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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 20 July 2008 05:13 am |
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hiya jack!
oooh- i have always hated graphs. i guess it's easier than the icky algebra, but i still don't like it. to me, algebra is complete blasphamy. do not mix my beloved letters with numbers and put them into equations!!!! gah!!!! that's just so horrible! i took a 'symbolic logic" course once (i considered a minor in philosophy, but this course killed me- they later took it off the requirements for philosophy- too late for me, though!). this was like algrebra, but without any numbers at all. i started out doing really really well, but i just bombed it. at least the prof was a trip (i think all philosophy profs are INSANE> lol- i considered being one!).
yes, i love art!
thanks for all of the support. i have kind of resigned myself to just letting things go however then really starting over in AZ. new place- new routine. i've talked it over with hubs and we are going to start something good.
the mama's and the papa's did monday monday (i dig them, too- california dreamin' is like, my anthem!). yes, knights in white satin is actually a great tune. it sounds like angels crying. they also had some other really fabulous stuff that you wouldn't hear on the radio. i should find some on youtube and post it, (everything i own is on vinyl) i think you would dig thier B-side stuff . their spoken poetry in between songs is really gorgeous and i love how they are into astronomy (just little things in lyrics and titles...). yeah, sorry they don't sing the blues
well, i have been a zeppelin and tom petty fan since i was, oh about, 3 (my favorite songs, when i was 7 were "zonbie zoo" and "kashmir") i have been into older stuff since i was about 16. a freind of mine was really into the doors and she turned me on to it. we would go to her dad's place and listen to the kinks, pink floyd, lou reed, tom petty all night. it's been my addiciton ever since.
you know who i bet you would really like? Tom waites. for real. he's more modern, but if you love that gritty sound... oh man, he'll kill ya. seriously gonna find some and post it.
on the cost of college- well in Europe, they have like a 60% tax on everything. most places, universal health care isn't the best quality (i have heard this about canada). but i agree, you would think the two most important things (health and education) would sort of be affordable. but that would make life waaaaaaayy to good. when i rule the world it'll happen.... you bet your sweet bippy!
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 22 July 2008 03:46 am |
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Zen,
You officially get my vote for ruler of the world. Anyone who got into Cashmere as a toddler has got all the bloodlines required, as far as I'm concerned.
You think the letters are bad? You should see some of these greek symbols these texts are coming out with - ok, sum / epsilon, I've seen. But, a lasso? A horseshoe? And they're just getting started - ouch!
Sounds like a good idea to wait till your in Az. You'll be busy for a while, but once you get acclimated, you can really start to get into a routine.
You're getting there with Waits. I really love the down home, whisky-bottle honky-tonk delta-blues from way back, 20s/30s. It feels so original, like you are at the very source, the beginning. Robert Johnson epitomizes that sound. Here's his "Crossroads", which was made famous by Clapton and Cream, I think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A
His voice had that plainative, almost nasal quivering quality that I've come to associated with blues singers from that era.
That's not the only music I like, e.g. I like 80's style dance music and Madonna! But it's probably the coolest music, except for maybe some jazz
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 23 July 2008 10:57 pm |
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Dear Diary,
I had a couple of extra helpings of pasta salad last night, and paid the price this morning, tipping the scales at 174. But, a quick jog and some Total Gym work cut me back down to 171.
I came into work feeling pretty good, as if I hadn't wasted my morning. I'm still working the little math book on the ride in. I finally got into the graphing part, which is a little better that the pure equation stuff because you can see what the equation looks like.
My daughter gave me a hand with one of the algebra problems last night. It's not that I'm dumb, it's just that I never knew this stuff in the first place. It will take some practice. I realized I've been effectively an illiterate when it comes to math for much of my life. So, this is kind of a big deal for me. I'm amazed I was able to get away with it in a high-tech, research oriented field for this long. Common sense goes a long way.
I'm trying to figure out whether or not to take Discrete math this fall. I dunno - it's not a required course, it's just a pre-requisite. I can maybe teach myself a lot of it. Plus it starts kinda early - I can't really get there and parked on time unless I leave work at like 4:30.
I was thinking about the "Golden Rule" - do unto others as you would have others do unto you. I'm in one of my phases where I'm trying to get back into religion. I figure, if you are religous enough, nothing will bother you - not money, not job-related issues, marriage issues - nothing. You figure, hey, I'm going to heaven, in a few years. So what's the problem? The main problem I haven't lived my life in such a way as to justify something like eternal happiness, if there is one. But I don't have the faith to really go off and live like a saint. At least I'm not being a jerk to people.
I was listening to some Billie Holiday on youtube the other day. Ohh, I like her voice. She was 1/2 blues, 1/2 jazz which is a potent combination. She had some sweet musicians playing alongside her, too. She was the real deal. She had a tough life. She was raised poor and her mom had a lot of boyfriends, and she was abused by some of them. This set up a pattern where she pretty much ended up in abusive relationships her whole life. Drugs, booze, violence, sex - the whole nine yards. She even did bit of street-walking before her music pulled her out of that. She's kind of like Janis Joplin in that sense - the suffering comes out in their songs. Lady Day died when she was like in her mid-40s. She had cirrhosis, and the police were outside her hospital room wating for her to recover so they could arrest her on drug charges. Thanks for being so sensitive, guys.
Last edited on 23 July 2008 11:04 pm by jackbenimble
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 24 July 2008 02:23 am |
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Hey Jack, I think too much of you to believe that you will turn to religion as a magical panacea for solving the tough issues in your life anyway. How lovely it would be to think everything really does happen for a reason, but I find you too much a realist to buy into that. As far as Billie Holliday, that is sad but interesting, I didn't know that story. You've inspired me to explore her and her music more.
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 24 July 2008 06:28 am |
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Hey Jack...
I'm a 100% math boob so this might no be the best advice but I'm thinking that if the discrete math course is a prerequsite that means that there will probably be other classes which are going to rely on that class as a foundation...and you might be handcapping yourself by not taking it....but math and I don't get along very well so that might not apply to you...heck if you can teach yourself japanese you can probably teach yourself discrete math!
Lady Day...."God Bless the Child"..."Strange Fruit"....what a voice...didn't know about the cirrosis - for some reason I thought she died of a heroin o'd. She was equally gifted and sad.
On the religion thing, don't forget that all the saints are dead (death is like a prerequsite to sainthood)....and had some pretty tough lives filled with all the anguish and sorrow (and hope and joy) as the rest of us...I don't know how you feel abot it...but I sorta think of relgion as one thing and faith as something else entirely.....and faith won't keep the bad things from happening - or keep us from caring when they do - but gives us the strength we need to endure and overcome.
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 24 July 2008 03:24 pm |
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on religion ... i agree with suenos. having faith in something doens't necessarily mean you have "religion". i am not religious, but i have faith. i believe in circles... it helps to think that everything eventually balances out in the end. and i truely believe it. it has helped me through some tough times.
my mother is very very "religious" (thouhg i prefer spiritual). she has total faith in God and leans on Him. me, it's not my thing, but i have nothing against it. but she certainly gets bother by "worldly" things. her spiritual life just helps her get through it. doesn't make the bad go away, it's just her way of dealing with life- the good and the bad.
you just have to find what feels right for you. i dunno, i guess just try to be the best person you can be. this doesn't mean perfect or saintly... yeah, the golden rule is a good thing to live by.
i guess my philosophy is why worry about things i don't know about (i.e. the afterlife) when i am in the here and now. why not make it the best place it can possibly be? enjoy it to the fullest, and try to make it pleasant for those around me.
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 25 July 2008 02:10 pm |
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Zen, MM, Suneos,
It's really great to hear your feedback - makes my day 
MM, I have to agree with your de facto assessment that everything does NOT happen for a reason - it just happens. I accepted this a long time ago at a logical level. Emotionally, I've never embraced it, though.
Suenos, I like how you characterize faith. It's a mature and realistic intepretation. Very true that the saints went though as much or more anguish than most. I haven't thought very deeply on religion and/or faith for a long time. Maybe I will, someday. I like your perspective on things, though. You have wisdom and depth.
On the math prerequisite - I dunno. One problem is I have to leave work early, and it's not online. I do have the book, and I could go through a lot of the problems. I might end up trying to do that. It will save money too.
Zen, I like your circles analogy - everthing comes full circle, if I hear you right - it has the ring of truth to it. I believe you do make the people around you better, because you are such a sweetheart and also intelligent and creative. And good-looking to boot
Last edited on 25 July 2008 02:12 pm by jackbenimble
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 26 July 2008 05:35 am |
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Ok, another working from home day. It was ok, we had a telecon at 2:30, and then I was basically done for the day. I took my wife out to the bay tonight, we just walked around, chatted. It was pretty good. She got an ice-cream cone and was happy.
Actually, she's been pretty happy recently. My theory is it's due to the fact my daughter's going off to college, so she has a big kind of burden lifted (always after my daughter about homework, getting up on time, cleaning her room, doing homework, etc.). It's really amazing that after all these years I'm actually enjoying her company. She even cracked a few jokes, which she never does.
Then, I dropped her off an went to a local club with an old buddy, and met up with some old acquaintances there. It was fun because we haven't hung out for many many years. We all left about 11:30, which is a good thing, because otherwise I would've just hung around drinking beer.
I jogged & total-gymmed this morning, and weighed myself at 170 just before I went to the club.
Overall, a reasonable day. Tomorrow I will excercise like a banshee to work off the beers I had tonight. Maybe get some tennis in.
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 26 July 2008 08:01 am |
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| Jack, it's good to see that 170, good luck working off the beers, I need to do the same tomorrow.
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 27 July 2008 12:30 pm |
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Thanks MM - you're aces so yesterday I weighed in at 169. This motivated me to go out and jog and hit the ball off the wall, and when I came back, I weighed in at 168 - I was hoping for 167, but with drinking water per Nir's suggestion, I'm not dropping quite as much during excercise. But that's ok...it's better to keep hydrated.
So, otherwise M called me up and asked my if I was interested in going to a country music concert, it was a stadium venue and sold out. He scored the tickets in a raffle so they were like $130 tickets for free. I had to say no because going to the stadium and the whole thing would've locked up like 6 hours minimum. To be honest, I'm not a big country fan, although it's more palatable since they've mainstreamed it. So, I didn't go. He called me from the stadium, said I should've come, he was in the second row. He knows I like to look and said there was plenty of eye-candy, girls outnumbering the guys like 7-1! But, you know I got my viewing pleasure in on Friday and if I go out too much it kind of shortens up the weekend for me.
Speaking of which, I was supposed to play tennis this morning, but it's raining outside. That's ok, I've got this math book which I'm trying to fathom. It's called "Introduction to the theory of Computation" and it's deadly. I'm thinking of getting a tutor, I bet I can find one on the internet. I just need someone I can bounce questions off of. I've never had a tutor before, but just for this one subject. I actually think when they give the course, the school offers free tutoring - very cool.
I weighed in again at 169 this morning - not bad! Without too much trouble, I can easily see the 4-pack; of course the six-pack will take some serious doing. But I would like to get down around 165 on average. That will be quite a trick, though.
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 27 July 2008 07:41 pm |
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that is wicked cool. breaking thorugh to that next 10 lb section is always the best. it's super motivating! so rock on!
yeah, i don't blame you about not digging the country concert. now if it were johnny cash, that'd be a different story...
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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Posted: 28 July 2008 09:30 pm |
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Thanks Zen! Unfortunately, this morning I was back up to 171. Sigh....
So, yesterday I found a site which has some really good lectures and materials on Discrete Math, Algorithms and Computer Theory. Sounds like fun, huh? But it actually is really enthralling when you've been banging your head against the wall trying to understand this stuff, and all of a sudden, someone is presenting it in such a clear and simple way that you can actually get it - will, more of it than otherwise. So I spend most of my day going through these 1.5 hour lectures. There are 20 lecturers per course, plus excerciises, so I'll have to decide how to handle it. But these will be my secret weapon.
Well, I got up and went straight to work today - it's a lot fastere this early, but then you end up leaving work "early" even though you came in an hour and 1/2 earlier and it *feels* like your bailing out.
I got stuck trying to do this install of this huge software (first started trying to install last week). The problem is with an upgrade, the new stuff can get tangled with the old stuff. and now it's just a mess.
Ok, heading home...
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 30 July 2008 03:50 pm |
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Yesterday, I jogged at around 10 pm, which kind of gave me insomnia. But, I'm trying to watch these math lectures, and I fall asleep if I'm too late watching them, so I try to get them in early. I'm still not doing the problem sets, because it's easier to watch the lectures. I can get something out of them though if I try, e.g. use the replay button etc.
There is this young buck at work who is always throwing around math terms as if they explain something. I'm not keen on that style because I think it's designed more to impress than communicate. Anyway, if an equation's wrong, it's wrong no matter how fancy it looks. But it's a good thing I'm studying math right now, because it helps me to parse the math stuff he's saying, which turns out to add little value. It's when he speaks english is when he contributes more.
I realized how much I really love that song "Team spirit" by Nirvana. The first time I saw the video a long time ago, I didn't really like it, it quickly grew on me, and last night coming back from the beach, the angry, frustated howling of the singer (Kurt Cobain?) totally connected with that crazy part of me that's dwells beneath the surface, beneath the civilized part.
I was looking at the stars and the clouds after jogging and they looked so calm, so far from the jangle of my feelings and thoughts. I realized that I'm kind of shallow - that it's all about impressing people, especially women, and checking out babes all the time. It's not like I would do anything about it - I'm not the type who could really morally handle having an affair, I'm frankly not cool enough and would feel way to guilty - but I still allow women to dominate a lot of my thinking. It's really not all about the women. There is so much more out there, that I'm missing. I dunno, they are still so beautiful, but also a distraction.
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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Posted: 2 August 2008 05:56 am |
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Dear Diary,
So, I'm am getting my a** handed to me at work by this installation of a mega-package which keeps going off track. It's really brutal and the days are piling up. However, I am learning a lot, so that's good. I'll get there sooner or later.
I'm watching a lecture a day in Discrete Math. I'm very strongly leaning toward taking computer theory instead of algorithms because 1) it's less mathy, more pure logic 2) it's offered in the fall 3) they offer tutors for the course 4) I don't care if algorithms is more practical for my career, that's a tough course especially the math component 5) anyway the pre-req for this class is a different, less difficult algorithms class which I'll probably take this spring, so I'll get some formal learning in algorithms anyway, if I take it.
I got a brand new pair of glasses, my second pair - my first was 5 years ago. Almost 400 bucks at walmart, they are progressive/transition. I can now read and see distance with the same glasses - very convenient.
Weighed in at 171 after jogging tonight.
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 2 August 2008 12:28 pm |
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Hi Jack, long time no talk. There is a lot that you have said and haven't in your past couple of posts. Permit me to say that 'shallow' is not a term that remotely comes to mind to describe the Jack that we know here. Personally, I think you are pretty cool just the way you are. I gotta go run now but see you later.
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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Posted: 2 August 2008 07:16 pm |
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MM, thanks for stopping by! I know you've been going through a lot recently, and it says a lot about you that you take the time.
I won't put up a fight if you want say good things about me. But I am trying not to be so much about checking out other women. Actually, my wife and I are getting along better recently, and when you're getting along with someone, it's easier to appreciate their better qualities. And she is a very nice looking woman, for one thing. Also, she's not getting so serious all the time about every little thing and seeming to take things more in stride and even have a little fun. I can hardly believe I'm saying these things after so many years of pain and frustration.
On a lighter note, I have to brag on myself a little bit. The last couple of days I have walked into a couple of stores where you see yourself on a color monitor as you walk in the door. The camera doesn't lie, and when you get a surprise look like that, you get the real picture. But, darned if I didn't pass the surprise "you look like this to everyone else" test with flying colors. Got a little bit of the old V going on, no pot-belly distorting the lines - I'm getting there! I've still got to lose about five or max 10 pounds before I'm at the point where I need to be. I was 170 this morning, 168 after tennis.
Ok, off to listen to a couple more discrete math lectures. This guy can really explain things like crazy. Plus, I have the added advantage of video, so I can pause it and figure out what the heck he is talking about. Now that I've got the rudiments of algebra under my belt, I can (with considerable effort) follow along with *most* of what he's saying.
What would be cool is if, in real life, you could put the world on "pause" while you figured out how to handle a situation. I'd have the best comebacks :) Just don't get stuck (there was a Twilight zone episode about that, or one of those shows).
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 4 August 2008 03:51 am |
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Dear Diary,
I did some tough slogging in Discrete Math today. I got some good insight into the repeated substition method, I feel like I get it. I'm also getting slightly more comfortable with getting a feel for logartithms and expression like "n log n". It takes some getting used to, but log is just an exponent, and in comptuters anyway if they skip the base they're talking about base 2. But I got kind of fouled up on this algorithm for a game called "Hanoi Towers". It's a tricky for me and I still haven't mapped which calls map to which moves in the game. I actually ordered the game online, as an aid, plus I think it would be cool to have around. But the course is more about mathematically expressing how much time the algorithm might take than actually figuring it out - well maybe.
For diet, I did jogging, a little bit of tennis and some total gym today and weighed in at 165 when all was said and done. That kind of surprised me, but I was pretty happy. It's been a loooong time since I tipped the scales at that weight. I actually am preening i front of the mirror in our living room - it reminds me of my high school days when I weight-lifted 3 times a week and couldn't pull my eyes off the mirror. But, I'm nowhere near that kind of shape and still have to lose say about 5 or 10 pounds, around the waist.
I'm chewing a lot of gum and drinking a lot of diet root beer to avoid munching out of the cabinents. A great treat is frozen bananas. They taste way better than regular bananas, and it takes a lot longer to eat them. They taste just like banana popsicles.
M called me - he wanted to see Jimmy Buffet in Newport tonight. but I'm just locked in on this night school thing. It's too bad, it would be fun hanging out with him.
I looked ahead at the algorithms handouts and they are terrifying. I don't see how the Theory class could be as bad.
Last edited on 4 August 2008 03:56 am by jackbenimble
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 5 August 2008 06:24 am |
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Jack, I love reading your posts about math. It is like hearing a foreign language which I used to enjoy studying, but haven't heard anyone speak in a long time. I don't remember all the detailed ins and outs, but there are wisps of memories being provoked. Thinking back to calculus freshman year in college in a class of 300 people...struggling a bit (uncharacteristic for me) and then conquering 2nd semester calculus by setting the curve on the final. Hoo yeah. Or I remember my fascination in grad school when we started using differentials and Betas and things to model stock performance. I thought "wow", people really do use this stuff in the real world. My question is, how will you plan to be using these math classes in your future life, or are you just doing it for the intellectual challenge?
Great job on the 165 and you deserve all the preening in the mirror. I look in the mirror all the time too. I am sure you are looking pretty good. I've still got a ways to go but slowly getting there.
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 7 August 2008 12:15 am |
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hiya jack!
ok- getting all caught up! first, no, you are absolutely not shallow. molly's right- it's the last term that comes to mind. you are an awesome person and so very cool .
there is nothing wrong with appreciating beauty- nature gave us eyes so we might as well use 'em. but seriously, if you want to change that aspect about yourself, i wish you the best on it. nothing wrong with wanting to change a habit. but really, you are so not shallow and i think you're the bee's knees!!
yeah, i was sort of curious about your marriage. i would never ask, just try to put pieces together as i read your diary (by nature, i am a very curious person, especially about people (in case you didn't notice!)). i'm sorry you have had to go through so much frustration, but it does sound like things are looking up. lol- just like in molly's diary, hisgal posted about the "love is like a bank account" thing. personally, i dig the concept and i think it's true.
hhmmmm... jimmy buffet or math.... yeah, i would take the former. props to you for sticking to it though (i give easily into temptation, as i'm sure you figured out!).
and i love the fact that you can totally call out the guy at your work when he's running is math talk. doesn't the feel good. it's fun to be smug sometimes.
wow- 165! wasn't that your original goal? awesome! i'm sure your lookin' pretty hot!
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 9 August 2008 08:55 am |
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just making sure your still around.... hope everything is ok. don't let math be all consuming!!!!! ha!!!!!
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 9 August 2008 06:26 pm |
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Zen, MM, thanks for stopping by - you guys are awesome!
MM, it sounds like you really got the math thing. I actually did ok in a business calculus course I took in college, although I preferred statistics.
Zen, what a great thing it is that you're back! I missed you, kid. Thanks for the kinds words - the feeling's mutual!
Why I haven't been posting is I kind of lost my motivation for a time span of about a week or so. I got backed up at work with this install. I finally got it working, for the most part. I ended up watching TV more than I have in quite a while - Red Sox and Patriots - so, I didn't study much math the whole week, except for a review of combination and permutation calculations, and also a review of the first chapter of Discrete Math. Actually, now that I think about it, Monday night I finally understood the Hanoi towers trick. It had been driving me nuts all weekend, but after I got the trick I was able to do a five columnn stack On the drive in Tuesday, I walked through the recursive algorithm and made it work with 3 discs.
My weight of 165 on Sunday turned out to be an anamoly. I've been swinging between about 171 and 167 during the week. I'd like to dial that down to the point where I don't see 170 cropping up on the scale anymore.
I played a guy in tennis this morning, and won 6-2, 6-3. But to be honest he wasn't that good and made a lot of unforced errors. I really have to start getting back to practicing hitting against the wall - I feel like my game has regressed.
<whine alert>
I got stuck doing some work over the weekend which I really didn't want to do because I put in pleny of time on that software install. It's going to cut into my Sunday, too, that I'm back at it on Monday.
<end whine>
Oh, well - I have vacation in a week! Going down to old Cape Cod, and turning off the cellphone Ha ha, hee hee
Five great things:
gas is down to 3.73
I'll try to finish work tonight so I have tomorrow free (will be tough, my cousin's having a cookout today)
I figured out that I can take the pre-requisite courses for Algorithms at non-credit status, which is 1/2 price and will not affect my GPA, which will surely take a hit after Aglorithms. But I just need a B- to pass.
After I graduate, hopefully by Spring 2011, I am going to party like a banshee.
If I cut down on the TV watching, I'll have more free time.
Last edited on 10 August 2008 03:27 am by jackbenimble
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 11 August 2008 02:52 am |
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Dear Diary,
So, today was kind of slow day. I did play tennis with M this morning, and was playing really well, especially in the first two sets. M wouldn't let me leave though because he wanted to win a set. My serve wasn't coming in in the 3rd, so he beat me on that one, but I still was pretty pleased with my game. I'm getting good court coverage since I lost weight, and I caught up was a few balls i normally wouldn't have. I'm also focusing on setting my feet before I hit the shot, I tip I got from my uncle who is up visiting.
I finished the work thing I have had do and sent that off. I watched some Discrete Math lecture, then wasted an hour watching the Sox, then took a nap, finished the lecture and had dinner.
God, what a dull entry. This is like saying "a man was born, he lived, then he died". I really have to de-bore my life somehow.
Oh well, nothing much will change until I'm out of school and out of this city. I'd like to duplicate Zen's feat of moving to a southern clime - I hear the babes are scrumptous down that way. Ah that reminds me of a wonderful little interlude I had when on the way CA in the 80s...sweet as can be, and I was in another state by the time the sun rose. That's the way to go - deep south. Southern hospitality. Nice.
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 11 August 2008 08:07 am |
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jackbenimble wrote: Ah that reminds me of a wonderful little interlude I had when on the way CA in the 80s...sweet as can be, and I was in another state by the time the sun rose. That's the way to go - deep south. Southern hospitality. Nice. As a southern girl I deeply resemble...um, I mean resent...the hidden implications in that statement
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 11 August 2008 08:56 am |
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LOL@ jack and suenos! really, just had to hop in and say you both are just too cool.
the south really is where it's at.
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jackbenimble
New Member
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 12 August 2008 09:58 am |
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Suenos - I love it...your lending credence to my theory that Southern girls are sweeter.
Zen, you are officially a Souther girl now. You know what you have to do
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jackbenimble
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Posted: 12 August 2008 11:00 am |
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Dear Diary,
I got up at 4:30 today, nice and early. Went to bed at 11. I'm getting to bed earlier these days, because if I take this course in the fall (non-credit, discrete math), I will have to leave work at about 4 on that day. So, I will come into work early and skip lunch, which should give me a full day.
I weighed in at 170 this morning, blah. I had a big spaghetti/tuna dinner last night and didn't get to the exercise, didn't study math. I've got to get out jogging this morning. It's raining but, not so hard. I should leave in about three minutes.
I spend some time looking around the board this morning. I've actually been on it for an hour and 1/2! It's fun the stories people have are inspirational. I wish I had more time for it. Actually I do have more time. Lately I've been spending it doing stuff like reading the news on the internet. Ok - got to go.
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 13 August 2008 02:28 am |
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Dear Diary,
I didn't do to badly tonight. I only watched the red sox for 2-3 innings. I decided to come on here and say what I will do the rest of the night.
The rest of the night, I will
1) pick up my daughter from work
2) Listen to the rest of the Discrete math lecture I started listening to on Sunday.
Can I take nap?
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 14 August 2008 10:00 am |
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first- yes! take a nap!!!!!!!!!!!! it's an order (though a day or two late)
second, ok skip "lunch" but don't skip lunch. i bet you can nosh through the day.
third- eh... eating pasta always kills me on the scale the next day... even the next 30 min. ignor it and keep going.
ok and fourth (sand of uber improtance). 4? a.m.? does it even exist? unless you are passing out from a night of reeking havoc. then 4 a.m. is acceptable... as a bed time. as in the word doesn't exist because you are dead to it for a few hours....
and finally-- props to you (again!) or being good and doing your homework.
(on a side note- you dig internet news? have you visited fark.com or the onion prepare yourself- hilarity ensues)?
Last edited on 14 August 2008 10:01 am by zenobia
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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Posted: 14 August 2008 12:01 pm |
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Hey Zen
Your right about pasta - it's isomething I've really got to get taken off the menu. Although pasta / tuna is a tasty combo. I did ask my wife to cut down my dinner to a 3/4 portion. I'm shooting for 1/2. I just can't seem to lose weight with the current volume.
Yeah, 4:30 is pretty early - I dont' plan on repeating it very often. I was up about 6 today, that's more normal....
But, the good news is last night I did jogging and tennis. So, as a result of all that activity, I actually was down to 169 this morning.
They pulled a fast one on me at work - assigned me something due after vacation. Nasty - it's a research topic that I need to develop some knowledge in quickly, which I'm tempted to bring a book along on vacation to do. Urk. Well, I could always half-a** it; it's only a proposal. It just cuts against my grain.
Anyway, when I'm down at old cape cod, I plan to get some jogging in, and tennis. I have to keep the meals small. No ice cream! Arhhgh....at least it's not a cruise.
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CrimsonAnimus
Moderator
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Posted: 14 August 2008 09:55 pm |
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It's good to see other people in the "I Love Pasta But Let's Just Not Eat It And Say We Did" Club.
Enjoy your vacation, and good job on your progress!
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 15 August 2008 02:29 am |
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Thanks, Nick! Yeah, pasta definitely doesn't cut it. It keeps turning up though - it's easy to make, for one thing.
But, I did have another smaller dinner tonight. I'm good with that.
And, no t.v. - so far - but the draw of the Red Sox is magnetic, trying to make me burn off an hour - or more. That's the funny thing about baseball - the further into the summer it gets, the more tempted I am to watch. I attribute that to two factors. First, around springtime, you're coming off football and basketball, and baseball seems impossbly slow compared to them. But, as the summers wears on, you slowly get acclimated to the pace, by repeated small exposures. So, by this time of year, you're in sync with the rythm of baseball, and watching seems very natural. Also, subconsciously, you know that there really isn't that much time left in the season. Next thing you know it will be over, and you'll have missed out on all the excitment.
At least for once I looked at my math book on the way home. It's been a while. Luckily, it was simple stuff - slope of a line, y=mx + b, that kind of stuff. Even I can work that out. A little tricker was that for perpendicular lines, m1 * m2 = -1. Haven't worked that one out yet.
I hopefully dodged a bullet at work today. It looked like I might have to write a proposal on something that I knew zero about, something I have nothing to do with and don't want anything to do with and never will, for that matter. But, I talked to the owner and it looks like I can do something more to my liking. Whew!
Last edited on 15 August 2008 02:31 am by jackbenimble
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 15 August 2008 05:19 am |
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Hey Jack! Count me in on the pasta lovers! But regular pasta just turns me into  mode...there's this neat pasta "SOBA" (I think it's a Japanese product) , which is made of buckwheat and it comes in all the regular noodle shapes (spaggetti, lasagna, etc.), but it has so much fibre that one 2 oz serving is crazily filling...plus as soon as I buy it I measure it out in little brown lunch bags in single serving portions and cook those (i.e. 2 bags equal 2 people, etc.) rather than just make a big pot, so that it's literally impossible to eat more than a single serving.
Enjoy your vacation!
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 15 August 2008 05:19 am |
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Hey Jack! Count me in on the pasta lovers! But regular pasta just turns me into mode...there's this neat pasta "SOBA" (I think it's a Japanese product) , which is made of buckwheat and it comes in all the regular noodle shapes (spaggetti, lasagna, etc.), but it has so much fibre that one 2 oz serving is crazily filling...plus as soon as I buy it I measure it out in little brown lunch bags in single serving portions and cook those (i.e. 2 bags equal 2 people, etc.) rather than just make a big pot, so that it's literally impossible to eat more than a single serving.
Enjoy your vacation!
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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Posted: 15 August 2008 09:20 pm |
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Suenos! Thanks for stopping by...
I love soba - I've had it many times. I had no idea it was supposed to be good for you, though...
Since I don't cook  , I'm kind of at the mercy of what my wife comes up with; so when she comes up with pasta - I don't really complain. I mean, she's making the meal for me, does it every day, twice a day. Sure, she sits around reading magazines and eating chocolates the rest of the time, but what the heck.
So, I was "working" from home today - only today I actually worked. I dodged a bullet on getting assigned this ultra-boring topic, so I'm kind of jazzed up that I get (I think) to work on this much more interesting topic that I am also more up to speed on. So, instead of having to lock myself in a room for 40 days and 40 nights to learn what I have to learn, I only have to do it for 20 - and with vacation, I have about 10 days, not do mentions doing the work itself. But, that's what I make the big bucks for.
Leaving for vay-cay tomorrow, so I really should pack now, because I have a tennis game in the morning at 9. Not so much time...
Last edited on 15 August 2008 09:22 pm by jackbenimble
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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| Posts: | 761 |
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Posted: 16 August 2008 06:01 pm |
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Dear Diary,
So, I hit the ball around with S down at the courts. I met him there one day waiting for my brother to play and we've hit it a few time since then, he's always down there. His wife actually dragged him off the court today, he's a tennis junkie.
So, after that, I weighed myself and. lo and behold - 164 again on the scale. I was 168 this morning before that. So reducing dinner to 3/4 the size has definitely started paying dividends. Even though I was pretty hungry last night, and ended up eating some follow-on - basically the portion of dinner that I hadn't eaten at dinner. And that was just before bed.
EJBB (Eating Just Before Bed) is something that has cropped up in the past few days. It's really a bad idea. I mean, all you have to do is GO TO BED and your done! EJBB ranks as a CAH (Crime against Humanity) if you're trying to lose weight - or even stay the same.
Anyway - off to the cape...m'bye!
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 17 August 2008 03:03 am |
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ooh! have a great weekend!!!!!!
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 17 August 2008 07:11 am |
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jackbenimble wrote: EJBB (Eating Just Before Bed) is something that has cropped up in the past few days. It's really a bad idea. I mean, all you have to do is GO TO BED and your done! EJBB ranks as a CAH (Crime against Humanity) if you're trying to lose weight - or even stay the same.
Ha! Then I've committed a CAH every single night for years and years....cause I happily EJBB (well within 30 mins or so) every single night!!!!!
Hope your vacation is wonderful...I'm jealous...mine is SIX MONTHS in the future!
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 21 August 2008 03:12 am |
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jackbenimble wrote: EJBB (Eating Just Before Bed) is something that has cropped up in the past few days. It's really a bad idea. I mean, all you have to do is GO TO BED and your done! EJBB ranks as a CAH (Crime against Humanity) if you're trying to lose weight - or even stay the same.
I've been guilty of EJBB or what is worse, going to bed then getting back up and grazing if I didn't fall asleep right away. [What's the acronym for that anyway? GTBTGBUAG. Doesn't have a ring to it.] Anyway, thanks to you posting this I am going to make a special effort to fight the urge tonight.
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 22 August 2008 09:52 am |
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so when do you come back, jack?
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jackbenimble
New Member
| Joined: | 1 May 2008 |
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Posted: 24 August 2008 03:05 am |
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Ah, Zen - I ain't coming back no more (no more, no more, no more, no more!)
Suenos, MM - the CAH statement, although I grandioisely applied it to all humanity, as you may have surmised it was really just another way of trying to motivate myself and most certainly doesn't apply to my esteemed fellows cphers. Whatever yoa all are doing seems to be working, so you've got the right
Suenos, the six month will fly by like nothing. I really want to negotiate another weeks vacation with my boss. I think after 5 1/2 years, I ought to get 4 weeks instead of a miserly 3. Hmmph.
Vacay was great. The weather was unbeatable. The beaches, awesome. Played some tennis, hung out at the beach, went out a few times, did some jogging, and read a few summer novels - it's amazing how fast those things read. The girsl broght all the books, so the ones I read (I forget the names) all had woman protagonists - one was about a plus-sized Jewish girl how gets pregnant, befriends a movie star, almost loses her baby, gets depressed, and finally happy endo when Mr. right (her diet workshop Doctor) reveals himself to be utterly taken by her and ready to devote his life to her - despite her plus size and her newborn, of whom he is not the father. The heroine had some really funny lines, although when she got all hostile and depressed for a while, it was a little bit less entertaining. But the main point of the book was that a plus sized woman could find happiness, or should be able to. Perhaps. I'm a little less sanguine about the message, although I do strongly believe that natural physiology has got to play a role - just not an excuse.
The next one was a piece of fluff about a girl who had been reaised by a strict, military father who cures here love life ills by donning the characteristics and style of Doris Day. It's mostly played for laughs (in fact, exclusively) and in fact I wish the book had been longer, because it was pretty funny.
The third one was an action thriller about a serial killer and a pretty girl linked with the mob and her cute FBI agent boyfriend. It was a competent effort at a sexy thriller that actually held my attention through much of the book - partly due to the constant descriptions of how sexy the heroine looked in wet clothes, partly due to the occasionly vaguley humorous line. Instantly forgettable, with mediocre though not totally awful usage of the language, the book had me thinking, hey, I can do better than this! But, you can't underrate how tough it is to hold a readers attention for a few hourss. If you can do it, welcome to the bestseller list.
I jogged 3 out of the 6 days, including a slow-paced jaunt of about 16 or 17 miles, on thursday, taking about 3 hours to cover the whole thing. It was by the far the longest I've ever run, and most likely further than I will ever run again. I ran about 1/2 that distance comfortably, and was dragging my butt the rest of the way. Weighed 169 tonight, not bad for after a vacation. Must have been the jogging that did it.
Anyway, I'm not happy to back and would have gladly stayed another week. I would bake on the beach every day and drink margaritas every night, which is what I should've done the first week. Ah well, by the time you get the hang of how to take a vacation, it's over. Not enough practice I guess.
Last edited on 24 August 2008 03:50 am by jackbenimble
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mollymoo24
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 24 August 2008 03:16 am |
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Jack, great to see you back again, although I am sure we missed you more than you missed us. Wow, a 16-17 mile jog that's really awesome, and jogging 3 out of 6 days is great. If I get in a jog 1/2 of the days on my upcoming vacation I will be very pleased indeed. I am sorry to hear that you didn't get in enough margaritas and beach time, you need to unplug a bit there too young man. [wagging finger]. Well hope you are having a good night tonight.
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mchen01
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 24 August 2008 05:18 am |
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Hi Jack - glad you had such a nice vacation! You had me laughing about the books - sounds like some of the stuff I like to read and my husband avoids. And, the 16-17 mile run is fantastic - I'm inspired! Great job!
Michelle
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CrimsonAnimus
Moderator
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Posted: 24 August 2008 05:54 pm |
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Wow! 
16-17 miles is quite inspiring!!! Fabulous, bud. I hope to one day be as fit as you.
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 24 August 2008 07:07 pm |
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hey! happy to see you back!! we totally missed you!!!
your vacation sounds dreamy. reading grocery store paperbacks on a beach. just lovely. and you managed to stay very much in shape! can't beat that!
yes, i am a firm believer in practicing vacations. hhmmmm... i wonder if i could get funding to write "vacationing for dummies". i thin i would to experiment and gain experience to properly write the how-to book.
here's a cyber-cocktail and beach for ya. not quite the same, but ya gotta take what you can get!   
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jackbenimble
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Posted: 25 August 2008 01:58 am |
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Zen, great idea on vacationing for dummies. I've often dreamed about taking a beach vacation where I just did nothing but lay around, and lo and behold I finally did it. Well, this was the est of them, anyway. Except the one in Bali. But that was awesome for a different reason, but I needn't go into the details here. The virtual maragrita - I love it! MM, I will be sure to get nice and loose next time Nir and Mchen, thanks for stopping by!
Btw, I have tomorrow off too - taking my wife in for a minor day surgery, so it's a nice soft landing. Friday I'm taking another day off to take my daughter to college, and we will officially be empty nesters. Let the games begin!
I just saw a movie, Tropic Thunder, a comedy. It was hilarious! I highly recommend it. Jack Black is great, and Tom Cruise as a fat move producer type is over-the-top. Great fun. I actually clapped at the end, which is something I never do.
So, I'm figuring I'll audit a discrete math course this fall, and take probably a distirbuted Java course. I'm going to audit the math course because 1) I don't need the credits and 2) most of the points come from tests rather than homework, so the mark is a lot more chancy.
Foodwise/Exercise - I practiced my serve today, and weighed about 165 when I got back. I had breakfast cereal (breakfast), a sandwiche for lunch, and a salmon for dinner, oh yeah and a piece of cake.
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suenos
Moderator
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Posted: 25 August 2008 07:11 pm |
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Hmm, what a slacker, beach vacation followed by a couple days off.......Loved your "chick book" descriptions - out of curiousity, if you had chosen your own reading material what would you have picked and why? And I'm not jealous of your days of sun and fun...nope not at all....just cause I haven't seen the sun in a week   and my backyard has turned into a swamp complete with friggin frogs...nope, not jealous at all
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 25 August 2008 08:15 pm |
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Hey Suenos,
Great question! I guess I would say I like a book that's well written first and foremost. After that, it's really hard to say. I like historical books, both fiction and non-fiction because you can learn and truth is stranger than fiction. I like detective/noir novels because of the macho edge and genereal tough-guy feel. I like spy novels because I think the whole concept of spies and counter-spies is fascinating. I like novels with old-english because I love old english. I even like romantic novels, because I'm kind of a sucker for the romantic/comedy thing. I was into sci-fi as a kid (mostly based on my brothers collection). Nowadays, I bascially look for books that are on tape and classics, so I can listen to them in my car and won't get annoyed by bad writing.
If you're interested, here are some books I read last year, when I listened/read a bunch of books for a few months. One of the first ones I read, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", was really good. It's about a guy who is so smart he kind of blows an amp in his brain and splits off a separate personality, designed to protect him from flying too close to the sun in his mind. The former self was a genius who explored philosophy in depth while trying to figure out what life is about, and who challenges the prevaling accepted wisdom and gets into trouble for it. He is trying to work out the kinks in his relationship with his son, and how the not-so-dead ghost of his previous personality affects them. This all gradually emerges during a cross-country motorcylce trip with his son and a friend. It's really compelling stuff. Semi-autibiographical, btw.
Another book I liked a lot was "Dark Matters", I think, by Phillip Kerr. It's historical fiction, based on the life of Sir Isaac Newton when he was cracking down on forgery in the mint. It's fairly graphic in parts, which I kind of liked, actually although a bit shocking. The usage of the language is based on old english and done so well. I love old English.
There were several more I loved - I read a couple of Jane Austen novels which are hilarious, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility. I also read "For whom the bell tolls", which was really great, and started reading "The Sun Also Rises", which I for some reason I didn't cotton to and gave up on. There was a good detective novel by Kerr that I liked, also, "Purple Flowers" or something like that. The Count Of Monte Cristo was a bit overdone and unbelievable in parts, but overall a worhtwhile read. Anna Karenina was rather sad and (I think) overrated. Oh, yeah, I loved "On The Road" by Jack Kiriouac - I can see how it inspired a generaation. Jane Eyre was really well written, although there were some reaches as far as the plot goes. A really good non-fiction book was "The Mayflower", by Nathaniel Philbrick. It's great writing, very edifying and also has a lot of local references which added to it for me. "Brideshead Revisited" was also really well written, and ended up revolving around a theme that really hits home with me, lapsed Catholicism. I also listened to all the Harry Potter books, they were entertaining and worth the read. The first one was my favorite - the last three get a little heavy. Now I'm trying to study math as I go, but I often end up just listening to the radio. Maybe I should pick it up the reading again.
Last edited on 28 August 2008 02:50 am by jackbenimble
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 25 August 2008 10:26 pm |
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Dear Diary,
I've had a lot of trouble getting going on studying the math. I decided to take computer therory instead of algoritms, which means the course will happen about a year from now. When I took my wife to the hospital, I was able to get through a chapter in the "How To Do Proofs" book. I was taking notes, answered some questions - it worked. But, when I got home, it was lazy city again.
Not only that, but I had a big breakfast at the hospital, and a Hersey's chocolate for lunch. Bad. I weight 168 when I got back from the hospital. My legs still haven't totally come back from the 16 miles. I really shouldn't have gone that far.
I'm thinking of taking my book to Borders tonight to try to get another chapter in. Work tomorrow. Who cares? I could die in my sleep tonight, and then what would all the worrying be about?
I know what I'll do. I'll do one chapter, then come back here and boast that I did the chapter. Stay tuned.
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jackbenimble
New Member
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Posted: 26 August 2008 02:58 am |
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Hmm....well, the proof chapter excercises were pretty hard. One problem is he's using trig examples, which I haven't reviewed. There was also so complement notation used in conjuction with a triangle, which I didn't undersand. But even the pure algebraic one was hard to follow mechanically, though I got the guts of the proof. The book is too mathy for me to feel comfortable with. I just found another proof book on Amazon that seems to be more oriented toward set theory and computers than the raw math. I might have better luck with it. Urch. I really have to get of the stick with this thing.
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zenobia
Moderator
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Posted: 27 August 2008 06:37 pm |
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impressive reading list! and your tastes are so varied- taht's the best- there are so many more options that way!
funny- i can't stand jane austin. she bugs me in ways i can't even describe. i actually read The Count two years ago, it was alright, pretty exciting in parts, but yeah, you had to push the "believe" button a few times. i agree with the comment on Jane Eyer. the end always ticked me off though- the part concerning the little french girl...
i've been toying with picking up "Zen..." but i'm still reading Stranger in a Strange Land. I think "Zen..." will be next- i never knew what it was about, but i've heard great things about it.
lol- and yes! you should pick up reading again! (of course i'm going to say that- i'm biased!) ever ready Pynchon? you might dig him. he has a huge science influence in this writing. i like his shorts, but what i've read of Gravity's Rainbow has been good. he's really descriptive, i think you'd appreciate his style.
the math stuff sounds pretty yucky, but stick with it- it will be worth it in the end, no doubt! maybe reward your self for getting through a chapter by reading a chapter from a good book at night. it's a thought
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