Fell off. From time to time, we all need to go into rest mode. This is one of those times for me. My weight loss progresses well. My swimming has been most satisfying. I have been one who, as my elementary school report card would say, “uses time wisely.”

We all know the problem with the prudent use of time. NO FUN!

I don’t think sleeping qualifies as fun. But sitting around, watching unrewarding shows on YouTube does. By unrewarding, I mean that I can’t make any money off the information obtained from the content. Examples would be Die Deutschen Wochenschau or Brazilian Plus Size Fashion Shows.

After watching about twenty minutes of German propaganda newsreels, it is patently obvious why the civilized world hated the Nazis and dedicated their national purposes to stopping them. Revulsion and disgust still come up almost 80 years after these films were made.

As to plus size Brazilian fashions, very attractive women model very attractive clothes and size doesn’t seem to matter. Guess I need to work on my Portuguese.

I woke up an hour ago with the need to urinate. Post-urinating, I checked a soup I was preparing in the slow cooker. The potatoes had cooked til they were soft. I then added a can of crushed tomatoes to a black bean and Andouille sausage soup I was preparing. I was still wide awake.

After a long swim, I sometimes am a little hyper-alert. Adrenalin levels must be elevated. So rather than try to sleep, I will ride this feeling a little longer.

Since I just made a pot of decaf, I feel obliged to stay up. Dumb reason, I know. I think I will learn to like iced coffee.

I will stay awake til Train #98 the Northbound Silver Meteor passes through Ashland. Then back to sleep, I shall go.

Activities:

1. Fixed beef brisket in slow cooker.
2. Swam 3400 meters (2+miles)
3. Fixed black bean & corn salad with cilantro/lime dressing.
4. Did nothing to be agitated unnecessarily.
5. Watched Popeye cartoons.
6. A good day

It’s not everyday you can find a docudrama on YouTube about the battle of Stalingrad in Russian with subtitles in Serbian. At least it says Serbian but the writing is with the Latin alphabet, not Cyrillic. This was made in the 60’s or 70’s. It looks really cheap. The characters look as bored as I am.

So I remained awake. I bought the rose. She was surprised and pleased. Her work day was not too demanding. She was tired. I am not surprised. She was too tired for the 5:00 PM Mass. She took a nap. I went swimming. I swam 2050 meters, same as yesterday.

I felt a bit guilty about swimming and skipping Mass. I watched a Holy Hour on EWTN when I arrived back home. Actually it was quite spiritually uplifting. I will go to Mass during the week.

I am NOT watching the Super Bowl. Zero (0) interest. I am just burned out on Corporate Big Budget Professional Sports. I am quite enthusiastic about people being physically active. We need to be.

I’m feeling tired. Could be bed time.

Here in Richmond, it is almost 1:20 PM . And, yes, I just woke up. Let’s be more accurate. I woke up at 3:00 AM, was up for a couple of hours, then back to bed. I was up at 8:00 AM was up for about an hour, then back to bed. Now it is afternoon. I shall push the envelope of wakefulness to the rest of the day.

I do need to meet J for brunch at Maggiano’s around 2:15. It is a nice Italian restaurant, as fake corporate-owned Italian restaurants go. Even I get tired of Frank Sinatra singing Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rogers & Hart in the background. That is better than the sports on the omnipresent TV monitors that infest so many restaurants these days.

So why have I been sleeping? I’m tired for one. Also, I suppose I didn’t really want to go to Mass today. This happens among the best of us. Or even the worst of us. I will admit this at my next Confession.

I like this feeling in my body, tired, muscles hurting, slightly euphoric. I only wish I had someone to share it with. I will do something special for J today. Buy her a single rose to give her at Maggiano’s . She has been at work since 6:30 AM. I would be lying if I said I expected nothing in return.

I want a lover. Not a roomate. Or a financial partner.

After the 3400 meter swim of Thursday, I rested yesterday. I got back in the pool today and swam 2050 meters, a mile and a quarter. The longer swim somehow catalyzed weight loss. I had about a two pound drop on Thursday, post swim, that is staying with me.

I had planned to attend the Feast of The Presentation Mass (Candlemas) tonight, but, heck, I’m tired, although it is a lovely Mass.

We’re wading through the Governor Northam public relations storm surge here in Virginia. He has lost almost all of his credibility, between appearing to endorse infanticide and having racist pictures surface from his past. The Governor of Virginia cannot run for re-election. The Senate seats are held by popular established Democrats. So his career is for all intents and purposes, over. The Democratic gubernatorial nomination for 2021 appears to be a showdown between the Lieutenant Governor, Justin Fairfax, a young African-American, and Attorney General Mark Herring, a two term Liberal stalwart. If Northam resigns, Fairfax moves to the Governorship, He would be limited in running for the office in his own, which opens the door for Herring. No showdown, unified party. The Virginia Republicans are currently a train wreck looking for a place to derail.

Gotta go. Hugs Loves.

After much careful thought and consideration, I will NOT be a candidate for the Presidential nomination of any political party, major or minor party.

At this time I want to thank all of my loyal supporters and well-wishers.

Dave