Archive for November 11th, 2007

Ramping up for Ukelelology. Or was it Ukelology?

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

I just picked up three ukeleles from Jairo this afternoon. That makes me the proud owner of five ukes, at least for the time being. For anyone who’s interested, the workshop for introduction to the ukelele is happening on Monday Nov 19 at 7pm. The default location is my place but it’s not exactly ideal (i.e. I’d have to clean up the place). If anyone wants to offer their pad, I’d love to know. It looks like I’ll be leading the instruction unless someone more qualified steps forward. I figure I’ll provide handouts of all the chords and a few songs, talk about strumming techniques, and then we’ll play a few easy songs. It’s free, but bring food to share.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=6421178124

And then on Tuesday night it’s the Ukelele Circle Jam at Our Town Cafe on Broadway @ Kingsway so you can put your new knowledge to good use!

D-Day 1 & 2 (The D is for Diet)

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

Being on a diet is like being vegetarian - everyone does it until they’re not.

Who says you can’t be a vegetarian for a day?

My diet ends on the 20th of December (or until I get to my target weight). You may notice that coincides with Christmas. And yes, I plan on enjoying whatever sugary, fattening items present themselves at that time.

So what is the wisdom of being on a diet, just so you can counter the effect once you’ve reached your goal?

Well my thinking is that even people who are staunch health nuts splurge from time to time. Am I wrong, Dude? I think of a person who generally eats quite well but if they’re offered some tasty desert item or whathaveyou they will have “just a small piece.” Well, that’s my regime too, but in much broader strokes. Instead of eating restrictively for a couple days and having a piece of pie as a treat, I’m going to eat restrictively for several weeks and then have more than a piece of pie. I figure it all works out in the end, right? Everything in moderation, including moderation.

After all, after I lost 40 lbs it did take a decent amount of time for me to gain fat ground back up 20. So I figure if I spend the rest of my life enjoying ten months out of the year and suffering for two, it’s equivalent to eating “reasonably” - i.e. abstinently - consistently for 12 months of the year which, I’m confident in saying, is 100% unrealistic (for me). I think it’s a lot easier to exercise 100% willpower for 12% of the year than try to exercise say 80-90% willpower for 100% of the year.

That’s the theory, which I’m putting to the test.

Day One: mandarin orange (100 calories); apple (100c); can of corn (165c); pickles (like, 10c?); sugar free candy (???); low fat cream of broccoli soup (205c); another can of corn (165c) = about 800 calories.

Day Two: “Thinsations” cinnamon graham cookie-thins (100) + sugar-free pudding (200) + Thinsations again (100) + banana (200) + carrots & celery (100) + chicken (180) + Thinsations!!! (100) = 980 calories.