Magic Beans

As most overweight people will tell you we are always looking for that magic pill that makes us “smaller”.  The latest in this quest is “green coffee bean extract.”   I read an article in our local paper about it.   Apparently, Northern Nevada has become a hub for these types of alternative medicine cures and potions.  One reason is that the taxes are better for warehousing products than in California were many of these companies started.  And most importantly,   “There’s a growing worldwide surge of interest in health-related products: supplements, boosters, vitamins, weight loss, weight maintenance and the like.”  If you would like to read more about this surge of business our local paper is calling a “rebirth” click here.

The company that caught my eye is called “Nixeira — pronounced neshara. (It means snow in two languages, Welsh and Latin.”  This company produces the “Green Coffee Bean Extract.”  I went to the local Walgreens and was not able to find their product which has a “Plus” list of ingredient that help with antitoxins and it has added caffeine.   But I did find a supplement for about nine dollars that I am going to give a try.

About a year ago, Bryan Sintay lost 60 pounds, which he credits to changing diet, juicing and using supplements.   He owns “Kona Gold Coffee” here in Reno and founded “Nixeira”.

So what does this green coffee bean extract do to help me lose 60 pounds too?  Here is what I have found.  Green coffee bean extract contains Chlorogenic Acid, a naturally occurring agent in the body that helps your body burn fat efficiently and quickly.  The chlorogenic acid is removed from the bean by the roasting process. This is because the chlorogenic acid is extremely bitter,  not a desired taste in drinking coffee.  So you are left with taking this “bitter” pill instead.

The pills are capsules and have no taste.  You take them 10 – 20 minutes before eating your biggest meal of the day.   I am supposed to start seeing results in less than 10 days.   The claim is that it is not the caffeine but this acid that is working with your liver to rid your body of fat.

This was also featured on Dr. Oz.  You may remember my previous experiment with Raspberry Key-tones.  All that happened there was I burped raspberries.  At least I didn’t turn into one.

If I do turn into a green coffee bean,  at least I will be smaller!!  Or maybe Captian Hook and I can use the bean and escape to “Neverland”.

Killian Jones (Colin O’Donoghue)

I just watched 3 episodes of “Once upon a time”.   Isn’t he handsome?  ”And Straight on Till Morning” indeed.

The end is near on Idol

There are now just two contestants left on AI.  Unfortunately, my favorite went home last night.  But on an up note she out lasted the judges favorite who went home last week.

Now we are going to the finally with “Kreedums” and Candice.   I vote for Candice all the way.   She has a beautiful and powerful voice.   I like Kree too but she is country and that’s not my thing.  I think she destroyed Pink’s song with her twangy runs.  She does have a great back story and when she sings country she is the best.

Kree Harrison

But really Candice stole the night with her performance of “Somewhere” from “West Side Story”.   It has been done to death but she made it fresh and alive.

Candice Glover

In other Idol news Randy Jackson says this is his last season.  You go dawg!

Randy Jackson and Mariah Carey

Speaking of Mariah Carey.  ”Mr. Carey” had a special on last night where he surprised his grandparents with a home makeover.   It was really very sweet.  I am starting to like Nick Cannon. (Plus it gives me a reason to post another Mariah photo!)

Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon

Here is Angie Miller singing “Sorry” by Elton John

I am sorry she had to go home before the end.  While she wasn’t as consistent as the other two left in the competition, when she got it right it was stellar.

dociousaliexpilisticfragicalirupus

All work and no play makes Jeff a cranky boy!!.  I just got back and I want to leave again.  I am frustrated with stupid people.  Stupid co-workers, stupid vendors, stupid family members, stupid, stupid, stupid. I am practically perfect in every way!

Of course you would have to wrap that tape around my waist to get that measurement!  HA!

Happy Birthday Ricky

Palm Springs was wonderful.  We ate, we drank, we celebrated our 14th anniversary on May 5th.  It depends on how you count the years. We got together in 1999.  I am saying 14 years.  Next year will be the big 15.  We hope to go back to Hawaii for that one.

Today is Ricky’s birthday.  We had our first date on Cinco De Mayo at an Italian restaurant in Pacifica near San Francisco.  I fell in love through the peep hole.  There he was with his big green eyes.  We had been communicating through Yahoo! for several months.  So I felt like I already knew him.   Next thing I know I am wondering the wilderness of Modesto trying to find the house where his birthday party was being held.  I got lost big time.  When I got to the party it was winding down.  I met most of his close friends and family.  I also was warned by one of them, “you better not hurt him!”. That warning has come full circle, with our friends in Santa Rosa telling Ricky, “He’s a keeper don’t chase him off.”

We have been through a lot in the past 14 years.  There have been deaths, births, weddings, operations,  you name it.   I still am in love with him.   We don’t look the same but too me he does.  He points out how old he is getting and I have to take pause and look again.  I still see the same handsome man looking back at me.

So today is Ricky’s birthday and we are the luckiest two guys in Reno, because we have each other.

Granddaughter’s first Prom

I may be partial but I think Emilee is beutiful.  She asked him. I don’t know his name but at least he is not jock and the bowtie is so cute even if it is crooked. The other girl is her BFF Amanda.

Okay, I admit it. I watch American Idol.

Okay, I admit it.  I watch American Idol.   I know all the “cool” kids are watching “The Voice”.  I watch that too. (and DWTS!).  Any way last night the final four sang yet again.  I think all four of them could make an album or an iTune or whatever singers do now, but I was surprised last night by who I liked this time, and it wasn’t odds on favorite Amber Holcomb.

It was Angie Miller.  She lost those stupid curls (somebody must have stole her curling iron, thank god!)  She was very engaging at the piano singing ”Who You Are” (Jessie J).  And I was equally delighted by her performance of ”Cry Me a River” (Julie London).  Angie had not been my fave ever before last night.  She has learned a lot about stage presents and phasing since the beginning of this competition.  The judges say she pronounces everything too perfectly.  I really don’t see that as a bad thing, but last night she “loosened up” a bit and it did make it seem more real and heart felt then previous performances.

I know people like all the girls that are left.  I think they all will get record contracts.  Candice Glover is an amazing singer, but I don’t think she is going to win this thing.  Mainly because I am and old fart and I relate to her.  The viewers are a younger demographic.

And what about Kree Harrison you ask?  Again she has a great voice, but  she comes across as distant and not so friendly no matter what back story they try to give to her.

As for Miss Amber,  I really don’t like her.  Maybe if I close my eyes.

And don’t get me started on the judges this year, stinko!  I am impressed with Mariah Carey and Keith Urban, they both seem to give genuine advice that speak from experience.  What the heck Nicki and the Dog are say is anybody’s guess. (Too bad Mariah couldn’t find something low cut and sex to wear! Don’t enlarge this picture too much it may cause what we gays call the “gag reflex”.)

Okay, here is a picture of Amber.  She is not really that bad but still not my fave, even if she does look like a black and white cookie as Randy Jackson put it.  And her attempt to sing MacArthur Park….ooh my that sweet green icing wasn’t the only thing running.

If you want to see a black and white cookie look at this hot mess!  What nationality is she anyway? She keeps getting lighter and lighter.

P.S.  Thanks to rickey.org.  These pictures are all from last night (except this last one of Nicki.)

50 is middle of the road

Normally, I wouldn’t want to be older.  But lately I am jealous of all my retired friends.  Our friends in Santa Rosa, one is retired the other will retire in December.  Our friend from Sacramento, she is here visiting for a few days and she retired last year.  She proudly showed us her Medicare Card.

I don’t want to be old. I just don’t want to come to work anymore!

Being young has it’s advantages. For one thing I was more fit and attractive when I was younger, but now I get senior discounts, because Ricky is 11 years older then me.  Some places actually give discount if you are over 50, so I get those too. There are those who fear retirement because they don’t think they will have any value if they are not working.  I am not one of them.  Work is not my life.

It’s funny how my perception of what is old has changed.  I remember when I was a teenager thinking someone in their 20s was old.    When I was in my 20s, I thought 30 was old.  Now at 50 I think I am middle aged.

Too bad my body looks so damn old!!

Plastic surgery can take 10 years off, but look what happened to people like Bruce Jenner or Kenny Rogers! And the horror of it all, Barry Manilow!

I think I will just continue to grow old.   Over the weekend we looked at a new retirement village that is supposed to cater to “gay” people.   Never mine that the price was ridiculous, but I don’t see myself sitting around with old queens wrapped in feather boas.  Sure its fun for a while but enough is enough.  Why do you suppose they think we want to be segregated from the rest of the population anyway?  Have you seen all “black” retirement homes?  And how do you keep those damn Santa Rosa Lesbians at bay.  That’s just who I want for a neighbor, some old mean butch dike. (You know I love them but really, at the breakfast table, no thanks!)

Should this be of interest to any of you.  The cost to live there is the cost of a house (350,000) plus 2,800 a month.  That’s what the straight place charges anyway.  You don’t own anything.  They keep that money up front.    I am guessing the all “gay” resort will charge even more.

I think I would rather move to Palm Springs. That’s where gay men are supposed to go and die, isn’t it?  Under the swaying palm trees and the heat of the desert.  My skin will turn to a lovely wrinkled tan hide.  There are “other” people there too.  I do so love variety.  The best thing about Palm Springs is they accept us for who we are and they don’t run and hide or patronize too much.  In the words of some old drag queen or was she a lesbian, ” I just want to be left alone!”