Catwalker

I neglected to mention..... Homemade Peanut Brittle...... mmmmm 美味しいですよ。 じゃまた。

Ahhh! It's Christmas time again, the ultimate enemy of the dieter. It will be interesting to see how my weight fares this year.
Christmas Cookies........
Sausage Rolls............
Shortbread...............
Home Made After Eights...
Chocolate................
Nuts & Bolts.............
Mince Meat Tarts.........
Hard Sauce...............
Chips....................
Coke.....................
Gingerbread..............
Christmas Cake...........
Fruit Bread..............
Fruit Cake...............
Egg Nog..................
Peanut Butter Cheesecake.
Can't Ya just feel your Teeth rot? - Can't you feel your stomach bloat? - Lying on the couch like a beached wale?? Considering I can no longer eat at least half of the goodies my family makes, I should do fairly well, however, ever fretting about me getting (or not getting) goodies.... My mother has decided to make some goodies I can eat this year without fear of making my innards implode. One of these is divinity fudge..... I tried some for the first time a couple of days ago.... It didn't even get chewed ONCE and I had an instantaneous sugar high! This does not bode well... Must... Force.... Will.... Power...... ;-D じゃまた。 健

I just had a medical test done today (I won't say the type, I am sure you don't want to spew or hurl all over you monitors ;-)) Man wouldn't it be nice to lie on a Star Trek style medical exam table and not have to have tubes stuck in rude parts of your body, followed by noxious liquids in order to diagnose a problem?? Whither thou, Dr. Leonard McCoy?? 

また　ね。

Well, just like we thought, snow of this quantity means work is shut down, which is a good thing considering how hideous the drivers are here when the snow falls! However, it means a day or two of rest, and paper writing. I can also continue on writing stories, emailing friends (mostly in Japanese) studying Japanese, and just breathing. If you are out in this stuff, be cautious, get home safe, and if you have a fireplace or wood stove, light it up and stay indoors. またね

It's total mayhem on the roads. We have experienced our first snowfall of the season, and as usual, BC drivers (particularly in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island) figure they are driving on normal, dry asphalt with nobody else on the roads. I love the snow though! We stay at home and enjoy the rest.とても良いですよね。 私は雪が大好きです! またね

In addition to going down another waist size (when I started to lose weight my waist size was 54 inches) I am now showing muscle definition in my arms and legs again. Instead of droopy fat, there is nice tight tone showing up again. (I used to be referred to as the human forklift once upon a time and had the muscle tone - and now have, the arthritis - to show for it.) またね

Wow あっ! Has it been that long since I last posted? July 26th? Yikes! Time for a quick update: Well, my weight continues to drop, at the moment I am hovering between 290 and 292 pounds, it is taking me a tad longer to lose the excess lard but that's OK, if it comes off too quickly, it can come back on pretty darn fast too. I have gone down a waist size, I am now wearing a 48 instead of a 50 inch waist. Things are looking up, I feel much better. Japanese language is progressing somewhat, again, not as quickly as I would like but the two third year history courses I am taking right now are occupying a little more time than I would have liked. 日本語を勉強しながら、仕事をするのはとても 大変ですよね。 またね

Well, I just get one fixed, and now the other pedal support snaps! Only this time, I can't just bolt the pedal in, even though it's o.k. the threads in the crank are badly stripped, so I have to see if there is enough meat in the crank in order to tap a threaded hole for the next size up standard bolt...... Fooey. またね

So how long will the media chew on this one: bigoted Tirade Not long, if at all, you can bet your booties. They are still chewing on Gibson for saying something while smashed out of his head. But that is because he is Mel Gibson, conservative who dared make a movie about Christ which wasn't made according to the left leaning Hollywood elite view, this one will vanish quickly, just watch. The mainstream media are such hypocrites.

I had one of those slap myself in the forehead moments earlier today. I have been looking for replacement parts for my exercise bike for a couple of weeks now, with no luck. The company that made it went buh - bye a few years ago. And I was under the impression that the pedals (the broken bit) were custom made - since the local bike shop didn't recognize the design (oddly, and poorly designed, I might add) - but today I took a wrench and vice-grips to the broken pedal - lo and behold, it comes apart, the pedal part is a standard bike pedal, and NOT broken, there is an intermediate adapter thingy between the pedal and the bike, still no joy, that appears custom machined. But wait, I decided to try and thread the pedal right onto the bike, the way it would be on any ordinary bike. A great big slap myself in the forehead moment, it bolts right in place! No cardio attachment to the pedals, but I don't use it anyway. I had my first stationary bike ride in several days tonight, it felt good. じゃまた。

Let's hope that the police really do have their man this time around: JonBenet If this is the resolution to this case , and I hope it is, the MSM and the smaller creeps (you know the ones, the "newspapers" you see at the grocery store check out stands, with all the stories about aliens, Elvis sightings, etc) Owe the Ramseys a VERY BIG APOLOGY. They've been blaming the family itself for years. じゃまた。

So much happening in the world, and all this with fanatics wanting to blow up innocent travelers crossing the Atlantic in Airplanes. If I had the time when going to Japan next year, I'd go by freighter, I hate airplanes! 飛行機にのるのが大嫌いですよ! But, since I don't have the time (unless I somehow, mysteriously wind up with 42 mil this w/e - yeah, right - like that's gonna happen ;-() I have to fly to Japan next year. Air travel sux. All these new rules, no liquids (I can live with that, as long as I can buy bottled water on board) maybe not bring all my electronics as carry - on, yeah, and leave them to the mercy of the 800 pound gorillas slinging the luggage around? Yuck. Yup, pretty soon we will have to fly starkers.... mmmm no thanks, I just lost my appetite. ;-) Speaking of which, guess I've been a little too vigorous on the exercise bike, I sheared one of the pedals off a few days ago, do you realise how difficult it is to get replacement parts for these? Standard bike parts don't fit, and the bolts on the pedals have "extra" bits for attachments. Blargh. A week so far without my bike. Not good. じゃまた。

It's the real McCoy this time, back to work tomorrow for the year, last back to work was just a trial run. The countdown to the end of next June begins. Tick, tock, tick, tock. Gotta get studying. :-) またね。

So we had to banish the furry creature from next door, from returning to our deck. Sad but true, the little beggar is cute, but demanding, it would sit in front of the screen yowling for attention (and to get let in, which wasn't going to happen) it also had a tendency for dangerous actions such as sitting right on the edge of the balcony eyeing up the decorative cedar. (Keep in mind we are three floors up). It had already used up one of it's nine lives in a fall to the bushes below (no injuries except a tender paw, thankfully). So the space under the divider between the two decks is now sealed with plywood. Too bad. またね。

I don't normally comment on this sort of thing (non anonymously, anyways) But, today I will: So it looks like Mel Gibson did the DUI thing after all; And appologised for it afterwards, at least there was an apology. Which is more than one can say for a large number of the Hollywood/Washington/Ottawa prima donnas who do the drunken/drugged rampage thing, then try to blame someone else. Such as their parents, siblings, etc. Anyone but themselves. Now, let's hope he will seek treatment, maybe this is what will start the process. *** Update *** I'm glad he's now appologised for the grotesque comments he made while smashed, now will the press please move on? It took a lot of moxie to admit he was wrong, but the press will hang onto this like super glue on a pair of dentures. The MSM could learn a thing or two (or three) and admit when they are wrong AND appologise for it, as he did. He didn't blame anyone other than himself. He didn't blame mom, dad or the Parish priest. Time for others to get the example and follow suit. Each of us at one time or another has said some pretty damn dumb, or even pretty damn mean things, many of us will blame others, then carry on with life. We rarely admit to being wrong. The MSM barely even hiccups when another Hollywood star or talk show host, or MSM darling (like, say, oh Andy Rooney, maybe??) put down Christians in the same (or worse) manner. (I distinctly recall Rooney referring to Gibson as a "Pervert" - no one screamed about that totally ignorant comment.) Why the double standard? またね。

O.K. I have reached a milestone in my weight loss, 300 pounds - which means I have now lost 50 pounds. The next milestone is 280. Each week, the goal of being 210 again gets closer. またね

I don't know about you, but I spell it B-A-C-K T-O W-O-R-K. Zzzzzzzzz

So it's back to work tomorrow. But wait, isn't that early? Yes, it is I am going back to work for three days this week, then off next week instead. My co - worker wants to spend a couple of days off this week, thus the switch in schedule. Work is kind of quiet at this time of year, I can get lots done... And the walk to and from work is a nice bit of extra exercise. じゃ　また

Once this excess poundage is off.... It is most definitely staying off, I don't think I have run across anything in my life which is tougher.... Well, seeing a close friend die, but that's different. It didn't take an awful lot of effort to put it on, but I tell you; a diet, exercise, all for a few pounds of loss per month.... especially when I could put on a dozen pounds in that same span with little or no effort.... Blah. 大変ですね。 じゃまた。

The heat that is, according to my monitoring tool, the Nanaimo Airport (about 35 minutes drive north of us) is sitting at 31 Degrees (Celsius). Ick, 私はとても熱い天気が大嫌いです! It's a good thing there's a beach or two real close by! じゃまた。

Well, it's here at last, I know I don't earn any cash while laid off, but man, a month free to breathe and catch up on sleep, visiting and more Japanese studies. And also to watch this visitor from Next door:

あっ! 猫がいますね。

Technically there aren't supposed to be any of these creatures in the building, but hey, as long as it doesn't come INTO our apartment, we don't mind. (we have friends and reletives so alergic to animal dander, that they wouldn't be able to come and visit us if there were ANY cat hair in our place)

Back to the layoff, time to sit back and think. Lots I want to do, and lots I want to NOT do. Still plodding along with Japanese. まだ日本語 を勉強しますが、言葉の勉強するのが大変ですよ。 今私は日本語を話すのがとても上手です。 Still losing weight, I haven't lost much more, but 2.5 pounds is still a drop. I hope to be below 300 by the end of July. ではまた。

Jeff Foxworthy made this comment (among others) about Rednecks: Ya know what kinda things Rednecks like? Fishin Lures, beer cans, U.F.O.s Shiny stuff, which explains why most of the people who see U.F.O.s are using fishing lures and holding beer cans. :-D Computer Geeks are similar; you know what kind of things computer geeks like? Digital cameras, Coke Cans, mp3 players, U.F.O.s Shiny stuff, which explains why a lot of people who see U.F.O.s are using cheap digital cameras which make poor photos of said U.F.O.s and listening to expensive MP3 Players with blinking lights on them. ;-D I broke down a couple of days ago and bought the MP3 player, (not the most expensive model, I'm not that much of a gadget freak ;-)) I have the cheap digital camera, I sometimes have been seen with a coke can (that is rare these days, I have to be real thirsty before I drink pop now - too much sugar, and I need to lose weight badly) but have yet to see a U.F.O. ;-D Here is a snap: 

This thing is great, supports open formats (Ogg, Flac) and I can access it with my Linux box (I despise M$ Windows products) - But it can be fussy - once you have copied the files over that you want, make sure you unmount the drive, and wait for it to finish... If you don't wait for Linux to properly unmount the unit, you could wind up with corrupt or partially corrupt files, and they will skip, or hiccup. Worse is apparently the probability of causing file system corruption, in which case you have to re - format the X5's hard drive.

So why did I use an old photo of myself and not a newer one? Simple: vanity. The reality: Between June of 1992, when that picture was taken, and May of 2004, I ballooned to 350 pounds (about 158.75 Kilograms!) Although I am currently working at getting back to my ideal weight of 210 pounds, (about 95.25 Kilograms) - BMI says I should be about 195 pounds, but my bone structure is such that 210 is better - I now weigh in at about 310 pounds - a drop of 40 pounds (about 18 Kilograms). Only 100 (about 45.35 Kilograms) to go...... So how did I get from this (picture taken in May of 1992):

 

 

 

 

 

To this (Picture taken in May of 2004 - almost 12 years to the day after):[[ Image missing - replace]]

 

Heart attack fodder, scale tipping weight of 350 Pounds (158.75 Kilograms) with a 54 inch waist size???? (** I haven't had a heart attack -- Yet -- thankfully, and I am working at getting to a healthier weight so that it doesn't happen, in addition, our diet has changed, we eat a lot of Japanese style meals - much healthier) So the how: Well, when I left full - time ministry, I got a job, a car, and more computer and electronics gadgetry. Every work night, on my way home, I would grab about $20.00 worth of junk food, and sit in front of my computers and electronic gadgets, eating, and not doing much physical exercise at all (moving the jaw & swallowing do not count). Now I am paying for the junk food diet and the subsequent sit and not move jobs. Do yourself a very large favour: Skip the junk food, eat yer veggies, and try Sushi, (Trust me sushi is good for you and tastes great - we eat other foods than Sushi of course, that is just one example). And at the very least, take a quickly paced 10 to 15 minute walk every day, the fresh air will do you wonders.... and the exercise is great for you and your heart. Oh, and walk quickly (not slowly) past the ice cream parlours and fast food places on your walks. 日本の料理がとても美味しいですよ。 寿司やすき焼きが食べてみてください。 じゃ、また。

I don't know how many of you have studied a foreign language, but for me, it was an interesting experience to watch a short video with Japanese being spoken in it, and I could understand 90% of what was being said, now everything was relatively simple (今、私はとても簡単な日本語で話しますけど) but still it was a rush being able to understand it. My teacher has the patience of Job and has actually agreed to help me continue with further studies (we don't have a third year where I am going to school, so I am going to continue, to be become more able to comprehend - and she is helping me, it's cool). I guess I couldn't have been that bad a student. ;-) じゃ、また。

Anyone familiar with the Can-8 language lab software? I have used it fairly extensively but am not familiar with the traffic levels it generates. I need to know this in order to assess some possible network issues if we use it.

Man will I be glad when floppies are nothing more than a bad memory! Has anyone noticed how there seem to be more boxes with bad disks in them? I had a critical one go bad today, fortunately I had a replacement. ;-) 今日はもっと涼しい天気でした。 私はうれしいでしたよ。涼しい天気が好きです。 だれかCowon I audio X5がありますか。どうですか。 じゃ、また。

Ah, rain, beautiful rain! Some relief from the onrushing summer heat which is fast approaching like an express freight train. Sure it had only reached 28 degrees Celsius, but I consider 25 to be too hot. The temporary reprieve yesterday and today is great. But I am hoping it clears up overnight, at least no rain in the morning, since I have been walking to work in the mornings lately. Hoping to lose at minimum 70 more pounds by next July 1st. I can't picture being in Tokyo next summer with all this extra weight. (Did I mention my plans for a stay in Tokyo next summer? No? Well now you know - we plan on a trip to Japan next summer to visit friends - and maybe for me to take an advanced Japanese language course at ICU). ビクトリア日は楽しいを!

Anyone read the Davinci Code? Who believes the so called "History" of the book? Anyone actually look into the historical claims to see how accurate they are? Check this blog out: Davinci To learn more. I don't know who this is, but whoever is doing what most don't; check the background information out to see just how Historically accurate it is. Warm day again today, supposed to get cool, possibly wet over the week end. 日曜日は雨が降るでしょう。 では、また。

いい天気ですね。 It's a nice day today, thankfully about 6 degrees cooler. I have been continuing to plug away at my Japanese studies, thankfully, 私の日本語の先生はいい先生ですよ。先生はたくさん 隠忍がありますよ。 Last night I went over my Kanji flash cards, I have a ways to go yet to learn what I need to (I currently understand about 300 kanji, but there are about 1900+ in order to be able to read an advanced book or a newspaper.) And I occasionally yak with friends on Skype (Any native Japanese speakers interested in a little simplified conversation? :-) Im me on my Yahoo im account shown in my profile.) L8r

Have you ever had that feeling like you are playing a part in the original Twilight Zone? I have that feeling today. While my immediate superior/ co-worker is away, I am working half days in order to be at work at least a part of each of Monday to Friday. Being home at 12:20 on a Tuesday afternoon is a bizarre feeling. I keep expecting the phone to ring with the voice on the other end saying, "And just where are you?" Add to that the phone hardly rang in the office at all today, and almost no email other than spam and mailing list stuff, and it really begins to feel strange. On the plus side, there are no classes right now (I work in a College, and my office is off of a computer lab) so I can play my Japanese language CD's while I toil away. 日本語が上手になりたいですが、 私はもっと日本語で考えなくちゃ いけません。 Right now, it is about 26 degrees Celsius, thank goodness for airconditioning! Summer is here.....

Good question, Catwalker is a character I voiced in a stage production we did (Once upon a time) called "The John Doe Show". This show was performed primarily for Christian Youth, thought others were certainly welcome. And since Bullwinkle (My common nickname - because I sound like a bull moose when I blow my nose) was already taken, I chose Catwalker. (Catwalker was heard, but never seen, he was usually hanging in a make - shift hammock under the catwalk of the theatre), walker, as he was known, was a heckler, usually berating the　other performers, swiping food and giving gratuitous belches during the show. And he had one of the most noxious voices I think I have ever produced. But I think because of my rather warped sense of humour, and Walker's disfunctionality he has a particular softspot among my characters. I also plan on chronicling my experiences in learning the Japanese language. Occasional photos may make it here as well. 日本語を習うのがとても難しいですが、楽しいですよ。 Until my next post... では、また。