sluggobear

This is me in front of my new favorite wooden coaster, The Voyage at Holiday World! ZOMFG this thing packs a punch! I was fortunate to have the awesome cubtharsis along for the ride... and for the whole day.

It was pretty-much a perfect day. Amazing weather, not a cloud in the sky, no lines, and three kick-ass wooden coasters. Not to mention a big water park, and the friendlist employees this side of Dollywood.

We rode The Voyage three times. My favorite is definitely the back-seat.

Thursday night I went to see the band Doves with kingfuraday and his friend Lance, and Lance's friend Kevin. If you haven't checked this band out yet, I highly recommend them. Think Elbow mixed with Coldplay, U2, maybe even a dash of Radiohead.

Their current album Kingdom of Rust has caught my attention in a big way; it's dreamy, catchy and beautiful, with gorgeous harmonies and artful guitar work. (Get the album on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon) Track highlights include:

• Jetstream
• The Greatest Denier
• Birds Flew Backwards
• Spellbound
• Compulsion

Hell, get the whole album. It's awesome. (Their other albums are amazing, too.)

The band describes the track Jetstream like this:


I think that description is pretty accurate. They opened their concert with it, and it blew my mind.

Not to mention their lead singer/bassist Jimi Goodwin is freakin' hot. (That's him in the photo above.) After the San Diego concert, he did an interview with the local radio show Big Sonic Chill. (You can hear the interview here.)

Doves just started their US tour (along with a few Canada and U.K. dates, too). If you have the opportunity, definitely check-out their show. (My only complaint was that it could've been a little longer.) Highly recommended!

Today marks one year since I had lap-band surgery. Wow... so much has changed.

I don't like to place too much emphasis on the exact weight lost; it was never about the number of pounds, but more about my health. But for general reference, I peaked at about 348 pounds in 2008. Let's just say I've lost more than 90 pounds, and not yet 100. I updated my little graph... see for yourself.

The scars have healed quite nicely. I don't even see them in the mirror unless I'm looking for them. (Having a little bit of belly hair has helped, too.)

Since the surgery, my taste in food has changed somewhat. I used to love fried food. One of my favorite things was a big ol' cheeseburger with a giant pile of fries. But it just doesn't have the same allure anymore... I don't crave that kind of thing these days. I used to eat a lot of bread. Now I can only eat a little bit of bread. (No more bagels, thick sandwiches or buns). I thought I'd really miss it but it hasn't been a problem at all.

Conversely, I didn't used to have a sweet tooth... but I now have fairly regular cravings for chocolate. I'm told that after weight loss surgery, many people do experience a shift in their food preferences, but they vary by individual. I guess the important thing is to be aware of these kinds of shifts so you can make the best decisions.

There have been a few downsides. Ok, so I have some excess skin. I'm more gassy than I used to be. And I have to be careful not to eat too fast or too much or I'll vomit. (Thankfully this has only happened to me twice... hopefully I've learned my lesson!)

All of this is a very small price to pay for the benefits. I'm not complaining in the slightest!

Now please allow me to celebrate some victories:

• Last week I fit into a front seat on the "Scream" coaster at Magic Mountain without even trying. (I didn't even have to use the "big boy" seat. Just last year, I didn't even fit on the ride at all.)
• I easily fit into my size 38 jeans again. (At my heaviest I wore a size 46.)
• My triglycerides and HDL have gotten a lot better. (They're not perfect. But they are better.)
• I feel more upbeat these days. I think I've been smiling more.

By far the biggest benefit has been the improvements in sleep. Consider:

• Since the surgery I have missed zero work due to daytime sleepiness.
• On the Epworth Sleepiness Index, I jumped from a 14 to a 4.
• I'm sleeping 6, 7 even 8 hours straight through the night, with no tossing and turning.
• When I wake-up, I no longer feel like I've been hit by a truck. I feel like I've actually slept.
• I don't get sleepy during the day anymore.

I still have sleep apnea but now it's manageable. I may always need my CPAP. And you know what? I'm ok with that.

Contrast all this with where I was in 2008:
(For a little history, you can read my original lament here, or follow the whole, chronological tale here.)

I'm still paying the bill for the procedure. I'm on a monthly payment plan, and it'll take another 2 years to pay it off. But it has been completely worth it. My only regret is not doing it sooner.

If you're considering having weight loss surgery, definitely talk to a doctor. Find out if you're a candidate. Learn more about it. Make sure you know what you're getting into.

The lap-band surgery doesn't always work for everyone:

• Some people don't lose as much weight as they want to.
• Some people have vomiting problems.
• Some people gain the weight back. (There are ways to cheat the band.)

Some people say that before getting the surgery, you need to change your relationship with food. Others say that the surgery changes it for you. The truth is, it's a little of both. (As the doctor said repeatedly: the lap-band is a tool, not a cure.)

Even with the lap-band, I still face daily choices about what I eat, and I must make time for physical activity. Not long ago, the mere thought of exercise made me cringe. But now I actually have the energy to do it. A 30-minute walk is now easy for me.

I'll let you in on a little secret. Since the surgery I haven't spent a single moment in a gym. Instead I've been doing other types of activity: walking, biking, even occasional yoga, kayaking or a volleyball game. (Of course, it helps that I live in a city where I can enjoy these things year-round.)

Whenever I can, I try to bike or walk with a purpose. Whether it's a trip the grocery store, the dry cleaners, or a restaurant, it makes it feel less like a chore if I have a destination. (Also, thank goodness for iTunes.)

I look back and I'm amazed at the progress that I've made. I once wondered if I'd ever be able to escape the vicious cycle of weight loss (every time I lost weight, I'd gain it all back... and then some.) The surgery seems to have been the vital catalyst that allowed me to achieve escape velocity.

Miraculous? Yes. But the surgery is no magic bullet, and it's not a free pass. It still requires work. I'm still learning every day.

And now comes the hard part (the Mormons like to call it "enduring to the end.") There's still more work to be tackled, more choices to be made every day.

In the meantime, Sluggo's got his bounce back.

Sent from iPhone

Music I've been listening to/sampled recently:

• Black Eyed Peas: new single "Boom Boom Pow." It sucks.
• Marilyn Manson: new single "We're From America." I'm not impressed.
• Eminem: new single "We Made You." Tired.
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs: new album "It's Blitz." I'm digging it.
• Doves: new album "Kingdom of Rust." I'm really digging this one!
• Cassettes Won't Listen: "Small-Time Machine." Totally digging it. (It came out in 2008.)
• Mstrkrft: new album "Fist of God." Booty-shaking to it right now. Oowa!

If ya haven't seen it yet. (YouTube, 6 mins, work-safe.) Ganked from insomniactor!

Bwa ha haha! (YouTube, 5 mins, work-safe)

You're thinking about going to San Diego Comic-Con in July. OMG, so many questions! Where to stay? What ticket should I get? So here are a few of Sluggo's tips for Comic-Con.

Passes

• Register now. Comic-Con calls it a "membership" or "registration;" it's easier to just say "passes." Whatever you want to call 'em, buy 'em now, because they will sell-out, and they do not sell them at the door.
• Plan when to go. The 4-day passes are already completely sold-out, so if you haven't bought your tickets yet, you'll need to buy individual passes for the day(s) you want to visit on. Each pass is only good on the specified day. The geeky-geeks are almost certain to hit the Con hard on Wednesday night (preview), then Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (Often they're so worn-out they never make it to the Con on Sunday!) As far as day passes go, Saturday usually sells-out first.
• What about this Wednesday night preview? You can only get into the preview if you're already registered for a 4-day pass, or if you do a volunteer shift. (Or if you're a mucky-muck, or an industry professional.)
• Volunteer. If you're feeling poor, consider volunteering for a three-hour shift; you'll get free admission on the day you work (plus admission to the preview.) I've actually decided to do this myself.

Lodging

• Check-out Comic-Con's official hotel list. It includes hotel names, prices, distance, parking fees, and whether or not they're served by Comic-Con's free shuttle. You can find the list here.
• Be ready to settle. You want a good hotel, in a good location, for a good price, right? Well, the odds are stacked against you this time, and you'll probably need to make some compromises. (Hotel prices are jacked-up for Comic-Con weekend.)
• Book your room now. If you wait until the last minute, you'll be kicking yourself. Right now you can probably find decent rooms, in decent locations, for about $139+ per night. As the Con gets closer, the prices may go up; and if you wait too long, finding a room could be difficult.
• Try bidding, perhaps. If you're adventurous, use Hotwire or Priceline's Name-Your-Own-Price. You may save a few bucks, but you won't know the name and exact location of the hotel until after you've pre-paid. (The other catch: because it's such a busy weekend, you may not save as much as you normally would.)
• Shop around. You may be surprised to find that websites have varying prices, sometimes even for the same hotel and room.
• Be aware of quirks. It's a busy weekend, and a few hotels have special restrictions on check-in and length-of-stay.
• Ask about parking fees. If you'll have a car, ask whether your hotel charges for parking. Many of them do.
• Know your neighborhoods. Here are some areas that you might be considering:
  
  • Downtown and/or the Gaslamp Quarter - If you can afford it, this is definitely the most convenient place to stay for Comic-Con. Fun nightlife, and the area is quite walkable.
  • Old Town - Easy access to the trolley. Fun, walkable neighborhood, if a bit touristy. Still it's a great spot to stay in, so I recommend it.
  • Mission Valley and Hotel Circle - This is where you'll probably find some (relatively) decent prices and name-brand hotels. A handful of them are located near trolley stops; otherwise you should plan on having a rental car (or friend or taxi, etc.) This is a very retail-oriented area. (Two malls, lots of chain restaurants, etc.) Most of it is not very walkable. Examples of somewhat-affordable hotels that are in good locations: Doubletree Hazard Center, Courtyard by Marriott, Town & Country and The Handlery.
  • Hillcrest and North Park - These are San Diego's "gayborhoods," and a lot of us locals live here. While it's a convenient and fun area to stay in, there really aren't many hotels here (and definitely no name-brand hotels.) If you're dead-set on staying in the gayborhood, I might suggest the Park Manor Hotel (an older hotel, gay-owned) or the Sommerset Suites. They aren't particularly super nice, but they are clean and they are very conveniently located. The gayborhoods are very walkable, with fun nightlife, and easy access to buses that go downtown. (Rooms at these two hotels start at about $200+ per night for Comic-Con weekend.)
  • Coronado - It's a real nice area but it can be quite expensive. If you're lucky enough to be staying near the San Diego Bay Water Taxi, you're golden; you can take it to the Con each day. Otherwise you'll probably need a car.
  • Point Loma, Mission Bay, Sea World, beach areas - You might find some good hotels near the water. You'll most likely need a rental car.
  • Anything beyond - If the hotel has an address that doesn't actually say "San Diego, CA" on it, you will need a car. (To save a few bucks for parking, consider driving to a Trolley station and riding the Trolley to the Con.)

(Note: my hotel suggestions above only apply to Comic-Con weekend. They'd be a little different for other times of the year! And hotels are usually more affordable than the prices I've mentioned.)

Getting here

• Get a lift from the airport. You're probably flying into San Diego International Airport, also known as Lindbergh Field (its abbreviation is "SAN.") The airport is located very close to Downtown San Diego. If you just need a lift to your hotel, maybe ask a friend to pick you up. Or take a taxi; you can expect to pay about $10-$15 to get from the airport to downtown, or to other areas like Mission Valley and Hotel Circle. Taxis will cost more If you're going any farther than that. If you need to save some cash, consider cheaper options like the Cloud 9 Shuttle.
• Take the train. If you're coming from Southern California, take Amtrak! It stops right downtown.

Getting around

• Know where you're going. Comic-Con is held at the San Diego Convention Center, located at 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.
• Decide whether you need a car. If you're staying downtown, I strongly suggest not renting a car (unless you plan on taking trips away from the Con.) If you're not staying downtown, this question will just depend on how close you are to a transit route (or whether you have local friends, or whether you just want to use cabs to get around.)
• Plan for parking fees. If you're going to have a car, be ready to pay $15 to $25 per day for parking near the Convention Center. You may have similar parking fees at your hotel, too. This is especially true if you're staying in Hotel Circle, Mission Valley, Old Town, Downtown/Gaslamp, and some other neighborhoods. Be sure to find-out first!
• Be ready for traffic. During peak times, downtown will be -packed with cars and buses. The only way to really avoid auto traffic is to take the trolley.
• Use the free shuttle. If you're lucky enough to be staying at a hotel on a free shuttle route, by all means, use it!
• Use the trolley. Quite simply, the San Diego Trolley system rocks. It's cheap, clean and it travels directly to the Convention Center; you're practically dropped-off right at the doorstep. There's even a special event trolley schedule just for Comic-Con. The catch is, you need to stay at a hotel near a trolley stop, and that's not always easy to finagle. If you want to try, I might suggest staying in Old Town if possible.
• Use the bus. Lots of public bus routes travel downtown. You can get an all-day transit pass for $5, which includes unlimited rides on area buses and trolleys. (Just be sure to have a nice crisp $5 bill ready when you board for the first time each day.) Do yourself a favor: skip the lame-ass MTS website and just use Google Maps to look-up transit times. San Diego's bus and trolley schedules are fully integrated with Google Maps; you can even access them on the iPhone! Just be sure to arrive at the bus stop early... our buses are sometimes known to arrive 7 or 8 minutes early (or 20 minutes late...)
• Ride with the locals. If you know a 619'er who's going, consider tagging-along with 'em. For the last two years, we've taken the bus to the Con, and it's worked-out well.

At some point in the future, I'll write about other tips (where to eat, stuff to do, etc.)

(Locals or Comic-Con "veterans," feel free to correct me or add your own tips!)

Hey cubatlanta (aka FrankY)! Hope your day is awesome! Love ya and miss ya!

Wishing the awesome Lloyd, aka omgwru, a very happy birthday today!!!!

rugbybearpa, hope your birthday is awesome!

Sasha Obama Keeps Seeing Creepy Bush Twins While Riding Tricycle Through White House

WASHINGTON—A little more than a month after the first family's move to the White House, reports of strange happenings have continued to surface, with Sasha Obama confirming Tuesday that she had once again been visited by the eerie specter of the Bush twins.

The ghostly former first daughters, shortly after a White House elevator reportedly overflowed with cherry daiquiri.

Sasha, who was playing in the East Wing of the executive mansion so as not to disturb her busy father, reported seeing the former first twins while riding her Big Wheel tricycle down the Cross Hall corridor. The frightening apparitions, the 7-year-old said, emerged out of thin air and were dressed in identical outfits consisting of spaghetti strap tank tops and denim skirts.

"At approximately 4:36 p.m., we received a detailed account from Sasha Obama about a series of manifestations in the White House," press secretary Robert Gibbs announced. "However, a thorough search conducted by security officials has thus far uncovered nothing."

Added Gibbs, "Whatever grotesque and haunting images the president's youngest daughter thought she saw must have been a figment of her imagination."

This 209-year-old mansion is said to be haunted by the spirits of administrations past.

According to White House security documents, Sasha told Secret Service agents that the ghostly twins spoke to her in unison and repeatedly beckoned her by chanting the phrases "come play with us," "come play with us, forever," and "Daddy's making fajitas."

Read more...

(YouTube, 35 seconds, not graphic, but potentially not work safe.) Many thanks to kurtzsd!

Seen on Joe. My. God.:


Some of my own favorite responses:

• "Because he didn't want to talk about how god threw birds at his plane?"
• "I've seen what happens when you trust God to land a plane. He favors fiery death."
• God must have been so angry about this, he lost track of that plane over Buffalo.
• I like to think of it like God doesn't have Tivo. He was watching the Hudson carefully, he threw in some geese to get the show going and then his cell went off because he got a text from Zeus. He turned to read the text (which ended up being a gif of some guy wagging his penis to a Rodney Carrington song) and missed the whole thing. ME DAMNIT! No rewind, no pause, just wait until they show the repeat later in the week.

For pinner123, maverick1303 and anyone else who likes those crazy-good Tim Tams... I received this e-mail today.

Last year I posted about how I did my taxes online. I did the same this year.

Check-out my original article for details... most of them are still true.

If you go with TurboTax, I suggest starting-off with the free version... you can always upgrade at any point if you need more features. But if you select a paid version first, you can't downgrade, unless you create a brand-new account and start all over.

If you're a California resident, check-out ReadyReturn or CalFile. They're free.

(I'm getting a nice little refund from the feds, and a nice little IOU from the state.)

Disneyland was a blast. More pics here. (Flickr, 10 photos, work-safe.)

Dear iPhone users, I'd like to direct your attention to the following three articles. For contained therein are some amazing iPhone tips and tricks. I guarantee you'll find at least one new thing that you didn't know before... even if you're a super advanced user.

There are lots of goodies here; highlights include making a "quick" comma, some clever contraction tricks, listening to podcasts/movies while running another app, scrolling just a frame in Safari, and reducing blurry camera shots.

The "ducking iPhone" article is by far the best. I LOVE this trick! It has almost completely eliminated my frustration with that damn spell check/auto-correction. For you iPhone users, it's a must-read.

Here goes:

• http://www.iphonejd.com/iphone_jd/2008/11/my-favorite-sho.html
• http://www.iphonejd.com/iphone_jd/2008/12/more-iphone-shortcuts.html
• http://tntluoma.com/iphone/ducking-iphone

( Behind the cut: An example contact I've added so iPhone learns words I use often (language, not work-safe)... )

maverick1303 posted about this photo a few days ago. Well it looks like it's going places... my goodness we've been D-listed!

"Caption this..."