Goody Goody

8 pounds have gone off of my body. Yea, I know it's mostly water, but it is 8 pounds gone. Nice job!

Weight Loss!!

I was weak, I stepped on the scale this morning. Six pounds gone. I am doing the happy dance now!

I'm on a diet...either I lose weight or I drop dead!

I started Monday, February 16th, 2009. It is my version on a PSMF diet, high protein shakes; whey and soy; (EAS and Trader Joe's, ON Gold Standard), meal bars, chicken and seafood, and very low carbs. I am eating something every 2-3 hours. I need to get back to the gym, but I need to wait another two weeks for my system to settle down and my BG to stabilize. I really wanted to go on the Cleveland Clinic PSMF program but my health insurance; Aetna would not approve. Never mind that I'm a diabetic on insulin and need to lose weight so I don't die and with a family history of CAD. They don't care. This isn't about cosmetics, it is about saving my life. So I'm doing this myself without the benefit of medical supervision. I am taking an Rx of potassium, 10meq a day. I am checking my blood glucose several times a day so I don't pass out. That is the hardest, as my finger tips really hurt! I have had to decrease my Lantus a bit, even since last night as my FBS was lower than normal. To be continued...

So far , today, this is wat I have consumed:
starting at 7am:

1 EAS vanilla whey protein shake, 120cal?, 23g protein, I think 2-3 carbs
3 hard boiled egg whites
16 oz water with Benefiber no sugar packett
1 EAS chocolate whey protein shake, as above
1 cup black tea, hot
1 diet Coke, 20oz (my weakness)
1 South Beach Living meal replacement bar; 140cal, 10g protein, 15g carbs
1 cup coffee, with stevia and powder coffee cream
1 16oz water with sugar free flavor packett
1 potassium tab; 10meq
1 enalapril, an ACE med; 10mg
1000mg Vit C in the first shake
1 EAS ready to drink shake

It is now 6:26pm and I am now home and will have to make a shake. I'll then watch the Nightly News with Brian Williams to find out how much the bail out will be costing me and the American taxpayers.

Monday, I was shaky and very hungry, I have food on the brain. Yesterday was a bit better, and today, I am not hungry. I am eating a lot of protein and I am trying to figure out how much protein I really need. I have been on several web sites and they conflict each other. One says I need one gram of protein per pound of body weight. That maybe a bit too much for me. If I have six shakes a day that is only 144g of protein per day, that is not enough. I know I need help, and I have no where to turn. I know I need help with this and have nowhere to turn. Is anyone out there?

My BF let me know as he is worried I will get really tired. I feel his concerns, as I probably am eating pretty unhealthy. I have energy now, but I feel not enough to work out at a gym. My FitWorks membership will expire in May, and I will not renew. I have found another gym (Titans), a real gym where true body builders go. I will check it out and see if they have a trial membership. They also have a juice bar attached. I don't want to sign a contract, as I do not know what the future holds for me. I was a total fool to join FitWorks.

I just wish I could have the monitoring at the Cleveland Clinic.Aetna keeps emailing me on the benefits for being healthy and keeping my diabetes in check, but they provide basically no support! I guess they would rather pay for a heart bypass surgery (name your disease here) instead of helping someone get healthy. Makes no sense to me as well.

Right now I am researching supplements that I may need to take. Besides the potassium, I take Omega-3 fish oil (really stinks), 2,400mg/a serving and total Omega-3's are 720mg. 1gr of Vit C crystals I dissolve in the shakes. I need a multi-vit and mineral tab, calcium, magnesium (I heard this is a very important mineral), and ALA, CLA. But, I don't know what to chose or how much to take. That is the huge problem.

I know probably three people read this blog, so if there is anyone out the who can help, please contact me.

News Flash

I have been away much too long from my blog. I do apologize for my absence. I have been having a lot of problems with my daughter and she need to move out of my home. I have been most generous with the time frame and have given her 3.5 months. She is on SSI and has a part time job. Her idiot boyfriend brought illegal drugs (a huge amount of pot) into my home and I could have been arrested and lost my ability to keep my employment. I have called the police to my home several times as well as my BF who lives out of state. The police do absolutely nothing. Sure, they talk to her, but she is a psychopath and knows how to act in front of them. She is not only mentally ill but is homicidal and has made numerous threats to harm me. She went ballistic last night ( my friend was here to see this) and I was so upset and Cosmo was shaking and would not leave from under my bed. My friend is coming over tonight to try to work this out and we are trying to get her admitted to the local psychiatric hospital. Chelsea refuses to go. I fear for my life every time I go to sleep. I fear that she will put poison in my insulin and kill me. There is no where I can go as I won't leave Cosmo behind.

I am very grateful to a good friend from work, a nurse who has dealt with people who have severe mental illness, such as my daughter. She know how this is killing me.

On a good note.............

I have started to write a book. The working title is: The House on North Cadillac Drive.

I'm currently forming an outline and developing chapters. It is non-fiction and sort of autobiographical. My BF is very encouraged with my progress so far. Now all I need is a publisher willing to work work a new writer.

And, yes I spent my childhood years on North Cadillac Drive. I moved into the home in 1959 as a baby and moved out in 1971 to a house on the other side of the city.

The other news, I'm glad the US Air had no fatalities. I viewed that on the nightly news and was totally amazed at the landing in the Hudson River.

You Decide. Do YOU Need A Bailout?

My answer on foxnews.com.
Comment by Cosmos Human
November 24th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I wish I could bailout my parents. My mom is turning 74 next month and still has to work. She and my father who works as well; are exhausted. There are no “golden years” for them.

I work full time as a social worker and also support a disabled child. I didn’t ask to become a single parent and my daughter didn’t ask to become disabled.

I do the best I can with what I have. Many Americans do the same as well. We do our best to try to make good financial decisions and try to stay within our means. However, life happens and often throws up a curve ball. That is when diaster strikes and we aren’t prepared. At this moment I am trying to figure out how to save up a six month reserve in case I lose my job, and it’s not easy.

I’m far from being a big-shot zillion dollar executive or a corporation with zillions dollars in profits, make that losses…and our government is coming to rescue them.

I make a bad decision, I have to live with that decision and try to make the best of it, but an automaker or a bank repeats what I have done and our elected officials come running to their aid. Is that fair? Is that the right thing to do?

As a social worker I have seen things that should not be. I have been witness to such great poverty and despair, I have been in tears, as there have been so much suffering.

When will the government help its own citizens who have nothing, but mabe a little pride left?

The Invasion of the Mickey Mice

As you can read here, mice have invaded my apartment, and really nothing is being done. So as a last resort I have filed a complaint with the health district. Later steps are court action and the media... This has become an intolerable living situation. My daughter is terrified to say the least. Now where is Carl Monday?

Dear Lake County General Health District,

Rodents have invaded my apartment. I have been complaining to the management and I feel that I am not being taken seriously and this hazardous and unhealthy condition has continued. I along with my disabled daughter do not deserve to live in these horrible conditions. I am so very afraid that mice will invade my bed while I sleep and my daughter is terrified of being bitten. I also have a puppy and am afraid of him being attacked or contracting a disease. I have purchased at my own expense as the management office did not have steel wool or duct tape to plug the holes in my kitchen where the rodents have been entering, to no avail, they still enter. Also I have purchased glue traps and did catch one rodent. Yet they still enter.

Management has sealed holes and cracks from the outside of the building and sealed under the cabinet adjacent to the gas stove. However, rodents are still entering my apartment. Every morning there are rodent dropping in the kitchen and in and on the gas stove. I have not been able to use the stove as it is a health hazard. I am physically unable to move the gas stove and refrigerator to assess the situation and clean. I was told by “Laura” the apartment clerk that management was to clean and assess the areas I just mentioned, and it has not been done. “Laura” also stated that I was to get a call back from “Doug” the manager last week, which did not occur. They have not hired a professional licensed exterminator. I do not at this time have funds to hire someone and I feel like I am being held hostage living here.

I have photographs of the rodent droppings. Maintenance was in my apartment on 11/13/08 to clean up droppings and place peanut butter on traps, which the mice ate and were not caught.

I and my daughter are becoming ill from this infestation both physically and psychologically. I am hoping the Lake County Health District can assist with this matter. I really don’t know what more I can do.

Midge gets her first collar

HUNTSBURG, Ohio -- A very little dog had a very big day Thursday. Midge the drug dog is celebrating her first "collar."It all started with a break-in in Huntsburg in Geauga County. A deputy drove by a house near Hunt Road and noticed a car that didn't belong there.Two people emerged from the home carrying a big screen TV. As soon as they spotted the deputy, they dropped the TV and ran.The deputy called in reinforcements and the chase was on. The sheriff said the two suspects stole a couple of bikes but they were no match for Deputy Juanita Vetter. She was a high school track star and has trained for the Olympics.Vetter chased down Charles See Jr."His comment upon being apprehended, he says, 'That quote end quote is one tenacious broad. I thought I'd be able to outrun her,'" Sheriff Dan McClelland said. See's 16-year-old son was also arrested.Once they were in custody, it was time to search the car they'd been seen with, but it was packed with stolen tools, the sheriff said.A big dog was going to have difficulty getting in. For Midge, it was easy because she is an 8-pound Chihuahua-terrier mix.Midge is a fully trained as a drug dog for the Geauga County Sheriff's Department.She was able to go where the bigger K-9s couldn't, finding Vicodins hidden among all of the stolen goods, deputies said."One of our deputies summed it up best when it was all done. Basically he said, 'Don't come out here and break into our houses unless you want to pay the price,' the sheriff said.The 16-year-old son was released to his mother's custody. There was no immediate word on any charges.Charles See faces a variety of theft charges.Midge celebrated her third birthday Thursday.

Cosmo at the dog park 11/08/2008

Found: shopping list

I was at Marc's discount store here in Mentor on the Lake just this past hour buying the usual stuff for consumption and while replacing the shopping cart I came across this shopping list written on the inside of a pack of Dutch Masters Panetela cigars. I am making a big assumption here, it was compiled by a male. I'm not too sure of the prices posted here, as the Gillette razors have no price. Milk seems a bit too high. Two paper towels for $7.00?
I have seen books written by people who "find" things such as lists and write about them. That is not my goal at this time. I'm just looking for something to keep me out of trouble.

Cosmo's Halloween Photos

Yngwie Malmsteen and Ripper Owens Cleveland Agora 10/18/08

This was the best concert I have attended this year. Yngwie's shredding guitars and Ripper's ripping voice were a primo combination. Jim and I were in the front and center pressed up against the security barrier. We both came away with Yngwie's guitar picks. This was the first time I have seen Ripper live and it won't be the last. Although I still like IE, Jon Schaffer's band, well, they will never be the metal gods without Rippers voice. What was Jon thinking? Ripper even outshined Yngwie, could even be possible? The opening act, a metal band from Russia, and all I can say is their lead guitar and bassist were good. The vocalist was awful and was pained up like the "Joker" from Batman. I think is was a bad imitation of Insane Clown Posse.

Photography by Mark Gromen of BW & BK. http://www.bravewords.com/

Fort Ligonier Days, Ligonier PA 10/11/08

But wait....there's more!

Metallica: One

Metallica: The Day That Never Comes -- Death Magnetic

Jeff Dunham - Achmed the Dead Terrorist

Tomatoes can help your prostate

Find more videos like this on ConsimWorld

Still working on the photos from Iced Earth

Plus, they look even better than the ones I posted below. You can see some of them on another site:

http://social.consimworld.com/photo/photo/slideshow?feed_url=http%3A%2F%2Fsocial.consimworld.com%2Fphoto%2Fphoto%2FslideshowFeedForContributor%3FscreenName%3Dap593pd86ozp&back_url=http%3A%2F%2Fsocial.consimworld.com%2Fprofiles%2Fprofile%2Fshow%3Fid%3DLisaScheer%26

It's a 100 pict photo show. View at your own discretion.

Iced Earth HOB Cleveland 09/30/08

WOW is an understatement! This concert totally blew me away. I was up front against the security barrier just short of center stage. I'm still working on the pictures. The lighting was awesome as well as the sound. They played most of my favorites: Something Wicked, Second day at Gettysburg, Iced Earth, Dracula, I Walk Alone, Ten Thousand Strong, In Sacred Flames, Behold The Wicked Child, Hell, there's more. But, sad no encore, as I heard Matt Barlow wasn't feeling well...maybe not true, but when the lights came on, I knew. I'm still processing the concert in what's left of my mind.

There was an opening act, Saviour I believe was their name. They are metal, but need a better range in their vocal areas, but they were descent. They even encouraged a mosh pit to occur. hell, I was pushed a bit.

I also ran into a friend of mine from the Amon Amarth concert from last year. She was standing next to me in the front row. She told me she always sees the same people at metal concerts. She just returned from a metal festival in Germany. I probably should make plans to attend next year during my hopeful three week tour of Europe. IE didn't play in Pittsburgh, and it seemed half of the audience was from there. I was surprised that the venue wasn't sold out. IE is a very important metal band, they have been around a very long time. Jon Schaffer is a guitar God. Matt Barlow's vocals were very good and he seemed to hit some very high notes. He was sporting a new shaven head, sort of looked like Ripper. Brent Smedley was drumming and didn't stop, he was amazing. Troy Seele was on lead guitar and was right in front of me the entire concert and along with Freddie Vidales on the bass. I have no idea how they do it all. OK, I know I'm not the best writer and reviewer, hell, I'm trying.

I'm still working on this post...to be continued.