I'm Brian, and what you see here is usually the product of my warped sense of geekiness. I started the blog to chronicle my struggle against being overweight but I've branched out into social commentary as well as the trials and tribulations of bariatric surgery. When I'm not being snarky on here, I like baseball, music, and travel, as well as keeping up with technology. Oh, and I also have a wee bit of a Lego problem.
Last Friday, I wrote about my disappointment with my results on the scale. I thought I had lost a lot more than the numbers showed. I was pretty disappointed by this, but after reading the supportive comments, I realized that weight ain’t nuthin’ but a number. So, I accepted the three-pound loss and moved on.
Today I had an appointment with Rachel Ho, CRNP, or as Supportive Partner Woman (brave little toaster!) and I refer to her, East Coast Jeanine. I really have a ton of respect for her. Her tableside manner does not brook any argument, but she’s as supportive and caring as any health care provider I’ve ever had. She told us up front that when she was working in the hospital, they called her the Dictator and the Sergeant. I can certainly respect that.
Upon our arrival, the nurse, Mike, took me back to the livestock scale to get weighed in. The scale was bouncing around for whatever reason, but settled on 360.8. On Friday, it was 365.5. So, in 5 days, I lost another five pounds. Woot! Not only that, she was very pleased with my blood glucose log for the month. In fact, she seemed pretty giddy about it. I’m due to get another hemoglobin A1C test and she thinks I’ll be in line with what they want.
Not only is the weight down and the sugars are leveling out, they always take your blood pressure and pulse. My first visit with her, my resting pulse was 82. Today, it was 68. Blood pressure is coming together nicely as well. Systolic was a little high, at 140, but diastolic was 80. Not sure how much is due to white coat syndrome, which I get like crazy. Usually after talking with Rachel, she will take the BP again and get one that’s right in line.
Fresh cut corn chowder
I even got up early and got to Hempfield Rec this morning to get some cardio in. I did 35 minutes between the treadmill and arc trainer and worked out my legs. We don’t do a lot of lower body stuff with Ryan and Cory, so I’ve taken to working those when I’m on my own. Apparently you shouldn’t work the same muscles every day.
All in all, a good day. After it was over, SPW (STILL the bestest wife in the world) and I paid a visit to the library. Me to pick up a book, SPW (library felon!) to pay a fine. Followed that up with a visit to Isaac’s for a combo. We both ended up with the Finch sandwich (turkey, bacon and Muenster on pumpernickel) and a cup of the Fresh Cut Corn Chowder, which is made from locally grown corn and is yummy. Didn’t even mess up my blood glucose reading, as I ordered the mayo on the side and just spread a taste on the bread.
All in all, a pretty good Wednesday. Have a butt-kicking tomorrow and an appointment with Shauna (dietitian) next week.
Thank you for reading and for all the support. It is greatly appreciated!
So, I was watching one of those off channels that Comcast throws in the HD section of the cable spectrum. This channel, called Destination America, apparently used to be called Planet Green and turned out to be a failure. Anyways, there was a show called Super-Duper Thrill Rides and, well, it outlined another reason I need to get healthy. These rides are intense… some probably too intense, but that’s ok.
I alluded to being humiliated several years ago when Supportive Partner Woman (smarter than me!) and I left our traditional stomping grounds at Walt Disney World and spent a few days at Universal Studios Florida and Sea World Orlando. Being much more of a coaster buff than SPW, I couldn’t wait for a crack at the biggest and baddest coasters Orlando offered at the time.
Kraken at sunset
Our first venture afield took us to Sea World where SPW (fan of penguins!) and I took part in what Sea World referred to as their Adventure Express Tour. The tour included such things as priority seating at the shows, visits to facilities out of public eye, getting to pet a penguin, lunch, and for me the best perk was line jumping for the rides.
Ah, rides. I was really excited to get on Kraken, which was the jewel of the Sea World crown. 144 foot drop, 65 mph, and floorless. Oh, yeah! So, they took us in the back way and I got into my seat and pulled down the shoulder harness. Imagine my chagrin when I couldn’t get the safety belt to clip to the shoulder harness. It took two Sea World staffers to get it to connect, with one basically standing on the harness while the other one connected the belt and harness. Thanks to the herculean effort of those two guys, I got to experience a really good coaster. I was thinner then, too, so I imagine I’d have no luck in my current state or size.
The Incredible Hulk
After the Sea World encounter, we went to Universal’s Islands of Adventure where the headline attraction is the Incredible Hulk coaster. They had specific rows set up for persons of size which were very helpful, and ironically, it was a complete walk-on for me. I was able to close the harness and latch both belts without any staff assistance.
So, for me another element of the weight loss quest is to be able to ride this type of attraction without the embarrassment of needing to be manhandled to fit. I want the only determining factor to be me looking at a ride and saying, “Oh, HELL no!” rather than my tubby butt not fitting in the space provided. I don’t want to worry that my weight will overstress the restraint system and I’ll plummet to my doom.
Yet another reason is so I can closet shop. I have a collection of most excellent T-shirts I’d love to fit in again. I’m close on some of them, but others will need a bit of work. I’d much prefer to not wear something because it was too big rather than too small.
I know they may seem a little silly, but they are valid supporting reasons. I have to continue to look at this quest not only for how it will improve my health, but also my quality of life. Being able to do stuff I haven’t done in years will really help in that department. Plus, maybe I won’t feel so old… until I get out of the coaster.
I’ve known for some time that you are what you eat. I always figured that was crap, since I never turned into a giant bag of snack food or a big loaf of bread.Fact is, there’s truth to it, something that I am seeing almost every day. Since I’ve started to really monitor what it is I’ve been eating, I notice that not only am I losing weight, I feel better. Better physically and far better about myself mentally.
It’s also enabled me to make some changes in my lifestyle that I probably couldn’t before. I’m now much more able to get up and go for a walk than I was just a few weeks ago. Even after totally getting arc trainer-ed to death today, I still went out for a walk. Was it an intense walk? No, but it was activity and I didn’t feel the need to sit around and eat. That’s a huge plus.
So, changing what we eat has been a huge part of the success I’ve had so far. Eating more protein and less carbs. Being mindful of the sugar content of what I do eat and its glycemic value. Being active and thinking of stuff to do to avoid raiding the fridge. Every one of these small changes is helping me toward a bigger one and a healthier lifestyle.
Fresh local corn, steamed broccoli, balsamic marinated asparagus and sautéed scallops with a side of tomato/mozzarella salad.
Now, Supportive Partner Woman (bestest wife in the whole wide world!) and I have started a bit of a Sunday tradition. She’s been working most Sundays while I’ve had off. So, I try to think of a nice, healthy dinner and prepare it so she can come home, eat something that’s not breaded, fried or otherwise prepared elsewhere, and we actually get to eat at our own table.
This past week, SPW (shopper of great skill!) came across scallop pieces at a good price. These were gorgeous, though… they might have been pieces, but they looked like real sea scallops. Since I needed to use them, I sautéed them in some olive oil, made some local sweet corn that we picked up at Root’s Market, added some steamed broccoli and as SPW is a far of asparagus, threw together a quick and dirty balsamic marinade, then sautéed the asparagus. Turned out rather tasty.
To make the marinade, I took 1/2 cup of olive oil, about 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, added a touch of oregano, garlic powder and basil. Mixed them together and put the marinade in a Zip-loc bag with the asparagus spears. Put it in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes. Only change I will be making is to let it marinate longer… the flavor was good but not completely married.
The other item I threw together was a quick tomato and mozzarella salad. I seeded and diced some Roma tomatoes, then diced 8 oz. of mozzarella. Added some Italian salad dressing (I said it was quick) and finished it with some basil. After stirring it, I covered the bowl and put it back in the fridge. It makes a very easy, light and refreshing salad.
I did that whole meal in around 25-30 minutes. Can’t argue with it. It’s fun to create and to tweak recipes. The only thing I won’t change is my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I tweaked it a few years ago and hit a home run, so I do it the same, even using the same baking sheets. If anyone wants my recipe, feel free to ask.
I hope this finds you well and that you all had decent weekends. I know Supportive Partner Woman (eater of crunchburgers!) and I did. Saturday dawned and SPW and I got some stuff done around the house, then headed to Cherry Hill, NJ, to meet our friend Fred at Bobby’s Burger Palace. This is a burger joint owned by Food Network chef Bobby Flay and it is possibly the best burger I’ve ever had in my life. I opted for the Palace Classic Burger (cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and American cheese), SPW got the Crunchburger (double American cheese and potato chips) and Fred wound up with an LA Burger (cheddar cheese, watercress and avocado relish). In addition, SPW and I split an order of onion rings and Fred went with the sweet potato fries. Everything was top-notch, but the real star of the show was probably the chipotle ketchup on the table. This was a delicious combination of smoky and sweet, coupled with a bit of heat from the chipotle. It was delicious and really set off both the burger and the onion rings. SPW (connoisseur of burgers!) said that this beat the burger she had at Burgers and More by Emeril. I understand that people have different tastes, but it was funny to read some reviews on Yelp! and fine people who say that it was almost as good as Five Guys. Sigh.
Before heading to Cherry Hill, SPW (writer of extraordinary talent) had gotten around to putting her spin on the Sandusky scandal. I think she did a great job with it… you can find it here. This is one case where I agree with her 100%.
The Wall
After eating our delicious burger goodness, we headed into the Philadelphia Financial District, which is what wags refer to the sports complex as. This is due to the naming rights partners of the sports venues, Lincoln Financial, Wells Fargo and Citizens Bank. We were headed there to see The Wall. I have a few things to share about the show.
For his age, Roger Waters can still rock the house. Hell, anyone of any age who can stage that show is amazing.
Upon arrival at Citizens Bank Park last night, you could see the top of what appeared to be an immense stage peeking out of the ballpark. It wasn’t until we got inside that you could grasp the scale of the stage. It spanned from foul pole to foul pole, with the wall spreading beyond the boundaries of the field and into the stands.
Ah, yes… the wall. As big of an attraction as Waters himself, this was a massive set piece. Measurements I had seen said it was some 500 feet long and 40 feet tall when completed. Not only did it serve as an integral part of the pageantry, it made for an amazing projection screen. More on that later.
The concert started with some dialog from the classic movie Spartacus. Suddenly, the band began to play In The Flesh?, setting the stage for a night of dead-on album sound. Images are projected on the wall, setting the tone and a model of a Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber crashes into the wall and explodes. It gets better and more intense from that point.
Let me just take a moment to praise the band. Made up of several Pink Floyd session guys like Snowy White, amongst others, the band is very tight. They should be, having played this tour for three summers. Other musicians of note included Robbie Wyckoff, a session vocalist who provided the David Gilmour vocals and former SNL bandleader G.E. Smith, who played guitar and ukulele. The band even included Waters’ son, Harry, who played keyboards and organ.
The sound, provided by Clair Brothers, was impeccable. The stadium was wired for surround sound, which really makes my home theater seem wimpy, and they had a nearly perfect balance. The staging and rigging were like nothing I had ever seen before. I was pleased to see many open seating areas where they did not sell tickets as the view would’ve been obstructed by a lighting tower or projection unit. Our seats in the Hall of Fame Club were excellent. They were wider than standard ballpark seats, so standing up did not produce any sucking sounds as my bulk was levered clear. The seats cost a smidge more than the lower level seats but were well worth it.
Merchandise offerings were plentiful, with the standard T-shirts, hats, trinkets, etc. The best value was an 18×24 tour poster, suitable for framing, for only $5.00. The T-shirt was $40 and features the crossed hammers on the front with the tour locations on the back. On the way out of the stadium, I also procured a second shirt via the secondary market. It’s a quality shirt, a Hanes with no tag. Guy wanted $20, I started walking and he quickly lowered his price by $10.00. I scored the second shirt and left happy. I bought both shirts in a size that’s too small, but I’m confident I will fit in them before too long.
Its easiest to describe the concert as an almost sensory overload. Between the music, which was loud and yet crystal clear, to the video messages, to the giant puppets and the underlying anti-war theme, there were messages left and right. I also gained an appreciation of how a mob mentality can work. At the climax of The Trial, as the judge was exhorting everyone to tear down the wall, the energy was palpable. As the stadium shook (yes, shook) and 45,000+ people screamed, “Tear down the wall!”, well, I really wanted to go do that. It was a visceral moment. Other highlights included the playing of Comfortably Numb, where both SPW and I had tears in our eyes.
All in all, it was a show I was glad I had the opportunity to see. It ranks right up in my top three shows, if not number one, with Pink Floyd’s 1994 show at the Vet and U2’s Joshua Tree show at JFK in 1987. I’d tell you to go see it, but this was the last US show. There’s one more North American show, at Quebec City’s Plains of Abraham on July 21. Supposedly Waters is considering running the tour for another summer throughout Europe, but that’s probably to get the money’s worth out of the staging, which was reported to cost upwards of $60 million.
I’ve heard tell that this might be the last major rock spectacle to ever be staged live. If that is the case, I’m glad I was there. To hear one of the most amazing albums ever recorded performed live as it was intended is certainly bucket list material. What do I cross off the list next?
So, had a bariatric class today. Usually one of the first things you do is weigh in when you have class and with all the time I’ve been spending at the gym, I was excited to see the results. See, I’m currently too fat for our at-home scale, so I really don’t have any idea how much I weigh on a daily basis. The last time I got weighed on that scale, it was 368.
Today? 365.
I somehow expected it would be about ten pounds less. I feel so much less fatigue when I climb steps, my clothes are fitting better… and, well, I’m still pretty hefty.
Today’s session was about stress and its effect on eating habits, with a dose of night eating syndrome and a bit on binge eating disorder. Very timely. If I hadn’t been made to think about my stress reactions and the compulsion to eat, I probably would’ve gone home and gnawed the lining out of the fridge. Instead, I did something both more beneficial and less productive.
I took a nap.
Dr. Collins, the psychologist who works with the bariatric team, normally conducts this session. She was out today and her slot was filled by a Dr. Christa Coleman. Dr. Coleman talked about how adjusting to stress and developing better coping mechanisms can help aid us in our quest to be healthier. That’s something I need to learn to do. I usually internalize a lot of my stress, which really doesn’t help my metabolism and doesn’t help me in the weight loss quest. I just have a hard time letting go of things and I’m a worrier. Maybe I need to learn how to meditate or do yoga or something. Of course, if I try to bend myself into a pretzel, well, I’ll probably stay that way.
So, to make a long story shorter, I came home, had a sensible lunch and took a nap. Dinner tonight will include some pulled pork carnitas in a wheat burrito with salsa and a little cheese. Supportive Partner Woman (master of the slow cooker!) makes a mean carnitas that is reasonably healthy and loaded with protein.
View from our seats. Hall of Fame Club!
Tomorrow, SPW and I will be meeting up with our friend Fred and taking in the Roger Waters show at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia. Roger will be performing The Wall in its entirety and as Fred described it, “This is bucket list stuff, dude!” The set is supposed to be incredible, dominated by a wall measuring some 40 feet high and 500 feet long. We are supporting the local economy as well, seeing as the rigging is done by a Lititz, PA-based company called Tait Towers and the sound is by the world-famous Clair Brothers, based in Manheim, PA.
In short, there’s a chance my next post will be a review of the show. I hope I’ll be able to capture some video, although any video I might capture will not do it justice.
I’ve often heard the saying that “Behind every man is a good woman.” That’s a load of malarkey, if you ask me. The best women are the ones who are not behind, but right alongside.
I’m lucky in that respect. It took me awhile, but I found the right woman for me in, of all places, the Yahoo! Personals section. Yup… Supportive Partner Woman (best thing that’s ever happened to me!) was an internet find.
See, the time was late 2002. It was the first holiday season after my dad passed away and I was really in a bad place mentally. I used to get these email updates from Yahoo that would tell me that these profiles matched mine. The first time SPW (best thing that’s ever happened to me!)’s profile appeared, it was in the middle of summer when we were dealing with my dad’s cancer and while it looked interesting, I wasn’t in any position to deal with a relationship at the time. Periodically it would show up… this headline that read, “You’ve Got to Live! Live! Live!”
Finally, as I was sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, I got the email again. This time, I looked into it. The cost to join was $25 for a month and I thought I’d try it and if it didn’t work, well, it was $25. Truth is I spent a lot more money on many failed relationships, so this was pretty much a bargain. I took a chance and replied.
I didn’t hear anything for a while, as I recall, nearly a week. Then I got an email from this woman and we started a correspondence that lasted several weeks, until we decided to meet. We agreed to get together for dinner at a local seafood restaurant, I got there first and headed inside. A few minutes later, the door opened and the woman who would become SPW (best thing that’s ever happened to me!) fell into my arms. Literally. The door had a bit of a sill and she tripped on it and I managed to catch her before she hit the floor.
We had a great time, closing down the restaurant, and we made plans to go out again the following weekend. Mother nature intervened, so we tried again a couple of days later. From that point on, we were pretty much inseparable. We still are.
From our first vacation together… or when she turned me into a Disney geek. And yes, that is the camera I sold her when we met for the first time for the first time.
I’m taking the time to write this, though, because SPW (supporter of the first order) thinks she should be doing more to support me on this journey. Just the fact that she’s been hitting the gym and going to appointments with me means more than I can ever express. If I had to do this by myself, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have. I would fail miserably. I’d say she’s my rock, but that’s not true, because a rock will drag you down. Same thing with an anchor. Instead, she’s my foundation. She’s where my strength comes from. She’s not behind me but marching right alongside. Plus, good is only a beginning to describing her character. She’s so good, she makes good look bad. And she’s my wife… the one I have forsaken all others for.
I’m a very lucky guy.
I love you, Laura. You’re my missing piece, my humanity. You make me want to be a better person. I couldn’t ask for more. And know this… when you ask what you can do for me and I tell you nothing, it’s because you’ve already done it by being in my life. I just wish we had taken better notice of each other when you bought that camera so many years ago.
So, I dragged my tubby self out of bed this morning, and after vegging for a few hours, decided to hit the gym. Collected Supportive Partner Woman (sleeper of extraordinary soundness!) and headed off to Hempfield Rec. Decided to follow the cardio routine I’ve been following and started on the treadmill.
treadmill console
What an experience. See, during the two years I didn’t go to the gym, they upgraded the treadmills. Now they have an integrated 15″ display that can be hooked up AS A TV! Not only that, the background image will display the program you are using. If you’re just walking or running, it displays a visual of a stadium track. If you’re doing a different program, it might show your course as applied to a wooded hill and so forth. If you get bored, you can play solitaire on it. No kidding. There was a button marked Games, and since it was a button, I had to push it. Sure enough, there’s solitaire! The goodness doesn’t stop there, either. There’s USB and iPod connectivity, too!
So on the way out of the gym, we noticed they was a baked sale set up in the lobby. WTF? Here are a legion of people trying to get (or stay) in shape and you’re trying to get them to buy baked goods? The prevailing theory is that they are doing it to keep the membership numbers they already have. It was hard, but we escaped the temptation of the soft pretzels and cupcakes.
All in all, an interesting experience today. I managed to bookend the gym trip with two decent meals. For breakfast, I made a 2 egg omelet (one whole egg, one egg’s worth of All Whites) that I put in a wheat tortilla, and I also made some of the dreaded turkey bacon. My only tip for that is to make sure you don’t overcook it. It was better the second time around as I didn’t cook it as long.
After the gym, I fixed a turkey and cheese sandwich with a little Olivio. Instead of regular bread, I used a whole wheat sandwich thin and I added a couple of Mt. Olive no sugar added pickles, which I was surprised to find were a zero-calorie food. Who would’ve thought?
So, that’s the report from Cow Country today. The usually visit tomorrow morning with Cory and Ryan and a group session on Friday. There should be a weigh in at that point, so I hope to have good news to share.
So Supportive Partner Woman (eater of big ole salads!) and I managed to make it to Root’s Market today. The place was hopping, pretty much as expected. There’s a certain beauty of the Root’s complex. Interspersed among the various produce stands outside are people selling all manner of goods, some of which are probably hot. It seems this kind of market is pretty well-established in central Pennsylvania. Discounting the real farmer’s markets and roadside produce stands, you have Root’s, the Green Dragon and Saturday’s Market. Of the big three, SPW (peruser of markets!) and I prefer Root’s. It seems to be more focused on the local fresh produce and dairy, and it’s physically the closest to us. Green Dragon, located in Ephrata, is not as nice as it used to be. There’s a lot more vendors coming in from out of the area to hawk whatever it is they are selling. Saturday’s is our least favorite. Again, it’s not as neat as I remember it being way back in the early 90’s. Lots of people selling junky stuff and not enough fresh, local fare. That’s important to me… if I can, I prefer to support the local economy.
Most baked good stands have an amazing variety of tasty offerings.
So, Root’s. We managed to find yellow zucchini, cucumbers, eggs, celery, tomatoes and passed up a tempting variety of cheeses, meats and baked goods. Oh, and we passed on the (likely) counterfeit sports jerseys too. There are a few pointers I can share, though. First off, bring a bag or two. Most stands will gladly provide you with plastic grocery bags. They are fine, but after an hour of walking around with 37 bags, you start longing for nice, wide canvas handles. We usually take an insulated grocery bag along with a cold pack, depending on what we buy. If it’s a quick run, like today, we’ll leave that bag in the car and load the groceries in it rather than lug the bag around.
Sugar free chocolate selections
Sugar free candy options
One thing I was very pleased to see, though, was a stand offering a large selection of sugar-free candies and chocolates. Given the obesity epidemic and the instances of diabetes in the US these days, it’s nice to know that even in an area known for such offerings as sticky buns and shoo-fly pie, the availability of sugar-free items is becoming prevalent.
In short, Root’s is a great place to obtain nearly any food you desire, many times for less than what you would pay at a grocery store. For example, the local Weis Markets likes to advertise green bell peppers at 10/$10.00. I got lovely peppers at a Root’s stand at 3/$1.00. That’s a 66% discount. In addition, most of the food is locally grown on family farms, rather than mass-produced and shipped in. These markets are great places to find apples in the fall, peaches in the spring/summer and delicious meats and cheeses all year round. If you live in a place like Lancaster, surrounded by farms, why buy stuff shipped in from some other state, incurring the shipping costs, the chemical treatment and the fact that it’s often picked too early.
The bad news for the day is that I didn’t make it to the gym. I had a bit of a headache early and just needed to relax. I did manage to at least get my squats in, so the day wasn’t a total loss and I will take a lunchtime walk as well. I think we all have days like this and despite our best efforts, we just don’t get the work in. As a lot of people will say, “Keep moving forward.”
In a future post, I hope to discuss our first ever visit to Lancaster Central Market, as well as a return visit to Hoover’s Farm Market outside of Lititz, PA. Hoover’s has a nice selection of produce, as well as a great pumpkin selection in the fall and is home to crazy-huge potatoes. I also want to talk about the proliferation of Mennonite delis and markets, all of which seem to thrive in the Lancaster area.
I’m in pain. Or, as the old saying goes, “I hurt. But it’s a good hurt.” It’s that kind of welcome ache that comes along with being active.
Had a productive day at the gym. I changed my appointment time from 10:00 to 11:00. The purpose is twofold. I have a better chance of making sure that Supportive Partner Woman (pursuer of a healthier lifestyle in her own right!) is able to get to the gym. The other was that it seems to be a less crowded time slot, which gets me a little more attention from Ryan and Cory. Yes, it’s all about me, or at least it is in this case.
It’s not that bad. Really!
It’s funny, though. When I started, my vision of exercise sort of meshed up with Gary Larson’s. In two weeks, I’m already looking to spend more time at the gym on days when I don’t need to go. I find that while I ache, I feel so much better. I have more energy and while I’m not sleeping longer, I’m sleeping more soundly.
Because I’m also apparently a glutton for punishment, I even took a walk during my lunch break. I didn’t set a distance record, just got outside for some fresh (if a bit humid) air and walked around the shorter side of the retail complex. This was just bonus cardio today.
So tomorrow there’s a few things on the schedule. First, I want to hit Hempfield Rec for some cardio and some leg work. Then, after getting a shower so I’m not 100% stinky, SPW (eater of salad-y goodness!) wants to hit Root’s Market. This is a Lancaster County tradition, a large market selling pretty much everything under the sun. We like to go there for the produce and whatever else we can find. There’s usually someone selling counterfeit sports jerseys and that sort of thing. The auctions include poultry and produce and can be rather interesting.
Not only is there a huge amount of items for sale, there’s a huge variety of food stands. These can range from French fries to subs to baked goods to seafood. My only tip would be to carry an insulated bag or two with freezer packs when going in the summer.
So, that’s going to about do it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with a Root’s report.
As you know, we spent yesterday at a family gathering in the Reading, PA area. For those of you who think they live in a bad place, Reading takes the cake. Recently named the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania, Reading is pretty much a complete garbage pit filled with gangbangers, druggies and corrupt politicians. It’s like a smaller version of Washington, DC, but without the museums.
I might mention at the same time, Phoenix was only 106.
Might I also mention it was hot yesterday? I mean really stinkin crazy hot?
That’s kind of beside the point, though. The nice part of the day was seeing a lot of family members who we don’t see nearly enough of and getting a chance to catch up. My cousin Kurt, an avid baseball fan and blogger, was telling me of his newest venture where he talks about all things Wildwood. It sounded pretty interesting, but then I realized that I really don’t like the beach all that much.
I checked out the blog, though, and Kurt’s got some great stuff… useful reviews and such on restaurants, attractions and amusements, and he also covers a lot of the restaurants with gluten-free dining in mind, as he lovely wife is afflicted with celiac disease.
I mentioned I’m not a huge fan of the beach. It’s not that I don’t like the ocean breeze or the water, it’s that I hate sand. Not really sand, but the fact that sand gets everywhere, including some very uncomfortable places. It’s a pain in the ass to get rid of, and well, it kind of stopped being fun the older I got. I also have no interest in being a sun worshipper… I once got a sunburn in Vegas that was so bad I couldn’t sleep on my back for over a week. Ever since that time, I keep a lot covered. Well, that and the last time I attempted to go shirtless on the beach, Greenpeace showed up and was trying to push me back into the ocean.
I realize, though, that a lot of people like going to the beach and many people go to the same beach for the same week every year. I also find it ironic that these are the same people who look askance at me for going to Disney as much as we do. It actually cracks me up… they will say, “Why do you always go there? It never changes!” They don’t seem to understand that for The Management and I, it’s a chance to see many of our friends from all over the country, and the world as well. I also wonder what gives people the right to ask that? I don’t say, “Why are you going to the beach again? It never changes!” All I’m asking for is the same courtesy.
Enough venting about this. I’ll leave the topic by saying that people’s vacations are their business. Now, if someone feels the need to venture to a tropical wonderland like Myanmar, well, maybe that’s worth a raised eyebrow. Otherwise, just say, “Enjoy!”
It’s tiny, but it’s a tomato!
Today was a landmark in our lives, too. Today we picked our first produce of the season. A very cute little tomato. I mean little. Also noticed that there’s a little pepper growing on one of the plants and both the zucchini and cucumber plants have blossoms. I give credit to The Management… I might water them, but she plants them. I don’t have a green thumb. I have more of a black thumb. I could kill kudzu. As a result, I try to never touch the plants themselves. Seems the only thing I can’t kill is crabgrass. Sigh.
Dinner
Tonight’s dinner consisted of sautéed sea scallop pieces with steamed broccoli and fresh corn on the cob. We tend to buy the scallop pieces. It’s nice to get them for $4.99/pound rather than $18.99/pound for the whole ones. I like seafood… you can eat a lot without a heavy caloric penalty. Granted, there’s cholesterol and mercury and all that fun stuff, but it’s tasty and very adaptable to any kind of cooking.
On that note, I’m calling it a day. Morning appointment with the exercise physiologists followed by work and all that. I’ll be posting a review of the upcoming Roger Waters show on Saturday at Citizen’s Bank Park. I’m really psyched to see it after viewing some video clips.
Until next time!
P.S. If you’re going to Wildwood, NJ, check out my cousin’s blog: Beaches And Boards. Also, if you’re not doing the beach but are headed to the ballpark, check out his other site… Ballpark E-guides.
Memoirs of a Soon-to-Be Former Fat Guy 