friday followup...

Dr. U's office called. Blood sugar was fine. Cholesterol was "great", to quote her nurse. Still fighting me on the red meat and beer, but it's all about baby steps, kids.

Friday eve...

Went to the doctor today for the annual check up. Got to keep this finely tuned machine humming on all 12 cylinders....Bwahaha. Which, by the way, is an actual quote from my physician. Not a good sign. Bp was better than I expected, but not good enough. I'm to quit booze & red meat & limit my carbs. Oh, and lose a hundred pounds or so, while bringing my cv fitness into line. Now turn and place your elbows on the bench.....

tuesday bluesday

Well, the blizzard missed us this morning. Yippee!! I am SO ready for the sound of balls pinging off aluminum bats and hitting leather. I've been roped into coaching mini-me's baseball team, and I'm also getting my umpire certification, so look for the VGfatfamily to spend all of June & July at a ball park near you. #1 son has expressed an interest in learning the sweet sport of pasture pool....so I might be able to convince the boss to let me play once a week, for the sake of the children, really, honestly! The Old Dodge Globe pleasure palace on wheels is ready to fire up and go to the campground...we're going to be starting the massive remodeling project...have I mentioned how ready I am for warm weather?

Hit the weights a bit this morning...I read in one of my health mags about changing the position of your feet to destabilize your core when performing reps, so I did three sets of cleans...one with my feet at the traditional shoulder width...then one with my left foot in front of my right, and finished with my right in front of my left...the resulting instability reduced my strength significantly while really taxing my lower back/abs so I guess those exercise phys guys sometimes know what they're talking about. :-) I also did two sets of the db curl/tricep extension/speed bag trifecta of pain and finished off with some Pilates Core work....not bad for a fat guy!

Sign o' the times...

Hat tip to Prince.....

So I had to go to the Champaign County Courthouse today...dropping off a money order that my eldest had gotten to pay for her latest transgression....and I couldn't believe how much of an ordeal it is simply to enter a public building these days. No cell phones are allowed, and no you can't leave it with us, thank you very little. What's that? You have the temerity to wear a belt? Off with your pants! I am all for the judicious use of authority to insure the public welfare, but I certainly wish it didn't come with a full order of self important toolhood. I'm sure that the deputies manning the post have to deal with all sorts of shady types during the course of their day...but nothing justifies the overall attitude and arrogance on display this morning. The first words I heard from them were.." You don't tell us when it's 8 o'clock...we tell you." Nice.

In the never ending battle of the bulge...I am up to 287...which I believe is the exact weight I was when I started this blog last Summer. Wonderful. I went about a mile today...mostly walking...then did a 10 minute core routine, so the abs are whimpering. Tomorrow I'm lifting & doing HRD.

Sports are a diversion----not

So, the one redeeming factor(other than Demetri's continued emergence) about last night's pathetic Illini performance was the fact that I got to watch it with my bud, in his new crib, on his new HD flat screen. Unfortunately, this also gave us an opportunity to go back and review the crappiness multiple times. Of course, I could have watched on my wrist watch and been able to see the sloppy passes, matador defense and doinked 3 pointers at inopportune moments in the game. Bruce got t'ed up, and even after multiple replays we couldn't determine why. Randle's hurt again, what looks to be his fourth major injury in 5 years....he and Pruitt are Illini, so I'll always support them, but I am at the point where I can't wait for them to be gone and for a breath of fresh air to come into the program. This will be McCamey's team next year, and I for one can't wait. The biggest problem I have with watching Illinois hoops this year is it compels one to drink, a lot, so working out is not going to happen on the morning after. At least the pain shall be ending in a couple weeks....then I can start watching the mediocre Cardinals taking on the overrated Cubs. Joy.

Phyllis H Kaskavage, RIP

We buried my mother in law on Wednesday. A small Catholic cemetery just west of Oregon, Illinois. I'm not certain how to describe my relationship with her, but I feel compelled to try.

Our outlook on just about every topic was diametrically opposed, and this led to the occasional conflict. We always respected each other, but I couldn't escape the thought that she (probably correctly) felt that Jules could have done better on the spousal front than the wild eyed sailor boy she ended up marrying. Ultimately, she loved her kids and she loved my kids and that's enough.

She was an amazing woman who gave selflessly to her family, her church and her community, and I'll miss her. Even the times when she was razzing me.

This post doesn't adequately convey the myriad feelings I have, but it's enough for now. On monday I'm hoping to get back to mundane topics like diet & exercise...to try to get back to normal.

it pays to enrich your word power

To be eviscerated:
1. To have your entrails removed, to be disemboweled
2. To watch your favorite sports team lose in unfathomable fashion to the most reviled band of
asshats ever.

This is how it feels to know without uncertainty that a young man is going to miss a free throw
This is how it feels to be kissed by a dementor
This is how it feels to be nutpunched by a drunken midget until you pass out
This is how it feels to give birth....rectally
This is how it feels to be an Illini fan

Sometimes, the guys in the black hats win.
Sometimes, I hate sports.

Diary

Of a fatman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failure

Screaming at the window-watch me die another day. Hopeless situation-endless price I have to pay. (thanks, Ozzie. I couldn't have said it any better myself.)

So I woke up this morning, brimming with joy de vivre, having gotten together with most of the greatest people in my life, all too briefly last night for the Melbs super bash. Good food, good friends, good game, for a change.

Then, as has become my ritual, I stepped on the scale for weekly weigh in and woe, misery and shame descended. Plus 5. What the hell? I haven't been a saint in the past week, but I certainly never invisioned my transgressions would manifest themselves in such a concrete fashion. I feel like drowning my sorrows in a burrito as big as my friggin head.

Today's workout....

CARDIO!! Took about 45 minutes to shovel the drive and sidewalk. Then went sledding with the kiddies. My body cries out for solace...and a good massage.