Paul Camara

This morning I happened across an excellent site containing archival television shows from the 50s, 60s, and following. Those who remember television during these times will love this. Check it out at the Museum of Broacast Communications. There is a lot of written archival material but streaming video as well. You’ll be reminded of how simple television was back then. Watch the video feeds of the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon debate and see first hand why this was the death knell for Nixon’s election hopes in 1960. Take some time to watch the news reports of Kennedy’s assasination. This was a remarkable time.

“Like Television” is another site that offers free streaming video (with ads). Wild stuff (I dare you to watch ‘Dementia 13′ in the dark.).

Oh man. That was just awful. Painful, sad, bad and awful.

It’s Sunday, 02-05-06, and we’re enjoying that yearly excursion into football heaven: The Super B. We’re fair weather football fans but it’s fun to watch on Super Bowl Sunday. This post is really about the halftime show however. Mick and the Stones are singing and playing their enlarged hearts out. But oh man, THEY ARE AWFUL! Dudes, hang it up! You rot. This is embarrassing, especially when compared to Paul McCartney’s outstanding show last year. Mick, STOP SINGING.

Wow. Thank God it’s over. I just simply cannot believe that The Rolling Stones are so bad and so old. I’ve never really cared for them but today was undeniably scary. Lads, retire. Spend your money. Give some away. Do whatever you feel like doing but for the love of all that is holy STOP SINGING.

Nice stage though.
Go Seahawks.

PS: Oh yeah, and Paul McCartney is ONE YEAR OLDER THAN JAGGER, and a billion times better. Oh my schnikees, they stunk sooo bad.

Hey everyone, welcome back! Thanks for coming by.

The blog took a nearly permanent backseat to my worklife and the holidays but today’s post at Jake’s blog compels me to write (see his post from 01/22/06). You may know from previous posts that I started a serious, life-changing diet on 10/28/05. You can read about it below (see my post on 11/13/05. I had lost 14 lbs at that point). Since 10/28, (85 days to yesterday), I have lost 38 pounds. I consider this my bona fide a-tad-more-than-half-way point. I started this trek at 275 lbs and my goal is a svelt 200 lbs. The post at Jake’s blog shows a ‘before and after’ picture that will absolutely gag you. The ‘before’ shot was taken at a Memorial Day bash at the Gibb farm (I likely weighed more than 275 at this point). Weight-wise, this was a zenith, an apex, the penultimate. The ‘after’ shot is me at 237 lbs, taken yesterday. The pants I’m holding up are a size-48 waist. Oh Mamasita. Know any clowns that could use these? (I mean real clowns: red rubber nose, orange hair…). The line graph below shows the weight loss progress since 10/28:

For all my beloved friends and family who fight this same battle let me give you a few nuggets of wisdom (not chicken):

1. There are no tricks to weight loss so stop kidding yourself (you can’t kid me either). I am a professional fat person. We all know what really works and what really doesn’t and all the denial mechanisms. You just have to find the something that works and do it. It takes planning and commitment. Put down that jelly doughnut and read on.
2. I’ve adopted a low-fat, low-carb/good carb lifestyle. Eat a lot of lean turkey, chicken and fish. Eat NO bread, pasta, or sweets. Eat every three hours and watch your portion sizes. Steer clear of red meat, chinese food (hi salt, water retention, fatty), and hi fat/hi salt cheeses.
3. Satiate your sweet tooth with something like no-sugar jello and no-sugar pudding and no sugar whipped cream or cool whip. Works just fine for me.
4. You should exercise and drink a lot of water (64oz/day) but, interestingly, I haven’t really done this very much. I’m starting just this week actually.
5. If you snore, you’ll probably stop after you lose the first 10 lbs. I did.
6. With the weight loss, the driver’s seat in your car will feel larger, as will plane seats, church seats, and every other place you park your formerly fatty keister.
7. Walking up stairs no longer causes me to become winded. Walking on the treadmill is much easier. You’ll grow out of your clothes relatively quickly (relative to how long you’ve stuffed yourself into them). I’ve had to have my suits tailored, and I can wear clothes that are now too big for Jake because he’s also done a marvelous job of losing weight and was my initial inspiration. Maybe he has a few shirts left to give to you too.

My goal is to lose the next 37 lbs by my birthday (05/17/06). That’s 16 weeks from now. It’ll be my birthday present to Sue, my kids, and my wonderful genius Superstar grandson, Dylan. I will give them a remarkably healthier husband, Dad and Poppy to have around for many many years to come. Thank you Jesus. And I’ll allow myself the first piece of cake (small) in 7 months.

Stay tuned, baby. It’s just starting to get good…

On Tuesday, 11/15/05, Anne, Bill and I drove to NYC to see a live presentation of Dave Ramsey doing his “get out of debt and become financially responsible” thing. Man, was that a fun day and night, and wee hours of the morning. We collectively decided, when signing up, that we’d buy the full monty (VIP Platinum) and were we ever glad we did.

Anne and Bill on West 34th Street.

It came with a wonderful dinner, a personal (at our table), hiyahowaya from DR, 3rd row center seats, and we were shuffled off to a buffet at each break (there were two, each 30-ish minutes long). We kicked back, relaxed, had some laughs, and got re-energized to escort old man IOU to the door. The workshop lasted 4.5 hours and by 11:00 PM we were back on the road and in RI by 2:15 AM.

Annabella y Guillermo, I love you guys. Thanks for wandering the mean streets of Gotham with me.

I had a lovely salad for lunch today at the food court in the Burlington Mall (MA). What I didn’t have was what I saw in the window of Au Bon Pain as I walked back from lunch (shown at left). Sigh. I curse thee empty calories, chocolate drizzle, and fat! Back! Back I say…!

And I walked by unscathed by the nefarious confections. Huzzah!

I’m not one to bang the drum loudly about weight loss or improving health given my deplorable historical performance. If you’re reading Jake and Maggie’s blog (you should be) then you know that Jake has lost a whopping 30 lbs. He looks great and feels even better. I’m very proud of and happy for him (way to go skinny homey man; bring da funk, yo).

The family has been imploring me for some time now to get my act together re: weight loss and overall health. They must be praying too because two weeks ago (Friday, 10/28/05), I woke up feeling like that was the day to start (had to be the Holy Spirit). So I did. Sixteen days later (today) I weigh 14 lbs less than I did on 10/28/05. I feel great - energetic, I have stopped snoring, my clothes are getting too big for me, I have found old clothes that I again fit into. Oh this is a fine day indeed.

I’m an eternal optimist and often quote from the Scriptures that the promises of God are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. We have to participate however. GK Chesterton said, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” That quote was on my mind the day I started this adventure, but as it applied to dieting. Half the battle is showing up then putting one foot in front of the other. I finally decided to do it.

Pray for me - I’ve only got 61 lbs to go.

Sometimes you’re the tree, sometimes you’re the beaver.

Hmm, 15 Aug was a long time ago. Time to re-engage. Clearly, the singularly most significant thing that has happened in the past 88 days is the birth of the most fantastic infant in the world. Draw Near and Pay Homage!

Happily, Jake and Mag are chronicling every smile, squeak, pursed lip, knitted eyebrow, fart, and burp for our viewing pleasure. See it all at their blog. Top left is me and the little happenin’ Dude of all Dudes. I love that little face and to munch upon his tiny head.

Other cool things:

[1] I’m back on the fat wagon. Low fat, good carbs only, yada yada. Feeling the best I’ve felt in years. Lost 7.5 lbs in week-1. A fine start indeed. Jake is my inspiration as he wastes away. His parasite is obviously enjoying himself.

[2] I bought a Palm Treo to replace my phone, Palm, and pager. Oh mommy. You phreaks out there have to score one of these puppies. All the Palm functions you love, email and web access, camera and video, and a phone. The phone’s sound quality is acceptable but I thought the signal coverage would be better since it’s Verizon. That said, I’ll never go back. From three to one devices makes a very big difference for me especially while traveling.

[3] Had the AMS Annual Meeting yesterday. It was the best we’ve had I think. Had the business meeting at the Exchange Conference Center on the Boston Fish Pier (near the Fleet Pavilion) then took a three hour Boston harbour cruise on the Provincetown-II. It was a great day. Did not see Mr. Howell, Ginger or Maryann.

If you have to speak before others regularly, or irregularly, or at any time, here’s an excellent link and resource for better presentations. The site is called BBP (Beyond Bullet Points). Just take a moment to read the short blog entry on The Money Slide.

It’ll help.

To all my healthcare and consulting colleagues: you should all have in your armamentarium, and at your fingertips (in your Start menu or under the Apple), the most recent Medicare fee schedule. If you don’t, you can retrieve it here. The new year’s schedule is usually available in November. However, when you are online, you can look up the reimbursement rates for this year and for the past three years at the Medical Management Associates website.

This used to be a subscription service but is now offered gratis. It’ll also allow you to see technical component separate from professional component where the pro fee exists. A hearty thank you to our friends at MMA. An excellent resource.