#photoadaychallenge — Public Fediverse posts

Go

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54581932592/in/dateposted/

That’s today’s photo a day picture. Number 284 of 365.

Also…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54581946692/in/dateposted/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #DisneyWorld #florida #Go #HollywoodStudios #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #StarWars #STORMTROOPER #theFirstOrder #Travel #Vacation

Interesting View

The view from our hotel room is interesting.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54576103813/in/album-72177720326730063

Photo a day challenge number 281 or 365.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #animalKingdomLodge #DisneyWorld #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #Travel

Groundhog Day

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54571357265/in/dateposted/

That’s a groundhog, right? I can picture it sitting on Bill Murray’s lap, driving a pickup truck so it must be a groundhog.

Photo a day number 279 of 365.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #z5

Photo a Day Fail

It’s gorgeous out today. I have windows open in almost every room in the house. Eventually it will be too warm outside for that and I will close them all and let the central air take over. For now though, let’s enjoy the breeze.

Robin was sitting in front of the dining room window, as she often does. I lined up a shot for today’s photo a day, as I often do…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54569137521/in/photostream/

She saw me coming and decided that rather than play the role of the model, she wanted some attention. She ran away just as I was about to press the shutter. She ran right over to me and demanded I pet her.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54569361748/in/photostream/

So now this is the photo a day photo instead of the cat in the window I was trying to get. Either way… adorable.

278/365

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin

Photo a Day

Photo a day challenge number 277/365.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54566802791/in/dateposted/

And one to grow on…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54567123234/in/dateposted/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography

Changes Coming

My music nook is about to go through some shit.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54564886321/in/dateposted/

Photo a day 276 of 365.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Guitar #Hipstamatic #iphoneography #Music #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography

Photo a Day

Another day, another photo a day pic. This one makes me think it might be interesting to know what a cat is thinking. Then again… it’s probably all thoughts about murder and slaughter so… maybe not.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54563324453/in/dateposted/

274 days down, 91 to go.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #Kitty #lily #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #z5

Photo a Day 271/365

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54553751409/in/datetaken/

In the office today. Wishing I was home playing guitar, or walking around town taking pictures. Being an adult is such a downer.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Hipstamatic #iphoneography #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography

Photo a Day

Once again, the photo a day photo is a cat staring out a window.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54551627961/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #Kitty #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #z5

Sunrise Fail

The forecast called for clear skies at Salisbury Beach at sunrise today. The forecast was wrong. I was there and I took a bunch of pictures, but the clouds covered the horizon and there was no photo of the sun coming out of the water. It was a wasted effort on that front, but I went to Plumb Island after and got a nice pic of the lighthouse.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54543753511/in/album-72177720326390739

When the sun eventually did break through, it made the Merrimack River look nice.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54543940424/in/album-72177720326390739

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #lighthouse #Massachusetts #merrimackRiver #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography #plumbIsland #river #z5

Bribes

Remember when bribery was illegal? That was before the nazi in chief of the fascist states of america declared that it was a smart move to let a foreign government give you an airplane as a present. Our new air force one, which will stop being air force one and become trump’s personal plane once he leaves office, assuming he leaves office before he dies.

Yeah, this country fucking sucks. Can you imagine if Barack Obama told the public he was taking a passenger jet as a gift from an Islamic nation? Fucking fascists.

Change of subject. Two things to look forward to this week. First, I have my three year post-gastric bypass surgery check in at the weight loss clinic. I expect them to tell me that I am the greatest patient they have ever had, and that no patient they’ve dealt with has ever had suck overwhelming success with their post-op program. I am hoping for a plaque or something to honor me.

Of infinitely greater importance, my step son Harry is going to graduate from the University of Vermont this weekend. I am so proud I am so proud I am so proud I am so proud. Did I mention how proud I am? We’ll be heading up there after work on Friday. I am really looking forward to it. I don’t know if you can tell by the context of this paragraph, but I am really proud of Harry.

Okay, Robert. Back to work with you.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54514909030/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #bribe #bribery #Cat #collegeGraduation #collegeKids #Family #gastricBypassSurgery #graduation #grownUpKids #health #Kids #Kitty #magaIsACult #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #Politics #robin #StepKids #trumpIsAFascist #trumpIsANazi #trumpIsEvil #z5

It is Friday

It is Friday at last. It’s also raining. Son of a…

On May 4th I wrote this big gastric bypass surgery update where I said that I am having far fewer side effects then I did a year ago. The bad experiences are less and less common with each new day.

Then last night I had a piece of toast with my dinner. I took a bite, no problem. I took another bite, no problem. I took another bite… uh oh. I knew instantly that I had taken one bite too many. It took about an hour for all the fun to end. The moral of the story being, don’t be over confident. That thing that passes for your stomach these days can still kick you in the nards, Robert. Figuratively speaking, of course.

Here’s a cat to remind you of your place in the universe.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54507468281/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #gastricBypass #gastricBypassSideEffects #gastricBypassSurgery #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #theFoamies #weightLossSurgery

54

I was thinking about doing something with this post where I post an image with the old Studio 54 logo. Having lived through the disco era and today being my 54th birthday, I figured that would be funny. Then I realized it would not be funny at all, it would be dumb. So I changed my mind and just went with this.

Today is my birthday. I am 54 years old. I am NOT happy about it. When I was 53 years old I could sort of convince myself that 53 is still your early 50’s. At 54 I can’t do that anymore. I am firmly entrenched in my mid 50’s and again, I am NOT happy about it.

The weather is nice right now. That’s good. Of course the forecast is calling for rain later so that’s fitting. Blah. I filled the bird feeders because I wanted those little monsters to have a nice celebration on my birthday. I took a couple of pictures. This one is with the aperture wide open, f1.8. Blurry background, babie!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54505261886/in/datetaken/

This next one is the opposite. This one has the aperture closed down as far as it goes. f22, which means the shutter speed is super slow which is why it’s a little soft on the focus. Image stabilization helps, but it’s not perfect. Note that the background is not blurry at all.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54505452014/in/datetaken/

Now when you compare the two photos you know how your lens aperture controls your depth of field. See? You didn’t realize I was going to give you all a photography lesson for my birthday, but there you go. Happy birthday, hohoho.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #54 #54YearsOld #birdFeeder #birdFeeders #birthday #iphoneography #myBirthday #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography

Pain

I overslept a little this morning. Not enough to cause any problems but enough to throw off my head a little. Just a little. I found myself rushing while getting dressed and that’s when it happened…….

I stubbed my toe on the end of the bed. Holy crap! I really jammed that little sucker good. Two hours later it still hurts. Did I break a toe or two? Dumb ass. Happy Friday, you self harming moron.

What’s going on this weekend? Probably no band practice. Our drummer is going to be out of the country. Lucky stiff. If I were him I probably wouldn’t come back. Yes I would… I’m all talk sometimes, you all know that. Crap. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, plans for the weekend. I have to get one of the cars looked at. We have an idiot light on that won’t turn off. There might be a window of clear skies at sunrise tomorrow. Here’s hoping I can get up early and go out and shoot some film before the usual weekend rain and gloom rolls in. There’s a new Marvel movie (I won’t see it until it hits Disney+ but it’s out there so who knows). There will be a new Doctor Who, The Last of Us, and Walking Dead (the Dead City edition’s 2nd season opener). What else, what else… probably lots of pictures of cats. The soles of my sneakers are starting to fall apart so I need to get myself a new pair. We’re about a month away from a Disney World trip and I need to get any footwear thoroughly broken in before then.

Anything else this weekend? Probably. I don’t know. Here’s a cat for you to enjoy while I try to think of what else might be going on…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54491339014/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin

Another Day

Up and at ’em. Back at it. Repetition and all that. Deja-Vu. As Iron Maiden once said, “feel like I’ve been here before.” Probably because I was here before. Yesterday, in fact. Today is another day in the office. Celebrate with a cat pic:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54473266743/in/datetaken/

Roar.

I’m tired. I went to bed earlier than usual last night but it doesn’t seem to have been enough. Maybe it’s just mental fatigue induced by driving for an hour to get to work. Who knows. Maybe it’s just mental fatigue induced by the collapse of american society. What used to be our country sucks a little more with each passing day and maybe it’s just wearing me out. Could be.

We’ve reached the point in the week where I start looking longingly toward the weekend. I can’t do a band practice on Sunday so I threw out the idea of doing Saturday instead. It’s still up in the air. I want to do some sunrise/ocean photos too but the weather forecast calls for shitty with a chance of shitty on Saturday. Sunday looks okay. Will it be okay at sunrise? Too soon to speculate.

Shit. I feel like I need a new hobby. I don’t want a new hobby, I just feel like I need one. Man, simple things get confusing when you reach old age (see yesterday’s post for more. Yes, I know I have not reached old age yet) and your country flushes itself down the crapper. All I really want to do is curl up in a ball on the couch and wait for it all to finish crushing me. You know how it is, right?

Sunday is out for band practice because I have to go to a wake. My cousin’s husband passed suddenly last week. I think that might be part of the reason for the funk I’m in right now. I also have a medical procedure on the books for Tuesday and I think I have to start prepping for it a couple of days in advance. I won’t say what it is. It’s not a procedure really, it’s just a test. Let’s say it’s one of those tests that people in their 50’s need to have and it involves completely clearing out your digestive system. Nudge nudge, wink wink. Are you digging where I’m coming from? Are you picking up what I am putting down? Ouch town, population me, bro. Maybe that’s another source of funk-feeling. Not funk in a good sense. Not funk in a George Clinton sense. Funk in a… blahhhhh sense. You get it.

Okay. Time to get cracking on the work day. Two meetings on the books. Both require some prep work. Get to it, Red Head!

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #health #iphoneography #Kitty #medicalProcedure #medicalTest #ouch #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin

Meetings

File this one under first world problems.

I just want to have some lunch. I usually break at 1:00pm but I was added to a meeting at that time. I punted lunch to 2:00pm but when the 1:00 ended I was added to a 2:00. I tried to reschedule my 3:00pm but I needed to keep it in place.

Dude… I just want to go to lunch. Why can’t I go to lunch? It is 5:00pm now and still no lunch. At least I will be able to have dinner soon.

What a day! Here’s a cat.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54468767075/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Busy #busyDay #busyWorkDay #Cat #Kitty #lunch #lunchBreak #meetings #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #work #workDay

Easter

Insert joke about a zombie giving up his weekend for our sins.

The plan is to visit Jen’s mother and step father today. It will be a lovely day, I am sure. They have a new cat. The resemblance to our cat Robin is striking. I expect I’ll use the wrong name at least once or twice.

Until then here is a photographic study. First, we have two cats who were pretending to be asleep as I snuck up on them with my camera.

Awake Lily:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54462894402/in/datetaken/

Awake Robin (also, today’s photo a day picture winner):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54464088330/in/datetaken/

Then a couple of hours later I returned to the scene of the crime and found both of them actually sleeping.

Asleep Lily:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54463924264/in/datetaken/

Asleep Robin:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54463927054/in/datetaken/

Cuteness overload. Happy Easter from my cats to yours.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #Kitty #lily #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #z5

Make Time

Please, Robert. Make the time. Make the time to play this weekend. Pretty please.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54459127247/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Guitar #iphoneography #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography

Shipping

It’s weird but I actually have two packages that have been shipped out by me over the last couple of days. One is a passport renewal form that went out via Fed Ex last night and the other is seven rolls of 35mm film* that I sent out via USPS on Saturday. Which will arrive at its destination first? The race is on! In this post-pandemic era of online shopping it’s common to be following packages that are on their way to you, but less common to have to follow packages that are on their way from you. Maybe not. I don’t know. I have to write about something.

Apparently you can spend six months in Scotland without a visa. Who knew? Ireland only lets you stay for three months. England and Wales are also six months, so is that a UK thing in general? What about Australia? I’ve recently watched two television shows that took place in Australia so I feel like I practically live there already. Duck Duck Go (fuck you, Google) says you need to obtain an Australian visa before you arrive. Well that’s no fun. Kevin Garvey, Jr and Nora Durst must have already had a visa when they left Miracle, TX on The Leftovers. Kevin Garvey, Sr… well who knows that that whack job was doing. He sure as hell didn’t.

The Bruins season ended last night on another painful loss. Some teams still have a game left to play, but my team is done. Mercifully. The best they can finish is tied with Philly for last place in the Eastern Conference. The worst they can do is finish in last all by their lonesome. Unfortunately for the draft lottery, there are 4-5 teams out west that will finish with worse records. Not that we have a General Manager who knows how to draft for shit though. In other Boston sports news, the Red Sox actually won a game last night after getting humiliated on Monday night. Fun.

I’m in the office today and tomorrow so the pickin’s for photo a day will be slim. Not that it matters. They are all just pictures of cats anyway. This one for today made use of the iPhone’s low light feature. It works well.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54455674076/in/datetaken/

*35mm film refers to the size of the negative… I think. 120 film does not refer to the size of the negative. I read somewhere that it refers to an old Kodak catalog product code. Mentioning 35mm and 120 film in the same sentence makes my ass itch. It’s like doing your physics homework and mixing up your units of measure. It’s like referring to velocity (measured in meters/seconds) and acceleration (measured in meters/seconds squared) as if they were the same thing. I believe the product code for 35mm is actually 135 (not too confusing there, Kodak) but I don’t know what the negative size for 120 film is. I can’t bring myself to call 35mm 135 so I guess I will continue to mix units and have an itchy ass. I could say medium format instead of 120 but that just feels like taking it all a step too far. I don’t know.

#120Film #35mmFilm #365 #365Challenge #365Project #Baseball #BostonBruins #BostonRedSox #Bruins #Cat #donTMixYourUnits #filmPhotography #Hockey #iphoneography #Kitty #measurements #mediumFormatFilm #mixedUnits #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #physics #RedSox #robin #shipping #shippingAndReceiving #shippingReceiving #Sports #unitsOfMeasure

Windows

It is gloomy and gross outside today, but I opened up all of the curtains and blinds to let what passes for light into the house. I don’t know why, I just did it.

The cats are in heaven. Robin often sits on bay window, whether the blinds are open or not, and today she’s been spending a lot of time there. She’s been very loudly chirping at anything that moves outside on the road. So much so that I’ve had to go out and check on her a couple of times.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54445107081/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54445107261/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54445294559/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin

Side Eye

What you looking at, red head?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54443473258/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin

As Promised

As promised in the previous post, here is a cat. I took this as I was packing up my stuff to go in to the office this morning. Apologies on the finger in front of the lens in the lower left corner.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54440750506/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin

Photo a Day

My photo a day pic for day 220/365……

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54438169327/in/datetaken/

Yesterday after lunch I had a bit of a headache. Not bad, but noticeable. Today after lunch I also had a headache. It was bad enough that I almost put in for sick time for the afternoon. I didn’t and I have been okay, but if it had been a little bit worse I would have gone out sick and gone to bed.

Two days in a row. Here’s hoping the trend does not continue.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #headache #health #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #Sick

Weather is a Jerk

It is April so if there is one thing we can count on it is rain in New England. Today is at least the forth consecutive day with rain in my town. Forth or fifth? Something like that. It’s raining again.

Or is it? Is it more than that?

Yeah… I was driving in to the office and sure enough there was snow falling. Not a lot. Just the occasional snow flake mixed in with the drizzle. Today is April 7th and there is snow falling. Well honk my hooter, April snow. Ugh.

I tried to take a picture of Robin the Cat before I left the house. I needed to do the photo a day thing. I pointed my phone at her as she was exploring the laundry basket that I failed to put away yesterday. Just as I was about to click the shutter button she saw me and ran away and this is the photo I got…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54436622095/in/datetaken/

Happy Monday, folks. It’s going to be a tough one, I think. All the signs are pointing that way.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #Snow #snowFlurry #springSnow #Weather

Commute

In the office today. In the office tomorrow. After three straight business days working at home, this is suddenly painful again. Weird.

Traffic was bad today, but the normal level of bad. One exception was my own street. 3-4 houses down from us there was a school bus partially pulled into a driveway, facing perpendicular to the street, completely blocking the road. Why? How? I don’t know. I had to sit and wait for them to maneuver out of the way. I don’t get it.

Robin Sparkles the Cat doesn’t get it either.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54424917277/in/datetaken/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #iphoneography #Kitty #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin

Errands in the City

I ran some errands in the city today. Any excuse to visit Boston (and Cambridge… mostly Cambridge).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54420113229/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54419062362/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54420166738/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54419062472/in/datetaken/

That last one is today’s photo a day snap.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Boston #Cambridge #iphoneography #Massachusetts #NewEngland #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography

The First Order

I can’t believe we saw the leader of The First Order in person. A brush with fame. Fascist fame, but fame none the less. Kinda like the USA in general these days, right?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54295280726/in/datetaken/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54295280631/in/datetaken/

The alternative caption to the first photo would be, I can’t believe we saw that guy who was on that HBO show with Lena Dunham.

Photo a day number 151/365.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #DisneyWorld #florida #HollywoodStudios #kyloREN #Orlando #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #StarWars #stormtroopers #Travel #Vacation

Photo a Day: Front Facing Camera

Today’s photo a day thing is the first photo taking with my new iPhone’s front facing camera. You are fascinated, of course.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54281138339/in/datetaken/

144/365

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #frontFacingCamera #GibsonES335Pro #Guitar #iphoneography #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #selfieCamera

Photo a Day: Album Cover

Quarantine Tunes Volume 8 is going to need an album cover. Coincidently, I need a photo for today’s photo a day challenge thingie.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54271506808/in/dateposted/

Hello, two birds. Meet my one stone.

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #dirtyFingers #dirtyFingersPickups #es335 #es335Pro #Gibson #GibsonES335Pro #GibsonGuitar #Guitar #iphoneography #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography

I have been playing guitar since 1986. Today was the first time I adjusted a truss rod myself. Hell, it was the first time I even took off cover.

I think it worked. I had a nasty fret buzz on my ES-335 down around the second fret. I think it’s better now. Crossing my fingers.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54110733247/in/dateposted/

I used this video and it was helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxyhIPVu0zo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54111865523/in/album-72177720304753363/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/11/02/neck-adjustment/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Gibson #gibsonEs335 #gibsonEs335Pro #Guitar #maintenance #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #trussRod

Well, looks like Friday is going to be one seriously shitty day for ol’ Robbie and his rebuilt guts.

I had more sleep last night than any day for about a week. I should have awoken feeling right and spiffy and good. Nope. I woke up with stomach pain. Lots of it. I never wake up with the hunger pains I get when I haven’t eaten for a few hours. I don’t know why that is, but this morning that was exactly what I thought happened. I got up, went down cellar to do my exercise for the day and have a bottle of water. I thought that would alleviate things, at least for a little while. After the exercise was done I could have breakfast and I fully expected that would be the end of that.

Nope. Exercise made it worse and I only got a few ounces of water down before I decided to stop and have breakfast. Unfortunately, eating didn’t help at all. Nope, this is not hunger pain. This is something else. Shit.

I sat there, staring at the walls for a while and then tried to power through these aches and pains. I played some guitar and did some laundry and then went upstairs. In the past, when these out-of-the-blue stomach pain issues hit me (I think there have been five since having the gastric bypass surgery on May 4, 2022… maybe six. I’m losing count) the only thing that gives me any relief is laying down on the floor on my side, curled up in a ball. Yeah, I don’t get it either. Today has not been nearly as bad as the really bad times, but I tried it anyway. I went fetal on the floor in front of my desk and just stayed like that for about an hour. It helped and by 9:00 I was able to get up and punch into work.

That was an hour ago. I’m starting to feel worse again, but is that because I have been up for four hours and have only had four ounces of water? Is it because it’s been almost three hours since I had anything to eat? My water bottle is staring at me. I think I am going to try to have a drink and see how it affects things. Wish me luck, oh my readers and only friends.

I was able to take some pictures in an effort to crank out the photo a day thing. Here’s one that I did not add to the photo a day photo album on Flickr…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54024995026/in/datetaken/

Here’s another that I did not add to the photo album. The record is The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, side one, by Genesis…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54025172586/in/datetaken/

Here’s the one I added to the Flickr album. This is the winner. Robin, of course. Photo a day 27/365.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/54024273752/in/datetaken/

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/09/27/so-far-so-awful/

#365 #365Challenge #365Project #Cat #gastricBypass #gastricBypassSideEffects #Guitar #health #iphoneography #Kitty #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photoADayProject #photography #robin #stomachIssues #stomachPain #weightLossSurgery #z5

This is one of those he-had-gastric-bypass-surgery posts. You’ve been warned.

I am doing a small food experiment today. I am hoping I do not get the results that I expect I will get.

I work in the office twice a week. Over the last couple of months I have noticed a trend. When I leave work I am dealing with some major gas pain. I thought it had to do with me having something to eat on the drive home and then being too stuffed for dinner, but the last couple of office days I have cut way down on the food I eat in the afternoon before dinner, and the gas pain has still been a thing.

I had a (very minor) epiphany on Monday. I think I know what’s going on. I bring the same lunch every time I go to the office. One serving of Purdue Chicken Bites (12 little mini chicken nuggets) that I heat up in the microwave, and then one serving (either 2.0 oz or 2.6 oz, depending on the brand) of peanuts. Combined it works out to 22 grams of protein, which is pretty good for that small a meal. Sometimes I’ll have some crackers or some sugar free candy with my lunch as well.

I have Purdue chicken, in various shapes and sizes, all the time. I have the sugar free candy and crackers all the time too. Peanuts though… in the early days of post-surgery solid foods I had peanuts all the time. Over the last year or so I have sort of lost interest in them and have only been eating them with lunch in the office. My question to myself then is this: Why didn’t that set off a red flag sooner?

Are the peanuts causing the afternoon/evening gas issues? It seems likely, doesn’t it? Today’s experiment then is to not have peanuts with lunch and then see what happens. I like peanuts. They are a good source of protein and they are tasty and while it’s true I have grown a little tired of eating them lately, I don’t want to have to stop. If peanuts turn out to be a problem… well that just sucks. I haven’t thought of an alternative yet. I will. Today I’ll just have a small protein bar with lunch to make up the difference, but going forward I’ll find something else.

We’ll see how today’s experiment goes, and then one day next week we’ll do it again and see if we get the same results. Then I’ll decide what to do going forward.

Until then… here’s an airplane for today’s photo a day challenge pic.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/07/03/food-experiment/

#365 #365Challenge #diet #foodPlanning #gas #gasPain #gastricBypass #gastricBypassSurgery #health #iphoneography #lunchPlanning #mealPlanning #menu #pain #Peanuts #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography #weightLossSurgery

It’s Wednesday. I’m back in the office. You don’t care, but I want to write about something… anything… so here we are.

Today is Juneteenth. I completely forgot. When the state first established today as a holiday we got it off. Less than a year later our company turned most of the non-national holidays into floating holidays so now we don’t get today off. It was just another day for me except that there was no traffic on the highways this morning. From my house to my office, 43 miles, took 46 minutes. Why couldn’t every commute be this easy? While having the day off would have been great, I will take this as the next best thing… sort of.

I failed to get six hours of sleep again last night. My watch tells me I got 5:45 but my heart rate numbers were pretty spectacular. Hopefully that means I won’t be too completely exhausted again today. Just mildly completely exhausted. I still haven’t hooked up my CPAP machine since coming back from Florida a few weeks ago. I think my sleep numbers (assuming my watch pulls accurate data) are implying that using the machine won’t make much of a difference. I should probably use it anyway. Maybe there will be a placebo effect or something and I won’t be quite as tired after a short night’s sleep. I don’t know.

The Oilers won last night. Yippee. Well… that’s being mean. I am glad they won. Not because I expect them to dig out of a three games to none series hole, but because it literally extended the NHL season. If they are going to lose on me and prove that I suck at picking the outcome of NHL playoff series’, then the least they can do is lose in seven games so we get our money’s worth, right?

As for the Red Sox, they have won four in a row including two wins against the first place Yankees. Glorious. I saw a post on social media where someone said that this streak proves they will not only make the playoffs, but advance to the American League Championship Series. I laughed out loud. No, let me be more specific… I laughed out loud for a long, long time. They are four games above .500. They are in third place in the division, 11.5 games behind the first place (and thoroughly evil) Yankees. They are two games out of the wild card. Oh yeah, it is June. Yeah… they are better than I thought they would be, but they are still pretty clearly mediocre. They might sneak into the wild card, but I am not holding my breath. If you’re expecting the Red Sox to do anything better than middle of the pack, then you haven’t been paying attention. No. They will not make it to the ALCS. If they do, I will happily eat my words, but I won’t have to because there’s no chance. This is the way. I have spoken.

I watched last night’s new episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte. There has been so much hate spewed at this show. Most of it rooted in sexism and racism rather than the story or anything to do with it. I’ve enjoyed the show so far and I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. I’m on for the ride, as the saying goes. Last night though… episode four… I finally had something that I didn’t like. What was it? The running time was less than 30 minutes. Come on, Star Wars. We need more than that from our weekly episodes. We need more to sink our teeth into. These episodes should be more like 45-60 minutes, right? We need that content, folks. We need it! Star Wars, babie! Give us more!

This is the way.

I have spoken.

What was I talking about?

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/06/19/another-wednesday/

#365 #365Challenge #AppleWatch #Baseball #Cat #commute #Disney_ #health #Hockey #Holiday #iphoneography #juneteenth #Kitty #lily #MajorLeagueBaseball #MLB #morningCommute #NHL #nhlPlayoffs #nhlPostseason #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography #playoffs #postseason #RedSox #robin #Sleep #sleepStats #SleepWatch #standings #stanleyCup #stanleyCupFinal #StarWars #starWarsTheAcolyte #stateHoliday #Television #traffic

Two days in a row my photo a day pic has been taken with an old point and shoot digital camera. What is commonly known by the trendy YouTube photography folks as digicams. Look at me being all trendy and shit.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/04/01/digicams/

#365 #365Challenge #casio #CasioEXS10 #digicam #gibsonEs335Pro #Guitar #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography #pointAndShoot

We are in our second week or having to come into the office twice per week instead of once. It’s Monday so here I am. At my desk. In the office. Monday feels like a really crappy day to come in, but I need to pick a day to go along with our usual Wednesdays and I don’t want to come in two days in a row and Monday just feels better than Friday so I’m here on Monday. I did Friday last week and the morning commute was all right both days. Friday had the benefit of having far, far fewer people around. Monday has the benefit of getting the second day out of the way really fast. I think we’ll stick with Mondays for now.

My step daughter is flying home tomorrow afternoon. I took the afternoon off so I can get her at the airport. I am thankful to have as much personal time available to me so that I can do stuff like this. It’s a good thing and it makes me happy.

I took a pic this morning. Nothing special but it’s a photo a day challenge kinda thing.

I need a haircut. Did I mention that? Do you care? No? That’s okay. I need a haircut anyway. Just sharing, or maybe just over sharing.

What else… I don’t know. I have a meeting in half an hour. That’s fun, right?

I watched the third episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (aka the Rick and Michonne show). It’s the weakest of the three so far (there are three more coming this season), but it was still pretty good. I am pleased with the season to this point but I am hoping the quality goes back up starting next week. No spoilers. If you like The Walking Dead, you should be watching. That is all.

Jen and I have been watching Star Trek: Lower Decks. I started watching Penny Dreadful the other day. I’m still plowing through The X-Files. I watched the first movie after finishing season five. Tomorrow morning I’ll start season six. I’m getting near to the point where Mulder leaves and that’s going to make it hard to power through. I’ll stick with it though. I promise.

Okay, back to work with you, Robert.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/03/11/office-day-3/

#365 #365Challenge #Airport #commute #es335 #es335Pro #Family #gibsonEs335Pro #GibsonGuitar #hybridWorkSchedul #inTheOffice #lowerDecks #Nikon #nikonZ5 #pennyDreadful #personalTime #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography #returnToTheOffice #StarTrek #starTrekLowerDecks #Television #theOnesWhoLive #TheWalkingDead #theWalkingDeadTheOnesWhoLive #theXFiles #theXFiles #timeOffWork #vacationTime #work #z5

The progress being made in the kitchen is stunning. The demo is done and they are installing cabinets. It feels like they might be as much as half a day ahead of schedule. We’re already starting to talk about things that weren’t supposed to happen this weekend. Tiling and painting, specifically. The tile guy is coming on Sunday. It’s absolutely nuts!

Anyway, here’s today’s photo a day pic. I took it before the kitchen guys got here this morning because I didn’t know if I would get a chance for anything once the crazy arrived.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/03/01/photo-a-day-14/

#365 #365Challenge #contracotrs #es335 #es335Pro #GibsonES335Pro #Guitar #homeImprovement #homeImprovements #homeOwner #iphoneography #kitchen #kitchenImprovements #kitchenRemodel #kitchenRemodeling #kitchenUpgrades #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography

I will be taking my 335 to the shop in just a few minutes, so I snapped a few pics for luck.

And for added luck, here’s a cat.

https://robertjames1971.blog/2024/02/10/heading-to-the-shop/

#365 #365Challenge #Cat #es335 #gibsonEs335 #gibsonEs335Pro #GibsonGuitars #Guitar #Kitty #Nikon #nikonZ5 #photoADay #photoADayChallenge #photography #robin #z5