The year in review and the year ahead

It might not seem that a lot happened in 2011, but it did.  I am coming out of it stronger and more aware of what's going on and what I need to do.

(Yes, my daughter and I are hugging giant chickens.  It just had to be done.)

Food in 2011 was awesome!   One of the biggest things we did was purchase a freezer.  We can stock up when things are on sale (BOGO Gardein for the win), cook ahead for quick meals, and keep fruit and veggies at the ready no matter how the vegetable bin looks.

New cookbooks were added to my collection and I've been giddy.  Decadent goodness from Vegan Diner sits along side Radiance 4 Life, Eat to Live, Happy Herbivore's books, The 21 Day Weight Loss Kickstart, Get Healthy, Go Vegan, and Appetite for Reduction.  I've been cooking a lot more, reduced my sugar intake, and eat out less.

I've also changed my mindset somewhat.  While the scale may not move as much as I'd like, I've noticed major changes in my body.  Three weeks ago I bought a pair of size 20 jeans.  Two days ago, those jeans were falling off of me, but the scale stayed the same.  Not long ago I'd be upset about the scale, but now I celebrate the clothing size.  The weight loss will follow the size change.

And it's easy to change how I think about my body when I can look at how far I've come even with the pain. Remember this?  I do, and I still cringe when I look at it.  But that was August, and the chicken-hugging pic is from yesterday.  I knew it would be a full body shot and I didn't care.  Scratch that, I wanted it to be a full body shot.  I had no fear of it.  That is huge for me.

I think 2011 is ending on a positive note and am so excited about 2012.  Why be exited about the year when something scared the Mayans into ending their calendar? Well, I'm not a Mayan and have plans. Both the daughter and I are graduating in 2012, and those big days will be celebrated.  I'll hit the big 4-3 and tackle my first big race since my high school track and field days.  The year will kick off on a fantastic vegan note (and another PCRM 21 Day Vegan Kickstart will start on January 2) and the weather in town will be lovely.

I'm sitting here with a silly grin, blogging and smiling at hubby on the desktop ad listening to the kids game in their rooms.  I am a happy wahm this New Year's Eve and hope that you are happy, too.

For the last time in 2011, peace.

Merry Christmas to Me!

Yes, it was a good Christmas.  

We kicked it off with a killer breakfast - pancakes, eggs, ham, and sausage for the omnis; tofu, green pepper, red onion, and Soyrizo scramble for me; biscuits and berry salad for all.  It was lovely.  While the coffee warmed our souls and awakened our senses, the unwrapping commenced.  The kiddos scored games, hubby scored Stephen King books, and the dogs scored bones.  I scored cookbooks!  :squee:  While cookbooks may not appeal to all, they make me giddy.

Be on the lookout for post and pics from The 30 Minute Vegan's Taste of the East, Appetite for Reduction, and Viva Vegan  in addition to goodies from Everyday Happy Herbivore, meals and snacks from Tess Challis' books, and whatever inspires me that day.

Today's inspiration is due to the rainy weather outside.  Bright colors are required, so Mexican will be on the dinner plate.  

Until later, peace.

Showing Love for Everyday Happy Herbivore

I have lots of love for Happy Herbivore.  I can't remember when or how I first stumbled across Lindsay Nixon's blog, but I have been drooling over and cooking from it ever since. The omni family has loved most of her goodies, too.  I have a well worn copy of The Happy Herbivore Cookbook and received my copy of Everyday Happy Herbivore a couple of weeks ago.  I'm digging it, too.

When Lindsay put out a call for stops on her blog tour, I jumped at the chance to pick her brain a little.


Me:  You've mentioned Charleston in both of your books.  How much did the Lowcountry inspire your cooking?  Were you introduced to many new ingredients or techniques?

Lindsay:  I lived in Charleston, SC for four years to attend the College of Charleston (c/o 2004). My husband is a graduate of The Citadel (Hotel, 2000) and he was also raised in Summerville, South Carolina. 
My experience with Southern food and cooking was none before I moved to Charleston. I'd never had or heard of grits or collard greens or she crab soup... so I was constantly dazzled by all these new ingredients and foods when I lived there. Even after we left, my husband was always after me to make low country staples he grew up with -- and when we switched to a vegan diet, he insisted I learn how to recreate all these dishes that were traditions in his family and had been staples in our diets. (That's how they ended up in my cookbooks!)

I have a soft spot for Low Country cuisine -- and cajun, too. They're magnificent and really understand the concept of sticking to the basics, using hot spices and fresh, local foods to make something amazing. 

Was it difficult it find a variety of vegan eats when dining out? 

In Charleston? No. I was actually pleasantly surprised when we went back to visit last November (2010). I contacted the Charleston Vegetarian Group on Facebook before I went for some restaurant recommendations, but some of our friends wanted to go to other places, and I admit I was worried I'd be limited to salads. Boy was I wrong! Every restaurant we went to had something on the menu that was already vegan (not necessarily identified as such -- but no dairy, meat, etc) or something that could be made vegan if we left off cheese. I thought FOR SURE when Scott's friends made us go to Wild Wings I'd starve and I actually had a really delicious meal there!

In Everyday Happy Herbivore, most of the items can be on the table in 30 minutes or less.  Are there any other quick cooking tips that work for you?

I can't stress the importance of a well stocked pantry and spice rack -- that is the secret to fast cooking.

We've all had kitchen failures.  My most recent involved misreading a recipe and adding 1/2 cup of agave nectar instead of 1/s TBS to bread.  What was your most memorable kitchen fail?

I once turned my blender on without the top on. Green smoothie EVERYWHERE. Seitan also blew up once and splattered on the wall and ceiling. That was awesome.

The holidays are upon us and omnivore family members sometimes have low expectations of the vegan's contribution to the family meal.  Should herbies stick with appetizers, entrees, sides, or desserts?  What knockout recipes do you recommend?  Desserts have won over my family 

Desserts are always a safe bet -- but I try NOT to bring a vegetable side or a soup because I want to dispel the notion that we only eat the side dish or vegetables only compliment meat. I like to show off how beans and vegetables ARE the meal and not just a side. BUT it's important to do whats right for your situation -- we all know our family and friends pretty well and that can help us decide what to bring. When in doubt, Cake.

While cake helped bring my family on to the herbie train, burgers and fries keep them coming back time and again.  Lindsay shared one of her burger recipes from EHH.  Not only is it quick and easy, it's pretty cheap, too.  This would make a great quick lunch or dinner on a crazy night. 

Quick Burgers | makes 4 

I developed these burgers in a hotel room: they’re quick, easy and require very few ingredients. (In fact, except for the beans and a seasoning packet, I sourced all the ingredients from the complimentary “breakfast bar”). I make these burgers any time I need a super fast meal or I’m really low on ingredients.

15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp onion powder (granulated)
1 tsp garlic powder (granulated)
1/3 c instant oats

Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper and set aside. In a mixing bowl, mash black beans with a fork until mostly pureed but still some half beans and bean parts are left. Stir in condiments and spices until well combined. Then mix in oats. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into thin patties with your hands. Bake for 7 minutes, carefully flip over and bake for another 7 minutes, or until crusty on the outside. Slap into a bun with extra condiments and eat!

Chef's note: If you only have rolled oats, chop them up in a food processor or blender so they are smaller and more like instant oats. Rolled oats left whole tend to make the burgers fall apart. 

Per Burger: 109 Calories, 0.5g Fat, 17.6g Carbohydrates, 3g Fiber, 2.2g Sugars, 5g Protein

Thanks again, Lindsay for the inspiration, tips, and fantastic food.  Go Cougars! 

6 Days and Counting

The big day is almost here!  Well, our big days are almost here, Yule and Christmas.  I'm sort of at a loss because I'm officially on winter break and won't have an assignment due until January!  W00T!  I still have to work, but I have a backlog of articles and blog posts ready to roll.  I planned ahead and it feels good.

We decided to do a fab feast for Yule dinner and brunch for Christmas morning.  The kitchen will be busy this week and I plan to cook some things ahead of time.  Instead of a table full of the usual heavy, fattier fare, there will be a mix.  Unfortunately, the final menus are still up in the air.  Greens, acorn squash, broccoli, rice, and bake (hubby's request), and cornbread will be on the table Thursday night, but I'm not sure what else.  The family will want meat (meh), and I want a centerpiece of sorts.  I'm thinking seitan pot roast surrounded by roasted veggies.  I'm torn between the versions in Vegan Diner and Vegan Lunch Box.  

For Christmas brunch, it's on!  Pancakes, sausage (homemade vegan patties), roasted potatoes and onions, broccoli quiche (vegan), and fruit are going on the table for sure.  Again, the omnis will want meat of some kind, and hubby can cook it.  I won't.

Regardless of what we eat as the main dish, we will have a lot of produce to choose from.  And we'll be together.  That's all we really want, isn't it, to be with loved ones.  It doesn't matter if they're related by blood, marriage, or in spirit, family can be bliss.

And now it's time to get in a walk.  Peace, all.

Yes, I still hurt.

I'm trying to get through as best I can, walking more slowly than usual and taking more frequent breaks for stretching when working.  Sitting isn't as nice when getting up makes you want to scream.

It amazes me, though, just how far I've come.  When this level of pain hit before, I'd curl into the fetal position for days.  Now I can move as I need to.  It's still hurts like crazy, but I'm mobile.  Meditation has made a huge difference.  My patience level is not where it should be, but it's getting there.  I just need to remember to stop and breathe when the pain-fueled crankies kick in.  

Happier posts are coming.  I just wanted to dip my toes back into the blogging pool.

I admit it. I am chronic pain's bitch.

And oh man am I getting my ass kicked right now.  In addition to my usual pain, my clumsy side decided I needed more pain.  I stepped on a dog bone, slipped on my naked floors, and hit hard.  And bounced.  I haven't bounced before because I can usually catch myself.  My head bounced and I could swear I heard a crack.  No fear, the head and floor are intact.

You know it's bad when the dogs go silent.  I got up, crawled to the couch, climbed up, and laid there for a couple of hours.

You know how moms try to do everything while trying to keep her issues to herself?  That's me to a point.  I got up, made dinner, and kept fairly quiet about how much it hurt.  I felt a little better on Saturday and ran errands on Sunday.  That was unwise.  My pain went from 7 to 11 on the 1-10 scale and all I want to to is sleep.  Crying takes too much energy.

I hate being a downer.  Hate it!  I hate being stuck.  I know what happens when I push too hard instead of listening to my body, but I did it anyway.  I do it anyway.  And I end up here yet again; in pain, hating every second of it.

Whine over.

World Vegetarian Day, Vegan MoFo, and a Challenge

Another Vegan Kickstart has come and gone and so have 4 pounds. Granted they were lost in the first week, but I maintained for the month and that makes me happy.  Counting Points is working for me and I'm saving money in the process, too.  Less junk is coming in the house and less food is being wasted.  It feels good.

It's almost October and that means another World Vegetarian Day will kick off another Vegetarian Awareness Month.  I'm a giddy girl because it means another Vegan MoFo is upon us.  My procrastinating butt missed the Vegan MoFo signup deadline so I will be sitting on the sidelines again.  But I won't be completely out.  I'll be blogging more often and posting pics more often, too.  That will be a challenge in itself because I don't always post regularly.

Another challenge that I'm going to take on is the Eat-In Challenge from Cook. Vegan. Lover.  Basically I'm going to eat in for every meal, drink, and snack for the month of October.  I am somewhat torn because I have a new job (yay) and wanted to celebrate at The Sprout next week.  The special events are scheduled monthly, but this one is screaming my name.  Other than this meal, I'm going to stick it out.   It's easier for me to eat at home anyway since I'm the 'difficult' one in the family when it comes to eating out.  Difficult according to the omni family, anyway.  :sigh:

Eating in would save us a bundle.  We rarely spend less than $40 when the four of us are together and most of the time the bill pushes $60. I can throw a killer week of meals together for $60.  Hell, I've done it with less.  Once the pantry is stocked, I can work magic with $40-50 a week.  I know I can keep on track because I track Points already.  The most difficult part of this challenge will be the hubby and kidos.   Yeah, I'm going to give it a shot.  

On the health front, the headaches continue while the blood pressure continues to fluctuate, but that's another post.

Until later, peace.

Harmony Valley Mixes and my Food Network Addiction

You know me.  You know I love to cook and have to please the omni family while making meals healthy, colorful, and veggie.  Because I don't always have the time to block 1-2 hour cooking sessions, most meals have to be quick.  Harmony Valley Foods helped cut down cooking time and made the omni man and boy happy at dinner and breakfast.  

I was sent two packages of Harmoney Valley to try, and both resuted in kitchen success!  I cannot tell you
how much I enjoyed them.

I am a Food Network Addict.  I freely admit it to anyone who asks.  On weekends, I set my DVR to record my favorite shows so  can catch up during the week.  I don;t always watch all of the shows.  I watch the intros and see if the family or I would be interested in any of the on-screen goodness and to see if I can veganize any of it.  Aarti Parti is one of my favorite shows.  Not only is Aarti a doll, her food looks amazing.  Hubster and I love Indian food, so learning from Aarti's show is a must see.  Keeping food prep time manageable is also required most days.

A few weeks ago, Aarti made Kheema, a quick-cooking dish with ground beef and peas. While beef is out of the question, vegan beef crumbles are not.  Usually I make my own crumbles by seasoning TVP, but I was out of some of my 'beef' stock ingredients.  Harmony Valley Foods' Hamburger Style mix was perfect.  I added cold water to the mix and threw it in the fridge.  The instructions say to refrigerate for 15 minutes before cooking, but it was much longer than that.  The dogs can be particularly cute when I'm cooking and I was distracted and watched them for a while.

I pulled out the rehydrated mix and went to cooking.  The recipe took 25 minutes from the minute I put
the onions in the skillet and made the house smell yummy. I forgot to take a picture of the finished dish
topped with cilantro because once I tasted it, I was ready to eat.  No need for stinking cilantro.  Cilantro,

baby, I still love you.  It was tender and much more like ground beef than my usual TVP blend. And the bonus was that it took took less time than my usual route.  The Hamburger Mix and Kheema recipes are keepers!

A few days later, the craving for biscuits with sausage gravy made me a mad woman, so I whipped some up.  The biscuits came from The Joy of Vegan Baking, and the sausage gravy was my own recipe with Harmony Valley Sausage Mix instead of my usual Gimmie Lean.  I loved it!  The texture was more like the sausage I loved back in the day, but so much better since it's cruelty-free.  And the flavor was spot on!  I had it for breakfast, lunch the next day, and breakfast on the third day.  I still have a little waiting for me in the freezer.

Harmoney Valley mixes can be found on the dry goods store shelves (near the rice) and online.  And a Classic Hummus mix is next on tap!  Have I mentioned that one of my first vegan experiments included falafel and hummus mixes?

Anyway, pick up some HV and save some time in the kitchen.  And watch Aarti Party!  I'll be doing both.

Peace!

Full moon on Monday

Instead of a new moon - any of my 80s music fans get it?  Dating myself?  I thought as much.

So I've been back to counting points and doing what I need to do for one month now.  I lost 4 pounds before the vegan kickstart and 3 pounds in the first week of the kickstart.  7 pounds in a month!  The last time I lost that much, I was working out hardcore without changing my eating plan.  Can you imagine how well I'll do while eating right?  That's all I've been doing for the most part, just eating right and getting on 2 days of decent exercise.

This WAHM is happy!

I need to get these headaches in check before I kick up the exercise regimen.  I feel like crap when I have one (like today) and cannot function much more than the minimal amount when one is really working me.  But that's another post.

Dinner is ready to roll - leftovers and the family will deal with it, bread is in the machine, and the first gallon of tea is ready.  Yes, the family takes out 3/4 to a gallon of iced tea a day in addition to water and coffee.  I'm still having just one cup of joe a day.

Is it just me or am I rambling?

Anyway, until next time.

Killer Migraines

I get them and have one right now.  Hormones are holding me hostage a minimum of six days a month, every month.  This is a new one for me - day four.  Stress is keeping this one active and nothing I've done to relax has done much to ease it.  Ugh.

I wish to crawl into a hole, but that's not possible right now.  I have an assignment to work on and have a project for a client.  The floor replacement has to wait again.  The dishwasher isn't the culprit - not our dishwasher, anyway.  The one that came with the house wasn't working and probably caused the problem. That's a relief, but still a headache until it's taken care of.

That's it for now.

Peace!

A fun weekend so far - not really

Stupid Irene kicked it off.  While she just waved to us as she went on by, she may hurt some people I love and I am not feeling it.  Vibing for you guys!

I'm fired up.  We bought a few things for updating and making over our kitchen and I wanted to jump all over it today.  I wanted to start with the floor because it's currently covered with a  pretty cheap maple laminate and does not match the hardwood we found under the carpet. And it was starting to warm and curl at the edges.  And we have some nice tile that will work with whatever countertop we eventually choose (but I'm pulling for Blue Pearl or some other silvery solid goodness).

So there I was with a plan.  I pulled up the board with the most curling and discovered that it was damp underneath.  That is not something I wanted to find.  I decided to cut a slit into the underlayment and found a damp subfloor.  We either have a leak or our dogs' daily water bowl dumps have done damage.  Either way I am not looking forward to what else I find.

Why is this a post for a healthy lifestyle blog?  Because it's been a day of work!  I got in my sweat time by loading and unloading stuff from the truck and ripping up flooring.   And because my mood over the next few days will be determined by what happens to the floor after I run the dishwasher tonight.  I may not be nice to be around.

Family, friends - you have been warned.  And I apologize now if Angry Sherrie takes over for a few days.

Peace.

Still sore - Could I be Sherrie the human barometer?

Stupid stormy weather and increased pain seem to be buddies lately.  When a thunderstorm is about to hit, whether reported beforehand or not, I feel it.  A deep throbbing in my bones.  Add that to the regular aches and pains of my semi-broken self and you have a whimpering mess.

Well, not much whimpering comes from me.  The dogs, Big V in particular, whine and whimper when I'm not running about with them.  The nightmares about my legs crumbling as I walk do not help motivate me to move more than I have to.  Creepy dream, eh?  More than once now and it's freaking me out.

Anyway, I wonder if I am feeling more due to the weather.  If cold can affect people, then surely storms can, too.

So can stepping in a hole and twisting an already aching ankle, but that's another post.

Man I'm rambling today.  I blame the hurricane.

Be safe, friends.

I'm loving Jackfruit and WW

Last week I watched my portions and got in more produce.  The result was a 2 pound loss and looser pants.  My usually bloated tummy looks smaller - to me and hubby - and I feel pretty good.  Even the three day migraine didn't mess things up much.  Yay!

I logged most of my meals on SparkPeople and realized how I regained the weight.  I let fattier foods and larger portions take over my plate for the most part and did not get in the sweat time I need.  Food is a big part of it for me, and I know how to do better.  I am doing better.

And speaking of food, want a recipe?   I'm in love with Jackfruit.  I my first batch of Jackfruit Carnitas last week and made my second last night.  These Enchiladas came together quickly because of the leftovers and convinced me to keep it on hand.  It's perfect - it's a non-soy, fiber-rich, all-natural meat substitute.  Yay!

Speaking of SparkPeople, I'm leader of two teams, Charleston Sparkers and Vegetarian/Vegans with 100+ to Lose.  V/V is small, only 6 members, and was a good place for me a few months back.  The leader disappeared, so I stepped up.  Knowing that others are expecting me to help them stay motivated will help me stay motivated.  Join me?

Migraines

I get them and they suck the life out of me.  I'm working on day three and it's the worst day so far.  I am so not loving myself right now.

The headaches started when I was 12-13, but back then adolescent migraines were not diagnosed.  The ped called them stress headaches and recommended a visit to the orthodontist to see if my bite may be responsible.  Yeah, didn't help.

Twice a month, every month, my skull tries to hold my throbbing brain in check while I have trouble seeing, thinking, tasting, moving, hearing, and sitting still. I want to sleep for a week when they come on, but that's not possible.  

I take meds, but they are sometimes worse than the headaches.  Feverfew and valerian help more and don't leave me feeling hungover.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know where I've been and why I've been quiet.  I'm going to go hide in bed with an icy sleep mask now.  

A Visual Wake Up Call

This is me and I am not happy.  While my body has a better shape than it did the last time I weighed this much, I am kicking myself for getting back to this weight.  It's past time to really get it into gear and get healthier.

Wordless Wednesday - What I Eat

Testing, testing

Everything feels like a test lately and it's been working my last nerve.  


Deep breaths  (when allergies allow), walks, and counting to 100 or more help.  So does a nice cup of tea.  


Speaking of, it's time for another dose of homeopathic sinus meds and another cup of tea.

Not Feeling So Neighborly

My Twitter followers have seen my tweets ranting about a certain neighbor with boundary issues.  I figured it was past time for more than 140 characters to explain the frustration.  Yes, it is relatesd to my blog's topic because the frustration and stress of dealing with this guy is beginning to affect my health.  I don't like being outside much because he always shows up.  I've nicknamed him Boundary Issues because that seems to fit perfectly.  He seems to have no concept of minding his business.

It started innocently enough.  We met a few days after we moved in and he seemed harmless.  One day we came home and he came over to tell us he went onto our roof because he thought he saw smoke.  It was actually steam from the heat, but we thought it was nice of him to look out for us.  Another time, he cut our lawn while cutting his.  Just because. He explained that he used to help the former owner with her yard work - something the former owner did not mention.   Then again, we dealt with her grandson for most of the buying process.  He (the grandson) gave us a heads up about a couple of neighbors, but Boundary Issues wasn't one of them.  At the time he was caring for his elderly mother and busy with her.  After she passed, Boundary Issues seemed to lose it a bit.

Small things began to seem off about him.   He'd tell me one thing and tell hubby another. When hubby and I talked about him, and our accounts were different, we wondered if he did it on purpose or just didn't remember.   He had advice about everything - the best paint, way to care for the lawn and shrubs, how to care for our dogs when he had none, etc.   When the pups escaped one afternoon and went exploring,
he told me we could lose our house because they got out.  I was about done with him then.  He wanted to scare me and it failed.   He told hubby that night that he thought he'd upset me.  I wasn't upset, just beginning to see him clearly.

I was sitting in the living room early one afternoon when the dogs became alarmed and growled while facing a window.  They always growl a little at squirrels, so I wasn't concerned.  I heard a noise at the window and the dogs began barking.  I threw the door open - probably an unwise move considering I just heard a strange noise and my dogs were on high alert - and there was Boundary Issues, holding a screen.   It wasn't our screen, though.  He said he was cleaning in his shed and found extras and was checking to see if they fit our windows before he offered them. He claimed he measured without asking first because he thought no one was home.  He knows I work from home and is outside every morning when the family heads out
on weekdays.  I decided then to let the dogs continue to dislike him.  I wanted them to stay on alert where he was concerned.

I know, some of you think he's just being nice and maybe lonely. Maybe I'm reading too much into his motives.   I'm not finished, though.  Read on and then tell me what you think.

A few weeks ago, we made major landscaping a family affair.  Hubby, the kids, and I took to the yard with the mower, clippers, and other tools to make it pretty after practically neglecting it through the winter.  On Friday evening, hubs and I went to work on the palm tree, pruning and pulling weeds from the planting bed around its trunk. It's near the fence, and Boundary Issues just happened to be outside with a beer and smoke.  He came to the fence to chat and 'supervise.'  He told us how it looked so much better, that we should probably prune more, and continued to hover after we stopped talking with him.  He stayed until we said goodnight and went to go inside.

Weird enough for you yet?  No?  Here's a little more.

On Saturday, Boundary Issues went to hubby and offered his help.  Hubby declined, stating that it was a family project and we had it.   Boundary Issues stayed for a while, chattering to no one in particular about how the Magnolia tree should be pruned back so many feet because the leaves and pods were a hassle.  Hubby said thanks, but no thanks again and went back to work.  He showed up in the back yard with work gloves on and a bag stand in hand.   He said he was there to offer a hand and implied that hubby said it was ok.  I told him we had it and took my bundle o'branches to the curb.   Hubs met me and asked what happend
and told me he'd already declined dude's offer of help.   Turns out hubby was already finished with Boundary Issues and looked forward to him leaving.

This episode ended with Boundary Issues headed out of town for several weeks.  We were stoked!  We could relax in the yard without his presence and not have to worry about not hurting his feelings.

Will the wahm and her family find peace once Boundary Issues returns?  Will Boundary Issues get a clue?  Will the mild-manned hubby of wahm resort to raising his voice?   No voices have been raised, but Boundary Issues is back and pushing every button.  His obsession with the Magnolia tree, no where near his property, continues.  He tried working on me then hubby about it to no avail.  This tree isn't even in our yard, but another neighbor's.  He came over another time to offer to power wash our carport.  When hubby declined, he pushed and asked if I drive the pickup.  Btw, he hasn't power washed anything since he asked.

This morning he showed up in our yard.  He parked his mower and walked away.  We'd been hearing it for a while and thought it seemed particularly loud, but didn't expect him to be cutting our lawn.  We didn't ask, he didn't offer, just did it. It's going to be a long, long summer.

So, what say you - are we reading too much into this?  Is he just lonely and misunderstood?  

And now back to the Casey Anthony closing arguments....

Still hobbling, but healing

Just a quick update.  I'm still sore, but not in tears anymore.  Score! 

Tonight is movie night.  Tomorrow, I attempt a walk around the block.  Slowly but steady.


Shortest post ever!

On injured reserve yet again

WARNING:  This post is negative because I'm feeling negative.  

It makes me want to cry. My back is out. Gone. Pain no matter what I do. I need help to stand and have to crawl into and out of bed or I won't make it otherwise. 

I feel kind of stupid because of how it happened.   I was bending at the waist, splashing my face with cool water.  That's it.  No jumping, running, etc.  Just fracking bending at not quite a 45 degree angle.  I'm a mess.  I can't even splash my face without hurting myself! 



I want to eat until I feel better, but nothing tastes good or comforting. Depressing, eh? Not as depressing as the deadline that looms. 2 papers due (on Monday and Tuesday) and a girl's gotta work.

Deep, cleansing breaths and peaceful vibes help somewhat, but not as much as hard core narcotics do.

Meh.

May's half over?

Wow. In two weeks the kids will be out of school and things will get crazy. 
Deep cleansing breaths.

My migraine is in full effect, so my time online will be short today.

I haven't been eating clean, but I have been getting there and keeping on top of the 3-4 hour mini meal schedule. So far, so good. 4 days in and 4 pounds down. I'll see where I am on weigh-in day, but I'm digging the progress so far.

Peace, all.

I'm sorry

It's not that I've forgotten about this blog, I've been a slacker of sorts with just about everything outside of family, work, and school.

Regular postings will be back starting next week.  What?  I have a major paper to finish.

Peace.

Confessional: I binged last night

For the first time in weeks I fell off the wagon.  I don't know what triggered it, really.  I'd had a really good couple of days with food.  Really good - lots of veggies, fruit, and water, lower sodium than usual, and less coffee.  My heartburn was nonexistent and everything.  Last night I just lost it.

The planned dinner for me was biscuits and gravy and fruit.  I wasn't really hungry and  the rain did not help at all.  I was chilly but not cold and just not feeling much other than sick (yes, still).  The family went with a take out chicken meal complete with Cajun beans, dirty rice, and mashed potatoes with sausage gravy.  I miss the occasional take out with them, but not necessarily the carb coma that results from the meal.  We still eat together, so that isn't the issue.   

Anyway, I ate a lot.  After dinner I had a snack and then another.  Those 'snacks' were each the size of a decent lunch.  I didn't feel the binge hangover this morning and that's a good thing.  And food so far has been good - massive hemp and fruit smoothie for breakfast, herbal tea, small sandwich and chips for lunch, and a massive salad inspired by Black Bean Company is the plan for dinner.  Out of nowhere, my stomach has decided to go nuts and nothing else is appealing to me. 

Meh.  Anyway, the binge is gone, even though I'm not sure what brought it on.  I feel icky and want to sleep but can't.  Sigh. 

Here's to Tuesday, February 8, 2011.  Day one without a binge. 

It's been so long!

Hi all.  I've been a naughty, naughty blogger.

I haven't been completely ignoring the need to blog; I've been blogging on Spark People and am a co-leader of Charleston Sparkers.   I'm excited about it and getting a little more conversation going.  I figure the responsibility will inspire me to keep making the right choices and for the most part it is.  If only my body would cooperate.

I've embraced my inner klutz with a vengeance.  In January I've tripped, slammed into a buffet table, and stabbed myself with a steak knife.  While the stab wound  is annoying to no end, I can handle it.  The slamming and tripping are killing me.  The current pain flare up period is lasting longer than I'd like and I think I'll be seeing the doc soon.  On the positive side, the pain has not sent me into a full on binge, and that's huge. 

Well, now we're all caught up. Regular posts are next, including menus, maybe some recipes, and reviews.