WE WON!
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-06-23/the-latest-turkeys-erdogan-votes-in-istanbul-mayoral-rerun
The president lost. Hope he loses the presidency, soon too!
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Work... Out of the blue
I was thinking that there were no work prospects for the summer. However, I have been called to a meeting today. There is a customer meeting on Friday and one of the projects which we thought was buried, came alive. I will help out a new colleague for the Friday meeting but, will not be involved with that project.
The zombie project is only two hours away from Izmir so, I will be working from my sister's home. I may have to go to the customer site once or twice a week. Nice!
I have been told there was another project somewhere on the Black Sea coast but, I have already planned to be in Izmir for some time so, I bowed out of that one. I will support them offline if and when they need help. No direct flights from Izmir to that city and to be honest, it is not something I would like. Family owned businesses are OK when there is one senir person calling the shots but when there are too many egos involved, thank you very much! Don't need the stress.
We will see how much extra money I will be able to bring in before I leave for my big vacation in October. I have the money earmarked for it but every little extra is nice.
I have a very solid budget yet, unanticipated expenses pop here and there all the time. In August for instance, I will have some repairs done for a water damage in my bedroom. After the fix, the whole room will be painted. I knew the repairs would have to be done but, did not have any idea regarding the cost. My estimate was a little over half of what it will be.
As I type this, I am enjoying a nice, cool breeze after a hot day. It is almost midnight so, I better go. Hope everyone is having a good day.
The zombie project is only two hours away from Izmir so, I will be working from my sister's home. I may have to go to the customer site once or twice a week. Nice!
I have been told there was another project somewhere on the Black Sea coast but, I have already planned to be in Izmir for some time so, I bowed out of that one. I will support them offline if and when they need help. No direct flights from Izmir to that city and to be honest, it is not something I would like. Family owned businesses are OK when there is one senir person calling the shots but when there are too many egos involved, thank you very much! Don't need the stress.
We will see how much extra money I will be able to bring in before I leave for my big vacation in October. I have the money earmarked for it but every little extra is nice.
I have a very solid budget yet, unanticipated expenses pop here and there all the time. In August for instance, I will have some repairs done for a water damage in my bedroom. After the fix, the whole room will be painted. I knew the repairs would have to be done but, did not have any idea regarding the cost. My estimate was a little over half of what it will be.
As I type this, I am enjoying a nice, cool breeze after a hot day. It is almost midnight so, I better go. Hope everyone is having a good day.
Monday, June 17, 2019
Heat
Remember when I was complaining that it was still cold and spring did not show up properly a few weeks ago? Spring was merely a couple of weeks rather than a season and then the summer heat hit us. It is in the lower 90s with quiet a bit of humidity. Every few days there are brief thunderstorms so, humidity never ends.
Mom cannot stand the heat and humidity and she did not want to go out today saying that she was too tired. Heat makes her grumpy, and sluggish. Wondering how she will tolerate Izmir which is worse than here.
I must have hurt my big toe probably when exercising and it is giving me some trouble. I decided to apply ice and not exercise today. Hope, it is not a stress fracture or something more serious. If it doesn't heal in a short time, I will have it X-Rayed.
Hope everybody has a nice week!
Mom cannot stand the heat and humidity and she did not want to go out today saying that she was too tired. Heat makes her grumpy, and sluggish. Wondering how she will tolerate Izmir which is worse than here.
I must have hurt my big toe probably when exercising and it is giving me some trouble. I decided to apply ice and not exercise today. Hope, it is not a stress fracture or something more serious. If it doesn't heal in a short time, I will have it X-Rayed.
Hope everybody has a nice week!
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Dad
I lost my dad way back in 1994 when he was only 54 and I was just 27.
It was an unexpected death due to an aortic aneurism. It was a Sunday in February. I was just up from the bed when my mom told me something was wrong with him. I called the ambulance and we took him to the Emergency Room at a large university hospital around 10 a.m. and by 5 p.m. he was gone.
He had lost his dad as a child at the age of 9. Having lived through that loss, he wanted to be a great dad.
He was an agricultural engineer with a PhD on plant protection.
He was a very loving father, a true family man and he sacrificed a career just to make sure both my sister and I receive the education he wanted us to get. We were good students and made him proud.
He had a great sense of humor which could be annoying at times. His worst habit was that he worried too much and was a born pessimist. I may be like that at times but, not as much as he was. He loved reading and learning about new things. In that respect, I have taken after him too.
We had our differences growing up especially when I was a teenager but, mom always managed us both. She was and still is the boss.
I cannot imagine having someone else as a father. I loved him very much and still miss him. Not a day goes by that I do not think about him or remember something funny he might have said.
I hope, you are resting in Peace Dad! Happy Father's Day!
It was an unexpected death due to an aortic aneurism. It was a Sunday in February. I was just up from the bed when my mom told me something was wrong with him. I called the ambulance and we took him to the Emergency Room at a large university hospital around 10 a.m. and by 5 p.m. he was gone.
He had lost his dad as a child at the age of 9. Having lived through that loss, he wanted to be a great dad.
He was an agricultural engineer with a PhD on plant protection.
He was a very loving father, a true family man and he sacrificed a career just to make sure both my sister and I receive the education he wanted us to get. We were good students and made him proud.
He had a great sense of humor which could be annoying at times. His worst habit was that he worried too much and was a born pessimist. I may be like that at times but, not as much as he was. He loved reading and learning about new things. In that respect, I have taken after him too.
We had our differences growing up especially when I was a teenager but, mom always managed us both. She was and still is the boss.
I cannot imagine having someone else as a father. I loved him very much and still miss him. Not a day goes by that I do not think about him or remember something funny he might have said.
I hope, you are resting in Peace Dad! Happy Father's Day!
Friday, June 14, 2019
Weight Loss Related
I do not remember my original weight loss goal but, I do remember modifying it a bit. My current goal is to lose 33 pounds by 10/22/2019. My current records show that I am past the half-way mark. Mind you this goal is not the ultimate goal. I have not set one like that. That is too far away and I just cannot deal with the thought of that. Too overwhelming.
I have lost 18.5 pounds and have 14 something to go.
I am positive I can make it. Writing here, using an Excel sheet and sharing with my family keep me motivated. I am just hoping that, I will take care of my weight problem once and for all within the next couple of years. I have tried this many times and failed. So, treading carefully here.
I was very sedentary and I never want to go back to that anymore. The big vacation and the winter will be the biggest test for me to see whether I am truly committed.
In the past, I had all sorts of stupid reasons that I used as justification to mindlessly eat, be a couch potato and such. I was working, work was stressful, I was tired, had no time to cook, I wasn't worried about my looks and etc.
I completely ignored the health problems my weight caused or might cause in the long run. I was ready to accept them as a natural part of getting old... At the age of 50something! That does not make sense and I have always defined myself as a logical person. Where is the logic in that?
This is a struggle and the enemy is within myself. We will see who will win in the long run.
I have lost 18.5 pounds and have 14 something to go.
I am positive I can make it. Writing here, using an Excel sheet and sharing with my family keep me motivated. I am just hoping that, I will take care of my weight problem once and for all within the next couple of years. I have tried this many times and failed. So, treading carefully here.
I was very sedentary and I never want to go back to that anymore. The big vacation and the winter will be the biggest test for me to see whether I am truly committed.
In the past, I had all sorts of stupid reasons that I used as justification to mindlessly eat, be a couch potato and such. I was working, work was stressful, I was tired, had no time to cook, I wasn't worried about my looks and etc.
I completely ignored the health problems my weight caused or might cause in the long run. I was ready to accept them as a natural part of getting old... At the age of 50something! That does not make sense and I have always defined myself as a logical person. Where is the logic in that?
This is a struggle and the enemy is within myself. We will see who will win in the long run.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Dietician MIA and Cooking...
I wanted to touch base with my dietician so, I logged on to the website to make an appointment. She is gone! There are two new names. I was going to make an appointment with one of them but, decided against it.
As long as I can keep on losing weight, I will do without a dietician. If I get stuck, I will go see one of those two ladies.
I am trying to walk 7500 steps at least 5 days out of 7. I sometimes slip but, don't give up on my diet. I haven't eaten even a slice of cake on my birthday. However, I did eat a cheeseburger. No fries though...Go me! Lol...
Tomorrow, I will weigh myself in the morning. Hoping for a loss of at least two more pounds.
I have added a sheet to my Excel File to follow my weight loss and exercise. I am logging my data every day and using charts for visual aid. This keeps me in check.
I am preparing all the meals and mom is very happy about that. She hates having to consider what to make and enjoys being served healthy meals.
I promised my sister that when we go to visit them on the 24th, I will take over meal prep duty so that she can concentrate on losing weight as well. She and her husband are branch managers at a bank and they come home very late. Unless they have something pre-made, they tend to eat rather late. If they find dinner ready when they get home, it will be great. I will also prepare her breakfast, lunch and snack to pack. She just bought a new fridge with a big freezer section. I am hoping to stock her freezer before we leave. I guess you can tell that I love my baby sister to the moon and back!
As long as I can keep on losing weight, I will do without a dietician. If I get stuck, I will go see one of those two ladies.
I am trying to walk 7500 steps at least 5 days out of 7. I sometimes slip but, don't give up on my diet. I haven't eaten even a slice of cake on my birthday. However, I did eat a cheeseburger. No fries though...Go me! Lol...
Tomorrow, I will weigh myself in the morning. Hoping for a loss of at least two more pounds.
I have added a sheet to my Excel File to follow my weight loss and exercise. I am logging my data every day and using charts for visual aid. This keeps me in check.
I am preparing all the meals and mom is very happy about that. She hates having to consider what to make and enjoys being served healthy meals.
I promised my sister that when we go to visit them on the 24th, I will take over meal prep duty so that she can concentrate on losing weight as well. She and her husband are branch managers at a bank and they come home very late. Unless they have something pre-made, they tend to eat rather late. If they find dinner ready when they get home, it will be great. I will also prepare her breakfast, lunch and snack to pack. She just bought a new fridge with a big freezer section. I am hoping to stock her freezer before we leave. I guess you can tell that I love my baby sister to the moon and back!
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
I'm back!
I didn't have much to blog about recently. I exercised regularly and watched what I ate until a couple of days ago. I went to my mom's to bring her here and ended up eating out three times with her. Yikes! We are back to normal now.
Yesterday, I took her to get a prescription and then to lunch. We then went to visit an old colleague of my dad's. We used to live in the same neighborhood due to my father's and his colleague's work. Mom and his wife were also friends. He is 8 years my dad's senior and is bed ridden for the last two years. He loved my dad as a brother and was shocked when he passed away 25 years ago. They all got a bit sentimental but, were glad we visited.
After the visit, we drove home to Istanbul.
I haven't been reading my favorite blogs for a while so there is a lot of catching up to do.
However, I first need to go grocery shopping, get cash, have my mom's prescription processed and plan our weekly menu. I plan my menu to make sure we consume the things that may go bad sooner than the others. If I buy strawberries and apples, I make sure we eat the strawberries first. I process the fresh veggies within two days of bringing them home.
We will be here till Monday 24th and on that date, we will be going to Izmir to my sister's. I will be able to go to beaches and enjoy the sea hopefully.
Gotta get going now. Wishing everyone a great day!
Yesterday, I took her to get a prescription and then to lunch. We then went to visit an old colleague of my dad's. We used to live in the same neighborhood due to my father's and his colleague's work. Mom and his wife were also friends. He is 8 years my dad's senior and is bed ridden for the last two years. He loved my dad as a brother and was shocked when he passed away 25 years ago. They all got a bit sentimental but, were glad we visited.
After the visit, we drove home to Istanbul.
I haven't been reading my favorite blogs for a while so there is a lot of catching up to do.
However, I first need to go grocery shopping, get cash, have my mom's prescription processed and plan our weekly menu. I plan my menu to make sure we consume the things that may go bad sooner than the others. If I buy strawberries and apples, I make sure we eat the strawberries first. I process the fresh veggies within two days of bringing them home.
We will be here till Monday 24th and on that date, we will be going to Izmir to my sister's. I will be able to go to beaches and enjoy the sea hopefully.
Gotta get going now. Wishing everyone a great day!
Thursday, June 6, 2019
52nd Birthday
Wow! Time goes by fast! Today is my birthday.
Mom was the first caller in the morning. Then, my sister and uncle called followed by my cousins and their mom along with a bunch of friends. There are also lots of birthday wishes on social media and through messaging apps. Feeling very spoilt. Lol!
Looking back, I did have a good life. I had and still have a wonderful, supportive family which I believe is the biggest blessing ever. I had a good education and a nice enough career. I am at a point in life when I can take it easy and concentrate on what I consider important to me.
I can only hope and wish for smooth sailing going forward as well.
Wishing myself a Happy Birthday and many happy returns! Lol!
Mom was the first caller in the morning. Then, my sister and uncle called followed by my cousins and their mom along with a bunch of friends. There are also lots of birthday wishes on social media and through messaging apps. Feeling very spoilt. Lol!
Looking back, I did have a good life. I had and still have a wonderful, supportive family which I believe is the biggest blessing ever. I had a good education and a nice enough career. I am at a point in life when I can take it easy and concentrate on what I consider important to me.
I can only hope and wish for smooth sailing going forward as well.
Wishing myself a Happy Birthday and many happy returns! Lol!
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Walking!
During the last three days, I have been going outside and walk. The weather has been real good and while walking, I am sure, I am getting lots of Vitamin D.
The number of steps I have taken in three consecutive days are as follows:
- 8924
- 7960
- 9162
I am feeling pretty good and surprised that I am not sore at all.
I am just getting out without taking my car and walking to the main street to jump on a public transportation vehicle and I get off at some place I just feel like at that moment and start walking. This way, I am getting to know the public transportation better. It is really very inexpensive in Istanbul. Most rides are less than USD 0.50 and if you are going in one direction on multiple vehicles, the second and third rides in the same direction within 1 hour are discounted. So, if I take the Metro (subway-underground) to Kadıkoy, the ferry ride across the two continents is discounted. I can then take a tram to wherever and that will also be discounted. There is this thing called Istanbul Kart that I use exclusively for the public transportation. You can load money to the card in many places. It really is very convenient.
Tomorrow, I will walk in the neighborhood. On Wednesday, I am going to visit a friend at Buyukada, one of the Prince's Islands. So, I will walk on the treadmill in the morning before showering and heading to the island.
I am in the mood for visiting museums nowadays. The day before yesterday, I have visited the Isbank Museum. We shall see where else I will end up visiting.
The number of steps I have taken in three consecutive days are as follows:
- 8924
- 7960
- 9162
I am feeling pretty good and surprised that I am not sore at all.
I am just getting out without taking my car and walking to the main street to jump on a public transportation vehicle and I get off at some place I just feel like at that moment and start walking. This way, I am getting to know the public transportation better. It is really very inexpensive in Istanbul. Most rides are less than USD 0.50 and if you are going in one direction on multiple vehicles, the second and third rides in the same direction within 1 hour are discounted. So, if I take the Metro (subway-underground) to Kadıkoy, the ferry ride across the two continents is discounted. I can then take a tram to wherever and that will also be discounted. There is this thing called Istanbul Kart that I use exclusively for the public transportation. You can load money to the card in many places. It really is very convenient.
Tomorrow, I will walk in the neighborhood. On Wednesday, I am going to visit a friend at Buyukada, one of the Prince's Islands. So, I will walk on the treadmill in the morning before showering and heading to the island.
I am in the mood for visiting museums nowadays. The day before yesterday, I have visited the Isbank Museum. We shall see where else I will end up visiting.
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