I’m off the midnight shift for the rest of the week, as usual.

Since I work one day shift a week on Wednesdays, I have one of the most eclectic jobs in the newsroom.

One day it’s a traffic story, another day it’s about saving a dog, and today it was all about the Hawaiian Kingdom Government taking over the Iolani Palace grounds.
I don’t get into sides on these issues, but I appreciate the passion and beliefs that people stand up for. It ended peacefully, which was probably the best news of all.

* * *

Diet update: I (heart) Country Cafe is great for dieters. Brown rice, greens and furikake salmon or mahi. I need to be more Cat-like and start taking photos of these dishes.

After the long stand off today my big meal was at Karen’s Kitchen — brown rice, salad and mahi. Of all the great food over there I think this may have been the healthiest choice, and to me that’s an A-plus of a baby step.

Exercise-wise, played a little basketball after work yesterday, biked and did 35 minutes on the illiptical machine.

Bottom line, I know weight loss is slow but I’m tackling this about as head-on as you can.

I know “patience is a virtue” and “good things come to those who wait,” but if I were to gain weight after all this I’d make up my own fortune cookie and it would read something like this: “Eat what you will, because sometimes, you’re just screwed.”

* * *

Spike’s Ultimate Fighter is on tonight. I think it’s the best of the reality shows, next to the Deadliest Catch, of course.

Having Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin as the coaches was a stroke of genius by Dana White. It’s the best matchup of coaches since Randy Couture and Chuck Liddle in the show’s first season.

I’m a Rampage fan. You? Feel free to vent your UFC thoughts here, because I love this sport.

Here’s something people who burn the Midnight Oil can appreciate: Some days, you come home and just sleep. No working out, no binging on food … just sleep.

Since I switched to four-day work weeks I’ve made Mondays, following my second overnight shift, the day of rest. I get home before 10 a.m. rarely leave the bed until I return to work at midnight.

It makes the rest of the week that much easier and after three straight days of 60 minutes on the illiptical machine and 200 flights on the stairmaster, golf, basketball and swimming,, so I don’t feel too bad about resting. I believe the body needs it, particularly as you grow older.

The added bonus to sleeping all day? Too tired to eat!

So, as promised, my diet update yesterday is open for public consumption: Switched to oatmeal overnight and cut out Jack in the Box tacos (damnit). Still having a java blast and fountain diet coke to start the shift; also had a banana, apple, yogurt and a couple of pop tarts. This morning, I made a salad to take to work, and since I like to snack, I’m trying out the flavored Quaker rice snacks.

So far, pretty good, but I couldn’t see eating the rice cakes all the time. Just a good change of pace.

For me, that’s about as good as it gets. A friend gave me some Arbonne weightloss shakes to try and some natural vitamins, so adding them into the mix and seeing where it goes.
My goal for when I get off this morning is to find a personal trainer and settle on a real weightloss program, be it weight watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem or something else.

A few years ago I did the Atkins and it worked while I was on it, but like all fad diets as soon as I quit, I gained it all back.

No more fads for me, but I’m still looking for input on what’s worked, and not worked, for you.

Join in!

One of the all-time great movie scenes is when the late great John Candy — aka Dewey Oxburger — is sitting in the barracks explaining to his his fellow troops why he joined the Army in the Bill Murray classic “Stripes.”
Dewey: “I dont know if you’ve noticed, but I got a slight weight problem.”
Troops: “Nooooo…”
Dewey: “Yep, yep, yep … My doctor says I’ve been swallowing a lot of aggression… along with a lot of pizzas!”
And so it goes. Dewey joins the Army to become a lean, mean fighting machine.
Me? I’m sitting at a desk at at 2:30 a.m. on a Monday morning, can of Mean Bean Java Monster on one side, a 32-ounce Kona coffee on the other.
And now, it’s time to do something really stupid: Announce a diet in public.
As Dewey would say, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve got a slight weight problem…”
Friends, not so much doctors, have been telling me I’m eating too many pizzas. And doughnuts. And burgers. And … well, you get the picture.

So I’m looking for a little help. A little public shame into getting into shape, a little guidance. I’ve never really had to try a “diet,” persay. I’m typically someone who when I finally get fed up with how I feel, I run/walk/play the weight off.
But I’ve been a diet yo-yo my whole life, and as I grow older there’s not as much yo in my game as there used to be and that sucks.

My already slow metabolism is at a near standstill, so I want your opinions on what’s the best option: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers or NutriSystem? Other?
Also, what’s the going rate for a good personal trainer?

I can spend hours on a treadmill, stairmaster or elliptical machine — which I do already — but I’m looking for someone to kick my ass in a smart manner and who can set up a good diet. If I can find a good one, I’ll share our progress with all of you.

A lean mean fighting machine?
Ha.

Right now I’d settle for dropping 20 and going from there.

From here on out consider Midnight Oil a diet and workout tracker as a well as a place for overnights to congregate. I welcome input from all of you on your own efforts, successful and not.

I’m not sure if this is a good idea, but if public shame can’t motivate me I don’t know what will.

I can’t believe I’m doing this …

This is probably the first NFL draft where I’m more interested in Day 2 than Day 1.

Nothing about yesterday’s first two rounds surprised me, though I think debate over Matt Ryan’s selection by the Falcons at No. 3, McFadden by the Raiders at No. 4 and Glen Dorsey slipping to No. 5 may be something to follow for years to come.

I was glad to see no picks wasted on a receiver in the first round, too.

Today, I’m all about the Colt Brennan and UH watch. Mix in a little NBA playoffs, vog outside and … why am I leaving the house today?

I still think the Colt could end up in Carolina or San Francisco, but now I’m adding Minnesota and Chicago to my picks.

Anyone else have any guy feelings about the draft?

* * *

Wow, talk about a difference in draft coverage. On ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper is lauding the Minnesota Vikings for taking USC quarterback John David Booty with the 137th pick. On ESPN2, fellow draftnik Todd McShay and ESPN analyst Merril Hoge ripped the selection, calling Booty no better than a third-string QB who could get to be a decent backup.

I like McShay’s evaluations a lot. If you’re channel surfing, ESPN2’s draft team seems to be a little harder on the draftees. Regarding Colt Brennan, one of the analysts say he’s been tagged “brittle” by NFL scouts and a “system” quarterback.

I’d still take him over Booty.

So by now you’re figuring out Midnight Oil can be about anything. TV, police scanner chatter, where to eat at 3 a.m., travel … whatever is on your mind, or mine, at 2 a.m. and beyond.

This morning, I can’t get this weekend’s NFL draft off my mind, and I’d like to hear what you all are thinking about it, too.

If I were an NFL GM this weekend I would: