Mobile post sent by pfmonaco using Utterz.  Replies. ]]> http://www.paulmonaco.com/2008/05/24/walkabout-at-beldons-wildlife-preserve/feed/ http://www.paulmonaco.com/2008/05/15/the-world-is-my-treadmill/ http://www.paulmonaco.com/2008/05/15/the-world-is-my-treadmill/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 23:47:12 +0000 Paul Monaco http://www.paulmonaco.com/2008/05/15/the-world-is-my-treadmill/

Mobile post sent by pfmonaco using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3 ]]> http://www.paulmonaco.com/2008/05/15/the-world-is-my-treadmill/feed/ http://www.paulmonaco.com/2008/04/30/trible-geocache-navigator-review/ http://www.paulmonaco.com/2008/04/30/trible-geocache-navigator-review/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:29:45 +0000 Paul Monaco http://www.paulmonaco.com/?p=165

Pro’s

Con’s

Conclusion

If you’re often hit with the sudden urge to cache but don’t carry your standard GPS with you all the time, then this is a great solution. But other then the cool factor, it’s just not all that exciting. Perhaps after a few updates it will be more indespensible.

It was pretty hard not to know that I did a little weekend escape to my favorite spot in the world this weekend Old Orchard Beach, Maine. I’ve had the urge to go for weeks but being a resort town I knew I had to wait until not only the motel was open but also a restaurant within walking distance. I really hate to drive once I’m there; I suppose part of my escape is from driving.

I’ve been going to this spot since I was around 17 years old when my best friend at the time introduced me to it. Thinking back it’s pretty unusual finding a place that will rent out a hotel room to a bunch of teens, doubt they’d still be so liberal but there’s no doubt that the pace and mindset is just a bit more relaxed than the rest of the world.

I don’t really have any crazy stories to share with you about this trip. It was simply a mind-clearing venture. I hadn’t gone last year and urge to go was exceptionally strong. I always feel good when I’m there. Some of the local new age practitioners say it has something to do with unique crystals indigenous to the area. I personally think it’s the people and attitudes that make it appealing, though on many trips I have chosen to remain secluded and still enjoyed my visit.

Expect more commentary and photos scattered throughout my sties. And those that followed my social networks, thanks for putting up with my enthusiasm!

Though I’m no longer doing streaming audio I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email from Laurie promoting her latest CD release titled A Striking Resemblance.

As with her other compilations this is one album you really need to listen to for yourself. She’s one of those artists where you can’t just pigeon hole her into one specific category but dreamy vocals is the thread that elegantly holds it all together.

Run on over to CD Baby and give Laurie Larson a listen for yourself, you’ll be hard pressed not to click the buy button to hear the full celestial qualities of her voice and top notch accompaniments from Ed DeLucia on guitars (Ronstadts), Ralph Gilmore on drums (Grass Roots) and Jim Brady on Bass (Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt) as well as special guest Jim Roberts (The John Does) playing the Hammond B3 on the first track “Endless Thank You Loop” as well as mixing “Artist’s Mirage Two”

Be sure to check out Laurie Larson’s MySpace page as well!

More downs than up.. in more ways than one!  An extended chill in New England really weakend my spirits along with some temporary weight increases.  Looking at the chart at least shows progress, though admittadly not quite as much as I would have liked.

Today like most other days I was exhausted after work.  I just wanted to get home and take a nap.  Fortunately on the way home I needed to run a few errands, which brought me very close to one of my regular trail heads.  So, I forced myself to just stop an walk for a little while.  Well, once I started moving I felt invigorated and did my full hour-long walk and when I got home I still had enough energy to knock some household chores out of the way!

For more information about this program, please visit http://www.livehealthyamerica.org

Okay, looks like I’m back on track!  My bloated water-logged legs seemed to have drained themselves and even though the weather and low spirits took it’s toll on my routine I’m still right where I would have wanted to be without troubles. 

I guess good karma is more powerful then bad! 

Well, yesterday I had my quarterly visit with my doctor as part of my diabetic treatment plan, he confirmed my weight loss and was pleased.  Though in the past when it came to weight gain I’ve jokingly said it was muscle mass, but the doc told me not to discount that as going from a very sedentary lifestyle to intentionally active may cause a temporary rise i weight.

Overall he agreed with my simple “Move more, eat less” philosophy.  He pointed out there’s a number plan that would make me lose a quck 20-pounds, but in the long haul my method is one of the best for sustained weight loss, which is my goal.

Remember, it’s never too late to start: http://www.livehealthyamerica.org

The karmic streams have let loose upon me yet again to thwart my dieting efforts.  The past few weeks have been riddled with activities and weather that simply got in the way of putting my full efforts into my daily routine.  For the most part, other then grocery shopping I haven’t done much walking at all.  But I haven’t stopped completely, I have been doing resistance exercises with those rubber bands that clamp to your doors which actually does give me more of a “burn” then my usual aerobics.

Which brings me to today, which I had already twittered about..  Thinking I’ve been doing well on the diet side of the equation, I treated myself to a McDonald’s breakfast of a Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit.  Of course no sooner do I finish that, our office baker comes on by with a warm tray of coffee cake!!  Well.. it would have been rude to say no.. so

Ironically, I seemed to have lost the weight that I gained while I was actively dieting and exercising hard.  Go figure!

On Wednesday February 20th, 2008 we had a full lunar eclipse.  Believe it or not this is the firsrt time I actually remembered to look for it and saw it live.  The above sequence begins at about 8:30 pm (EST) and concludes at about 10:00 pm (EST) when the technical limitations of my camera were beginning to show. 

Very cool experience, very fortunate to have a clear night and was fun to post it’s progress on my Utterz channel.