Happy Martini Day

 Today is the day we recognize a classic cocktail, the Martini.  And by that I mean the true classic- a simple combination of dry London gin, vermouth, and a garnish of olive or a twist of citrus peel.  Served ice cold.  I have no strong opinion on the stirred vs shaken debate.  Years of experience and a degree in chemistry has not enabled me to discern much of a difference there.  But I do insist on gin (not vodka), with a sturdy Beefeater's London gin being my favorite.  The familiar cocktail was, by some accounts, first invented at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City over 100 years ago.  I've had the pleasure of enjoying a martini at that very hotel recently. But one needn't travel far to taste a good martini, it being so simple to mix at home.  With good ingredients and some simple barware, one may mix the optimal cocktail in the comfort of one's home. Indeed, the bon vivant and actor Stanley Tucci has made a reputation as a martini mixologist, and is happy to show you how it's done. So however and wherever you prefer, enjoy a well-made martini today. Cheers!

Progress

I hope you'll forgive me if I indulge in a little personal horn-blowing.  You see, an effort that began many months ago and has become more dedicated in the past 10 weeks has paid dividends: I have lost 50 pounds of weight.  It's very gratifying to reach this landmark.  Even more so because I've done it on my own.  No fad diets, no subscription programs, no weight-loss drugs, and no surgery.  Just a very simple, common-sense regimen of eating less and moving more.  I've always maintained a healthy diet with a variety of foods, fruits and vegetable.  But recently I have been careful to have reasonable portion sizes.  Probably the most drastic change has been the end of my absolute favorite: the post work, pre dinner snack.  These were usually generous helpings of salty snacks from the broad potato chip and Dorito family.  Stopping that entirely is a serious daily calorie reduction.  And the reduced salt intake has done wonders to improve my hypertension.  But otherwise, I still eat a conventional diet - carbs included- but in smaller amounts.  

So today I find that I am 50 pounds lighter than I was at my peak.  Fifty!  That's more than two of the biggest sacks of Kingsford charcoal briquets.  That's nearly two full 5-gallon jerry cans of gasoline.  That's 10 bags of King Arthur flour.  I am really enjoying going through the back of my closet to find clothing I haven't worn in many years that now fits again.  Fortunately, my fashion sense has never been so daring that I can't wear a polo shirt that I bought ten years ago.  I'm also pleased to be able to get in and out of my little two-seater sports car much more easily.  And my aging knees thank me every day as we negotiate stairs so much easier.

As happy as this day is, it's sobering to think that I still have a long path ahead.  I will need to make this achievement once again, and more, before I am at a normal, healthy weight.  But if the proverb is true that a journey of 100 miles begins with a single step, I've made mine.  Maybe even 50 of them.

Late night reading

 Even though I've been an avid reader since early childhood, I was never one of those zealots who routinely read multiple books simultaneously.  A simple, linear progression of reading is more in line with my practical, boring self.  So I am stepping out of my comfort zone a little bit by beginning a second novel while I am in the midst of John Caldigate, by Anthony Trollope, one in a series of the year-long reading list from the Trollope Society.  What tempted me to add a second book to my daily TBR (to be read list, for you non-readers) is a newly instituted virtual book club from Stephen Colbert and The Late Show.  Recently, Colbert announced his new book club would kick off with Orbital, by Samantha Harvey.  The short novel is a Booker Prize winner, and at the outset seemed something that would interest me.  It covers the life of a group of astronauts living on the International Space Station.  As a space travel history buff of long standing, I think an account of life abord the space station would be fascinating.  Of course, modern space-age living will be a stark contrast with life of Victorian-era Australian gold prospectors, so I don't anticipate any problems keeping the plots of the two books separated.  Just finding spare time to devote to both is the main problem that arises.  But where there's a will, there's a way.

May stats

 The tabulated stats totals for my May Postcrossing activity are in.  And it was another lackluster month for me, coming in well short of my goal for 100 sent cards per month.  In May, I sent only 36 cards, and received 37 cards from around the world.  Chalk it up to another busy month where real life intrudes and gets in the way of hobby time.  Hopefully I can do better in June, and have a session planned this warm, hazy Sunday afternoon to do just that.  Write on!