Six-Packs

Who doesn't want a six-pack?  Not talking about beer here folks, I'm talking about a sculpted bod.

A progression to a six pack. I would settle for the middle status. The far right is actually a little bit much.

My good friend and Travel Buddy is a yoga enthusiast.  Recently he began taking pilates twice a week, in addition to his yoga classes. He sent me this photo this morning after his "boot camp" Pilates session. Pat, the results are there!  I'm jealous.

Pat this morning after his Pilates class - looking good Pat!

Way back when I used to have a sculpted body like this. That was when I used to walk a couple of miles to work every day (when I lived in Center City Philadelphia).  I put in a couple more miles walking around performing my job as a Trust Operations Manager at the bank where I worked.

Me on the beach in Provincetown, Mass 1976 - more hair, less fat

Also, these days my six-pack has been replaced with a permanent belly.  No, I'm not going to show you a photo of it.  I'm too ashamed.  In fact, I'm nervous about donning a swim suit when Pat and I next visit Palm Springs, California this coming February. At least our pool is private and I'll only have two display my little pot belly to Pat.

Random Musings

The snow geese have arrived. 

They arrived later this year than in past years.  Probably because of the unseasonably warmer weather we have been having here in southern Delaware.  

I took this video last week, during my morning walk through the development where I live. My morning walk is one of my pure pleasures this time of my life.  On this particular morning, as I was completing my two and a quarter mile walk, the snow geese flew overhead. I looked up and let that good, natural feeling of communing with nature envelope me.

Lately I haven't been in much of a mood to pound this keyboard to punch out a blog posting.  Not that I don't have anything to write about, I do.  I always do.  That's one thing I never lack, subject matter of what to write about.  But for some reason, and I think I know what it is, I just haven't been in the mood to put my mental musings in a blog. But I feel a responsibility to keep it up.

In three days we'll have a new president. I'll be very frank with you folks,, I am fearful, very fearful.  Talk about the "end of times."  I am THAT fearful.  I hope my fears are overblown but I do have this sinking feeling they are not.

So what have I been doing these days?  Playing online Scrabble with my Travel Sidekick, Pat, an always enjoyable and soothing past time. 

I've also been organizing my 86,000 some photos and videos on my computer.  A YUGE job. Sometimes I wonder why I am doing that because after I'm gone no one cares what I have on my computer.  But for now, I care and I also derive pleasure looking at all those photos, especially the older ones, tagging them and putting them in some kind of order.  Who knows, maybe one of my great-nephews or great-nieces will have an interest once they get past their young years.  By the way I am now a great-great uncle.  Two of my great nieces have daughters of their own.  Man oh man am I old.

My current challenge is to get a handyman to install a bidet on my toilet.  Talk about a change of subject.  You know me folks, I veer right and left, sometimes with a very sharp curve.  

Next up is taking Bill for his first visit to a cardiologist. Bill and I both have irregular heartbeats.  I was hoping to get Bill to see my cardiologist but he's booked up until May.  Bill's cardiologist is in the same practice though.  Thank goodness the VA Choice program is covering the expenses.  This visit to the cardiologist is more to prepare Bill for his cataract surgery. Then maybe after his surgery we can get his driver's license back.

Well, this is enough musings for now folks.  I have some Scrabble games to catch up on before Trump blows up the world while I can.

Walking - Exercise Routine

My Activity app on my Apple watch

Out of bad things, sometimes good things happen.  

Remember when I fell on the ice a year and a half ago and tore my left leg quadricep muscle?  I never thought I could walk normal again. 

Me on my walker - several limited my ability to get around

I wore a brace on my leg for twelve weeks after the operation that reattached my quadricep muscle.

Me with my leg brace - I couldn't bend that leg for twelve weeks in order to give my reattached quadricep muscle time to heal

That recovery time was perhaps the worst time of my life with the exception of the difficulty I had selling our Pennsylvania house when we moved to Delaware ten years ago.  Wow, that was a long sentence.  

My stapled up leg after surgery to reattach my quadricep muscle

Walking was the one thing I always had.  I've always enjoyed walking.  

I've done a lot of walking in my lifetime. When I was in high school, I didn't have a car.  I walked home miles from after school activity.  I also walked home miles from my part-time job cleaning offices.

When I lived in Center City Philadelphia, I walked a couple of miles to work and back home every day.  Sometimes I even walked home for lunch, albeit I walked fast.  

Walking was always something I had.  Thus, when I lost the ability to walk normal, I was felt a great sadness.

This spring, I started to walk again. Before breakfast in the morning I would walk a few houses up the road pictured in the banner photo at the top of this blog.  Eventually I was able to walk all the way to the other end of our development.  

These days I walk the whole of our our development once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  The total walk is two miles each way.  If I'm not too busy, I also walk before lunch.

A big help has been the Activity app on my Apple watch.  This helps me to stay on course.  I feel like I'm really accomplishing something.  And you know what?  I feel a lot better too.  And of course, I'm keeping my weight down.  Which is a biggie since I am one of those older males who tends to gain weight around my middle.  

Folks, it's all good.  And you know what?  Walking is also free.  I especially love walking early in the morning just as the sun is rising and the birds are starting to chirp.  

When I walk in the morning, and the afternoon, I feel at one with nature.  I love it folks. I feel alive again.  Now, not to fall again. 

Yoga Man

Pat at his yoga class

As you may or may not know, my Canadian friend Pat is a yoga devotee.  That's how he keeps his great body (he's actually a very old man) and his wonderful disposition.  

While I was visiting him in Toronto last month he showed me a few of his yoga moves.  Damned near killed me.  I sent him off to his yoga class by himself.  I got my exercise walking up and down his metal stairs at night to take my nightly pee (or two).  

Pat not only does yoga, he does HOT yoga.  Excuse me?  I'm all for a steam bath and saunas but stretching my body to it's limits in a hot room?  That's not me folks.

During my stay last month, Pat told me that they videotaped one of his yoga classes.  The picture above is of Pat that I took of the video of that yoga class.  

I've been getting my exercises from walking but not so much lately.  I have to get back into walking.  To me, walking is the best all around exercise, even better than swimming and certainly better than jogging (all that banging of joints can't be good). 

I'm not much good at other forms of exercise though.  As a matter of fact I pretty much suck at anything (get your mind out of the gutter) other than walking.  I tried tennis once when I was in Provincetown.  That little brief foray into exercise damn near killed me too.

This Friday I'm scheduled for my annual treadmill stress test.  I remember the last one.  Damned near killed me.

Aching All Over After Working in the Backyard

Bill ready to attack the top of the pine tree with his snippers

The last time I hurt this bad was when I went out for the track team in 1957.   I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck!  My whole body aches.

That's me, bottom row, on the right. kneeling and in pain

So what did I do to bring me to this state?  I took advantage of the mild spring weather the past two days and I've been working like an illegal immigrant on my backyard.

Ron's giant Pampas Grass begging to be trimmed

I want to get all the hedge trimming, weed pulling, and planting new bulbs in the ground before the mosquitoes take flight looking for my warm blood, nubile bod.  Yes, I want to get ahead of the game.

"What a mess!" (the grass, not me)

However, I fear I pushed myself too much yesterday.  Not only did I cut back my two monster Pampas Grass plants (they look beautiful in the mid summer but man oh man are they ever a bitch to cut back), I spent about two hours raking cut grass.  I kept telling myself that all this raking would help get rid of the spare tire I developed this past winter.  I'm one belt notch up and the pantaloons are snug.  I daresay I probably should be wearing size 33 waist pants but I don't want to go there since I've managed to stay a 32 waist all my adult life (with a few inexorable exceptions - not bigger but smaller when I was in the throes of an unrequited love affair I dropped to a 30 waist).

Bill came out later and topped our pine trees which are on the border of our backyard.  That is a messy job which I hate to do because of all the pine tar I get on my hands.  I'm glad Bill took on that job.  Thank you Bill!

I have developed a backyard which is very bird friendly and they know it.  I have seven birdbaths which I have to clean several times a day.  I don't know why but some of my avian friends seems to think the bird bath is a toilet and they occasionally leave "deposits."

I have many bushes which I keep trimmed which make them thick and safe for my feathered friends.  The bluebirds haven't settled into their house but they're looking it over.  Purple Martin scouts have already been detected checking out the newly cleaned quarters.  I've already had to pull out one house sparrow nest from my Purple Martin house.  The robins, cat birds, and finches are also regulars at Casa Tipton-Kelly's Backyard Wildlife Habitat Hacienda.

Spring has arrived and I am glad of it.  Now if my body can keep up with the physical demands.  When I went to bed last night my body literally ached all over.  It was one of those "good aches", if you know what I mean but I was aching.  I feel like I got mugged.

Today I rest.

"Need some mulch?"

Six Pack Abs

Spo, one of my favorite bloggers posted today about his wish to have a flat stomach and posses six pack abs.


The Jersey Shore star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino has made the seemingly unattainable "six pack abs" the goal of many men.  Who wouldn't want a Six Pack? Heck, most men would just settle for a flat stomach.  


My friend Spo expressed that he would probably never posses a flat stomach.  Well, I'm here to tell my friend Spo and every other man who would like to have a flat stomach that it is indeed possible.  


I have always had a flat stomach.  Back in the Seventies and Eighties, when I used to lift weights.  I even developed the elusive six pack abs.  See below photo of me taken in Provincetown in 1974:

Me on Herring Cove Beach, Provincetown, Mass. 1974

Friends, it is not impossible to have a flat stomach.  If I can do it, anyone can.  Here are a few things to remember if you want to posses a flat stomach:

• Walk a lot
• Do not drink beer
• Walk a lot
• Do not drink liquor
• Walk a lot
• Do not eat ice cream
• Walk a lot
• Do not eat bread
• Walk a lot
• Do not drink whole milk (2% or less)
• Walk a lot
• Use sugar in moderation
• Walk a lot
• Do not drink coffee
• Walk a lot
• Do not eat candy
• 
  

Follow these rules and you WILL have a flat stomach.  Seriously folks, it is that easy.

As proof, I took these pictures of my stomach this morning.  I am now 69 years old.  I have followed the above rules all my life.  While I don't have the defined six pack abs now (I no longer lift weights), I still have a flat stomach.  I'm not bragging, just stating a fact.  Well, maybe I am bragging. 

I wouldn't be truthful if I didn't say that the years have taken their toll. While I still have the same weight as I did when I graduated from high school, 160 pounds, my waist has increased from 31 inches to 32 inches.  My weight has shifted.  Gravity is taking its toll.  

One thing I would emphasize though is that one has to be constantly vigilant about eating habits and exercise.  If I wrote a weight loss book, it would only contain four words:

EAT LESS

MOVE MORE

So there you go friends and readers of this blog, I have just supplied you with the ONLY information you need to have a flat stomach.  

Why not six pack abs?  At my age, it isn't worth the effort because it does take a lot of work.  Lifting weights defines your stomach muscles.  If you're on the prowl and/or going to the beach, it would be worth the effort.  But me?  I'm an old man now.  I am no longer on the prowl and I don't go to the beach.  Even if I did posses six pack abs, no one would see them except me unless I walked around without my shirt off, which I don't.  

However, I will keep my flat stomach.  If for nothing else than my own self esteem.  Plus it doesn't feel too bad either when I attend my high school class reunions.  

Go for it guys!

Back on the Boards

Finally, I was able to get to the boardwalk in Rehoboth to do my daily walk this morning.

The skies were still overcast but the misty rains were gone.

I didn't have much company on the boardwalk this morning.  Perhaps three or four other hardy souls like me, senior citizens all.  Gone, gone, gone are the summertime visitors that I refer to (in the kindest way of course) as "touristas."

My legs felt real good after my four mile walk.

During my several absence of several days because of the rains, I've gained two pounds, from 156 to 158.  Wow, it doesn't take long to put on the pounds.

As I was ending my walk this morning I felt like I wasn't alone after all.

 Ah yes, a kitty in the grass was watching me.

Seattle Weather

A fool treading the wet boardwalk in Rehoboth - ALONE

Thwarted again.


I headed out in the darkness of this morning for my daily walk on the boardwalk in Rehoboth only to meet more rain.


Yesterday morning I went into Rehoboth later in the morning to check out the end of the season sidewalk sales only to encounter high winds and rain.  And I mean HIGH WINDS.  I couldn't even walk on the boardwalk.  


This is getting real old, this Seattle Weather.  I'm starting to feel the effects of not doing my daily walk of four miles.  My legs are aching.  I can feel the pounds just waiting to come back to my waist.


It seems like the past two weeks the whole east coast has been getting a constant drubbing from the rain gods.  Thank goodness we don't have any flooding here but my brother Isaac, who lives in Downingtown, PA is now confronted with a flooded basement.  He lives in the basement.  Bill lives in our basement.  As I said....THANK GOODNESS NO FLOODING HERE.


This is what I imagine the weather is like in Seattle and the Northwest.  All this rain may make for lush greenery but I'm telling you, it's seriously disrupting my daily routine and depressing me.  I could never live year round in weather like this.  I need me a LOT OF LIGHT.  


What was it that terrible, headache producing song from "Annie" said?  "Tomorrow, tomorrow!  The sun will come out tomorrow!" 


I hope so.  

Boardwalk Adventures

What's a "Dougnut?" I think I'll take the water, thank you.

Again, this morning, as has become my habit of the past few weeks I left for the boardwalk in Rehoboth immediately after breakfast.

The weather this morning was again cool and overcast, almost perfect conditions for a brisk walk on the boardwalk.

I arrived at my usual parking spot beside the Cape Henlopen Hotel at the north end of the boardwalk.

I park my car, get my fleece sweat jacket and put it on, loop my camera over my shoulders and I'm on my way.

The boardwalk this morning is again sparsely populated.  Only the hardcore exercisers like me.  The lack of sunshine does not deter us from our morning walk.

There was one tourista family on the beach, tippy toeing into the waves.  They weren't going to let a few clouds spoil their day.

A family braves the waves

The waves were crashing to the shore again today, like yesterday.  A father and son tried their luck at fishing on the beach.

Early morning fishing on the beach

Even on cloudy days like today, the colors of the landscape are stunning.  I tried to capture the peacefulness of the muted colors of the far horizon with my camera.

All I needed was a seagull or two in this picture but they didn't cooperate this morning

I began my brisk walk to the other end of the boardwalk, 1 1/4 miles away.  About 2/3rd's there I felt something "give" in my right hip.  Uh oh.  I either sprained or pulled a muscle.  Or else my 68 year old hip is rebelling against all this daily exercise I've been subjecting it too.  Whatever, I was now limping.

Oh joy, no longer was I the Cool Guy passing all the other walkers on the boardwalk.  I was just another Old Guy limping along the boardwalk.  My age has caught up with me.

I gamely finished my walk to the end of the boardwalk then took a break and went down to the beach to watch the waves roll in.  As I was watching the waves roll in, the pain from my hip was rolling in and out making me woozy.  

Oh this was going to be fun.  Now I had to walk all the way to the other end of the boardwalk (1 1/4 miles away - just a reminder) and try not to look to OLD.  

I began my walk.  It got worse.  Now my hip was really hurting.  I looked for a bench with a view of the ocean.  Most of the benches have a view of the grass on the dunes that separate the boardwalk from the beach.  I don't care for that view.  

I found a spot.  I wiped the bench dry from the overnight accumulation of dew and whatever sand was there from short guys standing on the bench as they often do on the boardwalk.    

I seated myself and listened to the waves roll in and the sea gulls get things sorted out above me.  Just then I heard the screams and squeals of little kids.  Oh where was THÅT coming from?  I turned around and looked above.  I was sitting on a bench in front of a hotel or condo with balconies.  My eyesight followed the screams and squeals and sure enough, there was three little kids, all under the age of five, vying for the attention of the adults on the balcony with them.  Now I know why kids scream.....they want attention.  I don't blame the kids, they're just being kids.  But this isn't something I needed this morning with waves of pain from my sore hip wafting over me.

Time to go home.  

I left.  Traffic wasn't too bad (for a change) on Route 1.  When I got home Bill asked me why I got home so early.  I told him I sprained something in my hip.

As I sit here now typing this blog entry, the pain isn't too bad.  I have a terrific headache though.  I'm a little nauseous.  I don't know what that's from.  But at least their aren't any screaming kids around here.

I'll need to get some rest.  I'm working at the hotel tonight.  I hope the pain is gone by then.  Or else it's going to be a long night.

Another Day at the Beach

Me at the Dog Beach (before the Bag of Sand incident)

Mornings at the beach is my new activity.  I'm settling into a routine.

I usually get up about 5 or 5:30 am.  After breakfast of Corn Chex and strawberries, I'm in my new red Subaru Forester headed down Rt. 1 to Rehoboth Beach.  This early in the morning it's almost a straight shot because of the low traffic.

I park my car at the north end of the boardwalk mainly because I don't want to park my brand new car on Rehoboth Avenue where all the garbage trucks and Sysco trucks are collecting garbage and depositing new garbage early in the morning.  What would the restaurants do without Sysco?  Here's a suggestion: buy local.  Lots of noise early in the morning on Rehoboth Avenue.  I'm glad I'm not staying in one of those hotels.

So my routine is I park my car and hang my camera bag around my neck and step on the boardwalk for my brisk walk to the south end of the boardwalk.  I think the boardwalk is a mile long, but I'm told by my friend Bob C. that it's actually a mile round trip.  I don't know about that.  Walking from one end to the other seems like more than a half a mile.

After I arrive at the other end of the boardwalk I take a short break by walking down to the beach.  This early in the morning dogs are allowed on the beach.  I usually watch the owners with their dogs frolicking on the beach.  Sometimes if I see trash on the beach I pick it up and deposit it in a nearby trash can.

This mooring while I was watching the waves roll in and collecting some small pebbles that had washed ashore I noticed a plastic WalMart bag on the beach.  So, on my way back I pick it up and notice that it feels heavy.  I open it up and note that there is sand in the bag.  Oh, I guess some child was going to bag up some sand.  Uh huh.  So, Good Citizen that I am, I empty the bag of its "sand" and I notice that this "sand" is stinking  So here is what Ron did........he emptied a bag of dog poop on the beach.  And yes, I got part of it on my hand.

My new routine, I now take my break (and collect pebbles) at the other end  (northern) of the beach.  You know, the one where the surfers are.  Again, I am proof positive that No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.  The story of my life.