Well, dear readers, it has been five grueling months of 1200 calories a day, jogging three miles (I think in the last five months I have maybe missed a total of two weeks due to being out of town and/or illness or weather. But for months at a time I have missed no days of jogging. I have purposely not weighed myself because that can be really frustrating and really cause upset. Back in February I could barely fit in my black jeans that I wore at most of the Kritzerland shows. I got them buttoned but my guy was so huge and hanging over the top of the pants that when I look at photographs I want to vomit on the ground. Now, those black jeans are size 33 but not really – more like 34 and again I could barely get in them and certainly they were not comfortable. Back in December I attempted to buy two pairs of black slacks at Costco, size 36 – could not get into them and frankly I could barely get into the replacement size of 38 – but that had more to do with the way pants are made these days. But there’s no question that size 36 was really snug back then. I suspect I was either at my highest weight ever or even slightly over that.
In late February I’d had it and I decided that I had to lose at least thirty pounds. And so I began doing what I needed to do – I’ve been down this road several times and I know what works for me. Jogging (I don’t jog briskly, but I jog enough to change my metabolic rate), limiting myself to 1200 calories a day – some days a bit more, some a bit less, but hovering around that number because that number insures I will definitely lose weight. As always, the first four weeks were the hardest and I saw no progress. During that first month, I visited Washington, DC. Whilst there, I bought two pairs of pants – the only ones I could fit into and they were very tight were size 36. I continued to wear my black jeans for the Kritzerland show and by the end of about six weeks they were definitely a little more comfortable – so, progress – slowly, but progress.
In June, I bought several pairs of slacks from JOS Bank – they were all size 36 and all a bit snug, but again I really think they make pants smaller these days. But the really good news was that I was able to buy a pair of size 35 jeans and could button them without too much effort. During June, for the first time, I began to notice that I was finally losing the gut. By the end of June, I bought a size 34 pair of pants and wonder of wonders, fit in them easily. I was also fitting into all those recently bought slacks easily. Two weeks later, I went into my closet and pulled out a pair of pants I’d never worn because I couldn’t ever fit in them – size 33. I put them on, they fit perfectly and even a little loosely in the waist. I was so happy I cannot even tell you. A week later, I put on the size 35 jeans and they were too loose to wear. For the August Kritzerland show, I pulled out a pair of size 33 slacks I’d bought three or four years ago at Banana Republic – they fit, they had room to spare. But even four weeks before that, I was fitting into a pair of size 32 jeans – they were just cut large I guess, but when I wear those now they are pretty damn loose. I suspect they’re really 33s but that’s not what they say.
A few weeks ago, I tried on a pair of 32 jeans that I’d bought some years ago and could never wear. Couldn’t really get near buttoning them, so I knew I had a ways to go. But I’d had to have lost at least three inches in the waist. I also tried on a size 32 pair of black pants a few weeks ago and couldn’t get near buttoning those either. Those were going to be my litmus test always because the last time I did this weight loss thing and got into my 150s is when I bought those and they fit really well and were a teeny bit loose at that weight.
So, yesterday, feeling good after my jog, I tried the size 32 new jeans on and guess what – I got them buttoned. I couldn’t get near buttoning them only a few weeks ago. They’re too tight and certainly not comfortable yet, but I couldn’t believe it. Then I tried on my litmus test black 32 pants and I got those buttoned, too – absolutely amazing. My goal was to be in my 150s and/or be comfortable in size 32 pants by the September Kritzerland anniversary show. And I think I will achieve that goal – I think another five to ten pounds, which I believe will happen this month, will do the trick. And I know I have to maintain that weight for however long I’m around because it will be impossible for me to ever lose this kind of weight again. It’s not easy, but I know what to do once I’m where I want to be. There are two times a year where I have to be very careful – Christmas and the beginning of the year when I’m writing a book. Those are my problem times and I will do whatever it takes to watch out during those periods. I can eat more at Christmas if I’m very careful the week before and the week after. Anyway, I’m feeling so much better now and I will actually not stand in back of people when taking a photograph, as I was doing to hide my big ol’ gut. I’m also going to take new photographs professionally, for the first time in probably fifteen years.
Yesterday was an okay day. I did get nine hours of blessed sleep, so that was great. Then I answered e-mails, then went and had a Cobb salad, which is exactly what I was craving, and which was yummilicious. Then I picked up no packages, came home, filed a Paypal claim for the second time for the second of the no-show packages, which obviously were never sent. Then I did what I said I would do – I relaxed, did a few things on the computer, did a three-mile jog, had the daily conversation and patter run-through with the East Coast Singer, and then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Alien Nation, starring Mr. James Caan and Mr. Mandy Patinkin. I’d seen it back when it came out and for a late 80s thing I enjoyed it as much as one could enjoy those late 80s things. This one had a few things going for it – melding a cop buddy picture and aliens, good actors, and competent filmmaking. The by-play with Caan and Patinkin is what made the film work, and, as I said, I remembered it being entertaining in its limited way. The film was a modest moneymaker. It spawned a sequel, I think, and then a TV series. So, it was kind of fun to watch it again, because what seemed ordinary back then plays better today, given the huge lot of crap that calls itself movies. This one had no pretentions, the pace is terrific (the film only runs 86 minutes without the end credits), and it’s fun to watch Caan and Patinkin do their stuff. Also good is Terrence Stamp as the villain. It’s all silly, but there is at least a modicum of something on its mind, mostly about prejudice. Lots of good 1988 LA locations. The score by Curt Sobel is one of those synth scores that one hears in every other 80s movie, but it kind of works really well for this film. It’s notorious because the film’s original score, also synth, was by Jerry Goldsmith – it was tossed and Sobel’s score replaced it. Goldsmith had used a theme recycled from another tossed score, and he’d recycle it again for The Russia House. Having heard the Goldsmith score, I can see why it might have been too much for the film.
After that, I went to find some Milhaud CDs, but some years ago I put all the classical CDs in the linen closet in the hall – they’re in there stacked three rows deep on four shelves. I could only find one Milhaud CD, but while I was looking I found one Howard Hanson CD and I’ve had a craving for Mr. Hanson so I put it in iTunes – his Symphony No. 3 – a wonderful work. Then I found a compilation CD that had his second symphony, the Romantic, so I listened to that, too. My love for Mr. Hanson’s work knows no bounds. He was a wonderfully melodic composer and I have yet to hear a Hanson piece that I don’t love. He could have been a great film composer, such is his gift for melody. For me, he’s in the pantheon of great American composers, right up there with Gershwin and Copland. Happily, I think all of his classic Mercury recordings are on CD – all I have to do is find the damn things. I think it’s time for me to reorganize that closet or find a different place to have the classical CDs, because I do like listening to them and haven’t in years.
The Romantic symphony of Hanson is one of my all-time favorite symphonies – a glorious work. It found its way into Ridley Scott’s film, Alien – it’s used in the end credits, which I can tell you did not make the film’s composer, Jerry Goldsmith, happy. And listening to the symphony’s final movement will show you instantly that Mr. Steven Spielberg temp-tracked the last eight minutes of ET with that movement and Mr. Williams basically aped it straight down the line. In fact, I ran ET once, shut off the sound at the point the boys begin riding their bikes, and the Hanson piece timed out perfectly with the film.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after another good night’s beauty sleep. I have an eleven o’clock phoner with the East Coast Singer and Lanny, just to talk through the act, which is next Tuesday night. Then I’ll do a jog, hopefully pick up some packages, and then I have a two o’clock lunch meeting about a potential recording project. After that, I’ll write some liner notes and relax.
Tomorrow, I’m going with Mr. Barry Pearl to see Shreck, The Musical – we’ll eat something before the show. Saturday is the book fair, which I’m looking forward to, especially to see how many dealers got their mitts on The Cuckoo’s Calling and what they’re selling for. Not sure what’s happening Saturday night, although I may dine with a book dealer fried of mine. Sunday I think I’m going to see the helper in a musical she’s in.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a phone meeting, do a jog, hopefully pick up some packages, have a lunch meeting, write and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite 80s films and your favorite James Caan movies? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to know that I actually fit into my size 32 pants – tight yes, but I’m in them. Now just a little more and they’ll be comfy.