Happy New Year!

Has it really been 3 months since I last posted? I have a lot of good qualities but apparently stick-to-it-ivism is not one of them. Alas, I am going to make another go at it. It's a new year - 2011, which is crazy. I will be 32 this year, which is also crazy. 32 is one of those ages that I remember thinking "Wow, she is a GROWN UP" about when I heard someone was that age, all the way up through my early twenties. And now I am here.

So, since September I have continued working at my same bogus but lucrative contractor gig. In October we went to Memphis, which was awesome, I would buy a condo there if they were $40k. In November, I felt slightly sorry for myself one Friday night and the next day we wound up with an 8 week old puppy. She is perfect - Nadine. Crazy, and puppies/dogs are hard, but we love her very much. Then later that month I completed the Philly Half after not running since early October due to a painful groin [that's what she said]. I was nervous but determined. My goals were finish, don't stop/walk unless dying, don't die and break 3 hours. I succeeded with all at 2:51, even walking to dinner that night. Walking is a loose term, I was gimping hard-core. And for like a week after. But I am very proud of myself and proud to poo-poo people who thought I was kidding. It was a good feeling - required a lot of Advil and gummi bears and gatorade and I almost cried at mile 12 but the end was worth it. I will actually train for one next year and maybe get up to my goal time of around 2:20-25. We shall see.

For 2011, my goals are pretty simple. Floss more, complain less, run, learn to drive a stick, maybe get married. Side notes are losing 30 pounds and getting my shit together [cue the laugh track, when aren't those my goals]. I started out today by eating ok - "healthy" bagel with 2 fried eggs, tea, some juice, an apple. I had this all after a 2.4 miles run that I completed in slightly less than 32 minutes. Kind of suck city but I hadn't run since November [the Half Marathon] so I was glad to just get out - it's also 50 degrees out [after a gnarly blizzard last week] and I would be an absolute lazy shit if I hadn't gone out. I will work on short bursts and try to get down to 10-11 minute miles. I can do it, I think. I also need a new race for this year. I should do a late winter one but I'm guessing that won't happen. So spring, summer - we'll see.

Ed just made a fantastic sauce, so we had some fusili and salad and garlic bread. Now I am having some wine and probably some chocolate. Not a bad way to start off the year!

Merci

My blood sugar is so low right now I can barely think, and I just spent 1 hr hanging up clean laundry. The WORST. My brain is a constant hamster wheel of things I'm forgetting. Ugh.

Anyhow, despite of my HORRIBLE LIFE [sarcasm, of course], here's what I'm appreciating today:

1. job got renewed for 3 more months. Frustrating in ways and still not my life's passion but it's opening some doors and moreover it's cash-money.

2. my birthday being over. Birthdays and holidays are always massive build-up and then some semi-fun fizzle with good food. Such was the case. I need to realize I don't live in The Great Gatsby and get a better idea of what it really means to have a party, BEFORE I'm in the middle of it.

3. my beautiful diamond ring. It scared me at first, and marriage scares me in general [not due to ed, due to being a full-on adult], but I stare at this shizz daily and it always makes me smile.

4. my cat being 13 with no end in sight; that would seriously crush me

5. beer plan with the KAS. Could turn out awesome, and I am in dire need of a lit fire under my ass.
5b. I got a new print in the mail from the KAS, and it is beautiful. I've already framed it and I'm figuring out where to put it. Ahht.

Wednesdays will be things I'm thankful for.

On today, I am thankful for:

1. I am healthy as shit, the older I get, the more important this becomes.

2. My family is awesome in a noninvasive way. So is Ed's. What are the odds?

3. My MacBook. Srsly, LOVE.

4. Maintaining an income even though I'm unemployed; way luckier than others even if I pout like Bitter Sally ALL DAY LONG

5. Not giving a shit about weddings or babies. I would have no hair left. And I'm glad it's not a fake and stressful not caring, it's legit. Way better stuff to focus on in life. I do give a shit that Ed will be my husband one day, and for that I am ALSO thankful.

Off to Fenway, where Dice-K better give me some more stuff to be thankful for...

Oh Yeah

So I'm thinking rather that being the constant whiny Gen Xer that I am, I'm going to do lists every week of stuff that doesn't suck.

Mondays will be things I'm looking forward to [maybe even goals - GOALS!].
Wednesdays will be things I'm thankful for.
Fridays will be anything that makes me happy or is good.

Kick-start:

1. i'm excited that my parents are getting a dog

2. I'm looking forward to a freshly scrubbed kitchen floor [sad face]

3. My BIRTHDAY is SUNDAY!!!

4. We are going to erbaluce for above-mentioned birthday...yesss.

5. Casino night could be a success, could. Should?
God knows I bought enough furniture, accessories and outfits that I'm ging to have to justify at least one more down the road.

Here's what's going to happen

It's 1.5 hours until December. I have basically wasted another whole year of life - but it's not too late. December can be the new January and then January might ACTUALLY work for once in my life. Sadly, I just realized that today, November 30th, I ate bagels w/ CC, tea, Iggy's bread with cheese and tomatoes, more tea, juice, japanese white rice with soy sauce, more tea, 2 pieces of garlic bread. And a banana. For real, I have the White/Beige food group covered but I'm missing the rest. And I'm starving. Alas. Upward and onward.

First, good things from this year:
1. Princess gave me this beautiful ring that I stare at constantly. I love it in so many ways and am so happy-happy with him. Now when I turn onto my dreaded stretch of 495 en route to Westford, I am pleasantly surprised by a universe of mini rainbows from the sun reflecting off of it onto the inside of my car.

2. I turned 30, no great shakes but an accomplishment in itself. I am an adult! My party sucked, but I'm glad to have good friends and that Mark has since stopped drinking.

3. One year in the house, no disasters. This is a mini-miracle.

4. Fun trips - Cali, Seattle, visits to friends. VEGAS THIS WEEKEND! As much as I bemoan traveling, it makes life interesting. Plus new food establishments are always welcome.

5. Family is happy and healthy, myself and Linus included. Sometimes that's all you need.

Ok, so now let's plan. Major upcoming events:

Vegas 12/3-7 I'm eating whatever I want and not jogging, FTW.
Ed b-day dinner 12/19 Free pass.
X-Mas 12/23-5 Again, anything goes. Maybe I'll try moving at least one of these days.
NYE 12/31 We may have a party, I may put on 5 lbs. Although I ate very little at the Halloween fest.

After that, free and clear for running and salads [joy!]. In focus, I have Martha's wedding in June and Meagan's and like half my female cousins in September. These are all motivating. If I see one more picture of me at a wedding with granny arms, I'll shit. Going to try and lose 30 lbs by June, 40 by Sept. Is this nuts? Probably but I'd like to check out Ms. Moss' [paraphrased] sentiment "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" for myself as a grown up. I can always go back to over-eating and sitting on the couch later in life. Plus this gives me a head start for my actual wedding for which I need to look fabulous. I'm thinking 3/6/11 in Portland at VooDoo Donuts [a free pass day as well], we'll see. Ed should probably have a say in this too...hmm....

So I'm thinking 10k again this April and then...half marathon in the Fall? Maybe? I need to research a. easy courses and b. how/if you pee while running that far. Seriously, I am obsessed over this aspect. I had to stop once on a mini-training jog to tie my shoe and it was PAINFUL to restart. And I can't imagine jogging in place while squatting on the side of the road? Gross, I need to stop thinking about this.

Ok, off to bed. I'm not going to lie and say I'll be back tomorrow, but I am going to prepare my training/eating master plan on the flight to Vegas Thursday night. So till then!

Blog v2.0

I'm not even going to fake it with the where the fuck did the past 3 months go comments...it was summer, I am 30, people I know like to get married, and have babies, and move, and host BBQs. I like to go on vacation and to Red Sox games and out for dinner. The economy sucks and I'd like to keep my job. I have no excuses.

So as I mentioned in my last post, I need a new sub-title. I am now 30, a rubenesque-joggy 30. I have good days and bad - ran a 5k with Bobby G on Sunday and just wolfed 4 plus-sized Nutella s'mores because it's Thursday and why not. Que sera, sera.

I keep reading all these blogs and getting Blog-Envy [lamest sounding term ever, noted] so I am really going to REALLY try and get it together for October. New month, new quarter, no big interuptive vacations or events planned for the near future. The weather is lovely, life is pretty good. I need to embrace it and take note. I'm deciding my 30s are going to get a bit more introspective. Not wackadoo-hippy, and hopefully not old, but I really do need to get it together to stop feeling so pointlessly frantic all the time.

One of my new, or old but new recognization [is that a word? no], goals is to not whine.bitch.complain so goddamn much. Or if I do at least also take the time to consider how awesome 99.99999999997% of my life actually is. This will yield more lists, yay and nay, good and bad, happy and annoyed, whatever and whatever. I LOVE LISTS! ProRun is almost over and I'm sick so I need to go to bed but to start here are 5 things I'm happy and thankful for right now:

1. I love my house. I love turning on to my street. I love my overgrown yard. I love my mess.

2. I love that we are going to Vegas in December. It's not even October and I can almost TASTE it already.

3. I love cable. Sad sad sad but true.

4. I love that tomorrow is Friday.

5. I love that I have a washer and dryer in my own basement. Laundry is so much more palatable when you do not need to leave your house to do it.

And as a bonus per the preview I just watched, 6. I love that MICHAEL KORS IS BACK on Runway next week! Woot!

1 non-love is that another bulb in the chandelier just blew....that leaves me with 2 out of 6 remaining. It's like 1890 up in here.

20 Day Time Warp

I've been a bad blogger, again. Whatever, starting a-fresh today.

Ran my 10k yesterday! Woo-hoo! It was EIGHTY-FIVE DEGREES. I'm not joking. In April, I was afraid it would be too cold but never even considered it feeling like July. A little preview of summer training I guess? I will def need to start waking up early. However, I ran the whole thing and didn't die or pass out so I call that a victory. 1 hr and 18 minutes, I came in like 1650 of 1750 - whatever. I wasn't last, I broke 1.5 hours and I didn't die. Goals = Met. Daddy was proud of me.

One goal I have not met is my weight loss. I think I am moving into hardass crazy pants diet for May [minus Vaca] and up until my birthday. This will be challenging in summer, BBQs and Sox games, but I really need to get lighter so I can run faster so I can EAT MORE> the ultimate goal.

For today, no exercise as my legs feel like Jell-O, I worked from home and had:

2 eggs fried in EB [late, brunch-ish]
2 sausage links
Cup of tea
some watered down juice
An apple
A yogurt

Dinner now, I am starving!

Season 3 of the Tudors

I'm watching this now, it's the same, I dig it. They switched actresses to play Jane Seymour, which is wack. I like that I only have to half pay attention. And that Brandon Charles is seriously getting more and more handsome. Good Lord. Here was the rest of the day:

Headed down to Middleboro, has some more of my drink and a tasty Bud Light Lime. I will not admit it, becuase I spent last summer ridiculing him for this opinion, but the stuff is pretty damn good. And I loathe all Budweiser products so this is ringing endorsement. Very nice afternoon, balmy, llamas and they're all good people.

Had an apple on my way to 5 Keane. Daddy made me a small plate of parm-encrusted chicken, some baked lasagna and asparagus, with some more of my drink. Had a cup of mint tea. I just had a 100 calorie bag of popcorn [not great but took the edge off] and now I am having a yogurt and my evening cup of tea.

Ed booked our trip to Seattle/SF! I am excited, less douchey as I was about it Friday. I like to have 17 years to plan things, so curve balls [ie. finding out we're going to SF almost 2 months in advance....I am so nuts] make me wacky. But Ed edited carefully and made some decisions on his own [much better!] and we are good, I'm looking forward to it. Wish it was tomorrow instead of work...going to WF for the day, trying to get there early. Maybe even run beforehand? And then pedicures with Erin after work...I am so nervous.

Mixing this Taislim in with my drink....so far, I have no issues and see no miracles. We'll give it a bit. Whatever, works, right? As long as I don't develop a heart condition. Good night!

What is this big yellow ball in the sky?

What a rad Sunday! Spring is springing!! I have been lazy per usual for the past couple days, I felt very run down and crazy towards the end of the week - weird dreams. Getting used to no sugar always knocks the wind out of my sails. It's getting slightly better. I've become a big fan of fruit. And I've been drinking more water, I still hate peeing ALL THE TIME but you really do feel better! Here is a recap:

Friday
Eggs with ham and cheese
A yogurt, probably an apple and banana [I really haven't been cheating, but my memory is suffering so I can't recall 2 days ago...]
Ed made a curry for supper with potatoes and beef, it was really yummy. The beef was tough but I had randomly bought it and have 0 idea how to buy a decent cut of meat. The sauce was amazing. I think we had strawberries for dessert.

It was dark and cold, rode the bike for like 10-11 miles? Lame.

Saturday
For breakfast, I didn't want to eat greasy eggs and then go running so I instead had pineapple, blackberries, juice/water, a banana. We had a street meeting at 3 so at 1:45, I went for a "run" maybe did a mile? I hot a wall real quickly, probably ran-walked 2-3 total, I had zero energy, it was cold, I woke up with a sore throat.

Came home and went to the meeting, had LBS the whole time but it was interesting. I resisted the chips and salsa and chocolate chip cookies that looked AMAZING. Came home and made myself some Don't Knock It Till You've Tried It: toasted apples with american cheese and cinnamon and splenda [inspired by Michael Scott's Splenda N Scotch]. It was really good, I'll be honest. I think I had a yogurt too.

Went to Moulton's with Ed and Jen, it was delish. Had coconut shrimp, a crabcake, shrimp pomodoro [w/ linguine, SO GOOD - Carbs!!], and 2 glasses of Pinot Grigio. No dessert, no bread. Came home and had some strawberries with Splenda [MS] and some more juice/gatorade/whatever. Went to sleep at midnight.

Today is Sunday, so far so good. Got up at 10:40, had a banana and some watered down gatorade. Went for what should have been a 3.3 mile run and thanks to my sense of direction, or lack thereof, it was actually 4.7. It's beautiful out, my body had few "I'm going to die" moments, so I just went with it. Realized I'd gone to far when I saw the "Welcome to Winchester" sign. Whoops! Good route though, not totally flat but nothing back-breaking, and most of it had sidewalks [I'm learning the pitfalls of running!]. I do enjoy that I get to explore neighborhoods and look at houses when I run. I could actually learn to like this. I def like telling people how far I ran and having them respond with shock and/or praise.


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Just got home, did some stretching, had some eggs with mozzarella and sausage and a cup of tea and more of my gatorade-h2o-juice mix. Showering now and then off to a BBQ at the other Lindsay's house. It's gorgeous out, I cannot WAIT for summer!!

No Joke: No Sweets for a Month!

No April Fool's Day prank, the lack of sugar and carbs has made me too sluggish to think of anything clever.

Won't get into the past half month, sheer laziness per usual. I sit and stare at a screen all day and vary my distractions and lately blogging hasn't been on my radar. New month, I am re-energized and motivated and ready to go. That might be the most redundant sentence I've ever composed, but I'm trying to rally...

To sum up the past couple weeks, I've been eating ok and working out probably 3-4 times a week, nothing good or progressive [i.e. more than 2 miles at once] but I've been consistent. Nothing crazy and gluttonous food-wise either, too much bread [always] and Ed and I did split a pint of B&J last night as a farewell to sugar for April [except Easter, already looking forward to it], but I now need to take radical action to see any of the changes I want to see.

April 1 is here, new diet and life plan. Way more jogging - 25 days till the 10k - ACCCKK!!!! No sugar, less..maybe no...bread, more fruits and veggies, less processed crap. No beer? Not sure why I threw that in, I only drink beer at trivia but it just makes me FEEL fat. I need to look good and feel good, I sound brainwashed but I am not. Just scared of turning 30.

Not of being old or a failure, just in being a blob of what used to be skinny and healthy. I evaluated my life station on my hellish drive to Westford today and I am actually quite content and happy, I am very lucky. Complaints would be that I have no pill to suddenly lose 30 lbs and gain muscle, and having to drive to Westford twice a week. These are not awful by any stretch.

I'll write up my diet details this weekend so I have to stick to it. Frankly, right now I'm tired from work and my run [2.3 miles, not on a track in drizzly 40s - woo-hoo!] and want to watch The Tudors and focus on anything besides the dessert I will not be having. I feel tired but pretty awesome, I just need some good and distracting audio and I can kind of go on auto-pilot. Plus running on the street was not nearly as bad a transition as I thought it would be. Here is what I ran:


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For consumption, oatmeal with SF syrup, milk and bananas. Katsu/sushi lunch box from Karma with gyoza, rice and soup [DC with lemon] with LR at lunch. No snacks, just an apple on the ride home and some Propel and tea all day. Drinking Propel now, will have a yogurt [sugar is ok in jam or yogurt...there is a method to my madnes, I just need to figure it out]. Ending my day with tea WITHOUT a sweet, a new habit I need to get into.

Ok, back to handsome Brandon Charles. God bless OnDemand.

Erin Go Bleerghhaackkk

My sentiments exactly.

WFH today, had some yogurt and tea for br, banana.
2 pieces WPF toast, more tea, some juice. Had PB&J on a tortilla, I like that even if Ed says it's totally weird. More juice, went for a run. Sucked at first, got better, got even better to the point that I thought I could do 2 miles but I bailed after halfway through my 7th lap [so 1.5 straight...not awful]. My plan is to be up to 2 miles this Saturday, then I guess start taking it to the streets?

Daddy says the course is flat, that's good. I will go on google maps and find a local flat course. I know it won't be a huge difference but the race is not on a track and that's all I've been running on. Today was a bit encouraging but exercise is still not the urge I wish it was in me. Alas. I will have to take some advil next time and maybe look into good muscle food...like bananas? There have to be others. I am sore.

So hit up WF and had a salad of tomatoes, mozzarella and cucumbers and 2 big pieces of garlic toast on the WPF. Some kind of dill onion, it has big chunks of onion in it, not a fan comparatively. Not that it's stopping me from eating it. No trivia tonight due to St Patty's, next week. Now I am going to make some tea and have a sweet while I watch season 2 of The Tudors: a nice simple night. So far it's ok, except the king has a bad teenage mustache and more hair this season, not sure how I feel about that. Beyond that, mindless and medieval as usual.

16th of March

Already....good god, where does it go? I get nothing accomplished. Does this go away or is this being old? Have I already asked this before? No wonder kids are so blissfully free and happy. Whatever, yikes is the sentiment of the day. Still staring at that pile of post-its from last week. Yeah.

So, Friday went to Beth and Laura's, had a wonderful spread of bread, cheese, hummus, veggies and red pepper dip. I was the DD [Ed and Laura get together and I have to drive? Shocking] so I only had a small glass of red, and then a glass of white. On our way home I naughtied it up with a #1 from Wendy's [split the fries and DC with Princess, he ordered his own Baconator]. Horrible for me, FF twice in 1 week and my knees hurt cause I'm too fat to run properly, but it was really, really good. Nothing beats fast food from a drive-through at 1:30 am.

Saturday morning, woke up late, Ed made me a pair of HECs on a bagel, had some juice. Hit the North Shore mall en route to sausage fest and grabbed a Starfucks Vanilla Roobois - not good, too herbal and floral, basically a tea bag with steamed milk which means they charge like $4 instead of $1.80. I'll stick with what I know going forward. Abstained from sausage and booze and otherness while at the party. Came home and had some chilli with lemon and jack cheese and sour cream. Ed had made it that morning, it was delicious. And I am very lucky to have a dude who cooks for me, and more than 1ce a day! I know this. Had some cookies and tea and a resses easter egg, no booze all day. Good, but what I miss in alcohol I am making up for in sugar. Damn me. I then had a Werther's in bed, and didn't brush after! I'm rotten and my teeth soon will be too.

Sunday was lazy per usual, woke up at 11:15 and felt my day was ruined already. DST is still screwing with me, and I am wrestling with the do I sell out and start waking up early on weekends or do I continue to sleep late on any day that I can? I have a wonderful life that this is my struggle. So, got up late, Ed made me HEC on a bagel, had some juice, watched TV. Went for a run with Princess a bit before 3. Walked to the track, did a couple laps, ran a mile straight, did a couple more laps, walked home. Had some more lemonade post run, went to my parents [stopped at TJs to buy more of those maple cookies for dessert - Ed forbid me from bringing them into our house but my parents' is a different story] and was starving when I got there. Shoved in a TJ Truffle brownie pre-dinner, had my Bob Gaudet glass of red wine. Ate our dinner with cranberry and seltzer - corn beef and cabbage, with potatoes in honor of St Patty's Day. For dessert, had a couple more brownies [they're small], a maple cookie and some mint tea. Drove home after my Sunday ritual, go to CVS and get gas [WILD!! Where is my cool life?] and had 2 WF b&w oreos with a cup of tea for my late evening treat [bad habit].

Today is Monday, I slacked all weekend. Went to Westford, had my bagel, some tea. Went to The Grill for a salad and cup of chowder with a DC. Had my banana, more tea. Got home and went to Home Depot [first time in a long time, nice], and then came back to some tritip and potatoes from the slow cooker. Followed this up with more b&w cookies, tea and half a reeses egg. I'm now catching up on Netflix...after we got cable I was at a standstill and just realized I've had my Netflix for like 3 weeks. Is that rude? Is there an etiquette? Anyhow, watching Nip Tuck, this could be the solution to my diet issues, the surgeries are just gross, I have to turn away.

Ok, off to bed after this, it's almost the Witching Hour. I failed at working out today so I HAVE to work out tomorrow. I was sore today, not sore enough to be a valid excuse but...anyway, tomorrow I HAVE TO WORK OUT...ugggghhhhhhhhhh.

When I grow up, I want to be a dirty hippy!

I've never uttered these words, I actually hate dirty hippies. However, tonight I would've made my parents [clean dirty hippies in their own right....activists they would say] proud by walking to a town meeting, looking at maps, reading leaflets, listening to my community for 2.5 hours and then walking back home and using my reusable grocery bag at Whole Foods to pick up a few organic whatevers on my way back to the homestead. I love my town! Or city, we're a city. Seriously, as annoying as some of those people were, it was really great being there and seeing people care and talk and voice their opinions and interact. There had to be 300 people, I would think the Green Line would be a no-brainer but apparently there is LOTS of controversy.

Controversy, schmontroversy, I'm siked. I could care less about the pollution as long as it's not excessive [I live it a city, part of that is that it's dirtier here than the country - deal with it]. The commuter rail is already loud, I've learned to live with it. I do not need a parking garage considering I can walk to 2 of the stops. And by the time I'm 40 I will have a 15 minute ride into the city and never have to deal with parking. I am excited. And hello property values. Again, I'll believe it when I see it [and if those m-fers try to come in and take some of my yard, I'll go crazy...but I can't see how they would, geographically?], but it's nice to be at the start of something and I feel like we are. Everyday I feel better and better about our decision to get this place, not that I had remorse or regret upon buying, but I would say I was just scared. If you fuck up buying a house, you are kind of screwed. Anxiety and my brain are like moth to the flame up in my head. So yeah, I keep hugging Ed and telling him how happy I am that we made a good choice and that I think we made the right decision and it's wonderful. He is like "Umm, yeah that's why we bought it and moved in 6 months ago" and per usual, thinks I'm totally weird.

Anyhow, so that was my night. Worked from home today to not have to deal with the Wintry Mix. Barf. It was a blessing as the gas guy came by and needed to get in the basement [I'm still convinced it was some kind of set-up; I am my mother's daughter] AND warned me that after 7 am tomorrow, we will not be able to get out of our driveway and we should park up the street. So fingers crossed that our car is still there in the AM [and un-tampered: lots of car horror stories lately]. I will get a permit this week, I have slacked on that but I blame the RMV and their confusing registration policy.

Ok, so had some oatmeal with bananas and syrup for breakfast. Had some tea and some juice. For lunch, I had 2 thin slices of the WPF bread with butter and cream cheese. However, wayyy less B & CC than I usually use. So yay. Then I had a yogurt and more tea. I think that was all, my memory is shot. Oh wait, I tried to have cup of soup but it was gnarly [too much water and then I'd tried to bolster the pasta quotient].

I ran 4 Wii-miles and showered and went to my meeting. Had some sushi from WF after, and some strawberries [so good, so worth the $4 - it's like spring in my mouth] with splenda. A vodka juice cocktail, light on the vodka...Intervention always inspires me to drink. Maybe to remind myself that unlike the poor souls on TV, I can stop after 1? I am beyond thankful for that, everyday, I cannot imagine being an addict, it's got to be exhausting and sucktacular. Anyhow, just had some crusty french bread with butter [fresh baked at WF...yummm] and some mozzarella, tomatoes and OO/vinegar with spices and S&P. So good.

I will be having a couple sandwich cookies too, they were cheap and looked delish. It's like 11:30 now though, I need to knock off the late eating. In fairness, it feels like 10:30. Which means I need to go to bed. I hate DST, seriously. When it gets warm it will be better, right?

Sandrine's is the new Chez Henri

So when we last left off [I'm now writing a radio teen series from the 60's apparently], I was heading out to Chez Henri for 6:30. I did in fact head, even getting there earlier [I know, wtf?], but I found Darling waiting outside- weird, it was definitely warmer than recently but it was like 40 degrees, and they have good drinks in there [one of my main points when Ed announced mid-afternoon we should try Il Pescatore instead. Helllls to the no, though that place does look good - this was a 5 year anniversary, and a Friday]. He announced we were not eating at CH. I was sad, but then he explained to me that the hostess was a douche. If the place had been nuts to butts I would have understood the douchery a bit more [though I subscribe to a 98% non-douche policy for the service industry, the 2% reserved for when someone is outright rude to you, then you have all the right in the world to let loose]. It was not crowded, it was 6:30 at night, in a recession, in winter. Ed is a wonderful tipper, this girl made a poor choice and I hope she realizes that. Alas, we headed into the square and walked into Sandrines. LOVED IT.

I was apprehensive about my outfit [jeans and chucks and my homeless winter hat], but there was no problem. The hostess sat is at a table for 2 in the rear with no one next to us. The tables had plenty of room around them, this is important in a smallish space. Our waitress came right over. I am totally moving to waitressing if I ever get laid off. She was nice, and knowledgeable and attentive and polite and I love now her. After we ordered we were chit-chatting and she said the staff guesses what people will order when they walk in and apparently her colleague pegged us. She also mentioned that they were both gunning for us to sit at their tables. Apparently we look laid back, hungry and like we like nice wine. If I could be described as those 3 words for the rest of my life, it might be pretty accurate. Nevertheless, I was very pleased that we come off as a good table even before we sit down.

So yeah, she was awesome as was THE FOOD. Rad crusty bread and butter to start [with the offer of a refill, we declined but I love when it's offered]. We started with this Tarte Flambee thing with scallops and bacon. OMG, yes. It had onions all over it which made me apprehensive but yum yum yum. We had a salad, also super good and Princess picked out a wonderful red wine, I of course have no idea what it was but it was great. Ed ordered some fois groie, I tried it becuase despite my taste bud, I'm not 5. It was ok, but still to cat foody for me. Ed loved it. For meals, I got Pork Cordon Bleu and Ed got the lamb chops. Everything was perfect and delish, the beans were tender but cooked and seasoned right and there was this amazing merlot sauce. Ed's was yummy too, really tender and with potatoes and squash.

I had a glass of riesling with dinner and then an Orange muscat for dessert. We ordered this chocolate cake thing, super simple but dense and rich, with vanilla ice cream and caramel and fudge sauces. SO good, not that we had room to finish it but it was the perfect cap to the meal. Walked back to the car very full and very happy. A great night!

Just another cra-zy Saturday night

I had TJ's instant oats and flax for lunch, and then a yogurt. Then we went to Desfina and I had a beer after work. I actually wound up having 3, what else is new. I had a bag of Sun Chips and probably 5-7 of Andy's hand cut fries. Then we went to see Jenny Dee and the Deeeelinquents at the Cask N Flagon, they were fabulous but that is no surprise. We then headed to Crossroads [me, Erin, Ed, Pickles and Crotty] and I had like half of another Corona, a DC, a cheeseburger and a few fries. Fries were not good. I then got a pounding headache, came home, took some Advil and fell right asleep.

Today was wasted trying to get Red Sox tickets, I love my team, and I love paying face value. I got in a few times but only was able to get section 35 [barf] or SRO and the tried to get better and got booted. Whatever, it would've been more on the credit card and I'm trying to save, right? So yeah, had some Instant Breakfast and tea and chained myself to the computer between laundry and tidying up.

Lindsay R came over for a bit on her way home from a shower, I had some Chex Mix and water. Then I made some Kraft Alfredo mac n cheese, a teeny bit of Boones, and a giant piece of garlic bread. Ed actually found bread at WF that I don't like, a first. It's ok, but sour doughy in a strong way that is not good. Does this stop me from eating it? Hell's to the no. The day I do not eat bread that's available in my house, Armageddon is on the way for sure. It's an extra disappointment because Ed got this really good butter that he says is awesome but I can't really tell - it's yummy but I think I'm missing out on the amazing factor. Alas, I don't need to fall in love with expensive, fatty-ass butter. Especially when I'm not exercising. Which I didn't today. But will tomorrow. Yes.

Back to Miss America on TLC [WOW train wreck, and I thought my reality shows were entertaining...they've got nothing on this] and organizing my life. Princess is at his brother's house of debauchery, doing god knows what so I have the house to myself. I am relishing in losering it up. Off to eat a limited edition Apple Pie yogurt from Stonyfield Farms, then maybe some tea. I need to try and remember to grab my laundry before I fall asleep. These are my roaring 20's.....

I love free stuff

And as I've mentioned a bit lately, I'm turning into a bit of a dirty hippy in my old age. That being said, I read in a fellow-blog that I follow about a promo for free web-hosting space! This is awesome since it's such a useful thing taht I need, but paying for it seems wack. You have to link to it in your blog and vow for what you are going to do to make the world greener. That was horrific grammar, thankfully bad word choices don't enlarge my carbon footprint.

Ok, so I have no idea if I'm doing this right but anyone who read this, link here for good info and how-to's on getting your own space:

So here are my resolutions:

I will only print necessary documents at work, and lately that is very very little.

If I have to print, I will do it double sided.

I will also try and consolidate documents as much as possible.

I will research and purchase refillable ink cartridges for my home printer, for printing photos or projects.

I will research and purchase recycled photo paper.

I will use less post-its [already bought a voice recorder and have started using the virtual notepad in my iPhone].

I will use the front and back of papers for notes [my mom has been doing this for years!].

I will tele-commute more.

I will take the bus when I go to my local, city office.

I've started using old magazines to keep my boots upright, prop up uneven house-wares, etc. Will keep this up!

I feel better already....what a great idea! This is in-line with my personal theory that the reusable bags at Whole Foods should be free. I know people would abuse this, but it's a shame. Instead they cost a couple bucks, which isn't a lot and I've bought them but it does seem counter-intuitive. Now if only they would install a voice-box on the bags that shouts at me when I leave for the grocery store. Ive been improving though, will resolve to keep that up too!

So the above has nothing to do with food; real quick:
so far DD HEC on a croissant, a tea and some Instant Breakfast.
Had some popcorn and 5 [yes, 5] doves chocolates last night in bed. It's like a luxe hotel on the second floor of my house...what?

Saturday

So yesterday flew by, I was still frantically getting ready when Meagan and Dan showed up a little before 8. Can time-management be learned? That would be a nice skill...it's so frustrating, I have good intentions and then life just gets away from me. Needless to say, 0 exercise besides running around to various grocery and booze places and going up and down my stairs cleaning and putting stuff away.

Meagan and Dan showed up and then Laura and Beth came over as well. I had mentioned to Ed that he should invite them [they get along well and I try to up my people-in-my-home anxiety by adding folks when I can], but he never listens to me and last he'd told me was that he'd texted them so I didn't think they were coming. So that was a nice suprise and made conversation and AI Wii-Karaoke even more fun. All in all, a very fun night; and not having to drive home is the shit.

I made a spread of cucumbers, peppers [gross, but yellow looked pretty] and carrots [semi-gross but good for you and people like them] with this parmesean pesto dip from Shaw's [delicious]. We also got red pepper hummus bread and the savory cranberry bread from WPF and I put out some olive oil and balsalmic with S&P. It was relatively healthy and soooo good. Of course, then we ordered some pizzas and had a WPF bread pudding tart thing [french vanilla choco-chip, decent] and the Pepperidge Farms entertainment selection of cookies. And drank way too much.

Said and done, I'd say I had a handful of veggies and dip, probably 2-3 slices of bread total, with OO, 3 pieces of cheese pizza from Angelina's [yum], 3 or 4 cookies and 2 tiny pieces of the bread pudding. Drinking I had a glass of red, 2 of white, 1 of Boone's Farm [love it] and another half glass of red. This was a perfect amount of drink, I felt happy, didn't feel sick and went right to sleep.

Today I had one final cookie and just ate a banana. I am going to Wii-Fit now for 45 minutes or so and then have breakfast [I know it's 2 pm, we woke up at 12:30 and have been cleaning, so sue me]. I think we have nothing to do today...we are on-call babysitting for our friend Lou's kiddies if he needs us but they are with their grandparents today and so I think we might not get them until tomorrow. Beyond that, my day was clear so woo-hooo!!!

I have a huge urge to go out to eat tonight, but last night staying in was cheap but buying food and drink was not. And I thought we might be making salads and being healthy so we have baby spinach and tomatoes up the wazoo...so we are going to eat a tasty but nutritious meal tonight. I already want a loaf of garlic bread but will RESIST. Side note, just heard this on the radio: I love that AirTran commercial where the voice talks to the girl at the night club? "It's an individual pie!".

More later, off to Wii-jog.

"No way"

That was my sentiment this morning at Target [yes, I popped in before work. And yes, it's the 3rd time I've been in less than 48 hours - I have issues] when I found a pair of pants one size up from my current [Wii-overweight] waistline. I was hoping to buy something that would fit with long underwear under it [it's 11 degrees out] and have the bonus of being a *little* more comfy while I'm still fat. However, when it came to actually making the decision to purchase, I said "No Way". As in, "No Way would I even come close to filling those...right?", "No Way I've let myself get THAT much bigger", "No Way, how did I wander into the tent section?" Needless to say, there was no way I could actually buy pants that big. So, "No way" will become my new mantra. Even without the "way", if I could just start saying NO to food I'd be so much better off...alas.

So I went into a vortex yesterday. Everyone has this idea that you work from home and can get soooo much accomplished but my WFH days are nuts-to-butts filled, I get anxious around 3 because the day is going so fast. I love it, I love being busy, I love not having a second to space out - but it makes things like mindless food-blogging go by the wayside.

I haven't recapped since Tuesday mid-day. Quickly -
Tuesday:
Had that apple and more tea
Lunch was a burrito w/ sc and salsa and some juice/water
I had one of these 100 calorie belgian chocolate bars from TJs [surprisingly delicious!!] and more tea

I did 25 minutes of the Wii Fit - not exactly pushing myself. Why can't I suddenly develop an addictive personality and get addicted to working out? Not like compulsive eating disorder addicted but just kind of jazzed…moment of silence for the first use of jazz as a verb in my blog.

Had my pizza at trivia, 2 of my sister's fries and 4 beers [wow!]
I also had a few bites of their chocolate chip cookies, they were actually pretty decent.

Wednesday:
My bagel with butter and CC
Tea
Gross WF Ravioli from a can. Not as gross as you'd think, but not good.
More Tea
Some juice
100 calorie chocolate
More Tea
Pizza [again! This might be a another diet secret...eliminate pizza]
More juice
A pickle
1 Reeses cup and more tea…in bed while reading Artie's book IN MY HOUSE…that was a great feeling!!

No moving at all... I had intentions and then just ran out of time and didn't make it a priority. We need a TV in the bike room, the iMac shows DVDs but for live shows it would be nice to kill 2 birds with one stone. No excuses, bottom line is that I"m lazy. I ate dinner wicked late [like Top Chef late], due to shopping. Quite a successful shopping trip though, nothing exciting but plenty of good bargains for my home.

Beyond that, it's Thursday - finally - I thought yesterday was Thursday until about 1 pm, that was really sad... Heading out early for an appt and then Wii-Fit and The Office! Said-appointment is for completing our re-fi tonight! Signing my life away again..but it should save us about $160 a month and is only costing us the lawyer since we closed so recently, so like $1200 which means it's paid itself off in 8 months! Very exciting. I was apprehensive of more paperwork and apprehensive that things will go completely in the shitter, but if rates do go down to like 3 or 4, we can always refinance again. Fingers crossed, when all is said and done, our mortgage will be down to a grand...

Why isn't a single cookie spelled "cooky"?

I'm still not sure what his motivation is but I was awoken this morning, or actually this afternoon [slept till 12:15, it was awesome] to tea and a ham egg and cheese on a bagel IN BED! And I was having one of those annoyingly realistic dreams about life - it was depressing me so I was extra thrilled when I woke up to real life AND food. He is so sweet. Speaking of sweet, Mr. Homemaker then decided to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch, with extra flour so they poofed into little sconey-muffin type bulbous cookies. By the time they were done I was sitting on the couch checking my email and he comes in a presents me with a single cookie and some milk, thus the snapshot. Seriously? I keep asking him what he did or what he wants to do...I am skeptical, but maybe he's just being nice? Or maybe he lost his half of our house in some sort of complicated gambling scenario. Who knows, but I'll take it.

No exercise today, I think I may take a pass - a bum out becuase it's a weekend day and so much easier to work out on weekends than weekdays [esp today where I am a total loser and Ed is going to a party and it's supposed to blizzard]. But my body hurts! I think the 80 minutes last night was a bit much. I did just receive the complete series of The Wire from amazon.com, SO EXCITED! I got it for $90 the day after Xmas, a steal since I've seen it for $150-255 listed everywhere else. So I may do some light bike riding to an episode or 2.

For now, I am keeping wildly active by doing laundry and cleaning the house. I may try and paint the touch-up spots that have needed touching up since the first week of November. I think I actually still have tape up in some parts of my house...

Top Chef Made Me Do It

This show always makes me hungry. I just inhaled half a container of Pillsbury garlic butter crescent rolls. Can someone fine me a diet plan that those are listed on? Yeah, and to top this off I sucked with exercise today. Like did squat, I even DROVE to Whole Foods, which is a 5 minute walk. So lazy. I'm not drinking though, and I did buy wine so that is good. That is an easy way to cut calories.

I don't know what happened, it's one negative of working from home...like it's 10 and then 1 and then 3 and the NINE PM? And I'm sending a work email and questioning my sanity and sad I never exercised. I need to work more on patterns in my life - getting set up in proper, healthy patterns and schedules. Sigh. Fabio just referred to Top Scallops, that was good. Blondie and Neck Tattoos are going home, right? I love Carla, or Hootie-Hoo as we like to call her. Not sure if she's a Top Chef but she makes me smile.

So for the afternoon, I had more tea, an Amy's low-sodium [it was on sale] mac n cheese, which I salted [what the fuck? I was embarrassed when I realized this] and some Diet Coke. Picked up Darling and we had some Whole Foods sushi. It was ok, I got shrimp California rolls to spice it up and they are so not as good as the crab ones. Then I had more tea [starting to understand where my brown-ass teeth come from: get me some white strips, STAT] and 2 2-bite brownies. And then I was good until the Pillsbury incident. Sigh, again. I need to work up stamina so I can run for like a half hour and eat carefree meals with reckless abandon.

Did I outline my goals? Probably, I'm becoming even more repetitive in my old age. If not, 30 lbs by Dec 31, not joking. Bitches around me keep getting married and dresses look way better on skinny chicks, plus I need a tropical vacation and I'll be damned if I am not frolicking in a bikini for at least part of it. I am almost 30 and have NEVER worn a bikini in public. I have worn a bathing suit [plain black tank] twice in 15 years. Wow, that's sad to type out, especially considering I was a fish as a child. Life begins at 30; I'm excited!

Supposed to get more snow Saturday - barf. I may or may not go drown my weather-sadness in a Reese's cup I have hidden. Good night!