The Wife and I were walking through the local Target and came across the Top Gun strategy game. Complete with a fighter school side and a volleyball side!

I’m not exactly sure who the target audience is.

Over the weekend, I hit a milestone. I reached 1,000 days of tracking what I eat. I will admit, some days are more accurate than others. I do my best, but it’s difficult on bye-weeks to make sure I’m logging everything.

So, where am I at? My goal is to maintain 200 lbs. At last check-in, I was around 205. I’ve been struggling with losing the weight I gained from the holiday celebrations.

I’m also feeling a bit of fatigue. I know this intellectually, and there are days when I start wondering what the damage would be for me to just let loose. Then, I have to remember why I did this. I write this not to gain sympathy. I write this for anyone in my admittedly small audience who is feeling the same struggle. I think this is normal, and it can be overcome.

I am going to keep working to get back to 200. I am going to have setbacks, but I can’t accept them as anything other than temporary setbacks.

One of the heroes who helped rescue trapped boy scouts from a cave in Thailand has died from a blood infection he got during the rescue.

Petty Officer Beirut Pakbara, a Thai Navy Seal, contracted a blood infection during the rescue at Tham Luang cave.

My deepest condolences to his loved one.

For your enjoyment:

1. It’s amazing how much relief I felt when I woke up and my first thought was “I don’t have to clean up all that cat puke.” Corollary- that was a weird dream.
2. Just because I saved up all those calories for the brother-in-law’s birthday dinner, doesn’t mean I need to use them all. Even for the mother-in-law’s cake and the wife’s deviled eggs.
3. I’m trying to remember why I thought it was a good idea to schedule a doctor appointment on my day off. Particularly when my doc is sixty miles from the house. Oh well, at least I’ll get to wear my kilt, since I’m not going there after work.

I know the blog’s been a bit quiet the last few weeks. Been busy.

Last Saturday, I trekked up to Saint Pete to catch HammerFall and Sabaton in concert.

1. Jannus Live is not my favorite venue. It’s a fucking outdoor courtyard with no seating where 2K+ people are crammed. If I go back to this place to catch a show, and it’s normal Florida weather, I’m wearing my damn kilt.
2. At least two people not in line told those of us in line, that this was the longest line they’ve seen for a concert. Not sure if it was a measure of dedication from the fans or lack of heavy-hitters at Jannus, but I’m thinking the former.
3. I need new concert ear pro. Preferably something discreet, effective, and can be worn for several hours. Particularly when the venue plays intermission music at the same fucking volume as the acts.
4. HammerFall always does a great show. Not as familiar with the songs from their new album. I will remedy that in the coming week. Especially since it’s a non-podcast week due to the work that needs doing.
5. It was interesting to see how many of the concert goers were seeing HammerFall for the first time. From the hands I saw from my corner, figure about 80%. This was my second time seeing them in concert. Rumor is that they will be returning next fall. This will be investigated.
6. Sabaton brought the fucking tank. The big, dual Gatling gun tank for their drummer. Heavy metal concert requires heavy metal. Military history themed heavy metal requires military heavy metal.
7. Sabaton’s set started with a request for donations to the construction of a WWI memorial in DC. Wasn’t expecting that, but they certainly know their audience.
8. Sabaton knows how to use their screen to display the “audience participation” parts of their songs.
9. Lots of songs off the new album. These I haven’t fully ingrained in my head, but enjoyable nonetheless.
10. Joakim learned a valuable lesson. When the Florida crowd starts singing “Swedish Pagans,” don’t threaten us with singing “YMCA” if we’re “bad.” We’ll just start singing the Village People to call your bluff.
11. It was Joakim’s birthday. We got to sing “Happy Birthday” to him while he got to wear a pink tiara and try to blow out those relighting candles. If there’s one thing I love about a Sabaton show is that they do not take themselves too seriously, and are not above fan service.
12. They didn’t bring a kid up onto the stage with them, but they did find a nine-year-old in the front. Whose parents named him Leonidas. No, I don’t know if they’re from Tarpon Springs. (Those is you outside Tampa, google it). This did lead to the crowd doing the Spartan cheer.
13. It was not a great idea to park on the seventh floor of the garage when the elevator wasn’t available. On the plus side, I may have partially worked off the Kit Kat I ate before the concert.
14. Still had a great time!