The stove

I've been doing this food blog forever and it's evolved in ways that I could not have imagined. Problem is, it's no longer serving it's purpose. That is to keep me on track with my eating and serve as an inspiration. Well, I'm thinking of something different and good for me. I made the call to attend an info session for a weight loss program though my doctor's practice. The session isn't for a week, so I've got some time to decide yet. But what a great idea! I'm all for taking charge and being solution-focused, this is just one more way to do it!

And don't get me wrong, I love the way this blog has evolved and I'm going to keep it up. I just need to steer it back toward it's original purpose...

On a less serious note, I've barely made a dent in cleaning my apartment today. Yet, even without doing much, I've added a new appliance to my list of appliances that should never be moved, lest we discover the disgusting mess that is underneath them. The stove. So, now, I'm up to two, two appliances that should never be moved. The first is the refrigerator. And now, the stove. Ugh. I've not (in recent memory) seen anything so disgusting! And it was just dirt, no actual surprises or anything like that. OK, so, my recommendation to you all is this: Never, under any circumstances, never, move the stove. Allow whatever dirt and filth is under it to remain there and fester. That way, you can deny ever consciously knowing it was there. I'm sure that if I owned a washer or dryer I would offer the same advice...

 12/27/12

This is what happens when one skips breakfast

 a little bread before the main event  (with olive oil for dipping)

/

 1st dozen done

 2nd dozen to go!

Mmm, fries! Oh, and a lobster roll!



I had popcorn for dinner. I was so full for so long after lunch!

 12/28/12

eggs with cheese for breakfast

 chips and salsa for lunch

chicken, pasta and broccoli for dinner...better choice than the Chinese food I've been craving!

A daily practice?

So I've made a start. As of this typing, I've got my bedroom about 1/2 cleaned...closets not included. The closets are their own project. Ugh. However, I may have made a decision. First, I want to reorganize my closet. Second, I think I want to start and maintain a more daily journal. I just don't know how long I could possibly keep it up. We'll see. What triggered this? In all of my dusting and vacuuming I ran across my old journals. Yup, good, old-fashioned, hand-written journals. I couldn't bare to open them, to read any. Ok, I glanced. But I didn't read.

It's always interesting, going through things and cleaning and reorganizing. It always surprises me, what makes an impact during this time. This artifact or that artifact...this letter or that card. Some music...and yes, I still have cassettes. This time, I'm struck by my life before and my life after. How today, I try to be grateful for everyday, for everything that I have. I don't always succeed, but I try.

The impulse to live my life more aware strikes me...whether that means starting a meditation practice, a daily reflection practice, a daily anything practice! It's the urge to live more deliberately, more in touch, more, more, I don't know, more something that would put me more in touch with myself and help me on my journey to become who I will. I'll bet it would help.

 12/26/12

Napoleon dessert for breakfast

Veggies, veggies, and more veggies!!!!!! And a little bit of chicken.

A few things off the list

Merry Christmas to all!!!! 

Ah!!! The gloriousness of having time off work and time off school!!! Combine that with a tree covered in decorations and lights in my living room, and I've got a wonderful respite from the daily grind. And guess what! I've already crossed a few items off my list...I've completed a puzzle, watched Doctor Who, went to the gym, finished a novel, spent time with Ella, seen my friends, cooked real live actual food, and watched the Big Bang Theory. That's like half my list. I'm good.

See! I really did work on a puzzle...And I really did finish it!

So, what to do with the rest of the break? Well, there's still a number of things on my list and some things to continue doing. Things like the gym and reading should continue.

I'd like to get my house in order as well. It's not on the list, but it provides an excellent opportunity for reflection. Reflect not just over the past year as we prepare to move into the new one, but reflect over my past life. Am I where I want to be? Am I who I want to be? How far do I still have to go? What are some goals for the new year? What progress shall I try to achieve? Rather, what progress shall I achieve?

 12/21/12

buffalo chicken wrap

 mango curry with beef and noodles

pork dumplings with soy sauce

 12/22/12

Breakfast power sandwich...trying a new Panera, one in Qunicy

Uh....Panera for lunch...after a kickboxing class at fight club!

 12/23/12

Enormous brunch! Apple and cheddar omelet, sounds better than it was, with potatoes, fruit and a cheese biscuit

I identified this as the first day since early August that I could honestly say that I had absolutely no obligations to do anything or be anywhere. What glorious day!

meat lasagne and salad from Whole Foods

 12/24/12

coffee cake and fruit

 back at Panera!

 a little snack at home before cooking

 A Polish and Russian Christmas Eve Feast!!

Potato and cheese pierogis, peas and mushrooms, beet salad, cucumbers with sour cream and dill and Russian potato salad...all complete with black currant juice!

Polish wafer cake for dessert

 12/25/12

Christmas morning breakfast

OK, OK, I admit to having some Russian potato salad too...

 A Christmas Dinner feast!

spiral ham, long grain and wild rice, meatballs, au gratin potatoes, salad with egg, candied carrots, and broccoli

 Really, I only had 1/2 of a red velvet cupcake...which was not actually red velvet but rather vanilla cake dyed red. Still, quite yummy.

....and one little slice of the chocolate mousse cake.

What to do, what to do?

School's out for the holidays and the grades are in!! A and A-, pretty damned good if I do say so myself. I guess all that hard work paid off...all that time sitting and not moving, sitting at my computer, sitting at another computer, sitting and reading, sitting, sitting, and more sitting. Well, now I've got some time off and there's much I'd like to do. In no particular order...

get to the gym

read for pleasure

make jewelry

get outside

see my friends

spend time with Ella

watch movies

do a puzzle

cook real food

bake rocket muffins

take naps in the afternoon

catch up on The Big Bang Theory

watch Doctor Who

go to the art museum

explore Boston

wear a costume to a New Year's Eve party

OK, so maybe that last one is in a particular order. I'm pushing for an excuse to wear my Renaissance dress one more time this year, and at least once in 2013, and all on the same night!

Clearly, there's a whole bunch of things I want to do with my time during my break from classes, but what will I do? Well, I'll do a bunch of things on the list and clean my apartment. I really can't wait to take a nap though. How luxurious a life, to be able to lounge in bed in the afternoon and nap.

 12/13/12

Ah! I remember that fruit...I didn't manage to eat it.

 mmm, pizza

Bring it on!

popcorn

 12/14/12

chocolate muffins always get eaten

 mmm, pizza and diet cherry pepsi

uh, pizza...

 12/15/12

tea sandwiches at the Taj

 tea desserts at the Taj

BBQ ribs, mac and cheese and greens

12/16/12

picture cookies, there were lots of cookies at this cookie party...

12/17/12

homemade chicken and dumplings

 12/18/12

at least the yogurt is healthy

 reappearance of the chicken and dumplings, this time in a mini crock-pot lunch warmer

 Western chili fries at Longhorn Steakhouse

lobster stuffed filet with mac and cheese

 12/19/12

pizza with salad...clearly breakfast was skipped

Shabu!!!!!! dinner with A in Allston

 12/20/12

only 1/2 the chocolate chip muffin...and yogurt

mayan mocha...with extra espresso in place of my normal coffee!

 spicy salmon, yellowtail sashimi, and a pink lady roll at Buddha in Brookline

 my friend's bento box, too pretty not to include

chicken and dumplings

No rest

I'm so close. I'm still in the tunnel, but I can see my way out. I'm so close!!

Yup, just one more paper, a discussion thread, and 4 blog posts. And I might not get to the blog posts. My semester is almost over and I feel fine. Or do I? I know I'm exhausted. I know I'm spent.

I also know that I'm looking forward to getting my life back. Looking forward to having some time off school and some time off work. In the meantime, I keep plugging along to finish up. Catching up on this blog is one of my first steps! A few more things and then my life is mine. A few more days and my life is mine. A few more assignments and my life is mine.

You know what's funny though? I get my life back in a matter of days and I've already got about a zillion things planned. No rest for the wicked! No rest for me either.

 11/28/12

berries, yogurt and granola

 chocolate croissant

 burger and fries

 a Peabody cookie

 Caesar salad

steak and mashed sweet potatoes

 11/29/12 - Last day in Orlando...

filled croissant

 pizza buffet

 Back in Boston! Pizza at Regina's!

 11/30/12

cinnamon stick and yogurt with fruit (probably blood orange)

 pizza and salad

Cheesecake

 12/1/12

Pizza

Chili

 12/2/12

banana

apple and granola bar
(and my homework)

 12/3/12
eggs with salsa, berries and sausages

 hot cocoa with marshmallows

chicken, spaghetti squash, and broccoli

 12/4/12
re-appearance of chicken, broccoli and spaghetti squash (w/ spaghetti sauce!)

 chocolate cake

 sample size ice cream in Marketing class

nachos

 12/5/12
eggs, potatoes, and sausage

 pizza and salad

pesto pasta and chicken stuffed with broccoli from Pizzeria Uno's

 12/6/12
croissant and mini quiche from Green T Coffee Shop

 spicy vegetarian chili, salad, and chocolate dessert

pasta from Uno's

 12/7/12
chocolate muffin and coffee

chocolate muffin and coffee

...yes, I know. I forgot to photograph lunch so it's not as bad as it looks. I had a salad.

 12/8/12

Panera!!!!

 salad

 chocolate cake and homework

Cheeseboy!!!!!!!

 12/9/12
Panera!!!!

Coconut curry chicken with jasmine rice and broccoli

 12/10/12
pizza and salad

frozen pizza

12/11/12

Mediterranean salad with chicken...I know I ate something else yesterday, but your guess is as good as mine. Probably the rest of the frozen pizza.






12/12/12....Apparently I didn't photograph any food today.
Breakfast: chocolate chip muffin, and peach yogurt
Lunch: skipped
Dinner: coconut curry chicken
Dessert: 1 pint Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie