I have begun eating less. However as I do, I start thinking too much that I will not be having food soon, and I begin eating all the wrong foods. Things I believe I will miss. I basically panic over food. Something true addicts do when they cannot see where their next fix will come from.
A few days ago my legs began swelling excessively once again, creating large blisters and dry, leathery skin. My right leg started having pain above my ankle on the rear side. An area the size of my fist becomes raw, and begins leaking my body’s water. It is so extreme that my wife placed a thick feminine pad on it, then wrapped my leg before bed time. By morning it had accumulated so so much water that is water dripping off the pad. One could literally wring it out and have water splash on the floor! At this time it became gross to view…. see the below photo. I thought maybe the cool water of my pool would help,… and it did feel better when I soaked my legs, but it did not help the sore. Cleaning it up once again, I let it be in the open air to see if it would dry out and heal. No such luck. Again, here is the photo… NASTINESS….please excuse the dog hairs on my foot. As if that is what you would be looking at…lol.
Today we met all who are participating in the program. There are currently 20 of us. We went over what is expected and the food we will be taking in. Since we have no food to bring home with us this week, we are supposed to begin lessening our food intake, and trying to eat better, while logging what we eat, and how we feel during the day. I am greatly hopeful and confident this day!! I believe I can do this!!
Program Description
Phase 1: Active Weight Loss (weeks 1-16)
*Meal replacement beginning in week 2 of the program.
*Weekly group sessions (60-90 minutes).
*Periodic medical checks, lab tests, and EKGs.
*Mandatory purchase of all meal replacements during this phase.
Phase 2: Continued Weight Loss / Early Maintenance (weeks 17-30)
**Transition from meal replacements (weeks 17-20).
**Weekly group sessions (60-90 minutes).
**Mandatory purchase of all meal replacements between weeks 17-20. Optional purchase of additional meal replacements between weeks 21-30.
Phase 3: Long-Term Maintenance (weeks 31-82)
***Weekly group meetings (60 minutes).
***Optional purchase of additional meal replacements – up to 3 per day.
Here is the OPTIFAST Meal Replacement List We Choose From…
In my initial exam by the Doctor, he tells me my blood tests look great, and that I have been accepted into the program. He then tells me that when week 1 begins, to basically cut my medications in half. I am taking a few things currently along with vitamins, TF and Allergy meds. They are: 1 pill of Bumetanide/AM for water and swelling, 2 pills/AM of Allopurinol for Gout prevention, 1 pill Atenolol/AM for my heartbeat to remain normal, 2 pills Indomethacin/PM for knees and Gout, 2 pills Gabepentine 1/AM & 1/PM for nerve pain in my feet and legs. Oh yeah.. my feet and legs always feel numb now other than nerve pain. This happened 1.5 years ago now. Even stepping on sand is painful. After extreme shock tests, that I did not feel, I have been told by the neurologist that my nerves are shot in my feet, and is worsening as it will travel up my legs. Ahh the life of being ME. Looks like I waited too long to fix myself. Some one once read me the meaning of my name… and it stated “There is always something wrong with a Kurt.” HA! I can vouch for that!
Many of you saw this model last May as Dan Grumeretz completed the build from the parts made by NICE-N Model Designs. He brought it over for Blue Screen photos last July, and we just now time to do something with them. We had moved just before that time. That stated, this is the second parts kit produced by NICE-N as Steve Neisen himself was going to build it for the collection here, and upon going to work for Disney, the build transferred to one of our own artist’s… Dan Grumertez. Only a handful of these currently exist. As for the photos, please pardon the model lighting starbursts…. during the move I had misplaced a filter. We hope you enjoy the shots of this beautiful model.
Kurt Kuhn
Kuhn Global, Inc.
Modeler’s Miniatures & Magic
Kurt Kuhn & Dan Grumeretz with the Star Trek III Studio Scale Klingon Bird of Prey Replica
Wings are manually positioned.
Model Information
Current Owner: Kurt Kuhn of Kuhn Global, Inc.
Klingon Bird of Prey Designed by: Nilo Rodis
Parts Master Artist: Steve Neisen
Build Artist: Dan Grumeretz
Blue Screen Photographer: Kurt Kuhn of Kuhn Global
~Hours Vested to Final Display: 500
Total Vested Cost of Development and Build: Unknown
Missing only the Battlestar Triton from the Peace Envoy at CIMTAR (the openings of the original Battlestar Galactica series and film), here are the other four that were built and painted from the Salzo kits by artists Dan Grumeretz and Marc Elkins. They include the Battlestar’s Galactica, Atlantia, Pacifica and Acropolis. All painted differently to identify them each by their color scheme and detail. Dan and I were in a rush that day, and set these up quickly in my home office. Thus the unfinished shots never came to be. Never the less… I thought we’d share a few shots quickly taken that day. Please remember that this is my home office…and not truly set up for this… LOL. Of note: The mystery Battlestar seen in a few shots is the study model originally starting it’s life for the upcoming Singer/DeSanto Battlestar Galactica film, and with a few ownership agreement issues, and with even more design changes, then became for the Kuhn Global Productions, Battlestar Galactica origin story of “13”.
Kurt Kuhn
Kuhn Global, Inc.
Modeler’s Miniatures & Magic
EACH Battlestar pictured has a 2016 Modeler Magic appraised value of $15,000 USD
“Available in November 2014 exclusively at Walmart stores and Walmart.com, the massive Star Wars Hero Series Millennium Falcon (approximate retail price of $59.99) measures over two-feet-long, and features a rotating radar dish and moving cannon. Check out the gallery below for a special early look at the fastest — and biggest — hunk of junk in the galaxy.”
ABOVE: The Original Toy Promotional Photos from Walmart.
The above statements and photos were shown on StarWars.com when this amazing toy was going to be made available through the U.S. based company of Walmart in 2014. This would be the first time a large scale Millennium Falcon toy would be offered that was scaled correctly to itself, not misshapen in some way for action figures to fit, and was only a few inches shy of being studio scale! It’s length being approximately 28″ makes this piece a solid 1/48 scale replica once it was remade by Marc Elkins. So many model builders and model makers grabbed up as many of these as they could, as we all knew it was a gift that was not going to be offered forever. With the price stated above, one simply could not lose. It was a great toy for everyone, and now it would make great displays for those who would turn them into something much more… like this one shown here today.
Using the main hull of the toy, Marc obtained the parts enhancement kit that Randy Cooper created just for this toy’s conversion, as well as the fantastic 3D printed cockpit from 308 Bits which fit perfectly. Lets face it, for any discerning person in this art form, a toy is still a toy until one adds the correct details and and properly weathered paint and body work that makes a museum replica magically appear. A toy is essentially a model made for playtime, no matter what age one may be. Marc worked his great talents on this piece, making it shine. From the interior and mandible lighting, to its engines… this is an amazing piece, complete with enhanced weathered damage and markings that make the Millennium Falcon truly appear. The photos show up close shots of his fine detailed work. Even the Kool Shade covered intakes are done beautifully. The turrets look beautiful, and they move appropriately. Marc even placed the barrel holes in these tiny cannon parts. As you look at the photos, you will notice that I turned the turret cannons upside down so that the top ‘bump’ part actually sits toward the canopy when the turrets are not in use. I had to do this because of the positioning of the turret mount itself. When they are placed right side up, with the ‘bump’ part on the top, the cannons sit with the barrels angled upward, taking away from the proper look of the Millennium Falcon whether in flight, or landed. Turning that part over allowed the the turret barrels to sit more correctly, and though not perfectly,… it looks marvelous. I wish to thank Marc Elkins for his amazing work, and Randy Cooper and Antonio Regidor of 308 Bits for their making enhancement parts for this magnificent piece. I also wish to thank Hasbro and Disney for making this great toy in the proper shape that we all love. Finding one of these toys is now rare… and they are very valuable on their own, especially after a conversion like this. I recommend grabbing one if you find one.
Kurt Kuhn Kuhn Global Incorporated
ABOVE: Kurt Kuhn with the 1:48 Millennium Falcon
Model Information
Scale & Size: 1:48 at ~28″ Long X ~20″ Wide.
Current Owner: Kurt Kuhn of Kuhn Global, Inc.
Build Artist: Marc Elkins
Blue Screen Photos by: Kurt Kuhn of Kuhn Global, Inc.
Parts Offered By: Hasbro, Randy Cooper, 308 Bits
Pattern Work: Hasbro, Randy Cooper, 308 Bits, Marc Elkins
During the building of Battlestar’s Atlantia, Galactica, and Pacifica, artist Dan Grumeretz took a few photos, one of which I used to create the Composite you see below. The Vipers are actually R.L. Bleecker builds from my own Collection and Blue Screen photos. If you look very closely, you will see three of those Vipers landing on Atlantia…. with two coming in further back. They nearly look like dots, don’t they? Also, much closer we see a set of three off the port side of Galactica, with two even more close toward Galactica’s aft area. I felt adding these elements gave it a more realistic feel.
Kurt Kuhn
Kuhn Global Inc.
Modeler’s Miniatures & Magic
