You didn't put my picture on the side of a wine box, did you?

If so, I know a few people who will be out there looking for me RIGHT ABOUT NOW.....


But, no need to worry.....I've been located.....by the paparazzi....hanging out at the ABC tent.....my wine box friends can now go back to their carefree wine drinking. 

Actually, this is me hanging out at the site of the Jerry Sandusky trial.....I'm such a news stalker....

Is it Thursday already?
Yes, I suppose it is.
I swear, it just crept up on me. 
I couldn't even tell you what happened between the moment I hit "publish" on my last blog post and right this moment.  
What I will tell you is....
* 10 of my 12 visiting pounds have disappeared.  Before you go applauding me for being such a good bander, I have to admit that some of those pounds went away without a whole hell of alot of effort on my part.  Although we took a wonderful, celebratory road trip 2 weekends ago that was filled with lots of wine toasts  and a few happy, happy martinis and an absolutely amazing dinner at a wonderful rustic old mill, since then   I haven't had much of a chance to eat anything more than 3 quick meals a day.  By quick I mean---3 very small meals---with breakfast always being my beloved Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai protein drink.  I had no time for much else. No time also meant that there was no time for all that mindless eating that I was doing. In addition to having no time to eat--I've had no time to shop for food to eat! Hard as it is to believe----I haven't stepped foot in a grocery store (not even my beloved Trader Joe's) in over two weeks.  That cuts down on available food within arms reach at all hours of the day and night.   Sure,  I've indulged in a few Hershey kisses and some wine and a martini or two and even a Dairy Queen Peanutbutter Sundae.  But, even with those luxurious indulgences, I was able to do it.   So, the morale of the story goes something like this---in order to maintain weight loss, you don't have to starve and you can still enjoy treats as long as you don't overdo it.  Now, let's see if I can keep that in mind as I head into four solid days that are filled with lots and lots of temptation....
*Along with zapping 10 pounds, I also zapped some hair.   Yes, I finally got the nerve to cut my hair.  I mean....really cut my hair.  I've been contemplating it for a few weeks now.  So, last night, after I finished doing what I need to do, I took the plunge.  Armed with lots of pictures and a big dose of courage, I visited my sister the hairdresser after her shop's normal business hours and I told her to just do it.  First, we had to banish those pesky grey hairs.  Then, I held my breath, crossed my fingers and said "make me look like Kris Kardashian."  Even though I doubt that I would be mistaken for Kris, I think I like it.  As for everyone else--the jury is still out.  Of the two people who have actually seen it so far--it's been 50/50.  My sister--the hairdresser--gave it a thumbs up. My daughter didn't exactly give me the reaction that I would have hoped for---especially since she is such a reality TV junkie.  She said "wow, I am going to have to get used to it."  Not exactly the "I thought you were Kris Kardashian there for a second" that I was hoping for.  Perhaps when I see my husband he will think I'm Kris (if he even knows who she is).  I'll have to see what my coworkers have to say.....

 Happy Thursday and Happy Summer! 
I'm off to enjoy me some SUMMER......
I hope you will be doing the same!!!

Proceed to summer......

Take that grill cover off, pour yourself a summer cocktail and get the weekend started......!\

IT'S FRIDAY!

Here's a menu I threw together a few weeks ago that screams SUMMER!!!!!! 

It's been tested and it passed with FLYING COLORS and STARS AND STRIPES AND FIREWORKS!  You heard it here! 

 Strawberry Basil Lemonade
The perfect Summer-Friday-At-The-Grill drink.....

• 1 can of Minute Maid Pink Lemonade or your favorite lemonade
• Gin (measured out one can)
• 1 lb of strawberries
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 small handful of basil, optional
• Ice as needed

 Prepare Minute Maid Lemonade--1 can of concentrate and  3 1/3 cans of water,one can of gin, stirred together. Blend  washed and sliced strawberries in a blender or food processor. Finely chop basil and add it to the mix. Stir strawberry mixture and lemon slices into the gin lemonade. Add lots of ice and enjoy!

Guac!
Add your favorite chips..... this recipe rocks!  Nibble on this while you hang out at the grill! 

• 3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 1 clove garlic, minced

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

 Grilled Marinated Shrimp
If you can't be at the ocean.....at least you can taste it!

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
• skewers   

In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce, and red wine vinegar. Season with basil, salt, and cayenne pepper. Add shrimp to the bowl, and stir until evenly coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.

Grilled Portabella Parmesean
This is like.....aaaamazing....

• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 large garlic clove, pressed
• 6 large portobello mushrooms, stemmed, gills scraped out
• 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, divided
• 6 1/3-inch-thick heirloom tomato slices (from 2 very large tomatoes)
• 7 to 8 ounces Fontina cheese, thinly sliced

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pressed garlic clove in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange portobello mushrooms on rimmed baking sheet, gill side up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon generous tablespoon dressing into each mushroom; swirl to coat. Stir ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil in small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange tomato slices on plate; sprinkle with salt and pepper.Place mushrooms on grill, gill side down. Grill until edges begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness of mushrooms. Transfer mushrooms to same baking sheet, gill side up. Nestle 1 tomato slice into each mushroom. Divide ricotta cheese mixture atop sliced tomatoes, spreading to cover, about 3 tablespoons per mushroom. Top with Fontina cheese slices, dividing equally. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese over each. Carefully return mushrooms to grill. Cover barbecue and cook until mushrooms are soft and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle remaining chopped fresh basil over. Place mushrooms on plates. Drizzle remaining dressing around mushrooms and serve.

Balsamic-Glazed Grilled Peaches with Feta
OMG!  This is just a heavenly way to end a summer BBQ night....

• 4 peaches
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1. Halve peaches and remove pit.
2. Mix honey and balsamic together well.
3. Place peaches cut side down on heated grill.
4. Grill until starting to turn tender and nice grill marks appear.
5. Turn over.
6. Brush top liberally with honey-balsamic glaze.
7. Continue grilling until peaches are tender. Brushing with more glaze if desired.
8. Immediately add crumbled feta to center of peaches.
9. Serve warm.

ENJOY!!!!!

La-di-da......

di-da-di-da.  

Last night, as I was sitting on my porch contemplating life and what I was going to make for dinner, I found my mind drifting to places that I really wished I wouldn't have.
 Where did my mind go, you ask? Well, it went to schedules and plans and all the things that  need to happen in Judiland over the next few weeks.  Even worse--when I started to come to grips with the fact that I am not ready for any of it, I began to shudder.    
 I can't tell you the enormous panic that passed through my being.  
But, instead of running for the hills, I decided that I would quietly sit and contemplate how I was going to make it all happen.  It was not a behavior I was used to.   However, after I bared my soul here on my blog the other day about my remedial maintenance skills, I decided enough is enough. 
It was clear to me that I had to find a way to not have so much panic in my life.
 I decided that even if I never get the hang of doing maintenance very well, I could at least spend the time to think through the things that need done and make an effort to figure out how to get it all done.  So, that's what I did.  
This morning, with my list in hand, I am going to start checking off things. 
What's my first order of business?  Get a cleaning service to come to my house to do a major, major cleaning in every damn nook and cranny.   
Then, I'm calling a landscaper and a handyman.
After that, I'm making all of my hair, pedicure and tanning appointments.
Then, I'm making my Lapband appointment.
When that's all done, I'm putting in my order at the liquor store. 

The best tool to get everything done in Judiland......my phone. 

A letter to my 93-year old mother.......

who will always be 53. 

Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday!   I feel like I should send you a birthday card saying that I finally caught up with you age-wise....being that I'm 53 and all.   I never knew how young 53 was....until I became 53 myself.

Hopefully, you don't mind that I'm contacting you via cyberspace as opposed using my usual Heaven Channel.   I just thought you might get a kick out of  something a little different today being that it's your birthday and all.  And, I figured now that your firstborn grandson (who, as you know, has your beautiful eyes) has become a DOCTOR, you might be expecting to be exposed to a little more technology.  So, before you start whipping up those high balls and whiskey sours and eating that lemon meringue pie for your celebration, I just wanted to drop by and warn you that I'll be thinking of you today! Although I think of you everyday....today I will think about you once an hour as opposed to every other hour.   Hopefully, my every-other-hour Happy Birthday wishes and big bundles of blowing kisses don't  interrupt  your party too much. You can turn me off if you really need a break.  I can only imagine how much earthbound banter will be making it's way to your heavenly home today!  Your darling daughters will be sending you wishes, your dear Frank will be doing novinas all day and your two earthbound sisters will be breaking in with their own comments. There might also be a few nieces and nephews as well.   So, get ready for a pretty noisy day! 

Considering that you are an angel and all, I am pretty sure that what I tell you in my Heaven Channel rants, you already know.  It's hard to come up with things to tell you when you're up there seeing all.  I'm just pretty thankful that I don't get to hear all your commentary....because I'm sure you have  a lot to say about the goings on down here in Judiland.  Perhaps that's why I am in no rush to get to Heaven myself.....I am not sure if I want to hear all the things you have been keeping to yourself these past 40 years.    In any case....while I'm hanging out here in Judiland,  I hope you know that I appreciate the fact that you listen and don't use your angel powers to throw huge boulders in my path or slap me silly when I need a good slapping.  And, even though I would love to see you again, I have to thank you for not appearing to me at the foot of my bed in the middle of the night to give me a lecture. That would be a little bit startling.  I might have needed therapy for that one. So, I guess what I am saying is that  you've been a good Angel Mother all these years.  Even though I know you are always here with me--every step of the way--and even though I know you probably wanted to wipe my tears a million times and bop me in the head a few million more, I am grateful that you let me find my way as a motherless daughter. As always---even as you hang out in clouds---you seem to do the right thing.  You've always been a wonderful  mother--here on earth and there in heaven.  As a mater of fact, I'm pretty sure I've done a good job with those two amazing grandchildren of yours because of you---what you taught me during my short years with you and what you left me with when you had to go are what I relied on all these years. It's all worked out.....even when I thought it never would.   

It's funny but after you went to Heaven, I never thought I'd ever smile or be happy again.  But, you know what? I was wrong.  The gift of life you gave me is precious and it would be a complete tragedy if I would have disrespected the gift  by being cranky and unhappy forever.  Life goes on, mom. It has to. Wonderful things happen even after darkness and pain. And, trust me, there is no deeper darkness or pain than losing your mother--at any age...especially as a child. But, I am sure you knew that we would be okay when you had to leave a husband and  three little girls who needed you.  You knew we'd all be okay. And, once again, you were right. Dad found his way and his way back and then his way again and then his way back.   Your three little girls have hung together no matter what. We have never left each others side.  In fact, there are some folks who call us thicker than thieves  (we are). We have not gotten into too much trouble along the way.  But, I can assure you that if one of us got into trouble--the others where right there getting us out of trouble.  And, we gave you 6 amazing grandchildren---each of them with their own gifts and talents. And, those 6 amazing grandchildren know who you are!    Oh, and we are still very attentive to your remaining sisters---they won't let us not be, trust me---they both have phones. And, we were loving and attentive to your good friends as well as you sisters and brothers before they joined you in heaven...we sure hope they told you how good we were!   And..for the record.... I make sure I represent you  at funeral homes that I know you would go to.  My sisters aren't into the funeral home thing but don't worry, Mom, I go (yes, I am telling on my sisters!).  And, we take care of Dad.  He's a good guy.  We finally figured out why you married him.  There's not a day that goes by that he doesn't mention your name to us.  He prays a lot.   We still feel bad that he bought a cemetery plot next to his third wife instead of laying  to rest with you and his parents and his brother.  But, we figure that your name on the grave stone is in good company---you always liked the Irish.  And, we like the fact that your gravestone faces your mom and dad and sister...who reside beyond the Virgin Mary statue....
Oh, and,  I'm not fat anymore....which I am sure you are pretty thrilled about.  So, all in all, I guess things have worked out pretty much okay.  Even though  I wish I could see your face smiling with pride because everything worked out pretty much okay.  

So, even though I could go on and on about things you already know about, I'm going to try to end it here.  You know I love you and miss you and wish you were here for the past 40 years and you know that I married a good Italian boy and that we had great kids and that your grandson has your eyes and he is a doctor and that your granddaughter has your name and that she is gorgeous and that she  loves to sew like you and that I can make a mean meatball but that I a lousy housekeeper by your standards and that I lost over 100 pounds and I like wine and martinis.  So, there's nothing I can't tell you that you don't know.  But, there's something I can tell my blog readers who may be feeling the loss of a parent or loved one......life goes on and you will smile again....you owe them that much. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

xoxox
Your  daughter.....who is the same age as you!
Judith Ann

Maintenance.....

I'm going to let you in on a little secret.......I don't think I'm very good at maintenance.
I'm not just talking about weight maintenance.  
I am saying that I am not good at any type of maintenance. 
Take my car for instance---I am never on time for my oil changes or any of those upkeep things that they say you must to do maintain your vehicle.   Usually, I wait until something breaks or I need the car inspected and then I'm frantically dialing the mechanic.  When the mechanic tells me that this whole thing could have been avoided if I would have this or that.....I promise that next time I will do what I need to do so this doesn't happen again. 
Same thing goes with most things that we are supposed to maintain--like teeth and cast iron skillets.
I go to the dentist when my tooth is throbbing and I just ignore my cast iron skillet.   As I sit in the dentist's chair listening to the drill boring into my head, I solemnly swear that I will never be in that position again....I'll go to the dentist twice a year.  As for the cast iron skillet---I never swore I'd maintain it.  I knew there would be other skillets. 
My remedial maintenance skills revelation came to me a few weeks back when I was searching through a pile of summer sandals that somehow ended up in a huge pile in my closet.  I never found the pair that I was looking for.  Well, I found one of the sandals but God knows where the hell the other one was hiding.  My huge walk in closet was in a shambles....strewn with bags and boxes and clothes and hangers and yes....shoes.
Just 5 months ago, this same closet was a thing of beauty.  In a fit of trying to be more mature and grown-up, I had taken two solid days to clean out the whole damn thing---from top to bottom.   And, when I finished the back-breaking job, I vowed to maintain it's beauty by doing what I needed to do to keep it as organized and lovely as that very day.
Fast forward to my sandal fiasco and it appears I broke my vow.
Now, I suppose I could analyze my maintenance deficiency to death.  Or, I could just say what's really on my mind---maintenance is inconvenient.  That's the bottom line.  I guess I should be ashamed to admit to it but I'm not.  Well, sometimes I am.  And, sometimes I get angry with myself for not putting in little bits of time so that I'm not left with a huge problem to deal with.  But, I'm so used to this behavior that I just come to expect it.  It's not like I don't know I will have to pay the piper---I realize it.  But, to be honest---I don't think about how much I will have to pay the piper or when I will have to pay the piper.  It's not-so-smart behavior for a smart woman of 53. 
It's just like when I stray from my weight maintenance lifestyle.  I know that I should not eat that second piece of that wonderful raspberry cream cake but I do it and then I follow it up with a few chips and some nacho dip.  Then I'm pissed that my dress is too tight.   Then, I vow to stop all this mindless eating and get back on the wagon. 
Do you see a pattern here?

It was a party and there was cake......

The DOCTOR is in......

This past weekend, we quietly, without tons of fanfare (but with lots of love and fun), celebrated a true milestone in our family's life.....our humble and funny and extremely talented son fulfilled a life long dream....he can now be called Dr.  
Funny thing, even though he did all the hard work and at times the isolating and all-consuming work for all of these years, he did not see this accomplishment as anything more than just another day in his world.  The immense joy and pride of seeing our son be rewarded for the things that he thinks are ordinary yet we know are extraordinary is a special thing.   The fact that he cautioned us early on that this was not going to a big party or a scream-from-the-rooftops kind of event made us realize just the kind of man we raised.   He is not the kind of guy who needs or wants a huge fuss made over him.  He doesn't think a PhD is a big deal and he certainly doesn't think he is any better or smarter than any other person on this planet.  He sees himself as the same kid as he was last week, last year and 10 years before that.  Even if his mother sees him as the same kid with a PhD.
Yet, we needed to celebrate.....
Well, to be more precise-- Carmen and I needed to celebrate.  So, we celebrated parenthood.  Regardless of all of  our son's smarts and with everything he has accomplished, we wanted to pat ourselves on the back for raising two phenomenal kids. Don't get me wrong--we are as proud as can be of what our boy has done and we are excited that he has reached this goal and we can't wait to see what he does next and where he goes and how he impacts the world.  But, listen, it's not everyday your kid becomes a DOCTOR.  And, not everyone can be blessed with a son so humble and down-to-earth that he doesn't even know how special he really is.  Must have been his upbringing.
So.....we celebrated.....with our children.  

The Doctor's parents......

 

The truth hurts......

THE DRESS didn't fit.

Well, it fit..... I could get it on.
And, it zipped without too much wiggling. 

But, once it was on and zipped.....it cried out for SPANX!
Now, lest anyone thinks I am anti-SPANX......let me set the record straight.
I LOVE SPANX.
But, sweeties, this dress was a  dress that easily glided over my body just 10 months ago.
Not even my newly airbrushed bronzed body helped.  
So, there I was--faced with a conundrum---

Do I succumb to the higher power of SPANX and go on my way?

OR

Do I throw that damn dress on the floor and then fling myself on the bed in a drama-ridden hissy fit?

Well, after the hissy fit and a few head-bangings on the headboard.....
I chose another dress.

I have to confess that I'm not proud of my behavior.
I mean.....I had years of throwing myself on the bed in frustration over something not fitting.
I was sure those days were over.
And, just when I got a little too comfortable with never having to stress over wardrobe misfortunes again---it happened.  
Once again, I found myself laying in a heap on my bed spiraling into my fat girl behavior. 
It was not a good feeling. 
And, it set the tone for the rest of the day. 
All day long.
Finally, when I hit evening rush hour traffic and I had a bit of time to reflect on the punishment I handed myself  for the past 12 hours, I began to think a little more rationally.
First of all---the fact that I've gained a few pounds is no secret.
They were pounds that I deserved---late night cookie raids, a little too much mindless eating, too many chips, chocolate treats in the middle of the day and overdoing it on the band friendly foods.
However, the good news is that I have managed to knock off a few of those visiting pounds over the past few weeks by returning to my Lapband lifestyle.  Granted, I have not been 100% perfect but I never set out to be perfect nor do I believe---in my heart of hearts--that I want to be.  Perfection is not my style. 
Secondly, the fact that this weight has went directly to my weak-spot---my belly---should be no surprise to me.  My stomach has always been the depository for my weight.   I come by it very honestly--my dad and my paternal grandmother gave me that gift at birth.   Some people get their mother's thighs or their grandfather's bubble but.  I got the belly. 
And, thirdly---did I somehow forget that I'm 53?
From what I hear--midsection rolls and belly flab are the curse of my age. 
As I sat in traffic and pondered these realities--it occurred to me that even though throwing myself on my bed and banging my head on the headboard and beating myself up over a dress not fitting all day were definitely throw-back-fat-girl behaviors, I was not anywhere near the girl that I was a mere 5 years ago. 
First of all--- the dress did zip.  I just didn't like the way it looked.  And, I was able to go to my closet and pull out another dress that fit just fine.
5 years ago---I would have tried on another 10 dresses--with none of them fitting me. By not fitting me--I mean that the zipper would have NOT went up. I would have had to wrap myself in some black stretchy fashion disgrace in order to get out of the door. 
And, last but not least---today I have my Lapband.
 I know what it's like to feel empowered by it and to feel good about how I look and  I know what it feels like not to let food and diets rule my life. 
Five years ago, I didn't feel any of that.
Five years ago, 10 dresses didn't fit---and even if they did--I would not have been happy with how they looked!
Five years ago, I had over 100 pounds to lose.
Yes, five years ago, I was FIVE years younger.
But,  since I can't stop the clock from ticking, I might as well make the most of the ticking.

Let's face it---the truth of the matter is--the dress did fit.
My standards are just a little higher these days. 
I'm five years older and 100+ pounds lighter......I expect more. 

The truth is hurting less.  

Happy Friday!

It's ROAD TRIP TIME!  
PhDland......here I come!
We'll chat again on Monday!

I graduated......

from spray tans to airbrush tanning.......

Yes, I went from standing in a booth naked while a computer gives me directions on how to pose properly as a machine sprays me to standing in a tent-like thing in a thong and a tube top while an airbrush artist sprays me and tells me about her latest break-up....


Oh and speaking of graduating......I am the mother of a DOCTOR. 

I got the perfect tan and I'm heading to PhDland to celebrate.
A perfect tan is worth celebrating......8-)
Martinis all around!!!

Obesity and the City.......

The Mayor of New York City is taking on childhood obesity.
Good for him.
He's starting with sodas.
I guess everyone has to start somewhere.....

For an interesting look at the sides of the issue---check out this article..... 


No matter how you feel about Mayor Bloomberg's ban on big sodas, the fact that he is focusing national attention and instigating discussion on the issue of obesity are good things.   The fact that he actually considers it his job to deal with the issue of childhood obesity shows a whole different side to politics.  A good side. 

It's no secret that obesity is a true epidemic.  And, sadly, childhood obesity is more than an epidemic--it's an open gaping wound that needs healing. 
Besides the all-important health issues---there are the heartbreaking issues of self image, bullying, depression and isolation.  No child should have to suffer these life-altering tragedies. 
Thankfully, as a child, I did not have to deal with obesity.  I was spared the albatross of excess weight well into adulthood.  Sure, there were moments when I thought I was fat.
I was wrong.  
 Looking back--I was not fat until years beyond my childhood. 
I had many good years of normal weight.  I was one of the lucky ones. 
Sure, I knew childhood obesity. 
Childhood obesity has a name--FAT.  
I have memories of fat kids.  Fat kids at school.  Fat kids in my neighborhood. Fat kids in my family.  Fat kids at the pool.  Fat kids everywhere. 
In the 60's and 70's--that's just what they were--FAT KIDS.  
There was the jolly fat kid.  The funny fat  kid.  The fat bully kid.  The fat quiet kid. The fat bookworm kid.   The fat ugly kid. The fat clumsy kid.  The fat stupid kid.  The sloppy fat kid. The weird fat kid.  The fat fat kid.  
Today, as I type these words, I cringe in shame. 
Being a kid is hard enough.  
My lucky not-fat childhood  didn't teach me that being a fat kid was super hard. 
I'm guessing that many kids of this generation don't get it either.
Thankfully, someone of influence is getting it.
The Mayor of New York is tackling those things that he has the power to tackle.
And, he is starting small.  
He's looking to take a Big Gulp out of one of the things that is known to contribute to obesity--oversized sugary sodas.  
Sure, it's raising lots of debate.
As to be expected.  
Everyone is entitled to their opinions.
People have to guard their businesses and their rights and their desires. 
Everyone has a different stance on how far government should be involved in our lives.
And, everyone has a completely different view on what obesity is and how to deal with it---is it a medical issue or an environmental issue?
Regardless of which it is--we all know that if you consistently eat or drink far too many calories and overdo it on fats and sugars---your weight and your health will be effected. 
Sugars and fats impact us---whether we inherited the obesity gene or we have a medical condition that causes obesity or we were raised in an environment that triggered our obesity. 
I, for one, know that by just eliminating big drinks won't stop childhood obesity.  
There's more to blame  that just those BIG DRINKS! 
I have long held to the belief that if fast foods were significantly more expensive (no more $1 burger deals!) and harder to get (DRIVE THRUS!) and healthy foods were very inexpensive to buy and very easy and convenient to access, it would have an impact on lowering the obesity rate.
These are the easy things, I recognize that. 
I realize that poor eating habits and overeating in childhood can be traced back to many, many factors that legislation may never be able to tackle.  I certainly understand that.  
But, I think we need to give Mayor Bloomberg some credit and a round of applause for taking the time and putting himself out there on an issue that seems a bit petty yet explosive! 
Sure, I'd rather have government and leaders spend more time dealing with crime and other atrocities such as drug addiction and sexual abuse than on engaging in hours and hours of law writing and rhetoric on oversized drinks.    
Even so---the fact that people are sitting up and taking notice is possibly bringing this country one eensy beensy step closer to really dealing with and possibly curing obesity.

New Yorkers:  if you are really that thirsty, drink water.   
(yes, I know, I sound like your mother......)

Just in case......

No, I'm not MIA.  

Not this time.

But, just in case.....I am giving you  my permission. 

You heard it here.  

Teaching an old dog some new tricks.......

At the age of 53 and after 30+ years on the job, I'm not too thrilled when the word TRAINING appears in my email.
Mandatory training I dislike the most.
You see, at this point of my life and my career, I consider myself trained quite enough, thank you.  
There are even times when I am pretty certain I am untrainable.   There might even be documented evidence of that.
Evidently, there are times when the powers-to-be say that I just gotta get trained......no matter what the situation is--whether I'm overtrained or untrainable or just plain not willing to be trained anymore.  
In this most recent case, I was told that if I ever want to figure out how to use our newly adopted online calendar (gee, what was wrong with the old calendar?)in order to do what I do, I gotta get my ass to training. Exchange Calendar training to be exact. 
Calendars really aren't all that exciting to me--to be honest.  Usually they are just filled with meetings, meetings and more meetings.  At least in my work life. 
I suppose there some good things about calendars---like vacation days and time out for pedicures and happy hours.
Even so....I heemed and haaed and girated and stomped my feet and made a few whines and whimpers and did my best to avoid it all.  And, I was doing pretty good....so far. 
Several weeks ago, when the mandatory training email came out, I didn't bother to open it. Hey, I'm a busy girl....I don't have time to read emails about things I don't want to do. 
I figured I'd just duck the training and somehow figure it out on my own.  Baptism by fire, I decided. Fly by the seat of my pants was going to be my method of doing what I needed to do.  And, if things got really bad  and I didn't know what the hell I was doing, I'd just start yelling across the hall to my coworkers and they would come and save me. 
Yeah, well.....my plan wasn't going to work.
I got another email.....of the or else variety. 
As much as  I tried to escape the inevitable, I was found out.  They knew the only way to get me to go was to either threaten me with bodily harm or worse. 
I was very concerned that the worse meant that they might take away the heater in my office that keeps my sandaled and well pedicured toes cozy.  A girl has gotta wear sandals in the summer....even if her office is 10 below zero.  
So, I opened the original email. 
Clearly, the powers-to-be don't know me too well.
All they had to tell me was that my friend Chris from Banded in the Burgh was going to do the training and they would have had me at HELLO. 
Like I said the other day---Lapbanders--they are are everywhere.
I'm going to training today.  Happily. 

Train me, Chris. 
 It's June.....I need to schedule a pedicure very soon. 

Sanity is really just one sip away.......

if only I could take that sip.  

Surely, it's 5 pm somewhere......

Most Thursdays, there's a martini date night waiting for me at the end of my day.  

We go to our little place, share a few appetizers, catch up on our lives, sip our martinis and melt into the booth.  There's no fanfare---just the two of us and our martinis.  Somehow Thursday nights have been what gets us through and gives us a place to land when the world feels like it's spinning.  It's also a great reminder that yes, we are married.  Because, if truth be told--our weeks don't include much about being married.  Our daily worlds are about our jobs, our many commitments and our crazy schedules. 

So, no matter what is going on or what I have to face--I figure I can get through it because I will be able to sit down with the guy who I share this crazy life with and sip away the remains of the day every Thursday.  

But, with all the extra goings on here in Judiland, we have been on a little hiatus from our Thursday night ritual for the past two weeks.  And, it looks like this Thursday might not happen either.  This sad reality hit me like a ton of bricks this morning as I hobbled out of bed. 

 I could really use a dose of marriage with a gin martini chaser.....

"Lapbanders--they are EVERYWHERE!!!!"

It's no secret that I've been hanging out at the local hospital more than usual now that my mother-in-law has been ensconced in their cardiac care unit.  Hospitals are not a place where anyone wants to hang out.  However, when these things happen, there's no avoiding the long hours of doing nothing while the world around you goes at a frenetic pace---it's the one place on earth where one can feel totally helpless (unless, of course, you are one of the wonderful nurses, doctors and other caretakers who are tending to the patients).  Every once in awhile--for those of us just sitting there--- it's good to get out of the sterile environment, get some fresh air and just recharge your spirit a bit.   So, we've been doing just that.
This past weekend, when it was my turn to get out into the sunshine, I decided to wander down to a little courtyard, park-like area that was situated outside of the cardiac care unit. ( If truth be told--I was kinda looking for a place to sneak a smoke but as it turned out, since I don't smoke regularly, I didn't have any with me so I just had to sit on a bench....).  The little courtyard was bustling with like-minded hospital visitors and workers just enjoying a respite from hours of hospitalizing.   I sat there in a dazed stupor------not thinking about anything in particular--just resting my thoughts a bit, I suppose.  All of a sudden, a man dressed in full golf attire approached me, carrying a big bag of groceries.  "How do I get into the hospital?"  he asked me.   The funny thing about the fact that he was there and asking how to get in--with groceries in hand--was that it was impossible to get to this little area without accessing it from an inside hospital door. So, clearly he had to have been in the hospital already!  Add that to the fact that the entire area around the hospital was under renovation so to get to the hospital itself, you had to park quite a distance and a shuttle would bring you to the main reception area--where they would have directed the man to where he needed to go.    And, even more interesting was the fact that he approached ME---considering there were several folks in the immediate area wearing official hospital clothing.  So, clearly, this man was there by some wild act of happenstance.  However, at the time, I didn't really think of all of those things. 
"Well, you can go into that door there but it depends on where you want to go,"  I told him, pointing to the door coming into the courtyard.  Considering this hospital is a maze of hallways, wings and units and centers, it was almost impossible to tell him where he should go.  So, I recommended that he go to the main reception area--which was quite a distance away. 
"No, I can't carry these groceries that far!" he laughed.   It was so hot and humid, I could definitely understand what he was saying.
"Where do you have to go?"  I asked him.
"My friend just had surgery and his family has been here for 14 hours and they called me for water and food,"  he explained.
I found it all kind of odd since the hospital had several food places as well as water!   Why did he need to bring food and water to them?
"Do you know what kind of surgery it is?"  I asked, hoping to point him towards the wing of the hospital where the surgery might be.
Just then, he sat next to me and started talking....
"They are repairing something that he had put on his stomach to help him lose weight.  He got it put on last year and he has already lost 100 pounds!   Now, they said it busted!" he explained to me.
"They rushed him in here last night with what they thought was something else but it turned out to be this.  He worked so hard to get that weight off and did so good!" he continued.  "I just hope he is okay.  He's a great guy!"
"Maybe his family is down in the Emergency Room area," I told him, explaining that he was much closer to that area than the main reception area.   "I'm going that way, you can follow me," I told him.
And, so we started off on our journey.   Along the way, I couldn't help myself but to tell this man that I too had Lapband surgery.  And, I found myself asking all kinds of questions about what could have possibly happened to his friend.  And, of course, I had to share some of the stories from Lapbanders who had issues with their bands too and who had happy endings.  And, I assured him his friend would be okay.  No, I promised him that his friend would be okay.  I have no idea why I even went as far as to promise him but I think hospitals do that to a person---we are always saying things like "it will be okay..."    I don't know about you but I always feel the need to be hopeful and encouraging in the face of not-so-great things...especially at hospitals..... 
About 15 minutes into our walk, we ran into his friend's wife in a hallway.    And, what were his first words to his friend's wife?---"Hey, she lost over 100 pounds with that surgery too!  Look at her! You would never know it!  She said he will be fine!" 
I could feel my face turn red......
I introduced myself to the woman and asked how her husband was.
She seemed rather confused.  I figured she was frazzled.
"Lapbanders!  THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!"  she blurted out!
She caught me by surprise.
"It's like a cult!"  she continued.
I didn't know how to respond.
"Do you always go to the hospital when Lapbanders are in the hospital?"  she asked me.
OOOH.....I was beginning to get it.  She had no idea that her husband's friend just happened to run into me.  She thought I was some kind of  on-call Lapband 911 support type person. 
"No, no.  I was just showing him the way to the Emergency Room!"  I explained.
It was starting to feel kind of weird and the story itself was so convoluted and odd that I was beginning to think it was a little bizarre myself.   So, I politely gave them my best wishes and then excused myself...saying that I had to get back to the Cardiac Care Unit.
As I was walking away, the friend  was explaining to the Lapbander's wife how we met and why I was there.   It really is a freaky story.....do, do, do, do.....
Again, I heard her exclaim...."Lapbanders--THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!"  

Yes, I guess we are. 

A day to remember........

all of  the people and the places that make our land the land of the free and the brave.....from sea to shining sea....

Hopefully, your Memorial Day weekend has been filled with fun and family and all those things that make a weekend like this special.
Here in Judiland, things are a bit topsy-turvy.  Which explains why I am been absent from blogland.
Our almost  PhD was home for a few days before he headed to the Finger Lakes to meet up with some frat brothers at a winery for a friend's wedding weekend.   And, of course, our sorority girl has been home and we've been busy getting things situated for her summer internship and summer classes.  And, of course, with both kids home--the cooking and cleaning and people coming and going was non stop.  Then, I had a conference thrown into the mix....which made for a few very interesting and exhausting days.  And, on top of that-- -as I may have mentioned, Carmen's mother suddenly took ill a little over a week ago.  She was hospitalized and has a series of procedures and surgery.  Thankfully, we live about 3 minutes down the road from the hospital where she is being cared for--making it a bit easier to run back and forth at all hours.
Today, we are trying our best to regroup and do all those things that we have neglected over the past 2 weeks.  Carmen escaped at some ungodly hour--he is holed up at an undisclosed location trying to catch up with work before he heads to the hospital.   I have plans to finally get some of my flowers purchased and in the ground before joining my sisters for our annual Memorial Day gathering.  This year, our plans are to float in my sister's pool. 
Right now, I can't imagine anything better than floating.....


Happy Memorial Day friends!

My BAND WAGON tour continues......

Next stop?

I'm not one who needs or even wants life is to be tied up in a perfect package.
As a matter of fact, I kind of like the unexpected twists and turns....I call them surprises. 
So, I guess one could say I am leading the life I like.....because, damn, there are lots of surprises.   
But, there are times when surprises sure can come at the most inconvenient times.
Take for instance the fact that I am heading to a conference for a few days right here in good old Pittsburgh PA.
That's not the surprise.  
Because its being hosted here in Pittsburgh,  I've got a slate full of things that I have to do.
That's not the surprise either.
The surprise is that quite some time ago when the conference planners were looking for folks to set up nights-on-the-town for conference goers---I must have lost my mind and volunteered.   
I guess I thought it would be fun to take a group of folks to great places for dinners and to show them the sites of Pittsburgh and entertain them!
Now, I'm knee deep in pulling together reservations and plans and schedules and transportation and maps and....well, you get the picture.  
Typically, I am not this unready for entertaining. 
Typically, I am not this overwhelmed by the thought of showing off my city and what it has to offer to a bunch of out-of-towners. 
But, this time, I am.
First and foremost---because I somehow forgot about my volunteerism. 
And, secondly---because I have so much going on that I am not sure if I'm forgetting something....something really big.....that I need to do. 
And, thirdly--because this conference is in my hometown---my at-home responsibilities do not go away. 
And, lastly.....I'm already exhausted and teetering on my BAND WAGON tour.

Just another detour.......
SURPRISE. SURPRISE. SURPRISE.  

Does this WAGON make my butt look big?

There's nothing quite like trying to hold steady on the band wagon while hitting a little rough road.
At the moment, my little rough road is my self image and how I am feeling about how I look these days.
As much as I love, love, love my blog, sometimes I find myself comparing pictures.
Usually, when I look at my "BEFORE LABPBAND" pictures, I am ever so thankful for the way I look today. 
However, since I have about 3 years of "AT GOAL" pictures on my blog, it's easy to spend a crazy amount of time in comparing how I looked then to how I look now. 
Was I thinner then?
How much did I weigh when I wore that outfit?
I think I looked better before!
OMG, I can't believe how much I aged!
I think that hair color looks much better!
I need to go back to that hairstyle!

I don't know about you but I find when I am exceptionally tired and overly stressed and when I haven't had the time or energy to deal with the clothes laying in heaps in my bedroom and the shoes tossed about, I  get overwhelmed with trying to get ready to get out the door each day.  When that happens, I find that I am not as happy about the way I look.  The easy thing to do would be to just slow down and get things organized.   Yes, that would be the easy thing.....
I only have one question though---what should I give up in order to get things more organized? 

 

Table Talk......

Judiland has been brimming with activity this weekend---with both kids home and lots of yard work needing done and various schedules  and commitments to deal with, my much loved family Sunday dinner felt like an albatross around my neck all day yesterday.  Add to that the fact that life was rocked a bit when Carmen's mom had to be hospitalized and the fact that we had plans to host a little gathering at our house on Saturday night, I was in full panic mode.
Never a fun thing.....
Typically, any time we host any type of gathering at our home, I am very intentional about everything once I decide how I want the event to feel.  Sometimes I am inspired by the event itself,  other times I focus on a type of food or ingredient and other times, I just get this idea and run with it.  Whether it's just a small dinner for four or a bustling party for 50, I can't help but start with a vision and then building everything from there.   Sometimes the menu is the star, other times it's the wine or the spirit that is highlighted and there are times when I am simply moved by wanting to feature a particular set of dishes or serving pieces.  I've been known to throw a party just because I happened upon a supply of handmade invitations in a bargain bin.   Whatever the case, even though the inspiration can just happen and  there's a willy-nilly type of organization to the entire process, there's always a plan. 
Sunday dinners are a bit different---I treasure the laziness of the time in the kitchen, hearing the sounds of my family in the background, listening to their conversations and soaking in their laughter.  I look forward to chatting with them as I chop and toss and stir and take pride when they show an interest in what's going on in the kitchen.  I find a great joy in filling the house with comforting and enticing smells and in serving foods that everyone loves.  As I cook, the anticipation of our meal together is what calms me and relaxes me and reminds me how blessed we are.  Looking forward to the laughter and smiles that comes with the four of us spending time around the table is even more important than the meal I serve.  As much as I love the art of entertaining for groups of any size, family time at the table is what means the most to me. 

 Family dinners for the four of us are so very rare these days.  So, when the opportunity presents itself, I want to make it special and memorable.   Although I realize that it's not all about the food---I can't help but want to make a meal that everyone looks forward to and enjoys. But, with the way the weekend was shaping up, my typical love of  preparing Sunday dinner was lost to a frenzy of everything that was going on and everything that had to happen in a short 24 hours.

Thankfully, our almost-PhD has no problem devising a menu and taking command of the cooking to make dinner happen.  When he realized my frenzied state and what was going on around me, he took Sunday dinner into his own hands.  It was a wonderful feeling to know that Sunday dinner meant that much to him.    I was grateful for the help but even more excited to see what his menu would look like.  Although some of his recipes and techniques are very close to my own, he always puts a different spin on things--which is a nice and welcome change.  So, when he blew into town late yesterday, he put together his plan and then we took a quick shopping trip--where he took total charge of Sunday dinner while I loaded the cart with what I needed for our informal gathering last night.   It was a nice respite from the dizzying pace of the day. 

At the moment, there's a lull in the action.  The house is quiet and all seems well.  Since I can't guarantee that will be the case the rest of the day, I wanted to share a wonderful recipe from last night that I think everyone will want to add to their summer entertaining menus. I got lots of ooohs and aahs and there was not a speck of it left over.....

Summer Sausage On Baguettes 

2 long sticks of French Baguettes---sliced in 1 inch slices (on diagonal), toasted lightly in oven
2 pounds bulk Italian sweet sausage--cooked, drained, cooled and crumbled well
1 bag of frozen pineapple--thawed and diced very small
1 large large red onion--diced well and sauteed in a bit of olive oil, cooled
1 cup of sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Combine cooled sausage, thawed pineapple, cooled onion and sour cream--mix very well.  Add salt and pepper if desired.
Serve chilled with crunchy Baguettes circling it. 

I served this wonderful appetizer with a white wine that I am trying out for the summer--- Gazela Vinho Verde.   It was an amazing combination.   The Gazela might be my go-to wine for summer entertaining.  It's very light and quenching--making it the perfect accompaniment for the recipe above.  Plus, it's extremely affordable--it's easy to buy a case without breaking the bank!
 I can't wait to try it with other foods! 

Hope you Sunday is filled with wonderful moments......

STOP THE WAGON!!!!

I don't think I'll be doing the wagon tour today.
The ride is just a little too  bumpy for me right now..... 
Blame it all on my newly minted 60 year old dear friend Kate.
We just had to celebrate this milestone.
And, we had to do it with the same ghusto as we celebrated her 50th......and her 40th.
We sorta forgot about the fact that it's just a few years later. 
The good news is that we lost a lot of our inhibitions.
The not-so-good news is that we aren't as young as we used to be.
But we sure as hell know how to have a good time....that's something that's never changed. 
So, it's all good.
Except for right now.....

Excuse me while I GOOGLE "how to take care of my father after a night of  a little too much wine...."

Next stop......

PROTEINVILLE.......

 

 When my Lapband journey began and throughout at least the first two years, I followed the eat your protein first rule religiously. 
Never did I begin my meal with a salad or a veggie or mashed potatoes smothered in everything.
I was always amazed that after I ate my protein.....I wasn't hungry for the rest. 
Even on days when I was stressed or really felt like I needed to eat something wicked.....I forced myself to start with my protein.   Usually, it was salmon or crab or something from the sea.  But, there were times when it was just a few hunks of cheese.  And, there were other times when I just needed a hamburger (without the bun).  And, yes, there were other times when ricotta mixed with some marinara sauce was the only thing that would do.   When I was in a major hurry--cheese fit the bill.  When I was needing something wicked--a hamburger did the trick.   And, when I was stressed.....the comfort of marinara sauce and ricotta with an extra dusting of romano cheese was my go-to.   I never felt deprived.  In fact, I felt victorious.  Even eating out wasn't a chore---I could find a nice protein source anywhere (and I didn't have to cook it!!).
The best thing about the deliberate protein eating is that it truly did stop me from picking throughout the day or night.  I'm not sure if it stopped me because I was satisfied or if it stopped me because I was enthused by my rule following--which propelled me into "being good".  Whatever it was--by insuring that I always ate my protein first, my journey was successful. 
Sure, I wasn't angelic all of the time.  Sometimes a girl does have to go astray to stay true to her own self.  But, even with those little moments of putting way too much mayonaisse in my tuna salad, the scale was moving downward, I was feeling satisfied and healthy and I was never discouraged by my choice.   All good things....
So, what changed?  Why have I been battling a few pounds here and there every so often?
Those are the questions I  ask myself each time I find the needle on the scale moving into my forbidden territory.  
And, each time---I know the answer.
I haven't been working with my band.  
In fact, I've been working against it.
The funny thing about these extra pounds that I have been dealing with every so often is that they never send me into a major failure mode.
Which is a good thing.
Sometimes when we feel like a failure, we give up.  Then, we spiral out of control and before we know it---we are really letting things get out of hand.  As we all know...that's so easy to do.....Lapband or not.
So, what's my method to not succumbing to this madness?
I play a numbers game!
You see, since I set out on this journey to lose 100 pounds and managed to lose 115--I always saw those extra 15 pounds differently than the first 100.
In my head, it was always about 100 pounds!  
Sometimes.....like now....I see those extra 15 pounds as my cushion weight--- I figure that as long as I don't gain one ounce over 15 pounds--I'm good.  Other times...when I am happily wearing my Size 8 skinny jeans--I consider those 15 pounds a bonus--a reward for my hard work!  
Trust me, I don't like it when I gain any weight at all.
But, it's all a part of the journey.
I'm just back to riding the riding the WAGON on this leg of my journey.

Hello Proteinville!  I'm back......

Back on the (Lap) Band Wagon......

Get ready for Judi's Wagon Tour!

First stop----Watertown!

When I first started my Lapband journey,  I could always be seen carrying around my water bottle.  I never left home without it.  To get in some extra protein--I always mixed Special K protein water powder (iced tea was my favorite flavor). 
 As time  went on, my water bottle became an accessory.  So, I took great pleasure is matching it to my outfits.....I got lots of great covers in lots of fun colors.   It became part of the fun of drinking water.  Hey, a girl has gotta do what a girl has gotta do....
In the past two years or so, my water bottle has been hiding at the bottom of my kitchen cabinet and it's fancy covers are strewn about the cupboards.    Just like pieces of jewelry that have been replaced by cuter, more up-to-date pieces.  
Now, I know what you are thinking......it's time Judi resurrect that old water bottle.
But, that's not how I roll.
My Rubbermaid water bottle and my cute bottle covers are so yesterday.....
It's time for some water bottle shopping.
And, I've got the perfect plan.
I am going Tervis Tumbler shopping.
These things are the best.
Especially for a girl who can't use a straw.
I already have a sassy red, yellow, orange and green polka dot one for my morning protein drink.
I fill it up very early in the morning with my concoction of Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai Soy Protein and Tzao Chai Latte Liquid over a bunch of ice.  And, walla....there is still ice in it well into the afternoon.  
My Tervis love is so great that I've bought them for Carmen, Vince and Toni---all of them with designs befitting their interests.
And, they have all these different lids that you can add....making them even more fashionable!
PLUS.....you can also get a martini shaker lid so you can turn your Tervis Tumbler into a martini shaker!!!   Just another reason to love them.... 

If I am going to go on a WAGON TOUR......I'm gonna do it style.
Watertown, here I come!!!







 

Walk of Shame......

Yes, I've been on a bender.  
One that has included all night night laundry parties, lots of late, late trashy TV and overdosing on Trader Joe's Coconut cookies.
Not to mention all the other things that go into making Judiland......Judiland.  
Last we spoke, I was in the home stretch of empty nesting....getting my world ready to be rocked once again by the return of my sorority girl.
Fast forward to NOW......
My empty nesting is over!!
We are all getting adjusted.....

Here's Patty and I loading up the cars in Collegeland.....to bring our girls home.  My body never felt so sore.....

After I semi recovered from all of that.....it was time for a tidal wave of life....a little welcome home party....a little cooking, a little wine on the porch and a few of her favorite bites......

 
 Then, it was on to a Mothers' Day filled with more cooking and entertaining.....

And, wedged in between the moving and the unpacking and the laundry and the coconut cookies and the TV watching and the homecoming and the cooking and the cleaning and the entertaining and the partying....there was a family wedding.  
Here I am.....committing the cardinal sin of wearing the same dress as 2 other wedding goers!  Thankfully, we all considered it a fun coincidence and had a great time with it all.  Everyone asked us if we planned it!  Can you imagine?  Three women planning to wear the same dress to a wedding. 
For the record....I had this dress first.  (if you recall....I wore it to a wedding last July)

Now that I've owned up to everything that has been going on here in Judiland, I want to tell you something. 
Possibly the real reason why I've been hiding from my blog.....in addition to all this other stuff..
I gained 12 pounds.
But, I refuse to walk in shame.
Now that I have confessed this fact to you---I am now free to do what needs done.
I can no longer hide.
It's time to conquer the roadblocks between me and  my Lapband! 
It's time I let my Lapband do it's job!
ONWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!

On with the show.....

It's been a bit of a busy few days in Judiland.
Sewing all of my empty nester oats is hard work.
Which explains why I've been AWOL these past few days.
But, it wasn't all fun and games, I can assure you.
My to-do list got a little out of hand......rendering me out of commission.
Yeah, I steam cleaned all of my hardwood floors and did a major cleaning of my kitchen and of all the bathrooms.  
Don't ask me what possessed me to do any of that.
All I can tell you is that it wasn't a bit of fun....
Thankfully, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the newspaper last night as I rested my weary bones from that awful drudgery.
That's when I came upon a very inspiration story.....about a girl right here in Pittsburgh PA who lost 120 pounds and reached her dream to run the Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday.
And, she is a blogger.  
A blogger who stole my heart.....in as little as 24 hours!!! 
Please visit Adrian's blog....

Little Adrian has no idea I'm even posting the link to her blog so if you do give her a little love before I get a chance to stop by and do it myself........let her know I'm coming soon!

My last childless weekend.......

 Soon it will be time to stash the smokes, wear respectable clothing and hide the good gin.
Gotta get back to my mothering ways......in ONE WEEK!!!!
 

There's nothing like the first time.....

you bite into something that tastes amazing!

Whatever it is.....that first bite is the best bite!
The experience of anticipation and taste is what we enjoy.
There is nothing quite as wonderful as tasting something luscious.
Sinking your teeth into something that you are craving or that you love is a beautiful thing.
Especially for those of us who love food.  
So, why then do we continue to eat  until we lose that wonderful feeling only to be replaced by a feeling of misery and discomfort?
 Why can't we take just one bite or maybe two or  maybe even three?  Why do we continue to eat it and even go crawling back for more when we have fed our desire for the taste and we have enjoyed it's beauty? 
All of that brings us back to that nagging question---why do we eat?
Of course, we eat to survive...that's a given.
But, survival doesn't take 30 little chocolate eggs, a peppermint patty and 2 cookies...after devouring a reasonable piece of a Delmonico steak, a 1/4 cup of wine braised mushrooms and half a baked potato with sour cream and chives and a deliciously perfect Pinot Noir.  
Yes, I'm talking about me.  
The lovely dinner was more than enough.
In fact, I was more than satisfied with the wonderful meal that we enjoyed on our deck at sunset.
Carmen had grilled the steaks to perfection, the yummy mushroom recipe is one of my favorites and I love the simplicity of baked potatoes with sour cream and chives. 
And, the Pinot Noir was a wonderful accompaniment to it all.
Sure, a bit of chocolate is a lovely way to close out a meal like that.
In fact, I highly recommend having chocolate following a meal that includes a steak.
Chocolate can be a perfect balance to such a hearty meat.
I can assure you that the first bite of the chocolate was indeed heavenly.
By the end of the night, as I secretly popped those little eggs into my mouth as I watched some of  my favorite trash TV, the wonderful meal was a distant memory....my focus became how lousy I felt. 
I threw away the joy of a great meal and was left feeling nauseated and miserable.
All because I could not stop at one bite. 
I could not stop after THE BEST BITE!

Too much of a good thing is not always a good thing.....
Excuse while I go and write that on the chalkboard 600 times. 

HELLO MERRY MERRY MONTH OF MAY!

Last night, in an effort to make myself believe that I am a very organized person, I decided to haul out my calendar and begin plugging in things for the month that either I need to do or I have to take care of or that I am obligated to attend or I am responsible for and birthdays I need to remember and parties and weddings and showers and other happenings in Judiland........well, you get the picture....

I feel like I am looking down the barrel of a gun.

I should have never, ever attempted this being organized shit.
All it did was stress me out. 
I am much better being surprised by life......

May Day! May Day!

The COOKIE MONSTER is after me!!!

Yesterday, I hosted a meeting that had the possibility of being a little bit painful or perhaps a tad bid uncomfortable. 
In preparation for those possibilities, I decided it was best to feed the participants something sweet.....like cookies!  Everyone loves cookies!
I figured that if someone got a little grumpy, I'd shove cookies in front of them.
And, if someone got a little out of hand with me, I'd remind them that I brought cookies.  
It sounded like a swell idea.  Especially for a Monday morning meeting that might be a little tenuous. 
Ingenious! Right?
With my plan firmly in place, I swung by Trader Joe's on my way to work to stock up on my favorite Trader Joe's cookies--Oatmeal Cranberry Dunkers, Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Minis and Vanilla  Meringues.
Yummy! Yummy! And, more yummy!!!
Give them the yummiest cookies and insure a good meeting! 
What a perfect plan.  Right?
As it turned out---I was wrong on all counts.
Everyone was perfectly lovely and the meeting went off without a hitch.
And, no one was hungry for cookies.
Everyone was smiley and agreeable......even without eating cookies. 
Imagine that?
 I was left with three mostly full containers of my favorite cookies. 
So, I dragged them back to my office, set them on my conference table and went about with my work.
But, you see....my computer got a little crazy and started doing bizarro things.
I couldn't get to my files.  My cursor was going nuts.  And, our tech person was nowhere in sight.
And, I had work to do.
At the height of my frustration, those cute little Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Minis started to be very noisy.  Calling me.  Telling me that if I ate them, things would be better. 
Who am I to fight with cookies?
20-some Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Minis and 2 Vanilla Meringues later, my computer issues remained and I was feeling not-so-good. 
Not so good at all.

Fast forward to this morning......my group is doing a presentation at a staff meeting.
So, I figure.....I can unload those cookies on my unsuspecting office mates. 
My office mates love cookies. 
They don't have to know they are saving me from the evil grip of the cookie monster that's chasing me.  Right?
And, if our presentation is boring.....the cookies will help. Right?
But, what if I'm wrong again?
What if our presentation is so damn thrilling that they are so mesmerized by it that they don't even realize the cookies are there?
It's a possibility.  Right?
What if they are all warding off cookies since bathing suit season is almost upon us?
You just never know.  Right?
Or, how about if they figure out my manipulative plan that is disguised as Judi being nice feeding us cookies?
It could very well happen.  Right?
Will I spend another day fighting the evil Cookie Monster?
I should just go back to bed. 
The Cookie Monster won't find me there. 
Right?
 

 Happy May!
The Cookie Monster must die.
Right?