Here we go...

Motivation:

on the mp3 player today: Last verse of "Leaving California" by Scot Ninnemann

Look again at where you are

I am not where I have been

Our world's already come so far

Now can we change it -- mine's changing again

I'm going where I'm not the only one

Wondering how it could be instead

And oh I think there's sunlight up ahead

Diary:

D: roasted chicken, potato, sweet potato, animal cookies
B: eggs and sausage
S: protien bar
L: roasted chicken, corn, xs, vitamins
S: celery and peanut butter, orange
g: eliptical 1.87 miles, 357+ calories, walk 1 mile, sauna

Notes:

I think I have mostly overcome my flu, but still have *something* in my throat. I need to take some expectorant to get that mystery out of there. It is not stopping me from doing anything, but is merely uncomfortable. I did take some decongestant this morning, and I have been using my humidifier. Those two items are helping a bit for my comfort level. I think my workout today and return to 'good eats' will help me to sleep better, and overall I think I will kick the illness by the end of the week.

Speaking of 'Good Eats', I bought a reward for myself. I ordered Digital Cable in a 6 month deal that included a DRV (like a Tivo) that records shows and lets me skip commercials, etc.. I wanted this for Baseball season, so I can watch the Twins on FSN anytime I want (I can record a whole game, and fast-forward through the boring parts), but after it was installed, I found so many other things I like about it:

1) Food Channel, including "Good Eats" with Alton Brown. This is one of my favorite shows, and Rachel Ray is also on this channel..... well, she is so cheery and smiley, it is almost over the top, I find her very cute. I get 100 more channels, more than I would ever need, but I am getting ESPN, FSN, ESPN2, USA, etc. Now I can watch baseball and college football (Cornhuskers) on a great venue.

2) Comcast has this "On Demand" service that lets you watch stuff ANYTIME. I watched Back the the Future III that was a free movie that I could watch, then if I had to leave the movie it saved my spot and asked if I wanted to restart the movie where I left it. That is cool. There are all sorts of movies, extras, training, shows, etc. I will have to see if the movie list they have is worth cancelling my Blockbuster subscription.

3) Digital Cable with ProLogic sound. All the cable is digital picture and stereo sound, and it is fun to watch shows, sports, etc, in true surround sound.

4) I can now not panic about getting home in time to see 24 (or name your show) anymore. Even if I get home 10 minutes late, I can start the show from the beginning, and watch up to the current point in time. I feel like I am fooling mother nature, becuase I am watching 30 minutes of TV in a 15 minute timeframe. It is fun.


FAT 2 FIVEK
I was going to wait until AFTER this week to change the name, but at the gym I watched a little of the Mets game, and I decided to start the name change with the start of baseball season. Let's get it on.

The 2006 Challenge is still in effect, however the new goal is to finish and compete (whatever that means, we are still working this out) in a 5K race in October, 2006. From now until October, I will be training for the race, with a possible side-challenge for an unofficial 5K race in August. This is still up in the air. I am planning on having my first measurement in May (a timed 5K walk/jog) and another measurement in July (another timed 5K). After the July measurement, I will get a challenge time. I will have to train to beat this time. My friends Kurt and Phil will have to help me figure out what this time will be, based on my first two measurements. (That could be a challenge in itself.)



Other stuff..

Last night, I had my first public Accordion Solo at church last night. I played "You are my sunshine", and I messed up the middle a little, but I finished the song, and felt pretty good about the effort. I need a lot of practice. (I got 3rd place, and was beat out by a singing dog.)

I am starting to collect praises from people who are starting to notice. I will expand on this later, but Paul from my men's group, Cheryl from church, and a recruiter from work named Chris all commented to me that they see progress in my weight loss and were all very genuine and encouraging. I advised them to keep their eyes open, as the best is yet to come.

I am excited about Baseball. Maybe too excited. I can't wait until next Tuesday. I am going to buy a portable camera and get some pictures taken with Memphis at the park. I am going to use him as my "control" group and share the pictures on the blog. We can take pictures at Twins games along the next few months for your enjoyment.

more later..

Chazz.