Thurs 31 Dec

Happy New Years' Eve! Hope you have a safe but enjoyable celebration planned. Dad and I will go out to eat early since we made reservations too late for a nicer evening time. Then we plan to come home, light a fire in the fireplace, crack open the bottle of sparkling German wine we bought at Trader Joe's, and watch Star Trek. Sounds like a good way to ring out the New Year to me. Tomorrow we'll pick Grandma up for church and do hibachi at Tokyo Steak House for lunch, then a relaxing weekend.

Had a few snacks at work, not too bad. Dinner at Christian's Bistro was yummy! We ate light so we can continue to snack and have some wine at home. Really like the Star Trek movie.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
11:15 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, slice Trader Joe's multigrain bread, 54 g turkey, med banana
1:30 pm 2 parmesan cracker crisps, 1 Hostess donette, 2 chocolate-covered espresso beans, 1 Butterfinger fun-size, 1 Life-Saver
5:45 pm 5 sea scallops wrapped in 3 strips Nueske bacon, 3/4 c parmesan polenta, small oven-roasted tomato
7:15 pm 1 white chocolate pretzel, 1 chocolate peanut butter ball, 44 g milk chocolate
8:30 pm 5 oz sparkling white wine, 1 pc English toffee


Exercise:

5:15-6:05 am Thighs of Steel 2000 video

Wed 30 Dec

I am already tired of being cold again, even with layers of long underwear. I hate feeling like the only alternative in the evening is to crawl in bed right after supper with the electric mattress pad on to read so I can stop shivering. Brrrrrrr!

Felt good to do a plain old Pilates mat this morning. Sometimes I forget about that option. I think I'll try to reincorporate it once a week.

My tummy is crampy, not sure why. Not nice.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:00 pm Chocolate soy shake, 1/2 c sweet potatoes w/walnuts, 1/2 c cranberry waldorf
2:00 pm 1 Dove heart
5:30 pm 1 svg chicken and sweet potato stew, 1 crescent roll, 12 oz light original soy milk
7:45 pm 22 g milk chocolate Santa



Exercise:

5:05-6:05 am Pilates mat

Tues 29 Dec

Hope you made it home safely without adverse incident. Please let me know. I'm enjoying my Trader Joe's cereal and some of the melon this morning. Opened a bottle of cherry juice, too.

Glad you're back, though wish you were still here. Can't wait til you're back in Wisconsin for a good long time. Hope your new job responsibilities are more satisfying and use your talents to better effect.

My client asked me to take her shopping for healthy food this afternoon. Avocados were still on sale, so I bought more along with more tomatoes, another cucumber and more fresh mozz. We had your salad again with supper - yum!

Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/4 extra large cantaloupe, cherry juice from concentrate, coffee
12:30 pm Vanilla soy shake, 1/2 c baked corn, butterhorn
3:30 pm 7 white chocolate pretzels
5:30 pm 1 c whole wheat spaghetti, 3 oz ground round, 1/4 c orange peppers, 1/2 c Prego roasted garlic parmesan sauce, 1 tbl shredded parmesan, 1 c tomato/avocado/cucumber/fresh mozz salad, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, 12 oz light original soy milk



Exercise:

5:15-6:10 am Step DVD w/weights section

Mon 28 Dec

This has been one of the nicest Christmas seasons in recent memory. I've so enjoyed having you home with us, and there's been time to relax and just have fun. Wish Michael would have spent a little more time with us, but he was here for the important parts and he needs time, too. I hope it's not too long before we get to spend time together again. Think about spring break and let us know what your plans are. If we do want to go somewhere together, I'm open to suggestions; otherwise I'd just plan a nice all-inclusive with beach and good food.


Food:

8:30 am 2 butterhorns, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
9:30 am 3 small sugar cookies
12:30 pm 46 g turkey, 1 tbl gravy, 2/3 c stuffing, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 8 oz light vanilla soy milk
1:45 pm 2 molasses cookies
5:00 pm Salad, chopped tomatoes, sliced fresh mushrooms, 1 tbl balsamic viniagrette, 8 oz lean ground beef, 1 tbl herbed goat cheese, 1 tbl carmelized onions, 1 tbl chopped tomatoes, spinach, 3/4 bun
6:45 pm 2 pc Trader Joe's Belgian chocolate with fruit infused ganache


Exercise:

7:05-8:15 am Jane Fonda Complete, aerobics, upper, lower, and abs

Sun 27 Dec

Trying to regain something of my routine. Did my Sunday ballet exercise upon rising, will somewhat limit snacking but again I'd prefer to eat some of the goodies while they're still fresh and then just stop altogether rather than limit to one or two treats in a day and end up eating things that are stale and ucky.

Avatar was fun. Glad I sat on the end so I couldn't hear the talkers, but wish Laura and Bob might also have been so lucky. Sushi was yummy, as was egg nog malt.



Food:

9:15 am 2 butterhorns, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
10:15 am Honey Crisp apple
1:00 pm 1 c tomato/avocado/cucumber/fresh mozz salad, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar, 3 sugar cookies, 2 molasses cookies
3:00 pm 30 g chocolate covered raisins
7:45 pm 5 pc Alaska roll, 5 pc spicy scallop roll, 1 pc tuna nagiri sushi
9:00 pm .8 c eggnog malt



Exercise:

8:15-9:05 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 26 Dec

Ah, this has already been a nice day and it's only just past 1:30 pm. I must admit I'm indulging in a few more treats than are good for me, but the butterhorns and cookies will never be fresher and it's a shame to go to the work of making treats I love and throwing most of them out. I figure a few days of minor indulgence followed by a bit more work on the fitness end should balance.


Food:

8:00 am 2 butterhorns, 1 sugar cookie, 2 molasses cookies
9:30 am 2 white-chocolate pretzels
10:15 am 3 eggnog pancakes, 2-3 tsp margarine, 2 tbl maple syrup, 1/2 c fresh pineapple, coffee
1:30 pm Cheesy potatoes, 3 spears asparagus, 2 molasses cookies
6:15 pm 5 white chocolate pretzels
7:30 pm 10 oz white wine, 4 oz baked walleye, 1/4 c chopped avocado, 1/4 c chopped cucumber, 1/4 c chopped tomato, 1/4 c chopped fresh mozzarella, 1 tbl balsamic vinegar, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
9:00 pm Part of chocolate Santa, several cookies

Merry Christmas!

It's finally here! And the best present is that flights appear to be on time and safe, so we can all be together. I've been cooking and cleaning to prepare while the boys get the pleasant task of fetching the daughter, but I get the fun of anticipating the day!


Food:

7:45 am 2 butterhorns, coffee
10:15 am 1/2 c fresh pineapple

Thurs 24 Dec

Merry Christmas Eve! Wish you could join us for brunch at the Hartmans. I have to get going soon to make butterhorns so I have some to share with them.

We got a little new snow last night, lots of wind, and now freezing rain. I'm holding out high hopes that your flights will make it through tomorrow as I can't wait to see you. Hugs and more hugs and kisses too!

Another Christmas Eve brunch at the Hartmans is in the history books. John figured out that this is the 29th year since we don't think Kathy was even pregnant yet with Pete when we started. Brandon stopped by to visit Charlie so we had a chance to catch up with him too. We're still getting some freezing rain, but it doesn't seem too bad out there. Hope your flights come off smoothly. We'll be checking United on the Internet before Dad and Michael hit the road. Megumi's crew will not be chancing the drive tomorrow so if we need to rearrange things for travel disruptions, it will be less complicated.

Got a new Apple keyboard that just arrived. Couldn't figure out how to keep the old one from getting gross.

But, but, but....I eat my breakfast and lunch at the computer most days. Who's gonna enforce me?

Went quite well bringing Grandma here for dinner and taking her to church. She was happy that Fr. Tom welcomed her warmly. Biggest problem was getting back into the car after church because the footing was icy so she was afraid to get out of the wheelchair so we just waited (a long time) til she was ready and realized no one was going to lift her. When she was on good footing, she was able to do almost all of the work for herself.

Tom N' Jerry and Bananagrams. Nice way to close out Christmas Eve. Michael came home early and crashed.


Food:

8:15 am Slice pecan kringle, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
10:15 am 1 Butterhorn
11:30 am 1 1/2 Belgian waffle, 3/4 c fresh berries, 1 tbl maple syrup, 1 tsp butter, wedge frittata w/chorizo and veggies, 2 sausage links, 5 oz fresh grapefruit/orange juice, coffee
1:00 pm 2 chocolate-covered peanut butter balls
4:45 pm 3/4 c Swiss cheese noodle casserole, 3/4 c fresh pineapple, butterhorn, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 2 ginger cookies, 1 sugar cookie
8:00 pm 1/2 Kwik Trip iced shortbread cookie
11:00 pm Tom N' Jerry



Exercise:

7:15-8:00 am Jane Fonda Low-Impact aerobics video

Wed 23 Dec

Lunch with my coworkers before the Christmas holiday, then a 5-day weekend to anticipate! Woo hoo!

Glad the netbook arrived and will suffice - wish it was a little prettier for you, but I guess the important part is whether it works.



Food:

7:00 am 1 c Corn Chex, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, piece pecan kringle, coffee
9:45 am 1 ginger cookie
11:00 am Butterfinger miniature (bite-size)
12:45 pm Large ostrich burger w/fried onions, tomato, lettuce, ketchup on bun, 1 c fruit salad, 3 french fries, water
2:00 pm 2 small squares Dove dark chocolate, 1 small black walnut caramel, 1 milk Lindt truffle
6:15 pm 111 g turkey polska kielbasa, 1/2 c Steamfresh brown rice, 1 c cooked broccoli, 8 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

5:15-6:00 am Ball/band DVD

Tues 22 Dec

Brr, cold and some wintry weather ahead. Hope it doesn't delay your flight, but it sounds like they're worrying more about Wed/Thurs. Have you lost a lot of your recent snow with warmer temps?

Hope the netbook arrives safely today. I was surprised that some shoes we ordered for MIchael on Saturday arrived today, even though they said they probably wouldn't get here til after Christmas. Or course, they weren't the color we ordered. Oh, well.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Blueberry soy shake, 56 g raisin bread, 2 tsp olive oil spread, 1.6 oz roast beef, 8 med baby carrots, Jello Sugar-Free Mousse
1:00 pm Frosted sugar cookie
3:30 pm Oatmeal fruit cookie, LifeSaver
4:45 pm Small log-shaped cookie
6:00 pm Clear soup w/green onion & mushroom, 5 pc smoke roll sushi, 5 sm pc tempura squid, tea
7:30 pm Chocolate peanut cluster



Exercise:

5:10-5:50 am Crunch Pilates DVD

Mon 21 Dec

Sure hope the hot tub can be operational fairly soon. The heater finally arrived on Saturday, but Dad had some trouble installing it, and when he went to fill the tub, it leaked all over due to shrinkage of the liner during the long period when it dried out. Apparently it was just around the holes where the benches attach, so he recaulked and hopes it will hold, but then he discovered the pump is bad. Too bad we sent back the one they sent us by accident! Now he needs to get it repaired or get a new one, but that can be done locally, maybe today. I'm trying to just remember we'll be lucky to have it if it ever gets fixed, but when my body temperature is low and I'm shivering, it's hard to be positive.

The estimated delivery date for the netbook remains 12/22/09 and indicates "On schedule" however the status is "On FedEx truck for delivery" already today from Ashton (or something like that), VA.

Bad afternoon for munching on sweets. Oh, well.

I wish the hot shower thing would warm me up for longer than just when I'm standing under the water. I'm starting to feel shivery already and I need to wrap presents. Guess I'll resort to hot tea.

Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
10:30 am 2 chocolate-covered raisins
11:30 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, 64 g raisin bread, 2 tsp olive oil spread, 1.5 oz roast beef, 8 grape tomatoes, 6 baby carrots, 5 pea pods, 2 sugar cookies
3:00 pm 3 white chocolate-covered mini-pretzels, 1 homemade caramel, 1 LifeSaver, 1 Reese's miniature
6:45 pm 3 oz ground round, 1/4 c chopped onion, 1/4 c chopped orange pepper, 1/2 c Prego Roasted Garlic Parmesan, 1 tbl shredded parmesan, 1 c whole wheat spaghetti, 1 c cooked broccoli, 10 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:10-6:00 am Jane Fonda Weights 1 video

Sun 20 Dec

Still plugging away on holiday preparations. This is the time when I need to dig down inside myself to find ongoing motivation.

Feeling a little more energetic now. Good thing. Made peanut clusters and tried some white chocolate pretzels; they're very time-consuming so that the white chocolate was starting to harden so I just did some white peanut clusters toward the end.


Food:

8:15 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, tea
11:15 am 2 white-chocolate covered pretzels, mini coffee cake muffin, coffe
11:45 am 2 crepes, Large sliced banana, coffee
4:45 pm 2 white pretzels, 1 white peanut cluster, licked chocolate from milk chocolate bowl
7:15 pm 3.15 oz roast beef, 2 tbl gravy, Earthfresh whole wheat sandwich thin, 1/4 fresh broccoli, 1/4 c pea pods, 6 baby carrots, 10 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

7:10-8:00 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 19 Dec

I suspect you are glorying in the big snowfall. A little present from God to make you feel less lonesome. Enjoy!

Grandma was looking good when I finally got back to see her yesterday. She is looking forward to seeing you, too! Any special foods you'd like while you're home? At this point, the plan is turkey for Christmas dinner, with cheesy potatoes by request from Michael (I didn't think you'd object either!). I'm open to additional suggestions, as well as for other meals while you're here.

I expect the time will fly by this week. Lots of things to do and excitement builds. I can almost feel you in my arms for a big hug already!

For just about anyone else, I'd be feeling sorry for you with all the news about the huge winter storm, but I expect/hope you are enjoying it to the fullest, especially since it's not a work day so you don't have to drive if you don't want to. Am I right?

Cookies are baked. It never looks like there will be enough - don't know how they actually seem to last as long as they do.

Food:

7:30 am 1 Glazer donut, 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
12:30 pm Chocolate soy shake, 2 slices Sara Lee Delightful 45 cal whole wheat bread, 1.25 oz cheddar cheese, 2 tsp olive oil spread, medium banana
1:30 pm 2 Trader Joe's Jojo cookies
6:00 pm 3-4 pieces chocolate-drizzled caramel corn
6:15 pm 3.3 oz roast beef, 1/2 c mashed potatoes, 1 tbl beef gravy, 1/2 c sliced beets, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
9:30 pm 3 white, 1 ginger broken cookies

Fri 18 Dec

Today we have our Christmas lunch at work. This weekend I need to make lists of what remains to be done for the holidays and get cracking! I was going to take all next week off from work, but then decided I really didn't need to so now I have to get things done on the weekend and evenings.

I realized that the only real workable way for me to get Christmas dinner prepared so that Megumi and Yoshi can come up and still drive back at a reasonable hour is for me to send Dad and Michael to pick you up at the airport instead of coming along. You have to promise to call me as soon as you touch down in Wisconsin. I hate having to delay my hugs til you drive back to Point, but if I stay home, I can have everything ready and have picked up Grandma so we can begin the festivities when you get home.

I got an email from Woot that your netbook has shipped via FedEx and should arrive on Tuesday at your place. If you can, it would be nice if you brought it along so we can all see it. You usually bring a computer anyway, so maybe you can bring this in that capacity?

I'm working on the massage, but it won't be with Mary as she is going to be out of town over the holidays, leaving today. I have asked her to give me a recommendation of another massage person who you would like, so I hope that will be okay.

Skipped exercise this morning because when I went to do the getting-out-of-bed stretches, my legs were really rather sore. Decided they needed a day to relax as my exercises this week have been sort of lower-body intensive.

Tired again at end of day, though not as bad as yesterday. Would be happier if hot tub heater would finally get here. Post-work nap and cheese fries for supper helped, but I could still call it a night at 6:30 if I didn't have stuff to do.



Food:

7:00 am Half a Kwik Trip cinnamon roll, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
12:15 pm 2 drumsticks, 1/2 c egg noodles, 1/2 c beef tips in gravy, 1/4 c mashed potatoes, 1 tbl chicken gravy, 1/2 c fruit salad, 1/2 c broccoli/cauliflower/carrot blend, 1/2 c veggie pasta salad, 6 oz punch, scotcheroo, chocolate chip fruit cookie, small square peanut butter torte
4:30 pm Chocolate chip fruit cookie, 1 chocolate-covered mini-pretzel
6:00 pm 4 cheese fries, 10 oz light vanilla soy milk, 2 dark chocolate-covered gingerbread hearts

Thurs 17 Dec

Hard to believe the pace at which December marches along, but I'm delighted that we'll see you in just over a week! I hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am.

Cold symptoms are not so bad since Tuesday; I think the long evening rest helped. Hopefully they aren't just gathering for another assault.

Wow, I'm really tired after a 9-hour straight day. Ate lunch in the car driving between appointments. I'm afraid my sodium consumption today is over the top, and my veggie consumption is way too low. Too tired to care.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
9:15 am 16 oz pumpkin spice cappucino
1:30 pm 5" Kwik Trip Great American sub sandwich, 32 oz diet Dr. Pepper
3:45 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
5:30 pm Arby's regular roast beef, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk




Exercise:

5:10-6:00 am Buns of Steel 2000 video

Wed 16 Dec

I will definitely try to get you a massage with Mary, probably on Monday unless she's working Saturday. Sounds divine. Maybe I'll find time to book one for myself in the next week or two also. I crawled in bed around 6 pm and read til 7:30, then slept the night away. Feeling better this morning for the rest. But I'm all out of my Trader Joe's cereal and probably won't get down there til we take you back to the airport on Monday evening after Christmas. Back to Oat Squares, I guess.

Joy, I just entered my food and snacks for the day at 5:30 pm and I have completely used up my daily allotment of calories. I have met my protein and the other nutrients counted are all within acceptable ranges if I don't eat anything else for the rest of the day. I'm not hungry, but it seems weird not to eat anything at all in the evening. I'll probably break down and at least have some string cheese or yogurt before bed.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:00 am 20-oz double mocha cappucino (gas station)
12:00 pm 1 c pumpkin curry soup, half sandwich on hearty whole-grain bread w/3 oz chicken in BBQ mayo, lettuce, small handful sweet potato chips, 1/4 c each carrot salad, black bean sweet potato salad, lentil salad
1:15 pm 1 Glazer donut
3:30 pm 1 caramel bar cookie



Exercise:

5:10-5:55 am Power Shaping DVD

Tues 15 Dec

Another frigid morning. The temp according to Yahoo is actually 2 degrees colder at 7:15 than it was at 6:15 when I finished exercising. Doesn't bode well for the day, but I have my CuddlDuds under my wool so I'm as set as can be.

The cold is winning the battle at the moment, but I'm still trying to drown it. I'm back on ColdEze today too. 3 liters of water, on top of the 3 8-oz glasses with my vitamins, and I feel worse now than I did before. Going to crawl in bed at 6 pm with my LOTR book and sleep when the spirit moves me.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:30 pm Bowl churkey soup, slice coffee bread, vanilla soy shake
4:45 pm 1 sandbakkel
5:30 pm KFC 395 calorie meal (grilled thigh, grilled drumstick, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans), 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, small chocolate chip molasses cookie



Exercise:

5:15-6:10 am Buns/Abs of Steel 2000 video

Mon 14 Dec

Choir is over for awhile, time to concentrate on Christmas. Need to take stock tonight and decide what remains to be done.

HOOTIE HOO! Mama's happy!!!! Would we be willing to drive down to pick you up? Just try and stop us! We will plan to do Christmas dinner in the evening this year with our sweetie there to join us! I will also arrange to take Monday off so we can maximize our time with you and be free to take you back for your evening flight.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
10:45 am 3 yogurt-covered mini-pretzels
11:45 am Blueberry soy shake, slice coffee bread, red pear, 2 chocolate chip ginger cookies
3:00 pm 3 glazed gingerbread cookies
6:15 pm 1 c homemade mac n' cheese w/whole wheat mac, 1 c fresh green beans, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1/5 of a 1/3 recipe loaf of eggnog bread



Exercise:

5:05-6:10 am Jane Fonda Complete, upper, lower and aerobics video

Sun 13 Dec

Got my little loaves of pumpkin and eggnog breads made for the bake sale. Still need to do today's portion of the prep on the cranberry salad for the after-concert potluck. No more choir practices or performances til January means a little more free time. Dad and I put more ornaments on the tree last night. I still need to add all the icicles but it's looking better already. Need to wrap my Secret Santa presents today, then start planning when to bake the cutout cookies. Things seem to be moving more smoothly this year for some reason.

This parent is salivating for delicious wine. I still need to know if you will be able to come home some time for Christmas. I plan to save your gifts if you're coming in person, but if it isn't possible, I need to mail them out soon so you have them for Christmas. Speaking of which, I still don't know what we're doing about the netbook? I'm waiting on you to let me know exactly what you want.

Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, tea
11:45 am 2 eggs, 3 pc bacon, 1.33 pancakes, 1 tbl whipped butter, 1 tbl syrup, coffee
4:45 pm 2 monster cookies, 1 pc cranberry bread, 1 pc lemon poppyseed bread, 1/4 c blue corn chips, 1/4 c snack mix, 1/2 c cranberry waldorf, small piece lasagne, cherry tomato, small ball fresh mozzarella (caprese on a stick), 1 tbl fudge, 6 oz wine punch



Exercise:

7:10-8:00 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 12 Dec

Why did you have nothing to do yesterday during the day? Did you get all your work hours in early and have Friday off? Sounds rather nice to have a good long stretch at the gym. BTW, any idea yet about when you'll be able to come home for Christmas? I really hope it is possible. What's the scoop on the job these days? You had leads on alternatives, but I haven't heard anything for a while.

Making a big pot of homemade churkey soup; I still had the turkey carcass from Thanksgiving and a rotisserie chicken carcass since then. House smells good!

Food:

7:45 am Trader Joe's frozen oatmeal, 1/2 oz raisins, 1 tsp brown sugar, 2 oz light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, slice Finnish coffee bread, 1 tsp olive oil spread, tea
10:30 am 1"x2" blonde brownie, krumkake
1:15 pm Strawberry/banana soy shake, lefse, 53 g oven-roasted chicken breast, tangerine
5:45 pm Bowl churkey soup w/dumplings, slice coffee bread, 1 tsp olive oil spread, 12 oz light original soy milk
7:15 pm 2 dark chocolate-covered gingerbread hearts

Fri 11 Dec

Choir concert at the Grand Theatre in Wausau tonight in conjunction with the Wausau Symphony. Another concert Sunday afternoon at St. Bron's, then an afterglow party at Barb Towey's and done for the season! I believe the bitter cold is due to moderate a bit soon thankfully. I have to bake some goodies for a bake sale after Sunday's concert, so tomorrow I may make pumpkin bread and/or eggnog bread or maybe some kind of cookies.

Slept in this morning instead of yesterday as my leg muscles in particular said, "Rest me!"


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, slice coffee bread, coffee
10:30 am 1 Reese's miniature, 1 fortune cookie. 2 yogurt-covered pretzel twists
11:45 am Blueberry soy shake, 70 g white meat turkey, med banana, slice coffee bread
2:00 pm Nestles Crunch bell, 1 oz peppermint bark, turtle, peppermint puff
4:45 pm 2 slices Sara Lee whole wheat bread, 1 tbl olive oil spread, 1.8 oz cheddar cheese

Thurs 10 Dec

Frosty cold out there today, but I'm getting used to multiple layers of clothing. And unfortunately I have a lot of running around to do today. Think of me while you're out running in shorts and t-shirt! Are you going camping this weekend?

Nummers, delicious local wine sounds excellent to me! Have fun on the tour and don't let the driver sample too freely!

Had green eggs for supper, but no ham. One of my client has a breed of chickens that lay green eggs. They're small but quite tasty.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm 2 crab rangoon, 1/4 c chicken and veggies, 1/4 c shredded pork and veggies, 1/4 c beef and veggies, 1/2 c garlic beans, 3 pc California roll, 1/2 c pineapple pieces, 1/2 c green pepper pieces, 1/2 c tempura veggies, chinese donut, mini-cream puff
3:00 pm Sandbakkel, homemade caramel
7:45 pm 2 med green eggs, over easy, 110 g cardamom fruit bread




Exercise:

5:15-5:45 am Crunch Pilates DVD

Wed 9 Dec

Well, they weren't mistaken about the snowstorm. When I looked out this morning, I estimate about 6-7 inches already down and still falling thickly. Yahoo predicts an additional 3-5 today so we'll see what we end up with. I'm mostly concerned about the single digit highs and below-zero nights that are supposed to be on its heels. I'm bundled in CuddlDuds and wool in anticipation. Please, oh please, may the hot tub heater get here soon!

Oh, the snow is so pretty! I am glad the snowblower is working this year. Shoveling is fun to a point, but gets old quickly.



Food:

7:00 am .9 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:15 am 4 chocolate-covered raisins (while visiting Grandma)
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, 54 g lefse, 1 tsp olive oil spread, 1 tsp sugar, tangerine, 2 frosted cookies
3:00 pm 3 small cookies
5:45 pm Pizza Hut buffet: 1 c romaine, 1/4 c chopped broccoli, 2 cherry tomatoes, 1/2 slice pan ham n' pineapple, 1/2 slice pan supreme, 2 half slices thin veggie lovers, 1 small slice cherry dessert pizza, 2 small pieces cinnamon sticks



Exercise:

5:15-5:55 am Jane Fonda Weights 2 video

Tues 8 Sept

Tonight the choir sings at the cult church for Assumption holy day mass. They are starting at 6 pm which strains the ability of working choir members to get up to Wausau and ready to roll, but should mean an earlier night. They provide a good hors d'oeuvres buffet after which will be our supper.

Temps are getting nasty cold here, and there's the potential for significant snow tonight, hopefully after we return from Wausau?

Hope you feel better soon! Hugs!!!


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:30 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, whole wheat 100 cal sandwich thin, 1/4 c Manwich, tangerine, 48 g fruit/nut bark



Exercise:

5:15-6:00 am Jane Fonda low-impact aerobics video

Mon 7 Dec

Happy Pearl Harbor Day! Grandma used to write to a soldier who was on the ship attacked at Pearl Harbor. I believe that was before she started writing to Grandpa. I guess single women in wartime wrote to a specific soldier, probably introduced by a friend, as a way of singles matching. I'm not clear whether Grandma met Grandpa in person before or after she started writing, but one of the letters Dad found while we were cleaning implies that they wrote to each other first. I guess that system worked well for them since they were married 58 years before Grandpa died.



Food:

7:00 am Caramel pecan sticky roll, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
10:30 am Small marshmallow Santa, 1 LifeSaver
12:15 pm Chocolate soy shake, medium bosc pear (underripe, sigh), small Danish almond square, pecan shortbread cookie, small caramel pecan square, krumkake
3:15 pm 3 c ketlle corn, herbal tea
5:30 pm 2 oz ground round, 1/8 c chopped onion, 1/2 c chopped red pepper, 1/2 c Prego Heart Healthy Onion n' Garlic sauce, 1 c whole wheat spaghetti, 1 tbl shredded parmesan, 1 c asparagus, 12 oz light original soy milk



Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Power Shaping DVD

Sun 6 Dec

Happy St. Nicholas Day! I realized it was today when I read my Page-A-Day calendar when I got up. This is the first year we aren't commemorating with gifts, but know that I send my love anyway!

Almost finished the shopping for the Advent tree gift for Newman. This year we are filling a goodie bag for a House Of Peace participant with a variety of items including headband/scarf, shampoo, hand lotion, comb, stamps, note pad, pens, candy. Got the candy, and headband/scarf (in combo with a hat and gloves) today. Only the stamps have yet to be purchased.

If you have decided what you want in a netbook and don't anticipate any sales before Christmas, let me know so we can get it ordered for you. That will be your main gift from Dad and me. If you prefer to order it yourself and put it on your credit card so you get exactly what you want with no fear of miscommunication, that is also fine. Just give me a heads-up to send the money.

I am bone cold and can't get warm, even after napping on the couch under a wool blanket and eating a nice warm bowl of bean soup. I want my hot tub! Wah!

According to AllRecipes, the Norwegian goodies I bought are pretty low-cal. Yum!


Food:

8:00 am Pecan sticky bun, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
12:30 pm 4 oz roast duck, 1/2 c cornbread stuffing, 1 tbl orange sauce, iceberg lettuce salad, 1 cherry tomato, slice homemade bread w/margarine, 1/2 c green beans, coffee, 1/2 c mint chocolate chip ice cream
2:00 pm .5 oz butter cookie
2:45 pm Chocolate-covered peanut butter ball
5:15 pm Bowl vegetable bean soup, 10 oz light original soy milk, 2 krumkake. 1 rosette




Exercise:

7:10-8:00 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 5 Dec

Heading out soon to Amherst, land of bake sales, craft sales, etc. Last year we found the old-fashioned light-up toy soldiers that will soon sit out on the front steps again. It's a good place to buy a variety of cookies so I'm not tempted to bake large batches of anything besides the sugar and molasses cookies. I just enjoy the day.

Amherst was fun; bought lots of goodies, our usual pine wreath for the front of the house and a gold sparkly wreath for the front door that will show nicely on the dark wood and be reusable from year to year. Shared a fresh pasty at the Amherst bakery since the usual soup and quiche people weren't at the Jensen Center. Will need to sample the goodies sparingly (if I can) and maybe share them out with family and friends.

OK, 1 pm and I've had my sugar fix with holiday goodies. But then the stress of putting the tree up kicked in and I needed a sandbakkele to tide me through. But I'm cooking up a pot of bean soup for supper so I should be good there.

We have all been anxiously awaiting the shipment of the replacement hot tub heater as the old heater died just before the weather turned cold. Today the package finally arrived, but the company sent us a pump instead of a heater. Sigh.


Food:

8:15 am Trader Joe's steel cut frozen oatmeal, .5 oz raisins, 2 oz light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:15 am Half pasty
12:00 pm Small butter cookie, chocolate-covered coconut ball, slice eggnog spice Bundt cake w/rum frosting, 5.3 oz Trader Joe's 0% honey greek yogurt
1:00 pm 1.6 oz chocolate bark with dried fruit and nuts
2:30 pm Sandbakkele
6:00 pm Homemade bean and vegetable soup, 3" section of whole grain baguette, 12 oz light original soy milk, 2 cookies
6:45 pm 25g fudge

Fri 4 Dec

Did you get your package yet? Sorry to have Halloween in December, but hey, at least it's unconventional!

Wearing my new boots today, along with a new corduroy brown skirt and a tan merino turtleneck. I bought this stuff for myself while out Christmas shopping, so I get to use it right away. Mmmm, CuddlDuds under merino wool are nice and warm!


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:00 am 1 blueberry crepe sprinkled w/powdered sugar, coffee
12:00 pm Vanilla soy shake, 1/4 large cantaloupe
4:00 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
6:15 pm 3 oz broiled cod, 1 tbl butter, 2 potato pancakes, 1 tbl sour cream, 3/4 c teriyaki green beans, 1/2 slice marble rye bread, 10 oz Point Amber, 1/4 c applesauce
7:30 pm 3 glazed gingerbread hearts

Exercise:

5:10-5:50 am Crunch Pilates DVD

Thurs 3 Dec

Have a slight stuffy nose today; hopefully it will pass quickly. Taking Grandma to the cancer doctor for her follow-up a year after surgery this afternoon. Hope that goes well as I'm going to take her in my own car instead of the wheelchair van.

Hannah stopped by Grandma's house Monday evening when Michael and the boys were there. Her friend dates a guy that was helping with the move and they were looking for him. Hannah is pregnant, living with her new boyfriend but planning to move back with the parents when baby comes so they can help out. Glad she's not in Michael's life any more.

Took an additional 500 mg vitamin C and started popping ColdEze as it feels like a cold coming on. Hoping to head it off at the pass or maybe drown it with extra water.

Yay, I was able to reset my iPhone voicemail password through AT&T online so now I can listen to my voicemails. If I was actually the one who set up my initial voicemail, I must have chosen a password I would never remember because everything I tried didn't work.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, English muffin, 2 tbl peanut butter, tangerine
1:00 pm 1 c coffee
5:30 pm Earthcrust whole wheat sandwich thin, 3 oz ground round in Manwich sauce, 1/2 c broccoli, 12 oz light original soy milk
6:30 pm Dark chocolate-covered gingerbread heart
7:15 pm 1/2 c Schwan's Autumn Harvest ice cream


Exercise:

5:10-6:10 am Jane Fonda Complete workout, upper, aerobics, and lower video

Wed 2 Dec

Well, the boys slept at Grandma's house last night even though the cleanup isn't completely finished. I need to get rent money today though. Michael said he will stay at our house for a little longer til he gets the money, so he will need to return home for sleeping and not be spending his whole day as though he is living there until he pays his rent. I hope this doesn't become a monthly battle. Both my piano and voice lessons were cancelled last night so we had time to work with them while they moved things in. We got the dishwasher running and cleaned up some dishes for them. I sorted through the silverware and gadgets and I think I have it down to a reasonable amount of useable stuff.

I keep seeing ads with piles of snow but it still doesn't feel imminent here. I haven't been able to motivate to put up the tree, especially with spending all our free hours at the house. Maybe this weekend after the Jensen Center sale.

Felt the need to sleep in this morning when the alarm went off. Only downside is that now I have to get up to exercise both Thursday and Friday unless I decide to fit in a workout this evening.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:15 pm Vanilla soy shake, English muffin, 2 tbl peanut butter, tangerine
2:45 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
6:30 pm Cheese spaetzle, Immunity blend vegetables, 1 tbl cranberry chutney, 12 oz light original soy milk

Tues 1 Dec

Cold and tired, and it's only Tuesday. I am looking forward to the Amherst craft sale this weekend, so that may help me to make it through the rest of the week. I had to send Grandma to her regular doctor's appointment on her own with a van transport today due to a schedule conflict. She was anxious to go to the appointment as she hasn't had an office appointment with this doctor in a long time. She is comfortable with him so she should do fine on her own. I will pick her up on Thursday and take her for a recheck to the cancer specialist to follow up on the breast surgery of about a year ago.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla/light original soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:45 am Blueberry soy shake, slice Trader Joe's multigrain fiber bread, 54 g turkey, slice deli provolone, small banana
3:00 pm 3 glazed gingerbread cookies (1 serving)



Exercise:

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

Mon 30 Nov

I am sorry to hear that the social part of the Richmond experience seems to be going sour, too. Please be cautious for signs of increasing depression and take steps to be sure it doesn't overwhelm you. Cap One must have and EAP program to offer counseling. Try to make a solid plan for what comes next so you can count off the days. Try also to find some fun things in Richmond to perk up your remaining days and give you some things to look forward to in the short term, be they more volunteer opportunities, movies or other activities with friends, hiking, etc. Let us know if there are things we can do to help. I love you!


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm Chocolate soy shake, slice Trader Joe's multigrain fiber bread, 46 g oven-roasted chicken breast, slice deli provolone, small banana
3:30 pm 1 serving Trader Joe's ginger cats
5:30 pm 2 med farm-fresh eggs, 1/2 c chopped red pepper, 1/4 c shredded Swiss cheese, 2 slices bacon, 1 Crystal Farms english muffin, 2 tsp soft margarine



Exercise:

5:05-5:55 am Kathy Smith Weights 1 DVD

Sun 29 Nov

I was able to pass on the frosted long johns Dad brought home from Kwik Trip last night; I ate my normal healthy breakfast instead. Hopefully I'm not completely falling into bad eating habits again. Though I did remember during my exercise this morning that last Sunday, I was working out on the elliptical in preparation for the superb brunch at Sofitel!

I am so tired I can scarcely keep my eyes open, it's only 5:45 pm, and I'm supposed to go clean at Grandma''s house since we don't have evening choir practice tonight. I need a short nap or I won't make it.


Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1 orange, coffee
11:45 am 3 oz sirloin steak, 2 eggs over easy, 2 pc homemade toast w/butter and orange marmalade, 1/4 c hash browns, 8 oz orange juice, coffee
3:45 pm Slice cinnamon streusel bread, chocolate chip cookie, frosted sugar cookie, peanut butter cup cookie, one other cookie
5:30 pm 3 oz rotisserie chicken, 1/2 c stuffing w 1 tbl gravy, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 1 tbl cranberry chutney, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

7:10-8:00 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 28 Nov

Ah, so nice to have it only be Saturday today! I do have several things to accomplish, so much so that I've been having trouble deciding on the first-thing-out-of-bed order. I decided on breakfast-shop-exercise-shower. I want to look for good prices on the videos and check out local prices on the PS2 while holiday sales are still active, and I realized I also left behind a really cool tree topper at Shopko that I KNOW was in my own cart. Don't know what kind of glitch happened there, but if the price of the tree topper isn't too much more today, I want it. It is a faceted Star of Bethlehem with LED color changing lights. I've never gone with a lighted tree topper before, but this one is very pretty and appears reasonably subdued in the package (at least not tinsely).

If you would like to pick some boots out for yourself, go ahead and get them. Hopefully the package with your credit card will arrive soon and you can charge them. I'm not sure if the bill still comes here or if you've changed your billing address. If it comes here, I'll just pay for the boots. If it comes to you, let me know the charges and I'll send you a check. I just bought some boots I really like at Younkers yesterday. They were BORN (think Swedish O) and they are comfortable and cute. I don't know if you have Younkers in Virginia, but they had a nice selection of a variety of brands. Happy shopping.

Felt good to get in a good workout again. Did a video I used to reserve for Saturdays because it goes almost an hour and a half, but I haven't been fitting in Saturday workouts much any more. Today it was needed.

Finally managed to watch the Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody. Loved Beaker's high note!

Tired and turning to sweet food for comfort - not good. Worked for several hours at Grandma's house; more tired now. Pumpkin cheese pie will be my vegetable for supper.


Food:

7:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, lemon ginseng green tea
12:30 pm Strawberry-banana soy shake, 76 g turkey, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 1/2 c cranberry waldorf
1:15 pm 1 pc iced gingerbread (10 g)
1:45 pm 1/2 c Schwan's peppermint ice cream
6:15 pm Taco Bell grilled steak soft taco al fresco, water
7:30 pm 1/2 slice pumpkin cheese pie



Exercise:

10:35-12:00 pm All-in-one video (Dance/aerobics, weights, Pilates)

Fri 27 Nov

Thanksgiving is history, Black Friday is here, barging headlong into the remainder of the holidays. Whew! Exhausts me to think about it. I need ideas from you for Christmas including final thoughts on ordering the netbook, status of interest in PS3 or alternative gift ideas for Grandma, etc.

Dad and I will head out soon for a little perusing of Black Friday specials, but the ads didn't have anything that I would be disappointed not to get. I don't anticipate needing to get much, but money can be saved at today's prices on even smaller items.

Later today, I need to exercise and start on a full two week's worth of laundry accumulated. Maybe consider putting up the tree, though I wouldn't decorate it til at least tomorrow.

Had a somewhat productive morning, picking up some good deals. Most amusing thing that happened is that I don't have 3 shirts I know I picked out at Shopko and put into the cart, but since they also don't appear on the sales slip, I suspect I stashed them in someone else's cart. They must have been surprised when they got to the checkout.

Even though I have already eaten my full calorie count for the day, I won't make it if I don't eat supper. Oh, well.


Food:

7:30 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:45 pm Cranberry oatmeal cookie, 16 oz diet Coke
1:15 pm Salad w/iceberg lettuce, 1/8 c broccoli, 1/4 c green pepper, 1/8 c pea pods, 1/8 c fresh mushrooms, 1/4 c cashews, 1/8 c hard boiled egg, 1/8 c fake crab; 3 pc crab sushi, 2 crab rangoons, 2 pc tempura sweet potato, 1/2 c beef curry w/veggies, 2 sweet sour meatballs w/veggies, 1/3 c spare ribs in sauce, small Chinese donut, mini cream puff, 1" square chocolate cake
5:45 pm 74 g turkey, 1/2 c stuffing, 1 tbl gravy, 6 spears asparagus, 1 tbl cranberry chutney, 10 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 pc pumpkin cheese pie
9:15 pm 5 g miniature marshmallows

Exercise:

3 hours power shopping

Thurs 26 Nov

Sorry about the delay in sending off your credit card. It sat in an envelope ready to mail on the table for several weeks, then got moved to the box to mail to you for Halloween (along with a now-expired Victoria's Secret panty coupon). We'll try to get the box mailed out on Friday. Never too late for Halloween, eh?

Hoping that it goes well bringing Grandma here for the day. I would so like for the logistics to be workable and for her to have a good time outside the nursing home environment. I would really like her to be motivated to get back into an apartment, even if it is assisted living. I think it would be so much more pleasant for her.

If you aren't able to swing coming home in January because of the job situation, would you want Dad and I to come out to Richmond for a few days, maybe Jan 6-10? If you could get a little time off from the job, we could do some hiking or other touring together.

Ah, 5:15 and the major part of the day is over - Miller time (if I drank Miller). Grandma made it not only in and out of the car and house, but even upstairs to use the bathroom. She needed assistance and was quite nervous at times, but it went much better than I had anticipated after the Oakridge trip. I expect she'll sleep well tonight - I think we wore her out. It was really nice to see Megumi and Yoshi too. I think Yuki is about a foot taller since the last time he was here. Mick has lost over 80 pounds and looks wonderful.


Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, 2 c coffee
1:00 pm 3 oz white meat turkey, 2 tbl gravy, 1/2 c stuffing, 1/2 c baked corn, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, 1 tbl cranberry chutney, 4 spears roasted asparagus, 1 dinner roll, 1 tsp margarine, 4 oz cherry wine, half slice each of cranberry pudding pie and pumpkin cheese pie
3:00 pm 1 pepparkakor cookie
5:00 pm Half slice pumpkin cheese pie
7:00 pm Turkey "slider" (38g white meat turkey on the last dinner roll)


Exercise:

Helping Grandma in and out of car, up stairs, etc.

Wed 25 Nov

Hope you have a better day today. Am thinking of you often.



Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
10:30 am Half-sized low fat pumpkin bar
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, 1 slice Trader Joe's multigrain fiber bread, 1.25 oz provolone, 46 g oven-roasted chicken breast, small banana
2:45 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
9:00 pm Arby's regular roast beef, 10 oz light vanilla soy milk
9:45 pm 1/2 c cranberry waldorf salad


Exercise:

5:10-6:05 am Step video w/weight section

Tues 24 Nov

Sure wish you had been on that plane with Keaton this morning! I'd love to be driving down to Madison to pick you up for a few days. Let me know for sure which days you will be here in January so I can clear the calendar.

I'm really sorry things have fallen in the toilet at work. Hopefully it will just be a rough spot that will improve. Let us know if there is anything we can do to keep your spirits up.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
9:45 am Thanksgiving brunch at work - 1/2 c scrambled eggs w/mushrooms, 1/3 c cheesy potatoes, 1/3 c green bean casserole, 1/3 c mashed potatoes, 1/2 c sweet potato casserole w/pecan topping, 1/3 c veggies in cheese sauce, 1/3 c broccoli salad, 1/4 fruity fluff salad, 1/2 c melon/pineapple, slice streusel bread, butterscotch torte
1:15 pm 1/4 c melon slices
3:00 pm 1 dark chocolate-covered gingerbread heart, 1" square brownie
6:00 pm 1 slice Trader Joe's multigrain fiber bread, 1.15 oz Swiss cheese, 10 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:15-6:00 am Jane Fonda low impact aerobics video

Mon 23 Nov

Back to work, but nice that it's only a 3-day week. Hopefully things have also slowed down just a tad from the hectic pace of the last couple of months. Tonight I have to get bags ready for the Easter Seal curbside pickup on Wed morning - easier than toting the bags to Goodwill. I plan to include things from the bags you sent home after the last couple of moves, so I need to sort through to decide if there are things I want to keep. If I had time, I'd go through some of my own things too, but there are only so many hours after work. I also need to prepare a cranberry waldorf for the Thanksgiving brunch at work on Tuesday, and I need to make sure I have everything I need to cook on Thursday, too.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, 1 slice Trader Joe's Multigrain Fiber toast, .75 tbl Nutella (scraped bottom of jar), med orange
4:00 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
4:45 pm 2 c kettle corn
5:45 pm 1 c Zatarain's Caribbean rice w/3 oz chicken, 1 c broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:00 pm Yoplait lemon parfait



Exercise:

5:20-6:05 am Jane Fonda Weights 1 video

Sun 22 Nov

I hope you find a way to get a little break over the holidays. I realize you have to work on Black Friday, but I hope the volunteer work at the Community Thanksgiving dinner is rewarding. Try to find a fun way to spend the Saturday. Sounds like you've been taking advantage of the mild autumn temperatures. Speaking of which, I think October and November got switched around on the calendar here. We were freezing with snow in October, but it's still in the 50s now. Go figure.

Not going to try to list all the food on the fabulous Sofitel brunch. Suffice it to say I needed a half hour nap to digest before we could get ready to go home.



Exercise:

8:00-9:00 am Elliptical

Thurs 19 Nov

The day has finally come for the Minneapolis trip - if we ever get going! We are staying three nights like Grandma and I did last year because of the special at the Sofitel for third-night-free. If you get a chance to keep in touch with Michael, I sense he is a little anxious about us being gone so long. I look forward to their good exercise room as well as to good food, fun shopping, etc. I feel a little guilty, but I'm glad to have dad along instead of Grandma this time because we'll be able to walk through as much of the Mall of America as we like without towing a wheelchair. I promised Grandma that if she shakes this and gets back on her feet, I will take her to Minneapolis again when she is ready.


Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee

Wed 18 Nov

You are in my thoughts all the time, hoping and praying that you will find a resolution to your situation that will be positive and growth-oriented. I want so much for you to be happy, both in your work and in your life. Please let me know anything I can do to help. Huge hugs and kisses!!!!

The Lorie Line concert was very nice. Wish you could have been there with us.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:45 am Blueberry soy shake, Trader Joe's small whole wheat pita, 52 g oven-roasted chicken breast, slice deli Provolone, 3 small tomato slices, med orange
4:00 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
5:45 pm 80% Inner Warmth Peanut Stew, beer bread roll, 3/4 pat butter, 10 oz Strongbow
7:00 pm Molasses cookie



Exercise:

5:10-6:15 am Jane Fonda Complete - upper, aerobics, and lower body video

Tues 17 Nov

Dad and I will go to the Lorie Line concert tomorrow night at the Grand for the first time in several years. We always enjoyed it so it should be fun.

Why are you angry? Issues with the job?

I don't know what to suggest to make the situation better at work. Your manager may need to be approached with greater deference to avoid the conflict, or you may need to speak to someone in a higher level of management without ruffling too many feathers. If you let them know politely that you want to be an asset to the company, perhaps they will find a way to make best use of your skills.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:15 pm Strawberry-banana soy shake, slice Trader Joe's multigrain fiber bread, 2 slices Farmland turkey breast, 1 slice deli Provolone, 2 small tomato slices, medium banana
1:00 pm 1 lemon snap
2:30 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
6:00 pm 3 oz pork roast, 1/4 c cranberry stuffing, 1/2 c sweet potato casserole, 1/2 c green beans, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk




Exercise:

5:10-5:50 am Crunch Pilates DVD

Mon 16 Nov

Only 19 degrees out there this morning. Supposed to hit 51 later this afternoon, but that's not very comforting when much of my running around is in the morning when it's downright cold. Your 70 degree weather this weekend sounds mighty comforting.

Hard as it may seem, try to enjoy the warm weather for me (since I can't come out to personally assume the task). Hey, I thought you said a coworker with a new baby had invited you to spend Thanksgiving with them. What happened with that?


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
10:30 am Caramel oatmeal bar
12:15 pm Half a thai chicken wrap, 2 large french fries
2:30 pm No sugar added non-fat cocoa mix
3:30 pm Small frosted brownie
4:45 pm 3 multigrain Breton crackers, 3 tbl smoked salmon spread
6:45 pm Italian casserole (ground round, chopped red and green pepper, onion, fresh mushrooms, mozzarella, garden spirals), 8 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:10-5:55 am Power Shaping DVD

Sun 15 Nov

Just read a blog and a few of the responses on SparkPeople relative to caring for aging parents. What an emotional subject this is for all of us who are affected. I am grateful that I've been able to be there for my folks even though it is draining at times, and I truly appreciate how understanding and helpful your dad has been throughout the process.

Dad, Michael, and I visited Grandma at PCH today. She was in bed, but said she had been up early today and had an active morning so they were giving her a well-deserved rest. She was encouraged that the staff feel she is improving. I was encouraged that she dug into the chocolate-covered raisins we brought her. It's good to see her taking an interest in eating anything. She said they told her she had gained a pound when they weighed her before her shower, so maybe she's eating better again overall. She didn't mention her pain even once during our visit, but she is always so glad to see Michael. We will have her to the house when you come home for as much of your visit as possible.


Food:

8:15 am 1 c Corn Chex, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 med cantaloupe, coffee
12:00 pm 8 oz orange juice, 2 eggs over easy, 2 6" pancakes, 1/2 tbl whipped butter, 1 tbl syrup, 3 oz ham, coffee
1:15 pm 3 chocolate-covered raisins
5:30 pm 4.5 oz ground round, 1 slice tomato, 1 tsp ketchup, Arnold's whole wheat sandwich thin, 2/3 c sliced red pepper, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk


Exercise:

7:15-8:05 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 14 Nov

Thinking of you and hoping things are going well, both at the office and socially. Haven't heard much lately. This is always an odd time of year just before the holidays as the year winds down.

Did some shopping today - got nice new sweatshirts and velour pants for Grandma, some kitchen knives for Michael. A start.

Put in a good, long shift cleaning at Grandma's house. Found part of the floor in the playroom.



Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 med cantaloupe, tea
10:30 am 1 dark chocolate-covered gingerbread heart
2:15 pm Asparagus spinach quesadilla w/wild rice, red peppers, 1/2 piece caraway rye toast, 8 oz Sam Adams Winter Ale
4:00 pm Small hot fudge sundae at Culver's w/toffee pecan custard
8:45 am 7 chocolate-covered raisins
9:15 pm Chobani 0% vanilla yogurt

Fri 13 Nov

Wussed out and took the morning off from exercise this morning since I did get up yesterday. Also, I should be able to be done with work at 3 pm and we don't go to First Nighters til 5:30, so I hope to come home and work out in the afternoon. I got some good rest last night, opting not to go with Bob and Michael to work at the house but staying home to read and turn in early.

Wow, level 3 of the Ball/Band video is intense. Pushups and tricep dips with your hands on the (in)stability ball, e.g.

The UWSP production of Rent was excellent! Amazing voices and everything very well done.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 med cantaloupe, coffee
12:15 pm Chocolate soy shake, slice Trader Joe's multigrain fiber bread, 1 tbl PB, 1/4 med cantaloupe, 1 dark chocolate-covered gingerbread heart
2:00 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
5:45 pm 4 oz red wine, popover-type muffin, 1/2 Cornish game hen, 1/2 c wild rice mix, 1/2 c green beans w/curried almonds, pumpkin cake w/cream cheese frosting, coffee



Exercise:

4:00-4:55 pm Ball/band Level 3 DVD

Thurs 12 Nov

Decided I didn't need to take my Thursday morning day off from exercise so I'd try a Buns of Steel beginner step video I had been curious about. It's only 30 min, so I hadn't chosen it on a "serious" exercise day. OMG, I think the "check the heart rate" section was necessary to make sure I hadn't dozed off! I hesitate to call this session "exercise". I also had a Gaiam AM Yoga tape that was very short, so I put that on to follow just to do something else although this was a very sedate tape also, focusing on relaxation and body awareness. I think it would actually be better suited to bedtime. It was led by a very good-looking young Asian man in a speedo on the beach, so it was very aesthetic.

Grandma is still being kept up in her chair all day, to her dismay and my delight. Staff say she is walking better and farther. I am encouraging her to participate in activities, hoping that a greater activity level will perk her up.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 med cantaloupe, coffee'
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, 1 slice Trader Joe Fiber multigrain toast, 1 tbl PB Loco dark chocolate raspberry peanut butter, med banana, 1/4 tsp sugar, 2 oz light vanilla soy milk
2:00 pm Small box grape Nerds
3:00 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
6:15 pm 1 c Trader Joe's lobster ravioli, 1/2 c garlic alfredo sauce, 1/2 c Green Giant Steamers Asian vegetables, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, Jello sugar-free chocolate mousse



Exercise:

5:15-5:40 am Extremely beginner step video
5:45-6:05 am AM Yoga

Wed 11 Nov

Yesterday was a really busy, tiring day but I slept very well last night so I'm ready to go at it again today. I'm already looking forward to Friday night when the First Nighters play is Rent. Also, since I worked an extra 1 1/2 hrs yesterday, I should be able to leave at 3 pm Friday.

Just watched "Up", finally. What a sweet, delightful movie!


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 med cantaloupe, coffee
10:30 am 1 spekulatius cookie
11:45 am Strawberry/banana soy shake, 44 g ham, slice Deli provolone, 2 thin tomato slices, 1 slice Trader Joe's fiber wheat bread
2:45 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
5:45 pm 3.4 oz roast beef, 1/2 c mashed potatoes, 1/2 c mashed butternut squash, 2 tsp soft margarine, 1/8 c beef gravy, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
6:15 pm 1 chocolate chip cookie



Exercise:

5:15-6:05 am Jane Fonda Complete upper body and aerobics video

Tues 10 Nov

Hard to believe it's the 10th of November already. The year is disappearing quickly. But how exciting that Phil and Leigha are pregnant! That certainly brightens up a quiet time of year. Baby was probably conceived in Wisconsin; she was probably already pregnant when we said our goodbyes. Phil just sent an email last night - I suspect they just found out for sure.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
12:30 pm Blueberry soy shake, Archer Farms Signature Coffee Cake muffin, 117 g super cherry tomatoes, leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie, pkg Trader Joe trail mix
6:00 pm 2 cheese manicotti, 1/2 c Newman's Own Sweet Onion and Roasted Garlic sauce, 1 tbl shredded parmesan, 1/2 c broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

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

Mon 9 Nov

Looks like Megumi, Yoshi, and Yuki are planning on coming for Thanksgiving, barring illness or awful weather. I'm really anxious to see them as it's been a very long time. Yuki is already in seventh grade and played in the WSMA orchestra this year. Yoshi got an email from Masa on his birthday in which he mentioned his almost year-old daughter! Masa is a daddy!

Fairly nice temps should be with us for the week - a last taste before the eternal cold of Wisconsin winter.

Foolish me, I sent Masa a Facebook message congratulating him on his daughter and asking him to send "a picture" if he could. I have 7 emails, 5 with multiple photos and 2 with videos. I'm still looking at them all. His daughter's name is Sakura and she is very cute. He hasn't yet mentioned his wife's name but she is from Vietnam and is very pretty. I had forgotten the pride and joy of sharing common to new parents!

Verdict: Jello Sugar-Free dark chocolate pudding varieties beat Jello Sugar-Free Chocolate Decadence mousse, though both are darn good treats at 60 cal each including a couple of grams of protein.

Food:

7:00 am 1.125 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal (finishing the box), 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, Archer Farms signature coffee cake muffin, small pear
2:30 pm 2 dark chocolate-covered gingerbread hearts, 1 lightly salted rice cake
5:30 pm 4.25 oz grilled boneless pork chop, 1/2 c Annie's whole wheat shells w/white cheddar sauce, 3/4 c broccoli, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
7:30 pm Jello Sugar-Free dark chocolate raspberry pudding cup



Exercise:

5:10-5:50 am Crunch Pilates DVD

Sun 8 Nov

Got up at the usual early exercise time so I can get in the shower soon and be ready for an early start down to Madison. Dad and I are just driving down to shop at Woodman's and Trader Joe's, and maybe to look up the SuperTarget and World Market. I'm not sure where we'll eat - I'm torn between Monty's, Himal Chuli, and Brocach. I've been thinking a lot about Brocach's perfect chicken, but we'll see what we feel like when we get there. When you lived in Madison, we had chances to eat at fun places more often. Now we only get down there occasionally so we have to choose. Whichever we choose, I'm sure we'll be wishing you were there with us!

We've had a little Indian summer yesterday with hopes of warm temps again today. Unfortunately after the little break, there's a sinking feeling that colder weather is going to be the norm. At least I'm now in to cold weather comfort foods and warm sweaters again. Maybe we'll gear up the fireplace in a week or two.

Beautiful day - temps in mid-70s and sunshine. Also made us think of you. We had brunch at Brocach; I had Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon - heaven!


Food:

6:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, lemon ginseng green tea
9:45 am 2 dark chocolate-covered gingerbread hearts
11:45 am English muffin, 3 oz smoked salmon, 2 poached eggs, 2 tbl hollandaise, small salad of dark greens, lemon viniagrette, 1/2 c fried potatoes, coffee
5:45 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
8:30 pm Chobani 0% vanilla yogurt, 1/4 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 76 g apple, Jello Sugar-Free Chocolate Indulgence mousse



Exercise:

5:15-6:05 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 7 Nov

I made aebleskiver this morning with eggnog - if it works for pancakes..... They were awesome! Michael has promised to get me the Williams-Sonoma new aebleskiver cookbook for Christmas so I can try lots of new recipes. That is, if he has a job by then.

Today we will work with Bob, Michael and Lon to completely clear out the assisted living apartment so we will be done with Oakridge. That will be a relief. Then I just need to finish Grandma's house and I can focus on getting my own house cleaned up!
Yay! Apartment has been vacated!

Poop, it's barely 3 pm and I've pretty much used up my calorie limit for the day. Didn't think that Fazoli's dish was so bad til I got home and looked up the calorie count. 850 just for the pasta plus 150 for the breadstick.


Food:

9:00 am 2 dark-chocolate covered gingerbread hearts
9:30 am 5 aebleskiver, coffee
10:00 am 1/4 large cantaloupe
1:00 pm 5.5 oz can V8 Reduced Sodium juice, 6 oz La Yogurt Probiotic Light Mango yogurt
1:45 pm Fazoli's Sun-Dried Tomato Rustico tortellini, 1 breadstick
7:30 pm 1/2 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 4 oz light vanilla soy milk

Fri 6 Nov

I have a client that I'm covering til the new worker is hired who only needs to meet once a month and likes to get breakfast at the Olympic. Today I planned for it by just doing Greek yogurt, fruit and coffee. I'm hankering for oatmeal with cinnamon apples around 9:30 am.


Food:

7:00 am Chobani Peach 0% yogurt, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
9:45 am 1 c oatmeal, 1/4 c pecans, 1/4 c raisins, 2/3 c cinnamon apples in syrup, coffee
3:45 pm Small piece Abdallah milk chocolate
6:00 pm 4 oz white wine, 5 oz baked cod, 1 tsp melted butter, 2 potato pancakes, 1 tbl sour cream, 1/4 c applesauce, 3/4 c teriyaki green beans, 1/2 slice marble rye, half slice chocolate layer cake




Exercise:

5:00-5:45 am Power Shaping DVD

Thurs 5 Nov

I'm beginning to be able to look ahead to fun stuff, not so overwhelmed by the present. We're continuing to go to Grandma's house several evenings a week to chip away. I'm into the last (and most cluttered) room now. When I get to the end, I then need to find storage for the items that escaped the trash. Dad is assembling some steel shelves for one of the storage rooms in the basement that will likely get most of the boxes. I would like to be done with this project almost as much as Michael would like me to be done so they can move in!

Michael just informed us that he was let go from Target. I suspect it may have happened some time ago.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, slice Arnold's whole wheat bread, 68 g ham, 78 g tomato, small pear
12:45 pm 14 g peanut M&Ms
3:30 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
6:00 pm 2 Rosetto cheese manicotti, 1/2 c Newman's Own Sweet Onion & Roasted Garlic sauce, 1 tbl shredded parmesan, 1/2 c Green Giant Steamers broccoli w/cheese sauce, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk

Wed 4 Nov

Finally sent an email off to Megumi. They haven't made it for the last few holidays and we haven't really seen or heard from them much in between. I hope we can reconnect and maybe get them to come for Thanksgiving.

This morning in the shower I found myself thinking about the meal we shared with you in the fancy seafood restaurant outside the hotel in Schaumberg just before you went to Taiwan. That was a nice little time together!


Food:

7:00 am Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
12:00 pm Vanilla soy shake, med banana, Arnold's whole wheat bread, 1 tbl peanut butter, 79 g super tomatoes
2:30 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie, 1 LifeSaver
5:45 pm 1 c Trader Joe's Organic whole wheat spaghetti, 2 oz lean ground beef, 1/2 small onion, 1/2 med yellow pepper, 1/2 c chopped fresh mushrooms, 1/2 c Newman's Own Sweet Onion and Roasted Garlic spaghetti sauce, 1/8 c shredded parmesan, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:10-5:50 am Jane Fonda Weights 2 video

Tues 3 Nov

Tuesday evening means piano and voice lessons, so at least I'm absolved from cleaning the house or apartment. If Mary's not sick yet, I'll get a chance to wish her a happy 50th birthday. I feel bad that I don't find enough time to practice either piano or voice so I'm not making optimum use of my lessons. I hope that will improve once I finish cleaning out the apartment and getting the house ready for Michael and co.

Hope you are doing okay. Sorry your Halloween fizzled, hope November looks much better.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, Trader Joe's small whole wheat pita, deli slice provolone, 53 g oven-roasted chicken breast, 72 g tomato
1:30 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie
5:45 pm 4.4 oz extra lean ground beef, Arnold's whole wheat sandwich thin, 1 tsp margarine, 1/2 tbl ketchup, slice tomato, 1/2 c mashed sweet potato w/brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk



Exercise:

5:10-6:00 am Hips/Thighs of Steel 2000 video

Mon 2 Nov

Just realized I need to shut off the phone service to Grandma's apartment which means giving up the 344-2427 phone number I grew up with. It feels weird to know that it will be someone else's phone number soon.

Pilates was hard today.

Cleaning at Grandma's house tonight was fun. I went through her cedar chest and found Grandma's old china face doll and the most awesome pair of woolen ski pants that actually fit me. They are the same type of gray wool as the blankets you and Michael used on your beds, lined with flannel, baggy legs that end in wide knit cuffs, high waist with suspenders similar to lederhosen. I can't wait to go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing so I can try them out!

Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 large cantaloupe, coffee
12:30 pm Blueberry soy shake, Trader Joe's small whole wheat pita, 69 g ham, 32 g provolone, small pear, 1 spekulatius cookie
2:00 pm 1"x3" Door Co cherry bar
5:45 pm Serving enchiladas, 122 g red grapes, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, leaf-shaped chocolate-bottom cookie



Exercise:

5:00-6:00 am Pilates mat

Sun 1 Nov

Spent our Halloween evening watching Chamber of Secrets after the trick or treaters were done and we shared a ham dinner with Michael and Lon.

I'm starting to come to terms with my mom's status. I don't believe it bothers her as much as it does me that she will likely never be independent again. She just wants to be taken care of by nice people and hopefully to have less pain. I hope she'll like her new room and roommate. I don't think we'll be able to take her out or bring her to the house, even for the holidays as there's no way we'd get her up the steps into the house, and certainly no way I could help her to the bathroom even if we had a commode on the main floor. I hope to focus my time with her remembering all the fun things she has done.

I'm not sure what we'll do today. I've asked Michael to join us for church, breakfast, and a visit to Grandma in PCH as he hasn't been to the nursing home since she's been there. I realize the setting creeps him out so I thought it best if we all go together. He'll have to go periodically if that's where she's going to be long term. Not sure then if we'll pick up some things to clear out the new apartment, or just unload the things in the truck from the old place at the house and work on finding places for things that won't interfere with the boys. I may just stay at the house then and do some more work there. We'll see.

Just got through making a really nice lunch for Dad, Michael, and Lon. We had grilled tenderloin steak, roasted asparagus with garlic (your recipe), and beer bread. Yum!



Food:

8:15 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 6 oz oj, coffee
1:30 pm 4.75 oz tenderloin, 6 spears roasted asparagus, slice Tastefully Simple beer bread, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
3:00 pm Leaf-shaped chocolate bottom cookie
4:00 pm 1 sm pc English toffee, 1 oz Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips
5:00 pm 2/3 c 1% cottage cheese, 1 c yellow pepper strips, 3 super cherry tomatoes (210 g)



Exercise:

7:10-8:00 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 31 Oct

Yesterday was very stressful. Lunch at Oakridge was fine. Grandma's "regular" table insisted she squeeze in with them in her wheelchair. Since there wasn't room for me, I ate with David, a former client of mine who has lived there for 8 years. I took Grandma up and toured all the features of the new apartment and I think she liked it. Then we went down to the assessment meeting, and bottom line, learned that she isn't yet appropriate for assisted living because she needs two people every time she transfers. Marcia had led me to believe that wouldn't be a problem, but it is contrary to their licensure. They could have done it occasionally, but she is not even able to stand on her feet now without two people hanging on. I think she is so fearful that she can't begin to understand how to balance herself. Getting her in and out of the car was a major deal that required the assistance of several people. I don't hold high hopes that the situation will improve since she's no longer eligible for physical therapy, so the only way she'll get out of the nursing home is if the shingles pain disappears and she decides she wants to be more independent again. I can't even take her out of the facility for visits often because it's so difficult. I could never get her to the bathroom on my own.

I was really bummed when I got her back to the nursing home and came home. Dad and I returned the Depends I had bought on sale but I didn't feel like doing much else. We got a fish fry at Olympic and when we got home around 7 pm, the power went out from the excessive winds so I just went to bed and got a good sleep.

This morning I just got through the runaround with UPS and finally connected with a helpful woman at Overstock.com to cancel the shipment of the memory foam mattress I had ordered for her. Hopefully they'll be able to intercept the delivery so someone at Oakridge doesn't sign for the shipment and we can't return it. Got to get laundry going, take a shower, then head over to Oakridge to finish clearing out the old apartment and cleaning it. They'll give me a little extra time on clearing out the new place. I want to be back home today by 3:30 pm so I can be ready for the trick-or-treaters at 4:00. At least that gives me a deadline to be done with the work for today.

Got most of the old apartment emptied and cleaned; taking a break to change laundry loads and put a ham in the oven. Took advantage of guest lunch passes at Oakridge and had a decent lunch there while we were working.



Food:

7:00 am Serving Trader Joe's microwaveable steel cut oatmeal, 2 tbl raisins, 2 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, tea
8:45 am Slice Tastefully Simple Bountiful Beer Bread
12:30 pm 1 c egg noodles, 1 c beef stroganoff, 3 large broccoli spears, plain sugar cookie, 8 oz skim milk, coffee
1:45 pm Slice Tastefully Simple Boountiful Beer bread
3:15 pm Chocolate-bottom leaf cookie, 12 oz diet A&W root beer
5:30 pm Fun-size Kit Kat, fun-size mint 3 Musketeers
6:15 pm 2.5 oz ham, 1/2 c sweet potato casserole, 1/2 c peas, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
6:45 pm Fun-size Snickers - all right, enough candy already!
9:30 pm 4 Milk Duds - oh, well, it is Halloween

Exercise:

10:10-10:20 am Jogging in place

Fri 30 Oct

Today I take Grandma over to Oakridge to see her new apartment and to have their assessment to figure out how much they will charge for her care. She has to go back to the nursing home then while they figure out what they need to do to gear up for her care, but I hope she'll be able to move very soon.

I just read an article that they are making progress on treatments/prevention for macular degeneration. I sincerely hope they get effective treatments in place before it starts to affect me, and by the time you and Michael age into the danger zone, perhaps it will be a thing of the past.

What will Halloween be like in Richmond? I don't suppose it will be anything like Madison, after all, no other place is like Madison. What are your plans? We'll have trick-or-treaters from 4-7 pm on Saturday. No other plans yet.



Food:
7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit
11:45 am Small salmon croquette, 1 tbl tartar sauce, 1.2 c green peas w/pearl onions, dinner roll w/1/2 Promise cup, 1/2 c rice blend, 8 oz skim milk, coffee, slice pumpkin pie w/Redi-Whip
3:00 pm 6-8 M&M peanuts
4:30 pm Small piece lightly sweetened apple cake
5:30 pm 1 tbl apple cream cheese ball w/2 graham pretzels, thin pretzel stick w/garlic dip, Brach's mini-pumpkin
6:45 pm 4 oz fried fish, 1/2 large baked potato, 1/2 tbl butter, 1/2 tbl sour cream, slice homemade bread, cup clam chowder




Exercise:

5:20-6:10 am Jane Fonda Weights 1 video

Thurs 29 Oct

Wow, it's amazing how much better I feel and how much better I rested last night having Grandma's new apartment ready. Can't imagine the overwhelming sense of relief when I get the old one cleaned out and vacated and the house ready for Michael and friends. I may just float up into the stratosphere!

I read today that eating a large bowl of shredded wheat or bran flakes or eating about 10 slices of whole wheat bread can give you enough concentration of naturally-occurring LSD to get a little high. If this gets out to the teenagers, we may have an overflow on our sewage system!

Started out the day well, but feeling cranky now. Oh, well.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:30 am Vanilla soy shake, slice Trader Joe's multigrain bread, 54 g oven roasted chicken breast, 2 sm tomato slices, large banana
2:30 pm Small pumpkin bar w/cream cheese frosting, iced molasses cookie
6:00 pm 1 garlic naan, 3.4 oz ground chuck, 1 tbl onions, 1/4 c Newman's Own Garden spaghetti sauce, 1/4 c shredded parmesan, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 1 Halloween Oreo

Wed 28 Oct

Muscles are still sore, still a lot of work to do before everyone is moved and happy. Sigh.

Feeling better that we have Grandma's new apartment pretty much set up. Dad had a good idea for the bed; we're going to use one high end as a headboard and one low end as a footboard for both Grandma's and Michael's beds. Since they aren't going to stack, they don't have to be even, and this will look more like a regular bed. We'll swap one end of each bed tomorrow. Got lots of steps in making trips between the old apartment and the new.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Trader Joe's multigrain flaxseed cereal, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
11:45 am Kaiser roll, 3 oz roast beef, 1 oz Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato slice, BBQ sauce, 2/3 c fruit salad, iced molasses cookie
3:00 pm 1 Rolo
4:30 pm 1 Abdallah chocolate creme
5:00 pm 1 enchilada, Healthy Harvest Summer Strawberry applesauce cup, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:30 pm 8 pc candy corn




Exercise:

5:10-6:05 am Jane Fonda Complete upper body and aerobics

Tues 27 Oct

Mary is sick so voice is canceled for tonight - I told her she turned 50 (on Saturday) and just fell apart! This gives me a little extra time to work at the apartment, so I really hope we can get the key today. I'd like to get bed, table, chair and desk set up at least. I may wait til Michael can help Dad move the dresser unless we can borrow the dolly to just roll it down the hall. As soon as I get the new place set up, it should be easier to just pack up and clear out the old place. Then I can get back to work on the house. Oh joy!

Just a thought because I know you're conserving finances in prep for possible return to school. Would you like to come home for Thanksgiving and be with family if I paid for the plane tickets? You could maybe catch the same flight as Keaton and we'd pick you up in Madison. I hate to think of you being all by yourself over the long holiday weekend while we're all missing you here.

Glad you have somewhere homey to be for the holiday, though we'll still be missing you. I didn't realize you don't have Friday off, but that will make the weekend less long and drawn out.

Making enchiladas with green chile enchilada sauce tonight. May be a bit weird eating green enchiladas.

Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:15 pm Chocolate soy shake, Trader Joe's small whole wheat pita, 53 g oven roasted chicken breast, 204 g fresh pineapple
1:00 pm Abdallah chocolate-covered marshmallow caramel
2:45 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix
3:15 pm 2 12-oz fountain diet Cokes
5:30 pm 1 green enchilada, cup Healthy Harvest strawberry applesauce, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
9:00 pm 1 Halloween Oreo



Exercise:

5:10-5:50 am Pilates Crunch DVD

Mon 26 Oct

Taking a deep breath before diving into this eventful week. Hopefully we'll have the key to Grandma's new apartment tonight so we can start moving some things over. I'm going to suggest to her that we let her use your old twin bed, the match to Michael's, and have her buy a box spring/mattress set so it is at a comfortable height for her. It would take up far less proportion of her new smaller room than the white bed, and she has often complained that the white bed is too high. I checked out Michael's bed with just a mattress and I fear that would be too low, but we should be able to get a compromise here somehow.

Thanks for the heads-up on the bed; maybe I'll use the frame from Michael's half and let him use the bottom half. The wood frame would just look a little nicer than a metal frame since it's in the center of the room. I'm looking into a memory foam mattress for her.

Switched out the tall frame onto Michael's bed - hope he doesn't find it too odious. Still don't have the key to the new place so we weren't able to move anything over tonight. Set up the new TV in Grandma's nursing home room; she's having some trouble with the world's easiest remote, but in her favor, she was pretty tired.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/2 grapefruit, coffee
12:00 pm Blueberry soy shake, small Trader Joe's whole wheat pita, 53 g oven roasted chicken breast, 180 g pineapple, Abdallah chocolate-covered cherry
1:45 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix, 1 LifeSaver
5:15 pm 3.6 oz ground chuck, Arnold's 100 cal wheat sandwich thin, 1 tsp ketchup, 1/2 c green beans, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:00 pm 14 g peanut M&Ms



Exercise:

5:10-6:00 am Kathy Smith Weights 2 DVD

Sun 25 Oct

Lovely getaway is history, back to hard-workin' reality. Hope to go to Grandma's apartment after church today, strip the bed, run a load of laundry, and find out what things have already accumulated there that can be tossed out. There are partially eaten packages of cookies in the cupboards and 4 bags of mostly accumulated candy and snacks that are already getting old. Fortunately I went through the junk mail and tossed most of that several weeks ago, but I did leave some things on the reader to still sort through. We bought a 19" flat screen TV yesterday which will take up significantly less room and will hopefully have speakers adequate to hear in her room. She can't see the screen of the other TV and it would take up a lot of room in the new studio apartment. This way I hope to put the desk with the reader in that corner and just perch the TV on the end, or if that doesn't work, I may be able to put the desk/reader in the entrance hall and put her dining table in the corner with the TV on it, leaving a place to sit for visitors or a place she can eat a bowl of cereal if she doesn't want to go down to breakfast.

Don't know if I'll have any additional time before choir to work at the house, but we put in a couple of hours Thursday night before we left. The apartment switch has to move ahead in priority as I need to vacate the old apartment by this upcoming weekend, and I want to have the new place set up with her things when she comes over Friday for her assessment.

I'm really tired. Spent the afternoon at the apartment packing stuff out of cupboards and running a couple of loads of laundry. Haven't touched my own laundry yet this weekend - suppose I should go get a load or two together. Also really banged the knuckle of my left pinky finger - it's still stiff.

So tired.....

Food:

8:15 am Raisin croissant pastry, 1 string cheese, 1/4 small cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am 2 crepes, 2/3 c blueberries in light glaze, 1 tsp powdered sugar, 8 oz OJ, coffee
2:45 pm 1 square chocolate, 5-6 coconut M&Ms
4:15 pm 10 g Indian corn
4:45 pm 1 serving Chicken Romagnola (pasta w/artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and a cajun sauce), 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, 2 Halloween Oreos
8:25 pm Jello Sugar-Free Creme Brulee Rice pudding cup



Exercise:

7:10-8:00 am Brutal ballet DVD

Sat 24 Oct

Started the day in absolute decadence! Dad got up and went into the shower while I was doing my stretches so I couldn't get in the shower right away as I had expected. Since I was awake and had some time alone, I turned on the lights to write in the blog and my eyes fell on the box of chocolates. I couldn't resist... I had an Abdallah turtle to start the day! Bad Mommy!

Food:

7:15 am. Abdallah turtle
9:00 am 3/4 omelette w/2 eggs, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, Swiss cheese, 1/2 large croissant, 1 tsp orange marmalade, 3/4 c hash browns, small grilled tomato, 6 oz fresh-squeezed orange juice, coffee
3:15 pm 3 oz chicken breast, 1/2 c sweet potatoes, mushroom ragout sauce, 1 c roasted acorn squash soup, 3"x4" piece gingerbread pear tart
5:30 pm 2 pc Abdallah chocolates
6:30 pm Small indiv bag Lite Kettle Corn

Fri 23 Oct

Looking forward to our overnight in Mpls tonight. Got up and did my exercise like a good girl even though it's a vacation day. I took my regular day off yesterday so I couldn't skip today. I hope we'll do a workout in the Sofitel's beautiful facility this evening too, but I'll most likely do cardio on the elliptical there so I did my ball/band strength routine this morning.

What a nice day so far! We had pumpkin pancakes at the Highland Grill for lunch after driving into town in a pretty thick snow that melted as it fell so it didn't hamper driving. Bummed around Barnes and Noble for a bit then checked in to the hotel to relax. Had a box of Abdallah chocolates waiting for us in the room as part of the special room deal. They also gave me a free drink ticket for being an A-card holder. Dad took a short nap while I perused a magazine, then we went to the primo workout room and did an hour on the ellipticals. When we got back to the room, there was a little plate of fancy pastries waiting for us!

Food:

8:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c skim milk, 1/4 small cantaloupe, coffee
10:00 am. 16 oz pumpkin spice cappucino
1:00 pm. Pumpkin pancakes, 2tbl real maple syrup, 1/3 c almond whipped cream, coffee
3:30 pm. 3 pc Abdallah chocolates (chocolate caramel, English toffee, dark chocolate-covered orange peel)
5:15 pm. Half each of small white chocolate eclair, opera cake, raspberry tartlet
5:45 pm. 5 oz champagne, 1/8 c popcorn, 1/8 c cheese crackers
7:00 pm. 4 oz champagne, 1 c French onion soup w/bread & Gruyere, 1/2 c Belgian endives salad w/creamy dressing, Bleu cheese, 3 oz broiled salmon, 2" bread round, tbl carmelized onions, 1/2 c mixed vegetables, 4" small fruit tart w/blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, orange slices



Exercise:

5:20-6:10 am Ball/band DVD Level 2
4:00-5:00 pm. Elliptical cross-country program

Thurs 22 Oct

Last work day of the week for us since we have tomorrow to go to Mpls. I'm glad we scheduled this time since next week will be hectic with cleaning out Grandma's apartment while trying to finish getting her house ready for the boys. We spent a couple of hours at the house last night and maybe will again tonight if I can find the oomph. I woke up this morning thinking about things to do at the apartment. It will be so nice when everyone is settled.

Confirmed with Grandma and Oakridge that she will move to apt 511 in Assisted Living around the beginning of November. I will need to take her there on Fri, Oct 30 so she can have lunch with her old cronies and have an onsite assessment. She will return to PCHCC and will move to the apartment as soon as feasible thereafter, hopefully some time the following week. I'll try to get her stuff moved over during the week so she can see the apartment with her own furniture ready to go.

Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/4 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 c skim milk, 1/4 small cantaloupe, coffee
11:30 am Blueberry soy shake, slice multigrain bread, 1 tbl PB, 225 g fresh pineapple
2:30 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix, 1 Hershey's milk chocolate toffee nugget
5:45 pm 4.3 oz rotisserie chicken, 1/2 c Stove Top stuffing, 1/2 c acorn squash (margarine, brown sugar, cinnamon), 1/8 lemon Jello pudding pie, 12 oz skim milk

Wed 21 Oct

Anticipating another busy day, and I'd like to get in some time cleaning at the house as well as the apartment soon. Sigh, so much to do, so little time.

Thank you so much for the offer of help with Grandma. I think we'll be able to manage, but I'll keep you in mind if we are floundering. I think I may have her convinced to move back to Oakridge in Assisted Living as soon as Nov 1. This gives us motivation to get everything moved, and as long as it's within the building, it should be doable. I looked at the studio apartments there and we'll need to get rid of the couch and at least one chair. Some things can go to the house for Michael and the guys. She'll have one big room with her bed and dresser, a chair and her TV. We'll make sure she has a nice walker, and possibly a wheelchair for outings.


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 small cantaloupe, coffee
11:45 am Chocolate soy shake, multigrain toast, 1 tbl peanut butter, medium banana
2:30 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix
5:30 pm Fingerful Cool Whip Lite (a weak moment!)
6:15 pm Macaroni and cheese, Musselman's Totally Fruit peach sauce, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk
8:45 pm 1/8 lemon creme Jello pie




Exercise:

5:10-5:50 am Jane Fonda Weights 2 video

Tues 20 Oct

Looking ahead in the forecast, it appears yesterday's beautiful weather was a one-day wonder. Glad we were able to enjoy it while it was here. Looks like rain in the forecast for most of the rest of the week and cooler temperatures again.

The nursing home is calling a meeting today to discuss Grandma's (lack of) progress. Apparently they're running into some issues with Medicare who only pays for rehab, not long term care. If she's not showing an urge to cooperate and benefit from therapy, they won't be able to call it rehab much longer. I told her yesterday it's time for her to make a decision about what she wants. I'm hoping it's a strong wake-up call and she will want to get back into the mainstream of life, but I'm really not sure what she wants at this point. I'll keep you posted.

Grandma update: She has not been able to make sufficient progress in therapy to meet Medicare guidelines even though the therapists feel she has really been trying. Her body just isn't cooperating. As of Thursday, she is off the therapy (Medicare-paid) track and into private pay, just taking care of you status. We will give up the Oakridge apartment Nov 1. Oakridge has said they could meet her needs, even with help transferring and personal care assistance, in the assisted living section. I'm going to talk to her probably tomorrow to see how she feels about going back there soon in that capacity. It would be more expensive than the apartment but about $2000 per month less than the nursing home. She may stay a little while longer in the nursing home to get stabilized on a pain medicine regimen that works for her, but Oakridge has offered us the use of one of the empty studio apartments in Assisted Living to store all her stuff until she moves at no charge. I'm hoping it will motivate her to go back to the apartment life sooner.

Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 1/4 small cantaloupe, coffee
10:00 am Werther's caramel chocolate disc
11:45 am Vanilla soy shake, small carrot wheat muffin, 205 g fresh pineapple
2:15 pm 1/4 c pumpkin spice trail mix
5:45 pm 2.6 oz tenderloin steak, 2/3 c baked sweet potato, 1/2 tbl soft margarine, serving Green Giant Teriyaki Vegetables, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 2 Halloween Oreos



Exercise:

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

Mon 19 Oct

Looking forward to a 4-day work week since we're going to Mpls on Friday. Hope to get over to Grandma's again maybe one or two weeknights. Even an hour or two makes some progress. Continuing to find interesting photos and memorabilia.

An unexpectedly beautiful day - highs climbed to 68 according to my car. Led to an unplanned hike at Rib, truncated to fit the declining light, and a nice light dinner at the Dane. A lovely Monday after all. And Dad said the local temps this evening here were warmer than Richmond!


Food:

7:00 am 1 c Quaker Oat Squares, 1/2 c light vanilla soy milk, 87 g strawberries, 1/4 small cantaloupe, coffee
11:00 am Cherry pecan scone, coffee
12:30 pm Strawberry/banana soy shake, 1/4 small cantaloupe
4:30 pm Molasses cookie
7:00 pm Bowl West African Chicken Peanut Stew, half a Gourmet Grilled Cheese w/tomato slice and pesto, 10 oz Oktoberfest beer, 1 fried plantain



Exercise:

5:10-6:00 am Step/weights video
5:15-6:30 pm Hiking Rib (from partway up) w/tower

Sun 18 Oct

Nice sunshine today, temps breaking 50 finally. A reprieve.

Tried a simple new crock pot recipe, but it was nothing great. Just chicken breasts (I used thighs) straight from the freezer, 2 cans black beans, 1 jar salsa, and 1/2 c brown rice. If I made it again, I'd add some water as the rice didn't really have enough liquid to cook thoroughly.


Food:

8:15 am Slice ctanberry bread, 161 g strawberries, coffee
12:00 pm Egg beaters, mushrooms, spinach, 3 tomato slices, wedge cantaloupe, wedge honeydew, toasted English muffin w/butter, 1 tub orange marmalade, coffee
3:00 pm 2 molasses cookies
5:15 pm Serving of chicken/black beans/salsa/brown rice, Healthy Harvest peach sauce, 12 oz light vanilla soy milk, slice cranberry pudding pie



Exercise:

7:10-8:00 am Brutal ballet DVD