THANKSGIVING 17 MILE URBAN HIKE (DAY 115)

On my drive back from Indianapolis into Chicago I noticed a new billboard advertising the Rolling Stones tour stop at Soldier Field this summer. This gave me a destination for my Thanksgiving walk. I wanted to take a picture of myself with the billboard in the background.  All I had to do was walk approximately 8 miles to get to this spot.... My entire hike was 17 miles.

WORLD'S GREATEST OUTDOOR MURAL

It is established fact that The Rolling Stones are the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band. Right? Right. Therefore, The Rolling Stones Tongue Logo painted on the side of a building is clearly the World's Greatest Outdoor Art Mural. Right? Well, it certainly is my most favorite mural that I have discovered in Chicago.

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The mural is painted on a new restaurant that just opened in Chicago. Pop's Beef - Old Town,   It does seem a bit ridiculous that this artwork is hovering over a dumpster. Don't you agree?

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Grits	400	88	6	8	1,240	4
	400	88	6	8	1,240	4
L U N C H
Premo - Ham & Cheddar Wrap, 1 wrap	430	27	25	28	1,690	0
Vitacoco - Coconut Water w/Pineapple	240	60	0	0	160	60
	670	87	25	28	1,850	60
D I N N E R
Mann's - Superfood Veggie Blend	60	12	0	4	60	4
Johnsonville Polish Kielbasa 2 links	440	6	40	18	1,020	1
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
	800	83	40	27	2,580	45
S N A C K S
Oreo - Minis	400	60	17	3	328	34
Protein Plus Protein Bar - MET-Rx	400	37	13	41	123	1
	800	97	30	44	451	35
Totals	2,670	355	101	107	6,121	144
Your Daily Goal	3,681	460	122	185	2,300	138
Remaining	1,011	105	21	78	-3,821	-6
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,751 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 215.1 lbs in 5 weeks     

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I have been casually rooting for the Houston Astros in the World Series as they have been battling the Los Angles Dodgers. My Father, long ago, taught me that as a New York Yankee fan, it is my 'obligation' to support the American League team in the Series.  Besides, how hard is it to root against the Los Angeles Dodgers? In recent years, I have become so disconnected from Major League Baseball, that I don't think I really was aware that Houston had switched into the American League. I became well aware of this fact, when they beat the Yanks for the American League Championship. When the last pitch was thrown around midnight, the Houston Astros were still standing. The final score was 5-1. In essence, the winning run scored about 5 minutes after the game started. Houston is rebuilding after the horrific hurricane that dropped 50" of rain everywhere. The World Series win is going to be a positive development for this city. 

HARVARD CELEBRATES RACISM

There is a difference between liberals and leftists. At least there used to be a difference. A liberal would have been a person who believes in free speech. Liberals were the ones, back in the sixties,  who used to say things like: "I disagree with you but I would fight for your right to say it." Nowadays, the leftist snowflakes on campus cannot tolerate differing viewpoints. They use violence to shut down differing voices. Liberals also used to think that people should be color-blind and be judged on the basis of their actions not the color of their skin. That is in the long distant past. Nowadays, racism is back in style. As an example, I will alert you to a black only commencement ceremony being held at Harvard later this month. As always, I must remind myself that I did not attend an elite east coast university - so the assumption is that I am simply too stupid to understand why this is a shining example of enlightenment. In my under-educated mind, this black only ceremony seems like a clear cut example of racism on parade. Can someone way smarter than me explain why I am wrong? Or is is just possible, that I am not wrong, and this is truly an example of unambiguous racism being celebrated at Harvard.

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    Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, May 11, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal	501	104	6	12	655	46
	501	104	6	12	655	46
L U N C H
Peanut Butter - Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	500	39	22	12	204	22
	500	39	22	12	204	22
D I N N E R
Spanish Rice	400	80	5	10	0	0
Breaded Chicken Tenders	700	55	30	45	1,251	28
	1,100	135	35	55	1,251	28
Totals	2,101	278	63	79	2,110	96
Your Daily Goal	1,976	247	66	99	2,300	74
Remaining	-125	-31	3	20	190	-22
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

CHICAGO CUBS

As a transplanted New Yorker, I somehow still consider myself a New York Yankees fan. Although at the present time, I can only name one player on that team - and I do not admire him as he has managed to sully the game with his steroid use - Alex Rodriguez.  Since I have lived in Chicago since 1993, I suppose I should have some affinity for the local teams. The thing is, I don't think I really ever 'recovered' from the last baseball strike which was 22 years ago when the entire post-season was completely wiped out. I have mostly lost interest in Major League baseball. Each year that the Yankees were in the playoffs, I would get a bit interested and start watching some games. When they were eliminated, so too, was my interest.

Lately, a quick check of the Major League baseball standings show the hapless Chicago Cubs atop their division with the best record in baseball. This 'incomprehensible' fact is in direct contrast to their 'recent' (100+ year) history as reported by wikipedia:

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In 1906, the Cubs won a Major League record 116 games, and posted a modern-era record winning percentage of .763, before losing the World Series to the Chicago White Sox by four games to two. The Cubs won back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908, becoming the first Major League team to play in three consecutive Fall Classics, and the first to win it twice. The team has appeared in a total of ten World Series, most recently in 1945. The Cubs have not won the World Series in 107 years, and they have not won the National League pennant in 70 years, both of which are record "droughts" in Major League Baseball. Since the start of divisional play in 1969, the Cubs have appeared in the postseason seven times. This included four trips to the League Championship Series—in 1984,1989, 2003, and 2015.

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#	NL Central	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	AWAY	L10
1	Cubs	48	26	.649	-	25-11	23-15	4-6
2	Cardinals	39	35	.527	9.0	15-21	24-14	4-6
3	Pirates	37	39	.487	12.0	22-18	15-21	4-6
4	Brewers	34	41	.453	14.5	21-18	13-23	4-6
5	Reds	29	47	.382	20.0	18-22	11-25	3-7

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As of the morning of June 27th, the Chicago Cubs have the best record in all of baseball.

What does this prove?

It proves that nothing lasts forever - not even failure. Things change. A person can have no history of eating well, no history of personal fitness, no history of good health - but one can change. It does not matter if a person has been neglectful for 1 year, 10 years, 20 years or 30 years. All it takes is the willingness and the courage to make that first huge step. It requires the willingness and courage to make a small change today. And then again tomorrow. I did this a decade ago. And then I fell back into all the bad habits that I tried to escape. Eighteen months ago, I vowed to try again. I have been on a much more steady course during this period. Clichés are clichés because they contain truth. 

If I can do it, so can you.

If the Chicago Cubs can become successful after a century of failure, so can anyone!

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Sunday started as a somewhat 'typical' day for me... I had two 99 minute sessions on the elliptical machine. What made the day a bit atypical was that my entire family took a late afternoon/early evening 10 mile urban hike together.

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Since yesterday's urban hike was NOT taken alone... I was able to take a few interesting photos that were NOT selfies. You see, it's not that I am a complete narcissist, it's just that there is no one else around for most of my hikes!

Mom and Daughter enjoying the view from a spiral staircase on Roosevelt Road.

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Major General John A Logan

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Sure, Homer Simpson's message is mildly amusing... but it is a completely unhelpful message!

WANNA LOSE WEIGHT? AVOID AMERICA!

Normally I am a very patriotic guy. I consider myself very lucky that I am one of the 300+ million people who live in this great country - America. You might be wondering why I would be sounding an alarm and warning those who want to lose weight to avoid America. Now that I have (allegedly) have your attention, I will confess to a bit of misdirection. The America that I am warning against for those wishing to lose weight is the new (and temporary) name of BUDWEISER BEER beginning later this month. If someone is trying to lose weight, it is always a good idea to avoid beer. I wonder how long it will be until some pollster tries to figure out if this newly named beer is more popular among Democrats or Republicans. This gives a whole new meaning to that clarion call that we have heard for the past year - MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Do you care for some irony? Budweiser is a company which is not even American!

This article appeared in USA TODAY (May 10, 2016) written by Mary Bowerman

Budweiser renames beer 'America' this summer

Nothing says 'America' like an ice-cold can of mass-produced beer. Anheuser-Busch announced Tuesday that the company is replacing the Budweiser logo with “America” on its 12-oz. cans and bottles this summer. The cans of patriotic nectar will be available May 23 through the November election and aim “to inspire drinkers to celebrate America and Budweiser's shared values of freedom and authenticity.” The company is no stranger to American-themed summer cans, which have been transformed into American flags and featured the Statue of Liberty in the past. This year, the cans and bottles will try to stir American pride with lines from the Pledge of Allegiance and lyrics from The Star Spangled Banner. Apparently, the Belgium-based megabrewer, which owns more than 200 brands globally, including Corona and Stella Artois, knows the way straight to our checkbooks. Throw some America on it! Ricardo Marques, vice president of Budweiser, notes that with Americans partaking in the Summer Olympics and the Copa America Centenario soccer tournament being held in the U.S., the cans are an ideal way to salute the United States. "We are embarking on what should be the most patriotic summer that this generation has ever seen,” Marques said in a statement. Changing the name to "America" is potentially a risky move for the brand, which already "says America, without saying it," according to John Immesoete, Chief Creative Officer of global marketing agency Epsilon."They are basically taking a brand name they’ve spent billions of dollars behind worldwide, and tossing it aside for a while and putting 'America' on it," said Immesoete, who has worked on past Budweiser Super Bowl campaigns, but is not associated with the "America is in Your Hands" campaign. He notes that while some consumers may be intrigued by the new can design, others will likely be alienated by the company's attempt to literally "package America." Drink it up, America.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 2 packet	200	44	0	4	620	0
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
Butterball - Bacon Style Turkey	140	2	12	8	600	0
	555	47	26	31	1,666	1
L U N C H
Kirkland - Costco - Salmon Burger, 1 piece	170	2	9	20	330	0
Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
	410	38	15	30	1,930	6
D I N N E R
Schwan's - Breaded Chicken Breast	300	14	12	36	780	0
Campbell's - Home Style Italian-style Wedding	200	0	5	12	820	8
	500	14	17	48	1,600	8
S N A C K S
Fuji Apple Organic - Organic Fuji Apple	69	17	0	0	0	13
	69	17	0	0	0	13
Totals	1,534	116	58	109	5,196	27
Your Daily Goal	1,943	243	64	98	2,300	72
Remaining	409	127	5	-10	-2,895	44
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 13 extra calories from exercise today

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NORTH FACE LOGO

The North Face brand traces its history to San Francisco in 1968.  The name, North Face, was chosen as the north face of a mountain in the northern hemisphere is generally the coldest, iciest and most formidable route to climb.  Today, I ask you.... Does this logo look familiar?

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The North Face quarter-circle logo was designed by California designer, David Alcorn in 1971.  It is meant to evoke Half Dome, the massive granite rock monolith in Yosemite National Park.

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Tuesday was a travel day.  I had two flights to get from Chicago to San Francisco where our group is converging prior to the four hour drive to Yosemite on Wednesday.  Tuesday was going to be a day off from exercise.  And it was.  Nevertheless, I managed to walk nearly 15 miles.  I spent all my downtime at the two airports waiting for my flights by non-stop walking around the terminal.  Once I arrived in San Carlos (San Francisco suburb where I stayed last evening) I took another 4 mile hike to pick up some apples and oranges for the hike.  When the day was over... My fitbit had recorded a total of 31192 steps.  

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 Tuesday MENU

breakfast  oatmeal                                                                                        600 calories
lunch        Spinach Salad, 2 Apples, Ritz Crackers, 2 energy bars            1328 calories
dinner       Salad, Seafood Paella (Shrimp, scallops)                                   800 calories
SNACK   WASABI PEAS                                                                           510 calories
     
TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED 3238 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED
NO SPECIFIC WORKOUT... NEARLY 15 MILES WALKED AT AN AVERAGE PACE OF 3MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS                   1423 CALORIES

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TuesDAY NET CALORIES 1815 CALORIES

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fitbit day 27

31192 steps

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