New Year's Eve 2008

Last day of 2008 - tomorrow starts a new year of promise. Hope you can look back on this year and find some good things to remember, and I hope 2009 is the best year yet for all of us!

My heart monitor confirmed that the Power Shaping DVD is an excellent workout. About 33/45 min of exercising in the target heart rate zone. Best of any I've yet had an opportunity to measure.

Went out to holiday lunch with my new coworkers today. Dinner at Grandma's was very nice.

Food:

7:00 am Vanilla soy shake, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, butterhorn, coffee
12:00 pm Caribbean shrimp salad w/5 broiled, seasoned shrimp, fruit, viniagrette dressing, and 2 slices black bean crostini
1:30 pm Small frosted sugar cookie, peanut butter oatmeal cookie w/M&Ms, small peanut butter cookie w/Reeses's mini-cup, 3 little pretzel turtles (mini-pretzel w/caramel, chocolate, pecan on top), 1/4 c Moose Munch (I was a bad girl!)
4:45 pm 1.5 oz steak, 2 oz lobster, med red potato, 1 tbl sour cream w/chives, spinach salad w/hot bacon dressing, nuts, boiled eggs, large slice sourdough bread w/cinnamon honey butter, 8 oz skim milk, 6 oz sparkling white grape juice, 2/3 c mint ice cream, 2 tbl Hershey syrup, 1 tbl sprinkles, maraschino cherry
9:45 pm Small scotcheroo




Exercise:

5:10-5:55 am Power Shaping DVD

Tues 30 Dec

The year wanes quickly. Gotta pay the property taxes today or tomorrow. Got the swimsuit packed for return last night; Dad will take it to UPS today. Maybe I'll get the exchange in time to bring it when we pick you up from the airport on your return. If not, it will give us a good excuse for another trip to Madison.

Had a nice visit from one of my old high school friends who routinely calls when she's home visiting for the holidays.

Made arrangements for Michael to stay at Nick's when we come down to pick you up. He wasn't crazy about stopping off to visit Mark and Diane on the way home and they don't mind if he spends time there, so it'll just be Dad and I. No fighting over the second bed in the hotel room. We'll have to take Grandma to church at 9 am Thursday and possibly to breakfast after, so we'll probably leave Point around noon on Thursday.


Food:

7:15 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, butterhorn, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Barbecue sandwich, 1/2 c calico beans, 1/2 c cheesy potatoes, 1/2 c jello salad w/rice, 3 baby carrots, peanut butter cookie, 1 York pattie
2:45 pm 2"x2" square marble cake w/white frosting
5:45 pm Crumpet, 1 tsp margarine, 30 g baby Swiss, small banana


Exercise:

5:10-6:15 am Dance to Weight Loss DVD

Mon 29 Dec

Back to routine for a few days. Not an altogether bad thing, I guess. Keeps me honest.

Used my heart monitor when doing Pilates today. Found out that I definitely don't get aerobic with that routine. I felt like I worked it hard, but only spent less than 2 minutes in the target heart rate zone (probably during pushups). Even during the long sit-up series, my heart rate stayed in the 80s. I think it used to be more aerobic for me when I was not as used to exercising.


Food:

7:00 am Piece coffeecake, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm Chocolate soy shake, 2/3 c sweet potatoes, chocolate-covered pretzel rod
1:30 pm Small scotcharoo
2:45 pm 1/4 orange craisins
6:00 pm Market Bay salmon pinwheel, 1/2 c Sour Cream N Chive mashed potatoes, 1 c cooked broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat

Sun 28 Dec

Sure was nice having Laura home for a few days. I missed waking up knowing you were here. Hope you're getting excited about your trip. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures and hearing descriptions.

I have to go back to work tomorrow, always difficult after a week off, but I only have to work 3 days, then another 4-day weekend so it's hard to complain too much.


Food:

8:00 am Piece coffee cake, clementine
12:00 pm 4 oz pot roast, 1/2 c red potatoes, 1/2 c California blend vegetables, dinner roll w/1 tsp margarine, 16 oz hot chocolate, 1/2 c spiced peaches
2:30 pm 2 pc Pot O Gold chocolates
6:00 pm. Catfish filet, 1/2 c vegetables, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
7:00 pm 2 small pc angel food candy
7:30 pm 1 molasses cookie


Exercise:

7:10-7:55 am Low Impact Aerobics video

Sat 27 Dec

Wow, almost wrote April in the date line. Wishful thinking for spring? Slept late this morning - felt wonderful.


Food:

9:00 am Piece coffee cake, butterhorn, clementine
12:30 pm 2 sugar cookies, 2 molasses cookies
4:00 pm 2/3 c white rice, 2/3 c squash curry, 3 oz fried catfish, volcano sauce, 1/2 c broccoli/cauliflower, 1/2 c Thai noodles w/tofu, Thai iced coffee
6:00 pm 1 pc Trader Joe's toffee
7:00 pm 1/4 c cinnamon almonds, 1 York peppermint pattie
8:00 pm 1 Riesen caramel

Fri 26 Dec

Tried a new exercise video and tried out the heart monitor. Got the monitor to beep for the appropriate zone, but haven't quite figured out how to get the display to read.


Food:

9:30 am Piece of coffee cake
11:45 am 3 oz white meat turkey, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 1/2 c cranberry waldorf, 11 oz light vanilla soy milk, 2 molasses cookies, 1 pc angel food candy
4:15 pm 1 pc angel food candy, 2 sugar cookies
4:45 pm 3 oz Italian beef, bialy roll, Mott's Plus Pomegranate sauce cup, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
6:00 pm 1/2 c peppermint stick ice cream, 2 tbl hot fudge sauce
9:00 pm 1 pc English toffee, 1 frosted sugar cookie


Exercise:

7:15-8:00 am Kathy Smith weights DVD
2"20-3:35 pm Cross country skiing

Merry Christmas!

Woke up around 8 am and suddenly realized I had a turkey to cook!

Nummers! Christmas dinner!



Food:

9:00 am Piece coffee cake, 2/3 c fruit salad, butterhorn
2:00 pm 3 oz turkey white meat, 1/2 c stuffing, 3 tbl gravy, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 1/2 c green bean casserole, 2/3 c cheesy potatoes, 1/2 c strawberry jello salad, 1/2 c cranberry waldorf, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
3:30 pm 1 sugar cookie
5:00 pm Kind of lost track, but I think I've had 2 small pieces of angel food, 2 small pieces of English toffee, 2 white sugar cookies, 2 ginger cookies, and 1 1/2 oz Bailey's Chocolate Mint Irish Cream on the rocks
7:45 pm 2 oz dark meat turkey, small portion cheesy potatoes

Christmas Eve

Hit my goal weight of 125 this morning! What a nice Christmas present.

Hartmans are coming at 10 am. Gotta get ready.


Food:

9:15 am 1 butterhorn
10:30 am 1 square coffee cake, 2 pc bacon, 2 pc French toast, 2 tsp margarine, 1 tbl maple syrup, 1 c fruit salad, coffee
1:30 pm 1/3 square coffee cake
4:45 pm 1 sm pc angel food candy
7:00 pm 3 oz Italian beef, bialy roll, 3 baby carrots, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk,1/2 c peppermint ice cream, 1.5 tbl hot fudge sauce


Exercise:

6:15-7:15 am Pilates mat
5:05-5:50 pm Shoveling snow

Tues 23 Dec

With a little bit of luck, I won't have to go out of the house today. I plan to make butterhorns and peanut clusters. Hopefully Dad will be done working this afternoon to help with cookies. I'm going to bake a coffee cake for brunch and prepare the baked French toast to refrigerate overnight.

Grandma found out yesterday that the cells removed were cancerous. They didn't get everything, so she will have another lumpectomy after Christmas to take a bit more tissue. Because breast cancer is tied to hormones for growth, in someone Grandma's age, it is very slow to grow. They think that if they can get the current patch removed, it will be sufficient to put her on an anti-estrogen oral medication and it shouldn't give her any more trouble. Sounds pretty manageable. He said it is not altogether uncommon for older women to have some breast cancer, as it is not uncommon for older men to develop some prostate cancer. Both are hormone-related and grow so slowly in the elderly as to not be an influence. Dad said Grandpa LeGault had prostate cancer, and it was not the cause of his death.

I'm really sorry your wrists ache. Any ideas what could cause it? Have you been shoveling snow or lifting weights? Please don't bow out of Christmas Eve mass - Grandma especially would be most unhappy. I assume you've tried ibuprofen? Have you been evaluated for possible carpal tunnel, given all the time you spend at a keyboard? I have a pair of size small wrist braces you can borrow if they would be helpful.

I guess you'll have to decide what you need to do about church. I'd like for us to come to pick you up as soon as we're done with brunch though. I'll probably send Dad and Michael because I still need to bake pies and get some other things ready for Christmas dinner. Megumi and gang aren't coming, and I don't think Leone and sons are coming either. Just our small family gang again, but that was quite nice for Thanksgiving.


Food:

8:15 am 68 g cranberry-orange mini-scone, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm Slice cranberry orange bread, clementine, strawberry-banana soy shake
2:00 pm 1 peanut cluster
4:00 pm 2 sugar, 1 molasses cookies (samples)
5:45 pm 2 slices Little Caesar's cheese pizza



Exercise:

6:10-7:05 am Buns/Abs of Steel 2000 video

Mon 22 Dec

Got up an hour later than usual, but still did the usual workout/shower routine so I feel energized to get some stuff done today. Hope it lasts!

BTW, we likely will wear black shirts for the family portrait, probably long-sleeved, possibly with jeans? Make sure you pack something that will work.

Wow, laid down for a nap after lunch and didn't wake up for an hour and a half!


Food:

8:00 am 58 g cranberry orange mini-scone, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate
9:45 am Chocolate-covered pretzel rod
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, large naval orange, peanut butter cookie
2:15 pm Chocolate-covered reception stick, 54 g cranberry orange bread
6:30 pm 3 oz roast lamb, 1/2 c sour cream n' chive mashed potatoes, 1/2 c cooked carrots, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, Jello Sugar Free Chocolate Mint fudge pudding cup
8:30 pm 2 oz Bailey's Chocolate Mint Irish Cream on the rocks




Exercise:

6:05-6:50 am Power Shaping DVD

Sun 21 Dec

Today after church we're taking Grandma to the SPASH jazz/Christmas dinner theater concert. It will be catered by Grazie's and it's in a sort of nightclub format. We went one other year when it was just the jazz choirs - no Christmas - and it was quite nice.

Still have Christmas prep to do. Haven't started cookies yet - will mix them up today and bake them tomorrow or Tuesday. Today I'll get the grocery shopping done and maybe knock a few small items off the to-do list.


Food:

8:15 am 40 g cranberry orange mini-scone, cherry juice from concentrate, strawberry-banana soy shake
11:15 am Small square chocolate caramel bar, small piece peppermint bark
1:15 pm 1 c penne pasta, 2 oz chicken, sundried tomato cream sauce, 3/4 c salad, 1 tsp balsamic viniagrette, large piece crustless bread, dipping oil, coffee, 1/2 c apple cobbler
4:45 pm Oatmeal chocolate chip bar
7:00 pm 2 pc string cheese, clementine


Exercise:

7:10-7:55 am Cardio Soul DVD

Sat 20 Dec

Got 10 hours sleep last night since I konked out at 9:30 pm. Feels wonderful! Hope you have an opportunity to get enough sleep, at least some of these days. Time for fun, too! Can't wait to have you home for at least a little while.


Food:

8:00 am 73 g cranberry orange mini-scone, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm Chocolate homemade sandwich cookie
12:30 pm Chocolate soy shake, clementine, 57 g multigrain bread, 1 tbl PB
5:45 pm 1 c Simply Potatoes Diced Potatoes N Onions w/ground beef and fresh mushrooms, 1 c broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
7:00 pm 2 oz Bailey's on the rocks
9:00 pm White chocolate-covered pretzel rod



Exercise:

3:05-3:55 pm Brutal ballet DVD

Fri 19 Dec

Finally Friday! And my last day of work until Dec 29! Hope your work is winding down - I don't know what your finals schedule is like. Any major projects due?

Sounds like a very busy schedule for the rest of the day and probably a few days onward. I will be thinking of you.

Bought ingredients for crock pot Italian beef for sandwiches for Christmas Eve supper. It will be ready for before or after church as time allows. I'll pick up some nice crusty rolls to make sandwiches.


Food:

7:00 am 60 g cranberry orange mini-scone, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
10:00 am Half a lemon bar
10:45 am Square of chocolate cake w/white chocolate dip
12:15 pm 77 g pumpkin mini-scone, blueberry soy shake, medium banana
3:00 pm Other half lemon bar
5:45 pm 6 oz fried fish, 1/2 c potato salad, 1/4 c cole slaw, 1 slice buttered Jewish rye (oy vey!), 8 oz nut brown pale ale
7:45 pm 1 Lindt dark truffle

Thurs 18 Dec

Christmas lunch today at work. Other years it was always on Friday, and it really was pretty much the end of the week. Half the building took off after lunch and the rest of us were so full of food and fun that we didn't accomplish a great deal in the afternoon. Having it on Thursday is just going to be weird - we will have to just go back to finish out the week since there's quite a bit of it still to go. Who messed with tradition, anyway!

I guess we'll pick you up after brunch with the Hartmans and get you back here in time for evening church on Christmas Eve then. I picked up a YMCA schedule. With your student ID, a day pass is $7 and you can use the entire facility all day. Pool is open swim from 9 am-9 pm.


Food:

7:00 am 43 g cranberry orange mini-scone, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, coffee
11:45 am 1/4 c creamy cole slaw, 1/2 c sliced carrots, wheat dinner roll, pat margarine, 1/2 c mashed potatoes, beef gravy, 2 oz beef tips, baked chicken thigh, lemon bar, small sliver pumpkin pie, scotcharoo, 8 oz fruit punch, coffee
2:00 pm 2 small bites lemon bar
8:15 pm 90 cal fat free eggnog yogurt



Exercise:

5:05-5:50 am Low Impact Aerobics video

Wed 17 Dec

You certainly seem to have picked up Chinese quickly. I realize it's just a start, but you seem to have an affinity for languages. Kind of like the priest in The Sparrow?

Today is Grandma's biopsy/surgery day. I will be with her at the hospital all day. She isn't allowed to eat because of anesthesia, so she'll likely be nervous and hungry. My job is to keep her thinking positively. Spare us a prayer if you can.

Grandma did well. The surgery was actually the biopsy and the morning procedure was radiology to locate the internal spot for the surgeon. We have an appointment Mon afternoon to get the results and to decide whether to pursue treatment options if needed.

Have you decided if you'll be able to come home by Tues evening? Sure would make it more convenient on this end. We would drive down Tues whatever time works for you to pick you up.



Food:

7:15 am 74 g coffee cake muffin (half), half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, clementine, small pumpkin scone
3:15 pm Peanut blossom cookie
4:15 pm Lebkuchen cookie, 10 g fudge
6:00 pm Bowl turkey soup, 11 oz fat free vanilla soy milk
8:30 pm Jello Sugar-Free dark chocolate raspberry pudding cup



Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat
6:20-6:35 pm Light shoveling

Tues 16 Dec

I'm already tired of being cold. Saw a special on half-price airfare to St. Maarten in early spring and I'm sorely tempted. Airfare is the biggest bite of the trip so it would be pretty reasonable. We'll see.

I'm impressed with your Chinese! Looks fun but daunting. Can you say it out loud as well as write it?


Food:

7:00 am 84 g cranberry orange mini-scone, half grapefruit, 3/4 c cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am 58 g multigrain toast, 1 tbl PB, 54 g grape tomatoes, vanilla soy shake
2:15 pm Small square marble cake w/white icing
5:45 pm Frittata (2 eggs, 1/4 c green pepper, 1/4 chopped fresh mushrooms, 1/8 c chopped tomatoes, 1/4 grated swiss cheese, 1/4 c skim milk), French toast (64 g challah, 2 eggs, 1/4 c skim milk), 1 pecan cookie


Exercise:

5:05-6:00 am Buns/Abs of Steel video

Mon 15 Dec

Thinking of you regularly with finals and hoping you aren't overstressed, at least not too much. Make sure you're eating healthy foods, even if you have to order out or buy pre-made stuff. Make sure you get enough protein and water to keep your brain working at its best.

I agree that walking today has to be extremely unpleasant. I suppose there's no chance of using the bus? At least it's supposed to moderate some already by tomorrow.

The Pacelli Christmas concert tonight was odd, seemed thrown together. The chamber choir didn't sing alone at all, band only did two numbers, concert choir did 2 or 3.

Food:

7:00 am 84 g (half) coffee cake muffin, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am 54 g cinnamon challah, chocolate soy shake, large naval orange, 14 g fudge
2:30 pm 1 pc Maxine's divinity, 90 cal peanut butter granola bar
5:30 pm 4 oz light smoked sausage, 3 oz sweet potato fries, 1/2 c sliced beets, 12 oz fat free vanilla soy milk
8:30 pm 3 small pieces fresh pineapple, 1/2 oz slice pepper jack cheese, two-bite pecan tart
9:00 pm Homemade chocolate sandwich cookie



Exercise:

5:10-5:55 am Power Shaping DVD

Sun 14 Dec

Wow, December is marching on quickly! One more week of work before the holidays. Haven't really started to think about menus, baking, etc. - suppose I'd better start.


Food:

8:15 am 77g (half) coffee cake muffin, clementine, cherry juice from concentrate
12:00 pm 2 crepes, medium sliced banana, coffee
2:45 pm 39 g cranberry orange bread
6:15 pm 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain spaghetti w/flax, 1/2 c spaghetti sauce w/3 oz ground beef, .2 c green pepper, .2 c onion, .1 c fresh mushrooms, 1 tbl parmesan cheese, 1 c broccoli, 12 oz fat free vanilla soy milk




Exercise:

7:10-8:05 am Step/strength video

Sat 13 Dec

Trip to Mpls was delightful. Weather was frigid last night, beautiful today. Sunny and 40 degrees! We were able to get most of the shopping we hoped for, had some great food, and a good time.


Food:

9:00 am Target fruit and yogurt parfait w/granola, coffee
12:45 pm Cup of mushroom soup, 1 c pasta w/Asiago cheese sauce, diced yams, Swiss chard, dried cherries and walnuts, 1 small slice Thai chicken pizza, iced coffee
5:00 pm 13.5 oz bottle Simply Orange juice, bag Satellite wafers
9:00 pm 53 g cinnamon challah bread, large clementine, 12 oz fat free vanilla soy milk

Fri 12 Dec

Getting ready to head out to Mpls for the overnight. Should be cold, but the car has a good heater and we have warm clothes. I'm looking forward to it.

Hope your finals are going well and your stress levels are manageable. Looking forward to some holiday time together.


Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Life, 4 oz skim milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
9:30 am Miniature blueberry muffin
12:00 pm Chocolate soy shake, large naval orange, slice Gift of the Magi bread
5:30 pm Glass sangria w/spiced rum, 1 c angel hair pasta w/2 large shrimp in curry sauce, 1/5 c lobster mac n cheese, 1 slice Italian bread w/dipping oil, 1 c butternut squash soup
9:00 pm 1 bag satellite wafers



Exercise:

5:00-5:55 am Step/weights DVD

Thurs 11 Dec

Tomorrow is the day Dad and I go to Mpls, so if there's anything best found there that you'd like for Christmas yet, let me know today or by tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to just a little overnight excursion. They can be very energizing.

We enjoyed the dance concert with Kurt and Barb yesterday. It was a student-choreographed show so it lacked a little in the variety and polish, but the energy is always great.

Tonight I have an ornament exchange party with ladies from work. The party happens every year but I haven't attended for a very long time as it always seemed to fall on the night of someone's choir concert or similar event. Tonight was completely open on my schedule, so I thought I'd return to the flock.

Went to the work ladies' ornament exchange hors d'ouevre party for the first time in years. It was much fun and I got a funky new ornament, too.


Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Life, 4 oz skim milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, 40 g grape tomatoes, 36 g Breadsmith multigrain bread, 1 tsp soft margarine, pecan cookie
3:00 pm 2 pc Maxine's divinity, 100 calorie espresso cookies
5:30 pm 2 artichoke fillo cups, 2 Breton crackers w/artichoke dip, 2 crostini w/artichoke & veggie topping, 1 piece bread ring w/veggie filling, 1 small cracker w/slice of brie, 2 apple slivers, 1 cheese empanada, 2 6-oz cups cider, 1 chocolate-dipped cookie, 2 shrimp wrapped in bacon

Wed 10 Dec

Not feeling very well today: headache, a little chill. Hope it's temporary.

I think we're going to AfterImages, the student dance concert at UWSP, with Kurt and Barb tonight. I haven't heard a definite confirmation, but that was the plan.

Dad and I are going to Minneapolis Friday noon-Sat evening for some shopping. Michael will stay at Nick's. Need anything from Ikea?


Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Life, 4 oz skim milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:15 pm Half Monte Cristo sandwich (French toast, turkey, ham, swiss cheese), 1 c fruit
5:00 pm Pumpkin cinnamon chip cookie, Clementine
6:00 pm Salmon pinwheel, .5 tsp butter, .5 tsp lemon juice, 3 oz sweet potato fries, 3/4 c broccoli, 12 oz fat free vanilla soy milk, homemade sandwich cookie



Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat

Tues 9 Dec

Went for my physical this morning and discovered I had the date wrong - it was yesterday! At least I was able to sit in on Grandma's pre-op which happened to be at the same time. I can't get my physical scheduled again now til February!

Busy day today - looking forward to the end of the day when I can relax for a minute or two! Heading off soon now to meet Bill Pyke and Deb Pierce-Johnson for our Old Fart's Lunch.

Wow, have I been tired this afternoon. I can barely keep my eyes open, hence the diving into sugary snacks.


Food:

6:45 am Blueberry soy shake, half grapefruit
9:30 am 90 calorie Honey Nut chewy granola bar
10:45 am 1 piece Maxine's divinity (not as dead sweet as I had feared and she said it's only 16 calories)
11:30 am Chocolate-iced shortbread cookie
12:15 pm Half Thai chicken wrap, 2 c orange spice tea
3:00 pm 2 pieces Maxine's divinity, small chocolate marshmallow snowman, Handi-Snack Creamy Caramel pudding cup
5:00 pm Molasses cookie
5:30 pm Other half Thai chicken wrap, 4 oz light vanilla soy milk, 8 oz fat free vanilla soy milk, pecan cookie
6:30 pm 1 sandbakkel


Exercise:

5:10-5:55 am Low-Impact Aerobics video

Mon 8 Dec

Yourmometer made me giggle this morning because Barb Towey had a karaoke guy at the after-concert party last night and Tim Neely, the heavy-set man who bounces when he sings, did the most amazing rendition of that song in Louis Armstrong voice. It was fun!

The hospital lab managed to find my paperwork so I could squeeze in my labs before tomorrow's annual physical. I spaced out the lab time on Thursday and didn''t have time to return the doctor's phone call on Friday to formally reschedule. I feel good about going to my physical now that I'm near my goal weight. i'm hoping for normal-range cholesterol again. Just wish my right knee would stop bothering me.


Food:

3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Life, 4 oz skim milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, large naval orange, slice Gift of the Magi bread
1:30 pm Frosted sugar cookie
4:45 pm 1 pc string cheese
8:30 pm 2 1" pc wieners in BBQ sauce, 2 shrimp, 2 meatballs in BBQ sauce, 1/4 pineapple/melon, 2 cookies, cream puff w/chocolate cream filling, 4 oz red wine
10:30 pm 10 g fudge



Exercise:

6:10-6:55 am Power Shaping DVD

Sun 7 Dec

Woke up this morning early and had a debate with myself whether to get up and exercise today so I can have the freedom to skip a morning during the week or to sleep til 7 today. The debate process woke me up enough to decide I might as well exercise today.


Food:

7:30 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate
12:30 pm 2 crepes w/1 extra large sliced banana, coffee
4:30 pm 2 cookies (1 pumpkin w/cinnamon chips, 1 homemade sandwich cookie w/chocolate cream)
5:45 pm 1/2 c meatballs, 1/4 c potato salad, 1/4 c pasta salad, 1/4 c pineapple chunks, 2 clementines, square pumpkin cake, 6 oz punch w/wine
8:30 pm Chocolate-covered pretzel rod



Exercise:

6:25-7:10 am Cardio Soul DVD

Sat 6 Dec

Happy St. Nicholas' Day! Hope St. Nick arrived (via UPS) safely. He had to put shoes out too for Michael here since I forgot to remind him before bed last night.

Concert went pretty well last night. One more Sunday afternoon at St. Bron's, then the cult church Mass on Monday and we're done.

Grandma has to have a little surgery thing on Wed Dec 17. She had an abnormal mammogram and they want to do a biopsy, but they are doing it surgically. I didn't go with her to the initial appointment as she had expected it to just be in the office as she had done several years ago when she had an abnormal mammogram. I wish I had been there for the explanations this time as it seems to be considerably more complicated this time and she doesn't really understand it. Guess I'll have to get her to sign a release so I can call the doctor's office. Might not be a bad idea to make sure we have the Power of Attorney for Health Care in Place now, too. If you could find a few minutes to just give her a phone call to reassure her, I'm sure it would make her feel better. She is quite worried, as I'm sure you can imagine. In the past week, I have talked with two people whose parents have just been diagnosed with probably terminal illnesses, so I guess I'm a little spooked, too. I also talked this week with a lady who had a heart attack during an unrelated surgery, and I'm not sure Grandma's 90-year-old body could handle it if that happened to her. I'm beginning to sound like her, imagining the worst, but all those things happened the same week so it's a little too fresh.


Food:

8:45 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, 71 g stollen, coffee
12:30 pm Barbecue, Diet A&W, half piece caramel pecan topped cheesecake
3:30 pm Mexican wedding cake cookie, large navel orange
6:15 pm 1 c pumpkin bisque, 1 piece lefse, 1 tsp margarine, 1 tsp brown sugar, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk

Fri 5 Dec

Concert day for Master Chorale - tonight at St. Paul's and Sunday at St. Bron's. We get Saturday off but sing at the cult church in Wausau on Monday for the holy day. Saturday is the Jensen Center sale in Amherst, and we might go on to Appleton to do some Christmas shopping and have a good Italian dinner at Victoria's since we don't have a concert. Not for sure yet.

First eggnog coffee of the season today - smells delicious!


Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Life, 4 oz skim milk, half large grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, large navel orange, 87 g stollen, licked fudge pan
2:30 pm Jello Sugar Free Double Chocolate pudding cup
4:45 pm Scraps of fudge
5:00 pm 2.7 oz turkey, 1/2 c stuffing, 1 tbl gravy, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 2 tbl cranberry relish, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

5:05-6:00 am Step/weights DVD

Thurs 4 Dec

Glad to hear you were able to roll with the unexpected punch of extra tuition. Those things happen occasionally, and when they do, they always suck big time.

Had a really hard time getting up to exercise this morning. Only the thought that I'd have to do Friday AND Saturday to make my 5 days this week kept me from giving in to sleeping in. Glad I did it after the fact, but oh, it was hard to do.

Mary Hofer is picking up a case each of navel oranges and grapefruit and 2 lbs of fresh pecans for me from the fruit delivery truck that comes through today. The lines are so long since the truck only comes for 1 1/2 hrs that I don't have time to stand in line on my break. Mary gets her own fruit anyway, so she graciously picks mine up also. I will be thinking of her freezing in line today.

Made a batch of fudge to put in a little tin for Mary; I'll drop it off when I pick up the fruit. I had to drive past during the selling hours, and there wasn't a line around 10:30. I could have stopped and bought my own if I'd have known, but I couldn't have counted on it.



Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple and Brown Sugar Life, 1/2 c skim milk, tangerine, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Blueberry soy shake, 64 g stollen, medium banana, licked the fudge spoon and the marshmallow creme spoon
1:15 pm Coffee
2:30 pm 90 calorie dark chocolate cherry granola bar
3:30 pm Coffee
5:15 pm Turkey soup w/dumplings, 1/2 c stuffing, 2 tbl gravy, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 30 g fudge


Exercise:

5:15-6:00 am Low-Impact Aerobics video

Wed 3 Dec

It's so quiet in the house with Michael gone! Even if our schedules are so busy that I don't have much chance to see him during the day, it's different knowing he's here. I guess I'd better get used to it since he graduates this spring, but it'll be weird.

Nasty surprise to get that additional tuition letter. At least they didn't add "Happy Holidays" at the end. Let me know if you need help.

So tired this afternoon - not sure why.

Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Life, 1/2 c skim milk, tangerine, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
10:30 am 1 dark chocolate-covered peanut butter pretzel bite, 1 Reese's miniature
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, medium banana, 73 g stollen
3:00 pm 1 Reese's miniature
4:45 pm 1.5 oz cold turkey (scarfed down while getting soup ready to cook)
6:30 pm Cheese fries, 12oz light vanilla soy milk




Exercise:

5:10-6:05 am Buns/Abs of Steel 2000 Video

Tues 2 Dec

Well, Michael is off to Milwaukee with the chamber singers for two days to sing with chamber choirs from around the state with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. They are doing the Faure requiem, I think. At least I know it's Faure. Hope he has a lot of fun.

Last night's choir rehearsal for our weekend concerts was predictably long and grinding. Why does the last week before performances always have to be so draining. Whine, whine.

I did the Pilates mat today for the first time in a few weeks. I have been reminded of muscles I forgot existed.


Food:

7:00 am Maple and Brown Sugar Life, 1/2 c skim milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm Chocolate soy shake, small banana, 75 g stollen
2:30 pm Jello Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Raspberry pudding cup
6:00 pm Applebee's Weight Watchers Steak N' Portabello dinner (small steak, sliced portabellos, boiled red potatoes, broccoli), Long Island iced tea



Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat

Mon 1 Dec

December is here - cold and frosty and hectic as always. Hope your end-of-semester is tolerable and you find energy and organization to get everything done while saving a little time for yourself. Hugs to you and a backrub, too!


Food:

7:00 am 1/2 c Maple and Brown Sugar Trail Mix cereal, 4 oz light vanilla soy milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:15 pm Vanilla soy shake, small banana, 64 g stollen
2:30 pm Jello Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Raspberry pudding cup
5:30 pm 1 c La Choy Sweet Sour Chicken, 2/3 c rice, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, half piece pumpkin pie, 1 tbl Cool Whip Lite



Exercise:

5:05-5:50 am Power shaping DVD

Sun 30 Nov

Going to be a busy day today with the Prepare Ye concert and a predictably long rehearsal before the concerts next weekend. Got the tree up and mostly trimmed yesterday; still needs the glass icicles and maybe the garland if it won't look overdone. It's kind of pretty to have colored lights again.

Wow, am I exhausted....

Food:

7:30 am Blueberry soy shake, slice frosted stollen, cherry juice from concentrate
12:00 pm 4 oz pot roast, 2 tbl beef gravy, 1 large red potato, 2/3 c hubbard squash, dinner roll, 1/2 pat margarine, 3 c hot chocolate
4:30 pm Sugar cookie, small piece pumpkin cake, chocolate cookie
9:00 pm Slice Little Caesar's pepperoni pizza

Sat 29 Nov

I could really get used to this "endless weekend" stuff. I've been confused what day of the week it is every day, and it's still only Saturday - I love it! Slept in til nearly 8 and putting up the tree will be so much less a chore, probably even fun again, without the need to string the lights on.

Wow, less than 1 hour to assemble and fluff the tree, lights all in place. Fluffing took longer than assembly, half an hour. I'll need to do a little more branch placement as we decorate but it's basically ready for ornaments already. Maybe I'll even get the crystal garland on this year; I won't poop out as soon since I didn't use all my energy to get this far.


Food:

8:15 am Bowl Red River cereal, 1 tbl craisins, 2 oz skim milk, slice Gift of the Magi bread, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:30 pm Chocolate soy shake, small banana, half piece pumpkin pie w/1 tbl Cool Whip Lite



Exercise:

2:15-4:05 pm Walk with dad

Black Friday

Got up a little after 7 and am having breakfast before heading out for a bit of shopping. Did skip the shower to stay with tradition , though Dad couldn't do it. He will be clean and I will be...oh, well.

We did the Black Friday thing proud - found quite a few things to further the Christmas shopping as well as a couple of use-soon items. One is a 2" Memory Foam mattress topper for your bed in hopes that it will help your back when you're here for Christmas (and any other visits). The sample piece seemed to have some firmness and softness together, so hopefully you'll notice the difference. The other (surprising) purchase was investing in a pre-lit (only 800 lights, sigh!) artificial tree to eliminate the multi-day ordeal of assembling the other tree and stringing 1200 lights. The new tree has colored lights so that will be different, too. I'm really appreciating that I won't need to spend the rest of the weekend destroying my hands and getting really bitchy.

Food:

7:30 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, cherry juice from concentrate, slice of Gift of the Magi bread, coffee
11:45 am Salad w/4 oz blackened tuna steak, mixed greens, and fruit, 2 pc crostini, 1/2 c apple baked beans, coffee
2:30 pm Slice cranberry bread
4:15 pm Small piece pumpkin pie w/Cool Whip
5:30 pm 2.8 oz turkey, 1/2 c stuffing, 1 T gravy, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 2 tbl cranberry relish, 12 oz light soy milk


Exercise:

8:00-11:30 am Shopping
1:50-4:10 pm Walk with dad

Thanksgiving Day

What a great day to have family all together! I'm sorry that Megumi, Yoshi, and Yuki can't be with us and it's too bad Leone and Mick have to stay home to eat their food from Tom, but it might be nice with just the LeGaults and Grandma. Who knows, maybe Rich will decide to come for awhile.


Food:

8:15 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, 98 g coffee cake, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm 6 oz spiced cider
1:45 pm Turkey, stuffing, gravy, baked corn, cranberry relish, sweet potatoes, carrots w/mandarin oranges, crescent roll, wine, light soy milk, pumpkin pie w/Cool Whip
4:15 pm Pumpkin pie w/Cool Whip
7:30 pm 1/2 serving Churros snack
9:30 pm 60-cal Jello Sugar-free-Dark Chocolate raspberry pudding cup (Yummy!)


Exercise:

8:55-9:55 am Buns/Abs of Steel 2000 video

Wed 26 Nov

Preparation day today - finish getting the table area ready, bake pies and sweet potatoes, chop veggies, make cranberry relish. Think I might actually do a traditional green bean casserole with the dinner tomorrow. Most people like it. I'll plan on mac and cheese and broccoli for supper tonight when you and dad get back. I expect you'll get here around 6:30 or shortly thereafter.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Corn Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, coffee
12:45 pm Chocolate soy shake, 101 g coffee cake
1:15 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix
3:00 pm 1 Dove Promise
6:45 pm 1.5 c macaroni and cheese, 3/4 c broccoli, 12 oz light soy milk, 2"x2" mint brownie


Exercise:

5:00-5:55 am Step/weights DVD

Tues 25 Nov

My bro would have been 57 today if he were still around. Happy Birthday, Mark.

Thanksgiving brunch day at work, and a very busy schedule, too.


Food:

7:00 am Blueberry soy shake, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, 95 g coffee cake, coffee
9:30 am 1/3 c cheesy potatoes, 1/3 c green bean casserole, 1/3 c cheesy rice, 1/2 c broccoli casserole, 1/3 c scrambled eggs w/veggies & cheese, 1 sausage, 1 slice ham, 3 apple slices w/PB dip, 1 iced cookie, 1 slice low-fat chocolate banana cheesecake, 1/2 pc chocolate mint dessert, coffee
2:30 pm 3/4 c people puppy chow




Exercise:

5:05-5:55 pm Low-impact aerobics DVD

Mon 24 Nov

I feel good about securing your flight, getting my dishes put into the cupboard, and having some Christmas shopping done. Tonight we rehearse for Prepare Ye and then on to setting up for Thanksgiving.

If you'd like to make a salad of some sort, that would be awesome. I will be making turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, Crescent rolls, cranberry relish and pies. Leone is bringing baked corn. If you can make something vegetable-ish, I will not make green bean casserole or an equivalent. Let me know so I know if I should add the veggies back on to my list.

If Dad picks you up around 4 pm Wed, you can come home for supper and I'll make mac n' cheese (unless you have an alternate request). Would be nice to have a quiet dinner with just our family. Maybe we can even get Michael to join us!

Having some frustration because my pedometer has reset itself to zero at least twice today. It currently says I've done 303 steps today.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c All-Bran Strawberry Medley, 4 oz light vanilla soy milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am 124 g coffee cake, vanilla soy shake, 98 g Roma tomato
6:00 pm 1 c casserole w/ground round, whole wheat noodles, frozen peas, shredded Italian cheese and Italian tomato soup, small bag salad, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:45 pm Slice Gift of the Magi bread


Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Power shaping DVD

Sun 23 Nov

Had fun spending time with you yesterday. Looking forward to doing so again on Thursday. For this morning, I'm unusually cold and my tummy hurts a bit - hope that goes away soon.

Wow, even with an hour's nap mid-afternoon, I am really tired. Wish I could skip choir and just veg out, but I really need to exercise, finish laundry, and get some other things done. But I'm so tired.................


Food:

8:00 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, 54 g raisin bread, slice Gift of the Magi bread, cherry juice from concentrate
11:45 am 1 chicken breast, 1/3 c scalloped potatoes, 1 dinner roll w/half pat margarine, 1/2 c California vegetable mix, 1 c salad w/craisins, slice tomato, 2 strips green pepper, 2 c hot chocolate, ice cream sandwich
3:45 pm Fun-size Kit Kat bar
8:45 pm 1.1 oz gouda

Sat 22 Nov

Nice to get a little extra sleep. Dad and I went to opening night last night, so we've had a preview. MIchael looks cute in tights!

Portage County Home had their annual pre-Christmas bake sale yesterday, so goodies again for breakfast - sigh!


Food:

8:15 am 50 g cinnamon roll, 97 g coffee cake, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm McDonald's double cheeseburger, McDonald's small mocha
4:15 pm Potbelly roast beef/provolone sandwich w/lettuce, tomato, and pickle, Potbelly oatmeal chocolate chip cookie
12:00 am 1" square apple cake

Fri 21 Nov

Made it through step this morning so I have my five days' 10000+ in for the week. And my scale was down to 126.4 today! Less than 1.5 to go! I'm not worrying as much if my calories are slightly over the recommended level at this point. With the regular exercise, I seem to continue to move slowly toward the goal, and then I just need to maintain.

We'll give you a call when we hit town then tomorrow as we're expecting to get there around 2. That should allow time for Woodman's and a good lunch, and maybe a minute to run into the mall to check on some Hot Topic items on Michael's list that weren't at the Mpls store.



Food:

7:00 am 1/2 c Maple & Brown Sugar Trail Mix cereal, 4 oz light vanilla soy milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm Blueberry soy shake, 89 g Roma tomato, 104 g iced raisin bread
1:00 pm 1 Riesen caramel
3:30 pm 2 wintergreen Lifesavers
5:30 pm 51 g homemade white bread, 51 g shaved turkey, 36 g cheddar cheese, 74 g sliced tomatoes, inner leaf romaine, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 67 g Gift of the Magi bread



Exercise:

5:00-5:55 am Step/weights DVD

Thurs 20 Nov

Dad and I will probably leave for Madison around noon on Saturday. I was able to find a pea coat for Michael online so we don't need to search the mall after all. I do want to go to Woodman's and possibly Trader Joe's or Brennan's. Have to think if there are other holiday purchases that would be easier to find in Madtown.

I was so tired yesterday that I cancelled my voice lesson and went to bed at 8 pm. Slept all night and feel better for it. Even skipped the morning workout to catch an extra hour of rest. I have the option of making today a slug day or exercising when I get home from work if I feel like it. I probably won't work out Saturday but I can have up to 2 days off each week.

Dad and I tried the new sushi grill on the East side of Point last night. Quite satisfactory. We'll take you there when you are in town if there's time over Christmas maybe. It's called Matsu Ya. We had a Chicago roll, I had sukiyaki and Dad had pan-fried Udon.

Turkeyz will be ready for you in about a week! Hang in there!

Finally picked up Michael's senior pics today. Will try to remember to bring you wallets on Saturday. They are really nice!


Food:

7:00 am 1/2 c Maple and Brown Sugar Trail Mix cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, slice pumpkin coffee cake
2:30 pm Coffee
5:45 pm 3 oz chicken breast, 4 oz Italian stir fry veggies, 3/4 c rice, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1/8 blueberry pie

Wed 19 Nov

Michael is starting to feel the strain of tech week. Having a 5 am start and an all-day bus trip to Milwaukee didn't make it any easier. Hope he hangs in there.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Corn Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, coffee
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, large banana sliced in 2 oz light vanilla soy milk, slice pumpkin coffee cake
12:30 pm 5 g dark chocolate
2:45 pm Handi-Snack Sugar-Free Creamy Caramel pudding cup
6:30 pm 4 pc Chicago roll sushi, pickled ginger, iceberg lettuce & shredded carrots w/ginger dressing, 1 c miso soup, small serving beef sukyaki, lots of tea



Exercise:

5:05-5:50 am Power Shaping DVD

Tues 18 Nov

Dropped Michael off at Pacelli at about 10 to 5 this morning to catch the bus to Milwaukee for their rehearsal with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Chamber choirs from all over the state, including Pacelli and SPASH, are participating in two concerts Dec 3. They will get an overnighter 2-day trip Dec 2-3 for rehearsals and a little fun. He's really looking forward to it.

I can tell that Michael is very pleased that you're coming on Saturday for his show. We're all looking forward to seeing you.
Megumi won't be coming for Thanksgiving as her sister comes to town on Sunday for a week and they'll be in Chicago on Thanksgiving. Maybe you can touch base with Junko briefly while she's in town if you remember her. We'll make the arrangements for pick-up and drop-off for Thanksgiving when we see you Saturday.

If you can get free sooner on Saturday, it would be great to get a nicer meal to last us for the evening. I'd like to be on the road back to Point by 4:15ish to allow for any snags along the way. I want to be back in time to get good seats. We would probably need to pick you up around 3 to get to a restaurant and get served in time. If it works for you, that would be great. If we can pick you up Wed evening for Thanksgiving, that would really be nice. One of us could pick you up around 3:30 or 4:00 if that works.

Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Cinnamon Life, 1/2 c skim milk, slice pumpkin spice coffee cake, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm 3.5 oz meatloaf, 1/2 c mashed potatoes, 2 tbl beef gravy, 1/2 c green beans, coffee, 2"x2" square chocolate cake w/white frosting
3:30 pm Medium banana
4:00 pm 1/2 pouch SweetTarts
6:45 pm 2 slices homemade white bread, 1 tsp soft margarine, 84 g white meat chicken, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:05-5:55 am Buns & Abs of Steel 2000 video

Mon 17 Nov

Busy weekend - didn't get to looking for airfares so will need to do it in the evenings. Will call for passport info.

Michael would really be pleased if there's any way you could come for his show at Pacelli this weekend. Performances are at 7 pm on Fri and Sat, 2 pm Sun. I could pick you up in Madison at about 4 pm Fri and take you back Saturday, or I could pick you up Sat morning and bring you back on Sunday if you could swing it. Little bro would be very happy.

Dad and I will bring you home after the show Saturday night. What time would you like us to pick you up? We could come in the afternoon and catch food before heading back if you like. Curtain is at 7 pm.

We'll probably need to grab fast food or something really quick to eat at 4 and make it home for curtain, but sure. Dad and I will come down earlier as we want to hit Woodman's and look for a pea coat for Michael at the mall. You can just give us a call when you're ready to be picked up.



Food:

7:00 am 1/2 c Trail Mix Maple & Brown Sugar, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:30 am Chocolate soy shake, medium banana, pumpkin coffee cake
6:45 pm 1.5 c homemade tomato soup, 52 g homemade bread, 45 g sharp cheddar cheese, 3 tsp soft margarine, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, slice blueberry pie


Exercise:

5:15-6:05 pm Ball/band DVD

Sun 16 Nov

Going to a benefit at Pacelli after church today for the shop teacher, Rick Busse, who has cancer and recently also had a stroke. They're doing a spaghetti dinner, silent auction, bake sale, 3 bands, Packers on big screen TV, cheese curds and popcorn, etc. with proceeds to help their medical bills.


Food:

7:45 am Half a turtle caramel roll, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm 1 c spaghetti, 3/4 c meat sauce, 1/2 c salad, 1/2 c green beans, breadstick, 8 oz skim milk, 2"x2" chocolate cake w/white frosting
5:00 pm Two eggnog pancakes, 8 oz Silk eggnog


Exercise:

3:55-4:40 pm Low-Impact aerobics video

Sat 15 Nov

"Hair" was lots of fun last night - a real throwback in time. First Nighters put out a nice dinner so overall it was a great evening.

Today I have 2 weeks' worth of laundry to catch up on, Community Shopping sale at Younker's for choir. (If I can manage my time, I'd prefer to go up to the Younkers in the Wausau mall as the one in Plover is so small). I have to cantor at 4 and I really should go over a couple of the unfamiliar verse songs again; I worked them with Mary on Monday, but that was a long time ago.)



Food:

8:30 am Half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate, 53 g chocolate babka, coffee
1:15 pm Caribbean shrimp salad (w/oranges, pineapple, raspberries & grapes), 2 slices black bean crostini, coffee
7:00 pm Market Bay Salmon pinwheel, 1/2 c mashed sweet potatoes, Strawberry applesauce cup, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, Halloween crispie pop
7:45 pm 1/3 c sipping chocolate

Fri 14 Nov

Wow, is seems the holidays are approaching quickly! We need to clarify transportation for Thanksgiving as soon as I hear back from Megumi. I'd like to know what time you'd be able to be here over Christmas so I can arrange with John Hartman and possibly schedule a Christmas present massage for you at Wellness Spa. I expect to be off work the entire week of Dec 21-27, so I could come down to get you on Monday or Tuesday if that would work; maybe John could do the portrait Tuesday. I hate to ask him to take time on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

I want to look at Taiwan flights this weekend, so we'll need to connect to get the passport numbers and clarify your preferred dates. At this point, I believe we're looking at flying out New Year's Day and returning Jan 10?


Food:

7:00 am Vanilla soy shake, 68 g maple walnut scone, half grapefruit, cherry juice from concentrate coffee
12:00 pm 2 oz shaved turkey, 1 oz swiss cheese, 4 thin tomato slices, 1 leaf lettuce, 2 slices rye bread, 1 c ham bean soup, 8 oz 2% milk, 1 c coffee, 2"x3" chocolate frosted sheet cake
1:00 pm 1 c tea
4:15 pm 1 Reese's peanut butter cup
5:30 pm 4 oz red spiced wine
6:00 pm Dinner roll, 1 pat whipped butter, slice cranberry orange bread, 1 c squash soup, 2 c coffee, 4 oz pork, 1/2 c wild rice blend, 3/4 c roasted squash, apple dumpling


Exercise:

5:00-5:55 am Step/weights DVD

Thurs 13 Nov

Bought some Silk Eggnog the other day and it brought back pleasant memories of the time I came to Madison for a conference and we bummed through Whole Foods and ate Pokey Fries and assorted goodies in my hotel room together. That was really fun!


Food:

7:00 am Large pumpkin muffin, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, coffee
12:45 pm Strawberry/banana soy shake, 56 g cranberry orange scone, medium banana
2:15 pm 12 oz diet Coke
5:30 pm 3 oz rotisserie chicken, 1/2 c cranberry stove-top stuffing, 1/2 c canned beets, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

5:05-5:55 am Buns/Abs of Steel 2000 Video - an oldie but a goodie

Wed 12 Nov

Brrr! I hate the quick transition from nice weather to cold. I want last Monday's 70 degrees back!

It was harder than usual to get up and exercise this morning, not from being too sore or tired, just hard to get moving.


Food:

7:00 am Blueberry soy shake, cherry juice from concentrate, half grapefruit, 52 g cranberry orange scone, coffee
11:30 am 8 pc spicy tuna roll, 1 pc salmon roll, 3 oz beef, 1 c cabbage, 1/2 c mushrooms, 1 tbl green onion, 1/4 c sprouts, stir fry sauce, tea
3:30 pm 1/4 pumpkin spice trail mix
6:45 pm 1 serving pork sausage casserole w/whole wheat noodles, 1 c asparagus, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:45 pm 54 g cranberry orange mini-scone


Exercise:

5:05-5:50 am Power Shaping DVD

Tues 11 Nov

Michael didn't get to see Wicked after all; the last-minute arrangements they tried to make didn't pan out. Disappointing - sigh!

Life is back to very busy following the little break for Mpls. Next item to look forward to is Thanksgiving, I guess. I did email Megumi to invite them and ask if they could be your transportation. I'll let you know when I get a response.


Food:

7:00 am 1/2 turtle caramel roll, pear, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am 120 g pumpkin currant scone, vanilla soy shake
3:00 pm 4 plain M&Ms, mini Heath bar
4:15 pm Handful popcorn
6:45 pm Taco Bell grilled steak taco, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
7:25 pm 1 piece string cheese, 1/2 c Silk eggnog



Exercise:

5:05-5:50 am Low-Impact Aerobics video

Mon 10 Nov

I did keep track of my food while gone but was too tired to enter it all last night. Got home just in time to run to choir and was wiped out by the time we were done. Now we're consuming some of the goodies I couldn't resist buying. At least I cut my turtle caramel roll in half (it was plenty!). I made good use of the exercise room at Sofitel a couple of the days; I love the nice elliptical there.


Food:

7:00 am Half turtle caramel roll, 6 oz OJ, coffee
11:15 am Vanilla soy shake, pear, 70 g maple walnut mini-scone
3:00 pm Act II popcorn ball
6:30 pm 1 c chili, 1/8 c shredded cheddar, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1/3 lemon tart




Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat
5:35-6:10 pm Cardio Hula DVD

Thurs 6 Nov

Heading off to Mpls this morning with Grandma; will be staying through Sunday this time due to the special rate at Sofitel for a 3-night stay. Looking forward to lots of good eats, shopping, resting in that beautiful room, and working out in their great facilities. I know you didn't want to be bothered for a Christmas list, but we will want to get you some things besides the Taiwan ticket, so if there is something specific you'd like, text me. I'll have the phone with me (no charger), so I'll be able to communicate some. Not sure if I'll have access to a computer there - don't remember ever seeing one in the common area.

Michael and his Music Appreciation class are taking a trip tomorrow to Chicago to see "Wicked". I'm really jealous! Hope he has an awesome time.


Food:

7:00 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, cherry juice from concentrate, pear, coffee



Exercise:

5:00-5:55 am Step/weights DVD

Wed 5 Nov

Yaaayyy!!! I even managed to stay up long enough to watch the acceptance speech. My faith in the American people is restored. Just wish we didn't have to endure a few more months of W before the change can really begin. And all the good local legislators kept their positions, though Mielke the crazy man came closer to Obey than I would have believed.

Oh, and please don't drink til you pass out - just enough to celebrate without the major consequences, please!

My scale was down to 127.4 this morning, too! Less than 2.5 pounds from my goal! Life is good.

Got up to exercise but decided I needed the little extra rest more than the movement. Sometimes you need to listen to the body.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c All-Bran Strawberry Medley, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, slice raspberry coffee cake, pear, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:30 am Vanilla soy shake, 30g multigrain toast, 1 tbl peanut butter, clementine
3:15 pm Baby Ruth fun size bar
4:15 pm Large oatmeal raisin cookie
5:30 pm 2 BBQ chicken drummies, 3 corn chips w/asiago dip, 2 small cubes almond pound cake, 1 small cube beer bread, 1/2 pumpkin bar, 1 graham twist

Election day

Dad's off voting now and I'll head over when I finish breakfast. Fingers crossed that Americans don't dumb up a third time in succession.

I will look for a flight for you as soon as I get some free time. Is return on Sat 10 Jan acceptable so that it's easier to pick you up?

Wow! What a gorgeous day!!!!!

You just had a 6 pm phone message from someone encouraging you to get out yet today and vote if you haven't already. They had your polling place listed as Jefferson School.

I've just been watching the numbers on the Internet, but I think I'll break down and turn on the tube. I was too nervous to watch before I felt like things were heading in the right direction.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c milk, clementine, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
9:45 am 1/2 chocolate caramel bar
12:00 pm Blueberry soy shake, medium apple
1:00 pm 6 peanut M&Ms
3:00 pm 3 Wintergreen LifeSavers, 1 bite-size Milky Way Midnight Mini
4:00 pm 1 banana split granola bite
6:00 pm 2 scrambled eggs w/ 1/4 c diced ham and 1/4 c shredded cheddar, 1 slice multigrain toast w/2 tsp soft margarine, cup peach applesauce




Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Power Shaping DVD

Mon 3 Nov

Hope you made it home safely and had a wonderful time in Virginia. Nice to have a break from the stress. Love to hear about your trip if you get time.

I'm annoyed because my step tracking site with the equivalency calculator has been offline for a few days. I'm glad I wrote down the equivalency of some of my DVDs.

Sounds like an excellent and well-deserved break. So glad you had a good time! That free ticket could let you visit Keaton again with minimal investment.

Crazy day today at work. Meeting with Pacelli guidance counselor w/Michael re: post-HS plans at 1:35. Talked about possibilities of UWSP, tech school, UW extension campuses, etc. Need to start getting applications in.


Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple and Brown Sugar Chex, 4 oz skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, slice raspberry coffee cake, coffee
12:30 pm 1"x2" square chocolate caramel bar cookie
1:20 pm Strawberry/banana soy shake, clementine
5:15 pm 1 c Archer Farms apricot currant chicken w/whole wheat couscous, Musselman's Lite Blueberry Pomegranate applesauce cup, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1 piece string cheese, small square cranberry cake w/butter sauce
6:15 pm 1 Fun-size Baby Ruth
8:15 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix


Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat

Sun 2 Nov

Decided to do the Morning Quickie Yoga routine when I got up so maybe in combination with ballet later, I'll hit the 10000 mark without need to hop on the treadmill too. We'll see.


Food:

8:45 am Chocolate soy shake, cherry juice from concentrate, small square cranberry cake w/butter sauce
12:00 pm 2 crepes, medium sliced banana, 1.5 tbl sour cream, 1.5 tbl brown sugar, coffee
5:45 pm 1 c chili, 1 tbl shredded cheddar, 58 g multigrain bread, 1 tsp margarine, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk




Exercise:

7:55-8:30 am Morning Quickie Yoga DVD
4:15-5:05 pm Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 1 Nov

Gotta take Grandma to church this morning for the Holy Day. She'll probably give me garbage for not making Michael go even though he will go to Eddie's Confirmation Mass tonight. Dad has to go to the Confirmation practice this morning at 10 so he won't be going either.

Got about 208 trick-or-treaters last night. Panicked part way through when they were coming hot and heavy and sent dad out for more candy, so now we have leftover. I thought there would be a wave of older kids once it got nice and dark, but it didn't materialize. Ate too much candy yesterday - oops!

Food:

7:30 am 1 c All-Bran Strawberry medley, 4 oz light vanilla soy milk, cherry juice from concentrate
11:45 am Chicken breast half and drumstick, 1/2 c long grain and wild rice blend, 2 spears broccoli, 8 oz skim milk, 2 c coffee, 1 -inch square dried cherry cake w/dollop of canned whipped cream
1:30 pm Kit Kat fun-size
3:45 pm Small square cranberry cake w/butter sauce
8:00 pm 4 oz white wine, spinach salad w/2 tbl hard boiled egg, 1/8 c croutons, hot bacon dressing, 4 lamb ribs, 1 c vegetables

Halloween

Happy Halloween! I'd love to hear what costume you decided on and what your Halloween plans are. I'll be handing out candy from 6-8:30ish or til I run out if that happens first. I've only dug into one bag of Snickers bars a couple of times early.
Oooh, I just now read Yourmometer! You're really going to DC for the weekend! Have a great trip and tell us all about it when you get back.

Michael dressed as a pirate with his friends for school today, but he rushed off without his eye patch. Sigh!


Food:

7:00 am 1 c All-Bran Strawberry Medley, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 1/8 cantaloupe, coffee
9:00 am Chocolate chip bar, 2 pc Indian corn
12;15 pm Blueberry soy shake, small banana
1:30 pm Butterfinger Snack Size bar
3:00 pm 3 fries, 1.5 oz burger/bun, 12 oz pumpkin shake
5:45 pm Snickers FunSize bar
6:30 pm 1 Grands biscuit, 1 c chili, 1 tbl shredded cheddar
8:00 pm 1 Heath snack size




Exercise:

5:05-6:00 am Step/weights DVD

Thurs 30 Oct

Getting a lot of rest yesterday evening was a good thing. I could use more today, but I'll survive. Made it through aerobics this morning so most of my step count is done for the day.


Food:

7:00 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, cherry juice from concentrate, 1/8 cantaloupe, slice whole wheat toast, 1 tbl pb, coffee
10:00 am 3 pc Indian corn
11:30 am 1/2 c rice noodles, 1/3 c mushroom chicken, 1/3 c hibachi chicken and shrimp, 1/3 c pork and potatoes, 2 crab rangoon, 1/2 c vanilla pudding, 1 chinese donut, 1 fortune cookie
4:00 pm Handi-Snacks Creamy Caramel pudding cup
6:30 pm 3 oz Arby's beef, bun, pumpkin bar, 5 oz skim milk



Exercise:

5:00-5:50 am Low-impact aerobics video

Wed 29 Oct

I didn't get to work out this morning because some dumb psychiatrist is actually going to see one of the clients I'm covering for Heather at 7:00 am and I need to attend. In order to get out to Hwy 66, I need to leave by 6:45. Insane!

I'm sick of feeling sick. Took an hour nap on the couch after work, and I'm hoping Michael gets home from play practice to take the voice lesson since he missed his on Monday so I can just get in my jammies and go to bed. This will be my slug day for the week.


Food:

6:15 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 1/8 cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, 1 slice whole wheat toast, 1 tbl peanut butter, 1 small banana
1:45 pm 1 Fun-size Snickers
3:00 pm Chamomile tea
5:00 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix
6:45 pm 3 oz leftover roast beef, 1/2 c Bob Evans mashed sweet potatoes, 1/2 frozen corn, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk

Tues 28 Oct

My finger doesn't hurt at all any more, though it still looks gross. I can type normally - yay! I need to finish the antibiotics and continue soaking it in warm water several times a day, but it's nice to be pain-free.

Hope your hip injury isn't severe. Dad said you were doing breast stroke. I suppose flexing the extreme range of motion along with using some power strains the muscle.

Just make sure you listen to your body and don't push anything too far. Don't want to take even longer to heal.

I read Elie Wiezel's "Night" this evening. I felt guilty for being warm and comfortable, enjoying a snack because I was still hungry, while reading of such intense human suffering.



Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 1/8 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:30 am Blueberry soy shake, small banana, 2 pumpkin donut holes
1:30 pm Jello Sugar-Free Mochaccino pudding cup
3:30 pm 1 Banana Split granola bite
5:45 pm 1 serving Four Cheese Pasta Roni w/ham & green pepper, 1 c green beans, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:30 pm 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk



Exercise:

5:00-5:50 am Power Shaping DVD

Mon 27 Oct

Don't feel well today. Finger is still swollen and infected. Think I'll call the doctor's office today for advice. Also coming down with cold so feel generally icky.

I have an appointment to see a nurse practitioner at 1:45 pm to hopefully treat my finger. Still feeling yucky overall though. She gave me antibiotics, but if they don't help or it gets worse, I need to go to Surgery to get it drained. Looks pretty damn nasty right now.

Gave in around 7:00 pm and had dad take me to Urgent Care to have the finger drained. Pain was much worse and it seemed greener and had developed ablack streak that wasn't there this afternoon. ER guy said it was good that I came in as the swelling prevented the antibiotic from reaching the affected area. Feels much better with the release of pressure! I'm supposed to continue warm soaks, then put on bacitracin and gauze and take vicadin if needed, but for now it doesn't even really hurt.

Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple and Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/8 large cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am 1 slice whole wheat toast, 1 tbl peanut butter, 1 pumpkin donut hole, chocolate soy shake, 6 oz warm apple cider
2:45 pm Hunt's Snack Pack Fat-free tapioca pudding cup
6:15 pm 1/2 c jasmine rice, 1 serving beef n' beer casserole, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1/8 pumkin pie, 2 tbl lite cool whip



Exercise:

5:00-5:50 am Pilates mat
5:10-5:45 pm Cardio Hula DVD

Sun 26 Oct

I have a nasty infected hangnail in the middle finger of my left hand which has not yet responded to triple antibiotic ointment, soaking in very hot water, soaking in peroxide, or ibuprofen. The ball of the finger is swollen and hard, though slightly better this morning than last night. Hope I can figure out how to fix it or that it just goes away. I've had infected hangnails in the past and had been advised (by doctors, I think) to soak in very hot water. I think I'll keep trying that more frequently today to see if I can make a dent.


Food:

8:00 am 3/4 Fruity Cheerios, 4 oz skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, strawberry/banana soy shake
12:15 pm Chicken thigh, 2 wings, 1/2 c au gratin potatoes, 1/2 c mixed vegetables, 1/2 slice marble rye bread, 8 oz skim milk, 2 c coffee, 2"x2" seven-layer bar
4:45 pm 3 oz ham, 1/2 c sweet potato casserole, 1/2 c applesauce, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

2:35-3:25 pm Brutal ballet DVD
3:30-4:00 pm Treadmill

Sat 25 Oct

We got up later than we should have so Michael was rushed getting out the door for his ACT, but in some ways I think that wasn't a bad thing. His biggest problem is usually nerves and he didn't have time to get too stressed before he was out the door. While he was showering, I highlighted the strategy suggestions on the booklet and reviewed them with him while he swallowed a few bites of oatmeal. He grabbed pencils, calculator, ticket and ID and dad took him to drop off at the door. Wish him luck!

Diane called around 12:15 - they're in town but stopped to see their old neighbors. We expect them pretty soon to walk around town so they can see the Stevens Point of 2008.

Very nice visit with Mark & Diane. Drove and walked around town, dinner and chat. Will try a visit to Oconomowoc in a month or two.


Food:

8:00 am Blueberry soy shake, 1 c oatmeal, 2 oz skim milk, 1 tsp brown sugar, cherry juice from concentrate
12:15 pm 1/2 c Trail Mix w/raisins and almonds cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, small banana, 1 Ghirardelli mint chocolate square
6:15 pm 4 oz ham. 1/2 c sweet potato casserole, 1 c homemade applesauce, 1/2 c asparagus, Parrot Bay pineapple colada malt beverage, 1/8 pumpkin pie, 2 tbl Cool Whip


Exercise:

4:00-5:15 pm Walk around downtown

Fri 24 Oct

Mark and Diane are coming to town to visit tomorrow, bringing their bikes, so hopefully the weather will cooperate for a nice ride. In anticipation of good exercise with the ride, and in reward for good solid exercise days every day so far this week including Sunday, I "slept in" til 5:45 and didn't get up to work out this morning. I want to be careful to give my body a day off occasionally.

Had a lot of fun getting together with past and present coworkers for dinner at El Mezcal last night. There were only five of us but we had fun.

Unfortunately, Michael's soccer team lost their first game of regionals last night. He was bummed, but having no school today will probably be good compensation.

Can't believe I found an unclaimed apple turnover left over at the end of the day and just scarfed it down. Bad girl!

Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/8 large cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, medium apple, slice Sara Lee 100% whole wheat w/honey toast, 1 tbl peanut butter
2:30 pm 90 calorie granola bar
3:30 pm Apple turnover
6:00 pm Egg roll, 2 crab rangoon, 1 breaded scallop, 2 gyoza, half a breaded crab claw, 3 walnut shrimp, 3 skewered teriyaki shrimp w/pineapple tidbits, 1 sesame shrimp ball, 2 mussels, 3 pc octopus, 1 pc crab, 1 sm pc fish, veggies, 1 sm pc cheesecake, lots of hibiscus tea
8:30 pm 1 Riesen caramel

Thurs 23 Oct

Spaced out this morning and forgot to put in an entry. Guess I just added my drink with Mary Hofer for her birthday celebration last night and thought I was done.

Bad day for snacking - just hadda have chocolate. Oh, well, at least everything was small.

Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 1/8 large canataloupe, coffee
10:45 am 2 c popcorn
11:45 am 1/4 pumpkin spice trail mix, blueberry soy shake
12:45 pm 1 Lindt orange thin
2:00 pm 2 wintergreen LifeSavers
2:45 pm 1 minature Krackel bar
4:00 pm 1 Fun-size Snickers
5:00 pm 1 margarita, 2 tamales, tossed salad w/tomato & green pepper slices & cheese crumbles



Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Jane Fonda Low-Impact Aerobics video

Wed 22 Oct

Avenue Q was wonderful! I'm proud of myself for getting up to exercise with only about 4 hrs sleep, not counting in the car.

Spark Recipes featured some Halloween party fare today including Sludgy Fudgy Brownies made with black beans. Hmm.... I'd have to taste those to believe that healthy food sometimes doesn't go a bit too far. The sweet potato and black bean soup sounds good enough to try though.


Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/8 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, 69 g Roma tomato, slice Sara Lee 100% whole wheat w/honey toast, 1 tbl peanut butter
2:30 pm 1 Riesen caramel
6:30 pm 3.25 oz burgundy pepper roast, 2/3 c Simply Potatoes w/onions, 1 c broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 4 oz white wine, 1/8 cranberry pudding pie
8:45 pm Shot Malibu rum w/diet Coke



Exercise:

5:00-5:35 am Buns of Steel video
5:40-5:55 am Treadmill
7:25-8:00 pm Cardio Hula DVD

Tues 21 Oct

I'm really looking forward to Avenue Q tonight. Hope it works out to rendezvous with you for dinner at the Great Dane too.

The morning had a disconcerting start when I went to clip on my pedometer and the clip snapped. I'm currently wearing it held on by a clothespin until I can replace it. I've really gotten used to the motivation of making my 10000+ steps a day and I often have no idea how many steps I get during the work day, or even on a walk without checking the counter. Guess I'm addicted to information. And I ran out of cherry juice concentrate til the next shipment comes. Change, oh my!

Avenue Q was great! Hope you love it as much as we did!


Food:

7:00 am 3/4 c Maple & Brown Sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/2 serving cherry juice from concentrate, 1/8 wedge large cantaloupe, coffee
12:00 pm Chocolate soy shake, slice 100% whole wheat toast, 1 tbl peanut butter, 61 g fresh roma tomato
12:45 pm 1 Reese's egg, 1 Riesen caramel
5:30 pm 3/4 grilled veggie burrito, chips & salsa, 1/8 c refritos w/cheese, 1/3 c shredded lettuce
6:30 pm Large oatmeal chocolate chip cookie


Exercise:

5:10-6:05 am Step/weights DVD

Mon 20 Oct

I like doing Pilates mat some mornings to keep the abs in place, but it annoys me that it only counts for 5100 steps where some of the other routines count for 8000+. If my work day doesn't allow much out-and-about, I have to do more exercise in the evening to get to 10000 with Pilates or other low-count morning routines. It's not hard if the weather is nice if I can find time for about a 20-min walk, but if the weather is bad, it means another exercise routine.

Today was Sundae Monday at work, the annual day when the admin staff provides ice cream and sundae fixings for staff at no charge. Also got a short walk to get that step count in place for the day.

Food:

7:00 am Maple and brown sugar Chex, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/8 large cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix, vanilla soy shake, extra small banana
2:00 pm 1/2 c vanilla ice cream, 1 tbl Hershey's fudge sauce, 1 tbl caramel topping, 1 tsp chopped peanuts
5:30 pm Quaker 90 calorie Cinnamon Streusel mini-delights
6:30 pm 1 serving cheesy spaetzle, 1 c broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat
2:15-2:35 pm Walk

Sun 19 Oct

I'll be glad to bring a couple of the Empty Bowls surplus your way. It's kind of fun to have the handmade ones around. BTW, would you like to meet us for dinner on Tuesday evening before we go to Avenue Q? We hope to leave Point around 3 pm so we should get in around 5-5:30 depending on rush hour traffic. We could pick you up but you'd probably need to get yourself home as we'll need to find a parking space that we can hang on to during the show. You could also bike to State St area and meet us. We haven't decided on where to eat yet. We've tossed around the Great Dane if weather doesn't make walking too odious.

We can just plan to do dinner at the Great Dane. We'll head over there when we get to town and get a table. Come on over when you finish swimming and join us. Odds are that by the time we park, walk there and get a table, you'll be coming shortly thereafter. Would be fun to have you join us.

Dad and Eddie Hartman have a confirmation prep retreat at Lion's Camp this afternoon.

Laura got a phone call from a Kristin at UWSP trying to establish contact (with former students?) She said she'll call back.


Food:

8:00 am Blueberry soy shake, cherry juice from concentrate, 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix, raspberry tea
12:00 pm 1 c oatmeal, 1 c cinnamon apples, 1/4 c chopped pecans, 1/4 c raisins, 2 oz skim milk, 12 oz OJ, 2 c coffee
1:30 pm 2/3 c popcorn
2:15 pm 1 Riesen caramel
4:45 pm 3 oz pulled pork, bun, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, sugar cookie


Exercise:

3:00-4:40 pm Walk through Schmeekle

Sat 18 Oct

Looking forward to the Empty Bowls hunger fundraiser today - $10 buys a bowl of a choice of delicious soups donated by local restaurants, bread, and cookie and you choose a handmade pottery bowl to take home. We have quite a collection of bowls from past years but we do use at least some of them. It's fun to choose them from the variety that people have made over the year and the soup has always been wonderful. Tom Pease usually plays as part of the entertainment.

Made a nice veggie soup with the leftover juices from the crock pot pork roast serving as the base. Added leek, carrots, celery, parsnip, fresh Italian parsley, green and red peppers. Yum!


Food:

8:15 am Strawberry/vanilla soy shake, small banana sliced in 2 oz light vanilla soy milk, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am 1 c chicken gumbo soup, 1 slice garlic bread, 2 peanut butter cookies, 12 oz diet Coke
2:00 pm Pecan bar
4:30 pm Frosted molasses cookie
6:15 pm 1 c vegetable soup, 4 oz white wine, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1 pc string cheese

Fri 17 Oct

Trying a new recipe in the crock pot for tonight. I had a beef roast to use up and we've had several roasts lately, so I perused the cookbook collection and found a Fall Beef and Beer Casserole that used several things I had on hand including a leek, parsnip (actually it called for a turnip, but parsnips and turnips are pretty similar), carrots, and ale (the pumpkin ale I recently bought. All I had to purchase was fresh celery (mine had died) and mushrooms. I cut the meat into chunks last night and cut up all the veggies in a separate bag so all I had to do this morning was heat some oil in the frying pan to brown the meat, stir in some flour, add the beef broth, ale and water to boil, and dump everything into the crock pot. And hope it tastes as good as it sounds.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 1/8 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am 1 slice Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat w/honey toast, 1 tbl PB, 6 oz vegetable juice, chocolate soy shake
3:00 pm Act II popcorn ball
6:15 pm 1 c fall beef & beef casserole, 1/2 c mashed potatoes, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 4 oz white wine




Exercise:

5:00-5:30 am Ab Lab DVD

Thurs 16 Oct

I'm cold this morning. I hadn't done this yoga routine for awhile and had thought it was a bit more vigorous. It was good, but didn't really get the body moving enough to warm the blood. I had also skipped the cherry juice for a few days and my knee has been uncomfortable. Need to see if restarting it for a few days helps. If so, guess I need to break down and order another batch.

Really, really nice massage tonite. This was my freebee that I won at Walk Wisconsin. I would go back to her again, and she's only $50 for an hour so she's cheaper than the Wellness Spa. Not as much atmosphere to the office, but the room was very nice.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/8 large cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am i slice Sara Lee 100% whole wheat w/honey toast, 1 tbl peanut butter, vanilla soy shake, large banana
1:30 pm 1 serving Brach's Indian Corn
4:00 pm 1 Dove egg
4:45 pm 1 oz black licorice
5:45 pm 3.2 oz pan-fried catfish in seasoned cornmeal, 1/2 c Bob Evans cheddar mashed potatoes, 1/2 c peas, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Yoga

Wed 15 Oct

Wasn't sure I'd get up to exercise today after getting to bed later than usual after a long walk last night, but I slept well (with the help of a couple ibuprofen to calm the overused muscles), so getting up today was no harder than any other day. I like starting the week with several days over the 10000 level so I have room for a day or two of slothfulness late in the week if I need it. Yesterday was over 20000 steps - sometimes I wish I could bank a few for a lesser day. However, calories were way up yesterdy too, so hopefully there was a balance.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/8 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, large sliced banana, 2 oz light vanilla soy milk, large slice Speculaasbrokken
3:00 pm Handi-Snacks Sugar Free Creamy Caramel pudding cup
6:00 pm 3 oz pulled pork w/.1 cup bbq sauce, bun, 1 c canned asparagus, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
6:45 pm Jello Sugar Free Mochaccino pudding cup



Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Power Shaping DVD

Tues 14 Oct

Long day! Started out a bit rushed so I haven't had time to enter anything til after 10 pm. Conference in Eau Claire meant such an early start (6 am) that morning exercise was out of the question. Got home at about 6:40 pm with enough time to quickly change clothes, cut a slice of Gouda, and hop in the car to head out for the Moon Walk Wisconsin. We were among the last to start the walk as we arrived after most had already left. We had planned to do the short 4-mile, but it was a nice night so we went the full 8 miles. We were among the last to finish, but it was nice walking back with less traffic.


Food:

5:45 am Blueberry soy shake, 1/8 large cantaloupe, 2 apple cider donut holes
9:00 am Coffee, apple cider muffin
12:00 pm Kaiser bun, 2 oz deli turkey, 1 oz slice swiss cheese, 4 small tomato slices, shredded lettuce, cup turkey vegetable soup, 10 oz 2% milk, large snack pack of nacho Doritos
2:30 pm 12 oz diet Coke, chocolate chocolate chip cookie
4:00 pm 12 oz diet Dr. Pepper, 90 calorie Quaker rice cake snack
5:00 pm 1 oz gouda, 1 oz licorice candy
6:45 pm 2 oz gouda
8:00 pm slice pumpkin cake
8:45 pm 1/4 c trail mix, 1/2 oz swiss cheese
9:30 pm 6 oz hot apple cider


Exercise:

12:45-1:00 pm Walk
7:00-9:30 pm Walk

Mon 13 Oct

Sure am enjoying the late summer-like weather. Walking in the woods at Schmeekle yesterday was heavenly!


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c milk, 117 g strawberries, 2 apple cider donut holes, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, mocha chip muffin
3:00 pm 1 Dove egg
4:45 pm 1 Reese's miniature
6:30 pm 3 oz pulled pork w/Wildfire BBQ sauce, bun, 1 c broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk




Exercise:

4:55-5:55 am Pilates mat

Sun 12 Oct

Went over my calorie limit quite a bit yesterday due to the half scone and cappucino on the ride home, but I was really a bit hungry. And I also got about 18000 steps in so I hopefully balanced it out.

Food:

7:30 am Half a brown sugar cinnamon scone (77g), strawberry/banana soy shake, 8 oz Simply grapefruit juice
12:00 pm 2 crepes, medium sliced banana, 1.5 tbl sour cream, 1 tbl brown sugar, cinnamon, coffee
5:00 pm Mocha chip muffin, 149 g strawberries, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1 c pumpkin pie yogurt



Exercise:

3:30-5:30 pm Walk with dad

Sat 11 Oct

Well, I didn't want to have to get up and exercise on the weekends, but it was worth it to get the rest yesterday when my body really needed it, and it wasn't too odious to get up at 7:30 to exercise as opposed to 5:00 on work days.


Food:

8:45 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, 8 oz Simply Grapefruit juice
11:30 am 90 cal Quaker Cinnamon Streusel Mini-Delights
1:30 pm 3 pumpkin pancakes, 1 tbl butter, 2 tbl syrup, 12 oz OJ
5:30 pm White dragon roll sushi, 1 pc Boston roll, 1 pc cucumber roll, miso soup, tea
8:30 pm 1/2 brown sugar cinnamon scone, 12 oz pumpkin spice cappucino




Exercise:

7:40-8:35 am Step/weights DVD

Fri 10 Oct

First weekday since starting the morning exercise routine that I felt a need to take a bye. My body is a bit sore from quite consistent exercise and needs that rest day that all the literature says is so important. Means I need to exercise when I get up tomorrow, but I need to listen to my body when it says TODAY is the day I need to rest.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 1 c cantaloupe chunks, coffee
11:45 am Cranberry caramel nut muffin, blueberry soy shake
3:00 pm Handi-snack sugar free Creamy Caramel pudding cup
5:30 pm 4 oz cranbenet wine
6:15 pm 4 oz prime rib, 1 tbl au jus, 2.5 oz cornish hen w/cranberry glaze, 1/2 c garlic mashed potatoes, 1 c baby carrots and pea pods, 2 c coffee, slice peanut butter chocolate cheesecake



Exercise:

2:30-2:50 pm Walk

Thurs 9 Oct

It was a little harder again to get moving early for exercise this morning, but a familiar DVD works to just get the body going without need to think. And I picked a higher step-value routine to reward myself by having a higher percentage of my daily quota out of the way so I'm not likely to have to make up additional at the end of the day.


Food:

7:00 am Vanilla soy shake, 1/4 cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, apple fritter toast w/1 tsp soft margarine, coffee
12:00 pm 3 oz chicken breast, 2 strips bacon, lettuce leaf, tomato slice, tequila BBQ sauce, bun, 1 c fruit
3:00 pm 1 serving Brach's Indian Corn
5:00 pm 1 Lindt dark chocolate orange thin
5:45 pm 3.5 oz hot beef, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1/8 apple crisp
7:15 pm 8 oz Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale



Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Power Shaping DVD
6:25-7:05 pm Walk

Wed 8 Oct

Week seems to be dragging a bit. Work is not quite so busy which is its own kind of stress as I don't like having to find things to do. Looking forward to visiting Madison this weekend.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oatmeal Squares, 4 oz skim milk, 141 g strawberries, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:30 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, 1/2 c cherry tomaotes, slice apple fritter toast, 1/3 tbl butter
5:15 pm Jello Sugar Free Mochaccino pudding cup
5:45 pm 2 pc cheese manicotti, 1/2 c Prego, 1 tbl Italian grated cheese, 1/2 c green beans, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
7:45 pm 1/8 apple crisp


Exercise:

5:00-5:50 am Ball/band DVD
7:05-7:45 pm Walk

Tues 7 Oct

Did aerobics with Jane Fonda this morning - blast from the past. And scale was down a little too!


Food:

7:00 am 1/2 c Trail Mix cereal w/raisins and almonds, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 157 g strawberries, coffee
12:15 pm Chocolate soy shake, medium sliced banana, 2 oz light vanilla soy milk, slice toasted apple fritter bread, 1 tsp margarine
2:30 pm 1 serving Brach's Indian Corn
6:30 pm 1 c Zatarain's Caribbean Rice, 3 oz chicken, 1/2 c pineapple chunks, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, half a large frosted Reese's pieces cookie



Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Low-Impact Aerobics video

Mon 6 Oct

So nice to spend some time with Christianah and Linda last night! I really do miss my good friend.


Food:

7:00 am Cranberry caramel muffin, 177 g strawberries, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Large salad w/bleu cheese crumbles, craisins, walnuts, low-fat raspberry viniagrette, apples
2:30 pm 1 Dove egg
3:30 pm Quaker chewy peanut butter/chocolate chunk granola bar w/protein
5:15 pm 1/2 serving Brach's indian corn
6:00 pm 3 oz roast beef, 2 tbl gravy, bun, apple, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat
3:30-3:50 pm Walk

Sun 5 Oct

Had a nummy cranberry streusel muffin from Paul Bunyan for breakfast. Can't imagine a time when I won't still enjoy bakery treats fit into my diet plan.

Christianah called last night! She is coming to town this evening and we will get together around 6 pm with Linda Weitz. I'm skipping choir but this seems a very good excuse to me. I'm so anxious to see her!


Food:

7:45 am Cranberry streusel muffin, cherry juice from concentrate, tea
12:00 pm Chicken leg, 1/4 c coleslaw, 1/2 c baked beans, medium baked potato, 1 tbl sour cream, dinner roll, 1/2 pat butter, 8 oz 2% milk, coffee, 2" square pumpkin cake w/cream cheese frosting, 1 Tootsie Roll midgee
3;00 pm 1 serving Brach's Indian Corn
7:00 pm Noodles small Thai Curry soup, cucumber and tomato salad, 16 oz Minute Maid Light Lemonade


Exercise:

3:45-5:35 pm Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 4 Oct

Looks to be a beautiful sunny warm day. We had frost last night, so the rest of the trees should be turning soon. Nice day to start off with hot cereal!


Food:

7:45 am 1 serving Red River cereal, 2 chopped dried apricots, 1 tsp packed brown sugar, 2 oz light vanilla soy milk, cherry juice from concentrate, 109 g strawberries, tea
11:45 am Half a salmon sandwich (6 oz salmon, 2 slices tomato, lettuce, toasted bun, 1 tbl cucumber sauce - total), 1/2 sliced medium banana, slice watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, kiwi, 1/2 c grapes, strawberry, 1/4 c raspberries, 1 c squash soup
12:30 pm Large molasses cookie
6:45 pm Other half of sandwich, 1 c squash soup, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, slice apple fritter bread toast, 1 tsp margarine

Fri 3 Oct

I'm cold and I'm afraid I may be coming down with another cold given the somewhat sore throat from drainage. Yuk! On the positive, I'm proud that I kept up the morning exercise thing all week. It's become no less odious than getting up early for work anyway, and it's nice to have a significant part, if not all, of my 10000 steps out of the way right at the start. This week it's good to get my five 10000 days in on the weekdays because Sunday got too busy to exercise and tomorrow we'll probably take Grandma leaf-viewing since it's supposed to be sunny and leaves are supposed to be in full swing up north. I have to be back by 3:45 to cantor though.

Will try to drown cold in tea.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, 156 g strawberries, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
10:45 am Cup of Green Tea Chai flavor
12:00 pm Blackberry currant muffin, 72 g cherry tomatoes, vanilla soy shake, forest herb tea
1:30 pm 1 serving Brach's Indian Corn
4:30 pm 1 Reese's miniature
5:45 pm Musamon curry with beef, 1 c white rice, 3 c tea, 1" square of white cake w/cream, fortune cookie
7:15 pm Jello Sugar Free Double Chocolate pudding cup




Exercise:

5:00-5:55 am Step/weight DVD
5:45-6:20 pm Walk downtown

Thurs 2 Oct

Breakfast tastes good this morning. Michael is getting ready for a long road trip after school for a soccer game in Omro. Today I'm wearing hand-me-down pants from Laura with a sweater that belonged to my brother and was probably from at least 1965.

My new outdoorsy boss offered up some freshly caught (earlier this week) brook trout from his vacation so we're having some on the grill tonite. I can hardly wait. Trout was delicious, but I had to bake it in the oven. I had it all prepared in little foil packets stuffed with lemon slices, thinly sliced onions, garlic and butter and the gas grill ran out of gas.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 4 oz skim milk, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Blueberry soy shake, 49 g multigrain toast, 1 tsp margarine, 157 g strawberries, 1 serving Brach's Indian Corn
2:45 pm Handi-Snack Creamy Caramel pudding cup
5:00 pm 1 Reese's miniature
6:00 pm 1 brook trout, 1/2 tbl butter, 1/2 c Thai curry rice, 1/2 c cooked carrots, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:00-5:30 am Ab Lab DVD
5:30-5:50 am Power Shaping DVD - part
2:30-2:50 pm Walk to grocery store and back

Wed 1 Oct

Brrr, October. Mmm, hot coffee. I'm proud of myself for continuing to get up early on weekdays to exercise. Yesterday I had over 10,000 steps on the pedometer in addition to the 5000 step equivalent exercise. I really did have more energy during the day, but that may have occurred even without the morning exercise, hard to say.


Food:

7:00 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, maple walnut mini-scone, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm 8 pc crunchy spicy crab roll sushi, 1 c miso soup w/seaweed, 1 tbl tofu, mushrooms and green onions, 2.5 oz beef, 1/2 c cabbage, 1/2 c mushrooms, 1 tbl scallions, 2 c tea
1:00 pm 1 butterscotch candy
2:45 pm Jello sugar free mochaccino pudding cup
5:00 pm 1 Reese's miniature PB cup
6:00 pm 2.5 oz grilled pork chop, 1/2 c homemade applesauce, 2 oz sweet potato fries, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

5:15-6:00 am Power Shaping DVD

Tues 30 Sept

No appointments on the schedule at the office today, so I hopefully will get caught up on things. This morning's exercise wasn't quite so odious but tiring anyway.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, pear, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, maple walnut mini-scone
3:30 pm Jello Sugar Free Mochaccino pudding cup
4:45 pm Medium apple w/ 1 tbl sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon
6:00 pm 1/3 Palermo Primo Thin Roasted Vegetable w/goat cheese pizza, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:15 pm 2 Hershey pumpkin spice kisses




Exercise:

5:00-5:50 am Ball/band DVD
2:40-3:00 pm Brisk walk to grocery store and back
5:00-5:35 pm Brisk walk to Newman and back

Mon 29 Sept

Wow, it was hard to exercise this morning. Getting up and getting started wasn't so bad, but I'm achy in every muscle so I couldn't maintain the effort. Had to give up Pilates after 40 min. Would have loved nothing more than to crawl back into bed with the electric blanket on and sleep for several hours. My body just doesn't want to move.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 4 oz skim milk, 1/4 cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:15 pm Banana soy shake, 75 g cranberry scone, 1 Lindt extra fine thin Intense Orange dark chocolate, herbal tea
2:45 pm Medium apple, 2 Reese's miniatures
6:45 pm 3 oz roast beef, 1/2 c cheddar potatoes, 2 tbl gravy, 1 c diced beets, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, Jello sugar free double chocolate pudding cup



Exercise:

5:00-5:40 am Pilates mat
8:00-8:35 pm Cardio Hula DVD

Sun 28 Sept

Feels like our little jaunt to Mpls was longer than it really was. That's always a nice thing to happen with a mini-vacation. Nice to be home though. October may be a more home-based month, though we'd like to take a Saturday drive into the north for the leaves with Grandma and I hope to get to Madison one Saturday. I cantor on Oct 4, but the leaves were already coloring a lot en route to Wausau so I'll either need to switch weekends so we can go up next Saturday or risk waiting til the 11th for the leaf trip. Guess we'll hope that the 18th will work for a Madison visit. Michael takes his ACT on the 25th and we have to sing that evening for the Suzuki dinner. Eddie Hartman's confirmation is the first Sat in November and Bob is his sponsor. Whew!

Lunch at Grandma's today. Food there isn't bad and she enjoys having our company.

Food:

7:45 am Mini chocolate babka roll from Breadsmith, vanilla soy shake
12:00 pm Baked chicken thigh and 2 wings, 1/2 c potatoes au gratin, 3/4 c mixed vegetables, 6 oz OJ, 2 c coffee, small 7-layer bar
3:00 pm 1 Reese's miniature peanut butter cup
5:00 pm 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 4 oz skim milk, 36 g multigrain toast, 1 tsp margarine
5:30 pm 1 1/2 c watermelon chunks

Sat 27 Sept

Home again at about 8:30 pm. Michael has a houseful of kids downstairs. Today was very nice also starting with the awesome breakfast at the Sofitel, an adventurous drive to get to the Dick's sporting goods store so I could get a heart rate monitor for Grandma to give me for Christmas, bumming around the Super Target, lunch at Good Earth, a stop at Byerly's and Breadsmith, then home.


Food:

8:30 am 6 oz fresh squeezed OJ, 3 cups French roast coffee, large croissant w/2 tbl orange marmalade, 1 c duck hash, 2 poached eggs, 2 tbl hollandaise sauce
1:30 pm 4 thin 6" sour cream pancakes, 1 c mixed fresh berries, 1/2 tsp butter, 1/8 c syrup, 3 small pieces flatbread, 2 tsp hummus, 3 glasses iced coffee w/1/4 c soy milk and Equal
3:00 pm Several small cheese samples at Byerly's, small pumpkin latte
9:00 pm Slice multigrain toast

Fri 26 Sept

Dad and I are heading to Minneapolis for a little jaunt with a night at the Sofitel. We'll probably go to Ikea to browse, maybe the Mall, for sure some good food. We'll be back Sat afternoon or evening. Michael's is staying at Nick's. Nice to have a little break.

Wow, what a nice time we had. Lunch at Highland Grill was great, and I had a free dessert for my birthday coupon. We shared an apple crostada that was unbelievable! After checking in at Sofitel (with a scenic drive through Minnetonka Parkway neighborhoods en route), we bummed around Ikea. Then we went to the Mall for awhile and had a small margherita wood-fired pizza and peach sangria for a light supper. We returned to the hotel and visited the workout room for about half an hour, then dressed up a little and had a glass of wine in the bar while catching the end of the debate. Back to the room to read and relax in the awesome Sofitel bed.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 4 oz skim milk, 149 g strawberries, coffee
10:00 am 1/4 c pumpkin gelato in a cone
12:00 pm 3 scrambled eggs, 2 tbl herbed cream cheese, 2 oz smoked salmon, 1 slice multigrain toast w/butter, 1/2 c hash browns, 30 oz iced tea, half an apple crostada w/1/3 c vanilla ice cream and 1/8 c praline sauce
4:00 pm Can of pear cider, 2 sm squares hazelnut milk chocolate bar, 1 Lindt milk chocolate truffle
6:30 pm 16 oz peach sangria, half 10" margherita wood-fired pizza on thin crust
8:15 pm 4 oz Riesling, 1/2 c asiago crisps



Exercise:

5:00-5:50 am Pilates mat
7:15-7:45 pm 26 min on elliptical plus bicep curls w/resistance band