Vakkotaur

1. jmaynard was called away rather suddenly and so we won't be going to Rosenthorne Renaissance Faire tomorrow as we had planned. We might go Sunday. However I am probably going to go solo Saturday. I haven't gone to a faire alone for some time. Together isn't bad, but there is some need of coordinating times and who has what tastes in acts, when to leave and why...

This is a new faire so I'm not sure what to expect. The few reports I've heard were positive, but it'd be nice to know what vendors and acts were there. One report did say it doesn't fill a day, so I don't know how long I might stay.

And there is one other matter. How to dress? In garb things are different than in "normal" clothes. Each has advantages. "Normal" folks are more likely to get interacted with, so things can seem distant in garb. But paradoxically garb means people open up a bit more than otherwise, as you look like an insider. There is also the matter of weather. For those who've seen me in garb, it might look hot, but it isn't. It's far more comfortable than jeans & t-shirt in hot weather. Of course I'm not dressed noble, which is whole 'nother matter.

The only real kicker is that Minstrosity will be there next weekend, when Jay & I will be in Osceola, IA. Ah well. (That reminds me, I should find an address and get some photos sent to them.)

2. ( Nasal subject here. You've been warned. )

3. Bah. I really need to work on my weight. It's annoying as what is needed is simple in concept: Output (work) must exceed input (calories) so reserve (fat, hopefully) is depleted. Only in practice it's not so simple. Part of it is, pardon the language and no pun intended, is that a person can't simply just stop eating 'cold turkey' like one can stop doing other things (maybe it's not easy, but with food it's biologically impossible without ceasing to live a while later).

What brought this on? Besides not feeling as good I could (and it sucks to feel fat), I saw a few faire photos.. and I don't like what I saw. My own self image has me if not in great shape, at least less bulky. That shirt is supposed to be loose, dammit!

It comes down to motivation, which isn't too bad, but it has to be sustained - and that's a trick. I'm no longer as active as I once was, and that's not all bad. There are some jobs I don't miss. But I still eat like I am. And I have this thing where I "eat like a horse" in a sense. That is, if it's in front of me, I tend to eat it until it's gone. Stuff out of sight isn't so much a problem, but that bit about "cleaning your plate" is ingrained and isn't doing me any good now.

A modest reduction program, if adhered to, would get me to near a tolerable (I have no idea what ideal is) weight in about a year. That's a long time. And yes, I know it realistically means permanent changes. And for the record, I'm currently at about 220 lbs. again. Bah. I recall feeling overweight at 180, but right now 200 would be quite an improvement.

It also doesn't help that weight loss is "loss." With a culture that rather naturally finds loss and losing being negative, it's the one positive thing that is described as a loss. Lose your mind? Your pet? Your family? Lose money? Lose in court? Lose on the court? All bad. Lose weight? Good (for the most part - lets leave anorexia out of this, okkay?). Heck, "belt tightening" has a negative connotation. And food is, unfortunately, a psychological crutch. If it isn't for you, then lucky you. "Comfort food" "treats" and such.

Also, due to various things I tend to not enjoy most exercising - they're just work. The treadmill isn't bad, if I keep at it. Bicycling isn't bad, if there was a place to do it safely. Swimming would be ok, but I don't care to look like a bleached whale (not a typo). And "team sports" are right out. Probably also a matter of maintaining a schedule and not letting things get in its way. And that can only be done in morning (I'm not THAT much of a morning person) or evening - and the evening is disgustingly variable. If I had supper as soon as I got home every day, then exercised, maybe I'd have a chance. But if supper is pushed off.. then I feel like I'm wasting the evening... by the time I'm done with 30-60 minutes on the treadmill, it's late. Then it feels like it's just work-eat-sleep which is no good.

4. On my morning drive I usually pass a place that has a few horses and a couple llamas, I think. The last week or so I didn't see the horses there and wondered what had happened. Well, whatever happened, it wasn't all bad. There were four the past couple days: two mares and two foals.

5. I wonder if there's some place I could enjoy a dark night sky and not be considered suspicious. Ideally a nice dead-end road nearby for night walking. I miss that.