Joshua

Programming

• Finish the "music database" project since it was intended as a gift
• Finish the lingo rpoject since it was intended as a gift
• Finish the cryptogram project since it was intended as a gift
• Finish the sudoku project since it was intended as a gift
• Work on the base-n counting gap project
• Work on a media library project using image hierachy
• Work on "prime polygon" project
• Work on word ladder
• Work on text comparison and analysis
• Work on Luminations solver

Work

• Dirty data
• FW validation tool
• ETL monitor

Personal

• Register Border Rewards Card
• Go through email and update website
• Work on programming book
• GC for refinishing basement
• Get a haircut
• Pictures from Marcie/Kylie/Paula/Kathy
• Ask Marcie about Alyssa baby picture blown up for Mom
• M = taxes, HW, DR, reunion

Bills

• Texas Roadhouse
• Sears
• BGE
• NebDoctor
• Comcast
• Taxes

House

• GC for refinishing basement
• Oil changes for both cars

I pretty much sat in front of the computer all weekend.  On Friday and Sunday it was in preparation for my freelance job.  On Saturday, it was some fun code to play a game on FaceBook.  Saturday, Jean wasn't feeling very well so we all stayed in much to the girls chargrin.  On Sunday the girls went to the mall while I stayed home and worked.  They were very excited about the new princess shirts Jean bought them.

 

As for the diet, I lost 3.5 pounds in week 6 for a total of 22.5 overall.  That's an average of 3.75 a week even with no weight loss at all in week 5.  I am going to have more blood work done tomorrow with a follow up at the doctor's on Friday.  My blood pressure is perfect and I am hoping my numbers show I can stop taking one or both prescription medicines.  It is still possible for me to have made my weight loss goal before coming home to Maine if I average 3.56 lb/week from now until then.

 

This weekend sucked.  It rained all weekend, Alyssa has the sniffles and I stared at the computer for over 15 hours.  Yep, that was about it.  I am looking to freelance again (hence the computer face time) and I finally found something promising.  I am now working it out with my full-time job to get it authorized.

I lost a grand total of 0 pounds in week 5.  Yep, that's right - nada, zilch - the big goose egg.  I spent almost all of my free time looking for freelance jobs and not exercising so somewhat understandable but still disappointing.  I also realized that I need more fiber in my diet *yuck*.

I had a 4 day weekend and it was nice - very nice.  Saturday was yucky so our plan to go to a Farm Fall Festival was changed.  Jean took the girls to the library instead and I bought a book.  On Sunday after I finished my book and Alyssa had a nap, we went to the mall with a play area for the girls.  Yesterday, we went to buy a couple of pumpkins for the girls and Jean helped them carve them.  It wasn't a very exciting weekend but it was nice to relax.  Alyssa has continued on her "big kid now" kick and sleeps in her own bed through the night though she still wakes up a couple of times.

I am probably going to resume freelancing for the next 3 to 4 months.  I would like to make Xmas extra special for the girls this year.

I really didn't exercise much to speak of last week and yet I still lost 6 pounds for a total of 19 so far.  I will need to switch to another set of clothes and belt soon.  See you again next week.

We bought a new minivan this weekend.  It was a bit of spontaneous decision though we knew we would likely buy one before the end of the year.  I need to take it back to the dealer tonight to have the DVD/entertainment system installed.  Jean and I watched Miss March (raunchy adolecent humor).  After we bough the minivan on Saturday, we went to the corn maze/pumpkin patch.  The girls both had a blast.  On Sunday, I watched the Patriots beat the Ravens and Jean took the girls to the library and then to the park.  I went for a 5 mile walk - my only exercise for the week.  I updated tons of photos to the website and then we watched the Amazing Race and I called it a night.

 

I only lost 3 pounds in the third week of my diet.  Total weight loss over the 3 weeks - 13 pounds.  I am feeling good so I will probably start adding push/sit ups to the mix.  I continue to have dreams about eating things that I am not supposed to - it is amazing how real those dreams can be.  I don't go to have my blood work done until the end of the month so I have a few more weeks to improve.  If I maintain an average of 3.45 lb / week from now until we go up to Maine, I will have met my weight loss goal and can actually have a treat or two.

About the only thing to note is the dramatic switch in Alyssa from being very clingy to Jean and I to being miss independent.  "Big kid now" has become her new catch phrase and she is doing more and more on her own.  She sleeps most of the night in her own bed and refused to let Jean ride one of the rides with her.  She is getting better with her speech but we still may need to send her to speech therapy in 6 months or so if her ability to pronounce doesn't get better (my completely lay assessment).

The weekend was fairly uneventful.  I came home from Friday exhausted and took a nap.  It rained most of the day on Saturday so we didn't do much other than go to Dave and Buster's and let the girls play games for an hour or so.  On Sunday we went to the Marley Station Mall - I got a haircut and bought a new book.  Jean and the girls did what girls in a mall do.  Sunday night we were going to sit down to watch the Amazing Race but ended up recording it and watching a movie instead.  Pretty blah weekend.

I lost 5 pounds in the first week of my diet.  There was not much exercise to be had - I walked 3 miles last Monday night and then work became unreal.  I worked a crazy number of hours which probably helped in the weight loss.  Right now, meals consist of a foot long roasted chicken breast sandwhich from Subway (wheat bread, no cheese, no dressing, just a few veggies).  I will probably look into some Progresso Soups and some Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice frozen dinners to give some variety to the subs.  I know the diet is working because I had my first dream about screwing up and eating something I shouldn't.

 

The weekend was mostly about catching up on sleep.  This worked out well with Jean's new found freedom of a driver's license.  She took the girls out several times while I stayed home and rested.  On Saturday, we went over to my coworker Sal's house warming party.  There were other kids there and both Jasmine and Alyssa had a great time playing and interacting.  I was supposed to play poker Saturday night but the online purchase I made for Sal's housewarming resulted in my ATM card being compromised.  I ended up going back to Sal's instead but only stayed until 9PM - no fun watching other people drink and have a good time.

 

Sunday we spent some time at the mall.  I picked up a new book and some running sneakers.  I am not sure what Jean and the girls did - I was too wiped.

Finally there are some good shows coming back on TV. 

As I announced on FaceBook last night, today begins day 1 of my project to lose 50 pounds.  I weighed in this morning at 252.5 pounds which means I will still be over 200 pounds once I reach my goal.  That really isn't acceptable to me so my real objective is to reach 190 pounds but for all intents and purposes, 50 pounds is a significant enough of an accomplishment to make the extra 12.5 pounds a minor detail.

I will post weekly updates as to my current weight and how the project is going (what exercise I am doing and if I have changed my diet).  Since it has come up a number of times, I will explain the secret to my ability to lose weight any time I want.  I decrease my caloric intake and increase my caloric expenditure until I have lost the desired weight.  I have a very strong mind.  It is possible for me to eat the exact same meal every single day without variation for 6 months or longer to reach my objective.  I am completely uncomprimising.    That means no drinking beer with the guys or allowing myself even one "dining out with the family after church".  It is simpler to me that way than it is to figure out how many carbs are in something or how many points a hamburger is or how much extra exercise I need to do in order to be able to eat that apple pie.  I break it down to the most simple math possible - 3500 calories = 1 pound.  You burn 3500 more calories than your body takes in - you lose a pound.  You take in 3500 more calories than you burn - you gain a pound.

The only variation comes after weight has been lost and exercise becomes easier.  I start out with a significant drop in the number of calories I take but only increase my exercise by a neglible amount.  You might think it would be smarter to dramatically increase your exercise and start out by only cutting out sweets and snacks since my approach sounds very similar to crash dieting.  I would agree with you except that it takes a while to get into shape AND exercise increases your appetite.  As the amount of exercise is able to increase - so does the caloric intake so that the overall average weight loss remains relatively the same.

Any how - It has been more than 5 years since I have used this process so it will be interesting to see how age affects it :-)

So Jean is finally a licensed (and insured driver).  She went yesterday and passed on the first try - only 2 points deducted.  I asked to see her license and pretended it was extremely heavy.  "It's almost as if it weighs 50 lbs".  Jean looked at me funny and I had to remind her that I promised to lose weight when she finally got it.  The deal was made back in April when we were hoping she would get it before going to Las Vegas.  Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut.

Unfortunately, the girls both have colds (sudden change in weather) and Jean had to go to the doctor's today so I missed the last day and a half helping take care of the girls.  Nothing serious - just constantly runny noses.  The newest member of my team told me that his daughter had it too.  I asked how old she was and he said 16.  I told him mine were 1 1/2 and 3 1/2.  Without thinking, he said "You're getting a late start aren't you" to which I replied (with a smile on my face) "How old do you think I am anyway - and before you answer, younger than you think".  He realized his mistake and tried not to answer but I told him I wasn't at all offended and have always looked older than my age.  He responded "in your 40s".  I shook my head no and he couldn't believe it.  If that was his low guess I wonder how old he really thought I was.  I ended up showing him my driver's license to prove I don't turn 33 until November.  He asked where all my gray hair came from and I told him it all showed up in the last 5 years after getting married and starting a family.

Saturday - Jean and the girls went to the mall and left me home to rest.  It was nice, but not quite enough.

Sunday - we went to Church and in the afternoon Jean and the girls played outside with some neighbors.  I drove back in the office to work on something.  I noticed a guy walking in the opposite direction so I turned around to see if he needed a ride.  He was walking to Richmond, Virginia - that's 138 miles IF (big IF) you take the most direct route.  He was walking/hitchhiking so he needed to avoid highways.  I ended up taking him to a Metro station and gave him enough money to get to Union Station in DC and then enough for a Greyhound ticket to Richmond.  Within minutes of dropping him off - out of the blue and no warning - we got the most torrential down pour.  I then finished up in the office.

Monday - ah yes, a holiday.  We were planning on going to a park but ended up going to Dave and Buster's instead.  The girls had a great time.  Jasmine also played some games in the Bass Pro shop and then we spent some time in the kids area of the book store (Thomas The Train and whatnot).

That's about it - nothing accomplished.