120 Over 80

I've been waiting for grand changes in my mental state due to my being out of work. Nothing's really changed that drastically to tell the truth. Then again, it's been just barely two weeks, so perhaps I shouldn't expect too much.

Though I've noticed some physical changes. The gym I go to has a lot of cardio equipment designed to monitor your heart rate at various levels of activity. When I was working, my resting heart rate was a bit “up there” but within the range for someone of my age. Now, before I fire up my workout regimen, I test the heart rate and I've been noticing a steady drop in the resting heart rate. I haven't attributed that to any benefit from working out prior to the beginning of May as I wasn't regularly attending the gym.

My rate is down due to very little stress. I bet my blood pressure has followed suit as well.

And that's fine by me.

Now when the surfer dude's hang-loose attitude makes it's appearance in me, remains to be seen. Perhaps some more time will be needed. The last time I had that unconcerned nature for any length of time was back in the early 90's, when I did live at the beaches in Westerly.

I'm still waking up at dawn but that's due to the dog. I have been watching more TV which is weird, because I generally NEVER watch it. To tell the truth, I'm watching retro channels. Would you believe I have finally seen, for the first time, Robert Stack's The Untouchables? Oh, and Hawaii 5-0 sucks. The Wooden Actor prize should've been given to them.

Here's how far out of the loop I am when it comes to television. A friend, Rich, was trying to explain a joke to me via a Dos Equis beer commercial featuring the “Most Interesting Man in the World.” All I could say was, ”Who?” He looked at me in complete surprise. “Don't you know? It's been on for a couple of months!” Nope, never saw it I said.

He rolls his eyes at me and I try to explain. No doing. You can't get out of someone's judgment when it's final. I persisted in telling him that I garner all my information, fun, books, movies, news and whatever via the Internet. I told him I watch some TV channel out of Normandy France through the Internet.

No deal. I was living under a rock according to him still. When it comes to today's TV, I do live under a rock as I find most of today's TV, appalling.

So, what else have I noticed.

I'm finally cooking for myself now. Before, I'd come home and the last thing I wanted to do was create something nice. Ask a mechanic if he likes to work on cars when he comes home, generally they don't. I felt the same. But now, I'm actually eating something other than vats of food designed to last me three days. Now, I've rediscovered my herb garden.

What else, what else...

I have more energy. I'm not dragging like I used to at times. This translates into a neater house and neater yard. I used to come home from work, look at the dog tumbleweeds floating by my feet and say..”Ah...fuck it..I'll vacuum tomorrow.” Now is a different story.

So, well see what the coming weeks will bring.