Alligatorob's Diary
- Thread starter alligatorob
- Start date
Yes, indeed - a wonderful city, with fascinating history. I've read heaps about it - never seen it, and don't suppose I ever will, partly because of the local feeling about being overrun by tourists - which is becoming a problem in lots of places, unhappily.
I'm loving the sound of all the pizzas being mentioned here - the tomato and jalapeno one, and the spicy veggie one, and the calorie-counted pizza, with stacks of salad on the side! Time to look out that recipe for home-made pizza, maybe - not for this week, but maybe for next?
That's great you are getting out on your bike! My daughter has knee problems, so riding bikes is great because it is so easy on the knees and so much fun!
I adore Venice and could have stayed there forever. I should look up more of the history - I bet it's fascinating!!
I adore Venice and could have stayed there forever. I should look up more of the history - I bet it's fascinating!!
alligatorob
Respected Member
It was a good day, a busy one. The rest of the family had planned my birthday celebration for today and they fed me well. I tried eating some of everything, just not a whole lot. Ended up a few calories more than usual, but not many.
I took another 5 laps around our gravel drive on the bike, about 1/2 mile with about 50 ft of ups and downs. I am beginning to realize just how out of shape I am, and how far I have to go. Even after this short ride my legs were complaining. I know part of the problem is that I haven't been on a bike since I was young so my expectation as to what I could do was based on my 20 something self, not my 60 something self. I plan to stick with it and try to get to a flat paved place that will allow me to do a longer easier ride. I know some roads that would work, we live at least 30 miles from the nearest actual paved bicycle trail, lots of rugged off road mountain bike trails closer, but I am not ready for those, not even close. Doing these laps is probably a good way to start, I am sure I'll get better, just need to be patient.
Pulled the boat out today after a last trip out on the lake. Its starting to get cold, the mountains are beginning to be snow capped. In a couple of months it will be down here. The picture is from the boat.
Days like today calories are harder for me to track, I do my best. Its funny sometimes I get tempted to underestimate or rationalize lower counts. I have to remind myself that what I write does isn't really what matters, its what I eat that matters. Keeping an honest count really helps keep me on track.
Sunday
breakfast
melon, cantaloupe and honey dew, sadly the end is getting near for melons in the field next door 30
half a biscuit (the american kind) 30
small portion of sausage gravy 70
small portion of potatoes 118
1 scrambled egg 91
snack
peach 49
2 tortilla chips 29
dinner
lean steak 424
corn on the cob 155
guacamole 95
tomato 45
nightcap
whiskey sitting around the fire whilst helping the kids with s'mores 200
total calories 1,336
In 1336 (or so) BC Tutankhamun, King Tut, became Pharaoh of Egypt. He ruled for fewer than 10 years and did little remarkable, that I can see anyway. His great fame comes from the discovery of his tomb, more or less intact, in 1922, more than 3,000 years after his death. We probably know as much or more about Tut's physical stature and health than anyone of that time. Enough to know that when he died at the age of about 18 he was about 5 ft 6 inches, had an overbite, scoliosis, a cleft palate, and a club foot. He also suffered from among other things malaria and possible mental retardation. Not a very healthy guy all in all.
I took another 5 laps around our gravel drive on the bike, about 1/2 mile with about 50 ft of ups and downs. I am beginning to realize just how out of shape I am, and how far I have to go. Even after this short ride my legs were complaining. I know part of the problem is that I haven't been on a bike since I was young so my expectation as to what I could do was based on my 20 something self, not my 60 something self. I plan to stick with it and try to get to a flat paved place that will allow me to do a longer easier ride. I know some roads that would work, we live at least 30 miles from the nearest actual paved bicycle trail, lots of rugged off road mountain bike trails closer, but I am not ready for those, not even close. Doing these laps is probably a good way to start, I am sure I'll get better, just need to be patient.
Pulled the boat out today after a last trip out on the lake. Its starting to get cold, the mountains are beginning to be snow capped. In a couple of months it will be down here. The picture is from the boat.
Days like today calories are harder for me to track, I do my best. Its funny sometimes I get tempted to underestimate or rationalize lower counts. I have to remind myself that what I write does isn't really what matters, its what I eat that matters. Keeping an honest count really helps keep me on track.
Sunday
breakfast
melon, cantaloupe and honey dew, sadly the end is getting near for melons in the field next door 30
half a biscuit (the american kind) 30
small portion of sausage gravy 70
small portion of potatoes 118
1 scrambled egg 91
snack
peach 49
2 tortilla chips 29
dinner
lean steak 424
corn on the cob 155
guacamole 95
tomato 45
nightcap
whiskey sitting around the fire whilst helping the kids with s'mores 200
total calories 1,336
In 1336 (or so) BC Tutankhamun, King Tut, became Pharaoh of Egypt. He ruled for fewer than 10 years and did little remarkable, that I can see anyway. His great fame comes from the discovery of his tomb, more or less intact, in 1922, more than 3,000 years after his death. We probably know as much or more about Tut's physical stature and health than anyone of that time. Enough to know that when he died at the age of about 18 he was about 5 ft 6 inches, had an overbite, scoliosis, a cleft palate, and a club foot. He also suffered from among other things malaria and possible mental retardation. Not a very healthy guy all in all.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Thanks LaMa and Petal, we live up against the mountain, just to the left of this picture. We are too close to it for a great view, getting out on the lake lets me get back to where I can get a good picture. This "lake" is actually an impediment that until the 1960s was a part of the Great Salt Lake, it was dammed off and freshwater replaced the salt water. You can see how narrow the strip of habitable land is between the mountains and the Lake.
Petal, I think our winters are pretty harsh, but that's in comparison to Florida. We get some snow and cold, but the sun shines a lot and the air is dry, so its not too bad. I think our winters are colder than either Ireland or Vienna, but we are not so far north, so the days are a little longer, and we probably see the sun more than either of you. We are at an elevation of about 4,500 ft but lower than the mountains, and our winters are of course milder than the more famous Utah ski resorts.
The boat, out of water. Nothing fancy, but it gets us out on the water.
Petal, I think our winters are pretty harsh, but that's in comparison to Florida. We get some snow and cold, but the sun shines a lot and the air is dry, so its not too bad. I think our winters are colder than either Ireland or Vienna, but we are not so far north, so the days are a little longer, and we probably see the sun more than either of you. We are at an elevation of about 4,500 ft but lower than the mountains, and our winters are of course milder than the more famous Utah ski resorts.
The boat, out of water. Nothing fancy, but it gets us out on the water.
Vienna used to get cold winters (hip-high snow that wouldn´t melt until April or so) at least until the 1950s but these days we often only get a dusting a couple of times a year. I´ve been here for 15 years now and we´ve only had proper snow (>30 cm) lasting more than a couple of days maybe... 3-5 times?
Happy Birthday! Nice you could enjoy it and stay just above calories for the day, too! I love your mountain - very striking and majestic! I love little boats like that. My grandfather used to take me out fishing in a boat that size on all sorts of lakes and rivers. So relaxing and fun! Do you plan to stay where you are when you retire or move somewhere warmer? You are doing great with the bike on gravel - that sounds like a good core building exercise balancing on shifting hard to get through ground like that!
alligatorob
Respected Member
It was a good day. I ate well, and wasn't tempted not to. I feel good.
Five more laps on the bike today, this is kind of embarrassing struggling to do what seems to me to be so little exercise. Its nice to be able to admit to it here, no shaming on this forum! This is not what I pictured my first bike riding to be like. My legs are still complaining and I got a little winded, I did ride the laps a little faster than before. I know it will take a while before I can see any difference in my abilities, but I plan to stick with it and do my best. I am going to stick with the gravel drive, its my driveway and I know if I am going to make a go of this I need to be able to do the gravel. I have still not attempted the hill to get out of my drive, I am waiting until I feel a bit stronger with the laps. By any other bike rider's standards its a pretty small hill, but right now it looks kind of intimidating to me.
My wife proudly holding our biggest eggplant of the season, a real trophy.
Sunday
breakfast
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
peach slices 25
cantaloupe 60
lunch
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
peach slices 49
snack
2 peaches 98
dinner - eggplant soufflé
eggplant 40
cheese 100
egg 78
tomato 40
snack
fritos 156
total calories 1,026
Saul became the first King of the Israelites in 1026 BC. Saul had a mixed relationship with David, at first promoting him, but then fearing and fighting with him. David became King 2 years after Saul's death.
Five more laps on the bike today, this is kind of embarrassing struggling to do what seems to me to be so little exercise. Its nice to be able to admit to it here, no shaming on this forum! This is not what I pictured my first bike riding to be like. My legs are still complaining and I got a little winded, I did ride the laps a little faster than before. I know it will take a while before I can see any difference in my abilities, but I plan to stick with it and do my best. I am going to stick with the gravel drive, its my driveway and I know if I am going to make a go of this I need to be able to do the gravel. I have still not attempted the hill to get out of my drive, I am waiting until I feel a bit stronger with the laps. By any other bike rider's standards its a pretty small hill, but right now it looks kind of intimidating to me.
My wife proudly holding our biggest eggplant of the season, a real trophy.
Sunday
breakfast
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
peach slices 25
cantaloupe 60
lunch
yogurt 80
cereal - grapenuts 110
peach slices 49
snack
2 peaches 98
dinner - eggplant soufflé
eggplant 40
cheese 100
egg 78
tomato 40
snack
fritos 156
total calories 1,026
Saul became the first King of the Israelites in 1026 BC. Saul had a mixed relationship with David, at first promoting him, but then fearing and fighting with him. David became King 2 years after Saul's death.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Thanks all, I am hoping to conquer the hill. Petal, I checked our drive to the pavement on Google Earth and its only 0.13 km, about the same as yours. Its not the distance but the steepness and gravel that are my problem. I walk it from time to time with no trouble, but when walking pacing is easy riding a bike you have to climb a lot faster, it takes more instantaneous energy output. And I can't let the speed get too slow in that gravel without falling. I'll get it, and hopefully one day look back and laugh at how easy it was.
Marisa and Cate, from yesterday. I am where I expect to die, no more moves. I have a long history of living in and out of Utah, when I was 16 my Father took a job in Utah and moved the family here, I stayed for a few years then went back to school in Louisiana. Over the years I moved back here a couple of times, this is the fourth time. My wife is from Utah and long ago I promised her we'd move back when retirement time came, she called in that promise a couple of years ago so here we are. Not that I'm complaining this place has some very nice things, I like it. But I will always be a southern at heart, just a transplanted one (that's a US southerner, I know the Australians here are a whole lot more southern geographically, in the US being a southerner is more about culture than geography). I am still working part time, but becoming more retired every day. I am an independent consulting engineer with a number of clients. All have been told of my retirement so now I am just working off the projects I have. I am now down to about half time, should be completely retired in a year or so.
Petal & Marisa we consistently grew aubergine that big and bigger in Florida, the climate is better for aubergine there. I think we have now figured out how to grow them here. I kind of like the aubergine name, if I figure out how to pronounce it I might use it from time to time. Could make me sound more educated or something.
Marisa and Cate, from yesterday. I am where I expect to die, no more moves. I have a long history of living in and out of Utah, when I was 16 my Father took a job in Utah and moved the family here, I stayed for a few years then went back to school in Louisiana. Over the years I moved back here a couple of times, this is the fourth time. My wife is from Utah and long ago I promised her we'd move back when retirement time came, she called in that promise a couple of years ago so here we are. Not that I'm complaining this place has some very nice things, I like it. But I will always be a southern at heart, just a transplanted one (that's a US southerner, I know the Australians here are a whole lot more southern geographically, in the US being a southerner is more about culture than geography). I am still working part time, but becoming more retired every day. I am an independent consulting engineer with a number of clients. All have been told of my retirement so now I am just working off the projects I have. I am now down to about half time, should be completely retired in a year or so.
Petal & Marisa we consistently grew aubergine that big and bigger in Florida, the climate is better for aubergine there. I think we have now figured out how to grow them here. I kind of like the aubergine name, if I figure out how to pronounce it I might use it from time to time. Could make me sound more educated or something.
Hi Rob! Your gravel hill sounds kinda metaphorical. A bit like Sisyphus' hill, except there are thousands of teeny tiny boulders keeping you from conquering the hill! Let's try rolling up a hill of little rolling stones. You'll do it though!
I was going to post an aubergine pronunciation, but LaMa beat me to it.
Do you have plans for retirement, any traveling or anything like that? Do you do physical engineering where you get to drive by your finished project? That would be so cool...
I was going to post an aubergine pronunciation, but LaMa beat me to it.
Do you have plans for retirement, any traveling or anything like that? Do you do physical engineering where you get to drive by your finished project? That would be so cool...
Petal001
New member
Rob thanks for the update on your moves . It can be fun moving about . I feel like I have another move ahead of me . Not 100 per cent at home here . Time will tell . I’m assuming you work from home Rob . Sounds like you are prepared from retirement . Make sure you tell us when and we can have a party . How great you will enter retirement fitter , slimmer and healthier . What a gift