I'm getting (somewhat) back on a weightloss plan.

Yesterday's lunch was stripped down (chicken salad sandwich, no cheese, no dessert/cookies), but dinner was McDonald's, so that was a big fail. I just made an appointment for next Wednesday to go to a weightloss doctor for medication (appetite suppressant), a diet plan, and exercise plan, with the option for counseling. However, my insurance isn't paying a dime of it (HMOs really suck sometimes), so this will be a restructuring of my money (I always eat takeout, now I'll be paying for weekly doctor's appointments and eating at home).

My mom's been on me to decide what I want for my birthday next month, and was pleased when I told her today that I want an exercise bike to put in my bedroom for morning and evening workouts. (Takes up less room than a treadmill, but still is good for the cardio.)

I think I'll see what kind of weight I can lose before the beginning of summer, and then sign up again at my local pool for regular swims to add to my workouts.

Basically bologna-like lunchmeat with little bits of sweet pickle and pepper scattered through it

Mmm. Yeah, lost me at lunchmeat.

Although I suspect the "just coming offstage" part might have been tricky for me....

He did have a good set working in his favour. And I'll leave that sentence just as it is.

DIDN’T YOU KNOW? FACEBOOK IS FOREVER:

I know a computer science professor who runs the same Facebook experiment every semester. He invites his students to stand up in front of the room and show everyone their Facebook page on the big screen. No one has ever taken him up on the offer.

Why? They’re embarrassed, of course.

That's so weird. Not that I'm active anymore, but even when I was I'd totally show anyone my page. My only hesitation would be that they'd friend me. The page at the end was more restrained than it had been, but even at my most active it was appropriate for university students, if not my parents.

Every one of them seems happy to share all those funny photographs, witty Wall postings and status updates with everyone on the planet. They just don't want to do it in public, in person.

But it's not everyone on the planet. It's just to people you've friended. What's up with him?

My mom just joined Facebook. Now that will keep me from posting any unwise status updates.

My family's techno-idiocy is not always a bad thing.

Studies show that about two-thirds of Americans say they care a great deal about their privacy, yet fewer than 10 percent ever do anything about it, such as destroy a store loyalty card

Does it count if I always sign up under a fake name, or use a friend's card?

And I have facebook locked down to friends only. And my issue with them continuing to use the info was mostly not with any wall posts or what have you, but just with the idea that they have my email address, and I've put my phone number on there (again, locked down to friends only), and I don't want them to keep that for eternity and sell it to marketers now, or if I've left facebook.

mearaing:

My friend who has a kindle absolutely loves it -- She is from england and she can get english newspapers and all kind of books from the UK instantly. And the books usually cost less than the physical version

Go Kathy! I have figured out that I will always be on and off the wagon as far as diet/exercise goes , but each time I fall off the wagon I don't fall as far.

Still not on facebook. Really not sure how much I want my worlds to collide. But I guess if I keep the use minimal and make some of the family connections I want to make...

Awesome t-shirt o' the week: Threadless: The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Space Invaders...

Yes, of course: every plan looks simple before it's executed. Such is the case here. Only when you're there and the enemy is crouching down and moving across one axis behind its crumbling shieldage does reality kick in and the plan go right to hell. So many colorful marching aliens would perish before it was all said and done. Such a senseless waste of pixel life.

I've fallen off the eat/exercise right path long ago, and put on waaaay too much weight in the past 18 months. In fact, I'm pricing out exercise bikes, and my weight exceeds the maximum weight limit by a significant amount. However, I think I'll still pick up a good quality one even if I am too heavy for it--I might not be able to get the warranty, but too bad. They have a highly-rated one over at Chicago Home Fitness for $300 off (from $899 to $599) that I'm going to try out after work tonight.

My Facebook page is superlatively boring; hence, I would not hesitate to show it to anyone, unless it was someone I wanted to dazzle with my wit and creativity.

Go you, Kathy! But, damn, that sucks about your insurance not covering any of it. I don't know why I'm still surprised at just how much basic health maintenance and improvement stuff insurance companies refuse to cover. So stupid, so shortsighted of them.

I think it's been at least a decade since a stranger bought me a drink, and even then it may have been a drink intended to impress my hotter friend with his generosity at treating her entire group to drinks (note to Hec: This was at Rockin' Robin). He probably got a dance out of it, but nothing more.

Gambling leaves me alternately cold and frightened, but I do love fancy hotels and swimming pools so Vegas is in theory all right by me.

Cashmere! Either Kid1 or Kid2 just called me on your cell, or maybe your purse did.

Have fun at the gym.

I tried the slots. It was boring and it just took my money, so I stopped. I guess if you won actual money it might be more interesting, but it just gave me credit toward another pull. Knowing the odds, I decided I could come up with better ways of throwing money away.