tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45873933157992669912024-03-13T19:35:08.328-04:00Life Is A HighwayThe random ramblings of a single 40-something overweight male living in Southern Ontario as he deals with weight loss and other things in this world.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-2707202762486218022010-06-27T19:37:00.004-04:002010-06-28T18:53:50.860-04:00I'm baaaaaaaack!Wow! Has it really been 2 years since I made my last post in here? Time flies when you are having fun. Guess there are a few things that need updating. First, since this blog is mostly about weight loss, the answer is no. In fact I am a few pounds above where I started back in Dec 07, at least that is what the scale at the doctors office said when I was there about a month ago. So... I guess I need to get back in the saddle again since the Doc said he wanted to see me smaller when I return in November. The weight loss aid I was using before apparently isn't being sold at the Walmart pharmacy anymore but I haven't looked anywhere else.<br /><br />What else has changed in the last 2 years? Well, the fact I am still single hasn't changed. I still haven't met a rich, young, hot and single American woman who wants to adopt me! *LOL* Heck, any nation will do, at this point beggars can't afford to be choosers.<br /><br />What else has changed? Well.... I have me a new job. Will have been there for 2 years at the end of September, hopefully my next post in here is long before then. I decided with travel prices going up and the economy going in the crapper. Not to mention always being shortchanged and ripped off on the amount of work I was doing, it was time for something else. Not to mention I had no benefits and I always owed Revenue Canada money at the end of the tax year.<br /><br />So I started looking into call centres, since there were a few near by or within a short drive of my location and started applying. Within 2 days I got calls from 2 who were interested. One was a 10 minute drive away from my home and I would be doing internet tech support for a large American cable company who has a name rhyming with Bombast. And it was for different regions and when I was on the midnight shift, one call could come from Martinsville, VA and the next from Indianapolis. Then the powers that be decided to change our job descriptions. We were going to be trained how to do billing and tv support plus internet for a specific area covering Metro Philly, New Jersey and part of Delaware. OMG.<br /><br />We got a week of training and people starting quitting in droves, for those of us who stayed, our shifts seemed to change every 6 weeks and the whine-a-thon started at full throttle. I actually took a call from a "gentleman" who was complaining about the Amber Alert that was posted for a missing child. He had the balls to say "It's not like I don't care and I have kids of my own, but this is interrupting my tv show" and he wanted a credit for interrupting his program.<br /><br />When the chance came, they were looking for new people to work in On Call, which is a different department within the call centre that does a lot of smaller campaigns and I was hired there a month ago, and so far I am loving it. Not to mention, I get paid more per hour, am eligible for a yearly raise and get profit sharing bonuses every month. The Bombast campaign went from quarterly raises to a new monthly bonus and quarterly attendance bonus of $250 if you were on time and didn't miss a shift. For a total possible of $2008 for the year. One of the On Call agents made over $900 just for one month of profit sharing.<br /><br />Anyway, that is enough of that. Keeping track of my weight could be fun because I have no idea where my scale is. It was in the bathroom, then everything got moved to repaint the bathroom and somehow the scale never made it back. I guess it grew legs and walked away. Maybe I should check out the XS Cargo website and see if they have anymore.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-82333480441266559352008-06-11T23:59:00.002-04:002008-06-12T00:21:39.216-04:00Forgive me father for I have sinnedToday is June 11, or 12th now since it is midnight and I haven't updated this blog since March 1 so that is more than 3 months ago. No I am not Catholic although my mom was and my nieces go to a Catholic high school. I was (still am I guess) a member of a Baptist church although I haven't darkened their door for a long time either. <br /><br />Almost 6 months ago to this date I was thrilled that I had lost a full 10% of my weight in about 9 months. Today I am embarrassed to report almost all of that weight has come back. As for why, I could point to several reasons and make excuses about why but the only person to blame looks back at me in the mirror. <br /><br />I guess I got too comfortable that I had lost that much weight so quickly that it would keep melting away and I could "let myself go" so to speak. This winter was much snowier than last and I slipped and fell at least 3 times so I wasn't all that interested in falling again so I pretty much stayed indoors. Then my work schedule picked up so there was another excuse to stay home. Now that the nice weather has arrived now it is too hot. Meantime the poor dog just lays on the floor and stares at me with her big brown eyes wondering when she will be walked again.<br /><br />And I don't even have an excuse for not exercising since I bought an exercise bike about 18 months ago. Guess how often I have ridden it? Go ahead and guess. I also haven't bothered to get on the scale either until a week ago and again this morning. Since February 29th which was the day before my last update here, I have gained back 22 pounds so my total loss is now a whopping 8 which would be great of it was last April.<br /><br />Nothing to do but to get back on the horse and try to lose all that weight again except now I am that much farther behind and have to cover ground I have already done.<br /><br />In other news, winter is finally over although he seemed to want to stay around for an awfully long time. Even into late May the days would be nice enough to open windows and be outside but the temperature would drop and I know I heard the furnace running a few times. Now we have to start saving our pennies to pay the oil bill for next year.<br /><br />That's it for now.<br />Onward and downward! (weight wise that is)<br /><br />Wish me luck!<br /><br />PS the answer to the question is ... ONCEAndrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-56827534971330587432008-03-01T00:08:00.003-04:002008-03-01T00:13:11.036-04:00I still hate winter!When is this crap going to end? It will be March 1 in a few hours and there is more snow falling and more in the forecast for a few days from now. I am still taking applications for a sugarmommy to adopt me and move me to Florida to live a life of ease. Ha ha ha.. as if that would ever happen. Maybe in my dreams.<br /><br />As for the weight thing, I am falling into my old bad habits and eating way too much late at night and so the numbers on the scale seem to be getting bigger again. So I am now up by 1.8 pounds from the last update on Valentine's Day. A day created by the greeting card and chocolate companies designed to move more product off their shelves. Maybe if I wasn't a lonely, old, bitter single male my opinion might be changed.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-55355078643653234772008-02-19T01:22:00.002-04:002008-02-19T01:33:11.819-04:00The updated updateGuilty as charged, I have been neglecting ye olde blog site. First of all, I did not step on the scale on Feb 6 but I did step up on Feb 14 and I was down by 3.6 pounds. Maybe it is from all the snow I have had to shovel this winter, so I am back to a total loss of 33.4 pounds and it also means I need to lose 15 pounds in the next month to meet the goal the doctor had for me or 0.5 pounds per day. Maybe I should put the old exercise bike to work? I've only had it for a year and it makes a great coat rack!<br /><br />As for other exciting news, I hate winter. I know it has probably been a "normal" winter and we have been spoiled over the last few years I would be thrilled if I never saw another snowflake. In fact, I am thinking that Orlando Florida would be a pretty good spot to spend each and every winter. But for that to happen I either need to find a sugarmommy who wants to adopt me or I need a present from the Ontario Lottery Corporation. Neither of which is likely but it is always fun to dream.<br /><br />And in other news, the NASCAR season is back underway with yesterday's running of the 50th Daytona 500. Congrats to Satan, I mean Ryan Newman on his win and all the folks at Penske Racing South. Unfortunately, a flat tire sent Ken Schrader home and for the first time since 1984 he wasn't on the starting grid. On to Fontana to attempt the Auto Club 500 in California.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-71904648876570576412008-01-31T00:03:00.000-04:002008-01-31T00:24:02.884-04:00Slacker boyHard to believe it's been 20 days since my last update and I am afraid it is not good news. The weather has been so miserable and I have not been working very much so I have been putting food in my face. More than I have lately, at least. And to add to the fun I had a cold sneak up on me Monday night so maybe being able to stay home will be good for me, especially with a potential 12-25 cm of snow expected to fall on Thursday night and into Friday.<br /><br />So to recap over the last three weeks, I was up by 2.2 pounds, down by 0.4 pounds and up again by 1.8 pounds for a total of up by 3.6 pounds and my total is now 29.8 which means I have to lose 18 pounds by the middle of March to get to where the doctor wants to see my weight.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-7484696582380746052008-01-10T15:57:00.000-04:002008-01-10T18:12:23.544-04:00Bitch and moanWhere do I start? I guess since NASCAR pre-season testing has begun I guess I'll start with the screwed up race team known as Wood Brothers/JTG Racing. Or maybe they have split up and are back to being just Wood Brothers again. Who knows and who cares, really? My favourite driver is Ken Schrader and he has been treated disgracefully by this shadow of a formerly great race team. Originally the reports would be Ken would run the Bud Shootout and 12-14 races in the historic #21 Ford. He's getting older and his career is winding down so I think most of us would accept that. In the last couple days, Eddie Wood was on Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody and said most of the races would be run with Bill Elliott, Marcos Ambrose and Jon Wood behind the wheel. No mention at all of Schrader. When Moody asked about KS, Wood responded that he may fill in for a race or 2 and that he would test at Daytona with the 49 car.<br /><br />As far as I am concerned, I hope the Wood Brothers don't make a race this season, unless Ken is behind the wheel and they finish 43rd in any race they do start.<br /><br />Onto #2 and that would be the Toronto Maple Leafs. What the heck is wrong with this team? I have no answers and it seems they have none either. But I have been watching them since I was 6 years old in the days of Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald, through the Imlach returns years, then the Wendel Clark era and now with Mats and the gang. <br /><br />My nieces and nephew are loving the Nintendo Wii. The 3 year old is actually pretty at golf on the Wii Sports disc, they also got the game based on the movie Open Season. <br /><br />Oh and for those of you wondering about the weight thing, I am down by 0.4 pounds for a total of 33.4 pounds, which means I have to lose another 5 to match my highest amount of weight lost and then another 17 pounds to make my next goal. Imagine what I'd do if I had an actual exercise routine to follow. Until I am rich and can afford a gym membership I guess the dog will get more walks.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-27753205620898323972008-01-04T16:01:00.000-04:002008-01-04T16:17:07.946-04:00Holiday updateHope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years holiday. I know my neices and nephew did, except for my nephew coming home from visiting his father's side of the family and coming home with a case of head lice. Ick. But Santa was very good to them all and I guess the best present they got was a Nintendo Wii game system. I have played it once so far and my "Wii Fitness" age is 50. Which I guess isn't bad for my first try. <br /><br />I have been telling people I was so bad that Santa didn't even leave me a piece of coal but I did get the Dukes of Hazzard, Season 2 on DVD and just need seasons 4, 5, 6 and 7 to complete my collection. And once the financial end of things gets figured out I will pick up something for myself.<br /><br />As for the weight thing, since my last update on Dec 20, overall I am up by 1.4 pounds for a total of 33. Which means I am still up 5 from my first goal, which means I am 15 away from where the doctor wants to see me by my next appointment and 22 from meeting my next goal. Or to put it another way, I have to get back in gear.<br /><br />Hope everyone has a wonderful 2008.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-81683669629919631852007-12-20T13:15:00.000-04:002007-12-20T13:42:58.437-04:00Well that didn't last longOh well, guess I overdid the celebrating a little bit. Oh well, go down 5+ pounds one week and back up by 4 the next for a total of 34.4. At least I know I was able to get there and I know I will be there again. I just need to keep plugging away. On the positive side, the doctor was pleased and wants me to be at a total of 48 pounds lost by my next appointment in March which will be a year after my journey started. And my blood pressure is down by 10 points to 120/70 which I guess the experts say is borderline hypertension. <br /><br />In other news, I survived the big snowstorm. Thankfully I didn't have to work so I was able to sit at home and watch all the snowflakes fall. From the amount we got I think it'll be safe to say we'll have a white Christmas. <br /><br />And that brings me to one of my pet peeves. Who decided we needed white Christmases in the first place? Was it Irving Berlin or the greeting card people? Maybe it was meteorologists who needed a reason to be positive about snowfall? I was going to say it doesn't snow in Bethlehem but apparently it does. This is a picture taken in Jerusalem posted on the BBC website along with some other photos of snow in the Middle East.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1745000/images/_1748157_jersusalemap300.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1745000/images/_1748157_jersusalemap300.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Since my next weigh-in will be on Boxing Day, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-40037643589340121362007-12-12T11:52:00.000-04:002007-12-12T12:39:39.255-04:00I thought this day would never comeToday is December 12th and I just got off the scale. I began this little quest at the beginning of March so it is a little over 9 months later and I have reached, unofficially, my first major goal. I say unofficially since I have reached goals before only to see my weight go back up the next day. I knew something was going on since my belt is now over by another notch and when I lay in bed (oh so very alone) I can feel my ribs. Since you are all waiting with baited breath the scale said I had lost 38.4 pounds so I am now 90% of the man I was in March. Now I will hopefully reach a final goal of 197 pounds so I have another 149 to go. Think I'll go celebrate with 3 or 4 Big Macs! Just kidding. Here is a pic of the slighly more svelte me. Freshly taken this morning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8wv5uJW2PugRCLkynKUMdqJqFvPE57sTDVLyAkSeUDfm2IGBxUc1OdTaYvmLl-JawO93wx7pYTR6j13vdoRDSH52D4tQh0PWImMkU-hHrCTT24MDABM_YypONRan5jwVXbJL8r5KUBI/s1600-h/Picture+34.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8wv5uJW2PugRCLkynKUMdqJqFvPE57sTDVLyAkSeUDfm2IGBxUc1OdTaYvmLl-JawO93wx7pYTR6j13vdoRDSH52D4tQh0PWImMkU-hHrCTT24MDABM_YypONRan5jwVXbJL8r5KUBI/s400/Picture+34.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143121107414351362" /></a>Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-74936239859902388352007-12-08T01:51:00.000-04:002007-12-08T02:18:47.838-04:00Hola!OK so I am not spanish nor do I speak spanish but after the comment left on my last blog I figured it was worth a try to increase my audience. Anyway, the main reason for this little blog's existence is to track my journey with weight loss. So without further ado, I stepped on the scale Wednesday morning after way too many days off and the scale told me was now 33 pounds lighter than I was in March and 3.4 pounds lower than I was last week. And that puts me within 6 pounds of my first major goal of losing 10% of my total mass. Those of you who are good with math should be able to figure out how much of a fat slob I was. Just imagine how much more I could lose if I did some exercise. And yes, I plead guilty to not walking the dog as much as I did earlier this year. Guess I am a wimp when it comes to walking in heat and cold. <br /><br />As for the days off, I am self-employed so days off mean less money in the bank account to pay bills and less chance for tips. So if anyone, especially in a warm southern US climate, wants to hire a nice, hard working guy from Canada, give me a call!Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-76015525254866348002007-11-30T12:58:00.000-04:002007-11-30T13:10:32.554-04:00Up and downWhat you gain one week you lose the next. I guess I should be used to this by now but it is still a little disappointing that I can't seem to get past the 30 pound plateau. I know I haven't been walking as much and eating more late at night but I am trying to behave myself. Guess I'll just have to keep plugging away. Guess I should provide the numbers. I am up by 1.6 pounds so basically back where I was a month ago with a total loss of 29.6 pounds. For those of you who care, that is 13.454 kilograms.<br /><br />You may also notice on the right side of the page I have put up a link to Kate Bilo's video blog. It was there when I started and I took it down when things changed at AccuWeather. Now the link is back and the latest video will load and play automatically (at least it should) and most of the old ones are on there as well. And it's her fault I am writing this blog.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-29043135224060138242007-11-21T13:32:00.000-04:002007-11-21T13:42:09.297-04:00Just call me Mr SlackerBeen working a lot and spending too much time with my big butt parked in front of the computer or TV. Needless to say the dog is not very happy because I have not walked her very much lately but after the +5 pounds on November 7th I was less than pleased. I climbed on the scale on November 14 and I was -3.2 pounds from the previous week. Just a few minutes ago I climbed on again and am down by another 3.8 pounds or 7 pounds total from my last posting. The human body is truly a mysterious thing. If I can lose another 7.5 pounds I will be 10% smaller than I was in March when this journey began. <br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and be thankful you aren't eating turkey with a turkey!Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-5398639372027035572007-11-07T13:24:00.000-04:002007-11-07T13:27:51.572-04:00Le sighI knew this day was coming. The scale says I am up 5 pounds over last week but I have no one to blame but myself. I have not been as active and have stopped taking my diet aids and have resumed the bad habit of late night snacking. So my total is now 24.2 pounds lost and I am now 14 pounds away from my first major goal which is to be 10% lighter than I was in March. Time to get back on the wagon. Wish me luck!Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-49966922513399335062007-11-06T13:54:00.000-04:002007-11-06T13:57:26.958-04:00It's a another rerun!Can you tell I am running out of ways of saying there is basically no change. Last Wednesday I was up by 0.2 pounds to make the total 29.2. I guess I should be happy that I am holding steady and not gaining but I'd like to lose some more. I do have to confess that I have not been overly active due to weather, illness and just basic laziness. Back on the scale tomorrow morning. Since I am going to have time to kill tonight going to Popeye's Fried Chicken may not be such a good idea.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-73309133127107035832007-10-24T15:14:00.001-04:002007-10-24T15:14:54.790-04:00It's a rerun!From two weeks ago I can post the exact same thing. Down 0.4 pounds, total is now 29.4. That is all, nothing else to see here.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-28282022530788218632007-10-21T19:27:00.000-04:002007-10-21T20:48:16.427-04:00Outsmarted.By who, you ask? By me, myself and I. As you know I went to Watertown NY to take take advantage of the high-flying loonie. <br /><br />I planned to take my cell phone with me in case there was an emergency at home and I needed to be contacted. I called my cellular provider who will remain nameless but it rhymes with HELL. A pleasant young lady answered the phone and the conversation when something like this:<br /><br />Me: "I'd like to add US roaming to my account for the weekend."<br />Her: "Of course sir, it'll only be $40."<br />Me: "What? $40 for a weekend?"<br />Her: "You have to keep it on your account for a month."<br /><br />Once I found out the roaming charges were more reasonable than the last time I asked for my trip to Martinsville, VA in 2004 I decided to take my cell phone with me and risk it.<br /><br />After I checked in at my motel, I went to the main shopping area and my first stop was K-Mart. Yeah I know but it was my mother's favourite store so at the very least I will stop in and look around. While I was in there, I saw the pay-as-you-go cell phones and one company (who will also remain nameless) was selling a phone for $15 including 10 minutes of airtime. When I got back to my motel, I got the package opened and charged the phone. <br /><br />After talking to the K-Mart employee working in the department and reading the brochures it sounded like a good deal. Especially the parts about 800 numbers to call outside the US and being able to set up local numbers in Canadian cities for people to call me. So I'm thinking if I buy some more air time, my nieces can use the phone instead of calling collect from a phone at school which is 10 km away from home. <br /><br />To make a long, internationally copyrighted story short. The phone doesn't work here, I either get a No Service or Emergency Only message, even when I go right by the lake to hope maybe a signal will bounce off the water. But I have had no such luck so the phone is a $35 paperweight. I was told the folks at Rogers may be able to sell me a new SIM card to use the phone but no such luck there either. Fortunately, K-Mart says I have 90 days to return the phone so there may be another provider out there that can help me.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-48042265924721021582007-10-17T16:33:00.000-04:002007-10-17T16:42:58.096-04:00Well, at least this part is on time...for a change. The Wednesday update is up by a whopping 0.4 pounds so my total loss is 29 even. Which is shocking to me because I have been very undisciplined this week. Still haven't gotten around to looking for the USB cable to upload the zoo pics either.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-90590021627933428192007-10-14T14:36:00.001-04:002007-10-17T16:43:55.942-04:00Yeah, I suck.I am way late with my updates<br /><br />The weekend in Watertown was lots of fun, except for the spending too much money part. Got to explore some new stores and ended up out-smarting myself on one purchase. Finally discovered the New York State Zoo and got some cool pics which will be uploaded as soon as I find the USB cable to transfer the photos from my camera to the computer.<br /><br />As for the weight thing... on October 3, after my return from Watertown after eating nothing but frozen prepared meals and restaurant food my weight increased by 0.8 pounds to bring the total back to 29 even. This past Wednesday, October 10 after being back home for 10 days my weight was down by 0.4 for the week and a total of 29.4 pounds. I need to get back to my routine of walking the dog everyday. <br /><br />I know it is easy to want to stay indoors when it is wet and cold outside but the blubber won't go away on it's own. Wish me luck!<br /><br />Stay tuned for the outsmarted story and the zoo pics.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-37106977079994500502007-09-27T19:51:00.001-04:002007-10-14T14:44:29.861-04:00You win some, you lose someEvery Wednesday when I step onto the scale, I hope the number I see is smaller than the one I saw 7 days previously. Last week I was pleased with the number, this week not so much. I have to admit that I have not been as active as I had the last few weeks so my weight has gone back up by 4.8 pounds so instead of being 4 pounds away from another goal I am now 9. I am heading off to Watertown NY for a weekend away and to take advantage of a very healthy Canadian dollar so lots of prepared food for 3 days so we'll see how things are when I get on the scale again next Wednesday.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-61586678610494679972007-09-19T23:13:00.000-04:002007-09-20T00:29:22.930-04:00Post #61Can't believe I have had so much to babble about but I am back again for another visit. Since it is Wednesday I guess it is time for a weekly weight woundup. I was sure the number would be getting smaller since I had been so busy that I had no time to walk the dog and I bought a lot of junk food. To my surprise, the scale was actually good to me and showed that I had lost 5.8 pounds for the week and a total of 34.6 which puts me 4 pounds away from a 10% total weight loss. Funnily enough, I will be seeing the doctor tomorrow and see what he has to say.<br /><br />In other news, I found a whole lot of neat junk at a local dollar store. And they are now letting people pay with their debit cards. And in the "you know your music career is over" category, when your autobiography is on the bottom shelf in a dollar store. I was looking for something to buy my nephew when I happened to glance down and saw The Harry Wayne Casey Story. 'Who the heck is that?' was my first thought. Then I bent down to pick the book up and saw the rest of the cover. The full title is 'That's the Way I Like It' and saw the KC and the Sunshine Band logo. Harry Wayne Casey is the KC of KC and the Sunshine Band. Apparently, according to the band's website they are still performing.<br /><br />Speaking of performing my little home town is hosting the All Canadian Jazz Festival, saw the tents being set up in Memorial Park already for the weekend. So if you like jazz and are looking for something to do, come on down!Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-47586582017150252292007-09-17T11:47:00.000-04:002007-09-17T11:56:55.895-04:00Such a sight has never been seenThings that astound, amaze and confuse your lowly scribe. I have already confessed my love for Farmboy Markets in Peterborough. Sunday morning I headed there again since Friday was payday. So after finishing in there and buying a lovely 23 ounce t-bone I decided to swing by the nearby Dollarama store to see what they have. I pulled in front of the store a couple minutes before 11 am and there were actually people waiting outside for the store to open! There must have been around 15 people who all headed for the door when it was unlocked. I have heard of people lining up for the latest video game console or waiting for concert tickets. But waiting for a dollar store to open?? Well, I guess you learn something new everyday.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-38462290150282467642007-09-14T09:06:00.000-04:002007-09-14T09:12:35.467-04:00Two for the price of one!Aren't you lucky? I have been so busy the last few weeks that sitting down here to update by weight loss has been pushed to the side and I enjoyed my first day off yesterday since late August. I guess I shouldn't complain too much since my paycheque should be really good.<br /><br />Anyway, let your minds drift back to September 5th, my weight for the week was up by 2.4 pounds which makes the total of 28.2, and this past Wednesday I was down by 0.6 pounds for a total of 28.8 pounds. I still am not seeing any difference but other people have so I'll just take their word for it. I seem to have hit a bit of a plateau but I am maintaining instead of gaining it all back. Thanks for reading this.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-74389417028915871612007-09-01T18:33:00.001-04:002007-09-14T09:23:46.496-04:00Here I sit brokenhearted...No I am not going to recite that lame little joke you sometimes see in bathroom stalls. What I am talking about is furniture or lack thereof. Yesterday I drove over the the local Canadian Tire store (no they don't just sell tires, consider it the Canadian Walmart with no groceries and a way better automotive section) to replace my antique computer desk. Years ago, my father found this old table sitting outside someone's house held together with baling wire and brought it home. He repaired and refinished it and turned it into a beautiful round dining table. With the two leafs folded down, it was perfect was displaying family photos and various knick-knacks.<br /><br />When I bought my first computer, a beautiful Compaq Presario 486 running at a whopping 25 mHz, I needed someplace to put it and the round table with one leaf down was drafted into service. And it has been used as my computer desk since then.<br /><br />Back to Canadian Tire, their flyer had a corner computer desk for only 79.99! Not a bad price for a piece of RTA furniture. Got it loaded into the minivan and headed home. Since there wasn't a NASCAR race to watch and I had the day off, I was planning on assembling it as my Sunday project.<br /><br />Saturday was when the fun happened. I was going to be working and away for most of the day when my sister decided she was going to be helpful and put the desk together for me. Guess she was looking for a Saturday project. She opened the box, checked that all the required pieces were there and started building in my living room. I had disconnected my computer and moved it out of the way.<br /><br />From what I understand to have happened. My sister got the right half of the desk basically together and decided to move it to where it would be located and finish it there. Well, I guess my 3 year old nephew bumped into the finished piece while she was on the phone and it fell apart. A couple pieces of particleboard were damaged and it looked like I was going to be out $80. (As an aside, even with the great price the local store threw a cherry on top. They were offering a $10 coupon if you spent more than $40 which the cashier subtracted from my bill when I paid for the desk.)<br /><br />When I got home I heard the story and my nephew said he was sorry and gave me a big hug. How can you stay mad at that face? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkooU_y7nEOtvFBY7VU0NFbmq3k_rsWf5Ksj2vWcheWbBVVpmOPWJxY-mmjWuVumEjqnHz3GyljOP0oxKg8hzR62CPiMGNdh3I5-huZZXY4hN7jyvIhkwvFGjWfVPnJr7Z9Ptn4vJClE/s1600-h/HPIM0019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkooU_y7nEOtvFBY7VU0NFbmq3k_rsWf5Ksj2vWcheWbBVVpmOPWJxY-mmjWuVumEjqnHz3GyljOP0oxKg8hzR62CPiMGNdh3I5-huZZXY4hN7jyvIhkwvFGjWfVPnJr7Z9Ptn4vJClE/s200/HPIM0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109921510406639538" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></a><br />We were trying to come up with a good story for when we returned the box to the store but I happened to glance at the instructions and it said to call the manufacturer instead of going back to the store. Since it is Saturday we'll have to wait until Monday to do that. Until then I guess I plug my laptop in and put it on a TV tray.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Postscript (Sat Sept 8): </span>Called the manufacturer on Monday, the CSR said replacement pieces would be sent out via courier at no charge. The pieces arrived on Thursday afternoon, the desk was put together Thursday night and on Friday (1 week after buying the unit) the computer is back together and sitting on my new desk.<br /><br />As for the weight thing, which I am sure is riveting to 1 or 2 insomniacs in California, there is no change from last week which makes me happy because I have been so busy there hasn't been any walking of the dog and more junk food than usual has been consumed. The usual now being very little at all.<br /><br />One last thing before I sign off. My favourite confessing weather girl is away to attend her wedding ceremony. Kate Bilo will marry the lovely Scott Eby. As I write this, they should be in Turkey to begin their honeymoon. What? Don't all married couples want to fly to Ankara or Istanbul (or as Victor Borge used to call it, Instant Cow) right after their wedding? I wonder if she will continue to use her maiden name, switch to her husband's name or go the hyphenated route? I hope their ceremony was beautiful and filled with meaning and I wish them all the best. Maybe Kate will come back and announce she will be having an Accu-baby! *LOL*Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-17245467450536306212007-08-24T19:26:00.001-04:002007-08-24T19:34:28.276-04:00The big 3-0!No that is not my age, I am unfortunately much older than that. *heavy sigh* The 3-0 I am referring to is the number of pounds that have left my body since March. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am only going to weigh myself once a week, on Wednesday mornings since getting on the scale every day was driving me crazy. When I got on the scale, I saw the number and smiled and then when I got to the computer to add to my log, my smile got bigger since I was down 4.4 pounds from the week before and a total of 30.6 pounds, that would be 13.91 kg. I think it's time for another 22 ounce t-bone from Farmboy Markets!Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587393315799266991.post-67879864978842181652007-08-20T21:15:00.000-04:002007-08-20T22:03:57.239-04:00I love Farmboy MarketsIs it possible to love a grocery store? Heck yeah if you are someone who loves to eat, and I think I qualify based on all my posts about trying to lose weight. Why do I love them so much? It's mainly because of the meat. For those who have been around for a few years may recognize that as the slogan for Dominion Stores, which still exist in the greater Toronto area but were bought out by A&P which was then purchased by Metro stores.<br /><br />Farmboy isn't a mega superstore with 200,000 square feet of everything you can put in your mouth like marinated Mongolian yak-kebabs. It is a throwback to the neighbourhood grocery stores from years gone by. Not elaborate but a little of everything you need. And as I mentioned, an amazing meat counter. Not amazing by the selection but amazing by the prices. I bought a 22 ounce t-bone steak last Friday and paid $9.37 for it, that works out to $6.99/pound. Yeah Canada measures everything in metric so $15.38/kg and it was at least 1/2" thick! Add some mesquite seasoning and a BBQ and I was a happy camper except for the rained out NASCAR race on Sunday and today.<br /><br />If you are within a short drive of Peterborough, check them out. Unlike the megamarts, they are not open 24 hours a day and they don't have a website for me to show you. All I can tell you is they are located at the corner of Lansdowne and Erskine in Peterborough across from the Minute Maid plant. Sometimes they'll snag a deal on something you won't see everyday like paper products made for Wegmans and Tops grocery stores in upstate NY. Now, if you'll excuse me there are some pork chops I bought there that need my attention.Andrew S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00515801162530641305noreply@blogger.com2