Dearest Rachel – Setting aside that he’s dealing with the cold that he caught on the last day or so of the trip (which I may very well catch soon enough, and is why, despite it being Thursday, we won’t be over at the folks’ place for dinner this evening. Dad is getting more andContinue reading “Not Ready for Central Time”
Tag Archives: exercise
Outed
Dearest Rachel – You would have found it amusing on Friday evening as we were setting things up for the Family Fest at church. As I have no work schedule to speak of (in fact, I’d taken the day off for the express purpose of making sure I was home to pay Kris as soonContinue reading “Outed”
Dancing Around Another Line
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a little over a year now – more like thirteen or fourteen months, in fact – since I managed to drop myself down below two hundred and twenty pounds, seemingly never to rise from it again. Why, barely a month after crossing that line, I was coming dangerously close (inContinue reading “Dancing Around Another Line”
Not As Faithful As Some
Dearest Rachel – Ever since before the weekend, I’ve been retiring early – earlier than used to be typical for me back in the day during my work farce days, and for which you used to tease me about now and then – and, for the most part, waking up early in turn. Sometimes, I’veContinue reading “Not As Faithful As Some”
Waiting for the House Call
Dearest Rachel – While I may have been a little surprised at his emphatic reaction last year when I’d gone through my first such episode, I kind of understand why Lars refers to this process as a ‘scam,’ even though it’s arranged through our health insurance company and I’m not out of pocket (indeed, I’mContinue reading “Waiting for the House Call”
Insufficient Data
Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, when we would see the phrase I’ve used for the title of today’s letter, we would snicker to each other about how “that’s not what Tasha said.” We weren’t die-hard Trekkies, but you didn’t have to be in order to get the joke back then. And yes, itContinue reading “Insufficient Data”
To See Where I Stand
Dearest Rachel – Well, honey, despite my best efforts to take advantage of as much of the darkness as possible – especially since I wasn’t going to be heading into the ‘office’ today – my day this morning started at six, regardless. It was too late for me to realistically put in my full timeContinue reading “To See Where I Stand”
Could Have Been So Much Worse
Dearest Rachel – You might have noticed that I’ve said very little about my weight or exercise regimen over the past couple of weeks, but you probably haven’t been wondering much about its absence. After all, Daniel and I have been cruising, and you know what it’s like. You were with me on enough ofContinue reading “Could Have Been So Much Worse”
The Long Road Back to Normal
Dearest Rachel – No, I’m not talking about taking a road trip back to our old collegiate stomping grounds. Apart from a meal at Avanti’s, there’s little reason to do so (and even that is hardly compelling, given the distance and time to get there and back. It violates all of my rules regarding travelContinue reading “The Long Road Back to Normal”
Put Through Paces
Dearest Rachel – Not that it’s germane to anything else going on, but I feel the need to send you greetings on this, the fifty-fourth month since your departure. It’s been four and a half years at this point, and more often than not, the twenty-third of the month still gets my attention in aContinue reading “Put Through Paces”
The Right to My Day
Dearest Rachel – I don’t think that I’ll ever fully comprehend the ‘gym rat’ mentality – nor, as I’m sure you would expect, do I wish to; to do so would be to become one, and for all the desirable effects, there are more than enough adverse ones, primarily having to do with attitude, thatContinue reading “The Right to My Day”
Tell-Tale Feet and the Chocolate Plateau
Dearest Rachel – After telling you about how I ‘cheated’ to get under the two-fifteen line yesterday before I was to go and meet up with Lars yesterday, I didn’t have as much to talk with him about when we started to make our way around the mall. Oh, and by the way, I thinkContinue reading “Tell-Tale Feet and the Chocolate Plateau”
Hate to Disappoint
Dearest Rachel – As happens every week these days, I’m meeting up with Lars to walk for a couple of hours (granted, due to the combination of the recent heat wave and the current threat of rain, we’ll be doing so for the second straight week at the mall over in Rosemont, rather than theContinue reading “Hate to Disappoint”
A Recursive Change of Subject
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know if it’s annoying or depressing to have – or need – a filter on what I say, but such is life sometimes. There was a conversation yesterday that got me thinking about how the three of us would spend rather a lot of time in companionable silence, apart fromContinue reading “A Recursive Change of Subject”
The Price of Recovery
Dearest Rachel – Well, as much as I may have complained yesterday that it wasn’t instantaneous, my foot certainly feels much better this morning. I can still feel a slight nagging if I try to wiggle my big toe, and there’s a noticeable twinge if I put too much weight on the meaty part ofContinue reading “The Price of Recovery”
Of Plumb-bobs and Progress Bars
Dearest Rachel – You probably remember earlier iterations of The Sims much better than I do (even now); while I bought myself a copy of Sims4 a while back, I never really got into it. Heck, I barely bother to play Civilization these days, and I got into that game. I guess there are soContinue reading “Of Plumb-bobs and Progress Bars”
Watching the Numbers Bounce
Dearest Rachel – Ever since I determined that ‘Megumi’ (assuming, as always, that she exists) wouldn’t be interested in a 275-pound dad bod, I’ve been finally getting around to doing more things that would cause (or at least encourage) me to lose weight; particularly the basics of eating less (and/or healthier) and exercising. It hasn’tContinue reading “Watching the Numbers Bounce”
The Chill and the Damp
Dearest Rachel – When April showers May come your way They bring the flowers That bloom in May That’s all well and good, but what’s to be said about the showers that come in May? Does this mean they’re deferring the blossoms until June or something? And if they are, that’s not necessarily a goodContinue reading “The Chill and the Damp”
Not Really Trying
Dearest Rachel – I’ve told you before about the running app that keeps track of my exercise regimen on a weekly basis, and how it’s meant to motivate me to keep up with the effort I’ve put in during previous weeks. It also doesn’t hurt that – as with any other social network – thereContinue reading “Not Really Trying”
Cramping My Schedule
Dearest Rachel – I’ll admit, I had planned to skip my usual weekday workout this morning anyway. Sure, I hadn’t hit the gym all weekend, due to working in the booth – which required a lot more active attention to details than some times, due to the unpredictable nature of baptism weekend – nor didContinue reading “Cramping My Schedule”
Nearly Bird
Dearest Rachel – This is hardly groundbreaking news – especially to you, of all people – but very few of us, once we reach a certain point in our adult life, care to admit to our advancing age, even to ourselves. We would prefer to be, and act, like someone considerably younger than ourselves; asContinue reading “Nearly Bird”
A Little More Sun
Dearest Rachel – It would seem that this morning exercise routine, reluctant though I am to follow it, is something of a self-perpetuating cycle. I put in some seven-plus miles on the treadmill yesterday, and by nine o’clock, I was as ready to fall asleep in my chair than actually bother with watching another videoContinue reading “A Little More Sun”
Too Early, Too Cold… Too Late?
Dearest Rachel – You won’t believe how early it was when I first wake up. Then again, if you were still here you might not have had to believe it, since we could have been crossing paths (assuming I followed through, in my somnambulant state); you would have seen I was up, and wondered why.Continue reading “Too Early, Too Cold… Too Late?”
Cheat Day (and a Half)
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure if you’d be grateful for it or wondering about the topic’s recent absence, but you might have noticed that I haven’t been telling you much about my weight loss journey for the past week or so. Much of what’s been going on has had to do with my carContinue reading “Cheat Day (and a Half)”
All the Time in the World?
Dearest Rachel – Daniel has been asking me multiple times throughout the past day whether I’ve heard from the dealership about the status of the work being done on my vehicle. After just a single day of me appropriating his/your car, it would seem that he would like it back. It seems a little weird,Continue reading “All the Time in the World?”
Wheels and Feet
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday had me bringing in the car to the dealership to have it looked at. Officially, I was only overdue for an oil change, but there are places I can go where that can be done quicker and more efficiently, in my opinion (although I can’t necessarily speak for ‘cheaper’; evenContinue reading “Wheels and Feet”
Another Part of the Routine
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned before how, at the moment, I’m best able to come up with (or at least start on) topics to relate to you in between crunch sets at the gym. I’m not sure why; it’s probably from having to do something while I’m catching my breath, and this is as goodContinue reading “Another Part of the Routine”
Competing With Myself
Dearest Rachel – Even though the wind isn’t whistling at its worst this morning, it’s more than sufficient to remind me that spring isn’t quite here yet. What motion the air has in this thirty degree environment is enough for me to feel like my arms are clad in steel wool; even as calm asContinue reading “Competing With Myself”
The Price of a Jones
Dearest Rachel – Obviously, you know I’m not talking about the mythical neighbors who our generation (and the one before us) would often attempt to try to “keep up with.” You and I, while growing up, never had the same tastes as the general public, as we knew them to be; why expend the effortContinue reading “The Price of a Jones”
Back From Backsliding
Dearest Rachel – I woke up with an idea to write you about this morning, and even began adding to it between reps at the gym (I’ve gotten into a pattern of doing twenty-five crunches at a time, with pauses in between on the way to a total of a hundred – remember when thatContinue reading “Back From Backsliding”
Ice Cream Headache
Dearest Rachel – It should come as no surprise that, upon returning from the cruise last month, I found myself not only no longer dancing around the two-ten line that I’d been considering a near-permanent plateau after four or five months, but hovering around the two-twenty line I hadn’t been at for as many monthsContinue reading “Ice Cream Headache”
I’m Not Sick (I Think)
Dearest Rachel – …♫but I’m not welllll♪… Just after telling you about my consistency at the gym this week – and putting in five-plus miles each time in a matter of sixty-five minutes – I woke up this morning stiff and sore, and in no mood to get over there and put in my now-dailyContinue reading “I’m Not Sick (I Think)”
Limits to My Adaptation
Dearest Rachel – Not to brag or anything, but I didn’t expect to be able, let alone willing, to hit the ground running (well, walking uphill really fast, anyway) upon returning from the cruise with Lars. After all, it wasn’t as if I spent any appreciable time in the gym aboard the ship, despite itContinue reading “Limits to My Adaptation”
State of Normalcy
Dearest Rachel – Is it strange that it’s been half a week since getting off the ship before I start telling you anything about life back home? You’d think that there wasn’t anything to talk about here, now that I’ve returned to a state of normalcy. And let’s face it, you wouldn’t be that farContinue reading “State of Normalcy”
Cause and Effect?
Dearest Rachel – I know I’ve touched on the subject even since the new year began; for all I know, you’re tired of hearing about it. But as it’s a long-term goal that will take several years yet to fully accomplish (let alone what reaching what this goal is meant to result in), you’ll justContinue reading “Cause and Effect?”
Needing More Rest
Early to bed, and early to riseMakes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack Early to rise, and early to bedMakes a man healthy, but socially dead. Yakko Warner, Animaniacs Dearest Rachel – After a night rehearsing for the Christmas Eve service (and hoping in vain that I could find aContinue reading “Needing More Rest”
The Extra ⅔ Mile
Dearest Rachel – The last couple of mornings have seen me awake with a little more time on my hands; enough time not only to go work out and get back before I’d be expected to be anywhere as part of what constitutes a “routine” for the day (let’s face it; the “routine” for aContinue reading “The Extra ⅔ Mile”
Taking the Chariot
Dearest Rachel – Setting aside the whole process of building up my initial motivation every morning – which basically consists of stepping on the scale and realizing I’m back over a line I’d just as soon put in my rear view mirror – my workout routine has basically become a matter of ascertaining and pushingContinue reading “Taking the Chariot”
The Cold Shock That Shouldn’t Be
Dearest Rachel – Between the fact that I spent the better part of an hour refusing to concede that I had bobbed to consciousness for the day, and the actual time I took collecting and arranging myself to walk the (now officially measured) third of a mile to the fitness center this morning, you’d thinkContinue reading “The Cold Shock That Shouldn’t Be”
The Rules of Recab
Dearest Rachel – There’s an obscure story in the middle of the book of Jeremiah, in chapter 35, where the prophet is instructed to invite members of a certain family, descendants of a man named Recab, to eat with him at the Temple. Now, it so happens that this family had a number of traditions,Continue reading “The Rules of Recab”
Can’t Give It Up
Dearest Rachel – Which would you rather do, honey; something you hated for an hour or two, or give up something you loved for a day or more?  More to the point, if you had to do both in order to accomplish a certain goal, which do you think you would have the mostContinue reading “Can’t Give It Up”
Any Topic But This
Dearest Rachel – Another day, another morning where I’d just as soon stay in bed. It’s gray and dreary out, despite the extra light provided at this hour by moving the clocks back in the wee hours of yesterday, and while it’s not exactly cold out – in fact, this is as warm as it’sContinue reading “Any Topic But This”
Listening To The Rain
Dearest Rachel – I opened my eyes this morning to the usual darkness; there wasn’t much for me to see, even if I were to bother to put my glasses on. I didn’t even bother to check the time first, as I could hear the rain on the bedroom roof. It didn’t sound as ifContinue reading “Listening To The Rain”
Upending The Schedule
Dearest Rachel – Assuming you’ve been keeping an eye on me like I always ask you to, you know what my schedule looks like on an average day. For that matter, it’s not that much different than it was when you were still around, come to that. I’d get up in the morning, head overContinue reading “Upending The Schedule”
Those First Few Realizations
Dearest Rachel – Good morning, and I hope you’re enjoying your forty-fifth month in the Kingdom. I admit to not always acknowledging these months anymore as they pass. Much of the time, it’s because I’m actually preoccupied with what passes for my usual life, and I don’t notice the day has come and gone untilContinue reading “Those First Few Realizations”
Chipping Away at Progress
Dearest Rachel – After waking up from (and amazingly, going back to, at least for an hour or so before conceding to the day) a dream about having been college buddies with Matsuhito, the future Emperor Meiji (setting the anachronisms aside, the idea that a future Japanese emperor would study abroad when his country wasContinue reading “Chipping Away at Progress”
A Weight Off My Ankles
Dearest Rachel – Since I wasn’t completely laid up by my cold during the latter half of last week – sure, I confined myself to the house for a day, but it wasn’t as if I was flat on my back for the better part of twenty-four hours like I used to be – itContinue reading “A Weight Off My Ankles”
Breaking Training
Dearest Rachel – Thanks to the effects of this cold – symptoms such as coughing, congestion and sneezing, combined with more peripheral effects such as body aches and a general malaise, not to mention the concern about further contagion – this is the third morning in a row in which I haven’t made it toContinue reading “Breaking Training”
In No Hurry… And Yet…
Dearest Rachel – One of the great advantages of the early retirement that you permitted me to take is that I’m not beholden to the various time pressures of the workaday world. I don’t have to set an alarm; I can wake up organically, without having to subject myself to its insistent screech every morning.Continue reading “In No Hurry… And Yet…”
Rough Start
Dearest Rachel – It occurs to me that, if you were still around, and I was doing the same thing that I’m doing now (which, I’ll be honest, seems unlikely, as why would I need to change for you?), I don’t think I’d be talking as much about my workout regimen, as it wouldn’t exactlyContinue reading “Rough Start”
Puzzling Dissatisfaction
Dearest Rachel – Two hundred ten point five. That’s what I was looking at this morning when I first woke up; before making my way to the gym to work out. Yesterday aside, I’d only seen that number after a hour or more of vigorous exercise, and only a couple of times before bobbing backContinue reading “Puzzling Dissatisfaction”
Walking On Fumes
Dearest Rachel – When I got up this morning at 3:30 (I have no idea why or how – I was up until 10:30 last night watching videos with Daniel, so it’s not like I had what I would call an early bedtime. Yes, I know you’d call it that, but five hours isn’t aContinue reading “Walking On Fumes”
To Descend Without Stumbling
Dearest Rachel – I’ll say one thing for these weekends in which I’ve purposed myself to go without eating for forty-plus hours; they make Monday that much more bearable (even setting aside the fact that I don’t have to worry about going to work anymore). At least this morning, I can finally allow myself somethingContinue reading “To Descend Without Stumbling”
Observable Increments
Dearest Rachel – Well, it seems like you can strike what I said yesterday about things not having changed from year to year at our Awana club. There are, in fact, a few fairly drastic changes this time around. In fact, I may be out of my usual job entirely – they seem to haveContinue reading “Observable Increments”
Taking Compliments
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday had me breaking my weekend fast at a holiday party at Jeff and Julie’s place; ironically, my last meal had taken place Saturday morning with Jeff in attendance as well, so he probably thinks I eat a lot more often than I do. I can’t recall at this point if you’dContinue reading “Taking Compliments”
Awake, But Not Eager
Dearest Rachel – After an afternoon spent walking with Lars (and these afternoons are getting longer; for the last three weeks, we’ve gone under the tunnels below the Edens Expressway, and ventured to the next major street the preserve path takes us, adding nearly a full mile to our customary route) and an evening spentContinue reading “Awake, But Not Eager”
For the Rest of My Life
Dearest Rachel – I can’t say that I remember when I was first prescribed it, but it had to have been within the past decade; at some point after one or another company-ordered physical, I was informed that I had to go on lisinopril for high blood pressure. Not that it seemed to matter; whenContinue reading “For the Rest of My Life”
Keeping it Up, Dialing it Down
Dearest Rachel – Morning, and my leg still hurts when I roll out of bed or get up from my chair. It would seem that the weekend off I gave has had no effect, in terms of letting the muscles heal. The thing is, even I know I can’t let them lie unused for anContinue reading “Keeping it Up, Dialing it Down”
A Weekend Off
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve mentioned it before, but only in passing, as I sort of assumed that it was a momentary thing, due to the stress of (relative) overwork and the effects of the early morning. The old slogan is “no pain, no gain,” after all, and the pain is merely supposed toContinue reading “A Weekend Off”
Am I Really Doing Well?
Dearest Rachel – One of the side effects of this new habit of mine of daily exercise is the paradoxical fact that I wake up more sore than when I went to bed. One of the very points of sleep is to let your body rest and heal itself, so that by morning, you shouldContinue reading “Am I Really Doing Well?”
Pondering This Morning’s Earworm
Dearest Rachel – It seems apropos of absolutely nothing, but that’s pretty much how earworms work; like dreams, they aren’t required – or even expected – to make much sense. And yet, in some ways, it gives one something to think about, even if it’s only the obvious (and somewhat unanswerable, given the previous statement)Continue reading “Pondering This Morning’s Earworm”
Obsession? Compulsion?
Dearest Rachel – As happens all too often these days, I find myself waking up to a dark room, staring at the ceiling. This would be understandable during the winter, but this far into July, I should be comfortably sleeping in, especially after putting in twenty-five thousand steps yesterday, between working out at the gymContinue reading “Obsession? Compulsion?”
The Joys of Being a Quitter
Dearest Rachel – I woke up this morning to the quiet darkness I’ve known all along that I appreciate for a good night’s sleep, after having had to deal with yet another tiny nightmare of Mohinder berating me for being a quitter. Given my surroundings, I was looking forward to rolling over and putting onContinue reading “The Joys of Being a Quitter”
Finding Myself Well
Dearest Rachel – Hope this letter finds you well. I also hope that you don’t mind that it’s coming to you a bit later than I usually try to get them sent to you, but the events of the morning have kept me busier than usual; plus, they strike me as being more worth tellingContinue reading “Finding Myself Well”
Give the Superego What it Wants…
Dearest Rachel – There are some mornings, honey, where I come to the conclusion that I don’t necessarily like who and what I’ve become. This morning found me lying in bed at a little after four, with that little nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that “well, as long as you’reContinue reading “Give the Superego What it Wants…”
Lowering the Ceiling
Dearest Rachel – …And this is why I think I can still take a little pride in just maintaining my weight while traveling the world on that cruise ship, despite never quite being able to escape from that same ten-pound range I would occasionally feel trapped in. The fact that I didn’t gain a considerableContinue reading “Lowering the Ceiling”
The Extent of the Effect
Dearest Rachel – “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” So goes Isaac Newton’s first law of motion, the product of the Enlightenment concept of experimentation and observation, as opposed to blind acceptance of received wisdom from generations past. Best envisioned (and demonstrated) on a billiard table or a croquet lawn, thisContinue reading “The Extent of the Effect”
A Herd of Boxen
Dearest Rachel – Being the grammar maven that you were, you might look at that title and get a little puzzled. What the heck are ‘boxen’?, you might ask. Then again, you were the one who introduced me to Richard Lederer, and his books on grammar and the English language. You might remember his parodicalContinue reading “A Herd of Boxen”
An Honest Cheat Day
Dearest Rachel – Four-thirty in the morning, and I’m awake. It doesn’t exactly surprise me; while a little earlier than most days this week, I’ve been getting into something of a habit of waking up early enough to walk down to the gym and put in a few miles of walking in before getting backContinue reading “An Honest Cheat Day”
He Wants No Part of It
Dearest Rachel – The other day, I observed about how Daniel doesn’t really seem to have much of a handle on adulting. Oh, he can manage a thing or two when the chips are down; in fact, just this morning, he was calling the insurance company about the fender bender he got into a coupleContinue reading “He Wants No Part of It”
I Still Have My Appetite
Dearest Rachel – It’s almost funny; last week, I was struck at various times by a good half-dozen ideas of thoughts to tell you about – and which didn’t pertain to the moment at hand, so they could be kept in reserve until such time as I didn’t have much to tell you about fromContinue reading “I Still Have My Appetite”
I Don’t Like Piña Coladas, Either
Dearest Rachel – A few years ago, there was this song that was part of the top 40 repertoire whose chorus began with “if you like piña coladas / and getting caught in the rain…” I never bothered to look further into it, since as far as I was concerned, it was nothing but anContinue reading “I Don’t Like Piña Coladas, Either”
That’s Just Not Its Purpose
Dearest Rachel – Despite the fact that, in the moment, it obviously seems as such, there’s no longer any such think as waking up “too early.” What with the gym being open at four, I would have to get up at a ridiculous hour to not have at least this option to do what IContinue reading “That’s Just Not Its Purpose”
It Takes More Than Just Sweat
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a very hot weekend, honey. Not just outside – which has indeed been hot, getting well up into the 90s – but inside as well. On Friday, Logan pointed out that the pipes for the air conditioner had frost all over them, and when I called the HVAC people toContinue reading “It Takes More Than Just Sweat”
Counting Steps
Dearest Rachel – You know, it’s hard for me to get a sense of proportion sometimes, especially when it comes to distances. I try my best to relate the length of the walk between our house and the fitness center to that of, say, the Serenade of the Seas, but I just can’t seem toContinue reading “Counting Steps”
Lapse
Dearest Rachel – These letters aren’t meant to be a confessional of any sort, but occasionally I feel a little compelled to do so regardless. And I know the thing that I’d be confessing this morning wouldn’t be of any concern to you – while I don’t think we we exactly enabled each other, weContinue reading “Lapse”
Not Today
Dearest Rachel – I woke up again – sort of – at four in the morning today, but this time around, I couldn’t bring myself to get up and go work out. And just like yesterday, it prompts the question as to ‘why,’ but from the opposite direction. Some of the reasons I might giveContinue reading “Not Today”
Not What I Was Promised
Dearest Rachel – I found myself waking up at barely four o’clock this morning; I’ve no idea why. Rather than simply roll over and go back to sleep, I found myself compelled to head down to the gym in the already slightly muggy (not that I haven’t experienced worse) twilight. Again, I neither know norContinue reading “Not What I Was Promised”
Not According to Plan
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday did not go according to my plan for it, honey. Ordinarily, I try to fast over the weekend when I’m working the booth; and while there was the temptation of a party involving the worship team after the Saturday service (which for the sake of my social life, I probably shouldContinue reading “Not According to Plan”
Eighty-Three Steps
Dearest Rachel – They say that travel is broadening, and, given my effort at weight loss over the past couple of years, that’s exactly the sort of thing I didn’t need. But it was something I was keenly aware of as I launched out on my trip this year. Cruise ships are famous (infamous? IContinue reading “Eighty-Three Steps”
Empty Minds and Screens
Dearest Rachel – I was up earlier than usual today, for reasons that escape me. Daniel seemed to have fallen asleep with one of his internet broadcasts on, and the noise of it would occasionally seep into the bedroom and stir me to wakefulness. So I finally gave up around a little after five, andContinue reading “Empty Minds and Screens”
Dragging Him Out of the House
Dearest Rachel – It’s probably completely unnecessary for me to do this; Daniel has gotten out of the house on a regular basis in my absence. Partly out of necessity, of course, since I’ve not been around to go shopping for whatever the household may lack over these last couple of months, but also forContinue reading “Dragging Him Out of the House”
Back To The Plan
Dearest Rachel – It’s taken a few extra days for me to do this, but I’ve finally got around to it. Maybe it stems from a guilty conscience about what I admitted to yesterday (combined with the fact that, as per said admission, I slept far too much during the day, and not all thatContinue reading “Back To The Plan”
I Paid For This Room
Dearest Rachel – There’s a certain irony in my telling you about how, on these sea days, I prefer to stay in my room, while at the same time I’m hanging out elsewhere on the ship. In my defense, this is partly because this is about the time when I could be expecting Marlon toContinue reading “I Paid For This Room”
When I Let Myself Go…
Dearest Rachel – For all that I’ve been able to enjoy myself in these ports of call (particularly here in my beloved Japan), I don’t mind telling you that I’m looking forward to this stretch of sea days. It’s not as if we’re deep in the middle of the Pacific, like we were during muchContinue reading “When I Let Myself Go…”
Pulled From My Stateroom
Dearest Rachel – As comfortable as I am in my stateroom – and as much as I know I’m going to be familiar with every inch of this ship soon enough – I have this sense that I can’t simply stay in my room all the time. If nothing else, my attendant, I Komang, isContinue reading “Pulled From My Stateroom”
Improbable Hand-Me-Downs
Dearest Rachel – I know that, over the past year or so that I’ve combined watching what I eat with a regular pattern of exercising, I’ve managed to get myself down to a reasonable (if not yet necessarily ideal) weight. I’ve shed more than fifty pounds, to the point where I’ve spent the last couple ofContinue reading “Improbable Hand-Me-Downs”
Proof of Concept
Dearest Rachel – I’ve concluded that there’s no way that I’m going to be able to tell you everything about my upcoming trip in so many words; pictures are going to be necessary, and perhaps moving pictures even more so. So between one thing and another, I’ve decided to put together short video letters to tellContinue reading “Proof of Concept”
The Climbing Belt
Dearest Rachel – Not all nightmares could be considered universal; I’m pretty sure that my dream last night would have been enthusiastically embraced by at least one person I know, but the very idea scares the fertilizer out of me. I literally had to be coerced into doing it because if I didn’t, someone I knewContinue reading “The Climbing Belt”
Backing Away From the Brink
Dearest Rachel – The other day, after our usual walk from Harms Woods to New Trier H.S. and back, Lars and I decided to revisit a place we’d been to once before the holidays. It’s in his neck of the woods, but he’s not ordinarily a fan of what it offers – although in fairness toContinue reading “Backing Away From the Brink”
Easy On the Envelope
Dearest Rachel – On paper – or on the calendar, anyway – I gave up this weekend; I didn’t manage to fast at all. Both days saw me eating something, despite the fact that, apart from December (because, you know, parties and other holiday get-togethers), I’ve been trying to go without when I’m working the boothContinue reading “Easy On the Envelope”
As Long as They’ll Let Me Show Up
Dearest Rachel – My scale didn’t groan when I stepped on it – after all this time, it’s certainly seen (and felt) much worse – but I rather did inwardly to see my highest weight of the year. And yes, I know that’s a ridiculously short span of time, which sounds longer than it is (hadContinue reading “As Long as They’ll Let Me Show Up”
God’s Veto Power
Dearest Rachel – You would have never countenanced it: “Son, when you leave, can you take that out of here? It’s been in the corner for too long already, and I don’t feel like looking at it anymore.” “Okay, sure, Dad; I’ll bring it back to the house.” “No, don’t bring it back to my house.”Continue reading “God’s Veto Power”
The Important Out of Focus
Dearest Rachel – Given the situation that’s been more or less dominating our lives for the past two weeks, even overshadowing the Christmas season and its attendant hustle and bustle, you would think that I would have more to say about Dad at this point. If nothing else, I’m pretty sure I’d given you the impressionContinue reading “The Important Out of Focus”
Given the Chair
Dearest Rachel – For dad, progress continues apace. Yesterday morning, for whatever reason, he was uncomfortable with just lying in his bed, and was begging Mom to summon the nurses to help him to sit up, if just for a few minutes. Naturally, we considered this to be wonderful news, although his insistent request seemed aContinue reading “Given the Chair”
To Fear the Day Ahead
Dearest Rachel – It’s not yet four in the morning; while, being Friday, I have every intention in my mind to head out and exercise, I’m not ready to do so. And it’s not just because the facility won’t be open for an hour an a half, or that I’m dealing with the usual squabblesContinue reading “To Fear the Day Ahead”
When You Hit the Ground Running Too Hard
Dearest Rachel – While I’ve told you a number of times about how my body and mind don’t get along with each other on this subject (if nothing else, my body has insisted that it doesn’t think it’s getting much out of the bargain but aches and pains, to which my mind counters that theContinue reading “When You Hit the Ground Running Too Hard”
The Brits Have a Term for It
Dearest Rachel – More than most people, I’m quite well aware about of how we Yanks and the Brits are “separated by a common language.” On this side of “the pond,” my name is just that – a name – while over there, it’s not used as a name for the very reason that itContinue reading “The Brits Have a Term for It”
For the Sake of the Goal
Dearest Rachel – It’s not unprecedented, mind you, but it’s admittedly unseasonal for December to start off in the mid-forties, especially before the sun has risen. It really should be colder out, especially since it’s still dark. I don’t think I’ll even need a jacket as I head off to the gym – which isContinue reading “For the Sake of the Goal”
The Hard Way
Dearest Rachel – To think that I was just telling you yesterday about the beauty of the first snows of winter. That beauty comes at rather a cost, after all, foremost of which is the cold. Already, I find myself challenged as to how heavily to dress for one activity or another – for example,Continue reading “The Hard Way”
Letters to Rachel 