So Sad, Faux Crowd

Over the last weekend, #IncompetentTrump was in Tulsa, Oklahoma to hold his first political rally since the COVID-19 shutdown started in March…
What the Trump campaign wanted us to see…
What the “crowd” actually looked like…  (Hint:  less than 1/3 capacity occupied.)
A dejected #DonTheCon returning to the White House (flaccid tie and hat in hand)…
What I hope to say in January 2021…
Get that LOSER off my grass!!!
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On This Day In:
2019	And The Same For Blogs And Posts
2018	The End Of Asgard (For Now)
	I Learn The Hard Way Every Time
2017	For Some
2016	Fragile And Explosive, Provocation And Privacy
2015	Bound Up
2014	Economic Engines
2013	Weren’t You Supposed To Be Reading?
	Absent Friends
	Where I Stand
2012	Hangin’ With His P’s
	Help Save
2011	Six Facets Of Good Leadership

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Why My Dentist Loves Me

You are looking at $1K+, folks!!  Still, I can’t complain too much.  The “gap” had a root canal and crown over 30 years ago, so there was no bleeding and no pain.  And my dentist squeezed me in this morning for a temporary until they can finish the job in a couple of weeks.  They’ve just re-opened after the COVID shutdown and are limited in scheduling procedures by the amount of PPE they can keep in stock for the procedures.  At the moment, they are only taking emergencies and beginning to add to the calendar a month plus out.
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On This Day In:
2019	You Really Don’t
	No One Can Imagine
2018	Until Integrity, Decency, Wisdom, And Humility Return
	Just Tell (And Re-tell) The Big Lie Often Enough On Fox News
2017	To Laws, Not Office Or Individuals
	Beast / General / Civil
2016	Patronage
2015	For Blogs, Too!
2014	Righteous Anger
2013	An Irish Blessing
2012	But Is It Worth It?
2011	Let Us Start

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Role Reversal

Sometimes, you just gotta laugh…
This cartoon was found in a post on one of the blogs I follow:  Pacific Paratrooper
The specific post is located at:  https://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/armed-forces-day-week/
Please visit the site if you have a spare moment…   —  KMAB
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On This Day In:
2019	Right Or Wrong
2018	Open Doors
2017	When It Deserves It
2016	Expiation For Rest
2015	You’ll Get Through It
2014	A Special Kind Of Fall
2013	Very Rewarding
2012	MIB3 – The Team Is Closer Than Ever
	Yet
2011	Little By Little

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#45: Time Is Ticking Away

[This image was found on the internet.  No claim to ownership is implied or intended.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Belief Buffet
2018	Change Is Law
2017	A Dog Day Of Summer
2016	Chances Are
2015	Truer Spoken
2014	Not Quite There Yet (Either)
	Many Colors
2013	Distance, n.
	Less Can Be More
2012	Rise Up!
	The Gift
2011	Artful Courage
2010	A Handful of Lessons…

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Remembering…

Memorial Day
Monday 25 May 2020
Thank You, Veterans! Some give more than others… Some give all…
[All four images were found on the web.  No claim of ownership is intended or implied.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Kingslanding
2018	I’d Bet On Taxes
	Ooops! I Spoke Too Soon
2017	A Cautionary Wish
2016	Slogging
	It’s About…
	Man / Man
2015	Memorial Day – 2015
	Content People Love To Share
2014	I Resemble That Remark
2013	Long Range Exploration
2012	UBI
2011	Opportunity

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Nearer My God To Thee, By George

Hil’s Mum and Dad with Big Smiles
Early this morning, my mother-in-law, Doreen Carter passed away from COVID-19 back in Liverpool, England.  She was predeceased by her husband, George Carter, by some twenty-years.  They are survived by their three children and five grand-children.  Below are some photos to remind us of her journey through life…
Hil’s mum (as a little girl) and her mum at the beach.
George and Doreen in their wedding limo…
The newlyweds with their parents…
Doreen and her three at the beach… (Hil on the left)
Grand-dad (Doreen’s father), Doreen and the three on picnic…
A (Brit-side) family portrait…
The American side…
George, Doreen and our Sarah (back when we lived in Liverpool)
And more recently…
“Nana” and Hil in Mike and Viv’s back garden…
A recent Facebook post…
Together again…
In our hearts, thoughts and prayers…
Way back in 2011, I posted a conversation I had with “Nana” Carter:  Things I’ve Learned From Life – Nana Carter
Her thoughts on “Life’s Lessons” may give you some insight into our loss…
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On This Day In:
2019	Laugh With Me
2018	Both Sides, Mr. President?
2017	Republicans Better Wake Up
2016	Truth Telling
2015	To Be Effective In The Modern World
2014	A Little Cover
2013	Binding
2012	Lift
2011	Another Good Movie, Another Excellent Book
	miSFits
	I’m Just Not Sure

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I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Plans

Plans For Today, Tomorrow, The Next Day…
[The above image was found at (and “borrowed” from) one of the blogs I visit regularly:  Pacific Paratrooper
Please visit the site if you have a free moment or two…  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Beautiful Rules
2018	Skepticism
2017	WWGD?
2016	Growing Greatness
2015	When It Is Darkest
2014	Knowledge And Doubt
2013	Three Thoughts
2012	Gentle Reader
2011	Leave The Light On For Me Anyway

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Front Update

If any readers share my need for the occasional lighter post, here’s an update on my front yard…
An angled view…
From the front door…
Angled view up the path…
Snapdragons and stones…
Snapdragons and frogs…
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On This Day In:
2019	The Ones Worth Remembering, Anyway
	Boot Edge Edge (My New T)
2018	To Reach The Next Threshold
2017	Streaking Tales
2016	Singular Reality
2015	He Says It’s Hard To Get There From Here
2014	Question From A Founding Father
2013	Make Heroes
2012	See And Hold
2011	Am Not, Are So

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Stand Up!

The Speaker Leads the Way
As important as it is to turn #IncompetentDonald out of Office, it is equally important to do everything possible to retain Democratic control in the House of Representatives and to gain a Democratic majority in the Senate.
Today I made a donation to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (dccc.org).  I would propose you do the same.  It doesn’t matter how much you are able to donate, but more is better.  My own was a small donation, but it was what I could afford.  Every penny will count.
Republican donors will spend hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars to keep Trump in office, retain the Senate and flip the House back to their control.  The party which controls the Senate, controls who gets approved (“confirmed”) to the Supreme Court.  The party which controls the House, controls the country’s purse strings AND whether or not a President should be impeached.
You also need to educate yourself about your Governor and State government.  2020 is when we (as a country) conduct our census and then the House seats are apportioned based on that count and your state government decides how those seats are voted on (“gerrymandering”) within a state.
Stand up!  Make a difference!  Donate and then vote!
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On This Day In:
2019	Only One Direction
2018	Respect Is Long Gone
2017	Dream Of Dreamers
2016	Dear Automakers
2015	And Some Not So Brave Too
2014	In My Lifetime…
2013	Democracy
2012	Borrowed Expectations
2011	Not Necessarily True

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Thank You (To Those Who Serve)

Thank You!!
My thanks go out to all the healthcare workers, first-responders, supermarket staff, delivery staff (U.S. Mail, FedEx, UPS, Amazon, etc.) and to all the other folks across the country providing “essential” services.  (You know who you are, because you’re still working everyday.)
We are all in this together.  We will ALL get through this!  Together!
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On This Day In:
2019	Her Job, Too
2018	Just Another Song I Like
	Earlier Still
2017	Ten To Go
2016	Unstable Emergence
2015	88
2014	Some One-Liners Are Too Easy
2013	Greatness
2012	Memories Of Arlington
2011	Wake Up

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Burst Buds

Last week I posted images of some of the roses we have starting to bud / blossom out in our front yard.  Here’s the updated images….
The Red Bloom
The Two Yellow Blooms
Our Snapdragons and a single Red…
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On This Day In:
2019	Tomorrow’s Bread
2018	Impeach 45: Make America Great Again
2017	Training Shoulders
2016	You Just Have To Care
	Day 4 – Blending
2015	My Slow Education
2014	Great Service
2013	You Really Should Wear More Sweaters
	Here I Am God
2012	The Serenity Prayer
2011	The Victory Of Life

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180 Day Health / Weight Update (Mar 2020)

The following is the 6th monthly (180 days “-ish”) update on my attempt to lose weight and get healthier.  As always, it’s a longer post than my “normal” daily post, so if your not “into” reading about “another person’s” diet (again and again!), I’ll understand if you stop here and come back another day.  You’ve been warned!!  Here goes…
(As in previous posts:) On September 16, 2019, I switched from my 18 days of “juice / blend” fasting / diet to an Intermittent Time Fasting (ITF) “Diet / Lifestyle”.  My starting weight on 29 August, for the juice / blending fast was: 373lbs.  My starting weight for the ITF was: 356lbs.  My current weight (this morning) was: 360lbs.  Based on these “initial” numbers, I’ve lost 13lbs from the end of August, 23lbs from the start of the ITF and gained 27lbs in the last 30 days.  [Note: I have made a “determination” that my home scale is 30lbs light vis-a-vis the digital scales used at my doctor’s office.  Because of this, as of 1 February 2020, I have begun adding 30lbs to my weight on my home scale.  This means my “true” 29 August starting weight was closer to 403lbs than to 373lbs.  It also means my starting ITF weight was closer to 386lbs, not 356lbs.  My weight 30 days ago was 333lbs…  Adding 30lbs to that would make it 363lbs.  Today’s adjusted weight of 360lbs, means I’ve lost 3lbs in the last 30 days and not the 27lb gain indicated in the sentence prior to this “note”.  I know…  I know.  This is all confusing (and frustrating).]
Calories Chart from last 30 days (Feb / Mar) of ITF
The observant among you may (again) notice in the above chart I had two(2) days where my calories-in exceeded my calories-out…  This is, one day less than the past two months, but there is a marked increase in the number of days where (indicated in pink) I exceeded my calorie ratio (good vs bad). Remember, it’s not a diet, per se, as much as it’s a lifestyle, so I’m happy to have been able to maintain my weight while eating and (still) not working out.  The plan, of course, is to start working out again…
In prior months, I spent a paragraph describing my calories in and out and my BMR and the differences between starting, last month and the current month’s BMR.  With the “adjustment” to weight, it doesn’t make any sense to continue that discussion this month.  I may resume it next month.  The only thing which needs reporting is the 2,424 calories / day.  That plus 500 calories-out is my daily goal to achieve a weight loss of 1lb / wk.
BMR on 15 Mar 2020 at 360lbs
Anyway, the chart below shows I still have a calorie deficit of over 1,000 calories per day (albeit just barely this month).  That times seven(7) days is 7,000 calories.  Divided by 3,500 calories (1 pound of human body fat) equals to 2 pounds of loss per week.  My actual weight loss over the last month is negligible.  As mentioned above, I’m still “playing” with my home scale.  I started off trying to get as accurate a measurement as possible by placing my feet together with my toes at the base of the scale.  Over time, I found I was “balancing” on my toes and the rear of my feet to get a “lower” scale reading.  I then switched to bending my knees and leaning slightly forward and then straightening my legs and leaning as far back as possible while maintaining toe contact.  This gave me a “high” reading and a “low” reading and I was recording the high reading as I found this more closely matched up the digital scales at the doctor’s office or at the Urgent Care Unit (where I was going for vertigo treatment).  Along the way, I found that moving (or bumping) my scale was throwing the high / low weightings off by 15 to 25 pounds for no discernible reason.  At this point, I went back to just recording my weight as “balanced”.  Last month, I went to two doctor’s appointments and got corresponding weigh-ins which were both 30lbs more than my home scale, so I began adding 30lbs to my daily weight.  Which worked fine for a while…  And then I bumped my scale and it jumped 25(ish) pounds (more).  At which point, I gave up on accuracy until this month when I again had two visits with corresponding weigh-ins (with shoes and clothes) at the doctor’s offices.  They roughly match my weight on my home scale with shorts and bare feet, feet wide at the side of the scale.  I believe I’m more or less within 3 to 5 pounds when I alternate between shorts and sweats and shoes and bare feet, so now I am just going with whatever the home scale says.  (Yeah, I know…  Still pretty confusing.)  Bottom Line:  no balancing or leaning and no exact placement of feet.  I just try to get them close and stand naturally / relaxed on the scale.
Calories Chart for Last 12 Months
The goal of my long-term weight loss is (remains) to drop 1.5 to 2 pounds per week.  In theory, this will prevent the two worst parts of extreme weight loss: a permanent (and excessive) drop in BMR (which makes it easier to regain lost weight) and a large amount of floppy / saggy skin (pure vanity).  It looks like I’m continuing my promising start from the first few months.  (The addition / adjustment of +30lbs from last month is clearly visible on the chart as is the “bump” of +25lbs from this month.)
Weight Loss Chart (Oct – Mar)
Equally important: how does it feel?  Not good.  As stated in prior months, I was very good in November and December in my daily jogging.  I haven’t been “good” since.  Other than walking the dog, I haven’t done any exercise this month.  I am definitely losing my chest and shoulder muscles and (now) increasing – my stomach fat.  My shirts no longer look or feel looser.  It’s hard psychologically to see the scale go up.  I continue to have a nagging feeling I’m losing muscle and bone density instead of body fat even though the scale is not “changing”.  My “reason” (as opposed to my excuse) for not jogging has been a mini-flare-up in my AFib.  I reported it to my cardiologist and he ordered a monitor for me.  I wore the heart monitor for two weeks and then waited almost three for the follow-up appointment.  The results are that I am in AFib quite alot (sever hundred times during the two weeks), but for very brief periods – my longest session was 14 seconds and my average was 2 seconds.  My highest heart rate was over 200 beats per minute.  My average is in the mid-60’s.  I reported I was mildly surprised because I really didn’t feel any palpitations and was afraid the monitor would not show any AFib.  The bottom line is my cardiologist says I don’t need any change to my medications but I could definitely lose some weight and get more exercise.  He recommended swimming as strenuous but not wearing on my knees or spine.  My local pool opens in May and he’ll see me again in the fall.
Obviously, I’m making little progress on my secondary goals (which remain) going forward: to smooth out the “calories-in” numbers and to eat more healthy on my one-meal-a-day / all-you-can-eat day.  If there is a silver lining to my cloud, it’s that I (still) didn’t have a single OMAD opportunity when I over-stuffed myself to the point of feeling sick, as I did in my first month of the MITF.  That makes two months in a row.  I guess you can say I am improving there, at least.  Slowly, slowly…
A final observation: my waist is growing (but still smaller than when I started), but my legs, ankles, shoulders and forearms “feel” like they are getting smaller to me.  The pants I was comfortable in (at the waist), are now uncomfortable (again) and I need to begin to push myself (physically) again now that I’ve been given the “all clear”.  More significantly,  I’m only VERY loosely following the modified intermittent time fasting.  I am still eating later in the morning, but I am rarely otherwise following the schedule or stopping at the designated evening hour.  Realistically, I’m off the program.   Even more than working out, I need to get back on the program as I felt it made a significant difference when I was actually adhering to it.  Slowly, slowly…
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On This Day In:
2019	Tonight I Am All Blacks
	In All Its Messy Complexity
2018	Danger = Opportunity
2017	True And Great
	Sand At The Beach
2016	There Is A Difference Between Dangerous And Frightening
2015	Always A Goal
2014	Standing Strong
2013	Shaken And Stirred
	The Bird With The Broken Wing
2012	Friends In High Places
2011	Objective Independence

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One Person’s Roses…

Are another person’s weeds…
In Our Garden…
My wife (Hil) likes to add whimsy to our backyard by inserting (fairly) random articles here and there.  Most are “life” forms (ducks, rabbits, turtles, frogs, angels and saints, etc.), but some are just bits and bobs (wind chimes, bird feeders) to catch your eye.  And, some are just for philosophy…
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On This Day In:
2019	In The Long-Run
2018	#NeverAgain
	Doss II
	Doesn’t / Does
2017	Talent Hates To Move
2016	Looking To November
2015	It Isn’t The End
	Prospero’s Precepts
2014	Friends
2013	Learning Bitter
2012	Remembrance, Minstrels & Going Off To War
	May I Have More Happiness, Please?
2011	There Is No God, But God
2010	Another Running Book…

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150 Day Health / Weight Update (Feb 2020)

The following is the 5th monthly (150 days “-ish”) update on my attempt to lose weight and get healthier.  As always, it’s a longer post than my “normal” daily post, so if your not “into” reading about “another person’s” diet (again!), I’ll understand if you stop here and come back another day.  You’ve been warned!!  Here goes…
(As in previous posts:)  On September 16, 2019, I switched from my 18 days of “juice / blend” fasting / diet to an Intermittent Time Fasting (ITF) “Diet / Lifestyle”.  My starting weight on 29 August, for the juice / blending fast was: 373lbs.  My starting weight for the ITF was: 356lbs.  My current weight (this morning) was: 333lbs.  Based on these “initial” numbers, I’ve lost 40lbs from the end of August, 23lbs from the start of the ITF and gained 15lbs in the last 30 days.  [Note:  I have made a “determination” that my home scale is 30lbs light vis-a-vis the digital scales used at my doctor’s office.  Because of this, as of 1 February 2020, I have begun adding 30lbs to my weight on my home scale.  This means my “true” 29 August starting weight was closer to 403lbs than to  373lbs.  It also means my starting ITF weight was closer to 386lbs, not 356lbs.  My weight 30 days ago was 318lbs…  Adding 30lbs to that would make it 348lbs.  Today’s adjusted weight of 333lbs, means I’ve lost 15lbs in the last 30 days and not the 15lb gain indicated in the sentence prior to this “note”.  I know…  I know.  This is all confusing (and frustrating).]
Calories Chart from last 30 days (Jan / Feb) of ITF
The observant among you may (again) notice in the above chart I had three(3) days where my calories-in significantly exceeded my calories-out…  This is, however, back where I was before the X-mas season / holidays.  In the first three months, I was blowing my calories about once per week, and it looks like I’m back in that area again.  Remember, it’s not a diet, per se, as much as it’s a lifestyle, so I’m happy to have been able to lose weight while eating and (still) not working out.  The plan, of course, is to start working out again…
In prior months, I spent a paragraph describing my calories in and out and my BMR and the differences between starting, last month and the current month’s BMR.  With the “adjustment” to weight, it doesn’t make any sense to continue that discussion this month.  I may resume it next month.  The only thing which needs reporting is the 2,307 calories / day.  That plus 500 calories-out is my daily goal to achieve a weight loss of 1lb / wk.
BMR on 15 Feb 2020 at 333lbs
Anyway, the chart below shows I still have a calorie deficit of over 1,000 calories per day. That times seven(7) days is 7,000 calories. Divided by 3,500 calories (1 pound of human body fat) equals to 2 pounds of loss per week.  My actual weight loss over the last month is 15lbs.  Divided by four(4) is 3.75lbs per week.  Over the last 2 weeks I’ve lost 7lbs (3.5lbs per week) and over the last month (as mentioned above) 15lbs (2.5lbs per week).  I would like to mention that at least once a month I have a one-day gain of 7-10lbs and this month I’ve had several such occurrences.  I initially believed this was water weight, but I’ve not been able to “prove” this, so I only record it as happening.  I will add one day I bumped my scale and it registered a jump of 10lbs (350lbs) from the prior day (340lbs).  The following day, it was back where it was (340lbs).  My other theory was a correlation with the passing of kidney stone (grains), but (this month) I haven’t had any issues with this (grains) which lined up with the weight bounces.  The vagaries of analog scales I guess…
Calories Chart for Last 12 Months
The goal of my long-term weight loss is (remains) to drop 1.5 to 2 pounds per week.  In theory, this will prevent the two worst parts of extreme weight loss: a permanent (and excessive) drop in BMR (which makes it easier to regain lost weight) and a large amount of floppy / saggy skin (pure vanity).  It looks like I’m continuing my promising start from the first few months.  (The addition / adjustment of +30lbs is clearly visible on the chart.)
Weight Loss Chart (Oct – Feb)
Equally important: how does it feel?  Still so-so.  As stated last month, I was very good in November and December in my daily jogging.  I haven’t been “good” since.  Yesterday was actually my first day back at jogging (5K == 3.15 miles).  I seem to be losing my chest and shoulder muscles and retaining – if not increasing – my stomach fat.  My shirts “feel” looser, but they don’t really look looser.  It’s hard psychologically to see the scale go down, but not see a bigger drop in clothes and photos.  I continue to have a nagging feeling I’m losing muscle and bone density instead of body fat.  My “reason” (as opposed to my excuse) for not jogging has been a mini-flare-up in my AFib.  I reported it to my cardiologist and he ordered a monitor for me.  I’ve been wearing it for a week now.  I’ve not been feeling ANY palpitations, so I’m starting back up on the jogging to see if that shows anything on the monitor.  Unfortunately, it’s a “black-box”.  So, even if it shows something, I won’t know about it (the issue) until after I return it (the monitor), they read it and then they send the report to my doctor.  I am still walking my dog 30-to-60 minutes a day six or seven days a week – which is better than nothing.
Obviously, I’m making no progress on my secondary goals (which remain) going forward: to smooth out the “calories-in” numbers and to eat more healthy on my one-meal-a-day / all-you-can-eat day.  If there is a silver lining to my cloud, it’s that I (still) didn’t have a single OMAD opportunity when I over-stuffed myself to the point of feeling sick, as I did in my first month of the MITF.  I guess you can say I am improving there, too.  Slowly, slowly…  (Full disclosure:  I got pretty close on Super Bowl Sunday.)
A final observation (again, pretty much the same as the last two months): although it is theoretically “impossible” to spot lose weight (or spot gain weight), I seem to be losing “size” in areas which correspond to my activity.  My waist is not shrinking much, but my legs, ankles, shoulders and forearms “feel” like they are getting smaller to me.  I was feeling discouraged, so I tried on some pants…  I can now fit in my 48in waist jeans.  They are comfortable on the legs and butt, but while buttoning easily, they remain snug on the waist.  I could wear them, but I’d rather feel comfortable everywhere.  This is down from my 54in waist pants / jeans of last year.  This bucked me up a bit, but I look at my 48’s, 46’s, 44’s, etc. in my closet and just have to shake my head.  Slowly, slowly…
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On This Day In:
2019	Sunlight Stream
2018	Wars Without Taxes
2017	Multiplication And Division
2016	I Went To The Woods…
2015	I’ve Got To Run
2014	Which Is It?
2013	Making You Stronger
2012	Sick Of Being Sick
	Greater Than Power
2011	Clear, Specific And Measurable
2010	The Runner’s High
	Into The Dark…

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Crackin’ The Flags

Today’s weather has been “weird”.  The forecast was for high winds advisory.  And, is it ever blowing!!!  15 to 35mph with gusts to 60mph…  It is roaring like a wind tunnel and practically knocked my cell phone from my hands as I was taking this picture!
Crackin’ The Flags
And, yes, I know the expression: “Crackin’ the flags” refers to it being so hot the street flagstones are cracking and not to proper flags, but that’s the sound you hear standing anywhere near the flag today.  (The flag is in the school entrance way directly across the street from our house.)
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On This Day In:
2019	Maybe A Slight Advantage
	We Should Never Give Up On Our Dreams
2018	As I Recall
2017	Truly Generous
2016	Choose Your Destiny
2015	Fast And Firm
2014	Neither Head Nor Heart
2013	Lonely, Foolish, Love Songs
	Batting 1.000
	Coward, n.
2012	At Least A Little More Difficult
2011	Speaking Of Fear

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