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.

9/13/2026. Meat

            Recently, the government is now allowing tainted meat from South America to come into the country. They grind it up and mix it in with good meat. Some of the meat has lingering anti- biotics in it as well as pathogens. Also some of meat is way over a year old. They will not tell you where this meat comes from on the label. Not only that but vegies as well have been hurting us as well.

           There are way less inspectors hired to keep us safe. It used to be different. Weakening government controls has made us less safe than ever. More food borne illnesses for us to deal with.

          What to do. I remove the outer layer of a head of lettuce. Then hold it under the faucet. Wash all fruits & vegies as well as cuts of meat. For chop meat find a trusted butcher and buy from them. With chop meat, I put it in a pan and make it well done. Then I drop it into some pasta. If your out in store buying food ask DS in your head is this safe. See if you feel an answer. Listen to your gut. When eating out I ask for my burger to be well done. Before going out for food in a restaurant or grocery store, ask DS to help you keeping you safe.

9/02926 Dumbell Update

          Lifting the dumbbell. I use 25 pounder. You choose your own weight. They make them as low as 3 lbs.  I do it sitting in a chair. Before it was 3 reps of 30 on each arm. 30 then stop 30 the next arm, stop. Then lift dumbell above my head and lock the elbow for count of 50. You can do way less. Then do again with your left arm. Then do it again. This time I do 40 each arm. This is the new part. Then lift over head for the required time. Then another rep back to 30 each arm. So, that's a total of 100 lifts for each arm. And 100 overheads. Next new thing is holding the weight behind my head in a vertical position so my 2 hands are near the one end of the dumbell. The other end dangles behind me. I am sitting. U hold for a 50 count. I gently push my shoulders against back of chair and slightly arch my back, when doing this exercise. 

           At least once a month I do the stretch in the open doorway for my neck and back. Also turn your neck to the left as easy as you can go, then back to the right 180 degrees. Do 25 times. For the neck. And get out and do some walking. Or swimming.

9/08/2026 A Follow Up

            Last night, I went to a different guy who was at the desk and told him about the upstairs neighbors. This was just before 10 pm. He said he would contact them about it. After 10pm if there is still noise, then call him. Well, it was after 10 and still with the pounding. Called him, he said I'll get on it. The pounding stops.  Great.

           So I take action by going to the desk. Now, I also invoked DS on my behalf. I believe that DS will help in assuaging the upstair person's feelings, in not becoming mad about having to modify their behavior.

           I picked up a little notebook from a thrift store. It's 31/2 x 5 inches. It has a thicker outer cover made of paper. It has a top flap that folds over and locks by a magnet. I'm going to use this little book to write what I would like to happen. I look at it first thing in the morning, at night and during the day. I'm going to focus on getting stuff done. So, today I had an appointment with my mechanic to put rear brakes on the car. It got delayed by him for an hr. Ok I will work with that. Anyway it worked out good. I got the brakes done just in time.  Because one of them just had a whisper of a pad left on the shoe. If the metal touched the drum it would wreck the drums, which would be more money. Wheel cylinders were ok as the drums. Great. The timing belt is up next.

           One thing I like about the smart phone is I can stay in touch with family members via texting. It makes it way easier, to stay in touch. If you have loved ones stay in touch with them. It's a good thing. 

           This here is a dream I had. A small furry guy with a small beak scoots up near my foot. I pick him up with my hand. He's like a mini furby. What's it mean. There is a strip of woods where I'm staying.  The remains of a wooded area at one time. The critters and birds have this for their home. Trying to live is tuff for them. They had an easier time 200 years ago. I read decades ago of a farmer who would feed the deer and other mammals melons during the winter. He would walk it to the tree line and drop the food there. They were waiting for him. Once where I was living, I buried some food waste on my property a ft down. The next morning I saw they dug it up. So,  I would just drop it on ground instead after that. I'd do it once a week. This way they're not to depended on it. So I do the same here. I freeze the food and then throw it in the wooded area. So back to the dream. The small mammal with beak was a combination of the wildlife being appreciative to my efforts. Birds and mammals. It was a thank-you note per say. You definitely don't want to do this more than once a week. They have to fend for themselves as well. Which is tuffer than it used to be.  They just filled in a low area with real tall grass, up the street. Probably more apartments. Dropping truck load after truck load into the mini valley. Unbelievable.

9/7/2026. Always Thinking

            It may not be the correct thinking but try anyway. So, I'm in the bathroom and I set my phone down on the cheap 3 tier shelf unit I got from Dollartree. 5 bucks, thin metal rods with plastic type fabric for the shelf part. Easy to move around. My phone is laying on something on the shelf. It is on a slight angle. A bit later I look back at it. I go no. Not good. Remove the thing under it so it lays flatter. Have to keep guard of that thing. When I put it in my pocket, I make sure it's actually going into the pocket and not in front of it. Some people I notice keep the phone in their back pocket of jeans. I don't get that. Most vulnerable place to keep it. 

           My wife has a problem today with her hair dryer. The brush keeps falling off. I squeeze the base of brush so it grabs the slot better. It works but when she uses it, it eventually falls off. I keep rubber bands assorted in the kitchen draw. I grab the 2 thicker bands and secure the brush to the unit. It works out good. Then the machine stops working. At the end of the plug is a reset button. Hit that. Nope. Take plug out and reset GFI wall outlet . It works. It seems a little weird but I'm having to address issues a second time and even a third time. With a lot of differing things.

           Someone lives above us. The first couple woke me up About 5:30 am. Big arguements. The guy winds up leaving for good. A week after the gal would be dragging furniture all over the floor. It would happen everyday. A kook. Now, I have a gal with 2 kids.  So the noise sounds like her walking around with a heavy footsteps.  In the morning and at night. I found out from  the manager,  a complaint can be filed against them if the noise goes past 10 pm. They get a warning. With 3 warnings they get kicked out. So, I said DS please take care of it. So, today is not perfect but it is way better. Try to make it better for yourself. Then invite DS in. Even I forget sometimes.

          Yesterday, I stepped on the scale and I hit 220. I eat bigger meal on Sundays. Then Monday back to the grind stone. It's going good. Today starts the 12 th week

9/02/2026 Cade

             This story I found in Unilad. This happened in 2014. Cade was three years old when he started to get nightmares. He told his mother about them.  He worked in a tall building. Looking out was the Statue of Liberty. The building shook with the explosion. He felt himself fall with the building. Molly Curnutte thought the story odd. No one in their family had ever been to NY or the World Trade Center. Cade also developed a fear of airplanes in the sky when looking up. His fear would go to big buildings as well.  Anytime they drove to the city, he would freak out big time. The mother went on line to search for answers. A reply came from someone who said that events that her son described went with one of the victims. When Molly read about the guy's story, she saw all the parrells between what her son said and the victim. She did not tell the victims family.

            At preschool the kids called him a liar. The teachers said he was a disrupter. The parents have disguised his name to keep him from being bothered. When the kid gets to be 5 it will start to settle down as the head develops more bone.  I remember a story a while back where a gal's son always wanted to go to the Revolutionary war museum that opened up. He was driving her crazy about going there. But go they did as a family. They went many times. I wanted to go but always something getting in the way or I would forget. I was always fascinated by this war and still am. Just the other day I'm in a thrift store and one of the workers had books in his arms. I spot a George Washington book. I say hold on there, can I have that book. I got the book. Hardcover too and like brand new. I was there just at the right time. If he wasn't holding them, I would never have known.

            If you have a kid in that age group you can ask them about their past life. If they don't want to talk about it than that is just fine. Write down what they do tell you. You can also show them family scrapbooks.

8/31/2026 Annoyances

            Because of the small quarters I live in, I eat off a tray stand. These are used, I got them from a neighbor. I Had to glue a couple dowels back in place, but otherwise they're in good shape. Made of birch a hardwood. So,  this week I touched the table after I cleaned it. It was tacky after the cleaning which I clean everyday. So I tried nail polish remover which has acetone in it. Buy the nail remover,  way cheaper than pure acetone sold in Home Depot.  I put a little on the paper towel and start wiping. It works good. I fold the towel and dab more on the paper towel. I can see the paper picking up the dirt. Real good. But it also removes a little of the finish. In my case that is acceptable. I am pleased with the result and no more tackiness. There was a nail polish stain on the formica countertop. Which is a guess. I tried reg cleaning spray. It didn't touch it. Tried peroxide, no good. Tried nail polish remover, no good. So I poured a little on the stain and cut a piece of plastic film and placed it over it. Then I put the cleaning bottle on top of it. Over a couple days, the stain faded by 95 %. Still have a little more work to do on it.

          Month ago,  I'm in a thrift store and see a shirt in the mens section. It is blue with black outlines of leaves. I have others sorta like it. I buy it. Yesterday I try it on.  A couple days ago I was telling my wife about a skit on the Office. Micheal the boss shows up to work for a meeting. One of the employees says why are you wearing a women's suit. He got it from a thrift store and it's not a woman's suit. Tried to convince everyone. Funny.  Yep, I put on the shirt and it's a woman's shirt. I've done this in the past a couple times. Women's shirts the buttons go on left side right on man's, when wearing it. Also the cut is more narrow especially in the arms. So in a short period of time I was predicting the my future without even knowing it. 

           I ordered some rear brake shoes on line for my car. I put in my shipping address. Made the payment. Usually they come quick but not this time. Mistake: I didn't check my mail. So it wound up going to my old home address. I tried to rectify it by contacting them online but they don't answer my query satisfactorily. No phone number either. So,  I re,-ordered them. This time checking the right box for shipping. So I paid twice. Chance of getting a refund, not so great. Didn't get the brake shoes yet. So, when ordering on-line make sure the shipping address is correct before giving the payment. Usually in my prior orders I don't have a problem with this.

           I've been sleeping on an air mattress since early February. Bought the 57 dollar one. A couple days ago it started to deflate a little when sleeping on it. I try to find the leak, to no avail. The pump built in to it also started to do a weird noise. Instead of a constant noise, it would go steady noise then a lull steady noise lull. But it would blow it up 95,%. Then slowly leak out 4 hrs when laying on it. The big mistake  was not getting the insurance on it. Got a cheaper mattress at Wallmart and got the insurance on the pump and mattress. Insurance was 4 dollars for both.

           So, in life there is always problems. Some funny once in awhile and others not. You perceiver. And hopefully become smarter.

8/24/2926 Diet ll and Other Stuff as Well

            Adjusted my dumbell bell routine. Now, I do 35 curls up from 30 each arm with the 25 pounder. It's really 26.3 do to the added weight of the handle. Then I lift the weight over my head with locked elbow for a count of 50 went up from 40. Each arm. Then I do it again. The last one is just with the curls. For a total all together 3 sets. 2 sets in the weight lifted over my head.  Sometimes I use the other hand to help lower the weight. This you do slowly. Only do the weight you feel comfortable with.  Even if it's only a couple of pounds. When my right shoulder hurt I stopped for a week lifting. Then started up slowly with lesser weight. Now, I'm back up to par. I also do 45 push ups against the sink, twice a day.

           After 8 weeks I lost 18 pounds. 242 to 224. That's more than 2 pounds a week. I plateaued at 230 for a week as well as at 228. Then last week at 224. So I used to eat the blueberry pop tart every day at the 230 wt mark, I switched it up. Now, every other day. 

             For lunch I can do 5 heaping teaspoons of cottage cheese with blackberry jam well mixed up so it has a purplish color. Or if I'm out I do a Taco Bell chicken stacker 2.99. I was doing a  Mc Chicken $1.50 at Mc Donald's. Looked it up online and it turns out the chicken stacker is at 450 calories and the Mc Chicken is at 400 calories. So I'm back to the stacker.

             I got a silicone sink strainer. Way easier to clean then that metal one. I love that thing. 1.50 at the Dollar tree. To clean it out I cut a paper towel in half and just scoop it out. Works great. Last Sunday I let myself have one Nestle Crunch bar from the vending machine. I do it every Sunday, but last Sunday I swipe my card it registers the right amount. The bar falls. Take it out peel the wrapper and I hear a thud look in the machine a second bar falls. I fish it out.  Never ever happened before in my life a unicorn. I put that bad boy in the freezer for next Sunday! Thank+you DS. In case it was you.

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             For the car I have to do the timing belt and water pump at the same time. I've owned about 20 trucks and cars so far. Never did a timing belt on one of them. But the car has 208,000 miles on it. Suppose to change it at 90,000 miles. If it breaks the motor is done for. Don't want that. Also need the rear brakes done as well.

               Next up will be diet lll

8/21/2026 Do the. Work

            Going back to the time where DS tipped me off about the dark chocolate bar. I asked what was causing my migraines. Next day gal wearing a hoodie with giant picture of a Hershey bar. I knew that was it's answer. I followed through and cut it out. Result no more headaches. Very greatful.

            So, that gal getting dressed that morning is deciding what to wear that day. Many items to choose from. I believe that DS helped her make that decision. It had a mission to fulfill. She probably didn't even know that she was influenced by it. But she was. This is how DS can move  the levers that make things happen. It took me to make that request of DS. It was not going to set things in motion until I asked. That is how it works. By working with DS it can help you as well. Pick one thing a week ask your question. Then pay attention to the answer. It will come. From somebody, a book, a tv show, a joke or dream. You have to think about what you are seeing or hearing. If you feel you missed the answer, ask it again after a week. And keep writing in your journals. Work with DS all the time. It is there to help and aid you during your life. Focus on you not others. If you have a family you focus on them of course. But keep that connection with DS. It's the most important tool in your spiritual tool box.

          It is my hope that my readers are able to see by now,  that this force is real. And that you are using it on a consistent basis. When DS helps you always give thanks. DS can help even if you think all is lost. It knows how to get you to your desired end.

           Sometimes it takes time. Like with me now. My living arrangements have changed since 8 mos ago. I'm not that happy about it. The message I got was just chill and that's what I have been doing. So something is going on. As of yet I don't see it. But the answer will come.

8/14/2026. Diet Lesson

           Breakfast time.  So the Doc says I'm pre- diabetic. Initially when I got stopped in a neighboring town by 2 cops. For a bad plate. One of them told me are you diabetic, I told him no. Now, I have to do something about it. Went to the doc and she said I'm pre- diabetic. I was over weight already. Then I put on some more weight, these last 10 months. I am 40 to 50 pounds overweight. I cut way down on the ice cream , cookies and candy bars. During this time I found at Wallmart these cookies that are by Vortman. 4 bucks. Fudge brownie chocolate chip  zero sugar is my go to now. They make other flavors as well. I eat 1 of these per day. My ice cream sandwiches are done but I saw at wallmart they make a sugar free sandwich bar so I got that. Not as good as a real bar. I used to get Neapolitan bars which were real good. But this will have to suffice. My snack pack chocolate puddings I replaced with sugar free as well. So after dinner I eat 1 pudding and 1 cookie. Or 1 cookie and 1 ice cream bar. Edit: I cut out the ice cream bar as of 2 months ago. Start of diet I was at 242.

           Today marks 6 weeks of the diet. I am now at 225 pounds. So I lost 17 pounds so far. When I started, I cut back on the food amt. Smaller portions of meat. One slice of bread a day. Also stopped buying peanut butter. Which I ate everyday for decades.  Now I drink one soda per week. I Got down to 230 pounds. Then I  plateaued there.

          So, to get started. I got a knife from Wallmart. I got it with the orange handle. It's a 3 1/4in blade. Opens from the side and locks in place. I use it for a lot of things. I sharpen it on Sundays. I also use it during meals. I have a teaspoon,fork and my lock blade. Also I have a metal knife that is about 3/4 in wide. It has a rounded tip and a serrated side for cutting bread. I used to have a plastic spatula but I switched it out for 2 silicone ones. One is wide and the other is less wide. I did this to cut down on exposure to plastics, namely micro plastics. I kept 1  plastic one with slits in it because I haven't seen them in silicone as of yet. Recently at the Dollar Tree I saw bamboo hardwood cutting boards for 1.25 I bought 4 of them. They are 7in x 10 inches. I kept the small cutting board in plastic for other things just in case. But for cutting down I use the bamboo. I've seen them in stores and a bigger board is 20 dollars. My plate is small 8 in. diameter. My bowl is 6 in diameter and 3 in deep. I have a coffee cup that holds 2 cups.  I take a sleeve of decaf coffee everyday. I add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and  2 teaspoons of half & half. My pans are teflon 10in dia and an 11 in a copper looking inside one. I use the former for meat and frying potatoes. The latter is for my egg. After I eat I clean up the dishes.

              I used to eat a blueberry pop tart no icing, everyday. Did this for years. Recently I switched to every other day. I toast them careful not to burn them. So as I lose weight , I look to see how I can adjust my diet.    For breakfast I do cereal, I use a corn or rice checks which has 290mg of salt. I will be getting rid of the rice checks due to this higher salt content  I fill a small bowl halfway then I use a raisen bran cereal  or almond cereal at Wallmart for less than 3 bucks.  Wheat checks I put in, no sugar on the checks. This cereal has way less salt and no sugar. I use to do a full bowl then 6 weeks ago I went to 3/4 full bowl for a month and recently I cut it to a 1/2 bowl  of dry cereal. I spill  2 tablespoons of Wallmart frozen blueberries on top. Then 3 slices of no sugar added peach slices from Wallmart.  Then I cut them up smaller with my 3 in folding knife. I sharpen it twice a week. Then I cut up half a banana. I cut off the stem then make narrow slices through the skin but not all the way through the skin. I hold one end over bowl and push out a disk of banana with my knife then in cereal I slice the disk in half. Then I add 1 % or 2 % milk to the mix.  Then I add pecan pieces,dates, small bag from Wallmart. The second day breakfast is one extra large or jumbo egg. I cook 1 slice of beef bacon in pan ,careful not to burn it. My pan for the bacon is a Teflon pan, about 10 dollars from Wallmart. Toss the pan out after a year or so. And get another one. I don't trust the Teflon. Use only a silicone spatula on it With bacon I add 3 mini or 4 if real small potatoes. They are sold as mini potatoes at Wallmart. I slice narrow pieces and put them in the pan. As bacon cooks I use half a paper towel to mop up excess grease.  I brown the potato then flip the disks with my knife.  I put 5 snap peas in the egg. I cut them in 4 pieces . Then same with  the jalapeno pepper, a small amt. A little Cole slaw and cut up 1 small slice of portabella mushrooms. I get them from Walmart, they last longer than those smaller mushrooms. They  are 2 large mushrooms per package. I got a 3/4 slice of mushroom then chop 1/4 in pieces. I also cut up into small pieces cauliflower.  I Add a little half and half some water and a heaping tablespoon of corn starch. I put this into my copper looking pan. This pan doesn't cook the bacon the way I like it so I use the 2 pans. I like my bacon well done but not burnt. I do 1 slice of bacon. Brown the small potatoes with the bacon in the Teflon pan. I use hot sauce on my plate with ketchup. Put potatoes down first then egg on top with more ketchup on top. Eating the bacon I just nibble off small pieces with my front teeth. That's it for breakfast. Next blog will be about lunch.

8/10/2026. The Diet

           Started 6 weeks ago. Cut my portion sizes  down. After 6 weeks went from 242 doctor's scale, to now 230. Me 5ft 10. Went to 229 but I stopped at a Pretzel Stop fast food joint. No prices on food at the drive through. Pictures of food though. The surprise comes when they ring you up. 11 bucks. I'm used to paying around 4 bucks at a fast food joint. I usually go to a Taco Bell. In US they pulled the Taylor Farm lettuce from Mexico. Due to salmonella. So, I had a reg size pretzel dog and a bag of pretzel bites no salt. It was a good size bag. I thought the bag would be way smaller. I had a couple bites and the dog. Next day I saw,  I went from 229 to 230. Yep , that one  day was a reverse diet. You do this 12 days in a row and I'm back up to 242.  Not happening.

          Last week I cut out the 1 pop tart. But I still plateaued at 230 all week. Last night for dinner I had a handful of cherries and a handful of grapes and 4 tablespoons of cottage cheese with a heaping teaspoon of grape jelly mixed up. Never did this for dinner. I got an analog scale from Wallmart (10 bucks) last week. Stepped on scale this morning  228. Yeah. More cottage cheese for me. I eat 3 times a day. For a snack I'll do a 1 yogurt or banana. 

         My goal weight is 199. Because I haven't hit that number since I was  23. Long time ago. By cutting my portions a little more 6 weeks ago, I find that it is reducing my stomach. It has gotten used to the smaller amount.  I don't get hunger pains. I'm motivated by the declining numbers on the scale.

8/9/2026 What You Say & Think

           Of others, is a reflection on you. For real growth in your life, you start here. Correcting behaviors is what we're about. It is very hard work. We don't like to look at ourselves. Well, on the spiritual path, this is what you do. And I'll tell you something, it is Not pleasant. What you see in others or say to others is a self own. In some way you are addressing something that is lacking in you. Am I guilty. You betcha. This can be very subtle.  It goes under the radar. You can work on this by looking at the last fight you had with someone. Look for that which you accused someone of, for that trait that is within you. And it most certainly is.

          I told this story before. A woman and me at kitchen table. She was telling me how her fiance  was nice but he was a cheapskate.  I said so are you.  She was shocked. She said she donates all the time.  I said it is not tit for tat. You are stingy with your love that you show  him.  She said nothing. I could see she was processing that statement. Whether it worked for her relationship, I have no idea. To make it stick you have to write it down and read it everyday. Then incorporate it into your life.  It's work,   but you're showing the higher power that you are making strides.  And he does watch you. He knows you inside and out. The spiritual path is what you're suppose to be on. It helps you most of all and others as well. You put out love and kindness, and guess what you get that back 10 fold, if you look for it. Then when you recognize it you give thanks. 

                This blog is the most important of all of them, that I have written.

7/30/2026. Stupid Is...as Stupid Does

           My car  I got off my wife a year and a half ago. Her grandson was using it. It had damage on trunk and front bumper and hood. I fixed the head lamp and rear tail light as well as the exhaust pipe brackets. I fixed other things under the hood as parts failed. The car had 200,000 mi on it. I decided to keep it because the motor and transmission were ok I believed. The engine light was always on. Took it to Advance Auto. It was the purge valve. I thought that was in the motor. This is where I made a big mistake. I should've looked it up on my phone first. Didn't do that. Went to the service station and he put one in for 250 dollars. The light went out but came back on the next day. Take it back, this time he said it's the gas cap. Can't use an after market gas cap. So I go to Hyundai and get the last cap they have for 25 dollars. The light still stays on. Go back to the service station, they didn't have an answer. I was going to have to leave it. But my life sped up and I had to put it on hold. Plus I didn't trust them as much. Couldn't get it registered in my name because it had to pass emissions first. So I drove it with a bad plate. Got caught tree times. One ticket. The other cops let me slide. Each cop snuck up on me. After that I kept an eye out constantly and didn't get stopped.

          Every once in awhile, I would try to talk to service stations about my problem. It would be 200 dollars just  for a diagnosis. No way I was paying that. So  I would say to them, what if I put 1000 dollars into it and it still failed. They say well it would cost even more money. So none of the service stations would give me a price. In my mind I was not going to give up til I had my plate. And I was not going to put a lot of money into it as well. I looked into getting it inspected in a county that didn't have the emission requirement. Spent a couple months fiddling around with that. Couldn't make it work. Back to square one. I had more time to try and find a better mechanic. Finally found a guy. I let him inspect it. He says it's the purge valve. And the alternator is putting out too much voltage. Fails on those two things. He fixed the engine light by swapping out the led bulb with another bulb that was working another light function that I didn't need. Back to the alternator, I had my first mechanic put in a new alternator 10 months ago. There is a warranty. I found out what auto parts store he used. I call them up. They don't have the part. Two days to have it transfered from another store. Give him my mechanic's name.  Make the appointment with the mechanic. On way there I stop and buy oil for car at Dollar General. 5.59 per quart, cheaper than the auto parts store. Like 3.00. per quart. Go to auto parts store for filter. At a Jiffy lube It would be 80 dollars.. ten years ago for my pickup it was $25.00 to have someone change the oil. So I get to the mechanics, he's an hr and a half late. Have him change the oil as well as swap out the alternator. Hour later he's done. Cost me $125. The alternator is free but I had to repay the labor cost. So I got the oil changed in that cost. So I had a new purge valve and a new alternator put in and they both failed. Unbelievable!

           Now I'm good with the alternator, he shows me on meter I'm under 15 volts. Wish I knew this earlier. But now you know to make sure to see for yourself that your under 15 volts with your new alternator. I look in the phone about the purge valve. My new mechanic would charge a little over a hundred. I see in the Internet where that valve is, not in the motor but behind it. I look at discount auto parts on the web.  I get one shipped out for 29 dollars. OEM part is what you want. I checked at Advance Auto, they wanted 75 dollars. I use online part sellers as well as the auto part stores. Like for the alternator it is going to be an auto parts store. I put the purge valve in myself and it takes 30 minutes. That first service guy charged me 250f dollars. Got ripped off and it didn't work anyways.

          Back to my new mechanic for the ,2 tests on the car. I saw yesterday that the check engine light was on again. I told the mechanic. He went out to check on car and said light was out. Great I say. Half hour later the car passes. Man I was so happy. I high fived the mechanic. Finally got my plates. A week later that damn check engine light comes on again and has stayed on. Doesn't matter now though. So I was thinking that DS had a hand in getting me through the emission test. The more I think on it the more I believe it. My plates are good for 2 years before it has to get inspected again. Thank-you DS. This was a struggle. I just focused on getting this done and not having to pay a whole lot of money for. Same no matter what is going on in your life. FOCUS on your desired outcome and take action. I was going to get it done no matter how long it was going to take. Now, my car has 208,000 miles on it. Here's a tip as your car gets older get oil changed every 3,000 mi.

7/27/2026 Update

          I waited a week to resume with the dumbbell. This time I do 20 lifts with each arm, 25 pounder. Then I do  lift over head to a count of 30 each arm. That's one rep. Then do again for the second rep. So far so good. For you you do the weight that is comfortable to you even if it's a 2 pounder wt. So a couple months ago I was thinking to going to 30 pounder in October. Now that is put off. I still do dips into an open doorway for my back by holding on to the door frame and leaning into the open door way.

           Yesterday marked one month since I started my diet. I don't have a scale yet. Will get one soon. So I lost my love handles. Happy about that. My guess I lost close to 20 lbs. I will soon give an update on what I eat to make this diet work. So, I've been on diets in the past. Eventually they fail. But it is I that failed. These failures make you stronger. You are not the same as you were. You're a wee bit smarter. Those little smarts are like ladder rungs up to get where you want to be. Eventually, one day you will rely on these little footholds to get you over the top. It comes down to, how bad do you really want it. It's like with everything else. How bad do you want a new car or how bad do you want God. It's time for me to get over the top this time. And I'm going to get er done. Up until 23 I could eat anything drink beer and not gain weight. Those were great times because I was a foody. Well around 23 things started to change. It started to stick. Not so good. But I continued with my ways. My first diet started because I walked by a mirror in my house and saw how fat I was. I wasn't wearing a shirt. I saw it out of the corner of my eye. I walked back holy cow I'm a cow. Went to the bathroom got on the scale. 260 holy molly. Diet started that night. Next day down to 258.  After months I got down to 240. Then I stayed between 240 & 250 lbs plateaued here a couple decades. Once I got down to 220 but eventually 240 again. It's been many years that I was in the 190s. This year though for sure.

          Finally got the car registered after 18 mos. That will be another blog.

          The last place I was going to move to fell through, so still dealing with this issue as well.

          I am greatful for everything too. Always be greatful. It's good to look back on what we have to be greatful for.

7/23)2026. Nick. Bostick

            Four years ago Nick was driving nighttime in Lafayette IN, after a fight with his girlfriend. He usually delivers pizza. He was driving to clear his head after the fight. 

             Now,  that fight was for a reason. A negative event set the stage for Nick. He's coming down the road and is passing what appears to be a campfire in the front yard of a house. He backs up to get a better looksie. That's not a campfire. The house is on fire. He parks and runs into the house. In the first floor An 18 yr old girl is bringing the girls downstairs. He ushers them out to the yard. The 18 yr old says there is still one more. Back up to the second floor he goes. Pulling closet doors and looking under beds. Nothing, he runs back to the first floor. He puts shirt in front of his face, the smoke is thick. He uses his hands to feel around . Nothing, he's moving faster as the fire ramps it up. Poking and poking and hits pay dirt. The  6 year old girl he grabs but front door is blocked with fire and smoke . He remembers the window when he first went up. He tried to break it, his arm bounces off it. Second time he breaks it. As he is trying to get the girl out her foot and leg gets caught up in the blind cord. Has to set her down to fix it. He grabs her and holds her tight to his left side jumps out and lands on his left side. This is his last remembrance  The cops tell him that he brought the kid to the street and handed her off.  She only had a minor wound. Then he collapsed on the curb. They treated him for hand and arm injuries and burns and smoke inhalation. When he was upstairs at first he thought he just might not survive this one.

          This happened around this time 4 years ago. He recuperated. Once he got out of the hospital. And he also got the Carnegie Medal of Honor. Excellent actions Nick,! Kudos, a genuine hero. 

           So, it starts off as a negative event with his fight with his gal. He's stewing and driving. And he his right where DS wants him to be. Nick does the rest.  When Nick is downstairs talking to the 18 yr old about the missing child. He could of asked God where she is. Say something like is she on the first or second floor. The first answer in your head you go with. This probably would of saved him the real bad Injuries. He did good though. No one knows God's plan but we can get a heads up to a part of that plan. It can and does bleed through. With dreams and the waking dream we can privy ourselves into knowing a wee bit, what that plan is. In my opinion it is better with the heads up. Try to stay calm when chaos is about. It is through the calm that DS will reveal to you what the best course of action is. It is harder for DS to come through when the mind is jumbled up. Like looking into a shallow pond with calm waters. You can clearly see the bottom. Drop a 5 pound rock in there and you can't see the bottom anymore. Keep clarity of mind and you will see clearly. Do this in all aspects of your life.

           The father who was not home at the time was talking to a reporter and said the family lost everything except each other. And,  then he said one real good thing though, was we gained another member of the family.

7/21/2026 Exercise Injury

           About 2 days ago I felt a little dime size  ache in the right shoulder. Where the arm intersects the shoulder. In an hour I forgot about it. Now 2 days later in the afternoon, the ache is stronger. I didn't do anything, like lift anything. So I screwed up. Not thinking that dime size ache could get worse. Now,  I will lay off the exercise for a week. So don't do what I did. Which is ignore it. I think it was the 55 pushups I do on the bathroom sink. Should have stuck to 25 pushups instead. So you have to make adjustments with your exercises. 

          I adjusted to 25 lifts with the dumbbell instead of 50 lifts for 1 rep. This I find works better. In 1 sitting I do 25lifts of 25 lb dumbbell on one arm. Then I lift that weight over my head and hold it the for 50 count. Same for the other arm. I do that exercise twice in under 15 minutes.  So take a week off if you feel that dime size ache in your workouts.

7)18/2026 Life on Hold

          Basically it's been on hold for almost 7 months because of one thing after the other. As all this started, I saw the waking dream sign... Chill ,...in big letters on a truck. Well that's what I've been doing. Not that successful as of now. So I've been thinking on this. Time to take the chill off.  Today I'm scrolling the phone and there is an ad in the phone. But first this morning I see a picture on the phone of a cardinal lifting off a branch and the photo catches the bird with wings out stretched. Excellent photo. This registers to me as a soon to be jumping off point for me. Eh maybe. Later in morning in the phone, I see the ad.

            Purple box with words. The calm of everything going to plan.  Another waking dream?  Perhaps.  So my guess here is...relax it's my ( creator ) plan. So he's reminding me to be patient. But I have to admit my patience is wearing real thin.