Oct 04//2026. In Life

            It is not easy. Some people choose hard lives for themselves. Why? Because they feel that they can get the most learning from it. We can modify that outline we made for ourselves while living this one. To modify your life it requires you to develop a relationship with God your creator. You do that by asking questions of him and charting the answers that come your way in your journal.

           My life is not perfect. I try to adjust my life by taking actions that would hopefully make it better. Over 3 years ago it was the dumbell exercises. I wanted the muscle tone without going to the gym and taking it easy. I try to workout 6 days a week. My exercises take about 15:min per day. I like the results. Then the diabetic thing. It took me a year to act on that. Plus car troubles. Got that resolved as well. Do I want these things fixed? Then I have to take actions.  Always remembering to use DS when needed. Yesterday, a guy was crossing a busy street in a wheel chair while I was stopped at a light. He had only one leg.  I give thanks for my sight and hearing. As well as the use of my legs. In Life no matter how bad things can become, remember that there are things to be greatful for. Can't stress that enough.

           If the problems are big. Break them down into smaller portions. Take a day or week to accomplish taking care of that smaller problem. When done, write it down. Then move on to the second step. You will get it done.

           There are many annoyances for me as of late. Big problems and many smaller ones. It's constantly dealing with them. But I do. You think in your head what you want and the desired outcome. When you do this you shape your reality and become stronger for it .  Alot of times we move too fast. This opens us up to accidents and a gripping action. Like gripping a steering wheel to tight. A metaphor for how we deal with circumstances in our life. It's hurried not relaxed but tense. In that state the results are less than stellar.

  Take pride in what you accomplished. It took hard effort to get there. And once there it will take vigilance on your part to keep on top of things. Don't let others take you down. You tell them you don't appreciate it. If they persist, then leave the room. Don't stand there and take it. It's like anything in life. You have to fight for it. Or it will go bye bye. You will have an advantage over others in than you will have DS behind you. But you have to recognize it. Many, many  others do not recognize it. When you go about your day, you take in air without a thought. Do the same when recognizing that DS is there for every aspect of your life. You and it will overcome what is out there for you.

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Oct 03/2026 Allergen?

            Yesterday, I was driving and I see a van in front of me. One of the words on it was luxe. When I order food at Taco Bell the heading U choose from is the luxe section to get the taco salad. For the past month I was getting the taco salad. Recently I've been adding the dollar chilli container as well. I'd dump that on top of the salad. Less than hour later I had that chest feeling again. I got to thinking. What ai have is not the heart or lung but an esophageal problem. When I was at the doctors' yesterday I asked her to check my lungs. She said it sounded good. So, I'm thinking I'm allergic to something in the chilli. And it's affecting my esophagus. I eat hot sauce and I can with no ill effect. My guess something in the chilli is causing a problem with the tube and not the stomach. No chilli for me from Taco Bell. I will see if that does it. Who put that van there. Yep, DS.

           

Oct 02/2026. A1C

            February 2025 I get pulled over for a bad plate. I couldn't get it passed through emissions. The one cop says to me do you have diabetes? I say what? I think he says it again, so I say no. I say why you asking that, he says never mind. March  2026. I go to my doctor and get a blood test.  A1C is 6.5. end of June it's 6.9. pre diabetic stage. Yesterday I went,  it's dropped to 6.0. fantastic.  I started my diet in June. Now plateaued at 219, from 242 lbs Still more to go. So, DS used the cop to get DS's point across to me. DS can use any way to drive home it's point. Now, last week, I noticed that have some trouble in the chest area. Not tightness or numbness. Mentioned it to the doc. Now,I have to go for a physical. DS brought up another issue but this time it's a body reaction instead of words or dreams.

            The car got new rear brakes the last 2 mos as well as a new water pump and timing belt. Hope it it's good to go for awhile.

           Diet: I am now doing one pop tart every third day. Still working on trying to trim portions. When it comes to other foods.

          Blood pressure dropped which is another good thing.

9/17/2026 Diet 3

            Getting fat. Why?  To me, it's not caring and being lazy.  You make choices on a daily basis. I want what I want. Looking no further than the end of our nose.  The ramifications are beyond said nose. That,  mainly being our future health. With me, it was high blood pressure and now being pre-diabetic. Also wearing clothes that don't fit right.  In hindsight it's totally ridiculous. Blind eye syndrome. Had it for decades. Most of my life. One of the first signs was more than 20 years ago I started to get a head of sweat on my forehead after drinking coffee. I use to drink about 4 cups a day.  I switched to decaf and the bead of sweat went away. The coffee was restricting my blood vessels. This was probably the start of my future heart problems. I  eventually went on blood pressure drugs. I take the max. Even taking it was not a great BP. In the upper 150s over upper 90s. Now it's lower. 

           Eat 3  smallish meals a day. My snack is a banana. I carry a grocery store cold bag with me. It's in a shape of a cube. Flat bottom. I used to put in one of those freeze bags in the cooler bag. But much later I got rid of it, because it had a slimy feel to it. Now, I use a half gal milk container. I washed it out good and fill with water and freeze it. I also put in 2 frozen 9 oz drinking bottles. And I put in 2 bananas before I leave for the day. For lunch, I eat at Taco Bell. I get the small taco salad for $2.50.  once a week I'll get the chicken stacker or beef burrito. If I eat a little too much during lunch, I only eat a slice of toast with cream cheese and a little blackberry preserve. Before bed I'll take about 8-10 grapes.

           For dinner. I will take for week one a tuna can in water. I add 1 cut up radish and a table spoon of coleslaw or chopped lettuce. Mix together with mayo. Make a slice of toast put half of contents on bread and save the other half. I use head lettuce for my top piece. The dill pickles come from the Dollartree 1.25.  I  eat one of these. Plus another radish. I get a half pound of baked beans at supermarket at the deli. I mix these with whatever can of beans I have at home. This makes a good taste. I will heat up in microwave a tablespoon of beans as a side dish. The other half of tuna U eat like 2 days later for dinner. Next week I will go with salmon and do the same. I use liverwurst as well. Ground chicken, I fry up well done in little pieces and mix it in pasta in my small bowl.  I add grape seed oil and hot sauce plus mustard. No second helpings.

           For veggies I like the frozen mix at Wallmart or Aldi's about a dollar. Carrots, cauliflower and broccoli. Microwave them, eat half and put the rest in fridge. From wallmart I get pre- made salads. I fill my small bowl and add radishes and carrots and mushrooms. I used to get pre- cut cauliflower from Wallmart. But they don't keep as well. I'd have to use my knife and rub away the black coloration off them. It's shiny white underneath it. Now, I started to buy the whole head of cauliflower. I also like brussel sprouts. I put 3 small cut up sprouts in with my bacon and potatoes fry pan. I like the smell of the cooked sprouts that lingers in the air. Most noticeably when you leave the room and come back in.

          I get discounted meat from the grocery store. Like pork. Usually 1 in thick chop. I get 2 per pack. I cut each in half making 4 dinners. I keep frozen small  chicken breasts in freezer as well. And I just bought some liver cuts. They're frozen. Haven't tried them yet.

           13 weeks in and I'm at 219. My new plateau. Instead of every other day in pop tart I will go to every 3 days then eat one. You constantly have to modify what you are doing during the diet. I can now tell when food is too salty easily and also the sugar levels. For my cheese and crackers I would use Ritz crackers , the hint of salt kind and I can taste the salt. I would eat my sharp cheese and Swiss cheese as my adour ve with grapes and half an apple. I got a cheese slicer that helps me keep cheeses serving size low. I've now cut down in this adour've alot. I was able to eat this when losing the 20 pounds. But it's not working now. More stringent moves by me is necessary. Another thing to watch out for is bread. This carb puts on the weight. Potatoes I buy the small packages of mashed just add water. I do a tablespoon from the bag.

           The banana snacks help alot. Cantaloupe  I buy and leave it out for at least 2 weeks before eating it.  When taking bites if something good like bacon use your front teeth and just take small bites. To spice things up red pepper shaker, ground stone mustard from Wallmart and Louisiana hot sauce from Dollartree.

            Dieting is not about giving up. If you have a setback on the scale, well it's ok. The next day you get back on the diet. When you get to your desired weight you can have what you want but you now know what has to be done. Your stomach is smaller now, don't over stuff. Use your scale at least 3 times a week. I do it every day.

           We become what we focus on and then take action in getting it. Focus on the positive even if things happen to be negative in your life.  You can do it!

9/15/2026 Update

            Right off the bat. When on the road, I saw a semi in the left lane . We were stopped at a light. Words on the back of the truck was  (promises will be kept). That has big meaning to me. The rest of day was normal. Which is good. I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful what I have.  My gal, a  roof over my head, a car, food and health. It helps to count your blessings at the end of the day.

           Sometimes DS does things in big ways and sometimes it's quick and to the point. I will do this experiment next week as well. In the same way. We do what we can do to help ourselves and when we hit a roadblock, invite DS in for an assist. The DS can use any means to get it's point across. When you ask, the answer is on it's way. It's up to you to spot it.

           I told this before. A woman was recognizing she was seeing quite a few empty oil bottles on the road. Way more than usual. One day she was getting gas and a service guy said can I check your oil. She remembered the bottles. Yes. Turned out she was fine 3 quarts. So, DS can help out without being asked as well.

9/15/2926. DS

            Divine Spirit. Today the 15 th I decided to do an experiment. I've given it over to DS on how my day is going to go according to it's ways. I will write about it at the end of the day.

9/14/2026. A Hickup

          Last Tuesday, I stepped on the scale 219. First time in a very long time. I entered the teens. That day I went to have my rear brakes done on the car. My mechanic cancelled on Friday. Always delays of late. Like for the last 8 mos. So, this day is hot near 90. The restaurant is a short walk. Take my wife there. Everything is expensive. Order cheapest burger for 13.50. At one time I could get a steak at that price. My wife gets a side order of pasta 8 bucks. I bite into the burger with cheese and bacon and  I get squirted with an orange liquid on my hand. Yolk! What the??? Didn't read there was an egg on it. Still it was a good burger. I had a little potato salad and some of my wife's pasta that she was done with.  The brakes got done, finally. Next day step on the scale,and 222 staring back at me. A week later  today Monday, I'm at 220 pounds. One pound heavier. Losing weight is a serious business. The burger was real good but you pay the price. I'm now back on the diet. Three meals a day and fruit for a snack. Dropping 22 pounds, I do see the difference and it does keep me motivated.

         Today  my car is getting a new water pump and timing belt. If the belt were to break the motor would be screwed. This 4 cylinder Hyundai has 208,000 miles on it. First owner got it in a wreck and it got fixed. The second owner also got in an accident. Messed up the hood and trunk. That didn't get fixed. In the manual it says to replace the belt at 90,000 miles. I doubt that ever happened. I've owned at least 29 vehicles and never got a timing belt replaced on any of them. I called around to service stations. One guy wanted 1300 for parts and labor. I took to the Internet and found parts for 50 dollars up to 200. I found the name of a good timing belt and water pump kit for 123 dollars. I got that one. Most service stations won't install customer parts. My guy will. Took me over a year to find my guy. He's working on it today. So total price would be 630 instead of 1300.

          When looking for something, think about what you're willing to spend and try to keep near it. Whether it costs 5 bucks or  1,000 and up. Check online and ask questions of friends or people who are associated with what ever you're after. I've made mistakes along these lines but I'm getting smarter.

           One other cavette I have here. I noticed there are alot of car washes around. Seems like they want their cars to look good. Yet, they drive crazy. I see more damaged cars being driven around then the last place I lived at, on the east coast.

           I've been seeing these signs for years,  be careful with motorcycles. Been seeing that a long time. So, it is always in the back of my mind. Drive up to a 4 way stop. Motorcycle guy to my left pulls up. So, it's my turn to enter the intersection. The guy pulls into the intersection cutting me off. I don't say or do anything. I'm in a Walgreens. Not too many cars in lot. You have to pull in toward a curb to the left next to the store or to the right next to the bushes. I pick the store side. Front in. To pull out front wise I'd have to back in. After the store, I get back in and check mirrors. All good back up and hit the brakes. Just missed this blue car backing up at the same time as me. I pull forward . No hit. Jeeze. I guess next time I better back in. Now, I'm thinking this all the time when parking.