Random Los Angeles Transit Minute

I went to the gym last night downtown. I belong to Bally's, which happened because my lovely wife had a membership there, and I certainly didn't want to become the resident fatbody while she became increasingly toned and sleek. 

The Bally's at 7th and Fig is usually pretty crowded, and last night was no exception. So crowded, in fact, that I wasn't able to get in a full workout, just 20 minutes on one of the resident elliptical machines. Still, I was sweaty, and that's a good thing. I left at around 7:15, intending to take the Red Line back to Union Station where I would catch the 7:35 p.m. Lancaster-bound Metrolink back to Burbank. 

I was staring absently at the transit map in the station when I heard a male voice: 

"Dan? Is your name Dan?" 

As it is, I turned. Before me stood a smiling Drew Coombs, a former colleague of mine at the LA Daily Journal. With him stood a woman named Alexia, who I remembered still did work at the Daily Journal and (I believe) is Drew's girlfriend. I had not seen either of them for close to a year. It was good to see them. 

We chatted briefly until my train came. What was interesting about all this was not the interaction itself - Drew and Alexia are, as always, friendly and good people - but that it happened at all. That sort of meeting used to happen to me all the time in New York -- I even ran into an ex-girlfriend from Los Angeles. It had not, until yesterday, happened here. 

Maybe Los Angeles is starting to become a more cosmopolitan city, based, in large part, on the increasing number of professionals using public transit. Interesting thought, no? 

Anyhow, there was a guy on the train that was carting a large mound of recyclables on a baby stroller. The cans kinda smelled, as they do, and I was glad to see him get off at Pershing Square... the next stop down the line. 

I wished I had my camera, though. As he got off the train, the man pushed his cart west, giving me a clear view of the back of his t-shirt. It read "Anything To Make You Look Better." 

Nice. Good on you, man. Good on you. 

South Beach Diet -- Stalled

OK, so I haven't written down my eating habits regarding my South Beach Diet for, well, nearly two weeks. The reason? I haven't been all that South Beachy in my eating habits. I am back up (or down, really) to 184 lbs., which is an improvement from 187. Still, it's a rather hard diet to stick to. Here's my issues: 

- A good majority of my social activity involves going to see a band, going to a bar or going out to eat... and during Phase 1, you're not supposed to touch a drop of booze. This is harder than I expected. 

- The recipes in the South Beach Diet book are quite good. Unfortunately, it's tough, near impossible, to make the foods required based on my 9-hour workday and hour (each way) commute. Who wants to stop by the Ralphs after such a long day... and then make food afterward? Mind you, eating whatever happened to be around is how I started to get chubby in the first place, but, man, this is also harder than I expected. 

- Donna is not doing this with me. This means that all the food I make is essentially for me, either because a) it's not palatable to Donna and/or b) contains some sort of meat product (she's gone veggie in the last few months). 

Still, I'll solider on. I'm essentially doing a modified version of the diet, keeping down the carbs as much as possible, eating a lot of salads, and drinking only vodka... Less sugar. 

South Beach Diet, Day 6

The Weigh-in: 183.6 lbs. (7:30 a.m.) 

I'm feeling a bit sluggish this morning, possibly due to the drinks had last night. Oh well, I'll be good today. I am still loosing weight, though, which is definitely a good thing. 

Breakfast: 

Coffee