of Art Snow new granddaughter, Chloe Otto, born yesterday in Zug, Switzerland to Sarah and Eric Otto. Lucky Joan, Art's wife and now also a grandmother, got to be present for the birth.

     Yesterday was the first red meat on my diet. The first potatoes, with the exception of a few chips. The first banana cream pie, albeit just a bite. And, there was a small amount of butter used in toasting the almonds. Oh yeah, there was a very tiny piece of French Bread — very tiny and no butter.


     Tomorrow morning I expect the scale to give me the good news I deserve for the control I have exercised today. 


     My overall grade for today: A

     How did you do?        

BACK ON TRACK

DAY 10

• This morning's weight:      238.0       
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           114            
• Breakfast:                                               

       1 Frozen Waffle

       Sugar-free Maple Syrup and Promise

       3 Sliced Fresh Strawberries

       1 cup 2% milk

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Trip to Post Office to mail box to Ohio

• Snack: 

       Pretzel chips and peanut butter

• Lunch: 11:30am

       Heated up leftover homemade chicken & rice soup

       Stone ground Whole Wheat crackers

• Activities:

       Prepping for dinner:
          Make banana cream pie/graham cracker crust/fresh
             bananas/whipped topping (None for me, thank you.)
          Salad: Green Leaf lettuce/tomatoes/red & green bell Pepper/
             avocado/carrot match sticks/grated Parmesan
          Pot roast/red potatoes/carrots/gravy
          Fresh green beans w/toasted almonds
          Freshly baked French Loaf
          Sun-brewed iced tea

• Dinner:

       Everything you see in the picture above!

• Activities:

        2 Hours of great conversation with two great young people, Justin and Kara

        1/2 hour of washing dishes, putting away food, straightening up

• Snack:

        Are you kidding? Who's got room?

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     

     God created us with a strong desire for fellowship. I think we all want to be part of something, a pack, a club, a family. Why would He give us ideas to share and not give us somebody to share them with? Why He give us voices with no one to hear. It was a great evening of food and fellowship.

  

     The banana cream pie was a hit. I had only one small bite and sent the remaining home with the kids along with some roast and vegetables.


     What did I get out of the evening? I got invited to a group dinner with the kids; several couples (all fellow teachers) pool their resources and purchase the fixings for a feast. On the menu is pork wellington.


     Also, apparently the food last night was good enough to get Kara and Justin back for Sunday Dinner with Claudia, Steve and Pat. It's going to be a party!

     What a blessing today was. I'm back on track with my weight-loss program, having loss 2 pounds today. But wait! More good news: my good friend Al has a trip planned to Colorado and Utah, and he will be traveling through here the same weekend Liz will be here. It will be a party. Scrabble anyone?

     My overall grade for today: A+ The only thing that could have made today better, was Liz being here.

     How did you do yesterday? I really care, and I really want to know...        

A SMALL STEP BACK, A GIANT STEP FORWARD

DAY 9

• This morning's weight:      240.0       
• Fasting Blood Sugar:           76             
• Breakfast:                                               

       1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese w/fresh pineapple

       

       2 cups coffee (no additives)

• Activities:

       Cut grass

       Cut some more fresh flowers

• Snack: 

       1 cup fat-free milk/Honey Nut Cheerios
       1 sliced banana                                               

• Activities:

        Wrote devotional on "Grace" and published on "From Where I Sit" blog

• Lunch: 1:00pm

       Corned Beef Sandwich on rye

       No frills, just stone ground mustard

       3 Zesty pickle spears
       10 potato chips

• Activities:

       Shopping at Target for Caedmon and Cameron

       

• Snack:

       microwave popcorn

• Activities

       Completed 2009 Tax Return and filed online

• Blood Sugar before dinner: N/A
• Dinner:

       Still snacking on popcorn, no dinner tonight

• Activities:

       Read "Same Difference as Me" and

       "One Year to an Organized Work Life"

• Snack:

   THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: 

     
     I had been procrastinating (Imagine that!) about getting my income taxes done and filed but no more. I finally determined how much I could afford to take out of circulation (Where I could get my hands on it if I needed something for the Blugatti) and put into my IRA as part of my contribution for 2009. Let me share with you, in case you don't know, for every $100 I put in my IRA, $20 is added to my tax refund or deducted from what I owe. I am only one year away from being 65 so basically that's like making 20% return on my money for 1 year. That unfortunately is better than I've been averaging on my other investments. So, if my kids wanted to borrow some money from dear old dad, sorry but you'll have to wait another year.

  

     I went shopping today and got the Ohio grandkids some goodies which I will Priority Mail tomorrow. There is also a little something for Jill.


     I didn't lose any weight today. I gained back a little. But, combined with the activity of cutting the grass and pruning some dead plants with eating better, I hope to be back on track tomorrow.

     It was good to talk to two of my best friends and most favorite people, Art and Al. Always uplifting to talk with them. And, of course, I spoke with my wife several times today. And, I chatted online with son David, and commented on son Joshua's post. Then I confirmed dinner tomorrow with Justin and Kara here at my sister's house. I'm making a surprise dessert for them which they will take home any leftovers. I also confirmed dinner with Claudia, Steve and Pat for this Sunday at 5PM, BBQ Beef Short Ribs, Pinto Beans, Potato Salad and Tossed Green Salad. Claudia is bringing dessert and leaving with any they don't eat.


     I was inspired by my devotional on "Grace." I don't know where I would be without it. Yes I do. It isn't a pretty picture though.

     My overall grade for today: A (At my age, any day you complete with a smile on your face and a twinkle in your eye, and food in your belly, and knowing someone [in my case a number of people] loves you and looks forward to seeing you again, well, that day is a good day!)

     How did you do?