Today is MLK Day, so there is no school. Within the past few years, this day has become a day for school to host shootouts, so I'll be heading southwest to Illini West High School to officiate a girls game between Brimfield and Monmouth-Roseville. It should be a really good game, and I'm with my regular crew, so that is an added bonus. It's an afternoon game, and then we load up in the cars and head northeast!
Today is also a scheduled date for the Lincoln Trail Conference girls basketball tournament in Woodhull. Because of a scheduling situation, we will have three games at that tournament, and the games won't feature the level of play that we will see earlier in the day. This day, then, makes for a lot of exercise, fun with my regular crew, but all will not be good.
It's cold; it's January; and "fan happiness" is at a low at this point of the season. I know I've discussed fan behavior towards officials before, but today will be a day where fan happiness is bleak. Teams that are struggling will not yet see the light of the end of the season, so their dispositions are usually pretty glum, and their parents and family members and friends generally feel the same way. More often than not, all of these folks are attending because they feel some sense of responsibility to attend, not necessarily out of a burning desire or eagerness to attend.
And who are the favorite targets of fans? Of course, those dummies in stripes that don't know anything. And the thing about these particular games is that attendance is usually pretty low, so any and all derogatory comments towards the dummies in stripes generally is very clearly audible. For this reason, I really don't like quiet gyms!
Give me cheerleaders, a pep band, a packed gym of fans and you will find me a happy camper. I'm not saying we perform any better for the fans, but their comments are blurred out in all the other noise.
So today will be a LONG DAY. May I not only have the physical endurance to survive, may I also have the patience and emotional calmness I'm sure will be tested!
Monday, January 20, 2020
Sunday, January 19, 2020
A Morning Of Random Thoughts
- I started intermittent fasting protocol of eating on February 16 of last year. I've been really hoping to get to a total loss of 50 lbs. before the 1-year anniversary. I don't know if I'm going to make that. I've got about another 8 lbs. to lose, and that's a lot now that losing weight has become a slow thing. I'm okay with that because officiating and long days presents a battle of nutrition and willpower. Sometimes I just come home after officiating at night, and I eat things I shouldn't - chips, cookies, which I now know is a big mistake and really isn't from my body's need of nutrition but my brains mixed up signal to my stomach. Still, the challenge is real. I need to do better planning and then just get a little more mental toughness.
- Related to eating were two stories on the Today show this morning. One was a feature story of a female comedian, and she was a large woman. I struggled with the story because a segment of it discussed her struggle with her weight. My struggle is that because of her weight, she often receives more laughs...she makes money because of her weight, so why struggle emotionally. My other struggle is whether or not she's healthy. There isn't a perfect body type, but there is "healthy". And if "healthy" is a larger body weight than someone else, then that's fine. But if larger is unhealthy, then I don't know if the proper message is for that person to accept who he or she is. I don't mean to sound unfeeling or disrespectful, I just wish the message was for all of us to accept ourselves at a size or look that is healthy, even that look isn't a glamour fashion model slim and trim look.
- The other food related story was the trend of "meatless" burgers. Honestly, I've been eating meatless burgers for awhile. It's not an "everyday" thing, but my ex-wife was a vegetarian, so I would have veggie burgers, veggie corn dogs, veggie chick nuggets, etc... And those foods really weren't a big deal. Recently I've tried Burger King's Impossible Burger and Hardee's version (I can't remember the name). I liked Hardee's better, and I think the protein used in the Hardee's version is suppose to be better for you. The doctor interviewed on the story segment suggested that even these plant-based burgers are processed, so it's not like they are necessarily "good" for us. These plant-based burgers may have different nutritional values that are just "different"...good in some ways and bad in others. I'll have to do more research on this.
- Should I be excited about a "snow day" canceling Sunday school? I am. This morning, temperatures are very cold, so Sunday school was canceled for the day, and I am pleased. I think I will still plan on attending service, but I'm really uncomfortable with Sunday school - for me. My faith journey is a little unconventional, so leading a class is something I'm uncertain about. I've only done it once, and I really felt awkward. I don't like the idea of leading a group of students when I'm not really sure of a lot of things myself. I'm suppose to lead two more classes (one per month), and I think when that tour is over, I'm going to back away from the job.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
If It Was Anybody Else
The U.S. recently assassinated a high ranking general from Iran under the order of President Trump, and this assassination took place in the capital of Iraq. According to news released to the public, this event was completed to defend against another imminent attack that was being planned by this general. The Iranian government is apparently planning on a response, and the U.S. is taking this information seriously. Diplomats in Iraq have been ordered to leave, U.S. troops have been placed under alert, and more U.S. troops and military equipment is being sent to the region. This is a serious mess.
I have no doubt that Iran has been involved in attacks on other sites and countries in the region. (By the way, I also have no doubt that Saudi Arabia was involved in the killing of the American journalist.) My problem is that I just don't trust anything that President Trump says. I don't trust anything that President Trump does. I don't trust anything that President Trump represents. Plus, after the assassination, he publicly seems to "show off", with his arrogant and blustery "We got him." The President's comments and the President's stupid ass tweets are just going to inflame the situation even worse.
People are going to die over this. Millions or perhaps billions of dollars are going to be spent over this. Unrest is now going to exist at a higher level for even many more years. I just wish I trusted President Trump, but I don't. So now it's an election year, it's an impeachment year, and now it's a military conflict year. Good grief.
Just on the news this morning, an Iranian military adviser claimed that Iran will respond militarily against military targets. As horrible as that sounds, I hope that is the only way the Iranian government plans to respond. At least our military establishments in the regions can attempt to defend themselves.
Is it wrong for me to place more faith in the potential human compassion of the Iranians than in the President of our country? Perhaps, but I just can't trust anything President Trump does (or says or represents). I sure hope to Hell the people around President Trump can keep him restrained, and I hope the impeachment process can be quick and decisive - whichever way it goes, and I hope the 2020 election gets here quickly. And I hope the Iranians stick to the words of that Iranian military official that spoke on the Today show this morning.
I have no doubt that Iran has been involved in attacks on other sites and countries in the region. (By the way, I also have no doubt that Saudi Arabia was involved in the killing of the American journalist.) My problem is that I just don't trust anything that President Trump says. I don't trust anything that President Trump does. I don't trust anything that President Trump represents. Plus, after the assassination, he publicly seems to "show off", with his arrogant and blustery "We got him." The President's comments and the President's stupid ass tweets are just going to inflame the situation even worse.
People are going to die over this. Millions or perhaps billions of dollars are going to be spent over this. Unrest is now going to exist at a higher level for even many more years. I just wish I trusted President Trump, but I don't. So now it's an election year, it's an impeachment year, and now it's a military conflict year. Good grief.
Just on the news this morning, an Iranian military adviser claimed that Iran will respond militarily against military targets. As horrible as that sounds, I hope that is the only way the Iranian government plans to respond. At least our military establishments in the regions can attempt to defend themselves.
Is it wrong for me to place more faith in the potential human compassion of the Iranians than in the President of our country? Perhaps, but I just can't trust anything President Trump does (or says or represents). I sure hope to Hell the people around President Trump can keep him restrained, and I hope the impeachment process can be quick and decisive - whichever way it goes, and I hope the 2020 election gets here quickly. And I hope the Iranians stick to the words of that Iranian military official that spoke on the Today show this morning.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Thomas DeLauer's (and others) Influence On Me - Good or Bad?
sardines
avocado oil and avocado oil spray
monk fruit sweetener
seaweed
pink himalayan salt
walnuts and macadamia nuts
potassium and vitamin C
green tea with ginger
apple cider vinegar with water
kimchi
The list above are foods that I have tried, have tried again for the purpose of better nutrition, or am going to be trying. The one I haven't tried yet is kimchi. As Amber eloquently described yesterday, it looks "gross", and I can't really argue with that description. Apparently, though, fermented foods are very good for the gut - all that bacteria...prebiotic, probiotic, and all of that other stuff that apparently are gut needs to help us. Along that same line of thinking on the list is apple cider vinegar, which I try to drink with water at least a few times a week. I've been playing around with the amount in a glass, and I can handle a couple of "lids" full in a big glass of water. I hear other "experts" call this drink refreshing, but I'm not sure I can go that far. I'll let you know how the kimchi turns out.
Avocado oil and avocado oil spray is a recent addition. Apparently, olive oil is very good to cook with. Well, apparently it's okay to cook with a low temperatures, but something about high temperatures messes it all up. Avocado oil and oil spray are suppose to be better. And speaking of oil, apparently canola oil and vegetable oil are very bad for us, which leads into this whole "world" I'm encountering regarding the marketing of specific products that are misleading. Any sane person would think vegetable oil must be better for us because it's made from vegetables, right? Wrong.
I stopped at the health food place in Aledo yesterday and picked up two items on the list - the green tea with ginger and the monk fruit sweetener. I actually have used them together, and I like them. Monk fruit is a plant based sweetener like Stevia, and it's suppose to be very, very low calories and better for us. I'm still not sure if I'm breaking my fast with monk fruit and ginger, so I'm going to monitor my weight a little and see what happens.
Sardines, macadamia nuts, and walnuts aren't new to me, but I've recently added them to my diet because of their nutritional qualities. It's hard to find walnuts, and I think sardines are an acquired taste. I remember my dad eating sardines with crackers; I have avoided the crackers, but I actually like the taste of sardines, even though looking at the "meal" isn't very appealing. And I am making sure to purchase sardines in water instead of oil.
A new one on the list I tried last night was seaweed. I found it at HyVee in Milan in the health foods section. I wouldn't really call them "chips", and I could tell right away that they will also be an acquired taste. They definitely smell like fish. Unfortunately, these included sunflower oil, which isn't the best kind of oil, but I wanted to try them. I may have to see if I need to spray some avocado oil and add some pepper or other spice to help them taste a little better.
I have had the pink himalayan salt for a couple of weeks. This salt is suppose to be a higher quality of salt that the normal every day iodized table salt we typically consume. I do think the himalayan salt tastes better ... almost deeper. The nutrition YouTube folks I listen to regularly don't really seem to have a problem with salt; in fact DeLauer suggests that consuming more good salt is good for the body. Of course, we should also read labels to see how much salt is in other foods we eat.
I think the added potassium and vitamin C are when I'm heavy into my officiating schedule and just need to make sure I'm helping my energy level and immune levels. I don't take these every day - just when I think I'm asking a lot of my endurance and am trying to help out.
AND THE BAD NEWS...
Grains, particularly corn and soy and oats, really aren't very good for us. That's a bit disconcerting as most of the crops here in my area are corn and soybeans. I actually sent a message to one of the YouTube experts about this, and he said those foods aren't inherently bad; it's the processes of food manufacturers in our country that basically make them bad. All the hydrogenated oils and processes that are used with these foods are harmful to our systems, but for manufacturers and distributors and restaurants, these processes lower the prices of the foods and the oils and the other products that are used to produce the foods or to produce the feed that then feeds the animals that we eat for protein. I'm still learning more and more about the bad effects of grains, so maybe a future post will cover that.
I'd be lying if I didn't express how DeLauer's videos are sometimes depressing and upsetting. His messages basically express that much of the food that is marketed to us consumers really is harmful to us. Plus, the foods he recommends are usually much more expensive. He purchased food at a Costco in a recent video, and his cart wasn't even full. He was planning a holiday party for his employees, and the food totaled nearly $400. I about fell out of my chair.
So for us "normal folks" we need to try to find a way to eat healthier that won't delve us into bankruptcy. And eating at home is helpful for that - not necessarily because it's cheaper, but we really don't know the quality of foods, oils, spices that restaurants are using when they bring out what we think should be a "healthy" meal.
avocado oil and avocado oil spray
monk fruit sweetener
seaweed
pink himalayan salt
walnuts and macadamia nuts
potassium and vitamin C
green tea with ginger
apple cider vinegar with water
kimchi
The list above are foods that I have tried, have tried again for the purpose of better nutrition, or am going to be trying. The one I haven't tried yet is kimchi. As Amber eloquently described yesterday, it looks "gross", and I can't really argue with that description. Apparently, though, fermented foods are very good for the gut - all that bacteria...prebiotic, probiotic, and all of that other stuff that apparently are gut needs to help us. Along that same line of thinking on the list is apple cider vinegar, which I try to drink with water at least a few times a week. I've been playing around with the amount in a glass, and I can handle a couple of "lids" full in a big glass of water. I hear other "experts" call this drink refreshing, but I'm not sure I can go that far. I'll let you know how the kimchi turns out.
Avocado oil and avocado oil spray is a recent addition. Apparently, olive oil is very good to cook with. Well, apparently it's okay to cook with a low temperatures, but something about high temperatures messes it all up. Avocado oil and oil spray are suppose to be better. And speaking of oil, apparently canola oil and vegetable oil are very bad for us, which leads into this whole "world" I'm encountering regarding the marketing of specific products that are misleading. Any sane person would think vegetable oil must be better for us because it's made from vegetables, right? Wrong.
I stopped at the health food place in Aledo yesterday and picked up two items on the list - the green tea with ginger and the monk fruit sweetener. I actually have used them together, and I like them. Monk fruit is a plant based sweetener like Stevia, and it's suppose to be very, very low calories and better for us. I'm still not sure if I'm breaking my fast with monk fruit and ginger, so I'm going to monitor my weight a little and see what happens.
Sardines, macadamia nuts, and walnuts aren't new to me, but I've recently added them to my diet because of their nutritional qualities. It's hard to find walnuts, and I think sardines are an acquired taste. I remember my dad eating sardines with crackers; I have avoided the crackers, but I actually like the taste of sardines, even though looking at the "meal" isn't very appealing. And I am making sure to purchase sardines in water instead of oil.
A new one on the list I tried last night was seaweed. I found it at HyVee in Milan in the health foods section. I wouldn't really call them "chips", and I could tell right away that they will also be an acquired taste. They definitely smell like fish. Unfortunately, these included sunflower oil, which isn't the best kind of oil, but I wanted to try them. I may have to see if I need to spray some avocado oil and add some pepper or other spice to help them taste a little better.
I have had the pink himalayan salt for a couple of weeks. This salt is suppose to be a higher quality of salt that the normal every day iodized table salt we typically consume. I do think the himalayan salt tastes better ... almost deeper. The nutrition YouTube folks I listen to regularly don't really seem to have a problem with salt; in fact DeLauer suggests that consuming more good salt is good for the body. Of course, we should also read labels to see how much salt is in other foods we eat.
I think the added potassium and vitamin C are when I'm heavy into my officiating schedule and just need to make sure I'm helping my energy level and immune levels. I don't take these every day - just when I think I'm asking a lot of my endurance and am trying to help out.
AND THE BAD NEWS...
Grains, particularly corn and soy and oats, really aren't very good for us. That's a bit disconcerting as most of the crops here in my area are corn and soybeans. I actually sent a message to one of the YouTube experts about this, and he said those foods aren't inherently bad; it's the processes of food manufacturers in our country that basically make them bad. All the hydrogenated oils and processes that are used with these foods are harmful to our systems, but for manufacturers and distributors and restaurants, these processes lower the prices of the foods and the oils and the other products that are used to produce the foods or to produce the feed that then feeds the animals that we eat for protein. I'm still learning more and more about the bad effects of grains, so maybe a future post will cover that.
I'd be lying if I didn't express how DeLauer's videos are sometimes depressing and upsetting. His messages basically express that much of the food that is marketed to us consumers really is harmful to us. Plus, the foods he recommends are usually much more expensive. He purchased food at a Costco in a recent video, and his cart wasn't even full. He was planning a holiday party for his employees, and the food totaled nearly $400. I about fell out of my chair.
So for us "normal folks" we need to try to find a way to eat healthier that won't delve us into bankruptcy. And eating at home is helpful for that - not necessarily because it's cheaper, but we really don't know the quality of foods, oils, spices that restaurants are using when they bring out what we think should be a "healthy" meal.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
New Year's Eve Reminds Me of Birthdays Now-A-Days
I think I was probably in bed sleeping by ten o'clock last night on the ceremonious New Year's Eve. This morning on the first day of 2020, I'm on the computer getting "stuff" ready for the upcoming days - officiating schedule stuff, new seating charts for my classes at school, lesson plan considerations. I guess with age comes less revelry and more day-to-day operations.
Actually yesterday Amber and I went down to Jumer's Casino to take advantage of our free buffet coupons. Of course we gambled; and of course I ended up losing money, and Amber ended up winning money - a trend that seems all too common recently. Then we visited with my mom and dad a bit and had a glass of wine toast to 2020. Then it was back home watching the television festivities at places like Times Square, Hollywood, New Orleans, etc... I remember seeing the start of the 10 p.m. news, and then it was nighty-night time.
And today I'm up at 5 and starting out the day. I wasn't always this boring. Oh, our New Year's Eves back in the day weren't all that crazy...usually at someone's house playing cards, having some spirits, and watching the ball drop. New Year's Day usually featured at least a mild hangover, a solid breakfast, and lounging on the couch watching college football bowl games.
Today, I plan on exercising, reading my book I got from Carmen for Christmas, and probably heading back to the casino for the drawing that is taking place today. I don't really need a recliner or new fridge or whatever else they are drawing for that I have virtually no chance of winning, and I don't really want to lose more money. On the other hand, I don't want to stay home the whole day.
So in a nutshell...not much excitement. I suppose it's like birthdays anymore. The "big day" seems more and more like any other day; less interest in celebrating and feeling like hell the next day and more interest in sleep, health, and completion of things off of the ole "to-do" list. Now, I think I'll go sit with Amber and have a cup of coffee, watch the Food Network and it's line of healthy new year recipes, and then go downstairs and exercise. Fun, fun, fun!
Actually yesterday Amber and I went down to Jumer's Casino to take advantage of our free buffet coupons. Of course we gambled; and of course I ended up losing money, and Amber ended up winning money - a trend that seems all too common recently. Then we visited with my mom and dad a bit and had a glass of wine toast to 2020. Then it was back home watching the television festivities at places like Times Square, Hollywood, New Orleans, etc... I remember seeing the start of the 10 p.m. news, and then it was nighty-night time.
And today I'm up at 5 and starting out the day. I wasn't always this boring. Oh, our New Year's Eves back in the day weren't all that crazy...usually at someone's house playing cards, having some spirits, and watching the ball drop. New Year's Day usually featured at least a mild hangover, a solid breakfast, and lounging on the couch watching college football bowl games.
Today, I plan on exercising, reading my book I got from Carmen for Christmas, and probably heading back to the casino for the drawing that is taking place today. I don't really need a recliner or new fridge or whatever else they are drawing for that I have virtually no chance of winning, and I don't really want to lose more money. On the other hand, I don't want to stay home the whole day.
So in a nutshell...not much excitement. I suppose it's like birthdays anymore. The "big day" seems more and more like any other day; less interest in celebrating and feeling like hell the next day and more interest in sleep, health, and completion of things off of the ole "to-do" list. Now, I think I'll go sit with Amber and have a cup of coffee, watch the Food Network and it's line of healthy new year recipes, and then go downstairs and exercise. Fun, fun, fun!
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