What a great, relaxing weekend -- it really felt like a vacation and we were gone for less than 48 hours!
We got to our campsite a little before 8 and quickly pitched the tent, then had dinner with our friends, campfire, a nice walk around the campground (way up on top of the mountain). It was really hot -- we had been expecting cooler temps and I ended up very glad to have taken one sleeveless top because it was in the 80s in the sun in the daytime!
On Saturday we took a LONG hike on a remote trail...down a canyon to a creek filled with icy water to soak our tootsies in! I'm not sure how many miles it was, but it felt far...probably an hour and a half in and out and a couple of hours by the creek. Our friends took their big dogs and they had a ball in the water. It was gorgeous. The hike back up the hill was not too hard, but I realized how narrow and rocky the trail was so some acrophobia kicked in a bit (not aided by my lingering vertigo situation!)...I just kept on marching up the hill and tried not to look down!
Saturday evening some more friends came, we sat around and rested after our hike and read and then we had a huge pitch-in dinner around sunset. I realized today that we didn't eat ANY bad stuff! We all brought chicken or salmon, veggies, corn, salad and...no dessert except some marshmallows (which, I thought were OK, but was horrified to read that they contain 25 calories EACH!). We feasted, then took another long walk and crashed.
Sunday we woke up and had all our leftovers in a scramble for breakfast, broke down camp then headed out to find a shorter hike (we were all still pretty pooped from the day before...dogs included!). We did a very short (hour or so) hike then split up to do our own stuff. DB and I checked out the visitor's center area for the place we were and walked around some more before heading home. We got back to my place by 3:15...even in time to go check out an open house and go grocery shopping before showering, hot tub, ordering dinner, movie and BED. :-)
I am thrilled that my knee made it through the strenuous hike. My legs, hips and butt feel very worked out today...sore, but in a good way. I think we need to hike more... we had a blast!
We put in our counter to the owner's counter on "our" new house today...we will probably have an answer tomorrow...and that's when we'll really panic about selling my house! We dropped my price a lot today and it's generated some interest...we need to SELL IT. So, yes, I took Vickie's advice and ordered a St. Joseph statue today...by priority mail! ;-)
Busy times coming ahead...sticking to my food plan will be at least one place where I'll continue to be able to have control.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Weird Weekly Weigh-in
(I do so love my alliterations.)
I'm up 0.4 this week. I was so so SO hoping that I would be down just a little bit to show that that huge dip last week was the beginning of a downward slide rather that just one of my weird fluctuations. BUT I really don't feel so bad:
- It's less than half a pound and probably is due to that rice for lunch yesterday. I did go a wee bit overboard.
- I still am FEELING slimmer. This is compounded by wearing (again) the pants I wore last weekend that have NEVER been this loose on me. From the pants alone, I think I must have lost at least 15 pounds total and, while that is way less than I would have liked to have lost by now, it's not too bad.
- I'm going to be getting some fun exercise this weekend and we're pretty much only taking healthy food and will be out in the mountains so little chance of eating really bad this weekend.
- Digestion is moving...I think that is making the difference. So I'm going to keep up what I'm doing.
It feels SO good to be wearing these pants...I can't tell you. A few months ago, I couldn't even button them up. And now I can stick my whole hand down inside them WITH my body in there too! This kind of stuff is where I get my motivation to keep going. It's nice when the scale backs me up, but feeling better is really the most important (in photos from last weekend, I actually have objective proof that I look thinner...at least to me...so that helps too!).
I'm off to battle mountain lions, rattlesnakes and bears...wish me luck.
(And, for you The Office fans, I just have to say "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica.".)
I'm up 0.4 this week. I was so so SO hoping that I would be down just a little bit to show that that huge dip last week was the beginning of a downward slide rather that just one of my weird fluctuations. BUT I really don't feel so bad:
- It's less than half a pound and probably is due to that rice for lunch yesterday. I did go a wee bit overboard.
- I still am FEELING slimmer. This is compounded by wearing (again) the pants I wore last weekend that have NEVER been this loose on me. From the pants alone, I think I must have lost at least 15 pounds total and, while that is way less than I would have liked to have lost by now, it's not too bad.
- I'm going to be getting some fun exercise this weekend and we're pretty much only taking healthy food and will be out in the mountains so little chance of eating really bad this weekend.
- Digestion is moving...I think that is making the difference. So I'm going to keep up what I'm doing.
It feels SO good to be wearing these pants...I can't tell you. A few months ago, I couldn't even button them up. And now I can stick my whole hand down inside them WITH my body in there too! This kind of stuff is where I get my motivation to keep going. It's nice when the scale backs me up, but feeling better is really the most important (in photos from last weekend, I actually have objective proof that I look thinner...at least to me...so that helps too!).
I'm off to battle mountain lions, rattlesnakes and bears...wish me luck.
(And, for you The Office fans, I just have to say "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica.".)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Rs
Rrrrrrrr!
Am just Recovered today from the Rambunctious dinner on Tuesday (don't try that at home, folks!). But Real estate will do that to a Relationship. Not to mention how the aftermath seems to have made me Ravenous.
Anyway, my dear ones, yes, we are deep in negotiations for the triplex at the beach. Now DB is very VERY passionate about it...goody (remember how he was definitely NOT before?)! We are both working hard on the purchase...which includes the added stress that my house has still had nary an offer and we really need that money to make the purchase work. We really can't manage more that a couple of months carrying both mortgages and it's scary to be purchasing (probably) without at least an offer in hand to sell (probably). But we both love the new place and I think we can make it work...my motto always is "no guts, no glory (within reason)". ;-)
At this point, I really am just longing to have the process over...we've been looking and for sale for close to six months and it's exhausting. At times I'm tempted to just say "forget it, everything is good as is!" and that is true except for one thing: I really want to sleep with DB every night without one of us having to drive to the other's place! Not to mention that (as we often say) we want our underwear to live at the same house. ;-)
Just in time to thwart the worst of the stress, we are off camping this weekend up in the mountains. I am very excited because this is the first non-Burning Man camping we will have done in two years! (And, for those of you counting, this is only my FIFTH camping trip of my life -- the first was 2 1/2 years ago when I had first met DB -- that's another great story!) I can't wait to camp where there are trees.
Oh yeah, food. Well, the past few days I have been Ravenous. I have watched it so that the things that I have eaten in those FEED ME periods have not been bad (i.e., I had popcorn on Tuesday instead of the danishes in the kitchen, I had lots and lots of salad yesterday instead of pasta for lunch). But who knows what this will all mean for weigh-in tomorrow? Tonight is gym night, but I had Indian food for lunch (the "good" kind without any butter or cream), but...I finally feel full, but hope it's not TOO full. For dinner tonight, I'll just have a salad while I finish packing for the trip. (We're taking all low-fat and healthy stuff to eat while away...yay!)
My digestive system has been pretty good this week...not as good as last, but it's moving. ;-)
Tomorrow I hope to graduate from Rs to Ss: slimmer, sassy, sexy, strong!
Am just Recovered today from the Rambunctious dinner on Tuesday (don't try that at home, folks!). But Real estate will do that to a Relationship. Not to mention how the aftermath seems to have made me Ravenous.
Anyway, my dear ones, yes, we are deep in negotiations for the triplex at the beach. Now DB is very VERY passionate about it...goody (remember how he was definitely NOT before?)! We are both working hard on the purchase...which includes the added stress that my house has still had nary an offer and we really need that money to make the purchase work. We really can't manage more that a couple of months carrying both mortgages and it's scary to be purchasing (probably) without at least an offer in hand to sell (probably). But we both love the new place and I think we can make it work...my motto always is "no guts, no glory (within reason)". ;-)
At this point, I really am just longing to have the process over...we've been looking and for sale for close to six months and it's exhausting. At times I'm tempted to just say "forget it, everything is good as is!" and that is true except for one thing: I really want to sleep with DB every night without one of us having to drive to the other's place! Not to mention that (as we often say) we want our underwear to live at the same house. ;-)
Just in time to thwart the worst of the stress, we are off camping this weekend up in the mountains. I am very excited because this is the first non-Burning Man camping we will have done in two years! (And, for those of you counting, this is only my FIFTH camping trip of my life -- the first was 2 1/2 years ago when I had first met DB -- that's another great story!) I can't wait to camp where there are trees.
Oh yeah, food. Well, the past few days I have been Ravenous. I have watched it so that the things that I have eaten in those FEED ME periods have not been bad (i.e., I had popcorn on Tuesday instead of the danishes in the kitchen, I had lots and lots of salad yesterday instead of pasta for lunch). But who knows what this will all mean for weigh-in tomorrow? Tonight is gym night, but I had Indian food for lunch (the "good" kind without any butter or cream), but...I finally feel full, but hope it's not TOO full. For dinner tonight, I'll just have a salad while I finish packing for the trip. (We're taking all low-fat and healthy stuff to eat while away...yay!)
My digestive system has been pretty good this week...not as good as last, but it's moving. ;-)
Tomorrow I hope to graduate from Rs to Ss: slimmer, sassy, sexy, strong!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Tonight's dinner
Dinner = vodka martini and an artichoke. I think this is a wise use of my remaining calories for the day.
You may be able to guess that, yes, today has been a bitch.
You may be able to guess that, yes, today has been a bitch.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out STRONG!
This is a fantastic article:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-sing23apr23,1,2749174.story?coll=la-headlines-health&ctrack=2&cset=true
I know from my own experience how powerful chanting can be and how much I love to sing (even though I'm not "good"!) now that I don't smoke and am not as heavy as I once was.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-sing23apr23,1,2749174.story?coll=la-headlines-health&ctrack=2&cset=true
I know from my own experience how powerful chanting can be and how much I love to sing (even though I'm not "good"!) now that I don't smoke and am not as heavy as I once was.
Happy Helly
A highlight of a highlight-filled weekend:
Yesterday, I went into the closet in my guest bedroom where I hide all the clothes that have become too small, but that I am not ready to get rid of. (I had tried on some pants from in there on Saturday and ended up wearing them because they fit LOOSER than they ever had from when I bought them 2 years ago.) I was feeling brave after my good weigh-in on Friday and continuing good eating and exercise. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am very VERY happy to say that I fit into EVERYTHING in there that I was wearing when I first met DB almost 3 years ago! :-) There are still a few things in there from my size 10 days that I don't fit yet...but I'm feeling a lot more confident that I will someday.
The good weigh-in and a week of doing better with my digestive system really has me feeling good, positive and ready to keep it up. These results really motivate me. It's so hard to keep at it when you aren't seeing any real results. So I'm sticking with the oatmeal for breakfast and artichokes at night, etc. and we'll see what happens. For now, I'm just so happy to put something on and feel like I look good -- it's been a LONG time since I've felt that.
Saturday night we went over to the new house of one of DB's daughters and her family. DB and I prepared all the food we needed for a barbecue (marinated chicken and veggies, corn on the cob and my famous cucumber salad). We got there and their BBQ wasn't working so we ended up just sticking everything in the oven! It turned out great and DB and I felt good that we had control of what we were eating (healthy, low fat, fun!).
Yesterday we celebrated Earth Day by leaving our cars parked (except for one quick drive to the grocery store). We biked to the beach for brunch and to see open houses. It was fun and great to get in a little extra exercise. :-) I want to make sure we bike some EVERY weekend from now on...it's so fun that it doesn't feel like exercise and that's my favorite kind!
Yesterday, I went into the closet in my guest bedroom where I hide all the clothes that have become too small, but that I am not ready to get rid of. (I had tried on some pants from in there on Saturday and ended up wearing them because they fit LOOSER than they ever had from when I bought them 2 years ago.) I was feeling brave after my good weigh-in on Friday and continuing good eating and exercise. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am very VERY happy to say that I fit into EVERYTHING in there that I was wearing when I first met DB almost 3 years ago! :-) There are still a few things in there from my size 10 days that I don't fit yet...but I'm feeling a lot more confident that I will someday.
The good weigh-in and a week of doing better with my digestive system really has me feeling good, positive and ready to keep it up. These results really motivate me. It's so hard to keep at it when you aren't seeing any real results. So I'm sticking with the oatmeal for breakfast and artichokes at night, etc. and we'll see what happens. For now, I'm just so happy to put something on and feel like I look good -- it's been a LONG time since I've felt that.
Saturday night we went over to the new house of one of DB's daughters and her family. DB and I prepared all the food we needed for a barbecue (marinated chicken and veggies, corn on the cob and my famous cucumber salad). We got there and their BBQ wasn't working so we ended up just sticking everything in the oven! It turned out great and DB and I felt good that we had control of what we were eating (healthy, low fat, fun!).
Yesterday we celebrated Earth Day by leaving our cars parked (except for one quick drive to the grocery store). We biked to the beach for brunch and to see open houses. It was fun and great to get in a little extra exercise. :-) I want to make sure we bike some EVERY weekend from now on...it's so fun that it doesn't feel like exercise and that's my favorite kind!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Do the changes equal the results?
I changed a few things this week. When I weighed this morning, I was down almost FIVE pounds from last Friday. I've been thinking this morning about these wild fluctuations. While I'd like to believe that my changes this week (not all "good") had some impact, I can't help but wonder because this isn't the first week that I've had such a wild change...
Here's what I changed:
- Instead of mushroom frittata for breakfast, I had oatmeal most days.
- I had artichoke most nights for dinner or snack.
- I had some wine during the week.
Here's what changed without me:
- Last Friday it was PMS time. This week, that is past.
Here's what changed:
- I am down 4.6 pounds.
- I am much less constipated.
- I feel thinner (validated by both scale and clothes).
While I think that the food changes probably helped at least somewhat (even drinking some wine wasn't bad because I actually sat and thought: "do I want to have a glass of wine OR a no-fat juice-cicle for dessert (not both)?"), I think that a lot of it is the time of the month issue. For me, this is very weird, because I don't actually GET my period usually (I'm on bioidentical hormones for menopause which are supposed to make you regular, but they aren't doing that for me...yet). I didn't actually GET my period this week. But on the day when I am supposed to and I switch the hormone mix, I FEEL like I do when I DO get it (i.e., the PMSy bloat goes away...I don't really get severe emotional PMS, never did).
With this theory, I am going back and looking at my records of all the ups-and-downs of the past months to see if I can see a pattern in what days of the month I weighed less and which more. There might be some good info in there. In the meantime, I am going to keep up with the oatmeal and artichokes (along with continuing the stool softener) and my regular exercise (I am definitely getting more fit...I can do more resistance on both the elliptical and weights). I am also going to try not to overdo in celebration of being down this week (I think I just MAY tend to do that a bit). I'd really like to see the scale keep going DOWN.
DB is back from Nearby Town late tonight and I am so happy!! It's been two weeks almost that he's been there with his parents this time (although I did get to see him for 17 hours or so on Saturday/Sunday). I know that I am more challenged to eat well when he is around (although it's better than it used to be), so I will try to be more vigilant. Hmmm...that's another thought...I should look at how I do on weeks when he is away. That might be one of the variables that contributes to the wild fluctuations too...
Somewhere in here are clues that will help me vanquish these lbs.! :-)
Here's what I changed:
- Instead of mushroom frittata for breakfast, I had oatmeal most days.
- I had artichoke most nights for dinner or snack.
- I had some wine during the week.
Here's what changed without me:
- Last Friday it was PMS time. This week, that is past.
Here's what changed:
- I am down 4.6 pounds.
- I am much less constipated.
- I feel thinner (validated by both scale and clothes).
While I think that the food changes probably helped at least somewhat (even drinking some wine wasn't bad because I actually sat and thought: "do I want to have a glass of wine OR a no-fat juice-cicle for dessert (not both)?"), I think that a lot of it is the time of the month issue. For me, this is very weird, because I don't actually GET my period usually (I'm on bioidentical hormones for menopause which are supposed to make you regular, but they aren't doing that for me...yet). I didn't actually GET my period this week. But on the day when I am supposed to and I switch the hormone mix, I FEEL like I do when I DO get it (i.e., the PMSy bloat goes away...I don't really get severe emotional PMS, never did).
With this theory, I am going back and looking at my records of all the ups-and-downs of the past months to see if I can see a pattern in what days of the month I weighed less and which more. There might be some good info in there. In the meantime, I am going to keep up with the oatmeal and artichokes (along with continuing the stool softener) and my regular exercise (I am definitely getting more fit...I can do more resistance on both the elliptical and weights). I am also going to try not to overdo in celebration of being down this week (I think I just MAY tend to do that a bit). I'd really like to see the scale keep going DOWN.
DB is back from Nearby Town late tonight and I am so happy!! It's been two weeks almost that he's been there with his parents this time (although I did get to see him for 17 hours or so on Saturday/Sunday). I know that I am more challenged to eat well when he is around (although it's better than it used to be), so I will try to be more vigilant. Hmmm...that's another thought...I should look at how I do on weeks when he is away. That might be one of the variables that contributes to the wild fluctuations too...
Somewhere in here are clues that will help me vanquish these lbs.! :-)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The poop
The poop on the poop: I've been trying a lot of different recommendations to get my digestion moving. It seems to be better the past few days. I've been eating oatmeal for breakfast (wish there was a non-sweet way to eat this...I'm not really a sweets person and if I have to eat this every day it will get old FAST). I've also eaten a lot of artichokes (which I love, are in season and have lots of fiber). Maybe the oatmeal/artichoke thing is working. If not, I'll switch it up again!
The poop on real estate: We're making an offer today on the house. It's a lucky date because today is the 47th anniversary of the day my parents met. Please send strong real estate energy! And even more to SELL my house! :-)
The poop on my weight: I've been weighing every day. I was down 3 pounds today from yesterday. It's just weird to fluctuate this much. But...I'd rather fluctuate down than up. I'm skipping the gym tonight because I have a really bad case of vertigo and will go tomorrow (my regular day anyway) instead. I'll take a walk at lunchtime today though.
The poop on The Landlord (linked below): The little girl is the daughter of Will Ferrell's partner (the other guy in the clip). I'm sure that little one is way too young to understand what she is saying...I think her mommy is off camera telling her what to say and she is just mimicking then they cut it all together. Still the most hilarious thing I've seen all week...and it's been a week where laughs have been much needed.
Here's some more poop on Pearl that I found on-line for worried mommies: :-)
The clip has infuriated some viewers, but McKay has leapt to the defence of the comic star. McKay told People magazine: "Fortunately she is in this great stage now where she repeats anything you say to her and then forgets it right away, which is key.
"She has not said the 'B-word' since we shot the thing. We invited a friend with a camera over and shot it in about 45 minutes.
"We shot several shorts but we liked this one the best. I am not sure that it is the funniest - it is just that you can't beat Will being cursed out by a two-year-old."
In an 'email interview', believed to have been written by McKay, Pearl said: "I two-years-old. But when I wear my Dora shirt I look one-and-a-half.
"I like to put my hands in the fountain. I watch Wonderpets. I like to buy old houses and flip them for a profit so I can buy boxes of Gallo wine.
"Will Ferrell no pay rent. I want my money. That's why I mad." McKay - who has two daughters with his wife of 11 years, actress Shira Piven, sister of Entourage' star Jeremy Piven - set up FunnyorDie.com for his friends to showcase comedy sketches.
He directed and co-wrote Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Ferrell.
The poop on real estate: We're making an offer today on the house. It's a lucky date because today is the 47th anniversary of the day my parents met. Please send strong real estate energy! And even more to SELL my house! :-)
The poop on my weight: I've been weighing every day. I was down 3 pounds today from yesterday. It's just weird to fluctuate this much. But...I'd rather fluctuate down than up. I'm skipping the gym tonight because I have a really bad case of vertigo and will go tomorrow (my regular day anyway) instead. I'll take a walk at lunchtime today though.
The poop on The Landlord (linked below): The little girl is the daughter of Will Ferrell's partner (the other guy in the clip). I'm sure that little one is way too young to understand what she is saying...I think her mommy is off camera telling her what to say and she is just mimicking then they cut it all together. Still the most hilarious thing I've seen all week...and it's been a week where laughs have been much needed.
Here's some more poop on Pearl that I found on-line for worried mommies: :-)
The clip has infuriated some viewers, but McKay has leapt to the defence of the comic star. McKay told People magazine: "Fortunately she is in this great stage now where she repeats anything you say to her and then forgets it right away, which is key.
"She has not said the 'B-word' since we shot the thing. We invited a friend with a camera over and shot it in about 45 minutes.
"We shot several shorts but we liked this one the best. I am not sure that it is the funniest - it is just that you can't beat Will being cursed out by a two-year-old."
In an 'email interview', believed to have been written by McKay, Pearl said: "I two-years-old. But when I wear my Dora shirt I look one-and-a-half.
"I like to put my hands in the fountain. I watch Wonderpets. I like to buy old houses and flip them for a profit so I can buy boxes of Gallo wine.
"Will Ferrell no pay rent. I want my money. That's why I mad." McKay - who has two daughters with his wife of 11 years, actress Shira Piven, sister of Entourage' star Jeremy Piven - set up FunnyorDie.com for his friends to showcase comedy sketches.
He directed and co-wrote Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Ferrell.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Third post in one day...
...this must be some kind of a record, but this thing is just TOO funny not to share (I've already watched it at least 10 times and it still makes me laugh):
http://sjl.funnyordie.com//v1/view_video.php?viewkey=3efbc24c7d2583be6925
http://sjl.funnyordie.com//v1/view_video.php?viewkey=3efbc24c7d2583be6925
The Interview
Continuing the interview tag from Vickie, here are the five questions that she sent me:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by posting five questions on your blog.
I get to pick the questions. (so you have to have the set up where I click on your name and it takes me to your blog).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Fun!
1. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be? And why. What would you two talk about? Would you bring them to your time - or go back to theirs?
The easier part of this question is the "when" – I do not have any desire to go back in time (I like my modern comforts, plus I like to cook so I'd have them to dinner). Now, hmmm, who? There are not really any figures from really long ago that spring to mind. I'm an Aquarius...very present and future oriented! My first gut reaction is Mahatma Gandhi. We'd talk about spirituality, peace, challenges. I would hope to do some yoga and chanting together! And Elvis. Definitely Elvis. ;-)
2. Favorite all time movie/play and why - what it meant to you - can be one you were IN or watched.
Movie (I wasn't in) = Field of Dreams. Makes me cry every time. Kevin Costner’s character gets to have a catch with his dead dad. I wish I could talk with my dad again and this really hits me every time. Plus I love how iconic baseball is...and there are some unforgettable lines in there. See it!
3. What is the weirdest "patch" together thing that you have done - rather than take the time to mend/hem/alter a particular garment for you or yours?
This one has me stumped...I’m not a very crafty person!! I think maybe the continuing process of patching ME together might be IT. ;-)
4. When you were first "out on your own" - what was your first major purchase?
A full-sized bed! I had that bed for 20 years too. Just got rid of it a few years ago.
5. What is the new habit of which you are the proudest?
It's 4-years-old so I'm not sure if it qualifies as "new", but after doing it for almost 30 years, I think it does: quitting smoking! I never thought I could really quit. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of learning, and a lot of support from others.
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by posting five questions on your blog.
I get to pick the questions. (so you have to have the set up where I click on your name and it takes me to your blog).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Fun!
The weekend
I was good. I really was. I drank moderately. I ate right. I went to the gym and even did a little extra exercise by gardening at DB's parents' house. But when I got on the scale this morning, it was the same as Friday. :-(
I really thought I would see some change. But it's TTOM and maybe that's too much to ask.
Along with a few other of Us, it seems that I need to really focus more on the non-scale victories. So, with that in mind, I celebrate my weekend. When I was good. :-)
I really thought I would see some change. But it's TTOM and maybe that's too much to ask.
Along with a few other of Us, it seems that I need to really focus more on the non-scale victories. So, with that in mind, I celebrate my weekend. When I was good. :-)
Friday, April 13, 2007
TGIF, but sigh...
...I'm up over 2 pounds this week. I think I need to realize somehow that what I'm doing is just "maintaining". I'm not sure how that's possible since (while far from perfect) I've cut back so much and am exercising so much more than I was in January. It's very frustrating.
And I've been trying all the things my doc suggested for the constipation (warm prunes, stool softener, oatmeal for breakfast) and nothing is working yet.
I guess maybe I just don't WANT this enough yet. I feel gypped that I am doing what I did 13 years ago to lose weight and it's not working this time (of course, I have less to lose this time). It's gotta be hormonal...speaking of which, I'm PMSing right now too. Oh fun.
Anyway...I'm going to try to moderate a little more on the booze this weekend and see if that helps...losing during the week and gaining it all back on the weekend seems not to be working!
On this topic, here's a little story that I got by e-mail from my mom the other day that spoke to me and this journey/struggle:
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this>>>experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.
It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.
"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.
On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.
That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world .
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.
She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....Until your car or home is paid off.
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...
And I've been trying all the things my doc suggested for the constipation (warm prunes, stool softener, oatmeal for breakfast) and nothing is working yet.
I guess maybe I just don't WANT this enough yet. I feel gypped that I am doing what I did 13 years ago to lose weight and it's not working this time (of course, I have less to lose this time). It's gotta be hormonal...speaking of which, I'm PMSing right now too. Oh fun.
Anyway...I'm going to try to moderate a little more on the booze this weekend and see if that helps...losing during the week and gaining it all back on the weekend seems not to be working!
On this topic, here's a little story that I got by e-mail from my mom the other day that spoke to me and this journey/struggle:
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this>>>experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.
It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.
"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.
On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.
That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world .
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.
She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....Until your car or home is paid off.
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Real estate
Well, DB came to his senses on the house (although he still wishes he felt more "passionate" about it, he realizes it's the best one we've seen and location location location is perfect). Yippee!! :-)
Now we are trying to find out if the current owner will induce (that's a nice way to say "pay off") the current tenants to leave voluntarily. If we have to evict them, it would have to be after we close on the property and (thank you, LA housing laws) give them 120 days notice AND about $3600 each (we need to clear out the two remaining units which are occupied because that would be our living and office/studio space).
We need the current guy to do this because it would be very hard to swing the mortgage on this new place and my mortgage for over 4 months while the eviction process played out...and we have reason to believe that one of the tenants would not be cooperative so it might even be longer than 4 months.
Since our offer would be contingent on this, it is good incentive for the seller to pay these people off (more than the $3600) to get them to leave voluntarily. Because he is a little "overextended" on his real estate investments (and he's a professional landlord, unlike us), we are hopeful that he will undertake the hard work of getting these folks to move. If not, I think we're back to square one and this property is out...at least for now.
And I'm fine with that. :-)
Now we are trying to find out if the current owner will induce (that's a nice way to say "pay off") the current tenants to leave voluntarily. If we have to evict them, it would have to be after we close on the property and (thank you, LA housing laws) give them 120 days notice AND about $3600 each (we need to clear out the two remaining units which are occupied because that would be our living and office/studio space).
We need the current guy to do this because it would be very hard to swing the mortgage on this new place and my mortgage for over 4 months while the eviction process played out...and we have reason to believe that one of the tenants would not be cooperative so it might even be longer than 4 months.
Since our offer would be contingent on this, it is good incentive for the seller to pay these people off (more than the $3600) to get them to leave voluntarily. Because he is a little "overextended" on his real estate investments (and he's a professional landlord, unlike us), we are hopeful that he will undertake the hard work of getting these folks to move. If not, I think we're back to square one and this property is out...at least for now.
And I'm fine with that. :-)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Annual Physical
I had my annual physical this morning. It went well. The first thing he asked me was for "the good news". I really had to think about that because I was all prepared to talk about the "bad" health stuff (weight, constipation, hormones)!! I finally came up with the fact that I have now been quit smoking for 4 years. Then I remembered that I haven't been drinking during the week since January. So, two good health things.
He gave me some good ideas about what to do about the constipation (which he thinks is a factor in why I'm not really losing weight -- although I am down 7 pounds from when I was in to see him in September and my weight is not high enough that he's really worried about it from a health perspective). He agreed with my mom's idea about prunes and told me to warm them up first -- something about the laxative properties get released that way (that warmth thing is similar to something Vickie suggested so it must work!). I had some warm prunes for breakfast after the physical.
My BP was 112/70. :-)
I'm now officially 5'7" instead of 5'8".
He felt something in my throat and isn't sure if it's thyroid or remainder of that virus I just had. We'll see when blood tests come back.
I've got a prescription for a mammo so I'll need to schedule that soon.
I'm very disappointed to realize that I am only down 7 pounds since September...especially when I must have lost at least 30 in the yo-yo of the past months. :-( But, again looking for the good news, at least I am down (and even down a little bit from last year at this time -- when I wasn't weighing). I haven't looked at the scale at the doctor's office in years, but it was nice to be able to get some real perspective since he keeps the weights year-by-year. The weight I have gained back clearly starts when I quit smoking. So I try to be forgiving of myself because I know that makes me way healthier than weighing 20 or 30 pounds less.
Thanks to Vickie for the Pilates suggestion -- I ordered the DVD right away! :-)
Thing making me sad today: DB doesn't love the house we saw on Sunday like I do. To me, it's soo great, so much better than what we've seen so far, so in the exact location (location location location) that we want, so affordable, that it's hard for me to understand his lack of excitement (even though I realize it's not perfect...what is?). This is a place we could move into and not have to do anything, but have the possibility of making changes as the years go by. Plus it's got two rental units (one we would keep for his studio/office and the other we would rent to help with the mortgage). But, if he doesn't want to go ahead, I guess we won't. As I said to him earlier today, I love this property, but I love him more. I will be disappointed though.
He gave me some good ideas about what to do about the constipation (which he thinks is a factor in why I'm not really losing weight -- although I am down 7 pounds from when I was in to see him in September and my weight is not high enough that he's really worried about it from a health perspective). He agreed with my mom's idea about prunes and told me to warm them up first -- something about the laxative properties get released that way (that warmth thing is similar to something Vickie suggested so it must work!). I had some warm prunes for breakfast after the physical.
My BP was 112/70. :-)
I'm now officially 5'7" instead of 5'8".
He felt something in my throat and isn't sure if it's thyroid or remainder of that virus I just had. We'll see when blood tests come back.
I've got a prescription for a mammo so I'll need to schedule that soon.
I'm very disappointed to realize that I am only down 7 pounds since September...especially when I must have lost at least 30 in the yo-yo of the past months. :-( But, again looking for the good news, at least I am down (and even down a little bit from last year at this time -- when I wasn't weighing). I haven't looked at the scale at the doctor's office in years, but it was nice to be able to get some real perspective since he keeps the weights year-by-year. The weight I have gained back clearly starts when I quit smoking. So I try to be forgiving of myself because I know that makes me way healthier than weighing 20 or 30 pounds less.
Thanks to Vickie for the Pilates suggestion -- I ordered the DVD right away! :-)
Thing making me sad today: DB doesn't love the house we saw on Sunday like I do. To me, it's soo great, so much better than what we've seen so far, so in the exact location (location location location) that we want, so affordable, that it's hard for me to understand his lack of excitement (even though I realize it's not perfect...what is?). This is a place we could move into and not have to do anything, but have the possibility of making changes as the years go by. Plus it's got two rental units (one we would keep for his studio/office and the other we would rent to help with the mortgage). But, if he doesn't want to go ahead, I guess we won't. As I said to him earlier today, I love this property, but I love him more. I will be disappointed though.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Ugh
I ate and drank so badly this weekend. :-( I'm not going to write all the sordid details, but suffice it to say that I think it's unlikely that I'll lose my 1 pound this week...even if I am perfect until I weigh on Friday.
I think I want to try some mat Pilates -- can anyone recommend a good DVD to start with?
We saw a house yesterday that I really liked. It's actually a triplex and we would use two units (one to live in, one for DB to use for office and studio) so we'd have one unit to rent out to help with the mortgage. DB doesn't love it as much as I do, so we'll see what happens. I'm sooo ready to get this over with. I would drop the price on my house and then we could MOVE. I've got a meeting on Wednesday with a producer for Secrets That Sell (on HGTV) so you just might see me on a television near you sometimes soon!
I think I want to try some mat Pilates -- can anyone recommend a good DVD to start with?
We saw a house yesterday that I really liked. It's actually a triplex and we would use two units (one to live in, one for DB to use for office and studio) so we'd have one unit to rent out to help with the mortgage. DB doesn't love it as much as I do, so we'll see what happens. I'm sooo ready to get this over with. I would drop the price on my house and then we could MOVE. I've got a meeting on Wednesday with a producer for Secrets That Sell (on HGTV) so you just might see me on a television near you sometimes soon!
Friday, April 6, 2007
Down 0.8
It's been a slow week for blogging for me...the mid-night extravaganza on Monday threw me off a bit.
So today I'm down 0.8. I have a kind of a pact with an on-line friend that we will shoot for just ONE POUND a week until June and see what happens. ONE POUND a week seems so little (I can fluctuate that much during a bathroom break!), but it is a lot more than I have been able to average over the past months since October. This friend has helped support me with the WOW program and I'm hopeful that this new idea of hers will also inspire me.
On the WOW tip, I am shocked that my stopping drinking on weekdays has not resulted in continuing and constant weight loss. I was drinking every night for a looooong time and I thought this would really shake things up calorie-wise if nothing else. And I have been VERY good about sticking with the program...while I haven't seen an impact in my weight, I definitely FEEL better...most days! :-) I've heard of people stopping drinking and losing 10 pounds immediately, so it's kinda weird that I've cut out easily 1200 calories/week by not drinking since January and my weight hasn't reflected that. I'm not going to stop WOW, I'm just discouraged not to have the results I hoped for.
Tonight a friend is taking me out for my birthday dinner (yes, I know my actual birthday was over two months ago...my birthday lasts FOREVER!). :-) I'm really looking forward to catching up with her. Her hubby ended up in the ER for an emergency appendectomy last Thursday when I was in the ER with my mom for her fall (on that tip: my mom is healing very well -- we got her huge splint off today and now she just has a wrist-sized cast -- she got to pick the color: purple -- which will go with her Red Hatter garb! I'm amazed how well she is healing for being 77...I'm not sure I would heal that fast and I'm just a wee bit younger!!)
Tomorrow I'll go to the gym, do errands and then DB and I have ANOTHER birthday dinner with some friends (I told you we're mad birthday celebrators!). Sunday we'll have Easter breakfast with my mom, then we're seeing a property that I am very excited about the possibilities for (crossing fingers) and then having birthday dinner for my BFF (yes, someone else's birthday finally LOL).
DB leaves on Monday for a 12-day stint in Nearby Town with his parents. He's having to cover an extra week this month for one of his sisters, but that works out well because he's switching with her for August so he'll have the WHOLE MONTH OFF!! Yippeee!! We'll be going to Burning Man that month and my NYC family is coming to visit that month too so that will be great! I really hope we have a new home by then...
So today I'm down 0.8. I have a kind of a pact with an on-line friend that we will shoot for just ONE POUND a week until June and see what happens. ONE POUND a week seems so little (I can fluctuate that much during a bathroom break!), but it is a lot more than I have been able to average over the past months since October. This friend has helped support me with the WOW program and I'm hopeful that this new idea of hers will also inspire me.
On the WOW tip, I am shocked that my stopping drinking on weekdays has not resulted in continuing and constant weight loss. I was drinking every night for a looooong time and I thought this would really shake things up calorie-wise if nothing else. And I have been VERY good about sticking with the program...while I haven't seen an impact in my weight, I definitely FEEL better...most days! :-) I've heard of people stopping drinking and losing 10 pounds immediately, so it's kinda weird that I've cut out easily 1200 calories/week by not drinking since January and my weight hasn't reflected that. I'm not going to stop WOW, I'm just discouraged not to have the results I hoped for.
Tonight a friend is taking me out for my birthday dinner (yes, I know my actual birthday was over two months ago...my birthday lasts FOREVER!). :-) I'm really looking forward to catching up with her. Her hubby ended up in the ER for an emergency appendectomy last Thursday when I was in the ER with my mom for her fall (on that tip: my mom is healing very well -- we got her huge splint off today and now she just has a wrist-sized cast -- she got to pick the color: purple -- which will go with her Red Hatter garb! I'm amazed how well she is healing for being 77...I'm not sure I would heal that fast and I'm just a wee bit younger!!)
Tomorrow I'll go to the gym, do errands and then DB and I have ANOTHER birthday dinner with some friends (I told you we're mad birthday celebrators!). Sunday we'll have Easter breakfast with my mom, then we're seeing a property that I am very excited about the possibilities for (crossing fingers) and then having birthday dinner for my BFF (yes, someone else's birthday finally LOL).
DB leaves on Monday for a 12-day stint in Nearby Town with his parents. He's having to cover an extra week this month for one of his sisters, but that works out well because he's switching with her for August so he'll have the WHOLE MONTH OFF!! Yippeee!! We'll be going to Burning Man that month and my NYC family is coming to visit that month too so that will be great! I really hope we have a new home by then...
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Exhausted
Was up last night from 2:30 am until 6 am...my mom was in the ER for one of her tongue-swelling episodes (she's had them for 7 years). I'm exhausted...not a fun thing for a school night.
Stopped at McDs on the way home for a breakfast burrito (I was starving and decided I would eat that instead of my usual breakfast...that way I could sleep 1/2 hour later before having to get up for work). Definitely not my finest hour in resisting temptation.
Am still feeling like "if it's not one thing..."
I think I can still make the gym tonight on this little sleep. I hope so. My knee is acting up and I know it's because I've missed my gym lately (even though I've done some extra walking...which is probably not good for it).
Yawn.
Stopped at McDs on the way home for a breakfast burrito (I was starving and decided I would eat that instead of my usual breakfast...that way I could sleep 1/2 hour later before having to get up for work). Definitely not my finest hour in resisting temptation.
Am still feeling like "if it's not one thing..."
I think I can still make the gym tonight on this little sleep. I hope so. My knee is acting up and I know it's because I've missed my gym lately (even though I've done some extra walking...which is probably not good for it).
Yawn.
Monday, April 2, 2007
A smile-inducing weekend :-)
When I think about this weekend, I just smile. Except for some dealing with my mom's healing process from her accident, it was just a lovely lovely time.
Friday night, I headed to the beach and DB and I walked to have dinner at one of our local favorites. I had a chicken fajita wrap with some (no lard) refried beans and a margarita. I felt this was pretty healthy (except for the margarita!) with a view toward getting my digestion working a little better (and it worked). Then we walked back to DB's place and I headed back home for the night. I really can't wait until DB and I have a place together -- naturally we both like sleeping in our own homes so we don't get to sleep together as much as we used to. It will be nice when we are both "home" in the same bed!
Saturday was crazy errand day -- I got a pedicure, got my tax return from my tax attorney, went down to my mom's to take her some groceries (she's feeling really beat up now...lots of pain...stayed in bed most of the weekend), then did my own grocery shopping and finally made it to the gym at 6 pm. Since I'm getting a lot back from taxes (it's great to have an interest-only loan on my house because I pay sooo much interest!), I wanted to take DB out for a special dinner (we are in ruts with our favorite restaurants). We didn't have a clear idea of where to go, so I suggested that we walk down to a very cute street about 3 blocks from my house where we could just stroll and pick a restaurant that we hadn't been to. We walked up and down for probably an hour before picking a very "special occasion" sushi place. The atmosphere was beautiful (I felt like I was in Tokyo), the food was healthy, fresh and good and the wine was also special. We split a teeny sesame creme brulee for dessert. Yummy! Then we walked home. I think all this walking cancels out the two bites of creme brulee. ;-)
Yesterday my BFF took about 10 people out for a thank-you buffet brunch at a place overlooking the Marina. It was a gorgeous day and I actually ate less than I ever had at this buffet. I chose a LOT of salad (which was delish) and fish mostly. The only "bad" thing I had was a tiny tiny piece of banana bread pudding. We sat there for about 3 hours and unfortunately I had forgotten my sunscreen on my arms so today I have a farmer's sunburn on my arms. Ouch! At least I remembered my moisturizer with sunblock for my face!
After brunch, I went back to BFF's house where my pets were staying in her yard while there was (yet another) open house at my house. After that, I went home and cleaned out my car, then DB came and picked me up for a date! Fun! We went down to the beach and just walked around looking at everything, wandering the walk streets, looking at houses and dreaming of living in one. Then we just wanted a little snack for dinner so we headed to a wine and tapas place that we hadn't tried before and loved it. We both just had little plate of food (after the buffet, that's all we needed!) which was perfect. Then DB took me home and we smooched in the car like teenagers before he went home! ;-) What a fun date! I am thrilled that we still have such special times together after almost 3 years...the romance is still alive! :-) I am a very very lucky woman.
Friday night, I headed to the beach and DB and I walked to have dinner at one of our local favorites. I had a chicken fajita wrap with some (no lard) refried beans and a margarita. I felt this was pretty healthy (except for the margarita!) with a view toward getting my digestion working a little better (and it worked). Then we walked back to DB's place and I headed back home for the night. I really can't wait until DB and I have a place together -- naturally we both like sleeping in our own homes so we don't get to sleep together as much as we used to. It will be nice when we are both "home" in the same bed!
Saturday was crazy errand day -- I got a pedicure, got my tax return from my tax attorney, went down to my mom's to take her some groceries (she's feeling really beat up now...lots of pain...stayed in bed most of the weekend), then did my own grocery shopping and finally made it to the gym at 6 pm. Since I'm getting a lot back from taxes (it's great to have an interest-only loan on my house because I pay sooo much interest!), I wanted to take DB out for a special dinner (we are in ruts with our favorite restaurants). We didn't have a clear idea of where to go, so I suggested that we walk down to a very cute street about 3 blocks from my house where we could just stroll and pick a restaurant that we hadn't been to. We walked up and down for probably an hour before picking a very "special occasion" sushi place. The atmosphere was beautiful (I felt like I was in Tokyo), the food was healthy, fresh and good and the wine was also special. We split a teeny sesame creme brulee for dessert. Yummy! Then we walked home. I think all this walking cancels out the two bites of creme brulee. ;-)
Yesterday my BFF took about 10 people out for a thank-you buffet brunch at a place overlooking the Marina. It was a gorgeous day and I actually ate less than I ever had at this buffet. I chose a LOT of salad (which was delish) and fish mostly. The only "bad" thing I had was a tiny tiny piece of banana bread pudding. We sat there for about 3 hours and unfortunately I had forgotten my sunscreen on my arms so today I have a farmer's sunburn on my arms. Ouch! At least I remembered my moisturizer with sunblock for my face!
After brunch, I went back to BFF's house where my pets were staying in her yard while there was (yet another) open house at my house. After that, I went home and cleaned out my car, then DB came and picked me up for a date! Fun! We went down to the beach and just walked around looking at everything, wandering the walk streets, looking at houses and dreaming of living in one. Then we just wanted a little snack for dinner so we headed to a wine and tapas place that we hadn't tried before and loved it. We both just had little plate of food (after the buffet, that's all we needed!) which was perfect. Then DB took me home and we smooched in the car like teenagers before he went home! ;-) What a fun date! I am thrilled that we still have such special times together after almost 3 years...the romance is still alive! :-) I am a very very lucky woman.
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