Jogging Man

Next Issue

I downloaded the new App Next Issue. This is the app you see advertised on TV. For $10 you get over 100 magazines, plus back issues, on your iPad. I have used the app numerous times and intend on cancelling my magazine subscriptions. I should save money and will have access to many more publications. Interestingly two of my lawyers at recent mediations downloaded the app after viewing my Next Issue.

I ran 2.6 miles without a break today. That is my best total this year. Despite drinking alcohol during the past 10-days. I believe the breaks between running have helped. I did spend 80 minutes on the treadmill Sunday. The winter has been so cold I have been forced to spend more time indoors.

Stephen Harper and his government are appearing more desperate every week. Their unending petty shots at Justin Trudeau's every utterance is a sign of a party running scared. The Toronto Sun and National Post, official party organs, are doing their best to tow the party line. Canadians are increasingly tuning them out. I believe Trudeau will be Canada's Prime Minister in late 2015.

Harper thought that it was a good idea to attempt to bully and insult President Obama in order to approve the XL pipeline. Obama told Harper to pound sand. Our physically weak PM, who never played sports as a kid, has overplayed his bully act.  

Ketchard New Condiment Invention

Do you ever see a new invention and say to yourself "I could have thought of that"? An idea so brilliant and yet so obvious. Today at lunch I invented a new condiment called Ketchard. A mixture of equal parts of ketchup and mustard served at room temperature. Why apply ketchup and mustard separately when you can serve them together with your delicious meals?

I'm still working on perfecting the texture and look of the new condiment. I'm considering using fancy mustard's and starting a spicy version of this multi-purpose spread.

Ketchard New Condiment

Take equal parts of ketchup and mustard

Mix together and serve at room temperature

50-Day Challenge Complete

I only drank 4-beers in Miami over 2 1/2 days. I completed my fastest 2-mile run today with fresh legs. It was good to get back to proper eating and exercise after a business trip with poor eating. I did manage to get in a lot walking in Miami. I stayed in Miami paying for an extra day in the hotel. Great to escape the cold weather even for a brief period.

The rush hour traffic in Miami is even worse than Toronto.

From what I observed Spanish may be the most common language in Miami. It is truly a bilingual city. There was a massive Venezuela protest in the city when I arrived. Hundreds of expats crowded the streets and snarled traffic downtown.

The price of a 600 square foot condo in South Beach was about the same as downtown Toronto.

I had another problem with West Jet. I thought I was flying American Airlines but the flight was operated by West Jet. Their kiosk was not working and they had 2 attendants clearing 300 passengers. It was another West Jet fiasco. It took 2 1/2 hours to  clear baggage, customs and security. Lucky I always head to the airport early.

Brief Business Trip to Miami

Hotel Room WIth View

Venezuela Protest

Versace Mansion South Beach

Bond Update

Nurse M Practices Patient Empathy

Nurse M Administers Injections

New Treatments

I am very pleased with my new dermatologist. After a trial session on some drugs that cleared up my skin somewhat but plateaued, they are taking the treatment to a whole new level. Pending approval I will be self injecting medicine into my system. The success rate of this drug is high and I am optimistic that my skin will be 100% clear of psoriasis.

I told M today of my new treatment plan and she volunteered to inject the medicine herself. What M lacks in training she makes up for in enthusiasm. She claims to have watched multiple episodes of ER and movies involving intravenous drug users and believes she is qualified to administer injections. In fact she believes she can perform minor surgeries if there are no qualified doctors available.

While M is not charging me a fee for this service she did say that if I cried, whimpered, grimaced or showed any signs of weakness she would increase the pain. She will not tolerate histrionics or tears. I did ask M if she planned to use new syringes? She thought that was an unnecessary expense and unduly cautious. M does seem to know a lot about this area and I trust her judgement.

The Mayor's Race in Toronto in Underway

Day 41

I have only 9 more days before I can taste an ice cold beer. I spent 75 minutes on the treadmill followed  by 50 minutes more primarily outside on a bitterly cold Saturday. I'm only 3 pounds short of my short-term weight loss goal. I should still continue to lose weight as long as I avoid binge drinking and stick to the sensible eating rules.

My plan to avoid Charles Brown was effective. His negativity about my challenge was bringing me down. I have been in a  bar or sporting in event where they sell alcohol, on at least half of the days during this challenge. I would have drank at minimum 15 of those events if not as many a 20. When I drink alcohol it not just the calories I consume that night, but the poor food choices I make when I drink and the lack of exercise the next day when I'm lethargic. It should not be a surprise I gain weight.

What's Going On?

I just completed 6 straight days where I used the treadmill. My legs are so stiff that today I just walked, I couldn't run. I have been averaging over 15,000 steps a day. That is about 7.5 miles. About 33% to 40% of that was outside in the one of the worst winters on record. We had a snow storm Saturday another one today. I've just been grinding out the miles. I have completed 38 days of the 50-day challenge. I am well past 500,000 steps and will easily meet the 600,000 step goal.

I have lost about 20 pounds but could lose 20 more before reaching my short-term goal. I believe I have turned the corner regarding food intake. Today I went to Barbarians Steakhouse for lunch with my Vancouver lawyers. Due to the high caloric intake I skipped dinner entirely. I consumed way too much  food at lunch.

Yesterday I attended an after work industry function. I consumed zero alcohol. I ate sparingly. In the past I would have drank several beers and made poor food choices. I walked home from the function. In the past I would have cabbed it home. I then hopped on the treadmill for 40 minutes.

I spoke to M at the function last night. As was the case last year she can't tell the difference in my weight. She is good at encouraging me but doesn't think I have lost an ounce of weight. She also complained about how I draw her in the cartoons. She doesn't like the crazy hair. I told her that was my signature.

I bought a coat from Eddie Bauer last year. The zipper broke within 1 or 2 days. As the coat also had buttons I never took the coat back to the store. Bereza believes that they installed the zipper backwards. He has a "zipper guy" in The Bay store. He claims the guy can fix my zipper for $15 and will throw in a bowl of soup. He has been all over me to visit his zipper guy. Yesterday one of the two buttons failed. I am down to one button during the coldest winter in a generation. Instead of going to the zipper guy I bought a brand new coat for $49.99 at Marks Warehouse. I kept the old coat with the option of taking it to the zipper guy. I would then have two functional coats. The homeless guys in Toronto are dressed better than me. They are actually giving me money when I walk down the street. I leave the condo with no money and I have $5 by the time I get to work.

Running Away From Negative Influences

Challenge Update

I've made it to Day 34 of the no-alcohol challenge with16 days to go. I just finished an hour on the treadmill combining running and walking. January was tough for me with 5 Fridays. Friday was my main drinking day. What was really an eye opener for me was the number of times I would have consumed alcohol in January but for the challenge. I would say at least 15 times. When you consider that I eat poorly when I drink alcohol it is no wonder I gain weight. Even when the challenge is over I cannot consume alcohol 15-times a month.

I feel best on Saturday mornings when I wake up feeling refreshed. I have to avoid going to the Pub the next two Fridays. Charlie Brown has become a pest. He is encouraging me to quit, berating me. He is the opposite of H girls. Plus sitting in the pub while others are drinking is not a good use of my time. I could be in the gym.