AIRPORT NEAR MIDNIGHT

My appointment in Danville, Illinois was for 1:00PM.  I left Chicago right around 9:30AM to insure that I would arrive on time. My visit to the Danville location lasted until about 5:30PM. My hotel reservation for the night was still an additional two hours away in Springfield. My plans to watch the New York Yankees play was amended. I did not arrive at my hotel room until about 8:30PM. By this time the Yankee game was already underway and the score was tied 3-3. Apparently the 1st inning took 45 minutes. I had flirted with the idea of watching the game while stepping in place in my hotel room. But the mild night, the bright sky lit up by the near full moon beckoned me outdoors. I decided to head for Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport and hike around its complete perimeter. When I finished my hike, I had logged ten miles and it was near midnight. It felt so good to maintain my recent streak of walking everyday which began anew in September. I don't know how active this airport is, I never saw even one plane land or take-off. 

.

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats Instant Grits	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
Bagel w/Cream Cheese	400	58	12	13	780	4
	800	146	18	21	2,020	4
L U N C H
Culvers - Butterburger Plain Hamburger	360	39	16	20	510	6
	360	39	16	20	510	6
D I N N E R
Landshire Sandwiches - Ham & Cheese, 2	520	64	16	36	2,480	14
	520	64	16	36	2,480	14
S N A C K S
Nature Valley - Oats 'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
Ice Cream Sandwich	100	14	4	1	50	7
	290	43	11	4	230	18
Totals	1,970	292	61	81	5,240	42
Your Daily Goal	3,310	414	110	166	2,300	124
Remaining	1,340	122	49	85	-2,940	82
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,380 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 223.7 lbs in 5 weeks     

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

These days, the greatest enemy of the brainwashed leftists is the defeat of Bronze Statues in America.  Apparently (for the time being) President Abraham Lincoln is 'under the radar'. He does carry the 'original sin' of being a Republican, but even this 'character flaw' has proved insufficient to brand him a racist. I guess the fact that he freed the slaves is a tough one to ignore, even for the leftists that 'educate' our youth in American Universities. Lincoln was probably against gay marriage. Of course, back in the 'olden days,' for example, 10 years ago, there were not that many sane people who thought this was a good idea, or who even thought that it was a serious idea. Let me give an example of this. During the Presidential campaign of 2008, a whopping 9 years ago, the internationally famous confirmed homophobe, Barack Obama, was against gay marriage and unabashedly espoused his hateful rhetoric on national TV in front of millions of Americans. He explained that he came to this conclusion from his religious beliefs. Some people have claimed that he is some kind of secret Muslim, but he unabashedly explained that gay marriage was not accepted within the framework of his Christian religion. A couple of years later, his Vice-President, Joe Biden came out for gay marriage, and Barack Obama was able to quickly jettison his Christian values and hop onboard the gay marriage express. There was a name for this: evolution. It was said, at the time, that Barack Obama had 'evolved'. President Abraham Lincoln will never have the opportunity to evolve. One better enjoy his statues while they are still acceptable to the left. Abraham Lincoln's days are numbered. Lincoln was assassinated once before, he will likely be assassinated again. 

Abraham Lincoln Statue in Lincoln Park Chicago. So far, this statue has escaped the wrath of angry brainwashed mobs.

Seven miles was nice for a morning urban hike.
There was also time for an evening urban hike of six miles too.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, September 17, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Balance - Cookie Dough Nutrition Bar	210	22	7	15	200	17
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
	610	110	13	23	1,440	17
L U N C H
Arnold - Multi-grain Sandwich Thin, 1 roll	100	21	1	4	170	1
Peanut Butter	200	8	17	7	147	3
Concord Grape Jelly	100	24	0	0	10	16
Cup of Chili	200	7	14	11	530	2
	600	60	32	22	857	22
D I N N E R
Sushi Spicy Tuna Roll - Brown Rice	400	51	18	24	601	7
	400	51	18	24	601	7
S N A C K S
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories, 1 bar	90	19	2	1	80	7
Yogurt Almonds	300	30	19	5	27	26
	390	49	21	6	107	33
Totals	2,000	270	84	75	3,005	79
Your Daily Goal	3,783	473	126	190	2,300	141
Remaining	1,783	203	42	115	-705	62
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,853 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 222.6 lbs in 5 weeks.

BIRTHDAY 59

Yesterday was my 59th Birthday. I received an email from a childhood friend that I have known since 9th Grade, and whose birthdays we share. He wrote that I should enjoy this birthday as it is the last one that will have a '5' in front of it, as in 59.  Good advice. However, birthdays no longer send me spinning into a small depression.  I have never felt better in my life, I know I have never been fitter, and I have never enjoyed waking up to a new day as much as I do now. This is what a 59 year old man looks like, or at least what I look like. .

I started my day yesterday with an urban hike. By the time I returned home, I had logged 13 miles. The weather is getting colder each day, and I set out with gloves and a warm hat.

I ran into these stone foxes when I passed Columbia College on Wabash Street.

The 'Field Museum' has a replica dinosaur guarding it day and night. In celebration of the World Series appearance (and ultimate victory) by the Cubs, this dinosaur is wearing a Chicago Cubs Jersey.  The thing is, the last World Series victory by the Chicago Cubs prior to last week was so long ago, that this skeleton might actually be one of the players from the 1908 team.

My family celebrated my birthday at BD's Mongolian Grill out in the suburbs - Bolingbrook. This is a restaurant where you select your food, place it in a bowl and watch it get grilled. BD's Mongolian Grill has a birthday promotion which made my meal free, and also included this snazzy Viking Hat seen in the photo below and a super duper high calorie delicious dessert of Fried OREOS.

The is what my food looked like before and after it was grilled. This was a plate of noodles, calamari, shrimp and scallops.  I don't want to publicly admit how many times I filled a similar plate, as we chose the all-you-can-eat option.  (OK, three times - but it was mostly low calories and low carb)

* * * * * * * * * * 

After returning home from the Mongolian Grill in Bolingbrook, I was stuffed and I was tired. I could have easily planted myself on the couch and relaxed and read a book. Somehow, my daughter wanted to take an evening walk with me. I think I almost never turn down an invitation from my daughter to take a walk. We did not set out with a particular destination in mind. We did finally walk over to Target on State Street and my daughter was gifted a small 'Finding Nemo' Tsum-Tsum plush which she enjoyed. When this evening urban hike was completed, we had logged 7.5 miles.

.

And finally, we ran into Abe Lincoln on Michigan Avenue. Look carefully at the feet of these two characters... that is where you will see my daughter standing.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, November 12, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal	520	108	6	12	640	36
	520	108	6	12	640	36
L U N C H
Mongolian Bbq - Scallops	168	0	2	32	404	0
Mongolian Bbq - Brown Rice	150	32	1	3	0	0
Mongolian Bbq - Shrimp	130	0	0	28	1,100	0
Bd's Mongolian Grill - Calamari	156	6	6	30	260	0
Mongolian Bbq -Perciatelli Noodles	300	59	1	9	0	3
Bd's Mongolian Barbeque - Strip Steak	237	3	3	48	816	3
Bd's Mongolian - Chicken	102	0	3	18	68	0
Mongolian Bbq - Teriyaki Sauce	144	36	0	9	3,240	18
Bd's Mongolian Grill - Fried Oreos	380	51	18	5	460	27
	1,767	187	34	182	6,348	51
D I N N E R
Volpi - Mozzarella and Prosciutto Roltini	120	1	8	12	790	0
Costco Chocolate Cake	700	97	46	9	731	61
	820	98	54	21	1,521	61
S N A C K S
Chinrose - Crystallized Ginger	200	44	0	0	38	42
Kameda - Ginger Baked Frosted Rice Snacks	300	54	9	6	300	12
	500	98	9	6	338	54
Totals	3,607	491	103	221	8,847	202
Your Daily Goal	5,249	656	175	263	2,300	196
Remaining	1,642	165	72	42	-6,547	-6
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 3,319 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 195.7 lbs in 5 weeks 

(I did my best to try to estimate my caloric intake for the day... I actually think that 3607 calories might be overstated, still, it would be hard to walk 20 miles every day - so it is unlikely that 'every day would be like today.')

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
13 MILE MORNING URBAN HIKE	175	2,482
7.5 MILE EVENING URBAN HIKE	126	1,151
Daily Total / Goal	301 / 30	3,633 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1162 / 210	15,424 / 4,130

.

* * * * * * * * * * 

I had a wonderful 59th birthday. I spent the day with my family. I walked more than 20 miles. I had a delicious meal. As I get ready to enjoy being 59 years old for the next 365 days, I know that the upcoming year will be filled with hope and promise as my fellow Americans chose wisely in the election that ended just a few days ago. Thank you, America!

* * * * * * * * * * 

Giant Abe Lincoln sculpture stands up downtown in time for Election Day

POSTED 12:35 PM, NOVEMBER 1, 2016, BY WGN WEB DESK

CHICAGO -- A giant Abraham Lincoln is standing up in downtown Chicago just in time for election day.

The enormous, lifelike sculpture "Return Visit" by artist Seward Johnson depicts Abraham Lincoln discussing the Gettysburg Address with what's described as a "contemporary man." Johnson produced the original human-scale sculpture to stand in the Gettysburg Plaza in Pennsylvania, and the version in Chicago is an enlarged replica.  Chicagoans may remember the artist's early work, like "Forever Marilyn," which previously stood in the same location at 401 N. Michigan downtown.

"President Lincoln's character and accomplishments are imprinted forever on the nation he loved and served so well. He has been a hero to millions of people and certainly has inspired me throughout my life," Johnson said in a statement.

Paul M. Zeller, CEO of Zeller Realty Group, which brought the sculpture and Johnson's other works to Chicago, said they chose the work "to reinforce an emphasis on Honesty, not just here in Illinois but across the US, in the closing days of the Presidential election 2016."

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT LINCOLN

All Americans should be thankful that President Abraham Lincoln successfully preserved the Union (although at great cost) .  Today, I am (sort of) thanking President Abraham Lincoln (five dollar bill version of him) as only $5.00 will allow me to utilize a local fitness club in Clare, Michigan (an extremely low cost)

Yesterday I left Chicago and travelled to Clare, Michigan.  Clare, Michigan is centrally located in northern Michigan and it is not exactly a large metropolis.   The nearest YMCA is a approximately 40 miles distant.  Clare, Michigan has no national fitness chains within miles.  What the town does have is exactly one privately owned fitness center with a very friendly policy for out-of-town guests or anyone that simply wants to use the facility.  For just $5.00 one can have access to CLARE FAMILY FITNESS.    Although this is a small town, the fitness center is open 24 hours per day!   So as soon as I 'publish' this post to the blog - I will travel the half mile from my hotel and get in a good workout to start my day.

CLARE FAMILY FITNESS, where my day will start on Tuesday

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 Monday MENU

breakfast   THREE APPLES                                                              240 calories
lunch         SALAD BAR, granola trail mix                                     1085 calories
dinner       SUBWAY double chicken spinach salad, w/croutons       280 calories
SNACK   BULK FOODS: granola, dried fruit, chocolate                  829 calories

total calories consumed 2434 calories

calories burned

HOME STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL 45 minutes, level 20                     1072 calories

CALORIES BURNED 1072 CALORIES

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

Monday net calories 1362 calories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

This following passage lifted from the Clare Family Fitness website is from the about me page of Clare Family Fitness.... It is a brief history of the business told by the owner, Kim Denton.    One has to admire a small business success story run by a typical American.  It is people like this that make America great (y'know when America was great before the Leftists did everything they could to destroy it - they have not completely succeeded yet - but they will never give up.)   Therefore either can we!

I am so proud and excited to be the new owner of Clare Family Fitness.  I thank Randy Hale for the opportunity - he has created an environment where I have personally thrived with his killer X-Fit class for 3 years and now on a professional level.  Stepping into the gym as the owner is completely exhilarating.  I am anxious to bring new programs and fitness opportunities to the Clare area.

My fitness journey begins with Jane Fonda…for real!!!  In high school I worked out with a neighbor lady in tights and a body suit…YIKES.  I ran cross country in high school, but wasn’t very good thanks to shin splints.  Then in college I started swimming and eventually competed in a few sprint triathlons.  I really loved step aerobics and water aerobics and taught a few classes.  Truthfully, I was never an athlete, but always wanted to be fit and healthy.  Then came marriage and babies and I put my fitness quest on hold.  

About 10 years ago, I needed to burn some “baby fat” and worked out in two health clubs in Mt. Pleasant daily and eventually got kicked out of both…because of their rules about children.   (That’s not going to happen at Clare Family Fitness.)  At that point, I took my fitness pursuit into my own home and did workouts with neighbors.  Then, we realized that we wanted to get the kids involved and brought Girls on the Run to Clare.  This was when I realized my passion to help young girls realize their unique beauty, make healthy choices, exude confidence, and reach their fullest potential.  

Ok, so I do have a competitive side too…I have loved coaching Clare Middle School Cross Country with Kyle McKown for the last 5 years and intend to continue with “my girls”.   Personally, I competed with a team of “MissFits” in Clare’s Toughest Contest and we earned second place to a guys’ team…but we had much better form thanks to Randy’s coaching.  I am a sports booster, a board member for Girls On The Run, and the ultimate fan for my kids’ teams.

Speaking of my family, they are also invested in my new endeavor as a gym owner.  My husband of almost 25 years, Jeff Denton, is thrilled to have a membership at CFF!   It would have been easier for him to work out a deal while Randy was the owner because now he has to lay rubber flooring and handle my constant flow of ideas for improvement.  Gabe is a sophomore at Clare High School and luckily got his dad’s athletic mind, body, and ability.  His brute strength is also an asset to the gym…thanks Gabe!  Leah is in 8th grade and enjoys the gym for running club and the cozy couch for naps after school.  My eldest, Abigail, is attending Calvin College in Grand Rapids and would like me to install a climbing wall…not sure about that…how about the water tower!  My parents are also roped into the new business…my mom works at The Studio (old Curves is now Clare Family Fitness) in the early morning and my dad runs errands and they both check on me to make sure I’m taking care of myself! 

I graduated from Mason High School in 1986.  In 1989, I earned a Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in Business Administration from Alma College.  We have lived in Clare for almost 17 years, but this is Jeff’s home town, he graduated in 1983. As a stay-at-home-mom for 2 decades, I was restless for a professional endeavor.  

Clare Family Fitness is where I will pursue a life-long dream of business ownership that started as a little girl in Lansing selling lemonade by the road at my card table station!

At Clare Family Fitness, my goal is to provide a fitness opportunity for all ages, shapes, and situations (even moms with kids in tow).  I have surrounded myself with an amazing team to meet your needs.  We are here to help you reach your fitness goals…so join our family at Clare Family Fitness!

Be healthy and be happy!

KIM DENTON