According to my World Clock Miss Shad has already rung in 2018 and is probably fast asleep even if it is a bit warm down on her end of the world.

Happy New Year - 2018 Version

cheers to good friends and another new fresh start

So I still have about 13 hours left in 2017. Been a wierd one. Got off the rails a bit which is ok, just strengthens my resolve to change my ways in 2018.

It's bitterly cold out there. Sun is shining brightly but the temps were at negative 13 degrees. And it might have been colder than that because the thing that registers the temperature to the indoor theromostat is in the sun by the deck so it might have a slightly inaccurate reading. The house is cold - taking a long time time warm up today although once the sun starts streaming through the windows that will warm up the interior of the house. Next year we are going to have to spray those darn Asian beetles. We thought putting up the new darker siding would detract them but I think they have found a way into the house through a crack in the fireplace or the big trapezoid windows. I find at least 6 to 12 a day crawling around. Ugh!!

One of the things I started in December was a spreadsheet of subscriptions I have and paid for. I was rather shocked actually to discover that I have signed up for things (like Hulu) and then I'd get away or distracted and forget about them, basically wasting the money on subscriptions I don't use. I looked at MFP and I did sign up for the premium version a while back. I need to take advantage of some of the features I am paying for. Throughout the year as I have been reading nutrition articles I have been saving information in a document about foods that are good for specific conditions I need to address. They are all basic healthy foods that I need to incorporate regularly into a food plan. That very well may be what I do tomorrow as it will take some time to pull together. I am also dubbing this the "Year of Less is More". Less treats, less food, less of me, less "stuff" laying around the house. I'd be mighty proud if I can accomplish that by this time next year. I have also had my fill of gimping around. Since 2014 I have had all sorts of mobility issues - first my hip, then my knees and now my foot. Need to work on that as I am done with the pain and the lack of movement. So big plans for the year ahead of me. I am hoping a change in diet will help with the arthritis as well as losing weight. I have gained back what I lost from the lowest point I was at after last year's knee surgery. Being off my foot certainly didn't help that at all. Will be curious what the orthopedic guy says on January 8.

Susie - congratulations on your successful weight loss this year. You are inspirational and proof that committment = success. I hope, no I KNOW you will hit your goal this year. Enjoy your night with friends and Happy Birthday to DH.

Shad - Happy New Year to you. Sorry it's so bloody hot by you, I wish we could trade a bit - would be more comfortable for both of us. I wish you a year of health and happiness and time to enjoy your retirement. Keep us abreast of travel plans.

Ceejay - I will join you on your weightloss journey. Here's to another good year for us enjoying the good life. Although I am sad to hear of your uncle's illness.

Laura - Let this be the year we finally meet!!! Much health and happiness to you also. And here's to a better view from your office.

My dryer just shut off for the second time so I should attend to a few things before I get ready for dinner tonight.

Happy New Year - glad I get to spend time with all of you, I do cherish our friendships over the years.

Happy New Year every one. It's cold in Missouri this morning at 3 degree's. They say the wind chill is way down there. Sis and dh will be traveling today to come back home. My niece and I are both sick with colds. Mine seems to be breaking up.
I'm getting back on track this year to be healthy and to lose the weight I've been trying to lose for over 8 years.

Hi ladies,

Happy New Year to all.

We had a nice evening yesterday. Took G to dinner. They had the prosciutto wrapped tenderloin. And it was served with a mushroom risotto that I would have LOVED to have but I am not big on steak. I actually debated about it for a minute or two. The chef was nice - I said DH was allergic to mushrooms so they substituted an orzo pasta instead. Theirs came with green beans too. They both said it was great, although the tenderloin was quite small - good for G, not so much for DH. I got a seafood scampi - shrimp and scallops. It was ok but more lemony than garlicy - scampi should be garlic butter based. The scallops were over cooked and rubbery. The chef said this was his first attempt at this recipe. I say skip it We finished dinner in about 45 minutes and then headed over to G's house to drop her off. She invited us in for coffee and she made the most delicious cherry torte. Used a boxed chocolate cake mix. Used cherry pie filling for the middle and frosted it with real whipped cream and added some cherries on top. It was very light, not overly sweet and really good. We stayed there for a little over an hour where DH tried to make friends with her elusive cat who G said was a good sign that Annie Cat came and took up residence on a stool and stared at DH the whole time but was hesitant to approach him. Afterwards we went to the casino as they were having some cash drawings. DH gave me a little extra money which was a good thing as I could not win to save my soul. I didn't spend all my money but regretted spending any of it which is always the way it goes. It was VERY crowded and I think all the smokers of the world gathered there. We left after the last drawing at 11:30 - no winners for us - and got home at the stroke of midnight. Kissed Happy New Year in the garage Afterwards my chest was so heavy from all the cigarette smoke - it felt like I smoked 3 packs and probably did from inhaling all the crap. I think the casino is the last public place you can actually smoke inside. You haven't been able to smoke in bars and restaurants up here since 2010. Even this morning my chest still felt heavy and my throat was raw. Sure glad I don't smoke any more, I really hate it. They are making all sorts of improvements at the casino - wish they would incorporate a no smoking area as part of the changes. Anyway we had a nice evening. DH went to bed pretty much right after we got home. I started to watch a movie I recorded - wasn't quite tired enough. It was a dumb movie, I watched about a half of it and was in bed by 1:30.

It was minus 11 when I got up and will remain a cold day today. We are staying in. DH purchased some photography video courses he is watching. I am using the day to wrap up some loose ends and get myself organized for the new year/fresh start. I have some shrimp defrosted for shrimp cocktail and I have some nice king crab legs for supper. DH went to the store yesterday and regretted a bit that he did not purchase the large lobster tail he was eyeing at Christmas. The store was crowded and there were slim pickings. He got 3 very small lobster tails - it won't be the same but I will have alot of shells to make a glorious seafood stock!

One of the biggest diet killers for me is that I wait until I am starving and then want to eat the first thing I find. I was thinking to make myself some soft boiled eggs but it's best to let them come to room temperature lest the shells crack when you set them in boiling water. I did not do that. So I am sitting here nibbling on some organic coconut bite "crumbs". There are flakes of coconut, chia and sunflower and pumpkin seeds. All good for you stuff. The stuff comes in chunks but these got busted up at the store so it's more loose matter instead of chunky bites. All this stuff is good for anti-inflammatory properties. I am going to try very hard to incorporate not just healthy stuff but things that will hopefully reduce inflammation and make me feel better. Later on I will go and do 20 minutes on the NuStep. I literally haven't been on it in months. Going to start with 20 minutes as I have noticed that while I can do 45 if I push it, my knees suffer for it. Have to work back gradually.

Hope you are all enjoying your New Year's Day. It's nice that the first day of the year is a day off of work for most people.

Ceejay take care of yourself. The colds that people have been catching here have been on the nasty side. I made sure to very carefully wash my hands throughout the night yesterday and particularly when I got home after the casino. Don't want or need someone's creeping crud.

And that's about it for me. Have a good one whatever you are up to today.

Afternoon all. Happy New Year! I wish everyone the best for 2018. I look forward to a fresh start and knowing we have a great supportive group here to help each other.


Catching up on personals...

Ceejay – Glad you had a nice Christmas. I wouldn’t mind bringing a Secret Santa exchange back with my side of the family. == Sounds like you’re still helping out your niece. That’s quite a commitment picking her up that late at night!! == I hope your cold goes away quickly. Yet another sick person – so much illness going around right now!!

Happy – I think you are in the coldest spot of all of us – and that’s saying a lot because my weather app says it’s 2 degrees right now. == Thank you for starting up our new 2018 thread!! == I totally understand the popularity of the meal subscriptions – everyone wants to try to eat better meals. All these ways to do it – the meal preparation parties, the cooking once a month and freezing meals, the meal subscriptions... I don’t think a meal subscription would work for us – bf and I seem to be ships that pass in the night lately. But I do think that seeking out convenience items will be a new path – making meals doesn’t always have to mean cooking from scratch. == Good for you identifying all the subscriptions for which you’re paying good money!! Either use ‘em or lose ‘em and put the $$ towards something you will use. == I do hope that we can finally meet this year!! == Sounds like you had a nice dinner with G. I love cherries, so her dessert sounds tasty. Ugh, cigarette smoke. Yes, I’m sure you inhaled quite a bit. I just can’t tolerate that anymore. Your seafood dinner plan for tonight sounds so tasty. We had some cold shrimp with sauce yesterday. == Get back on that Nu Step or all of us will come around with the rolling pin or just to give you a kick in the butt

Shad – Glad you had a nice holiday break, but home sweet home is always a good thing.

Susie – I like the idea of the fake martini. I’ve been limiting myself at these work functions – one alcoholic drink and then move to ice water or a seltzer with lemon. It’s just better that way. == Happy belated b-day to your hubby! == BIG CONGRATS re the 365 days of logging into MFP!! Here’s to another 365 days! You’ve been so successful with the WL, even with your busy work life, you’ve managed to keep chugging along and making it work!

Annie – Hope you’re feeling better!!

==
So last Thursday I was coughing a good amount and chalked it up to the asthma, but then it was joined by congestion, and ended up as another nasty cold/virus/whatever. I had the day off on Friday and intended to stay in and rest up and let the asthma symptoms ease up, and I did. But Saturday this virus hit me head-on and I felt like I wanted to die – fever/chills/aches/sinus headache. But thank goodness for meds, especially Nyquil. I felt somewhat better yesterday and about the same today. We’ll see about going to work tomorrow though. We’ll see how a third night on Nyquil goes. I have to say that it’s been nice to get full night’s sleep.

So...so much for the Sambucol. But, ironically, the three bottles I ordered on Thursday arrived on Saturday, so I’ll continue with that until it runs out. It’s depressing that I caught something sitting on less full trains to work and almost nobody around at work. I chalk that up to low immunity due to not getting enough sleep lately due to the dang numbness issue while I sleep.

Bleh. This year was kind of a domino effect for me. In the last part of 2016, that plantar fasciitis lingered and led to the stress fracture in January (says me), then to no exercise, then to less energy, weight gain, loss of muscle and strength, then to sleep issues and apparently a weak immune system.

But it’s a new year and I’ll do what I should have done in 2017 – get back to exercising and hopefully this domino effect can be reversed.

Other than being sick, this weekend hasn’t been very eventful. On Friday the tree people came and did more trimming. Without either bf and I getting around to phoning them. Which is interesting because they sent a bill after their first visit, in which they didn’t even finish the job. So we didn’t pay the bill, then they show to finish the job, and then we get another bill yesterday. I will take a good look at the tree and make sure I’m satisfied before we pay that bill.

I finished Fargo and am waiting on Twin Peaks. In the meantime, I’m reading Grisham’s latest (bf finished it and I decided to read it before it’s due at the library.). I also have Janet Evanovich’s latest.

Bf had a couple of his buddies over last night, and that was about it. I kept to the bedroom to keep my germs to myself. I stayed up to ring in the New Year and that was it.

My SIL phoned today, returning my call from Christmas. We didn’t have much to say to each other., exchanging small talk and pleasantries. However, she did make a vague, incomplete statement to the effect of “we were rotating holidays and we didn’t know what you were doing...” Which she didn’t finish or make a specific point. But I get the idea that I’d been expected to host a holiday gathering. And now that I think about it, I suppose my sister was probably ticked about the fact that I was hosting only my mom and bf’s mom. But no one came out and said anything in a straightforward manner, so whatever. I guess I will be doing that this year. Something to mark on my calendar...

I did some laundry yesterday and will do another load or two today. Otherwise that’s about it.

Looking forward to feeling better and getting back in the swing of things.

Time to stop rambling and make myself another hot tea.

Hi all,

Happy new year to you all even if it is 2 days in to 2018. I managed to tweak a muscle in the butt on Sunday and the muscle pinched the sciatic nerve. Pain, pain, pain. However as luck would have it, I had an appointment with my doctor this morning to discuss the neurological results on my hands. I have carpal tunnel and arthritis. Nothing new there that I didn't know about and there is some slight damage to the nerve in the elbow affecting the little and ring fingers. They have suggested a steroid injection for the carpal tunnel which for the time being I have declined. Might yet go back to it, but not fussy about steroids in this body and the itch and tingle and pins and needles is not as bad as it was.

I had great plans for starting the year off doing all sorts of things, but the back pain, the neighbour who is panicking over a colonoscopy and the weather seem to have put paid to that, so it's back to housework for today. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

I'll catch up with personals later. Meantime I need to go calm down a Czech who eats badly at the best of times, and who is being asked to eat even worse to get to this colonoscopy - heaven preserve us from hysterical Europeans.

Enjoy your cold, the heat and humidity will come soon enough. Roll on winter for me. I have a couple of choices - a humungous power bill because I am using the air con or the house being open and the heat wafting through. The cat wants to come and go. I go in and out. Think I will settle for the heat at least until later this afternoon.

Good Lord...I made into the office. -11 degrees but was -5 by the time I got into work. Real heatwave...NOT. Still not feeling 100%, but much better. Still a bit of chest congestion and runny nose. Forgot my med this morning, great. Guess I will leave early today.

HAPPY 2018 to all. THIS SHALL BE the most healthyhealing, prosperous and wonderful year for us all.

I guess while I was working from home our floor got busted for using space heaters under our desk. Wonderful. So now we sit in a deep freeze and try to work. Some ladies are wearing their hats and the gloves that you can pull the fingers back. This is NUTS.

Since I cannot print/scan and ship from home my office looks like a pig sty. Lots to do. Happy New Year to say the least.

Need to get busy, stay focused on your new ways of life and getting healthy. Love and hugs.

Going to try this one more time.
Sis and bil got back from their trip to Dallas yesterday afternoon and I had dinner ready for them. Black-eyed peas, spinach, potatoes and ham.
I have the condo to myself this morning. My niece spent the night with her girlfriends. Take that back it's me and the kitten.

----------

Laura
Sorry that you caught the nasty cold. Mine is getting a lot better.

Annie
Glad you are feeling better. Bummer on the floors getting damaged . Try to stay warm.

Happy
I tried to go back to mfp to log my food and can't get into the website. I will contact that site today.

Shad
Don't work to hard.

Good morning ladies,

Happy New Year! Have you broken all your resolutions yet? I am fighting with myself. Stay strong!

Woke up and it was only minus 2 degrees. That didn't feel so bad compared to what we've been dealing with. Funny how it's all relative once you get used to it. Last night I went into the hot tub - I was a bit nervous - it was minus 13 degrees outside and there is no heat in the 3 season room other than my makeshift heater which means I run the electric dryer on high to pump some warm air in the room as well as lift the cover off the hot tub to circulate the air. The tub water is 103 degrees. There are open slats in the floor (just a tiny opening) to allow the water to drain through so there is cold air all around. I wanted to make sure I wouldn't get frostbite or anything I also only opened the cover half way because it opens (and drains) to the back of the tub which covers the floor in ice. I went in for 15 minutes. Even with the cover half on I sat in the front part and got the jets on my feet and back. It was nice. I haven't been in it for a week and I want to make sure that I keep the chemicals in balance - don't want to be cooking up a festering mess of yuck in there. However with just me using it occasionally - it stays good and clean. I also added more water by filling jugs and toting them back and forth from the bath into the hot tub as DH has shut off the outside water feed so the pipes don't freeze and burst.

Yesterday was a quiet day at home which I enjoyed. I took care of a few things. I made the crab legs for dinner for me, the 3 small (4 ounce) lobster tails for DH as well as cooking up 2 dozen Gulf shrimp I had frozen. We had corn and a baked potato with it. I was going to cook up some brussel sprouts for me but they didn't keep from last week. DH said his dinner was good - I was not so impressed with mine. The crab was not very flavorful. I ate about a 1/3 of it and will use the rest in some crab salad or soup. I do have some wonderful shells to make a lovely seafood stock base. The shrimp weren't that impressive to me either. The Gulf area was hit hard by hurricanes this year. They destroyed the area where they typically get the shrimp so these I think came from Louisiana instead of the Alabama Gulf area. They were ok, just not as good as last year's catch. The good thing is that when it's not that impressive, you aren't tempted to over eat!

Today I am running a few loads of laundry. I am going to get my hair cut and colored at 2pm. I can't wait because I REALLY need a good cut/shape and I have been hating my hair since my last appointment. It was my fault, I was in a hurry and only had time for a light trim. I know she's going to want to change up my color but at the moment I am just thinking we will keep it the way it is although I've had this for 3 years now. Why mess with something that works?

Other than hair and bingo on Thursday I have one more blessed week to myself. Since yesterday was a holiday I didn't have to work at the Thrift Shop and next week I have to go to the orthopedic guy on Monday so I get out of 3 weeks of working at the shop.

Annie - I would be really UNHAPPY if they took my desk heater away. Yes, we have been busted in the past by the fire department for those heaters. But I also know the misery of working in a drafty, cold, over air conditioned office. When you have to wear your coat and gloves in the office IT'S TOO COLD. I love my heater at home here - I have one by my recliner I use constantly. I also have one upstairs on my desk where I had my computer. I'd turn it on and the cat would be almost instantaneously on my laptop sucking up the heater next to it. A few months ago much to DH's frustration I moved my computer to the kitchen counter as my back was hurting from the chair upstairs. I do need to move it back again as DH would rather sit and eat at the counter instead of tv tables in the living room! Anyway I feel badly that you will have to freeze at work, especially since you are still recovering from your cold. Make a cup of tea or hot water and use it as a hand warmer!

Shad - Happy New Year to you. Sorry to hear about the sciatica - that is some of the worst pain ever. Can you wear a brace for the carpal tunnel? Are you still doing repetitive movements with your hands? Good luck with getting the Czech to eat clean for the colonoscopy prep Can't think of ANYTHING that an Eastern European would be satisfied with. And I'm sure your tolerance is low being in the kind of pain that you are. What a way to start the year off!

I was inspired by Susie and started logging back into My Fitness Plan again. I am pleased to see that they have the Hello Fresh meals in their data base. This makes logging very easy! Going to focus on drinking more water even if it's in the form of warm tea.

Laura - thank you for the threat of the cattle prod. I DO need some prodding. Or an occasional stink eye shot my way. I hear you on the foot problems which cause less movement and contributed greatly to weight gain. It's also a big motivating factor for me too so hopefully we can all get back into a good place again. Has your foot eased up enough to get back to routine things again? It's almost too cold to venture out to after work exercise classes - maybe stick at home with what you have? I hear it's pretty cold out by you today. Had to make for a miserable walk from the train to the office. Gads I hated walking with my winter coat and boots (cumbersome enough) and then add lugging a laptop and purse too! Don't miss commuting!

Yoga starts up again for me next week. I have mixed feelings. I miss the crew, haven't been there since last May because I missed the fall session because of my foot. I am looking forward to seeing my yoga buddies but I know I am still compromised and I am going to be even weaker than I was before which will make me feel even worse. BUT I tell myself that the best thing is to get out there and start up again rather than make excuses to stay away, right?

Ceejay - are you headed back home now? Safe travels.

Hi Susie

ok, best get this posted. I need to shower in enough time to dry off completely before I head out of the house to my hair appointment. I keep forgetting about that and then I walk out and I am extra cold. Also I have 2 eggs sitting in warm water to temper them so I can soft boil them for breakfast.

Later chicks

Ceejay - could you be having issues with MFP because you set up a new account?

Ceejay: How awesome that you made a new account for your new weight loss journey. I am glad to be of some inspiration to you.
I will tell you when I started logging last year, I told myself that while I wanted to watch what I ate that what was most important was to do it daily, good or bad and complete that dairy daily. That was a big help to me. I didn’t have to be “perfect” with my food and I learned a lot about myself.
You have had a lot of changes in the past 2 years with retirement and moving and you have done well with it. I think it is “your time” to have success with your weight loss and reach your dream of losing the weight and keeping it off. I believe in you.

Happy: It sounds like you had a pretty nice time on New Year’s Eve. I can’t stand smoke and I wonder how I used to go to bars and clubs. I didn’t know that there was still smoking in casinos. We have two casinos and they are non-smoking and when I was in Vegas 10 years ago, I was at the Palazzo and it was non-smoking in the casinos.
I like your theme of “Year of Less is More". Less treats, less food, less of me, less "stuff" laying around the house. It is a good direction to go in. I know that when I have things stacked up around me or feel unorganized, I want to eat more. It’s because it “dulls my senses” .
I will receive my Hello Fresh box tomorrow and I’m looking forward to coming home and cooking one of the meals. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Laura: How are you feeling? I know that in Ohio a lot of people are coming down with the flu. I have heard that the flu shot didn’t really work this year; there is a strain that is different than what the shot covered of something.
Take it easy with the workouts until you are feeling better. They say if the symptoms are below the neck you shouldn’t work out.
I think it is strange that the tree people just show up without you asking for an appointment and then send a bill. I know that sometimes the utility companies will come out and trim and cut trees back but they don’t send a bill. Hopefully you can get to the bottom of it.
How are the transplanted orchids doing?

Shad: sciatic nerve pain is the worst. I usually have to see a chiropractor when that happens. I hope you feel better soon.

Anne: Did you end up leaving work early and going home? What a bummer about the space heaters. We have them at our office and as long as they have been approved by the site Fire Official (they put a sticker on them to show approval) then we can keep them. We have certain ones that we can buy and then the site Fire Official comes up and makes sure you are in compliance with it.
It is very cold here in Ohio too…it makes my face hurt…and why do I live where the air makes my face hurt?! Lol

Today was my first day back in the office. It was pretty quiet there, a lot of people out. My Director will be back tomorrow…it was nice to settle in a little slowly today and in peace and quiet.
I am about to get ready to go to bed and get some sleep. I’m trying to be better about that this year instead of letting myself fall asleep on the couch and then getting up and going to bed.

Good Morning...

Grateful the biopsy on the spot on my back came back BENIGN! Amen!

My bible verse for 2018. A FB thing so we know it is true. May the God of hope fill you with all the hope and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.

OK, the first part of the next TRUE story is for HAPPY because I know how she feels about elevators.

Last Tuesday, after going to the clinic and finding out that I had multiple ailments, I came into work to get my laptop as I did not take it home over the holidays. This so I could work from home and not burn PTO. Well after I got in the building and the elevator took off I heard this unGodly grinding sound and the elevator came to a complete stop. I get out my cell phone and call an office mate. She contacted building maintenance. I then decide to use the emergency phone in the elevator. Duh. They call Otis the elevator people. I sat, feeling like holy crap, needed to use the bathroom, no kleenex except a used one for an hour and 10 minutes. Let's just say I don't use that elevator anymore. I use one of the other 6 on my floor. Traumatized I get my laptop and head out. Departing the parking garage, a man on a bicycle comes the wrong way on a one way street, yep you guess it. I hit him. Thank God I was only going 2 mile an hour out of the garage. He flew off the bike, his glasses flew to the other lane and another car crushed them. Bah, I felt like sh*t all the way around. I offered 911, my insurance, he declined and just asked for a ride to work a few blocks over. I put his bike in the back of my SUV and drove him to work. I offered $$ to repair his glasses. Nope. What a relief! Come to find out it would of been his fault for going the wrong way on a one way street. Went home and went to bed and stayed there for the next 3 days. My car was undamaged. Just the dirt was rubbed off. When it rains it pours.

SUSIE...great start to the new year. Taking care of YOU, even more and getting back on track. Kudos. Fake martini! Excellent idea.

HAPPY...cheers to a new year and a new you. Let's get on this new way of eating process. Quit making excuses to eat something you shouldn't. Be mindful what we put into our mouths. Hope your body is less painful for you. I know this colder weather is making different things hurt at different times. Bleh. Hugs sister (virtual) as I am still healing.

SHADDIE...I prayed for rain for you. I will take half your heat and send you half our cold. We are at a positive 10 degrees today. It actually feels warm. haha. Hopoe your sciatic nerve calms down.

LAURA...Hope you are feeling better also. Man this winter has been h*ll on our health. Just glad we have not had very much snow along with this sub-zero weather.

CEEG...glad to be home? You sure did come through for you sister with the niece. You are a good aunt. Can I adopt you?

CHEERS to the new year! May 2018 ROCK for us all.

Love youse.

Morning all. I'm back at work today. Feeling better but still coughing, so it's best if I don't talk. Catching up on everything, so I'll have to catch up here later. Have a good day everyone!

Good morning ladies,

I told DH today that I would very much like to wake up to a feeling that is better than my usual "gee I feel like I slept on a cold damp cement floor all night with just a t-shirt on." I had a down comforter (lightweight) and a fluffy blanket weighing me down. I realized the down picks up body heat - so rather quickly my chest area got comfortably warm from my core but my feet were like ice so that never warmed quite as nicely. I had some towels sitting in the dryer - if it had been empty I would have tossed my blanket in there for 20 minutes on high and laid it on the bed just as I was ready to get in. I hardly ever leave things in the dryer but when I do want it...

Went and got my hair done yesterday. I think she kind of rushed me through to be honest. Just a little over an hour for a cut and color. Then I guess I was the last client of the day and she ran off to go see her baby (Grandma babysits down the street I guess). My hair is ok, nothing special. She has done better before. But then again, it didn't cost me $300 like it did in Tennessee and I had to remember that underneath this riot of color, I have baby fine thin gray hair that has no body, no texture, no curl of it's own. I should wear my hair boy cut like Jamie Lee Curtis because it doesn't do much of anything but lay there. Won't even take a bend from a hot brush any more. Sooo ... there's really not much for her to work with.

Last night for supper I made a Hello Fresh Figgy Pork dish. Pork tenderloin seared then finished in the oven. This particular week's shipment - several of the fresh items froze in the bitter cold - herbs, potatoes, tomatoes and green beans all were useless - but they did give me a credit for it. So I had to substitute a few things I had around the kitchen. I had 4 small red potatoes I cubed and roasted and also tossed some red bell peppers and green beans in olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted those too. You make this incredible sauce in the pan you used to sear the pork. Add a pat of butter, some diced shallots, a spoon of concentrated chicken stock and some fig preserves and finish it with a spoon of balsamic vinegar. ohboyohboyohboy was that ever good!!!!! I served it with a dish of the homemade apple sauce I have. We both really enjoyed the meal. I am learning to use just the barest of olive oil to minimize calories. In the past I have put the roasted potatoes on oiled aluminum foil and they have still stuck a bit. So last night I used parchment paper on my stoneware bar pan. The oven was set at 450 degrees - which is the top end of temp for the stoneware. Dang if when I took the potatoes out the parchment had actually started to burn! But the potatoes didn't stick to the paper - just slid right off! I had to pick out a few pieces of paper from them but they were really good. I am very happy with the service. DH likes the food and I said that I don't mind cooking - it's just that some times I am at a loss for what to make and nothing sounds good - that's when I get frustrated cooking. Or I am super busy and DH casually struts in and asks "what's for supper" like I have spent all day thinking about it. He doesn't mean anything by it because I usually have something in mind, but it can annoy me when I am busy and haven't a clue. Girls, eh?

Yesterday was 8 degrees which was substantially warmer than the negative double digits we have had recently. But it felt SO MUCH COLDER because yesterday we had a stiff breeze whereas usually we have little wind and the sun warms the air it seems.

I am going to ask the ortho doc next week why my new knee is painful like arthirtis. I thought the replacement took care of that. SHe will probably tell me she's a foot doctor, not a knee doctor and doesn't know about that.


Susie - I hope you like your Hello Fresh meals as much as I do. It's good that you can get in the office and get yourself organized and settled in before the bosses get back in town and hijack your schedule. As for the smoking in casinos - the ones up this way are all run by various bands of Indian Tribes. They have their own rules and are not subject to state laws and such as they have their own Gaming Commission. That's why you can smoke in them because there is a large segment of people who like it. I know the state run casinos in Illinois are no smoking and I haven't been to Las Vegas in about 15 years - hah - actually the last time I was there come to think of it was when I quit smoking. I quit on vacation and Las Vegas was the second leg of our trip. I think they designate non smoking areas but you can still smoke in the bigger ones. It's really only horrid on Friday and Saturday nights. I am amazed by the number of elderly ladies dressed to the nines that have a cigarette hanging out of their mouths - you'd never think it! I will be curious as to how you like the Hello Fresh. Will DH be doing some of the cooking? I went and looked yesterday and saved some of the prior recipes from earlier in the year. I did notice that someone has plugged the meal nutrition numbers into MFP so that makes it alot easier to just enter the meal instead of individual components. I am using you as motivation to log things regularly. I agree that I am not chastising myself if I go over an element but it does make me think about things and I am much more cognisant of what I am eating when I log it. I'm glad they are making it easier to log things too.

Laura - sorry the sniffles have gotten to you again. You seem to be in a round robin of not getting over things. Take some tea and honey to work with you to sip on. Hope you feel better. Get some soup for lunch too. My sister swears by the magic of Chinese soup - chicken or wonton when one is ill.

Annie Oh a thousand hugs - yikes I would have been freaking OUT if I had been stuck for over an hour. Someone would have to have been constantly talking to me. It's good that your cell phone worked in the car - when they first came out with them, they didn't get reception in the elevator. I know because I always walked into them with trepidation and a plan B. And yes,I did think about keeping a ziplock baggie and extra kleenex in my purse or pocket because nothing makes you feel like you have to use the bathroom as much as when you CAN'T. My fear was real... Like you we had wonky elevator cars and I learned to avoid certain ones. I am glad you are ok. And THEN (she puts hand to mouth and bites it) the story about hitting the biker. I was thinking he WAS in the wrong - I thought they had to obey the rules of the road same as drivers but still. What an awful morning you had. As for eating, thanks for the pep talk. Yesterday I kept reminding myself of my mantra - "choose your hard" - you can struggle with caving in to cravings and dealing with the hard of the extra weight or struggle with sticking on the good path and reaping the rewards. I also think of Susie with the "6 months from now". Start a journey now, get used to life being a little hard for a while and then hit your stride and smile at the good things that come your way. I hope you are feeling better Sister. Are you still going to meetings?

Hi Ceejay and Shad

I'm hungry - gotta go find something to eat. I tend to wait too long and then make bad choices. Or I think it's reasonable and then plug it into MFP and am horrified! Have a good day ladies - stay warm except if you are Shaddie.