Goodbye July

In the year 2000, which I like to remember as Y2KC, Philadelphia hosted the Republican National Convention where the party nominated George W. Bush to stand for president. Bill Clinton was at the end of an 8 year run and his Vice President Al Gore was standing on the Democratic ticket. The November election was a disaster; miscounted votes, non-counted votes and it all came down to the state of Florida where George Bush's brother Jeb was governor. Despite winning the popular vote the state of Florida and its electoral votes were awarded to George Bush by the Florida state supreme court and thus Bush became the second president in US history to ascend to the oval office without being elected. Within nine months of his tour America was attacked; two airplanes flew into the Twin Towers in New York City on September 11th, 2001 - this was known as 9-11, which coincidentally are the digits you punch into you phone to call for emergency help.

[*As I never know who or when this will be read, I'm going over the details as best I can recall. If you want to know more and "Googling" is still a thing, look it up.]

The rest as they say, is history. A history that has yet to play itself out. Was 9-11 the beginning of the "New American Century" or the beginning of the end of the "American Empire"?]

Sixteen years later, this week, Philadelphia hosted the Democratic National Convention, where amid controversy, allegations of voter fraud, uncounted votes, and non-counted votes, Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton's wife, was "awarded" the Democratic Nomination over an arguably more popular, less oligarchical contender, Bernie Sanders.

There's an eerie feeling of deja vu in the air tonight as the convention wraps up and the delegates go back to where ever they came from.

This year's election will be yet another disaster for Americans as Hillary's opponent is Donald Trump, who is accused of overtly appealing to the most negative characteristics of humanity and yet leads Mrs. Clinton in the polls.

This was the backdrop of my week - the canvas on which this week was painted, a week that I literally limped through due to an inflamed Achilles tendon (right ankle), but on a brighter note, I made a new friend, and had a great lift therapy workout today.

About a week ago, or maybe longer, I decided to really get more serious about my eating strategy - cut down carbs even more than before, increase the fat and protein (meat), extend the daily fasts and exercise less... in other words, take longer breaks. My reward, I've gained weight and according to the scale I've gained fat weight as well. (But my distrust of the scale is well documented.) However, tomorrow is measuring day so if the torso numbers improve I'll have an idea that this Paleo-esque diet it working.

I don't feel right when I don't work out. Today, despite a sore ankle I trained anyway.. lifting, so there was no twisting or landing on my feet; half way through the session I realized my ankle didn't hurt. I've been told that the body makes its own pain killers, that along with the adrenaline and growth hormone (supposedly) released while working out, killed the pain... at least until I was done, then it was back to limping my way along.

So where the heck am I going with this switch up? I guess I'm there. I just needed to write something. This is what was on my mind and came forth.

I need something else to occupy my time. It wasn't a bad week, but an off week. Next week will be better and it starts tomorrow.