The coaster heads down

I've always loved roller coasters, though I must say it's been a few years since I've ridden one. My kids love them too. Mary....not so much.
The roller coast of weight I've been on all my life is another matter. The way I've continually ridden that one, you'd think I really loved it too. But believe me, I'd be only too happy to get off, and now I'm trying again.
The past two weeks I've been on a nice steady downhill segment. Been stepping up the walking -- more like 4 miles a day instead of 2. And been really watching the food intake -- averaging under 2,000 calories a day. The results have been good -- down 10 pounds the past two weeks. (I always tend to drop a good number the first two weeks before settling into that pound or two a week tedium.)
There's plenty more to go, but I'm feeling good. Just got back from a 4-mile Sunday walk at the park. Made it back feeling like I might go again later today.
I have confidence I can lose the weight I need to drop. Been there, done that. Twice in my life I have lost in excess of 100 pounds. Several other times 40 or more.
Problem is, a lot of it always comes back. Not as much this time, I am happy to say. But enough so I had to stop the coaster from climbing up once more.
I believe things will be different this time. The kids are all moved on, either on their own or in college, so there's not as much tempting junk food around. I'm trying to make lasting changes, not to "diet." (An ugly word if there ever was one.)
Plus, we've discovered a nearby farmers market and have been getting some great fresh, corn, apples and other fruits and vegetables. I've particularly come to enjoy eating strawberries.
I don't know if I can completely get off the coaster. There's lots of stuff I enjoy that will always make it hard. I don't think it'll ever come naturally to turn down pizza and a couple of beers, or a nice thick steak.
But when I've succeeded in the past, it's been through lots of walking and other physical activity to burn those calories. As long as my legs and sneakers hold out, I've got a shot.
Going down on a coaster is fun, thrilling and a little scary. But it's a whole lot more fun than going up.
Later

Falling for an early autumn

It began Aug. 31.
After weeks of hot, sticky dog days of August, we suddenly were treated to a tase of fall.
Morning temps have been in the upper 50s. My wife Mary wore and I almost put on a jacket on our daily 6:20 a.m. walk.
Lunchtime temps have been in the mid-70s -- great to get out and walk at lunch time without fear of working up a sweat.
It simply does not get better than this -- weather-wise -- in Virginia this time of year.
As my son Dave said this morning, while I spoke to him by cellphone as he walked from Penn Station to his job as a Macy's Human resources exec on Sixth Avenue and 45th, "it feels like the first day of school today."
Speaking of the first day of school....
Strangely, although the weather is suited for it, the public schools have not yet reopened here in Virginia.
Apparently there is a state law that requires schools to stay closed until the day after Labor Day. And, since Labor Day is absolutely as late as it can be this year on Sept. 7, that means no school till Tuesday, Sept. 8.
It's an extra week for me of fewer cars and no school buses to compete with on my commute to work, but it does seem strange. Seems the tourism industry got this law passed years ago.
Could be no problem, but then again, if we have more snow this winter -- as the Farmer's Almanac is predicting -- the schools might find themselves in an unnecessary scheduling bind.
As it is, in my home Loudoun County district, the number of scheduled days is the minimum 180 this year, down from 183 last year.
Later.