I was really displeased this morning when I discovered my weight was up from yesterday, despite eating well. I suspect that it was leftover from the previous day’s cheating. I thought yesterday morning that I got away Scot free. I was wrong. Groan. I am hoping to get back on track with the weight loss tomorrow, but this evening I am being kidnapped. I cannot go into detail, but I honestly have no idea what to expect.
I’ll see you all tomorrow.
I went to pieces yesterday evening, and I do not know why. I ate, and I ate, and I ate… I was convinced that when I got onto the bathroom scale this morning I would have gained four pounds. It was a wonder that I did not gain. I did not lose any weight, but not gaining was a relief.
I was pleased with one thing that I did yesterday; I walked to and from the supermarket, a 5km jaunt. It was my longest measured walk in quite some time, and I am happy that I did it. I told Leslie today that one of the things I am going to need to do is to get moving again. With spring upon us I have no excuse (other than time) to not get outside for my exercise walks.
I am doing better today than I did yesterday, but the day is not over. I am hoping to go to bed without falling off again. I am going to speak with my wife for a bit after class, and then I am going to try to sleep early. I took Her Floofness out for a walk right before class, so I should be able to hit the sack at a reasonable time.
Have a great day folks!
As I expected and feared, my weight jumped again this morning. I will pay more attention to my eating on those teaching days, lest I never get back on track. Now I have to fight to drop back below 280 again.
I was not happy when I stepped onto the scale this morning and realized that I gained 1.8 lbs. from yesterday. I was also not surprised. I went a little wild last night, and I cannot do that and expect to not gain weight. I am not sure I am doing better today, only because I ate a late lunch, and so I am now preparing my dinner for the end of my class. I should not be eating at 9:00p… but here we are. I will remember to plan better for the rest of my classes.
I only realized this morning that next week will be ‘one of those…’ a week that I am teaching a class during the day, and then from 6-9pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I am glad to see that there is a clear light at the end of that tunnel, as Saturday morning I will be getting onto a plane to see someone I have not seen in far too long; actually, there are two people I have not seen in far too long,.. it should be quite a trip!
Lyle it coming over tomorrow during the day for cigars. Actually, we are meeting at Costco, and then we will come back here. It is always great to see him.
Have a great day folks!
This morning was the first time that my weight dropped below what I weighed the day before I flew to Cuba. Sometimes travel can be like that… I had expected with all of my walking (and almost no snacking) to lose as much as five pounds, but with the three travel days, plus all of the pasta and bread that I consumed in Cuba, I am happy that I broke even. My first two and a half days back in Canada I did not do myself any favours, but yesterday I did pretty well. I am still at 277.4 lbs., but that is better than … well, more.
Yesterday morning I devoured the rest of the challah from Friday night, and while I should not have done that, I am going to give myself a pass… and will not be buying a whole challah anytime soon. After that, I ate reasonably. I will try to do the same today.
My plan is to go see my buddy in the afternoon for a cigar or two. After that I will come home for dinner and will try to be in bed at a reasonable hour. I find that the earlier I am in bed, the less tempted I am to cheat.
Have a great day folks!
Thursday I spent most of the day relaxing. I do not think I even touched my computer, but I did post a quick blurb to my blog. Yesterday I did do some work on the computer (not a lot) but I forgot to post, so this morning I posted a one-liner to retain my streak.
Saturday morning!
Yesterday I was disappointed by the weight gain, if not surprised. Yes, Thursday evening I overindulged. Frankly, I did last night too… I ate half of my challah after class. If that is going to be the only cheat I have in a day then at least I should do it before 9:30pm. Nevertheless, this morning I was pleased to see a reversal of the gains from yesterday morning. If I can get through the rest of today with no more cheating then I have a chance to be back on track.
Yes, I bought a challah yesterday. They did not have any of the small rolls, so I bought the regular sized one. It is not really big, but it is too much for me to eat in two sittings… which I did. Yes, between yesterday evening and this morning’s breakfast the challah is gone. I will try to not buy any more rolls for a few days.
My new shirts and sports jacket arrived on Thursday, and I was happy to wear them (one shirt with the jacket) last night for class. The jacket might have been a bit tight, and I look forward to losing ten pounds so it will fit better.
My plans for the day include a haircut at noon, and then after lunch Eduardo is coming over for a cigar. It will be great to sit with him. I think Lyle and I are getting together tomorrow, and it will be good to see him as well. The weather is really picking up, with highs through next Sunday ranging from 9° through 15°… and while the overnight lows are still cooler, they are not scheduled to drop to 0°, so things are really looking up for the end of winter.
Have a great day folks!
I don’t know if it was a conscious decision, but I minimized my computer time today. I’ll write tomorrow.
Houston… what a terrible airport. United… what a terrible airline. I am looking forward to getting home, that’s all I can say.
I was optimistic in my thinking when I said I would arrive in Houston by 5:30, be check into the hotel at 6:15, and would head to Blend Bar for the evening. It never occurred to me that I would not get out of the airport for over two hours, including a ridiculous ordeal trying to get an Uber. By the time I was settled into my room it was 9:00pm and I was hungry. I headed down to the restaurant, where I was planning to redeem both drink vouchers the manager of the hotel gave me.
I was almost very bad. I almost ordered Buffalo wings… in fact I did, but immediately changed it to a hamburger. While that is not exactly a healthy meal, it could have been much worse. I cannot have Buffalo wings until I am sure that I can have a reasonable amount of them, and only occasionally. I had a beer with dinner, and a glass of red wine after dinner with a cigar outside. I got back to my room around 10:30. I reorganized my luggage (making sure to pack my Duty Free rum into my checked luggage), and then got into bed to wind down for a bit before sleeping.
I slept well but not enough – I could have added 90 minutes to my total had I not opted for the cigar, but that was my choice. I was out of bed five minutes prior to my 6:00M alarm, and went about my morning bathroom rituals. Today was the first day in ten that I had Internet while sitting in the loo, and I checked my email and social media before taking a lovely shower. I closed my suitcases and took them down so that I would not need to return to the room after breakfast.
The hotel itself was very comfortable, and the front desk staff last night (as well as the restaurant) were great. Their shuttle service, on the other hand, was lousy. I emailed the GM (with whom I made friends) and he apologized, telling me that yesterday they turned in their 15-seat van for a much smaller one in anticipation of a slower season… so when I got there in time the driver told me ‘too bad, so sad… o room.’ I had to either pay for my own taxi, or wait until the next one (30 minutes later). Grrr.
Honestly, the hotel room and restaurant were great; everything else since I got to Houston was a shit show, up to and including the rude and dishonest service on the airplane out. I will not bore my readers with the details, but suffice it to say that I will be glad to be back in Canada. I should also mention that the CBP officers were very polite and efficient, and do not EVERYTHING in the Houston airport sucked… only most things.
I probably had slightly more breakfast that I normally would, but I don’t think it was a real cheat. The only real cheat in Houston was a bag of chips after my cigar. I am hoping that the disgusting g airline actually lets me purchase food on board, but I am not holding my breath. Judging from Little Miss Sunshine who ‘helped’ me before we took off, I rather suspect that I’ll be lucky to get a warm glass of spit. If they do actually have what is listed in the magazine, I will have a chicken wrap and a can of chips.
It is presently 10:30am CDT, which means 11:30 in Toronto. We are scheduled to land around 2:15pm, and if all goes well I should be home by 4:15. I’ll run out to pick up a quick bite before class, and will be ready at my computer at 5:30pm. As I said to Leslie earlier, I am not expecting to be able to relax and breathe until a little after 9:00pm tonight. I am really hoping to get a good night sleep in my own bed; with Her Royal Floofness snuggled into my back.
Tomorrow morning I will step onto the bathroom scale for the first time since March 23. I am hoping for a five-pound drop, but as long as I did not gain weight I will be happy. It is great that I am not expecting to gain weight after a vacation… that is usually when people do. My last weigh-in before leaving Canada was a relief for having dropped back below 280 lbs., and I really want to stay there… and then hopefully get below (and stay below) 270 before my upcoming trip to Dallas. I hope I can make it!
I got notification yesterday that my new shirts and sports jacket are arriving tomorrow! It usually takes eight weeks from when I order them, and they have never come in 5 weeks. I am excited but also a little scared… on the 23rd I weighed 12 lbs. more than when I was fitted for them. I am hoping they fit well, and that I do not have to lose a few more pounds until I wear them. I am going to do my best.
With spring coming I might not be using the treadmill very much, only because I want to walk outside. With that said, I have to remember that April in Canada is usually a wet month, and so I have to make sure that if I am not going out then at least I will not be stagnant. I texted my neighbour who is caring for Her Floofness and she told me that it is raining today and tomorrow, so while I might take Floof out for a bit, a power walk is unlikely… not that I would have the time to anyways.
I will try to do some quick grocery shopping before my class so that I will be have food in the house for tomorrow morning. I think I still have enough eggs and milk, but I do not remember what else I might need. I have spent the last ten days eating in restaurants and i want to get off that cadence starting with dinner tonight. It is unlikely that I will have time to cook, but at least I can pick up something ready to eat from the supermarket deli counter.
I am wearing long pants for the first time since I checked into my apartment in Havana on the 24th. It feels a bit weird, but in truth I should have put them on before smoking my cigar in Houston. It was a bit nippy out, at least compared to the weather in Havana. I am sure the 51 sunny degrees I experienced this morning will feel like heaven when I land in Toronto, but that’s life. I only wish I had thought to pack a warmer shirt than I did – I do have a long sleeve guayabera that I had I tended to have to change into when I was on the plane, but as I reorganized my bags to lighten my carry-on, I suspect I packed it into one of my suitcases. Oops! I’ll change at the airport in Toronto once I collect my luggage. I do have a sleeveless vest that I packed in my knapsack so even if my luggage is lost I’ll have SOME protection from the elements.
What else is going on? I have a lot in my mind right now, and am trying to organize my thoughts. When I spoke with the young man from Chabad in Havana he told me they desperately need any Judaica, especially books, and that they do not even have a Torah. I am not sure what I can do about that but I know I am going to look into it and see what I can do to make that right. We will see.
One week from tomorrow will be a special day for me, and I am looking forward to it. I am not talking about it now, but hopefully after Thursday next I’ll be able to say something. I honestly am not sure what I am getting into with it, but it is all about helping people and charities. How can that be bad, right?
Okay, it’s 11:00am and I’m going to shut the phone and see if I can get that chicken wrap. Have a great day folks!
I got back to my apartment at 2:00am and decided it was better to start packing before I went to sleep, rather than rushing it and trying to do everything in the morning. It was not at all surprising that although I came down with two suitcases that weighed 60 lbs. each and two carry-ons that weighed 25 lbs. each my two suitcases (which included my larger and heavier carry-on) weighed less than 60 lbs. combined, and my knapsack that I am carrying on weighs probably 20 lbs. From the beginning it was my intention to leave a ton of stuff (much of which I collected from my generous friends in Canada) with my buddy in Havana who is a Mason; some of it was for him and his family, most of it will be distributed by his lodge. It feels incredible to be able to help the poor Cuban people who need it; it feels wonderful to be traveling home with a much lighter load than I came with.
Yesterday was another good day, both with regards to walking and with food intake. Late in the evening I was hungry and thought about enjoying a protein bar, but instead I opted to go to sleep with a slightly empty stomach. According to my phone (which I know is not as accurate at my fitness watch) I walked nearly 18,000 steps and climbed sixteen flights. There is nothing wrong with that!
As I write this journal entry I am sitting in the airport in Havana. After passing through all of the checkpoints I purchased a bottle of booze at Duty Free, as well as some crackers and wafers. I gave my buddy the last of my US Dollars this morning, after putting aside enough to get to the airport and $5 extra for a cheese sandwich (which I am slowly savouring as I write). I was hoping that my Canadian credit card would work at Duty Free, but it did not, and I was relieved to have Canadian Dollars. The exchange rate is lousy, but the bottle that I purchased is not available in Canada, and as long as the US does not confiscate it from me, I should not have a problem. I have an hour and a bit before my flight boards, and while I will not be connecting to the Internet (which means it will not publish until I land in Houston), I am happy to have a relaxing time to sit and put down some thoughts.
I love helping the Cuban people, and am happy to have the ability to do so. What sometimes jades me is how blatantly the people in the street size you up and try to separate tourists from their money. Last night as I was walking home a lady (in the loosest sense of the word) accosted me in a vain attempt to get me into bed (and for her to get into my wallet). This was not the first time that has happened to me, and I was not in the mood to even stop walking. As I kept telling her no, she asked why. I eventually told her that she was not my type. She asked what was my type, because she has a friend. I told her that I only like boys. This shocked and offended her… but after a snide comment it also got her to leave me alone. (For those who are wondering, it was as blatant a lie as I have ever told, as I clearly am quite straight!)
This morning a guy saw me walking with a couple of bags that I was taking for my buddy. He said ‘Is that for me?’ I told him that it was not. He then started playing upset that I help others and not him, and that he says hello to me every time I pass by ‘his corner.’ I looked at him straight and told him that am happy to say hello to everyone, but with 400 people saying hello to me in Old Havana every day, I do not have the wherewithal nor the desire to help every single one. I say hello because it is the nice thing to do, but if he is doing it solely to get something from me then he should not say hello to me anymore. He got pissed off… but he pissed off.
I may be exaggerating with the number 400, but not by much. There seems to be an entire brigade of people trying to get you a taxi, sell you cigars, give you a tour in a classic car (or walking), or sex with their sister mother daughter aunt or grandmother. Every single person wants to change your dollars, or wants you to help the me to buy medicines or bread for their children or grandmother. Everyone has a sob story, and every one of them is well trained in sizing up tourists and figuring out an angle. While I joke about it from time to time, it really does get boring in a hurry. When I give something to someone in the street I do not know where it will end up. When I give it to the Freemasons I know that it will be distributed to people who really need it, and not to people whose job it is to con tourists.
That is not to say that I do not give money to some people in the street. Sunday evening I was sitting at a café when a man walked by wearing a kippa and wearing a Star of David. I stopped him and spoke with him, and gave him some money. Saturday evening I was waiting for a friend outside a restaurant when a man approached me on crutches; he had one leg, and his one foot was obviously in trouble. I gave him some money (and spent time talking with him), but what he wanted I could not give him. He wanted hard currency… dollars and Euros. He said he needs it to buy his medicine. Whether or not that is true, I did not have sufficient money in my pocket… and when he told me I should go back to my apartment to get it for him, I told him that I could not. I feel terrible for him and for all of the Cuban people, but there is only so much I can do. If I gave every person in the streets that needed money for (fill in the blank) only one dollar, I would not have money to eat… let alone take care of my friends who also have their sad stories.
I feel terrible that I get jaded, but the incessant onslaught of people obviously trying to scam me gets old fast. I feel terrible that I cannot help everyone… but I do not have that kind of money. I try to find a balance between not making eye contact with all of them and not letting my heart harden to their plight. I am reminded of my visit to Mumbai, how sad it was seeing the dichotomy between the opulence of the palatial hotel I would spend my evenings in and the modern and secure office complex in which I spent my days, and the throngs of people living in lean-to hovels along the road who had nothing. It was hard to see that. It’s hard to see the plight of the Cuban people as well… but while none of them live well, I know that none of them are going to starve to death, and they all have somewhere to live. Knowing that the tourist areas are well-manned by these hawkers and such, I have to decide each time I come whether my love for the city is enough to keep me renting the cheap apartment off the beaten path, or if I am better off at a hotel. So far the apartment and the real Havana keeps winning out.
My plane leaves in an hour, and I am going to make my way upstairs to my gate. I was disappointed to learn that I will need to collect my luggage in Houston, but that’s life in the fast lane. I only wish I did not have the overnight layover. I miss my dog and I miss my bed. The hotel bed tonight will be much more luxuriant than the one I have been sleeping in this trip, but Princess Sophie will not be in it. I look forward to seeing her tomorrow afternoon when I finally do get home.
Have a great day folks!
