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I’ve added automatic notifications of new posts via email to the blog. If you are a subscriber to the blog and provided a valid email, hopefully you got a message that led you back to this site. You can modify your notification settings by going to the “SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL” page found in the far left column under the “PAGES” section.

Now whenever I post any new music, video or other updates, you’ll be among the first to know.

Well, that is unless you opt out. Then boo-hoo is me.

Take care of each other

Jeff.

With all the extra time on my hands currently, I’ve been able to work on my music, exercise routine and catch up on some films I’ve missed over the last few years.

I have about 6 songs I’m playing around with at the moment. I hope to start sharing them with friends in the next couple of weeks. Then it’ll get whittled down to maybe 2 or 3 decent songs to record and post for the world to applaud or bomb. My awesome Audo-Technica headphones busted unexpectedly, so I had to buy replacements. I couldn’t justify what I had spent on my earlier pair (don’t ask) so went down a few tiers. Although the replacement headphones are still very good, I have been spoiled now. So as soon as I can I will get them awesome cans again.

I’m still having problems with losing the extra pounds, even though I’ve made many adjustments to my meal planning and exercise routines over the past year. The core issue is snacking, especially in front of the television. I even tried to to just buy spicy junk food because I usually can only handle a small amount at a time. Didn’t work because my ingenious brain figured out how to compensate with other junk and somehow justify it too. Oy.

I bought a new digital scale that allows me to keep track of percentages of progress, up or down. It’s mighty sad to see 0.00% change over a month’s time. Plus I’ve been feeling rather weak in the arms and legs, so I picked up the hand weights again and now at least I feel like the Indelible Bulk again. Walking has been sporadic due to the cold snap we had here recently but that’s back on schedule too. So maybe, just maybe January will provide some positive results.

Thank goodness I can still sort of afford my outrageous cable/internet bill. I would be having major withdrawals and would be forced to do more activities like the stuff I just wrote about. At least now, I can catch up on films I missed. Kind of nice to be able to dial up a movie on demand anytime I want to. I try to limit it though so as not be too bohemian.

Oh and yeah, there’s the job search. About two hours of continous mining and applying each weekday. Early morning is best for me to do the on-line components. This way I have the rest of the day to obsess over why none of my friends calls me, emails me or what they might be doing right now at their workplace. I kid, I kid. Still, there is alot of time to fill. Glorious time really. Really.

My new sign off phrase this year (or maybe just this month) is:

Take care of each other
Jeff

Once again, I am amongst the job seekers in this country. Looks like 2010 will be a year of significant change whether I am ready for it or not. Will I stay where I am? Will I move to yet another place I know very little about? Will I find what I want or just get what I need? Stay tuned.

Much thanks and gratitude to my friends for all your support and kindness this year. I wish this year wasn’t ending on such a dramatic note but now I am focused on tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day after that. I gave up living in the past years ago and so this time around my mind will not waste precious cycles on that which cannot be changed (unless you know someone with a very reliable time travelling device).

I hope you and yours are enjoying the holiday season and I look forward to communicating with you all in the New Year.

Peace
Jeff

Here are my latest medical test results for my 3rd quarter checkup:

HG A1c, Blood Glucose average (3 mon): 7.2, down from 9. OK
Cholesterol: 183 mg/dL GOOD (125 - 200)
HDL: 37 mg/dL LOW < 40
LDL: 123 mg/dL GOOD <130
Triglycerides: 115 mg/dL GOOD <150 DIABETIC: HIGH < 100
Testosterone: 683 mg/dL HIGH up from 420.

So the good news is that I finally got my blood glucose average down significantly. Most medical associations recommend that it be lower than 7 or even 6.5. Difficult for many to achieve but still a worthy goal. I didn’t exercise consistently this last quarter, so I’m hoping to improve my routine in the 4th quarter. I also need to continue work on losing the fat. That’s the major thing holding be back from excellent control of my diabetes. Now remember kids, ultimately I will have to be on insulin because the pancreas will stop producing it altogether. This isn’t as shocking as it use to be, and you shouldn’t be worried for me. I can however, through good control, keep that day farther away.

Wondering why I included testosterone? Well, it’s kind of like the estrogen issue for women. I needed more of it to get healthier. Turns out, not having enough testosterone in men can cause muscle loss, increased heart issues, and of course the dreaded ED, which, to be honest, I really see as the least of my worries at this stage of my life.

My gentle advice to my friends is to keep walking, keep singing and keep living in the now.
Now? Now! Now…to the holidays!

Well my writer’s block has finally been climbed over and squashed real good. I was having alot of trouble finishing lyrics and pieces for music that has been waiting a long long time to have them. So hopefully this will mean better time spent recording and producing them instead of just practicing the stuff over and over and over. My approach will be to work on one song at a time until I have it composed completely and a demo recorded. Then on the next one and so forth. Should go fairly quickly compared to the last year or so.

Now that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to sharing some works in progress, heaven’s no! I have a few outlets to do that from: SingSnap, Stickam, and of course here. If you are a SingSnap follower of mine, then you may know they’ve added a “User Created” page so that original copyrighted material can be shared. I’ll start using that soon to share noodles, practice themes and works in progress.

I’ve not done anything on Stickam in a long time. I got frustrated with all the technical issues I was having with them. I’ve resolved most of them but it’s complicated to switch setups just for no one to show up to listen. So if you REALLY want me to do “live” performances on Stickam, then you gotta let me know!

I’ll be updating the Jukebox and posting some widgets as work progresses. Stay tuned.

Thanks for your continued support - Jeff.