I'll get to today's viewing shortly, but first I have to take note that on this day exactly fifty years ago, this happened:

On a Saturday night, not unlike tonight, in the third episode of The Web of Fear, the Second Doctor made his first on-screen appearance with Then-Colonel Lethbridge-Steward, played magnificently by the late great Nicholas Courtney. He was meant to be just another secondary character there to propel a story, but Courtney's performance was so strong that he was brought back again in the following year's Cyberman classic The Invasion. Of course he would go on to become a mainstay of the series, and one of the most beloved characters and actors in the history of the program. It has now been nearly seven years since he passed away. He was truly one of the greats.

Anyway, I also watched two more episodes on the treadmill today, so let's talk about that.

The good news: second consecutive day back under 250. The bad news: the five day trend is still moving upwards. Even if tomorrow is a good day, the five day will probably still push upwards unless tomorrow is extraordinarily good (it won't be). I don't have a prayer of actually losing weight collectively with the Sixth Doctor. By my last day with him on Tuesday I will likely be back where I was when I finished the Fourth Doctor, effectively negating both Five and Six. The thing is, this was never exactly about weight. I mean, I'd be lying if I didn't say I would still like to get all the way down to 220 at least, but at the end of the day this ridiculous project has been about me feeling better overall and I most certainly have achieved that. Or am I just trying to convince myself? Hard to say.

In other news, I watched two more episodes on the treadmill this morning and was pleasantly surprised. Let's talk about that.

Two bits of good news today:

First, after two consecutive days of being back above 250 lbs, I finally dropped back down below today. Of course, moving averages being what they are, that number went up even though my weight went down. At this point I fear that poor Colin Baker is going to suffer the ignominy of being the first Doctor in this ridiculous project for whom I actually gain weight. Oops.

Second, I got the results of my recent colonoscopy, and it was very good. I was a little bit paranoid because of my dad. You see, he was a very heavy guy. After he retired he decided to make some changes; eat right, get more exercise (with particular focus on walking), etc. Over the course of a year he lost a bunch of weight. Sound familiar? Well, at the end of that year he went to get an annual exam to show off to his long-time physician, and that's when they found the colon cancer. He passed away nine months later. So, as awesome as I feel right now I still had that bit of family history nagging me in the back of my head. Turns out I am all clear, and barring any other symptoms I don't need to go back for another five years. Yay!

I also watched the rest of the current sub-story, so let's talk about that.

I saw that doctor this morning about my pinched nerve, and she started me on a round of Prednisone to see if that will help calm it down. It has been getting gradually better, but my right index finger is still mostly numb and I regularly get the janglies all down my arm. At least it is not actively painful anymore. It is making it harder to type, though, which is a problem since as a software developer typing is how I pay my bills. It's a six day course of medication, which means by the time I finish I still won't be done watching the longest single story in Doctor Who history. Although, whether or not it is considered a single story or four thematically related stories is a frequently-debatable topic.

So let's talk about that.

I ain't gonna lie, I was pretty frustrated when I got on the scale this morning and was back over 250. I hadn't actually been on a scale since the morning I left for Denver last week, I expected some backsliding, but not quite that much. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Still and all, as long as it is not a trend that continues then it is all good. I took more than half a week off without any serious exercise, the numbers will start moving back in the right direction shortly. This isn't the end.

But it almost was for Doctor Who. Let's talk about that.

Today was my first day back on the treadmill after a weekend in the Rocky Mountains where I had no access (and, frankly, no desire). I expected it to be a rough go. but overall it wasn't bad. I still went for just over four miles, which wasn't half bad. Unfortunately, I spent it watching another damn Dalek story, and a weird one at that.

So let's talk about that.

Today has been an epic day. I started out with an hour on the Time Treadmill down in the hotel fitness center (were I garnered a few raised eyebrows from other folks working out, seeing my very-80's science fiction television program on the screen). Then I walked over to a place called Syrup for breakfast, and had the crack bacon (if you are ever in Denver, I highly recommend it). Then I attended the second day of my software development conference, an during my lunch break I recorded the new song I wrote for the show - When the Avalanche Comes. I wound up being invited to sing it during the closing session, and it was a rousing success. Then i had a lovely evening socializing with other developers, and then going out do dinner with my wife and a co-worker. All in all a very successful day.

So, about that very-80's science fiction program, let's talk about that.