Goal number two

So, I made it to my second goal, which means I've lost 60 pounds so far (in 331 days). 

That means I lost a pound every 5.51 days over the last year or so.

Recently, it took me 54 days to lose 10 pounds, meaning I lost a pound every 5.40 days, which is actually extremely good progress, seeing as how I don't walk to work anymore.

So I'm proud of myself. I'm 10 pounds away from my final goal. 

My BMI is a normal-range 24.3, which is still on the heavier side, but not techinically overweight.

Wow, that feels good to say. Not overweight.

Anyway, 22 days to the election. FiveThirtyEight has Obama way up and not looking back. We'll see how things go.

Interesting story: I'm dog-sitting for my mom while she's on vacation (again), and I received a phone call yesterday.

Phone: Hello, may I speak to Kevin or Andrew, please?

Me: This is Kevin.

Phone: Hi, my name is (redacted) and I'm with the McCain-Palin campaign. Can I ask you a few questions?

Me: Um, sure.

Phone: Okay, first, in the race for president, do you support John McCain and Sarah Palin?

Me: Hell no.

Phone: (pause) Ooookay. (another long pause) Thinking about your reasons for voting in the election what would you say is your number one issue? The economy, terrorism, national defense or taxes?

Me: HA HA HA. The economy.

Phone: And does Andrew feel the same way?

Me: I'm pretty sure he does, lady.

Phone: Okay. Thanks for your time. (hangs up)

Thank you for that, God.

Closer

Inching my way up to goal, 2 pounds away.

My goal was to initially do it by the time the Democrats invaded Denver. There are nine days until that happens, so it looks like I'm going to make it.

Nothing of note to report walking to and from work. As the summer drags, though, it seems like people on Cap Hill are getting more and more restless, acting a little bit crazier.

I got a new job and I start Aug. 25. That means I won't be walking to work anymore, so the name of this blog is going to have to change. It's okay; it's been more focused on my weight loss lately anyway.

Two pounds to goal, 12 pounds to second goal, 22 pounds to final goal.

Funny things I've seen over the last 2 weeks

Lady standing on Downing in between 13th and 14th, smoking a cigarette with an oxygen mask on.

Guy sitting in wheelchair on corner of Colfax and grant who looked at me, was going to ask me for money, but gave me the peace sign instead. I gave him the peace sign back.

Same car almost hit me - twice. Once on one block, another time on another block, half a mile away.

The applesauce, spilled nearly 2 months ago in front of a house on the 1000 block of Downing, slowly degrading into a black paste that everyone refuses to step on.

People are funny

I've said it once, and I'll say it again. A lot of the stuff I see walking to work isn't scary, it's just funny.

I think one of my favorite things that happens when I'm walking is when someone is walking in the same direction as me. I somehow catch up with them, because I'm walking fast (losing weight, all that good stuff).

But I can never bring myself to pass these people up.

Some people are pushing a stroller. Some people are just walking like I am.

BUT FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT FOR A LEISURELY STROLL.

They walk slow. They take up the whole sidewalk. And then, when I finally do try to pass them, the decide that it's the worst thing in the world. Then we have to awkwardly walk in a single-file line, for a block or two.

Or six.

That's what happened to me this morning. I had to pass this guy near 12th and Downing. He was just walking too slow.

So I passed him and he decided that it was emasculating him. So he tried to keep up with me.

Buddy, not a good idea. I may be a little chubby, but my legs are muscle. I could kick my foot through a cement wall.

So, to the guy with the tiger tattoo and the rainbow bandanna -- better luck next time.

Kelly Clarkson doesn't even scare them off

It's been an uneventful two weeks on the way to work, besides the occasional chunks of what looked like pink lemonade vomit between Colfax and 14th on Broadway.



I wear my headphones on the way to and from work everyday. Yes, I look like a nerd. And for some strange reason, everyone who walks by me can hear exactly what I'm listening to.



Which means no more guilty-pleasure Kelly Clarkson. I mourn the loss.



Everyday, I walk by the Network Ministries building on Pearl and 14th. It's notable because it's where most of the transients I see on a daily basis hang out. They smoke cigarettes on the steps and talk mad garbage to most people who walk by. Good for them. I keep my head down. I've had my fair share of them follow me for a block or two, begging for a cigarette.


The photo above must have been taken while everyone was still asleep. Or drunk. I've never walked by and seen no one on those steps.

The search for interesting things on my walks continues.

Street currency

I walked home from work at about 3 p.m. Wednesday. I was feeling sick and had some time go make up from working earlier in the week.

I was getting ready to cross the street at the intersection of Broadway and Colfax. A guy crossed right in front of me. He had his coat draped over his shoulder.

And he was flipping through a Penthouse Magazine.

In broad daylight.

I couldn't figure out why. He looked like he was enjoying it.

Maybe it's a sort of street currency. Yeah, that's it.

Anyway, he passed me up. I stayed back. Way back.