One Positive - 21.5

 

I have to say that this weekend, I did get one happy bit of news.... my wife and I weigh ourselves each Sunday morning before breakfast and have done this for well over 20 years now at least.  

Well, I recall sometime back I wrote about how I was dismayed that I had gained roughly 7-8 pounds over what I consider my "ideal" and had it been nagging at me.  I can now say that I am once again set in the dead center of the Body Mass Index (BMI) for my height.  I have lost ~7 pounds.  My BMI is a 21.5 (dead center of the "normal" range).  I weight 165 pounds now (~75kg; ~11.75 stone).  So, I am happy about that.  Even with the 7-8 extra pounds I had been wearing, I was still in the "normal" range... but I was inching into the mid-upper portion of the "normal" range.

However, I tend to feel "best" when I am just a bit lower (I like to be at the 159-160 pound range) because then I have a little bit of "finagling" room.  But, I am happy.  

I have mentioned this before, but sometimes it still surprises me.  But, as I have said, I still "feel" like my former "hefty" self.  Emotionally, I still see myself that way when I look in the mirror.  And, this has been the case during all of the (approaching) 20 years since my transition from a "hefty" fellow (just BARELY under 300 pounds (~136 kg; ~21.5 stone) and with a BMI of 38.5) to a normal BMI.  The emotional baggage of being "hefty" is hard to shake.  I mostly just try to ignore those feelings, but occasionally it is difficult to do so.  

I am a bit excited about a POTENTIAL action on Thursday.  

As you realize, I do very much value being able to go the "Retiree's Cigar Group" on Thursdays.  But, you also know that this semester has me have a class that significantly delays my arrival, so much so that I am sometimes alone or at best there may be 1 or 2 of my friends have stayed beyond the typical time.  

I do miss seeing and talking with ALL the regulars in the "Retiree's Cigar Group".  But... just MAYBE.... this Thursday I will be in luck.  My late class has an EXAM!!!!!  And, while the students can stay as long as they like in the class period to complete their exam, there is a possibility they all may be done EARLY and I may be able to leave EARLIER, and that means I could potentially arrive with more of my friends still at the shop!!!!!

I do not know what to predict this Thursday.  I have had classes where one or two or three students may stay till the bitter end of the class period (boo-hiss).  But, I have sometimes had all folks finish with 30-40 minutes of time remaining in our 90 minute block (fingers crossed).  Having that extra 30-40 minutes to get there would make it likely I'd see at least 90% of the crew.  

I have come to the realization that TUESDAY running is the hardest running I do each week.  This is because it is also the day AFTER a late evening of Band Rehearsal, and Tuesday morning is the day we have for trash and recycling pickup.... and I want to get out as much trash, recyclables, and used cat litter as possible that morning.  Add to this my relatively earlier start time for "big voicing" at the U on Tuesdays.  

I have no plans to CHANGE my running on Tuesdays.  But, it is at least nice to understand why I am usually so "blah" about getting up to run Tuesday mornings.  

PCS - 8.5..... I spent ALL of my run this morning AFTER I finished the rosary (and shamefully some of the time when I would drift away WHILE praying the rosary) imagining smoking my pipes and pipe tobaccos.  I was especially enamored with remembering and recalling the tastes and textures of a rum tinctured and slightly butterscotch infused burley I was especially fond of when I first started at the U.  It may sound truly stupid, but there were a few moments where I felt a bit of a "shivering" type of intensity at the feelings invoked with these memories.  I really could almost actually taste the beautiful flavors upon my tongue.... all the while doing the running loops like a hamster in a wheel.     

Contentedness Score - 7.... feeling ok.  Still looking very forward to stepping off the bus come Saturday, and are these conference talks of my students DONE, but so the "Battle of the Bands" is ALSO DONE too!  Maybe I will splurge and have ANOTHER beer or two on Saturday to celebrate that milestone..... a milestone where things should...... should..... return to "normal" (whatever the hell that is) for a while.