Music Makes You Smarter

Music Makes you Smarter

Deciding to take on this huge weigh-loss adventure was done this time in a very methodical manner. As a trained classical musician I have received decades of professional training from some of the world’s best teachers. Classical music training is by far the most labor intensive activity. Of course the one hour lesson once a week is the highlight of your efforts, but the many hours alone during the week are the most important. Practicing every day, in my younger years from 2 – 5 hours a day, takes total dedication. No one is sitting beside in your practicing studio and telling you to practice. Becoming a profession musician is the best training in the world for self discipline. Not to mention the fact that learning to concentrate is as equally important.

When I started this diet, it goes with out saying that I needed to look for the best teacher possible to train me. A Teacher that knew about my body type, was properly educated themselves, and was able to guide me into properly doing exercises with results. Physical training is not much different than musical training as far as muscle development is concerned. Brass players highly develop there facial muscles as well as there abdominals. Breathing also plays a big role. Physical training, I now discovered, is even more labor intense, as you have so many more muscles to train! The results of proper training, is of course the scale at the end of the week, but more importantly noticing things like, going up the stairs without getting out of breath. A combination of less weight to tote up the stairs, stronger abdominals and legs muscles that are fighting gravity in a more efficient way!

Not to mention the repetition that is entirely comparable to musical training. I have practiced those same orchestral passages for years and years. Playing those same scales for years and years, is not any different then the repetition of the different exercises you do at the gym. But with the repetition, in both cases, music and exercise, the results are, you get better and better ever time you practice it!!

Of course the other end results of music is the pleasure of the concert you get to perform, or the solo you played in front of a audience of hundreds or thousands of classical music lovers. The end result of the practicing at the gym is your own self gratification and a huge boost in self acceptance!

Losing weight, and taking care of you body, is, and can be the most important thing you do with your life. Of course all the scientific data supports diet and exercise and has proven it will lengthen your life by years! Not to mention, you won’t spend the last 15 years of your life in a retirement home, all stiff and non-functional.

There is a women I met 7 years ago, who is the sister of my horn teacher, she is 79 years old and is the most fit and active women I have ever met. She plays tennis 5 days a week and swims a half hour every day! She is my hero and my shinning example of how you can spend your senior years. With her diet and intensive exercise, but fun, exercise, she is still traveling the world, walking up and down the steep hills of Italy or taking long walks in the black forest of Germany or swimming with Dolphins in the Caribbean. With her long standing exercise regime, she has also kept her mind active and clear. She is even still working in her law firm on a part time bases; she reads and understands very complicated legal issues and documents. Just because you’re a senior it doesn’t mean you should stop all your excising and mental activities. She is what I hope to become when hit my senior years! A true mentor and hero in all sense of the words.

There’s a famous saying that I always tell parents of potential horn students: “Music makes you Smarter!” - this is totally true for all ! But not all have or can play an instrument or have the opportunity too.

BUT on the other hand, absolutely every one can exercise!

So this saying can be adapted and read: “Physical Training and exercise makes you Smarter!”

** when I hit my goal weight, I hope to start to learn how to play tennis, and play many games with my senior hero! That will be our public performance!

The Invisible Me

The Invisible Me

I was going out for dinner to a new Sushi place with my neighbor, and we got to talking about self image issues. I pointed out to him that looking deep down into my soul, my becoming a horn player, and a good one, directly was a result of the pleasure I felt after I performed and as a result of that feeling, that my body image felt invisible.

Let me explain; I started to play the French Horn at the age of 12 in Junior High School. I had the extreme good fortune of receiving a private Horn teacher almost from the first week. The School Board that my school was a part of, had a special deal with one of the horn players from the Toronto Symphony, to give private lessons to horn students in junior and senior high schools. In the beginning years I did not perform in public. My first public perform was later in high school at the age of 15. There was an Art Exhibit in the auditorium of my high school, and a stage/platform was placed in the middle of the auditorium for live performances. I was asked to perform with piano accompaniment given by my vocal coach, the Mozart 3rd horn concerto, second movement. This was a very scary moment for me. Here was this overweight, I think I was about 240 pounds by then, young girl, up on a stage for all to see and hear. I was scared shitless. My knees and lips were shaking from the nerves. But I got through it, and although it wasn’t by far my finest moment, I did receive praise for doing it from some students and teachers that were listening to the performance. That praise really felt good! They actually were giving me compliments! There you have it, the moment my body felt invisible.

With this new power and “ good feeling” endorphin rush, I thought, I like this! I love playing in public! If I become a good player, then people will like me for being a good horn player, and then they wouldn’t notice my hideous obese body. Ah but this good feeling didn’t last…My bubble was blown apart for a few weeks; when I got home and my mother told me that my dad had attended the performance and that he left in disgust! I was shocked and very hurt of course. She explained that he felt totally embarrassed that his fat daughter was up on a platform stage for all to see and hear. So now not only could every one see his obese daughter, she also was making a spectacle of herself by playing her horn in such a terrible manor with cracked notes all over the place. I didn’t talk about the performance at the dinner table the next night. It’s as if again I didn’t exist. I went back to band practice, and back to my own dark world of binge eating late at night after brushing my teeth escaping with my stash of Reece’s’ Peanut Butter Cups under my bed.

In the meantime my mom still took me to my horn lessons once a week, thank god she did support me, and because of her support I did keep practicing, simply because no matter what my dad said or felt, I still liked to play the horn! Over the next 3 years I did not invite my dad to any of my performances fearing he would be once again be embarrassed and hurt me again. When I was about 18, I auditioned and won the audition and got accepted into the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. I had to approach my dad for money for a trip the Orchestra was taking to Banff, Alberta, to a Canadian Youth Orchestra Festival. I was terrified, so terrified, that I started crying even as I entered the room to ask him. I started the conversation with, ‘Dad I auditioned and was accepted into Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra”, he didn’t’ believe me! Oh man, this is going to be harder I thought! “no really I did!” I said, here’s the letter to prove it! He read the official letter of welcome from the youth orchestra. He sort of grunted and said Oh.. okay, in a non interested way. Now the hard part, “Dad I need your help to pay for the trip the orchestra is taking us on to Banff”… he was not pleased. So here was my moment , here I got into this fine prestigious youth orchestra and on top of that, we where going on tour to Banff, and all my dad’s reaction is, a grunt, and how much will this cost me?

He did in the end pay for my trip. I do think I made a breakthrough to my dad that night. He had to acknowledge that his daughter was perhaps a good horn player after all. From that moment he did start attending my concerts again, and this time did sort of complimented me on the performances, although he always compared our youth orchestra concerts to recordings he heard at home, and thought the recordings were better.. ah.. duh?.. of course they were better, so the criticism part was still a part of his post concert reactions, but at least it wasn’t as much about his disgust of my body. My young years as a horn player were not easy. But I did get through it in some way, performing in public was the greatest “ High” I ever experienced, and playing well even more of a kick! Those happy endorphins were as addictive as my Peanut Butter Cups and I wanted more! As I always told friends, when they ask, “how did you come to start playing the horn and becoming a musician?” my answer to that question was, “ well I didn’t choose the horn and music, the horn and music choose me!”

Growing up in a Dutch Costume

Growing up in a Dutch Costume

Folk dancing was really the only form of exercise that I accomplished in my youth. As my mother was a folklorist, we had to dance Dutch folk dances from the age of 7 to 14. My costume attire varied over the years. I started in a costume that was actually made and sewn by my mother.

The design came Walcheren, from the province of Zeeland in Holland. I remember my mother sitting in our basement, behind her old singer sewing machine, spending many evening and hours making this folk costume. There’s a certain pounding sound and vibration that a sewing machine makes, and for me it certainly acted as a soothing rhythmic sleep enhancer.

My premier dancing career started in 1967. We, my sisters and I drove with my parents, together with the rest of the Netherlands Folkdance group, to Montreal. We were to perform in the opening ceremonies of EXPO ’67 ! I really don’t remember much of the drive, but what I do remember is arriving in Montreal and seeing this wonderful amusement park that seemed to just tower out of the St. Lawrence River. Expo’ 67 was built on a man made island. “Man and his world”.

The performance took place on Friday April 28, 1967. We performed outdoors, for a crowd of thousands! I remember the fascinating modern architecture around me, and hundred of colorful flags from around the world making a slapping noise as they wave in the cool April wind. It was the most historic and most significant moment I’ve ever experienced!. Expo was a huge hit. In a political and cultural context, “Expo 67 was seen as a landmark moment in Canadian history” The audience consisted of dignitaries and politicians from all over the world. Not to mention Canadians from all over Canada! Wow.. such a great experience, only such a pity I was only 7 years old! So my memoires are dependant on my older sister, or information from the internet that jogs some memorable moments.

My Dutch costume changed as I got older, and later in life, in my teens I mostly wore a costume from the province of Volendam. There was a new festival in town. It was called “ Metro International Caravan” My mom was contacted back in 1969, by the now defunct newspaper, the Toronto Telegram. They wanted a young child in costume to use in a photo shoot to advertise this new festival. Of course, it was me! So off we drove with my costume in hand, to a Hungarian Restaurant, somewhere in downtown Toronto.

I was about 9 yrs old at the time. Once I entered the restaurant, I saw this huge table placed in the front window that was covered in hundred of desserts from around the world ! I then got dressed in my costume in a small backroom bathroom, and came back up to meet my mom and photographer for further instruction. Learning then, to my horror, that I was to be sitting up on the table in my costume, right in the middle of the dessert extravaganza! So up I went. As the photographer arranged me and the desserts around my body, I had to also hold a huge tray of what looked like, chocolate cream puffs. He then, the photographer, to add insult to injury, proceeded to smear whipping cream all over my cheeks. The visual image of the shot was that I had to pretend to be taking a big bite of this cream puff and have a smile on my face of total enjoyment.

Well, this is a very embarrassing moment! Here was this chubby, fat young girl, in a Dutch costume stuffing her face with a cream puff for all to see. My eyes blinked, and I started seeing white dots, as the photos were being taken. The next day, in all it’s whipping cream glory, was a picture of me, in full colour spashed on the front page of the Toronto Telegram ! . Guess who got teased at school! …My nickname was "whipping cream girl" for several weeks…

** Some Expo facts: Expo closed on Sunday afternoon, October 29, 1967. More than 50 million (50,306,648) people attended Expo 67. Canada's population in 1967, was only 20 million. There were pavilions’ from almost every country around the world, But surprisingly these countries were not present: Spain, South Africa and The People's Republic of China.

Do you remember when a MARS bar was 8¢ ?

Do you remember when a MARS bar was 8¢ ?

Back in 1969 my father sent my mother, me and my 3 sisters on a transatlantic voyage from New York to Rotterdam. My father owned his own travel agency, and because of that, we were able to make many trips to Holland over the years. This trip was very special! July 1969 is when this all took place. We drove to New York all together from Toronto. I remember vaguely staying in a hotel, with a really small room, that had the view of a brick wall.

Before driving the next day to the dock where the magnificent Dutch ship was resting, the S.S. Statendam, we stopped in at Howard Johnson’s for lunch. Only my lunch consisted of a giant (American size) banana split, oh well, at least there was SOME fruit involved. I remember receiving this really cool gift at Howard Johnson’s of a model kit of the Apollo 11 that I had to put together. Yes, score! That was really neat!

We made our way to the ship and settled into our 2 room suite, with a small porthole that was at water level. I guess you figured out, were where not up in 1st class! We dropped off our bags, and then made our way back up to the poopdeck. There we could look out at all of south Manhattan’s glorious skyline. The ship was starting to move, and thousands of people starting throwing colorful streamers out too standing friends and family members that were left behind. The ships horn blew, man that was loud! And now the ship was moving through Upper New York Bay and there before our eyes came into view my first sighting of the Statue of Liberty. Yuup, it does really impress you! Even a small 9 year old girl. I very much understood the meaning behind the land of the free, the home of the brave.

New York had a very, very dark cloud hanging over it, and although we didn’t feel any rain drops on our heads on the poopdeck, we knew that New Yorkers were getting a total down pour! We went inside to sit in one of the many large lounges, and there on the black and White TV, we where able to witness the Apollo 11 landing on the moon, and seeing and hearing man’s first step onto the Moon! Yuup it was July 20th, 1969, and as we passed by the Statue of Liberty, the first man landed on the moon! Wow… talk about a REAL monumental moment! “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

My 2 younger sisters and I scurried off to start discovering this new, huge ship. My mom was pretty cool about us running around alone, she really trusted us and any ways, where could we go? We were on a ship, can you really get too lost? We made a B-line to the snack shop ( of course) to see what treats we could (live) choose from for the next 2 weeks. (indeed this voyage would take 2 weeks) We found it, quite close to all the other stores and services, like a hair dresser, and barber, and a small clothing store, and the ship hospital.

There we discovered the MARS bar! And it was only 8 cents! How appropriate, we have just witnessed the first man landing on the moon, and we found another great planet, MARS! And only 8 cents away! The rest of our voyage consisted of finding loose change around the ship to feed our planetary needs. This was not an easy task, because spare change was at a premium, as you really didn’t need to walk around with your wallet or purse, because every thing was pretty well free. So after cleaning out my mom’s purse of all it’s loose change, we started searching in the couches and lounge chairs for change that had fallen out of people’s pockets.

Back to my Apollo 11 model kit, I had become the nightly baby sitter, as my mom and older sister would venture out of our private cabin at about 9pm to watch a film or a show that was on in the main lounge. The smaller room that my older sister and I were bunk-bedded in was at the front of the cabin so I was able to see if any of my other 2 sisters would be able to sneek out ( for a late night stroll to MARS) As I sat on my top deck, I slowly started to assemble my Apollo 11 lunar lander. It took me about a whole week to finally finish it!. It was very intricate, and detailed. But then again, this is the memory of a 9 year old. Maybe after all, it was pretty easy. But with my anal tendencies, even back then, I didn’t want to make a mistake, and ruin it!

Here are some fun facts about the MARS Bar

* It was invented (or discovered, I like better) in 1911 in Tacoma, Washington, USA
* By Frank C. Mars ( yuup the MARS Family )
* The other Mars family members are: M&M's · Milky Way · Bounty · Snickers · Twix · and Skittles

The " Light Bulb" Moment...

The ‘ Light Bulb’ Moment…

You know I have been reading other Diet books as a form of my research in this whole project. After just finishing the book ‘Half-Assed’ by Jennette Fulda, and now starting the next called ‘The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl’ by Shauna Reid. In both these renditions, they talk about the one thing, that ‘ light bulb’ moment, that trigged the decision to start their diets. Thinking now back to how I felt about myself back in December 2007, or before that, there was indeed a ‘light bulb’ moment for me as well.

I was out visiting an old friend of the family back in December 2007. We where chatting in her kitchen, and the topic of conversation was that fact that I was turning 50 in a very short time, in 1 year and 7 months, July 23, 2009. During our heated conversation, my good friend then stated; “Well why don’t you make it your project to start a diet now, and then by the time you reach 50, you’ll have reached your goal weight!!?? I thought a moment, and then, like always, just blowed it off, as I have in the past.

In the following days and weeks after our coffee date, the notion of this project started to really sink in. Maybe it’s not such a bad idea. As I was walking my dog at Riverdale Park as I do every morning, I had been noticing that my left hip was getting more and more sore. To the point where I could only walk for 10 minutes, and then have to return to the bench and sit and watch my dog, Milo chaise all the squires, or hobble back to the refuge of my Van. (The greatest vehicles build for a Fat me)

My Mother had her hip replaced when she was 60 and my oldest sister had BOTH her hips replaced when she was only 43; so hip replacement runs in the family. I thought at that point still back in December 2007, That I may too, have to have my left hip replaced. Hip replacement surgery was out of the question for me, with my present 365 pound obesity, the doctors would not even attempt to do it. They too would say you would have to lose weight before they could operate.

There you have it!

The moment!

I realized that all my health issues that I suffered from, pointed directly to my obesity. The list was long, too long. I had High Blood pressure, took medication for that, but without a health plan was very expensive. I had Asthma, that medication was also expensive. And I’m a Horn player! You can’t have Asthma as a Brass player!! And now my hip was giving out! Enough!! So back in December 2007, in the park with my dog, I had this epiphany to start my new Life Style Change.

Now only 10 months later and 106 pounds lighter, October 2008, my doctor has taken me off the high blood pressure medicine, as my blood pressure is now perfect! And also I have stopped using my puffer for my now absent Asthma. Plus the best and most important result is that my hip has stopped hurting when I walk! I do think my hip has been damaged though, because still at the gym there are certain flexible exercises I simply cannot do with my left leg! and I can with my right, but still the pain is gone and that I can live with for now.

** Tip for the day: I buy frozen strawberries at that local grocery, and at night after my workout I mix in my blender, frozen strawberries, 1 % fat, milk and protein powder which makes a great and healthy late night frozen treat!

Cultural Culinary Displacement Syndrome

Cultural Culinary Displacement Syndrome

I think I made up a new term! I looked it up on Google, and didn’t find a match. Cultural Culinary Displacement Syndrome or CCDS is what I call, what I have suffered from all my life. Let me explain; thousands of immigrants have come to Canada over the last 100 years; my parents included, and what they brought with them was not only a suitcase of clothes, but also their ethnic heritage. My mothers famous saying is “Never forget your ethnic heritage; remember Culture starts in the Kitchen”. What my mother brought from Holland, is her taste and knowledge for Dutch food. CCDS is predominate in thousands of Canadians. Growing up and eating food that actually comes and is made and served in another country. I grew eating very rich Dutch culinary dishes, such as Dutch pastries, hundreds of heavy potato based vegetable dishes etc. Some of my favorite names (translated) of some Dutch dishes are “Hot Lighting, Hail Storm, Stamping Pot, Rope Meat, Fly, Mice, Puffy Things, the list goes on…

Now in CCDS the food consumption would not be such a problem if all the other elements around where according to the country or origin. In my case, eating all these very rich foods, what I should have done to accompany them, and to burn them off , is jump on my Dutch Bike and Bike to School, Bike to the store, Bike downtown, Bike to Band rehearsal.. get the picture?… we ate this rich wonderful food, and what did I do, living in a Cold, snowy 10 month a year winter climate, get into a car, or snuggle on the couch in front of a fireplace…

If you have ever visited another country, not including the U.S.A., Obesity is no where else to be found in the world! Why? CCDS ! North America is made up of 99% immigrants, people growing up, and coming from somewhere else in the world. Coming to North America, not only is the whole continent using their cars much more, therefore a more sedentary lifestyle, but also is eating foods from around the world! From heavy Italian, pasta dishes or rich Carb Chinese dishes etc, etc.. Get the picture? The ethnic surroundings and traditions play a big part in the body shape of a person.

I have now lost over 100 pounds, and since so, I have started riding my bike around the city once again. Still enjoying my Dutch Culinary Heritage, but now incorporating what a typical Dutchman would do during the day to burn off the Dutch Culinary treats!

** Fact For the Day - The Dutch have been classed as the tallest people in the world! Why? Because of all the milk products they consume. Ever seen a tall Asian?, nope.. they don’t eat any or very little milk products. The average 18 year old Dutch boy drinks 1 to 2 liters of milk a day! All my cousins are over 6 feet tall! ( I grew up drinking Koolaid!!)

My underarms are starting to look like Bat Wings!

October 14, 2008 - 259 - 3 pounds week 36 ( 106 total lb loss)

So yesterday, Tuesday October 14th, was my weigh-in day. I have lost another 3 pounds. I now weigh 259 pounds!! Yah… the 250’s. I haven’t been there in over 7 years! I can still remember back when I was in my 350’s saying late a night… ‘ if only I could lose 100 pounds, I would feel much better about myself’… well now that I have lost 106 pounds, yes I do feel better about myself.. but I’m still long away to where and what my ideal looking Wendy would and should be! I want more !!

I am a big fan of the “BIGGEST LOSER” show on NBC Tuesday’s night at 8pm; hence the Tuesday night weigh-ins for me. I really find this show to be a huge inspiration for me, and a great motivator as well. I’m competing with these people. And as my sister Melinda, has mentioned on many occasions to me, I’m a very competitive person! Well of course.. how many dam horn auditions have I done in the last 25 years.

The competitive nature is now well built in to my soul. I really like the BL show not only because of the great tips you can learn about eating habits, and exercise tips, but also hear the stories from the BL competitors about why it is that they had/have a eating disorder. That’s of course is the main thing to realize for myself, that I had/have a huge eating disorder. Like a drinking problem, binge eating was mine!

My Dad had a lot to do with my sadness, and reason for looking for comfort in food. Many times he was disgusted with me. My father has even told me to my face, that he didn’t want to be seen in public with me. That is a very hurtful ! no wonder I had a stack of Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups stashed under my bed when I was in my teens!

My underarms are starting to look scary and wrinkly... they look like hanging bat wings… I hope this will change.. !

**Tip for the Day... When your eating your dinner, try to slow down. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to get the signal that you are full. What I do, is try to read out loud. I'm reading and researching in a lot of Diet books lately, and when I'm chopping down my Rabbit food, I read the book out aloud. Hard to do with a full mouth of food, so I chew, read a sentence then take the next bite. This helps to slow me down. As I live alone, and not able to have a nice conversation with any one while eating; to which BTW is the best way to slow down your eating.. eat with someone! and have a huge conversation..

Move Your FAT ASS!...

So here I am back on my blog!
For the past 10 months I have been undergoing an extreme makeover!
On January 1st I started my very much needed life style change. I joined and gym and started to diligently start working out 5 nights a week. Of course accompanying this, a new set of rules and guidelines into eating more healthy.
So far in 10 months I have lost 103 pounds! yuup.. you read it right !!
wow... yes I'm proud of myself. I have been posting my weightloss online on facebook.. but now I feel I need to break out of facebook and make this journey even more public! therefore back on my blog!

My Success so far...

Weigh - in's

• January 1, 2008 - 365


• January 8, 2008 - 351 - 14 pounds - week 1 (14 LB total loss)


• January 29, 2008 - 343- 8 pounds - week 2 (22 LB total loss)


• February 5, 2008 - 336 - 7 pounds- week 3 ( 29 LB total loss)


• February 12, 2008 - 336- 0 pound- week 4 ( 29 LB total loss)


• February 20, 2008 - 333 - 3 pounds - week 5 (32 LB total loss)


• February 27, 2008 - 329 - 4 pounds - week 6 (36 LB total loss)


• March 4, 2008 - 327 - 2 pounds - week 7 ( 38 LB total loss)


• March 19, 2008 - 323 - 4 pounds - week 9 ( 42 LB total loss)


• March 26, 2008- 325 - +2 pounds - week 10 ( Easter week is a right off ! dam those chocolate eggs !)


• April 1, 2008 - 316 - 9 pounds - week 11( 51 LB total loss)


• April 9, 2008 - 314- 2 pounds - week 12( 53 LB total loss)


• April 16, 2008 - 311 - 3 pounds - week 13 ( 56 LB total loss)


• April 23, 2008 -309 - 2 pounds - week 14 ( 58 lb total loss)


• May 9, 2008 - 311 - +2 pounds- week 15/16 ( sports injury! pulled out my back.. did not work out for 2 weeks... )


• May 14, 2008 - 307 - 2 pounds - week 17 ( 60 lb total loss)


• May 23, 2008 - 305 - 2 pounds - week 18 ( 62 lb total loss)


• May 30, 2008 - 300 - 5 pounds - week 19 ( 67 lb total loss)


• June 6, 2008 - 298- 2 pounds - week 20 ( 69 lb total loss)


• June 17, 2008 - 297 - 1 pound - week 21 ( 70 lb total loss)


• June 21, 2008 - 296 - 1 pound - week 22 (71 lb total loss)


• June 25, 2008 - 293 - 3 pounds - week 22 ( 74 lb total loss)


• July 9, 2008 - 290 - 3 pounds -week 24 ( 77 lb total loss)


• July 18, 2008 - 288 - 2 pounds - week 25 ( 79 lb total loss)


• July 25, 2008 - 286 - 2 pounds - week 26 ( 81 lb total loss)


• August 1, 2008 - 283 - 3 pounds- week 27( 84 lb total loss)


• August 7, 2008 - 280 - 3 pounds - week 28 ( 85 total loss)


• August 15, 2008 -278 -2 pounds -week 29 (87 total loss)


• August 25, 2008 - 276 - 2 pounds - week 30 ( 89 lb total loss)


• September 3, 2008 - 273 - 3 pounds - week 31 ( 92 lb total loss)


• September 12, 2008 - 272 - 1 pound - week 32 ( 93 lb total loss)


• September 16, 2008 - 271 - 1 pound - week 32 1/2 ( 94 lb total loss)


• September 23, 2008 - 267 - 4 pounds - week 33 ( 98 lb total loss)


• September 27, 2008 - 265 - 2 pounds week 33 1/2 ( 100 lb total loss)


• September 30, 2008 - 265 - 0 pounds week 34 ( 100 total loss )


• October 3, 2008 - 263 - 2 pounds week 35 ( 102 total lb loss)


• October 10, 2008 - 262 - 1 pound week 36 ( 103 total lb loss)

SCOOTING AROUND TOWN

I'm still around.. but been facebooking mostly ! I bought a new electric scooter to battle the high price of gas ! milo is a great passenger!

NEW YORK - DAY 5 - LAST DAY!

Boo hoo.. my last day in New York ! Today I venutured out on my own to do some clothing shopping. I wanted to go to a NY store called Lane Bryant. This store to my delight was not far from my Hotel, on 5th Ave at 34th street, Right across from the Empire State Building. After some shopping I met up with Kathy at South Central Park road and 5th Ave. Right at the Apple Store and across from the famous Park Plaza Hotel. We went on a bus and made our way over across town to 2nd street, to take a trip on a Gondola ! yuup. and Gondola in NY ! this would take us across the river to Roosevelt Island. it was very cool !

http://www.roosevelt-island.ny.us/index.htm

high up above the river the view was amazing. Once arriving at the Island we took a bus to the ( that cost 25 cents) to the most northern tip on the island.. very cool. took some pics, and then made out way back to the gondola. The Island does have inhabitants.. with a few large apparment building, and more being built. A somewhat secluded area, with one bank, one school, one grocery store and 1 hospital.
Making our way back to the Main land, Manhattan, we then had to go back to my Hotel as it was time to leave. We did pass Carnigie Hall by doing this... wow.. this was an amazing week.. I still love New York.. and Kathy was a great friend by taking so much time to show me around... ** smiles ! **

NEW YORK - DAY 4 - MUSEUM DAY

Kathy and I had breakfast together, and then worked out in the Gym.. there got that done! .. now off to see some more culture. We decided to go to the Whitney Museum. We took the Bus, uptown through Central park, but before continuing on to the museum, we made a quick pit stop at where the memorial for John Lennon was in the park. Very near to where he lived, off Central park, also known as' Strawberry Fields.

We took some pics.. of course, and continued on to the museum. The Whitney museum is a modern museum, but I did enjoy the 5th floor of the collection which included paintings by deKonning, Karl Apple and Andy Warhol. The rest of the museum was a little to ' Wacky' for me.. but Kathy liked it. After the museum, we bought , we thought would be a cheap sandwich at the local grocer on the corner, ( an $8 egg sandwich) and ate it at the park. Kathy then had to go, as she had to perform G & S - Pirates, so I continued walking up 5th Ave to 72, and found the Frick museum. I had heard all about it from Ineke, and was looking forward to seeing it. I was indeed very special. A small museum, with an outstanding collection ... all my favorites, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Rubens etc... http://www.frickmuseum.org/

after the museum, I hopped back onto the bus, to take me back downtown. I got off at 42nd street, only to discover this really great brass band performing live right outside the Subway entrance on 42nd street.. I took a youtube video of them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gUbm17cA90

they played really well.. I supported them by purchasing their CD . I started walking back down to my hotel. I made a left onto 44 street, and thought , I should find a neat place to have dinner.. and there it was ! right in front of me.. the famed ' Sardis'

http://www.sardis.com/

I had a wonderful steak dinner.. the restaurant was expensive, but well worth it.. and now I can say I ate at Sardis !

another great day in New York !

NEW YORK - DAY 3- Spring Awakening

After a good work out at the Hotel Gym, today, I ventured out to see Kathy perform a live concert in a Office lobby of a big office building right in the middle of the Wall Street area. I took the subway, the number 2 train down to Wall street, and found my way to 80 Pine street where Kathy, and a double reed ensemble were performing a lunch time concert. The lobby was a bustling with Lunch times crowds, rushing out to grab a quick lunch. As Kathy and this group of 2 oboes, 2 english horns and 2 bassoons played everything from Handel to Oh Danny Boy. Most enjoyed the nice, different setting it created. But like life in New York, most where really to busy to even notice that they were playing. Ya do what ya need to do, to play in this city !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-oBV98kaoI

After the hour lunch time concert, Kathy and I made our way to Wall street, and saw the New York Stock Exchange building. It is really heavily fortified now since 9-11... no more inside tours for tourist, just guarded by heavily armed guards, and lots of police cars, with huge metal boulder like blocks in the middle of the street.. so no cars can even get close to the building.. it's pedestrian only. A huge change from the last time I saw this building, when I visited Kathy in 2000, when the WTC was still there and intact!

We looked around for a nice place to have lunch, found this cool Middle East restaurant and had delicious Lamb Shawarma for lunch. We then went into the subway system, to make our way back to my hotel, uptown. We relaxed a bit, then slowly got ready to go to our next adventure. " Spring Awakening"... the Broadway Show, I bought tickets online a couple of weeks ago.

The Theatre was very small, not even a public lobby, we had to line up outside and wait for the Theatre doors to open, to which opened straight to the inside of the theatre.. there we saw a really neat set up.. not stage curtain, and chairs for public to also sit on the stage ! We had an aisle seat, 10 rows from the front, PERFECT!.. the Show was amazing.. !!! the most creative, artistic show I have ever seen. And the music was fantastic. The small band was also on the stage.. very different !! The story about teenagers discovering SEX!.. taking place in 1891 in Germany... (at the end of this journal, I will add the story line, straight from the Spring Awaking Web site). Kathy and I loved it ! I bought the CD..

It is coming to Toronto next year, and I recommend that everyone see it.. you will be amazed !! After the show, Kathy and I walked down to the Mariott hotel, and had a drink at the 8th floor lounge that over looks Times Square, I have been here many times in the past, and remains one of my favorite look out points. Kathy came back with me to my hotel, as my livingroom of my suite, has a pull out bed in the couch, so she decided to slept over, as so she would be able to work out with me in the morning, and enjoy some hotel comp breakfast with me as well... a great day.. once again. !! http://www.springawakening.com/home.php

Full Story Description

SPRING AWAKENING takes its inspiration from one of literature’s most controversial masterpieces – a work so daring in its depiction of teenage self-discovery, it was banned from the stage and not performed in its complete form in English for nearly 100 years.

It’s Germany, 1891. A world where the grown-ups hold all the cards. The beautiful young Wendla explores the mysteries of her body, and wonders aloud where babies come from, till Mama tells her to shut it, and put on a proper dress.

Elsewhere, the brilliant and fearless young Melchior interrupts a mind-numbing Latin drill to defend his buddy Moritz – a boy so traumatized by puberty he can’t concentrate on anything. Not that the Headmaster cares. He strikes them both and tells them to turn in their lesson.

One afternoon – in a private place in the woods – Melchior and Wendla meet by accident, and soon find within themselves a desire unlike anything they’ve ever felt.

As they fumble their way into one another’s arms, Moritz flounders and soon fails out of school. When even his one adult friend, Melchior’s mother, ignores his plea for help, he is left so distraught he can’t hear the promise of life offered by his outcast friend Ilse.

Naturally, the Headmasters waste no time in pinning the “crime” of Moritz’s suicide on Melchior and expel him. And soon Mama learns her little Wendla is pregnant. Now the young lovers must struggle against all odds to build a world together for their child.

NEW YORK - DAY 2, MARCH 11, 2008

My exciting experiences continue in the Big Apple. Today 3 big things happened ! first my room !... there was an issue about the fact that my hotel room did not have an internet connection, even though I paid extra for it. So after many calls to the front desk and Management, I was finally told they can't fix it, and are willing to exchange my room for another. So after a big sigh, of inconvenience havening to pack up my whole room, repacking my suitcase, I made my way back down to the front desk of the hotel, and marched right up to the Manager. I told the manager that I was not pleased. I had paid a lot of money for the extras in my room, and so far have been sadly disappointed in the hotel service so far.

The manager, a very nice, charming man, apologized profusely and then announced that they were upgrading me from a single room to the corner suite... ' smile'... I was very happy with that.. so up I went with new key card in hand, by this time Kathy had arrived from her place, so the two of us went up... ' what to my wondrous eyes to appear?... a 2 room suite did I receive, oh my dear!'... wow.. a living room with couch, tv , fridge, and then a separate bedroom with large bathroom... yah !! jackpot!... Now this is what I call 'liv'in in New York!'... so after settling into my new room.. Kathy and I venured out.. first on the list of things to do was to walk down 2 blocks to the corner of 46 and Broadway, to jump up and down and stick out our tongues at the ' Fridays' live Times Square Webcam.. ! there many friends and family saw us live on the internet... amazing.. so cool...
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/index.php?cam=fridays

After that we jumped into a cab and went uptown to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After a quick NY hotdog, we made a bee line to the 16th- 18th century European Art section, got my MAJOR fix of Rembrant, Van Dijk, Frans Hals and Rubens. From there we went to the 19th & 20th century European Art section, and there I too then got a Major, MAJOR !!! that litterly brought me to TEARS, room after room of Van Gogh, Cezzanne, Monet, Pissarro, Gougain, Piccaso and Tolouse Latrek. Wow... very emotion day so far for me ! what a place.. NY'ers are so.. soooo lucky to have this collection at there fingertips to enjoy anytime they like.. and for pennies too.. as the entrance fee to the museum is ' pay what you can' .. as Kathy and I paid $3 entrance fee... sigh!...
http://www.metmuseum.org/

After this we hopped into a cab once again, and made our way over the ' West side' of New York, there we walked around, and then stopped and had a nice lunch/dinner at a local Diner/Deli. After lunch, we got on to a NY bus, and made our way back downtown , direction Hotel. Kathy jumped off the bus, at her more convenient stop, as she had a rehearsal to go to, she was playing ' Pirates'... operette stuff..

I continued on with the bus.. then out the window I saw.. hey.. The Letterman Show !.. I jumped off the bus, walked up to the Ed Sullivan Theatre, and saw this line in front.. so I just joined in on the line. A Letterman Show person walked up to me, and said do you have a ticket?.. I said , why of course I do... so I looked in my wallet, and through all my coat pockets.. teared up a bit, and said.. geez.. I lost it.. that's so terrible ! oh my , I came all the way from Toronto !... the Letterman person said, wait here, and if all these people get in, and there's still an empty seat we'll get you in ! ( jackpot!) .. so to make a long story short.. yuup... I got in ! coool.... I'm I'm seeing Dave Letterman LIVE
!! and the guests to my joy for today's show, where Martha Stewart and Snoopp Dog ! ... So the taping started at 4:30pm exactly... and the whole show.. after many laughs, ( mostly about the NY Governor Splitzer) and some great LIVE music from Snoop Dogg, the show was exactly 1 hour. He really tapes the whole thing, doesn't do ANY ' Do over's' ... alot of the show really is improv!

http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/

Dave is a genius ! ... after the show.. we were filled out of the building.. entering the famous side street.. and there is also where the Letterman Band exit's asl well as Snoop Dogg and band.. to which I got some pics.. as my camera battery just died, could have gotten more.. but that was it... WOW... so off to the CBS store at the corner for some gifts' for family.. and then I walked the rest of the way down Broadway to my hotel, which was about 10 blocks.. not to bad... so back to my hotel, ( my nice new ' Suite' ) to charge my camera battery, and to relax a bit.. it was now about 7:30pm..

At about 10:00pm I ventured out again, just to see Times Square at night... spectacular as usual!... did some more shopping.. and of course my jaw was dropping at the overwhelming sights and sounds of all that happens in this amazing world city.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M5zL_v3TyU

So now it's the next day.. Wednesday.. Here I sit, in the hotel Club breakfast room writing this.. just spoke to Kathy on the phone.. told her the whole story about Letterman , as she didn't know about this yet... a gentle- man leans over to me, that's sitting behind the computer screen beside me.. and says... and you can also add to your blog.. as I'm sorry I just overheard your conversation about Letterman.. " that you can write, that you are sitting beside the ' Famous... Comedy Legend - Gallagher ! ' ... I 'm the guy that does the Smashing Watermelons from the top of the Ed Sullivan Theatre !!! http://www.gallaghersmash.com/
ha.. ha.. ha...as I laugh !! wow.. this town just doesn't stop with the daily surprises !!
I love New York !

NEW YORK DAY 1- GOING TO THE OPERA!

New York City is such an exciting place!... so much to see and do and experience ! After arriving at my hotel, which to my delight is only 1 block from Times Square! talk about being right in the middle of the world ! Kathy came and met me at the hotel, we chatted a bit in the Hotel club room, and then went off to the Hotel Gym to work out. After our work out, we changed and decided to make a go of trying to get ticket to the Met.

We hopped into a cab, and drove up to the Met. We walked straight to the Box office at the Met, and I jokingly said to the Box office empoyee, " I"m sure you have 2 tickets for me!"... ( thinking of course he doesn't, its Opening night of Tristan with Ben Heppner and Deborah Voigt and according the the Met website, the tickets have been sold out for months now!! ) and the guy at the Box office said, sure.. what price ticket would you like?... stunned.. I looked at Kathy, and I said... the $80 tickets please.. and there we had them! 2 tickets to see Tristan and Isolde at the Met!!! ya hoo... amazing ! so exciting... so off to the opera we went ( in our jeans !!! ) what a first day in New York... Kathy knows the new English Horn player in the Met orchestra, and after the performance, we said hi to him.. he played beautifully... the Met Orchestra, is one the finest Opera Orchestra's I have ever heard in my entire life ! and all conducted by James Levine

If this was day one.. I can hardly wait till what New York brings to me tomorrow !

MY NEW YORK DIARY

I will be posting my daily experiances and adventures in New York, here on my blog starting tomorrow, March 10th, 2008








(* photocredit - Trey Ratcliff)

CONCERT IN OSHAWA

So we just finished our Baroque concert with the Oshawa Durham Symphony... it was fun to play with Diane again !

... to bad my next gig is not untill May !

OUR SECOND NETWORK WINDS CONCERT

Network Winds, my Woodwind Quintet performed it's second concert at the Gladstone Hotel, on January 14th, 2008.. it was a huge success, with a totally sold out crowd !

This is the special coat that was made for me for the concert by ' Magpie Designs' on Queen Street.

PERFOMING WITH AMICI CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

Wow.. what a great concert ! This weekend I finally was able to perform with the Amici Chamber Ensemble. We performed the Dvorak Serenade for Winds at the Glenn Gould Studio. All of the performers were from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra plus myself, and Kathy Halvorson ! wow.. it was so great ! life is wonderful !!

CHRISTMAS WINDOWS AT ' THE BAY'

Finally the Bay has gone back to the old fashion way of displaying their Christmas Windows!

Click here to see a slide show of the windows and opening of the exhibit.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL

Tonight Mel, Maya and I went to Jack Astors to celebrate Melinda's birthday... wow.. time flies!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This year I decided to join in and dress up for Halloween, I sat at our front door in the lobby of my appartment and shelled out halloween candy!

BEAUTIFUL FALL COLOURS IN ONTARIO

Fall is here.. Ontario is at its prettiest!

THE SQUIRRELS ARE VERY CRAFTY

Stealing my fries!.. squirrels are very sneeky and fearless here!

FALL IN TORONTO

pumpkin time is here! halloween is around the corner!

these pumpkins are for sale at my local supermarket....

they work as good chairs too!

LIESBETH COMES TO TORONTO

Liebeth, my dear cousin came to Toronto to visit for 10 days! we had a great time together !

TORONTO THE GOOD

some pictures of Toronto as seen through the eyes of my cousin Liesbeth...

Caroline at Starbucks

This picture was taken at Carolines new job, at Starbucks on King Street

FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN= FIRST GIG OF THE SEASON

On Sunday I played in the Mooredale concert series, with members of the Toronto Symphony. In this picture taken just before the concert I am posing with Gabe Radford, 3rd horn of the Toronto Symphony. It was alot of fun, and nice to play chamber music with such a high level of musicianship ! yaaaaahhhh... I love being a musician!!

AIR SHOW IN TORONTO.. LAST DAY OF THE EX!

Today I went down to a new park I discovered at the lake to watch the airshow.. it was hot hot hot.. not much tree cover.. but a fun vantage point to see the show..

DUTCH BIKES HIT TORONTO!

This morning, I just happen to drive past a new bike store on Bloor street, at Brunswick.. ( right across from Future Bakery)...and noticed that the whole store just mostly sold only DUTCH BIKES ! how ever so cool !!

In ten years.. mark my words, every biker in Toronto will be wanting and owning a dutch bike to get around Toronto.. they are a perfect city Bike !... speaking to the owners, they told me they have been selling these bikes for only 2 months now at their shop here in Toronto, and have sold over 200 of them ! and the bikes start at $700 and up.. !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MAYA AND ALEX!

Today, is both Maya's and Alex's birthday. Although I can't really reach Alex today, as he is in Vancouver with his dad, I was able to celebrate with Maya. Melinda, Hali ( Maya's best friend) Maya and I went out together for dinner at the Keg Mansion. We had a really nice time.. but cut a bit short as Hali was not feeling quite right, and so I took her with Maya to emergency... hopefully that baby will come out soon.. she really looks like she is going to pop ! This evening , Maya is enjoying her first LEGAL drink !

FEELING ALL WARM AND YELLOW!

Our yellow family !

L-R Me, Melinda, Maya, Nicholas and Caroline.

I went to see the new Simpsons movie with Caroline, Nicholas and Ineke.. it was a hoot ! I haven't laughed so much at a film for years ! YAAAAHH Simpsons ! I can hardly wait for the sequel, and for the film to come out on DVD.. I will be one of the first to purchase it
I found this great website that can simpsonize a live photo.. and I, just for fun, tried it out.. turned out pretty neat.. Simpsons The Movie.. great flick.. I highly recommend all to see it !

CARIBANA IN THE CITY

This weekend Toronto was hopping.. with North America's largest Caribbean Festival ! Caribana... a 40 year tradition in Toronto.. every August Thousand flock to Toronto from all over the world, but mostly the United States to see and take part in this festival. Its full of colours and traditions from the Caribbean.. mostly Trinidad and Tobago.. but now encompasses many other regions of the Caribbean.

1 million attended today parade on Lakeshore.. shutting down the downtown core. The weather was perfect for today's festivities !

ESCAPING THE CITY

I had to escape the city this week.. I rented myself with my sisters, Ineke and Melinda a cottage up north in Muskoka. The most beautiful part of Ontario very close to Huntsville, where I hold many great memories of summer band camps, and playing in the Huntsville Festival for over 10 years with Anne marie Monaco. It took 2 ½ hours to get to the cottage located on a small lake, Ril Lake. The cottage was quite large and fit the 8 of us quite comfortably. We did lots of swimming, boating, fishing, game playing, cooking and Potter reading during the week. Perfect weather was the real plus for us as well, but the bugs were pesky ! I will defiantly do this again next summer, it’s a real treat to enjoy cottage life in Ontario.. I love it !

click here to see more pictures of our week up north !

A VERY PROUD AUNT INDEED !

Today, I was a very proud " stage aunt" .. Caroline performed at City Hall infront of a crowd of hundreds, and did an amazing job. She was selected after an audition to perform at this event, Youth Day 2007 at Toronto's City Hall. We all came out to support her, and in the pictures below you see her close friends, and Maya, Joe and Hali as well as of course her very proud mom, Ineke !

I have also included a video of her performance.
( click on any of the images to enlarge the picture view) ...*click on this links below part 1 or 2 which will take you to YouTube to see a live video of the performance, its in two parts.. Part 1 Part 2

YOUTH DAY IN TORONTO

Today, Caroline will be performing on the main stage at City hall for Toronto's first Youth Day Festival . She auditioned about 1 month ago, and is a finalist, and therefor has been given the opportunity to perform at City Hall on the main stage. She played her song for me last night, to practise and prepare , giving her performance tips that would be helpfull to her and her overall performance.

I'm sure she'll be great ! such a talented family we are !