WRIGLEY FIELD

Me and my girl took a nine mile walk on Sunday... It is getting harder and harder to remember what day it  is when everyday is pretty much the same... Wake up, do not work, amuse oneself doing something, go to sleep, Wake up next day, repeat

.

CHICAGO PARALLELOGRAM (DAY 91)

I went out for a walk early Sunday and I walked the path of an eight mile parallelogram. I stopped to take a couple of pictures by my favorite outdoor mural on Milwaukee Avenue: GREETINGS FROM CHICAGO

.

.

28 DAYS

Sunday was the 28th consecutive day that I have drastically curtailed my caloric intake.
ONE MONTH
I wonder where I will be one month from now if I can repeat this success...
I hope to find out in 28 days.

.

.



.

.

.

7 SECRETS TO TURN YOUR BODY INTO A FAT BURNING MACHINE

1. Reduce your calories on Monday and cut out all sweets

2. Reduce your calories on Tuesday and cut out all sweets

3. Reduce your calories on Wednesday and cut out all sweets

4. Reduce your calories on Thursday and cut out all sweets

5. Reduce your calories on Friday and cut out all sweets

6. Reduce your calories on Saturday and cut out all sweets

7. Reduce your calories on Sunday and cut out all sweets

BONUS SECRET: SPRINKLE IN SOME EXERCISE 

(Exercise doesn't make up for over-eating, but it is healthy)

My daughter works at Wrigley Field. She is one of the people who scans tickets allowing entry into the ballpark. She often gets driven to Wrigley Field before work - but she enjoys walking home afterwards. The walk is a bit more than two miles. I often walk to Wrigley and watch the game on the giant outdoor screen at Gallagher's Place. It is a quite enjoyable place to catch some baseball and rays. On Saturday, I thought I would s-t-r-e-t-c-h that 2.6 mile walk to about five miles.  Instead,  I stretched it to twelve miles.  After the game, my daughter wanted to go to Costco eatery for dinner, so we walked there too.  My wife picked us up after that, which was good, because I could barely walk after walking 14+ miles between lunch and dinner. It was the most I had walked in more than half a year. My fitbit recorded more than 30,000 steps, also the most in more than half a year. Three weeks ago in the depths of my weight-gaining stupidity it was painful to walk half a block to the local bank. I thought that I had gone too far backwards and that I would never regain my ability to put on a pair of shoes and log some serious miles.  Thankfully, as far backwards as I had gone... my reversal seems to be taking place and once again, I have become a walking, talking, fat-burning machine. Oh yeah!

.

TWELVE MILE HIKE FROM HOME TO WRIGLEY FIELD
(apparently without using GPS!)

Wrigley Field to Costco for dinner

If you order the Costco Chicken Caesar Salad AND USE THE DRESSING CONTAINER THAT THEY GIVE YOU WITH THE MEAL... YOU CAN ADD ABOUT 400 CALORIES TO THAT MEAL!

.


.

.
Direct route from the corner where we live to Wrigley Field is only 2.6 miles.  I made it a twelve mile walk on Saturday.

.

I am still 260+ pounds. By definition, that is morbidly obese. I honestly think that with my ridiculously short haircut and now a healthy looking tan earned while logging some serious outdoor time - I look much better than the 260+ pounds says I should. I am looking forward to getting into the 250's and well below that too... One (fitbit) step at a time... What I know is this... three weeks ago, I couldn't stand looking at myself in the mirror... I can stand it now.

.

JUBILATION

It took 108 years.
It took 7 games.
It took 10 innings.
It took 4 hours 28 minutes (including  17 minute rain delay)
The Chicago Cubs are the World Champions!
The moment, that the last out was recorded at first base, there were cheers throughout the city.
Fireworks could be heard coming from many different directions.
I can only imagine the bedlam going on in Wrigleyville by Wrigley Field.
Final Score Cubs 8 - Indians 7
What a game!

time for a new logo!

time for a new license plate!

As it was raining throughout the day, it was time to take refuge indoors and spend some time on the elliptical machine. I did something different than usual. I often set the 'resistance' to the top setting and pedal along at a comfortable pace. Yesterday I set the 'resistance' to 'only' half of what I usually set it, but pedaled much faster and much harder and had an equivalent calorie burn in only 60 minutes.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 6 packet	600	132	0	12	1,860	0
Nature Valley - Cherry Dark Chocolate	200	30	5	10	150	15
	800	162	5	22	2,010	15
L U N C H
Subway - Footlong Turkey Breast on Wheat	560	92	17	36	1,890	11
Whole Foods - Banana Chips	225	26	15	2	0	15
Fresh Thyme - Dark Cocoa Melting Wafers	500	55	30	7	102	48
	1,285	173	62	45	1,992	74
D I N N E R
Banana (2)	270	70	1	3	3	38
Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
	810	171	7	18	3,103	84
Totals	2,895	506	74	85	7,105	173
Your Daily Goal	3,011	376	100	151	2,300	113
Remaining	116	-130	26	66	-4,805	-60
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,081 extra calories from exercise today

.

Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	60	1,081
Daily Total / Goal	60 / 30	1,081 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	376 / 210	6,228 / 4,130

.

My 59th birthday is still a little more than one week away... yesterday my daughter made this cake at school during one of her special elective classes. This was presented to me on the night of the 7th game of the World Series. I loved the baseball theme. What a nice surprise.

.

.

GAME 7

When the Chicago Cubs lost their first two home games at Wrigley Field, it appeared as if they would not ending their season in Chicago. When they edged the Cleveland Indians 3-2 in their final home game, they succeeded in punching their ticket back to Cleveland. I returned home from Houston, Texas back to Chicago and I took an urban 9 mile hike as soon as I returned home in order to take advantage of the 77°F November 1st temperature. It seemed like everyone was out and about enjoying the day. Many, many people were wearing their new blue Cubs T-shirts obviously getting psyched to watch game 6. When the Cubs jumped out to a seven to nothing lead in the early innings, I think I heard a collective sigh of relief coming from the entire city. Game 7 of the World Series will be tonight. One city is about to end its World Series drought. The momentum says that it is going to be the Chicago Cubs. We will know tomorrow....and then I will sharpen the spotlight on the US Presidential election... but for now, one more day of escapism from reality is scheduled.

Normally, the sign over this celebrated hot dog stand would be  The Wieners Circle

The Wieners Circle rebranded as GOATBUSTERS

I returned home from Midway Airport via subway and got off at a station that allowed me to walk  two miles home (with my luggage in tow, I needed to make a stop at the grocery store, so it just made sense to me.)

The weather in Chicago on November 1st at 4:00PM was very summery.

.

Enjoying a summer day in November along the Chicago lakefront. 

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Fiber One Oats & Chocolate	140	29	4	2	95	7
Subway Turkey Breast Wheat	560	92	17	36	1,890	11
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar	190	29	7	3	135	11
Green Apple - Medium Green Apple	80	22	0	1	2	17
	970	172	28	42	2,122	46
L U N C H
Fried Chicken Tenders	400	23	26	19	1,020	2
Roasted Cauliflower	100	3	10	1	497	1
Grilled Brussel Sprouts	100	20	4	9	35	0
Nestle - Dark Chocolate Bar	500	52	30	6	0	0
	1,100	98	70	35	1,552	3
D I N N E R
Popeyes Chicken Breast, 1 breast	440	16	27	35	1,330	0
Popeyes Chicken Wing, 1 Wing	210	8	14	13	610	0
Popeyes Chicken Thigh, 1 Thigh	260	8	18	14	460	0
Popeyes Cajun Rice	170	25	5	7	530	4
	1,080	57	64	69	2,930	4
S N A C K S
Costco - Slice Combo Pizza	340	36	15	18	770	4
Add Food Quick Tools	340	36	15	18	770	4
Totals	3,490	363	177	164	7,374	57
Your Daily Goal	4,296	537	143	215	2,300	161
Remaining	806	174	-34	51	-5,074	104
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,366 extra calories from exercise today

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
2 MILE WALK HOME FROM SUBWAY	32	321
9 MILE URBAN HIKE	120	1,731
Daily Total / Goal	152 / 30	2,052 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	315 / 210	4,833 / 4,130

from wikipedia...

The Curse of the Billy Goat is the name of a sports-related curse that was supposedly placed on the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball franchise in 1945 by Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis. Because the odor of his pet goat, Murphy, was bothering other fans, Sianis was asked to leave Wrigley Field, the Cubs' home ballpark, during game four of the 1945 World Series. Outraged, Sianis allegedly declared, "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more," which has been interpreted to mean that either the Cubs would never win another National League pennant or that they would never again win a World Series.

The Cubs lost the 1945 World Series to the Detroit Tigers, and have not won a World Series championship since 1908. After the incident with Sianis and Murphy, the Cubs did not play in the World Series for the next 71 years until, on the 46th anniversary of Billy Sianis' death, they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5–0 in game 6 of the 2016 National League Championship Series to win the NL pennant.

The momentum appears to be with the Chicago Cubs.  Tonight we find out if the curse ends or if the curse extends. I predict the curse ends.

more from wikipedia...

The Wieners Circle is a hot dog stand on Clark street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is known for its Maxwell Street Polish, Char-dogs, hamburgers, cheese fries, and the mutual verbal abuse^[ between the employees and the customers during the late-weekend hours.

The Weiners Circle opened for business in 1983. Sometime in the early 1990s (circa 1992) Larry Gold, one of the proprietors, called a drunk and distracted customer an "a**hole" in order to get his attention. This set off the late-night abuse culture of the restaurant. The atmosphere can range from playful to hostile.The language used by both the staff and customers during these hours is notoriously foul and aggressive.On the weekends, the establishment stays open as late as 5:00 am, drawing many drunken customers who have arrived from bars and clubs.

The nightly tips are very high, and people have worked there for ten years or more. The location of the hot dog stand is just north of what used to be the Wrightwood Hotel. In 2008, the restaurant was briefly closed by health inspectors for not having hot running water where employees would wash their hands, and other food safety violations.

CHICAGO CUBS WORLD SERIES FEVER TRAIL

Each of my hikes 'need' a theme, mostly because it amuses me. (I am easily amused.) Yesterday's theme was an urban hike that created its own trail of Chicago Cubs World Series Fever related points of interest. There were three highlights of this imaginary trail that I hiked in yesterday's cold and windy day, which turned into a cold, windy and rainy day. I was 'rescued' by my wife after I had hiked ten miles. My clothing was wet, although my new waterproof hiking shoes kept my feet dry and my spirit remained undampened. First stop along this 'trail' was Daley Plaza.

Daley Plaza's fountain is bright blue for the Cubs. The fountain outside the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., was dyed blue at the start of the National League Division Series.  The fountain is scheduled to remain blue as long as the Cubs are playing. With their win in Game 2 of the World Series, the season is now guaranteed to extend at least three more games.

The next stop on this Chicago Cubs World Series Fever Trail was the Willis Tower. You might recognize the previous name of this skyscraper - Sears Tower.  As the Cubs are playing in the World Series, it made sense to visit the giant globe at the base of the Willis Tower. The 2016 Major League Baseball World Champions will either reside in Chicago or Cleveland - we will know in about one week. Flying nearby are blue "W" (win) flags and Chicago Cubs flags. Willis Tower has the fever.

The Willis Tower Globe was installed in January 2010 in front of the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. The 25 foot diameter globe was made by the Poblocki Sign Company entirely out of 316 stainless steel, which was rolled, coped and fully welded at each intersection.

Although in Game 1 of the World Series, the Chicago Cubs' bats were silenced, they do have a powerful lineup capable of scoring lots of runs. This brings us to the third and final stop along my imaginary Chicago Cubs World Series Fever Trail - Batcolumn

It would be difficult to find a bat bigger than 'Batcolumn'

.

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 3 packet	300	66	0	6	930	0
	300	66	0	6	930	0
L U N C H
Grilled Whitefish	300	0	13	43	113	0
Buttered Cabbage	150	6	14	2	120	4
Brussel Sprouts - Roasted	150	11	10	5	435	3
Garlic Tofu	200	10	10	15	565	4
Clif Bar - Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch	260	42	7	10	200	20
	1,060	69	54	75	1,433	31
D I N N E R
Chipotle - Burrito: Shredded Beef, Black Beans, Cheese	1,000	104	37	68	2,367	1
Nestle - Dark Chocolate Bar	300	31	18	4	0	0
Milano - Cookies, 3 cookies	180	21	10	2	80	11
	1,480	156	65	74	2,447	12
S N A C K S
Dark Chocolate Bar With Mint	440	40	36	6	0	22
	440	40	36	6	0	22
Totals	3,280	331	155	161	4,810	65
Your Daily Goal	4,221	527	140	212	2,300	158
Remaining	941	196	-15	51	-2,510	93
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,291 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 202.9 lbs in 5 weeks.
.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
10 MILE URBAN HIKE	118	2,291
Daily Total / Goal	118 / 30	2,291 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	517 / 210	9,429 / 4,130