Madman Across the Water

Today's Random Song Friday is Madman Across the Water by Elton John.  This is my favorite Elton John album, same title.  I love Rotten Peaches, Levon and Razor Face.  I also like Madman Across the Water.

The chorus:

We'll come again next Thursday afternoon
The in-laws hope they'll see you very soon
But is it in your conscience that you're after
Another glimpse of the madman across the water

I always believed that Elton was referring to himself in this song, or more accurately, Bernie Taupin was referring to Elton, as it was Bernie who wrote the lyrics.  My Internet searches seem to agree with that.  I wasn't sure why Elton viewed himself as a madman, but I guess as I get older I understand.  We all have these demons inside our heads, don't we?  And it's all about how we deal with them.  I'm certainly trying to deal with mine and to a certain level succeeding.  At least I can say that today, maybe tomorrow will bring something different.  But I'll keep fighting, that I can promise you all.

As the song says:

Will they come again next week?
Can my mind really take it?

Yes, I think I know what he's talking about.

Now, on to the good stuff...

Brian's Stats
Current Weight: 212.4
Loss this week: 1.2
Total loss: 3.6 (probably closer to 6)
% of body fat: 34.4%
BMI: 29.8

Kate can post hers in the comments.  Or maybe I'll add it here later.  Either way, she's probably kicking my ass.  She's focusing on her diet much more than I am.  I'm focusing on fitness.  We're both winners!

Scale vs. Snow

So, no Random Song Friday this week.  Sorry about that.  It snowed all day Thursday and Friday.  I got more than 2 feet of the stuff.  My snowblower conked out again.  But I was almost done at least.

Here's a picture of my front walkway:

Snow!

As promised, I got a new scale.  Unfortunately, this also means that I need to press the reset button on my weight.  I probably started out weighing more than 216, probably more like 218 or more.  This new scale tells me my weight to one decimal point, BMI and % of body fat.  Percent of body fat is interesting because I'm working out pretty seriously.  I should be losing body fat quicker than weight.  As for BMI, this needs to be thrown out the window.  A 30 BMI is OBESE.  A man weighing 215 pounds at 5'11" has a BMI of 30.  (In other words, ME!)  There is no way anyone would EVER call me obese.  Overweight?  Sure, I am overweight.  Obese, NO! 

Anyway, along with my weight I'll be putting down % of body fat and BMI so we can follow along with it.

Brian's Stats
Current Weight: 213.6
Gain this week: 0.6 (probably not, but I'll stick to it)
Total loss: 2.4
% of body fat: 34.4%
BMI: 29.9 (yay!  no longer obese!)

Kate's Stats
Current Weight: 210
Loss this week: 1
Total loss: 3

So Kate is winning and she says that she's working out now too.  Go Kate!

Taxi

Today's Random Song Friday is Taxi by Harry Chapin.

Ah, there are so many songs I like better from the late Mr. Chapin then the everpresent Taxi, but the song certainly IS on my iPod and it came up randomly, so here it is.

When I was a teenager, probably 15 or 16, I was in the car with my dad and this song came on the radio.  I liked the song and was singing parts of it.  My dad then told me, "you know, this was one of the first songs on the radio that openly mentioned drug use."

I took this in for a moment and thought about the song and then realized he was right!  It was about drug use.  I had never thought about that before.  So I said the very impressive statement, "really?!?"  And he said, "yes, before this song it was a big taboo to discuss such things."

Looking back, there are times when you begin to feel a little more like an adult in your parent's eyes.  This was one of those times.  It sounds silly that a song about drug use would make me feel more adult, but it was obviously an adult topic and my dad felt I was old enough to mention such a thing to me.  It's stayed with me ever since.

Now on to the BvK program.  Kate and I both get a pass this week.  Kate has been dealing with some stuff (see her blog for info) and I strained my back.  I did recover from this a little bit late in the week.  I put in one good workout and some cardio.  I didn't lose any weight, but I was able to comfortably go down a belt loop!  Now that's progress!

Current Weight - 213
This Week's Loss - 0 lbs.
Total Loss - 3 lbs.
Belt Loops Down - 1

Ouch!

I was off on Monday and had to do lots of errands and general domestic things.  First thing was to take my daughter to play practice which started at 9 AM.  I threw on some clothes, grabbed the bag for the cleaners (one of the errands) and headed out the door.  My daughter needs to bring this large box of goodies to play practice with her (clothes, books, props, etc.), so I helped her bring her stuff into the building.  Then I headed out the door of the school with a spring in my step.  "This would be a good day," I thought.  I got to the car, opened the door and UUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

BACK SPASM!!!!

Took my breath away.  This is not a common occurence for me, less than a half dozen in my lifetime.  But enough to recognize what was going on.  I then went to the cleaners and the grocery store.  I put on a brave face, but it was killing me!  I would grab for an apple and UUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!  Again, losing my breath.  So I grabbed what I needed and headed home.

MOTRIN!!!  Where are you Motrin?  Ahhh, there you are.  Gobbled down a couple of those, grabbed the heating pad and headed for the couch.  And I sat there all day with the damn thing on my back.  By the end of the day it was just a dull pain, but pain it was!  I emailed my trainer and asked him what to do about my appointment for the next day.  He suggested I come in Wednesday instead of Tuesday.  Extra day would do me good.  Done!

So I saw him yesterday and he worked it out a bit.  In a way I'm stiffer now than I was before, but definitely in less pain.

Oh, and I ate ice cream on Monday to make myself feel better.  I'd like to say it didn't help, but it sort of did!  So, Kate, you probably got me this week. 

Graceland

Today's Random Song Friday is Graceland by Paul Simon.

I watched Spinal Tap the other day with my wife.  She had claimed to have never seen it.  After their gig in Memphis gets canceled they decide to visit Elvis' grave.  They sing Heartbreak Hotel and they try to harmonize.  They fail miserably.

Too funny!

My wife didn't laugh.

That's the first thing I thought of when finding out that today's song would be Graceland.

There is a girl in New York City,
Who calls herself the human trampoline.
And sometimes when I'm falling flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Whoa so this is what she means.
She means we're bouncing into Graceland.

This verse always struck me funny. Human trampoline? People are always bouncing off of her? When Mr. Simon says, "when I'm falling, flying or tumbling in turmoil I say, 'whoa, so this is what she means.'" Trampolines do not fall or fly or tumble. People ON trampolines do that. If she's a human trampoline then people are doing that ON her.

Yeah, I know, I'm reading too much into it. But, sorry Mr. Simon, it just doesn't work.

So, that brings us to the end of this week's Random Song Friday. I wish you all a wonderful weekend! Goodnight and good blogging.

NEW FEATURE - BvK!  Kate challenged me to a weight off!  She thinks she can beat me.  Bwahahahaha!  She has no idea what she's gotten herself into.  We'll be announcing our weight as part of our special Friday segments.

Current Weight - 213
Total Loss - 3 lbs.

Going down!

So I started exercising and changed my diet.  I discussed this in the previous post.  The main goals were to raise my fitness level and get my head on straight. A lesser goal, but one I knew would come along for the ride was to lose weight. The first week, which wasn't much of a week, I didn't really lose anything. I wasn't really surprised and I wasn't concerned about it.

When I started this journey, which was on February 2nd, I weighed 216 pounds. I'm 5'11", so that doesn't look fat. But it sure doesn't look thin either! I'd like to get to 185, which sounds like a goal, but I have no timetable for it.

So I weighed myself this morning and I'm down to 213! Woo hoo! Yay me!

Should I get one of those counter thingies?

I'm a Loser

I'm a loser?  Cause, seriously, I don't feel like one.  In fact, I'm starting to feel like a winner!

"I'm a Loser" by the Beatles on the Beatles for Sale album in the UK and the Beatles '65 in the US is our Random Song Friday.

I'm a loser
I'm a loser
And I'm not what I appear to be

Here is why I don't feel like a loser:

Job Interview
I've been going on this job interview for a big job.  I alluded to it in a previous post.  So, I'm a finalist.  I'm one of two that remain standing.  The person I would report to, someone who has an even bigger job (think top 3 in the company), called me the, "dark horse."  He said he didn't expect me to be standing here at the finish line.  He expected someone from his own department.  I believe that I'm #2 in his mind.  However, I feel like those around him, those that currently report to him, think of me as #1.  So, does he listen to those around him?  Time will tell, but I think I'm creeping closer.  I think the longer he doesn't make a decision is the longer he felt the need to think it through and the more likely he'll offer it to me.

Sure I'll be disappointed if I don't get it, but I'll still feel like a winner.  I definitely raised my profile overall.  Something good will come out of this.  I am confident.

Job
I have been working on a project that would be lead by the position mentioned above.  It's a great project and it keeps my mind occupied.  I NEED my mind occupied!

Health
I started working out!  Whoo hoo!  I am going to a trainer.  Why a trainer?  Cause I have NO IDEA what I am doing if I try doing it alone.  He also gave me a diet, which isn't too far off my current style of eating.  That means it's totally doable!  Yay!  Of course Kitty was correct, I had to start eating breakfast.  I don't like breakfast.  I'm not a big dairy person.  I HATE milk!  (Sorry milk lovers out there.)  Dry cereal?  Ummm, NO THANKS!  So, what did he suggest?  A fruit and a handful of nuts, almonds preferred.  Fruit and nuts???  I LOVE fruit and nuts.  Awesomeness!  Plus working out seems to already have lifted some of that fogginess.  I don't want to get ahead of myself, as I've just begun, but so far, so good!  *happy dance*

So, hopefully this good stuff can go on for a while longer.  Pleeeaaaassseeeee?

What have I done to deserve such a fate
I realize I have left it too late
And so it's true, pride comes before a fall
I'm telling you so that you won't lose all