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