C.S.C.

I took the Cold Shower Challenge this morning but cheated a bit.

The C.S.C. is when you step into the shower, stand there under the shower head and turn on the shower. You are bathed in cold water until it comes up to temperature. It's a way of creating some discomfort in your otherwise comfortable existence.

I cheated by priming the sink until it turned to hot water. That way, the water in the shower turns from cold to warm in about 30 seconds as opposed to two or three minutes for an unprimed shower.

It is the last day of September and I have some chores to attend to as well as some lying around and having a nice relaxing day.

I am ending the month at 221.0 pounds.   

Truck Update

It's a good thing I took the truck in because it had a couple of serious issues. My $200.00 oil change and check up turned into a $1,200.00 repair job.

My oil pump was leaking so that got replaced. Also, my radiator had a leak so that had to be removed, plugged and returned to the radiator location. I get the truck back today after having left it at Bill's Auto Repair for three days.

I still have a couple of issues that are not yet critical. My rear axle seals are leaking and my cruise control no longer works. Both of those fixes are close to a thousand dollars each.    

Ex E-Mail

My e-mail has really gotten out of control. I spend a good five minutes every morning deleting e-mails I don’t want. Then I spend more time during the day deleting more e-mails that come in. If I add up the time I spend hitting the delete button, I’ll bet it comes close to an hour a week. That’s an hour I could use more productively drinking beer, napping or solving world hunger.

So I spent a great deal of my time this morning going through the e-mails I get and unsubscribing. I do not have a lot of faith that unsubscribing will work but we shall see.

In other news of the morning, I took my truck in to have the regular maintenance that I never do. We’ll be taking the truck to Prosser to get our grapes for the year and I don’t want any problems.

Fair Booty

 We drove out to the fairgrounds this afternoon to pick up our fair booty. We did pretty well this year and are expecting a substantial windfall in the prize money arena yet to come.

Even my rubber band ball got a second place ribbon. On the back of my exhibitors card, the judge left a comment. "Very round, but why?"

I don't think I could have gotten a better prize than that!

Fatty McFair Guy

I started the day at 218.6 pounds.

Then we went to the Spokane Interstate Fair.

Deep Fired Cheese Curds, Corn Dog, Elephant Ear, Beer, Longhorn Ribs Combo Plate, Wonder Bar.

I ended the day at 222 pounds.

Mr. Health

Upon stepping out on to the front porch for my morning walk today, I felt the coming of Fall in the air. It was crisp and cold. But not so cold that I had to dress more warmly than I was presently attired.

I met with Dr. Mooney on Tuesday and she wants me to be walking two miles or more rather than the mile and a half I have been. So, in an effort to try to be healthy, I am following that admonishment and walking farther. And perhaps more.

So I walked a course that I think is close to two miles. I'll measure it out in the truck a little later.

I need to get more active. Dr. Mooney showed me a chart of my activity over the last few months. I didn't realize that my dephibrillator kept a record of my activity, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

The chart showed I was more active in June and July than I was in August. Upon reflection, I think I've been pretty active in August. That's when we started tearing up the floor in the kitchen.

Oh well, along with my weight loss, I have another goal to work on.

Another Pig Out

 I have once again dodged a major fat bullet after another visit to Pig Out in the Park.

Yesterday, Susan and I met Lee and Cari at O’Doherty’s for a beer and then a venture through the park for Pig Out Happy Hour. They call it $5 Bites, but it’s essentially Happy Hour.

I had half an Elk Burger, (delicious) shared some deep fried Mac n’ Cheese, (Yummy!) a sampling of  Italian Sausage with Grilled Onion, (Spicy & Savory) and a Chocolate Dipped Cheese Cake (Unbelievable).

We left the park and went to the Hub for a couple of pitchers of beer.

All of that should have sent me over the edge of the scale. But I weigh exactly the same as yesterday, 218.2.

Hooray for me!

SSA Update

 So, it is official. I have been approved for Social Security Disability. That bumps my monthly payment to around $1900. When I turn 66 1/2, I go off Disability and receive normal SSA Retirement, which will continue to be the same amount.

I did not get a big fat check to cover the Disability difference since last July. It turns out you must be disabled for five months before you qualify for the payments.

I guess that means I still owe a balance for the overpayment, which is in dispute right now. I’m waiting to hear from SSA about the next strep in the dispute resolution.

August BP

 The good news is that I ended the month lighter than I started the month. A trend I intend to keep pursuing.