Tag: denny

My Weight Loss Journey Collage

On By Michel McDonaldIn Diet, Noom, WeightLeave a comment

my weight loss journey

Pictures are a great motivational tool when losing weight.  You want to take a before picture for obvious reasons, but you also want to take many pictures throughout your journey so you can compare your current picture with your before picture.  If you have something to compare how you look now versus how you looked before, then you have your motivation to keep losing weight so you can see how thin you will be in the future compared to how you are now.

These are the pictures that I have taken on my journey.

  • The top left is obviously my before picture.  I say it was taken on January 1st 2013, but I think it was the day before.  It doesn’t really matter though.  I weighed 264lbs in that picture.  We were at a Denny’s restaurant having breakfast.
  • The bottom right is the picture that I took halfway through when I had lost 28lbs.  I had gotten a white Noom t-shirt and I wanted to show it off.
  • The top right I took because I wanted to get a picture of how my dog Flower was laying on me.  I was pleasantly surprised at how skinny my face was getting.
  • The top middle is the picture I took when I realized that I had lost so much weight that I was finally able to wear that dress shirt buttoned all the way to the top.
  • Then finally the bottom left picture is my most recent picture with my Noom swag.  I weighed 206lbs in that picture.

It’s important to me that I see my before and after pictures to remind me how skinny I am actually getting because sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and can’t see anything different and I get discouraged.  When I look at the pictures and see how skinny I am actually getting, it gives me hope and helps me to keep going.  It’s funny how the mirror really effects how we see ourselves compared to how a picture shows us how we really look.  I know that a reflection is the same exact thing as a picture, but it’s different, I don’t know how to explain it.  It’s the same thing, only different LOL.

Anyway, I am very pleased with my progress of losing 57lbs and I will keep eating healthy so I can continue losing this fat until it is finally all gone.

Is it Divine or Psychic?

On By Michel McDonaldIn Daily BlogLeave a comment

Last night when my shows were finished I had to go to the grocery store so that I would have some body wash to wash myself with this morning after my bike ride.  I’m standing in front of the body wash trying to find which one was more affordable since they skyrocketed in price.

This very tall guy came over to me and asked if my name was Bill, I looked up at him and said nope, it’s Mike and he said ok thanks and walked away.  Half a minute later he and 3 other people, 2 women and another guy came over to me.  One of the women introduces herself to me and says that the 2nd guy wrote down the name Michael and Michelle.

I’m thinking, what the hell is going on?  Why do they care what my… then it kicks in, they’re bible beaters.  They had decided they were going to go “pray” for someone and so they thought ok, let’s write down some things and see if we can find a person who resembles anything we write.  The two guys wrote down different things so they were looking to see who would be right.  I don’t know if it was a bet or if they were just going to see who would be more on target than the other.

They wrote down first names, the one guy wrote Bill and the other guy Michael and Michelle.  They wrote down a place to go, Albertson’s and McDonald’s.  They said they were going to go to Denny’s but decided let’s try the Albertson’s/McDonald’s combo, they’re right across the street from each other and Denny’s is across town.  They also wrote down a few other things.

Ok so getting back to it, when the 2nd guy said Michael/Michelle I said well actually, both are correct.  Let me explain.  My name is Michel.  That’s pronounced like Michael here in the US but it’s pronounced Michelle in France.  It’s a french name.

When they told me they were going to go to McDonald’s I told them, well my last name is McDonald.  They were blown away.  I told the first guy, you said bill right?  Well, my sisters first boyfriends name was Bill.  They were blown away again.  I thought it was hilarious.

The second guy said they were looking for a guy in khaki shorts which I was wearing.  He also showed me that he wrote down the word Superman, they were looking for someone possibly wearing a superman t-shirt.  Well, I wasn’t but I am a huge superman fan.

I didn’t tell them this but when I say I love superman, it’s not like when someone says they love something.  I really REALLY love Superman.  Ok not sexually but I am a HUGE fan.  I watched every episode of the Adventures of Superman with George Reeves from the 50’s but in the 70’s.  I LOVED that show.  I have seen every Superman movie.  I missed Lois and Clark in the 90’s, I’ve seen a few episodes and I’d like to see it from beginning to end.  And I have seen every episode of all 10 years of Smallville.  I read some Superman comic books in my childhood.  Not every issue, only what my parents could afford to buy me.  I LOVE Superman lol.

Oh the first guy, the tall guy said the word “Burgerstan” which threw me for a second.  I said that we (when I say we I mean Darrin and his brother) used to own a house on Berger Street.  Burgerstan, however it’s spelled sounds very similar to Berger Street.

As I’m confirming all of these things I’m getting chills.  I knew that at some point it was all leading to them praying for me and even though I don’t really like that, I figured, they got all these things right, or I helped them interpret them as right, I may as well let them do what they were going to do.  You know?  I don’t like it but I let them, as if it was their prize or something lol.

So it all eventually lead to it and they asked if they could and I said yeah, might as well but do it before the store closes lol.  So the second guy is praying and he finishes but then one of the girls wanted to pray too and I’m thinking oh god, just get it over with so I can get home.  I saw in my peripheral vision a store employee look over at us and I mouthed “help me” but he walked away.  DAMN HIM!

I tell you, I was a bit freaked out.  I asked them if they were all psychic and they said no it’s the power of god or divine something or other, which I don’t believe in but whatever.  I believe that there may have either been some psychic energy happening or it was all coincidence.  Who knows.  I thought it was creepy but also amazing at the same time.  I didn’t need to be prayed for, no, I didn’t WANT to be prayed for lol.

Whatever, there you have it.  My freaky night last night lol.

A Golden Retriever Was Hit on H Street in Bakersfield

On By Michel McDonaldIn Pets2 Comments

Tonight at around 6:15pm we were driving along H Street here in Bakersfield going to Hometown Buffet (which we didn’t know is closed for renovation, we ended up going to Denny’s) and we passed the saddest thing.

Among all the speeding cars driving around 40-50mph, there was a Golden Retriever laying on the ground between 2 parked cars. He (or she, I don’t know) seemed to be alive, he was laying down but sitting there panting with his head up. There were 2 people standing by the cars and it looked like they were on the phone.

Since we didn’t pull over I don’t know the full details of what happened but I can only speculate that the dog went out into the street and got hit. I can only speculate that the person I saw on the phone may have either seen the dog get hit or they are the driver that hit him. I don’t know. They may have been calling the owner of the dog if the dog had tags on the collar or they might have been calling for help for the dog. Again, I don’t know.

What I do know is that my heart goes out to that dog tonight. I am a very sensitive person, especially when it comes to animals because they aren’t that bright sometimes. We’re always seeing dogs and cats in the street wandering around confused and lost. I don’t know if it has to do with the fact that they were sheltered in a house then suddenly kicked out into the world that they are very confused by or if they just don’t have a lot going on up there.

I know they run out when you least expect it and if you stop suddenly you could end up causing a huge accident so I understand why they end up getting hit. I just wish people would keep their dogs and cats inside the house or inside the fenced in yard. And if you can’t keep the dog then at least find them a new home so there aren’t so many strays out.

There is a house in our neighborhood on 2nd and Eye st. where the dogs have a chain link fence but the driveway gates don’t close tight so the dogs are always running around the neighborhood chasing and barking at people who walk by.  And they are little dogs which is how they were able to get through the driveway gates.  I saw one of them dead over on Chester and 2nd street in the gutter.  I hate seeing dead dogs in the street, especially when you know that dog has a home, their owners just don’t care enough about them to keep them either in the house or get the fence fixed so the dogs don’t go wandering around.

When we came home from dinner I picked up our dog Flower and hugged her and kissed her. Sometimes you don’t appreciate something (or someone) until they are gone, that doesn’t only apply to people either.

Denny’s, Harry Potter, Sack Boy and DQ

On By Michel McDonaldIn Computer, Food, PSP, TechLeave a comment

I’m writing this late at night, past midnight so when you read this it will probably be Friday. Oh who am I kidding, you’ll probably be reading it 6 months down the road. At any rate, we had a pretty good and long day. It all started with going to Denny’s for breakfast. I had the Grand Slam Slugger for $8 which was 2 pancakes, 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 scrambled eggs, hash browns and it came with coffee or juice, I chose coffee.

The scrambled eggs were the best thing about that meal. Normally I’m saying how wonderful the pancakes and hash browns are but I gotta give huge props to the eggs. They were smooth as silk. I don’t know what their secret is but I haven’t had scrambled eggs that felt that good on my tongue in my entire life. And I’m an egg lover too so it’s strange to hear me say that I’ve never had eggs that tasted that good before. They were just so awesome.

After breakfast we came home and were just going to go about our day but Darrin decided he wanted to go to the movies so I printed the schedule from Fandango. I kept telling him the only movie that was playing was Harry Potter but he just didn’t believe me. I showed him the list and he agreed that we could go see Harry Potter. YAY for me!

So we got in the car and drove to the mall, got tickets and a soda then went in. The movie was about 2 hours and 27 minutes. I really don’t like buying drinks when you go see a movie that lasts longer than 90 minute but we got one anyway. I held it for as long as I could and when a scene came up where I assumed it wouldn’t be too dramatic I shot out of my chair and ran to the mens room. I was able to enjoy the rest of the movie pain-free which is how it should be.

I think they should install a bathroom in every theater right near the stairs with tv’s above the urinals or above the toilets for the ladies so you don’t miss a thing, especially when movies are 2.5 – 3 hours long or longer. It’s not fair to sell so much drink and then make us miss a few minutes of our movie or suffer the pain.

I thought it was a pretty good movie considering they usually don’t match the movies with the books. I was just expecting some of the basics but they were pretty good with this one. I loved the movie but I don’t think my movie companion wasn’t into it. He didn’t read the books so he doesn’t really care. It’s a futile effort to have to explain it to him when he probably isn’t listening anyway.

I really wanted to see it and knew I wouldn’t get another chance until it came out on DVD and I hate being the last one to see a Harry Potter movie.

When we left the movies we went into the mall and I bought a new PSP game with my $25 gift card for Game Stop from doing surveys at E-Rewards. They moved all of the PSP games so it took me several minutes to find them. Considering that store is about the size of our living room, you’d think that I would’ve found them right away but I didn’t. I did eventually find them right near the cash registers.

They had them on a display instead of on the wall and so I had to crouch carefully so I didn’t fall and also so I could let people look at the video games on the wall behind me. It’s not an easy thing to do in such small spaces but I managed to find a game that I wanted which was Little Big Planet.

I’ve actually wanted Little Big Planet since it came out but it was too expensive and I didn’t have a gift card for it so I went without. Poor me lol. I did download the demo and thought it was fun. A friend of mine brags to me every chance that she gets that she has it for her PS3 because she knew I didn’t have it for my PSP. I have it now Sue so what are you gonna say now? Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah :p.

I played it for a few hours on my HDTV instead of the tiny PSP screen only because my eyes are getting worse every day. I had a little trouble adjusting to the way the game is played but once you figure things out it becomes easy.

I went to look in the online section and it said I needed a system update first before I could access anything online and they added something new to the PSP but they haven’t really given us the ability to use it yet. It’s called Qriocity in the music section. All it says is coming soon. I looked at the video section (on their website) for it and I think that will only work on the PS3 but it appears to be a streaming video rental service like Netflix. So I can only assume the music one is the same thing but… you know… music. Meh, if that’s a monthly service then I’m not interested. I can just as easily turn my radio on to listen to new music.

When we left Game Stop we went to the Dairy Queen and got 2 medium Blizzards because I had an anniversary BOGO coupon. I ordered the new peppermint one but then changed my mind because I figured if it has hard candy in it I might not enjoy it as much so I got Pumpkin Pie. Darrin got the same but after a few bites he realized he didn’t really like it that much. I loved it so I ate his lol. I had 2 blizzards. No wonder I can’t lose weight LOL.

I think that we had a wonderful day, although at times boring for him but fun for me. Tomorrow (or today if you are reading this on Friday, or in 6 months then 6 months ago) I will start putting the tree up. My back has been really killing me but I really want to do it. Christmas is my favorite time of year even though I’m not a Christian. People have told me I have no right celebrating it but you know what I say to those people. Shush and mind your own beeswax.

I’m not celebrating the birth of Jesus, I’m celebrating the giving and receiving of presents. Mainly giving because I’m embroidering those Christmas stockings as a gift for the children. Plus I like the look of the trees and the lights and the ornaments on the tree. I celebrated Christmas my entire life since I was a baby so I think I have every right to continue celebrating it until the day I die if I wish to do so. Just because my religious beliefs change doesn’t mean I have to change my mind about the holidays. So to those who say I have no right to celebrate it, you can suck it because it’s a free country, I can celebrate it any way I want to. When you pay my bills then you can tell me what I can and can’t do with my life. Until then, shush.

Wow is it after 3am? Ok well I gotta get up at like 8 so goodnight all or if you are just waking up then Good morning. And if this is 6 months into the future and you are reading it with your brain implants well, I don’t know what greetings you future cyborg people so good 0101011010100101101 to you.

Clay’s Restaurant

On By Michel McDonaldIn RestaurantLeave a comment

California Avenue IHOP becomes independent eatery

November 28th 2008, IHOP in Bakersfield became Clay’s Restaurant.  We’ve been going to that IHOP since 2000 but we don’t always have the money to be regulars.  We only go once in awhile.  But we actually haven’t been there at all since they changed their name to Clay’s.

Well this morning Darrin wanted to go out for breakfast and the place that he chose was closed for some strange reason.  So he said well let’s go to Denny’s.  I said that’s too far.  He said where do you want to go and I said “well we haven’t been to Clay’s yet” so that’s where we went.

We get there and are seated right away.  There was a person we knew who was leaving so Darrin wanted to talk to him before we sat down.  Our host had our menu’s sitting open on the table waiting for us which I thought was very nice.

So we order and our food comes, I ordered the #6 2 eggs, 3 bacon, 3 sausage, hash browns and pancakes.  Darrin ordered chicken fried steak with gravy, eggs, hash browns and toast.

I can’t speak for him but he didn’t complain about his food.  My food was pretty good.  The sausage was different though, it wasn’t over cooked and wrinkly, it was a nice light shade of brown and it was smooth.  The bacon was also very flat and smooth and it tasted good.  The pancakes were smaller but I guess they can’t sell pancakes that look exactly like IHOP’s so they just made them smaller.  The hash browns weren’t crispy which is IHOP’s signature hash browns but that was fine.  It was still good.  Normally scrambled eggs are 1 solid color but mine weren’t mixed completely so you could see the yellow and white.  That’s not a bad thing, the eggs were good but it was just different.

Our waitress was Donna and she was a very nice woman.  We asked her if the business has suffered since they changed their name to Clay’s and she said that there aren’t as many customers as when they were IHOP but the customers are coming back.  I can say that I would definitely come back because the food was very good.

Clay’s Restaurant is located at 1530 California Ave. in Bakersfield, CA.  There are also other Clay’s, I just know about this one and the one over by Valley Plaza on Ming.  I would recommend Clay’s and I give them 5 stars.

Surprise, It’s Dinner

On By Michel McDonaldIn Daily BlogLeave a comment

Darrin surprised me tonight and took me to a sit down restaurant.  Normally to me a sit down restaurant is like Denny’s or Hometown Buffet or China Town Buffet or well, anywhere that doesn’t have a drive-thru.

So we went to Los Molcajetes Restaurant over on Brundage Lane in Bakersfield, CA.  I’d never been there before but we’ve passed it maybe a thousand times since we’ve been in Bakersfield.

First of all, I’m a very picky eater.  That means Mexican food is usually one of those foods that I gotta be careful with because if I don’t ask exactly what I’m getting I’m gonna get everything I don’t want.  I absolutely detest the taste of onions, bell peppers, any kind of hot sauce, sour cream and avocado (or guacamole).  I ordered a ground beef burrito and specifically mentioned no onions, bell peppers, avocado or sour cream since those 4 ingredients were in the pictures near the burritos.  I just wanted to make sure I didn’t get those.

Darrin ordered shredded beef enchiladas.  I don’t know how his food was but as soon as I put the first bite into my mouth the first thing that I said was “wow, it’s too salty”.  I’m not very big on salt either lol.  It’s a good thing too because if I had put salt on my food I would’ve been pissed because of the salt overload.

Darrin ordered an iced tea for his drink and he was complaining that it was too weak, he even had me taste it (pre-sweetened).  I didn’t really notice.  I would’ve probably noticed more if it had been sweetened first.  I’m not a huge fan of iced tea without sugar or equal in it.  After his 2nd glass was brought to him and he sweetened it, the waiter came back and he told him how weak it was and the waiter said “oh well we have stronger” which was a lie, he brought back another glass of iced tea that looked darker but Darrin said it was the same.  He also brought a glass filled with ice lol.  Who asked for that?

Besides the salt overload and the weak tea it was a pretty decent meal.  I can’t say I will be begging to go back anytime soon though.  But I guess when someone takes you to dinner you can’t complain especially when I am broke lol.

Oh one more thing, I was so full and when we went to the cashier at the end I was being stupid and asked where the vomitorium was (because I was full, not because it wasn’t good) and the cashier gave me a blank stare.  She said what’s that?  I said “what’s a vomitorium?”  She said yeah.  I was like damn are you gonna make me explain my stupid jokes?  Gawd, I really hate it when people don’t get my humor.  I told her it was from the roman days and she asked what it was for and I said well, er um… vomiting.  She then pointed to the bathroom and said it’s there lol.  I then had to say “I was joking” and she said oh lol.  Oy vey!