Biggest Loser Week 5--Back in the 170s (Barely)

This is week #5 of the Biggest Loser competition at work. Ten of us are competing to lose the most weight for a 1st prize of $140, 2nd prize of $40, and 3rd prize of $20. My photoshopped results are above. My total weight loss since my first weigh-in on September 21 (with a starting weight of 189 lbs.) is 9.5 pounds. At least I'm back in the 170s!

I was in Florida last week, so I did not get to weigh in last Wednesday. I have to say that I am disappointed with my results. Though I was on vacation, I've been running a lot. I did 20 miles on Sunday.  After running 5 miles at the gym yesterday, I weighed myself on their scale and it said 173!  I hope that scale is more accurate, but the work scale is official.

Another Cholesterol Update

They do free heart health screening where I work, so I had my cholesterol checked this morning after a 12-hour fast.  Previously, I had written about the results of my choesterol when I had to have a physical to get insurance.  That test showed a dramatic increase in my HDL level (the good choesterol).  It said the level had gone from a sickly 29 to a healthy 52.  I had my doubts about how accurate that could be.  My HDLs have never been near that level.

I was right. While today's results showed an improvement from my test in March, the insurance exam in June was not to be believed.  According to what I believe to be the more reliable test, my HDL level is 40, which is the low end of the scale for healthy.  Above 40 is desirable, but 60 is even better.

My total cholesterol is 191, down from 204.  Under 200 is desirable. My LDL level (bad cholesterol) went from 145 in March to 137 today.  Ideally, it should be under 100.  My triglyceride levels went down from 146 to 67, which the nurse said was amazing.  Idealy, it should be under 150.  My ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, which should be less than 5, was 4.7. My glucose level was down from 105 to 99. 

Overall, all the salmom, oatmeal, and exercise does seem to be getting me somewhere, just a bit slower progress than I had hoped. 

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #307

I have to say something Mervin... that 
handbag looks just like our little Irving.

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #307.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too

My Top 10 Broadway Shows of All Time

These are my favorite Broadway shows I've seen in my life.  I did not see them all on Broadway.  Some of them were on the road versions of the shows.  If not the Broadway version, I will denote where I saw the show.

Clay Aiken in Spamalot

10.  Spamalot

9.  Dreamgirls (Baltimore)

8. Les Miserables (Washington DC and London) (Have seen it 5 times.)

7. Billy Elliot

6. Company

5. Jesus Christ Superstar (Washington DC)

4. Sunset Boulevard (Atlanta)

3. Evita (Philadelphia)

2. Sweeney Todd (Sadly, without Patti, but the understudy was great)

1. Next to Normal (Saw it 3 times--twice with Alice Ripley)

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

I arrived back home in Washington, DC today after a week in Florida.  We're waiting to hear if we get a condo we want to buy in SW DC.  Cross your fingers.

Shane's grandmother got us saying the headlined catchphrase of "Home again, home again, jigity jig."  She apparently said it often. I didn't know what it was from until I Googled it recently.  I thought it sound like something that was fairly politically incorrect.  It is a nursery rhyme.

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.

Florida Day 7--Dinner View

We are eating at the Captain's Table on Charlotte Harbor. Nice view, huh?

More shots below.

Florida Day 6--Here Comes the Rain Again

A beach daisy in the dunes.

Today, the plan was to take a boat to an island off the coast to have lunch and walk the beach full of shells.  The weather had different ideas.  My sister, mother-in-law, and I decided rather than risk a Gilligan's Island scenario, we would just drive down to Boca Grand, a ritzy, up-scale beach community often visited by the Bush's and that crowd.  We had a great lunch at the South Beach restaurant and then headed down to the light house at the end of the island.

On the beach by the Boca Light House just before another shower began.

My sis, Kathleen, and my mom-in-law, Sharon, at the Boca Light House.

Red Tide caused the beach to be littered with lots of dead fish.

Florida Day 5--Beautiful Beach Day

The weather was hot and humid, but clear today.  Our first day without any rain.  We had a lazy morning.  I did go for a run, but we didn't get going till around noon.

We went to the beach at Englewood.  The weather was perfect at the beach and the water was the perfect temperature for swimming.

We came back to Punta Gorda and got ready and went out to eat at the River City Grill.  In the fall, they often have a two-for-one entree special, which they are having now.  We went with Shane and his mom on Sunday and we were back again tonight.  We were surprised when we got the check and were charged full price.  Evidently, if you don't ask for the deal, they don't give it to you.  We asked and got it.

Florida Day 4--Dramatic Skies on Sanibel

Shane had to fly home this morning, but after we dropped him off at the airport, my sister, Kathleen, and I drove to Sanibel and Captiva. We had lunch at the Mucky Duck on Captiva Island (we both had the seafood platter) and then went to the beach on Sanibel Island.  The weather was unstable.  We had heavy showers in the morning, but it cleared up after lunch.  There were dark clouds off shore most of the afternoon.  There were also a passing shower or two. The surf was wild too.  The usual flat Gulf was very wavy.  The water temperature was perfect for some body surfing.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #306

I see you are all set for the Hee-Haw marathon.

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #306.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too

Florida Day 3--Punta Gorda Sunset

The weather has taken a turn for the better. We had a beautful day.  This is the sunset view out the back of our house.

Florida Day 2--We See the Sun Again Briefly

Bridge to Punta Gorda. 

Though it was quite rainy most of Saturday after we arrived in Florida, it was clear, but cloudy on today.  I went for a run early--11 miles.  I ran across the bridge above.

When I got back, we got ready to head south to Naples for the beach.  Shane studied the weather and thought it would be clearer longer south.  Naples is about 60 miles south of Punta Gorda.

Shane was right.  Though it was mostly cloudy, there were periods of sunshine and we ended up with about 3 hours of beach time before it started to shower.  We got to swim a little and walk along the beach.  As we drove north, the rain came down like crazy.  We saw three wrecks before we got back.

Kathleen and Shane at the beach in Naples, FL.  Notice the blue sky!

A pelican glides along the water. The water wasn't actually brown.

I'm tired after running 11 miles.

Back In the Sunshine State?

Shane, my sister Kathleen, and I flew down to our second home in Florida this morning.  We left from sunny and clear Baltimore and landed in cloudy Fort Myers.  It has been raining all afternoon.  While the forecast in the DC area was for a beautiful weekend, the forecast for Florida... it's not so great.  Shane has to go back home on Tuesday, but Kathleen and I have a week in the "Sunshine State."  We plan to make the best of it!

Music to Run to--The Beloved's "I Love You More"

This is an awesome song to run to.  Blast it and race away! WOOO!

Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs Dead at 56

I am posting this from my Macbook.  I also have an iPhone, iPad, and several iPods. Steve Jobs has had a huge impact on our lives and made a lot of money off of me personally.  Amazingly, although he was a billionaire, it couldn't buy him his health.  At least he lived his life and made the most of it.

The Biggest Loser Week #3 Results

This is week #3 of the Biggest Loser competition at work. Ten of us are competing to lose the most weight for a 1st prize of $140, 2nd prize of $40, and 3rd prize of $20. My photoshopped results are above.  I am currently in first place (barely) with a total of about 3.44 percent weight loss. 

I was a little disappointed with only losing 2 pounds this week considering how much I ran this week. I ran 8 miles on the treadmill at the gym last Thursday, 7 miles outside on Friday, 18 miles on Sunday (from my house to Montgomery County, MD, and back) and 5 miles on the treadmill on Tuesday.  That is 38 miles in less than a week.  I also have been trying to limit my intake and avoiding most sweets. 2 pounds? That sucks. After losing 4.5 pounds last week, it was a bit of a disappointment. I want to be in the 170s again. 

I'm on vacation next week, so losing weight may be a challenge. I like to go out to eat on vacation. I'm going to need to keep up the running while down in Florida.

Though Not the 5, I'm Buying the iPhone 4S

My current iPhone 3 will be 3 years old this month.  It is slow, doesn't hold a charge, and the case is cracked.  I think it is about time for me to upgrade.  

Apple had its big unveil today for what everyone thought would be the iPhone 5, but it turned out only to be the iPhone 4S.  Everyone in Twitterland was beside themselves with disappointment.  Obviously, Apple is waiting to distribute its iPhone 5 (the one with the app that turns water into wine) 10 minutes after I buy the iPhone 4S.  

The new version of the iPhone looks pretty great compared to my iPhone 3.  It will be like going from radio to HDTV.  Though the phone looks pretty much the same, the innards magically make miracles happen. The battery lasts longer, the apps work faster, and the camera is much better.  It will have a voice-recognition feature that allows you to ask your phone questions. Your phone can recommend a good restaurant or remind you to pick up your Aunt Gert at the airport. Amazing.  I can't wait to get one. 

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #305

Run for your life!  The giant mouse is gassy!

Run for your life!  The giant mouse is horny!

Run for your life!  The giant mouse just ate Human Resources!

These are my ideas for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #305.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.  

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #304

Don't let those TSA agents give you any guff.

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #304.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.  

Training Update for the Philadelphia Marathon

I am still on track (no pun intended) for my training of the Philadelphia Marathon in November. Today, I ran 18 miles in just over 3 hours.  I went from my house near Eastern Market on Capitol Hill across the National Mall to the Potomac River to the Georgetown waterfront and then up the Capitol Crescent Trail to the Montgomery County, MD, line.  It was about 9 miles one way.  I ran it up and back.

Today's weather was very cool (high 40s and low 50s).  This was a much better run for me than last week.  Last Sunday was warm and humid.  I ran about 3 miles less than today, but much slower than today's time.  I actually walked a good bit of the way back last week.  I felt so much better today.  I hardly walked at all today.  It made me feel much more confident that I'll be ready for the marathon the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Another thing that made the run go better was that I actually ran with my blue sponge.  I love that sponge.  We had some rain showers this morning, and my sponge came in handy to wipe the water off my glasses.  It also helps keep the sweat out of my eyes.  I highly recommend running with a sponge.