From the first neurosurgeon's appointment at the UW I saw this painting. It always makes me smile. I remember thinking of it when I went in for the first surgery, I had walked past it after the surgery prep meeting. I focused on it when I was in recovery. When I was released, I admired it as Danny wheeled me to the car, and Jess Abu Dhabi carried all of the goodies that my friends and family brought me (thank you, thank you, thank you!). Now, every time I head to my speech therapist's office I spend a few minutes along the way looking it. I like to think that someday that'll be Danny and me.

According to the artist, the characters in the painting are not real people, they're bits and pieces of bodies and faces from his mind. It's a fictional event in the painting. I just read the side note yesterday, and I was surprised. I thought it was a real photo, or at least a painting of a photo or moment in time.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this painting with everyone because it gives me so much joy. Every time I see this painting I get the warm fuzzies, and I can't help but smile.

Squeezing Mr Yuck

The first few days of this new keto cal diet, I thought I'd starve to death. Now, things are evening out. I've managed to keep up my 6 day a week workouts. I run for 30 minutes, and do as many man push ups as possible (averaging 20, depending on my level of exhaustion).

When I run, and I don't feel like pushing through, I imagine a Mr Yuck sticker between my index finger and thumb, and I squish it. I think about that little mean nugget in my brain that wasn't invited. Then, I imagine an evil, ridiculous laugh cross my lips. I know that I'm his food source, and that I'm in the power seat; he's hungry and I'm starving him. Sucker!

  

Stats:

Before the diet I was 5'7 and 155 lbs

Currently, I'm 5'7 and 145 lbs

I'm starving that dirty little nuisance, and I'm healthier than ever. Shedding weight has never felt better. I have an enemy to fight, and although I respect the power that he has, I still want to win.