Maryland Grow 100 Challenge, Back On Paleo

The kids are coming over for mothers day, the wife said she wanted her gift to be help cleaning up the yard. My plan is to cornswaggle them into helping with the garden. I am entering Maryland's Grow 100 Challenge, don't see how I can lose? If I combine my raised bed, my bag garden (bags are now gone), and my idiot garden, mathematically I can't go wrong. Now to pick my crops! I'd share what I'm doing, but I don't want anyone moving to MD to steal my sure thing.

We are back on the paleo diet, no more excuses! I figure if I'm going to hang around, I may as well look good doing it? I dropped 90 lbs the last time we committed to it, gained 30 of it back, rough year with my surgery, the mother in law's illness and passing. When I do something, I go all in, including eating badly! I'm not a have 3 Oreo's double stuff cookies and leave the box alone, more a, "hey, who ate all the Oreo's?" So, I'm 14 lbs down in a few days, back down to a svelte 270. Was going to post pictures to chronicle my journey, but decided nobody deserved to have to see that!

Back Pain's Back, Fall Garden Time, and Nicotine Walls

Going to the back surgeon on Thursday, hoping he will lay my on the counter in the front office and fix my back, but not overly confident. What I'm actually looking for is to have the disk removed, or kill the nerve in the area that hurts. Not concerned with the long term effects on the old spine, just looking to have the time I have left upright the best they can be with as little pain as possible.

Tomorrow is lettuce day. I need to plan out my fall garden which is a very small scale operation. I am planting the lettuce table again and 2 of my idiot tubs. Wasn't very impressed with the tubs and my tomatoes this year, had 4 varieties so it wasn't for lack of trying. The tubs do an incredible job with the lettuce however, looking forward to some killer salads this fall. Going to our local CSA on Wednesday, hoping to get some tips, some honey, and some eggs.

It's time to paint the house, partly because it's time and we want to make some changes, but also because it's like living in the Amittyville horror house. The people that lived here before us smoked themselves to death in this house, literally. When it's hot and humid, and it's always hot and humid in Baltimore, the nicotine leaches out and runs down the walls! Attractive, ain't it? Have to figure out how to make that stop, short of replacing the drywall. The kids are so looking forward to painting!

Just say yes to chickens!

The Girls Working Together, Bamboozled At Doctors Office, and Bank Telling Me I'm Late, I'm Not Late, You Were Slow

The girls are going tomorrow to teach rollerskating, together. The head teacher just had a baby, so the girl is stepping up in her stead, the wife is the girls helper, oh my! The wife is a rollerskating goddess in these parts, the girl is gaining fast.I sure hope their styles match up or this could be a strained atmosphere around here. I'm thinking of going on a road trip to avoid any tensions here.

I was in the "recovery" room at the spine doctors yesterday, done been slice and diced, just waiting for the OK to head out. This young girl came in, started to explain how my new tens stimulator worked, put this here, this is up, this is down, and this is off. BOOM! She jumped into the back brace I need to wear, but I stopped her there, said one thing at a time. I didn't want the wife's co-workers to know my measurements. Funny thing is the doctor didn't mention either of these things? I think I got caught in a shell game, the girl is there to sell these things. I need to find out if I need this, or if I looked like one of those Bugs Bunny skits where he looked like giant Suckers!

Pay bills electronically, we love it, works for us. Got a notice in the mail today, said we were late on our mortgage, and that a hefty fee was being assessed. I checked my records, got my confirmation number, call the bank. They explained to me that when I submitted my payment on 2/7/10, it was delivered by 2/10/10. My payment is due between the 1st and the 15th. OK, done, except it snowed and they were closed. They didn't open the payment until 2/17/10, 2 days late. She waived the late fee, suggested I pay more attention to when I mail things. I chose not to tell her to bite me, but promised I would mark my calender when blizzards are predicted, and she may be off.

Bowling Tournament Ending, Spinal Injection Postponed, and New Garden Planting

They boy has done well so far, though we are having a hard time convincing him of that. He finished 106 out of 450 in singles, 12th out of 100 in doubles. He has one more competition tomorrow, so it has been a lot of bowling. He gets down because he thinks he should do better, but we can't get him to look around and see he is right in the thick of things. I guess that comes with age, and maturity? The wife is loving the feel of pool water warmed by 115 degree heat, I may never get her back home from the casino! Today is the last full day of bowling, unless he does well, then it will be tomorrow too. I pick them up just before midnight Thursday, can't wait.

Because of picking them on Thursday, I had to reschedule my final spinal injection. It has definitely made a difference, but I will be curious what it feels like in a week in half? I always wonder if that LAST one of anything is totally necessary, or if it is just an extra precaution? I am being so responsible, I called and canceled this weeks appointment, scheduled the new one, payed all of the bills, I almost can't stand it. I guess in a perfect world I will feel so good by next Thursday I can just cancel my appointment and go live. Being a realist, I plan on having the last injection regardless, taking that extra pound.

It's time to plant my fall crops, and I've been thinking about this. I have decided to adopt an "Asian" way of eating for a majority of my meals. Asian cuisine consists of much more vegetable intake compared with meats, or proteins. I'm going to plant accordingly, things that can be simmered in a hot pot with broth, and small amounts of protein. Things like bok choy, cabbages, and beans. I've decided that's how I'm going to attack my weight issue, grow some good stuff to eat, and eat less, it can't miss!

Idiot Garden Letdown, Home Appraisal, and Oldies Music For Me

The idiot garden has been both a joy to do, and a constant reminder of my ever mounting disability. I hate that word, disability, sounds like I got hit by a train! The skinny on it is I don't have the energy to do even the simplest of tasks anymore. My peppers and eggplant are exploding, while my pickling cucumbers are winding all over the yard. They should of been on a trellis, so should the tomatoes, I have all the stuff to do it, just haven't. I can't explain it, just can't make myself go? I probably lost my tomatoes, we had a storm the other night, it looks like their weight snapped the stalks off down at the base. The wife said I should ask for help with it, but where is the fun in that, I may as well give her a grocery list.



The guy came to do the appraisal for the house refinance, he was here about 15 minutes. Now I know he has work that will be done back to the office, but that was a quick $350. I told the wife, he probably has the loan amount, just has to make sure house is worth at least that much, which it is, probably close to 3x's as much. The guy spent more time telling me about his new computer, and why he thought it was a wise move to go this route. He even managed to fit in a story about spending $250 to get his laptop wireless ready, only to find out windows 95 wasn't compatible with Verizon's gateways. Hey measurement boy, less talking, more appraising! We should find out in a few days where we stand.

When did my music become easy listening oldies? I had the radio on all weekend, one great song after another, but wasn't I a rocker once? Didn't I listen to Ozzie, Jethro, and the Stones? Sure, there was Barry, and the BeeGee's, but I was all about Boston, Kansas, and Deep Purple. Are you telling me that if 40 years pass something is considered an oldie? Geez, I could be in trouble then! I'm listening to Prince right now, OK, not heavy metal, but a real talent. Just imagine what people would think if they heard my collection of Dean Martin songs!

Garden Growing, Knees Hurting, and Wife's Butt Lifting

The idiot garden is doing great, everything is doing well. My tomatoes are getting a slow start, I put them in last for some reason, must have had a fit? I put them in last because I was out of gas and didn't ask for help, but I have corrected that problem! My peppers are peppering, my eggplants are egging, and if you could see my melons! Anyway, my zucchini and Brussels sprouts are getting big, potatoes are growing like weeds in my trash can. I need to get someone to water everything while we are away, I hate the thought of everything dying while we are cruising. Pictures to come soon.

My knees are killing me! I had hope saying that would make it better, but it didn't, they are still throbbing, like a toothache, of course I've never had a toothache, so I'm not sure how bad that would be. I was just in the kitchen cooking dinner, that's all I've done today, except go to the store, the dump, and grocery shopping, but that's it, honest. I did start to put my trellis system together on my pepper box outside, but that was just standing there, trying to tie knots with a right hand I can't control, lots of giggles there. No pain allowed, I will not, well, allow it!

The wife has started walking, she has a walking buddy, and they are going for an hour, 3 times a week. Ya ever get asked those questions, the ones you know you can't answer without getting in big trouble? The wife wanted to know if I could see a difference in her since she started walking? Yeah Doll, good job, you were starting to make me wretch, thanks for taking care of it, but you also can't say, no, you look the same, tough spot. Apparently, my job in all of this is to convince her that her butt is lifting! So that's what I've become, my job is to make sure she feels good about her butt. Do you think I'd get in trouble if I offered to go up the community center and comment on the other butts I see? Me too!

Multiple Sclerosis, Random Acts of Kindness, Garden Growing, and Raindrop seems to be helping

Just about the time I want to a wall around my yard to keep humans out, people have to go an ruin it with random acts of kindness. Like I was saying, the girl had an accident the other day, wasn't hurt, but was pretty shaken up. Although the person that cut her off, and all the people that saw her take out the sign kept on going, 18 separate cars stopped to see if she was OK, 3 called 911, and countless slowed and gave her the thumbs up. It's those first few that kept going, or even swerved to go around her that I want to see end up on their roof, not hurt, just their car on its roof, spinning!

I got the last of my idiot tubs made today, had to go buy a new jigsaw to do it, my old craftsman died. I also got a flaring tool to connect the tubes for my framing system, it didn't work. Brussels sprouts are getting big, so are the squash. The eggplant is getting tall, but hasn't changed in shape much. My peppers are doing fantastic, all of them are doing nicely. My salad table is under performing, I think it may not be getting enough sun, I'll change that tomorrow. I'm making more soil tomorrow, and planting my mators, I can't wait to snack on golden cherries. We will be harvesting soon.

The raindrop is going well, I feel really good. I did more today then I have done in a while today, and made out great. I got up early, 8:30 or so, and set up having a new windshield put in the girls car. I took my 5 trash bags of aluminum cans to the recycle center, got a whopping $10.22! From my windfall I went and got a new prescription for my nutsy pills, there's been a problem with how many the insurance company will let me get, unless I have them deliver them, then I can have as much as I want! I have the 3rd treatment tomorrow, so I'm hoping to see more good days ahead, I hope it's the raindrop causing it, it does feel like it is, we shall see.

Multiple Sclerosis, Toll Errors, Raindrop Side Effects, and Idiot Garden Potatoes

Maryland toll facilities is on my list of state agencies to bring to their knees. The wife goes through the Horrible tunnel a bunch of times a week. We had an easy pass, but she needs to get a receipt each time she goes through for her expense report. It seems we get a toll booth violation a few times a month, claiming we have gone through without paying. The wife gets a receipt each time now, just so we can stick it to the man when they send us a nasty gram bill. I told her to send them a bill for each one of the stamps we use when we send in proof we weren't at fault.

I am having a rough day today, presumably because of the raindrop session? I am hoping that is the reason why, in my mind that would be a sign that it is doing its job. The plan is that the raindrop will be able to gather up the Epstein Barr virus that lays dormant in my body and flush it out. I think it only stands to reason that it will jostle things a bit in the process. I feel jostled alright, I feel, well, I feel like I'm having an exacerbation. I know that I'm not, it's different, I just can't explain it. Tomorrow is session 2, I wonder if I'm going to better or worse on Saturday? Good thing is, we shall see in a couple of days!

I got my cucumbers planted in the idiot garden today, leaves only my tomatoes to do yet. I have the tubs, but I broke my jigsaw, so I'm on the verge of being behind schedule. I made the dirt for my last tub out of compost and peat moss, we shall see if it is light enough. My hope is to plant my potatoes in my trashcan planter tomorrow. Isn't that high tech sounding, trashcan planter? It's a plastic trashcan with holes drilled in the bottom! I'm hoping they have fingerling seed potatoes at the local garden shop, Huber's Farm, I've been wanting to try them, if not what they have will be good, I hope!

Multiple Sclerosis, Pacing the Stimulator, Garden Chores, and My Babies Under the Weather

The wife is sick, is that allowed? Who will take care of me if I need anything? What if one of the kids need something from a parent? I don't remember voting on this, or giving this my Okie Dokie. I suppose I can pick the boy up when he's finished, but I cleaned the kitchen for Pete's sake! She's sleeping on the sofa right now, I'm going to put her to bed so I can hear the hockey game! I guess I can man the watch so she can rest, she sure has earned it.

I'm looking at the stimulator from a different angle, see if it makes more sense this way. I used the cane today, and it made a big difference, especially with my knee. What ends up happening is my leg gets tired, so I start hyper extending the knee. If I use the cane, it doesn't happen as quickly, and isn't as severe when it does. I think I need to acquiesce to the fact this may take some time. It is working, and after having it tuned up on Monday, I hope it works even better. Most of all, I need to give my body a chance to adapt to it, and get stronger, I can do that.

If the weather cooperates, I am going to make the rest of my idiot garden tomorrow. I bought some more plants, including some variegated sweet potato vine for my arbor at the gate, and some moon flower seeds. I'm debating if I should fill the tubs up with compost from the dumb. My one buddy uses it all the time, says it's great, the price sure is right. I need 2 cubic feet per bin, and I have 3 more to make.

Multiple Sclerosis, Family, Salad Table, and Take My Pain, Please

I built my salad table today, you may ask what a salad table is? It is a table you grow salad on, of course. We had a blast last year going out into the yard and picking all the fixins for our salads. This year we will have more salad then we can probably eat, but it won't be because we don't have it close by. The peppers will be growing in the tubs, we joined a CSA at a friends house, so fresh food, here we come!

My back is killing me! Is this a joke or something? It's not enough that I drag my leg like I'm heading to Notre Dame to ring the bells, can't manipulate things with my hands if I can't see it, AND my back is going to hurt? You have got to be kidding me! I don't expect smooth sailing on any of this, but how about one thing at a time?

The parents are here, the father went to play poker with the old fogey's club, the mother is sitting here reading a book, telling me stories while she reads. The girl came home from school today, sick, spreading germs all over the place. She actually called and asked if she could come home. I told her no, but her mother caved! I think the boy moved out? I think he would, if he wasn't 17, and if the bowling alley would put a bed in for him, we would never see him again. Minus the searing pain, the dead feeling in the limbs, it's nice to have a house full of people, so I'll take it.

Multiple Sclerosis, Lawn Work, MS Walk, and Slight Personality Flaw

What a beautiful day here in Baltimore, I actually got some sun, or as I like to call it, free vitamin D. I went bright and early this morning to IKEA, 8:30 AM is early for me, got in line for an Earth Machine backyard composter. They had a great showing, must have been 300 people in line. It's good to see people are trying to do things like that.

I came home and got to work! I made 5 platforms for my idiot garden boxes, figured out how to make my trellis system too. I figured 8 feet high, and almost 3 feet wide should be good. I also plan on placing my boxes in a good order, one that doesn't have 2 boxes that vine next to each other. My brother is coming tomorrow to move a couple of bushes for me, I guess I have to be nice to him now?

I did a nice job not overdoing things today, kinda sorta? I had a plan, and I stuck to it, in a way? OK, it's hard, I start out with good intentions, but then I get caught up in the moment and forget to stop! It's not until I realize I'm taking more break time then work time, and I start trying to figure out how I'm going to get everything put away that I realize I've done it again.

After a long day like today, I get a little down, and a little moody. I think a lot of people attribute that to the MS, but I think I may just get moody and down, not to mention the potential to be a real pain in the ass!

Tomorrow is the MS walk in Towson, my plan is to go there and see the group of friends off in the morning. I may offer them a laurel, and hardy handshake to them as they head out? I appreciate it guys, thanks!

Multiple Sclerosis, Fatigue, and a Happy Easter To All

I had the garden club meeting today, in the rain, and wind, and even more rain. I had a few die hard fans show up, in the rain, and bring supplies to make idiot planters, so I guess you would call that a success.

I took some advice I received from a few people in the last few days and took it really easy so as not to tire myself out, but it didn't work. I find myself more and more tired, from less and less activity. I need to find a way to deal with that, cursing and throwing things and the neighbors isn't quite doing it.

We dyed Easter eggs tonight, me, the wife, the daughter, and the the daughters friend. Mine were the best, I dyed them all white! Everyone will open their cards, and dive into their baskets tomorrow, except my wife, I didn't get to it, run out of time, and more importantly, energy. I hate that part, and hate it more that I'm not dealing with figuring out when the tank is empty.

The girls and the boy are at the bowling alley, the girls bowling, the boy working. I think he is fry king at the snack bar tonight, making pizzas, burgers, and anything else they ask for. The girls were excited about it, they both were as excited about going up and being able to order a beer I think, and see what boys were there. That's OK, I will bribe the boy to tell me what happened!

I hope everyone has a happy Easter with their families, and that tomorrow brings a time that we all are nicer to each other!

Idiot Garden Club, Easter Guests, and Learning How Not To Do Too Much

I went out and tried to be productive, again. My legs are killing me, and I am exhausted, again. I need to put notes on all the doors telling me to take it easy, I can't seem to remember that. The worst part is got absolutely nothing accomplished! I was trying to cut up the old side porch with an air cut off tool, but we are talking some serious metal. It will go to the scrap yard whole!

Why do they let major league baseball players go on the field with a huge wad of chewing tobacco in their mouth? Would they have let Jim Palmer pitch with a cigar in his mouth? Seems like a strange way to do things, image and all, I mean for the kids.

We are getting ready to have my 1st idiot garden club meeting here on Saturday morning. Looks like we will have 5 or 6 people come, not too shabby for the first effort. We will make a couple of the idiot boxes, show them how to assemble them, tell them how to make the soil mix to put in them. Should be a hoot!

We are having Easter dinner here for the wife's family. we enjoy doing it, and the Mother in law has done her share. To make it better, the daughter is bringing her friend home from school, she lives too far to go home for Easter. It makes us feel good to have her come, we have met her parents a couple of times, I hope they are glad she is coming too. The girl went to her friends house and then to central park for a concert, so that's pretty cool.

Tomorrow is a new day, I need to promise myself to not do too much. I think the best way to do that is to promise myself not to go outside, God knows I don't work too much in the house!

Multiple Sclerosis, Lack of Manners, Victory Gardening, and The Omnivores Dilemma

I got out front and trimmed the bushes today, I think I did a good job, and one I shouldn't have done it, as I was weak kneed and wobbly by the time I was finished. The bushes do look good though, so I suppose it was worth it, and it had to be done. Plus, it was a nice 2 hour nap that followed!

I'm trying to talk the wife into going downtown to the Enoch Pratt Free Library to hear a lecture by Michael Pollan, author of "Omnivores Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food". I like both his style, and the subject. I think we are killing ourselves with our food, Pollan talks about just that. I said if she didn't want to go, just put me on a bus.

My new friend Anne had a good thing on her site Disabled NOT Dead She said that if you stop in, leave me a note to let me know you were here.

Paul the Hermit agrees with me, people aren't polite, their kids are misbehaved, and they are passing it down to the next generation.

I haven't worn the brace now for 4 weeks, that's nice, but I'm still not there yet. I'm still weak, still unsteady, I need to loosen up too. I am serious about getting Wii yoga, I think it I need someone to stretch me out, one of those Helga looking Swish women.

We are having a victory garden meeting here on Saturday, if you find yourself in the neighborhood, stop in and see what we are up to. I'm gong to put together an idiot tub so everyone can see how easy it is. Should be a hoot.

Rebif time, remember, leave a short note so I know who was here, I'd appreciate it!

Multiple Sclerosis, Statins For Demyelination, and Idiot Gardening Begins

I've been thinking about statins lately, wondering what they would do for people with MS, people like me. When the experts talk about statins cleaning the plaque out of arteries, is it the same plaque as the lesions on my brain and spinal cord? If it is, how much would I have to take to get rid of mine? The experts are split, some say it helps, some say it actually make it worse! I wonder if anyone has every opened an MS dude up and tried to scrape the plaque off the brain or spinal cord? If they did try it, I sure hope it was someone who left their body to science, not some some poor soul who thought they were in for a check up!

I planned out my 2009 idiot garden, I'm ready to rock and roll! I am growing everything in 8, 18 gallon tubs. 3 of them will have tomatoes, 6 plants in all, 1 tub of green, red, and yellow bell peppers, 2 of each, a tub each of green beans and peas, 16 plants each, and 2 tubs of mix leaf lettuce, 8 plants each. I will also have a few 5 gallon containers, one each of honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon, and then herbs too in 3 and 5 gallon containers. I can't wait for tomato sammiches! Wait a minute, I'm going to need to make a ninth tub for Kirby pickling cucumbers, gotsta have bread and buttter pickles, and Slammers garlic dills! I can almost taste everything now!

Multiple Sclerosis, AFO Brace is Here, and Idiot Garden Plans

I picked up my new brace today, works pretty much like the old one, with the main difference being that the new one doesn't have an articulated ankle. I'm not sure what I think about it. The solid ankle makes it easier not to hyper extend the knee, and pivot, and easier walk down an incline. It also makes it harder to go up an incline, feels like the leg isn't seated in the brace, and has really flimsy little Velcro straps. I will have to wear it a few days to tell just what I think, and to see if I need any adjustments, I don't think I like the movement within the brace.

It's time to start up the idiot garden, 2009 edition. I am going to have 8 tub gardens, and I think 5 3 gallon bucket gardens. I am going to start my seeds tomorrow, including a 3 pepper blend, yellow, orange, and green. I'm also want to put some hot peppers in this year. I'm going to load up on heirloom tomatoes, they were awesome last year! We are putting in pickling cucumbers, have to make some of Slammer's garlic dill pickles this year. There will be zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant. I will have buckets of herbs, buckets of onions, and buckets of peas and green beans. There will be 2 kiddie swimming pools, one with salad greens, and one with potatoes.

I want to try some square foot gardening around the patio. I want to put some of the tubs and some of the 3 gallon buckets around the patio also. The corner of the patio is screaming for grapes! I'd love to plant some blueberries over by the clothes line, and a fig bush someplace in the back. I think we will do silver queen corn up at our CSA spot, maybe some melons. We also need to read up on how to store all of our bounty. We can freeze, we can can, and we can dry things. When I say we can can, I mean to put things up, not the dance! Our old neighbor is making some tubs, and he is setting up a bee hive again, so hopefully some honey is on the horizon. Now if I can talk the wife into rabbits, I will have a lean meat choice right in the back yard!

Multiple Sclerosis, Idiot Gardening, and a Turbo Toilet

I can remember wondering if life would be easier if people could see that I had MS? I would go places after I retired, or the year or so before, and people would be shocked there was anything wrong. I know there are people who wondered if I was pulling a fast one when I did retire, and I'm sure some still do, mainly because of my size and my stellar good looks! I thought that back when it wasn't noticeable. Many years have passed, and oh boy is it noticeable! The cane, the brace, and the pissy attitude, oh yeah, it's noticeable. Well I'm older now, not as old as my sister, who just turned 50, but older just the same, and take my word for it, it doesn't make it easier!

The idiot garden is finished for tomatoes for me. They were the best tomatoes anyone has ever grown, really, they were. I've got a freezer full of squash, we are gorged on green peppers, I have a great second crop of Cheyenne and jalapeno peppers. and the salads have been, and still are great! I am planning my crop for next year! I need to design a better trellis system, the plants got so big that the tomatoes collapsed down on themselves and broke the stems, greatly decreasing my harvest. I took off 10 softball sized green peppers Friday on plants that are 8 feet tall. Anybody that thinks they can't grow veggies, either due to know how or physical limitations, think again, this is great!

Well, I thought I would never say this, but the turbo toilet is operational! We had a ribbon cutting ceremony, just immediate family, but it was nice. We started the project July 14, 2008. I'd like to tell you the project added 2,000 square feet to the house and that's what took so long, but that's the case. We will be showering in there tomorrow, it will be wonderful! Now our bathroom is one of those deals where you go in and the sink is there, the shower and turbo toilet are in their own little room. There isn't a door, or trim, or a window sill in there yet, but the important parts work. Next time a family member says not to spend the $4000 for the renovation, I'll steal the money before I fall for it again!

Idiot Proof Garden, Swank, Vitamin D, and Multiple Sclerosis

I need to go grocery shopping big time! The idiot garden is all but gone, but it sure was fun. My father is just starting to get tomatoes on his idiot tomato tree. I keep asking for him to send me pictures, but he has yet to do it. I don't know why his was so late starting to produce, so much so he was going to tear it out because it was so big, but no fruit. He tells me now it is so full he is feeding the entire eastern shore. My 2nd crop of lettuce and mescaline is ready to harvest, so are more green and hot peppers, but only a few tomatoes are left.

Swank is going great, feeling good, but I need to spark up the menu a bit. I'm going to make some bar-b-qued beans I think, just for the flavor. I'm not losing weight, I think my scale must have broken! I'm holding steady at 285, bigger than half of the biggest loser contestants, that does a lot for the old ego! I need to add more water again, I do this all the time, start strong, but let my addiction to diet soda side tracks me. I never feel as good drinking the soda as I do drinking the water. Hmm, that should make it easy? This whole MS thing is a real drag. I want to be sucking on a cool micro brew, eating a pulled pork sammich, not trying to figure out if diet soda is bloating me, or if it's all the beans and rice!

I am stopping my blood thinner for the surgery next week, but I'm going to be smart and hold onto the meds, they will probably want me to take them after the surgery. No sense paying for them twice. No word yet on my vitamin D situation. I'm not sure if I want it to be deficient or not? On the one hand I suppose if I am lacking it, there is always the possibility that an infusion may fix all my woes. There is also a chance I go through all that and don't feel any different. Been there, done that. One, two, or any combination of these things has to help, or I'm really going to be pissed!

The Start Of My Modified Swank Diet, Or The Dawning Of Common Sense.

So here we are, no direction, no goal, simply no flow. I've been one shot or another for about 11 years, hated every day of it. Liking something isn't always a prerequisite for needing to do it. I stopped the Rebif a few months back for a few months, just to answer that nagging question of if the shots were doing anything. They were, I ended up like a big quivering bowl of Jello! Not a pretty image, but unfortunately an accurate one. I've been whining about getting a script for LDN, or more accurately not getting one. I decided last night it was time to do for myself, and if I don't, then know what to whine about!

Today starts my Swank diet, or my version of it. I quit smoking and drinking with a total immersion into abstinence, I'm going to wade into changing my eating habits. Worse case scenario is I loss some extra tonnage in the process. This isn't rocket science, eat good things, good things happen. My modified approach is one that can be, well modified. If things go well and I see a benefit, I will follow the diet more to the letter of the law.

First thing first, what am I going to eat? I need to plan out a strategy. Let's hope I'm right about this being common sense, and that I have a bit of it! Increase fruit and vegetables, decrease fats from animal carcasses and parts. Less cakes and pies, more rice and beans. I also have to attack portion size. Eating too much food that is good for you is bad too. I'm starting out at 300 lbs, or so I think? My scale only goes up to 300 and stops. I'm not sure, but I think I noticed the needle bend when it hit 300! I went and got my hair cut in hopes that helps with tomorrow's weigh in.

Breakfast was skipped today because I had a great nights sleep and didn't get up until lunch time. I must have been content with my decision to take control, or maybe it was the drugs that helped, who knows. Lunch was a whopping tomato sammich, courtesy of my idiot proof garden. Very filling, plus a big bunch of grapes and a soda. I'm going to cut the soda way down to meals, back to drinking gallons of water to flush out the old pipes. Dinner is going to be a Cantonese hot pot, basically chicken broth you cook veggies and meat in. I'm having tofu tonight, I love the stuff, along with cabbage, mushrooms, green onions and rice. Let me know what you think, and feel free to give me any menu suggestions.

A Better Idiot Proof Garden System

These guys have idiot gardening down to a science! I am going to explore the watering system after, and if I ever get my bathroom finished! Read that garden site, I like it when people admit they don't know what things are called, or why they work. It's interesting. We are off to farmers markets tomorrow, yippy!

Oh yeah, one convention down, one to go. I could have put each one on for the cost of a camera and an Internet connection! The money that was wasted distresses me beyond words. I'm sure the other team's pep rally will be as opulent as this one was. It would have showed real balls for one of the teams to have had their convention online and sent every registered voter a $5 gas coupon they could print out and use. Guys, you missed your chance to shine!