Day 487

Happy New Years to all! Its wonderful to look back on 2006 and see all I accomplished - graduating from college, touring with new west, holding a great senior recital, starting a teaching studio, moving into a new apartment, and, oh yea, losing around 50 pounds.

Looking forward, this year is going to be a great one. Im still working on my health goals and working every day to achieve them. Even though Im a bit off right now, being on vacation and all, I know that by march Ill start seeing some more results. By may or june Ill be at my goal. While I know its a bit dangerous to write that, (looking back at August and seeing how these past few months I have failed my objectives), Im going into january knowing the challenges that lie ahead of me, and forcing myself to compensate for them. Frankly, I can't wait to not have to blog anymore about this and start writing about my musical and career goals!

New West will be recording here in a couple of weeks which I am very excited about. Our new record is going to be amazing and Ill keep everyone posted with regards to how that goes. We'll be touring this summer, probably in july-august so Ill be contacting many of you to locate good venues and residencies for our '07 tour.

Have a good holiday tonight!

Day 484

Still here in Portland, battling the cold weather, but I must admit it is nice for a change. Last night, I made my way down to Jimmy Maks. It was great to be welcomed and invited to play with Mel and the guys, hearing a kind "welcome home" really made my day. We played "But Not for Me" and "Stablemates". Im actually going to head down there tonight again, this time more to enjoy the music and hang with the guys. Louis will be on the B-3 and ronato on the tenor. Definetly, JMs is where I belong.

Finally worked out today - went over to the YMCA in sherwood and gathered myself a week's pass. I spent the first part of the workout swimming, then I went and tested my weights again, followed by some abs work and eliptical, then to conclude again i the pool. I stepped on the scale upstairs and - big mistake - the reading was well into the 230s. But considering the devastaing week I had in Pendleton, where my diet seemed to be strictly consisting of comfort food and sugar cookies, Im not really too concerned. I do feel bigger though, Ive got my work cut out for me the next few months.

Food wise, still didn't make the best of choices:

no breakfast
burrito bol from chipolte - I know it sounds bad, but it was actually pretty good for me - I opted to not have the tortilla and had lots of chicken in mine -
diet coke
then dinner was half a roasted chicken - should have avoided the skin but I never do.
more diet coke
had a dinner roll last night at 3:00am and one this morning again

Man, this diet is really hard while on the road traveling. I bought some salmon today so Im planning on having that tommorrow, Im going to eat some cereal first thing in the morning and we'll see what the rest of the day brings.

Looked around for weights today, and I found a posting on craigs list for some selecttech bowflex dumbells. I think that is a good thing for me - freeweights are what I need right now.

While I appoach day 500, I reflect on how these past 17 months have changed my life. I have gone in many phases, sometimes focusing on the outside, sometimes on the inside. August to December of this year has been the hardest part of my journey - maybe even one of the most challenging parts of my life to date. I began with a great momentum after touring with new west and then crashed into this three week vacation here in oregon, only to find myself at the same weight I was at in august. I know its only up from here, and My goal is still to be at 190 pounds - now by june.

Day 475

Yesterday, i didn't really get the chance to run - its freezing here in Portland. i did my strength training though - ill have to try and get over to the round-up club in pendleton while im up there to maintain the cardio stuff.

diet wise, still off the ball a bit - no breakfast, lunch = turkey sand w/bacon, avocado, veggies, on wheat - munched on chocolate during the day - then dinner prawns fried, skewered, battered, and baked w/chowder and salad.

these next 25, I really want to hit the ground hard! Ill keep you posted!

Day 471

Ran and did interval training, approx. 4 miles today - although I could have gone harder, it was a bit cold outside

Diet wise, ahem. . .

Breaded Chicken Strips w/fries
Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Pineapple Pizza
Diet Coke, Diet Coke, and more Diet Coke!

and a cookie for breakfast . . .

and we wonder why im still 25 pounds from my goal!

Music today - rehearsed with David Pritchard - got my ass kicked with the reading once again . . . .

Tommorrow morning - Oregon 06-07!

Day 470

Doing better these days, heard some great music tonight by Robby Marshall. Had an easy gig today for a corporate chistmas party, ya know how those go. Ive been working on the tune "Naima" recently - wow, such a pretty melody - coltrane is such a genius

Health wise, ive been good about the excersize, but made some lax decisions about my diet - got more to write but its getting late. Cheers!