SOME OBSERVATIONS (long)

WARNING....LONG-WINDED BABBLE AHEAD!! When you hang out with old Mike for a while, you'll discover that although he's reasonably intelligent, he's not always too quick on the uptake. It sometimes takes a while for the obvious to dawn on him. As a matter of fact, sometimes you need to whack him in the nose with a 2X4 to get his attention! And when the obvious dawns, it's a great and wonderful event even though it's been perfectly obvious to everyone else! He and a good friend of his refer to this phenomenon as "Discovering the Sun"! Well gang, I woke up this morning and Discovered the Sun. Now since we all had surgery, we have all commented at various times about how much smaller our clothing is and how much better it looks on us and how clothing shopping is no longer a depressing event etc. etc.. What the great "Sun Finder" realized today is that he now has reason to expand his horizons in the clothing department. I haven't worn a jacket and tie since a few months after surgery, because I had been changing sizes so fast, I didn't want to waste a lot of money on these things. I also didn't have too many occasions to want to wear them anyway. In general, I'm a pretty casual dresser. My job as a railroad supervisor requires field-work as well as office work, so tidy jeans; sport shirts and work boots are the order of the day as well as hard hats and safety vests and glasses. At home, I'm a jeans and t shirt guy. Dressy means Dockers, and sport shirts or sweaters. If I really want to "do it up"......I'll wear a sport jacket with open collar....I hate choking on a tie!!! Well.....the father of an old and dear friend died this week and the memorial service and burial were this morning. I reluctantly put on a suit and tie and made 2 amazing discoveries: 1) Wearing a buttoned collar and tie wasn't uncomfortable. 2) I didn't look like a #*^%$ clown in costume......as a matter of fact, I wasn't embarrased at all!! The next revealation came when I had to consider the weather. It was just below freezing with a very stiff northerly wind......In other words....wind chill in the single digits. My very nice In-Laws recently gave me a beautifully made long wool overcoat in a nice grey tweed. I've never worn overcoats over jackets because they would make me so bulky that I couldn't move my arms and I tended to look like the Michelin tire man!! Well, I decided to wear the overcoat and lo and behold.....It was warm, comfortable and looked good too!! Will wonders never cease.....Look......Great fireball in sky Kemosabee!!!! This was the first time in years that I felt good about myself wearing a suit and tie!! I could get used to this. As a matter of fact, I think that I may start finding excuses to do so in the future without waiting for someone to die or get married!! My daughter's High School Chorus is holding a concert in the Congregational Church on the Town Green tonight......Maybe I'll wear a sport jacket and tie this time!!! GOOD GOD, MATILDA, WE'VE CREATED A MONSTER!!!!!!! Some other observations on the day: I ran into a lot of people at the memorial service who hadn't seen me in years and every one of them did doubletakes.......Some of them didn't recognize me at all and they were all blown away!!! Oh....this wasn't too good for my ego.....Oh No!!! LOL I've been trying to get back on track for a few days now and have been doing pretty well. I've been keeping to around 1200-1300 calories a day and have not been grazing much at all. Just so you don't think that I'm "Joe Perfect", however, I must admit that I grabbed a doughnut as I ran out to the funeral this morning!! That will probably put me at a bit over 1500 by the time today is done! Well, I'm not going to beat myself up over that one slip-up, because I've noticed that my pants are feeling a little looser at the waist since I started behaving myself again. Well, "Marchers", if you're not sick of reading this babble by now, you should be and I'm sick of typing it, so it's your turn to tell me how you all are doing. Any good "SOLAR DISCOVERIES" out there??!! Mike

Mike, Just wanted you to know that I enjoy your "babbles"....and Connie's as well. The "human" side of this journey is much easier to deal with when we can come here and read each other's day to day struggles and triumphs. Yes...I'm here everyday...just don't post much since I messed up my hand 5 months ago. I've also had the battle with the additional pounds of late. I've gone back to weighing every day...which seems to keep me honest and my eye's on the objective. Keep the "Solar Discoveries" coming!!! Va

Hey Va!!! It's great to hear from you again. How's the hand doing?? I'm glad that you enjoy my babbling.....I find it good therapy to share my ups and downs. It helps me focus on what I need to do. As for the "additional pounds".......it seems like this is something most of us are dealing with these days. I'm glad to know that you are still with us. If the hand is still a problem, please give us a few words here and there to let us know that you are OK. Take care and be well Va. Mike

i can imagine that you looked pretty spiffy in that coat and overcoat! i must say that i have not had any solar dicoveries lately...... i do enjoy reading your babbles!

Thanks Margo! It's probably a good thing that you have had no solar discoveries lately. It means that you are more on the ball than I am! Mike

Hi Mike, I too like your babbles & venting the good & the evil stuff we all seem to go through. I am sure you looked great!! I have actually had a pretty good 2 days. It was my weekend & being away from the crap at work has sure been a good thing for me. I have actually managed to get all my water in for 2 days now. Lot less coffee on my weekend, hope to take that into the new week as well. Tonight is my Monday & like you I live a normal life onmy weekends to be with (idiot Boyfriend) I am not sure why but, I do. Monday's always suck (if you knwo what i mean) maybe 3 hours sleep before going into work, if I am lucky. Hang in there & lets make it a good choices week for all of us. Marilyn, the Bearlady

Hi Marilyn; Boy do I know what you mean about the Monday "Suck Factor"!! I'm always a total zombie by Monday morning. I'm just the opposite of you in that I find it harder to eat right on weekends because my day is less structured and there's more time to graze. I really think that you'll find that you have less eating trouble if you can continue to cut down on the regular coffee. I know it makes a big difference for me. Mike

Hi Mike, Thanks for the vote of confidence, I sure need it!! I have cut way back on the coffee in fact everything at home now is decaf & at work am drinking very little of Regular stuff. I think that has helped in staying away from the crappy stuff. I like you can eat just about anything & it does get a little scary at times. I just have to stay away from that sugar stuff so I don't justify eating it somehow. I actually got a preety long walk today as well. Car was in the shop & had to go pick it up when done & I walked to get it took the dogs too, they loved it! So it wasn't the gym, but, it was exercise. How's the snow back in you neck of the woods. Looks cold. We are cold, but not that bad. still in the 50's in the daytime. Marilyn, the Bearlady

WOW....perhaps Santa should leave you a subscription for GQ in your stocking this year! Sounds like a great outfit...and I'm sure you looked super. My solar discovery came a while ago when I was getting ready to go on my winter vacation. I bought a few bathing suits from a catalog...when I tried them on when I got them, I discovered you actually CAN look like the woman in the catalog! I, too, am struggling with the demons....but am working hard to overcome them. I've been hitting the gym every other day and do a very complete workout...I'm usually there around 2 to 3 hours just exercising. It's difficult but it has to be done. It's always great to read your posts!!! Thanks for them! Joanie

Thanks Joanie; I don't know about looking "Super", but it's really nice to be able to get dressed up and feel good about myself instead of embarrassed! Just being "Normal" is such a pleasure. It's worth fighting the demons that we all seem to be fighting. I'll bet that you got some appreciative stares in those new bathing suits! Keep up the great work with the exercise and we'll see if we can all battle the demons together. MIke