WICKER WICKER WICKER

Yesterday during my hike I stopped by the statue of WICKER which is in a park called, WICKER PARK, in a Chicago community also called WICKER PARK.

Charles Gustavus Wicker

Charles Wicker was a businessman, politician, and developer.  His statue is donned in a Lincoln-like stovepipe hat and bulky overcoat holding a straw broom, a reference to sweeping out a dusty polling place and illustrating the idea of "If there is something to be done, then do it."  SOUNDS MUCH LIKE THE NIKE MOTTO....JUST DO IT.

This is a closeup of my path through the park called, Wicker Park

As you can see, Wicker Park is in Wicker Park, Chicago

Right before dinner I scooted out for an 8.5 mile urban hike

Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Kirkland Signature - Bacon, 4 slices	160	0	12	12	700	0
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal- Maple, 1 packet	160	32	2	4	260	12
Eggs - Poached, 4	300	2	20	26	599	2
	620	34	34	42	1,559	14
L U N C H
Campbell's Chunky Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Goya - Agua De Coco	90	23	1	0	102	17
Hot Dog w/Bun	300	22	18	10	820	3
	630	81	25	20	2,522	26
D I N N E R
Curry Chicken w/Rice	500	146	14	29	1,088	5
	500	146	14	29	1,088	5
S N A C K S
Chewy Oat & Honey Cranola Bar, 3	300	57	6	6	165	21
	300	57	6	6	165	21
Totals	2,050	318	79	97	5,334	66
Your Daily Goal	3,092	386	103	155	2,300	116
Remaining	1,042	68	24	58	-3,034	50
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,162 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.2 lbs in 5 weeks 

CHESHIRE CAT

Something that I like to do when walking in Chicago, is to visit new neighborhoods and go down new side streets that I have never seen before. Yesterday's discovery, was not found on some obscure side street, but right on Milwaukee Avenue on the south side of a seven story building. When I spotted this giant cheshire cat, I wondered how I had failed to miss it before. It turns out, this mural is new and was only completed earlier this month.

from dnainfo.com
By Alisa Hauser | September 6, 2017 4:32pm | Updated on September 11, 2017 9:47am.

NOBLE SQUARE — A giant and mischievous Cheshire cat watching over the street — courtesy of New York City-based street artist Jerkface, known for his imaginative interpretations of pop culture iconography — has brought a burst of color and nostalgia to Milwaukee Avenue in Noble Square. Work on the mural at Lewis Towers, a vintage apartment building at 1166 N. Milwaukee Ave., kicked off Aug. 31, continued through the Labor Day weekend and wrapped up Friday. Jasmine Petersen, a Chicago muralist and artist, assisted Jerkface with the mural along the side of the seven-story vintage apartment building, facing southbound traffic on Milwaukee Avenue. David Ruttenberg, a partner with Marc Realty, which owns Lewis Towers and commissioned the mural, said, "Jerkface's work is bright and energetic. The nostalgia factor is always fun, and this composition is memorable to so many age groups. The large scale makes this larger than life and really brightens up this corner of the city." Ruttenberg said his son Solomon and daughter Sasha have loved seeing the mural being painted over the last few days, watching the ongoing work while camped out in the parking lot next to the building. "Murals have the power to uplift a city. They bring vibrancy and movement to bleak and mundane spaces. If one can cross color on their way to work, the bus, or just simply on their way through the city — it does something to them. Color affects one's psyche. It alters one's mood and changes their day. Urban art can be used as a powerful tool to enhance life. Art isn't just meant to be for museums, galleries and high classes. Art is for everyone, and should be enjoyed by everyone," Ruttenberg said. Petersen said the Cheshire cat, inspired by the cat in "Alice in Wonderland," was selected before she and Jerkface knew that there was a veterinary office, Wicker Park Veterinary, on the ground floor of Lewis Towers. "It worked out really well a vet was here," Petersen said.

Jerkface is one of the most readily identifiable artists in the street art community..

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, September 15, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
L U N C H
Libby's - Sweet Peas	245	42	2	14	1,050	21
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
	545	107	2	19	2,550	61
D I N N E R
Mariano's - Spicy Salmon Maki	400	44	18	17	317	0
	400	44	18	17	317	0
S N A C K S
Yogurt Almonds	300	30	19	5	27	26
	300	30	19	5	27	26
Totals	1,645	269	45	49	4,134	87
Your Daily Goal	3,679	460	122	184	2,300	138
Remaining	2,034	191	77	135	-1,834	51
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,749 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 222.5 lbs in 5 weeks     

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SATURDAY WEIGH-IN
This week my weight dropped 2.5 lbs. As long as I keep reminding myself that this is not a race, I think that I am definitely on course. 

weight 253.3 lbs

My weight during its most recent peak on August 26 just three weeks ago was 263.3 lbs. 

I can do two things now. I can always remind myself that on December 24, 2014 I weighed 309 lbs. And since that 'balloonistic' day, I have shed 55.7 lbs.

We all know that at this time, that is a rather ambiguous statistic as I had lost so much more weight than that. What I will do is take some pride in my more contemporaneous accomplishment of dropping 10 pounds in the last three weeks. 



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REVISITING THE '606'

The 606 Trail is a converted railway that cuts through 4 neighborhoods in Chicago and extends 2.7 miles. Construction of this trail was completed just two years ago. Yesterday was just the third time that I have traversed this trail. (twice on foot, once on bicycle)  The trailhead is about three miles from home and yesterday, my daughter and I set out to take a hike. When we arrived back home, we had completed an urban hike of 11.5 miles.

After reaching the end of the trail, this photo looks east back towards the direction of Lake Michigan

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, March 4, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Apple and Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal	520	108	6	12	680	48
	520	108	6	12	680	48
L U N C H
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	600	47	27	14	245	27
	600	47	27	14	245	27
D I N N E R
Salisbury Steak Meatballs	400	18	18	41	1,093	4
Beans - Green Beans	100	16	0	16	14	3
Greek Mac & Cheese	200	18	11	9	332	2
	700	52	29	66	1,439	9
Totals	1,820	207	62	92	2,364	84
Your Daily Goal	4,293	536	143	215	2,300	161
Remaining	2,473	329	81	123	-64	77
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,363 extra calories from exercise today

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
11.5 Mile Urban Hike	187	1,823
Treadmill 3.9mph, incline 15	60	893
Daily Total / Goal	247 / 30	2,716 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	370 / 210	4,425 / 4,130

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SUSHI

It has been a very long time since I have enjoyed my favorite food - sushi.   Last evening, my family went to a sushi restaurant and I made the mistake of taking advantage of all-you-can-eat sushi and I actually did eat all I could eat.

My first selections were very basic

We went to a restaurant in a 'hip' part of town to a restaurant called, Sushi Para.  We have been there many times before although not since last December.  After dinner, I compounded my errors by hitting the bulk foods section at a local market - buying small quantities of some high calorie tasty snacks.  I am not going to beat myself up over this - I enjoyed the eating (and the over-eating) and I will simply get back on track today.  

I could not (or I chose not) to control my gluttony last evening....Did I mention that I love sushi?

Pickled Radish/Seaweed Salad - This was quite delicious (and I believe it to be low calorie)

This was the restaurant - Sushi Para

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 Sunday MENU

breakfast  oatmeal, crispbreads, center cut bacon                               520 calories

lunch        two apples                                                                           114 calories

dinner       ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SUSHI
                 tuna roll, california roll, squid, masago, miso soup
                 pickle radish/seaweed salad  estimated calories ------>   2000 calories
SNACK   bulk foods (various)                                                           720 calories

total calories consumed 3394 calories

calories burned

elliptical machine 92 minutes, manual, level 20              2243 calories

CALORIES BURNED 2243 CALORIES

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Saturday net calories 1151 calories

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