I’m fat. How can I tell (besides the nearly year off of serious training after my back injury last year)? For one thing, I have boobs. For another, I dress for work not by what I want to wear that day, but by what fits. So maybe I should say plump and keep it context but it’s enough to prompt me to play Personal Biggest Loser for one week, starting last Friday. It’s not as easy as you might think because each day has been a normal splurge day. For example, today’s is youngest birthday and there is a frosted cookie cake screaming my name. And yesterday, I hadn’t seen my friend A for such a long time that I invited her over and had some triple cream Brie (mmm). But for all that, I have lost 1.5 pounds I think. It’s not quite for sure since my fancy, schmancy scale is dying and I’m being too frugal (another story for another day) to purchase a new one. Stepped on it 3 times and got three different numbers. Finally, times 4 through 7 were consistent so I’ve determined that’s the number for today. I need to work off some of the extra stress weight plus the leftovers from when the Addison’s meds were out of whack.
The weather cooperated (high 92 yesterday) so I ran both weekend mornings and I can’t remember the last time I did that. Bender ball and Pilates tape and we’re good to go. Tomorrow I will run stairs in the morning before anyone else arrives in the office with bike ride planned for the Monday evening. My friend and colleague, Beth, is joining in but started Saturday due to a pre-planned Friday night date at a Mexican restaurant. Understood.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Ode to R-town #1
Right now I’m sitting on my back deck in R-town and loving the hell out of it. The most bittersweet and difficult part of my new journey will be leaving this place where I have lived for many years - this place is truly my home in every sense.
Just from the deck I can see (and hear) golfers, see through the canopy of forest to watch the parade going by on the portion of R-town’s multiple mile paved trail system. The trail is very important not just for exercise but as a mode of travel. R-town was designed with a shopping center no more than a mile and a half from each home. Residents use the trails to get to work, ride bikes, walk dogs, run and exercise. They are plowed before the roads. This morning I ran all around the area and it’s just too beautiful for words. At one point I stopped to watch a family of deer watching me. It’s a good surface to run on – asphalt, mostly covered by trees and lots of varied terrain. And all I have to do is step outside my door and get going. The trail goes under most roads for safety and if you ever get lost, just pop up to the roads to get your bearings. There are small play sets set in amongst the scenery. There are benches and picnic tables strewn throughout and they usually have people there eating, playing, canoodling, and enjoying living here. Some seating arrangements are by the lakes and others hidden in the deep woods.
The W&OD trail cuts through parts of R-town so serious cyclists can ride with speed from the Blue Ridge Mountains to DC. While preparing for marathons, halfs and triathlons, I have worn out many a shoe on both trail systems. You can run just about anywhere but the landscape and culture here make it one in a million. I’m already in mourning.
Just from the deck I can see (and hear) golfers, see through the canopy of forest to watch the parade going by on the portion of R-town’s multiple mile paved trail system. The trail is very important not just for exercise but as a mode of travel. R-town was designed with a shopping center no more than a mile and a half from each home. Residents use the trails to get to work, ride bikes, walk dogs, run and exercise. They are plowed before the roads. This morning I ran all around the area and it’s just too beautiful for words. At one point I stopped to watch a family of deer watching me. It’s a good surface to run on – asphalt, mostly covered by trees and lots of varied terrain. And all I have to do is step outside my door and get going. The trail goes under most roads for safety and if you ever get lost, just pop up to the roads to get your bearings. There are small play sets set in amongst the scenery. There are benches and picnic tables strewn throughout and they usually have people there eating, playing, canoodling, and enjoying living here. Some seating arrangements are by the lakes and others hidden in the deep woods.
The W&OD trail cuts through parts of R-town so serious cyclists can ride with speed from the Blue Ridge Mountains to DC. While preparing for marathons, halfs and triathlons, I have worn out many a shoe on both trail systems. You can run just about anywhere but the landscape and culture here make it one in a million. I’m already in mourning.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday Gourmet
After last week’s less than stellar results (that squash casserole is a no repeater), I am back in the kitchen to perfect the ultimate Mole sauce. I’m getting plenty of vegetables in my diet, working on the fruit, but protein is still a struggle. Just like Beef, a carb is more attractive to me than a piece of meat.
To that end, I’m going to treat myself this evening with a glass of “good” wine, chicken mole, brown rice and candle light while I watch “Babbette’s Feast”, a movie that elevates food to a magical experience. I’ve only seen the movie once but the impact was great. I imagine that this viewing will be even better since the movie was a thoughtful gift, I have personal experience with the desolation of Denmark, the wine will be excellent and I love the Joy of Cooking like no other time in my life.
To that end, I’m going to treat myself this evening with a glass of “good” wine, chicken mole, brown rice and candle light while I watch “Babbette’s Feast”, a movie that elevates food to a magical experience. I’ve only seen the movie once but the impact was great. I imagine that this viewing will be even better since the movie was a thoughtful gift, I have personal experience with the desolation of Denmark, the wine will be excellent and I love the Joy of Cooking like no other time in my life.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Mad About Veggies
This week’s cooking adventure was all about vegetables. In fact, lately, all my eating/cooking is all about vegetables. I have to force feed myself fruits which is counterintuitive considering my all consuming love of sugar. Youngest Daughter suggests that for true sugar addicts, fruit is a poor substitute and I have to agree.
Friday night was a no cook night, reserved, as always, for sleeping. I usually crash shortly after the last conference call of the day and basically sleep until Saturday.
Anyway, Saturday was a day for working out, cooking, eating and reading. It’s been way to long since I have been able to enjoy such a day. Sweet potato chips made with my new mandolin (previously only associated with Oldest Daughter’s missing body part). Just the right thickness but I forgot to presoak so while delicious hot, not too great on the leftovers (soggy). Then a roasted vegetable tart – Roma tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, garlic, low-fat ricotta topped with black olives - baked with fresh pizza dough with the edges overlapped. Excellent and worth the effort.
Tonight’s squash casserole (again with the new toy) was not impressive and not likely to be repeated. The low fat sour cream didn’t help bind the shredded carrots with the yellow squash and onion. Even flavored croutons and melted butter on top did nothing to move this into “favorites”.
This latest venture into cooking is lots of fun. I'm taking leftovers to work tomorrow. I’d have to say leftovers is the down fall only that meals are meant for many and I’m just one. The Chicken Mole made for 4 lasted way past the time when I got tired of it.
Friday night was a no cook night, reserved, as always, for sleeping. I usually crash shortly after the last conference call of the day and basically sleep until Saturday.
Anyway, Saturday was a day for working out, cooking, eating and reading. It’s been way to long since I have been able to enjoy such a day. Sweet potato chips made with my new mandolin (previously only associated with Oldest Daughter’s missing body part). Just the right thickness but I forgot to presoak so while delicious hot, not too great on the leftovers (soggy). Then a roasted vegetable tart – Roma tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, garlic, low-fat ricotta topped with black olives - baked with fresh pizza dough with the edges overlapped. Excellent and worth the effort.
Tonight’s squash casserole (again with the new toy) was not impressive and not likely to be repeated. The low fat sour cream didn’t help bind the shredded carrots with the yellow squash and onion. Even flavored croutons and melted butter on top did nothing to move this into “favorites”.
This latest venture into cooking is lots of fun. I'm taking leftovers to work tomorrow. I’d have to say leftovers is the down fall only that meals are meant for many and I’m just one. The Chicken Mole made for 4 lasted way past the time when I got tired of it.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Chicken Mole
Despite all evidence to the contrary, I really love to cook. Even back when I wouldn’t eat, I would read recipes like they were novels. As the years progressed, there was not time, little money, family grief for experiments failed (I will never hear the end of the acorn squash incident) and then, why cook for one? Call me a secret gourmet. I’ll get in moods, mostly in the winter, where I will binge cook – barley risotto, stuffed pork chops, sweet potato gratin. Love the warm, filling meals. When I date, they are really well fed. In summer, I’m a grilling maniac. Salmon, vegetables, glazed peaches – yum!
My buddy/friend/partner/associate, DA, and I share a love of what he calls “tasty” meals. We share recipes and give remarkably similar cooking gifts. For my most recent birthday, it was jack pot with multiple cookbooks and homemade recipes. This past weekend I made Sweet Potato Chips but with mixed success. The inconsistent width made for some perfectly crisp and others a bit soggy. I need a Mandoline, something I have only mocked in the past and brings up memories of Merritt’s missing finger section.
Tonight I made Chicken Mole out of the same low-fat cooking collection of the Chips. Living it up, I’m drinking what has now become a rare glass of wine (hence the double posts this evening). Mole rocks but now I have four meals that will get old after a while. Not to Kenzie’s taste. She’s a more Pastaroni, Mac and Cheese kind of girl.
Perhaps for the weekend – Rhubarb and Pear Crisp.
My buddy/friend/partner/associate, DA, and I share a love of what he calls “tasty” meals. We share recipes and give remarkably similar cooking gifts. For my most recent birthday, it was jack pot with multiple cookbooks and homemade recipes. This past weekend I made Sweet Potato Chips but with mixed success. The inconsistent width made for some perfectly crisp and others a bit soggy. I need a Mandoline, something I have only mocked in the past and brings up memories of Merritt’s missing finger section.
Tonight I made Chicken Mole out of the same low-fat cooking collection of the Chips. Living it up, I’m drinking what has now become a rare glass of wine (hence the double posts this evening). Mole rocks but now I have four meals that will get old after a while. Not to Kenzie’s taste. She’s a more Pastaroni, Mac and Cheese kind of girl.
Perhaps for the weekend – Rhubarb and Pear Crisp.
SL - Lesson #2
During my last trip down South, I was given what one gentleman called “Rule number one for northern transplants” – Never honk your horn, and never, ever use an obscene gesture because some Good Ole Boy, or Gal, will follow you home and whoop your ass right in your driveway. First thought – I had already honked twice that morning already and two, my family is going to have a very hard time visiting.
It’s a schizophrenic world where everyone is eager to be your best friend with smiling faces when you enter any store. People in Hootersville first ask about your health and about your family as that’s your identifier. People in DC ask “what do you do?” as a first question. I’m betting that if you ask the same of a citizen of the deep South, they might look at you a little odd and say “…fine…”. Other than that, I only ran into one person during the last trip that wasn’t as sweet as pie and then some.
Something tells me, however, that the same person might not feel the as welcoming should my bike and their pickup travel on the same road. Just saying.
It’s a schizophrenic world where everyone is eager to be your best friend with smiling faces when you enter any store. People in Hootersville first ask about your health and about your family as that’s your identifier. People in DC ask “what do you do?” as a first question. I’m betting that if you ask the same of a citizen of the deep South, they might look at you a little odd and say “…fine…”. Other than that, I only ran into one person during the last trip that wasn’t as sweet as pie and then some.
Something tells me, however, that the same person might not feel the as welcoming should my bike and their pickup travel on the same road. Just saying.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Feeling Smug
There are many things where I am more idiot than savant and technology and geographical location are two of them. I used to tease the Tofflers that I was an old fashioned kind of girl that needed to be dragged into the Third Wave kicking and screaming. As an example, my associate still puts numbers into my phone. My assistant sets up travel folders that Mapquest me to AND from any meetings. On the other hand, my youngest can disappear into the bowels of the NYC subway system, pop out and know exactly where she’s located and which way to start moving.
Since I’ve learned to operate the DVR perhaps I could handle a GPS after some training. A pending trip to Hootersville sealed the deal – with some technical input from my son, I purchased a model with minimal anxiety. Here’s the stunner – I put it together and operated it successfully ON MY OWN! Did you knowit came with directions? J I zipped all over the countryside without a hitch. The best part is that if I see something to explore, it recalculates and I find my way back again. How did I ever live without it?! Maybe I should try some more technology. Bring it on!
Since I’ve learned to operate the DVR perhaps I could handle a GPS after some training. A pending trip to Hootersville sealed the deal – with some technical input from my son, I purchased a model with minimal anxiety. Here’s the stunner – I put it together and operated it successfully ON MY OWN! Did you knowit came with directions? J I zipped all over the countryside without a hitch. The best part is that if I see something to explore, it recalculates and I find my way back again. How did I ever live without it?! Maybe I should try some more technology. Bring it on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
