LOST WALLET

This is not about my lost wallet. I found a wallet. I was out and about yesterday when I spotted a cute looking case that appeared to hold eyeglasses. My curiosity got the best of me and I reached down to see what was in the leather looking decorative case. It turned out to be a woman's wallet. I saw an Illinois drivers license and some folded up cash. I didn't count the money. I didn't investigate further. My first thought, was that perhaps if the owner was a victim of foul play, that I would be the first suspect in the case. Even after I picked it up and proceeded one mile to the police station, I imagined that some people that I passed by were looking at my suspiciously. I couldn't wait to get rid of this thing.  It's been a very long time since I have been inside a police station. My most 'recent' visit that I can remember, was back in 1978 or 1979 to pick up a housemate who had spent the night in the 'drunk tank' after offending some police officers who came to our off-campus house after a party had become a bit too raucous for the neighbors. 

I remember once losing my wallet in a park in Valley Stream, Long Island. This was long before the existence of cellphones. My memory is hazy about how it was returned, but I think someone came to my home to return it, after calling me at home. Whatever small amount of money I had was still there, and I remembered how surprised and grateful I was to get my wallet back less than a couple of hours after losing it. There should be some young woman in Chicago today, who's faith in humanity should have gone up at least a couple of notches.

There are two metal 'horses' in a small unnamed park on Sedgewick Street in Lincoln  Park, Illinois

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, November 20, 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
Giovanni Rana - Prosciutto and Cheese Tortelloni	700	93	20	30	1,350	3
Nutty Oat, 2 slice	140	26	3	6	220	4
Coco Community - Coconut Water	120	30	0	0	60	30
	960	149	23	36	1,630	37
D I N N E R
Taco Bell - Hard Shell Taco, 3	510	36	30	24	930	3
	510	36	30	24	930	3
S N A C K S
Arctic Blasters Orange Cream Bars	300	54	8	3	75	39
Roundy's Part Skim Mozzarella String Cheese	240	3	18	24	600	0
	540	57	26	27	675	39
Totals	2,410	330	85	95	4,475	83
Your Daily Goal	3,431	429	114	172	2,300	128
Remaining	1,021	99	29	77	-2,175	45
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,501 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 215.6 lbs in 5 weeks 

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INDIANA

My daughter and I took a rather epic bicycle journey from Chicago all the way down to the Indiana border. When we finally returned home, more than a bit exhausted, we had logged 43.5 miles.

The "Ore Wall" at 87th Street

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, April 14, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal	780	162	9	18	1,020	72
	780	162	9	18	1,020	72
L U N C H
Subway - Turkey Breast Foot Long	560	92	7	36	0	14
Subway - Sun Chips- Harvest Cheddar	210	27	9	4	320	3
	770	119	16	40	320	17
D I N N E R
Lamb	500	0	36	42	122	0
Manischewitz - Matzah, 3 Matzah	300	63	0	9	0	0
	800	63	36	51	122	0
S N A C K S
Arctic Zero - Sea Salt Caramel	150	30	0	13	578	21
	150	30	0	13	578	21
Totals	2,500	374	61	122	2,040	110
Your Daily Goal	4,691	586	156	235	2,300	176
Remaining	2,191	212	95	113	260	66
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

Your Exercise Diary for:

         Friday, April 14, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Bicycling, road cycle	302	2,761
Daily Total / Goal	302 / 30	2,761 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	522 / 210	4,290 / 4,130

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My weight this morning, was 248.3 lbs.
No amount of exercise can erase overeating.
I wish I was acting better upon information that I am well aware.

SWEET 16

Yesterday was my daughter's 'sweet 16.'  She is not quite yet fifteen years old. It was her 'sweet 16' because she joined me in an urban hike that was not concluded until we had trekked 16 miles. 

We did not set out to walk quite so much. My daughter continues to surprise me. She likes to join me in my urban hikes and I like to have her around. I get plenty of practice walking alone, so it is nice to be walking with someone else. Yesterday, it was her idea to walk over to a place called 'Stan's Donuts,' which is about two miles north of our home. This is that part of the recounting of this urban hike which I am pleased to report, because someday she will re-read this blog and be even more amazed. It was my daughter's idea to first walk downtown three miles and then hike back up north three more miles (more or less to return to where we started) and then finally to walk the two miles to 'Stan's Donuts.' This is precisely what we did. We eventually met my wife at Mariano's Market where we all had a meal together. Still we were not done. We walked home from Mariano's. When this urban hike was completed, we had travelled 16 miles throughout the city. That was a 'sweet 16' indeed. 

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This girl, nearly 15, during her 'sweet 16.'

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, December 30, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal- Maple, 5 packet	800	160	10	20	1,300	60
	800	160	10	20	1,300	60
L U N C H
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon	240	0	18	18	1,050	0
Cod With Lemon	250	3	6	43	501	0
Fried Shrimp	100	4	0	42	0	0
Butternut Squash	50	12	0	1	0	2
Creamed Corn	100	5	9	1	15	3
	740	24	33	105	1,566	5
D I N N E R
Sushi - Salmon Avocado 1 Roll	400	55	11	17	0	0
	400	55	11	17	0	0
S N A C K S
Crunchy - Oats 'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
Dark Cocoa Melting Wafers	500	55	30	7	102	48
	690	84	37	10	282	59
Totals	2,630	323	91	152	3,148	124
Your Daily Goal	4,279	535	142	214	2,300	160
Remaining	1,649	212	51	62	-848	36
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,349 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, December 30, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
16 MILE URBAN HIKE	249	2,657
Daily Total / Goal	249 / 30	2,657 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	876 / 210	9,514 / 4,130

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The way that I have been (over)eating lately... I should be damned glad that my weight on Saturday morning was 'only' 240.2 lbs. I have definitely been going in the wrong direction lately and I know that I will likely overeat fondue prepared at home this evening. I guess like everyone else in America, I will be making a New Year's Resolution for 2017. Start eating better (again) like I did when I first started on December 24, 2014 when I weighed 309 lbs. 

WRIGLEY FIELD

Perhaps you have heard about all the emotional tributes written in colorful chalk on the bricks that are on the outside of Wrigley Field. Apparently this is a new tradition. On Sunday morning, I walked over to Wrigley Field as I wanted a photo of myself in front of the World Champions Marquee sign in front of the building. The most popular spot to take a photo in front of the chalk messages was the photo that I am posting below. WE DID NOT SUCK 2016. Perhaps not the most inspiring message ever written, but for Cubs fans, it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. There must have been at least 3000 people milling about the stadium on Sunday morning, doing precisely what I was doing, taking photographs.

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The walk to Wrigley Field from my home is just under 4 miles. My urban hikes tend to be closer to ten miles when the time permits and the weather is cooperative. Sunday morning, was such a day. The extra hour of sleep allowed for an early start after lounging around a bit in the morning. By the time my Wrigley Field urban hike was completed, I had logged 13 miles. Always an excellent way to start a day.

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, November 6, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Special K - Vanilla Almond	660	150	9	12	1,020	54
Califia Farms - Coconut – Almond Milk	225	5	20	5	850	0
	885	155	29	17	1,870	54
L U N C H
Volpi - Mozzarella and Prosciutto Roltini	360	3	24	36	2,370	0
Okami - California Roll Sushi	560	108	8	8	1,680	20
Kirkland - Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack	200	10	15	10	400	0
	1,120	121	47	54	4,450	20
D I N N E R
Kirkland Meatloaf With Mashed Potatoes	600	44	34	30	1,400	10
	600	44	34	30	1,400	10
S N A C K S
M&M's - Crispy - 1 package	180	28	7	2	55	22
Costco - Chocolate Cake	500	70	33	7	522	44
	680	98	40	9	577	66
Totals	3,285	418	150	110	8,297	150
Your Daily Goal	4,446	556	148	223	2,300	166
Remaining	1,161	138	-2	113	-5,997	16
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,516 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 199.5 lbs in 5 weeks .
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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
13 MILE URBAN HIKE	175	2,480
Daily Total / Goal	175 / 30	2,480 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1011 / 210	16,285 / 4,130

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from chicago.cbslocal.com

Cubs Fans Begin New Tradition Writing Emotional Tribute Messages On Wrigley Wall

October 31, 2016 4:53 PM By Vince Gerasole

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CHICAGO (CBS) —  A new tradition is underway at Wrigley Field. Normally, in front of the ballpark at the Clark and Addison intersection, you’ll see fans screaming, “Go Cubs!” But on the other side of the ballpark, a quieter and unexpectedly emotional tribute to the Cubs is taking form. Letter by letter and brick by brick, with colored chalk, fans are leaving their mark. “I am putting ‘finish strong’ because that’s what needs to happen,” resident Eric Pitts says.“I am dedicating it to all my grandparents,” Edgewater resident Sam Barnes says. “I am trying not to chock up, honestly, because I remember growing up watching the games with them. “It’s impressive. It just happened naturally,” Pitts says of the new tradition. Now overnight, the Sheffield [and Waveland] side of Wrigley has turned into one emotional place. “Baseball and family. That’s what it’s all about,” Pitts said. And more often than not, it’s what they’re writing about.“We got a ‘Bobbo’ here with hearts and arrows,” fan and West Dundee resident Julie Spindler says. The Korean War kept her dad from playing with the Cubs. “I just know he’s here,” she says. Beside a brick wall, she feels his embrace. The love and the energy coming from the building; it’s not just the wall it’s the building. And somehow, in spite of all the celebrations, a quiet side of Wrigley, Monday, is speaking volumes.“If these walls could talk and now they kind of sort of are,” one fan says.The wall is growing at such a spontaneous pace that the Cubs tell us they haven’t had a chance to take it all in yet. But you can if you take a stroll down Sheffield [or Waveland].
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GOOSE ISLAND

Goose Island is the only island within Chicago. One will never see a sign welcoming you to the island or a sign thanking you for visiting and asking you to visit again. It seems to only be identified on Chicago maps. There are no residential units on this island. The theme of my urban hike today was to walk every street, every nook and cranny that was not private property on Goose Island. Once I finished that, which was about five miles, I circumnavigated the island as best I could. My hike ended up back on Lake Michigan. When I was done, I had logged fifteen miles. 

Fifteen Mile Urban Hike which focused on 'exploring' Goose Island.

This shows that I walked every street possible in Goose Island and that I took a hike around the island as well.

It was a 'grey' day in Chicago and this black and white photograph captured the mood better than a full color photo.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, September 8, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original	300	66	0	6	930	0
Bacon Slices	400	0	25	8	525	0
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories	270	57	6	3	240	21
	970	123	31	17	1,695	21
L U N C H
Campbell's Chunky Manhattan Clam Chowder	120	18	3	5	800	3
Earthbound Farm - Baby Spinach, Organic	40	6	0	4	130	0
Made Good - Choc chip granola minis	200	28	9	4	0	10
	360	52	12	13	930	13
D I N N E R
Couscous, cooked, 1 cup, cooked	176	36	0	6	8	0
Pork Chops, 4 oz	170	0	8	24	55	0
Home Made - Garden Salad, 1 bowl	100	6	0	4	400	4
	446	42	8	34	463	4
S N A C K S
FRENCH VANILLA ALMOND GRANOLA	500	92	16	10	120	28
	500	92	16	10	120	28
Totals	2,276	309	67	74	3,208	66
Your Daily Goal	4,640	580	154	233	2,300	174
Remaining	2,364	271	87	159	-908	108
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,710 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 179.1 lbs in 5 weeks     

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
15 MILE URBAN HIKE	208	2,779
Daily Total / Goal	209 / 30	2,710 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	660 / 210	8,264 / 4,130

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from wikipedia.com

Goose Island is the only island on the Chicago River in Illinois. It is an artificial island, formed by the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west and the North Branch Canal on the east. It covers 160 acres (0.65 km²), and is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) across at its widest point.

The land that was to become the present-day Goose Island lies on a bend in the Chicago River between North Avenue on the north and Chicago Avenue on the south. In 1853 William B. Ogden, who had been Chicago's first mayor, formed the Chicago Land Company, which purchased land on the east side of the river to excavate clay for brick-making. Starting from the south, workers excavated a channel northwards, and by 1857 the channel had rejoined the river forming a shortcut past the bend in the river. The channel was eventually dredged to 50 feet (15 m) wide and 10 feet (3.0 m) deep to make it navigable, and it became known as the North Branch Canal, or Ogden's Canal. The island thus created was also sometimes nicknamed Ogden's Island, a name that some Chicago aldermen proposed to make the official name of the island in 1891.

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