365 Days and Counting

Day 5 Crazy, crazy day.   I was up early and as my usual, enjoyed coffee and some Ritz crackers.   At 6, I walked over to the Belle to sign Terry and I up for the morning poker high hand table.   I played a $20 in the Keno machine (more for tradition than anything else.   I came back to the Aquarius and bought a McMuffin from McDonald’s and sat down at the triple plays facing the river.   I finally hit quad Aces (8/5 Bonus) and was up a bit when Terry joined me.   We walked over to the Belle for the 8 AM start, and there were only six players when the high hand game started, but within 15 minutes it was a full table.   As is also tradition for me, I couldn’t catch a break.   I was card dead for most the hour and the hands I played, I lost again and again.   By the 10 AM tournament time, this table tends to die down as many of the players shift over to the tournament.   We could have stayed, but by that time, I had only $6 left of...

Day 4 Crazy up and down day.   Was up at 3:30 and goofed around the room with coffee and crackers until 6.   Went downstairs.   Found one of the crown games with a sapphire and Teddy on the edge.   Played down to $8 when the feature hit.   Missed the good ones but won the mini for $15.   Saw a game I saw on You Tube I don’t remember the name.   It’s the most unusual game.   You make ten spins and during those ten spins, any beetles that come on stick with a border.   On the tenth spin, all of them turn to wilds.   I decided to try $3 per spin.   After my tenth spin, I end up winning $68.   I went upstairs to play at the Vue bar and the 8/5 progressives again.   I caught a few quads and AGAIN caught a straight flush (all four were 9-K).   I was now back even for the trip.   I met Terry and Louise for breakfast at Magnolia’s which Terry used his points.   They went back to shower and pack and I went ...

Woke up around 4:30 for a solid 8 hours of sleep.   Goofed around until 5:30 and went downstairs and found one of the Crown feature machines had two bears in the first row ($178), so of course, I had to give it shot.   On my very first play, I got a bonus (one of those dragon machines) that the dragon feature came down 6 out of 8 of the free spins.   Most were very little but one gave me a $60 win.   I had put in $40 and told myself if I didn’t get the crown feature before going down to my $40 investment, I’d give up.   With $99 now, I was down to $63 when it hit.   No, I didn’t get either bear, which fell into blank spots; I did catch the mini for $15 and cashed out.   I walked down to the Grand as I wanted to keep those post cards coming in the mail, so I decided to try a hundy in the one 9/6 Jacks to quit at $50 or $150.   It was a long time but I finally caught a couple of quads and some boats and made the $150.   I then took $40 of...

I was up at 5 and enjoyed my coffee (still always bring my own coffee maker) and watched some TV news and did my morning computer routine things.   I wasn’t meeting Terry and Louise until 8 AM for breakfast so at 6, I went down to do my needed 300 points for the D in order to keep these offers coming.   I had my $25 free play to use up and you can’t use it for video poker or for any progressive machine.   I almost played a Buffalo Gold, but went by and noticed on one of the crown extra penny games that the crown and the bear were next to the cliff boxes, so I used my free play there.   Of course, it took a long time to get the feature but finally did with $8 left and, of course, there was a blank where the crown fell, BUT, I did catch the bear for a nifty $171.00 win.   This almost erases my $200 loss yesterday.   Yea! I went upstairs to the Vue bar (I was the only one there).   I fed in my hundred and played until almost 8 AM.   I hit t...

No swim.  No run.  boo! I did the trash pick up and it went well and was on the road headed for Vegas by 7:30.  I arrived at 12:30, an hour to early to pick up Terry and Louise at the airport.  I went to the Tuscany to play a $20 in the Jokers.  I did pretty well at first.  I got it up to $36 (would cash out at $40), but then went on a slide and finally cashed out my same $20 putting another 150+ points on my card as I have almost 20K points accumulated through all these scattered $20 plays over the years.  Terry's plane came in on time and we were off to downtown.  I dropped them off at the Golden Gate, where they will be staying and I dropped the car off at valet at the D.  Check in went great as they gave me a room facing east (away from the Fremont) on the 34th floor.  Excellent!  I walked up to the GG and met up with them and we played the 8/5 BP progressives.  The royal was over $17K.  We finally went to the ...

It breaks my heart to write this but No run and No swim again.  I am anxious for my return from Vegas so I can't jump back on the horse. Lots of stuff this day.  I got up at the usual time and later got a call from Luigi that the water pipe was leaking again next to his place.  I shut off the water to the surrounding places and got Jose.  I then picked up what trash was out.  I went to AAA to get my auto registration, but they can't issue them until within 60 days of the due date, so that was a lost trip.  I did, however, get my hair cut.  I then waited for the new washer to arrive and it did right on time.  It only took them 10 minutes to install the new one and take the old one away.  Very cool! I made out my new time sheet.  Trash pickup and Vegas tomorrow.

No run. No swim. Didn't do much....theme lately.  New leaf in 7 days.

Apparently, I missed yesterday.  I don't remember doing that but lately my schedule is so messed up, I suppose it's going to happen. No swim, no run.  Vegas is in two days and quite honestly, I'll be glad when I'm back home and back to my routine.  I believe this is one of the few times that I'm not excited about going to Vegas.  The place just doesn't do it for me anymore. My heart just isn't into it today.  I'm sure I'll be back to my own self soon...as long as I continue to have this pain in my left side and chest, I just am out of it.

No run, no swim.  Yikes! Didn't do much.  Just watched TV, played poker on the computer and had dinner at Papa's.  Mom was in better spirits.  Finally, the wristband for his Fitbit fit and he likes his IPad stand.  I'm such a good son.  He's having a harder time finding words--the only sign of his age (he turns 86 in a couple weeks).  Yea...a very brief daily update.

No run and no swim.  I'll be happy when I don't need to write that down anymore.  As mentioned before, I will wait until I'm  back from Las Vegas to get back to it.  My left side STILL hurts when I turn and I want it to completely stop.  The heartburn has subsided.  The stress test results came back normal.  Yea! Trash pickup went without a hitch.  I went to see Captain Marvel  again and enjoyed even more than the first time I saw it.  I have no idea why, at 68, I enjoy these Marvel movies so much.  Others my age could care less.  The other day, I rewatched both of the latest Star War movies, and I'm here to admit, I've watched The Force Awakens  now just about 20 times and STILL enjoy it just as much.  I then came home and it was TV the rest of the day.  Crackers in the morning, popcorn at the movie and chicken at night.  I'd be happy with those calories except it was a HUGE popcorn.

No run or swim.  This morning I went to the clinic and had my stress test.  It was so much easier than the last time I took it five years ago.  Of course, my heart wasn't bothering me on this day; however, it was a good test which took just about an hour.  Three nurses assisted (they take these very seriously).  My time on the treadmill was 11 minutes before my heart rate got high enough (nurse said that was very good).  The worst part was before the treadmill when they took SO many pictures.  To my surprise, they don't do the ink anymore.  It's all with xray photos.  It seems I'm going to live. I spent the rest of the working on Papa's Ipad and Iphone.  I eventually had to call Apple and after going through three different techs, I finally reached someone I could understand and took the time to help me.  I took damn near three hours, but I finally got Subby hooked up with the cloud.  His photos finally transferred and ev...

No run or swim.  Today is my stress test, so hopefully, tomorrow's journal entry will have both though I'm sure I'll need to take it a little easy at first and work my way back.  Of course, timing which has never been my strong suit screws me because next week I'm in Las Vegas.  All of this assuming I'm not in the hospital.  Of course, now that all this is scheduled, I'm not having the heart pains anymore.  But, I'll be happy to know either way. I went to Papa's to get his computer and pictures straightened out only to find they weren't home.  There was blood on the carpet and a lamp turned over.  No doubt, Mom fell down again.  I did get some things done on the computer but I still have to return and put the pictures on his Ipad.  To say I'm getting a little frustrated with all of this would be an understatement, but a son's duty is just that. I went to the hospital into the Emergency Room and sure enough they were there.  A very ki...

Once again...no run, no swim.  Of course, I'm waiting to do my stress test and for the results, but I have to admit, this is difficult because I'm enjoying NOT going.  I can feel my weight returning, so I WILL return to it when and if I'm cleared to do so. I went to my son's for lunch with his wife and the twins.  Jack has grown and is now as tall as I am.  After lunch we went to his play  Aladdin , which was as expected a Jr. High musical.  There wasn't a lot of talent there, but the kids gave it their all.  There were SO many of them, the director did a good job of getting them all on stage and in the audience and to be seen.  The rest of the blocking, quite honestly, was terrible and it was obvious she didn't spend much time on acting skills.  I thought to myself, "Just give me two days and I can improve this show remarkably well.    I need to get my ass back on my diet and exercise program as soon as this heart thing is take...

No run, no swim.  This is disturbing.  I slept okay.  Taking the heartburn pills seems to work.  I'm hoping this is something that will be diagnosed and fixed either with medicine or diet.  Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wait to find out. I spent the entire day helping Papa with his technical issues.  We went to Best Buy to buy him a phone and an IPad.  There were issues.  His pictures were somehow lost in the move.  Like everything, he has a problem with anything new.  I also replaced his printer, which went without a hitch.  I'm sure I'll be dealing with these problems with the phone for awhile. The bands for his Fitbit were wrong.  I need to buy another set.  This drives me nuts!

No run or swim.  I'm still having chest pains and I'm getting more and more frustrated with it.  I did make my appointment for the stress test for Monday, but that means waiting until then.  If it's the heart, then I am prepared for that surgery, which scares me, but I'm ready.  If it isn't, then I will need to be more forceful to find out what is going on and get it fixed.  I can not go on like this for a lot longer.  Last night I couldn't go back to sleep because it was bothering me, so I stayed up.  For a while, taking aspirin and Aleve seemed to help, now not so much.  I'm having pains as I write this.  Both times when I've called it in, I agreed that the pains on not severe, just annoying and I'm not short of breath and I'm not feeling numbness in my left arm.  Shit!  I'm frustrated. Here's hoping that I will soon be writing boring day to day reports again soon.

No run today...yes, it rained but not enough to have stopped me.  I thought I should wait until I have these tests done.  I'm going to get an EKG test later today and then that sets up for the coronary stress test that my doctor has approved.  I did, however, get my swim in just fine.  After trash pick up, which went just fine, I went to Costco to get some coffee and bacon (mistake?).  I then finally headed to the movies via Trolley to see Captain Marvel .  I've been looking forward to this one.  It was very good and I will go see it again.  I loved the after-movie trailer where she meets up with the other Avengers.  I'm still experiencing a lot of heartburn and it just seems to be better when I take aspirin, so that has me a bit worried as well.  I'm certainly hoping there is something other than my heart wrong with me and that it can be treated.  I'm burping much more than usual, which suggests something else.  Perhaps a ...

It's raining again so no run or swim.  Last year, I think I may have missed only one day or so because of weather.  This year in only two and a half months long and I've already missed more than ten days.  It's crazy.  Yes, I could go to the gym and run on a treadmill and last year that's exactly what I did, but no longer.  I'm the first to admit I am in a slump both eating, which I'm slowly getting under control, and the exercise, which is problematic.  I'm losing the spirit to get it done.  It's almost like I'm looking for a reason so I don't have to run.  This is how it begins, and this is how I need to not let the fat Jon cycle return.  I picked up was trash was put out at the park and frankly, didn't do much of anything else.  I have no doubt the weather is going to change and when it does, I will start to do my exploring walking once again. Crackers, gummy bears, omelet, chicken strips.

I did manage my run this morning (an abridged route) and my swim.  I am still experiencing chest discomfort.  I continue to worry that something is going on with my heart, but I also know that this has happened in my past two or three times and every time, it eventually went away.  I am tempted to report it to the doctor, but I'm still debating that move. I stayed home all day.  Martin came by and picked up my old computer and monitor.  I ate my usual crackers along with an omelet and some breakfast meats (leftover from the non-book club) and the last two hot dogs.  I will NOT buy them again in the foreseeable future. 

I tried to get in my run this morning, but it's as if I hit a wall.  The pain in my left side as returned though not as bad, but definitely there.  I am now concerned I might be having something going on with my heart.  I HATE having to call the doctor, but I don't know what else I can do.  Something isn't right.  I did get my swim in, but it too was strained.  Why have I hit this wall? I set everything up for book club.  I made the bacon and sausages, the coffee and got everything ready.  9:30 rolls around and no one has shown up.  I called Dave and it turns out I have the wrong day.  This is the second time I've done this.  Shit! I enjoyed my no pain day and stayed home the entire time hoping to not aggravate it. These daily reports are getting shorter and shorter and I'm very concerned that I'm falling into a pit of despair and that my diet will go to hell.

No run or swim today.  Yikes! Some potential good news, I woke this morning with little to no pain in my left side.  This is the first time in weeks!  I did my usual 10 PM check and was hurting.  I went back to bad and was hurting.  I got up, took the last two Aleve tablets and went back to bed. I slept for 11 hours (body must have needed it) and was surprised to wake up without pain.  I can still fill a small little twitch, but that's about it and I'm nervous to do anything that will re-injure it---thus, no run or swim today. It was a no nothing day once again as I was nursing the pain aside from going shopping and picking up bacon for tomorrow's book club meeting.

I did manage to get in my run and swim today; however, I left at 1 AM because I couldn't get back to sleep after my security check.  The reason for this is because of this pain in my left side.  It seems to be getting worse and I may very well have to go to the doctor to have it checked if it doesn't get better.  I can not have it messing up my sleep.  Taking the Tylenol seems to be helping but I don't want to get addicting to them.  We shall be monitoring this new situation closely. I stayed home the entire day hoping rest would heal, but this doesn't seem to working.  I have to get out soon.  The weather is not cooperating with on and off rain going on all day and night. 

Another rainy morning, another missed day of exercising.  I'm also pissed because of the pain in my left side that just won't go away and if messing up my sleep.  I even overslept to almost 10 hours...I just can't have that.  It was a no nothing day as I stayed home and watched  Aquaman  and then Justice League  along with some featurettes.  Dinner at Mom and Pop's was easy...hot dog and hamburger. What a dead day.  

There was lightning in the east and rain was very possible, so I stayed close to home on my jog, if you want to call it that.  I'd say half jog, half walk...it wasn't happening this morning.  The swim went just fine. Tracy's birthday today.  I feel bad I didn't see her, but I did send her a card, put in a nice Facebook entry and texted.  Seems she was good with it. I went to the movies to see  Apollo 11  in IMAX and it was very good.  Aside from that, not too much. Trash day went just fine. Crackers, candy at the movies (I'll need to stop this), hot dogs and chicken, popcorn.

The run this morning went well but the swim (for whatever the reason) was a little tough going, which is odd, but I finished just fine.  I'm a bit frustrated that I am still experiencing some pain (albeit small) in BOTH my shoulder and now my left side where I fell.  It's been almost three years for the shoulder and now over a week for the side, so what the hell is going on?  Will I have to deal with this the rest of my life?  Of course, I realize it could be so much worse, but I'm just letting some steam off. I went to my financial advisor yesterday and everything seems to be in order and she's finishing the paperwork so I can get my annual check.  I have about ten more of these to go.  I'll be about 78 when I run out of money, which is perfectly fine.  I've been very fortunately that I've not needed that money and is pretty much sits in my bank account. I'm feeling so very grateful for the way my life turned out.  I made SO many poor decisio...

Back on the wagon.  Yep, got my ass up and did my run and my swim.  Yesterday, it continued to rain, so once again aside from my what will probably be my Sunday ritual, I went to McDonalds and read the paper, played poker and ate their breakfast. Aside from that, it was computer, TV, and You Tubes.  Boring...but I love it. Crackers, breakfast, chicken, and nuggets.  Take away the breakfast (the pancakes) and it was okay.  I did go to GMT and buy three more boxes of the organic gummy bears.  These will be what I eat to take care of my sugar rush and sweet tooth.  They're low in calories and the packages are mini.  They are on sale for another day, so I may go buy another couple, which would certainly last me the rest of the year.  Silly me!

Rain today so no run or swim.  I'm being frustrated with this lingering injury.  I simply can't lay down without pain.  Why it's only when I lay down in bed and very little times otherwise is a mystery.  I only know I want it to stop. It rained off and on all day.  I stayed home.  Food was an omelette, a hot dog sandwich, and chicken nuggets.  Oh and the crackers and some jellies.  I don't have the right mind frame right now.

Well...wake up a smell the disappointment in myself!  Weigh in day and my worst fears realized:  221 pounds...a 15 pound gain.  Absolutely wrong.  I knew I would have gained and as I think back, I'm honestly not surprised.  This is what happened last time.  I hurt myself and ate away my pain.  I'm about to do it again.  But THIS time, I will not!  I'm going to throw everything bad for me away today and I will start anew. I was back on the road this morning being very careful of the potholes this time.  I was okay, but it was tough.  I'm not the type of guy who can take days off.  The swim was also just okay.  Truth be told, I am still having pain in my right side from the fall.  It's tolerable and I need to man up and deal with it.  I am BACK on the diet as of today!

What a day, what a day.  I'm falling fast and writing this angry.  Angry because I can't run or swim.  Angry that I'm still hurting from my fall.  Angry that I'm eating too much.  Angry that I'm getting beat up at WSOP on the river over and over and over and over and over again.  Of course, this too, will pass. I went to see Isn't It Romantic  at the Fashion Mall.  It was just as I expected, but again, it was entertaining and made me smile and laugh, which is all I ask.  I signed up for HULU again as I want to see some of their original programming.  I will soon sign up for HBO.  I'm very fast as approaching the same entertainment monthly expenses I had before changing my Dish subscription.  Okay, my entertainment monthly bill is (aside my from rent) my highest expense.  But hell, I'm retired.  I suppose that's where it should go.  And let's face it, as long as I can hold on to this job here at the park, I can ...