A Red Letter Week

Wednesday August 20, 2008 Phase Two Day 121:
A slice of cantaloupe and I was out the door to walk with Rinez. After walking I went straight out to the backyard. Yard work time! I love it. I pruned everything – the yard looks great. I finally came in at 10:00 and had some yummy span & eggs. After the office, I had some Oriental salad, crackers and fruit for lunch. Three boy scouts came over to meet with me on two merit badges. When they left Sonnet & I went to Marie Challendars for dinner. She had salmon but I had a Cabo San Lucas salad. We rented a movie and after our walk watched it. It was an LDS one called Passage to Zarahemla. Pretty good for Blockbuster.

Thursday August 21, 2008 Phase Two Day 122:
Popped right up when the alarm went off at 5:00. Packed my swim bag, enjoyed a slice of cantaloupe and zoomed to the gym for step class. Following class I went across town to the 24 Hour Fitness on Rosedale to swim. Sure with they had a pool up here. Anyway, had a good swim, 20 minutes again. Home again, I ate a cup of mixed berries and granola bar for breakfast. That means I cannot have any crackers for lunch. Because Tuesday is the weigh in day it will also be the day I start my week food wise. I mean, I said I would only have crackers four times a week and never a granola bar on the same day as crackers. So far I have had crackers twice and granola today.

For today's lunch there is Oriental salad and berries. I’ll meet Sonnet at the gym for weight lift class then have a light dinner. I feel like protein but I do not want heavy meat. Maybe tuna lettuce wraps. We will see……..So, tuna wraps it was and a peach yogurt.

Friday August 22, 2008 Phase Two Day 123:
It is my last day alone home. Stephen & The guys should be home tomorrow – Yea! Even though I have loved every minute of this week’s solitude, it will be nice to have Stephen back home. This morning I started with a slice of cantaloupe as usual then walking with Rinez. Had my breakfast of cottage cheese and tomatoes out by the pond this morning. Lovely and cool. I will be singing at a funeral at 10:00, but think there is enough time to do some sewing. Perhaps I’ll repair the snags in the carpet.

Think I’ll have crackers with turkey & cheese on them for lunch. Need to find a fruit of some kind to go with it. Sonnet & I have plans this evening. I will come to check out her classroom after school then we will go see a movie. Probably dinner too but I am pretty broke so maybe not. I think I will suggest we take our walking clothes and walk out at Riverlakes after the show. It will be nice to have a change in routs.

I had tuna and crackers with a nectarine for lunch and it was very nice to crunch those crackers. Sonnet & I met and ended up at Valley Plaza to shop and grab some veggies and chicken at Sorku Japan. So good! No walk because the movie let out after dark. Cheyenne stopped by late and we each had a peach yogurt.

Just got a surprise phone call from Stephen…he is coming home tonight! Yea! They should be home no too long after midnight. He said Sara is on her way here now so I’ll be staying up to greet them.

Saturday August 23, 2008 Phase Two Day 124:
Traveling to the Newport Beach temple to attend a sealing today. Had eggs & spam before leaving to get me going. I listened to a book on CD all the way and back. It was wonderful to be in the temple with the Perry’s. I have never attended the Newport Beach temple before today – beautiful. I had some almonds to snack on heading back but by then it was 2:00 and I was hungry. Wood Ranch is a restaurant right off the highway so I pulled off and had a delicious salad. I wanted a steak salad but the Cobb look yummy too. I decided to ask for the Cobb with Ranch dressing on the side and instead of chicken could they please make it steak. Yes! It always pays to request exactly what you want and not just settle for what they offer. I thought I’d like a hot fudge Sunday. Past experience has taught me that it is better to get the thing you want, than ignore it and end up eating several other things that do not satisfy the initial craving. A little further, I pulled into McDonalds and got one. Wow, I have not had ice cream in a week. It was very tasty. Not until this very moment when I wrote McDonalds did I realize I am boycotting McDonalds! How could I have forgotten that???!!! Ever since I found out they are a big financial supporter of the Gay movement I have not given them my business! What a goof. I had Sunday on the brain and when I saw the McD’s sign I just pulled in without thinking. Shoot! Oh well, as Andy Griffith says, “What’s done is done”.

By the time I got home it was time to zip to the ward social. They were serving ham rolls and all kinds of salad. I had only eaten my salad and Sunday a couple hours earlier and was not very hungry. The dessert table looked heavenly – too heavenly. With a suday already inside me, I did not need or really want to have more sugar. To resist temptation, I visited with people and did not get in line. The line was extra long; which is good because that means there was a good turnout, but I was running out of people to chat with. So, I decided to go into the kitchen and start cleaning. Just straightening up and washing bowls, pots and pans. Besides a piece of ham (without the roll), there was really nothing I should eat. The kitchen kept my hands and mind busy. I came out and joined the group again when I heard voices meaning the games were beginning. Overall it worked. Nice social. We stopped by Mom’s on the way home.

Sunday August 24, 2008 Phase Two Day 125:
We went to bed relatively early so it felt like a nice sleep-in. I got right up and ate cantaloupe and cottage cheese then left for choir practice at the normal 8:45. I knew breakfast would have to last because after our block was over, I was going to stop in at another ward across town to hear a talk. After the talk I dropped by my Mom’s house. I finally made it home about 3:30. I was hungry.

Sorku Japan inspired me the other day, so I decided to try steamed veggies and chicken. Because stir-fry should be eaten hot right off the grill, I grabbed a nectarine to munch until Steph got home. Now that he is home I am giving it a shot – wish me luck……I am so proud of myself. The dinner was scrumptious! I am so happy it turned out so well. Stephen loved it too. I will surely be adding this to my menu.

Went to stake choir practice then home. Stephen was to give Cheyenne a back-to –school blessing tonight. Sonnet & Cheyenne came over, she had the blessing then we all went for a stroll. When we got back Cheyenne came in for boiled eggs and a smoothie. I only had a couple spoonfuls of smoothie. We talked for a while - she is such a doll I just love her.

Monday August 25, 2008 Phase Two Day 126:
This morning I got up and fixed Stephen breakfast before he went out the door. I had a slice of cantaloupe then was out the door myself to walk with friends. Yea – all of us but Taunie were there. It was nice to be together and listen to the chatter. I had cottage cheese with cantaloupe when I got home. Now it is off to work. I have packed some boiled eggs and will fix an egg salad mix to have with crackers at lunch. A nectarine will taste good with it.

Stephen & I had an errand after work then went to the gym to swim. Well, let me clarify, I was going to swim. He was going to sit in the hot tub. As it turned out he did hop in the pool and do a few laps before I was finished. I only did about half of my usual.

I took some ground turkey out to have in Taco salad tonight…..gross, absolutely gross. I don’t know if it was because of the turkey meat taste itself or if the meat had freezer burn, but something was not right. I threw mine out. What a shame. First, I fried the meat with chopped onion, taco seasoning and red sauce. It looked and smelled wonderful. In my handy-dandy chopper I put red bell pepper, green bell pepper, cilantro and tomato. The layers were beautiful, shredded lettuce on the bottom stacked with corn chips, the chopped veggies, meat, cheese and topping it all were avocado chunks. It looked so nice. Stephen even said, “This looks too pretty to eat”. Laughingly I said, “Looks can be deceiving”. Boy was I right. He tried drowning it in Ranch dressing but I couldn’t take it. I scooped off the meat but it just was not good. Only part way through I tossed it down the disposal. Stephen ate his then asked for three scoops of Rocky Road ice cream to cleanse his pallet. I made a peach smoothie.

Sonnet is coming by early to weigh in before work tomorrow. We shall see.

Tuesday August 26, 2008 Phase Two Day 127:
What a Great day! I have reached my goal of 145 pounds. Wahoo! It feels good. Here are my observations: I like the way I look in clothes but not without clothes. I accept that as I age, my skin no longer has the elasticity it once did. I can handle wrinkles as just an unpleasant fact however, what is with all the flab? I feel I have more flab than ever. Also, my tummy is poofy. It seems I cannot get it flat. I like my weight classes but perhaps I should spend some time on the machines to target thighs and tummy. Now for the bad news; I checked the BMI chart and to be in the healthy weight range for my age and size, I should be about 135 pounds. Wow. I have decided to set the new goal of 135 pounds by my birthday. Wish me luck.

OK, this morning I had cottage cheese and cantaloupe. After working on calling stuff, I went to swim laps at the gym. Good workout. Now I am off to work. What shall I take for lunch? Let’s see…..I think a salad from Zorba’s sounds good. After lunch I meet Sonnet for weight class. Wait – I am supposed to bring a salad to Dayna’s for the RS social tonight. Now what am I going to do? No problem, after work I will pick up stuff for a good (not turkey) taco salad.

So, I had a fun weight class with Sonnet and as planned ran home to make taco salad. It turned out very well. Off I dashed to Dayna’s for RS. It was a fun evening of eating and visiting. I had taco salad and one other lettuce salad. I did very well and was satisfied. Everyone brought salads so there were no desserts. Just a fruit salad or two that held no interest for me. Then it happened…..Heather heated garlic cheese bread. It smelled so wonderful. I had some. Susanne came late and brought a delicious looking strawberry, marshmallow, coolwhip concoction and I caved. I had a helping and found myself wondering how many laps I needed to swim to burn off all those marshmallows. We were about to go outside when Connie brought out the homemade ice cream. Katherine just happened to bring a jar of her home made chocolate syrup. What’s a body to do? I indulged myself with a cup of ice cream and syrup. Ambrosia! Several of us chatted at the pool for a while then it was back in the house where another group was talking about books. Before I sat down to listen, I cruised the ice cream container and much to my chagrin it was all gone. Too bad. Dayna saw my perusing. She must have had pity on me because she went to the freezer and extracted a five-gallon tub of sherbet. How handy was that! That Dayna’s always been such a thoughtful girl. I joined the reading review circle with cup of sherbet in hand.

Even with my splurging it was a wonderful day. I will get right back on the wagon tomorrow.
21 pounds down – good for me!