An interesting turn of events

Well, I really didn't want to start the day out this way, but I am so incensed right now, I just had to put it down on paper. I have a dog, if you didn't know. A mutt I adopted from a local animal rescue. He's smaller (about 22 pounds) but for some reason sees the fenced back yard as punishment. So, I walk him twice a day. It's good exercise for me anyway, so I don't really mind. As we were walking past the clubhouse, we pass by a couple walking their baby around the neighborhood. Now, the homeowner's association has a clean up after your dog rule, which I follow with only mild grumbling (putting something that organic into a plastic bag seems counter intuitive.) When we walked by the bushes on the corner, I saw that someone had chosen to not clean up after their dog. When the couple walked by, the man pointed at the dog pile, and said audibly "well, isn't that nice" and proceeded to stare at me like it was my dog's leavings. I said as audibly "it isn't his, I am not going to pick it up." He continued to stare at me, and then said "oh yeah? Where is your bag?" I produced it from my pocket and suggested he keep his mind on his own business and not mine. He then turned and spit at me as though somehow he felt vindicated by his actions towards me. I am so furious about this. I don't look down my nose at people, why in the hell should I have to let this idiot look down his nose at me? I am not a violent person, but I sure wanted to show him the back side of my fists just to let him know that he was way out of line. Of course, I did nothing except stew. Oh well, I guess it takes all kinds. I can understand his frustration because there are a lot of people that don't ever clean up after their pets, but don't vent that misguided frustration on someone that isn't part of the problem.

On an unrelated note, the diet seems to be going fairly well. I know it was mostly water weight, and I have since climbed back above my "Mendoza Line" (a benchmark of mediocrity coined by Chris Berman of ESPN) but there was actually a period in the last week where my weight was below 200. That is lighter than I have been since well before moving to NC, and is lighter than I was just before my divorce. I am pretty impressed with how well I have adjusted to this diet. Damn, but I miss french fries. :-) I will say, however, as long as the weight does seem to stay level or continue to drop, I am going to stick with it. This means I have roughly 16 more pounds to lose. That would put me at 185, which would be about where I was in 1992. That's not too shabby at all.

Another poker night last night, and another night I showed a complete lack of patience. I think that's why I continue to play. It forces me to learn patience. I am constantly trying to force hands, and in Hold 'Em, you shouldn't. Oh well, another $25 shot to hell. It was nice to see some other folks win. We have been in a rut of late, with the same three people winning money regularly. I, however, have not been one of them, as I am rarely able to scare people away with my inane bluffs. :-)

Well, not much else to say really. Just wanted to get some things off my chest this morning.

Cheers.