In southern, savory oats = grits
Several folks I know have been talking up the savory oats - adding vegetables, cheese, etc. Now, I'm not a big oats fan. I never ate them as a child. Steel cut oats are okay, and I can stomach regular oats from time to time, but they'll never be a favorite meal or anything.
But this thing of savory oats is kinda funny to me because southerners have been adding things like cheese, shrimp, tomaotes, red eye gravy - you name it, to grits for breakfast forever.
Things are okay - kind of a busy and stressful week. I'm hanging in there.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Stuff is moving along with our house purchase and getting my mom's ready to put up for sale. We had a wonderful visit in Georgia with my great aunt, but I really have to stop buying vintage lamps!
Change of subject but what I really wanted to tell you about. One of my all time favorite albums is "Ho'oluana" by the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau - mom and I were listening to it on the way home from Georgia this past weekend. It's one of those albums that makes you weep with the sheer beauty of some of the songs.
What I didn't realize for many years was that the (former) lead singer Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Bruddah Iz) released several solo albums after leaving the group. At the beginning of this year he was topping the European charts with his version of "Over the rainbow/What a Wonderful World", which has been used in many movies and tv shows and commericials. There is a very funny clip on his web site that shows several Belgian djs trying to pronounce his name which segues into a video of the song: https://www.izhawaii.com/belgium-radio-djs-make-attempt-at-saying-izs-name/#
It's a truly amazing song, but if I had to pick one favorite song from his solo career it would be "Hawai'i 78" from the album "Facing Future" - get over to grooveshark or youtube and listen to it sometime. It's not nearly as upbeat - it's beautiful, but it's really (IMO) a lament for the erosion of the Hawaiian culture and loss of country.
Anyway, I realize this isn't everyone's cup of musical tea, but his voice is just so amazing that I wanted to share it with you.
Change of subject but what I really wanted to tell you about. One of my all time favorite albums is "Ho'oluana" by the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau - mom and I were listening to it on the way home from Georgia this past weekend. It's one of those albums that makes you weep with the sheer beauty of some of the songs.
What I didn't realize for many years was that the (former) lead singer Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (Bruddah Iz) released several solo albums after leaving the group. At the beginning of this year he was topping the European charts with his version of "Over the rainbow/What a Wonderful World", which has been used in many movies and tv shows and commericials. There is a very funny clip on his web site that shows several Belgian djs trying to pronounce his name which segues into a video of the song: https://www.izhawaii.com/belgium-radio-djs-make-attempt-at-saying-izs-name/#
It's a truly amazing song, but if I had to pick one favorite song from his solo career it would be "Hawai'i 78" from the album "Facing Future" - get over to grooveshark or youtube and listen to it sometime. It's not nearly as upbeat - it's beautiful, but it's really (IMO) a lament for the erosion of the Hawaiian culture and loss of country.
Anyway, I realize this isn't everyone's cup of musical tea, but his voice is just so amazing that I wanted to share it with you.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 3 - random thoughts
I've been doing Allan's Phase 6 diet for 3 days now. I went to check his blog today and it looks like he may quit blogging. That makes me sad, but I understand that most people don't blog for more than a couple of years. Whatever he does, I will continue to do this on my own, although I will certainly miss the support of doing it as part of a group.
The purpose of the first part is to get you accustomed to smaller portions. If you've been eating too often and frequently too much when you eat, this is HARD. My stomach is singing Ave Maria and I am couting down the minutes until lunch time (22 to go). All I can say is that this sucks, but I've reached a point where I'm 50 pounds overweight, and that sucks more.
Lots of folks who blog about weight loss talk about how they've been overweight all (or most) of their lives. I wasn't. I was never overweight until I needed to lose the baby weight after my son was born, and I haven't been overweight all those years since. But the seeds were sown in my childhood I think.
For one, food was very much equated with love. I can remember my great grandmother weighing me every day when I went to visit. She was literally trying to "fatten me up". Given the hardships she endured, raising 3 children between the world wars in Germany, fear of lack of food remained very real for her her whole life. Feeding her family was the single most important thing she could do. And on my mom's side you have all these awesome southern cooks who grow food and are proud to prepare and serve it.
In my teen years food became a form of rebellion. I was a hearty eater and my dad and his wife used to criticize my portions, telling me I'd gain weight if I kept eating like that. I was maybe 12 or 13 and maybe weighed 100 pounds. I ate because it pissed them off.
In the Army food became even more of a comfort - it was one of the few pleasures you could enjoy in basic training or while out in the field for extended periods of time. You're cold, hot, wet, tired, dirty - living in a tent, doing physically difficult things. Food becomes a real "treat".
I've gotten overweight 3 times since the boy was born - all were a result of my using food as a comfort or to stuff down emotions. I've lost the weight twice - now it's time to do it again.
There's no point in beating myself up for re-gaining weight. I can't change the past. I can control my choices in the here and now while trying to modify the underlying causes of turning to food - looking for substitutes if not solutions.
I've been doing Allan's Phase 6 diet for 3 days now. I went to check his blog today and it looks like he may quit blogging. That makes me sad, but I understand that most people don't blog for more than a couple of years. Whatever he does, I will continue to do this on my own, although I will certainly miss the support of doing it as part of a group.
The purpose of the first part is to get you accustomed to smaller portions. If you've been eating too often and frequently too much when you eat, this is HARD. My stomach is singing Ave Maria and I am couting down the minutes until lunch time (22 to go). All I can say is that this sucks, but I've reached a point where I'm 50 pounds overweight, and that sucks more.
Lots of folks who blog about weight loss talk about how they've been overweight all (or most) of their lives. I wasn't. I was never overweight until I needed to lose the baby weight after my son was born, and I haven't been overweight all those years since. But the seeds were sown in my childhood I think.
For one, food was very much equated with love. I can remember my great grandmother weighing me every day when I went to visit. She was literally trying to "fatten me up". Given the hardships she endured, raising 3 children between the world wars in Germany, fear of lack of food remained very real for her her whole life. Feeding her family was the single most important thing she could do. And on my mom's side you have all these awesome southern cooks who grow food and are proud to prepare and serve it.
In my teen years food became a form of rebellion. I was a hearty eater and my dad and his wife used to criticize my portions, telling me I'd gain weight if I kept eating like that. I was maybe 12 or 13 and maybe weighed 100 pounds. I ate because it pissed them off.
In the Army food became even more of a comfort - it was one of the few pleasures you could enjoy in basic training or while out in the field for extended periods of time. You're cold, hot, wet, tired, dirty - living in a tent, doing physically difficult things. Food becomes a real "treat".
I've gotten overweight 3 times since the boy was born - all were a result of my using food as a comfort or to stuff down emotions. I've lost the weight twice - now it's time to do it again.
There's no point in beating myself up for re-gaining weight. I can't change the past. I can control my choices in the here and now while trying to modify the underlying causes of turning to food - looking for substitutes if not solutions.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Thoughts I've read today I want to hold on to:
"We don't help cocaine addicts by teaching them about the metabolism of serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine re-uptake inhibitors or the hormonal implications of cocaine use, yet we try and help people lose weight by teaching them about hormones, metabolic pathways and glucose chemistry." - Brad Pilon
'Here are some ridiculous questions someone asked me the other day when I told her that I had lost 50lbs in the first three months of my weightloss diet. She asked "Was that safe?" Are you kidding me? I told her, "Do you think weighing 250lbs was safe? Which do you think is worse?"' - Tracy Reifkind
"We don't help cocaine addicts by teaching them about the metabolism of serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine re-uptake inhibitors or the hormonal implications of cocaine use, yet we try and help people lose weight by teaching them about hormones, metabolic pathways and glucose chemistry." - Brad Pilon
'Here are some ridiculous questions someone asked me the other day when I told her that I had lost 50lbs in the first three months of my weightloss diet. She asked "Was that safe?" Are you kidding me? I told her, "Do you think weighing 250lbs was safe? Which do you think is worse?"' - Tracy Reifkind
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The 13th Warrior (okay, not really!)
I just thought of that because there are 13 people in Allan's challenge. The others have been doing it for 6 weeks and today is my Day 1, so it isn't really a comparison.
I stopped by the grocery last night on my way back to the hotel and picked up everything I needed. Days 1-3 are the same and are only liquids. I am hungry! But this part is 3 days. Heck, I was in basic training to 8 weeks, I can do anything for 3 days!
Right now, with so many things in my life beyond my control, it feels nice to take control of this one very important aspect of my life: my physical well being.
I just thought of that because there are 13 people in Allan's challenge. The others have been doing it for 6 weeks and today is my Day 1, so it isn't really a comparison.
I stopped by the grocery last night on my way back to the hotel and picked up everything I needed. Days 1-3 are the same and are only liquids. I am hungry! But this part is 3 days. Heck, I was in basic training to 8 weeks, I can do anything for 3 days!
Right now, with so many things in my life beyond my control, it feels nice to take control of this one very important aspect of my life: my physical well being.
Updates, I got em
I was down 0.4 pounds this morning.
The room above ours in the hotel has apparently been rented to a herd of nocturnal elephants. They woke us up the night before, and they were re-arranging furniture and banging on the floor for over an hour in the middle of the night last night. I'm so thankful we won't be moving to an apartment.
I was down 0.4 pounds this morning.
The room above ours in the hotel has apparently been rented to a herd of nocturnal elephants. They woke us up the night before, and they were re-arranging furniture and banging on the floor for over an hour in the middle of the night last night. I'm so thankful we won't be moving to an apartment.
Butch picked a fight with Jordan last night. Hub went and got the 2 little ones and brought them over to the hotel, but I don't know what we're going to do long term.
Monday, June 20, 2011
So, I got the plan from Allan. I'm not going to post my food since it's his "diet" - it's not my place to share it, if that makes sense.
Tough but doable. I'm going to start as soon as I hit the grocery, but I'll do day one tomorrow.
After lunch I met LB (lunch buddy) downstairs in the gym for stretching and yoga. Going back after work to either walk on the treadmill or the elliptical.
Tough but doable. I'm going to start as soon as I hit the grocery, but I'll do day one tomorrow.
After lunch I met LB (lunch buddy) downstairs in the gym for stretching and yoga. Going back after work to either walk on the treadmill or the elliptical.
Hope you had a nice weekend. Ours was good. I wanted to go see "X-Men" with hub last night, but I found myself just really tired. Unfortunately I didn't sleep great and woke up with a sinus headache. Took a Zyrtec and I'm feeling better.
Waiting to hear the particulars from Allan on Phase 6. Given all the craziness going on right now, having a set plan which requires no thinking is right up my alley!
Nop word yet on the appraisal - just some bs note from the loan processor about how long it takes. Well, it would've taken 1 week less if you had returned my phone calls is all I can say. grr.
Hub's knee continues to improve. The big dogs are feeling left out b/c some nights we take the little dogs to the hotel, but they can't go b/c the hotel doesn't allow pets over 50 pounds.
It's going to be hot as heck here this week. We are headed to Georgia this weekend to visit my great aunt. I've also booked us a cabin there over Thanksgiving.
Have a good day!
Waiting to hear the particulars from Allan on Phase 6. Given all the craziness going on right now, having a set plan which requires no thinking is right up my alley!
Nop word yet on the appraisal - just some bs note from the loan processor about how long it takes. Well, it would've taken 1 week less if you had returned my phone calls is all I can say. grr.
Hub's knee continues to improve. The big dogs are feeling left out b/c some nights we take the little dogs to the hotel, but they can't go b/c the hotel doesn't allow pets over 50 pounds.
It's going to be hot as heck here this week. We are headed to Georgia this weekend to visit my great aunt. I've also booked us a cabin there over Thanksgiving.
Have a good day!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Hub's knee is still swollen, which isn't surprising since he hasn't been icing it. He has been doing a good job of keeping it elevated and taking it easy, but he needs to ice it too.
I am going to jump on Allan's bandwagon and join his Phase 6 diet. I need it, and I need the support.
We are really loving the hotel - 2 bed, 2 bath, small kitchen and living area, breakfast downstairs - which is actually good!
This weekend I'm organizing some of my stuff I "packed" from the house one day, and the other helping my mom with some of her decluttering efforts.
I made a really good pot of red beans for red beans and rice last night and mom forgot to put them in the fridge. Oops! Tood bad b/c they were really good.
No more news on the house front - just waiting to hear regarding the appraisal. Fingers crossed!
I am going to jump on Allan's bandwagon and join his Phase 6 diet. I need it, and I need the support.
We are really loving the hotel - 2 bed, 2 bath, small kitchen and living area, breakfast downstairs - which is actually good!
This weekend I'm organizing some of my stuff I "packed" from the house one day, and the other helping my mom with some of her decluttering efforts.
I made a really good pot of red beans for red beans and rice last night and mom forgot to put them in the fridge. Oops! Tood bad b/c they were really good.
No more news on the house front - just waiting to hear regarding the appraisal. Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Hub's knee surgery went well. The reality is that he needs to lose weight and doing so would certainly help his knee recovery. I am trying to focus on making better choices to support him. We've both been a little catch-as-catch-can about food with everything that's been going on.
It's weird - we've been waiting for new temp housing (we're moving in today to a Residence Inn). In the interim, I've been at the apartment alone, it's just been not a lot of fun. It's like I go over to my mom's, have dinner & visit, and then heard off to the apartment once I start getting sleepy (about 8:30). It's hard to explain - my life just feels like it's in this weird disconnected state - no home, just a place I sleep without my family, just weird.
The house purchase is moving along. The house feels like a bit of a money pit, which isn't a great feeling, but that's what $200K gets you in south Florida. It's a nice house, it just needs some work. I know it'll all work out, I guess I'm just feel tired and overwhelmed and a bit burned out.
I feel like I complain a lot when I post, which is probably one reason I haven't been posting much. But better here than to my co-workers all the time I guess.
Seriously, things are moving along.
It's weird - we've been waiting for new temp housing (we're moving in today to a Residence Inn). In the interim, I've been at the apartment alone, it's just been not a lot of fun. It's like I go over to my mom's, have dinner & visit, and then heard off to the apartment once I start getting sleepy (about 8:30). It's hard to explain - my life just feels like it's in this weird disconnected state - no home, just a place I sleep without my family, just weird.
The house purchase is moving along. The house feels like a bit of a money pit, which isn't a great feeling, but that's what $200K gets you in south Florida. It's a nice house, it just needs some work. I know it'll all work out, I guess I'm just feel tired and overwhelmed and a bit burned out.
I feel like I complain a lot when I post, which is probably one reason I haven't been posting much. But better here than to my co-workers all the time I guess.
Seriously, things are moving along.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The house here closed Friday. THANK GOD!
The apartment we were given for temp housing is on the 3rd floor, which wouldn't be a big deal except hub's knee surgery was re-scheduled for today, and there is no way he's getting up 4 flights of stairs.
The guys drove to PA this weekend to put some of our camping stuff in the storage trailer there. While up there, the boy bought a dirt bike. Hopefully it will keep him occupied this summer.
We seem to still be moving forward on the house in Fl. No idea when the appraisal will be scheduled - that's the next big hurdle.
The apartment we were given for temp housing is on the 3rd floor, which wouldn't be a big deal except hub's knee surgery was re-scheduled for today, and there is no way he's getting up 4 flights of stairs.
The guys drove to PA this weekend to put some of our camping stuff in the storage trailer there. While up there, the boy bought a dirt bike. Hopefully it will keep him occupied this summer.
We seem to still be moving forward on the house in Fl. No idea when the appraisal will be scheduled - that's the next big hurdle.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Real estate - it's not just for sane people.
Our house closing was scheduled for 8 am today (the house we're selling). Except our agent called last night - the buyer decided that her final walk through was really her pre final walk through and she wanted to come through the house again at 7:30 the morning. We said no. Then our realtor called back and said the buyer was pushing closing back and refused to sign anything until she came through the house to make sure the movers hadn't damaged anything. We said the buyer could come through at 8:30, so I spent 2 hours this morning cleaning like a woman possessed because 1) the guys really didn't do much yesterday and 2) I was terrified this crazy woman would refuse to sign for some crazy reason.
Thank god it closed.
On the house we're buying: The home inspection came back with pretty much what we expected for a house built in 1974 that's been sitting empty a while. In other words: roof repair, some electrical work, and a lot of maintenance stuff - to the tune of probably $3000 with the hub doing everything he can. EXCEPT. The inspector also recommended we call a structural engineer to check the foundation - turns out it needs concrete footings under 2 corners. Estimated cost $4500. We asked for the seller to pay for that and she refused, so we withdrew our offer. Then she blinked and agreed to give a $4500 credit at closing. We'd asked if the "Liberace house" was still available (it is) and were ready to make an offer on it.
I'd rather have this house because the yard is already fenced and it needs less work up front, even though I feel like the other house has loads of long term potential. But hub is having knee surgery on Monday so I'd like to keep the work to a minimum for his sake. Also, I like the fact it already has a pool which will be great for his knee rehab.
But we're out of the house here, moving to temp housing tonight, and hopefully the appraisal will go through okay on the new house.
Lordie.
Our house closing was scheduled for 8 am today (the house we're selling). Except our agent called last night - the buyer decided that her final walk through was really her pre final walk through and she wanted to come through the house again at 7:30 the morning. We said no. Then our realtor called back and said the buyer was pushing closing back and refused to sign anything until she came through the house to make sure the movers hadn't damaged anything. We said the buyer could come through at 8:30, so I spent 2 hours this morning cleaning like a woman possessed because 1) the guys really didn't do much yesterday and 2) I was terrified this crazy woman would refuse to sign for some crazy reason.
Thank god it closed.
On the house we're buying: The home inspection came back with pretty much what we expected for a house built in 1974 that's been sitting empty a while. In other words: roof repair, some electrical work, and a lot of maintenance stuff - to the tune of probably $3000 with the hub doing everything he can. EXCEPT. The inspector also recommended we call a structural engineer to check the foundation - turns out it needs concrete footings under 2 corners. Estimated cost $4500. We asked for the seller to pay for that and she refused, so we withdrew our offer. Then she blinked and agreed to give a $4500 credit at closing. We'd asked if the "Liberace house" was still available (it is) and were ready to make an offer on it.
I'd rather have this house because the yard is already fenced and it needs less work up front, even though I feel like the other house has loads of long term potential. But hub is having knee surgery on Monday so I'd like to keep the work to a minimum for his sake. Also, I like the fact it already has a pool which will be great for his knee rehab.
But we're out of the house here, moving to temp housing tonight, and hopefully the appraisal will go through okay on the new house.
Lordie.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Things are (finally) falling into place
Our house in NC is set to close Friday. There was an issue with the title from when I bought it that just got resolved yesterday.
We flew down to Florida the weekend after we drove down and looked at more houses. There was one we'd liked a lot that was pending sale on our first trip. That fell through and we made an offer on it the day before we flew down. We saw another one and we were really torn, skip a bunch of angst and that 1st house is under contract and the inspector went through with our realtor this morning. Haven't heard back yet, hopefully it went well.
The movers are here today packing up our stuff. My husband has been out of work for some time (3 weeks?) due to needing knee surgery, so this is a sucky time to be operating on one income. Not that any time would be good. Hopefully his short term disability will start soon - that will certainly help.
I am getting a new boss at work - I would have continued to report to the same one (the Florida team reports to him) but he accepted a job in a different department. :-(
I can't even describe how much stress I've been under - honestly it's been one of the roughest times in my life, but I'm getting to the fun and exciting part, which feels really nice.
Our house in NC is set to close Friday. There was an issue with the title from when I bought it that just got resolved yesterday.
We flew down to Florida the weekend after we drove down and looked at more houses. There was one we'd liked a lot that was pending sale on our first trip. That fell through and we made an offer on it the day before we flew down. We saw another one and we were really torn, skip a bunch of angst and that 1st house is under contract and the inspector went through with our realtor this morning. Haven't heard back yet, hopefully it went well.
The movers are here today packing up our stuff. My husband has been out of work for some time (3 weeks?) due to needing knee surgery, so this is a sucky time to be operating on one income. Not that any time would be good. Hopefully his short term disability will start soon - that will certainly help.
I am getting a new boss at work - I would have continued to report to the same one (the Florida team reports to him) but he accepted a job in a different department. :-(
I can't even describe how much stress I've been under - honestly it's been one of the roughest times in my life, but I'm getting to the fun and exciting part, which feels really nice.
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