SORRY. WE'RE OPEN.

The GREAT AMERICAN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN of 2018 is over. It lasted a bit longer than the GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE of last summer. If you were not paying attention, the whole thing was over before you realized it.

So, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, what was the point of this? I hope that you feel good that  you inconvenienced some Americans and tourists who might have wanted to enjoy our National Parks this past weekend.

Our President, the man with nerves of steel did not buckle as you had hoped. He fought back and tweeted all weekend, shining a light on the Democrat Party and where there priorities are. The American people were not quite as stupid as you expected, and they could figure out precisely who was responsible for this useless, pointless 'shutdown.'  Another victory for Donald Trump. He really is winning often. Just as he predicted he would.

The US Government is open for business. It's too bad that includes the Democrats.

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, January 22, 2018

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Hy-vee - Oatmeal - Apples & Cinnamon	550	115	8	15	625	30
	550	115	8	15	625	30
L U N C H
Spicy Tuna Maki	400	40	16	21	0	0
Trader Joe's Brioche Roll, 2 roll	320	44	12	10	440	6
Sliced Swiss Cheese	440	4	32	36	240	0
	1,160	88	60	67	680	6
D I N N E R
Chicken Pot Pie	570	48	37	12	760	9
	570	48	37	12	760	9
S N A C K S
Met Rx Chocolate Cookie Dough	400	58	6	31	167	28
	400	58	6	31	167	28
Totals	2,680	309	111	125	2,232	73
Your Daily Goal	2,026	253	67	102	2,300	76
Remaining	-654	-56	-44	-23	68	3
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 96 extra calories from exercise today

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SUPPOSE THEY SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT AND NOBODY CARED

Well, the anti-American Democratic Party with a handful of equally moronic Republicans have shut down the government in favor of DACA, the so-called Dreamers who are here illegally. The 44th President who was not a fan of the United States Constitution, did not like the messiness of passing actual laws. He enjoyed using his pen to sign executive orders. As part of a budget deal the Dumocrats insist on language that will finally legalize DACA (Deferred Acton for Childhood Arrivals). This is completely orchestrated, the Dumocrats just wanted to make the President and the Republican Congress look bad. Will it work? It might. The Dumocrats own the media. Surely the media is painting this government shutdown as some kind of disaster. It is not good that while the government shutdown is in effect, the military are not being paid. That is very bad and very evil. Why do the Congressmen and Senators get paid during this period? Aren't they non-essential? In fact, I can barely think of any group of people more non-essential than these clowns. The truth is, most Americans probably don't even know that we are currently in 'shutdown' mode and many more who do know, like me, probably don't care too much. I know that this shutdown is very thrilling to the anti-trumpers at ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and The New York Times, but they may be miscalculating just how much real people, actual voters, real Americans care about this. I should amend my comments. I do care. And I place the blame squarely on the un-American, un-patriotic, US Constitution-hating Democrats that infest the Congress. There is a lot more swamp draining that needs to be done.

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, January 20, 2018

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Hy-vee - Oatmeal - Apples & Cinnamon	660	138	9	18	750	36
	660	138	9	18	750	36
L U N C H
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	700	55	31	17	286	31
	700	55	31	17	286	31
D I N N E R
Taco Bell, taco dinnerl	1,000	75	50	50	0	10
	1,000	75	50	50	0	10
S N A C K S
Met Rx -Chocolate Cookie Dough	400	58	6	31	167	28
	400	58	6	31	167	28
Totals	2,760	326	96	116	1,203	105
Your Daily Goal	3,324	415	110	167	2,300	124
Remaining	564	89	14	51	1,097	19
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,394 extra calories from exercise today

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SHUT HER DOWN

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?
OVER DACA?
AGREEMENT WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE WALL?
I SAY, SHUT HER DOWN!

Really, no one cares too much.
The Democrats will orchestrate the shutdown if they are convinced that ALL the blame will fall to the Republicans. That shouldn't be too hard as the Media IS the democratic party.

All this makes it more amazing that Trump was elected, and that he is doing a great job.

It's been a tough week for the Democrats, this was the week that they learned that Trump is in good health and not likely to keel over from a heart attack any time soon. It's the same week that they learned that more and more companies are giving bonuses to their workers as a result of the new tax policy passed by the Republicans. It's the same week that they learned that Apple Computer is planning on repatriating BILLIONS of dollars into the country and paying BILLIONS of dollars in taxes to the US Treasury. It's the same week that they learned that new jobless claims are the lowest in nearly 50 years. Yep, it's been a complete DISASTER for the America-hating, self-hating, hateful Democrats that infest the Congress and media. You are probably wondering how I really feel. I don't like them.

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, January 18, 2018

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal	800	160	13	20	900	50
	800	160	13	20	900	50
L U N C H
Panda Express Fried Rice, Brown Steamed Rice	440	75	11	10	420	2
Panda Express Shanghai Angus Steak	340	26	10	34	1,280	18
Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki Chicken	360	10	16	44	640	10
	1,140	111	37	88	2,340	30
D I N N E R
Roast Beef and Swiss Sandwich	400	29	16	35	1,137	6
Mashed Potatoes	200	29	8	3	304	2
	600	58	24	38	1,441	8
S N A C K S
Protein Plus Protein Bar MET-Rx	400	37	13	41	123	1
	400	37	13	41	123	1
Totals	2,940	366	87	187	4,804	89
Your Daily Goal	2,097	262	70	105	2,300	78
Remaining	-843	-104	-17	-82	-2,504	-11
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 167 extra calories from exercise today

NEW WORLD ORDER

I lifted this definition of NEW WORLD ORDER directly from wikipdedia.com

As a conspiracy theory, the term New World Order or NWO refers to the emergence of a totalitarian world government. The common theme in conspiracy theories about a New World Order is that a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian world government—which will replace sovereign nation-states—and an all-encompassing propaganda whose ideology hails the establishment of the New World Order as the culmination of history's progress. Significant occurrences in politics and finance are speculated to be orchestrated by an unduly influential cabal that operates through many front organizations. Numerous historical and current events are seen as steps in an ongoing plot to achieve world domination through secret political gatherings and decision-making processes.

The reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States (1776). The Latin phrase "novus ordo seclorum", appearing on the reverse side of the Great Seal since 1782 and on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill since 1935, translates to "New Order of the Ages" and alludes to the beginning of an era where the United States of America is an independent nation-state; conspiracy theorists claim this is an allusion to the "New World Order".

Just for the record, I am fairly certain that I do not believe any of this New World Order nonsense.  Most conspiracy theories seem more at home 'within the plot of a Hollywood movie' than in real life. Therefore.....

 ....you are likley asking yourself: Why is the Marc Jacobs Weight Loss Journal talking about the New World Order?  As it turns out, I am not really talking about the New World Order.... However, I am talking about ORDERING in the NEW WORLD.  On Thursday, I visited a Panera Bread Restaurant.  The queue to place one's order was quite long.  I remembered that I had recently received an email from Panera Bread touting their mobile phone application that allows one to order online.  I took a comfortable seat in the restaurant, and logged onto the application.  The application allowed me to order whatever I wanted.  Each item conveniently displayed the calories and price.  I ordered two items (soup and half sandwich)   Paying for this did not even require me to enter my credit card number.  The application allowed me to use ApplePay.  My food was waiting for me within 10 minutes, packed in a bag with my name.  The whole process was simple, and it streamlined the process of getting my lunch.  One could order while still 10 minutes away, and the food would be ready and hot the moment one walked in the restaurant.  So, while this new way of ordering food may not be part of the NEW WORLD ORDER - it certainly represents ORDERING in the NEW WORLD.

I did not order the French Baguette, although it was available at no extra charge... once I saw that this tiny (and tasty) piece of bread was 180 calories, I lost my appetite for it.

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221.0 lbs

I weigh 221.0 lbs.

I lost 3.6 lbs this week

I have lost 88 lbs in 290 days. Today begins Day 291.

I will always be at the beginning of a journey that never ends.

I weigh 221 lbs (290 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 28.5% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 29.56 

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 276 days ago (Class III obesity)

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 Friday MENU

breakfast    Steel Cut Oatmeal, Multigrain Rice Cakes                   960 calories
lunch          Hormel Chili Turkey, Apples                                       580 calories
dinner         Apple, Cacao Goji, Wasabi Peas, banana chips           746 calories
SNACK     Yogurt Raisins, Granola, Chocolate Mint Protein Bar  802 calories 


TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 3088 CALORIES

calories burned
191 min, 15 mile hike Chicago, very brisk pace  3051 calories

CALORIES BURNED 3051 CALORIES

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Friday net calories 37 calories

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fitbit day 37
31981 steps

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THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME LAYOFFS AT NAVY PIER.... NAVY PIER APPEARED TO HAVE HAD A SKELETON CREW WORKING.  (Yeah, I know... I am hilarious)

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ULYSSES S GRANT STATE in Lincoln Park - erected 1891

I found information about the Grant statue on http://chicago-outdoor-sculptures.blogspot.com

Interestingly Ulysses Grant's statue is located in the heart of Lincoln Park, whereas Abraham Lincoln's statue is located in the heart of Grant Park .. I've heard some amusing explanation, that there was a mistaken switch that was never corrected ... However the city of Chicago's website explains it as thus ..It's a Chicago curiosity, but can easily be explained by knowing the history of Chicago's prominent lakefront parks. Lincoln Park was Chicago's first park, well established at the time of Grant's death. The mud-covered remains of the Great Chicago Fire would be developed as a series of formal gardens after the turn of the century and named for Grant, another honor for this great Civil War hero. Ulysses S. Grant was a resident of Galena, Illinois, and served in the Civil War as General of the Union Army. Grant was twice elected president of the United States. With no political background, Ulysses Grant became president in 1869, but it is for his tremendous military actions that he is honored with this statue which depicts him ready for battle. It was dedicated in 1891. 

My urban hikes in Chicago often include the Nature Boardwalk at the  Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago Skyline on a cloudy grey day (looking south)

I have a few favorite hats... Certainly my Simpsons 'DUFF BEER' hat is one  of them.

Chicago Skyline - this time taken from Navy Pier (looking north)

While at Navy Pier I had the opportunity to test drive a SMART CAR during a Mercedes Benz promotion.  (I simply 'paused' my workout on the MapMyWalk Application during the test drive)

This car can TURN ON A DIME - not so surprising, since the car is about the size of Half Dollar!

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Even my fitbit recognized the recent progress I have made with my weight loss.  It has been nearly 3 months since my weight has been this low... For the past few weeks, my weight has been bouncing around the 227 lb neighborhood.  When I purchased my fitbit on September 3rd, I entered my weight that day at 226.9 lbs and entered my interim goal weight of 210 lbs.  Moments after entering my weight of 221 lbs this morning - my fitbit sent me a 'badge' recognizing my accomplishment.