A state of perceptual anesthesia?

I recently read a shirt that said, "To be in true love is merely to be in a state of perceptual anesthesia." I immediately thought of my girlfriend—not because of the love but because of the anesthesia. She is miserable and hates the thought of anesthesia. I, on the other hand, have never had any issues and really feel great after any surgery where I was treated to a great nap (at least what I call it).

It made me think about how we are all unique and have different answers to the question of who, what, where, why, and how of humans.  Some run fast naturally, and others have a hard time going half that speed and are the same height and weight.  Then some are twice the weight and run faster than those half their weight.   No matter what we try, there are those who are geographically challenged, whereas others can find their way around any city easily and without a map.  Some can enjoy a beer, and those who can't enjoy one (alcoholism).  Is this all genetics?  Is it all the result of our environment?  Is it the long-lasting effect of good decisions or bad decisions? Will I ever know?

Recently, at the office, we had a middle-aged woman die from Cancer.  This is my 4th friend in 5 years to be taken from cancer.  The most recent smoked and lived like the average human being would regarding diet and exercise (meaning occasional). Recently, another staff person in my office was informed she has terminal cancer.  She is very healthy in life.  She always made organic food choices, never smoked, exercised regularly, and took good care of herself.  Made me think, does it matter what we eat or how much we exercise?  

Then, I digress and speak about the world of technology and how we are fooled by what we see and forget the variables that caused the false visual. Advertising often uses parts of factual data to emphasize how great something is over another. People believe what we see more than what we read, which the advertising group tells me.  


For example, I saw an advertisement for the "new wave" oven on Television this morning.  They were bragging about how much more fat is removed using their product than a conventional oven.  They "prove" it by cooking chicken in the "new wave" and conventional oven.  Then, they dump the drippings into a cup to show how much more fat is removed.  Everyone was in awe!  They do not say that the over they were selling did not allow the moisture to escape.  Instead, water was added to the fat, increasing the volume.  In the real oven, it dissipated, and the leftover fat is like motor oil.  But people just believe what they see. We need to remember to think...

I recently saw an inspiring video about YRG - Yoga.  It was a video about Arthur Boorman, who sets a goal to walk again and reclaim his life. An Army veteran who was hurt in the first Gulf War, Arthur suffered for 15 years with the effects of a botched surgery that left him unable to walk without the assistance of leg braces and canes. By February 2007, he had ballooned to 297 pounds and, by his own admission, was waiting to die. In looking for a yoga program to alleviate some of his constant pain, Arthur found the YRG workout. He gained inspiration and strength from DDP and other members of Team YRG to propel him toward his goal -- "I Will Walk Again!" -- and, ultimately, to blow past it. Watch here as Arthur vividly demonstrates that life is not about how many times you fall down but how many times you get up.  http://youtu.be/suTPns5cy_Q

What I have come to the conclusion is that science is wrong to generalize when it comes to health and well-being!  Our bodies are vastly different genetically, as are the environments in which we are raised.  What works for one may have an opposite impact on another.  It is so strange, but it makes scientific research difficult.

I did buy a new road bike.  I intend to ride my Bionx Cannondale Quick 5 one day and the new Fuji Roubaix 2.0 the other.  This will allow me to ride more without exhaustion.  It is 18 miles one way.  I have commuted over 500 miles to work in 2012 and have a goal of 3,000 commute miles.  Crazy when I think about how that is almost an iPad's worth of fuel savings!  

Now, on to my health.  I have not lost any weight since January 1.  I believe this is caused by three things:

1. I had been depressed about leaving tennis (after almost four months, I am really feeling good emotionally about quitting.
2. Work has been so busy and stressful.  I have cut back to working 55-60 hour weeks.  We did hire two new staff, and I will be able to work my 40-hour weeks again soon. (THANK GOD, I AM BURNING OUT!)
3. The right knee is strange.  I have been taking genuine care not to push the knee.  It never really recovered from the surgery. As I stated many times, if the weight goes down, the pain is less of a possibility.  My weight is only 18 pounds from my obnoxious weight in 2005.  Gained 72 pounds from my 2005 Grandma's....  Ouch!  I am to blame, but the regular dose of prednisone between 2008 and 2011 sure did not help.  I felt the weight add each time I was on the drug, but I felt so much better!

I have signed up for my 28th Grandma's Marathon. I am really not sure if I will run the race, but I am a lifetime member and never have to pay an entry fee. I had to enter by April 1 or lose my chance for the year, so I signed up. Last year, I ran it with only one 2.4-mile training run the Tuesday before the marathon.

As I close, I have been taking more photos and learning about my new camera.  I took one the other night, and there was a strange object in the sky for one of them.  Look at the upper left.  When you look at the second picture, I zoomed to the corner.  It is only in one of the pictures; I took several of them that night.  Strange!

UFO? I doubt it, but I was not feeling good about what was around me that night. It was an easy feeling. When I came home, I told my girlfriend I felt uneasy the whole time I was taking photos. Later in the week, I downloaded the photos, and we both were surprised!

Anyway, looking forward to running when I can.  I miss running through the woods for the first time in a few years.  It had become a chore.  Almost went a few times but was so exhausted after an 11-hour workday that I did not.  Really stupid, as I know an easy run would make me feel better.  

I have been told that telling everyone I am going on a diet and posting the results weekly will enhance the likelihood of success. I'm not sure, but it makes me think.

Carry on...