Day 340 - Lilly, Miija and Solomon

While I wait for tomorrow surgical oncologist appointment, allow me to share a few more photos from my recent trip to Albuquerque.

Saturday morning we hit the golf course. Left to right my brother in law Peter and uncle in law Ray debate what b.s. the 'dry-heat' excuse for enjoying desert living really is…

Up top there you see one of the SEVEN sand traps I found myself in!

This is a cactus, behind the cactus is my golf ball. I couldn't rescue my golf ball without risk to needing a rescue squad to rescue me from the cactus, so I left that ball in New Mexico…

The primary reason we went to Albuquerque was to attend the National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show. Here is a poor picture of just how jam-packed the place was. Well over 150 vendors promoted their hot sauce, salsa, BBQ sauce and related products to HotHeads such as me…

I collect hot sauce so I had to bring back some new additions to the collection, here they are…

Yes, here is my favorite; someone has liquefied bacon into Hot Sauce form; genius!...

As we were unwinding before bed that night a baby scorpion helped himself to a stroll across the kitchen floor.
At this point I started to reconsider my decision to take the air-bed on the floor in the den…

Sunday we went to the Unser Racing Museum. Indy car racing is cool, not my favorite, but cool enough to check out one of the most famous Indy car racing families museum. There was a trophy room, if I tried to count them all I would still be standing there counting…

Luck was with us as a Gun Show happened to be going on the same weekend nearby. This 50-caliber machine gun caught my eye.
The price tag did not however so I left it right there on the table…

Monday before we headed back to the airport to come home we checked out The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, very cool exhibits. No, these are not the original atomic bombs dropped to end WWII… these scale-sized replicas of Fat Man and Little Boy were neat, we need an equivalent effort to eradicating cancer that went into making nuclear power reality...

And allow me to finish with cat pictures; top to bottom say HI to Lilly, Miija and Solomon…

Albuquerque was a cool city, a great time; I will return to enjoy it again someday!

Where have you ventured off to and returned home pleasantly surprised at how cool the destination was?

 
Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 315-319: Here Is March

Good Morning Folks, Welcome to March!

Thank You to those of you whom have sent me emails or Twitter DM's the past day or so inquiring about my absence. I am alive and staying healthy; all is well. Over the past couple of weeks my morning schedule has become increasingly compressed and the bit of time I usually write up a post & hit the blogs has been narrowing. It bothers me more that I have not been able to get to your blogs more so than I've not had time to write a post.

So I will need to get more creative with wringing out some blogging time it seems. That in itself may be my main goal for March. Yes, it is March. Spring is oh-so near, or so says the calendar. Hopefully the weather will equal the calendar's expectations. I am hungry to get out there for some outdoor cardio. Last December I was toughing out the frigid temps for some outdoor cardio and I was rewarded by catching a cold twice. So since then I have limited my cardio to the elliptical.

March, what do I have planned for March...

• A weigh-in, been about a month since I did that, thinking next week I'll give the scale a visit.
• I'll be attending the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show this coming weekend. That'll pose some dietary challenge which I will handle just fine. As well I'll be golfing a couple of rounds for exercise.
• My son has advanced to state regionals in Wrestling, not something we expected. I will miss regionals as they are this weekend but fingers crossed he advances on to the state finals the following weekend in Champaign; or are they in Springfield? We'll figure that out when he advances.
• I am going back to the plastic surgeon to get more of my face sliced off. Recall my recent brush with melanoma, I have another spot on my forehead I've been advised to kick to the curb as a precaution so kick it I shall. Damn!, I just this minute remembered last September I was told to park the weight lifting for a week or two while the incision healed; $#&T!!!!!.
• Spring Break is the last week of March, I'll take a day or two off that week for yet to be determined fun.

So what do you have planned for March?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 143 - BBQ'n & Drive'n

Hope all had a fine Labor Day yesterday. A good one was had by our clan. Since I took Sunday off from exercise I chose to exercise Monday holiday or not. My son & I got in a dumbbell routine and did five sets of push ups & sit ups. A good workout, and a needed one considering the food temptations to come.

Monday I was up before sunrise bringing the smoker up to temperature and getting five racks of baby back ribs on. See them in that picture there? Oh, no you can't, the lid is closed, silly me. Trust me they are in there. And in there they stayed for eight hours cooking slow on a low temp. When done they were proclaimed perfect.

BBQ'ing is a passion of mine and I am good at it. Mission to get healthy or not I will always get my BBQ'n on. The difference now is that I don't eat like the pigs I BBQ. Instead I exercise moderation with my passion.

Today I enjoyed just four ribs from the small end of the rack. That was probably two more than I should have eaten if I am honest with myself. The old me would have eaten an entire rack of ribs minimum. The old me was not responsible and could spell moderation even with spell-check. What, you like ribs too? Ok, here is a pic of the result for your eyes to feast upon...

Dry rub BBQ on the left and wet BBQ on the right. Two types of wet...

The bunch in front is sauced with Sweet Baby Rays and the bunch in the back is sauced with an Apple-Bacon blend.

As if the ribs weren't temptation enough I receive a call when driving home in the evening. This call comes with a request to bring home Dairy Queen for a couple of back home. It's Labor Day, sure why not some ice cream to end the holiday. Not for me, I told myself. A mile up the road I tell myself, well, I could have just a small blizzard, right? Two miles later, Nope, not going to do it; the ribs were enough indulgence today. DQ is now just a mile away, screw it, I am having Ice Cream! The DQ driveway in sight, NO! In the DQ drive thru which is six cars deep, Ok, treat yourself to a blizzard already and walk it off later. At the drive thru window I order a Peanut Buster parfait and a Oreo Blizzard, pay a ridiculous $8+ and drive of with ice cream for the sweet teeth at home. None for me; Commitment wins, Temptation loses.

And later that evening my wife and I went out for a brisk walk to end it on a healthy note. Again a fine Labor Day yesterday. How was yours?

Tuesday it is today, back to work. My day today started with a drive into work. It was an oddly congested and I'll say adventurous drive. One which I decided to try & find some fun in by capturing some of it's emotions...

#%$@&!, Cut off by a squishy little car; I hate squishy little cars!

Argh, the squishy little car has NO brake lights and is getting bigger in my windshield extremely fast!

Ha Ha!... Local radio'heads talking about Illinois politics; best comedy on the air.

Soooo, when was the last time I used my moon roof?

PLEASE... why do trains run during peak commute time?!

Um... is that cow doing a heimlich maneuver on that other cow?

Really? I left home with my own barn door wide open...

If I had three wishes, what would I do with them?

Uh Oh!

Oooo, somebody knows how to dress for traffic.

Green, the light is GREEN, Yippee!!

So, how was your commute today?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 137 - A Happy 101

Eating was excellent on Tuesday and exercise was minimal. Soccer practice in the early morning and a soccer game in the evening stunted my available time, well, I let it stunt it. After work when we got the game the previous game was 25 minutes behind schedule so I went next door and got some cardio in on Stanton Hill. Not my usual event where I do as many laps up & down in 30 minutes, didn't have time for that. But I did have time for about 1/2 of it before our game started. Planning more cardio this evening and more excellent eating today as well. Are you?

Karla was so kind as to honor me with a thank you by giving me a Happy 101 award. Thank you Karla! Nice looking award, look at them cup cakes. I like cup cakes, and they have sprinkles too! Zero calories if you just look, or if you try & lick them off of the monitor screen. Not that I tried, serious, I didn't.

OK, awards are fun, and awards have rules. Rules by definition are not always fun, but remember, these rules came with a picture of cup cakes, so I dig in to them with pleasure; the rules that is..

First, I need to state 10 things I like...

1. Greek Yogurt (recently discovered awesomness)
2. Alternative History author Harry Turtledove 
3. Hunting (just deer hunting now, next year going to turkeys too)
4. NASCAR & Roush Fenway Racing (greatest sport on the planet)
5. Real BBQ'ing (especially ribs & shoulder, if I didn't need money I'd do it at a competitive level)
6. Hockey & the Chicago Blackhawks (2nd greatest sport on the planet)
7. Exercise (Yep, never thought I'd say that, but I have come to like it)
8. Darts (my father played for money, I play with the kids to be a more connected father)
9. Collecting Hot Sauce (collection is almost at 300 bottles now, I'll get some pics of it soon)
10. Franks for the Memories (Best wings on the planet)

Second, I need to pass this award on to 10 other bloggers I wish to share some cup cake happiness with...

1. Dee
2. Amelia
3. Aliana
4. Misunderstood and Admired
5. MandaPanda
6. Deb
7. Jo
8. Tish
9. Clyde
10. Alan (Pounds Off Playoff)

 Thanks again Karla!

Everyone, whatever it is you choose to do today; enjoy!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 100 - Monday

Well, has it been 100 days already? Assuming I know how to count the answer is yes. Since I am on vacation there was no weigh in for me yesterday so I am not certain just where I stand at the century mark.
If 100 days ago you told me that I would weigh 41+ less in 100 days I'd have laughed at you out of one side of my mouth & prayed for your words out of the other.

Next up is the next 100 days, where will I be on day 200 which is sometime in November? That seems so far away. But, we all know it will be here in the blink of a Stooges eye. Not a moment to waste in getting after them days. I am typing this post out on my blackberry while warming up on this awesome hotel treadmill. Vacations can be healthy ;-)

In Kansas City yesterday for some of the best BBQ on earth & to attend the Manchester United vs. Kansas City Wizards game. Anne, it is a soccer game, soccer I left that detail out yesterday; I had issues
loading pics today so I didn't, bummer as I had a good one of me sporting my new commemorative t-shirt & the 1 lite beer I allowed myself to cool the heat.

Kristen, Blue & my other soccer / ManU loving friends here sorry but ManU came up short in the USA this day~ which surprised all in attendance.

Allan & my other BBQ loving friends, Arthur Bryants was everything we've it was hyped up to be on BBQ Paradise. It was my one day of indulgence on this trip; BBQ Burnt Ends, Slaw & BBQ Beans. Treadmill, remember I am on a treadmill right now!

Ok, gotta post & run. Some young college kid just got on the treadmill next to me & is making me look bad, real bad. Gotta go make a better showing for prides sake.

Wishing all a great week!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Kansas City @ Arthur Bryants, kids gettin ribs (I went w/ end n slaw)

Day 57 - 24% Progress

Sunday, or is it Sundae? yeah, lets go with Sunday, less calories. Happy Sunday to all!

That smoked leg of lamb below, that was dinner last night. It spent three hours on my smoker and boy did I get a good garlic & spice crust on that sexy leg. Saying it was delicious would be an understatement worthy of prison time. Temptation to eat 2nds and 3rds and, well I was tempted. But I abstained from temptation and had a single slice. Oh there are left overs, so my protein today just may be another slice.

Last weekend I hit the 20% weight loss mark on my mission. Having gone a week without back-sliding I can now order my reward for hitting that mark; a new laptop computer bag. I've had the same one my employer gave me for about 5 years, maybe more. Now when we get new laptops we don't get new bags, so it is time for me to get my own. And I shall do just that later today.

It is weigh in day. I was a bit apprehensive when I stepped on the scale as I had not exercised for a couple days this week while busy celebrating the Blackhawks title. But I knew I had been eating well so I wasn't too apprehensive. I have had better weigh in's lately, but as my goal is for a 1.5 pound per week loss, I can't be anything but smiles again this week. Today I got off that scale at 24 % of the way to my goal, I've lost 28.5 pounds in EIGHT weeks; 1.5 of them this past week.

Today I weighed in at 291.5 pounds. Feels good, so good, that I want more. More losses, more feel good. So off I go to get a quality breakfast and find some exercise that needs doing.

Have a good Sundae!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!