Monday, October 31, 2016

BOOMERANG TRAIL

I decided to name the path of my ten mile walk the Boomerang Trail as it appeared that my urban hike resembled a boomerang.  Of course, boomerangs when launched properly return to their origin, and likewise all 'loop trails' bring one back to the trailhead, in addition,  the entire outline of my travels looked like a boomerang to me.






I passed this artwork entitled, TOLERANCE, about 6AM in the morning.  It was difficult to get a photograph, but I did my best.






When I returned to my hotel after my 10 mile urban hike, the Houston Half Marathon was passing right by my hotel.
The Chicago Cubs got their ticket to Cleveland punched by winning game 5 of the World Series. They still trail the Indians three games to two.
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Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 5 packet (28 g) 500 110 0 10 1,550 0

500 110 0 10 1,550 0
L U N C H
Phonecia Shrimp Chef Salad 800 0 90 60 2,400 0
Lance - Toasty Crackers w/Peanut Butter 180 21 9 4 230 4

980 21 99 64 2,630 4
D I N N E R
Lobster Enchillada 1,000 70 49 70 2,325 0

1,000 70 49 70 2,325 0
S N A C K S
Halados Mexico - coconut Ice-Cream 240 38 9 4 0 0

240 38 9 4 0 0
   
Totals 2,720 239 157 148 6,505 4
Your Daily Goal 4,641 580 154 233 2,300 174
Remaining 1,921 341 -3 85 -4,205 170
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 2,711 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 193.1 lbs in 5 weeks.



       Your Exercise Diary for:


Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned
Ten Mile Urban Hike
139 1,855
One mile
17 176
Two miles
29 359




   
Daily Total / Goal 186 / 30 2,711 / 590  
Weekly Total / Goal 1251 / 210 19,210 / 4,130             



from houston.culturemap.com/news/entertainment

"Tolerance" sculptures along Allen Parkway promote Houston's diversity


2.21.11 | 5:00 am



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Barcelona-based artist Jaume Plensa's septuplet of sculptures, "Tolerance," was dedicated last week, accompanied by addresses by Mayor Annise Parker, former Mayor Bill White, Mica Mosbacher, a representative of the Aga Khan Foundation and the artist himself.
The Houston Arts Alliance-commissioned sculptures of kneeling human figures, composed of multi-lingual melded metal letters resting on Spanish boulders, have been installed at the corner of Allen Parkway and Montrose Boulevard, and will soon serve as the locus of Harmony Walk and the Rosemont Bridge.
With the downtown skyline as a backdrop, the sculptures encourage Buffalo Bayou joggers and commuters on Allen Parkway to give pause and consider the city's dynamic diversity.
Plensa, who said he "grew up in a forest of books," sees the letter as a beautiful metaphor for human beings.
"When you compare 'A' with 'B' or 'C' with 'D,' or other characters, they seem different. But how beautiful when you can put them together and build up words. And words with words, text. And text with text, culture," he said.
Mosbacher, widow of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher, detailed her involvement with the project, which was sparked by a vicious 2006 hate crime attack against then 16-year-old Latino student, David Ritcheson, who later committed suicide.
"In contemplating how in some small way I could help to right that wrong," said Mosbacher, "I began to think about Houston, and that in Houston our city is an open city, and those are not part of our values. We are tolerant, we embrace other cultures, and in fact, those other cultures have been the engines of our healthy and prosperous economy."
She quoted the United Nations definition of tolerance and how it relates to the city:
Tolerance is harmony in our differences. Tolerance is not a concession, it's not a condensation, or indulgence."
With special thanks given to her late husband and also to Museum of Fine Arts director Peter Marzio, who passed away in December, Mosbacher concluded, "I hope that those who visit 'Tolerance' on Harmony Walk contemplate what our city represents and will also focus on the value of each and every one of us as human beings."
At the dedication, White expressed thanks to His Highness the Aga Khan, who was pivotal in making "Tolerance" happen and has spearheaded plans for an Aga Khan Foundation Center on a lot across Allen Parkway. He became intimately involved in the project after meetings with White, with whom he shares a keen appreciation for diversity.
"I remember meeting with His Highness across the street when we first had a glimmer that public art may be attainable in this special place. At a time when we were in the depths of a great recession, the Aga Khan Foundation came through in a big way," White said. 
"Above all, I really pay tribute to those who break down barriers in this community. Sometimes they're very courageous people who have endured some hardship and taken a stance . . . but often, they are quiet strugglers, individuals who have persevered when there is stereotyping. For them, this particular public art will be dedicated."

Sunday, October 30, 2016

MINUTE MAID PARK

I surprised myself on Saturday morning, when I woke up at 5:00AM, and made the instant decision to  get up, get dressed and head outdoors in the dark of night (sunrise was not until about 7:30AM) and hike ten miles. I spent a lot of time zigging and zagging and eventually I found myself near Minute Maid Park.  My Saturday night did not end until around 1:00AM Sunday morning.  Frankly, I am not sure how I managed to operate on so little sleep. But I did.
Taking a short break at Minute Maid Park

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Ultimate Mixed Grill at McCormick & Schmitt

CUBS UPDATE.   I don't want to be negative... but it is looking as if the World Series drought, currently at 108 years may soon be slipping to 109 years. With the loss of the Cubs to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night, the Cubs are now faced with the loss of the World Series unless they begin a three game winning streak on Sunday. It's doable. It's been done before. It can be done again. But this team is going to need to actually score some runs if that is going to happen.




Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 5 packet 500 110 0 10 1,550 0

500 110 0 10 1,550 0
L U N C H
6" Hot Dog With Bun 580 0 0 0 0 0

580 0 0 0 0 0
D I N N E R
Mccormick & Schmick's Mixed Grill 1,100 0 0 0 0 0

1,100 0 0 0 0 0
S N A C K S
Dewars - Scotch 1 Oz. Shot, 3 oz. 207 0 0 0 0 0

207 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 2,387 110 0 10 1,550 0
Your Daily Goal 4,116 514 137 206 2,300 154
Remaining 1,729 404 137 196 750 154
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 2,186 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 195 lbs in 5 weeks     
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       Your Exercise Diary for:


Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned
10 MILE URBAN HIKE
143 1,799

   
Daily Total / Goal 143 / 30 1,799 / 590  
Weekly Total / Goal 1065 / 210 16,499 / 4,130             
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Saturday, October 29, 2016

BUFFALO BAYOU PARK

Thursday night, my first night in Houston, Texas ended in burst of 'hard-drinking.'  I was brought up in a home by two loving parents that taught me that if you are going to do something, you should do it right. I am guessing that this applies to drinking too. The fact is, anyone can drink.  Anyone can drink too much. But if one can drink all night and still get up before dawn and and take a ten mile urban hike - then definitionally, one did not drink too much. On Thursday, I had hike along some of the pathways at Buffalo Bayou Park and realized that there was much more than I had seen. Friday morning, I set out to explore the entire park from its west end to its east end. And when that hike was completed, I had hike ten miles, and there was time to shower up and meet my colleagues for breakfast.  It is an amazing thing to sit down for a hearty breakfast with 20,000 steps already logged for the day.














Friday was set-up day for the QuiltMarket Show in Houston. As I walked back to my hotel after meeting with my vendors I passed this giant football which has been strategically placed to remind Houstonians that they will be hosting the SUPER BOWL in 100 days.


Thinking about the Super Bowl reminds me that the Cubs are currently playing in the WORLD SERIES.  The Cubs hosted the Cleveland Indians last evening at Wrigley Field and as they will for the next two nights.  They lost the game one to nothing. Unless the Indians 'sweep'  the three Wrigley Field games, the World Series will travel eastward again back to Cleveland to crown its champion.


Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Omelette - 3-egg Omelette With Cheese, 3 eggs 425 0 21 28 650 2
Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal, 0.75 cup (40 gm) dry 450 81 8 12 0 3
Honeydew - Melon 200 49 0 4 102 44

1,075 130 29 44 752 49
L U N C H
Kellogg's - Raisin Bran - Single Serving Box 140 34 1 3 150 13

140 34 1 3 150 13
D I N N E R
Chicken Enchilada, (3) 750 36 49 42 1,817 0
Corn Pudding 300 33 16 12 261 0
Green - Beans 100 20 0 5 1,450 10

1,150 89 65 59 3,528 10
S N A C K S
Skittles - Skittles, 2 pack 240 34 8 6 300 2
Cheerios 180 36 3 6 255 3

420 70 11 12 555 5
Totals 2,785 323 106 118 4,985 77
Your Daily Goal 4,377 547 146 219 2,300 164
Remaining 1,592 224 40 101 -2,685 87
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 2,447 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 196.4 lbs in 5 weeks     
.

       Your Exercise Diary for:


Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned
10 MILE URBAN HIKE
134 1,907
42 312

   
Daily Total / Goal 176 / 30 2,219 / 590  
Weekly Total / Goal 922 / 210 14,700 / 4,130
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Chicken Enchiladas - Back Street Cafe, Houston, Texas



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SATURDAY WEIGH/IN
223.0 lbs


Friday, October 28, 2016

16 MILES, THE HARD WAY

This must be the hard way. Walk 6 miles in Midway Airport before taking off for a trip to Houston, Texas.  Arrive Houston, Texas and walk 10 miles.

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I accomplished a 6 mile INDOOR AIRPORT HIKE by walking the entire Midway Terminal a little more than three times. Each 'lap' was approximately 1.7 miles. I timed my walk perfectly so that the moment I was finished, I needed to line up to board the aircraft. In the 'old days' I would have arrived early at the airport and purchased a nice high calorie bagel with cream cheese with a chocolate milk.  These days, instead of consuming 1000 calories, minutes after my arrival at the airport, I have found a way to burn nearly 1000 calories. 


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Part of my URBAN HIKE yesterday in Houston, Texas had me hiking through Buffalo Bayou Park




Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 5 packet (28 g) 500 110 0 10 1,550 0

500 110 0 10 1,550 0
L U N C H
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 4 medium apple (170g) 380 100 1 2 7 76
100% Pure Coconut Water with Pineapple, 16 fl oz 90 24 0 0 80 20
Wheat Thins Original (Southwest Airlines) 100 15 4 1 160 3
Southwest Airlines - Peanuts, 1 Bag 70 2 6 3 95 1

640 141 11 6 342 100
D I N N E R
Benihana - Spicy Tuna Roll, 8 pieces (full roll) 380 53 11 18 600 0
Sushi With Gusto - Spider Roll, 8 oz (227g) 500 67 13 29 724 0

880 120 24 47 1,324 0
S N A C K S
Doubletree - Chocolate Chip Cookie, 1 Cookie 310 33 18 4 200 22
Skittles - Skittles, 2 pack 240 34 8 6 300 2
Dewars - Scotch 1 Oz. Shot, 8 oz. 552 0 0 0 0 0

1,102 67 26 10 500 24
Totals 3,122 438 61 73 3,716 124
Your Daily Goal 4,945 618 165 248 2,300 185
Remaining 1,823 180 104 175 -1,416 61
Calories
kcal
Carbs
g
Fat
g
Protein
g
Sodium
mg
Sugar
g
*You've earned 3,015 extra calories from exercise today
If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 194.1 lbs in 5 weeks .
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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular Minutes Calories Burned
6 MILE HIKE WITHIN MIDWAY AIRPORT
89 1,045
10 MIKE URBAN HIKE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS
139 1,853

   
Daily Total / Goal 228 / 30 2,898 / 590  
Weekly Total / Goal 746 / 210 12,481 / 4,13






As part of my 'food diary' yesterday, I included 8 oz of Dewars Scotch. I don't drink too often, but when I do, I can overdo it. It is all part of the same personality trait that made me an overeater.  I suppose it is part of the same personality trait that makes me an over-walker.  You know what, I may have overdone it a bit on the drinking last evening, but I woke up early on Friday, as I had planned, with enough time to take a hike through part of the beautiful park that I 'discovered' yesterday before meeting my colleagues for a 10:00AM breakfast.